Sam huffed, “I am cheered, see,” she said planting a big fake smile on her face.
I grabbed Sam’s arm and stopped her from moving forward. “Sam what’s up? I know you’re not mad about Mathew teasing you. So what gives?”
Sam took a few deep breaths and turned face to me. ”It’s not you guys really, it’s just that Travis asked me out again and the more I say no the more he asks. I’m just not sure what to do,” she says sounding exhausted over the whole situation.
Travis has been in love with Sam ever since they were kids and Travis never told Sam. Sam felt the same way about Travis, but Travis never said or did anything about it. Therefore, Sam thought her feelings were unreciprocated and ended up marrying Travis’ best friend who later on she had Mathew with and he got killed in the pride war. Now it seems no matter who asks Sam out she says no because she feels like she is betraying Mathew’s father and her deceased husband. I asked her once if he was her true mate and that’s why she didn’t date and she said no. So I asked her if she knew who her mate was she just shrugged and said it didn’t matter.
As much as Travis chases her around I would think it was him. “Sam,” I said carefully, “Travis is hot, single and chasing you around like a lost puppy, or should I say kitty. There is nothing wrong with going on at least one date. You have to move on sometime. If you’re not going to do it for yourself then do it for Mathew. The boy needs a male figure in his life and if you’re not going to date then at least let him spend some time here at the ranch.” I said looking at her pleadingly and sympathetically.
Sam stared at me for a moment without saying a word. At first I didn’t know if she was going to bite my head off so I stayed silent waiting for her to respond. After what seemed like forever her shoulders dropped and she let out a heavy sigh.
“You’re right, I just don’t know how to start all over again. It’s hard ya know?” she says sounding completely defeated.
I reached up with my one empty hand and pulled her into a tight hung. “Look if I can completely start over and reinvent myself then you can start over with a man. I’m mean really, look at me, I’m wearing a sundress for fucks sake. If my mother ever saw me like this she would have a heart attack and promise you anything in the world just to keep me in this damn thing,” I said trying to lighten the situation.
We pulled away from each other laughing. Sam wiped her eyes clean of a few fallen tears. She looked me over from head to toe. Well you do have a point. I kinda feel like a proud momma,” she says wiping away fake tears laughing.
“Do you remember the garb you showed up in two years ago? It was awful,” she says laughing harder.
I playfully slapped her shoulder, “hey it wasn’t that bad.”
Sam shakes her head and laughs, “if you say so princess.”
Sam grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me to the back of the house where our guests were waiting. “Come on now we got a party to start. Besides, what’s a party without us?” Sam says teasingly.
The barbeque went off without a hitch. Children ran around screaming and playing. The adults were in groups laughing and reminiscing about good ‘ole times while Sam and I ran around like chickens with our heads cut off making sure everything ran smoothly. Travis asked Sam out again, but this time she said yes. So Travis has been walking around all night in la la land and Sam just rolls her eyes every time she sees him day dreaming about it.
By the time it got dark my feet hurt so bad I wanted to chop them off. I walked over to the back deck and sat on the steps. “Hey kiddo,” Alasdair said sitting down next to me.
“Hey,” I replied.
“You did a good job tonight you know,” he said bumping me with his shoulder.
I smiled up at him, “Yeah I know. I think this is the first time I’ve been able to be nice all night. I think it’s a record,” I said chuckling.
“Well my dear, the night is still young.” We both laughed and sat on the stairs most of the night bullshiting about everything and about nothing at all. Out of everyone here that has become like a family to me I’m glad Alasdair took the father roll. Besides Jackson, he’s the only one that has ever been like a father to me. If it wasn’t for Alasdair and Sam I wouldn’t have the friends and family I have now. Everyone here welcomed me with open arms. Even though I broke a few of those arms, I’m still glad I have them all in my life.
“Hey pops,” said a deep rich smooth velvety voice from behind us.
