Trailing Moon Flowers: A NOLA Shifters Prequel Read online

  “Maybe you're right.” She leaned into him and breathed in his scent. “I'm really glad you came tonight.”

  “Me too, Princess.”

  Mia blinked. “Princess? I kinda like dat.”

  Gage chuckled. “Dat's what you are. My Princess.” He winked at her. “Show me around some more.”

  They spent the rest of the evening together with Mia talking about each piece she had on display. She ended up selling three of her paintings and had two special orders for original works not yet seen by others. She was blown away by how well her work was received.

  At the after party, she danced the night away in Gage's arms. When the party finally ended she didn't want the night to end so they ended up watching the sun come up together before she reluctantly let him take her home.

  “Thank you, Princess, for givin' me one last chance.” Gage kept his voice soft so they wouldn't disturb her parents who were still asleep.

  “You're welcome. Just don't blow it, Mister,” she whispered.

  “I won't.” He caressed her cheek. “Can I kiss you?”

  “I've been waitin' for you to do dat all night.”

  With those words Gage lowered his mouth to hers with a groan.

  Mia's fingers curled into his shirt when their lips met for the first time. The kiss started out gentle but soon it was filled with pent up desire. Heat coursed through her and a soft moan escaped her as she leaned into him. She'd never felt anything like it in her life. True, she didn't have much experience to compare it to, but she instinctively knew no one else would ever move her the way he did.

  Gage's arms tightened around her as their kiss deepened. It wasn't until he felt her quaking in his arms that he made himself slow down. He wanted her so much but he needed to go slow. Slowly the kiss gentled before he finally ended it.

  Mia's breathing was ragged when the kiss finally ended. “Wow.” She had no idea a kiss could make her feel so good.

  “I've wanted to do dat for so long, Princess.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “You should go on inside and get some sleep.”

  “I suppose.” She leaned up and brushed her lips across his. “Goodnight, Gage.”

  “Goodnight, Mia.”

  She had to force herself to step away before she turned to the door and headed inside. Just before she closed it she shared one last smile with him. Her footsteps were silent as she made her way down the hall to the bedroom she still shared with her younger sisters. The door opposite hers opened and she blushed at the look Julius gave her.

  “Just gettin' in?” He kept his voice to a whisper.

  “Yeah. We watched da sunrise together. No'ting happened except a really good kiss.” she still felt warm from it.

  “Just be careful, Mia. I don't want to see you hurt again.”

  “I know, Jules. I don't tink dat'll happen again. I really tink he means it. He's done messin' around. Still, he knows he's gonna have to prove it to me. He knows he's gonna have to work to earn my trust again.”

  “As long as he doesn't hurt you again, I'm happy for you. I know you've loved him a long time.”

  “Yeah. I have. I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight.”

  He snorted quietly. “It's mornin' already,” he teased.

  Mia stuck her tongue out at him. “You know what I meant.” She slipped into the bedroom, changed quickly, and crawled into bed. A faint smile was on her lips as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mia

  My, how time flies. Mia couldn't believe that in just a few hours she would be walking across the stage to get her diploma. So much had happened in the last two years. She was almost raped, she got her heart broken, made some really bad choices, had her heart mended by the person who broke it in the first place, and finally admitted her feelings to the one person who meant everything to her. She knew, without a doubt, that Gage Delacroix was her mate. The first couple of weeks after she'd woken up from her night of drunken sex had been tense until she had her period, which meant if they didn't use a condom she got lucky.

  True to his word, Gage stopped chasing other girls and focused on repairing the bond between them that his carelessness had damaged. He proved his loyalty and his love every day with little things. Sometimes it was just a message, other times it was a phone call, or a trinket he'd carved for her. Any time she surprised him by visiting him on campus, he was either by himself or hanging out with some of his frat brothers. He took her out every chance he got and their dates always ended with them both breathing heavy. At first she thought the reason he wasn't pushing for more than heated kisses and a bit of heavy petting was because he didn't really want her that way, but as time went on she realized he was waiting until she was ready to take things to the next level.

