Red (21 page)

“Why?” Marcia wondered aloud.

Steve appealed to the ladies’ sense of romance by taking Trisha’s hand. “Well, I admit to having a certain fondness for one of your group. I’d love a chance to spend more time with her.” He looked deep into Trisha’s eyes and brought her hand to his lips to kiss it tenderly. He could hear the sighs of the ladies watching and knew his little show was having the desired effect. But more than that, he meant every word he spoke. He would do anything to spend every moment for the rest of his life with her.

“Is that what you want, Trish?” Marcia asked bluntly, but Trisha was smiling at him as she nodded.

“More than anything.” At her answer, his smile grew into a grin.

“Then I guess we accept your generous offer, Mr. Redstone. Thank you.” Again, Marcia spoke for the group. He guessed as the bride-to-be this really was her show.

“Excellent.” He let go of Trisha’s hand slowly, savoring the feel of her skin against his. “I’ll go make the arrangements while you all catch up. I’m sure you have lots to talk about. And please, call me Steve.”

He stood and went to the door, pausing only to send Trisha a little wink that wasn’t missed by the eagle-eyed ladies in the room. Good. He’d given them a distraction that might further enhance their belief in the yarn Trisha had spun about illness making them forget two days of their lives. His work here was done. For the moment.

It was well after midnight when the girls finally headed back to their rooms. It had been decided they would stay at the Pack house for the night and then decide whether to move back to their hotel on the Strip the next day. Trisha suspected that once the girls got a load of the shifter men—handsome as sin and built to drool over—they’d probably want to stay here. After all, besides Marcia they were all single.

Well, Trisha wasn’t single anymore. No, now she had Steve, though her friends didn’t quite realize how close they really were just yet. They’d figure it out sooner or later. When the time was right. She wanted to ease them into the idea that she’d found her life mate while they’d all been knocked out.

Trisha met Steve by the staircase. He looked like he’d been waiting for her and her heart lifted at the slight smile on his face when she appeared. It was a smile filled with love and acceptance of who she really was—something she’d dreamed about but never really thought she’d find. Steve knew everything about her now. He knew her deepest secret. He knew about her magic—and her family. And he loved her still.

Trisha had never thought she’d be able to be totally honest with a man, and yet, here he was. She’d been blessed with the hope of a future brighter than anything she’d ever expected. Now all they had to do was make it reality. Starting right now.

Trisha skipped the last few steps to him and launched herself into his arms. He caught her and clutched her close to his muscular body, warming her from within with his welcome. His mouth sought hers and she returned the welcome, kissing him deeply and raising her legs to circle his waist.

They were at the top of a staircase, in full view of anyone who might pass by, but she didn’t care. It had been too long since she’d been in his arms. Too long since they’d made love. And after everything that had happened that night, her adrenaline was still running high. She wanted him. And she didn’t want to wait.

Suddenly they were moving, but she didn’t question whether or not he could support her. She knew he was strong. And he would never let her fall. He would take care of her. Always.

Including right now. A door opened and a moment later it closed behind them and her back was up against it. He broke the kiss and she glanced behind him. They were in one of the empty rooms on the same corridor where her friends were staying. She spared a single thought to hope that the walls were reasonably soundproof before throwing caution to the wind and pushing at Steve’s shoulders. He was wearing way too many clothes.

He moved only a few inches away, but it was enough room for her to maneuver. She lowered her legs to the floor so she could stand and then went to work on his clothing. Her hands and arms tangled with his as each of them reached out to undress the other.

Somehow, finally, with a few laughs and some bumbles on her part, she was naked and he was…naked enough. She didn’t care if he still had his boots on and his pants were only partially lowered. The important part—the part she needed
right now
—was available and ready.

He pushed her against the door again and she went happily, hoisting her legs up and around his narrow hips. And then…bliss as he slid into her deep and true. He paused, both of them breathing hard, his forehead leaning against hers as they savored the moment.

“You are so perfect,” he whispered, and she felt the truth of his words in her heart.
He
was the perfect one. Perfect for her. And together, they could move mountains.

She couldn’t speak as he began moving, pushing deep and hitting a particular spot inside her in this position that nearly sent her into orbit with every thrust. She began to whimper and then moan, unable to hold in her cries of passion as she approached a very high peak in a very short time. She’d never been so hot, even with Steve—the most talented lover she’d ever had.

Maybe the danger they’d faced had given her some kind of edge. Maybe it was the novel position. Maybe it was the idea they were having a quickie in a place they really shouldn’t—not with her friends such a short distance away. The naughtiness of it appealed to some previously unknown imp in her nature, she guessed. Whatever it was, she rode the wave into oblivion, crying out incoherently at the end as the most incredible sensations made her tingle all over.

She only barely registered that Steve came a moment after her. She was glad he’d joined her in that place that only he could take her. They were well matched in that regard and she knew it would make the rest of their relationship—the rest of their lives—easier to work out. They hadn’t talked logistics yet, but she figured they’d each have to give a little ground to smooth things out and start a life together. But those heavy thoughts were for another time. A time when her mind hadn’t just been blown to Mercury and back with a swing around the sun for good measure.

“That was incredible,” she whispered when she was finally able to speak again. They were both still breathing hard but slowly coming back to earth.

“You rock my world, babe.” Steve grinned, leaning in to kiss her sweetly even as he disengaged their bodies.

“Back at’cha, big guy.” She smiled even as a suspicious wetness made her aware they hadn’t used protection. Again.
Hmm.

Well, she supposed they’d both been a little too eager to stop and think before they’d fucked like bunnies up against the door. And if she got pregnant, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. In fact, it would be a new beginning for them. One of many they would have together, she was sure.

