by Lee Mae
“We don’t have to stop.”
His eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“I… don’t want to stop.”
More than anything, he wanted her, and hearing her words sent a torrent of emotions through him.
9
The fire Gunner had lit, fed, and fanned roared up inside Claire. She reached up, thrust her fingers into his hair, and pulled him back down for a repeat of his lips on hers.
Everything felt right, his body on hers, his hands moving over her skin, his mouth working their magic as he moved lower, licking and kissing her breast. She gladly returned his attention, her hands running over his back, sliding down to his waist, then dancing over the rise of his taut ass. A sweet liquid heat filled her, hips shifting beneath him. An involuntary gasp broke from her lips and she arched against him as he pulled one hard nipple into his mouth.
She jumped at the beep of a cell phone.
Gunner broke away from her with a rough gasp.
“Yours or mine?” Tension flooded through her, a rush of adrenaline replacing arousal. Who was calling now?
Gunner nodded toward her stuff. “Your duffel bag is ringing.”
Claire scrambled off the bed and retrieved her cell phone. She sat on the floor, and held it in her hand, looking at the screen, a frightened look on her face. “It’s Adrian.” She turned to Gunner. “I recognize his number...”
Gunner sat up, the sheet pooling around his waist. “Don’t answer it.”
“I think I’d better,” she said. “Hello?”
“Claire. I know where you are.” Adrian’s voice was like a knife through her heart.
“How would you…you don’t know where I am. You’re bluffing.”
“Do you want to take that chance? You and that brute that helped you, are holed up. It’s just a matter of time…”
“Leave me alone.”
“You’re mine. I’m never leaving you alone.”
“Claire, hang up,” Gunner said in a stern voice.
Claire glanced over at him.
He grabbed the phone from her and did it himself. “We need to leave.”
“But why? He’s lying. He couldn’t possibly know where we are.”
Gunner pulled on a pair of jeans. “Get dressed.”
Claire stood up, clutching her shirt. “I just don’t think we need to leave. Adrian’s just trying to scare me.”
He scowled. “It’s much more than that. Did he have your phone number before? No. He found it…got it from somewhere. Probably beat the hell out of someone at the diner.”
“But, nobody else knows about this place. You said so yourself.”
Not saying anything, Gunner yanked a T-shirt over his head and then sat on the edge of the bed.
“You’re scaring me, Gunner,” she said, as he pulled on his boots.
He glanced up, brows drawn together. “You said Adrian’s father has connections. I’m assuming even though they’ve got connections back in the Old Country, they’re a little more up-to-date with technology.” Gunner stood, hands on his hips, looking down at Claire. His face softened, and he reached out to put his hands on her shoulders. “Think about it. They probably ran a trace when he called you. Adrian probably knows where we are right now.”
“Oh…great.”
“Get dressed. We’re going to need to leave here. He’ll be tracking us soon.”
She nodded and quickly picked up her clothes.
Gunner grabbed his backpack, and she watched him stuff clean clothes into it while she dressed.
From the floor, Gunner’s phone began to vibrate.
“Reece,” mumbled Gunner. “I suppose I’d better answer it after that last call from Adrian.”
Claire nodded.
“Yeah?”
“Gunner, you’re in a world of hurt, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hang up on me this time,” said Reece.
Gunner sighed. “I really don’t have time…”
“Yeah, you do have time to listen to me. Things have been happening here. Calls back and forth. Even worse, Malone just left here.”
“And?”
“And he’s got a message for you: back off. Leave her where she is, and come home. This isn’t your fight.” Gunner turned to the big window, watching the pines swaying in the breeze. Something in Reece’s voice made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The last thing Gunner needed was someone telling him what to do. Even if that someone was Reece.
“Why the hell does Malone care about what I do?”
“Has she told you who she is? Who her Alpha is?”
“What the hell do I care who her Alpha is?”
