“You have every right to be angry,” he said quietly. “And I know you’re hurt. Please, let me explain.”
She met his gaze, then subsided back against the sofa. “You have two minutes.”
“Okay, let me start with your employment. I did it for your protection.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth. “I know, you didn’t like it, but if it came down to keeping you out of danger, I would happily fire you again. In a heartbeat.”
Her eyes flared, and he took a breath. Paused. How could he make her understand? He’d never talked about what had happened, had never had to define it—and certainly hadn’t discussed it with his family until tonight. That he was ready, willing and wanting to do so with Vassi told him there had been a monumental shift in his emotions.
“I once had a girlfriend,” he began. “Her name was Debbie. She died, Vassi. Dead. Gone. Final. This was a dangerous situation.” He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “I couldn’t keep Debbie safe, I couldn’t protect her—from my own family, for Pete’s sake.” The memory of Debbie lying on the pavement, her last breath escaping as the light in her eyes died … the image flickered, and in his mind’s eye it was Vassi he saw dying on the driveway. The emotion that image brought forth was almost crippling, and far more devastating. He cupped her face. “When Debbie died, it hurt so damn much. I walked away from my family, from the business. If you died—” he looked into her eyes, saw the beauty, the caring, the life—all that could have been gone in a heartbeat. “All that hurt would not compare to my devastation if I got you killed. Do you understand?” He bit his lip for a moment, then pulled her hand to cover his chest.
“You are everything to me. Any breath without you is too painful. My thoughts, my actions, my heart—they’re all yours. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She swallowed. “Keep talking.”
He nodded, hustling a little closer to her on the floor. She uncrossed her legs and he put both hands on her thighs.
“As you heard, Debbie was a woman both I and Hunter … knew.”
“And loved,” she whispered.
He cocked his head, then shook it slowly as he thought about it. “Not quite. We each loved who we thought she was. When she died, I had my suspicions that perhaps my father had something to do with how I responded to her, and how Hunter responded to her. I loved a fake.” He shrugged. “I loved a woman who didn’t exist. And then I thought my brother killed her.”
Vassi’s gaze softened, and she ran her hand through his hair. “From someone who doesn’t have one, trust me—family is important,” she whispered.
His eyebrows rose. “My father killed my girlfriend, tried to have me killed, and would have killed my brother. Hunter thought I’d killed everyone I thought he killed. He blew up a witch’s store, nearly killing said witch in the process. Sometimes it’s good to be on your own.”
She smiled. “So your family isn’t perfect. I’m totally fine with you walking away from your father, but what you and your brother have—it’s still salvageable. You have to remember, despite all this time hating him—your brother didn’t kill Debbie. He didn’t kill Jared, either, and although he did annihilate Melissa’s store, he did it to help you. Tonight, you two worked well together.”
Ryder frowned. “Well, it might be a moot point. Melissa has him now, and something tells me she’s not going to let bygones be bygones.” He shook his head. “I know I owe her, but I can’t just let her kill my brother.”
“Don’t worry, Dave won’t let her break tribal law—their mother wouldn’t approve. Hunter will be back when Melissa decides he’s been punished enough.” She arched an eyebrow. “Now tell me about this bond mate business.”
He gently pushed her thighs apart, and kneeled between them. “It’s rare. Light warriors have no control over it. A few can actually see it, like my brother. I can’t.” He raised his hands to cup her face. “It’s when two people share such deep, honest emotion that they also share a consciousness,” he whispered, then kissed her cheek. “When their hearts and minds are bound as one,” he said, turning her head so he could kiss her neck. He felt her shudder in his arms, and need, hot and obsessive, raced through him. “When they share a great love.” He trailed his lips down her throat, felt her pulse jump beneath his caress.
She pulled his head back to look him in the eye. “We share a great love? We’ve only known each other for a short while—and didn’t you think you shared a great love with Debbie?”
