Esmerelda: A Rogue Enforcers Novel

by Darlene Tallman

  “Dammit, Esme, you can’t flaunt yourself like that,” Beast growls out.

  “Sugar bear, we’re alone, what’s the problem?” Charisma was living with us initially, but there were several newer vamps in the group so she’s now living in another cabin with them, teaching them the things they weren’t taught by their former covens. Of course, they couldn’t be because Geralynn wiped out their families then enslaved them before those lessons could be taught.

  “The problem is we don’t have time for me to bend you over and fuck you,” he retorts. I sense his hand approaching and snap my fingers so I’m closer to the closet, then giggle when I see said hand waving about ineffectually. “Sneaky witch,” he mutters.

  I wave my hand in front of me and am immediately fully clothed. “I have our stuff,” I advise, moving over to the two bags he has open on the bed. He doesn’t say anything just nods as I wiggle my fingers and my clothes start filling my bag, folded neatly to maximize space. I notice his bag isn’t as orderly so set about fixing it, which makes him chuckle.

  “Every day I find something else to enjoy about the fact my mate is a witch,” he says, pulling me close to kiss my forehead. I love that he isn’t shy about physical expressions of affection. In fact, none of my chosen family are which makes me smile as memories flit through my head. “You ready?” he asks.

  “Yes, I am. Just need to get my bag.” It took some time, but I put a travel bag for my scrying together so that I didn’t have to lug my stuff from home. Far more portable, I also managed to transfer many of my most used spells onto a magical tablet. Technology is definitely my friend these days, that’s for sure.

  As I walk into my magic room, I see him start the process of checking the windows. Shaking my head, I double check my bag then toss in a few more crystals since I don’t know what we’re facing. Once I’m as prepared as I can possibly be considering I have no clue where we’re going yet, I pull the handle up and wheel my bag out into the foyer. As my eyes sweep our home, I smile. The love that resonates within these walls combined with my own magic makes everything sparkle, as if glitter dances around. Beast walks up next to me, takes my suitcase and, with the two duffel bags slung over his shoulder, he heads to the front door then motions for me to precede him before he locks and shuts it behind us. I hear the noise of him unlocking the truck and head to the passenger side. I’ve learned not to open my own door, although the smile that graces my face when I remember how he taught me that particular lesson has him grumbling underneath his breath.

  He puts our stuff in the back seat then opens my door but before he lifts me in, he kisses me senseless. “You can’t keep looking like that, Esmerelda. Do you know how difficult it is to drive with a raging boner?” he questions once we pull apart.

  “No more challenging than riding with damp panties,” I retort. He chuckles while raising me into the passenger seat then closing the door once I’m inside. As he maneuvers to the driver’s side, I raise my hand and place a protective spell on the two of us, as well as Leigh and Ice since I know they’re traveling too.

  Despite my initial unwillingness, he got a fully loaded, huge black behemoth of a truck, which my bestie calls Beast Two Point Oh. Most of the time, when a man gets a vehicle as large as we now own, it’s because they’re over-compensating for something they lack. That isn’t the case here. Beast is big in all ways; he positively dwarfs me in human form at six feet, six inches, and when he transforms to his bear? My head barely comes up to his shoulder. Another memory crosses my mind. When we first got back, we were hit with a wicked winter storm, virtually unheard of where we live, but it happened thanks to some weird weather phenomena. I suspect one of my witch sisters had a hand in it, but wasn’t able to ferret out any information. Anyhow, we lost power for nearly a week. My mate, my beloved mate, shifted into his polar bear and used his body heat to keep me warm. I used magic to help the others but refused to use it on me since I had him.

  “You’re doing it again, Esme,” he chuffs out.

  “What? What am I doing?” I ask. “We’ve made a lot of good memories since the day we met. I can’t help that little things bring them to mind.”

  “But when you get that look on your face, my sorceress, I want to forget my responsibilities as a Rogue Enforcer and tumble into the nearest bed.”

  “Foreplay,” I whisper.

