Chapter Fifteen – Travis
“Coffee or something stronger?” Travis asked as he set his keys down on the table in the hallway. He’d brought Kate back to the beach house after the arrest of Axel, who was the man in tiger’s clothing.
“Something stronger.” Kate looked pale as she followed him inside and closed the door.
“Brandy?” He went to the living room and poured a couple of shots of brandy into two glasses. “It’s been a shock.”
She took the glass and downed it in one gulp, wincing slightly as the alcohol burned her throat. “And a relief. They have Axel. Hopefully, this will help with Marl’s case. It’s not as if he can say he’s an innocent person when he tried to kill me.” She held out her glass to him. “I think I need another.”
Travis gulped down his brandy and grabbed the bottle, refilling both of their glasses even though it was only just after lunch. A little too early even for a rock star to drink but under the circumstances, he figured it was okay.
“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll grab us something to eat.” He didn’t move. He wanted to make sure Kate was all right before he left her alone. She hadn’t said much after they gave their statements to a police detective who had arrived at the scene after a call from Jon.
He’d popped the trunk and confronted the tiger shifter with a couple of police officers by his side and a Taser in his hand. The tiger lashed out a couple of times but after sampling the Taser, Axel shifted back to his human form and was arrested.
After Kate described the young man who had set up the meeting, the two officers shifted and followed his trail through the trees. They picked up his scent and caught up with him as he made his way back to his car. Or tried to make his way back. The young man had gotten himself all turned around and confused in his panic and would have been lost for hours if the officers hadn’t found him.
“Do you think he’ll confess?” Kate asked as she sipped her brandy and went to the window to look out at the ocean.
“He might. If not, then there might be DNA evidence that links him to the backpack. There’s also the statement of the young man, Luke. The evidence might shift toward Axel being guilty.” Travis crossed the room and went to join her. “You should eat.”
She placed her hand on her stomach. “I’m not hungry.”
“You should be.” He pressed his lips together, unsure of himself. For a man who was used to getting up on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, this was a whole new experience. He didn’t know what to say.
“It’s okay.” She turned and faced him, her eyes locked on his. “The whole shifter thing. It’s okay.”
“Are you sure?” he croaked. Coughing, he repeated the question. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She nodded and drank her brandy in one shot before placing the glass on a small table next to the chair he often sat on during the long lonely evenings and stared out at the ocean. “I’m absolutely sure.”
She moved closer, her body pressed against his as she cupped his face in her hands. “I never said thank you for saving me.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” He hesitated before he slipped his arm around her waist, tightening it possessively. “And you saved me just as much as I saved you.”
“I don’t recall doing anything special,” she murmured as she lay her head on his chest.
“You came into my life. I don’t think I realized how lonely I was until you came.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I had Henry and Izzy. But I needed you. I needed my mate.”
“And now here I am.” She placed her hand on his chest and ran her fingers over his toned abs. Travis shuddered as heat spread across his skin in the wake of her touch.
“And now here you are.” He cupped his fingers under her chin and tilted it upward before lowering his head and kissing her lips.
She sighed and pressed her body closer to his, her lips parting as she kissed him back. Their tongues entwined and he shivered in anticipation. He’d gotten his girl. His woman, and elation flashed like a blinding light in his head.
“Shall we take this somewhere more private?” she asked and took his hand, leading him from the living room. “In case Henry and Izzy get back.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “Where are they?”
“They’ve gone for ice cream. They won’t be back for another hour or more.” He trailed after her until they got to the bottom of the stairs.
“Maybe you should lead the way.” She gave him a lopsided grin as uncertainty slipped across her face.
“We don’t have to…” But he so wanted to.
“I want to. I want you.” She inhaled deeply. “It’s just…been a while.”
He gave a short laugh. “Me, too.”
She giggled. “Then we’ll fumble our way through it together.”
“That’s fine with me.” He pulled her up the stairs and they burst into his bedroom, giggling like teenagers as they collapsed onto the bed together.
“This is not like I imagined your room would be like.” She sat up and looked around his bedroom.
“It’s not very rock and roll.” The room was sparsely decorated with solid wood furniture accessorized with items he’d picked up from the beach or the local markets. It was simple. Which reflected his life when he was here by the ocean.
“Neither are you.” She flopped down on the bed and turned on her side, her thigh slipping over his. “So, I’m your mate.”
His breath caught in his throat and he nodded. “You are my mate.”
“And we’re going to be together forever.” She stroked the exposed skin above the collar of his T-shirt, and he trembled with longing.
“Forever. If you’ll have me.” He looked up hopefully.
“I’ll think about it.” She leaned forward and kissed his mouth. His arousal spiked, his pants tight across his groin as he hardened. Kate inched her body forward and pressed against his hard length, her body moving frustratingly slowly against him.
“Do you have any idea how much I want you?” he asked harshly.
“I have a good idea.” Her tongue probed his mouth as she slid her hand down between their bodies and stroked his hard length through his pants. “Why don’t we free the beast?”
