Lycan Redemption (19 page)

“Then we better get into town and find someone who can marry us today because I don’t plan to spend one more night of my life without you in my arms.”

“What?” she cried out as he increased the rhythm again.

“You heard me, angel.” His mouth crashed down on hers, and he slammed into her over and over.

“Galen!” she sobbed out in ecstasy.

“That’s it. Say my name, angel. Never forget who makes you feel like this,” he growled and continued pounding into her.

His mouth claimed hers again, and two thrusts of his hard cock later, she was tumbling over the cliff into a free fall. She rushed the ground below, but at the last second, she caught the wind and flew through the air. She soared as the waves of her orgasm hit her with a force that nearly robbed her of breath. Another stroke of his hips, and he yelled out his own release.

His hot seed flooded her in pulses, and her muscles clenched and unclenched in spasms around him, instinctively milking him of every drop. It took her ten minutes after he collapsed beside her and drew her up against him for the fog of her mind to clear and remember what he’d said.

“Married?” she asked.

He only nodded.

“I’ve never been asked,” she said.

She squeaked when he pulled her up to sit at the edge of the bed and sank to the floor on his knees in front of her. He took her hands in his and held them to his chest.

“I love you, Myka. You are the other half of my soul. I have been lost without you. You are everything to me. Nothing in the world would make me happier than if you would become my wife. Please say you’ll marry me?”

She looked down at him. She was humbled that he was naked and on his knees—maybe a little turned on too.

“I want to marry you, Galen, but I would like Patrick to get to know you better first. I’m aware you two already get along well, but I don’t want to throw him into yet another big change after what he’s been through.”

He sighed, stood, then sat beside her before pulling her onto his lap. “I understand, but I won’t wait long. One night without you in my arms is too much, but I don’t want to hurt Patrick either. I would be more than honored if he would look at me as a father one day. I won’t ever try to take Travis’s place. I couldn’t. I don’t know the first thing about being a dad, but I’ll do my best.”

“You’ll be a great dad, Galen.” She smiled up at him before he kissed her.

The ringing of the phone in the other room interrupted their kiss. She wrapped the sheet around her and got up to answer it. She giggled when Galen playfully grabbed for her, then sidestepped him and started for the kitchen. She got it on the fourth ring.

“Hello.”

“This is Betty, Myka.”

“Hey. Is everything okay?” She hadn’t expected a call until later from Betty.

“Yes. Yes, dear. Leroy has a slight fever and sniffles this morning, and I was wondering if you could come pick up Patrick. I hate to send him home so early. He and Leroy have been having a wonderful time, but after Patrick had that fever a couple days ago, I don’t want to risk him getting sick again. Doc was over this morning and said it’s only a cold, but I would feel really bad if Patrick got it.”

“Of course, I’ll come get him. I’m sorry to hear Leroy is under the weather.”

“He’ll be fine in no time, I’m sure. I simply feel horrible about having to cut their visit short.”

“It’s not your fault, Betty. Patrick can see Leroy again next time he visits.”

“Yes. That would be nice.”

“Can I bring you anything?”

“Tom is bringing me some Tylenol and soup later. Doc gave Leroy enough Tylenol until Tom gets here. I can’t think of anything else.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a little while then.”

“Bye-bye, dear.”

“Bye, Betty.”

“Something wrong?”

She jumped, as she hadn’t heard Galen come up behind her. He looked scrumptious in the dark pair of jeans he wore. His broad, hair-sprinkled chest on display along with his washboard abs made her think of how he’d felt hot and naked against her.

“Leroy has a cold and a low fever. Betty wants me to pick Patrick up so he doesn’t catch it.”

“I’ll get dressed and go with you.”

“Thank you.” She smiled up at him.

“After I dress, I’ll feed the horses and meet you at the truck?”

“Sounds good. It won’t take me long,” she said.

