Act of Submission

by Mandy M. Roth

  “I want to go with him,” said Haven, trying again to get down. Auberi wasn’t having any of it.

  “Continue and I will show you my grumpy side, young vampire,” he said.

  She gave him a daring look and he smiled.

  “We will follow them, yes?”

  “Yes,” she said, relieved. She closed her eyes, allowing Auberi to carry her away from her brother’s dead body.

  “I will see to it he is properly buried,” said Auberi. “After all, he is of my line now. That makes him family to me as well.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, her hand going to his chest.

  Boomer’s growl caught her attention and she looked up to find him glaring at Auberi.

  She cast her mate a soft look. “He’s comforting me. He’s being a friend.”

  “He’s staring at your breasts while he talks to you,” snapped Boomer, holding his chest wounds closed as best he could.

  Auberi shrugged with her in his arms. “What? I am a vampire, not so dead I do not notice beautiful breasts when they are close to me.”

  Corbin groaned. “And this is why the Sentinel Ops do not get invited to parties.”

  Auberi laughed and winked at Haven. “Your mate is so easily riled.”

  “I know, right?” she joked softly, needing to think of something else. It didn’t work. The tears came and the men stopped their bickering. All of them fell silent and Auberi gave her a gentle squeeze.

  “Sleep. I will hold you until your mate can take my place. Blood will arrive soon and—”

  Someone whistled from the end of the hall in the rescue. The men with her all went on high alert as Thor stepped from the shadows. He had a bag of blood in his hand, a needle with a tube running to the bag coming right out of his arm. He’d clearly drawn his own blood and bagged, but why?

  He pulled the line from his arm and then the bag, before tossing the line and all down the hall. Boomer was the one who caught it with his free hand, his other still holding his wound together.

  The man stood stoic. “I saw what happened to your stock of blood and I know she needs some. It's my blood. Give it to her. It will heal her quicker than others.”

  “Lance?” asked Corbin, sounding surprised. “Are you just playing along with Pierre?”

  Thor’s brows met, confusion coating his face. “Who is Lance?”

  Boomer and Corbin shared a look and Boomer held up the bag of blood. “Thank you.”

  Thor turned and then paused, looking over his shoulder, his gaze going to Auberi. “The master will know you’re in town. When he realizes you’re helping them, he’ll come for you and yours.”

  “I know,” said Auberi.

  With that, Thor walked away as if he didn’t have a care in the world. When he was totally gone from their line of sight, Auberi spoke. “He is breaking the hold on his mind. If Pierre learns as much, he will execute him in the most heinous way to make an example of him.”

  “I know,” said Corbin softly. “But we can’t force him to stay. He’s not ready yet.”

  “Not to mention he handed us our asses on a platter. That does not happen every day,” said Auberi, somehow managing to sound elegant.

  “I’ll phone Lukian as soon as we get Boomer cleaned up,” said Corbin.

  “Haven needs blood,” said Boomer, his movements slow and stiff. She knew he was in a great deal of pain.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Boomer couldn’t tear his gaze from Haven’s sleeping form. Her hair was damp from their showers, and she had some slight bruises showing. She had refused to let him call James to check her. She’d been more worried about him, despite him promising her that his injuries would heal within a few hours on their own, as they had.

  Stubborn woman.

  She’d also refused to wear anything to bed after their shower. As if sleeping nude next to him wouldn’t be pure torture for him. Almost begging him to roll over and fuck her senseless.

  Stubborn, foolish woman.

  At least she’d accepted the bagged blood Lance had left for her. Though, Boomer had been skeptical about trusting it. Auberi had taken a sip of it and assured him there was nothing wrong with it. That it would heal his mate quickly.

  And it had.

  He turned to leave the room and stopped when he heard Haven’s breathing change. “You’re awake,” he said before he turned around to face her.

  She blinked up at him from the bed, her gaze sleepy. “Are you running off to sleep with Scar again? I’m going to get a complex.”

