Cole nodded to Michael as they passed. Then Cole threw the door open and walked in. Blair felt frozen in place as he stalked up to her, his expression as dark as a moonless night. “Blair, what the hell do you think you are doing? You promised me you would not run again.”
“I didn’t. I came to work.” Blair wrung her hands together nervously. Cole’s eyes held a lot more than anger. She had hurt him. She didn’t mean to, but she just could not leave her business. She cringed inwardly. She should have left a note, but she’d thought she would be back before Cole woke up.
“You run whenever you don’t get your way. You didn’t like Michael’s punishment so you ran. You didn’t like that he wanted Cassie to stay protected, so you ran. That is what you do.”
Blair looked him in the eyes. Her face felt flushed, and she wanted to yell at him. He was so wrong about her motives, but to him that was what it looked like. She felt her anger calm, and she smiled up at him. She was not going to prove him right. She was going to take Michael’s advice.
She walked closer to Cole, and nearly laughed at the stunned look on his face as she rose up on her tip toes to wrap her arms around his neck. “If you won’t believe my words, then I will have to show you some action.” Blair leaned in and brushed her lips against his. Cole only took a second to respond and wrap his arms around her. His hands rubbed in between her shoulder blades before his hands roamed lower to the waist of her black slacks. “Come back here with me. I would hate to cause one of my customers to choke.” Blair led Cole to a back room that held spare tables and chairs for parties. She closed the door, then turned to look to Cole.
Cole looked at her with want shining in his eyes. He wanted her and only her. She felt her heart fill with love for him. She had him, and she would never let him go again. “Cole, Blair said while looking up at him. “I’m sorry I ran before. I should have waited and let you calm down and come to you. Instead I just left. I’m sorry I didn’t try to contact you or give you the chance to make things right between us. I am just as much to blame for all of this as you are. We were young, but it’s time to put the past behind us and move forward together.”
Cole put his hands on her cheeks and lowered his head to kiss her. “I love you, baby. So very much. Let’s put the past behind us and move forward.”
Blair held onto Cole trying to remember that she was in control here, but Cole always had a way of making her want to please him. She made no apologies for being a submissive. Giving over control to him was something she loved to do.
Cole’s hot tongue swept over her lips in a molten assault on her mouth. Cole was like a drug to her, and she was completely addicted to him. His tongue thrust in and out of her mouth, just like she wanted him to do with his cock.
Blair melted into Cole, and she could feel his erection pressing into her. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. She held onto him as if he were her lifeline. Then he pulled away and stared at her for a moment. His breath sawed in and out of his chest. “You drive every thought out of my head.”
Blair reached over and touched his face. “I love you, Cole.” She slid down his body, until she sank to her knees in front of him. She slid his black sweat pants down his hips until his cock sprang free. She grasped his long, thick cock and stroked it lightly.
Cole put his hands in her hair and hissed as she applied just enough pressure for him to feel her, but not enough to make him want to come. That she was going to save for later.
“Blair, Goddess woman, stop teasing me,” Cole whispered. He thrust his hips, but she kept her grip light.
Blair looked up at him and licked her lips. “I am the one in charge right now, and I think you should be patient. That is what you tell me.” To emphasize her point she licked her lips, then ran her tongue lightly over the mushroom head of his cock. Her tongue traced his slit, tasting his pre-cum, and swirled around the tip.
Cole had looked like he was going to say something until she found a sensitive spot on his cock. He dug his fingers into her hair. “Fuck, Blair. Don’t stop.” Cole panted while gripping her hair.
Blair smiled as she watched her hand moving slowly over his shaft. Her fingers barely made it all the way around his thick length, but she wrapped it around enough for her purposes. She saw another drop of pre-cum forming and leaned in, licking it off again. Cole’s erratic breathing and thrusting hips were proof of how much power she had over him. He was a big man, and she could put him completely at her mercy when she stroked his cock.
