"Let's get outta here,” Wade said, voicing her thoughts.
"How? It's like a war zone up there.” Tam glanced at Noah. Robyn didn't know much of the history between Noah and Tam, but it was apparent they tried to avoid each other, even in the hallway.
"Oh, I forgot, Clone Tam,” Rogan said, grinning devilishly. “You're new to this whole ‘liberating a B*E*A*S*T* compound’ thing, aren't you?"
"You guys have done this before?” The man looked aghast. Everyone chuckled, and even Robyn couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Ah, cut him some slack, Wolfe,” Noah said, smacking Tam upside the head. “He's probably freaking out thinking we don't need him now that Mac's gone and wrecked the helicopter. Might think we'll leave him behind."
Tam's eyes widened as he gazed warily at Noah. “Will you?” he asked in a small voice.
Noah appeared to think it over, rubbing his chin in deep thought.
"For Pete's sake, they're teasing you,” Wade said, rolling his eyes.
Rogan scoffed loudly. “Wet blanket!"
"We're not leaving Tam behind.” Wade stood tall against Rogan's stare-down.
Noah and Rogan were silent.
Tam looked worried.
"We're not.” Wade shook his head. “Right?"
Jet slapped Tam on the shoulder and began walking down the corridor. Rogan and Noah followed.
"Let's keep him guessing,” Noah tossed over his shoulder.
Before Wade followed, he glanced between Mac and Robyn, then back at Tam. “We're not."
With a grin, Robyn led Mac away from the lab, determined never to let him think on Lucian Carver's fate again.
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TWENTY EIGHT
The nice thing about the agency known as B*E*A*S*T* was their supreme arrogance. It had simply never occured to them that their shifters might rebel, let alone escape long enough to steal the agency-issued Hummers parked in their underground garage.
Right about now, Robyn was thankful for that arrogance.
This was the way Dylan and the other crossbreeds had come to make their way to the surface. It was also the perfect getaway for all of them. They had their pick of any car in the lot, they merely had to choose a set of keys from the wall.
"Okay, here's how it's going to be,” Robyn said, laying down the law. The men turned to her and arched their brows. “Mac and I will not be returning with you. We're going to take a Hummer and make our own way."
"Think that's wise?” Wade asked, concern in his eyes.
"I do,” she answered. “Too much shit has gone down. We need to decompress. We need to do it together, and we need to do it alone."
Rogan chuckled. “Yeah, you do."
Noah kicked him.
"Ow!"
"We totally understand,” Noah said. “There should be a few changes of clothes in each of these trucks."
"I know.” Robyn smiled.
"You ever want to find us, look up Richard Erickson in Denver, Colorado and he'll know where we are. He's Lanie's father. Great guy. If you need a place to camp out, he's got
a cabin in the mountains."
"Will do."
"I suppose we'll take our leave as well,” Jet said.
"We?” Rogan asked.
"Me and Tam. Don't think Lanie will take too kindly to him, even if he is a clone."
Noah snorted. “You're probably right. Where you headed?"
"Don't know,” Jet said with a shrug. “Wherever the wind takes us, I suppose."
"The offer to find Lanie's father stands for you two as well,” Noah said. “Just announce yourselves before you show up on our doorstep. I'd like to give my mate a heads-up before she comes face to face with Tam again. No offense."
The panther shook his head, yet still looked wary.
Robyn found the keys to a truck in her favorite color—blue.
"Give us a ride to my Jeep on the mountain?” Wade asked. “I have something for you guys."
"What?” Robyn asked, stifling a yawn. Now that the excitement was over, she was beginning to feel her body's fatigue once more.
"My no-limit credit card."
"You don't have to—"
"Yes, I do,” Wade said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You are my family. And families help each other. Besides, what am I going to do with all that money?"
"I'll help you spend it,” Rogan said, chuckling.
After hugs and handshakes were had with Jet and Tam, Robyn turned and grasped Mac's hand, giving him a squeeze.
"Time to go, baby,” she whispered. “You ready?"
