She sighed, clenched her jaw, and then finally met his gaze before speaking again. “I came home from school one day, and he’d killed her. He waited for me.” He wiped away her silent tears, his own heart bleeding for her. “Told me he was sorry. That he’d called Julian to come get me. And then he disappeared. I haven’t seen him since then.”
He put two fingers under her jaw and lifted her chin so she would meet his gaze. “You know we aren’t all like that, baby. You know we aren’t. I’m not.”
She cut her eyes away and he could see she was struggling not to break down. She shook her head. “There is a part of me that will never believe that. And it doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to enter into this agreement with y’all because I knew I wouldn’t be able to work with you. I’m not the only one who feels this way either. I’m just the one that got stuck with you.”
“And most of you have been hurt by rogues?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“I can’t do anything but show you, and the rest, that I’m different. No amount of talking is going to change anything.”
One corner of her mouth curved up in a half smile. “I know. That doesn’t mean I have to stay here and watch it, though.”
She finally stood up but kept her back pressed to the wall. “Please leave, Anthony. I need to change. You know everything there is to know about me now.”
He didn’t budge. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” she whispered.
She really thought he was just going to leave. He did step back to give her some air, but once there was some space between them, he stopped, crossed his arms over his chest, and shook his head. “I’m not leaving, Gia. I’ll wait as long as you need, but I think you really don’t need it. I think it’s an excuse. Makes it easier to keep me, everyone, at arm’s length, doesn’t it?”
She took a deep outraged breath, and the things it did to that corset made him curse the months of abstinence. His control was shot to hell. Then she tugged on the zipper, exposing more of her cleavage.
“Don’t,” he ordered gruffly. “We need to talk and if you keep that up…”
She sauntered towards him. “You want me to stay or go? Talk or not talk?”
She circled him, her hand skimming his waist as she moved. “What about what I want? Does that count?”
He stopped her, grabbing her hands and pulling her in front of him. “Jesus. I can’t believe you have to ask that. What kind of life have you lived, baby?”
She gave him the fake smile he’d so come to hate. “Nothing so bad.” She pulled away and was almost out of the door before he stopped her.
“Enough, Gia. Enough. It’s time for the truth now.”
He pushed his body against hers, pressing her against the door so she couldn’t escape.
“I just…” She looked at the floor and muttered. “I’m not strong enough to walk away later. I thought I was, but I’m not.”
He couldn’t take her pain. It was like knives flaying his skin. Bending his head to her neck, he sucked her skin between his lips until she gasped and arched into him. “I’m going to bite you, Gia. I thought you knew what that would mean, but I’m starting to wonder.”
She tried to move away from him but he held her hips against the wall. “I know how a mate bond is formed, yes. Is that what you want to know? Don’t do that to me, Anthony. You want to fuck me. You don’t love me.”
“You’re wrong about that, baby.”
She refused to listen, just went on. “I get on your last nerve. That isn’t going to change,” she ended dryly.
Hell, the woman would be coming up with excuses forever if he gave her the chance. He didn’t. When his mouth returned to her nape, he broke the skin, mixing her blood with the enzymes in his saliva. The combination would tie them together forever.
The sweet taste of her skin against his lips was enough to make him hard as a rock, and he felt the connection between them snap together. He licked off a bead of blood and kissed the small wound, leaving a trail of kisses up her neck before claiming her lips. His hands were busy elsewhere. Ripping off her thong, dropping his costume to the floor. He lifted her easily, thrusting into her hard. He froze when she groaned. Broke the kiss and searched her face.
“Don’t stop now.” Her tone was a bit on the testy side, but her eyes were clouded with lust, her yearning open on her face.
He started a slow stroke in and out, knew that wasn’t going to last long at all with the urgency he felt, but wanted to bring her along for the ride with him.
“Next time we’re doing this in a bed,” he said gruffly, struggling to maintain control long enough to make her come first.
She chuckled. “There’s one right behind you, but you’re kind of fulfilling a fantasy of mine so I’m not complaining.”
“Is that right?” He thrust harder, the idea a serious turn-on. He planned on fulfilling every single fantasy either one of them had. “What is it?”
“Me against a wall,” she started to pant when he angled his thrusts to rub across her G-spot. “Hard and fast.”
Hell yeah. But she wasn’t quite ready for that yet. Reaching between them, he tugged the zipper on her corset down enough to expose her breasts. Beautiful. The surge of possessiveness was so intense he felt a growl rise from his throat.
He moved one arm under her ass, holding her still. With his free hand, he cupped her breast, lifting her nipple to his mouth. She smelled like vanilla and strawberries, and tasted even better. Sweet. His. She moaned when his teeth closed around her nipple and tugged. He felt her response in her pussy as she grew wetter around his cock. Her inner muscles clenched when he pumped into her harder.
