The first guy flashed fire down his arms and burned Bear’s right paw. Agony burst through him. Bear snarled and struck out, slicing his razor-sharp claws through the witch’s neck. The witch fought hard, struggling, flaring more fire down his arms. Flames burned into Bear’s chest, and he roared. Fury raked him, so he dug through cartilage and bone to reach the mud beneath his enemy—severing the head from the body. He batted the head toward the forest.
He turned for the other threat, rain matting his pelt. His hindquarters went numb. Where was the other guy?
“Bear?” Nessa whispered from the porch.
Ah, shit. He spun to see the other witch, a tall blond man dressed in black combat gear, holding a knife to her throat. She’d gone pale, and her eyes glowed a frightened blue in her classically beautiful face.
“Shift back to human,” the man ordered.
Bear growled. His shredded jeans had sunk into the mud. Sucking deep, he rose on his injured hind legs and forced his unwilling body to change shape again. The air popped around him, and even he could smell his pain on the wind. His arms changed first, and all the fur receded. Then his face broke and reshaped with loud cracks.
Tears filled Nessa’s eyes. Even the guy holding her swallowed, his lip twisting. “Whoa,” the guy muttered.
Bear forced his legs to turn back to human form, each broken bone an agonizing snap. Finally, he stood in the rain, buckass naked, his hair falling into his face. He smoothed it back. “Who are you?”
The guy shook his head. “What is wrong with you?”
Bear edged toward them, trying to concentrate on the threat and not on Nessa’s fear. “We don’t have that kind of time.”
“I don’t have a problem with you,” the guy said. “Let us leave, and then you can just deal with whatever you have going on.”
“Why?” Bear wiped rain off his face, even as it poured harder from the sky. While he had no intention of mating a witch, ever, he didn’t like trespassers. Nessa was on his land, on his property . . . and nobody took from him. “Why do you want her?”
Nessa struggled, and the guy pressed the knife into her neck, causing a small cut. She stilled.
Her blood scented the air, and everything in Bear settled. He stopped feeling the pain in his arms and chest. His legs held fast. “Not gonna ask you again.”
“Lark Redmond,” the guy said. “My name.”
“The bounty hunter?” Bear took another step forward, each movement spiking pain up his calves. He’d heard about the guy but they’d never met.
“That’s me.” Redmond smiled, full of confidence. Since he’d been collecting bounties for two centuries, the confidence was probably earned.
Why was a bounty hunter after Nessa? When Bear had gone under for the summer, he’d made sure the Coven Nine Council was back in working order, complete with the protection of Enforcers and the Guard—all of whom worked in Ireland. It was necessary for his sister’s sake. None of this was making sense, and an odd ringing set up throughout his head to pound in his ears. “I’m wondering why you’re holding my guest, and I’m really not liking it. I’ve already taken one head today and wouldn’t mind taking another.”
“Your guest? That’s rich,” Redmond scoffed. “You can barely stand.” He held out his free hand, and a ball of lightning-blue fire morphed into a weapon. “I can smell your burned flesh from here. Do you really want to do this?”
“I asked you a question,” Bear said evenly, his senses finally tuning in to the area. His clubhouse, garage, and shop were only half a mile away, and there should be shifters ready and able to help fight. They should’ve already caught wind of the witches. But as he reached out, he couldn’t sense anybody. Damn it. “Why Nessa?”
“She’s just the bounty, buddy. I don’t know anything about it.” Redmond drew her closer. “Now get out of the way. I have a car waiting on the road.”
Where were his people? Bear eyed the plasma ball. If it hit him square on, it’d knock him out. He wasn’t strong enough to fight Redmond while remaining in human form, but he wasn’t sure he’d survive another shift. His illness was progressing way too quickly. “Who wants her?”
“Ah, man. You know I can’t divulge that kind of information and then let you live.” Redmond pulled Nessa to the right of the porch.
She kept her head up so the knife didn’t cut her. “What’s the price?” she hissed.
“One billion. Human dollars.” Redmond lost the smile. “I’m not the only one after you.”
