Claiming Valeria (22 page)

“Enough,” he growled. “Put me inside you.”

When she obeyed, he tightened his grip on her hips and stroked
the rest of the way inside. Electricity buzzed up and down his spine. He groaned
at the sheer wonder of being inside her after all this time. She arched her back
and pressed back against him, and his whole lower body tightened.

“
Sim
,” he encouraged. “That’s it, love.” He pulled partway
out and slid slowly back inside. “Is this what you want? Tell me.” He flexed his
hips and moved back into her again, a little harder this time.

Her fingers dug into the mattress. “Yes. That’s it. Please, Rui.”

He settled into a rhythm, stroking in and out of her slowly at
first, and then faster. She came down onto her forearms and he groaned again. The
angle was so perfect, his entire length buried deep inside her. But he wanted her
with him. He reached under her and, wetting his fingers in her juices, rubbed and
teased her swollen nub until she was whimpering.

“Ah,
sim
. That’s it…right there…”

And then it happened. Something in her opened and he sensed her
need pulsing through the mate bond. A fierce triumph filled him. He went wild, slamming
into her, hard and deep.

“That’s it, Valeria. Take me. Take all of me.”

She arched up to take him as deep as she could, meeting his wildness
with her own. He stroked into her again and again, and then she was convulsing around
him, milking him with tight little muscles. His balls drew up hard against his body.
He thrust another few times and then light sparked behind his eyes and he groaned
and emptied himself into her in an orgasm that seemed to go on forever.

When he came back to himself, she was flat on her stomach and
he was resting half on, half off her, breathing hard. He rolled onto his back and
pulled her into his arms.

“
Amo-te, querida
. I love you.” He pressed a kiss to her
hair.

She stroked her fingers through the wiry hair on his chest. But
she didn’t say she loved him in return and to his dismay, when he reached for her
through the bond, she’d closed back in on herself again.

He wanted to say something—plead, argue, demand—whatever it took—but
when he raised his head, her eyes held a wariness that made the words dry up in
his throat.

But if she wouldn’t accept the words, he could love her with
his body, and he did, twice more, until they both fell into a heavy, satiated sleep.

“Mama Ria?” A small hand shook Valeria’s shoulder. “Wake
up. I’m hungry.”

“Go to breakfast without me,” Valeria mumbled without opening
her eyes. “You can sit with Tia Sabela.”

Merry whined. “But I want you to come, too.”

Valeria sighed. “Okay, okay.” Then she remembered Rui and her
eyes flew open.

But his side of the bed was empty and his clothes were gone.
That was good, she told herself. She wasn’t ready for Merry’s questions. Still,
a part of her was disappointed that he’d gone without waking her, even though she
was the one who’d insisted on no commitment.

Merry waved a small, beribboned box in her face. “What’s this,
Mama?”

Valeria pushed herself up to sitting. What with one thing and
another, she’d never gotten around to opening Rui’s gift. She smothered a grin.
Not that she was complaining.

“Tio Rui gave it to me,” she told Merry. “Do you want to help
open it?”

Merry nodded eagerly and scrambled onto the bed. Valeria held
the box while she untied the gold ribbon, the tip of her tongue sticking out as
she concentrated on loosening the bow. When she was done, she lifted the lid. Nestled
inside was a hand-carved dolphin attached to a brown leather cord to make a necklace.

The little girl clapped her hands. “It’s a dolphin—just like
you, Mama.”

Valeria lifted the necklace out. The dolphin had been whittled
from walrus ivory. It was a creamy white with brown striations, the beak, fins and
tail flukes lovingly detailed, then the whole thing polished until it shone. Valeria
fingered it, trying to picture a big, hard man like Rui producing such a delicate
piece of art. And yet somehow she knew he had, that it had been his hand who’d carved
each graceful line.

Hot tears pricked her eyes. She hadn’t even known he could carve.

“Can I hold it?” Merry begged.

She blinked back the tears and handed it over. “If you’re careful.”

Merry ran a small finger down its back. “Can I wear it sometime?
Please, Mama? It’s so pretty.”

“Maybe sometime. But today I’m going to wear it. Tio Rui gave
this to me as a special gift.”

Merry nodded and handed the necklace back. “He must really like
you, Mama.”

“
Sim
.” Valeria swallowed over a lump in her throat. When
she could trust her voice again, she said, “I hear Tia Sabela and Katie outside
the door. Why don’t you go to breakfast with them? I’ll meet you all in the dining
hall after I take a shower.”

“All right.” Merry darted into the hall, where Valeria could
hear Sabela’s voice saying that of course it was okay if she came to breakfast with
them.

Valeria turned the necklace over in her hands. As Merry had pointed
out, the dolphin was her preferred animal. Two years ago, when they’d been courting
for the first time, Rui had teased her about it, informing her with a wicked smile
that sharks eat dolphins, and then proceeding to demonstrate with his mouth and
teeth until she was dazed with pleasure.

