by Milly Taiden
She glanced over to the bedside table. An angel figurine and the usual children’s guardian angel prayer on a plate stood facing the bed. The angel wasn’t just any angel. It was a figurine of archangel Michael defeating Lucifer. By far one of the weirdest things she’d ever seen on a bedside table. Then again, her whole family was more than a little strange.
With a gentle tug, she opened the single drawer on the bedside table. Graded exams and papers filled it. The scores were perfect. Roxy was a very smart girl. Paper after paper she saw proof of her intelligence. When she was done going through them, a pile sat on the bed next to her. Staring at the empty drawer brought her another sense of sorrow. This was her cousin. She’d never really taken the time to get to know the girl.
A dull throbbing took hold of her chest. If only she hadn’t been so caught up with how her family history had affected her. Maybe then she’d have made an attempt at closing the distance with Clara and Roxy. But the reality was, Cyn had the constant fear of living the life her mother had. And she worked really hard to keep the demons at bay.
“Where are you, Roxy?”
Ready to put the papers in the drawer, she noticed the bottom of the drawer was a lot higher than it should be. But it appeared to be perfectly put together, without any edges to pull or hidden cavities. Swallowing hard at the quick beating of her heart, she yanked the drawer out of the table. And flipped it over. Jackpot.
A hollow underside on the drawer allowed for Roxy to have a book holder with a journal hidden away from prying eyes. Probably her mother’s. Finally, something to show for the girl. Glancing over her shoulder, to make sure she was still alone, she removed the journal carefully from the plastic holder.
She shoved the journal in her bag and hopped to her feet. A moment later, Clara, wearing a black piece of lace on her head, jerked opened the door.
“I’m going to church service now.” The sad smile she gave Cyn, with her lips quivering, tugged at her heart.
“I’m going too. I’ll go check out the police station, and then see about talking to Roxy’s boyfriend.”
Clara glanced away, stepping away from the entrance. “It’s his fault she’s gone.”
Poor woman. “Don’t worry,” Cyn said, leaving the room and heading down the stairs to the front door behind Clara. “I’ll find out where she went.”
* * *
Brock walked into the small police station having already noted how under equipped the place was. The front door was open, and only one person manned the place.
“Can I help you?”
Rookie. He could smell the kid’s eagerness a mile away. Not to mention the way he tried to add authority to his voice.
“James Brock, FBI. I called earlier.” He pulled out his identifications and showed the officer.
The kid’s eyes went wide, and a new interest sparked. “I spoke to you, sir. Kevin Waters.” He shoved out a hand for Brock to shake. “You wanted to know about Roxy Santos.”
“I understand she’s missing.”
The kid shrugged his scrawny shoulders. “Yeah, but with a crazy mom, I would be too. Sheriff thinks she’s just rebelling and hanging out with some friends for a few days.”
Right. Sounded like sheriff wasn’t doing his job. “Has no one taken into account that this girl has never been missing before?”
Waters shrugged again. A slow sizzle started in Brock’s hands. He knew the dark side was pushing the angrier he got. But he couldn’t help it with incompetents like Waters and the Sheriff assuming the girl was with friends and not bothering to search for her at all.
“Sheriff Kemp thinks she’ll show up in a day or two, and her momma is being…” he raised a hand and motioned a finger in circles by his ear. “Nuts,” he whispered.
“What if she’s not with friends?”
Waters went bug eyed. “Then she’s really missing.”
Fucking hell. If this was the kind of police force they had in Holy Oaks, he and Cynthia were on their own.
“So…” Waters stared him up and down. Taking in Brock’s much larger build and height. “You here to find her?”
“Unless you know where she is?”
Waters shook his head. “Nah. But her boyfriend might know. Josh Landley. Or her ex-boyfriend, Luis Gomez. She kept going back and forth between the two.”
Interesting. Brock leaned forward, hunching his frame to take away some of the intimidation he scented from the kid. “How do you know this?”
“My cousin, Carey Torrent, she’s dating Luis now. But she used to go out with Josh before.” He grinned. “It’s like they just decided to switch partners suddenly, and Josh and Roxy hooked up and Carey and Luis.”
“Do you know why?”
Waters pulled out a stick of gum and popped it in his mouth. “Nope. They’re kids,” he said as if he were that much older. “Carey said she got tired of Josh, and apparently Luis and Roxy were on a break. Whatever that means.”
“Anyone else you think would know where we can find Roxy?”
Waters chewed his gum with his mouth wide open. He did a perfect imitation of a cow eating grass. “She did some cleaning for the Landleys. It’s how she hooked up with Josh.”
“And you know this?”
“I told you. Cousin. Carey. She was always complaining about that girl. Everything she did bothered her.”
“Thanks for your help.” He turned to go when he heard Waters call out to him.
“Hey, wait, I have another question.”
Brock mid-turned and glanced at the young officer. “What?”
“What happens if you don’t find her?”
He didn’t detect any actual evil coming from the kid. Just curiosity. “We’ll find her,” he said. “You can bet on that.”
