Claiming Valeria

by Rebecca Rivard

  “Boa noite, princesa,” Valeria heard him rumble.

  When Merry returned, Valeria sat on the mattress and pulled her into her arms, nuzzling her neck and breathing in her sweet little-girl scent.

  Oh, Deus, she could never let her go.

  Especially not to the Baltimore shifters. The stories about them were dark, frightening. Lord Adric was rumored to have murdered his own uncle. She recalled again those hard eyes in a deceptively boyish face, the way he’d tried to hypnotize her into handing over Merry. A man like that wouldn’t give up easily.

  But Marjani. She was obviously tough—she’d had to be, to survive the years of vicious fighting—but she’d seemed like a nice person. And she’d been so happy to see Merry.

  And Jace. His expression when he’d looked at Merry had been so hungry…a hunger Valeria understood all too well. He wasn’t going to give up either, and if the earth shifters were to be believed, then Merry needed to be with him and Valeria was selfish to insist on keeping her.

  No, something within her cried. Maybe you’d love her too, but I don’t care. She’s mine.

  She hugged the little girl so tightly she squealed. “You’re squeezing too hard, Mama.”

  “Sorry, sweetheart. Good night now.” She gave Merry a last kiss and watched as she turned onto her side, one arm thrown over the clown doll that was never very far from her.

  She gently rubbed Merry’s back. She’d do anything to keep her.

  Anything.

  When she returned to the sala, Rui was reclined on the couch, eyes closed. He looked so comfortable that she hated to bother him. She turned to tiptoe from the room, but he opened his eyes.

  “Don’t go.”

  She came closer. “Do you feel up to taking a shower? Or would you rather go straight to bed?”

  He came to his feet. He had to struggle a little, but he was definitely moving easier than he had even an hour ago. “A shower.”

  But he stayed where he was, looking around. Valeria realized he’d never been in her apartment. She saw him take in the plump blue couch, the large painting of a sunset over the Chesapeake, the colorful cushions scattered on the floor for Merry and her friends. The heated terracotta floor that Rodolfo and Sabela had helped her install for Merry, whose cat craved warmth.

  “I like your place,” Rui said, turning back to Valeria. “It feels like a home.”

  The naked yearning on his face tugged at her heart. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and promise him…what?

  Instead she took a step back. “The bathroom’s this way.” She pointed down the hall. “There are towels on a shelf near the toilet. You can’t miss them.”

  “Thanks.”

  She waited until she heard water and then poked her head inside the bathroom. There was no shower curtain; instead, the shower was concealed behind a curved tiled wall.

  “Is everything okay?”

  His voice rumbled from behind the wall. “I could use some help washing my back.”

  She knew it was a ruse. But there was a weary note that drew her inside anyway. Shucking her dress and undergarments, she came around the wall.

  Rui was leaning against the opposite side of the stall, letting the water sluice over his body, but when he saw her he straightened up.

  “Valeria.” By some miracle his mouth had escaped the battering the rest of him had taken. Now it curved in a slow smile as he took in her unclothed state.

  She was used to being naked around others; in a clan of shapeshifters, sooner or later you saw everyone unclothed either before or after a shift. But that smile made her flush from the breasts up. Her nipples prickled and hardened.

  He swallowed and met her eyes.

  She held out a hand. “The washcloth, please.”

  He looked from her to the cloth in his hand as if he couldn’t remember what it was. “What—oh, sure.” He handed it to her.

  She circled her finger. “Turn around.”

  He obediently gave her his back.

  Ah, Deus. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth. He was darkly tanned all over, and he might have been out of shape but you couldn’t tell from this angle. She watched, fascinated, as water slid across his broad shoulders, down his spine and over the firm slope of his buttocks.

  Desire pooled in her belly, warm and liquid. She itched to touch him, to run her fingers lightly over all that smooth olive-brown skin and the solid muscles beneath. To press her aching breasts against his back. To rub herself against that taut ass like a cat in heat.

