He nodded.
“Trace, someone stole you from me. I’m worried about you. How can you be so calm?” The last, I muttered to myself, but his little supersonic hearing picked it up.
“I wasn’t worried after Grandma told me we would be going home soon. But Lynda was hurt, and I didn’t know that’s why we couldn’t leave, so I fixed her, but then the mean guy hurt Auntie Jazz but she wouldn’t let me fix her. The next day the mean guy hurt Auntie Jazz again and broke Miss Lynda’s ribs, and I needed to fix her again.” He said it so matter-of-factly, I was speechless for a moment.
“Grandma said… so you fixed her… twice… just like that,” I babbled, unable to connect my words for a proper sentence.
“Yeah. Then Dad was there like she said he would be, and we came home. But you won’t let me get any sleep, and I’m really tired.” His heavy eyes were testament to his words, but I was still struck dumb at everything that had happened and how my son was processing it all. Granted, the child had always had a strange calmness about him when it came to serious or frightening situations. But still. This was over the top.
And he was talking about his grandmother telling him his father was going to be there to rescue him. There was no way it had beenmymother, which meant my son still had conversations with hisdeadgrandmother.
Why am I the only one who’s still going crazy?
Jasmine wasn’t talking much. Angel had fixed her physical ailments, much to her frustration, and he was now resting in my bed. I wished someone was able to fix the mental damage to her at what we were pretty sure she’d endured. I prayed my son had seen none of that, and Lynda assured us they had been able to shelter him from most of what happened after they were taken. Yet, he knew they’d both been hurt, so who knew what he’d been aware of during their ordeal.
Indecision was heavy in my heart. My son’s hand settled over mine where it rested over his heart. “It’s okay. I’ll be right here, Momma.” My own heart tripped, not only at his insanely mature demeanor, but also at his calling me Momma. He only did that when he was trying to set my mind at ease or he wanted something, because it always pulled at my heartstrings.
“Well, if you need me, I’ll be right next door.” Not sure who I was trying to reassure with that, him or myself.
“Okay, goodnight. Love you,” he said as he turned to his side and closed his eyes.
“Love you too, baby,” I said softly, then crawled out of the bed.
Feeling like I’d been brushed off, I took my confused self to my room. Just in case, I left both doors cracked. That way I could hear him if he needed anything.
As I stood next to my bed, I stared down at the large man taking up most of the real estate. One tattooed arm was thrown up over his head; the other rested low on his abdomen. His dark lashes feathered over his cheeks and his lips were parted slightly. The sheet was pushed down on his hips where a trail of dark hair led to the bulge that was outlined by the white fabric.
I was struck immobile by the masculine beauty that was the man I loved. It hit me that I couldn’t lie to myself any longer. He was my other half. My hero in a dark, tattered cape.
Suddenly exhausted, I quietly climbed in the bed and curled up to his warm body. His arm came down and wrapped around me. “You okay?” he mumbled, and I looked up in surprise. I’d thought he was sleeping, but evidently he was only resting.
Able to let go, I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as I laid my head back down. “I’m not really sure,” I whispered as my fingers feathered over the light smattering of hair on his firm chest.
“Baby, we’ve bumped up security here to rival Fort Knox. He’s safe.” He nuzzled his nose in my hair, and I nodded against his skin. The next thing I knew, he was softly snoring. An unexpected smile curled my lips as I pressed a kiss to his chest and relaxed into his quiet strength.
As I dozed off, I sent up a prayer of thanks for the safe return of my son and friends. I also sent one up to thank the powers that be for the man I was quickly finding it hard to live without.
Since Trace had been rescued, I’d been a bit of a basket case. Though I was elated that he was safe, I was determined to make my mother pay. And not only for her connection to my son’s abduction, but also for all the years she’d stolen from us as a family. Every thought ate at me, though Angel had promised me she wasn’t going to get away with what she’d done.
He’d been gone for a day on a “mission” that he couldn’t tell me anything about. I’d asked, but I’d gotten standard “club business” response. He’d returned home tired and quiet.
“Why is my mother still in town?” I asked as we were getting ready for bed that night. Things had settled, but there was still a tension in the air. Jameson and Sadie had returned home, but Voodoo’s grandmother had remained. I liked her, but the way she watched me constantly made me nervous. As if she could read my mind.
Angel did that sexy man thing where he grabbed his T-shirt behind his neck and tugged it over his head. Damn near drooling, I blinked as he unbuckled his belt, dropped his pants, and stepped out of them, underwear and all. When he turned to toss them on the chair, I watched the tattooed wings on his back appear to flutter with the movement of the muscles beneath his taut skin. It reminded me that I had yet to ask him about any of his newer tattoos.
“No clue. Reports say she’s here on business,” he replied as my gaze dropped to his perfectly sculpted ass. When he turned back around, I was transfixed by the carnally beautiful length hanging between his legs. The one that was slowly thickening and rising to point in my direction.
He cleared his throat. “Eyes up here,” he said with a chuckle, and my cheeks heated. Unashamed of his nudity, he rounded the bed and closed in on me. Strong hands curled around my arms and gently brought me flush with his Adonis-like body. He nudged my chin up, and I took in the mischievous glint in his eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a hushed whisper, as if I had no clue. The heat of his now fully erect shaft could be felt through the single layer of clothing that separated us. Mine.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he rasped out as he dipped to kiss the corners of my mouth, then trailed his teasing lips over my cheeks before moving along my jaw. Shivers of anticipation shot through me.
“I think you’re trying to distract me,” I replied as I tipped my head to grant him better access.
“Mmm, is it working?”
“Yes,” I breathed out on a satisfied sigh as his teeth grabbed the sensitive skin where my neck and shoulders met. “But Trace—”