by Dakota Trace
started, Ruzac has been able to reach you through your bond with me.”
112
“And you can do the same with Rand?”
“Of course she can! Are you daft, girl?”
Anger washed over her only to be replaced by humor. “Did you just call me girl?”
“Well that’s what you are.”
“That I am. But tell me Ruzac, do you call Rand boy?”
“Of course he does. Which irritates Rand to no end.”
“Woman! She was talking to me.”
With Ruzac’s scolding of Zara, Gracie was trying to control her laughter but lost it when Zara gave back as good as she was getting.
“Why don’t you go and see if Mica will let you sleep with him again tonight,
Ruzac? I fear that Aria might protest but you never know until you ask.”
* * * *
Rand was trying to relax on his bed. He smiled when he heard his Wildcat laughing out on the balcony. Having Ruzac go and pester her was a brilliant idea. I knew she’d find the humor in his battle of wills with Zara. They’re as bad as two kids fighting over the last piece of candy.
Even aware as he was of her presence such a short few feet away, he still didn’t trust himself to join her. Last night had stretched his control to the very limit. How in the name of Mica am I going to survive another ten days until we’re married? If she’d merged with me one more time, I was ready to say to hell with the formal wedding and take my Wildcat to the nearest minister. I’m just thankful Jonathan and Dad are willing to be the buffer between us until the wedding.
113
The knock on his door drew his attention. With a flick of his magic, he opened the door. If Jonathan thought there was anything odd in the fact that Rand hadn’t gotten up to answer it, he said nothing. But then again the man seemed focused on the folder he was holding. Finally Jonathan looked up.
“We’ve got a small problem, Rand.” He extended the folder to Rand.
Sitting up, he accepted the folder and began to flip through its contents.
“So what’s the problem? All I see is the documentation of your search into Alexander Costas and his cousin Harold.”
“Check the time stamp.”
Glancing down, it finally dawned on him. “These are stamped nearly two days ago. I hadn’t even asked you yet.”
“Exactly and I didn’t start my inquiry today.”
“Then how did…”
“Exactly! We’ve got a traitor amongst us. He’s using my security code to look into Gracie’s past and that can’t be good.”
“No, it isn’t. So what are you going to do about it?”
“First of all, it isn’t what am I going to do about it. It’s what we’re going to do about it.
I made a promise to your Dad to stick to your side like glue until the wedding.”
Rand nodded. “All right then what are we going to do about it?”
“I suggest we take a little road trip and pay a visit to Alexander Costas. Since this inquiry shows that Harold is off the planet at the moment, Alexander would be the most likely place to start and…”
114
“…we can find out if anyone has approached him about Gracie in the past two days.”
Rand rolled off the bed. "Give me ten minutes to hit the showers and we can leave.”
Jonathan nodded. “And what are you going to tell Gracie about your absence? I believe you told her something along the lines of her not leaving your side. Are we going to take her with us?”
Rand thought for a moment before answering. “No. I won’t place her in danger if there is a real threat. But instead why don’t you go ahead and talk to her about Alexander and Harold. Perhaps she might have an idea who might be looking.”
“Are you insane? Do you want me dead? She’ll kill me if I start asking her questions about her past relationships.”
“Chicken, Jonathan? Surely one little witch doesn’t scare you.” Rand couldn’t help but taunt his friend.
“And you’re not the one who ended up unconscious the last time she got pissed.
You do it.”
“Do I look like I’m in any shape to tangle with her right now? That’s why I’m pulling rank. You’re nominated.” Rand couldn’t help but laugh as he escaped into the bathroom. Jonathan’s cursing grew fainter as he turned on the shower.
* * * *
Gracie looked up when Jonathan joined her on the balcony. “Hey Jonathan, did Rand send you out here?”
“Can’t a guy look up his best friend for just the company?”
His evasion of the question didn’t fool her in the least bit. Arching her eyebrow at him, she moved with deceptive laziness. Satisfaction filled her when he flinched. “Yeah 115
right! I heard you talking to Rand. He left his French doors open. And I don’t have a clue as to who’d be checking into my past. I’ve nothing to hide by the way.”
“You know what he’s looking for, sweetheart.”
“Why the hell would he be looking for some mythical man? It doesn’t matter anymore, it’s not like he isn’t going to be the one getting me in the end, Zara.”
“Like you’d let such a thing go if you were in his shoes. It’s your own fault
he’s looking anyway.”
She groaned. “No one likes to be told, “I told you so,” by their sentient power, Zara.”
“But she does it so good, girl.”
“Go away, Ruzac, and take Zara with you. I’ve got better things to do than argue with a couple of sentient powers who think they know everything.”
“Ah Gracie?”
She turned her attention back to Jonathan. “What?”
“You’re not going to get angry?”
“No, I’m not going to get angry with you, Jonathan. Now Rand on the other hand…”
Knowing he wouldn’t expect it, she darted around him and locked the French doors with him on the other side. “…is going to pay.”
