by Bianca D’Arc
Bob didn’t like the sound of that. “That sure sounds like a mage to me. Serena, your people were involved with a human drug cartel, right? What was the attitude toward the humans your leaders worked with?”
“They made fun of them. Jack thought the human cartel boss was a weakling, but he was willing to work with him if it kept bringing in the money. Jack and Lizzy both liked their little comforts, but they liked the power it gave them even more.”
“So the deferential treatment of a human doesn’t sound like normal behavior for these bobcats?” Bob insisted, looking deeper into the possibilities.
Serena seemed to think about it. “No. I’d say not. Nobody respected the humans, but they were willing to put up with them for the money.”
That clinched it then. The human Joe had seen was almost certainly a mage if the bobcats deferred to him. Bob didn’t like it, but at least they knew a bit more about what they were up against.
They spent a few minutes discussing the specifics of the mine and planning their assault. Steve listened and put in a few words here and there, mostly leaving the planning to the on-site guys. Bob was glad his big brother didn’t try to take over. He had worked long and hard to earn his brothers’ respect and it was a good feeling to still have it. Even though Bob hadn’t served in the military, his brothers had taught him well. Before too long, they had a workable plan.
“We need a place to hole up for a few hours,” Bob said when the planning session was winding down. He had almost reached the main road and they would have to make a decision soon about which way to turn.
“I think I know a place,” Serena offered. “There’s an old house out near the bluff not too far from the mine, but not visible from the mine road or entrance. Humans built it back in the 1920’s, but a shifter family bought it about forty years ago. An old man and his wife. They were old even back then and last I heard, they were still there—too old to put up much of a fight when the Clan turned bad, and too stuck in their ways to move out. For the most part, the Clan left them alone. I know for certain Jack didn’t like the old guy, but saw him as no threat. His name is Jeremiah and his mate is Betty. I think they’ll put us up if we ask. If they’re still there. If they’ve been run off, it’s doubtful anybody would want to live there. It’s not the most ideal location, but for our purposes, it’ll keep us close to where we need to be, but not in too obvious a place.”
“And even if they object, we can always talk them around,” Joe said with only a small hint of an evil grin. Bob knew the soldiers could take the place by force—and would, if necessary.
“Let’s try to talk to them first, if they’re there.” Bob tried to be the voice of reason.
The other men nodded, though the two wolves had grim expressions on their faces. They would do whatever they had to do, Bob knew. He set out, following Serena’s directions, the other vehicle filled with Joe’s men, following behind.
The old homestead was as Serena remembered it. Rundown and deceptively decrepit on the outside. She knew for a fact the old couple kept the inside of the place neat as a pin and in good repair. She had sought refuge here a time or two when things got too bad at home. Not often. No, she hadn’t wanted to bring the wrath of Jack and Lizzy down on these nice people, but a few very memorable times, she had been taken in by Jeremiah and Betty, given a good meal and a place to rest for a few hours before she had to go back to the hell that was her home. They were good people.
The four of them approached in Bob’s vehicle, leaving the rest of the guys in their truck, back up the lane, out of sight for the moment. Serena and Bob would go up to the door first and get the lay of the land. The old couple knew Serena. They would recognize Bob as a cat and an Alpha, even if he wasn’t of their Clan. If Betty and Jeremiah were still there, they would at least listen to what Serena had to say—she hoped.
She didn’t know what they would make of the group of wolves she had brought along. But times were desperate and she hoped they would help out of the goodness of their hearts. She wasn’t really sure how they would react, but she was hoping they would be reasonable. They had always struck her as people who would have stood up to Jack, if they had been a little younger…and a little more dominant. Jeremiah was a beta through and through. He hadn’t been born to lead, but he had taken care of his mate and done what he could for the Clan, while its leadership had still been on the right side of the law and the Lady. Once the drugs moved in, Jeremiah had made himself scarce, claiming to be too old to be involved with Clan politics anymore.
Bob took Serena’s hand, offering comfort as they walked up the dusty pathway toward the house. They’d decided to try the direct approach first, in case the couple was still in residence. If they got no answer to their knock on the door, they would nose around a bit and see if anybody else was there. If they ran into trouble, Joe and John were their backup, as well as the truck full of soldiers just down the road.
As it turned out, nobody was home. The place was deserted, and there were no signs of recent occupation. All of Jeremiah and Betty’s furniture was still there, including plates in the cupboard, and towels and sheets stacked neatly in the linen closet. It looked as though the couple had left the place closed up, like they’d gone on vacation or something, intending to return.
“Maybe they headed for safety,” Serena thought out loud as they prowled through the house. Bob had jimmied the lock while Serena called softly for the older couple. When nobody answered her, they moved farther into the house.
From there, Joe had come in, doing a quick recon with Bob while Serena checked out the living room and kitchen. Bob had gone upstairs and Joe had gone into the basement. They met up again in the hallway on the ground floor a few minutes later.
“Looks safe enough,” Joe kept looking around, on guard. “I’ll call my guys in.” He jogged out the front door, leaving Bob and Serena alone in the hallway.
