Adrian (6 page)

B
efore the plane even landed
, I knew what I had to do. Tomorrow I’m going to Tori’s and throwing myself into an intense warrior-training program. If I ever hope to gain control of my shifting, I think I need to learn to embrace my fighter tendencies. Toothpaste foams in my mouth as I brush, and I gaze at myself in the mirror. My face has become more angular since I changed, and when I look at my bare shoulders in my loose tank top I wear to bed, I notice they’re more defined. I imagine they’ll be even more so once I start to train every day.

I sigh and brace myself for the talk I’m about to have with Adrian. One of the hardest things for true mates is to be apart, and while I’ve never experienced it, I can imagine the pain I’m about to feel over the next few days. Adrian has missed a lot of work and will have to pull doubles to make up for it. Otherwise I’d beg him to come with me. Hopefully he’ll be too busy to have much time to miss me.

When I push my way into our room, Adrian is sitting with his back against the headboard, and I close the door to lean against the solid wood as I gaze at the gorgeous specimen of man before me as my insides heat up with desire. I need to put my sex drive on hold, because I have to tell Adrian my plan before my judgment gets clouded by lust. The mattress sinks as I climb on the end of the bed and crawl up to my mate. I straddle his lap, and his hair is smooth in my fingers as I thread them through it to lean in and kiss him. He grips my hips and tugs me in tight as I drink in the flavor of the man I’ll never stop wanting.

I pull away and say, “I have to talk to you.” I comb his hair back as I stall for time. I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. “Being a warrior is in my genes, and as much as I’ve tried to fight it, I know I have to face facts. I think I need to go stay with Tori and learn to fight.”

“I think you’re right.”

“You do?”

Adrian nods. “The only way you’re going to get your bear under control is to understand her. As corny as it sounds, you need to become one with your bear.”

“And you think warrior training can help me with that?”

He grins at me as if it’s a stupid question.

“But this means we’re going to be apart,” I say.

“Only for a few days.” Adrian slides his hands under my shirt and up to cup my breasts, and my nipples harden at his touch. “I’ll come see you on my next day off.”

I arch my back as he fondles me and sends electric currents to my core. “I plan to go tomorrow.”

Now Adrian is nibbling at my neck, and he whispers, “Then you probably need me to give you a sendoff to remember.”

I slide my hands down his firm chest, and when I get to his groin, I grip his thick length. It’s hot and pulses against my palm as I reply, “Yes. You do.”

He flips me onto my back, and I squeal before he crawls over me to say, “Takedown rule number one, distract your opponent.”

I giggle as he kisses his way down my chest, and say, “Takedown rule number two, let your mate win--oh!” Adrian licks my folds and takes my clit between his teeth as I pant out, “Especially if you’re the prize.”

T
he next day
, I arrive at Tori’s just before noon. It’s a good thing my resolve is strong, because each mile I put between Adrian and me tugs at my heart a little bit more. I placate myself with the thought that he’ll be here in a few days to recharge our batteries. Tori greets me, but unlike last time when she was in sweats, she’s in an emerald-green business-style skirt and jacket. Her dark hair is up, and it makes her look serious.

The scent of something baked and sweet wafts toward me as I step inside. “Wow, you look fabulous,” I say.

“Thanks. I’m off to a lunch meeting with the other prima in a few minutes.” The prima are the mates and, like Tori, sometimes the alpha of the clans that make up the Northeast Kingdom. Her heels click as she walks down the hall, and my bag thumps at the bottom of the staircase when I drop it to follow her. She takes me to the kitchen and introduces me to an older woman named Carol. I grin at the motherly version of my sister when Tori tells her to make me a protein-packed lunch because I’m going to begin warrior training this afternoon.

Tori leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “Carol will take good care of you. Keith and I usually eat dinner at six, but we’ll wait until you get home.” She waves before she steps through a side door located at this end of the house. “Good luck today!”

I turn to Carol, who says, “Go get settled in your room, and I’ll have something ready for you in ten minutes.”

“Thanks.”

An hour later, I’m in a state-of-the-art gym located on De Rozier land. It’s just one building of many that make up Tristan and Annie’s complex. Across the parking lot from it is a large dormitory-style structure that was built to house the De Roziers who came here from the Arctic with next to nothing.

