by Martha Woods
“What happened, Liam? The last thing I remember is Lucas coming at me, but I don’t have any injuries other than the back of my head being sore.”
“Farah stopped him. The only thing we can figure out with you is you must’ve fainted and hit your head. Thankfully, Lucas didn’t touch you.” He stroked the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb.
“Why’d Lucas attempt to attack me?” She narrowed her eyes. The emotions that played across Liam’s face told her this wasn’t good.
“He thought if he killed the Lady of the Pack, the other wolves would support him as the new alpha so he could return the pack to its former glory.”
“Wow. Is he okay? How bad did Farah hurt him?”
“He died within a few minutes of her hitting him with the spell. He lived long enough to tell us why he attacked you.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his hand. She wanted nothing more than to hold and console him.
“I’d rather Lucas died than you. I couldn’t live without you. Especially now,” he whispered.
“Especially now?”
“Sky, you’re pregnant,” he said with no emotion.
Pregnant? How? Well, she knew how, but it didn’t matter. She was pregnant. She stared forward and absently rubbed her hands over her stomach. A life grew inside her. Was she happy? Did Liam want kids? She turned to him and smiled. “We’re pregnant, Liam.”
Tears filled his eyes, and he sat on the bed next to her. “I’m so relieved you’re happy. I didn’t know how you’d react.”
“How does this work with me being human and you being a shifter?”
He shook his head and shrugged. “I’m not sure, but we’ll figure it out. Although, I’ve been assured it’s possible.”
She sat up despite his protest and hugged him. They created life and would be parents soon.
Liam pulled back and stood. “I should see what’s taking the doctor so long. I want to make sure you’re okay so I can take you home. I’m so happy you’re the mother of my child, Sky. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.” He smiled, and her heart filled with love. She couldn’t ask for a better dad for their child. Unfortunately, he or she wouldn’t have any grandparents except her dad, and there was no way she’d introduce that man to her kid. He’d done nothing but cause her problem after problem. She wouldn’t allow him the chance to do that to her and Liam’s child. She’d do everything in her power to keep him out of their lives for good.
* * *
After the doctor released Skylar from the hospital with orders to rest, Liam ensured she did nothing except stay in bed or sit on the sofa. She tried convincing him she couldn’t stay in bed because she had the building of their house to oversee. But he wouldn’t budge. He hired someone else to oversee the construction. However, he convinced her once the doctor released her, he thought they should get married. Since they were expecting a child, he wanted them to tie the knot before the baby’s birth. She agreed. She wanted to bring their child into the world as a proper family, and they would marry before she started showing.
Skylar spent a lot of time with Leah in her bed or on the sofa. They searched bridal magazines for wedding attire, and Sky kept her cell phone busy planning for the ceremony. They decided to marry in the woods behind their new home, and because of this, they wouldn’t need flowers. Instead, they rented several large tents and scheduled caterers. With the pack, coven, and hunters attending, they didn’t want to take on the task of cooking themselves.
Two days before the wedding, Skylar’s doctor released her, and she couldn’t have been happier. She had things to do—like try on her wedding dress. And Liam didn’t have an excuse to keep her inside any longer. It took a little persuasion on her part, but she convinced him to go home and leave her in the city with Hayley and Farah.
Inside the bridal store, Skylar walked out of the dressing room and stood on the stage surrounded by mirrors and stared at herself. This wasn’t her first choice in dresses, but because of the cold temps and snow, Leah convinced her to try it. When she’d tried the dress on at the cabin, she fell in love with it, but seeing it now, in front of the mirrors and lighting, she knew she’d chosen the right one.
“You look stunning,” Hayley said, stepping onto the platform behind her. The formfitting, creamy cable knit dress skimmed the ground, and the cowl neckline draped beautifully over her shoulders. The thin fleece lining would add a layer of warmth and prevent the garment from having any sheer areas. “I would never have thought to choose a sweater dress.”
“I was hesitant at first, but Leah convinced me to try it. I must admit, she was right. I can’t imagine wearing anything else.”
“The woman has great tastes,” Farah said from her other side.
Skylar turned around and pulled her friends to her. “Thank you for being here. I grew up without a lot of friends, and well, I can’t thank you enough.”
“Child…um…sorry. It’s going to take a while to break the habit.” Farah giggled. “You don’t need to thank me for anything. You saved me from my family.”
“If I remember correctly, I think you saved me. How about we call it even?” Sky smiled. “I need to pick up Leah’s pantsuit while we’re here.” Skylar stepped off the platform and entered the dressing room to change.
“She’s attending?” Hayley asked through the door.
“Yes, despite her husband and son being dead, she seems to be doing remarkably well. I think it’s because Liam’s finally marrying. It’s one of the few things she has wanted.”
“Has Liam brought in another doctor to examine her?” Farah asked.
“No. His dad refused, and since his death, we’ve had a ton of stuff going on. Is there anything they can do for someone with stage four cancer?”
“I’m not sure, but it couldn’t hurt to get a second opinion,” Farah said.
“I’ll mention it to Liam when we get home. Do you ladies want to do anything else before we go home?” Skylar asked as she opened the door.
