By the time Tessa and Tamian returned to the farm, the sun was up. They had managed to administer the antidote to both agents and untie them without being seen. They also removed the cameras and wiped everything down so there was no trace of anyone else being there. The only things missing were the agents’ clothes, and those would be burned as soon as they were back in New Atlanta.

Julian had fixed Katherine some soup, and she’d had a chance to take a bath. Tessa’s clothes were a bit large considering the amount of weight Kat had lost while being held at FSM, but they looked so much better than the orange scrubs she’d had on. Julian had always found his mate to be attractive, but now that she was so close, he found her irresistible. He knew the mate bond played a large part in the attraction, but even before he knew they were mates, he’d admired her.

Whatever Tamian had going on earlier with regards to Gregor, he was over it, or at least putting on a good show. He, Tessa, and Gregor had gone outside to talk about the impending battle with Alistair. “Are you ready to go home, Sweetheart?” Julian asked Kat once they were alone. They were sitting on the sofa in the living area, Katherine sipping coffee and Julian drinking a soda. When she didn’t answer, Julian touched her arm to get her attention. He needed to remember she couldn’t hear out of her right ear. When she turned her head his way, he repeated the question.

“Yes. I want as far away from Texas as I can get.”

“Georgia isn’t that far away. If you prefer, I can take you somewhere else, like Italy.”

“You’d do that?”

“In a heartbeat. You tell me where you want to go, and I will make it happen. I mentioned Italy because our family has a villa there.”

“Wow, that’s… I’ve never been outside of the States, but New Atlanta’s fine. I’m sure you need to get back to your family and work.”

“What I need to do is make sure you are secure as well as happy.  You are my first priority. I know you don’t understand why, but you will soon. Trust me when I tell you I will take care of you, and I will protect you. You might have to hide out for a while until we find the evidence to prove your innocence. I have no idea what all you went through in the past few weeks, but I will help you through it. If you need to see someone, a professional, we will make that happen as well. I don’t want you to be afraid to confide in me, Kat. I only want what is best for you.”

“We’ll start with your house. If things get crazy, you know, like the Feds find me somehow, then we’ll talk about going far away.”

“Very well. Let me pack my things, and we will be off.”

Katherine set her coffee cup on the end table and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. She placed her cheek on her knees and closed her eyes. Julian hated to keep asking how she was, because he knew she wasn’t okay. Getting her home would be the first step in helping her heal, so he left her alone and went to pack.

Tessa’s voice sounded from the living room, and Julian hurried with stuffing his things in his suitcase. He knew Tessa would never hurt Katherine, but his mate was skittish, and he didn’t want her to endure any undue stress.

When he walked into the living area, Tessa was saying, “With the Feds on the lookout for you, I think you should wear a disguise until you get safely to Julian’s. I have several prosthetics for you to choose from.”

“You mean a mask like you and Julian wore?”

“Yes. In the past, I’ve had to hide my identity for the work I did. Don’t worry, I wasn’t doing anything illegal. I’ll be able to explain it all to you soon, but I would feel better if you didn’t show up at the airport looking like you.”

“Okay,” Kat agreed.

“Excellent!” Tessa exclaimed, clapping once. She held out her hand for Katherine, and the female’s eyes widened. She only hesitated a few seconds before she allowed Tessa to pull her to her feet. “We redheads have to stick together,” Tessa said, wrapping a strong arm around Katherine’s thin shoulders. Tessa winked at Julian as they walked by. While the females were busy, Julian put his suitcase and computer bag in the rental before making his way to the back porch where Gregor and Tamian were. Julian kept one ear on the females inside while the three of them talked about how to proceed. When the back door opened, Julian frowned at Katherine. No longer was his mate the gorgeous redhead. Standing before him was an older blonde. She wasn’t unattractive, but Julian definitely preferred Kat to look like Kat.

“I remember that one,” Gregor said, pulling Tessa to his side.

