Projected Pleasure

by Projected Pleasure (lit)

  “How are the two loves of my life this morning?” Zachary asked, nuzzling her neck.

  “It seems we both woke up in a good mood.” Marley picked up their son, cradling him in her arms.

  She took the bottle Zachary handed to her and sat down in the rocking chair. Demetri went right to eating while she looked at him lovingly. Light poured into the room while her husband opened the curtains. Her perfect morning was ruined when Josephine walked into the room.

  “Cole told me what happened. I came to apologize about last night. You had every right to be upset, and I wanted to make amends.”

  Marley’s mind screamed for her to take Josephine out. But she had to remember their plan. Cuddling Demetri closer to her body, she smiled at the blonde as best she could without it looking forced.

  “You’re not to blame for anything. Like Zachary said last night, I received some very upsetting news and needed to take it out on someone. I’m sorry it had to be you. Please accept my apology. It was wrong of me to do.”

  “Of course. I hope you and I can be really good friends.”

  A smile broke across Marley’s face. But this time it was genuine. Just the thought of what they had planned for Josie cheered her up considerably. “I’m sure we will be. I have the best idea! How about you and I spend the day together?”

  The girl actually smiled back. “I would love that. We’ll be like sisters! I always wanted a sister. Maybe someday we will be. Not biologically of course, but in other ways.”

  “Sure. You never know.”

  Throbbing already began to make itself known in Marley’s head. Jesus, this was going to be a long day. Could she even make it halfway through without losing it? She would have to if they were ever going to get to put an end to whatever was going on. Sisters. This girl couldn’t be serious!

  Testing, testing. One, two, three. Marley, can you hear me? If so, come join me in bed. I’m not ready to get up, and I need you to keep me warm. Marley, helloooo.”

  She started laughing, shocked at Cole’s voice echoing in her head. So it had really worked. She almost hadn’t believed it. Last night all she heard were her own thoughts. Zachary cleared his throat, looking at her concerned. Realizing they couldn’t hear Cole, she wiped the smile off of her face and looked down at Demetri.

  Cole, I can hear you. Give me some time. You’re distracting me.

  Hurry! I want you to come cuddle with me.

  “Why don’t you go have breakfast and then have one of the maids go through my clothes to find you something to wear. I need to speak with my husband and spend some time with my son. I’ll meet up with you soon,” Marley said, looking back up at Zachary.

  “All right, I can’t wait. I’m going to go wake Cole up and tell him. He’s going to be so excited!”

  “I just bet he is.”

  Josephine walked out of the door, and Zachary came forward, kneeling before her as she lifted Demetri up to her shoulder. She began to pat his back lightly while she looked at her husband.

  “You saw Cole again last night. I know you were laughing about him, but I don’t know why. Marley, I think your change is erasing our marks completely.”

  Startled, she sat forward. “So remark me. Can you do that?”

  “Absolutely. Do you really want me to? Your mark as my mate is still intact. It’s just the blood tie that grows weak. I’m not sure anyone’s had to redo one before. Why were you laughing earlier?”

  Should she feel guilty? She wasn’t sure. Oddly, though, she didn’t. The only thing that worried her was that Zachary wasn’t going to take the news too well.

  “To answer your earlier question, yes, I saw Cole last night. I was laughing because I could hear his thoughts.”

  “You bit him again?” Zachary asked quietly.

  The look on his face was unreadable. “Yes, I’ve completed the blood tie.”

  “I see. But this is your third time biting him. Am I correct?”

  She watched him stand and walk to the window. Her heart began to ache. Why was her heart aching? She wanted to cry. Was she feeling what Zachary felt, or was she somehow deep down conflicted with these new emotions for two loves?

  “Yes, I’ve bitten him three times. The first marked him as my mate and started the tie.”

  “I figured as much. So let me get this straight. You’re my mate, and he’s yours because you’re truly an Alpha. Great. Just great.” Zachary sighed. “Well, I suppose you had to pick someone, and since you couldn’t pick me, I’m glad at least it’s Cole and not some stranger.”

