Knight Shift (55 page)

Jax walked over to Penny and, kneeling in front of her, he took her hands in his and said, “They can try, but they won’t succeed. I know what we said, but I was an idiot to ever let you out of my arms and, if you leave, I would be forced to follow. Trying to stay away from you is unbearable. I’ve stood outside your cabin for endless hours in the vane hope of catching a glimpse of you walking by a window and, when I sleep, I lie against a body pillow stuffed with a heating pad like some lovesick teenager.”

Penny let out a sad sounding chuckle and said, “I’m just as pathetic. I sleep hugging a pillow filled with ice packs. It doesn’t work.”

“I know that we as a couple don’t make any sense, but I like what I am when I’m with you. You’ve fundamentally changed me and have given my life meaning. I’m no longer only about hate and anger.”

“There’s nothing I want more than to be in your arms, but I’m Human and toxic to your life. Nothing can ever change that fact.”

“Even if it was possible, I wouldn’t want to change a thing. I love you exactly as you are—every Human inch of you. I don’t know what our future will hold and I know it won’t be easy for either of us, but I do know that I don’t want to face another day or endless night without you at my side. You’re my future. Please, let’s give us a try and walk an uncharted path together?” His voice broke, a sound the rest of the family had never heard before.

She shook her head and said, “But this decision wouldn’t impact just you and me. If I were to move in here, I would be putting everyone in this room in even more danger. I refuse to do that to them.”

Seeing her resolve start to waiver slightly, he said, “Then let’s ask them what they think.” He stood and turned to look at his family and said, “Penny is right. If we welcome her permanently into this home, we will all be considered traitors. For me, I must go wherever Penny goes. She and I can leave this house together and, if we leave, maybe the danger will follow and leave you safe. So either I go with her, or we both stay. There are no other options for me. You’re my family and this decision must be made together.”

Sam was the first to speak. “I’ve stood at your side since the beginning of my Changeling life and I’m not about to leave you now when you need me the most. I vote that you both stay here and we stand as one.”

Susi took Sam’s hand in hers and said, “I agree with Sam. If we turned our backs on family I couldn’t live with myself. You both must stay and whatever happens we’ll face it together.”

Taylor said, “There’s no discussion required. Jax may not be a teddy bear, but he’s saved all of our lives more times than we can count. I would do anything for him. As for Penny, she’s been family since she pinned me to the floor the first day I met her.”

Tadd added, “Taylor and I made a promise to two very special people that we would take care of Penny and we plan to keep that promise, no matter what dangers we face. Our vote is...”

They said as a chorus, “They both stay.”

Chad shifted back to Human and both he and Ben said without hesitation, “They both stay.”

Charlie joined the conversation by saying, “I may not be an official member of this family…” She looked at Chad and added, “At least not yet.” After giving him a beautiful smile, she said to the group as a whole, “This means that I don’t have a vote, but I want to share my thoughts. Jax practically raised me and I owe him so much more than just my life. And anyone that knows me knows that I don’t trust people easily, so when I tell you that Penny, a Human, is my best friend that means something. They may not be from the same race, but she and Jax belong together and I want to remain at their side, no matter what.”

Razor took his turn. “With Ice’s unmatched skills and Penny’s hidden magic, I know they’re both critical to Changeling survival. If you have room for one more, I would like to stick around for a while and dedicate myself to this family’s safety.”

Penny said to Razor and Charlie, “But that would mean turning your back on your people. I won’t let you do that.”

Razor replied, “I don’t see it as turning my back. I see it as saving them. Someone needs to give them alternatives other than going to war. Besides, I truly believe you’re more special than any of us realize and I would like to stay and help protect you.”

Jax thanked his family and once again knelt in front of Penny. He said, “You’ve heard everyone’s vote and for me there’s no other option. I must be at your side from this day forward. I need you.”

With tears in her eyes, she said, “You belong protecting your people. They need you.”

Seeing her defiant and stubborn nature dig in again, he pulled her into his arms and said, “I belong wherever you are and I would regret it for the rest of my miserable life if we don’t give us a chance.”

She struggled half-heartedly against his restraint, but he held firm. He leaned toward her and pressed his mouth on hers.

As soon as their lips touched, all resistance crumbled and her love for him took over her actions. The family watched silently as the couple shared a slow, passionate embrace full of the feelings they held for each other.

