“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Waking you. Sorry about that, but we fell asleep, and you were healing me,” he mumbled, his lips moving against her nape.
She shivered, and desire flowed through her as if she’d poured heated wine into her veins. How was she half-nude in bed with the sexy shifter? “I was healing you while sleeping?”
“Yep.”
All right. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, they had a connection. No way could she do that without something more than mere friendship or intent between them. Her mind slowly awoke. “Wait a minute. I was hit with a dart.”
“Yesterday morning,” he said. “You’ve been sleeping for almost twenty hours. How are you feeling?”
She stretched her legs and took inventory. Just one dart wouldn’t have seriously hurt her. “Pretty good. Like I got hit in the head and had twenty hours to heal. I’m not harmed by just one dart.”
“I know. Talked to Simone. How do you know that fact, by the way?”
Nessa swallowed. “I took a dart to the neck months ago while working for the Council. Didn’t hurt me, but the theory is that several darts at a time would. So I’ve avoided that possibility.” Her knees felt a little weak, but it might be from having a half-naked and very ripped male body holding her. He gave off warmth like a heater she had in her office back in Ireland. “Why are we in bed together?”
“I was tired, and you were snuggly.” His heated breath brushed her ear.
That heat flowed through her, zinged around her chest, and landed between her legs. She bit back a moan. This type of need couldn’t be healthy. She was far more dangerous than most people knew, and yet she might not have survived the fight without him. He’d saved her. Repeatedly. When the grenade had gone off, he’d covered her with his body. Protected her from the debris and fire and smoke.
She rolled over to face him, and he loosened his hold on her waist to let her. “Bear.”
In slumber, he was all sexy male. Rumpled hair, whiskered jaw, relaxed body. But those eyes. Those primal eyes were bright and hot—lust filling them. As if he was just taking his time and deciding when to pounce. At his leisure.
That look. All male intent. She cupped his jaw, smiling when the whiskers scratched her palm. “Thank you for saving me.”
His nostrils flared. “You owe me a truck.”
“Aye,” she whispered. She’d forgotten about his demolished vehicle.
“I had somebody fetch your possessions from the hotel after the police finished with the scene,” he said. “Good thing you used an alias.”
She didn’t care about her job right now. Her gaze sought his lips.
Tension rolled from him. “What game are you playing?”
“No game.” She’d been hit with an Apollo dart. If he hadn’t jumped in the way when they were in the elevator, she would’ve been hit with five, and she might be dead. No sights, no sounds, no need—she’d be buried and gone. But she had lived. She was alive. And she was in bed with the sexiest, deadliest, most protective male she’d ever met. How could he be a bad guy? The intel had to be wrong. She just knew it. “Why did you save me?”
He swallowed, moving the cords in his neck. “I don’t like being attacked.”
“They weren’t after you.” She caressed across his jaw and down the strong muscles in his neck.
“They were after you and you were with me. That doesn’t happen.” His voice roughened.
Now wasn’t that sweet? Slightly arrogant, but sweet, too. “You brought me back here. This isn’t safe for your people. I’m in danger.”
“Not here, you’re not. I’ve upped our security.” His arm flexed against her waist. “Your defenses are down; you need to go back to sleep.”
And gentlemanly. In all the files she’d studied about him, not one notation had even hinted that a gentleman lived in Bear’s rough skin. She smiled.
“Sleep, Nessa.” Warning was clear in those clipped words.
“No.” Oh, this was wrong on so many levels, and if he ever found out about her, who knew how dangerous he could really be? Having him for a friend wasn’t exactly comfortable. Having him for an enemy would be disastrous. But for now, he’d saved her. She felt alive. Forget intrigue and reality. She wanted him—wanted to enjoy the fact of survival. So she cupped his neck and kissed him.
His body jolted.
Power rushed through her. She slid against him, her body shuddering when her core met his hard erection. There was so much to him, and she wanted it all. Maybe just for this morning. That could be enough. Reality would return soon enough. Lifting her head, she let her lips wander over his.
