The Only Witness: The Center City Series: Book One

by Shannon Flagg

  He toed off his boots, kicked them out of the way. Deacon's hands went for his belt but then Vera was in front of him. Without a word she stretched up to kiss him, teeth nipping down on his bottom lip as she undid the belt.

  Deacon reached down for the hem of his shirt—it looked way better on her than it did on him—and pulled it up slowly. She stepped back from him, raised her hands over her head so that he could remove it totally. He tossed it over his shoulder, not caring where it fell. Her skin was bare underneath; he'd helped Susan take care of her when they got her back to the house.

  Every inch of her skin was as perfect as it had been before the attack. She hadn't been scratched. Still, Deacon felt like he had to check again. They'd really gotten lucky, as strange as that sounded. His hands moved over her, she leaned in to his touch. He cupped her ass and she let out a soft moan. He could feel himself pressed against her, he was so hard that he doubted he'd last long inside of her.

  “Deke?” Vera flipped open the button of his jeans, tugged at the material. '

  “Do you want to stop?”

  “If you stop, I will kill you.” She assured him with a smile. “But you could stop thinking, that would be great. I don't know what's going on but I know it's bothering you. Now, we can talk or we can actually get in the shower.”

  “In the shower,” Deacon replied. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he loved her but he stopped, that was too much and too soon. With everything that had happened he really didn't want to push her too far. They had plenty of time to figure everything out. They would figure everything out, together.

  “Hmm,” she stepped into the shower, under the spray with a smile on her face. “How did I know that you'd pick that option?”

  Deacon didn't reply. They'd done enough talking. He joined his woman under the steaming shower spray. Maybe he had made the temperature a little bit too hot, but Vera didn't seem to mind so he forgot about it. He forgot about everything except for the woman standing in front of him.

  He reached up, cupped her face with his hands and kissed her. He kept it soft, slow and sweet. Inside of him he felt how restless the wolf was, how ready it was to claw to the surface and take over.

  Deacon growled as Vera nipped down on his bottom lip. She obviously wasn't in the mood for slow and sweet. She shifted against him, her gloriously naked and wet body against his. How the fuck was he supposed to control himself when her hands were sliding over his wet skin? “Vera,” he said her name through a clenched jaw, hands still holding her face. She kept her eyes on him as her hand closed around his length. Deacon dropped his hands, clenched them into fists.

  He knew that he needed to tell her to stop but it just felt so fucking good, he couldn't speak. Deacon couldn't do anything but feel the touch of her hand. She pressed her lips to his chest, started to trail down lower and then even lower. Deacon didn't think that he'd be able to stop the change, he could feel the tingling in his fingers and toes that told him it was approaching.

  He opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a moan as she took him into her mouth. Deacon clenched his fists tighter, determined not to change. He would not hurt her. He would not expose her to his secret that way. Everything began to press down on him—and then there was nothing, chaos was replaced by calm.

  All he could feel was Vera's mouth on him. Vera. His Vera. Her mouth wasn't enough. He needed her. Deacon reached down, wrapped his hands around his arm and pulled her up. She smiled at him, wove her arms around his neck. He gripped her ass, lifted her and she locked her legs around his waist.

  Deacon pressed her against the wall, it set them at a nearly perfect angle. Vera shifted slightly. He thrust his hips and was inside of her. Her walls clamped around him, held him tight in her warmth. The feeling was enough to push him over the edge but he held back.

  Together they began to move, slowly at first but quickly their motions became faster, frantic. She was moaning, loudly. Loud enough that Deacon thought he heard the sound of Houdini's laughter. He just didn't care. Instead he focused on Vera, he needed to get her there before he allowed his own release.

  “Deke!” Her nails dug down deep into his back. “Please. Please. OH!” Deacon thrust harder as he felt her body begin to clamp down around him. He hit a spot deep inside of her and she imploded around him.

