Samuel (Samuel's Pride Series) (16 page)

As soon as he pulled out of her mouth,
he jerked her up and tossed her over the bed on her belly. He was slamming into
her pussy from behind almost before she could open for him. His fingers gripped
her hips so tight she knew he was going to bruise her, but right now she didn’t
care. His mouth grazed over her shoulder, and she knew he was going to bite
her. When he did, tearing into her flesh hard, she cried out his name and came
again. Samuel stiffened behind her and yanked her head up as he marked her
again. This time she knew that it would be a mark for all to see. When he came,
he lifted his head from her and roared again, the sound of it reverberating
around the room several times. His weight dropped on her, and she welcomed it.
She was his now and forever.

His laughter had her turned to stare at
him. After a quick kiss on the mouth, he rolled to his back. They stared at
each other for several seconds before he laughed again.

“We have to go down now.” She nodded. “They’re
not going to be happy with us for making them wait. Not that I care, but you
should know that it might make them short with us.”

“I don’t care. I’ve just had the most
incredible sex in the world, and if they try and fuck this up for me, I’ll hurt
them all.” She watched him stand up and pull clothes on. “I want a shower.”

Taking off his clothes that he just
pulled on, she smiled at him. “You don’t think I’m going down without you do
you? I’m taking a shower with you. But no fooling around. They really do need
to speak to us.”

The shower was quick. She’d tried her
best to make him take her again, but he was determined. When she was dried off
and dressing, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He
held her for several minutes before he spoke.

“The others, the Savages and Jimmy and
Kaleb, have asked to be a part of our pride.” She turned to look at him. “There
are others too, a few, but other species that wish to join us. They need a
leader, and they want me to be it.”

“But they’re not lions, right?” He
nodded. “Then I don’t understand. How can you be a leader of a group of
shifters?”

“We would be the leader, and it can work
because both of us have the ability to talk to them. And you, my dear, can talk
to all animals.” He frowned. “Don’t say anything to the council about it. I’m
not sure that’s anything they need to know.”

“Is it a bad thing? That I can do it, I
mean. Is it so terrible that I can speak to and listen to all the animals?” He
shook his head as he pulled away from her to get his shoes. “Then I doona
understand.”

When he grinned at her, she knew that she’d
slipped again. She had no idea why she bothered trying to hide it from him, but
she did. But she did like the way he enjoyed it.

“I don’t know, but I have little trust
for people that I don’t love. I don’t know that they will use you somehow, but
I don’t want to take the chance.”

They moved down the stairs, and Butler
met them at the bottom. He looked stressed. She felt bad for putting him in
this situation. But she realized suddenly that the people in the other room
were doing it to him and the rest of the staff. She moved into the living room with
one thing on her mind…these people were not going to hurt her people.

The first woman stood up, and Kennedy
had the urge to hit her. She had no idea where the need came from, but she
pulled it back as far as she could. The second person stood, this one a man, and
she watched him pull a notepad from his pocket and look at his watch. Then he
wrote in the book. Her temper, not a long one anyway, snapped.

“Cad é an ifreann a cheapann tú go
bhfuil tú ag déanamh anseo? Tá mé aon ghá cacamas seo nuair a tá mo maité a
gortaíodh agus mé caillte mo dheartháir.”
Samuel put his hands on her
shoulders and whispered
“English, love.”
Flushing, she repeated herself.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing here? I’ve no need for this crap when
my mate has been injured and I’ve lost me brother.”

“We were to understand that you never
got along with him. It would seem to us it wouldn’t be much of a loss.” Her
fist came out before she had a moment to think about what she was doing. The
man flipped back over the chair he was standing next to and landed in a heap
behind the broken thing.

No one moved…not the other members nor
Samuel. When someone started to clap their hands, she turned to look at the man
she’d not noticed until then. He stood up and walked slowly toward her.

“Kennedy Payne, I presume?” She nodded.
“I’m Stephan Silva. I’m happy to finally meet you.”

“I doona think I’m going to like you.” He
laughed and nodded. “What do you want here? There was no reason for him to…I
dinna mean…well I did mean to hurt him, but I dinna like what he said.”

“Neither did I.” The man disappeared and
so did the woman. “There, is that better? Shall we start over?”

