by Keri Hudson
“Okay, we’ll put you on a plane. Go back to Los Angeles.”
“What? Go back to LA? No, Quinton, no.”
“Seattle, then. When I’m done here, I’ll contact you.”
“If you survive!”
“If I don’t, you’ll be glad you weren’t here.”
Jessica looked straight into Quinton’s eyes. “No, Quinton. After all these years, searching… now that I’ve found you, I’m not walking away.”
“Believe me, Jessica, I love you for that, and I feel the same way.”
“You fell in love with me at first sight.”
A tender silence passed before Quinton said, “You knew?” She smiled, a single tear crawling down her cheek. “You?” Jessica nodded. “All the more reason for you to leave, then. You have no idea what you’re facing.”
“But… I do! I faced you.”
Quinton cracked a little smile, but it didn’t last long. “It’s not the same. This thing wants a female mate, their species needs them as much as mine does.” That did seem to register, the blood draining from Jessica’s face. “I can’t risk that, Jessica; neither one of us can.”
“But… I can help, with the investigation. I’m smart!”
“You’re not smart, you’re brilliant. But it’s still too risky.”
Jessica went flush, speaking quickly. “If you send me away, I’ll only come back!”
“Jessica—”
“Anyway, if this… this urine thing—”
“Ursine.”
“If it’s human, it could just as easily come after me no matter where I go. My name’s well enough known around here. Really, wouldn’t I be safer here with you?”
Quinton wanted to disagree, to cut her logic down again. He wanted to keep her close by his side but also to send her as far away as possible. But she wasn’t wrong, and she could offer great contributions to the investigation. Jessica could yet be the deciding factor in the battle to come.
“You’re sure?”
Jessica leaned over and kissed Quinton again, hand behind his head, fingers pulling just a bit at his hair. “Positive.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
There was no resisting the pull of their mutual attraction. Jessica had been proven true, loyal, loving—everything Quinton hoped she’d be and much, much more. And he was eager to be with her again. He turned her gently to lie down on the bed beneath him. He kissed her delicious nape, a soft neck and shoulder rising up to greet him. Her breasts rose beneath him, her steady breath getting faster as their mutual passion overtook them. The energy was rising fast, but Quinton still wanted to suppress it.
All the sweeter for the waiting.
And there was nothing he could imagine being sweeter than that sexy feast beneath him. Her nipples were hard and pink, reaching out for his lips and tongue to gently pull and prod, flick, moisten, goosebumps rising up around the areoles. His right hand cupped her left breast, not to be left unattended. Fingers flicked and rolled one nipple while his tongue tended to the other, a firm squeeze seeming to delight her.
Jessica’s hand found the back of his head, pulling at his hair. Her body writhed as he kissed further down to her navel, her stomach quivering just a bit as his kisses descended further. She spread his legs to give him room between them, his head occupying that sacred space between her milky thighs.
He took in a deep breath, intoxicated by the smell. It drove right to the core of his body, hands wrapping around her thighs from the outside to further part them. His tongue ran up and down that glistening crevice, pink tissues already coming out to greet him. He licked and kissed and blew a little stream of air to delight her just as Jessica had done.
By her little gasp, Quinton knew it was just as effective.
Jessica’s hips rose beneath him, her silky thighs glancing his cheeks as she squirmed with delight. She seemed lost in his attention, fingers pulling at his arctic-white hair, moaning a bit louder as his tongue flicked faster, a blur as her tissues reddened, musk rising.
Quinton leaned forward just a bit, pressing his lips against hers and humming a long, low tone, vibrating in his throat. By Jessica’s gasp, he knew it was a sensation she had never experienced before, but one she would relish for the rest of her life. He knew the soundwave was passing through her, touching off nerves and muscular reactions that were turning her inside out. She shook as he hummed, fingers pulling tighter and moans rising louder.