With complete disregard to Jonathan’s cursing on the opposite side of the doors, she followed the sound of running water.
* * * *
Rand was enjoying the feel of the hot water against his skin when suddenly the shower curtain was ripped back. Turning, he realized Gracie had somehow managed to slip past Jonathan and find him. 116
She’s going to chew my ass over this, I just know it.
"What?" He continued to run the wash cloth over his chest. Her eyes seemed to be glued to his actions.
"Damn you. Why can’t I come with you and Jonathan?”
He was sure she meant it as a demand but her lack of ire made it less than convincing.
“Because I want to keep you safe, Wildcat.”
“You think I can’t protect myself?”
“I’ve no doubt in your abilities, Gracie. But I fear what will happen if someone tries to hurt you.” Dragging the cloth down his stomach, he noticed with satisfaction her eyes followed before she jerked them back up to his face.
“They won’t! I can’t believe you’re assuming because I’m a woman I’m going to get hurt.” She propped her hand on her hip.
“I didn’t say you would, but the idea of it brings out the aggressive side of me and with the mezclar burning between us, I doubt my control over it.”
“So you get mad and do a little butt kicking? What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
"This!" He yanked her into the shower with him. Spinning her around, he pressed her up against the side of the shower with his hard body. Gracie gasped in surprise. Taking advantage of it, he thrust his tongue inside her mouth and ground his hips against hers.
When his head finally lifted, he stared down at her.
117
"This is what would happen if I lost control, Wildcat. I’d have you mounted before Jonathan could stop me. Many call the bloodlust after a battle an instant aphrodisiac and I don’t think we need to add fuel to the fire of the mezclar.”
"Oh." Understanding dawned in her
eyes.
Pulling her hand down his hard body, he placed it directly on top of his distended manhood. "This is what happens every time I am near you. I don’t need the bloodlust to make it worse. I can be across the room and just catch a whiff of your perfume and I rise to the occasion. I can’t control it and I don’t want to but until we’re bonded I have to.” His last word came out as a groan when she hesitantly stroked the throbbing flesh pressed against her hand. Closing his own around hers, he helped her stroke him one last time before pushing her hand away.
"Rand?" The question was obvious in her voice.
“Enough, Wildcat. Run before I..." He took a step towards her.
"I don't want to. Let me do this for you."
"Gracie?"
She dropped to her knees in front of him. "Relax, my chosen. You’ve decided you wanted me, so now you're going to have to deal with me." She took the head of his erection into her moist mouth. His back arched and his breath caught in his throat before he jerked against her, breaking the seal she had over the head of his throbbing cock.
"No! Stop! You can't do this." Lifting her up, he wrapped his arms around her to keep her hands from straying again.
118
"Why not? It’s obvious you’d feel better if I took the edge off for you. I know I would enjoy it."
"I'm sorry, Gracie. I just can't." He pressed his face against the top of her wet hair. "I just can't break the tradition."
"Damn your tradition." She became the wildcat he called her as she began to struggle against him.
"Calm down!"
"Let go of me." Gracie nipped at the closest skin to her.
"Ouch! Damn it! You little wildcat!”
"I said let me go." She glared up at him through the tangled mess of her hair.
“Are you going to calm down?”
Instead of answering him, she nipped him again.
* * * *
"Damn you!" He shoved her away from him. "Get the hell out of here!" Stumbling, she backed away from him. He stood in the shower with his erection bobbing and blood running down from the small wound she’d made on his chest. She’d never seen him this angry or aroused before. “I don’t think you should’ve done that, Sweetheart.”
“Shut up, Zara. I can’t deal with you right now.”
She focused on Rand. "Why? So you can go with Jonathan on this little trip? Why can’t he go by himself? Does he need the big bad prince of Venus to hold his hand?
Personally I just think you’re running so you don’t have to deal with what’s between us.
You’re using it as a distraction.”
119
When he continued to glare at her, she shrugged. “Whatever. Forget I asked.”
When she reached for the door to leave, it slammed shut in her face and an angry growl came from behind her. A sense of déjà vu washed over her.
"Who was the one who ran, Wildcat? Who is the one who’s been fighting our nuptials since the very beginning? Who is the one that triggered the mezclar?" He pinned her face first against the bathroom door.
"I was."
"That's right, Gracie, you were. I'm at the end of my rope here and it won't take much to push me over. I'm very close to saying screw it."
"You're ready to release me then?" She was almost in tears. "Have I pushed back hard enough, Rand? Will you back off now?"
Rand paused, his anger cooled as his control returned. "I won't ever back off." He gently nipped her shoulder. "You're mine and you'll always be mine. You've been mine for over ten years."
"I'm not an object to own, Rand."
"I didn't say you were. I said you were mine as I am yours." He nuzzled side of her neck. "We complete each other."
“So I’ve been told.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“It doesn’t matter if I do or not. Good luck with Alexander, Rand.” With a counter spell, she unlocked the door and slipped past Jonathan. Walking through the broken French doors, she walked back to her room, her heart heavy once more.
