THE STRAGGLERS PROTECT

by Misha Anderson

  “You didn’t even have dinner today, at least put something in your stomach, it will help you to sleep.”

  I slept on the couch after my conversation with Hunt, the empty bedroom taunted me, enter my bedroom so wide, without my Sam laying on the bed, made it unbearable. I woke up with a stiff neck, I went through my hygiene routine, had a cold shower and got my uniform on. When I was at the door, Kayden came walking slowly and made me stop by the car. He gave me my badge I had forgotten.

  “Here, Damy, you forgot, man.”

  “Thanks, Kay, take care, bro.”

  Before I could even turn the car key, Kay held my hand and thanked me.

  “Damy, thanks for saving me, if it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”

  “Shh, forget it, you don’t have to thank me, I’m your brother and the leader of this fucking pack, right?”

  Kay laughed and I went to the police station. Before lunch Gloria enters my office and gives me an envelope.

  “Sheriff Vaugh, someone left this at the reception for you, another envelope without a returning address.”

  I opened the envelope and my blood turned into ice. Inside it there were many pictures of Samantha, some of her getting out of the house, some at the diner, even some running near lake Oswego. The message was clear, but even so, the fuckers wrote a message:

  “Tick-tok, tick-tok, time is running out and our patience too...”

  A New York friend.

  Igor’s thugs are around, they are in town, but where? Even if I search the entire city, from one corner to the other, I won’t be able to find these bastards.

  I can taste the bile, Samantha is in danger and I can’t be by her side. I decide to get things resolved between Samantha and me once and for all, she won’t be another day out of my sight.

  Samantha will get back home near me, even if I have to drag her to the ranch, she won’t come back to that house of hers.

  In the afternoon, to make me even more desperate, I get a call from Mrs. Tyson, Samantha’s neighbor, letting me know that she saw two men, wearing hoods, digging in Sam’s backyard.

  I go to Sam’s house as fast as I can and she’s not there. She must be at Mathews, when I get there, John tells me that Sam didn’t go to work today. Adrenaline is running high in my blood and I’m about to lose myself.

  Igor’s fucking thugs must have kidnaped her, the thought of Samantha being in danger makes me mad, I hit the counter at Mathews losing control and I yell:

  “Ask the other waitresses, John, Samantha is in danger of her life, I need to find her, now.”

  Sarah, one of the waitresses, comes closer scared and let’s me know:

  “Samantha wasn’t feeling alright yesterday, I heard Kelly insisting her to sleep over at her place, she may be there.”

  I stare at John and he knows is better for him to cooperate because I’m about to cross a line, he goes to the office in the back and brings me Kelly’s address.

  I get to Kelly’s house glad for not having hit anyone, because I was driving too fast. I knock hard on the door and a chubby brunette half opens the door, seeing me in uniform, I say as straight forward as I can:

  “Are you Kelly?”

  The woman nods and looks curiously at me, I keep going in a dry tone:

  “Where’s Samantha? I want to talk to her now.”

  Before Kelly can close the door in my face, I put my foot down to stop her and I enter without asking.

  “Hey, you can’t do that.”

  I yell like a mad man:

  “Samantha, Samantha, come out, I know you’re here.”

  Sam comes out of the room staring, cleaning her nose with a tissue.

  “Go away, Adam, I still don’t want to talk to you.”

  I reply:

  “I’m not leaving, Sam, you need to come with me, now.”

  “Go with you to the ranch? Why would I do that?”

  I get closer to her, shortening our distance.

  “Because it’s necessary, I don’t have time to explain it now, let’s go, get your things, now.”

  Kelly speaks in a loud voice:

  “You can’t take her from here if she doesn’t want to go, what’s up with you, Adam?”

  “I can and I will take her from here, come on, Sam!”

  Samantha crosses her arms and her well round breasts jump out of her shirt cleavage that’s hidding the body that drives me crazy.

  “Who you think you are to talk to me like that? I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  I end the distance between us and our eyes are inches apart, she’s staring at me with angry eyes and I don’t look away, before she can think about doing anything, I look at Kelly and speak in a low voice:

  “I’m sorry, thank you for looking after my woman.”

