To Woo A Warrior (Southern Sanctuary) (25 page)

She thought about inching back and
lying down but rejected that thought immediately, if she lay down right now
she’d fall asleep and she didn’t want that.  She needed to see Vaughn,
make sure he really was
alright
. 

He came out of the bathroom with a
towel wrapped around his waist, his hair wet and golden dark slicked back
against his skull whilst beads of water clung to his shoulders, chest and abs.
Oh my. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the man, even woozy, with a
throbbing headache he made her knees weak and heat pool between her legs. 
Nothing wrong except for the fact he wouldn’t look at her. 

His eyes had widened, surprise and
delight lighting his face for a split second on sighting her before a blank
mask had slammed down over his features.  He’d even gone so far as to turn
his back on her whilst he yanked open drawers in search of clothes. 

“Should you be up?”

She stared at his back, it was a
nice back, okay more than nice but what the hell was up with Vaughn?  He
was acting like he couldn’t bear to look at her.  She didn’t respond to
his question just waited him out.  Finally he cast a swift glance over his
shoulder, running a quick assessment from head to toe before he turned his attention
once more to rummaging through the dresser.  How long did it take the man
to find a t-shirt?

“The boots are a nice touch.”

Aahhh
, there was a trace of the Vaughn she knew and … loved?  Yes by the
Goddess … loved.  “Is there a reason you don’t want to look at me?” 
She enquired, pushing down on the throbbing ache in her head.  It was like
having Big Ben knocking inside her skull.

“I looked. I saw the boots didn’t
I?”

Okay now he was being evasive and
the one thing Vaughn had never been with her was evasive, persuasive yes but
not this. 

“So it’s me you don’t want looking
at you?”

Vaughn issued a laugh but it sounded
hollow.  “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?  Okay then, turn
around.”

“I’m busy here and you need to
rest.” 

She watched the muscles pull, stretch
and play across his back, it was tempting just to walk up behind him and
plaster herself to him, just the thought of it made her head pound
harder.  Ouch, what was up with this headache? 

“Vaughn.  Turn. 
Around.”  She enunciated every word slowly and clearly.

“No.”  He slammed a drawer
shut, resting his hands on the top of the dresser as if he was exhausted. 
“You need to leave Hadleigh.  Go get some more rest, you haven’t finished
healing up yet, you look kind of pale.”

“I’m fine … except for this pounding
headache.”

She watched as Vaughn lowered his
head into his hands. 

“Yeah tell me about it.”

Hold on, she had a headache and he
did too?  Oh Goddess, she was finally starting to get a clue, she’d never
seen Vaughn look this pale, shaky even.  Exactly like she was feeling.

“Vaughn, turn around … please.”

Sighing Vaughn straightened and
turned, his back wedged against the dresser for support.  “Hadleigh …
please just go.”

“You melded to me didn’t you? 
It wasn’t just a dream …Valhalla … the marble shot through with
lightning.  You were there and you offered to go with me.”

“We can talk about this when you’re
feeling better.”

“Did. You. Meld. Yourself. To. Me?”

“Yes.”  He crossed his arms,
looking stubborn.

“We need to talk about it.”

“No we don’t, you need time … to
heal up … to adjust.  You shouldn’t rush into anything right now, make any
hasty decisions that you might regret later.”

“Are you scared I’ll say yes or
scared I‘ll say no?”

“Yes.”  He all but growled at
her.

“So you’re prepared to be a martyr
through all this?  You know that weakness you’re feeling, the shaking …
it’s not going to get any better.  The headache will go, once I get some
aspirin but the rest, well nature doesn’t like it when things are only half done.”

“I said
I’ll
be fine.”  He managed to get out through gritted teeth.

Hadleigh laughed softly, shaking her
head.  “You think I need more time to decide about you and me?  No
doubt you have some grand ten step plan to seduce me around to your way of
thinking.”

“I don’t want you to do anything
rash.  Anything you’ll regret.  You were slipping away and I just
knew … somewhere deep inside how to save you … how to stay with you.  But
I know you’re not in that same place, not yet.”

