Chapter Fourteen
Reunions Can Be Messy
As spring turned to summer, then to early autumn, Stefan grew restless. How the holy hell did I wind up in this situation? Irritable, Stefan walked toward the Alpine Game Center as he had every night for the past couple of months. One minute he’d had a satisfying career and a comfortable, if frustrating, relationship with a woman. The next? I risked my job and lost Brandy. Why? Because he was unable to control his explosive temper, his arrogance, and his bloodlust. He’d nearly lost everything. Stupid bastard.
The game room door banged open, and Stefan stepped inside just as a blinding streak of lightning shattered the midnight sky. Thunder shook the ground underfoot, and dark clouds covered the moon, matching his mood—edgy, erratic, and foul.
Inside the dimly lit game room, a woman brushed past him, the hot flow of blood pulsing beneath her porcelain skin. His fangs unsheathed, and he forced his mouth shut tight.
Imagining her terrible, piercing screams as he crushed her throat to let the fragrant, sweet blood flow into his mouth, made him pull back and move swiftly away. The almost-victim had no idea how close to death she’d come.
Thirst burned like fire in his throat. He was too vulnerable to walk among warm-blooded humans tonight. He needed to hunt. Next to human blood, animal blood had all the appeal of rotten eggs, but it kept him sated and able to work among warm-bloods. Tonight he should’ve hunted, but he didn’t give a damn.
He stepped out into the cold, misty night and closed the door quietly behind him. As he walked down the dark, wet street, he heard footsteps behind him and paused.
“Stefan, what happened back there?” A voice whispered out of the foggy night.
Crouched down ready to spring, he whirled around, sniffed the air, and then stood, relieved yet shocked to see Brandy glide out of the swirling mist into the shrouded moonlight.
“I could have killed an innocent girl. She was so close, the blood pulsing in her veins. I could smell it and almost took her.” An involuntary shudder shot through his tense body as his shoulders slumped. He had no business staying among the humans. Returning to the service of the Vampire Council was what he should have done, where killing was his job description and rewarded.
“But you didn’t. You need to hunt. Let’s go.” She reached out, wrapping a soft, warm hand around his arm. Her emerald eyes glittered with excitement.
Her touch brought a torrent of shame and guilt spinning through him. Yet it didn’t stop the want—no, need—that clawed at him when she was close. No, I can’t take that chance again. He shook her arm free. “Leave me alone.”
Undaunted, she stood directly in front of him, hands fisted on her hips, looking up into his unresponsive eyes disapprovingly. “I already did that, and look where it got you.” She raised her arms up and let them drop to her sides as she glanced up and down the empty, wet street.
“I could have killed you. That’s why you left. Remember?” he growled, glaring at her. This was the last conversation he wanted to have with her. The memories of that night still haunted him. “I’ve regretted that night every moment since you left.”
“Yes, I remember the fight, but you’re being melodramatic. Neither of us was critically injured except maybe emotionally. You know why I left, and it wasn’t because I was afraid of you.” Brandy’s voice was defiant, her lips formed a grim line, and her green eyes watched him warily as she reached up, tentatively laying her hand on his shoulder. She let it slide slowly down his arm, taking his hand in hers and intertwining their fingers.
Calmer now, the bloodlust waning, he asked, “Why are you back? If it matters, I didn’t touch Synn. It was a damn set up from the very beginning.” He dropped her hand.
Her eyes rounded, and she drew in a breath. “Oh God,” she breathed out the words and shook her head, glancing at the horizon. “Questions can wait. We’ve got a couple of hours before dawn. Let’s hunt.” Brandy tugged him toward the forest.
Secretly glad she was back, he shook his head stubbornly. “There’s not enough time.”
“Sure there is.” She raised a brow questioningly. “Or would you rather risk another innocent victim that won’t escape this time? Now, let’s go!” She reached for his hand, tightened her hand in his, and jerked harder this time, breaking into a sprint toward the forest.
****
The afternoon sunlight was streaming through the windows as he relaxed on the recliner beside the bed where Brandy lay. Last night seemed like a dream and a horrible nightmare all rolled into one. A wave of relief flowed through him as he watched her sleeping peacefully, her head resting on a scrunched pillow, red hair tangled and body curled. It was no dream. He leaned over and inhaled her delectable scent. A day hadn’t gone by that he hadn’t missed her terribly. Questions swirled through his mind like the dark mist last night. What is she doing here? Why has she come back?
