Chapter 83 Chapter 83
It was past midnight, everyone had been gone for a few hours and Kelsey paced around inside the house. The air was damp, a storm was coming in. Gage had stood impatiently while everyone said good bye and then after a long look at her had taken off in the direction of the shop.
Outside in the dark Blair and Jake were taking their turn on watch. She didn’t know how long that would be the case, but wasn’t going to balk about it after what had happened. The walls were starting to close in on her as her mind raced in a hundred different directions.
Everything that had happened since she came home was stuck on a loop inside her head, and she was going to explode soon if she didn’t find some sort of resolution with all of it. It wasn’t fair, not one bit of it, yet this was her new reality. Her new life was leaps and bounds away from what she had always pictured.
She could only fool herself for so long, but had to at least give it a try or be disappointed. Her choices in life were limited no matter how she looked at it. The options she thought she had really were limited.
It wasn’t the fact that she was a species other than human she had always believed she was. That, in a weird way, felt right to her. Being a tiger shifter was okay with her. Sure, she wanted to know more, because at this point she was a toddler and that wasn’t going to do at all, but it was easy enough to resolve that.
The lies that had been told to her for years were almost acceptable, now that she understood the reasons. Of course, she’d always be a little miffed about the way it had all gone down, but there was no sense in burning energy being pissy about the situation. She would always regret that her parents hadn’t told her, that they’d withheld an important part of her heritage from her, but there was no sense in freaking out about something she couldn’t change.
Then there was this whole thing with Gage. The man that she’d pined for as a teen, that she’d had fantasies about all the years she’d been away. He was the reason no other male had ever stirred any interest from her. She only wanted one man, and if she wanted him she could now have him forever, and she’d never have to worry about him straying or breaking her heart. There was that marvelous concept as far as the whole shifter world went. Fate found your match and you stayed with them.
So, what was she doing wearing a hole in the floor while he was out romping around the bush trying to stay away from her? She wasn’t sure. There was just something that kept her from taking that last step. She loved him, she knew that. I love him. He had to love her, she knew this now. Why else would he work so hard to make sure she was happy, make sure she had the time to come terms with everything? Pausing she looked out the window and watched lightning strike in the distance.
Get it together, Kelsey, you can’t make the man wait forever until you figure out what the hell you’re doing. He’s shown you the patience of a saint and let you have every opportunity to find someone else. I don’t deserve you, Gage. Closing her eyes, she inhaled and then blew it out nosily. And even after you did that I still came back here. Opening her eyes wide, she looked up at the ceiling and then down to the floor. I’m an idiot. The answer is right there, and you’ve been carrying on like a schizoid for the past week whining about options and choices.
Turning on her heel, she darted for the door and ran out onto the porch. A loud crack of thunder boomed and echoed into the night. It was like the exclamation point on her thoughts. Blair and Jake ran toward the porch as the sky opened and sheets of rain pelted down.
“That came out of nowhere,” Jake mumbled as he wiped the water off his face.
She looked from one to the other. “Do you think Gage will be back soon?”
Blair held up both hands and then dropped them to shake the rain off. “Who knows, the crazy bastard always loved running in a storm.”
Leaning on the railing, she looked out into the trees, hoping he’d be back soon.
“Everything all right, Kels?” Jake asked, moving to stand beside her.
Nodding, she kept her eyes moving along the tree line.
“He’ll be fine.” Blair added as he went to the other end of the porch and leaned against the corner post to watch the other side of the yard.
A breeze blew the rain onto the porch making Jake back up, she stood where she was, not caring if she got soaked, as she continued to look for him. Inhaling the rain scent, she smiled when she recognized another scent. Turning she went down the steps and started for the path to the shop.
“Kelsey?” Jake called out.
Before she could reach the path, a large white tiger came out of the trees. He was huge she realized, the closer he got to her. Turning his big head, he glanced at the porch to the men that were supposed to be watching over her and then looked back at her. His easy stride brought him to her in very little time.
When he nudged her toward the porch with his shoulder, she turned and ran her hand down over his wet fur. He paused and let her before nudging her again; she refused to move, just kept pushing her fingers through his coat. Gage made a soft yowling noise and she knew, without interpretation, that he was giving her hell for standing out in the storm.
