Sworn to the Wolf (26 page)

“It’s going to be okay,” she murmured thickly, as if she’d read his mind, and he nodded solemnly.

“I love you,
mon coeur
.”

“I love you too, Laurent, always and forever.”

* * *

“They made the lights flicker?” Ryan asked incredulously.

“No kidding! Ask Andreas. When she touched his skin it was as if we were in a jungle. I swear, their sexual energy made the room hot and humid. You could literally feel it. And when he touched her lips and she made this
sound
of arousal the lights flickered.”

“Wow. Too bad I missed that,” Ryan said, looking a bit awed.

“Ah, here they come now and wow, is that a postcoital glow or what?” Skye grinned as he approached them. “Hey, hot stuff. Come to trade up?” he asked, kissing her cheek and rubbing his face along her jawline.

“You wish,” Laurent growled and Skye waggled his eyebrows in agreement with that assessment.

When Laurent and Rain went to the dining room everyone had come to give hugs and nuzzles. Hellie squealed in delight to see Rain and insisted on sitting next to her at the big table.

“Uncle Skye, I need your chair because Rain needs me to sit next to her in case she wants a hug,” Hellie said seriously and Skye nodded solemnly and moved down a seat. Rain kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you so much, Hellie, you knew just what I needed,” Rain said to her, winking at Skye when Helene turned her head.

Dinner was normal. And that was also just what Rain needed. After dinner though, they put the kids down and went to gather in the great room to visit.

“Rain, did I tell you that a business associate of mine saw one of your paintings hanging in Devon and Perri’s firm and went crazy? He wants to talk to you about commissioning something. He’s been raving about you. I have his card in my office, I’ll give it to you after a while,” Andreas said, breaking the silence.

“Really? Wow. I had no idea that Devon and Perri even bought one of my paintings. In fact, I don’t know who bought any of them at all. I need to talk with Diane, I’ve done three new paintings and she wanted to see them.”

“I don’t think anyone who hadn’t seen your work before the show had the slightest idea of just how talented you truly are. Kari and I bought
King’s Men
, it’s in our bedroom. I had to pull rank and go behind everyone’s back to snap it up because three other people wanted it. The brawl ensued when all of the paintings got sold and the Pack wanted more.” Andreas laughed. “Bert tried to get Devon and Perri to draw straws for it but Perri told him no way. I know some of us are going to be at the Portland show early to snap up paintings before anyone else.”

“Everyone has been so good to me. I don’t know that I can ever repay your kindness.” She looked around the room and realized that these people who’d been total strangers just months ago were her family. It touched her deeply to know they bought her work.

“You don’t repay family, Rain. We love you and you’ve got an amazing talent,” Laurent said softly, taking her hand in his own and running his thumb over her knuckles.

“Thank you, Laurent. Thank you, everyone,” she said, putting his hand to her lips and kissing him.

Skye patted the couch next to him. “Have a heart, you two. Come sit by me, Rain, because I can’t deal with another one of the sex power spillovers you and Laurent create every time you touch each other. Andreas can go upstairs to Kari but Phillip, Ryan and I are all sleeping alone tonight.” He grinned.

“So I take it it’s rare,” Rain said, sitting next to Skye, putting her head on his shoulder.

“Well, Kari spills power when she’s challenging someone or showing a dominance display. It’s electric, like static electricity. I’ve met another mated pair who has a similar spill to yours and Laurent’s but nowhere near the range and level of energy that you two put out,” Andreas said, sipping a brandy. He shrugged. “It’s certainly something to behold and it says a lot about the power of your connection. I noticed that it really began to happen after the bonding ceremony. Your wolves recognize each other to be sure.”

“Yeah, recognize and want to hump,” Ryan added with a laugh.

“Rain, can you come taste this for me?” Anna called from the kitchen. “I’ve made that pineapple upside-down cake you like so much but I tried a new recipe.”

Rain lit up, nearly clapping with joy as she hopped off the couch and headed into the kitchen.

“It’s good to have her back.” Phillip laughed at her excitement.

“I agree,” Laurent said softly. He knew everyone had been hurting for them both, feeling helpless in the face of the pain they both endured.

“When are you going to try to have another baby?” Ryan asked, now that Rain had left.

“I don’t know. I’m leaving it up to her. She’s going to use birth control for the time being. I don’t want to rush her. It’s her body and she’s the one who had to bear the physical loss of the baby. You know, she felt him move just before we left the gallery that night.”

