Favored by Felix (15 page)

Casey gave a small laugh. “Okay. Yes.”

He tugged her down the path toward his
suite. “Are you sure you don’t love me?”

“Maybe just a little,” she said.

“Glad to hear it. Now what are you going to
make first for the boutique? What materials do we need to order?”

“Aunt Elsa brought quite a few lengths of
fabric with her. Enough for me to start. I’ll go and speak with her and Anna
now.”

“Good girl,” Felix said and she basked in
the warmth of his approval. The sensation radiated through her chest and heated
her up in a good way. A smile pushed her lips into a curve before she knew it
was happening, and even better, he grinned back at her and squeezed her hand.

Happiness, she thought. Real happiness.

At his suite, they parted. Felix went to
oversee the arrival of the supplies and Laurence’s departure while she searched
out Aunt Elsa and Anna.

“What happened to the fabrics you brought
for me?” she asked.

Her aunt beamed. “Have you decided to
stay?”

Casey gave a cautious nod, and liked the
way that felt too. “Yes.” Her reply, a little loud, made her aunt chuckle.

“A new adventure for both of us,” her aunt
said and gave Casey a hug.

“I’m so pleased you’re staying,” Anna said.

“Felix said I should make something to sell
at the boutique, something I can teach the ladies to make. I was thinking that
we could start with a plain sleeveless base, like a slip but in a nice fabric
that isn’t see-through. Then make a transparent top or jacket to go over the
top. The jacket or tops could be in lacy fabrics or patterned gauze, and if a
lady purchased several different tops, it would appear as if she had more than
one outfit even though the base would be the same.

“I can design a resort label too. I was
thinking the head of a black cat with the words Middlemarch Resort.” Casey
finished talking and clenched her fingers together while she waited for the
older ladies to comment. She wiped the palms of her hands on her dress and
worked hard to remain in one spot.
Scurvy sky pirates.
This was worse
than handing out orders to her men.

“Oh,” Anna said. “That is brilliant. There
are several ladies I can think of who can sew and would love to be part of
this. What a wonderful idea to include them.”

“It was Felix’s idea,” Casey said. “The outfits—should
I make some of the outfits I have in mind to show you?”

“Yes, please.”

“All the fabric is in my room,” Aunt Elsa
said. “Would you like me to design the label for you?”

“You both like my idea?”

“It’s perfect, dear,” Anna said, beaming.
“I thought I’d said that.”

“I agree,” Aunt Elsa said. “The foundation
garment could be in any color, but I think you should make the first one a pale
pink to go with the local scenery. There is nothing like this on Dalcon, at
least not near the city, and that could be the garment that the guests
associate with the resort when they return from their vacation.”

“Do you think Scarlett would be my model?”

“Yes,” Anna said without hesitation. “Even
if I have to drag her away from those computers of hers. Not that I think
she’ll put up much of a fight. In fact, I’ll go and see her in person so she
can’t dodge my call.” Anna scurried away, leaving Casey alone with her aunt.

“I’m so pleased,” Aunt Elsa said. “This
will be a fresh start for both of us. I have to admit I’m glad to leave the
bustle of Dalcon. The city is so big now and parts have become dangerous. The
resort is peaceful and the beach is gorgeous. The sea air has helped my chest.”

Casey frowned. “Why did you stay on Dalcon
for so long?”

“Because I wanted to spend time with
you
,
Casey. Now let’s get that fabric and see what we’ve got. I am positive we have
pink, but I’m not sure if the fabric will be what you have in mind. And of
course, pink won’t suit everyone. Some of the other species will prefer
stronger colors.”

Casey followed her aunt to her room and
spent the rest of the afternoon discussing fabrics, cutting and stitching. Anna
arrived with Scarlett and soon she had the garment fitted and pinned.

“Ouch,” Scarlett muttered.

“Sorry,” Casey said. “I told you to stand
still.”

“I need to breathe,” Scarlett said, but the
twinkle in her green eyes told Casey the younger woman was teasing.

The rest of the day flew by. Felix arrived
and the twins popped in to report on their progress.

“We planted the vines,” Joe said.