“What are you doing in our house?”
Samuel crossed his arms over his chest as he asked and didn’t sit, so neither
did she. Stephan did, however, and just as he settled, he let a little of his
cat go. Kennedy felt hers tug at her as well.

“You’re much stronger than we thought
you’d be. Much stronger. Did you know that we’ve been watching you since we
figured out you were Samuel’s mate? You’ve come a long way from the little lost
Irish woman to what you are today.” Stephan asked them to sit again. “Please. It
would go so much better if the two of you would stop trying to figure out
whether I’m here to kill you or not.”

“Are ye?” He shook his head at her
question. “And we’re to believe you why? You’ve given us nothing to know that
for sure.”

“I haven’t, have I?” She sat down,
suddenly feeling weak. When Samuel came to her, she waved him off and looked at
the man.

“What did you just do to me?” He smiled.
“I’m gonna kill you. You undo what you just did to me.”

“I cannot. And even if I could, I wouldn’t.”
He stood up then and touched her head. “You’re going to be very helpful to the
council from now on, Lady Payne. Congratulations to you both.”

As he walked to the door, she felt
herself grow weaker until she couldn’t hold her head up. She heard Samuel
yelling her name as she slipped away.

Chapter 16

“He knows.” Samuel moved to the side of
the bed when Kennedy finally woke up. “He knows everything I can do and what
you can do.”

“Why? What did he do to you?” She shook
her head and then put her hands to it. She looked ill. He held her until she
told him she was okay.

“I think he gave me something. I’m not
sure, but I think….” She looked at the door, and when it opened his mom moved
into the room. She smiled at them both and asked to speak to them.

“Stephan Silva just called here. He said
that the council wants to have a meeting with the two of you. He said that he’d
like to meet you both.” Samuel looked at Kennedy, who shook her head. “He also
asked that the two of you have a list of the potential family that wants to
join your pride. You’ve decided to do it then?”

“Yes. I think…we’re going to give it a
try. When did he say they’d be here?” Samuel’s mind was a whirl of questions. He
knew that they had to give notice when they came to a home, and he also knew
that no one but he and Kennedy would know about the first visit.

“He said they’d be here around dinner
time. He said he’d heard that Kennedy was a great cook and wants to know if she
could make them something. It’s an informal dinner, I guess.” His mom started
out of the room before turning back. “How are you feeling, sweetheart? Your
headache gone?”

“Yes.” Kennedy nodded at her, and his
mom left the room. As soon as the door shut, Kennedy got up and started to pace
the room. He knew she had questions. Hell, so did he, but where to start with
them was the kicker.

“I don’t have an answer, do you?” She
shook her head and laughed. “I doubt this is supposed to be funny. What was you
going to say about him giving you something?”

“I can hear them. All of the people in
the house, the others in the yard. There are nine bears just outside the
perimeter and two wolves. They want to join us. Kaleb is there with them trying
to explain that we’re lions and that we aren’t going to be able to help them. I’ve
let him know to let them come in.” She sat down. “I can hear the birds too, as
well as the deer and other creatures on the property. They’re afraid of the
newcomers but think you’ll keep them safe.”

“Your ability had been enhanced.” She
nodded at him. “And you think he did it by touching you.”

“I think he might have given me a boost,
aye. I doona think he wants us to mention that he was here before. I doona know
why, but whatever he did, he did on his own.” Samuel nodded, thinking she was
right. “What do you suppose he’s done it for?”

“I don’t know, love. And unless he tells
us, we might not ever know.” He reached for her, and she sat in his lap. “I’m
not sure why, but I don’t feel as afraid as I did before. Like whatever comes
our way we can beat it because we’re together.”

“I think you might be right.” She stood
up and smiled at him. “What do I make for a bunch of unwelcome guests for
dinner?”

His mom helped with the menu. Butler and
Brigitte helped with a grocery list, and before long, there was a large van
pulling up by the kitchen door. By three o’clock the kitchen smelled like
heaven, and Kennedy was putting together a beautiful cake to go with dinner. Samuel
watched her squeeze icing out to form tiny flowers.

“The bears that were here, have you
spoken to them yet?” She didn’t look up from what she was doing as she asked. “And
the wolves are going to move their camper to the Savage campground. Tuck said
that he had nineteen campers there now as well as he’s rented out three of the
cabins.”

