Black Silk Page 12

  “But... Oh God, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but can’t we remain friends if I decide no?”

  “No. My instinct will still be to mark you if I’m around you. When you said the other day that it was fate that we met, you didn’t know how close you were to the truth. You are my fated one.” He reached across the expanse of couch and stroked my ankle with his index finger, as if he was afraid to get closer. “It doesn’t happen to many of us, but when it does it’s for life, even without a marking.”

  “Don’t leave me, Cole.” I wanted him in my life as my lover, but if I couldn’t have that, then I wanted him to stay as a friend, if that were at all possible.

  “I’m not going anywhere... yet. When you decide what you want, then and only then will I leave, if necessary.” He stood up and held out his hand for mine. I rose as well but I didn’t give him my hand and he dropped his down to his side.

  I moved to the stairs, but he stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm. “Do you want me to sleep down here?”

  “Cole, we’ve slept together for the past three nights, I don’t know exactly what set you off this evening, but I don’t think you’ll try and do it again until I allow it.”

  “You have a lot of faith in me.”

  I thought about that for a moment. “Yes, I do. I think you’re an honorable man and I don’t think you’ll do anything against my will. Look at what happened this evening – you stopped yourself.”

  “No, you stopped me. But I heard you and I listened.” He moved his hand down my arm and grasped my hand. We kept our hands entwined while we locked up and turned out the lights. Cole was a perfect gentleman all night and I slept peacefully in his arms, waking only once when Mister joined us in bed.

  Before the alarm clock had a chance to ring, we were awoken by a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder. I lay in bed and listened to the pounding of the rain on the window, depressed that I had to run errands in such weather. I turned over to say good morning to Cole, only to find him getting out of bed.

  “Cole, we don’t have to get up yet, it’s awfully early.”

  He pulled on a pair of jeans and leaned over the bed to give me a quick kiss. “I can’t lie next to you in bed, sweetheart, at least not while I’m awake. Even your scent turns me on, and if I get turned on, regardless of whether or not we have sex, I’d want to put my mark on you. I’m trying to be good, but you would tempt a saint.”

  “I’m sorry this is so difficult for you, Cole. I wish...” I didn’t finish my sentence because nothing I could wish for would help him. Only my decision could. Did I love him or not?

  “It’s okay, Vic. I’m going down to make coffee, you come down when you’re ready and we’ll finalize our plans for today. After we’ve caught and handed over Kincaid to the authorities, we’ll sit down and sort things out.”

  I lay in bed staring at the ceiling for what seemed like ages after he went downstairs. My thoughts whirled around in my head and they kept coming back to one question. How could I love someone I’d met only a week ago? I knew I cared for Cole, but love? Even if I did love him I wasn’t sure I’d want him to bite me; those teeth have got to hurt. But, I thought with satisfaction, I could always bite him back!

  Cole was right, we needed to deal with Kincaid first.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I arrived at my store just before noon. I felt exposed as I unlocked the door. I knew that Cole was somewhere in the vicinity, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched, and not just by Cole. Perhaps it was my were gene that was warning me of the presence of danger or maybe it was just my own sixth sense. I pretended indifference because I knew I had to stick to the plan. Forcing myself not to look over my shoulder, I entered the shop and began to get things ready for the day.

  As I’d run my errands earlier, I’d felt a malicious presence. Cole had confirmed my suspicions when I’d returned from WalMart. He’d seen Kincaid following me. We were both sure that he was just watching and wouldn’t make his move until dark when he could catch me alone. After all, he hadn’t tried anything during daylight so far.

  I had a steady stream of customers all afternoon; it seemed that Cole continued to be good for business. Everyone either had something to say about him or wanted to find out about him. Some even asked me straight out if there was something going on between us. I smiled a lot and remained non-committal in my answers. When I wasn’t parrying inquiries on my private life I was thinking about the dilemma that was Cole. I didn’t want to lose him; that much I was sure of. Did I want to commit to him for life? What he was suggesting was far more serious than marriage. A marriage can be dissolved; mating for life was ‘until death do us part’ for real.

