“Do you ever have the urge to, um, shift at an inconvenient time? Like when others are around?”
His laugh was almost a bark. “More than you can imagine. But the herbs I take help me control that aspect.”
“Herbs?” She raised an eyebrow. “Where do you get them?”
He smiled at her. “There are special stores that sell them, but I know what you’re thinking. And yes. We can check to see if any of them are growing in your herb garden.”
“See? I told you I could help.”
“But that’s not all of it. I also shift when I want to scent a crime scene and look for evidence I miss in human form.”
“So you want to visit the Perkins farm as wolf,” she guessed. “And also try to see if you can identify the next possible victim.”
He nodded. “Along with Mark Guitron.”
“Another Night Seeker?”
He nodded. “And a shifter like me. I’ve asked Ric Garza, who functions as our team leader, to send Mark down here to work with me. Mark’s a former deputy sheriff in the next county over so he’s very familiar with this area.”
Dakota tensed. “He’ll check me out.”
Jonah closed a hand over one of hers. “Not to worry. He knows I wouldn’t be here with you if there was a danger either to me or our assignments. When he meets you, he’ll feel the same way I do about you.” He grinned. “Well, hopefully not exactly the same.”
“I just don’t want him to be turned off by the stories he’ll hear about me.”
“Mark is too smart for that. But it does mean that you’ll have two shifters to deal with. And Mark needs to be comfortable with the fact that you accept it.”
Dakota lifted his hand and brushed her lips over his knuckle. “Even though it’s taking some getting used to. I am comfortable with whoever and whatever you are. And your friends.” An unhappy thought trickled through her. “Will he expect to stay here, too?”
Jonah laughed, the first time he’d done so since getting Sheriff Denby’s phone call. “What he expects isn’t important. It’s what he’s going to end up with that is. And he’ll be staying at the motel in Eagle Pass.”
“Good.” Her instincts told her Jonah would need to find relief in their physical connection, an impossibility if someone else was invading or sharing their space.
“But we will be coming and going at odd hours,” he told her. “And shifting to our wolven form when necessary.”
“I told you, that’s fine. And that’s all we need to say about it now.” She drained the last of her coffee and stood up. “Now I think we need to eat.”
* * * * *
The beast had watched all the activity from a distance, hidden far enough away that no one could see it or would come to look for it. Even from this far away it could smell the fear, so ripe and rich the wind carried it to his nostrils. Its belly was full, at least for the moment. A satisfying feeling that gave it a temporary sense of euphoria. It knew that sense of well-being wouldn’t last long. It never did. The bloodlust that drove the beast would only let it rest for so long. It might need to feast again, charging its energy, before finally leaving the area.
It padded back and forth among the trees, tongue lolling, saliva dripping as its taste buds recalled its feast. The blood! The blood had been tasty. Sweet. Syrupy. The best kind. Too bad there hadn’t been more of it. Coyotes had scented the kill and tried to get in their licks, but the beast had shown them its ferocious side and they’d run off like whimpering puppies.
The scene below was busy for a long, long time. When everyone packed up to leave the beast finally loped off into the woods. It was sated for now, but its next kill wouldn’t be far off.
* * * * *
Jonah had given Mark the coordinates for the cabin which he’d plugged into his GPS. He called to give them a heads up when he hit the narrow country road that led to the driveway.
“Just so you don’t shoot his head off,” Jonah teased when he answered the call and told Dakota his team member was almost on site.
“Who, me?” She arranged her features into a fake expression of astonishment. “Would I do such a thing?”
“In a heartbeat.” He stole a quick kiss, thrusting his tongue inside just enough to take a brief taste of her. “We’ll finish this later.”
It was after four when the dark blue SUV bumped down the dirt road and pulled into the clearing in front of the cabin. Dakota stood on the porch with Jonah and watched the driver climb easily out of the vehicle. Mark Guitron was dark, like Jonah, and just as tall. But where Jonah was lean, Mark was bulkier. No fat, Dakota realized, just thicker muscles. And a much broader frame.