  He smiled. “I was going to check on the animals. I’m sure they’re fine. It's just a habit of mine.”

  “I’ll come with you,” she said, making a move to ease out of the bed. “How are your wounds?” She glanced at his bare chest and surprise lit her face. “They’re gone.”

  “I told you they would be.” He was by her side before she could get a foot out from under the covers. “Haven, rest. Please.”

  “You can’t make me lie in bed forever,” she said with a partial grin that didn’t reach her eyes. He wondered how much she regretted her choice—picking him over her brother.

  He lifted a brow. “Can’t I? I’d love it if you stayed in bed forever, always ready for me.”

  “You’re a total horn-dog,” she said as she pushed at him a second before her hand touched his wrist and she tugged on him. “Stay in bed too.”

  He stiffened. “I can’t.”

  “Because you have work to do?”

  He shook his head. “Because you need to rest and heal, and if I get in bed with you, I’m going to be buried deep in you.”

  She took his hand. “Good. Come to bed then.”

  “I can’t. You need to rest,” he said, wishing she’d understand how little willpower he had where she was concerned. She needed to heal fully. Yes, Lance’s blood had helped, but she was emotionally drained by the events too. He knew the toll pulling the trigger must have cost her. All to save him.

  She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. “Miles, I need to be held by you. Do you understand why?”

  He did. She’d killed her brother for him. To save his life.

  “I’m sorry.” He had to avert his gaze, his emotions too high.

  She tugged harder on him and he bent over her. She cupped his face, her thumbs touching his lower lip. “Harper didn’t want to be what he’d been turned into.”

  “I know,” said Boomer, still unable to draw his gaze to hers, worried she’d hate him for the choice she’d had to make.

  “Miles.”

  He looked at her.

  She searched his face for something, he wasn’t sure what, though. “You know I don’t blame you, right?”

  Pain ran through him for her. She was worried about his feelings when she’d just lost her brother. Her twin. And when she’d been forced to be the one to take the man’s life. “Baby.”

  She lifted her head, her lips meeting his. Her kiss was tender yet packed with passion and promise. Unable to stop himself, Boomer eased over her fully. He took the kiss up another level, savoring her taste and the feel of her under him. He kissed his way down her neck, stopping at her breasts. He cupped them and toyed with her nipples, first with his hands and then going back and forth with his mouth. He loved sampling her. Loved everything about being close to her.

  He eased a hand down her stomach and over her mound. Haven squirmed beneath his touch as he parted her wet folds and slipped a finger into her tight pussy. Boomer’s cock hardened and he ignored it, sliding down the length of his mate’s body, licking along the way, nibbling on her tender flesh. He drew tiny moans from her and they spurred him onward.

  He pushed her legs open more and lowered his head, inhaling in the sweet scent of her pussy, so close to his face. He kissed the top of her mound and then parted her lips more, his mouth going for her clit. He took great care with it, toying with it gently, taking his queues from her body’s response to each swipe of his tongue.

  When her fingers laced
through hair, holding his head in place, he chuckled into her pussy, making her moan more. Damn, he loved this woman. He wanted her spread out like this before him all the fucking time.

  How the hell did his mated teammates get anything done when they had their wives with them, at home, ready to be loved?

  Boomer slipped his tongue into Haven’s cunt and she arched up on the bed, crying out, making his cock twitch with need. He added a finger and fucked her as he licked her, enjoying making her hips thrust the way they were, as if bucking him off all while wanting him to stay—as unspoken but clearly stated by her hands in his hair still, holding his head to her.

  “Miles!”

  He increased the speed of his finger moving in and out of her and added a second. The taste of her sweet cream washed over his tongue and his entire body tightened. He was on the verge of coming and he’d not even entered her.

  Fuck.

  He kept going. Kept licking and fingering her, savoring her response to him. Loved seeing just how receptive to his touch she was.

  She yanked hard on his hair and the pain excited him. “Miles, fuck me!”

