True Claim

by Marie Johnston

  “There’s enough ugliness in life, I don’t need cussing to make it worse.”

  Nearly rolling his eyes, but abstaining, he watched her devour her warm chocolate deliciousness. He shifted in his seat, his jaw clenching.

  Once Spencer scooped up as many crumbs as she could rescue, and licked them off her fork, she set the fork down and excused herself to go to the restroom. All the soda and water was building up.

  Wrapping up in the ladies’ room, she maybe straightened her hair a little more than normal, adjusted her shirt, and turned sideways to check out her butt in the mirror. Ridiculous. She wasn’t going home with Bennett so her looks didn’t matter.

  Breezing out the door, the same server gave her friendly smile. “How’s it going?”

  “Oh, uh, fine.”

  “You’re new here, right?” He was punching in order info at a little console.

  Stiffening, Spencer shot him a quick smile, acting like she was in a rush back to her booth and hadn’t really heard him.

  Weaving through the bar, she spotted a tall, willowy blonde saunter up to Bennett. His eyes were following Spencer, oblivious to the woman.

  Spencer’s ears picked up the woman’s throaty question. “Hey, remember me?”

  Bennett’s brow furrowed as he glanced at the beauty. “Sorry?”

  “From the club, over in West Creek. We hooked up a couple of months ago.” The woman now sounded a little strained, like she shouldn’t be explaining who she was to someone who apparently knew her intimately.

  Bennett’s face paled. Instead of watching Spencer approach, he glanced down at his beer. “No, sorry.”

  The woman shifted, unsure for a moment, before kicking her hip out and thrusting her chest forward a couple of notches. She leaned over the table and purred. “Why don’t we head over there? I’ll make sure you don’t forget me again.”

  “No, thanks.”

  Spencer finally reached the booth and plopped in. The woman shot a glare her way before swinging her determined attention back to Bennett.

  “Come on. It’s not too late,” the woman tried again.

  “Honey.” Spencer cut in, cringing at the thought this scene could get ugly fast. The girl’s insecurity was like a badge on her shoulder. “You’re clearly beautiful, he’s clearly a player. Don’t you think you deserve better?”

  Both Bennett and the stranger turned shocked looks her way.

  “Excuse me?” the woman half-asked, half-challenged.

  “You deserve a guy who spends one night with you and is smitten. Like, make your bed, take out the garbage, cook you dinner, smitten. You should never, ever, have to remind any guy who you are.”

  The stunning blonde blinked rapidly at tears the unexpected onslaught of emotion Spencer’s words had wrung out.

  Standing up fully, tugging down on her minidress, the woman squared her shoulders. “Well lady, those kinds of guys are a myth.”

  “If you’re looking for them in bar they probably are,” Spencer countered. “What do you enjoy doing? That’s where you’ll meet someone.”

  The woman huffed and hastily brushed more tears away. “There’s not many hot guys in the church quilting circle.”

  “No,” Spencer pondered. “But how many of those mad quilting grandmas have single grandsons?”

  Chuckling despite herself, the beauty gave Spencer an appreciative smile. “You two have a good night. And…make him work for it.”

  Bennett looked like he was going to have a stroke. When the woman was gone, he ran a hand through his perfectly mussed hair.

  “She seemed nice.” Spencer directed her teasing tone toward the disconcerted Guardian. “I didn’t catch her name. What was it?”

  Better to cut things off before they started. “I never did get her name either.”

  A delicate eyebrow rose, and fuck, Spencer was trying not to laugh at him. Most other girls would’ve been, should’ve been, disgusted with him. A human girl especially should be throwing her drink in his face and storming off with Random Hookup Girl to dish about how men suck.

  He pressed on, might as well lay it all out then and there. “I’ve been known to frequent clubs occasionally for quick sex with anonymous women. All night long.”

  A pretty blush stole across her features, but her surprise seemed to be more about his admission than what he was actually admitting to.

