by Ruby Madden
Sophie moaned his name and squeezed him with her thighs and threw her head back against the pillow.
Encouraged by the sounds of her pleasure, he picked up his pace, pounding into her fast and hard, holding nothing back. The bed springs squeaked from their exertions and added extra noise to her moans and his grunts of pleasure.
Desperate to make her feel good, he slid one hand between them and found her clit. He used his thumb to rub firm, unrelenting circles around the slick bundle of nerves.
The walls of her pussy tightened and rippled around his cock. He massaged her clit harder and thrust into her with long, deep strokes.
“Don’t stop,” she cried out, staring up at him with wide, passion-glazed eyes. “Rick. Please don’t stop.”
“Never,” he promised, not about to quit or slow down when she was right on the edge. He wouldn’t ever leave her hanging. Making her come was more important than finding his own release. “Come for me. Let me feel you.”
“Almost… almost there.” The last word trailed off in a ragged moan as she came, her channel clenching around him.
He buried himself inside her with a final deep thrust and gave in to his own release, whispering her name into her hair as his orgasm crashed over him.
The beast inside him roared to claim their mate, for him to do it now before it was too late. Rick struck fast, sinking his fangs into her neck while her body was still in the throes of orgasm. Sophie shouted and clung to him, her body trembling beneath him.
A trickle of her blood filled his mouth even as his saliva seeped into her wound, the exchange of fluids sealing their bond. He eased his teeth from her throat, careful not to cause her any more discomfort, and licked over the puncture wounds.
He gazed down at her, took in her flushed cheeks and the messy hair spread over the pillow, and realized he’d never seen anyone more beautiful. Foreign emotions swelled inside him, his and hers. Their bond settled into place and filled a gap in his soul he hadn’t even realized was there prior to that very moment.
Sophie gasped, likely experiencing something very similar. “Oh my God. I can feel you.”
“I can feel you, too.” Mostly he sensed satiation and contentment, with an underlying thread of curiosity. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what she was curious about. Their bond would take some getting used to for both of them, but he was looking forward to exploring and nurturing the fledgling connection between them.
He leaned in and kissed her softly, so pleased and fulfilled. For the first time in a long time, he had a reason to look forward to the future.
Chapter Eight
For the next few days, they fell into a routine and life was good. Rick drove her back and forth to work, they made dinner together, ate with Toby more often than not, and then made love until they collapsed. She’d never been so happy.
Being claimed by Rick didn’t make her psychic or give her the power to shift. The only noticeable change was a heightened awareness of Rick and the eradication of any shred of doubt she may have possessed about his intentions. He’d claimed her, right and proper, and there was no going back. They were inexplicably tied together, for better or worse. After a lifetime of looking for love in all the wrong places, she’d finally found someone she could count on, someone she could trust.
Naturally she expected it all to come crashing down around her at any moment. If life had taught her anything, it was that nothing good ever lasted.
Every time she started to worry, Rick seemed to sense her mood and did his best to pull her out of the doldrums by telling a bad joke or kissing her silly. The latter worked much better than the former. One touch of Rick’s lips and she forgot everything except the pressing drive to strip off her clothes and climb him like a tree.
He didn’t seem to mind. If anything, his drive to reassert his claim was just as strong as her longing to be as close to him as possible. Being wanted with that degree of intensity was more than a little heady. His desire for her made her feel sexy and confident, which boosted her flagging self-esteem. And it gave her the courage to love him without barriers, not even the cover of darkness she’d always counted on to hide her flaws and imperfections. She’d stood naked and vulnerable in front of him in the broad daylight and seen nothing but raw need in his eyes. The sincerity of his desire went a long way toward soothing a lifetime of insecurities about her body. He didn’t seem to care that her breasts weren’t perky and her stomach wasn’t flat. He wanted her just the way she was and that was pretty damn liberating.
Her newfound confidence made her stand a little straighter, smile a little brighter, and hold her head up high. She found it easier to ignore the looks of curious strangers at work and finally had something in common with Deb.
Shortly before lunchtime on Friday, Rick came into the library carrying another brown bag from the local fast food place. She smiled and waved at him from her position behind the desk and finished checking out the young girl with an affinity for cozy mysteries. She glanced back in Rick’s direction and noticed the two deputies standing behind him. The smile slid off her face and her pulse kicked into high gear.
She rounded the desk and hurried to her mate. “Hey. What’s going on?”
“Hey you. Come over here.” Rick set the bag on the desk and pulled her into his arms for a tight hug. He kissed her cheek and then looked her square in the eyes. “Listen, someone matching Lou’s description was spotted at a gas station on the edge of town. They aren’t sure if it was really him though. The proprietor who called it in said the guy paid at the pump and he couldn’t be one hundred percent sure of what he saw.”
