by Casey Lane
“You two look good together. I would say, that is the point.” Derek lifted his glass to them.
Raven folded his arms. “The vampires I saw in Arizona were called Debra, Erick, and Veronique. It was Veronique that took the babies from my sister’s womb. I want revenge, Derek. More than that, I want those babies back.”
Fuck. Derek shook his head. “I don’t know much. But I do know the babies didn’t make it.”
Before he could take another sip, Raven had vaulted the couch and grabbed him by the throat. His grip was strong, and Derek knew a quiver of fear.
“Tell me what you know. All of it. Every drop. You know who Mengele is, don’t you?” Raven’s voice was fierce, and his fingers tightened.
Derek kept his gaze on Raven, his eyes as blank as his heart.
“Raven. Stop it. He can’t talk if he can’t use his voice.” Megan’s voice cut through to Raven, and the wolf pushed away with a grunt.
“Thank you…” Derek’s voice trailed off as the point of Megan’s katana touched his chest, right over his heart.
“Talk. Now.”
In a flash, Derek disappeared and reappeared by the elevators. “Do we have to play these childish games? You two are strong. So am I. You want information I have. I want another glass of wine. Can we be civil about this?”
Raven held Megan, his hand on her wrist that held the sword. “You’re right. Please, sit.”
Derek could taste the fear in Megan, the rage in Raven. He strolled back to the chair. “You forget I really am a vampire, Doc.”
“Start talking. Please.” Megan sank back down into the couch, Raven beside her.
Derek sipped and enjoyed the creamy taste of the wine. Took the measure of the two opposite him, and parsed out his information. “Your Mengele is a powerful person. I don’t know his real name, nor do I care to. That said, I do know Veronique. Debra is her sister. I think I know Erick. It’s been a few years.”
“Do you agree with killing babies?”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh please. That’s like asking if I believe in kicking dogs and making flowers die. No one agrees with killing babies unless they’re totally insane.”
He sensed Raven relax marginally.
“I need revenge. Do you understand what it is to need something so bad, you’d do anything to get it?”
Raven’s intensity shot across the room and hit Derek in the chest. He gasped, pressed his hand to where it hit, and sent an accusing glare to Megan. “What the hell? He’s Fae, too?”
“Wait. What?” Megan shot a bewildered glare between Derek and Raven. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve never felt that shot to the chest that he does? That’s a Fae trait, in case you didn’t know. No wolf has that ability.”
“Oh.” Guilty awareness crossed her face.
Raven frowned. “Stop changing the subject.”
“Stop giving me these body shots, and I won’t change the subject.” Derek took a shallow breath, the pain easing. “You could have broken a rib,” he complained.
“Oh, come on.”
“Never mind. The two of you will have to figure it out since you’re both half wolf-half Fae. Not my circus, thank the gods.” He downed his wine, no longer able to enjoy it. “I can set up a meet with Veronique. It’ll be up to you to take her out. Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.” Raven stood, held out his hand. “No tricks?”
“No tricks.” Derek stood and, gazes locked in suspicion, they shook hands, cold against hot. Yin and yang. The moment held them motionless before dissipating; they separated.
“Soon as possible.” Megan stood.
He extended his hand to her, grateful when she took it. They walked to the elevator, leaving Raven to stare after them.
Derek pressed the button before he turned Megan to him, cradled her face between his hands, and searched her gray eyes. Her internal temperature had risen. She had fully come into her wolf, then. Just as her father had predicted.
He took a breath. “You’ll need to get a new security team.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Urgency rode him then. “Megan, listen to me. When I leave here to set up your meeting with Veronique, I probably won’t be coming back.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged, made his voice light. “Three’s a crowd, my dear. Maybe it’s time I saw all those other places I used to know. Stop hanging around a hospital.”
Tears filled her eyes and pain touched his heart, and he pushed her hair behind her ear. “We were never really meant, after all. You could tell when I kissed you.”
