FavoriteObsession, page 17
He grabbed a manila folder, slammed it on the table in front of her and proceeded to wear a path in the carpet. No words, no growls. Nothing. He simply prowled.
Not once in all the years she’d known him had she ever seen him this distressed. That scared her. Since he didn’t appear as if he’d talk anytime soon, she reached for the folder. He stopped mid-step and snarled. She eased her hand back.
“What’s wrong?”
He ran a hand through his hair and took several deep breaths. Finally, he faced her. Pure rage showed on his face. With full-feline eyes and extended fangs, he appeared fearsome. The flip from the sated post-sex look he’d worn a few minutes ago to the one stamped on his features only intensified the unease rolling through her.
“Somebody close to our family has betrayed us.”
Now she understood. Loyalty among the pride or pack was sacred. “Tell me.”
“I received a letter from the Council highly recommending I allow Edmund’s relation to court you now along with the suitors already selected. They feel as though you’ll miss out on the opportunity to fulfill the prophecy as the goddess intended if you choose one of us.”
She stood and strode to the far end of the library, needing a moment to school her features. “No. I don’t want him anywhere near me.”
“You don’t have a choice, Mira. I’ve approved of his visit. He’ll be arriving today.”
She swung her head so fast hair whipped across her face. She shoved it out of the way and leveled Kade with a threatening glare. “How dare you?”
Instead of matching her anger, he pressed the heel of his palms to his eyes and groaned. “I’m sorry. I truly am but I had to allow it.”
Her rage fizzled and she closed the distance between them. She laid a hand on his arm. “Kade?”
“Anton called me.”
Anton, Kade’s brother and the only feline royal on the Council, rarely called anyone. He lived and breathed politics and had been the one who’d first approached the human government to form Shifter Affairs. Trepidation settled over her. She licked her lips.
“Do you think…”
Kade covered her hand and shook his head. “Anton would never betray us. On that I’d stake my life.” He stepped back, breaking the comforting touch. “I told him of my worry concerning the Council’s so-called approval of Molly’s arranged mating into Jeremiah’s pride. He was furious.”
As they all were. Arranged matings had been illegal since the beginning of the century, mostly because of Anton’s insistence for basic rights for their females. Although she hadn’t talked to him in years, he’d been her biggest protector and supporter when she’d first arrived in Alexander territory. It had actually surprised her that he hadn’t stepped up with an offer to court her too, not that she minded. She had enough males after her.
He picked up the folder but didn’t open it. “Anton is investigating the traitor amongst the Council and believes it’s one of the single-shifters.”
“What did he find?” She prompted when Kade merely stared at the papers he’d brought.
Instead of answering, he handed her the folder. She wiped her sweaty palms on her thighs and took it. Inside was a single picture. Her heart skipped a beat. The photo showed Josh with Megan in the backyard of his new house. Josh was crouched next to her, pointing off into the distance.
She looked from the bull’s-eye drawn over Josh to Kade’s concerned face. “This was taken the day he moved into his home.” She swallowed hard as the implications became clear. “We were all there. Our pride, Xander’s pack…we all showed up to help him.”
Kade nodded. “Exactly. One of our own betrayed us. Anton found this picture in the trash of the Council’s boardroom. It had the fingerprints of all the single-shifter groups and none of the royals.”
“Gods…” She traced the red circle over Josh’s image. “Would they—”
“Yes, Mira, they’ll kill him.”
“Just to stop me from being with him?”
“I doubt they care about him at all. It only matters to them that you’d be crushed.” Kade motioned toward the photo. “They left that for Anton to find. I’m sure of it. They want us to know what will happen if you deny them. I’m allowing Micah one date with you while Shifter Affairs places undercover human agents to watch Josh.” He laid a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll protect him, Mira. I promise you, but you must do your part too.”
She pressed the photo to her chest and fought to contain her emotions. It didn’t help. Tears misted her eyes. She blinked rapidly to clear them.
