She waited for Rhys to make the first move. It was much more erotic to give up that little bit of control.
He looked deep into her eyes as he spread her knees apart. Then his eyes dropped to her center.
“Perfect.” He licked his lips and lifted her feet to his shoulders. Meeting her eyes one last time, giving her a chance to put a stop to his actions, he brought his attention back to her throbbing core.
Blowing softly as he leaned down, X almost collapsed back. It was just air, but she was on fire and the cooling breath was damn near orgasmic.
At least she thought so until his tongue delved in, licking her from core to clit. X did collapse back, but only onto her elbows. She wanted to watch everything the male was doing to her, wanted to see the titillating view of his head buried between her legs.
She was spread out on his table, the main course, as he tasted and licked. She even surprised herself when she cried out as he nibbled on her sensitive nub. He didn’t use his hands, keeping them wrapped tightly around her thighs. Only his tongue touched her center, licking, rolling and flicking over her clitoris until she arched up, shoving herself against him, her head flung back. She cried his name over and over again, hollering a “yes” in between each time. Her legs quivered, but he was relentless, didn’t let up until she reached her climax and went hurtling over the edge. He continued on, wringing every drop of pleasure out of her.
The world went blank even though X’s eyes were wide open. Usually, she retreated to a dark corner in her mind, letting her body do what nature had cursed it with, but not this time. No, she was present, she wanted it, she wanted the male who was settled between her thighs. She wanted him to keep going. She had never wanted and she wanted everything now.
Another orgasm quickly approached. Rhys shifted his head, the new angle launching her into another explosive release.
She couldn’t even call his name, only scream her pleasure, the sound bouncing off the walls.
Abruptly, Rhys stood, her legs slipping off his shoulders, only for him to catch them and wrap them around his waist as he pulled her up against him. X was damn near boneless, but she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hung on as he lifted and carried her through the cabin into his bedroom.
The thought of soon feeling this male inside of her stoked the furnace raging within. After two of the most powerful orgasms in history, she should be spent. But she would never get enough of Rhys Fitzsimmons.
He climbed up onto the bed and held her to him as he laid her down and stretched out over her.
Even in her dizzying state, his heavy body on top of her shorted out her common sense and images of her first two years at Sigma shot through her head.
X gasped, her head jerking back against the mattress, her body going stiff.
Rhys rose to his elbows, nothing but concern on his face. When he saw her panicked expression, he untangled her legs and pushed off to the side, but didn’t leave the bed.
“I’m sorry,” he said immediately.
X’s chest heaved as she managed to get her breathing under control. Why the fuck would she have a panic attack now? She was with someone she respected deeply, had the hots for, and she wanted to be with him, in every sense of the word. She had never lost her head over what happened to her.
“No, it’s not you.” She drew her hands down her face, then gave up and threw an arm over her eyes. She shouldn’t feel humiliated but she did. “I don’t get it. I’ve never had that reaction.”
“Is it because I’m special?” She heard the subtle teasing in his voice, trying to lighten the mood.
“After my conditioning,” bitterness dripped off that last word, “I made sure it was always just about fucking, and I was always in control, even when I mentally checked out. I guess the feel of a male pinning me down surfaced a lot of memories.” X lifted her arm and rolled to her side, facing him. “Are you bitter? That I was with others, but I can’t deal being with you right now?”
“No,” he said emphatically. “Sigma ruined the act of sex for you, made it into a tool, a weapon.”
So. True. “I used that weapon a lot,” she admitted quietly.
“Alex, you’re only thirty years old. I’ve been around a few centuries. It’s safe to say my bed count is higher than yours. Do you hold that against me?” When she shook her head, he continued, “Your history only matters to me because it’s your history. I hold no blame toward you, only toward those who hurt you.”
“You’re a good guy, you know that?” Tracing his face with a finger, they lay there for several minutes facing each other. Out of the blue, her stomach rumbled.
His lips quirked. “Want to help me make supper?”
X flowed gracefully to her feet to not disturb the sleeping male. After they had made supper and eaten, engaging in forced small talk, he curled up with her in bed, ready to protect her sleep. In a role reversal, Rhys had fallen asleep while she lay awake thinking. She had figured out what she needed.
Stooping down to grab her shirt, she noiselessly dressed. Then she grabbed the bag the Guardians had packed for her that she had never unpacked. When she was done with something, she had always returned it back to the bag. A giant clue she wasn’t ready to settle in. She made it to the door of the bedroom when she stopped.
Come on. I’ve never been chicken shit in my life.
Turning back, she faced the large male passed out on the bed.
“Rhys.”
His eyes opened straight on her, and he sat up, his expression circumspect.
“I’ve gotta go.” Good one. Way to explain the shit going on in your head.
His brows drew down, waiting for her to continue.
“I was just so young, you know?” She adjusted the duffel to fling it over her shoulder. “I need to be alone with myself for a while. Learn what this hot mess is all about. The last twelve years were about survival. I can’t go straight from being Agent X to being your mate. I need some time.”
