“Oh, Connie. I’m not that easy to get rid of,” she smiles at him, lolling her head to the side. His eyes are glistening green now, on the verge of releasing tears. Siofra reaches over and presses the button on the remote to adjust her bed into an upright position so she can be more comfortable.
“It. Wasn’t. Funny, Siofra,” he spits out through clenched teeth. “If the knife had cut just a little deeper, you’d a bled out.” Conall looks away, towards the window and Siofra hears him release a frustrated breath. She feels the anger that rolls off of his wolf and it makes the hair on her arms stand on end.
Adrenaline fills her and Siofra grasps his hand, pulling him out of his seat, across the bed railing and into a kiss; feeling his hesitation at first, as he holds himself up without pressing too much into her. But she needs more. Parting her lips for his tongue, she revels in his exploration of her mouth. Putting a hand on either side of his face, Siofra moans into his lips and slows the kiss to small nibbles and pecks, getting a growl to come from his chest.
She hears him lower the rail on the bed and her wolf whimpers as his hands slide up her sides, around her torso so that he’s now holding her close. Her breathing hitches as his fingers massage into the back of her neck, hitting the pressure point, making her lean her head back, showing her neck in a sign of submission.
Smiling as he kisses her neck, she whispers, “How long have I been in here?” She takes the cup from the table and sips on the cooling liquid as Conall smiles, edging his nose along her jaw.
“It’s the 20th, so, three days,” Conall adjusts himself so that he’s sitting on the edge of the mattress balancing one leg off the side. “They said earlier, that as long as you woke up before seven tonight, you’d be able to come home tomorrow afternoon.” He places his arm around her shoulders and she leans into him. She needs his closeness after those cold, lonely and frightening nights she spent in that barn, being beaten and belittled.
She sighs into his shoulder as he reaches into his right jean pocket and fishes out her ring. Siofra looks up at his face smiling. “I thought I lost it,” she gasps as she gives him her left hand to put it back in its rightful place. The diamond is like seeing a beacon of light at the end of a black tunnel. It sparkles in the overhead lights. Having it around her finger again is like having her anchor back, pulling her back into her life and away from the nightmare.
“Cassie found it in the dressing room, before the police got there.” A somber note crosses his voice and Siofra can’t help but shiver. “Tell me the truth,” he brings her face to his with his finger under her jaw, “did they rape you? Kevin said...”
“I remember what Kevin said,” she interrupts, looking him right in the eye. “I promise they didn’t rape me. I bit, I kicked and I hit my hardest to keep them from breaking me that much.” Tears fog her view as her voice hitches, but she pushes it away, determined not to let what they tried to do bring her back to that dark place. “I… I don’t think I’d ….. be able to live with myself…..”
“Stop it,” Conall shakes her face gently, his eyes starting to glow with anger and desperation. “Just stop, let’s not dwell on what might have been. I’m just glad you’re okay.” Kissing her gently on the lips and then the forehead, he whispers softly, his voice full of love and desire, “Don’t ever be afraid of what might have been.”
“I’ll never have to be afraid when I’m with you, Connie,” Siofra kisses his lips and nuzzles her nose into the crux of his neck. “Where is everyone?” She is just realizing that there is no other family here with them. She needs to see her baby boy; she needs to smell his familiar scent.
“On their way, they’ll be here in ten. I messaged Jason when the doctor was talking to you.” Conall hugs her to his side. “Just relax and focus on getting better.” Kissing the top of her head, they settle into watching COPS on the TV as she snuggles into his side, groaning with the pain that her stiff body deals with. He soothes her with a quick swipe of his hand over her cheek, tenderly touching her skin with his fingertips and teasing her lips for only a second with a feather-like touches.
He tips her chin up and kisses her deeply, his lips staring off in their normal soft and tender fashion, then turning to rough and demanding as his hand roams down to her hospital gown. He smiles when she moans slightly as his fingers lightly tweak one of her nipples through the thin material; but their moment is halted when loud throat clearing fills the room, making them jump. The plump nurse grabs her chart and turns back out the door, a wide smile on her lips as she winks at them both.