Hadleigh rolled her eyes, pushing
off the bed to stand up, waiting a moment for the room to dip, sway and then
return to normal.  “You’re trying to make all the decisions again Vaughn,
what’s best for us, for me.”  She took a step closer.  “You’re really
going to have to work on that.”  She took another step, Vaughn didn’t look
happy she was closing the distance but with the dresser at his back there was
nowhere for him to go.  “Otherwise.”  Another step.  “I’ll have
to beat it out of you.”  She smiled.  “Although.”  Another step.
  
A dagger magically appearing in her hand.
 
“Come to think of it I might enjoy that.” 

“Hadleigh.”  He put his hands
out as if to ward her off, silly man.

She raised the dagger, using the tip
to cut open a thin cut on the palm of her right hand.  “Just think of all
the wrestling we have in our future Vaughn.”  She sent him a devilish
smile.  “You know I like to wrestle naked don’t you?” 

His gold eyes glowed at the
thought,
with him momentarily distracted she swept the
dagger out, opening a shallow cut on his upper chest, smashing her right palm
down on it, willing her blood into him.  He arched up straight whilst
Hadleigh cried out as heat then fire shot through her veins. 

It felt wonderful, on instinct she
swooped in, just before her lips touched his she whispered one word. 
“Mine.” 

It was a hard kiss, a brief kiss,
mainly because Vaughn remained stiff and frozen under her touch.  Stepping
back she appraised him, noted the gleam of gold returning to his skin, his eyes
once more seemed bright and steady.  Her job here was
done,
taking a few steps back towards the bed on wobbly legs she collapsed on the
edge.  Ignoring him now she leaned over to yank first one boot off and
then the other.

“What did you just do?”  Vaughn
sounded kind of upset.

There was just no pleasing some
people.  She kicked the boots away.  “Melded myself to you.” 
She contemplated trying to take off her socks but leaning over hurt her head so
she decided against that.  Yawning she pulled at the tie keeping her robe
together.

“Why?  Why would you do that
now?”  Vaughn really did sound pissed, obviously his headache was gone if
he could start yelling. 

Hers however was not, as she raised
a hand to touch her temple, gosh she was tired.  Ignoring him she turned
and crawled up the bed, yanking back the sheets to climb under the covers.

“What are you doing?” 

She yawned again, settling back
against the pillows closing her eyes.  Only to open them a split second
later as a heavy weight dropped
beside
her, rocking
the mattress.

“Hadleigh.”  Vaughn was looming
over
her,
those burnished gold eyes glaring at
her.  “Why?”

She smiled up at him; she liked him
all intense and broody.  Reaching out she laid a hand along the curve of
his jaw.  There was a lot she should probably say, most of all that she
loved him but her head ached and her limbs shook at the effort of leaving her
sick bed.  “You were fading ... pining.”

A look of horror crossed his
face.  “So you pity melded with me?”

What?  Her tired mind attempted
to assimilate what he was asking but honestly she was too sleepy to put any
more words together, let alone keep her eyes open any longer.  Her last
thought as she drifted off was that despite being a golden god Vaughn could
sometimes be a really stupid man.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hadleigh woke smiling.  She
felt heaps better and she was in Vaughn’s bed.  All was right in the
world.  Had anything interesting happened?  She lifted the covers,
noting she still had on her tank top, knickers and passion killer socks. 
Oh well, there was plenty of time for the fun stuff now they were melded, they
had an eternity together, well at least a hundred years or so.  Where
should they live?  Maybe her place and he could commute.  And
Kids?  She’d heard what he’d said to her mother but had he been telling
the truth?  Could he even have kids?  Did she want kids
;
little golden haired warriors running around terrorising
the neighbourhood? Funny, she thought she kind of did. 

Stretching she noted her headache
had dissipated, her skin no longer felt tight in places and raw strength once
more coursed through her limbs.  She felt fantastic as if she could
wrestle a bear, eat a whole hog and do incredibly naughty things to Vaughn's
gorgeous golden body.  Goddess she felt horny.  Taking a deep breath
she paused, whew that smell was her, she really needed out of these
clothes. 

Throwing back the sheets she
clambered out, no dizziness, no nothing, yeah for her. In the bathroom she
stripped and got into the shower, unable to fight the smile that clung to her face
as she used the body wash to clean up.  Her skin felt so sensitive, needy.
 Even under
her own
touch her breasts ached and
the throb between her legs, it pulsed like it was emitting radio
frequencies. 

