by V. A. Dold
He lingered over her, loving her, he wanted this first time together living under the same roof declaring their love to be special. Taking his time as he slid in to the hilt. Then he withdrew, and set a slow exquisite pace.
Rose’s fingers dug into his shoulder muscles, her gaze fierce with a longing as deep as his own as she thrust her hips upward. “I want you, Simon, hard and furious,” she pleaded.
Raising, Simon withdrew slightly. Then he surged forward. Dark blond hairs at his groin nestled against her exquisite mound.
She hooked her legs around his waist drawing him deeper. He obeyed her and began to thrust harder. Hard and fast. He angled his thrusts, hitting a particularly sensitive spot. She cried out. Her body felt like it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Simon shouted as he joined her in his own hot release. He collapsed atop her, his heavy weight pinning her. Then he rolled to the side not wanting to crush her. Their harsh breathing was loud in the silence of the room.
The next morning, Rose woke confused. She didn’t recognize where she was for a second. Then she fell back into her pillow with a knowing grin. She laughed at herself. She didn’t remember falling asleep or even pulling up the covers. When had she become this person?
After her shower, she went searching for Simon and coffee, rounded the corner into the kitchen. A naked man stood at the stove, frying bacon. Holy mother, what an ass!
He turned his head and offered a lazy grin. “Morning, cher. Want some breakfast?”
“Frying bacon in the nude? Are you nuts?”
“Adventurous. I like to think of myself as adventurous.”
Lordy, Simon in jeans and T-shirt was heart stopping. But naked Simon fried all her circuits. Sculpted muscles reigned supreme. A glorious landscape of muscle framed his back, dipping down to his taut…Oh yeah. Nothing like a man with a very firm ass. She was tempted to sink her teeth into it.
As he started to turn, she had second thoughts about him sitting at the table naked. “Please, put some clothes on.”
He plucked an apron off a hook near the stove and tied it around his waist, leaving his very fine ass exposed to her hungry eyes.
Two warm hands cupped her cheeks, then he ran a thumb over her bottom lip. A shiver coursed down her spine. “You’re very beautiful this morning, as always.”
Her eyes closed as his mouth descended on hers. His gentle, sweet kiss, simmered with passion. Rose inhaled his clean fresh linen scent, arousal flooding her. When he drew away, disappointment stabbed her.
Something else stabbed at her as well, hard and prodding. Simon grinned proudly, “Sorry. My general condition when I’m around you. I can’t help but get turned on.”
She shook her head at his antics.
They enjoyed their breakfast and another cup of coffee. He was cleaning the frying pan when he looked over his shoulder. “Stefan needs me to join him on a site today so I’ll be gone for a few hours.”
“Oh, okay. I’m sure I’ll find something to keep me busy. I thought I’d plan us a special night tonight.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
“What are you up to, Rose?”
“I’m ready, Simon.”
“Do you mean…?”
“Yes, tonight I’m claiming you as my mate.” She laughed as he snatched her from the chair and swung her around in a circle.
“You mean it? Really?”
“Yes. I do. And I wanted to make a special dinner for us, so I’m going to ask Anna if she wants to go to the store with me.”
“All right but take Marcus or Cade with you, I don’t want you out alone. By the way, Etienne has his men taking care of your apartment.”
“Thank you, I’ll feel better once everything is here. And, if I can’t get one of them to join us, I’ll make due with what ever is in the house, okay?”
“Thank you. I can’t leave you if I’ll be worried. Look at the time, I need to hurry.” He kissed her passionately one last time and ran to get dressed.
Chapter 12
Danger comes calling
Rose had butterflies gathering in her stomach, tonight was the night everything would change. She was on her way to the corner store with Anna and Marcus, grocery list in hand.
Marcus looked each of his little sisters in the eyes. “I’ll remain just outside the door, keeping watch. If anything looks or smells wrong call out. Travis needs to be stopped,” he growled.