  I grab Sam by her knees and throw her on my shoulders, she’s struggling to get away, almost falling off my arms.

  “Let me go, Adam, you brute, put me down, are you insane?”

  I recognize her bag on the couch and get it with my other hand, I leave Kelly’s house and I get near the car, I throw her bag on the back seat. Before putting Samantha down, I slap her ass and say:

  “Don’t tease me, little bunny, no more talk, let’s go home, now.”

  I put the seatbelt on her and lock the door, keeping her from leaving, I turn on the car, glancing her every once in a while, Samantha is quiet. She sometimes looks back at me, annoyed like a wounded cat.

  On the road to the ranch, she tells me to stop the car.

  “You either stop the car or I’m going to jump, Adam.”

  Samantha unbuckles the seatbelt and when she’s about to jump out of the car, I break the car.

  I get her before she can go far and bring her back by the waist, Samantha struggles like a little spoiled girl and I make her sit on the hood of the car.

  “You are going to hear me now, understand Samantha?”

  She pushes me by the chest and yells at me:

  “Is this how you want to talk? Forcing me to go back to the ranch? At one moment you want me to get our of your life and in the other you drag me back like a caveman, who you think you are to do this with me, Adam?”

  I give back the yell, annoyed, frustrated feeling my entire body tremble with fear, desire and longingness.

  “I’m your fucking male, Samantha, that’s what I am. You are in danger and I won’t let you take a risk now nor ever. I was wrong, is that what you want to hear? Alright, I’ll say it, I was wrong, I was an idiot when I said all those things, but fuck! I don’t even know what is this, this loving thing, I never knew what it was to feel the things I feel for you and you found out about the hell I can become, the killer animal I am, I was afraid, afraid of losing you. What can I offer you? Tell me? A normal life? Children? I’m a wolf Samantha, I hunt, I hurt and I kill when it’s needed, that’s what my instincts tell me to do. But even knowing I can’t offer you the life you deserve, I can’t be without you, I can’t sleep, eat, breath, without knowing you’re by my side, protected, at my hand’s reach. I only ask you to forgive me, I was an idiot, but I love you, Sam, and the one who protects, you’re in danger and fuck your will, I won’t let anything and no one hurt you. You’re mine and I won’t let anyone hurt you, little bunny.”

  There was no time for Samantha to say no, to run, our mouths collided in desire, we kissed hungrily, angrily, desperation, longingness... It’s so right her mouth on mine, her tongue sucking mine, my teeth nibbling her lips. I didn’t ask her to be mine, I took her for myself... I took off my shirt, threw her on the ground tearing her panties apart with my teeth, nibbling her vulva and her hips. I spread her thighs wide and dove inside liking her wet pussy.

  Ah! I missed her sex tightening my cock, taking it whole. I spread the fold of her sex and sucked the moist and worm flesh... growling, moaning, grunting like a beast in heat, taking its female. Samantha bends her back opening and closing her legs desperately, moaning louder and louder.

  “Ah! Adam, please, Adam,
that’s...”

  Samantha came and I satisfied myself with her cum on my mouth, my tongue. I opened my pants and got my throbbing cock out, hurting to penetrate her. I positioned myself between her thighs and murmured in a low voice:

  “Forgive me, love.”

  I wanted to be more delicate, kind, but the hunger I’m feeling for sam clouds my judgement, I need to penetrate deep in her body, lose myself in her soft flesh, in her love that completes me. I’m inside her in one thrust and she wraps her legs tight around my waist, screaming and moaning, asking for more, harder and deeper. I hammer my cock in her hard pussy, closing my eyes so Samantha can’t see my iris, so she doesn’t see the animal struggling inside me.

  I push and hit my hips on hers, putting her breasts on my mouth and sucking them in an insane rhythm. Sam sinks her nails in my back and scratches me, trying to stand the strength of the pleasure that takes over us.

