GraceinMoonlight (17 page)

Chapter Seven

Grace flipped pancakes onto a plate, surprised she hadn’t
burned the damn things.

Her mind definitely hadn’t been on the task at hand.

Instead, she’d been thinking. Which wasn’t a stretch for
her. Her mind never really stopped working. But this wasn’t about science or
curing her son.

This was about freeing her children. About freeing herself
from the clutches of the
Mal
.

The logistics would take some finessing. And she thought
Kaisie might have a fit.

But if she could get Cole in her corner on this one, Kaisie
wouldn’t have much of a defense.

Especially if her plan got Cole one step closer to the head
of the
Mal
. She didn’t know who that was. But she knew someone who
should.

But it meant she’d have to head into the lion’s den.

She needed to talk to her grandmother.

Just the thought was enough to make her stomach twist and
pitch.

But if Cole agreed to her plan, she might be able to buy her
children out from the noose of the
Mal
.

Of course, her grandmother might kill her in the process but
there was a certain amount of risk in every plan.

She was willing to take this one.

Behind her she heard footsteps and the wonderful dull thump
of Alex’s crutches. Her eyes teared up every time she heard them. Blinking them
back, she turned with a smile and the plate of pancakes and almost lost it
completely.

She’d never let herself hope for this moment, when her
daughter and her son would be sitting down to breakfast at the same table. And
she’d never let herself imagine a man like Kaisie looking at her the way he was
now.

She wanted to keep this moment, right now. Hold on to it
with both hands and fight for it.

Kaisie had to understand that. She’d have to make him
understand.

But first she had to beat her grandmother at her own game.

She managed to get through breakfast without making too much
of a mess of things.

Amy actually spoke to her. Two whole sentences consisting of
“How’s your arm?” and “I slept fine. Thanks.”

But she said them without a hint of sneer and that made it
all worthwhile. She talked to Kaisie more and had a few smiles for her brother.

But that wariness never left her eyes.

And hardened Grace’s resolve.

“Hey, guys,” Kaisie said, after all the pancakes had been
consumed. “Do me a favor and put the dishes in the dishwasher. I need take your
mom somewhere. We’ll be back in about a half-hour.”

“You’re leaving us here alone?”

Alex’s brief flash of fear made him blush as he stole a look
at Amy but Kaisie gave him an easy smile. “Only for a few minutes. You know, I
think Kaine’s outside with John on patrol. Bet she’d love to come in and watch
a few cartoons with you.”

Of course that placated Alex and even Amy seemed okay with
it.

A few minutes later, Kaisie and Grace walked through the
woods on a path Grace had never seen before.

“Where are we going?”

“I’ve got to leave soon but I wanted to show you something
before I go.”

They walked in silence for a few more seconds.

Then she couldn’t help herself. “How long will you be gone?”

“I should be back by tomorrow morning. Don’t worry. I’ll be
back soon.”

Hopefully not too soon. At least not before she’d gotten Cole
to agree to her plan and put it into play. Kaisie would pitch a royal fit if he
knew what she was going to do.

Pushing all that aside for the moment, she let herself enjoy
the walk with him, her hand in his. Even though the temperature hovered in the
mid-forties, she didn’t feel cold in jeans, a t-shirt and a fleece sweatshirt.
Kaisie wore even less, only black pants and a gray long-sleeved t-shirt. She
swore the man had a little bear in his background. She didn’t think he felt the
cold at all.

After a few minutes, she heard the sound of running water
and when Kaisie stopped, she continued on into the clearing ahead of him.

Her breath caught at the simple beauty of the spot, the
waterfall bubbling from the outcropping of rocks, the carpet of moss in front
of the waterfall, still green despite it being winter. Which it didn’t feel
like here.

As she stepped farther into the clearing, she swore the
temperature rose at least ten degrees, making her almost too warm.

“This is Tivr’s sanctuary,” Kaisie said.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yeah, Ty knows how to decorate.”

She walked over to the falls, let her hand play in the
water. Metallic glints beneath the surface caught her eye, like tiny, trapped
stars.