Her moans mixed with breathy pants. The little sounds from her throat drove him harder, faster. He bit her nipple one last time before releasing it with pop and leaving a trail of kisses up her body to her neck. She gasped when he sucked the skin where he’d left his mark. Nails dug into his shoulder and she trembled, then shuddered as the orgasm rushed through her body.
It was the most incredible feeling in the world. Feeling her come around him. Feeling her come for him. He felt like he’d stepped into an abyss when he came. She was still convulsing around him, massaging his cock, sucking all the cum from him.
Her grip on his shoulders slackened and she lowered her legs. He reluctantly let her go. But it would only be long enough to get her to the bed. He turned to look at it, frowning. He wanted her at home, in his bed. Where she belonged. She walked around him, around the bed, and the frown turned to a scowl.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
She opened a door he hadn’t noticed on the opposite wall, revealing a bathroom. Excellent idea. He could explore her in full light. Wet. She’d be slick when he entered her in the small shower stall. She disappeared inside and the water came on seconds later. He followed her in. She arched an eyebrow when he stepped in behind her.
“We don’t have time for this. There’s a job to do.”
No way. He was not about to let her hunt down and kill her own father. He shook his head as he reached for the soap and began to lather her up.
“No. You need to let someone else handle this one, baby. I’ll take care of it personally.”
He spun her around to do her back, but not fast enough to miss her glare. She stiffened under his hands. He wanted to stroke her, to massage the tension from her shoulders and back, but he kept his touches impersonal. They needed to have this out.
God, how had Gia gotten in this mess? Yeah, she’d wanted to fuck him. Both times. But how could she have forgotten in the middle of that intense passion that he’d claimed her? In her own defense, he had been doing incredible, sinful things to her body. But as soon as that was over, he got bossy. There was a small part of her that even found the bossiness a turn-on. If he touched her between her legs, he’d find her wet and ready. There was only one explanation. She’d lost her damned mind.
She struggled for control, tried to calm herself as the ful
l ramifications of what he’d done sunk in. Face it, Gia. You could have stopped him. You didn’t want to. God, it was true. A secret, repressed part of her had wanted, no yearned, to be tied to him so permanently. And she fucking knew better. She’d seen firsthand what happened when a domineering, obsessed werewolf lost control.
She had to get rid of him. Get away from him. She could only think of one way to make that happen and the bitterness of what she planned twisted like a knife in her chest.
“Do it then,” she said softly, struggling to contain her anger and resentment. “Take care of it for me. Tonight, Anthony.”
She turned around and realized her mistake right away as she met his distrustful gaze. Damn. She’d given in too easy. She never did that. She always fought him. Even over stupid shit. He didn’t say a word, just reached behind her, turned off the water, and stepped out. She followed, accepting the towel he handed her and hurried to dry off before going back into the bedroom.
Since she spent so much time in the house, she kept extra clothes in the closet. She grabbed the first pants and shirt she saw, dug a bra out of the drawer. When she looked up, Anthony was already dressed. He must have brought clothes when he followed her in. How she’d missed that she couldn’t fathom. His eyes were narrowed on her.
“Those are jeans.”
Shit. She hadn’t looked because it didn’t matter, but these weren’t what she would wear on a mission. Obviously, she’d intended on skipping out while he went after her father. She threw them on the bed and got the right kind of pants from the closet. Black with cargo pockets on the thighs.
“You weren’t planning on going with me.” He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her his meanest look. “What were you planning? Running away?”
Somehow she kept her intended deceit from her face. “You insisted on taking care of this for me.”
“I assumed you were working up to the fight over that.” Something colored his voice. If she didn’t know better she’d call it vulnerability.
“I told you earlier I’m not up for fighting tonight,” she replied, referring to the conversation on the porch.
Stay calm. Don’t let him see how desperate you are. To get away. Or how confused. To stay and give in. Where the hell had that thought come from?
He stalked to her, the dangerous predator he was heavy in each step. She didn’t flinch, didn’t pull away. She should have, but her pride wouldn’t allow it. The corner of his mouth turned up in a slight grin.
“You’re not afraid me. Never have been. Don’t try to use that as an excuse to fight our mating, Gia.”
It was a lousy time to remind of her of what he’d done. Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t give me a choice. I didn’t choose you.”
He grabbed her before she could react. His hands were on the back of her head holding her still, forcing her to meet his gaze. She tried to will the iciness she used to feel before she met him into her heart. He growled and this time she did flinch.
“You don’t get to hide from me damn it. Not anymore. And you did choose, baby. Out there on that lawn chair. You never would have let me touch you otherwise.”
She shook her head no, but couldn’t avoid that repressed voice in her mind that agreed with him. Was he right? She sighed. Maybe. Hell. Probably.
“I’m still pissed at you.” It was a concession, and they both knew it. At least he didn’t gloat over his victory. No smirk. Nothing but acceptance in his eyes.
“Let’s get moving.” He held his hand out to her, then led her out into the hall. “You never told me your parents’ names.”
It took her a long time to answer, and she couldn’t hide the pain and regret and longing in her voice when she did.
