THOMAS: Le Beau Brothers - New Orleans Billionaire Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW for mates (Le Beau Series Book 4) (17 page)

Thomas rubbed Julia’s back as she got herself under control. How much more could his mate take?

With a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and gave him a small smile. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“I will always be at your side, Julia, never doubt that.” Julia stepped from his arms to take a good hard look around the bar. Now that she was less stressed, Thomas took the opportunity to check with his uncles. “Marcus, what’s the plan?”

“All the men are coming from the plantation except a few guards for the women who will remain. Julia’s brothers are also on their way and a few men who live near the bar. We will have this cleaned up in no time so you can take stock of what we need to get it back in operation.”

“Excellent. Thank you for taking care of that.”

Thomas took Julia’s hand and carefully made his way toward the long cypress bar. “Let’s let the men handle the tables and chairs while we check the damage behind here.”

Julia nodded even though she was behind his back, and he couldn’t see her response. She was still too shell-shocked to speak.

“Ouch!” she bumped her nose hard into his back as he came to an abrupt stop.

Dang, that stings.
In less than a second her eyes were watering, and her head was one massive headache.

Thomas spun around at her cry of pain. “Sorry, babe. Are you okay?”

Julia gingerly touched her nose. “I’m fine. It always hurts like a mother when you get your nose bonked. Just ask Logan, I’ve wacked his a few times.”

Marcus and Lucas chuckled across the room.

“He never did know when to leave you alone,” Lucas said grinning. “I know Krystal wacked him plenty of times, too.”

“He’s always had a thick skull,” Marcus agreed, shaking his head.

“What’s the word behind the bar, Thomas?” Lucas asked as he inspected a busted table.

“It looks like they smashed every bottle in the place and Logan is going to shit when he sees his new frozen drink machine.”

“Dang it! He just put that thing together, too,” Julia whined.

“Do you have insurance on the place, babe?”

“No,” she sighed. “It’s too far out. None of the companies wanted anything to do with it.”

Just then, Logan came skidding through what was left of the door. “What the hell!”

“Swampers,” all three men answered at once.

Logan raked his fingers through his hair, and then his eyes went wild. “Julia, you okay? You weren’t here when this happened were you?”

“No,” she growled.  “If I were, there would be bodies to bury.”

“Thank Goddess!” Logan grabbed his sister into his arms. “So, do we know who needs killing yet? Because someone is going to die, I can tell you that, right now.”

Thomas shook his head. “All we know is it was swampers.”

Julia raised her face from her brother’s shoulder. “I know who it was. Well, kind of.”

Thomas, Marcus, and Lucas stepped closer. “What do you mean?” Logan asked.

“Daffi, or I mean Daffodil, the tree faerie, said it was the swampers who attacked Thomas. Although I don’t really know who they were either, except for Blade. I know that moron.”

Marcus cracked his knuckles. “So, we find Blade and then beat the information out of him.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Lucas nodded in agreement.

Thomas cleared his throat and waited for everyone’s attention. “As much as I want to beat these guys senseless, first we need to get the bar operational, and then we can go swamper hunting. Isn’t that what you called it the other day, Marcus?”

“Yeah.” Marcus closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if calming his raging temper. “Okay, you’re right. We’ll get the bar up and running again, and then gather some men to do the job.”

Lucas turned to Thomas. “I think we should get Jack and Michael out here to look over the area for clues with us. Their vampire senses may pick up something we don’t. There might be clues, other than smell if we can pick one out of the mess, to help us identify them when we go hunting for the assholes.”

“Good idea. I’ll give them a call and have them come out here after sunset.”

A gasp from the entrance had everyone turning toward the door. The work crew had arrived, but there was no way to truly prepare someone for what they’d walked into.

A hair-raising telepathic growl was heard by everyone the instant Isaac stepped from the pier and saw the pile of debris that had been his niece’s home and the damaged bar.

“What the hell happened here?” Isaac demanded as he stepped through the door.

What little was known about the attack was explained quickly to everyone so the clean up and repair could get underway.

Removing the busted up chairs and tables went rather quickly, cleaning up the broken glass and sticky liquor took a bit longer. Even the glassware lay shattered to smithereens. Thank Goddess, the structure was still sound, and the band stage was virtually untouched.