“Back in a minute.” She scooted toward the attached bathroom, snagging the most important articles of her clothing along the way.

Only a tiny bit mortified but mostly thrilled and very, very satisfied, she spent a few minutes cleaning up. When she came back out, Steve was sitting on the bed looking at his smartphone. He had a serious expression on his face.

“Anything wrong?” she asked as she crossed the room.

He stood and his face lit with a gratifying pleasure as she walked up to him. He put his arms around her and hugged her, swaying a bit, making her feel cherished in a way she hadn’t expected but knew she would come to crave given enough time with this man. A lifetime. That’s what she wanted. A lifetime with him.

“Just checking on the interrogation. It’s going as well as can be expected. I’ll get a full report from Slade when they’re done, but for now we still need to exercise caution. Slade doesn’t think we got them all.”

“Oh, no.” Suddenly crashing back to the reality of the threat against her and her friends wasn’t pleasant.

“Don’t worry. You and your friends will be under guard twenty-four/seven. If anyone tries anything, I’ll be right there to stop it. Me and about twenty of my best people. Around the clock. We’ve got you covered.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and set her away. “Okay?”

His words made her feel a lot better. Plus, she’d proven her own worth to herself, if not to everyone in her family and half of Steve’s Clan, earlier that night. They could handle it.

“Now, we haven’t been using protection. Are you okay with the possibility we could be starting a family before we even talked about it?” His eyes sought hers and held while he brought up the topic she’d been thinking about.

“Yeah, I’m okay with it. I’ve always wanted kids. I know it’s a big step, but I’m committed to you and I know you are to me. It’s the next logical step, though I didn’t expect it so quickly. But if fate steps in, who am I to argue?”

Steve seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. I’m sorry, honey, I just wasn’t thinking straight. I was so desperate to have you.”

“I’m both flattered and in total agreement. I wasn’t thinking either.” She put one hand on his shoulder and stroked him lightly through the fabric of his shirt. “It’s okay. We can be a little more careful, I guess, but if a baby comes of our love, I won’t be upset.”

“Good. Neither will I. In fact, I’d be pretty damn stoked.” His eyes lit with momentary joy. “But I’m not in a hurry either. Kids will come when they come. As you say, it’s up to the Mother of All ultimately. She’s in charge.”

Trisha realized another thing at that moment that she hadn’t really considered—though she probably should have. “You follow the Goddess.”

“Well, yeah. Kate’s Her priestess. All were worship Her in one form or another, I think, as do most magic folk.”

“That’s great. I mean, Dad taught us about the Goddess and Mom was just hippie enough to go along. We don’t advertise it, but we’re definitely not in the mainstream religion-wise.”

“You’re mainstream for a shifter Clan.” He chuckled and took her hand as they walked toward the door. “Don’t worry. You’ll fit right in.”

He opened the door first, peeking out to see who might be in the hall.

“The coast is clear,” he whispered as he opened the door wider so they could slip out. She loved being able to laugh with him. Everything was so easy with Steve. Like they’d been best friends forever.

They weren’t so lucky as they made their way down the stairs. Shifters had sharp senses and judging by the knowing grins of the few werewolves they passed on their way out, their little tryst hadn’t gone unnoticed. Trisha was both embarrassed and amused.

“How do they know?” she whispered to him as he escorted her to his vehicle—a low-slung sports car she hadn’t seen him drive before.

In answer, he simply tapped his nose. She cringed thinking how sensitive a werewolf’s nose must be. If their human noses were anything like their wolf counterparts…well, they could tell what she and Steve had been up to. No doubt about it.

They got to his house in under five minutes. She wasn’t really paying attention to the road. She was more interested in her chauffer. He was a natural behind the wheel and this late model Italian supercar was perfect for him. Sure, it wasn’t exactly roomy inside for his big frame, but he worked the gears and sped down the dark streets with a quiet confidence she admired.

When they got to his place, he pulled all the way down the drive beside the house and into the backyard. There was a large garage back there she hadn’t noticed before. She’d want to investigate what other little surprises he had locked away in there later, but for now, the pool was calling her name.

They took a different path to the pool area and it was clear someone had been there before them. Whoever it was had already turned on the soft lights and there was a bottle of wine in an ice bucket along with two crystal goblets on the patio table. Steve had thought of everything, apparently. And planned ahead.

She stripped as she walked toward the pool, her thoughts on feeling the invigorating, life-giving water against her skin as soon as possible. And then, as soon after that as she could manage, she wanted to feel Steve’s hard muscled body against her, both of them surrounded by the water while he took her places only he was able to take her.

Yeah, that sounded like the perfect way to spend the rest of the evening. The wine could wait.

She stripped off and dove into the deep end of the pool without waiting for him. She felt the water close around her, welcoming her, seeping into every sense and giving her new energy. After the events of the past few days, she needed all she could get of its buoyant support.

She began to swim a bit, loosening the tightness in her muscles and relaxing in her favorite environment. A few minutes later, she felt rather than heard Steve enter the water. The liquid communicated his presence to her, knowing her joy in welcoming her mate. She broke the surface and breathed deeply. She must’ve been under longer than she’d thought. Sometimes, it was easy to lose track of time when she was completely immersed.

Trisha saw Steve gliding under the surface, straight for her. Taking a deep breath, she sank once more to meet him.

He reached for her, encircling her with his strong arms, and she met him in kind, wrapping herself around him much as the water encircled them both. They rose together to the surface this time, kissing as they broke through from the underwater world she loved into the air-filled world in which she lived.