Chapter One

by Jaden Sinclair

  Dimitri couldn’t help himself and smiled big. Claudia was the first to ever speak to him like that, outside the order that is, and he didn’t mind it a bit. He loved it.

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  “Yes, Mama.” Before she could get too far away, he grabbed her wrist and jerked her onto his lap. He kissed her deep, moaning against her lips at the pleasure of having her in his arms again. “I really am glad I’ve bonded with you, Claudia Waylon. You make me very happy, and I look forward to the birth of our child.”

  Her eyes lit up, and she stroked from his forehead back through his hair. “Are you trying to say you love me then?”

  He smiled, kissing her again, “Oh, I love you very much. Heart and soul and I’m going to make damn sure you know that each and every night or day we are together.”

  Her face turned an even darker shade of red. “Then I best get you out of this bed so you can.”

  * * * *

  After spending some time with Claudia, Dimitri’s first objective was to find out what had happened while he slept. Hell, he didn’t even remember clearly what happened after he got shot. He went to Shadow in the computer lab for answers.

  “Renzo has her,” Shadow said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

  “But what has he done with her?”

  “Julian believes she’s alive. He says they have a connection, and he’d know if she’s dead. Lucan says she’s alive too.”

  Nodding, Dimitri understood how Lucan knew and didn’t question how Julian did. “I feel the same. If he still has her, how long can she hold out.”

  They all worried about that as well as whether she was alive or dead. Carissa knew a lot, and Dimitri would bet Renzo was going to try everything he could to get information on all of them, including the safe house location.

  “Denver’s been trying to get a hold of that guy, Rage. Nada. The guy hasn’t answered any of the calls.”

  “Whose side is he on?” Dimitri wondered out loud.

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  Both turned to a new voice. “That’s a question I’d like an answer to.” Julian stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest.

  “He got your daughter out safe,” Dimitri reminded.

  “Rage was there the night Serina died. He led the breeds that took her back to Renzo.

  He’d have killed me if not for Carissa. She stabbed him during the fight, so I can’t really imagine him helping her. Can you?”

  Shadow hooked his thumb towards Julian. “He has a point.”

  “So he does,” Dimitri agreed, but some memory he couldn’t grab a hold of about that night nagged at him. “Any ideas then?” he asked Julian.

  “Why don’t we take him,” Julian shrugged. “Sort of offer a trade. Him for her?”

  “Might work.” Shadow sighed. “But I prefer to take them both.” He smiled when Dimitri glared at him. “He’s bound to have info we can use. So why not?”

  Dimitri shook his head and stood. “You come up with a sound plan, and I’ll listen.”

  “Where are you going, mate?” Shadow asked.

  “Hey, I’m bonded now.” He smiled big at Shadow. “And she’s expecting. So I’m going to tend to my bloodmate. See you two at dinner.”

  Julian stopped him from walking out with a hand on his shoulder. “I never got to say thank you for getting my daughter back.”

  Dimitri met Julian’s gaze, eye to eye. “You don’t have to.”

  “Yes, I do. It almost cost you your life.”

  He smirked. “Then thank me by coming out of the Crossover alive. Hate to have to tell Carissa we killed you when she comes home.”

  Julian’s face softened, but he didn’t smile. “I can do that.”

  Dimitri walked away, heading for his room where he was going to get things ready for his bloodmate.

  My bloodmate. Man, I love the sound of that.

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  He’d asked Corbin to fix up a special, high protein and calorie filled snack for Claudia. With pregnancy, she was going to eat even more than before and need less feeding from him.

  Opening the door, he smiled. He just couldn’t stop smiling now that he was bonded.

  Food was on a large tray on top of the covers on the bed. Claudia’s cravings started fast and were very strange. For one, she wanted steak and lamb all the time, and she wanted it very rare. The strange part of it all was she hungered for a chocolate dipping sauce for all the meat. Corbin made it for her. Every morning he fixed up a huge pot of it, so she had it ready all throughout the day. She also craved pancakes with lots of butter.

  When he opened the lid of the tray, he wasn’t at all surprised to find both the pancakes and meat. Just looking at it, he wondered what she was going to hunger for the farther along she got.

  “Okay, Ivy said you wanted me to—” Claudia talked as she opened the door, only to stop when she saw Dimitri standing next to the tray of food. “Oh, God, is that lamb?” she gasped.

  Her mouth opened and the tip of her tongue touched her lips, her eyes fixed on the food. He picked up a piece of the meat, dipped it in the sauce, and held it out for her.

  Claudia came to him quickly, taking the bite he offered and moaning with closed eyes.