She nodded. “You’ve been here so long, though. You’ve helped me so much.”
Aware of his time running out, he smiled. “It’s time to make a move. Take a stand, for once. For what it’s worth, I’m betting on you and your wolf over there. I’m betting it all on the two of you. But be careful. Veronique is deadlier than she looks. I’ll send you a package with a phone inside. When it rings, you will receive details of the meeting with Veronique.”
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Derek smiled into her eyes and pressed one long kiss on her lips, mainly to make the wolf behind her angry. Parting, he released her, an unruly sadness in his heart.
“Live well, Megan.”
Megan watched the elevator doors close, and her heart contracted. She had seen love in his eyes.
Raven let out a low growl behind her. “It’s a damn good thing he left when he did. I was about to take his head.” He wrapped his arms around her. “What did he say?”
“He said I needed a new security guard. That he probably wasn’t coming back.” She rested against his chest. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”
“It’ll be better for the hospital to have a licensed and bonded security company. I can help find you one.”
“The Board of Directors has been hounding me to approve one. They’ll be pleased.”
“Don’t get carried away, love. I’ve never heard of a Board being truly pleased with anything.”
“So many changes,” she mused. She looked up at her love. “But we aren’t there yet, are we?”
“No. There’s a battle to come.”
“And you’re part Fae.” She reached up to his face, held his cheek. “We are almost a mirror image of each other. Who was missing in your life, for you to only know your wolf heritage?”
He scowled. “Lisette and I didn’t share a dad. Hers died when she was young. Mine didn’t stick around to know I’d been conceived. Now I know why.”
Her heart ached. “Come, love. Let’s go back to bed, and I’ll show you some of the perks of being part Fae.” Her eyes twinkling, she grabbed his sweater and tugged him to her. Planted her lips on his.
Raven groaned. Took control of the kiss, and coaxed her lips open, his only thought to plunder her sweetness.
Pepper, wine, and her singular delicious flavor burst across his tongue, and he groaned again. Plucked out the pins that held her hair up in an intricate braid coiled around her head. As the braid came down, he gently pushed his fingers through it, loosening it, until her hair spread across her back.
“Beautiful Megan,” he breathed across her lips. She murmured a dissent, and he hushed her. Pressed her against him until he knew she could feel the strength of his arousal against her.
“Come on.” He led the way to her bedroom, where she’d left one lamp glowing softly in the corner.
“You’ve seeped into my life in every way possible, so fast, that it seems like a dream.” She touched his chest gently. “Are you sure you want me?”
He kissed the doubt from her lips. “I claimed you. You are mine. He stripped off the sweater he’d been wearing when she first found him, stripped off his t-shirt, and fingered the silky top she wore.
“Your turn.”
Her ivory skin took on a pale pink hue, but she didn’t hesitate. She dropped the trousers she wore first. Her toenails were painted a lush pink. Taking a deep
breath, she lifted her top off.
He drank the sight of her in, knew he’d never get tired of her. Her skin gleamed pale, pink, and her body had curves he could get lost in. He loved the sight of her breasts high on her chest, her nipples a deep pink. Pale blonde hair graced her mound, and he could scent her arousal.
She put her hands on her hips and sent him a sassy look. “You’re behind.”
“I’m enjoying the view. Very, very much.”
She snorted. “Drop trou, wolf.”
“With pleasure, my Fae.” His jeans hit the floor, and he had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes go wide.
“Raven…”
“Stop thinking.” He swept an arm around her and guided her to the bed. “Just feel for me. Okay? No more thinking tonight, Meg.”
He wanted her. The hot length of him against her belly as he kissed her had to prove that to her.
“Stop. Thinking.” He murmured the words as he caressed her.
She turned to him and nipped his bottom lip. “Make me.”
His eyes gleamed, and he grinned. “Challenge accepted.”
He kissed his way down her throat to her collarbone, sucked gently before following the path to her breast, nipple puckered tight. When he swept his tongue across it, she arched up with a short cry.