“I think,” she cleared her throat, “I think I love him.”
Kade didn’t comment. He wrapped her in his arms and held her. In his familiar embrace, she let her misery free. Sobs shook her chest. Her heart cracked, a wound she’d never heal forming. Her inner animals’ angst added to her pain. They slammed their heads into her chest, snarled at her when she tried to calm them. They knew what she planned and didn’t approve. She ignored their agitated prowling, focused on the image of Josh marked by the bull’s-eye and came to terms with her fate.
After her cries softened to whimpers, Kade pressed his cheek to the top of her head. “Then you’ll do what’s best for him.”
She pulled away and nodded. “Set things up and I’ll go through the motions.”
He took the picture from her hands and crumpled it. “I wish you could have the future you desire.”
She snorted. “Me too but my fate was sealed at birth.”
Kade sighed but didn’t argue her words. “Zach has asked to be removed from your list of suitors. So that leaves you with the choice of me or Aron.”
“You? What about Zoe?”
A mask slid over Kade’s features. “What about her?”
“Didn’t last night—”
“What I did with Zoe is none of your business, nor will it change anything. I will still mate you if you choose me.”
“It changes everything and leaves me with the male selected for me at birth.”
“Do not allow your father’s choice of Aron as your mate or my actions to influence yours, Mira.” He reached forward and tipped up her chin. “The goddess never said who she intended your mate to be. In this I believe she deferred the decision to you.”
“Lucky me.”
“You are, Mira. Whether you want to admit it or not. You do remember the wording of the prophecy, don’t you?”
She rolled her eyes. “How could I forget? Father repeated it every single time I complained about the damn curse.”
At his raised brow, she dutifully repeated the goddess’s divine decree, “From this babe’s womb, the link which should never have been broken will be reformed. Her young will usher my children into the next era and save us all. Protect her, love her, cherish her and she will chose wisely.”
“You see? The choice is yours. Not your father’s which is why it had to wait three centuries. With cultural norms the way they were, you didn’t have a say then. Now you do.”
“Between you or Aron. Hell of a big choice.”
Kade dropped his hand and shrugged. “Could be worse, Mira. Remember that.” He walked to the door, stopped with his hand on the handle. “By the way, Devin asked me to mate you, not Aron. He believes we’ll get along better.”
“What did you say?”
He laughed, the sound bitter and rough. “Does it matter? The choice is yours, not mine.”
With that, he walked out. A sob escaped, followed by another. Tears made the room appear fuzzy. Her knees gave out and she dropped to the floor.
She wanted to scream at the gods, beg them, anything if they’d just take their blessing back, but there’d be no reprieve for her, no changing her destiny. In her soul, she knew the bitter truth. The gods had spoken and as a child of their blood, she had to obey them, even if it destroyed her.
Chapter Seventeen
Mira stared at the computer screen while her inner cats snarled. Knowing she couldn’t avoid it forever, she clicked on the email from Micah, her newest suitor. The screen filled with the image of her worst nightmare. Black hair, a narrow face and brown eyes that still haunted her after three centuries looked back at her. Her vision wavered. The memories of Edmund assaulting her blended with the image of his descendant. Instead of the warm smile the picture showed, she recalled the demented sneer of her rapist.
She choked on bile. Hands pressed to her eyes, she rocked in her chair. Her screams, his laughter echoed in her ears. The pain, the shame—it all rushed up, squeezing her chest.
“Oh gods.”
She turned off her computer and ran to the bathroom, barely managing to get the lid up before the contents of her stomach were offered up to the porcelain gods. She wiped her face and flushed. With her gut rolling, she leaned against the cool tub and took shallow breaths to settle her nerves.
The idea of sitting through a meal with a replica of the male who had taken her innocence and destroyed her life chilled her. If she couldn’t even look at his face without inserting Edmund’s over it, how would she manage small talk?
