Sigma

by Annie Nicholas

  No wonder Daedalus bemoaned the loss of pack alliances from the old times.

  Sam undulated his magnificent body on the bed. Moans escaped him as he clung to the pillow under his head. She stroked his cock faster, his hips moving in time with her. This passionate male inspired naughty ideas. He’d held her down to the bed before, an example of his potency in comparison to her unnatural strength. He wouldn’t be easy to tame.

  She released him and held pressure on his wound. It sealed quicker than a mortal’s.

  “You’re killing me.” He spoke between heavy breaths.

  Her dead heart fluttered and she rose to her knees. “Did I take too much?”

  A deep, sensual laugh was his answer. The sound wrapped around her like a mink coat. “Not that kind of death.” He sat up and pulled her onto his lap and claimed her mouth. Forceful lips parted hers as he thrust his tongue inside, and strong hands clasped her head so he could devour her like a beast. He rolled on top and pinned her to the mattress with his solid body, tearing her pants from her hips.

  This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wanted control. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she went to roll him off, but Sam had other ideas.

  He pushed inside her pussy with a single hard thrust.

  She cried out. The burning stretch left her bereft of thought. Pressing her body against his, she almost lifted them both off the bed. “Oh my God.”

  He growled, not like the sexy noises he had tossed at her. This one contained an edge of threat. He rode her hard and fast.

  Pain flamed from her shoulder as he returned her bite, his teeth and jaw made for crushing, not piercing. She clawed at his ass, needing all of him inside of her. Where had her control gone?

  Releasing her shoulder, he lifted himself off her body. With little effort he pinned her arms over her head. She’d underestimated him. Young shifter didn’t equal weak shifter. Note made.

  Stealing another kiss, he drove into her without mercy, giving her no quarter to move.

  Something unknotted inside her, snapping loose a hidden secret. Pleasure from its awakening rose inside her as her shifter rode her in crazed passion.

  Grunting with each stroke, he never released her mouth.

  She preferred dominating her males. She needed that power to own them, rule them. None had been shifters, though. None of them Sam.

  Ecstasy crashed over her.

  He swallowed her cries as the wave of her climax sent her spiraling, unaware of anything else but this male.

  The world returned one sensation at a time. Huge male crushing her, his musky scent infusing the air, his tender kisses pressed to her neck, his hand cupping her breast.

  “Oh dear God.” How did she express the best-sex-ever without inflating his head to humongous proportions?

  An arrogant chuckle told her it was already too late. He trailed his fingers between her breasts, holding her down a little longer, a small reminder of his superior strength.

  Her gut knotted up and she pushed against his shoulders. “We should get ready to leave. My master will be here soon.” She budged him a few inches, but he settled back on top of her.

  Silken kisses continued along her jaw toward her ear. “I want more.” Warm licks tickled her earlobe.

  Squirming in his arms, she wiggled as the delicious sensation assaulted her diminishing control. “Sam, it’ll be dawn soon.”

  With an exaggerated sigh, he rolled off.

  She wiped the hair from her face with shaky hands. “Pushy jerk.”

  He lay on his side next to her, a crooked smile on his face. “If you keep calling me pet names, I might start thinking you care.”

  She couldn’t pry her gaze from him, all masculine power and solid muscle. He moved with the grace of a predator and fucked like one too. She leaned her face on her hand, and to her horror, she sighed. All the tension she’d carried for weeks had melted away in a flash of shifter passion. “You’re not what I would’ve expected.” She sat on the edge of the bed and stretched.

  “What do you mean?” The bed shook as Sam moved closer to her, his breath hot on her shoulders.

  She shrugged, doing her best impression of nonchalant while her insides quivered at his presence. “Everyone at Pal Robi has heard of Daedalus’s pet project, the Omegas, but I thought that referred to a weak pack. You don’t seem weak.”

  “Ah.” His hands snaked around her waist. “The original members of the Omegas all live together with Daedalus and Sugar. We were all omegas of different packs once, but we’ve grown into more over the past years.”