Raven smoothed his hand down her side as he feasted on her breast. Her skin rivaled the softness of the finest silk, and her flavor was between ambrosia and a taste of heaven.
He palmed her ass, felt the round, firm flesh, and gave it a quick pinch, unable to resist.
She jumped and yelped. He let her nipple slip from his lips and kissed right over her heart.
“Be easy. I’ve got you.”
He explored every inch of her skin. Found out that her kneecaps were ticklish, but when he kissed the back of her knees, she melted with pleasure. He then pressed kisses everywhere his hand went, just to see if she would giggle or moan.
Finally, he reached her sex. He felt her sigh of relief when he finally, finally, petted her sex, stroked the hair there, slipped down to trace the wetness. At her gasp, he slipped his finger into her wet heat. Desire clawed at him. Claim her again.
Gods, it wasn’t any hardship to love on Megan Cavanaugh, M.D.
He spread her thighs and, as with every other part of her body, kissed her there. She moaned, and he licked the essence of her. Her taste entranced him. Was it because she was Fae? Or was it just…her?
He didn’t know. Her taste was seductive, though, and he found himself lapping at her, holding her hips down when she squirmed. Her clit poked its way out of its hood, and he nipped at it, lapped it, focused on it until her hips arched up off the bed and she let out a short, wailing cry.
He waited as her orgasm throbbed through her and she finally collapsed back onto the bed, panting. Giving her one final lick, he moved up to cover her, bracketed her face and kissed her tenderly.
“My sweet love. You’re amazing.”
“Mm.” A goofy grin shone up at him. “You’re the amazing one.”
“Let’s take it another step, shall we?” With that, he plunged into her.
Megan let out a squeal, then relaxed her muscles so she could more easily accommodate him. Her legs came around his back, and her hands dug into his hair.
“Damn it, wolf. Give a woman a minute’s warning, would you?”
“Baby, I’m about to ride you to ecstasy.” He waited a beat. “That long enough?”
She giggled, and he began to ride.
Warmth surrounded her. Warmth, and a sense of safety she hadn’t felt in years. Her eyes fluttered open. Night still held sway, no light peeking around the edges of her curtains.
She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the scent of Raven. Amber, musk, and desert sage. He was devastating to her senses.
His arm lay heavy around her waist, and he’d tucked her close against his chest. The thrill of it seeped into her very soul, filled the lonely place in her heart.
“You’re awake.”
His breath tickled her neck, and she smiled.
“Just for a bit. It’s too early to wake up.” She patted his arm. “Go back to sleep, Raven.”
“You’re not used to this, are you?” He kissed the back of her neck, and she shivered.
“Used to what?” Shields up. He couldn’t know how amazing this felt.
“Sleeping as pack. Sleeping with another person, I mean.”
She bit back a sigh. “I’m not a virgin, Raven.”
“Dear girl, I learned that last night. That doesn’t mean you’re comfortable with sleeping with someone. Sleeping, not having sex.”
“Go back to sleep, Raven.” Her tone was dry. The last thing she needed was to be analyzed by a wolf.
He didn’t answer her, just remained there behind her. Eventually, his breathing slowed and evened out, and she knew a moment of loss.
How many times had she wanted someone to talk to, in the dark watches of the night? And now she did, she shut him down.
Hot tears pricked her eyes, and she shut them, willing them to go away.
Unheeding, they spilled down her cheeks.
“Megan. Love. What’s the matter?” His hand came up and brushed her cheek. “You’re crying. Why?”
“I want you.” She wiped at her face. “Gods that sounds pathetic. I want you. I want more kisses with you, more sex with you. I want what two healthy adults do in a bed in the middle of the night …eep!”
He flipped her around so they were face-to-face.
She stared, startled, into his eyes. “What?”
“There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t have claimed you. I’m a damaged man, Meg. Revenge and loss twist my heart. But here you are, in my arms, so damn beautiful that I can barely breathe. You healed me. You give me hope that maybe I’m not such a bitter, vengeful man, after all.”
