Slade's Desire (White River Wolves Series, #2) (9 page)

“You weren’t meant to,” Jade said simply.

Gypsy nodded, tugging her hands from Slade and Jade’s, she clasped them tightly in her lap.  “I realize that now.  A book that is handed down from generation to generation in my family states that I can only save those who are meant to be saved.  But that night, with that little boy, almost broke me.  I have this wonderful gift, powerful beyond anything I have ever known, and I could not help him.”

“How many others have you helped?  How many other lives have you saved?”

“Four, including Xavier,” Gypsy admitted.

“Be proud of that, Gypsy.  Be happy that you were able to save them.  I know their families are.”  Looking into Jade’s eyes, Gypsy nodded, reaching up to wipe away her tears.  Jade was right.  She was not meant to save that small boy, no matter how much she wished the outcome had been different.  It was time to face it, and move on.  Hadn’t she just told Xavier that she could only save the ones that were meant to be saved?

“If you will allow me to,” Jade inquired softly, “I have the ability to merge with you and see what you have seen in the past.  Maybe, together, we can find out who this man is that you can’t remember?”

Did she want Jade in her mind?  Did she want the kind, gentle woman to be exposed to the terror and torture she had gone through in The Dungeon?  “I promise you, I will not share anything with the others that you don’t want me to.”

“No, it’s not that,” Gypsy said when she felt Slade’s hands tighten on her shoulders.  “I have nothing to hide.  I just don’t want you to have to relive what I went through, Jade.”

“Trust me, I will be fine.  I’ve been through hell myself and survived.”

The truth was there in Jade’s eyes for Gypsy to see.  Taking a deep breath, she finally agreed.  “Let’s get it done then.”  When Slade made a move to remove his hands from her shoulders, Gypsy reached up and grasped them tightly with her own. 
No, please.  I need your strength.

She shivered when she felt Slade’s lips touch the top of her head. 
Always.

Gypsy closed her eyes and lowered her head, still holding tightly to Slade.  She could do this.  She was strong and brave, just like Chase’s mate. 
Yes,
she felt Jade whisper into her mind,
You are very strong.  Now just relax.  First I want you to take me back to the time you were held captive. 
A shudder racked Gypsy’s body, fear swamping her.  She didn’t want to go back to The Dungeon.  There was only terror and death there. 
You are safe, my friend.  Your mate is here, as is your alpha.  No one will ever harm you again.  Trust me.

I do.
  Slowly, Gypsy allowed herself to drift back to a time she would rather forget.  Now that she had her memory back, she wondered why she had fought to retrieve the memories in the first place.  They were full of nothing but pain and despair. 

For close to half an hour, Jade stayed in Gypsy’s mind, reliving the past with her; the agony, the torture, the complete loss of hope.  Gypsy’s shoulders slumped and her body was racked with sobs as she was forced to endure the memories along with her friend.  Finally, when she was sure she could not handle anymore, she heard Jade’s voice
You did a wonderful job, Gypsy. I think I have everything I need.  Now, show me what happened today.

Gypsy stiffened in fear, but forged on, determined to find out who wanted her back bad enough to try and kill not only her mate, but other members of the pack.  It was not long before she had her answer. Her eyes springing open, she gasped the name of the one man who instilled terror in her like no other, “Titus!”  Fear engulfed her, and a scream tore from her throat.  “No...no!  Slade!”

She felt strong arms pulling her from the chair and holding her close as her mate gently rubbed a hand up and down her back.  “Ssshhh, Gypsy.  No one is ever going to hurt you again.  That bastard will not get near you.”

“Titus thinks I’m his,” Gypsy moaned, hugging Slade tightly to her.  “He used to hurt me, Slade.  He hit me over and over again, and allowed his men to beat me too.  He is the one who broke my arm because I tried to feed Trace when they were starving him.  He said the food was a gift from him, one that he had to sneak from his boss, so he was teaching me a lesson.”

“Did he...”

Slade left the rest unsaid, but she knew what he wanted to hear.  His body shook slightly, and he buried his face in her neck while he waited for her response.  “No, Titus never actually forced himself on me.  He wanted to, but he said he was waiting.  He had paid Perez a lot of money for me, but he could not actually have me until Perez tired of my sister.  Once that happened, Titus said we were leaving.  He wanted to take me somewhere else to live, far away from Perez because he didn’t trust him.  But he never actually told me where.”

