by Vella Day
After patting the woman’s hand, Sarah stood. “Amy will be in soon to check on you.”
Sarah couldn’t wait to get out of there. Because of all the changes in shifts, Connolly told her to check out with him. Normally, she waited for Amy to arrive, but Sarah wasn’t ready to confront her roommate. As soon as she returned home, she’d pack a bag and head on over to where Jay and Riley were staying. First, though, she needed to speak with Riley to find out the address.
As she headed toward the exit, he came in from outside, looking as tempting as usual. He lasered his gaze on her. That one sexy as hell look had her pulse soaring and delightful pulses tripping over her skin. Wasn’t she the one who was supposed to be tormenting him? Turnabout was not fair.
“You leaving?” he asked.
“Yes.” His shift was over, too. “I thought I’d take your suggestion and pack a bag and head on over to the motel. I really don’t want to have to deal with Amy and Russ, not when things are heating up around here.”
He nodded. “You need directions?”
“How about I drive you to my place? I’ll pack, and then we can go back to the motel.” She’d noticed that he’d driven in with Connolly.
Riley stepped closer and the urge to kiss him overwhelmed her. She was an FBI agent and should be able to control her libido, but this man seemed to cause her circuits to disconnect.
“Can’t leave right now. Something came up that I need to deal with. I’ll give you directions and let Jay know you’re on your way.”
She wanted to shake him and say it would be more fun coming with her, but she understood his need to do what was right. She also was smart enough not to ask what was so urgent. If she had to guess, it had to do with the fallout from that man’s visit. “Okay.”
“Hand me your phone and I’ll put the address in your GPS.” She did as he asked. “It’s only about a fifteen minute drive from your place.”
“Cool.”
He handed back her phone. “Do me a favor and text me when you leave your place?”
“Since you asked so nicely, I will, but should I expect trouble?”
Before he answered, the door behind him opened and Amy and Russ came in. Her skin crawled. If looks could kill, Sarah would be dead.
“Do as Statler asks and you’ll be fine,” he said in a tone so cold she could feel the chill. From the glance he shot Russ, his abrupt attitude change was for his sake.
She was about to step past him when out of the blue Riley stopped her, leaned over, and planted one on her. Wham. It was a toe-curling type of kiss and she would have staggered backward had Riley not pulled her closer. Her moan came out so loud that she bet both Amy and Russ turned around but she didn’t dare look.
She needed to leave, not wanting to have a discussion with Amy—or Russ for that matter.
“See you tonight then,” he said rather loudly. “Bring enough for a few days.” Riley winked then strode off.
Sarah swallowed, not sure what the hell that was about. Had Russ not growled, it might not have occurred to her that the kiss was for his benefit, too. Damn. She had to hand it to Riley. When Amy returned home tomorrow morning, she wouldn’t question why Sarah wasn’t there. The move out would seem natural.
Sarah quickly left the building and rushed to her car. She doubted those two would leave the warehouse to follow her home, but just in case, she kept a keen eye on the rear view mirror.
Once at her place, she didn’t dawdle. This day had been horrific and she needed a relaxing run worse than anything. It would be light for another two hours, so she changed into her running gear and tossed in several work outfits. With her new underwear, she hoped to entice the men into another wild sexual endeavor.
Riley had been skittish at the store, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t change his mind about a little pleasure seeking. On the other hand, would it be fair to him? She doubted she’d be anywhere near those two with her next assignment, so leading him on would be cruel. Jay seemed to want her no matter what, apparently understanding that she had a career with the FBI. Of late, though, her job wasn’t bringing her as much satisfaction as it used to.
Staying around the house much longer was asking for trouble, so she hurried out. Riley had already set her GPS, so she had no problem finding the motel—or rather the dump. She had no idea where Statler was staying, but suffice it to say, it wouldn’t be there.
She parked in front of their room and checked her surroundings before rapping a knuckle on the door. Before she was able to knock a second time, the door opened, and a grinning Jay greeted her. “Well, well. Riley said you’d agreed to stay with us.” He slipped her case from her fingers and placed it near the small table. “You get away okay?”
His concern warmed her. “Yes. Russ and Amy are at work, so I wasn’t followed. Did Riley fill you in about the visit?”
He dragged a hand down his jaw. “Yes. That must have been tough for you.”
“I’m still upset, which is why I really want to go for a run.”
He stepped closer and her inner walls cramped with need. I can’t let him suck me in right now.
“Where do you run around here?”
She would have given him directions, but she needed to be alone to think. Her hectic and tiring schedule at the warehouse prevented any quality time. “There’s a National Park not far from here.”
“Great. Well, then, be safe.”
That wasn’t what she expected Mr. Protective to say. “I will. I usually only take about an hour.” She patted her hip pocket. “I have my cell in case I break down or something.”
He smiled, and for a second she was tempted to delve into that delicious man, but there would be time later for that pleasure.
“I’ll see you when you get back,” he said.
“Yup.”
Sarah left, a bit confused by Jay’s reaction. Not that she expected him to suggest they have a quickie, but she thought he’d have been a bit more amorous. Perhaps he was as upset as she was about the assistant buyer’s visit.
