Changing Hearts (21 page)

Joie waited for him and, if he timed it right, they’d be able to spend some time in bed before the old woman got home. He hit the gas harder, letting the wind blow his hair back from his face. Going home never felt so sweet.

* * * * *

Slade pulled up at the cabin a little over an hour after he’d left. He saw movement in the kitchen window then watched Joie peer out through the small window in the door. When she recognized him, she opened the door with a smile.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, Kay’s on her way back here in the boat. Anything going on here?” Slade followed her back into the cabin into the living room.

“No.” He heard her catch her breath then swallow hard. “Malcolm, I was wondering…” Joie stopped beside the couch then turned to smile at him. “Would you like to go away for a day or two?”

“Go away? Where?”

“Well, my father had a fishing cabin back further in the bayou. It’s kind of secluded and kind of small, but I’d like to show it to you.”

“Why?”

“It’s sort of my, well, sort of a special place. One I’d like to share with you.”

“I’m not going to run away again, Joie.” The words left his mouth before he could think what they meant. Not going to run away? He had to leave. It was for her own good.

“No! That’s not what I meant.” She came to him then, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head against his chest. “I know you have to leave, you’ve made that clear. I just hoped we’d be able to spend at least one night completely alone.”

Slade let her warmth fill his heart as it did his arms. A smile moved over his face. This tiny human woman held onto him as surely as though she held a leash. “Can’t get enough, baby?”

When she sputtered and tried to pull away from him, he laughed as he tightened his grip then leaned forward to kiss her. When he pulled his mouth away from hers, he stared straight at her.

“I know I can’t get enough of you. I want to have you completely naked and lick my way from your toes to your forehead. Then I want to turn you over and start again. Then I want to suckle you until your nipples are so sensitive that just my breath going across them makes you come.”

Her breathing sounded jagged and unsteady as he continued telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her. Joie moaned helplessly in his arms as he picked her up and carried her to her bed. He loved the feeling of her soft curves pressing into his chest and arms. She might feel delicate in his arms but he knew her strength, knew how fierce she could be when protecting her loved ones. Hadn’t she proved that when she’d faced Maggie down? He didn’t know of any Alpha Bitch that could beat Joie there.

Joie looked up at her lover as he leaned down. Her heart skipped a beat. He looked so tender. The warm glowing of his eyes nearly untied the emotions she’d so carefully put away. If he would just give her a few days in the cabin, she would be able to let him go with less pain. A tear leaked down her cheek. Malcolm’s finger traced its path.

“What is it, baby? Why are you crying?”

The puzzlement in his face made her smile. Joie reached up to draw him close. As she kissed him, she murmured against his lips, “It’s nothing, Malcolm. You just make me feel so sweet inside.”

As she’d hoped, he didn’t question her. Instead he covered her body with his and she reveled in the feeling of being entirely buried by hard muscular flesh. Her nails gained purchase on his shoulders as he nipped at her ear. Joie thought heaven must have come down to earth in that moment. Even though Malcolm seemed to want to move slowly with her, she wanted it all now. Her hips rose to merge with his.

Happiness sang through her blood as she felt him grow even harder. She’d never realized the power of enticing and exciting a lover like this before. As he slid inside her, she threw her head back and pushed at his shoulders. She wanted to watch him as he moved on her body.

Malcolm responded to her shoving at him by stopping, but began his luscious thrusting again when she whispered, “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

His smile of pure delight warmed her. This was what she’d always dreamed of. A man who would love her and let her love him in return. Then her thoughts fell into a dark well of passion as her belly tightened then melted beneath him. Through her own haze, she felt him pulsing inside her.

Part of her regretted that he’d remembered to grab a condom before they began. But she wrapped her arms around him as he rolled to his back, pulling her with him. The hollow of his shoulder seemed custom-made for her head. She kissed him gently before drifting off to sleep.

Slade smiled into the soft cloud of curls surrounding his face. Joie responded and gave in ways he’d never known possible. He couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else. His time with her was limited so he intended to take full advantage of it.

