by Jane Jamison
She bit her lower lip to keep from smiling. “Crazy in a good way, right?”
“Yes and no.”
She parted her lips and let the tip of her tongue slip out. “But more yes than no?”
“Definitely.”
He kissed her, hard, deep, taking away any doubt she might have had. With his hands flattened against the wall, he leaned against her. His cock pushed against her stomach, beckoning her to take it, and she did as she wanted to do.
Cupping her hand over his crotch, she grabbed his shirt with the other then thrust her tongue into his mouth. He moaned and clutched her hair, holding her head still as he sucked then nibbled on her lips.
Her body hummed as lust whipped into high gear. He was one of her men, and she needed him. Not only for the sex, but for everything else.
When he broke the kiss, she wanted to complain but never got the chance as he brought his mouth to the swell of her breasts and rubbed his thumb against her nipple. She gasped and fumbled with her jeans as he undid his own. They broke apart long enough to shove their clothes to the floor.
He lifted her, grabbing her butt cheeks so she could wrap her legs around his waist. His cock found her wet pussy and thrust inside.
She cried out, her head banging against the wall as he pulled her shirt aside to find a nipple. Putting his face next to hers, he plunged into her harder, faster, barely giving her a chance to catch a breath. She tried to arch her back but found all she could do was thrust her pelvis against his.
He was rough, animalistic, a warrior claiming his prize. She gave in, becoming the victor as much as he, as she clenched her pussy walls around his dick and held on. His pants marked the rhythm in her ear, and she closed her eyes, letting all her other senses take it all in.
He was her man. One of her men. She might have rebelled against the idea before, but she’d never deny it again. Whatever that meant, wherever she had to go, she was theirs.
Jamie tensed a second before his thrusts sped up. Desperate to match him, she worked her hips as quickly as she could. The fire raging inside her broke into uncontrollable flames as her body stiffened, readying for her release.
He stopped, pulled back, then looked into her face. She paused, too, and stared into his intense expression and his amber-filled eyes. Then, with another strong push, he plunged into her, sending them both over the edge.
They cried out together as their orgasms raked through their bodies. Shudder met shudder as they jerked their climaxes outward. Warmth spread between her legs as she clung to him, letting the final spurts of release play out.
They stayed together, him still holding her with her legs wrapped around him, for several minutes. Once their breathing had returned to normal, she let go and put her feet back on the ground.
As he’d done before, he took her face in his hands and stared at her. “You’re ours. You know that. You can feel it, too.”
She nodded, but she still needed to hear the words. If she didn’t, she might not believe. “Yes, to all of it. But do you love me, Jamie? Is it the same as love?”
He jerked back a bit. “Of course I love you. I have from the first second we met.”
“What’s taking you guys?” Ham skidded to a stop. “Whoa.”
She kept her eyes on Jamie’s face even as Ham took in their seminaked states and let out a whistle. “Uh, Case has the shifter hunters rounded up, but we need to decide what to do with them. Bring the rope with you when you get, uh, ready.”
Jamie yanked his jeans up, pivoted, then picked up his rifle. “We’re coming.”
* * * *
Case started to ask what had taken Jamie and Maya so long that Ham had to go and get them, but he could smell the sex on her as soon as they walked outside. Not that he blamed Jamie. If he’d had more of a chance, he would’ve taken it. Instead, he was standing guard over the four hunters.
Johnson and Slanter hadn’t moved much since Ham had pulled them into the middle of the yard next to the injured Bates and Gomez. Bates had taken off his shirt and was holding it against his leg. The wound wasn’t bad, but he couldn’t walk without help. Gomez sat on his rear, blood dripping down the side of his face and his hands locked behind him as though he’d gotten tied up. But that’s how he’d stay until they could really tie up the hunters for good.
Using Ham to cover him, Case had gone out a side window and had come up behind Gomez. It hadn’t taken much to overtake Gomez. He’d given him a solid whack in the head and brought him to his knees. Once he had the rifle in his hands, he’d signaled Ham that it was safe to come out.
Jamie tossed part of the rope to Ham. “You take Slanter and Johnson. I’ll get these two.”
Within a minute, the brothers had the hunters bound. Ham jerked his chin out at the pickup and nudged Gomez with the toe of his boot. “Does that pickup run?”
“Go to hell, dog.”
Case rolled his eyes. Had he really expected an answer?
Ham bent over the man. “Let’s get this straight. Werewolves aren’t dogs. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a dog, but it doesn’t hurt to have your facts straight. If you can’t remember that, then maybe you’d better keep your mouth closed.”
Gomez, defiant as ever, snarled then added, “Like I said. Go to hell, dog.”
Ham straightened. “You just can’t teach some people.”
“The pickup doesn’t work.” Maya shrugged. “I tried to get it going to use as a diversion, but it’s useless.”
“What are we going to do with them?” Case grabbed Bates and hauled him to his feet.
“We can’t take them with us. Right?”
Even after everything she’d been through, she was as gorgeous and as sexy as the first time he’d seen her. Case wanted nothing more than to taste her juices as she spread her legs for him.
