Mating Call

by Martha Bourke

  Diesel grabbed his crutches. “Hey, you wanna take a walk? I need the stretch.”

  Pax nodded and they walked down the hallway and into the gym. He put his hands behind his head and paced back and forth.

  “Pax stop.”

  “No.”

  Diesel put out his crutch. “You’re gonna drive yourself crazy.”

  “I only know how to do what I’m doing, Dies.”

  “Look at me. Pax.” His best friend put his hand against his neck. “You’re gonna make it through this, but not this way. It didn’t work after Luis died and it’s not working now, man.”

  “I just keep going over and over it in my head and I can’t figure out why he would do this, you know? He threw himself into live fire and took a bullet for me. Do you know what the last thing I said to him was? I accused him of having a crush on me. Like, he was some kid. He had the audacity to care about me and what did I do? I shamed him for it. Anything but having to deal with those feelings again. How fucking sick is that.”

  “Look, blaming yourself isn’t going to bring Luis back and it’s not going to get James through surgery either.”

  “I know. It’s just…everyone who cares about me keeps dying at my feet.”

  Diesel took him by the neck and pulled him close. “Look, I know how you feel. I used to think I was straight up snake bit. But you’re wrong. I’m still here, man.”

  A few minutes later as they walked at Diesel’s pace back to the surgical ward, they met Troy and Evy as they came off the elevator.

  Pax stopped. “What’s she doing here?”

  Troy looked him straight in the eye. “What?”

  He looked down at the female. “You did this.”

  Diesel put his body between the two males. “Pax! Troy, go.”

  Troy threw up his hands. “Are you serious?”

  “I know it’s not right, bro, but you gotta do me a solid here.”

  The female put her hand on her mate’s chest then took his hand. “It’s okay. Come on.”

  Pax could sense the menace coming off the mated male, but there was no way he was going to back down from a fight. Not then. Not with the adrenaline pumping through his system. As they got back in the elevator, Pax looked the female in the eye.

  She met his gaze head on.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Troy walked up the back stairs to the mansion’s second floor. He shook his head. James was still in surgery. Man, if they lost the brother it was gonna crush Pax. He didn’t have all the deets on their relationship, but Pax’s feelings were so strong outside the ward Troy had to block them out. He wasn’t down with the shit he’d pulled with Evy, but he understood it. Anyway, she seemed to be handlin’ it.

  Or not.

  When he opened the door and walked into their room, he found Evy leaning against the wall wearing just one of his T-shirts. She was looking at the moon through the window like she was fixated on it. He didn’t even think she realized he was there. The sadness on her face was bad enough, but the sorrow in her heart was devastating. He went over and rubbed her shoulder.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Her eyes were still focused on the moon.

  “I brought you an extra piece of cake.”

  I brought you an extra piece of cake? He rolled his eyes. “Evy, what happened to James isn’t your fault.”

  “Just yesterday he was right here in this room. Then I find out I’m the Seer and now he’s in surgery fighting for his life.”

  “But maybe it would’ve been Pax if James wasn’t there. A lot of shit came together to make this happen.”

  “Blood. There was so much blood.” She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself.

  “I know this is hard. We’re at war, Ev.” He stroked her arm lightly. Jesus, she’d been put through so much, so fast. He was startin’ to wish he’d never brought her here.

  She turned her head and looked into his eyes. “What if I’m not good enough? What if I use my power wrong and hurt people? What if….”

  He brushed her hair back. “Shhh. There’s no way you could ever do that, babe. You were chosen because you’re special. Believe me.”

  Tears started to fall down her cheeks. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “Please, don’t cry. Don’t cry.” He framed her face with his hands and kissed them away one at a time. His lips grazed the corner of her mouth and she licked at them lightly with her tongue. A chill went down his back. He was suddenly very aware that she was different somehow. Everything about his Evy was there, but there was something else. More. He could sense it. Power roiled within her. He let his tongue slip inside to meet hers, tasting her sweetness. It was richer. Intoxicating.

  “Ev,” he moaned.

  She broke off the kiss. He instantly followed, but when he leaned in again, she took him by the jaw and held him back.

  Her eyes changed color, taking on a pearlescent shimmer. “Growl for me.”

  “What?”

  “Do it.” She brought his head down and ran her tongue sensually along his mouth.

  A low, lupine growl rumbled through his chest. She popped the buttons along the front of his shirt. He let it fall to the floor and she ran her hands along his bare chest. Her touch against his skin made him crazed with hunger. He pushed his body against her ‘til there was no room between them. Hard against soft.

  Suddenly, he felt his second soul awaken inside him and his shock was mirrored in Evy’s own surprised face. His eyes welled up. “You can feel me?”

  She nodded and smiled. He’d never expected to have that gift between them when she was human. But it never mattered to him. She’d already given him so much. He had no idea what his nagual was connected to, but at the moment, he couldn’t give a shit. She walked away and slipped his t-shirt off. His heart thundered in his chest. She turned and stood naked in the moonlight as it poured into the room. Its radiance reflected off her curves in some places and hugged them in others. He’d never seen anything so beautiful.

