by Tia Didmon
Brock’s cat growled. Brock hadn’t let a sound escape yet Jane stepped back, looking around. “What is it?”
“I’m imploding at the idea of you working directly with the scariest criminals that exist on this earth.”
“Not all of them,” she said curtly.
“The fact that Brian Marksmen was a mild criminal in your world proves I have a right to be pissed.”
Her eyes narrowed. “At me?”
“No, at the person who put you in this position.”
“No one put me here it was an accident.”
“Was it?”
“The car...”
“I’m not talking about the car accident.”
“What then?’
“Your father worked for Kallan. How did that come about?”
Jane’s face paled. “My father wasn’t in business with Kevin he just started working for him.”
Brock’s face softened. “How old were you?
“We were ten. Why?”
Brock nodded. “It may have been an unfortunate coincidence in your father’s case. Either way you and your sister were too young to have known if anything was going on. Let’s keep looking.”
They looked through files for another half hour before Brock came across a black file folder. “I may have something.”
Jane put down her files. “What is it?”
“There is a file here on Kevin but it appears to be business deals. I will need Garrett to look into each one to see if anything is off.”
“Okay.” Jane said in a disappointed tone.
“It’s not Kevin’s file I was talking about.”
“Whose is it?”
“There are several here. Camila Cortez. Jordan Cortez. Gerry Kallan. Ari Lok. And two with only initials.”
“Why would he put initials only on two files?” Jane mused.
“Perhaps these are the files we are looking for.”
“What’s in them?”
“That’s the puzzling thing. The other files have personal and business data in them. Ari’s file and these two simply have a piece of paper with a seventeen-digit code in it.”
Jane glanced at the paper. “Kind of looks like a long serial number but I can’t figure out what kind.”
“Maybe Garrett will know.”
“I am starting to feel sorry for this Garrett guy. We keep piling jobs on the poor man. I wish Carla...”
Brock saw the pain etched in her face. “Baby, what is it?”
Jane smiled sadly. “Before the accident Carla loved puzzles. She wanted to be a coder. Programmer. Invent her own video game. You name it.”
Brock smiled. “Garrett is going to love her then. He can teach her everything she wants to learn.”
“But she won’t remember. The next day. She won’t even remember meeting him.”
Brock could feel his mate’s pain like it was his own. “We will find a way to help Carla. I promise if there’s a way, Racheal will find it.”
Jane stared down at the files spread across the table. “Is this it? Do you think what Kevin is looking for is in these files?”
“It will take time to go through them.”
Jane stiffened. “I don’t have that kind of time.”
“I know. I’m reading through Kevin and Gerald’s file then you’re taking them.”
“Why?’
“You have a deal to complete.”
Jane watched Brock scan the documents. His gaze was intense, but he scanned them so quickly she doubted that he would retain much of the information. “You should take copies.”
He smiled without looking up. “Trust me.”
“I do,” she said, surprised it was the truth.
Brock leaned over and kissed her. Her body heated immediately in response. He smiled wickedly. “Hold that thought.” He went back to the papers.
Jane crossed her arms. “I can’t guarantee I can get them back.”
He nodded. “I know,” he said flipping to the last page and putting the file under his arm. “I will get Liam and Luca to scan the rest and send them to Garrett. Let’s head up.”
They entered the burned room. Jane looked around. “How do we get it to go back up?”
Brock pulled the picture, but the room didn’t move. “Shit.”
“I wasn’t thinking past getting it to go down,” she admitted.
Brock began touching various items in the destroyed room when the clicking started. The room ascended to join the ruined cellar. “It must be on a timer.”
Jane followed Brock out of the ruined house. Once outside, he pulled out his phone. “You texting the twins?” she asked.
“Yes, they will finish up here.”
“Good. I would like to...” She put her hand to her stomach as a wave of dizziness overtook her.
Brock grabbed her. “Are you alright?”
Jane rubbed her eyes. “I think so.” Her phone rang before she could assess the cause. She pulled it from her pocket. “It’s Kevin.”
“That’s interesting timing,” he said looking around.
Jane felt the comment cut through her heart. “Do you think I contacted him?”
Brock pulled her close. “No. Not you. Answer the call, Jane.”
Jane didn’t think he was lying but she felt her confidence waver. She didn’t have time for indecision. “Hello Kevin.”
“Have you found it?”
“Yes. We found what’s left of the Bunker.”
“The flash-drive?”
“Flash drive? No, we found physical files on you and Gerald.”
Kevin paused. “I see. Return with them immediately.”
Brock mouthed the word ‘Racheal’.
Jane nodded. “I am to meet Racheal for the serum this evening.”
Kevin sighed. “I didn’t expect you to accomplish both your goals.”
“It was part of the deal. I have every intention of holding up my end of our bargain. Do you?”
“You know perfectly well I will. Return with the serum and the files tomorrow and your only job will be to care for your sister,” Kevin snapped.
“I will have both by morning.”
“Agreed. I will have Danov contact you tomorrow.” He hung up abruptly.
They went to the SUV. Brock put the files on the seat. “I will arrange Racheal to meet us later.” He was texting into his phone when Jane clutched the seat.
