“Guys, from what you’ve told me about your business, you’re around people a lot. Trust me. They won’t accept a blind person moving in.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” asked Eric.
“It’s a well-known prejudice. There is no blind acceptance in the world.”
David growled. “Our friends and family will accept you just fine, blind or not.”
Laynee sighed. “I can’t make any decisions until I can take care of this business with my father. I don’t wanna feel like I have to keep looking over my shoulders all the time.”
David pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “Don’t you worry about anything. We’ll help you get things settled, and what we can’t do, Zyne will do legally. When we take you home there won’t be any problems left.”
* * * *
Remus studied the young attorney. “Zyne, what can she do?” He’d only passed the bar a few months back, but he’d been at the top of his class. He could have accepted several different offers to prestigious firms, but he’d brought his skills back to his pack. It couldn’t have been easy growing up with Lyssa as an older sister, but the boy was everything Remus could hope for in a pack member.
“First, we need to take any photo identification she has, along with her birth certificate, to her grandfather’s attorney and then the bank that holds his accounts. The faster we establish her ownership of the estate, the better off she’ll be. Even now, if he had her sign a power of attorney, he could have begun to drain the estate and it would be considered legal.”
“Could he have emptied it already?”
Zyne shook his head. “Not likely. If the estate is large, any attempt to remove all funds would have triggered a major red flag, and the bank would have brought in the authorities. In some cases, that’s a sign someone is trying to hide income from the internal revenue service.”
“What about his house?”
“Once we have the necessary paperwork from his attorney, we can occupy the house and change all the locks. Again, faster would be better in case he wants to try and empty the contents. Since she didn’t know her grandfather well, she wouldn’t know if he kept valuables at home. There could be cash, stocks, bonds, even fine jewelry. We just don’t know. With her handicap, I recommend getting someone she trusts to do a thorough inventory of every inch of the place. The attorney handling the estate should have at least a partial inventory that she could start with. The old man might not have put everything of value on it. Of course, some personal items will have value to her, but not necessarily monetary value.”
“If she’s been locked away in a school her entire life, who can she trust to do an inventory like that for her?”
“Couldn’t Eric and David take care of it? I thought they were mates.”
Remus sighed. “They are, but she doesn’t know it yet. I’ve given them permission to tell her about themselves tonight, before she goes to confront her father.” He shrugged. “There’s always the possibility that she’ll reject them on the basis of what they are. She’s been pretty sheltered, and I don’t honestly think she’s given much thought to anything paranormal in her life.”
“If she has any difficulties, I could recommend several individuals that could do an inventory for her that are totally trustworthy. I’ll mention it to her when we go see the attorney.”
“Then she did agree to let you help.”
“Yes, sir. She called me right after she left here. Unless she changes her mind, I’m meeting her and David and Eric at the cabin in the morning and we’re all driving to the nearest highway patrol office. From there, after we settle things with them, we’re driving to the airport and taking a plane to Minneapolis.”
“Keep me in the loop as to what’s happening. I won’t call and harass you unless I don’t hear from you.” He leaned forward and focused his gaze on the young man. “Any signs of trouble with the humans and I want you to get back here as fast as you safely can, and bring them with you.”
Zyne nodded and got to his feet. “Understood, Alpha Remus.”
“One more thing. Did your sister tell you where she disappeared to last night?” Remus knew the two siblings were very close.
“No, she didn’t. In fact, she’s been reluctant to even talk to me since she got home. It’s very strange and troubling. She’s always thrived on being the center of attention, and suddenly, today, she’s content to be off by herself doing heaven only knows what. She wouldn’t even sit down and eat breakfast with the family this morning.”
“Keep an eye on her as much as possible. I’m not sure why, but I think she’s in some kind of trouble, and she’ll need help eventually to get straight.”
Zyne groaned and straightened. “I’ll do as you ask, Alpha. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find out her secrets before they come back to bite us in the ass.”
Remus chuckled as the young man left. Some kind of trouble was brewing in his pack, and he definitely needed to find out what before everything hit the fan.
Chapter 7
“Damn it to hell!” Robert Conners slammed the phone down and turned to glare at his associate. Jeremy’s eyes were wide, his hands clenched at his side.
“What’s wrong?”
“Wyoming Search and Rescue is widening the search area and bringing in a helicopter for higher elevations.”
“Why would that upset you? They’re bound to find her sooner or later.”
“Because I can’t have her declared legally dead until they stop the search.”
“The lawyers tell you that?”
“Yes, I can’t access her funds until she’s declared legally dead.”
“I thought they had to be missing for several years before they’d declare someone dead.”
“There are extenuating circumstances, based on people’s eyewitness testimony that we were together and the fact that she’s blind and considered unable to function out in the wilds by herself.”
“Are you sure this lawyer knows what he’s talking about? Sounds fishy to me. Besides, I thought you had a power of attorney for her.”
“No, I only had her sign a will. It never occurred to me that her body wouldn’t be found right away. Even if the animals got her, there would be traces of her clothes or something they could use to identify her with.”
