Love Of A Lifetime

by Murphy, Riley

  He pulled her into his arms and nearly squashed the life out of her. She didn’t mind. She closed her eyes and let herself sink.

  Jack tried to be cautious, but he couldn’t help the elation he felt deep inside. She remembered. She wanted to go home. Suddenly, the arrival of Cyrus in their lives didn’t seem so bad after all. If he was the reason she’d remembered Emon, then Jack was thankful for it. His conscience realized that was a horrible way to think, especially when he thought about the young reporter and the terrible fate that poor guy was destined to face, but he’d waited so long for her to remember their true connection. Every lifetime had been a bittersweet experience. Sweet, because he had her to love and cherish for a short time, but bitter because she never knew truth of how far they’d come. Why they were together and all they’d created.

  “I want you here,” she whispered, pressing his lips against the beating pulse of her throat. “Please,” she begged.

  He stopped all movement and sensually licked at the spot. Tilting his head he whispered, “No, I don’t dare, babe. You’ve barely recovered.”

  “Just a little, please.” She hugged him close.

  He breathed in the delectable scent of her. Feeling the satin of her skin against his nose as he nuzzled her. God, what kind of bastard was he? Try as he might, he couldn’t resist. He opened his mouth slowly and felt his fangs descend. Her pulse called to him, beating steady and sure, begging him to enjoy it. He kissed the spot once, twice, and then fitted his mouth over her heated flesh and sank his teeth slowly, very slowly, into her. Puncturing her flesh until her warm blood emerged and slipped down the column of her throat to pool in the tiny well on her collarbone.

  Without words she begged him. Bucking and rising up to press her hips against him, but this time he was in control. He was determined to go slow, and savor and enjoy the moment. She was his. His treasured love. He told her this over and over.

  “Jack.”

  “How is it that you get more beautiful with each lifetime...so sweet,” he murmured. Delving under the covers, he pulled her with him ready to give her all that she wanted. Always. “Our child may already rest here,” he whispered in her ear while his palm splayed flat over her belly. “If not, we’d best give it one more try. I know how badly you want me.”

  She laughed that husky throaty one that he adored. “And how would you know that? What makes you so damn sure of yourself?”

  He pushed her deeper into the mattress and grasped her hands in his, squeezing them. “This.” Using his chin, he brushed aside her tangled mass of hair and nuzzled her neck. He continued to root around until he found that perfect spot. When he did, he didn’t hesitate as he pushed through the thin skin and had her melting in his arms all over again.

  Good lord, this was addictive. She moaned, determined to ignore his arrogance. She was happy and content and there was nowhere else she’d rather be than here in his arms. And in less than a minute, she was ready to do anything with him, for him, when a determined knock sounded.

  Taren was up in a flash howling.

  A deep voice on the other side of the door called, “Tarantino, what are you doing in there?”

  She heard a different male voice furiously whisper, “I told you to chain him in the cellar. Wooly’s gonna have a fit if he chewed through his door again.”

  Finley turned her head sideways to get a look, but when Jack’s forehead dropped against her temple she frowned.

  “What’s the matter? Who is it?”

  Jack leaned up and sighed. “I held them off for as long as I could. That was them earlier at the front door. The first time I got you into our bed. Damn cock blockers.”

  “Them?” She pulled the sheet around her for cover and sat up. Searching his suddenly petulant face, she mined for some answers. Jo-Quinn, Quinn, or Jack, as he was now called, never got sulky. No, the only time this happened was when the children...images started to hit her. Wonderful, beautiful images. “It’s the kids!” She scooted up higher in the bed, bringing the sheet with her as it all came back to her. The missing piece of her past. This was the important thing she couldn’t recall earlier. Their children. With the discovery of them, a sense of belonging, a feeling of purpose, and rightness of being, washed over her so wholly she almost cried. How could she have not remembered them? This was her home, well, the one she preferred over all the other ones they owned. Home, now that had a nice ring to it. “The children! Why didn’t you tell me? Oh, Jack, why didn’t you let them in before?” she demanded, slapping one of his huge biceps.