  “Have you ever gotten any of their names?” Her tone was still teasing, but he detected a hint of curiosity.

  “One, and she’s a complete pain in my ass.”

  “My kind of girl.” Spencer’s sass never ceased to amaze him. “What’s her name and why didn’t things go anywhere with you two?”

  “Kaitlyn and I weren’t looking for anything to go anywhere. Now she’s a coworker of sorts, and my company has a strict no fraternization policy.” There was no concern about any lingering feelings between Kaitlyn and Bennett other than the dose of respect and friendly affection he held for his fellow, spunky Guardian.

  “So, is that why you’re out tonight? For anonymous sex?” Her voice was soft, as if she was afraid of his answer.

  Seizing the opportunity to destroy a budding relationship with this woman who was supposed to be his mate, he wore his most serious expression. “Yes.”

  A fleeting look of bewilderment preceded her utterance. “Liar.”

  Well, that backfired. “I’m not the only liar at this table.”

  “I have never lied to you. We hardly know each other enough to lie.” Oh, she was cute angry. The fire lit the green hues in her hazel eyes making them sparkle.

  “You said you didn’t know those men in the woods.” Granted, he hadn’t smelled her lie but it didn’t mean she wasn’t hiding something. The recruit they had captured expired before any useful information was pried out of him, though they did find out he wasn’t out there targeting Guardians.

  “I didn’t.”

  “Okay. Why were they after you then?” Let her answer that with no scent of deceit.

  “I doubt they were after me.”

  Well, now. There it was, the scent of a lie. Spencer King knew there were men searching for her. Did she know they were Sigma?

  “Have you ever heard of an organization called Sigma?”

  “Nope.” She was the poster child for innocence.

  But she was lying. Lying about the knowing the men were after her, lying about knowing about Sigma. Here he was, out hunting for men looking for a fair and petite woman, and he ended up with a fair and petite woman who had men looking for her. And both groups of men were affiliated with Sigma.

  Coincidence? It couldn’t be.

  “How’s your brother?”

  Blood leeched from her face. She nervously glanced around and grabbed her purse, making a move to go.

  “Spencer, wait.”

  “I need to go.”

  The server appeared at the booth, blocking Spencer’s escape. “Hey there guys. How was everything?”

  “Oh sugar! I almost forgot the bill.” Exasperated, Spencer rummaged through her purse, but Bennett beat her to it throwing some bills on the table.

  “Thanks, man.” The server pocketed the money, not taking his eyes off Spencer, even while walking away. “You two enjoy the rest of the night.”

  Bennett gave the server a closer look. He seemed…off. Could he be gathering information for Sigma? An employee would be a good way to find single women and ask them random questions. He should see if the man wore a ring.

  No time now though. Spencer exited the bar.

  Bennett trotted to catch up with her, but not too fast. The roll of her hips those boots gave her in those jeans—day-um. Her hair hung loose down her back, a silken fall a guy could bury his face in when he thrust into her from behind.

  The painful erection he associated with this little human made itself known. Spencer stiffened and she glanced over her shoulder as she walked.

  “Thanks for buying me dessert. I’ll talk to you later,” she called bac
k to him.

  “No, Spencer, we need to talk now.”

  “Sorry, I gotta get home. Cuddles—”

  “Apollo is fine. Talk to me now, or I’ll follow you home, Spencer.”

  She slowed to a halt, feet from a truck that had seen better days, or hell, better years.

  “Fine. We’ll talk in my truck, then you can leave.”

  “Do you always park next to dark alleys?” What was the woman thinking? She had people after her and this was the spot she chose?

  A stricken look crossed her face as she scanned around. “It wasn’t dark when I parked here,” she said lamely.

  “Get in.”

  Bennett waited until she shut the door before walking around the front to the passenger side. Slowing in front of the alley entrance, he cocked his ear to listen into the darkness.

  As he climbed into her truck, he examined the extended cab while she glared out the windshield.

