by L. P. Dover
Zayne has a whole file of potential clients and where they’re located at. She moves closer to me and scans the different cities. It looks like I have three in Arizona. “Have any targets in the Phoenix, Arizona, area?”
She snorts. “We have them in every damn state. Well, except for Vermont.” She scrolls down her list. “Let’s see what we have for Arizona.” There are several she highlights, all of them men. When she clicks on them, their files pop up with a picture and what they’ve been in trouble for. She bypasses mafia leaders and drug dealers, but there are five she saves, all of them guilty of either rape, child molesting, or sex trafficking.
“What do you look for in choosing your targets?” I ask. She skipped over men who have been linked to multiple murders. She’s doing her best to block me from her mind, but I have a feeling I know why.
Kami doesn’t look at me when she answers. “I just go with my gut.”
“The five men you and Sawyer killed this week. What were they guilty of?”
Her eyes blaze when she turns to me. “Why are you asking this?”
Carefully, I take her laptop and set it down on the table. She may be able to keep me from her thoughts, but I can feel her hesitance, her anger. Taking her hands, I squeeze them. “I know things happened to you when the Yukons took you. I have a feeling it’s why you’re keeping me from your mind.” I bring one of her hands up to my lips and kiss it. “It’s probably too soon for you, but I don’t want you to shut me out forever.”
She shakes her head and looks away. “I won’t,” she murmurs. “There are just things I think about, and I can’t get it out of my head.”
“Like what?”
A tear falls down her cheek, and it’s not from sadness but rage. “I was weak back then, Colin. Those men took me, and I couldn’t fight back. They laughed as they bit me, over and over. The only thing that saved my sanity was that it was close to the full moon. None of them attempted to rape me for fear it’d bond us together. However, it didn’t stop them from doing other things.” It takes all I have to hold it together. I pull her to me and hold her in my arms. “This is why I don’t let you inside my head,” she whispers. “My thoughts are dark, and sometimes I see the men who hurt me. It’s what fuels my drive when I go after targets.”
I rub my hands soothingly up and down her back, tilting my head to look up at the sky. The stars and moon are both brighter than the night before. “I understand. What do you say we watch the stars for a while? It might help get your head in a better place.”
A soft chuckle escapes her lips. “I think so too. I need to clear my head.” She lays her back up against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her body. I need to clear my head too. If the Yukons weren’t already dead, I’d be on the hunt for them tomorrow. No one will ever touch her again.
For two hours, we sat in silence, looking up at the stars while I held Kami in my arms. There were moments her mind would open up, and I could see what she was thinking. She’s trying to let me in, and that’s all I can ask for. Most of her thoughts were memories from our dream world when we’d look up at the stars. I got to see our first kiss in her mind and how it made her feel. Then, other memories started to run through her head, more intimate ones. I quickly had to think of other things to keep from poking her in the back with my dick.
“You okay?” Kami asks. There’s a hint of mischief to her tone, and I feel she intentionally wanted me to see in her mind.
“Yep. I’m fine.”
The good thing is that her thoughts aren’t on hunting her targets; all she sees is me. She gets up and turns her body to face me, laying her chest against mine. Her silvery gray eyes stare into mine, and I can feel the need rising in her. The woman is going to fucking kill me. There’s only so much restraint I can handle.
“The full moon’s in ten days,” she says.
I nod. “It is.”
She rests the side of her face against my chest. “I want to complete the bond.” Her voice comes through my mind, and I freeze; there’s no way I heard her say those words. She snickers and looks up at me. “Did you hear me?”
I sit up and stare at her, only to see the truth in her eyes. “Are you sure? I told you I’d wait.”
She shakes her head. “For the past two hours, all I’ve done is think about us. I don’t see the point in waiting. We’ve literally been together for months now in more ways than one.” Her wolf stirs impatiently inside of her, just like mine is doing with me. I thought it would be easier once I was around her, but in truth, it’s worse. My wolf wants to claim her body and soul. He won’t be able to rest until he does.
