Kiera paused in mid-bite. “He came at me before when a werewolf was in the house. What’s stopping him now?” she asked.
Michael shrugged. “Probably easier to go up against one werewolf instead of ten, or maybe he’s just waiting on us to give up, believing that he’s gone.”
Kiera gave Gabriel a troubled look. “Do you think that’s what he’s doing?”
Gabriel studied his wife a moment. He knew she was scared, but she deserved the truth. “Yeah, I think he’s just waiting us out. He figures that either the other werewolves will leave or that we’ll get sloppy.”
Kiera took a deep breath and let it out, trying to steady her nerves. She licked her lips as they suddenly felt dry. “What if we make him think he’s right?”
Gabriel narrowed his eyes, not liking the sound of her question. Was the foolish woman going to put herself into harm’s way? “What do you mean?”
“Well, what if the werewolves back off just enough that he thinks they’ve left?”
“His sense of smell is probably better than ours, Kiera. Half the patrol would have to leave in order to pull it off, possibly more. I’m not willing to risk your safety by lowering our numbers,” he responded.
“But Gabriel…”
“No buts,” he interrupted. “I’m going to take any chances. Do you know what he’ll do to you when he gets his hands on you?”
She shivered, remembering her encounter with him before, the threats he’d made when he’d found her in the bathroom. “I know, but we can’t spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders either!”
Gabriel sighed. “I’ll give it some thought, but I’m not making any promises.”
She gave him a small smile, feeling as if she’d won. She knew that he would come around. It was the only way to end this thing once and for all.
***
Later that night, all ten guards patrolled the outer perimeter of the house, giving the couple their space. Several grumbled that a little embarrassment wasn’t worth the risk, but Gabriel stood firm. He wasn’t willing to lower the number of guards as Kiera had suggested, but he could make sure she felt comfortable in her own home at night.
After locking up the downstairs and checking all of the windows on the second and third floors, Gabriel walked into their bedroom. Kiera had already dressed for bed and was wearing a long satin nightgown. The top barely covered her breasts and Gabriel had to stop and catch his breath.
“Do you like it?” Kiera asked, not sure how to take his silence.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
She smiled at him and beckoned for him to come over to the bed.
Gabriel shook his head, “Not yet. I need to shower and get all of the dirt and grease off of me before I join you.”
Kiera sighed, but nodded her head. “I’ll be waiting right here.”
Not wasting any time, Gabriel entered the bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and started the shower. Once the water was warm, he got in and started scrubbing away the grime from a hard day’s work.
In the bedroom, Kiera reclined back on the pillows, listening to the sounds of Gabriel showering. She briefly contemplated joining him, but decided she’d rather wait in the bed. It had been over a week since they’d made love; she refused to accept a quickie in the shower.
The closet door slowly creaked open.
Kiera tensed and looked over at the partially open door. She couldn’t see anything in the dark interior. She sat up, anxious at what had made the door open. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could hear its beat in her ears.
Just as she started to relax, a white hand with long white fingers gripped the door and opened it further.
Kiera felt a strangled scream in the back of her throat, but she couldn’t seem to force out a single sound. The vampire slowly stepped from inside the closet, leering at her.
“Did you really think that a bunch of werewolves would keep me out of your house?” he asked.
Kiera opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She glanced toward the bathroom door, but could still hear the shower running.
“Your wolf won’t be any help to you right now. He has no idea that I’m here,” the vampire said.
Kiera whimpered and gripped the sheets so tight that her knuckles turned white. She knew that fleeing was out of the question. He was much too fast and would catch her in a second.
“What do you want?” she whispered.
He arched an eyebrow and looked her over from head to toe. “I want you, of course. Did you think that had changed since our last time together?”
“I had hoped you were gone,” she answered.
The vampire chuckled low in his throat. “No, I don’t ever give up on my prey.”
He stalked toward the bed, looking over her hungrily. His tongue flicked out to lick the tip of a fang and wet his lips. He could see her pulse beating out of control and wanted desperately to sink his teeth into the plump vein running through her neck.
Kiera was shaking uncontrollably, but stayed her ground. She met his stare and controlled her urge to bolt. When he reached out an icy finger and trailed it down her arm, she flinched.
“It’s just a pity that I have to drain you,” he said. “You’re much too pretty to be dead.”
The vampire leaned onto the bed and pulled Kiera closer; pressing his nose against the skin of her neck he inhaled her scent. It was intoxicating! He drew his tongue along the line of her vein, feeling the blood pulsing through it.
He groaned and pulled back. “Do you realize that I could have you right now? I could sink my teeth into you and suck your blood at this very moment and no one could do anything about it.”
Kiera bit her lip to keep from crying out. She watched him, hoping he wouldn’t bite her, but wondering what he was up to just the same.
The vampire trailed his hand down Kiera’s leg, from knee to ankle. “Maybe instead of draining you completely, I should just make you a vampire. Then I could have your delicious blood and still have you by my side.”
“I’d never stay with you,” she answered, repulsed by his suggestion.
