The Purrfect Plan (17 page)

A weight draped around her shoulders as Maria pushed her into a chair. Gripping the corners of the blanket, Storm realized how badly her hands shook.

"She hurt Flint to get to me." Storm's mouth felt dry, her head started to spin. "She tried to burn me, the flames, oh God the fire, so hot."

"Slow, even breaths, Storm." The pressure of Maria's hand on her shoulder, her voice sounded tinny and far away. "Storm, stay with me sweetheart, stay with me. Quick, go get River!"

The world tilted sideways into darkness.

Chapter Seventeen

The familiar comfort of River's hardened body pressed against hers made her smile as she drifted into awareness.

"Did I pass out again?" Storm turned, snuggling into the warmth of River's side. His arm wrapped around her, safe and secure.

"It's becoming a bad habit of yours, cookie, not that I blame you." His large hand brushed against the side of her face, sliding back strands of her hair.

She opened her eyes. Even in the dimmed lighting, she knew they were in their bedroom.

"How are you feeling?"

Gia! The thought slammed into her mind, along with everything else that had happened. She bolted up on the bed.

"Easy, cookie; it's okay, you're safe."

Her mind flew to the little boy Gia had hurt. "Flint, is he alright? Did she hurt you?"

"I am fine and Flint is fine. His ankle was just sprained. He's at home, safe and sound, no doubt tucked into bed, thanks to you. I am sure his parents will be back later to shower you with thanks for protecting little Flint." River sat up, cradling her in his arms.

"And Gia?"

"She wouldn't back down, and when she attacked me, I had no choice but to kill her."

Shock rolled through her. Storm's stomach dropped, a cold sweat broke out over her body and her head spun as the urge to vomit rose. She scrambled off the bed, making a mad dash for the bathroom, but fell to the ground ignoring the sharp pain in her knees on the tiled floor as she emptied the contents of her stomach.

Gut wrenching heaves that were far too loud racked Storm's body for what seemed like hours. When she started to calm and begin to hope it was over, she vaguely became aware of her hair being lifted off her neck and soothing murmurs in her ear.

River sat on the floor and eased her back until her head rested against his chest.

"Is everything okay? I thought I heard…" She heard Maria's voice by the bathroom door.

"Could you get me an ice cold towel, some mouthwash and a glass of water? Thanks, Mum."

Storm kept her eyes closed, not wanting to move.

"Sorry, I think most of that was baby. Is it bad that I'm relieved you…you killed her?"

"You have every right to feel relieved. So am I. We live by a different set of laws. She signed her own death warrant the moment she laid a hand on you in deadly intent. To go after you again and harm a child in the process just cemented her death."

His chest moved under her head as he sucked in a deep lungful of air. "I take it you remember everything now?"

"Yes. I kind of wish I didn't."

"Here you are." Maria returned with the items.

Storm didn't want to move a muscle from where she was sprawled. It felt cooler down here on the floor, and she enjoyed how River took care of her.

His chest was solid and reassuring against her back. She didn't open her eyes or even think twice.

"I'm sorry I let you suffer, I should have known. I should have stopped it before it happened."

She could hear the pain of regret in his voice. "Hey, you can't live in should-haves. Regret is for the weak-minded and feeble, and I know you are neither of those. We live, we learn. I let what happened in my past cripple me for so long until you helped set me free. For that, I'll forever be grateful, so please don't you start now."

The wet cloth on her forehead and neck felt like heaven, as did the mouth wash and sips of water. She gradually felt her strength returning and sighed. Despite the horror of living through two attempts on her life and surviving the onslaught of a firestorm, she felt stronger for the experience.

"What did I do right to deserve such a perfect mate?" He kissed the top of her head.

"Don't count your lucky stars. If this is only the start of my morning sickness, then we're in for a rough ride."

"I'll be with you every step of the way, cookie."

"So was the party ruined?" She opened her eyes, lifting her chin to stare into the incredible green of River's eyes. His handsome face softened with a smile of adoration as he looked at her, making her heart swell with the force of her emotions.

She'd never believed in fate or destiny, but she couldn't help wonder if he was right, and there was some higher force out there guiding their lives, engineering it so each half of their souls would finally come together.

"No, cookie, everyone was worried about you. I'm sure Mum's calling the town talkers now to let everyone know you're okay."

"Is it really over? Do you have any other jealous ex-lovers I should know about?"

His chuckle was soft and soothing. "Yes, it's over. No more jealous exes. You're my one and only." He ran his hands down her arms to hold both her hands in his, turning them palm out. "You hold everything I am in these two small hands: my heart, my soul, my life."

She rested her head back against his chest. "And I promise to take good care of you."

He scooped her up off the floor carrying her back to their bed, gently laying her down before curling himself around her.

"We have a whole long loving life ahead of us, and I never want to waste a moment of it. No matter what the world throws at us, we can face anything together."

Storm sighed, utterly content, knowing she was just where she was always meant to be.

"I think that's the most purrfect plan I've heard in a long time."

It was a plan, which would never fail.

~ * ~

Two days later…

'Hellooo…baby!'

Hawk Black leaned against the trunk of a burnt out tree. It had only been seven days since bushfires had ravaged the area, leaving a desolate waste ground instead of the once lush Australian bush. From experience he knew with a little rain the blackened grown would soon blossom with green once again. He'd witnessed the magical rebirth of the bush land many times before. Still, it always amazed him.