She drew in a breath—and then tears were running down her face.
She wrapped her fingers carefully around the carving and buried her face in a pillow
as she sobbed for Rui and the loss of that first, somehow innocent love.

When she was done, she felt drained but at peace, the bitterness
finally gone. They could never return to what they’d had two years ago, but maybe
they could make something new, something that would be even stronger and more enduring,
tested as it had been by what they’d both been through.

She took a shower and then proudly donned the necklace before
heading out to breakfast.

* * *

She found Rui in the dining hall at a table with Merry,
Sabela and Katie. As Valeria approached, he rose and gave her a slow, thorough kiss.
Claiming her in front of everyone, as if the clan didn’t already know from their
scents what the two of them had been doing half the night. Then he ushered her onto
the bench between him and Merry.

Rui fingered the dolphin. “You like it, then?” he asked, an
endearingly diffident look on his hard face.

She touched his cheek. “I love it. I didn’t even know you could
carve.”

“I don’t, actually—not anymore. It’s probably been ten years
since I made anything. But I had that piece of ivory sitting around, and I had some
free time while I was waiting to heal…”

“Well, thank you.” She kissed him. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re welcome,
meu coração
.”
My heart.

Her own heart contracted.

Across the table, Sabela caught her eye and mouthed, “Guess he
liked the dress.”

Valeria just grinned and picked up a muffin.

As breakfast ended, there was a stir at the entrance and Dion
and Cleia appeared, holding hands and smiling. The clan spontaneously rose to their
feet to applaud the newly mated couple.

As the cheers died down, Dion thanked everyone and officially
asked them to welcome his mate to Rock Run. Then he looked around the room. “Damn
if I didn’t miss you all,” he said, then added with a lopsided grin at his mate,
“but not too much.”

Everyone chuckled as they retook their seats. Dion got a large
espresso and carried it over to Rui and Valeria’s table, while Cleia fell into conversation
with several of the women who had befriended her while she was Dion’s prisoner.

Rui rose back to his feet and stuck out his hand. “Welcome back,
irmão
. I don’t need to ask if you enjoyed yourself.”

“No.” Dion ignored the hand to drag Rui into a hug. They pounded
each other on the back.

“You look good,” Dion said as he released him. He glanced at
Valeria, taking in the fact that she was with Rui. His nostrils flared, and she
knew he scented the sex on them. He gave her a wink before turning back to his friend.
“It appears everything’s all right. No problems?”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle. Luis and I can give you a full report
whenever you’re ready.”

“In my
sala
in thirty minutes?”

“Works for me.” Rui glanced at Luis, who had just joined them,
and he nodded agreement.

Dion hugged Luis next. “How’s that boy of yours, anyway?”

He grinned. “With your mate.” He nodded at Cleia, who had Xavier
propped on her hip as she spoke to Isa and Marina.

“Thank
Deus
I mated her before he was of age,” Dion drawled.
“I might have had to fight off a challenge.” They all chuckled and then Dion turned
to Valeria. “Before I do anything,” he said with a meaningful look at Merry, “I’d
like an update on the situation with you-know-who and the earth shifters. You might
as well stay and listen, Luis.”

Sabela came to her feet. “I’d be happy to take Merry to the creche.
I have to take Katie anyway.”

“Would you?” Valeria replied gratefully. She tried to keep as
much as possible from Merry, knowing it only upset her. Now she hugged the little
girl, told her she’d pick her up at lunchtime and then released her to go off
with Sabela and her niece.

“
Bom
.” Dion took another gulp of espresso and sat down
across from Rui and Valeria. “So,” he said as Luis took the seat next to him. “What’s
Adric up to now?”

“His people have been observed nearby,” replied Rui. “The first
was when I was with Valeria and Merry. It was Merry’s uncle, Jace Jones. But since
then, the sentries have reported two other possible sightings, although by the time
they got close enough, whoever it was had gone. The scent was earth shifter, though.
The odd thing was it was faint, as if it had been set down weeks ago.”

Valeria lifted a brow. “I didn’t know that.”

Rui met her frown straight on. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Hm,” she said. At some point, they were going to have a talk
about him withholding information from her. But right now the important thing was
to keep Merry safe.

“What I’d like to know,” Rui continued, “is how Jones got so
close without our knowing it. He was just a few yards from our boat and none of
us scented him. That seems impossible, unless—”

“—they have fae help,” Dion completed his thought.

Valeria sucked in a breath. She supposed it should’ve occurred
to her that the fae might be involved, but everyone knew the fae did nothing for
free—and the Baltimore earth shifters were dirt poor. Still, it made sense—only
the fae could’ve concealed Jace Jones’s scent so well that none of them had known
he was there, watching them.

“Maybe I should contact Adric,” Dion said, “see if we can work
out something.”