  “Are you angry, though?” Marley asked hesitantly.

  “I’m not…angry. It’s just something I need to think on. The pack will have a hard time digesting this. I seriously don’t know what to do. Marley, this isn’t the way things are supposed to be. If we lived in old times, I’d either have to challenge you or kill you for taking another mate. But Cole was never a problem. You knew that from the beginning. Shit, I encouraged it! But the status of lover and mate are two totally different things.”

  Marley finished feeding Demetri and carried him over to the window by Zachary. Cole’s thoughts about Josephine burst through her mind, making her forget what she was about to say. Every word of their conversation was as clear as if she were standing in the room with them.

  “Cole, Marley’s going to spend the day with me. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  The groan almost made her smile. “Yeah, I bet she’s going to love that.”

  She’s going to hate every minute of it. Poor Marley. How she ever agreed to do something like that is beyond me. I can barely stand being around the girl, myself. She’s way too happy all the time. It just doesn’t seem normal.

  Josephine’s voice broke through Cole’s thoughts. Marley listened curiously. “What do you think we’ll do? She’s even going to let me borrow some of her clothes.”

  “I have no idea what she has planned, but I’m sure you’ll have fun. Marley is the most wonderful person I’ve ever known.” And the most beautiful, caring, considerate…Where is she? I wonder what she’s doing right now.

  Marley couldn’t see what they were doing, but she could hear Josie’s voice growing closer to her new mate. “I can be wonderful, too, Cole.”

  No, don’t get in the bed! Dammit! “I’m sure you can be. Right now, I need to get dressed and take care of some things. Have you eaten breakfast yet? There’s a really good buffet they have every morning downstairs.”

  Marley held in her laughter and focused back on her husband. “Zachary, Cole mentioned wanting to talk to you. What are you going to tell him?”

  Her husband turned away from the window and looked from her to their son. Zachary reached for Demetri, and she watched him cuddle the baby.

  “I’m not sure. I’m probably going to end up telling him the same thing I told you. I need to think over the situation.”

  She nodded, accepting his answer. If Zachary didn’t let her keep Cole as a mate, she would ultimately obey. She loved them both, but Zachary was her husband, and she loved him dearly. He had trusted that her and Cole’s relationship would remain on a certain status, and they had exceeded it.

  “Go get dressed and head down to breakfast, Marley. I’ll follow shortly with Demetri. I think we need some father-son time.”

  She smiled, kissing both of them before leaving the room. Giggling interrupted her thoughts, and she let Cole and Josephine’s conversation break through.

  “We’ll be really quiet,” Josephine whispered and giggled at the same time.

  Marley, dammit, come and rescue me. Shit! I don’t know how you both expect me to do this. I can flirt all day long, but foreplay with the possible enemy is not what I signed up for. Marley!

  Hearing the distress in Cole’s voice gave Marley an uneasy feeling. She didn’t like him being uncomfortable. Protectiveness took over and she increased her pace.

  “We could be quiet, but you forget people are awake and they’ll be looking for me soon. I’m supposed to…”r />
  Marley thought of something quickly. With a light knock, she barged right into Cole’s room, watching the startled Josephine nearly fall off the bed.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, was I interrupting? Cole promised he would fix my…shower, and since I would like to take one I was hoping he’d look at it now.”

  “Shower? Don’t you have a handy man around this mansion?” Josephine asked a little irritated.

  Took you long enough! “I’ll get right on that.”

  Cole jumped out of bed and threw on a pair of sweat pants over his boxers. He was out of the door before Marley could break her stare from his body.

  “I’ll see you at breakfast,” Marley said, quickly walking out of the room. She was not about to be trapped into another conversation with that girl before she had caffeine in her system. It was way too damn early for that.

  Chapter 17

  People poured in all morning from their pack. News about the incident traveled fast. Already, the house was beginning to become clustered. Bedrooms were being assigned, and people arrived with suitcases of clothing that surely would last them a good few weeks.