Right now, his eyes were riveted on the upturned ass of the most lush woman he'd ever set eyes on, not counting his brother's mate. And he'd yet to see her face. Still, the flame of her coppery red hair stood out against the blackened backdrop of burnt bush land.

She aimed her camera down at the ground.

He could hear the rapid clicking of the digital mechanism as it captured whatever the hell it was which had her so fascinated.

Something about curvy women just had his dick screaming for him to bury his hardness against their pillow softness. And this woman had everything he lusted after and then some.

The wind blew in the wrong direction. He couldn't' catch her scent. All he inhaled was the lingering smoky smell of the wood ash around him. So this was the little photo journalist he'd come to babysit. Hawk relished a challenge, and this little lady might just be what he was looking for.

Tinder Munro, if he remembered correctly. With the stealth of a predator staking his prey, he moved in closer to get a better look at his next conquest. He stood right over her lovely heart shaped ass. He resisted the temptation to take the lush globes into his hand, even give them a little smack. He leaned over to see what she was photographing.

Her scent invaded his senses; summer rain, sin and sex goddess. It made his mouth water. His cock already semi hard shot to full attention and pressed painfully against the zipper of his jeans. His panther roared to life.

Mine!
The urge to take her, claim her clouded his mind.

"Holy shit!"

Tinder was startled by his sudden verbal outburst. Her scream pierced the calm of the air. She spun around, tripping, falling flat on her lovely ass, staring up at him with big dark green eyes.

Hawk suddenly realized he'd found his mate.
Oh
goddess, I'm so screwed!

Coming Soon

By Angela Castle

From Rogue Phoenix Press

The Purrfect Picture

Australian Shifters Book Two

Hawk Black, beta of Black Town, has been sent to baby sit a new comer. Tinder Munro is the photo journalist who's been sent to investigate his town, but will the woman fated to be his mate expose the secrets of his town? Or can he convince his fiery red head they are meant to be together.

Also Available
By Angela Castle

From Rogue Phoenix Press

Blue Fire

Book One in the Kingdom of Kell Series

A war has left his people on the brink of extinction; Drystan Commander of the King's Warriors will turn to any means necessary to save his people.

Jane, an ordinary woman of Earth, falls into the strange land of muscle bound, sword wielding men, unlike she has ever seen and what's worse they seem to want her!

Could this woman be the savior of their people? Savior or not Drystan knows what he wants, and he wants Jane.

As the passion starts to sizzle evil forces threaten to tear them apart, can Drystan hold onto the woman not only he needs but his people?

Stealing Fire

Book Two in the Kingdom of Kell Series

In the land of the Kell, Tuthal and Tamara are content in their new relationship until Tuthal uses Tamara as bait to steal back the soul he sold long ago.

Adalardo, King of Kell, has found his queen in Penny, an abused housewife from Earth. Adalardo must challenge Penny’s husband in order to claim her as his queen.

The soul demon, who is angered over the betrayal of Tuthal, seeks revenge, targeting not only Tuthal but all those around him.

When the demon strikes a blow right into the heart of both men, they must join forces in hope of defeating the evil that has taken their women.

Healing Fire

Book Three in the Kingdom of Kell Series

Melor, an elite warrior of the planet Kell, has come to Earth and the city of L.A to find a Protected to call his own, but all the women reject his attempts to court them. Dejected, he decides to return to Kell, but an earthquake sends Melor through the portal and right into the path of an oncoming car.

Summer Rose, a widow, lives near the Humboldt Redwood Forest of California with her daughter, Blossom. While driving home late one night, she hits someone with her car.

A powerful attraction pulls them together, but when he tells her he is from another planet, Summer is convinced Melor is crazy. Melor is determined to heal the pain of Summer’s body and heart, and prove to the stubborn woman that he is not crazy.

Keeping Katie

Finding love in the boyish home renovator and handyman Jordan MaKensy, dominant lawyer Jack Cullen, will do anything to make their dream of a home and family a reality. When shy Katie starts working at his law office Jack, know he's found something very special, for them both.

Aussie girl Katie has come to London to start a new life for herself after a hard and tragic past. What she didn't expect was to find not one man but two. Katie is swept into a world of sensual pleasure that only two men can provide.

Yet Katie is resisting their attempts to win her heart. Jack and Jordan need to help Katie overcome her fear of love, to let them love and Keep their Katie.

Tiger Mine

Licking her wounds after ending a six-year marriage to a serial cheating husband, Julia has run away to her grandfather's house high in the Australian Mountains, hoping to fix the old neglected building up while she contemplates her future, only to discover a huge white Siberian tiger on her door step.

Tiger shifter Mohan has escaped, jumped ship and is in hiding from the hunter who has ripped him from his world and murdered those he loved, when a curvy Aussie woman turns up at the old house he’s managed to shelter in these past weeks. He offers his services as a builder by day, returning to her by night as a tiger. Despite the strong attraction he has trouble fighting, what he discovers in Julia is a new kind of warmth and kindness he is in desperate need of.

Julia knows her gorgeous Russian handyman is harboring dark secrets, but can her heart stand falling in love and losing again?

Can they help each other mend the deeper issues which plague their lives? And bring hope of a new future. Or will Mohan’s past hunt him down and tear the new fragile bond between them?

About the Author

I am a full time mother and part time writer. I live in a small country town in Victoria, Australia. I have been writing ever since I learned to read, and almost endlessly drifting off into the fantasy world of my imagination.