Devil Hills: #2 Luna & Lydia

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “I didn’t mean to wake you, go back to sleep, Luna,” he kept the groan inside when one of her feet curled over his leg. He caught a glimpse of the neckline and realized she was wearing his shirt. And judging by the flesh pressed against his hip, nothing else.

  “You’re angry.”

  “I’m tired,” but he heard the growl in his own voice and felt her flinch. “Luna…you shouldn’t be here. I should have let you go with Lexi,” he rolled to his side, his palm up and stroking over the smooth, freshly washed hair. Traces of dampness still evident beneath the thick strands.

  “You’re angry at me,” she didn’t move when he rose up on one elbow, his fingers brushing through her hair, just watching her. “For being here? I thought this was where a mate belonged.”

  “You’ve spent most of your life being drugged into compliance, Luna,” he shook his head, uncomfortable with the fire burning in his blood. New and alive, he’d never felt this with any of the other women who had crossed his life.

  “I am not drugged now, Sage. Jess said that part is barely there. I asked him because I had to know,” she said quietly, her palm rising to touch the unshaven face. It brought a darker, dusky look to him. More rugged, more handsome, she thought, one finger tracing around his lower lip. She smiled when he caught it between his teeth. “You’re very fast.”

  “And you’re flirting with trouble.” He held his teeth together, swallowing the fire erupting inside him and making certain her body was not touching his.

  “Trouble? Why do you consider yourself trouble? You made me your mate. Have you changed your mind?”

  “And you understood why.” Changed his mind? Christ, his cock was practically bursting with need. A need she didn’t know or understand. A need he couldn’t hide.

  “They told me you’d say that. That you’d convince yourself that you only stepped in to help me because of chivalry,” Luna heard the lowest of growls from him when she sidled closer. “You have a sexy growl. I’m drawn to you,” she whispered, bafflement in her voice. “Even before I woke in the clinic, I knew your scent. I knew I belonged with you.”

  A sexy growl? Somewhere between picking her up on the road out of town and now, a full-fledged butterfly had burst free.

  Chivalry, yeah, that was his intent. He lay on his back, abruptly aware that his palm was between them. That his fingers could feel the soft, smooth skin of her thigh. Then she shifted her body, wiggled, really and the big strong sheriff knew what it felt like to whimper.

  Sage felt the soft rumble of her purr when her hips moved against the palm that lay unmoving. Afraid that once he moved, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

  “I didn’t always run away when I woke from the fog,” Luna murmured, pushing herself against his hand. “Sometimes I would lay in bed and wonder what it would feel like to be touched and enjoy the kiss from a man. Kissing you isn’t like the kisses others wanted from me. It was mechanical. Almost like a training exercise,” she hitched herself closer, her lips moving next to his ear. “You aren’t angry with me now. I can smell something different…what is it? It’s dark and spicy…but I smell me, too…”

  “Luna…” while he tried for firm, even big brotherly, all he got was a low, husky voice hanging by some slim threads. “I think I should go in the other room. You need time to get used to all the new…”

  “They said you’d tell me that, too,”

  “Who the hell have you been talking to?” He made the demand at the same time she sat upright at his side, those long, dancer shaped legs bent down either side of her. Like Luna, his own eyesight was amazing in the dark. Amazing enough to see two round and crinkled areolas with a pert nipple poking at a tee shirt that never looked like that across his chest.

  “Lexi and Scarlet…Lily is a little less understanding about male behavior but I really like her,” she confided with a chuckle. “Are you afraid of me? Of being a mate?”

  Eyes that had been watching her intently, almost suspiciously, closed at the absolute innocence in her voice. A curious and amused innocence. Lashes darker than midnight slammed wide when he felt her lifting the blankets from him, staring down at the erection straining against his sleep pants. He grabbed the blankets and pulled them back defensively.

  “Lily says you’re mine now. Just as I, am yours.”

