by Lacey Thorn
“Slade.” Rissa’s voice was low, raspy, and urgent.
“Almost there. Jensen,” he snapped, but his brother was already pushing back the covers.
“Put her on the bed and let me take a look at her,” Jensen ordered then turned toward Tony. “You mind waiting in the kitchen?”
“I’ve got some calls to make. Why don’t I leave you guys to get settled? Call me when you head back to the main house, and I’ll meet you there,” Tony offered.
Jensen nodded, and Tony was gone. Slade heard the snick as the front door opened and closed behind him.
“I’m fine,” Rissa murmured, drawing Slade’s gaze to her where his brother now sat beside her.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Jensen swore. He immediately ran his hands over her skull, and Slade knew his brother was checking the spot were she’d taken so much damage. He kept his gaze on his mate, not trusting her to tell Jensen if he found a tender spot. “Tell me what happened.”
Her gaze flew to Slade’s. “I remembered.”
“When you were speaking to Ariel.”
She nodded though Slade hadn’t been asking her a question. It made sense now. He’d been consumed by worry for her at the time, but looking back, he realized something the other woman had said must have triggered it.
“We were laughing and joking,” Rissa told them. “Joking about being so comfortable around one another when we usually weren’t. I told her I was vying for the role of bestie and asked if she already had another. She told me to stop running from you and give us a chance.”
“I like her. Seems like a smart woman,” Slade agreed, and Rissa smiled. It was soft and fleeting, and Slade knew she was still hurting. “Why don’t we talk about this later? Let Jensen finish checking you over then see if you can rest for a bit. She hit her knees pretty hard,” he reminded his brother.
Jensen’s glance flicked between Rissa and Slade. “I’m going to need the pants off if you want me to check her knees.”
Slade growled even though it was his brother and he trusted him completely. Trusting didn’t mean he liked the idea of Jensen seeing her in her underwear.
“I’m fine. My knees are fine,” she assured them then reached for Slade. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not,” he vowed then glanced over to his brother. “Anything concern you?”
“I don’t see anything physically that has me worried. I don’t like that the memories you’ve had were accompanied with pain. I’d like to monitor that. If it worsens, let me know immediately. Understood?”
“Yes,” Slade stated as Rissa nodded. He could see she didn’t like the idea but wasn’t sure why. Knowing his mate the way he was coming to, it probably made her feel weak, something she despised as much as he did.
“Do you want something for the pain?” Jensen asked Rissa.
She started to shake her head then gritted her teeth instead. “N… no. It’ll be fine.”
“I’ll leave something here just in case. I can stay out in the front room tonight if needed. I’d like to be close in case either of you need me.”
Rissa glanced toward Slade, and he knew what she was thinking. “The medical center is close enough. We’ll call immediately if we need anything.”
“Are you sure?” Jensen asked.
“Yes, but thank you,” Rissa offered.
“You’re family.” Jensen cupped her face and dropped a kiss atop her head, and Slade realized how concerned his brother had been for her during all those weeks when Slade had been going out of his mind. Jensen stood and moved into the hallway, his glance telling Slade he’d wait for him in the main area of the cabin.
“I’ll be right back,” Slade whispered, brushing his lips over Rissa’s then following his brother to the door.
“Let her sleep,” Jensen ordered as they stood by the front door. “Discourage her if she wants to talk right now. The memories rushing in overstimulated her. Her pupils are dilated, and I’m worried the head pain might increase if she tries to force things too soon. Rest. Nothing strenuous, brother.”
“I’m not a complete bastard, Jensen. Jesus,” Slade growled.
“She’s fragile right now whether she realizes it or not. She’s still healing. Her bear is still protecting her. Plus, she’s newly mated. Her body is going through a lot, and that includes her mind.”
“I know that,” Slade agreed.
“I’ll check on the two of you in a few hours.”
“Jensen,” Slade called as his brother stepped onto the porch. Jensen paused, lifting a brow in question. “Find out where he’s keeping Talbot.”