“Nessa,” he said, his mouth moving nicely against hers. “This is a mistake.”
“Aye.” Tightening her hold on his neck, she pressed against him, sliding her tongue inside his mouth. Honey and some sort of bourbon awoke her taste buds. “You taste good,” she whispered.
He growled.
There was nothing like a bear growl—so real. Tingles rippled through her, lighting every nerve with a fiery need.
She continued to explore him, feeling feminine power. She licked his lips, the corners of his mouth, and then slid her tongue inside his mouth again. The play aroused her as much as him. He remained perfectly still, his body one tense line, the atmosphere clogging with that tension. She breathed him in, caressing down his neck to smooth her hands over his impressive chest. Slowly, deliberately, she fastened her teeth on his bottom lip and gently pulled.
His control snapped.
In one smooth movement, he planted a hand across her entire upper back and one on her ass, jerking her so hard against him her panties were pushed inside her. She gasped, opening her mouth just enough for him to thrust his tongue inside. His lips were fierce and strong on hers, overwhelming her in every sense.
Bear McDunphy didn’t kiss.
He consumed.
Rolling on top of her, he continued to work her mouth, giving her so much pleasure from the simple act that she’d never be the same. He ripped off her shirt. “I want all of you,” he whispered against her lips, his hands stroking down her body.
Yes. Everything. More.
Cool air slid across her nipples, forcing them to become even tighter. His mouth released hers and he caressed down her neck, licking and sucking, his mouth an inferno hotter than any fire.
Everywhere he touched, everywhere he licked, she heated just for him. It was as if he had the key to her and wanted to unlock every single thing she’d ever feel. Need. Crave.
The rasp of his tongue against her nipple made her cry out and arch into him. His stubble burned between her breasts and stole her breath. His hand moved down, and he circled her clit outside her silk panties. “Oh, you’re wet, baby.” Chuckling, his mouth lava-hot on her breast, he snapped the sides of the panties and threw them across the room. “Open,” he whispered.
She gladly spread her legs, so much need in her that this couldn’t be real. It had to be a dream. “Bear,” she whispered. He slid a finger inside her, and sparks flared behind her closed eyelids. It was too much. “Now.” Grabbing his shoulders, she tried to pull him up into her.
“Wait.”
“No. Now.” She used all her strength, and he still didn’t move. “Please. Gonna die.”
He kissed his way across her skin, nipping and biting on the way. “I wanna taste you.”
“Later.” She clawed down his back and sank her nails into his very firm butt. “Edge off first.” God. She couldn’t even talk in complete sentences.
He gently lowered his body to hers. “You sure?”
“Aye. Sure.” She pushed against him.
“All right.” He grabbed her hands and pushed them above her head, holding her captive. “Then it’s gonna be my way.”
She couldn’t move. The idea, the simple act, nearly threw her into an early orgasm. Her thighs trembled, and she lifted her knees, slapping her skin against his to hold him in place.
He looke
d fierce. Angled face, hard body, full determination.
Then he thrust into her. Not gentle, not seeking. He drove deep, filling her completely, and she cried out at the perfect fullness of him. Oh, he was so big it hurt, but pleasure quickly overtook the pain. Finally—she was with a man not afraid of her position or skills. One who didn’t want to use her for political gain. One who, basically, just wanted to fuck her.
But it was more than that. He was more than that.
He pulled out and plunged back in, rocking the entire bed. Pleasure increased and flooded through her. Her entire body tightened as a release rolled over her—so perfect. So complete.
But he kept thrusting, hard and fast, his body in complete control. The hands over hers allowed for no movement, and with his body pounding into hers, she was trapped on the bed.
Even her thighs were spread wide by his hips.
All she could do was feel.
Every thrust, every touch of skin on skin, every tightening of his muscles—she felt them all.