“Not a chance.” Jamie hauled Slanter to his feet as Ham did the same to Johnson. “But we’re taking them out of here.”
“You mean you’re not going to kill us?”
Case shook his head. If werewolves were to blame for half the deaths that hunters said they’d caused, they’d have time to do nothing else twenty-four seven. “Unlike you scumbags, we don’t go around trying to murder people.”
Jamie pushed Slanter ahead of him. “Move them out, guys.”
Ham growled as he shoved Johnson ahead of him. “If Justin’s dead as they claim, I’m not sure I can keep from killing them.”
The flash of anger coming from Ham threatened to overtake Case. But now was not the time for revenge. He had to think of Maya first.
“We need to tell someone about the cabin.” Jamie glanced back once then trudged ahead. “Last I heard it had been deserted for years. Now that the hunters have started using it, it could cause problems for other shifters.”
Jamie was right. They needed to get word to the people in The Hidden as well as in Passion. But first they had to get themselves and Maya to safety.
“Shit. Why are the hunters coming out now? And how’d they know we were headed to the mountains? This whole thing sucks big time.” Ham gave Johnson another shove to keep him moving.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think we’re getting answers anytime soon.” Case fell into step at the back of the line next to Maya. They walked quite a while without speaking, and that was all right with him. Just being near her was enough. For now.
“Case, would you tell me the truth if I asked you a question?”
So that’s why she’d dropped farther back from the others. “Of course.”
“Do you…I mean, how do you feel about me?”
He glanced at her, but she kept her gaze on the trail. It was hard enough to look at anyone and keep the branches from hitting them.
“Are you sure you want to know?”
She paused, a second of hesitation, then fell into step with him. “Yeah. I do.”
“I love you.”
That brought her up short again. She’d done such an abrupt stop that Jamie and Ham paus
ed to turn and question them with lifted eyebrows.
“Go on. We’ll catch up.” Case waved them on, trying to act like they were simply taking a break.
But he sensed that his brothers understood more was going on. They nodded and ushered the hunters forward.
“Did you say you love me?”
He turned and took her in his arms. “Does that scare you? I know we haven’t known each other long, but I knew how I felt right from the start.”
Her eyes grew wider. “Is that because you can feel…something…between us? I don’t mean like lust, although that’s part of it. It’s more like—”
“Like a recognition.” She felt wonderful in his arms. He brushed back a strand of her hair, using the backs of his fingers to caress her cheek. “That happens with werewolves when they meet the woman that’s intended to be their mate. And she feels it, too.”
“Once we’ve taken care of the hunters, we’re going to Texas, aren’t we?”
“You can bet on it.”
“And I’m going with you?”
“That’s what we want. Is that what you want?”
She leaned her head against his chest. The simple gesture made him feel like more of a man than he’d ever felt. He’d give his last breath for her, just as his brothers would.
“I do,” she whispered. “But I need to know what that means.”
“We’ll talk. All four of us as soon as this is over.”
He needed her. His body, his heart, and his mind called out for him to take her. His hands explored her body, reveling in the curves and the swells. He closed his eyes and drew in her scent. Putting his fingertips under her chin, he made her look at him then started to kiss her.
“Hey! Case, Maya, shake a leg!”
He groaned and turned her loose. “Jamie has a lot of nerve.”
She laughed then took his hand. “I think that runs in the family.”
* * * *
Ham couldn’t wait to get rid of the hunters. Although few shifters would blame them if they’d chosen to kill them, that wasn’t their way. His brothers and he had decided a long time ago that, unless they had no other choice, they’d never take a life. Still, there was a dark side of him that wished they’d never made that decision. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have had to waste time taking them back to their pickup.
That dark side was already on the edge of taking over when he saw their friend’s body. He’d believed the hunters when they’d spoken of killing him, but the full force of the truth didn’t hit him until now. Justin’s upper body dangled over the side of the pickup. His face pointed toward the pickup and one arm hung loose next to his head.
“No!” Ham took off running and made it to the truck before the others did.
The hunters started talking at once, blaming each other for the killing. Ham touched his friend’s cold body and knew he was gone. Justin fell back into the bed and landed with a thud on his back. A circle of dried blood stained his shirt where they’d shot him.
Ham’s inner wolf howled and clawed to the surface. His fangs broke through his gums as the transformation started. Tearing his clothes off then tugging off his boots, he morphed, changing from man to wolf faster than he’d ever done.
His brothers’ faces matched the rage he felt inside even as the amber in his vision mixed with the grays and blacks of the world. Yet instead of shifting, they held onto the hunters. They growled and snarled, losing their human speech for their animal voices, but they managed to stay human.
“Shit! Get me out of here!” Bates broke away and fell to the ground. While dragging his injured leg, he crawled toward the road. “Help!”
Johnson tried to jerk Jamie’s hold on him but couldn’t. “Turn me loose, man. Don’t let him get me! I didn’t do it. I swear. It was Bates. He’s the one that shot him.”
Slanter and Gomez, their eyes wide and white, gaped at Ham. It seemed that they were too stunned to either deny or confirm that Bates had done the killing.
