A Family Portrait Read online

  ———

  “Mr. Darke? Can you come out here sir?” Ashley looked across to Tav from her position near Myles.

  Tav nodded at Ashley who got up and sat down closer to Myles.

  “Mr. Darke, your mate is showing signs of regaining consciousness. She is sleeping normally now.” When he would have spoken, the doctor held up her hand. “I want you to understand, she’ll probably be just fine.”

  “Just tell me what’s happening now and as much as you can about what we should expect,” Tav insisted.

  “In layman’s terms, her brain has gone to sleep, much like it does at night, only it’s going to take it a few more days or even a week or so to wake up completely. She’ll have a memory gap of before the injury—probably just a few hours. We won’t know how long her recovery will take. I’ll have a better prognosis after watching her a few days.”

  “So she’s not going to die?” Tav asked. Until that minute, he hadn’t realized how scared he really was.

  “I have every reason to expect a recovery,” the doctor answered.

  “A complete recovery, doctor?” It was time to address his other fears now.

  “It could take a long time but she should regain long-term memories, motor skills, speech, all of that. Most of it will be reasonably normal before we release her. Like I said, we’ll have to wait and see about a lot of this.”

  “What about… can we see her?” Tav knew he needed the reassurance. He was sure the kids needed it, too.

  “I noticed that the little boys were sleeping. Why not bring the little girl and come on back. Just caution her that she has to be…” The doctor’s mouth curved in a smile when Ashley came through the door. “I thought…”

  “Myles told me,” Ashley supplied. “He’s my earpiece.” Myles stood behind her grinning sheepishly.

  “Let’s go then,” smiled the doctor. “I’m going to ask you to wait outside, Mr. Montgomery.” Myles nodded.

  Tav swung Ashley into his arms as he moved into the room where Tracey was. She was so pale. Ashley gripped him tightly, clinging to him. He was sure she too was moved by the contrast of her mother’s fiery red hair and her white face with the oxygen tubes and IVs crisscrossing over her.

  Tav gingerly lowered Ashley to kiss her mother’s face and then carefully, he kissed her as well. At the doctor’s urging, they left the room. Although they were assured that Tracey had regained consciousness, she never stirred or opened her eyes. Tav tried to cling to the comfort of the doctor’s expertise but it was difficult. Ashley seemed to be having as much trouble as he was keeping the faith.

  “Mama didn’t look too good, Myles,” Ashley told him in a shaky voice.

  Myles squatted in front of her and pulled her into his embrace. “Don’t worry, Princess. She’s alive and the doctor thinks she’ll get better. We’ll just have to help her, okay?”

  “Okay,” she agreed, sniffing, trying hard to keep the tears at bay.

  ———

  They stayed in a hotel near the hospital for the next few nights. Tracey was somewhat improved by the next day and Dr. Livingston let Tav bring the boys back to see her.

  Lakon had insisted on going with Mya to say hello later in the day and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Tracey didn’t realize until later when she fell asleep and woke up again that a celebrity had seen her in a state of relative undress and looking her worst.

  She’d finally given up on embarrassment since she was still pretty confused about what and who should be embarrassing to her.

  On the third day after her accident, Tav entered her hospital room to find her crying and slapping at a stuffed doll with a big smile, a button-down vest and shoes that tied.

  Myles, who had been behind him with Ashley and Jacob, wisely suggested they get their mother a soda from the machine.

  “What’s wrong love?” he asked calmly, hopefully soothing her. He took the cheerful little doll from her, rescuing it and placing it on the bedside table.

  Upon seeing him, she began to sob harder. He gathered her in his arms, stroking her hair and making nonsense noises until finally, she was no longer crying so heavily.

  Breath still hitching she tried to answer him. “Shoes—tied—can’t,” she gasped.

  “Buttons! Why can’t I…” she began to cry again.

  “Shhh,” he crooned. “You scrambled your brains a little, Tracey,” he pulled back and tilted her chin up. “You can’t expect everything to fall right back into place. C’mon. Take it slow. Quit rushing.”

