‘Presley Goult, you’re undressing me with your eyes.’ His voice swam through her mind, causing shivers to race down her spine as she blushed. ‘I’m already naked, Darlin’.’
Her face was on fire as she pulled her gaze from his and stared at her hands instead. She giggled sheepishly and wrinkled her nose. ‘Stop it.’
‘Or what?’ He challenged. ‘Don’t you like being in my head?’
‘It’s weird. It’s going to take some getting used to.’
‘You’ll get used to it. Everyone eventually does.’
“How is it possible?” Presley asked as she found her courage again and lifted her eyes to meet his. “How can we do that, Lorcan? We weren’t able to before.”
Lorcan straightened up, leaning in to push her hair away from her face before stroking his fingertips over her jaw. “Do you not remember last night?” He asked teasingly.
Oh, she remembered last night. If there had ever been a night that could be called magical, orgasmic, and unforgettable; it was last night. Goose bumps appeared on her skin as her heart sped up. Her mouth went dry at the thought of Lorcan’s body covering every inch of hers, bringing her to heights she never knew could exist. The color flooded her cheeks as she smiled shyly. “I don’t think I could ever forget,” She admitted.
“That’s why,” He stated as the pad of his thumb traced over her bottom lip. “We coupled, Pretz. You gave yourself to me and I gave myself to you. We’re connected.”
Maybe it was supposed to sound strange to her, and a week ago she would’ve been laughing in his face for sounding crazy; but the truth was, she accepted it a lot easier than anything else thus far. She could honestly believe that ursithropes experienced a love beyond human comprehension. She believed that once connected with one of her own, she could trade thoughts. It was like the veil had been torn away from her eyes, and everything became vividly clear; she was an ursithrope; a child of Urseth. She had been given the opportunity to live in two very different worlds simultaneously, and the man gazing at her loved her unconditionally and more deeply than anyone else ever could.
“What are you thinking about?” Lorcan asked curiously as he cupped her cheek with his enormous hand, gazing at her thoughtfully.
She laughed. “Why don’t you just read my mind and find out?”
“Because I want you to tell me,” He shrugged.
“I’m thinking…..” She started as her eyes slowly swept over his face. “That coming back to Kadenburg may possibly be the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I mean, the reasoning behind it is still hard to deal with. There’s a lot I still need to tell you, Lorcan, but I’m really glad I came home.”
He nodded, bowing his head as a soft breath escaped from between his lips. “I know about what happened in Florida,” He admitted earnestly. “I’m so sorry, Presley.”
An ache made itself known in her chest as she lifted her eyes to stare at him. “You know?” She questioned in a small voice.
“Yeah,” He gazed at her with such sadness in his eyes. She could feel it radiating from his strong frame as he wrapped his arms around her. “You were dreaming about it. I didn’t mean to pry. I was just trying to get the hang of our connection. I’m sorry if I saw something you didn’t want me to see.”
She buried her face against his chest, breathing in the scent she’d already become so enamored with smelling. Her hands rested against the smooth skin of his upper back as she sighed. “I want you to see everything,” She confessed. “I want you to know everything, Lorcan. I don’t want to hide anything from you.”
Where in the hell did that come from? Since when was it so easy for her to let her walls down and invite someone inside? Even when she was with Tim, they had never had such intimate conversations before. Even after he found out she was pregnant, they never actually had heart to heart talks such as this.
Maybe that’s why things just didn’t work out, she thought. Maybe it wasn’t just about the fact I couldn’t carry his child…..he just didn’t care about me as much as I wanted him to.
“I care about you,” Lorcan said suddenly, pulling her out of her thoughts. “I’ve always cared about you, Pretz. And you know what?” He pulled back to gaze at her again. “Even in a parallel universe; if you came back home and you were carrying his baby? I’d still love you.”
She bit her lower lip in an attempt to prevent it from quivering as she blinked back the tears rapidly gathering in her eyes. So he did know about the baby she’d lost, and he was being wonderful about everything. Lorcan was perfect.
“You dreamed about it, too,” He nodded. “It’s on your mind a lot, Presley. Even when you were just waking up, you were thinking about your baby,” He smiled warmly.
