Kincade scowled at her. “Pepper. Not now.”
She sighed. “Yes, sir.” She trudged after the other officers, her shoulders slumped.
“Newbie?”
“Worse. A relative.” Kincade turned back to the safe room. “Kris must have thought we’d never find this little room of hers.”
“She must have thought the same thing about her hidden office.” Unlike the office, the safe room had nothing in it but a chair, some water and some snacks. “This is for no more than a day, at best.”
“She would have had to sneak out sooner or later, and we would have had her.” Kincade put his hands on his hips and looked around. “We’ve already seized her computer, laptop and tablet PC. We’ll check her person for her phone. We’ll have Ángel crack them and see what’s inside.”
“An-hell?”
Kincade rolled his eyes. “Ángel Baez, Sebastian’s self-proclaimed second best friend. He’s the best hacke…um, programmer I know of. Sebastian calls him his guardian Angel.”
“Once we have more names, we make more arrests?” Barney rubbed his hands together. “I could grow to like this.”
Kincade chuckled. “Nope. You’re going to go back home and deal with setting up that Hunter school you wanted to do.” He led the way up the stairs and back into the huge kitchen.
“Sebastian said I’d have to go through the Senate to get it approved.”
“Fuck that. I approve, and I’m putting it under a joint Hunter-Leo’s forces training program that will allow us to work together in cases such as this one. Your unique talents and our forces’ equipment and teamwork will be mutually beneficial all around.”
And Kincade Lowe had that kind of authority as the leader of the Leo’s Special Forces. “And I’ll be in charge of this?”
Kincade nodded slowly. “I’ll send someone to deal with the Special Forces training while you handle the Hunter training. This is an assignment directly from me, not from the Senate. Prove this works, and the Senate will have no reason to override me when I make the Hunter school official.”
Barney blinked. “Clever bastard.”
“Hey, now. Parents are happily mated, thank you.”
Barney and Kincade left the house, discussing their plans while the prisoners were placed in the SUVs. Other members of the Special Forces were combing the mansion, carrying out boxes of possible evidence.
Barney could definitely see the Hunters working with these guys, but like the Hunters, there weren’t enough of the Special Forces to fully police the shifter world. The Hunters filled in the gaps somewhat, but if the SF guys had been there when Casey Lee and Derrick were after Chloe, Dr. Woods might never have been forced to fight Derrick. They’d have been arrested long before then.
Something else to discuss with Kincade when the time was right.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Barney!” Heather ran to him and leapt into his arms. “Oh my God, are you okay?” She growled when she found his singed patch of hair. “I’m gonna kill a fucker.”
He laughed as if she was joking. “It’s okay. I healed it.” His hands were on her ass as he hefted her higher.
She pushed his cowboy hat back just enough to kiss him. “You were under heavy gunfire.”
He nodded. “Yup.”
“You got shot. Again.”
“Yup.” He started walking toward the stairway, nodding once to the Leo. “I think my baby needs me.”
Sebastian laughed and waved them off. “I’ll see you two in the morning.” He and Kincade walked off, talking quietly to each other.
“All right, let it out.”
Let it out? Grr. She was doing paperwork while someone nearly shot his head off. She glared at him for a moment, shoved the shoulder of his coat out of the way and bit into the mark she’d left behind.
Mine.
And if he doesn’t understand that, then he needs to get with the program real fast.
“Fuck,” he moaned. “I’m gonna drop you if you don’t let go.”
She snarled around the shirt and flesh, unwilling to let him go.
He pushed into their bedroom. “You’re gonna get it now.”
Like she cared. She needed him to prove that he was all right, and if that meant fucking her through the mattress, well, that was fine with her.
He barely shut the door behind them before he had her up on the bureau, her jeans off and her pussy in his mouth. She bit her lip and banged her head on the mirror behind her.
Gods, the man had a magic mouth on him. She pulled her legs wider, holding herself open for him, giving him all her trust.
He cupped her ass, keeping her from falling as she writhed on the bureau. She looked down at him, watching him as he pleasured her. It only intensified the desire he was building inside her. She rocked against him, holding on to his head, feeling where he’d been hurt when her fingers brushed over his ears. Closing her eyes she reminded herself that he was alive, that his mouth was on her, wanting her, only her. She was the only one who could heal him after a Hunt.
He growled against her, the vibrations sending her soaring, releasing the tension she’d been under. Her toes curled, her hands clenching his hair as the orgasm washed over her, leaving her breathless.
“More,” he muttered against her thigh, leaving a wet kiss behind. “Come for me more.”
“Oh, boy,” she breathed as he hefted her up once more. She had the feeling she was in for the ride of her life. Maybe biting him for so long had been a mistake…
Her thoughts stuttered to a stop when he put her in a chair, her legs over the arms. He knelt before her, his eyes brown, his gaze firmly fixed on her breasts. He took hold of them both, squeezing them, kneading them. He rolled her nipples between his fingers, tugging on them. He watched her reactions to each of his movements, adjusting himself when he thought she didn’t like something.
“Please,” she begged. She didn’t know whether she wanted more attention on her breasts or if she wanted his mouth back on her pussy. Both sounded really fantastic.