In no time at all, her quiet hospital room is bustling with activity. The whole Johnson clan, children included, is present. Leon Sullivan joins them, showering Siofra with Cajun compliments, along with her brothers Marcus, Sean and Duncan and their wives. Everyone crams into the small room, being seated or standing somewhere, all laughing and joking.
“So cher, you gonna be a gimp fo a lil bit, eh?” jokes Leon, wiggling his golden eyes at Siofra. All the men laugh and the women scold them, but it’s all in good nature. Even Roan, who is cuddling close to her chest, clinging to her gown, squeals with laughter every now and then. In between the laughter, Marcus’ phone goes off and he excuses himself from the room.
“So what happened when I passed out?” Siofra asks the remaining group, thinking nothing of it. They all fall silent for a few moments; Roman being the first to speak up.
“Connie, um, got Kyle,” he draws his thumb across his throat and then sheepishly looks around. Coming under no scrutiny, Roman continues, “The others had already been takin’ care of by Sebbie, so we burnt down the barn.”
“Oh……” is all she can think to say as a war of emotions rages within her. Siofra remembers her struggle with Jinnie Harris. Looking at her Alpha, Clyde, she whispers, “I bet you found Jinnie.”
“Yeah, cher. Wha happen tare?” Leon inquires, leaning his toned, lean figure on the wall beneath the TV.
Taking a deep breath, Siofra braces herself for criticism. “She was with them; she had joined their rogue status. When their scouts alerted to you coming, Kyle sent her up into the loft, where I was chained, to kill me.” Hugging Roan close, knowing how near she came to dying and to losing him, she continues, “She attacked me with a knife, cutting at my arms. But what sealed her fate was…. when she said she was going to kill Roan….that she was going to cut him.” Tears trickle down her cheeks, she doesn’t try and hide them, and Conall rubs her back. “That’s when I wrapped my chains around her neck and twisted.” She grunts out the last word, her hands twisting on their own, mimicking the movement as she relives the anger and hurt of the moment.
Silence falls over the room and Siofra keeps her eyes locked on her legs, blankly staring at them as she tries to reign in her emotions from exploding in rage over the memory.
Clyde is the first to speak up, “You did what you had to do to survive. We suspected she was the one who killed her parents; we found their bodies the morning before this all went down.” He solemnly nods at her, accepting her actions.
Reassuring notions from her extended family and brothers make Siofra feel at peace with her actions that night. She didn’t want to kill, but when it came down to her or Jinnie, who would have gone after her son, she chose to live. Living means protecting her son and being with her mate and family; what more can a mother and she-wolf ask for?
She leans back, laying her head on Conall’s shoulder as his arm encircles her torso, tucking her into his side with Roan between them making her feel at peace. She’ll be safe with him, with the Big Sky Pack; they accept her for who she is. She leans up, kissing his rough cheek quick enough to catch sight of her oldest brother re-entering the room with a huge smile on his face.
“Sissy, I have a surprise for you,” he states and then steps to the side, holding the door to her room open to the hallway. A shadow approaches and in the doorway stands her father, his presence taking her breath away.
“Dad?” she chokes out, and the patriarch of t
he O”Hana family rushes to his daughter's bedside, gathering her up in his massive arms in a tearful embrace. “Daddy, I’m so glad you’re here.” She grips at his shirt as if to prove he’s really there. His slight chuckle lifts her heart. She’s missed him so much since driving away and seeing him wave in the rearview.
“My little Fry,” he whispers, pushing her away gently by her shoulders. “I came to make sure you’ll be alright.” Tears in his eyes, he gazes down at the little boy snuggled close to his mother. “Is this Roan?” he asks with a smile.
Adjusting her son so he faces his grandfather, she smiles so wide she thinks her lips might fall off. “Yes, this is Roan Marcus O’Hana. Roan,” she leans over, peering into her sons grey-blue eyes. She almost loses her train of thought, because for a split second, she almost swears it is Kyle looking back at her. The storm clouds of the grey, mixing with the clear skies of her blue; but her little boy’s giggle brings her back from her daydream. “Roan, this is your Papa. Give him some love.”
