ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (139 page)

Taylor pulled her knees into her chest and smiled.  “What was it?” 

Namir stood.  His legs felt like jelly.  “I think it better that I just show you.”

Taylor’s smile faded as he took his shirt off and walked into the trees.  Muscle rippled with his movement, and she tried to concentrate on what he was going to show her, instead of how his bare chest and back made her feel.   She heard his voice call to her softly.  “Close your eyes, Taylor.”

She could hear him moving around, and thought he was removing the rest of his clothes.  Weird.  She thought, but closed her eyes like he asked. 

The forest stilled.  The birds that had been chirping fell silent, and the squirrels were not scampering about any longer.  The breeze no longer stirred.  Taylor heard strange noises like something being stretched and pulled, and she was sure that a guttural moan echoed somewhere nearby.  Her heart began thumping loudly in her ears, and her breath was coming short and shallow.  Something was walking towards her. 

“Namir?”  She called, her voice shaky.  She was too afraid to open her eyes.  Something soft, then wet, touched the side of her face.  She jumped and scrambled backwards, her eyes flying open. 

Taylor gasped for air and stood as she beheld the creature before her.  Soft brown fur covered ninety percent of a man like body.  The feet were huge as were the hands, and long claws stretched from the ends of each finger.  A scream built in Taylor’s throat as her chest heaved in anticipation.  The creature stepped towards her, and she saw it’s eyes.  Namir’s eyes. 

“Namir?”  She whispered in disbelief.  As he nodded his elongated head, Taylor covered her mouth with both hands. 

Namir moved towards her slowly and reached a hand towards her.  She backed away and stared. 

No!  Don’t reject me! 

Taylor’s mouth worked as she tried to decide what to say.  “Can…can you talk…like that?” 

Namir shook his head. 

“You’re a werewolf?”

He nodded, apprehension flooding him. 

Taylor jutted her chin forward.  “Do you want to hurt me?”

Namir shook his brown head furiously and laid on the ground with his head between his outstretched arms.  He didn’t know if she would understand the submissive gesture, but he hoped she would.

Taylor stared at him with large eyes.  Her mind was racing.  The initial shock and fear were giving way to something else.  Wonder. 

“What?  Do you want your belly scratched or something?” 

Namir raised his head slightly and dared a look at her.  She seemed to be recovering.  He tried to shrug his massive shoulders. 

Taylor took a few tentative steps towards him, and finally knelt beside him.  She touched the fur between his wolf ears and marveled at how soft he was.  The hair had a coarseness, but was also soft like fur should be.

Namir held his breath.

“Wow.”  She breathed.  “So I’m marrying a werewolf.” 

Namir couldn’t kiss her, so he did the only thing he could; he licked her face. 

Taylor fell back on her butt and wiped the lick away with the back of her hand giggling.  “Ewww!”

Taylor popped another grape in her mouth.  “So you’re mother wasn’t anything?”

“Just a very patient woman who was very good at sewing.”

“Busted out of your clothes a few times, huh?”

Namir smiled.  “Yes, until I got the hang of it.”  

“Were you born with…the gift?”

“Yes, but most who are can’t change before they hit puberty.”

“It’s amazing.”  She breathed, and laid back on the blanket. 

Namir stretched the length of her and ran a hand through her hair.  “No, you’re amazing.”

“I think this is a terrible idea!”  Harrison hissed. 

“I could care less what you think.”  Odessa said while staring at the frosted glass door.  She pushed the doorbell again. 

Greta opened the door, her small frame stiffening.  Harrison looked at her apologetically, but the woman…the woman was evil incarnate if she had ever seen it. 

“What can I do for you?” 

“I would like to see Taylor.” 

“How did you get through the gate?”  Greta demanded.

“Because I buzzed them through.”  Constantine’s voice said from the landing.  “I thought it high time, that I met my dead husband’s mistress.” 