“I talked to them as well. And so you
know, Tuck and Amy have decided that they’re going to sell us the campground
for just shifters. They seemed to think they’ll have more fun than they did
with humans.” He swiped a flower that she’d yet to put on the cake and moaned
as the flavor burst on his tongue. “I may not share that when they get here.”

“Are they going to let us run this pride
the way we want or are they going to try and take it from us?” Samuel liked
that she felt she was a part of this now. He nodded at her question and put out
his finger when she’d told him to. After a quick kiss on the tip that had his
cock leap to attention, she squirted a long line of the icing she was using. “Are
you going to answer me?”

“I will when some blood from my cock
goes back to flowing to the rest of my body.” She giggled, and he watched her. He’d
never heard her do that before. Samuel tried to think what she’d asked him. Then
he smiled. “Yes, he’ll let us run it the way we want. I’m not sure why I know
that but I do.”

“I have an idea about something.” She
bent over to peer in the oven. He could think of about a million ideas on his
own. When she turned and caught him staring, she glared. “You have anything on
your mind but sex?”

“Nope.” She giggled again. “But what did
you have on your mind? I’m assuming it’s a little less sexual than mine.”

“Always. I was thinking that he did this
to me because he needed me for this meeting. I think he wants me to know what
the others that are coming with him are thinking.” Samuel felt his heart skip a
couple of beats.

“You think he’s bringing danger to our
home?” Kennedy shrugged and went back to the cake. “Why do you suppose? I mean
if there’s a problem with the group, you’d think they could take care of it.”

“I doona know if that’s what it is, but
he’s acting like he’s never been here before. I’m thinking it has something to
do with that.” She put down the pastry bag and put the cake under the glass
dome. When she started pulling carrots and potatoes out of the refrigerator, he
picked up one of the peelers and started peeling the carrots. When she took
that job from him and handed him a potato, she started chopping up an onion. He
had no idea what they were having for dinner other than beef, but there were
enough vegetables for a large crowd. He asked her about it.

“You’re not the only species that’s
going to be at the table. There are a couple of shifters that are not
carnivorous.” She handed him a carrot and told him to eat it. He put it on the
table. “You should eat more vegetables. If we have children, I’m going to make
them eat them. So you should get used to it—” He stood up suddenly and grabbed
her. “Samuel?”

“You want to have children with me?” She
nodded and slapped his shoulder. “When? How soon?”

“When do you want to have them?” He
growled low and nipped at her throat. “That soon, huh? After our guests leave,
we’ll talk about it.”

“No, we’ll make a baby. Tonight. We’ll
start on one tonight.” He didn’t think she was going to agree, but when she
nodded, he took her mouth. Christ, he was never going to get enough of this
woman. When someone cleared their throat behind him, he turned but didn’t let
go of Kennedy.

“My Lord, there is a matter of…you
should come to the living room, My Lord. Mr. Jimmy and Mr. Kaleb are at it again.”
Butler looked like he’d gone a round with a tornado. “I believe there is going
to be trouble brewing until this is settled.”

Kennedy followed him to the living room.
It was a mess. Pillows were thrown here and there. A picture frame lay in
pieces all over the carpet. And Jimmy and Kaleb were an inch from one another
screaming at each other about something. A shrill whistle made the entire room
still.

“Now, we’re adults here, at least some
of us are, and we’ll talk like them.” When Jimmy started to cut Kennedy off,
she raised a brow at him, and he sat down. “I will expect this room to be
perfect before our guests get here, and if dinner is burned, I will have the
two of you washing dishes and eating only salad for a month. Understand?”

They both nodded at her and lowered
their heads. Samuel had to take several deep breaths before he could begin to
speak, because this was by far the funniest thing he’d ever seen. When she
glared at him, he cleared his throat.

“What’s the problem?” Both men started
to speak at once, but Kennedy cleared her throat, and they shut up. “Jimmy?”

“He said he was going to be your
enforcer. I told him that he couldn’t do that, because I was going to do it.” Kennedy
snorted but Jimmy ignored her. “I’ve been covering your ass since we met, about
five years before he came into the picture.”

