Danea (6 page)

“Wade’s right, Dani. We won’t be offended,” Noah walked out beside them, his wrist tipped up.

“Where are we going? I work early,” Danea felt the well of familiar panic setting in. Then she noticed people watching them. She started thinking about her daycare. She was almost full but what if people thought…what if they didn’t want their children around someone like her?

“Dani? Where’d we lose you?” Noah stopped outside the entrance, his look of concern shifting to Wade when they realized she wasn’t listening.

“People were staring. I take care of children,” she said quietly, looking up from one to the other.

“You believe being seen with us will affect how they view you,” Wade nodded. “I believe the people in town and the area in general are a little more open minded than you might think.”

“What about your apartment? We can talk there,” Noah suggested. “You live above the daycare, right?”

“I…yes…”

“Just talk, Danea.”

“I mostly was trying to remember if I cleaned up or if you’ll think I’m a pig,” she murmured, sliding her hand free and holding it palm up. “My keys?”

“We’ve lived with other guys,” Noah commented, dropping the set of keys into her hand. “We’ve become accustomed and I’ve seen the inside of your office and the daycare. I’d be real surprised if you weren’t a little neater than pig status.”

“Why do you believe they’re open minded?” Danea exhaled and led them toward the private entrance.

“Because of all the different types we have living in the area. And being a tourist town, patience is invaluable,” Wade commented.

“I don’t suppose demons bother me until my father uses them as messengers,” she admitted reluctantly, climbing the wide stairs and opening the door at the top. No privacy, she thought, and pushed the door open.

Her hand struck the rocker panel and lights flooded the large, open room. She closed her eyes and walked to the counter that wrapped around the kitchen, her keys dropping into the small bowl she kept there for them. All the while her eyes scanned to make sure she didn’t leave something unmentionable lying around on the door knob or arm of the sofa.

“It looks pretty neat, Danea,” Noah commented, selecting the one recliner and leaning back. It faced the sofa and kitchen, so he could see wherever she chose to sit.

“You’ve done a lot of work here. It never used to look like this,” Wade settled on the sofa, uncertain how to help her relax.

“The owner was eager to sell and I made it how I wanted it after that,” she
moved to the far corner of the sofa where she could see them both. “Why did you start talking to each other? Have you been friends for a long time?”

Noah laughed. “You threw us both out of the daycare at the same time,
Dani. That sort of prompted the talk. And we’ve known each other…” he looked at Wade. “About five years now?”

“Since I left the Seattle area and set up with the extension to the university here,” Wade nodded thoughtfully.

“I don’t know what to do,” she blurted out with a growl of frustration. She threw her hands against the sofa and paced to the window. “This…you…are not in my plans. I get testy when people mess with my plans.”

“Like your father? What’s he want you home for?” Noah asked curiously.

“I’m the first born,” she said with a long sigh. “Not only am I his first born, he believes I’m the key to some idiot prophecy his oracles have come up with because of…well…because of things…that weren’t supposed to happen, but…poof, here I am.”

“You’re human.” Noah said cautiously.

“Don’t I look human?”

“That isn’t an answer, Danea,” Wade tried opening his senses but all he felt was humanity.

Danea shoved her fingers into the back pockets of her jeans and stared out into the darkness. “Is this about sex?”

Noah and Wade exchanged looks.

“Our interest?” Noah prompted.

“Yes.”

“Would we enjoy sex with you? After kissing you, I’m pretty sure sex would be amazing. Not positive, but I’m a positive kind of guy for the most part,” Noah answered honestly.

“I have to agree, Danea.”

“My mother believes it would hurt you both a great deal if…if I ignored what I felt.” Her voice was quiet, filled with concern. “I don’t want that to happen. You don’t deserve to be hurt.”

“You’ve grown up around different species?” Wade asked in return.

“Oh, believe me, my mother made certain I was extremely diversified,” she laughed and moved back to sit on the arm of the sofa, looking critically from one to the other.
“Why would it hurt you?” She watched as they exchanged a look. “What am I missing?”

“I’m not sure you’re ready for the answer, Danea,” Noah took the lead, his tone packed with uncertainty.

“I’d never hurt you deliberately,” she said quietly.

“We didn’t believe you would,” Wade assured her. “You’re friends with Breanna Cooper?”

Danea nodded slowly, her mind quickly going over her friends’ life changing events from the previous spring.

“I knew her from school,” she smiled at the college memories. “When I talked about moving here, she helped me with the building and permits and contractors.”

“Then you also know Nick and Jase,” Wade continued.

“I know them and I know about you from her,” Danea exhaled slowly. “Your genetics, I mean. We talked about the Institute over in Devil Hills and how they’re working to…to keep some level of control over the fanatics who want to try and cure other species.”

“What do you know, Danea?” Noah leaned forward, his hands clasp between his knees.

“That you’re a wolf and Wade is Fae,”
she saw the answer on their faces. “So what else am I missing?”

“Why did Nick and Jase choose Breanna?” Wade asked cautiously.

“I…she told me…oh, no…” she almost fell off the arm of the sofa in the attempt to back up, her feet stumbling until she struck the counter. “Oh, no. There has to be a mistake. A very big mistake. I’m not a pure blood. You both are. I’m just…just…oh, no…absolutely impossible.”

“You’re not a pure blood…” Noah stood up and crossed to stand in front of her. “What are you, Danea?”

“Tired. I’m very tired and want some sleep,” she said firmly, sliding quickly to the side and opening her door. “Please. It was a very nice evening and I enjoyed talking to you both. Mostly. Now…if you’d go and let me prepare for bed, I’d appreciate it.”

