by Kate Douglas
She did the same to his other nut, and Tinker felt branded. He identified all ten of her fingers pressing into his flesh, and he burned with the heat of her mouth as she sucked on his balls and rolled them with her tongue, licking and doing her best to drive him insane. On top of it all, the sensations streaming into his mind were filled with her wickedly carnal thoughts, with the things she planned to do to him. Things she wanted Tinker to do to her.
Damn, Lisa was having way too much fun driving him mad, but he’d promised to hold on, and he did. His fingers tightened on the metal shafts of the headboard, and he heard them creak in protest. His hips lifted off the bed when she finally wrapped her mouth around the crown of his cock, but as much as he wanted her to suck him deep, she merely held the very tip between her lips and flicked at the seeping slit at the top with her tongue.
He was practically gasping, nothing more than a helpless fish out of water while she teased and tormented him, but Tinker couldn’t remember ever feeling so alive before, so aware of his own body. Lost in sensation, moaning softly with the intense level of arousal, Tinker hardly noticed when Lisa switched position.
The hot, wet clasp of her sex as she directed his swollen cock inside almost took him over the edge. Perfect. She was so damned perfect, her body molding to hold his as if she’d been designed specifically for him. Tinker groaned and let go of the headboard. His hands rested first on her hip bones. Then he found her breasts.
He wrapped his hands around her sides and flicked her taut nipples with his thumbs, lifting her, easing her back down, helping Lisa settle herself astride. He raised his knees and drove into her, and she arched her back, taking him all the way.
It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough, and he’d given up control for much too long. Lifting Lisa away from his body, Tinker rolled her over to her belly and covered her from behind. She squirmed and giggled but somehow managed to end up with her arms folded under her chin and her butt in the air. Kneeling behind her, Tinker grabbed Lisa by the hips and lifted her higher, then filled her in one deep thrust. He felt resistance at the apex of his thrust and knew he’d gone as deep as he could, but she grunted and pressed back against him. She wanted more. Impossibly, she wanted more of him.
His balls slapped her in the clit. He thrust again, harder, faster, and she met him each time as if it were a contest of wills, of who had the power to hold out the longest. He reached around and found her clit with the rough tip of his finger and stroked her unmercifully. She cried out, arched her back, and climaxed, and her sex held him like a hot fist.
He wasn’t through, and he wasn’t going to be denied. She’d put him through hell tonight, and she hadn’t understood, didn’t have a clue how badly she’d hurt him, how much she’d scared him.
How very much he loved her. Tinker pulled out of Lisa’s grasping sex, rolled her to her back, and thrust deep inside once more. She looked at him with tear-filled eyes, reached for his face, and cupped his cheek in her palm.
I’m sorry. I love you. I didn’t think.
Tinker had had no idea he was broadcasting his feelings, no idea she might be privy to his innermost pain. Tears filled his eyes. He blinked them away and then gathered her close. He tilted his hips again, more gently this time, and slowed the rhythm of his lovemaking, taking her slow and easy, bringing her once more to the edge of climax.
When he reached between their bodies and found her clit, his touch this time was gentle, soothed by the moisture from her first orgasm. He rubbed the rounded bundle of nerves, stroking her lightly, taking her back to her peak.
This time when Lisa went over the top, Tinker went with her. He felt the climax rolling down his spine, through his balls, along the length of his cock. Felt even more this time, with her thoughts of love mingling with his own silent apology.
They had a lot to learn about being a bonded pair. A lot to learn about sharing and communicating and dealing with anger.
Tinker was glad Luc and Tia were on their way. At least those two had figured out how to get it right, and they’d started out with even more against them. Wrapping his arms around his lady, Tinker lay back on the bed with her sprawled over his body. They really needed a shower after all that sex. Really ought to go clean up or they’d be stuck together by morning.
Lisa grinned. He felt the slide of her lips across his chest and realized she’d been in his thoughts again. He’d have to talk to her about that, about reading minds without an invitation.
Of course, he did it to her often enough, but only when she practically screamed her innermost feelings.