She watched as he and Jonah shook hand. Then Jonah reached for her hand and drew her forward.
“Mark, meet Dakota Furcal.”
Mark’s handshake was firm and his mouth curved in a smile, but the warmth didn’t quite reach his eyes. Jonah had told her Mark had been a deputy in the next county, but she didn’t think she was notorious enough for him to have heard anything about her. Dakota had the shivery feeling he was stripping her skin off to see what was beneath it. She knew his first priorities were Jonah and Night Seekers. If he assessed her as a threat, she had no doubt he wouldn’t hesitate to act on it.
“Welcome to Maverick County.” She made her voice as friendly as possible. This was, after all, Jonah’s friend and teammate.
“Thank you.” Again his eyes assessed every inch of her. “I’m happy to meet you.”
Yeah? Well, I hope you mean that.
“Please come in. I know you and Jonah have things to talk about.”
“That’s all right.” he gestured to the chairs on the porch. “We’ll be fine out here.”
Jonah tightened his arm around Dakota. “It’s okay. She knows everything. We can speak freely in front of her.”
Mark’s eyes were still on her. “Everything?”
“Everything.” He chuffed a short laugh. “After she saw me as a wolf there wasn’t much left to hide from her.”
“You shifted in front of her?”
“Not exactly, but it all worked out. Come on, let’s go inside and I’ll fill you in on everything. But believe me. She can be trusted.”
Dakota could read the “wait and see” look still in Mark’s eyes but he nodded his head and followed them into the cabin.
“I have beer and soft drinks,” Dakota told them. “Or I could make fresh coffee.”
“Coffee would be great, darlin’.” Jonah hugged her and planted a brief kiss on her mouth.
She was sure he was doing it both to show Mark he’d really meant what he’d said about her and to stake his claim. She almost smiled. Men were so territorial.
The men sat down at the small dining table, Mark with the folder and legal pad he’d had in his hands and Jonah with his handheld computer. They also placed their sat phones within easy reach in the event of a call. Dakota busied herself making coffee and listening to Jonah fill Mark in on what had happened so far. They spent some time looking at the photos in the folder Mark had with him and making notes.
“I want to take a look at the farm,” Mark said, smiling briefly at Dakota as she brought filled coffee mugs to the table.
“That was my plan,” Jonah agreed. “But I want us to shift to do it. For one thing, I’m sure the sheriff still has crime scene tape strung all over the place. For another, we have a much better chance of picking up a stray scent.”
Mark nodded his head but his eyes cut to Dakota.
Jonah sighed. “Let’s get this all out on the table now so we can stop playing games. Dakota, come here, honey. You’ve wiped that counter enough, anyway.”
With a touch of anxiety she walked over to the table. Her brain was whirling. What if Mark convinced Jonah she was a danger to them and they both left?
“Go ahead.” Jonah pulled her down into his lap and looked at Mark. “Ask her anything you want to.”
“All right.” Mark carefully placed the pen he’d been using
in perfect alignment with the pad of paper. “Jonah said you know he shifts. Saw him do it. Aren’t you freaked out? Most women would be. Most people.”
“At first. But understand this, Mr. Guitron—”
“Mark,” Jonah interrupted. “Call him Mark.”
The other Night Seeker dipped his head once.
“Fine. Mark. First of all, I got to know Jonah the man before I saw Jonah the wolf. And secondly, in my life I’ve learned there are things sound logic simply can’t explain. This is one of them. Does it freak me out? No. And if that freaks you out, I’m sorry. But that’s the way it is.”
“You’ve lived here all your life, right?” Mark wanted to know.