He nodded, his eyes hollow and haunted.
It hadn't taken long to drop the guys off at Wade's Jeep. No one had found it on the mountaintop, and it seemed as if the military had been more occupied with fighting ruthless shifters than stopping two Hummers leaving the facility.
Thankfully, the fighting was taking place on the other side of the compound. The entrance to the garage seemed somewhat hidden amidst sagebrush and a few tall boulders. Robyn had no doubt that had been intentional.
The twilight of dawn lit the sky once they'd reached the summit. Mac said his goodbyes to his friends as if he was sleepwalking, cold and aloof. Watching him broke Robyn's heart. They needed time to deal with his issues. His short stay at the compound had changed him, but not beyond repair.
She hoped.
Mac had donned one of the three changes of clothing in the back of the Hummer when they'd stopped on the mountain. He'd thrown the labcoat he'd been wearing on the ground, glaring at it as if he'd wanted to rip it to shreds. It had been his only display of emotion.
Now that everyone had gone their separate ways, Robyn pointed the truck toward Reno, or at least in the general direction Wade had pointed her. His no-limit credit card burned a hole in her pocket. She'd tried to refuse it, but he'd folded his hand around hers and insisted.
She'd find a way to repay him.
Mac stared out at the scenery as they bumped across the sage. They'd reach a road soon enough, but for now, she watched out of the corner of her eye as he bounced on his seat, brooding.
"Tired?” she asked.
"A bit."
"You look exhausted."
"Don't think I could sleep if I wanted to."
Silence filled the cab of the Hummer. The sun had risen, bathing the desert with light. If they hadn't been in the middle of nowhere, she might have enjoyed looking at the landscape. But worry for her mate wormed its way into her heart.
"Well, I'm beat,” she said, just to have something to say. “Think my last good night's sleep was in the Everglades."
Her attempt at levity fell flat. Mac turned to her. His handsome face seemed aged by a few years.
"I'll drive,” he offered.
Robyn shook her head. “No."
"I'm okay to drive."
"I'm sure you are,” she said, arching her brow at him. “But whether or not you feel tired, I know you've got to be burned out. Besides, I'm not so sure your leg is one hundred percent healed."
He glanced down and rubbed his thigh. “Seems to be."
She didn't answer him. He stared out his window again. Where had his fire gone? The man she loved rarely gave up without a fight. If he'd wanted to drive, he would have made her stop the truck. But he'd accepted her lame excuse without issue.
Robyn bit her bottom lip in an effort to keep her tears at bay. Everything that had happened came crashing down around her. Mac had been taken by B*E*A*S*T* and transformed into a new kind of shifter—a crossbreed—and there was nothing she could do to help him.
She'd almost lost him. He'd been mind-wiped, but he'd been able to hold on to his memories. For the most part. Noah thought that might be why the crossbreeds were so unstable.
Good Lord. A tear fell down her cheek. She wiped it angrily away.
"Robyn.” Mac's gentle voice pierced her heart. She knew he could smell her mood. She took a deep, shuddering breath.
"I'm okay,” she
said through a watery grin. “Just a little...overwhelmed is all. Taking it all in is a bit daunting."
He nodded. The look of longing on his face was more than she could take. Robyn braked, put the truck in park and turned it off.
She unbuckled. So did he. The Hummer had no back seat, just an empty, carpeted truckbed. She didn't care.
Mac yanked her into his arms and collapsed with her in the back. She clung to him as the truck rocked from side to side, allowing him to tuck his face into her neck. He breathed deep, his entire body trembling.
"I'm going crazy,” came his muffled voice.
"No, you're not,” she told him, refusing to accept it.
"I have these thoughts I can't stop, running through my head, playing out like a movie. I don't know if I can take it."
"You'll be all right. We'll get through this, Mackenzie."
"The bear, he's taunting me."
"Tell him to shut the hell up."
Mac pulled back and looked into her eyes. He gave her a forlorn, helpless grin.
"He's strong. I don't know if I can control him."
