Changing Hearts

by Marilu Mann

  “Shifters sometimes lose control during a full moon. We call it moonlust. Joie? You’re on that patch thing, right?”

  “I haven’t replaced it this week.”

  “You mean I could have gotten you pregnant?”

  “Would that be so terrible?” Joie kept her voice soft and she couldn’t meet his eyes.

  “I don’t know.” Malcolm moved her slightly then wrapped his arms around her again. “I have to leave, Joie. I have to go back to New Orleans. The Pack will keep coming here if I don’t. I don’t want to put you and Kay in any more danger.”

  “I understand that you have to go, but then can’t you come back here?” She hated the pleading note in her voice but wanted to know how he felt. Did his feelings for her echo her love for him? Did he want a baby? His “I don’t know” reopened an old wound.

  “I may not be able to come back, Joie.” Malcolm took a deep breath. “Can we talk about something else?”

  “Are you hungry?” Since he wouldn’t accept comfort in one form, maybe she could offer it in another.

  “Yeah. Starving.” Malcolm smiled as Joie got up, straightened her skirt, removed her ruined bra and pulled her shirt down. She moved quietly toward the sink where she washed her hands, watching him the entire time. He never took his eyes off her either. Joie turned to the fridge. “There’s leftover gumbo that you missed the other night.”

  “That’s fine, baby.” Malcolm stood and stretched. “I’m gonna take a quick shower.”

  Joie turned in time to watch him change into animal form then back into human quickly. He rubbed his thigh then glanced at her. “Good as new, well, almost.”

  Malcolm winked then headed down the hall. Joie watched him walk away, the muscles in his back and legs moving fluidly and sexily. She wondered how many more times she could watch him walk away before her heart shattered for good.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Slade stood in the shower, letting the water flow over him, his mind racing. He could still smell Joie on his skin. He’d taken her twice like the animal he really was, and all he could think about was how damn good she’d felt in his arms.

  Even knowing he’d put her in danger he couldn’t just walk away from her. Shaking water out of his face, Slade bathed quickly then stepped out of the shower. The important thing now had to be making sure Joie and the old woman stayed safe.

  He’d have to go back to New Orleans, to the compound, sooner than he really wanted to but there was no way Maggie would let go of this. Her showing up here proved that.

  Slade pulled on a pair of jeans but didn’t bother with any other clothing. He realized he’d left his other jeans in the woods. Oh well, he’d retrieve them later. Slade left the bathroom, intent on finding Joie. He could smell her in the small living room, could feel her agitation as she paced across the floor. Stepping out of her bedroom, he paused to watch her for a moment.

  He leaned against the doorframe, waiting for her to acknowledge him. He knew she was aware of him, he just waited to see what had her so agitated. She suddenly spun to face him, proof to him that she could sense him.

  “Malcolm, I’m worried about you.”

  Of all things he’d expected her to say that had to be the last! She was worried about him?

  “Why?”

  “Well, I think it’s obvious that Maggie isn’t going to stop coming after you. You’ve got to do something to get her off your back. She’s horrible. She made me cold all over. How could you—”

  She stopped suddenly, biting her lip. She really didn’t need to say anything else. He knew exactly what she asked. Slade walked into the room, took Joie’s hand then sat down on the couch, pulling her down beside him.

  “You’re right. Maggie isn’t going to stop coming after me.” He smoothed her hair away from her face then tipped her chin up so that she met his eyes. “I plan to get her off my back, permanently.”

  Slade pulled Joie against his side when she shivered then spoke quietly to the top of her head. “She was Alpha Bitch, baby. In some ways I’m just like any other man, I have sexual needs. If I wanted to fulfill those needs it had to be with the Alpha Bitch.”

  “Then why are you making love to me? I’m not Alpha anything.” Her words were mumbled into his chest, her hand lay lightly over his heart.

  “You’re so much more than that, Joie.” He wrapped his arms tight around her, holding on. “With Maggie, it was just a release. With you, it’s so much more. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you and it scares the shit out of me.”