“No,” Valeria blurted out. The alpha raised a dark brow, and
she swallowed uncomfortably but continued, “I’m sorry, my lord, but I don’t trust
him.”

“Hell, neither do I. But we can’t keep Merry confined to base
until she’s an adult. A cub needs to run.”

“I know,” Valeria said miserably. Merry was already getting
antsy.

“And then there’s this thing with the quartz. Cleia says they’re
telling the truth—Merry needs something that we can’t give her.”

Valeria’s heart sank. “I see.”

“Exactly
what
is a closely-guarded secret,” continued
Dion. “But we know that every earth shifter has their own unique quartz crystal
keyed to their energy alone. And I can tell you one thing, if you can somehow get
their quartz away from them, it hurts—bad. I’ve seen grown men scream with the
pain.”

Valeria clenched her fists. “There has to be something we can
do. I refuse to believe the only solution is to send Merry back to the earth shifters.”

Dion sighed. “Look, I may as well tell you, I received a message
the other day from Lord Adric. He’s making an official claim for her.”

Valeria swallowed. “Can he do that?”

“And by what authority?” Rui added. Unlike the fae, the fada
had no higher court of appeals. They settled things clan to clan—through negotiation,
battle or a challenge. The fae derided it as the animal in them, but the fada believed
it made more sense than tying things up in court for months or even years, then
allowing an outsider to rule on your business.

“He has none,” Dion said. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t have
to take him seriously. If he spreads the word that a Rock Run assassin kidnapped
one of his young, we’ll be pariahs.”

Rui closed his eyes. “Hell. What a mess.”

Queen Cleia approached. Valeria’s lips drew back in an instinctive
curl. She quickly smoothed her face. She didn’t blame Cleia for Rui’s rejection
of the mate claim—he’d done that all on his own—but that didn’t mean she had to
like the woman.

“Excuse me,” the queen said, taking in their serious expressions.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No problem,
querida
.” Dion caught her hand and drew her
closer. “Do you need something?”

“I just wanted to tell you I’m finished here. I’ll wait for you
in the apartment.”

“Actually, we could use your advice. We’re talking about little
Merry.”

Cleia glanced at Valeria. “If you’re sure…”

Valeria wondered if she was recalling how Valeria had snatched
Merry away rather than let the queen touch her when she was Dion’s prisoner.

What Valeria said next was difficult, but she’d do anything to
keep Merry. “Please stay, my lady. I—we could use your help.”

Cleia looked at her, this time full-on. Valeria blinked. During
the time the queen had been at Rock Run, Valeria had never seen her without her
blindfold. Now she had the sense those large, unearthly fae eyes—brown shot with
gold—could see right into her soul.

But Cleia’s smile was sympathetic. “If it’s about your daughter,
I’d be happy to,” she said and took a seat next to Dion. Cleia already knew about
Lord Adric’s claim, and Dion quickly brought her up to date on the rest.

“Well,” the queen responded, “I can tell you one thing. If a
fae is helping Lord Adric, he or she isn’t a member of any of the sun fae clans.
We have a strict policy of noninterference with other clans—fae or fada. And frankly,
Adric doesn’t have the resources to pay for fae help.”

“That’s what I thought,” Rui answered. “And yet none of us sensed
him.”

Cleia looked at Valeria. “Why don’t you take me back to the island?
If someone used fae magic in the last couple of weeks or so, I should be able to
detect it.”

She inclined her head. “Thank you,
senhora
.”

“Excellent idea,” Dion said as Rui nodded agreement. “I’m supposed
to meet with Rui and Luis, but you two can go without us. I’ll send Rodolfo to guard
you.”

“A guard?” Cleia drew herself up, suddenly every inch the powerful
fae queen. “Do you honestly think the earth shifters would dare try anything with
me
?”

Dion tugged gently on a strand of copper-and-gold hair. “Indulge
me, love.
Sim
?
No one’s invincible—not even the fae. And if another
fae is involved—”

She glared at him another moment and then let out an exasperated
breath. “Olivia warned me about you.”

A corner of Dion’s mouth hitched up. “Your cousin’s a smart woman.”

Rui came to his feet. “I’ll tell Rodolfo.” Leaning down, he captured
Valeria’s chin and gave her a hard kiss. “Try not to worry,
boneca
. We’ll
figure this out.”

A few minutes later, Valeria and Cleia were in one of the clan’s
motorboats with Rodolfo at the wheel. It was a beautiful morning, and despite her
worry about Merry and the earth shifters, Valeria felt the familiar joy at being
out on the river. Rodolfo let out the throttle and the wind rushed past her, teasing
strands of hair from her braid so that they whipped around her face. She donned
a pair of sunglasses and glanced at the queen, who had captured her own hair in
one hand and had her face raised to the sun, drinking in its rays like the sun fae
she was.

Cleia turned to grin at her. “What a fabulous day.”

“Yes.”

“You’re a fisher, aren’t you? You’re out here every day.”