“Well, Malone cares. Her Alpha heads one of the oldest clans on the East Coast and is someone who is still highly connected back in the Old Country. Apparently, this guy doesn’t take kindly to strangers interfering with family business. He doesn’t want to cause tension between us and them. You have to back off. Or…”
“Or what?” Reece was quiet, and the silence went on far too long for Gunner’s liking. “Or what, Reece? What are you trying to say?”
“There are things that happened before you came here. Things no one wants to dredge up.”
“And what does that have to do with Claire?”
Her head jerked up at the sound of her name, and he turned away, his back to her. Even though he knew damn well she could still hear the conversation.
“More than you know. Gunner, Victor’s the guy who had your whole clan killed.”
Gunner’s face felt numb, his breath stalling in his chest. “And he had my father killed too, I suppose?”
Reece took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m afraid so. But it’s more complicated than that. He didn’t kill your father. He killed the man who you thought was your father…the man he wanted out of the way.” There was another pause. Gunner closed his eyes, fearing the worst, not knowing what that could even be.
“The man you thought was your dad? He wasn’t your father. Gunner. I hate telling you this over the phone; it was something I wanted to tell you face-to-face once I found out about it. Gunner, I’m so sorry, but Victor is your father.”
10
Gunner had been sitting on the edge of the bed for a long time, staring out the big window. Claire knelt beside him, aching to do something, anything, to help him. But her mind was just as jumbled, as she supposed his was. If someone had told her that her father wasn’t really her father, she’d be a basket case. And to learn who your father really was, that the man you were trying to get this girl away from was your brother, or half-brother…well, it was all too much.
“Gunner?” She laid her hand on his shoulder. He didn’t move. “Gunner, we need to go.”
He drew a deep breath, looked down at the phone in his hands, nodded slowly, and then threw it across the room. It bounced against the bathroom door, skittering away across the tile.
“You heard, I guess? What a mess. What a fucked up mess.”
“Gunner, I’m sorry. Really…I don’t know what else to say.”
He turned, and she saw the pain and confusion in his eyes. “All these years, the man who raised me, I thought he was my father. Now I find out it’s the guy who sired that prick, Adrian…who’s my brother…” His laugh was sharp, painful. “How did this happen? How did I meet you, only to have a guy who is my half-brother, out on the hunt for you? How can this even be possible? It all seems to crazy… so contrived.”
“I know; it’s surreal. I can’t believe it myself…”
“So, you didn’t know?” Gunner turned to her suddenly, his eyes searching hers. “Was that why…”
She was shaking her head before he even finished. “How could I? I had no idea Adrian wasn’t Victor’s only son. No one ever talked about any other kids. And hey, I only just met you. How could I possibly know? You’re not making any sense.”
“Yeah, I know… I’m sorry. It’s just all too much.” He shook his head absently. “We’ll just chalk this one up to fate…our pa
ths crossing when they did?”
Claire sat back, wishing she had the magic words that would make this all go away, or at least make it something they could understand. But even if she believed in magic, she didn’t think there was enough to fix this situation. “Yeah, fate… I’m in such shock about all of this, Gunner. And I’m so very sorry I got you involved.”
He stood abruptly. “You didn’t. I involved myself, and despite all of this bullshit, I don’t regret it. I wanted to make sure you were safe, and that’s still my focus. But you’re right; we have to leave.”
Claire got off the bed quickly, pulling on her shirt. Gunner grabbed the backpack, strode across the room, scooped up his phone, and shoved it into his pocket.
“Where are we going?” she asked him.
“I’m not sure-” Gunner’s words cut off abruptly. His head jerked up and his eyes locked on the door.
“What?” she whispered.
He went completely rigid and let the backpack fall to the floor. And then she heard it. The soft thud of a single footstep on the steps.
Claire whirled, still fumbling with the buttons on her shirt, breath coming up fast and shallow, her heart in her throat.
Before either of them could react, the door abruptly splintered inward. Adrian stood in the ruined doorway, hands doubled into fists. His nose looked broken and his eyes were black and blue.
