Chasing the Storm

by Aliyah Burke

  “She’s my family and I don’t know what lies she’s told you, but I don’t want to kill her. We’ve been searching for her to bring her home.”

  Cale’s power moved within him and he struggled to control it. Never before had the urge to kill been so strong within him. “No woman stays in a place where there are huge bugs on the floor for no reason when she has a home to go to unless death awaits her there. Your lies reek and I despise people who can’t own up to what they’ve done.”

  Jeremy’s expression grew defiant. “Fine. We wanted to kill the bitch. She shouldn’t have been part of the family anyway. She was only around because grandmother refused to let one of her father’s offspring, no matter how illegitimate, not be in the family. She always said we had to own up to our mistakes. And that’s what she is, a mistake.”

  Cale tightened his hand around the neck he held. Jeremy gasped but still maintained his smug arrogance.

  “She wasn’t ever wanted. Not by any of us.”

  “So why try to kill her? Why not just let her go?”

  “That pendant is worth millions. We looked it up one day before she died and had plans to sell it. When the old bitch died she gave it to her.”

  “Which is where it will stay. Listen to me and listen well. You even sneeze in her direction again and I’ll find you. When I do, you’ll wish you were dead because I’m really good at making your desire for death last a long time.”

  “You can’t threaten me.”

  “I just did. And if she wasn’t here watching us right now, I’d kill you. Just because I don’t think you’re anything more than a waste of oxygen and space in the universe. You and your stupid friends.” He took another deep breath to try to calm down. “Let me repeat this. Taylor is mine, got it? Mine. And I will die to protect her, and go through whomever or whatever is sent after her to keep her safe. You don’t know what you’re messing with because if you think by killing me, you’ll get to her, you’re wrong. She’s well protected and will always be.” He leaned closer. “Forget her, forget the pendant. Live longer.”

  “You and I will meet again.”

  Cale’s smile was feral. “I do hope so. I can’t wait to strip the flesh from your bones. This was a warning meeting. I see you again, I will learn what your blood looks like.”

  “You’re sick, man.”

  “I’m a man who will do anything to protect his woman.” Sparks began to flash along his skin.

  “What…what is that?”

  “My power.”

  “Power?” Jeremy’s word more resembled a gasp than anything.

  “Yes.” He stared down his nose at Jeremy. “Do us both a favour and never show your face around us again.”

  “What about my friends?”

  “Hope they’re still alive, I don’t know. Tiarnán is the warrior and looks at Taylor as his. He’s very protective of her as well.”

  “We’ll go, let me down and we’ll go.”

  Cale squeezed tighter then dropped him. Jeremy hit the ground with a whimper and rubbed at the mark on his neck before scrambling to his feet and bolting out of the door. Cale turned once he’d vanished to spy the woman standing behind him. Taylor watched him with wide eyes and her hands were knotted before her.

  He beckoned to her. “Come here.”

  She followed his directive and moved into his embrace. Cale wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose into her hair.

  “He’ll not bother you again.”

  “I thought you were going to kill him.”

  “I wanted to,” he admitted.

  She didn’t move away. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s an asshole and a jerk, but I don’t want you to have his death on your conscious.”

  “Make no mistake, Taylor Kenyon. I would kill for you. And I’d die for you.”

  She pulled back, staring intently at his expression. “Why?”

  “Why?”

  She nodded.

  “Because you are my mate.”

  “But that could have been anyone.”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Yes. You didn’t know who would set off that spark thingy. It could have been anyone. I’m not special and while I thank you for standing up to Jeremy for me, I don’t need more than that.”

  “You aren’t seeing what I do.” He had to get her to understand.

  “So explain it to me.”

  He led her to the couch and sat beside her. Propping an arm along the back, he held her hand with his other.

  “You see this as you could have been anyone. That any person could be sitting here with me that causes the rainbow display of sparks.”

  “Exactly.”

  He brushed back a few strands of the diagonal fringe from her forehead and allowed his touch to linger along her smooth skin before returning his hand to the couch.

  “Allow me to enlighten you, Taylor. I see this, us, as something beyond our comprehension. I’m sitting across from a woman who was handpicked for me. There could be no other because not any other person could give me what you can. The Guardians have been given a task that’s dangerous. We didn’t have a choice, but we’re given…extra to help us deal with it. The ones who are our mates don’t have extras like we have, and in my estimation, they have to be extremely special to put up with us and what we’re going to go through.” He squeezed her hand. “You are, in my estimation, the stronger of the two of us. And you were put here for me. No one else has the strength to do what you will and give to me that which I need.”

  She tipped her head to the side and he gave a small smile.

  “You, Taylor, out of the millions of people in the world, were picked for me. That doesn’t make you ‘just anyone’, it makes you so special and unique.”

  “What are we going to go through?”

  He sighed. “I don’t know. If I knew, I’d let you know. But I haven’t a clue and Lian isn’t exactly being forthcoming with whatever it is on the horizon for us.” He spied the flash of fear and uncertainty in her eyes and squeezed her hand. “I will protect you.”

  “What about you? Who’s going to protect you?”

