Passages (The Kings of Guardian Book 13) Read online

  "Oh, God." There were muffled sobs on the other end of the line. He grabbed Amanda's hand, and she squeezed his back. It took a couple of minutes before Richard spoke again. "I never married. I always wondered what happened. Why she didn't..."

  "She would have, Richard. Had she lived, she would have."

  "Thank you. Thank you for this. I don't know if I would have been as gracious if I were in your shoes."

  "Elizabeth wasn't happy here. She loved us, but she was in love with you."

  "Thank you. You have no idea how well timed this call was for me." The man cleared his throat and in a stronger voice continued, "I will never forget this kindness. Thank you."

  "You are welcome. Live well, Richard."

  "I will now. Thank you, Frank."

  A click ended the call. It took another thirty minutes before he and the ladies could leave the den and face the joy and happiness in the house. They sat, mostly in quiet, absorbing the way life was and what could have been. Life was like that, wasn't it? Happiness, love and joy were wonderful things, unless they were missing in your life. Moments of knee-bending grief and life-sustaining reparation needed the solace of quiet moments to integrate into the fabric of a soul. Whether that solace belonged to your family or a stranger across the country, the need to give the moment the respect it demanded weighed heavy on him, and he could sense the same feeling in his family.

  The en suite bathroom door opened, and Amanda stood backlit by the soft yellow light of the vanity. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” Frank lifted the covers as she approached. She slid in next to him, her body soft and warm next to his skin.

  Amanda reached up with her fingers and traced his face. “I should be mad at you for not telling me sooner.”

  “You can be mad at me all you want.” Frank lifted to his elbow and looked down at the beautiful woman underneath him.

  “I could never stay mad at you.”

  Amanda gave a little sigh when he leaned down to kiss her. His hand traveled across her skin. She was absolutely flawless. Time had left its stamp on her, that was true. Her hair was more gray than dark brown now. The lines beside her eyes were deeper when she laughed. They got tired faster, but there was still fire burning in both of them. Banked a little by age, sure, but the heat hadn’t diminished.

  “Well, that’s a real good thing, hon. Because you got me for years, and years, and years.” Frank punctuated each word with a tender kiss.

  “That’s the best Christmas gift anyone could give this family.” Amanda shifted to allow him to settle between her legs.

  “I love you. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have gone to the doctor. We wouldn’t have the time we have now.” Frank wrapped his arms under her shoulders and covered her completely. Gratitude for the new lease on life he’d been given only intensified his need to be with his wife.

  Making love at their age took a little more foreplay, a little longer to stoke the fire. He made sure he took care of his woman before he allowed himself to tumble over that blissful cliff. He pulled her close to him, and she rested her head on his shoulder. His hands played in the strands of her hair. He’d never tire of holding this woman.

  “Another year passing. They seem to go quicker and quicker as we get older.” Amanda tipped her head up and looked at him. “Why do you think that is?”

  He grunted. His woman laughed at his response. He drew a deep breath and blew it out before he spoke. “I think once you reach our age, you realize just how valuable each minute is. When you treasure something, you pay attention to it. We watch each minute fly by, knowing the next isn’t guaranteed. I reckon that’s why they seem like quicksilver. Moments of life flash and shimmer in front of our eyes before they’re gone forever.”

  “You know, for man who speaks as little as you do, your words are very poetic.” Amanda rolled slightly and kissed his chest.

  He grunted and then laughed as his woman dissolved into giggles.

  Ryan eased back into bed and pulled Bethanie close to him.

  “Oh, my goodness, you’re freezing. What were you doing?” Bethanie curled up next to him and shivered.

  “I heard Ethan get up. So, I went to see what was going on.” He didn’t sleep well in another person’s home, even though he did believe the ranch was secure. A lifetime of training had ingrained the need to be on guard.

  Bethanie propped up on her elbow and looked down at him. “Is he okay?”

  The moonlight that permeated the room provided enough illumination for Ryan to see the concern in her eyes.

