***
Samantha had never felt this kind of craving. It burned her entire body from the inside out. She knew this was only a dream, so she figured what the hell and willingly succumbed to her desires. She kissed him with a newfound abandon, their bodies entangled in the sand. The sea raged as his hand roamed up her leg. She couldn’t think. She could only feel. He continued his seductive journey and slowly brushed up her rib cage. He captured her breast greedily. Her nipples tingled and peaked in response.
He trailed kisses down her throat and rained them between the valley of her breasts, eventually taking one rosy peak in his mouth. He suckled as she arched and moaned in response. Samantha ran her fingers in his thick chestnut hair, holding him to her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. He rose up, taking her lips once again with his. She couldn’t tell where his mouth ended and hers began. She squirmed against him, begging for release from the storm building within her. His leg pressed between her thighs as she rubbed up against him. She moaned her pleasure.
He pulled back to look at her, and even if it was only a dream, she wanted to savor every second. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop. His eyes glowed with passion and a smile of pleasure played at his lips. She loved looking into those brilliant, yellow eyes, glazed with passion. Staring up at him she knew she was lost to him—dream or no dream—forever. She wasn’t afraid anymore.
He closed his eyes as she caringly touched the side of his face. As strong as this man was, he had a compassionate side to him that he kept hidden—until now. She traced the strong line of his jaw and ran her thumb along his firm lips. He closed his eyes and leaned into her loving ministrations. Their bodies, still intertwined, heavily hummed with a need they had yet to satisfy. He opened his eyes, and a smile played at his lips.
“Trust me, Samantha. I’ll find your necklace. I’ll bring it to you. Your happiness is my primary concern.” He placed a kiss on her forehead. “But now, mia piccola lupa, it’s time to wake up.”
***
Samantha woke up covered in sweat and twisted up in her sheets. Her body still tingled. Never in her life had she had such an erotic dream. Hell, she’d never experienced anything like that in real life. Rising from the bed, she stretched out her slightly sore muscles and walked slowly over to her dresser. Images of their bodies mingled on the beach still flashed through her mind. The memories alone made her womb clench and her nipples tighten. She blushed at her body’s swift reaction. Sam picked up the brush on her dresser and froze when she saw her reflection. The eyes she was looking into weren’t her own. They were the ice blue eyes of a wolf, the wolf in her dreams.
Sam stood there, mesmerized by the foreign image. She tried desperately to reconcile what she was looking at. Slowly, she touched her face to be sure she was actually awake. She leaned closer. Sam swallowed hard, leaning both hands on the dresser. She steadied her breathing and squeezed her eyes shut tight for several seconds. When she looked again, they had returned to their usual dark blue.
“What the hell?”
She blinked repeatedly, trying to see if they’d change again, like some kind of crazed genie, but to no avail. She shook her head in disbelief. Out of habit, Sam reached up to touch her cross, only to remember that it had been lost the night before. Tears began to well up again when she heard Malcolm’s voice, calm and soothing, in her head.
I’ll find it and bring it to you, mia piccola lupa. I promise.
Instinctively she reached out and touched his mind with hers.
Please find it, Malcolm.
She closed her eyes as tears of sadness streamed down her cheeks.
The blare of the alarm sliced through the room and brought her back to some semblance of reality. Sam sniffled and rubbed her teary eyes. She slapped the clock hard and silenced the shrill sound.
“Well, this should be one helluva day,” she mumbled to herself as she gathered her clothes. “I hope Millie and her patrons don’t mind having a mental patient for a waitress.”
***
When Malcolm awoke, he was grinning. She was finally letting him into her mind and hopefully into her heart. She had reached out and touched her mind to his, consciously using their mental link for the very first time. His smile faded, however, when he remembered how much pain she was in. He must find her necklace. He had to do as she requested; he could do nothing else. Her grief was as crushing to him as a physical blow. His reaction to her pain caught him completely off guard. He’d heard of how strong the connections were between mates, but nothing could’ve prepared him for the reality. He shook his head and wondered how much stronger it would get once they were actually mated.