Her voice slipped into his half-awake consciousness. I like being able to read your thoughts. It’s the only way to know what’s going on in that hard head of yours. And, Tink…if I’m going to be stuck with anyone, I’m sure glad it’s you.
Tangling his fingers in her hair, Tinker drifted off with Lisa’s scent in his nostrils and her body draped across his. He was glad she felt that way, since it looked like they weren’t going to get that shower.
Chapter 9
Tink? Can you hear me yet? We’re getting near the sanctuary, maybe ten miles south. How do we find Lisa’s place?
Tinker raised his head and blinked himself awake. It was still dark, but Tia’s voice came through loud and clear. His first thought was that he shouldn’t be able to hear her so well, so many miles away, but this was Tia and she’d been working hard at developing much stronger communication abilities. Of course, being a full-blooded Chanku probably had something to do with her powers coming across such great distances. All the others he knew, including himself, were half-breeds.
Tinker answered Tia to let her know he’d heard her. Lisa was still sprawled across his chest, sound asleep. He’d been right—they were practically stuck together. Grinning at the visual that popped into his head, he gave Tia concise instructions to the cabin and then carefully rolled Lisa to one side. She grunted but didn’t awaken.
Lisa was still asleep ten minutes later when Tinker got out of the shower. He watched her a moment, her long hair tangled around her arms and drifting over the pillow, and felt a surge of love so powerful it almost knocked him to his knees. Damn, she was absolutely perfect. He could have lost her.
Tinker couldn’t recall ever in his life being as frightened as he’d been last night, but, then, he’d never had as much to lose before. Thank goodness Tia and Luc were almost here. He needed his packmates’ support when he told Lisa she wasn’t going after the bad guys on her own. Smiling at her tenacity and hopelessly proud of her stubborn pride, Tinker leaned over and kissed her. She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily at him.
He couldn’t help himself. Tinker kissed her again. He had to force himself away when she reached for him. He tapped her nose with his fingertip. “Unless you want to meet your new packmates still smelling sweetly of a whole lot of really steamy sex, you might want to take a shower. They should be pulling in any minute now.”
“Oh shit!”
Barely awake, Lisa pushed Tinker out of the way and ran into the bathroom. He slipped on a pair of sweats just as a car pulled up in front of the cabin. When he went to meet their guests, Tinker could still hear Lisa cursing in the shower.
The voice filled her mind, bubbling over with laughter and good wishes. Take your time, Lisa. We’re going to enjoy a cup of coffee on your lovely deck. I can’t wait to meet you!
Tia? Lisa paused with the washcloth in her hand, stunned to hear a voice other than Tinker’s in her head. I’ll be out in a minute.
It was actually closer to five, but at least she was clean and her hair tied back in a single wet braid. Lisa threw on a pair of loose cargo pants and an old sweatshirt, then padded barefoot through the house on her way to the deck. She snagged a cup of coffee on the way.
Tinker waited in the front room. He took Lisa’s hand and led her out onto the back deck. Both Luc and Tia stood when she stepped through the sliding glass door.
“Wow.” The words slipped out before she realized she�
�d said anything. Though she’d seen both Chanku through Tinker’s eyes, Lisa really hadn’t a clue as to their pure, physical beauty. Luc was tall with overly long dark hair brushing the collar of his shirt, lean in the way of swimmers with broad shoulders and trim hips. Tia stood proudly beside him, her skin the color of coffee with cream, her long blond hair falling in thick curls well past her shoulders.
Both of them greeted her with smiles. Luc held out his arms, and Lisa slipped into his embrace as if they’d known each other for years. In a way, they had, she thought. She held Tinker’s memories of some amazing sex with both Luc and Tia in her mind. When she slipped just as easily out of Luc’s embrace, Lisa realized she’d like to share more than mere secondhand memories with Lucien Stone.
Tia was next, hugging Lisa warmly. Then she kissed her full on the mouth, chastely, but with a promise of more. Her mental words had a sultry drawl to them.
I really want to get to know you better.