Since he didn’t know if he’d survive the challenge that he would eventually have to face, Slade decided to put as much living into the next few days as he could. And if that meant spending a few days at some remote cabin, he’d go there with her gladly. If he could make her smile and keep her sated, so much the better. He let her sleep for a bit but roused her when he heard the boat returning.

When Kay had put her satchel away and had a bite to eat, the three of them sat down to discuss their plans. Kay wanted to spend some time with the Boudreaux family so she’d be there when the newest child arrived and be there to help with the others. Delight creased her face when Joie told her of their plans to go to the cabin.
Tante
Kay decreed that they’d drop her off then continue into the bayou to Joie’s cabin. Slade just sat back and, for the first time in a long time, let someone else make plans and decisions for him.

* * * * *

Maggie sat up in the massive bed, stretching languidly. Slice slept beside her, his breathing deep and even. He’d been an interesting bed partner, one she knew she could train. He had known what to do with his equipment, now she just needed to teach him to be a bit more aggressive. The more aggressive the better, as long as he remembered who was in control here. That had been her mistake with Slade, she’d never truly controlled him.

Yawning as she got out of the bed, Maggie strolled over to the mirror. The black eye had almost completely faded and the bruises on her shoulders were from Slice, not from her fight with Slade. She dressed then walked back over to the bed to weigh her options with Slice.

He stood about her height, but packed more solid muscle. He’d be able to give Slade a good run in the Challenge circle if it came to that. Maggie shook her head. She wouldn’t think about that right now. Now was for making plans and solidifying her control of the Pack.

Several males had been leery of her taking over so she’d had to surround herself with wolves ready to do whatever she asked. She’d found them in Ramsey and Slice. There might be a few more, she’d wait and see.

Picking the leather strap up from the floor, she ran it through her hands a few times then smacked Slice across the ass with it. He jumped and growled as he woke to face this threat. Maggie laughed then leaned over to rub her hand over his ass, squeezing the area she’d just smacked, and kissing him hard. She broke the kiss when he reached for her.

“Time to get up. I’m hungry.”

“Come back to bed, I’ll slake that hunger.” Slice reached for her but she evaded his hands.

“Later. Meet me back here at midnight.” Maggie strolled out of the room, leaving Slice to get dressed on his own.

She had plans to make. It would soon be time for Slade to return to the compound and face the Pack. The time for a new era had arrived and she would be in charge of things from here on out. And she knew just how to hurt Slade in the worst way possible now.

Morning came much too early. Slade groaned as he rolled onto his side. Joie molded her body to his back, bringing a smile to his face before he even opened his eyes. It felt nice waking up with her. More than nice, spectacular.

She’d tried to put her gown back on last night and he’d tossed it under the bed. Her breasts pressed into his back and her arm lay across his waist. He felt her move behind him, felt her press a kiss right between his shoulders. When she touched the same spot with the tip of her tongue, he got hard.

“Malcolm?” Her voice came out as just a whisper of sound.

“Hmm?”

“Are you awake?”

Slade rolled onto his back, wrapping his arms around her. “Yeah. What’s up, baby?”

“I just wondered about something you said last night. You said you might not be able to come back. What did you mean?”

His morning erection flagged a little as he thought about never making love to her again. No. That wouldn’t happen. He’d survive the Challenge circle if it was the last thing he did.

“You never know what’s going to happen in a challenge, baby.” He moved his head to kiss her and she pulled back from him slightly.

“Like what?” She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest then propped her chin on him. Slade sighed as he thought about what to say to her.

“The first time I ever went into a Challenge circle I was eighteen. I wasn’t anywhere near ready for it, but I sure as hell thought I was.” Slade paused a moment, gathering his thoughts again, letting his mind drift back in time.

“It wasn’t a challenge for Alpha, just a second spot. The Beta wolf standing in the circle had nearly ten years and thirty pounds on me, but I was just cocky enough to think I could kick his ass.” He huffed out a laugh then met her gaze.