He laughed, showing her his fangs. “Oh, I believe you would. Do you really think your wolf would want you after you’re dead?”
Kiera hesitated. It was only for a second, but it was long enough for the vampire to take notice.
“Ah, not quite so certain, are you?” he asked. “Has he not confessed his undying love for you?”
“That’s none of your business,” Kiera replied stiffly.
In the other room, the water shut off, alerting them both that Gabriel was finished with his shower.
The vampire sighed. “It looks like I’ll have to postpone this conversation for another time.”
Without another word, he opened the bedroom window and vanished into the night.
Kiera couldn’t hold back her tears another moment. Shaking, she sobbed non-stop until Gabriel came into the room.
He briefly noted the open closet and rushed to Kiera’s side, wearing nothing but a towel.
“Honey, what’s wrong? What happened?” he asked.
Kiera couldn’t stop crying long enough to talk. She threw her arms around Gabriel and buried her face against his neck.
“Kiera, I need you to talk to me, sweetheart. I have to know what happened.”
She sniffled and fought back her tears. In a wobbly voice, she said, “The vampire was here.”
Gabriel stiffened. “Here? In our bedroom?”
She nodded and looked at the open closet door.
“He was hiding in the closet?” Gabriel asked, trying to pry information out of her.
“Yes, he said that no matter how many werewolves we had that he would always find a way into the house,” she said.
Gabriel walked over to the closet and slammed it shut. Glaring at the open window, he stalked over to it. Leaning out, he surveyed the area. All he could see where the werewolves patrolling below and the woods beyond the house. The vampire
was nowhere to be seen.
Slamming the window shut, he locked it and turned to face the bed. Kiera was still shaking and sniffling. Sitting on the bed, he pulled her into his arms.
“So much for our romantic night,” he murmured.
Kiera pulled back to look up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m not going to make love to you after everything you just went through,” he answered.
“Not even if I want you to?” she asked.
He looked at her intently. “Do you? Do you want me to make love to you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I want you to wipe the memories of him from my mind. I don’t want to think about anything other than us.”
Gabriel cupped her jaw and kissed her. The moment his lips touched hers and he inhaled her sweet scent, he was lost. Pulling the towel from his waist, he dropped it on the floor. Grabbing Kiera around her waist, he hauled her into his lap.
Kiera buried her fingers in Gabriel’s hair and pulled him closer. She wanted to feel his body pressed against hers; wanted the memory of him to be etched into her mind.
Gabriel placed his hand on her thigh, enjoying the silky material of her nightgown. He slid his hand down her leg until he reached the hem. Slipping his fingers under the hem, his fingertips explored the skin of her calf. He trailed his fingers up to the sensitive skin at the back of her knee, lightly skimming the surface of her skin. When his hand reached her thigh, he felt her indrawn breath and knew she was turned on by the experience.
When he reached the top of her leg, his fingers skimmed the edge of her panties. His finger gently ran the length of her lips, feeling the moisture through the material. He groaned into her mouth and pressed his body against her, forcing her to lie back on the bed.
Gabriel pushed her nightgown up to her waist. Reaching between her legs, he cupped her. Her clit was already engorged and he could feel it through her panties. Flicking it with his thumb, he grinned with satisfaction when Kiera arched her hips off the bed.
He trailed kisses down her throat to the slope of her breast. Nudging the material aside with his nose, he found her nipple, hard and begging for attention. He gently lapped at it, drawing a gasp from Kiera. Sucking her nipple into his mouth, he continued to rub her clit with his thumb.
Kiera whimpered and arched against him. She wasn’t sure how much more she could stand. It had been so long since she’d felt him inside of her that she wasn’t feeling very patient.
“Gabriel, I want you,” she whispered.
Releasing her nipple, he leaned back and grasped the sides of her panties in his hands. Sliding them down her legs, he dropped them to the floor. Helping her sit up, he slipped her gown over her head and tossed it aside.
Kissing her, he pushed her back down onto the bed. Reaching between her legs, he continued to tease her.
“Gabriel, I mean it! I want you and I want you now,” she said.
He chuckled. “I know you do, sweetheart. Just lie back and relax.”
Leaning down, he took her nipple into his mouth once more. As his thumb circled her clit, his fingers teased her opening. She was so hot and wet, begging for him to take her. He slipped his index finger inside of her, gently stroking her. Adding a second finger, he plunged deep inside of her.
Moving to the other nipple, he licked and nipped it. His fingers continued to slide in and out of her body as his thumb stroked her full, sensitive clit. He felt her hips meeting his thrusts and knew she was close to an orgasm. Curving his fingers a little, he found her g-spot. He felt the hot liquid gush around his fingers as she gasped and arched off the bed, her inner walls clenching down on him.
Removing his fingers from her body, he quickly kissed her on the lips. “Why don’t you roll over,” he murmured.
Kiera felt limp, but did as he suggested. When she sat up on her knees and turned around, Gabriel put an arm around her waist and drew her back against him. She felt the long, hard length of him brushing against her, begging for entry.
“Spread your legs, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.