“What are you gonna do now? Mr. Cates will be back from Europe next week, and he’ll spend some time going over the books the way he always does. It’s gonna be very noticeable that you’ve been playing around with the figures.”
“We’re gonna have to find a way to stall him.”
“We! In your dreams. It’s your neck out there, not mine. Hell, you even told the cops that you were alone with Laynee. You need to start thinking on how you’re gonna get out of this.” Jeremy studied him for a moment. “Do you have anything worth selling? I might be persuaded to handle the sale for you so the authorities don’t catch on.”
Robert shook his head. “I don’t have anything, but I’m gonna head over to the old man’s house tonight and see if there’s anything there that wouldn’t be missed. Years ago, he kept cash around for his spoiled daughter. Maybe he still keeps some in his office. Hell, if I’m lucky, I’ll find the combination to the safe in his office.”
“Did they tell you how long you’d have to wait before declaring Laynee dead?”
“I told you. They won’t consider it until Search and Rescue gives up and calls off the search. Hell, it could be weeks before they’re willing to give up since she’s so young.”
“I’m going with you to the house.”
Robert frowned. “Why?”
“Because two of us looking would be faster.”
Robert studied the younger man for a moment and then nodded. “Fine, let’s get out of here. We’ll head over to his estate and see what we can find.”
* * * *
David took Laynee’s plate. “Did you get enough to eat, honey?”
“Are you kidding? I’m stuffed. Who made the chili?”
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Eric laughed. “We got it out of Maddie’s freezer. I actually like cooking, and chili is one of my favorite dishes.”
“I’ve never had it with so much meat, but I liked it.”
“Wasn’t too spicy, was it?” asked Eric.
“No, not at all.”
David placed the dishes in the pan of water Eric heated on the stove and quickly washed and dried them. It hadn’t taken long to clean up the little cabin and get a fire started. Now, they had made a bed for the three of them with the sleeping bags they brought and he was anxious to spend some quality time with their mate. Eric had wanted to tell her about their animals first, but David had reasoned that if they scared her, she might run, and then she’d be without protection. So Eric had agreed to wait until they reached her home in St. Paul. Neither of them wanted to risk her safety, so they’d drawn straws to see who would stand guard while she slept. Eric would patrol the perimeter in his wolf form, and David would spend some alone time with their mate. Once they reached St. Paul, Eric would get his private time.
Eric took Laynee’s arm and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, pretty lady. I’ve got your bed all made up. I’m gonna take the first watch, and I thought you might like to lie down and relax for a bit with David.”
Laynee giggled. “You want me to relax?”
Eric nuzzled her neck. “Among other things.”
“What about you, David?” Laynee asked. “Are you wanting to relax with me?”
David hurried over and pulled her into his arms. “I want to relax with you in the worst way.”
“Then I guess we’d better get off our feet,” she whispered. “I’d hate to be the reason you guys lost any rest.” She took Eric’s hand. “You will be back, right?”
Eric pulled her close and kissed her lips lightly. “I won’t be far, pretty lady. We, each, want to spend some alone time with you. David will have you tonight, and I’ll claim you for a night after we get settled in your new home.”
She nodded. “Okay, just be careful out there. It’s felt like someone was watching us all afternoon.”
Eric looked at David and frowned.
David shook his head. He hadn’t sensed anything.
Eric shrugged. “Okay, I’ll be careful. That’s a promise.” He glanced at David and nodded before going out the door.
David turned to Laynee and pulled her into his arms. “I’ve looked forward to spending some time alone with you.”
“Does it bother you that we’re always together, the three of us?”
“No, honey, not at all. Fate meant for us to be together. But, sometimes, it’s nice to be alone and learn more about each other.”
“Then let’s not waste our time, David.”
* * * *
David’s fingers traced her hairline as his lips touched hers softly, his tongue darting out, tracing her bottom lip. When a soft gasp parted her lips, he took advantage, slipping his tongue inside. They drank of each other, their tongues dancing, plundering. Laynee sank into him, letting the warmth of his chest comfort her. He breathed raggedly into her open mouth, his hands trailing down her back and settling on her buttocks. Deepening the kiss, his hand curved over her bottom, hauling her closer to his heat. Gently, he took her bottom lip between his teeth and tugged.
Laynee felt her nipples go taut beneath her top. Moving his hands to the hem of her shirt, he yanked it up and whipped it over her head. Cupping her breasts, he rubbed the tips through her lace bra. Laynee moaned and arched her back, filling his palms with her small, firm breasts. His fingers went to the front catch of her bra and with a flick of his finger, her bare breasts were released. David bowed his head to one breast and laved the nipple hungrily, while kneading the other between his fingertips. He captured the tip between his thumb and fingers and gently squeezed.
Laynee dipped her hand under the hem of his shirt, steered her fingers over the silky swirl of muscle that crisscrossed his back, and then dragged her nails down his warm skin. She wanted to know about the scars she could feel, but she didn’t want to risk ruining the mood for either of them.