She moved fast, Quinton backing up as she lurched forward. With a surge of strength, Jessica pushed him back off the bed and onto the overstuffed easy chair in the corner of the room.
Quinton fell back into the chair, thinking he knew what was going to happen next.
He was wrong.
Jessica moved with animal aggression, grunting as she used a focus and fury that was something akin to his own, once again demonstrating how perfect they were for each other. And for all his previous experiences, and there had been countless, he’d never known such unbridled sexual energy; beyond hungry, she seemed ravenous, almost rapacious.
Jessica pinned each of Quinton’s arms to the corresponding arms of the big easy chair. She climbed up with amazing swiftness and skill, putting one toned thigh over each of his forearms, pinning them to the arms of the chair. He tugged, testing the success of her move and glad to see he was helpless beneath her.
She looked down on him with a sexy smile, red hair falling over her adorable face, one brow raised. She knew she’d taken control of him, and she seemed to know that was a privilege and an accomplishment. It seemed to tell her what it told him: Jessica Hume was more than a match for Quinton Williams, she was the perfect match.
And she was about to prove it.
But while Quinton’s arms were pinned, Jessica’s were free. She reached down and grabbed his manhood, long and thick and already aching for her, flinching at her touch. She gave it a terrific squeeze, a wordless promise of her overpowering lust. After a few pumps, she raised herself up, her legs bringing her hips up and over as she positioned that head inside her. She locked around it, holding tight before dropping herself down, just a bit. Jessica waited, smiling at Quinton with just a hint of wickedness.
Quinton pulled his arms just a bit, still pinned. Her legs flexed over his arms as she began to slowly lower herself onto him, slow and deliberate.
“That’s the way you like it,” she rasped, “nice… and… slow…” Quinton flinched and pulled again, his arms secure under Jessica’s. A mean little chuckle rolled up. “I don’t think so.”
Quinton knew she was enjoying her newfound strength, and he knew where she’d gotten the inspiration. She knew who and what she was dealing with much more than before. Not only did she merely accept it, she was embracing it, and it was transforming her.
Jessica wiggled her hips as she went down and up, completely in control. She moved faster, seeming to know the sensations she was delivering. Quinton had never felt anything like it, unable and unwilling to free himself. His muscles flexed under his naked skin, biceps and pecs rising with his efforts.
“Yeah,” Jessica said, “that’s right. Struggle for me, baby, struggle! You’re not going anywhere.” Quinton lifted his arms, her legs rising just a bit. They were strong, and Jessica placed one hand on the top of each of his arms, nearer to the elbow, more weight leaning down to secure him. She was testing his strength, and was discovering hers.
Wriggling and shaking, Jessica pumped faster. Her body tightened around him, his hips unable to resist thrusting up to meet her.
Jessica was clearly reading his body, but she was leading the dance this time, and both were loving it.
She leaned forward a bit more, a little extra pressure to lock him in place as Quinton’s hips and body began to buck with greater fervor.
“That’s it,” she said, “oh God… that’s it…”
The unfamiliar feeling of having his arms immobile, not being able to decide the pace and the pattern, was only stoking his strength and determination. He pushe
d to raise himself up and her along with him, and her slight weight would have allowed it if she didn’t have just the right position against him, and if his legs weren’t so weak from the orgasm already building up inside him. A man of renowned stamina, he’d never been driven to readiness so quickly, felt such a surge of power welling up inside him.
Quinton pushed up again, but Jessica leaned down harder, fingers digging into his arms, hips tilting and shaking and grinding down on him even faster. By the look in her eyes, Quinton knew Jessica was reading his body, his long pole deep inside her. She already knew him that well. She’d taken in everything he was, and she seemed to love him all the more for it.
And she clearly loved having power to match such a man that she knew he was. They were locked in a loving, tangled knot of limbs and love, power and passion.
Quinton’s orgasm thrashed and rebelled just as he was doing, and it seemed to take full advantage of Jessica’s dominance.