  Finally he gave up all attempts at control, slid deep inside of her. It felt like he was giving blood or being drained somehow. Deacon had never felt anything like it before, but he wanted to feel it again and again.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he loved her, his mouth opened but he wouldn't say the words. He couldn't, not yet. Instead he took her mouth, kissed her as he lowered her back to her feet. “You ready to get some sleep?”

  She smiled in response, a very satisfied smile. “I think I could sleep.”

  Chapter THIRTEEN

  There was something soothing about being in a kitchen, even if it wasn't her own kitchen, that calmed Vera, made her feel at home. Bacon was crisping up in a cast iron frying pan, eggs were whipped and ready to be scrambled in the pan once the bacon was done, and a tube of cinnamon rolls were baking in the oven.

  Vera had a cup of coffee with plenty of cream and sugar in front of her and was leafing through a catalog she'd found on the table. The house was quiet and still. Deacon was still asleep; he'd been up most of the night as far as she could tell, because every single time that her eyes opened his already were. Even the knowledge that she hadn't been violated in the way she feared, Susan had confirmed that, hadn't been able to keep the dreams away. They were all teeth and claws, fear and panic but knowing that he was next to her made it possible to fall back asleep.

  Breakfast was a poor thank you for all that Deacon, Susan and Houdini had done, but at the moment it was all Vera had to offer.

  The sound of footfalls on the stair sent a spike of anxiety through her, but the sight of Susan calmed that some. Her friend had wet hair and was wearing the same clothes as the night before. “Morning, how are you feeling?”

  “Good, I'm feeling good. Coffee?” Vera lifted up the pot.

  “Please,” Susan took a seat at the table. “I do not want to go to work today but I've got no choice.”

  “Do you have time for breakfast?”

  “Even if I didn't, I'll make time because it smells great.”

  “So, it seemed like you and Houdini really had a nice chat last night. He's hot.” Vera wasn't sure exactly how to fish for details with Susan. They'd been friends for about two years, and she couldn't remember Susan having ever mentioned a guy before. “So, what's going on with the two of you?”

  “Nothing,” she replied, “nothing at all. I just stitched him up. He talks a lot. I tuned him out.”

  “Houdini's a really nice guy,” Vera made no attempt to hide her smile. Now she was sure that something was up with the two of them, otherwise Susan wouldn't have been so insistent that it was nothing.

  “I'm sure that he is,” her friend cut her off, “but I'm not interested in him in any way and he's not interested in me. That's that.”

  “Come on Susan, it's me.”

  “Drop it Vera, please.”

  There was a hard edge to Susan's tone which Vera had never heard before. It made her more curious but she chose not to ask any of the dozens of questions that were rushing around her mind. “Alright,” she held up her hands. “It's dropped. You ready for another cup before I make the eggs? Is scrambled okay?

  “Sounds good.” Susan tapped her fingers on her mug. “What's your plan for today?”

  It was a blatant change of subject, which was completely fine by Vera. “Honestly? I've got no clue, I know that I've got to go home but...” But she didn't want to. She wasn't sure that she could ever walk into the shop again without remembering everything that had happened to her or at least what she could remember of it. “I'd sort of like to stay here forever. I feel like I'm... I don't know, it feels safe here.”

  “Tha
t's because it is safe here,” Susan replied, “Deke's not going to let anything happen to you.”

  “Too bad I can't just crawl in his back pocket and stay there. I guess the longer that I wait the harder it'll be to go back but I just... every time I close my eyes I see the thing.” Even when she was with Deacon, it would still flash through her mind. It was worse when she wasn't with him, but then again everything was. Right now her head was beginning to hurt again.

  “Hey, you survived. That counts for a lot.”

  “I guess,” Vera looked over as she heard someone else coming down the stairs. Deacon came into the kitchen a moment later, hair still rumpled from sleep.

  “You didn't wake me,” he chided but moved over to give her a kiss. “Morning Susan.” Vera leaned against him in response, her headache immediately subsided. It was still freaking her out and making her doubt her sanity just a little that he affected her so, but she felt safe with him.

  “Morning.”

  “Bacon and cinnamon buns?” Deacon sniffed the air. “I could get used to this.”

