by Bethany Shaw
“Don’t,” Ethney cut him off. “I encouraged you to take her out, remember? We should be entitled to a little fun and happiness.”
“We need to get out of here.” Daire climbed into the van and loosened the bindings on Aric before plucking seven tranquilizer darts out of his back and neck. The water dragon had put up one hell of a fight. “You take the van and follow Grace and me in her car. We’ll figure out where to dump it later.”
“Got it. It sounds like they left the engine running for us and everything. Good thing you didn’t blow everyone up.” Ethney winked at him as she slid closer to Kevin. “Hey, kid. It’s okay. We’re going to get you someplace safe, okay?”
Kevin nodded but didn’t look up.
The kid had been through a lot in less than a month. It would be a miracle if he didn’t lose the last bit of sanity he had on the full moon.
“What about cleanup?” Ethney asked.
Daire hopped out of the van and looked around. No one was out taking pictures, and he didn’t hear sirens. That had to be a good sign. He trotted through the parking lot. There was nothing left of his victims but ash. It was already starting to blow away with the wind.
“Come on, buddy,” Grace’s voice soothed.
Daire glanced up. Grace led her son out of their apartment. She had a few bags shoved on her arm and the free arm wrapped around Caden.
He hustled up the steps. “Let me help you.”
“What’s going on?” Caden asked as he looked from Daire to his mom for answers.
“I thought it’d be best if we got away for a bit,” Grace said. She smoothed a hand on top of her son’s head while handing Daire some of her bags.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
Grace picked her son up and carried him down the stairs to her car. “I told you my parents used to own a bed and breakfast. I thought we could go there.”
“Can it be traced back to you?” Daire asked.
“No. They sold it a few years ago. The people who bought it couldn’t keep up with the payments on the place and it went into foreclosure. It’s been sitting vacant for a little over a year, but we should be able to start the wood burner and use the generators to be comfortable,” she said. “It’s far away from the cabins, too.”
“Ethney’s going to follow us in the van,” Daire said, nodding at the other woman as he and Grace walked past her.
“Can she drive?”
“Yeah. I never felt the need to learn, but Ethney and Aric are a little more restricted on how they can move, being water shifters.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Grace opened the back door and got Caden situated before getting in the driver’s seat.
Daire looked up at the blue sky and wondered if Astraea was watching them now. Would she be angry he’d involved Grace in all this? It didn’t matter. The only thing he cared about now was stopping the lycanthrope and keeping Grace and her son safe.
Chapter Ten
Grace gripped the handrail as she made her way down the stairs. Daire was at the wood burner, tossing another log in. He shut the door and glanced her way.
“Caden asleep?”
“Yeah. Finally. I didn’t think he’d go down.”
“It’s been a long day,” Daire said. He wiped his hands on his jeans.
Grace went to the couch and sank into it. “Tell me about it.” By the time they’d arrived at the cabin and gotten everything cleaned up, gathered wood, and settled in, it was dinnertime. “Where is everyone?”
“Kevin is sleeping. We gave him a tranquilizer to help him sleep. He’s been having a rough go of it. Ethney and Aric are out sweeping the area. They’ll be out most of the night.” Daire sat down next to her.
So, it was just the two of them awake. “Do you think it’s safe here?” she asked. Her gaze drifted to the stairs. Caden was asleep in the first bedroom on the right.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Caden, Grace. You have my word.” Daire reached out and grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze.
She curled her fingers around his palm. He was so warm. His large hand fit so nicely against hers, and she couldn’t help but wonder where else it would fit. Heat rushed through her, and she squirmed.
“Promise me you won’t do anything crazy again like you did today,” Daire said, taking her other hand, too.
What she’d done had been insane. It could’ve gotten her hurt—or worse, killed.
“Grace?” Daire prompted when she didn’t say anything.
“I won’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I just saw them taking Aric and Kevin, and I reacted.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you.” Daire lifted his hand off hers so he could stroke his thumb over her cheek.
She used her free hand to grasp his, holding the calloused palm against her face. “I don’t want to keep ignoring whatever this is, Daire.”
He tried to retract his hand, but she held it firm. “I know you have to leave after the full moon.” She met his eyes and held his gaze. “I know you’re bound by your agreement, but...” She looked at her lap, then back at him. “If I don’t let myself fall for you, I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself.”
“Grace,” he said, inching closer.
“I’d rather have something temporarily than nothing at all,” she said, leaning in to close the distance. She pressed her lips against his, inhaling when his mouth began to move against hers.
His hands snaked around her middle once again, tugging her, so she was straddling his waist. “I can only promise you until the full moon.” He pushed her hair back from the nape of her neck. “I want this, too... if you’re sure.”
She nodded at him before closing the distance once again. Their mouths melded together. His tongue swept out to trace along her lips. She moaned into his mouth while rocking her hips against his. His already hardening member rubbed against her center, creating a wonderful friction.
