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.63Almost Paradise Caitlin RicciHannah's mouth turned up into a small smile.Shesquirmed out of the covers and pulled a book from the footof her bed."Story," she demanded as she flipped to the firstbrightly colored page and sat back expectantly.Travis gaveLiam a tight smile and pulled the little girl closer to makemore room for Liam on the bed next to them as they settledin for a story.Less than ten pages later Hannah was snoring softlybetween them.Liam had a moment to marvel at howadorable she was as she clutched the big book to her chest,before Travis covered her with a sheet and then motionedtoward the doorway.Liam bit back a sigh.The man wasright, they had to talk about this.And so much more.He slid from the bed and landed silently on thefloor.Travis wasn't nearly as graceful as his shoes clunkedon the hard surface.Liam let Travis pick a direction in thehallway.Either back to the bedroom where he wouldhopefully get to see more of Travis's alabaster skin or downthe stairs where they could talk.Travis silently chose totalk and Liam followed behind him as he took the stairs."Want a drink? Something to eat?" Liam asked,breaking the silence as they entered the kitchen.He went tothe fridge and pulled out a jug of sweet tea."Finding out the guy you were making out with canturn into a wolf would normally call for something with64Almost Paradise Caitlin Riccibite," Travis said quietly."But drinking was never reallyone of my specialties.And the first guy that ever kissed me,he was drunk.We were at a wedding, Alexandrea and I,and the best man was completely wasted.I'm sure he kisseda lot of people that night so it must have been fate that ledto him cornering me right then, and Alexandrea finding usseconds later."Liam would have much rather erased that womanfrom existence than hear the pain in Travis's voice but hedidn't say so.That woman, despite her various faults, wasHannah's mother and he didn't want Travis to feel like heever had to defend her.Liam poured Travis a glass of teaand then put the jug back in the fridge."Come out to thedeck with me," he said as he handed over the glass."We'lltalk."Liam went to the back door and waited, his handresting on the knob until he felt Travis's presence behindhim."We're safe here, right?"The uncertainty in that question nearly broke Liam'sheart.He nodded."You're safer here than anywhere else."He led the way outside, to the small seating areaEvangeline had given him when he'd first purchased thehouse.The original cushions had been pink, her idea of ajoke.He'd burned those as soon as she'd gone home, but thewrought iron chairs and bench had stayed and now sported65Almost Paradise Caitlin Riccidark blue cushions which Travis settled into.Liam chose tolean against the railing, his back to the afternoon sun so hecould watch Travis without having to blink into the light."I'm not dangerous to you or Hannah," Liam saidsternly, wanting to make that clear right from the start.Travis shook his head."I didn't think you were.Ifyou were going to eat us you'd have done it by now."Liam frowned."But you just asked& ""I was worried about Alexandrea.I know you saidshe wouldn't be going to the police, but that's not the onlyway she can hurt us.She and her parents have been prettycreative with the government agencies they've called aboutmy lack of care and bad parenting skills," Travis saidangrily.Liam didn't bother suppressing the growl that roseto his lips and the noise caught Travis's attention."Thatwas actually kind of sexy," he said with a tight smile.* * * *Travis joined Liam against the railing as he lookedover the back yard.Travis snorted.As if the heavilywooded land could even be called a yard."You must reallylove living here.This place is paradise," he whispered inawe.66Almost Paradise Caitlin Ricci"Almost," was Liam's reply.Travis looked up, about to ask how he could saythat, when he realized Liam wasn't looking at the land.Those icy blue eyes were focused solely on him.Heblushed and ducked his head."So I suppose we need to talk about this," Liamsaid.He sounded as enthusiastic as Travis felt.He took a deep breath."We can leave if you want.And I won't tell anyone what I saw.You were going to takeus back tonight anyway.So "Liam's lips quickly silenced Travis's waywardthoughts.That strong mouth moved against his, teasing himfor a moment before pulling away."You aren't goinganywhere.And not just because I don't want you to.Youcan't.""We're prisoners?" Travis asked, quickly taking astep back from the man by his side.A firm hand on his hipstopped him though, bringing him back up against Liam'shard chest."You aren't a prisoner.And neither is Hannah.Though, I can tie you up if you want," Liam said with agrin.Travis spent a moment or two on that image beforeLiam's voice brought him back to the present."You knowwhat we are now, which is a rarity among humans.AndHannah, she can see us.That's damn near impossible.I67Almost Paradise Caitlin Ricciwon't force you to stay here, but you do need to be underour protection.And I can protect you here.Both of you.""So my choices are what? Stay here with you orstay with some other Shifter? That's not good enough forme," Travis said curtly.Liam closed his eyes and nodded.When he openedthem again Travis could see the regret in those perfectdepths."I'm sorry.I shouldn't have brought you here.Iwanted to help you.And I needed your help.I neverimagined any of this."So that was it.Travis bit the inside of his cheek tokeep from railing at the man for his unfairness.He nevershould have kissed him.Why did he have to bring a ray ofhappiness into his life and then take it away so quickly."Isee."Liam rested his forehead against Travis's shoulderas he pulled the man close to him."You don't have to havesex with me if you aren't ready.There's no rush for that.And I'll provide you with whatever you need.The wholepack will."Travis quickly pulled away from him so he couldlook up into the man's face."You don't want us to go?"Liam shook his head and brought him back againsthim."No.I never did.I do want you safe though.Both ofyou."68Almost Paradise Caitlin RicciIt was hard for Travis to think clearly with Liampressed so intimately against him.He struggled a little andLiam reluctantly stepped back, though he did keep one armaround Travis's waist."What about Hannah? What's herplace in all of this?" he said after a moment."She's too young right now to be able to go toschool with her knowledge.She could say the wrong thingto someone.Hell, she already calls me Puppy.She willhave to be in a Shifter school.We have one here, its privateand there are only five other students in the class.All arethe children of Shifters, or they're like her human childrenwith Shifter adults in their lives.Like a stepparent," Liamsaid.Travis drank that in slowly."So Shifters havekids?""We do.Again, we aren't werewolves.No bite orscratch will turn you into us.Our women give birth tocompletely human looking kids.We aren't so different thanyou are," Liam explained.He took a breath."So what isyour decision? I can have anything you need brought here.And there are stores nearby.You'll never want for anythingever again.And if you want to go to another Shifter, I canhave one here in less than five minutes."Travis swallowed deeply and then nodded.Heunderstood what this man was saying [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]