Blissful Agony
Page 23
“I don’t understand,” Clint answered slowly.
She shrugged. “I looked at it narrowly, you were trying to beat the crap out of each other. Now that I’ve seen what a real fight looks like, training is not so bad. Besides, you let me heal you.” Emily winked before starting the car.
He captured her hand, entwining her fingers in his. “Always will let you heal me. Slater though, today he needed help first. Axel got my muscle, but Slater’s face… Would the poison really have melted his head off?”
“Believe so.”
“And your finger, that’s fine now?”
She nodded. “It is. I’m baffled by how they extracted the poison, but if they’ve created shifters that don’t naturally occur, it stands to reason they’ve experimented with things the Council has banned.”
He drew a slow breath. “How do I make up for sending you away?”
“Don’t do it again.” She took her hand back and started the drive to his house.
Our house.
Emily smiled at the realization. “Does this mean I can move in soon?”
He nodded. “You’re not worried about Ava?”
“Ava is moving far away. The Council is tracking what’s left of Elm Wood Pack. Unless they become an issue, I think we should let it go. Do you really want to go across the country in an attempt to track them down?” She winced.
He shook his head. “No. Rather stay with you. While I would love to end her, a part of me gets why she’s the way she is. Axel did a number on her with the games he played.”
“I don’t have the answers.”
He sighed. “The part I can’t understand is her lack of remorse for changing me.”
“Right now, let’s focus on us. Please.”
“Tomorrow I can get Mark, Brody, and a few others to help us move your things, whatever you want to bring.”
“Shouldn’t take me long to pack. You want to help?”
“Of course. Maybe I can learn more about you.”
“We’ll see. I don’t have much. Things never seemed necessary. Maybe you can help me figure out what I enjoy, besides books, and you.”
“Would be my pleasure.”
Chapter 32
The chartered plane was streamlined and elegant. Far fancier than anything Ava had been in before. Baylen had overwhelmed her with information on the drive. HARP wanted to move in a new direction, one far more ambitious.
Ava froze as her weak connection to Axel snapped. She slumped back in the chair and tried to breathe slowly. Her heart pounded in her chest as she forced her muscles to unclench.
Baylen’s head tipped to the side. “You let go of your mate easily. Interesting.”
“After years of being pushed down, and forced to watch his charades, I’ve learned how to let him go. He needed to die,” she answered coldly. No more games with the psychopath.
“You ready to talk with Anthony and Jules?” he asked.
“I am.”
Baylen set up the laptop for her. He made himself comfortable in the seat beside her as he started a video conference.
Anthony came on the screen. “Welcome to the team, Ava,” Anthony enthused. “You’re already more agreeable than that tyrant, Axel. I understand he’s no longer a liability we must watch?”
“How much did you know about me before this transition?” she asked boldly.
Jules answered, “Enough to know plotting Axel’s demise was worth the risk. You were always stronger, and smart enough to survive against all odds.”
Her head dipped in a nod.
Anthony’s mouth twisted in a wolfish grin. “We aren’t set on torture or degradation. Neither Jones and Mena, nor Axel, were truly qualified for our plans. All three of them preferred harsh methods that we’ve seen backfire. This is why we wanted to move you to Florida. Not to mention, there are many Others hiding in rural areas. Hybrids looking for a community who will accept them. That’s where you come in. Prove they need you as much as you need them. Be the caretaker. When they’re ready, we’ll do the rest.”
“Will be my pleasure,” she replied.
“Good luck. Keep an eye on Baylen. He may be small, but at times he’s worse than the bogey man.” Anthony closed his monitor and the screen went black.
“That so?” Ava asked.
He nodded. “Don’t worry about me. My tastes lie quite far from your spectrum.”
Relief whispered through her. She’d keep an eye on him all right. Make sure he wasn’t preying on her recruits. Make sure they were treated far better than Axel would have ever done.
* * * *
Slater walked into the house, his hand firmly wrapped around Elias’ small one. “You still with us?”
Elias smiled shyly. “If she’ll have me after I couldn’t defend you.”
Jess walked in from the kitchen with narrowed eyes. “You’re a boy with no business defending your alpha. That’s what our enforcers are for. Clint did quite well, and his mate did a fine job putting Slater’s face back on.”
Slater managed a nervous chuckle. “How much hell am I going to catch for not bringing you along?”
She sighed, moving toward him. “None. Watching what happened in person would have made my anxiety worse. I knew you’d be fine. And I knew Elias would be with you.” She smiled at the boy.
“You aren’t disappointed in me?” Elias asked.
She shook her head and walked to him, taking him in her arms to kiss the top of his head. “Of course not. Now, go clean up. I need to talk to Slater for a moment.”
He beamed at her before shutting himself in the bathroom.
