At One's Pleasure (19 page)

“What
happened to Ruth was wrong,” he said quietly.  “I would never want you to feel
that way.”

“What?”  She
really had no idea he was worried about this.  “Of course not.  Griffin, you
are not your father, or anything like Malcolm.”

“But I could
be, so easily.  I want you enough that I could force you to stay with us until
you hate us even if your wolf agrees with the mating.”  He ran his hand down
her face, brushing her hair back.  “As much as my wolf wants its mate.  I want
the woman I love to be happy.  You were right.  You deserve to make the
choice.”

She studied
him, her head tilted.  The others were both watching with expressionless
faces.  “You love me?”

“More than
my next breath.”  He stated quietly but with a depth of emotion that had tears
coming to her eyes.  “So the plane will go wherever you say, or we can take you
home, with us.”

“All of you
feel that way?  It’s up to me?”

“Yes.”  Both
Linc and Jacob said, keeping their faces blank, but man could she feel the
emotions coming off them.  How hard this was for them to do.

“Well then,”
she said.  Taking Griffin’s hand off her face, She turned and holding it, lead
them to the plane.  “Let’s go home.”  Feeling the overwhelming relief coming at
her she smiled, without looking back.  “I don’t know what you guys were worried
about.  It’s obvious I love you.  Why would I want to be anywhere else but
where you are?”

She took one
more step towards the plane and then felt arms wrap around her and she was up
and over Griffin’s shoulder.  “Hey!”

“You don’t
know what we were worried about?”  Griffin growled it, then smacked her ass,
where it wriggled on his shoulder.  “You knew we were worried though, didn’t
you little bit, and you let us stew in it when you could have told us you had
changed your mind.”  He smacked her ass again.

“Ouch,
Griffin!”  She kicked her legs and tried to dislodge the hand that held her to
his shoulder.  “You acted like it was a done deal, how was I to know you were
in doubt?”

“The same
way you know we love you with every fucking breath.  You can feel it.”

“Fine!”  He
had her at the up the ladder and at the opening of the plane.  She grabbed hold
of the hatch to slow him down.  “What are you going to do?”  If he said he was
going to spank her he was in for a rude awakening.

“We,” he
emphasized the ‘we.’  “Are going to strip you down and celebrate being alive,
by tasting every inch of your body and making you scream for mercy.”  He
smacked her butt again.  Then rubbed the sting away.  “We are going to love you
and mark you as ours until there is not an inch of your body unclaimed.”

Hmm, to
struggle ineffectually or jump them. 
Rebecca let go of the hatch.  “You
sure we should be doing that type of thing on a baby plane?”

Griffin
growled and gnashed his teeth.  Linc and Jacob were both smiling as they
followed the sound of Rebecca’s laughter.

6 weeks later.

“Hey
Isabella, can you call and make sure my mom’s plane is on the flight schedule?” 
Rebecca shuffled the papers for The Forsythe Group to the side to look over the
proposed marketing package she was presenting to The Boys and Girls club in
Yuba City.  It was small and the budget was miniscule but if she could get the
word out they could help a lot more kids with afterschool programs. 

“Already
done,” Isabella said from behind her own desk.  “She’ll be arriving in the
morning around nine and there will be a chopper there to bring her out to the
island.”

Becca looked
up to smile at the other woman.  She was a pretty little thing, though why she
always wanted to describe her as little when she was at least 5’ 6” was a
mystery.  Had to be the smattering of freckles across her nose.  It wasn't her
wardrobe choice.  Unlike Rebecca in her customary shorts, flip flops and “
A
Bene Placito
” t-shirts, Isabella liked to wear Ultra feminine blouses and
tight skirts, and she always wore heals even with the islands lax dress code. 
Probably because there were few who would take her seriously otherwise.   

She was of
some mixed bag ancestry that loved the sun, because her hair was honey brown
and her skin, despite the freckles, tanned to a gold shimmer.  Her eyes were
hazel, and changed from green to blue depending on what she was wearing.  She
also had the look of a young fresh college co-ed even at 32.  There was just
something youthful and trustworthy about those dimpled cheeks.