“As I was helping Katherine put it on, I told her a little about that adventure.”

“Speaking of adventures, we need to close the door on this one and get the hell out of Texas,” Tamian said.

“I’ll go pack our bags and wipe that part of the house. Gregor, you and Tamian take care of the computer equipment and kitchen, please.” Tessa had no trouble being in charge, and the males in her life had no trouble doing as instructed. Julian was glad to know he didn’t have to worry about anything, and he could get Katherine on one of the Clan jets headed home.

Thirty minutes later, they were pulling into the corporate area of the airport. The ride had been quick and silent. Julian continually monitored Katherine’s mood, but resisted asking how she was. He did not resist holding her hand. Julian parked the rental and told Katherine to wait where she was. He walked around to the passenger side, helping her out, before getting the suitcase and laptop out of the trunk. Bryce met them halfway between the car and the tarmac. “Julian, good to see you again.” The large male held out his hand as he eyed Katherine. He knew why Julian was in Texas, and he also knew who Katherine was. Julian had sat in the cockpit with the pilot, and they had discussed the situation on the flight to Texas.

Julian shook hands with his brother’s buddy. The male and Frey had served in the military together, and Bryce felt more like family than most other Goyles did. “Thank you, Bryce. If you would get Miss Carrington and myself on our way, I would appreciate it.”

Bryce took Julian’s suitcase and said, “Right away. We should be in the air within fifteen minutes.”

Julian appreciated having someone familiar to their family as the Clan’s pilot. It was one less thing to worry about. He helped Katherine up the narrow steps into the cabin of the plane. “Have a seat wherever you like, Sweetheart.” Katherine sat down in one of the plush, leather seats. Julian stowed his laptop in a bin before sitting beside her.

“I’ve never flown before,” she admitted. Every so often she would rub at her neck, but Julian chalked it up to nerves.

“Then it is a good thing you are flying with me your first time. The weather is nice, so we shouldn’t have any trouble. Bryce is an excellent pilot, and we will be home in a couple of hours.” Julian hadn’t thought about how the Feds transported Katherine from New Atlanta to FSM. He didn’t want to think about it now or ask her about it and bring up bad memories. At some point, they would have to talk about everything that happened, but for now he was going to focus on the positive. She was safe, and they were on their way home. Their home. If Julian had his way, he would get Katherine there, and she’d never leave his side.

Bryce called out to Julian that they were clear to depart. Julian, having flown countless times, rose from his seat and secured the cabin so Bryce could concentrate on getting them underway. When he sat down, Julian buckled Kat’s lap belt before clicking his own into place. “Is there not a flight attendant?” Katherine asked.

“We don’t need one on such a short flight. I have flown so much over the years that I am capable of securing the plane while Bryce gets us ready for takeoff. Once we are at cruising altitude, we will be able to get up and walk around if we want to. For now, we just sit back and let Bryce get us going.” Julian slid his hand into Katherine’s, and after a few seconds, she laced their fingers together. In all his years, Julian had never held hands in an intimate way. When he thought about it, he couldn’t remember holding hands with anyone. Ever.

Katherine stared out the window as the small plane taxied down the runway. When it lifted, she sucked in her breath, and then she was laughing. The sound did something to Julian. It made his heart soar, while at the same time, it tightened his chest and caused his dick to stir. She looked at him and smiled. “That was so cool,” she said like a kid on a roller coaster for the first time.

“We can fly as often as you wish,” he said. He couldn’t wait to spread his wings and fly with her in his arms. Julian wasn’t ready to admit to her what he and his Clan were. As much as he wanted to seal the bond, he was going to wait until Katherine had a chance to get to know him and also recover from the experience she’d gone through at FSM. “I would like to get to know you. Tell me all about Katherine Fox.”

