Anna Keaton: Falke’s Renegade

“You want children,” he said, gazing into her amber eyes, willing to lose himself there forever.

“Almost as much as I want you.”

“Then why the condoms?”

She nuzzled her nose against his neck and sighed. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated.”

He chuckled and squeezed her tight. “ Oy , chata . You are a wonderful, crazy woman.”

With a frown on her face, she leaned back and looked at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He just grinned. “I will do everything in my power to impregnate you.”

“I’m sure you will.” She sobered a little and her face grew wary. “Um. There’s...” She cleared her throat and patted his shoulder. “Shit.”

“What is it?” he asked, worried at her change. “What is wrong?”

“Axel.”

“Ahh.” He nodded. “Yes. I must admit he has crossed my mind.”

“You didn’t exactly ask his permission to claim me.”

Javier raised one eyebrow, which made Heidi laugh.

“What are we supposed to say to him? He’s going to be pissed, you know that, right? He’s the family alpha.”

Javier cupped her chin. “Heidi.”

She raised her eyebrows in question.

“He is not your alpha any longer. I am your protector now, your mate.” He held his breath, waiting for her response.

A smile tilted her lips, and she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. “I know. I am yours. But I’m going to be far, far away when you tell my big brother that.”

He hugged her hard, crushing her body against his, and laughed.

“I do have a couple of questions.” She pushed back to look him in the face again and then straddled his lap, making herself more comfortable.

“Anything, my love.”

She touched the scars at his throat, then on his stomach and sides.

“Is the Russian snow leopard...”

“Dead.”

“Good. So we never have to worry about anything like that again?”

“I pray that is the case.”

She huffed out a quick breath. “What about Isabel?”

“I do not understand. She has been gone for two years.”

Heidi swallowed hard and set her hands on his shoulders. “When you first came here, you dreamed about her. The first time you kissed me, you were half asleep, and you said her name.”

“I am sorry, Heidi. I was...not myself.”

“I know that. I understand. You were on a lot of medication. What I need to know is...” She bit her bottom lip, her brow furrowing.

He touched her cheek with his fingertips, her concern evident in her inability to speak her mind easily. “What do you need to know?”

“Can you love me like you loved her?”

“Oh, chata .” He pulled her into his arms once again and pressed his cheek to hers. “I love her. I will always love her. And at times I am certain I will remember her as I do my brother Juan. But she is my past. You are my present and my future.”

In his time here in Heidi’s glade, he’d come to realize that Isabel had loved him as he had loved her.

If she were the one still alive, he’d want her to find happiness. He had done what he set out to do.

Isabel’s murder had been avenged. Now it was his time to live, to love again.

Heidi breathed out a slow sigh and relaxed against his chest. “Good. Because I’d fight her ghost for you, you know.”

He smiled into her damp, mussed hair and breathed in her sweet scent. “That, my little cougar, I am sure of.”

“One more question.”

He dropped his hands down her back and cupped her sweet, round ass. “Go on.”

“What does chata mean?”

He barked with sudden laughter, tumbling backward and pulling her with him.

“What? Why are you laughing so hard?”

“It means you are my sweet funny face.”

Heidi gasped in indignation and tried to get off him, but he banded her to his body with his arms.

She smacked his shoulders. “You think I look funny?”

He rolled her beneath him and pinned her arms and legs, all the while still laughing. “It is a word of affection where I am from. You have the cutest little nose.” He kissed her adorable nose. “When I awoke in that cage and saw you there, even though I was furious and in pain, your beauty, your charming face... I felt affection for you.”

Heidi’s expression of anger slipped into a grin. “Don’t you ever tell my brothers what it means.”

He kissed her on the nose, the cheeks, the chin. “Never, chata . It is my word for you, and you alone.” He kissed her again, and again, and again.

Two months later Heidi stared at her reflection in the mirror and couldn’t believe the woman who looked back. The gown was new, purchased on a whirlwind shopping trip to Seattle with her sisters-in-law. When she found it in a store that sold vintage clothing, she’d snatched it up, much to Beth’s and Dakota’s dismay. They’d wanted her to buy the traditional white gown with a flowing train, lots of lace and a ten-foot long veil. Overly dramatic in Heidi’s opinion.

This dress was out of a childhood dream. A simple scoop-neck dress with a rich, burgundy velvet bodice and antique white gathered skirt that fell to her shins.

A knock on the door before it opened had her turning to see Beth and Dakota enter. She grinned at them.

“You do know how jealous of you we are, right?” Dakota said as she touched the tiny cap sleeve of Heidi’s gown.

“I know,” Heidi said with a smile. “You two have made that very clear. But you have two men to...you know. That should make up for it, right?”

Beth chuckled. “He’s a great guy. We’re so happy for you.”

“He is, isn’t he? Even if the boys are still undecided.” She frowned. “They’ll come around, right?”

Dakota cleared her throat and looked away.

“What? What do you know?”

Her sister-in-law grinned at her. “I happened to overhear a conversation a few minutes ago in the den.”

Heidi groaned. Her soon-to-be husband was getting ready in her dads’ den, a decision mandated by her fathers, and one that had worried her to no end. “Was Axel threatening his life again?”

“Well, yes,” Dakota said, “but once Javier had sworn to protect you, as we’ve all heard him do countless times, Axel said something else.”

“Axel once threatened to make us leave Leavenworth. He didn’t do that again, did he?”

“Oh, come on.” Beth rolled her eyes. “Like your brothers—or your fathers for that matter—would ever let you out of their sight. Even if you do belong to a new alpha.”

“Then what did he say?” Heidi asked Dakota.

“He said that he wished Javier all the luck in the world...because he was going to need it if he wanted any control over you.”

All three girls burst into hysterical laughter. Heidi hugged her sisters-in-law, her best friends.

“I don’t think even luck will help there,” Beth said, and they all laughed harder.

A knock on the door, and they quieted.

“Yes?” Heidi called.

“Your groom is waiting,” Burke said.

She grinned at Beth and Dakota. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She squeezed their hands. “Thank you for not being toooo jealous.”

The girls giggled, and then Heidi opened the door.

Burke and Fridrik both stood in the hallway, wearing tailored charcoal suits. They were so handsome. Heidi rushed into their arms. “I love you, daddy,” she said, encompassing them both.

They both whispered endearments to her and each kissed her cheek. “Come along,” Fridrik said.

“Everyone is waiting, and Javier is looking rather impatient.”

Her fathers each took one of her arms, and they escorted her out onto the back patio. The morning air was crisp with fall, clear and sunny, yet a tinge of dampness sweetened the scent of the forest pines. Mums in shades of orange, yellow and red poured from the planters and pots positioned around the yard and patio. She turned and grinned a thank you at her bridesmaids. They’d worked all the day before preparing the house for the small wedding and reception, not letting her raise a finger except to get a manicure.