"I know
I'm driving you crazy, but I couldn't get Cleo Gibbs to pilot this time and I
don't trust anyone else."

"Cleo
Gibbs?"  There was a short pause.  "That would be daughter to Lucas
Gibbs?"

Hearing
something strange in her voice, Rebecca looked back over at her.  "Yeah, do
you know her?  She's bringing her father when he comes next week, but she can't
stay and visit then either, strictly a stop and drop."

"Her
father?"  Isabella stood up and walked in her kitten heals with the cute
pink bow on the back over to the window.  "And that would be Lucas
Gibbs?"

Rebecca
narrowed her eyes, studying the stiff back Isabella had presented her. 
"Yep, the man himself.  I’m curious to meet him actually.  He sounds fascinating."

"He’s
coming here?  Next week?"

Becca stood
up and walked around the desk until she could see Isabella in profile.  There
was no color in her naturally rosy cheeks.  "What is it?  You look like
you’ve seen a ghost."

"Funny
you should put it like that," Isabella mumbled.  Then she turned to face
Becca fully, her eyes were dilated and she looked scared.  "I need a big
favor."

Before she could
get to the meat of the matter, Jacob walked in, followed by Linc.  She was
completely distracted, mostly because once again Jacob was in nothing but his
board shorts.  That lax island dress code on full display.

"Hey
Baby."  He said on a grin, aware that her eyes were on his chest.  He took
advantage of her distraction and pulled her into his arms to kiss the breath
from her body.

Rebecca did
what she always did when any of her mates touched her.  She lost complete track
of anything else.  When he finally pulled back, her arms were wrapped around
his neck and Isabella was making herself busy at her desk.

"You
rat," she said.  Laughing, she backed up and smacked his chest.  "I
told you not to do that when I was working...or in public.  It takes too long
to find my mind again."

"I
know, but you're fuckin' adorable when you get all confused and flustered.”  He
leaned down and stole another quick kiss.  "Besides when you look all
serious in your cute shorts, it just makes me want to ruffle you up."

She shook
her head on another laugh.  "Why are you here?"

"We're
taking you to lunch," Linc said, moving in for his own kiss.  It was quick
and then he ran his hand down her face making her smile.  She took the hand
with a squeeze.

"Then
since he has meetings now, by order of the most high Alpha we are to escort you
to his office after lunch for desert."  Jacob lifted her up and twirled
her towards the door, making her laugh again.  "Personally, I think he's
hoping for some afternoon delight, but that might just be me projecting my own lascivious
leanings."

Rebecca was
sure it was for that very reason she was being summoned.  It’s not as if she
minded, since he had been so busy with the security arrangements he was working
out with the Lionsgate pack, she had missed him.  The thought of letting him
seduce her over that big desk of his was more than a little welcome.

She might
even give him virtuous denial so he could get into full Alpha mode and work his
own brand of highhanded seduction. 
Hmmm.
 

"Lunch
time."  Her enthusiasm was unmistakable.  "Time for lunch.  You going
to lunch Isabella?"

Isabella
smiled, a twinkle in her eyes.  "I think I'll hold down the fort.  You go
ahead, enjoy your afternoon."

Rebecca
returned to Earth momentarily.  "We'll talk about that other thing
later?"

Isabella’s
smile faltered and then returned to dazzle.  "Absolutely.”  She watched
the three of them leave the room, Becca’s hand in Linc’s, with Jacob’s arm
around her shoulders, pulling her close.  They were all laughing at something
Jacob said.  They looked happy and in love.  Isabella dropped her head to her desk
with a thump.  "Lucas Gibbs."  She muttered to herself.  "What
are the chances you have no idea I'm here?"  She thought of him with his
almost superhuman way of knowing things.  "Crap.  I'm totally screwed.”  And
not in a good way, she thought, remembering his overwhelming masculinity and
straight up sex appeal. 

"Well,"
she lifted her head and rested it on her hand, her elbow braced on the desk. 
"Maybe that big sexy bastard will have better things to do that give me
grief.”  She sighed, even she didn't believe it.  "And maybe someday I'll
stop talking to myself."  It was just as likely.