Natural Born Enemies (Cedar River Series) (21 page)

Dad reached for my mom’s hand and held it tight, “Any child of yours is our grandchild. I don’t care if it comes out a mermaid, I still want to be able to spend time with them.”

Tears welled up in my eyes and I looked at my mom, “Are you serious?”

She nodded. My heart lifted as I realized what this meant. I was truly free to claim Adam as mine.

“Thank you, both. I came here tonight to try and convince you to not turn your backs on me. You hand me this news and I’m overwhelmed.”

Dad rested his arms on the table and leaned in, “It’s not going to be easy, princess. The pumas say they will be accepting of you, but there are some who will talk trash behind your back.”

I studied his face, “I know, Dad, but a good Alpha still continues to do their job. You taught me that.”

Dad smiled, “I know this isn’t what you’ve ever desired, but Adam will make a strong mate and a wonderful father.”

I brushed away a tear as it fell, “I’ve been trying to tell you that for years.”

Dad smiled and took my mom’s hand in his.

Chapter Thirty-Four- Adam

I was pacing the floor, waiting for Luna. I was anxious to see her and to talk over our future with her. I had bought her a ring a few weeks ago when I thought I’d be a deputy for the rest of my life. I had Bowie put the ruby in the sterling silver setting in his parents’ safe when things started happening around town. Last night, I’d had Papa get it out for me.

I pulled the ring out and looked at it in the light. The stone winked back at me and I could only imagine what it would look like on Luna’s hand. I hoped she would like it.

I heard her car pull up in front of the house and my heart leapt into my throat. This was an all or nothing situation. I took a deep breath and slid the ring back into my pocket. I opened the door to step out on the porch. The cold air bit through the silk of my shirt. Her face betrayed nothing as she stepped out of her car and glanced at me, standing beneath the porch light.

I walked down the wooden steps to help her with her bag. That was when her eyes lifted to mine and I caught a glimpse of mischief behind those yellow-green eyes.

“How are you, dear?” I asked, taking her overnight bag from her.

“I would guess you’d know since apparently you and my father are all buddy-buddy now,” she said with a hint of humor.

I took her hand and led her up the steps to the house. “I hadn’t talked to him when I called to ask you to dinner. He stopped by after that.”

She looked at me with disbelief. “Yeah, sure, I bet that’s
exactly
how it happened,” she replied sarcastically.

I let her inside, closed the heavy wooden door tight, and turned off the porch light before turning to face her.

Her face was lit up with happiness when I turned around.

“You’re a little tease, Luna,” I said as I pulled her into my arms.

“But it’s so much fun,” she said, lifting her mouth to mine.

I took her lips and claimed them as my own. Her moans fueled my desire and her hands tangled in my hair. Reluctantly, I pulled away. “Babe, we have to talk.”

She took my hand and followed me into the living room. I had built a fire in the fireplace earlier, lit a few candles, and dimmed the lights.

“Ooh, romance,” she sighed, sitting down on the sofa.

“I was afraid I’d have to soften you up after an evening at your parents’,” I said.

She straightened her sweater and tucked her feet beneath her. “Adam, I’m sorry for the last few days. I’ve been so caught up in my own trouble to see what you’ve been dealing with. I owe you a huge apology.”

I had to laugh. “Here I thought it was
me
who owed
you
an apology. I thought
I
had been the one who was selfish.”

“Well, you have stayed away. My bed has gotten awfully lonely the last few nights.”

“I stayed away because I thought it was what you wanted.”

Luna sighed as she snuggled under my outstretched arm, “I may have a lot of shit to straighten out in my head, Adam, but I never want you to stay away from me.”

I rested my head against hers, “I promise.”

***

The next morning dawned with warmer temperatures than usual. Aunt Alicia made us a hearty breakfast before we headed off to clean up the property left destroyed by the fire.

We arrived to find trucks, cars, and heavy equipment lined up in the yard. “Wow,” Aunt Alicia said as we pulled up, “It certainly looks like you’ve got more friends than you ever imagined.”

I was speechless. Rock and his crew had set up tents with heaters ready to be lit should we need them. Everyone was milling around visiting with their neighbors and waiting for my arrival.

