“Did you think I would have let anyone else do… it?” she asked, seeming surprised at his question.
Marcus looked down at her, studying her closely. Her face shone with a layer of sweat, making her glisten. Her eyes were glazed over and her lips plump. Orgasm looked good on her.
He smiled and kissed her once, then nudged her face with his. He had been so wrong to leave her. He had been a fool to think she would move on.
“I love you Rachel. I always have. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
She smiled as tears rolled out of the corners of her eyes. “I love you, Marcus. I missed you so much.”
“Me too.”
They remained as they were, looking at one another for a while. Then, “Did I hurt you?” he asked, rolling off her.
She sat up and they both looked at the blood smeared on her thighs, the traces of it on his cock, on the sheets. She shook her head no, but he knew she was lying. He was not a small man and she was petite. Yes, he had hurt her. But she had come. Twice.
“Don’t lie to me, Rachel. I can tell.”
She looked at him. “It’s supposed to hurt the first time. It’s okay.” She smiled at him and blushed when he caught her turning her gaze to his cock.
“Have you had a boyfriend?” he asked, wondering now if she’d experienced anything at all.
She shook her head. “No. Is that weird? I mean we’re sort of different, right?”
He’d had women. A lot of them to fill the void of her in the last year. But this was probably not the time to share that. “No, it’s not weird at all. Just means I should be more careful with you.”
“I don’t want you to be careful. I like what we did.”
“But I hurt you. If I’m careful…”
She touched his face, halting his words. “I liked it, Marcus,” she said. “I liked everything you did.” Her expression grew suddenly serious. It took him a moment to realize what it is.
“You’re hearing him again?”
She nodded, no longer smiling.
“Can you tell where he is?”
“No.” She shook her head, confused. “I don’t know. I can’t tell anything really. It’s just… him… it. It’s not words or anything intelligible—not like with you or Elijah. It’s just sound.”
He looked at the clock. “Go get cleaned up. Let’s get out of here and drive on since we’re up anyway.”
She nodded and stood carefully. He watched her face when his seed spilled out from inside her. “Oh!” she exclaimed, embarrassed, obviously not expecting that.
“It’s okay,” he said, smiling. He stood to take her hand and walk her toward the bathroom. “Go have a shower. I’ll call Elijah quickly.”
She didn’t hesitate when he closed the door behind her. Finding his cell phone, he dialed Elijah who answered on the first ring.
“Marcus?” Elijah answered.
“Yes. Sorry to call you so early.”
“No matter, I wasn’t sleeping anyway,” Elijah said. “How far did you get?”
“We took a hotel about six hours from town. We’re heading out again in a few minutes though.”
“I’m trying to figure out how to handle this. We can’t run for the rest of our lives.”
“Well, there’s one more complication,” Marcus said, rubbing his forehead, looking at the closed bathroom door.
“What is it?”
“She can hear him,” he began. “Like she hears us.”
“What?”
“I think it was the first time this morning. It must be because he used samples from Collin or maybe me.” Marcus’ stomach turned at the idea.
“Let me ask you this…”
“I think we’re thinking the same thing. Can he hear her?” Marcus filled in. This was the real problem. Her hearing him could help them, but if he could hear her that added a whole host of other problems.
The shower switched off.
“I have to go, I have to think about this. Rachel’s done with her shower so I’ll call you back when we’re on the road.”
“Okay. We’ll figure this out, Marcus. We’ll end it for good this time.”
“Keep your family safe,” Marcus said, not sure at all about Elijah’s last words.
“You too.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Where are we going anyway?” Rachel asked as they drove onto the highway. Marcus had paid for the room the night before so they had been able to slip out while it was still dark.
“We’re heading to my house,” Marcus said, glancing at her. “Or at least in that direction. I’m hoping it’s far enough away that he won’t be able to trace us.”
“So you’re not going to tell me where that is?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“I’m worried, Rachel. When I’m in wolf form, I can hear you. I can feel you. I think our bond is strong, but if you can hear him, I’m wondering if he can hear you too.”
She thought about this and knew what he said was true. That’s how this worked. “But Marcus, I choose what to share with you. It’s not like you can just read my mind or I can just read yours.”
“No, it’s not but I’m not sure we can take any chances.”
“So you’re not even going to tell me where we’re going?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, Rachel.”
“I can control my own mind. You can’t just leave me in the dark.”
“I don’t want to take any chances.”
“This is ridiculous,” she said.
He changed the subject. “Can you wait for coffee while we drive a ways?”
“That’s fine. Where are Elijah, Kayla, and the baby? Did you get hold of him?”
He glanced at her and nodded. “They’re safe.”
She snorted. “Oh, you don’t want to say. I feel like I’m the enemy!”
“It’s not like that. Just try to relax. Let me think, figure this out.”
* * *
They drove in silence for the next two hours. On the one hand, Rachel could understand Marcus’s reasoning, but on the other, he had been gone for one year and just come back into her life. They had just made love and were now on the run together from this creature and who knew what else. His keeping silent and not even telling her where they were going wasn’t helping with the trust piece.