* * * *

It was obvious by the puckered pout of Patrick’s lips that he’d been disappointed about leaving Betty’s early, but he was being quite the little trooper about it. He sat between Galen, who was driving, and Myka, chatting about his new best friend, Leroy. From what she could gather, there was a chance that Leroy and his mother might move in with Betty next summer. Myka hoped if that were true, it wasn’t due to a difficult situation her granddaughter was in.

They had stopped on the way out of town so she could stock up on Tylenol just in case Patrick did end up coming down with Leroy’s cold. She wanted to be prepared this time.

“Galen, did you take good care of Buddy for me while I was gone?” Patrick asked.

“I always take extra special care of Buddy and Chloe because I know both of them mean so much to you and Myka,” Galen responded.

“Maybe one day you and me could go riding.”

“I would like that. As long as it’s okay with Myka.”

“She won’t mind. Would you, Myka?”

“Not as long as I can come too. Planning on leaving me out?” She chuckled.

“Course you can come.”

She looked over the top of Patrick’s head at Galen, and he nodded as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. “How would you feel if one day soon Galen lived with us?”

“He already lives with us,” Patrick said.

“No. I mean in the house with us.”

“Oh. You mean like you two would get married and stuff?”

“Something like that, but we wanted to wait a bit to give you some time to get used to the idea.”

“Would you be my new dad, Galen?” Patrick frowned.

“I could never take your dad’s place, Patrick. But I would love to be a dad to you in any way I can.”

“Do you think you can make Myka not worry so much over taking care of me?”

“Patrick, I do not worry about taking care of you. I want to take care of you.”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant how you get upset over money. I know you don’t think I notice, but I’m pretty smart, you know?”

“So you are.” Myka hid her smile at Patrick’s concern for her. She loved him so much.

“I promise you I can take any worry away from Myka where money is concerned.”

“Are you rich or something?”

“Patrick! You shouldn’t ask people things like that,” Myka scolded.

“But why?” he asked, wide-eyed.

She sighed.

“It’s okay, Myka,” Galen assured her. “I worked hard for a long time, Patrick. I invested well and was responsible with my money so that I could assure my future. But, Patrick, you must learn that not everyone who works hard has the luxury of becoming wealthy. Myka works harder than anyone I know, and while she may not be rich, she provides everything you need. Money is not what is important in life. Having people who love you, a family that you can count on, friends—those are the important things in life.”

Patrick nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. I guess you are right. Although it would be nice if Myka didn’t have to work so much.”

“I agree. I can assure you that she won’t have to work as much, and that she and I both can focus on spending more time with you and being a family.”

“In that case, I think you should marry her now,” Patrick said matter-of-factly.

Myka gasped.

Galen chuckled. “I already tried to get her to, but she said she wanted to wait for a while. We have to respect her feelings. That’s part of being a family. Respecting one another.”

“Yeah, I guess, but I still don’t see any reason you two can’t get married now.”

“Okay. This is not gang-up-on-Myka time.” She ruffled Patrick’s hair. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind if Galen and I got married?”

“I already said. Course not.”

She smiled and hugged him. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

* * * *

The next two weeks flew by as Myka spent all her free time planning a small wedding for her and Galen. Patrick and Galen had spent most days together and formed a bond she was proud of. Galen was always patient, kind, and understanding with him, but firm when the situation called for it. She decided she’d compromise with Galen about his wishes to get married right away and hers to wait a while.

Two and a half weeks wasn’t much, but it had given her and Patrick some time to settle in with Galen. Although, she was pretty sure
settling
wasn’t the correct term where Galen was concerned. He’d respected her wishes about them not sleeping together under the same roof to set a good example for Patrick, but that hadn’t stopped them from making love anywhere and anytime they could sneak away without the possibility of getting caught. She’d quickly found out that no place on the farm was safe from Galen’s sinful mouth and pleasure-inducing caresses.

She smiled when she heard Galen and Patrick’s laughter from the living room. She would become Mrs. Soloman tomorrow. Butterflies danced in her tummy. She cleared her throat and began the tedious task of checking over every last detail for the wedding and reception. They’d decided to marry at the courthouse, with only her, Galen, Patrick, Betty, and Tom in attendance. After, they’d have a small reception at the community building in town. Everyone who was invited had been instructed to donate to any local charity in lieu of gifts.

