by Faith Gibson
“You know I can’t leave,” Hector pled.
If Achilles gave him an ultimatum, Hector would choose to stay with his brother, and Achilles would be the loser. “I know, but it doesn’t hurt to want.” Achilles rose from the bed and turned to his mate. “I will get you the information you seek, but then I’m leaving.” Achilles strode toward the bathroom, needing to put some distance between them.
“For how long?” Hector asked.
As long as it takes to forget you.
Alistair slammed his phone down. Fucking Achilles refused to take his call. “Godsdamnit!” he yelled, fisting his hands at his sides. Sergei was in the penitentiary with Kallisto. Both Crane and Drago were missing. As far as he could tell, the only positive thing that had come from sending the human to the States was that Julian’s mate was also sitting in prison. If Achilles did his job as well as he should have, Katherine Fox wouldn’t see the light of day anytime soon.
Fucking Achilles. Alistair needed the male to answer his fucking phone. He had spent too much time and energy, not to mention money, with the man for him to disappear now. Achilles was the best at what he did. Better than Julian Stone. If Achilles didn’t contact Alistair soon, Alistair would have to begin looking for a replacement. How he loathed godsdamn incompetency.
Alistair stepped out onto his balcony and stared down at the grass that had started to grow over Theron’s grave. “This is all your fault. If you had done as I instructed instead of going off after your lover, we wouldn’t be in this position!” he roared at his dead son. Alistair jumped over the banister, landing a few feet from Theron’s grave. He strode to the headstone and released his claws. Alistair swiped the sharp appendages over the granite, marring the words inscribed there. Chest heaving, Alistair declared, “I’ll fucking take care of this myself.”
Desirae paddled out into the cold water. As the white wash approached, she grabbed the rails of her surfboard and executed a turtle roll until the wave passed overhead. When she flipped back upright, she paddled farther out. Each time she performed the maneuver, the water washing over her body was like a baptism of sorts. Riding the waves, being one with her board was Desirae’s religion – the ocean her church. Having Michael there alongside her was the path to righteousness.
The sand was dotted with her son and their new family. Desi and Simone were walking along the water’s edge, hand in hand. Desirae hadn’t talked to Desi about his future with his pretty mate, but Michael had. He had stepped into his role as father, talking Desi through all his doubts and fears about rushing things with Simone. Handing over the parental reins had been easier than Desirae expected it to be; then again, she was handing them over to Michael.
Tessa’s laughter at something Trevor said floated over the breeze, bringing a smile to Desirae’s face. Her new friend was infectious. Jasper and Gregor were passing a football. Dominic and Lilly were reclined on a couple’s lounger. Today was their last day together before the others had to go back to their lives. Desi and Simone were moving into the guest house, where they could have privacy as they sealed their bond. That and the fact Desi never wanted to hear his parents having sex again.
“Here it comes, Doll,” Michael yelled. Desirae began paddling toward the shore. As soon as she felt the wave push her, she paddled a couple more times before placing her hands flat in front of her and popping to her feet. She wobbled a bit, but still managed to ride the small swell all the way in. Michael let out a loud woohoo for her, and Tessa let out an ear-piercing whistle.
Desirae and Michael surfed a couple of hours before spending time on the sand with the others. Eventually, they packed it up and headed back up the hill to the villa. Saying goodbye was hard, but Michael promised they could visit her new family any time she wanted. While the males all did handshakes and man hugs, the women gave each other full-on embraces. Desirae’s heart was full at having this new family.
Jasper and Trevor were still in awe of Desi, but the two of them had been instrumental in Desi’s recovery. Jasper and Desi bonded over their similar ordeal at being poisoned, but it was Trevor who had Desi’s deepest gratitude. No longer was the young man merely a fan of Desi’s. He was now family. They both were. Jasper and Trevor were flying back to New Atlanta with Gregor and Tessa on the Clan’s jet via New Orleans. Tessa had promised Trevor a sightseeing tour of her favorite city, and she was making good on her promise.