  “What?” His incredulous tone has me giggling, something I find myself doing more of since he came into my life.

  “It’s foreplay, Beast. I get those thoughts, you see my face, then when we finally do manage to get to where we can be alone, it’s explosive,” I reply. Of course, any time he’s near me, my body is ready, but he doesn’t need to know that fact; he’s got enough of an ego as far as I’m concerned. Deciding to change the subject, I ask, “Where are we headed to this time?”

  “Arizona.”

  I rapidly sift through what I know of Arizona and come up empty. Dry, arid, hot as Hades but other than that? Nada. Zilch. “Why Arizona?”

  “Because someone reached out to Colton saying they had a name, but they wouldn’t give it over the phone,” he replies. “Do you want me to run through and get you something to drink?” he asks as we hit the main thoroughfare of the small town we’ve settled in.

  “I didn’t get a chance to make any tea so if we could run through Starbucks, that would be great,” I reply. “Oh, and I’d love a blueberry muffin.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  I reach over and pat his thigh. “Thank you, sugar bear.”

  Beast

  I clasp her hand in mine before she can take it back. My need to hold her, touch her, is ever-present. Despite the fact that we’re together pretty much all day every day, it’s still not enough. While I wait to place our order, my mind drifts to the phone conversation I had with Colton earlier.

  “He didn’t want to give any information over the phone. In fact, he texted me the address,” Colton said.

  “Does he know that it’ll be someone from the team meeting him?” I questioned.

  “He knows,” Colton advised. “I texted him to let him know it would be you and Esmerelda. Step carefully, my friend. He was really spooked.”

  “What about the lead you have Leigh and Ice chasing?” I asked.

  “Rumbles have been coming in that a few shifters have been snatched. We knew Geralynn wasn’t working alone and based on which ones that were reported to have been taken, I think what you guys originally determined was going on is still in play,” he stated.

  “Fuck,” I growled out.

  “My sentiments exactly. We’ve got to find them and stop this before it explodes and the humans become aware of who we are.”

  “We’re going to do the best we can.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m giving this to you two. I figure Esmerelda will be able to use her abilities if necessary to compel them to tell us what they know. Just keep me in the loop.”

  “Will do.”

  My woman’s hand squeezes mine, causing me to look at her. “You okay?” I inquire.

  “I could ask you the same thing. It’s our turn to order.” I can tell she’s concerned and I’ll fill her in once we’re back on the road. I place our order and pull around to pay. Once it’s ready, we pull off as Esmerelda stirs something into her tea that she pulled from her purse. “Mmm,” she says after taking her first sip. I shake my head; I’m a coffee drinker as a rule so I don’t get the attraction to tea. Although, when I managed to pick up a slight ‘thing’ as she called it, the one she prepared for me was pretty good. Typically, shifters don’t get sick, don’t catch any of the normal things that afflict humans; but on one of our assignments, Ice and I were submerged in our human forms for nearly ten hours as we worked to rescue a shifter who ran away. If the press hadn’t been there, we could’ve shifted. The elements were also not in our favor so for about twenty-four hours, I felt like absolute shit. My Esme fixed me right up even though I gave her hell about making me drink tea.
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  “Good, baby?” I ask, glancing over at her. The smile she gives me sends frissons of longing in me but duty calls.

  “Wonderful, my sugar bear.” I grin, shaking my head. As a self-proclaimed badass, the fact that she’s given me a nickname that elicits visions of a cute, cuddly toy bemuses me. She waits until I’m back on the road then asks, “So what did Colton say?”

  “He said that there’s a guy in Arizona that has information on who the leader is over the shitstorm that Geralynn and many others are trying to stir up.”

  “Why didn’t he just give Colton the name?”

  “Colton said he was freaked out big time, sweetheart. Not only that, but he feels that us going may encourage him to provide all the information he has.”

  “I’ll compel him if I need to.” And… that’s why she makes a good mate to me.

  “Colton said that very thing.” She giggles then grows serious once again. “What’s making you frown?”