  Mia smiled at her reflection. The dress she wore under her graduation gown was a deep crimson silk that clung to her body. She'd developed some curves in the last year or so and she knew Gage liked them, judging by the way he was always touching her when they were together. Beneath the dress she wore a red lace bra and panties with a garter belt and silk stockings. They were going to dinner after graduation and Mia had come to the decision that tonight she wasn't going to settle for just some heavy petting. She wanted to feel every inch of his hard body against hers. She wanted to feel him inside her as they crashed over the edge of release together. She was tired of going to bed with the need and desire burning through her.

  “Look at you. Someone's got a hot date.” Julius winked at his twin.

  Mia blushed. “Gage is takin' me to dinner after graduation.”

  “Uh huh. And dat explains why you're wearin' a pair of 'fuck me' heels?”

  Her blush deepened. “Dere not 'fuck me' heels. Dere just shoes.”

  He snorted. “Please. I know what 'fuck me' heels look like. I might not be into girls, but I've seen enough of dem to know. Hey, I'm all for you embracin' your sexuality wit' da man you love. It's good to see you so happy.” He moved to her and kissed her cheek. “Come on, we've got a graduation to get to.”

  “I still can't believe you're gonna go to da police academy. Dis is really what you want to do, isn't it?”

  “Yeah. I've been tinkin' about it for a long time now.”

  “I'm so proud of you for goin' after what you want. At least in one area of your life.”

  “Don't start. Just cuz ever'one in da family accepts me doesn't mean ever'one else will. If I want to make it as a cop, I need to keep dat shit quiet.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. “Times are changin', Jules. Bein' gay isn't as big a deal as it used to be.”

  “Says da woman who doesn't have to deal wit' gettin' da shit beat outta her if she makes a pass at da wrong person.”

  Mia sighed. “Fine. Be stubborn. But you can't go through life afraid of what others tink. Dat's no way to live, Jules. I just want to see you happy, too.”

  “I know, sis. Maybe it'll happen, but I'm not gonna go riskin' my neck while I'm still tryin' to get my professional life goin'.”

  “Just don't turn da chance away if it ever comes.” She looped arms with him and headed out to the boat for the ride into the city.

  Gage

  Gage stood outside Benjamin Franklin High School and watched as students arrived with their families. The ones he remembered from when he'd been a student there he nodded at, but his gaze kept moving over the crowd until he finally saw her. Every time he saw Mia, she took his breath away. In the year and a half since he'd almost lost her, she'd filled out the curves her body previously hinted at having. She'd gained more confidence in her art which in turn meant she was doing more gallery showings. He was so damn proud of her.

  As he raked his gaze over the crowd he saw her and, once again, he was struck by her natural beauty. When most girls her age were caking their faces with makeup, Mia rarely wore any. Today all she had on was some eyeliner, a little blush, and some lipstick. “Hi there, Princess.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. She'd filled out in all the right place
s but she was still only a little over five feet tall, which put her at a foot shorter than him. He loved how petite she was, though. Petite and curvy.

  “Hi. You look nice today. Got all dressed up just for me?” She smiled warmly at him.

  “You know it.” Gage winked at her then turned to the others. “Mr. and Mrs. Lafluer.” He nodded at her parents. It had taken time for them to warm up to him again after he'd hurt Mia so deeply.

  “It's good to see you, Gage. Are you sittin' wit' us?” Eliza asked.

  “Dat's da plan, if it's all right with you and Mr. Lafluer.”

  “A'course it is. Come on. We need to get to our seats.”

  “I'll be right behind you.” He turned to Julius and held out his hand. “Congratulations. I hear you got into da academy? Dat's pretty impressive. I hear it's not easy to get accepted right away.”

  Julius grinned. “Yeah, I did. I busted my ass to make sure I could pass all da physical tests. Dis is what I want to do, be a cop, do some good for da people of New Orleans.”