Rhys exhaled slowly, his powerful shoulders slumping. “You know I’ll give you all the time you need.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “You’re the most amazing male, like, ever. I need to learn how to be Alex King before I can be E’s friend, or Sarah and Ron’s aunt, or…your mate.”
“I understand.”
“And…I need you to stay out of my dreams. I can’t repay you for your years of protection, but I need to face them now.”
He leveled his gaze on her. “I’ll stay away.”
She paused again. “Thanks.” Fuck, that sounded lame.
He lifted his chin toward the hook by the door. “Take my car. There’s some cash in the glove box if you need it.”
“I have a stash, too. I was going to hoof it, but,” she snagged the keys off the wall, “a drive sounds nice.” A radio sounded even nicer.
She gave him a small smile, mostly as an apology, before she left to find the car. He didn’t have to tell her how to get to it. She could find the garage and get the car, or she’d just boost one of the other ones instead.
Swiftly making her way down to the lodge and into the garage, she didn’t run across anyone. There was a plethora of nondescript dark sedans to choose from, so she hit the unlock button and found the one that was his.
Climbing in, she groaned. It smelled like Rhys; all piney and virile male. His scent was comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. Ignoring the hurt in her chest, she jammed the keys in and started the car.
She made it out to the main road with no interference. The other Guardians wouldn’t be pleased when they realized she had left. Mercury and Bennett didn’t really trust her and wouldn’t want her roaming freely.
Then there was the council. What would happen when they found out about her? She should stay and face them, make her presence known to all shifter and vampire kind. So if she “mysteriously” died, everyone would know one of the councils was behind it.
While Madame G may have been cruel and evil, X was sure she wasn’t as
underhanded and devious as the Lycan Council could be. The Vampire Council, too, but they were busy with Demetrius’ revolt.
Aiming the car away from West Creek, X drove into the darkness.
Chapter 8
X didn’t have to consult a map. She had known the way by heart. This was her first real stop after leaving Rhys behind. She maneuvered on the winding, desolate road, until she neared the area.
Pulling off the side of the road, memories assaulted her. Oh, the nightmares she’d have once she fell asleep after this. She got out of the car after killing the engine, and eyed the barren stretch of road that meandered its way down the side of a mountain. It plugged up so badly in the winter that once the mine went dry no one was interested in battling the elements to settle anywhere on the stretch of mountain that the road served.
It had been a favorite area for her parents to go at dusk. Once the sun settled deep below the horizon, her mom would hop out, and X and her dad would shift. They’d just run and be free.
Fog drifted away from her mouth with each exhale. The temperature was chilly in town, but it was even colder on the mountain. It smelled like it might snow.
With resignation, X trekked down the steep side of the road where the Agents had shoved her parent’s car after burning the bodies within.
It was precipitous, the land rugged. She even put her boots on for the trek. It wasn’t long before she smelled the rusted metal where the mangled car had struck a tree and stopped in its forever resting place. The accident wouldn’t have been visible from any stretch of the road. The Agents had chosen their attack position well.
Off to the right of the hunk of metal were three mounds where the earth had been disturbed, three makeshift graves. She presumed her brother, after searching for his family, found the horrific scene and laid them to rest.
X sat next to the graves, silently considering the person she used to be, the mourning she had never gotten to do. A hot tear burned a path down her cheek, followed by another, until they cascaded constantly. Gah, when was the last time she cried?
She sat for hours, knowing it was only the beginning of her healing journey. Once she left, it was just her and she would have to open up her mind and deal with everything she had buried inside. It was so tempting just to keep it all shoved into a dark corner of her brain. One thing she had learned the last few days was that it wouldn’t give her the life she wanted if she did that. She deserved more; Rhys deserved more.
With a long inhale, X stood and gave the lonely graves one last look before she headed back to the car.
Boss, we have serious company. Mercury’s voice floated through Rhys’ mind.
Rhys didn’t have to ask. He had a strong suspicion what kind of shit had just dropped on his doorstep.
Are they in the lodge?
They barged in through the damn door. I told Dani to stay put, I don’t want any of those bastards around her.
If the council was really undermining human mates, then Dani and Cassie needed to stay as far away as possible. And if the rumors about the council assassinating Mercury’s colony had any substance, it wasn’t a good idea for Mercury to be standing in front of them, gathering attention.
Are you with them?
Yeah. Bennett’s smooth-talking them.
Good. Bennett could still turn on the charm when he needed to.
Be right there.
Rhys left his office and strode down to the lodge’s entryway. All he could hope for was that his pack wouldn’t suffer for his actions.
Waiting just inside the door of the lodge, with Mercury and Bennett, were four shifters. Rhys recognized one as Malcolm and Harrison’s father. The other three carried the scent unique to a Guardian and must be from the council’s personal pack. There were two males and one female Guardian.
“Councilman Wallace.” Rhys addressed the stately shifter who carried a heavy air of arrogance.
“Commander Fitzsimmons,” he acknowledged. “Where’s the hybrid?”
Displeasure rippled through Rhys. They treated X as if she was an object. Constantly referring to her as an Agent was better than “the hybrid.”
She was his hybrid. “Let’s move to my office,” Rhys suggested.
