Kathi S Barton - [Aaron's Kiss 04] (13 page)

“You can’t really demand that he mates with her, can you?” Sara had been slightly taken aback by his demands to Tucker; she didn’t realize that a master held such power over another vamp.

“No, I can’t really. But I’m hoping that by the time he figures that out, it will be too late for either of them. I believe she will be good for him; her ability to be so outspoken and demanding could be just what he needs to be brought out of his shell. He has been browbeaten for so long; it will take a very strong woman to pull him out. The woman Marta is his maker; that’s a very hard call to resist, especially in light of the way he was treated by her. No, getting them bonded and mated will serve them both, her safety and his sanity.”

Sara thought that if Sam set her mind to anything, she’d succeed. Just thinking about Sam taking her on that day she’d been shot made Sara smile. The girl had guts, that was for sure.

~~~

The next morning, Pete showed up at Sam’s bakery. She couldn’t believe the incredible smells coming from the place even before she opened the door. The smells of cinnamon and sugar were the most prevalent with fresh baked bread and yeast coming in next. She took a deep breath before she approached the counter.

Pete was mate to Dominic Marshall, and the best computer expert there was. She could also run the tightest security system and had been known to step on the incorrect side of the law just to show larger companies what they were lacking in that department. She was now employed by the Brotherhood of Gray, the largest werewolf pack in the nation, as their security expert. It paid very well and helped donate great amounts of money and time to Becca’s Place, a place that held a very dear place in Pete’s heart.

“Hi there, cutie, what can I getcha?” Betty didn’t say a word to Pete about her face and arms. Most people turned away from the elaborate designs on her face. If people could see her in her natural form, they’d be one of two things; fascinated by the extent of the markings or terrified when the marks moved independently of the woman who wore them.

It wasn’t a tattoo, but a crest, a sigil that marked her magic abilities. Pic was a wood nymph, and a very strong one at that. And because of her magic, when Dominic claimed her as his mate and changed her to a vampire too, she didn’t lose her ability to be out of doors. Which was great for her, because like all plants of the forest, the one growing on her body needed sunlight and moonlight to rejuvenate and to grow.

“Is Miss Hunter in? I’d like to speak to her please. That is, if she isn’t too busy. I was sent here by a mutual friend.”

“Oh, Sam’s not in right now. She’s…hummm…well, she’s just not in, but I can take a message and have her get back with you.”

Pete could read minds and she had no problems reading this woman’s. Sara and Aaron both had warned Pete that Sam was going to be more than a little uncooperative about this. Pete didn’t mind; she was used to dealing with stubborn people. She also knew that she was one too. Betty didn’t know where Sam was, only that there was stock piled up in the back to go out and a note that said she’d be back before the wedding cake was to be picked up, nothing more. Also, the worry about Sam and the assignments she took on.

Pete was surprised to know that Sam’s people knew what she did. Then she realized that Betty was one of her assignments from long ago. But it hadn’t turned out quite as easy as the night before. Sam had been injured that night and Betty nearly killed by the woman’s live-in boyfriend. He had taken a ball bat to Betty before Sam arrived and had hit Sam once in the head before she was able to take him down with a gun. Betty had been her friend since. Pete was startled by the memories and Pete’s respect for Sam jumped a few notches. Pete decided to do an Internet search on what had happened that night to see why neither woman had apparently severed much, if any, jail time.

“If you expect her back anytime soon, I’d like to wait. What I have to see her about is very important.” Pete gave her a tiny push to allow her to wait in the back kitchen.

When she was led back there by a bemused Betty, she sat at the desk and looked around. There was nothing there to say anything about the owner of the shop. There was no computer, no phone, no pictures, nothing at all. Pete wandered over to the side by side refrigerator and looked at the drawing that Lizzy had done for her. Sam had gotten a magnet frame and fit it over the childish picture of a room of cakes to protect it.

There was also a large daily calendar that had orders, pickup times, and bake schedule written on it in wipe off pen. Pete had to admit, Sam was organized.