  “You'll make one hell of a good cop, Jules. I'll see you two after da ceremony.” He gave Mia one more kiss and went inside.

  Mia

  Julius draped his arm over his sister's shoulders. “Come on, let's get in line. He's turnin' out to be a good man after all.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. “A'course he is. He was just bein' an idiot before.” She flashed a cheeky grin. “Thanks to you and Beau, he straightened out before he got his ass kicked by da two of you.”

  “True dat, sis, true dat.”

  Mia laughed softly and followed him to where the rest of the graduating class was lining up to take the stage. As the ceremony finally got under way and they took their seats, she couldn't contain her nervousness. It seemed to take forever to get to her name on the list.

  “Mia Anaise Lafluer.”

  With her head held high Mia sauntered onto the stage and paused long enough for the photographer to get a couple shots of her shaking hands with the principal while getting her diploma. Then, after a quick wave to her family, she moved to the other side of the stage to stand next to her brother. It was done. She was officially a high school graduate.

  When the last student got their diploma, the principal announced the graduating class, and everyone tossed their caps into the air while their shouts of joy echoed across the auditorium. There were several minutes of confusion while people found the caps that belonged to them before everyone started moving off the stage to join their families.

  Mia couldn't stop the smile that lit up her face at the sight of not just her family and boyfriend standing there waiting to congratulate her and Julius, but their Alpha as well.

  “You two made da Pard proud today. I told your mama and papa., any help you need for college will be taken care of. All dey need to do is let me know what's needed.”

  “Thank you, Alpha.” Mia wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She wanted to go to art school but she wasn't sure what she wanted her major to be.

  Caine kissed her cheek and shook Julius's hand. “You're welcome, cher. Don't forget, tomorrow dere will be a celebration. I know tonight is all about family.” Caine nodded at them and left.

  “We'll see you at home, Mia. Don't stay out all night. We've got an early day tomorrow.” Eliza had a big day planned to celebrate their graduation, just like she'd done when Beau graduated three years ago.

  “I won't, mama.” She hugged her mother before she turned to Gage, who waited patiently at her side. “So, where are you takin' me to dinner?”

  “It's a surprise.”

  Mia arched a brow at that. “Okay, den. Lead da way, handsome.” He was being awfully mysterious.

  Gage escorted her to his car and then drove them away from the city. Mia was puzzled as to their destination but she didn't ask any questions. He said it was a surprise, she was going to let him surprise her. Her puzzlement grew when he turned onto a back road and then onto what looked like a little used driveway. She started to speak up but before she could they reached their destination and a soft gasp escaped her. There, in the middle of a field, sat a gazebo. It was adorned with flowers and strings of light twinkled from between the petals and leaves. “Oh. Wow. Gage, dis is...it's beautiful.”

  “I was hopin' you'd like it. Remy helped me get it all set up.” Their dinner was being kept warm for them by a portable warmer.

  “I love it.” She smiled warmly at him. “You really went all out.”

  “You deserve it, Princess. You deserve to be put on a pedestal.”

  Mia shook her head. “I don't want to be on a pedestal. I just want to be in your arms. Dat's all I need.”

  “I'm good wit' dat.” He winked at her and offered his arm to escort her to the gazebo.

  Mia was touched by the effort he'd put into their dinner. It was sweet and romantic and it made her love him that much more.

  Gage

  Gage kept glancing at Mia as he drove. He knew she was curious about their destination but she was keeping quiet and letting him surprise her. He'd thought long and hard about how he wanted this night to go. It was special in more ways than one. Mia had just turned eighteen a few days ago, she'd graduated high school, and, if all went well, they would be celebrating their engagement.

  When he finally pulled the car to a stop, seeing her eyes light up at all the work he and Remy had put into making tonight special for her was worth it.”Don't you dare touch dat door,” he said when Mia reached for the door handle to get out. He got out quickly and went around to open it for her. “Your dinner awaits, Princess.”

