Her breathing was too fast and too heavy. She was seeing stars and black at the edges her of her vision. Why was she so afraid?
The car. The car was going to get her. He was going to kill her!
She remembered the face in her dream from the night before. It was all so vivid. What had happened to her?
Why couldn't she remember?
She hurried upstairs to her room. The window overlooked the street. She closed the blinds and peered through a crack, watching the vehicle. She knelt there until her knees began to ache, watching the car. After what felt like an eternity, the front driver's side door swung open. A man in a black suit stepped out. He was wearing sunglasses. His build was large, like a football player. She shivered from head to toe, knowing she recognized the figure. But how? Who was he? Why was she so terrified?
He walked toward the house and approached the front door, ringing the doorbell. Emma's body went rigid with fear. She collapsed against the wall and pulled her knees to her chest, ducking her head between them. She let out a low groan of fear. The doorbell rang again.
Too terrified to move, she whimpered. She had to tell Zander. She needed his help. She pulled herself up from the floor and hurried down the hall to his office. She picked up the phone and frantically dialed, but she got his answering machine instead.
“Zander, you have to come home. He's here.”
The doorbell rang again, and she slammed the phone onto the receiver. She crept back to the bedroom and looked through the window. The man had stepped out onto the front walkway and was moving around the side of the house, looking through windows. The terror in her body hit a boiling point. He was going to get in the house, and he was going to kill her.
She was terrified. She had to stay out of sight. She had to hide.
Emma locked the door of her bedroom. All of the blinds were shut. He couldn't see her in there, but he knew she was there. He was trying to get in. He was trying to get her.
She hurried to the closet in the guest room and closed herself inside. She ducked behind the heavy clothes in the closet and covered herself with a blanket. She wasn't going to let him find her. Zander would come. He would save her. He would stop him. He had to. She felt the walls closing in, the darkness consuming her, and then a memory slammed into her like a tidal wave. That man driving that car. Shooting at her. He was shooting at her on the road.
But why? Why did he want to kill her? She was just a graphic designer from Santa Fe. What had she done to deserve that?
She didn't know. She just didn't know. Then the dream came back. It was the same man. He had murdered someone, someone important, and she had seen it. Emma covered her face with her hands and cried quietly into her palms. She couldn't let him hear her. She couldn't let him find her. He would kill her.
She didn't know how long she stayed in that closet. All light and all life seemed to disappear as she was suspended in time. Then she heard the front door open. Footsteps echoed through the house. A voice called her name. Her bedroom door creaked open. She whimpered. So panicked, so disoriented she didn't know what to do. Was it Zander? Was it the killer?
The door to the closet opened, bathing her with light. She whimpered and bit her lip, trying to hold back the sound. The clothes parted and she gasped.
And then her panic immediately switched to relief. It was Zander. He'd come home. She jumped up from the floor and threw herself into his arms.
“He was here, Zander. He was going to kill me.”
“Who was here?”
“The killer. The man. In the car. He was going to kill me. I know he was.”
“It's okay. I'm here now.”
He led her to the bed and helped her sit down, putting a blanket around her shoulders as she shook and shivered.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I was reading a book. And then I saw this car parked across the street. Is it still there?”
Zander stood and looked through the blinds.
“What kind of car?”
“A black SUV.”
“I don't see any vehicle like that on the street.”
“Oh, thank God.”
“Then what happened?”
“I knew I'd seen that car before. It made me feel so scared. And then I had a memory. The memory of that car chasing me. He was shooting at me. And then the man got out. I recognized him. Even with the sunglasses on. I knew who it was. It was the killer. He rang the doorbell, but I didn't answer it. I tried to hide. He was looking all around the house. Trying to get inside. So, I hid in the closet after I called you. I was so terrified, Zander.”
He put his arm around her shoulder, and she buried her face in his chest, letting out the deep sobs of fear and despair she'd been holding in all afternoon.
He held her close, enveloping her in his strength.
“I have evidence that corroborates your memories, Emma.”
He pulled a cellphone from his pocket and showed it to her.
“I found a vehicle with bullet holes in it, the same bullets that killed the mayor. The snow must have covered its tracks until today. Then I looked inside. I smelled your scent. And I found a phone on the floor of the front passenger seat.”
He handed her the phone. She looked up at him, feeling as if he had given her something. He'd returned her life to her. If only she could remember who she was. At least now she had something that connected her physically to her old life. A sense of relief washed over her. She tried to open the phone by pressing her thumb to the on button, but nothing happened.
“I think it's dead,” he said. “I’ll charge it up for you.”
He was about to stand up when she pulled him back down. She gripped the lapels of his shirt and pulled him toward her. He was her hero. He was everything.
She pulled him toward her and pressed her lips to his, kissing him deep and hard and true. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, tasting the depths of her soul. Their kiss was intense and passionate. The tears still wet on her face, she wanted him. She needed him. She needed to feel that she was his.
“I think we should stop,” he said. “You've been through a lot.”
