A wave of feelings overcame him. He opened his mind to hers, sharing his incredible love for her. His arms tightened around her waist, crushing her to him. He kissed her again, desperate to show her how much she meant to him.
“Shit! Where the hell did you two come from? You’re lucky I didn’t shoot your ass, Red Hawk. Why didn’t you warn me that you were coming home?” Stacey’s voice came from the doorway.
Derek waved at her with one hand, while continuing to kiss Katherine deeply.
“You need to get a room,” Stacey started. “Oh, I guess this is your room. Sorry, I’m going to go now.” Derek heard her footsteps going down the hall.
He reached for the buttons on Katherine’s shirt. In moments it lay on the floor. Continuing to kiss her, he undid the button of her skirt, letting it fall at her feet. She stepped out of her heels, and the skirt fell to the floor. Her bra and panties were next. He ran his hands up and down her silky skin before lifting her up in his arms and carrying her to the bed.
He lay her down on the blue-velvet comforter. Her red hair and porcelain skin glowed. He slipped out of his loafers and joined her on the bed. She reached for his shirt. He stopped her with a hand on her wrists. “Tonight is for you, tehila. Let me take care of you.”
She nodded and stilled. Derek leaned over, taking one of her nipples into his mouth. Her hands gripped his hair and pulled him closer to her. He licked and sucked before nipping the little bud. Katherine moaned and arched her back, begging for more.
More was exactly what he wanted to give her. He switched to the other side while kneading the moist nubbin of the first breast in his hand. He sucked her deep into his mouth and twirled his tongue around the nipple that grew longer and harder from his attention. When she began to quiver, he nipped her lightly. She cried out, her hands holding him tight to her breast.
He rose up kissing his way down her flat stomach. He moved to between her legs, pulling her thighs open to admire the fiery red curls between her legs that glistened with moisture. He pulled her legs up over his shoulders before settling down to feast.
He blew across her flesh, and she moaned. Lifting her hips, she tried to entice him to get closer. He sucked the moisture off her curls before fingering her folds, opening them to his gaze. He felt his body stir and harden. He pushed his desire down and licked up her slit. This was for her. Only her pleasure mattered.
He pushed his tongue into her hot core, lapping at her. She began to pant, and he knew she was close. He continued to tease and tantalize, first licking and then sucking, on the little bundle of nerves. Once more, she raised her hips, pushing her mound against his lips. He licked some more, then pushed two fingers into her warmth.
Her muscles quivered, and her head began to thrash. She began to beg him, her words coming out strangled as he pumped his fingers in and out of her. He continued to circle her clit with his tongue and then used his lips to press on the swollen flesh.
Her hips began to buck. Derek curled his fingers up inside her, making sure to run them across the sensitive flesh of her core. She screamed. Her muscles clamped down around his fingers as moisture gushed into his palm. He continued to stroke her, riding her orgasm until she lay spent.
He licked his lips as he lowered her legs to the bed. He crawled off the bed and lowered the covers, then leaned down and kissed her as he swept her up and placed her between the sheets. He continued to kiss her as he pulled the blanket over her. Her eyes were already fighting to stay open. He kissed her nose and stepped back, watching over her as she slipped into sleep.
He stood there, watching as her chest slowly rose and fell with each breath. She was everything to him. His reason to live. He looked around the room they decorated together and felt his heart swell even further.
Turning, he made his way out of the room, closing the door behind him. It was time to find whoever was behind this and make him pay for every tear Katherine had shed.
Derek made his way downstairs and found Stacey in the kitchen. She sat at the table, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” she asked.
“This situation has got to stop. I want this guy nailed.” Derek walked over and poured himself a cup before joining her at the table. “What else have you learned?”
Stacey yawned. “Besides the fact that you and Kathy burn so hot I’m surprised you haven’t started a fire?” She chuckled. “What I wouldn’t give to have a man look at me like you do her.” She shook her head. Derek wanted to ask her if she saw how Hugh looked at her, but kept quiet.