  Late in the afternoon my musings were interrupted by the shrill sound of the telephone.

  “Hudson’s Books.” My public voice automatically slipped into place.

  "Keep looking over your shoulder, Victoria. I'm waiting for you to talk to the police. I'm watching you." The voice I heard on the other end of the line sent chills through me, but it also added steel to my spine.

  "I'm not retracting my statement. I know what you look like and I'm not going to lie."

  "Lady, your life just got a whole lot shorter."

  "You don't scare me, Kincaid." I was pleased that my voice remained strong and steady.

  "You won't always have pretty boy as your shadow, I’ll catch you when you’re alone. Remember, I'm watching you."

  Before I could say anything else I heard the dialing tone. Without missing a beat I dialed Cole’s number. “He called.”

  “Come into your back room.”

  I put down the phone and checked to make sure that my sole customer was engrossed in her book search. Seeing that she was, I picked up some papers at random from the counter and walked into the office. Cole was inside, leaning back against the little sink, his arms cross over his chest.

  I kept my voice low; I didn’t want to be heard out in the shop. “He threatened me. Said I wouldn’t always have you around, and that my life just got a whole lot shorter.”

  Cole pushed himself away from the sink and put his arms around me. “Good. He’s taken the bait, now we need to reel him in. Are you scared?”

  I pulled away and opened the door a crack to check on my customer, she looked like she was actually reading the book in the store instead of buying it and taking it home. I shrugged; it wasn’t worth bothering about so I shut the door quietly. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, but if we’re going to catch him we have to stick with the plan.”

  “Good girl. I’ll be back just before seven.” He leaned forward, kissed me on the cheek and said, “Be careful.” He dematerialized before I could say ‘you too.’

  He was as good as his word and just before seven he sauntered into the store. He was grinning when he greeted me. “Let’s put on a good show. You need to get good and mad at me.”

  “I might have trouble with that unless you give me some ammunition. How about becoming the caveman again.”

  “I can do that.” He changed his whole demeanor, the way he was standing and the look on his face became hard. “Get your coat.” He barked it like an order.

  Even though I knew he was playacting, it still put my back up. “Don’t tell me what to do. I’ll get my coat when I want to and not before.” I was careful to fling my hands around in annoyance and schooled my face into an angry scowl. Anyone looking in the window would see that I wasn’t happy with Cole. I finished up my closing routine and went to get my coat.

  Cole grabbed my keys and all but pushed me out the door, taking charge of setting the alarm and locking the door. I tapped my foot in seeming impatience, putting a hand on my hip for good measure. Cole turned, grabbed my arm and frog-marched me to my car, his long strides making me take little running steps just to keep up. When we reached the car I rounded on him. “How dare you treat me like this! I have a say in this. You don’t own me.” I had no idea what I was saying but then I got a flas
h of inspiration. I lifted my chin, hauled back and slapped him hard enough that I left a red mark on his cheek. I tried to send a look of apology without being too obvious, before I unlocked my vehicle and slid behind the wheel.

  I didn’t look at him again until I’d pulled away from the curb. I caught sight of him in my rear view mirror; he was standing holding his cheek, watching me drive away. I hoped that scene hadn’t been for nothing and that Kincaid had been watching. The whole drive home I prayed that everything else worked as well as our little ‘fight.’

  It had been dark by the time we left the shop, but with the rain clouds covering the moon the night was inky black. I wondered, briefly, if Cole had made it back to the house safely. Oh God, I hoped so. I pulled up in my driveway and took a deep breath before turning off the engine and getting out. I purposely didn’t check my surroundings as I walked up to the front of the house. Stepping up onto the porch, a sound to my right made me turn my head. Kincaid was there, just as we’d predicted.