  “I believe so. He had some questions for his brothers. Questions I’m sure he didn’t feel comfortable asking either you or me. Mainly about their father and why he was such an abomination.” Ryan accepted Bethanie’s weight as she lay down on top of him. He ran his hands through her riotous curls and thought for the millionth time how fucking lucky he was.

  “I was hoping they would be able to help him,” Bethanie whispered against his chest.

  “Joy trusts both of them. Hell, she married one of them. I think we can trust them to answer Ethan's questions. They genuinely seem to care. Christmas should be interesting.” The amount of people in that ranch house for dinner was... stifling, although he had seen Anubis, Asp and Bengal. Anubis reminded him he needed an hour before Ryan left. Probably to do an official debrief.

  "I wish I would have known. We could have done a little more shopping. I did get presents for Dixon, Drake, Joy and Jillian and Ethan is all set."

  Bethanie had already given him his Christmas present. She'd married him this past summer and before they left, she’d presented him with a ring. That fall, she'd sold their excess veggies and canned jams. They made the trip once a month to the city and the farmer's market. She did well and usually sold out of her produce and canned goods. He never asked what she did with the money. It was hers. He thumbed the silver band on his left ring finger. It was simple, sleek and perfect. He liked wearing a symbol of their love. Her ring was similar. He'd surprised her with it at the ceremony. A small silver band. She hadn't wanted a diamond and he'd honored her wishes.

  Ryan had been thinking for a while now about what present he wanted to give Bethanie. He’d talked to both Dixon and Drake this afternoon while the women were occupied in the kitchen.

  “So, I was wondering, Mrs. Wolf, as my Christmas present to you, would you like to go on a honeymoon?” Her elbows landed on his ribs and he groaned. For being a tiny thing, she could inflict damage.

  “Where would we go? What about Ethan’s school? When?” Bethanie fired off the questions one after the other.

  “Well, if you’d consider it, I thought we could bring Ethan here and let him get to know his brothers while we fly to Fiji or maybe the Maldives.” He held her wide-eyed stare.

  She blinked and blinked again. “Oh, I don’t know what to think about that.”

  “About which part?” Ryan laughed underneath her.

  “Ummm… All of it? I mean, yes, I think Ethan should come and visit his brothers, but what do his brothers think about that? And then there’s the matter of flying. We have to go over water, right? I can’t swim. What happens if we need to get back? If Ethan needs me or you? We would be what... how many hours away? How far is Fiji or the Mal...?"

  "The Maldives Islands."

  "Yeah, that. Can we get there in a day? Can we get back in the day? God, what would Ethan think? Would he think I don't want him with me?” Bethanie stopped and pushed up off his chest, seating herself beside his hip. Palpable worry dripped off her.

  He reached out and ran his hand from her shoulder to her fingertips. He laced their hands together and brought the back of hers to his mouth, placing a tender kiss on the delicate skin. “I know the thought of leaving Ethan terrifies you. I’m not asking you to do this tomorrow. We can research every question you just asked. We’ll talk to Ethan and make sure he’s comfortable staying here. I was thinking maybe next summer. That would give you plenty of time to find out the
answers to every one of your questions. But as far as Dixon and Drake? They would love to have Ethan here. They did say they may be traveling to Arizona and should he be here at that time they asked if they could take him with them.”

  Bethanie slowly bent down and placed a kiss on his lips. “I hope you never get tired of settling my nerves. Someday I won’t be afraid of my shadow.”

  He wrapped his hand around her neck and held her close to his lips. “I will never tire of loving you. I promise to consume you within my protective shadow, one you will never have to fear.” Ryan rolled them and deepened their kiss. This woman was his life. Their son was their future.

  Keelee flopped into bed, exhausted, both mentally and physically, but the tree at the ranch was now loaded with presents for the children. Dixon had made a last-minute run to Rapid City to buy a few presents for Ethan, and Keelee had volunteered to wrap them for him tonight. She was so damn happy they had finally met their little brother. His mom, Bethanie, was a sweetheart. So damn young and innocent. She could hardly remember being that young.

  Adam rolled over and pulled her into the warmth of his arms. His voice was groggy as he snuggled against her back, spooning her. "Well, Mrs. Clause, is everything set for the morning?"