“I didn’t know that. God, Laurent, how awful for both of you,” Skye said.

“I’d like to try again within the next six months but I don’t even want to broach the subject right now. She’s healing but I don’t want to pressure her or set her back.”

“Good idea,” Andreas said.

Chapter Thirteen

Rain stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom she and Laurent shared in Portland. It was twenty minutes until she needed to be at the gallery for her show. She wore a forest green velvet blouse and a short black skirt. Pretty boots rode her legs to her knees. Her hair was twisted into a French braid and she wore the ruby and diamond earrings Laurent had given her.

Laurent sat on the bed, putting on his watch and looking at his mate’s black hair gleaming in the lamplight. He smiled then, she looked so amazing, so confident and self-assured. He got up and walked to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and looking at her in the mirror. “You look beautiful, Rain,” he said in her ear, nipping the lobe slightly but enough to make her shiver.

She gave him a sexy smile. “Thank you, love. You look good as always. I told you that shirt would look perfect with those pants.”

He rolled his eyes. “You were right. We should get going. Skye went to grab the car and pull it around.” They stayed in the Pack-owned apartment not too very far from the gallery in Portland’s Pearl District.

She grabbed the black velvet wrap Drew had made for her and Laurent helped her put it across her shoulders. “This is pretty. Drew has an eye for pretty things.” He raised a brow and Rain laughed at the suggestive comment.

After one last look in the mirror they walked hand in hand into the living room where everyone waited.

The small gallery was already packed when Rain arrived. She’d already been by earlier in the day to look over everything and check in with Diane. It was still ten minutes before the official opening and already her friends from Seattle were there as well as the entire Cherchez Clan. Laurent stayed glued to her side, memories of the last show still burned into his brain.

Twenty minutes later, as Rain sipped a glass of champagne, Diane saw her and came over. “Rain, darling, you’re a hit again! The doors have only been open a short while and you’ve just sold out again! Didn’t I tell you that you had a promising career ahead of you? Congratulations, my dear. I’d like to do another show for you in about six months, what do you say?”

“How about eight months and I think that it’s only fair to renegotiate our commission split,” Rain said, grinning, and Diane threw back her head and laughed.

“Eight months it is and I’ll have our lawyer call you about the commission split later on in the month.”

Laurent hugged her tightly.

“I think you and I need to go on our honeymoon. I can afford to treat you now. Somewhere warm and tropical sounds good,” Rain murmured into his ear.

“Hmm. You in a bikini? Sun, sand, tropical drinks? Sounds good. Although you know, we still haven’t had a more elaborate wedding ceremony.”

“Laurent, we don’t need that. We had our own little ceremony and that was enough. A honeymoon though, yes, I think that’s a necessity. Jamaica? Virgin Islands? The Bahamas?”

“One of the Pack members is a travel agent, we should talk to him and see what’s out there right now,” he said, lips against her ear enticingly.

Suddenly Rain froze and a panicked sound came from her throat. Laurent went on alert and, seeing that, Ryan and Skye surrounded Rain. Instantly Phillip and Alek pushed Kari and Andreas back. More males began to surround Rain until she wasn’t visible at all.

“Julia? Are you there? You don’t have to be afraid. I didn’t bring your father with me.”

Rain pushed her way through the circle of males, gently reassuring them she was fine. Laurent wasn’t convinced and he stood in front of her such that she sighed in annoyance and looked around him. “Mom? What are you doing here?”

“You said you had a show for your paintings. I’ve missed so much of your life. I just wanted to be here. Your father isn’t with me but he does know where I am.” The petite, overly done woman looked around Laurent’s massive frame to try to talk to Rain.

“Laurent, for god’s sake it’s just my mother. Nothing’s going to happen. There are thirty of you here protecting me. Please let me go to her,” she said calmly in his ear and he looked annoyed but stepped aside, staying right at her side.

Rain enveloped her mother in a hug. “Mom. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too, sweetheart.”

Rain turned and looked at Laurent. “Mom, this is my husband, Laurent Cole. Laurent, this is my mother, Patrice Margoles.”

“I’m so happy to meet you. From what I understand you’re very good to my daughter and you’ve protected her. Thank you for that. I’m ashamed I didn’t do more.”

“And what, Mom? Risk your life? You did enough to get me the money and help me get out.”

“Are you telling me you wouldn’t risk your life for your child? Didn’t you? Didn’t you nearly die to try to save your baby from Anthony?” Patrice said quietly.

