Protective Instinct

by Katie Reus

  Calling on all the remaining strength she had, she pivoted her body against the floor, striking out at Frida’s ankles with her feet.

  The female let out a yelp of surprise as she tipped off balance. Teresa used the opportunity and struck out again, kicking at Frida’s knee with all the strength she could manage.

  She heard and felt the break of her kneecap as Frida tumbled backward on a scream of rage. The vamp was already shoving up from the floor, though her movements were awkward and slow. Teresa struggled to sit up. The silver had weakened her too much though.

  Eyes wild and glowing, the vampire held the dagger in her gloved hand. Blood dripped off it. Her breathing was ragged and she limped over to Teresa. “I’m going to cut you apart into tiny pieces and mail them back to your sister.”

  Vamp down, I’m heading downstairs.

  Hurry! I’ll keep her distracted. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. For someone who seems to have this big plan of revenge, you’re fucking stupid.” When the vampire snarled, Teresa just grinned, knowing she looked as crazy as the blonde. But Ryan had breached the doorway and was near the bottom of the stairs. Relief flooded her. Damn he was quiet, one of the most lethal predators she’d ever seen.

  “Strong words for a bitch who’s about to get her heart cut out. Before I kill you, just know that I’m going to take all your sisters. I’m going to cut them all up and make sure they suffer before they die. Eventually I’ll kill Natalia—”

  She was tired of listening to this bitch. “Just kill her already!” she yelled to Ryan.

  Ryan leaped, his movements fluid, deadly and so damn beautiful it almost hurt her eyes. He was such a huge wolf it seemed impossible he could move with such gracefulness.

  The vamp turned to face the threat but it was too late. Ryan hurtled through the air and with all the strength and power of a true warrior lupine shifter, he took her head off in one bone-crunching snap of his jaws.

  Teresa barely had time to process it before Ryan shifted to human form. He blocked the decapitated vampire as he crouched in front of her. There was surprisingly little blood on him but she could scent it from the dead woman, likely pooling out on the floor.

  “The others…” she rasped out, needing to know they were safe.

  Concern filled his face as he gently rolled her over onto her side. “Dead. Connor, Liam and Natalia are upstairs in case there are any more of them, but I think this was it. You’re safe. I’m going to free you.”

  He grabbed a towel from a laundry basket then wrapped it around her wrists to insulate the silver from his hands. She sucked in a breath as the silver pushed harder against her skin, but she didn’t cry out. If she could keep it together in front of a crazy vampire, she wasn’t going to make her bondmate feel guilty for what he had to do.

  Seconds later, she heard the snap of the chain, then Ryan gently pulled them off her wrists. As soon as her hands were free, she let out a sigh, the relief instantaneous. Her wrists and the slice on her arm were already healing with rapid speed, the wounds not deep. Before she could think about moving she found herself being shifted and pulled into Ryan’s arms.

  She was too weak to wrap her arms around his shoulders but she cuddled into him. “Thank you.”

  His arms contracted protectively around her. He kissed the top of her head before nuzzling and soothing her in the way only a mate could, his lips skating over every inch of her face as if he needed to make sure she was okay. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere…I love you, Ryan.” She laid her head against his chest, unable to say more as he headed for the stairs.

  He murmured back words of love, soothing her immensely. She was certain there were things to be taken care of—like cleaning up the dead bodies and figuring out if there were more threats—but for now she just closed her eyes and let him carry her out of the basement. She wanted to go home. To their home.

  Chapter 11

  One week later

  The strangest sense of sadness and elation hummed through Teresa as she made her way across the grassy stretch of land toward her new home. She’d been living with her sisters for so long that she’d never really thought about how different it would be to move out. Sure, she could still walk over there any time she wanted and she knew she’d see them every day anyway but things were changing so much. Even Rosa wouldn’t be living there in another week or so.

  The past week had been such a whirlwind of activity she hadn’t even had a chance to really unpack her stuff in her new home with Ryan and Lucas. None of them had done much so there were still boxes everywhere. At least the vampire threat was completely over. Or at least appeared to be. Frida had been working with her lover and two human males to apparently avenge her dead maker. Everything she’d told Teresa in that basement had been true. The crazy woman had a history of being out of control and giving into her bloodlust. According to one of The Brethren, she never should have been turned in the first place. No arguments from Teresa on that.

  The human who’d survived had copped to everything. He wasn’t going away forever, but he was still going to spend a hell of a long time in prison, which mollified Teresa some. At first she’d been surprised Ryan or one of her other packmates hadn’t killed him, but they’d let him live so he could admit to the human authorities everything he’d done. He was way more terrified of shifters than human authorities and he’d taken complete responsibility for his role in helping kidnap Teresa and had explained to the police that Frida had been stalking Teresa and her sisters for a while.

  When she reached the top of the short set of stairs of the porch, she tucked all the silly melancholy feelings away and opened the front door. The second she stepped inside she was inundated with the scents of Ryan, Lucas and food. A lot of it, if the various delicious aromas were any indication.

  It already felt like home.