When they shook their heads, Skylar grabbed her dress and went to the register to check out. After she paid for her dress and Leah’s outfit, they climbed into Farah’s SUV and made the trip back to the pack.
* * *
Thanks for Hayley, Skylar wouldn’t have to trudge through the snow on her wedding day. She’d erected a tent in the forest at the site and heated it with magic. Skylar spent the morning being pampered by Hayley. After her friend finished Sky’s hair and makeup, she slipped into her warm dress and waited for the ceremony to start. When she heard the strings begin playing Canon in D, she exhaled. This was it. She was about to become Mrs. Conway and the Lady of the Pack.
She grabbed her bouquet of calla lilies and stepped through the open tent flap, stopping on the white runner that stretched between the white chairs. She took her time and scanned the area. The pack members were in their wolf forms, and they circled the perimeter. The witches and hunters were seated on both sides of the aisle. And Leah sat in the front row with Michael. Farah stood at the front, her eyes focused on Sky and she smiled. She was the one responsible for bringing her and Liam together, so she and Liam decided they wanted her to be the one to marry them.
To Farah’s left stood Liam in his fitted tux. A smile spread across her face, and she locked eyes with him as she stepped forward. Each step she took, she dared not break the connection she shared with her mate. It wasn’t until she was halfway down the aisle that she realized he’d met her.
“You’re supposed to wait up front,” she whispered.
Liam placed his hands on either side of her face and lowered his head, claiming her lips. His tongue pushed against her lips, and she met it eagerly. This continued until Michael said, “Save it for the honeymoon.”
She pulled away and laughed. Only he would ruin a romantic moment. She looked into Liam’s green eyes and smiled. “I love you.”
“And I love you, Skylar.”
He offered his arm, and she placed her hand on the crook of hi
s elbow and allowed him to walk her down the aisle to the beginning of their life together as an official family.
The ceremony passed quickly. Farah spoke a few words before she asked them to say their vows. Afterward, they exchanged rings, and she pronounced them husband and wife. Their extended family cheered with the announcement, and Leah met them before they made their exit.
“I know the two of you will be busy for the next few hours, so I wanted to catch you before the festivities begin. I love you both and am happy you’re married.” She turned to Skylar. “You, my dear, are the daughter I never had. As the official Lady of the Pack, this is yours.” She took Skylar’s hand and pressed a small garnet stone into her hand. “It was given to me by the previous Lady, and you will pass it to the next Lady. The garnet guarantees the ability to love your family unconditionally. It also holds curative powers and protective energies. Keep it with you always.”
“Thank you, Leah.” Sky bent down and hugged the frail woman as tears filled her eyes. “Would you like for Liam and me to escort you to the reception?”
She shook her head. “Michael’s taking me home. The shaman and I have a date to play Scrabble. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course, we don’t, Mom. Enjoy your evening.” Liam bent down and hugged his mom, and Skylar smiled. She was finally home.
* * *
After the reception, Liam and Skylar drove into the city to catch a late flight to New York. They were scheduled to embark on a fourteen-day cruise to Jamaica on his private yacht. When they finally arrived, they had enough time to catch a few hours of sleep before they set sail.
After they woke the next morning, Liam called for a limo to take them to the marina. Once they were settled inside, he enjoyed watching Skylar take in the views of the city. He made a mental note to bring her back here in the near future.
When they pulled into the marina and stopped in front of the pier, he exited the car and helped Sky out. As they made their way down the pier, she said, “I thought we were taking a cruise.”
“We are.” He smirked. He hadn’t discussed the details with her.
“Where’s the ship?” she asked as they stopped.
Liam pointed toward the water. “Do you see that massive ship out there? That’s my yacht.”
“Yours? As in, you own it?” Her eyes grew wide.
“Yes, we own it.”
“Oh.”
Liam laughed and took her hand to help her onto the small boat at the end of the dock. “We’re going to take this out and board. Then we’ll be on our way to Jamaica for two glorious weeks.”
“Wow, I still can’t believe you own a yacht. Sometimes I forget how rich you are.” She smiled once she was on board.
Liam stepped aboard and directed her to the interior where the captain was. “We’re ready when you are.” He nodded to the elderly man before he turned to Skylar. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I suppose. Hey, I meant to ask you last night, but I forgot. Did you get your mom an appointment with another doctor?”
“I did. Michael is taking her today, but I don’t think it’ll do much good.”
“Well, it doesn’t hurt to try. During these past few weeks, she’s grown stronger.”
“I’ve noticed that, too.” He nodded and thought back to the time they’d spent with his mom. She’d shown more life and energy than she had in years, but he chalked it up to her being happy he had taken his role as alpha and had gotten married. “I’m not dismissing mother’s illness, but we’re on our honeymoon. Let’s try to enjoy our time together before we’re faced with reality. When we return, I’ll have to resume work. I’ve been away far too long.”
“I definitely need to get back to it. I’ve lost track of everything regarding your schedule.”
“Sky, we’re married now. You don’t have to work for me.” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. The look on his face crushed him.
“Are you firing me?”