She swallowed. “Wonderful.”
Bear stepped over the corpse on the ground. “You’re just gonna leave your dead friend?”
“Wasn’t a friend. Local muscle who got me to your cabin.” Redmond didn’t even shrug. “You going to get out of the way?” He lifted the fire.
Nessa shot an elbow into his gut, jerked away from the knife, and then executed a perfect roundhouse kick to the rib cage.
Redmond stumbled back, righting himself on the cabin wall. “Bitch.”
“That’s not nice.” She threw a hook punch to Redmond’s jaw and then kneed him in the groin. He doubled over with a squeal of panicked pain.
“You can fight?” Bear said, moving closer in case she needed backup, his limbs barely following his brain’s instruction. He stumbled. His vision went gray.
“I’m a hundred years old,” she gasped, punching Redmond repeatedly in the lower abdomen, looking like a lady from the previous century in her pretty skirt and proper blouse. One who could kick some ass if necessary. “Of course I can fight.”
Redmond reared up, screaming. He lifted his arm with the fire.
“Nessa,” Bear yelled, moving toward her just as Redmond smashed the fire across Nessa’s upper chest. Bear rushed for them and grabbed Redmond, throwing him face-first into the log siding. Blood sprayed. He smashed Redmond’s head back and forth twice, as hard as he could, before shoving the asshole to the ground. Bear moved toward Nessa. Could he get her to the river fast enough?
She watched him, the blue fire playing across her upper chest and neck. Then she smiled, and the fire was snuffed out.
He stumbled. His head went numb. “What the hell?”
“Fire doesn’t harm me. Part of the curse, I guess. Did I not mention that fact?” She moved closer, her face wavering before him. “Bear? Are you all right?”
Redmond shoved to his feet, his face a bloody mess. He fell off the porch and turned, running toward the forest.
Everything in Bear screamed to hunt and kill. He turned and bunched his muscles. His legs gave, and he dropped to one knee. Damn it. He swayed. The last thing he felt as darkness tried to take him was Nessa’s soft hands catching his head before it smacked onto the rough boards of the porch.
* * *
Nessa stoked the fire she’d created hours ago and turned back to the silent male on the worn cabin floor. She’d been able to drag him inside, but there was no way she could lift him to the bed. So she’d covered him with a blanket and set a pillow beneath his head, trying very hard to ignore his nudity.
Her hands ached, and she shook them out, moving back to her perch next to him. The rain had lightened outside but the wind had increased in force, scattering pine needles against the cabin. A wolf howled in the far distance followed by a mournful train whistle echoing over the mountains.
It had taken an hour to heal most of the burns over Bear’s chest and arms. Then she’d set to work on a deeper level, trying to repair the damage. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t sure she could heal an immortal injury. It was too massive. Even injuries from a demon mind attack didn’t cut so deeply or permanently. Could she save Bear?
She brushed his now dry hair away from his rugged face. The firelight flickered across his features, highlighting his prominent brow, straight nose, and stubborn chin. Her fingers traced along his scruffy jaw and down the strong cords of his neck to his collarbone. Even that was masculine.
The dragon talons on his bicep looked deadly sharp and some
how glowed in the firelight. She caressed each one, impressed with the play of muscle beneath the ink. Even injured to this degree, his body was all male. She swept her hands across his chest and down, counting the ridges of his abdomen. So many.
“Keep going,” he whispered, his voice gruff and growly.
She started and looked up to see his gaze on her. Honey and chocolate. Bear’s eyes. “How are you feeling?” she murmured.
“Better.” He reached up and tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ear before looking at his healed arm. “The burn is almost gone. Did you do that?”
“Aye.” She sat back on her haunches.
He traced beneath her eye. “It tires you. Healing people.”
She nodded. “The energy needed to heal is much like that needed to make fire. It’s all a workout.”
“Does it hurt?” He stretched his other arm above his head, gingerly at first and then with more strength.
“Yes.”
He stilled and focused back on her. “It hurts?”