As if he had known this was going to happen, Roan seems to jump from Siofra’s lap, falling into the waiting arms of his grandfather. “Oomph,” Marcus mutters as he absorbs the 10-month old’s weight. Tears stream down his cheeks as the boy in his arms mumbles, “Papa...papa...papa,” over and over again.
Her heart feels whole as she watches her father bonding with his newest grandchild, smiling and laughing with the little boy as he tugs at his tie and coat. Conall’s hands run down her arms and she sinks back into his chest; more happy tears slipping down as he kisses her temple, whispering, “See, my love; our family is happy and we’re all together. There is nothing to worry about.”
The doctor returns and informs Siofra that she can return home the next morning. He also has the nurses fit her with the ’boot’ device so she can stumble around on her own, telling her that her ankle is healing quite nicely already. Idle chatter fills the rest of the day, and one by one her brothers depart to go back to their homes and jobs. Marcus Sr. decides to room at the Inn and stay a couple more days with his daughter and grandson, which thrills Siofra beyond belief.
She leaves the hospital the next morning, insisting on waddling to the Jeep on her own, even though all of the nurses and doctors protest, forcing her into a chair. Halfway out the door in the wheelchair she hops up, feeling like a penguin as she makes her way to the vehicle. Conall chides her quietly as he climbs into the driver’s seat, but smiles as she shrugs her shoulders and leans over, kissing him for a long moment. When he releases her, Siofra’s skin is flushed with desire. She sees that they are being watched by all the female nurses; their stares locked on the Jeep until Siofra waves. She can sense they are all daydreaming that they could be in her shoes.
Sorry ladies, she laughingly thinks to herself, he’s all mine!
Pulling down her street, she just can’t wait to be inside her own house again. To be around familiar surroundings that make her feel safe and sound, instead of the stark white and sanitary smelling hospital. To sleep in her own bed, with its flannel sheets and soft quilt. To be able to make her own coffee instead of trying to choke down the swill they passed off as coffee. She sighs heavily, happily, as they crest over the little hill. Then she spots something very unusual.
“Someone built a house next to the trailer while I was gone?” she glances over at Conall’s straight face, he just shrugs without really looking at her. “Well that was fast,” she mumbles, pouting silently to herself, thinking that now there will be a house blocking her view of the cornfield.
Instead of driving past the driveway of her new neighbors, Conall pulls into it. He doesn’t say anything at first, just puts the car in park as she looks around through the windshield. It is a magnificent looking house, and built in such a short time; Siofra can’t help but wonder what it looks like on the inside.
“What are you doing?” She asks as he goes for his door handle. She can’t believe he’s taking her to meet her neighbors, looking like she does with her messy hair and tired features. Again, Conall says nothing, instead, he sits there. Eventually, she moves her gaze. Glancing to the left of the house, she notices the big blue spruce, which used to be right to the left of her bedroom window in the doublewide.
Wait, she thinks while taking in all of the other familiar scenery she had memorized from her small trailer windows. Wait a mother fuckin’ second.
Glancing at Conall again, she notices his grin; it’s from ear to ear, and has a sexy as hell look in his pine green eyes. “This is our home now, my love,” he whispers while reaching into his jacket pocket. He produces a heart keychain with three keys hanging on it. Dangling it in front of her face, Siofra can’t help but reach out and snatch it. As he gets out of the Jeep with a laugh, he unbuckles Roan and grabs her duffel bag of dirty clothes from the back.
She slowly gets out, letting the crisp, cool autumn air swirl around her. This can’t be my house, she keeps replaying in her head, it just can’t be. Crunching through the newly fallen thin layer of snow, she wobbles after Conall, up the sidewalk to the cherry-wood colored door with a diamond shaped glass panel in the middle of it. Hesitating, with her hand outstretched, Siofra looks up into those damn green eyes, searching them for a hysterical laugh telling her he’s tricked her; but she’s finds nothing of the sort. She finds only love and happiness; a small growl rolling through his throat telling her trust him.
“Well, go ahead, its freezing out here!”
