Falk Clan Tales - Chapter 98: Chapter 98
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“It looks great!” Minerva raced from room to room, her happiness so bright it was like a semi-visible little bubble of joy had enveloped the petite she-Wolf.
Nicholas watched her with equal parts want and need. Slow was not the norm for their kind, and yet, he seemed to be operating on a level faster than Minerva. His Dragon was done searching. She was the one for him.
His topaz rose. His chosen. His maiden fair. His mate.
Es meus.
But why didn’t she seem to know it? He exhaled slowly as he picked up the list River had left him. Things had progressed much faster than he’d expected of the young Wolf he had only recently hired to work for Graystone Builders. Sunny’s brother had more than proven himself in the last few weeks. He was honorable, reliable, and he knew better than to leave his scent around the house of a Dragon’s mate.
He’d damn near laughed aloud when Minerva had asked him if all the bleach had been necessary, and he’d replied with some noncommittal answer about mold.
Truth was, River had downed the exterior in commercial grade bleach to remove his Wolf’s urine and had set up some normal, humane traps for the pests that had plagued the property in Minnie’s absence. He scented nary a one now, and even better, the crew’s lingering scents had also been cleared out of the dwelling.
Good. Very good.
Nicholas had yet to explain the change in his intentions to his mate. He would have to, of course. His Dragon was already pushing him to claim her sooner rather than later, and the beast would not wait long. His chest rumbled, anticipation building as he thought of what it was going to be like to finally have someone of his own.
“Don’t use the upstairs shower yet,” he called after her. “The caulking has to cure overnight.”
“What? Okay, no shower,” she said, running to the top floor landing.
“I’m glad we stopped at the laundromat and pre-washed all the bedding and linens. Come help me get this on,” she yelled down to him.
Nicholas mounted the stairs, finding her in the master bedroom with no difficulty at all. This room had been in the best shape, and after a little paint and polish, he’d ordered a new mattress for the original four poster bed the crew had spent the better part of the afternoon refurbishing.
“This mattress,” she said, and sighed as she tucked in her side of the pink rosebud patterned sheets she’d bought earlier that day.
“Smells good,” he rumbled, liking the fresh spring clean scent of the detergent, and the fact it did not mask her own unique fragrance.
“Mmm. This is the only soap that does not interfere with my Wolf’s senses,” she told him, unfolding the large coverlet and shaking it out before they spread it over the top. Minnie heaved a happy sigh and lay down right on top of it.
“What color is she? Your Wolf,” he qualified and settled down beside her.
Minnie rolled onto her side, and Nicholas did the same, taking a moment to memorize every centimeter of her pretty little face. Her eyes were dancing in that naughty little way she had, and he knew he would not get much of an answer.
“Oh, you teased me for a day about your animal and I’m supposed to just tell you everything about myself?”
“Sounds good to me, minx,” he said and leaned over to catch her earlobe with his teeth.
Minnie giggled and struggled beneath him, and he allowed her to gain the upper hand, wrestling him onto his back. His hands cupped her ass, playing along the crack. She’d changed into a pair of light pajama pants and a tank top, and all her curves were on perfect display, tantalizing him with peaks of pert valleys and kissable mounds.
“You are so beautiful,” he said when she settled her covered sex over his own hardened staff, throbbing need.
“Mmm, I bet you say that to all the maidens,” she remarked and moved to kiss him, but Nicholas held her still.
“No, Minerva. Only you. No one else but you.”
Then he was kissing her, and relentlessly so. Losing himself in the warm, intoxicating, and utterly sweet female who was claiming ownership of his Dragon’s heart.
Her phone chirped, and damn, he wanted to crush the thing so it would just leave them alone, but she had work, was on a deadline, and so, he let her answer it even when she would have continued kissing him. He knew all about impatient mates, and demanding ones too. Had seen it happen repeatedly, and he wanted much more than a mad race to a mating that would burn them both.
Minerva was a she-Wolf, powerful and deadly in her own right. Yes, he wanted to put her in a bubble and protect her from the world, but that was not the right way to win her heart and get her to accept his claim. He had to show her he respected her as a person, as an artist, as a Wolf. Had to allow her room to grow and be content with knowing he would be there when she was finished, cheering her on from his seat beside her. That was what he wanted. A partner. A best friend. A lover who knocked his socks off. Minerva. He wanted Minerva.
“Deirdre? Yes, no, he is definitely fired. Do not give him access to shit,” she snarled, and Nicholas grinned.
Was it wrong he got hard seeing her go all badass? Maybe. But he did not think so. His sexy sweet Minerva was about to carve someone a new asshole, and he had front row seats. As far as Nicholas was concerned, this was just another facet of the incredible female the Fates, the man, and his Dragon had chosen to be his mate.