Laughing, Lisa kissed her back. Works for me, she said, marveling at how easy it was to fall into this form of communication with others besides Tinker.
She sat next to Tinker on the porch swing, slipping beneath his arm as if they’d been together forever. His body felt warm and strong, and very much as if he belonged beside her.
Tinker kissed her temple, then took another sip of coffee.
“Luc’s discovered some interesting background on Dunlop. Seems there’s a chance he’s involved with a big game hunting preserve. Ownership is buried under a corporation name, and we’re not completely positive yet, but it’s one of those fancy places where guys with way too much money can go hunt. Thing is, at this particular place, they get to hunt endangered and protected species.”
Lisa stared at Tinker. “Like wolves?” When Tinker nodded, she asked, “Where is it?”
“Right here in Colorado and not all that far from us. More than ten thousand acres of prime forest, all privately owned. It’s billed as a ‘nature retreat,’ and he leads private hunts. The prey is set loose and given a bit of a head start. The hunters work with dogs provided by the owners, and the entire ten thousand acres is fenced and guarded.”
“Are wolves the only game?” Lisa shuddered, thinking of the pup that had disappeared. It was too used to people. There was no way he would know the danger behind men with guns.
“No. Rhino, big cats, bears, even elephants when he can get them, but wolves are their specialty. The ads for the preserve claim they can get any animal a hunter wants to add to his trophy collection, for a price. I imagine the wolves are popular because they don’t have to pay top dollar for them, if we’re right about Dunlop’s connection. He’s got his own wolf sanctuary, and it essentially doubles as a breeding farm.” Tinker hugged her close against him. “I’ve told Tia and Luc about the situation here, about the wolves disappearing and that you were darted last night by the kid who works for the sanctuary. As far as Seth knows, he’s caught a wild wolf and still has it caged in that old barn.”
Luc jumped into the conversation. “Obviously, whoever picks the wolves up is taking them to this hunting club and charging hunters the big bucks to get the chance to hunt one of our nation’s smartest predators. What we’ll do is substitute me for you in the cage. Tinker thinks our coats are about the same color and—”
“Absolutely not.” Lisa shot to her feet and glared at Tinker. “If anyone goes back in that cage, it’s me. I know the players, and Seth may be young, but he’s not an idiot. He knows he darted a medium-size female. When he sees a large male in there, he’s going to know something weird is happening.”
“You’re not going back in that cage.” Tinker stood up and set the swing swaying wildly back and forth. “No way in hell are—”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I can and cannot do.” Lisa’s angry shout cut through Tinker’s words. She rolled her fingers into fists.
“I still think—”
“Wait a minute. All of you.” Tia cut into Luc’s comment and held up a hand for quiet. Amazingly, both men shut up and listened.
Lisa flashed her a grin.
“I agree with Lisa. She’s the one the kid tranked; she’s the one who needs to follow through on this. We’ve brought tracers with us, and it shouldn’t be that hard to stay in contact.” Tia turned to Lisa. “It’s your call, hon. How do you feel about it?”
Lisa plopped back down on the swing, secretly amazed at Tia’s power within the group. Tinker hadn’t been kidding about the role of the alpha bitch. “Thank you. It’s the only solution, but we need to hurry. I have to be back in the cage before daylight. I just need to be there long enough to find out who picks up the wolves and where they take them.”
Tinker crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Tia. “Traitor.” Then he turned to Lisa. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it one bit. You have absolutely no plan. No idea how you’re going to get out once you get in.”
Tia lightly punched his shoulder. “As I recall, when you said you were coming to Colorado and I asked what your plan was, you said you were going to wing it. Exact words. If you can wing it, so can Lisa.”
Tinker shoved his fists against his hips and glared first at Tia, and then at Lisa. For the first time, Lisa saw his anger for the emotion it truly represented. He was worried he might lose her. He really was afraid for her. It wasn’t all macho posturing as she’d first thought.
Lisa grabbed Tinker’s hand and pulled him back down to sit beside her on the swing. She touched the side of his face and forced him to look into her eyes. His sparkled with amber lights and what looked suspiciously like tears. I love you. I won’t get hurt. I need to come back to you as much as you want me back. Maybe more.
