Sorry for the delay, its a bit of a mission finding time to write between work and study (I am still continuing with both stories!)
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Rider strode heavily down the stairs. He had left Alexia in the shower, knowing that she wouldn't appreciate him waiting for her. He would have to watch himself when it came to things like that - she enjoyed her 'alone time' and wouldn't take kindly to Rider forcing himself into all aspects of her life.
He wasn't looking forward to facing Jeremy today. He would have heard the two of them together, and knowing Jeremy, he was going to want to protect Alex. It was his job description after all. The thing was, Rider didn't think she needed protection. Not from him in any case. She was more than able to take care of herself in that area.
Jeremy was sitting with his back to the door, reading a newspaper when Rider entered the dining room. Deciding to leave the inevitable a little longer he continued skulking towards the kitchen, interested in finding something to cook for breakfast.
"Sit down." Jeremy commanded without looking up. Rider obeyed.
Jeremy was the closest thing to a pack leader he had in his life and Rider owed him a lot. He settled into a chair directly opposite the older man's and waited patiently as Jeremy finished reading the article. He would continue when he was ready.
Finally finished Jeremy looked up and glowered at him. "Alex is not like the other women you have been amusing yourself with. You will not use her and toss her aside. I am aware that she is more than capable of defending herself against you, but she is, in my mind at least, my daughter and I would be remiss in my duties as her father if I didn't warn you that I will not hesitate to rip you to pieces if you hurt her in any way." He annunciated his words very carefully and Rider had the sense that he had thought them through with great care.
The younger man wasn't quite sure what Jeremy was wanting him to say. "I won't hurt her Jeremy, I'd hurt myself before I let anything happen to her. Alexia is special."
Most of the tension that had been clogging the room left when Jeremy grinned "Good to hear." Alex strode into the room as he finished "I've been waiting for you two to get together for a while now. You took your time about it."
"So what am I worth, two cows, a camel and a large bag of rice?" Alex tried to contain her anger, but she was finding it difficult. She didn't like being talked about behind her back, and this felt a lot like the two men were conspiring together. She moved around the table so she could glare at Jeremy.
"Actually we decided on one cow, two camels and a duvet. Much like the one you destroyed yesterday." Jeremy said mildly before turning his attention back to his paper. She hadn't known he knew about that.
Alexia stared across the table at Jeremy for a beat before Rider grabbed her wrist pulling her into his lap. Ignoring her outraged growl he bit her gently on side of her neck. Alex shivered a little when he followed the harsh nip with a soft lick.
"What would you like for breakfast Red?" Rider asked grinning at her scowl.
"Pancakes. And coffee. Lots of coffee." Alex said perking up at the thought of coffee.
Jeremy seconded her vote and Rider got to work in the kitchen as Alex and Jeremy discussed the day's news together.
After a huge breakfast the three of them separated. Rider went to the kitchen to clean up the monumental mess he had made, and Jeremy spent the majority of the day in his study on the phone.
Alex went for a long run, and avoided Rider until later that evening. She had sort-of been expecting him to seek her out. Instead she did, finding him in the library stretched out along a couch and reading his way through a pile of Jeremy's daily newspapers.
Rider kept his attention on the newspaper, forcing her to take the initiative. Alex, much to his surprise, stepped up behind him. She untied the leather thong that he had been using to keep his hair out of his face, embedding her fingers in the strands and lightly scratching her nails against his scalp. After a few moments of delicately combing through his hair she amused herself by coaxing it into a complicated plait.
Rider sat silently throughout her attentions. He was glad she couldn't see his face, he was practically drooling. He was also hard. He didn't know why but having his hair played with seemed to affect his whole body, raising goose bumps on his arms and electric tingles down his back that pooled in his groin
She had just finished retying the leather when he tipped his head back and grabbed her by the front of her tee shirt, dragging her mouth down to his. The new angle made Rider's mouth feel completely different under hers, and she explored it with her tongue making him purr as she tickled the roof of his mouth.
Rider gave up the pretense of the newspaper sweeping it off the couch. Alex circled around to slide herself over his body. He moved to touch her, stopping abruptly when she growled deep in her throat.