She felt the uneasy feeling of duality. Her vision wavered. She saw a beetle skitter across a branch, heard the click of its wings as it traversed the wood. She inhaled deeply taking in the musty smell of the forest combined with the masculine smell of her mate.
Her eyes went to his fingers as he deftly sent off a long message. She admired the flex of muscle in his arms. He was wearing a shirt. She found the clothing offensive and thought it would be best if she ripped it from his body. Freeing him from the unneeded confinement. She made her way to his side of the vehicle.
He was looking at the bright device in his hand. She swatted it away.
“Jane, what the...”
His eyes locked with hers. She saw her mate rise behind them. His amber eyes admiring her beauty.
His forehead creased. “It’s too soon.”
Jane shook her head, the feeling of duality slipping away. “What just happened.”
“Your cat rose to the surface. It doesn’t usually happen like that when you’re still human.”
“This will happen a lot when I’m a shifter? I’m going to accost men and toss peoples’ phones,” she asked angrily.
Brock pulled her to him. “No. She only has eyes for her mate and expects his undivided attention. As she should.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m so not ready for this.”
“You are and you’re very close to the transformation. I need you to tell her to back off. Just one day. Your body needs time.”
Jane huffed. “Are you telling me or her?”
“Both,” he said, rubbing her back.
She nuz
zled his skin. The texture and warmth an aphrodisiac to her senses.” I feel her. I think she understands you. I feel her regret. What does that mean?”
Brock’s fingers clutched her sides. “It’s okay, baby. We’ll get through this.” He grabbed her hand and a blanket out of the truck.
She looked back at the truck. “What about your phone?”
“The twins will grab it. We need to get back to the stream.”
“Why?” She heard him talking. Registered the sound of his voice but she couldn’t focus on his words. Her gaze watching the muscles that flexed under his skin. His clothes.
“Jane?”
She looked at his amber flecked gaze. “Yeah.”
He lay the blanket on the ground. “We’re here.”
She looked around before her gaze went back to him. He began to pull off his clothes. A ripple of excitement went through her body straight to her clit. She pulled off her top and began undoing her pants.
He was naked and aroused as he pulled her fiery body close to his. “I have waited decades for you and now you’re mine.”
She put her hands around his neck, pushing her taut nipples against his chest. “Is that right?”
“Yes,” he growled.
She felt a hunger, an instinct to rub against his body, nipping his skin as her scent marked his. Her hair swayed over her body and his as she moved.
“Then claim me,” she purred.
Jane felt the hunger rise. For him. She wanted to dominate him. Have him dominate her. She wasn’t sure. Her emotions were a swirl of aggression and lust. All centered on him.
She admired his aroused alluring body. Letting her fingers skate down the hard ridges of his abdomen, feeling the muscles underneath tense under her touch. She like this power. His body a slave to her touch. Her hands skimmed lightly over his cock. Just enough to inflame him further. To take him to the edge of his control.
Brock growled. “Stop playing, Jane.”
She pressed closer. “Who’s playing? I’m getting to know my mate’s body. This is my time, isn’t it?”
She felt him stiffen. It made her smile. She would have a little more time. To touch him. Feel him. Drive him beyond any sane thought. She began kissing his chest, making her way to his nipple. Sucking on it hard as her hand skimmed over his ass.
Brock blew out a long breath. “Jesus Fuck, Jane.”
His outburst excited her. She needed this from her mate. She couldn’t explain the overwhelming instinct to let her mate know that she was the only living creature that could give him this kind of pleasure. The only one that could take his body to the brink of madness. She worked her way down, nipping his skin with tiny bites. Marking him.
He growled low when she ran along the long hard length of his cock, nuzzling him playfully before wrapping her hands around his shaft.
She stared up at him. Satisfied with the desire in his eyes as he watched her. They turned amber when she swirled her tongue around the broad head and sucked him into her mouth.
A groan escaped him when she took him as deep as she could, lodging him at the back of her throat, sucking hard as she pulled back.
He clutched her head, keeping her in place as he moved his hips. Fucking her mouth with uncontrolled frenzy. She briefly thought that this should scare her. It didn’t. The harder he pumped into her the wetter she became. Her hand slipped between the folds of her pussy, flicking her clit to relieve the mounting pleasure. She felt him swell in her mouth. Her fingers delved deep inside her, needing the feeling of fullness.
Brock pulled her up startling her. He captured her hand, bringing her fingers to his mouth. “As sexy as it is to watch you pleasure yourself while you suck my cock. I have plans and coming in your mouth is not on the menu.”
His guttural tone made her pussy clench. “You want to,” she purred.
“More than you know but my cat has other ideas.”
She smiled seductively. “What kind of ideas.”
He flipped her fast. She clutched his shoulders. He had her down on the blanket before she realized what he was doing. His fingers stabbed deep into her, making her arch her back as his lips sucked a hard nipple into his mouth.
While his mouth was gentle, his fingers were relentless. They delved deeper and deeper stretching her with each forceful thrust. When she was on the brink, screaming for release he moved down, wedging his shoulders between her thighs.