Marching out of the station, he noticed the sun had gone down in the time he’d been chatting with the rookie. Cynthia filled his mind. Her soft brown eyes and that smile that made the blood sizzle in his veins. The animal inside him wanted near her. The wolf he carried paced restlessly. And the beast from his dark side, it wanted her naked as soon as possible. Both liked their mate’s presence. Her scent and that intoxicating aroma whenever she was aroused. So yeah, he was going to run over to be by her side, even if he broke a few speeding laws.
He pressed the speaker phone and dialed the one person he needed to talk to on his team.
“Brock?” Donovan’s voice was strained.
He knew it was almost her time to go. “How’s that case?”
“Done and handled. But…” He heard her mutter a curse. “Brock, I have to go. Vega already knows. It’s getting worse, and I can’t be here. I can’t be near him.”
“I understand. Do what you have to do. Call if you need us.”
She sighed on the other end of the line. “Thank you so much. I’ll be discreet and keep to myself.”
“What about—”
“Keep him away,” she ordered. “I can’t handle this with him around.”
Brock shook his head. He’d known Jane for the three years that she’d been on his team, and she’d never changed her mind. It would catch up to her one day. But that wasn’t Brock’s business.
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Thanks, boss. Tell Cynthia I said thanks too. She sent me a text earlier reminding me to go as soon as necessary.”
She was like that, his Cyn. Always thinking of someone else.
The small diner he’d agreed to meet Cynthia at was encased in darkness. One street lamp outside the place illuminated it with a low, yellow glow. A large, half-lit sign that read “Joe’s Place” helped brighten the parking area. A handful of older model cars sat scattered in the lot. He headed inside and noticed the instant quiet. Taking in several booths, he finally found Cyn seated at the back of the place frowning down at something. The beasts inside him wanted to touch her again. Their mate.
He marched toward her booth and almost tripped when she glanced up and smiled. The wolf pushed at the skin, and the power he’d been
holding at bay lit his fingertips.
“Hey, any luck?” Her husky voice turned him hard in a heartbeat.
“Maybe.” He slid into the booth across from her, watched her eyes roam his face before moving down to his chest and stopping at his hands.
“Hungry?”
You have no idea. She must have seen something in his eyes because the scent of her arousal tickled his nostrils.
“James,” she whispered and glanced around them. “Stop that. Your eyes are turning colors, and the last thing we need is to draw undue attention.”
“I can’t help it, love. You make the beast want to come out of me.” He grinned.
Her face turned a sexy shade of red under her tanned skin and the arousal scent thickened. She’d always liked it when he spoke of his inability to control himself because of her. It wasn’t a lie either. Cynthia was the only woman in the world he’d lose control over. And he didn’t even care.
“Well…” She gulped. “This isn’t the time for that.”
He reined in his need for her. Pushed the beasts to their hiding places and willed his erection away. That last one was the hardest.
“What did you find out?” he asked.
“Huh? What?”
She muttered under her breath, thinking he hadn’t made out her words.
A chuckled escaped him.
She squinted her eyes at him. “What’s so funny?”
“The fact that I make you brain dead.”
“Stop listening on private conversations. It’s rude.”
“Sorry, love. But you already know there’re no barriers between us.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m your boss.”
He grinned. “You’re my everything.”
“Stop that! You keep making me lose track of what we’re supposed to do. Check this out.” She handed him a black journal.
The book hadn’t been in anyone’s hands in a while. Or he’d have sensed something other than Cyn’s concern. He opened the journal and found a bunch of numbers and initials all over the place.
“What is this?” He glanced up at Cynthia.
She winced. “I think it’s Roxy’s journal. Though I can’t figure any of it out. It’s all numbers and weird initials.”
He leafed through the pages while Cyn ordered her food and smiled when she ordered his favorite for him. She didn’t even realize she’d done it until she glanced at him after the waitress had gone and caught his smile.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You still like your burgers that way, right?”
Even if he didn’t, he’d eat it just to make her happy. “Yes.”
“Good. So what do you think of this?” She frowned down at the book. “I thought we’d find something in it but only a couple of words can be made out before she goes back to the initials.”
He saw her bite her lip in frustration. “You know what this means, right?”
She blinked her pretty brown eyes wide. “What?”
“You’re not going to leave it alone until you figure it out.”
She laughed and sighed. “You know me so well. I will figure this out. Now tell me what you found out.”
SIX
Harsh raindrops pelted over the windshield in angry thumps. Cynthia couldn’t believe how hard it was raining by the time they got back to the house. In no time at all, the skies had opened up and let loose. The sound of thunder crackling, and lightning in the distance made her shiver. She wasn’t a fan of storms.
“Tell me why you left?” Brock broke the silence.
“Are we on this again?” There was no way in hell she was talking about the reasons she left ten years ago.
“Yes.”
“Let it go.”
“Not a chance, love.”
Every time he called her love, her stomach flip-flopped and a warm feeling spread inside her.
“I told you I don’t want to talk about it.”
“You knew how I felt,” he said, voice rough.