“The grapevines?” Anna asked with a touch
of surprise.

“We checked the soil, did some tests and
Felix agreed. It was time, Ma,” Sly said.

“But Saber—”

“He put me in charge, Ma,” Felix said.
“We’re all experienced in winegrowing and production. If Saber has a problem,
he’ll let us know, but the conditions are perfect and we’ve taken precautions
to make sure none of the local fauna can attack or eat the plants—at least
until they become established. Saber has enough to worry about, and we’re all
trying to lighten his load.”

Anna’s face softened. “I’m sorry, Felix.
You’re right. Saber does need some time for himself. I know all my sons are
capable.”

She patted his shoulder, and Casey sensed
the tension in Felix drain away.

In his own way, he was struggling to find
his place as much as her.

* * * * *

“Alone at last,” Felix whispered. “I didn’t
think I was ever going to pry you loose from my sister and mother and your
aunt.”

Casey chuckled. “Telling them you wanted
some alone time did the trick. Your mother and my aunt practically pushed us
out the door.” She touched her fingertips to her cheeks. “I’m still
embarrassed.”

“It looks good on you,” he said and pressed
his palm to the doorplate to let them into his suite.

He hustled her inside and closed the door after
them, engaging the locks. His eyes were bright green when he turned her to face
him and a lazy smile curved his lips in a manner that made her heart beat a
little faster.

“Strip,” he said. “It’s time for that
spanking I owe you, sweetheart.”

“No,” she said, backing away and laughing
at the same time.

“Yes.” Felix prowled closer. “You might
laugh, but I’m serious. I don’t like you putting yourself in danger. You’re
precious to me.”

Her heart went pitter-patter at his words
because she had no doubts—he meant what he said. “I’m not a fan of danger
myself.”

“Good, then you’ll understand why I have to
do this.” He pounced without warning and before she knew it, she was sprawled
facedown over his knee.

“Felix!” She scissored her legs, kicking
and wriggling to get free, but he held her easily. She let the tension seep
from her body, waited for the instant when he’d relax too—and then kicked hard
again.

“All your wriggling is turning me on,
sweetheart.”

“Make me grumpy enough and I might bite.”

“Might,” he said. “I don’t think you’d hurt
me on purpose, just as I’d never hurt you.”

“I’m a soldier. I know lots of ways to
injure you.”

“I’m a shifter. I’m capable of tearing you
limb from limb and then eating the evidence.”

“Checkmate,” she said drily. “You win.”

Felix hauled her up to face him. “It’s not
a case of winning. You
can
hurt me, you know. I feel a bond with you. I
ache for you when we’re not together. If you were to reject me, refuse to stay
with me, that would hurt. It would hurt far worse than physical pain.”

Casey stared, taking in his strong
features, his beautiful green eyes and his serious expression. “You mean it.”

“This mark.” He traced the curious tattoo
that had appeared after he bit her, and a bolt of pleasure ripped through her.
He continued despite her gasp. “This mark ties me to you. I don’t know how it
works, but centuries ago, this was the way shifters claimed their mates. If you
were a shifter, you’d bite me in return. This mark is as solid as marriage
vows.”

“In your eyes we’re married?”

“Yes.” His gaze never left hers. “You’re
mine, and I belong to you. Only death will break the bond.”

She shivered, and this time there was no
pleasure in the sensation. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose and a
chill prickled her skin.

The general would kill Felix and any of his
family members who got in his way. She didn’t believe he’d give up. Not really.
No matter what she tried to tell herself—

She forcibly shoved the general from her
thoughts. He dwelled there way too often, much like a malignant growth. She
couldn’t give him the power, refused to when she could spend the time more
enjoyably with Felix.

“I don’t like to think of you dying.”
Not
much of a shove.
“Tell me more about shifters.”

“A lot of the old ways, the old instincts,
have been lost since we integrated with the humans on Earth and lived in
secret. The mating mark thing—that hasn’t happened for centuries. And Ma
doesn’t remember reading anything about the shape of the mark. She’s busy
researching in the family diaries and papers.”

“Your mother keeps a diary?”