“It can.” How could she explain to him? “The burns didn’t hurt, and stitching a broken bone doesn’t take much. But the fissures you’ve put in your energy are deep.”
“If it hurts you, we’re not doin’ it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Healing you won’t kill me. After about an hour, it feels like a rubber band snapping against my skin.” It was the closest she could come to describing the sensation, though she’d underplayed the pain involved.
His focus narrowed as he sat up fully. “Healing others doesn’t hurt for the first hour?”
“No.” That was mostly true. The blanket fell to his waist, barely covering him. She tried to keep her breathing normal and her expression mildly interested, but it cost her.
His lips twitched. “What else did you do to my poor naked body while I was out cold?”
Her cheeks heated. Thank goodness it was dark in the cabin. “You’re hilarious.” Not that she hadn’t noticed, well, him. She had had to drag him inside before covering him with a blanket. The guy was gifted. “I’m afraid all I did was heal you.”
He swallowed and slid one hand beneath her hair to cup her nape. “Thank you, Nessa.” His gaze dropped to her lips.
Her breath caught and held. “You’re welcome.”
“I’m feeling a lot better,” he mused, drawing her toward him.
She should stop. But she allowed him to move her until she was in his space, his mouth so close. He was such a mystery to her. His hand tightened on her nape, holding her in place.
Her lungs stopped working.
He leaned in, his lips brushing hers.
Electrical shocks zipped through her body.
He hummed and moved in again, his focus absolute. His lips were warm and firm, and they settled against hers as if they belonged right there. His tongue ran along her bottom lip.
She sucked in air, mini-explosions rocketing through her.
He settled over her again, this time kissing her. Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she leaned into him. The lazy kiss was all relaxed Bear as he explored her, his tongue moving inside her mouth, his movements gentle and deliberate. He took his time, slowly deepening the kiss and pulling her toward him until she was in his lap.
She pressed a hand against his chest, leaning into him, her mind blanking.
There was only pleasure. Hot, smooth, nearly drugged pleasure from his kiss. She’d never in her one hundred years been kissed like that, with complete focus and leisure. Need swept through her with a painful edge. It was too much. She needed to concentrate—to think. So she pushed against his chest and tried to lever her head back.
She didn’t move.
Her eyelids opened.
So did his.
Those eyes studied her, his mouth on hers, his body bracketing her.
She couldn’t speak. Even if his mouth hadn’t remained right on hers, she couldn’t think of any words.
Then he growled.
The sound rumbled up from his chest and into her mouth. The sound, the vibration, ran right through her with the sense of a claim. She trembled.
He held her there for a moment longer and then slowly lifted his head.
She gulped in air, her mind still blank. Her body rioted with conflicting impulses. To run or to push closer to him? She blinked. This was way out of her control. Slowly, she came back to reality. The fire crackled and the wind burst wildly outside. Only a threadbare blanket was between her and his hard erection. Really hard. Was there steel in shifters? A hysterical giggle tried to push its way out of her.
She forced it down. “Um.”
“Yeah.” He kneaded the back of her neck.
She wanted to snuggle against him. No. Enough of that. “We, ah, we need to talk.”
“You think?” he asked dryly.
The door burst open—again—and he jumped to his feet between her and the intruder. Her rear hit the floor, and she winced from the pain, turning to face the newest threat.
“Hold still, or I’ll blow your head off,” yelled a harsh male voice as a man pointed a gun inside.
Chapter 4
Bear kicked the blanket out of his way. He knew the voice. “Lucas?”
Lucas stepped farther inside, his shoulders barely clearing the door. “Bear. What the fuck?”
Bear grinned and moved toward his second-in-command. He clasped Luke’s arm. “It’s so good to see you.” He’d missed his friends as he’d roamed the forest, trying to mend. Being in bear form had been his only chance. Now Nessa was.
Lucas lowered his gun and then tucked it in the back of his dark jeans. “Dude. Put on some pants.”
