Ice Moon Read online

  “It will be fine. In fact, I should still be back in Lake Tahoe in time for the Masquerade. Can the documents wait until the end of the week?”

  I flipped through the seller’s notes and shook my head. “We have seventy-two hours to get these into escrow. Can you email me the street address? I’ll FedEx the package with a return envelope inside. I’ll tab the spots I need you to sign, and you can overnight it back to me. We’ll also need a $5,000 check to open the escrow account.”

  “Thank you for your work on this. I’ll send the address in a few minutes.”

  “Perfect. Congratulations Mr. Severino.”

  “Damian.”

  “I’ll get everything moving on this end.”

  “And I will see you at the Masquerade, Taryn. Goodbye.”

  I bristled as I hung up. He’d called me by my first name. Unlike when Jared had used it, there was nothing pleasant in Damian’s voice. He reeked of power, money, and entitlement.

  My computer chimed as his email came in. I printed the address and sank into double checking the terms on the documents and putting sticky tabs on all the places needing his signature or initials.

  By the time I glanced at the clock again, it was 11:30 a.m. Lunch. I grabbed the costume hangers on my way out the door and almost smacked into Madison.

  “Sorry, Ms. Goldstone!”

  I shook my head. “My fault. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Appointments?”

  I almost smiled. “Lunch.”

  She grinned. “You never leave for lunch.”

  I shrugged. “Then I’m overdue, right?”

  With my bag on my shoulder, the costumes draped on my arm, and my cell phone in the pocket of my coat, I signed out of the office and hurried to my SUV. The winter chill stung my cheeks. Snow would be here soon. We’d already had some frost and one light dusting, but the flakes melted on contact with the ground.

  I texted Jared to get his sandwich order and laughed when I saw it. Not one, but two sandwiches, plus chips and a big bottle of water. He ate like Charlie, like the food was falling out of him someplace.

  With the sandwiches on the passenger seat, I drove toward my house. The closer I got, the faster the butterflies fluttered in my stomach. It hadn’t occurred to me to ask why he wanted a lunch meeting. I’d been so distracted by his admission that he couldn’t stop thinking about me, that my brain had disengaged.

  It was making up for it now.

  Did he want to discuss the deck? Was the work finished already? Had he hit an unforeseen snag?

  Jared was coming around the front of the house with Tank. His sidekick was sporting an orange and black sweater, and somehow Tank looked tough and masculine in spite of it. I turned off the SUV and grabbed the sandwiches and costumes.

  He raised a brow, eyeing the X-Men uniforms. “I didn’t realize I needed a uniform for lunch with you.”

  I nudged him and handed him the food. “I thought since we were both going to be here we could try them on to be sure they fit, just in case we need to find something else before Friday.”

  “Not gonna lie, I’m looking forward to seeing you in yours.”

  I laughed, and barely noticed the flare of heat in my cheeks. “Let’s get in the house, it’s freezing out here.”

  He and Tank followed me inside. The house was quiet. “Where’s Sherri?”

  “I told her we were having lunch and she suddenly remembered a few things she needed from the grocery store. She said she’d pick up Charlie after school on her way back, too.”

  We were alone. I swallowed a lump of desire and grabbed paper plates. “You’re really going to eat a roast beef and cheddar and a turkey club for lunch?”

  He leaned on the bar, watching me in the kitchen. “Planning to.”

  “Impressive.” I put the wrapped sandwiches on plates and carried them out to the dining room table. He sat beside me as I unwrapped my ham and Swiss. “So why did you want to have lunch?”

  His hand rested on my thigh, drawing my attention to his eyes. “I’ve been thinking, and I need to run something by you.”

  I stopped messing with my sandwich, trying to focus on his words, and not the dominant way his hand claimed me. “Okay.”

  “I had an amazing time with you last weekend, and if the weather holds out, I should get the deck finished by Friday.”

  I nodded, without a clue where this conversation was headed.

  He cleared his throat and almost looked…nervous. In the few weeks I’d known him, his confidence never wavered. “After the deck is done, I don’t want to say goodbye.”