  “Under my master’s guidance.”

  “Yeah, I guess he helped.”

  “You should be careful of making Daedalus your enemy. I’ve known him a long time and he always wins.” She glanced over her shoulder at him and resisted shaking him.

  “I’m not the one with the grudge, sweetheart.”

  Chapter 5

  “Here.” Sam offered her his shirt. It was ripped, but in better condition than her torn-in-half one.

  Clutching it to her chest, she sat on the edge of the bed. She should stick with mortal lovers. None of them could have turned the tables on her like Sam had just done. Control gave her the sense of security she needed. The shifter turned her inside out and upside down. She felt safe yet insecure around him. What a disaster.

  A knock on the motel room door startled her out of her funk. Wrapping the sheet around her body, she stood to answer it when a strong hand grabbed her upper arm.

  “Let me.” Sam blocked her way.

  She regarded his back. He was protecting her? It was almost cute. Then again, she’d just been shot by her own kind. Pal Robi would send more of their people after her. Now that they knew she’d stolen from them, there would be a bounty on her head. She needed to start thinking like a fugitive and less like a simple accountant.

  Sam peeked through the eyehole, then opened the door to reveal her master. “Daedalus.”

  He leaned against the frame, a non-existent eyebrow raised. His gaze traveled from her, dressed in a sheet, to Sam, still naked. “Love at first sight?”

  Heat from warm borrowed blood rose to her face. She tossed Sam his torn jeans. “Put something on.” Caught red-handed messing around with a shifter her master apparently didn’t like. Her judgment just kept getting worse. Wasn’t she supposed to grow wiser with age?

  Sam grinned at her as he tugged on his pants

  She glared in return. “Stop it.”

  “I’m not doing anything.” But his grin grew wider with the hidden knowledge that he knew exactly what kind of effect he had on her. The torn material only enhanced Sam’s appeal. She knew he was silently laughing at her. Such arrogance begged to be squashed.

  “Enough.” Daedalus closed the door behind him. She’d known him from almost the time of her making and recognized the tiny signs of strain around his mouth and eyes. He was worried. What could he possibly be concerned about?

  Butterflies flitted in her stomach, threatening to make her lose the precious blood Sam had gifted her. “Master? What am I to do now?” For one hundred and seven years, she’d been indebted to Daedalus as a servant–whatever she had to do to get the task done in return for protection. She’d never failed him until tonight. Would he set her loose to fend for herself?

  “I’m not sure.” He added his glare, at Sam, to hers. “I’ve had an upset fiance to deal with and haven’t looked at the data you retrieved for me yet.”

  “She’s mad you didn’t pick her up at rehab. Not because of the shooting. Sugar wanted to help Clementine.” Sam guided her behind him once more, blocking Daedalus from her view. “I helped her, not you. Clementine would have been vampire bait if she’d had to wait a second longer. You need–” Sam’s body rose from the ground as her master picked him up by the throat.

  “Don’t tell me what I need to do.”

  She froze, torn between her duty and her new growing affection for this shifter with a death wish.

  Sam kicked
his heels as he struggled for breath.

  She placed her hand on her master’s wrist and gathered what courage she’d grown over the century. “Before you tear out his throat, I must confess that I think he speaks the truth.” Her knees knocked together under Daedalus’s cold stare. Nothing frightened her more than his displeasure, but unlike most Nosferatu, he was a just master and didn’t maim or kill on a whim. “He did save me.” This aggression toward Sam was from more than this evening’s events.

  Without warning, Daedelus released him.

  The shifter landed on his feet and gasped for breath.

  She stepped between both males, her hands reaching behind her to stroke Sam, to calm him. The hairs on the nape of her neck stood on end. She didn’t need to see him to know that he was close to shifting. He had taken care of her when no one else would. The least she could do was return the favor.

  Daedalus sat on the edge of the bed, his face devoid of emotion. “We should discuss your safety.”

