To Love a Shifter: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set (28 page)

            Misty nodded. Looking at the old man, she said, “But you have to believe in him first to see him.”

            “I believe him,” the old man choked out. “I believe in him, I believe he’s here. I want him here, whatever he was, whatever he is.” His eyes widened. “Daryl?”

            Daryl smiled even as more tears trailed down his face. “Father, I’m back.”

            Ensconced in the private office of the pack leader, the old man immediately demanded the story of his son’s life since his assumed death. It started when Daryl had befriended a faerie when he was heartbroken. Daryl’s life became even more complicated when a former lover had started to spread rumors about his sexuality, and he had known it would only be a matter of time before the truth would come out. Unwilling to cause a scandal, he had chosen to join his new friend – now his partner – in his world, even if it meant turning into a faerie himself and giving up his Lyccan blood.

            Daryl had decided to stage a suicide to put an end to questions about his sudden death. He also knew that if he had left a clue about his new life, his father would have insisted on getting him back, never mind the consequences.

            With the faeries, Daryl was more than content. He was ecstatic and found a home for himself where he was needed and appreciated for who he was. He would never have let his father known the truth of his continued existence if he had not heard about Aurelius Castellano’s plans to go to war with humans.

            Daryl frowned. “No more wars on humans, Father.”

            Aurelius said nothing.

            “
Father
.”

            “All right,” Aurelius grumbled.

            “Now that you can see me, we’ll be able to have more time together. I hope you’d be able to visit where I live sometime.”

            Aurelius smiled slightly but his voice was thick with unshed tears when he said, “That would be nice.”

            When it was time to leave, Aurelius turned to Misty and began, “About your brother…”

            She shook her head quickly. “Domenico said he’ll find a way and he will. You don’t need to give us special treatment.”

            Father and son exchanged looks.

            Misty rolled her eyes. “I know, I know. I’m naïve, right?”

            “Domenico is lucky to have you,” Aurelius said diplomatically.

            “If only I had been born a girl, Father. Then you’d have Domenico as your son-in-law.”

            “Not while I’m still breathing,” Misty retorted laughingly.

            Domenico was waiting by the front door, head hazy with rage as the Castellano’s car drew to a stop. He stalked towards it, nearly tearing the door open in his haste to get to his wife.

            Misty only managed a word edgewise. “Domenico --”

            He kissed her hard, pulling her tightly against him, drinking in the feel of her body against his. God! He had been out of his mind upon receiving Thompson’s call and learning later on that Misty had ventured into another pack’s territory alone.

            “We will speak later,” Domenico told the Castellano’s emissary curtly even as he lifted Misty into his arms and took her inside. He reached their room in record time, and after kicking the door shut with a loud and heavy bang, he threw her to the bed.

            He said very softly, “Misty?”

            She started to babble. “I’m sorry I lied but I had to go --”

            “Do you know how worried I was?” he exploded.

            “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I had to!”

            Domenico didn’t know if he wanted to strangle her or kiss her into submission first. When he advanced towards her, he was satisfied to see her cringe. Good. It was but a fraction of the fear he had tasted upon realizing that Misty could be in serious danger.

            “You had to do
what?”
Domenico snapped at her, still furious.
“
Kill me with worry? Don’t you know how much he hates humans?”

            “He --”

            “Don’t you know he has the power to make you disappear, to hurt you before --”

            “But --”

            “Do you know what happened last time a human strayed into his territory?” Domenico roared.

            “He doesn’t hate humans anymore!” Misty finally cried out.

            Domenico froze. “What?”

            “He doesn’t hate humans anymore,” she whispered.

            He looked at her, really looked at her, and his anger slowly dissipated. Even though he didn’t know exactly what had transpired, Domenico was sure she had succeeded in charming the Castellano pack leader to her side. Another potential ally – and he didn’t even have to lift a finger to get it. Domenico knew it was something to rejoice about, but this time he also knew he would forsake
all
allies if it would mean having her safe by his side forever.

            Because…he was in love with Misty.

            “I’m not in trouble anymore?” Misty asked carefully when she saw Domenico gradually relax.