“Yes. She likes to record things. Genealogy
is one of her hobbies.” His eyes gleamed extra bright. “What about children?
Would you like to have children one day?”

Casey felt her mouth drop open, and Felix
chuckled.

“I can see you’ve never thought on the
subject.”

“I haven’t, not seriously. I’m a career
soldier. Besides, I didn’t think I’d make a good parent, and I’ve never had a
long relationship with a man. I suppose I could have chosen a child from the
baby farms. Lots of planets have them.”

“We are
not
doing that,” Felix said.
“They really have farms for babies?”

“Fertility is a problem for the species on
some planets. It’s the only way some people can have children.”

“But what about the parents? The women who
carry the children? What do they think about giving their offspring away?”

Casey laughed. “No, they make the babies in
test tubes. In a clinical factory. It’s very common and—”

“We’re making our children the normal way,”
Felix said in a firm tone. “I want to see you swell with my children.”

“Children?” Casey squeaked. “They come in a
litter?”

Felix barked out a laugh. “Twins are
common, although in our family there only ever seems to be one set in each
union. My mother had Sly and Joe. Mostly the twins are same sex and identical.
Laurence and his sister Lori were unusual.”

“Interesting,” Casey said.

“So you’ll think about having children in
the future?” Felix asked. “I’d like that very much.”

“And if I can’t have children?”

“Then we will visit the baby farm—if that’s
what you want. Children are an extra bonus for me. You’re the important part of
this relationship.”

“You say the most amazing things.” She
kissed the tip of his nose.

“So you like me a little bit?”

“I like you a lot,” Casey said. An
understatement. The man had wriggled under her skin like a persistent itch, and
now she found she didn’t want to dislodge him. She liked the future he painted,
was even starting to dream of making it a reality.

“Glad to hear it,” he said.

He grasped her waist and laid her over his
knee again. Before she gathered her wits enough to protest, his hand smacked
down on her rump.

“
Ow.
”

“Because you’ve been so sweet, I’m going to
limit the number to five,” he said.

Seconds later another blow landed. The
scanty covering of her dress and panties didn’t protect her one bit and the
sting rushed along her nerve pathways. She’d scarcely processed the pain, had
time to protest, before another two landed in quick succession.

“One more,” he said.

“You’re mean, and I take it back.” She
tried to wriggle free. “I don’t like you anymore.”

“Two more it is.”

Smack. Smack.

He lifted her off his knee and steadied her
on her feet.

She backed up several steps and eyed him,
saw the brief flash of satisfaction then the wariness that shone in his eyes.
“That was plain mean. I’m a soldier, and I’m used to putting myself in
dangerous situations. You can’t smack me for doing my job.”

“Just did.”

There was that arrogance again. She
sniffed, stuck her nose in the air, but a tiny part of her wanted to laugh too.
The man was impossible, but it was hard not to like him. “I was doing my job,”
she repeated.

It was either that or breaking out the
humor, and she didn’t want to fold quite so soon, not when her backside still
smarted.

“Maybe so, but there’s a difference between
dangerous and reckless. I aged, Casey. When I had to let you go off with those
natives, I worried. Why the hell do you think we arrived at the village so
quickly? I pushed and pushed hard to get there.”

“Aw, Felix.” The tone of his voice, his
agitation and obvious anguish, smoothed away her lingering pique. “How about if
I promise to think harder before throwing myself into a dangerous situation
again?”

“You’re not a soldier now,” he reminded
her. “You’re my mate and the resort’s exclusive designer. You won’t face danger
again unless you prick your finger with the sewing machine.”

“The new ones stop the second they come
into contact with skin.”

He muttered something under his breath.
“Don’t be obtuse. You know what I mean.” He prowled toward her and looked mighty
fine doing it. Mesmerized, she stared and then it was too late. He scooped her
up and tossed her on the sleep-bed, caging her between his hard body and the
mattress. His mouth crushed down on hers, his fingers sliding beneath the
neckline of her dress to cup her breast.

“My backside is sore,” she said when he
lifted his head. “You need to rub it.”

“With pleasure. Let’s get you out of these
clothes.”