My Guardian (Bewitched and Bewildered Book 6) (20 page)

"She could do it. In fact, she does it naturally." Aiden commented. "She really only has two readings, 'friend' and 'asshole'. She can tell you if she likes someone or she if she doesn't. It will be completely subjective though. And she can usually tell when someone is lying, but not always." He looked at Magnus. "But the second she gets tired or it's too much, that's it. I don't care where that leaves us. Her health comes first."

Magnus inclined his head. "That goes without saying. Sebastian would have my head if I put that child at risk."

Aiden smiled. "She has both of those squires wrapped around her finger."

Gavriel just stared at his friend. Aiden sighed. "Yes, she has me completely wrapped too, but I'm her mate; that's only natural."

Magnus stood. "Looks like we at least have a plan of action." He looked at Adriel. "Increase patrols in the Grand Hall and track down Augustus Pettier." He looked at Declan. "Start recording every incident the unit warriors experience with disrespectful vampires. If I have to go to the council for their support, I will need evidence."
 

Declan nodded. "Yes, sire."

Finally, Magnus looked down at his niece. "And let us get those houses built, the sooner the better."

"Yes, Uncle," she replied.

Adriel stood and headed for the door.

"In a hurry?" Declan teased.

Adriel stopped and turned to the room, wincing. "Yes, actually I am. I have a mate to locate and then grovel before."

Aiden nodded in sympathy. "There's an old man that gives me advice back home for when I mess up with Meryn. When you fuck up, chocolate and jewelry are your best friends."

"Thank you for the advice, sir."

"Good luck, son." Magnus grinned at him.

"I have a feeling I will need it."

"She's a strong woman from Texas, who happens to be a tiger shifter. You don't need luck, you need Kevlar," Beth teased.

Gods help me.

*****

As soon as he was clear of the doorway, he lifted the new handheld up. "Micah, come in."

"Yes, sir?"

"Where are you?"

"Do you mean me or your luscious mate?"

"Remind me again why I do not kill you?"

"Because I'm one of the most experienced witches you have since Leif and Travis have returned to Storm Keep, and you don't want to risk getting another headache like the twins as my replacement."

Adriel growled at Micah's smug tone. "I might chance it. Now, where is my mate?"

"At your home. She met with the wolves for a bit then insisted on seeing you, but as you were in a meeting, she decided to wait for you at home."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Adriel jumped into the transport tunnel and flew up to the unit level. He blew past the men doing drills and made a beeline for his home. He walked up to the door and froze. He had no idea what to say. He was about to open the door when it swung open. His mate stood before him, looking anxious.

He frowned. "Are you well?"

Her face relaxed. "Yes, I'm fine. How are you?"

"Good."

They stood there staring at each other.

Finally, she rolled her eyes and grabbed his shirt. "Get in here."

Adriel walked into the house behind her. "Before anything else is said, I must tell you how much I love you, and that I would never in a thousand lifetimes hurt you. I did not mean to reference you earlier when I was speaking of the refugees. In my mind, you belong here. This is your home now." Adriel paced back and forth in the foyer.

"I know. It hit me when I was defending you to the pack that you didn't mean it the way it sounded." She leaned against the banister.

He stopped. "You defended me?"

"Of course I did; you're my mate. They were making assumptions just because you're a vampire, and I didn't like it."

"I believe there have been a lot of assumptions and stereotyping going on in the city lately. It does not help when actions validate some of those beliefs."

"You were right in saying we shouldn't jump to conclusions; I was just so angry."

Adriel walked over and pulled her into his arms. "I am sorry about your friends."

She laid her head on his shoulder. "They were good people, Adriel, great parents. Now that little boy will never know them."

"You are very protective of little ones are you not?"

She shrugged. "Even after I joined the pack, I was still larger in shifted form than the Alpha. I kinda take care of everyone. But I think my tiger likes to protect little ones. She views anyone smaller than me as a cub."

"I am not smaller than you, will you let me protect you?"

"Only if I get to protect you, too."