Part of her wondered if the short time she had with Daire would be enough. The other part just wanted to feel what it would be like in his capable hands. No man had ever looked at her the way Daire did. It was like she was the only person in the room. If all they had was a little over a week, then she would take what she could get.
Daire’s hands smoothed up and down her back until they slid under her butt. He shifted on the couch before standing. She locked her ankles around his back. Daire carried her through the house to the stairs. Grace nuzzled his neck while he ascended, taking them to the second bedroom and kicking the door shut with his foot.
Her fingers went to the buttons of his flannel. She’d never found flannel sexy before, not until she’d seen it on him. She unbuttoned each fastener and slid her hand inside the opening to feel his taut muscles rippling as he carried her to the bed.
He laid her down on the mattress and stared down at her. One of his hands went to her breast, cupping it against the fabric of her sweater. The other hand tugged at the fastener of her pants until the button popped open. His fingers slid her zipper down, and his hand slipped inside.
Grace moaned as he placed his palm against her center. His fingers pushed her panties aside and then pressed against her clit. She bucked her hips up, stifling a cry at the sheer feel of him.
He leaned forward and caught her lips again. She groaned into his mouth while he swirled his tongue over hers. Her own hand went to his jeans, releasing the button and easing its way inside. She paused, realizing he wasn’t wearing any underwear. A smile slid across her lips while her fingers tiptoed further down until they wrapped around his engorged cock.
It was thick and felt longer than she would’ve imagined. She let out a throaty moan, eager for him to stretch and fill her. He must have sensed her urgency because he slid one finger inside of her before adding another. He set a slow, steady pace, pumping them in and out.
She rolled her hips in time to his movements. Her fingers stroked his cock.
His free hand moved to her sweater, rolling it up her middle. Reluctantly, she removed her hand from his pants so he could take it off. Then, she unfastened her bra. She went to reach for his pants again, but he pushed her back down on the bed.
“Let me please you, Grace.” He slipped one of her shoes off before moving to the other. Then he went for her jeans, somehow managing to roll them down without stopping his perfectly timed thrusts with his fingers. He tugged her panties off too, so she was lying bare before him.
She met his eyes, watching him as he looked at her. Her hands grasped the bedding as she allowed herself to get lost in the sensations.
His fingers went to her breast, pinching and tugging on the nipple while his other thumb found her clit and began to flick the sensitive nub. “I want you to come for me, Grace.”
That wasn’t going to be hard to do. An orgasm was already coiling in her belly. Her muscles tensed. She grasped the sheets tighter while biting her bottom lip. Her eyes had fluttered closed seconds before stars burst behind them. Her orgasm rolled through her like a tidal wave. She opened her mouth to cry out, but Daire’s covered it. He kissed her while his fingers rode out her orgasm.
She whimpered when Daire removed his fingers from her. He put them to his mouth and sucked her juices off them. “Has anyone ever told you how wonderful you taste?”
She shook her head, unable to form words. She watched through hooded eyes as he slipped his flannel off and then his jeans.
Grace scooted back on the bed until her head was pressed against the pillows. Daire slithered after her. Her gaze went to his member before her fingers wrapped around it. She guided him to her.
***
Daire watched as Grace’s fingers wrapped around his shaft, leading it toward her. He put one hand around her wrist and gently pulled it away only to replace her hand with his. He watched as her face scrunched up with frustration as he rubbed the tip of his cock against her opening. Her hips wiggled against his, eager for him to slip inside.
He ran his cock over her folds one last time before easing himself in, inch by inch. They gasped together as he stretched and filled her. Her eyes opened, meeting his as they joined. He’d never allowed himself to be so intimate with a woman since he’d started his servitude. Everything was different with Grace.
There was something about her that drew him in, and he was so glad that he didn’t have to fight it anymore. Their time together might be short, but he planned to enjoy every single second of it.
Perhaps fate had brought him here to meet Grace to give him the opportunity to enjoy his immortality, even if it was short-lived. Everyone needed a little enjoyment in their lives. Even him.
He leaned in to capture her lips, determined to show her just how special she was to him. Her hands went to his butt, drawing him in even deeper.
Daire ground against her. He kissed her lips before working his way down to her ear, then to her neck, and finally, to her breast. He drew the tight bud between his lips, sucking the pert nipple.
Her fingers dragged up and down his back, hard enough to leave a mark, but not enough to hurt. He increased his pace while his hand found her unattended breast.
Grace wrapped her legs around his waist. Her fingers curled in his hair while her hips rose to meet him, thrust for thrust. She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she’d done a few moments ago, before she came. He grinned. She was close.
He pushed into her harder as he moved his hand down between them to find her bundle of nerves. His thumb pressed against it in time to his thrusts. She threw her head back. Her fingers dug into his back as she tensed under him. Her inner walls contracted around him, spurring on his own release. He rode out their orgasm until he was spent.
He rested his forehead against hers and placed tender kisses on her chin and mouth. She opened her eyes and met his gaze.
“That was...” She trailed off with a laugh.