  Instead, she soaped the washcloth and began to scrub his back—lightly, so as not to press on his bruises.

  He braced himself with a hand on the wall and sighed. “That feels so good, querida.”

  “Mm,” she said. Because it felt good to her, too, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

  She soaped up the cloth again and then knelt to wash the backs of his legs. When she got to his feet, he turned to face her. She lifted each foot in turn and, setting it on her thigh, scrubbed it thoroughly, including between the toes.

  He groaned and she raised her head to see his cock, flushed and hard, just a few inches from her mouth. His lungs were heaving and he had his eyes closed, his free hand fisted at his side.

  She finished with his feet and rose back up. Soaping the cloth one more time, she cleaned his chest, rubbing over the wiry black hairs and flat copper nipples. She avoided his ribs and the gash on his abdomen but ran the cloth carefully around his erection and under his balls.

  His eyes opened. They were dark with arousal, the black lashes spiky from the water. “You’re evil, woman.”

  “Am I?” She finished by cleaning his penis, pulling back the foreskin and easing the cloth over the sensitive tip. She’d started this because he needed the help. She’d continued because her animal was reveling in the chance to touch him after all these months. And because maybe she was enjoying a little revenge.

  “Yes. You’re torturing me—and right now I can’t do anything about it, and you know it.”

  He was right. She was a bad, bad woman. She turned away to conceal her smile. “You don’t have to wait for me,” she said as she started to wash herself. “You must be exhausted.”

  A strong arm wrapped around her waist. Then his big body pressed against hers, his erection hard against her buttocks. She stilled, aware of him with every single one of her nerves.

  “I’ll go,” he rasped against her neck, sending a shock of arousal racing over her skin. “Because I hurt too much to take you right now. And because you deserve a whole man, not one who’s still recovering from too much drink and too many women. But we will finish this, Valeria. I meant what I said about claiming you. You’re my mate, and I will win you back.”

  She held herself stiff, refusing to let her spine unbend even a single inch. Because if she gave him that inch, she might surrender the whole of her. He waited for a few seconds and then when it was clear she wasn’t going to reply, pressed his lips to her nape and released her. She waited until he was on the other side of the wall and then released the breath she’d been holding.

  After drying off, she pulled on a tank top and cotton capris. Rui was already in bed. She considered sleeping with Merry, but if anything went wrong in the middle of the night, she’d never forgive herself. And she was safe enough with Rui—as he’d said, he wasn’t in any condition to try anything tonight. And even if Rui were healthy, he’d never take a woman against her will.

  He was sleeping on his injured side, which Branco had explained was the best for broken ribs, allowing for deeper breaths. He’d pulled up the sheet but, afraid he’d get chilled, she unfolded the simple blue-and-lavender quilt at the base of the bed and tucked it around him. She’d thought he was asleep, but he opened his eyes to look at her, his gaze soft with fatigue.

  She touched the control that turned off the fae lights. “Go to sleep,” she said. “I’ll wake you in a couple of hours.” She didn’t set an alarm, since like most fada, she had a nat
ural internal clock.

  As the lights faded to darkness, he touched her hand. “Thank you, querida. For letting me stay here.”

  “It’s the least I could do. After all, you wouldn’t be hurt if it weren’t for me and Merry.”

  “Is that all this is? Gratitude?” His voice was harsh.

  “Boa noite, Rui.” She turned onto her side, her back to him.

  “Boa noite,” he replied. He muttered something she couldn’t quite catch, but it sounded like, “But we will finish this.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  When Rui woke the next morning, Valeria was curled next to him, her fingertips touching his arm as if to assure herself even in sleep that he was all right. He knew she had to have been exhausted, but she’d dutifully awakened him every two hours throughout the night. Now she was sound asleep, one hand under her cheek, her lips parted like a child’s.

