Brax pulled the shirt on and winced at the tenderness of his chest. “Why am I starting to think that I got off easy tonight?”
Lee laughed as they left the first aid station. “Because you are a very smart man. Now, get to bed. You are going to have quite the workout tomorrow and having the marks on your chest will play on her sympathies.”
“Will I need it?”
“Consider her a target that you are hunting. Use any advantage you can get.” She left him and headed back to the bar.
Shrugging, Braxton headed for the bed and breakfast. He got more advice and insight than Lee had thought. The raid on the lion compound was whispered about by every species. It was the proof that the shifters were not societies unto themselves. The corruption had spread through other species, and those shifter guilds had moved to stamp it out. The damage control was still ongoing and his current mode of employment.
The more he learned about Nicia, the more he knew that he would enjoy working with her, and he knew she would enjoy spending her days on the hunt.
Now, he just had to convince her he wasn’t a jackass. It was easier said than done.
Chapter Five
Attractive casual was difficult to pull off, but Nicia thought she managed it with a silk shell and a draped skort. Strappy sandals completed the outfit, and she braided her hair in a straight column that hung nearly to her waist.
The moment she opened her bedroom door, she smelled breakfast. Smiling, she headed downstairs and stopped short. Braxton was sitting at the table and reading a newspaper.
Teebie entered and gestured for her to have a seat. “The newspaper is one of my personal tricks. Don’t tell Teal and Tony. They disapprove of my sort of magic if it is used too casually.”
Nicia smiled and sat down. Teebie poured her a cup of coffee and Braxton ignored her. That irritated her.
“So, Braxton, how long have you been here?”
Teebie froze at the challenge in her tone and immediately moved with more care.
He looked at her over the paper with his ice blue eyes calm. “Two weeks. I have met ten candidates that I considered but none of them were the right fit.”
She scowled and sipped her coffee. “The right fit, like in bed?”
Teebie coughed and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving a platter of muffins, another of bacon and a pot of honey.
He calmly folded the paper. “No, personality-wise. I am a difficult man to be with for a woman who likes to play games. I played some of my own games last night, and for that, I apologise. I would like to start over with you this morning, if I may?”
She was intrigued. “How would you start over?”
“Would you care to go for a run through a meadow? Flat out, no worry about running into humans?”
Nicia propped her chin on her fist and batted her lashes. “I think that would be a good start. Eat up. You are going to need your strength.”
He laughed and they ate until they groaned.
Teebie came back in and sighed with relief. “I thought you were going to maul him.”
Nicia drank her second cup of coffee. “No, that was last night. Today, we are starting over.”
Teebie’s eyes widened, and she looked to Braxton for confirmation.
He shrugged, winced and nodded. Braxton sighed and looked at Nicia. “Well, if you are ready, I believe that we can race as soon as we get to the meadow.”
She replied, “I hope for your sake that you like the colour gold, because all you are going to see is my tail.”
He got to his feet, and when she took his arm, he winked, “Aw, you were in my dreams last night.”
Blushing at the image that put in her mind, she let him lead the way to the meadow. There were shifting cabanas to one side and none were occupied. He nudged her into one of them and took the one next to it.
She heard the rustling of fabric and quickly removed her clothing, placing it neatly on the shelf. She shifted into her lion form and stalked out with her tail lashing.
He was waiting for her, with his ears perked and his head cocked. He was a dark wolf with a pale muzzle and the same ice blue eyes as his human form. She found him very pretty.
He yipped and leaned in with his front paws forward and his butt in the air.
She shook her head and started to trot into the meadow. Once she heard him behind her, she started to run.
Her muscles bunched and released as she dug into the soft turf with her claws. She sprinted through the meadow and continued until she reached the far end; she used one of the trees as a springboard and changed direction, going over Braxton’s head and back through the meadow.
She heard him howl behind her and wanted to roar in response but there was no use. Nothing would come out. At the cabana end, she turned and trotted back into the centre of the meadow, sitting in a patch of dandelions and rolling to her back with her belly in the air.
Braxton came up beside her and sat there panting, watching her wiggle in the grass.
Once she was covered in pollen, she sat up and knew she looked silly.
He didn’t respond in any way except to shift into his human form and extend his hand.
She sniffed him, licking at his hand with her rough tongue. Once she was confident of the taste of him, she tucked her head under his hand and coaxed him into petting her. She let out a happy rumble as he scratched behind her ears and brushed fluff and pollen from her fur.
He sat next to her, and she put her head in his lap, enjoying the trust he was showing in his vulnerable condition.
“You are quite large, Nicia.”
She swatted him with her tail.
He chuckled and dug his fingers into her shoulders in a massage. “It was a compliment. I have seen smaller lionesses before. You are one of a kind.”
She rumbled again. It wasn’t quite a purr, but it was all she could manage.
