by Christy Poff
Rhiannon dozed again and woke alone. From the position of the sun, she knew she needed to get back to meet with the man she invited for dinner. She looked around her, alone, but blissfully satisfied.
Rhiannon stood, stretched, and then ran back to her cabin. She ran in and took a shower before dressing, then went to start dinner. The next week would be ... What?
The thought of the detective coming to her home for dinner caused her body to betray her. She felt sensations unfamiliar to her and it caused her to wonder if the wolf's prophecy had started to come true.
* * * *
Sean drove out to Rhiannon Drake's cabin and gazed at her corner of paradise. The place blended into its surroundings, hidden by its natural setting. Next to the open space of his ranch, this embodied his idea of perfection.
As he approached the steps leading up to the porch, a quick movement caught his eye as a huge wolf watched him from a distance. He understood why she stabled Andromeda away from here.
The wolf stared at him, then loped off while Sean stared back. Did she realize the danger she lived with? He shook his head.
He climbed the steps to the porch, which appeared to encircle the entire house, the view from it spectacular.
"Would you like to eat out here?” a female voice asked him, a tingle running the length of him while surprising him.
"Whatever is easiest."
"It doesn't matter."
"Inside's fine. I keep looking at this and my dinner will get cold."
Her laugh caressed his soul. His body tightened from his reaction. Take her! he heard the voice tell him. He desperately tried to calm his body and relax, though he found it difficult.
Rhiannon led him inside to the dining room, where candlelight lit an intimate setting.
"I hope you don't mind the ambiance. I'm not usually one to entertain..."
"It's fine,” he croaked, barely able to speak.
He could smell the soft honeysuckle in her hair and found he liked the overly sweet scent. He clenched his hand to hold his desire in cheque. Why do I have to have her? My God, she's gorgeous...
"How do you like your steak?” she asked.
"Right now, I don't care,” he said as his emotions took over.
Sean pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. His tongue explored every inch of her mouth as if he had to commit everything to memory. To his relief, she wanted this, though if she hadn't, it would have made no difference. Sean McMurray wanted this woman and he intended to have her.
"Rhiannon, I..."
"Shh,” she soothed as her hands went inside his shirt. She had to feel him without anything between them. Snaps came apart so her hands could travel over his firm, smooth chest and body.
Frenzy took over as his kiss deepened. Sean feared anything that might break them apart at this moment. A wild, raw emotion pushed him as he pulled her peasant top from her upper arms and down to expose her wanting and desirous breasts to him. He groaned as he traced a path to them, feathering kisses over her skin. He pushed her back to the counter and laid her across it to allow him access.
Sean took one nipple in his mouth and suckled it as his hand rubbed the other. Calluses on his hands aroused her more as she pushed up to him. He moved his hand and she put it back on her nipple. Her hands went to her jeans to unzip them before she slid them from her hips and down. Rhi undid his next.
He groaned to see she wore nothing but the bunched peasant top, which he grabbed and ripped from her. His mouth covered hers and he took her gasp when she felt his hand pry her legs apart.
"Rhi, I'm..."
"It doesn't matter. Don't stop!” she panted. She wanted this more than anything. Has my wolf's prediction come true?
Sean lifted her up onto the edge of the counter. She wrapped her legs around him as his shaft throbbed against her wet, sensitive skin.
"Rhiannon."
"Sean, don't think. Just do it."
"You're sure?"
"Yes,” she screamed.
Sean drove into her pussy and she cried out. Her eyes widened as he swelled inside her. He moved with slow, deliberate thrusts but he couldn't control his raw emotions.
"Forgive me,” he begged as he impaled her. Raw, brutal passion pushed him to pound his cock into her, to make her unmistakably his—his one and only mate.
He heard her cry out as she dug her nails into his skin. She moaned and wept but refused to let go of him. Her body enveloped him and shockwaves surged through them both. One part of him told him to stop and release her, grab his clothes and leave this woman and never see her again. The other part urged him on, pushed him to take her again and again and never let her go. This side won out as he buried his face between her breasts. His hands trailed a path up her back to her shoulders.
He held her in place and allowed her no movement whatsoever. She would not leave him—now or ever. Rhiannon woke up long-stored-away emotions, ones he needed to be whole. He'd finally found her, the woman he wanted to spend his life with.
He took her nipple and suckled it. She arched her back to give him more access, but he continued to hold her tightly where he wanted her. As he nipped at her, he began to move her slowly up, then down in tortuously slow moves on his cock.
Rhiannon cried out his name as he exploded inside her, filling her again. Urges came over her but with Sean's iron grip on her, he helped her to hold them back. Her fingers entwined in his hair, she held his head to her chest and wept again.
She whispered his name as her tears trickled down his face. He looked at her, still keeping his iron grip on her body, afraid she would walk away from him.
"Rhiannon, my lover."
"Sean..."
"Soul mate."