His smoky gray eyes turn liquid silver as his wolf jumped to the forefront. People only saw what Marcus wanted them to see, a well dressed businessman. What they didn’t see until it was too late was the merciless killer he hid so well behind his very cultivated easy going demeanor.
Rose scanned the aisles searching for the perfect ingredients for her special dinner. As she studied a display of steaks, her skin began to crawl and the hair on the back of her neck rose. She spun on her heel to catch Dark Hair glaring before he rushed into the back receiving dock. “Marcus!”
The entrance door slammed open, crashing into the wall followed by a hair-raising snarl. “Where?” He demanded in a guttural growl as his eyes searched the store.
“Through there.” She pointed.
“Russell, protect them.” He ordered as he disappeared into the dark back room.
Rose could hardly breathe as she waited for Marcus to return. A few minutes passed before Marcus walked through the shattered front door. A dangerous glower on his face.
“Did you get him?” Anna asked.
“No. I searched the grounds as well as the perimeter. Are you ladies finished?”
“Ye..Yes, I can make due with what I have.” Rose didn’t want to be anywhere near Dark Hair. She trembled all the way home, will they ever stop stalking me?
“Do you want me to stay with you?” Anna asked once the bags were unloaded in Simon’s kitchen.
She hugged her best friend then rubbed her baby bump. “No. I’ll be fine now that we’re home. You have things to do.” She knew Anna had plans to shop for a crib today with Emma.
“If you are absolutely sure,” she asked a bit more sternly.
“Absolutely, now shoo.” She nudged her toward the door.
Two hours later, she was finalizing her meal plan and gathering recipes when she heard the cry of an injured animal. It sounded close to the house. Two things Rose could never deny, a crying baby and an injured animal. She had seen too much neglect and abuse growing up.
Squinting she searched the area from the safety of the back door. She couldn’t see the poor creature. Stepping onto the deck she listened intently. The pain filled whimper came from her left near the edge of the yard where the low shrubbery began. She took a few steps that direction trying to locate the animal within the tangle of roots and limbs.
The pitiful cries drew her from the deck to within a few feet of the dense shrubs. She craned her neck trying to see into the shadowy depths. One final step brought her within arms length of the largest, thickest ground cover and shrubbery.
A hand clamped over her mouth as another yanked her into the tree cover.
She tried to bite the hand but it held her too tightly. Then she frantically kicked at her attacker’s shins with her heel. She heard a grunt. Bull’s eye! Direct hit. Leaning forward as far as she could, she slammed her head back. All that did was give her a screaming headache when she connected with a solid chest instead of the jaw she’d hoped for.
The last thing she would remember was an angry snarl rumbling from the chest that held her. Then everything went black.
Ah, my head is splitting. She rubbed her temples to alleviate the throb. What’s jabbing me? She wondered as she opened her eyes. Panic immediately gripped her. Heart racing she rolled left. All that did was introduce her forehead to the wall. “Ow!” She rubbed the rising bump then rolled the other direction trying to identify where she was.
Her skin prickled as she had the all too familiar sensation of being watched. Scanning the room she squinted to see into the far corner, which wa
s heavily shadowed. An enormous man stood from a chair, staring at her. Rose scrambled as far as the handcuffs would let her, and pressed herself into the wall. He smelled nasty and looked even worse. Her heart stopped as she saw the crazed look that shone in his eyes.
She couldn’t look away from the intensity of his glare, no matter how hard she tried, or how much she wanted to.
His ragged dirty hair and clothes made him appear even more intimidating—that and the scowl on his grime smeared face. Panic sent her pulse into orbit. Simon was gone and didn’t know she’d been taken. No one knew she was even missing! She was on her own and this man definitely meant her harm.
Recognition dawned. It was Travis, the insane shifter. He was so dirty she hadn’t recognized him at first.
He’s dragged me off somewhere.
I’m going to die.
“It was very accommodating of Simon, to leave you unprotected.” Drool hung at the corner of his mouth.