“Trevor, Jasper, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did. When Cyanide Sweetness rolls into New Atlanta, I’ll be hanging out with Mom and Dad for a few days. I’d love for you to come visit before the show. I’ll also have full access passes for you both as well as Travis. I’m really looking forward to meeting your brother,” Desi announced to the room. Everyone was smiling and saying they were looking forward to the concert, but Michael was staring at his son. Desirae hadn’t missed the fact Desi called Michael “dad”. Michael hadn’t missed it either.
After the three couples had left, Desi took Simone’s hand. “I think we’re going to take our things down to the guest house. Maybe order a pizza.” Simone nodded her agreement. Desirae hoped there was more than pizza on the menu. It was time for Desi to make Simone his mate. The young woman had talked to her roommate, and Josie was ready to move to California to be near her best friend. Rae knew how important friends were, especially now that she had some once again.
“That sounds like a good plan. I think your mother and I are going to tackle some of the leftovers. No sense in letting all Tessa’s hard work go to waste.”
Desirae agreed wholeheartedly. Eating leftovers meant she didn’t have to cook, and it also meant she could get Michael naked sooner.
“Rae.”
Desi, recognizing Michael’s tone, laughed and said, “Please. Let us get out of earshot before you two tackle anything. Last night scarred me for life.” Desi closed the distance to where they were standing. “Seriously, though. If you two weren’t how you are, I wouldn’t be here. Up until this point, I’ve led a charmed life. A full life. With you two as parents and Simone as my mate, it’s now a perfect life. I love you both.” Desi didn’t bother trying to stop the tears as he pulled them into a hug. Desirae opened her arm to Simone, and the four of them held on to each other for a few moments.
The kids said goodnight and headed toward the guesthouse. Michael put his front to Desirae’s back as they watched their son and his mate walk down the path that led to their future. Desirae let out a sigh, content to be held by the male who had at one time ripped her world apart. It had taken twenty-four years, but Michael had sewn it all back together with a thread so strong it would never come undone.
“What’s next?” she asked, still looking out the window as the sun was setting in the distance.
“Next, you get naked. Then we eat and we fuck. Then we eat. Then we fuck some more,” Michael growled into her ear.
Desirae turned in his arms, smiling at his beautiful face. “I mean next after that.”
“Well, that’s up to you. We can hang out here, surfing, and making babies. Or, we can visit New Atlanta, let you get acquainted with the other mates, hang out, and make babies.”
Desirae couldn’t stop grinning. It seemed her mate had an agenda. “So, what you’re saying is we’re going to make babies.”
Michael’s eyes softened, and he kissed Desirae softly. “Yes,” he whispered against her lips. “We’re definitely going to make babies. This time, I’m going to be there with you every step of the way. I am going to be the best father any baby has ever seen.”
“You already are,” she assured him. Forgetting about leftovers, Michael picked Desirae up and carried her to their bedroom, where they commenced to making babies.
“Are you sure about this?” Desi asked Simone. As soon as they entered the guesthouse, his beautiful mate began stripping out of her clothes.
“Desmond Michael Rothchild, I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life. Now either you get over here and take care of me, or I’m going
to take care of myself. I’ve spent the last year wanting you from afar. I’ve spent the last few days aching for your touch. Please don’t make me beg.”
You are one stupid fucker. Get over there and make her ours!
Desi shook his head, trying to mentally get his shifter to shut the fuck up. Desi was nervous. He’d had sex before, but this was different. This was the female he was going to spend the rest of his life with. He had talked to his father about what would happen when Desi finally bit Simone. It had been awkward at first, but Michael talked him through it.
Simone’s body was unlike any Desi had ever seen. Her mocha skin was smooth and unblemished. No ink adorned her body where his was practically covered. Her hair was soft and curly. Light brown eyes stared at him, waiting to see what he would do. Long, talented fingers toyed with nipples at the end of her full breasts. When one hand smoothed down her stomach to where heaven waited, he moved. With shifter speed, he picked her up and carried her to the nearest bedroom. He placed her on top of the comforter then shed his clothes in record time. “This is going to be fast and rough, Simone. My beast has been waiting too long to be anything other than rough.”
