Sweeter Than Wine (27 page)

Sebastian smiled, knowing their friendship would continue as it had, and be even stronger for sharing both danger and caring. “How much do you remember?”

“Pretty much all of it, but it has a hazy, dreamlike quality.”

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Sebastian couldn’t resist teasing his friend. “She made you purr in human form.”

“You’re shitting me. I thought that part must have been wishful thinking.”

“I’m afraid not.” Sebastian smiled at Matt’s stunned expression.

“You know how rare that is, don’t you?”

“I’ve heard things, but I wasn’t entirely sure.”

“Let’s put it this way. My sire passed on only one piece of advice to me and my brothers where females were concerned. He said if any of us ever found a female who could make us purr, we should marry the girl before she could get away.”

Sebastian’s arms tightened around Christina as she snuggled into his chest. “Sorry, Matt. This one’s mine.”

“I know. That’s the hell of it. Damn. It’s gotta be that vampire mojo you all have.

The only other time in my life I ever came close to purring was with Althea Williams.

Remember her?”

“Do I ever. She was quite a woman. And quite a bit younger than me. Rumor has it she’s barely a century. I didn’t know you’d bedded her. How in the world did that come about?”

Matt sighed. “It’s a long story.”

“And I’d love to hear it,” Christina chimed in, her eyes still closed, “but I’ll thank you not to be talking, or even
thinking
, of other women after what we just did to save your miserable hide. Ungrateful cat.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Matt said with some guilt, falling to his knees at her side, “you know I didn’t mean—”

“She’s teasing you, brother.” Sebastian squeezed her ribs, tickling a giggle out of her as she opened her eyes. “My woman has a mischievous streak, I’m afraid.”

Matt sat back on his haunches and sighed. “Damn, girl, you had me scared there for a minute. But I hope you know how grateful I truly am for what you did for me. I really like your kind of medicine.”

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She leaned forward and placed her hands on his shoulders, drawing him close for a quick kiss. “I’m glad you’re okay.” There were tears in her voice as she whispered of her happiness.

“Me too.” Matt brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear as she sat back. “Thank you both for caring enough to save me.”

“Just returning the favor, my friend.” Sebastian cuddled Christina close as Matt went back to the bed. They were all tired after the excesses of the previous hours, but it was a good kind of tired.

Sebastian scooted Christina off his lap and they both stood. She gathered their clothing and donned her top while handing Sebastian his pants. In short order they were both presentable.

“There’s plenty of food in the kitchen,” Sebastian said on his way toward the door.

“Hastings’ people restocked earlier today, I heard.”

Matt’s stomach rumbled at the mention of food and they all laughed. Christina glanced back and blew a kiss toward the
were
cougar before heading out the door.

Sebastian lingered with his hand on the knob.

“You’re part of us, Matt,” he said, finding it hard to express the thoughts in his mind, the feelings in his heart. “What you did…when you took down Mario…that’s something I will never forget. Ever.”

Matt didn’t speak, but as their eyes met, Sebastian knew the other man understood.

Theirs was a bond deeper than mere friendship. For as long as any of them lived, the bond forged in danger and tempered by fire would stand strong between them.

Sebastian left and Matt showered and dressed. He went first to the kitchen, where one of the
were
hawks had made a rare roast. Matt chowed down and soon felt much better. Except for the disturbing idea that Christy had made him purr.

Cameron came into the kitchen as Matt was digging into a bowl of gelatin for dessert. The fey turned a chair around and sat opposite him, staring at him until Matt was forced to look up.

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“What? Do I have Jell-O on my nose?”

Cam barked out a laugh. “No, laddie, but Sebastian mentioned you might be troubled.”

“And you thought you’d stick your nose in? Cam, your advice is what led to this little…difficulty.”

“You’re very focused on noses for some reason.” Cam fingered the tip of his own nose for a second before his eyes cleared of laughter. “But I’m glad to see you looking better, my lad. That taint was nasty stuff and I was at a loss as to how to lift it.”

“So you sent them to me. Dammit, Cam!” Matt shoved the dish and spoon aside.

“Now you can’t tell me you regret it.” Cam’s knowing expression demanded no less than the truth.

“Of course not,” Matt swore. “But the whole purring thing. Fuck! That wasn’t supposed to happen. Not with Christy.”

Cam sat back and eyed him. “Lad, I’ve known more than a few of your kind in my times in this realm. I’ve run across this problem before and take it from me. This is not the problem you might think it is.”

Matt didn’t believe him, though he wanted to. He sat back and watched the other man, waiting for him to elaborate.

“It’s true, the purr is rare for you
were
cats. Sebastian told me what your father said and your old man was right—for the most part. The thing is, in recent centuries,
were
and bloodletter haven’t interacted much, so you don’t realize that your reaction to Christy’s new power is fairly common. In fact, I’m surprised it didn’t happen in your earlier encounters. My only guess is that she wasn’t as comfortable in her power at first and you weren’t as susceptible as when you were so weak from the poison.”

“So you think it was to be expected?”

Cam nodded. “More than that, I think you can rest easy. The purr will help you determine your true mate, but such things don’t count when you’re talking about mixing
weres
and vamps. Among other
were
cats or even with mortals, you might find a woman 214

who can bring out the beast in you, even in human form. Such a woman would be potential mate material and I’ll admit, it’s rare, but it is possible.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever want to find a true mate, Cam,” Matt admitted in a moment of candor. “Not until I witnessed the bond between Christy and Sebastian. But now I wonder if there’s someone out there who could complete me the way they complete each other.”