Jensen nodded then turned and left. Slade stepped back inside, shutting the door and flipping the lock. He made a quick walk through of the rest of the place, but it was fairly small. Off the main room was the kitchen-dining room combo to one side and a bathroom to the other. The short hallway had a closet then the doorway to the bedroom where Rissa lay.
He headed back to her, shutting the bedroom door behind him before toeing off his shoes and walking toward the bed. Rissa’s eyes were already closed. He slid onto the bed beside her and pulled her into the curve of his body. Her head automatically moved toward his neck, her nose seeking his throat as she rubbed it back and forth there. She wrapped one leg over his thigh while one palm slid low across his belly. Then as if that was all she’d been waiting for, she seemed to settle deeply into sleep.
Slade wrapped his arms around her, finding solace in the feel of her against him. No matter what, he’d protect her. Even from the memories that had knocked her to her knees and briefly taken her from him again.
Chapter Eight
Rissa woke with a start, jerking against the arms restraining her.
“Shh, it’s just me.” Slade’s voice broke through the terror that grabbed her by the throat.
Another worthless bear. I have more of those females than I’ll ever need for my experiments.
“He has them. Talbot, I mean.” She was shaking and couldn’t seem to stop even with Slade hugging her close.
“Who?” Slade asked, and it took her a minute to process what he meant. Everything was so chaotic in her head.
“Female bears. I’m guessing members of your den.”
“Our den,” Slade corrected, but there was no censure in his voice. “Did he say where?”
“No. Not that I remember.”
“What do you remember?”
Rissa took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Bits and pieces. It’s all a bit jumbled. I remember meeting Ariel. Walking to the edge of the property with her. I remember the darts. The voice of the man in charge. The thrum of the motor when they threw us in the back of that truck and took off.”
Slade nodded then sat up, easing her along with him until she sat in his lap. “You’re right here with me. Don’t forget that. What’s in your head is just memories. It’s not here. Not now.”
She nodded. “I remember Talbot being angry. They’d taken the wrong blonde, the wrong brunette. He wanted Kenzie Marshall and Em. He wanted to get his hands on Em.”
“Never going to happen,” Slade vowed, squeezing her tight. “Laramie would shred anyone who tried to take her.”
“What if he’s not with her?” All Rissa could think of was Em finding herself in a situation similar to what Rissa had been in. Alone and vulnerable, thinking she was perfectly safe when she wasn’t.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” Slade whispered, and she heard the guilt and self-loathing in his voice.
“I don’t blame you for what happened, Slade, and you’ve got to stop blaming yourself.”
“I told you that you’d be safe on Holloway property. Swore it and they took you anyway.” His chest and shoulders were tense, and Rissa rubbed her palms over him, seeking to soothe him.
“And you came for me. You found me. You saved me. I would have died if not for you.”
“Don’t—”
“Yes,” she cut him off. “If not for you, I wouldn’t be here right n
ow. Not with you. Not with anyone. My arrogance and cockiness led me to the boundary of your land. I was so sure I could take care of myself no matter what. I swore I’d prove to everyone that I didn’t need you.”
“Fuck.” His soft expletive hit her right in the heart.
“Because I did need you, Slade. I wanted to be at your side more than anything, but I felt completely unworthy of you.”
“Because of Jack?” Slade asked.
Rissa nodded. “Even after listening to Adam, I still feel guilty. My brain plays the what-if game to no end. I know I can’t change what happened, but part of me will always wonder if I could have saved Jack. And that part felt guilty for finding you and realizing you’re the man I’ve been waiting for. You’re the one I took one look at and wanted to mark as mine. So I ran. When I wasn’t enticing you into steamy make out sessions or begging you to fuck me, I ran.”
“Don’t run again,” Slade warned.
“Little late to run, mate,” she emphasized. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and I won’t punish us both by denying that.”
“You’re not angry that I forced you to mate me?”
Rissa chuckled. “You didn’t force me. I made the choice. I said the vows, and I meant them. No matter what comes our way, I’ll always trust in you.”