“But it might’ve been him,” she said. “So there’s a good chance the asshole is still lingering around, waiting to strike again.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, he’ll never get near you again. That’s why the deputies are here.” Keeping one arm around her, he turned them both to face the uniformed officers. “These are Deputies Aaron and Andrew Hale. They’re going to hang around and keep an eye on things until the sheriff can review the camera footage from the gas station and nearby traffic cams and figure out what’s going on.”
Aaron nodded at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Sophie.”
“You don’t need to worry about a thing. Nothing’s going to happen to you as long as we’re here,” Andrew added.
“Thank you.” Sophie offered them an appreciative smile, but feared it fell short and probably looked more like a grimace. “I appreciate the help.”
“No problem,” Aaron said.
They looked at each other, some kind of silent twin communication passing between them, and then nodded. Andrew was the first to look away. He glanced at Rick and Sophie. “We’ll be outside. Aaron will take the front and I’ll take the back. You can rest assured that if your ex is in the area, he won’t get by us.”
“Thank you,” she repeated, unsure of what else to say.
The deputies exited the way they entered. She turned to Rick. “What now?”
“Now we wait.”
“Great.” Patience was not her strong suit at the best of times.
“Just go about your business as usual and try to pretend we’re not here.”
She figured that was probably a lot easier said than done, but she would try. “All right. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go have a seat over there and help keep watch.” He pointed at the cluster of chairs in front of the large window. “Why don’t you go and catch Deb up on what’s happening, have your lunch, and try not to worry yourself to death. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled. “It might not even be him, right? We might be worrying about nothing.”
“That’s right.”
“The sheriff will be get in touch with us as soon as he knows something though, right?”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll call as soon as he has information to share
.” Rick kissed her temple and released her. “Go on. Do what you need to do and trust that we’ve got your back.”
“I do.” She lifted up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I trust you.”
Walking away from him was hard when all she wanted to do was curl up in his lap and let him hold her until the danger had passed. Instead, she put on a brave face and did what needed to be done. Explaining the situation to Deb was no big deal, although she tried to downplay it, not wanting to worry her friend. They took turns covering for each other so the other could eat lunch. Choking down a hamburger had never been so difficult. She managed about half before she gave up and pitched the rest in the trash. As much as she disliked wasting food, there was just no way she could eat any more. Her nerves were a mess and her appetite was nonexistent.
She went back to work, covered for Deb while she took her break, and threw herself into checking in returned books, putting them back on the shelves, and waiting on the few individuals who requested her attention. The next time she looked up it was almost two, Deb was knee-deep in toddlers during afternoon story time, and Rick was on the phone talking to someone. Although she was too far away to hear what was being said, Rick’s deepening frown didn’t forecast great things.
She made her way over to him and reached him just as he was disconnecting the call. “Any news?”
“That was Stuart. The guy at the gas station wasn’t Lou. It was a false alarm.” He stood, towering over her, and ran his hands up and down her arms. “I’m sorry I don’t have better news.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s not exactly bad news. I mean, Lou’s probably long gone. If we’re lucky, we’ll never hear from him again.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’d just feel better if he was behind bars where he belongs.”
“Me too.” Even if she never heard from him again, she didn’t like the thought of him being free and having the ability to hurt someone else. “But there really isn’t anything we can do about it unless he shows his face around here again.”
“I almost hope he does,” Rick said quietly. “I’d like nothing better than to teach him a lesson or two he’ll never forget.”
A chill went down her spine at the menace in Rick’s voice. He meant business. Of that she had no doubt. If Lou knew what was good for him, he’d stay far, far away from Pleasant Valley.
“Well,” she said, trying to change the subject. “Since there’s obviously nothing to worry about, why don’t you get out of here and go do something fun until I get off work? You could go for a run with Toby and blow off some steam.”
“As good as that sounds, I’d rather stick around until you’re finished for the day. My beast is still a little unsettled by the false alarm.”
“Suit yourself. If you want, you can find a book or magazine to help pass the time and I’ll check in with you in a little bit.”
She left him by the window, with the midday sun shining in on his back and surrounding him in a golden halo of light. He looked like some kind of mythical warrior standing there, all stoic and brawny, and determined to protect her at all costs.
She loved him so much it hurt.
The sudden realization caused her to pause mid-step and damn near trip over her own two feet. She glanced back over her shoulder at him in wonder. That man was hers and she loved him. She was in love with him. The urge to run to him and share what she was feeling surged through her like lightning, but she resisted. Now was not the time nor place. When she said the words, she wanted to be somewhere private—like at home. That was it. She’d tell him later that night, maybe after dinner. They would have the rest of the night to express their love any way they saw fit. Preferably naked and horizontal.
She resumed her trip to the desk with an extra bounce in her step and a heightened anticipation for the night to come.
Chapter Nine
Rick disappeared in the direction of the bedroom as soon as they entered the house. When he returned, he was carrying a pistol and a box of ammo.