Claire stumbled backward with a half-strangled cry.
“How…how are you here so quickly?” She asked.
He ignored her question. “Claire, let’s go.” His voice was cold, but his eyes were animated, almost dancing with some evil inner light. Claire knew that look. It was the one he’d get before he’d hit her.
“Leave me alone,” said Claire.
“You’d better get your ass out of here before you end up with something worse than a broken nose.” Gunner moved in front of her, somehow managing to look even taller. His shoulders were broad and he towered over Adrian.
Adrian’s laugh was maniacal. “You’ve crossed the line, asshole, and you’re going to pay. Now, get out of my way. I’m here for what’s mine. She is mine, you know. Not yours. As a shifter, you should know what happens when you take someone’s mate.”
Gunner glared at him. “She doesn’t belong to anyone, especially you. Now, get the fuck off of my property.”
Adrian erupted with a growl, lunging across the room toward Gunner.
Claire stumbled backward, as Gunner shielded her with his body, easily sidestepping Adrian’s clumsy rush.
Adrian missed and crashed into the kitchen table. Furious, he spun around, knocking over the empty wine bottle from the night before. It hit the floor with a crash, leaving a welter of shattered glass.
“You’re dead,” he growled.
In that instant, Gunner began to change, shifting into his animal form. She’d seen shifters change; hell, she changed herself. But with Gunner, it was a force of nature, strangely beautiful, mesmerizing. His shift was more like a magician’s illusion, and where Gunner had been, a huge orange and black striped tiger now stood, in the middle of the small cabin.
Adrian was crouched by the counter, breathing hard, lips pulled back over his teeth. He seemed just as shocked at the rapid transformation as Claire, although she didn’t think he was quite as taken with Gunner’s shift, as she was. He looked enraged, angrier than she’d ever seen him.
Gunner lunged at Adrian, nails gouging the hardwood floor. He hit him low, just above the knees. The blow dropped Adrian to the floor, with Gunner scrambling to remain on top, pinning Adrian on his back.
Claire waited for Adrian to change. She expected him to, and wondered why he didn’t, what he could be thinking. But he remained in his human form. He was crazy if he thought he could win a fight against a massive tiger who outweighed him, could out maneuver him, and could easily tear out his throat with one bite.
Adrian’s hands wrapped around Gunner’s throat and his fingers buried in the black and orange fur. It was enough to keep Gunner’s snapping fangs away from his own throat. And then she saw it. The shard of glass in Adrian’s hand.
“Gunner! Look out! He’s…”
Before she could even finish the words, Adrian stabbed Gunner’s side with the piece of glass, drawing blood.
Gunner roared in pain.
“Gunner!” screamed Claire, terrified.
Adrian shoved him away and then got back to his feet. He charged after Claire, a determined look on his face.
Stunned, she backed up, hitting the edge of the bed with her legs.
Adrian grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door.
“No!” she hollered, wrestling to get away. But, his grip was like steel.
Annoyed and frustrated that she was fighting back, Adrian lifted her feet off the floor and carried her to the door.
“Gunner!” Claire dug her nails into Adrian’s arm, straining to see over his shoulder.
Gunner got back to his feet. Baring his teeth, he growled loudly and prepared to pounce.
Adrian spun around, using Claire as a human shield. She felt Adrian’s body begin to shift, his muscles rippling, growing tense and hot. Orange and black fur began to sprout out of his skin and his claws began to appear.
“Move, and she dies.” Adrian’s distorted voice, half-human, half-growl, filled the room. “It’s that simple.”
Claire shuddered, remembering the countless times he’d threatened to kill her. And almost had.
His eyes gleamed with madness as Adrian wrapped his paw around her throat. His claws dug into her skin, drawing blood. “One little slip and she’s dead.”
Gunner was still crouched on the floor in front of her and their eyes met. In his she saw anger. Confusion. Doubt.