Alasdair and I both turned around to look behind us at the same time. Alasdair mutter, “shit,” and I locked eyes with the man of the most orgasmic voice I have ever heard. I stared into his mesmerizing silver eyes unable to look away. I felt like I was drowning with no surface in sight.
Alasdair stepped in between us causing us to loose eye contact. ”Much better. Now can you two focus?” he asked us.
Neither one of us said anything and Alasdair just looked back and forth between us. I was about to speak and introduce myself when I was cut off with a very rude, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Confused by his question it threw me off at first, so I said, “Well, I work here and I live down the highway. That’s what the fuck I’m doing here,” I snapped back.
“Nic,” said Alasdair warningly.
“It’s alright Alasdair. Obviously, the Colorado Mountain elevation has gone straight to what brain cells he has left. I’ll just go find Sam and you can deal with your pissy ass son.” With that said, I reached up kissed Alasdair on the check and walked away. I could have sworn I heard Nic growl when I kissed Alasdair, but I’m sure I was just hearing things.
I walked around looking for Sam and finally spotted her off by the hay bales in the back of the barn kissing Travis. I smiled and decided I would leave them to it. At least one of us is having a good night. No reason to ruin hers with my complaining.
Tucker found me as I was walking away from Sam and Travis. “Hey, what are you doing all the way out here?”
I reached up, covered his mouth to stop him from saying anything else and pointed behind me towards Sam and Travis. I felt Tucker smile underneath my hand. “About damn time,” he whispered.
I smiled back, “I know right. Come on before they see us.” I grabbed his arm and pulled him away. Once we were out of earshot Tucker draped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped my arms around his waist snuggling into his side. Tucker and I have been attached at the hip ever since I woke up in the hospital bed from my fight. We came to an understanding and have a brotherly and sister love for one another. We talked about dating once, but before we even finished that thought we both laughed and agreed it would never work.
When we were about to turn the corner of the backside of the house I was rudely snatched out from under Tucker’s arm. I looked down at the hand that had a death grip on my upper arm and followed that arm to its owner’s face. I looked up to find Nic glaring at Tucker. I tried to snatch my arm away but it was no use. Both men started arguing in a language I did not understand. I repeatedly tried to pull away from Nic but I couldn’t even budge him an inch. Tired of standing there listening to them argue I called out to both of them hoping I would get their attention. Well, at least Nics anyway. If he didn’t stop squeezing my arm he was going to break it.
No matter what I said both men completely ignored me. Therefore, I reached down, grabbed Nic by the balls, and squeezed as hard as I could. He dropped my arm and snatched my hand off his package. Standing there bent over cupping himself he said, “What the fuck woman?”
“Next time when I try to get your attention don’t fucking ignore me. You almost broke my arm,” I said rubbing the spot in question.
I went to step around him and walk back to Tucker when I was snatched backwards again by Nic.
“Mine!” he snarled.
Tucker stood silently looking at Nic and waiting to see what I was going to do. The men around here know not to fuck with me. They learned their lessons a long time ago. Truthfully I don’t give a rat’s ass if this asshole owns
this ranch, I’ll be damned if a man is going to manhandle me. I tried again to pull away from Nic with no avail. Each time I tried to pull away he would growl. Tired of his shit I turned my body into his and kneed him right in the balls. He dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes cupping his man hood letting out a string of profanities.
I leaned down and growled at him, “Don’t ever fucking touch me again. By the way, in case you haven’t figured it out yet. I belong to no one.”
Tucker was doubled over gasping for air he was laughing so hard. “She has one hell of a knee, doesn’t she?” said Tucker still laughing at Nics expense.
“You belong to me and the sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll get rid of this git,” grunted out Nic pointing at Tucker.
I was walking back to Tucker when he said that. I turned around and stalked back over to him. He smiled up at me from the ground and I smiled back. “Come to your senses aye?” smirked Nic.
I pulled my leg back a kicked him right in the nose. I heard a satisfying crunch and Nic screamed out. “What the fuck Jessica?”
