Tall Dark Handsome Lycan Book 3

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  Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, Book 3

  Copyright © 2013 Anastasia Maltezos

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, Book 3

  Author: Anastasia Maltezos

  Chapter One

  “Leo, do we really have to stop?”

  “Sam, it has been three hours. I fear I am exhausting you.”

  “Lycans don’t get exhausted,” Sam quipped. “Come on. I’m ready for you.” She assumed her battle stance and locked her gaze on Leo.

  Sam caught a brief flash of amusement settle over his face before he tightened his mouth and charged ahead. She stifled a scream. Even though Leo had been careful with her all week during her training, she couldn’t help being frightened every time his massive, muscular body sprung toward her.

  “Vault now!” He ordered.

  The sound of his deep voice jolted her and she sprung in the air, flipping herself over his body to land behind him. He growled approvingly as he slowly turned around and faced her. Sam skimmed her gaze over his black shorts and T-shirt, his dark hair unruly from the countless times he had run agitated fingers through it. Her gaze rested on his mouth and watched it soften as the expression behind his eyes warmed. Leo nodded slowly.

  “Excellent,” he said, his tone thick with pride. “That was the best one, yet. You have taken to your training with more ease and improvement than I had hoped.”

  Sam couldn’t help, but smile. “Thanks to you. You’re a great teacher.”

  Leo glanced to the wall on the left. Sam watched him run his gaze over all the weapons displayed on the rack. He strode to it and reached for the sword made of steel. Leo lifted it and turned to her.

  Sam was already shaking her head before his dark gaze met hers. “No. I don’t want to train with that one. I’m ready to use the silver.”

  A dark frown settled over his face. “Out of the question. We will use this one until you are ready to train with silver.”

  Sam pursed her lips. “I know you won’t let anything happen to me.”

  “No. Not until your sword fighting skills have improved. Accidents can happen. What if you stumble onto the blade?”

  Sam scowled. “You’re being over protective again.”

  “I cannot help it. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, but you need to start trusting me and stop treating me like I’m helpless.”

  Leo released a heavy sigh. Slowly, he turned and placed the sword back on the rack. When he turned around to face her, his expression was stern. “Sam, I cannot change the way I feel. I worry about you.” He made his way toward her. “There is still much you need to learn and Garos still poses a threat to you.”

  The thought of the insane, powerful ruler of the lycan underground filled her with an immediate sense of unease. Garos had already made an attempt on her life over a week ago and she knew he wouldn’t stop there.

  “All the more reason to train with silver,” she said. “I want to be ready sooner rather than later.”

  If she was going to protect Elizabeth and Alek, she couldn’t afford to waste another training session using steel. The thought of the children Sam and Leo were in the process of adopting filled her with a powerful wave of love and she tensed her mouth.

  “Leo, after we’re married and the children are living with us, you can’t be with us all the time.” She caught a flicker of resignation on his handsome face and Sam released an exasperated sigh. “You know I’m right.”

  His expression darkened. “I agree you have cause for concern, but I will not place you in unnecessary danger. You have been improving your skills daily and in another week, we can train with silver.”

  Making Leo change his mind was going to be near impossible, she thought, and she clamped down on her jaw. “Fine. We’ll train with the steel.”

  Leo nodded approvingly and removed the sword from the rack. He turned and gave her a determined look. “Take your dagger from the bench and prepare to defend yourself. We have gone over this move several times.”

  Sam picked up the dagger lying on the bench and re-played the move in her mind. Leo was going to charge at her with his sword splayed and she was supposed to disarm him with her dagger.

  Sam swallowed and faced him from a few feet away, holding her dagger firmly in her hand. Her thoughts strayed to Elizabeth and Alek. Their adoptions were moving fast and the sooner Leo turned her into a capable opponent against Garos’s band of ruthless killers, the sooner she would feel secure knowing she could protect Elizabeth and Alek.

  She raised her dagger and pointed it at him. “I’m ready.”

  Leo nodded, his face grim. “Remember. Use your lycan speed and your smaller body to avoid my blade and knock it from my hand.”

  “Easier said than done,” she murmured.

  Leo raised a dark brow. “Sam, a true warrior does not engage in negative thoughts before battle. You must believe in yourself and trust your beast.”

  “It’s your beast I’m worried about. You’ve been a lycan for centuries. I just turned into a one a few weeks ago.”

  “Granted, but everyone has to start somewhere. Perhaps I should give you an incentive. Think of me as one of Garos’s men and he is going after the little one.”

  By little one, he meant Elizabeth, and Sam’s heart jolted at the terrifying thought.

  Leo’s mouth thinned. “Now, you are the only one present to protect her. If Garos’s man kills you, no one will be able to save the little one.”

  Sam drew in a long breath and nodded. She could already feel her beast reacting to the frightening thought.