He read the doubt, the insecurity, the pain in her eyes, and felt true regret at causing it. “I knew my father my whole life and I never realised how evil he could be, how he could easily discard me and my brother for our mother’s money.” He smiled sadly. “I’ve seen so much of your character over the last few days—you took my case, even though you didn’t really want to. You defended me when you thought I could be a killer, and you risked your life to find out the truth. We’ve shared so much more in the last few days than many people get to share in a lifetime.”
He delved into his pocket and withdrew a familiar tube. She gasped, her eyes widening. He removed the lid, rotated the base, and handed her the scarlet lipstick. “Now, ask me again how I feel about you.”
She kept her gaze on his as she applied the coating to her lips, the rich colour sliding on with ease. Then she pressed her lips together, ever so gently in a slow, erotic smack. His body clenched with need, and then she lowered her lips to his.
He drew her in, his arms sliding around her back, his tongue rubbing, duelling against hers, as a sensual fog filled his mind. She pulled back.
“Do you have any feelings for Debbie?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Regret. Sadness. Tenderness.” He rattled off the words as they sprang to his mind. It felt like she was reaching in to draw out that secret part of him he’d kept hidden for so long, and he had no control over what she revealed.
“Do you love me?” she whispered.
“With all my heart,” he answered without thinking. He looked at her solemnly. “I would go to war for you.” He’d thought that when she’d told him in the car about her lack of family. Now, he was her family. She caught her lip between her teeth, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She understood the reference, believed his vow.
He leaned forward, and she trembled when his chest rubbed against her breasts. “Let me show you how much I love you,” he whispered, as he took her lips in a long, drugging kiss.
Chapter Twenty
Vassi moaned as she leaned back against the plump sofa cushions, Ryder’s lips were driving her crazy with hot need as he kissed his way down to her collarbone. He made a noise of frustration, then his hands were tugging her shirt out of her jeans, and up over her head.
“Oh, God, I’ve been fantasising about your breasts all night.” He covered them with his palms, and she shuddered at the warm caress as he lifted a nipple to his lips. He sucked her into his mouth, as though she satisfied a gut-wrenching craving.
Then she felt it, the awareness, as though a connection within her flared to life, stretching toward him. His sensations, the weight of her breasts in his hands, him stroking her nipple with his tongue, she could feel everything he felt, layered within her own sensations. Desire rippled through him, through her, building into a sweet torturous hunger.
She arched her back, crying out as the rhythmic suck and tug on her breasts sent an answering sensation down to her cervix. She wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him in tighter to her body. She could feel his ridged arousal throbbing against her, could feel the blood pounding to his cock, his need for her, her need for him. It was confusing, delightful. Wicked. Her hands delved into his dark hair, tugging on the strands until he released her breast with a pop. She pulled his head up to her, kissing him with an abandon that she knew he could feel, and sensed it feeding his own passion for her.
His hands dropped to her waist, tugging at the opening to her jeans, then fumbling behind him to pull off
her boots, sending them flying in different directions. His stare hot and heavy with intent, he maintained eye contact as he lifted her hips and yanked at her jeans and underwear, her breasts bobbing with the jerking movement. He stripped her, quickly and efficiently, his aim to get her naked as quickly as possible.
Then he rose, his hands pulling at his own clothes with a powerful urgency. She stood as he kicked off his jeans, then gasped as he lifted her, clasping her thighs around his waist. He took a couple of steps, backing her up against the dark wood panelling next to the fireplace. She moaned as he pressed her against the solid wall, the cool timber against her back, his hot chest rubbing against her breasts. She caressed him, her arms around his shoulders, loving the feel of the muscles moving there as he held her in place.
“I need you,” he groaned. “Now.”
“Do it,” she whispered, then tilted her head back against the wall as he slid inside her, her desire already making her slick for his entry. He filled her, his length impaling her as she opened herself up to him. She clenched around him, moaning as he slowly withdrew, then lunged inside again. She could feel him, not just inside her, but inside him. She knew the intense pleasure, the excruciating delight at her embrace, as he fed her those sensations.