Logan stood with his arms crossed as his gaze swept the empty room. “Well, it will take a couple weeks, but we will get it back up and running. I’ll order new windows and a door tomorrow. Julia, could you order glassware and a new frozen drink machine? I’m not sure where you got that.”

“Sure, I can do that easy enough.” She nodded as she rubbed the stiff muscles in her neck. “I can get everything online, and they normally deliver within a week. Do you want to call in the liquor order, Logan, or should I?”

“You’re newly mated and now you need to deal with replacing all your house stuff. I’ll take care of it; just place the online order and leave the rest to me. Besides, you lovebirds should take a few days for your honeymoon.

Julia hugged her brother tightly. “I love you, and I know this is horrible bad timing and a crappy situation, but I planned to ask you if you would like to buy me out of the bar?”

Logan leaned back so he could see her face. “Are you sure? You love this place.”

Julia smiled and squeezed him tighter before stepping back to look him in the eye. “Yes, I’m sure. As Tommy’s mate, I’ll be living at the plantation, and I really don’t want to take a boat to the bar every day and in the dark back home every night.”

“Good point, I don’t want you driving a boat home every night in the dark either,” Logan agreed. “I know I’m going to be the owner after I buy you out, but I still want you okay with the new furniture I purchase. Would you mind if I replaced the broken antique sets with solid wood tables and chairs?”

“Not at all. Make the place your own,” Julia said as she slipped out of Logan’s arms and into her mates embrace. “Besides, I’ll find something else to keep me busy, I’m sure. Who knows, maybe we’ll work on giving Cade and Anna their first grandchild.”

Thomas’s gaze snapped to hers, as Isaac exclaimed his excitement over the possibility of more babies. 

“Did I just hear you right?”

Julia grinned up at him. “I don’t know, did you?”

“Are you ready for children?”

“Well, if it happens, I’ll welcome them,” she purred as she ran a finger down his chest. “And until then, I plan to have a lot of fun practicing.”

Whistles, catcalls, and “Get a room” were heard throughout the bar.

“I, for one, would like a great-grandchild,” Isaac interjected.

Cade made a ‘T’ with his hands. “Time out everyone, I would appreciate it if you kept all the talk about babies to yourselves until you’re sure. I don’t want Anna to get her hopes up and then be disappointed. The doctor said she needs to avoid all stressful situations until the baby is born.”

Julia looked contrite. “I’m sorry, I certainly don’t want to cause her stress. Please, keep this to yourselves everyone. It’s not like we’re trying to have a baby, just not preventing it from happening naturally.”

Isaac clapped Thomas on the back. “Then I won’t be surprised by an announcement sooner rather than later.”

Logan whistled to get everyone’s attention. “If all this talk of babies is finished, I have some friends coming with boats built for hauling and I could use help getting all the busted up tables and chairs to the pier.”

The men were making short work of the last leg of clean up, so Julia took the opportunity to check on her faerie friends.

She stopped short as she rounded the corner of the bar. Lilli, the faerie queen, was standing on a low hanging branch with her arms around the two grieving faeries that had been with Daffodil.

A tear ran down Lilli’s cheek as she said. “Please, join us.”

Julia knelt, so she was eye level with her three weeping friends. “I’m so sorry,” she sniffled. “This is all my fault.”

“Why would you say such a thing? Did you blow up your house? I don’t think so; an evil group of shifter males did that. And I promise you, they will pay with their lives.”

“The men are already organizing a swamper hunt along with a couple vampires to deal with them. Under shifter law, their attack on me alone is a death sentence.”

“I understand. I will speak with Isaac. Even though it is his right to mete out their sentence, they killed one of my people as well. I will let the men find the guilty parties, but I want to be present when justice is served.”

“That sounds only fair,” Julia agreed. “I am going to miss Daffi so much. Is there anything I can do for her final rights?”

“Thank you, but no. We have a sacred ritual we will perform during which her body will return to dust and her spirit will return to the afterworld to await reincarnation.”

Julia nodded and would have spoken again, but voices grew near, and the faeries vanished from sight.

“Julia? Are you back here?” Thomas called. “It’s time to go, babe.”