In the process of taking a drink, Sophie froze with the bottle of water halfway to her mouth. “What are you doing with that?”
“I’m going to teach you how to shoot. Come outside with me and I’ll show you how.”
“I don’t know about that.” She didn’t care for guns. They were dangerous and she was clumsy, two things that didn’t mix well.
“You’ll do great. There’s nothing to it really. Just aim and shoot.”
She took a drink of her water and screwed the cap back on the bottle. “I’d probably shoot off my foot…or yours.”
He smiled at her and shook his head. “I’m willing to risk it. I have faith in you.”
She wished she could say the same. She had a long history of bungling things up. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” Rick set the gun and ammo down on the counter. He cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes. “I promise to protect you until my dying breath, but I want you to have the knowledge and ability to keep fighting if something happens to me. Teaching you how to shoot is the fastest way to do that.”
“You shouldn’t say such things. I’d never ask you to take a bullet for me.”
He leaned in and kissed her softly. “You’d never have to ask.”
She lifted up and pressed her lips against his again, kissing him slow and deep. Heat crackled between them. She’d never get enough of him, of his closeness or his taste. It was crazy how much he’d come to mean to her in such a short amount of time.
Long before she was ready, Rick eased away and gazed down at her with all too knowing eyes. “Quit stalling.”
“Who? Me? I’m not stalling. Can’t a girl just kiss her mate without needing an ulterior motive?”
“Of course. You can kiss me anytime you want.”
“Right back at you.” She couldn’t think of a reason why she’d ever turn down affection from someone who genuinely cared about her. Her life had been sorely lacking in tender love and care until Rick came along.
“Come on.” Rick backed up and made a come-hither motion with his fingers. “Just let me grab a couple of things and we’ll be good to go.”
“All right.” She trailed along behind him, watching as he grabbed two pairs of clear glasses, a couple packages of little orange foam things, and some kind of rolled-up papers in addition to the gun and ammo.
“Do you go shooting often?”
“Not really. Mom insisted we learn though. Honestly, Toby took to it more than I did. The safety equipment and targets belong to him.”
“Won’t he mind us using them?”
“Nah. I’ll order him some more before he even misses them.”
“Okay.” She followed him outside into the warm evening sunshine. “So where are we going to set up the target?”
“You want to go for a walk? There’s a great spot a little ways into the forest where Toby already has a target stand set up. All we have to do is pin the target on the stand and it’ll be ready for you to do your worst.”
She reached for his hand and wound her fingers through his. “Lead the way.”
They headed around the house and up the gentle incline behind it. Walking hand in hand, they traveled through the forest for several minutes. Dappled sunlight shone down on them through the canopy of leaves overhead. A soft breeze rustled the treetops and kept her from overheating. It was simple and nice, two things she could use more of in her life.
All too soon they reached a clearing in the trees and she spotted the vaguely human-shaped target stand Rick had mentioned. The thing was dark green and shaped like the head and upper torso of a man. “So,” she said. “This is it, huh?”
“Yep.” Rick dug through the bag, pulled out the target, and unrolled it. He used the clips on the top and bottom of the stand to pin the target in place. “There isn’t much to it.”
He handed her a pair of the safety glasses and a little plastic baggie with two orange foam pieces.
“Put the glasses on now. You don’t need the earplugs just yet.”
“Okay.” She slid the glasses on and watched Rick do the same. “Now what?”
“Now I want you to get a feel for the pistol.” He held out a shiny silver handgun with a handle made of mother-of-pearl. “Go on. It won’t bite. Take it.”
She accepted the gun and turned it over in her hands, looking at it. “Is it loaded?”
“No. Not yet.”
“This thing is smaller than I expected, and heavier. What kind of gun is this?”
“It’s a .22 caliber revolver. It used to belong to my mom. She bought it for protection after our dad was killed and used to carry it around in her purse. I think it would be a good idea if you did the same.”
“Maybe,” she said, not wanting to argue. The thought of carrying around a loaded weapon made her anxious. “Wait. Isn’t it illegal to carry around a concealed weapon?”
“That’s why we’ll go to the courthouse tomorrow evening after I pick you up at the library and fill out the paperwork to get you a concealed carry permit. There’s nothing to it.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“Listen, I get that you’re nervous, but I think you’ll feel differently after you get used to handling the pistol.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
Rick circled around her and pressed up against her back. The heat from his broad, muscular body seeped through her clothes and made her sweat. He pressed his lips against the curve of her throat. “Lift your arms and aim the pistol at the target.”
She lifted the gun with her right hand and pointed the end in the direction of the target. “Like this?”
“Close.” He ran his palm down her left arm, covered her hand with his own, and then lifted it up to join the other. “Try cupping your free hand beneath the hand holding the pistol for extra support. The thumb on your left hand should be directly beneath the pinky of your right.”