  She came toward him, and he watched her mouth, licking his lips with anticipation. She leaned up as he looked down at her, his eyes heavy lidded. He closed them, but all he felt was the warmth of her breath on his cheek before he realized she was headed somewhere else. He panicked and caught her part way down. As he lifted her chin he was vaguely aware that his hand was trembling. She looked up at him with her big brown eyes and that was all it took to calm him. This wasn’t just anyone. This was Evy.

  His Evy.

  He let go of her chin with a soft stroke and gave himself up to her completely.

  Evy forgot whatever nerves she had and took charge of the situation, placing one hand on her mate’s stomach and gently pushing him back. She looked up at those glowing eyes of his and watched him as she took him into her mouth. His abs tightened under her hand and he slammed his head back against the wall. A glorious howl left his throat, the chords in his strong neck in sharp relief. It was the most incredible sound she’d ever heard. All at once, she couldn’t get enough of him. She licked at his most delicate skin, letting her tongue swirl along his shaft as she did. There was something so unexpectedly erotic about it. Maybe it was that he trusted her. But once she found his rhythm, she drove him fiercely, his breath coming in short bursts, his powerful thighs flexing at her sides.

  Troy opened his eyes and reached for his female. About two seconds more and she was gonna accomplish exactly what she was tryin’ to. He drew her up and lifted her easily, starting for the bed and kicking off his boots and jeans as he went. She shivered when he laid her across the bed.

  “Are you cold?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  He covered part of her body with his just in case and closed his eyes as skin met skin. He took in the feeling, savoring it. When he looked at her again, she was smiling.

  She reached up and touched the side of his face. “Open yourself to me.”

  He hesitated. Last time he’d done that before he took her it was so overwhel
ming he could barely tell his own feelings from hers.

  She looked at him like she could tell what he was thinking. “It’s okay.”

  He took a deep breath and let her in. All at once he was invaded by the most intense pleasures. Love, beauty, sex. All of it magnified. He gasped. “What….”

  She ran her hands up his chest and down along his back. “It’s the essence of the Goddess. Let me share it with you.”

  She kissed him and his whole body responded. His erection hit between her thighs and she arched for him. He slipped his arm under her, pulling her closer to his mouth. He leaned down, teasing first one nipple then the other with his tongue. Her skin was so incredibly soft. He reached down and cupped her core with his hand. Oh, God, she was drenched. Lust took him over completely. He waited ‘til their eyes were locked before he lifted one of her legs and drew back his hips. They both groaned as he entered her in one beautiful motion. He pulled back and surged again, taking it as slowly and controlled as he could. She was so tight, her core enveloping him as he stretched her. Raw heat pulsed through his body; sweat broke out all over his skin. His reserve broke when instinct took over and all reason was lost.

  Ilah.

  Mine.

  He held her by the shoulders and pounded into her. She took everything he had over and over until she cried out and he felt the pulses of her release. His strength left him as he went over the edge and he dropped down on his elbows, his breath ragged as he filled her over and over.

  When he’d caught his breath and his vision cleared he looked down and realized Evy’s head was on something brown. What the hell? He’d fucked her right onto the bedside table for Chrissakes. Nice.

  Evy leaned up as Troy gently reached around her back and slipped his hand under her shoulder blades so he could move her to a pillow.

  He kissed her temple. “I’m so sorry.”

  She laughed. “That’s okay. I obviously didn’t mind.”

  Or notice, was more like it.

  Troy pulled the duvet over them and she snuggled against him.

  “Hey, how did you know that was the Goddess’s… What was it? Her essence? ‘Cause it felt more like an aphrodisiac on steroids.”

  She laughed. “Well, she is the Goddess of Love. I’m not sure exactly how I knew. I mean, how do you know it’s your second soul when you feel it?”

  “Is that why you watch the moon so much? The Goddess?”

  She put her chin on his chest. “I can sense her better then. Her power emanates from it, I think.”

  He picked up an extra pillow and put it behind him. “Can you control when your eyes get all pearly like that?”

  “You mean like this?” She focused for a minute until she felt a warm sensation behind her eyes.

  “Now see? That shit’s just not fair. Mine give me away the minute you walk in the room.”

  “Like right now?”

  “Aw, man.” He put the extra pillow in front of his face.

  She giggled, reached up, and pulled it down. “Don’t hide them. I think they’re beautiful. Besides, they’re part of the reason we’re together. Okay, my turn to ask a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Did you really punch Mike Lavelle in the face for sneaking in the girl’s locker room to watch me get undressed?”

  He gave her a cocky grin. “I might’ve.”

  She smiled. “I thought that was just a rumor.”

  “Nope.”

  She kissed his shoulder. “Thanks for defending my honor.”

  He pulled her on top of him, wrapped his arms around her, and held her close. “I love you, Evelyn O’Donnell.”

  “I love you, too.” She let herself drift off in the warm safety of his arms.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Seth waited in the shadows of Mason Street. It was almost light out and he’d been freezing his ass off for a good hour. Apparently, Batiste’s contact didn’t give a fuck about being on time. Finally, a black Escalade with dark tinted windows pulled up. The driver got out and opened the back door. Seth dropped his cig on the concrete and climbed inside. A middle aged human with glasses sat in the back seat. Not exactly who Seth had in mind to play the part of the Tolie bigwig. Maybe he’d seen Goodfellas too many times.

