FALL OF A BLOOD MOON (RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES Book 7)

by Jodi Vaughn

  “Yeah. I didn’t realize it was raining that hard outside. Good thing I always carry an extra set of clothes.”

  “I tried the chili. It’s really good.” She held out the cup from the thermos that she had filled. “I found a fork taped to the side of the thermos. Granny was really smart to do that.”

  He took the thermos and laughed. “You have no idea. That woman is crazy like a fox.”

  “Really?” She cocked her head.

  “Yeah. She’s stubborn and hardheaded, but she loves all the Guardians.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. She kind of keeps us in line.”

  “What about Barrett?” Ginny asked.

  “She tries to keep Barrett in line, but he doesn’t listen.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Granny isn’t scared of Barrett?”

  “Granny isn’t scared of anyone.” He looked at her, and his smile slipped. He understood what she was getting at.

  “Ginny, not all Pack Masters are the same. Not all are like your father,” he said softly.

  She looked away.

  “I don’t know who Granny is scared of, but I know who’s scared of Granny.”

  She cut her eyes at him. “Who?”

  “Lorcan.”

  “Lorcan? The Assassin?” Her eyes grew wide. “You must be kidding.”

  “Believe me, I’m not.” He sat down beside her and took a bite of the chili. “The Assassins were sent after Braxton. After they shot him, he managed to hide out at a bed and breakfast in Eureka Springs. Lorcan showed up on the doorstep, and apparently the B&B was hosting some writers and Granny in her B&B. Whatever they said or did to him still has everyone laughing about it.”

  “They laughed at Lorcan?” She shook her head. “Those writers must have some kind of magic to have that kind of effect on an Assassin.”

  “You, my love, have apparently never been around writers. They are a different species altogether.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “I have a meeting. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone. I need you to cover for me again.” Barrett walked over to the secret wall that hid the weapons room and pressed a button. He didn’t bother to wait for Damon to agree to fill in for him. He didn’t have to. He knew Damon wouldn’t refuse.

  “What’s up? Does this have something to do with the Pack Master meeting the other night?” Damon followed him into the weapon room.

  Barrett grabbed a nine-millimeter Sig Sauer and tucked it in the waistband of his jeans. He tugged his leather jacket on and turned to face his Guardian.

  “Some things I can’t tell you. But there is one thing you need to be aware of.” He scrubbed his hand down his face.

  “What?” Damon asked

  “Jaxon is no longer in Arkansas looking for that witch.”

  “Where is he?” Damon scowled.

  “He’s in Louisiana.”

  “What the fuck is he doing there?” Damon scowled.

  “He claims the witch got away from him and he managed to follow her across the state line. I was hoping he’d apprehend her and get the fuck out of that state before Boudier found out, but there seems to be a problem with that.”

  “Go on.”

  “He somehow ended up with Ginny Wilson, his ex-girlfriend… who happens to be Edward Boudier’s daughter.”

  “Fuck. Me.” Damon took a deep breath and blew it out.

  “Oh, there’s more.” Barrett narrowed his eyes. “Ginny’s mother and her husband are both dead. Ginny did it but he’ll sure as shit take the blame.” He held up his hand to keep Damon from interrupting. “I’m not so sure Boudier cared that much for his wife, but the fact that his son-in-law was the one financing his trek to power and destruction is not going to sit well with Boudier.”

  “Shit.” Damon shook his head. “How close is Jaxon to crossing into Arkansas?”

  “Pretty fucking close. But he can’t. Boudier has set up traffic stops on every major highway and road. He’s got the police in his pocket and the power to keep looking for them.” He pulled his cell phone out of his jacket and hit a few buttons.

  “Right now, there is a storm over the area where Jaxon is. He sent a message saying he’s somewhere safe.”

  “Lucien just called and told me that Jaxon reached out to him.” Barrett held Damon’s gaze. “He is wondering if Lorcan can be of some use in getting our Guardian out of there.”