            He sighed, lying on his back and lifting Misty up to have her lie on top of him. “You’ll always be in trouble.”

            “Only since I met you,” she pointed out.

            “Do you wish you had never met me?”

She looked at him as if he had just said he wanted to kill her, which made Domenico want to take her in his arms and keep her there for a long, long time.

            “Don’t say things like that. You might jinx us,” she wailed.

            He pulled her back to him with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You know I would not let anything keep us apart.”

            They fell silent afterwards, both aware of having so many things to say but not knowing where to start. Domenico stroked her hair as he felt Misty’s breathing ease into a steady rhythm in her sleep. He loved her. He was in love with her. Domenico marveled at the knowledge, but he knew it wasn’t the right time to tell Misty about it.

            He was hedging his bets again, he knew. If Matteo had been by his side, he would have reprimanded Domenico for it and told him that he was wasting yet another golden opportunity in his life in order to exact revenge on his father.

            Two more days passed. On those days, Domenico would leave before she woke up and came home after she was already fast asleep.

            On the third day since her visit to the Castellano mansion, Domenico came home in the middle of the day, surprising her in the kitchen by wrapping his arms around her from behind.

            She turned around in his arms, and Domenico immediately took her lips with a kiss.

            “It smells wonderful here,” he murmured even as he nibbled on her lips.

            “I’m preparing some pastries to take with us to the hospital.” The last of her words ended with a whimper when Domenico pushed her apron aside and snuck his hands under her shirt.

            Aroused as she was, Misty still noticed the unusually carefree expression on her husband’s face. Trying not to writhe at Domenico’s masterful exploration of her body, she managed to ask, “Why do you seem so happy?”

            Her words made Domenico recall why he came home early in the first place and he pulled away ruefully, pulling her shirt back down with a sigh. But his eyes were gleaming when he looked at her face.

            “I have a surprise for you, Mrs. Moretti.” He took out a folded document from his blazer’s inner pocket and gave it to her.

            She frowned. “What is this?”

            “Read it.”

            She unfolded the paper, her eyes widening when the full import of the words printed on it finally sank in. “You got it,” she whispered.

            It had cost him numerous favors, but it was all worth it to see the joy on his wife’s face. “Kevin will be safe.”

She burst into tears and hugged him. “I love you, Domenico.”

            And he heard himself say, “I love you just as much.”

            Misty gasped.

            He stared at her steadily. Now had been the right time to tell her how he felt, so he did.

Heart bursting with emotion, Misty pushed him to the worktable.

            Domenico laughed as Misty kept pushing him until he finally lay on top of the kitchen worktable that had been behind him. “Misty?” But his breath hitched as she slowly undressed in front of him. His cock rose in response when she stood before him, fully naked.

            “I love you,” she whispered just before she unzipped his jeans and climbed on top of him.

Domenico groaned when she straddled his lap and slowly impaled herself on his cock. She was already wet, and the knowledge drove him wild.

            Misty’s eyes were wet but they were shining brightly, too. She lowered her head to kiss him, sucking on his tongue aggressively. Domenico let his wife take the lead and only gripped her hips in support as she fumbled for a rhythm that would suit them both.

            “I love you,” she gasped just as she lowered herself on him again, the position causing Misty to press her clit against him in a way that made her head reel at the pleasure.

            Realizing that she was struggling to find her rhythm again, Domenico grabbed her hips roughly. “Let me,” he growled just before he drove his hips up.

            She screamed, eyes rolling back, but Domenico wasn’t yet done. Pistoning his cock in and out of her, Domenico simultaneously carried Misty’s body up and down to meet his thrusts.

            When he felt himself nearing his orgasm, Domenico pulled her back down, catching one of her nipples with his teeth. “Come for me, Misty. Now.”

            She did so with a cry, and he spilled his load inside her, his body convulsing at the strength of it but not letting go of the hold he had on her.

            Because Domenico loved her. He loved Misty, his wife, his princess, his woman.

            No matter what happened now, no matter if she willed it, Domenico would never let her go.