Rain looked stricken at the memory and Laurent growled, raising the hairs on Patrice’s arms. “I’m sorry, can we not discuss this right now? It upsets Rain deeply.” Laurent put his arm around Rain’s waist and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’m sorry. I—I didn’t come here to upset you. I just wanted to see you, it’s been so long and I’ve missed you so much. It upset me too, you know? I’m sorry.”

Rain smiled. “I’ve missed you too. I’m glad to see you. How long are you here for? I’d love for you to see our house.”

“I can’t. I have to leave in an hour. Your father, well, he’s your father, you know how he is.” Patrice looked down at the ground.

“Let’s go and grab a coffee then,” Rain said, clasping her mother’s hand. “Visit a bit before you have to go back. I’ll even take you to the airport.”

“Your show. You can’t just leave.”

“I’ve been here half an hour. I’ve sold out the show. I haven’t seen you in a year and a half. I’d love to talk to you, to see how everyone is.”

“If you’re sure.”

“
We’ll
take you to coffee then,” Laurent said, still not trusting his mother-in-law.

“Oh good, I’d like to get to know you.” Patrice smiled hopefully.

Laurent leaned over and told Skye that he and Rain were taking her mother to coffee and then to the airport. Andreas came forward and insisted Skye come with them. Rain bristled but she knew it wasn’t an argument she could win.

At Peet’s near the airport, Rain and her mother visited. Her mother cried as Rain described the miscarriage and Anthony’s crazy behavior. Her mother told her Pietro had refused to allow any mention of Julia’s name in his presence but that she’d stood up to him and he’d allowed her to come to Portland but only for the day.

“Mom, why do you stay? He’s such an asshole. Come and live with us. Or don’t if you don’t want to. We’ll get you a place nearby if you don’t want to live with us.”

“He’s my husband, Julia. We’ve been together for thirty years. I have no skills. I’ve never lived alone. What would I do?”

“You could be a grandma to my children. There will be children, Mom. I hate that you’re on the other side of the country.”

Patrice sighed. “Honey, he’s my husband and he’s not all bad. He treats me decently enough. I can’t walk away from my life like you did. You’re brave and young and you have passion and talent and drive. I’m old.”

Rain laughed. “You’re fifty-six! That isn’t old by a long shot.”

“You always were my favorite,” Patrice said with a small laugh. “I’ll come back out when you have a baby, I promise.” She dug a large expandable folder out of her bag, handing it across the table to Rain. “In the meantime, you’re owed this. Even your father agrees.”

Rain opened the thick package and saw that there was a stack of money inside. “What is this?”

“It’s thirty thousand dollars. It was part of your dowry for your marriage to Anthony. Take it, put a down payment on a house, go on vacation, start a college fund for my future grandbabies.” Patrice looked at her watch. “I have to go, my plane is leaving in an hour and they won’t let me check in if I don’t get there soon.”

They went to the airport and walked Patrice to the security checkpoint. Rain hugged her mother tightly and kissed both cheeks. “I am so glad you came, Mom. Fly safe. I love you.”

“I love you too, Julia, or rather, Rain,” Patrice said and in minutes was gone from sight.

Laurent got one side and Skye got the other and each of them put arms around her shoulders and waist respectively and they headed back to the car.

“Only my mother would get on a damned plane with thirty grand in cash,” Rain murmured and Skye laughed. “Thank you for coming tonight, Skye. You’ve been so wonderful to me and Laurent through all of this. I’m glad you’re in our life.”

Skye smiled, winking at her and then at Laurent, who looked at him appraisingly. “It’s my pleasure, cupcake.”

By the time they returned to the apartment Kari and Andreas had already gone to their room and everyone else was out or asleep.

Skye kissed Rain’s lips quickly and hugged Laurent before heading into the kitchen. He turned, standing in the doorway. “You two up for a glass or three of wine?”

Rain laughed. “After all the craziness of tonight? Yes, that sounds good.”

Laurent kissed her forehead, chuckling. “I’d wager you’re hungry too?”

“Are you volunteering to forage for me?”

“Well if by forage you mean get some grapes and cheese, perhaps some crackers, yes.”

“Mmm. Forage away. I’ll totally have sex with you if you bring me chocolate.”

His eyes deepened in color as he followed Skye into the kitchen. After she’d looked her fill at both very fine behinds she went into their room and changed from her dressy clothes into a pair of loose-fitting yoga pants and a tank top.