“I know. I also know that when you bite me it will heighten our orgasms. I asked your mom.”
Fuck her now. I want to bury our cock deep in her pussy. Look at her; she’s dripping for us.
Desi stroked his cock as his shifter tried to take control. Simone was up on her elbows, her eyes dark with desire. He risked looking between her legs, and sure enough, her arousal was glistening. When Simone’s breathing changed, Desi cut his eyes to her face. She licked her lips, and he lost the small amount of control he’d been hanging onto. Yes, finally. I want to feel those luscious lips suck our cock. Desi crawled onto the bed, straddling Simone’s body. Ignoring the commentary from inside his head, he continued tormenting his dick with his fist, waiting to see what she would do. As much as he wanted to shove his cock into her beautiful pussy, he wanted to see it sliding in and out of her wet mouth more.
Simone slid back until she was resting against the headboard. She gazed at him seductively through her long eyelashes as she reached out and replaced his hand with hers. “Come closer,” she requested. Desi did as she bade, knee-crawling toward his mate until his dick was level with her mouth. As soon as she wrapped her lips around the leaking tip, he chest thundered with need from deep within.
“Yes...” he hissed at the same time his shifter growled in his head. Simone fondled his balls with one hand while she stroked his length with the other. She licked the salty slickness off the tip before sliding him as far into her mouth as she could take him. He didn’t want to hurt her, but the urge to fuck her face was becoming too great to ignore. “Simone, I...” When she swallowed around the head of his cock, Desi pulled out and moved to the end of the bed. With his chest heaving, he grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her body down onto her back. “I can’t wait,” he warned as he impaled her in one quick thrust.
“Oh, shit!” Simone screamed.
Desi froze. That was what he’d been afraid of. He’d hurt his mate.
“Move, dammit!” she yelled again, pushing her body up to meet his. “Please, Desi. I need you.”
“I didn’t hurt you?” he asked, still not taking a chance until she looked him in the eye and told him the words he needed to hear.
“Not yet, you didn’t. But I’m going to hurt you if you don’t fucking move!”
Relieved that she was okay, Desi grinned at his sassy mate. “Yes, ma’am.” He did as she asked and slid in and out of her wet, tight pussy. Nothing in his life had ever felt so right. Simone’s body fit his perfectly.
Bite her now. Make her ours. His shifter was begging to take over, and Desi was ready to let it. This was it. The moment they truly became bonded for the rest of their lives.
“Simone...”
“Do it, Dez. Bite me. Make us one,” she urged, tilting her head to the side and exposing her neck.
Desi’s fangs elongated and his wings unfurled. Simone gasped, and her eyes widened. Before he could stop her, she reached out and touched the edge of one. As soon as her fingers made contact, his orgasm tore through his body. Desi’s insides were on fire one second and doused with an arctic blast the next. He let out a roar he was sure would burst his mate’s eardrums. His vision blurred, Simone fading into nothingness. What the fuck is happening?
What the fuck are you waiting for? Do it now!
Desi obeyed the beast and blindly leaned down to where he knew Simone’s neck to be. He sank his fangs into her shoulder, the coppery tang of blood hitting his tongue. Instinct told him to retract his canines and clean the affected area. Desi’s orgasm ceased pulsing inside Simone’s body, but her pussy was still convulsing around him. Wow. He’d never come close to blacking out from an orgasm. That was some powerful shit. Desi wondered if every time would be as explosive, or if it was because of the mating. He didn’t remove his softening cock. Instead, he cleaned her neck with his tongue while he waited for his vision to return.
“Desi...”
“Hmmm?”
“Desi, oh god, that was... Wow,” his mate purred as she stroked her hands down his back where his wings had been seconds before.
“I know. That was intense,” Desi murmured into her neck.
“Intense doesn’t even come close. Are you okay?”
“Hang on.” He didn’t dare tell her what was going on.
“Desi, please look at me.” She pushed at his shoulders, trying unsuccessfully to get him to move. “You’re squishing me, you big lug, now move,” Simone demanded.