“Hattie and Arthur.”
They’d just reached the bottom of the stairs. Julian was talking quietly to Asa and Declan a few feet away.
“Arthur Roberts?” She heard the disbelief in his voice and glanced over to look at the other three men.
“Yeah.”
“He was a Hunter.”
She frowned. Did he have to remind her? Hunters were supposed to be incorruptible. Obviously they weren’t. This time he frowned.
“There’s a surprising lack of communication going on around here. Have you noticed no one exchanges full names between these two groups?”
She shrugged. They didn’t have to fully trust each other to work together. “So?”
Chapter Four
“There’s someone you should meet.” Anthony took her elbow and led her to Declan. He fell silent at her approach, studied her carefully, and Anthony suddenly knew Declan knew exactly who she was. And that pissed him the fuck off. He was the closest thing to an Alpha the Hunters had and one of his men had kept a pretty significant secret from him.
“You know exactly who she is,” he accused, keeping his voice dangerously soft. Declan wasn’t intimidated in the least.
“I know.”
“And you didn’t think I should be informed?”
“She’s human. She’s no threat to us.”
“Her father could have come after her, Dec!”
The other werewolf ground his teeth together but didn’t say anything.
“What is going on?”
He turned to look into her upturned face. That bruised expression was back. He regretted being the one to fill her in. She’d been through a lot in one night. He was fixing to make it worse.
“Declan.” He nodded at him, like he was introducing two strangers.
“I know who he is,” she answered irritably.
“Do you?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Declan. Roberts.”
He saw the moment she made the connection. She shook her head. “No.”
Declan stepped forward, looking sorry as hell this had come up. He definitely would be by the time Anthony was done with him.
“I met your mother once. You look just like her. When our two groups hooked up, I did some digging. I’m Arthur’s younger brother.” He met Anthony’s gaze. “It was obvious she didn’t want to acknowledge any connections with us. You can’t blame me for honoring that.”
“But you didn’t even come to me. You didn’t say a word. Did you know?” she asked Julian. Her voice vibrated with anger and hurt. Anthony took her hand and softly stroked her fingers with his thumb. He wondered if she knew the touch had calmed her.
Julian nodded reluctantly, glancing at Anthony before returning his gaze to Gia. “You haven’t been yourself since we joined with the werewolves. You always made it clear you didn’t want anything to do with Arthur’s family, even their names, so we decided to leave it alone.”
“She should have been told,” Anthony interjected, pinning Declan under his gaze. “And so should I.”
Declan rolled his eyes, and for half a second Anthony was tempted to demonstrate exactly why he was the leader of the Hunters, but reminded himself, forcefully, this was one of his oldest friends. That just made him angry all over again.
“Where’s Sunny?” Gia asked Julian. “I need a last known location and anything else she can give me.”
Anthony felt her withdrawing again, pulling into herself. Under the circumstances he didn’t blame her. He’d make her talk on the drive.
“She’s waiting on the porch.”
Anthony knew she’d probably gone out to avoid the crowded house. She was even more anti-social than Gia.
“Wait,” Declan said when they started to walk in that direction. “I know my brother, Gia. I don’t know what you saw, but there is no way in hell he killed Hattie. He loved her more than anything.”
She stiffened at his side and her eyes were glacial when she turned back to her werewolf uncle. “He loved her to death, Declan. Trust me. You weren’t there. I was.”
“You actually saw him kill her?”
“I saw him covered in her blood. I heard him say it was his fault.”
“That’s not the same as a confession, Gia.”
“Close enough,” she said coldly. With tho
se parting words, they left.
Sunny was waiting, sitting on the porch railing in the farthest, darkest corner. Gia pulled free, and he let her walk away to talk to the woman privately. With his heightened wolf senses, he would be able to easily listen in unless they whispered.
“Where?”
Sunny handed her a slip of paper and without saying a word stood and disappeared around the corner of the house. Gia rejoined him and he held his hand out for her keys. He was a little worried when she tossed them over without any argument. He always insisted. She always argued. It occurred to him that was probably more routine now than from any real objection.
He didn’t speak until they were on the road. “Where are we going?” Since the house was at the end of a dead-end road there’d been only one way to go.
“Gold Falls.” Softly said and he knew why. She’d once told him that’s where she grew up. It wasn’t far, only about thirty minutes if he drove fast. He decided to drive slow.
“Do we know where?”
She laughed, but it was anything but amused. He heard bitterness, anger, confusion. So much emotion wrapped up in one little sound. He reached across the console and took her hand. Lifting it to his lips, he pressed a kiss on her palm.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby.”
It was a promise to her. One he had no idea in hell how to fulfill. He could execute her father. His oaths demanded he execute rogues. But this wasn’t just any rogue. This was his mate’s father. He also had to consider her mental well-being. She might despise the man, might hate him with every fiber of her being, but he was still her father. It might not be today or tomorrow, but at some point she’d be upset about his killing her father.
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