by Dannika Dark
Christian stepped outside with dark sunglasses shading his sensitive eyes. He sat down between the arches of the short wall in front of me. “Where’s Claude?”
I crossed my legs and looked into the courtyard behind him. “I think he passed out in the grass somewhere. Hunter wore him out. They were playing tag for about an hour.”
“That’s hardly fair. A wee lad against a Chitah.”
“Wyatt made him wear a blindfold, so he kept smacking into things.”
“’Tis a shame I missed that spectacle.” Christian’s gaze swept down to my bare legs, and he licked his lips. “Will you be wearing those shorts all summer? They don’t cover much, lass.”
I stretched my long leg in his direction so he could get a better view. “I’m a bad girl.”
His fangs descended slightly. “Indeed, you are.”
Christian wasn’t wearing his usual grim attire of a trench coat over a Henley. He looked so out of character in a black tank top and jeans.
“I didn’t know you liked jeans.”
A crooked smile wound up his face. “It’s laundry day.”
“You should buy a pair of those tight bicycle shorts.”
“Over my rotting corpse.”
I uncrossed my legs and widened them just a little bit. When I did, I couldn’t strip my eyes away from Christian’s growing erection, visible as it pressed against his jeans. “What a shame. It’s nice wearing shorts in this weather. I couldn’t dress like this on the streets. They would have drawn too much unwanted attention.”
Christian got up and strolled over to the chair beside me. After he sat down, he reached across and put his hand on my leg, his fingers tucking between my thighs. “I can see why.”
Awareness burned in his eyes, and I felt feverish from his touch. Christian and I were navigating our way through a new relationship, and we didn’t want to create unnecessary rules or pressure. We hadn’t opted for a shared bedroom. Some nights he stayed with me, and other nights I stayed with him. We didn’t always have sex; it wasn’t about that. I was discovering a new kind of intimacy with a man that had to do with trust, conversation, and patience. Sometimes we both wanted privacy and slept alone, and that was fine. Nobody got jealous or sparked an argument. Our arrangement was unconventional, and it worked. It built up the sexual tension between us to a crescendo, and I had no complaints.
He retracted his arm and sat back. “What’s on your mind, lass? You’ve been quiet all morning.”
I wasn’t sure how to broach the topic as it had been stirring in my thoughts for a while now.
After another sip of cold tea, I set the glass on the flat armrest of the Adirondack. “Tell me what you think before I mention this to Shepherd or Viktor.” I shifted in my seat to face him, my eyes scooping up the deliciousness of his biceps and tight-fitted shirt. “Shepherd’s busy with work, and Kira can’t keep an eye on Hunter with all her responsibilities. Viktor didn’t hire her to be a nanny, and I think he’s beginning to see that. None of us have time to give this kid schooling. I’m assuming Breed kids have to be educated like everyone else.”
Christian tipped his head to the side. “It depends on your definition of educated. Most Relics I’ve met don’t waste time teaching their children about history or economics. Their innate knowledge keeps them focused on their future career. With Shifters, it depends. Some of them have family businesses. The packmates teach the wee ones what they need to know.”
“But Hunter’s special. He needs a well-rounded education. We don’t know if he’ll grow up to do anything with his Relic knowledge. He’s also a Sensor. Not only that, he lives with a bunch of killers. I know Shepherd doesn’t want him neglected because we’re all busy. What do you think of a live-in nanny?”
Christian drummed his fingers on the armrest. “Viktor has trust issues, so I don’t see that happening. He only took in Kira because of the friendship he had with her father.”
I leaned on the armrest. “He’s gonna have to trust someone. If that kid doesn’t get some structure in his life, he’ll be a nightmare to deal with. Like a mad dog. Face it—nobody who lives with us is going to come out of it well-adjusted. Not unless they have a good mentor.”
“And where do you think Viktor will be able to find a nanny who won’t spill our secrets?”
“What about Switch?”
