Nash leapt to his feet and hurtled toward the door, aiming a flying kick at the lock. It bust right open, catapulting him into the room.
There was Kenzie, standing in the middle of her living room, and wearing a weird white dress. Next to her was a nasty looking guy, with a pink, puffy face and small eyes, wearing some kind of formal jacket. Opposite them was another guy, reading something from a piece of paper.
“Nash!” Kenzie screamed. “You’re okay!”
“What’s going on here?” he demanded.
“These bozos told me they’d kidnapped you. They had a photo of you unconscious and tied up. They told me that I’d never see you again, unless I agreed to marry Art. So that’s what I was about to do.” She stepped forward and slapped Art right across the face. “How could you do that, you fucking prick?”
Nash glared at the two men, fighting to keep his wolf inside. And then Art pulled a gun.
“So your boyfriend’s come to the rescue,” he sneered. “This doesn’t change anything. You’re going to marry me right now, and I’m taking the land that’s rightfully mine and my family’s. Sign your name, Kenzie. I won’t ask you again.” He raised the gun and pointed it right in Nash’s face.
Kenzie turned pale, her eyes huge and swimming. But Nash could see something that nobody else could. A huge brown bear, bounding through the front door, and landing at Art’s side with a ferocious growl. Art spun around and pointed the gun at the bear. Then Nash’s wolf burst out of him, eyes flaming with fury. Art turned again at the sound of cracking bones, and his eyes widened with terror.
“Where the hell did they come from?”
“Which one are you gonna shoot, Art? I don’t like your chances either way,” Kenzie said.
“Maybe I’ll shoot them both,” he yelled, his voice high and panicked, staring from one to the other. They were both huge, powerful animals, as high as his chest, their lips drawn back, revealing sharp, white fangs.
“And you’ll be dead,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Stop right there!” came a voice from the doorway. Art’s body jerked toward it. And the gun went off.
17
Walt fell to the ground. Kenzie screamed, and Art dropped his weapon. In the same instant, Nash leapt at him while the bear pounced on the judge, and they crashed to the ground, each human throat caught in a set of deadly fangs. Nash shook Art until he felt his teeth breaking into his flesh, and tasted the metallic tang of his blood. He wasn’t planning on killing him; he just wanted him to suffer for what he’d done to Kenzie. But if he bit him any harder, he’d be dead. Reluctantly, he relinquished his grip and sank his teeth into the soft meat of his thigh instead. Art screamed in agony, but Nash didn’t show him any mercy, biting him on both thighs, and his big flabby ass for good measure.
When he next looked up, the judge was lying face down, wailing, while the bear stood on his back, shaking him by the scruff of his neck, as easily as if he was a ragdoll. Nash decided his work was done. He shifted back into his human form, dressed, and stuck the gun in the waistband of his pants. Then he went over to see how Walt was doing. Kenzie was crouching over him. He’d been shot in the shoulder, but he was conscious, and didn’t look to be in any immediate danger. Kenzie turned around as he approached, her eyes full of relief.
“Shall I call an ambulance?” she said.
“What you think, Walt – is that a good idea?” Walt shook his head weakly. “No, I think it’s better if he does it himself. What do you say we get out of here for a while?” Kenzie nodded vigorously. He squeezed Walt’s uninjured shoulder.
“Think you can put a convincing story together if I leave you with Art’s gun?” Walt nodded. Nash passed him the gun, then he gave a long, low whistle, and the big brown bear raced through the apartment and darted past them.
Kenzie and Nash leaned against his car for a moment, staring up at the full moon.
“I can’t believe that just happened,” she said.
“Me neither. What’s this land your cousin’s so keen to get his hands on? I sure hope it’s something special for all the trouble that’s gone into it.” She sighed.
“There’s oil down there. And that’s why I’ll never sign it away. It’s near some sacred native land, and there’s no way I’m having the corporations move in and poison the water supplies and ruin everyone’s lives.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“It’s been in my family a long time, and I can’t sell it, but if my husband owns it too, he can decide to lease it out. Which is, of course, what Art was planning to do.”