He laughed, his body shaking as she unzipped his pants and slid her hand inside. But as her fingers curled around his hard length, his breath hissed through his teeth, cutting off his mirth.
Regaining his senses, Travis focused his attention on the removal of Kate’s clothing. She needed to be naked and under him, so he could make love to her. The thought of claiming his mate spurred him on, his fingers curling around her sweater and tugging it up over her head. She raised her hand and wriggled out of the rest of her clothes before she tugged at his belt buckle.
Working together, they soon lay naked in each other’s arms, the world shut out as they found pleasure in each other. The years of loneliness melted away as Travis kissed her neck, inhaling her scent as she tilted her head back, her hair spilling over her naked back.
She shivered as he stroked her skin, his fingers seeking out each sensitive part of her body. As the afternoon sun dipped in the sky, he reveled in each sigh and whimper he elicited from her body.
Kate’s mouth and hands explored his flesh, light kisses along his collarbone mingled with featherlight fingertips that teased him and tempted him. His mate was a temptation he could never deny.
Trailing his fingers along her soft skin, he eased her thigh higher as it rested over his leg. He could feel her heat, sense her need and he wanted to satisfy her completely. Kate slipped her hand between their bodies and curled her fingers around his hard length, guiding him toward her as Travis dipped his fingers inside her.
Her inner muscles tensed, and her hand closed around his hardness, stroking him up and down as he thrust his fingers in and out of her slick heat. Pressing her body forward, her breath came in rapid gasps as he pushed her toward her climax.
Kate cried out, her body tense as
she came. She bit down on the sensitive skin on his neck as her orgasm swept over her. Travis curled his finger and stroked her inner walls, pushing her higher and further until she was utterly spent in his arms.
Her body sagged forward, her face buried in his collarbone as she sucked in one breath after another. Only when her breathing had subsided did she lift her head and look at him. “I guess we both remember how this works.”
“I guess we do.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “I love you, Kate.”
She arched an eyebrow. “And we didn’t even have sex yet.”
“There’s something I want to do before…” He gave her a wry smile. “And this time there is no cake involved.”
“Travis…” She shook her head and inched away from him. “You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do. Well, I want to.” He slipped off the bed and grabbed his wallet from his pants. Opening it up, he retrieved the engagement ring she’d given back to him earlier. He dropped to one knee, feeling a little stupid being naked and all, but as he looked up at his mate, he knew this was the right thing to do.
“I might say no,” she teased.
“That’s a chance I’m willing to take.” He held out his hand and she placed hers in his. “Kate, will you please do me the utmost honor of agreeing to be my wife? For real.”
She swallowed, her eyes brimming with tears as she nodded. “Yes. For real.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger and she tightened her hand around his and pulled him toward her. There was no doubt in her expression that she wanted to consummate their relationship.
And who was he to refuse his mate?
Kate opened her thighs wider and he slipped between her legs. Her hand gripped him and guided him into her, her eagerness to make love to him matched only by his own. As he slid inside her, her inner walls gripped him, and he bit down on his lower lip to keep control. His need for release was almost too much.
Kate tilted her hips up, changing the angle of her body as he thrust deeper inside her. Sensations flooded his body, her touch, her scent, she consumed him as only his mate could. Travis sought her lips and kissed her as he thrust harder into her, before pulling back, only to thrust forward again, needing to feel her around him.
They moved as one, climbing to new heights. As their kiss broke, he cupped her breast in his hand and lowered his head, sucking her nipple into his mouth and rolling his tongue around and around. He savored the taste of her, better even than Gino’s cooking.
In his head, his bear rolled his eyes. How did you ever write lyrics that make people weep with emotion?
Travis pushed his bear’s thoughts to one side and focused on taking his mate to her second climax. Trailing his fingers along the length of her thigh toward her knee, he stroked her soft plump skin. Kate was tough, she’d shown that as she battled to prove her brother’s innocence, but she was soft, too, capable of love and kindness.
He loved her. He’d said the words, but he also felt it in his heart which beat for her.
Inching her knee higher, he lunged forward, impaling her completely before pulling back out. Kate dug her fingers into his back, her breath rapid and he sensed she was close to coming. He pushed her higher, his teeth grazing her nipple as he circled his hips, stretching her inner walls.
She gasped and tightened around him, her inner muscles pulsing as she came. Travis groaned and finally let himself go, his seed spurting deep inside her. He hoped that one day they would be lucky enough to make a child together. A brother or sister for Izzy.
He cried out, the pent-up emotion and anguish after the events of the day finally released as he claimed his mate for the first, but definitely not the last, time.
“If your records are as good as your lovemaking, I can see why you are a rock god.” She looked at him, deadly serious, before her body shook and she laughed.
“I can see you’re going to keep this rock god completely grounded,” Travis said as he kissed her mouth. Her laughter subsided and she curled her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck and kissed him right back.
