Cohen

by Emilia Hartley

  Nova shrugged. “Well, Sadie helped. But yes, I did. Things have been so hard lately, and we haven’t really gotten a chance to just, you know, be you and me. I just wanted to give you at least one night where you could forget everything else going on in our world and really enjoy the fact that we’re engaged.” Smiling, he pulled her close to him and twined his arms around her waist. He nuzzled his nose against her skin, nipping lightly at that place where her delicate shoulder slid fluidly into the languid line of her neck. Just the scent of her had the capacity to be his undoing. “Amara,” he whispered, and was pleased when her only response was a thick, throaty moan. “We’re engaged. We are getting married.” He grazed his teeth lightly along her shoulder, running his hands up and down her arms. “You are going to be my wife.”

  Nova let his fingers trail over her clothes like a feather touch in the breeze. She shuddered as he hovered above her chest, letting one finger travel south down the line of her breast, dipping beneath the lacy fabric of her bra to caress her nipple. Amara’s breath was cut short in a sharp inhale, and Nova felt himself go hard against the curve of her behind. Reaching up, she hooked her elbow around his neck, and let her head fall back against his shoulder, her eyes closed.

  Nova took a moment to just stare. He had seen beautiful women in his life. Too many to count. He’d even been lucky enough to see a few of them naked. But never before had he experienced a woman who could take his breath away with a simple sigh the way Amara Townsend could without even trying. It was amazing and ridiculously frightening all at the same time.

  He kissed her skin, licking the gentle curve of her jaw before making his way up to draw her earlobe into his mouth. She moaned when he sucked it in between his teeth and wound his fingers through her hair. He loved the way it got tangled around him, the same way she got tangled around him. It was as if he were being surrounded, as if everything that was Amara was enveloping him within her grasp, consuming him until there was nothing left to separate them. It was as if he were being burned alive by the mere feel of her, and he didn’t regret it one bit.

  He let his hands roam up and down her body, cupping her breast with one, while the other explored the hidden mysteries beneath the stiff band of her jeans. He slid his right hand up her shirt, prying away the padded material of her bra until all that was left was velvety fresh. Amara sighed again, and Nova felt the length of him strain against his own pants as if he were yearning to be inside her.

  With swift fingers, he undid the buttons of her pants and sank into the hot, wet abyss. Amara trembled in his grasp as he played over her, stroking that sweet spot that he knew would make her melt over and over again. And, just when it seemed she was about come, he plunged his fingers into her center, thrusting her over the edge without mercy. She cried out, and he silenced her with a kiss, feeling elated when she went limp against him.

  He chuckled, turning her to face him. “I am nowhere near through with you yet.” Nova tipped her back and swept her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Amara’s hands explored the muscles of his back as he followed the trail of rose petals into the bedroom. Her lips took the same journey over him as her hands had, and everywhere she touched, Nova felt chills that had nothing to do with the cold.

  More flowers and candles lit the bedroom, and the trail of rose petals led right up to the bed. Even the comforter was filled with them.

  Nova tossed Amara down on the bed, none too gently, loving the way she laughed. He made quick work of both their clothes, leaving them in a heap on the floor. He only managed a second to hope he didn’t knock something over and burn the house down. But, seeing Amara laying naked before him in a bed of rose petals, he decided there were worse ways to die.

  He gazed down at her, seeing her like this, right now, would be forever engrained into his memories. He sure was lucky. Spreading her legs, he climbed up between them on the bed and decided to slake his thirst. His tongue lapped at her in slow, torturous strokes at first, letting each shudder build upon itself until he knew they were both as hot as a volcano waiting to explode. He ached to be inside her.

  Amara’s fingernails clawed down his back, leaving bright red welts in his skin, but Nova didn’t care. He would obey those hands and that sexual demand without hesitation. She pulled him up on top of her, locking her arms around his shoulders. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him so intensely that any remaining thought he may have had was gone.

  Nova throbbed against her, and cried out when her hand clamped around his cock and guided him into her slick, hot center. Then he began to move.

