She stood there looking so tragic and so meltingly beautiful, it was impossible to resist her. He pulled her into his arms with the hummingbirds darting around the brightly colored trumpets and his mouth against her ear so that when he whispered, his lips brushed that perfect little tempting shell.
"Don't cry or I'll have no choice but to be your hero and save you from yourself." His teeth bit down gently on her earlobe, tugging.
He hoped the hummingbirds weren't part of Lev's security system because he was going to kiss her again and hope she saved them both from things getting too far out of hand. He could only imagine what his brother's sense of humor might be, sending those little sharp beaks into his skin. He walked Judith backward, pushing her deeper into the cover of the large trumpet trees, his mouth descending on hers as he did so.
He felt the shift under his feet, the heightening of his senses until each one was acute as her spirit flowed free. Power flared around them, bursting through him, adding to the heat rushing through his body. Electrical sparks sizzled over his skin. He felt the boost in his own psychic talents and knew they were fast fusing spirits together. His left palm burned in the center and he broke the kiss and caught her left hand, lifting her palm.
Judith looked bemused and a little afraid. "What are you doing?"
"I don't know," he said honestly and pushed air between them, his left palm to hers.
She cried out and yanked her hand away, holding it close to her, her expression shocked.
"Let me see."
His fingers settled very gently around her wrist, shackling her to him, already taking possession of her hand. He gave a relentless tug when she resisted, knowing he had gone so far off the Thomas Vincent script he was going to have do some fast shoring up soon. Stefan was in complete command at all times while Thomas would be careful not to push Judith too hard.
He turned her hand over and saw the brand there in the middle of her palm, two circles interwoven together. The circles appeared raw at first, as if they were a fresh brand, but beneath the brush of his thumb, the mark faded. He pushed healing air at her. He had seen that mark only one time before, when he was a child, on his mother's hand when his father had looked up across the room and smiled mysteriously at her.
"What happened? It was just air." She looked up at him, her gaze steady on his. "Wasn't it?"
"What are you so afraid of, Judith?" he asked again, a soft demand this time.
She took back her palm, rubbing it up and down her denim-clad thigh, a small frown on her face. When he reached to rub at the little line between her eyes she pulled back. "I told you from the start that I wasn't a good woman, Thomas. I was very truthful with you. I don't want to hurt you."
"So your fear is that you'll somehow hurt me?"
She swallowed and shifted her gaze from his. "Yes."
Her voice had dropped so low it was merely a thread of sound. He felt sadness beating at him until he ached inside and knew it was her--not him--generating the emotion.
He ignored her silent rejection of him and stepped close, invading her space, his hands framing her face. "I'm a grownup, Judith. I don't need your protection, nor do I want it. I take care of my own. Let's just see where this takes us and know I've been properly warned."
Her dark eyes searched his. "There are forces that just . . ." She trailed off, took a breath and tried again. "You could be physically hurt, Thomas, not just emotionally, as if that wouldn't be bad enough. I can't let that happen."
He leaned into her and kissed her sultry mouth. She was worried about him. Worried. That knowledge sent a spiral of happiness blossoming through him. He didn't have anyone who worried about him. "It won't happen, Judith. Let's just go ride the tractor and forget about anything else right now. We're on your farm, the birds are singing and the weather is perfect. We have right now and the rest of the world is far away from us."
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely. And you promised me." He kissed her again and then turned back toward their path.
Judith hesitated, rubbing her hand along her thigh again as if it itched. His own palm burned more than itched. She stepped up beside him and tangled her fingers with his. They walked through the winding, meandering path out into the next circle of the garden, a scattering of artfully placed maple trees and weeping willows, with a natural bubbling creek banked on both sides by varieties of fern incorporated into the extensive gardens.
The moment they were out of the shield of trumpet trees, and into the open Stefan's warning system kick into high gear. They weren't alone. Someone was stalking them in this little paradise Judith had created and that was okay with him. Stefan Prakenskii could handle snakes in the garden.
7
"WHO else lives here, Judith?" Stefan asked, his tone casual, displaying a mild, conversational interest only.
"The farm is one hundred thirty acres, and each of us has five acres so that we have our own private home. There are six houses here." There was the slightest hesitation he doubted anyone else would have noticed. "My sister Rikki is married." Her voice picked up speed. "We do have a central meeting place where we hold barbecues and work out. There's a fairly good gym now. Lissa is really into good health, mind and body, all that sort of thing."
So she hadn't wanted to admit that Rikki was married. Would Lev go that far to cover his tracks? It had been done before, but the results had been disastrous for both parties. Surely he wouldn't repeat such a terrible mistake. Although if his life depended on it . . . Stefan swore to himself. Of course Lev would take advantage of any woman to stay alive. What other choice would he have?
He took a calculated risk. "Maybe you should tell me what subjects are off-limits, Judith, so I don't make any mistakes here. I can't help being interested in your home and family, but if you're uncomfortable disclosing anything personal, I'll try to understand." That was definitely a Stefan Prakenskii maneuver, pushing her into a corner, something Thomas Vincent would never consider doing.
