When he arrived at the hospital, he went directly to the mayor’s room. Only the night nurses moved along the blue-gray and white linoleum tiled hallway. He stopped beside the officers stationed outside the room.
“Anything happen?” John glanced around.
“No, the only ones out or in have been doctors and nurses, and most of them just left.” Greg Simmons leaned a shoulder against the wall.
“Good, I’m going in to talk to him.” John turned to the door.
He paused to call and arrange a rotation of men to replace these two when it was time for them to get off. He wouldn’t leave the mayor vulnerable when that someone wanted him dead.
He walked into the room and stopped. The mayor stood, holding onto the bed with one hand, and his legs sliding outward slowly. John shook his head and strode forward to grab the man before he ended up on the floor or ripped open his wounds again.
“What do you think you’re doing?” John helped the man back onto the crisp white sheets.
“I need to get into my clothes.” Jake Spenser glared at him.
John folded his arms across his chest and raised his brows. He wouldn’t let a glowering wolf could intimidate him. “Why?”
“One of your officers just handed me my phone, but told me not to use it. There’s a message on it. It’s from my secretary. Someone’s called an emergency meeting of the council. One of the councilmen just called her and asked her if I was okay. She wanted to know if I was all right. Since I can’t text back, I need to be there.” Jake took a deep breath.
“There are different types of being there.” John raised his eyebrows.
Someone had gotten the information about the attack fast. The news crews hadn’t been at the scene. And all of his officers knew not to tell anyone. Either they had an informer within the department, or someone at least connected to the attack informed this person.
“What are you talking about?” Jake frowned.
“I video you. There’s a date and time stamp on the video, and I can have an officer standing by for a live convo with the council if necessary. I’ll go and show them and get a look at the man behind this sudden meeting.” John held up his phone. And Jake could stay here where he could get the medical attention he needed.
“That will do.” Jake’s shoulders sagged a little. “Sorry. My thinking is not the clearest at the moment.”
“No problem. I knew you might have some head trauma.” John gave a single nod. Good. He wouldn’t have to call in Jake’s mother and sister.
“Yeah, pretty solid concussion. One of those men has a punch like a horse kick.” Jake touched his jaw gingerly.
Blue and black already flared across the left side of Jake’s jaw. John could believe that. “Let’s make this video. I’ll call and tell them I’m coming, but they can discover why when I get there.”
* * * *
John pushed open the doors to the city council room. Light gleamed off the speckled white flooring. A partially finished mural of a forest with sketched animals spread over the walls behind the U-shaped council table. With luck, the person who’d demanded this meeting would be here. If he was, John would take special note of his name.
A man stood in front of the long table where the council sat. The red-haired man stood with a hand braced on his hip. He didn’t seem to notice that anyone had entered. As John approached, the man spoke.
“I’ve heard that the mayor is dead. We’ll need a special election to put a new mayor in place.” The man straightened.
“No, we won’t.” John stepped forward.
The man glanced over his shoulder and sneered.
Welcome to the top of my suspect list. John inhaled as he approached the man. Definitely fox. He’d met the man before, but the name remained just out of reach.
“That’s what my source told me.” The man folded his arms over his chest.
“You’ve heard incorrectly. What is your name?” John narrowed his eyes on the man.
“I’m Chris Cunningham.” The man lifted his chin. “People are supposed to believe you simply because you wear a uniform?”
Ah, the fox den leader.
“No, I brought proof, and if you require it, I can arrange a video conference.” John took his phone up to the front and played the video for the council. “Notice the date and the hospital room.”
“We see them, and we’re convinced. Tell the mayor he can take as much time as he needs to recover.” The head councilman nodded.
John turned to Chris Cunningham. The fox’s hands balled into tight fists. That was one angry man. John smiled. Sometimes, doing his job offered unexpected perks.
“Do you care to tell me where you heard that the mayor was dead?” John looked at the fox den leader.
“Just a rumor I heard. They probably heard it on the radio.” Chris lifted a hand.
“No, they didn’t. The only thing that ever went out even on police radio was about an assault.” John had checked while they’d waited for the meeting. In spite of the fact that the man had called for it early, the council members hadn’t made it to the Municipal Building until their normal times.
“Well, then, I don’t know where they heard it.” Chris took a step back.
He’s panicking. John tilted his head. And unfortunately, he’s not stupid enough to think he can outmaneuver me. At least, not at the moment.
“I’ll need the man’s name.” He remained as he was. Chasing would send the man running even faster. “I’d also like to speak with you down at the station.”
Fear and the fact that he’d outed himself might cause Cunningham to back off if he was behind the schemes. If the fox halted the attacks, they’d have to find a way to work around it. They would catch the people behind this scheme and stop them.
“Not today. I’ll have my assistant send it to you.” Chris Cunningham strode to the door at a pace just under a run.
That message would never come. Chris Cunningham might throw someone at him if pressed. Real help would come from other people. Cunningham rushed the final few paces and slammed the door behind him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Leslie’s finger hovered over her tablet as the click-click of shoes hitting the floor drew her head up. John strode through the front room toward the kitchen. He held himself ramrod straight, and tension corded his shoulders. Still as tight as he was this morning. She shook her head. Maybe she could do something about that.
