“Do you have siblings?” Garth asked.
“No. I have cousins from my mother’s side of the family, but I’ve never known my father. He and mother met, fell in love, and then he had to leave. He told her when he got back they’d marry. But he didn’t return, and she never loved another man.”
“Did she have any pictures?”
“An old picture her sister took of the two of them. It’s been on her bedside table ever since he left. She’s convinced that he had an accident and died otherwise he’d have returned.”
“He didn’t know she was pregnant?”
“No, she didn’t know until a few weeks after he left.”
“I think there’s a strong possibility you’re my cousin. We’ll find out in Wyoming. It you are agreeable to come with us?” Garth asked.
“Are you the one who can teach me how to handle the changes that have occurred in my body?”
“Yes, I’d shift now and show you that I’m a white leopard, too. But someone might see me and start asking questions. Let’s get back on board and head to Wyoming.”
Lann told Carl good-bye, and then followed Bliss up the steps. Her face was pale, and he knew she must have questions she wanted to ask. He led her to a comfortable chair, fastened her seat belt, and sat beside her.
“I promise you’ll understand all of this after we get to Wyoming.”
“I hope so. To be truthful, I’m stunned and a bit scared.”
“Don’t be. No one at our ranch in Wyoming would ever hurt you.”
“What if I don’t want to marry you after I learn all about you and your family?”
“I explained about the memory wipe machine. I promise it doesn’t hurt. But I hope you love me enough to love who I am.” He took hold of her hand as the plane took off.
* * * *
Do I love him? I think I do, but all of this is so mysterious and not natural. Who believes in shape-shifters? I never have.
She glanced at Garth and Walker sitting side by side and talking quietly. All the men, Garth, Walker, Lann, and Ethan, were big, strong, and incredibly handsome. Walker had the scar from rescuing her, but she doubted it would keep any woman from being attracted to him. In fact, it made his face look stronger, more mature, and mysterious. If the women were as beautiful as the men were handsome, she didn’t know why Lann had chosen her.
I might be pretty, but so are many others. Bliss was glad she’d decided to accompany him to the ranch before she accepted his proposal. She was both excited and fearful of what she’d find when she arrived.
Chapter Fourteen
Bliss watched out the window as the plane started to land. It was dark, and all she saw were the landing lights and a small building with lights around it.
“Ethan’s wife and Justin, her other husband, will be at the airport. I’d like you to meet them. I want to see their son and the new baby.” Lann squeezed her hand as the wheels set down on the runway.
“I am anxious to meet the women in your family.” Bliss let her breath out as the plane came to a stop. Ethan came to the door of the cockpit after shutting off the engines.
Lann had unfastened Bliss’s seat belt. He took her hand and walked toward the door.
“We’ve put you out this weekend. I appreciate you flying us to California and here,” Bliss said to Ethan.
“I love to fly, so no problem.”
“But we took you away from your family.”
“That’s the only bad part. But Morgan often flies with me.”
“She doesn’t mind flying?”
“No, not when I’m the pilot.”
“He has no modesty about his skills,” Lann said. “But he is the best.”
“Well, I can’t fly like Aleron, but then he has wings.” He looked at Bliss’s face. “Oops, I guess that’s too much information.”
“She’s in shock, but I’m going to have her talk with Elle.”
“She can explain it in the best way,” Ethan said, agreeing with Lann.
“Who is Elle?” Bliss asked as they walked to the door to get off.
“She’s our Priestess, Eleanor Benoit. You’ll like her.”
They followed Garth and Walker down the steps. At the fence a man and woman waved. The woman held a baby. Bliss assumed she was Ethan’s wife. Lann walked with her in that direction.
“Bliss, this is Ethan and Justin’s wife, Morgan. And this must be the new baby girl in the family.” Lann reached out and Morgan placed the baby in his arms.
“We call her Lacey,” Morgan said. Then she put out her hand to Bliss. “Welcome to the ranch. I’m Morgan. You’ve met Ethan, and this is my other darling husband, Justin. The young man standing bashfully behind his daddy is our son, Paul. We’ll have to get together with some of my women friends so you can ask us all the questions I see in your face. We know how you feel, believe me.”
“You weren’t one of the family when you met your husbands?”
“No, I wasn’t, and Justin didn’t even like me, but that’s a long story.”
“I always loved you, darlin’. I just played hard to get.” He hugged her and kissed the top of her head.
Morgan looked beyond Bliss. “There’s Ethan. He drove the large truck here. He’ll take you and Lann to one of the guest cabins,” Morgan said. “Garth is driving the blond man to his house. I see them heading to his car.”
Bliss looked around and Walker had glanced back at her with a lost look on his face. She ran toward them. “It’s all right, Walker. Garth’s a friend of Lann’s, so you can trust him. I’ll come see you tomorrow. Get some rest.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“Sure. I’m not certain of the time, but I’ll be there.”
“All right. Thank you.”
Garth stared down at her. “You’re a brave woman. Lann has chosen well.” He nodded and walked off, leaving her wondering what he meant.
Lann came up beside her. “Walker will be fine. They’re waiting to take us to the cabin. We’ll rest tonight. I’ll call Elle and set up an appointment for in the morning. I think you’ve had all the shocks you can handle in one day.”