Quinton could hardly resist it or her or anything. The few days before washed over him, the incredible truth of the life he would have was itself as inspirational as that weight against his arms, that loving pink glove squeezing and pumping, hot and wet.
Quinton bucked again, one last attempt to push them both out of the chair. Their bodies rose, Jessica listing a bit on her purchase, seeming delightfully surprised at the near success of his most desperate bid yet.
Jessica’s hand leapt out in a flash, flattened palm hitting Quinton hard across the face. The sound filled the room and grabbed Quinton’s shocked attention. Jessica seemed as possessed by the moment as he felt.
The slap had triggered it, his long muscle twitching as his body convulsed. And Jessica knew it, he was as certain as he was of anything in that crazed moment. Dizziness overtook him, body locked in a spasm which felt like it was going to crush him like some invisible fist. He couldn’t breathe, he could hardly move under Jessica’s loving straddle. She took it in, tight clench milking him, her own body riding Quinton’s explosion as if it had been Jessica’s own.
Quinton felt like he was bleeding out, his life force pouring out of him and into her. But that’s where he wanted it. The room was spinning, he was living and dying at the same time.
As their bodies unwound, Jessica climbed down off of Quinton’s arms, but remained in his lap. With him still inside her, Jessica brought one leg around and closed them. She nuzzled into his chest and Quinton wrapped his numbed arms around her to pull her close.
But he knew the tranquility of that moment would not last, that their very happiness was in danger. Quinton had more to fight for at that moment than ever before, and he knew he could not afford anything less than complete and total victory. With one lupine shifter against a big ursine, the odds were severely against him, against them both, against them all.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
After recovering over a long, languid hour, Quinton and Jessica took a shower, hot water pouring over them to soothe and refresh. Standing in front of him, sheeted and shimmering and white, Jessica looked like a statue of some goddess in a fountain somewhere—timeless physical perfection.
They dressed in layers for warmth and went down to hit the restaurant off the Gold Dust lobby. Walt was there as usual, smiling and easygoing. He took their order and brought it fairly quickly, a hearty caribou stew, chunks of the tenderized meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions floating in a thick brown gravy and served with a basket of hot sourdough bread. Jessica dipped a piece of the bread into the gravy and took a bite. She seemed to deflate just a bit from some inner defeat.
“Oh man…” she said, taking a bite of the popular Alaskan meat. “This is caribou, huh?”
“It’s a staple.”
“I have to learn how to make this.”
Quinton gave that just a little thought. “I don’t know if you can get caribou in Los Angeles.”
“Los Angeles? I thought we agreed, I’m staying here with you.”
“We did… until this… problem’s resolved.”
Jessica reached out and put her hand on his. “No, Quinton, no.” He knew what she meant, and just knowing it almost made him want to cry. Instead, his mind went where it often seemed to go: to more pressing and dangerous matters. Quinton led a dangerous life, and he’d never imagined it being any other way. But he shuddered at the thought that he’d be putting his new beloved at risk, then or at any time in the future.
But he knew it was a mortal certainty.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” Jessica said, glancing around. “Y’know that big guy I said was bothering me at the bar that night?”
“Red Fellows.”
“Yeah. He’s big and mean, kind of… bearlike.”
“That’s true, but he’s not the only one, especially around here.” Quinton had given it some thought, of course. And he once again had to admire Jessica’s quick wit. He’d been a menacing presence in the mountains for a long time. And the ursine who’d attacked his family just ten years before had been tinged with red fur. But that would mean either the ursine who killed his family had survived, or that this was indeed its cub. And that only brought Quinton to his ultimate thought on Red’s guilt.
“I’ve known Red Fellows a long time,” Quinton said. “If he knew me, he’d have come after me by now.”
Jessica shrugged. “Maybe he doesn’t know you… as a…” She looked around and whispered, “Y’know.”