  My female cums and screams my name, I thrust inside her trembling pussy once more and I ejaculate growling on her ear, filling her with my seed.

  My head falls on her chest and she caress my face, rocking me on her soft breasts. I huff and she moans trying to find her breath, I say trying to make Sam understand once and for all that I can’t be without her:

  “Sam, I love you, please...”

  She makes me shut up kissing me.

  “Shhh, I love you too, Damy, let’s go home, the boys must be worried about us.”

  I get Sam’s clothes and dress her, smiling like a boy. She gets in the car and we go through the dark road back to our home.

  CHAPTER 18

  SAMANTHA THOMPSON

  Adam parks the car by the ranch door and I get out of the car pulling down a huge shirt that’s working as a dress right now. I’m not wearing underwear and that’s because “caveman” Adam, I would complain, if it wasn’t for the huge pleasure I felt when he tore my panties away from my sex.

  Adam gets my purse and rests his hand on the small of my back conducting me home. He’s wearing my purse over his shoulder and without letting me know he picks me up in his arms, kicking open the door. When we enter the living room we face Hunter, Connor and Kayden sitting on the couch and a strong burnt smell invade my nostrils.

  The boys yelled and whistled with joy when they saw us. My boys, to me it doesn’t matter if they are wolves, men, whatever they are it became irrelevant for a reason: they are my boys, the family that embraced me, that I have.

  I ask Adam to put me down and I run to the stove, a lump that was supposed to have been mashed potatoes is stuck to a pan, Connie comes to the stove and gives me a kiss on the forehead and Hunter comes closer embracing me by the shoulders. The three of us look the grub and I turn off the fire. They look at each other and I’m laughing out loud, ah! I really missed this mess. The boys also laugh, Kayden looks at me smiling and asks:

  “Where’s you suitcase?”

  Adam answers before I can:

  “I’ll bring it tomorrow, I had to catch a certain runaway bunny.”

  I get the pan out of the stove and kick the guys out of the kitchen.

  “I’ve heard there’s a Chicago Bulls game tonight, why don’t you go watch TV while I see what I can save from dinner?”

  Connie hands me a kitchen towel and gets out of the kitchen really fast and happy.

  “We mis... missed y... you so mu... much, Sam!!!”

  I threw the towel on him complaining to that seductive stutterer.

  “You selfish person, you only cared about my meat stew.”

  Connie shrugged and nodded with that wooden face of his.

  The guys sat in the living room while I was trying to make something decent so we could eat. I looked the fridge, there was a piece of meat, I cut some vegetables, made a green salad and in less than an hour dinner was ready.

  Hunt, Connie, Kay and Adam sat at the table and as soon as I uncovered the pot their happy smile was priceless.

  Kay teased Hunter:

  “It’s a good thing that Samantha came to our rescue, it’s better than to eat that grub.”

  Hunter threw a turnip on Kay complaining:

  “Don’t complain, you brat, why didn’t you make dinner instead, lazy!!!”

  Kay gave back one of his best naughty smiles and blew Hunter a kiss.

  “Ah! Brother, don’t be so sensible, your food is alright.”

  The dumb face Kay made when he said those words got laughs out of all of us.

  After dinner, Hunter and Connor took care of the dishes. Adam sat on the front porch with a mug of wine, I watched him at the door and then I got near asking:

  “Am I in your way?”

  Adam turned to me and patted an empty seat beside him, I sat and we remained in silence for some time, enjoying each other’s company, Adam pulled my body to his, warming me by the shoulder. He was thoughtful, even though his expression was very calm I could notice the swirl of thoughts that were in conflict in his mind. He sighed deeply and said:

  “Your neighbor saw some guys digging in your backyard and she made a call to the police, it’s not safe for you to get back, Samantha, these guys are probably Igor’s thugs and they must be looking for the diamonds, they won’t quit while they don’t have the rocks.”

  I stopped him annoyed, I’m tired of having my life ruined by Igor. Until when I have to pay for having had a relationship with that scumbag.

  “But I told you I don’t know where he hid them, when will they leave me alone?”

