“She did talk to him. She knew she’d be busy, but she was also looking for her mates. If they were part of that pride, she had to mix among them. I don’t know if she made it to any of their functions, but that was her plan.” Penny nodded.
“So they knew of her and she’d come to them, but they didn’t bother to check on her when she went missing.” Shonna rolled her eyes. “That’s low. Whoever’s alpha there needs his ass kicked.”
“Yeah, I think Ethan would be the first in line for that.” Penny sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck. “Right now, he’s just thanking whatever fate kept the hospital from notifying the police of her disappearance. That slipup could help keep her alive. We need to find her and the others.”
“If you need anything, Penny, even to talk, just call one of us. We’ll be there for you.” Dixie reached over and covered Penny’s hand.
“Thank you. Right now, the waiting is the hard part. Later, I’m sure that Ethan will have more trouble than I will. His uncles want to storm that city and tear it apart.” Penny’s lips kicked up a little. “I’d almost feel sorry for whoever’s behind this if that happened. Those three can be a little intense.”
“Don’t feel sorry for the bastards. Give a thought or two to their uncles’ mate, if they manage to find her. I don’t know if that woman’s feet will ever touch the ground. They’ll be that protective.” Shonna shook her head.
“I don’t know about that.” Penny grinned. “Those guys can be pussycats when it comes to females. You should see them with their younger nieces. Yeah, they’re intensely protective, but unless their mate happens to be in danger, I’m pretty sure she’ll have them wrapped around her finger in no time.”
“Wrapped around her and superprotective. I hope that woman has friends, because she’ll need them to learn to handle those men.” Leslie grinned.
“Maybe you could teach her.” Penny lifted a brow. “John, Archer, and Judge are protective of you.”
Chloe laughed. “I actually think she’ll have a lot in common with you and your relationship with Dawson.”
“Dawson is sweet.” Penny sighed. “I know he comes across as tough, but he’s so caring.”
Dixie smiled. To Penny, he was sweet, caring, and protective. And that was what made their relationship work. Dixie would love to have the happiness that glowed in Penny’s eyes when she looked at her men. Maybe when they caught the person after her men, she could find that.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I think this might be an almost perfect day.” Dixie squeezed Micah’s hand.
Dixie cuddled up against Micah. Damn, this was nice. A quiet day with one of her men. Maybe she could learn a little more about him and get in a little play, too.
“This is good. The only way it could be better is if we were naked.” Micah slid his hand down her thigh.
“I don’t think we’d talk much or last very long if we were naked. And I don’t know much about you beyond the surface stuff. We have time, but I’d like to learn more about the men I intend to spend my life with. Before we get to the children part of our lives, we should talk about past and family.” Dixie shook her head.
“All right, but I definitely want to see some skin while we talk. I guess we should get into the family and things like that before we start one of our own.” Micah nodded.
“I have an idea.” She ran her hand over the white shirt covering his chest.
“What is in that wicked mind of yours?” He cupped her cheek.
“Well, if you think I’m wicked, maybe I shouldn’t corrupt you. But I was thinking, strip questions. One question, one piece of clothing and no one-word answers allowed at all.” She wagged her finger. Would he answer the challenge or throw one of his own?
“A bit demanding, but I think we can do that. Do you want to play here?” Micah nuzzled her cheek.
“How about we go out in back? It’s a nice day, and you guys have that nice gazebo. We haven’t spent any time there.” She stroked her fingers over his neck. Nestled between trees, the gazebo would provide a little privacy for their play.
“It might be a little cool without clothes.” He lifted her hand to his lips.
“It’s not cold, but I think we can keep each other warm if we get a little chilly.” She bit her lip. Overprotective male. It was spring and more than warm enough out there.
She rose to her feet and tugged on him. He got up, his hand tightening on hers. As if she intended to go somewhere without him.
She led him out into their backyard. The white gazebo rose up between the trees, and flowers bordered the front. Lattice along the sides shielded the inside from anyone peeking over the privacy fence. Not that the neighbors were that close anyway.
“If I see a shiver that isn’t passion, we’re going inside.” He drew her to a stop just inside the gazebo.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a bossy bear. We’ll be fine. Now, that padded bench looks comfortable. Let’s give it a try.”
“A bossy bear, huh?” He walked with her to the bench.
“Yep, it’s part of the doctor syndrome. Always think you gotta be in charge.” She laughed. Every single doctor she’d ever met had it in spades. “On top of that, you’re a bear and have more than a few alpha tendencies.”
“You like my tendencies.” He leaned down and nipped her neck.
“I like them a lot.” She slid onto the bench. Maybe she could pull a few out before the end of this. “But before we get to those tendencies, how about we start with the questions?”
“Hmm…questions. Who gets to ask first?” He drew his finger over her cheekbone.
“You can ask first.” She waved her hand.
“What do you want as a forfeit?” He hooked his thumbs in his pockets.
“That shirt, but I’ll take it off once I’ve answered your question.” She tugged at the collar of his shirt.
“All right, what’s your favorite dessert?” He tilted his head.
