Dimitri (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 6) (19 page)

Music blared as the marching bands passed for what seemed like several minutes, but she’d gone limp, uncaring of everything and everyone around her. For the moment, the world had stopped. Gillian had lost count of the dates, and knew for certain that she didn’t want just one more date. No, she wanted a lifetime.

The gut-wrenching knowledge of their dilemma tore at her heart. In her entire life, she’d never considered abandoning her great cat. Being with Dimitri was confusing everything she thought she knew. His warm lips pressed softly to her hair and she squeezed her eyes tight, hoping she wouldn’t cry. From sadness or happiness, she couldn’t tell. With the emotion brimming over, she breathed deeply. Clearing her head of all negative thoughts, she simply allowed herself to become immersed in the joy of being with her wolf.

After taking a long shower, Gillian unsuccessfully attempted to put thoughts of Dimitri out of her mind. Fixing her hair, which was beginning to sprout dark brown roots, she imagined dating him for real. Going to the movies. Listening to music in the park. Debating whether they’d be having Chinese or Italian for dinner, knowing all the while she’d choose Cajun delicacies any day of the week.

As they rode in the limo on their way over to the party, she glanced up to Dimitri, who watched her with amusement. He was so easygoing, yet dominant in every single thing he did. Today had been one of the best days in her life. After spending so much time with him, her tiger was ready to roll over like a submissive lap dog waiting for her next treat. When he’d talked about running in the bayou, she envied him, wishing she could have just a taste of what he’d felt. Being free and open. Having others to rely on. All things that had eluded her.

While she’d never admit it, Gillian was beginning to suspect her own wolf existed. Although she’d never felt her, it had to be the reason why she’d fallen so easily under his spell. The call to date a wolf, her wolf, Dimitri, had taken hold.

“You can do this,” she heard Dimitri say, as a gentle squeeze on her knee drew her out of her contemplation.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been around so many wolves before…Chaz…well, even he didn’t introduce me to his entire pack. How many people are going to be there again?” Gillian asked, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

“A hundred, give or take. But there’s only one wolf you need to be concerned with.” Dimitri eyed the private driver who’d picked them up to take them to the ball. With a flick of a button, he raised the privacy partition.

“Oh God. A hundred?”

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’ll be okay,” she lied.

“It’s just a little party.”

“Jake said the pack knew about us. Did you tell everyone? That I’m your mate?” She made air quotes with her fingers.

“Yes and no,” he replied with a chuckle.

“This isn’t going to be good, is it?” she smiled.

“It’s kinda like this. Sometimes news is better going through the grapevine. No need to announce it on the PA system.”

“A rumor?” she asked.

“Somethin’ like that.” He smiled.

“What did you do?”

“Miss Edmee. I kind of mentioned it to her. That’s as good as tellin’ everyone.”

“Okay, but we agreed? No big proclamations, right? Just a party.”

“Just a party.” He brought the back of her hand to his lips and kissed it. “But you’re going to meet Logan.”

“The Alpha?” Gillian’s voiced boomed throughout the cabin of the car.

“Now don’t you tell me you’re even a little bit afraid of an Alpha. Your brother’s an Alpha.”

“But he’s not…I don’t know…he’s not scary. Chaz…now that’s scary,” she said. Her hand began to shake as she remembered her ordeal.

“He’s not here,” he reassured.

“He will be,” she countered.

“Logan’s a good man. He knows about us. I didn’t have a lot of time to talk to him on the phone but he knows about our plan.”

“Our lie.”

“That we’re tellin’ people that we’re going to mate. He knows exactly what Jax told everyone. And when I see him tonight, he’ll know everything.” Dimitri despised pretending. When he saw Logan, he planned on coming clean with all the details, including his wolf and his mate.

“Do you tell him everything you do?”

“Yeah, he’s my Alpha. No secrets. We share everything,” he disclosed.

“Everything?” she laughed.

“Everything,” he confirmed, recalling the night of passion he’d shared with Logan and his mate.

Gillian opened her mouth and promptly shut it, contemplating whether or not to delve further into his statement. She’d heard that wolves sometimes would share sexual partners among themselves. Her understanding of it, however, was limited to stories told by humans, who only knew secondhand.

“It was once,” Dimitri said, filling in the pieces of the puzzle. He’d just about had his fill of lies. He refused to pretend that he was anything but what he was. There was no shame in what he’d done with Logan and Wynter. She’d suffered terribly during her transition. Sexually heightened, they’d asked for his help and he’d been glad to oblige. “Logan and Wynter.”

“You were with your Alpha’s mate? Had sex with her?” Gillian attempted to hide her shock.

“Yes, but I wasn’t alone. I was there to help Logan and Wynter get through her transition. She was hybrid and had just learned to become a wolf. Wynter almost died soon after. A vampire…he’d nearly drained her.”

“Léopold?”

“No, no, no. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Leo’s a lethal son-of-a bitch, but he’s my boy.”

“You’re close?”

“Yeah, we’re tight. He’ll be at the party, too.”

“Does he know…about us?”

“No, but he will in about an hour or so.”

“Are you sure we’re doing the right thing? Lying about our relationship? Maybe Chaz would have come anyway.”

“It would have taken too long. We need him to come to us. He’s going to want to stop our mating.”

“We should have killed him in California.” It felt strange to openly acknowledge that they were luring him to his death. But Chaz gave her no option. Kill or be killed.

“Perhaps, but my place is here with my wolves. Had you been well, you would have done it yourself. Chaz had a chance to let this all go but when he sent his guys to New York, he signed his own death warrant. Aside from me wanting to kill him, Jax and Logan will mete out justice.”

Gillian knew what he said to be true. Jax had already killed in front of her. The brutality had been shocking, yet there was no other acceptable solution. Pack law dictated the outcome.