“I’m twenty-five, and my birthday is on Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday because I can dress up and be someone else. I went to live in a foster home when I was seven. I was lucky when the Praters took me in. I’ve heard so many horror stories about foster homes. Anyway, I don’t remember much about my life before going to live with them.” Katherine stopped talking and narrowed her eyes like she was remembering. Julian waited for her to continue in her own time. Katherine shook her head, and said, “Sorry. I… There’s not much to tell. I had a mostly normal life after they took me in. Went to the local high school, graduated, went to UGA for a while studying journalism, and landed a job with WKGP as a reporter. Now, here I am, in a fancy jet with you, and my life is upside down.”

Julian ran his thumb over the back of Kat’s hand. “Upside down for now, but we will right it somehow. It may take time, but I promise you will not want for anything in the meantime. What is your favorite food? What kind of music do you listen to? What is your favorite color? Do you have any hobbies? Do you watch sports, or do you prefer sappy love movies? I want to know the little things.”

“Let’s see. I’m not a picky eater. I love pizza and Mexican. I can go for a big juicy steak any day of the week, but I also like biscuits and gravy for supper. My favorite color is blue. I listen to both rock and country music, but if a pop song comes on that makes me dance, I’ll turn it up. I can take or leave sports, but I’m definitely not into sappy love stories. I prefer action-packed movies with car chases and explosions or super-hero movies. I loved reading comics when I was smaller, and Thor was always my favorite. The Praters had another foster kid before me who was a boy. They were his comics, but he left them behind, and I found them fascinating. As for hobbies, I don’t really have any. Before I was arrested, I spent all my time researching leads for the next big story. Then I became the story, but I can’t figure out why.”

Julian didn’t want to tell her it was his fault she was framed. If she found out the truth, she’d probably run as soon as the plane landed and not give him a chance at their future, but he wouldn’t lie to her. “We are going to find out why. I–”

“Julian, we’re at altitude, if you and Katherine wish to move about,” Bryce said through the intercom.

“He knows who I am? You called me Miss Carrington earlier.”

“We could not take a chance on someone being close enough to hear your real name. Bryce knows who you are, and he would risk his life to keep you safe. Just as I would.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“I know, but you will soon. Once we get settled at home, you and I will have plenty of time to talk. Are you hungry? Do you want something to drink?”

“I’m starving. The soup you fed me earlier was good, but it’s gone.”

“Let us go see what we have in the galley.” Julian unbuckled both their belts and helped Kat to her feet. “We will find something to tide us over until we get home and I can cook you a proper breakfast.” Katherine made peanut butter and banana toast while Julian prepared coffee for his mate.

“I smell coffee,” Bryce said over the intercom. If it were just the two of them, he’d have spoken normally since Julian would be able to hear him. Julian poured a travel mug full when the brew was finished and took it to the male. “Thank you,” Bryce said, taking the cup from Julian. “How’s it going?”

“As well as can be for now. Once we get home, things will get real. She is going to need therapy while she hides away from the world until we can get her name cleared.”

“And if that doesn’t happen?”

“I will have to convince her to either wear a mask when we go out in public, or I will take her far away where she can be herself.”

“You’re a good male, Julian.”

“As are you. You would do the same if it was your mate.”

“That I would. I doubt I find a mate anytime soon, but I’m not giving up on the idea. Not with so many others finding theirs.”

Julian clapped him on the shoulder and returned to where Katherine was sitting with her eyes closed. She’d finished her toast and coffee and was now relaxing. Julian didn’t bother her. She needed rest, and he would give it to her. They had the rest of their lives to talk.

 

 

Katherine couldn’t hear what Julian and the pilot were talking about, so she closed her eyes until he came back. She was so tired even though she’d slept a lot over the past couple of days. No, she’d been drugged and had been passed out. That was different than getting a good night’s sleep, and she hadn’t had one of those since she’d been arrested. Kat was looking forward to getting to Julian’s where she could lie down in a soft bed and sleep for days. She was also looking forward to taking a nice, long bubble bath, although she doubted a man like Julian kept things like bath oils among his toiletries. Maybe they could sneak into her apartment and get her stuff. She was definitely looking forward to wearing her own clothes. Tessa’s were okay, but they were too big and weren’t really her style.