“I think fighting against the bond fucked us,” I admit.
Her need ramps up even more, and I have to clench my teeth together. “I agree.” Taking a deep breath, I blow it out slowly. “In ten days, we’ll complete the bond. If you change your mind, I’ll be okay.”
Her eyes never waver from mine. “Make love to me, Colin.”
The hunger inside of me magnifies, but I shake my head. “I need you to say it out loud.”
She slides off of me and holds out a hand. “Please,” she murmurs. “Make love to me. I knew this morning I wouldn’t be able to wait, and it’s getting harder by the minute.”
I take her hand, and when I stand, I lift her in my arms. “Yes, it is getting harder.” Literally. I carry her inside the cottage and down the hall to her room.
When I set her down, she shuts the bedroom door and nods toward the bed. “Lie down.”
I smirk. “I thought you wanted me to make love to you.”
Her eyes twinkle. “I do, but there’s something I want to do first. Might as well go all the way, right?” Then her sultry voice murmurs in my head. “I want to taste you.”
My dick throbs so hard it feels like I’m going to explode. Kami closes the distance and unbuttons my shorts, letting them fall to the floor. She nods toward the bed again, and I keep my eyes on hers as I lie down. The bed smells exactly like her … apples and sunshine. I know she loves the apple trees out by her house, and I plan to make sure she has some at mine. Entwining my fingers behind my neck, I watch her as she takes off her clothes, leaving only her light pink, silky bra and underwear.
I want to feel every inch of her, inside and out, to see her back arch, pushing her breasts higher so I can suck and bite them while I make love to her. I’ve never felt another woman’s body that was as perfect as hers.
She climbs onto the bed, straddles me, and slowly slides her hand down my stomach to my boxers and reaching inside to wrap her hand around my cock. She pumps me hard and smirks when she realizes how out of control I am.
Licking her lips, I know what she plans to do the moment she slides my boxers down my legs, and oh God, how much I want to feel her mouth on me, sucking me as hard as she can. She’s done it plenty of times in our dreams, and I’ve tasted her more times than I count. I’m ready to do it again.
Not wasting any time, her head lowers, and my muscles jerk as she closes her lips over the tip of my cock, circling her wet tongue around it over and over.
Sucking harder, I groan when she cups my balls and massages them. Dammit, I want to let go so bad, to come in her mouth and claim her body in every way possible. I want to make love to her until she screams my name from her red, swollen lips. Before she can drive me over the edge, I grab her by the shoulders and push her onto the bed.
She shrieks as I rip off her underwear and bra as fast as I can, bending down to suck her perfectly taught nipples, one after the other. Kami moans and spreads her legs wider, pushing her hips up against mine.
“Please,” she begs, trying to move down on my cock.
Sucking her bottom lip, I press my weight into her, loving that she’s at my mercy. This isn’t new territory for her. In our dreams, we both used to like teasing the other.
Kami glares at me but in a raw, seductive way. “I guess things aren’t any different in the real world, huh?”
Smirking, I shake my head. “
Who would I be if I didn’t torture you a little bit?”
I trace my finger across the mounds of her breasts and nipples, loving the way she gasps and arches her back.
“I want to taste you,” she says in my mind.
Pressing my lips against hers, I open her mouth with my tongue. She tastes so fucking amazing. “Then do it,” I growl.
Her eyes begin to glow, and I can feel the sharpness of her fangs against my tongue. She bites into my lip, and I sink my teeth into hers. When I tasted her in the dream, we weren’t sucked into a vision like normal mates. This time, however, everything is different.
When I open my eyes, Kami’s holding my hand. We’re in my house in Wyoming, and it’s quiet. Kami looks up at me and then glances around the living room with furrowed brows. “I’ve heard about other people’s visions, but it’s just you and me here. Is that a good thing?”
There has to be more to the vision than this. Usually, it’s a glimpse into the future. Right now, it’s not looking too promising with either one of us being in it.