“Sorry,” he apologized, rolling off to the side. He covered his eyes with his forearm, praying his sight would return soon. Simone’s hand circled his wrist, pushing his arm out of the way. Desi blinked, a little light seeping in.
“Holy fucking hell!” Simone exclaimed. “Your eyes. Desi, oh my god!”
“What? Simone, what the hell’s going on? I can’t see you.” Desi continued to blink until a faint outline of his mate was visible.
“What do you mean you can’t see me?” Simone crawled off the bed. “I’m going to get your parents.”
“No, don’t. Not yet. Simone, please...”
The bed dipped as she sat back down. “Desi, your eyes... they’re the same color as mine.”
“That’s impossible,” he huffed. His eyes were almost black they were so dark. He had his father’s eyes. They couldn’t change. Maybe Simone’s vision was fucked up like his was. He blinked a few more times, and she finally came fully into focus. “There you are. That was some freaky shit. I thought I was going to pass out. How do you...” Simone’s eyes were no longer golden brown. They were black. The same color his had been. Shit. It wasn’t possible. “You’re not going to believe this...”
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Sixx moved the corn around the grill, making room for the steaks. When word got around he and Rae were visiting New Atlanta for a while, Rafael changed family day from Sunday to Saturday. The manor was large enough to accommodate all the Gargoyles, their mates, and the kids. The females had kidnapped Rae and were showing her around the manor, making introductions, and basically making her feel at home. Priscilla came out onto the patio carrying the tray of marinated meat. “Here you go, Michael.”
“Thank you, Priscilla. Did you make your famous cookies?” he asked, trying to keep the conversation light. All he had to do was look into her dull eyes to know she was anything but all right. Her brother was ill, and Jonas still hadn’t found a cure.
“I sure did, but don’t tell Rafael,” she joked.
“Priscilla, you wound me,” Rafe gasped as he always did when his beloved housekeeper pretended to have secrets. He kissed her cheek as she walked by him to return inside.
Once the door was closed, Rafe’s smile faded. “We’re going to lose him, aren’t we?” Sixx asked.
Rafe nodded. “I’m afraid so. I don’t know anyone smart
er than Jonas Montague. The man created the first successful clone, yet he can’t find a cure for this fucking cancer eating at Jonathan’s insides. It doesn’t make sense.”
“There are a lot of things that don’t make sense,” Sixx said. Like his son’s eyes. When Desi and Simone completed the mate bond, their eyes had changed colors. In the past three months, they had tried everything to get them to swap back, but nothing had worked. Sixx had contacted Jonas, but the old Goyle had never heard of such a thing happening. Nikolas searched the Clan journals, and he couldn’t find an account of it ever happening, either. If it had, the incident hadn’t been recorded.
“Are you getting excited?” Sixx asked Rafael. The women had thrown him and Kaya a baby shower that turned into another family gathering. Rarely did the females go anywhere without their males due to the fact that Alistair was a lunatic. Before he could answer, several of the males exited the kitchen with beers in their hands. Dante offered one to Sixx. “Thank you,” Sixx said.
Rafe took a long pull off the longneck Nikolas handed him. “Yes. I’m excited, but I’m also scared shitless. I have three months until Sebastian arrives. Three months to figure out what to do about my uncle. If we haven’t contained him by the time Kaya gives birth, this property is going to become a fortress like the world has never seen.”
“Any more news from Carter?” Sixx asked Dante. Carter had been instrumental in Isabelle’s rescue, having lived undercover in Alistair’s home for over a year.
“Hunter gave his twin everything his contact could dig up on Alistair. It wasn’t much. Whoever Alistair has on his payroll hacking our systems must have buried any negative information there was on the Greek,” Dante relayed.
“Whoever it is has been slacking off on messing with Julian. For a while, he would fuck with stuff just to piss Jules off, or to keep him preoccupied,” Nikolas added. “Now that we’re focused on helping Katherine, the hacks are coming less and less. It’s really weird, but it’s like the man knows Jules is focused on helping his mate.”