At this point Tucker was doubled over in laughter trying not to fall on his ass from laughing so hard. I leaned down once again and said, “Like I said pretty boy I belong to no one and no one is going to insult my brother except me. So get that through your thick fucking scull and stay the fuck outta my way.”
I stepped over a bleeding Nic and walked into a laughing Tucker’s arms. Tucker wrapped me back up into the side of his body and yelled over his shoulder to Nic, “Sorry man forgot to tell you about her mean kick too.” We both laughed and continued walking back to the party.
“You do realize who you just kicked the shit out of right?” asked Tucker.
I looked up at him and gave him my best evil smile. He laughed and said, “From that look I’m assuming you know.”
“Yep,” I said popping the P.
The party went on for a few more hours. I stayed glued to Tucker’s side like I always do. Nic glared at us all night long. Everywhere we went Nic was sure to be right around the corner watching. I kept catching scents of vanilla and pine. It seems the more I would concentrate on the smell the more it would dissipate.
Once the party ended, Sam showed back up to say goodbye to everyone. I wanted to ask her about what I saw but figured I would do that at home. Nic did as I said and stayed away even though he was never far he at least didn’t say anything to me or Tucker. Which was a relief because I would really hate to explain to Alasdair why I broke his son’s neck. Alasdair caught up to me when I was getting in the truck with Sam and Mathew.
“What’s up Alasdair?” Sam asked.
“Just need a word with Jess,” he said.
Oh great. Just as I thought I was going to leave here without getting into trouble over Nic, I was sadly mistaken. “Look if this is about Nic know now that I am not what so ever going to apologize. He deserved it.”
Alasdair chuckled, “no my dear, you are absolutely right he did deserve it. I just wanted to ask you to please give him a chance. He caught your scent and apparently it went to his head.”
I looked at him as if you have to be fucking joking right. Before I could say just that Alasdair raised his hand to cut me off. “I’m not making excuses for the boy. I’m just asking you not to be so hard on him before you know what’s going on.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, “and what exactly is going on?” I demanded.
“That is not my place to say. When the time is right Nic will explain it. In the meantime take it easy on his boys I do want grandchildren one day you know.”
“Well then I suggest you tell your son to keep his paws to himself and neither of you will have to worry about his so called boys.”
Without saying another word Alasdair gave me one last hug and we drove off. Sam didn’t say anything about Travis when we got home and neither did I. I figured when she was ready she would spill.
MATE?
The next morning we are all dragging ass. Good thing we planned the barbeque on a Saturday. Sunday happens to be the only day we don’t work. So we actually got to sleep in a little longer. Only problem is, after waking up for two years straight at 5 am in the morning, it becomes very hard to sleep much past that. It was seven in the morning and we were all in the kitchen drinking coffee and eating pancakes.
“Can you believe that asshole last night?” I asked Sam.
“So, I guess this means you don’t want him staying here then?” asked Sam.
“I don’t want him here if he’s mean to Aunt Jessi,” says Mathew.
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks little man.” Mathew smiled and turned red. It’s always so cute when he blushes from me kissing him.
“If Aunt Jessi didn’t already kick him in the balls I would have,” says Mathew while puffing out his chest. Sam and I burst out laughing at Mathews bravado.
“My brave little boy,” says Sam beaming.
“I know little man. We stick together right?” I say.
“Right,” says Mathew and high fives me. Sam just laughed at us as we talked about who to kick in the balls next.
After breakfast Mathew ran off to his game room to go play. Sam and I stayed behind to finish talking and cleaning up.
“Well Jess, what if what Alasdair said was right? Maybe he did catch your scent and loose his head. You said it yourself that you kept smelling vanilla off and on all night,” said Sam.
“Yeah but that would mean Nic is my mate and we both know according to the prophecy my mate is the Oh Mighty King Nikolaos and Nic damn sure ain’t no Nikolaos.”
“Yeah but didn’t the prophecy say something about three possible mates?” asked Sam.