She stirred and tilted her head up to look at him, then reached up and ran her fingers through his thick, straight black hair, fingering several strands before letting them slip through her fingers. “Feeling better,” she asked, eyes squinting against the bright sunshine, “this afternoon?”
“Yes.” He leaned down and kissed her hair, rubbing his cheek against the softness.
“I thought so.” She smiled.
In reply to his unasked questions, she answered, reaching up and framing his face in her warm hands, “I’ve been here for a week, watching you. You’re far too dangerous on your own. I’m back for good, and it’s the right decision. Nothing you can say or do is going to change that. We’re both to blame for that incident. We’ve learned from it, and it won’t happen again, so let’s move on.” She got up and reached for her sweater hanging on the back of a chair.
Stefan stood, stretched, and picked up his jeans off the floor and padded over to the closet for a clean shirt. “Brandy, are you sure? Look what trusting me got you.” He glanced at the pink scars extending across her shoulder. He wanted to run his fingers lightly over those scars and caress them away along with that terrible night. Those scars would keep that night burned in his memory for the rest of his life.
“The scars we bear serve as a reminder of our mistakes.” Her eyes traced the three scars that disappeared as he slipped into his shirt.
“If you’re sure, I won’t argue,” he said, relieved.
“Is Synn still working at the radio station?”
Grimacing, he shrugged and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “No. She attacked Cody that night, then disappeared. Still, I’ve caught a glimpse of her hanging around a couple of times. Russ terminated her the day you left and convinced the judge to issue a permanent restraining order against her. She has to stay one hundred and fifty feet away from the station and its personnel.”
“Is Cody all right?” Brandy asked in a concerned voice.
“Yeah, he’s a tough old bird. The encounter shook him up pretty bad. He had a huge knot on his head and defensive wounds on his hand and arms where she slashed him with a knife.”
“No criminal charges filed?”
“Not until she is located. I don’t think Cody wants to pursue the charges. Wants the whole thing to go away.”
“Really? Think she was looking for you?” Brandy tilted her head up questioningly.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Brandy, you’ve got to know I didn’t have anything to do with her.” He told her everything that had happened at the radio station.
“I am so sorry for not trusting you and giving you a chance to explain. I couldn’t stand the thought of another woman…I was wrong.” She reached her hand up and stroked his cheek. “None of this would have happened if…”
“Let’s forget it and move on.” He took her hand in his, brought it to his lips, and softly kissed the back of her hand.
Blinking up at him, she nodded and blew out a breath. “What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?”
“Other than work, not much. Hunting when necessary, though the memory of us hunting together haunted me.” This was another reminder of how bad I’d screwed up.
“Nights off I usually spent in The Alpine Game Room. It’s always empty after one or two in the morning except for the old man that runs it. Sometimes I help him out after midnight. He has a hard time keeping help during those hours and pays well. I don’t know what happened last night…”
Brandy’s voice hardened and her body stiffened as she retorted, “You do know what happened! You waited too long to hunt. The girl appeared out of nowhere and surprised you.” She jabbed a finger in his chest. “You were unprepared!”
He took a step backward, watching her warily, keeping his anger in check.
Slowly shaking her head from side to side, Brandy sighed with exasperation. “You’ve spent the last few months undoing everything you worked so hard for over the past several years.”
“Brandy, I didn’t care anymore. The longer you were gone, the worse it got. I’m a creature of the night that needs blood to exist. Nothing will ever change that. You can’t know what it’s like,” he said flatly, narrowing his eyes, staring as if he could look right through her.
Unwavering, she stared right back at him. “No, you’re right.” She conceded. “I don’t physically know, but I watched you transition from human blood to animal blood, and that wasn’t easy. You did it. Even continued to work with humans on a daily basis. If it was so hard for you to remain here, why didn’t you leave?”
“Couldn’t leave the station after all they’d done for me. Part of me hoped you’d come back.”
“You didn’t look for me,” she countered matter-of-factly.
“You told me not to. Those were your last words,” he said grimly, then brought his eyes up to hers and admitted sheepishly, “I did call your sister looking for you. She said I’d done enough damage, you didn’t want to see me again, and not to call back.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and paced back and forth.
