by Ashley Shay
He punched the speakerphone button so Cougar could hear the conversation and put the receiver back in the cradle. Cougar dropped into the chair in front of the desk and slouched down. Tyler thought his brother looked more tired than he’d ever seen him. That was understandable given what they’d been through in the last few hours.
“So what you’re telling me, Mr. Sabatini, is I may have wasted a hundred grand.”
“On the contrary, Mr. Lucas, I am not saying that at all.”
“But you just said there is no such thing as complete security against a determined shifter.”
“I warned you of that when you hired me,” the sibilant voice rasped. “I provided a charm, if you will, against snake shifters entering your property. That seemed to be your concern, something to do with a guest I believe. It’s my understanding you’re dealing with a mouse, not a serpent. Am I correct?”
“Yes, but how did the mouse get inside the compound?”
The shifter’s dry laugh grated on Tyler’s nerves. “Only about a thousand ways, Mr. Lucas. But really, why are you calling? I’ve protected you from serpents and large shifters. It sounds to me like you have another sort of problem altogether.”
“You said you’d made the ground impenetrable for shifters to stay within the perimeters for any length of time without detection.”
“And so I did,” the serpent agreed, “but the spell will only detect and warn of things once they’ve touched the ground. I believe we discussed all the various anomalies to my powers of persuasion.” He hesitated deliberately before going forward. “One of those being size constraints, if you’ll recall. I told you that I could protect you from larger shifters, but it’s impossible to protect the grounds from something as small as a mouse, a butterfly, a bee. Even a snake shifter might be able to skim the powers of the spell, if it were small enough, for instance, newly hatched. You get my drift.”
Tyler did remember the man mentioning those elements. He’d also suggested anything that small would be totally harmless unless reverting to human form, in which case the alarm system would pick up the shift to human size. It had seemed foolproof at the time.
“I also told you I couldn’t work a spell for the airspace, at least not for any distance above the ground. It’s impossible to do as the air molecules are in constant flux.”
“Yeah, I remember,” Tyler said, rolling his eyes.
Cougar mouthed, “Pompous ass.”
“It’s my belief your mouse shifter was probably dropped into Cattail by a bird and released above the shield. It wouldn’t even have to be a large bird to carry such a small shifter.”
Tyler stiffened and looked hard at Cougar. “Yes, it’s quite possible the mouse was dropped by a bird. Go on.”
Cougar straightened up in the chair.
The serpent continued. “It seems I underestimated the potential danger of such a small creature.”
“Seems that way,” Tyler muttered.
“I’m a serpent shaman, Mr. Lucas,” Sabatini said haughtily, “not a psychic. Neither of us foresaw this part of the equation.”
Cougar gestured with his hand and mouthed, “Blah blah blah.”
“Your real question should be who is sophisticated enough to devise such a plan. And who has the knowledge to manufacture poison lethal enough to kill the intended victim within seconds but can deliver it in such a way the messenger is spared. That is what I would be concerned with, not some small creature that was obviously sent on a suicide mission. Is there anything else I can help you with, Mr. Lucas?”
Cougar mouthed, “A refund?”
Tyler pressed his lips together, trying to stifle a laugh. He was glad to see Cougar had retained a bit of himself considering the stress he’d been under.
“Nothing right now,” Tyler said, “but I may need to speak with you later.”
“I’m at your disposal then.”
The phone clicked, and Tyler disconnected at his end. He threw himself back in his chair. “So what do you think?”
“I think he’s full of shit.” Cougar heaved a sigh. “I also think it’s the last time we should pay so much for so little.”
Tyler blew out a breath. “So basically, there’s literally nothing we can do to stay safe.”
Cougar picked up a pen from the desk and twirled it in his fingers. “Sure there is.”
Tyler cocked his head and studied his brother. “I’m open to suggestions.”
Cougar smiled. “We can kill the fucker.”
