by V. A. Dold
“Not too bad. And getting rid of the ugly scar will be pretty cool.” She eyed the water and shoreline again, searching for a sign of her bounty’s passing. He had slipped away without a trace again.
“Dinner is almost ready, why don’t you take a shower and wash the blood out of your hair. I’ll watch for Qball in case he doubles back.”
“Okay. Make sure you keep a gun handy. If you get a glimpse of him, shoot his pansy ass. I’m tired of his games,” she groused and stomped angrily toward the cabin.
Chapter 11
Richie snorted. “Cher, I don’t need a gun to take that sorry excuse of a human down.”
She glanced at him as they walked hand in hand to the cabin. “Yeah, I guess you wouldn’t. How did you know he was here? Did you hear the splashing or smell him, or something?”
“I was fixing the salad when I had a vision. Normally, I get them in advance, but this one seemed to be happening in real time.”
“How far in advance do you see things?”
“It varies, sometimes hours, but usually days.” He wanted to warn her about the vision of her being shot. The problem was, he knew she wouldn’t listen and if she tried to avoid the event all together, he wouldn’t know what to watch for so he could intervene. If he told the person involved, the outcome remained the same. Only someone else interfering without knowledge of the vision could change it. No, he needed to let the scene unfold so he could be there to save his mate.
“I’m betting the visions feel like both a blessing and a curse. If I knew something bad would happen to a friend or family member and I couldn’t prevent it, I’d feel terrible.”
Richie sighed. “It’s difficult to live with and I’ve had to learn the hard way to allow fate to unfold. I rarely attempt to change the outcome anymore.”
She pulled him to a stop just inside the door. “Something terrible happened because you tried to step in,” she stated knowingly as her eyes scoured his expression for the answer.
“Yes,” he said quietly, not looking at her.
He felt her finger pressed under his chin forcing him to meet her gaze. “What happened?”
“I saw my best friend Armand Le Beau killed by a gang of humans. After I warned him, he took my advice and walked home using a different route. The gang was sitting on the porch of an old shack. I mistakenly sent him right to them. He was beaten to death.”
Piper gasped and he saw tears fill her eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him. “I’m so sorry, Richie.”
“Thank you, mon amour.” He savored her warmth and then lightened the mood with a playful swat to her rump. “Get in the shower, woman. You smell like rotten gator bait.”
“You don’t like it? Eau de gator is the latest thing in perfume.”
Richie laughed and shook his head as she walked away. Damn, she had a nice sway to her hips. Shaking off the image of her wet, slick body and the desire to follow her, he walked to the back door. For a full three minutes he watched and listened. There was no sign of Qball. Maybe he’d drowned. Then again, the man seemed to have nine lives. No, he wouldn’t stop looking over his shoulder until a body was recovered or Qball showed himself.
He’d put Piper through a lot today, and he’d meant what he’s said about taking time to know each other. Silently, he vowed, he would honor his promise to slow things down. They would spend the rest of the day talking and he would keep his lips to himself.
Meanwhile at the Le Beau plantation.
Emma Le Beau was deep in meditation when the Goddess shimmered into form before her.
“Blessed be, my daughter,” Luperca greeted her in her soft, peaceful voice.
“Blessed be, Mother. I would like to thank you again for your continued blessings of my family and our friends.”
“You are more than welcome. It pleases me to see my children happily mated and starting families of their own. That is in fact, why I am here.”
Emma became alarmed. “Has something happened?”
“No, my daughter. Everything has gone as planned.” Luperca laughed softly. “I have another name for you.”
“You do?” Emma asked excitedly.
“Yes. Seth, your adopted son has done a great service for me and as such has suffered. He has closed himself off from all human and shifter contact and I fear for his personal safety. He needs his mate to complete and heal his ragged heart and soul. Killing rogues, a few who had been his friends and family over such a long period although necessary has taken a terrible toll on him. The least I can do is assist him in finding his mate. I am only sorry he did not find her sooner,” the goddess said sadly.
“What would you like me to do? How may I be of service?” she asked in rapid succession.
“Seth is destined to meet his mate Sara Adams in Minnesota. A rogue went on a killing spree June tenth and killed Sara’s brother. She’s a murder investigator with the Richfield police department, but as a family member of the victim, she has been denied access to the investigation. She is a tenacious woman and has taken it upon herself to find the killer on her own. Seth must go to Richfield and help her take the rogue down before she gets herself killed. If she dies, all hope to save Seth will be lost.”
“So if I am understanding you correctly, you would like Isaac and me to get Seth to go to Minnesota after the rogue. Other than getting him to Richfield is there anything we should do?”
“In order for him to meet her, he must agree to work with her to kill the rogue. He has never worked with a partner and definitely never a human. It will not be easy. He will want to hunt the rogue on his own and return home.”
Emma thought about that for a bit. “I think I know how we can force him to take her as a partner in this. Leave it to Isaac and myself, we will get it done one way or the other.”
The Goddess’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I believe you will. I leave this in your capable hands. Blessed be, daughter, and good luck.”
“Thank you. I’m sure we’ll need a little luck this time. Blessed be, Mother.”