She opened her mouth to say something else when a knock sounded at the door. She quickly clutched the sheets against her chest as the door inched open and Mrs. Bamey spoke.
“Are you two decent?” She asked.
“Maybe, Mama,” Lorcan chuckled. “We’ll be out in just a minute.”
“Oh,” There was a beat of silence. “Well, good! Breakfast is waiting for you and then we need to have that meeting. Everyone is anxious to talk about our next step.”
“Got it,” Lorcan glanced at Presley, winking. “We’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Okay,” There was definitely a sense of happiness in Mrs. Bamey’s voice as she shut the door back. Presley listened to her retreating footsteps before turning her head to look at Lorcan.
“So she’s completely okay with us being in here together?” She asked.
“She is,” He nodded, pushing the blankets away before he got up. Presley’s eyes immediately traveled down his back, drinking in every beautifully chiseled inch of his naked flesh as he rummaged through his dresser. Did they really have to get dressed? She heard him chuckle as he glanced at her over his shoulder. “Your uncle is still adjusting.”
“Oh god,” She groaned, burying her face into her hands. “How mad is he?”
“He’s not really mad,” Lorcan replied as he pulled a t-shirt down over his torso. The fabric strained to cover his skin, showing off every muscle he possessed as BAMEY 17 stared back at her. She recognized that shirt; and that number. It was his old track and field top from their high school days. She smiled as the memories floated through her mind, taking her back to a simpler time as Lorcan’s mouth found hers.
“Get dressed,” He murmured, tugging at a curl and watching it bounce back into place. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
She sighed, watching as he tugged up his jeans and buttoned them before exiting the room. She fell back against the mattress and gazed at the ceiling, feeling her stomach twist into nervous flutters as she rested a palm just beneath her belly button. “Yes, we do.”
Fifteen
Arnold Goult tapped his fingertips against the tabletop anxiously as his eyes stared a hole through the bowl of gravy before him. His niece was back, safe and sound, yet his nerves were on edge. He needed a cigarette. He needed a drink. He needed to smack Lorcan Bamey a few times just because it would make him feel better.
“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Mr. Bamey stated matter-of-factly. “She’s a grown woman, Arnie.”
“I’m aware of that,” Arnold muttered as he scowled. “That doesn’t mean I need to be aware of what they’re up to at all hours of the night.”
“Oh, Arnold,” Mrs. Bamey scolded gently, frowning as she placed a clean plate in front of him. “Don’t say such things when she gets in here. You’ll only embarrass the poor girl.”
“I ain’t gonna embarrass her,” Arnold frowned, lifting his eyes to stare at the perkier-than-usual female. “I just ain’t gonna give her a pat on the back for it. I didn’t get any dang sleep.”
“That’s why you invest in ear plugs,” Davey Berdine cackled, easing down into the chair next to Arnold. “You know how it works for us bear folk, Goult. Once we find the one we’ve been looking for our whole life, we tend to get a bit ro
wdy. Ear plugs are the secret to keeping your sanity.”
Arnold made a small face, shaking his head as he picked up the steaming cup of coffee he’d been neglecting for two solid minutes. “It still doesn’t mean I like it,” He mumbled, taking a large drink.
“Morning,” Lorcan chimed as he entered the kitchen. Arnold loathed the way he was strutting about like the cock of the roost, acting like he was victorious. He wanted to smack him-just one good smack and he’d feel better. That’s all he needed.
“Morning,” Davey nodded, a knowing grin on his face as he stared up at the younger ursithrope. “Sleep well, Lorcan?”
“Uh, yeah,” Lorcan nodded, hopping up onto the counter near the coffee pot as he glanced at the few ursithropes seated at the table. “I’m pretty rested today, thanks.”
Davey Berdine, wrinkles and all, laughed like a small school boy as he covered his face with his hands. Arnold stared at him in a mixture of disgust and disbelief before rolling his eyes.
“I’m glad somebody got some sleep,” Arnold voiced as he lifted his cup for another sip. His eyes finally met Lorcan’s and he was surprised when the younger male didn’t look away. In fact, Lorcan didn’t seem to be intimidated by him at all. Huh.
