Devin

by Dana Archer

“To me, nothing. I was playing along so they wouldn’t separate us. To the cub, they are a bunch of sick men who want to destroy her life.” She glared at Devin, letting him see all the hate she felt for people like them. “Never. Do you understand me? I will never allow men like that near Molly. And if you want the same, you might as well kill me, because I won’t ever tell you anything.”

  He slipped his hand into her hair, cradling the back of her head. “Don’t accuse me of something when you don’t know all the facts. Molly is not a potential mate for me or an object to sell. She belongs to a human I know. I would never hurt her.”

  Belongs to a human? Was that supposed to be better than belonging to a shifter?

  She laughed, the sound bitter and shaky even to her own ears. “And it’s okay to accuse me without knowing the truth?”

  “What is the truth? Tell me.”

  “The truth?” She waited until he nodded. “Okay. I love Molly, and I’ll protect her with my life if I have to. I will never give her over to a shifter who’ll take her choices away and use her as a breeder.”

  “That’s good to hear, but you need to tell me where she is so I can protect Molly from those threats too. You can’t do it alone.”

  Lena agreed. That was why Molly wasn’t with her. “I don’t know you, and I don’t trust you. Why would I tell you anything about Molly?”

  He pressed his forehead to hers. “I haven’t handled this conversation well, have I?”

  “If your goal was to coerce information from me, then no.”

  He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “I want many things from you. Information and your trust being the top of the list.”

  “Then you failed your interrogation class. You’re not getting either from me.”

  “And while you’re being stubborn, Molly is in danger.”

  “She’s not.” At least Lena hoped Molly wasn’t being threatened.

  Devin pressed his lips to her cheek. “I pray she’s not, but you need to realize I can’t allow you to escape me until you change your mind. Returning Molly to where she belongs is more important than anything.”

  Her chest tightened on a wave of fear, not for herself but for her sisters. With her out of the picture, Gwen was in charge. While Gwen knew how to take care of herself, protecting a child from a bunch of shifters was a lot to expect from a young woman who’d just graduated college.

  Lena considered her choices. Since her injuries seriously impacted her running ability, escaping and meeting them before they left the state didn’t seem likely. That left her only one option. Luckily, the means to put her plan into motion sat next to the bed.

  “Okay then. If you’re not letting me go, may I get a shower?”

  Devin studied her carefully. She blinked hopefully innocent eyes at him and waited.

  “Don’t try to escape me, Lena.”

  “Unless there’s a window big enough for me to climb out of in there, I’m not going anywhere. Besides”—she motioned toward her belly, which was starting to ache—“I’m not in any shape to run.”

  He jerked back and retrieved her duffle bag from the floor. Without looking at her, he carried it to the bathroom, started the water, and rummaged through her belongings, pulling out the travel-sized bath products she used at the gym. He placed the shampoo and conditioner in the stall and faced her.

  “Try not to let the bandage on your stomach get too wet, but the bite on your shoulder is fine.”

  “Bite on my shoulder?” She slapped her hand over the mark. The raised bumps brushed against her palm. Tingles skipped across her skin. She dropped her hand.

  “You…you bit me.”

  He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

  “Yeah, I bit you.” His gaze traveled over her body and left a burning path in its wake. “If you need help showering, call me.”

  She wanted to question him about the bite but decided against it. That would require her to spend more time with him. Time was something she didn’t have. She had to get herself together, ignore her wayward hormones, and act.

  Lena peeked into the bag and grinned, not because of Devin’s offer, but with the knowledge that men were men no matter the species. He had examined everything except the tampon box she’d left in her bag from the previous week. Hiding her cell phone in there had been a brilliant idea.

  “I’ll manage.”

  He stopped her as she tried to squeeze past him. “You’re not going to say anything.”

  The hurt look on his face confused her. She frowned. “About what?”

  He skimmed his fingers over the scar on her shoulder. Awareness skipped through her. Her knees gave out, and he caught her with a hand around her waist. She stared at him, unable to speak. One corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided smile, and she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself.

  “About my…” The grin faded. He lifted her and set her away from him. “Kade went to the store to buy you some clothes. Until he gets back, wear the robe that’s hanging on the door.”

  The urge to ask him what he’d meant to say grew the longer he held her in his heated gaze. She ignored the compulsion and stepped around him, breaking the trance he’d cast over her.

  Before she could make it into the relative safety of the bathroom, he snagged her sports bra with a clawed hand. With one swipe, he slit the back open. She held the top to her chest.

  “And Lena?”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

  He grinned, the tips of fangs making his smile wickedly sexy. “Unless you want me to come in there, you’d better hurry.”

  Chapter 5

  Devin closed the door on the frustrating female before he did something else he’d regret. He’d already messed things up with her, starting from the moment she’d regained consciousness to when he’d almost asked her if she felt the growing connection between them. Maybe it was only lust, but the desire to lose himself inside her was stronger than it had been with any other woman.

  How did he go about fixing his mistake without alienating her for good? His goal hadn’t changed, no matter how much he was drawn to Lena. He needed to know where Molly was being kept.

  He paced the bedroom and listened to Lena as she made use of the bathroom. Each time she sucked in air or released an involuntary gasp, his shame increased.

