Seducing Their Wayfaring Souls [3xtasy Lake 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

“Do you really want to get into that right now, too, Cris? Does she know?”

Cris paced the deck, trying to pull his primal side back under control. Inside he could hear Tara pleading with Jessica to take her away from here. “Don’t let her leave.”

Jelani looked back over his shoulder through the glass door. “Jess won’t leave with her, but, Cris, what’s going on here? Tara’s obviously your Mate and Zack’s a spitting image of you.”

“I didn’t know.” Cris leaned back against the railing and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Trying to sort out his feelings was hard enough, but keeping his primal side under control was taking more effort than he ever thought he’d need.

“How could you not know?” Marcario looked furious, as if Cris has abandoned his child. “Shifters always know when they have found their Mates.”

“I knew she was my Mate. I knew the moment I touched her skin. She was mine in every sense of the word.” Her whispered confession about being a virgin still echoed in his thoughts and made his cock twitch. She came to him and he lost her. “I left her for a few minutes. I had to let the animal out and I ran and ran. I remember I was so incredibly happy, but I knew I had to be careful. Letting the animal out would give me better control when I explained it all to her, but when I got back, she was gone. I couldn’t find her anywhere. I asked everyone who might have known her and followed every shred of information I found. She didn’t work in town and no one really knew her. Eventually I gave up because I didn’t know where to find her…I never knew she was pregnant.”

That hurt the worst. She had to go through her pregnancy alone. At least, he assumed she was alone. What if she’d found another man? “Is she married?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. We haven’t gotten to know much about her except she’s on her way to Manitoba, but I don’t know if it’s because of a man or a job.”

“If she has a man in her life, he’s doing a piss-poor job of taking care of her. I know the look of someone who’s used to taking care of themselves.” The condemnation in Marcario’s gaze softened. “I’m willing to bet she works twice as hard to make sure Zack has a normal life. Jessica wanted to make sure she got one good meal before leaving Ecstasy Lake.”

“She’s not leaving.” There was no way she was going to walk out of his life and take his son with him.

A vehicle screeched to a halt out in front of their house. “That will be the cavalry.” Jelani grinned. “Jessica was on the phone with River when you arrived.”

“Fuck! I guess no one’s going to listen to me when I tell them to go away and leave her to me?”

“You could try.” Marcario shrugged. “But I’m willing to bet it won’t go well.”

Every part of Cris demanded he march into the house and claim his family. Hearing the terror in Tara’s voice as she spoke to Jessica inside infuriated him.

“Why’s she frightened? She should want to kick my ass. That I would understand, but the fear. I don’t get it.”

“Because you’re a threat to her cub, dumbass.” River practically bounced as she rushed around the corner. She skipped up the stairs and gave him a quick hug. “Is it true? Are you really a daddy?”

“All right, kit. Give the man a break, and what did I tell you about hugging other men?”

River stuck her tongue out at her Mate. “I’ll go inside and try to make her understand you aren’t a complete creep for abandoning her.”

“I never abandoned her.” Cris felt his lips curl up as he snarled his displeasure.

One of River’s Mates, Hugh, the oldest McNamara brother, growled low in his throat in response. Cris knew it was an automatic reaction from a shifter protecting his Mate. He was battling the urge to find that drunk and tear him apart for hurting Tara.

River rolled her eyes and patted Hugh’s chest. “Love you, too, grumpy bear.”

“River, could you please check on Tara? I’m willing to bet she’s hurting but won’t say anything. She kept rubbing her neck when I was trying to talk to her.” It killed him to stay out here when his Mate was inside hurting. He wanted to pick Tara up, hold her tight, and let her know that he would protect her from now on.

“Is this a story you want to share?” Gavin McNamara accepted the beer Jelani handed to him. Both Jelani and Marcario started playing host and handing out bottles to each of them. Cris was grateful for the distraction even if it was only for a minute to collect his thoughts.

“I only know my side of the story. I don’t know anything about the woman inside other than she’s my Mate and I met her over six years ago and never saw her again until I walked around the corner today.”
What if she’d hated Zack? That little guy would’ve been forced to grow up like I did. I promised myself I’d never do that to my children.

Boyd stood next to the door and was looking inside where the women had gone.

“If it’s any consolation, from what I’ve seen Tara’s a wonderful mother.” Jelani had an instinctual way of knowing when something bothered a person. “Her first concern after everything that happened today was Zack’s well-being.”

“I’m glad to hear that. But is she okay, too?”

“It’s too soon to really tell how much of an injury she sustained. Whiplash and other soft-tissue type injuries can take up to three or even four days to come up. She’s already complaining about her neck a bit, and I’m hoping it doesn’t get much worse than that for her. She’s insisting on continuing on her way as soon as possible.”

“What shape is her car in?”

“I heard it was completely undriveable.” Cris wasn’t above sabotaging her vehicle to stop her from leaving town. In fact he was already planning on offering the mechanics free advertising if they delayed letting her know the condition of her car. “It was towed over to Luc and Georges’s garage.”

“You know if you pass on the information now she might not believe you,” Hugh said.

“I know and I don’t blame her.” Cris wished this had all happened a different way, but if it had, he might never have met his son. “Oh shit. A damaged car is the least of her problems right now.”

“Ya think?” Boyd sauntered over. “That boy is going to have the ability to shape-shift when he reaches puberty and she has no idea.”

That was the least of Cris’s worries. He fully believed Fate had orchestrated everything that happened today and he wasn’t going to fight it. Tara was meant to be here, in his arms, and he was going to do everything in his power to convince her to stay. But maybe he wouldn’t have to convince her on his own. He’d fucked up unintentionally, but it didn’t matter. Tara might not trust him now, but he’d change her mind.

“Jelani, Lars was at the clinic today?”