She felt Kaisie move behind her then felt his arms wrap
around her waist from behind. His hips pressed against her ass, his erection
hard and hot.

He didn’t grind against her, didn’t do anything except hold
her. But each second in his arms, held against the length of his strong body,
she felt her blood heat.

She knew why he’d brought her here. Knew he wanted to make
love to her here, in this place that felt sacred.

She wanted the same but needed him to hold her, just for a
few minutes. And he seemed content to do it.

Resting her head back against his chest, she closed her eyes,
her hands stroking along his forearms.

Until it wasn’t enough. She needed more.

She turned in his arms, circling hers around his shoulders
and lifting her mouth to his.

The second his lips touched hers, she felt that spark ignite
low in her body and gave herself over to it.

She wanted their clothes to disappear so she could crawl up
his body and wrap herself around him. Wanted him to sink inside her and make
her forget everything for just a few minutes.

As if he’d read her mind, his fingers slipped the button on
her jeans then worked the zipper down. He had her pants halfway down her legs
by the time she unbuckled his belt.

And she gasped when he spun her around, stretched her arms
out to steady herself against the nearest tree trunk and ran one warm hand
across her bare ass. Shuddering at the flare of heat that stole her breath and
made her sex clench in anticipation, she braced herself and spread her legs as
far apart as she could with her pants around her ankles.

She had a momentary image of how they looked, half-dressed
and panting, Kaisie’s hand brushing against her ass as he shoved his jeans down
far enough to release his erection.

Then he moved in, letting that hot flesh slide between her
legs and rub against her slick sex.

“Kaisie.”

He brushed the hair from her nape and pressed his lips
against the sensitive skin there, making her shiver.

“Kaisie, I—”

“Unless you’re about to say, ‘Kaisie, I want you to do me,’
I don’t want to hear it.”

She arched back against him, rubbing herself against his
cock and making him draw in a sharp breath. “Kaisie, I do want you to do me.
And…”

He began to thrust between her legs, the tip of his cock
hitting her clit and sending her closer to orgasm with every pass. “And what?”

Rational thought escaped her as he angled his cock a little
differently and the head slipped into her body. She gasped at the rush of heat
that flooded her sex and spread outward then nearly cried when he retreated.

“And what, Grace?”

She let her head hang as she tried to collect her thoughts
and found she couldn’t. “And I think I’m falling in love you.”

His groan was music to her ears. “Ah, Grace, you just think
you’re falling in love with me? Damn, I already know I love you.”

With a shift of his hips, he sank deep.

Her heart stuttered at the words she’d honestly never
thought to hear from a man. Emotion drenched her in heat and she grabbed his
forearms to anchor him to her.

She thought he would start a hard and fast rhythm but he
surprised her by taking it slow and steady. Making her feel every drag and push
against sensitive internal tissue.

His arms held her tight, his lips pressing kisses against
her neck.

Blessed Goddess, she felt loved. She’d never felt anything
like it. It made her blood burn. It wasn’t sex. She’d had sex before. She’d
never made love.

She liked this a whole hell of a lot better.

Turning her head, she sought his mouth. As if he knew what
she wanted—and maybe he did—he turned his head to meet her lips.

His kiss took her breath, made her burn and pushed her
closer to that edge.

Kaisie must have felt the same as he started to thrust
faster.

Because she wanted this feeling to last, she tried to hold
on to it without tipping over that edge.

But Kaisie wouldn’t allow it. He slid one hand between her
legs to stroke her clit. She only needed one caress to push her past that point
and she cried out as she came.

Kaisie went with her, somehow managing to hold both of them
upright.

“Say it again.” His voice, husky, practically a growl, made
her sex clench around him harder. “Without the unnecessary words.”

She knew what he wanted her to say and she gave up any
pretense of indecision.

“I love you.”

“Damn right you do.”

She wanted to laugh at the arrogance in his tone but
couldn’t muster the strength. The man simply slayed her.

And she loved it. She loved him.