  Marley tore at the bacon viciously while she watched Cole and Josephine flirt from across the table. Their plan was going to be so much harder than she originally thought. Turning her attention to Zachary and her son, she tried to give a reassuring smile. The way he looked over at her was full of concern and caution.

  “So what do you ladies have planned today?” Cole asked, looking over at her.

  How about swimming? It could be fun. Think about it. Me, you, and sex in the water. It doesn’t get much better than that. Of course, we’ll have to find a way to ditch…what did you call her, a dimwit? Yes, we’ll have to ditch the dimwit.

  Cole’s mischievous grin caused her to smile at him. “I thought she could help me pick out merchandise for my store. Then, maybe we can go for a swim.”

  “That sounds like fun!” Josephine leaned over the table toward Marley. “You know, I know the perfect little water hole back in the woods. It could be exciting. We should all go. You can even bring Demetri. I’m sure he’d love to get out of the house.”

  The anger tightened Marley’s muscles, but she kept it under control. “Demetri isn’t allowed in the woods. You never know what could be lurking around out there.” She leaned closer toward Josephine, staring directly into her eyes. “There’s things filling the forest that can maul you beyond recognizable. I don’t think it would be very safe. What do you think?”

  The girl shuttered. “Well, now that you put it that way maybe it wasn’t the best plan. Did anyone ever tell you your personality is a bit gruesome?” She leaned back against her chair to provide distance between them.

  “Marley just has a very overactive imagination. But I love her for it,” Zachary said, kissing her cheek.

  She beamed a smile at him and turned her attention back to her food before she snapped at Josephine worse than she already had.

  Take her son in the woods. Ha! That had been a little forward for someone who knew she was suspected. But maybe she doesn’t have a choice, Marley thought.

  “You know, Josie, I realized you haven’t mentioned anything about your family. Why don’t you tell us about them?”

  For the first time, she watched the girl crumble. Repeatedly, Josephine began to fidget. Bingo. She was definitely hiding something about her family.

  “Well, my mom and dad are dead, so I lived with an aunt. Who, by the way, is a complete bitch. My brothers…they’re gone.” The girl got quiet as her bottom lip quivered. “I can’t find them. They just disappeared,” Josephine said, starting to cry.

  Marley immediately jumped to her feet. Fuck, her instincts told her the girl wasn’t lying. What in the hell was going on here?

  “I can’t do this anymore! I’m a horrible liar,” Josephine sobbed. “I’m so sorry, Marley. You were right all along. I am hiding something, but you all have to help me.”

  Stepping up beside her, Marley could smell the wolf in her flowing off in waves. Jesus! “Josie, talk to me. What do you need me to do? As long as you’re truthful with me, I will help you. But if I find out you’re lying, I quit being nice. Deal?”

  Red, swollen eyes greeted hers. “Deal,” she said, wiping her face on a napkin. “You said I was a wolf, and you’re right. I belong to no pack at the moment. My brothers were supposed to come back to get me and they didn’t. My older brother, Damon, or Demon as we like to refer to him, didn’t say where he was going, but my twin, Jordan, told me he was coming here, and I haven’t heard from him since.

  “Where is he?” She sobbed. “I thought you all killed him, but I can tell no one here would do that. The way you reacted to an attack last night proved to me you take care of your pack. I know you all wouldn’t let something happen to him.”

  Marley felt like she had been punched in the gut. Her whole body began to shake while she looked into Jordan’s brown eyes. How had she not made the connection before? Slowly, Marley backed away from Josephine, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

  “Jordan was your brother?” she whispered shakily.

  “Yes, you know him! I can tell. Where is he? Marley, please tell me. I’ll do anything, please!”

  Zachary’s arm eased around her, stopping her escape. “Marley take Demetri upstairs to Kylie. Then, if you want to come back down, you can. Josephine and I need to talk.”