Christian dipped his chin so I could see his black eyes over the top of his shades. “Are you fecking with me? You want that numpty to move in here… with us? Well, that’s just grand.”
“I thought you settled your differences. He’s not a bad guy.”
“You didn’t think I’d be vexed over a man living in the next room who has his eyes on my lover?”
I gave him an impish grin. “I love it when you call me that.”
He turned his head away. “I’ll not have it.”
“Are you really jealous over someone I’m not interested in? Switch romanticized over the old me, but he doesn’t want anything to do with the new and improved Raven Black. The one who can kill a man with her thighs.”
I stood up and scooted onto his lap. When I nuzzled against his neck and felt him harden beneath me, I knew he wasn’t as mad as he pretended to be. “Think about it,” I said, nipping his neck with the tips of my fangs.
Christian hissed and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re not playing fair.”
If only we didn’t have an audience, I thought, glancing at the courtyard.
I nestled against him and ran my fingers through his beard. “I’ve given it a lot of serious thought. Switch is the perfect solution. This is what he does for a living, and whatever Viktor paid him would be better than what he earns from the packs. He’s not happy about his situation, and we’re not happy about ours. I owe him for putting his life on the line to protect my father. He would never break my trust, and he’ll protect Hunter with his life. I told you about what got him in trouble with the packs in the first place.”
“Aye. He might have admirable qualities, but that doesn’t mean I want your ex living here.”
“He’s not my ex. We never dated. We’ve never even kissed. Switch is good-looking, but I always liked those clean-cut guys.”
“So that’s your type? The all-American quarterback?”
I pinched Christian’s scruffy beard. “You’re my type. And I know you trust me.”
“It’s him I don’t trust.”
I stood up and raked my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know how to change that. Would you trust a different man, or is it just him?”
Christian gave me a mirthless smile. “Do you not know how persistent Shifters and Chitahs are by nature? They’re not only territorial, but they love a long courtship. Rejection among their kind is incentive to improve themselves and become worthy of a woman’s affections. What if Viktor sends me to some godforsaken country for another month? Your friend’s tail will start wagging, and you’ll see what I’m going on about.”
I sat down on the low wall and sighed. “It was just an idea.”
“So we find someone else.”
“He’s the only one with the right qualifications. I didn’t want this to be an impulsive decision. I gave myself weeks to mull it over and decide if Switch was the best fit. Isn’t it better to have workers with a personal connection to someone in this house? That’s the only reason Kira’s here. Besides, Switch is practically family.” I stood up and squared my shoulders. “I get that you’re jealous, but you need to think about what you’re saying. If you really trust me, then it wouldn’t matter if ten horny men who wanted me as their wife moved into this house. If you and I have an argument, I’m not the type who’ll run into the arms of another man. If you go on a long trip, I won’t become so desperately lonely that I’ll sleep around. That’s not who I am. And if that’s who you think I am, then you don’t really know me at all.”
He crossed his legs and stared in my direction. “Perhaps Lenore has experience.”
“Sleeping with men? That I
don’t doubt.”
“I think you know the point I’m making.”
I did, but Switch and I had a platonic relationship, whereas Lenore and Christian’s was mired in years of manipulation and blood sharing. And none of it by force. No, Christian had delighted in drinking her ancient blood, so I had reason to be jealous of someone like her in the house. It had nothing to do with my trust for Christian and everything to do with the control she had over him. Switch had zero control or influence over me, and that should count for something.
I stared at my elongated reflection in his glasses. “This isn’t about us. It’s about what’s best for that little boy running around on the lawn. If we don’t give him a fair shot in life, you might be the lucky Vamp who has to scrub away ten or twenty years of his life when he betrays us out of spite. I want you to sit here for a while and consider that.”
“Why did you not just go around me and ask Viktor?”
