by Katie Reus
The cops didn’t even attempt to stop them, just lifted the yellow crime scene tape and let them under. Yeah, they were well known in New Orleans.
Tossing off the blanket, she stood and met them halfway, stopping in front of one of the oaks that lined her street. “What is it?”
“How are you holding up?” Angus asked quietly.
“Fine. Why are you here? This isn’t about me, is it? Is it Leta?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hector tense and his head whip in their direction.
Iris shook her head sharply. “Not Leta, but another feline has gone missing. Hector’s sister called Angus in a panic when she couldn’t get a hold of either of you.”
“Crap,” Daphne muttered. She’d turned her phone off because she hadn’t wanted to deal with her parents or concerned packmates, and Hector had probably lost his sometime during his shift. At least one of the cops had found him some pants and a T-shirt to wear. “Do they know if she was taken for sure?”
Angus nodded, but he didn’t offer any more explanation and she didn’t push. The details weren’t important at the moment. Making sure it didn’t happen again and getting these women back safely was what mattered. “Is Leta safe?”
“I have some of the pack watching her house. They’re taking shifts,” Angus said.
“Thank you. I appreciate you looking out for her, and I mean this with all the respect in the world, but this won’t solve the problem. What the hell is going on in our city? Why would anyone want to kidnap pregnant shifters?”
Angus’s jaw clenched tightly, but his anger wasn’t directed at her. “The police and our pack are working on it, but I’ve called the Council. They’re sending someone as soon as they can. And I have no idea why anyone would do something like this.”
She almost snorted at the mention of the Council. They were no better than shifty politicians, but if they sent the enforcer to help, that might actually make a difference. There was no way her best friend could be kept under lock and key her entire pregnancy. Not only that, but there were tons of other pregnant shifters in the city. Someone had to look out for the well-being of all of them.
Hector walked up at that moment and wrapped his arm around Daphne’s shoulders. “They’re letting us leave,” he said to Angus, who simply nodded. Then he looked down at her. “I heard what you guys were talking about. I’d like to see Leta tonight if you’re up to it.”
Like he even had to ask. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, not caring that they had an audience. She knew he was okay physically, but she was still a little shaken up about what he’d done. “I’m ready to go when you are.”
Since Hector’s bike was scratched and dented to hell, they said their good-byes to Angus and Iris then took Daphne’s car. The ride was short, but neither of them said much on the way over. Daphne was still reeling from when he’d told her that he loved her. She loved him too but didn’t want to tell him right before they pulled up to his sister’s house. No, she wanted to tell him and then spend hours showing him exactly how she felt.
• • •
Daphne knew she should be wiped out after the insane night she and Hector had just had. But as Hector opened the door to his two-bedroom cottage style bungalow in Uptown, the only thing she wanted to do was get him naked.
He tossed his keys onto an antique looking table by the front door as he closed and locked it. His place was masculine, with lots of browns, greens and tans and all antique furniture. The art on the walls had likely been bought from street artists in the Square. Paintings of saxophone players, fleur-de-lis and a gorgeous oil painting of Chartres Street in the rain revealed his attachment to the city. “Do we still need to talk about what happened at the bar?”
He’d been very physically affectionate at Leta’s house, pulling Daphne into his lap on the couch while they talked and calmed his sister down. But they hadn’t talked about what she’d seen and why she’d run from him. “Not unless you were lying.” She knew he hadn’t been and when he growled softly, she didn’t hide her smile.
“Then why’d you run? Why didn’t you stay and confront me? And how could you ever think I’d cheat on you?” He looked and sounded hurt.
She hated the way she’d reacted. “After the past couple weeks, hell, months at school having to dodge that lunatic, I was feeling raw and unsure about everything. Then this past week we didn’t have any private time and I thought . . . I guess I thought maybe I’d read into stuff or you’d changed your mind or . . . I don’t know. I was being stupid and emotional. I did think about punching you, though. Right before I almost burst into tears.”
“Saul tried to,” Hector said wryly.
Daphne’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry I didn’t have more faith in you.”
“In us. I want to mate with you, Daphne. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. I’ve been trying to take things slowly because I didn’t want to scare you with the intensity of how I feel.”
“Scare me?” Not possible. She’d wanted him for too long. And she knew he wanted her now. Well, more than just that. Still . . . “Can I ask you something?” When he nodded she continued. “Remember what happened right before I went to college . . . why did you stop me from kissing you? Were you not attracted to me then?” She could feel her face heat up as she asked. She hadn’t changed that much since then and while it had been years ago, she’d never forget how embarrassed she’d felt afterward. Putting miles between them had been the best thing.
He looked surprised by her question. Then he paused so long she wondered if he wouldn’t answer. Finally he spoke. “I was very attracted to you, but you were buzzing from too many drinks and . . . you were inexperienced. Honestly, I didn’t trust myself to stop at just kissing. And you deserved better than that, especially since you were leaving. You needed to get away from your pack and figure out who you were. If we’d started something, you would have ended up staying here.”