He took a nipple into his mouth, loving on it, nipping at it. His fangs grazed the areola, the little nip of pain driving her wild. It was a craving, a need to have his fangs embed themselves in her flesh, giving her another point he could caress and touch and bring her to ecstasy with.
He switched sides, giving her right breast the same attention. He loved on her, worshipping her body as he kissed his way down her stomach. His claws grazed her sides, but not a scratch was left to mar her skin.
Her Bear was being careful with her.
When he reached her clit she couldn’t hold back. “Yes, please.”
He responded by kissing both thighs before licking her pussy. She quivered at his touch, more than ready to give him what he was asking for. She wanted to come, wanted to feel that ecstasy take her over again and again. She needed him like air, and he had no idea.
He took her clit in his mouth and sucked, robbing her of breath. She bit her lip and began rubbing her breasts, amazed at the reaction he had when she did so.
He began sucking on her harder, licking her like he wanted to devour her. He rubbed her with his fingers before fucking her with them. All the while his tongue, his magical tongue, continued to toy with her, bringing her to the brink over and over before pulling back, slowing down. He was forcing her to go at his pace, keeping the orgasm at bay with carefully orchestrated strokes.
“Need you,” she whispered. She stroked a finger over his mark, hoping it would drive him even crazier.
It did. He let go, and this time he didn’t pull back when she began to shake with her impending orgasm. She cried out as he stroked her to completion, her vision going dark as pleasure overrode every one of her senses.
When she came back down he was unbuttoning his jeans. “Gotta have you.”
“How do you want me
?”
The rumble in his chest made her shiver. “Turn over.”
She wasn’t sure how that was supposed to work, but she tried. She turned over, keeping her knees on the chair, her arms over the back.
He slipped inside her, moving her thighs a bit farther apart until they were right up against the arms of the chair. He grabbed her by the hips and began fucking her, pushing at her shoulders until her breasts were rubbing up against the fabric of the chair with each thrust.
The added sensation was incredible. He filled her, overwhelmed her to her core. Her breasts felt tight, tingly, her whole body riding him as he filled her. She could feel his claws dimpling her skin and his jeans grazing her ass. She pushed back against him, fucking him back. Her hands tightened on the back of the chair, and she could hear it creaking as Barney thrust harder.
He reached around, stroking her clit as he fucked her, driving her wild with sensation. It was too much, too new, too fucking fantastic not to let go. She threw her head back, enjoying the way he grabbed hold of her hair, letting her hip go in favor of tugging on it briefly.
Eventually she’d let him do that, pull on it when he wanted, but he stopped before she could say anything. His hand was back on her hip, digging in once more.
She turned her head to look at him. He was staring at where they were joined, watching himself fuck her. His other hand continued to pleasure her, stroking her clit in time to his thrusts. “Come on my cock, sweetheart. Squeeze me tight.”
She moved against him, her vision glazing over as a low, slow throb began to build inside her. “Barney,” she breathed, closing her eyes as the orgasm washed over her. She barely heard some fabric tear as her whole body clenched, robbing her not only of breath but of thought.
God, how could it keep getting better?
“Yes,” he hissed, sliding out of her. Before she could protest he picked her up and put her on the bed. “Hands and knees.”
She did as asked, wondering how this position would feel.
Barney didn’t leave her waiting for long. He slid inside her, grabbing her waist and fucking her hard. She fell down on her elbows, her face in the pillow, the tips of her breasts barely grazing the sheets. She couldn’t hold back her cries this time. Her Fox wouldn’t let her. It wanted their mate to know that he was pleasing her, giving her what she needed. He was so deep, so hard, and he felt so goddamn amazing. She held on to the bottom of the headboard, her body rocking along with her mate’s as he took her.
Had he been holding back with her? Because this. Was. Amazing. No pain, just pure, unadulterated pleasure ran through her, curling her toes and driving her wild. Her claws came out, ripping at the sheets like a wild thing, demanding her mate take her, consume her until there was nothing left but them.
He bent until his chin was rubbing against her mark, his stubble rubbing it with every deep, hard thrust. She could hear their bodies slapping together, sweat and sex mingling together on their damp flesh.
“So good,” he muttered, his breath stroking her ear. “Gonna come.”
She whimpered, dragging her claws through the fabric beneath her. “Bite me.”
Teeth met flesh, and Heather went soaring over the edge, screaming into a pillow as she came so hard she saw stars. She was on fire, every nerve ending tingling with the pleasure she took from him. Every fiber of her being clenched as it went on and on, consuming her, body and soul.
When the stars cleared away and she could move again, she let go of the pillow. Licking her lips, she turned, only to find that Barney was still in the throes of passion. His head was tilted back, his hips hammering against her ass as he came.
She smiled and put her head on her arms, watching him come down from his own high.
He blinked down at her. Both of them were out of breath, sticky and sweaty, and she couldn’t have been happier.
“You are so beautiful.”
Maybe she could. The reverent look in his eyes, the way he stroked her hair, told her more than any words could say. “You too.”