  He shook his head, continuing on his mission to make her come again and again. She broke under his tongue, her body thrashing on the bed under him as he pinned her by her hips and continued his sensual assault on her.

  “Miles!” she yelled, again and again.

  When she’d finally calmed at least somewhat, he lifted his head, his chin and mouth wet with her cream. “Yes?”

  She narrowed her gaze on him. “If you don’t fuck me this instant I swear to you that I’m going to—”

  Her threat trailed off as he sucked on her clit. When she’d come twice more, he lifted his head and eased upright, his cock bobbing before him, as if searching out his mate on its own. He took hold of it and stroked, soaking in the scene of his mate there, laid out bare before him, fully sated, yet craving more.

  “I love you,” he said, unable to stop the proclamation.

  “I love you too,” she replied, slipping out from under him and off the bed in record time.

  Confused, Boomer remained in place, stroking his cock, watching his wife's cute ass as she bent over. She lifted a t-shirt from the floor and he realized she was about to get dressed.

  He moved with his own speed and snatched it from her hand, lifting her off her feet, her legs wrapping around his waist. “Going somewhere?”

  She grinned. “Uh-huh. Away from you.”

  “You think so, huh?” he asked, already knowing she was toying with him.

  She licked her lips and nodded, her breasts smashing against his chest. “Yep.”

  He lifted her, lining her up with his cockhead. Haven reached between them and assisted, easing him into her soaked core. She gripped his shoulders and stilled, only partially on his shaft.

  “I have to go home soon.”

  His entire body stiffened. “You want to leave me?”

  She kissed the tip of his nose and laughed softly. “No, silly. I need to get my clothes and things. I don’t have anything here. Just a car full of things I thought I could use to kill you.”

  Boomer couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “Best laid plans.”

  She smiled. “Yep.”

  He inched into her more, slowly. “I’ll take you shopping. Buy whatever you want.”

  “I can’t let you do that,” she said, refusing to move on him when all he wanted was to fuck her to the point they both passed out. “And I’d like to see if I can get back into my final rotations. Or if I’m kicked out of the program.”

  Confused, he lifted a brow.

  She sighed. “Miles, I was about to become a veterinarian. Right before I decided to try to kill you.”

  He shoved in more, forcing her onto his cock fully. She gasped and then swatted his cheek playfully and lightly, though he’d have actually enjoyed it if she hit him harder.

  “Jerk, I’m trying to talk to you.”

  “And I’m trying to fuck you, what’s your point, woman?” he asked with a shit-ass grin.

  She grabbed his nipple rings. “Keep going and I’ll yank.”

  “Oh fuck, yes!”

  She laughed. “Sick puppy.”

  “Sick kitty,” he corrected, pushing into her and then pulling out. Damn, she felt so good. He pumped into her and she moved on him, countering him to perfection. Within minutes he was pounding into her at a rate that might harm a human. Haven pushed more, shoving herself onto him with more force than he wanted her to use, for fear she’d harm herself.

  She didn’t.

  She burst on him, her pussy fluttering around his cock, bringing forth his orgasm as well. He stood in place, his cock twitching deep in his mate’s body as he emptied himself into her.

  She kissed him and then put her forehead to his. “I’d like to keep working and you aren’t buying me everything.”

  “You’re not going back to work,” he said and then shook his head as she opened her mouth to protest. “Pierre is still out there, Haven. It isn’t safe for you. You’ll remain here, with me. You’ll be the rescue’s head vet. And I can and I will buy you everything you fucking need and more. You’re my woman. It’s my job and my honor to take care of you.”

  “All the holes in your head and all the silver affected your brain, didn’t it?” she asked, winking.

  “Probably.” He smiled.

  She tipped her head. “Why do you go by Boomer when your name is Miles?”

  He laughed. “Long story.”

  She groaned.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Are you sure that beast cannae get free?” asked Striker, his gaze locked on the outdoor habitat area where Scar was currently pacing. The panther’s wounds had healed over nicely. Scar stopped moving, his gaze landing on Striker and remaining, as if daring the Scotsman to say something else.