  “Lucky guy finding a woman who cooks,” Susan pointed out as she took another sip of her coffee.

  “She's lucky for finding me,” he winked at Vera who playfully rolled her eyes in response. “I'll set the table.”

  “I can do it,” Vera motioned for him to sit. “Let me grab you a cup of coffee. You look tired.”

  “Please,” Deacon sat down across from Susan. “Sleep well, Doc?”

  “Slept great.” Susan replied.

  The casual conversation was what the kitchen had been missing, as far as Vera was concerned. She brought Deacon over his coffee along with the sugar and cream because she realized she didn't know how he took it. There were a lot of things that she didn't know about him, and in turn there was a lot that he didn't know about her. They'd figure it out eventually. There was nothing she could imagine as a deal breaker for either of them but couldn't help wondering if he'd feel the same way. What if there was something about her that he couldn't deal with?

  Vera felt a little bit like she was going to be sick to her stomach just at the thought. An ominous feeling twisted her insides around, she tried to swallow it down and tell herself she was being ridiculous because there was no reason to get ahead of herself or freak herself out. There was no reason at all, but her mind started to race at a million miles a minute.

  She turned to the stove, began to busy herself with the eggs. A glance out the window showed an unfamiliar SUV pulling up at the curb. “You expecting someone, Deke?” Before he could respond someone pounded on the back door. Vera jumped and pressed her hand to her chest.

  “Go on upstairs you two, now.” Deacon barked the order as whoever was on the other side pounded again.

  Vera didn't have to be asked twice. She turned off the flame and moved towards the stairs. Deacon was on alert, sure that there was trouble on the other side of the door. She'd only seen the truck in front of the house, all she'd been able to tell was that it was dark colored.

  Susan followed her up the stairs, sipping her coffee calmly. Vera couldn't be calm. Once again she was inundated with feelings that she couldn't explain; they were all twisted up. It was her, it was Deacon and it was the both of them coiled together. She couldn't explain it, didn't understand it. She tried to breathe deeply but her chest was tight.

  The last thing that she needed was an anxiety attack, but it was all just too much to take. Vera had come upstairs willingly enough but now all she wanted was to be downstairs with Deacon.

  “I'm going back down there,” Vera declared to Susan.

  “Not a good idea,” her friend told her. “Deke said to stay up here, let's just stay up here for now.” Logically, Susan was right. He'd said to stay upstairs but there was just so much running through her mind and she still couldn't breathe.

  Downstairs she heard the door open, heard the sound of voices but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Vera could, however, make out the way that Deacon's rage was spreading through her.

  <#<#>#>#>#

  “What do you want?” Deacon stared out onto the porch at Josiah. He couldn't believe the balls it took for the man to show up at his home.

  “I come in peace, Deke. May I call you Deke? I understand that you prefer it to Deacon when it comes to friends and family.”

  “No,” he shook his head. “What are you doing here Josiah?” There wasn't much that Deacon hated more than repeating himself. He wouldn't do it again. Anger took root in his stomach.

  “I'd like a word with you, and there are some things that Adelaide would like me to bring home for her.”

  Just the way that he said home and Adelaide were enough to make the anger inside of Deacon turn to rage. “Why didn't she come with you?”

  “I asked her to stay behind. As I said, I'd like a word with you, just the two of us.”

  “If that's the case than why did you bring him?” Deacon motioned towards Michael. The man was a good distance away, close enough it was obvious that he was watching them intently. Deacon knew that he'd welcome trouble. Michael was an animal, no pun intended.

  “Can't be too careful, Deacon, I've got the distinct feeling that basically no one is thrilled I'm Leader. I figure that's reason enough to have someone to watch my back.”

  “That would be the understatement of the year,” Deacon crossed his arms over his chest. “You want to talk, fine. We'll talk. Why don't you tell me where you were last night?”

  “I was with my wife, your sister. I took her to the house I bought once I realized what Ezekial's intentions were as far as my Grievers joining the pack. We've been on the road a long time, Deacon, too long. Believe it or not, all I want is for us to have a place to call home.”