That made him smile. “Uh-huh. Pretty like an elf, right?” He pulled out of her, maneuvering them both so that they lay on their sides. His arm was under her head, his hand grazing up and down her side.
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, Faramir pretty.”
Barney’s brows rose. “Not Boromir?”
She poked him in the chest. “Boromir dies, asshole.”
“Right. No dying.” He winced and rubbed where she’d poked. “Maybe do that without the claws next time, huh?”
“Did I get my point across?” It was hard to be mad at him when her whole body was sated. All she really wanted to do was curl up and sleep.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “As you wish.”
She choked on her own spit. “What?” She might be young, but she knew what that meant. She’d seen The Princess Bride more than once with her brother and sister. Hell, she’d cried at the end more than once.
He chuckled and pulled her closer. “Go to sleep, little vixen. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
She snuggled up against him and whispered against his chest. She knew the best way to soothe the heart he’d just bared before her. “As you wish.”
Needless to say there wasn’t much sleep going on that night. And by the end of it, both knew they were thoroughly and completely loved.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“I want to thank you all for coming,” Max Cannon said formally. The Puma Alpha was flanked by his Curana, or co-Alpha, Emma, and his Beta, Simon Holt. More than just the Puma Pride had arrived at the meeting the Alpha had set up. Barney had watched as Heather’s entire clan, including their mates, had filed in. Some shifters from the local college had also arrived, restlessly watching the rest of the shifters in the room.
Barney and Heather had been back in Halle for little more than a week when Max sent out the order for a mandatory Pride meeting, to be held on Pride lands rather than in the Alpha’s home. Now Barney understood why. This many shifters would never have fit in the Alpha’s lovely home. Perhaps if the Freidelinde mansion were still available he’d have been able to hold the meeting in the ballroom there, but no.
Jamie Howard was, of course, nowhere in sight, but Barney had the feeling he was there somewhere in the shadows. After all, Hope Walsh was there, standing between Sarah Anderson and Becky Holt. She was trembling, barely standing up, but behind her he caught sight of powder-blue hair. Her twin, Glory, was right there, whispering in her ear, soothing her while Ryan stood guard over them all.
Nothing would get through Ryan to those women.
Casey Lee and Derrick had agreed to join Kincade’s Special Forces. He’d been impressed with their work, and agreed to allow them to become part of Barney’s school. They were currently with Kincade, going through some training before coming back to Halle. Barney was happy for them. They both deserved the recognition Kincade was giving them.
His attention returned to the Alpha when Max began speaking once more. “While I know it’s unusual to hold a Pride meeting with members of the community who aren’t Pride, the issue I’m about to discuss concerns us all.” Max was looking around the meadow, watching each of the shifters for their reactions. Barney had seen Alphas in action before, but there was something about Max that was different. He’d accepted people into the Pride who weren’t Pumas, he enjoyed a close relationship with a Wolf Alpha, and he’d proven himself more than once to be concerned not only about his own people but those who lived in his town. “I’ve received a warning from the Leo.”
Gasps of shock followed his pronouncement, followed by whispers.
“I know, it’s rare for the Leo to contact anyone, but he’s sent out a mass email to all of the Alphas of Prides and Packs. He’s asked us to contact as many shifters as we can to spread the word.” Max sounded calm, but there was a faint hint of his power in the air,
enough to let Barney know that the Alpha was anything but calm. He was going into protection mode. Barney knew enough about Max after having been in Halle for a few months to gauge the man’s actions. If he was right, Halle was about to rally around its most vulnerable members: the children.
Barney watched the shifters absorb Max’s pronouncement, their gazes returning to Max as he continued to speak. “It seems there is a group of people who believe the white shifters, like our Chloe and Julian—” Max pointed them out in the crowd, “—do not deserve to live.” More murmurs, some confused, some angry. Eric Bunsun looked ready to burst in anger as he sidled next to Tabby. His sister-in-law was holding Wren close to her. “In fact, they’ve been trying to prevent the white shifters from even existing by systematically killing those who have even the potential to become white shifters.”
Heather grabbed hold of his arm, her fingers trembling. “It’s starting,” she whispered.
“What is?” What the hell was she talking about?
She looked up at him, her expression tearing at his heart. “The war. They’ve been secretly killing for years, but now it’s out in the open. Their only choices are to go underground, or…”
“War.” Barney’s back stiffened as he glanced around at the crowd. “Fuck. You think the Senate will try and do something about the Leo’s actions?”
“Not all of them, but yes.” She stroked his arm. “Carl will side with us, but who knows about the others?”
“We’ve got to get the list of names from Senator Jennings,” Barney growled. “So far, the Leo hasn’t managed to get anything out of her. After the duct tape was removed she refused to talk, even when the Leo ordered her to.”
“How?”
He could understand Heather’s confusion. The Leo had to be obeyed, no matter what. “She somehow drugged herself. Kincade still doesn’t know who’s funneling her the drugs. When I spoke to him yesterday he was beyond pissed.”
“I bet.” She scratched at his arm. “Shh. Max is speaking again.”
Indirect Lines: Halle Shifters, Book 5 Page 21