When I push my way through the heavy glass door, I notice Sven, my trainer. He’s broader than Adrian with a body of solid muscle, but his pale-blond hair and blue eyes make it clear they’re from the same clan. Tori told me he’s mated to her old college roommate, Lucy, and I smile when I see him. He’s not much more of a talker than Andre and Aleck are, but I’m used to their ways, and I think that’s why Sven and I hit it off when I worked with him the last time.

Metal clangs and grunts sound as I walk toward him. I ask, “Are you ready to whip me into shape?”

He nods toward the mats, and I follow him as I remove my hoodie that contains my phone, keys, and wallet. I plan to shower later at Tori’s with all the niceties I prefer over a gym locker room. Sven doesn’t waste time, and he tosses me a jump rope before my sweatshirt thumps on the ground. The beginning of our session is about quick feet. And while I trip over my rope at first, once I master the combinations, I amaze myself with the speed at which I can move. But when a couple guys come over to watch, I get uncomfortable.

I stop with the pretense that I need to breathe, and Sven must get why, because he turns to the werebear that have gathered and growls. Their eyes get big, and they scurry away like gym rats. I smile at Sven, and he nods as I resume jumping. When I’m sure my legs will fall off, Sven takes me over to the mirrors.

He says, “Now we talk about finesse. There are five parts to a successful warrior. Speed, agility, power, courage, and”--he taps his head--“intelligence. I can only help you with the first three.” He grins at me, and it makes me smile back. He works on Tai Chi-like moves with me, although nothing about the De Roziers is conventional, and I suspect the motions I learn are unique to the clan.

Now that my sweat has dried, Sven takes me to the part my bear craves -- fighting. I glance at the row of cylinder-shaped bags hanging from industrial-strength chain. The last time I was here, Sven explained the material on the bags is Kevlar, because our punches are much stronger than the fiercest human’s, and they were spending too much money replacing the equipment. It means I don’t need to hold back.

Sven asks, “Is your bear always at the surface?”

I nod. “Adrian and I have gotten into a habit of sparring each day, but I can’t seem to satisfy her.”

“She needs more. When our warriors first get identified, we train them every day after school and do double sessions on the weekend for at least a year to teach control.”

My heart sinks. “A whole year?” I can’t take a whole year off from school for this. And what about Adrian and the band? I know we can only spend a few days apart before the longing for each other will get unbearable.

“I don’t think it will take you that long.” Sven’s eyes scan my body, but it’s not sexual and doesn’t make me uncomfortable as he says, “You don’t have the hormones of a teenager raging through you. And a lot of what I’ll teach you over the next few days will be things you can do without me.”

Relief doesn’t exactly wash over me, but I feel a little better. Although, I’m going to have to find a place to train in Brunswick that won’t draw attention to me. I don’t have time to sort it out, though, because Sven puts me to work on the bags. I immerse myself in the sounds of my skin slapping against firm Kevlar and the impact of my punches and kicks that send painful shocks through my limbs. I seriously can’t believe it, but the more I abuse my body, the happier I become.

When I’m about ready to drop from sheer physical exhaustion, Sven orders me to stop. My eyes sting from the sweat that has rolled down my face, and even my knees are dripping with moisture. I collapse onto the floor, and Sven hands me my water bottle. My arm shakes as I lift it to my mouth, and I gulp down the cool contents. When I can speak, I say, “I can see how that might contain my shift. I’m not sure I have the strength left.”

Sven grins at me. “The bear of a warrior knows no boundaries. Want me to prove it?”

I shake my head as I swallow a mouthful of water. “I believe you.” I groan as I stand. “What’s next?”

“We stretch, and tomorrow I get to kick your ass in the ring.”

“Can’t wait.” I tip my water bottle at him before I suck down the remaining drops.

I
spend
the next four days learning the moves and training regimen for a typical De Rozier warrior. Every single muscle in my body aches, and I discovered a few I swear don’t exist on a human body. But the biggest thing I’ve accomplished over the last few days is I’m now comfortable with my new state. I might even like being a werebear, and while I can live in the human world, I’m never going to be a human again. That means I need to rethink my life plan.