  With his blood revving up her body’s ability to heal itself, the smaller cuts were already closed. Shiny new skin covered the wounds, but the scars on her belly stood out starkly, reminding him of his sin. After speaking to Lena, he was pretty sure it was the worst mistake of his life.

  Her shock when he’d accused her of being associated with the lion shifters was genuine. So was her anger when she’d thought he meant Molly harm. The sharp tang of her rage had soured her fragrance. If that wasn’t proof enough of her innocence, his cats’ convictions drove home the truth. They saw her as honorable and brave, everything a male could want in a female.

  Though they couldn’t speak to him in words, the animals he housed communicated to him in images and emotions. After three hundred years, he knew their souls as well as he knew his own. They looked at Lena and judged her worthy…so worthy, they wanted to keep her, soul-bond to her, exactly as they’d urged him to do.

  They’d showed him images of Lena petting them, of her massaging his shoulders, and soothing him with words and kisses—all things he never thought to have yet yearned for.

  He’d never regretted taking his twin’s punishment for killing her rapist. It was his right and duty to shoulder Mira’s prison sentence. After Devin left the prison torture chambers with a fragmented mind and three crazed predators sharing his soul, however, he knew he could never take a mate. How could he when he spent every waking moment fighting to maintain his hold on reality? To stop himself from turning feral?

  A female didn’t deserve to suffer in his misery too, but if there were one who could bring him peace…

  Devin glanced at the bathroom door. Had he found his true mate?
Could his perfect match be a petite brown-eyed angel whose connection to Molly was still a mystery?

  Maybe Kade was right in claiming the goddess of their pride had intervened. Devin never would’ve considered Lena as anything more than a human who was somehow involved with Molly. He never would’ve talked to her or touched her if he hadn’t taken the path he had. Lena wasn’t the type of woman he would’ve sought out for a little fun. She was the kind of girl a male worshipped for life.

  She also deserved better than him.

  He squeezed the bridge of his nose. Whether or not Lena was his true mate shouldn’t be his main concern. Molly was. He had to keep his focus on learning her whereabouts from Lena. Asking outright had gotten him nowhere. Threatening her had sickened him. And seducing her? That probably would’ve worked, but it wasn’t right to use their attraction against her.

  What was he supposed to do? He pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes and tried to get his mind to focus on the question. A whirlwind of ideas bounced around in his head. He couldn’t latch on to any.

  The harder he sought to come up with some sort of plan, the more disorganized his thoughts became. He hated how fragmented his mind got at times. It always happened when he needed to concentrate on something important, too.

  Black dots spread over his vision, and his pulse quickened as his frustration mounted. Telltale signs of a lapse. He’d suffered with them long enough to recognize them, and he refused to walk down that path again. His delusions had caused enough damage already.

  Desperate for a way to avert it, he lifted his wrist Lena had fed from, pressed it under his nose, and dragged in a deep breath. Her lingering scent cleared the haziness.

  Instantly.

  His cats were right. She was the key to maintaining his sanity. He didn’t dare assume it meant she was his true mate. There was only one way to tell that—if she could bridge him. The rare occurrence allowed man and beast to merge, bringing peace and incredible strength.

  The shower turned off. He closed his eyes and listened as she dug through her bag. The click of the lotion bottle he’d spied among her belongings came first, followed by a plop as she squirted it onto her hand. Silence stretched as she no doubt rubbed the moisturizer into her tan skin. Would she apply it only to her legs? Or all over?

  His chest rose and fell as he imagined her washing her body. She’d slide her hand lower to smooth white cream over her stomach and thighs.

  His cats shoved the image of Lena spread out beneath him on the bed to the forefront of his mind. She had looked inviting, and she’d wanted him. The luring scent of her desire had been unmistakable.

  He took a step toward the bathroom.

  Stopped.

  He couldn’t go in there. Fisting his hands, he took slow, deliberate breaths and waited for her to finish getting dressed, although he knew her injuries would make it difficult. He glanced at the door. The urge to see to her care hadn’t faded in the time since the accident had occurred. He hadn’t been able to leave her side since. The quick dip in the pond had been pure torture.

  He froze with his hand on the doorknob. If he went in there and saw her naked, he wouldn’t walk away. He’d pull her into his arms, and their bond would draw them together. Lust would flare, the raw and primal kind that didn’t take emotions or circumstances into account.

  A soft thump reached his ears. Had she fallen?

  He flung open the door. Lena shrieked and dropped her phone. She scrambled to pick it up, but he snatched it away.

  A growl crawled up his throat along with a surge of anger. She’d blinked those innocent angel eyes at him, but they’d masked a lie. She’d played him. Like a fool, he’d fallen for it.

  With one hand wrapped around her neck, he held her still while he read the text she’d sent.

  I’ve been delayed but don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Initiate Plan B. If I don’t meet you at the designated time and place, call Vader.

  The answering text sent dread through him.

  Okay but I’m scared. Another man found us. I had to use the present you gave me. We’re safe for now. Over and out.

  He placed the phone down before he crushed it. “Who has Molly?”

