Fever Claim (The Sigma Menace)

by Marie Johnston

  “It?” More moaning, then some shuttering breaths. “What do vampires look like?”

  Ugly fuckers, Jace wanted to say. How did he explain without disturbing her further, that they were stunning? Beautiful. Creatures of the night that hunted humans with their minds and bodies. “They look like you’d want them to suck your blood.”

  “Great. Hot vampires. Awesome,” Cassie ground out between moans. “I really need the Guardians to come with me to talk to that patient I had committed. I really thought he lost it, but I think everything he was saying was true.”

  Tears ran down her face. “Jace… I can’t do this. It hurts so bad. What do we do?”

  His mind raced for answers. “Let me ease you. We can give them a show. We’ve got a blanket for cover, we can make it look and sound like we’re having sex when I’m just giving you some release.”

  He expected resistance, some sort of excuse from his rational female who never acted on impulse. Instead, she flipped the blanket over them and frantically unbuttoned her pants. Before he could tell her to slow down, she grabbed his hand bringing it into the furnace of her feminine folds.

  The breath whooshed out of him. Fuuuuck, she was on fire. The bed should be smoldering under her delicate body. Still holding his wrist with both hands, she fervently rocked against him. Jace clenched his jaw so hard his teeth might break. He didn’t move otherwise. Didn’t kiss her, didn’t wrap her up in his embrace, didn’t even twine his legs through hers—not that he could, they were securely clenched.

  His mate fell apart against his hand within seconds, the strength of her orgasm slamming against his mental shields, urging him to finish joining their bodies. For a brief moment she lay still, sweat beading her forehead, eyes closed, her breathing slowing for the first time since the drugs hit.

  “How do we stop this?” Cassie pondered, eyes still closed. The fire burning within her temporarily cooled, but the insidious burn began again where his hand was still joined with her body. “I want my body back. I want that sick feeling in my chest to go away.”

  Sick feeling? Was the dose effecting her whole body? Or did she mean their connection, the place in her heart where she could feel him and know he was hers? They were forever linked, two joined as one. Did she want to break that link? The very thought devastated him.

  “Jaaaace.” Her hands released their clasp on his wrist to grab his shirt collar and press herself closer to him.

  “I’ll help you as much as you need, baby. Just like this. If I do more—kiss you, hold you, see any bare inch of your lovely body—I don’t think I can stop. Your scent is calling to me, driving me crazy, making my wolf want to howl sensing your need.” With that he rolled her over onto her back, and rose above her, his fingers deftly working her fevered flesh. She was soaked, her juices coating him and her panties as she rode his hand. He longed to be down there, using his tongue instead to lap at her sweet release before taking her with the part of the his body that was in extreme pain, straining against his jeans to get to her, continuing to thicken with each wave of his female’s desire.

  He slid one finger into her tight channel. Cassie bucked, clenching around him so he couldn’t slide a second one in. Grinding his teeth together, thinking of only her comfort and ignoring his own raging need keeping him as solid as granite, he leaned his head down next to hers, in case he did something detrimental to this situation and kiss her, because it wouldn’t stop at a kiss. He concentrated only on his fingers, working them in and out of her taut body, and not on how the creamy tops of her breasts peeked from her shirt. Rejecting how easy it would be to lift the hem up and expose her flushed skin so he could cool her off by licking paths along her torso and blowing on them. Yeah, he had to disregard all that.

  She fisted his shirt, twisting, almost tearing it off as her second orgasm slammed through her. Her jean-clad legs spread far apart underneath him, wrapped around his waist briefly, before falling limp to the rumpled sheet. With her eyes closed again, utilizing this moment of reprieve to finally relax from the tension coursing through her splendid body, her head lolled to the side and she appeared like she could drift off into an easy sleep.

  “You’re beautiful,” he couldn’t help but murmur in her ear.

  “You’re full of shit,” she murmured back. Turning her head and opening her eyes, their faces an inch apart, she said, “This isn’t right.”