“I’m not done with you yet either,” he promised. He nuzzled her neck, his cock already stirring again. It was going to be a long, wonderful night.
Chapter Eleven
Grace groaned as a loud ding echoed around her. She blinked one eye open and then the other. She gazed around the darkened room and tried to place where she was until it all came back to her. A smile slid over her face at the memory of the night before. She stretched out, reaching for Daire, but only found cold sheets.
The dinging didn’t stop, though. Her phone. Crap. She grasped the sheets to her chest and slid to the edge of the bed, searching for her jeans. She fumbled through the pocket until she pulled out her phone.
“Hello?”
“Is everything okay?” her mom asked by way of greeting.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I’ve been trying to call you since last night. It’s not like you to not answer or call back.”
“I’m sorry. I must have set my phone on silent.”
“So, everything’s okay?” her mom asked again.
“Yeah. Is everything okay with you?”
“It is now. I was worried when you didn’t answer. If you hadn’t picked up, I’d have driven to your place.”
“No. I’m okay, Mom. Everything’s fine.”
“Thank goodness.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Grace said. She glanced around the empty bedroom as she sat up. Where was Daire?
“It’s all right, darling. Did you and Caden want to come over for dinner tonight? I didn’t get to see him this weekend since Dave had him,” her mom said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s been sick with the stomach bug.”
“Oh.” Her mom’s voice deflated. With her father’s illnesses, he couldn’t be around sick people.
“He should be good by the weekend, though.”
“Saturday night, then?”
“Sure. I’ll see you then, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie.”
Grace hung up and gathered her clothes and went to the bathroom and cleaned up before getting dressed. When she emerged from the bathroom, the bedroom was still vacant. She peeked her head out into the hallway. That was empty, too.
Voices carried up from the kitchen.
“Dinosaur pancakes! Cool,” Caden said, his voice full of laughter.
“I thought you might like them,” Daire replied.
Grace closed her eyes and let her head fall against the door frame. Daire was making her son breakfast. Could he get any more perfect? Her heart constricted. This was only temporary. It didn’t matter what either of them wanted. His job would pull him away from her and Caden very soon.
“And you can’t have pancakes without bacon,” Daire said.
“Mommy loves bacon,” Caden said.
“Good. I planned on making her a plate, too.”
“Are you going to give her dinosaur pancakes, too?” Caden questioned.
“Nope. Those are special just for you.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and she drew in a deep breath. Would she ever find another guy who would be so wonderful to her boy? She shook her thoughts away. No sense thinking about that now. She wanted to enjoy the time she had with Daire.
She swiped at the corners of her eyes and then made her way downstairs.
“Morning, buddy. You seem to be feeling better.”
“Yeah. I’m starving,” Caden said as he shoveled a huge bite of pancakes in his mouth.
“I can tell.” She went to Daire, who was serving a plate. “Need any help?”
He placed a kiss to her cheek while handing her the prepared plate. “No, I got it. I heard him wake up and figured I could make breakfast while you slept.”
“Thanks,” she whispered. She joined Caden at the breakfast bar, taking a seat on a stool.
“Do I have to go to school today?” Caden asked around another forkful of food.
“Not today. I need to call work, too.” Her boss hadn’t been happy about yesterday. She looked at her cell phone. It was nearly ten. Not only was sh
e way late, but she hadn’t even called in yet. That wouldn’t go over well. She’d worry about that in a few minutes. At least Caden was only in daycare and not school. It didn’t matter that he was cutting. “Why don’t you put your plate in the sink and go get dressed.” Grace ruffled Caden’s hair before bending down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Caden hopped off his chair and put his plate in the sink before hurrying upstairs.
“Is everything going to be okay?” Daire asked as he set a plate next to Grace and joined her at the table.
She offered him a smile but didn’t comment.
“Grace, I’m –”
“It’s fine. It will give me time to work on my other project. Regardless of what happens, that’s more important.” She’d figure out her job later. There was no point in having a job if everyone in St. Joseph was dead.
“I found some board games in the room over there. Maybe Caden and I can play games while you get some work done.”
Grace finished chewing her bacon and shook her head. “Don’t let us keep you from what needs to be done. I know you have things to do.”
“Ethney and Aric have it covered. One of us has to stay here with Kevin anyway.”
“How is he?” Grace asked.
“Sleeping.”
“Is it normal for him to sleep so much?” she asked.
“The, uh, full moon takes a lot out of him. His body must prepare for it. Plus, the sleeping medicine is working too. The clearer the head he has going into the change, the better.”
She supposed that made sense. “Okay, as long as we aren’t keeping you from doing what needs to be done.”
“Don’t worry. I’m where I need to be.”
***
"Oh, come on!” Aric cried as he smacked his remote against the couch.
“No.” Kevin stomped his foot on the floor and flopped back on the cushions.
Caden hopped up and down. “I won.”
Daire laughed out loud. He twisted his arms, trying to keep his kart on the road. It was his first time playing on the Wii, and his kart might be in last place, but he was going to finish the race even if he was in last place.