“I don't want to stop, Zander. Please don't. I need you. I need this. It's the only thing that makes sense.”
“But your injury?”
“I'm fine. I'm not feeling any more pain,” she said, touching her fingertips to the stitches on her forehead.
She had a dull headache that morning, but it had gone away. And even though there was still some soreness in her body, being next to Zander, feeling his lips on hers, took away all the pain and all the torment. He was what she needed to heal. His love, his touch, was a salve to her wounds. She wanted him. She didn't want to wait. She didn't want him to pull away.
“Emma. You're so fragile. I can't take advantage of you.”
“Then let me take advantage of you.”
Chapter 10
Emma pulled Zander down onto the bed as she lay back on the pillow. He sank between her legs and gently kissed her cheeks and lips. He rubbed her cheekbone with the pad of his thumb and looked deeply into her eyes. She could feel his manhood rise between her legs. She ran her hands down his back, sliding her fingers under his shirt. She felt the hard planes of his muscled back and then slid her palms over the globes of his ass.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” His voice was a growl as he buried his face in her neck and kissed her earlobe.
“Surer than I am of anything.”
The rumble in his throat grew louder as his mouth consumed her neck and his tongue slid over her ear. He pulled her shirt up over her head and kissed her shoulder, pulling her bra strap down her bicep. His manhood pressed against her desire and she gasped at the feeling of his size. The intensity of his desire was like a force of nature.
His lips moved down her chest, kissing and licking. He slid the cup of her bra away and lapped at her hard nipple. She quivered with desire and ran her fingers through his hair. He slid his hands
behind her arched back and unfastened her bra. He pulled it away, revealing her body to his hungry eyes. He gently cupped her breasts, his thumb and forefinger stroking at her nipples as his tongue flicked and played with her taut buds.
“Oh, Zander,” she moaned.
He rocked between her legs, and she moved with his rhythm, her desire increasing with every passing second. Time stood still and all that existed was her and Zander. All the pain, all the trauma, all the despair at losing her old life, it was all gone. All that mattered now was this moment; this pure passion with the man who was her true hero.
She gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. He helped her slide it away and her eyes feasted on his muscled chest, reveling in the feeling of his hard body under her palms. Her fingers slid down to his belt and she unfastened it. He growled as she unzipped his pants and found his length behind his boxer shorts.
She gripped him in her trembling hand. He was so thick and long. Her mouth watered at the sight of him. She began to stroke him. It felt as if she was stroking her own desire. The light of his grizzly shined from his eyes, and he growled. She could see his fangs descend in his mouth and she quivered with desire and the primal fear of a female in heat. She longed to be taken completely by her mate.
He slipped out of his pants and pulled her yoga pants down off her legs. They were naked in the heat of the moment. He slid his hands up her thighs and parted her legs. He kissed her hard and deep on the mouth and then moved down her body, leaving a hot trail of kisses as he went lower. She was on fire. Raging with need. He licked the insides of her thighs and she quivered.
His tongue found her core, licking up the slit between her legs. She ran her fingers through his hair, gripping hard as she closed her eyes and surrendered to the pleasure. His tongue lapped deeper, parting her folds. He found the seat of her pleasure. His tongue flicked at her clit. She groaned, loud and full-bodied. It was as if it came from the very depths of her soul. All the fear she felt, all the desperation for him to come home and save her, it all culminated in that moment. As his tongue played on her clit she pressed his head deeper and arched her hips toward him. She came in a blinding flash of light and heat. Her entire body climaxed with electric pleasure.
He growled as she came on his mouth. She felt her body gush with moisture. And he lapped it up, licking her opening like it was ice cream. As her climax subsided, he slid wet fingers inside her.
He kissed her lips as he stroked. He sucked her nipple and she clung to his back, moving with the rhythm of his hand as he stroked her inner flame. Just as she was about to come, he slid his fingers away and pressed the head of his cock to her opening. She groaned, the sound almost like a scream of frustration and desire. And he sank inside her, replacing his fingers with his cock. Her pussy throbbed around him as she came instantly. She wrapped her legs around him and wrapped her arms around his back. He held her still in that deep embrace, their bodies as close as two people could be. She bit into his neck, needing something to hold onto. The growl in his throat was so animalistic, like a grizzly bear.
He drew back and thrust, the impact making her gasp with its power. He thrust again, and moved her arms to the sides of her head, threading his fingers through hers as he fucked her. He nipped in her ear, his sharp teeth brushing over the soft flesh of her neck.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she groaned.
He moved her on frantic waves of climax, cresting and falling over and over. He let her go and flipped her up on top of him. Her hair tumbled down around her shoulders, framing her breasts. She looked into his eyes. She wanted him so badly. She wanted him to claim her and make her his. She pressed her hands to his chest as he gripped her hips and they moved together in a mind shattering rhythm.
