CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It was really late by the time they returned to the house. They’d both sort of lost track of time in that sacred space, just holding each other quietly and listening to the wind. It had felt like a benediction. A welcoming. An inevitable twist of fate that had brought them together with that incredible place.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” Peter asked her in a low, sexy tone that made her knees weak.
“What about your grandmother?” Mellie’s human sensibilities wouldn’t change overnight.
Peter came to her as she stood by the banked fire in the fireplace. “In the eyes of my people, we are mates. We’re already married, to use the human word. We should not be apart. Babushka will not bat an eye that we sleep together, only if we sleep apart. She knows how hard it is for newly mated shifters to be parted from their mate.”
“You’ll suffer if I say I want to leave?” she asked, already having made up her mind that she would stay, but she was interested. She wanted to know all the rules of his world.
“I would just follow you home and stay in the apartment with you again,” he said philosophically. “Of course, if you kicked me out, I would go, but I would probably shift and sleep in the woods behind your store all night, keeping watch.”
“That is so sweet. Sad, and a little scary, but sweet.” She brushed his hair back from his forehead and smiled at him. He was such a good man. “I’ll stay. Of course, I’ll stay. But, first thing tomorrow, we have to tell Urse and John, okay? She’s going to be mad enough at me as it is for not telling her right away.”
“Deal,” he told her, swooping down to lift her into his arms.
He walked her into the back of the house, taking her to a door that was standing ajar. What she could see of the room beyond looked masculine and large. Was this the master bedroom? She certainly hoped so.
The walls were painted a rich cream color, and wood accents abounded from the crown molding to what looked like a handmade four poster bed, complete with curtains in a rich brocade fabric. It was manly, yet opulent, at the same time. Peter’s Russian heritage showing through, no doubt.
Gold and burgundy seemed to be the theme, along with golden wood and cream on both the walls and bedding. It was gorgeous. Sumptuous and inviting.
“Do you like it? We can change the décor to anything you want,” Peter said as he laid her down on the huge bed.
“It’s beautiful,” she said simply, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I think I could be very happy here.”
The smile that lit his face shone in his eyes, as well. He drew closer, kissing her with all the joy she’d seen in his expression. She was home. She’d never felt quite the same before and doubted she ever would again. Only with Peter. Wherever they were—if they were together—she was at home.
As he kissed her, he undressed her. She was glad he’d taken the initiative because she wanted to feel his skin against hers as soon as possible. She got her wish as their breathing intensified and the passion rose between them. Soon, there was no fabric impeding her desire to touch him all over.
She had reveled in the feel of his skin back in the circle of towering giant trees, but the moment had been a quiet one, not meant for fiery passion. No, that moment had been filled with amazement at the place and the man and the beast he had become, who had walked at her side calmly through the midnight woods. The predator had been her protector, and she’d come to learn that he would forever be at her side, never a threat to her—only to those who might seek to harm her.
That moment had been a benediction of their relationship, witnessed by the ancient power of the towering trees. It had lasted a long time. A simple embrace in the dark under a canopy of starlight let in through the perfect circle formed by the upper branches of the giant sequoia.
This, though… This was different. This was a time just for the two of them. Man and woman. Lovers eternal.
There were no witnesses, silent trees or sparkling stars. Not this time, though she couldn’t rule out the possibility in the future. This was just Peter and Mellie, together, teaching each other the ways of their love.
Her heart was bursting with the emotion, though they hadn’t really spoken of it yet. She suspected he loved her but just hadn’t gotten around to saying it. Maybe he was waiting for her? Maybe he needed a little nudge?
Either way, she wouldn’t let him go on assuming they’d spend the rest of their lives together until he came out and told her he loved her. Mellie needed to hear it. She knew herself well, and not hearing those words would drive her around the bend in the end. Better to end the uncertainty now, early in the game.
Daring greatly, she pushed back from his drugging kiss and looked into his confused eyes. She knew he was going to ask what was wrong, but she preempted him.
“Do you love me?” she asked in rush.
“What?” He seemed shocked by her question.
“Do you love me?” she repeated, holding her breath as she waited for his answer.
“Of course, I love you, zvyozdochka. You are my mate.” He said it as if it should go without saying, but she’d needed to hear the words. Her heart filled with joy and probably showed on her face.
“For the record, I love you, too, Peter. I just needed to hear it,” she told him.
“Then, I will tell you of my love as often as you like,” he told her very seriously. “I will give you whatever you need. As your mate, my number one priority now is your happiness and wellbeing.” He kissed her between words of that last sentence. Little nibbling kisses all over her face and neck, reigniting the flame of desire within her. “I love you,” he whispered as his lips went lower. “I love you,” he said again as his mouth hovered over her breast, his hot breath tormenting her sensitive skin in the most delicious way.
He lowered his mouth, taking the tip into his mouth and laving the engorged skin in ways that made her whimper and writhe. He knew just how to touch her to make her his. He repeated his words of love as he worked his way over her body, kissing and licking, leaving her in no doubt whatsoever that he really did love her and didn’t mind saying the words.
After tonight, Mellie knew she would never be the same. And, when he joined their bodies together, she was the one screaming about love as he began to move with wild abandon. This lovemaking was like no other they had shared before.
He paused at one point, after a small climax, to let her catch her breath and change positions, and she had to ask, “Are the walls soundproofed?”
She hoped they were and had the feeling they might be, but she needed to know after the ruckus they were making. His grandmother was in the house somewhere. It would be really embarrassing if they kept the older woman awake with their shenanigans.
“Each room in the back of the house is dug into a separate area of the hill. Babushka’s room is at the far end from us, so there’s plenty of solid earth between us. Plus, I think she probably went out for the evening. She likes to roam in her bear form, in the darkness when nobody can see her.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Mellie whispered, catching her breath.
