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  With Teal and Tony wishing her luck, she returned to check out her new purchases and plot her revenge on the moron who had stranded her.

  * * * *

  Al got off Jeremy Wax and left the glyph circle. Jeremy charged after him and collided with the power barrier that did not recognize him as authorized.

  Al looked over to Ty’s spot and was a little surprised when she didn’t appear right away. He headed out to tell Tamora of his success, and he figured that Tyanna would be along when she had gotten their bags.

  Tamora was waiting for him, and she was tapping her fingers on her desk. “What the hell did you do?”

  He blinked, suddenly unsure. “I captured Jeremy Wax. He is in holding.”

  She rubbed her temples. “Where were you when you transported? Were you in the Meditation Centre?”

  He felt his skin heat. “Um, no.”

  “Well that would explain why the Crossroads is off any transporter pathway. You were briefed on this before you left.”

  He scrubbed his hand over his hair. Sheepishly he said, “I was a little less than alert when we were briefed but failed to mention it. Is Tyanna all right?”

  “Everyone there is fine, but we are trying to get in touch with one of the Crossroads’ designers to move it back into line as soon as possible. No one can leave, but no one else can arrive either.”

  “Shit. What can I do?”

  “Go home. There is nothing that you can do here. I will let you know when Tyanna is safe and sound. Who knows? Her time in the Crossroads might bring her home with a mate of her own.” Tamora smiled brightly, but there was a darkness to her eyes. She was irritated and wanted him to know it.

  The comment about Tyanna finding a mate stung. He had been trying to figure out a way to start courting her, but when they were together for work, everything seemed to go wrong. Yes, that was part of their job, but he thought they were really making progress at the Crossroads until they had to split up so she could use herself as bait.

  “Fine. I will go, but Wax doesn’t know that Tyanna was involved. He thinks her name is Anna and they had a date for tonight.” He got up and nodded to Tamora.

  She stopped him. “Thank you. I will call you when she is safe.”

  He nodded again and headed for the door. At his cubicle, he grabbed the bag that they had retrieved for him and he grabbed his phone. A few minutes later, he had found the number that Teebie had written down for him. In case you need it. She had said.

  He hadn’t imagined that he would ever need her aunt’s number, but here he was, waiting for her to answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Madam Dira?”

  “Yes. Who is this?”

  “My name is Alatas Whipping, Madam. Your niece, Teebie, gave me this number. Are you aware that the Crossroads is floating loose?”

  The woman chuckled. “It will resume its path in twelve hours or so. Do not worry.”

  He calmed himself. “Is there any way to get there earlier? I need to go to the Crossroads before my partner finds someone else.”

  “If you are the one for her, she will still be yours in twelve hours.”

  “What if I have been too cowardly to tell her how I feel?”

  “Ah. That is another matter. I will send you a text with another number when it is time. If I can get you there earlier, I will.”

  “You have no idea how much this means, madam.”

  “Dira, please. If Teebie had enough foresight to give you this number, you obviously need my help. I will do what I can. Wait for that text.” She hung up.

  He went to the transporter, took the lecture about magic within magic and headed home.

  There was nothing to do but wait.

  Chapter Six

  Ty enjoyed a girls’ night out with Teebie, and she wore a cocktail gown and stiletto heels to embrace the moment.

  “That is one hell of an outfit. It will be a while before I can get back in one.” Lee sighed and patted her belly. She was several months pregnant, but she still looked like she could claw all comers into shreds.

  Teebie grinned as Jim brought over their drinks. Wine for Tyanna, a fruit cocktail for Lee, studded with umbrellas and fruit, wine for Teebie and Ivy was sticking to tea.

  Lee laughed. “Jim is going nuts with having to bartend while Chuck is busy, but everyone gets time off now and then, and he has to deal with it.”

  Ivy smiled. “He is doing galley edits and he always gets a little bitey when he does them. I will be home on schedule and not before.”

  Ty settled in and enjoyed the conversation with other women. She rarely had this kind of chance. To hell with the men, it was girls’ night.

  She was on her fourth glass and was feeling decidedly chatty; she finished her story. “So, I sat on him.”

  The ladies at the table roared with laughter and several of the men looked around nervously.

  Ty was deep in giggles when a hand tapped her on the shoulder. She looked up, “Al! Hey everybody, Al made it back.”

  He blinked and gave her a slow smile. “How many have you had?”

  She held up four fingers.

  “Would you dance with me?”

  She frowned and turned toward her friends. “But its girls’ night.”

  Teebie put her hand on Ty’s and smiled. “Go. This is your one shot.”

  Ty smiled and got to her feet, swaying alarmingly.

  Al caught her and led her out to the dance floor. He held her against him and they swayed together. “Did you get taller?”

  She giggled. “I am wearing heels.”

  She was so close to his height now that it would only take the slightest tilt of her head to reach his mouth. Ty closed her eyes and pressed against him. “What time is it?”

  “Eleven or so. Why?”

  “I thought that the Crossroads wouldn’t be accessible until tomorrow.”

  “They sped up the process.” He rested his head next to hers and inhaled.

