TherianPromise (18 page)

“Fitzroy mistook Natasha for a maid?” Ian laughed. “I bet
she laughed her ass off about that.”

“Once Bruce was secured, she wasted no time mocking him,”
Quinn confirmed. “But your question is interesting. How did he know Ava was
here? Was the tavern open when Jake got the call about the kidnapping?”

“The bar side was basically dead, but the restaurant was
fairly busy,” Kyle said. “Jake was focused on the kidnapping, which is
understandable. None of us thought about someone overhearing the conversation.”

“Well, someone obviously did.” There was just enough
disapproval in Ian’s voice to make Kyle tense.

“Bruce is an arrogant idiot,” Quinn refocused the
conversation. “He knew Ava wasn’t here alone and he still tried to snatch her.
But when it came time to pull the trigger, he spent so long posturing that a
newly defined female took him down.”

“Thanks a lot,” Carissa huffed.

“You did incredibly well.” Quinn wrapped his arm around her
shoulders and drew her closer, chair and all. “That wasn’t my point.”

“What was your point?” Already her irritation began to melt.
Carissa was obviously helpless to resist her lover’s touch.

The affection and longing flowing between Carissa and Quinn
made Ava feel empty and restless.

Are you all right?
Kyle squeezed her hand and she
looked into his eyes.

I’m fine, just a little overwhelmed.
She dragged her
gaze away from his face. The smoldering desire in his gaze was far too similar
to Quinn and Carissa’s.

“Bruce Fitzroy is an annoyance not a threat,” Quinn
stressed.

“Nate will either keep him on a leash or Kyle won’t need to
stop next time.”

Erin’s easy conclusion made Ava feel sick. She could still
see Kyle crouched over the wolf, blood dripping off his chin.

“I’ll mention it to Jake once things quiet down,” Ian
decided. “A customer overhearing a conversation is one thing. He needs to make
sure he doesn’t have a leak.”

No one argued with that, so the impromptu briefing ended.

“Is anyone else hungry?” Erin asked. “I’d love a pizza, but
it’s probably unwise to tempt fate with a delivery.”

“Check the freezer,” Ian suggested. “Jake’s a bachelor and
bachelors always have frozen pizza.”

“This bachelor owns a restaurant,” Carissa reminded with a
smile.

Erin crossed to the surprisingly large refrigerator and
opened the freezer side. “Ian wins. Plenty of frozen pizza. What’s everyone
want?”

Ava slipped off her chair and went out on the deck. The
night was cool and clear, the sky studded with flickering stars. She crossed
her arms on the railing, needing a moment alone.

How had Carissa accepted all this so easily? Ava no longer
doubted the things she’d been told, but she wasn’t sure how to process her new
reality. In less than a week her life had gone from a semi-boring routine to
life-and-death struggles, attempted murder and kidnappings.

And what the hell was she going to do about Kyle? People in
high-stress situations frequently developed intense connections, but as soon as
the danger passed, the attraction faded away. She didn’t want to offer more of
herself than Kyle offered in return. Everything was too new, too uncertain. She
couldn’t let her insecurities turn him into some sort of hero.

As if summoned by her musings, Kyle suddenly stood behind
her and wrapped her in a soft blanket. “I know you’re conflicted and I’ll give
you some space. I just didn’t want you to freeze to death.”

She reached back as he started to leave and caught his
wrist. “Please stay.” His arms wrapped around her and his body heat sank
through the blanket, adding to the comforting weight.

“Would you really have killed him?” she whispered without
turning around.

He took a moment to answer and she felt his arms momentarily
tighten against her waist. “I won’t lie to you and I can’t pretend to be
something I’m not. Therians are predators and we’re intensely protective of
those we care about.”

Did he honestly care about her or was he just grateful she’d
saved his life? The question echoed back and reversed. Did she care about him
or was she simply grateful he’d saved her life?

“Do you want me to answer that or are you just working
things out in your mind?”

She smiled and rested the back of her head against his
shoulder. “Once I’m defined, will I be able to shield my thoughts from you?
Being this transparent obliterates my feminine mystique.”

He chuckled then rubbed his cheek against her hair. “I
assure you your mystique has lost none of its power. I’m fascinated by you.”

“Why?” Even though it revealed her vulnerability, she
couldn’t suppress the word.

