Sixx (The Stone Society, #7) (16 page)

S
ixx had approximately three hours until he would finally come face to face with his son. There was nothing he could tell Desi other than the truth. It would be up to him whether he would accept Sixx as his father or tell him to go to hell. Until then, he was going to spend those three hours with his mate. Things hadn’t gone as badly as they could have up until that point. She hadn’t kicked him out of her home, but she hadn’t embraced him with open arms, either.

Sixx needed to touch his mate, to kiss her. Claim her. The brief kiss from earlier had been heaven, but it had also brought his beast to the forefront. Trying to remain calm in her presence and tamp down the burning need to sink his cock deep inside was close to impossible. She had yet to change out of her pajamas, and that alone was doing a number on him. He wanted to demand that she strip for him. He liked her naked so he could take in all the ink.

“I see you have some new tattoos.”

“Sure do. You want another beer? Something stronger?” She wasn’t going to make this easy.

“Beer’s good. Mind if I take a look?”

“Actually, I do mind. I get why you left, but in leaving, you forfeited the right to this body. I’ve spent the last half of my life without a man confusing things. I don’t see why the next half should be any different.” She slid the bottle across the table, and he caught it before it could drop to the floor. Instead of getting her own beer, she pulled a bottle of vodka out of the freezer. “I’ll introduce you to Desi. You can tell him all about who and what you are. It will be his decision on whether to include you in his life.”

Rae poured a glassful of vodka and sucked it back. She had never been a drinker when they were together. Sixx had to wonder if his leaving had caused that to change. Surely she wouldn’t have become an alcoholic while she was pregnant. When she cringed at the liquid sliding down her throat, he was pretty sure he had his answer. She needed the liquid courage to get through today.

“Will you tell me a little about your life? At least the less painful parts?” He would take anything she’d give him. He didn’t expect her to be so forthcoming.

“I got pregnant. I called you. You didn’t answer. I called my parents. My father disowned me, and my mother, being the coward she is, went along with his decision. I haven’t spoken to my parents since that day. Not once has either of them called on me to find out how I am. How Desi is. I had a couple of friends back when Desi was young, and things weren’t as hard to get through. As he got older, the other mothers started noticing that I wasn’t changing the same way they were. No wrinkles, no sagging skin. No weight gain. No gray hair. Rumors started flying. Oh, at first they tried to hide the snide remarks, but after several years, they stopped being discreet.

“As soon as Desi was old enough to drive himself to school, I quit my job in town and drove an hour away where nobody knew me. I couldn’t lie about my age on the job application because it was clearly stated on my driver’s license. But after several years, the same bullshit started, and I couldn’t take it any longer. I had enough experience under my belt that I started my own company. I can do graphic design from anywhere, so I chose my kitchen table. I only go out when I absolutely have to, which isn’t often. Since I’m fairly artistic, I’ve thought of taking an online course for theatrical makeup so I could transform myself into someone different.”

Sixx hated that her life had been difficult. She had skimmed over the bad parts, of that he was certain. “Have you ever heard of Jonas Montague?”

“The crazy scientist who cloned the first baby?”

“Yes, him. He is currently Chief of Staff at New Atlanta hospital.”

“But he was old thirty years ago. How is that possible? Everyone has seen his picture.”

“He is a Gargoyle, and he’s a genius. He created the prosthetic masks that are used in Hollywood. Remember the baby he cloned? Her name is Tessa. She is a half-blood and is mated to the King’s brother Gregor. Tessa has traveled the world over using these masks to hide her true identity. If you’d like, we can have him make you one. You’d be free to come and go as you please with no one the wiser.”

Rae’s face lit up at the possibility. “He’d do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re family.” Desirae opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to stop her from saying what he knew was coming. “Before you protest, hear me out. Whether you accept that we are mates, you are part of the Stone Society family. Desi is, as well. Since you are my mate and he is my son, you’ve already been added to the archives. You have a large Clan at your back and at your side. The females will welcome you into their fold regardless of how you feel about me. You no longer have to live your life alone, Rae. You have a massive family whether you embrace it or not.”

“I would like a mask.”

“Who do you want to look like? I’ll call Jonas right now and ask that he get started.” Sixx didn’t want her to wear a mask. She was perfect as she was, but he could understand why she would want to be able to go out without being recognized.

“An ugly old hag,” she responded.

“No fucking way.” Sixx didn’t mind her changing her appearance somewhat, but no way did he want her to make herself ugly. Then again, it might help tamp down his beast. “Older, yes. Ugly? No.”

“I want to look old enough to be Desi’s mom, not his sister. I want to go to concerts with him.”

“Do you trust me?” Sixx knew Jonas could do anything he asked him to, especially if Julian got involved. He held his breath waiting for her answer.

“Sadly, I do. Why?”

“Let me handle the mask, okay?”

“Fine,” she relented.

“Excellent. As soon as we get back to my house, I’ll get to work on that.”

“I’m not going with you. This is my home. I’ve told you I don’t want you in my life, and I wasn’t kidding, Michael. You’re Desi’s father, but that’s it. I can’t let you back into my heart. It broke when you walked out, and it’s never mended. Desi is all I have in this world. He’s all I need.”

Sixx wanted to roar. He wanted to phase and take to the skies and find Unholy to rip apart. Even though he’d spent the last few weeks telling himself the outcome of their reunion might not be favorable, he refused to accept it. Rae’s mind may be telling her one thing, but her body recognized him as her mate. He could smell her arousal. Could feel her heart beating in his own chest. Could see the way her eyes dilated with lust.