"Soul mate,” she murmured.
The prophecy has come true...
* * * *
They woke several hours later. He'd carried her into the front room and laid her on a furry throw on her couch. He took her again before he lay next to her, his body protecting her. She curled into him and smiled against his shoulder.
"Hey,” he said as she stirred.
"Hi."
"That was some dinner you served up, woman,” he commented, planting a kiss on her head.
"A true first."
"Good."
"What do you mean?"
"That had better be only for one—your mate."
"My mate ... I hope you aren't planning to take off. I couldn't audition anymore like you."
"You'd better not."
"Why?"
"I don't believe soul mates do that once they've found each other."
"We hardly know each other."
"We know each other very well. For instance, I know I like the taste of you and the feel of your nipple against my tongue. I love your body enveloping mine, so I can only do one thing."
"What?” she asked with devilish innocence.
"Drive you to the moon or farther. I want to make love to you and, forgive me for this, but I want to fuck you. I tried to be gentle, but you bring out some dormant need to take what's mine and hold onto it. I have an overpowering need to protect you."
"You're a classic alpha male."
"But one with a stress-filled life. I have no right..."
"Your coming into my life was told to me by another very wise alpha."
Sean looked at her. He saw her eyes—black and piercing, but full of undeniable love. I have to be imagining this...
You aren't.
"What?” he asked, startled.
"You're not imagining this at all."
"You read my mind."
"I can only do it with certain ones. You are the only man I've ever done it with and that's probably because of the last few hours."
"Did we bond or..."
"Mated is the term. We said the words of our own free will."
"What?"
"Soul mate."
"Ah, now I remember."
"You..."
"Shh, my dear soul mate, I have never done this with any
one. Don't get me wrong, I'm not celibate, but you are the only one I've ever..."
"Branded?"
"What?"
"You nipped at me and took me like no other man would dare and I let it happen. You called me soul mate and sparked something in me I can't describe. I want you to love me any way you want and I will be taken by you willingly and begging for more. No other will ever touch me, Sean McMurray."
"If they do, I will kill them."
"Sean?"
"I'll tear whoever touches you apart. I can't put it into words but..."
"Show me then."
"What about dinner?"
"We'll try for breakfast."
Sean let out a low, possessive growl as he leaned over to kiss her. Without warning, he pulled her to her knees, her hands on the back of the couch. He drove into her from the rear with such force, she cried out with pain-filled pleasure. He lay against her and held her breasts, squeezing them hard as he released his seed into her hot, waiting core.
"Sean!"
"What?"
"Again."
"Are you absolutely..."
"Please,” she cried out.
Rhiannon understood her need to be loved like this, even if Sean had no clue as to what hid in his bloodlines. He was her alpha; the only one she could ever bond with and she hungered for his sheer brutal but natural drive. She had been born for him as he had been for her. She loved her soul mate without question and without any need or desire to learn any more about him. She had been told she'd find him and she had.
Sean pumped his seed into her and forced every last drop into her womb. Something deep within him understood his need to have her, while what remained of his rational side needed to get answers about what he had just done to them both.
He couldn't deal with rationality now, not when he screwed the most beautiful and perfect woman to enter his life. All he knew was one thing—the primal instinct to protect his mate.
"Rhiannon Drake, I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I claim you as my mate."
"And I, you."
Somehow, the ritual words fell from their lips as naturally as if they'd been together for years.
Rhi cried out again when he nipped her neck, branding her. No other would ever touch her. Now, they had the hardest part to deal with. She would have to help him to understand the truth about his life, and what had just occurred.
"Sean?"
"Yes, my lovely mate?"
"Do it again and don't hold back."
* * * *
In the morning, Rhi awoke and slipped from Sean's side. She didn't want to disturb him. When she had seen him at the stables, she noticed how tired he looked. She had yet to find out what bothered him, but she would. If what she'd been told was true, Sean needed her help as much as she needed to help him.
They'd mated easily, bound for life without reservations. They had been destined for this and she embraced how her body reacted to him. Sean McMurray came into her life and brought to it what it had been lacking. She remembered her arguments and laughed.
Contrary to her co-worker's opinions, Rhiannon was not gay or celibate. They refused to understand the fact she wanted to wait until the right man came along. He had the day before and they would be together for life.
She went down to the kitchen and stopped at the foot of the stairway. Through one of the skylights, an orange glow brightened the room. She stood in its light, her naked body basking in its warmth—nature in all her glory.
Rhi started a moment, then smiled as she leaned back and into Sean's arms.
"Do you always do this?” he asked.
"It is my house."
"True."
"What do you do at your place?"
"Same."
"Good."
"What do you mean?"
"I won't need to worry if I come to visit."
"No, my lovely mate, when you come to visit."
Rhiannon smiled.
"I had worried you might not have..."
"No, sweet thing, I claimed you last night and I keep my word."
"You won't change..."