“Why am I fascinated by you?” He sounded disbelieving, so
she turned around, dislodging his arms in the process. He moved his hands to
the rail and stared into her eyes as he waited for her to reply.

“You can have any woman you want. Enya was hostile until she
realized we were in sync.”

“Enya was likely hostile because we’re in sync.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that she wants you.” He didn’t
deny it, so she went on. “Are you leader of your clan?”

“Yes.”

He seemed reluctant to elaborate, but she wasn’t in the mood
for evasions. “Explain how all this works. Why is Ian annoyed by our
connection? Was he hoping to bond with me?”

“The most powerful male in each clan becomes alpha. The
twelve most powerful alphas serve on the Alpha Council. All the clans are
organized into four networks. Quinn and I belong to the Rocky Mountain Feline
Network. There is a Southern Feline Network, Canine Network and the Minority
Network. The most powerful alpha from each of these four networks becomes their
network’s Prime.”

“Why are there two feline networks?”

“Because there are more feline shifters in RMFN than all the
other networks combined. I don’t know why we’ve fared better than the other
Therians, but it’s been that way for a very long time.”

“Are you your network’s Prime?” She’d had no idea it was
this well organized, but she’d sensed authority in both men, the sort of confidence
that only came with power.

“I am and so is Ian. And you’re right. He’s hoping you’ll
join with him and become part of the Minority Network.”

“Does that mean it’s still my choice to make?”

“Of course.” He sighed, removing one of his hands from the
rail as he brushed his hair back from his face. “Nothing will be forced on you,
ever
. Even if you don’t choose me, I’ll make sure no one harms you or
pressures you needlessly.”

“If I don’t choose you?” Her mind stalled on the phrase,
unable to move beyond the concept. “You want me to…bond with you
permanently
?”

He ran his knuckles across her cheek and smiled. “Don’t
panic, sunshine. You know damn well I want you, but any permanent decision is a
long way off. You don’t have to be afraid any longer. Any one of us would give
our lives to protect you.”

“How very medieval of you.”

Despite her grumbling response, he chuckled then tilted her
chin up and searched her gaze. “The concept might be antiquated, but I mean it
literally. We are sworn to the Omni Prime. Your life and the life of anyone
within your bloodline is more important than ours.”

“I refuse to accept—”

He placed his fingers on her lips, halting her words. “It
doesn’t matter what you accept. The choice was ours to make. And when you are
ready—regardless of how long that takes—you will choose the male who best meets
your needs and balances your abilities.” His fingertips brushed over her face
as he drew his hand away.

“I won’t have abilities of any importance until I’m
defined.”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her mouth. “That decision
must be made sooner, but you still have time. Relax. Allow yourself to adjust
to all these changes.”

Carissa hadn’t needed time to adjust. She’d learned all the
secrets their mother had hidden from them and chosen her new life path while
Ava ran and hid like a frightened rabbit.

Erin slid the door open and called, “Pizza’s almost ready.”

“We’ll be right in,” Kyle told her.

The warmth in his gaze made Ava smile. “Have you and your
mother always been close?”

“Yes, but we became especially so after my father died.”

She nodded. “Death seems to do that to the ones left
behind.” She’d thought she was close with Carissa until their mother died. Then
they became inseparable, having no other family but each other. Or so they’d
believed at the time.

Ava sat across from her sister as Erin set two steaming
pizzas on the kitchen table. The men waited as Erin served the younger women
then they attacked the rest of the gooey slices. They spoke of people Ava
didn’t know and it made her feel even more like an outsider when she realized
Carissa understood the references. Erin tried to include her in the exchange,
but the conversation quickly became too lively to control.

Quinn and Kyle enjoyed exchanging playful insults while Ian
remained quiet and watchful, his gaze frequently straying to Ava. He was
handsome and imposing, but she felt no attraction, no elemental connection like
the one she felt with Kyle. So it wasn’t Therian males as opposed to human men.
She hadn’t felt the overwhelming urge to jump Jake’s bones. It was only Kyle
who made her irrationally…horny. She’d always hated the word, but nothing else
expressed the continual restlessness only his touch quieted.

“Has anyone checked in with Jake?” Carissa asked as the men
divvied up the final pieces of pizza.