“Good morning,” His niece stated softly as she entered the kitchen. She was dressed in pajama bottoms that were far too big for her, and she was wearing a t-shirt that swallowed the top part of her body. Good. He didn’t want to witness Lorcan ogling at her all day.
I’m going to smack him hard, Arnold affirmed as he nodded to her. “Morning, Pretzel. How did you sleep?”
He noted the color rushing into her cheeks as Presley dropped her gaze to the floor. She ran her fingers through her hair, a small smile playing at her lips.
“Very well, thank you,” She nodded. “I’m happy to be home.”
As much as Arnold wanted to point out to her that the Bamey house was not ‘home’, he didn’t want to spoil whatever happiness she was currently experiencing. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like being held captive by those mutts, and the only reason he wouldn’t actually smack Lorcan Bamey was because the boy had brought her back safe and sound. Damn it. Sometimes he hated it when his mind used logic against him.
“I’m happy you’re back,” Arnold said as he pushed himself up from the table and approached her. “I’m glad you’re safe,” He wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her against his chest as he kissed the top of her hair. She smelled like Lorcan, but he could ignore it. “I’m really glad,” He whispered.
“Me, too,” Presley mumbled against his chest as she embraced him. “I’m sorry if I worried you, Uncle Arnold.”
“Oh, don’t fret about that now, dear,” Mrs. Bamey interrupted with a smile. “We’re all very relieved that you’re back and we can focus on how to take care of the problem,” She looked around. “Now where did Dimitri go?”
–––––––
The weather was abnormally warm for a winter month. Not a flake of snow had been seen yet, and Dimitri found that to be quite peculiar, though he was hardly familiar with how the weather worked in Kadenburg in the first place. It was very different from Massachusetts. Hell, in Mass he would’ve already seen four blizzards by now.
He missed the snow sometimes. He almost missed it as much as he missed Liam.
Crouching down beside the fresh grave, Dimitri placed a bouquet of soft blue carnations at the base of the headstone before lifting his eyes to read the words chiseled into the concrete.
Loved by all who knew him, an unforgettable son and brother.
Wasn’t that the truth? Liam was definitely unforgettable. Pursing his lips together, Dimitri lifted his eyes higher to read over the date of birth and death.
I died on that day, too, he thought as he reached his hand out to trace his fingertips over Liam’s name. I am a walking corpse. There is no life left in me without you.
He closed his eyes, feeling the sting of tears as they collected beneath his closed lids. This was what he needed, desperately, and Mr. Bamey had been kind enough to tell him where Liam’s grave was located. He had to have this closure and there was no better time to do it.
“I love you so much,” He whispered as a large lump swelled in his throat. He didn’t even bother to swallow it down. Instead, he allowed it to bubble and fester into the emotional breakdown he’d been pushing off for weeks. The tears escaped through his lashes, streaming down his hot cheeks as he pressed his forehead against the cold stone. “I wish you were still here.”
“I wish he was, too.”
The wolf turned his head to see none other than Rutley standing there. The male had his hands shoved into his coat pockets, staring at him solemnly. Dimitri made no effort to wipe at his eyes. He was tired of hiding this. He was tired of keeping it bottled up inside. So what if the wolf hunter saw the wolf cry? He, better than anyone else, would understand the pain he felt because he felt it, too, didn’t he?
“I figured I’d find you here,” Rutley continued as he stepped closer. He stopped at the foot of Liam’s grave, staring down at the headstone as he sighed. “It wasn’t hard to guess, actually. This is the only cemetery we’ve got.”
Dimitri was silent as his eyes moved back to gaze at Liam’s name on the headstone. He traced his fingertips over the side of it mindlessly, shrugging his shoulders.
“Nice flowers,” Rutley commented. “Liam liked blue.”
“I know,” Dimitri replied as his voice cracked. “I thought he would like them.”
“I’m sure he does.”