  He jerked his head towards the door. “Well, I do have Wolverine at my back.”

  While shaky, she at least produced a smile. “I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.” Turning her head, she asked, “Where is he?”

  “Tiarnán took them somewhere else.”

  “So we’re alone?”

  He stared at her and nodded. “Completely and utterly.”

  Heat flared in her eyes as her pupils dilated. “Good to know.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Oh, the misty thing is happening. Someone contacting you?”

  He grunted. “Billy.” Damn the man for interrupting him now.

  Taylor allowed her touch to skim over his cock before she got to her feet. “Handle what you need to. I’ll fix some food. Will Tiarnán be back for the meal?”

  He turned his head and watched her walk, the sway of her hips making him think of things that had nothing to do with talking to Billy at all. Nor did it deal with thinking about Tiarnán. “Nope.”

  “Okay.”

  “What is it, Billy?”

  “Edmond figured out the other symbols, both on the chain and pendant.”

  “And this couldn’t wait until we got back?”

  “No. Listen. The symbol on the pendant we didn’t know before is storm. However, when we ran the ones from the chain through the system we got hit.”

  “A hit?”

  “No. Hits as in someone was looking specifically for those words. Members of The New Order. So they’re on even higher alert now. There’ve been some odd sightings going on over in Scotland, which Lian has said to be the work of Uma. I’m going over there to see what I can find. Maybe I will hit paydirt and find another artefact.”

  “Be careful.”

  “You know me, I always am. But I am also a thief, so
I can steal it if that’s what it comes down to. He just thinks that if Uma or some of the ones with her are there, they must have a lead.”

  “How does that work though, if there’s no sign of anything between this person and their mate?”

  “They may just know what the artefact should look like and be after it. If it’s in a museum or buried somewhere, perhaps I can get to it and bring it back to the vineyard for safe keeping.”

  “When do you leave?”

  “Tomorrow I’m heading out. I won’t see you until I get back. So stay safe.”

  “You too.”

  Their connection broke off and Cale sat there for a moment, running over what he’d just learnt.

  “Everything okay?”

  Pivoting around so he could see Taylor, he was touched by the concern in her expression. “I hope so.”

  Taylor watched him as the mist that surrounded him when he talked in his mind to his brethren settled back into his skin. She could stare at him all day without it being a problem. It’d be perfectly okay by me to do so.

  Right now, it seemed something was wrong. “You hope so? What’s going on?”

  In for a penny, in for a pound. She was in this and might as well learn as much as she could.

  “Billy is going to Scotland.”

  “How wonderful.” She pursed her lips, canting her head to the side. “Isn’t it?”

  “I’m not so sure. There’ve been reports of some destruction going on over there. Lian said it sounds like one of the creatures we’re going to have to fight against. So he, Billy, is heading there to see if they’ve discovered an artefact.”

  Destruction? What the hell am I missing by not watching the news? “What happens if they have? He can’t take it from them, can he?” I’m talking about ‘they’ and ‘them’ as if I’m part of this whole insane fiasco.

  “Before he came to the vineyard, Billy was a thief. And a damn good one. His skills haven’t diminished. If anything, they’ve gotten better. His sign is the monkey and it’s given him an added bonus of agility and sneakiness. So he can take it from them if they have it.”

  “You’re concerned for what reason, then?”

  “We’re not so close if he needs us.”

  “Is his mate there?”

  “No clue. He’s just going to check out the supposed destruction which is going on.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” She began to mix a salad. Her cooking skills weren’t all that good, but she could make a meal.

  “I hope so too.” Cale moved to help her in the kitchen.

  “So, you’re the healer and carry the sign of the dog. Billy is the monkey and is a thief, what are the others?”

  “Tiarnán is the tiger. He’s our best warrior and he can camouflage to just about anything. Roz carries the sign of the horse. Swiftness is her attribute. Aminta has the ram sign. I say it gives her stubbornness. And Dracen is the dragon. We’re not sure what it gives her. She’s got a bit of us all in her and more.”

  “She’s quiet.”

  “And our second best warrior.”

  She chopped some tomatoes. “Better than you?”

  His chuckle came swiftly. “Oh definitely. She can kick my ass without really trying. Fights with her and Tiarnán take on a life of their own. One day she’ll beat him but right now, he ends up on top.”

  “Are they together?”

  “Together? As in mates?”

  “Yes. They’re very close.”

  “Siblings only. They’ve been here, well at the vineyard, the longest of all who are there now.”

  She watched him put the steaks in the pan to sear them. “And you weren’t with anyone there?”

  “That’s family there, darling. That’s all.” He moved in close and brushed his lips along the nape of her neck, causing her to shiver. “Those women are my sisters and I have never, ever, nor will I ever want to share with them that which you and I have.”

  His words created a warm ball in her belly. There was no way around it—there was proof she was falling for this man, more and more each day. It didn’t make sense, but she couldn’t argue with the facts presented right before her.

  “Are we going back to the mansion?”

  “Yes. Need to get a bit more information and see what, if anything, is in the bag from your grandmother.”

