Primal Song

by Danica Avet

  “For what?”

  She waved her arm. “This.”

  He shifted on his bench in a bid to get comfortable. “Why are you sorry? You didn’t call them, did you?”

  She’d acted distant from the moment they’d been loaded in Thomas’ car, as if she wanted nothing to do with him. It hurt like a son of a bitch.

  Her eyes widened. “Of course not! I have no idea how they even found out, unless they saw your car.”

  “Or they heard me when I came,” he said helpfully, delighting in her blush. “And I’d do it all over again. Handcuffs included.”

  She cleared her throat and looked away. Muffled laughter sounded from the front of the station again.

  Ram decided to change tactics since she didn’t seem ready to talk about last night. “Did I ever tell you how fucking sexy you look in your uniform?”

  She stared at him, her dark eyes wide. “You’re joking, right?”

  “Hell, no. In fact, I wasn’t lying when I said you need to get a bigger size.”

  A look of feminine fury crossed her face. “Are you trying to tell me my ass looks big in my uniform or something?” she gasped

  “Fuck no, baby, I just don’t want anyone else to see you in it.” He winked. “You can wear the one you already do when we play cops and robbers.”

  “Idiot,” she muttered in what he hoped was an affectionate tone.

  Their banter died off, leaving behind a more comfortable silence than the one they’d had since they’d gotten into the car. Ram didn’t know what game her parents were playing but he wanted to hug them for it. With the bars between them, they would be forced to talk. Not that Ram was the one with the conversational issues. But now there was nothing else to do but talk.

  “Are you sorry?” he blurted after the silence had gone on too long, cursing himself silently when she jumped at the unexpected sound.

  “Sorry about what? Being locked up?”

  “No, about last night.”

  She shrugged one shoulder and her cheeks flushed again. “No, it was fun.”

  He shook his head. “That isn’t what I mean. Are you sorry about marking me, or that I marked you? Again?” And made this permanent, he wanted to add, but figured he’d ease into these uncharted waters.

  She said nothing for a long time, staring at her arms as if she couldn’t figure out who they belonged to. “I don’t want to be mated to a lion,” she finally whispered. She glanced up, her eyes wide. “I’ve been down that path before and only got out because I wised up in time. You…” Her hand flopped at the air. “You have the power to hurt me a hundred times worse than he did.”

  Well fuck. He supposed he should be relieved she’d finally confessed some of her past to him, but on the other hand, he didn’t like knowing she believed he could so easily hurt her. His fucking chest ached.

  “You didn’t want to mate with a lion, but are you sorry you did?”

  She cleared her throat a couple of times. “No,” she said slowly. “I just…”

  “You just what?” he pressed, feeling as if his head was about to explode. “You don’t care about me?”

  “I don’t know why you wanted it so badly,” she admitted. “You’re this…rock star and I’m just a deputy with plans to become sheriff one day. And I don’t want you to have to marry me because my parents are pressuring you.”

  He wanted to beat his head against the wall. He was an idiot. He was pretty certain he’d told her he loved her last night, almost positive he had. He growled. “I love you, woman, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  The look she gave him was so disbelieving he squirmed. All this touchy-feely shit was not his way. He should’ve just kept her locked up and fucked her into doing whatever he asked. Damn.

  “I’ll never be part of a pride,” she finally stated with a glower. “And if you even think to ask, I’m going to cut your balls off.”

  “God, woman, do you honestly think I could keep up with a pride with you in my bed? Did you, or did you not drain me so dry I didn’t even notice your parents were in the house?”

  More laughter sounded from the other room.

  Her face flushed again but she doggedly pressed her case. “Yeah and what happens a few years down the road when you get bored with me?” She dropped her legs and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not going to sit at home while you fuck your way through every groupie in the United States, Ram.”

  His fury escalated. “I don’t want any goddamn groupies!”