  Leo frowned. “Sam, your eyes are changing colour. I do not want your beast to emerge. You must disarm me in your human form. We will train in our lycan forms next week and then in our wolf forms the week after that. Do you understand?”

  She nodded and gritted her teeth as she pushed down her inner beast fighting to escape. It had been getting easier to control it, but she still feared its strength. Sam stared at Leo who regarded her with a dark, fixed gaze. She wished she had as much confidence in herself as he had in her.

  She pursed her lips and pictured little Elizabeth playing outside of the orphanage. Soon the adoptions would be complete and they would all be living together as a family. The little matter of telling the children their new mommy and daddy were monsters still plagued her mind, but she pushed the thought at the back of her mind and focused on her training. Sam could handle conquering only one mountain at a time.

  “I’m ready,” she said.

  Leo nodded and assumed his battle stance. Sam focused on Elizabeth and Alek as Leo charged forth, his sword splayed. For the first time, she didn’t feel like screaming as his massive, muscular body charged toward her. For this time, she was fierce with a powerful urge to protect the dear, sweet little girl Sam had grown to love as her own.

  ‘Use your speed and size,’ Leo had said. Something wild and primitive snapped in Sam’s chest. A growl reverberated through the room and she was surprised to realise the sound had come from her. Holding her dagger up, she flew toward Leo, springing her legs around her as her dagger connected with his blade. In one deft move, she swept her legs against his ankles. His blade swung to the side, but her attempt to knock him off his feet didn’t work. Sam fell on her side, releasing a frustrated breath.

  Leo dropped his sword on the floor and reached for her hand. As he helped her up, Sam’s gaze met his and she couldn’t help wondering why he looked so pleased. She hadn’t disarmed him. She hadn’t even knocked him off his feet.

  “I failed,” she said.

  “You did not fail, Sam. You blocked my attack. The next phase of training will be teaching you to disarm me and finally to immobilize me.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her in his arms. “You also showed me you are learning to improvise. I did not expect you to try and knock me off my feet.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest. She heard the strong, steady beat of his heart. “Yes, but I didn’t knock you off your feet.”

  “You must give yourself time to master this move. I have mentioned before you are special. A fledgling’s abilities do not appear until after weeks of turning, yet you displayed a few of them after a couple of days. I still believe it is your psychic abilities that have something to do with it.”

  She raised her face up to his and smiled. He always had a way of making her feel good. “So you think I’m special?”

  Leo lowered his head and kissed her firmly on the mouth. “I most definitely do. I love you, S
am.”

  Warmth spread throughout her body. “I love you, too.”

  Leo held her close, the strong contours of his body making her stomach flutter with need. She pressed herself against him and sighed as he ran his hands up and down her back, his touch soothing away her fears, her worries, her tension. Sam exhaled slowly. “I think I can stay in your arms forever.”

  “You can, but we would not accomplish anything,” he said. Sam heard the amusement in his voice. “We are going to see the banquet hall at my hotel this morning, remember? And then I am taking you to see my office.”

  Sam stopped the smile that wanted to spring to her lips. Instead, she sighed with feigned weariness, pulling out of his arms. “You’re right. Well, we might as well get ready.” She was about to pull away from his arms, but his embrace tightened and she laughed softly.

  “Not so fast, my lovely,” he said. “First I want to kiss my future wife.”

  Leo lowered his head and kissed her, the pressure of his warm, sensual mouth stirring her senses. Sam closed her eyes and slid her arms up over his shoulders as he moved his mouth over hers. The seductive tug and pull of his kiss erased all her worried thoughts and she moaned as delicious pleasure spread through her limbs. Leo slid his hands around her waist, drawing her closer to his strong frame and Sam whimpered with increasing need.

  A low, deep groan rose in his throat and he slowly withdrew. Sam opened her eyes and stared up at his face, his eyes darkened by desire. “Why did you stop? I liked that part of our training.”

  His mouth quirked. “Have no fear, my love. I plan on continuing this part of your training tonight. Booking the banquet hall is our priority now. I want us to wed in two weeks and not a day later.”

  Sam smiled and placed a light hand on his face. “I can’t wait for us to be a family.” His face softened. Sam stood on her toes and kissed him. “You and I, Elizabeth and Alek. I can’t believe how quickly things are moving.” Her smiled widened. “I forgot to tell you, when I spoke to Elizabeth last night, she said she wants a puppy.”

  Leo smiled. “Actually, the little one told me she wants a kitten.”

  Sam laughed. “Can’t she have both?”

  “Of course.” He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. When he pulled away, his expression was serious. “And what do you want, my love?” He asked quietly.

  “I want us to be happy, the children to be safe, and our home filled with love.”

  He remained silent as he gave her a long, dark look. “Sam, I have lived three hundred years, but my life began when I met you.”

