Black Storm [Panther Key] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (9 page)

She strained her ears, trying to hear any sound that Jake might be making, but the roaring of the wind and rain made it impossible to hear above it. Drake and Blake grasped a large piece of the fallen roof and heaved, their muscles straining with the weight of the debris. They lifted it up, and Kate’s heart leapt into her throat.

“Jake!” Kate screamed, and ignoring Blake’s order to stay put, she rushed into the room and fell to her knees next to an unmoving Jake. The heavy roof debris was thrown to the side, and Blake and Drake knelt down to assess their brother.

Blake felt for a pulse at Jake’s neck. “It’s steady.”

Kate saw them exchange a glance, and they both nodded, and then they situated themselves to pick Jake up.

“Wait!” The brothers looked up at her startled yell. “Moving might hurt him more.” Kate knew enough about basic first aid to know that you weren’t supposed to move someone if there was a chance they had a back or neck injury.

“Kate, it’s more dangerous to leave him here than it is to move him.” Kate looked into Blake’s eyes, and she knew he wouldn’t do anything that would put Jake in more danger. She nodded and took Jake’s hand, refusing to let go of it as Jake was carefully lifted and carried out of the room.

When they made it to the living room, they laid Jake on the rug. Drake ran to the kitchen and came back with a large first aid kit, and then the brothers set about checking his vital signs. Blake grabbed a small penlight and flashed it in Jake’s eyes while Jake checked his blood pressure. Kate’s hands roamed his legs, checking for broken bones.

Blake ran his hand around the back of Jake’s head and stopped. “I think he may have a concussion. He’s got a pretty large bump back here.”

Drake sat back and blew out a breath. “It could have been a lot worse.”

“But he’s unconscious!” Kate was trying not to become hysterical. It wasn’t working. “What if he has a brain injury? What if he doesn’t wake up?” It was her mother all over again.

The sobs broke from her body in wrenching gasps. Blake pulled her into his lap. “Shhh, sweetheart. He’ll be fine. We’re not going to lose him. I promise you.”

“But…but…” She couldn’t get any words out. The tears and sobs made it impossible to talk.

“Look at me, Kate.” Blake’s hard voice made her look up. His eyes softened. “Our bodies heal very fast. There are very few things that will kill us. His neck isn’t broken, his heart is still beating, and he
will
be fine.”

Kate stared into his eyes for several moments. She could sense he really believed what he was telling her. He wasn’t just saying it to keep her from hysterics. Her cat, which had practically been clawing at her brain, started to relax. The rest of her slowly followed its example. She wiped her wet face with the back of her hand and took Jake’s hand again. Blake settled her on the floor next to Jake and stood up then went to his bedroom.

Kate couldn’t take her eyes off Jake. She was willing him to open his eyes and squeeze her hand. Anything. But all he did was lie there and breathe. Well, that was something, at least. She couldn’t imagine what she would do if she lost him or any of the brothers. How was it possible she had only known these men for a couple of days, and already she felt like they had been permanently stitched into her life?

She had closed herself off after her mom’s death. Her aunt had begged her to move back to Texas and stay with them, but her aunt reminded Kate too much of her mom, and she just couldn’t see her every day without breaking down. She missed her two cousins, who were really more like sisters to her, but she hadn’t even talked to them in over three months. Her cousins were twins, but everyone always assumed Kate was their triplet when they were together. They looked so much alike. Their birthdays were only a few weeks apart, which had made them seem even more like triplets growing up.

With her heart miraculously starting to feel again since meeting these men, she felt guilty for avoiding her family. She would make it a point to call them when things settled down.

Blake returned to the room, talking on his cell phone as he walked. “Yeah, he’ll be okay. I don’t know how long he’ll be out, though, and we may need reinforcements. Just come to the house instead of meeting us at the dock.”

There was a long pause before he continued. “No idea. Bring them just in case, and we’ll pack light. We’re hoping to get out of here before it comes to that.”

His eyes met Kate’s as he listened to whoever was on the other end. “Thanks. See you soon.”

He turned to Drake as he disconnected the call. “They’re leaving now. Shouldn’t take more than an hour or so.” Drake nodded and went to his room.

Kate looked at Blake. “Your cousins?”

“Yes. The storm has moved north of them, and they can get off the ground. It should be calmed down enough for them to land once they get here.”

“Wait. What do you mean land?” Kate didn’t like where this conversation was going.

Blake looked at her blankly for a second and then broke out that sexy grin that drove her crazy. “They’re flying, Kate. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of planes?”

“No.” She gulped. “Not big ones, anyway.”

He grinned down at her for a moment and then sat down on the floor next to her, leaning back against the sofa and stretching his long legs out in front of him. He took her free hand in his and twined their fingers together then brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers. “Trust me, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you.”

She looked into his eyes. He really would take care of her. “I know.” She shook her head. “As crazy as it is, I know.”

He slowly lowered his lips to hers, and her cat purred in contentment. His tongue brushed across her lips, and she eagerly parted them, wanting him to deepen the kiss. His tongue delved into her, and he unhurriedly explored her mouth. The sensuous slide of his tongue and the closeness of his hard body triggered Kate’s desire, and she felt her blood begin to heat.

She couldn’t believe her body was doing this again, now, after everything that had just happened. She refused to let the fire consume her. There was no way she was going to get it on with Blake while Jake was lying on the floor unconscious.

Blake broke the kiss and looked intently at her. She glanced at Jake and back to Blake. “He’ll be fine, sweetheart.”

“No.”

“You can’t control the mating fever, Kate. If we don’t take care of you now, it will get worse. Believe me, you do not want to be going through it on the plane.”