  “I happened to be out tonight looking for some men that were brought to my company’s attention. They work for Sigma and seem to be hunting a woman. Want to tell me why?”

  He didn’t think she was going to answer him. Studying her profile, he was struck by her natural beauty. Sun-kissed hair framed a face that required no makeup, a natural blush highlighted her bronzed skin, and long eyelashes rimmed her brilliant, intelligent eyes.

  If he was receptive to being mated, this woman was a fine specimen, despite her secrets. Too bad he’d rather go feral and be put out of his misery before facing that heartbreak again.

  “I thought you were in real estate?” she challenged.

  “I think you know I’m not,” he countered.

  “Tell me first what you know of my brother.”

  Clever move. “Ronnie, if that’s his name…hell, is Spencer yours?”

  “Yes.” That’s all he was going to get.

  “Ronnie Newton is locked up in a padded room at the psych ward in Freemont’s hospital. He’s a hard guy to talk to, but he told me I needed to find his sister before Sigma did.” He closely watched as her jaw clenched and unclenched with his words. Her eyes fell closed and when she opened them again, she continued to glare out the windshield.

  “We don’t know why they’re after me. They seem to think I mean bad news to their organization.”

  “How long have you been in hiding?”

  “The last twelve years or so. When I was thirteen, my grandparents were killed along with my aunt, she was only eighteen. We didn’t know why until my family was attacked, and it seemed they were targeting me. My parents, Ronnie and I got away and went on the run, and I’ve been in hiding ever since.”

  “And you don’t know why it’s you specifically?”

  Spencer paused, formulating her words. “We’ve heard varied reasons, but none of them make sense.”

  “Be honest, Spencer. You know about us.” It wasn’t really a shot in the dark, and it would explain a lot about her trust in him taking care of the bodies at her farm. Most human’s first words after something like that would’ve been “call” and “police.” She uttered those words half-heartedly after a bit of chit-chat.

  With a sigh, she slumped back in her seat. “You mean, have I learned about other species in this world? Yes.”

  “And I am?” he prompted.

  She finally faced him, her gaze sweeping his face. He liked her perusal. “Since I talked with you in broad daylight, I would guess you’re a shifter, not a vampire.”

  It was like a huge boulder lifted from his shoulders. The burden of keeping his non-human status a secret while helping her ate at him. He would’ve been anticipating the tearful denials and hysteria that followed an eventual revelation.

  But here she was. Sitting in a truck cab, announcing that she knew of his world, and there was no disgust on her face.

  Before he realized what he was doing and to stop himself from such a monumental error, he leaned over to take her lips with his own.

  Her startled gasp opened her lips enough so he could sweep his tongue inside. Twining his tongue with hers, he reached over to haul her across the cab and onto his lap. She settled on top of him, her knees straddling his hips, her hands running through his hair while his reached around to cup her top-notch ass.

  His erection was killing him. Leaning back so he could thrust up into her jean-clad valley, he attempted to ease the pressure by rubbing against her center. Spencer ground down against him, rocking with his movements.

  Moving his hands from her delectable bottom, he glided them up her slender waist to cup her supple breasts through her shirt.

  Moaning into him, his responsive little mate was making the most erotic sounds. The sensation of her rocking on him…better than anything he had experienced in a long time. Fuck…in forever. If she kept that up, he would put prepubescent adolescents to shame and cream his own shorts with nothing more than a little clothed heavy petting.

  He thumbed her pert nipples through the soft fabric and she rode him faster, he arched higher into her. Deeper, he plundered the sweet depths of her mouth, chasing the end waiting for them both; the sweet ecstasy of coming in a mate’s arms.

  If Bennett was in his right mind, he wouldn’t have allowed this. Absolutely not, not with touching, not with kissing, and certainly not without penetration. But the feel of this woman drove his common sense away.

  A shocked gasp tore Spencer’s mouth away from his before she cried out her release. The sight of her wanton ecstasy pushed Bennett past his limits until he came in his pants, grateful to have chosen the dark denim designer jeans to pair with his forest green pullover.