“I won’t let you down.”
“You never have,” she whispered and leaned up into his kiss.
Soft, slow, and sweet, he made love to her mouth, licking across her lips before easing between them and rubbing his tongue sensuously along hers. He darted and flicked, enticing her to follow back into his mouth where he sucked on her. His teeth grazed her bottom lip as he drew back only to press nibbling kisses along her throat. His hands slipped under the edge of her shirt, and he moved back only long enough to tug it off over her head before trailing kisses along her shoulder.
“We should talk.” Her memories were still a little jumbled, and she thought talking to him would help her sort them out.
“Later,” he murmured, his tongue tracing the lacy top of her bra cup.
“Jensen will be by.” Her head drooped back on her shoulders, though, offering him full access to any part of her he desired to touch.
“He can wait.”
He eased her off his lap and left her lying sideways on the bed. He made quick work of her jeans and panties then took his time removing her bra, stopping to lick and suck at her nipples until they were dark red and swollen from his attention.
“Slade.”
He chuckled at her husky moan then moved his mouth lower, over her ribcage before dipping in to explore her belly. With every caress of his tongue, she knew where he was headed. She flipped between holding her breath then panting as she waited for him to get there. Just when she thought she’d never last, he spread her wide and let his tongue glide over the swollen nub of her clit. He traced slow circles, not touching her anywhere else though she wanted his fingers inside her, wanted him to kiss lower and thrust his tongue deep into her. Slade took his time, and in doing so, drove her absolutely wild. To the point she was a wiggling, begging mess.
“Please, Slade. Please.”
“Soon,” he crooned and rubbed his tongue over then around her clit.
“Now,” she demanded and was rewarded with the vibration of his chuckle against her folds.
She reached for him, fisting her hands in his hair and doing her best to urge him closer. Still, he took his time, teasing and exploring until she swore she’d spontaneously combust from the fire he had raging through her. Then his tongue moved a little faster. Flick, flick, jab. Flick, flick, slow glide around. He was killing her.
“Slade!”
One minute, she was screaming his name, ready to voice any threat she thought might work on him. The next, she was simply screaming as he wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked greedily as he slammed two big fingers inside her channel. She came immediately and didn’t even feel guilty for the way she soaked him with her juices. Instead, she took pleasure in the sounds of him slurping her up as he did his best to lick her clean. He worked her higher, and sent her flinging into the skies once more.
Before she could recover enough to even blink her eyes open to track him, he was over her again. Naked flesh glided along hers as he slid her knees along his arms until they rested at his elbows. His cock rose hard and thick between them, and she licked her lips, wanting more than anything to taste him as thoroughly as he had her.
“Later,” Slade said, and damned if that didn’t seem to be his favorite word all of the sudden.
Then she wasn’t thinking at all. He thrust deep, giving her every inch until she swore nothing existed outside his possession of her. Pain and pleasure blurred until he eased back just enough so she could breathe. He set a fast rhythm. One that had her screaming with another orgasm within seconds. Still he pumped his hips, riding her hard.
“No!” she growled when he was suddenly gone.
“Hands and knees,” Slade ordered then helped her into the position he wanted.
He moved onto the bed behind her, entering slow and easy. He palmed her ass cheeks, squeezing and spreading them. She shuddered as she remembered what they’d done in his bedroom at home. The way he’d taken her ass, claiming and owning it as he did every other part of her. Was he thinking of taking her there again? Did she want him to?
“Yes,” he crooned at her ear as he came over her back. “You want me there again. And I plan to take your ass as often as I can.”
She moaned, turning her head to meet the heat of his gaze. He had her so hot and impossibly close to a fourth orgasm.
“Not this time, though. Right now, I plan to reward this hot, little pussy with my seed. Let your womb lap it all up and see what we can plant in your belly.”
He wanted a baby. He wanted her pregnant with his baby. So many emotions tumbled through her. She forgot her need to make sense of the memories she was recovering and focused only on him and the new life they might create. They would create. If not this time, then soon. One day soon, she’d have Slade’s baby growing inside her. Part him. Part her.