Es meus, the beast hissed inside his mind’s eye.
Oh yes, Nicholas would content himself beside her, waiting while she handled her business. If she needed him, he was there, but he knew better than to interfere with her work stuffs.
His Dragon was in full agreement. He would wait till she was done, then he would tell her his plans, and if she refused now, well then, he would simply wait some more. For her, Nicholas would wait forever.
“That sonovabitch,” she snarled into the phone. “I will be in first thing in the morning, until then, I am sending someone to watch the warehouse. Yeah. No. Okay,” she muttered and clicked end on her call.
“What happened?” he asked, rubbing small circles on her lower back to ease some of her tension.
“Roger that douche canoe! He tricked the part-time manager of the gallery into allowing him access to the storeroom for my showing. The motherfucker broke three of the figurines that had already been set aside for a big buyer. He also took the cashbox that held payments for pieces that were bought. One of my customers only pays cash for his art.”
“How much?”
“This time? Thirty-five thousand. The rest usually pay by check, and he took those too. These customers are my most loyal collectors. It doesn’t look like Roger has cashed any of the checks yet, but the gallery owner is appalled by the idea of calling these people to tell them they need to cancel their checks and reissue. I agree with her. It’s bad business. Fucking prick,” she growled, rubbing the space between her eyes.
“I know you don’t need it, Minerva, but if you would allow me, I would like to help you.”
“Really? I mean, are you sure? Cause I really could use a hand. I have to remake the figures that sold like right now, so the customers have them in time,” she muttered, her eyes blazing gold with her Wolf.
Fuck. Nicholas hated that she was hurt by this asshole, and he really wanted to help. But he was also shocked by how she was handling this mess. Instead of crying over what the stolen money meant to her, she was worried about upsetting her customers. Minerva was not pitching a fit over her broken art or whining about her lost work. She was more concerned for those who bought it would not have the pieces they’d wanted in time.
“Will you be able to replicate the pieces?” he asked, truly curious.
“Yes,” she grinned. “I sort of have a photographic memory when it comes to my work. But even if I didn’t, I catalog everything with sketches and pictures. I know these pieces well. I can redo them quickly.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Well, the design takes the longest. Sometimes I can think on a subject for months and months before I ever try to create it with my hands. Once I have it perfectly arranged in my brain, then the execution comes fast. At least, for me it does,” she explained.
Minerva’s cheeks turned pink under his watchful stare. He liked her like this, talking about the things she loved doing best. Damn, she was beautiful.
“You’re amazing,” he murmured, touching her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Now, while you are busy creating, I will go see Roger. Do you have any idea where he is?”
“Actually, I know most of Roger’s haunts. He just got his hands on a ton of my cash, so if I know him, that asshole is out stuffing twenties into every stripper’s thong he can get his slimy paws on at this seedy club called Wet Heat.”
“Wet Heat? Charming,” Nick replied.
“It’s this shady mobbed up club run by old timey gangsters. I went once and never again. I hated the way they treated the dancers there, and I told Roger how I felt, he told me he would never go again. Lies, of course,” she said. “You know, I am so sorry to involve you. I mean, you’re supposed to be this fun booty call guy, not my problem solver—”
“We can talk about that later,” he replied. “So, my plan is to close out Roger’s tab once and for all—good?”
“Yeah. I mean, I am not funding his ass any longer,” she agreed. “But Nicky, he is human—”
“I get it. No flame-broiling his sorry ass. I’ll just get the box back and make sure he knows not to mess with you again, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks. I, um, I never had anyone do this kind of thing for me before. My Pack is great, but it’s so huge. I always distanced myself from the other Wolves, except for Sunny. My work in the art world means dealing with mostly humans, so I was just around them more, I guess. What I am trying to say, is thank you,” Minerva said with a shaky laugh, blinking up at him with those gorgeous eyes of hers.
Nick stood up and kissed her hard and fast, loving the way she immediately opened for him. He pinched her butt, grinning at her sharp squeal.
“Have everything you need to work on your art?”
“Yep. Brought it all the other day, and River fixed up my old studio, so I can get started as soon as you leave.”
It was late, almost midnight, but his beast was wide awake and itching for vengeance, even if it was only a puny human who’d wronged her. No one fucked with Nicholas’ mate. He caught a flash of flame-rimmed silver in the mirror and closed his eyes to wrangle his beast back under his control.
Above all, the Shifter secret was to be kept, but that did not mean Nick couldn’t have a little fun with the bastard, did it?
“You’ll call me when you’re finished, right?” Minnie called.
“Yessss,” he replied, his voice thick and guttural.
“Just get the box and make sure he knows this is over. Nothing crazy, right?” she asked, uncertainty in her big brown eyes.