* * * *
Carly watched as Suzie swam in the pool, her little body encased in a green one-piece gliding through the water with the elegance of a dolphin. She swam amazingly well, especially for a small child. She arched her back and dipped beneath the surface then launched herself toward the deeper end, a little mermaid enjoying her day.
Carly laughed and turned to Gabe. “Are we sure she doesn’t have marine mammal blood in her past?”
“I’m pretty sure she’s almost all cougar,” Gabe said with a smile. “Not many marine shifters in this part of Texas. Might find a few down Galveston way.”
Carly sighed. “I’d love to see that.”
Gabe took her hand and twined their fingers together. “When this is over, Carly, we’ll give you the world.”
“I’m beginning to believe that. You’re all so…” She glanced up shyly. She’d felt something between them almost instantly, even before she’d arrived at Cattail. To discover Gabe Laughton, her handler, the man who’d settled her into this life, had been fated for her too had been a bit overwhelming, but now it seemed so easy to accept. It was as though she’d been under an enchantment all of her life and had just woken up. She felt free, alive, and oh, so happy. “You’re all so perfect.”
Gabe shook his head. “Not perfect. But maybe perfectly in love.”
He leaned down and kissed her. His mouth was so warm, so enticing, and Carly felt her body melt toward his, eager to be taken and held and loved. Her pussy prepared the way for their mating, filling with moisture and pulsing with need and desire. Gabe wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer, his hand sliding down her back to cup her ass and angle her hips toward his. His large cock pressed against her, and she nearly moaned with the wanting.
They heard a small snicker. Gabe pulled away very reluctantly, his lips clinging to hers for another moment. She glanced toward the pool to find Suzie hanging on the edge, making a disgusted face.
“Eeeewwww. Gross.”
“Then mind your own business, Miss Suzie Q.”
Gabe dropped down and put his hand against Suzie’s face. She giggled, and he gave her a little shove. She shouted, “No fair, Uncle Gabe!” right before she slid beneath the surface with a big smile.
“She loves you,” Carly said.
“The feeling is mutual,” Gabe said.
Suzie shot to the surface. “Go back to your kissing, kissy faces.” She made another face, waved, and began more laps.
Gabe took Carly’s hand again, and just as he leaned forward for another kiss, they heard someone walking on the flagstones. Carly glanced over Gabe’s shoulder to see Rosa coming toward them. She wore an emerald-green one-piece, cut out in alluring places, and a white sarong. Her lustrous dark hair was pulled back severely from her forehead and hung over her shoulder in a braid. Carly didn’t know how Rosa could look so beautiful considering all the stress everyone was under.
“Have you two always dressed alike?” Carly asked with a laugh.
Rosa shrugged. “She likes it. It seems such an easy thing to do to please her.” She pulled off her sarong and poured her body gracefully onto a chaise. She eyed Carly’s green halter dress. “I see you’ve fallen under her spell as well.”
“I have,” Carly said with a laugh.
“How’s Lucia?” Gabe asked.
“Not good,” Rosa said with a sigh. “The poor old dear’s finally stopped crying, but I made her eat something and lie down. I think in many ways that old cat reminded her of Carlos
.” When Carly frowned, Rosa continued. “Carlos came to Cattail as a ranch hand back when I was a girl. A more ornery man you’d have never met.” She shook her head. “And yet somehow, magically, impossibly, Lucia loved him, and he loved her.”
“Where’s Carlos now?” Carly asked hesitantly.
Rosa bit into her lip and shot a quick glance toward Gabe.
“Dead,” Gabe said.
“Oh,” Carly said quietly. “I suppose I should have known that since I’ve not met him.”
“He and Ben…” Rosa said. “Ben was the alpha then.” Carly nodded, remembering the name of the Lucas patriarch. “Carlos and Ben were very good friends, so it was natural that when Jillian was attacked, and Ben stepped in, Carlos stepped in as well. We all lost so much that day.”