  Lena trembled. Her pulse raced under his palm. The scent of her fear incensed him more. He cursed. “They’re in danger. Don’t you get that?”

  She jerked her head to free herself. He eased his grip but didn’t let go. She strained against him until lines creased her smooth brow before relenting and sagging in his hold.

  “Yes, I get it, but I can’t protect them when I can’t even save myself. I tried. Look at what happened to me!”

  He didn’t care that she’d played him. The turmoil in her expression upset him. He tucked her against his chest and rubbed her back through the terrycloth robe.

  “I’m sorry, and I know you have no reason to trust me, but I want to protect Molly too. I don’t want to claim her as my future mate, nor will I allow any other male to do so without her agreement.”

  She tilted her head back. “You’re right. I have no reason to trust you. That won’t change because you told me to.”

  He picked up the phone and sent another text.

  Where are you?

  Minutes passed. There was no response.

  Lena cleared her throat. “They probably turned the phone off.”

  He snarled, the cell crunching in his hand. He dropped it in the sink and fisted her hair. Backing her against the counter, he leaned over her arched body. With his cheek pressed to hers, her fragrance wrapped around him. It pushed the rage back. Lust replaced it. The change came as easily as flipping a coin.

  He leaned back enough to look upon her face. “You’ve made a mistake. Those lions won’t give up until they’ve killed your friend and captured Molly. Please, tell me where she is.”

  She studied him for a long moment with eyes darkened by fear and arousal. He scented both but she shook her head, not giving in to either. “No, I’m not telling you anything. I don’t care what happens to me.”

  He skimmed his fingertips over her jaw. He couldn’t resist touching her. “You’re not getting away from me.”

  A promise or a threat? He wasn’t sure. Anticipation built as he waited for her to make the next move.

  A long moment passed before she bent her head for him. He took the offering. Brushing his lips along the delicate length of her neck, he drugged himself on her scent and the exquisite sensation of soft skin touching his. He gave himself the same lecture he had before he’d come in here. Their attraction was merely the pull of their bond, an attempt by his primal side to urge him into completing the soul-bond. They’d both be better off physically, if not emotionally, if he gave into his cats’ insistence and finished this thing between them. He couldn’t. He knew it. Yet even as he warned himself away from her, he kissed his way to the sensitive spot beneath her ear.

  He was starving for what she could give him. Peace felt so incredibly good, better than the most intense orgasm, better than the joy of the kill, better than anything he’d ever experienced in his life. He wanted to latch on to that feeling. Never let it go. Was that so wrong? At the moment, it didn’t feel wrong. Nothing did. There was only Lena’s scent in his lungs and her soft skin under his lips.

  With the first flick of his tongue, she released a shaky breath, the sound encouraging him to get closer. He lifted her onto the counter and stepped into the space between her spread thighs. A hungry sound crawled from his chest.

  She grabbed his shoulders, neither pushing him away nor tugging him closer. The flexing of her fingers betrayed her inner conflict. So did the mix of scents surrounding them. Finally, she gave him a small shove. “I don’t want this.”

  He inhaled to test the truth in her words. The growing fragrance of her arousal contradicted her statement, but he still put a slight distance between their bodies. He couldn’t quite make himself step back completely.

  Devin ran his fingertips across the top of her thigh. “Don’
t you?”

  She licked her lips. “I shouldn’t want you.”

  “And I shouldn’t want you.” He abandoned her leg and repeated the gentle caress along her neck. “But I do.”

  She studied him without speaking, but he didn’t need the confirmation. The lust hazing her eyes told him she felt the same.

  He slid his hand into her wet hair and skimmed his parted lips to her temple, allowing his breath to heat her skin. “I want to crawl inside you and never”—he flicked the tip of his tongue to her skin—“ever leave.”

  She curled her fingers around the elastic of his sweats but didn’t respond.

  “You want the same. I know you do.” Holding her still, he captured her earlobe between his teeth and gave it a little tug. A shuddered sigh met his efforts, pleasing him. “Don’t you?”

  She pulled on his pants, drawing him back into the space between her legs. She didn’t speak, didn’t move.

  “Answer me.”

  “Yes, Devin. I do.”

  He’d known his name spoken in her husky voice would sound good. He wanted to hear it again.

  He tipped up her chin. “Tell me what you want.”

  “I want…” She linked her hands around his neck and pulled him closer without finishing her demand.

  He drew her closer, aware of her injuries. Her stomach pressed against his chest, and her soft sigh washed over his neck. Oh yes, without a way to touch his soul and take his strength, she needed skin on skin contact. “Tell me if anything hurts. Immediately, Lena. Do you understand?”

  She pressed her open mouth to the base of his throat instead of answering. The tip of her tongue touched his skin. She kissed her way up the column of his neck to his jaw. His pulse quickened.

  “Answer—”

  She nipped his jaw, and his breath rushed out.

  His mate was seducing him. He couldn’t help but enjoy the knowledge that she found his body pleasing. It’d be so easy to give in to her.

  He pressed his finger against her open mouth. “You’re not healed.”

  “No, I’m not, but”—she curled her tongue around his fingertip before easing back—“touching you makes me feel better. Stronger.”