“Yes, but I’m not sure if that was me having three mates or Nikolaos having three mates. Hell it could mean my mother has three mates for all I know. I’m not sure exactly what it means.”
Sam leaned further over the table, smiled and said, “yeah but it could damn sure solve your breading problems with Nikolaos if you actually did have three mates.”
“How in the hell is that going to help me?”
“Just think about it. You could mate with Nic and you wouldn’t have to be a breeding mare for some damn prophecy,” she said with excitement.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I wouldn’t touch that.” I did not get to finish my sentence because in the middle of my rant Sam turned white as a sheet.
“He’s right behind me isn’t he?” I asked Sam and she just nodded.
I turned around slowly to look at the topic of our conversation. Nic himself, standing here in our kitchen. Just fucking lovely. This is all I need. My one day a week to catch up with my friend and relax and the asshole himself has to show up and ruin it. Hasn’t he ruined enough? I guess last night was not enough for him. He had to come fuck up my Sunday as well.
At the barbeque I didn’t really get the chance to look him over and by the time he showed up it was dark. But, standing here in our kitchen I got a really good look at him. One thing Sam was right about, the man damn sure is fine. Fine’s not really the best word to describe him. The man is nothing less than pure profection, absolutely beautiful. He really was created by the gods, I mused. He is about six foot four inches, maybe six five. Black hair, kept a little long on the top and cut short around the sides. Even standing here, he kept reaching up and sweeping his bangs out of his eyes. His clothes fit his muscular body like a glove. He wore dark wash jeans hanging loose off his hips and a tight fitted shirt that stretch to fit over his upper body muscles. The only thing last night I really got a good look at was his eyes. You cannot miss someone with pure silver eyes. Those same eyes I got lost in as everything else around us completely fell away and disappeared leaving only the two of us. Too bad he’s such an ass.
I looked back up to his face avoiding eye contact to look at the rest of him. He had nice high cheekbones and a strong square chin with a five o’clock shadow from not shaving. I guess I was checking him out longer
than I thought because before I knew it Sam was gone and Nic was clearing his throat.
I turned three shades of red and muttered, “Sorry.”
He smirked, “well at least now I know I’m not the only one affected by our bond.”
I raised my left eyebrow up, “just because you’re pretty to look at doesn’t mean I want you.”
“I didn’t insinuate you wanted me. I simply said you are just as affected by me as I am you.”
“Enough of the chit chat Nic. What do you want?” I asked crossing my arms over my chest and leaning further back into my chair.
Nic stepped closer to me and I leaned further back causing my chair to be tipped backwards on two legs. He took another step closer and I scrambled out of the chair as it hit the floor. He kept coming closer and I kept stepping back away from him. I felt the counter hit me in the backside. I looked around to find a way out but it was too late. Faster than the eye can see Nic was standing right in front of me bracing both hands on the counter, trapping me between his arms.
He leaned into me and I thought he was going to kiss me. I was so freaked out I didn’t dare move a muscle. For one, I know he’s way stronger than me because I couldn’t even budge him last night, Secondly I simply had nowhere to go. I was trapped. Therefore, I stood stalk still and waited to see what he would do. I didn’t really want to kiss him but then again I wanted to wrap myself around him and beg him to do just that. The sad thing is, is when I got like this before it was because I was in heat. Since that’s done and over with until I get back around Nikolaos again, which will hopefully be never, I don’t have to worry about that. Therefore, this is simply me being a woman wanting a man, something I’ve never experienced before.
I licked my lips and Nic followed the movement of my tongue with his eyes. His eyes started to glow and he leaned in close to me. He didn’t kiss me but he ran him closed lips across my jaw and over my lips. Nic wrapped both arms around my waist and pulled me into his body. I was so lost in this man I didn’t care what he did to me. Nic ran his lips back across my jaw to my ear and nibbled on my ear lobe. I moaned and shuddered in his arms from the shocks running through my body.
Lover Betrayed (Betrayed #2) Page 5