Shoving the key in the deadbolt and turning it, she is bombarded with a resounding “WELCOME HOME!” from the people on the other side. She can’t believe it. Laughing and punching Conall in the shoulder, she greets all her guests, being hugged and swung around in a circle by all the Johnson men and, of course, Jace; accepting a loud kiss on the cheek from the ladies’ man.
As everyone settles into conversation after greeting her, Siofra asks Conall for a tour of their new home. It’s a replica of his parents’ house; she smiles to herself as he guides her by the hand, knowing he was listening all those times she said that she loved the old farmhouse so much. After the first couple of rooms, the layout becomes familiar and she doesn’t really need the tour, but she holds onto his hand tightly till they reach their bedroom. As Connie is telling her about how the windows crank open, Siofra pushes the door shut behind her trying to be quiet but the click catches Conall’s attention.
“What do you think you’re doing, missy?” he asks, putting his hands on his hips as he smirks at her standing with her back against the door. Wobbling across the distance between them, she pushes him down to sit on the edge of the mattress.
He’s done so much for her in a short time, and she needs a few moments alone with him to show him how much it all means to her. She wants him to know all the effort and love isn’t falling on ungrateful shoulders.
“I want a minute alone with my more than perfect fiancée to show my appreciation,” she basically growls out, the desire and lust that is boiling within her taking over. She takes his face in her hands, latching her mouth onto his in a feverish display, as his five o’clock shadow scratches at her palms. He nips at her bottom lip, then swirls his tongue over it, making her whimper and lean into him; her body vibrating with need for him. Placing his hands gently on her butt, not missing the chance to squeeze them, Conall lifts and moves her legs to straddle his lap.
Releasing her mouth as they both gasp, Conall takes up nipping at her skin from her ear to the faint white scars left from his bite weeks before. When he brushes his lips along the scars, Siofra arches into him, moaning. Conall knows she needs her release, he can sense that it will make her feel as if everything is back to normal; it will tell her that they are okay.
Kissing the sensitive spot just behind her ear, he doesn’t waste any time lifting the hem of her shirt and running his warm fingers along the waistband of her jeans; her skin prickling at the sensation. Goose-bumps fill her body and she shivers, running her fingers through his short, dark hair as his tongue trails down the side of her
neck. Before she can react he has her jeans unbuttoned and down around her ankle, leaving her standing before him in her pink lace panties.
Siofra reaches for the hem of his shirt, but Conall stays her hands, shaking his head at her. “What about you?” she whispers; her voice thick with desire as the warm fire burns bright within her for him; she’s afraid she might finish before he even touches her intimately.
“Don’t worry about me, my love. This is all about you,” he smiles and she can’t help but let a whimper escape as he pulls her shirt away, exposing her bra and latching his lips onto it over her nipple, pulling hard. His other hand runs over her panties, teasing her and making her legs tremble before his fingers push the material aside.
He explores her folds, warm and wet with heat, and rubs her clit with his thumb; seemingly sending shivers throughout her soul. She leans in close to his ear, her breath coming in pants with her approaching release. She’s about to tell him that she wants to please him too, but as his fingers move back only teasing her entrance she loses all train of thought, nibbling on his earlobe instead, getting a growl to roll through his chest, which only heightens her arousal.
She knows he can sense her arousal, his nostrils flaring as he tugs her face to look at his with his hand in her hair. His eyes are glowing, his pupils large, taking in every inch of her trembling body in front of him, making her melt; sinking into his arms as his fingers keep up their teasing. Giving her a wolfy grin, his canines elongated from his arousal, Conall issues a low, sensual growl.
Taking her mouth in a demanding kiss, he plunges a finger into her moist heat. Her walls contract around his finger and he thrusts it in and out, following her lead as she moves against him, then adding another finger; soliciting a moan from his mate. She throws her head back, her mouth open as she pants. Conall takes advantage, burying his face between her breasts and curling his fingers, brushing them against her G-spot. A surprised moan escapes her throat and Siofra bites her bottom lip, enjoying the moment as she feels the delicious lightening start to fill her limbs.
Siofra's Song: Book 1 The Broadus Supernatural Society Series Page 12