  “Jesus. Man, I don’t know. I would have thought after he helped us get Lucien out of New Orleans, Lorcan would have stayed in Arkansas and sworn loyalty to you.” Damon shook his head. “I don’t understand how he can see what Boudier did and still work for him.”

  “It’s fucked up, to say the least.” Barrett shook his head.

  “You know, your job sucks sometimes, man,” Damon growled.

  “Yeah. Yeah, it does,” he agreed. “Boudier just sent me a text. He wants a meeting.”

  Damon tensed. “You aren’t planning on going by yourself, are you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “No offense, but fuck no. You need to take some backup. That motherfucker could be waiting on you to take you out with a silver bullet in the head.” Damon growled, walked over to the wall, and picked up a .45.

  “Where do you think you’re going with that?” Barrett stepped in front of him and glared.

  “With you.”

  “No. You can’t do that. I need you here.” Barrett shoved his finger in Damon’s chest. “Don’t mistake my allowing you to fill in for me as an opportunity to disregard my leadership. You still answer to me.”

  “And you need to listen to reason,” Damon countered.

  Barrett glared, and then for the first time in a very long time, he let out a laugh.

  “What’s so funny? You’re not losing it, are you, Barrett?” Damon’s brow creased with concern.

  “Yeah, Damon. I’m fucking losing it.” He sobered and looked at the Guardian. “Who would have thought that you’d be standing here telling me to listen to reason. I remember not so long ago you were about to rip my head off because you thought I was interested in Ava.”

  Damon scowled. “Yeah well, when people start bandying around words like mates and destiny, it’s hard to see reason.”

  “I’ve never let you guys down before. I’m not planning on doing it now.”

  “Boudier is a sneaky son of a bitch. Don’t walk in there thinking he’s not going to try something.”

  “I have no other choice, Damon. My Guardian is in his state. I didn’t let him know, and now he’s going to rub that shit in my face. I’m going to try to work out something where I can get Jaxon back without getting anyone hurt. We may have to cut our losses when seeking revenge for Heimy and Mitchell and Lucien.”

  “Are you fucking serious? You can’t just let that shit go,” Damon growled.

  “Oh, believe me. I’m not letting anything go. I’m just going to let Boudier think I am.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ginny stood and left the blanket to walk over to the small window in the loft. They’d been stuck for hours in the dilapidated barn, listening to the rain pelting the tin roof as thunder shook the old windows. The dark storm clouds were giving way to nightfall.

  Panic rose in her throat, and she tried not to let Jaxon see her increased breathing. He’d been so focused on waiting to hear back from Barrett for further instructions on when and how they should leave.

  Anxiety weighed on her like a heavy stone, and she had forced herself not to fidget in the small space. The more uncomfortable and upset she appeared, the more Jaxon would worry.

  She didn’t want him to worry about her. They were in enough shit as it was.

  Fear clawed at her stomach, and despite his reassuring words that everything would be okay, she couldn’t allow herself to believe that.

  She was living on borrowed time. Deep down in her gut, she knew that. So was Jaxon. He just didn’t know it yet.

  Her father wasn’t going to let Jaxon live. He would kill Jaxon just to spite her. He�
��d probably make her watch him die before he killed her too.

  Thunder boomed through the sky. She jumped and pressed her hand to her heart and spun around.

  “I would have figured you would have gotten used to the sound by now,” Jaxon said from his perch on the ladder. He had just come back in from having a look around outside, making sure their little fortress was secure.

  “It’s hard not to jump when it’s so loud,” she breathed. “It’s been raining for hours. It has to stop sometime.”

  He stepped onto the loft and pulled his cell phone out of his back jeans pocket.

  “According to the weather app, it’s going to rain until early in the morning.”

  “So we have to stay here.” Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.

  “Until it stops raining or…” His voice trailed off.