“Come on,” I tell her, gripping her hand. I pull her down the hallway, and she stops, turning her focus to one of the spare bedrooms.
“What is it?”
She cups a hand over her mouth. “Look.”
When I look in the bedroom, the walls aren’t beige like they are in the present time, but a light purple with a faerie garden scene painted on half of the room. Now that Faith works for Grayson’s Construction, she’s been painting a lot of nurseries. Another thing that catches my attention is the crib and all the baby furniture.
“Faith,” I murmur. “This is her work.”
Kami nods. “I know. It looks like we have a little girl.”
Letting her hand go, I move down the hall to the other guest bedroom while she admires Faith’s paintwork. When I look inside, the walls are dark blue, and there’s a little toddler bed in the corner with toys all over the place. On the dresser is a wooden carving with a name on it … Marrock; my father’s name.
“When I think of us having kids, all I see are boys. I don’t know why,” Faith says, walking down the hall toward me.
I wave her closer. “Look. We have a boy too.”
Eyes wide, she stares into the room. “This is surreal.”
I point over at the wooden carving. “Marrock.”
Kami’s eyes water when she stares up at me. “Your father’s name. I like it.”
Draping my arm over her shoulders, I pull her in tight. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get back to the real world and finish what we started.”
Faith shakes her head and smiles. “I guess we will when the vision’s done with us.”
And just then, the sound of laughter echoes from the backyard. Her eyes light up, and she bolts away from me back to the living room. Through the window, I catch a glimpse of white before it disappears around the side of the house. Kami opens the glass patio door, and I follow her out. What I see will forever be ingrained in my mind. Lying on a blanket in the middle of the backyard is Kami, pregnant and glowing with a smile on her face. And there I am, chasing around a little blond-haired boy around the yard, his giggles echoing all around us.
Kami gasps. “Oh my God, he looks just like you.” Then she turns to me and grumbles playfully. “I should’ve known he’d take after you.”
The other me lifts little Marrock in his arms, and I get a good look at my son. Instead of my bright blue eyes, that’s not what he has at all. “He has your eyes,” I murmur. “A silvery gray.”
Kami focuses on him and holds a hand over her heart. “Yes, he does. I can’t wait to meet him. I wonder when it’ll be.”
Taking her in my arms, I smile. “I don’t know, but at least it happens. This will be our life, Kami. There’s nothing else I want.”
I lean in to kiss her, and as soon as our lips touch …
The second we’re thrust out of the vision, I suck in a breath. Slick with sweat, Kami’s body is still naked and spread wide underneath me. She grins up at me and clasps my face in her hands. “That made things a little more real, huh?”
I smirk. “Just a little. At least, now you’re not pissed to be my mate.”
She squeezes her legs around my waist. “Oh, I’m sure I will be at times. How can I not with your smart-ass mouth?”
“Same goes to you,” I tease, rubbing my cock along her opening.
She groans. “Didn’t you say you wanted to finish what you started?”
“I did.”
My dick aches to feel her body wrapped around it, but I can’t give in yet. I trail my tongue down her stomach to between her legs where I know is the sweetest taste of all. Sealing my lips around her clit, she moves her hips against my face as I fuck her with my tongue, burrowing as deep as I can go so I can smell her, taste her.
“Please, Colin,” Kami begs. “Make love to me.”
Ignoring her request, I push a finger inside of her, still keeping the punishing pace of my tongue on her clit. The wetter she gets, the more I want. I can feel her body clench around my finger, so I pull it out and spread her legs wider, rubbing my cock around her wetness. Without warning, I enter her, and a pleasured cry escapes her lips. Taking her face in my hands, she gazes back and lifts her mouth to mine, kissing me feverishly. I open her lips further with my tongue, claiming her in more ways than one. She’s mine and always will be.
Moaning in my ear, she digs her nails into my back, her body clenching so tight around my dick I’m close to exploding. The tighter she gets, the harder it is for me to keep control. The second her orgasm takes her, I thrust as hard as I can, filling her up deep inside as her body milks mine to completion. As I look into her eyes, it feels like I’m in a dream; it doesn’t seem real that she could be mine.