*****

Anna had finally agreed to rest and was napping in her bedroom. With her time so near and her condition delicate, Emma stayed close if Cade had to be away. Now was the perfect time for her daily meditation.

With great care, Emma placed a purple satin cloth on the end table before her, smoothing every crease and wrinkle until it was perfect. Next she pulled two white candles from her prayer satchel and lit them.

Which crystals should I use today?

She carefully touched each of her sacred stones until she decided on amethyst, citrine, and clear quartz, placing them in a triangle on the purple cloth.

Closing her eyes, she centered her mind and quieted her thoughts, opening herself to the Goddess and her spirit guides.

“Blessed be, my daughter,” the Goddess greeted her, in a soft voice.

“Blessed be Mother. How may I be of service?”

“Two of my sons are on the verge of meeting their mates. Richie Majors, Anna’s friend and your own son Lucas.”

Emma gasped, and then whispered wide-eyed. “Lucas?”

“There is a very special woman waiting for him in Texas. My daughter, Krystal, will be instrumental in bringing them together.”

“Is there anything you need me to do to help that along?”

“You must make sure Krystal leaves with him when he moves to Texas. I have additional reasons for her move, but I will disclose them at a later date. Once they settle in Texas, I will speak with you again with detailed instructions to ensure Lucas meets Miss Kensie Brown.”

“I’ll talk to Isaac and make sure his sister–in–law Lucinda does not prevent her from leaving,” Emma promised.

“As for Richie, I have already set into motion the situation that will bring his mate into his life. His human friends who attend college here in Louisiana will make sure they meet.”

“This is very exciting! Two more of our men will finally meet their mates after waiting so long.”

“I am very pleased and I thank you for the assistance you have given me with many of them.”

“It is always my pleasure to be of service to my, Mother Goddess,” Emma said as she lowered her head in supplication.

“Take care, my daughter, blessed be.”

“Thank you, Mother. Blessed be.”

Bursting with excitement, Emma wrung her hands. “Why does everyone have to be either sleeping or away when I get news like this?”

She was just going to have to find something to distract herself until Anna woke up.

Cookies! 

She could make a batch or three of cookies.

*****

She was taking the last sheet of baked chocolate chip cookies from the oven when she heard Cade walk through the door.

Thank Goddess!  Isaac? Where are you?

I’m at home. Why?

I have the most incredible news! I’ll be right there.

Not more than five minutes later, Emma walked through her door and into Isaac’s waiting arms. He held her tightly before claiming her lips in a heart–stopping kiss.

“Have I told you today that I adore you, and you are my world?”

“No,” Emma panted as she caught her breath. “I don’t believe you have.”

“Well, you incredibly sexy woman, I do.” Isaac claimed her lips again until they were both dizzy from lack of oxygen.

“Keep that up and I’ll forget my news.”

“I was having a thought myself,” he growled, nuzzling her neck.

“What was that?” she asked tilting her head to give him better access.

“We’re only four hundred or so years old. Let’s have another baby.”

Emma stiffened. “Are you on crack, or whatever they are doing these days? You cut me off cold turkey over one hundred fifty years ago, insisting on no more children. I was the one who wanted to keep trying for a girl.”

“I know, mon amour, I was wrong.” Isaac nibbled on her earlobe, something that always got her engine running. “Just think about it and we can talk again later.”

Emma groaned and stepped from Mr. Sex on a Stick’s arms. “Okay, stop that. You’re distracting me, and I have news.”

With love bursting from his heart, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s your news, cher?”

“The Goddess came to me today and told me several things. I think you should get a scotch and sit with me in the great room.”

Isaac hesitated with a frown creasing his brow. “It wasn’t bad news was it?”

“No.” She shook her head laughing. “It’s wonderful news but you may need to make a plan to handle Lucinda.”

“Good, you had me worried for a second.”

With a scotch in hand, he got comfortable with his mate on the couch. “Snuggle up close and tell me what you know.”

Emma told him every word that had been said and then sat quietly while he thought them through.

“If it comes down to it, I will simply talk privately with Charles and then force her hand with a royal decree that she allow Krystal to move to Texas with Lucas. It’s not like she has an actual say in her adult children’s lives, but she’s bullied them so terribly that they’re afraid to go against her.”