  “Oh, I love you,” she mumbled with a mouth full.

  Dimitri chuckled, turned her around, and sat her down on the bed. “You know, I remember a time you were on your knees before.” He took her shoes off, followed by her socks as she ate. “It was a very sexy sight.”

  She stopped stuffing her face, frowned down at him, and her shoulders slumped.

  Quickly she chewed and swallowed. “I’m anything but sexy. I’m eating like a pig.” She tried to get up, but he stopped her.

  “You are eating like a bloodmate who is expecting,” he told her, picking up her foot, rubbing it. “And I find that very sexy. Care to know why?” She cocked her head to the 158

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  side, arms crossed over her chest. Dimitri leaned up, took a piece of steak, dunked it, and put it in her mouth. “Because it’s my child, and you’re my bloodmate, and for the moment, I get to spoil you just the way I want to.” He got another piece of meat, repeating the process. “And I love you.”

  She smiled as she chewed.

  He took a deep breath and finished massaging one foot before going to the second.

  “You’re going to eat your snack, and then I have a nice hot bath planned to help relax you.”

  “Are you going to join me?” she asked, licking her fingers.

  Dimitri growled.

  “I want you to. Please.”

  “If that is what you want, then that is what you shall have.” He put her foot down and stood with the intention of heading to the bathroom.

  “No, I want to watch you undress first,” she said, stopping him. “I like watching you.”

  Her face brightened up when he handed her the belt from around his waist. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”

  “Sure, I am.” She licked her lips. “I’m going to be very easy for you to take full advantage of.”

  Dimitri busted out laughing. He couldn’t help it. “Okay, Claudia. Let me get the bath started then I’ll come back out here and undress just for you.”

  He started the water, making sure it wasn’t too hot and went back out to the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway, smiling as he watched Claudia eat the meat. Boy, he couldn’t wait until she began to show.

  “Is it really that good?” he asked.

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  She nodded, wiped her mouth, and stood up to stroll slowly, sensually toward him.

  “Very good, but not as good as you.” Her hand slipped between his legs, cupping his hard cock. She rubbed and Dimitri moaned.

  “I think your sexual drive has increased just like your appetite.” He lowered his head, kissing her until she pul
led back.

  With a two-handed jerk from her the buttons of his leather pants opened. One hand pushed down his briefs, and the other curled around him. “Then I suggest you feed me both, and do it very often,” she said, giving him a shove into the chair.

  She knelt down and wrapped her lips around the head of his cock. Dimitri lost the power to breathe or think. All he was capable of was watching her and drowning in the intense pleasure she gave him.

  Unable to take all of him into her mouth, one hand wrapped around the base. The other cupped his balls, rolling and massaging them. That fast, he fought to hold back a climax.

  “Oh, shit,” he moaned, thrusting his hips forward slightly. “You’re killing me softly here.”

  She moaned back, the sound vibrating around his shaft, giving him tiny jolt sensations that raced up and down his spine to pool right at the head of his dick, heightening the threat to spill forth. When she pulled hard, flicking her tongue fast over the crest, he knew if he didn’t get her to stop right then he would come. With great regret, Dimitri pushed her back, took his cock from her, and stood.

  Claudia licked her lips, her eyes watching every movement as he undressed for her.

  “I never get tired of looking at your naked body,” she said, doing a slow strip for him.

  Dimitri waited until she had everything off, extended his hand for her to take, and led her into the bathroom where the bath awaited them. Claudia got in first. He followed, sliding down in front of her, drawing her legs to either side of him. Resting between his legs, she put her head on his chest, and sighed.

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  “Tired?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

  “Not too bad, and I still have this hunger.”

  Claudia kissed him. Dimitri held her face as she moved, took hold of his cock, positioned it as she rose up, and lowered herself down over him. He moaned into the kiss, gave her the lead, and held on for the ride.

  Water splashed out onto the floor with her movements, her eyes closed and mouth opened in bliss. Dimitri watched her love him, fascinated as always to do so. Never was there a more beautiful sight than what he saw in her face.

  She broke the kiss, arched her back, and took him deeper, harder. “Bite me,” she ordered.

  “Claudia, I—”

  “Please!” she pleaded. “Now!”

  Her brow wrinkled, he felt her orgasm coming. The convulsion struck fast, and he sank his teeth into her throat. Claudia screamed, her pussy contracting around his shaft.

  Dimitri moaned against her throat, gripped her hips, and slammed her down even harder upon himself. He swelled, exploded, and closed the wounds at the same time.

