He frowned but stayed still while Naomi continued to fix a pot of coffee.
“What happened a few days ago?” The sheriff prompted.
“I left for lunch, but forgot my ID card. So, I couldn’t open the elevator. I went back into my office and it has a large window that looks out over the factory floor. I saw them. I saw Jake and those poor people. He had them on their knees on the floor in front of him. He shot all of them. Executed them. I’m sure he thought I was gone already, but I was late that day, trying to finish up a project. Then I forgot my ID. And then…I just ran, as far and as fast as I could. I went to the bank, went home, grabbed a bag, and then left for the airport. I paid the first bush pilot I saw for a ride out of Anchorage. That’s how I ended up here.”
“So, he tracked you, this Jake Vicenti?”
She nodded. “I knew as soon as I didn’t come back from lunch he would look for me. And when he saw my ID scan times, he’d know I probably saw him. I didn’t bring anything with me. Not a phone. Nothing electronic. I haven’t used an ATM. But Jake is really well connected. I knew I’d have to run again…or—”
“Defend yourself,” the sheriff gruffed out. “Sounds like an asshole to me. I assume he pulled a weapon first?”
Penny nodded." He put his gun under my chin and said all these things. I can’t remember them now. But then he pulled it away and backed up to shoot me. I miraculously got my SIG out of my purse and shot him first. I think he was surprised.”
“That you shot him?”
“That I had a weapon with me,” Penny answered. “I was his chief design engineer and ballistics specialist. It was like he thought I wouldn’t know how to use the weapons I designed. That moment of surprise was why I’m alive today.”
“Well, that and she’s a damn good shot,” Naomi interjected, carrying two mugs of coffee toward his mate and the sheriff. Kann followed right behind her and took his seat on the couch next to Penny again. The sheriff had had enough time alone with her and he needed to touch his mate again. He put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.
The sheriff glanced up and met his gaze. “You’ve got one strong little lady here. I’m impressed. She held her own against a really nasty guy. As soon as I started the report in the computer it flagged his name as being involved in an FBI investigation. In fact, I’ve already been ordered to collect the body, and have it transported to Anchorage immediately.”
Penny nodded. “I suppose they will want my statement as well and you’ll have to charge me, correct?”
The sheriff shook his head. “I already spoke to the ADA. There’s paperwork that will need to be filed officially, but you’re not being officially charged with anything. You’ll have to come in later and give an official signed statement.”
Penny breathed a sigh from where she was sitting and Kann felt his own heart rate slow just a bit. Naomi had warned them there could be charges. Possible jail time while everything was sorted out. He was more than relieved that the officers were being so lenient.
“Where were you two when this happened?” The sheriff asked.
“I was across the clearing,” Naomi answered, with Col and the others.
“Jake caught me off guard and slammed my head into a tree. When I came back around it was all over,” Kann answered, just as they’d discussed. He still hated the lie. Hated that Penny was taking responsibility for something he’d done. He’d never be able to live with himself if it came back on her in any way.
The sheriff nodded again. “Alright, I’ll finish up my preliminary report and then get in touch with you to get the statement the ADA needs to dismiss your case. Where’s the body?”
The cabin door opened. Col, Saul, and Tor shuffled in, stamping off snow. At least Col was wearing a coat, so the Sheriff wouldn’t wonder why the dragon had been out in zero degree weather without proper clothing.
“Sherriff,” Col boomed out and walked toward them, stretching out his hand like he’d been shaking hands his whole life instead of just a month.
“Col, where have you been? All of you?” He tipped his head, more curious than Kann would’ve liked.
“Patrolling the area to make sure Jake didn’t bring any friends with him. We brought the body back too, there were some wolves close by. Figured he’d be gone the second we left the area if we didn’t.”
“Good, saves me the trouble of having to bother you folks again to lead me out to it. Don’t suppose one of you would be willing to help me transport him back to town?”
Saul and Tor stepped forward. “We’d be happy to help,” Saul answered.
“Thank you both.” Col moved to stand next to his mate.
The sheriff took a step toward the door and then turned back. “I forgot to ask your last name, ma’am. For the report.”
“Matheson,” Penny answered. “Penelope Matheson, actually, but everyone calls me Penny.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”
They all nodded. “Anything you need,” Penny called out.
He tipped his hat and headed outside, followed by Saul and Tor.
All the tension in Kann’s chest melted away at the sound of the snow machine engines starting outside and faded into the distance. He took a deep breath and then pulled Penny into his lap, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Her skin was soft and warm and smelled sweet. If he could just keep her like this forever, he would be a happy man.
“So I guess I can go home now,” Penny whispered.
“To the cabin?” Kann couldn’t agree more.
“To Anchorage.”
Kann stiffened, his growl followed by Col and Naomi’s choked curses.
“I meant to pack.” A small smile tugged at the corners of Penny’s mouth. Kann’s heart crawled back into his chest from the place on the floor where it’d jumped to at her statement.
“Don’t do that to me,” he groaned.
“Sorry,” she answered with a sheepish and not at all repentant grin. “Will you come back with me, though, I don’t really want to be alone and it will probably take a few days to pack everything into storage.”