  “Malcolm?” Joie shoved against his chest until he released her enough so that she could see his face. “What are you saying?”

  “Joie, I…” Slade stopped, his throat closing up on the words he’d never said to anyone. “You…” he tried again, but still couldn’t say it.

  “It’s okay, Malcolm.” She stroked her hand over his chest then kissed him softly, her lips brushing across his. “Come eat, I know you’re starving. We’ll talk later.”

  She got up and walked across the room. The sway of her hips caused him to clench his fists. She glanced at him over one shoulder, a smile on her beautiful mouth and he knew in that instant that he’d follow her anywhere. He’d heel if she wanted him to. Joie Sue Landry, a tiny human female had done the near impossible. She’d tamed him and tamed him good.

  Slade got off the couch to follow the only woman he’d ever love into the kitchen. He wanted to sit across the table from her just to stare at her as he ate. Then he wanted to take her to bed and make love to her until the sun came up. She was the only good thing in his life and he intended to hold on as long as he could.

  * * * * *

  Maggie limped into the compound, cradling her right arm and with the back of her neck stinging like mad. She’d come to while Slade had been fucking his new bitch. The impulse to kill them both had ridden her hard, but she knew there was no way she could’ve take Slade on again right then. She’d left them there, fucking their brains out, and made her way back to where she’d hidden her car.

  The bastard had broken her arm—again. The bite marks on her neck would take some healing time as well. He must have stomped on her side too, because she’d felt the bones moving as she’d shifted.

  “Maggie? You okay?” Frank loped up to her, holding his hand out.

  “Do I look okay?” She moved away from him before he could touch her. He might be the most Alpha thing around right now, but his touch left her totally cold. He insisted on treating her like a female instead of as an equal. “I found him. The bastard’s still alive.”

  “Tell me where he is. I’ll take care of him.” Frank tried to put his arm around her and she growled as she shook him off again.

  “You’ll leave him alone. He’ll be coming here, after me if for no other reason. Until he does, you stay out of it.”

  “Maggie…”

  She kicked him as hard as she could, right in the balls. Frank crumpled to the ground, both hands on his crotch.

  “You’ll do what I tell you, damn you. I’m in charge here right now.”

  Leaving him on the ground, she limped her way into the house. Several other Pack members stood in the hallway but they knew enough to stay out of her way. None of them made eye contact with her. Frank would learn the same, or she’d deal with him when the time came.

  Maggie walked into her bedroom, the largest one on the second floor, then through it to the connecting bathroom. Studying her face, she cursed Slade again. The bastard had given her a black eye.

  She’d give it back to him, that and more, now that she knew exactly how to get to him. Slade, the high and mighty Alpha, had become involved with a human.

  “Well, sweetheart, let’s see how you like it when your lover is threatened.”

  Maggie walked back into the bedroom and over to the intercom. She pushed a button that would send her voice throughout the house. “Slice, Ramsey, get your asses up here, now.”

  She moved into the bathroom and started
water running in the tub. When the boys arrived she’d give them a show that would have them salivating and ready to do whatever she wanted them to do, including kidnapping Slade’s new toy and bringing her back to the compound. She wondered how the little human female would like entertaining the younger males in the Pack. In the meantime, she stripped, changed rapidly from human to wolf then back again. Maggie picked up a silk robe to await the two men she’d called.

  Kidnapping that little slut would get Slade right where she wanted him. A discreet knock sounded on the bedroom door, and then it opened to admit the two men she’d called. Slice, she wasn’t too sure of, he’d followed all of Slade’s instructions with a little too much enthusiasm. Ramsey she knew she could have anytime she wanted. He’d been hers to use as she wished for a long time.

  Maggie turned her back on the two of them and bent over. She felt their gazes resting on her ass and smiled. Straightening slowly, she stripped, knowing they were both watching her closely.

  “Come here, Slice.” He moved fast, coming up beside her without touching her. “Tell me about Dougie.”

  “He’s dead.”