Right now, the best thing to do was go for her run and clear her head.
* * *
Jay was about to burst. Not wanting to overwhelm her when she’d walked in, he’d drawn on his training to appear calm. If his wolf had his way, he would have stripped her naked and devoured her, but he wanted to convince her they were right for each other first. He didn’t care what his inner beast said. Being mated wasn’t all about sex.
When she told him she was going for a run, he refrained from demanding she remain at the hotel where it was safe. She had to be aware that after the less-than-pleased buyer’s agent visit, Statler would out take his aggression on someone, and that person might be her.
At that horrid thought, the hairs on his body began to poke out and his bones cracked. The only solution was to follow her. In his reconnaissance of the area, he’d scoped it out enough to know the location of the National Park. After giving her a few minutes head start, he locked up and hopped in their rental.
Jay had barely turned onto the road when his cell rang. Plucking it from his pocket he glanced at the caller ID. It was Connolly. “Yeah?”
“Seems Trax and Dante have some superior talents.”
Jay huffed out a laugh. He’d not only heard about some of their exploits but had seen a few first hand. “What have they done this time?”
“Seems when they were installing the security system, Statler excused himself from the office and left his phone on the desk.”
“That never happened when I worked for him, but go on.”
“Let’s just say, that was about the time when I came to work for him.”
So, Connolly had caused a distraction. “Nice.”
“Bottom line, because of something they did to his phone, they were able to hack into his phone records.”
Fantastic. “What did they learn?”
“Statler received a call about an hour ago from a phone registered to a Norton Denmark. Since your cousin is on ro
ute back to Florida, I called the General who is having Chris look into that name. Most likely Denmark is an alias.”
“I agree.”
“The interesting part is that right after that call, Statler contacted a Dr. Gregory Elkhart.”
He ran the name in his head, but it didn’t sound familiar. “I take it the name means something to you?”
“You weren’t there when the buyer’s agent stopped by, but he was disgusted by the lack of care the women were receiving. I’m betting Statler was told in no uncertain terms that the women needed to be in better shape or the buyer would cancel the deal.”
Jay whistled. “Statler would go crazy if that happened. What do you know about Dr. Elkhart?”
“Chris is working on that, but Ford said Bailey thought that he was one of the doctors who’d been at the clinic. That’s why I’m calling. When you see Sarah tonight, could you ask her?”
Riley must have mentioned that Sarah would be staying with them. “Sure.”
“Let me know what you find out.”
“Will do.”
Once he disconnected, several thoughts raced through his head. One was that if the buyer had forced Statler’s hand by requiring the women to be taken care of, no one would be safe around him—especially Sarah. The second was that if Sarah did spot Jay following her, he could always say he needed some intel on Dr. Elkhart.
When he reached the park entrance and found her car, he smiled. Stepping out, he inhaled, but with the wind blowing, he couldn’t pick up her scent. There was only one path into the forest, so Jay jogged in until he was out of sight from the lot before shifting. Instantly, he caught her delicious signature that seemed to have been woven into the fabric of his being.
His goal was merely to keep her in sight and to make sure none of Statler’s men came after her. Jay wouldn’t be surprised if her boss gave Russ the go ahead to do what he wanted to her. Just the idea of anyone harming his woman caused a growl to almost escape, and the urge to go after Russ almost forced him to turn around. Doing so, though, would derail his mission, which was making sure Sarah remained safe.
As he cut through the forest along a ridge, he saw Sarah below and slowed. Her grace and strength appealed to him on so many levels, which was why he needed to be cautious around her. He was falling for her in part because of her ambition. Unfortunately, that might be the one thing that came between them.
For the next half hour, he kept at a good distance behind her. He could sense from her gait and the way she was always looking down that she was working hard to rid herself of demons.
As she neared a copse of trees, she stopped then planted her hands on her knees, her back heaving. Perhaps it was the rush of running water nearby that caused her to pause at this spot or else all of her worries had caught up with her. Sarah eased her way back up before glancing around.
Jay was a good two hundred feet downwind, so he doubted she would even notice him, especially since his coloring helped him blend in with the surrounding forest. She must not have sensed him or anyone else for she peeled apart the branches on a tall hedge and stepped behind it, blocking her from his view.
Jay didn’t like her being out of sight and moved closer, not caring if he made noise because the water crashing on the rocks would cover his approach. As he nudged his way through the leaves, he was treated to a fantastic sight, but it was immediately ruined when she turned around. Her eyes grew wide and she covered her naked body the best he could.
Oh, shit.
Chapter Fifteen
Don’t move!
A scream was on the tip of Sarah’s lips, but if she gave into her urge, the wolf might attack. She’d always recognized the possibility that Statler might send one of his men to take her out for failing to care for the women, but then she dismissed that idea when she believed he still needed her.
The wolf cocked his head then sat down, almost as if he were mocking her. He was mostly gray with dark patches of brown woven in his hindquarters, a contrast to Russ who was black and gray.