Her face dropped the charming smile. “Someone wants you dead, Red Hawk, and your girlfriend with you. I can’t trace it back to the lab in the Amazon. Whoever this is, it isn’t about your crazy doctor.”
“Wanting me dead was easy to figure after the car bomb. I need to know who.”
“I can’t answer that. None of my contacts knows anything. Which tells me this isn’t about your working for the general. This is personal, Derek. Who did you piss off so much that he wants to kill you?”
“I wish I knew…” Derek shook his head. It had been a rollercoaster day, and his thoughts were all jumbled. He needed to get some rest if he wanted to figure this out. He got up and moved to the sink to pour the coffee down the drain. He walked back to the table and patted Stacey on the shoulder. “Thanks for having my back, Johnson. See you in the morning.”
“Yeah. I’ll be up as soon as one of the guys gets back.”
Derek nodded and headed for the stairs.
§
When Katherine woke the next morning, Derek lay wrapped around her, his arm on her waist and his leg draped over hers. She snuggled back against him. She shouldn’t have let him get away with last night. His pleasure was important to her. She had felt so fragile, so ready to break. His lovemaking let her put it all aside and just be.
She felt a certain part of him pushing against her behind. He began to wake up, and she wanted to give him some of the pleasure he had given her last night. She turned in his arms, pressing tight against him. He sighed, pulling her closer.
She kissed his neck, then sucked his ear lobe. She curled her tongue around it before nipping lightly. Derek’s arms squeezed her, and his hand found her breast, massaging gently. She kissed her way over his collarbone and down his chest, until she could suck one of his nipples. She circled the little bud with her tongue, tasting his musky skin before moving to the other side. He petted her hair before running his hand down her back. He rolled to his back, holding her tight, so she now lay on top of him.
The length of hardness pressing against her proved his desire matched hers. She continued to kiss and lick his skin, making her way down his rippled stomach to the dark V of hair. Using her hand, she caressed his hard length up and down before encircling it with her fist. He was rock-hard, but his skin was so soft. She ran her fingers along him, loving the feel.
He jerked in her hand, and his breath hissed. A drop of liquid formed on the head, and she quickly licked it off. His hands tightened in her hair. She licked him like her favorite treat, curling her tongue around his length.
“Katie, you’re killing me.” His voice came out gruff and broken.
Katherine smiled, then leaned down to swallow him. She sucked him deep into her mouth, needing to please him. He groaned, and his hips thrust up. She pulled back and took him deep again, sucking his length. Over and over, she teased him, sucking and then licking. He began to tremble.
“Baby, I’m going to come.”
Katherine sucked him deep and swallowed, letting her throat muscles constrict him. She played with his balls, rolling them in her hand. She heard him swear, then he took control. With his hands fisted in her hair, he pumped in and out, hitting the back of her throat. She tried to swallow him. She felt his balls draw up and his body begin to shake. He pumped once, twice, and then he came. He shouted her name. She sucked down his essence, wanting every drop.
When he finally quieted, she released him. She loo
ked up, feeling triumphant. His gaze shone with love as he looked at her. He tenderly ran his hand over her cheek and then his thumb over her swollen lips.
“Come here, baby.” He reached for her, drawing her up. He kissed her, exploring her mouth, taking what she freely gave. Everything.
Chapter Eight
“Are you ready? Send the email. I’m sure Nurse Eschback will be right up.” Derek stood over Katherine’s desk watching her type the internal department email. This plan began with the nurse.
“I want to come with you tonight,” Katherine said. “The plan won’t work if they think you’ve left alone.”
“Only until we are out of sight of the building. Then, you will shadow-walk yourself home and wait for me.”
“Don’t you think they will smell a trap if one minute I’m in the car with you and the next minute, I’m gone?”
“I’m hoping they will assume you are sleeping and slouched down. All we need is for them to show themselves. Joe and Hugh will be driving vehicles, one in front and one behind to ensure my safety. I will feel much better if I know you are home safe.”
