Breathe Into Me (10 page)

“You son of a bitch, you knew how I felt about her
, but you just couldn’t keep your hands to yourself.”

“Don’t forget my lips, tongue, and most importantly, my
huge cock.”

And with that, Dallas l
unges at Jamie and they end up rolling around on the ground. Fists begin to fly as they continue to hurl insults at each other.

“Enough!” The ground begins to shake with Micah’s growing anger. Jamie and Dallas separate, new cuts and bruises have already starting to form on the both of them. Micah flashes his now emerald eyes at the group.

“I’ve had enough of this shit. We need to be united, not at each other’s throats.” He begins to pace and I can tell that he’s trying hard to contain his powers. “Dallas, get over it already, if you had claimed the girl this wouldn’t have happened.”

Dallas begins to argue
, but quickly shuts his mouth. Micah isn’t the type of male you argue with, not unless you have a death wish.

“James, stop being a dick and apologize.”

Jamie crosses his arms over his chest and gives his brother a look of disgust. “No fucking way.”  The earth explodes around us, showering us with mud, and rocks.

“One of these days James you are going to piss off the wrong person and I won’t be there to save your ass. I’m not saying this to you as your brother. I’m saying it as your fucking leader and I’m giving you an order. Now the both of you kiss and make up because this is the last t
ime that I want to deal with this.” With that, Micah turns and walks away.

“This is bullshit,
” Jamie growls as lightning wildly flashes in the sky. I instinctively take a step back. If Jamie wanted to, he could send that bolt into anyone of us.

“No, the fact that you ref
use to apologize is bullshit.”                                                       

“Fine, I’m sorry
that you didn’t have the balls to fuck her,” Jamie offers with a smile.

“Nice fucking apology. You want to know something
, Trudeau, paybacks a bitch. One day you’re going to want a woman more than you want your next breath and I pray to god I’m there so I can screw her behind your back.”

Jamie throws his head back in laughter.

“That will never happen for two reasons. One, I’ll never settle for just one woman and two even if I did, once I’ve been inside a female they forget other males exist.”

Dallas moves
toward Jamie, but is quickly blocked by the Viking. “I look forward to proving you wrong you arrogant bastard.” 

I step in front of my best friend before he decides he wan
ts another piece of the mouthy Enforcer.

“Bring it on cowboy.”  

***

Hours later, we’ve finally arrived home. Our trip back was silent
, but tense. Micah and Jamie haven’t said a word to each other. No doubt, the older wolf is still pissed about having to play referee. Cass and Lincoln are in somber moods as well. I strip out of my soaked clothes and head for the shower. The warm water hits my skin and I ignore the sharp pains it causes. How the hell am I going to explain this to Andy? Most of my body has already begun to heal, but I won’t be back to normal for at least another day. Maybe it’s time for me to bite the bullet and just tell her everything, consequences be damned. After the shit that went down last night, I can’t keep this from her much longer. If she rejects me so be it, I’ll just have to suck it up and protect her from afar. I can only hope she cares about me enough to stay with me. I can’t force her to choose this life. I quickly wash my body and get dressed. I avert my eyes from the mirror, I don’t want to know what I look like. Grace’s facial expression when we walked through the door said it all. My phone beeps letting me know I’ve got a text message, it’s from Andy.

“I missed you last night. I can’t wait to see you.”

I hit reply.

“I missed you to, angel. I need to hold you.”

After
witnessing that gruesome scene last night, I just want to feel her against my body. I need to have the physical reassurance that we are both alive. Which reminds me I still need to thank Lincoln for saving my life, I’m thankful he had the balls to stand up to Micah forty years ago and demand to stay here with us instead of going somewhere else. I place my phone in my pocket and head out in search for the bear in question.

Chapter 8

“Good evening, Andy.” I’m greeted with a friendly smile by Adam’s housekeeper, Grace.

“Hello
, Grace, it’s good to see you again.” I step inside of the cabin, and its beauty still takes my breath away.

“I have to warn you
, Andy, the boys ran into some trouble last night and they are a little worse for wear.”

Before I can ask her to elaborate, Adam and his friends appear from downstairs.

“Oh my god, what happened to you?” I ask as I’m pulled into Adam’s arms. He looks as though he’s been in an accident.

“It’s nothing you have to worry about
, angel.” He presses his nose into my hair and breathes in my scent. “I’m better now that you’re here.”

I lean
back to get a better look at the long scratches on his cheek. They don’t appear to be deep, but it makes me wonder what he has hidden under his long sleeve Henley. I lean to the right to take a gander at his friends. They look in worse shape than Adam does. They’re all covered from head to toe in scratches and bruises. Jamie even has a black eye and split lip.

