Chapter 16 - Alek

"Concentrate," Malcolm urged. "Think about something you want to know. Hold it in your mind and try to focus on it."

Iris's face scrunched up as she tried to follow Malcolm's instructions. I watched in silence. After a minute, she sighed in frustration and shook her head.

"Nothing," she spat. "I'm garbage at this."

"You're not garbage at all," Malcolm said reassuringly. The sun coming in through the window highlighted his salt-and-pepper hair. "You're just learning. And on top of that, you don't have a proper psychic to teach you. You've got a guy who's been around for a long time and knows a decent amount, but I can't give you the insight a real psychic can."

Iris muttered under her breath, pushing the hair back from her forehead. "This is pointless," she said.

"No, it's not," Malcolm countered. "It takes years for psychics to perfect their skill. You've known you were psychic for a little over a month."

"I don't have years, though," Iris said. She sighed, pinching her nose and leaning against the wall, finally giving up on pacing. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm being so irritable. I shouldn't take it out on you. It's just, there's a lot going on."

I walked over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," I said soothingly. "It's just the pregnancy—"

"If you say it's just the pregnancy hormones, I'll bite your head off," she snapped.

Malcolm bit back a snicker. I wasn't fast enough, and I started laughing. She glowered at me.

"Just you wait," she threatened, shrugging her shoulder out of my grip as she stalked a few feet away. "Don't forget I know where you sleep."

"Am I going to get in trouble if I say you're really hot when you're pissed off like this?" I asked. "Because you are, and it's a bit distracting. But I won't say it if it'll piss you off even more."

"You just said it. You know that, right?"

I shrugged. "Well, are you more pissed off?"

"Don't get her more riled up than she already is," Malcolm said. "We've still got some training to do."

"It feels so useless," Iris repeated.

Malcolm scratched his stubble, considering. "I might be able to find someone who can train you better than I could," he mused. "I know a couple of people I could reach out to, and they'll probably come through for me if they're available. But it could take a while for them to meet with you, and unless they move here or you move wherever they are, there's only so much teaching they'll be able to give you."

"I appreciate that," Iris said. Most of the ire had subsided from her eyes and posture. "But you've been doing a great job, and I don't know if I'm ready to talk to other psychics just yet. Sorry, I know that might be a little weird."

"Not at all," Malcolm said. "You've had a lot to deal with the last few weeks. I don't blame you for not wanting to add ‘meeting psychics' to your list of recent excursions."

Iris's shoulders sagged slightly in relief, and she gave my ex-boss an appreciative smile. "Thanks, Malcolm," she said. "I appreciate it."

"My pleasure. Now, you got any more for me today?"

"I guess there's one way to find out."

About an hour later, Malcolm ended the session. Iris collapsed on the couch, giving a huge yawn.

"You really are coming along well," Malcolm said. "I wouldn't be surprised if you start developing more powers, you know."

Iris opened her eyes again, paling slightly. "More powers?" she repeated. When he nodded, she said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He shrugged. "It was impossible to know," he replied. "It depends on how strong the gift is, and I couldn't tell how strong it was without seeing you in action."

"So, it's strong?" I asked Malcolm.

"For an untrained woman who only recently found out about her abilities? Absolutely. It's actually really impressive."

"Joy." Iris yawned again, then pushed herself off the couch. "I'm going to fix myself something to eat," she said, then glared at me. "Again, if you say anything about pregnancy—"

"I haven't said anything!" I protested.

"You were thinking it."

I blinked. "You can read minds now?"

"I don't need to." She gave me a wry, amused smirk. "It's all over your face."

"Alek," Malcolm said, and I turned to him. "See me out?"

The look in his eye was the one he'd used when he was my boss. The "listen up or I'll knock you senseless" look. You ignored it at your own peril.

"Absolutely," I said.

I closed the door behind me as Malcolm and I strolled down the path. When we were far enough away from the house, he glanced back at it, then at me.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I wanted to let you know." He kept his voice down, his eyes still flicking up to the house every so often as if making sure Iris wasn't coming out. "Your friend Dan—"

"He's not my friend," I growled. Just the name was enough to make my wolf snarl and flex his claws. "Anyone who tries to attack Iris is no friend of mine."

"Right. That's not the point." The seriousness in Malcolm's eyes as he stared down at me would have made a lesser man run for the hills. "The point is he's stirring up trouble again. Spreading rumors about her."

I snarled, hands clenching into fists. That asshole was still trying to make Iris's life miserable when she'd done nothing to him. I wanted to punch him senseless.

"Thanks for telling me," I said.

"I'm not telling you; I'm warning you. If you ask me, that piece of shit has no indication of stopping anytime soon. And if the rumors aren't enough to run Iris out of town…"

The implication hit home. I tensed, head whipping back to look up at the house. "You think he'll try something more extreme?"

He tilted his head from side to side. "Maybe? I'm not sure. I do think it's something you need to keep an eye on. That shifter doesn't seem all there."

I let out a low growl. "Thanks for warning me," I said. "I'll keep a lookout."

"See that you do," Malcolm said. "I like Iris. She's a good girl, and a good fit for you. She's grounded you a lot. There are a lot of things in the shifter world that can hurt a human."

"Trust me," I said. "I know how lucky I am."

Malcolm nodded. "I just wanted to give you the heads-up. I'll see you around."

"Thanks, Malcolm."