  “I think your new friends gave you too much information too fast,” he growled, shoving the blankets around him and shifting back a few inches. “Luna, it’s been a hell of a couple days. I think sleep would be best for both of us. A lot of sleep.”

  “An erection means you are aroused. That you are attracted to me. That must be the scent I can’t identify,” she closed her eyes and inhaled slower, just as they’d shown her. Letting the subtle fragrances flow over her sensitive organs. She savored it, catalogued it for future reference. “It also means you want to have sex with me. Or is it for someone else?” Her head tilted, blinking at him curiously.

  “I don’t see anyone else in this house, do you, Luna?” Sage felt the heat in his own face at her words. Innocent, curious words with not the least hint of embarrassment or trepidation.

  “I’m glad,” she announced firmly. “I don’t think I’d want to share you with another.”

  Sage ground his teeth together. “Luna…lay down and go back to sleep or I swear to god, woman, I’m going to wrap you in a quilt so tight you can’t do more than breathe until morning.”

  “I need to know, Sage,” she said clearly. “Do you prefer another?”

  “I prefer you, Luna.” He answered softly. “But tonight, you need sleep. We have time.” His palm caressed her cheek. “We have time.”

  “I don’t want to stay with Lexi, Sage. I want to be here. With you.”

  He watched her consider and yawn, unfolding her lithe body and sliding beneath the blankets, her face pressed against his throat. Sage counted the passing seconds until he knew she was asleep. Curled close, he rolled to his side and tucked her safely against him before slipping to sleep, thinking about the sexy little cat now in his bed.

  A vague memory of a dream floated inside his head at the same time the wafting scent of hot coffee got a strangle hold on him. Sage lay on his stomach, his face turned toward the window and the direction that should have held Luna. Only it was empty. And it was still dark.

  October, he reminded himself. No more late night, early morning light shows. His nose twitched again. Toast. He was positive there was something else and reluctantly rolled to his back. A nightstand that normally held only a clock radio now had a tray settled on it with a large, steaming mug and a covered plate. Silver set at the side, waiting.

  Breakfast in bed? At…he groaned aloud. Already seven in the morning. He wasn’t sure what time he’d finally got her to sleep and he seriously hoped the hard-on he was sporting was because it was morning, not because the memory of her soft body pressed against him ignited every male nerve ending he owned.

  Spread fingers on the mattress and he had pushed himself up. Reluctantly. He shoved his feet over the side and took the mug in one hand, drinking deeply and listening. He could hear music and the sounds of weights. She was in the gym he’d put together in the room next to the garage.

  Sage carried the coffee with him into the bathroom, set the shower to hot and steamy and sighed gratefully once inside. By the time he entered his bedroom and was half dressed, he’d eaten the scrambled eggs and toast she’d left him and finished the coffee. He wore black jeans and a simple button shirt, carrying a pair of socks in one hand and the tray in the other, he went to the kitchen to find where he’d left his boots.

  He poured another cup of coffee, noticed the large glass of ice water on the counter and quickly had his boots on and zipped into place. He opened the fridge and winced. When was the last time he went to the store and bought food? Other than a quick stop for coffee and eggs and bread, he wasn’t sure.

  Sage took the few steps into the lower portion of the house and stood in the door to the exercise a
rea. Luna lay back on the bench, a towel over her eyes and feet firmly planted and bare on the floor. But for a pair of his over sized socks. She wore a pair of skin fitting leggings that stopped just below her knees and a tank top that disappeared into the waistband of the leggings.

  He hadn’t asked what was in the pack she’d carried into town and was curious about what she felt important enough to run with when she left her father.

  “You’re staring at me,” she said, aware of her chest rising and falling as her breathing returned to normal.

  “I came to thank you for breakfast and let you know I’m leaving,” he ran a hand through the still damp hair, uncomfortable when she didn’t move or speak. “I left a key and the security code on the table in the kitchen.”

  “Thank you.” Luna sighed. “Be careful, Sage.”