Kiera spread her legs a little further and felt the head of his shaft slip inside of her. She groaned and tried to press back into him, trying to draw him further inside.
Gabriel, holding her firm with one arm, reached around with his other hand, sliding his fingers down into her curls, finding her clit once more. As he gently rubbed her, Kiera thrust her hips back, trying to take more of him side of her. He allowed her take a little of him into her, but not all of him. As he played with her, he felt her getting hotter and wetter. Knowing she was near her climax, he thrust into her hard and fast.
Kiera cried out as her orgasm broke over her. Gabriel held her tight and continued to thrust in and out of her, going deeper and harder with each thrust. As she felt his warm seed spread through her, she climaxed again.
Gabriel kissed her shoulder and her neck. Pulling from her body, he turned her to face him.
Staring at his beautiful glowing wife, he wondered what he would ever do without her. No matter the cost, he had to make sure she was protected, that the vampire wouldn’t get to her.
“What is it?” she asked, noticing his intent stare.
He shook his head. “Nothing, I was just admiring my beautiful wife.”
Kiera smiled and lay back on the bed, pulling Gabriel down with her. “Well then… after you rest, why don’t you show me just how beautiful you think I am?”
He chuckled. “Again?”
“Mmm-hmm. And again, and again, and again…”
“I think I get the picture,” he murmured, kissing her.
Chapter Thirteen
Two weeks later, Kiera paced back and forth in the bathroom, staring down at the counter. She had missed her period earlier in the week and had bought a pregnancy test. The proof was now staring her in the face in the form of two little blue lines – she was pregnant.
She had called Gabriel at the garage and asked him to come home. That had been ten minutes ago. Where was he?
Would he be happy about the news? Kiera chewed on her lip. The thought of having Gabriel’s baby filled her with a happiness she hadn’t known existed, but she wasn’t sure if he would feel the same. They hadn’t really discussed children during their short marriage, just the one time.
Running her hands through her hair, she glanced at the test stick again before looking at her watch. According to the kit, the results would disappear within an hour. She wasn’t sure if Gabriel would believe her if he didn’t see the results for himself.
Footsteps thudded up the stairs and Kiera stilled, knowing that Gabriel was finally answering her call. She watched the door in anticipation.
Gabriel opened the bedroom door. Not seeing Kiera, he headed for the bathroom. Her face held a million emotions.
“What is it, Kiera?” he asked.
She swallowed and glanced nervously at the counter. Looking back at Gabriel, she took a breath to steady her nerves.
“I know we haven’t been married long, but I have something I need to tell you,” she said.
Gabriel stilled and his heart froze in his chest. Had Kiera decided she didn’t want to be with him? What was going on?
“You can tell me anything, Kiera,” he assured her.
She hesitantly walked over to him. Looking up in his eyes, she said, “I’m pregnant.”
Gabriel thought he’d misheard her. “You’re what?”
“Pregnant,” Kiera said, her heart pumping over-time. She couldn’t tell if he was happy, unhappy, or just indifferent. The suspense was killing her.
Gabriel swallowed and digested that tidbit of information for a moment. “I… I, um… Wow, I’m not really sure what to say.”
Kiera reached out to him with a shaky hand. “You aren’t upset, are you?”
“Upset? Why would I be upset?” he asked.
“Because the baby could be a werefox or just be normal; because there’s a chance you won’t have a little boy who takes after his daddy
and can take over as pack alpha some day.”
He gave her a gentle smile and pulled her into his arms. “Is that what was bothering you?”
She nodded.
“Honey, I don’t care if we have a girl, a boy, a fox, a wolf, a fairy, or just a plain ol’ everyday human child. As long as the baby is happy and healthy, that’s all I could ask for,” he assured her.
Kiera smiled and hugged him. “I’m glad to hear that. I was so scared when I saw the two little blue lines this morning.”
Gabriel rubbed her back. “I’m sorry you were scared and worried. We probably should have talked about kids a bit more than one brief moment, but there just hasn’t been time.”
“I know. I don’t blame you for my feelings. I’m just happy that you’re okay with me being pregnant,” she said, snuggling into him.
“As much as I hate to ruin this happy moment, I need to get back to work,” he told her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“Okay. I’ll see you at lunch.”
***
Later that afternoon, Kiera was still daydreaming about the baby growing inside of her. She’d let the time slip past her and suddenly realized that the guys would be getting hungry. Picking up the phone, she ordered eight large pizzas for delivery. Hopefully the guys wouldn’t mind.
Pacing through the downstairs, she waited for their food to be delivered. Her eyes roamed over the old-fashioned wallpaper in the entry and she remembered her task of renovating the upstairs rooms. She would have to switch gears and begin work in the baby’s room before she finished the others.
Rubbing her belly, she wondered if they were going to have a boy or a girl. She’d have to pick neutral colors for the room if she started on it this early.
Hearing a car in the driveway, Kiera opened the front door and peered outside. The pizza guy was heading her way when three large werewolves suddenly blocked his path. The poor guy looked scared to death.
“Guys, let him through if you want to eat,” Kiera called out.
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