“He probably doesn’t,” Quinton said. “When we’re in our human form, we can’t really tell who’s who. It’s not like we can sniff each other out or anything.”
“Right. But still, he’s the type, right?”
It was hard to argue, but there were too many other pieces of the puzzle yet to put together. A process of elimination was best, and that meant taking things one step at a time.
“Let’s look into a few other things first.”
“Okay, of course. I mean, I’m on your territory now, obviously.” She glanced around and leaned forward, his sexy little conspirator. “What do you have in mind?”
“Keep in mind, we’re not looking for an ursine, but for a man… maybe even a woman.”
And that happened to bring them to Deliah. In truth, Quinton had his doubts about Deliah. She’d been interested in him as a mate for years, but it was easy to take that for simple normalo longing. Still, it was true that shifters could just as easily be female, so long as they bred with normalo men.
It was hard to gauge Deliah’s attitude. She was territorial about Jessica, and clearly jealous. Even at her best and brightest, Deliah had never been the woman Jessica was and, of course, she never would be. She was also hardened by life in Alaska, and a woman of formidable skills.
Quinton and Jessica stood with Deliah at the registration desk.
Quinton asked her, “You’ve heard, then?”
“I heard,” Deliah said. “Sheriff’s office sent deputies around to advise against going out into the park, said to watch out for bears. But everybody’s talking about it. Six men?” Deliah shook her head.
Jessica remained quiet. Quinton already knew she had enough quickness of wit to pick up on Deliah’s protective and slightly peevish vibe. So Quinton asked Deliah, “Those hunters, y’know ‘em?”
“Outsiders, I hear.” Deliah glared at Jessica. “Stayed at the Grand Central.”
Quinton nodded as he considered. “Any other new guests, anybody you might have found… worrisome?”
Once again, Deliah looked Jessica up and down. “Just one.”
“All right, now, that’s enough,” Jessica said. “I am a guest in your hotel, after all.”
“Yes, you are… a guest in my hotel.” The tension between the two women was escalating in a way Quinton knew he could neither discount nor entertain. There wasn’t much more time to think about it before Deliah asked Quinton, “Why d’you ask, hon? Were there seven hunters?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
Deliah looked around, her face bending in
a perplexed bitterness. “You don’t think… a person did that? Did you hear what happened to them?”
Quinton nodded. “Just trying to cover the bases.”
Deliah’s eyes sank to shrewd slits. “Sheriff wrangled you, did he?” Quinton nodded and Deliah turned her attention to Jessica. “And you?” Jessica weaved her arm into Quinton’s and stood proud, shoulders back and chest out. It seemed as clear to Deliah as it was to Quinton the message Jessica was sending. “This is a dangerous place, honey, a very dangerous place. You watch your step.” With that, she turned and exited into the back room.
Quinton turned to Jessica, her glances at Deliah telling him where her new suspicions lay. Quinton led Jessica through the lobby and out into the street to stroll down toward their next point of interest, the Grand Central hotel.
Jessica said, “What was that?”
“Not sure,” was all Quinton could say.
“You and she ever…?” Jessica read Quinton’s expression. “Ew, Quinton, gross!”
“It was years ago. I was a much younger man.”
“Well, do you think she could be… it? You said they could be female.”
“And they can be. But… like Red Fellows, she’s known me for years.”
“Maybe she’s all pissed off about me coming around… I mean, obviously she is.”
“You think she killed six men in a shifter tantrum over losing me, after so many years?” It was true, the logic didn’t hold up, but Jessica’s mind didn’t seem to stop working.
The news at the Grand Central wasn’t much better. The manager there verified that there were only six men in the party, and that they were later identified as the hunters who were killed. There was no seventh member of the group who might still be a suspect.
Once alone again, Jessica asked him, “You really think a shifter would bring six victims in from out of town and kill them here… because of you?”
“If there’s an ursine shifter here, I have to believe it’s because of me.”