  "As set as it can be. I swear Tori had to stand guard outside her boys' rooms. They were so hyped it took forever for them to fall asleep. Reece and Talon are bunking together, so that was a dynamic duo of hilarity. Jade and Nic took Royce for the night, so Jason and Faith had a night alone, which is something I don't think happens often."

  Adam jerked his head up. "Jade is watching Royce?"

  "No, Jade and Nic are watching Royce."

  "Oh, must have missed that. The kid's safe, then." Adam snuggled down again. "Lizzy was a wild child until about ten. She faded out on the couch."

  "Thank you for distracting her. I'm glad everyone made it this year." Glad and exhausted. She'd worked her ass off so Amanda didn't have to worry about anything.

  "I talked to Frank after dinner. The docs are very pleased with his progress. His check up in six months will be a full battery of tests, but as it stands now, they are declaring his treatment a success."

  "That cancer has a high cure rate. I looked it up on the internet, but I was still scared shitless. I don't know what I'd do without Dad."

  "You'd push forward, the way he taught you." Adam turned her in his arms. "You’re so much more than you give yourself credit for."

  Keelee scoffed, "I'm just a rancher."

  "You're that, and a wonderful daughter, a fantastic mom, and a sexy as fuck lover." He leaned down and kissed her. "I'm the luckiest man in the world because I get to see all the aspects of you shine every day."

  "Every day? Well, Doctor Cassidy, is that your way of saying we need to have sex more often?" Keelee slid her hands up his muscled arms.

  "Oh, woman, I wouldn't complain about having sex every day." He lowered and took her lips again.

  Keelee's body ignited under his touch. Her body heated and her pajamas were pushed over her head. Adam's lips traveled slowly over her skin, stopping and lingering at the spots that drove her insane with need. She ran her fingers through his hair and clenched them when he tongued her nipple. She arched her back into his caress. His gentle touch and soft kisses had always driven her insane. Her life was hard, rugged, and demanding. Their love was the antithesis of the hardness they lived day to day.

  Tears filled her eyes when he entered her. Tears of happiness and of relief. Worry and stress had kept her stoic, but here, with her husband, she could allow herself to be soft, uncertain and afraid.

  "It's all right, sweetheart. Everything will be all right. I've got you. Let it go." Adam kissed her neck as he thrust deep inside her.

  Keelee arched under him as she allowed herself to do just that. She was safe here in Adam's arms.

  Joy rolled over when Dixon came back into the room and undressed. "Was the kid okay?" She narrowed her eyes at her husband. "Do not get the idea you're going to put your cold-ass feet on me."

  Dixon laughed, jerked the covers off her and jumped into bed, plastering his cold-as-fuck body against hers.

  She tucked her knees and pushed him off her with her legs. He laughed and braced himself on his hands in a push up. "I didn't put my feet on you."

  "Dick. I didn’t pony up for this shit." She opened her legs and he dropped down, settling between them.

  "Yeah, my dick was cold too. Admit it, you knew what I was when you married me."

  Joy grunted in agreement. Yeah, she did.

  "Ethan's fine. He wanted to know about Harvey. We were as honest as we could be." Dixon shrugged and concentrated on playing with a strand of her hair rather than looking at her. She got it. That period in his life was brutal.

  "You think that bastard hurt him?" She'd go find the motherfucker's ashes and burn him again. That kid Ethan was all right. Well, as far as kids went, he was, but all kids kinda fell into a wait-and-see category with her. She was just now checked out to handle Talon and Reece. Their parents actually let her watch them for short periods of time. The older boys were talkative and curious, but they listened when she told them something. That was pretty fucking awesome.

  "I think Harvey had a mental mind-fuck going on, but talking to Ethan, I don't think it had escalated to the physical abuse—yet. He wasn't old enough. Thank God." Dixon dropped his head to her shoulder.

  She traced her fingers up and down his back. The muscles jumped under her touch.

  "So, how did I rate on Christmas gifts?" Joy tried to make the question seem casual, but damn it, she wanted to know.