Jess dragged Slater back to their room with a grin, starting to undress him as soon as the door shut. “Love you.”
Capturing her face, he looked into her eyes. “I’m fine. I love you.”
She leaned up, taking his mouth in a bruising kiss. When he pulled back, he squeezed her tight against his chest. “You didn’t warn me.”
“Had to go the way it did. Clint needed closure. Emily needed confidence. Elias needed to know his worth to you in that moment.”
“He’s so young. He’ll be eleven next month, Jess. How could anyone put such a young boy through hell?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know, but he’ll never experience that again. Come on. Before he comes out. Tonight, when we have more time, I’ll show you how much I love you, in every way I can dream up.”
Slater grinned, nipping at her ear. “I can hardly wait.”
* * * *
Gina sat in the middle of the bed feeling more hopeful than she could ever remember. Her worst nightmare was gone, somehow. The dark, brooding presence evaporated a short time ago.
Light-hearted, she fell back on the bed with a giggle. She wanted to run, to explore, to shift and hunt.
A knock on the door startled her. Her heart jumped in her chest as she sat up straight. “Come in.” He was there for her. Her blue-eyed, sexy teddy bear.
Mark entered with a warm smile that lifted her heart higher than it had already been.
“No more danger. And I was thinking, if you wanted to acclimate to pack life, you could come home with me. I have a spare room you’re welcome to. Then I can help you adjust to life at whatever pace you’re comfortable with.”
“You’ll show me around? Teach me new things?”
He nodded, his eyes locked on hers.
“When can I come home with you?”
He let out a low growl that did funny things to her. Sensations she recognized, but couldn’t place. She wanted to explore those emotions, but Mark had proven to be patient.
“Emily said you’re free to go, as long as you let her visit tomorrow.”
“Of course. She’s sweet, and completes Clint.”
A small frown tugged at his lips. “Do you feel something for him?”
She lifted a single shoulder. “A deep friendship I can’t remember.”
“You two were more than that.”
She nodded. “In the way kids ca
n be. Our affection was pure and sweet. Maybe I have those feelings to some degree, but it’s not at all what he shares with his mate.”
“You aren’t disappointed?”
“No. He was never my future.” She glanced away.
“Who is?” he whispered softly, moving closer.
You. Gina kept her mouth shut tight though her smile spread. She shook her head coyly, and met his gaze. “Can’t say.”
He nodded, sadness in his eyes. Telling him so soon seemed wrong. No matter how tempting it was to utter the words.
“Take me home, please.”
* * * *
Robert pushed his way into the house and found Tremaine leaning against the mantel, reading through one of his journals.
Tremaine met his gaze and warned darkly, “HARP won’t let this lay.” He exhaled a heavy sigh and closed the book.
Pushing the door shut, Robert narrowed his eyes. “They set Axel up to die, while the rest of the wolves escaped, including Ava.”
Tremaine nodded. “They want her for something. Perhaps a new approach.”
“Why?”
“To misdirect us. Make us think we’re off their radar. Convince the Council to let them slide back into the shadows, out of sight.” He set the book down, his brow arched. “They don’t know you, or that I’m with you a hundred percent. We won’t let this go.”
“Never. We’ll end HARP.”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Robert closed the distance, pushing his fingers into Tremaine’s hair as he pressed his mouth to his lover’s, their tongues sliding against each other.
Tremaine pushed his jacket off with a growl, spinning Robert toward the mantel as he jerked the fabric down his arms, onto the floor. Pressing Robert against the surface, Tremaine gripped his ass and ground against him, deepening the kiss.
All thoughts of conversation dropped away as he reached down to open Tremaine’s pants.
The door closed, and Liz let out a sexy purr, “Now that’s a sight to walk in on.”
Tremaine broke the kiss. “Want to watch? Or rather join?”
Liz moaned softly. “Watch for now, I’ll join when I can’t take much more.”
Chapter 33
Clint scooped Emily into his arms and carried her over his threshold. His eyes widened as a thought hit him. He set her down, and dropped to one knee.
“Emily, I can’t possibly imagine another moment without you in my life. Please, be my wife? I don’t have a ring yet, but I can’t stand the thought of you and me apart.”
She pulled him to his feet with a silly smile. “Anytime, anywhere. And wasn’t that backwards? You’re supposed to carry me after you marry me.”
“Oh, I’ll carry you over the threshold every damned day if you enjoy it.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Provided the trip ends with us naked in our bed, and connected.” She waggled her brows.
He tossed her over his shoulder, delighting in her squeal. While he ran up the stairs, she reached down to swat his ass.
Impossible, but his cock managed to get harder. He was pretty sure he could pound nails at this point. Clint tossed her on the bed and she bounced with a happy giggle.
Shoving off the sweats, he backed to the bathroom. “I’m dirty. Want to clean me?”
