Her Guardian's Heart (13 page)

“That had better be true.”

Tannin bowed. “I will leave you two for now. Melina, I'm only a call away if you need me. When you're up for it, you should come to see your grandmother. She's worried about you.”

“Thank you. Tell her I will.” He disappeared, but his wings brushed my back in a soft caress. When Tannin was completely gone, I focused back on Landon. It was now that I could see his shirt was wrinkled. He had no shoes and socks on since he preferred to walk around barefoot. But the rose I had given him was nestled in his pocket.

“I was worried about you.” He brushed my lips with his.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m happy.”

“What did he do to you? Why were you crying out for me to stop when I was touching you before?”

I stepped away and looked down at my body. The silver writing was fainter now. I took his finger and traced it over one of the longer passages. A zing of bliss washed over me. I wanted him to continue copying the lettering, but Landon drew his hand back. His expression was one of shock and awe. I took his hand and laid it over my heart. The contact made me draw in a deep breath.

“What is that all over you?”

“It’s angelic writing. It was part of the bonding process that lets Heaven recognize me as his mate. It doesn’t hurt. It’s…I don’t know. It’s amazing. I want you to feel it. Close your eyes, my love.”

I joined the link between us and took Landon’s finger, drawing it into my mouth until our minds were closely linked. The essence of his wolf was so close that I felt the wildness of it. I brought his hand to my shoulder and felt him begin to trace the lettering again. The orgasmic blur began to build with me and within him. It overwhelmed Landon’s mind and brought him to his knees. I went with him. He pulled his thoughts from me, and we both opened our eyes.

“My God. Is that always going to be on you?”

“No. He said that it’d eventually rearrange itself into some kind of tattoo. I’m just waiting for it to do that. How did the show go?”

“Do you really want to ask me about that now?” He took my hand and brought it down to his hardened cock.

I bit my lip and flashed him a devilish smile. “I assumed you didn’t want to make love so soon after I’d gotten home. Still being naked and…”

Before I could finish the thought, his lips were on mine in a frenzied kiss. I could barely keep up with the way his lips traveled over mine and then down my body. Landon’s lips settled on my breasts. I cried out from him biting down and hitting more of my erogenous zones while reigniting the angelic writing on my body. I raked my fingers down his torso, pulling at the buttons on his shirt until I got to the skin underneath. I tried to weave my thoughts with his. As I did, I felt something awakening inside of me. It was primal, a part of me that lived in the darkness waiting to emerge. I probed further. A black wolf walked out from the shadows. It wasn’t Landon’s wolf. The more I studied it, the more it felt like a part of me. This was what Tannin had talked about, some Guardians being chameleons. The wolf had been awakened in me. My canine teeth shifted and my body temperature spiked.

I kissed Landon’s shoulder and welcomed the wolf. My senses were heightened. I could hear his heartbeat. I smelled the rose and the heady manly smell that was just him. I raked my fingernails down his back and bit into his shoulder. Landon growled.

I growled back, feeling the rumble pass over my tongue. My mate stopped and stared at me. His eyes were wide with shock. “Just a minute ago you were an angel, and now you’re a wolf. How is this possible? You’ve never turned before. Why now?”

“Tannin said some Guardians are chameleons. We blend in with other supernatural creatures. Tannin said the wolf and the vampire are inside of me. You brought out the wolf. Now none of your pack can accuse me of not being worthy to be with you.”

“Don’t listen to any of them. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you’re not good enough.” He ran his fingers down my face. “God, you’re so beautiful. You look just the way I thought you would if you ever turned into a wolf. Beautiful golden skin. Amber eyes, and the beast within you is strong. Can you shift?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Tannin said probably. But I don’t want to push that right now. All I want is you. I’ve missed you. I need you. Don’t be afraid of me.”

“I’ve missed you too. I could never be afraid of you. You’re my other half. I want you. God, I even want Tannin. I’ve never wanted another man since Nick. But from you I already see how much you love him. Is that crazy?”

“It makes sense. He’s already inside of me. And now I need you inside of me.”

“I can certainly oblige that.” He slid his shirt off and then pulled his pants off.

I loved that he didn’t have any boxers on. His cock sprang out. I slipped to my knees and took his shaft between his lips. He tasted salty. I swirled my tongue around his length. Landon gripped my head and pushed his cock into my mouth faster while I pulled him out and went down on him again. I gripped his balls and rolled them around in my hand.

Landon groaned. “No. Not like this.” He pulled his cock away.

“But I want you.” I licked my lips and felt my sharpened four canines. They were going to take some getting used to.

“I want you too, but I need to pleasure you. What good of a mate am I if you’re not taken care of first?” Landon hugged me close and then laid me on the bed.

Before I could react, he took my leg and began to kiss the inside of it, working up to my thigh. His tongue closed upon my pussy as he began to lick my already-wet slit. He spread my folds and then placed his mouth on my clit. He sucked on me, nibbling ever so slightly, until I was thrashing on the bed from the orgasm that hit me. It didn’t take me long to fall over the edge and into another world. Our minds wrapped around one another. When I came again, he shared the experience of the bliss.