  Dixon lifted his head and his eyes traveled over her face almost as if he could search out and find her insecurities. "Bringing them here was probably the best Christmas gift Drake and I have ever been given. Thank you."

  Joy pushed his hair back from his forehead. "That isn't all you get for Christmas." She lifted one eyebrow and waited.

  "What else did you get me? Gummy Bears?" He hitched his eyebrows up repeatedly. The man-child.

  "Nope. Guess again." Joy lifted her hips grinding into his erection. His eyes rolled back in his head.

  "Please, for all things merry and bright, tell me we are going to have mind-blowing sex." Dixon thrust against her hip.

  “Just so we're clear, Quick Draw, I only do mind-blowing sex on Christmas.” Joy pushed him up onto his knees. His cock was hard and pointing straight at her. She reached over to the nightstand and opened the drawer. Looking back over her shoulder, she pulled out a red satin ribbon, wrapped it around her neck, and tied it in a bow. She turned around and leaned back against the headboard. "Merry Christmas, Dixon. Tonight, we reach ten."

  "I retract my earlier statement. You are the best present I've ever received." Dixon dropped to his hands to the ribbon and slid it off her neck. "I love you."

  Chapter 14

  “Dix, man, would you hurry up?” Drake whined as he lifted onto his toes and patted around at the back of the kitchen cabinet. Score. He pulled the plastic bag forward and a smile split his face. He dropped the five-pound bag of sour gummy worms onto the game board they’d set up on the kitchen table. It landed with a resounding thud, moving all the pieces off their squares.

  “Awesome!” Ethan grabbed the bag from the board and reset the game pieces.

  Drake snatched the bag, ripped it open, and scattered half of the contents on the tabletop amongst the three of them. “You can’t play strategic games like this without sugar reinforcements.” He popped a blue and red, sugar-coated worm into his mouth.

  Ethan grabbed an orange and yellow one and bit it in half. Speaking around his gummy worm he laughed, “You just want reinforcements because you’re losing so bad.”

  “See, that’s just it. It’s highly improbable you can anticipate the genius of my moves. My conquest is imminent. Failure to register this tactic would be unpropitious and lead to ominous consequences.” Drake leaned forward and stared at his little brother.
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br />   Ethan stopped chewing and snorted. He turned to Dixon. “So… why does he use all those multisyllabic words? Is there a problem with his brain?”

  Ethan jumped out of his chair and away from Drake. It would’ve been an effective move had he not been laughing his ass off. Drake grabbed Ethan and, as they fell to the kitchen floor, tickled his ribs until the boy nearly screamed with laughter.

  “Stop! Stop! I give. I give. Get off me.”

  Dixon wiped the tears from his eyes as he reached down and grabbed his twin brother by the belt, hauling him off Ethan. It was all he could do to hang on to Drake who was laughing as hard as Ethan. God, the kid was perfect.

  Dixon released Drake and they all ended up on the floor in a pile of laughter. “Ethan, my man, you are one hundred and fifty percent our brother.” Dixon reached out his fist. Ethan’s smaller knuckles bumped his.

  The two men scooted up to sitting, backs braced against the base cabinets.

  “Do you always talk that way?” Laughter filled Ethan’s voice as he asked Drake the question.

  As it fell backwards, his head hit the cabinet with a thunk. “Dude, I don’t know how long ago we started doing that shit. I think it was in high school. For comic relief, you know what I mean? But now it’s like a habit, and you gotta admit learning new words just to piss off your brother, it’s epic.”

  Dixon’s head rolled toward Ethan. “Next time you visit, you can impress us with your vocabulary.”

  Ethan sat back against the cabinet and mimicked the positions Dixon and Drake were in. He draped his arms over his knees. “I don’t know how often we can visit. My mom is still really afraid of everything. I don’t think she’s gotten over knowing people were trying to kill us. My dad, he makes sure we’re safe.” The kid stared at his fingers for a moment. “Maybe, if Dad says it’s okay, you can come to the mountain. I’d like you to meet Dog, but he’s really more wolf than dog.”