Slowly at first, she rode him, and then he increased his rhythm, pressing his thumb into her mouth. She sucked, taking his digit deep into her mouth. She groaned as she held his thumb in her mouth and thrust his cock deeper and deeper into her core. Then he gripped her hips and pulled her close, moving her small body over his. She let go, and allowed him to move her, sliding her body over his chest and pumping on his cock. She didn't know where he ended, and she began. The orgasms seemed to have no beginning or end. Then he sat up with her. Cupping her face with his hands.
“I love you, Emma.”
“I love you, Zander. I want you so badly. I want you to claim me.”
“I can't. Not yet. Not until you remember who you are.”
“But I want you.”
“And you will have me.”
He flipped her over on her stomach. He pulled her ass into the air and slipped inside her. His hands gripped her hips. He pulled her against him, thrusting deeper and deeper. It was like an explosion of fireworks for New Year's Eve. It was like the sun and moon and stars colliding at the end of time. She groaned as he came. Her body throbbed around his pulsing dick. She gasped as she fell away and collapsed on the bed. He collapsed beside her, pulling the condom off and throwing it in the trashcan.
Emma wished that he hadn't used protection. She wanted him. She wanted his mark on her neck and his baby in her womb. But he was a gentleman. He was being careful with her. Still, he had given her more pleasure than she could imagine possible, and it was exactly what she needed. If that was all he could give her now, it was enough.
He drew her against him and pulled the blanket up around their shoulders. She rested against his chest and he stroked her hair. He took a deep breath through the nose and then kissed her forehead.
“I really do,” he whispered. “I wasn't just saying it.”
“You really do what?” she asked, although she knew what he meant. She just wanted to hear him say it again.
“I really do love you.”
“And I really do love you. I don't care that we've only known each other for two days. You are everything to me. Everything I know. Everything I want.”
“I feel the same way, Emma. But that's why I can't claim you yet. I'm all you know. And I can't take advantage of that. You need to have your full faculties before you can make the choice from a place of empowerment.”
“But I want you to take advantage of me,” she said with a giggle, running her finger down his chest.
He caught her hand and kissed her wrist at her pulse point. He opened his mouth and ran his sharp teeth over the tender spot. It sent a shiver down her spine.
“Taking your body will have to be enough for now,” he said, smiling at her. “Though I fear that even that was too much. You’re fragile and injured. I should have been gentler.”
“I didn't want you to be gentle.” She giggled.
“No. I daresay you did not.” He chuckled.
They rested there together, wrapped in each other's arms. The fear and trauma of earlier seemed to dissipate. Emma forgot about the man, she forgot about her phone, and she even forgot about her conversation with Dahlia. She just wanted to be with Zander and be safe. She wanted to feel like her life was normal and happy and that they shared this beautiful house and this beautiful life. Where there was no murders, no bad guys, and no pain.
She fell asleep in his arms, dreaming of that fantasy. When she woke again, he wasn't there. It was dark outside, and she was alone. The clock beside the bed said six forty-five. She climbed out from under the blankets, a chill pricking her skin. She pulled her clothes back on and headed out into the hall. She saw a light on in his office and opened the door. He turned in his executive chair and smiled at her.
“Your phone’s all charged,” he said. “You want to try to open it?”
Chapter 11
Emma took the phone tentatively, looking Zander in the eye. She didn't know if she really wanted to remember. If she could just leave her old life behind her and start anew with Zander, she knew that she would be happy. Why did she need her old memories anyway?
She took the phone and sat on the chair across the room, staring at it as she held it in both hands. She looked up at him and bit her lip.
&n
bsp; “What if I find out I'm a horrible person and you don't want to be with me anymore?” she said.
“I would never believe you could be a horrible person, Emma Dixon,” he said.
“Here goes nothing.”
She pressed her finger into the on button and the phone immediately unlocked. She was bombarded with multiple text messages and notifications. She scrolled through them. There were many texts from Dalia, worried and asking where she was. At least she had contacted her friend to let her know she was alright. Then she found a notification from mate.com.
“Congratulations, we’ve found your fated mate.” She gasped with glee. That was the notification that would tell her that Zander was her man. She tapped on the screen and opened up the app. It took her directly to Zander’s profile.
“Sly Bear, huh?”
“Are you looking at mate.com?” he asked.
“Mhm.”
She read his profile and looked up at him with a smile.
“If this were a regular human dating website, I would have contacted you.”
“So, you'd swipe right on me, huh?” He laughed.
“For sure.”
Then she tapped over to her own profile.
She saw a picture of herself and Dahlia from her social media page. She read the hastily-written profile, and somehow it triggered something inside her. A tidal wave of memories swept over her like she was being drowned in the depths of the sea. She gasped and stood, dropping her phone on the ground. She covered her mouth, her eyes going wide. Memories of childhood, of high school, of college, of her shitty job at the startup. Her friends, Dahlia. “Oh my God. She must've been so worried.”
Emma sat back down again, tears streaming from her eyes.
“What is it?”
“I remember… I remember everything.”
Sly Bear (Justice Squad Book 7) Page 5