He pulled her into his arms and she was glad to feel the safety of his embrace, even if it was only a temporary sort of safety. She was exhausted. Adrenaline only lasted so long and she had been running on it since yesterday. There was a fine tremor of fatigue running through her limbs as Bob stroked his hands over her arms.
“I saw a comfy-looking bed upstairs. I think you should spend a few hours in it. Preferably with me, but we might get sidetracked from sleep if I do that,” he teased. She smiled up at him.
“I wouldn’t mind.” He seemed pleased with her open invitation.
“I’d like it too, but honey, you’re exhausted. This might be our only chance for a real rest before we have to run again. I think we should make use of it as best we can.” He kissed her sweetly, then pulled back. “Why don’t you go upstairs and nap while we secure the place. I’ll be up to join you shortly, I promise. We both need sleep if we’re going to be at our peak for the op.”
“Op?” She shook her head. “You’re talking like one of those military guys.” She liked it.
He had sounded not only comfortable but impressively adept when he had been talking strategy with the other men. Who knew her hottie was also a badass soldier? Every little thing she learned about him made her admire and love him more.
“Wait ‘til you meet my brothers. You’ve heard how Steve talks. When he and Grif start reminiscing over their Army days, it’s definitely something worth listening to.” He smiled and leaned down to kiss her again as the front door opened.
“Don’t mind us.” Chico’s voice held suppressed humor as he waltzed past them, some sort of electronic gizmos in his hand. Another guy was following him, more of the little gadgets in his arms. “We’re just setting up a perimeter,” Chico explained as he and his helper moved through the hall, toward the back door.
Serena realized they were putting the devices around the house. It was probably some sort of electronic surveillance system that would help keep the place secure while they were here. She stepped out of Bob’s arms and headed for the staircase. She didn’t think Jeremiah and his mate would mind t
hem using their house as a resting place in this crisis. She sent a little prayer up to the Lady, hoping the older couple was safe wherever they were.
Chapter Twelve
Bob helped Joe’s guys secure the perimeter and talked over their plans one more time with John. The wolf Alpha wasn’t as familiar with military lingo as Bob was. Strangely, Bob felt a sort of kinship with Joe and his team. Having grown up with two brothers who were almost legends in military circles, it was easy to fall into old patterns with the lieutenant and his subordinates. Somehow, that was reassuring.
They were up against evil forces and they had no choice but to stand and fight. In fact, they had to take the fight to the enemy, so to speak, venturing into enemy territory to rescue Jezza. With any luck, and perhaps a little divine intervention, they might be able to pull off the rescue without a major battle erupting. That would be best, of course. Jezza knew the most about the enemy at the moment. He had been with them for almost a full day and would have observed his captors’ behaviors, numbers and words. He could be of great help in identifying the key players and strategizing the best way to bring about the group’s downfall—if he was still conscious.
They didn’t even know for sure that he was still alive. He had been when Joe had last seen him, during Joe’s silent reconnaissance the night before. That was no guarantee that Jezza was still among the living all these hours later. Bob knew they had to find out for sure. They were operating under the assumption that this was a rescue mission, but the moment Jezza’s status was confirmed from alive to dead, everything would change.
They had planned for that contingency too. Joe was thorough and Bob was inclined to respect the man. He was proving himself to be a capable leader and he had his men’s loyalty and respect. Bob knew such things were not given lightly among shifters, even with Pack creatures like wolves. Although they loved working, traveling and living as a group, Bob knew they didn’t suffer fools gladly. At the first sign of ineptitude, they would’ve taken Joe out as leader and replaced him with someone better, stronger and more capable.
It didn’t take long to set up camp, so to speak. The military guys were posting a watch and Chico’s electronic net was up and running, making it easier to keep an eye on the perimeter remotely. Bob wanted to stand watch with the rest of the men, but Joe convinced him that he needed to grab at least a few hours of rest before their night mission began.
John was already asleep in the second small bedroom upstairs when Bob crept up to join Serena. The rest of the guys would sack out on the ground floor. The couch was up for grabs as were the two recliners in front of the television and even the sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace. Even as Bob left them, half the platoon was already napping in various spots around the house. Military men knew how to make the most of any opportunity to grab some rest. They knew they needed to be at their peak of performance when called upon, and sleep was a big part of maintaining optimum levels.
When Bob arrived at the slightly larger bedroom of the two on the top floor, he found Serena stretched out under a light quilt, breathing softly. His very own Sleeping Beauty.
He wanted like hell to kiss her awake and then just keep kissing her and loving her until they both found blissful oblivion, but he knew she really needed the rest. So did he. They hadn’t had the most comfortable of nights in the back of the SUV and he knew being on the run took a toll on both the nerves and the body.
He kicked off his shoes and climbed under the quilt with her. She rolled into him, seeking his warmth and he opened his arms to her, a smile on his face. There was nothing like the welcome of one’s mate. How he had lived without her for so long, he would never understand. He thought maybe the only reason he’d survived was that he hadn’t known exactly what he had been missing. Now that he’d found her, he would never let her go. Not in this life, or the next.
