He thrust his head into her chest, kissing and licking and consuming her breasts. He slid down the cups of her bra and lapped at her taut, pink nipples. She groaned, throwing her head back as he ravished her. Her body flooded with moisture as she rocked herself back and forth on his hardness. She couldn’t stand it a second longer, she needed him inside her.
She slid back and unzipped his pants. She pulled out his long, thick cock and gripped the smooth flesh of his shaft. It was so velvety in her palm, and she couldn’t wait a second longer to have him inside her. He hiked her skirt up around her hips and slid her panties to the side, and sat on his length, rubbing her gushing pussy against his thick manhood.
He claimed her mouth again, kissing her deeply as his hands guided her body back and forth over his shaft, wetting him with the moisture that gushed from deep within. She gasped, letting her mouth fall open, when the head of his cock slipped inside her. It was so natural, so perfect. Slowly, he slipped deeper, he held her as she controlled the movement. Until finally, she sat astride him, his cock buried deep in her core. They rested there together, unmoving and breathing each other’s breaths.
They looked into each other’s eyes as her pussy throbbed around him from an immediate orgasm. She was in shock at how relentlessly and completely her body had responded to him. All at once, there was some unspoken agreement, and they began to move together as one. Grunting and grinding, he thrust into her as she slammed into him, he ran his fingers through her hair, gripping at the base of her skull as he held her around the waist and kissed her like the crazed beast that he was. Her naked breasts pressed against his bare chest and their bodies moved as one.
Time stood still as they made love to each other. As they owned each other. As they consumed each other completely. Elena rode on wave after wave of climax, in an ecstasy beyond anything she’d ever experienced in meditation. She knew that from that moment on, Hawk was her man and she would go with him wherever he asked. They were meant to be, and he would always protect her. She felt so safe, so loved, so complete in his arms.
She screamed as he released deep inside her, her body throbbing with their mutual climax. And as they relaxed into the afterglow of their ravenous lovemaking, they looked at each other, still tangled in each other’s arms. He kissed her cheeks and forehead, holding her face in his hands.
“My beloved mate,” he whispered. “I had no idea this would be so good.”
“I haven’t been with a man in so long. I didn’t think I would even remember what it was like. But I know for sure it was never like this.”
She slid away from him, well aware that they had not used any protection. She didn’t care. Whatever it was that made a fated mate, she knew it was true. She wanted him, she trusted him, and she would be happy with whatever the consequences of today might be. She knew she had been naïve in the past. But she had always been brave. Elena was confident in her decision to give herself to Hawk today. And she was confident in her decision to go with him. As soon as she returned home to get her mother’s present.
Chapter 9
“Elena, you have to come with me now,” Hawk pleaded as she walked away.
“I can’t,” she told him firmly. “I have to know what my mother left me. I’m sorry, Hawk. But what would you do if you had a chance to get one last heirloom from your parents? You would do whatever it took. I know you would.”
“Elena, it’s just not safe.”
“I’ll just go and get the gift and then I’ll leave.”
“I can’t let you go. I can’t.” He held onto her hand, panic gripping his chest at the thought of losing her.
“I’m sorry, Hawk. But I can’t leave without knowing what my mother wanted me to have.”
“All right Elena. I support you. I understand. But you must leave immediately after he gives you the gift. Make whatever excuse you need to. But you have to be out of that house by 0300 hours. That’s three AM civilian time. You can’t be in that house. I can’t call off the raid. He is expecting the trade-off tomorrow. The raid cannot be postponed.”
“I will get out. I promise you.”
Elena left Hawk at the edge of the woods, riding away on her bicycle as twilight turned into night. She arrived back at home to the smell of lamb and potatoes wafting from the kitchen. She joined her father in the dining room after brushing her hair and washing up. He seemed pleased to see her as she sat down at the table and accepted several lamb chops.
“You’re already looking healthier than when you arrived. I’m sure we can get you a man after all.” He chuckled.
“Perhaps you’re right, Father,” she said with a grin. “I can’t wait to see what mother left for me. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop since you told me.”
“Ah yes, your mother’s gift. I’ll give it to you when Cook brings out dessert.”
Elena was ravenous from her bike ride and spending the day in the cool outdoors. When the cook brought out the chocolate cake for dessert, she devoured that as well. Her father pulled a small box from the pocket of his jacket and placed it on the table in front of her. She blinked several times and bit her lip. She suddenly had a feeling she knew what was inside the box. She picked up the blue velvet jewelry case and slid it open with a creak. Inside sat her mother’s gold heart locket. A tear slid down her cheek. She opened the locket to see a photograph of her mother and herself as a little girl on opposite sides of the locket. She couldn’t contain her emotions and began to weep.
She picked up her cloth napkin and dabbed her face. She looked at her father and thought for a moment, just a moment, that maybe he wasn’t the monster she believed him to be. She wanted that so badly it hurt. Maybe it was all a mistake. Maybe he really was a good man. She reached out and took his hand.