  She nodded, hoping that didn’t mean they had to destroy it. They finished preparing dinner, the talk swinging to something lighter. The mood lasted through the meal and the dessert that followed.

  As she rinsed off the last dish, she glanced over her shoulder and watched Cale wipe off the table. Every motion he produced had her mind replaying what it had been like in bed with him back in Oregon.

  “You can keep making those cute little noises, Taylor, but I promise you’ll be in a bed on your back naked, if you do so.”

  Her hand trembled and she nearly dropped the plate she held. It took her a few attempts to swallow and ensure her legs wouldn’t give out from under her. The flash of teeth she caught from him told her he knew what thoughts had crossed through her mind at his words.

  “Promises, promises.”

  He’d lowered his head but at her two words, it snapped up and his dark blue eyes flared with a passion that nearly burned her from across the room. His desire and need were so intermixed, she couldn’t tell one from the other.

  She fumbled until the water shut off, but that was all the moving she did. She felt like prey. Dampening her lips, she attempted to slide to the right slightly, but his gaze narrowed on her when she did.

  The rag fell from his hands to the tabletop and she bolted. No destination in mind, just running. She squealed when he scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. Gripping the back of his shirt, she avoided staring at his ass—sort of. She jumped when he smacked her on the butt, an act that sent tingles all through her, especially to her clit.

  When she bounced on the mattress, she merely looked up at him, a saucy grin on her face. He leaned over her, blocking her in with strong arms and put his face close. “You’re playing with fire, Taylor.”

  She dragged her tongue along her lower lip as she reached out to mess with the collar of his shirt. “Am I? How so?”

  “I am barely holding on here,” he said.

  Wrapping her legs around the backs of his, she jerked him closer. “So let go.”

  They must have been the words he had been waiting for. Cale rumbled low in his chest and in a quick moment, her clothes were gone. So were his, for his hot naked body pressed her back into the mattress.

  “Wow, that was impressive,” she sighed.

  “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, babe.”

  “And there he goes with the promises again.”

  “Ones you can take to the bank.”

  He flipped her over, ignored her screech and began kissing his way up her body. Starting from the sole of her foot up to where her hair hung on her neck, he licked, laved and nipped her into a fervour. When he laid her on her back, she reached for him.

  “No. You have to stay still.”

  She scrunched her fingers in the top covering of the bed—whatever it was, she hadn’t taken the time to notice it. Hard to notice anything other than the man with her. He went back down to her feet and picked one up, placing the sole against his shoulder. Dragging his index finger up and down her calf, he merely stared at her.

  “Stop torturing me,” she begged.

  “I’ve not even begun to torture you yet.” His words were deep and dark.

  Her belly clenched as she tried not to squirm beneath his touch and stare. “Please.”

  He kissed her big toe. “Nope.”

  Farther and farther up her body he moved. Her gaze locked on his large cock, which stood out from his pelvis. The pre-cum on the head had her wanting to taste him. Feel him slide in and out of her lips as she knelt between his legs. More moisture went to her pussy and she wriggled on the bed.

  “Cale,” she gasped.

 
“Not done yet,” he muttered as he passed up over her sternum to her neck. The rasp of his stubble heightened her pleasure as he continued to keep her on the edge of her orgasm.

  His hard length slipped against her slit and she moaned, widening her legs to welcome more of his weight. Rotating her hips, she moved up and down along him. He tensed above her before capturing her earlobe and sucking it in time with her own movements.

  Releasing the blanket, she then gripped him. The feel of his flesh beneath her fingers brought her a sense of relief, for being able to touch him, but also skyrocketed her need. She dug her grip into him, hard, as she locked her legs around him.

  Cale slipped a hand between them and readjusted his hard cock. She purred as it filled her, one inch at a time. He didn’t rush and when he was fully seated inside her, she cracked her eyes open and stared at him. The misty look he had when he was talking to his brethren covered his entire body, yet at the same time, different. Warmer almost, if she could give it that description. Beneath her fingers, his muscles rippled and moved as he stroked in her.

  “Cale,” she whispered.

  “Let me,” his response fell.

  Let him? Like she wanted anything else. In and out he thrust, not rushing, just leaving her with a long, deep burn for release. Rainbow sparks lit the mist around him and moved to encompass her as well. She closed her eyes again and lost herself in the touch of this man.

  It was gentle. Slow. Drugging.

  Taylor screamed as she came around his cock, the pleasure washing over her too intense to keep the sounds contained within her. Cale drove into her four more times before he spilled his load deep inside her. She whimpered as mini orgasms cropped up and shot through her entire body.

  He nearly collapsed on her, turning at the last minute to ensure he didn’t crush her. Still deep in her pussy, he wrapped his arms around her and repositioned them so she lay on top of him.

  He didn’t speak, just stared at her and brushed some more hair off her forehead. She ducked her head and placed it on his chest, listening to the fast beating of his heart. The sparks still danced along their skin.

  “Do you see the rainbow of colours?” he asked, smoothing a hand up and down the bare skin of her back.

  “I do. It’s weird. Almost feels like they’re massaging my skin. And yet, not. If that makes any sense.”