  A lump developed in her throat. She fought the urge to swallow, refusing to give away her anxiety.

  “It won’t be long before Pal Robi discovers their agents didn’t recover the thumb drive.”

  Fear bloomed in her stomach. “I didn’t mean to endanger your home.”

  “You didn’t. My enemies know where I am, but now I have the information I need to make an accurate list of names.” With only a slight scowl and a lowering of his brow, a shadow of nightmares formed over her master’s face.

  Those idiots were dead. Daedalus had watched the rise and fall of empires, created kings, and watched mortal lives flash before his existence. Clementine chose well to follow him.

  In the paranormal world, someone who wished to survive allied themselves with the strong. Her master had always kept her safe even in the most dangerous predicaments, because he was the strongest vampire she’d ever met.

  “I have a safe house that is not affiliated with Pal Robi. No one knows about it.” He nodded at Sam. “Not even the Vasi. I’m going to hide Sugar there until these matters are settled, even though she’s adamant about staying home.” He handed her a folded piece of paper, a set of car keys, and a cellphone. “Here are the directions and a vehicle. Sam will remain to protect you. I’ll keep my word and find you somewhere safe to stay until I have my nest under control again. Listen to Sam.”

  Her heart fluttered and she restraint the urge to glance at her shifter lover. No, not lover. That was too personal. They barely knew each other, but they were going to have some time to change this.

  Sam cleared his throat. “So, I’ll be guarding Sugar as well?”

  Clementine ground her teeth. The human again. She’d have to find out what special thing this female contained, and bottle it.

  “Spice will be there to help. Once arrangements have been made, we’ll transport Clementine out of the city.” Folding his arms over his chest, Daedalus didn’t release Sam’s gaze. “Don’t fail me.”

  Sam opened his mouth to respond, but her master had already left before he could speak, slamming the door in his face. The shifter punched it. “Bastard.” He took a few deep breaths before facing her. “I don’t give a shit about failing him, but I won’t fail you. I’ll keep you safe, Clementine.”

  Something warm trickled over her flesh that had nothing to do with his blood coursing through her veins. “I never had a doubt.”

  Chapter 6

  Clementine’s faith splashed him like a bucket of cold water. Nodding, he raced around the motel room gathering the remaining shreds of his clothes. He couldn’t remember anyone ever trusting him so completely. What had he done to deserve it? Sam wished he knew so he could continue.

  “I can’t wear any of my clothes.” She held up the shirt he’d torn in half and gave him a shy smile.

  A wash of heat burned his face at the reminder of how hungry he’d been for her. Hell, how hungry he was growing for her again. The sheet covering her body didn’t pose much of a barrier between them. Clementine’s combination of sweetness and strength was like nothing he’d encountered before in a woman. Shifter females were strong but those he’d encountered had a feral edge. This delicate vampire’s blush had a strong affect on him. How had she stayed so adorable?

  Sam pushed those thoughts away.

  It wouldn’t be long before she lost interest. It was best to keep things simple so he wouldn’t get hurt. “You can wear this, and we’ll tie the sheet around your waist for now.” He handed her his shirt and busied his mind with the directions Daedalus had left.

  Scratching his head, he read over them twice, not believing what the fucker had done. He hated to admit it, but it was an excellent location. No one would ever think to look there.

  “Are they not clear?” Clementine leaned against his arm to peer at the paper.

  He stared at where they touched and took a shaky breath. His gaze traveled to her face, tracing over her delicate nose and her soft, short curls. She looked so innocent, yet she’d had no trouble pinning him to the bed and doing as she’d pleased to his body.

  Her stare met his and her scent resembled prey’s.

  Sam’s beast roared inside his head, almost shattering his skull. Apparently, the rest of him agreed with it as he crushed her against the wall and sought her soft, small mouth.

  She made tender moaning noises in her throat as he parted her lips and entered her mouth, tasting his blood upon her tongue. His beast was so close to the surface. If he didn’t get his shit together he’d shift on her, and he doubted she’d be into that sort of thing.