He hammered harder and harder, forcing her to take more of him, forcing her to take all of him. She climbed, her tension rising, need uncoiling inside her again with razor-sharp edges. She opened her eyes wide and gasped as the next release took her. The explosions inside her jerked her entire body, and she cried out, curling her fingers through his and trusting him to keep her tethered.
She rode out the waves, finding a pleasure deeper than she’d known existed.
When she relaxed with a heartfelt sigh, he dug his face into her neck and shuddered with his own release.
His canines brushed her skin.
She stiffened, her heartbeat out of control. If he bit her, they might mate. Then he slowly licked his way up her jugular. She relaxed again. He released her hands and cupped her face, kissing her so gently on the mouth that tears pricked the back of her eyelids. She batted them away.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, leaning back.
She could only nod.
“Good.” He turned them and curled around her from behind again. “Go to sleep for a few more hours. We’ll talk about it when you wake up.” His chuckle brushed her hair. “Or we’ll do that again and then talk. Yeah. Good plan.”
She smiled sleepily and closed her eyes, cuddling closer into his safety. Just for now.
A quick knock on the door destroyed the peaceful afterglow.
“You are kidding me,” Bear snapped. “What?” he bellowed.
The door opened, and Lucas stomped inside, shaking snow off his hands. He was in faded sweats and a ratty T-shirt with his hair a mess, obviously just out of bed. His eyebrows lifted at seeing them in bed and the clothing on the floor. “Just got word from a local contact. The DEA is going to raid us in about twenty minutes.”
“Damn it.” Bear sat up. “All right. I’ll handle it.”
Chapter 13
Bear leaned against the wall in the rec room, with Lucas on one side and Nessa on the other. He flipped to the second page of the warrant, heat filling his chest.
“Perhaps you should call your solicitor?” Nessa asked, her gaze on the five DEA agents methodically going through every drawer in the bar and video console.
Solicitor? Bear didn’t twitch. “I don’t need a lawyer.”
DEA agent Brenda Franks strode in from the swirling snow. Wearing high boots, the woman was over six feet tall, with brown hair, very blue eyes, and too-red lipstick. She clapped her black gloves together. “I have men searching your office and the apartments, McDunphy. Give me the truth now and I’ll run interference for you with the federal prosecutor.”
Bear flashed her a smile complete with canines.
She narrowed her gaze and took a step back.
Ah, humans. They thought they were so tough. “I’ll give you all the truth you want, Agent Franks.” He knew all about the woman. She’d forced one of his friends to be her informant about the Apollo drug, so he’d researched everything he could about her. She was raised in Wisconsin, was twice divorced with no kids, and had an ambitious streak three miles long. “Ask away.”
“Are you distributing Apollo?” Franks asked.
“Of course not,” Bear returned easily. “Anything else?”
She leaned in, trying to assert dominance. “I have two dead bodies that were dumped on the other side of town after having overdosed on Apollo the same night you had a raging party here at Grizzly.”
Bear stepped in, showing her real dominance. “I don’t know anything about dead bodies, agent. The warrant says you have three anonymous tips that we’re running Apollo out of here. It doesn’t mention overdoses or bodies.”
She didn’t back down. “Oh, we will tie those bodies to you. The second we do, the very second, I’m taking you in.”
Either she had fabricated the anonymous tips in order to get the warrant or else somebody was talking. It had to be the humans. He needed to track down his group and see exactly who knew about the dead bodies in the woods. Hopefully, the human prospects he’d just thrown out on their asses didn’t have a clue. “While I’m sure it’d be nice to spend time with you, I’m otherwise engaged.” He put an arm around Nessa’s shoulders and drew her into his body.
Having her right there felt good.
Franks rolled her eyes. “Speaking of which, who are you?”
The urge to protect rose in Bear so quickly he growled.
Nessa instantly intervened. “Your warrant has nothing to do with me. Who I am is absolutely none of your business.” The words were clipped and the Irish brogue . . . gone.
Bear barely kept from looking at her. She sounded like a twenty-something from Maine, with perfect inflection. How had she done that? Why would a number cruncher, even a specialized forensic accountant, need to be able to banish her accent? Just who was this woman?