Leaning down, she rubbed her cheek along his large jaw, “Change back,” she whispered.
Pale blue feline eyes studied her for a moment before he turned to the porch and chirruped at the men.
She didn’t look, but could hear their boots on the wooden steps as they stepped off.
“Have a good night.” Jake called out as he headed into the trees. Blair stopped at the tree line and looked back for a brief moment, then straightening his shoulders he turned and followed Jake.
When she turned back to look at Gage, he stood a few feet in front of her, naked, the water streaming over his body. As she looked at him, she realized he was completely at ease standing there without any clothes on. If it didn’t bother him, she certainly wasn’t going to complain. The water moved over his shoulders to follow the rippled trail of muscle down to his hips.
“You should go inside, honey.”
His voice was still deep, something she’d noticed happened just after shifting back. Forcing her eyes back to his face, she shook her head. “I needed to talk to you.”
“We can talk inside, you’ll get…”
“I’ve been out in the rain before, Gage; it’s not going to hurt me.” She watched him clench his jaw as she placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to be one of those complacent mates, so you might as well get used to that right now.” Stepping closer to him, she watched his eyes as they went darker. A flash of lightening lit up the darkness and highlighted his masculine features; he was a beautiful man, something she’d just have to keep to herself. Another flash of light showed the uncertainty in his eyes as he stood there watching her carefully.
His blue eyes didn’t stray from her face once; he just stood there tall and proud, even though he wasn’t sure what was going on. “Did you hear me?” she asked softly knowing he’d be able to hear her.
“I’d never expect you to be complacent at any time.” His tone was controlled, but she could still hear that he meant it.
Moving over until she stood right in front of him, she reached out and ran her hand down over his chest lightly. He hissed out a breath and held himself rigid, his eyes searching hers. “Good.” She ran her hand back up to touch his jaw as he clenched it. “Because if I want to stand out in the rain, then I will stand out in the rain,” biting her lip, she placed her other hand against his chest and leaned into him. “And I expect my mate to stand out here with me in the rain.”
Gage’s eyes kept flicking from her lips to her eyes, confusion plain to see as he tried not to look at her mouth.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me, Gage?” She was almost vibrating as she watched him just look at her mouth.
He grasped her shoulders lightly and she was afraid he was going to push her away. “If I do, Kelsey, I…”
She stretched up until their mouths were only an inch apart, her body brushed against his aroused one. “Won’t stop until you make me yours, I know.”
His hands flexed on her shoulders as he leaned back to see her clearly. He blinked several times, knocking the water from his lashes and then inhaled slowly. “Honey…”
“Kiss me, Gage.” She felt her cat still, waiting silently within her.
His hand moved slowly up to the back of her neck, grasping her hair lightly. “Be sure.” He said with a warning tone in his voice.
“I’m sure.” She watched his eyes change when it was clear what she was agreeing to. Before she could brace herself, he picked her up by the waist, his mouth on hers.
“You have too many clothes on,” he said against her mouth. She tried to reach for her shirt, but his arms held her too close. “Not here. We wouldn’t make it to the porch and the guys are going to be out scouting the property.” He kissed her again started toward the porch. “You’ll never regret this, honey.” Leaning down he nipped the side of her neck.
Feeling like a ragdoll with her feet dangling in the air, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Groaning, he stopped and placed a hand against the railing at the bottom of the stairs, his other hand moving around to grasp her ass and pull her tighter against him. Tugging gently on his hair, she pulled his mouth back to hers and bit his bottom lip hard enough to make him groan. “Do it, Gage, mark me as yours.”
He stumbled up the stairs and made it to the door before he crushed her mouth beneath his and pressed her against the wall. Tearing his mouth away, he sucked in a breath. “Baby, I haven’t waited this long to fuck it up.” Leaning down he licked slowly up her throat.
Kelsey lifted her chin and turned her head to give him better access, her whole body was vibrating, her cat at well. “What do you mean?”
Lifting his head, he bit her chin lightly, licking along her mouth afterward. “You have to accept me…” He kissed her again like he was starving for her. “Claim me as yours.”
Her head was filled with wanting him. “I do accept you…” she pulled his head back down and nipped his bottom lip.