Finally, she sucked the head of his cock into her mouth. She kept the suction strong as she swirled her tongue. Cole groaned long, as she sank down on him until she felt the head of his cock hit the back of her throat. She slowly pulled back up until just the tip was at her lips, and she sank back down again.
“That’s enough,” Cole gasped. He unbuttoned her pants, and she kicked off her sandals while he pushed her pants down off of her legs.
Blair giggled at Cole’s haste to get their clothes off. It was as if they were teenagers all over again. Cole picked her up, gripping her tightly and pushing her against the nearest wall. “You think that’s funny, huh?” His hands cupped her ass, and he pulled her until her pussy was in line with his cock.
Blair nodded, feeling the laughter bubbling up inside of her as he rubbed his cock through her soft, wet folds. She looked into his eyes as he pushed into her. He slid in easily since the cream coating her pussy made her slick with arousal. She felt her eyes widen as his cock hit every nerve in her channel.
Cole stilled when he sank balls deep into her. She gasped at how deep he penetrated her. She felt stretched as far as she could go without pain, and completely full.
Cole pulled her up, then let gravity draw her back down on his cock.
Blair cried out digging her fingers into his shoulders as he plunged his cock into her hard and fast. She felt her pussy clamping down around his shaft, making Cole dig his fingers into her ass as he moaned.
Blair lowered her head to his shoulder and kissed his neck as her body coiled tighter. When her orgasm exploded out of her, she came with a cry and bit down on Cole’s neck, then licked where she bit him.
Cole threw his head back and pounded his cock into her harder. When his cock swelled and he buried it one final time he leaned into Blair and sank his teeth into her shoulder.
The pain of the bite made Blair’s pussy clench again. Blair felt tears falling while Cole had his teeth embedded in her flesh. The feeling of being marked by the wolf she loved was more precious than anything she could ever remember. Cole was putting his mark on her, telling all shifters that she belonged to him. She didn’t care that it wasn’t in a bed or on a romantic getaway. She cried out in pleasure and joy, then sank her own teeth once again into Cole’s shoulder.
Cole moaned in pleasure, sinking his teeth deeper into her flesh.
Blair let go first, gasping for air as her pussy clenched around his shaft. “I love you so much,” Blair cried as emotions swamped her. Here in her little coffee house Cole had claimed her as his own, and finally, they were mated.
Cole let go and looked her in the eyes. The expression on Cole’s face changed from the dominant to soft in an instant. “The thought of losing you drives me crazy. I don’t understand how you could forgive me after I hurt you, but I am thankful you did.”
Blair placed a gentle finger over his lips. “Shhh, Cole, I love you. We got scared, and I got hurt, then mad. Let’s move past that now. I won’t run, and you won’t leave me again.”
“Never, Blair, you are mine, forever. I can’t live without you again.”
The door opened with a jingle of the bell, and Blair gave Cole a wide eyed look. She had thought Julie would lock the doors. She shrank into Cole’s body. He pulled her tighter to him. His cock was still deep inside of her, and her legs were wrapped around his bare waist. Not to mention her pants and panties on the floor. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what they were doing in here.
“We’re closed,”
Cole told them without turning around.
Blair blushed brighter when she heard Myra giggle. “I smell you two are busy, so we will head on over for some dinner instead.”
“I’m closed?” Blair asked, raising one eyebrow.
“You are. I am sure Julie can handle the cleanup. I can send in a cholan to watch you when you come in tomorrow.”
Blair thought about it for a moment. It had been a long time since she took a day for herself. “Yes, ok. Let me tell Julie.”
Cole kept a hold of her hand. “I am out with you. We can walk around to get to my truck. It is a beautiful afternoon.”
They walked out the side door and found Julie picking at her nails. “I am heading home,” Blair told her hesitantly. She gave her an apologetic look hoping she wouldn’t be mad.
Julie smiled at her and wiggled her eyebrows at them. “Oh good, you two enjoy your evening. I will just get things cleaned up. I was worried you would work, and I wouldn’t get my free goodies.”
