Chapter Twenty-seven
Houseguest
Two hours later, Stephan, Brandon, and I showed up at Adrian’s lake house with two black duffle bags and a cardboard box filled with some of my favorite things.
Whatever I could salvage anyway.
A blanket, my aromatherapy candles, books and of course my favorite sweater smothered in Seth’s scent.
“Are you planning to stay more than a few days?” Adrian asked from the doorway.
“You wish.” I whisked past him and into the house.
“I don’t know why Lucian agreed to this.” I heard Stephan say stopping in front of Adrian. “I don’t think I have to remind you to keep your paws to yourself.”
I put down the box in the nearest room of the house and walked back toward the front door before the two hurt each other.
“That’s why he sent you isn’t it, watchdog?” Adrian commented. “To make sure all hands stay in pockets. Just so you know, I’m not the one with the wandering hands in this relationship.”
This caused a reaction out of Stephan. He gripped Adrian by the collar of his shirt faster than I could blink an eye.
“Hey…hey!” I yelled at them.
“Down, boy,” I said to Stephan. “If we are all going to stay here for a few days we better learn to get along. Don’t you think?”
Stephan gave me hard eyes as he loosened his grip on Adrian and then backed away from him.
With a grunt, Adrian shoved Stephan and took off toward the garage.
I leaned on the door with my hands behind my back and looked up at Stephan reluctantly.
His face was hard. “I don’t like this, Duchess.” He breathed.
“You can’t protect me forever, Stephan.” I bit my bottom lip.
“I think I’ve managed all right these past few years.” There was an edge to his voice. He was hurt.
Dammit.
I moved away from the door and wrapped my arms around his waist. He let go of the duffle bag and put his arms around me.
“I need to learn to handle myself from now on is all I meant,” I said softly with my head on his chest.
He kissed the top of my head.
“I don’t want to be around my dad right now and Adrian can handle me if need be.”
Stephan made a noise. “Yeah, I’ve witnessed that.”
I sighed and pulled myself closer to him. “Let’s not fight.” I closed my eyes. “Just trust me, Stephan.”
Stephan swallowed hard and after another kiss on my head, he whispered, “I trust you, Duchess.” Slowly, he pulled away from my embrace. “I have to go work now, but your father has ordered Felix and Paul to be on security detail until I get back.” Stephan put his hands into his jean pockets and gave me a slanted smile. “Behave. Please.”
“Always.”
“Brandon!” Stephan called.
“Bye, Jade,” Brandon said walking out of the house and getting in the front seat of Stephan’s yellow jeep.
I waved.
Stephan took one last look at me before getting into the car and driving off.
“He’s even more protective than a German Shepherd.” Adrian’s voice came from behind me.
I turned around with frowning eyes. “Watch it, Kincaid.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “I’m just sayin’.”
“Don’t just say. Stephan is really important to me, okay?”
He nodded. “Okay.”
I started walking back into the house, and Adrian followed. The security detail lingered on the front deck in their dark clothes and armed waistbands.
“The shower is all yours.” He stopped before he reached the stairs. “I’ll wait until your safely showered and in the company of your favorite werewolf before I take off.”
“Take off?”
“I have my own plans tonight.”
“Oh?”
“Oh,” he answered with a quick smile.
“You know, I don’t like being guarded like some sort of princess.”
“Well, like it or not, Jade, that’s kind of what you are. Your father’s other guard dogs outside prove that. They have my house surrounded. I’d get used to it if I were you.”
“Would you now?”
“Okay, probably not but you should. The faster you accept something, Jade, the better off you are. Honestly.” He then walked away.
Maybe he was right. Did he accept the fact that he was cursed, and it had nothing to do with his own bloodline? His own wrong doing? That scowl on his face before he walked away from me told me that he hadn’t. So how can he tell me to accept this? To just surrender my freedom and be my father’s submissive little girl?
I can’t.