She glanced at his face and saw his eyes blaze red. Uh-oh. She waited until he stopped the SUV completely before hopping out into the heavy rain. Took less than a minute for her clothes to soak and cling to her skin for dear life. She ran for the door, shoving a shaky hand into her crossbody bag, searching for the key. Water poured down from the heavens in thick blankets, and she wondered if this was a sign she was in over her head with James. By the time she found her keys, she heard the door from his side slam closed. Rushing in without a single glance over her shoulder, she tried to head for her room, but was stopped.
He wrapped a hand around her arm and tugged her until her back hit the door he’d just closed and his wet body plastered to hers.
Air froze in her lungs. She opened her mouth to tell him to move. To get out of the way, but somehow the only thing that came out was a soft whimper. “James…”
Booming thunder sounded at the same time his lips came crashing down on hers. He kissed her fully. As if he wanted to devour her lips and consume her. Driving his tongue into the recesses of her mouth, he held her captive. Every move he made only added gasoline to the raging fire in her blood. Then those hands she knew better than her own were on her. Touching. Branding. Bringing out the feelings of belonging to him she’d tried to fight. But it was useless. This man—this hybrid, was the only one who made her feel…anything.
Material tore as he tugged on her pants, but she didn’t care. It had always been like this with them. Wild. Untamed. So hot it pulverized her brain cells. She tore her mouth from his and glanced into his jet-black eyes. He licked his lips, and her pussy quivered.
“Brock”
“No,” he ordered. “No more fighting this. No more fighting me. No more fighting us.”
She inhaled, watching his claws extend to caress her collar bone and down to the V-line of her T-shirt. Those claws slid through the shirt like a sharp knife on soft butter. Within a heartbeat, she was panting, and her breasts were bared to him. It was hard to control the urge to attack him when her body clamored to be possessed by him. To be his again and again. Now. Right now.
The claws continued their downward path until she was fully naked and tatters of what were once her clothes floated to her ankles.
She watched his nose flare, and her throat went dry.
“This is new,” his rumble increased her already raging heart rate.
She didn’t need to glance down to know he referred to her thigh-high tattoo. She’d always wanted one. One day after she’d left him, she’d gone and done it. A beautiful intricate lace design circled her thigh with a wolf in the center of a heart.
“I always wanted one,” she breathed.
“It’s beautiful. Perfect. Just like the rest of you.”
“James…”
“I’ve missed you.” The words were a hushed growl. Yet, there was so much passion in them. So much emotion. “I’ve wanted to be with you, in you, every night for the past ten years.”
The wall around her heart took a beating with that statement. She’d wanted to be with him too. And while she knew this wouldn’t last—it couldn’t—she’d take this night. No matter what she believed, she knew, deep down, she belonged to him. Always would.
He struck fast, latching on to a nipple and sucked. Dear God, that felt so amazing. She couldn’t hold the loud moan from escaping her throat. Nor could she keep her fingers from threading through his short hair and gripping the strands tight. He grunted and sucked harder. Her pussy moistened more until her arousal crawled down her thighs in a hot wet trail.
He squeezed one breast while sucking the other, but he didn’t stop there. No. The amazing torture continued. He slid a hand down her body and managed to make his way between her legs. With a gentle flick, he rubbed a finger between her slick pussy folds.
“Oh, good lord!”
He bit and she groaned. Then he flicked his tongue back and forth on her nipple at the same time he put pressure on her clit, rubbing the pleasure center in quick circular motions.
The s
peed and intensity of her orgasm caught her by surprise. She screamed loud, hanging on to him as her body vibrated with the wave of pleasure rushing through her. The floor shook, and she knew things were only going to get better from there.
Her legs shook, ready to give out under her. There was no time to hesitate. He lifted her body as if she weighed next to nothing. As if she weren’t a big curvy girl who had more than a few extra pounds on her. His arm muscles bunched while he held her up against the door. She curled her legs around his waist and locked her feet behind him.
He slid into her in a single powerful thrust. Deep. So deep she felt his cock stretch her pussy muscles taut.
“Oh!” The gasp tore from her throat at the same time he pulled back and plunged in.
He kissed her lips, her jaw, her neck, licking repeatedly at the bend connecting her neck and throat.
“Cyn,” he growled.
“James. God. James, I missed you so much,” she panted out between thrusts. Lord how amazing it felt to have him sliding in and out of her, heating her insides with his own body.
“Not. Letting. You. Go,” he snarled.
That wasn’t his choice to make. Now wasn’t the time to debate it, though. Her body sizzled with the onslaught of pleasure from each punishing drive.
“James…”
“Tell me you’re mine, Cyn.”
God, yes. She was always going to be his.
“Say the words, love.”
Her chest compressed. Liquid fire flooded her veins. She clung to him, gripping his slick shoulders tight. He bit his palms bit into her ass cheeks and squeezed.
“I…”
Another moan tore from her throat when he increased speed. He slammed his rock-hard cock into her. Again and again. She opened willingly. Taking everything he wanted to give. Each sound his body made slamming against her, every groan and growl he let out with each lick by her neck became an instant memory. All of it. She wouldn’t ever forget it. They would be what would carry her forth later.