“Seriously, I wasn’t expecting that.” She grinned. And easily answered. Her mouth watered. “There’s a bakery in town that makes this chocolate cake. Really rich, moist chocolate cake, a caramel-and-nut filling, and chocolate frosting.”
“We have time to learn everything about your family and your past. I want to know more about what you like.” He leaned back. “Now, get this shirt off me.”
“With pleasure.” She unbuttoned the first two buttons and leaned forward.
Warmth radiated from his skin. His citrusy, lemongrass scent surrounded her. She scraped her teeth over his chest. He hummed and cupped the back of her neck. Definitely a good beginning. She flicked open the next button and dropped a kiss on the newly exposed skin. He tightened his grip. A thrill pulsed through her. She pushed the next button free, licking his chest.
“You know I’ll torture you, just like you’re doing me.” He lightly yanked at her hair.
“Bring it on.” She peeked up at him. As if she’d back away from this challenge.
“I think you still have one button left. Better get to work on it.” He glanced down.
“This one?” She flicked at the button before easing it out of the hole.
“Yes, and now, it’s my turn to take something off you after you ask the question.” He raised his brows. “I’ll make sure that you get a taste of the torment you inflicted on me.”
“We’re supposed to tease and excite each other.” She shook her head. “All right, tell me about your family.”
“That’s a little broad.” He chuckled. “What did you want to know about my family?”
“Tell me about your fathers and your brothers and sisters.” She lifted a shoulder.
“I’ll give you that even though it could be two questions.” Micah laughed. “I have three fathers, so pretty normal there. I don’t have any sisters, but I have four brothers. Apparently, there haven’t been any females in any of their lines in quite a while. All my fathers had busy jobs—a doctor, an insurance agent, and a police officer,
yet somehow, one of them was always there. I want to be like that for my children, too.”
“It’s nice that your fathers were there for you. I’m the only girl in my family, but that’s a lot of boys.” She shook her head. Wow.
“My parents kept trying for that baby girl until Benjamin. Five was enough.” He leaned forward and nudged the first button free.
His breath feathered along her neck. Tingles prickled along the trail of the soft touch. She tilted her head to the side. He brushed his lips against her neck. A thrill skittered straight to her core. Damn, his mouth was lethal.
He lapped at her pulse point before nibbling along the edge of the shirt. Heat flared through her. He nudged the next of the fastenings free. Her heartbeat quickened. He kissed along the edges of her bra and drew his tongue down the valley between her breasts. Slick liquid gathered between her legs. Fuck, he’d barely touched her, and already she ached.
“I love the way you taste, honeybear.” He slid the next catch free and pressed a kiss on her stomach.
He swept his fingers across her skin. The heat of his palm warmed her skin. Finally, he flicked open the last and pushed it wide.
“Um, now, it’s my turn.” She swept her tongue over her lips.
“I think that I’m at a disadvantage here. You’re wearing more clothes. Once I’m naked, I’m not waiting around. I want inside of you.” He lifted her hand and kissed it.
“Maybe you should wear layers.” She laughed.
“You without your bra and panties would be wonderful.” He tugged at the strap on her bra.
“All right, shoes don’t count. We’ll take those off before we start on the pants, and you can do my bra with my panties. But you get less torment time.” She drew her fingers down his sternum.
“As if I’d agree to that. You need the extra attention.” He swept his tongue over her fingers.
“Still being bossy.” She frowned at him. That wouldn’t change probably ever.
“And I’ll continue with that trend. Now, ask your question.” He leaned back. “I’m eager to feel your hands on me.”
She eased off the bench. “Now, time for these pants to come off. Do you want to take off your shoes or should I?”
“I’ll get the shoes. You prepare to torment me as you take off my pants.” He pulled off his shoes and tugged off his socks, as well.
“Just remember I’ll need you to stand at some point.” She raised her brows. “I can only get your pants down so far with you sitting on them.”
“When it’s time. Don’t get too carried away with the teasing, because I might have to do something drastic.” He tucked his finger underneath her chin.
“As if. I’ll enjoy playing with you.” She dug her finger into his chest. No way would she agree to that.
“Just be aware that there are limits.” He wagged his finger.
“Yeah, tell that to someone who isn’t getting an orgasm or two out of this.” She laughed.
“Woman, I love your attitude.” He leaned back. “Now, start the tormenting.”
She rubbed her hands together. Hmm, free rein at least until he decided he’d had enough. Hopefully, he didn’t call a halt too soon.
She traced her fingers along the edge of his waistband, pulling at it before easing over to the button. “A button fly would be more fun.”
“More torture.” He laughed. “Get to it.”
She drew her hand up and down the cloth-covered ridge of his cock. He drew in a sharp breath, and his body tightened. Good. Hopefully, it stretched some of his control. He had to be as wild for her as she was him.
She drew her hands down his thighs before gliding them back up and dragging his zipper down slowly. He groaned, and he gripped her shoulders. That definitely got his attention.
“Now, you’re acting like I’ll stroke your cock immediately, but that’s not true. You have a nice pair of boxers on that I’ll have to take off after you get your turn.” She eased her hands to the side, slipping under the pants to grip his hips.
“And I’m already aching.” He trailed his fingers down the column of her neck.