Jax released her lips and, with her hand now tightly in his he stood, turned to the family, and said, “If you’ll excuse us, Penny and I have some talking to do in private.”

Susi nodded with tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks while Charlie snuggled against Chad.

As Jax led Penny toward his bedroom, Taylor whispered to his twin, both still somewhat in shock, “So Penny and Jax were lovers?”

Ben beamed, shook his head, and said, “Correction. They
are
lovers.”

The moment Jax had Penny in his room, he spun her toward the wall and, while pinning her with his kiss, kicked the door closed with his foot.

She broke away and said, “But Jax, we need to talk about this.”

While nibbling on her neck, he asked, “Did you mean it when you said you still loved me?”

Without any hesitation she replied, “With all my heart.”

He leaned back so that he could look her directly in the eyes and said, “And I love you with all my heart, so there’s nothing left for us to talk about.”

“Love isn’t enough. I won’t let you and the family give up everything for me.”

Seeing the genuine affection she had for him twinkling in her eyes, he replied, “My life started the moment I met you and I can’t wait to see the magic we’ll wield together.”

“But it’s too dangerous—”

He pressed his finger on her lips to quiet her and said, “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you and everyone under this roof.” He let out a low growl and added, “And I’m really good at it when properly motivated.” He then softened his tone and said, “Let me show you how motivated I am right now, and I’m going to keep showing you until you’re convinced, even if I have to work on it all night long.” He kissed her neck and then gently bit her.

The moment he latched on, she wrapped her arms around his neck and moaned. Within seconds, a trail of clothes formed on the floor as the couple made their way to the bed, where their bodies quickly intertwined.

Later that evening, the twins were pacing nervously at the top of the stairs leading down to Jax’s apartment. Jax was a killer, not a lover, so they grew concerned when they heard unexpected noises of passion floating up the stairs. Now that the room had finally quieted, they were desperate to see that Penny was unharmed.

Jax sensed their presence and whispered, “The door is unlocked.”

Their exceptional hearing allowed them to pick up his words. They slowly opened the door and, once they were in the room, they found Jax sitting up in his bed with a very contented, but disheveled, Penny fast asleep against his chest. In one arm, Jax was pressing Penny tightly against him, while his other hand was gently caressing her back. Since the couple was obviously naked, the visitors were thankful that the critical parts were covered by a sheet.

Jax knew what the twins were concerned about and said without being prompted, “As you can see, she’s alive and well.”

She was lying so still, Tadd asked, “Is she breathing?”

Jax chuckled. “Trust me, she’s fine. She’s just a bit exhausted and will be asleep for a long time.”

Taylor asked anxiously, “Did your
talk
work? Is she staying?”

Jax nodded. “I don’t know what our future will be but, for now, we’re going to try and make it work together.”

Although the twins weren’t sure they liked the idea of Penny with Jax, seeing her contented expression they couldn’t deny how happy she looked.

Hearing voices in the bedroom, the rest of the family snuck in and joined the twins. Before anyone had a chance to ask, Taylor answered everyone’s unspoken question, “She’s staying.”

While everyone quietly celebrated, Ben stared intently at Penny. With a grin from ear to ear, he announced, “Her mind is so calm.” When he looked up at Jax, he added, “And so is yours, by the way. Being in your arms is exactly where she was meant to be.”

“She’s my family,” Jax said as he kissed Penny’s forehead. She instinctively wiggled against him and moaned appreciatively in her sleep.

When Ben started to laugh, Taylor asked, “What’s so funny?”

Ben nodded toward the bed and said, “It’s Penny. The best way I can describe it is that her mind is purring.”

Susi shoed everyone out of the room, saying “Let’s let these two get some rest. We’ll see them in the morning.”

The next day, Penny woke still pinned against Jax’s body. As she stirred, he whispered, “How did you sleep?”

She snuggled against him and said, “Best night ever.” When she attempted to adjust her position she groaned and added, “Boy, is my body stiff.”

“That may be from the fact that you’ve been locked in the exact same position for almost a day.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s mid-afternoon.”

Penny shot up into a sitting position and exclaimed, “You’ve got to be kidding!”

He shook his head and directed her attention to the clock which confirmed his statement. “You weren’t the only one. I woke a little before you did. I guess we both haven’t slept well.”

After stretching out her muscles, she caressed his chest and said, “You’re so much better than a pillow stuffed with ice packs.”