Kaleb had been watching him as well, so
Samuel couldn’t understand what the issue was now. When Kennedy stood up and
started pacing, Samuel wondered if she knew the heart of this. And when she
spoke he knew she did.

“What of me?” Both men looked at him,
then back at her. “What do I do for protection? I was hoping that…well, I guess
if you want to be Samuel’s enforcer, I’ll have to find me someone else to watch
over me and the
leanai
.”

“Leanai?”
Both men looked
at him again while he tried to figure out what it meant. When she snapped the
word
children
at them, both men flushed. Samuel watched the two of them
as they looked pointedly at her belly.

“You think we can protect ourselves?” Jimmy
stood up and was knocked back by Kaleb. “Ye want the job, Kaleb? You’d not
watch over Samuel to keep me and the babies safe?”

“It would be an honor, My Lady.” He
bowed before her and started picking up glass. Jimmy sat there for several
seconds before he, too, got up and started picking up the pillows and stuffing
that had been spread all over the couch. By the time he and Kennedy went back
to the kitchen, he was hurting he was laughing so hard.

“You played them well.” She didn’t even
acknowledge him. “You read their thoughts and knew what the problem was, didn’t
you?”

“Nay, I did no such thing. You don’t
think your babies need protecting? I’m shocked at ye you brute of a man. What
will I tell the wee ones when they ask me about it?”

“You’ll tell them that you’re a wicked woman
and that you made a grown bear do just what you wanted him to do by fluttering
your pretty lashes at him.” He kissed her hard, bringing her against his body.
“I love you very much, Mrs. Payne.”

“And I you, Mr. Payne. Now leave me to
my work. We’ve guests to poison tonight.” She was laughing when he left the
room. Samuel hoped she was kidding but with her it was hard to tell.

~~~

Kennedy knew the moment that the woman
crossed their threshold that she was there to kill Stephan and to blame it on
them. When she looked at the man, he winked at her and handed her his coat.

“What a lovely home you have here.” She
nodded at Lucille Benton as she, too, handed her the cape she’d worn. “I will
have to have a tour later. What do you think, Alex? Would you enjoy a tour?”

“Of course, and it’s Stephan. As I’ve
told you several hundred times.” Lucille laughed a sort of twitter that made
Kennedy want to hit her. “I’m sure that the Payne’s would love to show us
around.”

Kennedy started to reach out to the man,
but he shook his head. Moving to hand the coats to Butler, she looked at him. He
looked worried. There was something else going on, and she was afraid for them
all.

What is it?
He looked
startled for a second, but she continued to talk to him with her mind.
You
knew I could do this to others, why not you as well?

Of course. My Lady, there are four men
in the kitchen that look like they mean to take out the house. They claim to be
there on behalf of the council, but why would they need such armed guards?
He looked back
over his shoulder, then at her again.
I don’t think this is going to end
well.

It will. Trust me
. Kennedy asked
to be excused by her guest and moved to the door to the kitchen. The men had
come with Lucille. Moving into the kitchen, she looked at them, then at the
mess they’d made in her kitchen. “You will clean that up.”

The man in front only snorted at her and
told her to go to hell. Before she could answer him, she felt someone touch her
mind, but rather than speak, they sent her a mental picture. Reaching out to
the first man, she touched his head and he dropped like a stone. The other
three were easy enough to do the same thing to, and in a matter of seconds,
they were being tied up by the kitchen help.

She was just making her way to the
living room again with Butler carrying a tray of appetizers when another
picture entered her mind. This one was a heart, and she smiled. Someone wanted
to thank her.

“There you are. We were beginning to
worry about you.” Kennedy looked at Lucille as she sat nearly atop of Stephan.
“Weren’t we, dear?”

“I’m not your dear, and I wasn’t
concerned. This is her home.” Stephan stood up and walked to the fireplace. “I
understand you’ve only just lost your brother, Mrs. Payne. I am sorry for your
loss. It must be hard to lose one so close to you.”

“Aye, and I thank you. We were never close,
he and I, but he was blood. And you have heard about the Irish and their blood.
Stronger than their ale.” Stephan laughed, and Lucille only looked confused.

“You’re not distraught over his death? I
would have thought that you’d be out of your mind with sorrow.” Kennedy shook
her head and felt the woman’s anger surge forward. “I’d be crazy with his loss.
If I had a brother, that is.”