by Milly Taiden
She pressed her cheek to his side, the sound of his labored breathing drawing more tears. Her heart would die with him. In what amounted to less than a week, Luke had stolen her heart. He’d shown her compassion and care and gave her hope that her mother was right, she was beautiful the way she was.
“I wish we had more time to see where this relationship could go,” she whimpered. “I love you.”
Bastien stuck his head through the door. “Hey, Luna’s making biscuit and gravy for breakfast. You want one? That cute assistant of yours is all in. She’s a hotty. Grrrrr.” With a big smile, he waited for her reply, which was not forthcoming. In fact, she was almost speechless. But not quite.
Kira crawled off the bed toward Bastien with an expression that turned his smile into a scared-as-shit look.
“Lemme guess, you don’t like biscuits. Lactose intoler--”
“What is wrong with you?” Pain and anger exploded from her. “Your best friend is dying and you want to eat freaking biscuits? How could you?”
Bastien raised his brows. “We’re hungry. Breakfast is the most import--”
“Get out!” Kira shoved the door. “Just get out!” Bastien snatched his head back and let the door slam closed. Hands covering her eyes, she leaned against the door and cried. A scratch sounded on the other side of the wooden barrier.
“Uh, Kira. He’s not dying, you know.”
Her breath stopped and confusion muddled her brain. She grabbed the knob and jerked the door open. “What did you say?”
Behind her came a voice. “Lots of red meat, Bastien. Need a lot of protein right now.” Kira spun around to see Luke sitting up on the bed, pulling the comforter over his manly junk.
“Hey, boss man. Luna’s all over it. Filet and T-bone coming up.” The bedroom door closed, leaving Kira speechless. Totally, this time. Luke stretched, letting the covers fall away from his body. Still she remained standing at the door.
He sighed. “Come here, baby.” She launched herself at him, half ready to hold him, half ready to beat the shit out of him. He picked her up and had her knees straddle his lap on the bed.
“I don’t understand. You were shot three times. How are you alive?”
“I told you, baby, shifters heal quickly. There’s only so much you can do and nature takes care of the rest.”
“I-I thought you were dying and I’d never see or hold you again.”
“Nah, everything is fine. Especially since I’m right.”
Her brows lowered. “Right about what?”
A sly grin covered his face. “You admitted it. You’re mine.”
Kira punched him in the shoulder. “You were faking dying! You dog! How much did you hear?”
“Now, baby.” He wrapped his arms around her, scooting her straddled legs forward to where her clothes-covered pussy snuggled against his very hard, very bare, cock. “All that matters is I love you, too.” He went in for a deep kiss. Tongues tangled, he managed to say, “And my wet little pussy I can’t wait to get into.” Mine.
THIRTY
Later that night, Kira pressed a kiss to Luke’s neck, loving the feel of being held in his arms. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“I had to. You’re mine. I would never let anything happen to you.”
“Are we back to that?” she grumbled, secretly hiding a smile. She loved that he kept saying she was his. It was rather romantic now that she realized he’d never said the words to anyone else. She’d figured out that saying she was his was the shifter form of saying I love you. It might be more barbaric, but these guys were half animals. She’d take it.
“You are mine, sweet Kira. All mine,” he slid a hand down her chest, fondling her nipples at first and stopping at her belly. “And this little one is mine too.”
Wait, what?
“What are you talking about?” She hadn’t even missed a period yet. Had she? “How in the world could you even know that?”
“Does it bother you?” he asked, his voice soft with a tone she hadn’t heard before in him. She turned her head, met his gaze. A slash of fear darted through his eyes.
She realized then that he was probably worried she’d do the same thing his mother did: drop off their child and go on with her life like he didn’t exist. “No,” she said, a bit hesitant. “No,” she said again with more conviction. “It doesn’t bother me.”
She didn’t mind being pregnant. Not with Luke’s baby. She loved it. She’d reached an age she didn’t know if she’d get a chance to have children unless she found the right man. The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Luke was a good man. He protected his loved ones. He treated her like she was the only woman in the world. It didn’t get better than that.
“I love you,” she sighed, coming to terms with her feelings for the big lion. “I’ll love our baby too.” He slid above her, cradling her head in his hands and pressing his cock at her entrance. “I love you, you smart-mouthed woman.”
She grinned and stared deeply into his blue eyes. “You say the nicest things.”