  “But… my babies!” she choked. “I have to take care of them.”

  “I know, I know, love.” He murmured, kissing her forehead. “They miss you, too. But you won’t do them any good if you push yourself too hard.” He looked at her sternly.

  “Will you?” he demanded.

  She sniffed. “No, I guess not,” she agreed.

  “We need you,” he assured her, “we all need you. But we’ll get by somehow until you’re better. Just give yourself a break, okay? Let us help.”

  “I guess I’ll have to, won’t I?” she responded gracelessly.

  “I guess you will,” he affirmed, giving her a squeeze.

  A minute later, she had calmed down and he’d helped her wash her face, much to her disgruntlement, and Myles brought the kids in.

  Tracey had been in the hospital for just over a week when the doctor told Tav that he could take her home the next day. Accepting that Tav could handle the kids on his own if the family was at home, Mya and Lakon went on to North Carolina.

  Myles decided to go home on weekends but offered to come back during the week and help Ashley get to and from the bus stop. He’d gotten into the habit of watching her practice for the school play and taking her home afterwards. Sometimes he brought one or both of her brothers with him.

  The afternoon before Tracey’s discharge was a day that Myles took both boys to watch Ashley get ready for her play. Tav took that opportunity to have a serious talk with Tracey.

  “Tavist,” Tracey said breathlessly when he sat down, “I’m so happy to be going home. I just hate hospitals, I’ve spent so much time in them.”

  “Tracey, you know you’ll need help at home for a while.” She nodded. “I’d like to help you. Would you let me?”

  She looked at him for a minute. “Tavist you’ve been so wonderful since this crazy thing happened. Are you sure you want to be tied down any more?”

  “Tracey, I’d like to be tied down to you much more. But for now, I’ll settle for helping you through this. Don’t feel bad if you’d like me to call your parents or Sue, though.” He crossed his fingers, mentally, hoping against hope that she’d give him the nod.

  She held out a hand to him and he rose from his chair, easing himself down beside her on the bed next to her hip. “I think all of us would like you to stay, Tavist, if you will.”

  He brushed her forehead with his lips and took a deep breath. “Tracey, before you say that for sure, there’s something you should know about my heritage.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Tavist, if one or both of your parents were a different race, well, that doesn’t matter to me.”

  He arched a brow at her. “And what if they were a different species?”

  *

  Tracey tried to figure out what he meant. She decided to be flippant.

  “I don’t much care for cats, Tavist. I’m more of a dog person.” He smiled that half smile that took her breath away every single time.

  “My parents were lupine. Werewolves. I’m a werewolf, Tracey.”

  He looked sincere. He looked like he believed what he was saying. Tracey yawned.

  “Werewolf? You sure?” She yawned again. “You’re not crazy are you?”

  “No, Tracey, I’m not crazy.” Tav smiled at her.

  Dr. Livingston came in just then and picked up her chart. “How’re you feeling today, Tracey?” Tav moved so the doctor could aim a flashlight into her eyes and look.

  “I’m glad I’m going
home.” She struggled not to yawn. “Dr. Livingston, how well do you know Tav?”

  “Pretty well now.” She turned to look at Tav who shrugged. “I know his family very well.”

  “Is he crazy? Delusional?” Tracey fought to keep her eyes open. “He says he’s a werewolf.”

  “Nope. He’s as sane as I am. He is a werewolf. You, however, have had quite a bump on the head. You’d better try to catch a nap before those boisterous pups of yours come to say goodnight,” the doctor said matter-of-factly, flicking the flashlight off.

  Tracey turned her watery eyes toward the door and watched the doctor leave. “Well, she says you’re sane. That’s all I care about.”

  She felt her eyes drifting shut. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes was Tav’s sexy half smile.

  Chapter 8

  Tav was getting into a routine of sorts by Tracey’s second week home from the hospital. He’d followed doctor’s orders for her and insisted that she do the same. There were times when he was positive that she would mutiny.

