Chapter Eight

 

 

A long, tightly woven thread, so small no one could see, so powerful it damned near drove him to his knees, reached from her heart to his. Snapping into place like a rubber band on a slingshot, the connection between Gage and his mate was immediate, intense, and illuminating.

Thoughts, feelings, memories, perceptions…absolutely everything inside his mind and hers blew open. The rush of information was extreme, powerful, and unlike anything he’d ever before experienced.

Wolf howled. Dragon roared. Rain Bird called. The die had been cast. The bond secured. The Universe, the Great Creator, and Fate had spoken and nothing or no one would stop Gage from claiming Elle.

Unfortunately, while the Feathered Queen was willing, the five-foot-five lawyer dug in her heels and was glaring at the Guardsman like he was chocolate and she was on a three day fast. Turning his attention to Junior’s outstretched hand while keeping Elle in his peripheral vision, Gage shook the other man’s hand and nodded, “Long time, no see. What’s it been like five or six hours?”

“You know it,” Junior chuckled as he leaned in for what Gage’s mom called a ‘man hug’ and whispered, “Our Elle’s cold at first but get her talking and she’ll warm right up.”

Whatever you say…

 Keeping his comments to himself, Gage pulled his hand from the Wolf’s and turned towards Elle. Extending his hand in her direction, he took off his hat and tipped his head. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard lots of good things. Name’s Gage MacAllen. Maybe you know…”

“Oh, my Heavens, you’re related to Cheveyo Thorntree, aren’t you?” Grabbing his hand, she shook it like they were suddenly old friends as the intensity of their connection flashed in her eyes and the vision of feathers superimposed over her arms. He had to give her credit for being able to keep right on talking while he was struck silent as the tomb.

“I bet your momma and daddy are Barbara and Owen. I’ve never met them but I’ve heard lots about them from Uncle Mac.”

Letting go way before Gage was ready, her aura bright and shining, a beautiful mosaic of red, orange, and white held steady by the blue, purple, and gold of her Rain Bird, Elle’s beauty and radiance literally shone from the inside out. Listening as she spoke, it was as if he were floating on the melody of her slightly husky, incredibly cheerful, and sublimely southern tone of her voice, and he was resigned to stay there forever and always.

“You know him, don’t you?” She paused for a split-second before adding, “Mac Burntwing, Peace Chief of the Burntwing Tribe and National Council Chairman?”

Knowing it was time for him to say something but lost in the euphoria of being with the one the Universe had made for him, Gage breathed a sigh of relief when the hostess called out, “Mesa, party of three. Mesa, party of three, your table is ready.”

Bringing up the rear behind Junior and Elle who was following the hostess, Gage was both impressed and entranced by the way his mate carried herself. Her strength and confidence was nothing short of intoxicating. Second only to the arousing sway of her perfectly rounded hips.

“May I get y’all something from the bar? Some appetizers?” The waitress’s voice broke Gage’s trance but his eyes stayed put on Elle as he responded, “I’ll take whatever you have on draft, he’ll have the same, and the beautiful lady will have a margarita on the rocks, top shelf, lite salt on the rim.” Watching as his mate’s brows furrowed, her eyes narrowed, and a knowing looked filled their captivating depths, he added, “And we’ll have the Blue Prawns and Diver Scallops to start.”

Still caught in Elle’s gaze, he handed his unopened menu over his shoulder as the waitress chirped, “Very good sir. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

“Thank you,” he murmured at the same time that Junior chuckled, “I don’t know what the hell’s gotten into you but I’ll be lettin’ you order for me from now on.”

Nodding as she leaned closer, Elle raised her right brow and tilted her head ever-so-slightly to the left and inquired in a low, husky tone that had Gage leaning in as well, “Yeah, Cowboy, how did you just happen to know exactly what I like?”

Giving her a wink as he reached for his water glass and sat back, Gage shrugged, “Just luck, I guess.”

“Yeah and the moon’s made of green cheese, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt is my name too, and if a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his ass when he hopped.” Moving closer, she added with a whisper, “Play nice, Dragon Man.”

“I will if you will, Miss…”

“Alright you two,” Junior cleared his throat. “I know three’s a crowd but I’m starvin’ so both of y’all be good or I’ll have to send you to the car without your dinner.”

As if it had been scripted, Gage barked with laughter at the exact same time that Elle added, “Yeah, whatever Jun. I’d like to see you try.”

“Do I need to tell Elle how I whipped your ass the last time we played Twenty-One?”

Laughing even louder with Junior and Elle adding to the hilarity, the rest of dinner went off without a hitch. They laughed, talked, ate till they were stuffed, and during it all Gage learned about the woman he knew beyond all doubt he was meant to spend the rest of his life with.

Grabbing the check before either of his companions could get to it, he paid the bill, gave the waitress a healthy tip for keeping their glasses full and letting them hang out for hours, and got up to hold Elle’s chair for her as he asked, “We still goin’ to the Cadillac?”

“Hell yeah, we’re goin’,” she quickly answered, looking over her shoulder and giving him a wink as she challenged, “Unless, you’re too tired to hang with the Party Animals of Valentine High.”

Slapping him on the back, Junior teased, “Better watch your step there, Gage, my friend. Elle is the original Boot Scootin’ Baby. I’ve watched her wipe the floor with more guys than I can count.”

“Is that right?” Gage pursed his lips and made a show of tsking before he laid his hand on her shoulder, reveling in the electricity of their intense attraction skating across his nerve-endings, and upped the ante, “Bet I can keep up.” Shrugging, he cleared his throat and laid it on thick, “Probably even dance and drink you right under the table.”

Glancing over her shoulder, looking up at him through her impossibly long, thick dark lashes, she purred, “Oh Mr. Dragon Man, prepare to be thrashed.”

“What did I tell ya’, Gage? Elle is the real deal. She’s gonna wipe the floor with your ass.”

“She damn sure is, Jun,” responded Gage without looking back as he followed his Rain Bird towards the door. “And dammit all if I’m not gonna enjoy losin’.”