  She followed suit and smiled. “Popcorn.”

  He chuckled. “You are the only one who thinks that.”

  “I like popcorn.”

  He rubbed his chin against her temple while the music slowed even further.

  She could feel his hand on her back and the gentle urging coaxed her toward him. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her hands flat on his shoulders, pulling him against her until she could feel every button on his shirt against her torso, as well as the solid erection pressing against his trousers.

  He groaned. “You have had too much to drink. We can’t do this.”

  She started to shake, and he pulled away from her as far as she would let him. Her grin was wide. “Alcohol doesn’t affect me, well, liquor does but I don’t drink it. I just like the excuse to act a little silly and cut loose a bit. Any objections?”

  Al’s eyes took in her features and her direct gaze. “No objections.”

  “Good.” She resumed her position with him pressed against her until not even a thought could pass between them.

  She twisted her hips against him in a slow rocking motion, and she felt him shudder. It was fun to toy with him when they both knew where it was leading. Ty had known from the moment he told her his girlfriend had gone to the Crossroads a year ago. He was hers. Al wasn’t a man to avoid the opposite sex unless he was working. That he had sought her out instead of waiting for her to return home was a strong indicator of his intentions.

  Her intentions had always been clear to her. The moment he made a move, she was going to pounce. That move was being made as they slowly cruised around the dance floor, the pouncing would commence as soon as they were back at the Open Heart.

  She looked up at him through her lashes. “Would you care to join me in my room?”

  He shuddered. “That seems like a good idea.”

  She parted from him and her body was pissed at the loss of the contact heat. She consoled it with more heat to c
ome.

  She waved at the ladies, and they each gave her two thumbs-up. Laughing, she hauled her mate into the night.

  She dragged him up the stairs to her room and pushed him inside. Impulse kicked in and she shoved him against the wall. “I am still pissed at you.”

  He reached behind her and worked on the zipper of her dress, releasing the hook at the top once his fingers had gone as far as they could.

  “Why?”

  “You endangered everyone here by that transport stunt. We were told to bring him to the Meditation Centre and they would send him home.” She began to unbutton his shirt, and when she could see skin, she nuzzled it.

  “I was still suffering from the side effects of the dust remember? I missed the briefing. I have apologised to every transporter that I have met, and I sat through a lecture on transport magic within the Crossroads from Tony and Teal. I am rather more interested in what you are doing with your tongue.” He caressed her back.

  She knew she had him thoroughly distracted. She was drawing patterns on his skin and her tongue was strong enough to do a good job of it. Pulverizing bamboo took a bit of effort and dexterity. She had both.

  She moved down his chest, opening his shirt and unbuckling and unzipping his trousers as she moved. His cock sprang out and she grasped it, stroking the silky, hot skin up and down while she moved closer and closer to it with her mouth.

  She breathed on it for a moment before standing and cupping her free hand around the back of his neck, pulling him down for a kiss.

  He thrust his fingers through her hair as he slid his tongue into her mouth. He held her as he ravaged her mouth and she continued her slow stroking of his cock.

  One of his hands moved around her back and unclasped her bra.

  She shivered as the suddenly loose fabric scraped her nipples. That hand moved between them to increase the friction by rubbing at the little black dress until she moaned.

  She released his erection and pushed his shirt off his shoulders, running her hands over the smooth skin. He released her head and broke the kiss so he could slide her dress and bra off her shoulders to leave her clad in matching black panties and the stilettos.

  She stepped out of her dress and backed toward the bed. She bent quickly and snagged the pack in her purse that was her constant carry.

  He grinned. “Condoms?”

  “One to start with. More if we need it.” She winked. “I also carry handcuffs.”

  “Where did you get the cuffs?”

  She smiled. “It really is a full-service general store, and I really was planning on cuffing Jeremy when I could get him out of the public.”

  She reached into her bag and pulled out the linked metal cuffs. With care, she set them and their keys next to the bed.

  “Just in case.” She smiled, but he had closed the distance while she had been fussing with the handcuffs.

  He took the condom from her and set it carefully next to the handcuffs.

  “Alatas, it doesn’t work unless it is on.”

  “Tyanna, it risks damage if it is put on too soon. I have some exploration to engage in.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and tipped her to the bedding.

  She pressed her thighs together. “I am in a little bit of a hurry.”

  He put his hands between her knees and parted them, wedging his body between them as he pressed his face against the fabric shield at her sex. He inhaled deeply and shuddered, his whole body undulating as he began to lick.

  Even through the fabric, she could feel the wet pressure stabbing at her clit, causing her sex to swell and a slick rush of welcome to dampen the fabric even more.

  Al hummed happily and licked and nuzzled her until she twisted against him.

  “Damn it, Al.”

  He looked up and licked his lips, a dazed expression on his face. He smiled slowly and he lifted his hand, doing a partial shift to show the long claws that few registered from such a cute-looking beast. He shredded her underwear with a few sharp tugs.

  Instead of complaining, she raised her hips in welcome as his now-normal hand pressed to her aching centre in a slow rhythm. She rocked against him and moaned as her body felt fire licking from her sex outward.