When I got back to Tori’s from training last night, Adrian contacted me to tell me we got a recording deal, so I called Sven and convinced him to give me two days off to heal and to see Adrian. My stomach is in knots over the decisions I need to make. I gaze out at the pine trees that line the highway in Northern Maine. I left before sunrise, and the solitude of being the only car on the road is perfect for me to get lost in my thoughts. It occurs to me that as a werebear I can’t work in a human hospital. There are too many situations that could pose a problem. It’s not that I have to give up that dream, but if I want to be a physician, it’s most likely I’ll have to be a jack-of-all-trades and join the Northeast Kingdom’s band of doctors. So now I have to decide if that’s what I really want.

I know I can keep my bear happy by remaining physically active, but with warrior blood in my veins, I’ll never be content living in a city. I need to shift and run more than most werebear, and unless I want to start a Werebear of Boston phenomenon, I need to live in a country setting. In other words, two major things I planned for my life can no longer happen.

This kind of thinking should have my bear prickling to escape, but she’s content. It makes me realize I haven’t faced reality because I’ve been too busy dealing with my altered state. Now that I give my bear what she needs, I can focus on what comes next. White lines on the asphalt tick by, and when I grip the wheel a bit higher, I gaze at my hands and imagine how they look as huge meaty paws. I watch the muscles in my forearm ripple as I flex and recall how powerful they are. My body is a fierce fighting machine that has only begun to realize its potential, and I wonder if I’m trying to make something work instead of letting my destiny be. Perhaps instead of struggling to contain my warrior tendencies, I should grab them and hold tight.

A blue billboard announces the rest stop ahead, and the blinker ticks as I prepare to exit. As my car slows down, I make my decision. I’m going to become a De Rozier warrior and accept my fate. When I step out of the car, a cool breeze blows around me and through my hair. My feet tap with purpose on the asphalt as I make my way to the building, and my heart feels light. It’s as if the chains of self-doubt and the regret of becoming a werebear have been removed. I know what I’m supposed to do.

I yank on the heavy door to get inside, and a guy with earbuds walks by me. The rock music is loud enough for me to hear it. Sven likes silence when we work out, and the sound of the pop tune is like a distant memory. Suddenly my longing for Adrian paralyzes me, and I crumble to the ground with my anguish.

A man asks, “Are you okay?” and I glance up to a stranger’s face framed by blond hair. I nod before I let him help me up.

I get in line for coffee, and the strong odor wafts toward me as I realize I’m forgetting a very important piece of my life -- Adrian. How am I going to be a warrior in the De Rozier clan if he’s off touring with the band? A tear drips from my chin, and my hand is cold on my face when I wipe it off. I decide I don’t want coffee and step out of the line. Cool air wraps around me as I walk out of the building. How long could I really last? I shake my head. We have to find a way to make this work
. But how?

I
get
to Brunswick before seven and let myself into our apartment as quietly as I can. I had hoped to climb in bed with Adrian, but he’s sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and is practically naked. I gaze at the expanse of skin I want to feel. “Hey.”

His mug thumps as he stands, and the only article of clothing he’s wearing doesn’t hide his desire. He lets out a low growl and picks me up to throw me over his shoulder. I yelp and let him, because I’m happy to ignore my warrior for the greater good.

Adrian deposits me on the bed, and the scent of my mate rises from the sheets as I scramble to strip off my clothes. He growls at what I reveal and hovers over me as he says, “I need to taste you.” His voice gets deep as he commands, “Now.”

I tremble beneath him as I spread my legs, and he groans as he lowers his mouth to my sex. I mewl as he worships me with his tongue and brings me to the crest of an orgasm. Before I can come, he stops and takes over with his hand. My juices glisten on his chin as he moves up to kiss me. I taste my tangy flavor mixed with the essence of Adrian as he works me with his fingers.

I gyrate beneath his touch, aching for release, but he stops again. “You’re torturing me, Adrian.”

“I want to be inside you when you come.” He sighs as he gazes down at me. “I don’t like being apart.”