The three burly guards shifted, a clear sign that they didn’t want to get left out of the talks.
“Only if the hybrid is in your office,” Councilman Wallace replied smoothly.
“The hybrid has a name.”
One of the council’s Guardians made a derogatory noise. “She has a letter.”
Rhys’ body stiffened at the insult. Mercury and Bennett tensed, ready to back him up. He glared at the strange shifter until the male dropped his gaze. “X. Call her X.”
Councilman Wallace narrowed his sharp whiskey eyes on Rhys. “And where is X?”
When Rhys came to terms, all those years ago, that his mate was an Agent, he knew it would eventually come to this. That was even before he learned of her dual heritage. After that, it was only a matter of time, and he’d bought as much he could afford. It was time to pay up.
“She’s gone.”
Now it was the council’s Guardians who tensed. No doubt they expected a confrontation and had come ready for an altercation with the infamous hybrid.
To his credit, Councilman Wallace didn’t appear very surprised. “Explain.”
“I let her go.” Rhys hoped they didn’t smell a lie. Of course Rhys didn’t let X do anything. “She needed to figure things out after the trauma she’s been through, and she couldn’t do it here. Not with the council breathing down her neck.”
It was a weak attempt at laying the blame at the council’s feet, but Rhys felt like being a dick.
The shrewd councilman studied him. “You do realize that all who knew about this are subject to disciplinary action.”
“The others didn’t know I let her leave.”
“How long has she been gone?”
“Five days.”
Councilman Wallace expelled a heavy sigh. Rhys almost believed the male wasn’t looking forward to carrying out his duty punishing Rhys or his pack.
“Five days. Yet neither you, nor any of your team, reported her absence?”
“They wouldn’t have.” Time to let the bomb drop. “She’s my mate.”
The councilman’s eyes widened, and his guards shook their heads in disbelief. Rhys sensed nothing from Mercury and Bennett behind him. They were passively watching the exchange. He had discussed several scenarios with them about how all this could play out, and they waited to see what happened.
“Well,” the councilman drawled, “at least she’s the mate of one of ours and not of a vampire. That solves one problem.” He regarded Rhys. “Are you saying the other Guardians were respecting your right to protect your mate as you see fit?”
“Yes.” Now that was interesting. It was almost as if the councilman was leading him into answering in a way that would be beneficial to Rhys’ pack. If his team was following pack rules of protecting mates, then the blame would lie solely on Rhys. Otherwise, Councilman Wallace could take them all in to face a tribunal.
“Is your mating official? Have you been through the ceremony?” The councilman’s nostrils flared, likely trying to sense if Rhys had been at least marked yet by his mate.
“You can understand, it’s a delicate situation.”
“The council will hunt her,” Councilman Wallace warned.
Mercury grunted behind him. “Good luck.”
“I agree,” the councilman replied, congenially. “If I didn’t have such a difficult mate myself, I might not sympathize.”
Rhys had learned the twins’ mom was a vicious female. The males themselves told him that with a sense of both mortification and pride.
Councilman Wallace beckoned his guards forward. “Regardless, we will have to bring you in, and the other former Agent, E.”
“I understand. And Agent E and his family left yesterday.”
Rhys heard rumbles from the council’s Gu
ardians, obviously not happy.
Councilman Wallace exhaled a long-suffering sigh, even rolling his eyes. “Again, no one reported it?”
“It’s not unusual for them to go to town on a family excursion.” They’d only ever done so once, before they left for an indefinite amount of time a day ago. “I wasn’t going to declare them officially missing until they were gone a full forty-eight hours.”
“What a nice head start,” Councilman Wallace said dryly. “You will come along willingly?”
The other Guardians shifted cautiously while Mercury and Bennett appeared relaxed. They were anything but.
Rhys nodded. “Of course. Bennett Young will resume command of the pack.”
The councilman studied Rhys closely before turning his attention to a tightly controlled Bennett. “Unless we discover he’s keeping information from us as well.”
The male lifted a questioning eyebrow at Bennett, who gazed impassively back before replying, “I will command loyally in Commander Fitzsimmons’ place until he is reestablished as pack leader.”
A humorous glint entered Councilman Wallace’s eyes, as if he caught the subversive way Bennett avoided his veiled accusation.
“Hand over your weapons, Commander,” the female Guardian demanded.
Resigned, Rhys stripped himself of every piece of metal he was wearing. Instead of tossing them to the stout brunette, he passed them back to Mercury.
He saw one of the council Guardian’s lips curl up in a sneer at the show of defiance.
“Commander Fitzsimmons,” the councilman announced, “with the authority of the Lycan Council, I must strip you of title—”
“Temporarily,” Bennett interrupted. The sneering Guardian growled at the interruption of their distinguished guest.
Perhaps Councilman Wallace was offended, but he only appeared more amused. “Possibly temporarily strip you of title as West Creek Guardian Commander.” He peered past Rhys to study the new commander. “Bennett Young, by the power of the Lycan Council, I grant you the title of West Creek Guardian Commander.”
The Sigma Menace Collection Page 77