  At some point she’d kicked off the covers. She was wearing clinging leggings that stopped at mid-calf and a grass-green tank that enhanced her warm-colored skin. His gaze traveled down her body with a hunger that was only partly sexual, taking in the dark curls tumbling over one smooth shoulder, the full breasts beneath the cotton tank, the sweet curve of her hip and her long, strong legs. The familiar heat filled his belly, but for now he was content to lie quietly and bask in her presence, breathing in her scent and listening to the soft sough of her breath.

  Outside the apartment, he could hear footsteps as the several hundred fada who called the base home began to go about their business. But inside, all was calm. He let his eyes drift shut again, savoring a rare sense of peace and well-being.

  Deus, he was tired of spending himself in nameless women. He’d rather spend a sexless hour with Valeria than fuck another woman all night, only to rise from the bed wrung-out but restless, unsatisfied. And hungry…always hungry.

  But eventually his body started making its needs felt. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes and stretched each arm and leg in turn, taking inventory. He was stiff and sore and feeling every frigging blow, but Branco had been right, he was healing amazingly fast. The worst was the deep ache where he’d taken the knife. He fingered the wound, disgusted with himself. Compared to him, the earth alpha was practically a kid; Adric should never have gotten close enough to cut him. If Rui hadn’t been such a drunken, lazy ass the past couple of years, the other man would be dead now.

  He pushed himself carefully to sitting. The pain had definitely eased. Pleased, he limped to the bathroom.

  When he returned, Valeria was still asleep. He pulled the sheet up over her shoulders and got under it with her, lying on his side facing her. Long, sooty lashes fanned over her cheekbones. Her face appeared thinner than he remembered. He frowned. The clan had been through some hard times, but Valeria and Merry should’ve had enough to eat.

  He was ashamed to realize it had been months since he’d really looked at her. He’d been aware of her every moment they were in the same room, of course. But even when he hadn’t been drinking, he’d avoided looking at her. Now it appeared she’d lost weight—and he feared it was more due to unhappiness than lack of food.

  A fierce protectiveness gripped him. She was his mate. It was both his right and duty to ensure she was safe, happy. And he’d done a god-awful job of it the past couple of years.

  Valeria opened her eyes. “Bom dia.” Her lips curved.

  His throat worked. It had been so long since she’d smiled at him like that—wide and happy. “Good morning.”

  Then she apparently remembered whom she was smiling at and the happy curve faded. She propped herself on an elbow and looked him over with a clinical eye. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Better, thanks.”

  “That’s good.” She glanced toward the door. “I should get up. Merry—”

  “No, wait.” He snagged her hand. “There’s no hurry. She’s still sleeping.”

  She hesitated and then nodded. “We should talk, anyway—about Merry.” She arranged herself cross-legged on the bed.

  “Yes,” he said and wondered why he was disappointed. Merry came first with Valeria, and that’s how it should be.

  He pushed himself up to sitting and inched himself backward until his back was against the headboard, keeping his knees bent so as not to overtax his lower abdomen. Pain jolted through him anyway. He closed his eyes and sucked air in through his teeth.

  When he opened his eyes, Valeria was frowning at him. “We don’t have to do this right now—”

  “I’d rather talk to you than lie on my back counting my bruises. Besides, I’m worried about Merry, too. I want to help.”

  She nodded and rubbed her palms over her upper arms. “I don’t know what to do, Rui. They want her. Not just Jace and Adric, but the woman, too—Marjani. You should’ve seen her when she first saw Merry. She looked so happy. And if Merry needs one of those crystals to be healthy—”

  “I’m not sure they were telling the whole truth about that. They didn’t lie, but Adric’s a slippery S.O.B. And why should he tell us something that would help us keep Merry?”

  “That’s true.” Hope lit her face.

  “It’s something to consider anyway. Now, tell me what happened that night after I got Merry away. I gather there was a fire?”