“Yes, I do.” She was off the bed, tugging her shirt over her head before shimmying the jeans down her legs.
“Em, you’re killing me, Sunshine. Hurry up and get in the shower.”
A smirk twisted her lips as she crossed the distance and gripped his length with one hand while reaching around to swat his ass with the other.
His hips jerked forward and she grinned, pushing him into the shower and spinning the knob. Apparently satisfied with the temperature, she took his mouth in a kiss.
“Clean first,” he murmured.
“Then I get to have all of you?”
“Any way you’ll have me.”
She grabbed the body wash, squeezing it into one hand before rubbing them together. Taking her time, she scrubbed his body, biting her lip as he reached between her thighs to tease her clit.
Impatient she pushed his shoulder until he slid down the wall, then dropped into his lap, guiding his shaft into her. “Need you,” she moaned, rocking into him, arching her back as she rode him, the warm water caressing their bodies.
He dropped his head, sucking one nipple into his mouth, teasing the other, as his free hand gripped her firm ass.
“Mine,” she cried, her body rocketing over the edge, pulling him with her. “Never letting you go.”
He gathered her into his arms and kissed her like he needed the air in her lungs. She clung to him, encouraging him with her excited moan.
* * * *
The next evening, Emily stood in her old Seattle living room, directing strong enforcers in gathering the few things she cared about. There wasn’t much. The two of them could have done this without the help, but he didn’t seem to understand the only thing she ever wanted was him. The other stuff, none of it was important.
Clint grinned, snapping another picture as she pointed to the bookshelf, looking at Brody. “I need the bookshelf.”
“You don’t want the antique hutch, but you’ll keep the sixty-dollar Target special?”
She shrugged. “Don’t care about the dishes. Or the hutch.”
Clint took another picture when she smiled at him.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“You don’t have any pictures of your gorgeous smile. I’m going to make sure we have plenty.”
Brody chuckled. “Smart man.” He hefted the bookshelf up with ease and carried it down to the truck.
“Ready to go home with me?”
She nodded.
He moved across the floor and took her hand as he pulled something out of his pocket. “I hope you like this. It reminds me of you.”
Emily looked down at the princess cut citrine in a platinum band. Her breath caught in her throat. “It’s beautiful.”
“My sunshine,” he murmured.
She threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply.
He leaned back. “Whatever you want, whatever you need, Em, it’s yours.”
“You. You’re all I want.”
About Brandy L Rivers
Brandy L Rivers is the author of the Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle series. There are more Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle books in the works.
As an avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. She has a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and put out there eventually.
She lives in Western Washington with her husband and three kids, where she is already working on future stories in each of the series, and several other projects.
If you are interested in receiving emails about future book releases, please sign up for her email distribution list by visiting her site at:
http://www.brandylrivers.com
You can also find her on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/brandylrivers
And at Twitter: https://twitter.com/brandylrivers
Also by Brandy L Rivers
Others of Edenton
New Beginnings
In Too Deep
Shadows Fall
Shadows of the Past
Fated Love
Falling Into Place
Breaking Free
Mending Scars
Labor of Love
Light in Darkness
Blissful Agony
Entangled Darkness (Coming Spring 2016)
Others of Seattle
Nights Embrace
Storm Mistress
Accepting Fate
Red Queen
Seductive Solutions
Changing Destiny
Coming Together (Coming 12-22-2015)
Nights Embrace Spin Off
Summer Rhythm
Stand Alone Contemporary Romance
To keep up with upcoming releases and news visit me at my
Website – Facebook - Twitter
Or sign up for my newsletter
Reference Guide
Abyss – Faerie version of hell. It is a dark, desolate wasteland.
Alpha – The leader of a werewolf pack. Usually the most dominant wolf in a group.
Alpha Voice – A command given by the alpha using pack magic. The command forces a single or multiple wolves to obey.
Bond – Various Others can form bonds between two people. Usually between a couple.
Compulsion – Vampires and other creatures can influence others by suggestions given in various ways. It’s nearly impossible to resist one without protection.
Earth Faerie – A fae descended from the Earth Kingdom of Faerie. Their powers include superhuman strength and super-sensitive hearing, smell, and sight. Most can manipulate the earth itself, or create compounds of rock from dust or dirt. Some are able to communicate with animals.
Faerie – Both the physical realm on the other side of the veil, and the people who come from there. There are many different forms of fae.
HARP – Hunters Against Radical Paranormals. Group of hunters who specifically target Others who are supposedly a threat against mortals. That’s what the human members believe. However, the group is run by hybrids who have a larger plan.
Hybrid – Mixed Others who have abilities from both parents. Hybrids are often treated as abominations. They have strengths that make pure blood Others nervous.
Mages – Humans who possess elemental magic. They can either sling spells like weapons or heal, though it is rare for a mage to be a healer.