  “We’ll make it work,” he reassured her. They were forcefully mated, but he was confident that he could’ve won her over, gained her acceptance so it would’ve been inevitable. They were still together, he’d continue to be patient until she felt comfortable with their joining.

  “No,” Cassie shook her head. “We’ve got to get it out of me.”

  Confused, he didn’t have time to ponder what she meant. She abruptly pushed him back, sliding out from under him. She retched as she hit the floor and dove for the bucket in the corner. Cassie curled over it, gagging and heaving, her body trembling.

  Her sudden illness tamped down his raging desire. She lost what was left of their supper and the dessert they’d shared last night. Soon she’d be out of undigested products and her heaving showed no signs of letting up. Massaging her shoulders, he kept telling her she’d be okay, he’d make sure of it.

  In between retches, she gasped, “I can’t keep doing this. It won’t stop. What did they give me?”

  Grimly, he said, “I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t account for any interactions with other meds you’re taking. Are you on the pill?” He didn’t scent her fertility at any point they were together so he suspected she was taking something to stop it. Female shifters didn’t need to as they only became fertile with their mates, and then it was cyclic after that with long periods in between. They lived a long time; there was no need to yield to a monthly need to procreate. The theory was that human mates continued their normal cycles since it was more difficult to create interspecies young.

  Another round of dry heaves. His ears just caught her answer of “shot” in between. Sigma fucked up something they gave her. The drugs were intended to keep her writhing on the bed until he gave in to palliate them both. If they were going to keep her like this instead, she wouldn’t survive the rest of the day. Despite the waves of pheromones rolling off her, he didn’t sense fertility from her. Either it was too soon, or the drugs weren’t working like Sigma thought they should.

  Cassie sat back on her knees, wiping her mouth weakly with the back of her hand. Jace remained behind her, rubbing her back. There was no bathroom, no sink in this hut. To Madame G, they were just rutting animals ruled by instinct and hormones.

  “God, I still burn,” she croaked, squirming. But the movement set off another tidal wave of pheromones and again the intended response did not occur, instead she bent back over the bucket retching noisily.

  Cassie continued for a few more rounds, while Jace pounded on the door yelling that his mate was sick. After one intense episode, he abandoned the door to kneel beside her again. She pushed away the bucket and remained on her hands and knees, attempting to crawl away.

  “Do you want to be back on the bed? Let me carry you.” He reached around her to help her up and she fell limp in his arms.

  ***

  Splintering wood drew Cassie back to consciousness. This structure might be enhanced like the Agents, but it wasn’t going to hold up to a male terrified for his mate. The building shook again as Jace rammed the weakening door with his body. Voices shouted outside, the Agents preparing to take him down as soon as he stepped into daylight. They could kill him.

  No! Her voice didn’t work.

  One last mighty kick from his heavily-booted foot rendered the door useless. A strip of wood still hung where the deadbolts and doorknobs remained, the rest of the door ripped from the hinges.

  “I’m bringing her out,” Jace called. “Don’t fucking shoot. She’s sick.”

  “Did I or did I not say that this was a shit plan and he’d tear this place apart with his b
are hands, hmmm?” X was out in the trees with them, still as convivial as ever. “Relax big guy. Grab your girl and we’ll take her to our lovely abode, get her back in working order.”

  Cassie weakly struggled into a sitting position as Jace stalked toward her, concern and determination on his handsome features. She shook her head. “No, no, no. We can’t go with them.”

  Gathering her in his arms, he brought his mouth close to ear so he could speak without being overheard. “We’ll make our move soon, but we’ve got to get you out of here.”

  Maneuvering them through the remnants of the door, Jace stepped outside. Cassie blinked rapidly against the strength of the sun but Jace didn’t flinch or squint in the slightest. His diamond gaze swept the Agents in front of him and the surrounding woods, inhaling to determine scents and locations.

  “Car’s here,” X announced, as Cassie heard the crunching of tires in the distance. They must’ve set this up near a remote road so they didn’t have far to drag two unconscious bodies in the dark last night. “Remember… you’re still in our crosshairs…” X finished in a sing-song voice, crossing in front of them to meet the on-coming SUV.