I opened my eyes and drew him up to my lips. The taste of me on Landon’s lips was one of the sweetest things I had ever tasted. I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him to me. He sunk his cock into my pussy and began to thrust inside of me.

“I need you, Melina. I’ve always needed you.”

“I need you too. I love you.”

He claimed my lips again and bit lightly on my lower lip. I bit him back a little harder. He thrust his tongue into my mouth and then began to pound inside of me. Landon kissed my throat. Right before I came again, he sank his teeth into my shoulder. I did the same. It felt good to be able to share the experience and taste his blood. The wolf inside of me howled. Landon’s answered the call. Our minds were so wrapped around one another’s it was hard for me to see where he ended and where I began. The last two years of separation fell away and the rift between us was healed.

Chapter Eight

Several days later, life settled down to normal. Tannin hadn’t been by to see me, but I wasn’t worried about that. Landon had sold the majority of his paintings. The police had finally let me back into the shop. Detective Crace hadn’t called me about any leads on who killed Melissa. Landon returned with me to the shop. He was with me pushing a broom so that we could get the place up and running. He washed the blood from the floor because I couldn’t stomach the smell or the memories of it. Later that night, I was going to have dinner with my grandmother and my sister. Landon was coming with me to meet the family.

After we finished cleaning and went back to take a shower, Landon drove me over to my grandmother’s house. His fingers clenched the steering wheel when we pulled up outside. He stopped the car and then took in a few deep breaths. Beads of sweat dotted his brow.

I squeezed his leg. “You don’t have anything to worry about. They won’t bite.” I leaned over the seat and nipped his neck. “I do.” The werewolf had remained in my nature. It wasn’t something I minded. The vampire was there too. It made me feel close to Nick.

“What will they think of me?”

“They’ll love you. Don’t worry about it.” I went to get out of the car, but he grabbed my arm.

“Melina, you don’t understand. Confronting your family is something that I’ve never had to do before. I’ve never had a family of my own. Your family exiled you the same way that my family did when I told them I was mated to Nick and not the woman who was arranged for me.”

“Sweetie, you have nothing to worry about. They will love you the way that I already do. Come on.”

The trepidation lit his eyes. Landon nodded. We got out of the car, walked into my grandmother’s house, and found her cooking. Tannin leaned against the doorway, drinking a glass of water. He looked at me over the rim of the glass. The angel gave me a small smile. Being so close, I felt the angelic writing flare along my flesh.

“Grandma, Melina’s here.” Annabeth came down the stairs and flung her arms around me. I squeezed her hard. When she looked at Landon, her lips turned into a devious smile. “Who’s this? He’s real cute.”

Landon chuckled. “It’s nice to meet you too. You must be Annabeth. You’re more beautiful than Melina has told me. I’m Landon Wallace.”

“Hey, you’re that artist I was hearing about,” Annabeth said.

He nodded. “Yes. I’m that artist that everyone’s been talking about. Are you a painter?”

She blushed. “Call me Anna. No. I can’t paint. How do you know Melina?”

I wound my arm around his waist. “He’s my mate.” I leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “And he’s a werewolf.”

Her eyes widened and she backed away. “Really?”

“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you,” Tannin said.

I didn’t hear him move across the room. My grandmother came around the corner from the kitchen carrying a tray full of drinks. Tannin took it from her and set it on the table. She stopped and looked at Landon. I sensed his anxiety while he was under the scrutiny of her gaze. Worry crept along my spine. She placed her hand on his chest. He glanced at me. I shrugged. She placed her hand over my heart and after a moment she laughed. She wagged her finger at me and the smile on her face grew. My grandmother patted Landon’s cheek.

“You’re good for one another. The balance is great between you. I approve.” She turned to me. “You’ve grown strong over these past few days. I see that you’ve been busy. The symbols have not yet solidified.” She glanced at Tannin, whose expression remained impassive. “And yet there’s still something else inside of you that has to emerge. Maybe when the other has come back to you fully.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Nothing. You’re welcome here, Landon. Just make sure you take care of her.”

Landon nodded. “Of course.”

“Good. Now come and sit. Tannin, will you take the roast out of the oven, please?”

The angel walked into the kitchen. All four of us sat down at the table. Annabeth looked between the two of us and giggled. The lightness of her aura stood out against the chair. I could see her developing wings. She was the mentor that Tannin had mentioned.

“Anna, why don’t you go to Susan’s tonight? We have things I have to talk about,” my grandmother said.

“But, Grandma, you said that we could talk. Come on.”

She patted Annabeth’s hand. “I know, Anna, but some things have come up that we need to talk about privately with Melina.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes. “How about sometime soon we go shopping and spend some girl time together? We’ll do whatever you want. I’ll bring you by the house and you can see some of Landon’s paintings.” My sister’s eyes widened. She wrapped her arms around me, whispered her thanks, and then ran toward her room.

“I’m sorry to hear about your shop and your friend.”

“Did Detective Crace tell you? I haven’t heard from him. He said he would call me if he had any leads.”