Authors: Susan Bliler
Territory (23 page)
Kya smiled back at him. “None taken. And for the record, you don’t ever need to feign anything for me.”
Briggs eyed her evenly. “I know. I’m just trying to make you comfortable. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Catching up?”
“By the time most shifters are mated they’ve already learned a great deal about each other. Simple pleasures, likes, dislikes, favorite foods. Unfortunately our circumstances were such that we weren’t afforded the opportunity to get to know each other before…”
“Before I drug you and your family through a solid month of hell.” Kya finished for him. She dropped her eyes as shame singed her cheeks. She lifted her glass and drained it as Briggs corrected her.
“No, that’s not what I was going to say.”
Kya looked across at a now scowling Briggs.
“What I meant was between all the men chasing you and my uncertainty of wanting a mate. Well, let’s just say we’ve wasted a great deal of time.”
Briggs stood and refilled Kya’s glass. She could feel his assessing eyes scan her features, but she kept her eyes down.
“So tell me,” Briggs prompted as he reclaimed his seat, “is there anyone else I’m going to have to kill for you?”
Kya gasped as her head snapped up. Her horrified gaze registered with Briggs and he threw up both hands.
“Kya, forgive me. That’s not how I wanted that to come out.”
She dropped her eyes from his and slowly began scooting her chair back.
“Wait! I’m sorry.”
Kya froze, refusing to allow his stern voice to dictate the direction of her eyes as she fought to keep them focused on the floor.
“Kya…what I meant to ask is whether there is anyone else that might come looking for you. Anyone at all, even someone you may have overlooked. Anyone else that might want to hurt you or force you back to Colorado.
Kya shook her head numbly and whispered, “I told you, there is no one else.”
Briggs stood and crossed to stand directly behind her. “Let me help you.”
As Kya partially stood, Briggs inched her chair closer until she was once again seated properly at the table.
“I just don’t want to be caught off guard.” Briggs began as he reclaimed his seat. “It’d be easier to protect you if I knew who was coming.”
Kya took another sip of her wine, fighting to regain her composure. “Like I said, there is no one else.” Her words sounded too defensive even to her own ears.
“I just want to keep you safe.”
Kya slowly lifted her head, her eyes locking with Briggs’. She starred at him a long silent moment then tore her eyes away. “Food’s getting cold.”
She lifted a forkful of ranch-covered salad to her lips before she dared a glance in Briggs direction. She was relieved to see he was willing to drop the discussion as he too took up his fork and attacked his plate.
They ate in silence for the better part of the meal. Briggs refilled her wine glass as she emptied it, and on his fourth attempt to top her off, Kya covered her empty glass with her hand.
“I’d better not. I’m feeling a little…”
Briggs smiled, replacing the bottle and leaning back in his chair. “I imagine this is the first time in a great while that you’ve had the opportunity to fully relax.”
While it was a comment, Kya knew he expected a response.
“I don’t know that I’m relaxed.”
“Really? Don’t you feel safe?” Briggs eyed her evenly, his scrutiny causing her to flush slightly as she watched his jaw work.
“I do feel safe with you...protected from…everyone else.”
“But?”
“While you might not believe it, you have protected me and kept me safer than I’ve ever been.”
“Don’t change the subject.” His eyes gleamed black as he leaned slightly forward.
“Well, it’s you.”
“What’s me?”
Kya dropped her eyes and toyed with her fork, pushing a half-eaten chunk of boiled potato around her plate. “
You
make me nervous.”
“Why?” With his demand, Kya thought she saw the corner of his mouth lift for the briefest of moments.
“Because regardless of what we’ve been through together over the past couple of weeks I don’t really know you. Yet, here we are stowed away in a remote cabin like we’re old friends. I-I don’t even know your middle name.”
“Lincoln.”
Kya dropped her fork with a clatter as she straightened uncomfortably in her chair. “You know what I mean. We haven’t had the opportunity to get to know each other, and now that you’ve …claimed me…it’s awkward.”
Briggs shoved his chair back and stood, grabbing his empty plate then hers before crossing into the kitchen. “Well, that’s why we’re here.
This
is our opportunity to get to know each other.”
Kya watched uncomfortably as Briggs cleared the table. Finally, she stood and headed toward the sink, rolling up her sleeves.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought I’d start on the dishes.”
“Leave ‘em. I’ll wash them in the morning.”
Needing to keep busy, Kya ignored his command and turned on the tap letting the water run until it was hot. Moments later Briggs’ strong arm snaked around her to turn off the tap.
“I said it can wait.” He grabbed her hand and led her into the living room, where he dropped to the floor in front of the fire and pulled Kya down next to him. Reclining back, he rested his weight on one elbow and stretched his lean legs out in front of him.
They sat in companionable silence for several moments watching the fire dancing in the fireplace before Briggs chuckled, “Relax, I won’t bite.”
Kya hadn’t realized she’d been sitting rod straight until his comment forced her to relax her rigid frame. She scooted her body so she was sitting next to him, her back reclining on the cream-colored sofa behind them.
“It’s getting late. Maybe we should call it a night.” Kya turned to stare out the window. Without city lights, the night was too dark to see anything beyond the glass.
“Eager to get upstairs?”
Kya could hear the taunt in Briggs’ voice. She knew he was trying to make her feel uncomfortable, and it worked.
“It’s just been a long day is all.” She adjusted her body uncomfortably.
Why are you acting like an idiot? Sit still.
She scolded herself.
“Tomorrow,” Briggs turned serious, “I’d like to share my power with you.”
Kya let her gaze drift from the window to him. “What does that mean?”
“Remember how I sent you a portion of my power when you were in Kyler’s trunk? It’s similar to that, but more draining.”
“Draining?”