He kissed the tip of her nose. "Deal. I declare our first and last fight officially over."
 

Eva laughed. "I have too much of a temper for this to be the last one."

"I love it when you get feisty." He grabbed her hand. "Come on, I have something for you."

"Really?" she asked softly, her face lighting up.

"Yes. I hope you will like it."

"Lead the way, cowboy."

CHAPTER TEN

Eva held on to Adriel's hand as he led her deeper into the dark, unused portion of the unit level. They had been walking a few minutes, and she still had no idea where they were heading. She was about to ask him where they were going when a familiar smell hit her.

"I smell water."

He turned and winked at her. "Very good."

He led her into smaller tunnel that opened up into a huge cavern. He tapped a small sphere to his left, and all around them soft golden light filled the cave as the glow spheres turned on. Her breath caught. "Oh Adriel." Before them was a small lagoon and high waterfall. "It's beautiful."

"I discovered this cavern a couple hundred years ago. The men know it is my special place so they leave it alone. I come here to meditate and do yoga."

She looked at him. "You do yoga?" She laughed. "I should have known; you're stocked in wheat germ and hippie food."

He frowned. "It is not hippie food. It is very good for the body."

"Your body maybe. Mine runs on beer nuts and taquitos."

He shuddered. "That is frightening."

"Show me."

"Wheat germ?"

"No, your yoga."

He smiled and began to unbutton his coat, his shirt, and then his pants. He carefully folded his clothes and took off his shoes and socks. Wearing only his boxer briefs, he stepped onto a smooth round dais. She wondered if he'd had it made, or if hundreds of years of use had smoothed it down.

Eva got comfortable, pulling her legs to her chest and resting her cheek on her knees. He started slowly, raising his arms up. Then he seemed to fold in on himself as he lowered his body to the ground. He easily lifted himself using only his arms and swung his legs in the air. He lowered himself again in an inverted push up. She was a shifter, a feline shifter at that, but she had never seen anyone move with such grace. It was as if his body was made of water.

Every time he inhaled, he moved; every time he exhaled, he turned. It was as if he was dancing in mid-air. At first, she thought he was using his ability to fly to keep himself balanced impossibly upright, but she saw the way his muscles bulged and moved under his skin. The way beads of sweat trickled down his chest to drip off his chiseled jaw.

With every movement, he seemed to be thanking the universe, worshiping it with his body. It wasn't until he lowered himself into a seated stance and brought his hands up to his chest that she realized she was crying. She had never seen anything more beautiful in her life.

She stood and began to remove her clothes. She wanted him. She let her clothes fall all around her as she walked slowly toward him. When he opened his eyes, she was standing directly in front of him. His eyes shifted from tranquil to heated in seconds.

"How do you feel about yoga now?"

"Please, my mate," she whispered.

He reached up, took her hand, and gently pulled her down beside him. As she lay back, she let the cold stone cool her heated skin. He pulled away for a moment, removing his boxers. Smiling, he returned and placed both forearms on either side of her head. He lifted his body over hers and then, with infinite strength, lowered it just enough to graze her body. She arched her back, needing contact, but he rose up farther out of reach. Over and over again, he lowered himself, letting his rigid length tease her before lifting again.

How could he possibly affect her so much by touching her so little?

The next time he lowered himself, she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him close to her core. He looked down and grinned. When he lifted again, she felt her body lifting off the floor. He lowered them again, this time allowing the tips of his toes to rest on the floor. He planked his body over hers. Arching his back, he lowered his hips. She reached down between them and guided his pulsing cock into her. When he flexed his hips, she hissed in pleasure.

Over and over again, he snapped his hips forward filling her completely. Yet no other part of his body touched hers. She needed more. She opened her eyes to find that he was watching her intently; the intimacy of the moment caused her to look away.

"No," was his single word command.

She turned her head and stared up at him. Without breaking eye contact, he gently pulled his body back and slowly entered her. She felt tears make their way down her temples. Slowly and ever so gently, he made her his.

"Please," she said softly.

"What do you need?"

