“Precisely.” Galen winked and escorted Kendra out to the main room where Max reclined on a chair, very much the king he was in line to be. Relaxed. On the surface. But Kendra had felt his power from the other side of the door in Renee’s bedroom. Even then as he sat on the chair, she saw the tension there, the energy bound up in his muscles, waiting to strike if and when it was necessary.
“No one would ever steal a car from him.” This made her a bit cranky as her car had been stolen just the week before and found totally trashed some sixty miles west.
Galen looked at her askance for a moment. “Max? Hell no. No one would dare.”
She started to laugh, but then the snap of Max’s attention landed on her and all she could do was stare at him as he stared at her.
In the background she knew Galen spoke. Max answered. Other big giant males stalked around looking menacing. Funny how Kendra had found herself used to, even comforted by, at times, the new reality of her life in Boston.
* * *
Max knew the moment she’d finished, felt the subtle and delicious shift of her magick. He loved that about her. She was rich and spicy with power, a scent so heady it made him drunk whenever he was around her.
The first time he’d laid eyes on Renee’s sister he’d been hooked. Hooked on her scent. The sound of her voice. Her prickly demeanor. Oh how he loved that she could be so bitchy. She was a woman who would brook no bullshit, though he had the feeling she hadn’t always been so.
As a human, even being a powerful witch wouldn’t overcome the prejudice some of his jamboree would feel about her. As such, any woman he’d bring home who wasn’t a shifter needed a strong will. When he brought her home the first time, and he would, she’d need to set the tone. He’d talk with Renee about it, knew his parents would be behind the relationship, as would Galen and Gibson. The rest would be hers to win over or scare into leaving her alone.
He had a plan for the future of his jamboree. A plan to leave behind the rules that reinforced the prejudices of the past. Kendra would be integral to that, a partner in the future of his people.
Kendra was it for him. The person he’d been waiting for. His father had always told Max he’d know it when he finally met the right woman. Mainly Max had thought that had been a bunch of woo-woo bullshit. Until Kendra.
He’d been dating someone until right after she’d come to town. It’d taken him a little while to be sure his attraction to Kendra wasn’t just about her ass, and God knew it was the finest ass in all creation. Damn he loved each and every mouthwatering curve Kendra Kellogg possessed. Once he’d known it was more than chemicals dancing around between them, he’d broken things off neatly and carefully and given himself some time between the breakup and the asking out. Not that he’d stopped thinking about her, or that he hadn’t spent every moment creating a plan of attack. He was, after all, a predator.
Now it was time. He didn’t like it that they didn’t share enough intimacy to have him come into her apartment and have him stay the night. If she’d been a Were, things would have been different. She’d have either bloodied him for getting too close, or pounced on him if she wanted him. She wasn’t a Were though, she was human and his behavior needed to reflect that. He wanted her to be totally safe, totally comfortable, and watching her just then sent his cat pacing with wanting her.
He stood, loving the way she greedily took in how he looked. Sending her a raised brow and a smile, he held a hand out. “Ready?”
Taking his hand, she sent him a look that went straight to his toes. “Thanks. I’m sorry you have to run me home. I’m sure you have to be tired too.”
“It’s my pleasure to take you home, Kendra. I only need about four hours’ sleep each night anyway. I’m often up at four so I can work out before I go to the office.” He walked her out, sending Galen an annoyed look when he hugged Kendra. Gibson, of course, saw the look and delighted in not only hugging Kendra, but kissing her cheek.
“Come on, let’s get you home so you can rest a little before you have to be at work.” He shot Gibson a raised brow, promising retribution as they walked past. His brother, unimpressed, rolled his eyes and flipped Max off. Punk.
He wanted to drag out his time with her, but saw the fatigue written into her face. “You’re not getting enough rest,” he said as he stopped at a red light.
“It’ll be better in a few weeks, once I get myself situated here better.” She blew that little lie with a yawn.
“How’s school?”
Kendra had recently started teaching a third/fourth grade combo class at a private magnet school. He knew the school was very prestigious. The judge he was appearing before in just a few hours had two kids who went there.
“I haven’t been there long enough to know a whole lot, but from the experiences I’ve had so far, it’s really good. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work with the rest of the faculty and the students. It’s a sister school to the one I taught at back in California, so it gave me a bit of weight in the hiring process. The opening was right exactly what I needed and where I’d fit best.” She shrugged. “It was meant to be.”
“Yeah. I think so too.”
He pulled up in front of her building. It was a decent enough place, had been Jack’s before so it would be safe, though probably smelled of wolf. Max managed to hold back a sneer. Not that he didn’t like wolves. He just didn’t want his woman smelling like one, a male one who’d mated with his brother and sister-in-law.
He could get past that part because he knew for sure she’d be safe there. The place was also close to Renee, which was important to Kendra. Near the T stop she took to the school since her car had been stolen. Well lit, though he’d been looking for those little fuckers who’d stolen her car. He would find them eventually. Gibson was on it. No one stole from their people and got away with it. He hated the very idea of her being without a car, even in a city as mass-transit-friendly as Boston. And he really hated that she’d been taken advantage of by thugs.
