by Aliyah Burke
“That’s beautiful,” she said.
“I agree,” Shelly spoke. She stepped in and nodded. “I think I’m going to like this just fine.”
“We’ll be three doors down on your right.” Billy stepped back and led Mal off.
It dawned on her how he’d worded that statement. “You said we.”
“Married couples should stay together.” He opened the door and she walked in. “I’m sure there will be some things you wish to change about what’s in here now. Feel free, this is your space as much as it is mine. It could use a feminine touch, that’s for sure.”
“I love how it is now. Open. Simple.” She walked into the neutral-hued room.
Regardless, there were some things she would want. A bit more color being one. She spied his bed. A low platform positioned against the wall where he could either view the door or stare out of the large window. Correction, another sliding door leading to a balcony, as was the case with Shelly’s room.
Moments later, a man in jeans and a Henley arrived carrying their luggage. He placed it in the doorway, gave a nod, then left. Billy picked the bags up and carried them to the bed where he placed them.
“Come here.”
She obeyed his command instantly. She sank against him and closed her eyes. “It’s very nice here.”
“But?”
She weighed her response. “Nothing. I think I’m still tired.”
He rubbed his hands along her lower back. “Settle in. Rest. Explore. I have to get the drive to Edmond.”
“Okay.”
He maneuvered back and held her gaze. “Do you want me to stay with you?”
Yes! “I’ll be fine. You go. I think I will go take a look around outside.”
His kiss—while brief—rocked her intensely.
“I’ll find you.” He left, shutting the door behind him.
Wrapping her arms about her waist, she strolled to the window and stared out. Lots of green and tall trees. It was beautiful in its own way. Not as wild or untamed and raw as the Highlands she loved, but beautiful nonetheless.
“It’ll grow on you.”
She didn’t turn, just waited for Shelly to appear in her periphery. “I never thanked you for coming with me.”
“You never have to.”
Shelly opened the door and stepped through to the balcony. Mal followed. The air was sweet as it carried rich scents to her nose. Hay. Grapes. Grass.
“Why did you come?”
Shelly leaned on the rail, head tipped back to embrace the sun. “You know how you said you just felt you had to leave my truck in Scotland?”
“Yes. Something deep within me. I had to.”
Shelly didn’t do anything other than look at her.
Mal understood. It was what it was. “Come exploring with me?”
“Let’s go check out your new digs.”
They headed out, arm in arm. They visited the stables, the winery then headed away into an open field. Meandering through the grass, they reached a lovely body of water.
“What a lovely loch,” Mal said, trailing her fingers through the water as she crouched by the shore.
“Lake.”
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
“Am I intruding?”
Mal glanced behind her to see Taylor standing there. “This is your place.”
Taylor clasped her hands before her. “It is yours now as well. I have no wish to intrude where I’m not wanted.”
Mal stood. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”
The sunlight glinted off the vibrant red streaks in Taylor’s hair. She offered them a small smile and walked closer. “Are y’all settling in okay?”
“I think so. Took a good long walk around and checked things out.”
“While there are places that can be exceedingly noisy, especially with the children, you’ll find there are many where you can be alone if you so desire.”
Shelly sank to the ground and wrapped her arms around her shins. “How long have you been here?”
“Not too long. I met Cale on an airplane as we were coming back from France.” A soft smile lifted her lips. “A few others were following me and when he appeared to be doing so as well, I had security detain him so I could escape the airport once we landed.”
Mal’s eyes widened with shock. “Then what?”
“He found me again. Only this time, demons came as well. Long story short, he brought me here. It’s been a wild ride. I was running for my life when I met him. See, I had family who wanted to kill me as well, so I was a bit hesitant to trust anyone but he was just, well…he was Cale and so I trusted him.”
“We’ve met the demons,” Mal said. “And someone named Uma.”
Taylor shook her head. “I’m not sure who that is. I know Hara and I met his bitch of a daughter as well. She kidnapped me and wanted to kill me. Cale, Tiarnán and the others saved me.”
Mal shared a look with Shelly. “I’ve heard about the others, the women. Where are they?”
“Roz and Aminta left. Odd for Roz. She usually hangs around. She’s an attorney. Aminta is a pilot. She’s in the reserves for some military group and also works for the Forest Service.” Taylor picked up a stick and began snapping pieces off it. “Dracen is still around, as far as I know. She’s very quiet—hell of a teacher though, if you’re looking to learn to fight. She taught me to protect myself.”
“Perhaps I should see if she can help me.” Mal joined the other two on the ground.
“Now, what about you, Mal? Billy said you were a doctor? And Shelly, you’re a nurse?”
Mal was grateful Taylor had come to talk to them—it helped her feel more at ease. Still, as she spoke, she allowed her thoughts to drift to Shelly and how long her friend was going to be able to be here with her.
Chapter Eleven
“What do you think, Mal?”
Billy observed her as she slowly rotated in a circle, staring at the room. She couldn’t hide the sparkle in her gaze.
“This is a damn nice setup. Although why a winery needs to have such a state-of-the-art medical facility begs a question. How much trouble do you Guardians manage to get yourselves into?”