  My pulse kicked up a notch and my mouth went dry. “I don’t want that either.”

  “Good.” He smiled and took a deep breath. “I wanted to ask Charlie for permission to court his mom, but I thought I’d better see if you were interested first.”

  I laughed and leaned in to kiss him, shocked that it seemed so natural. “That’s sweet.”

  He chuckled, bringing his hand up to cup my cheek. “You’re his world, his Pack. I’d never upset that without his consent.”

  “His Pack?” I grinned and shook my head. “Are you calling us wolves?”

  He paused and finally smiled. “A wolf pack is a tight family that depends on each member for survival. Regardless of the size, I think you and Charlie make a strong Pack.”

  I’d never thought of wolves as being families, but I liked his analogy. I hoped Charlie knew I’d sacrifice everything for him and protect him with my life. Maybe I was more mama wolf than I realized.

  I squeezed his hand. “Charlie’s crazy about you. He won’t be upset.”

  “Either way, I’d feel better if he’s on board with my plan to sweep his mom off her feet.”

  I was tempted to pinch myself. Jared accepted me, danger and all, and he welcomed my son into his heart, too. Where was the catch?

  Trust wasn’t something that came naturally to me. After my parents abandoned me to boarding school, then disowned me for getting pregnant and refusing to “fix” it the way they saw fit; and when Noah found out we were having a baby, he left me too. Even though he knew what I’d given up to be with him.

  Life had taught me to be cautious and wary. Maybe even a little cynical. The people you depended on most could hurt you worse than your sworn enemy.

  Jared wasn’t perfect. He’d told me about his secret case of claustrophobia that changed the course of his life. He still drove himself places with the window down in spite of the cold. He worked with his hands, but not as a doctor like he’d intended. He wasn’t independently wealthy as far as I knew.

  But none of that mattered to me.

  So why was I still looking for a hidden imperfection?

  He touched my hand. “Taryn? Are you all right?”

  I nodded, pushing away the doubt. My fingers laced with his. “I’ve never been swept off my feet before. Sounds a little…terrifying.”

  He laughed, and I drank in the sound. “Terrifying is not what I’m shooting for.” He kissed me, his lips caressing mine over and over until my pulse was thrumming, warming my whole body. He stared into my eyes. “Breathless maybe…”

  I smiled. “I’m starting to like breathless.”

  He glanced at the clock. “Charlie and Sherri will be back soon.”

  “Plenty of time for feet sweeping.” I hummed as I tasted his lips again. His strong hands moved slowly up my back, a slow exploration of my body as our tongues tangled. One hand tightened in my hair while the other slid up my ribs, his fingertips lightly brushing the side of my breast.

  Fire ignited inside in my core, desire and something more. I stood up, stepping away from him before anyone got hurt. Jason growled, running his hand down his face.

  “Sorry.” I stared at my fingers, begging the heat to cool.

  He came to me, but didn’t touch. “Hey, look at me.”

  “This sucks.” I barely lifted my chin, peering up at him from under my lashes. “It doesn’t matter how much we want to be physi
cal, it might not be possible. Not without hurting you.”

  “Too soon to give up.” He shook his head. “Every day you’re getting better at pulling the fire back.”

  I sighed. “I just don’t want you to mistake this for…” I tipped my head back, losing myself in his eyes and hoping he could see the desire in mine. “I do want you. I just don’t want my passion to cause you pain.”

  He ran a finger down my cheek, his breath teasing my skin. “I’m a pretty patient guy when it’s something worth waiting for.”

  I was sick of waiting. But I’d never forgive myself if Jared ended up with a burn like Charlie. “We should probably eat before Charlie comes home and finishes our food for us.”

  After polishing off our lunch, I got up and handed Jared his X-Men uniform. “I’ll meet you back here.”

  He took the hanger with a crooked smile. “Looking forward to seeing you in yours.”

  “Likewise.” I chuckled and headed for my bedroom.