I loved my freedom. I loved my independence. I would not give them up no matter how many creatures were after me.
I showered, dressed in sweats and a black t-shirt and after putting my wet hair up in a messy bun, I headed downstairs to see where Adrian was running off to.
He was in the kitchen cooking. Sausage and peppers. My stomach tightened with desire. Both from the hunger and the lust. He was wearing a black tank top. His muscles flexed as he diced and chopped.
I licked my lips and sighed. The wolf inside me whimpered for his attention.
“Hungry, Jade?” he asked not even turning around.
You have no idea. “Starving,” I answered and found a seat at the kitchen table.
“Good. Dinner shouldn’t take long. I hope you like sausage and peppers.”
I smiled. “Absolutely.”
“Something amusing?” He looked at me and wiped his hands on a checkered towel.
“No. Not really. I just didn’t picture as the cooking type.”
He laughed at that. “I have to take care of myself, don’t I?”
I nodded. “I suppose you do.”
“Don’t you cook?” he asked.
I gasped as if offended. “Of course I cook!” I squealed. “I just prefer when someone else does it for me.”
“Like your lapdog?”
I winced.
His smile faded. “I’m sorry. I should not have said that. I realize that he is important, and I have to tolerate him.”
“If you give him a chance, you might find you will do more than just tolerate him.” I assured. “Stephan is wonderful.”
“I’m sure.”
“I’m serious. You just have to get to know him.”
“I’m not denying that he’s a great guy, Jade. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I just need to give him a chance.”
I smiled. “Please do.”
He turned his attention back to his task.
“So you’re not going to tell me where you are heading tonight?” I teased.
He looked at me and then back at the food in the skillet.
“My mom’s birthday is tonight. It’s always a big event, and she insists that I make an appearance.”
“And that’s…bad?”
He shrugged. “Not usually, but it is for me. My brother will be attending, and we haven’t spoken since I broke his jaw over…” He stopped talking and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
“Over him stealing your girlfriend?” I finished.
“She was my fiancée, and I guess he didn’t steal her because I don’t think she ever really belonged to me.”
There was sadness to his confession, and I impulsively stood up and walked over to him.
He seemed surprised when I put my arms around him and let my head rest between his shoulder blades.
After a few moments, he turned around and wrapped his arms around me. We stayed locked in the embrace for a couple more seconds and when he let go, he gazed into my eyes and smiled. “Not that I mind, but what was that for?” He inquired.
I shrugged. “I just felt like you needed it.”
His eyes dropped to my lips and then back up. “I need a lot of things.” He joked.
My mouth went dry and my pulse sped up.
His mouth hovered over mine, and I couldn’t resist. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to me. I melted into his chest and willingly parted my lips while his tongue slipped into my mouth.
His hands wandered over my body, over the swell of my hips, the small of my back and the curve of my ass. I nearly cried out for his attention. I needed it!
“Yo!” One of the goons shouted from the doorway. “Hands off, mutt!”
Adrian grimaced and gently pulled away from me. “I’m sorry.” He declared.“I should have better control.”
I tried to let the desire in me settle before speaking. “Me too,” I replied with burning cheeks.
I didn’t like that we had an audience.
“No. You are new to this. Your beast dominates you now. It isn’t you that wants me but her.” Adrian looked disappointed.
After a few breaths, he put the towel down and turned off the stove. “Dinner is done. Please eat and make yourself at home. I have to get ready.” He walked out of the kitchen, but I called him back.
“I could go with you,” I said. “You know, for support.”
He smiled. “You want to be my date?”
“I want to be a friend offering assistance.” I corrected.
“Okay.” He agreed. “I’ll take it.”
“Great. I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”
He nodded as he headed upstairs.
I wanted to be there for him.
Surely a meeting with his ex-fiancée and his brother would be a lot, and even though he was a big, tough guy something vulnerable played behind those captivating eyes.
Victory dance? Not yet, I’ll wait.
Adrian