“You told me you weren’t d
oing anything dangerous.”
They must have been ambushed or at the very least out numbered.
Even Lincoln is marked up.

“I didn’t know it was going to be as bad as it was.” He runs his hand through his curly hair making it stand in all directions while several strands fall into his beautiful eyes.

Even like that, he’s sexy as hell.
No, this is not the time for those kinds of thoughts.

“I’m sorry
, angel.”

I squeeze his hand and scan his friends for serious injuries. “Let me look at your eye.” As I make my way
toward Jamie, he takes a step back.

“I’d rather you not.”

Is he kidding me? I point toward a leather chair. “Sit down, now.”

He can fight me all he wants. 
I’m used to dealing with stubborn patients.

Jamie
glances at Adam almost as if he’s asking permission. Adam nods his head and Jamie finally moves forward taking the seat I indicated. I tip his head back to get a good look.

“Have you had any problems with double vision, or headaches?” I carefully examine the giant purple and yellow bruise. He must have gotten this early last night. He
gently removes my hand from his face.

“I’ll live
, Andy, it’s just a shiner.”

God I hate macho men.
“Didn’t anyone teach you how to duck?”                                                                          

“I’ll
have to remember that for next time,” he snorts.

“Good, now go put ice on that
eye.”

He offers me a full smile. “Yes nurse
, Harris.” He shakes his head as he walks into the kitchen.

“Okay, who’s next?”

***

After I had looked
over each one of the men, I concluded that they would all live so I decided to let whatever happen last night go, at least for now.

“Thank you for caring for my brothers. You have no idea what that means to me.” Adam holds his ar
ms out so I can climb onto his lap.

“You’re welcome,
” I sigh into his neck. I’ve realized if I’m going to be with this man, his friends are going to be part of the package. Just like mine are for me, somehow I think I got the better end of the deal. Adam’s hands begin to caress my backside through my jean shorts before traveling over my bare legs.

“Your skin is so soft
, angel. I can’t wait to run my tongue over every inch of your body.”  His mouth finds my neck placing soft kisses to my skin.

I have to bite my lip to stop myself from moaning
out loud.

“No other woman has tempted me like you do. You are all I think about
, even in my dreams you fill me with desire.”

I know how he feels. Ever since I
met Adam, I’ve felt drawn to him. It’s not just his good looks, he’s smart and funny and sweet. I never thought I’d meet a man with so many good qualities. As I stare into his beautiful eyes, I realize that I’m completely head over heels in love with this man. It doesn’t make any sense, we’ve only known each other a matter of days, but this man is meant to be mine. It’s as if my soul recognizes his, we just belong together, and in my book, that makes me the luckiest girl in the world.

“Before I met
you I was broken, I was content to live my life not trusting in others and believing that I’d never be whole, but with you I feel complete. You are all that I’ve ever wanted and everything I didn’t know I needed.” I place my lips to his and hope to convey all of the things that I’ve wanted to say to him, but couldn’t. Trusting someone like this is new to me, but admitting how much I care about him just feels right.

“Oh
, angel, I-”

My heart begins to beat rapidly in my chest as I wait to hear him say it, those three little words that every woman longs to hear. As he begins to speak the room fills with voices, apparently dinner is ready.

“I really wish that I lived alone.” He sighs. I kiss the tip of his nose as we join the others. We will definitely be finishing this conversation later.

***

Dinner was delicious. Grace had really out done herself. I’ve never seen so much food in my life. The conversation was just as good as the pot roast. Adam’s friends have gone out of their way to make me feel at home. In between bites, each one of them told jokes or funny stories about each other.  Seeing them together like this has shown me a different side to, Adam. He’s so relaxed and comfortable with them as if he’s known them forever. I’m even starting to see Jamie in a different light. Once you get past his appearance you start to see how much he cares for everyone at this table, he’s funny, playful, and yes arrogant, but he definitely has the stuff to back it up. Maybe he’s not such a bad choice for my best friend.

“Okay we’ve put this off long enough.” Lincoln gives me a smile full of mischief.

“Put what off?” Adam looks nervously at his friend.

“Relax
, brother, we just have some questions for your female.”                             

“Guys…” Adam begins to protest
, but Cass cuts him off.

“
If Andy’s going to be spending time here we need to make sure that we’re all going to get along.”

I’m not sure if it’s the wine or the fact that I’ve seen the true side of these men, but I know deep down
that this is all in good fun.

“Ask away
, gentlemen.” 

“Okay we promise not to ask
you anything too personal,” Micah adds. 

Maybe I spoke to soon.

“First question and it’s kind of a big one.”

I try to play it cool
, but I can’t help the nervousness I begin to feel.

“Sports yay
or nay? Oh and name your teams,” Jamie asks.