“Yes, and I think the two of you need to talk about a few things.”

“Good, then this might work out. I’m going to go in and talk to her for a moment. If you all could avoid mentioning her car for the time being, I’d appreciate it. I don’t want to lie to her, but I really hope we can keep her here a day or two. Enough time to try to convince her to stay for a while longer.”

Marcario nodded. “This is a thin line you’re walking. We’ll help, but don’t let it get too blown out of proportion.”

“Thank you.” He tilted the bottle up and swallowed down the last of the contents. “I’m going to talk to her and find out why she’s terrified of me. I don’t want to leave, but I want her to relax tonight and she might not with me here.”

With the initial shock wearing off, Cris was planning out the best way to seduce his Mate. Keeping her in town was going to be easier than he thought, but he didn’t want her feeling trapped or coerced in any way. His inner animal wouldn’t accept that. He took a deep breath and started for the back door, thankful the rest of the guys stayed outside. Tara’s comfort was his priority at the moment.

As soon as he stepped through the sliding door and into the living room, the ladies stopped talking. Zack sat quietly next to his mom and kept darting concerned looks up at her. The kid might not understand what was going on, but he’d naturally have good instincts and know she was upset. Tearing his gaze away from his son was difficult because Cris wanted to sit next to him and get to know him.

“Zack was telling about how he was a better soccer player than Jelani and Marcario, but do you think he can beat my guys, Cris?” River asked.

“I bet he could run circles around and under them.” Cris smiled at the young boy, who beamed up at him. The two missing teeth made him look younger. Cris felt a kick to his solar plexus. This was
his
child.

“Come on, buddy.” Jessica stood up and held out her hand to Zack. “If it’s okay with your mom, how about we go outside and you can school the grown-ups in soccer?”

“Can I, Mom, pleath?”

Cris was impressed with Zack’s manners. Even though the little boy was practically vibrating with energy, he wouldn’t leave until he had permission. Tara looked terrified and her fear tainted the air in the room, setting his inner animal on edge again.

“I swear, Tara, we’ll just be in the backyard.” Jessica patted Tara’s hand. “He won’t leave my sight for a moment.”

Tara nodded and Zack took off, towing Jessica behind him. River gave him a pointed look before walking past them and patting him on the shoulder. He appreciated them giving him and Tara some privacy, but as the silence settled over the two of them, he found himself at a loss for words.

Tara wouldn’t meet his eyes. She looked down at the floor, pressing her fingers against the back of her neck. She was chewing on the side of her thumbnail and was tucked back into the corner of the couch as far away from him as she could be.

“How’s your neck feeling?”

She blinked up at him and then quickly dropped her gaze and her hand to clasp the other in her lap. “Fine. It’s fine.”

Tension vibrated off of her she’d wound herself so tight. Cris wasn’t entirely certain why she was so upset, unless it was because she’d never wanted him to know he’d fathered a child. Anger bubbled up inside him, but he took a deep breath and tried to look at it from her point of view. He really had no idea what the last six years would’ve been like for her, but he wanted to.

“Would you have told me?” He didn’t plan on being so blunt, but the idea that she’d hidden his child from him…he had to know.

“If I’d known you or where you were? Yes, of course.” Tara’s hand shook as she wiped at her cheek. “Do you want to take him away from me?”

“No, never.” He watched as a layer of tension melted off of her.
That’s why she was so afraid
.
“But, Tara, I would like an opportunity to get to know him.”

“I guess that’s fair.” She rubbed the back of her neck and then pinched the bridge of her nose. Cris knew there was more than simply getting to know his son. She was his Mate and he needed to be very careful so he didn’t lose her again. There were shadows under her eyes and he knew she was thinner than she’d been years before. He’d be willing to bet that she’d taken care of the two of them on her own. Didn’t she have a family to care for her? He remembered the hesitant way she had touched him, her innocent grins and awed expression as he taught her what her body could feel. His heart kicked hard behind his ribs and the coywolf inside of him demanded contact. Sitting in the same room as her and not touching her was a painful deprivation.

“Where did you go that morning?”

Tara glanced up at him, and frowned slightly. “I didn’t go anywhere. I woke up and you were gone. I might’ve been naive, but I wasn’t a dummy. I took the hint.” He heard the hurt behind her words and it sat on his heart like a weight.

“I swear I didn’t mean to make you feel that way, Tara. I had to do something, but I never meant for you to wake up alone. I did come back, but you were gone.”

She darted a look at him that spoke volumes. She didn’t believe a word he was saying, and could he blame her? “I swear I looked for you. I asked everyone, but it was like you vanished.”

“I wasn’t from around there. It was a spur-of-the-moment adventure.”

“That turned into a hell of an adventure.” A pregnancy from a single night that should’ve stretched into a lifetime.

“Yeah, it was a roller coaster for a while but we’re good. I have a job waiting for me in Manitoba and as soon as I know how my car’s doing then I can head out.”

Cris wasn’t planning on telling her anything about her car. He knew he wasn’t doing the right thing by holding back information, but he had to believe the accident happened outside of his town for a reason.

“Lars said he would call me as soon as he knew anything.” Cris watched her as she picked at the rough edge of her nail.

“He made sure Zack and I were okay.”

Cris felt an unexpected wave of bitterness hammer his thoughts. He should’ve been there for her, for his son, and instead his friend was the one to take care of her.
But that’s what friends do…
“Lars is a great person to have in your corner.”

She flicked her gaze up at him again and Cris wondered if his friend had a greater impact on her than he first assumed. What he wanted to do was bundle her and her…their son up and take them home, but he knew he was going to have to earn that right. Tara had a past and he wanted to learn everything about her, including her reaction to his friend.

“Tara, would you consider getting to know me before you leave?”