  When she heard male whispers coming from the kitchen, she frowned and slid off her boots, leaving them by the front door. She only scented Ryan and Lucas so knew it had to be them. But why were they whispering so low she couldn’t hear their words clearly even with her shifter capabilities? Making her way to the kitchen she jerked to a halt in the doorway.

  And burst into tears.

  They’d not only cooked a feast, they’d completely decorated the kitchen with all her blueberry knickknacks. She’d planned to do it later this week but they’d clearly worked hard to get all this set up.

  “We thought you’d be happy,” Lucas blurted, his expression worried.

  “I am,” she said, hurrying into the kitchen. They stood next to the island where she now realized they’d also bought her a giant bouquet of brightly colored tulips and her favorite bottle of wine. “These are happy tears,” she said gathering Lucas into her arms.

  He was only ten but getting so tall already he’d pass her in a year or so. She kissed the top of his head and cheeks even though she knew it embarrassed him. With her arm still wrapped around Lucas, she reached for Ryan and pulled him into a hug. “I love you,” she murmured, brushing her lips over his.

  “Ugh, not in front of me.” Lucas wiggled out of her hold and headed for the refrigerator as Ryan pulled her into a firm embrace.

  “I know you’ve been feeling emotional about the move and we wanted to do something special for you.” His voice was a deep, soothing balm washing over her.

  She returned his embrace, wrapping her arms tight around his waist as she looked into his dark eyes. “Thank you. It’s perfect.” You’re perfect, she said along their link.

  His grin turned just a little bit wicked as he bent down to brush his lips over hers in a slow, lingering kiss. Just remember you said that next time you’re mad at me.

  I’m sure you’ll remind me.

  He pulled back and laughed. She could feel it reverberating from his chest to hers and felt all that earlier sadness completely melt away. Change was a good thing and she knew that this was the start of something wonderful.

  Thank
you for reading Protective Instinct. I really hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll consider leaving a review at one of your favorite online retailers. It’s a great way to help other readers discover new books. If you would like to read more, turn the page for a sneak peek of some of my other books. And if you don’t want to miss any future releases, please feel free to join my newsletter. I only send out a newsletter for new releases or sale news. Direct link: http://eepurl.com/jEABv

  Sneak Peek of

  Hunter Reborn

  Moon Shifter Series

  Copyright © 2015 Katie Reus

  As she tried to decide where to go a blur of fur hurtled through the air at her. Before she could move, the all-white wolf slammed into her, tackling her to the ground. He rolled their bodies so he took the brunt of the fall.

  Surprise ricocheted through her. When he shifted to human form and she found herself pinned underneath the Adonis-looking shifter with blond hair and dark eyes she immediately struck out at him. Weak or not, if this male had killed her parents she’d gut him.

  Claws and fangs descended, she slashed at his middle, ripping open his stomach.

  “Damn it, Larissa!” He managed to grab her wrists in an impossibly tight grip and hold them above her head, but she didn’t stop.

  It vaguely registered that he said her name in a familiar way. As if he had intimate knowledge of her. Kicking and bucking against him, she kneed him hard between the legs as she twisted around to bite his forearm.

  The second his blood coated her tongue, a familiar sensation flowed through her with shocking intensity. The taste made her think of raw, earthy sex. She stilled underneath him. He remained on top of her, holding her, and when she met his gaze she could sense his wariness. But he wasn’t trying to hurt her. And he hadn’t been attacking her, just pinning her down and taking her blows.

  She tensed when she heard someone nearby, their footfalls soft against the snow, barely indiscernible. The male heard it too and lifted his head, but he never took his dark gaze from hers. “Stay back, I’ve got this.”

  “Why do you taste familiar?” she whispered, battling confusion. His blood was still on her tongue and it made her think of dirty, sensual things that shocked her. Even more shocking, she wanted to drink from him.

  The male’s eyes bored into hers. Intense. Heated. “Because you’ve tasted every inch of my body, drank from me, defied your coven to be with me.” The longing in his eyes pierced her. He meant every word he was saying. He wasn’t lying. Or he didn’t believe he was lying.

  If it was true, she didn’t remember any of it. She fought a shiver. Everything in her brain was muddled and the pain intermixed with desire she saw in that dark gaze was too much. She was so fucking confused right now and sensing his pain hurt her. Even if she didn’t understand why, she felt his agony bone deep and she desperately wanted to comfort him. She swallowed hard and resisted that urge. “Why can I feel your pain?”

  He loosened his grip, freeing her wrists. But he didn’t sit back. Just placed his hands in the light layer of snow on either side of her head, that gaze locked on hers. “Because we’re bondmates.”

  Sneak Peek of

  Under His Protection

  Red Stone Security Series

  Copyright © 2014 Katie Reus

  “You are going to love what I got her,” Julieta whispered to Lizzy.

  They were sitting next to each other at Mina’s bridal shower. Mina Hollingsworth, soon-to-be Mina Blue. The sweet artist was marrying former pro-football player/former Marine Alexander Blue and she was one of the nicest people Julieta had ever met.

