by Tl Reeve
After seeing the fear in Danielle’s eyes, and scenting the stench of her terror, rage clawed at him. Even if he wanted to comfort her, he couldn’t. He had to run the investigation with Kalkin. Eventually, he figured, they’d get pushed out of it, due to it being their department, but he didn’t care. For now, they had a job to do.
Yet, instead of him giving her those fleeting minutes of comfort, his little mate consoled him, checking him over to be sure he’d been safe. While he held her, she tried to heal the burn to his upper arm and his singed lungs. The minute he felt her working on him, the weight on his chest lifted and the hot pokers searing his shoulder area disappeared. Damn her for being too good to me. He couldn’t allow her to deplete her energy. She’d been making small gains in her strength and overall health, and he couldn’t put her at risk.
Leaving her standing there had been the hardest thing he’d done since walking out on her all those months ago.
Neither he or Kalkin had been any good during the ensuing dousing of the fire and the preliminary investigation from the arson investigator. Kalkin hated the idea of anyone snooping around in his county, or as Kalkin stated, pissing on his territory. They should have gone home. He couldn’t leave though. They needed answers. Whoever attacked them killed two deputies, two prisoners, and hurt three more, including Loraine. By the time arson began their investigation, the ATF, FBI, and Highway Patrol investigators had arrived at Charisma’s home since it had been targeted at well.
By targeting Charisma, it narrowed their scope of suspects. Caden couldn’t say it out loud though. It was all speculation on his part. But, he knew Kalkin was thinking the same thing. Quincy did this. Raymond or Tiffany or both. It didn’t matter. What did was finding the evidence and bringing them in.
Caden also waited for Winters to show up and demand answers. He, instead, opted with calling Blackhorn who’d already been on scene, leading a group of FBI agents. Though Jerome had opened his own company, he still held his connections with the bureau. Kalkin and Caden had been relegated to collecting interviews and twiddling their thumbs. He hated doing nothing.
On top of it all, they were worried about Jace and Loraine. No one had received any updates since his brother blew up at the paramedics and claimed her in front of everyone. At some point during all the controlled chaos, Blake, Jace’s lover, showed up franticly looking for their brother. Kalkin, bless him, had to break the news to the guy Jace hadn’t been hurt, but Loraine had. He knew Jace hadn’t told either person, Blake or Loraine, about the other. However, Kalkin did give him the name of the hospital where they transported her. The determined set in Blake’s light-green eyes, at the time, gave Caden a sense of peace. As much as he needed the nudge to find his way back to Danielle, Jace needed that push as well. In order for him to heal, he had to accept himself and his mates.
But, that’s none of my business.
Caden stood at the door to Danielle’s room. She slept twisted in her sheets. He frowned. She’d been worried about him, and he hadn’t taken five minutes to call her and let her know he was okay. Yes, seeing him right after the explosion showed in the moment he was fine, if not a bit beat up, but the trauma of the scene would linger between them. He’d kill whoever did it. It didn’t matter to him. This bullshit had to end now.
He crossed to the bed and climbed in behind Danielle. She sighed in her sleep, burrowing into him as he gathered her in his arms to inhale her sweet scent. Shit, he almost lost everything today. It made him realize, while sitting on his ass, he couldn’t let another day go by without doing the one thing he should have when he first had the chance, claim Danielle. He nuzzled her neck and groaned. Caden slipped his hand under her shirt and cupped her breast. He teased the hardening point with his thumb and forefinger.
Danielle moaned, pushing back against him, but didn’t stir completely. He continued to tease and tempt a response from her. It would be easy to wake her in some not so subtle ways, like burying his face between her thighs; however, he wanted to explore her body. He ran his palm down her stomach to band of her sleep pants. He traced the hem with the tips of his fingers, willing her to wake for him.
“Mmmm, Caden?” The sleepy tone of her voice had his dick hardening along the crease of her ass.
“Hey, pumpkin,” he whispered, kissing her neck.
“What time is it?” She tried to roll toward him, but he kept her on her side.