They were going to need all the luck in the world to make
this work.

* * * * *

“So, either Seth or Race will be here at all times, as well
as another set of guards, who’ll rotate every couple of hours. You might not
see them but don’t worry. They’re out there.”

Grace nodded at John, sitting with her on Kaisie’s couch,
while Kaine shared a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with Alex at the table.
Alex had developed a serious crush on Kaisie’s daughter, and Kaine appeared to
return the affection.

She joked with Alex, talked to him as if he was a person and
not a kid. Not an invalid. Kaine even tried to draw Amy into the conversation,
though Amy didn’t have more than monosyllabic answers to anything Kaine said.

Grace couldn’t say as she blamed her daughter. Since Kaisie
had left this morning, none of them had been in the mood for much of anything.
All she could do was worry, though she tried not to show it in front of the
kids.

They had enough of their own anxiety. They didn’t need to
see hers.

So, accompanied by Seth and Race, Grace had suggested they
all go visit Mara in the medical center, where Grace made her first halting
attempts to speak to the frightened teenager.

At least Mara had seemed more friendly to Grace than Amy so
Grace took that as a good sign. She’d told the girl not to worry about
anything. That she and the baby would be well taken care of and would have
everything she needed.

Grace didn’t blame the girl for looking skeptical. It’d take
some time. But Grace felt a kinship with Mara that she hoped would see them
through the rough time ahead. Hell, it was going to be a rough time for all of
them.

When they’d returned to Kaisie’s house, Grace had discovered
someone had moved all of their clothing from the other house.

Hers was in Kaisie’s bedroom, stacked neatly on his bed. The
kids’ were in the other room, most of it already hung in the closet or put in
the dressers.

And Kaine and John had been sitting at the dining room
table.

Amy had stilled like a doe in the headlights before she’d
slunk off to the bedroom without a word.

Kaine had flashed Grace an apologetic smile before she’d
engaged Alex in a conversation about some book they’d both apparently read. How
Kaine knew that, Grace had no idea. But Alex had a smile on his face and that
was all that mattered.

“Grace?”

With a start, Grace refocused her attention on John. Kaine’s
handsome, ex-Navy SEAL mate had a piercing stare that made her feel as if he
could read her mind. She still had a hard time looking him in the eyes after
what she’d done to him and his sister.

She’d kidnapped him and kept him in a cell while she tested
his blood. He’d been rescued by the
lucani
before the men she’d hired to
help her had been able to hurt him. She’d never wanted to hurt anyone. She’d
only wanted to save Alex.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to apologize enough for
what I did to you, John.”

His gaze narrowed for a brief second before he settled a
little deeper into his chair. “And I’ve told you before, I’m fine. Evie’s fine.
And Alex is still alive. We move on from there, Grace.”

“And wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was just that easy.”

“Nothing’s ever easy. But you’ve got to learn to let your
past go before it fucks up your future.”

She let her gaze slide toward Alex for a brief second, to
make sure he was engaged by Kaine. “I’d like to think I have a future. But…I’m
no naïve teenager. Actually, I never was. And I know there are going to be
people here who will never accept me.”

“But there’s one very important man who does.” John held on
to her gaze when she would have dropped his. “Do you really want to let him
down?”

“No, of course not. I actually had a dream last night about
being happy. Here. With Kaisie.”

“Then that’s what you need to focus on.”

She was trying. Still… “My children and I will never be free
as long as Ettore’s breathing. I understand why your king might want him alive
but you can appreciate my dilemma.”

He nodded, his eyes narrowing. “I can.”

She took a deep breath, knowing he was her only hope to
implement the plan that’d been formulating. “And can you tell me how I should
deal with the terror of knowing my children will never be safe? That Mara and
her baby will always be looking over their shoulders, trying to stay one step
ahead?”

“You know I can’t.”

“I may know someone who can bring Ettore to heel. Someone
who has the power to take care of Ettore forever.” She took a deep breath and
prepared to ask probably the hardest question she’d ever asked. “Will you help
me, John?”