"You. I need you."

"Perfect answer, my love."

Finally, he lowered himself. She felt his strong muscled legs nestle between hers. She immediately pulled them chest-to-chest by wrapping her arms around him. She locked her ankles above his firm ass as she tried to get every inch of their bodies to touch.

Her body craved his. Stroke after stroke, he built a fire, but it wasn't enough. Half-crazed, she looked up at him.
 

"I know what you need, and I will always give it to you," Adriel whispered against her neck. She convulsed as shivers raced down her body. When his fangs plunged deep into her neck, she screamed. Now! Now, they were one! Her body finally reached the pinnacle she had been racing after and exploded. He lifted his head and ran his tongue over his bite. "I love you Eva Mae Miller. I loved you before you were born, and I will love you after we've both left this existence to explore the hereafter. You are my solace, my peace, my strength, and my home."

Eva smiled up at his handsome face as gray spots started to collapse her vision.

"Ditto, cowboy. Ditto."

*****

When Eva woke up, she instantly became aware of two things. One: they were still in his cave. And two: they were in water. She turned in his arms and looked around. He had carried her into the water and was lazily floating around with her.

Laughing, she dove under the water and let her tiger free. When she broke the surface, her mate was smiling. She swam past him and nudged his back with her nose, causing him to shout.

"Your nose is like ice, Eva. Is it too cold for you? Should we get out?"

Eva did the best she could to stick her tongue out at him then headed for the falls. She left his laughter behind her as she ducked in and under the water. She loved playing in the water. After twenty minutes, she realized her mate was already out, dried off, and dressed.
 

She sighed but made her way out of the water. When her feet were solidly on smooth stone, she shifted back. Adriel wrapped her in his coat to dry. "Too cold?"

Eva's teeth chattered. "I wasn't in the water, but it is a tid bit nipply out here."

Adriel blinked. "I love the way you talk."

"And I love you." Eva used his coat to get most of the water off her body and stood, pulling her clothes on.

"I want to give this to you. The lagoon," Adriel said.

She spun. "No! This is your special spot, I can't take it."

Adriel stood. "You are giving up so much to be with me. I know we have not discussed it, but I cannot leave the city, and I will not give you up."

Eva nodded. "I realized that the second I scented you were my mate and saw your uniform."

"You deserve some place of your own."

Eva frowned. "Don't I get to live in your house with you?"

Adriel froze. "Of course!"

"If I need extra space I'll just claim one of your guest rooms. You keep your special space."

Adriel shook his head. "You need it more. It is perfect for your tiger."

Eva knew that his gift was truly about pleasing her and not as a way to say he was sorry. She tapped her foot. "How about this? We come here together. I get to watch you do yoga, we can make love, and I can swim. Ultimate relaxation."

"Ultimate relaxation, huh? It is only a deal if I get to teach you yoga."
 

"I don't think I'm that bendy."

"You are a tiger shifter. I believe you could be that 'bendy', which really opens up so many new positions." His eyes were bleeding back to red as he licked his lips.

She swallowed hard. "I could try."

"So, this will be our special place from now on?" he asked, walking up to pull her against his chest.

"I can agree to that."

He kissed her forehead. "Good. Now, let us get you down to Bethy. If I know her, she is already working buttonholes about tonight. Especially since it is with House Géroux, and our only suspect lives on their level."

Eva leaned back to look at her mate. "Isn't that the same family Tarak and Kuruk are from?"

"Yes, which is the main reason why this dinner is so important. House Géroux has always supported Magnus, so he will show his support by keeping their plans to have dinner."

"So it went from dreadful, boring political dinner to awkwardly painful political dinner," she surmised.

"I would say that is an apt assumption."

"Peachy."

*****

Eva sat still as Beth applied the last bit of glittery powder to her face.

"There, now you're done!" Beth put the make-up and brush down.

Eva looked in the mirror and stared. Her unruly long blonde hair had been pinned up in a neat, twisted chignon. Her make-up was natural but somehow highlighted her best feature, her eyes.