Kat’s mind was awhirl with everything that had happened. She refused to think about the torture, but she would have to face that sooner or later. She wasn’t fool enough to think she could get over what was done to her without the help of a therapist. She only hoped she didn’t have to take pills to help her sleep. Maybe having Julian in the house would allow her brain to shut off enough to sleep at night. Maybe he would even take her into his bed and make her forget everything in ways she’d never encountered with a man.

Was Julian Stone going to be the one she finally let loose with? The few times she’d had sex had been unfulfilling. Nothing like what she’d read about or seen in movies. She had a feeling it would be different with Julian. She could barely keep her hands to herself around him. Holding hands was nice, but the friction from his thumb as it skimmed her skin was sending contradictory messages throughout her body. The touch was more than likely meant to be soothing. Instead, it had her aching for more. So much more. The way he looked at her held so much mystery, like he wanted to cherish her, but at the same time, ravish her the way a real man could. Truly a dichotomy if ever she’d encountered one.

While she didn’t mind that he had gone to chat with the pilot, Kat wanted him close to her. Julian made her feel safe, and she’d never needed that reassurance as much as she did then. She wished she had been awake when he rescued her from the prison. He’d yet to tell her the details, and she wanted to know every last one of them. He did say he’d worn the prosthetic, but surely he hadn’t walked right in, grabbed her up, and carried her out the front door. And Tessa had been there too. What had “Agent Rayaz” done? Had she offered a diversion? Kat didn’t know what went on in the other parts of the prison. She’d been hauled in through a back door and taken straight to the basement. She’d not seen any other inmates while she was there, even when she’d been allowed to use the women’s locker room.

There would be plenty of time for her to find out the details as well as get to know Julian on a more personal level. The little she knew of the man was what she’d seen of him as he represented Stone, Inc., the family architectural business. He had mentioned working with computers, so maybe he was in charge of the IT department for the company. She had seen him and his brother, Nikolas, together on occasion. Nikolas was cute, but he had nothing on his brother. Julian was lean and so damn sexy with his wavy brown hair and those stunning green eyes. Kat’s eyes were green, but to her they were dull. Maybe it was the light behind Julian’s that made his stand out.

Kat had been around all kinds of men in her short career as a reporter, but she had met few who exuded power the way Julian did. Gregor, Tamian, and now Bryce all had that same graceful confidence in the way they moved, like they were untouchable. They weren’t cocky, and that in itself was sexy. While the others were all good looking, none of them did anything for Kat. Only Julian – her hero.

She felt his presence as Julian took the seat next to her. She opened her eyes to find his face close to hers as he leaned over to fasten her seatbelt. If he turned his face an inch to the right, their lips would be touching. Kat held her breath, and when Julian turned to look at her, she took a chance and pressed her lips softly to his. His eyes widened, and she was afraid she’d screwed up. Had she misunderstood? A low growl sounded from his chest before he slid his hand into her hair and slanted his mouth over hers in a way that let her know she hadn’t misunderstood. At all. Kat opened her mouth and searched for Julian’s tongue. She hadn’t planned on more than a brief touch of their lips, but damn if she could help herself.

“We’ll be landing in ten minutes,” Bryce said, throwing the proverbial cold water on the moment. It was probably a good thing he’d interrupted, because Kat was ready to strip Julian naked. Damn, the man could kiss. Instead of pulling away completely, Julian pressed his forehead to hers and massaged her scalp. His breath was fanning her face, and she had the strangest thought – she wanted to suck in his oxygen. Kat wanted to breathe Julian into her lungs and keep him there. When he pulled away, his face morphed from turned-on to a mischievous grin. Oh yes, Kat wanted to keep him.