He thrust into her, again and again, holding her up as tension tightened within her, hot need eating away at her control. She bucked her hips to meet his thrusts, and he lowered his head to again latch onto a nipple. She cried out at the fierce constriction of hunger, the ratcheting eagerness to climb that peak, until finally she reached the top, plunging into the abyss of pleasure—hers, his, theirs.
They cried out in unison at their mutual release, frozen for a moment, before breath finally returned.
Panting, Ryder pressed his lips to hers. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I believe you,” she said, then wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”
* * *
“So in light of the findings, Your Honour, the people would like to drop the charges against Ryder Galen,” Taylor Henley stated calmly.
Vassi kept the emotion out of her expression, presenting a serene front to the packed courtroom.
Judge Flack nodded. “The murder charges against Ryder Galen are dropped.” She glanced at Ryder, standing next to Vassi. “The case is dismissed, you are free to go.” She banged her gavel.
“We also request a charge of conspiracy to murder be brought against Arthur Armstrong, Your Honour. Due to his access to funds, we ask he be held without bail in a secure institution as he awaits trial.”
The judge nodded. “So be it. Arthur Armstrong will stand trial for conspiracy to murder Alpha Prime Jared Gray, along with Rafe Woodland, Alpha Prime of Woodland Pack. An arrest warrant shall be issued for Mr. Woodland. Meanwhile Woodland Pack will make restitution for Mr Galen’s vehicle. Sanctions will be instituted against the pack for their actions against a protected court officer.”
Vassi’s gaze met Ryder’s smirk. They’d already talked about his new car. He wanted another bloody hatchback, Blanche II.
“Excuse me, Your Honour,” Taylor interrupted before she could hit her gavel again. “We have a request for jurisdiction transfer.”
The judge raised her eyebrows, but nodded. “I’ll hear it.”
Taylor turned and beckoned to the back of the room. Vassi turned out of curiosity, then hid her surprise as a familiar figure made his way to the front.
Matthias nodded at her briefly as he swung open the gate that led to the trial area. “Your honour, my name is Matthias Marshall, Guardian Prime and nominated representative of Alpine Pack. Our Acting Alpha Prime, Samantha Alpine, formally requests that Rafe Woodland’s charges be transferred under tribal jurisdiction to the Alpine Pack.”
The judge inclined her head. “Request granted.” She hit her gavel with a resounding crack, then nodded with satisfaction. She gestured to the bailiff, who stepped forward.
“All rise,” he intoned, and the crowd within the courtroom stood. As soon as the judge had left the room, the noise erupted. Vassi flung her arms around Ryder’s neck as he chuckled warmly.
“Thank you,” he whispered to her, and she squeezed him tighter.
“You’re welcome.”
Someone cleared a throat behind them, and she turned. Taylor.
He smiled at her, his brown eyes warm. “Good work, counsellor.” He stuck his hand out and she accepted the gesture, grinning. “You’ve cleared my trial schedule for this week. Thanks.” Then he winked. “See you next time.”
He leaned over to grab his briefcase, nodded at Ryder, then walked through the swing gate and into the crowd.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” she said to Ryder, then halted as Matthias blocked their way. She felt Ryder stiffen next to her.
Ryder lifted his chin. “I’m sorry about what happened to your alpha.”
Matthias nodded slowly. “We understand it was unintentional,” he said quietly. “We’ll be going after those truly responsible.”
“Rafe Woodland won’t be easy to bring down,” Ryder commented. “I’d like to help.” He glanced at Vassi. “He tried to harm my family.”
Warmth bloomed within her at his words. It was so weird, so … new, having someone who wanted to look out for her, protect her, defend her. It was an alien sensation, but one she looked forward to getting accustomed to.
Matthias smiled. “We like a challenging hunt,” he said, then inclined his head. “Thank you, we’ll keep your offer in mind.” He turned to Vassi and nodded. “Vamp.”
Ryder put his arm around Vassi’s shoulders in a clear display of territory to the lycan. Matthias’s smile broadened and he winked at Vassi, then turned to leave the courtroom, a large number of lycans following in his wake. Each of them nodded solemnly at Ryder as they left.