“I talked briefly with Enya,” Ian said. “Jake’s still out in
the field.”

“Any new information? Has he picked up a trail?” Erin’s eyes
were the same forest green as Kyle’s, Ava noticed as they filled with
compassion. “Those poor girls.”

“They don’t know anything yet, but Jake will keep at it
until they’re found. Stubbornness is a common Therian trait.”

Stubbornness, protectiveness, compassion and ferocity, Ava
added to the list. Most modern women would consider their attitudes
chauvinistic and out-of-date. Ava found them charming. She’d spent so much of
her life trying to be strong and self-sufficient. Knowing someone was there to
protect and care for her was incredibly appealing.

Kyle pushed back from the table and held out his hand. “Mind
if we desert you with the dishes?” he asked his mother. “We’re still recovering
from our adventures in the wild.”

She chuckled then winked at him. “Go on. I’m sure Carissa
and I can handle it. We wouldn’t want you to strain yourself.”

Ava’s face flamed as the others laughed, everyone except
Ian. His gaze followed her with obvious interest. Kyle slipped his arm around
her shoulders and ushered her from the room. “Ignore him.”

“Ignore who?”

He stopped walking and turned her to face him, his hands
resting on her shoulders. “Answers like that will make me think his attention
isn’t unwanted. Are you attracted to Ian?”

“No. I’ve just never had one man this interested in me, much
less two.”

“Better get used to it,” he advised in a whisper. “Until you
choose your mate, you’re going to draw a lot of attention.”

Kyle led her to the bedroom he’d selected for them and
motioned toward the suitcase on the chair near the connecting bathroom.
“Carissa brought some of your clothes and stuff.”

“Yeah, she told me Quinn drove her to our house while we
were lost on the mountain. I guess she was pretty upset and he was trying to
keep her distracted.”

“I can think of more interesting ways to keep a woman
distracted.” He grinned at her, but she was too busy rummaging through the suitcase
to notice.

“It will be so nice to wear my own clothes.” She looked at
him and flashed a beaming smile. “She remembered my toothbrush!”

“It’s amazing how much we take for granted. All the simple
pleasures of life.”

With her toothbrush in one hand and a sleep shirt in the
other, she looked at the bed then nibbled on her bottom lip. “Do you mind if I
take a bath before we go to bed? I really need to relax.”

“Anything you want. Tonight’s for you.”

She glanced away while her cheeks turned pink. He loved it
when she blushed. It made her seem so innocent, so untainted by the harsh
realities of life. “Why is that? It’s not my birthday or anything.”

“You promised not to run no matter what happened.”

“I kept that promise.” Her brows scrunched together over her
nose, creating adorable furrows in her brow. He wanted to smooth away the faint
lines with his lips then kiss his way down to her mouth.

“I know you did. Now it’s my turn to prove that I’m a man of
my word. Last night was not what I intended for our first time together. I
promised to make it up to you and I intend to keep that promise tonight.”
Before she could reply, he swept her into his arms and carried her into the
bathroom. The large sunken tub was the reason he’d chosen this bedroom. “I was
going to fill the bath and bring you chilled champagne, but you ruined the
surprise.”

“Sorry.” She slid down his body as he released her legs.
“Are you going to join me?”

“That’s up to you. I’ll remain your obedient servant if
you’d rather just soak or I’ll wash your hair and rub your shoulders if you’d
rather have company.”

Mischief glistened in her blue eyes and she placed her hand
on his chest. “What if I’d rather have my obedient servant in the tub with me?”

He laughed. “It’s your night. What would you like me to do?”
He wasn’t sure how long his Therian nature would allow him to indulge her, but
he’d give it a try. She’d already experienced forceful and demanding. This
might be fun.

“Undress for me. I was too worried about you dying on me
last night to enjoy your visual appeal.”

“As milady commands.” He swept his arm in front of him as he
bent into a courtly bow. Then he turned on the water so the bathtub could fill
while he obeyed her first directive. He tugged off his boots and socks then
pulled his t-shirt off over his head. Her gaze boldly followed his movements,
frequently lingering in strategic areas. Therians were blessed with a higher
metabolic rate than most humans, so obesity wasn’t a problem. In fact the vast
majority of human diseases didn’t affect Therians.