She’d been shocked when she found out how wealthy Galen was. They’d had many arguments over that as well. He wanted to buy her and Patrick everything, but she insisted that, while grateful, she didn’t want anything lavish. She’d even had to convince him she’d prefer a much smaller and more practical wedding ring—something she’d be able to wear even while doing chores. He had reluctantly agreed, but had gotten his way where improving the farm was concerned.

She couldn’t deny that after getting used to the idea, she was looking forward to remodeling the old house. Galen had insisted that everything involving the remodel was her choice. She couldn’t wait to turn it into a cozy dream home they could all enjoy while keeping the rustic charm of the original house. She even had a few surprises up her sleeve for her boys. Part of the barn addition would be made into a game-and-media room.

While Galen liked to spend as much time as possible outdoors, she felt it was important for him and Patrick to have a place to hang out together on those days that were too cold or hot or rainy for Patrick to be outside.

She sighed in contentment. She peeked down the hall into the living room to see Patrick sprawled beside Galen as they watched
The Three Stooges
. Galen looked up at her and winked, and she smiled before closing the door. She fingered the soft material of the dress hanging on the back of the now-closed door. Her wedding dress. It was simple, but elegant. The creamy silk bodice was trimmed with delicate pearl beads. The tapered waist flared gently into a full skirt that ended just below her knee.

After seeing a picture of it in a magazine at Susie’s, she’d instantly fallen in love with it. It hadn’t been the most expensive dress, but just like the wedding ring, expensive simply wasn’t her style. She preferred elegant, classic beauty over bling any day. Her tummy fluttered again. Her nerves weren’t due to marrying Galen—it was a big change in her life, but a good one. Her nerves were due to the looming day of her quickly approaching first shift.

Galen had repeatedly assured her not to worry, but she couldn’t help but do just that. After all, it wasn’t every day that a person turned into a lycan. She’d put on a brave face around Galen, tried not to let her anxiety show, but he’d been able to see through her facade each and every time. She’d intentionally set the wedding date the day before the full moon. She wanted to be married to Galen before she shifted for the first time.

Patrick would be staying at Betty’s house for three days starting the night of the wedding, which would give them a short honeymoon plus time for her to deal with the shift. She had tried to mentally prepare for what would happen to her the best she could, but there was nothing on Earth that could ready her for it. She’d simply set her sights on the happiness Galen had brought to her and Patrick, and deal with the negative thoughts when they came as swiftly as possible.

A soft knock jerked her from her deep thoughts. She wasn’t surprised to find Galen standing at her door when she cracked it open. He had an uncanny way of knowing when she was upset about something even if she was in another room.

“You can’t come in.” She smiled sweetly up at him.

“I know, but don’t think you won’t pay dearly tomorrow night for keeping me out of your bed.” His eyes shimmered down at her.

Her heart fluttered. “I’ve hardly kept you from my bed, Galen,” she whispered. “But I look forward to any . . . punishment you think I deserve.”

“You are too damned tempting, Myka,” he growled low in his throat.

“Don’t think it hasn’t been hard on me either. Patrick still in the living room?”

He nodded. “I think he’s getting tired. He’s starting to doze off. I figured I’d come see the most beautiful woman in the world, who is soon to be my wife, while he falls asleep. Then I’ll carry him to bed.”

She stepped out and closed the door behind her before leaning against it. He put his hands on each side of the casing and crowded her with his huge frame. The heat radiated off him and seeped through her skin.

“Not happening tonight, mister. Surely we can control ourselves the night before our wedding.”

When he bent down and blew softly over her ear before nibbling her lobe, she thought maybe she was wrong. Maybe even one night away from him was too much to ask.

“How about if you come to the barn tonight after Patrick is safely in bed and I simply hold you in my arms?” he murmured next to her ear before kissing a path along her jaw.

“I have serious doubts”—she moaned when he nipped at her neck—”about us sharing a bed and only cuddling.”