  Mia blushed a little and slipped her hand into his. “Dis really is beautiful, Gage,” she murmured as they approached the gazebo. They weren't old enough to drink but a bottle of sparkling cider sat in an ice bucket.

  “Not as beautiful as you, Mia.” He dipped his head and kissed her gently. When they reached the table he held her chair for her. He served up their dinner; lobster bisque, steak cooked medium rare, steamed asparagus, Alfredo pasta, and, for a touch of home, benigets for dessert.

  “Dis looks delicious. Did you cook it or did you order it from somewhere?”

  Gage chuckled “Neither. Mama helped wit' da meal. Well, I cooked da steaks, she made ever'ting else.”

  Mia took her first bite of steak and groaned. “Oh, perfect.” It had just the right amount of spices to entice her taste buds and just enough pink to satisfy her leopard.

  “As if I would feed you anyting else?” There was a teasing note in his voice.

  Mia laughed softly. “No, you've gone way out of your way to make dis really amazing, I knew da steak would be perfect.”

  They were quiet for several minutes as they enjoyed the meal. “I have a confession to make. Dere's another reason I did all dis. It's not just to celebrate your graduation.” Gage swallowed past the sudden nervousness he felt. “Mia, I tink I fell in love wit' you da day you kicked my shin after I pulled your braid. You've been under my skin, in my thoughts, in my heart, every single day since den. I know, in da past, I've done some tings dat hurt you, and you will never know just how much I regret dat. Here's da ting, Princess. I can't imagine my life wit'out you in it.” He moved from his chair and knelt on one knee next to hers. From the pocket of his slacks he withdrew a small box. Inside lay a ring similar to the promise ring he'd given her, except this one was white gold. The center was a dark ruby with two small diamonds nestled on either side. Just below the diamonds was a tear drop emerald. “Mia Anaise Lafluer, would you do me da honor of becoming my wife? I've already asked your papa for his blessin' and he said as long as I don't break your heart again, he'll happily walk you down da aisle.” He looked into her eyes and saw tears glistening in them and waited. His entire world hung on what those tears meant.

  Mia

  Mia was thoroughly enjoying their romantic dinner out away from the city. It was such a peaceful place and being there with him, it felt like there was no one else in the world. It was as if everyone else just disappeare
d. She was taking a sip of her sparkling cider when he told her there was another reason he'd brought her there. She arched a brow at him but before she could question him, he continued.

  As Gage spoke of his love for her, Mia began to shake a little. Was he really going where she thought he was? Then he hit one knee and opened the box. The ring was beautiful and when she looked up at his hopeful gaze, tears filled her eyes. “Gage Rafael Delacroix, it sure took you long enough! I've loved you all my life, I've wanted dis all my life. Yes, a million times, yes!”

  When Gage pulled her into his arms to kiss her, Mia melted against him. “You continue to surprise me. You know papa will skin you alive if you mess up now,” she teased and slid her hands beneath his shirt.

  Gage groaned and gripped her arms to stop her. He leaned down and nuzzled her lips gently. “I know, but I don't plan on messin' dis up. You're too important to me.”

  Mia frowned when he stopped her from touching him. “Gage? Why don't you want me? I know you love me, but...if you tink I could be happy in a marriage wit' no intimacy, you're wrong.”

  He looked at her like she was crazy. “What? Why would you tink a crazy ting like dat? A'course I want you, Mia.”

  “Really? You sure could have fooled me. You wasted no time gettin' in da pants of every girl you dated in high school, but you won't even let me touch you.”

  Gage took her face in his hands. “No, Princess, you've got it all wrong. I want you so much it hurts. But you deserve better, you deserve to be swept off your feet. All da girls I dated in high school, dat was fuckin'. Anyting wit' you will be makin' love.”

  “Den make love to me, Gage. Please.” She studied his face. “Is it because of me sleepin' wit' Seth when I got drunk last year?”

  “No. God, no. It has no'ting to do wit' dat.” He kissed her and tried to put what he was feeling into it.