“Is Renee going to be all right?” He sent her that damned raised brow when she moved to grab the door handle and she sighed heavily. “I’ll get the door.”
“It’s really not necessary,” she said as he opened it for her.
“Of course it isn’t necessary.”
“So you’re doing it why?”
He laughed, brushing her hair from her face. “Because I want to do it. I like doing it.”
“Oh. Why?”
“So full of questions. Because I want to take care of you. It pleases me.”
Her frown was more of confusion than anger or fear. She had the sweetest line between her eyes, most likely from her tendency to wear every single emotion on her face. Not that he’d say so. Females tended to get pissed off when you pointed out any wrinkle, even if it was one he wanted to smooth away with his lips.
“It does? Well then. I...”
Fascinating. He’d flustered her.
He didn’t resist his desire to slide his thumb over that line between her eyes. She relaxed, slightly leaning into his touch, most likely not even knowing it. “No need to say anything. Right now anyway. Time for rest.”
She shook her head with a sigh, apparently letting go of whatever it was she was going to say. “Renee is fine. The wards are holding. She’s growing and her control of her power is also growing. I gave the place a look, there’s nothing inside that’s bad. She’s just remembering things. I’m sure Galen told you.”
“Some.” He frowned, hating that she and Renee had to shovel the emotional shit their piece-of-crap father had left in his wake.
“The memories she’s regaining, well...” Kendra paused, the pain on her face. “I hate to say it, but for a time anyway, it was better she didn’t know all this. Probably kept her safe. What could she do as a child with that anyway? But she’s not that child anymore and
she’s fine now. Stronger than most people assume.”
He brushed his thumb over the dark smudges under her eyes. What he really wanted to do was to pick her up and take her to his house. Wanted to get her a mug of tea, a hot bath, a massage and lots of sleep. Oh and sex. But mainly the taking-care part because she needed it.
“You’re both strong. Now, I’m walking you to your door.”
“It’s really fine. My place is safe.”
“I’m sure it is,” he murmured as he hustled her up the steps, waiting for her to unlock the outer door.
“You’re just going to leave your car?”
“We went over this before.”
She snorted. “Some people have all the luck.”
He laughed. “We’ll get you squared away with this car situation.”
“My insurance is getting me a check. No need to square away anything.” She unlocked her door and he went in first, taking a deep breath and instantly going hard.
Christ, her scent drove his cat nearly as insane as the man. Not even a hint of wolf. It was all sexy, fertile witch, and it brought a moan he had to tamp down. The cat had more patience because he knew she was his. But the man knew it would take a lot more than being his to lure the sexy Kendra Kellogg into his life and keep her there.
“All clear. Just you in here.” And now him. He smiled when she couldn’t see his face.
“Really? Golly I’m pretty sure I said that already.”
God he was messed up. Just the sound of her sarcasm made him have to fist his hands rather than haul her to his body and kiss her until she melted.
“You did. And now I can heartily agree with your assessment. Go to sleep, Kendra. I’ll see you later today at Galen’s.”
He went to the door but paused, changing his course and moving back to her. She looked up at him, her sleepy green eyes wide.
“I forgot something.”
“What?”
“This.” He leaned down—careful not to touch her or he’d have her clothes off in five seconds—and kissed her.
Just a soft, slow brush of lips against hers. She opened her lips to him, the sweetness of her mouth tempting him to do more.
Instead he made himself stop after one last nip of her bottom lip.
“Sweet dreams, beautiful Kendra.”
He left, smiling as he caught sight of her peeking out the window at his car, running, sitting next to the curb.
Inside, she watched him drive away, her lips still tingling from the unexpected and very lovely kiss. She’d wanted more, wanted his hands on her, wanted him to take her to the mattress and be inside her.
Max was the kind of man she’d never imagined would be interested in her. But he was the kind of man she understood without a doubt would know his way around a woman’s body.
Despite his broody, bossy ways, she liked him. She just didn’t know what to do with him or how to handle him. He wasn’t a man to be handled, she understood that, but she also realized he would never stay with a woman who didn’t push him back and keep him in line.
That sort of man took work. She wasn’t opposed to hard work, she just didn’t know if she had it in her to give it to him.
Chapter Two
Kendra watched her sister as magick flowed through her and into the room. Renee’s magick was vibrant and green, it soothed and caressed. There was so much within her sister, so much untapped power. She would be as powerful a witch as their mother had been. They’d both been gifted through that line.
Watching, Kendra remained quiet and centered, the hum of her own magick, fiery and bold, a constant as she remained in balance.
She’d never imagined how lovely it would be to be able to teach her sister how to use her gifts, how to be the one who unlocked these miraculous doors for Renee. So much love and trust there between them had helped Kendra immensely. Her magick came to her easier, smoother and with more focus since she’d moved to Boston.
“Try to control the ball on the far table.”
Renee breathed in deep and breathed out, a tendril of her magickal energy sinuously moving to the small globe on the dining room table.
The ball rose as a grin of delight broke over Renee’s features, Kendra’s surely matched.