“Yeah, Hannah can be rough.” Brandy smiled knowingly. “I was every bit as much to blame as you were. I pushed you too far and knew it. It’s no excuse, but I was hurt, angry, and not thinking clearly.” Then she paused as if to consider what he’d said. “Wait a second. You called Hannah?”
He stopped pacing and shifted his eyes to Brandy. “I did. She made it quite clear you didn’t want anything to do with me.”
“Really? She never mentioned talking to you.” Her forehead creased, and there was a steel glint in her eyes. “Hmm, need to have a talk with my sister.”
“Is that where you’ve been?”
“Kinda. I spent time with Hannah and her husband, Tristian, in Maine. They insisted a visit to Ireland to see the rest of my family would be good for me. I took their advice but still couldn’t get you out of my head. “She spread her arms wide, then dropped them to her sides. “I am back for good.”
Tristian…Maine…No way. Shit. If that was the Tristian I met, he would’ve hunted me down and…The tone of Brandy’s voice yanked Stefan out of his thoughts.
“Now put your shoes on. We are going out.”
“Now? Where? Wait a minute. Does Tristian have a last name?” Stefan asked.
“Uh, what? Oh, sure, it’s Shandie.” Brandy looked over at Stefan inquiringly. “Why?”
Dammit. Stefan swallowed hard and forced himself to relax. This is going to get complicated really quick. I’m going to have to tell Brandy about my previous life with the Council, and soon. “No reason. Just wondered.”
“Nice try, but changing the subject isn’t going to work. We’re going out. Now. You hunted last night, and you can’t let what almost happened in the game room undermine your confidence. When is your next shift?”
“I’ve a couple of nights off.” He pulled his hair back in a ponytail. Their eyes met as he turned around, and she watched him intently. A smile played around the corners of her mouth.
He continued to watch her as she slipped into jeans and pulled the sweater over her creamy white skin. She ran a brush through her long, curly hair and flipped it over her shoulders. Sunlight glimmered off the strands of red hair that cascaded down her back. The effect was mesmerizing.
Her eyes narrowed, and she turned to face him. “What are you looking at?”
“You, Brandy. I missed you…a lot,” he admitted reluctantly, feeling as though he’d laid his soul bare for her examination.
Her eyes softened as her glaze swept over him. “Wow, that’s different, admitting your feelings.” Brandy padded across the floor in her bare feet and leaned against his broad chest. She slid her hands up his back slowly to the nape of his neck. Her fingers sifted through his hair as she removed the rubber band.
“You have such long, silky hair.” She fanned the sleek black strands out across his shoulders and laid her cheek against them. “I love the silky feel against my skin.”
He wrapped his arms around her and sighed quietly, smoothing her unruly curls with his large hand as he pressed her warm body against his cool chest.
She backed away, stepped into her shoes, and bent down to tie the laces. “Now let’s go.” Grabbing his hand, she pulled him out the door into the frigid air. Ice crystals danced on the breeze, coming to rest on her upturned face, sparkling like diamonds in her windswept hair and eyelashes. They walked hand in hand down the slick, crowded sidewalks. Thirst burned in his throat but not so much that it made him uncomfortable. A good sign.
Like kids, they ran through the park laughing and leaving footprints in the newly fallen snow. He’d never thought he could feel like this again. Grinning wickedly, he scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at Brandy.
She ducked as it sprinkled over her back, then bent down with her back to him, turned, and lobbed a snowball at his face. Her aim was much better and more deliberate than his, and the packed snowball found its mark as he grinned back at her through a face full of snow.
Pay back later, when she least expects it. He grinned mischievously at her. At last, they found an empty park bench in the shadows and sat down.
Brandy turned to him. “How you doing?”
“Good. The thirst is there, but manageable. It’s not like I’ve been stalking humans since you’ve been gone,” he said indignantly. “Not saying I haven’t had a few close calls.”
“Okay, let’s go back to the game room.”
“No,” he hissed. “Not during the day and especially not when it’s crowded.”
“Yes. You’ve fed and need to know you can handle being in a crowd again. I know you can. Besides, that’s what you get for becoming a recluse while I was gone.”
She was right, but he sure didn’t relish the idea. They walked to the entrance of the game room. He took a deep breath and walked in. The place was crowded with kids playing video games, running around, and shouting. The sound of blood coursing through their veins filled his ears. He shook his head and wiped his brow. Thirst burned like red-hot pokers jabbing at his throat, renewing his desire for human blood. As if she’d read his mind, Brandy grasped his hand, holding him back.