“We need to call RARE in for help on this, Chase,” Bran said quietly.  “We need their expertise.”

Chase cursed softly.  “I actually have a call into Angel now, but I haven’t heard back.”

“That’s because they’ve gone dark.”

“What the hell does that mean, Jade?” Chase demanded.

Gypsy raised her head from Slade’s chest to look over at Jade.  She obviously knew something the others in the room did not, but she was struggling with herself on whether or not she should say anything.  “It means that we have no way of contacting them for help right now.  We are on our own.”

“Where the hell are they?” Chase roared.

Gypsy pressed herself closer to Slade as she waited for Jade’s answer.  “I’m not supposed to tell anyone because it could compromise their mission.”

“You can tell me,” Chase growled.  “As your alpha, I am ordering you to.”

“That’s not fair, Chase,” Jade whispered.  “Angel is my mother.  Don’t put me in this position.”

“They’ve gone after Storm,” Gypsy interjected.  “They got a lead on where the General may be holding her right now, and they had to act fast before they lose her.”  At Jade’s gasp of dismay, Gypsy shrugged apologetically, “This way is better, Jade.  You didn’t betray your mother or your alpha.  And you were broadcasting your thoughts.  I couldn’t help but pick up on them.”  At Chase’s deep snarl, Gypsy turned to him.  “You need to let your mate do what she needs to do, Chase.  Be there to support her if she needs you, but don’t demand her obedience in anything.  You are both Alpha’s, so any kind of relationship will be difficult.  But, if you don’t do this, you will lose her.”

Chase’s eyes flashed wolf, then back again several times before he turned and walked out of the room, Bran on his heels.  Gypsy could feel anger and frustration emanating from him in waves, and she didn’t blame him, but he had to get control of his emotions if he and Angel were going to survive their mating.

“Thank you,” Jade said softly, before she stood and followed them out the door.

Squaring her shoulders, Gypsy stepped back away from Slade and reached for the bag on the bed.  “Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?” he asked in confusion.

“To go home,” Gypsy responded, tensely waiting for Slade’s response.  She had thought long and hard about what she would do when she left the hospital.  She could have asked Chase for a place to live for now, or she could have asked Jade if she could stay with her.  But, the fact of the matter was, she had a mate, and she belonged with him.  She knew it would be hard for a human to understand what it meant to be mated, but she was not necessarily human.  She was something more.  Not only did she know what it meant, but she welcomed it.  It would not be easy, but she and Slade would figure it out together.  Eventually, love would come with the mate bond.  At least, she hoped it would for Slade.  She was already feeling the slight stirrings of something herself, and hoped it would continue to grow.  According to what Trace told her, whenever the bond kicked in, love was always close behind it.

“You want to come home with me?”

She wanted to do more than just go home with him.  “Yes.  Where else would I go?”  Deciding she was done waiting for his approval, Gypsy left the room, hoping he would follow.  Stopping to see her sister on the way out, she walked quickly over to the bed and kissed Sari softly on her cheek.  “I will be back soon to see you, sweetheart.  When you are ready, I will bring you home with us.”  Sari stirred slightly, then sighed as she snuggled deeper into the covers.  Gypsy hated to leave her, but she knew her sister was not ready to go beyond the hospital walls yet.  To her, they represented safety.  Not only that, but Sari needed help and guidance that Gypsy could not give her.  Promising herself that she would visit frequently, Gypsy walked out into the hall where Slade was waiting.  “I’m ready.”

S
lade walked next to Gypsy, his eyes constantly scanning the area around them as they quickly made their way to his apartment.  His breathing was labored and his cock rock-hard as he thought about what he wanted to do to his mate when he got her back to his place.  He had been shocked when she said she was coming home with him.  As much as he wanted her there, he had thought it would be weeks before she even contemplated something like that.  Maybe she just wanted a place to sleep.  Fuck, he hoped not.  He didn’t think he could be in the same apartment as Gypsy and not touch her. 