She closed her eyes for a while, listening. It was silent, she couldn’t hear the creature any longer. She wondered if that was because he was in human form. She glanced over at Marcus but he was deep in thought. She looked at his cell phone sitting in the cup holder between them. She’d call Kayla later. Find out how they were doing, tell her what was going on. Vent a little bit.
* * *
Lance caught sight of them when he reached the corner of his street. As soon as he did, he stopped and turned, walking fast, retracing his steps. If he had been paying attention, he would have known they were there before he’d gotten so close to the house. He would have picked up the sounds, the smells, the danger that awaited him. But he had been preoccupied. Shifters were alive, two of them at least. But that wasn’t what had his attention. Something even more unusual than everything else that was going on had happened. He had heard her. He had heard Rachel’s thoughts. He’d not been able to make sense of them, they were too unclear, but he’d heard her.
“Professor,” came the call behind him. “Professor Weston!”
Without turning, Lance broke into a run. Footsteps picked up speed behind him but he would have been able to outrun the man on foot. It was the three black Volvos that screeched to a halt surrounding him that he wouldn’t be able to outrun.
He stopped, taking a deep breath, wishing he could control when he shifted, wishing he knew more about what was happening to him.
“Professor Weston,” came the falsely jovial voice of the man behind him.
Lance turned, pasting a smile onto his face, feeling the twitching at the corner of his mouth as he met the
man’s eyes.
“Do I know you?” Lance asked, straightening to his full height and walking toward the man.
“I’m from Wayne Labs,” the man began, extending his hand. “Dr. Dennison sent me to pick up a sample you had for me.”
“We were to meet in town,” Lance said, not reaching out just yet.
Car doors opened and closed, men in similar suits to the one before him gathered.
“I thought it might be easier for you if I came to your house. Didn’t want you to go out of your way,” he said, smiling, extending his hand farther. “I’m Robert Lawler,” he said. “I’m Dr. Dennison’s personal assistant.”
Lance studied the man, not trusting him at all. He did however take his hand, squeezing just a little harder than necessary so that Lawler flinched a little, although he didn’t pull back. “Professor Lance Weston.”
“Good to meet you in person. I’ve heard so much,” Lawler said, rubbing his hand when Lance released it. “You’ve had a break in, I believe,” he said as he led the way back toward Lance’s house.
Lance feigned surprise. “A break in?” he asked. He picked up speed and his entourage followed, men on foot and in vehicles surrounding him.
“Where were you coming from on foot anyway?” Lawler asked too casually. “You live pretty far out.”
“There’s a coffee shop a few blocks away. I needed some exercise, I’ve not been feeling well, thought the fresh air would do me good,” Lance lied as he opened the front door, which was unlocked. He stepped inside and surveyed the mess he knew he would find. It wasn’t new after all. He’d done this damage the day prior. But he did want to get down to the lab. Salvage what he could. Hide what he could from Lawler’s prying eyes.
But he had a feeling he was already too late.
* * *
“I’ll run in and get some coffee and food,” Marcus said. It was close to lunch time and they were at a gas station. When Rachel reached to open her door, he put a hand over hers to stop her. “Stay in the car, I don’t want to take any chances.”
“Marcus, we’re far enough away. You can’t expect me to sit in the car for however many hours it’s going to take to get to where we’re going,” she said, still irritated by their earlier discussion. “Besides, I have to use the bathroom.”
“I’ll drive you around. Just please do this for me, Rachel. We’ll figure something out, I promise. I just can’t take any chances.”
She opened her mouth to tell him how ridiculous he was being but Marcus had already closed the door and was walking toward the shop.
Rachel looked at his retreating back, narrowing her eyes. She then eyed his phone and picked it up. She dialed Kayla’s number, keeping one eye on Marcus.
Kayla answered quickly. “Hello?”
Rachel realized she wouldn’t have recognized Marcus’s phone number. “Hi, Kayla. It’s me, Rachel. I’m on Marcus’ phone.”
“Hey, how are you holding up? Where are you?”
“Well,” she said looking around. “We’re at a gas station right now. Marcus is being all weird, he won’t tell me anything about where we’re going or even let me walk into the store with him. Afraid I’ll leave my scent on anything I touch!”
“Sounds like Elijah,” Kayla said, chuckling. “Why won’t he tell you?”
“I can hear him. Lance, I mean. I think it’s when he’s in wolf form. You know, like I can hear Elijah and Marcus.”
“Wow, that’s good right? I mean, you can know where he is?” she asked, unsure.
“I don’t know. It’s different than I’m used to and it’s only happened a couple of times. Marcus is afraid the communication goes both ways,” she said, watching Marcus pay for what he had bought. “Listen, I have to go. Are you okay? The baby?”
“Yeah, we’re all fine. But this thing, what if Marcus is right?” Kayla asked.