He replaced his fingers with his tongue. Plunging into her with the same aggression. Feasting on her as if she were his last meal. Maybe she was. She didn’t know. Didn’t care. She needed to get over the apex but he kept her on the precipice.
His finger slipped into the tight muscles of her ass. Moving in slowly, stretching the tight ring enough to allow a second finger to join. He moved his fingers slowly, moving deeper with each foray into the untried entrance. She came, screaming, when he inserted the third.
He allowed her to recover before removing his fingers and penetrating her pussy in one hard thrust. He held her hips in the air as he pumped into her with a strength, she didn’t know he possessed. His face was etched in hunger and lust as he thrust into her body again and again.
Her body was on fire. No longer hers. It belonged to the man that held her. Moving inside her with a flurry of erotic pleasure. His fingers, biting into her hips, bordered on pain. Still she wanted more.
She came hard, clamping down on him, expecting him to release inside her. He slowed his pace but continued the hard penetration. She was gasping when he pulled out. “No.”
He flipped her over, pulling her to her knees. “I want you to relax, Jane.”
She felt the heat from his broad head as it stretched the tight muscles of her ass. He went slow. A delicious torture that made her want to shy away and impale herself at the same moment.
She felt a slicing pain at her finger tips, sure that for a moment she had claws before the feeling subsided. Her hands grasped the blanket, anchoring her in the carnal pleasure her mate was inflicting on her.
As her body adjusted to the salacious invasion, she began to push back, meeting his slow thrusts with growing fervor. She moaned loudly when she came, clamping down hard on him.
He pumped once more before coming, biting into her neck, causing a second orgasm to rock her body. He held her as the tiny spasms continued to milk his cock. His tongue licked the puncture at her neck. The sting drifted away, leaving only the pleasure of their union.
He pulled out of her slowly laying her on her side before tucking in behind her with his arm around her waist.
She tried to bring her mind into focus. “You’re a force of nature.”
“WE are a force of nature,” he said, nibbling her ear.
She smiled, feeling whole. Happy. “If we get…”
She curled forward as her whole body cramped at once. “Oh God...”
Brock tensed. “It’s happening. I know this is rough, baby. I wish I could take the pain away but I can’t. Relax and breathe through it.”
“You make it sound like childbirth,” she snapped.
Brock sighed. “That’s a good analogy but according to my mother it’s way worse. But you are bringing a new life into this world in a sense.”
“That’s not helping,” she hissed
“Sorry, I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything just...”
Pain unlike anything she had ever conceived, ripped through her back. Her scream was so high pitched it pierced her ears. She pushed Brock’s hand away. The warmth of his touch, blistered her skin. She attempted to crawl from the blanket, needing to escape the excruciating torture.
Then Brock crouched before her. She watched in fascination as his face elongated, his incisors springing from his mouth before his body contorted, rippling with fur.
She panted through the pain, focusing on the beautiful creature before her. She could sense his emotions as if they were her own. Concern. Anticipation. Lust. All for her.
Her back ar
ched dramatically. She screamed again as it broke. The wind sucked from her lungs as her body rippled and contorted. The consciousness she had been trying to control, broke loose. She faded to the background as her beast sprung forth, hissing and growling her displeasure.
She swiped at her mate causing him to jump back to avoid her claws. Then she was gone.
Chapter 9
Jane ran, feeling the wind filter through the soft fur. It felt amazing. Her feet skimmed the ground as she flew through the trees, avoiding every branch and shrub. Her whiskers interpreting the information from her surroundings, mapped the forest in every glance as she whizzed by. She could stay here forever. This feeling of freedom.
Her new form felt sleek. Strong. She jumped into the air to swat a falling twig, just to test her flexibility, then landed on her feet unerringly, continuing to run.
Forest animals scattered in her wake, sensing a predator baring down on them. She acknowledged the instinct to hunt but she wasn’t hungry, so she ignored the tiny forest creatures that would have made easy prey.
She noticed him in the distance to her left. He ran beside her, easily keeping pace. He appeared in no hurry to confine her and she appreciated that. She knew what her mate wanted, but she wanted to run. To play. To explore the new sounds and smells that registered in every breath.
She leapt over a log and bumped into him. She wasn’t sure how he had gotten close to her, so quickly but she didn’t care. She sensed a stream ahead and wanted to run along the edge of the water.
He bumped her left shoulder, causing her to stumble. She regained her footing, turning to swipe at him in one motion. Her reflexes were amazing. Her claws caught the edge of his fur but didn’t draw blood.
He paced around her as she eyed him. He was beautiful. Thick muscles under sleek tan fur flexed as he cautiously circled her.
He crouched, lifting his hind end in the air. She was intrigued. When he leapt up in air twisting in a playful fashion. She jumped at him, wanting to enjoy the fun.
They wrestled without claws. Jumping and rolling on one another. She watched him roll onto his back, squirming like a snake on his back. She mimicked the action, not wanting to miss any of the fun.
When she rolled her feet underneath her. He was on her. Sinking his teeth into her neck, asserting his dominance. Expecting her submission.