Adrian looked at him. “That’s right, asshole. Be a good animal, and sit.”
Gunner didn’t move.
Adrian backed up through the busted-out doorway and into the cool morning air.
Gunner advanced slowly after them, hackles raised, snarling through bared fangs. His eyes flickered between Claire’s and Adrian’s, eventually locked onto hers as Adrian dragged her toward the stairs.
“You just keep your distance,” warned Adrian. “You piece of shit.”
Gunner answered him with an angry roar.
Grunting, Adrian turned and jumped down the stairs, his arm around her waist. With surprising speed, he bolted through the woods, crashing down the same path she’d traveled with Gunner the night before. Brambles pulled at her, tree limbs scratched her face and hands. “Let me go!” she demanded while beating against Adrian with her fists.
Claire knew he was close to shifting fully. He was just barely holding on to his human form. He knew that if he let her go, there was a chance that she’d escape. Claire was faster than Adrian and he knew it.
Suddenly, they broke through the trees into a clearing. She didn’t see Gunner’s motorcycle, but instead saw a bright red Ferrari parked alongside of the road. Adrian had taken a different trail, not the same one Gunner had used. He flung her against the car, pinning her with one hand, as he yanked open the driver’s side door.
“Get your ass in the car. And don’t bother shifting. you were always a slow shifter, and a worthless fighter. I could kill you in a heartbeat.”
If you could catch me, she thought.
But, he was right. It took her too long to shift.
Adrian pushed her hard, and she clambered over the gear shift, banging her elbows and knees, ending up crouching in the passenger seat. She couldn’t resist reaching for the door handle, however.
Seeing the movement, Adrian grabbed her arm and twisted it painfully, his claws digging into her skin.
“Don’t even think about it.” He leaned close, his breath hot and fetid against her face.
She turned away, but Adrian grabbed her face with his other hand, forcing her to look at him. The pads of his fingers (paws) were rough against her skin. His claws grazed her cheek. “You think you’re getting
away again? Guess again.”
“Why not just kill me, and get it over with. We both know that’s what you really want.” She spat the words at him, through clenched teeth.
Adrian’s eyes darkened. He pulled her even closer, and Claire cringed, desperate to get away from him. His breath was foul, as if he’d been eating something rotten, or he was rotting from the inside out. Something was wrong, really wrong, with this scenario, more than just being in a car with a guy she’d jilted who happened to be poised between human, and shifter.
“My father…you remember him? He’s your Alpha, whom you show no respect for. He wants you back. It’s not what I want…”
His bloodshot eyes bore into her, then slid down her face to her torn shirt. Something passed over them, or left them. Claire’s heart skipped in her chest. It took her only a second to realize the last shred of sanity Adrian had been clinging to had just deserted him. His mouth curled into a bizarre smile, fangs competing with teeth, a grin that would have frozen Hell.
“You know what? Fuck my father.” His voice dropped lower, and became an almost seductive purr, his eyes raking hungrily over her body.
“Fuck you, too, while we’re at it.”
Claire’s breath froze in her throat, and she struggled against the iron grip of his hand. But he was too strong and for a horrible moment, Claire saw her immediate future. It wasn’t pretty.
Adrian buried his head against her neck, his mouth hot against her skin. He teeth raked across her flesh and she cried out, pushing at him, trying to kick at his body. But the car was too small, and he was too strong. A sob broke from her lips, as he tore the front of her shirt, the buttons skittering to the floor of the car. Closing her eyes, she went numb, giving herself over to the horror.
Abruptly his head rose, pushing her away roughly. “Hear that? That hulk has your scent.” He snorted, an ugly sound. But beyond Adrian’s snarl, Claire heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle roaring to life.
She allowed herself to take a breath.
Adrian glared at her, head tilted. “Look at you, all smiles. I bet you got him to give you a ride, bring you here, all by giving that animal just what he wanted. Just with a twitch of those hips of yours. What I wanted. What was mine. And what you never gave me.”