  She lifted her chin. “Or until we have to make a run for it.” Reality settled over her like a sopping wet blanket.

  The odds of successfully making a run for it in this weather weren’t in their favor. That much she knew.

  “Have you heard back from your Pack Master?” She swallowed and looked out the window. She didn’t need him to see the fear in her eyes. She’d lived in fear for so fucking long, she should have been immune to it.

  That was the thing about faith, hope and second chances. Once she’d gotten the tiniest glimpse of all three, she’d begun to really have hope. She also knew that along with hope came the fear of everything being taken away from her.

  This was real life, not a fairy tale.

  “No, but I did hear from Damon.”

  “Who’s Damon?”

  “He’s one of the Guardians. Apparently Barrett has put him in charge while he is taking care of some things.”

  “What things?” She crossed her arms and gave him a wide-eyed look. “What about taking care of his Guardians? What about trying to find a way to help us?” There was no use trying to keep the fear out of her voice. It had set up residence and didn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

  “I’m sure he’s doing everything he can. He is in a delicate situation and has to find the most diplomatic way to handle things.”

  Regret poured through her.

  “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Jaxon. We are in this mess because of me. I have no right to say those things to you.” She met his eyes. “This is all my fault, not yours. I’m sure your Pack Master is doing what he can to help you.”

  “And to help you too, Ginny.” Jaxon frowned and stepped forward. “And stop saying that. This is not your fault. You have lived in an abusive situation for years. What happened to your mother was an accident, self-defense. You never intended her to die.”

  “And my husband? That wasn’t an accident,” she said softly.

  “Yeah, well, that fucker deserved what he got.” Jaxon blinked.

  Nervous laughter bubbled up inside her chest until it spilled out of her mouth. Once she started laughing, she couldn’t seem to stop.

  Her laughter was contagious, and soon Jaxon was laughing along with her.

  When she finally sobered, she walked over to him and rested her head on his chest.

  “Thank you for that. You always did know what to say to make me feel better,” she said softly. She pressed her hand to his chest, feeling his strength radiate into her palm. Just touching him made her feel better, made her feel stronger, like she could take on the world.

  His strong arms came around her and he held her tight. He nuzzled his face in her hair as his breathing increased. Her heart pounded faster, and this time it wasn’t due to fear or anxiety. This time it was all because of her desire for Jaxon.

  She shouldn’t even be thinking about such things. They were in a life-or-death situation and needed to be ready at a moment’s notice in case they had to leave. But she couldn’t explain that to her heart.

  “Jaxon.” She lifted her face. She slowly trailed her hands up his chest, feeling every ridge of every hard muscle. She felt the pounding of his heart against her palm. She laced her fingers behind his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.

  She pressed her lips against his, needing to be near.

  He growled and tightened his arms around her, pressing her curves against his muscles.

  He fisted his hands in her hair, angling her face so he could kiss her better, deeper.

  “More,” she whispered and opened her mouth under his. His hot tongue snaked inside, teasing and taunting her with the promise of pleasure and every wicked thing she’d ever dreamed of him doing to her.

  He pulled back, his breathing heavy, and gazed at her with dilated eyes.

  “I don’t want to rush you. I know…” His words tapered off, and she knew where his head was.

  “I know what I want, Jaxon. And I want you.” He was all she’d ever wanted. He’d been stolen from her on that summer day, along with the promise of their future. He was here, standing in front of her, and she wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass her by.

  He growled deep and pulled her against him. His mouth slammed down across hers, and butterflies tumbled and swirled in her stomach.

  She dug her fingernails into his shoulders, her body alive and pulsing under every brush of his hand.

  His hand skirted underneath her shirt, and his fingers glided along her ribcage upward toward her breast. She gasped, and her breathing quickly turned to a pant. The pad of his fingertip caressed her nipple through the lace of her bra, sending pleasure careening through her body.

  “Off,” he stated and pulled back enough to raise her shirt over her head and toss it on the blanket. His darkened gaze dipped toward her bra, and she could feel herself growing warm all over.