“Whatever you say, minx.”
“Okay, good.”
Nicholas watched her with equal parts want and need. Slow was not the norm for their kind, and yet, he seemed to be operating on a level faster than Minerva. His Dragon was done searching. She was the one for him.
His topaz rose. His chosen. His maiden fair. His mate.
Es meus.
But why didn’t she seem to know it? He exhaled slowly as he picked up the list River had left him. Things had progressed much faster than he’d expected of the young Wolf he had only recently hired to work for Graystone Builders. Sunny’s brother had more than proven himself in the last few weeks. He was honorable, reliable, and he knew better than to leave his scent around the house of a Dragon’s mate.
He’d damn near laughed aloud when Minerva had asked him if all the bleach had been necessary, and he’d replied with some noncommittal answer about mold.
Truth was, River had downed the exterior in commercial grade bleach to remove his Wolf’s urine and had set up some normal, humane traps for the pests that had plagued the property in Minnie’s absence. He scented nary a one now, and even better, the crew’s lingering scents had also been cleared out of the dwelling.
Good. Very good.
Nicholas had yet to explain the change in his intentions to his mate. He would have to, of course. His Dragon was already pushing him to claim her sooner rather than later, and the beast would not wait long. His chest rumbled, anticipation building as he thought of what it was going to be like to finally have someone of his own.
“Don’t use the upstairs shower yet,” he called after her. “The caulking has to cure overnight.”
“What? Okay, no shower,” she said, running to the top floor landing.
“I’m glad we stopped at the laundromat and pre-washed all the bedding and linens. Come help me get this on,” she yelled down to him.
Nicholas mounted the stairs, finding her in the master bedroom with no difficulty at all. This room had been in the best shape, and after a little paint and polish, he’d ordered a new mattress for the original four poster bed the crew had spent the better part of the afternoon refurbishing.
“This mattress,” she said, and sighed as she tucked in her side of the pink rosebud patterned sheets she’d bought earlier that day.
“Smells good,” he rumbled, liking the fresh spring clean scent of the detergent, and the fact it did not mask her own unique fragrance.
“Mmm. This is the only soap that does not interfere with my Wolf’s senses,” she told him, unfolding the large coverlet and shaking it out before they spread it over the top. Minnie heaved a happy sigh and lay down right on top of it.
“What color is she? Your Wolf,” he qualified and settled down beside her.
Minnie rolled onto her side, and Nicholas did the same, taking a moment to memorize every centimeter of her pretty little face. Her eyes were dancing in that naughty little way she had, and he knew he would not get much of an answer.
“Oh, you teased me for a day about your animal and I’m supposed to just tell you everything about myself?”
“Sounds good to me, minx,” he said and leaned over to catch her earlobe with his teeth.
Minnie giggled and struggled beneath him, and he allowed her to gain the upper hand, wrestling him onto his back. His hands cupped her ass, playing along the crack. She’d changed into a pair of light pajama pants and a tank top, and all her curves were on perfect display, tantalizing him with peaks of pert valleys and kissable mounds.
“You are so beautiful,” he said when she settled her covered sex over his own hardened staff, throbbing need.
“Mmm, I bet you say that to all the maidens,” she remarked and moved to kiss him, but Nicholas held her still.
“No, Minerva. Only you. No one else but you.”
Then he was kissing her, and relentlessly so. Losing himself in the warm, intoxicating, and utterly sweet female who was claiming ownership of his Dragon’s heart.
Her phone chirped, and damn, he wanted to crush the thing so it would just leave them alone, but she had work, was on a deadline, and so, he let her answer it even when she would have continued kissing him. He knew all about impatient mates, and demanding ones too. Had seen it happen repeatedly, and he wanted much more than a mad race to a mating that would burn them both.
Minerva was a she-Wolf, powerful and deadly in her own right. Yes, he wanted to put her in a bubble and protect her from the world, but that was not the right way to win her heart and get her to accept his claim. He had to show her he respected her as a person, as an artist, as a Wolf. Had to allow her room to grow and be content with knowing he would be there when she was finished, cheering her on from his seat beside her. That was what he wanted. A partner. A best friend. A lover who knocked his socks off. Minerva. He wanted Minerva.
“Deirdre? Yes, no, he is definitely fired. Do not give him access to shit,” she snarled, and Nicholas grinned.
Was it wrong he got hard seeing her go all badass? Maybe. But he did not think so. His sexy sweet Minerva was about to carve someone a new asshole, and he had front row seats. As far as Nicholas was concerned, this was just another facet of the incredible female the Fates, the man, and his Dragon had chosen to be his mate.
Es meus, the beast hissed inside his mind’s eye.
Oh yes, Nicholas would content himself beside her, waiting while she handled her business. If she needed him, he was there, but he knew better than to interfere with her work stuffs.