“Go away.” She made a shooing motion, hoping to scare the critter, but he opened his mouth and panted, as if he’d run a long distance.
As she stepped toward him, fur suddenly flew and the animal spun. Seconds later, Jay stood in front of her. Sarah didn’t know whether to cry for joy or beat him for scaring her. “What are you doing here?”
He held up his hands. “Don’t be mad. I need your help.”
“Bullshit.” She bent down, grabbed her clothes, and clasped them to her chest. It didn’t matter that she’d made love with him; being naked in the open didn’t seem right. “Is anyone else here?”
He rushed toward her, and she didn’t back up. “Fuck no. I would have made sure they left. I swear I didn’t mean to scare you.” The man did appear contrite. “To be honest, I was so taken by you that I forgot to shift back. I know our abilities might be amazing to you humans, but if I had one wish, it would be that I could be invisible when I wanted to be.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Why’s that? So you could sneak up without me noticing?” She chuckled.
“Maybe.” He grinned.
“I forgive you, but what was so important that you had to follow me out here? You could have called.” His eyes turned dark for a moment, and she wondered if that was his body’s way of reacting when he was caught in a lie.
“I do have a question for you, but I also wanted to make sure you were safe.”
Any lingering anger disappeared. “I’m fine.”
“For now, maybe, but Connolly called and gave me some information.” He told her about Statler receiving a call and then him calling a Dr. Elkhart. “What do you know about him?”
“He’s a shifter, but I don’t think he’s enhanced—or rather, I assumed he wasn’t since I didn’t think he’d have a need to be. He used to work at the lab taking care of the women, if doing experiments on them is considered taking care.”
“That’s what we figured. Because Statler is probably pissed about having to shell out more money for these women, I wanted to come here to make sure you were okay.”
A shiver tripped up her spine. “Do you think he’d target me?” She was barely able to say those last few words.
Jay clasped her shoulders and then drew her to his chest, his warmth bringing comfort. “I wish I knew, but I’ll do everything in my power to make certain he doesn’t.”
“Thank you.” Sarah dropped her clothes in order to hug him but then leaned back. “I probably smell. I was just about to take a dip in the cold waterfall. Want to join me?”
Sarah loved to challenge men. Growing up, she’d dare her friends to go swimming in the winter—if only for a few minutes. There must have been something different about her body chemistry because the cold rarely had an effect on her.
“You couldn’t keep me away.”
From the way his smile dimpled his cheeks and his eyes lightened, he appeared interested in something other than getting clean. She wagged a finger at him. “Behave.”
“Don’t I always?”
Sarah laughed and hurried into the water while Jay undressed. If she’d helped take off his clothes, she might never have made it to the eight-foot high falls. Barefoot, she carefully walked across the smooth rocks, scooped up the rushing water in her hands, and splashed it on her face. Brrr. That was colder than she’d anticipated.
“How is it?” he asked.
“Wonderful.” At the moment his cock was pointing upward, but she bet that condition would change as soon as he stepped in with her.
Naked, Jay moved behind her and wove his hands between her arms and her body. He wet them and then plastered his palms on her chest. Whoa. Her nipples stood up straight.
He plucked the hardened crests and then continued to play with her breasts, igniting her passions. “I do love these,” he whispered against her cheek.
She twisted in his arms. “No playing until I’m clean.”
Jay saluted, stepped under the heavy flow, and wa
shed, whistling some cheerful ditty, not seemingly affected by the temperature a bit.
“Come on in.” Jay held out his hand. As soon as she took hold, his tug propelled her under the freezing stream. Yikes. “I’ll rub your body to keep you warm.” He chuckled, acting as if he’d bested her.
“Be my guest.” She lifted her arms.
His cold hands started under her arms, traveled across her chest and then landed between her legs, ticking her when she least expected it. She was laughing too hard to stop him until he slipped a finger into her hot sex. She sobered and clamped down on him to keep him there.
“You ready to get out?” he asked.
He wanted to stop now after he’d heated her up? She wouldn’t let on how much he’d turned her on. “Not yet.”
His eyes lightened as his scruff darkened. The roar of the water disappeared as lust consumed her. She couldn’t stay there forever, nor did she want to, but another minute with Jay would be nice. Besides, she had other activities on her mind. Sarah ran her hands over his muscled chest and down his corded abs. Nice.
He grabbed her wrists. “No fair. It’s too rocky for the type of activity I have in mind.”
Yes!
As she took her first steps across the slippery rocks, Jay swept her up in his arms. She might have been self-conscious about being naked in the open had the trees surrounding them not blocked the view of the trail. Furthermore, werewolves had an amazing sense of hearing, and she was confident he’d let her know if anyone was near—especially another shifter.
He set her down. “Stay right here.” His voice came out low and dripped with promise. Jay snatched her clothes and spread them on a low-lying branch. Aw. That was so considerate of him. He then picked up his clothes and placed his pants on the ground in front of her. “Stand on this.”
She didn’t want to ruin his jeans, but her body couldn’t help but obey his command. It was as if he’d somehow drugged her and had taken over her mind.