I watched Malcolm walk down the path and around the corner, frowning as I processed the warning. I thought Dan had gotten the hint when I'd told him to back off and slammed him into the wall. Apparently, I'd been wrong. I also needed to warn Iris, but I didn't want to alarm her unnecessarily, either.

I trudged back up to the house, mind swimming as I tried to figure out what to tell Iris and how to do it in a way that wouldn't rattle her.

"Careful," Iris called out as I walked through the door.

"Careful of wha—?" My question got cut off as my foot caught on the landing. I stumbled forward, only barely regaining my balance in time.

"That," she said, then grimaced. "Sorry. Maybe if I hadn't said anything, it wouldn't have happened? I still haven't figured this out."

"Seems like you're doing a pretty good job to me," I responded.

"I'm still not used to this." She frowned. "And then there's the question of whether me observing the future affects the future. Or if I can change it. There's so much I don't know."

"Sure, but you're learning, and you'll get there," I said encouragingly. "I mean, you saw me tripping on the rug, right?"

"Yeah."

"See?" I said, beaming as I turned to look at her. "I told you that you were getting better."

She gave a quick smile that didn't fully reach her eyes. "It just seems like it's not enough," she said. "I mean, if these visions are getting stronger, that means Dad and Jason are looking for me. I thought these visions were supposed to be helpful. What's the point of having them if all they're doing is saying, ‘Oh, hey, this thing is going to happen, and there's nothing you can do about it?"

"You don't know that's the case," I said, trying to placate her. "All you know are the basics right now. This is all new. Hell, you only found out you were psychic a handful of days ago."

Iris groaned, shaking her head. "God. In the last two months, I got kidnapped, found out the guy I liked is part wolf, found out I was psychic and got pregnant with twins." She sighed, then leaned against me, seeking support and comfort. "I just want things to settle into something resembling normal. It's too much."

I wrapped my arms around her. "I know, baby," I said, stroking her hair. "It's a lot. But you're also one of the strongest people I know, and I have every faith you're going to get out of this okay."

I pulled back so I could kiss her. The feel of her lips against mine was enough to stir my wolf, sending new hunger through me.

"You know," I said slowly, kissing her neck and nibbling her ear the way I knew she liked. She sighed, sinking into me a little. "If you're stressed, I can think of several ways to relieve that tension."

"Is that so?"

"Mhm." I looked at her, smirking, then raised an eyebrow. "Have you been in the hot tub yet?"

"I don't think I have."

"Then why don't you join me? I'm sure there are plenty of ways we can enjoy each other's company in there."

"I don't think I have a bathing suit," she said with that delightful wicked gleam in her eyes.

"Damn." I snapped my fingers. "I guess you'll just have to go nude, then."

A few minutes later, the hot tub was roaring contentedly, jets on full blast, our towels resting on hooks nearby. Iris sighed, looking out at the view. The water droplets running down her bare back somehow accentuated her beauty, the water making her curves softer and even more appealing.

"You really picked an amazing house," she said. "And not just because it's secluded enough that we can skinny-dip in your hot tub."

"The view's definitely what sold it for me," I said. I ran a finger along her back, tracing the water droplets there. She arched her back instinctively, letting out a soft sigh. "But honestly, right now? I couldn't give a rat's ass about it."

"Is that so?" She turned to look at me. The sun caught her in such a way that she looked like she was glowing. I moved to sit next to her, my hand cupping her cheek. My thumb stroked her lower lip as I stared at her.

"There's something far more beautiful a lot closer to me," I said.

She groaned and rolled her eyes, even as they sparkled with delight and mischief. "Did you really just use that godawful pickup line?"

"Maybe." I raised an eyebrow. "Did it work?"

She laughed, then wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned in to kiss me. Her lips were firm and confident, giving no hint of her earlier anxiety. I wrapped my arms around her, letting the kiss deepen. I slipped my tongue into her mouth, tasting her as my hands roamed her naked body beneath the water, caressing her stomach that was just beginning to show.

My hand went to her ass and squeezed as my other hand held her head in place. My cock started stiffening, and I growled, needing more of her.

I rolled us over, and water sloshed over the side of the tub as the jets still bubbled around us. My fingers slipped inside her with ease and began stroking. She moaned into my mouth, her body writhing deliciously against me. Her hand went to my cock and began stroking gently, matching rhythm with my own fingers.

My thumb pressed against her clit, and she jerked as if trying to writhe away. But I held the back of her neck, my fingers still pumping in and out of her pussy, holding her in place, making it impossible for her to wriggle away as I sped up. She squealed, her mouth still locked against mine. Her hands forgot all about my cock as she gripped my shoulders, her body squirming beneath my touch. I kept going, my fingers gliding in and out of her with no resistance. Her entire body tensed as she squealed again and writhed against me in delight. I kept moving, my fingers pumping in and out of he as her muscles tightened. I could smell how close she was, her arousal mixing with her scent, and it was enough to make my wolf grow hungry with his own need. He wanted every inch of the human woman currently pinned beneath us.

She unraveled beneath me, screaming even as my mouth remained locked on hers, her body squirming and bucking as she rode the orgasm. I kept pumping until her ragged breaths slowed and she began to relax. Finally, I released her.

"You all right?" I asked.

She gave a breathless laugh, her eyes still filled with lust as her body continued to twitch. "Definitely all right," she said. Then her eyes landed on my cock, still erect beneath the water. "But I could be better."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh? And how might we go about doing that?"

The water rippled as she glided over to me, straddling me and slowly lowering herself onto my cock.

"Let me show you," she muttered.