Ham growled, bringing back his mouth in a vicious snarl. His wolf pushed at him, telling him to tear the man apart then do the same to the other hunters. He took a step toward Bates.
“Don’t.”
Maya’s hushed tone brought him up short. He lifted his head then tilted it to stare at her. She stood several feet away, but he could see her shock register on her face and in the stiffening of her body. Again, his wolf growled, urging him to attack the men.
He took another step, placing him closer to the sniveling Bates as well as Maya. The fear flowing off the man flared his nostrils as he drew in the scent. He liked that odor. It told him his victim was defenseless and ready for the slaughter. Saliva dripped out of the corners of his mouth.
“Ham. Please.” Maya dropped to her knees next to the blubbering Bates. He clutched her arm, almost dragging her over.
Ham hunkered down on his front legs and got ready to spring. If Bates hurt her in any way, he’d die a slow and painful death. But when Maya put her hand on top of the hunter’s, it stalled the fury inside him.
He blinked and brought his eyes to hers. Her expression was open, her eyes pleading with him as his brothers stood by and waited to see what he’d do.
They’d killed his friend. It didn’t matter which one of them had pulled the trigger, they’d all played a part in his death. How could she ask him not to take revenge?
“Don’t do this, Ham. He’s not worth it.”
“She’s right, bro.” Case finally spoke with Jamie nodding his head to echo his brother’s statement. “We’ll turn him over to the authorities.”
Ham shook, starting with his head and running the movement through his entire body. Human authorities would let them go free. Only they could get Justin complete and final justice. He padded closer, coming to within a foot of Bates and Maya.
He’d push her out of the way and claim the life that was owed. Growling, he prepared to attack.
Maya moved in front of Bates just as he was about to spring. Her action threw him off, startling him into circling and then backing off. He snapped at her, warning her to move, but she stayed where she was, using her body to shield the killer.
“You’re going to have to go through me to get to him.”
Almost as fast as the rage had come on him, it dissipated. He could never harm a single hair on her head. Not for any reason. He still wanted to taste the hunter’s blood, still wanted to exact revenge for Justin’s death, but he couldn’t go against her wishes.
Whining, he backed off then started to change again.
Seeing through the transformation was difficult, but he kept his attention on her. Her eyes widened as she watched him, but he didn’t see fear in them. Instead, her look held wonder and even admiration.
By the time he’d shifted back into his human body, she was reaching for him. He fell into her arms, the emotions of the past few minutes draining his body.
After a few minutes where the only sounds were that of Bates crying, Jamie tossed Ham’s clothes to him. Maya helped him get dressed, and he let her, the comfort she gave him helping him to keep his inner wolf at bay.
Case was the one who broke the silence. “So what are we going to do with these shitheads?”
Chapter Ten
Maya helped Ham to his feet although her legs still shook. She’d taken another leap of faith, believing that, even while in his wolf form, Ham wouldn’t harm her. Still, it’d been a hell of a risk that had left her emotionally worn out.
Jamie hauled two of the hunters over to the tailgate. After putting it down, he tied the men to the tailgate then did the same to the one Case brought over. Ham tugged Bates roughly to the tailgate and shoved him into the bed then tied him to the truck like the others.
“We can call our friend in the local police department.” Jamie ran a hand through his hair. “He’ll handle them from here.”
Relief was a welcome emotion, but it was short lived as Ham shook his head vehemently. “No. They’ll get off using the human justi
ce system.”
“I don’t think so, but we don’t have any other option. Not if we’re going to get where we’re going. Let our friend handle it. We can’t afford to get any more involved than we already are.”
“They’ll never believe them even if they tell them that we’re werewolves,” added Case.
He was right. She’d seen Ham change, and she was still having a difficult time believing her eyes. “I think Jamie’s right. Let’s do it. But can we get it done soon? And where are we spending the night?”
Traveling through the forest at night had taken them a lot longer than it would’ve during the day. But she had a feeling that was her fault as well as the fact that they had prisoners to contend with.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll run down the mountain and give him a call. Then, once he says he’s on the way, I’ll get back and we’ll go on to Oregon like we planned.” Jamie turned toward the road.
“Wait. What’s this about Oregon? I thought we were going to—” She shut her mouth as all three brothers gave her stern look. She’d almost blown their ruse to lead the hunters in the wrong direction. “Yeah, okay. But while you’re downhill, how about rounding up some food? I’m starving.”
“Sure thing. Any other requests? Maybe a DVD player?”
Case laughed and hugged her. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just irritated that he’s doing all the leg work.”
From Jamie’s expression, Case had it pegged right. She tried to soften him up by blowing him a kiss and got a slight smile in return. With a wave, he turned and ran. She watched him, sending him good thoughts, until he was out of sight.
* * * *
Maya, Case, and Ham didn’t have long to wait. Jamie returned sooner than she’d have thought possible. Had he used his werewolf speed to get down the mountain and back?
He jogged back to them and handed her a large bag from a well-known fast food chain. “I ate mine along the way, but there’s enough for the rest of you.”
He glowered as Slanter dared to open his mouth, no doubt wanting to know if he could get something to eat. “Not a chance in hell, man.”