“That’s right. And I’m sure if you ask enough people they’ll be happy to tell you stories about the crazy half-breed who lives out here alone. My history and chosen lifestyle makes me a topic for speculation.” She looked straight at him. “I’m sure you must know about that, Mark.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I know that when I lived and worked in this area I heard a lot of things about a lot of people. Much of it was fanciful garbage. So, yes, I know what you mean and I like to think I can sift through the bullshit.”
“And I hope that’s what you do.” She rested her hand on Jonah’s, the one pressed against her waist. “I can be helpful, too. I know this immediate area like I know this cabin. Plus, Jonah tells me you need certain herbs to help control the shifting process. I have an herb garden out next to the cabin. I may already be growing some of them.” She leaned into Jonah. “And I’ll be happy to answer any questions about myself you ask. I’m not a threat.”
“You understand why I’m so cautious.”
“Of course. I’d expect you to be.” She slid from Jonah’s lap. “I’d be pleased to have you join us for dinner.”
“I thought Mark could run into town, check into the motel and then come back here,” Jonah said. “That way we can leave from here when it gets dark enough.”
“Good.” She turned back to Mark. “One more thing. I can be a good cover for you when the two of you need to take off in your wolven form. I can tell them you’re here and nobody will come out here looking for you. Trust me.”
She knew he was still reserving judgment, but she was grateful that at least he wasn’t asking Jonah to leave for the moment. But one thing was for sure. When Mark left for Eagle Pass, she and Jonah would make good use of the time they had to themselves.
Chapter Nine
Leo Merritt liked living at the edge of town. He liked open space around him, a piece of ground with no sense of being crowded. He was lucky. When he’d bought the land years ago it had been dirt cheap so he’d bought plenty of it. Never did anything with it except build the house he and Hilary lived in, but that was all he wanted. During the day he was surrounded by people. At night he liked the quiet and solitude with just the two of them.
They’d never had any children, he and Hilary. It was a fact that saddened them, but in later years their two dogs had become their family. Leo had spent his entire life working in the hardware store, eventually becoming day manager. It was a good job and gave him as much social contact as he wanted or needed. He looked forward to coming home to Hilary at the end of the day, sharing a drink with her on the back porch and just admiring the isolation of the area around them.
Life was good.
Today he wasn’t in such a big hurry to get home. Hilary had gone to San Antonio to visit her sister so the house was silent and empty. He was dawdling along the highway outside Eagle Pass when he saw the man walking on the edge of the road. At first he didn’t plan to stop.
“Don’t pick up strangers,” Hilary always warned. “You never know who or what you’re getting.”
But the man looked so beaten down, worn clothes hanging on his thin frame. Where had he come from? He didn’t look like any of the usual day laborers that loitered around the convenience stores hoping to cadge work in the area. His skin was too pale for outdoor work and very few places hired the day laborers to work indoors.
He was tempted to just increase the pressure on the accelerator and speed on past but something prevented him from doing so. Sparing a brief thought for Hilary and her warnings, he honked the horn and pulled the pickup over to the side of the road. The man stopped and turned to look at the truck.
Leo blinked.
What an odd looking person.
An angular face that was somehow misshapen and features that looked as if they’d been assembled haphazardly. He stared at Leo through the passenger window with eyes that were completely expressionless.
Leo pressed the button to lower the window. “You look kind of lost out here.” He had to raise his voice a little to be heard over the wind that had risen.
“Just looking for a place to crash for a day or two,” the man told him. His voice had a flat, nasal quality to it.
Leo, put the pedal to the metal and get on out of there.
He heard Hilary’s voice in his head but decided to ignore it. Even as basically antisocial as he was, he always believed in paying it forward. What was that old proverb? “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
Well, he had time on his hands tonight. Maybe he should do a little sowing. At least give the poor guy a meal and see if he could help him get a ride to somewhere. He punched the button to pop the locks on the doors.
“Jump on in,” he told him. “My wife’s out of town. I could stand you a meal and a place to crash for tonight if you’d like.”