“And when your belly’s ripe and full with our baby, this is how I’m going to take you. On your hands and knees with my cock tunneling in and out from behind.” His hands slid under her to cup her breasts, his thumbs rubbing over her nipples. “These will get so big and swollen with milk. I want to taste you. Taste what you’ll feed our son or daughter.”
“Oh, God.” The picture he painted had her clenching tight around him.
“Yeah, that turns you on. Turns me on, too.”
He lifted his torso off her, gripped her hips, and pounded into her again. Broken cries left her lips. She had no idea what words she used or if they were even comprehensible. All she knew was she was coming again. Her sheath tightened around his pistoning shaft, as she tried and failed to keep him locked inside her. He plunged and retreated. His hand sweeping under her to lie low along her belly so his fingers could pluck and pinch at her clit. Higher she flew. Until lights seemed to dazzle behind her tightly closed eyelids.
Slade came with a roar, his cock surging deep. She wailed at the heated splash of his seed and swore she felt a spark deep inside her womb before the pleasure sent her flying. Slade collapsed against her, and she reveled in the feel of his body pressed fully along hers.
“I’ll move in just a minute. As soon as I can breathe.” His breath teased her ear, and she reached behind her with one hand to touch his back and hold him to her.
“Later,” she murmured, borrowing a word from him. Much later. Right now, she wanted him against her. Needed the sensations he caused within her. The emotions his touch always ignited. The luckiest day of her life had been the day she’d pulled up in front of the Holloway cabins and stepped out to see him standing there as if he’d been watching for her.
He moved off her, and she gave a growl of displeasure. He merely scooped her up then held her high against his chest with one arm while tugging the
covers into place with the other. Then he crawled between the sheets with her and settled them so she lay against his chest. One big hand stroked along her spine, from the top of her neck to the top of her buttocks. It was soft, soothing, and she found herself sliding toward slumber again.
“I love you,” she whispered as sleep tugged her under, and in her dreams, she heard him whisper the words back to her.
Chapter Nine
Slade slipped out of the bedroom, careful not to wake Rissa and headed toward the kitchen and food. They’d both slept through dinner, and it was late now. His stomach was already growling. He was sure hers would be when she woke up.
“How is she?” Jensen asked, glancing up from the table.
“Sleeping. How the hell did you get in here? I know I locked that door.”
“Talked Tah out of the spare key, so I could bring over dinner and check on Rissa.” Jensen eyed him up and down then glared. “I told you not to let her overexert herself, you idiot. Her head was hurting.”
Slade growled. “You also said to keep her from trying to force the memories. We talked, then I distracted her.”
“Did she say anything about what she remembers?”
“Did you say you brought dinner?” Slade asked instead of answering his brother’s question.
“Yes. Sit down. They put aside food for the two of you.” Jensen pointed Slade toward a chair before rising and removing a plate from the oven. “Eat. Then we’ll talk.”
Slade devoured the meatloaf, green beans, and baked potato. It went a long way toward restoring his energy and clearing his mind.
“She remembers Talbot saying he had plenty of female bears. She thinks he has members of our den being held somewhere.”
Jensen growled. “Walker said something to Xandra about giving some of the females to hunters. If Talbot knows where they are, then we need to make him talk.”
Too easily, Slade recalled how Rissa had looked after such a short time with hunters. The attack on them had happened years ago. Too many years. Who knew if any of the women had survived? Or what condition they might be in if they had? Mentally, physically, and emotionally. He couldn’t fathom the hell they would be in. For all the stories he’d heard over the years, he’d never been in the hands of hunters. His father had been tortured and murdered, and he’d never forget how his larger than life father had looked when he’d been brought back to them. People could say what they wanted about the alpha of the Holloways, but Laramie had protected all of his brothers. None of them had ever been captured or harmed by hunters. As far as Slade knew, the supremist group had never set foot on Holloway land until they’d taken Rissa and Ariel.