  “Could it really be that easy, Beast? I mean, we’ve been hunting high and low for six months now with nothing to show for it except the fact we’ve put supernaturals on high alert. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if they begin getting antsy, mistakes can happen, and we could end up outing ourselves.”

  “I don’t know about easy, but maybe word has traveled enough that those who were scared to say anything are now willing to speak up since they’re beginning to realize that our very way of life is threatened. None of us want to be hauled into a laboratory and experimented on; that’s not what our primary purpose is here.”

  She reaches over and pats my thigh, then leaves it there, the warmth seeping through my jeans. Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate I’d find my true mate. I had almost settled with someone from my former den, but then Ice called and I hit the road. “Well, hopefully, we can get what we need and put this threat down once and for all,” she emphatically states.

  “From your mouth to the gods’ ears,” I grumble. It’s frustrating as fuck being someone who is conditioned to seek and destroy to feel as though I’ve been hamstringed. Each of my fellow enforcers are feeling the same way. We train daily, go out on fruitless expeditions, then return with nothing to show for our efforts.

  I’m so lost in my own thoughts as I drive that it takes a minute for me to realize that she has answered my phone through the Bluetooth. “Hello?” My brother’s voice rings through the truck cabin, causing me to grin.

  “Hey, what’s up, Baldwin?” I ask. “You have my mate looking at me all squirrelly, brother.”

  He chuckles then says, “I probably have the same look on my face at your words. Since when?”

  “Six months ago.” I suddenly realize that he and I haven’t spoken in at least that long, and regret swamps me. “Sorry, man, it’s been a bit crazy since I got here. I should’ve called a lot sooner.”

  “No worries, Beast. So, a mate, huh?” he teases.

  Esmerelda giggles beside me while trying to peel the wrapper from her muffin. I glance in her direction with my brow raised but she shakes her head at me. Beautiful temptress; even something as simple as her lifting a bite of the sweet to her lips has my mind wandering to how my dick feels sliding between her lips.

  “Yes, a mate. Trust me, I think it took the two of us by surprise as well,” I admit, reaching over and squeezing her thigh.

  “You want company?” he questions. “It’s a bit lonely around here now that you and Ice are gone. I feel a bit at loose ends to be honest. Not only that, but there are rumbles going around that supernaturals are at risk.”

  “I’m on the road right now tracking down a lead, but you know you’re welcome any time, Baldwin,” I reply. “You can either wait until we get back or head that way now. I’ll let Maverick know you’re enroute. Oh, and be sure to check out our pool.”

  “Pool?” he asks.

  “Yeah, we’ve got a bit of a colony going on where we live and so we put in a pool. It’s spelled so that when we’re in it, it’s cool, but others can get in and it’s comfortable for them. My Esmerelda did that for me and Ice since we prefer colder temps.”

  “Is she a witch or something?” he inquires, chuckling.

  “As a matter of fact, she is,” I proudly proclaim, shooting her a grin. “One of the strongest ones alive.”

  He whistles then says, “Nice. She got any friends?”

  My chuckles and her giggles ring through the truck again. Before I can respond, she says, “I don’t think you’d want my best friend. She’s a bit vicious.”

  “Trust me, honey, I can take it,” Baldwin states. My growl at his use of ‘honey’ has him bursting into laughter. “So, it’s like that, huh?” he teases.

  “Yeah, it fucking is so watch it. I don’t care if you’re my brother or not, she’s my mate.”

  “Fine, fine. I meant no disrespect to you or your mate, Beast. As far as her having any friends, I’ll patiently wait for my true mate. Although I suspect she’s on the other side of the world.”

  “You’re still young, brother.”

  “So you say. Anyhow, send me the information and I’ll head to your place. But if you need me before then, call,” he demands.

  “You got it. See you soon.” After I disconnect the call, Esmerelda doubles over in laughter until tears stream down her face.

  “I think he’s going to be a lot of fun to get to know,” she finally says.

  “He’s the jokester of the family,” I admit.

  “Like I said, he’ll be fun. Can you imagine Maverick’s reaction to him?” she asks. “Maybe I should warn Connelly.”