  The vehicle bumped along the unkempt gravel road where grasses and weeds had grown into the wheel tracks. A man, all in camouflage like the others, drove and Agent D was in the passenger side. Both men climbed out after pulling to a stop. The driver, holding a long-range rifle, opened the back door, expecting Cassie and Jace to get inside. If they got into that backseat, it was over. They would have no more chances to escape, they would be Madame G’s toys, her baby-making factory at whim.

  Agent D covered the other side. The ornate dagger box was still hooked to his belt. Why it needed to be kept in their vicinity, she didn’t know, but she did know that if she could get a hold of it, she’d have their key to freedom from the oily clutches of the dark lady and her devoted Agents. Even in her sickened state, she could feel the tight clench of evil around her heart tightening with the dagger so close.

  Jace held onto Cassie as tightly as he could, tensed and ready to spring. Cassie wondered what he sensed that she couldn’t. She wrapped her arms around him as best she could, her injured hand still slowly oozing from Madame G’s dagger. Her stomach roiled with each movement, but the shot of adrenaline from breaking free of the cabin and the uncertainty of their escape kept her hormones from skyrocketing further and making her sick all over Jace.

  The wind kicked up, rustling old leaves, and died down just as quickly. For a moment, it was eerily silent, and then Cassie heard it—howling. More than one wolf bayed in the distance and they were closing in.

  “And there they are,” X muttered.

  “Guardians,” the driver confirmed. “Get in.” he ordered.

  That was the last thing Cassie wanted to do, but she understood why Jace finally acquiesced. Left outside, it was at least three to two, if she would even be counted as an opponent in her weakened condition. She had no idea how many Agents were still in the woods, and the steel around the vehicle would provide some protection if gunfire were to break out.

  Jace set her gently inside and was sliding in next to her when she heard the muffled gunshot and shouts from the woods. He immediately covered her with his body as the driver slammed the door behind him. They were left alone in the SUV while the Agents attempted to standoff against the Guardians.

  “You okay?” Jace asked.

  Cassie nodded, as much as she could with her head tucked under his protective upper body.

  “The Guardians just took out a sniper, and I think they got them both. Cassie, do you think you can run? At all?”

  Cassie nodded again, her stomach lurching at the thought, but it wouldn’t matter. She’d throw up on the go if she had to.

  “We’re surrounded by the Guardians. As soon as there’s an opening between the three Agents left, we’re gone. Understand?”

  Cassie peeked up, out of Jace’s embrace, to look out the window. The remaining, and most formidable Agents had them surrounded. X and the driver with his rifle were on one side, with Agent D still on the passenger side, but all three faced the trees where the Guardians prowled.

  “Don’t lose that dagger, Double D,” X called over her shoulder, checking on the couple. “We wouldn’t want to nullify this whole deal.”

  “Shut the fuck up X!” Agent D angrily shouted back at her.

  “Do you have sights on them?” the driver shouted.

  “Negative,” X replied calmly, gun in one hand, whipping around when the SUV rocked slightly with the sound of hissing air. “Fuck, they got a tire. We’ll need to have a good old fashioned standoff.”

  Agent D unloaded the clip from one of his weapons into the trees, firing almost blindly. When he opened the vehicle door to dig out another clip from a metal chest in the front, he caught Cassie looking at the dagger box dangling from his belt.

  “Face down, you dog-humping bitch,” he snarled, shoving the fresh clip in, the waves of hate for them rolling off him. She jerked her head back down. He must’ve been an easy recruit for Madame G.

  Jace coiled over her, a low growl rumbling from his chest. “You already had your warning… Double D,” he stressed snidely. Cassie drew in on herself, knowing Agent D wouldn’t allow an insult from Jace pass.

  The comment earned a snarl from the man leaning across the front seat and he lunged toward Jace to slam the butt of his gun into Jace’s skull. Before Cassie could draw in a breath to warn Jace, he reached over with a speed she didn’t know he possessed, grabbed Agent D’s hand on the gun, and slammed his arm straight over the seat. Bones crunched and the gun dropped into her lap. Agent D cried out in pain, drawing a knife with his other hand to strike at Jace’s throat.

