by Lisa Kessler
I pressed my lips together, biting back a reply. With any luck, his decision to allow me to live would lead to his death. Asshole.
“Raven, you’ll lock up?”
She nodded.
“Good girl.” He eyed his bodyguards, and Bo and Blake fell into ranks behind him. As the door closed, Raven’s coworker moved in beside me.
“Hi. I didn’t want to interrupt.” She offered her hand. “I’m Alexandra.”
I took her hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
She stepped back, her voice soft. “Raven really likes you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” I glanced around the bar, but Raven was gone.
“I haven’t know her long, but she’s had a rough time with…” She looked over at the door and back. “Well, I’m just glad she’s not with them anymore.”
“Me, too.” But where the hell was she?
Alexandra took her pad out of the pocket of her apron. “I better get back to work. Nice meeting you.”
She took off and I stood up, following Raven’s scent toward the back storeroom. As I stepped through the doorway, a glass shattered, followed by cursing. I found her in the corner, perched on the edge of a crate of whiskey.
“Go away.” She grabbed a broom and dustpan. “I’m fine.”
I shook my head. “You’re not.” I frowned. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
She huffed out a breath and started sweeping up the remains of a shot glass. “I have work to do.”
I caught her hand. “Did I do something wrong?”
“I can’t do this now.” Her watery eyes met mine. “Please.”
I let her go, my chest constricting. Seeing my mate hurting…fuck. I needed to make it right, but how could I fix it when I wasn’t even sure what was broken?
She hustled through the end of her shift, all business. I stayed at the far end of the bar, my eyes following her every move. Even though she loathed Caldwell, she cared about her customers in his bar. She listened to the ones who needed a kind ear. The regulars tipped her well. And her bar was spotless even when she was rushing a drink order.
While she was busy, I stepped out back to call Sasha.
“Hey, Luke. Everything okay?”
“I’m all right, but I have new information. You need to get back to Reno.”
She sighed. “We’ve been through this. Adam wants me here. I’m your backup whether you want it or not.”
I rubbed my forehead, struggling to keep my cool. “I don’t have much time to explain. There’s a jaguar from Nero headed up to Reno to scout the area. His name is Vance.”
“Vance Park?” She groaned and added, “He’s one of the few people Sebastian trusts.”
“He said Antonio Severino doesn’t know he’s in Sedona right now, so I figure he’s working for Sebastian, but I have no clue what he’s after, and he’s headed for our territory.” I jammed my hand in my pocket. “I’m in here, and there’s a jaguar assassin headed to Reno. They’re going to need you more than I am.”
“Adam’s not going to like this.”
“I know.” I lowered my voice even though my sense of smell told me I was alone. “But Caldwell is poking around Lana’s background. I think he wants leverage against Severino.”
That was all she needed to hear. We ended the call and I slipped my cell phone back in my pocket. Knowing Sasha would be back protecting the Pack in Reno, a small weight lifted off my shoulders. Now I could focus on Sedona and trust my family in Reno would be safe. For now.
I went back inside and waited for Raven’s attention. When the last humans stepped out into the darkness, I got up from my stool and walked behind the counter.
Raven turned before I could touch her. “Let me send Alexandra and Mike home.”
I waved to her coworkers as they left and grabbed a rag to help Raven wipe down tables. “Can we talk now?”
She peered my way, her dark hair framing her face. “We’re either a team or we’re not. There’s no in between for me.”
“We are a team.” I straightened up, giving my ribs a break. “What’s this about?”
She stalked over to me, getting in my face despite our height difference. “It’s about you making a plan behind my back to force me to abandon you when you need me most.” Her voice hitched a little. “You fill my head with all this mate crap, and then I find out you’ve got another plan you didn’t bother to include me in.”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t like that. I just need to know that no matter what happens, you’ll be safe.”
“And you don’t think I need to know that about you, too?”
I sighed. “I’m not planning on missing my shot, but if it happens, I don’t want them to take it out on you.”
“If it happens, then we get out of town. Together.”
I stared at her for a moment. My mate was strong and fearless, and damn it, she was right. I’d been so focused on her safety, I didn’t even consider her feelings. Shit.
“I’m sorry, Raven. I’m new to this whole mate thing, too. Thing is…” My heart thudded like a bass drum in my ears. “Seeing a knife at your throat, I…” My voice cut out, my eyes burning. “I’ve never lost a fight before. My confidence is…shaken.”
She pressed her palm over my heart. Her dark eyes met mine. “You didn’t lose anything. They put us in a no-win situation.”
“If he had hurt you…”
“But he didn’t.” She slid her arms around my waist, and I pulled her close. Her warm breath caressed my chest. “All that shit he said about mates making you weak.” She tipped her head up toward me. “You were right. We scared him.”
She searched my face. “We’re stronger together. We can’t let him shake us.” The corners of her full lips curved. “And if you made a deal with Asher to get me out of town, he would have to kill me to keep me from being at your side.”
Chapter Thirteen
Raven
He bent to claim my lips, and I moaned as my tongue found his. In the months since I’d been in Sedona, I’d forgotten desire and want. And never in my life had passion seared so hot through my veins. I ran my hands up his chest, lacing my fingers behind his neck. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss until my entire body hungered for him.
