Chapter Six
The white cougar reached the edge of the great water and breathed in the scent. It smelled like earth, cool air and home. She desperately wanted to enter the water, to bathe in the Great Salt Lake. But something held her back.
Something was not right. Her mate was not here. She had to find him. He had to be with her.
Diana’s human mind told the cougar to sit back and close its eyes. She felt her front legs shortening, her body losing the soft fur. It took several moments before she had transformed back into herself.
She had to think about what to do and she could not do that as a cougar. Staring at the Salt Lake, she thought about everything Cat had mentioned to her about the prophecy. She was supposed to bathe in the lake. She knew that much. But, some instinct had held her back.
In the first vision she had had, when she first entered the reservation, Cat had been waiting for her at the shore of the lake as she emerged. Perhaps he had to be there, perhaps he had to watch her before the prophecy could truly be fulfilled.
If that was true, then she had to find him. And, luckily, she knew exactly where he would be. She sat down in the dirt once more and closed her eyes. She tried, as she had before, to focus her mind on nothing but Cat.
She remembered his smile, his kiss as he had left her not one hour earlier. The way he touched her and spoke her name. She began to feel a familiar tug inside her heart that always preceded transformation. She knew it was about to begin.
Suddenly, a great weight fell on top of her and pushed her to the ground. She cried out as she hit her head on the rocks and opened her eyes.
A black cougar, smaller than the one from her first attack, but with very familiar eyes was staring down at her, baring his teeth.
Charlie had found her.
She shoved and kicked at the cougar’s underbelly. This had almost no effect. Charlie only sunk his claws deeper into Diana’s already scared shoulders making them bleed afresh.
All the same, she writhed and pushed as hard as she could against the large weight with her hands. As he she finally reached to kick the animal’s back legs, she saw the creature above her close his eyes.
In a moment, it was not a cougar but the form of a large man straddling her.
“Don’t try to fight,” Charlie said now grasping Diana’s flailing hands and pinning them above her head, “it’ll be easier that way.”
He kept one hand firmly gripping her wrists and moved the other to the waistline of her pants. As he began to unzip them, she knew what he was going to do.
“It’s too late,” she said automatically still trying to kick at his legs, “Cat and I were mated. It’s done.”
Charlie’s hand stopped its progress at this. His face clouded for half a moment before he looked at her and grinned maliciously again.
“Oh, you stupid little girl,” he said, “mating with your Zuni doesn’t mean you cannot be defiled. And it certainly does not mean that you cannot be killed.”
Diana’s movements stopped at that. Charlie’s hands started to unbutton her pants. She knew there was no way she would be able to stop him on her own. No matter how hard she tried. She would need something other than the force of her body. Anything.
As Charlie began to forcefully pull down her pants, she looked around her for something, anything she might use.
But the lake was mostly hard dirt, sand and a few pebbles. Besides, Charlie still had her hands pinned in a firm grip. She looked to his body for any sign of weakness as he toyed with the lining of her underwear. Grinning at her distress.
That was when she saw it. Poking out from the pocket of his trousers. The talisman Cat had given her. She could see that it was burning brightly. She could almost feel the heat coming off of it. If she could get to the talisman, she knew, instinctively that it would protect her.
Thinking quickly, Diana pushed her knee upwards and, with all the force she could muster, shoved it straight into Charlie’s groin.
He cried out and his hand instinctively let go of her wrist and flew instead to his privates. In a flash, Diana moved her hand, grabbed the talisman from Charlie’s pocket and pressed the burning marble against his flesh.
He cried out again and moved away from her as she crawled on her hands and knees towards the lake. She had to get in the water. Even if it wasn’t exactly as the elders had prescribed, she knew that salt lake, one way or another, was her only way out.
As she reached the edge, she felt herself being dragged backward. She dug her fingers into the soft sand as Charlie clawed his way towards her.
He reached her face and spat at her as he tried, once more to turn her body towards him. Instinctively, she grabbed both of his arms and rolled until both of them had been plunged headlong into the salty water.
Diana immediately closed her eyes as the water stung her wounds and filled her lungs. She opened her mouth to fruitlessly gasp for air as she tried to swim to the sun shining on the top. Before she could reach the break she felt herself being dragged down once more. Charlie had grabbed hold of her leg and was attempting to push her down into the water.
Diana felt no surge of energy, no fiery passion of a prophecy fulfilled. Only the stinging salt filling her lungs, drowning her. And Charlie’s flailing hands holding her under.
She knew then that the prophecy would not be fulfilled. She had failed the Zuni, Cat, everyone. Perhaps she was not even the Salt Woman. Just, as Charlie had said, a stupid little girl with grand ideas of herself.
She felt her eyes grow heavy as the water continued to enter her. Her limbs stopped their struggle. If the end was coming, this was how she was going to meet it. Like she did all of life. Meekly. With no attempt at defense, no loud pleading. Silent.
She felt Charlie’s hands move to her throat and made no attempt to shrug him off.
Then, suddenly, the hands left her body, her eyes flew open and she could see others with her. Hands and limbs were reaching up towards Charlie from the bottom of the lake. Bony hands that looked half decomposed.