  “I was going to tell you the same thing.”

  “I’ll be fine. Lily is coming for me at nine. I have to speak with the bank about what my grandmother left in a safety deposit box and sign for her accounts.” She sat up slowly, letting the towel fall to her lap.

  “Pick up a phone today, Luna. Do you need money?” He was reaching for his wallet when she shook her head. “How much did you take when you left Seattle?”

  “My father always travels with cash. A very generous supply of cash,” she said with a feline grin. “Even though ATM’s are all over. I took everything he and the guard had. I have sufficient funds for quite a while. So I’ll open an account for myself today.”

  “On that note, I’m off to keep the town secure,” he thought about kissing her. Wanted to kiss her. But turned and left while the brain on his shoulders was still in charge. Mostly.

  “Sage!” He was almost to the side door when she called him, loud and clear. He turned to respond only to have that slender, curved form launched at him, like the cat she was, arms around his neck and lips unerringly finding his. Reflex had his arms closing around her, an action that only pressed the curves all the more firmly against him.

  Luna shot her tongue between the surprised lips, tasting, stroking and tempting his to play. Her lips soothed his, caressed from one corner to the other in a slow, searing memory for him to carry with him through the day. It pleased her that he didn’t deny her kiss, his arms tight and possessive; his mouth warm and hungry.

  “Have a wonderful day at work,” she whispered between kisses, pushing against his shoulders and realizing she was no longer on the floor. “You have to put me down, Sage. I’m going to shower and look around the kitchen,” she backed up when he did as she asked, though she was positive she heard that sexy growl deep in his throat again. “I’ll see you later…” Fingers were up in a little wave. “Bye.”

  Luna had shopped before. It was far from a new experience. Her father had often sent her on errands for the cook. Always with a guard and rarely with time to wander and explore. Lexi was off working this morning but she had Scarlet and Lily with her, more than willing to talk and explain things that she didn’t understand.

  Mostly with regards to males.

  She had taken her pack with her to the bank. It held the folder she always kept with her at all times. She had her passport and birth certificate. Just in case the right situation presented itself.

  She sat with her friends at the desk of the vice-president of the bank while she explained things. Once all the verification was complete, Luna sat numbly listening. She looked at the large safety deposit box on the woman’s desk, her gaze going to the papers telling her how much was in the bank and how they were changing everything into her name now.

  She lifted a small journal from inside the box, the gems and boxes of jewelry left for another time. Inside she found information about her mother’s family. She tucked the journal into her pack and inhaled deeply. With Lily’s help, they completed the forms using Sage’s address as her own. She had no intentions of not being his mate, regardless of whether he was ready for her or not.

  It was past noon when Lily backed into the carport next to Sage’s kitchen door.

  “It’s a wonder he survived,” Scarlet peered into the fridge and cabinets, the freezer had ice inside and nothing else.

  “Men live differently than we do,” Lily shrugged. “I think even Jess is a little spoiled because Connie looked after them. Kept the kitchen stocked and food in the house. You said you were going looking for a job, Luna?”

  “I am. Tomorrow. I think a sampling of positions would be fun to explore,” she said, arranging the cabinets and aiming some things for the garbage. “I’m going to the Wild Raven at ten and apply for a waitress position. I think working with people in that type setting will be fun.”

  She turned at the coughing from Scarlet who quickly cleared her throat and looked at the chuckle from Lily.

  “It’s an interesting theme restaurant,” Scarlet commented, imagining Sage’s reaction to some of the costumes.

  “Theme?” Luna asked instantly.

  “They have four large rooms and each one is a different time, or…”

  “For instance, there’s one that the waitresses and staff dress as pirates. Another where it’s like Arabian nights.”

  “I think one is sports oriented, the girls get to be cheerleaders and the other one is family…kind of Disney in a big room,” Scarlet looked at her and nodded. “I know the owner, Luna. I’ll give Adrian a call and let him know he’d be smart to train you. I think you’d really enjoy it.”