“Good morning, son,” Papa Golden said as we walked by. I simply nodded at each one who wished me a good morning. I was still stunned at the turn out.

The Wilder family was sipping coffee and minding the fire. “Good morning, Alpha,” Brand said jokingly.

“Bite me,” I said, snatching his cup of coffee.

Brand laughed. “I got this going and figured we’d throw the wood on it as we went. Rock’s got a dump truck ready to toss the stuff we shouldn’t or can’t burn into.” He looked around at the crowd. “I don’t know, Adam, but it looks like you may be a pretty likeable guy.”

Samson walked behind me and handed me a sugar-coated jelly roll. “Don’t make his head get any bigger, Brand. He’s already Alpha. We don’t want him to think people care about him.”

I had to laugh. That damn old bear knows which button to push every single time.

***

Clean up went quickly with everyone helping. About eleven o’clock, more vehicles came rolling in. The women who weren’t out here working had been home making food for all the helpers. Aunt Alicia took my keys and drove up to the house to get the baked beans she had made for the crew. Ana and Mama Golden pulled up with so much food I wasn’t sure who they were planning to feed. The Simpsons arrived with enough deli platters to feed five crews of hungry shifters. The food tent was filling up quickly and the delightful smells coming from inside has us all breaking early for lunch.

Luna slid her arm around my waist as I leaned on the shovel surveying the work we had done so far. “It looks good,” she said.

I looked down at her. She had smudges of dirt and ash across her cheeks. “Gods, you’re beautiful,” I said as I wiped her face with my handkerchief.

She smiled, “Oh, I bet I am. Dirty and smudged, yet my man thinks I’m beautiful.”

The smile left my face and I took her face in my hands. “I think you’re beautiful always, inside and out.” I lowered my mouth to hers.

Her arms slid up my back as she returned my kiss with equal fervor. I heard laughing as people came out to find places to eat, but it didn’t matter. I loved this woman and I didn’t care who knew it.

When she pulled away, her face was glowing. “Let’s get something to eat,” she said, taking my hand and leading me inside.

***

It was dark by the time the property was all cleaned up. The fire was still going, but Brand said he’d stay until it was out. Bowie had taken Ana home early. The older people had left earlier in the afternoon.

Luna looked at me, exhaustion on her face. “I think I want to go home tonight, Adam. You want to come with me?”

“Of course, I do.”

We drove up to the house and Luna picked up her things. I packed a bag and followed her to town. I passed by the Simpson’s house and realized I’d forgotten Mr. Simpson’s candy this morning.

I parked next to Luna’s car and saw she was in the downstairs kitchen. “What on earth are you doing?”

She looked up. “I had the need to create something,” she replied with a blush.

“Listen, before I go up to shower, do you happen to have any honey candy lying around? I sort of promised Mr. Simpson some as payment for the flowers, but I forgot until I was driving by.”

“That man has a horrible sweet tooth. He walks down every day just to catch a sniff of the odors coming from this store,” she chuckled. “Mrs. Simpson will kill you, if she catches you sneaking him candy. You do know that, right?”

“I don’t care. He saved my ass, so I intend to make good on my promise.”

Luna went into the store and brought the almost full bin back to her workstation. “How much are the flowers worth to you?” she asked as she began to fill a gallon size plastic bag.

“That bag should do it,” I said.

“Good,” she said as she finished filling it and began to fill another.

“What are you doing?”

“This bag is from me,” she responded with a smile which lit her entire face.

I kissed her nose. “You are just trying to get me in trouble.”

“Gran used to say, ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’, so I figured we should do it up right.”

I left to deliver the candy to Mr. Simpson while Luna finished whatever she was making.

When I got back, she was upstairs and just stepping out of the shower. “Awww, I wanted to help you,” I said.

She tilted her head to the side, “Come and get me, then.”

The shower turned back on and her towel dropped to the floor. I peeled my clothes off and hurried to join her.