“Almost one in the morning.” As soon as he stepped into the house, he shed his clothes and placed them outside. They were ruined anyway. He had spares. Then he took a shower to remove the soot and dirt from his body.
“Kalkin?” She turned her head to peer up at him.
“He’s okay too. He’s with Keeley.” He tucked his hand into her pajamas. “Shh...” The warmth of her sex spread through his fingers as he traced the seam of her pussy.
She moaned. “Caden.”
“Full moon, Dani.” He nipped her neck, slowly entering her with his middle finger. “It’s past time I made sure you know who you belong to.” He added a second. The wet heat of her sex pulsed around him as he thrust.
“I-I don’t know...” She trembled in his arms.
“Trust me.” He closed his eyes. “Trust me to make this better for you. To make up for all the mistakes I’ve made. To show you that mates are forever.”
She whimpered. “Caden...”
“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” He hated hearing the uncertainty. Worse, he hated scenting it along with delicate aroma of her arousal. “Let me show you how good it can be.” He removed his hand, then pushed her pants off of her. “Just like this.”
Caden renewed his intentions. He sank his fingers into her, teasing her clit with his thumb. She arched to him, pressing her breasts into his free hand. He growled. The hint of her desire grew stronger, replacing her fear. He placed kisses along her back while whispering soft words of encouragement.
Danielle shuddered. She reached behind her. Her fingers brushed over his erection, and he grunted. The feather-light touch sent sparks of pleasure down his spine. He clenched his ass, staving off his need to rut and fuck. How did Kalkin survive it? His mind told him to take his time while his body said fuck taking his time, get to it. He rose over her. Her eyes were heavy-lidded. Her nipples pressed to the material of her shirt, tempting him. His mouth watered. After bracing himself on his knees, he removed her shirt and groaned.
“I’ll never get enough of these.” He lowered himself and captured her nipple in his mouth. Her fingers threaded through his hair, and she held him to her, not wanting to let him go. He got off on that. Loved the way she could express herself with actions even though her words might falter.
She writhed below him, yanking his hair. The prick of pain spread through his scalp. His cock twitched, and a low groan filled his chest. “Again.”
She gave him a questioning look.
“Do it again, pumpkin. Feels good.”
She did as he instructed.
Caden snarled, switching to her other breast before pressing kisses along her stomach and down to her hips. He licked the indent there, then ran his tongue around her belly button to the other side. She flexed her hips, lifting them in silent pleading with him. Who was he not to oblige her? He fit his shoulders between her thighs, lowering his face to her glistening sex.
Her sweet scent ensnared him.
Caden groaned. He could taste her passion in the air, and he wanted all of it. He nipped both of her thighs before giving her one long lick from ass to clit. Danielle shook. Her legs constricted around him. Caden grinned. He had her right where he wanted her. Again, he lapped at her pussy, drawing in her tantalizing cream. He pressed his tongue into her, swirling the tip around her entrance before retreating. Her gasp of pleasure grabbed him by the balls. His heart pounded in his ears. It was becoming increasingly harder for him to keep his baser needs under control.
He flicked her clit before drawing it into his mouth to suck and nibble on the hard bead. Danielle cried
out. She quivered. Her pussy became slicker and like a starved man, he drank her down, not wanting to miss one drop of her essence. He placed his hands under her ass, lifting her to him, allowing her to see exactly what she did to him. Her dazed blue-eyed gaze met his, and he saw everything. Love. Fear. Joy. He’d take it all if it meant she’d never let him go. He’d replace the fear with trust. He promised himself he would. No matter what.
“Give me your hand,” he murmured against her flesh.
“Wha-why?”
He smirked. “You’ll see.” He drew her clit into his mouth once more.
Danielle released her grip and did as he commanded. Caden lowered her hand to the top of her sex. He encouraged her to play with her clit while he continued to lap and suck on her pussy. She rode his face with wild abandon. She met him stroke for stroke, and he took pleasure watching Danielle find hers.
“Caden, please,” she whispered. “Now.”