“What an unprincipled asshole. I would never do that, Kenzie.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” she replied, and her face was transformed by a radiant grin.
He pulled at the sleeve of the weird dress she was wearing.
“Are you wearing anything under this?” She looked at it in surprise, as if she’d forgotten she was wearing it.
“Just my usual clothes,” she said, tearing it off. “Art forced me to wear it, so we’d have a wedding photo. Can you imagine – in my apartment?” They both laughed.
Just then, a man appeared in Kenzie’s peripheral vision. She spun toward him. Jackson was strolling along, casually.
“Do you guys have time for a beer? Maybe some food? I’ve worked up a hell of an appetite,” he said.
“I knew it was you!” Kenzie said, flinging her arms around him.
As the sound of distant sirens reached their ears, they jumped into their cars and drove off, in the direction of downtown Hope Valley.
18
The three of them piled into a booth in Hope Valley’s retro diner.
“Thank you, Jackson. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t turned up then,” Nash said. “But how did you even know we were in danger?”
“I don’t know. Something just didn’t feel right, I guess.” He shrugged, self-deprecatingly.
“And thank goodness Walt got himself shot,” Kenzie said with a giggle.
“Well, he got paid $30,000 for his trouble,” Nash said. “What a loser.”
“Is someone going to tell me what was going on back there?” Jackson said, once they’d ordered.
They explained, piecing together all the missing information – about Kenzie’s cousin’s obsession with marrying her, and the bounty on her head. About Walt being matched with her on Shiftr, and recognizing her from the Wanted poster. About Walt agreeing to shoot Nash with a tranquilizer dart to keep him out of the way while he abducted Kenzie, and sending messages from his phone, all the time believing that it was for his own good.
“That’s some story,” Jackson said. “As soon as I met you, I thought you and Nash would be good together, but who would’ve thought that you’d be bringing a trail of chaos with you?” He gave her a wink to show he was kidding.
“I’m sorry. I desperately hoped that I’d left all that behind in Fairfield. And I might have done, if it wasn’t for one corrupt, and spectacularly dumb sheriff.”
“I almost feel sorry for him. He’s going to have a hell of a time putting together a plausible story for his deputies.”
“I don’t. He got what was coming to him.”
Nash took Kenzie’s hand across the table.
“What made you think this little fireball and I would be a match?”
“I knew you needed a strong woman, Nash. And I could see that you’d been having a hard time, Kenzie. I felt like Nash would be the right combination of fun and protective.” He laid his hand on top of theirs. “I don’t know whether you’re aware, but I care about this young man a lot. He’s the son I never had. And I hope that, in time, you’ll become like my daughter, Kenzie.” Kenzie’s eyes glistened with tears, and she leaned forward and kissed Jackson on the cheek.
“I’d like that a lot,” she whispered. Jackson cleared his throat.
“Now, what’s this Shiftr thing you’ve been speaking of?”
“Give me your phone,” Nash said with a grin.
�
�Do you want to go back to your place and check everything’s okay in there?” Nash asked, once they’d said goodnight to Jackson and thanked him again for his help. Kenzie shook her head.
“I can’t deal with seeing it now. And the only things in there are my clothes and a crappy old laptop that I bought refurbished. It can wait until tomorrow.” Nash put his arm around her shoulders.
“Then let’s go home my beautiful mate.” He paused for a moment to kiss her, and they climbed into his car.
“Know anything about this mark on my neck, Nash?” Kenzie asked when they were back in his cabin. She laid her finger on it. It seemed to have gotten a lot warmer and kind of tingly since she’d been in his presence.
“Oh that.” Guilt flashed in his eyes.
“Yes this.” She took his face in her hands and stared right into his eyes. “Jackson kept looking at it today. It means something, doesn’t it?”
“It’s a mate mark,” he said, after a long silence. “It means you’re mine. Forever.” She cocked an eyebrow.