  Maggie raised an eyebrow even as she reached out to cup Slice’s balls in her hand. She squeezed lightly, watching his eyes flash. “Did you find out any more about anyone helping Slade get away?”

  “No. Dougie didn’t know anything, Maggie.”

  She squeezed a bit harder and heard his quick intake of breath, saw the desire in his eyes, felt the moisture gathering in her own body. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Well, good riddance to bad rubbish anyway. Ramsey, take off. I don’t need you right now.” Maggie didn’t wait to see if he’d follow her directions, she pulled Slice against her and ran her tongue over his throat, getting the taste of him in her mouth. “Get naked, Slice. I’m going to let you fuck me.”

  Maggie laughed as she released him and he hurried to strip out of his clothes. Maybe she’d been wrong about him. Maybe Slice would do nicely as her next consort. She wouldn’t make the same mistake she’d made with Slade. Maggie had always been able to control her lovers and direct their actions using sex.

  Not so with Slade. He’d been the one using her, and only for a physical release. He had never consulted or confided in her about his true goals. She’d done her best to manipulate him, to get him to do what she wanted. Her failure with him had led to the plot with Cutter to kill him. After all, since she couldn’t control Slade, she’d needed to eliminate him, permanently. Cutter had definitely been hers. He’d worshipped the ground she walked on, had done anything and everything she wanted him to do, including going after Slade. She missed him.

  Maggie turned off the water as she stepped into the garden tub then turned to watch Slice. He was good-looking, young, built. He had a few too many tattoos for her taste but he was well hung enough. It all depended on whether or not he knew what to do with what he had. From the interest in his face as she’d squeezed his balls, she thought he just might be able to satisfy her particular needs.

  Maggie sank back into the warm water as Slice stepped into the tub. If nothing else, he’d take her mind off Slade and that little slut he’d been fucking.

  “Grab that shampoo, Slice. Pour some in your hands and get it warm. I want you to wash my hair.” Maggie turned her back on him, watching his actions in the mirrored wall around the tub. He had a smile on his face and he was fully erect as he followed her directions to the letter.

  * * * * *

  Slade ate three bowlfuls of Joie’s gumbo before he even started to feel full. Joie sat across from him picking at a bowl until he reached out to touch her hand.

  “Joie? Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “How can you say that? We know for sure they’re coming after you. They won’t stop, will they?”

  “No. I have to go back to New Orleans. I’ll have to face the Pack. But right now, the only place we’re going is to bed. When will the old woman be back?” He knew he’d get a rise out of her by calling Kay that and she didn’t disappoint.

  “I wish you’d call her Tante, or at least Kay.” Joie put their bowls in the sink and ran water in them. When she turned around, he was right behind her.

  Slade trapped her against the counter and kissed her. She responded immediately, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing close to him. He kissed her until they were both breathless then backed up a step.

  “You get to me, baby, you really do.” Slade held his hand out and Joie put her hand in his. He started walking down the hall backward, pulling her with him.

  “Where are we going?” She smiled as she asked the question and he grinned back at her.

  “To bed.”

  “Malcolm, it’s not even six o’clock.”

  “Yeah? So?”

  “Why are we going to bed?” The gleam in her eye told him she teased him again. He loved it when she did that. Loved it? Slade stopped suddenly and pulled her into his arms.

  “We’re going to bed because I need you. I need to fu…make love to you. I need to hold you and know that you’re safe. I need to be inside you.”

  He heard the catch in her breath and couldn’t believe he’d just spilled his guts that way. She really was turning him into a pet and the weird thing was, it didn’t freak him out! Joie tilted her head back to smile at him.

  “I love you, Malcolm.”

  Slade shook his head slightly then groaned as he leaned forward to kiss her. He kissed her over and over, holding tightly to her, stealing her breath, giving her back his.

  “Joie, Joie,” he whispered her name as her cool hands moved over his waist and up his back. Slade tilted her head back again to stare into her eyes. “I…” the ringing phone startled him. He hadn’t even noticed a phone in the cabin.