I strode up to Christian’s chair and planted my hands on the armrests. “Because if I pitch this idea to him, it would be nice to have your support. He’s known you a little bit longer. Maybe it’s not my place to get involved in what Shepherd wants to do with his kid, but I see an opportunity to help two people. Switch might not even agree to it, but maybe we should entertain the idea before tossing it out the window.”
Over the top of his sunglasses, I could see the aim of his gaze was straight inside my blouse. Good thing I’d skipped the bra this morning and wore a wide collar.
I kissed him on the lips. “What are you willing to do to please me?”
He lifted his chin. “Another man living here would please you?”
“Your support turns me on.” I playfully nipped his bottom lip, and he growled low and sexily. “Think about it.”
While heading back inside, I could feel Christian’s hot gaze all over my legs and ass. Reluctance was his middle name. It was his nature not to trust anyone, least of all someone he perceived as competition. But Switch had shown loyalty to my father and to me. Anyone who would put his life on the line for my father was family in my book, and I couldn’t turn my back on the opportunity to repay him. Why hire a stranger when we could invite someone whom I trusted with my life? It might give Keystone peace of mind that Switch would never betray us.
The real question was: Would they go for it?
Chapter 2
After jogging upstairs to grab something from my room, I ventured down to the first floor along the east wing. When I reached the first alcove on the left, I noticed the lantern that usually hung on the wall was gone. Gem used it to light her way when she went into her private study, so when it wasn’t on the wall, I knew she was working.
When I pushed on the stone wall, the door pivoted and created a gap on the right side. I slipped through the entrance and entered a dim room with lofty ceilings and bookshelves for walls. A lantern and several candles lit up the large wooden desk in the middle where Gem was sitting, studiously working on translating a book. Lanterns affixed to the dividers between bookshelves added extra light to the windowless room.
I walked barefoot across the cold floor until I reached the green area rug beneath the table. “Why do you work in such a dark room? You could have chosen one of the larger rooms upstairs with oversized windows.”
Gem set down her pen and gently turned the page of an old book. “Ultraviolet light is bad for paper. Some of the light bulbs are also harmful, but I can’t keep track of all the new technology. It’s better to store books in a cool, dry place with no ambient light.” She sat back in her chair, her eyelids still sparkling with the glitter she’d put on earlier that morning. The false eyelashes only enhanced her round eyes. “I store some of the older books in acid-free boxes. The temperature in here stays cool and dry most of the year, so it’s an ideal storage room.” She pointed to what looked like a clock on a shelf. “That’s my thermo-hygrometer. I’m the guardian of history. If you have any photographs or notes you want to preserve, let me know and I’ll give you some tips.”
“I hadn’t thought about it.”
Her brows arched. “You should. You’re an immortal. You’ll last longer than your keepsakes if you don’t know how to store them. Wyatt can also scan them, but like I said, technology is always changing. They might not have USB ports in the year three thousand.”
“You work too much.”
She gave me an elfin smile. “Tell me about it. I’ve been so buried in work these past weeks that I haven’t even gone swimming once since the last snow. Such is the life of a bibliophile.”
“I didn’t mean to barge in, but I’ve got something for you.”
She hopped out of her chair and clasped her hands together. “Oh, I love surprises!”
Gem still had on her platform sneakers but had changed into a pair of pink shorts and a long-sleeved white shirt.
“I know how you like stones, and I thought you might like this.” I retrieved the letter opener from my back pocket and presented it to her.
Gem’s eyes widened like saucers. “It’s gorgeous!” She snatched it from my hand before the words were spoken. “The opal is divine! How much did you pay for this?”
“Apparently less than it’s worth in a human store. I got it for a steal.”
“I’ll say.” She turned it in her hand. “I love white opal. Black is the most prized, but I’ve never been a huge fan. Someday I’d like to get my hands on a harlequin opal. Stones are magic. They can store and emit all kinds of energy. Did you know that many ancient cultures used them for healing?” She brushed her fingers over the gem. “The energy feels so strong. This is a good one.”