“You’re doing fine. Relax.”
Fine, hell. His gums burned as his fangs descended and the beast within strained to get out. He clamped his mouth shut tight, closed his eyes, and willed his mind to block out every sound and smell around him, as he had in his assassin days. At last, his fangs began to retract and relief flowed through his tense body. In control again, he opened his eyes and squeezed Brandy’s hand. Stefan nodded to the old man sitting in the back as they left.
Once outside, he disgustedly blew out a breath. “Are we through?” He wanted to put his fist through something but resisted. If he was going to win Brandy’s heart, he had to control his temper, behavior, and the beast.
“Yes, for today. Let’s hunt and then head back to your cabin.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Deciding to push his luck, he asked, “Will you be staying with me?”
“It depends.” She looked up coyly, batting those long copper lashes at him. “Do you want me to?”
“You bet.” He was tired of playing games, of being alone. It was time to settle down, and Brandy was the one he wanted to come home to at the end of the day. Funny, he’d never considered building a life, a future, with anyone. Now he thought about it all the time. Still, he couldn’t tell her what was in his heart, not yet. The risk of rejection was still too great.
Brandy studied his face for several minutes. Little lines creased her forehead as she asked, “What has changed you so much?”
“Realizing what life would be like without you. And that damn Cody reminded me how bad I screwed up every single night I came to work. More than that, I got a glimpse of what it could be like with you by my side.”
Her eyes twinkled, and she stifled a laugh. “Is that the truth, then?”
“It is. Well, to be fair, Cody has been very understanding. I haven’t been much fun to be around. He said you’d come back when you were ready.” Stefan stared down at her with an appreciation he never realized before. “Smart man.”
They headed for the deep forest to hunt. Brandy ducked behind a tree, slipped out of her clothes, and shifted into gryphon form. No matter how many times he watched her, he felt captivated by her transformation and graceful flight. It was rare that she shifted in broad daylight. When she did, the sun glinting off the bright copper feathers and tawny fur was a remarkable sight. And then—she spread her wings.
After he had gotten his fill and Brandy hers, they hiked back to town and up the wet steps to his cabin. It was snowing again. He held the door open for her. The daylight accentuated the condition of his once tidy home. The draperies were torn and dirty. He’d punched holes in the walls. A chair still lay in pieces under the breakfast bar where he’d smashed it after watching Brandy leave. Not caring about anything, his miserable existence had colored everything. After nearly losing Brandy, he was going to make damn sure she never had a reason to leave again.
****
Lost in thought, he stood in front of the frosty living room window, watching the curtain of darkness cover the newly fallen snow. Brandy’s gentle voice and soft touch brought him back to the present. She laid her warm face on his cold back and wrapped her arms loosely around his waist.
She stood on tiptoe as her warm breath caressed his neck and whispered, “What ya thinking about?”
Her breath caused a shiver of desire to race up his spine. “You. Happy you’re back.” He reached down and put his hands over hers, entwining their fingers. Slowly, he turned to face her and watched her eyes as he touched his lips to hers and drew her against him.
“I’m not sure…” she murmured, leaning into him.
His mouth slid over hers and captured her gasp of surprise as his tongue slipped between her lips and danced sinuously with hers, arousing the beast within him. His fangs unsheathed as he felt the heat of the beast gaining control for the second time today.
Faced away from her, he pulled back slightly, his cheek slid across hers until it rested against the soft curve of her neck. She didn’t see the changes he couldn’t control. Damn it. This wasn’t going to ruin his chances of a life with Brandy, and he ruthlessly shut down the beast. Being intimate with her was going to take more caution and practice than he’d thought, but on the flip side, the practice would be…Images of their naked bodies entwined flowed through his mind in vivid detail, causing the expected results.
Brandy shoved at him, “Stefan, you know the…”
“Rules,” he finished for her and raised his head, gaze locked on hers. He sighed and brushed his lips lightly across hers. He loved that feeling. Not ready to relinquish his hold, he trailed kisses along her cheek and whispered, “Things are about to change.” If she saw the struggle that had just ensued inside him, she didn’t acknowledge it. That’s the thing about Brandy. She sees the best in everyone.