She carried his scent after their time in bed, but he really didn’t know her.
Franks stared. “I can have you arrested for hindering a federal investigation.”
“I’m not hindering anything,” Nessa returned. “I was just on the property for a booty call with Bear here and don’t know anything about the Grizzlies, Apollo, or bodies. Sorry.”
Booty call? Had the prim and proper Irish belle just used the phrase booty call? Bear tightened his hold around her shoulder. She stiffened but didn’t fight him. Good damn thing, too. His control was never a sure thing, and at the moment he felt like tethers were tied around his neck and all he wanted to do was snap them in half, along with anybody in his way.
Franks studied Nessa for a moment and then turned to check on her agents.
The search took three hours, but by afternoon the agents finally gave up.
Franks again approached Bear. “You have a tequila problem. There are bottles everywhere.”
“They’re legal,” Bear countered, his patience long gone. His rooms were torn apart, and even the pool table had been set on its side. Did they really think he was running a drug manufacturing plant in his pool table? “Get the hell off my property, Franks.”
She studied Ness again. “I want your name.”
Nessa tilted her head to the side in a curiously smartass way. “My name is none of your business, and its relevancy has nothing to do with your warrant.” She smiled, her eyes darkening. “But I assure you, I have the best damn lawyers on retainer if necessary. Do you like your job?”
Bear pressed his lips into a firm line. The woman sounded fully American and well educated. How the hell had she done that?
Franks snarled and motioned for her men. “I’ll be back. Next time for both of you.” With a strong stride, she finally left. Within minutes, the five DEA vehicles roared away down the snowy drive.
“Jesus,” Lucas muttered, surveying the damage.
Bear breathed out and looked around. He’d deal with Nessa in a moment. “Get the prospects here to clean up. The shifter prospects.” The others were gone. “And I need to know exactly who was aware of the bodies the other night.”
Luc
as tugged a cell phone from his back pocket. “I’ll get on it right now.”
Bear tried to figure out a way to find peace, and there was only one path. “We’re gonna have to solve this ourselves, Luke.”
Lucas stopped with the phone halfway to his ear. “What?”
Bear snarled. “This whole fucking Apollo disaster. The Enforcers had to go back to Ireland, so now we’re on our own. It’s a drug that harms witches, who are our allies. And it’s a drug that has found its way into our club—even just for a night. The DEA ain’t gonna leave us alone until the whole thing is solved.”
Lucas looked at the mess of wires spilling out from the enormous television set. “We are not private detectives.”
Bear had to agree. They’d formed their little slice of the world away from people on purpose. “We have to shut down the distributors and find the manufacturer of this drug.”
Lucas nodded. “All right, but the Enforcers couldn’t track down the manufacturer, and they worked the case here undercover for months.”
“Yeah, but they’re smooth and were worried about relations with the human law enforcement community. We don’t give a shit. It’s time to end this.” Bear looked down at the woman listening quietly. “I believe you and I need to have a little talk.” She opened her mouth to protest, apparently read the rage in his eyes, and then remained silent. Smart girl. Very smart girl.
Outside, twin Harley engines zoomed up the drive, pipes roaring.
“Who’s riding bikes in the snow?” Lucas snapped. “If they’re ours, I’m killing them.”
Bear shook his head. “If they’re young bear shifters, they’re idiots. We were, too.”
The bikes came to a stop, and loud boot steps echoed across the pavement. The doors opened.
Bear took one look. “No fucking way. Get out. Right now.”
* * *
Nessa remained still as Bear set her to one side and strode toward two twenty-something men. Powerful men. The kid to the right had metallic gray eyes, dark hair, and a strong build. She felt for his power. Ah. Vampire. Interesting. His buddy had world-weary green eyes, thick black hair, and just as powerful a build. Another vampire. No. There was more to him. She focused on his odd energy signature. Interesting. He was a demon-vampire mix.
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