He would do anything within his power to find her necklace…it was imperative. It would prove to her that their dream was shared. He would gain her trust, but more than anything, it would make her happy. She was his life mate, and he wanted nothing more than to fulfill her every requirement.
The man from last night also weighed heavy on his mind. He had to find out who he was. He would take great pleasure in hand delivering him to the Council. He came downstairs and was greeted, as usual, by Davis.
“Morning, sir. How was your date with Ms. Samantha?” Davis held out coffee and the morning newspaper.
“I’m afraid the Caedo has found us.” He grabbed his car keys and sunglasses.
“Are you sure, sir? It’s been so many years since we’ve had any sign of them. The Council members have even toyed with the idea that they’ve lost some of their diligence in the last generation or so,” Davis said.
“Last night at the restaurant there was a man watching Sam. When I tried to read him, he…blocked me.” He looked away, too embarrassed to face Davis, to admit that a human had blocked his efforts.
“Blocked you, sir,” Davis asked with some confusion.
“He knew I was trying to read him,” he seethed, “and he put up a mental barrier. I couldn’t get through it. I looked at Sam to see if she noticed anything, and when I looked back, he was gone.” He lowered his gaze, ashamed at this failure.
“Have you told the Prince yet? I’m sure he’ll want to tell the Council about this. Yes indeed, sir. They’ll absolutely want to know.”
“No. I’ll call to him again later today. First, I have to go back to that blasted place and find her necklace. She lost it last night, and it means more to her than anything. I don’t think I can handle it if I ever see that kind of anguish on her face again.”
“Very well, sir. But do be careful. This fellow from last night sounds like he could pose quite a problem for you as well.”
“I can handle myself, but Samantha is completely unprepared for dealing with the Caedo. Perhaps you could stop over and check on her today? She’s working over at that diner in town but last night she said she’d be back in the early afternoon.”
“That sounds like a fine idea, sir. I could drop by with a welcome home basket for her. She’ll be just fine.” He winked.
“She has to be Davis. There is no other option.” Malcolm stalked out the door, his mission clear. He drove down to Paddy’s as images of Sam drifted through his mind. She was a captivating woman, and when her eyes shifted to her inner wolf, she was exotic and intoxicating. He was encouraged that she had spoken with him telepathically this morning. He knew she didn’t accept what she had done. She probably was passing it off as her imagination instead of an actual conversation. Bringing her the necklace would help prove everything, but most of all it would get her to trust him.
He pulled into Paddy’s empty parking lot. The restaurant was closed, but the beach already had a few sunbathers milling about. He went to the very spot where he and Sam had shared their first kiss. He wore sunglasses to keep his eyes hidden. The last thing he needed was some nosy human noticing them and causing a scene. His eyes shifted, and his vision instantly slipped into the binocular vision of an eagle. He slowly and meticulously scanned the area all around where they had been. Even if it took all day and he had to inspect every grai
n of sand, he wasn’t leaving without that necklace.
Chapter 9
Sam got to the diner just as Millie was unlocking the doors for the early morning crowd. Typically, she had one or two regulars who showed up as soon as the sun did. The Dugout was only open for breakfast and lunch. When Millie had first opened the place, Billy was just a baby, and that schedule fit her family best. She lived by the philosophy that there was more to life than work—there was baseball. Millie had been a die-hard Red Sox fan from birth. When Sam moved to New York, Millie’s biggest fear was that she’d become a Yankees fan. Live hard, work hard, and play hard—that was Millie’s motto.
“Sammy girl! I can’t believe you actually got here on time. I thought you were gonna stand me up,” Millie hollered as she held the door open.
Sam placed a quick kiss on her plump cheek and grabbed the bright red apron that dangled from her hand playfully. “Why on earth would you think that?” She tied the familiar garment on with practiced ease and made her way behind the luncheonette counter.