  “And another thing, where are we supposed to live, huh? My home is here and yours is in California. I had plans, big plans before you showed up and wrecked them.”

  Now he was pissed. Ram sprang off his cot and stalked to the bars separating their cells. He grabbed them in a white-knuckled grip to keep from strangling his mate. “I bought a house, you know,” he said in a deliberately low tone. If he started shouting at the stubborn woman, he wouldn’t stop. “I was hoping my mate would want to live with me in it. As for California, I don’t really need to go back except for meetings and stuff.”

  A crease formed between her eyebrows. “You’re quitting the band?”

  He stared at her. “What?”

  She glared, coming to her feet and stomping up to him. “How are you going to cut albums and go on tour if you’re living here, dammit? How are we supposed to have a fucking life together if you’re never here?” She poked him in the chest through the bars. “How am I supposed to compete with all the females—”

  He gripped her by the back of the head and pressed her face to the bars, his lips reaching for hers. It was awkward to say the least, but sufficient to quiet her. Their tongues dueled, the bars pressing against Ram’s cheeks. He didn’t care, he needed her, needed her to know they were meant to be together.

  Remembering the cameras aimed at the cells, he broke off the kiss, breathing like a winded horse. He stared into Daisy’s stunned eyes.

  “I love you.” She stared at him blankly so he gave her a little shake. “I love you, Daisy. Do you think this is easy for me to say? I’ve never said that to anyone except my mom. I grew up watching her try to cope with pride life. I watched my father hurt her every time he took another female into his harem and I swore I’d never do that to a female. Even before I met you, I knew the only way I’d mate anyone was if they were everything I wanted. You’re everything I want, Daisy. You. No one else.” He swallowed hard. “I want to marry you and only you, forever,” he whispered hoarsely.

  She searched his gaze as if she were trying to read his mind. After an unbearably long time, her face softened and a warm glow lit the gold flecks of her eyes. “I love you too and…” she swallowed hard, “I want to give it a try.”

  Ram shook his head. “No trying. We’re going to do this and we’re going to succeed.”

  Her smile was a little shaky but she nodded. “Okay. We’re going to get married.”

  Fierce joy sent Ram’s blood pressure skyrocketing. He dragged her back to the bars and kissed her with everything he had. He didn’t care what happened from here on out, she was his and always would be. She kissed him back eagerly, soft moans pouring into his mouth.

  His mate.

  The door leading to the cellblock creaked open, signaling someone had finally decided to approach them.

  Ram reluctantly pulled away from Daisy but couldn’t let go of her. He glanced over to see her father’s face red and disgusted, but there was an unmistakable gleam in his brown eyes.

  “Well? Have y’all worked things out?” he asked in a gruff tone that didn’t fool Ram for a minute. The old bobcat had been watching and waiting for this moment all day.

  “We’re…” Daisy paused and took a deep breath. “We’re getting married, Daddy.”

  Thomas’ face softened for his daughter. “I’m glad and I think the lion will make you very happy.” The or else was implied. “Now we just need to give him enough time to grow his mane back before the wedding.” He stepped forward to u
nlock their cells. “Can’t have him meetin’ the whole family lookin’ like that, can we, boy?”

  Ram had given up trying to explain his hairstyle last night when he had dinner with Thomas and Claudette. “I’ll do my best, but I’d like us to get married as soon as possible.”

  The sheriff pulled open his daughter’s door first. “I just bet you would, but you’ll let my little girl have the wedding she deserves, right? Claudette’s really lookin’ forward to getting everything organized and we have to get Kitty down from New York to make the dress.”

  Daisy stepped out of her cell in a daze. Was she really doing this? She glanced over at Ram who was still trying to convince her father that the marriage should happen much sooner. The parish-issued jail uniform strained to contain the bulge of his shoulders and chest. His mane fell into his eyes as he looked down at her dad, working his charm to no avail since Thomas refused to let him out of the cell without agreeing to a spring wedding.