  Never had he ever felt this undone by one woman. If it hadn’t already, the tenderness mixed with the possession in her eyes would have made his heart trip and fall right into the palm of her hand. Everything he had, everything he was, was hers. He would do anything she wanted. Give up anything to make her happy, to keep her safe. This was the woman he would defy his Pack for; defy his gods for. This was the woman who was all his hopes and dreams for a future personified.

  Amara clung to him as he moved inside her, each thrust bringing them closer until their heartbeats combined to create a gentle rhythm that sounded more like a primal song in the candlelight glow. Nothing was ever going to come between them. Not war, not some secret admirer, and definitely not Kal Vann. In that moment, every doubt or misgiving Nova had ever had about his relationship with her vanished. He may not be the best person for her; he knew that. His world was a dangerous one, and even though he promised he would, he may not always be able to keep her safe. No matter how hard he tried. But for some reason, this fantastic woman wanted him. And he was never going to let her go.

  Linking his fingers with hers, Nova stared down into her eyes as he let himself go, and the two of them erupted together.

  Chapter 8

  The sweet aroma of bacon and eggs aroused Nova from sleep the next morning. He woke with a smile. He loved it when Amara made breakfast for him. She didn’t do it often—to be honest, she didn’t cook very often—but he adored her for thinking of him and taking the time to do something nice for him. After a brief shower, he dressed quickly and followed the scent down the hall to the kitchen.

  Amara stood at the stove turning the bacon, a bowl of fried potatoes and sausage already beside her. She smiled at him when he walked in and turned her attention to the eggs. “Hey, handsome. How’d you sleep?”

  Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to her temple. A low purr emitted from her throat, and he had to admit, he found it incredibly sexy. “Good morning, gorgeous,” he whispered in her ear. “Is all of this for me?”

  “Nope,” she said, a grin splitting her lips. “It’s for my other boyfriend. You really should go. He’ll be here any minute.” She turned her head and caught his lower lip between her teeth. “And I should tell you, he is really built.”

  Nova felt himself go hard against her backside. He chuckled. “Is that so? Well, I don’t know if you’ve seen me, but I think I can take him.”

  She gave him an appraising look with a twinkle of mischief and amusement in her eyes. “Eh.”

  He raised a brow. “Eh?” Laughing, he began to tickle her, causing her to shriek with laughter. “Eh? Seriously? You can look at all of this,” he ran a hand up and down to display his torso, “and all you have to say is ‘eh?’”

  Giggling, she shoved at him. “Okay, okay!” She laughed. “Get off of me, you psycho! You’re going to make me burn the eggs.” Kissing him square on the mouth, she pushed at his chest, and he reluctantly stepped back. Amara lifted the pan and dumped the eggs into yet another bowl. “And yes, all I have to say is ‘eh.’” She winked at him. “Just kidding. Ooh. The bacon’s done.”

  Nova licked his lips. His stomach grumbled and he glanced at his watch. “You know what, baby, that looks amazing, but I really do have to go. I was supposed to meet the guys for patrol, like ten minutes ago.”

  Smiling brightly, Amara turn
ed to him and held out a perfectly wrapped breakfast burrito. “I know. That’s why I made yours to go.”

  A goofy grin turned Nova’s lips up at the corners. It was just food, but God, did he love that woman. Leaning in, he planted a kiss on her cheek. “Good Lord. You are an amazing woman.” He bit into the burrito and an explosion of tastes went off in his mouth. Closing his eyes, he moaned. “Mmm. Marry me?”

  Rolling her eyes, she kissed him hard, pulling him into her. “I thought I already was.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” He nuzzled her neck. “How could I forget?”

  Something crashed outside the door, and it sounded as if broken glass scattered on the ground. Nova and Amara broke apart. “What was that?” she asked.

  “I have no idea.” All the fun was gone from his voice and Nova was suddenly on high alert. His senses heightened, and he strained to listen for any sign of the cause. It was faint, but he could just hear footsteps running away.