“Thank you, Father. I will cherish it always.”
She put the chain around her neck and felt the metal against her chest. She remembered playing with her mother’s locket when she was a child sitting on her lap. It was one of the most vivid memories of her life. Surrounded by her mother’s love and the golden glow of that locket. Now she could hold onto it forever. She knew that Hawk was worried about her returning to her father’s house. But this was worth it. She had a piece of her mother close to her now, forever. No matter what happened next.
“You remind me of her sometimes. But I think, really, you’re more like me. You’re a smart woman, Elena. I have big plans for you.”
“I am honored, Father. But I’m leaving here tonight. I just came back to say goodbye and get my things. I have a flight to England tomorrow, and I want to get a fresh start because it leaves early in the morning. But now, I hope that I might return again soon,” she said, gripping the necklace.
After everything that Hawk had told her, she knew it was unlikely she would ever see her father again. But, just for that brief moment, she wanted to believe it was possible.
She was caught in the glow of her own love and tenderness and didn’t see her father’s expression change from proud to angry. The hand she had placed over his was now covered with another meaty hand. He gripped her harder and grimaced.
She was taken aback, not understanding his change. “You aren’t going anywhere, Daughter. I told you I have plans for you. I’m going to marry you off to one of my associates. Mitch, the hyena I introduced you to yesterday. He’s perfect for you. I know these hyenas; they know how to keep their women in line. Something I should have done with you a long time ago.”
“You can’t be serious,” she said, trying to pull her hand away.
Her father’s hand was like a vice. And the look on his face told her that he was deadly serious. A chill of awareness ran down her spine, and she bristled with anger. She stroked the locket at her throat, wondering if she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
“Please, let me go,” she said, in the calmest voice she could manage.
“No. I’m not letting you go again. You are my only child, and you’re far too valuable. I’m going to use you as a
bargaining chip to get in closer with the hyenas. It’s good business. And you are not going to hurt my business.”
He called in several of his goons and they surrounded her. Elena was in full-on panic. She loved her mother’s locket, and the memories that it would provide her for the rest of her life, but she had put herself back into the viper’s nest to get it. Now she would not be able to escape before Hawk’s raid. What had she done? She was so naïve. That awareness made her go numb.
“Take her to the basement and keep her there,” her father said, slipping his hand into her pocket. He grabbed her cell phone with a smirk. “Can’t have you calling your weak, stupid yoga friends for help. After a few days in the dungeon, Daughter, you’ll get some sense and maybe then you’ll understand what’s good for you.”
“Father! You can’t do this.”
“I can. And I will. You need to learn your place, little girl. You will marry the hyena shifter, and you will secure us a long-term business relationship by giving them lots of little hyena children. When he puts a baby inside you, you won’t be so ready to run. Just like your mother. And if you try, you’ll get the same fate.”
Elena’s mouth dropped open with understanding. After all these years of suspicion, he finally confirmed what she had believed all along.
“You really did kill her,” she whimpered as the goons dragged her away.
“I did it to her, and I could do it to you. Don’t cross me, little girl. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”
“Please don’t do this!”
But she knew her pleas fell on deaf ears. He was the monster she’d always believed him to be. She had no idea why he had given her this gift. Maybe it was some ploy to butter her up. Maybe it was his sick and twisted way of branding her with the memory of her mother. But she wasn’t going to let a disgusting man like him destroy all the good and love in her heart. The way that he had her mother. They had had each other in life, and Elena would hold on to the woman her mother really was. She might have been weak and afraid, but she loved Elena and she kept her safe. Even if she hadn’t been strong enough to get her away from all of this.
She cried softly as the goons dragged her down the stairs into the pitch-black basement below the ancient floorboards of the rustic mansion. The flickering light turned on, and Elena could see what was down there. She had always been curious about what was behind the locked basement door. She’d had her suspicions when she’d heard the cries and screams in the night. But it wasn’t until that moment that she had her suspicions confirmed.
It wasn’t a basement where you stored root vegetables or firewood. It was more like a ghastly prison. Several cells lined the walls covered in iron bars. Several of them were stained with what Elena could only imagine was blood. One of the goons opened a cell and threw her inside. There was nothing in there except a wooden bench and a pile of straw. It stank of urine and feces and the metallic tang of blood. She ran back and railed against the bars, shaking them violently as she demanded they let her go.
But they walked away and left her in silence with the single light bulb flickering in the air above her prison cell.
Chapter 10
“She should have contacted me by now,” Hawk said, growing increasingly nervous.
“What if she doesn’t, sir?” Sampson said. “We can’t postpone the raid.”
“I’m not suggesting that. It’s go time tonight. There’s no way around it; we have to move in. But Elena assured me that she would be leaving. I need her safe.”
“I’m sure she’ll be on her way in just a few minutes,” Zander said, trying to offer his CO some comfort.
“There’s always the possibility that she was found out,” Rider said. “It could jeopardize our entire mission.”
