"I know that look.” Natasha strolled from the dinning room with a friendly grin on her lovely face. She was still a delicate looking woman and the heart of the family. “Drake use to have it on his face when he became possessive. Drove me crazy.” She walked up to him, taking his face into her cool hands to bring him down to her height. Adrian was somewhat surprised when she kissed him on the cheek. “It's good to see you again, Adrian."
"Ms. Draeger.” He acknowledged.
Natasha smiled and shoved him away gently. “No more of that crap.” She patted him on the chest. “You will call me Natasha, young man."
"Yes ma'am.” He grinned.
"Now.” Natasha took a deep breath and took a step back from him, brushing at her blue slacks and silk top before looking up at him seriously. “You want to explain this all to me."
The look she gave him had Adrian feeling like he was a little boy once again. “I ... um ... I'm not really sure where to begin really."
"How about...” she never finished what she was saying.
"Get out of my room!” Skyler Draeger screamed.
"Damn it Skyler.” Dedrick barked back, clearly pissed. “You are pushing it here."
"No, I'm standing my ground.” She placed her hands on her hips. “And I refuse to listen to you, him, or anyone for that matter."
Adrian looked up at her and he felt as if his heart had landed in his throat. She was beautiful. Skyler was built just like her mother. Delicate hands, perfect hips that smoothed out to long legs that he found he was dying to feel wrapped around his waist. Just looking at her from the angle that he had, Adrian could tell that her breasts were full and would fit into his hands as if molded for them alone. Her long black hair tumbled carelessly down her back and swayed gently with her every movement. On memory only, Adrian knew that she had green eyes and would place all his money right now that they were sparkling like emeralds with her anger. Instantly, he became hard.
"It doesn't work that way, Skyler.” Dedrick took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Adrian knew that Dedrick was on the edge from the updates Stefan had given him, he just didn't think it would get to the point it had now risen to. “You know the rules. He has the right to make this claim."
"And you have the right to refuse him.” she shot back, pushing at his chest again. “I don't want him or anyone else!” she yelled.
"Well, too damn bad.” Dedrick shot back. “I accepted it."
"You can't do that!” she screamed.
"As the head of the family, I can.” He told her.
"Yeah, it's going well.” Adrian remarked quietly.
"He should have prepared her earlier.” Natasha said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don't like how he's handling things. Dedrick's angry a lot and on edge."
"You need to get off your God damn high horse and get that ass of yours down stairs to greet your mate properly.” Dedrick barked, sounding dangerous to Adrian's.
"He isn't my mate!” she shot back at him, sounding just as pissed as her brother. “But what I should do is kick him in the balls for what he did to me."
Dedrick placed his hands on his hips. “He didn't do anything to you, so don't try to pull that bullshit on me, young lady."
"Don't you young lady me!” she yelled. “You are not my father."
"Excuse me, Adrian.” Natasha said. “I think it is time I go up there and calm things down. See you at dinner."
Adrian saw the tint of red in Dedrick's eyes and his heavy labored breathing it was a sure sign that Dedrick was beyond pissed and Adrian had never seen him like this in all the years he had spent in the house growing up. Natasha stopped to speak to Stefan, who looked down at Adrian with a kind smile. Stefan rushed down the stairs, blocking his view of Skyler.
"Man, it's about time you showed up.” Stefan extended his arm out, shaking Adrian's hand.
"I see that Dedrick waited until the last moment to tell her.” Adrian said.
"Oh, you know Dedrick.” Stefan took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Waits until the last second to deliver news that he knows isn't going to be taken well.” Stefan looked up once more. Natasha was up there, talking to Dedrick and Skyler Adrian could see the woman use her body to create space between the siblings. “Come on. Let's go into the office and wait for the bear to come."
"Sounds like a plan to me.” Adrian agreed.
Not even ten minutes went by before Dedrick barged into office, slamming the door. “I knew this was going to give me another headache.” Dedrick groaned.
"I'm sorry about this, Dedrick.” Adrian said, feeling some guilt, “Guess I handled this all wrong."
"No, doing it at a Gathering would have been wrong.” Stefan chuckled, which quickly stopped when Dedrick gave him a dirty look
"Well this is going to be very interesting.” Dedrick rubbed his eyes, slumping down in his chair behind the desk. “And who the hell told mom?"
"Dedrick, come on.” Stefan extended his arms out. “It's mom. She finds everything out."
"So what's the game plan now?” Adrian grinned.
Dedrick took a deep breath, letting it out slowly while rubbing his temple as if he had a headache. “I have no idea. I told you this wasn't going to be easy, that she was going to fight it all the way.” He pointed his finger at Adrian, giving him a hard look. “You are all on your own."
"Would have helped some to have told her before now.” Adrian mumbled under his breath. When he looked up at Dedrick, he could tell the man heard him. “Come on.” He cried out. “You kind of left me here to walk into the lion's den alone."
Dedrick groaned, which sounded more like a growl. “Why do you two dipshits always put this crap on my shoulders? Look, I told her. You didn't state when, only that I had to. I've done my part, be happy with that."