A smile lit up her eyes as she tilted her head to look up at him. “Are they? I think I like this new Stefan. It may take some getting used to though,” she teased and slid her hand under his T-shirt to massage his well-defined back muscles. He felt her tremble in his arms as he flexed under her fingertips. He loved that reaction. Will she continue to fight the desire she feels each time I touch her? He could scent her arousal.
“How about tomorrow we head to the mall. This place needs some sprucing up.”
Surprised at her quick mood change, he shook off the cloud of desire that fogged his brain, leaned away, and looked amused. “What’s wrong with it?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she swept her arms up from her sides and turned in a circle. “What isn’t?”
He grinned sheepishly. “Okay, okay, things got a little out of control while you were gone.”
“Aye, just a bit.” She giggled and reached for his hand.
****
The next morning, they walked to the Mountain Mall, arriving early to avoid the crowds. Brandy found the fragrant candles she was looking for along with a crystal vase and a couple of crystal bowls. She perused the draperies until she found just the right shades of blue and handed them to him along with two sets of brightly colored kitchen curtains. “Those should add just the right touch.”
“For who? Seems a bit feminine to me.” Staring down at the kitchen curtains, he glanced up at her and winked.
“I’ll be staying for a while; besides, they brighten the kitchen.” She fluttered her eyelashes and smiled up at him.
“After we’re done here, how about we go back to the cabin, get my truck, and take a ride over to Kalispell? I need to stop by Badger Building, out on Highway 2, and get sheet rock, mud, drywall tape, and paint to fix the holes in the wall. We can also check on your cottage. The construction is completed, but I didn’t replace the furniture.”
“Thanks for that. I didn’t even give the house a thought when I left. I stopped by my place and discovered the repairs were complete, but like you said, no furniture. Since I wasn’t sure what the future would hold, I stayed in a motel.”
****
Walking toward the mall exit, Brandy stopped. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She glanced behind her and scowled, increasing their pace.
“What is it?” Instinctively, Stefan drew her closer to him and looked around. Synn stood in the shadow of the brick column. “Shit.”
Brandy hesitated, then shook her head and frowned. “There’s something about the woman that bothers me, other than the obvious. I don’t know what she is, but I don’t think Synn’s human.” Brandy shuddered, then gave her shoulders a quick shake. “I don’t want to get close enough to find out.”
“You’re damn right you don’t. She isn’t human. She disappeared right out of my hold that night. I won’t let her control our lives either.” He slowed the pace and stared defiantly in Synn’s direction. Abruptly, he stopped and sat on one of the mall benches, then pulled Brandy into his lap.
“What are you doing, Stefan?” she squealed, her cheeks blushing bright red as customers nearest them snickered and moved past.
“Enjoying myself. You got a problem with that?” He nuzzled into the back of her hair as he shifted her to his side.
She leaned her head back against his shoulder, her eyes drinking in his face. “Nope.” A sigh escaped her lips. For the first time, she felt actual contentment inside him, tinged with anxiety. But given the situation, that was to be expected. The terrible despair and anger that simmered just below the surface was fading. Strong, proud, and defiant, yet somehow vulnerable—that was her vampire.
Absently, he tugged at a wayward curl that had come loose from the black ribbon she’d tied her hair back with.
Untying the ribbon, she shook her hair free and looked expectantly up at him. “If you are finished with your public display of affection, can we go?”
“Yep.” Grabbing her hand, he stood, spilling her out onto her feet. They swiftly exited the mall. Her hair fell around her shoulders and down her back as they walked through the crisp morning air. Reaching for wisps of her hair, he ran his fingers through her beautiful mane. Suddenly, a gust of wind whipped her hair all around her face in a cloud of sun-fire. She dropped his hand and reached back to tie it up again.
In an instant, he took the ribbon from her and grinned outrageously, stuffing it in his pocket. “I like it wild.”
Exasperated, she huffed out a breath that hung in the air like a thin wisp of white smoke. “Okay, but you’re going to brush it out for me tonight.”
“Gladly,” he murmured, slowly raising a brow as the corner of his mouth curved up seductively.
She popped him in the ribs with the back of her hand. “I will not be naked on your bed, nestled between your legs, while you brush my hair. Get that image out of your mind right now. Not going to happen.”
He snickered. “We’ll see.” Dodging to the side, he caught her hand before she could pop him again, and her gaze darted behind them.