He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles, saying “And you’re the best heating pad ever. I’ve missed that fire inside you, but I did notice that you didn’t seem to overheat as much while you slept. I swear I used to fear you were going to combust.”

She giggled and said while her fingertip outlined several scars on his skin, “I think your body sucks the heat out of me as quickly as I produce it. Now that you mention it, since coming back from our trip, I’ve slept horribly but it wasn’t because I was overheating. Maybe the ice packs I used actually did some good but, most nights I woke because I couldn’t hear your slow heartbeat.” After leaning down to press her cheek over his heart, she listened intently to the rhythm and said, “Your pulse is up a little this morning.”

He replied, “I think that can be blamed on me overdosing on my Penny snack. I hope you didn’t mind.”

She sat up again and, while caressing several healed over bite marks on her neck, said, “If you recall, I was rather insistent. I never would’ve thought that I would miss being bit, but last night I needed it.” She quivered with the memory of the sensation. Suddenly realizing where she was, she said, “This is the first time that I’ve actually been in your room.” She took a moment to look around.

The room was designed like a small, one room apartment. It was a long, rectangular section dug into the side of the mountain which split in two. On one end was a small kitchen while the bedroom was on the other side tucked into a small, arched stone alcove. A large, smooth, flat-topped stone was used as a night stand with nothing but a clock sitting on it. As her eyes moved to the other side of the room she found lights hanging from the ceiling, a dresser, and another alcove with clothes hanging on a bar.

She pointed to two doors and asked, “Where do the doors go?”

“The one by the kitchen opens into a tunnel that will lead you out a side exit. The other is the bathroom. It isn’t fancy, but it’s practical.”

“You could say the same thing about this whole room. It’s very functional, but it’s a bit drab.”

Jax scanned his surroundings and said, “It does seem to be lacking in color.”

Penny laughed. “That’s an understatement. The only color in this room is the trail of my clothes on the floor. And where are your pictures, knickknacks, or frankly anything that makes this room yours? Other than your bed, dresser, and a kitchen table there’s nothing in here.”

“This room is now ours, so maybe you can make it a little more homey.”

Penny shrieked in delight and then whispered to herself, “Oooo, it’s like a blank canvas.” Her face lit up as her mind filled with all the possibilities.

Jax smiled as he watched Penny’s inner artist nature come forward, making her almost glow. He was so taken by the sight that he grabbed hold of her hips and flipped her onto the bed next to him, causing her to laugh. He then gave her a very affectionate kiss.

When he released the one he loved, she said, “I could get used to that.” As a thank you, she asked while rubbing her inner thigh, “Can I offer Ice a quick snack to get your day started?”

With a low growl that vibrated the bed, he hovered over her and said, “Let’s see what I can offer back to you to get your heart pumping.” Penny’s face lit up with a smile so full of happiness that her eyes sparkled.

The expression touched Jax’s heart and, after he took what Penny offered, he made sure the room filled with the sounds of their morning exercises. He planned to personally administer them every day.

When the couple decided to head to the kitchen for some real food, they found the family waiting for them. Taylor announced as they entered, “Finally. I thought you two were never going to leave that room. Based on what we could hear, Penny seemed to enjoy herself last night.”

Tadd added teasingly, “And this afternoon. Boy, she really likes Ice’s spots.”

While Penny looked away to hide her embarrassment, Jax put his arm around her, pulled her to him, and kissed the top of her head, saying “You have no idea what this wonderful Human is capable of and I’m but a slave her to every whim.” He took a moment to stare at the one he loved. Being able to openly share his feelings to his family lifted a weight off his chest and he felt truly happy.

Penny glared at the twins and said, “You can embarrass me more later. Right now Jax promised to feed me because I’m starved.” She leaned over, growled, and bit playfully into his chest, making everyone laugh.

As the couple ate, Ben said, “Penny, let me be the first to formally welcome you to the house and this family.”

Penny thanked him and knew he was right. They were all a part of her and her heart insisted that she give this living arrangement a try. She took Jax’s hand and said, “Jax and I need to take this one day at a time but, for now, I belong right here and here is where I’ll stay.”

Taylor asked, “When do you want to move all of your things over?”

Penny pondered on the question. “Actually we haven’t had a chance to talk about it. I love my cabin and I hate to leave it.”

Jax replied, “There’s no need to do anything with it. We could use it as our lover’s retreat. It doesn’t matter where we stay.” He reached out and caressed Penny’s cheek and said, “Wherever you sleep you’ll always find me right beside you.”