“Of course,” Kann answered.
“What is the plan? Are we all going to live in this one cabin until we bust out, cause…” Her gaze drifted to Naomi and Col’s mate frowned.
“As soon as the snow melts, we’re starting on another cabin. We have an arrangement with Douglas, but we can’t build in the middle of winter. Too much snow.” Col said. “But until then, we’d be happy if you would share our home. I know Kann would be exceptionally pleased.”
Penny chuckled in his arms. “I’m sure he would be.”
Kann smiled. His mate was staying. Moving to be with him. She was his. Would be his.
There was only one thing left for her to say yes to.
21
Back in Anchorage…
Penny walked into her little house in Anchorage and went straight for her soft comfy blue sofa. Kann followed her in and closed the door. He trailed her to the couch and sat, arranging her legs so that they were in his lap. He pulled off her boots and let them flop to the tile floor with a loud thunk. Then the second. Thunk.
“It’s over,” she sighed. The official interview with the Denali sheriff’s office had taken over an hour. The drive back to her house had taken another hour.
The ADA said the self-defense case was open and shut due to the FBI investigation and surveillance on record, and that she had been completely within her right to protect herself with deadly force.
Penny couldn’t believe her boss had been under federal investigation for two years. Two years of watching and they missed him coming after her?
She sighed. It didn’t matter now. It was over. Done.
She’d signed her statement. They’d dismissed her, and she was leaving for Mystery in a couple of days to start a new life with the people who had taken in a stranger and called her family. Made her family. Protected her fiercely.
They were alien animal shifting people from ano
ther universe.
But they were her people.
And she couldn’t imagine living away from any of them.
Kann had come to Anchorage with her—as if he would’ve left her side for a second. He’d been helping her pack all morning before the interview. There was still a lot to do. She’d accumulated more stuff than she’d realized in the six years since she’d moved. It would be strange to leave this house behind, but she was really looking forward to the adventure ahead.
“So Col and Naomi get the first cabin?”
“Mmmhmmm,” Kann answered, massaging her feet through her thick wool socks. “Douglas says we should have time to build two cabins each summer. He’s willing to give us one and then use the second as an additional rental. We do the labor for free and he covers the costs of the machines and delivery. We have enough cash saved up to cover the rest.”
“What if I had a little money to add into the pot? Do you think it’s physically possible to build three cabins in one summer?”
“I suppose. We’d probably have to hire some locals to help, but these cabins cost twenty or thirty thousand dollars. Naomi is covering most of cost with the proceeds from selling her condo in New York. We don’t have cash like that and—”
“But I do. I worked for a multi-million-dollar gun designer and manufacturer. All I bought was this small house. I don’t really spend money on anything else. And I’m a workaholic. My signing bonus alone would more than cover a cabin for us. Then we wouldn’t have to share with Saul or Tor.” She wasn’t quite ready to tell him that she had enough money for a dozen cabins if that’s what he wanted, but eventually she’d tell him they really didn’t need to worry about money. Ever.
“I’ll talk to Douglas and make it happen.”
Kann’s eyes sparkled and he smiled that huge smile that made her body turn to mush. Her core throbbed and she was aroused within moments. It wasn’t fair how he could do this to her.
“You smell amazing,” he added. His chest vibrated softly, like a purr. She loved that sound.
“You always say that, no matter what I’ve been doing.” She chuckled. He was pulling off her socks now.
“It’s always true,” he answered, moving one of his hands up to her chest, beneath her shirt to fondle her breasts. She moaned as his fingers skillfully worked first one breast free of the bra cup and then the next. Her nipples were hard, and she was biting her lip in anticipation.
She’d missed him. His hands were always on her when they were together, but it wasn’t the same. She wanted the intimacy. Wanted the bond. Her body had been begging for it. Magick or not, she still wasn’t sure about all that, but she definitely wanted Kann. Needed Kann. And she was ready to commit, even if it meant she’d turn into a lion. She was ready for whatever came next in her life, as long as Kann was at her side for every second of it.
They hadn’t had sex the first night back in her house. She’d been so exhausted, he’d put her to bed and then climbed in beside her. He’d held her like that all night. She’d never felt so treasured.
“I want to be your mate, Kann,” Penny whispered.
“You are.” A lazy smile spread across his face and he continued to fondle her breasts.
“No, I mean I want the bond. Or the bite. Or whatever that entails.”
His eyes flashed bright gold. His entire body tensed around hers. His fingers tightened on her breast and a low growl rolled up from his chest.
“I want everything we can have together, Kann.”
“You’re sure?” His voice was hesitant. He was waiting for her to change her mind. He was giving her every opportunity and she loved him all the more for it.
“I love you, Kann. So much. I love you. I love your crazy tribe. I want all of it. Forever.”
He scooped her into his arms and shouted something she didn’t understand and raced with her through the hall to her room where he tossed her unceremoniously onto the bed. She squealed as she bounced into the air before settling between her mountain of pillows. She had a thing for pillows and there were no fewer than twenty-seven on her bed. All shapes and sizes.