  My black body suit fit like a second skin. I stared at my reflection from every angle. I kept myself in good shape, but this get-up was going to be tough not to be self-conscious in. Not to mention, I’d never been to a costume party before. Maybe this was modest compared to what the other women would be wearing? I brushed my hair and let it fall down my shoulders.

  This would also be the first time my clients and employees saw me without my trademark messy bun.

  Lots of firsts. Made me nervous, but it was thrilling at the same time.

  I pulled up a picture of Dr. Jean Grey on my phone and compared. The form-fitting black suit was an amazing match to the movie version. Madison had done a great job finding it. Other than my blue eyes, I looked pretty close. People at the party should at least be able to recognize the costume.

  Satisfied, I forced myself to walk out into the living room. If I couldn’t be Dr. Jean Grey in front of Jared, there was no way I’d be ready to parade around the Masquerade on Friday night. I came down the hall and turned to the right.

  And practically choked on my tongue. Jared turned around in his body-hugging black uniform, a dead ringer for Wolverine. He’d been growing out his sideburns, and while I was back changing he even combed his hair up at the sides for Wolverine’s signature do.

  Rugged and handsome didn’t really do him justice.

  “Wow.” I was usually pretty articulate, but that was all I had.

  His gaze ran slowly from my feet all the way up to meet my eyes, his sexy grin curving on his lips. “You look amazing, Taryn.”

  And for the first time in years, that was exactly how I felt, too.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jared

  Holy shit. I wanted to climb up on the roof and howl. My mate was hot, and not in the fireball way that frightened her. In the month I’d known her, she’d grown from this cold, aloof queen hidden in her tower, into a strong, sensual, empowered woman.

  And knowing she wanted me sweetened the moment considerably. Truth was, I wasn’t big into dressing up, but she needed me, so I’d be right there beside her.

  For the rest of my life if she gave me the chance.

  Unlike my brother, I’d always hoped the old Pack stories about mates were true. It certainly was for my folks. But when my wolf recognized Taryn, part of me didn’t believe it would ever work. Her emotional walls seemed impenetrable. But bit by bit, things changed, we swapped mental scars.

  Maybe some of the initial desire might have been wolf instincts, but every day I got to spend with her, to see her smile, hear her laugh, and taste her lips, she got further under my skin, closer to my heart. I was falling for her, not because of the sex; her powers hadn’t let us get that close…yet; it was her determination, her courage, and the warm kindness she kept hidden under the Ice Queen façade.

  I’d shared my secret, or at least part of my true reason for the sudden change of course for my life, and she never judged me or tried to fix me.

  She accepted me, cracks in my armor and all.

  Would she still stick with me when I told her about shifting into a werewolf once a month? Would she believe her son was a wolf, too?

  That was a question I was afraid to answer. If she ran, I’d lose my mate, my one love in this lifetime, but even worse, Charlie would be a time bomb as he grew into puberty and his first shift.

  “The costume fits perfect. You’re a dead ringer for Wolverine.”

  I chuckled. “There’s some claws too, but I’m dangerous enough without those.”

  I went to her and slid my fingers through her silky hair as my lips crushed hers. She moaned into the kiss, her arms sliding around me. My other hand moved down her back, gripping her ass and pressing her tighter against me.

  “Mom!”

  We jumped apart as Charlie burst through the front door. I’d been so wrapped up in her, I hadn’t noticed Sherri’s car pulling in the driveway.

  His green eyes shifted from his mom to me and back again. “You’re X-Men.”

  Taryn nodded. “We were trying on our costumes for the Masquerade.”

  He grinned. “I want to go, too. Can I be Beast? I want to be hairy and blue and—”

  “And it’s a grown-up party.”

  Charlie sighed. “Can I still be Beast for Halloween? You could keep your costume, Mom, and we could trick-or-treat.”

  “We’ll see.” She looked at me, her face flushed, but her eyes sparked with desire. Great look for her. “I better change and get back to work. I still need to overnight the deal for Mr. Severino.”

