Dad helped him with his tie, which meant that he messed it up more for him. In the minutes before he heard the band playing, not only did Adrian get him fixed up, but he got a bear like hug from each of them. He was about to be married, and he could not wait.
As he stood there with his sons, Blake looked around. There were flowers everywhere. Not only that, but there were sights and sounds in the air that he could only associate with summer. The smell of a hog roasting on a spit, the smell of pies cooling on the table, and laughter from the women of the leap taking care that there was not just plenty of food, but drinks as well.
When a small hand filled his, Blake squeezed it gently in his own. Bennett did the same with his other hand just as Shadow came out of the house and made her way to them. Grannie was giving her away, and Jaclyn was right there with them, laughing. It was a perfect picture of the three generations, and he wished so much that he had a camera right then.
I got you covered. He looked to where Dylan was sitting and smiled at her with a quick wink. I want you to have the best life, little brother. And just so you know, I enjoy Shadow being your mate a great deal more than I thought I would. She’s perfect for you. I never thought there would be anyone good enough for the baby of the family, and here she is.
Thank you, Dylan. You made it all possible. She asked him how he figured that. Had you not shown us that hard assed women can be loveable, I think the rest of us would have run for cover when our mates showed up.
She burst out laughing, and everyone turned to look at her. It was wonderful to see her face blush with embarrassment. Blake didn’t catch her off guard often, but when he did, it was nice. While he knew that he’d pay for it later, he enjoyed the moment.
Shadow looked so lovely that he felt his eyes fill with tears. She was going to be his wife. His love of all time. When Grannie took his hand and one of each of the boys’, she held them tightly between hers and Shadow’s. Jaclyn put her hands there, and Blake didn’t think he’d ever forget this moment for as long as he lived. He was glad to hear that someone’s camera was taking a lot of shots of it for them.
Just after the clergy asked if anyone wanted to say anything, Joey said that he did. When he went to Shadow, dressed in Blake’s mom’s wedding dress and veil, she knelt down to his level and took his hands into hers.
“Bennett and me have been thinking.” The guests laughed, and he turned and glared at them. “Don’t you be messing me up either. Now. Bennett and me have been thinking, and now that we’re Whitfields and you will be too, we decided that we can’t do no better than to have you as our mom. So, can we call you that? Mom, I mean?”
Shadow looked up at Blake and then back at the boys. “I’d be honored to have you think of me and to call me your mom. On one condition. Anyone that sees us together or asks, I want to be able to tell them that you are truly and forever my sons.” Joey hugged her, then Bennett did.
Blake wanted this finished before he was a puddle of mud right here in the open field of his parents’ home. Christ, he loved them all so very much.
~*~
Shadow knew what it was like now to have a shadow. Joey was with her every step she took. He wasn’t intrusive, nor was he rude. He just held her hand while she walked around talking to people. She knew that something more than him just wanting to be with her was wrong.
I can help you with that. She looked around for Sunny. I’m in the house right now. I was— Well, I guess you could say I was snooping around. Not about you, but Joey. I believed he was upset about something, and I wanted to find out what I could without actually asking him. He’s a tad touchy at times.
I’ve noticed that lately as well. Is it something to do with the wedding? Sunny told her it was more to do with what she’d found in his room here. The one he used when he was at Grandma Whitfields. Is it bad? I don’t want to mess up this day for us. I’m sure you understand.
I do, and it is. She said to tell her. Remember about three weeks ago when he came home with a black eye? He told you that he had fallen at lunch and had bumped his eye on the table next to him. That’s only part of what happened. One of the older kids didn’t just knock him down, but they shoved him hard enough that he couldn’t breathe for a bit after hitting the floor.
Why would someone do that to him? Sunny told her what she’d found under the bed. A diary? Why would he keep it there and not at our home?