She knocked them away, laughing as they slid and fell to the floor. He knocked a few more away and then began stripping her out of everything. Her jeans. Her shirt. Bra. Underwear. Before she could catch her breath, she was naked and trembling with anticipation.
Kann in all his glory stood over her at the side of the bed—a picture of male perfection. How had she missed him stripping? It didn’t matter. She wasn’t complaining. He was all muscle and sinew and strength. His tanned skin was smooth and marked only by what he’d informed her were warrior tattoos. The empty spaces were the levels he hadn’t earned yet before Exodus Day. His waist tapered to narrow hips and then to an impressive cock nestled in light brown curls.
He was beautiful. Like statue of David gorgeous. She would’ve been happy to stare at him for hours, but right now she really wanted more. Her mouth watered, wondering what he would taste like. Her sex was practically dripping. The staring would have to be later. Right now, she needed touching. Mating.
She held her arm up and he crawled over her, dipping his head to nibble at her breast until she was writhing beneath him, wanting and needing even more.
“I love you more than anything, Penny.” He positioned himself and slid deep with one stroke, filling her completely.
Their hips moved in perfect sync. His eyes locked with hers and she lost herself in the warm golden glow of them. Of the harmony between Kann the man and magick of the beast that resided within him. They moved and grinded against each other, pushing and pulling and kneading each other’s bodies until they were sweaty and panting.
It was slower than last time. More careful. Like each of them wanted to savor the other and feel every single moment. Penny gasped for breath each time his cock sank deep. Her climax was building slowly within her, coiling and tightening. It wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge. One flick of a finger. Just the right twist of their hips.
His fingers tangled with hers and he pinned them at her sides as he captured her mouth. He nipped and bit and sucked. Then plunged his tongue into her mouth, mimicking what his cock was doing to her lower body. In and out. Hard and slow. He was taking his time, ratcheting her up one level at a time until her whole body felt as though it would spontaneously combust.
“Kann,” she wailed into his shoulder. “More,” she begged. She just needed a little more. He lifted his massive frame and slipped a hand between their sweat-slicked bodies. His finger pressed down on her clit and that was it. She flew. Her voice tore from her throat with a husky keening scream.
Her body found bliss and then pain blossomed at her shoulder, but instead of pulling her down, it pushed her further. He’d bitten her. She felt his mouth on her skin, felt the tug of his fangs in her flesh. Felt a strange sense of heat spreading out from where he was biting her. Like liquid fire had entered her blood. Her body clenched around his and he drove home one more time before joining her in ecstasy and filling her with his warm seed.
This is what she’d needed. What she’d been needing since she saw him in that grocery store days ago. He’d said it was magick, but she hadn’t really believed him. Not until this very moment. Now she could feel it. The connection was something supernatural and magickal and unexplainable.
He released her neck and rolled, so that she was cuddled tight against his side. One of her legs was draped over his and she couldn’t imagine feeling happier or more content.
“I love you, Kann,” she whispered against his chest, running her palm over his pec and playing with his nipple until he grabbed her hand and pressed it to his mouth. He kissed each of her fingertips and stared down at her, his eyes dark and hungry for more, even though they’d both just come so hard they were panting for breath.
“I love you more, my sweet Penny,” he said. “Thank you for being mine. For trusting me with your heart and your body. I will protect you with every breath I have in mine.”
<
br /> “I can feel it. The bond,” she said.
“Yes, it will grow stronger with each passing moment. We’ll always have an invisible tether between us. Be able to feel each other to a certain extent. Find each other no matter how far apart we might end up.”
“I don’t ever want to be apart.”
“That’s good, because I don’t intend on ever letting you go.”
“What about the lion thing? When will I know if—” I’m going to be a lion. “Will it hurt?”
“Naomi said she had a fever. That her skin burned.” His voice was tight and pained, she could tell he hated that she might have to go through any discomfort. “I don’t know. Naomi is the first human to mate and change a Reylean that we know of.”
“So, we just wait and see.” The words slipped out with a sigh of resignation. It wasn’t going to be immediate. She didn’t feel warm. Her skin didn’t burn.
“I’ll be right there with you. I promise.”
“I know.” She snuggled into his warmth, burrowing down into the crook of his arm. Her muscles ached, and sleep beckoned. All was right with the world now. She’d found a home, a man who loved her and they were bonded as one with a magickal force from his world that she didn’t understand.
How far she’d come.
She couldn’t wait to see what would come next in their story.
22
About Two Months Later…
Naomi
Naomi leaned against a large dark green fir. The snow had melted off most of the branches. The ground beneath the boughs was bare as well, littered with brown pinecones and needles. Her mate and Saul were working on taking down one large pine a dozen yards away.
The saw cut through the trunk twice as fast as it should’ve. It was good they hadn’t hired any extra help yet. She’d have to warn them to be careful about showing off once there were human workers on the job. Thanks to Penny’s über-generous contributions, their little Tribe of Reylean barbarians had had more than enough money to purchase land from Douglas and start building the moment the snow started to melt.
I'm Not Lion To You_Soulmate Shifters World Page 18