“Well, your grandmamma told me that you had a hot date last night with that Drew fella.” She winked and snapped Sam’s ass with a dish towel.
“Millie,” she shrieked and laughed as she dodged the next swat. “You and Nonie are horrible gossips. I knew that’s all you did at those bridge games.”
The bell above the door jingled cheerfully, and two of Millie’s sunrise regulars shuffled in. Edgar and George tipped their caps politely at Sam and flashed partially toothless grins at her.
“Why, isn’t that Nonie’s girl, Edgar?” George’s raspy voice filled the small diner.
“Yes it is,” Edgar said with a small pat on his friend’s arm. “You don’t have to shout you old coot. You’ll wake up the whole damn town.” He delivered a big wink to Sam over his shoulder.
The fishermen made their way over to their regular booth by the window, and Sam grabbed the freshly brewed pot of coffee.
Millie laughed loudly and pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen. “Billy,” she barked loudly at her son. “You gonna get your butt in gear? Edgar and George are here, and they’re gonna want the usual.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Billy poked his sweet face through the doorway. “Hi, Sam. Good to have you back,” he said before disappearing back into the clattering kitchen.
“Hi, Billy.” Sam chuckled. Smiling, she shook her head at the familiar banter between Billy and Millie that flowed steadily from the kitchen as she poured coffee.
She slipped back into her routine with surprising ease and loved every minute. She never thought she’d really enjoy waitressing again. Ever. But after the incredibly weird events over the past twenty-four hours, she could use a little normal. Yes indeed, the mundane sounded like just the ticket. The loud clanking of the dishes and chatter of the customers reassured her that she wasn’t losing her mind—at least not at the moment—and the only conversations she had that morning were audible to everyone. In fact, she started to wonder if maybe she’d dreamt all of it.
The day passed quickly and uneventfully, which was exactly the way Sam wanted it. By the time she actually looked at her watch again it was after two o’clock, and the last of the lunch crowd was leaving. Millie emerged from the kitchen wiping her well-worn hands on an equally worn dish towel. Sam cleaned off the counter as the final patrons headed out the door. She scooped up the tip they left her and added it to the rest of the cash in her pocket.
Sam leaned back against the counter and stretched tired arms over her head. “Nothing like a hard day’s work to get the blood flowing.” She yawned.
Millie looked at her sideways. “I wore you out already?”
Sam dropped her arms, rested her elbows on the counter behind her, and gave Millie a skeptical look. “Please.”
“What? These folks don’t give you a run for your money the way the city people do?” Millie made a loud humph sound as she walked over to lock the front door. “Now that I’ve got you back, maybe I should stay open for a dinner shift too.” The bell tinkled loudly as she locked it.
“Ha! That’ll be the day,” Sam scoffed. She turned her back to Millie and continued to tidy up the area behind the counter. “You and I both know that as much as you love this place, there is no way you’d stay open for all three shifts. Aren’t you the one who always told me that there was more to life than working?”
“Hell yes,” she hooted as she wiped down the rest of the tables. “Now get those coffeepots back to Billy boy so he can get ’em cleaned up for tomorrow morning. Then you can get your skinny butt back home and spend some time in that art studio. How is it by the way?”
“It’s…well, it’s a dream come true,” she said smiling. “By the way, do you have a schedule for me yet?”
“Well, funny you should ask. I’ve been wanting to do some freshening up to the place. Y’know, some new paint, new counter, and so on. Well, my handyman called me this morning and told me he had a last minute cancellation and can get to my stuff starting tomorrow. So I’m gonna be closed until Saturday.”
“Closed,” Sam said with genuine disbelief. “Millie, when was the last time you closed this place?”
Millie paused mid-table wipe and squeezed her eyes shut. “Hmmm. I think it was December 1974.”
Sam let out a big laugh. “Good lord, Millie. Why not just wait until the off season?”