Serena woke slowly, aware of a feeling of safety and warmth…and a trail of kisses leading up her bare arm. She realized quickly that she was naked under the covers. She hadn’t gone to bed that way, but apparently Bob had taken it upon himself to undress her while she slept. That she hadn’t woken up during the disrobing was an interesting point. It indicated she trusted him so implicitly that none of her self-protective instincts had been aroused by his actions.
“You are so beautiful,” Bob whispered in her ear when he made his way up that far.
His warm breath in her ear made her shiver. The rough skin of his hand stroking her arm sent tingles up her spine. She turned to face him, twisting around so that she was facing him, only to find he was naked too. She felt his warmth against her, the hard evidence of his arousal rubbing against her thigh. She wanted this. She wanted him. If they only had this short time together, she wanted to grab it with both hands and hang on for all she was worth.
“Do we have time for this?” She fought back the mindless desire that threatened to take over. She had to be at least a little practical about this situation. There was danger all around and this calm before the storm could end at any moment.
“We’ll make time,” Bob answered in a voice already gruff with passion. His mouth was only an inch from hers.
She closed the distance, unable to maintain a level head. Desire ruled the moment. Hunger drove them both. The bobcat within her wanted to feel the possession of its chosen mate. The human heart of her wanted to forget the troubles that faced them for a short time and revel in the love of her man.
She knew in her heart that he loved her. The bond between them was strong and had only gotten stronger as time went on. She had been half afraid that coming back to the Cascades would tear them apart, but it had done the opposite. It had made her love him more, if that was even possible.
His mouth was warm and welcoming, his tongue continuing to teach her new things about kissing. She was totally addicted to his kisses now, willing to follow wherever he led in all things passionate. She felt a rumbling against her chest and knew he was purring. A sure sign he was her true mate.
Just as she could make him purr in human form, he did the same to her. She felt the quiet rumble in her chest and knew he felt it when his lips curved upward against hers. He drew back and she could see the smile she had felt. It was knowing. Loving.
Bob’s hand stroked over her hair. “I never knew how it could be between mates.”
“Me neither.” She was more than a little breathless.
“I’m glad you’re a cat. Even if you’re a cute, little cat.”
She knew he was teasing and it charmed her. “I’m only little compared to you, big guy.”
He nodded, still smiling. “As it should be.”
“Sexist pig.” She batted at his shoulder and he oinked at her. She loved this playful side of him. In fact, she loved every aspect of him she’d seen so far and looked forward to learning more about him as they aged. If they had the chance.
“Fluffy little kitten,” he countered, petting her hair, then ratcheting up the intensity as he wrapped both hands around her waist and pulled her right up against him. Oh yeah.
She knew they didn’t have a whole lot of time, despite what he’d said, but it didn’t matter. She was ready, willing and able. Gung ho, in fact. Almost all he had to do was crook his little finger and she was wet for him, ready to go.
She gasped as his hard cock slid against her thighs. He kissed her again, taking the kiss deeper this time. Licking his way downward over the sensitive spots on her neck, he paused at her breasts, paying special attention to the hardened nipples, plucking, stroking and enticing her into an even higher level of excitement.
One of his hands played over one of her breasts while his mouth tugged hard enough on the other to make her gasp with pleasure. His other hand went between her legs and slid into the warmth hidden there, teasing the nub of her desire. She clutched at his shoulders when one of his fingers slid inside her. When he added another finger, her fingers morphed a bit, her fingernails sharpening just enough to leave scratches.
He growl
ed as her hands went to his back and her thighs opened wide, showing him how ready she was for his possession. She didn’t want to wait and thank the Goddess, he didn’t have time to make her wait much longer.
Two fingers slid in and out, evoking even more of a response from her body. She was so ready for him she could have cried. She’d beg if she had to, but she knew his care for her showed in every motion of his body and talented hands. He was taking care of her. Making sure she was truly ready.
“Don’t make me wait.” She gasped, her arms clinging to his back, claws digging in just a little.
He seemed to hesitate, pulling back to look down into her eyes. “I wanted to take this slow.”
“Next time,” she whispered, straining upward to match her lips to his.
He growled as he positioned his hips between her accommodating thighs. Still, he held back, not quite making the contact she so desperately needed.
“I’m sorry we don’t have more time.” The regret in his eyes touched her deeply. “I wanted to see you come again and again before I joined you. I want to give you so much, kitten. I wanted this to be perfect.”
His words and gentle tone crept right into her heart and took up residence. He was showing his care in every motion, every thought, every word.
“You’re perfect,” she reached around to stroke his cheek, letting her sharp fingernails trail into his hair, away from his sensitive skin. “I love you, Bob. That is perfect.”
The change in his expression echoed the love that flowed through her heart. “I love you so much.” His voice trailed off as he moved into position, thrusting deeply in one strong move that made her squeak in surprise. Nothing hurt. In fact, everything was right with her world now that her lover was inside her once more.
It was still new, but it was also achingly familiar. Not the exact sequence of events, but the feelings of love. The emotional ties going from her heart to his and back again. She’d never felt closer to another being. She didn’t think she ever would, and that was okay. This incredible connection was meant for Bob alone. Her mate. Her one true love.
