Part 3 (1/2)
”Hey,” he said softly. ”I'm sorry I hurt you. It was meant in a teasing way, not as a heavy handed thing. I did do it because I love you. You needed that s.h.i.+pment but never would have asked me to pull strings. I did because I could, and because it made you happy. And I've discovered that I like you happy. And I like being the one to make you that way.” He sighed. ”I see now that having Harry remind you was stupid. I understand how it must have felt, but I didn't have him remind you to hurt you. Or to pressure you. Well, okay, not pressure you in an extortion sort of way but to remind you of something good to put you in a better mood.”
Her eyes lost some of their sadness, and she traced the brand on his chest just above his heart that marked him as the leader of his tribe, his family sigil. She braced her hands on his biceps and began to ride him, glorying in the feel of his c.o.c.k slicing through her over and over.
He was beautiful spread out below her like a fallen angel. Radiant and yet frightening in his otherness, clearly a predator, but the kind of predator you'd smile at as you fell with him. She watched as his eyes lost focus and blurred with his impending climax. Unable to hold her own back once he reached down and plumped her c.l.i.t with thumb and forefinger, tugging on her nipple ring with the other hand, she cried out.
Her head lolled back as she sighed out his name, her sweet p.u.s.s.y superheated and wet around his c.o.c.k, squeezing him, pulling his o.r.g.a.s.m out, demanding it. With a hoa.r.s.e roar, he followed her, and she collapsed onto his chest, her ear over his heart, listening to the very slow, very strong beat.
Chapter Three.
As dawn approached, he burrowed under the blankets with her in his arms. He knew her home was safe for him-her windows were darkened because she worked nights, and he stayed over so often. One of his human lieutenants, Dominic, was already there protecting Alex. He was able to rest without fear.
Lissette awoke at eleven and took a shower and dressed, leaving Stryker to sleep until twilight. She descended the stairs and saw Alex playing a video game with Dominic and his son.
Dom saw her and smiled. ”Coffee's in the pot for you. Strong like you like it. I hope you don't mind that Shane is here. School's out for winter break, and I thought he and Alex could hang out.”
She smiled back, unable not to. Dominic was over six and a half feet tall, fists the size of pit bulls, and he could rip the head off most adversaries, but he was a gentle soul underneath it all. That he was a good dad on top of that made her feel even more warmly toward him. Or perhaps she was just in the mood to
love people in the wake of the intense talk of the early morning between her and Stryker.
Patting Dom's arm, she nodded. ”No problem. Thanks for the coffee.” Peering around him into the television room, she saw his son and Alex furiously mas.h.i.+ng b.u.t.tons and involved in some kind of martial arts fighting game. She grinned at Dom who shrugged. ”Hi, Shane! Please make yourself at home, Hon.
Morning, Alex. Did you sleep all right?”
Alex turned to her, his eyes alight with glee. ”You have the coolest toys ever! A Playstationand an XBox! Heck, I'm not in any big hurry to move in with Xander. Your television is twice the size of theone he owns.”
Lissette laughed. ”Well, your brother isn't much for video games, and he isn't home often enough to
watch television much. But you're always welcome to come over and play here though, all right?”
”Did you two make up?” His eyes were so wide and innocent, she wondered if she'd ever been that way. This kid was in the sights of a crazed b.i.t.c.h who tried to kill him, and he was playing video games and drinking soda in her house like any other kid his age should be. The realization made her even angrier at Stryker's mother.
Dominic looked up, too, waiting for the answer, clearly as interested as Alex was.
”Yes. For the most part, anyway. He's upstairs sleeping, but he told me to tell you he'd take you for pizza when he woke up, and that he'd talk to you about schools in the area.”
”Cool. You know, he's the closest thing I've ever had to a dad. His father, our father, only visited me once. He did write me a lot, and he called me once a month, but he never came to my school stuff. After my mom died, I was thinking that I wouldn't have anyone at parents' weekend, but Xander always came out. I know there's some trouble with my father's wife. I know she doesn't like me. But Xander is a good guy, and you're a good woman. I'm glad you forgave him.”
She sat down next to him on the arm of the chair and touched his hair. ”Don't worry about her, okay?
Xander will work it out, and until then, you're safe here with me and Dom. This thing? It's not about you.
I want you to trust your brother to make everything all right.”
Alex sighed and nodded back at her with those same blue eyes that Stryker possessed. She'd only barely resisted the urge to lean down and kiss the top of his head before she got up to leave the room.
She and Dominic shared a look as she filled her cup and stirred in milk and sugar. ”That crazy b.i.t.c.h has got to be muzzled.”
”I hope Stryker can talk some sense into her. I've never seen her so out of control. She wasn't always like this, you know. She used to be a different person. Rueben was a philanderer. He always was. For three hundred years, he was. Frankly, I'm shocked Alex is the only offspring from his affairs. I mean, he and Graciella only had Xander, and it took her nearly two hundred and fifty years to get pregnant.
”The shock of finding out did something to her. I can only hope Xander can give her the cold slap of reality that she needs. You'd like the old Graciella, and I think she'd like you, too, if she just got hold of herself.”
”I wonder about that myself. The other kids thing.” She shrugged. ”I'm guessing there are others out there, but they never came forward for one reason or another. But Alex is a sweet, smart twelve year old who has absolutely nothing to do with his father's problem keeping his p.e.n.i.s in his pants. She's a mother.
You'd think she'd understand that.”
Sometime later, she heard the doorbell ring and went toward the door to answer it. Dominic met her in the hall and shook his head, motioning for her to get behind him. Looking into the room where the boys were, he ordered, ”stay in here.” There was no room for argument in his statement, so they nodded. Backing out of the room, he shut the door and turned back to Lissie.
”You know this is going to be from her, and we don't know what it'll be. Stay behind me until I see who and what it is.” She gave him the same nod the boys had, always amazed when this part of him surfaced. His face was hard, eyes alert and mean.
He looked out the gla.s.s on the front door and sighed. ”Yep, it's one ofher people. Looks like a lawyer.”
”Oh great,” Lissette said without enthusiasm. ”Let the vampire games begin. Move back, and let me open it. Rip his head off if you need to. I promise to get out of the way.” The look he gave her promised he would indeed do it if he needed to.
She opened the door and gave the man in the suit her best arrogant glare. ”Yes?”
”Ms. Norris?”
”Yes. What do you want?”
”I am here on behalf of Graciella Stryker. She wishes me to tell you that you are harboring an outlaw. A member of another tribe who does not have permission to be here. As such, you are involving yourself in matters that will only complicate your life.”
She snorted. ”You really came all the way over here to deliver that little message? She knows my number. She's called me enough times to let me know how disappointing I am as a potential mate for her son. I hope you charge her extra for mileage.