When they returned, arms filled with food and wine, she was in the process of shaking her hair loose of its braid, massaging her scalp.

She bounded over and hopped on the bed, tossing out pillows for Skye and Laurent to prop on.

Wine was poured and Rain fluttered her lashes at Laurent when she noted the dark chocolate on the plate with the grapes and cheese. “My, someone’s getting lucky later.”

“Really? The chocolate was my choice.” Skye winked at her and a shiver ran up her spine.

Laurent chuckled. “What do you think, baby? Is Skye going to get lucky tonight?”

She blushed but couldn’t deny the idea made her wet. “I don’t know. I mean, he’s here with us so...” Her words trailed off as she shrugged, taking a huge gulp of wine.

They sat there, drinking wine and snacking, the tension growing, heady and tantalizing. Skye rested his head on Rain’s legs as Rain idly played with his hair. Laurent sat behind her, kneading her shoulders, absently kissing her neck.

Skye’s normally flirtatious manner had mellowed. Because it was real. The attraction hung in the air and stroked over Laurent’s skin like a caress. Laurent loved the way Skye looked at Rain, like she was a precious thing. Not in an adoring fashion, it would have been too close, too uncomfortable in that way. But Skye saw the things under the surface that made Rain so appealing. And that appealed to Laurent. In a sense Laurent wanted to share that with Skye. Wanted to unite with his friend, a man who saw his woman for the special person she was, to bring her pleasure. And in doing so to comfort her as well.

Laurent watched Rain closely, scenting her honey. His eyes met Skye’s, which had gone dark and glossy. Laurent knew those eyes like he knew the scent of his woman when she was turned on.

Skye had been on the outside as his friends had found their Mates one after the other. He’d watched as they started families and built lives together. Laurent knew what that loneliness felt like, he’d been there not even a year ago.

And Rain had been through the wringer in the last eighteen months. On the run from her father, being kidnapped and assaulted, losing their child. The appearance of her mother had shaken her deeply. Her laughter that night had been edgy, he could feel her tension through their link.

He wanted to comfort her and comfort his friend and he couldn’t deny the allure of the idea of the three of them together.

“Rain, are you attracted to Skye?” he murmured in her ear as he leaned over her shoulder.

Startled, she laughed. “He’s a beautiful, smart and funny man and a powerful wolf. What’s not to be attracted to?” Getting to her knees, she went to him and put her arms around his neck. “But there’s a problem. He’s not you. I seem to have a terrible attraction to this big bad wolf who talks dirty in French.”

“Would you like his mouth on your pussy?”

Her breath caught and Skye moaned softly. Laurent caught his friend’s gaze and knew Skye had been thinking the same way he had.

“Why?” Rain’s voice was breathy as she sat back to look at him.

“Why?”

“Yes, why? Are you asking me if I’d betray you? If I want another male sexually instead of you? Or are you asking if I find him sexy in a general sense and fuckable in an entirely fantasy-type way? Because the answer is different depending on just what you’re asking and why.”

He nodded as he mulled over what she’d said. “Okay, I see your point. Not only that but I like your point.” He turned his gaze to Skye. “And what about you?”

“I don’t think you fully answered Rain’s question.”

“Fair enough. Rain, under some well-defined circumstances, would you like Skye in our bed tonight?”

“Um.” She blinked quickly.

Laurent laughed. “I know he’s attracted to you. I see you’re attracted to him. He’s hurting and lonely without a Mate and he wants to reach out and comfort you as well. Comfort us. And I want to comfort both of you.”

Skye nodded. “Very succinct. And correct. I’m attracted to Rain. Yes, I’d be honored to share your bed tonight. If that’s what she wants as well. She’s a very sexual being, she’s beautiful, strong and creative.” He ran a tentative hand up Rain’s spine and her eyes slid halfway closed a moment before she cleared her throat. “And yours. I understand that and have a deep desire to find it for myself with my own Mate.”

Laurent felt better at that.

“How...what?” Rain stumbled over her thoughts in the rush of endorphins and testosterone these two males poured off.

“No penetration of anything but your mouth. I don’t want him to come inside you. Is that all right with you? I want to see you on fire between me and my dear friend. I want to let him glimpse a small part of your beauty, to share that with him. But not if you’re uncomfortable. And I want to keep the boundaries here very clear. You’re my Mate. My woman. No other man’s seed inside your body, ever.”