  “Let them in? You should remember what a rowdy bunch they are, and if I didn’t have a chance to charm you before they got a hold of you? There’s no telling what could have happened.”

  She grinned so wide her face hurt. “Charm me? So that’s what they’re calling it these days?” She threw that stupid line back at him. “Tell me, do I have some clothes around this place? And really, what have you done to my home? It looks positively medieval.”

  He scowled while he looked around at the non-existent decor. She thought she might have offended him and then she knew for sure she had when he grumbled, “Hey, I told you that I happen to like it this way.”

  “Okay,” she said, getting up and yanking her robe out from underneath his hip before donning it. “What about the lighting? Didn’t we convert to electric at some point?”

  Jack sat up and his grumbled became more pronounced. “Yeah. I was feeling like I needed a blast from the past though, so I had them reconnect the gas lights and I called the masons in to re-point all the fireplaces. I think it’s cozy.”

  She looked into his gorgeous, arrogant face and smiled brilliantly at him while she blatantly lied, “Oh, it is. What a great idea. I can’t wait for you to show me everything else you’ve done around here.” He grunted and stood when she added, “But first, I need to see my babies.”

  “Babies,” he muttered disgustedly, pulling on his leathers. “Would that they were. They were easier to control.”

  There was another brisk knock and Jack yelled, “Hold your freaking horses. We’ll be right there.”

  She laughed and rushed to him. Throwing her arms around him she hugged him tight. “I’m happy, Jack. I know I should be scared, but I’m not. This will all work out, I’m sure of it. Eventually we’ll find out why I chose to end my life all those years ago. Won’t we? And we’ll have our next child who with do what needs to be done as far as the prophecy goes and make this right with the council. And now that we know that Cyrus is here and he had found the woman who’s to bear the seventh child, we can find out who she is, can’t we? And we can warn—” When he stiffened she leaned back to search his face. “What?”

  “The seventh one is to be our grandchild.”

  “Oh, Jack,” her voice quivered.

  When another impatient knock sounded, Jack swore, “Damn, you see what I mean? I told them not to bother us until I said so. Did I say so? No.” He tried to disengage, but she stopped him.

  With a hand to his shoulder she asked, “Which child?”

  “You remember them?”

  “I do.”

  “Payden. He’s already selected his mate but hasn’t claimed her yet. He’s still trying to figure out how he’s going to accomplish it.”

  “Why what’s the problem?”

  “Well,” he shrugged. “Aside from an overbearing father, and her not liking him, there isn’t one.”

  She thought about her oldest boy. He was so like his father. “Payden can manage.”

  Jack gave her a smile, but it was grim one. “I told you the soul is a funny thing. He’s drawn to her. I have no idea why. I mean, she’s pretty, I suppose, but kind of…”

  “What?”

  “Prim, is a word that comes to mind. You know the type, blouse done up to here,” he indicated to his neck. “Skirt to here,” he indicated mid-calf. “And hair always pulled back. She’s bookworm ‘ish’.”

  “Book what?” She didn’t wait for him to answer.
She swiped a hand in dismissal. “There must be something she has that made him want her.” Jack grinned sheepishly and she knew he had some idea.

  “Tell me.”

  “She hates him.”

  “No.”

  “Sure. My theory is that she’s had a pretty predictable and unimaginative life. Then the moment she meets our boy, things started to change for her.”

  “Oh, I hope you’re right,” she sighed. This sounded plausible. After all, it had happened to her. She hugged him fiercely one more time and then let go. “Okay, I can’t wait another minute.”

  “Babe?”

  She turned back.

  “Even though I don’t know all of what happened that night, I do know I didn’t touch Ceil. I couldn’t. I—”

  She reached up and put a finger to his lips. “I don’t need you to explain. My heart knows the truth and it always believed you even if my mind took a while to catch up. I love you.” She pulled her hand away and gave him a mock scowl. “No more stalling me, mister. I’m going to see the other guys I love.”