Greta moved numbly from the door as Constantine stepped forward.  She had to give it to the woman, she looked elegant in a pale chiffon sweater and black slacks.  Her red hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck, and she had chosen just enough makeup to accentuate her large features. 

“You should have told me we were having guests.”  Greta accused. 

Constantine kept her eyes on Odessa and waved her off.  “You have your hands full preparing for Taylor’s birthday.” 

Odessa’s eyes narrowed almost unperceivably.  “Ah, the twenty first birthday.”  Her head tilted to the side.  “Just a little late.”

Greta looked from Constantine to the handsome woman still darkening the doorway.  “Late?”

“It’s nonsense.”  Constantine snapped.  “Bring some coffee to the living room, please.”

Constantine and Odessa glared at each other from across the living room. 

“Tell me, Odessa, how a woman like you met John Anthony Randall?”

Odessa pursed her lips in a tight smile.  “Which did you call him?  John or Tony?”

“Both.”  Constantine replied smoothly. 

“We met in New Orleans, of course, on one of his business trips.” 

Greta hurried in and whispered something in Constantine’s ear.  She shrugged one shoulder.  “So?  It’s high time for all of this to be put behind us anyway.”

Odessa’s lips parted before she grinned.  “Taylor’s here.”

“Yes.” 

They room fell silent as they waited, soon hearing Taylor and Namir’s voices.  The voices became hushed right before Taylor’s voice exclaimed “What?”  Pounding footsteps made their way into the living room as Taylor looked from one face to the other.  Her brow was drawn in, forming a perfect V. 

“What the hell is going on here?”  She noted with pleasure that Harrison appeared sick to his stomach. 

Odessa stared at her.  “My goodness, she is lovely.”

Taylor felt a pull to the woman.  She couldn’t explain it, but it was there.  Something was drawing her in, sucking at her, but she fought against it.  She blinked rapidly and forced her head to turn to Constantine.  She missed Odessa and Harrison exchange a look.  Odessa raised one eyebrow. 

“Mother?  Have you gone mad?”    

“Not yet, darling.” 

Namir stepped behind Taylor and placed his hands on her shoulders.  His eyes locked with Odessa’s and he took little pleasure in seeing the color drain slightly. 

“You didn’t tell me about this.”  She spoke to Harrison, but kept her eyes warily on Namir.

“That’s Namir.  He’s Taylor’s body guard.”

Taylor snapped her head around.  “Fiancé!”  She corrected.  “Where’s Jason?”

“In the pool house.  Probably passed out.”  Constantine answered. 

Taylor looked up at Namir.  “Will you go get him, please?”

“Nope.”  Namir responded gruffly. 

Taylor’s mouth flew open in disbelief. 

“I’ll go.”  Greta said quietly as she set the coffee service tray on the coffee table. 

Taylor pulled Namir into the hallway.  “What was that for?”  Her whisper was dangerous. 

“I’m not leaving you alone with the two of them!” 

“Why?  Mother’s in there!” 

“Doesn’t matter.” 

“Why?”

“I can’t explain right now.”

Taylor narrowed her eyes to slits.  “I just found out my husband to be is a werewolf, but you can’t tell me why I can’t be in there with them without you?  You make no sense!”  She threw her hands into the air and walked back to the living room with Namir right on her heels.  They squeezed onto the couch beside Constantine. 

Taylor looked at the woman again.  The strange pull was becoming weaker.  “Why are you here?”

Jason walked into the room looking sleepy and confused.  He stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes landed on Odessa.  She smiled cheerfully at him. 

“Hello, Jason!” 

“How do you know him?”

“We were acquainted a long time ago, isn’t that right?”

Jason steadied himself and crossed the room to the one remaining piece of furniture.  He settled slowly into the armchair. 

“Jason, it’s been what?  Twenty-one years hasn’t it?”

“I’m a little confused.”  Jason began. 

“Aren’t we all?”  Taylor said through clenched teeth. 