A gentle breeze swept through the air, caressing Dimitri’s cheek as he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to relax. He had too many thoughts; too many memories. Worries plagued him and stole away any chances of sleep he’d had. He was exhausted, truth be told, and all he wanted to do was curl up next to Liam’s grave and fade into nothing.
A hand landed against his shoulder and he slowly opened his eyes. Why did the wolf hunter insist on showing him kindness when they were both well aware of what their relationship should be? They should hate each other.
I was supposed to hate Liam, he noted as he pushed himself up from the ground and turned to stare at Rutley. I don’t hate this kid at all.
Rutley stared at him with understanding and compassion in his eyes. They were so different from one another, yet they both had a common anchor; Liam Bamey. It was incredible how small the world truly was.
Dimitri shifted his weight from one foot to the other, towering over his beloved’s best friend as they averted their gazes elsewhere. In spite of the awkward atmosphere, they did have a mutual interest and similar feelings over this particular situation.
“I’m sorry I was a dick to you last night,” Dimitri finally said. “I never should’ve assumed that you were being untrue with your claims of knowing Liam.”
Rutley gave a small roll of his shoulders before shaking his head. “Don’t even worry about that. Last night was pretty damn eventful, wouldn’t you say? It was tense, and things were bound to be said that we would later regret. I’m sorry I tried to drug your coffee.”
A small smile made itself known on Dimitri’s lips as he recalled the incident. “Well, as I recall it, I got the last laugh. Karma’s a real bitch.”
“That she is,” Rutley agreed. “She’s always had it out for me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Dimitri offered, feeling a little more relaxed now, though he was still incredibly sad. He couldn’t shake the gloomy feeling, and it probably wouldn’t go away until they were out of the cemetery. “So are they wondering about me yet?” He asked. “Mrs. Bamey seems to be pretty hardcore about people being in attendance for breakfast.”
“Oh, she definitely is,” Rutley laughed. His breath escaped into the air as a puff of white smoke as he glanced towards the morning sky. “She’ll have our hides if we’re not there in time for the blessing.”
Dimitri’s smile grew bigger. Mrs. Bamey definitely seemed like
the kind of mother he would’ve wanted to have growing up. She was kind to him and she gave some great hugs. He totally understood why Liam always spoke so fondly of her. She was perfect.
“I don’t think I’d want anyone to have my hide,” He joked, glancing back towards Liam’s headstone. He would come back later, after all of this had blown over. Once the Breslin problem was taken care of, he would visit often. I will make him pay, Baby. I promise.
Finally tearing his gaze away from the headstone, Dimitri readied himself to leave the graveyard alongside of Rutley. That was, until, his ears picked up on the sound of a twig snapping and something came soaring through the air. He growled, his hand instinctively reaching out to shove Rutley backwards before he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder.
“What the-” Rutley fell back against the cold ground and stared up at him with wide eyes.
Dimitri released a pained groan as he gripped the arrow that was now deeply embedded through the flesh and muscle. He clenched his teeth, slouching as his eyes darted back and forth through the trees.
“Is that a freaking arrow?!” Rutley asked, scrambling to his feet. “Did someone just shoot you?!”
“Gee, I don’t know. What do you think?” Dimitri asked angrily as his eyes began to glow. His inner wolf roared in dismay, desperately clawing its way to the surface as another arrow came zooming right towards him. He narrowly stepped aside, trying to keep his mind off the sharp throb in his torso as searched for the shooter.
“Stay down,” He instructed, baring his fangs. “I don’t know what the hell we’re up against.”
“Dude, that’s not norm-” Rutley’s Captain-Obvious statement would have to wait. A figure emerged from the tree line and Dimitri’s claws broke through the tender flesh of his fingertips. There was no way he could control his wolf when it was this pissed off.
The coward couldn’t even show his face as he strategically pulled his bow back a third time, ready to strike as Dimitri charged towards him. The lycanthrope hadn’t necessarily been planning to battle in the middle of a cemetery, but what choice did he have when this moron struck him first? His nostrils flared, releasing a deafening howl as he pushed off from the ground, going air-borne before he collided with his attacker. The Susan Pevensie wannabe slammed into the ground with a raging Dimitri on top of him.
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