Emma watched her fade from view, chewing her lip worriedly. How are we going to pull this one off?
Her heart was a roiling brew of delight and sorrow. Seth had been home for only a week or so, and now they were sending him away again.
*****
Richie turned from the screen door to finish the salad. Chopping and slicing was mindless work and allowed him to think.
He’d heard his good friend, Seth Le Beau had returned to the family’s plantation and it was time he got some backup.
Dinner was ready. All he needed was to grill the steaks. Now was a good time to call his friend, while Piper was still in the shower.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Seth, it’s Richie. Welcome home.”
“Hey, Richie, what’s up? I’ve missed you, man.”
“I missed you, too. We need to get together at Logan’s soon.”
“Logan’s? What’s that?”
“That’s right, you probably didn’t hear about the change. Julia sold out to Logan.”
“Really? I never thought I’d see the day. I’d love to get together, but I’m not sure about a bar. I’m out of practice socializing.”
“Then Logan’s might be the best thing for you. You need to rejoin the real world, bro.”
Richie heard a deep sigh from the other end of the line and pictured Seth raking his fingers through his hair.
“Yeah, maybe.”
“We can talk about that later. Do you have a minute?”
“I have a lot of minutes. I left the hunters, so I’m kind of between jobs.”
“Cade may have told you my mate came home with me and is at the cabin. She’s a bounty hunter and the murderer she’s after is trying to kill her. She fought him in the water near my pier and knocked him out. He went under, so he may have drowned, but I doubt it. Just in case, I could use your help.”
“Do you want me to take care of him?” Seth growled into the phone.
&
nbsp; “No, she’d skin me alive if I did that. What I really need is an extra pair of eyes. He knows where we are and came after her today. I need someone to stand watch while we’re sleeping.”
“I’ll be there after sundown, you won’t see me, but I’ll be there. I won’t let him get to your mate. If he shows up, what do you want me to do?”
“Detain him. Piper wants to take him in alive if at all possible.”
“Done.
“And, Richie,” there was a long pause, “you’re right. I need to rejoin the world. But I’m afraid it isn’t going to be easy. I’ve become rather uncomfortable around people after living alone for so long. To be honest, you and my family are the only people I have any interest in having near me. I’m not stupid; I know how unhealthy that is. Seeing my brothers mated, and now you... well, it gives me hope. When this is over, we should go to Logan’s and see if I can handle it.”
“Thanks, Seth. Once Qball is in jail, the drinks are on me.”
“Sounds like a plan, Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Will do, thanks again and I’m really glad you’re home.”
“You and me both, brother. You and me both.”
Richie heard the shower turn off and ended the call.
*****
While she’d showered, Piper mulled over what she knew about Richie. Everything Anna and he told her rang with the clear tone of truth. She’d already admitted she loved him, so now it was time to put her big girl pants on and deal with all the shifter stuff. With her mind set to a path, she could move forward. That meant getting to know him better. Of course that line of thought had her fantasizing about being with him again. The one night in the hotel had only whetted her appetite.
She smiled to herself, and her chest fluttered with anticipation. Her own personal wet-dream had saved her from the bad guy, was a supernatural sex god, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She couldn’t make this stuff up.
Now that she’d made a decision, she was going to seduce Richie. Tonight.
As they ate dinner, she barely tasted the food. She was too distracted visualizing him naked and at her mercy. God, she wanted him with a fierceness that thrilled her. In all her life, she’d never wanted a man so badly.
Richie studied her face. For once he didn’t know what Piper was thinking. Her walls were up and solidly in place. He relaxed and grinned happily when he noticed the interesting gleam in her eyes. Obviously she was less apprehensive than she’d been before her shower. She was still rather quiet, so he thought it might be best to leave her to her thoughts. Rather than make small talk, he took her hand, kissed her knuckles and brushed his thumb along the back.
The dinner was eaten and he was drying the last plate. He felt her arms wrap around him from behind as he was placing it in the cupboard. Turning, he searched her eyes.
Dammit. He was struggling to honor his decision to behave gentlemanly and respectfully. But his mate needed comfort. He could do this. He could kiss her once and then just hold her. Clothes would remain in place, and there would be no roaming hands. A simple sweet kiss fit within the parameters of the rules.
“Come here, cher.” He pulled her lips to his. He’d meant his kiss to be comforting and reassuring. Honestly, he did.
Instead, she turned the tables and claimed him. She thrust her hands deeply into his hair, kissing him with such passion, she left him quivering with need. Piper laid her stamp of ownership on his heart and soul as surely if she’d completed the ritual. He ached to lose himself in her heat, but he’d wait for her to take that step. As of that moment, he decided, Piper would call all the shots in this courtship and he was along for the ride.
“You know the cliché movie scene, ‘I just almost died and I need to feel alive, let’s have sex’?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“It’s not such a cliché. I want you to make me feel alive and help me stop thinking so much. At least for tonight.”
His arms tightened their hold on her as the air around them sizzled with energy. The tight hold he’d had on his body snapped. His heart hammered and his manhood was instantly rock hard. Richie didn’t make a move though. She needed to be sure that this was what she wanted.