“He beat me so bad I couldn’t even walk out of the circle. I just lay there watching the rest of the fights. When they were all over, he’d won and I’d learned a valuable lesson.”

“What lesson?”

“Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” With that, he pulled her over on top of him, his new second favorite position for making love. Joie smiled as she sat up astride him.

“Your eyes are glowing. That is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, the way they do that.”

“Get a condom, Joie. I need to be inside you.” Slade cupped her breasts then sat up enough to suckle her. Joie didn’t argue with him, she moved just enough to reach the bedside table and in moments lowered herself onto his latex-covered shaft.

Slade lay back and grabbed the headboard, moving his hips just enough to get deeper inside her then he put his head back and watched her. Joie moved on him, finding her own pace, her own pleasure and he watched.

He watched her facial expressions, watched her beautiful eyes close. He released the headboard long enough to put her hands on her breasts then grabbed it again. Watching her stroke and tease her own nipples while he buried himself deep inside her only made him hotter and harder. It was the most erotic, beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

She liked it too. He could hear her breathing change, felt it in the way she tightened on him and when she let go, he lifted his hips completely off the bed with his own release.

Joie collapsed onto his chest then felt his arms come around her. Never, never in her life had she ever experienced anything like Malcolm Slade. She lifted her head long enough to kiss him softly. She felt him smile as he hugged her tightly to his chest.

“I love you, Malcolm.”

She didn’t expect a response. She knew it was hard for him to say what he was feeling. Still, she thought he must return her feelings. Joie knew he cared about her, cared what happened to her and to
Tante
Kay. For now, that was enough.

Joie moved slowly off the bed then stood beside it to look at him again. The most beautiful man she’d ever seen, tattoos, scars and all, lay in her bed, a smug grin on his face. Leaning down, she kissed him again then turned and headed for the bathroom.

Knowing he watched her, she put an extra sway in her walk. The only warning she had that he was coming was the slight creak of the bed frame as he got out of bed.

Strong arms came around her middle as he lifted her off the floor and carried her into the bathroom. He kissed the top of her head as he started the shower then stepped into it with her still held captive. She was beginning to like being carried this way!

They bathed quickly, exchanging kisses, then got out to dry off and dress. Joie went into the kitchen while he started throwing clothes into his backpack.

Kay joined them as they sat down to eat. “Y’all got everything you need? Joie, you done packed some food?”

“Yes ma’am. We’ve got enough to last a few days. I need to remember the gas for the generator, though. Malcolm? Will you remind me?”

“Sure, baby.” He finished eating then stood to stretch. “You sure you got enough food packed?”

“I’m sure. Though you eat enough for four.” She playfully punched him in the stomach as she moved past him.

“I told you I had a healthy appetite. I can’t help it if I have a fast metabolism.” He grabbed her hand, nibbling at her knuckles before letting her go.

“I just bet you do, what with animal and man changing places all the time,” Tante Kay chimed in with an observation that hadn’t occurred to Joie.

“She’s right! I bet that’s how you can eat as much as you do but not gain any weight.”

“What makes you think I don’t gain weight?”

“Well, you haven’t since you’ve been here.” Joie eyed him critically. “It must be all the exercise you get when you’re in wolf form. And you do tend to eat more when you’ve gone from one form to another. Have you ever paid attention to that before? Maybe all shifters are that way, eating more as they expend more energy?”

“Can we please change the subject? Isn’t it time to leave?” Malcolm was so obviously uncomfortable that both women stood and started preparing to leave.

Joie moved into the living room to call their nearest neighbor. She’d need someone to watch the animals in the shed while she and Malcolm were gone. Tante Kay checked her satchel again just to make sure she had everything she needed.

Slade went out onto the porch, stripped and shifted then made a quick circuit around the cabin just to make sure there weren’t any other shifters in the area. Maggie’d had plenty of time to get back to New Orleans, tell everyone he still lived, where he was, and to send others after him. The fact that she hadn’t done so almost made him more edgy than if she’d just sent in a team of hunters to finish him off.