  I stared at the gun in his hand. I needed to get him inside the house to complete our plan. “Are you going to kill me?” I’d told him on the phone that he didn’t scare me. I’d lied. I found I was shaking like a leaf.

  “If that’s what it’ll take to shut you up, then yes, I’m going to have to kill you.” He gestured with the gun toward the door. “Open up and get inside.”

  I did what I was told and he followed me in. As he shut the door behind him I moved away from him as quickly as I could, giving Cole room to strike. My sudden movement, however, got Kincaid’s attention and I saw him raise his weapon ready to shoot. A black blur shot past me and launched itself at Kincaid. In the dark of the foyer I saw the flash as the gun discharged, followed immediately by the weapon’s loud retort, a yowl and a crash.

  I flipped the light on. Cole was on the floor in panther form, blood oozing from a wound in his shoulder. Kincaid was out cold next to the hall table and I could see his blood too, pooling beneath his head.

  “Cole!” I knelt down next to him and frantically pressed my hand against the wound to stop the blood. “Don’t die. Please don’t die.” I was crying, the tears falling onto his fur as I leaned over him. The muscle under my hands started to twitch and Cole began to change shape dislodging my hands in the process. Was he dying? Is that why he was changing back? I realized in those few seconds that I wanted him in my life for as long as I lived, and as crazy as it sounded, I loved him.

  Cole lay naked on the floor, obviously too stunned to will his clothes onto his body. I looked for the wound where I thought it should be. On the panther’s body it had been on his shoulder and had looked bad. As a human it was high on his bicep and it looked like a flesh wound. I watched as his eyes flickered open and I smiled at him. “You did it. You got Kincaid.”

  He struggled to sit up and I helped him from his uninjured side. He looked over to where Kincaid was still sprawled on the floor. “We did it. I couldn’t have attacked him if you hadn’t been so brave.” He crawled awkwardly over to the felon and felt for a pulse.

  “Is he alive?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” Cole’s clothes materialized on his body and he winced as the shirt appeared. He gingerly rolled the t-shirt sleeve up above the wound. “Get something to tie him up and then, if you have one, I’ll need a first aid kit.”

  He flinched as I reached out gentle fingers to his upper bicep. “Please, Vic. Let’s get him restrained first, then we can take care of me.”

  I didn’t hesitate again and went into the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later with duct tape and a small first aid kit.

  It took Cole just a minute or two to secure Kincaid, despite the fact that his arm had to be hurting. Finally he let me doctor his bullet wound. It wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked, but I thought he might need stitches and said so.

  “No. I can’t go to a regular hospital, remember. Too many questions that can’t be answered.”

  “Right.” I sat back against the wall in the hallway and closed my eyes. It was over. All we needed to do now was to take out the trash that was still lying on my hall floor bound in duct tape. “I guess we’d better call the Sheriff to come and collect him.”

  “Yup.”

  I made an effort to get up and then flopped back down against the wall. “I don’t have the energy to go into the kitchen to make the call.”

  Cole dug into his jeans’ pocket, pulled his phone out and then tossed it over to me. I caught it and dialed. I told dispatch that the man from the gas station the previous week had broken into my home and had held me at gun point. I went on to say that my boyfriend had tackled him and that now Kincaid was unconscious. I also told them that in the process of the struggle Kincaid’s gun had discharged but that no one had been hurt.

  I thought that covered it and as long as no one believed Kincaid if he said anything about a large black cat, we’d be clear.

  By the time Deputy Garvin arrived with his partner, Cole was looking and feeling a lot stronger. Kincaid was coming around but was still mostly out of it. We related our story again and after the Deputy put Kincaid’s gun in an evidence bag, he dug the bullet out of the wall and put that in another evidence bag.

  Deputy Garvin had no sooner finished collecting evidence when Kincaid started babbling about ‘a big fucking black cat’ and Chuck looked over at us and asked, “Do either of you two know what he’s talking about?”