Was this what it was like to be
melded or was this what it was like to want Vaughn?  Perhaps both. 
Who would have thought 6.6ft, sturdy and curvy, red headed warrior Hadleigh
Valhalla would find a man? 
A man like Vaughn?
 
She had to stop smiling.  She was swallowing too much water. 

She thought she’d be more angry, she
who hadn’t wanted to be melded.  Couldn’t in her wildest imagination ever
dream of being melded.  But it was Vaughn, and he made her happy, made her
feel sexy, wanted and Goddess yes complete. 

Out of the shower she faced the
mirror, staring at her red hair, height and too full curves and still that
smile stayed in place, another first.  No hairdryer in sight, she towel
dried her hair, used Vaughn’s toothbrush and rubbed moisturiser over her arms
and legs, marvelling at what a good job Nell had done on removing the black
netting and fixing all her cuts.  She kicked the tank top and knickers
into a corner.  They needed to be burnt.  Then she grabbed the short
black satin robe, tying it closed.  Out in the bedroom she contemplated
exchanging the robe for one of Vaughn’s t-shirts but since her mission was just
to find the man and have her wicked way with him she didn’t think it mattered
what she was wearing, when she found him she wouldn’t be wearing it for
long. 

Okay he wasn’t in the living room.
Darn she thought he might be waiting there for her with breakfast.  No
sign of him in the spare room, the second bathroom or the patio.  Finally
she entered the kitchen to find him leaning against the bench by the sink
drinking coffee.  He was wearing full combat fatigues.  Sighting her
he stiffened, his face taunt, his eyes devoid of expression. 

She paused in the doorway for a
split second, something was wrong, something was very wrong.  Taking
several steps into the room, she paused by the stool where she had sat the
first day having lunch with him.  “All that’s missing is the full body
armour.” 

Still he said nothing, just sipped
his coffee eyeing her as if she were a stranger. 

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Texas.”

Whoa could he be more abrupt? 
“You’ve found Serena?”

“Not yet.  Marcus is changing
the search parameters, you can change a prisoner’s name but they still have to
eat and be clothed so he’s looking for anomalies in
their
billing reports.”

“And you intend to base yourself in
Texas?”

“Yes.”

“What about the rest of the TV
season?”

“Re-runs.”

“Okay Texas it is, let me grab my
gear and we can head out.”

“No.”

Hadleigh’s eyes narrowed.  “No
you don’t want me in Texas?”

Vaughn placed his coffee mug down
carefully, stepping forward to push a piece of paper and a pen towards her
across the kitchen bench separating them. 

“Sign this.”

“And this would be?”

“A parting of the ways.  Thanks
for helping out.”

Hadleigh laughed, causing Vaughn to
frown. 

“What no pat on my rear and thanks for
a good time babe?  Here I’ll make it easier for you.”  She tugged on
the robe letting it slide to the floor in a satin puddle.  Turning she
presented her naked backside to him, bending ever so slightly, looking back
over her shoulder, sending him a taunting smile.  “Go on touch me, I dare
you.”

Vaughn swallowed hard, his eyes
moving around the room looking anywhere but at the shapely rear currently
pointed in his direction.  “Hadleigh…”

“Hadleigh what?  You might be
saying one thing Vaughn but the front of your pants seems to have a different
opinion.”

“Hadleigh put some clothes
on.”  There were tension lines around Vaughn’s eyes and mouth. 

If this hadn’t been so serious
Hadleigh would have enjoyed the effect she was having on him.  “No.” 
She turned and forced a cheeky grin.  “But I will get my butt out of your
face.” 

Moving she picked up the pen,
leaning on the kitchen counter to get a better look at the document. 
Making sure she kept her shoulders back and arched so that her breasts were
front
and centre right in Vaughn’s face.

“Hadleigh.”  Vaughn growled,
high colour staining his cheeks, sweat dotting his brow. 

If he’d continued to just give her
that blank expressionless look he’d sent her way when she’d first entered the
kitchen she would have signed the paper and skedaddled home to sob over her
broken heart but this man was far from unaffected.

