by Tl Reeve
“Totaled. It’s a mangled pile of metal.”
Despair filled her. Now what would she do? “Oh.”
“Thorne did happen to bring your bag. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t have anyone.”
A low sound, almost like a growl, emanated from him. Or, at least, she thought it had. “You’re alone?”
“Yes.”
He cursed. “My home is your home. You may stay here if you wish. I’ll have Thorne assess your vehicle again. Maybe he can fix it or has something suitable to replace it with.”
“Thank you.” But where would she go? Even if she had a car, Javier was out there somewhere waiting for her to make her next move. She glanced at the man, then back at her plate as she began to eat again. “Do you have any idea where Javier went?”
She didn’t understand her willingness to trust this man in front of her. Javi paid off most of his friends with bribes and kickbacks. For all she knew, this man had been on the take too. Yet, when she met his gaze once more, all she saw in his gray depths were a sense of safety and warmth.
“I have my men scouring the area as we speak. If he’s still around, we’ll find him.” He shifted closer to her and laid his hand on her leg. “You need not be afraid of me or my deputies. We will protect you.”
Javier said the same thing to her in the beginning before beating the shit out of her. “No disrespect, Lance, but I’ve heard it before, and look at the situation I’m in.”
He grunted. “Point taken.” Instead of backing up, he got into her personal space. His gaze locked with hers. His lips inches from her mouth. “I aim to prove you can trust me, Amity.”
Her breath hitched. The scent of his aftershave swirled around her, ensnaring her in the heady smell of wilderness and spice. She licked her lips and swore she heard that rumbled sound again. “Trust is hard to come by.”
Lance brushed her nose with his. “I understand.” He stood abruptly and pointed to her plate. “Eat as much as you can. You’ll need it in order to heal properly.”
“Thanks.”
* * *
Lance stomped from the room. What the hell had he been thinking? Oh, that was right, he wasn’t. Being close to Amity forced his blood from his big head to his not so little one. The wolf needed to mark her in some basic way, claiming her for others to see. So, he did something stupid, he rubbed her nose. How fucking old are you again? He berated himself all the way down to the kitchen where his sister Lucy sat drinking coffee.
“Why aren’t you at the diner?”
“And miss the fun?” She gave him a mischievous smile. “Besides, who else would have cooked the girl breakfast?”
She had a point. “She’s eating now.”
“Good. What about everything else?”
He grabbed a fresh cup of java. “She’s going to run. I feel it. Whoever this Javier guy is, he’s done a real number on her.”
Lucy snorted. “You think?”
Sitting at the table, he gazed out the kitchen window overlooking his property. The forecast had been for three to six inches of blowing snow. They got eight, and unless you were a wolf, the town was pretty much shut down. The only reason Lucy had opened the diner was to serve the deputies out in this mess. “She has no one.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. A girl like her, getting taken advantage of by a man…could have seen the writing on the wall. Bet you he sang her a song about himself. Then, when she got right in the middle of it, bang. His personality changed. He allowed her to see who he really was.”
Lance thought the same. “He needs his ass kicked and then put in jail to rot.”
“What does the wolf want?”
“To rip him into pieces and leave him as carrion for the birds.” He took a sip of his coffee.
“She’s your mate then?”
He nodded. He didn’t have to say a word to anyone about his mate. The pack would accept her as they accepted him. First time a human got the honor of being an alpha’s mate though. He didn’t know the proper protocol for this. Of course, when she healed properly, he’d offer the bite to change her, until then, he’d keep her close while trying to find the bastard responsible for hurting her.
“’Bout time.” Lucy grinned. “Mom and Dad would have liked her.”
While he’d been out searching for Javier, Lucy stayed with Amity. She didn’t have to do much; the girl slept the whole time, but he could tell she liked the girl. She wouldn’t have stayed the night if she hadn’t felt some kind of a connection to her. His sister stayed away from most females, and with the backbiting of a certain she-wolf in his pack, he didn’t blame her. “I think so too.”