Katherine opened her mouth to argue, but the elevator dinged. Derek stepped back and into the shadows in the corner of her office. Katherine turned and watched the elevator doors open and Nurse Eschback walk out.
“I got your email. How many people have signed up to run?” she asked as she walked up to Katherine’s desk.
“Wait a minute, where did I put that list?” Katherine made a show of looking through the papers on her desk. “I wanted to make sure I gave you the information before I left with Derek tonight to go to Isanti’s ranch house. Oh, here it is.” She lifted her face, hoping that Eschback couldn’t tell that she lied, and handed the paper over to the nurse.
“Only three names? I hoped for more.”
Katherine shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “Not much interest this year. Running in the desert heat is difficult at times.”
“Yes, well, I’ll let the doctor know. Thank you, Mrs. Sloane. Enjoy your visit with Mr. Quiet Thunder. He is a very peaceful person. I always enjoy his visits.”
“He is indeed. We leave right after work. I won’t mind going to the mountains and leaving the desert behind for a while.”
Nurse Eschback turned and moved to the elevator. Katherine pretended to read a file on her desk while secretly watching the woman. When the elevator doors finally closed with Nurse Eschback inside, Katherine sighed and rested her head in her palms.
A cold hand rested on her shoulder, and she jumped. “Hey that’s cold.”
“Sorry, Shadow is always cold.” Derek rubbed his hands together and blew on them. He reached for Katherine’s shoulders again. “You did great. I don’t think the nurse noticed anything unusual. Better?” He messaged some of the tension away.
“Hhmm, much better. Now about tonight.”
“Oh, thanks for reminding me. Joe wants the teams to meet to discuss it. Will you be all right while I’m gone?”
“Why can’t I come? I’ll be in the car at the beginning anyway.”
“We need you here at your desk in case someone is checking up on you. I don’t think it will take very long.”
Hugh appeared from out of the shadows with Stacey in his arms. “Holy shit, what did you do to me? Why does my breast burn? Can the cold burn you?” Stacey’s eyes were covered with a black scarf. Hugh lowered her to the floor and removed the blindfold.
Stacey clutched her breast that was now exposed beneath a leather jacket. “Where the hell is my shirt and bra? Dammit, Hugh. What the hell is going on here?”
Stacey clutched her jacket closed. She reached for the zipper and gasped when she found it gone.
“I told you only all-natural materials.” Hugh shook his head.
Stacey looked up and noticed Derek and Katherine watching her and Hugh. Her eyes widened as she spotted the New Mexican desert through the window. “No way. That’s not possible. How did we get here?”
“It’s need-to-know, Stacey. You don’t need to know.” Hugh pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Let me see that mark on your breast.”
Stacey clutched her jacket tighter and stared up at Hugh, confusion stamped on her face.
“I need to see if you are all right. Let me see if you’ve hurt yourself.” Hugh coaxed her. Stacey let him pull the jacket open and look at her. “It burns…,” she whispered.
His gaze tender, Hugh leaned down and blew gently on the reddened flesh. Katherine looked up at Derek and remembered the night Shadow marked her as his mate. The little heart tattoo burned for a couple of hours.
“Ice will help. Here let me get some out of the conference room.” Katherine got up and headed down the hall for the ice. She smiled, thinking of Hugh and Stacey together. Another Shadow Walker had found his mate.
§
Derek caught Hugh’s gaze and smiled, happy that his friend had found his mate. Hopefully, their joining wouldn’t be as difficult as Katherine and his had become. But knowing Stacey Johnson as he did, he doubted a smooth union.
Katherine returned at that moment with a bag of ice and a blue silk blouse. She dragged Stacey to a chair before helping her put the bag in place.
“You’ve seen this before?” Stacey asked.
“Yes. Don’t worry. It’s a good thing. I think Hugh should explain.” Katherine handed her the blouse. “You can put this on when the pain lessens.”