 “
So.
” 
She picked up the contract rounding the bench to stand next to
him,
so close her bare skin brushed the front of his
shirt.  “You want me to sign here?” 

She held the contract low, so Vaughn
was forced to look down.  He groaned her name this time like he would a
curse word, his eyes directed down that lush curvaceous body, bare to the
elements.  He couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away now that he was looking,
now that she was so close he could feel the heat of her body washing up against
his own.  Placing the contract and the pen down on the counter behind them
Hadleigh went up on tippy toe, looping her arms around his neck, bringing her
entire body flush against his.  Vaughn issued another groan, determinedly
keeping his arms at his sides.

 “You want to tell me what’s
going on Viking?”  Hadleigh breathed the question softly, pressing a
barely there kiss against the madly throbbing pulse at the base of his tanned
throat.

“Hadleigh.”  He started to lift
his arms, perhaps intending to push her away before suddenly deciding that
touching her wouldn’t be a good idea, once more dropping them to his
sides.  “Hadleigh what I did was unfair to you.”  Sincerity shon in
those golden depths as he looked down at her, their faces only inches
apart.  “But what you did to me was worse.”

Hadleigh frowned, tilting her head
slightly to the side pondering her gorgeous man, who currently was not making
one lick of sense.  “I missed something important didn’t I?”

“You crossed a line.”  Vaughn
stated abruptly, his whole body rigid under her touch.

“You’ve seen me naked before so I’m
guessing it’s not the nudity, in fact as I mentioned parts of you seem to be
enjoying that fact immensely.”

“Don’t.”  Vaughn bought his
hands up to her arms, willing to touch her now if it meant breaking her hold on
him.  “Don’t make jokes.”

Hadleigh held on to him as if her
life depended upon it.  “Talk to me Vaughn.  What did I do?”

He stopped trying to peel her off
but left his big hands wrapped around her upper arms.  “You melded with
me.”  He sounded so forlorn.

Hadleigh’s head jerked back for a
split second in surprise.  “You melded with me first.”

“You pity melded with me.”  He accused,
a flash of anger making his gold eyes darken.

“I did no such thing.  Besides
you only melded with me because you thought I was dying.”

“I love you.”  He growled into
her face.

“I love you back.”  She raised
him a growl as little arcs of lightning flashed across her pupils.

“Then what are we fighting
for?”  His arms wrapped around her body, bringing her in even closer, his
voice still a growl.

“I don’t know.”  She hugged him
tighter.  “It could be the fact that I’m naked and you’re not.  Your
belt is digging into me by the way.”

Vaughn flashed a smug grin, the
sight of it went straight to her knees, thank the Goddess she had Vaughn to
hold her up.  “I’m not wearing a belt.”

She laughed for a moment then looked
serious.  “I do love you.”

He released a deep sigh, happiness
blanketing his face.  “Mine.”  He leaned down searing his possession
onto her lips with his own. “Does this mean we’re married?”

“Pretty much.  We kind of
jumped the gun but I think the High Council will understand.”

“So we don’t need to do the whole
church and ceremony thing?”

“I’d rather we didn’t.  But we
could throw a party … if you want?”

“Oh I want … but maybe.”  He
kissed her.  “Not for a couple of weeks.”  Kissed her again. 
“...
months
maybe.”

“A party … sounds great … in a
couple of months.”   Goddess she could barely think, the man was
doing incredible things with his mouth, with his hands.  “Now Vaughn I
know how much you love rules.  So in the interests of equality, from now
on when I’m naked you need to be too.”

Vaughn raised his head from her
breast, laughter spilling across his handsome face.  “Agreed.”  He
reared back slightly yanking off his top with haste, before gripping her around
the waist lifting her to sit on the kitchen bench.  “Expect to be naked a
lot from here on in woman.”

“Woman?”  She placed her hand
on his shoulder attempting to give him a little shove of rebuke, typical Vaughn
she didn’t move him an inch. 

Instead he just laughed, pulling her
body back hard up against his own.  “Warrior … Mine.”

Her laughter echoed his as she
raised her lips to his, murmuring his words back.  “Warrior … Mine.”

The
End