Sean pulled her against him. She could feel his cock throbbing against her.
"Does this tell you anything?"
"Why don't you show me more?"
"You minx."
"No, my love, I'm your wolf."
"You're my woman,” Sean avowed as he squeezed her breasts and nibbled at her earlobes. She pushed against him, in need of his touch. She felt her reaction trail along her leg. She wanted him more than anything, and she couldn't wait for seduction. She had to have him, every nerve ending crying out for him.
His hand went between her legs and they moaned together. She grabbed the newel post for support as he inserted two fingers inside her hot, wet pussy. Her body matched his pace.
"Please, Sean, I can't..."
* * * *
"Do you have to go to work, Rhi?” Sean asked as they finally went into her kitchen. It had been a while since he took her at the base of the staircase and Rhi still trembled from the aftershock.
"I take a week off every month. Gives me a chance to take care of some things."
"Like..."
"Wait and you'll see."
"By the way, I never got to ask you the questions I came to see you about."
"Shoot."
"Have you or any of the others noticed anything strange?"
"Like what?"
"Abandoned buildings being used, strangers, or armed guards?"
"No, at least I haven't, and I haven't heard any talk either. Anything like that would have come out at briefings. Why?"
"We have a series of murders, three here in Aspen and others all over the country. The victims are young women, early twenties who are killed in one place, dumped elsewhere."
"The ones on the news?"
"Yes."
"How are you connecting them?"
"By what hasn't been put in the papers or on TV. They've been used as human guinea pigs for, what we think is, a very potent designer drug."
"Not here?"
"Unfortunately."
"Sean..."
Sean's cell phone rang. He went to where he'd left his clothes in the living room the night before and answered it.
"McMurray ... Damn it! Thanks.” He shut the phone off and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Bad news?” she asked as she handed him a mug of strong black coffee.
"Another victim."
"Sean, I'm sorry."
"It's me who is sorry. She's been identified as Natalie Young, one of your..."
"Sean, no. Not Nat!"
He pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried. He kissed the top of her head, her hair silky against his lips.
"I hate to do this, but I have to go."
"Please find who did it. She was a good girl. Never hurt a soul..."
"I'll be back when I'm done."
"I'll be waiting. The key's in the...” She went to the front door, bent down, and pulled a spare key from its hiding place. “The key's yours. If I'm not here, don't worry. I'll be right back."
"Rhi, I may be a while."
"Doesn't matter. Come home when you're through."
Sean smiled when he realized what she had said.
"Rhi, come here,” he said as he held her tight against his body.
"What?” she asked.
"I need to know something. It's all real, isn't it?"
"Very, Sean, we've mated for life. I know it's hard to take it all in at the moment, but you claimed me last night and I claimed you."
"I remember, but what does it mean?"
"It means that short of having the official ceremony, we're married in every aspect of the word. I love you, Sean—my mate—and I will always love the one I've been destined for."
"I know I said the words, but where did they come from?"
"Your heart, your soul, your blood—Sean, I can help you through this."
"You're going to have to."
"I swear I will,” she assured him as she pressed her nakedness against his.
"I don't know why, but I feel at peace. I actually slept last night."
"I'm glad."
He nipped at her neck, a movement as natural now as if he'd always done it. She gazed into his eyes as his lips locked on hers. The kiss deepening as he held her, the musky scent of her body's reaction in his nose, a smell he refused to forget. For once in his life, he appreciated his senses as acute as they had become.
Sean lapped at her neck and moved to her breasts, nibbling around her nipple, her reaction evident.
"Sean, your case..."
"Damn!"
Chapter 5
Sean arrived on the scene, parked his truck and walked to where a patrolman held up the yellow police tape for him. This time, the murdered girl's body had been left near the rear of the library. Sean noticed how remote the site was and made a note to check the other crime scenes. Were they all as remote as this one and the one in the alley?
Hunt joined him and brought him up to speed on the case so far. Sean shook his head.
"Check the other drop points."
"Why?"
"I want to know how many were remote like this one, or the last one where the property owners had been scheduled for long periods of time away, anything peculiar about them."
"What are you thinking?"
"Someone has to be scoping out the area to find out where they can do this without being seen, and the time frame from the drop off to discovery. I want to know if anyone witnessed a strange vehicle in the area."
"I see an interesting angle."
As they talked, they made their way to where a tarp had been spread to cover the murder victim. Sean lifted it and saw the indicators he needed to attach this case to the others—blood from ears and nose, obvious assault, and the needle tracks on her arms.
"Hunt, look at this,” Sean said as he pointed to the tracks.
"What?"
"See anything odd?"
"No ... wait a minute. She doesn't have as many as the others."
"Which could mean whatever the killers are using is a more potent form of it than before. These girls have been test dummies for our perps. What did you find out from the Feds?"
"Nada. If they've got anything going on in the area, it's hush-hush."