  One day, he’d put both boys down for a nap after an especially busy morning and went into the master bedroom to check on Tracey. He almost lost his composure completely when he found her standing on her tiptoes on a chair in the closet.

  “Woman!” he growled snatching her off of it. “I ought to turn you over my knee and spank your round little bottom!”

  “You’ll do no such thing!” she shrieked. “Put me down you big ape!”

  Tav tumbled her to the bed face down and pulled up the long tee shirt she wore jerking her panties down. He drew back his hand but he knew he’d never hit her. He smoothed both hands over the rounded globes and leaned down and nipped at the left side pulling the panties off.

  When she yelped, he licked it and nipped at the other side, laving it with his tongue.

  He nipped and kissed both curvaceous cheeks leaving a darkening love bite on one side.

  “Tavist!” she groaned, “Oh Tavist!” she rolled to her back holding her arms out to him.

  He placed a knee beside one thigh and his other knee next to her other thigh straddling her. Taking a wrist in each hand he moved them to either side of her head, holding them there.

  “Do you want to make love with me, Tracey?” he rumbled in a low voice next to her ear.

  “Yes, Tavist,” she whispered breathlessly.

  “I shouldn’t let you, you know. You’ve been a bad girl,” he admonished her sternly.

  He leaned down and covered her mouth with his in a passionate kiss. Raising his head a little, he murmured, “I think you’ve learned your lesson, don’t you?”

  She nodded solemnly. “I’ll never stand on a chair again.”

  “Good girl,” he breathed against her lips. “You deserve a reward.”

  He released her hands and lay on top of her. Wrapping both arms around her, he rolled to his back. A very feminine grin bloomed on her face.

  She took his arms and pushed them above his head, tugging the tee shirt free of the jeans and up over his head. She sat astraddle his hips while she ran her fingers through the hair on his chest and leaned down to nip and lick at his nipples.

  Tav could feel his erection pushing painfully against the fly of his jeans. Apparently so could Tracey. She scooted down to his thighs and began working at the button at the waist of his Levis®.

  “Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?” Tracey quoted Mae West, tugging the zipper down.

  She found out right away that he had little use for undergarments. It didn’t seem to bother her. Scooting backward, she urged the denim over his hips and down his legs.

  Slowly, she crawled back between his legs and kneeled there. “Can I touch it?” she whispered.

  Tav nodded. He didn’t think he could speak. Tracey reached out and stroked her open fingers down the length of his erection. About the time he was sure he would die from trying to hold back, she wrapped her hand around his shaft.

  He kept his hands behind his head and prayed his strength would last when she stroked his balls. He was certain he’d bite through his lip when she leaned down and touched her tongue to the slit on the hood of his cock.

  “Tavist?” she whispered, looking at him with apprehension in her wide blue eyes.

  “You do whatever you want, Tracey. We don’t have to do anything else.” He didn’t know from where he found such a normal voice. He tried his best to look sincere.

  “I can do whatever I want?” She turned her head slightly, narrowing her eyes as if waiting for him to qualify that statement.

  “Whatever you want,” he affirmed with a little nod. He closed his eyes and swallowed.

  Opening his eyes, he saw a slow smile spreading across her face. “Whatever I want,” she repeated with a grin.

  She immediately bent down and began kissing and licking at his thighs and hips.

  When she moved from one leg to the other, he moaned aloud. He began groaning and clutching the comforter when she took his balls into her mouth. The air left his lungs when she nipped the head of his cock and then took it as far into her mouth as it would go.

  She apparently took pity on him because she removed her mouth from his shaft and crawled up his body. “I really want you, Tavist,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted this before.”

  She took the hem of her tee shirt and crossed her arms, pulling it over her head.

  “Never, ever in my whole life Tracey West, have I wanted a woman as much as I want you.”