  “Can you hear anything?” Amara whispered. When she gripped a butcher knife and her expression became stern, he felt a strange sort of pride. Amara Townsend may have been a human, but she had the heart of a wolf. His woman was all warrior.

  “Footsteps. Stay here.”

  “Yeah, right,” he heard her mumble behind him as he headed to the door. Gripping the knob, he eased it open and peered out across the porch. The echo of footsteps was fading, but he didn’t see anybody.

  “Nova.” Amara crouched down outside the door and picked up a long, rectangular, pink box from the porch mat. With careful fingers, she lifted the lid. Nova just caught a glimpse of blood red blooms when Amara jumped back with a gasp. Stifling a scream, she clasped a hand to her mouth.

  Instantly, Nova was at her side. “What is it?” he asked. All she did was point. Glancing down, Nova’s eyes followed the direction of her fingers to the box of roses. And the dozens of bugs crawling over the blooms. “Holy shit.” Reaching down, Nova covered the box back up and stepped back. “You need to take this down to the station and talk to Mac. This guy isn’t just leaving you flowers anymore, Amara. This was a threat. You need to make a report and get somebody on this.”

  Amara scowled down at the box of rotting roses. She shook her head. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Mac needs to hear about this.” Crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes searched the yard and the street beyond. “Are you sure he’s gone?”

  Nova focused for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. I’m positive. He’s gone.” Glancing down at his watch again, he cursed under his breath. He was surprised his phone wasn’t going off in his pocket. “Damn it, I really have to go. Do you need a ride to the station?”

  “No. But Nova, this doesn’t make any sense. These flowers are creepy and disgusting, sure, but they don’t make noise. Something broke out here. So, what caused the crash?”

  A line creased between Nova’s brows. What had caused the crash? Walking down the sidewalk, Nova surveyed the street for any sign of glass and found a trail leading to his truck. “Shit.”

  “Did you find it?”

  “Oh, yeah,” he replied. “I found it all right.” He stared at his truck. The driver’s side window was busted through, and a rock-sized hole was leering back at him, mocking him with its jagged edges. Reaching across the windshield, Nova plucked the scrap of white paper from where it was secured beneath the wiper blade. It was just a small piece, really, folded in half and creased only once. Hastily, he flipped it open. Inside, the bold, black letters screamed at him. He could feel the writer’s rage in the way the words left an indent on the back of the page. STAY AWAY FROM HER. SHE’S MINE.

  “What is that?” Amara asked, coming up to stand beside him. She was too short to look over his shoulder, so she settled for peering over his arm. Silently, Nova handed her the note. He waited while she read it. Amara’s eyes widened. “What the hell? Seriously? This guy is leaving you threats now?”

  “That’s not all he’s doing,” Nova replied darkly. “He’s escalating.” He nodded his head to indicate the window and her eyes followed his movements.

  “Holy shit.”

  He didn’t disagree. For so long, Nova had considered Kal and the Valley Clan—sometimes even his own pack—to be the threat to Amara. He figured that with her history of attacks, with her being the granddaughter of one of the most respected elders of the last few decades in Strathford, that if any harm or danger was going to befall her, it would most likely be at the hands of a Shifter. And would probably even be his fault.

  He had never dreamed he would need to protect her from another human.

  But that had been his first mistake, hadn’t it? He had underestimated his enemy. Even after Amara had begun receiving the roses, he had just assumed it was some love-struck guy in town or from the bar. And really, could he blame them? Amara was beautiful, smart, funny. She kicked ass with a gun and had demonstrated on more than one occasion that she could hold her own in a fight—it didn’t matter if it was against a human or a wolf; she could handle herself. Hell, even Nova had been infatuated and damn-near obsessed with the woman since he had saved her and her friends from Kal and the other Valley wolves ten years before. Was it really so strange that a human male had noticed how amazing and wonderful she was as well?

  So, Nova had written it off as a harmless crush, as a secret admirer. Now he was beginning to believe it was something much more than that. And much more lethal.