He touched the scars around her neck, and she tensed. He stilled for a moment and then moved his fingers over the hardened skin. “This must have been agonizing.”
She moved her head and lapped at his thigh in agreement.
He continued to stroke her and she relaxed, gradually shifting back into her human form.
He still stroked her hair after she shifted, running his fingers through the strands.
She was facing his feet, and when she turned to look at him, his expression showed his interest. The erection was a secondary hint. It had been hard to ignore it pressing into the back of her head.
She smiled. “I won the race.”
He nodded. “You did.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. She pressed her hand to his chest and felt the last vestiges of the marks she had made the night before.
Nicia had to admit admiration for him not showing them to her in their full, bright glory. She was not one to take kindly to subterfuge.
Naked in a sunlit meadow, there was not a lot of room for manipulating someone, but playing with them was something else entirely.
Nicia reached out and wrapped her hand around his erection, stroking him slowly. His kiss grew more violent as she moved her hand on him to the beat of his heart. After a minute or so, it was a very fast motion.
He moaned into her mouth and shuddered suddenly. His cock jerked in her hand and jets of pearly white struck the grass.
A peculiar sense of power ran through her. Nicia had never given someone pleasure like that, and she was proud that she had figured it out on her own with a little help from online porn.
He rested his forehead against hers and caught his breath. She carefully let go of his cock, remembering that it could be sensitive after its release.
Nicia inhaled the scent of his spent passion and smiled. That would stay in her mind, and she could bring it out when she wanted to coax a smile out of her thoughts.
Braxton tilted his head and kissed her softly. “Why are you smiling? After all, you didn’t get anything out of it.”
“May I return the favour?” He was very polite about it.
“What do I need to do?”
He grinned. “Just let me touch you and don’t claw me.”
“I think I can do that.”
“Good. Now, straddle me and look me in the eye.”
She blinked and did as he asked. He slid a hand into her hair and stroked the back of her neck under her hair until she relaxed against him. His other hand slipped between her thighs and slowly rubbed against her. Nicia’s work on him had caused her arousal to render her slick, and he used her own moisture to ease his path.
He kissed her, and she had to admire his ability to multitask.
To her surprise, her hips started to rock against his fingers completely out of reflex. It was fascinating to feel the heat he was causing in her, and for a moment, he held his fingers steady and she moved against him on her own.
Something was building inside her, and it had the same kind of surge that she had felt during her first shift. The feeling that there was something inside her that wanted to get out in the world.
His fingers moved faster on her clit and she held her breath while her body tensed, trying to pull her into whatever happened next.
She inhaled sharply and flattened her fingers on his shoulders, trying not to claw him as her body shook over and over as his touch kept the waves going on and on.
Nicia slumped against him, and he stopped the circling torment. She sat flat against his thighs and pressed her forehead to his chest. He was sweating, and her tongue lapped out to taste the salt on his skin.
He continued to stroke the back of her neck, and she eventually looked up at him. She didn’t have any words for what had just happened. She leaned up and kissed him, parting her lips and slipping her tongue in to duel slowly with his.
He sighed and held her tight for a moment before they ended the kiss. “So, would you like to become a skip tracer?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you were out for a mate.”
“Oh, I am, but I can’t be a partner to anyone other than my mate, so if you want the job as a hunter, you will have to marry me.”
She laughed in surprise. “Are you serious?”
“Usually. I am eager to take you as you are if you will accept me with all my flaws.”
Nicia cocked her head. “Really? You don’t know much about me.”
“I know enough to know that you are a good hunter, you hate injustice and you will not stop if you sense someone is being victimized. What else do I need to know?”
She twisted her lips. “I can’t roar.”
“Silence is better when you are hunting. If your roar is meant to return, I am sure it will.”
Nicia couldn’t think of a reason to say no. He wasn’t a lion, he wasn’t a jerk and he was very handsome and considerate. She had seen far worse matches in her lifetime. “You will have to get the approval of my grandparents.”
He grinned. “Done. We have a deal.”
“I would shake your hand, but I think that would be a little silly considering my current position.” She smiled again and ducked her head.
“I like your current position. I think we will do all negotiations in our relationship in this position.” He smiled, and the wolf was in there as well as the man.
She stroked his cheek. “Remember, my claws can come out with very little effort.”
“It adds a thrill of danger for me.”
Nicia’s eyes went wide as she realized that part of his attraction for her was the danger that she posed. It figured that the one thing she used to be punished for was now the trait that had caught her a mate. Destiny was a pain in the ass.
Chapter Six
Teal and Tony were surprised by the rider of her family’s approval. Normally, people came to the Crossroads in order to circumvent their families.
After all the documents were signed, Nicia took the bouquet of flowers that Lee had brought and hugged her childhood friend, or as much of a friend as she had been allowed.
“If you need anything, get in touch with Krisia, and she will get in touch with me. You aren’t alone anymore, Nicia.” Lee smiled and squeezed her again.