She stared at the pool for a few moments then waved her hand. “Let’s not talk of such sad things. In fact, let’s, for a few hours at least, enjoy the sunshine and this wonderful heat.” She slid farther down the lounge chair.
Carly swiped at a drop of sweat oozing down her neck. “Wonderful heat? I am baking out here.”
Rosa gave her a speculative look. “Which is precisely why you and Gabe should go inside and…cool off.” She gave them a sultry smile. “Or not. Perhaps heating things up would work even better.”
Carly blushed as Gabe wrapped his arm around her waist. “I like the way you think, Rosie,” he said.
“Go.” She breezily waved her hand again then held her hand over her eyes, shading them against the sun. “Go and love or lust or whatever it is I see brewing in that demented mind of yours, Mr. Laughton.” When Carly opened her mouth to protest, Rosa gave her a smile. “No worries. I will watch the niña. Now go. Enjoy what time you can get.”
* * * *
The cool darkness of Carly’s bedroom seemed a haven after the relentless heat of the pool area. Carly walked ahead of him, her shapely hips swaying enticingly beneath the almost-sheer cotton of her green dress. She’d seemed very amenable to his advances at the pool, accepting his kisses and holding his hand, and he’d caught the scent of her pussy several times, indicating she was more than willing, at least physically. But, still, a woman could always change her mind, and Carly had been through a lot of emotional changes and physical stimulation in the last few weeks. He couldn’t truly imagine how strange it must be to find you’re fated to be mate to five men, let alone five men not entirely human.
Gabe ran his fingers over Carly’s forehead, wiping away the sheen of perspiration that had beaded on her skin.
“Texas heat,” Carly said with a laugh. “What you gonna do? I’m getting used to it.”
“I knew from the minute I set eyes on you that you belonged in Texas.” He drew her close and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I saw your pale skin and controlled hair and wondered what you’d look like with the kiss of the sun to warm you and your hair down around your shoulders.” He captured a fistful of hair and rubbed the wavy strands between his fingers. “Soft, silky, natural, like I thought it would be, just like you.”
He bent toward her and brushed his mouth across her warm lips. When he pulled away, she rose delightfully on her tiptoes trying to chase the kiss. She caught at his mouth, her tongue slipping between his lips. He held her lightly, making her work for it, wanting everything to be her idea and a result of her own heated desire. He sucked gently on her tongue, and she moaned quietly, deep in her throat, almost a growl of need.
So close…
“You’ve denied your real self far too long, Carly,” he whispered against her mouth, “but we’re going to remedy that.”
“Back in San Antonio, you acted like you couldn’t wait to get away from me,” Carly reminded him, entwining her arms around his shoulders to draw him closer.
“Maybe, a little. You did something to me inside, made me feel things that weren’t mine to feel, at least not then.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I’m a member of a pride,” he explained. “What I want doesn’t always come into play.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.” Carly drew back a bit, but not so far that their bodies lost the connection. Her hips were pressed tightly against his, and his cock proved he couldn’t play this game too long. It lurched painfully against the fabric of his pants.
“Our alpha does what’s best for us.” He laughed, thinking about Cougar. “Even though we sometimes don’t recognize it at the time.”
“So…” She glanced up shyly. “If you weren’t interested in me, if I didn’t turn you on, you’d have to accept me as your mate?”
“Not necessarily. I could leave the pride and make my own choices.”
Carly lifted a shoulder, barely looking at him. “And do you want to leave the pride?”
“Not by a long shot. Honey, you don’t have anything to worry about on that score. They couldn’t force me out of this pride.” Gabe ran his tongue around the shell of her ear and blew against the wetness, making her shiver. “I knew even in my office you’d be nothing but trouble. A delicious sort of wonderful trouble that all of us were afraid to take on again. At least in human form.”
“I see.” Carly ran her hands down the length of his stomach to the bulging cock in his pants straining to be free. Gabe jerked at the soft touch of her hands and pushed a little closer. She cupped him in her hands, her palm sliding down to cup his aching balls. “And do you still feel like I’ll be nothing but trouble?”