  Boomer nearly laughed at the absurdity of a werewolf being afraid of a panther. Striker’s expression said he didn’t trust the cat one bit. Giving up, Boomer snorted. “Dude, you’re afraid of a panther,” mocked Boomer, pushing his friend playfully.

  “Och, that’s nae a panther. It’s a mighty beast,” protested Striker, somehow keeping his bottle of beer from spilling, despite how animated he was with his arms while talking. “I heard all about how many hybrids that beast killed.”

  “Makes a great guard kitty, doesn’t he?” asked Boomer with a smile. He snatched one of the steaks from the grill before it could get much in the way of cooked and he tossed it over the fence of the habitat and into Scar’s area. The cat grabbed his food and gave Striker the stink eye before putting his back to the Scotsman to eat the steak.

  Malik laughed, joining the men near the grill. “Cat has good taste. Doesn’t much like wolves.”

  “Or vampires,” said Auberi from the shade of the porch area. The sun would be set soon enough so he could join in the fun. The rest of his team had made it into town, but they’d voted to sit out the cookout. They had other matters to attend to now that they were aware of just how big Pierre’s hybrid armies really were. “Where is your woman?”

  “Here,” said Haven, coming out behind him with a tray full of snacks. Auberi was quick to assist her. She beamed at him. They’d become fast friends and Boomer found he wasn’t as jealous as he thought he’d be. It was important his mate have a trusted vampire to turn to if she had questions Boomer couldn’t answer. Auberi was that guy. “Thank you.”

  Mercy rushed over to Haven and handed her a bottle of something Boomer couldn’t quite make out. Duke groaned. “Wife, I love you, but don’t go giving her any of your concoctions.”

  Boomer paled. “Don’t poison my wife, Mercy.”

  Mercy rolled her eyes and positioned herself in front of Haven, looking very short in comparison. “It will help your stomach.”

  Boomer stilled and then handed the grilling utensil to Malik. “Watch the steaks.”

  “Okay, but I like mine bloody. So you’ve already overcooked it.”

/>   Boomer went right for his woman. “What’s wrong with your stomach?”

  It had been a week since the attack. A week since she’d killed her own brother to protect him, and a week since she’d taken a hell of a hit to the side. He’d thought she was healed. At least physically.

  Corbin approached. “Miles?”

  “I’m not wigging out,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I’m just asking what is wrong with my mate’s stomach.”

  James and Laney joined in, coming around from the other side of the rescue. James’s smile widened when he spotted Mercy near Haven. “Did you give her the mixture we worked on?”

  “I did, but grumpy kitty here is going all over-protective and thinks I might accidentally poison the woman,” Mercy said, giving Boomer a hard look. “You’re nearly as bad as Duke.”

  Boomer smiled. “Thanks.”

  Haven bit at her lower lip as she held the bottle to her. “My stomach has been touchy lately.”

  “Do you have the flu?” asked Boomer, searching his brain for something, anything that could cause someone to be sick. “Let’s get you in and out of the last of the day’s sun. Do you need blood? Should we get you something to eat?”

  Auberi laughed. “The sun is not what is bothering her, kitty. I believe you are the cause of her touchy tummy.”

  “Me?” asked Boomer, confused. “What did I do?”

  Duke glanced at Corbin. “You need to have the birds and bees talk with this one, apparently.”

  “Yer pet cat is lookin’ at me like I’m lunch,” said Striker, easing up closer.

  Lil’ Duke ran out of the back door of the rescue, dressed in pink as usual. Boomer did a double take when he noticed the t-shirt the chimp had on. It said World’s Greatest Big Sister, but the sister portion had been crossed off with black marker and brother was written over it. “Where did you get that?”

  Lil’ Duke raced to Mercy’s side and held her hand. “I had to get it for him. It was too cute to pass up.”

  Haven sighed. “I thought we all agreed not to say anything until we were totally sure.”