Alexia was pleased when Rider offered her his throat. She had found she didn't mind letting him lead her, but by nature she was a dominant person, and Rider would have to be prepared to acknowledge that occasionally.
Licking her way down his neck she tasted him thoroughly, nipping occasionally to encourage his small groans. She slid a knee in between his thighs, feeling him rub himself against her leg.
The sound of Jeremy coming up the hallway woke them both from the haze they had fallen under. Rider pushed himself up to sit, and grabbed a newspaper from the stack beside him. Alex slid down beside him, propping herself up on his chest. Jeremy probably knew exactly what they were doing, but they all preferred the pretense.
When he entered the room Jeremy grinned at Alex's flushed face. He looked tired as he settled into an armchair opposite them.
Alex pushed herself up a little higher - she had a feeling she wasn't going to enjoy this. Rider dropped the newspaper back onto the pile and set his face into an empty expression.
"While I have you both here and paying attention, I need to tell you of my plans for the future." Jeremy said looking levelly at Alex. "My family in Aruba need me. My Mother is unwell, and my sister is not coping with the illness. I need to go back."
"You're leaving me here? When are you going?" Alex asked, shocked.
"I leave in the morning, yes I'm leaving you here. Its not safe for you in Aruba. The people suspect your bloodline and there is something big going on in the royal court. None of my contacts back in Aruba know what it is, they suspect it is the Theris Family" Alex sat up away from Rider, knowing that the blood had drained from her face.
She wasn't aware that Rider had told Jeremy that she knew. Rider went further into silent bodyguard mode. He was going to be blamed for this.
Sure enough Alexia turned accusingly towards the man at her side. He met her eyes without showing remorse. "You knew. You knew that he was going back, and that I would be left alone with you. What was it you said? I'd be stuck in this run down old mansion with Jeremy, and after he's gone, you for the rest of my life?"
"I was angry there Alex. But yes I knew." Rider said emotionlessly. He had agreed not to tell Alexia when Jeremy had told him, but now he was regretting it.
"You two can't keep me here forever. I've tolerated it for as long as I have because I respect you Jeremy, and where else was I going to go? But I need more than this. I know its dangerous. I know there are people out there who think I would be better dead for the disruption I have caused, but no one has to know who I am." Alex pleaded with Jeremy for understanding.
"Alexia, you can't be inconspicuous. You were born to lead, you are a Devon and a Theris and that will endanger those around you. You will be seen as a threat to the Royal family, and as such, a threat to the council." Jeremy said sadly.
"You can't force me to spend my life here! I'm strong. I can protect myself and the people around me!" Alex yelled, frustrated.
"Where would you go? Brahan? That is where the council is situated and they would know you were there in seconds Alexia." Jeremy sounded as level headed and calm as always.
"You would be picked up trying to enter a foreign country. The Council have people in every country checking through visa's for errant Changers, so you are confined to Dartmouth." Jeremy was glowering at her as he said this.
Alex knew he was right, but wasn't quite ready to concede the fight. "I'll go to Paradise City." She said. "Its big enough to hide in, right under the noses of the human Royal's, and its practically at the other end of the country compared to Brahan."
"No. Its too dangerous." Jeremy thundered.
Angry and frustrated beyond belief Alex stood and stormed out of the room. She reached the front door and walked out through it, slamming the heavy door with a satisfying bang.
Once outside she was tempted to get her bike and go. Fortunately she wasn't that impulsive and Instead she headed through the garage to the huge swing set Jeremy had built her in the first year they had lived in the mansion.
It was huge because it was part scratching post, part climbing gym and part swing. It was made out of thick interlocking logs with four thick metal chains suspending two curved rubber swing seats. As a teenager she had sharpened her claws on the four angled logs holding the contraption up, giving them uneven ridges and furrows.
Once she had grown older she learnt to climb to the top, lying across the thick top log for hours at a time. It had been her haven when Rider had moved in. She would lie up there for hours on end as he paced below yelling and swinging the heavy chains. He had come to them not knowing how to climb a log without branches, and thankfully it had taken him a while to learn.