  ****

  Catherine glared at the image in her crystal ball. A choking rise of disgust and anger welled in her chest as she watched Leo take Sam’s hand. Catherine ran her gaze over his one and cursed, wishing she had a spell powerful enough to wipe that content, satisfied look from her face. What the hell did Leo—a powerful lycan, leader of his family—see in that dull, boring redhead? Samantha Hope was a nothing, a fledgling lycan who was afraid of her own beast! Catherine glared at her ball as Leo led her out of his gym and she swept her hand over the scene, the crystal orb filling with a swirling mist. The image disappeared.

  “Damn him,” she whispered angrily.

  Catherine resisted the urge to call upon her crystal ball and see what they were doing next. She knew what they were doing. They were having hot, passionate sex.

  Tensing her mouth, she lifted her ball and carried it to her chest on the floor. She placed the ball inside the ancient box and secured the lock.

  Garos kept telling her to stop spying on Leo and forget her obsession with him, but Catherine wasn’t obsessed. She was hot with rage.

  No man, in all her existence, had escaped from the magic of her love potions. No man! She thought of all her ex-lovers and how they’d all been happy with her. Leo had been happy, too, until the damn potion had worn off and he’d realised he’d been under a spell. The pain of his rejection and her humiliation was still too much for Catherine to bear, even after two hundred years.

  He had ruined it all. Leo could have been so happy with her, as all her ex-lovers had been. She’d even considered sparing him the same consequence as her ex-lovers and had allowed him to live. She had poisoned all the other men after she’d tired of them, but Leo had been different. She hadn’t been able to see herself tiring of the handsome warrior.

  Her anger flared as she thought of the woman the fates had deemed as his one, his soul mate. Catherine paused before a gilded mirror and stared at her reflection. Samantha Hope could never be the beauty she was. Catherine ran her gaze approvingly over her silky, long blonde hair, her big blue eyes, her perfectly pouty lips.

  Garos had told her many times her potion had worn off because Leo’s beast was too powerful and it had been waiting for its one true love. Magic never triumphed over true love, he’d scoffed at her. Irritation rose in her throat for the underground’s leader.

  For two hundred years, Catherine had thought she had all the time in the world to exact her revenge on Leo because they were immortal. Meanwhile, she`d enjoyed wreaking havoc in his life from time to time with her spells, but since he’d found his one, she knew the time to destroy him was at hand, and there was only one way to hurt him.

  Catherine was going to kill his one.

  She left her hotel room and shut the door behind her before she made her way to the elevators. When she reached the lobby of the hotel, she sauntered out of the elevators and passed a middle-aged man. He gave her a long, admiring look, his mouth lifting into a smile. Catherine flashed a derisive gaze over his balding head and stout belly. Insolent fool! How dare he think a toad like him could flirt with her? Without another thought, Catherine slipped her hand into her purse and reached for her wand. She pulled it out and flicked it discreetly toward him, whispering a brief incantation.

  Seconds later, the man fell dead on the floor.

  They were bastards, all of them. Good for one thing and one thing only. She pushed her way through the revolving glass doors onto the busy New York street and stepped onto the curb.

  Catherine hailed a cab and gave the driver the address to Garos’s office.

  Chapter Two

  Two hours later, Leo took Sam’s hand and led her to the elevators in the main lobby of his hotel. She smiled up at him as they waited for their lift. “Your hotel is magnificent. The banquet hall was lovely.”

  He gave her a concerned look. “Are you certain you do not mind having the reception here? The Plaza is very popular and they have excellent facilities.”

  “Your hotel is perfect. I wouldn’t want to have my reception anywhere else.”

  He nodded. “I am happy you approve.”

  “I do. I’m just worried about the things we still need to do in the next two weeks.”

  “Sam, you may hire the best wedding planner in New York. I will spare no expense.”

  “Thank you.”

  She was still surprised to remember Leo was a multi-millionaire. Hotel chain mogul by day, leader of his family by night. She could adjust to the fact he had more money than Midas, it was his undercover persona as divisional leader of the New York region she still had trouble believing. His family spanned the continents, thousands of lycans, who worked together in secrecy to keep humanity safe from Garos. It pained her to know no one in the human world knew how Leo and his family put their lives at risk on a daily basis to keep all them all safe.

  She gave him a curious look. “Are you sure the guests you invited don’t mind the short notice? You told me a lot of them are coming as far away as Europe.”

  “They will all be here,” he said.

  “I have to admit I’m nervous meeting so many of your family.” She was more nervous some members of his family would question the lycan legend’s choice of his one. Would they approve of her? Leo was a powerful, three hundred year old lycan who commanded thousands of people and kept the New York city streets safe from Garos and his ruthless mercenaries. Would a curiosity shop owner from Maine, who gave Tarot readings, live up to his family’s expectations?

  “Stop worrying,” he said. “My family will love you.”