  Cassie flung her hand up to send it off its intended path. The knife ripped across the fabric of the SUV’s ceiling. Jace grabbed the gun from her lap, reached back, and shoved it into Agent D’s chest pulling the trigger.

  Cassie yelped, Agent D slumped over, and all that could be heard was her own and Jace’s heavy breathing. The Sigma Agents had to have heard the shot. Would they come rushing back to the vehicle and deal with them, or did the shot get lost in the ones already being traded between the Agents and the Guardians?

  The wolves were baying, closer this time, but so random and frequently it was hard to tell how far away and how many there were. The Agents outside the car fired shots into the woods, those shots getting returned by tufts of dirt and leaves flying up around the Agents’ feet.

  Jace rummaged through Agent D’s pockets for more weapons while Cassie snagged the dagger box.

  “It’s time to run. If we can get into the woods, we have a chance.” Jace eased the back passenger door open for them to drop out since the death of Agent D left the much sought after opening they needed.

  “Is he dead?” It made her feel better to whisper. She didn’t know if it was necessary but all of these people heard way better than Cassie.

  “I don’t sense a heartbeat, but they said he was enhanced so…” Jace helped her glide down to the ground, still clutching the opulent box to her chest, scarcely making any noise on the rough gravel. He moved down next to her with a grace and assuredness that made up for his size.

  What does that mean? She didn’t want to hang around Agent D in case “hopefully dead” didn’t mean well and truly dead. Not willing to make any more commotion, even with just a whisper, she remained silent, waiting for Jace’s instruction.

  Afraid any movement would make a sound, she looked questioningly at him. His brows were drawn together as he scanned the woods to determine their best route. They had to get to cover fast, otherwise the remaining two Agents could easily wound them, or worse. They weren’t distracted enough to not see or hear them trying to get away.

  Cassie almost missed the wolf, it barely moved, waiting in the thicker foliage of the trees, completely camouflaged. Jace rose, taking her with him, and used his body to shield her from the driver and X as they took off into the same
dark area the wolf appeared from.

  X and the driver shouted. Sheer terror spurred her forward. She was a moving target with a giant bulls-eye printed on her back. Wood chips exploded from trees around her as bullets made their mark. She was sure she would lose Jace, be unable to keep up since he effortlessly kept pace with her frantic fleeing through the trees.

  More gunfire echoed through the trees. Cassie stole a glance over her shoulder. The two remaining Agents were being held off by gunfire from the woods.

  Her foot caught on a tree root and she dropped the box, flying headfirst next to a tree trunk. Jace’s strong arms lifted her back up so they could keep running.

  “Wait the box!” she cried. Jace found it first, tucked it into his side, and grabbed her hand with his free one. Their pace was no longer the initial frantic run to get away as fast as possible, but more of a quick rush allowing her to pick through the brush with relative ease.

  Slaps from low-hanging branches stung her face and her sliced hand burned, but it could have been much worse.

  Cassie drew in a quick breath as a wolf veered in running next to them. She hoped the beast was a Guardian.

  The terrain became steep and Jace had to let her go so they could clamber up using all fours. A dark form waited at the top. Cassie could make out the outline of a wolf. But which one?

  Jace dropped behind her to help finish their ascent, and with his hand on her back guided her over. “Stop here,” and they dropped down to their bellies.

  “What’s the plan, boss?” Jace spoke quietly, peering up and over to get a view of where they’d come from.

  Boss? Wasn’t that—? Cassie yelped as she looked up to find a very naked Christian standing there. She looked away, knowing she was blushing furiously, and it shouldn’t matter; they were running for their lives. The random naked men, she’d never get used to.

  “The Guardians are holding off X and E, but without the firepower they can only do so much. Kaitlyn’s got the long-range weapon, and one of the twins is on his way with more firepower, but we didn’t have much time to mobilize when I got your call.”