  “Take that to Mac today when you file a report,” Nova told her. “The roses, too.” His expression was grim. He hated that she was going through this, but he knew she could take care of herself. Still, he wanted to make sure Mac had all the evidence he might need to help him catch this guy and put a stop to all of this. And Nova wanted to make sure that he himself did all he could to protect her on his end as well. Even if that meant taking her back to the compound with him again and keeping her there.

  Boy, would she hate that.

  “From now on, you’re going to be under twenty-four-hour guard,” he told her.

  Amara made a face, a deep crevice creasing her brow. “Nova, you can’t be serious. There has to be a better way to use your resources.”

  “I am serious. And this is exactly how we use our resources, Amara. We’re getting married, and that makes you part of the Pack. We protect our own. For you to say that you don’t want or need our protection is to dismiss the very people who have accepted you as family; the people who would die to protect you the same way they would die for any other member of the pack. You’re one of us. And as such, there will be at least one guard stationed around you at all times.” Scrubbing a hand over his face, Nova sighed. “Look, I know you don’t like this.” Amara made a rude noise, which only served to confirm his assumption. “But I need you to be safe. And the only way I know of to make sure of that is to protect you myself.

  “Fortunately for you, I know better than to think you would want me around all hours of the day, even though you love me enough to put up with me for the rest of your life. And I know better than to give you a visible guard. So I won’t. You won’t even know they’re there. But I do expect you to shoot them a text or something to give them a heads up when you leave one location to go to another.” Placing a light hand against her cheek, he smiled when she leaned into his palm. Nova kissed her softly on the nose before giving her a knowing look. “Just promise me you won’t try to slip your guard, okay? Please?”

  For the length of a few heartbeats, Amara was silent, considering. Then she huffed out a breath. “Fine,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I won’t slip my guards. But they better damn well be invisible, Nova Lowery. And they need to stay that way. Deal?”

  Laughing in spite of his worry, Nova grinned at her. Right before he crushed his mouth to hers. He would keep her safe. He had to. And he needed to make sure his guys stayed out of sight. If they didn’t he had no doubt it would be his ass on the line.

  And one thing he knew for sure: Amara To
wnsend wasn’t afraid to play dirty.

  Chapter 9

  Amara pushed through the door to the Strathford Police Station later that morning, carrying the roses and the note in one hand, and a large cup of coffee in the other. Both pieces of evidence were carefully sealed in plastic. It infuriated her beyond belief that she even had that kind of evidence to turn in—not to mention a case to report. No, infuriated was too mild a term. What she was, was pissed off.

  This was her town, damn it. She had lived there her entire life. Her family had lived there for generations. It was where she wanted to raise her own family, to start a new life with the man that she loved. Strathford was her home. She had defended it against wolves from the Valley Clan and the Mountain Clan alike. She had fought for the life she deserved to live. She had fought to feel safe. And she wasn’t about to let anyone take that away from her.

  Especially not some psycho leaving flowers and throwing rocks.

  “Hey Amara,” the old receptionist, Madge, said, peering over her wire-rimmed glasses. “What have you got there?”

  Amara frowned. “Evidence.”

  Madge was a smart woman. She had been the receptionist and the dispatcher for the Strathford Police Department for the last thirty years, and she knew more secrets about that town than every other woman at the beauty parlor combined. In all the years that her father had been with the department, Amara had never known Madge to be involved in a single scandal, though she was more than happy to observe and comment on every single scandal that had passed across her desk. So she knew when something big was brewing. And she knew when to keep her mouth shut about it.

  True to form, Madge pressed her lips together into a thin line. “Mmm hmm. Mac’s in his office.”

  “Thanks.” Careful not to knock anything off the file cabinets lining the hall, Amara made her way through the small station to the back where the Sheriff was. His small corner office was bordered by two inside walls made completely of glass. Mac sat at his desk, pouring over papers and rubbing his fingers over his temples. He looked stressed. More so than usual.