I would imagine because he didn’t want you to find it and reject him for what was said about him. Shadow took the plate of food, and instead of taking one of her full hands, Joey wrapped his hand into her dress. The kids at school, they know his family. And of course, being kids, they confronted Joey about it and then said that he was insane like his family. Kids are little shits, aren’t they? Anyway, his father is in prison, and his mom is in a mental institution for the criminally insane. Now, you’re going to ask me what that has to do with him clinging to you. I would anyway. He thinks that now that you’re married to Blake, you’re going to find out about his real parents and send him to live with his mom in the institution.
I would never do that. Sunny said that she knew that. How do I fix this? Do you have any idea?
I have two, neither of which you’re going to like. Shadow told her to tell her the one that was the least hard. You have to confront him. Tell him that you’ll never leave him or send him away.
The second one? Sunny told her. Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m going to go to the school first thing in the morning and rip up a few teachers. I’m assuming they know what is going on.
They do and are encouraging the bully. By the way, I’ve got video to boot. I’m good at that kind of shit. Not only that, but Ivy has Joey’s records from when he was living at home, as well as the report from the school nurse when she deemed him a troublemaker in her paperwork. That, in the event you haven’t guessed, isn’t thrilling our dear Ivy all that much. Shadow said she wasn’t all that thrilled herself. Yes, well, you get to do something about it. She can only stand on the sidelines and watch you.
An idea started to form in her mind about how to get the family involved in this. After getting the names of those involved, Shadow was able to enjoy her day more. But the idea, small at first, continued to grow until she was smiling for the simple pleasure of taking care of someone that hurt one of hers.
She and Blake weren’t going on their honeymoon yet. They had so much going on, and with her showing coming up tomorrow night, there was nowhere they could go and come back in one day. So, whatever Blake had planned for the honeymoon, he’d made it so she didn’t know any details, but they were taking the kids with them. To them, it was only right that they got to have fun too.
There were no gifts at the picnic to open. Shadow didn’t know what they were doing with them, even if there were any. But she didn’t care at this point. Just having a lovely day with friends and family was enough for her.
Blake caught up with her just as everyone was leaving. The sun had gone down some time ago, and most of the people were standing near the pit that the hog had been roasted in. Shadow was sure that someone could see the flames from high up in the sky. Leaning into Blake’s shoulder, she held tightly onto Joey’s hand.
“I think we should get these guys to bed. It’s been a really long day for all of us.” Joey said he wasn’t tired, then promptly yawned. “Yeah, I feel the same way, buddy. I think I was up before the sun today, getting ready for this auction. Because I knew as soon as it was over, I’d have myself a little family.” Blake told her through their link that Sunny had spoken to him.
“I’m ready for bed, Dad. Grandma, Grannie, and Aunt Bea kept me hopping all day.” Shadow asked Bennett what he’d been doing for them. “They didn’t make me or anything, but they wanted things like more pork or rolls, and I’d go get it. There was pie too that I got. I didn’t mind. It was a lot of fun hearing stories from them. Did you know that Grandpa w
as a horse trainer? They said they even have pictures that they’ll show me tomorrow after school.”
Joey’s hand tightened in hers, and she felt it all the way to her heart. Tomorrow the reign of terror that he was putting up with would end, and no one would ever have any doubt that these were her boys, and to fuck with them meant war.
The boys were spending the night with Grannie. Shadow hadn’t been so sure that was a good idea, what with her mom being there, but Grannie said it would be fine. Even Mom seemed to be excited about having them over. It occurred to her that these were her grandsons, and wondered if she would ever realize it.
“Don’t borrow trouble.” She looked at Ollie when he spoke to her. “I can see by the look on your face that you’ve some concerns. Well, you don’t do that now. Nate and his pack are going to keep and extra eye on the house tonight to make sure that all is safe. You go on to that hotel and have a nice evening. Don’t worry none about them grandboys of mine either.”