He searched her expressive blue eyes for a long time, then said, “Piper, I want you to be very sure. I’ll give you all the time you need, mon amour. If what you really want is to be held, I’ll hold you until the cows come home.”
He watched as her throat worked up and down with a hard swallow. Then her tongue shot out to lick her lips.
“I’m very sure. I need you Richie.”
The flash of her tongue drew his gaze and almost took him to his knees. The memory of her incredible mouth had him licking his lips in return.
Piper added pressure behind his neck and urged him down to her. As if pulling him by an invisible leash, she closed the distance.
She needed this. No, she needed him. It would be an understatement to say, all of the strange and fantastical things she’d learned today had been a lot to take. That Richie was one of the strange and fantastical things was beside the point. If she weren’t already going crazy with desire for him, she would still want him to make her feel normal, to feel good. She needed to feel and not think. Who better to ‘feel’ with than the man who was rapidly stealing her heart?
She pressed against him, caging him between the counter and her body.
Acting upon the longing that had been building since her struggle with Qball, she pressed her mouth against his, hungry for him. With a ravenous groan, she slipped her tongue between his lips and explored his mouth. Her thumbs smoothed back and forth across his jawline as she held his face in place. Their mouths fused, and when he returned the kiss as adamantly, she released the last threads of her control. Soft rumbles and growls rose from Richie’s lips.
He grabbed her hips and pressed her tightly against his erection. Damn, he felt so good. Grinding against him, she needed more.
“Do you like that, cher? Let me see if I can help you out.”
She held on as he shifted his weight, and pressed one heavily muscled thigh between her legs. She cursed the barrier of her jeans when he applied pressure to her damp, aching center. She needed relief so badly, she could taste it and the denim was in the way. Piper started to slowly ride his thigh, taking what little stimulation she could get.
Her hands slid from his jaw to his chest, then lower to his jeans. The button popped easily as she worked to remove his clothes. She wanted to scream in frustration when she pulled his T-shirt loose and began working it up his body and he broke their kiss.
His lips hovered above hers and his heavy breath fluttered her hair. The warm chocolate of his eyes glowed with golden flecks of smoldering promise. “Let’s take this to our bed.”
Her voice came out no more than a whisper. “Excellent idea.” She pulled from his arms, then took his hand and led him from the kitchen.
Once in the bedroom, Piper quickly began to strip. She paused when Richie asked, “Would you like to see it done the shifter way?”
Chewing her lower lip, she grinned. “Yeah, I think I would.”
His lips slowly spread into a smoking hot, sexy grin. With a thought, Richie stood before her gloriously naked and unashamed. And oh lord, that man certainly had nothing to be ashamed of. He was absolutely gorgeous, simply looking at him made her mouth water and her pulse race.
He reached for her jeans and popped the button. “Let me help you out of those.”
As she stripped her shirt and bra away, Richie knelt and reached for the zipper. The touch of his hands as he undressed her, made the butterflies in her stomach flutter faster.
With burning hunger in his eyes, he slid her jeans to her ankles. Freeing her feet, he wrapped his fingers around her calves before he skimmed them up her legs to her hips. His fingers slipped into the waistband of her panties, and they followed the path of her jeans.
Reaching for her hips, his hands slowly slid around to c
up her buttocks and urge her toward his seeking mouth. He leaned forward, and encouraged her to widen her stance. Richie breathed her in, before taking one slow lick.
Piper sighed and laced her fingers into his hair, holding him to her.
Growling his approval, he stroked the glistening lips protecting her womanhood, gently parting them.
When he took her into his mouth and stabbed deep, her legs almost buckled.
“Richie!”
There was a catch in her voice. A tremor. He couldn’t get enough, licking and sucking, in total bliss until she bucked against his mouth, needing more. Her taste was heaven on his tongue.
Sliding one finger into her warm, weeping channel, she elicited a soft moan. His wolf rumbled his pleasure as her hips rocked in time with his fingers. Licking and suckling her clit, he added a second finger, filling her. Richie pushed her climax higher and higher. Piper’s moans and mews increased as he quickened his thrusts. He tightened his hold as she pressed his face harder against her heated core.
She was getting close, her hips grinding against him, rocking in rhythm to his licks and suckles. Suddenly, her channel clamped down on his fingers, pulsing in time to his thrusting.
“That’s it, mon amour, cum for me.”
Seconds later, she threw her head back and cried out his name with a mind–blowing orgasm.
Richie slowed his fingers and gazed up at her lovely face. She was so beautiful with heavy lidded eyes and that sated expression. His wolf howled in satisfaction.
With one last lick, he kissed his way to her breasts, stopping to lick and suckle each nipple. Pausing, he captured her gaze and with a sweltering look, licked his fingers clean, then claimed her mouth and plunged his tongue deep. Sharing the taste of her on his lips.
With one hand laced in her hair and the other cupping her backside, he pressed her hips firmly against him, gently thrusting his engorged shaft between her thighs.
She molded against him, giving herself over to his magical mouth and hands. Their tongues danced and caressed in an erotic frenzy. Breathing hard, Richie kissed her softly one last time, then blazed a trail of hot kisses across her jaw and down the side of her neck.