  “No, Chuck, the only black cat I know is Mister.” My wonderful pet had perfect timing; he strolled into the room, as if on cue, and wound himself around the Deputy’s legs.

  Cole cleared his throat to get Chuck’s attention away from the animal. “You told Vic that Kincaid’s a drug user, who knows what kind of damage substance abuse can do over time. Perhaps he was hallucinating.”

  “Or maybe he saw this beautiful creature and thought he was really big.” Chuck was down on his haunches scratching Mister behind the ears. “Who knows?” He stood up and hitched up his belt. “Anyway, Vic, we’ll need you to come in and make a formal statement, but I can’t see this being anything other than an open and shut case. I’ll be in touch to let you know what time you should come down to the station, probably sometime tomorrow.”

  The deputies left my home with Kincaid in tow and I shut the door behind them. I glanced at the hole they’d left in the wall after they’d dug out the bullet. “Cole, you’re going to have to retrieve that bullet. It’s got your blood on it.”

  “I know. Later tonight, during the graveyard shift, I’ll nip into the evidence room and make it disappear.”

  “You can do that? Is that another power that you have?”

  Cole laughed and slung his arm around my shoulders. “No, my little gullible mouse. I meant I would steal it.” He kissed my temple and stepped back from me. “I’m going home. You’ll be fine on your own now, Kincaid is in custody and I need to rest, let my arm heal.”

  “You can rest here.”

  “If I stay, you and I both know I won’t get a lot of rest. I’ll call you.” He disappeared before I had a chance to tell him I’d made up my mind about us.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Thursday seemed to go on forever. I didn’t hear from Cole and I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I missed him so much it hurt. Clichéd I know, but true. Every time I thought about him or about the times we’d sat and talked or made love, my stomach did a flip flop. I almost broke down more than once and dialed his number. One time I actually had the phone in my hand, before I forced myself to put it back down. I knew he was giving me time to decide what I wanted, and he needed time to heal. But the waiting was killing me.

  Deputy Garvin called me and asked me if he’d left the evidence bag with the bullet at my house the previous night. That meant Cole had been successful in getting the bullet out of evidence. I told him I hadn’t seen it at home, which was the truth, and asked when he’d want me to come to make a statement. We agreed that I’d drop by on the way home after work that night.

  I d
idn’t have to spend long at the station. I stuck to the story we’d told the night before, signed the typed up copy of my statement and drove home. I tried to eat a sandwich for dinner, but my appetite had completely disappeared. Instead, I took a non-paranormal, contemporary romance into the bathroom and read while I soaked in the tub for ages before going to bed early and crying myself to sleep.

  I slept fitfully and woke Friday morning feeling more tired than when I went to sleep the night before. I dragged myself out of bed and eventually opened up the shop an hour late. I was sitting at the counter, my chin resting in my hand, my eyes half closed, when I was startled out of my stupor by the sound of the little bell hanging over the front door. I looked up and my weariness instantly evaporated.

  Cole was standing there with a bouquet of flowers in his hands and a sexy smile on his face.

  “Hi.” Apart from a croak, I think that was the only word I could manage at the time.

  Cole handed me the flowers. “I missed you.”

  I buried my nose in the blossoms and took a deep breath. I looked back up at him and into his beautiful green eyes. “I missed you, too.” I was back to being the shy awkward girl I’d been in high school.

  Cole came around the counter, took the flowers from me and laid them next to the cash register. He took my hands in his and raised them to his lips, kissing one hand and then the other. “Will you come to dinner with me this evening?”

  “Y...yes. I’d love to. I have to go home first to change and...”

  “No. No need. I’ll pick you up here at five-thirty. You look perfect just the way you are.” He didn’t wait for a response, he just dematerialized and I was left holding air. I looked around at the window to make sure no one on the street had been watching before sighing. I didn’t know if I was exasperated with his high-handedness or delighted with the romance. Either way, it seemed I had a date with a sexy cat, er, man.