“We should move in now,” said Max. “If she was found out, then we can’t wait for them to become more prepared.”
“Or to destroy any information,” Sampson added.
“We continue as planned. I will not contact Elena until she contacts me. If there is a possibility that she was found out. I won’t give away anything more than I have to.”
“Are you sure you’re going to be able to focus on the mission with her still in the compound?” Jamison asked.
“There’s no other choice. We can’t delay. This mission is far too important. Elena is a smart woman. She’s either left already or is taking cover somewhere. We will be on high alert for any sign of her if she doesn’t contact me before 0300 hours. Regardless, we’re still moving in.”
Hawk’s words sounded confident, but his heart was raging. He’d never been more frantic in his entire life. Jamison had a point. He didn’t know if he really would be able to concentrate on the mission not knowing where Elena was. He felt a deep bond and connection to her. But he still hadn’t claimed her as his mate, so the mate bond was not fully intact. Had it been, he would have a clear impression of where she was now. And he would be able to keep her safe the way he was meant to.
He never should have let her go. But she had insisted, and he’d finally relented. It was a stupid mistake. One he would not make again. But he loved the woman, and he wasn’t going to try to control her or tell her what to do. He wasn’t going to be the kind of man her father was. And that’s why he had let her go. But he wished he had been able to find the words to convince her not to.
Not that it made any difference now. He had to deal with the matter at hand. Second-guessing himself or wishing that things could have been different wasn’t going to help or change anything.
Everything for the raid was prepared and he told his men to get some shut eye before they awoke at 0200 hours to finish their preparations for the raid. Hawk laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He knew he needed to be clear headed for the raid. This would be one of the most important missions of his career.
Igor Kroll had a nuclear weapon. And if he could get one, it was likely that he could get more. If those weapons found their way into the hands of the hyena terrorists, there was no telling how much damage they could do. It had to be stopped; Hawk knew that to the very core of his being. He was here to do a job: to preserve peace and justice and safety for all. But his love for his mate and his need to protect her clashed and conflicted with his duty to his country, his people, and his world.
He rolled over on his side, willing himself to rest. But sleep never came. His alarm sounded at 0200 hours, and he climbed out of bed. Out in the main room of the compound, he found the coffee already brewing in the automatic coffee pot. He poured himself a cup and drank it hot and black, hoping it would enliven his conflicted brain. He needed to stay sharp. He needed to be on point. Not only to complete the mission, but to find his mate and protect her with his very life if need be.
The men prepared for the mission, packing up their gear and checking their equipment one last time before making their way out to the helicopter. Rider got behind the controls and their military chopper silently ascended into the air. They’d be dropping in on the compound from above.
The Polish military would assist the raid after the weapons were secured, but securing the compound was the sole responsibility of the Justice Squad. And it was a responsibility that Hawk took very seriously.
Chapter 11
Elena didn’t know how long she’d been in the basement. The passing of time was impossible to determine in the dimly lit dungeon. As the moments passed by, her current reality began to sink in: she had allowed herself not only to be captured and imprisoned by her father, she was putting her life and the success of Hawk’s mission in jeopardy.
She stroked the locket at her throat and tears streamed from her eyes. She couldn’t regret coming back for this. No matter how stupid it may have been. She gripped the locket in her palm, praying that somehow, some way, everything would be all right. Still, fear trickled down her back and gripped her shoulders. She could do nothing but pull her knees up to her chest and hug them to her, trying to gain some level of comfort and warmth in the cold,
damp, stinking cell.
Her heart was frantic like a wounded bird trying to escape a trap. But there was no escaping. The iron bars were thick and the lock on the door was strong. There were no windows in the walls and no means of digging through the hardpacked dirt floor. She sat on the bench and cried softly for a long time until she finally gained some control of herself. She wiped her tears from her face and shook off the fear and despair.
“What are you doing, Elena Kroll? You have trained for years to control your mind and body. Why don’t you use your skills now to keep yourself calm until Hawk arrives to save you? Because he will save you. He loves you. I know he does.”
Her peptalk had the desired effect. She took a deep breath and let it out. Sitting cross-legged on the bench, she closed her eyes. Breathing in soft, steady intervals, she slowed her heart rate and the adrenaline began to slowly leave her blood.
She sat in meditation for many hours until she finally succumbed to fatigue and lay down on the bench. She had closed her eyes to sleep and drifted away only to have her peace interrupted moments later. The door to the basement banged open.
Elena startled awake, sitting up on the bench. She heard quick footsteps clacking on the stones in the aisle between cells. She stood and went to the bars to find her father raging toward her. He had her cellphone in his hand, and he thrust it into her face through the cell bars.
“I had my techie hack into your phone. You’ve been consorting with the enemy. And now they’re upon us.”
Elena heard screaming and gunshots coming from above in the compound. It was Hawk and his crew! A smile crossed her lips. He had come! He was here to save her and take down the vicious man who called himself her father.
C.O. Bear (Justice Squad Book 4) Page 6