  Ram glanced up and caught her staring at him. The annoyance and frustration in his amber eyes softened when he looked at her, causing everything in her to still. No male had ever stared at her with such longing, lust or yes, love. Her heart leapt into motion again, thudding harder than ever as she realized he really did love her, flaws and all.

  She didn’t know what expression she had on her face, only that Ram reacted with a loud purr. Her dad followed Ram’s gaze, staring at her over his shoulder. His face softened.

  “I’ll talk to Claudette and see if we can move things up to around Mardi Gras,” he muttered as he quickly unlocked the cell.

  Ram didn’t respond to Thomas’ concession, brushing by him without a glance, all of his attention on Daisy. The love she felt for this amazing male made her skin feel a hundred times too small and her heart swell.

  He snatched her off her feet, his mouth brushing over hers in a series of soft, promising kisses. Daisy threw her arms around his neck. Her legs wrapped around his waist when he cupped her butt. It was inappropriate, but who cared? This male was her mate. Hers. A part of her still wanted to urge her to use caution, to hold something back, yet Ram had proven to her and her beast that he could knock down her walls. And the best part was she wanted him to.

  “I love you,” she gasped when he let her up for air. He rested his forehead against hers, their breath mingling, their gazes locked. “I didn’t want to because you scare the shit out of me, but I do love you, Ram.”

  The skin around his eyes crinkled when he grinned. “Same here, baby. I’m never letting you go.” He squeezed her ass, tugging her even closer. “You’re mine, Daisy.”

  She kissed him lightly on the lips. “And you’re mine.”

  *

  “I can’t believe you’re getting married to Ramsey Reinhardt!” Kitty squealed in Daisy’s ear.

  She’d finally emerged from her haze of love and lust two days after being released from jail. As soon as Thomas let them out, they’d raced to Ram’s house—soon to be her home—and proceeded to christen every room. The big brass bed in Fleur’s old bedroom had become their favorite and Ram had enjoyed every minute of being handcuffed to the headboard.

  She stared out the windshield of her cruiser, smiling at Kitty’s excitement. Going back to work as if nothing big had happened proved impossible. The entire department had cheered when she walked through the door. They’d plastered every available surface with still shots from the surveillance camera of Ram and Daisy kissing passionately.

  Hell, it still made her cheeks burn to think of it, but she found it was more with pleasure and happiness than embarrassment. Her mother was ecstatic and already driving everyone crazy with wedding plans. Poor Zack Trahan had threatened to leave town if her mom didn’t give him some space.

  “Measurements so I can get started on your gown,” Kitty said, breaking into Daisy’s thoughts.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  Kitty laughed. “I said, you need to give me your measurements so I can get started on your wedding dress,” she said slowly and carefully. “Aunt Claudette is only giving me a couple of months to make it, you know.”

  “But I thought you were coming down for the consultation and stuff?” Daisy asked, trying to hide her disappointment.

  “I know and I planned to, but I had something come up and I won’t be able to get out there except right before the wedding.”

  It was a plausible reason for Kitty not coming home sooner, but Daisy’s ears detected something else in her cousin’s voice—dread. She closed her eyes as some of her happiness faded.

  She hadn’t been to see Monk yet, not after the arrest and euphoria, but it hadn’t been for a lack of thinking about him. Ram still insisted she couldn’t do anything to mend the breach between Monk and her cousin. Daisy didn’t like it, but she agreed. What had happened had hurt all of them. She might have forgiven Monk for being so arrogantly stupid, but Kitty might not. While Daisy understood his reasons, she didn’t know if Kitty would.

  Instead of telling all, she asked, “You’re still coming to the wedding though, right?”

  “Well, you know how things are, spring collections coming up and—”

  “You promised to be my maid of honor,” Daisy reminded her with ruthless precision.

  “I was eight when I made that promise.”

  “And? I never asked anyone else and I never would. You’re like a sister to me. You have to be there.”