  He pushed away, digging his nails into the wall over her head. “We have to get you to the safe house. It’s almost dawn.” Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  The way she sized him up with her doe-like eyes begged him to claim her. If she wasn’t careful, he just might accept her unspoken offer. There weren’t any rules about not taking a vampire into a pack. The Vasi tolerated Daedalus, so they would accept her. He shook his head and stepped away from Clementine before any more stupid ideas came to his mind. “Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm, not risking her hand. Boyfriends held hands. He wouldn’t fall into that trap, he had to stay strong. She’d be gone in a day and he’d only be a fond memory at best. The shifter she fucked after being shot kind of remembrance. Not very romantic.

  “Sam? What’s wrong?” She yanked her arm out of his grasp. “Why are you so angry?”

  “I’m not.” He just about yelled at her. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and shoved his beast back in his corner. “I’m not,” he repeated a little calmer, a little saner. “I just want to make you safe, and we’re running out of time.” He pointed to the sky.

  She nodded and took his hand. “Okay, lead on.”

  He should tug away instead of grasping her fingers, and enjoying the way her tiny hand fit so well in his, but it had been so long since any female had seemed willing to be with him other than in his bed. He didn’t want to let go.

  “There’s the car.” Daedalus had left them a rental in the parking lot. The description had been with the directions. The vampire was nothing if not thorough. They belted in and he backed out, driving without needing to look at the directions again. He’d been to Daedalus’s safe house many times in his past, just not in the last few years. The sentimental asshole. “Exactly how did you get mixed up with Daedalus?” He squeezed the steering wheel tight while trying to keep his voice nonchalant.

  “My master saved me from my maker not long after I’d been turned vampire.”

  That title again, it grated on his nerves. “Do you have to call him that? It’s not like he’s around to hear you.”

  “It’s a sign of respect. He’s done a lot for me over the decades and I appreciate all his efforts, enough to risk my existence.” She crossed her arms and glared out the passenger window.

  “Were you lovers?” He groaned inside. He couldn’t believe he’d asked that. From her expression, neither could she. “Sorry, none of my business.” But the way she groveled f
or the Nosferatu ate at Sam. The chances that Daedalus had fucked her were pretty high. Let it go, dude.

  They drove in silence, his autopilot on since he’d driven this route so many times. What was wrong with him? Maybe he’d hit his noggin when he slammed into those vampires with his car. Sure, Clementine turned his head and had his cock doing the one-man salute, but so had a lot of other females. However, none of them had twisted him in knots.

  He glanced at her as she faced away from him. She’d stolen information from Pal Robi. That took balls. The tight security wouldn’t have been easy to breech. That kind of stunt required a warrior’s heart. However, she claimed to not be one. “What did you do at Pal Robi?”

  She turned in her seat to face him, a new hurt in her eyes. “Accounting. I crunch numbers for a living.”

  Shaking his head, he gazed up at the sky, asking for divine guidance. “Daedalus should never have involved you in this.” He eased his grip on the wheel before he bent it.

  “He didn’t have a choice. I’m the only one he could really trust in the company who nobody would expect to betray them.”

  Sam ground his teeth and grunted, since he couldn’t trust his mouth. They’d been lovers, he knew it.

  “I owe him. He’d saved me. More than once. I couldn’t let him down. I only wish I could have gotten away clean, but I always refused training.” She slumped in her seat as if defeated.

  “Hey.” He groped with his hand until it found hers and squeezed. “You did better than most. You got him the information. I think you did great.”

  She contemplated their hands in her lap. “Sam?” She met his gaze. “I never slept with him. He’s too dominating for my taste.”

  He barked out a laugh. “And I’m not?”

  To his surprise, she laughed too. “You should be, but it’s different with you.” She shrugged and looked back out the window.

  “Now, wait a second, you can’t say that to me and not elaborate. You don’t want me trying to read your mind. I’ll get it wrong every time.” He tried to make it a joke, but he was dead serious.