Decker's Fate (The Decker Brothers Trilogy Book 1)

by K. R. Richards

  The mood was light as the sun disappeared over the horizon following a fantastic display of brilliant pink and orange fire lighting up the Sedona sky. Logs popped in the chiminea, the floodlights were on, and festive little party lights sparkled along the edge of the covered patio. Fianna had popped those in. There was a gentle breeze, and though the temperature cooled as darkness settled over them, the food, fire, conversation, and laughter kept them warm.

  Everyone had been hungry and made short work of eating the feast before them.

  The table was cleared and the dishes washed. The group decided to do a sitting in circle instead of watching a movie.

  The large great room was darkened save for the flicker of candles on the tables around them and the light over the stove at the other end of the vaulted room. The men had arranged the oversized, comfortable furniture to accommodate everyone, so they were all sitting comfortably.

  The first meditation had been a free one, just to get everyone in the right space and relaxed. Next, they joined hands and asked for guidance for their upcoming task.

  This meditation began the same as the other. The energy was gentle and relaxing, but it quickly changed, growing more intense. The circling energy pulsed and moved faster. As the energy spiraled around each one of them with every rotation, their clasped hands grew warmer.

  “Someone is here, in the circle,” Erin whispered loud enough for most to hear.

  Jade’s eyes flew open, she was half expecting to see Ciaran standing there, but it was a woman. A small, petite woman with long, mostly gray hair fashioned into a long braid. She wore an amber-colored tunic over a longer one of medium blue. In her hand was a staff. She looked very much like Aoife, the woman from Neave’s memory, turned vision, earlier in the day. Her upper torso was fully manifested, but her body became more translucent from the knees down.

  “Maimeó!” Aunt Neave gasped. Jade was correct, this was Aoife the White. Aunt Neave began to speak to her in Irish Gaelic.

  The woman seemed to answer, her lips and mouth moved, but Jade could not hear her voice.

  “Maimeó, I can’t hear you.” Aunt Neave shook her head. She spoke to her in Gaelic once again.

  Aoife raised her arms, and it appeared she was trying to shout, though no one could hear her.

  Neave shook her head. She spoke to her again in Irish Gaelic.

  Jade watched as Aoife walked to Neave. She pulled the cord at her neck upward; Neave removed her bronze medallion from inside her blouse. Aoife pointed at it then turned to point at Jade.

  “Oh good heavens, why didn’t I think of that? Jade must wear Granny’s medallion tomorrow!” Aunt Neave lifted the cord over her head.

  Aoife smiled and nodded. She pointed to Jade again.

  Neave let go of Niall and Fianna’s hands. She rose and walked toward Jade. She placed the medallion over her head.

  “There you are, dear.”

  “Thank you,” Jade whispered. She realized Aoife stood behind Neave.

  Neave sensed her and turned. She moved back to her place in the circle. Aoife moved to stand directly before Jade. She placed her palm over the medallion.

  Jade felt a jolt of energy. She looked up into the face of the woman who gave her a gentle smile. The rush of energy stopped when Aoife removed her hand from where it hovered over the medallion.

  The woman bent and Jade swore she felt her kiss the top of her head. Aoife looked to her granddaughter again and tried to speak. This time some of the Gaelic words she spoke came through, but they were barely audible, sounding more like a distant whisper.

  “She has blessed you dear, given you her protection. All of you actually have her protection. She wanted Jade to have her medallion since Ciaran seems to have singled her out. She gave you some of her power.”

  “Thank you.” Jade rose before Aoife. She extended her hand to the woman then felt warmth as if a hand caressed hers. It was a fleeting feeling.

  Aoife turned to Decker. She placed her hand atop his head. Her mouth moved, but only a few words could be heard. It appeared she was giving Decker a blessing as well. When she finished, she placed a hand beneath his chin, and looked lovingly into his face. She looked to Neave and said something.

  “You have her protection as well, Michael,” Neave translated. “She wants you to know that you look like her son, my father.”

  “Thank you.” Decker looked up into the woman’s brilliant blue eyes, so like his own.