My heart aches, but now is not the time to talk, so instead I decide to torture him a little too. I reach up and tug him down to flip him over onto his back. Adrian grunts with the force and chuckles when I hold him down by his shoulders. I waggle my eyebrows at him and say, “My turn.”

I take my time kissing down his chest. His skin is hot under my lips, and the flavor tempts my taste buds. When I finally reach my target, I grip his cock to stroke him as I inhale his musky scent. He says, “Ginny, please. I’m dying here.”

I drag my tongue up his slick shaft and hover over his thick length as I gaze up at my mate. He says, “I’ll beg.”

“Do it. Tell me what you want.”

“Suck me, babe. Suck my dick until I’m ready to come. Please.” I take him in my mouth, and Adrian lets out a little cry when I cup his balls and roll them in my palm. He pumps his hips up to meet me and drive deep enough to hit the back of my throat. Adrian suddenly tenses and pushes me away. “I need to be inside you.”

I crawl over him, and the skin of his cock is smooth in my fingers as I guide it toward my wet folds. I say, “I need it too.” As I sink down, he thrusts up to stretch me wide, and I lean forward to let my breasts bounce as I ride him hard. My orgasm is going to be fast and furious now, but I believe his will be too, because Adrian’s chest vibrates with a low rumble.

“So close.” He pants. “Tell me when.”

I dig my fingers into his chest and shatter over him before I can answer. He joins me with an eardrum-popping roar as hot seed explodes against my channel, and I milk him as I come down slowly. I finally collapse on him and say, “I missed you.”

“Me too, babe.” He slides his hands down my back to squeeze my bottom. “How was training?”

“Fantastic.” But the subject brings me down from a post-orgasm high. I lean up so that I can gaze into his face. I think about how this man makes my heart sing with music that is beyond anything anyone could ever write. Every cell of my being wants to be with my mate, and a lump forms in my throat as I recall what being apart feels like. I swallow hard and say, “I’ve made some decisions. I’m a warrior, Adrian, and my human goals won’t work.”

He combs his fingers through my hair to move it out of my face, and he holds it at the back of my head like a ponytail as he smiles. “You’re a musician too.”

“Yes. I--” I take a deep breath and say, “But not in the way I should be.” I find my resolve, and my words tumble out. “I think you need to either get Aleck up to speed or find my replacement. I’m going to move to Orono and train with the De Rozier clan.”

Adrian squints at me, and his chest begins to heave with the kind of breathing that means he’s controlling a shift. “What is your
plan
for me?”

I roll off of him to sit up cross-legged, and the bed squeaks as he sits up too. I say, “I think you should tour with the band, and we’ll see each other when we can.” Adrian’s chest is rumbling in a way that isn’t sexual, and I add, “I’ll come to you when I can, and when you’re not touring, you come to Orono.”

He gets out of the bed, and his footsteps pound on the floor as he paces the room in what I think is an attempt to keep from shifting or yelling at me. I watch and wait for him to process my words. Finally Adrian stops at the end of the bed to stare at me. “Why can’t you come on tour?”

“Sven told me it takes a full year until a warrior can control their shift. I know I’ll be faster than that, but I almost exposed us in LA. The last thing I want to do is expose us to the real world.”

“But fighting every day helps. Surely you--”

“Don’t.” My stomach clenches as I scramble to my knees to grab one of Adrian’s hands. “It would be a struggle, and you know it. You guys should be having the time of your lives with this, not babysitting me. Can you imagine how quickly your brothers would start to resent me?”

He shakes his head. “You’re my true mate, Ginny. They don’t get the option.”

I place my hand on his cheek, and the day-old stubble is rough under my palm as I say, “I need to train. My bear won’t let me be at peace otherwise.”

“Fine. I’ll come with you.”

“No, Adrian. This is your dream, and you need to chase it. Not just for you, but for your brothers. The band will be fine without me, but without the lead singer?” I shake my head. “No way. I won’t let it happen.”

Adrian pulls away from me, and his bear flashes in his eyes. Now I’m afraid he really is going to shift. “That’s not your decision to make.” He turns from me, and when he leaves, he slams the door so hard the walls shake.