“No, baby. I’m letting you know you don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
“Well, I may not return to work for you, but I need to work. I need to stay busy.”
“Then start your own company,” he suggested, thinking of her dream to go into accounting. “You have a business degree. What interests you?”
“Numbers. I love working numbers.”
“Everyone drives into the city to have their taxes done. Why don’t you start a local tax service?”
Her eyes sparked at his words. “I’d love to.”
“We’ll work out the details when we return. In the meantime, can you have some fun and stop worrying about everything?” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
She nodded.
When the boat anchored, and connected with his ship, Liam and Skylar boarded his yacht. They stopped long enough for him to let the captain know they could get underway at any time. He then led Skylar to their master suite. When they entered, she said, “This is bigger than the apartment mom and I lived in.” She turned in a circle, taking in the massive room.
“I hope you enjoy this trip.” He pulled her into his arms and buried his nose in her hair. His wolf growled and urged him to take her. Since she’d become pregnant, her scent changed, and it drove him and his wolf crazy with desire. He sniffed again, and his cock jerked against his pants.
“I take it you’re happy to be alone with me?” she asked and pressed her stomach against his growing erection.
Liam growled in her ear. “I need to feel you wrapped around me, Sky.”
She shrugged out of her coat and allowed it to drop to the floor before she pulled her sweater over her head, exposing her braless breasts.
Liam cupped his hands over the curves and rubbed his thumbs over her rosy peaks before his dipped his head down and took one into his mouth. As he moved his hand around her body, her hand caressed his shaft over his pants, and he cupped her ass.
“Fuck me now, Liam. We can make love later. I need you inside me.” She stepped back and unfastened her pants before she pushed them over her hips. As he watched her undress, he undid his belt and pants before he allowed them to fall to the floor. His cock sprung upward, and he stepped forward and lifted her off the floor.
As she wrapped her legs around his waist, he claimed her lips and made his way to the bed. When they fell onto the soft mattress, he thrust inside her core. The tight grip her body had on him almost caused him to orgasm.
“Turn me, Liam,” she said with panting breaths.
He stopped his thrusts and raised his upper body to get a better look at her. Had she just asked him to turn her? “What?”
“I want to be a shifter,” she said, her eyes wide.
He pulled himself out of her tight core and paced the room. His wolf loved her suggestion. He wanted nothing more than to take her in every sense of the word, but Liam batted him down. She was pregnant with his child, and her frame was too fragile to handle the changes she’d go through.
“Is it possible?” she asked.
He stopped his pacing and faced her. “No. It isn’t possible for me to change you, Sky. I’m sorry.” He hated lying to her, but he’d rather have her alive as a human than risk losing her if the change didn’t take.
Her face dropped, and she said, “Oh, I hoped…I wanted there to be a way. I suppose I still have a lot to learn about the supernatural.”
He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. Damn it! He despised seeing her sad, but he couldn’t take the risk. She was safer as a human. “You’ll learn with time, but don’t be sad. We have a lifetime together. Let’s enjoy our lives as husband and wife and as mates.”
His wolf growled, but this time, he growled at Liam because of the deceptive game he’d begun. He warned him this wouldn’t end well, but Liam ignored the beast and pushed him down. He was doing what was best for Skylar, and if that meant lying to her about becoming a shifter, then he would deal with the consequences. Her safety and that of his child was his priority.
>
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Click Here To Read Book Three!
Bonus Book 3
Kiss of A Vampire
(Book One of the Calder Witches Series)
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Martha Woods
© 2016 Martha Woods
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Part One
The street fair continued to buzz with the energy of people drunk on craft beer and artists making more cash than they would all year. Plastic white booths lined the entire lawn of Pack Square Park, filled with handmade crafts such as woodwork, jewelry, quilts, and anything else you could sell for an exorbitant amount of money. Tessa’s table, a round stool with a purple, velvet cloth and a glass paperweight that mimicked a crystal ball, was tucked well away from the main thoroughfare, but she’d had a steady amount of clients since arriving that morning. They knew she would come every October as the leaves changed and the air grew crisp. They came, nervous and full of questions about the future. She had no real answers for them, but she could sound convincing with the tumble of thoughts always pouring from their minds, a relentless current that pummeled her if she wasn’t careful.
Her lower back ached from sitting so long, and her flask of bourbon had long run dry. It was about time to call it a day. She’d told at least ten widows their husbands loved them and wanted them to be happy. All she had to do was listen for the lament that played like a scratched record in their thoughts. Once a widow heard her husband’s name pass Tessa’s lips, they tended not to question her anymore. She overcharged several drunk jackasses and claimed to see a vision of their adultery. Their insecurity lay just beneath the surface, and she could usually string together two convincing names from their anxious thoughts. She’d also had a handful of giggling teenagers, an old man who’d simply hit on her, and a little boy who wanted to know if his dog would come back. She’d made several hundred dollars. The festival ran three Saturdays in a row. She’d stay one more before moving on. She hadn’t quite settled on where she wanted to go next. She was leaning towards Texas. She didn’t like snow much, and winter was already making an appearance in the early morning as frost clung to the grass and trees.