Taylor glared at the couple and said, “I have to tell you that you two are freaking me out. I’m not sure if I can handle seeing Jax with a smile on his face. It’s just not natural.”

As the new couple kissed, Tadd grimaced and yelled, “Get a room! There’s young, innocent Changelings in here.”

Seeing everyone staring at him, Ben choked on a bite of toast and asked, “Did you forget that I can read Penny’s thoughts? Trust me. I’m no longer innocent. I think I could write a bestselling ‘how to’ book.” A very adult, knowing smile lit his face.

While Penny hid again, Tadd chuckled and said, “Now look what you’ve done. You’ve corrupted Ben and I think he’s getting drunk on your overflow. By the way, I think you two should know that he slept outside your apartment door last night.”

Ben shrugged his shoulders and defended himself by saying, “Once you learn to ignore the interesting noises, it’s an amazing feeling you project. I’ve never felt anything quite like it and, I hate to admit it, but it’s addictive.”

Jax kissed Penny on the tip of her nose and added, “You don’t have to tell me that.”

Ben corrected him. “Actually I was referring to you. When you project fear or hate, I find it physically painful to be around you. Your feelings of affection are much stronger. It gives me gooseflesh, as if energy is pulsing through my body.” He held out his arms to prove his point.

Everyone turned when the door opened and Charlie and Chad entered. To their shock, Chad was dressed and in Human form. Both he and Charlie had big, silly grins on their faces. Taylor rolled his eyes at the addition and said to his brother, “Look out, Bro. Happy couple number two has arrived. Maybe we should have them move into Penny’s cabin so that my ears can recover.”

Taylor glared between Charlie and Chad and exclaimed, “I get the noises coming from Jax’s room, but what the hell were you two doing last night? It sounded like you had a zoo in your room.”

Chad answered innocently, “I was helping Charlie work on shifting into animals. She was really struggling until I found ways to motivate her. It turns out she’s naturally partial to large cats.”

Charlie let out a loud purr and added, “He’s an excellent teacher. You should see his rather inventive ways to celebrate when I did something well.”

As Charlie started to explain, Taylor yelled to stop her and said, “That’s one family secret that doesn’t need to be shared—ever.”

Tadd glanced between the two couples he and his brother were sitting between and said warningly, “Don’t look now, Bro, but we’re surrounded. Don’t touch anything. It might be contagious.” In perfect synchronization, the twins jumped back away from the table as if it was covered in bugs.

Charlie ignored the twins and asked the room, “Speaking of celebrating, what are we going to do today to celebrate Jax and Penny? I think I can safely speak for Susi when I say that she’ll insist on a party of some kind.”

Penny replied, “First things first. I need to go into work and decline the offer for the new position and take an indefinite leave of absence.”

Jax said, “I can take you, but before we leave, I do have something to ask you and I want you to be totally honest with me.”

“Of course.”

“Do you want people—I mean Humans—to know that we’re together? I’m a bit frightening to look at and I’d understand if you want to keep me a secret from your world.”

She took his face in her hands and said, “Although I’ll always keep the secret about your true nature, I won’t hide you away. To me, you’re exceptionally attractive and I’m very proud to have you at my side. In fact, I want everyone on this planet to know that you’re all mine.” After giving him a kiss, her face suddenly fell and she asked, “How long do you think it will be before your world learns that we’re together? Once it’s out, news of Ice being in love with a Human will spread like wild fire.”

“We’ll deal with it when it happens. You’re mine and they’ll have to learn to accept it.”

“But what will they do?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Seeing her face fill with worry, Jax kissed her on the nose and said, “Please don’t think about that right now. This is our day and I don’t want anything to ruin it.”

Penny nodded and said, “Then let’s go.” She looked over at Charlie and said, “We’ll make it back before dark but, if Susi rises before we get back, tell her I want a party, but not just for me and Jax. We need to celebrate you and Chad as well.”

Charlie nodded with a smile and said, “The bigger the better; she’ll be thrilled.”

An hour later, Penny and Jax arrived at Gone Wild. Although Penny wasn’t nervous about showing off Jax, she was anxious about telling John her news. But when she walked into the office, she didn’t hesitate to say what she came for. “John, I really appreciate you going out on a limb by recommending me for the consulting position, but I need to decline the offer. Something wonderful has happened and a new path opened up for me that I’m going to take.”