  Aoife looked to Neave and tried to speak again. Frustrated when Neave shook her head because she could no longer hear her, Aoife pointed her finger and moved it between Decker and Jade. She pointed in Liam and Erin’s direction and then to Brody and Harper.

  Neave laughed and answered her in Gaelic.

  Aoife smiled at Jade and Decker then looked once again to her granddaughter. Her image began to waver and grow fainter. She began to dissipate then disappeared completely.

  “Um, do people just drop in like that in these circles often?” Brody asked.

  “Ah, no. Hardly ever,” Harper informed him. “In fact that was the first time for me that an almost fully manifested being dropped into a circle.”

  “Me too,” Jade found her voice. She lifted the medallion hanging around her neck to look at it.

  “So this was a big thing?” Brody grinned.

  “On a scale of one to ten, this was about a fifteen. Yeah, it was big,” Harper answered.

  “Aunt Neave, don’t you need the medallion? Isn’t this where your power comes from?” Jade asked in concern.

  “No. I still have all my power. Now you have some of Aoife’s power, and a wee bit of mine for I’ve worn it all these years. It’s old and the magic in it is ancient and strong. It is believed the symbol goes all the way back to the ancient Tuatha De Danann I should have thought to give it to you earlier.”

  Jade shrugged. “Now is the perfect time.”

  “Well.” Niall rubbed his hands together. “I think we should stop there for the evening, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, that was intense.” Liam nodded. “The energy was strong.”

  “It was!” Niall laughed. “I’ve never seen Aoife before, and I feel privileged to have been blessed to see her twice in twenty-four hours.” He smiled at his aunt.

  “Other than in dreams and memories, I haven’t seen her in a very long time. It was nice.” She said with a wistful smile.

  “Tea, Auntie?” Fianna asked her.

  “Oh, yes. Tea would be just the thing, dear. Thank you.”

  “I think we could all use a little something after that. I’m grabbing a beer. Anyone else want something?” Brody rose.

  “Grab us a couple waters, would you?” Decker asked his brother.

  “Sure, Deck.”

  Still holding Jade’s hand, he caressed her fingers. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She smiled and nodded. “I’m fine. It was unexpected. The jolt of power was strong, but it wasn’t painful.”

  Decker sighed. “Good.” He reached for the medallion and lifted it up to get a closer look. He felt a pulsing of energy within the disk. It was obviously very old. The engraved triple spiral was still prominent, though there was discoloration of the bronze in places.

  A brief image came to him of the large Chief, Bearach, and the woman he now knew to be Aoife. The vision unfolded in his mind. The couple was much younger than they appeared in his previous visions. Bearach smiled as he placed a cord with a shining bronze medallion over the dark-haired, younger Aoife’s head. They exchanged a tender, loving look. The vision faded and Decker released the disk.

  “Where did Aoife get this medallion, do you know?” he turned to ask Aunt Neave.

  “Oh, yes. It was Bearach’s wedding gift to her. He was aware of her special gifts, so he knew the symbol of maiden, mother, and crone would please her. My granny told me once that on the day he gave the medallion to her, he told her he wanted her to be his as a maiden, a mother, and a crone. And she was.” Neave smiled happily.
r />   Decker smiled. He looked to Niall.

  Niall’s green eyes twinkled as he shared a conspiratorial grin with Decker.

  The symbol Decker would give Jade tonight would also give her power. Love was power.

  They snacked on some crackers and cheese left over from dinner. Some had an extra piece of the chocolate caramel torte. The fortification helped after experiencing such intense energy during Aoife’s visit.

  They talked and visited. They would meet tomorrow morning to run through everything again and finish their preparations.

  “Decker, do you have a moment?” Niall called from the kitchen.

  “Sure.” Decker rose and left Jade talking with the other ladies. He joined Niall.

  Grinning from ear to ear, Niall produced a green velvet box and handed it to Decker.

  Decker opened it. “That’s nice.” He smiled with approval.

  He realized then that Liam was behind him.

  “What?” Liam whispered as he set a hand on his brother’s shoulder and tried to catch a glimpse of the contents of the box.