When she started to respond, he shook his head. “I know myself and I wouldn’t have wanted to let you go. His eyes went pure jaguar for a moment then flashed back to startling green. “I can be territorial and possessive and I hate when other males look at you. When Neil asked you out during our dinner, it took all my control not to pummel that little shit. If we mate, I know a lot of that will fade since we’ll be scented with each other, but I’m still territorial as hell where you’re concerned.”
His words sent a ribbon of awareness and pleasure spiraling through her. Mated shifters were notoriously possessive of each other and over the past week he’d been so casual about everything. Laid-back, the Hector she thought she knew. She was glad she brought out this side of him. It was the way things were supposed to be with mates. “I feel the same way and you know I love you too . . . right?” She hadn’t said the words, mainly because saying them aloud scared her a little. She was afraid that if she did, she’d wake up and discover everything between them was all a dream.
He pushed out a harsh breath. “I needed to hear the words.”
She loved the relief she heard in his voice, loved knowing he was just as torn up over her as she was over him. Right now, she didn’t want any more words. They loved each other and they wanted to mate. That was all she needed to know. Grasping the hem of her sweater, she tugged it over her head. His place was slightly heated, but the cool air rushed over her body, chilling her.
Hector sucked in sharply as his gaze raked over her. “Take off your boots and pants.” A soft order.
She did as he said, slowly peeling the rest of her clothes off. When she was fully naked, he pressed his body up against hers, walking them backward until her spine flattened against the wall in the front hallway. Then he surprised the hell out of her by kneeling at her feet. She was tall, but so was he and his head was a little above her mound.
“Put one foot over my shoulder,” he growled softly.
Her entire body tightened at the demand. She
did as he said, opening herself up to him. The position made her feel exposed, but not vulnerable. Hector would never hurt her. Since he’d killed Troy she realized that he only wanted to protect and take care of her. She felt the same about him.
He inhaled, breathing in her scent, and she squirmed under his intense scrutiny. Before she had a chance to even think about being self-conscious, his mouth was on her, teasing and licking.
The feel of his mouth and tongue stroking her sent her senses into overdrive. Clutching his head with both hands, she moved her raised leg up so that her foot was on his shoulder, not slung over it. As a shifter she was flexible and this position gave him better access and her more pleasure.
Going deeper than he had before, he slid his tongue into her, tasting her wet heat. He might be on his knees but he was the one in control right now. With each of his teasing strokes, her hips rolled against his face. She threaded her fingers through his dark hair and let go of all sense of control. She was barely hanging onto it anyway.
Letting go was freeing, and though she shouldn’t have been surprised, the sharp climax that rushed through her took her off guard. Using just his tongue, he increased pressure on her clit. Removing her hands from his head, she slammed her palms against the wall so she wouldn’t accidentally claw him. Her sensitive bundle of nerves felt so damn raw, but he just kept stroking and extending her orgasm until her knees weakened and buckled under her.
But he was faster than her. Scooping her up, he strode down a hallway, nuzzling her neck as he walked. She wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in his spicy scent. Her surroundings were a blur, but she was aware of when they stepped into his bedroom because his masculine scent grew stronger. As he pulled her earlobe between his teeth, murmuring something about her being beautiful, she was vaguely aware of the massive bed, but he bypassed it and nudged open another door into a dimly lit bathroom.
For a brief moment she wondered what he was doing, but quickly realized his intent. The cops had given him some towels to clean up with but he’d want to shower before they made love.
Daphne’s experience with males was limited, but with him everything was instinctual. Instead of waiting for him to undress, she grasped his shirt and practically yanked it over his head. Her hands shook as he was bared to her. There were still traces of blood on his chest and that angered her inner wolf, but when his hand cupped her cheek and he gently rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb, most of that dissipated.
“It’s just you and me right now. No one’s going to hurt us,” he said quietly, as if he’d read her mind.
Hell, he’d probably read her emotions. Around him she didn’t hide them very well. She wanted to take off the rest of his clothes, but he was lightning fast, almost ripping the cargo pants to get them off. Then he was standing in front of her in a way she’d only fantasized about and oh my . . . Her gaze landed on his hard length and she swallowed hard. What she’d felt multiple times through his pants definitely lived up to the hype she’d created in her head. More so.
Involuntarily she clenched her legs together and he just grinned before pulling her to him. His erection lay hot and hard against her belly. “Shower with me?”
She nodded.
He cleared his throat and a trickle of nervousness rolled off him. The acidic scent surprised her. There was nothing this man had to be nervous about. Lord, had he ever looked in the mirror?
“Mate with me now?” he asked and that acidic scent intensified.
She linked her fingers behind his neck and looked up at him, surprised at the uncertainty lurking in his green eyes. She’d thought that’s exactly what they’d been planning to do. Clearly he hadn’t realized she’d wanted it this instant. “I don’t want to wait. I want you forever, Hector. There will never be anyone else for me.” She also wanted to bond, but knew that was something they’d talk about in the future.