“He’d make a good alpha,” Ryder commented, then grimaced. “As long as he stays out of Irondell.”
Vassi nodded. “He would, but not for Alpine. He needs to find his own pack.”
“Speaking of pack, and family, I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything from Dave yet about my brother? I’m thinking of launching a search party.”
Vassi shook her head. “I haven’t heard from either of them.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No. Hunter should be, though. Melissa can be quite the bitch.”
Ryder sighed as he started to walk with her out of the courtroom. “I guess he deserves it. I saw what he did. She’s lucky to be alive.”
“I think they kind of deserve each other,” she whispered, then smiled as Ryder chuckled.
“Let’s go home,” Ryder murmured, steering her toward the elevators.
“Vassi—wait!”
Vassi turned at the familiar voice. Seraphina hurried toward her, oblivious to the stares and gawks she left in her wake. The gorgeous cambion exuded a sexy, carefree air, effortlessly enchanting those she passed. She halted in front of them, her blonde hair cascading in a tumble of curls to her shoulders, blue eyes sparkling.
Seraphina’s eyes widened when she noticed Ryder, her smile changing from friendly to seductive in the blink of an eye. “Oh, hello gorgeous.” She touched him on his suit sleeve. “You are even sexier in the flesh.” She looked at Vassi. “Tell me your volcanic snatch is getting a workout.”
Honestly, there were some things only Seraphina could get away with. Vassi winced. “If your snatch feels ‘volcanic’, you need a healer, not a lover,” she said tartly. “And it’s none of your business, either way.”
Seraphina waved her two fists in a muted cheer. “Yay! Vassi finally got laid.”
Vassi closed her eyes briefly, ignoring Ryder’s shocked laugh, then assumed her serene courtroom look. “Why are you here, Sera, and not back at the office?”
Seraphina’s eyes widened. “Oh, you are not going to believe this. Vivianne Marchetta requested a meeting. Now.”
Vassi’s eyebrows rose, then she gulped as the woman herself approached. W
ith long brown hair, dark brown eyes and a knowing smile, she looked like seduction personified and next to Seraphina that was a hard look to pull off.
Vivianne smiled, her hands rising to rest on her hips, as she slowly walked around Vassi, eyeing her up and down.
“So this is the half-blood who caused a werewolf pack to enter my territory,” she mused.
Vassi grimaced, and Ryder squeezed her hand in encouragement. “Uh, about that—” she began but halted as the woman waved her hand carelessly.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. Tribal law dictates that I can retaliate—and I do so love to retaliate,” she said, her lips lifting in a smile that was both beautiful and dangerous. “I wanted to see the lawyer who risked her life for her client.” She eyed Ryder, then nodded, “I can see why.”
She faced Vassi, folding her arms across her chest, and arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t get paid for this case, did you?”
Vassi shook her head. “No, it was part of our pro-bono requirement.”
“So you took on not one, but two werewolf packs, as well as a crime boss,” she observed. “I like that. I want you to work for me.”
Vassi frowned. “I already do work for you. I work for Campbell, Singh & Partners,” she said, confused. “You have my firm on retainer.”
Vivianne smiled. “Ah, but I want you to work for just me.” She tilted her head. “You may not realise it, but Arthur Armstrong has been like an annoying rat in my pantry for a number of years.” Her gaze darted at Ryder. “No offence.”
His eyes narrowed.
“With Armstrong looking drab in prison orange, I suddenly have a world of opportunity in front of me, and I have a little motto—any enemy of my enemy is my friend. I’m in the market for a special kind of lawyer.” Her eyes narrowed. “Your kind.”
“You mean the kind who respects the law and upholds it?” Vassi wanted to clarify any expectation. She knew Marchetta’s business—both Vivianne and her brother Lucien straddled the grey area between legal and downright illicit, and Vassi wanted the woman to understand which side of that line she stood on.
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