“You’ll have to deal with Sasha.”
Lance curled his lip. The she-wolf was a pain in his ass. The woman—and he used the term loosely—treated any female even remotely interested in him like shit. “She needs to be put in her place.” He’d tried several times, but she acted as if he were being kinky with her and got off on it. He didn’t like the idea of banishing his wolves, but he’d make the exception for her, especially if she started shit with Amity.
“Casper got into a row with her in the diner the other night. She kept interfering with his date.”
“Fuck.” His beta hadn’t said a word to him. “I’d hate to kick her out of the pack. It’s the last thing we’re ever taught to do.”
“Brother, your tender heart is going to get you into trouble one of these days. Sasha needs to be banished. She needs to learn to fend for herself. She causes too much strife in your pack.”
“Our pack.” He reminded her. “You’re right. When the weather passes, she will be released.”
Lucy nodded. “I should get back to the diner. I’ll bring dinner with me on the way home.” She carried her mug to the sink. “If we’ve learned anything from our last visitor, don’t press her too hard. Let her come to you.”
Well aware of whom she spoke of, he agreed. Their last guest had come to them from another pack, seeking shelter from oppression. She thrived under them, and at one point, he thought of her as a potential mate for him.
However, Sasha under no uncertain terms pushed their newest wolf away. She did everything in her power to make the girl as uncomfortable and unwelcome as she could. He punished Sasha for her misspoken words and deeds, but it did nothing to quell her thirst for pain. Perhaps it was time to put the wayward she-wolf out.
“See you tonight.” He stood and followed her out the side door. “Be safe. If you see anyone unusual, call me right away. This guy is dangerous.”
Lucy hugged him tightly. “I will. Now, go upstairs and get to know your mate. Find out her likes and dislikes. Use this time to bond with her. God knows the poor thing could use a little kindness.” His sister reminded him of their mother from her curly auburn hair to her expressive blue eyes. The way she smiled when she was about to get into trouble. Their father had his hands full with their mother and he suspected whoever mated Lucy would have the same.
“Be safe.”
She climbed into her four-wheel-drive jeep and started it up. “I will.” Then pulled out of his driveway and started back for town. At least the county brought the trucks out to clear the roads. They’d be house bound for weeks if they depended on the city to do it.
Once Lucy’s jeep was out of sight, Lance walked back into the house. He should be going over evidence and searching the data banks for Javier. Instead, he wanted to be around his mate. The magnetic pull to her demanded he put work aside for now. Climbing the stairs two at a time, he arrived at her door and knocked. When she didn’t answer, he entered.
The bed was empty. The tray had been placed on the table near the window. The clothes Ashley, one of the little omega wolves in the pack, had brought over for her were missing. Blood rushed to his groin as he listened to the shower running in the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom. Images of water caressing her lean body filled his mind. Her nipples puckering as each drop pelted the sensitive b
ud. He imagined the lush form of her ass as water cascaded down her spine and over her rear.
A groan of pleasure filled his chest. His mouth watered as his dick thickened behind the fly of his pants, pressing painfully into the zipper teeth. Shit, he should be ashamed of himself. Instead, the arousal blooming inside him spiked. He rubbed himself through his jeans, trying to alleviate some of the ball aching pleasure-filled pain. This is ridiculous. You don’t stroke your cock like some fucking pervert. What the hell is wrong with you?
Mate.
He adjusted himself with a hiss. Desire and lust pounded through his veins. If he kept going, he’d end up causing a mess, in more ways than one. He crossed the room to the door and knocked. “Amity, if you feel up to it, why don’t you join me downstairs. We could…get to know each other.”
Yeah, get to know each other horizontally.
Fucking asshole. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth willing himself to gain some control over his naughty thoughts.
“Uh, sure. I’ll be down in a few minutes.” Shit, she was naked behind this door. All he’d have to do was open it, and he could strip and claim her.