“Absolute trouble,” Gabe answered seriously. “You’ll take up all our time and keep our thoughts jumbled and…” He lost his train of thought when Carly released him from the confines of his pants and he fell heavily into her fingers. She began to stroke him up and down in her fist. “Do go on, Marshal Laughton. I’m curious to hear your appraisal of the situation.”
“Did I ever tell you I’ve always loved trouble?”
“I’ve heard some men are addicted to it.”
“Like a drug.” He held his breath.
“I have addictions too,” Carly said quietly.
“Like what?” He gave her a slow smile. “Tell me everything.”
He wrapped his hands around Carly’s shoulders and herded her back against the door. When they couldn’t go any farther, he pressed his body against her soft curves and ground his naked cock into her dress.
Carly lifted her face, and her eyes sparkled with mischief and a white-hot desire. “Oh, Marshal Laughton, I’m positively tingly all over.” She lifted up and whispered against his mouth, “Take off my thong.”
He didn’t have to be told twice. He skimmed his hands up her thighs under her dress, delighting in the warmth of her skin and the heat radiating from her pussy. He slipped his fingers underneath the damp silk and let his finger caress the soft folds of her pussy. Carly let out a tiny gasp of pleasure and angled her hips toward him. He tugged the panties down her hips then let them drop to the floor where they puddled around her ankles. She stepped out of them and flung them away with her sandaled foot.
Carly had begun to pant, tiny little breaths that fluttered against his neck. “Fuck me, Marshal Laughton,” she whispered. “Right here, right now.”
She squeezed his cock, already rock hard and heavy. He dipped slightly, and she held it against her warmth, sliding it through her pussy juices and over her clit, rubbing it lightly and quickly up and down until he felt a giant tremor shake her whole body. She held on to his cock, but he felt her legs give out as her body started to slide. He pressed against her and angled upward to hold her steady.
“Take me, Gabe. Make me yours.”
“Oh, baby, you’re incredible.”
He took control of his cock, slid it through her juices once again, then lined up his head with her opening. With one quick thrust, he pushed inside, and Carly sighed deeply, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and clinging to him for dear life. He ground into her body with short, quick strokes that forced the breath from her body and lifted her up along the door. She wound her legs around
his hips and let him take control, thrusting now in deep, forceful strokes until her entire body quivered in unreleased passion.
With one final thrust, he buried himself balls deep inside her, and her pussy spasmed around his dick, tugging and releasing. He let go with a howl, and his cock pulsed violently as she milked every drop of cum from his body. He felt her heart beating hummingbird fast against his chest, and her short breaths burst against the skin of his neck. He waited until her trembling had totally subsided. Then he lifted her face. She gave him a dazed but happy look.
When the wave of contentment washed over him, he barely recognized it for what it was. He hadn’t felt complete in over a year, but holding this woman in his arms, he let the happiness envelop him. He stared into her gorgeous blue eyes and found acceptance, security, and love. He kissed her mouth, gently, reverently, with all the love he felt toward this woman who was now his mate.
“We’re going to have a nice life together, Carly. All of us.”
“We are indeed,” she said, giving him the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.
* * * *
Viper stepped out of the bathroom, whistling a happy tune as a trail of steam followed behind and circled him like a cloud. Soon he should have verification that mousy little Ms. Washburn had fulfilled her mission and Lucases lay strewn across Cattail ranch, gasping and dying in throes of agony. What a glorious sight that would be, and if the little mousy-wousy came back alive, he’d shower her with the money they liked so well.
He adjusted the towel around his waist then smeared his hand across the large mirror above the vanity, wiping the condensation away. A dark shadow began to emerge through the vapor, and when it fully formed, Viper raised his eyes and met Talon’s gaze in the mirror. He clenched his teeth as he raked his long hair away from his face. He reached for his cologne and sprayed it across his chest, deliberately letting some of the fumes float behind him. Talon hacked and coughed.