“You’ll survive.” She patted his leg. “Now stand up. I’ll save the serious teasing for when I pull these boxers off.”
“No taking me over the edge.” He stood and pushed his pants down.
She scraped her nails down his thighs, guiding his pants down until they fell to the floor. He stepped out of them.
“Now, it’s your turn.” He hauled her to her feet. “You can stand right there.”
“All right, tell me about your youth. Were you studious and serious or wild?” She leaned forward.
“Serious and studious? I had four brothers. I played baseball and had friends. I wasn’t going out every night, but I had fun and managed to maintain a good grade point average. That was one of the things my parents insisted on. If I wanted to do anything extra, I had to have the grades.” He grinned.
“That sounds like a great childhood.” She trailed her hand down his stomach.
“Now, stand still. I’ll get these pants off you.”
She bit her lip. “I’ll stand still if you don’t take too long.”
“It will take as long as it does. You don’t heat up as fast as I do.” He slipped his hand down and cupped her pussy. “I can feel your warmth now.”
Fire coiled within her, and an ache built low in her belly. She wouldn’t need as long as he thought.
“As if you don’t plan to torture me when you take my panties off.” She swirled her hand over his chest.
He drew his finger up her zipper and stopped at the button. “Not torture, heat you up. You have to be hungry for me.”
Her breath caught. She already was. He flicked the button open and then trailed his finger over the exposed skin. She tensed. If he lowered that zipper a little, he could slide that hand down to her pussy and stroke her. But he didn’t, damn it.
He skimmed his fingers down her fabric-covered leg. Even though he wasn’t touching skin, tingles crept up her leg. She shifted on her feet. He drew his hand back up and tugged the tab of her zipper down. She drew in a breath. Would he make it quick as she had, or would he tease her?
He trailed his hand back up and into her pants. The warmth of his palm seared. He dipped his fingers into her panties. She wriggled. Fuck, he’d tease her right out of her mind.
He cupped her pussy before two pushed between the lips. She tensed and stepped out, widening her legs.
“You like that, don’t you?” He curled a finger up, stroking over her clit.
“Fuck, yes.” She rocked into his touch.
He slowly bent his fingers upward again. “You’ll have to wait until I get these panties off for more. Then I’ll give you everything you want.”
She groaned. Freaking tease. He would pay.
He pulled his fingers free, and he pushed her pants down. She took a deep breath and stepped out of them. She smiled. Now, it was her turn, and he’d ache for her.
“Now, my last question. Did you always want to be a doctor? Or was that something you decided in college?” She tilted her head. In high school, she’d thought about being a pharmacist, but had decided to be more hands-on with helping people.
“Ah, no, I was interested in science and medicine. I knew that much, but it wasn’t until college that I really decided what I wanted to do.” He smiled. “Now, you get to tease me a little.”
“A little. In your dreams. After what you pulled, I’ll tease you until you’re moaning.” She poked her finger against his chest before trailing them down his chest to the elastic band of his boxers.
“Yeah, don’t push your luck too much because I don’t intend to come before you do.” He smiled.
Dixie met the intense heat in his eyes. The show of teeth held more than a little of the predator.
“Now, that doesn’t sound fair at all.” She shook her head and tugged his boxers down.
His cock sprang free. She reached down and stroked his cock. He te
nsed, breath hissing between his teeth. Oh, yeah, he liked that, but that wasn’t nearly enough.
She pushed his shorts down until they fell around his feet and knelt in front of him. He cupped her head.
“You have no sense of self-preservation.” He shook his head.
“I know what I want.” Dixie smiled. If it moved things along, she’d do what was needed. He’d teased her enough. She tightened her grip on his cock and slid down his length.
“Fuck. That feels good. Do you plan to tease me with the feel your breath, or will I feel that beautiful mouth on me?” He tangled his fingers in her hair.
“So you want me to do this?” She licked the head.
A shudder ripped through him. “And more.”
She smiled. His thighs tightened.
“More is definitely coming.” She swept her thumb over the rounded head, gathering a bead of cum.
She licked at the head. He clenched his fingers in her hair, and he bent toward her. She gripped his thigh, holding onto him. Oh, the plans she had for him. She licked her lips.
“Don’t tease.” He threaded through her hair.
She smiled up at him and lashed at his cock before drawing it into her mouth. A low groan tore from him, and he rolled his hips. The muscles in his thighs tensed. She dragged her tongue along the length of his cock before sucking him deep.
He tugged on her hair. A pang shot through her. He wasn’t stopping her yet. She drew harder. He moaned, and his hips lurched forward. A thrill rushed through her almost as heady as any of his caresses. She did this to him. She made him forget everything but the sensation.
“Fuck, your mouth is delicious.” He combed his fingers through her hair.
She took him to the back of her throat and swallowed. A low rumbling growl rolled through him. Yes, he loved that. She cupped his balls and massaged. He rolled his hips forward. She took him deep and pulled back. He should be wild enough now.
Micah groaned and lifted her. His cock slipped free. He drew her to her feet and tugged on her bra. It ripped, and he moved to her panties, tearing the sides of those. They dropped to the ground.
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