  Cold shower. Adrenaline replaced the yearning in my bloodstream. “He’s buying a place up here then?”

  She nodded. “Damian’s offer was accepted, but he got called back to his main office. He won’t be back until Friday.”

  Oh shit. Not that any Severino would be good news, but if it had been Sebastian at least we might have had a chance at having Lana or Sasha getting him to rethink this purchase.

  This news meant we could shift here in Tahoe during the full moon Thursday night without Nero watching, but those bastards were about to have a base in our territory, and my mate was inadvertently helping them.

  Charlie went over to the dining room table and started rifling through his homework. I took Taryn’s hand and lowered my voice. Charlie would still hear every word. “We need to talk about Nero.”

  She raised a brow. “How did you know that’s his company?”

  “That’s what I want to talk about.”

  She squeezed my hand and glanced at Charlie. “We’ve got to change. Be back in a second.”

  I followed her into her bedroom and closed the door. Taryn sat on the edge of her bed.

  “I recognized his last name and assumed it wasn’t a coincidence.” I remained standing, too amped to sit, and having the door closed in this room without vaulted ceilings didn’t help. “Nero funds Brightwood Academy.”

  A crease formed between her eyebrows. “What?”

  “Yeah. Sylvia, the principal who helped you…”

  “Severino.”

  I nodded. “Nero is interested in girls with psychic abilities to work for them.”

  “Doing what?” She frowned.

  “They train assassins.”

  The temperature of the room warmed suddenly like I’d just stepped in front of a roaring fireplace.

  “That’s why they wanted me to start fires.”

  “Probably.” Sweat beaded on my forehead. “Taryn, you’ve gotta breathe.”

  “And I burnt his hand.” She inspected her own. “And he went back to headquarters.”

  A bead of perspiration rolled down from my temple. Between the heat and the closed door, it was getting tough for me to catch my breath. “Taryn…”

  “He’s trying to find out if they have a record of me. That’s why he was asking where I lived before Tahoe.”

  Her lampshade beside the bed yellowed, warping slightly. I knelt at her feet and grabbed her upper arms. She was smoldering right through the costume. “Ta
ryn. You’re hot. Breathe. Let this go and cool off.”

  She met my eyes and suddenly connected with my words. “Ohmygod.” She gulped in a breath, closing her eyes.

  “Think about the snow, the cold lake outside.” I watched for any sign of flames. “Slow breaths.”

  Her chest rose and fell, controlled, and gradually the temperature settled into a more comfortable zone. When her blue eyes met mine they were clouded with fear.

  “If he figures out I went to Brightwood, he’ll be able to pull my records.”

  Yeah, I didn’t like it either. “Was Goldstone your name back then?”

  She shook her head. “Malcolm had a new driver’s license and social security card for me.”

  “That should slow him down.”

  “But he must suspect.” She sucked in another breath through her teeth.

  I nodded. “He probably does, but he has no proof. The trick is keeping it that way.”

  “You never told me how you know all this.”

  Her room almost caught on fire a minute ago. Not a good time to drop the werewolf and jaguar shifter bomb on her. I sucked at lying, but telling the truth with omissions, that I could do.

  “My brother’s girlfriend lived at Brightwood. We’ve been helping her keep Nero out of her life.”

  She slowly got to her feet. “That’s why you didn’t run when you researched about Pyrokinesis. You know someone else with psychic…gifts.”

  I grabbed on to her postulation with both hands. “Yeah. Maybe you two knew each other. Her name is Kilani.”

  Her jaw relaxed for a second as she nodded. “She wasn’t in my grade, but I remember her. She got flashes of the future. She was from Hawaii. We all used to take turns braiding her hair and wishing ours was long and soft like hers.”

  “She’s a nurse now.”

  Taryn almost smiled. “I bet she’s great at it. We could never play games with her because she always knew our next move before we did.”

  “Maybe one day soon you can meet her.”

  “Not yet.” Her shoulders tensed. “Not until I can control this more.”

  “Okay.” No double dates in my future. “But be very careful with Damian.”