I’d thought this part of me died the day I was bitten.
He growled against my mouth, “I’d carry you home if I thought my ribs would hold out.”
I chuckled, resting my forehead on his. “How about if we drive there instead?”
“Deal.”
We finished locking up the bar and went out back to the lot. His Mustang already had new headlights and a new windshield. I glanced up at him. “Wow. You’re fast.”
“Nah. Those were the easy parts. Straightening out my bumper is going to be a tougher job.” He went to the passenger door and opened it. “Can I drive you home?”
God, had anyone ever opened a door for me before? Luke managed to keep me talking as he drove us to the ranch, but when he turned out the headlights, dread coiled in my stomach. He took my hand.
I didn’t pull away, but I didn’t lace my fingers with his, either.
He glanced over at me. “I’m not expecting anything.”
“I hate this.” I let go of his hand. “I wanted you, I did. I do. It’s just…”
Luke popped his door, bathing us in the dim dome light of the Mustang. “Me, too, but I waited my whole life to find you. I’ll be here as long as it takes for it to feel right.”
I did not deserve this guy.
Inside his cottage, he went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“Do you have any soda?”
He held up a can of Dr Pepper and a can of Coke.
“I’ll take the Coke.”
He came around and sat with me while we cracked open the sodas. He clanked his can to mine and smiled. “Here’s to the future.”
A future. For so long, I hadn’t allowed myself to picture it. Didn’t want to. But now I was sitti
ng beside Luke Reynolds, battered and bruised, but still certain we’d weather this storm. Where did that kind of confidence come from?
I took a couple of swallows. “How are you feeling?”
He shrugged. “I’m not ready for a yoga class, but if I don’t bend too much there’s no pain. Why?”
Before I could stop myself the words slipped from my lips. “Are you up for a little hike and maybe some stargazing?”
He set his can on the table. “What did you have in mind?”
“The vortex. You can see the entire galaxy up there. More stars than you ever knew existed.” I glanced at the door. “But it’s pretty cold out. It’s probably a dumb idea.”
A crooked smile warmed his face. “Let’s do it.”
I collected the pillows and Luke pulled his sleeping bag and a blanket out of the closet. We stopped for bottled water on the way and made our way to Cathedral Rock. Once he parked, we grabbed our stuff and started hiking. Between the moonlight and our animal instincts, we negotiated the trail without any falls.
At the top, I took the sleeping bag from Luke and laid it out. Then we dropped the pillows.
He smiled and shook his head. “It’s made for stargazing up here.”
I nodded. “When the weather is warmer, they actually have vortex yoga classes up here.” I took his hand. “Can you feel the energy here?”
He was stoic for a minute before he tipped his head down toward me. “Yeah, it’s just below the surface, primitive and untamed.”
“Exactly.” My heart pounded. “When I first came to Sedona, I came up here and wished on the stars. It felt magical.”
“What did you wish for?”
I shrugged. “Dumb things. Money, a job, a nice guy. Nothing spectacular.”
“You think wishing works?”
I hadn’t thought about it before, but I did have a job, and I was holding Luke Reynolds’s hand. I chuckled. “Maybe it does.”
We lay down on our backs and pulled the blanket up over us. I probably would’ve frozen to death when I was human, but now I ran hotter, plus Luke seemed to raise my body temperature a few notches.
He held my hand, his attention on the tapestry of stars above us. “This was a good idea.”
I glanced his way. “Except for the cold wind.”
His head turned. “I run a little hot anyway.” He stared up again. “Full moon in a few days. Where does the Pack shift?”
“We usually leave our cars in the Bell Rock parking area and hike a couple miles out, then shift.”
“And Caldwell?”
“He’s there, too. Bo and Blake usually change first and guard him while he shifts. Then we run.”
He lifted my hand to his lips. “This is your last run with this Pack.”
“One way or the other.”
He rolled on his side. I did my best not to let on that I noticed he winced. “Remember how I confessed my confidence is a little shaken?”
I turned so I was facing him. “Yeah.”
“If this is going to work, we have to trust that it will. We have to trust each other.”
“Trust is tough for me.” I stared into his eyes.
He nodded slowly. “I know, but I’m asking you to trust me anyway.”
“I don’t know how.”
He cupped my cheek. “There’s no manual.” His gaze wandered over my face. “But I’ll start. I’ve only known you a few days, but your laughter heals me. When I wake up, I want you to be the first person I see, and when I ice Caldwell, I want to take you back to Reno to meet my Pack.”
He kissed my lips, his skin warm in spite of the cool winter wind whipping past us. His whisper would have been lost on me before, but now I heard every word. “What do you want, Raven?”
I tried to speak a couple of times, but the words caught in my throat. Instead I kissed him, hard, all my pain, my fear, and my desire blended into a tempest of want.
Luke. Luke was what I wanted.
I rolled him over, our tongues entwining together until my body ached for the same closeness. He growled into the kiss, and I pulled back. “Oh God, am I hurting your ribs?”
He smiled, his arms still tight around me. “What ribs?”
