For a second, Demetri stiffened and then he threw back his head and started to laugh. His woman was insatiable and the blood was already rushing to his groin at the thought of what he was going to do to her. “So I do, wife,” he laughed, his deep green eyes sparkling with lust. “I believe you were telling me how you weren’t afraid of me…?”
Mara shrieked as he stood up, throwing her over his shoulder as he did. He gave her backside a hard swat, making her shriek again with laughter. “Let’s go test out that premise, woman.”
*****
Caleb parked his car in front of the huge house that made up the training and living areas of the Praetorians. He waited briefly inside the car, his eyes taking in the couple standing on the top step to the main entrance, arms wrapped around each other, lips joined in a kiss so passionate it would have made most humans blush to witness. Mac and Lily made an impressive couple. Even melded together in a heated embrace, they gave off a sense of power, always alert to everything around them.
Lily was clearly feeling in a feminine mood, dressed in a pretty blue summer dress with her chestnut hair cascading over her shoulder. There was a glow about her that was more than just being newly mated. It was an inner radiance that he’d seen many times over the years from female Weres in the early stages of pregnancy. Lily had that same look about her and he couldn’t help but smile that he’d soon get to enjoy another generation of the pack entering the world.
Mac was her complete counterpoint, taller, with wide shoulders. His black hair fell in a single braid down his back. He was dressed for combat in black jeans and T-shirt, bathed in an aura of fluidity even though he was standing still. There was no mistaking his love for his mate; the way he held her spoke to a level of protectiveness she didn’t need. But like all vampires, Mac wasn’t about to leave anything to chance that may cause harm to come to his woman, especially now that she carried his child.
It would likely be a long time before the Praetorian Leader would ease up on his overprotectiveness towards his mate. The past was what shaped everyone, no matter what species they were. And Mac’s past was tinged red with the loss of his wife and daughter when he was still human. Finding love again with Lily and learning to adapt to becoming a father again would take some time, but Caleb was sure his friend would overcome any issues he still needed to work through.
Mac pulled away from Lily, glancing over at the car. Caleb climbed out and headed over to the couple as Lily turned serious eyes on him and leaned her back against Mac’s chest. Her mate’s arms automatically surrounded her, holding her tightly against him.
“Kitchen,” she said in a loud stage whisper, her lips quirking as the serious expression melted away.
Mac chuckled, rubbing his chin against her hair as Caleb raised an enquiring eyebrow. “Lily has a theory that the only way she’ll get to remodel the house is if the rooms are demolished by irate vampires. So far she’s got a pretty study and we now have a girlie living room.”
There was a bit of an edge to Mac’s tone but it held more amusement than anything else. It was enough to tug Caleb’s lips up further in a smile and he nodded his head to Lily. “I’ll be sure to concentrate on the kitchen if I lose it again.” He winked at her as he spoke, bringing a peel of laughter from the Varcolac.
She pulled out of her mate’s arms and gave the Ancient a spontaneous hug. “It’s okay, we forgive you, Caleb. And Mac really can’t complain because he was the one who destroyed the study.” She gave her mate a saucy wink as she hurried down the steps. “Sorry, but I need to run. I have to get over to the pack. Kitchen duties await me.”
Caleb gave her a quizzical look. “But it’s breakfast time.” He’d heard that Rafe had tailored her chastisement to fit her new living arrangements and mating so she was excused breakfast detail.
“Rafe may have given me a reprieve, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it,” she laughed as she walked towards one of the waiting Jeeps and pulled open the door. “See you later!”
Mac waved, smiling as he watched his mate drive away. It was hard letting her go every day when all he really wanted to do was wrap her up in cotton wool. He knew there was no way in hell his Lily would let him get away with that shit though. He also understood the importance of chain of command, and how much Rafe’s approval meant to his mate. She needed to feel she’d earned back his respect, and Mac would do whatever he could to help her achieve that.
“She’s a remarkable young woman,” Caleb smiled, nodding his approval as he turned to face the Praetorian leader.
“More so than most people realise,” Mac agreed, pride in his voice. “She’s been up half the night visiting with the injured in the infirmary. She’ll do the same tonight too, after a full day at the pack. I have to fight to get her to come to bed, but she weeps at the thought of Brandon being on his own, and I can’t stand to see her tears.” His expression was troubled as he continued to gaze into the distance where his mate had disappeared.
“Brandon? Infirmary?” Caleb was confused. The Praetorians didn’t have an infirmary or at least they hadn’t had one couple of days ago.
“We needed a way to accommodate the injured so as we were fixing up the living room, we restructured some of the first floor into one big room and put them in there. Come in and see for yourself.” Mac headed inside and Caleb followed, sparing a quick glance into the newly decorated living room.
Lily’s hand was evident in the soft creams on the walls, and the large comfortable looking sofas and chairs in red with cream accents. The wooden floor now had rugs to give it a splash of colour and luxuriance. He had to concede the room looked good as he followed Mackenzie upstairs.
There wasn’t any hint that the room he followed his friend into had once been at least three large bedrooms. It was now one larger room with half a dozen hospital beds along one wall, complete with some impressive looking hospital equipment. Caleb noted that a couple vampires in the room were following some Weres on their rounds. The vampiric shadows were watching and noting everything the Weres did as they completed their checks on machines and made notes on charts.
“Weres training vampires? Mac, how the hell did you manage to pull this all together in two days?”