  “Is that a ring? When are you going to ask her?” Liam’s eyes lit up.

  “It’s not a ring, it’s a necklace. A symbol of my love,” Decker explained.

  “Oh.” Liam shrugged. “I forgot about your rules.” One corner of Liam’s mouth quirked upward. There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “A Claddagh is cool though. It’s nice, Mikey. I’m sure she’ll like it and appreciate the gesture. Are you going to give it to her now?” Liam asked.

  Decker raised a brow at him. “No, I will do it in private, not in front of everyone.”

  Liam’s smile disappeared as he shrugged. “Okay.”

  “What’s up?” Brody asked as he set the empty cracker and cheese tray on the countertop. When he spied the velvet box in his brother’s hand, he hurried around the counter to look.

  “Oh man!” Brody laughed as he looked at it. “I thought it would be a ring.”

  “Shh!” Liam put a finger to his lips. “C’mon! Remember Mikey’s rules.”

  “Yeah, it will be two more years before the ring comes.” Brody grinned at Decker. He did whisper that time. “Maybe not though, a Claddagh is a symbol of love, giving your heart to someone. He broke a couple of rules here, Liam; he’s been seeing her less than a month. Now a Claddagh? He normally doesn’t get to sex in the first month.”

  “Quiet, both of you.” Decker pointed at them.

  “A slow mover, are you?” Niall’s eyes danced with merriment as he posed his question.

  “I’m careful,” he told Niall. He turned to his brothers and gave them a warning, “I don’t want the surprise spoiled for Jade.” He gave each one of them a meaningful look.

  “Okay. We’ll keep your secret. We won’t spill.” Liam held up his hands. “I swear it.”

  “What?” Brody grinned as Decker leveled his gaze on him. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”

  Liam laughed.

  “I am!”

  “Who’s got a secret?” Harper’s voice sounded as she neared the kitchen entrance.

  “Liam. Put this on the pillow on my bed, please. It will be obvious if I put it in my jeans pocket,” Decker whispered after he closed the lid of the box and placed it in his brother’s hand.

  “I will. Cool!” Liam exited from one side of the kitchen as Harper came in the other side.

  “What secret?” Brody gave Harper a blank look.

  “I heard you say you’re good at keeping secrets.” Harper put her hand on her hip and grinned at him.

  “Oh, Deck was trying to feed Niall some BS. He told him never to tell me anything he didn’t want made public. We were just kidding around. I am very good at keeping secrets.” He gave Decker a look before he flashed a grin Harper’s way.

  “Why don’t I believe that?” Harper shook her head then laughed.

  “I am. I’ll prove it, Harp. Tell me a secret. I won’t tell anyone.”

  She laughed again. “Nice try, buddy.” She gave him a wink. “Can I get a bottle of water?” she asked him.

  “Sure. Sorry.” Brody stepped away from the refrigerator door. He did study Harper’s shapely bottom as she bent to get her water off the bottom shelf. He looked back up, a big grin lighting his face.

  Niall chuckled.

  Decker shook his head.

  Harper straightened. She looked from Niall, to Decker, to Brody. Her eyes narrowed. “Hmm? Somebody has a secret or something’s up. You guys all look guilty. You’re not very good at keeping secrets, Brody,” she said flatly before turning around and heading back toward the sitting area.

  “She’s sharp.” Brody laughed and shook his head.

  “And you got caught,” Decker pointed at him. “What have I told you? That’s why you shouldn’t do things like that.”

  “All women have the uncanny ability to know exactly what men are doing and sometimes thinking. It’s a whole other kind of magic.” Niall laughed as he clapped Brody on the back.

  “Yeah well, I’m getting my lady and heading for our room before the cat is out of the bag,” Decker announced.

  The cat sauntered up to them and meowed loudly, her golden eyes fixed on Decker.

  The three of them cracked up.

  Decker bent to pet her. “Sorry Sam, you’re with Liam again tonight.” He scratched her ears once more.

  Liam walked up in time to hear. “Mission accomplished, Mikey.” He flashed a huge grin at his brother. He scooped up Sam, cradling the cat in his arm. “Don’t worry, Sam. You can bunk with me again. Who knows, we might be roommates from now on.”