  I had a knot in my throat, Adam caught my hand and calmed me down, protectively.

  “I don’t know, Sam, but while I’m alive, none of them will ever touch you, I promise.”

  A sneaky tear escaped my eyes, I’m so tired of all this chase, they stole my dignity, my name, my old life, everything, sometimes I’m just tired of running away.

  Adam simply searched my lips, our mouths touched smoothly as feather, sweet, tender, this man knows how to be so many and I fall in love with all of him everyday more.

  Adam interrupted his thoughts asking me:

  “What is this between us, Sam?”

  “I don’t know, Adam, why don’t you tell me.”

  Adam pulled me even closer to his chest, kissing my hair.

  “Even though I know I’m really far from being the right man for you, the man to bring you the stability you need in your life, even so, I can’t stop being selfish and I want the perfect girl just for me. You invaded every little piece of my body, my life and now it’s even harder to imagine myself apart from you. I don’t have answers to our future, but this is how I really feel.”

  Everything Adam said touches me in a disturbing way, because I also know I’m really far from being the uncomplicated girl a fantastic guy like Adam needs, but I don’t feel like I’m strong enough to be apart from him, the idea of being without him makes me sad, like a cold and endless night, hours and hours of darkness without hope for morning.

  It’s all very simple, we need each other and that’s a fact I have no intensions of fighting against.

  I watch as peaceful as a Tibetan monk Samantha Thompson this last week, curious of how people have the same routine, she always arrives 5 to 10 minutes late to work everyday.

  The trajectory from the Vaugh ranch to Mathews takes exactly twenty minutes in that old tin can her boyfriend drives, the good Sheriff Adam Vaugh.

  I don’t swallow that she’s not involved in this robbery, her innocent scared puppy eyes is not something I’m buying. My partner is different from me in his suspicions, seven years working with all kind of scum and he still believes in a pretty face. But I don’t deviate from my purpose, to gather evidence against this whore and put her behind bars, so she can have a vacation in a maximum security jail, preferentially.

  But I’m not alone in this endeavor of getting Samantha, two of Ivan Kedrak men are also in town, the guys are professional Russian mercenaries and I think it’s going to be difficult for our dear boy of the law to protect the beautiful Samantha.


  While I watch blondie’s routine from the front seat, I drink my coffee with cream from Baker T Coffee, across from Mathews.

  Lopez suggests that we go to them today, when I order the check and I’m about to approach, good Adam Vaugh parks his truck at the diner and takes Samantha away.

  Calm and precision, that’s one of the hard attack points, as soon as I have all the evidence I need against Samantha and her lover Igor, she won’t escape like she did to come to this end of the world.

  I hate all this peacefulness of Portland, I can’t wait to get back to New York, but not before I have a tight hoop around Samantha’ s wrists once and for all.

  CHAPTER 19

  ADAM VAUGH

  If there’s anything better in this fucking life than to wake up being kissed by the woman you love, I honestly don’t know.

  Sam moves around in bed, taking over the space she can and she slides one leg over my thigh, by her eyes I can see she’s still sleeping, but I don’t care, I let myself be wrapped by her sleepy lips, enjoying my little present accompanied by the first beams of light of the morning.

  Ah, life’s good!!! I have by my side freeloaders and messy Connie, Hunt and Kay. I live in my land, small, precarious, but I have my home and finally, Mother Nature graced me with this tasty little bunny, with lively blue eyes, frisky, her little girl ways and this mouth that drives me crazy... I avoid moving, enjoying the cozy warmness from Samantha’s thighs between mine and I smile like an idiot, looking at the window cracking that show me a sunny day.

  “What’s up, Damy?”

  Samantha looks at me, yawning and stretching in a lazy way. I smile at her holding one of the round globes that are her butt.

  “Nothing, I’m just happy. That’s it! Fuck, little bunny, you really make me fucking happy.”

  Sam laughs at my “polite” way of talking and I correct myself:

  “Forget this that I just said, I meant that...”

  She puts her finger on my mouth and I stick it in my mouth, nibbling it to tease her.