  This was too much. She was too much. Swiftly, but gently, he set her in her seat, and without meeting her eyes, turned to get out of the truck. They could talk later about her situation, on the phone or something.

  “Sit your derriere back down,” Spencer commanded.

  Pausing with the door ajar, he looked back at her.

  “What’s your issue, anyway?” Turned in her seat, her eyes were full of fire while her cheeks were still highlighted with desire. Stunning. “You skedaddled the last time you kissed me and now you’re going leave a cloud of dust in your haste to get out. What’s up?”

  “Look, Spencer—”

  “Don’t give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ spiel. I know that, don’t try to blow wind up my behind. This isn’t the last time we’re going to see each other, friendly neighbor. So talk.”

  A smile crossed his lips, completely unbidden. Her candor was refreshing, but he wasn’t going to dive into his sordid past with this little human that made his mating senses tingle. He had one shot at happily ever after and now it was gone. No need to row that boat again.

  “I was married once,” he began, not just using the human term for Spencer’s benefit, although she might be familiar with mating if she knew about his species. He’d agreed to a legitimate marriage ceremony, in a church, for Abigail’s sake, to help her accept him and his nature. “She tried to accept me, she really did. But a smooth-talking Sigma leader coerced her to turn me in.”

  “You were captured?”

  “Yep.” Bennett exhaled a gusty breath. The betrayal always felt recent, though many decades had passed. “My pack freed me, and they almost got killed in the process. She ended up being killed in the crossfire.” That was the nice version. There was no accident with her death, and no amount of time would lessen his guilt.

  “When was that?”

  “Before the turn of the century.”

  Spencer narrowed her eyes on him. “Which century?”

  She knew about their lifespans, too. “Early nineteen hundreds.”

  “How old are you?”

  “I’ll turn two-hundred and eleven this year.”

  “Let’s see if I can try to fill in the blanks. So you found your mate pretty young and she proved too mentally weak for your kind of life. Your relationship went down in flames, so now you won’t let any woman get close to you.”

  Um…y
eah, but so much more complicated than that. “Pretty much.”

  A sound from the alley grabbed Bennett’s attention seconds before prickles of awareness rippled over his skin.

  “Fuck! An Agent. Stay here and lock the doors.”

  Spencer watched as Bennett crouched outside the pickup, then rose with a wicked looking knife in each hand. Where was he hiding those? She’d been pressed pretty closely to him just minutes ago.

  Even under the dire circumstances, the memory of riding his hard length, with her tongue down his throat—or was his down hers? Okay, either one made her flush all over again. Her breath quickened as she stared at the male stalking the alley entrance.

  Before he shut the door, Spencer had caught the stink of vampire and was completely okay sitting in the truck while Bennett hunted fang. Maybe the Agent was after the Guardian and not her.

  Bennett knew her brother, had talked to him. Spencer’s hope that she could find him, and bring him with her into obscurity, were dashed when she learned of his confinement in the psych ward. Sugar! She couldn’t leave him there, but she couldn’t very well break him out, or even visit him, without sending out alarms alerting them to her location.

  What if she told the Guardians her story? What if her telling them jeopardized her parents’ anonymity? Or her brother’s well-being? What if they wanted to use her to get closer to Sigma? Guardians were notorious alpha males and could trod over her wishes easily. No, it wasn’t worth it. She would need to keep her distance from Bennett, both emotionally and physically, and protect her secret in order to keep her family safe.

  Spencer’s sharp ears picked up on sounds of a scuffle deep in the alley. Debating on whether or not to move the truck, and aim the headlights down the alley to light-blind the vampire, a knock on the window made her jump and let out a girly shriek.

  “You okay?” The server from the bar called through the window.

  A hand on her chest, feeling her heart churn underneath, she gave a reassuring smile and wave.

  He made a motion with his hand wanting her roll down the window.

  “I’m fine,” she called through the closed window, unwilling to open it. “Have a good night.”