Diana watched as they grabbed hold of Charlie, pulling him down as he flailed and fought against them.
Diana could no longer feel the burning of water filling her lungs. Her eyes no longer felt heavy. Now, there was a deep surge in the bottom of her stomach. She felt her limbs lengthen, her skin grow into the familiar white fur.
Once transformed, she made her way towards the sunlight beaming brightly at the surface of the water, beckoning to her.
Her paws grasped for the flecks of light and finally reached them.
As her head peeked out of the salty liquid, in the distance, she could see the form of a tan cougar standing on the shoreline.
Cat was there.
Eagerly, the white cougar made its way towards the beach. As soon as her paw set foot on the sand, she could feel herself changing without prompting, without warning.
As she stepped fully into the sand, she had returned to her human form. She looked to Cat who also sat back and transformed.
As soon as he did, he ran towards her and gathered her in his arms.
“Are you alright?” he asked immediately, “What happened?”
“I...I don’t know, I-” But Cat was no longer looking at her. His eyes were focused on the lake.
Diana turned in his arms and looked as well.
The surface of the salt lake was quickly and inexplicably turning a blinding white color. As the waves reached the shoreline, the land around them seemed to change as well. The brown barren dust suddenly grew green grass. Plants bloomed along the canyons and, next to the lake, trees began to form.
“What’s happening?” Diana asked.
When she looked up at Cat, a smile had formed on his lips. He looked down at her and cupped her face before bending to give her a long, desperate kiss.
“You did it!” he exclaimed as he pulled away, “the prophecy...it’s done.”
“You mean…”
“We can come back!” Cat exclaimed. “We can
come back to the salt lake. We won’t have to worry about anyone else taking it from us. Not the government, not the Navajo, no one.”
“I don’t know if the Navajo will agree to that,” Diana said, still looking at the land around her completely taken aback.
“We’ll deal with that when we come to it,” Cat said, “for now...we’re free.”
He cupped her face once again and kissed her much more gently this time. As Diana wrapped her arms around him, returning his kiss with equal fervor. She could not help but feel that both of them were, indeed, free.
THE END
CHASE
The Unforgettable Billionaire Brothers
Book One
Violet Walker
The Unforgettable Billionaire Brothers: CHASE
Chapter One
“Dammit!” Chase slammed down the phone in his office and turned to look over the rain soaked city. His father had a way of ruining his plans without really trying. He needed to get the acquisition of Steele Tech complete by the end of the week, what he didn’t need was to drive two hours into the countryside for whatever new decree Vance Silver would make. Chase knew it would be a decree of some sort because his father Vance loved to make his boys dance, loved to tell them how to run the business even though they had been running it—successfully—for years with very little input from him.
But Vance was also his father and he was getting old, so they all conceded to his wishes. He ran his hands through wavy brown locks and dialed for his assistant. “Brooke I need a moment, please.” Please dear god don’t let her be wearing another of those tight sexy librarian skirts. Chase didn’t know when it had happened but sometime during the past year he’d begun to notice his assistant. Hell, more than notice her. After five years working closely together he couldn’t stop thinking about her at work, or at home. In his dreams. Every. Single. Night. The way those skirts hugged her luscious ass and those fuzzy sweaters that clung to her breasts and small waist, all of it drove him mad. So he started coming in early so he wouldn’t have to see her sparkling green eyes and plump pink lips curved in a smile just for him. He hadn’t seen her at all today and he was grateful for that, only now he had no choice. What a fucking joke, he thought to himself, remembering the handful of assistants that had come before Brooke. They were all interested in Chase and had gone to creative lengths to get his attention.
“What’s up Chase?” Brooke walked, no she sauntered in and carefully sat down at one of the chairs in front of his large oak desk. His eyes were glued to her legs as she crossed one over the other. Brooke opened her tablet in a few swipes and looked to him for direction. “Chase? Sir? Is everything alright?”
He was startled out of his daydream and pinched the bridge of his nose. “No Brooke I’m not alright. Vance called.” She nodded her understanding and he continued. “He has summoned me and my brothers to Silver House.”
“Your country estate?” She had seen photos of the outside of the famed mansion in a gardening magazine at her grandmother’s house. There was a lavish rose garden, a wild English garden and a greenhouse. It was magnificent. She knew this trip to the country couldn’t have come at a worse time for them. “I’ll reschedule your meeting with the Steele brothers and have the financials couriered to you as soon as they arrive.”
He watched her swipe and tap the screen of the tablet resting on her lap, the perfect picture of efficiency. “Don’t bother. You can do it on the road. You’re coming with me.” Chase groaned at the seductive picture she presented, her flushed cheeks, those moist lips, the breathy gasp that left her succulent mouth. He felt his pants growing tighter under the desk and began to rethink bringing her with him. But he needed her. “Sorry Brooke but I need to work on this Steele Tech deal and I can’t do it without you. Who knows what Vance wants or how long we’ll end up staying.”