For a moment he thought he saw flames dancing in the man’s eyes and an icy finger walked the length of his spine. But he blinked and it was gone. Again he saw only a very skinny man with a weird-looking face.
The man stared at him for a moment, then opened the door and climbed in.
“Appreciate it,” the man said. “Rides are hard to come by around here.”
Leo put the truck in Drive and eased back onto the highway. “Heading anyplace special?”
“Just out of here is all.”
Leo chuckled. “One thing about Maverick County. There’s no in-between. You either love it here or want out of here as fast as you can git.” He glanced over at the man. “Been here long?”
The man shrugged. “Long enough. Not much work here.”
“That’s the truth. Unless you work for the government or one of the ranches around here. Of which there are damn few.”
“Tell me about it.” He paused. “Listen, I appreciate the offer of food and a place to sleep. Barn’s good enough, if you’ve got one. And I can do chores for you.”
“Well, it’s not like we have a lot to do around the place,” Leo told him. “Hey, maybe you could weed and trim Hilary’s flower beds while she’d gone. My joints are getting a little stiff these days and that would be a big help.”
“No problem.”
“So,” Leo said. “My name’s Leo. What’s yours?”
“Fred. Just call me Fred.”
* * * * *
“I don’t think your friend likes me.” Dakota was chopping vegetables at the counter for a salad. She had just finished scrubbing potatoes for baking and seasoning steaks.
“He’s just a naturally suspicious person. Part of his nature.” Jonah came up behind her, slid his arms around her and cupped her breasts with his hands.
“You’re pretty brave to touch a woman with a sharp knife.” She leaned back against him, smiling in spite of herself.
“I figured I could take your mind off vegetables for a while.” His lips brushed against her ear. “And off everything else, too.” He turned her around to face him. “Think of it as medicinal. I have to shift later. To hunt. To check the crime scene. Having sex with you prepares my body to shift more easily.”
She threw back her head and laughed, the first real sound of joy from either of them since the morning’s gruesome discovery. “That’s about the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard for getting down and dirty with someone.”
“Whatever gets the job done.�
� He nipped her ear lobe. “So is it working for me?” His hands slid from her breasts down her tummy to press into her cunt through her jeans.
Dakota dropped the knife onto the counter as moisture flooded her cunt and her body trembled. Jonah slid his fingers up and down, pressing the soft denim of her jeans into her wet folds. She rocked back and forth, riding his hand, feeling the friction against her clit. The crotch of her panties was instantly soaked with a fresh spate of cream and the tiny bundles of nerves in the walls of her vagina were firing like rockets on the Fourth of July.
“I think the cooking can wait a while,” she breathed.
“You think so?” Jonah slid his other hand up to cup her breast and pinched her nipple, just hard enough to send streaks of pleasure-pain racing through her. “I love the feel of your breasts, Dakota. And your nipples.” He pinched again. “Like ripe berries. I could suck on them forever.”
She tried to turn in his arms but he held her firmly in place. “No, darlin’. Hold still.” With one hand he flicked open the button of her jeans and lowered the zipper. His fingers slipped under the elastic band and the thin silk, searching for her curls and the heat of her cunt. She widened her legs to accommodate him and those wicked fingers stole farther down, rubbing over her clit before delving into the wetness of her folds.
She pulsed beneath his touch, pressing into his searching fingers, wishing he would just rip off her jeans and panties and take her right there on the kitchen counter.
“I love it when you’re wet like that.” His voice was husky, his breath warm against her ear. “I can slide my fingers over that plump little pussy and feel every bit of the fabric of the skin. You have got the best cunt, Dakota. Just made for touching and tasting and fucking.”
Little moans bloomed in her throat and she closed her eyes, letting the sensation of his touch sweep over her. The heat from his body flowed into hers, melting her. If not for his hands masterfully working her and holding her in place she might have simply folded onto the floor.
Lust Unleashed (Night Seekers, Book One) Page 13