“I know, but now, first I will go to Braxton and see if he can help me. Then, I will turn to my grandparents, the lion guild and then you. I love you, but I am a fan of proper channels and you are pregnant. I don’t want to cause you any stress.” Nicia stroked Lee’s hair.
“Stop being so logical. This is your wedding day.”
“Well, technically, it is my contracting day and only if my grandparents agree.”
Lee sighed and shook her head. “Fine. Now shoo. I am sure that everyone is waiting for you.”
Nicia looked over at Braxton, and he seemed content to wait an eternity for her. She wasn’t going to make him wait that long. “All right. Keep well, Lee.”
She smiled at Lee and waved farewell to Tony and Teal. She got the feeling that the guardians were happy to be rid of her.
Braxton put his arm around her, and the world got bright in a flash. She blinked and looked around, laughing when she realized they were on her grandparents’ deck.
Helena was staring at her from the kitchen window, a slow smile spreading across her lips. Nicia could hear her yell, “Anderson! She’s home! She got one!”
Braxton burst out laughing and waited to greet her family.
Anderson came out and approached them cautiously. “Nissy, it seems you have brought a mate home.”
Nicia smirked, “Not a mate, not yet. Just a fiancé for now. Our mating depends on how well you get along with him.”
Helena heard that and skipped forward to hug Braxton with all her might.
He winced and Nissy was sure she heard a creak.
Anderson sighed and met Nicia’s gaze with his. “She does lack dignity.”
Nicia smiled, “Now I know where my mom got it from. I always wondered.”
He smiled back at her and tears came to his eyes. She read what he wanted, and she crossed to him for a hug.
She could smell the tears that he refused to let drop. She smiled up at him. “It’s okay.”
He nodded and swallowed quickly.
When he let her go, she made the introductions. “Braxton, this is Helena and Anderson Mooring. They are the only relatives I have that I speak to.”
He nodded and extended his hand to Anderson. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Mooring.”
“Call me Andy.”
“My full name is Braxton Croft. Call me Brax.”
Helena smiled. “What a lovely name, Brax. So, child. What are you?”
Having already given her authorization, the formality was funny enough to send nervous giggles through Nicia. The lightness of mood was not like her, and she tried to snap herself back into her cold analytics.
“He is a wolf, Grandma.” Nicia waited and Braxton put his arm around her.
“Which pack?” Helena narrowed her eyes, and they shifted to feline for a moment.
Braxton smiled, “I was born to the Silver Run Pack in Washington State. I have since gained independent wolf status with the guild. I operate in all territories, so I am a guild wolf now.”
Helena and Anderson seemed to know what that was, and they smiled with a pleased expression.
Nicia muttered out of the corner of her mouth. “Did you just tell them you have a government job or something?”
He chuckled. “Something like that.”
Helena invited them in, but Braxton inclined his head toward the table and chairs on the deck. “I would like to sit out here if that is possible. It is rare that I see such a beautiful view.”
Anderson went inside and made a pot of coffee and brought out a pitcher of lemonade while it was brewi
ng. “Nissy’s favourite.”
Nicia poured a glass and asked Braxton with an arched brow.
“Yes, please.”
Helena got a glass, but Anderson didn’t drink lemonade, so Nicia sat down and watched the lake ripple far below. Braxton moved his chair until he was next to her.
“This is an amazing place you have here, Andy.”
Nicia chuckled. “It is my grandmother’s home. In lion society, the women own the territory and invite the men in. It keeps the men aware of their position as protectors and reminds them that they could be replaced if necessary. I mean, it isn’t really that way, but it is a tradition.”
Helena smiled. “Andy gave me the money for the property as one of his courting gifts. I paid for the house out of my savings.”
Andy grinned, “It is exactly what she had in mind. Helena’s family are contractors.”
“The Sargar Pride?”
Helena beamed. “Exactly.”
Braxton whistled softly.
Nicia didn’t know what the big deal was. She had rich relatives. It didn’t matter, as a lioness, she had to make her own way in the world.
Nicia was beginning to suspect that Braxton didn’t just hunt humans for money. “Braxton, what is a guild wolf?”
He leaned back and side. “Well, I did tell you what I do for a living.”
“Right.”
“I may have neglected to mention that I specialize in shifters.”
Anderson chortled. “Not a good way to start a life together. Always tell the whole truth. It will bite you in the ass far less as time goes by.”
Nicia cocked her head. “It doesn’t matter to me as long as I get to hunt.”
Helena and Anderson blinked and sat back. “You are going to become a hunter?”
Nicia smiled and sipped at her lemonade. “I already am a hunter. I am just going to work to be in a position where I get paid for it.”
Helena opened her mouth, but Anderson put his hand on her arm. “Darling, even infected, near dead and almost mute, she managed to knock me on my ass. That takes a bit of doing, as you well know. I think this is her calling.”
Lost Roar Page 3