He clasped a hand over his heart. “Not me. I don’t get into trouble. The others, however…fights, brawls. You name it.”
She huffed in disbelief. “Oh sure, you’re the angel.”
He batted his eyes. “I am.”
Mal dragged a finger along the spotless stainless steel table. “Aren’t you the thief?”
She had him there.
“Looks like your wife knows you well, Billy.”
He grinned and faced the newcomer. “Dracen, when did you get back?”
His foster sister strode into view and he met her for a hug.
“The hour.” She faced Mal, who watched them cautiously. “Name’s Dracen.”
“Mal.”
The women shook hands. He compared them. Mal radiated softness, her hair fell around her face, adding to the gentleness. Dracen’s black hair was drawn back severely into a braid that fell to just below her shoulder blades.
Mal boasted colors and loose fitting attire. Dracen stood in black leather.
“I hear you’re the new doc.”
Mal flicked a glance at him. “I’m a surgeon. Not sure about being the new doc.”
“I see. Good to meet you.” Dracen walked to a drawer where she opened it before rooting around.
Billy watched Mal hesitate all of three seconds before making her way to Dracen’s side.
“Did you need a doctor?” Mal questioned, gripping the edge of the open drawer.
“It’ll heal, just need some clean gauze.”
Mal stared at Billy. He gestured for her to do what she needed.
“Perhaps you would like to sit on the bench and let me evaluate your injury.”
He did his best to hide his laughter at how Mal’s suggestion was more of an order than anything.
“I’m fine.”
“
And I’m the doctor.”
Dracen paused and stared at Mal. She didn’t back down. In fact, she crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow. Billy loved it—she was claiming her place. Finally Dracen shoved the drawer shut and went to the bench. She unzipped her shirt and began to shrug out of it when he turned away.
“I’ll be outside.”
Neither woman answered him, yet he continued to leave. Seeing Dracen shirtless wasn’t high on his to-do list. It wasn’t anywhere on it. He was reclining against the wall when Dracen pushed out of the door.
“She’s bossy. I like her.” Then she walked away.
Billy reentered the room and found Mal scooping bloodied gauze into the trash. “She okay?”
Dracen wasn’t one who complained about injuries but if she’d come looking for something other than what she could heal, it must have been more serious.
“She’ll be fine.” Mal removed her gloves with a snap and tossed them with ease into the trash receptacle.
“What happened to her?”
She searched for a notepad and pencil then wrote some things down. “She had a laceration from her trapezius across the latissimus dorsi down to her oblique. Needed stitches. Not sure what she did but it wasn’t pretty. Didn’t seem to bother her any though.”
“Sounds like Dracen. I told you it was the others who got injured.”
She walked up to him and put her hands on her hips. “Is this really mine?”
“Yes. We could truly use your abilities. Things happen. Kids get injured. We get injured. Vineyard workers, as well.”
She watched him a bit before nodding. “Okay. I’ll need to have some changes done though and I want it clear that this is my domain. I make the rules in here.”
“Whatever you want. Write it up and let me know.”
“I’ll bring Shelly in. We’ll get it set up how I like things.”
“Good. Now come with me.” He circled her wrist and tugged her along with him to a small door.
“Where are we going? I have to finish writing up what I did for Dracen.”
“You’ll remember. We’re going in here.” He led her into an office that hadn’t been used in a while and had tons of boxes stacked in and around the small space. Billy lifted her to the desk and kissed her. “I want to do this before you’re totally the boss down here.”
He loved the way she melted into him. How her curves fitted against him. And of course, how swiftly she responded to him. She was explosive.
“Door,” she mumbled as she tugged on his waistband. He kicked it shut and groaned as her hand worked its way into his pants and boxers to close around his shaft.
“Yes,” he groaned.
Billy lifted her shirt, kissed her breasts and proceeded to liberate them from the confines of her bra.
Her grip flexed as she began to stroke him. He widened his stance as best he could. Mal had her tongue out as she worked her hand the length of his cock. He captured her breasts, rolling the turgid peaks through his fingers as she moaned and shifted on the desk.
She moved her other hand in and he shuddered at the light, teasing scrape of her nails along his balls.
“Mal.” A low moan dragged her name out of him.
“Fuck me, Billy.”
“I plan on it.” He pinched her nipples. “Get your fucking pants off and show me that ass.”
She listened. He missed her grip on his cock but the sight of her crawling to her hands and knees up on the desk momentarily alleviated the loss. Her firm ass was before him and he leaned forward, nudging her legs apart.
Spreading her pussy, he lapped at her. Her thick cream coated his tongue as he continued to enjoy his feast. Her cries grew with each swipe. He added two fingers and peered around to stare at her face.
Drawn tight in pleasure, her expression told of her ecstasy. Billy grasped his dick and put the head at her pussy after removing his fingers. She purred and pressed back against him. He flexed his hips and drove deep, sending her sliding across the top.
“Oh!” she cried.
He dug his fingers into the flesh of her hips and dragged her back closer to where she’d been. Then held her there as he began to pump. This wasn’t gentle, it wasn’t tender. This was a fucking.