  “Naw, Mav will be okay. Baldwin will behave because I’m not around and neither is Ice,” I state. “Now, do we keep going or stop somewhere for the night?”

  “Please, let’s stop. I know we don’t really have to take breaks, but I need to be snuggled up against you for a little while and the truck simply won’t do.”

  “Your wish is my command, my sexy sorceress,” I reply. “I’ll start looking for a place.”

  It took another two hours before my bear found a hotel suitable for us for the night. As he carries our bags in once he got us registered, I follow, my mind whirling with everything I need to do once we’re inside. I check out the bathroom and realize that there’s no way for us to share the shower which has me pouting. “What put that look on your face, Esme?” he asks, tossing our duffel bags onto the chair before flopping down on top of the king-size bed.

  “The shower’s too small for both of us,” I reply, quickly placing a protection spell on our room. Something has me on edge and this is the best way I know to ensure our safety. I hope that Leigh took the spell bags I crafted with them so that they’re protected as well.

  “You go first then because I need to call Ice then Colton. I’ll order in some food. Any preference?”

  “No, not really,” I say, my mind a million miles away. I’ll be glad when we find the threat and eradicate it. I’m ready for all of us to just be for a while. I grab some clean clothes from my bag along with my shower bag and head into the bathroom. While I get the water ready, I can hear his low voice talking which makes me smile. His voice does wicked things to my libido, that’s for sure, and for someone who has always prided herself on her absolute control, the fact that he makes me lose mine says a lot about him.

  Without Beast in the shower with me, my normal routine doesn’t take nearly as long. It’s also not as pleasurable, which makes me pout again. Hopefully I can talk him into a little bit of relaxation once we’ve eaten. Finally done, I dry off then flick my fingers so my hair is styled in long flowing curls. A spritz of my favorite cologne before I slip a gown he hasn’t seen over my head and I’m ready to face my mate.

  “For the love of all things holy, Esmerelda, you gotta prepare me before you flounce into a room looking like my favorite meal,” he growls out, stalking toward me.

  “You like it?” I ask before twirling around. I honestly don’t know what has happened to me; he makes
me feel giddy, like a teen or something and goddess knows I’ve not been that for many moons now.

  “Fuck yeah I like it.” His voice is raspier as he reaches for me. I love that I can make him lose control as well, so I fall into his arms and wind my hands in his hair to pull his head closer to mine. When his lips crash over mine, the moan that escapes has me wiggling closer. After long minutes, I pull back slightly, panting to get my breath back. “I suspect we’re going to have to reheat dinner,” he surmises before scooping me up in his arms and stalking to the bed. “Because I’m not waiting another minute to get inside you. Hope that foreplay you talked about has you ready, Esme, because this is going to be fast,” he warns.

  I wiggle my fingers to disrobe us both and sass, “Does that answer your question?” I know he can see the evidence of my desire; I spent most of my shower thinking of this very thing.

  “Fucking perfect for me,” he growls out before pouncing.

  Unsure of what woke me up, I lay there quietly, Beast’s deep breaths causing my hair to move against my cheek. Pain sears my head causing me to gasp and sit upright. “Danger! It’s a trap,” I cry out, cradling my aching head in my hands.

  Beast jumps up, alert and ready to tackle whoever is there; he just doesn’t realize the enemy is unseen right now. “Esme? What’s wrong?”

  “Leigh and Ice. They’re headed into a trap,” I reply, my voice still laced with sleep. “We have to warn them, Beast.” My voice is almost frantic as I scramble out of the bed over to where my magic bag sits on the floor. Grabbing it, I pull out my scrying bowl and multiple crystals, as well as the pouch I have for each of my self-proclaimed family with some of their personal effects in it. I have to find them; it’s imperative. “Hold on, hold on,” I mumble as my hands move to work a finding spell. Drat! Nothing. Something started to come up, then was hidden beneath a foggy haze. “I don’t like this, not one bit,” I spit out as I try another one. The same results have me pulling back in shock. “Beast?”