“I don’t know. I have to go. I’ll call you again later.” She hung up even as Kayla was saying goodbye and set the phone down, her heart beating faster, hoping Marcus wouldn’t catch her. But who cared if he did? She was certainly allowed to call her friend, wasn’t she?
Opening the door, Marcus smiled and handed her a bag full of food and drinks. “Coffee is iced, hope you don’t mind. The fresh coffee smelled burnt.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I love this stuff.” She took out the bottled Starbucks latte.
“Good,” he said. He went around to take the gas pump out then climbed into the driver’s seat. He reached over and kissed her, just a quick peck on the lips before settling back into his seat, his legs too long for her little car, his body too big. “I’m sorry for the restrictions. I just want to keep you safe.”
She dropped her gaze to the phone, feeling a little guilty, but looked back up at him and smiled. “I understand,” she said. “I still have to pee.”
He started the car and drove her around to the bathroom, waiting outside for the few moments it took her. They then drove on, not stopping until it was late evening when he pulled into the parking lot of a hotel just as his phone rang. She could see from the display that it was Elijah. Marcus picked up the phone but it was Elijah who did all the talking while Marcus glanced at Rachel, his responses brief. The call itself lasted just a few moments. Once he was finished, Marcus put the phone into his pocket and looked at her.
“You called Kayla?” he asked.
She looked at his face, trying to read his expression. “I didn’t think it was a big deal,” she said.
“If it wasn’t a big deal, why didn’t you mention it when I got back into the car?”
She shrugged her shoulder.
“You realize the phone call can be traced, right?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Means we’ve got not only Lance Weston looking for you but the men who were at his house when we got you out as well, if they’ve got half a brain that is. This Dr. Dennison you mentioned, Elijah’s done some research. He runs Wayne Laboratories in Philadelphia. That’s the same lab Phillip worked for. Is it coming together for you now?”
She stared at him. “I didn’t know.”
“No you didn’t but you knew better than to pick up my phone and use it, right? Especially given the circumstances?”
She stared at him.
“And not telling me in the first place is as good as lying to me, Rachel.”
“It was just a phone call, Marcus, don’t get bent out of shape. Besides, it’s not like I could tell her anything anyway, I didn’t know anything!”
“Telling her would be one thing. Them tracing the call to our location, another thing altogether—” Marcus began, but she cut him off.
“I have a right to know where we’re going. You’re treating me like I’m the enemy here!”
“No, I’m trying to keep you safe, Rachel. We’re far enough away now that we can stop for the night. Let’s continue our talk upstairs, stretch our legs,” he said. “Come.” His expression disappointed, he stepped out of the car, opened the trunk and gathered the bags, then opened her door and stood waiting for her to climb out.
“I didn’t know,” she started.
“Not now,” he said, glancing at a man passing by. “Upstairs.” He turned and walked toward the front entrance.
“Fine,” she muttered and followed him, not liking how she felt one bit.
They checked in and took their key. The elevator ride to the sixth floor was quiet. She glanced at him from beneath her lashes but he kept his eyes on the door.
She wanted to say something but he seemed determined to keep silent. Well, that was fine.
* * *
They reached their room and Marcus unlocked the door. He pushed it open and stepped aside, allowing her to enter first. He watched her walk in, her body language one of complete resistance. She was mad about him not telling her where they were going, but her not knowing would keep her safe. Period. What if she was wrong and couldn’t control what t
his creature could read and what he couldn’t? He couldn’t take the chance. Her life depended on it.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, folded her arms across her chest and looked straight ahead. Then seemed to change her mind because she picked up the remote and turned the TV on, flipping through channels.
Marcus shook his head, put the bags down and went into the bathroom to wash his hands and face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror knowing what he had to do, not knowing how she would take it.
He made up his mind and walked into their room. When he did, she switched off the TV before he had to. He watched her, glad he hadn’t had to do it. She stood, fidgeted for a moment, then turned to him.
“I’m sorry. You are right, my not telling you was as good as lying, and I did it because I was mad. That’s all. I understand you not wanting to tell me but I also… well I just don’t like it.”
Marcus went to her and took her hands, smiling a little. “I’m happy you said that. I only want to keep you safe, Rachel.”
“I know,” she said, letting him pull her into a hug.
Holding onto her, he sat down on the couch and pulled her along so she stood between his legs, her small hands in his. Looking up into her eyes, he unbuttoned the top button of her jeans. She looked back, a little nervous, growing more nervous as he unzipped them.
“I’m glad you understand,” he began, wanting to establish this part of their relationship now, let her know what she could expect from him. “But I want to be sure that you also understand that there are consequences to actions,” he said, never breaking the link between their eyes. The slight shift in her expression wasn’t exactly confusion but something else. “I know Elijah spanked you,” he said.
Her face flushed red and she dropped her gaze to the floor.
“Look at me.” He touched her chin, making her meet his eyes.
“He told you?” she asked, so embarrassed she could only manage a whisper.
Marcus nodded. She dropped her gaze again, her face still bright red.
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