Wolf Tales 12 (25 page)

She took a deep breath, opened the door, and started walking. It was easier than she’d expected. She might have legs as skinny as matchsticks, but already her gait was steadier, her strength something she was beginning to count on. It wasn’t hard to find the dining room—all she had to do was follow the sound of laughter. But when she stepped into the big room, Sunny was met with stunned silence.

Then Stefan rose and began to applaud. The others followed suit, and damn it, but she didn’t want to cry. Adam hurried out of the kitchen and took her arm. She let him lead her to an empty chair next to Igmutaka. Moving awkwardly, with everyone watching, suddenly she felt horribly unsure of how to make her arms and legs do what they were meant to do. At least she managed to sit without falling on the floor.

Ig leaned close and kissed her cheek.
Soon it will all be easier for you, sweet one. Before long, these strange movements will feel normal. The feelings in your hands and feet, the sense of space around you. All will be as if you’d always walked among men and women as one of us.

How do you know this?
He gazed at her so sincerely, she was positive he understood what she was feeling.

She knew she’d guessed right when he nodded.
I walked as a cougar for millennia,
he said.
I had no idea there was this creature, this human man, inside my cat. When I manifested for the first time, I didn’t know how to stand on two legs. The ground was much too far from my eyes. Now it has become my nature to walk on two legs or four, just as it will quickly become yours.

Thank you.

He gave her a slight bow of his head. Then he reached beneath the table and squeezed her hand.
Relax. You’re among friends. None of us bite.
He chuckled softly.
Unless, of course, we’re hunting . . . or the sex gets a little rough.

She was still considering what he meant by that curious little comment when Keisha carried a plate in and set it in front of her. “Enjoy, sweetie. We thought you were still sleeping, but I’m so glad you decided to join us.” Keisha took a seat across the table from her.

Sunny picked up her fork.

For the longest time, she sat and stared at the big piece of rare beef on the plate in front of her, fully appreciating, for the first time, the saliva that filled her mouth, the rumble of hunger in her stomach. Then she grabbed her knife, cut into the tender slice of meat, and enjoyed the first solid meal she’d eaten since before she was two.

It was pure ambrosia. She closed her eyes and chewed, savoring the flavor, the texture, the sense of chewing and swallowing. And while she quietly ate, conversation ebbed and flowed about the two long tables that were set side by side. The older children ate at one, helping the little ones still in high chairs, while the adults filled the larger table.

Manners among children and adults were impeccable, but the meal was fun and relaxed. Sunny gazed about at the various faces and shook her head. “How do you do it? The kids are all so well behaved. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Adam shot a stern glance at three-year-old Jace. The little boy ducked his head and put whatever he was about to throw at his sister back on his plate. Then Adam grinned at Sunny. “It helps when you can read their rotten little minds.”

Tia glanced over her shoulder at her two sets of twins and laughed. “You’re not kidding. I can’t imagine dealing with our four without being able to stay a step ahead all the time.”

Conversation went on around her. She ate slowly, loving every minute. The wonderful meal, the sound of laughter, the little bits and pieces of gossip and news. She was focusing on Nick’s comments about the latest news on the Chanku going public when a sharp gasp drew all eyes to Keisha.

She stood so quickly she knocked her chair over. “Watch my kids,” she said. Then she raced out of the room.

Adam got up and righted Keisha’s chair, but instead of sitting down again, he stood there with his hands resting on the back of the wooden chair, staring toward the kitchen. No one made a sound, no one else got up, though everyone had turned in their seats. Even the children were silent. All attention focused on the door leading to the kitchen.

After what felt like hours, a smiling Keisha opened the door and held it wide. Anton stepped through the opening and a loud cheer went up. The eminently unflappable alpha had a smile that practically split his handsome face. His cheeks were streaked with tears, and in his arms he carried the most beautiful little girl Sunny had ever seen.