Her body went up in flames before he was even inside her. “Let me love you, Kira. Be mine.”
She chuckled at his deep, possessive voice. “You already dictated I am. Just know this isn’t going to be easy. I’m not always going to agree with whatever you want.”
“If I wanted agreeable, I’d get a pet.” He brushed his lips over hers, taunting her with his prickly beard.
“Look on the bright side, you didn’t have to marry me to stop the company from annoying the hell out of your land-owner friends.”
He pushed deeply into her, taking her so fast, he took her breath away. “I’d marry you tomorrow, if I knew you weren’t against it.”
She curled her arms around his neck and widened her legs to fit him better. “I don’t have anything against marriage or marrying you, Luke. It’s marrying someone I didn’t love.” She pulled his head down for a kiss, stroking her tongue over his. Her body came to life with every slow rock of his hips into her. “I love you. I’d marry you if you asked.”
“Good, because I’m asking.”
She laughed. What a bossy man she had. Good thing she wasn’t bothered by his aggressiveness. In fact, she really liked him all forceful and growly. It did something to her. Brought out her wild side.
THIRTY-ONE
Kira sat at the kitchen table, staring off into space. She wasn’t sure what to think about all that had transpired the day before. Her brother was dead, and the company was hers. She was marrying the most amazing man she could hope for. It still hurt that she was alone now, no family left. Her hand moved to her stomach and she smiled. That wasn’t true. She had a new life growing inside her, and a mate. She had amazing friends and a mother-in-law. She couldn’t be any happier.
“Sweetheart, you ok?” Luke leaned down and gave her a hug. “I can feel your emotions. We are connected remember. You can’t hide from me.”
“Does that go both ways? Can I feel your emotion too?”
“Yes, but it won’t be as honed in. Are you sure you are okay? Do you need Carly or my mom to talk too?
“I’m fine. I have you and our baby, plus as Luna told me yesterday, she is my mother now too.”
“That sounds like her. She has a lot of love to give.” Luke gave her a skeptical look. “But are you really all right?”
Kira laughed and pushed him away. “Just ignore me, maybe it’s the hormones. It’s not every day a girl finds out her brother was trying to kill to take over her company, watches the love of her life get shot, learns she’s pregnant, and gets engaged.”
“Ok, well when you put it like that.” Luke laughed at her frown. “I’ll let it go if you are sure. Are you up for some company?”
“Bastian and Luna aren’t company. They’re family.”
“I love that you said that, but that’s not who I was referring to.” Luke smiled at her.
“Oh, okay. Who is coming then?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a da
rk sedan with two men in suits inside. Something tells me, it’s the FBI people you mentioned yesterday.
“Is there going to be problems because of the deaths? Peter’s and the hitmen I mean?”
“No, don’t worry. We were defending ourselves. We have a lot of witnesses that will attest to that fact. Plus the local sheriff knows us and we already explained everything to him. He said he didn’t expect any problems.”
A knock at the door made Kira jump. She couldn’t help the nervousness running rampant through her veins. Peter was dead, what could they possibly want with her now?
Luke opened the door and scowled at the men waiting on the other side. Kira hid a smile. He was a wonderful man, he really was, grumpy and growly but still a wonderful person, um lion, ah shifter. What would she call him. He was a man, but he was also a shifter. Did they have a preference? These hormones were really playing havoc with her concentration. Government people at the door--must pay attention. She stood and moved closer so she could hear what was happening.
“Can I help you?” he grunted out in annoyance.
The first suit stepped forward and flipped open some type of wallet. She assumed it was his identification, but from her spot she couldn’t see it to be sure.
“Yes, I am Agent Wilcox and this is Agent Grant. We are looking for Ms. Kira Ardan.”
Luke glanced back at Kira, before stepping back and waving the two men into the room. Kira stepped forward and offered a tentative smile.
“Hello, Agents. I’m Kira.”
The agents glanced from Kira back to Luke and then around the room.
“May we come in?” Agent Wilcox asked with a small smile.
“Of course, I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”
Luke rolled his eyes and moved to sit on the couch. Kira caught his gesture for her to come sit next to him. She smiled and did as he demanded this once.
“Don’t get used to getting your way,” she mumbled under her breath to Luke.
“Ms. Ardan, would you mind if we spoke to you alone for a minute?”
Kira grabbed Luke’s hand and squeezed. Why would they want to talk to her alone. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Luke’s arm came around her shoulders and squeezed gently.