Briggs pulled a leg up and rubbed a hand over his knee. “We need to hunt together while we’re here. We can’t do that if you can’t shift. You can’t shift if you’re not strong enough, and there are only two ways for you to get strong enough. Time or sharing my power.”
“Wh-what do we have to do?” Kya eyed him pensively, not sure she liked the idea.
“
We
don’t have to do anything. In the morning, we’ll lie here on the floor next to each other. You’ll relax, and I’ll will you my power.”
“How much power?”
Briggs crooked a smile as he pushed a stray strand of her hair off her shoulder. “All of it.”
“All of it?” Now Kya was certain she didn’t like the idea. “Why? Will I need that much?”
“I’m not sure, but I’d rather do it right the first time than have to keep doing it. It’s not painful in the least, but it’s draining. Tomorrow, after, I’ll sleep for the entire day. You’ll have to fend for yourself. Are you okay with that?”
Kya eyed the cabin nervously. “I don’t think we should. What if something happens? What if I can’t get you up? What if…”
Briggs cut her off, “It’ll be alright Kya. No one knows we’re here. It’ll be a relaxing quiet day in the mountains. You can read a book or something.”
Kya’s eyes squinted in uncertainty, “I don’t know. It sounds…risky.”
Briggs chuckled and patted her thigh, “It’s not. It’ll be fine. This way we’ll be able to hunt together the following night. It’ll be a full moon. It’ll be perfect.”
Kya sighed heavily, still fighting with the idea of taking power from Briggs in a manner that would leave him incapacitated. The thought of him lying helpless was terrifying.
“Tell me about yourself.” Briggs demmanded in an effort to change the subject.
Kya fingered her left pinky, not sure where to start. “There isn’t much to tell. You know most everything already.”
“Where are you from?” Briggs prompted, undaunted by her attempt at dismissal.
“Colorado.”
“Were you born there?”
“Yes.”
“Any siblings?”
“No.”
“Your parents?”
Kya exhaled in a huff, knowing that Briggs wouldn’t relent until he got something out of her. “Never met my mom. Not sure what happened between my parents, but I was raised by my father. He never spoke of her.”
“Where is your father now?”
“He died when I was 16. Cancer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. He was really great.”
“Who did you live with when he died? Family?”
“No. It was just he and I. No other relations that I knew of. When he passed Child Services tried to put me into foster care, but I petitioned the Court for emancipation. Because I got a steady job and proved I could provide for myself without having to drop out of school the Court granted my request.”
Briggs sat up, “So you’ve lived on your own since you were 16? No family, no help from anyone?”
“I moved into a really, and I mean really, tiny apartment. A Child Services liaison helped set it up. Anyway, my neighbors were this wonderful elderly couple. They looked out for me, fed me when I ran out of money or spent too frivolously. They ended up feeling like surrogate grandparents really.”
“Where are they now?”
Briggs watched as Kya’s reflective smile slid from her face. “When Reiner changed me, I never saw them again. After a few years in Theron’s basement, he showed me a newspaper article. It said the authorities had given up on the search for me, and how my kindly old neighbor who’d fought to keep the case open had finally died. The article said he was preceded in death by his wife.”
“That must have been extremely painful for you.”
Kya lifted a hand to her lips. “Not that they’d passed on. They were older and had lived full lives. But what really bothers me is that they spent so much time and effort trying to find me. They must have been so heartbroken. Did they think I ran away, or was kidnapped, or raped, or... I just wish I’d never met them, and then the last years of their lives could’ve been spent enjoying each other instead of worrying about the young neighbor girl.”
“They’re at peace now.” Briggs snaked a strong arm around her waist and hauled her up onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her tightly and tucking his nose into the nape of her neck where he inhaled deeply. “Don’t be sad for them, they’re together.”
“I know.” Kya relaxed and leaned back into his solid chest. “I just regret having caused them any pain. I regret so much of my life. Sometimes I wish I could just start over.”
Briggs turned Kya so she was sitting sideways on his lap. He brushed the hair back from her neck to place a warm kiss just below her ear. “So do it.”
Kya placed a hand on his chest in an attempt to keep him from nuzzling deeper, a smile curving her lips. “Do what?” With his lips trailing down her neck, she’d forgotten what they were discussing.
When Briggs finally responded, she could hear the smile in his voice. His self-satisfaction at distracting her made abundantly clear. “Start over. You have a new life here.” He kissed her temple. “A new family.” Another kiss to the apple of her cheek. “It’s a new beginning.” Another kiss to the corner of her mouth. “So, start over.”
Kya’s heart raced frantically. Desire welled in her belly even as she shoved against him. “Briggs.” She couldn’t finish the thought. While logically she wanted him to stop his sensual assault, emotionally she didn’t trust herself not to beg him to continue. “Maybe we should…” Her eyes fluttered closed as Briggs slid a hand up the back of her shirt and splayed his large hand across her creamy skin, pulling her even closer to him.
“Mmm?” He prompted, his eyes now a pitch black as he leaned back, cupping the side of her face with a strong hand. His eyes traveled down to her lips and he couldn’t resist. He captured her swollen bottom lip between his teeth, pulling it into his mouth where he gently sucked while his arms masterfully lifted Kya from his lap to set her on the floor next to him. With her lip still trapped in his mouth, he eased Kya back until she was trapped between the floor and the weight of his body.
Kya fought to control her pulse, not wanting Briggs to know how much his touch affected her. She gasped as she felt his hand masterfully unfastened her bra. She shoved at him violently. “I really should take a shower.”
Briggs pulled back to stare at her. A playful smile on his lips as he dropped his head to hers, “It can wait.”
“No!” Kya argued too loudly, shoving him up and rolling from under his weight to scoot away and shoot to her feet. “Is it okay if I just shower now?” Without waiting for an answer, she dashed into the bathroom without a backward glance.