Oh yeah. Bear snorted and yanked Lucas inside before shutting the door against the wind. “Lucas, this is Nessa. Nessa, this is Lucas. He’s been running the Grizzlies since I, ah, took a sabbatical.” Lucas was also his best friend and had been for three decades. They’d both been alone, orphaned years before they’d met. They’d instantly bonded and created the Grizzly Motorcycle Club. Bear strode over to the dresser in the corner and yanked out a pair of jeans. There were a couple of holes down the legs, but they covered everything.
Lucas stepped from one foot to the other, his gaze roaming the room. Finally, he moved to Nessa and held out a hand. “Hi.”
Tension rippled down Bear’s back. Geez. Lucas was his best friend, and here Bear was, turning possessive. Anyway, no way in hell was Bear mating a witch. Ever. They were full of secrets and intrigue. So why care if Lucas touched the woman? Bear reached for a dark T-shirt to tug over his head.
“Hi.” Nessa shook hands and then stood. She edged toward the door. “You gentlemen most likely have much to discuss.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Bear said evenly. They needed to talk about a few things, including why bounty hunters were on her ass. He had the terrible feeling that if he let her go he might never see her again. Why that mattered, he’d figure out later. He could still taste her—sweetness and woman.
She turned, a fight in her eyes.
Lucas cleared his throat. “When did you get back, what’s going on, and why is there a dead witch out front?”
Bear frowned. “Oh yeah. We might want to get rid of him.”
“I’ll have it taken care of,” Lucas said, his brow furrowing. “Um. Wanna catch me up? I thought you’d be gone a few more months.”
“I’m feeling better.” Bear stretched his neck. Whoa. He really did feel better. A lot better. Tingles of the healing kind spread throughout his body. His natural healing abilities had kicked in again. They had been useless just last week. Excellent. Nessa was amazing. He smiled at her.
She frowned back. “You can’t keep me here.”
He lost his grin. “Wanna bet?”
The sound of Metallica echoed on the wind. Bear lifted an eyebrow.
Lucas shrugged. “It’s Friday night—not even midnight yet. We all just got back from a ride, and now we’re having a party.”
“Well then.” Nessa smoothed
her skirt down and turned to leave, prim and proper once again. “I’ll leave you to your celebration.”
Bear moved to intercept, easily putting his back to the door. “I’m not messing around, Nessa. You’re staying here until I know all the facts.” And until he kissed her again. Yeah. One more kiss. The first one would’ve knocked him on his ass had he not already been sitting, but it had to be a fluke, an effect caused by his illness and returning strength. That made sense. Plus, he liked the way she tasted. And he wanted to hear the little sounds she made deep in her throat again.
“Bear?” Lucas asked.
Bear shook his head. He’d totally forgotten his friend. “Sorry. Still getting used to human form. My brain is on one track and hasn’t begun multitasking again.”
“Uh-huh,” Lucas said, looking from him to Nessa and back again. He shuffled his feet. “Are you better?”
“Yeah,” Bear said. “I’m back.”
“Thank God.” Lucas ran a hand through his long hair. His gray shirt stretched tight across his chest. “I hate being in charge. It’s been a disaster.”
Bear frowned. Had Lucas gotten bigger? “Why?”
Lucas popped his knuckles. “I’ll get you all caught up tomorrow. For now, how about we party? Nessa is right. We should celebrate.” His grin was infectious.
Bear wanted to know what he was walking into. Especially if Nessa was with him. “First give me a heads up.”
Lucas sighed. “All right. When Titans of Fire was blown up and disbanded, the DEA got pissed. They’d had some sort of undercover op going on, and it was lost. Mainly.”
“Wait a minute.” Bear lowered his tone. “Fire got blown up?” What had his friends done?
“Titans of Fire?” Nessa asked.
“Rival motorcycle club,” Bear said. “Human. They were trafficking Apollo.” Shouldn’t she know that, considering Apollo was a drug that killed both humans and witches? She was on the Council and must know all about Apollo and Titans of Fire—especially since three of the witch Coven Enforcers had gone undercover with the club.
“That’s right. I’d forgotten their name,” she said.
Wicked Bite Page 3