“Excellent. Now back down.”
Renee did so, carefully placing the globe on the table, and unspooled her energy, taking it into herself once more, and letting it dissipate.
She turned to Kendra. “I totally did it!”
She hugged Renee. “You did. You’re doing a great job, I’m proud of you.”
“You are?” Renee’s smile widened and Kendra wanted to smack their father for the number he’d done on Renee and her self-esteem.
“Of course I am. You’re a natural.” Kendra shrugged, they both were. Born to wield magick. “You’re doing fabulously. You won’t need me in a few months.”
Renee shook her head. “Now that I have you here, I can’t imagine life without you. I know you gave up a lot to come here, more than I can possibly ask you to.” Renee tried to look nonchalant, but they were connected, and finding each other again had reinforced that connection. She felt Renee’s worry that Kendra would leave.
Kendra took her sister’s hands. “As it happens I like it here. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. I can’t imagine my life without you either.”
She liked the opportunity for a new start as she thought briefly about the protection order she needed to get now that she’d settled in Boston. The fact that Ronnie was all the way across the country was soothing to her.
Renee’s surprised look twisted in Kendra’s heart. So surprised when people expressed their love for her. Startled to think people loved her. Kendra sighed inwardly, angry at the way Renee had been raised, hurt that it had been without support or love, with hatred and derision aimed at her powers when they should have been groomed and celebrated.
She knew what it felt like to be loathed for her gifts, but in Kendra’s case it had been a few years, for Renee it had been daily during all her formative years.
“Thank you.” Renee smiled. “What’s the news with Max?”
She blushed. “Nothing to report. He’s all pushy, lays a kiss on me and then nothing for three days. I’m not being fair.” She snorted. “He did call me, just to check in, when he couldn’t make the game a few nights back. And then he texted me to say he’d be on some case and couldn’t break away, but he would soon.”
“He’s ridiculously hot.”
“He’s overwhelming sometimes. I don’t quite know how to deal with him.”
Renee laughed. “Yeah well, it doesn’t really get easier. Shifter males are all overwhelming, pushy, hot to have sex all the time, control freaks who also bring you tea when you’re sick and even buy tampons when they’re out and about and you need them. It’s going to be impossible to resist Max.”
“Not that you’re biased or anything. He’s like the president of your fan club.” Kendra sent her sister a raised brow.
“He’s certainly a favorite of mine. Those de La Vega men are yummy. Only one is an idiot.”
The two of them started laughing and couldn’t stop until tears ran down their faces. Kendra cherished this connection more than she could ever express.
Her sister was a good woman, smart, loving, compassionate and as talented as Kendra. They just seemed to click together. The intimacy they’d found, the depth of friendship and sisterhood had startled both women. Sometimes Kendra’s affection seemed to overwhelm her sister, but once she acclimated, she took it into herself, feeling bold enough to love in return.
On the other hand, Renee had so much love around her right then it made Kendra a little jealous. Sometimes it was lonely, her new life in Boston. But that kiss three nights before had blown her socks off. The beginnings of somethi
ng with the very handsome Max de La Vega were taking hold and she liked it. A lot.
“Idiots or not, they’re easy on the eyes. If we could only duct tape Carlos’s and Beth’s mouths closed, it would be perfect. However, none of that matters because neither frick nor frack will be here and visiting your house is like a hot-guy buffet.”
Renee grinned, looking a lot like their mother. “I know! Now that they all hang out over here so often, I really love getting home from work.”
“And now you’re a magickal superstar who can use her power like a rock star.”
“I’m working on it. This calls for a prize, a treat, a celebration. Let’s go get chili dogs.”
“You must feel like celebrating.” Her sister was a fairly health-conscious woman, Kendra rarely saw her eat what could be termed junk food. “I knew you and I were related.”
Renee laughed as they stood and headed out into the living room area of Renee’s home. Both women stopped and just took in the sight in front of them as males of all shapes and sizes, though all equally gorgeous, lounged and watched a game on the big screen. Including Max.
“Wow.” Kendra blinked at the absurdity of it. At how much testosterone and alpha maleness had gathered all in one place. Max was at home there, in the group, and yet apart as well.
They grinned at each other as the lazy gazes caught the newcomers to the room. Nice thing was that even with a giant screen full of football, they turned to take the women in. A girl could make her way through a pretty crappy day with that memory.
Max sent her a look that tightened her nipples. A look filled with sensual promise. She couldn’t remember the last time a man looked at her that way. And damn it felt good.
It was then she felt it, the darkness hurtling toward them. Without thinking, she threw a shield up, stepping in front of Renee. Her lips moved as she began to weave the spell, hoping the protection warding on the outside would stop whatever it was.
“Stop!” She raised her hands as she walked from the main room out onto the landing. Her regular vision had clouded as she used her othersight to keep track of the spell. The interior of the house choked with magick. Magick from the wards, from the spells she and her aunt had put in place, from Renee and Kendra, and all those shifters had their unique sort of magick as well. She couldn’t get enough of a read with all that interference, though she was able to use it to strengthen her power, using some of the things Mary had taught her before she’d gone away.