“I need your help in the morning.” Ollie said he’d do whatever she needed. “Joey is being hurt, and the school is condoning it. I want to make it clear that I will not have that going on to my children or anyone else’s.”
“I knew he was fighting his own kind of demons. I’ll go along with you. Might have to hold me back if it gets bad. Them boys are the best part of life, and there won’t be no messing around with them. Not so long as they got you as their momma.” She said having a Whitfield with her wouldn’t be so bad either. “Naw. They won’t even consider that once you start in on them. I’ll have a little talk with my boy and my Eve. We’ll show them the error of their ways. Between the four of us, we’ll have them for breakfast.”
“We’re all going to be there that can spare a bit in the morning. Can you tell them that? But I want you there at my side. You calm me in ways no one else can. All right, Grandpa?” Ollie hugged her, then before leaving, he hugged her again. Looking at Blake, she could see that he’d heard enough to know that he was going to have to bail her out of jail.
Getting into the limo, Blake pulled her into his arms for a very much needed kiss. She was glad that she’d changed before they left the house. The buttons down the back never would have made it. Not to mention, the lace would have been torn to shreds too. Blake had her shirt off and her pants down even before they left the driveway. She had no idea what he was planning next, but she needed him as much as he did her.
“I want you to ride me.” Moaning at the thought, she hurried to take her pants off to help him. “Christ, I can smell how wet you are. It’s been calling to me all evening.”
Before she could straddle him, anticipating the ride of a lifetime, he laid her back on the seat and stared openly at her pussy. She was getting wetter by the second the way he stared at her, licking his lips. Shadow begged him to take her.
“I’m going to drink from you. Eat you until you’re limp with it. Then you’re going to give me all of you while you ride my cock.” Nodding was about all she could do with him staring at her so intently. “You’re driving us insane with your smell, love.”
He was naked before she remembered that little trick he’d told her about, being able to dress and undress with a thought. But when he got down on the limo floor and pulled her hips toward him, Shadow felt her juices slip from her in copious amounts.
The first time his tongue touched her, she came apart from needing him the way that she did. Her thoughts of what he was going to do to her primed her primed for whatever he actually did to her. Then he pulled her hips to his mouth, and she knew that the entire world could hear her when she released a second, then so many times after that, she could no longer keep track.
Blake was good with his mouth. His tongue was like a finger, the way it entered her and set her off again and again. He nibbled on her clit, her nether lips, as well as her thighs. No part of her was left untouched or unloved. When he finally sat up, she was sure he was going to pull her from the seat and let her have him. Instead, he flipped her over, her legs on the floor tangled with his, and he took her hard and fast.
“You drive me insane. Did you know that?” She couldn’t have answered him if she’d had one. “The way you smell. The way your nipples tighten when you’re excited. I only have to see your face, and I’m so hard that I ache for not being able to fill you.”
Shadow grabbed his hair over her shoulder and held onto to him. The harder he fucked her, the more her body seemed to need. Making love with this man was fulfilling, and a claiming. It was fast and slightly painful at times, or it was so gentle that it would bring tears to her eyes.
When he bit down on her shoulder, she couldn’t hold back on the scream of pain that she let go. He licked the wound closed, but it still hurt. When he came, her body too exhausted to do much more, he cried out his love for her and held her as he emptied deep inside of her.
“I’m sorry.” She asked him for what. “I didn’t see to your needs before my own. But just knowing that you belong to us, we needed to mark you in a way that all who smell you will know.”
“Well, that wasn’t all that romantic sounding.” He pulled from her, and she had a long shiver run along her body. Blake held her in his arms, across his lap for the rest of the ride. “Blake, seriously, if you had seen to my needs anymore, I’d be dead about now. Immortal or not.”
“You want to tell me about what your plans are for tomorrow?” She told him she was still working them out. “You’re going to have to be bailed out of jail, aren’t you?”