Gods, she hated this whole situation, but for Josh, she had to go through with it. She’d ruined enough lives with her choices. Her acting skills had helped her survive through the centuries. She’d have to plaster a smile on her face and suck it up. How bad could it be?
She brushed her teeth and went over the list of mundane topics she could talk about to fill up the time with Micah.
It’ll be okay. It’s just a couple of hours out of my life.
It wouldn’t be okay. Who was she kidding? Nothing would be okay ever again. She slammed her toothbrush back into the holder. It circled the rim of the ceramic cup before stopping. Two weeks ago, there’d been two brushes there—hers and Devin’s. He’d moved out of their little trailer so he and Lena could have more privacy.
Mira was happy for him but hadn’t realized how much she relied on him for company. She was lonely in this hunk of metal she called home. She didn’t have to hide out here. There’d been plenty of offers from her friends and her suitors for dinner or gatherings. Only, she couldn’t deal with anyone. Her mind kept spinning.
Confusion over Aron and the miscommunication that had changed both of their lives left her saddened and full of regrets. When he’d found out about Edmund, he’d offered to take her punishment for killing him. The distance between their families’ territories delayed word of her attack from reaching him. By the time he’d arrived, Devin had already gone in her place. After he’d returned half-crazed, Aron had been the one to help him learn to control his cats.
He’d tried to talk to her too. At the time, she’d hated all males, except her twin, and pushed Aron away. He’d left but promised to return for her. Dammit, she should’ve questioned the cruelty of his letter. If she had, she might’ve had cubs of her own and fulfilled the prophecy. Guilt rose with the thought, not because she’d missed out on a family, but with the relief it had never happened. If she’d mated Aron, she never would’ve moved to America and met Josh.
She dug her fingers into her hair and tugged. Every damn thought led back to the male she could never have. She fell asleep with Josh’s image in her mind and woke up reaching for him, disappointed every damn time when only sweaty sheets met her fingers.
She tried to replace him with Aron’s image, but feline eyes turned blue. His shaggy blond mane shortened and darkened until black strands framed a roughened, scarred face.
Ever since Kade had showed her the picture of Josh with the bull’s-eye drawn on him, she’d agonized over her decision and tried to figure out a way to keep the male she considered hers. She couldn’t come up with any and didn’t have the energy to think about it anymore. She needed a nap.
The brush fell from her limp hands. She watched it bounce against the floor and left it there. It seemed too much of an effort to pick it up. With sluggish movements, she undressed and pulled an oversized shirt over her head. She slipped into the bedroom with the intention of crying herself to sleep. Two steps into the room, she froze. A heartbeat reached her ears. The scent of heaven filled her nose. And the image of her favorite obsession met her eyes.
Josh leaned against the wall, one foot bent against the surface and his thumbs hooked in his front pockets. Another plain tee, white today, stretched over a muscled chest she longed to explore. After tonight, she never would. It was just another regret to add to a lifetime of disappointments.
“How did you get in here?” She asked to hide how much seeing him a few feet from her rumpled bed affected her.
Josh’s heated blue eyes traveled over her body. She came alive with his intent perusal. Her skin burned in the wake of his gaze. He focused on her braless breasts hidden by the thin cotton. Her nipples pebbled. The achy flesh grew heavy.
He licked his lower lip slowly. She followed the deliberately tempting stroke and reached for the doorjamb.
“The door, same as everyone else,” he muttered, gaze locked onto her upper thighs where the nightshirt’s hem ended.
Aware of her panty-less state, she shifted uncomfortably and toyed with the edge of her shirt. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I was quiet. Didn’t want you running from me.”
He might’ve been quiet, except he was only human. Her cats should’ve heard him. Scented him at the very least. They hadn’t but didn’t mind that he’d snuck up on them. Each predator lay with its head on its paws, tails swishing softly as they listened to his husky words.
Their acceptance of Josh escalated her need. Her cats’ happiness fed hers. Being with Josh made them feel content and left her energized on every level. Seeing him so close to her bed, however, made their sad fate real. She’d never be with the male she loved.