Robyn brought his face down until his forehead leaned against hers. “I will help you."
"He's so strong,” Mac said again through his sniffles. “Shit, he wants you. He wants to mount you."
The way he spoke of the bear as a separate entity from himself sent a chill down her spine. But she wasn't about to push him away. Mac needed her right now. She'd be damned if she denied him.
His heartbeat raced and his breathing increased.
"Robyn!” The terror in his voice ratcheted her own heart.
"Look at me. Mackenzie, look at me."
His eyes flashed and the passion in them nearly stole her breath. Short brown hairs grew on his face. The scent of the bear filled her nose. He was on the verge of shifting.
She stroked his cheeks and prayed she could talk him down.
"Control it, baby. You've got to try."
Mac broke eye contact and bit her neck none-too-gently. She cried out, fisting her hand in his hair. “I want you screaming,” he whispered. “I want you coming around me. I want your pain. I want your pleasure. I want to ram inside of you."
His voice was changing, growling, becoming more gruff. Oh, shit.
She had to stop him.
Wrapping her arms and legs around him, Robyn tried like hell to hold him down. But her strength was no match for him. Amazingly, however, he stayed right where he was, as if uncertain what to do.
"Listen to me,” she breathed into his ear. “I'm in love with you, Mackenzie Bishop. I love you, not the bear. If you're going to make love to me, I want your human side. Only your human side. Control yourself. Concentrate."
His erection was hard, pressing against her inner thigh. He surged forward, connecting with the sensitive flesh between her legs. Even after all they'd endured, she was wet for him. Having him above her brought her body to life. It had been too long since they'd made love. Much too long.
"He's gone,” Mac cried, his voice normal, his skin smooth. “I don't hear him anymore."
The wonder in his voice brought a smile to her face.
"You controlled him. You did it!"
He shook his head. “No, Robyn, you did. Sweetheart, do you really love me?"
Tears shimmered in his eyes. His heart was on the line. If she broke it, he'd never recover from the rejection. Good thing she had no intension of breaking it.
"I really do.” Her fingers weaved through his hair. “I've loved you since you found me flopping on the ground in the forests of Oregon."
He chuckled with relief. “I seem to recall you fought me tooth and nail."
"Only until you explained yourself. How was I supposed to know the shifters I ran into weren't sent by B*E*A*S*T* to hunt me down?"
"The moment you shifted in front of me, I was done for. That lucious body taunted me to no end... Christ, Robyn, you have no idea how close I came to ripping out Jet and Trevor's eyes for even glimpsing it."
"I've always been yours,” she said with a sheepish grin.
"Always,” he growled, a moment before claiming her mouth.
Fevered and frantic, Mac couldn't help himself. He kissed her as if his life depended upon it. She'd just told him she loved him. Her words calmed the bear raging within him while igniting his heart at the same time. He held her head in his hands, angling her lips to receive him.
Her fingers touched him under the tee-shirt he wore, burning him with their caress. With her palms flat against his belly, then his chest, Robyn demanded he pull it over his head.
Ripping away, he tore it off, only to return his mouth to hers in a hungry attack.
"You came for me,” he whispered between kisses.
"Of course I did,” she answered, trailing her mouth down his neck. Her hands wandered to the button on his jeans and pulled it free. “You're my mate. I had to find you."
Mac was close to tearing her shirt from her body, but thought better of it, and bunched it up in his grip. His palms grazed her soft skin, making him purr in delight.
"I need you, Robyn."
"You have me,” she whispered.
Her shirt wasn't even over her head before he brought his mouth to her nipple. It puckered for him under his tongue and her gasp of delight hardened his erection.
He wouldn't be able to last much longer.
Her skin was salty as he licked her, swirling her in his mouth. Her groans spurred him on. Somehow, she'd gotten her arms out of her shirt as her hand held the back of his head, pressing him closer.
Mac complied and took more of her into him, suckling her deep, savoring the flavor of her.
Her hands were suddenly between them, attempting to unfasten her own jeans in her haste. He shoved them away and took over, lowering himself between her legs.