She glanced back toward Archer’s office. He was in there finishing up some work. If everything went as it normally did, he’d be a while. He was always there for her, but he crammed in almost every other moment on work. Judge left a few hours ago to check in on one of his patients who’d had a bad fall on an already broken arm.
She followed John, but made a short detour to grab some towels. She draped the soft, fluffy cloth over her arm. Someone needed to talk with him and maybe work him out of the mood that currently held him. She was going to enjoy being the one to do it.
“Hi, John.” She walked into the kitchen.
John poured a glass of milk and put the container back in the stainless steel refrigerator. The drink choice did startle her. She’d expected him to pull out a beer. Her stomach dropped. He thought there would be more trouble soon.
“Hi, sweet cat.” John’s lips tipped up in a quick smile, but it fell in the next moment.
“Do you want to go sit in the hot tub with me?” She raised her brows. That bubbling, hot water would do more than relax his stiff muscles. It would provide plenty of glide and slide for their fun.
“I’d love to laze in the hot tub with you.” John slipped an arm around her. “I do have to take my phone with me.”
“That’s all right. We can talk, and then maybe we can see how much fun we can have in a hot tub.” She led the way out to the deck.
“You don’t want to get a suit?” John stood in the doorway.
“You three have a very high fence, plus there’s that trellis separating the tub from the re
st of the yard. Since you put that up, I thought you three might have some naughty ideas when you built it.” She turned at the steps leading down to the backyard and glanced back at him.
He remained staring at her. She wasn’t naïve. That trellis with the flowering plant climbing up and filling the holes wasn’t there by chance.
“It was put up for privacy.” John nodded.
“Well, let’s use it for that purpose.” She hurried down the stairs and crossed to the shaded alcove surrounded by the vine-covered trellises.
His shoes thudded on the concrete pad around the hot tub. Good, she had his attention. A slow smile curved her lips as she dropped the large towels onto a white oak bench. With a glance over at him, she pulled off her shirt and kicked out of her ballet flats. He closed the distance between them. His palm skimmed over her stomach.
“I don’t know how much talking we’re going to get done with you looking so delicious, angel.” His lips feathered over her shoulder.
“We’ll have to make it fast then.” She turned in his embrace and nestled against him. “We can’t do anything until we get into the hot tub. So out of your clothes.”
“That order, I’ll definitely follow.” He stepped back and began to strip out of his clothes.
She skimmed out of her jeans and panties. Warm air stroked over her skin, leaving it tingling and sensitized. She folded everything and put it on the bench beside the pile of blue towels.
She climbed the gray stone steps and stepped down into the churning water. John followed a few moments later. Warm water eddied around her. She leaned back against the reclined seat. The roiling liquid rubbed and danced over her skin. Ah, perfect. She stretched her feet out as he settled next to her.
“So what did you want to talk about?” He curved an arm around her shoulders.
“What happened at work today?” She ran her hand over his leg. Hard muscles beneath her palm, warm water gurgling around them, and no clothing to get in her way. Almost the definition of heaven.
“Nothing.” He shook his head.
Nothing. She frowned and let her fingers fall away. Can’t get too caught up yet. He wasn’t happy about that. Normally, a day with nothing happening would be good in his profession. But with the present cases, nothing meant everyone was still in danger.
“So you hoped to find something.” She tilted her head. With John’s dedication to his work and the town, that would piss him off.
“I wanted some kind of progress. Even with this attack, which I’m pretty sure is somehow related to the other attacks, it’s not just an attack on the mayor and I can’t prove it.” John grimaced.
“That must be frustrating as hell.” She reached over and ran her hand over his arm. She couldn’t do anything about the problem, but maybe she could alleviate the frustration. At least, for a little while. “I know you’ll find something. In the meantime, is there anything I can do to help?”
She stroked his chest. No wonder he was tense. The mayor had been attacked today. John had to talk with the council because of trouble someone was trying to stir up. Not to mention that because of the attacks, this had become very personal. Every officer worked on it, but that wouldn’t help with the worry about what was going to happen next.
“Just be you.” He brushed her hair off her cheek. “And kiss me.”
She slipped her arm around him and rubbed her lips against his. His arm curled around her. He hauled her into his lap without breaking the contact with her lips. She sank into the warmth of the kiss and the strength in his arms.
He skimmed his fingers over her abdomen and hips. Tingles flared and jumped in the wake of the light touch. If he wanted to pet and stroke, he could stroke where it would feel best. She grasped his hand and brought it up to her breast.
He flicked his thumb across the taut nipple. The bud tightened, and a pang shot straight to her core. She ran her palms over his corded shoulders and chest. The muscles flexed beneath her fingertips. One of her hands eased beneath the water. She traced the thick shaft of his cock. If she stroked him, this would end too soon. The warmth of his hands, the passion in his kiss, and the caress of the water were too sweet to rush.
“You like having your nipples played with, don’t you?” He pinched the bud. “Lean back against my arm, and I’ll give you more attention.”