  Sam purred loudly.

  “See you tomorrow morning,” Decker said.

  “Good night, Mikey!” Liam was still grinning.

  “Night, Bro.” Brody gave him a wink.

  “See you in the morning.” Niall smiled and clapped him on the back.

  They watched Decker walk away.

  A few minutes later, he was leading Jade down the corridor toward their bedroom.

  “You in a hurry?” she asked, a seductive smile curving her lips upward. She swung their joined hands a little.

  “Oh, yeah, babe.”

  He flashed his sexy smile. Heat pooled in her belly. She sighed happily. “Because?”

  “You’ll find out.” He opened the door and playfully swatted her backside as he followed her in.

  She heard the door close and lock behind her and within seconds, she was grabbed, lifted, and crushed against him. His strong arms circled her, his hands moved to cup her bottom and hold her tight against him, his hungry mouth found hers.

  As they kissed, Jade slid her palms up his chest then clasped her hands around his neck. She wrapped her jean clad legs around his waist one at a time.

  “Mmm, yeah,” he sucked in his breath as she wiggled against him. His hands tightened their grasp upon her bottom. His lips sought and found her ear lobe, her neck. He pressed feather light kisses there.

  She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly. This was what she had wanted all her adult life – a man like Decker. A man who loved her for who she was, well, she hoped he loved her. She couldn’t help it; she knew she already loved him. He completed her, filled her soul, and took her breath away. He was exceptionally good at taking her breath away.

  He shifted a bit, angled his mouth over hers, and went in for a deep, searing kiss that left her panting and trembling in his arms.

  His scent filled her. It was clean, fresh, and woodsy mingled with the scent of male, her male. Her big, muscled, hard-bodied, handsome, kind and generous male. Hers.

  She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist and felt the hard ridge of his arousal. She rubbed against him, liked the way his breath caught and that he groaned a little against her ear while she continued to tease him.

  “Damn, babe. I need to get inside you now!” he growled.

  Jade twisted her fingers in his dark, short hair. “Yes. Please,” she murmured before she kissed him again.

 
Before Decker placed her on the bed, he quickly moved the green velvet box to the nightstand. Once she was on the bed, he tore off his shirt, and kicked off his worn, old jeans. Naked and fully aroused, he climbed over her, kissing her lips, shoulders, and neck as he removed her yellow t-shirt. He had to taste those hardened nipples through her see-through lacey bra before he unfastened it. He tossed it to the floor. Her jeans disappeared in one smooth move. His fingers teased her through her matching, see-through lace bikinis. God, she was gorgeous in lace.

  His warm fingers and the friction of the lace on her sensitive nub brought her to the height of passion. Release came quickly. She whispered his name, repeatedly, as she rode the wave of pleasure and pressed against his hand.

  He slid those sexy little panties off in between kisses then reached into the nightstand drawer. He came over her and thrust inside her. He went deep. Her hands massaging his ass and her whispered command of ‘faster’ encouraged him to comply.

  It was give and take. Hot, hard and fast. Moist bodies, skin against skin. It was a passionate frenzy of hands, lips, teeth, lifting, thrusting, until he rolled, and she was on top.

  As she rode him, he concentrated on her breasts, was relentless in the attention he gave them, hands plumping and squeezing, his tongue licking, warm mouth sucking as she rode the hard length of him. His hands slid down to her hips and he lifted then lowered her over him. The pace once again ratcheted up to hard and fast, brought them to a fever pitch and the imminent sensual culmination, where together, they exploded in a world where there was only searing heat and blinding pleasure. And love. Neither said it, but they both felt it, could see it mirrored in the other’s eyes as they slowly recovered, wrapped tightly together, limbs tangled, whispering, caressing, kissing.

  Jade yawned.

  “No sleeping yet, babe!” he managed to say without too much difficulty. He was still trying to catch his breath.

  “Why?” she giggled as she yawned again. “I’m exhausted.”

  He helped her roll to his side. He sat up and reached over to grab something from the nightstand. He eased back into her waiting arms.