Better that way. I won’t miss what I never had. She didn’t believe her words for a minute but repeated them, hoping she’d eventually accept it as truth.
She crossed her arms, unintentionally lifting her breasts. She considered dropping them but liked the way Josh’s eyes darkened with lust. “I can’t run from someone I don’t care about.”
One corner of his mouth lifted, causing the dimple in his cheek to wink at her.
“We’re back to that, are we?” He dropped his booted foot from where it had rested against the wall. The clunk echoed in the small room. Chin tucked, he peered at her through thick lashes. “That’s okay, baby. It won’t be a hardship convincing you of the truth again.” Another slow swipe of his tongue had her reaching for the nearest object to support her rubbery legs. “I think I’m addicted to your taste. I need another fix.”
A shuddering breath fell from her lips. “Please don’t.”
Josh advanced on her with predatory steps that made her feel as if she’d been labeled as his prey. Her limbs trembled as she matched his steps backward. They ended up circling the room so she was next to the bed and he near the bathroom. The scent of her spent arousal drifted to her from the sheets. She’d brought herself to orgasm after another night of erotic dreams starring Josh. Her gaze on the bed, she let her mind recall the fantasies she’d embraced under the cloak of darkness.
His scent replaced the lingering reminder of pleasure—her only warning. With thick arms wrapped around her waist, he pulled her against his strong chest. He towered over her and surrounded her with his presence. His chin on her head and the ridge of his erection against her spine enhanced the sense of rightness.
“Please don’t make me wait.” He rubbed his cheek against her hair. “That’s what you meant. Isn’t it, kitten?”
She shook her head. The strands of her hair caught on his stubble, linking them together. “No. You know that’s not what I meant.”
Soft lips replaced the roughness of his jaw. He trailed his slightly parted mouth over her temple, across her cheek until his warm breath washed over her neck.
“Please don’t neglect me?” He offered.
Whips of tingling sensations spread from where his mouth touched the rim of her ear to her breasts and clit. Need spiraled. She shook her head, unable to utter the lie in the face of her mounting desire. He nipped her earlobe. She leaned more fully into his hold. He tightened his arms around her. Not hurting her. It was a show of strength, confidence and possessiveness. And one she couldn’t resist.
“Please don’t…tease me?” Josh whispered the question, his lips brushing against the vulnerable column of the throat.
It seemed a safe answer. She nodded. “Yes, that’s it. Don’t tease me.”
A rumble of approval vibrated his chest, one she felt deep inside her body and her soul. Her cats wrapped the sound around them and closed their eyes, contentment causing them to purr.
“Okay, Mira. You win. I won’t tease you anymore.”
He spun her in his arms, lifted her and tossed her in one easy move onto the bed. She bounced but didn’t have time to react. He gripped her ankles and tugged. She slid over the silk. Her butt cheeks hung off the edge, gravity threatening to send her crashing onto the floor, but she didn’t fall. He dropped her legs over his wide shoulders and supported her rear with his large palms.
She squeaked but never got the chance to speak. He swept his tongue up through her cleft and destroyed any rational thought she might’ve had. The confident way he touched her tore a whimper from her throat. He acted as if he had every right in the world to eat her out anytime he wanted.
“Kitten,” he firmed his grip on her bottom, “taste good, so good.”
The praise stimulated her as much as his invading tongue did. Another slow lick over her dripping center left her shuddering. He dipped the tip of his tongue into her core, curling it to draw more arousal forth. Her inner muscles tightened. He parted them, stroked them and groaned his approval with each thrust. It was too much, too soon.
She tried to wiggle away from the intense sensations. His growl whipped up through her sheath. She arched her back on a stuttered gasp. There was no escaping. He held her in an unbreakable grip and pierced her, over and over. Another rumble from his throat clenched her core, but he withdrew before her orgasm could take hold.