  Jack groaned but followed her terry clad form to the door. She was a bossy bit of goods when she chose to be, and that was one of the things he loved best about her. That, and the fact that she had faith in him. Their part of the prophecy had been fulfilled and now it was Payden’s turn to step up and do what needed to be done. He only had few months. The seventh child was to be conceived in spring. Oh well, that would give them plenty of time to come up with a plan, right? He’d take care of Cyrus. He had to, to keep his family safe. And maybe in the process they’d learn what could have happened to cause his mate to do the unthinkable that had brought them here.

  They reached the door and Jack stepped in front of her to open it. He flung it wide, spied the giants, and was about to reprimand all eight of them, but his woman pushed past him and cried, “My boys!”

  When he saw her in the arms of Payden, then Max and then passed off to Reagan, he silently swore. His days of terrorizing were over. She had her troops behind her once more.

  He felt a familiar rub against his hip and looked down. Damn. The fucking cat was as lost as he was having to share her with so many again. He scratched Taren behind an ear and realized something. In the eyes of the beast Jack had been the first usurper of her attention. Suddenly the six pairs of shoes, barker lounger and his hairbrush carved by Di Vinci seemed like a small price to pay. Hell, if things had been the other way around, he was fairly sure he would have been tempted to kill the furry beast.

  Her laugh rang out surrounding them all for a few seconds, but then she went quiet.

  “Jack,” She twisted in Reagan’s arms to look at him. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.” His heart squeezed tight seeing her embraced by their brood. Damn, the sight nearly undid him. “Welcome home, babe. Welcome home.”

  He turned away, dropping on a knee to pet Taren. He didn’t want his boys to see the mist in his eyes. But Taren did. The animal’s wide gaze was penetrating. Probing. Relentless.

  And when he couldn’t take it anymore, he leaned in and whispered in the cat’s ear, “I’m going to forgive you for everything because I think we understand one another now, correct?”

  All Taren did was bow and fall forward, resting his forehead against Jack’s chest. A chest that squeezed a little tighter in the knowledge that he had another heart to be strong for when the time came for their lady to leave them. Sinking his hands in the animal’s fur, he said a silent prayer that they’d do what needed to be done to fulfill the prophecy so she’d never have to leave them again.

  “Aw,” His mate came to stand beside them. “Taren’s offering you his loyalty.”

  Jack closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against the soft hand she placed on his shoulder. He didn’t say anything to that as he’d have to disagree. If he wasn’t mistaken it was the other way around so he was grateful when Wooly arrived to distract her. Now at least he wouldn’t have to admit it. After all, what kind of protector caves to a smelly cat?

  “Wooly!”

  Taren’s head snapped up and those odd eyes of his narrowed. Jack tilted his head and followed the cat’s line of vision right to Wooly who currently had their lady in a bear hug. Why if looks could kill Wooly would be six feet under.

  Smelly or not, Jack grinned and threw an arm around the feline. “Taren, my boy, welcome to the family.” Letting go, he stood and bellowed, “Wooly, get your chubby paws off my woman.”

  The grimaces that came his way caused his grin to widen. He’d really missed making the kids uncomfortable for a change after everything they usually put him through.

  “Jack.”

  But then he heard his mate’s playful admonishment and realized he’d missed that more.

  He was just about to call her back to him when Taren let out a soft cry which got everyone’s attention. Especially Finley’s as she dropped everything and rushed forward. She was on her knees, cooing and hugging the cat when Taren tilted his head up and Jack saw it. The “hey new buddy, this is the way it’s done” look in the furry faker’s eyes.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “What? What’s wrong? Is Taren hurt?”

  “No.” He took his new pal’s cue and added, “But I think he might be a little overwhelmed at the moment. Maybe we should spend some quiet time with him. Tomorrow you can catch up with the kids and Wooly.”

  When she nodded he wanted to kiss the furry little fucker. Smelly or not Taren had just given Jack the edge he’d always dreamed of having.