Her mind raced, wildlife shows always say to not show fear she thought, so she tried indignation. “It’s rude to stare,” she made sure her voice remained steady.
“You’ll keep a civil tongue, mate.” His voice was a deep, thunderous rumble that told her that this guy didn’t play around…
Okay, try another tactic. “I’m not your mate. Who are you?” she countered sweetly.
“Travis. And you are my mate if I say you are.” He spoke through clenched teeth. A large vein ticked on his forehead.
She's eying me like I'm the bad guy, I’m not a bad guy. Travis deluded himself. They want me to kill her but she’d make a fine mate for me. I’ll keep the others off her and test her survival skills. If she lasts a few days out here, she’s worthy of me and I just might keep her. I could live with her in a cabin deep in the swamp where the Le Beaus would never find us... Finally happy. I deserve to be happy. I don’t want money, I want a mate. His fractured mind ranted incessantly.
“Simon’s going to rip your throat out!” She glared at him. “He’ll never stop until you’re a mangy rug on his floor.”
He clamped his jaw and his lip curled back in a sneer. Then stepped toward her menacingly.
She shrieked. High pitched, like an icepick to his eardrum shrieks.
He snapped his hand forward and slapped her hard. “Stop that noise!”
She glared at him and shrieked louder. Her temper tended to get her into trouble.
“Enough!” He drew his fist back like he was going to slug her.
She silenced. Her eyes fixed on him defiantly. Then a devious look passed over her face. She opened her mouth and began to sing at the top of her lungs, that annoying children’s song. What was that lamb chop song called? Oh yeah, The Song That Never Ends. “This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend….”
Come to find out, that song never ends.
Ever.
He clamped his hands over his ears. “Stop singing that.”
“I’ll make a deal with you. Take the cuffs off and I stop singing.”
He hesitated and she started singing again. He immediately took the deal. She’d stop singing, and he’d take the cuffs off, there was nowhere for her to go anyway so it was no skin off his nose.
She rubbed her sore wrists once the cuffs were removed. She’d been unconscious long enough to need the powder room. Stealing her resolve she swung her legs off the bed to stand. Ready for anything, there was no telling how nut job would react to movement.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He jabbed his finger in her face, “I didn’t give you permission to get off the bed.”
Rose had always reacted badly to being jabbed at, her horrible, abusive foster father had done that to her. A lot. She would NEVER be a victim again. She glared up from her place on the bed and growled, “move it or lose it.”
He looked startled.
She snapped her teeth at his finger catching the tip before he pulled back.
“You bit me!” he roared as he wrapped his hands around her neck.
Shit, shouldn’t have done that. She thought too late. Lack of oxygen caused an odd ringing in her ears. Her heart racing, she couldn’t catch her breath. Oh, God this was it.
Simon bounded up the back stairs, he couldn’t wait to hold his mate in his arms. “Rose, I’m home.” Silence greeted him. He searched every inch of the house, with each empty room his panic grew. Rose? Where are you, baby? She didn’t answer his telepathic call. Rose was gone. Disbelief racked him. Why would she leave? She accepted me this morning. This is our ritual night. It made zero sense, she had to be here somewhere.
He snatched his cell phone from his pocket. “Anna, is Rose with you?”
“No, I left her at your house after we got home from the grocery store.”
“Did she mention needing to go anywhere else?”
“She was too scared to go anywhere after Dark Hair showed up at the store.”
“WHAT! What happened? Did he touch her?” The plastic casing of the phone cracked in his grip.
“No, he ran out the back. Marcus went after him but he got away.”
“Would you call Stefan and Marcus, make sure she isn’t with them? I’ll call Dad and Mom.”
“You got it,” he heard a click and dialed his parents. They hadn’t seen her all day. With his heart hammering against his ribs he paced as he waited to hear from Anna.
His phone didn’t have the chance to finish its first ring. “Did you find her?”