“See you downstairs then.” Before he could do anything stupid, he stepped away from the door and headed for the stairs. He needed to get his head on straight if he wanted any chance with her.
4
She needed to get out of there. The shower helped her think clearly and cleaned out some of the cobwebs in her brain. If Javier was out there, he’d be able to find her. Being stationary made her an easier target for him. Not to mention staying would put Lance on Javier’s radar. The man would be rabid for blood. It wouldn’t matter that Lance was the sheriff. Law enforcement didn’t mean shit to her asshole ex.
She dressed in the clothes left for her and sighed. The soft fabric eased her aching bones and didn’t chafe her sensitive skin. There’d been several pieces of glass in her hair, and the knots were atrocious as well. She tried not to think about how much worse this could have ended up, but memories of the cold barrel of the gun being pressed to her forehead…she couldn’t shake them.
So, she did what she always did: put it in the back of her mind and focused on what she could do. She combed out her long hair then spun it into a bun and secured it to her head.
Glancing in the mirror, she took in her swollen eye. No amount of makeup would ever cover the large purple and black bruises. She blew out a breath and flipped off the light switch. Might as well get this over with. She walked out of the bathroom and eased down the stairs. The soft tones of a sports game filtered up the hall toward her. Seems as though Lance liked football. She entered the room and cleared her throat, unsure what to say to him. He lounged on a nearby sofa, his leg resting on one of the arms as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Hey.” He sat up. “You feeling better?”
“A little.”
He patted the cushion next to him. “Have seat.
“Who’s playing?” Compelled by something she didn’t understand, she sat beside him.
“The Lightning and the Cavalry.”
“Who’s winning?” She folded her hands in her lap. Since the intimate moment between them in the bedroom, she didn’t know how to act. The memory of his warm breath on her lips. The scent of his cologne. It overwhelmed her. Sent her dormant libido into overdrive. She tried to rationalize it. Called it a hero complex. He saved her. Cared for her. It didn’t mean anything. Nevertheless, when she glanced at him, she couldn’t get the idea of pressing her lips to his to find out if they were as soft as they appeared, out of her mind. To find out if he tasted as good as he smelled.
She shivered.
“Shit. I forgot.” He grabbed a blanket for her. “Come here.”
He meant for her to lean against him? She opened her mouth and a squeak fell from her lips. She sputtered for a second then tried again. “I’m fine.” Although she didn’t sound fine.
“Get over here. I promise I won’t bite.”
Yet. The thought surprised her. “Um, only if it won’t make you uncomfortable.”
“You’re fine.” He kicked his feet onto the coffee table, giving her a L-shaped position for her to snuggle into. “Promise.”
“Okay.” She pressed into his body and tensed. Heat bloomed where she touched him. She groaned. She hadn’t realized just how cold she’d been until that moment. “Wow. You’re warm. You’re not sick, are you?”
He laughed as he threw a blanket over her. “No. I’m not sick.” He draped his arm over her. “Naturally warm, I guess.”
“Really?” Amity yawned.
“You can sleep. In fact, you need it. Don’t worry.”
“It’s your warmth.” She chuckled. “It’s making me drowsy. You’re very comfortable.” A drunk sort of tingling flowed through her, leaving her limbs heavy.
“Thanks.” He ran his thumb up and down her arm. “So, what do you do?”
“Pre-school teacher.” He lulled her into a sense of peaceful calm. Made it normal for her to sit and talk about herself after being stuck in a hellhole.
“Noble profession. Sitting around with rug rats all day. Dealing with poopy butts and snotty noses.”
She glanced up at him. “Did you just say poopy?”
He shrugged. “Suppose I did.”
“You’re interesting.” The man confounded her. On one hand, he appeared sharp as a tack. On the other, intense. Then, he said something like “poopy butts” and her perception of him changed again.
“Oh?” He turned slightly giving her his full attention. “How?”