Mac kissed and lapped at her belly, giving her playful nips on her skin as he breathed her in, imprinting her scent upon his soul. He smiled at her goosebumps and glanced up while he unzipped her. Ever-so-slowly, he tugged her jeans down her hips.
"Mackenzie,” she panted, holding his eye contact. “Dear Lord."
"Robyn, sweetheart,” he said, running his hands along her inner thighs. “I love you."
He'd shocked her, he could smell it. But a glorious smile lit up her face. “I know."
He returned her grin, deciding to tease her.
"You do, do you?” Lowering his head, Mac gave her one long, lingering lick, tasting the very core of her. She was delicious. Holy hell.
Robyn cried out and bent her knees, planting her feet on the floor. She lifted herself up in a silent offering. He could no longer resist her glistening moisture. With his arms underneath her, he brought his face down and feasted, intent on bringing her to an earth-shattering orgasm.
Damn, if he didn't hurry, he'd come himself.
"Oh...God..."
Her whimpers pleased him like nothing else. This was his mate. She belonged to him—from the very moment they'd first met. She was a part of him and always would be, his Robyn, asking for more, unashamed to give herself to him wholly and completely.
Her hips gently swayed with him as she strained for the pleasure he demanded. Without a word, Robyn reached between them and spread herself wide, giving him free reign to tongue her.
She was close, if the air hissing between her teeth was any indication. But Mac didn't stop as he bobbed his head, up and down, whirling his mouth upon her slick heat and savoring every last drop of her.
Just as his tongue once more swiped over her sensitized flesh, Robyn fell over the edge, howling loudly in the cab. Her hand clutched onto the back of his head, pressing him firmly into her wetness until her shudders passed.
Goddamn. Mac wanted nothing more than to sink deeply into her and plunge to the hilt, right where his mouth had been. He needed to mark her, not just with his heart and not just with his words, but with his scent as well. They'd gone through so much since they'd last mated—the smell of him had wor
n off her skin.
His jeans were no match for his passion. Within seconds, they were gone. Mac crawled over her, allowing his eyes to flash.
"I love the taste of you,” he growled. “I love every damn thing about you. I can't get enough."
Once his face was over hers, she silenced him with her lips.
"I want you inside me."
Mac was through talking. Her plea undid him. He wasn't gentle as he thrust forth, encasing himself in her depths. He captured her breath in his mouth as he drew back and pressed forward.
"Again,” she whispered.
He obeyed, plunging deeper, needing the healing only she could give. Her legs wrapped around him, holding him
close, sheltering him from the storm of his emotions.
As he strained above her, the Hummer rocked with them, making him smile at the amused light in her eyes. But as his temperature rose, so did his need to come, and the sound of skin against skin permeated the truck.
More...more...more...was all he could think as he drove into her, and he was somewhat surprised when her muscles pulsed around his length. She was coming again, pulling him down, and kissing him with desperate abandon.
The fervor in her response had him thrusting hard a few more times before flying apart himself, his pleasure thundering through every nerve in his body. Tearing his mouth from hers, he roared at the release, needing to keep plunging in order to prolong it.
When his trembling ceased, he collapsed, but he kept himself firmly rooted within his mate. Robyn didn't say a word—her hands did the talking. With light, feather-soft strokes, she told him she adored him. Gazing into her eyes, he also knew how much it had cost her to lose him again.
Mac gave her a slow, lingering kiss.
"I love you,” he whispered.
"I love you, too,” she replied.
In her arms, he could forget about his problems, forget what he now had to look forward to. He refused to think about what being a crossbreed meant for their future. For now, she was here, underneath him, surrounding him, loving him.
And he was damn well going to take full advantage.
* * * *
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TWENTY NINE
Robyn stood in the hot shower spray, trying her hardest not to cry. They'd reached Reno a couple of hours before. After making love in the desert, Mac had taken the wheel, still proclaiming he wasn't tired. However, she'd dozed off in the passenger seat.
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