He would not claim her.  There were too many reasons not to right now, and at the top of that list was Sarah.  It wasn’t that he was keeping his first wife a secret from Gypsy, so much as he was afraid telling her about Sarah would hurt whatever relationship they were beginning to build.  How would Gypsy feel if she found out he had married his first love, forsaking their mate bond?  Would she turn him away?  He had no idea, but until he found the balls to tell her about Sarah, he would have to keep his fangs to himself.  That did not mean, however, that he would be able to keep from making love to her.  He had never felt the pure lust he felt for Gypsy with anyone else, not even Sarah.  He had loved her unconditionally, and they’d had a good, satisfying sex life, but he had never felt the animal attraction for her that he felt for Gypsy. 

“Who is she?”  Slade froze at the softly spoken question.  Exactly how did she know what he was thinking?  If Gypsy could speak to him telepathically, did that mean she could hear his thoughts?  Could she read his mind?  He hoped not.  There were things in his life that he wasn’t ready to share with her just yet.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry, but I can tell you loved her very much.”

Slade stayed silent until they reached his apartment.  Opening the door, he ushered Gypsy inside and shut it behind him, making sure to turn the lock.  “She’s nobody.”

“Slade, that’s not true.”

“I don’t want to talk about her right now.”  Taking the backpack from Gypsy’s hand, he frowned when he felt how light it was.  “What’s in this thing?”

Gypsy shrugged, “Nothing really.  I don’t have anything.”  Gesturing to the clothes she wore, she said, “All of this came from Jade.  She told me she had more she would share with me until I can go shopping.”

Stopping abruptly on his way to the bedroom, he growled, “Hell, Gypsy, I’m sorry.  I didn’t even think about you not having any clothes or shoes.  As soon as I can, I will take you to get some things of your own.”  How could he have forgotten to buy her clothes?  His mind had been so consumed with thoughts of how to keep her safe, along with the rest of the pack, that he had forgotten the simplest things his mate needed.  

“I haven’t had anything of my own for almost a year now,” she replied, “a few more days isn’t going to make a difference.”

He hated to hear that.  It was a reminder of the hell she had endured at the hands of a madman.  A hell Slade would have done anything to prevent if given the chance.  There was nothing he could do about the past, but he would make damn sure no one hurt her again.  Tossing the bag on the couch, he crossed the distance that separated them and pulled her into his arms.  The moment her lush body sank into his, he realized his mistake.  He had thought to give her some time before taking her.  He had even given himself a stern lecture while he waited for her to finish checking on her sister in the hospital.  There was no doubt in his mind that it would happen, but he could give her a few more days to get to know him first. 

“Gypsy,” her name was a low groan on his lips as he fought with himself to step back, to separate their bodies and move across the room.  But it was a futile effort.  When she slipped her arms around his waist and tilted her head back to look at him, he gave in, capturing her mouth with his own.  She moaned, pressing fully against him, her nails digging into his back.  Sliding his fingers into her thick hair, he growled deeply as he licked at her lips.  He loved the way she tasted, like sugar and spice.  It was like nothing he had ever tasted before.  He could not get enough of her.

Gypsy loosened her hold from around his waist and he felt her small hands grab hold of his shirt and slide it slowly up his body.  Slade let go of her mouth just long enough to remove it, before finding her lips again.  Slipping his hands slowly down her back, he cupped her ass and pulled her roughly against him.  Rubbing his aching cock against her, he cursed at the clothing that separated them.  “I need to feel you, sweetheart,” he groaned.  “I need your soft, sweet skin against mine.”

Gypsy put a hand on his chest and pushed gently. 
No, fuck no
.  She could not make him stop now.  She pushed again, and he ground against her one more time before reluctantly letting her go.  He would never force his mate to do anything she did not want to do, even if it practically killed him to pull back.  Taking one step away from her, then another, he rasped, “I need to get out of here.”

“No, you don’t,” Gypsy whispered.  Grasping the bottom of her shirt, she pulled it up over her head to drop it on the floor.  Slade lost the ability to think when she toed off her boots, and then slipped her fingers into her leggings and slid them over her slender hips and down her legs, kicking them off.

“Gypsy?”  It was a question, but it was also a plea. 

“You aren’t going anywhere, Slade.  I need you.”