Looking very much like a younger, lighter-skinned version of Keisha, she was tucked tightly against her daddy’s shoulder, peeking out through masses of dark brown hair cascading in shining ringlets past her waist. She wore pink ballet slippers and a slightly dusty pink nightgown with silver sparkles around the hem. Her smile was as big as Anton’s, as filled with joy as Keisha’s.

It appeared the long-missing Lily had finally come home.

Chapter 18

Sunny scraped the last of the dishes and handed the plate to Ig. “Was it hard, learning to load the dishwasher?”

He laughed and slipped the plate into its slot. “Only because I refused to learn.”

When she frowned, he laughed harder. “You must realize, I was a spirit guide, not human. I didn’t do menial labor. My first reaction, when I saw Liana cleaning the kitchen, was utter shock. How could a woman once a goddess lower herself to such work? She laughed at me and told me to get over myself.”

Sunny squeezed water from the sponge and wiped out the inside of the industrial-sized sink. “Well? Did you?”

He nodded, added just enough detergent to the machine, and shut the door. “Oh, yes. Very quickly. You can’t have this many people together without everyone pulling their load. Even Anton and Keisha do dishes and laundry, and housework.”

“Not tonight, though. I could feel their joy and relief when they walked into the room. They were both broadcasting it so powerfully.” Exhausted, she turned and leaned against the sink, aware in one small part of her mind how natural these moves had already become. “I feel honored to be part of this. Does that makes sense?”

“It does. As I feel honored to show you new things. Like washing dishes.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Do you feel able to run tonight? I would like to take you into the forest, be with you when you feel the hard ground beneath your feet, when you see the beauty of the night through feral eyes.”

She hadn’t really thought of the evening ahead. Those with little ones were busy bathing kids and putting them to bed. Others had taken off shortly after dinner, shifting and running into the woods. Stefan and Mei had helped with some of the cleanup, at least until it was obvious Sunny and Ig were capable of finishing the job.

Now, with the two of them the only ones left, and even though she was really tired, it seemed like the perfect time to try an actual run as a wolf. She’d felt stronger as a wolf than she did in her human form, so maybe she’d be okay. She knew she was too keyed up to go to her room, and if they went now, there wouldn’t be anyone around to judge her or watch her stumble.

No one will ever judge you, sweet one. We’ve all had to learn—every last one of us. We all make mistakes. Run with me tonight. I promise not to move too fast or go too far.

She thought about it a moment, about what she assumed was an unintentional double-entendre. There were some things she’d love to take too far, especially with a man like Igmutaka. As much as she’d been drawn to other males among the pack, they were all happily bonded to someone else. For her first time, whether it was running as a wolf or exploring the sexual side of her nature, she wanted it with this man who was quickly becoming her friend, her confidant, and, hopefully, the one who would teach her what it really meant to be Chanku.

I’d like that,
she said. Tilting her chin, she realized he’d moved closer and she had to look way up to meet his gaze, to look into dark, mysterious eyes the color of the forest. Eyes that saw everything she felt.
I think I’d like that very much.

Anton sat beside Lily’s bed long after the child had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Keisha stepped into the quiet room and stood beside him with her hands on his shoulders.

“Has she said much about her time with the monks?”

He nodded. “A little. I told her to sleep, that we’d talk tomorrow.” He covered Keisha’s hands with his. “I hope you don’t mind, but I promised her she wouldn’t be punished for leaving without permission this time, but if it happened again, the shit was gonna hit the fan.”

Keisha’s soft laughter had him smiling in return. “Not in those words, I hope.”

He chuckled and stood up. “No, I was more circumspect. I did, however, tell her she would regret it for as long as she lived should she venture anywhere without asking us first. I think she got the message.” He tugged Keisha’s hand and they quietly left Lily’s room.

Outside the closed door, Anton looped his arms around her waist and hugged her close. “Damn. I have never been so frightened. This has been the longest two weeks of my entire life.”

“Mine, too. I never doubted she would return, but I had visions of a teenaged Lily popping back into our lives.”