Cam’s eyes clouded while the silence stretched. He blinked and came back, smiling with his customary cunning. “I’ll tell you this, laddie. There is someone out there who could make you as happy as our vampire friends, but you’ll have to be smart enough to recognize her when you see her.” Cam stood and pushed the chair back under the table as he grinned. “She’ll lead you a merry chase, but I think you’ll do all right. You’ll just have to expect the unexpected. Not everything is as it seems.”

Cameron left and Matt cursed even as he pulled the bowl of gelatin back in front of him. Muttering, he spooned up more of the dessert. “Damned fey always speak in riddles.” But the smile that curved the corners of his mouth belied the light feeling in his heart. For the first time since witnessing the joining between Christy and Sebastian, Matt had hope for his own love life.

He sat in silence for a while, mulling over Cameron’s words, when the back door opened. Hastings walked in and slapped a folder stuffed with papers on the table as he hooked a chair and sat down on the opposite side of the table.

“Glad to see you up and around, Matt.”

“Thanks. Me too.” Matt swallowed a sip of coffee and sat back. “So where did everyone go? The place looks like it’s emptying out.”

“My team is going on shifts. Sebastian’s asked us to help with security here. We’re also going to be working with Atticus at the winery. This mess has brought a lot of business my way, but I can’t say I’m pleased by the necessity. Still, the work is good to have. Vamps pay well.” Hastings wore the smug grin of a business man that almost made Matt laugh. The raptor had killer instincts no matter what the playing field.

“Where’s Steel?”

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“He took off already, but we had a talk before he left. He’s going to be investigating his handlers in the AC from here on out. Any jobs he takes for them will be strictly for show and as far as they’re concerned, all of Kelly LaTour’s friends are still mortal and he has no idea what happened to their boy Mario.” Hastings snagged a mug from the counter behind him and poured a cup of coffee for himself. “Steel is going to work with us to figure out what’s going on over in the
Altor Custodis
and just how deep the
Venifucus
threat goes.”

“Sounds dangerous.”

Hastings sat back, his eyes going cold. “It is, but Steel can handle himself. He’s just the kind of man we need on the inside.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Matt raised his coffee cup and Hastings joined in the toast. Steel had impressed quite a few of them with his skill and strength under fire, not to mention his deep and true remorse for what had happened to the people he’d investigated in the past. Matt knew the former Navy SEAL would work hard to make up for his mistakes, though he’d have to live with the guilt for a long time to come. Still, he was a worthy ally and Matt was glad Steel was playing on their team now.

At sunset that same day, Christy woke in Sebastian’s arms.

“Good morrow, my love.” Sebastian stroked her hair as he gazed deep into her eyes.

“Have I told you yet today how much I love you?” She knew, looking up at him, that this was the man she would spend the rest of her life with, though the possible length of that life still boggled her mind. He’d changed her life so drastically, and all for the good.

It was hard to think now about the person she’d been just a few weeks before. How could a man like this want such a weakling? The idea still made her pause.

“I knew you were special the moment I saw you at that wedding, Christina. You should be able to read that much in my memories. I have no doubt we were meant to be together.” He leaned in to nibble at her throat. “I cursed the fact that you were married 216

and had plans to wait for you, no matter how long it took. Eventually, you would be mine. I had faith.”

Amazingly, she could feel the truth of his words. Just as she’d dreamed of him when the nights were long and lonely in her troubled home, he’d held hope that someday she’d be free and they would be together.

“I dreamed of you, Sebastian, so many nights.”

“I know.” A wicked light entered his eyes. “But I bet you never counted on some of the things I demanded of you. Can you ever forgive me for springing Matt on you so soon after your trauma? If there’d been any other way, I would’ve taken it, but that first meal was crucial.”

She smiled up at him. “I understand your reasons now, but I will admit, it was hard to take at first. I mean…” She felt heat rise to her cheeks as she remembered those first encounters. “I had all this new, sexual energy pushing me to do things I’d never done before, though I had fantasized about some of them. Some of the things we did though, I never thought of in my wildest dreams.” She laughed with embarrassment and a growing sensual thrill as Sebastian’s fingers trailed over the sensitive skin of her abdomen.

“I knew Matt would treat you right and push your boundaries. I’m glad it worked out, though I was worried you might hate me. Or that you might prefer Matt to me. Of course, then there’d be one less
were
cougar in the world today.” His dry tone made her gasp with scandalized laughter.

“Sebastian!” She pushed at his arm, knowing he was only teasing about doing away with his friend, though she could feel the very real fears he’d harbored before they’d been joined. “Do you think Matt will be okay now?”

“He’d damn well better be. I don’t like sharing.” He tightened his arms around her, snuggling her close.

“Don’t you?” She blinked up at him, teasing him with the thoughts she could read in his mind. “That’s not what you thought last night.”

“Well,” Sebastian cleared his throat, playing along, “perhaps I should rephrase that.”

He moved quicker than lightning, laying her flat on the bed while he loomed over her.

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His eyes were hot with desire, his body warm over hers. “You’re mine, Christina.

Forevermore. You are my sun, moon and stars, my days and most importantly, my nights.

I’m a jealous man, my love, and I won’t be so generous with anyone other than Matt.

And even then, not often. He needs to find his own mate, but until he does, we can’t ignore the fact that he’s joined to us.” He leaned closer. “To do so would be cruel, and even I will admit, the possibilities are…intriguing.”

The fire in his gaze made her squirm. “Sebastian, I don’t think—”

“Good.” He leaned in to kiss her. “Don’t think.” He kissed her again. “Let me worry about Matt and his role in our lives. Given time, I think it’ll all work out, my love. You’ll see. For now, I just want to claim my mate again. And again. And again. I want you to never forget that I’m the man you will walk into eternity with.”