Was the sky blue? Of course she did. She relaxed back against his arm and wriggled into a more comfortable position. Would he suck at her immediately, or would he nip and tease?
He bent down and lapped at her nipple. Heat and fire trailed over her skin. So much better than the water. She cupped the back of his head and tried to draw him closer.
His lips closed over the peak. He sucked on it hard before he pulled back. She drew in a sharp breath. A piercing thrill zipped through her. She squirmed.
Warm breath feathered over the sensitive skin. Prickles danced with each puff. He dragged his tongue slowly over the taut bud again and again. Her muscles tightened. She dug her nails into his shoulders.
“Don’t tease, John. I want to feel you sucking at me.” She glanced down at him. An ache throbbed within her. He had to give her more.
He looked up at her, and the bud slid free from his lips. His lips pulled into a slow smile. She took in a shaky breath. Oh crap, he was settling in to play.
Once again, he lowered his head. His tongue swirled over the nub. The lash sent sparks spiraling straight to her core. She whimpered. He lapped and then lightly sucked. Heat began to build within her as he continued that soft draw.
She ran her hand over his shoulder. He flicked his tongue back and forth. Tingles eddied through her. She arched into him. He hummed. The sound rolled against her flesh, adding to the torment.
As he teased and nibbled her breast, his hand began to glide down her stomach. Her muscles tightened as the touch skimmed lower. Oh, yes, slide down there. She widened her thighs.
He feathered his fingertips over the lips back and forth in a too-light touch. Water smoothed his way as he traced the folds. She moaned. Her hips lifted. If he didn’t get on with it, she’d scream in frustration. His teasing touch left her skin electrified and ultrasensitive.
“Please, John.” She dug her nails into his shoulder.
“Please what, sweet cat?” He pulled back a little. The nipple slipped free from his lips.
She moaned. “Stroke my clit.”
Before I do it myself or attack you to get you to give me what I need. She arched her back, pressing her breast against his mouth.
“Like this?” He curled his finger upward, dragging it over the sensitive nub.
Piercing intensity arced through her. She plunged her hips down into his touch. “Yes.”
He chuckled and returned his attention to her breast. He sucked and nipped at the peak. At the same time, he drew slow circles over her clit. She moaned. Swelling fever surged with every slow stroke. She rocked into his touch. Her breath rasped in a too-tight throat. When he began to ease away from her, she held onto him.
“More, John.” She tried to pull him back.
“I’ll give you more, but I want you in a different position.” He kept her away from him even though she tried to pull him back. “Turn around and brace your hands on the deck.”
She took a deep breath and tried to gain enough control to move. Tremors danced over her body. He gently guided her to face away from him. By the time he began to urge her to bend forward, she had regained enough composure to do it herself.
She leaned forward and pressed her hands to the wood. He moved in behind her.
“I only wish I’d thought to grab some lube. I’d love to ride your ass in this position. The water wouldn’t offer enough glide.” He drew his hand over her ass.
She swallowed. Her inner muscles tightened. Fuck. She’d probably enjoy that. If he hadn’t set her body on fire, she might tell him to go get it, but she couldn’t wait. She had to have him now.
He eased closer. His cock brushed against her butt cheek. She wr
iggled and widened her thighs. He was going too slow. Tension tightened her muscles. She hung on the edge, but unable to go over. He skimmed a palm over her hip and gripped as if to hold her in place. She wasn’t moving until after they both found their pleasure.
“Now, John.” She pushed back into him. Fuck, he was torturing her.
“Patience.” He chuckled.
His cock nudged her pussy before he slowly eased forward. The shaft sank into her. Her inner muscles clenched around him. She tried to push back to take him deep, but even with one hand, he held her in place. Her head tipped back. Demanding urgency rushed through her. She gasped and twisted.
His free hand drifted down and cupped her pussy. He leaned close and his chest rubbed against her. “When I say.”
She tried to wriggle her hips. Some movement, just a little, and it might be enough. His grip tightened, holding her exactly where he wanted her. He rocked forward until his hips nudged against her buttocks. As he thrust deep, a thrill rolled through her. He kissed her shoulder.
“Please, John, move. I’m burning for you.” She pressed back.
“Your muscles are squeezing my cock.” He slowly pulled back. “I love it.”
The slight friction of his withdrawal sent tingles coursing over her skin. The heat and desire spread as he remained still. He had to sink deep again, or she’d go insane. She gripped the edge of the hot tub. He rocked forward, filling her. She drew in a slow breath. His finger stroked over her clit. Tension spiraled through her. She bucked down onto his fingers.
He withdrew, but rolled his hips forward again. Her inner muscles clenched. She pressed back into the stroke. The pressure built, coiling. She wriggled. Her muscles tightened, and she gasped for air. She’d fly apart when she came. His grip strengthened, controlling every move she made. She couldn’t thrust back and take him.
A low rumble rolled from him as he drove into her. The growl skimmed over her skin. She shivered and rolled her hips down.
His pace quickened. Her breath caught in her throat. Each jabbing thrust sent her closer to the edge.
Catching Her Mates Page 19