I slump down on the bed as tears burn in my eyes. Sharp pain throbs behind my temple. Adrian is not the only person that needs to hear my plan, and I dress quickly to search out Aleck. I follow the music and find him at my keyboards. He glances up, and I notice he got his hair cut in a sexier style than usual. I wonder if it has anything to do with a certain brunette, and I say, “Hey.”

“How was training?” He slides over on the bench for me to sit next to him.

“Good.” I press the keys to play a quick scale, and the music tugs at my heart. “Aleck, I need more time to control my bear, and I want you to take my place in the band.”

Aleck doesn’t speak and begins to play the very first song he wrote for us instead. I join him, and tears form in my eyes. A part of me wants to go on tour, and the melody is reminding me how much I love to play.

When we stop, Aleck says, “I’ll be your replacement until you can come back.”

Now my tears let go, and I hug him tight as I whisper through them. “Thank you.”

When Adrian still hasn’t come home by the afternoon, I’m beyond worried. But I have already gained enough control of my emotions that I can let him take the time he needs to process what I said. Since I have nothing to do, I decide to distract myself with visiting the ladies next door. Maggie answers the door and takes my hand to pull me inside. “I’m glad you came over.” She calls out. “Colleen! She’s here!”

I frown. “How did you know I’d come over?” I sit in a wooden chair that creaks and makes me think it might be as old as my host.

“I didn’t, but we’d have come over to see you soon if you hadn’t. Now tell me what’s happened to make your mate so unhappy.”

“My mate?”

The coffee pot gurgles as she turns to me. “We know what you are, dear.”

“But...” I don’t want to say more, because the number-one rule I’m supposed to follow is keeping our kind safe by never admitting a thing.

Colleen shuffles into the room and says, “Don’t you worry about a thing. Even if those hunters tried to torture it out of us, who’d believe two crazy old ladies?” She crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue. A laugh bursts out of me.

The woman sits across from me. “Talk to us, dear.”

I sigh as a mug of coffee thumps before me, and a plate of cookies clatters when Maggie sets it down and joins us at the table. I ask, “You heard the band got a recording deal, right?”

“Oh yes, how very exciting,” says Colleen.

Maggie says, “We’re going to miss all the music, though.” She touches my arm, and her fingers are cold on my skin as she says, “Goodness, you’ll have to share a bathroom with those boys on some bus.” She shudders a little.

“I’m not going. That’s why Adrian is so upset.”

“Not going?” asks Colleen. “Why in heavens not?”

“I’m having trouble controlling-- Wait. How do you know what we are?”

Maggie’s face falls, and she drops her gaze. “I had a--”

Colleen interrupts her. “She had a torrid affair with a werebear.” She sighs. “Edward was such a handsome man. But back then, one couldn’t carry on like that. Prejudice, you know. They had to break it off.”

I reach for Maggie’s hand and squeeze gently when I see moisture shine in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. You must have been heartbroken.”

“I was, but I married well.” She blinks and says, “It was for the best.”

“So you were saying,” says Colleen.

“I have warrior blood, and it makes it difficult for me to control my shift.”

Colleen looks at Maggie before she says to me, “We thought you might be having trouble.”

“I’ve decided I need to train to be a warrior, but music is the Lindquist brothers’ life, and Adrian needs to go with them to realize their dream.”

“And that means you and Adrian must be apart,” says Colleen.

Maggie shakes her head. “Why would you want to do that?” She squints her eyes at me. “That man needs you to make his music. If you don’t go, he’ll fall apart, and then where will they be?”

“But I’m a liability. I can’t control--” I flinch when Maggie grabs my arm and digs her fingers in hard.

“Yes. You can. You have true mate love, and that is stronger than anything else running through your veins.”

“It is? But how do you--”

Colleen says, “You really need to stop questioning us. One doesn’t get to their nineties without learning a thing or two. Now go wherever it is you need to train and get it done.”

Is it really that simple? I’m about to object, but Maggie shoves a cookie in my mouth, and I scowl at her as I take a bite. Sugary sweetness coats my tongue as I chew. I think about how hard it would be to be away from Adrian for weeks at a time. Maggie’s right. We’d both fall apart.

“Adrian, where are you?”

“On my way home now. We need to talk.”

Yes. We do.