The desk skidded along the floor as he drove his cock deep into her with each stroke until it couldn’t move any more. Her cries reverberated around the room and he clenched his jaw to make it last longer.
Billy grabbed a handful of her hair and tugged. Her head came back as her cries increased. The words tumbling from her mouth, he couldn’t decipher, the brogue too thick and words falling too fast. It didn’t matter, he understood on a baser level. More. Harder. Faster. Deeper.
Her slick pussy gripped him like a vice and she came hard, milking him. He fucked her harder as she continued to come. When her trembling upper body collapsed on the desk, he drove home one more time and shot his cum deep inside her. Filling her. Claiming her.
She came again, smaller this time but just as powerful. Her pussy rippled around him and he bit his lower lip, trying to keep his own cry contained. He released his hold on her hair and she placed her head on the desk, breathing hard.
“Dracen said she was down here with Billy, I don’t know. Don’t see them anywhere. Maybe they left.”
Both froze at the sound of Cale’s voice. Mal looked at him over her shoulder, panic fresh in her eyes. He put a finger over his lips and lifted her straight up. His cock remained inside her.
Mal had one leg free of her pants and underwear—his were around his ankles. There was very little light in the room—he’d not turned it on so all the light there was came from out in the main room. He made his way to a spot where, even if Cale peered in the small window on the door, they wouldn’t be seen. Although, if Cale entered the room, they were screwed.
He withdrew from Mal and turned her so she faced him. Then he slid back inside her wet heat. He never wanted to leave there.
She shook her head and gestured past him. He grinned and thrust forward, loving how she had to clamp her mouth shut to keep her moan inside. While Cale and Taylor spoke just outside the door, Billy made love to Mal. The strokes were deep and long, slow and tantalizing. He continued to tell her not to make a sound by putting a finger over her mouth. Then she opened her mouth and sucked it in. That was when he knew she truly didn’t care if they got caught or not. And neither did he.
* * * *
“You’ve done a lot of research. And good research as well.”
“Thanks, Edmond.”
Mal reached for her Irn-Bru and took a sip. Billy had had a bunch shipped over for her from Scotland, where it was made. The orange-colored drink had a sugary, slight citrus flavor and was one of her favorites. Helped her feel not so homesick.
“I did some more digging on the sites you flagged.” Edmond rolled his chair next to hers and typed on the keyboard. “You hit it head on. Are you sure you’re not a computer geek like me?” He pointed to the large screen on the wall. “Take a look.”
“I’m sure,” she said with a smile. “I’m just nosy and like to have as many answers as I can get.” She followed his directive and checked it out. Four windows were open and all of them had information on The New Order.
“They’re good at hiding what it is they’re doing. But I’ve found a code they tend to use. I’m working on a cipher for it now, so perhaps we’ll be able to get a jump on them.”
She readjusted in her seat. “Are there more headquarters in Scotland?”
“I’ve found one in Edinburgh.” He typed and brought up Google Earth, focusing on Edinburgh. “I’ve not seen or picked up any reports of what had been going on, which was what got Billy over there to begin with.”
“You know that list of names I gave you? Did any of those pop up?”
“One actually. It was linked to the woman who made the mistake of kidnapping Taylor.”
“I’d heard about that.”
“Yes, she took her from the driveway. Taylor
said she’s Hara’s offspring.”
“So she’s what then exactly? I’m guessing not human.”
“Dead, if she comes back here.”
Edmond sounded so fierce with that one word Mal did a double take. She tended to forget he’d been a Guardian before as well.
“I’m sure,” she said. “If we use the code, can we possibly locate gathering spots for them around here? I mean, they seem to have this endless supply of idiots who are willing to storm the vineyard.”
“I’m working on that as well. The problem is many want the offered riches, never realizing they most likely won’t even be alive to try and collect what was promised to them. That—and they’re idiots.”
They laughed and shared an amused glance.
“You were a Guardian, Edmond. Can you tell me more about what’s going on?”
“I’m as much in the dark as you are, Mal. I don’t know what to expect. When we fought, it wasn’t this battle, which has been told about in the prophecy. We were the precursor. Nothing more. They didn’t win but then again… With what we lost, I wouldn’t consider us winners either.”
“So you’re not immortal?”
“No. We can be killed. They can end our lives. And the Guardians would all be dead if not for the fear They have about the prophecy. They aren’t allowed to kill the Guardians yet, They have to wait for the battle. Neither side knows when that will be, not the exact time anyway. It will be soon, since the artifacts have been showing up, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when the actual battle will occur. However, in typical fashion, They are hoping to circumvent the rules by sending others to kill them.”
“So humans can kill the Guardians?”
“When combined with demons, yes, it’s possible. Hard. But not out of the realm of possibility. Each time the humans get smarter. The demons and they learn what works and what doesn’t.”
She leaned back in the chair and watched as he continued working. More windows popped up and some disappeared. The man was brilliant.
“Meaning…as in types of weapons?”
“And poisons. That kind of thing. They’re trying to figure out how many need to attack at once to bring down Tiarnán.” Edmond laughed. “So far, that’s not worked out so well for them. The man is amazing with his weapons.”