Blair looked at Julie, with her brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t get what you mean.”
Julie smiled. “You said you would trade goodies for my working for the day. When you showed up, I worried you changed your mind.”
Blair’s face lit up as she realized what Julie meant. “Oh no, that offer is still good. Come in anytime and get your pick of whatever you want. I was not going to back out of that.”
Cole smacked her on the ass. “See, you went and hurt Julie’s feelings by showing up. You just told her she isn’t capable of helping you out.”
Blair gasped. “I didn’t, or at least I didn’t mean to. I was just worried she would be overwhelmed.”
Julie waved them off. “Go home, you two.”
Cole laughed as he pulled Blair with him around the back of the building. Blair could smell cigarette smoke and wondered who was back here smoking. Cole stopped and sniffed the air. “I didn’t think anyone came back here to smoke anymore.”
“They don’t.” Blair looked at him in confusion. “There is no smoking area set up anymore.” She pointed at the construction project for the mall just beyond the trees. “It’s too noisy, and too many felt like they were being watched.”
Cole followed the scent and found a fresh cigarette on the ground. He got down on his knees and sniffed the ground. He jumped back to his feet with the grace of a seventeen year old track star. “You are being watched by the same piece of shit that attacked Mandy.” Cole stomped back to her and put his arm protectively around her.
“That was him?” Blair asked more in shock than asking a question.
“Yeah, he has a very distinct scent, and it is different from the one that took Stacy. We have two fucking criminals running around out here." Cole picked his phone up. “We need to talk. No, I don’t give a shit about that. Blair is being watched, and we have two perps not one like Lucas thought. Yeah, meet me at the council building.” Cole looked down at Blair. “Michael is coming and bringing some of the council with him. This is suddenly worse than we first thought.”
Blair had gone from excited to frightened. The man that attacked Mandy was watching her, but why? There was only one reason she could think of. He wanted revenge. He had also seen her shift. He knew she was not fully human. “Cole, I am worried about Mandy. What if he is looking for her?”
“I know, baby, but we’re going to catch him,” Cole said.
Chapter Nine
Cole could feel the tension running through his body as he talked with Caleb and Michael in the lounge area of city hall. Unlike most that had hard plastic chairs, Pleasant Cove’s had two tan leather couches, a matching leather love seat, and four leather armchairs. Cole and Michael both sat in the armchairs, while the others scattered among the couches.
“So you’re sure they were different scents?” Caleb asked while he looked over at Blair.
Cole’s eyes narrowed ominously as he nodded. “Yes, I fucking know there are two separate scents.” He felt old insecurities, ones he’d thought were gone, coming up again.
He was good at his job, even if other shifters, like Caleb, felt he was too young. Caleb was a powerful shifter, and he was not only sounding condescending, he was also looking at Blair. He needed to keep his fucking eyes to himself. Cole’s wolf growled possessively. Cole and his wolf were in full agreement. If Caleb didn’t get those eyes off of Blair, they would take them off.
Cole’s old fear came to the surface then. What if I am missing things due to inexperience? I should still be training right now.
Warren’s words came back to him from long ago when Cole had tried to get out of taking the position. “This is a massive responsibility, and the responsibility should never stop weighing on you. If it ever does, then it is time to step down.”
Michael put his hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Yes, Caleb, we are certain there are different scents now. The first time the cologne hid it. We assumed it was the same human.”
Cole’s eyes squinted, and he put his hand on his forehead. “Yeah, like Michael said, we are certain.”
Caleb looked Cole in the eyes. “I was not trying to imply anything. I want these crimes solved as much as you do.”
Cole knew he was letting jealousy and his own insecurities get to him.
“I know you didn’t,” he told him. He looked over at Caleb, but still got an odd feeling from him. Caleb seemed so calculating, like he was always forming a plan.