“Thanks,” Stacey said.
“I think we should move into the conference room. We don’t want to be caught out here in front of the elevator when none of us is supposed to be here.” Derek ushered them all down the hall to the meeting rooms.
Just as they got settled, the elevator dinged. Katherine rushed from the room to intercept whoever came onto the floor. A prickle of unease had Derek listening for Katherine’s voice. She murmured something and chuckled. Derek turned his attention back to his friends and the planning of tonight’s trip.
§
Katherine hurried down the hall to her office. She had wanted to stay and listen to the plan the team members devised. Joe and Raven hadn’t appeared yet, so she probably had time. The elevator doors were already closing when she reached the alcove that held her desk. A man stood with a huge vase of red roses. So Derek thought he could get away with keeping her in the dark about tonight and then send roses to soften her up. “Nice try, love.” She chuckled and shook her head.
“I have a delivery for Katherine Sloane.”
“That’s me.” Katherine took the vase of roses from the man and turned to place them on her desk. She felt a slight pinch at her neck and fell into darkness.
§
Derek’s eyesight began to dim. “What’s wrong with me?”
Both Hugh and Stacey rushed to his side. “Sit down a minute. It hasn’t been that long since you got shot,” Stacey said as Hugh helped support him.
Stacey grabbed a chair and pulled it over. Derek sat, his knees weak. He leaned his head forward, breathing deeply, trying to regain his equilibrium.
“I’ll get you some water.” Stacey hurried down the hall.
Derek fought to stay conscious. This felt a lot like when he was drugged in the Amazon. Stacey rushed back into the room with a glass of water. Derek’s hand shook as he reached for it. He took a swallow before speaking again. “Is Katherine all right?” Raven had told him how she reacted to his being drugged in the Amazon. Something wasn’t right. Derek couldn’t process what it was.
“I didn’t see her,” Stacey said. “Let me go get her.”
Derek breathed deeply. Where was Katherine? She normally felt it when he wasn’t well.
Derek, did you authorize the use of your blue convertible? Joe’s voice flooded into his mind telepathically. I’m down here at the motor pool, and the convertible just came out of the garage. It’s turning toward Albuquerque.
“Derek, I can’t find Katherine anywhere.” Stacey stood at the door, wringing her hands.
Derek r
eached for Katherine with his telepathy and found… darkness. “They have her.” Joe follow the convertible. They have Katherine. A flow of adrenaline hit Derek’s body. He fought back the darkness claiming his mate. “We need to shadow-walk, now. Hugh do you remember the canyon on the way to Albuquerque? The one with the old mine entrance boarded up? You pass by it all the time.”
“Sure, I remember.”
“That’s where we need to go.” Joe?
I’m following. I can see the convertible ahead of me.
We will meet you at the old mine entrance. Derek stood up and walked over to the shadows in the corner of the room. Seeing one that wavered, he pushed his hands in, palms together. As the cold of Shadow washed over him, he pulled his hands apart making a door.
“Holy shit! Derek’s hands are disappearing.”
“Guess it’s time you knew, Stacey. We don’t have time to blindfold you this time. Come on. Hold my hand, and whatever you do, don’t let go.” Derek reached back for her.
Hugh grabbed Stacey’s other hand, and they walked into the Shadow dimension. Derek paused a moment while Hugh closed the portal. Derek pictured the canyon and the entrance to the mine with rotting boards across it and a sign warning people to stay away. When he could see it all clearly in his mind, he moved forward, and the mine entrance appeared out of the swirls and eddies of mist.
Derek opened a new portal, and they stepped back onto the Earth plane. Stacey shivered and ran her hands up and down her arms. She looked at him, her eyes a little wild.
“Don’t freak out on us now, Stacey.” Derek closed the door into Shadow.
Hugh enfolded her in his embrace and whispered something in her ear. She leaned against him, and her shivering slowly stopped.
Love in the Shadows Page 10