“It could have easily happened that way. She thought she was only gone for a few hours. I told her the truth, that for us it’s been two weeks. When I told her that Gabe and Mac cried themselves to sleep at night because their big sister was gone, I think she got the message. Did you notice how the boys didn’t want to turn her loose tonight?”

“I did. They idolize their big sister.” She leaned close and kissed his nose. “Have I told you lately how I lust after their father?”

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
Not nearly enough. I think I’d like to hear more.

Come with me. I’ll show you.

She didn’t have to make the invitation twice.

Ig waited on the back deck. Sensing his impatience, Sunny still took a moment to watch him through the big sliding glass door. He leaned against the railing, staring off into the darkness with his face in profile, his long nose and full lips cast in stark shadows from the light on the deck.

Though all the Chanku were exceptional, she’d never seen a man as beautiful as Igmutaka. The others had a more masculine appearance—all were handsome, powerful men. Only Nick had that dark, androgynous look similar to Igmutaka’s, but even Nick, as gorgeous as he was, paled by comparison.

There was something ethereal about Igmutaka. An unworldly quality that he alone possessed, though she couldn’t really point to anything in particular, couldn’t actually name what made him so unique.

Her body quivered. Nerves? Arousal? She wasn’t sure about that, either. She knew that she wanted, but not what. Knew that she anticipated the evening ahead without any idea what it would entail, and didn’t really care. She only knew that standing here, imagining what was coming wasn’t nearly as frightening as stepping through the doorway.

She’d been curious her entire life, wondering what things felt like. Wondering was familiar. Actually stepping out, moving forward and doing them was so new it was equal parts terrifying and thrilling....

Ig turned and stared at the window. He must have noticed her, because his mouth turned up in the sweetest, sexiest smile she’d ever seen.

Come, sweet one. I won’t hurt you. Don’t be afraid.

I’m not. At least I don’t think I am.
Laughing at herself, she stepped out onto the deck. The night was cool, and a gentle breeze lifted the hem of her sarong and then wrapped it against her legs in a delicious, tickling whisper of sensation. The moon was just rising over the treetops—almost full, glowing brightly.

Sunny crossed the wide deck and stood beside Ig, gazing out into the darkness.

“Once we’re away from the lights around the house, the forest will seem bright as day to our feral eyes. The night will be magic. Are you ready for such an adventure?”

She tilted her chin and gazed up at Ig. His eyes sparkled with reflected light and she felt an unexpected coil of heat in her belly. So many changes in such a brief time, but this was the greatest of all, this amazing sexual need, the powerful awareness of her own sensuality continuing to blossom within.

She wanted him to kiss her. Was afraid to ask, but she knew that she wanted to taste those perfect lips, feel the brush of his tongue against her mouth. So many things she’d read about and never experienced, so many needs she was only now beginning to recognize.

This was the greatest one of all. Igmutaka smiled and cupped her shoulders in his big hands. His palms were warm, the solid grasp a steadying, calming anchor to a body that was ready to leap into the air and fly—or at the very least, to run.

Obviously reading her, Ig leaned close and pressed his lips to hers. His touch was gentle at first, a sweet exploration that had her leaning close, silently begging for more. His tongue softly traced the seam between her lips and she felt sort of stupid to think she’d kept them pressed tightly close together.

She’d watched enough movies to know she was supposed to open her mouth and use her tongue as much as her lips.

Not necessarily, sweet one. You should only do what your body tells you is right. Never what you
think
you should do—only what you want. Sex, arousal—all of desire should be something you want, not something you believe is expected of you.

I want this. I want to know what you taste like. Ig, I want everything!

And you shall have it.
He carefully ended the kiss and pressed his forehead close to hers. “But first we run as wolf and cougar. Our beasts are mortal enemies in the wild—you must trust my cat. I promise to protect your wolf.”

She nodded, but the taste of him was still on her lips and her heart thudded in her chest as she reached for the knot tied at her shoulder. Slowly she released the silky fabric. Ig caught it up in his hands and draped it over the railing for her.