He slipped his fingers into her and rubbed the spot he knew would get her off fast. She trembled in his arms, and her head thrashed back and forth seconds before her back arched and her mouth fell open. “Give it to me, pumpkin!” He worked her faster, paying her clit special attention when her hand fell away to grip the sheets below her.
Danielle gave a soft grunt. Her pussy rippled around his fingers, and the force of her release had him clenching his teeth. He sucked in a couple of breaths trying to control the wolf demanding he be let out to claim what belonged to him. Not now. His skin prickled. His spine snapped. Shit. He pulled back, warring with the wolf needing his mate.
“Caden?” The first tendrils of Danielle’s healing energy caressed him. It sank into him, easing the shift from his limbs, and he let out a sigh of relief.
“Close, pumpkin.”
She rolled over and went to her knees in front of him. “Like this?”
Shit, she really was going to destroy the last of his control if she didn’t stop. She’d been beautiful. Her sex gleaming in the moonlight shining into their room. He resisted the urge to mount her like a wild animal as he came up behind her. Caden gripped her hips, pressing a kiss to her spine. She glanced over her shoulder at him. That sex-crazed look on her face drove him wild. He loved it. He wanted to see it there every day if he could.
Caden placed his hand between her shoulder blades and pushed down, so her ass was high in the air. The heat from her pussy seared his cock with a trail of her cream. Damn, I’ll never get used to this. He aligned himself with her pussy and entered her with one thrust. He howled. Danielle cried out. Her pussy rippled and pulsed around him. Her climax stole any pretense he might have about being a gentleman and wanting to take his time. He retreated and slammed into her again.
Oh yeah, this feels so fucking good. He did it again, settling them into a brutal pace. He kept his chest against her back, and he wrapped his arms around her middle, holding her to him as he shortened his strokes to give them the maximum amount of pleasure he could. She opened herself up to him, connecting them as one. He could feel her bliss while she could feel his. The force of it sent sparks shooting down his spine. He didn’t want it to end. He reveled in it, knowing each thrust brightened the passion between them.
He nudged at her neck, nipping and sucking on the sensitive flesh, waiting for the right moment to bite down, marking her as his. The intensity of the erotic waves between them grew nearly to the point of pain. His dick twitched, and he knew he was running out of time. Soon he’d lock inside her, spending himself until they were both drained, but relieved. There were many nights he dreamed of this moment. The minute he’d swell and spill his release deep within her.
Dreamed of a time when he’d get to watch her swell with his pup once more. His hips faltered. He groaned. He wasn’t going to last. He rubbed her clit, pressing down on counterpoint to the pump of his hips. He could barely breathe. The tension between them grew until he thought he would snap in two. Then, it happened. He began to swell.
“Let go, pumpkin. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” This time, sat on the tip of his tongue.
She cried out. “Help.” She teetered on the precipice.
“My pleasure.” He bit down on the spot between her neck and shoulder and shoved as deep as he could go.
With the first quiver of her pussy, he began to climax. She let out a pained noise but rocked against him as she milked the cum from his balls. Caden could only hold on for the ride. He laved the mark to her neck while trying to gather his tattered wits. When Danielle went limp in his arms, he eased them down onto the bed.
“Best night ever,” he whispered, kissing her temple.
“Not mine,” she said, and a pang of worry took hold in his gut.
“No?”
She shook her head then smiled. “Best night was when we conceived Nicolas.”
He let out a breath and pulled her closer. “Fuck, Danielle. You’re going to get me all worked up again.”
She laughed. The sensation caused her muscles to jerk on his knot and more of his release slipped from his tip. “Oh...” She groaned.
Caden grunted, flexed his hips. “Yeah. Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Are you?”
He would have laughed if she hadn’t been so damn serious about her question. “I’m good, pumpkin.” Better than. He finally did what everyone demanded he do—got his head out of his ass. Claimed his mate. Plus, he knotted her. How else was he supposed to feel? “I’m not sure how long we’ll be like this.”
She snuggled into his embrace. “I don’t think I care, right now.” She turned her head to stare up at him. “I thought I lost you today.”