“There’s not a full moon right now, but . . . I want to bond with you too.” His words stole her breath. “You don’t have to make a decision now. I just want to lay everything out there. I’m not letting you go.”
“Try and get rid of me.” She knew she probably looked goofy with the giant grin plastered on her face, but knowing he wanted to bond too filled her with awe. It was the ultimate sign of love for shifters. Unlike mated shifters, who could eventually walk away if they chose, much in the way humans divorced each other, bonded mates were separated only in death. And couples could become bondmates only during a full moon when the male took the female from behind, sinking his canines into her neck, marking her.
“So that’s a yes?”
She rolled her eyes and nipped his bottom lip with her teeth. “Like you even have to ask?”
With that, his mouth was on hers, hungry and needy. One second they were standing in the middle of the bathroom, the next they were in his giant granite and glass shower enclosure.
Hot water rushed around them as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her inner walls were desperate to be filled by him but she didn’t want to tear her lips from his. Never wanted to stop kissing him.
After what felt like an eternity he drew his head back, his breathing ragged, his eyes bright with hunger. Water rolled down his face and chest as he rubbed a hand over his damp hair. “I need you now.” The words were ragged and unsteady.
Just how she felt inside. Without another word, she turned and placed her hands on the slick, cool tiled wall. Everything about this moment with him was erotic and sensual. Her entire body was shaking as his big hands curved around her hips.
He flexed his fingers as he slid a knee between her legs. Spreading them farther apart, she tried to grasp the wall but there was no give.
One of his hands slid up her waist and cupped her breast, strumming her already hard nipple as he pushed his hard length into her. The intrusion was welcome but still a shock. Her inner walls stretched to mold around him. Little tremors erupted throughout her body as he pushed all the way inside her. She couldn’t believe it, but she was ready to come again. All he’d have to do was move a few times. She was already trembling with the need to climax for a second time.
Still buried deep inside her, he leaned down and she felt the sharp tips of his canines raking against her neck. He didn’t puncture the skin, just grazed it. As he did, he pulled almost all the way out of her, then thrust back in.
She moaned as he started moving inside her in a steady, yet barely controlled rhythm. He filled her in a way she hadn’t known was possible. She could feel his need and energy pulsing off him in waves, but he was holding back until she came again. When he pressed his canines against her neck, she lost it.
The orgasm that ripped through her this time was nothing compared to the others he’d given her. She let out a primal shout, not caring how out of control she sounded as she came.
It was then that he pierced her skin. For a brief moment it stung, but that quickly gave way to pleasure and when she felt his own climax, she pushed harder against him as he thrust into her.
He growled her name as she wrung the last vestiges of his orgasm from him before wrapping his arms around her and tugging her against his chest. Still half-hard inside her, he gently nuzzled her neck where he’d marked her.
Satisfaction spread through her. Now all supernatural beings would know they were taken because of their scents. And when they bonded, he’d receive a tattooed mark somewhere on his body, proclaiming to the whole damn world that he was hers. She couldn’t wait.
“I love you so much,” she whispered. Even with the water rushing over them, her words seemed to echo.
“I love you too.” His words were harsher than hers and when he turned her around, the love she saw shining in his eyes floored her. Most of all, it thrilled her.
He kissed her, his strokes teasing yet still hungry and when she felt his insistent erection against her stomach, she realized they were just getting started
for the night. That was fine with her. There was nothing she’d rather do than spend the night loving her mate.
Epilogue
Three days later
Daphne opened the door to her and Hector’s home and hung up her keys on the hooks she’d put up. Since his place hadn’t been tainted with any craziness from Troy she’d decided she’d rather move in with Hector than the other way around. Plus now she was a lot closer to school.
Saul and a few packmates had decided to move into her previous home and she could only imagine that they’d already turned it into a horrible bachelor pad.
Exhausted from a full day of classes, she headed into the kitchen, ready to open a bottle of red wine, but froze when she saw Hector sitting at the table with his head in his hands. She’d known he was home but now that she was in the kitchen a sour, lemony scent assaulted her at once. Grief.
“Oh, shit,” she muttered before she could stop herself.
He looked up, his face etched with pain. “Leta’s been taken,” he said, his voice broken as he looked up at her.
The words echoed hollowly inside her. Daphne dropped her purse and covered the distance between them in seconds. Tears were already falling down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around Hector. He buried his face in her neck and she felt his own tears on her skin. “What happened?” she asked hoarsely. She’d just talked to her friend that morning and everything had been fine.
Hector pulled his head back but tugged her into his lap. “She and Cesar were out to lunch. She went to the bathroom in a public fucking place and”—his voice broke but after a few moments he wrestled his control back and continued—“she never came back. It’s not just her, though. Imelda from your pack was also taken. Your entire pack is going insane right now.”
Daphne tried to digest all his words. She’d turned her phone to silent while she’d been in school all day so she could only imagine she had dozens of missed calls. Shit, shit, shit. More tears fell freely. Leta was truly missing. How could that be? Her mate, Cesar, had to be tearing himself up right now. They needed to be with him. “What did Angus say?”