“Then let me enlighten all of you.”  Odessa began smoothly. 

“Mom, please…”

“Shut up, Harrison.  Once upon a time, there was a man and woman who met and fell in love.  The woman became pregnant.  The man couldn’t bear to leave his spoiled little wife.  In truth, he didn’t want to lose his wealth in an ugly divorce.”  Odessa’s eyes became harder with each word she said.  “But he promised that someday…only someday never came, and eventually the woman gave birth to not only one bastard but…two.”  She held up her long tan fingers and wiggled them in Taylor’s direction. 

The room was silent.  Jason held his head in his hands.  Harrison stared at the floor.  All other eyes were pinned on Odessa. 

“What?”

“Let me finish the story.  It’s riveting.”  She smoothed her hands along her thighs and sighed contentedly.  It was obvious to all that she was enjoying it.  “So, the man paid the woman a very large sum of money, but really it was just a menial guilt offering, and offered to take one child home to his precious wife.  He knew the spoiled wench wanted a daughter more than anything, so he chose the girl.” 

“This is all a lie.”  Taylor said quietly.  “He has a different birthday from me!”

Odessa tilted her head to one side.  “Does he?”

Constantine wiped a tear away that was traveling down her face.  “Jason, explain this nonsense to me.”  She said and plucked at her sweater. 

“Constantine…”

“EXPLAIN IT!”  She screamed. 

“He…he had her sent to an orphanage near New Orleans.” 

“The orphanage knew?” 

Jason’s eyes were red rimmed.  The weight of the secret was finally being lifted from his shoulders.  It was obvious to Namir how good it felt for him.  “Money can buy anything, Constantine, even silence.  Or so I thought.”  He looked at Odessa sadly.  “Why?  Why do this to them?”

“Because the truth can set you free.”  

Taylor felt like every nerve in her body was tingling.  She stood shakily and nearly fell back onto the couch.  “No.”  She said in a small voice. 

“Sit back down, Taylor, there’s so much more.” 

“No!”  Taylor jerked away as Namir reached for her, stumbling past Constantine’s legs.  Namir followed her as she ran blindly up the stairs. 

“You can leave now.”  Constantine said coldly.  Another tear raced down her face. 

“Yes, I suppose it’s time.”  Odessa stood and motioned for the now completely white faced Harrison to join her.  “We’ll be back once all of this settles.” 

Greta was waiting at the door and opened it angrily for Odessa and Harrison.  Odessa paused.  “Don’t cry little woman.  Truth is always better than a lie.” 

Greta spewed something in Gaelic at her, but Odessa just laughed and walked away. 

Constantine sat like a statue with her hands flat on the tops of her thighs.  Jason came across to her and knelt. 

“Please, Constantine.  I promised.  I promised him I would never tell.” 

Constantine slapped him hard across the face.  “She’s my daughter!”

Taylor sobbed in her pillow, and Namir was helpless beside her.  All he knew to do was rub her back. 

“Do you want me to leave?”

Taylor nodded her head.  “It’s all too much!” 

Namir felt like he had been punched in the stomach.  All too much included him as well.  He left her and walked down the steps one at a time.  He didn’t know what to do.  He didn’t know who he could talk to.

He stuck his head in the living room, and saw Jason sitting in the chair Constantine had occupied.  He looked ragged. 

“Where is she?”

“In her rooms, I guess.” 

“I see she slapped you.” 

Jason touched the side of his face.  “It’s the least that I deserve.” 

“Why?  Why did you keep it a secret all these years?”

“He asked me to.  He said it would be for the best under the circumstances.”

“It wasn’t.”  Namir leaned against the doorframe.  “You knew when he appeared at the hospital.” 

“I was hoping, honestly, that it was another illegitimate kid.”  He looked at Namir.  “I didn’t know for sure until I heard the name Badon.”  He held his hand out.  “I was hoping the kid would just loose interest and go away.”