“What are you hiding?” Noah pressed, stopping when Wade placed a hand on his arm. “Fine. Good night, Danea. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this is over. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Danea,” Wade shook his head. “That wasn’t meant to sound like a threat.”

“The hell it wasn’t.”

Danea closed the upper door and leaned against is, sinking to the floor and letting her head hang between her knees.

“What do you think she’s hiding?”

Noah looked over his shoulder at the
building when they stepped outside.

“I don’t have a fucking clue and I have a feeling I’m going to feel really stupid when I figure it out,” Noah
shoved his hand into the pocket of his jeans. “See you tomorrow, Wade.”

“Good night.”

Chapter Six

When morning finally set the alarm off, Danea was surprised that she had actually slept through the night. Stepping out of the shower, she used a towel and gave her clean hair a brisk rub before tossing towel over the door to dry. She had the terrycloth wrap buttoned just above her breasts as she wandered into the living area, absently tapping the remote to the TV.

Yesterday had been almost stuff
y with the heat, only cooling when the marine layer pushed in from the ocean. She opened the window and stared out into the mass of fog coating the area. Nothing new there, especially this time of year. She curled into the corner of the sofa and stared.

They hadn’t been far from her thoughts, no matter how hard she tried forcing everything and anything else into the slot. All she saw when her eyes closed were two men, one with teasing green eyes and the other with sparkling hazel eyes that seemed to hide so much behind them.

Noah with his long black hair tied back; his skin wasn’t as dark as full blooded native Americans, but the constant hint of a tan seemed perfect for the high cheeks, long neck and squared jaw. His hands were big, she thought, remembering how they had surrounded her in the office and his lips…full and hungry. She’s always seen him wearing jeans and t-shirts, usually with the crème colored sheriff’s shirt over top, but open. She wondered what coloring his wolf had…

And Wade…an inch or two shorter and not as bulky.
He’d always worn button down shirts, with the long sleeves rolled to his elbows and pants with lots of pockets. He kept his hair neat and short and always seemed to sport a shadow from forgetting to shave. She’d felt it rasp against her face when he kissed her, his lower lip fuller than the top and his teeth nipping at her mouth. The hunger and need in his kiss had been more subtle, she thought, the wild sensations that had coursed through her reminded her of hiking in a frond covered forest.

She knew her breathing had become ragged and her fingers slid down her body, beneath the short terrycloth wrap. Fingers caressed over her pussy, the lips swollen and heat surging from inside. How did she allow them to walk into her mind, into her fantasies in such a strong way that excited her?

She stroked gently, her thumb pressing and circling the small clit that had erupted with her attention. More thoughts of them penetrated the morning play. She saw them; felt them touching her, kissing her and when her body lurched hard against her own fingers she released the shout and stroked her clit until her body collapsed on the sofa. She’d never been able to orgasm that easily or that strongly before. She wanted to curl against the back of the sofa and bury her face in the warmth with a contented sigh.

But she was responsible and reluctantly went to wash up and get dressed.
She was still wondering how different it would be to explode with them actually close and touching her.

“Get a grip, woman,” she mumbled and opened a can of salmon to dump into the wide ledge she’d had welded to her balcony railing. The flapping and single squawk came a few minutes later when she was in the kitchen. She winced, waiting for the complaint.

“I know I said fish…but I didn’t get out last night,” she said through the open window, watching the large bird peck petulantly at the canned meal. She met the large, scowling eyes with a wrinkled nose. “I like them, so be nice. Did you see anyone last night?”

Galileo lifted off a few pieces, swallowed and continued pecking the roll apart.

“I don’t think he’s in the area…” Danea’s head went back, her eyes narrowed. “The casino? Seriously? Oh, now that’s a surprise,” came the sarcastic tone before she sighed and shrugged. “He could just ask for a pint of blood. That would be so much simpler.”

Her hand was up, gently stroking along his neck. “I know…I’ll be careful. Gotta work…bye…and remember…you be nice to them!”

The first ninety minutes of the day was half of the most hectic time of her day. People of all ages brought in children that were all under the age of four and most not in a very good mood. She attributed that to the moods of the parents or caregivers who, themselves, were usually in very bad moods and it rubbed off on the little ones.

Thirty minutes after their arrival, though, her staff had them giggling, laughing and settled with playtime or learning time, depending on their age. She talked to her manager and let her know she was leaving at four thirty for food or her pet bird was going to divorce her.

Marina laughed and nodded, waving her off at the end of the day.

Danea spent the next hour shopping and laughing with people she met. She also found people she barely knew talking to her suddenly. Then there were a few women younger than her or around her age that looked at her with nothing but pure daggers in their eyes.

“Don’t let it bother you,” Mrs. Temple patted her hand where it rested on the shopping cart.

A bright smile met hers when she looked over. “I don’t know those two women. But they sure looked angry at me for some reason.”

“It’s a small town,” the older woman said with a nod, pacing beside Danea. “Word gets out real fast when a couple good looking boys leave the marketplace.”

“I…when…oh, no…” Danea felt the heat searing her cheeks. Her vision swept from Mrs. Temple to the women walking past them. “They think…”

“They know.
Auturo’s
is a popular place. Real good food and lots of interesting stories come out of there. I heard those boys were just falling all over you.”

“I am sure the story has been embellished a great deal compared to the truth,” Danea cleared her throat and tried to lower her voice a little from the nerve riddled pitch. “We just had dinner and talked. That’s all. They’re very nice guys.”

“They’ve been alone too long,” she patted Danea’s hand again and swerved off. “Take care of them.”

“Oh, good grief,” Danea checked her cart and found her way to the checkout, still shaking her head as she loaded the back of her station wagon. So now the whole town was buzzing about her dining with them. God only knows what it’ll say if they see the cars outside her daycare.