“I thought you’d like it,” I said with a nod.
“The colors are brilliant, but what an odd choice for a letter opener.” She raised the dull blade and studied it. “The handles are usually narrower than this or flat.”
I looked at the cross guard. “I thought the same thing, but what else could it be? The tip and edges are too dull to be a weapon.”
“Thank you so much for this. I can use it to open my boxes and supplies.” She set it on the table. “What’s the occasion?”
“It just looked like you. Plus you helped me paint my armoire.”
“Black is so dreary. I just wish you would have let me paint it blue instead of red, but I guess it goes with your décor.”
I tensed when I saw her coming in for a hug. Gem wrapped her arms around me, pinning my arms to my side. “You’re so thoughtful.”
I lightly patted her back and stepped away. Physical affection sometimes made me uncomfortable. My father loved me, but he wasn’t a demonstrative guy. The only people I’d ever felt comfortable hugging were him and some of his buddies, whom I considered family. And now Christian. But I didn’t go around hugging him for no reason. He’d probably wonder what I was smoking if I did.
Gem whirled around and sat back down. “When Viktor found out the contents of the books I bought today, he wanted me to translate all of them. So I’ve put my other projects to the side for now, and I suppose I’ll be living in this room until the next century.”
I glanced at her ballpoint pen. “You don’t type it out on the computer?”
“I tried that once, and it was an epic fail. I didn’t save the file. I thought I did, but then it restarted and got this blinking cursor. Two weeks of work… wasted. You can’t trust computers. People can steal that data, and the higher authority doesn’t like the idea of digital archives floating around. Paper you can trust. So I translate all the books to English and store them on that shelf,” she said, pointing to my right.
I snorted. “Sounds daunting.”
She wiggled her fingers. “My hand cramps up sometimes. At least I can’t get carpal tunnel syndrome. The perks of being a Mage,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “If I’d done this kind of work when I was a Relic, I probably would have dropped dead.” After a brief lull in the conversation, Gem tucked her chin in her palm. “Why hasn’t your father come over? Viktor invite
d him to dinner.”
“Crush isn’t a dinner kind of guy. Viktor’s a little formal, and my dad doesn’t like feeling out of his element. Besides, I think he’s just keeping his distance from my job. Two different worlds. He’s pretty good about giving me my space, even if it’s to a fault.”
“I simply adore him. I still can’t believe he’s been a trusted human all these years and you never knew. And yet… here you are, living in the Breed world.”
I twirled my hair around my finger. “Yep. Here I am.”
When Gem’s phone vibrated, she swiped her finger across the screen and read the message. “Viktor’s asking if you’re with me. Are you?”
I shrugged.
She typed in a message and waited. “He wants you and Christian to meet him in the front study. Pronto.”
“Duty calls.” I pivoted on my heel.
“Thanks again, Raven. I love the gift.”
I waved my hand as I left the room. I was indebted to the team. They’d come to my aid when that loan shark and his lion pride decided to kill my father and me after making off with our money.
Keystone truly cared, and that thought nestled in my heart.
When I reached the study, Christian had beaten me there.
“I have a quick task for you two,” Viktor said as he shut the door. “I am logging today’s inventory of weapons and noticed that we have too many in-house. Shepherd takes what we need, but I cannot store them all here. When we have too many in our possession, I transport them to an arms dealer. He distributes what he can to Enforcers or Regulators.”
I hooked my thumbs in the belt loops of my jean shorts. “Why not just take the boxes directly to him each time we do a run?”
“And risk exposing his identity? Nyet. Everything we confiscate must be logged and reported. I cannot travel to his place each and every time. We would set ourselves up for an ambush.” Viktor scratched his forehead and looked toward a lantern on the table. “Claude and Blue are usually the ones to go, but I think it’s time to test how you and Christian can handle an assignment such as this. Transporting valuable goods is something we do on many levels.”