She gulped. She hadn’t thought of that. Good grief, what would she do if happened then? She looked back at Jake, and the guilt pressed down on her. She hardened her resolve. She would just have to deal with it. She gave Blake her most stern expression.

“No.”

Blake shook his head and narrowed his eyes at her. “You are a stubborn little kitten, aren’t you?”

Kate stuck her tongue out at him. His intense gaze zeroed in on it. “Be careful, or I might find a better use for that.”

Kate quickly pulled her tongue back in her mouth and gulped. She had no doubt Blake could think up some very wicked uses, indeed. That thought caused an extra flash of heat to course though her veins, which did not help her resolve to behave herself. She needed to get her mind off the maddening urge to climb all over Blake, and small talk seemed like her only available option right now.

“So…um…where are we going, anyway?”

Blake’s eyes narrowed, and she knew he was on to her little avoidance game. He shook his head again and pulled her closer to him so she could lean back against his chest.

“Our family owns a place down in the Keys. It’s secluded, and we’ll be able to protect you there. I think you’ll like it. It’s beautiful.”

“Palm Beach is the only part of Florida I’ve ever seen. I didn’t have time to do any sightseeing before my mom died, and after that…” Kate sighed, and Blake tightened his embrace. “After that, I just didn’t want to do anything at all. I’ve spent the last few months sitting in the condo staring at the beach and trying to go through Mom’s things.”

“I’m sorry, Kate. I really am. I wish I could take the pain away from you.”

“You already are.” She turned and looked into his eyes for a few moments, trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say.

“I don’t really know how to explain it. It’s not just the whole turning-into-a-panther thing, either.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Wow, that has got to go on my list of top five things I never thought I’d say.”

Blake kissed her temple and nuzzled his face against hers. “I know this has all been hard for you, sweetheart, but you’ve handled everything remarkably well.”

“That’s just it, though. I should be freaking out after all this, but I’m not. I had stopped caring about everything, Blake. I don’t think I even knew how to live anymore. But you and Drake and Jake have opened up my heart again. Actually, in the last couple of days, I’ve felt better—more alive—than I’ve felt in a long time.”

She sighed and relaxed against Blake’s chest. She meant what she’d said. She had sat on the balcony of the condo and watched the world go by. People played, laughed, and enjoyed themselves. She wasn’t part of it. She had been letting life pass her by.

She thought it was ironic that, now that she finally felt like living, someone wanted her dead.

Kate woke with a start and looked around in confusion. She was curled up on the floor next to Jake, with her arm draped across his chest. She was relieved to see the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, indicating he was still breathing.

Blake was on his way to the front door, which was being banged on by someone outside. Kate guessed that was what had woken her up. She watched in apprehension as Blake looked through the peephole and then opened the door.

Two enormous men walked through the door into the house. Kate stood and watched as Blake exchanged hugs and slaps on the back with them. The men were as big as Blake, and both had sandy-blond hair and blue eyes. She could see the family resemblance to the brothers in their facial features.

Once they were finished greeting Blake, the newcomers turned to Kate. Blake started to return to her side, but before he could get to her, the cousins rushed past him, and one of them grabbed her around the waist, swinging her around in a circle and laughing.

“About damn time someone settled these boys down!”

The other cousin nudged his way in and gave her a big—and noisy—kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to the family!”

Kate was so shocked she couldn’t get anything intelligent out. “Um…thanks.”

“What do you mean ‘settle us down’?” Drake had emerged from his room to join them. “From what we’ve heard, your younger brothers are the ones who need some settling. Besides, you two aren’t exactly fine examples of domestic life.”

Blake rolled his eyes and finally made it to Kate’s side, where he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close to him. “Kate, these two idiots are our cousins, Brad and Bryce Dawson. Guys, this is Kate Darby, our mate.” There was pride in Blake’s voice, but Kate could have sworn she blushed from the hair on her head down to her toes. To be introduced as the mate of three men was a little embarrassing. Oh hell, it was a
lot
embarrassing.

Bryce chuckled. “Yeah, about that…boy, your mom is thoroughly pissed off.”

“What?” Blake stiffened next to Kate. She felt like her heart had just dropped into her stomach. She didn’t want to cause any family fights. “She ought to be thrilled! She’s been complaining for years we haven’t found our mate.”

Bryce threw his hands up in a defensive position. “Hey, don’t blame me. It’s your own fault. She’s not mad about you finding Kate. In fact, she’s practically beside herself. I think she’s already sewing a bunch of baby blankets.”

If Kate hadn’t been blushing before, she knew she would be now. Being the mate of three men was awkward enough. She hadn’t even thought about babies.

“Well then, what’s the problem?” Drake was now standing on Kate’s other side and had wrapped his arm around her protectively.

Bryce huffed and crossed his arms across his chest. “The problem, cousins, is that she had to learn the news from us, rather than getting a phone call from her sons letting her know the good news.”

“Oh. Hadn’t thought of that. We’ve been a little, um, preoccupied.” Kate was so shocked to hear the meek tone coming from Blake that she almost burst out laughing. Almost.

Bryce punched Blake in the arm as he walked by him. “Yeah, well, believe me, the rest of us have heard plenty of it. You’ve got some serious sucking up to do.”

Bryce leaned down to Jake, looked in his eyes, and checked his pulse. Then he put his hand on his chest over his heart for a few moments. No one said anything, and Kate wondered what was going on. Finally, Bryce stood up. “He’s in a healing sleep. His pulse has slowed, so he should come out of it pretty soon.”

Kate was confused. She looked back and forth between Jake and Bryce. “How…? What…?”

“Bryce has a gift.” She turned to look at Blake as he spoke. “He can feel someone’s injuries.”

She looked back at Bryce in awe and then at Jake again. “Wow. So…he really is going to be okay?”