  “Drive,” the guy said.

  Once they were back in traffic, he turned and looked at Seth. “Ah, yes. I remember you. You were one of the first.”

  Holy shit. This was the guy. The guy. Seth had some weird visceral reaction, like he thought the fucker was going to brandish a needle full of all kinds of shit and stab him with it right there in the SUV.

  “Tell me, what is your name?”

  “Uh, Seth.”

  “Alright, Seth. As I know you have been hand-selected by Batiste to handle our business together, I’ll identify myself as well. My name is Roman. I’m the head scientist for Toltec. Now, Batiste has expressed a lack of time for checking over the merchandise and delivering payments.”

  A chill ran down Seth’s spine at the word merchandise. What a cocksucker. He wasn’t merchandise and neither were the other rogues. Ah, well. To this guy they were probably all just a bunch of fucked up experiments anyway. “So how does this work?”

  “My driver will meet you each week at an appointed time. You will receive a text on your phone with the information. He will never meet in the same location and you are not to share anything from the text with anyone other than Batiste himself.”

  Seth nodded.

  “Now, I will be let out shortly. My driver will take you over to look at the mutants. He will do this every time. Once you are satisfied, you will notify your boss and he will send over the vans to pick them up.”

  “About how many are we talking about each week?”

  “Anywhere from ten to twenty with thirteen being average. It depends upon how many the process yields.”

  “Right.”

  The human held out his hand expectantly. “I believe you have an envelope for me?”

  Seth pulled out the cash and handed it over. The geek didn’t even count it. Instead he just slipped it inside his coat while the driver opened his door. For a moment the soft light of sunrise crept into the car. Seth watched as the man hurried down the street, turned a corner, and was gone.

  Troy walked out of the elevator into the compound corridor. Pax was standing by the swinging door to the surgical ward, his head leaning against the wall. No one else was there. Around here that meant good news. He doubled back.

  “Troy, hold up, my brother.”

  He rolled his eyes and turned around. “What.”

  “I thought…that is I wondered if you would permit me to speak with your mate. I owe her an apology. I owe one to both of you.”

  Troy exhaled and slapped the male’s shoulder. “Yeah, sure. She understands. Stop up when you get a chance. She’ll probably see you comin’ anyway.”

  Pax cocked his head. “She…”

  “Never mind, man. Just stop up. How’s James?”

  “Strong enough to have visitors, apparently. I’m going to go in in a minute. I’ll let you guys know how he’s doing when I come up.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  “You got it.”

  As he watched the brother walk back toward the ward, he picked up on James’s emotional signature on the other side of the door. He seemed different. Actually, if he didn’t know better, he’d say there was a totally different New Breed in there. Maybe it was just the shock of the shooting, but he doubted it. Between James’s fucked up pattern and everything Pax was feeling he was pretty sure something else had happened and it had nothing to do with the shooting. He closed the elevator door and headed back up to his mate.

  Pax waited alone by the ward a few more minutes before Helen came out. He practically attacked the female when she finally walked through the door.

  She smiled. “He’s already healing. He’s incredibly lucky. Nearest I can figure, he gleamed into the bullet. There’s no entrance wound, just an exit. You ca
n go ahead in. Don’t stay too long.”

  He shook his head and started for the door. “I won’t.”

  “Oh, and Pax? Do not upset him or you’ll have me to deal with.”

  He watched her walk off down the hall. Do not…? What the…? Diesel. He was going to have a serious chat with that brother. He pushed into the room and his breath caught in his throat. James was lying still, his eyes closed, wires and tubes running all over the goddamn place. An image of Luis came into his mind. Weak. Emaciated. He forced it out of his head and walked to the chair next to James’s bed. He stared at the male’s hand. He wanted to take it so badly his chest ached. He couldn’t have sat there more than a couple of minutes when James opened his eyes.

  “Hey, you’re awake.”

  “Hey.”

  Pax swallowed the beginnings of a sob and cleared his throat. “You okay? You’re not in pain, are you?”

  The male looked at him like he’d just asked the lamest question imaginable. “I’m okay.”

  Pax looked down at his hands. Anything not to look into those gray eyes. “So, ah, Diesel gets his prosthesis in a couple of days. He may need some help coming back. I’ll be working with him while you recover. Maybe even after that. ”

  The lights in the room started to flicker on and off. It was James. Pax shook his head. Damn it.

  “That’s fine. He’s your partner. We were never really together.”

  There was something in the way the brother said it. No, there’s no way he could know. Out of nowhere, the words just started piling out of Pax’s mouth before he had a chance to stop them. “I’m so sorry about the other night. I never should have treated you like that. It’s unforgivable. You made me take a look at a part of me I didn’t want to see and….”

  Pax looked up into James’s eyes and he could swear something was different. He looked older. Harder. “I think by holding onto his memory, you’re really holding onto him. Until you can let him go, there’ll never be room for me.”