His Dragon was in full agreement. He would wait till she was done, then he would tell her his plans, and if she refused now, well then, he would simply wait some more. For her, Nicholas would wait forever.
“That sonovabitch,” she snarled into the phone. “I will be in first thing in the morning, until then, I am sending someone to watch the warehouse. Yeah. No. Okay,” she muttered and clicked end on her call.
“What happened?” he asked, rubbing small circles on her lower back to ease some of her tension.
“Roger that douche canoe! He tricked the part-time manager of the gallery into allowing him access to the storeroom for my showing. The motherfucker broke three of the figurines that had already been set aside for a big buyer. He also took the cashbox that held payments for pieces that were bought. One of my customers only pays cash for his art.”
“How much?”
“This time? Thirty-five thousand. The rest usually pay by check, and he took those too. These customers are my most loyal collectors. It doesn’t look like Roger has cashed any of the checks yet, but the gallery owner is appalled by the idea of calling these people to tell them they need to cancel their checks and reissue. I agree with her. It’s bad business. Fucking prick,” she growled, rubbing the space between her eyes.
“I know you don’t need it, Minerva, but if you would allow me, I would like to help you.”
“Really? I mean, are you sure? Cause I really could use a hand. I have to remake the figures that sold like right now, so the customers have them in time,” she muttered, her eyes blazing gold with her Wolf.
Fuck. Nicholas hated that she was hurt by this asshole, and he really wanted to help. But he was also shocked by how she was handling this mess. Instead of crying over what the stolen money meant to her, she was worried about upsetting her customers. Minerva was not pitching a fit over her broken art or whining about her lost work. She was more concerned for those who bought it would not have the pieces they’d wanted in time.
“Will you be able to replicate the pieces?” he asked, truly curious.
“Yes,” she grinned. “I sort of have a photographic memory when it comes to my work. But even if I didn’t, I catalog everything with sketches and pictures. I know these pieces well. I can redo them quickly.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Well, the design takes the longest. Sometimes I can think on a subject for months and months before I ever try to create it with my hands. Once I have it perfectly arranged in my brain, then the execution comes fast. At least, for me it does,” she explained.
Minerva’s cheeks turned pink under his watchful stare. He liked her like this, talking about the things she loved doing best. Damn, she was beautiful.
“You’re amazing,” he murmured, touching her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Now, while you are busy creating, I will go see Roger. Do you have any idea where he is?”
“Actually, I know most of Roger’s haunts. He just got his hands on a ton of my cash, so if I know him, that asshole is out stuffing twenties into every stripper’s thong he can get his slimy paws on at this seedy club called Wet Heat.”
“Wet Heat? Charming,” Nick replied.
“It’s this shady mobbed up club run by old timey gangsters. I went once and never again. I hated the way they treated the dancers there, and I told Roger how I felt, he told me he would never go again. Lies, of course,” she said. “You know, I am so sorry to involve you. I mean, you’re supposed to be this fun booty call guy, not my problem solver—”
“We can talk about that later,” he replied. “So, my plan is to close out Roger’s tab once and for all—good?”
“Yeah. I mean, I am not funding his ass any longer,” she agreed. “But Nicky, he is human—”
“I get it. No flame-broiling his sorry ass. I’ll just get the box back and make sure he knows not to mess with you again, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks. I, um, I never had anyone do this kind of thing for me before. My Pack is great, but it’s so huge. I always distanced myself from the other Wolves, except for Sunny. My work in the art world means dealing with mostly humans, so I was just around them more, I guess. What I am trying to say, is thank you,” Minerva said with a shaky laugh, blinking up at him with those gorgeous eyes of hers.
Nick stood up and kissed her hard and fast, loving the way she immediately opened for him. He pinched her butt, grinning at her sharp squeal.
“Have everything you need to work on your art?”
“Yep. Brought it all the other day, and River fixed up my old studio, so I can get started as soon as you leave.”
It was late, almost midnight, but his beast was wide awake and itching for vengeance, even if it was only a puny human who’d wronged her. No one fucked with Nicholas’ mate. He caught a flash of flame-rimmed silver in the mirror and closed his eyes to wrangle his beast back under his control.
Above all, the Shifter secret was to be kept, but that did not mean Nick couldn’t have a little fun with the bastard, did it?
“You’ll call me when you’re finished, right?” Minnie called.
“Yessss,” he replied, his voice thick and guttural.
“Just get the box and make sure he knows this is over. Nothing crazy, right?” she asked, uncertainty in her big brown eyes.
“Whatever you say, minx.”
“Okay, good.”
End of Falk Clan Tales Chapter 98. Continue reading Chapter 99 or return to Falk Clan Tales book page.