David’s tongue traced around her areola before he bit down gently. She could feel the bristles from his chin scraping the sensitive skin of her breasts. Growling softly, he leaned back and moved his hands to her waist. He undid her jeans and shoved them roughly down her hips, taking her panties with them. Cool air surrounded her fevered skin when he stepped back. She heard the rustling of clothing and then the loud rasp of his zipper. Hands cupped her ass and pulled her against his hard frame.
Callused fingers curved over her bare flesh, stroking the sensitive skin again and again. One finger parted her cheeks and brushed lightly over the delicate sphincter, causing her to gasp and the muscles of her pussy clench. David groaned. “Someday we’re gonna want to make love to you here.” He touched his lips softly to hers. “But not today.”
Laynee trembled. “The thought of that scares me.”
“Nothing to be scared of, love. I promise we’d never hurt you intentionally. It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but I guarantee we can take your mind off the burn so you feel nothing but pleasure.”
Laynee lifted her hands to his chest and skated her palms upward, clutching at his shoulders. Lifting to her toes, she sucked his earlobe between her lips, nipping it gently with her teeth. David’s hands swept slowly down the length of her body while his mouth moved to her shoulders and back up her throat to her mouth, gently licking his way past her lips.
Laynee ended their kiss and traced her hands across his chest, letting her fingers slide through the soft hairs, learning his body like a Braille reader. Leaning forward, she flicked the tip of her tongue back and forth across one male nipple a couple of times, enjoying the way it firmed against her tongue. Groaning, she arched her back, rubbing her aching breasts against his chest. His heart thundered against her own, the rapid beating of both mixing and mingling until she wasn’t sure which was his and which was hers.
David began grinding his aroused shaft against her belly, his face buried in the curve of her neck.
“I need you to lay down, David, please. I wanna taste you.”
David’s body trembled as he lowered her to the bed they’d created on the floor. “Suck my cock, baby. I wanna feel your sweet lips sliding over me so bad.”
Laynee pushed him to his back, caught his cock in her hand, and ran her tongue around the head, sucking and licking. She caught his hips, pulling him toward her as she opened her mouth wide to take his erection fully into her mouth. She gripped his shaft firmly, pumping him as she inched her slick lips over the crown. He groaned harshly when she raked her teeth lightly along the underside of his shaft, letting her fingers rub the liquid forming at the slit into his skin. Moving to take in his musky flavor, she took the tip in her mouth and swirled her tongue around it, and then sucked harder and brought up her other hand to cup the heavy flesh between his legs. Her body shivered as she worked her tongue up and down his shaft, blood and lust coursing through her veins.
“Enough, woman.” David reached down and caught her under the arms, pulling her up the length of his body, then turned suddenly, sheltering her with his warmth. She gasped at the feel of his full length against her soft body.
“I don’t wanna come until I’m buried in your wet heat.” Lowering his head, he captured one of her nipples in the moist, warm suction of his lips. Her legs spread wider when he drew the tip between his teeth with an edge of roughness. Moving restlessly beneath him, she caressed his arms, his shoulders, his back, every part that she could reach.
Sliding down, David settled his upper body between her spread thighs. Her legs trembled, her muscles going weak, as his fingertips worked tiny circles on her sensitive inner thigh. He moved his hand to the inside of her thigh and gently brushed between her legs with his knuckles. Her entire body shivered in response.
Her pussy started to ache, and wetness pooled between her legs as his hand drifted up her thigh, finding its way to her nake
d pussy. A groan escaped her lips as she opened her legs a little more. David rubbed circles on her belly before he combed his fingers through the curls covering the entrance to her sex. Her breath caught when he found her clit and rubbed it before pushing a finger inside her core. He pinched her aching clit sensuously between two fingers, sending arrows of fire up through her body, and then began pumping his fingers in and out of her channel.
Catching her legs, David parted them more and covered her mound with his mouth. Opening her folds with his fingers, he began to lick at her clit. “Baby, you taste so good, like fine honey.” He explored her folds with his tongue and fingers. “Come over my tongue,” he whispered. “Give me what I need, mate.”
Something warm and wet flicked against her clit before she felt the suction of his mouth, and then he began to fuck her slowly with his tongue. Laynee gasped and dug her fingernails into his scalp. Her body stiffened, and she shuddered under his hands. Her breathing quickened as she strained toward a release. “Please, don’t stop, David. I need…please…need to.” Then, with a keening moan, she let her head fall back as shivers of delight danced up her spine.
David moved to his knees quickly. She felt him place the head of his cock at her entrance. She breathed raggedly as it slowly began to push inside her. As he slid through her cleft, she sucked in a deep breath. A burning feeling gripped her as he slowly forced the length of his shaft into her body. With several firm pushes, he slid into her, sheathing himself until their bodies met, withdrawing and pushing again in rough, jerky movements. “Lord, woman, you’re so tight. So tight and wet.”
Laynee dug her fingernails into the tops of his shoulders and squeezed his shaft with her strong, inner muscles. He pulled out only to slide back in. He withdrew and thrust deeply inside her again and again, in almost a frenzy of deep, stabbing thrusts. David hooked one of her legs over his arm and pounded into her.
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