“In a lifetime,” she said, and he chuckled.
* * * *
Bliss walked around the cabin. “This is very nice and comfortable.”
“When visitors come we like to have a place for them to stay. My parents live in New Mexico. But we had several invitations to stay with my friends and my brother. I thought you’d feel more at ease here.”
“Thank you. I do. I’ve been overwhelmed with what I’ve seen today. I need a rest before meeting more people and receiving more information that might shock me.”
Lann hugged her. “Has all this changed how you feel or think about me?”
“There’s confusion in my mind, but”—she leaned her head back and looked up at him—“my body’s reaction to you hasn’t changed.”
“That’s the most I can hope for now. Why don’t you go in the bedroom and lie down. I’ll be along in a minute. I want to call Elle and set up your meeting.”
Bliss kissed his cheek and went in closing the door behind her. She took a pink, lace gown she’d brought along and he hadn’t seen yet. Then she went in the bathroom to shower.
* * * *
Lann called Elle first. “Hi, Elle. This is Lann.”
“I haven’t forgotten the sound of your voice. How are you?”
“Great. I’ve found the woman I want to marry, and I’d like you to meet with her tomorrow.”
“I’d love to. Do you want me to explain about our tribes and who we really are, or just have a light discussion?”
“Tell it all to her.”
“Does she know if she doesn’t marry you, she’d have to have those secrets swept from her memory?”
“Yes.”
“I can meet with her at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”
“We’ll be there.” Lann hung up and punched in Mitch’s number.
“Hi, I hear you’re back and with a p
rospective wife?”
“Gossip flies fast around this ranch.”
Mitch laughed. “Sara talked to Morgan. What’s up?”
Lann told him about the wolves near his place in California. “You might want to send Raoul and some of his men to check them out.”
“I’ve already talked with him. Garth just called and explained about Walker. His mother believes Walker is the son of one of her brothers-in-law. One of them died on an assignment about seven months before Walker’s birth.”
“I’m glad I happened to be staying at the house. I hadn’t been there in over a year.”
“We’re all looking forward to meeting your lady. Sara said to invite you two to lunch around twelve.”
“Hopefully she won’t be in total shock and demanding I take her home by that time. She’s seeing Elle at ten.”
“If she’s your soul mate, she’ll be strong enough to handle us.”
“Then we should be seeing you all at lunch.”
“You’re that sure she’s the one?”
“Absolutely. Good night.” Lann shut his phone off. Then he walked into the bedroom. When he didn’t see her, he went to the bathroom door.
Bliss stood at the mirror brushing her long, black hair. She turned her head and smiled at him.
“Is the meeting all set?”
“For ten. Let me help you with that.” He moved behind her and took the brush from her hand. Then he slid the bristles through the silky strands of her hair. He leaned forward and sniffed. “You always smell like flowers. I love your hair.” He looked at her in the mirror. “I love you.”
“I love having my hair brushed. It’s a pleasant start to seduction.”
“Do I have to seduce you to get you to say yes to my proposal of marriage?”
“Maybe.”
He pulled the brush through her hair slowly and gently until her hair sparkled in the light and waved halfway down her back. Lann handed her the brush, and she stepped away from the mirror. She had on a pink nightgown that made her skin look rosy and allowed him to see all of her curves.
“Do you like the gown?” she asked.
“Yes. Is this the type of lingerie you’ll have in your shop?”
“Some will be more demure like this and others will be much more enticing.”
“I can hardly wait to shop there for the woman I love.”
“You won’t get a discount.” She flashed a quick grin at him.
“I don’t care.”
“I hope the rest of the men in town feel the same way. I’ll be very successful.”
Lann swooped her up into his arms. “Enough talking. I want to make love to you.” He took quick strides to the bedside and sat her on the side of the bed. “Wait right here for me.” Then he disappeared into the bathroom.
* * * *
As soon as he shut the door, Bliss opened her suitcase and got out another nightie to surprise him. This one was fire-engine red, and short. It also had tiny bikini panties to match. The top was held up by two straps and her full breasts were barely covered.
She dimmed the table lamp. Then she pulled the covers back and moved to the center of the bed. She arranged her hair to spread across the pillows behind her and lay waiting for his reaction.
He came out in a few minutes. His black hair looked wet from the shower, and he was naked, except he’d put a condom on his large cock. Lann was ready, and her body ached to feel him inside her.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at her from her head down. He didn’t say anything, but climbed on the bed by her feet. His lips caressed her ankles and legs with light kisses all the way to the tops of her thighs.
Her blood sizzled from the flames he was stoking in her belly. When he glanced at her, his emerald eyes glowed from a fire within him. His lips skimmed the tops of her thighs, and he pressed kisses all around her lower lips. He skipped her most sensitive area and moved upward to kiss her belly button. She moaned and pleaded for him to fill her with his hard cock.
“We’re going to take it slow and easy. You’ve had a busy day.”
“I don’t need slow and easy. I’m ready to feel you deep inside me.”
“But I’m not ready. I want to taste and touch all of you.”