Peter chuckled before he started moving again, stealing her breath once more as their passion rose even higher than before. She cried out his name over and over as she came, almost sobbing with the intensity of the orgasms he gave her, until he finally joined her in bliss.
They slept in each other’s arms and woke only to make love again in the pre-dawn light.
*
The next morning, the very first thing on Mellie’s agenda was to talk to Urse, but her plans got changed when the dragon-man showed up on her doorstep. Peter had come with Mellie to the bookshop early then had gone down the street to the bakery to get breakfast for them both. He had to open his shop later, but they’d planned to have breakfast together before opening their respective shops.
Mellie planned to talk to Urse when she arrived at the shop. She knew her sister’s schedule by now. Urse would want to spend the early morning with John before he went to work as mayor. Then, she would make her way to the shop and spend the next few hours with Mellie. That was the perfect time, Mellie thought, to break the news.
But the dragon had other ideas.
Paul showed up at the bookstore while Peter was at the bakery, throwing Mellie’s carefully devised plans into chaos. She let him in, having already established with Peter when they’d arrived that the charm the dragon had used on the premises the day before had dissipated.
“Paul. What brings you here so early?” she greeted him at the door. She was reluctant to let him into the shop without anyone else around. She’d already run afoul of his casual use of magic once before, and she didn’t really know him well enough to be comfortable in his presence.
“I need to speak with you,” he said, his tone a bit on the urgent side. He didn’t look like he’d slept at all. In fact, he looked as if he’d been involved in a fight of some kind, when she took a hard look at him.
She still wasn’t sure about letting him in, but then, she spotted Peter coming down the sidewalk with John and Urse at his side. They were talking intensely and walking fast. Mellie opened the door, letting Paul in while she waited for the rest of them to arrive.
She didn’t have long to wait. Peter had his hands full with bags from the bakery, but he stopped to drop a quick kiss on Mellie’s lips as she held the door for him. John and Urse were right behind him, Urse giving her sister a scowling look as she passed into the bookshop.
“I’m glad you’re all here,” Paul started talking even before Mellie closed the door behind her sister. “I investigated your claims last night and have reached some conclusions.”
Paul’s accent grew thicker when he was agitated, as he was now, Mellie observed. Peter’s did the same thing, but it took a lot to agitate a bear. Paul was probably the same. Whatever he’d learned last night had him in the dragon shifter equivalent of a tizzy. Mellie grew very concerned.
“Gus told me you used the stone circle,” John put in, moving some chairs around to form a small circle where they could all sit and talk.
The sisters kept a few small tables and chairs in the store so people could sit and peruse the books before buying. They also came in handy in situations like this, when the bookshop had visitors who wanted to sit and talk.
“I performed a Goddess rite in the circle last evening, and the leviathan went crazy. The Mother of All granted me the vision of what I must do, and though I’m still skeptical, She hasn’t steered me wrong yet. I will give you the drops of blood you require, but I want to be present to oversee their use. My blood is more powerful than you know, and I don’t give it away lightly,” he told Mellie, a stern note in his voice.
She nodded. “That’s very understandable, and no problem at all. Peter was present when I used his blood for the potion. I don’t mind a small audience, and your active participation will help the potion be even stronger.”
“I studied your leviathan and its followers as closely as I could last night,” Paul went on. “I even tested the waters, diving down into them well beyond the strong ward around your cove. I was immediately set upon by the creatures in the area and barely escaped back to the air before the big one came. That is no creature to mess around with.” Paul looked suitably concerned. “Even the small ones are very dangerous. I almost didn’t get away,” he confessed, looking really pissed about that particular point. “I have felt its evil now, and you will have my full support in your plan to drive the creatures away from shore.”
“Thank you,” Mellie said quietly, knowing what a big deal it was that he’d agreed to help.
“Eventually, of course, this creature and its followers must be banished back to where they came from, but for now, protecting the innocent lives on the shore is a good mid-term goal,” Paul allowed.
“It’s the task I was given,” Mellie told him, feeling a bit put out that he seemed to be marginalizing her contribution when it had been so hard for her to get even this far.
Peter put his arm around her shoulders, offering silent support. He understood her moods now, and their closeness would only grow deeper over time. She couldn’t wait.
“Is there something you two forgot to tell us?” Urse asked, cutting through Mellie’s happy feelings.
Shit.
“Um… I’d planned to tell you this morning, sis, but things just sort of happened…” Mellie gestured to the group gathered around.
“Mellie and I are mates,” Peter pronounced in that stoic Russian way of his. Mellie was a little appalled but, at the same time, glad it was finally out in the open.
For a beat, there was no reaction, then Urse jumped up out of her chair and ran around to hug Mellie first, then Peter. John added his congratulations as he shook Peter’s hand, and even Paul was quick to congratulate them. Urse had tears in her eyes, and Mellie took her aside for a few private words in the back room.
“I’m so happy for you, Mel,” Urse said as they sought a few moments alone.
“I’m just sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. Something always got in the way,” Mellie said.
“How long have you known?”
“It became official last night, but Peter’s grandmother found out first. Sorry,” Mellie admitted.
Urse waved the apology away. “I don’t care, as long as you’re happy. Does Peter make you happy, Mel?”
“Happier than I can put into words,” she said on a soft note.
Urse sighed, a silly grin on her face. “Yeah. I know exactly what you mean. Those bear shifters really know how to treat a gal. And my John is the best.”
“No better than my Peter,” Mellie said, laughing as she put her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “How did we get so lucky?”
Urse looked out at the men still sitting in the shop area and tensed. “Hey! They’re eating all the pastries!”