“Oh, really? You didn’t think of asking me first, before deciding to sink your teeth into me?”
“You didn’t act like you hated it.” He flashed his trademark mischievous grin. The one that had always made her want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.
“I didn’t know you were doing it!”
“I didn’t plan it. I just lost control of my wolf for a moment. But now it’s done, I’m afraid there’s no escape. Not even if you move to the other side of the country. My wolf will track you down.” She gave a little shudder.
“And how’s that?”
“I know your scent, Kenzie. But more than that, our souls are connected now. I’ll always know where you are. I’ll always protect you and keep you safe from harm.”
She gazed into his eyes and knew that he meant every word.
“I can’t tell you how this feels,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ve ever really felt safe in my life before.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
“I want you to feel like this all the time from now on,” he said. She ran her hands over his shoulders and biceps, feeling his strength surrounding her.
He gave a low growl, deep in his throat. She drew back a little.
“Your touch drives me crazy,” he said. “I hope you’re not tired from the night we’ve had, because I really want to take you to bed.”
“I’m not so tired,” she said, eyes sparkling. He took her hand and they rushed upstairs and tumbled into the bedroom, kissing and snatching at each other’s clothes.
They stripped each other in seconds, and fell onto the bed entwined in each other’s arms. Every little touch set her body on fire. And even though she could see the naked animal hunger in his eyes, he took his time, kissing her deeply and worshipping her body with compliments and caresses. He stroked her breasts with his callused hands, chafing her nipples, until she begged for him to go inside her. Then he spread her thighs and stroked her pussy, grazing her labia with light fingertips, teasing her, until she was soaking wet, and in a frenzy of need. When he finally slipped two fingers into her, she cried out, her muscles spasming around him. Sensing that she was close to climax, he withdrew them and entered her fast, making her gasp as he filled her right up. And she came almost immediately, in a violent, shuddering orgasm, yelling out his name. He kept moving, in and out, in and out, prolonging her climax as it receded into slowly ebbing waves.
“You feel so good, so tight, gripping my cock like that,” he growled. “So sexy, Kenzie.” When he slid out of her, she didn’t need to be told what he wanted her to do. She flipped onto all fours, arching her back, eager for that deliciously intense sensation again.
He entered her in one long thrust, letting off a deep, feral sound as he went all the way in. Then he leaned over her, his muscular torso pressing against her back.
“I’m going to make you mine, my beautiful mate. And this time, you’ll know about it.” He lifted the hair away from the back of her neck, and his teeth, which suddenly seemed too sharp for human teeth, grazed her skin. She shuddered from head to toe and let out a moan.
He fucked her slowly at first, and then a lot harder, grasping her hips, pounding into her, each stroke leaving her panting. Another climax welled up inside her and she came all over his cock. He made a sound of appreciation, but didn’t let up the tempo, and one orgasm tipped into two, and three, as the speed of his thrusts perfectly matched the rhythm of her own body.
His breathing became harsher, and then he fell forward, and his teeth caught at the nape of her neck. She cried out in surprise, but it didn’t really hurt; it was more of a pleasant burn. And she liked it, she realized – she liked being held still and taken roughly. It felt like the bite had connected a circuit deep inside her, and her whole body buzzed with an overload of pleasure.
He thrust harder and harder, and faster, and as one final orgasm exploded from her overwrought body, he came too. “Mine!” he roared, and he held her tight, staying deep inside her as he filled her with his seed.
At last he turned her onto her side and stayed inside her as they kissed and stroked one another, growing increasingly sleepy. Nash ran a fingertip all over her face, exploring the shape of every feature.
“You’re so beautiful and perfect, Kenzie. I can’t believe you’re finally mine. I feel like I’m dreaming.”
“Me too,” she whispered. She’d never thought true happiness was for her; never imagined that a man would passionately desire and love her.
“I want to tell everyone you’re my mate. To shout it from the rooftops.” She grinned, her heart flooding with happiness.