  “I take it you went off the registry,” Lizzy whispered back before taking a sip of her mimosa.

  “Just a bit.” She held back her grin as Mina picked up her next gift. The black and white damask bag with a bright pink stripe across the top was distinctively from Julieta’s store.

  “I know who this is from,” Mina said, already blushing as she delicately pulled the paper stuffing out the top. Her face split into a wide smile as she pulled out the sheer white, delicate lace lingerie babydoll halter. The back had ruffled layers to create a small bustle and above that in bright pink hand-done stitching were the words ‘property of Alex’. Mina’s fiancé might have mentioned something to Julieta about this.

  As Mina pulled it out and saw the back she started laughing, her cheeks flushing an even darker shade of pink. “Did Alex ask you to do this?” she asked.

  Julieta just shrugged and pursed her lips together as she fought a smile.

  Mina turned it around for the twenty other women to see. Everyone started howling and talking about how much their significant others would want them to get one. Julieta ignored the small pang in her chest. For a bridal shower this one was very small and considering how wealthy Mina was, she was surprised it wasn’t bigger. But maybe she shouldn’t be. The woman was incredibly picky about who she was friends with—because she wasn’t sure who she could trust—and she had guards around her most of the time. All the women at the shower were either married or engaged, except two of Mina’s friends from California.

  Being single had never bothered Julieta before. The last three years she’d been working like mad to get her business off the ground and now that it had and she was doing well, she had more time on her hands. She had a lot of friends and a huge, loving family but the truth was, she was lonely. When she’d first started her business she’d actually had a serious boyfriend. They’d been together the last two years of college, but once she’d started working long hours he’d decided he couldn’t handle it. He’d said he wanted her to be successful and would support her, but in the end it had all been lip service. She was glad she’d found out before they’d taken the next step, but it still stung when she thought about how badly things had ended between them.

  She couldn’t remember the last date she’d gone on and unfortunately the last two months she’d spent fantasizing about a certain sexy Red Stone Security employee she kept seeing because of her friendship with Mina. But she couldn’t get a read on the man. He was always so tight-lipped and gave brooding stares when she was around. She was pretty sure he didn’t even like her. Not to mention Mina had mentioned that he was a total player on more than one occasion.

  Which made her fantasies even more ridiculous. She wasn’t into playboys or bad boys. So why did everything about Ivan make her wake up and take notice?

  “Is that from your new line?” Lizzy demanded, shifting against the loveseat in the expansive living room that overlooked the Miami bay as Mina told everyone to go grab food and drinks.

  Huge windows and a bright October day made for a gorgeous view and natural lighting as the women broke up and started to eat and mingle.

  “Minus the personalized stitching, yes. And yes, I’ve already saved one for you. I can’t believe you had a baby five months ago. You look amazing,” she said in mock disgust.

  “Porter keeps me busy.” Lizzy’s smile turned mischievous which only made that pang in Julieta’s chest expand.

  She shoved down those feelings as best she could. “Seriously, do you need to remind me how long it’s been since I’ve had sex…” She trailed off as Ivan appeared from out of nowhere.

  Wearing his standard dark suit he looked imposing and too sexy for his own good. She gritted her teeth at his timing because she was pretty sure he’d heard her. He so did not need to know she had no sex life. He nodded at both of them politely. For a brief moment she thought he’d approached to speak to her and her heart rate increased by about a thousand percent. That lasted for all of two seconds. The thought of him approaching her just to chat was as ridiculous as her fantasies about him.

  “Hey Ivan, where’ve you been hiding?” Lizzy asked casually.

  Since they both worked for Red Stone, though in different capacities, the two were friends. It shouldn’t make Julieta jealous that Lizzy, one of her oldest, happily married friends, was so comfortable with Ivan. But it kind of did.

  Acknowl
edgments

  Kari Walker, thank you for reading the early version of this story. You’ve offered such great insight from the very first book in the series and I’m so grateful. I also owe thanks to Joan Turner and Jaycee of Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs. To my assistant, Sarah, you know how much I’m grateful to you! For my lovely readers, thank you for continuing to read my books. Without such an understanding family I wouldn’t get to write so much so I’m eternally grateful for you guys. As always, I’m thankful to God.

  Complete Booklist

  Red Stone Security Series

  No One to Trust

  Danger Next Door

  Fatal Deception

  Miami, Mistletoe & Murder

  His to Protect

  Breaking Her Rules

  Protecting His Witness

  Sinful Seduction

  Under His Protection

  Deadly Fallout

  The Serafina: Sin City Series

  First Surrender

  Sensual Surrender

  Sweetest Surrender

  Dangerous Surrender

  Deadly Ops Series

  Targeted

  Bound to Danger

  Chasing Danger (novella)

  Shattered Duty

  Edge of Danger

  Non-series Romantic Suspense

  Running From the Past

  Everything to Lose

  Dangerous Deception

  Dangerous Secrets

  Killer Secrets

  Deadly Obsession

  Danger in Paradise

  His Secret Past

  Retribution