"Well like you said, big brother,” Stefan smiled, looking Dedrick in the eye, “you are the head of the house."
"I have a good mind to beat you to a bloody pulp.” Dedrick hissed, his voice deadly. “And wipe that damn smile off your face.” Stefan jumped back when Dedrick stood, but not without a slight smile. “You are just damn lucky I don't kick your ass.” He pointed at Stefan. “But I know that wife of yours would get that friend of hers on my ass. And you.” He pointed to Adrian. “You ... you ... well you just ... oh fuck! I give up.” Stefan chuckled at Dedrick's back as he walked away.
"You know, I'm starting to think he doesn't like me after all.” Adrian remarked.
"Oh I wouldn't worry so much about him.” Stefan grinned. “It's your own nuts you should worry about. Skyler is all out for your blood my man. I have never seen her so pissed before. What did you do?"
"Don't ask.” Adrian groaned.
"He has no right to do this to me.” Once again, Adrian heard Skyler yelling.
"Here we go again.” Stefan rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Adrian heard the stomping above him and quickly got to his feet. He walked past a smiling Stefan and rushed out of the office almost running into Skyler. She stopped short and backed away from him as if he was some creature.
Adrian cocked his head to one side, a slight grin forming, “Why?"
Skyler looked at Adrian as if he lost his mind. “What?"
"Why don't you think I don't have the right to do this?” he asked, crossing his arms over his wide chest.
"You have a lot of nerve showing up here.” She hissed, pointing her finger at him, but not making a move to get closer. “After what you did."
"After what I've done.” Adrian tried like hell to not smile. He knew that if he smiled, her rage would boil over to a new point and he really didn't want to have it out with her about what he did with the whole family standing around watching. So instead of making a more of a scene, Adrian took two steps closer to her so that only she would hear what he said next. “Would you have preferred it was you that night?"
That did it. Skyler's face turned two shades brighter red, but Adrian couldn't tell if it was embarrassment or an
ger. She lunged at him and Adrian was ready. He bent over quickly, picking her up and slinging her over his shoulder. Skyler screamed and started to kick and hit at him with all her might.
"Excuse me.” Adrian smiled at Natasha and Dedrick, nodded his head, then walked past them back to the stairs with Skyler on his shoulders.
Adrian took the stairs two at a time. He ignored the insults Skyler spewed at him as they went. He managed to push away the urge to pop her one on that tight little ass of hers. Clearly, Skyler needed someone to take her down a notch, and that someone was going to be him. In all the years he had known Skyler, he thought she was a spoiled brat. Being the baby in the family and without a father, Skyler got away with just about everything, so it was no wonder that she was putting up this kind of fight. If this was something that she wanted, Adrian knew that she wouldn't be acting like she was now, but since everything was taken out of her hands, Skyler was pissed.
Adrian walked to her bedroom door, opened it then kicked it closed with his foot. Skyler's bedroom was very large, and to Adrian, very girly. She had a queen sized bed off to the left of the room with a soft pink and white lace comforter. A night stand stood on each side of the bed, next to the door on his left was a large dresser and at the foot of the bed a vanity table and chair. She also had two window seats, her own bathroom, and a walk in closet which was open.
He walked up to the bed and tossed Skyler onto it none too gently. He grinned when she bounced up, glaring up at him.
"You're an ass.” She said, scooting to the other side of the bed away from him.
"No, I'm determined.” He told her with his finger raised in the air. “There's a difference."
"Where you're concerned.” She snapped. “I doubt it."
Adrian couldn't help himself and he laughed. “You really are pissed about this."
"Well, what gave that away, Einstein.” She snorted.
"So what pisses you off the most?” Adrian dropped down on the bed, lounging back on his side with a smile. “The claiming or the sex?"
"Adrian, get off my bed and get the fuck out of my room!” she yelled.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he shook his head. “Suck language from a lady."
Skyler scooted from the bed, walked over to the door and yanked it open. “Get out, Adrian."
Adrian closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet scent that seemed to swirl around the room. It has been a long time since he had taken her into his lungs, letting the essence of Skyler fill him. For the long months that he had been away, all he could do was think about her, dream about her and crave her. Now that he finally had is dream, Adrian didn't know how to act, or really what to do for that matter. What he did know was that he had to fight within himself for control.
"I don't want to.” He told her matter of factly. He sat up, then scooted from the bed, walking up to her.
"What are you doing?” She asked, her eyes showing the uncertainty.
"What'd you think I'm doing?” he asked, leaning against the door.
"I think you are being an ass.” Skyler snapped, making a move to brush pass him and out of the bedroom. Adrian grabbed her, and in one fluid motion she turned on him, hitting him with her closed fist as hard as she could. “You son of a bitch! What gives you the fucking right to lay claim on me? Go back to your Goddamn whores and leave me the hell alone.” Skyler's jerked her arm from his hold and crossed them over her chest, glaring up at Arian.
"I don't have whores, Skyler.” Adrian informed her, sounding defeated. He rubbed his jaw where she hit him. “Nice punch."
* * *
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Shifter: Stefan's Mark Page 16