She could see the frustration and stress on his handsome face, his blue grey eyes practically silver against the gloomy sky behind him. “Very well sir. I’ll need to go home and pack a bag, but first--,”
Chase cut her off with a swipe of his arm across the air. “We don’t have time Brooke. Tell Rose everything she needs to cover your desk for at least a week, including where to send all information on Steele Tech. Call one of the Steele Brothers and see how they feel about meeting at Silver House and then we’ll stop at your place on our way out of town.”
She nodded as she rose from her seat careful to keep all emotion from her face. Back at her desk she plopped down and released a breath she didn’t even realize she had been holding. A week at Silver House with Chase Silver was a dream come true. At least it would be, if he realized she was a woman. Now however, it would just be torture.
***
They were close to Silver House. Brooke could tell because they were well into the countryside where people owned horses and each property was miles and miles apart. She sighed, happy to be here with Chase but not so happy that she’d had to cancel her date. She’d finally gotten the hint—5 years later—that nothing would ever happen between her and Chase and she had started to date again. Most of the guys were duds, like the financial planner who told her she had ‘breeding hips’, but Charlie was nice. And cute. And nice. And tonight would have been their third date. It was the sex date if she was being honest, but maybe cancelling was a blessing. She wasn’t ready for sex with Charlie, not when she still dreamed of hot, crazy dirty sex with Chase. She sighed again, this one thick with confusion and resignation.
“So you had a date this weekend?” Chase white knuckled the steering wheel, angry for feeling jealous when he had no right to and angry that he had to right to feel anything about her personal life. She nodded but kept her gaze on the passing fields. “I didn’t know you were dating.”
Because you never ask, she wanted to say but she didn’t. He was her employer not her friend so why would he? She shrugged. “How would you?”
He said nothing and they continued to drive in silence. Tortured, uncomfortable silence. Thirty minutes later they turned onto the long tree-lined driveway of Silver House. Brooke gasped at the magnificence before her. It was a massive Georgian revival style mansion with red brick and pristine white shutters on the dozens of windows facing forward. Just slap on some columns and call this place Tara, she thought cynically as she eyed the mansion. “This is Silver House?” She huffed in disbelief, may as well call it a cabin if we’re going for understatement of the century.
“Yeah my dad loves this house. My brothers and I grew up here so it’s no big deal.”
“Yep, no big deal.” Who cared about things like three story mansions made totally of brick, real brick, hundreds of windows and probably dozens of bedrooms. This place was beautiful, if a tad ostentatious.
Inside Silver House was even more gorgeous than the outside. The foyer was gargantuan, with a few marble busts and big dark oil paintings, but of what she could see so far the place was warm and inviting. Dark woods, earthy masculine colors and subtle accessories were everywhere. Brooke decided instantly that she loved Silver House.
“We should head to the study, I’m sure that’s were Dad is.” Brooke followed quietly, taking in every detail as she passed each room. Familiar artwork dotted the walls and detailed sculptures lined the long hallway they walked until she heard voices. “Sounds like one of my brothers beat us here.” Inside the study Vance sat in a chocolate leather club chair swirling amber liquid in a crystal glass while he and the youngest Silver brother, Jackson laughed together.
“Ah Chase, you’re here. And you’ve brought a guest.” Vance smiled sweetly at Brooke. “Is that Brooke?”
She returned his smile. “It’s me sir, how are you?”
Vance beamed a smile at her that belied his advanced age. Dimple winking and violet brown eyes sparkling. “I’m an old man Brooke but seeing your face is a balm to my weary soul.” She laughed at his flowery words.
“Then I’m glad I could help a not-so-old man out.” She winked back and he laughed.
Chase was happy with his position at the back of the line since it afforded him an up close and personal view of Brooke’s fine backside. It was a thing of beauty the way it swayed to its own rhythm with every step she took. He was mesmerized by the hypnotic sway, so much that he failed to notice she stopped at the landing and he smacked right into her. She gasped when his large hands circled her waist to steady her and the fire in his body stirred to a raging inferno. “I’ve got you,” he whispered in her ear, smiling at the small shiver that shook her body.
“Uh, yeah okay. Thanks,” she muttered before crossing the threshold into her room. The green room.
“Dinner is in an hour, I will come and get you then,” Galina spoke in stilted English, her accent thick and enchanting.
“Thank you Galina.” Brooke smiled at the small grin that lit up the housekeeper’s stunning face.
“My room is right next door,” Chase added with a smug smirk on his face. “I’ll pick you up for dinner.” He winked and left her staring at the empty space with a stunned look and flushed face.
Chapter Two
“No way Dad. No way in hell!” Ethan, the middle Silver brother, arrived after dinner for his father’s latest attempt to control their lives. The old man was crazy if he thought he could manipulate them this way.
“I’m with Ethan, Dad. This is crazy even for you.” Jackson was in no mood for his father’s games. He would settle down when he was good and damned well ready and not a moment sooner. Hell he was just 27 and that was way too young to settle down.
BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE: The Unforgettable Southern Billionaires: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Young Adult Rich Alpha Male Billionaire Romance) Page 38