“Well, my handyman is real good, and his schedule is always packed. Gotta take him when I can get him.” She shuffled some salt and pepper shakers around the counter and put them in their proper place. “Besides I think I deserve a little vacation,” she said with a devilish grin. “The Sox have a big game tomorrow, and I can watch it guilt-free.”
Sam shook her head and smiled. “So, then you won’t need me until Saturday.”
“That sounds about right missy.”
“Alrighty. I’ll get the rest of this stuff cleaned up ASAP.” Sam delivered a salute with the coffeepot and headed into the kitchen. She expected to run into Billy, but he was nowhere to be found. She looked around the small, well-used kitchen and marveled at how clean it already was. Millie ran a tight ship, and no one knew that better than her own son. The bell above the front door jingled, and Sam heard Millie talking with someone. Maybe Billy locked himself out? That’s weird. She placed the coffeepots in the sink and pushed her way back through the swinging door, ready with a smile and a teasing comment for her old friend. She expected to find Billy, maybe even Edgar or George—but not Roger.
Sam stopped dead in her tracks, and all the blood drained from her face. She swallowed hard and willed herself not to faint. Millie was holding the door open, and Roger stood there talking to Millie as if it was completely normal for him to be there, but he couldn’t have looked more out of place. His blue blazer, polo shirt, khakis, and penny loafers weren’t exactly standard issue in the little greasy spoon. He had that big phony smile plastered on his face, the same smile that morphed into a leer the moment his eyes flicked over to Sam.
“Here she is,” Millie began cheerfully. “One of your city friends has come to call on you…” She trailed off, and her face fell as soon as she saw Sam’s reaction. “Sammy girl? You okay?” She glanced back at Roger with a look of uncertainty.
Sam swallowed hard and put her quaking hands into the pockets of her black shorts. “I’m fine,” she said in a shaky voice. She cursed herself silently. Dammit. I shouldn’t be afraid of this asshole.
“Sam and I are old friends, but I probably should’ve called to let her know I was coming,” he said with a wave of his well-manicured hand. “However, I couldn’t resist surprising her.”
“Yeah…Well, she looks surprised all right,” Millie said slowly. “And not the good kind of surprised.” She turned to face Roger and crossed her plump arms over her ample breasts. “Maybe you shoulda called. Hmm?”
“It’s fine Millie.” She took a few steps to her left and settled in behind the lunch counter. If he wanted to talk to her, he would have to
do it with some kind of barrier between them. There’s no way he’s laying one more hand on me. In that moment she wished that this man could read her mind. Her thoughts went to Malcolm, and her heart squeezed in her chest. If Malcolm were here he’d put you in your place. Something tells me he doesn’t abide bullies.
“Uh-huh,” Millie huffed, not quite convinced. “Well…I’ll give you some privacy. Sammy, I have to run next door to the drugstore. I’ll be right back.” She walked to the kitchen door and turned to Roger who still stood by the door. “I may look like a nice old lady, but if you get out of line…I’ll kick your ass sideways.” She gave a curt nod to Sam and disappeared into the kitchen.
Sam smirked and dried her hands with the dish towel. She loved that someone else stood up to this arrogant asshole. Her moment of joy was quickly squashed when she turned to find Roger had seated himself at the counter directly in front of her. His eyes were locked on her breasts, and he licked his lips. In that moment she wished she had on a parka instead of a white T-shirt.
Sam cleared her throat, and his gaze flicked up to hers.
“Miss me?” he hissed.
Sam crossed her arms and glared at him through narrowed eyes. “What are you doing here, Roger?”
“I told you before,” he said smugly. “I want you.”
She shook her head and looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “But I don’t want you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Roger rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. “How many men would drive all the way from New York City to pick you up in their limo? Come on now.”
“Pick me up,” she said in the most incredulous tone she could muster. “What don’t you understand? Roger, I made it crystal clear that I want nothing to do with you.” A slow smile curved at her lips, remembering the way he practically ran away from her. “And based on your speedy departure from the stoop the other day, I thought you got the message loud and clear.”
Unleashed Page 9