  Five minutes later Finley stood over Taren, frowning. “Huh. He looks just fine now.”

  “Come to bed.” Jack patted the empty pillow beside him.

  “Now that he’s resting maybe I could go see—”

  The cat let out a long and low whine and she immediately bent, adjusting the blanket. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s right here.” She gave him a final scratch behind an ear, before coming back to their bed.

  “Yeah, I better stay. Something’s up with him. I hope he’s not sick because of that fish you’ve been feeding him.”

  Taren’s head came up so fast Jack scowled. He pulled Finley in his arms and stared over her shoulder into the unwavering and stricken gaze of his new found friend. Then it dawned on him. There was a price for this friendship. A price he’d gladly pay if it meant one of them would be running interference for him between his mate and the other males in this household who constantly hoarded her attention.

  “It’s definitely not the salmon. That’s the only kind of human food that doesn’t make the poor guy sick. Believe me, I tried everything. Cat food, dog food, tuna—Taren did a double take and Jack amended—oh, but the tuna worked good for him.”

  She sighed and snuggled in his arms. “I love that you two are finally getting along, but I do want to mention one thing.”

  He rubbed his chin against her hair, breathing in her scent. “What?”

  “Taren can be a little manipulative.”

  “No.”

  “Yes. I just don’t want him to pull the wool over your—Jack, what are you doing?”

  He leaned up on elbow. “Loving you.”

  She searched his face and then whispered, “Mia shand, mia lei.”

  Everything was forgotten when he heard those words. He gathered her in. Crushing her to him as he promised he’d always be her treasured love as she was his.

  Only his.

  Epilogue

  Jack sat in his office. He swiveled around in the maroon leather chair until the back of it faced his desk. Stretching his legs out, he stacked his feet up, ankle over ankle, on the wide casing in front of him. The rain had stopped, he noticed, as he looked out the massive picture window and sighed. It was nearly spring. The trees in the distance had lost their icicles and the grasses beneath them, though brown, were moderately visible with the first of the season’s thaw.

  So much had happened over the past few months, and yet there was so much more that needed to be
accomplished before he’d rest easy. He’d sent word to the council about the stolen Book of Maps and who he feared held it now. He’d been pleased to learn that Selig was summoned to head up the forces guarding the borders. Selig had learned how their enemy had found his way to earth and what he needed to do in order to remain here. Jack couldn’t imagine how many poor souls Cyrus had devoured over the years. While a Vampine needed to remain connected by the blood of their mate upon earth, Cyrus had somehow discovered that he could exist here by feeding on a mortal’s soul. Selig believed that the Skarken had learned how to transport a human soul from one body to another and Jack didn’t doubt that for a moment. He’d seen that young reporter in the psych ward, nearly four months ago. That wasn’t the same man anymore, he was sure of it.

  And Cyrus? Jack had plenty of time to think about his motivation for wanting those maps. The Skarken had been banned from ever entering Emon by conventional means, but with that book, he’d have other avenues to explore. Some entry points were so old and far reaching that Jack doubted they’d be manned at all and Cyrus would be free to pass through them without incident.

  He frowned and leaned back in his chair. The question forefront in his mind, why would Cyrus want to return to Emon?

  “Dad?”

  When Max called, he smiled. He loved to hear that salutation. There were very few times his boys could address him that way without fear of mortals becoming suspicious. Of course, once he started aging with Finley, it worked out for certain periods, but it was too infrequent. So he was always glad when they were at Midland Manor. Here they could be themselves as they were virtually cut off from the rest of civilization.

  “I’m in here,” he shouted. Pulling his feet off the ledge, he spun the chair around.

  “Hey,” Max greeted, coming into the office. Taren was right behind him. Now that the beast had figured out they weren’t the enemies trying to steal his lady he’d realized there were certain advantages to being nice to his humans. Yeah, they were his humans because once the fucking charmer charmed, they all fell under his spell.