“We should get dressed,” Kate said as she glanced toward the window. “Henry and Izzy will be back soon.”
“I can’t wait for you to get to know each other.” Travis reluctantly slid from between her thighs and bent down to retrieve their clothes.
“Thanks.” Kate dressed quickly, running her fingers through her tousled hair before sitting down next to him on the side of the bed. “Are you sure about this?”
Her eyes rested on the ring on her finger. Travis slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my whole life. A shifter knows his mate when he finds her.”
“And you are definitely a shifter.” She nudged him lightly. “I’ve never seen anything so…amazing.”
“My bear is happy about that.” He kissed the top of her head. “Are you sure you’re all right about everything?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked, her eyes wide as she put on her high breathy voice. “I’m engaged to a rock star. He’s rich and handsome and he’s got a heart as big as a mountain. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.” She fanned herself as if she were too hot.
Travis laughed and stood up, offering her his hands. “Please don’t teach Izzy to do that.”
“I promise.” She flung her arms around his neck and clung to him. “I love you, Travis Cooper. Just the way you are.”
He laughed as he kissed her. “We’re going to have one amazing life together.”
“Good, I am ready for amazing.” Her expression faltered and tears pricked her eyes. “I do mean it. We might not have known each other long and I know I’m not a shifter who knows their mate when they meet them. But I know true love, and that’s what this is.”
“True love.” He kissed her as the ocean crashed on the beach, as endless as his love for his mate.
Epilogue
“Are you ready?” Kate asked Travis as he nervously adjusted the ribbon tied into a bow on the gift he’d bought for Izzy.
“I think so.” He gulped nervously and placed the box down on the living room table. “I just hope she likes it.”
“She will,” Kate assured him. She being Izzy who was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches to the birthday cake she’d made for Travis.
“I hope so.” Travis couldn’t help picking at the ribbon once more.
Crossing the room, Kate took hold of his hand and led him to the window. Outside the waves crashed upon the shore, just as they did day after day. Nothing changed out there, the tide came in, the tide went out. But inside the house, everything was about to change.
“Relax. This is what we’ve been working toward. Today is for enjoying being a family.” Kate kissed his cheek and slid her arms up his chest. “I love you, Travis.”
“I love you, Mrs. Cooper.” He took hold of her hand and looked down at the gold wedding band adorning her finger. “I can’t believe how much my life has changed in such a short space of time.”
“One thing that has not changed,” Kate began, “is that you were featured in the newspaper”
“I am?” Travis winced. “Do I really want to know?”
She grinned as she moved away from him and went to the side table next to the sofa. Leaning down, she picked up a newspaper and unfolded it. “Front page news.”
“Reformed Rock Star, Travis Cooper, Weds in a Whirlwind Romance.” He tilted his head to one side. “Now, that is the kind of press I want.”
“Wait until you tell the world the latest news.” Kate smiled softly.
“When they hear the latest news, I think I’ll become old news.” He glanced at the gift nervously and then lifted his head as if looking at something in the distance. “Marl is here.”
“I’ll go and let him in.” Kate rushed out of the living room, down the hallway, and yanked open the door, her hands trembling a little as she waited for her brother. Travis wasn’t the only one nervous ab
out today.
“Hey there, you look nice.” Marl produced a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.
“And those look beautiful.” She accepted the flowers and then hugged him close. “It’s good to see you smile, Marl.”
His jaw tightened and he didn’t meet her eyes as he said, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you for what you did. For believing in me.”
“Just seeing you here, seeing you free, is enough for me.” She rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry today. This is not a good start.”
“Sure, you’ll cry,” Marl answered as he followed her into the house. “This is a big day. Even bigger than that whirlwind wedding day you had. I didn’t think you’d ever get married and settled down…”
“What’s wrong?” Kate stopped walking and turned around to face her brother.
“I always thought it was my fault that you never got married. That you’d put off living your life while you raised me.” He glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the living room. “But now I see you were just waiting for the right man.”
“Travis is the right man,” she assured him.
“I see that.” Marl nodded. “I see how happy you two are together. And now you are a family.” He smiled wistfully.
“We were a family, too. We are a family,” she told him firmly. “Only now there are more members.”
“We’re ready!” Izzy’s excitement shone through as she called from the kitchen.
“Come on.” She winked at Marl. “Our family is about to grow officially by one more member.”
“You mean…” Marl’s eyes widened, and he produced a small gift from his pocket. “I got a gift for Travis, but I didn’t get anything for Izzy.”
“You didn’t have to. All we want is for you and Henry to be there when we tell her.” Kate kept her voice low as she spoke, not wanting to spoil the surprise for Izzy.
“We’re here,” Travis called to Izzy as soon as Marl and Kate entered the living room.
“Close your eyes,” Izzy commanded from the kitchen door, and Travis dutifully obeyed.
Fake Fiancee Mate - Single Shift Page 10