“Find everything you’re looking for, or would you like to search the upstairs too?” Pete had felt the moment someone had entered the kitchen with her, but didn’t turn around until the woman spoke. When she turned to face the angry woman, Pete was surprised at the beauty standing there staring at her.

“Unless there’s a computer or other storage devices, I’m afraid I wouldn’t know how to get into it. I’m Pete Marshall, you must be Sam.” Pete didn’t reach her hand out to shake. She had been warned that she wouldn’t take it, and that Sam didn’t like to be touched.

“What are you looking for? And no, I don’t own a computer. I tend to fizz out things like televisions, computers and such. I once owned a stereo system that every time I touched it, the stupid thing would freak out.” Sam walked over to the calendar and made a notation Pete didn’t understand. “State your business and get out. You smell like alpha, and I don’t care for him at the moment.”

“I see, well, I’m not here for Bradley, but I do work for him. I’m the pack’s and Aaron’s security expert. That’s why I’m here. Tucker wanted me to install a security system for you, in both the shop and the apartment upstairs. You can call them if you need a reference.”

“No need for them. I trust you’re not lying.”

Pete started to relax. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as hard after all. But Sam’s next statement dashed that thought.

“Sorry you wasted your time, but no. Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.” Sam walked into the walk-in freezer and pulled out the supplies she would need to bake. Ignoring her, she got out a box of eggs from the walk-in refrigerator and started breaking them in the large mixer. Pete didn’t mind. She was just as stubborn as the next person.

“I don’t offend easily, so I can wait you out.” With that said, Pete moved the desk chair over to the farthest wall and sat down. It was just after eight in the morning, she noted, and sat down to fill in the time with work or until Sam threw her out. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but who knew.

The bride and her mother showed up an hour later, thrilled beyond words with the cake. The delivery men who had come with them carefully loaded the cake and the top into their special truck and left. When Sam closed the back door after declining an invitation to the wedding yet again, she went back to work, still not speaking to her.

Pete grinned, just knowing that she would win this battle of wills.

At two-thirty, Pete was getting mad; by four she was downright pissed. When Sam walked to the front of the shop to lock up at six, Pete was ready to concede defeat. Not once in ten hours did Sam even look in her direction. Pete had even tried talking to her.

When that didn’t work, she pulled out her cell and began making calls and checking emails. The day had not been a total loss. Pete had figured out the lack of computers and other electrical equipment. Even the cash register was an antique kind that required no power. Pete had noticed that when the other women had gone to lunch and Sam had watched the front while they’d been out.

Every time Sam got close, Pete noticed that she either lost the connection or her phone would glitch out all together. When Sam returned to the kitchen to begin yet another round of baking, Pete tried again to speak to her.

“Sam, I know how the men are of Aaron’s Kiss, arrogant, overbearing and damned near stupid with their old fashioned ways. But I’ve also noticed that they are loyal, loving, and would die for any of us. Tucker seems like an okay guy, and I believe Aaron is right when he told him he had to bond with you by the end of the week. When you mate with him—” Pete stopped and backed up several paces when Sam stiffened and energy poured into the room. “Shit, you’re strong.”

“What did you say? Mate? As in sex? Are you saying that Aaron demanded that Tucker fuck me by the end of the week? Or what, he’ll do it himself? He’ll cut off Tucker’s dick? What? I’d really like to know, and don’t even try lying to me, because if I have to, I will get the answers myself. And believe me when I say, you will not like my way.”

Pete was pretty sure she wouldn’t either. “No, nothing like that. It’s just that you and he are mates. He’s…Tucker is your other half, the one that will complete you. And as for Aaron doing it himself, I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. That’s just not right; he loves Sara and she, him.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Aaron loves her, yet can demand…demand that Tucker and I have sex?” The room tightened again. Pete was getting nervous. “That’s just great. So, was there a particular way he wanted us to do it, do you know? Maybe he’d like to be there to make sure it’s done right.”

“That’s enough, Sam.” Tucker’s voice vibrated though the kitchen, strength and authority resounding from him. Pete had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life.