Judith sent him a small apologetic smile. "I guess you can tell I don't go out much. I've forgotten how to converse normally."
She was very, very good at sparring. He was proud of her for her comeback. It didn't suit his purposes so he wasn't going to let her get away with it, but as a sidestep, it was good.
"Then we'll practice. This is where you tell me how you came to buy this amazing piece of property." Start out small, nothing very threatening.
He felt the small flare of power instantly subdued. She was suppressing emotions again. It was a vital clue and one he would hold on to until he had enough to piece together enough information to tell him what was threatening Judith. Whatever she was afraid of was somehow tied up in the purchasing of the farm.
"I met some amazing women at a time in my life when I needed direction and maybe a safe place to rebuild my life--you know, take it in a positive direction. We built a strong bond of first friendship, and then sisterhood. Very quickly we realized we were stronger together. If we pooled our resources, we could build a better life together than apart. Blythe, my oldest sister, you met last night, had family here. She'd seen this little farm for sale and we snapped it up."
"It must have cost a fortune to buy a working farm."
"It was very run-down. We worked together to build it back up. The bare bones were there, and that was our first priority: to get the farm itself on its feet. We lived together in the big community building. It has a kitchen and a couple of bathrooms, so we had shelter while we planted and worked the land."
There was enthusiasm in her voice. He matched it and felt the expected kick of power, taking them both to the next level of passion for the subject--and she was passionate about the farm and her sisters. She kept herself restrained with a tight leash, but it slipped around him, little by little. He could handle her power, even aid her to control it. At the moment, it was in his best interests to allow her spirit a little freedom so she'd continue talking.
"Were you all raised on farms?"/> "No. Why would you think that?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.
The sound of birds fluttering from branch to branch was loud in the small silence. A crow cawed. Another answered. His gaze shifted to the birds and then away. He pulled out his dark glasses and pushed them onto his nose. Lev was out there somewhere watching, and now, he was fairly certain he was correct. No one else had the kind of affinity for animals like his younger brother. The birds were definitely spying on him.
"Look around you, Judith." Stefan gestured toward the lush, prospering plants. "This farm is incredible. Someone has to know what they're doing. I can take over a business and turn it around, but I have to know what I'm doing."
Her shoulders relaxed a little more. "Lexi, my youngest sister, spent most of her life on a farm. She runs things. We just do whatever she tells us and it works."
It probably helped the prosperity that one or more of her sisters was an element: air, fire, water or earth. His heart jumped at the find. Maybe all four elements were represented. With Judith's powerful spirit, they would have no trouble using each of the elements to their advantage. The amazing gardens and rows and rows of vegetables, the groves of trees, made sense to him now.
If he was right, this might be the single most dominant conclave of elements alive. They would be impossibly powerful together, especially with Judith's spirit weaving through each of the talents. One was bound to the earth: Lexi. She would make things grow and prosper.
"I can't believe the job you've done here."
She gestured toward a small open trail wagon. "We can use this to get to the main part of the farm. Lexi was using the tractor on a new field recently. She said we could play around with it there without hurting any of her plants."
"Do you hurt her plants when you drive the tractor?"
She gave a little disdainful sniff. "Ha! You wish. She was referring to your lack of skill, not mine."
Genuine laughter felt amazing. This woman had given him more firsts than he'd considered possible. Teasing was a foreign concept to him and yet he found he enjoyed it immensely. "I'm warning you, Miss Henderson, I'm a very quick learner."
"We'll see."
He found himself weighing the advantages of pretending to be a little inept against showing off. He let her take the driver's seat, slipping into the doorless vehicle beside her. "So Lexi is a genuine farmer and you paint."
"Don't forget my kaleidoscopes," Judith said. "I love my kaleidoscopes."
"You're the artist. Tell me about Rikki, you said she was married. What does she do?"
"She's a sea urchin diver. She loves the sea."
He noted the pride in her voice. She had a soft spot for Lexi, but Rikki was very special to her. Her eyes lit up and she exuded warmth and happiness. He let his spirit absorb hers a little more, to feel that joy in her when she talked about her sisters.
"That's a strange profession." An affinity for the sea. For water. Stefan looked around the farm at the lush plants, and then up at the sky. A water element would be able to control rainfall, giving their farm much needed water to prosper.
"You mean for a woman?"
He grinned at the little bite in her tone. He nudged her with his shoulder. "Judith, you are a secret feminist, aren't you? No, actually I meant a sea urchin diver is something I haven't ever considered being. Tell me the truth. Had you ever considered it?"
She burst out laughing. "No, of course not. Rikki's autistic. She needs the sea like the rest of us need air. The pressure of the water, the solitary way of life, all appeal to her. You should see her though, Thomas, when she's on her boat or in the water, she's just incredible."
"Autistic."
Stefan tried to imagine what that would be like. What kind of fucking worm would stoop so low as to use an autistic woman to hide behind? Damn his brother. Rikki had to have been out in the ocean when the yacht Lev was working on had gone down. She must have picked him up and being trained in the art of survival, Lev had adapted quickly, persuading the poor unsuspecting woman that he loved her. Stefan was furious with his brother for marrying her.