“You come off as someone not to fuck with, but you also have a soft side. Do you have nieces and nephews?”
He shook his head. “No. My sister hasn’t settled down yet. But there are a lot of kids here in town. I enjoy being with them.”
“I like kids too.”
“Do you ever see yourself having any?” He grabbed his beer from the table and took a swig.
She shrugged. “I thought I wanted them. Now…after everything, I’m not sure I even want to fall in love again.”
The rumble intonation he had a penchant for making vibrated in his chest. “Javier is a fucking asshole. You shouldn’t base the rest of your life off him. He’s not worth your time.” The fierceness and conviction in his words somehow didn’t surprise her. That they were directed at her did.
“See? There you go again.”
He let out a breath. “Sorry. I hate men who treat women like shit. They should be put out of their misery without even a second thought.”
“Don’t be sorry.” She glanced at the television. “Excuse me if I sound ungrateful, but why do you care?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
Because no one cared.
He gave her a small grin. “I understand this is difficult to comprehend, however, some people aren’t assholes. Some people are genuinely good.”
They sat there for a moment in silence while the game played out. She couldn’t concentrate on it. Not with his warmth engulfing her. Or the ferocious protectiveness surging from him. She could see herself falling for a man like Lance. Trust didn’t happen within a five-minute conversation, but she honestly thought she might be able to. Which should have had her running for the damn hills.
“You’re thinking awfully hard.” He ran the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “What’s going on in your head?”
“I’m wondering how it is. I’ve only known you for a few hours and I already trust you.”
His intense stare darkened. “Go on.”
“It shouldn’t be possible. I should be chiding myself as a fool for even thinking such things after everything.”
“You can trust me.” With a gentle ease he didn’t seem capable of, he slid her onto his lap. Lance bent his head and brushed his lips over hers. “I’d never hurt you.” He took her mouth in a commanding kiss, leaving her breathless and lightheaded.
Her fingers curled into his shirt as she clung to him. The kiss was all
tongues and teeth. He nipped and sucked on her bottom lip before drawing her tongue into his mouth to tangle with his. Amity whimpered. He tasted better than she’d even dare to imagine. The hops from the beer mingled with masculine heat and desire. She moaned, pressing to him. She needed more of him—had to get closer to him.
He tangled his hand in her hair, pulling it loose from the bun. “So fucking sweet.” He tilted her head to the side and mouthed her neck with wet kisses. He nibbled and lapped her sensitive skin, turning her on beyond reason. Amity swiveled her hips, rubbing herself against the hard length of his erection. She shouldn’t be doing this. However, for every reason why it was bad, she had one saying it was okay to give over to him. His fingers skimmed her side and she whimpered. Javier never touched her with such care before. He’d always been rough. Take, take, take. She stiffened in his arms.
“Hey?” He pulled back slightly and pushed a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “Where’d you go?”
Embarrassment suffused her. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be, darlin’.” He kissed her again. “You’re addictive. I have to remember you’re also healing.”
She covered his mouth with her index and middle fingers. “I haven’t been with Javier in a long time. He’s been tracking me since the day I walked out.” Admitting the truth cost her a tiny bit of self-preservation. But if she learned anything in the last few days, it was she couldn’t do it on her own. She didn’t have the wherewithal to do so. She pulled her shirt off.
“Fuck.” He slammed his mouth on hers as his thumb rubbed across her nipple. “Too damn sweet for your own good.”
She shivered at the rough edge of his voice. “You make me feel wild. I just met you. It shouldn’t be possible.”
“It is, darlin’,” he murmured, pressing kisses to her collarbone. “Sometimes a soul knows what it craves. You’re perfect.” He pushed her back gently before burying his face between her breasts. Then he ran his tongue along the edge of her bra before sucking on her exposed flesh. She gripped his hair, holding him to her. Her body responded to his in ways that scared the shit out of her, but turned her on too.