“Okay,” she replied. “I won’t stop you.”
19
When they woke up for work the next day, Jackson had messaged them, telling them they didn’t need to come into work.
“Take a couple of days off. You folks deserve it after all you’ve been through,” he said.
“Back to bed!” Nash yelled, diving beneath the covers again, and pulling Kenzie into his arms.
That first evening, they went back to Kenzie’s place. She held her breath as she put her key in the lock, expecting the door to swing open and reveal carnage within.
Her apartment was immaculate. Not a thing out of place, and everything sparkling clean. Like, way cleaner than she’d left it.
“Is anything missing?” Nash said, taking in the small space, and she was reminded that this was only the second time he’d seen it. The first was in very different circumstances. And she shuddered, remembering how close Nash had come to getting shot.
She walked through the apartment and checked everything. It was all there, including her laptop. She picked it up and showed it to Nash.
“Know how much emotion I used to attach to this thing? I used to see it and get so excited at the thought of speaking to MisunderstoodGuy. And as we got closer, I’d start to feel anxious that he wouldn’t be online. And when he wasn’t, I’d hate the sight of it –” She broke off. “That probably sounds dumb, doesn’t it?”
“Not at all. It wasn’t easy to tear myself away from my sexy colleague, but I also couldn’t wait to get home and chat to AdventureGirl. Who I imagined as a sexy, curvaceous brunette, with beautiful, sparkling eyes.”
“Must have been disappointed when you met her, huh?” He laid his hands on her waist.
“Stop fishing for compliments, Winters.”
“A girl’s gotta try.” He looked deep into her eyes.
“She surpassed my wildest dreams.” Kenzie gave him a beatific smile and kissed him.
“Do you think Walt cleaned up in here?”
“Yup. I reckon. Just one of many things he’s had to clean up in the past 24 hours.”
“Part of me thinks we should report him to the FBI for kidnapping me.”
“There are other ways of getting revenge in the shifter world. And a coyote is no match for a wolf,” Nash replied, his eyes darkening. She shook her head.
>
“No, it’s okay. I think he’s suffered enough. And his greatest crime was being dumb, rather than evil.”
“Yeah. Your cousin’s the one I really want to get my teeth into. But a little bird tells me he’s already in county jail. And the sentence for shooting a cop means he’s not going to see the outside for a long, long time.”
“Good. If I ever catch sight of him again, it’ll be too soon.”
“I can guarantee that won’t happen, baby.” He put his arm around her shoulder and she felt that surge of emotion that she didn’t yet have a name for – it was the feeling of being protected, and safe.
“You know, I’ve never liked this place. No matter what I’ve done to it, it never looks homely.”
“It’s kind of dark. And very small,” he agreed. “There’s hardly enough room to swing a cat in here.” In way of demonstration, he picked her up and spun her around until she was dizzy.
“Nash, stop! I get the picture.” He collapsed onto the couch with her in his lap.
“Then will you move into my place?”
“Really?”
“Of course. I want to spend every minute of my time with you, Kenzie Winters. I can’t get enough of you.” She stroked his face, loving how he said everything in such an unguarded way. He frowned, and his blue eyes became huge.
“But maybe you’ll get sick of me, and I don’t want to scare you off, before you’ve had a chance to see all my good qualities.” She laughed.
“I’ve seen many sides of you already, Nash. Just one of the benefits of us working together. I think I’m prepared for anything. And ready to be pleasantly surprised as well.”
“Okay! Let’s do it!” He leapt up, pulling her to her feet. “Let’s pack your stuff up and get the hell out of here.”
“Yes, let’s. This place kind of gives me the creeps after what happened,” she said. “I don’t want anything from the past to intrude on my life now.”
Packing everything in Nash’s car turned out to be a little optimistic, but they left whatever wouldn’t fit in boxes, and collected them the following day.
Shiftr: Swipe Left For Love (Nash) BBW Wolf Shifter Romance (Hope Valley BBW Dating App Romance Book 10) Page 12