I bent forward so she could shampoo my hair. The water ran black with soot and dirt as she scrubbed. She poured more shampoo on my hair and scrubbed some more. I watched as the suds ran down her breasts and felt another body part come to attention. I lifted one breast to my mouth and licked the nipple which was begging for my attention.

She drew a sharp breath as my other hand cupped her ample ass and squeezed. I turned her so she was beneath the spray of water.

She reached behind her and turned a knob. Water began to shower from an overhead faucet, providing enough hot water to cover us both.

“I always wondered what the third knob was for.”

She smiled slyly, “I had high hopes when I put it in.”

I kissed her thoroughly. Soap-slick hands ran over each other, caressing and clutching, as the water danced over us.

When we were both satisfied with the level of clean we each had achieved, we toweled each other off and dressed in our sweats.

“Did your mom send any mac and cheese home with you?” I asked as I rubbed her feet.

Luna laughed, “You’re seriously hungry?”

“I’m starving. I worked harder today than I’ve worked in a long time.”

Luna lifted her hand and waved toward the kitchen. “Mom put an entire pan of it in my car before she left with Dad. I put it in the fridge.”

I got up to get a plate of the ambrosia most people call mac and cheese. When I returned, Luna was sound asleep on the sofa. Poor baby. She had had a pretty rough few days.

I sat down in the chair and watched her while I ate. This woman was my heart and soul. When I had told her she was home to me, I had meant it. This was the woman who would spend every night in my bed. We would raise a family together. We would argue and make up for the rest of our lives. She would stand beside me as I took care of my pride. She’d be my partner in every sense of the word.

I felt my heart catch in my chest. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

I put my plate in the sink and turned off the lights. I carefully lifted her and carried her to bed. I shed my clothes and climbed in beside her, holding her close as we slept.

***

I woke as the sun came through the window. As a cat does, I stretched and savored the sunbeams hitting the bed where I lay with the love of my life.

Careful to not wake her, I got up and put on a pot of coffee. I got into my bag and found the ring I had been carrying around with me.

She was still sound asleep when I got back into bed. I stroked her hair and watched her. Her bottom lip stuck out slightly. She moaned softly and opened one yellowish eye. “What time is it?” she asked.

“It’s nine o’clock.”

“Hmmmm,” she said and cuddled back down into the covers.

“Wake up, baby. I’ve got something for you.”

She opened one eye and looked at me for a moment before opening the other one. “If you’re talking about sex, Adam Thomas, I will hurt you.”

I laughed, “Well, if you’re going to be that way, then forget it.”

She sat up in the bed and pushed her hair out of her face. She watched me intently as I reached for her hand.

“Luna, I’ve loved you since we were sixteen years old and I watched you sashaying your fanny past Samson’s on a daily basis. I may have been a bit slow to come around, but you convinced me we were meant to be together.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “Adam, what are you doing?”

I cleared my throat and continued, “I left. I hoped you’d find someone who was better suited for you, but I dreaded it as well. I cut myself out of your life, but you lived on in my heart.”

“Adam?” she asked.

“What’s wrong, darling?”

“What are you doing?”

“Why, Luna Irene McIntyre, I’m trying to propose to you if you’d let me get on with it.”

The tears began to roll down her cheeks.

“You are my home, my center, my world. I can’t be Alpha if I don’t have you at my side. I’m going to get cranky and I’m going to roar, but I’ll always love you. Marry me, Luna. Say you’ll be mine for the rest of our lives.”

She launched herself at me across the bed and kissed me with tears falling.

I pulled back slightly, “Is that a yes?”

“Yes, you fool. I’ll marry you!”

 I threaded my fingers through her hair and pulled her tight against me.

“Did I see a bowl of cherry whip in the refrigerator?” I whispered against the side of her neck.

She began to giggle and climbed out of bed.

“Wait,” I said and took her hand. I slid the ruby ring on her left ring finger which set off another flood of tears.

She ran into the kitchen and returned with the bowl of cherry whip I saw in the refrigerator. “I had brought out a bowl of this the night your trailer burned to the ground. We never did get to play with it.”

I took the bowl away from her and stuck my finger in to the fluffy confection. “Mmmm, it’s almost as sweet as you,” I said as I tossed her back into the bed.