“You don’t need to be kind, Raven. I know exactly what I am.”
“Do you?”
She sighed, impatient. “Short. Most of the Fae are tall and willowy, but not me. I’m short. And on the roundish side of things. A Fae princeling refused to marry me, and that was while I was still a child. I have a mind too curious for most men, and no flair for flattery.”
“You’re a bright soul, Meg. Your heart is huge, and the people you treat feel it. Don’t even try to tell me I’m wrong. Plus, you’re a wolf. Like you said earlier, it’s like we were meant to be. Mirror images. Wolf and Fae.”
“Okay, fine. Whatever. You think I’m a saint. Pfft. Whatever.” Her nerves strummed a fine tune across her belly.
“I felt it when you came apart, every single time we’ve been together. Don’t for a moment think I wasn’t affected. I have never…it was different with you.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead and settled her against him. “I don’t know why you’re so skittish.”
“Because you’re going to leave. Okay? You’re going to go, and I’ll be here alone, and never welcomed back to my home Plane…” tears ran down her cheeks, and she was powerless to stop them.
“No, I swear. It won’t be that way.” He took a breath. “While my sister was being attacked, I was off having a pity party. A few days prior to this, I had a meltdown in surgery. My patient died. I saw only my failure, only how I ruined my reputation. I went to my sister’s house to cool off.”
She gulped. “I’ve been there.” Megan wiped her tears and focused on him. “Everyone loses patients, Raven.”
“I thought I was invincible. My arrogance cost me my place in the pack. It cost me my standing in the tribe. And it cost me my sister and her family. If I had been there, as I should have, she would still be on this earth.”
“And we wouldn’t have met.” She soothed the bitter lines on his face. “You can’t blame yourself for her death.”
“I can. I do. I could have made a difference, and I let my impatience ruin everything. You’re not like that. You wouldn’t have made that mistake. I have much to learn from you, baby. I’m not leavi
ng. Not now, not ever.”
“You will.” She sighed. “Everyone leaves. Everyone abandons me. I can’t even keep staff.”
“I don’t think so, Megan. Rather, I think the nurses that work under you end up going elsewhere because that’s what you do. You train. You nurture. And then you release them to find jobs nearer their families. Or jobs that are more challenging.”
She took a shuddering breath. “Nurturing?”
“Like a mama wolf, wanting only the best for her pups.”
She sighed and burrowed into him, glad when his arms came around her. “I feel so lost.”
“I’ve got you.”
“Who are you, wolf? You are not the same man who came into my apartment with an ass full of wolfsbane and rage in your heart.”
“Yes, well. I’ve told you the worst of me.” He was silent for a bit.
Megan sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up the past. I never want you to be in pain.”
“Pain is a part of life. But it is not who we are.”
She rested in his arms and thought about that. “So you’re saying…what?”
“That maybe the Fae and the wolves are here for the joy of life, not the sorrow. That maybe those of us who are here on the human plane, but not totally of humanity, are meant to bring joy and understanding to others.”
“Because so many non-humans bring nothing but pain and agony? Not to mention the wars that humans are so partial to.” She sighed. “Maybe?”
He tilted her face to him. “I know that it seems like we just met. But I’ve searched my heart. And my heart says I’ve known you for lifetimes.”
She flinched. She couldn’t help it. “The Fae don’t believe in reincarnation.”
“The wolves do. Never mind, love. All I know is, my journey started in a bar in Arizona, where I was given your name. All the pieces seemed to fit. Until they didn’t.”
“Until I crawled into your bed, you mean.” She snorted softly against his shoulder.
“Nah, woman. You healed me, even though you weren’t sure about treating a wolf. I could feel your resistance, even when I wasn’t quite myself.”
“Pfft. Arrogance.”
“It tends to keep me alive. But I’d still like to know who shot a dart at me.”