  “That.” Tracey said, leaning forward and dangling a rounded breast in front of his face. He took it in his mouth. “Was.” She rubbed her moist woman’s lips on the tip of his rigid rod. “Absolutely the right thing to say!” she gasped, lowering herself onto him slowly.

  He groaned loudly. She leaned forward until he was barely in and then forced herself back down his length.

  Sitting down on her knees, she raised her arms and plunged her hands into her hair, closing her eyes as she moved on him. “So good,” he groaned. “So beautiful,” he moaned.

  He moved his hand between them and began to massage her little nub with his thumb. “Oh Tavist!” she squeaked leaning forward. He continued to massage her until he felt her sheath clench around him.

  When her climax ebbed away, he asked her, “Do you want to stop, Tracey? Are you tired?”

  She lifted her head and grinned at him. “Oh no, Tavist. If you’re not done, neither am I. I like this.”

  Still joined, Tav could feel his cock pulsing inside of her tight heat. “Tracey,” he said hesitantly, “Do you feel like getting a little primal?”

  She arched a copper brow at him and smiled. “I’m ready to heed the call of the wild.”

  He pulled out of her and gently turned her over. He pulled her to the edge of the bed until her feet touched the floor. Tugging a pillow under her tummy, he kissed down her spine until she was bent at the waist on the bed with her feet on the floor.

  Kneeling behind her he spread her legs and began licking at the little slit there. He drank her juices until she moaned and came around his tongue. He kissed his way back up her spine until he was standing behind her.

  Holding his rod in his hand, he rubbed her dripping woman’s center. She wriggled back against him and he slid into her. He held her hips and pumped once and then again.

  “Yes, Tavist!” she groaned, “Oh, YES!” He knew that he rubbed her g-spot with every thrust.

  Nature took over and he covered her smaller body with his and twined his fingers through hers. He closed his jaw over the muscle between her neck and shoulder and began driving into her, stroke after powerful stroke.

  Feeling her clenching around him, he thrust once, twice, three rapid thrusts and then he came, wrapping their arms around each other and holding on tight. His groans were muted by her shoulder.

  “Oh, wow,” she croaked.

  Carefully, he eased out of her and lifted her to his chest. Her head lolled against his shou
lder.

  “You okay?” He kissed her forehead and laid her down against the pillows.

  “Can we do that again? Later?” She yawned and turned to her side.

  “I promise,” he chuckled. “Don’t go to sleep, I have to clean you up.”

  “I don’t have to be awake for that, do I?” she yawned again and curled into a ball.

  ———

  Tracey helped Tav clean up after supper that night and he even let her help put the kids to bed. She found that absurdly funny.

  “To think, I’ve been trying to get out of cleaning up after supper for years and now I’m begging to help! It’s too funny!” she chortled.

  “This is all part of your devious plan, isn’t it?” he laughed at her. “You’re like a finicky cat. You want me to order you to sit on the couch and eat Bon Bons.”

  “Curses! Foiled again!” she chuckled. “I guess I can’t get away with banging my head on the counter a second time.”

  “Only if you’re trying to kill me!” he growled at her, scooping her into his arms.

  “Where are you taking me?” she squealed as he strode toward her bedroom.

  She was even more surprised when he averted his course and marched her into the bathroom. “You definitely need a master bathroom,” he muttered, sitting her down on the closed seat of the toilet.

  He leaned over and turned the shower on and then whipped his shirt over his head.

  Turning to her, he peeled off her robe and pulled her tee shirt over her head. With a grin, she shimmied out of her panties.

  “Your pants are going to get wet, Tavist,” she teased, tugging at the waist of his jeans.

  “I’m not getting in there. I’m just going to help you get all clean,” he laughed.

  “Oh, no! If I’m getting in there, you’re getting in there!” she declared with a glint in her eye.

  “The point of this exercise, fair lady, is to make sure you’re squeaky clean,” he rumbled.

  “You’ll do a much better job if you supervise closely,” she observed, taking one of his flat nipples into her mouth.