  Daisy knew she was playing dirty, but there was no way she could get married without having her best friend at her side. If Kitty proved stubborn, she’d call Aunt Francine and cry.

  “I—”

  She didn’t hear what Kitty said because a stretched-out Hummer rounded the curved highway leading to Maison Rouge. Daisy stared at it. She’d seen them while in New York and New Orleans, but nothing like it had ever appeared in Maison Rouge.

  The limo slowed to a stop on the road next to her car. The driver’s window rolled down and revealed an older man with a confused look on his face.

  “I’m looking for Ramsey Reinhardt’s house. Do you know where it is?”

  Of course they were looking for Ram. He was the only one in the entire tri-parish area who might know someone who’d travel like this. She instantly thought about the reporters who’d kept calling the station.

  “I do,” she admitted. Something stirred in her stomach, a queasy knot of dread she tried to ignore. “Who’re you driving?”

  The older man’s eyes rolled. “A gift from one of his band mates.”

  The window at the back of the Hummer slid down and a heavily made-up face appeared. “Just tell him where we can find Ram, officer.”

  Daisy’s heart stopped. “We?”

  The female rolled her eyes and mumbled something like, “Stupid small-town cops” to someone else in the vehicle before turning back to Daisy. “Yeah, me and the other girls.”

  “Daisy? What’s going on?” Kitty asked loudly, reminding her she held the phone to her ear. “I heard someone pull up and you growled.”

  “If you’ll just tell us where we can find Ramsey, ma’am,” the driver inserted with another roll of his eyes, “we’ll be on our way. I have eight of them back there and they’ve been driving me insane since we left the airport.”

  “Eight what?” Kitty demanded to know, her sharp hearing picking up the driver’s voice, but not the woman’s.

  The backdoor of the Hummer opened and a foot clad in a five-inch heel landed on the pavement of the highway, followed by another. And another. And another as women spilled from the limo. Their skintight dresses barely covered their breasts and asses. They all wore more makeup than Daisy had owned in her entire life and had bodies like the ones she saw on television.

  “Kitty?” she rasped in a low tone as the flock of women started toward her car.

  “Yeah, what’s wrong?”

  “I’m about to kill someone.”

  *

  Ram frowned at the lyrics he was working on, not sure he’d picked the right w
ords. It was missing something, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He dropped his pencil on the sheet of paper and sat back on the sofa to look at Fleur’s painting.

  He couldn’t write pissed-off songs when he was happy. And he’d never been happier than he was now. Daisy was everything he could ever hope to have in a mate. The last two days had been, for a lack of a better word, perfect. Just because she’d agreed to marry him didn’t mean she was meek and submissive.

  In fact, he’d discovered his mate had a very strong dominant streak and he loved to let her exercise it in bed. He grinned at the painting and remembered how close he’d come to losing his voice beneath her brand of “retaliation”.

  A knock interrupted his daydream. Heaving a sigh, he got up to answer it, figuring it had to be another one of the people of Maison Rouge. They’d been stopping by the past couple of days to wish him and Daisy well, or to meet him to make sure he was good enough for her. Ram found it frustrating, yet amusing the way the townspeople had reacted to Thomas and Claudette’s announcement.

  He opened the door and grunted when he saw Monk standing there. “What do you want?” he asked without interest as he returned to the living room.

  “Is that any way to greet the male who helped you win your female?” Monk asked as he entered and closed the door behind him.

  Ram frowned. “What are you talking about? I didn’t need your help for anything.”

  “Au contraire, who do you think let your future in-laws know you were at Daisy’s house?” he asked as he sprawled into a high-backed chair.

  “What?”

  Monk didn’t seem bothered by Ram’s ominous tone. “After we talked the other night, I started thinking you were right. The only way I’m going to work things out with Kitty is for her to come home.” He shrugged. “So I stopped by Daisy’s parents’ house the next morning and had a nice chat with them about the two of you.”