Dimitri took her hand in his, and his burning touch reminded her of the spectacular day they’d spent together. She brought her fingers to her lips, recalling the feel, the taste of him. A shiver rolled over her as she thought of how they’d made love on the plane, the incredible ecstasy he’d brought to her world. Restraint was a skill she had practiced ever since she’d first learned to shift. Yet staying away from Dimitri had been nothing short of exhausting.

She’d been willing to dismiss the sex as nothing more than a physical attraction. However, hours of talking and laughing had led to a deep burning need, one that she’d have difficulty denying tonight.

She glanced down to her dress that fit like a glove. Dimitri had taken care of every last detail, down to her strappy heels. At one time in her life a hot pair of shoes would have been enough to make her day, but now, the only thing that mattered was the wolf consuming her thoughts.

“Thank you.” She smiled.

“For what?”

“Today. The parade. Everything.”

“Ah, darlin’. No need to thank me, and for the record, I haven’t nearly finished showing you everything.” He winked. “You just wait.”

Gillian laughed softly, but was certain that he meant what he said. Like a knife, his words sliced through her reservations. Would she sacrifice her tiger in order to experience love? It terrified her. It thrilled her. Gillian had no idea what it felt like to know that someone was her mate, but if she could choose anyone, it’d be the wolf holding her hand.

Gillian took a deep breath, counting to ten. Like an actress, she plastered a smile on her face, attempting to regulate her breathing so that no one would detect her consternation. Never in her life had she been around so many wolves. She scanned the ballroom, observing the crowd engaged in lively conversation, dancing and drinking as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Both males and females wore masks, dressed up for the lavish affair.

Allowing Dimitri to lead her through the mass of celebrating partygoers, she glided across the floor. She nodded to Jake, who was already dancing with a pretty blonde. People passed and greeted her as if they’d known her all her life. It was as if she’d stepped into an alternate universe. They all looked human in their dresses, suits and ties. But it was an illusion. The hum of magic and nature buzzed in the air along with the zydeco waltz.

Gillian held tight to Dimitri’s hand as an imposing gentleman approached. Though he was not as tall as Dimitri, Gillian immediately registered the power emanating from him.
Wolf. Alpha
. Instinctively, she lowered her eyes. The shock of her submission startled her as it was the first time she’d felt compelled to honor an Alpha.

“Hey man, how are you?” Dimitri greeted him, intrigued by Gillian’s gaze.

“D, I’m glad you’re back. Introduce me,” Logan told him.

“Gilly, this is Logan, our fearless leader. Alpha, meet Gilly.”

“Nice to meet you, Gilly. Can I get you a drink?” he asked, signaling to a server. Flutes of champagne were swiftly brought over on a silver tray. Handing her a glass, he gave Dimitri a knowing grin.

“Thank you. Nice to meet you,” Gillian managed. She tried to remember how nervous she’d been meeting some of the most famous subjects that she’d photographed. Holding tight to a thread of calm, she smiled up at him.

“It’s I who should be thanking you. I hear you saved my beta.”

“He saved me right back. We’re even.” She glanced at Dimitri and back to Logan. “Thanks for helping me. I’m sorry I’ve brought danger to your pack.”

“Don’t give it another thought. I’m looking forward to some payback for what they did to D.”

Gillian was about to tell him how incredible Dimitri had been when he saved her, but was interrupted by a pretty woman who’d wrapped her arms around the Alpha’s waist. He laughed, bringing his lips to hers. Dimitri smiled at Gillian in understanding; this was Logan’s mate. Logan laughed, and broke the kiss with her, and Gillian swore she saw him blush.

“Dimitri,” Wynter squealed. Breaking free of her Alpha’s arms, she gave Dimitri a quick hug and kiss. Within seconds, she was back in Logan’s embrace.

“Hi there. I’m Wynter,” Wynter said, reaching for Gillian’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Hello,” Gillian replied, returning her greeting with caution. This was the woman who’d made love to Dimitri. Intellectually, Gillian knew Wynter was mated, yet the idea of Dimitri deep inside another turned her stomach.

“Sorry I’m late. I was busy with our baby girl. This is the first time we’ve left her with a sitter.”

“A baby?” Gillian asked.

“Ava. We just adopted her. I’m afraid we won’t be staying all night.”

“How old is she?”

“Four months,” Logan answered. “Sweetheart, do you mind if I get a minute with D? Just need to catch up on a few things.”

“Sure thing, baby,” Wynter agreed, giving him a kiss. She smiled at Gillian. “Gilly, would you mind going to the ladies’ room with me? I was in such a rush to get out of the house that I didn’t have a chance to check my dress. I think I might have a spot of formula on it.”

“Sure,” Gillian agreed. She gave Dimitri a nod, leery of wandering off on her own in a room full of shifters.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe,” Wynter told Dimitri with a wink. “Promise not to steal her for too long.”

Wynter launched into a story about her daughter, and Gillian forced herself to let go of her jealousy, deciding that whatever had happened was truly in the past. As their conversation progressed, she wondered if the Alpha had told his mate the truth about the sham they were perpetrating. Or like everyone else at the party, was Wynter under the impression that she really was Dimitri’s mate? Gillian knew it would only be a matter of time before they all found out she was a fake. If they got close enough, they’d know she wasn’t a wolf. She couldn’t imagine the animosity they’d feel knowing they had been lied to, and guilt gnawed at her.

With talk of babies, Gillian unconsciously held her hand to her belly and thought of how she’d like to have children of her own someday. Most days, she put it to the back of her mind. Her career had allowed her to do so. Mating itself seemed like wishful thinking. To be pregnant with a child of the man she loved seemed like an impossibility of extraordinary proportions.