"Is her husband autistic as well?"
A shadow passed over them and he glanced up to see a flock of birds wheeling overhead.
"Why would you ask that?"
"I don't know much about autism," he admitted. "I just thought maybe two people who have a similar difference might find each other."
"Thank you for not saying disability. Rikki is different, but she's whole, complete, and she's wonderful. Fortunately, her husband thinks so as well. He isn't autistic, but he's very protective of her. He helps her stretch her comfort zone a little, so that's good. Levi dives as well. They're a good match."
Levi. Stefan almost said the name aloud in disgust. Lev, you're such a hound. I just might have to beat you within an inch of your life. He found himself furious that his own brother would commit such an atrocity. There had to be a code didn't there?
"Do all of your sisters get along with her new husband?"
The wagon bumped over rough road. "I didn't say he was new."
He shrugged as casual as ever, but she was sharp, there was no question about it. He had to be careful of her probes. "I presumed from your earlier remarks that only you and your sisters bought the farm. You didn't mention him working it or building with you."
Faint color stole into her cheeks. She pushed at the long fall of hair, a gesture betraying nerves. She didn't like talking about good old Levi. Bastard.
"I guess I didn't."
Which told him nothing and yet everything. She wasn't going to tell him when Levi had come into her life. And that meant Lev had drilled it into all of them that his life was in danger and they believed him. Ivanov had come sniffing around this farm; he wouldn't miss Rikki being a sea urchin diver. Somehow she'd put the exterminator off the scent long enough that he'd filed a report and set Stefan up as bait to ferret out his brother.
"And Blythe?"
"She's a spinner. She owns a yarn shop in Sea Haven. She makes the most beautiful quilts as well as sweaters and all sorts of amazing things. Her yarn is sought after all over the world."
Once again enthusiasm and love poured into her voice. He was a man for detail, and Blythe was respected by Judith. It would be Blythe's approval that counted the most with Judith.
All around him were rows and rows of vegetables. He caught a glimpse of a house in the distance, but she didn't volunteer any information about it, so he ignored the structure as well. The road curved around and a lovely little meadow lay in front of them. He could see a large irrigation pond several yards away from the meadow. One side had been sectioned off and a shiny John Deere tractor sat invitingly out in the open.
"The attachment is a plow," Judith said helpfully. "Lexi's cultivating this area."
"How does it work?"
She stopped the trail wagon right there on the dirt road and hopped out. "The plow breaks up large lumps of earth much faster than we could ever do by hand." She glanced up at him. "I don't know how much you want to know and I don't want you to be bored."
He slid out of the wagon and walked around to get to her side. Leaning in close he caught a fistful of that inviting silky black fall of hair and tugged gently until she took the inevitable step into him. His mouth descended on hers and he had the distinct feeling of coming home. Her body melted into his, her soft breasts pressing into his chest, her arms sliding around him, holding him tightly, clinging as if to a safe anchor.
He wasn't safe--and neither was she. The moment his mouth settled over hers, the earth moved. Heat flared. The world changed. He was highly skilled at sex, and exceptionally practiced at the art of seduction, a cold, calculated seduction with him in complete control at all times. His brain always functioned and he completely controlled his body. That was all gone the moment her lips moved against his.
He hadn't ever taken pleasure in kissing. Not like this. Not this shocking loss of self, merging with her until he didn't want to live anywhere but i
n her. He didn't trust instant attraction, yet this was so much more. This was need. This swept emotions he'd forgotten he had into the forefront like a tidal wave.
He tasted innocence in her, tasted home. And that was crazy because he hadn't had a home since he was boy and probably didn't know what the word even meant. Judith. He was coming home. To her. To this farm. To this little village pulsing with so much power. Did the combination have enough power to save a man like him? A man meant for the shadows? His emotions welled up, real and strong, the intensity shaking him. He lost himself there in her mouth, in the feel of her body moving restlessly against his.
She was reluctant to say they could ever have a relationship, yet her body melted into his the moment they touched. She gave herself to him without reservation. He wasn't stupid enough to push his advantage any further and God help him, he didn't want to. He wanted to do this right. He wanted all of her, not just sex with her. The attraction was all-encompassing and he'd been with nothing all of his life not to recognize the real thing when it dropped into his lap.
The photo of her inside his pocket burned through the thin layer of material against his skin, nearly as hot as her kisses. He wanted her with every fiber of his being. He came up for air and took another dive, going under fast. Something stung the back of his neck hard and he jerked back, nearly flinging both of them to the ground, afraid of a bullet, before he heard the angry buzz of a bee.
Lev, you bastard. Back the hell off.
Stefan pressed his hand to the back of his neck. Already there was swelling. "A bee just stung me."
For just one moment Judith looked carefully around them, frowning, as if perhaps she'd felt that small surge of energy. She was spirit and it would make sense that she might feel power in the air as Lev directed the attack.
"Oh, no. Let me see." Judith turned her attention fully to him, her expression anxious.
The sting was almost worth it to see that look in her eyes, but he was furious with Lev and rather satisfied that she might be as well.