  “Your clothes too,” she said, her words husky with lust. She grabbed his T-shirt, and he dipped his head, letting her pull the material off and dropping it to the floor. She traced the outline of his hard-muscled chest down to the six-pack above the waistband of his jeans, inhaling his male scent and submerging herself in his heat.

  He cupped her face between his hands and forced her to look up at him. They stayed like that, speaking volumes without ever uttering a word and holding onto this moment.

  “I never stopped loving you,” he said.

  She teared up and nodded. “Good.”

  “That’s all you’re going to say?” He frowned but didn’t stop looking into her eyes.

  “No. I’ve got more to say. A lot more. Right now I need this, Jaxon. I need you.” She blinked back the sting of tears and laced her fingers behind his head.

  He kissed her and she opened under his mouth, taking the heat to a whole other level.

  She sucked his tongue and then kissed him hard and deep, making up for lost time.

  She needed to show him how much she loved him, how much she cared. Words were just words, after all. Actions meant everything.

  She moved her hand down his shoulders and fumbled with the button on his jeans. She unfastened and unzipped him in a flash, shoving his jeans down past his narrow hips.

  She kissed him as she wrapped her hand around his stiff erection. He growled and thrust against her hand. Pleased with his response, she squeezed.

  “That’s not playing fair. You have me at an advantage.” He pulled back and flicked the clasp on her bra, freeing her breasts. “But not for long.” He grinned wickedly and then dipped his head. He sucked her hard nipple into his hot mouth.

  “Oh, god,” she cried out as his tongue swirled around the tight bud. Pleasure built deep in her stomach, and she dug her nails into his shoulder while trying to concentrate enough to squeeze around his shaft.

  “I’m nowhere near done.” His voice held an edge to it, lustful and hard.

  He kept his mouth on her breast as his fingers deftly unzipped her jeans. He shoved them down her legs. His fingers grazed the front of her panties, sending off shocks of pleasure through her body. Her body was on fire, and every stroke and caress added to the intensity of his touch.

&
nbsp; He shoved the bra off her shoulders, letting the lace material fall to the floor, and turned his attention to her other breast. He closed his lips around her nipple and sucked.

  She clasped his head to her, holding him close and breathing heavy.

  “You taste so fucking sweet. Just like I remember.” His words came between sucks on her sensitive flesh.

  She arched toward him and writhed against his hot mouth.

  “Jaxon,” she breathed out.

  “Keep saying that. Keep saying my name. I want to hear you scream my name when I make you come,” he commanded.

  She didn’t have time to respond before he was kneeling in front of her and pulling her panties off in a heated rush. She steadied herself on his shoulders as he helped her step out of her pants and panties. He shoved the needless articles out of the way and then gazed up at her.

  He grabbed her hips and pressed a kiss to her stomach. She rested her hands on his shoulders and balanced herself to keep from falling over.

  “You are mine, Ginny.” He said the words against the soft flesh of her stomach.

  “I always have been yours, Jaxon.” She looked down at him. “I love you. That never stopped for me.”

  His gaze darkened.

  He placed his hands on either side of her hips and buried his face between her legs.

  She moaned, digging her fingers through his silky blonde hair as his mouth teased the tender flesh. His tongue flicked over her clit, and she nearly came. He sensed her urgency and sucked her clit into his mouth.

  “Jaxon,” she cried out, pleasure washing over her until she was numb with it.

  He pleasured her with his mouth until she rode out her orgasm. Trying to catch her breath, she gazed down at him.

  He grinned, his mouth wet with her, and slowly stood.

  “Now that the first one is out of the way, the next one will be slower.” He grinned and covered her mouth with his.

  Ginny looked at him with heavy eyes. Her skin prickled, and her stomach grew heavy with desire. It was one of the hardest orgasms she’d ever had, and now he was promising her more.