Yeah. He felt the same way about her. “Me too, pumpkin.” The words sat on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back. After the shitty day they had, he didn’t want to profess his love for her, only for her to question the timing later.
“How’s Loraine?” She laced her fingers with his and brushed her lips across his shoulder.
“Don’t know. Jace left with her. No one updated us. Not sure they could have anyway. We were scattered all over the fucking desert.” He growled and tried desperately to tamp down the beast within him.
“I’m glad Keeley’s intuition had been right. I was all for taking everyone to Charisma’s house for the day.” She let out a shuddered breath. “I don’t know what I would have done if Nicolas and Aiden would have been there.”
He’d have gone feral. There were no if, ands, or buts about it. “Don’t dwell on it. The minute you do, you contemplate all the horrible scenarios you can imagine. None of them will help you cope right now. They’ll only make it worse.”
“I know.”
“Good.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I didn’t get to thank you earlier for helping me.”
“I believe you just did.” Her tittered laughter warmed his soul.
“You’re right. I did, didn’t I?” He nipped her shoulder. “When this knot goes down, how about I thank you again?”
“I say, you’re on.” She clenched her internal muscles, eliciting a soft yip from him.
“Goddamn, you’re perfect,” he muttered, grinding against her.
* * * *
Whimpers woke him up. Caden looked down at Danielle, her back tucked into his front, sound asleep. It hadn’t come from her. He heard it again, only this time it was louder. It was either Nicolas or Aiden. Gut instinct said it was Nicolas wanting an early breakfast. Way early considering the sun barely began to push back against the darkened blanket of night.
Caden carefully removed himself from the bed so not to wake his mate. He snagged his discarded sleep pants from the floor next to the bed where he’d left them the night before and put them on.
“Caden?” Danielle’s soft, sleepy voice had him pausing by the doorway.
“Nic’s up. I got him. Go back to bed, pumpkin,” he said, exiting the room.
Nicolas lay in his crib, his puppy dog plush clutched between his hands, and unlike the night before, wore paj
amas. His little face was scrunched up, and Caden knew his son was about to let forth a cry that could wake the dead. The last thing either of them needed was to wake up Aiden. Caden hurried to his son’s side. “Hey, you hungry, little man?”
Nicolas’ demeanor changed when he heard his father’s voice. His head turned toward the door, and his beautiful blue eyes peered up at him through the slats of the crib. His face relaxed, and his eyes widened in excitement. Any doubts Caden might’ve been harboring about doing the right thing disappeared when his boy flashed him a toothless grin. Nicolas’ little arms and legs pumped in glee.
“I’ll get your bottle, if you promise not to cry and wake up your mama or Aiden.” Caden leaned over the crib and lifted his son into his arms. “Not sure if you’re aware, but your mama had a rough night. She was worried about my sorry ass.”
Nicolas laughed as if he understood the complexity of the conversation. Maybe he needed to learn to curb his language. Babies were impressionable, and the last thing he needed was either Aiden or Nic using foul language. Dani would have his ass. Then again, both boys were Rafertys. None of them had a filter when it came to expressing themselves with words. All of them used a wide variety of colorful language, some more than others. Caden figured the boys had no chance in hell of growing up without knowing every curse word in modern day English.
After laying Nicolas on the changing table, Caden made quick work of removing the boy’s clothes and the wet diaper. He placed a fresh one on Nicolas’ butt, then gave his round little Buddha belly a tickle before scooping him back up into his arms to head downstairs. Within minutes Nicolas and he were sitting in one of the two comfy chairs in the living room, facing the big bay window, which looked out over the back of the property and into the front of Kal’s house. The light in the twin’s bedroom was on. Mostly likely, Keeley was up feeding one or both of their twins.
Nicolas, done waiting for his bottle, grabbed ahold of Caden with a surprisingly strong grip and directed his bottle to his mouth. He grunted, settling into Caden’s arms. His little eyes drooped closed as he sucked back his meal. Another Raferty trait, being impatient, especially when they wanted something.