“More than likely. That or prison. Do you mind? I mean, they’re hurting my son. I don’t know all the details, but I will as soon as tomorrow morning. And the family is going to go with me.” Blake said that he’d be there. “Good. I need you all to save me from making a complete ass of myself. More than that, I need you to help me pick up the pieces because after I’m upset, I fall apart.”
“I will hold you and put you back together just the way you are. Because, my dear wife, I love you just like you are.” Snuggling up closer to him, Shadow could not believe how lucky she was. The love of a wonderful man, two children with one on the way, and a lovely home and family that loved her as much as she did them. “Shadow, you are going to be ravaged when we get to the hotel. I just hope you’re up for tomorrow morning with the school.”
“Well, if I’m not, it would have been well worth it.” But she knew that she’d be there. “I love you, my dear husband. With all that I am.”
Chapter 8
Ollie was glad he was going to be a part of this. He was even happier to know that Shadow had asked him to be there for her. Kissing Eve on the cheek, he made his way out to the car that Oliver was driving. Eve was going to be watching the boys on the pretense that they were going to have a nice holiday from school too.
He didn’t care for fibbing, but this was necessary. Ollie had invited the rest of the family over after the kids had been put to bed, and they listened as Sunny and then the rest of the girls telling them what was going on. Then they brought out the video.
It hurt Ollie in ways that he didn’t want to feel to see that teacher standing on the sidelines, egging the three boys on that were knocking young Joey around like he wasn’t nothing but a slip of paper. When he fought back, it was as if the teachers, three of them, decided that it was enough and sent the other boys to clean up, she told them, while she sent his great grandson to class.
It was him limping and crying all the way there that got to him the worst. Poor boy was trying his best to be brave, and all, and them teachers were making him out to be a bad person. He got himself all fired up every time he thought about it. And more so when his newest granddaughter started sobbing after she’d had a look at it.
Now here they were, him and his girl, sitting in the office waiting for the teachers. He was right proud of Shadow for being so calm looking when she asked for a meeting with them. Like it wasn’t much more than a meet
ing about having a fine lunch or something.
Each teacher that entered the room looked to him like they’d had themselves a lemon—all pucker faced and looking mean, Ollie thought. They had paperwork with them and a few other things. As soon as they were in the room, they sat at the table across from them.
Ollie knew for a fact that not only was his sister in the other room, but the entire clan that he called family was with her. Then the three people that his wife had called in sat behind the teachers not saying a word, nor did they show in any way that they were there with them. Ollie looked over at Shadow and asked her if she was ready.
“I am. I’m here to discuss my son, Joey Whitfield.” The first teacher introduced herself as Miss Mann. “Miss Mann then. What is the progress of Joey? He does his homework nightly, and he—”
“If he’s doing his homework like he should, then I never see it. In fact, Mrs. Whitfield, your son is a bad influence on the other children. Picking fights and acting like he’s more than they are. We all know his background and the kind of family he was born to. Just because you call an apple an orange, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a rotten apple all the way through.” Ollie wanted to hit the woman, but a hand on his leg from Shadow stilled not just him, but his cat as well. “We all think that he’d be better off in a different setting than the one we have here. When he’s in the class, it’s disruptive and loud. Trying to keep him focused on his work is frankly more than any one of us can handle.”
“I see. And you? I believe you said your name was Mrs. Shelton? What do you have to say about Joey?” The woman snorted, and that was when Ollie could smell the liquor on her breath. “You teach him math, do you not?”
“Oh, he comes to my classroom. But there is very little learning going on. As Lillian said, he’s disruptive, as well as mean to the other students. Why just the other day, I barely came out of things with my life. Did you know that he carries a knife to school?” Shadow nodded but said nothing. “I should have figured that you’d know. You should be ashamed of yourself, taking the name of Whitfield and then dirtying it like you are. Why these other women that married into the family have been the nicest people. You, as I said, should be ashamed.”
Blake: The Whitfield Rancher – Tiger Shapeshifter Romance Page 9