“I’m in love with you, Kami. I think I have been for a long time now.” I kiss her gently. “Maybe one day you’ll love me too,” I say through our bond.
Her lips spread into a lazy, seductive smile. “Yeah, maybe. Who knows, maybe I already do.”
19
Kami
ONE WEEK LATER
Sawyer and I had three targets to get rid of, and the jobs are done. To keep the world from thinking there’s a serial killer on the loose, the FBI clean-up crew has to deal with the media. The stories vary on the situation. Take, for instance, one of the targets we killed is on the news as being missing. The crew was able to get in and dispose of the body before anyone noticed. It’s the most straightforward scenario, and we’re encouraged to do the job quickly so it can have that same outcome.
When Sawyer and I weren’t stalking our prey, I explored everything I could with Colin when he wasn’t with a client. We hiked numerous trails and even visited a few museums. I never thought this would end up being my life.
I finish the last bite of my steak and sit back on the couch. Colin and I decided to order room service since it’s our last night in Phoenix. Sawyer and Tia are supposed to arrive soon to talk about our plans for the coming week.
Colin sits down beside me and hands me a glass of red wine. Chase had business in Arizona a few days ago, so we made sure to have dinner with him. Before leaving, he gave me a bottle of his vineyard’s best-selling Merlot. The man has a talent for grapes.
“Thinking of Chase, are we?” Colin jokes as he sits down beside me.
I smack his arm. “Stop listening in on my thoughts. I only said he had a talent for grapes.” Closing my eyes, I take a sip of my wine and let it slowly slide down my throat; it tastes like heaven. When done, I set my glass down on the room service tray.
Colin chuckles. “I know. I like giving you a hard time.”
“Like always,” I laugh. “I might need a case of wine a night if I have to deal with you for the rest of my life.”
Colin reaches down and grabs my ankles, pulling my legs across his lap. “As long as you share. The wine’s not half bad.”
I shake my head. “You’re too much.” Leaning my head against the couch, I
stare at him.
He does the same and stares back at me. “What’s on your mind? Your thoughts are everywhere, but you’re trying to keep them from me.”
This week has been fantastic, but something has been on my mind. When I’ve been on the hunt with Sawyer, I could feel Colin’s eyes on me everywhere we went. I couldn’t sense him, nor could I hear his thoughts; it was as if he was silent. I have the black carmine stone, so it wasn’t that magic keeping him shielded from me. Colin is just like all the other alpha males I know. They have a need to protect. What I don’t want is him doubting my strength.
“I’m curious,” I begin, narrowing my gaze. “What all did you do this week while Sawyer and I were out?”
His eyes bore into mine, and he sighs. “I was wondering when you’d ask.”
“You were watching us, weren’t you?”
Jaw clenching, he averts his gaze, and memories flash through his mind of the targets Sawyer, and I killed this week. Colin was there, and he saw everything. “I’m not going to lie to you, Kami. Yes, you know I was there, but I can’t help it. I know you’re strong, and you can handle those worthless humans on your own.” When he glances back at me, I can see the rawness in his eyes. “I just have this overwhelming need to protect you. I will never come in between your work, but if you were ever to need me, I’d be there. And—” he says, then stops.
“And what?” I ask, wondering why there’s a mischievous glint in his eyes.
His grin widens. “I’m not the only protective one in this group.” I can see Tia in his mind, and then it all makes sense. Her magic is how he was able to follow me, completely undetected both physically and mentally.
“She’s scared for Sawyer?”
Colin nods. “He talked to her last week about the agents who have been killed hunting their targets. She doesn’t want anything happening to him, so she asked me to keep him safe until she can come up with a spell to protect him.” The things we do for love. I don’t blame her. At least, Colin following us wasn’t just because of me. “You’re not mad at us, are you?” he asks.