  “I don't believe it. I'll tell you this right now, Leader or not, if anything happens to my sister. If she is hurt in any way, I will find you and I will kill you.”

  “I would have it no other way, if I hurt Adelaide I'll hand you my gun to put me out of my misery.” Josiah replied. “The moment that I saw her, I knew that she was the one I'd been waiting for. I could hardly control myself when she stood up and declared she'd take Piper's place.”

  “I don't believe that, either,” Deacon snarled the words even though deep in the back of his mind he knew that there was something between them. He'd seen it in Adelaide's eyes and now that same look was in Josiah's. If they were truly mated, it complicated everything.

  “I didn't imagine you'd believe me, even though it's the truth. Now, if you'd be so kind as to show me to Adelaide's room so I can pack her a bag, I will get out of your hair.”

  Deacon pulled his phone out of his pocket, video called his sister without a word to Josiah. She answered after three rings, half asleep with a satisfied smile on her face. “Is everyone still whole?”

  “For the moment,” Josiah spoke up, “Deacon isn't entirely thrilled about letting me in the house.”

  “Yeah, that's not a surprise,” Adelaide let out a laugh, “but it's okay, it's all okay Deke. I promise, it's all actually really great.” She was smiling on the video, eyes half lidded as if she'd been sleeping. He wasn't sure that he'd ever seen her happier.

  “Are you high?” Deacon asked hopefully, maybe she'd just indulged. Hell, maybe this was a bender but he knew it wasn't.

  “No,” Adelaide stuck her tongue out at him. “I'm just happy, Deke, please understand that. I knew when I saw Josiah that he was the one I've been waiting for.”

  “Don't give me that shit, Adelaide!”

  “How can you not believe me, especially now?” Fury blazed in Adelaide's eyes. “You know that it's true! Fuck Deke, you found her and you still deny it.”

  “Shut your mouth Adelaide.” Deacon should have known that his sister would bring up Vera, of course she would. “Not another word.” If she were in front of him, he might have been tempted to strangle her.

  “Watch the way that you speak to my wife,” Josiah said in a cool tone. “Is what she's sayi
ng true, Deacon? Have you found your mate?”

  “I've found nothing,” the words came out in a growl and hurt Deacon to even say them. “You've got five minutes to get what you want and you talk to no one who is here, no one.”

  Josiah's expression was one of amusement and interest, and it made Deacon want to punch him in the face. Anger surged through him, every nerve in his body was on high alert simply waiting for the time to strike. Deacon inhaled a deep breath, tried to calm the beast rising inside of him but it wanted out. It wanted blood and he was close to just letting it happen, all that it would take was for him to issue a challenge.

  Deacon opened his mouth to speak but stopped when he heard footsteps on the stairs. Vera came down first; she looked scared. Fuck. “Go back upstairs,” he ordered without letting his gaze linger on her. He wanted to give Josiah no hint that she meant anything to him. It was too bad he couldn't control the look that she gave him.

  “What's going on down here?” she planted her hands on her hips, obviously with no intention of moving until she got an answer. “Deke?”

  “I'm Josiah, Deacon's not to thrilled that I'm here or that I'm his brother-in-law. Despite that, it is a pleasure to meet you.” He moved forward, hand extended, and Deacon seriously considered biting that hand right off.

  “I said you don't talk to anyone here,” Deacon exploded, there was no containing his anger and no controlling himself. He tried, really tried, to hold back once he felt his knuckles popping but the beast burst through anyway. Vera screamed, long and loud which gave Josiah time to move out of the way of the claws. Deacon turned to face her but she couldn't see him, her hands were over her eyes. Her body was shaking and she wouldn't stop screaming.

  “I think it's best if I leave now,” Josiah cleared his throat. “Adelaide and I will come back later for what she needs.”

  “Get out,” Deacon clenched and unclenched his hand. Fuck. How had he slipped? Especially now with the memory of the attack so fresh in her mind. “Vera,” he moved forward, wrapped his hands around her wrists. “Baby, look at me.”