“It’ll be all right, Gracie.”
120
“I can only hope so.”
* * * *
Grace watched from the palace study as Rand and Jonathan left the grounds. Damn, I wanted to go with them. It would’ve been just like old times, us having another adventure sure to turn our parents’ hair gray with worry.
"Gracie, are you in here?" Turning, Grace saw her sister standing in the middle of the study.
"Yes.” She turned back to watch Rand and Jonathan disappear from sight. The tug of loneliness surprised her.
“I'm coming back, Wildcat.”
“And I’ll be waiting, whether I want to be or not.”
“That’s right. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Maybe.”
“Did he take that traitor with him?” Pati joined her in front of the window.
“Traitor?” Glancing at her sister from the corner of her eye, she noticed how pale her sister seemed.
“Jonathan.”
“Yeah, he went with him. Hell, they go everywhere together. I wouldn’t be surprised to find him in the wedding suite with Rand and I during the mezclar.”
“The pervert probably would enjoy it.”
“Why are you so angry with him?”
“He’s been visiting my dreams every night. And once he’s there he takes control.”
121
“I warned you about that, Sis. I don’t know of a way to keep him from entering them but I may have a way that you can take control of them once he’s there.”
“Really?” Pati seemed to perk up at the thought..
"Stay with me tonight and I’ll help you take the upper hand with him for once," Gracie told her mischievously.
"How? What will you do?"
“I'll wait until you're asleep, then I'll merge with you. Then I’ll merge with Jonathan taking you with me.”
“He won’t fight you?”
“No. I've merged with him before. Even if he did, there's a chance I'd win.” When her twin stiffened, Gracie threw an arm around her. “Relax, he won't hurt me and I won’t hurt him."
"Will he realize I'm there?"
"That's going to be the pleasure of it. I'm gonna drop you right in his bed and then disappear."
"Won't I disappear with you?" Patience looked perplexed.
"No. Once the dream merge is accomplished, he'll take control of it. Then the rest is up to you."
"Can I have him tied to the bed because it’s the only way I’m going to be able to keep control.”
“I think I can arrange that.”
* * * *
122
Later that night, Gracie kneeled next to her sister's sleeping body. It’d taken a while for Pati to finally submit to sleep. The excitement of what she’d proposed had kept her sister wired. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she entered her sister's dream. She was waiting for her.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
"All right, now hang on to me." Gracie started blurring the edges of the dream. When the edges went back to normal, they were standing in a dimly lit room. She could hear groans coming from the bed, and so could her sister. Putting her finger to her mouth to let her sister know to be quiet, she edged over to Jonathan's side. She was not shocked to see her sister under him.
Walking back over to her sister she smiled, then whispered softly, "Don't worry, Sis.
He's just having an erotic dream. I’ve had this happen once with Rand. The moment you lock eyes with the dream version of you, you'll become her. So be prepared for the onslaught of sensations." Just then, the couple behind climaxed on the bed. "Or wait until he finishes and go rape him."
Turning, she saw Jonathan roll over on his back with the woman draped across his heaving chest. Just before her sister headed over to the bed, she stopped her.
"Do you still want him tied up?"
"Yes."
With a wave of her hand, Gracie made it so.
; * * * *
123
"What the hell?" Jonathan was bewildered when he realized he was restrained.
Then the woman on top of him lifted her head and smiled boldly down at him.
"Hello." She giggled at his shocked expression.
"Patience? How?" He struggled to free his arms.
"My sister. Thanks, Gracie."
"You're welcome. Have fun." Grace's voice floated over to them, then there was a shiver and she was gone, leaving them alone and Patience in control.
"I can't believe you’re here. I never figured you’d want to come to me, Pati. Untie me and I’ll take care of you."
"No. I think I like you just the way you are." She wiggled on top of him to prove it.
"Patience! This isn’t funny." His glare was lost on her.
"This time, it's my turn. I get to be in control." She leaned forward to kiss him.
"Wait..."
Silencing him by covering his mouth with hers, she decided she loved the taste of him. She sighed with delight when she felt him strain against his bonds.
"Relax, I'm not going to do anything you haven't done to me." She nipped at the edge of his ear before exploring the inner curves with her tongue. Jonathan gritted out a curse while pleasure ran down his spine. If only he could get free.
Patience smiled wickedly as she continued down his throat to the crook of his shoulder. She couldn't resist. She took the sensitive skin there in her mouth and started to suck. She smiled happily and continued to play as Jonathan cursed.
“I’ll get free eventually, Pati and there’ll be pure hell to pay.” When she continued to suck on his shoulder, he groaned.
124
"Damn it, you better not have left a hickey."
"What you’re gonna do if I did?" She didn’t wait for his answer while she slid down his torso.
"Oh, you little minx," he muttered when her hair trailed across his stomach. He nearly pulled his arms out of their sockets when he felt her warm mouth envelope his hard cock.