The door banged open, making Blair jump and squeak in surprise. Cole, Michael, and Caleb turned and stared at the newcomers who just walked in.
A petite woman walked in, followed by an overweight man, with greying hair and a few days’ growth on his face. Cole stood up to usher the lost humans out, but as he did, he saw Lucas following them in, looking as disgusted as Cole had ever seen him. He would have laughed if didn't realize the situation was not so serious.
Lucas refused to look at the humans, and Cole could see he stayed far enough away to make sure he was not accidently touched. “These people showed up at the motel. The family of that missing kid called them in.”
Understanding hit Cole, and he looked over at that older man. “You’re the PI.”
“Yeah, I am Josh Hamen, and this here is my assistant, Jennifer McCallen.”
Cole could see why Lucas was trying to stay his distance. Guardians usually had a sense about people. It came as part of the powers Ilithyia gave them. Some had strong senses and others had almost none, and although Cole was no Guardian, he could sense the corruption in the man. He noticed Michael wincing as if he was trying to clear an offensive odor. Cole glanced over to ask Caleb a question and noticed he was completely unaffected. Were his senses damaged?
“Thank you, but this is a private meeting.” Michael looked at Josh for a moment before turning his attention to Lucas. “Lucas, why did you bring them here?”
Lucas gave Michael a hard look. “Thought you would like to meet them. Maybe make them no longer my problem.”
Jennifer walked forward and offered her hand to Cole. “Hello, I am Jennifer McCallen.”
Cole could not bring himself to be rude and took her hand. “Cole Milano, I am the sheriff here.”
“I can see that. I just want to help find the missing little girl. I promise you I am not interested in stepping on any toes,” Jennifer said, wincing as Lucas snorted. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “He really can’t stand me.”
The female’s emotions were completely unguarded, like most humans. She had a friendly, open face that held no deceit.
“We understand, Miss McCallen. We all want the missing girl found. In fact, this meeting is about Stacy.”
Josh’s phone started to ring, and he walked out to answer it.
Jennifer watched him walk out, and Cole noticed her visibly relax. He would have never noticed it if he wasn’t trained to watch behavior. “So an accountant that looks for financial fraud is going to find the missing girl?”
Jennifer shrugged. “He’s pathetic, and the fa
mily has something on him. I have some training in investigation, though.”
Cole raised his eyebrow. “Really?”
She nodded. “Yes, I worked with the El Paso County Sheriff’s department in their criminal investigations division for five years.”
Cole looked at her oddly, wondering how she ended up with this guy that felt like a loan shark. Maybe he was a mob man. It was supposed to be a joke, but the man felt evil. “How did you end up with him then? What did the family have on him?” he asked, pointing his thumb back towards where Josh had left.
“I got tired of the politics and red tape. I just want to help people where I can. I didn’t realize Josh was like this until it was too late. I am now just doing my part to try and make things right.”
“I can understand that. I will partner you with one of my deputies. You are not to run around alone up here, do you understand me? I can't be worrying about you as well as Stacy,” Cole told her while his eyes stayed locked on hers.
Jennifer swallowed, then nodded. “Of course.”
Cole used his height and weight advantage and towered over the woman, “Good, I am glad we understand each other. I would hate to have to throw you out of town.”
Jennifer’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Of course not, I do not want to be thrown out either. I really want to help.”
Cole glanced over as Josh walked back in, and felt the tension in the air once again. There was no doubt it was the PI. They had made some jokes about the guy working for the mob, but now they wondered if it was true.
Josh cleared his throat. “Come on, Jennifer, stop kissing up to the locals. Our rooms are ready.”
Cole decided the best way to offend an asshole like Josh was to ignore him. “I will talk to you later then,” Cole said to Jennifer with his back to Josh.
Lucas stayed in the corner with his arms crossed, and a look of pure disgust on his face. Jennifer looked up at him, then away quickly. She smiled tightly and fidgeted before walking out with a wave.
The Protector Page 12