“No, hun. They haven’t seen her either. I told them to meet us at your parent’s. Simon don’t take off on your own, we need to keep level heads and organize a search party.”
Helpless frustration felt like a knife piercing his heart. He flew out the door and raced to the main house. Fear had him coated in sweat as he was forced to wait for everyone to gather. It felt like an eternity.
Worried murmurs and cursing began to fill the room.
He couldn’t stand it. He had turned toward the exit when a hand gently touched his arm.
“Simon,” Emma pleaded. “Please. You need to wait for the boys. You know better than to go after a predator blind without backup.”
“You can’t trespass on other packs’ property, son. Give us time to notify the alphas. They will help search for her. If you encroach on their territory without permission the situation will only get worse,” Isaac reasoned.
He snarled but capitulated.
Isaac signaled Emma for privacy. “Anna would you help me with a few things?” Emma asked.
He waited until Emma and Anna left the room before addressing Simon and Cade. “If your mother knew the threat level Travis and his crew presented, neither of you would be leaving this house. Do not act rashly and cause your mother worry,” he commanded.
A few minutes later the women returned loaded with rolled maps. “Isaac, I brought the aerial maps of the entire area. I thought it might help in coordinating the search.”
He kissed her cheek. “You’re always a step ahead, my love.”
They took seats around the desk and flattened the maps to begin planning as they waited for Marcus and Stefan.
As his remaining sons entered he stood, immediately capturing everyone’s attention. “The dark haired assailant from the French Quarter was seen skulking around Rose again today and now she’s missing. He wasn’t seen on the property or scented but with Travis’s gifts that’s not surprising. Cade, I want you to command and lead the team.”
“No. I’ll command the team.”
“Cade has always led us, Simon.”
“Not anymore, Dad, I’m in charge of this operation. If you can’t abide by that, I’ll call my guys from the unit and use them instead.”
“Simon, I forbid you as your alpha to go off half cocked on your own.”
Simon charged snarling aggressively, neither he nor his wolf would submit the leadership of this rescue and he sure as hell wasn’t waiting one more second. That psycho had his mate.
Isaac knocked him to the fl
oor, pinning him in a submissive hold. “I understand your needs, son, never doubt that, but if we are going to get her back unharmed we need to do this the smart way. Use your military training and discipline. We need you to have a clear, and level head.”
He held him pinned until Simon calmed, and then he offered his hand to help him up. Once Simon was standing he gathered him into a rib-cracking hug. The loving touch of his father and his alpha went a long way in calming him and his wolf.
Isaac let his breath out slowly. Simon had more right than any to lead Rose’s rescue. He also had military training on his side. He held Simon’s gaze. “I’m going to trust you to keep a rational head on your shoulders.” Releasing his son he addressed the room, “Simon will lead the rescue team.”
Cade’s voice rose. “I’ll call Etienne. After the encounter in the Quarter he considers Rose a valued friend. If he isn’t notified he’ll take it personally.”
Anna pulled her phone from her pocket. “I need to call Thomas and John, Rose is their second mother and they’ll insist on joining the search party. At the very least they will want to be here when you bring her home.”
“Simon, what do you want each of us to do?” Isaac asked.
“Everyone make your calls, and then dress in black. Stealth is priority. If he knows we are coming he might hurt her. Mom, if there is anything you and Anna can do to hide us from Travis, I would appreciate it. Prepare for an extended search in the bayou. Travis can block your gifts so we’ll be fighting as humans. That means guns and knives.” He directed his gaze at Cade and Anna. “I leave in thirty. I won’t delay any longer.”
“That’s not enough time for them to get here,” Anna cried.
Simon simply looked at her, not blinking. “I’m not waiting. I leave in thirty minutes.”
“She’s their second mother,” she protested.
He turned his head slowly, looking at her with his cold, blue eyes. “She’s MY mate.” His voice was flat, almost a monotone, but it carried weight and authority. He never raised his voice, but he was always heard. He spun on his heel and walked out the door.