  “Thank you so much,” Luna met her smile gratefully. “I think I will, too. I love being around people. There’s so much to see and learn.”

  Lily and Scarlet kept their thoughts to themselves about how Sage would react.

  Sage was positive he’d turned into the wrong driveway shortly before five. The scent of garlic reached him before he was halfway up the drive. His hand was on the zipper to his jacket, his foot kicking the door after releasing the alarm. Then he froze in place and stared.

  A bright orange and white checked cloth covered the table. A table now set with plates and silver; salads and dressing. His nose twitched and three steps had him staring down into a pot of red spaghetti sauce, two plates with pasta on the side, waiting. All the remnants of past pots of coffee were gone, replaced with a shining almost new coffeemaker. Still frowning, he opened cabinets and then the fridge. He wasn’t sure his kitchen had ever seen this much food before. Not all at once.

  His house had smells that were an indication that he worked out too much.

  His house now smelled like lemons and orange and flowers and apples and cinnamon. All at once, depending on the room you were in.

  He left his jacket on the kitchen door, removed his boots and dropped the socks into the basket near the washer. He started through the kitchen and backed up to the laundry room. That was new. Usually there was just a pile waiting for his attention. He peeked around the door, the scent of lemons reaching him as well as the clean floor.

  He was a bachelor. He had certain standards. Alright, he had few standards and usually made excuses until he ran out of things. Something else was always more important. When his mother threatened to visit, he hired someone to clean things. He really was surprised the gossip lines hadn’t reached his family yet. Then he noticed the home phone, the unit blinking.

  Sage stopped at the bottom of the stairs, trying to get a fix on Luna. He knew she was there. Above all the new scents running through his house, hers was still there. Still the one to strike strongest through his system. He crossed the floor into the living area and gazed down at the readout. Only six messages. He didn’t bother with playback. He knew it was his mother. Maybe his sister.

  He climbed the stairs and went immediately to the end of the hall, the sight of Luna laying on her stomach, a pillow propped beneath her breasts and earphones on with the hints of music as she read through a magazine. He saw her nose twitch, her palm up and pulling the wire to her music as she popped to sit up, her smile bright.

  “Hi…I made dinner.”

  �
�I noticed. You’ve been busy,” he felt tongue tied suddenly, the woman watching him expectantly. “How did the visit to the bank go?” He walked into his closet, aimed and not looking until the colors hanging on the opposite side registered in his mind. Evidently she’d gone shopping.

  “Lots of papers to sign. She had a journal in the box there with family on my mother’s side. That was fun to read through their past. I have no living relatives from her side, though,” Luna slid to the edge of the bed, taking her things with her and walking to the door. “I’ll get the dinner on the table.”

  He leaned on the cabinet in the bathroom, staring into the mirror.

  So what was it about the pixie that suddenly scared the hell out of him?

  Being domesticated?

  He’d laid claim to her. He still felt it was right. But in his mind he still heard the anger in Jess’s voice with his decision.

  He reached into the drawer that usually held clean shirts and found them. All at once. Folded and neat. He quickly checked the other drawers, boxers, socks and sweats. All clean and neatly folded.

  It had been a very long time since he had someone taking care of him.

  Luna was on her toes, trying to reach the green container when she felt the firm hands on her waist.

  “What are you after?” Sage followed her finger and bought the container of shredded cheese from the cabinet.

  “Scarlet is a little taller than me and she helped put things away after shopping,” she turned with the container in her hand, her head tipping back when the large male body didn’t move.

  “The house never looked this good, Luna. But you don’t have to…what I mean is, you should be relaxing,” he felt the little sigh shudder through her, the container set on the counter and her hands flat on his chest.

  “I was relaxed,” she stared at his mouth, her tongue out and tracing her lip. “You don’t mind, do you? I thought it would be easier to find things and…I know you’re busy working.”