Rebirth - Book 1 Rogues Shifter Series

by Gayle Parness

  Chapter Twenty-four

  As we drove back in his hastily cleaned car, I leaned against the leather seat and watched him. His eyes were concentrating on the road, but his mouth was turned up at the corners, his long fingers drumming a lively rhythm on the steering wheel. He’d changed into clothes he’d had stashed in the trunk, so I didn’t smell the witch’s blood so strongly anymore, thank goodness.

  “Are you driving me back to the house I’m sharing with Ethan?”

  “Of course, where else?”

  “We could go to your house. It looked really nice.”

  “It’ll be dawn soon and I don’t know exactly when I’ll pass out and wake up again now that I’ve ingested Miranda’s blood.”

  “I can just hang out there until you wake up.” I slid my hand over to rest on the seat next to his leg, barely brushing up against his thigh.

  “We’ve talked about this, kitten,” he smiled at his joke. “You’re seventeen.”

  “I'm an adult in the supernatural world, as you well know, and you’re only nineteen or twenty.”

  “Plus two hundred and fifteen.” Huh, figured he’d be good at math.

  I thought about what I could say to convince him, deciding to be honest. “I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re worried about.” I looked down at my lap and waited for the inevitable words of disapproval. “It’s no big deal,” I whispered. I didn’t sound very convincing, even to myself.

  He glanced at me curiously, no hint of judgment in his gaze. “A boyfriend?” I shook my head and frowned. His expression changed as he realized what I was saying. “Was it your last foster brother, the one you spoke of? The family before the Crawford’s?”

  “If you tell anyone I’ll kill you.” The boy’s hand was on my throat. “I’m gonna make you cry. No one will ever want you.”

  I nodded, trembling from the memory. When I saw Garrett’s dark expression, rage beginning to burn in his eyes, I quickly blurted out, “I told you, he’s in jail. He pleaded guilty. It’s over and he’s not hurting anyone else.”

  Although Garrett’s eyes sparkled, a sure sign of his anger, his voice was laced with concern. He reached for my hand, squeezing it. “He’s still hurting you, I see it. I’m so sorry. The state system took away your childhood, forcing you to constantly adjust to living with strangers.” He raised my hand and kissed the palm, releasing it when a sharp curve in the road came into view. “You’ve coped with it courageously.”

  My voice lowered in volume, I turned away, not wanting to see his expression when I spoke about it. He was right. It still affected me, shamed me, even though I knew I hadn’t done anything to encourage the rape. “I spoke to a shrink, and that helped me. I went to live with the Crawfords next and they were wonderful and supportive. I ran more often which helped me burn off my spurts of anger, just like always. Guess running is my own brand of therapy.” I peeked at him through my lashes, anxious about how he’d react.

  A deeper anger smoldered in his eyes. “Let me take care of him.” I thought of the witch and the weres and the other men who’d attacked me.

  “No. Please let it go. I used to have nightmares about him, but now I dream about you.” He pulled me closer, draping his arm around me as he drove.

  After parking in front of the cottage, he kissed the top of my head. “Rape is a very big deal.” He kissed my mouth, this time too briefly. “But sex is remarkable when you’re with the person you love.”

  “I’m not afraid. We should be together now. You claimed me.”

  “It was done partly to ensure no one else can lay claim to you. Even an older, more powerful vampire can’t break the ancient laws.” He lifted my chin with a long finger, forcing me to look at him. “I’m terribly possessive where you’re concerned. Word has gone out you’re now under my protection. A gifted cheetah could be a target for many others seeking a powerful mate.”

  “I’m under you now?” I teased, grinning at the vision.

  He chuckled, twisting his mouth into a crooked smile. “Figuratively.”

  “So what’s the rest of the vampire mating ritual and when can we do it?”

  “Always in a hurry.”

  “I'm a cheetah.” I shrugged.

  “True enough. There are ritual words said while we share blood and connect mind to mind.”

  “Will it make me a vampire?”

  “No. I’m the only shapeshifter I know of who survived the change. Enough talk. You need to sleep. We can talk about this another time.”

  Garrett walked to my side of the car, lifting me as if I were weightless. He carried me into the cottage and gently placed me on the bed. He took off my shoes and asked, “Would you like me to remove the splint? Your leg has probably healed well enough.”

  “Yes, thank you.” I’d say anything to get him to stick around. Thank goodness Ethan wasn’t back yet.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and gently unrolled the bandages holding the splint in place. My ankle had started to heal, although I could still see the angry red welt where my bone had broken through the skin.

  He touched it with his fingertips, looking thoughtful. “If I lick the wound, you won’t have a scar.” He glanced at me with his bedroom eyes, and speechless, I nodded, my eyes widening as I watched his every move. I wondered if I might turn into a puddle on the bed the moment his tongue touched my skin.

  Garrett leaned over me, one hand holding my foot and the other resting on my knee. He licked my ankle, twice.

  Oh my god. I didn’t melt, but it was close.

  When he sat up again his eyes were dancing with tiny stars and I was breathing heavily. “Good night, my lovely cheetah. Thank you for rescuing me,” he teased, smiling with a certain degree of smugness as he kissed me on the forehead and left.

  I was dreaming about him before his car made it to the main road.