  “Say it, Malcolm.” Joie squeezed him, a smile hovering on her face.

  “Get the phone, baby. It might be important.” Slade released her, leaning against the wall as she moved into the living room.

  He could only hear her side of the conversation but the note of worry in her voice concerned him. Slade moved into the living room to stand beside her.

  “Okay, just stay there, we’ll come get you.” Joie disconnected the phone then turned to him. “Tante’s stranded. The boat motor just died. She’s not sure what’s wrong with it and Boudreaux’s not home to fix it. I need to go pick her up.”

  She started away from him and Slade grabbed her arm. “Wait. I think you’d be safer here. I’ll go get the old…” A look from Joie adjusted his verbiage. “Kay. Give me directions.”

  Joie stared at him as if he’d just grown two heads. “You’ll go get her?”

  “Yeah. Don’t look so surprised, baby.” For some reason her shock irritated him. It wasn’t as if he hated the old witch. She meant something to Joie. And he realized that Kay meant something to him as well. She’d fully accepted him into her family so he’d do everything he could to ensure her safety.

  “Malcolm, don’t be silly, I’ll come with you.” Joie put a hand on his forearm. He waited a moment to enjoy the softness of her touch.

  “No. You’ll be safer here.” And he realized just how important it had become to him that she stay safe. “Besides, I’m pretty sure I can get the engine up and running again. You just stay inside the cabin and keep that shotgun handy, okay?”

  Her hair fell into her face as she nodded. Reaching out tentatively, he tucked a random curl behind her ear. The silky texture seemed to burn into his skin. He resisted the urge to pull her down the hall to her bed. Kay needed a knight in shining armor, since there wasn’t one around, this slightly tarnished outlaw shifter was apparently good enough for them. So be it.

  He grabbed his shirt and shoes, sitting down to pull them on. Joie sighed as she found paper and pen. She wrote directions down for him on how to find Boudreaux’s place then stood in front of him until he looked up at her.

  “Promise me you’ll be careful.” Her moss-green eyes reflected s
omething he didn’t recognize at first.

  “I promise. Swear you’ll stay inside with the shotgun handy.”

  “I will.”

  Slade pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. Joie buried her face in his neck and he felt her place a kiss just below his jaw.

  “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  Then it hit him. Joie was worried about him. She would wait for him to get back. That had to be the most amazing thing anyone had ever said to him. He couldn’t remember a time ever in his life that anyone had waited for him, worried about him. He felt his face split into a grin that allowed nothing but joy to shine through in that moment. Hell, he might even be able to forgive Maggie and Cutter. The smile fell off his face. No. There was nothing forgivable about either of them. Joie stirred in his arms.

  “Malcolm? What is it?”

  “Nothing, baby. Nothing. Just me thinking about some unfinished business.” Slade got to his feet slowly, still holding her in his arms. He released her legs, letting her slide down his body. Joie stepped out of his arms and followed him to the back door. Slade cupped her face in one hand.

  “Lock the door and shoot anyone you don’t know.” He leaned down, kissed her again, then loped around the side of the cabin. He started his bike and roared off down the drive.

  Joie watched until his bike rounded the curve to the main road then she closed and locked the door. He’d been on the verge of telling her he loved her, she just knew it. Just as she knew that she most assuredly loved him. Twice he’d made love to her without protection. She put her hands on her stomach as she thought hard about having Malcolm’s baby.

  Could it be possible? Could he have impregnated her this afternoon? She wanted to know more about moonlust, wanted to know more about shifters and their emotions. No, that wasn’t quite true, she only wanted to know more about Malcolm’s emotions. She could go the rest of her life without ever seeing Maggie again! But not Malcolm.

  “Pregnant? Oh Mon Dieu, would he want a baby? Would he be glad if I lost the baby? Would he ask me to…” Joie couldn’t let herself voice the words. And nothing, not even Malcolm’s fury, would prevent her from carrying his child to term if she was so blessed.