He slipped his fingers inside the elastic holding up her panties. “We can get rid of these.” Lann pulled them down and off. “Let’s see, where was I? Ah, yes, about to taste your luscious breasts.”
He slid the straps down and exposed her breasts, but also kept her arms at her side. “They are perfect.” He cupped one in his hand and licked the peaked nipple. She shivered when he blew air across it and became more aroused and excited. Moisture coated her lower lips.
“Let my arms loose so I can touch you.”
“No, this is all for you tonight.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It is. I’m aroused by watching your reactions and smelling the sweet scent of your desire.” Lann kissed around both breasts and then sucked on each peaked nipple. A link between her breasts and her core had her pussy aching with hunger and the need to be filled by him.
When he suddenly moved downward and sucked on her clit, she screamed as pleasure shot up her spine. He licked her nectar from her lower lips and pinched her jewel, keeping her body on the edge of her orgasm. She wanted to plunge over, but each time she almost did, he slowed his movements or kissed her leg instead of the opening to her pussy.
“Take me, please.”
Lann chuckled against her overly sensitized clit. Reaching up with his hands, he clasped both breasts and rubbed the nipples.
“I can’t take much more,” she pleaded.
But he ignored her and licked and kissed her clit, along her lower lips, and thrust his tongue inside her pussy opening. Her body shook with a passionate craving for him. Her nerves were so inflamed with her need for him to fill her that it was almost painful.
Then he rose over her, put his cock at her opening, and thrust into her pussy. She screamed as her orgasm hit fast and hard. Lann pumped in quickly. He bent and sucked on her nipple.
Her body bucked under him, and her pussy rippled around his wide cock until his orgasm hit him. Bliss clung to his body and her pussy clenched and unclenched around his dick until he’d finished. He kissed her and rolled to the side.
He reached out and took hold of her hand. “When doubt clouds your thoughts tomorrow, remember tonight and our loving.”
Bliss wrapped her body across his. Their hearts pounded together, and they both were breathing hard. “If that was slow and easy, I can’t wait for fast and hard.”
Lann smoothed her hair back from her forehead and kissed the top of her head. “Go to sleep, darlin’. It’ll be morning before we know it.” He rolled her to her side and rubbed her back. Gradually her breathing slowed, and her eyelids got heavy.
“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
Bliss opened her eyes to a fully dressed Lann. “How long have you been up?”
“Long enough to shower, dress, and fix breakfast. Put on a robe and come eat. You can shower afterward.”
She sat on the side of the bed and frowned. “It has to be too early to wake up.”
“The clock says nine. We have a ten o’clock appointment.”
“What? I slept ’til nine?” She grabbed a robe from her suitcase. “I’m ready. Where’s the food.”
He just stared at her for a minute. “If we only had more time. It’s difficult to see that body and not want to make love to you.”
“Is that all you think about? I’m hungry.” She pushed him out the door toward the kitchen.
“I’m hungry, too, for you. And yes, it’s what I think about most of the time since I met you. Maybe after fifty years I’ll be more hungry for food than you.” He swatted her backside.
His teasing kept her from getting too anxious. The sausage, eggs, and toast he’d cooked were good. She sat back, enjoying her coffee.
“You are a good cook.”
“Our mothe
r insisted my brother and I learn to cook right along with our sisters. Most of the mothers in our tribe teach their boys how to be good husbands. Our fathers teach us how to be good men, good citizens, good friends, and faithful husbands.”
“Who taught you to be bossy?” she asked with a grin on her face.
“It is inherent in our genes. Go get dressed before I weaken and take you back to bed.”
She glanced at the clock. “There’s twenty minutes to shower and dress. I’ll make it.”
Bliss took a quick shower and dressed in a new pair of jeans with a yellow blouse. Then she pulled her hair back, fastened it in a ponytail, and tied a white-and-yellow scarf around the rubber band. She wore her better pair of boots.
“I’m ready.”
“You make the day look brighter.” Lann kissed her and led her out the door to Ethan’s truck. He’d let them borrow it last night. “It won’t take but about ten minutes to get to Elle’s house. She lives on the outskirts of the main part of the ranch. But I know a shortcut.”
Bliss looked out the window at the houses and some barns as Lann drove on a hard-packed dirt road. They’d left the main area and drove another mile or so before he turned down a long driveway. There was nothing surrounding the house but wide-open prairie and wild flowers. The house was a large A-frame.
When Lann parked and stopped, she felt a tightening in her chest and her stomach churned. He put his hand over hers. “Don’t be frightened. Elle is a wonderful, warm woman. You’ll like her husband, Pruet, too.” He walked around and opened her door. Perspiration broke out across her forehead.
“You don’t have to do this if it’s going to upset you.”
“No. I need to understand you and your people before I totally commit to marrying you.” Bliss stiffened her back. She wasn’t a coward and no need to start acting like one. She got out of the car and Lann put his arm around her waist.
The door opened as they got to it. “Welcome, Lann. It’s good to see you.” A tall man stood in the doorway. “Come in. Elle and I are both excited to meet the lady who’s won your heart.”
Capturing Our Lady's Heart [Commando Cowboys and Renegade Texans Unite 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 15