Emma shook her head sadly. “I have seen it too many times, especially with the girls. And I’m concerned about her mental health.”

Isaac stroked her gorgeous hair. “She hasn’t been right since, Armand.”

“I know, but it’s been long enough and something is going to have to be done.”

“I’ll talk to Charles again, but it’s so hard for him to deny his mate anything.”

“I know, mon amour, I know.”

*****

Thomas was taking his turn in the shower, so Julia grabbed one of his cotton dress shirts to cover her nakedness while she made dinner. The salad was tossed, and Cajun chicken was in the oven roasting along with baked potatoes. All she needed was to let the wine breathe.

She was washing her hands after handling the chicken when Thomas joined her. She turned to look over the shoulder he had laid his chin on and kissed him sweetly.

His heart began to hammer, and his body instantly yelled an enthusiastic “YES!” He had her lips, and he’d be a fool to not take advantage of the situation. And as far as he knew, no one had ever called him a fool; he planned to keep it that way. With one hand gently wound in her hair, he kissed her again.  She tasted like paradise, and his white button down shirt on her freshly showered, naked body was more than he could resist.

One kiss turned into many, and he lost track. Not that he was counting. He wanted her—again. Even though, they had made love the second they were home not forty–five minutes ago. 

When he finally stopped long enough to lift his head, her eyes were glowing with her need of him. She smiled, her little shy ‘I want you’ smile that made his stomach do a flip.

“As much as it pains me to say it, give me a minute to clean up before someone gets salmonella. Then, you can carry me off like a caveman.”

“Caveman?” he chuckled. “I was thinking the kitchen table looked the perfect height for what I have in mind for you. Every room and surface in this house needs to be christened.”

“Christened? Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

“Mmm, most definitely,” he murmured, as he made another assault on her neck. “You’ve got two minutes before I strip you bare.”

The pins in her hair fascinated him. How could a couple of straight wooden sticks hold all of her hair together? With a final kiss and nuzzle to her neck, he pulled each free, one by one, watching her hair flow freely down her back in a sensual wave. Damn, she was sexy, a mixture of dangerous and delicate.

He raked his fingers through the long silk several times before sliding his hands around to the buttons on her shirt. With each button, his knuckles brushed warm, bare skin, exposing the soft swell of her breasts. He was completely captivated by this little woman.

Finally, she set the dishrag aside so he could turn her in his arms. His gaze locked with hers. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her, he could see it in the way she consumed him with her glowing eyes.

“I need to taste you,” he admitted hoarsely.

Thomas brushed the shirt from her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. Before this incredible woman entered his life, he’d been happy. At least he thought he had. He hadn’t believed he would ever want a wife and family. Hell. He hadn’t realized he was lonely. He’d set himself on a path of protecting those who needed him and service, first by attending the academy then being a private investigator and now head of security. Before Julia, that path had been enough. And then she’d calmly walked into his life and changed it forever.

Her warm, sure hands skimmed up his belly to his chest. Before she could wrap them around his neck, he caught them and pressed a kiss to the center of each palm.
The look of need in her eyes sent another punch of desire low and sharp to his groin, stealing his breath. No woman had ever fueled such an urgent lust in him.

“You’re killing me, woman,” he groaned, gathering her closer, so her body molded against his. “I’ve never needed a woman like I need you.”

His hands fisted in her hair, and as he tilted his head, his mouth took possession of hers to catch the soft, sexy sigh she always made right before he kissed her. God, he loved that little sound. His cock strained against his jeans and pressed against her belly as her hands snaked around his neck for support
.
Pumping his hips, he thrust rhythmically, he couldn’t help it. Her tongue danced with his, fingers massaging the back of his neck while her body trembled with her own need.

He wanted her, right here, right now. Walking her backward to the kitchen table, he lifted her to sit on top. With one hand, he unbuttoned his jeans and tugged to get them the hell off. While he cupped the back of her head with the other, ravishing her mouth.

“I need you right now, Tommy, fast and hard,” Julia demanded. “No soft kisses and petting, just fast, raw, sex.”

Thomas groaned; her words were gasoline thrown on an already raging fire. She wanted fast and hard; she would get it.