Pete moved toward the door, hoping no one would notice that she was making a hasty retreat. She needed to contact Aaron and tell him what she had done. She hadn’t meant what she said to Sam. She just wanted the other woman to be happy and know that she was going to be safe and loved from now on. She guessed she might have used a bit more tact, but she was bored and hadn’t spoken to anyone all day. No excuse, she knew.

Fuck the power that woman had. Pete was sure it wasn’t just magic either, but something more, something mental too.

~CHAPTER ELEVEN~

“You might as well leave with her. I’m not in the mood to be fucked tonight, but thanks anyway.” Tucker felt her hurt. And from her, he felt it as his own. He wanted to comfort her, take her into his arms and hold her, but he knew at this time she’d rip a strip of hide off him in a second. He smiled at that.

Instead, he moved up behind her, started to reach out and touch her, but she pushed away from the counter and went to the door. She locked it, and went to the stairs to her apartment. When she got to the top, he stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at her when she turned her back to him again and went inside. Once she was inside, he heard the door lock click shut. He was amazed at her control. He could tell that she wanted to slam it shut and hurl something at him. Wondering what she might to do him now, he turned off the kitchen light and slowly followed her up the stairs.

Tucker was standing in the doorway when she came into the bedroom. Completely ignoring him, she stepped into the bathroom and turned on the taps to the bathtub.

Even with her back to the door, he saw her stiffen when he walked in. Filling it with her scent, honeysuckle and gardenias, she stripped down and sank into the deep hot water.

She didn’t move when he sat on the toilet next to the old fashioned, claw-footed tub. “My mother took the locks off of doors when I was a little girl. I’ll have to make sure I put stronger ones on here.”

“I can go through the doors and locks. You won’t be able to keep me out. I told you before that you have my blood and it calls to me.” Tucker wanted…no, he needed to touch her. “Sam, I’d like to talk with you about what Pete said to you. She shouldn’t have said anything. I’m not even sure how she found out, but I—”

“I don’t care. I’d really like it if you were to leave. I’ve had a very hard couple of days, and I have two wedding cakes to make tomorrow. People pretending to care about each other all over the place now days.”

He was getting frustrated with her, at himself as well. He didn’t know what to do with her. “Sam, please, you have to listen to me. There are things you need to be made aware of. Things that could save your life. I need you and you need me.” He wasn’t going to leave her, not tonight. If she wouldn’t admit that she needed him, then he would show her how much he needed her. He moved closer to the tub and stopped. The pain started in his legs, and then moved up to his hips. It took him a few minutes of discomfort before he realized it was her.

“It will only get worse. In about fifteen minutes, your head will begin to pound and your heart rate will speed up. I will make it increasingly more painful until you leave.

And every time you step into this shop, it will begin where it stopped when you left. I want you to leave, right now, Tucker. I don’t want to see you again.” As soon as his nose started to bleed, he shimmered from the room. He knew that if he stayed, she would watch him bleed out until he was drained. He materialized in the lair that Aaron had lent him. He had to think and plan. Satisfied that he had things in order, he crawled into bed. When the sun came up the next morning, he had a plan in place. Heaven help the woman who had taken his heart.

~~~

“Miss Hunter, I’m Officer Justin List of the…local police department. I have a warning…warrant for your arrest. Would you come with me please?” Sam had just walked out of the shop and was headed to her garage when the

“Officer” List stepped up beside her. She reached into his mind and was blocked. She pushed harder, not caring if he felt it or not, and made the man stiffen with the slight pain. But she knew the source.

Justin had been warned that she was mentally strong, but that Sara would protect his mind from her. Justin was aware of her touch. As were, he would know the mental touches when someone touched his mind. But he had come into her domain and all bets were off.

“I see. Officer List, you are just a pawn in this little game, so I won’t hurt you, but

‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’”

“Ma’am?”

She could almost feel sorry for him. Almost. “Never mind.” She followed him to his car and stood by the back door when he went to the front.

“Oh no, let’s do this up right, shall we? So, are we going to the mansion, pack house, or are you to take me to the station?”