  He leaned away from her, and she growled, sitting up to bring him back, she watched as he opened the condom and rolled it along his length. He was back to her in a moment, and she felt the slick head of his cock working into her.

  She sighed with relief and clutched at his shoulders, drawing her nails along his skin. He thrust hard and she pushed back, the heels of her shoes digging into the bedding. She held him tight as he worked inside her; sweat coated them as they strove together.

  When she finally came, her crisis nearly shook him off. She howled and bucked as she fought her beast for control of the body. Finally, she relaxed and lay panting as he flexed and shuddered against her, short jabs of his hips pressing her into the mattress.

  He reached between them and held the condom, pulling out of her and going to the bathroom before he returned and took her shoes off. “You showed restraint. I was fairly sure these were going to end up in my thighs.”

  She laughed and crawled to the head of the bed, peeling back the layers and sliding inside. “My restraint saved you a number of indignities. You were almost having sex with a panda, and that breaks all kinds of laws.”

  He snorted and crept under the covers with her. He spooned against her and continued caressing her skin. “Thank you for being you. I am not sure I could have handled the panda.”

  She laughed and smiled as he kissed her shoulder and her neck.

  Chapter Seven

  He was out of bed and dressed before she was. She sighed. The idea of morning sex had been intriguing, but she supposed that there might eventually be another opportunity.

  As she showered, she took note of a few tender spots. Apparently, teeth had come into play at some point and she had been too dazed to notice.

  She dug out fresh clothing and wore a blue dress that swirled around her calves. A set of pumps completed the ensemble, and she headed downstairs for breakfast. She loved wearing skirts during her time off, but she had so few days of silence that feeling pretty gave way to being practical.

  Teebie had coffee ready and grinned as Ty sat down. “Morning, Ty.”

  “Morning, Teebie. How are you today?”

  “Good. Alatas has gone to square a few things with Teal and Tony. He is going to be apologising for a while.” Teebie smiled.

  “Well, I am going to eat and run. I have to get back to work, or at least take care of my plants.” She looked at the blue woman and asked, “Do you know how he got here so early?”

  Teebie shrugged. “He must have asked the right person the correct question. I will be right back.”

  With an enigmatic smile, Teebie returned to the kitchen, leaving Ty with her thoughts.

  Breakfast was wonderful, as it had been the day before. Ty was sitting and sipping her second cup of coffee when Alatas returned.

  He saw her and a slow smile spread across his features. “Good morning, Tyanna.”

  “Good morning, Alatas.” She wondered if men knew that they projected the I have seen you naked and I liked it look.

  He walked up to her, and to her shock, he knelt down. “Tyanna, will you marry me?”

  She blinked and narrowed her eyes. “I thought that it was settled. We are mates. We don’t need a formal stamp.”

  He grinned. “I know, but will you marry me?”

  Ty looked at him, really looked, and imagined every day with him. “We are going to kill each other, but yes.”

  To shock her again, he lifted her left hand and fished a ring out of his shirt. “It will shift with you. It was my grandmother’s ring.”

  She looked at the golden stone surrounded by intricate metalwork, all in white gold. “It is lovely. I will be proud to wear it.”

  He kissed her knuckle, her palm and then he leaned
up to kiss her lips. She touched his jaw and smiled when they parted. “You are going to regret a wedding.”

  He snorted. “I can’t see why.”

  Smiling, he sat across from her and began his own breakfast.

  “My family is all mages. My mother was travelling in her mother’s country and she was shot and killed. I was nine. My father is unknown. My mother’s friend, Master Ekiadu, was watching me and took over as my guardian. His occasional lover was Lady Liahan Green Willow, so she became my Aunty. I was exposed to magic from both the human and fey side of things and they became my family. They encouraged my creative side and that is how I took up portraiture. A wedding with them is going to be chaotic.”

  He smiled. “Well, I am a random, so it will be just as odd for you. My family are all serpents.”

  “Ouch. Venomous?”

  “Constrictors. My sisters were effective disciplinarians when they had to babysit.” He wrinkled his nose.

  He smiled as something occurred to him. “So your full name is…”

  “Tyanna Willow Wu. Lady Liahan wanted me to wear part of my exposure to her and Willow is not a horrible middle name, so I took it on. I was born Tyanna Wu. Plain and simple, from a long line of single mothers.”

  He frowned. “How long?”

  “Nine generations. All pandas. Since the women never married, they kept the last name of the first panda, Wu. It could have been the first name for all we know. We just know that it’s our name.”

  Al nodded. “Right. Well, if we decide to have children, the child should have your last name.”

  She laughed. “I am glad you think so. If we hyphenated, the child would be Wu-Whipping or Whipping-Wu. Neither is really a good idea.”

  He grinned and then paused before saying, “What is the most embarrassing part of your beast?”

  Ty leaned back with her coffee. “Easy. When I stay shifted for a few days and eat nothing more than bamboo, I take a dump about forty times a day. That is some heavy fibre.”

  He winced. “That qualifies. Well, in the same vein, my tail isn’t exceptionally mobile and it is very fluffy, so if I am distracted after I discard personal waste—”