“Breathe, baby. It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered just loud enough for her to hear. “Gentleman, if you don’t mind. I will be staying here with my mate.”
The two men shared a small tight smile. “Of course, Mr. Lyen. That’s not a problem at all.”
Kira needed to take control and get answers. The two men may have startled her, but she didn’t crumble easily. She straightened her spine and prepared to face whatever Peter had caused head on. She wasn’t going to cower. Damn hormones, who the hell knew they kicked in so fast.
“Agents, my assistant informed me that you were looking for me. You have obviously found me, so what can I do for you?”
“Yes, Ms. Ardan, we were indeed looking for you. A lot of what we needed is now gone with the death of your brother. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” Kira glanced at Luke in puzzlement. What was going on? “What was it you need?”
“I am not sure if you are aware that your brother was in debt to, shall we say undesirable people. He kept it away from Rakida Construction and therefore your company is safely in your hands.”
Kira let out a breath of relief she hadn’t been aware she was holding. “What does this have to do with me then?”
“It’s follow up really. We wouldn’t normally do this, but since it involved this mountain and the people who call it home, we are making you aware. Your brother Peter was being squeezed to obtain this mountain.”
“We talked about opening cabins on a mountain, but it didn’t have to be this one. But you said it wasn’t connected to Rakida, I don’t understand.”
Agent Grant smiled and nodded. “Yes, it started out as any mountain, but your brother came to the notice of some powerful people who desperately wanted this land, this mountain. If your brother had succeeded in obtaining this property then it would be a different story, and your company would be involved.”
Luke scowled. “Why my mountain? And how did he come to their attention?”
“Ms. Ardan are you aware your brother had a serious gambling problem. He borrowed against his own company, and when that wasn’t enough, he took out loans. He fell further into debt and was unable to pay the loans back. The people who held his marker, sold his debt to the Mercado Cartel. Have you heard of them?”
Kira thought about for a moment before acknowledging that she had not heard of them.
“They are fairly new to the area, so that is understandable. They are a rather large and well connected group that is into gun running and drug trafficking. Possibly other things. We have been after them for a while.”
“So what’s the matter? I don’t understand.”
“They search local loan sharks and underbelly for people who have influence or some commodity they need and they take advantage. In your brother’s case, with your company, they had access to obtaining this land and in the future other properties as well.”
“So if we had succeeded in getting this land, and built the cabins then what?”
“The people Peter was involved with wanted to use the cabins as cover to store drugs and weapons. The climate, elevation, and relative seclusion of this place was perfect for their operation.”
“I don’t understand,” Kira interrupted. “If they built cabins, how could it be secluded?”
Agent Grant smiled and tapped his nose. “That is a great question. From what we have gathered, they hadn’t planned on allowing anyone to actually stay in the cabins other than those within their organization. Anyone looking would see them in use, and therefore throw off suspicion.”
“How do you know all this?” Kira asked with a befuddled expression.
“It just so happens that we got lucky, and gathered enough evidence to close the drug ring down and put an end to their plans. Your brother was our only loose end and we were trying to ensure your safety before bringing him in.” Agent Wilcox nodded to Luke. “You and your friends took down the last of the men. Those hitmen were part of the cartel. Your lands, and people are safe.” He turned back to Kira. “Again, I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for seeing us.”
The two men stood and left while Kira sat in stunned silence. Peter her pain in the ass brother tried to kill her, steal her company, and murder all these people who called this mountain home. What the hell had she brought them when she came to their mountain?
Luke grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a slight shake. “I can feel what you are thinking, and you can just forget it. It isn’t your fault. He was after our land before you came up here. This is all on Peter. Not you.”
Kira smiled. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble I brought to your home.”
“It’s okay. I love you; you are my mate. You can spend the next fifty or so years, making it up to me.” Luke laughed as he picked her up in his arms and carried her to their bedroom.
EPILOGUE
Dear Readers,
You are cordially invited to Kira Ardan and Luke Lyen’s wedding. There will be too much alcohol, sleeping with the most inappropriate person, and horrible next day consequences. Welcome to Raging Falls, where the shifters aren’t the only ones going into heat…
Love,
Milly Taiden
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About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great, quick way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romantic comedies with lots of romance, heat, and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our boy child, and our little fur baby “Needy Speedy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to shoe shopping and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
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