  “That’s what Dion told me. He figured it was safest for everyone if the Baltimore shifters believed Merry died in the fire. He thinks the night fae believed Merry was still inside the house, hiding. They used some kind of magic to make sure no one got out alive. The house burned to the ground in less than five minutes.” Her voice cracked. “She—she wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

  Rui’s jaw hardened. “Bastards.”

  “I still think about it sometimes. If you hadn’t been there—”

  “Yeah,” he muttered. “I was a frigging hero.”

  “You did save her.”

  “After killing her father.”

  “She didn’t see you do that, though.”

  “No. But she did see him after. She tried to protect him—from me.” His voice was harsh from the crust of self-loathing lodged in his chest. “But I guess when I saved her from the night fae, she decided I was someone she could trust. Maybe she figured it was them who killed him.”

  “Was she wrong?” Valeria asked. “About trusting you, that is?”

  “No. I’d guard her with my life.” He slanted her a look. “I’ve wondered why you didn’t tell her the truth.”

  She glanced away. “What was the point? She’d only grow up hating you and that’s not going to bring her father back.”

  He swallowed his disappointment. What had he expected? That Valeria would say she couldn’t bear for Merry to hate him? She’d done her best to keep the two of them apart.

  “I never thought she’d make friends with you,” she added. “She looks on you as a sort of father, you know.”

  “I know.” That he’d won Merry’s trust was both a heavy weight and an incredible joy.

  Her dark eyes lifted to his. “Don’t let her down,” she warned fiercely. “Because if you do—”

  Hurt washed over him. “I’d cut off my own hand before I’d harm a hair on her head. Hell, if you knew how often I wished I could go back in time and change things somehow. Bring back her father—get them both away from the night fae. But I can’t. All I can do is spend the rest of my life making it up to her.” He lifted a shoulder. “I know I’m a poor second best as a dad, but I’ve been trying.”

  She sighed. “I know, Rui. And you’re not a poor second best. You—you’ve made her feel safe again. She’s been more at ease these past few months. Those nightmares I told the earth fada about? She hasn’t had one since the two of you became friends.”

  “Yeah?” he asked, surprised and pleased. “I didn’t know.”

  “She wants us to get back together.” Valeria gave a short laugh. “Did you know that? I told her there’s no way.”

  He leaned forward, setting a hand on her thigh to support himself wh
ile he used the other to cup her too-thin face. He caressed her cheekbone with his thumb. “Is it so impossible?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know. I—” She halted, throat working, her expression registering such intense yearning that hope bloomed in him.

  He brought his lips to hers, slowly, carefully. Giving her time to pull back if she wished. But she didn’t. For a single sweet moment, her mouth pressed back against his. He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips.

  “Let me in, sweetheart.”

  “No,” she whispered. But her eyes remained closed, her lips a scant inch from his, so close he could feel the moist warmth of her breath, inhale her familiar earthy fragrance.

  “No?” He brought his hand to one soft, full breast. The tank had a built-in bra, so there were only two thin layers of cotton between his fingers and her nipple. It hardened, and he pinched it gently, possessively.

  Mine, the animal growled.

  “Are you sure?” he murmured. He moved his hand to her other breast, massaging that nipple into a hard point as well. Her breath shuddered in, and he scented the salty musk of her arousal. Yes…

  Then her eyes opened, and he was shocked to see they were bright with tears. “No,” she said again, and this time he believed her.

  That momentary bloom of hope curled back in on itself, but it didn’t die. He’d known this wasn’t going to be easy. He’d hurt Valeria deeply and it was going to take time to win her trust again. But he refused to give up. Because she was worth it.

  He removed his hands from her body. She pushed off the bed and turned away to knuckle her eyes. When she turned back, her chin was lifted in a way that warned him not to ask about the tears.

  “About Merry,” she said.

  “Yes.” He reluctantly settled back against the headboard. “They’re not going to find it so easy to take her back. Dion claimed her as a member of Rock Run, remember?”

  “But she’s a minor and we didn’t have her clan’s permission. Lord Adric could say we didn’t have the right to claim her.”