“When I found out you were my mate, and I have a son I knew nothing about, I wanted to murder someone. I wanted to find the fates and rip their heads from their shoulders. Who the fuck do they think they are, playing god with my life? I know you’re mad at me for walking out, but at least you had Desi. I’ve missed having both of you in my life for over twenty years when all this time we could have been together. We could have already had more children, and you wouldn’t have had to hide out alone. Please, Doll, don’t shut me out. Not yet. At least allow me the opportunity to spend time with you.”

Sixx swallowed hard before he continued. “I want to see you ride your new surfboard. I want you lounging by the pool while I cook dinner for you. I want you lazing in my bed while I fix your breakfast. I want to go with you to Desi’s concerts. Hell, I’ll have Jonas make me a mask as well so we don’t have to explain who we are. I can’t fly off on vacations just yet because of the trouble brewing between the Clans. But once the danger has abated, I want to take you to an exotic island where we can surf all day or swim with the dolphins. Have a campfire on the beach at night. As your mate, I need you in my life. But don’t think for one second I have no choice. I absolutely do. And I choose you.”

Instead of Rae conceding to spending time with him, she changed the subject. “Tell me about you. I know you’re over five hundred years old, but tell me where you were born. About your parents. Where all you’ve lived. And then, I want you to tell me about this war.”

That was fair. He had wanted to ease into the part about Alistair, but she and Desi both needed to know what could happen. “I’ll tell you about me, but I’d rather wait and tell you about Alistair when I speak with our son. That way I only have to say it once. You’ll both have questions, and I can answer you at the same time.”

“Okay, but can we go back in the living room where it’s more comfortable?”

“Of course.” Sixx waited until she was halfway to her chair before he moved. He wished they were somewhere larger where he could put more distance between them. Every second he spent in her presence was like a bomb ticking down. Any minute now it was going to detonate and he was afraid the shrapnel would be too much for her to overcome. Once his beast got what it wanted, there would be no coming back. It might have been twenty-four years since he’d lain with her, but he remembered how she tasted. How she felt. How she screamed his name when her orgasm overtook her.

“Michael?” Rae was back in the kitchen. He must have stood there longer than he intended by the look on her face.

“Yeah, coming.” He raked a hand through his hair, not caring if it was now sticking out everywhere. She had seen him looking his worst. Waking up in the morning with bedhead was about as rough as it got, and she’d still looked at him like he was her world.
Fuck
. He had been her world, and the godsdamn fates had fucked that all up.

“Are you okay?” Rae was now standing in front of him. Too fucking close.

“You really need to back up, Doll. I’m doing all I can to keep from taking what’s mine.”

Rae gasped, but she didn’t move back. If anything, she got closer. His dirty talk had always excited her. She liked it when he got a little rough. If he took her now, there would be no
little
to it. His beast had waited too long for what was rightfully his.

“But you’ve already marked me. Right?”

“Yes, but this time will be a claiming. Rae, when you and I have sex, and believe me, we
are
going to have sex, it’s going to be rougher than anything you and I did in the past. I was in control back then. Up until I bit you, I’d always held back. There will be no restraining the beast within. I won’t hurt you, but I won’t be easy on you, either.” Sixx closed his eyes. He was so close to coming apart. If that happened, he would scare his little pixie, and he would never get the chance to win back her trust. “I need to get out of here for a few minutes.” He didn’t explain further. Sixx walked out the back door, kicked off his flip-flops and took off jogging. What he really wanted was to run full out, but that would attract too much attention.

When Sixx returned from his jog, he climbed in his Jeep and moved it to Rae’s driveway. He wasn’t afraid of it being stolen, but if the realtor showing the house happened to drive by, he didn’t want it to get towed. Jogging hadn’t cleared his mind like he hoped it would. Sixx knew there was nothing that would help other than allowing the beast to finally get what it needed, but he’d not do that until she agreed to be his. He couldn’t have sex with Rae just for the fun of it.

When he reached the back door, he knocked. Rae didn’t come to let him in, so he reached out with his hearing. The shower was running, so he let himself inside. It might not be the right thing to do, but if she wanted him to stay out, she should have locked the door. While he waited on her to finish bathing, he took the opportunity to look around her home. He started with the myriad of photos they had moved out of the way before show and tell. Every single photo was of Desi.  The earlier ones included Rae, but as he got older, she disappeared. Several pictures showed Desi with three boys. As they got older, their looks changed, but it was clear the four of them were tight. When he got to the last picture, he knew he was looking at Desi and his band mates.

Sixx was glad his son had a close set of friends to go through life with. He couldn’t imagine it was easy on Desi growing up with a mom who felt she had to hide from the world. He had so much to make up for, even if it wasn’t his fault he’d been an absentee father. Desi might not want him to be a dad, but hopefully they could get to a point where a friendly relationship was possible. He would take anything his son offered.

Sixx continued snooping around. He wouldn’t dare pry into Rae’s laptop, but anything out in the open he felt was fair game. When they had been together in the past, his mate had loved to draw. Most of the tattoos she had she’d drawn herself. It didn’t surprise him that she was now a graphic designer. On the floor by her chair was a basket. Inside were several journals and sketch pads. He opened the first pad and was awarded with a colorful ocean scene. The drawing was so realistic he could feel the spray coming off the waves as they crashed. He flipped to the next page and was looking at a drawing of Desi. Sixx had no idea Rae was so talented. The drawing of their son could have been taken with a camera it was so life-like.

The rest of that particular pad was full of masterpieces. He opened the next one and sucked in a breath. It was as if he were staring at himself in the mirror. He continued turning page after page until he came to the final one. Rae had drawn pictures of Sixx, aging him a little in each one until he appeared to be a fifty something year old with laugh lines around his eyes and gray hair at his temples. Whether she drew them years ago or yesterday, it didn’t matter. She had thought of him over the years. He guessed it would be impossible not to with a son who was a daily reminder.