I grinned and caught his lower lip between my teeth, my hips pressing against his, and when his erection pulsed against me, there was no fear. I surrendered to the yearning for closeness. For Luke.
Pushing his shirt up, I wished like hell I could feel his skin instead of the medical tape. His hands slid under my jacket and inside my shirt. My nipples tightened as his fingers explored my skin.
He whispered, “Are you too cold?”
I rose up over him, popping the button on his jeans. “What cold?”
He grinned and rolled me over so he could be on top. His lips trailed down my neck, his warm breath tingling against my skin. “I don’t have a condom.”
I moved my fingers to his zipper. “I’m on birth control.”
Once his fly was open, I slid my hand inside, stroking him. His teeth brushed my shoulder as he fumbled with my jeans. His lips teased the sensitive skin just below my ear. “You make it tough to concentrate.”
“Good.” I lifted my hips so he could push my jeans down. In spite of the dropping temperature, my body was on fire. Once our pants were off, he settled between my legs.
The tip of his erection brushed against me, making me writhe to get him inside me. His hand slid between us, his rough fingertip toying with me until I gasped his name. He dipped his finger into me and groaned into the kiss. I ran my hands down his back to grip his ass tight.
That was all it took.
He drove his hips forward, connecting our bodies. For a second, time stopped. We were all that was left. He broke the kiss and stared down at me, unspoken questions in his eyes.
My heart pounded against my ribs as I lost myself in the ocean of his eyes. “You’re mine,” I whispered, wonder in my voice.
He nodded slowly, his hand caressing my cheek. “I am.” He kissed me as he pumped into me, deep and slow. “And you’re mine.”
Our tongues swirled together, savoring, like the slow grinding of our hips. My fingers tightened in the back of his hair. The yearning for release grew. He pulled back, growling my name as his thrusts came faster.
Hearing my name on his lips while the endless blanket of stars surrounded his head dizzied me. I was drunk on the pleasure, the freedom, and the safety of his arms. Sex had never been like this for me. Perched on the edge of oblivion, I didn’t want it to end.
He rocked up onto his knees, gripping my thighs as he ground deeper into me, his gaze locked on mine. “I wish I could make this last all night.”
“Me, too.” I gasped, my inner muscles starting to contract around him.
He freed one hand, his fingers splayed across my abdomen as his thumb toyed with me until I cried out his name. His thrusts carried me through the aftershocks until he finally surrendered, exploding with his head tipped back toward the stars.
I stared up at him, trying to memorize this moment. Every sensation. Making love on a mountain in the moonlight, under the galaxy of tiny lights. Wild and free. And deep inside me my wolf howled, claiming her one true mate.
And the bond between us pulled tighter.
Chapter Fourteen
Luke
When I could move again, I forced myself back so I could help her get her pants back on before she froze. Once Raven was protected, I got my jeans on and lay beside her. She rested her head on my chest as I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her hair.
At the top of the red mountain, in the vortex of energy, alone with the stars, it was easy to imagine the danger had passed. There was so much I wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come.
So I held her close, waiting for my pulse to fall back into a normal rhythm. Raven lifted her head. “That was amazing.”
I ran the back of my finger down her cheek. “It’ll be even better when we’re not freezing our asses off.”
&nb
sp; She laughed, her dark eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “I wish I had met you sooner.”
“You may not have liked me.” I slid my hand up her back. “I had some anger issues.”
She raised a brow. “Why?”
“It sounds stupid now, but Malcolm, my first Alpha, made me and my brother quit playing sports when we got to high school. I spent most of my teen years bitter and angry. When it exploded into fights and brawls, his son, Adam, put me to work on his horse ranch.”
“Why did Malcolm make you quit?”
“We were too fast, too strong, and too aggressive.” I shook my head. “I get it now. Even in middle school we were getting a reputation. Teams would gun for us, double-team us, and high school would have been worse. Plus, if we got injured and they took us to a hospital…”
“One blood sample could’ve exposed shifters.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “But I don’t think Malcolm realized that his decision would affect us the way it did. Some kids were pissed we weren’t playing for the high school team. They knew we were good, and we couldn’t tell them why we quit, so we got called everything from chickenshits to pretty boys. Logan had his guitar and channeled the rage into his music, but I didn’t.”
I met her eyes. “I channeled it into punches.”
“You could’ve killed a human kid.”
“Maybe.” I ran my finger along her jaw. “Adam made sure it didn’t come to that. He saved me when my parents couldn’t seem to.”
“Will I get to meet Adam?”
“Definitely.” I kissed her hair, my lips curving into a smile. “I already told him about you. He’s looking forward to having us home.”
“What’s your home like?”
“Nothing special. I had an apartment, but I gave it up when I moved here. Maybe we can find one together when we get back to Reno.” I paused and lifted my head a little. “When this is over, do you want to stay here?”
“No,” she answered quickly. “I don’t have any good memories here.”
I hated seeing the pain in her eyes. Catching her chin, I waited for her gaze to find mine. “We’ll make new memories.”
“I’d like that.” She rested her head on my chest again. “Any idea when we’ll go?”