He has to be joking.
“That’s your big question, whether or not I like sports?” I’m met with several nods while Adam begins to chuckle. Okay, I’ll play along. “Yay, I love the Red Sox, Bruins, and Jets, but I hate basketball.” Apparently, my choice in sports teams makes Jamie happy if his huge smile is any indication.

“Okay what are you scared of most?”

I answer Cass’s question instantly. “Spiders, all those legs freak me out.” My answer is met with several chuckles.

“Man that’s so girly,
” Cass teases.

“Please
, you’re scared of little white bunnies. At least her fear is rational,” Jamie says coming to my defense. I knew I was starting to like him.

“Hey have you seen their red
beady eyes? They’re terrifying!” Cass visibly shakes as I join in on the laughter.

“
God, you guys are such jackasses,” Adam sighs.

“Hey this
stuff is important,” Lincoln adds.

“Speaking of important, who’s your favorite super hero and why?”

I take a moment and consider Micah’s question. “I actually have two. Batman because Bruce Wayne is just a regular guy who wants to protect the innocent and Ironman because who doesn’t love a rich, smart, arrogant man in a suit,” I sigh dreamily. My answer is met with more laughter.

“Okay last one, if you had to choose be
tween dating a vampire or a werewolf, which one would you prefer and why?”

Adam visibly stiffens with Lincoln’s odd question. I ignore Adam’s strange
reaction and answer honestly. “I’d pick the werewolf. I’d rather have a boyfriend that howls at the moon than have one who drinks blood.”

Adam begin
s to relax while his friends exchange glances with each other. In unison, they turn to Adam and say. “Marry her.”

I’m shocked by their statement
, but I guess I’ve passed their test.

“Please ignore my idiot brothers some of them have had recent head injuries.”

I chuckle at his playful joke.

“Hey we know a good female when we s
ee one.” Lincoln winks at me before strolling out of the room. The rest of the gang clears out and we are finally alone.

“Would you like a tour of the house?”

I nod enthusiastically. “I’d love one.”

***

The cabin is even more spectacular than I had thought. The first floor can only be described as a man cave. There is a huge game room complete with a purple felt pool table and a state of the art sound system. The French doors open up to a deck complete with a hot tub and a fire pit area. They have a gym with every type of workout equipment you could think of.  A large home theater with plush couches and every DVD you could imagine, the icing on the cake was a large soundproof music room. I’ve never seen anything like it. At least twenty-five guitars hung on its brick walls. There are tables with chairs and a fully stocked bar. A large grand piano placed off to the side, amps and speakers line the floor around the make shift stage.

“This room is incredible.” I can’t hide the awe in my voice.

“Are you ready for more?” Adam leads me back to the main floor and we continue outside onto the deck. The view, atleast what I can see of the beautifully landscaped lawn and dark lake, is stunning and I can only imagine what it would look like during the day.

“Over here to the right are Jamie’s garages. It’s where we store our cars and motorcycles for the winter. It’s also where he builds bikes and fixes cars.” 

I look past the patio furniture and the several grills and smokers to see five large buildings. I can’t imagine they need all that space for their toys.

“Jamie built your bike?” I never would have guessed that man possessed that kind of talent.

“He built it from the ground up including the paint job.”

Wait until I tell Kelsey about this.

“He’s actually building a 1969 Corvette at the moment. He’s giving it to Lincoln for his next birthday.”                                                                                              

“That’s quite a present.” I can only image what the guy does for Christmas.

“He’s a generous guy, but don’t tell anyone
, he’d hate for that to get around.” He chuckles.

“I could see how that would kill his rep
. I’ll take it to my grave.”

Adam holds his hand out and I quickly place mine with his. Our fingers entwine and he brings my hand up for a kiss. “Are you ready for our last stop?”

I can only hope he’s talking about his bedroom. “Lead the way.”

***

Adam’s room is just how I had imagined it. Cream painted walls and wooden beam ceilings give the room a rustic feel. Bookcases filled to capacity take up one whole wall, a king sized log style bed covered in white silk sheets and a gray fur blanket takes up a considerable amount of space, but with the large skylights and French doors the bedroom seems spacious. A flat screen TV sits on top of a wooden dresser and two doors open to reveal a walk in closet and a large bathroom. A stone fireplace takes up space along the opposite wall of the bed.

Wow, this room reminds me of an elegant bed and breakfast in some remote location in the middle of the woods.
I turn around to see Adam lighting several candles around the room. The flames cast shadows against the walls creating a romantic feel. The song “Tangled up in you” by Staind begins to play from his iPod dock.

“Dance with me.”

I wrap my arms around his neck as his arms encase my body. Adam holds me close as we sway together in the candle light. The heartfelt lyrics seem to mirror every emotion I have for this man.

“I love you Andy
.”

I gasp at his admission.