  Giving the desperate girl one last look, Marley grabbed her baby as quickly as she could and ran out of the dining room. Being anywhere near someone who was linked to the man who marked her and wanted to kidnap her and her son flooded her with terror.

  She looked down at Demetri’s eyes and held him closer to her chest while she rushed up the stairs. Kylie was in the hall and opened her mouth to say something when she must have caught Marley’s anxiety.

  “What’s happened?”

  “You have to take Demetri and just…hold him, watch over him. Jesus, I’m so freaked right now. Josephine just announced she’s Jordan twin, and she’s looking for him.”

  “Oh, shit. Is Zachary with her?”

  “Yes, I’m going back down. I’ll tell you everything soon. Just, please, watch over him.”

  “You know I will. Marley, be careful,” Kylie said, already walking with Demetri into his room.

  The sound of a scream made her whole body go rigid. Her feet felt like lead. They refused to walk forward, but she had to go and face this girl. The whole reason Jordan died was because he wanted her and her son. She couldn’t become a coward now.

  Running back down the stairs, Marley paused just outside the dining room and walked in slowly. Cole was trying to comfort Josephine whose head rested against the table, crying. Zachary held a hand out to Marley for her not to move, but it was too late, the girl already heard her.

  “He’s dead because of you! You said I was responsible last night for killing your family, but you killed mine, for real. I had nothing to do with the attack. You killed my other half,” Josephine sobbed, resting her head back on the table.

  Nausea threatened. She had been so sure Josephine was somehow responsible. Now she wasn’t so sure. The girl lied last night, but possibly only concerning the whereabouts of her brother. What were they supposed to do now? They were right back to square one.

  “It wasn’t my fault. He wanted me and my son. Josephine, your brother was rival pack. You, of all people, should know what happens when a pack tries to dominate the other. He came here trying to take over. What were we supposed to do, let him? Zachary’s family was here first.”

  “Jordan wasn’t bad!” Josephine said, flying out of the chair. Marley watched the wood splinter as the blonde’s tiny fist slammed into the table. All that was left was a massive hole.

  “Now wait one minute,” Marley said, stepping forward. “That was Zachary’s mother’s table. If you want to destroy anything you can take your ass outside.”

  Zachary grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him. She looke
d up at him, and he quickly removed his hand.

  “What, are you going to make me?” Josephine snarled at her.

  Her fist knocked another hole through the table, and Marley was over the wooden divider before she realized it. She easily lifted the girl by the shoulders, glaring into her eyes.

  “I think I told you to keep your hands off of the furniture. Don’t make me teach you respect. If you didn’t buy it, then don’t break it, is that clear? I don’t want to have to hurt you, Josephine, but you’re making it extremely difficult. I’m sorry this happened, but it couldn’t be stopped.”

  The blonde laughed in her face and was suddenly gone. The pain that exploded against Marley’s face was unexpected. She could feel herself flying through the air. The contact she made with Zachary’s mothers china cabinet wasn’t even felt compared to the rage that exploded in her body the moment she heard broken glass.

  Pushing herself off of the ground, she sprung and hit Josephine full force, causing both of them to fly through the glass window and land on the grass outside.

  “I can’t believe you did that!” Marley screamed at her. “Do you know how long that’s been in the family!”

  They continued rolling around the grass, hitting each other. Nothing was getting accomplished except a rising amount of blood. Pain kept coming, and Marley kept delivering it right back.

  Twigs from the hedge were stuck in her hair, and her arm was throbbing painfully. She had no doubt she cut it from the window. Josephine proved impossibly powerful. It almost felt like the moment she gained ground, the girl made her push against a brick wall.

  “Truce!” Josephine yelled, panting.

  “I thought you’d never say so,” Marley said, sprawling out on the grass, breathing heavily.

  “Wow, you’re strong.” The blonde rolled onto her stomach to look at Marley. “Why don’t I know you? We share the same bloodline.”

  Marley’s eyes darted to the Josephine’s bloody face. “What do you mean we share the same bloodline? I’m not related to you. I’m not even from here. I came from Texas.”