Tinker’s chest heaved as he drew in a huge breath and then let it out on a gusty sigh. Then he grinned, though Lisa realized there was no humor in his smile. “I know,” he said aloud. “I still don’t have to like it.”
“You’ll have to hold the transmitter in your mouth, down in that little pouch that forms behind your back teeth after you shift.” Luc held a tiny plastic disk between his thumb and forefinger. “If we try and attach it to your body, someone will find it. I wish we could insert it under your skin.”
“Ouch.” Lisa shuddered at the thought. Tinker squeezed her arm for comfort.
Luc just laughed. “Except the minute you shift, it would fall on the ground. You’ve probably noticed you can’t wear any jewelry or clips in your hair. When you shift, they’re gone. I sure hope you didn’t have any fillings in your teeth!”
Laughing, Lisa shook her head. “Nope. Perfect teeth. They’d fall out, too?”
Tia snorted. “Yeah. Like Tala’s IUD. I just about choked when your sister told me about her first shift. She said the little coil fell right out on the floor! Good thing we’ve got that controlled-egg-release thing going, right?”
“Her IUD fell out? I haven’t seen Mary Ellen in ten years, but that sounds exactly like something that would happen to her.” Lisa held out her hand. “Let me have the transmitter. What’s the range for this thing?” She studied the tiny plastic disk.
Luc grinned when he launched into an explanation. It was obvious he loved the techno-toys. “It’s a GPS—global positioning system—so your location will be relayed to us via satellite no matter where you go, though it’s not quite as effective if you’re inside a building. It’s a prototype, developed for tracking migrating birds and such, which is why it’s so tiny.”
Tia poked Luc in the side with her elbow. “Tracking birds. Yeah, right. That’s why it was developed by the Department of Defense.”
Luc flashed a broad smile at Tia and poked her back, but he spoke directly to Lisa. “If you hadn’t noticed, my mate and I tend to differ politically. Anyway, if you’re absolutely positive you want to go through with this, we need to get moving so we can have you safely back in your cage before anyone comes to retrieve the wolf.”
Lisa didn’t expect to feel so nervous when Tinker closed the door on her in the
metal cage. The sky had begun to fade from black to the pale mauve of early dawn, but the barn was pitch black inside. Even with her Chanku vision, it was difficult to see. When the metal door slammed shut and she heard the latch fasten into place, her heart suddenly began to pound.
She whimpered and flicked her tongue through the slats in the door. Tinker reached through the bars and stroked her ears.
Luc waited in the rental car with Tia. He’d wanted to be the wolf who helped Lisa and was totally frustrated at being away from the main part of the action, but Tinker refused to let himself be separated from his mate. There wasn’t really much he could do for her, but neither Luc nor Tinker would allow her to wait here alone. Even Tia had agreed it was a good idea to have one of the men close. Just in case.
With all three of them ganging up on her, Lisa agreed. Now she was glad she hadn’t fought the idea enough to win. She wriggled her tongue around until she felt the small transmitter tucked down in the corner of her mouth. Lodged in the natural pouch between her cheek and back teeth, it felt fairly secure and barely noticeable.
Tinker squatted down in front of the cage. Lisa could barely stand up inside the metal walls, but she stood as best she could, if only to get a better look. It said something about her increased Chanku libido that she would feel aroused right now, considering her situation.
Tinker was absolutely beautiful, and there wasn’t an ounce of anything superfluous on his entire body. The fact that he squatted naked in front of her cage, balanced on the balls of his feet with his knees spread wide didn’t hurt either, especially with all his attributes visible. Prepared to shift and follow her once someone came to pick up the wolf, he’d left his clothes with Lisa’s in the car with Tia and Luc.
Lisa couldn’t help but notice Tinker was totally unaroused right now, though he was still larger than any man she’d ever seen hard. It gave Lisa a good idea just how stressed he was by this entire situation. She’d rarely seen him flaccid, even after sex. This is a new look for you, she teased.