  Wrapping his arms around her body, he held her close. The spasms seemed to ricochet through him in unstoppable waves. He couldn’t control them any more than he could stop his heart from reaching out to her.

  Her head lowered to his shoulder, a content sigh left her lips, and the rest of her simply relaxed. Dimitri closed his eyes and slumped in the warm water, holding Claudia as she fell asleep. In the quietness, his thoughts turned to Carissa.

  She’s out there unprotected. Dimitri couldn’t shake the guilt. For so many years it had just been the two of them against the world. Now it was Carissa alone, and Lord only knew what might be happening to her. They needed to get her back.

  He knew her well, knew she wouldn’t tell any secrets. She’d die before she said a word to betray them. But how much time did she have before that might happen?

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  “We’re coming, Carissa,” he whispered under his breath so he wouldn’t disturb Claudia. “Just hang on. We’ll find you.”

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  Epilogue

  God, I’m hungry.

  Carissa was dragged out of the cage by two very strong breeds. Or were they humans? She couldn’t tell. Hell, she didn’t even know how long she’d been locked up away from everyone and starving.

  Time didn’t matter anymore. They kept her weak and drugged to a degree she could no longer tell if it was night or day.

  Carissa winced from the lights in the room they dragged her to. Since the night she was taken and the drugging started, she’d spent all her time in a cage in the dark. Once out, she couldn’t see for the brightness of the lights and could barely walk.

  Shoved roughly into a chair, she struggled for balance. Her eyes couldn’t focus, but her fingertips told her a table sat in front of her, and she could smell something she wanted desperately. Food! She could smell food, and she heard the clunk of what sounded like something hitting a plate.

  “You must be hungry.” She flinched when something slide across the table. “Eat.”

  She didn’t move. Her stomach grumbled, her mouth watered, but she couldn’t make herself eat the food, which was under her nose.

  “I’m not going to poison you. I’m trying to give you a chance against him.”

  “Who are you?” Carissa barely recognized her own voice.

  “Take a deep breath, Bright Eyes.”

  She jumped again when air moved against her ear. She hadn’t heard him walk up to her and didn’t know he had until he blew in her ear.

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  “You know who I am,” he whispered, moving her hair over a shoulder, exposing her neck. His lips grazed her neck, moving back up to her ear. “You are the only one to ever leave a mark on me.”

  Carissa jumped up from her seat, stumbling back as far away as she could. She still couldn’t see shit and hitting a wall hard stopped her. “What do you want?”

  The damn bright lights in the room blinded her so much, but that time she sensed when he moved toward her.

  She made to move away, only to be grabbed by her arm and yanked back. His head blocked some of the light, and she was able to focus on the outline of his body for a split second, only long enough to make out his dark eyes and soft, brown hair before he moved to her side, the light blinding her again.

  “Listen and listen carefully.” He whispered low, right in her ear. “Once a week only I will be able to come to feed you, and you better take advantage of it. Renzo wants information, and he will break you to get it.”

  “I’m not afraid to die.”

  His hand closed around her throat, but he didn’t squeeze. Instead, he moved his thumb back and forth gently, as a lover would. “He won’t let you die. Only make you suffer and wish you could.” He forced her face to turn towards him. “I promised your partner that you won’t die. I never go back on my promises, Bright Eyes.”

  He shocked the shit out of her by kissing her gently on the lips. His tongue probed for entrance, plunging in when she gave a slight sigh. He deepened the assault, pressing his body against hers before pulling back slowly. A tiny lick to her lips followed a brush of his thumb to her lower lip.

  “Now eat,” he told her. “Renzo will be back for you in a couple of hours.”

  He pushed away from her and walked out. The second the door closed the lights went off, encasing her in darkness, darkness that she could see in.

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  On the table was a plate of food, roasted hen with potatoes. Carissa didn’t think. She stuffed the food into her mouth as fast as she could. Later on, she’d think about the things he said and did. Right then she was going to eat and try to get some of her strength up, because he was right. She was going to need it.

  To be continued…

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  About The Author

  Jaden Sinclair lives in a small town of Kansa with her husband of fifteen years and two boys that keep her hoping. Between sports, running the household it’s a wonder at times how she is able to keep the flow of her writing going. But she does.

  She has many series in the works and out for your enjoyment, and most know her for the Shifter seri
es. Between werewolves, vampires, sci-fi, new worlds, or simple romances, one never really knows what will come out next.

  Authors Website

  www.jadensinclair.com

  Also available at Secret Cravings Publishing

  Forget Me Not (Guardians 1)

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  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

  Document Outline

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