by Tl Reeve
“Get a room,” Gee grunted next to them.
“Kizzy, this is Gee.”
“We’ve met…kind of. I don’t want to brag, but my first impression skills are…horrible. My apologies.”
“Those matrons will be the death of me.” He winked at her. “Have you told her about the festivities?”
“Uh….”
“Miss Fern attempted to tell me about them. I blocked it out, I’m afraid.”
Gee glanced between Sayer and her. “What about the honey?”
“Um.” He narrowed his eyes.
He grunted, returning his focus to Kizzy. “There’s going to be a scavenger hunt. Your item is honey.”
“Easy,” she said. “We can grab a bottle at the little store in town.”
Gee made a rumbling noise that almost sounded like a laugh. “Not so fast. I would like you to find a specific kind, only produced here in South Dakota.”
He put what Gee said out of his mind the minute he said it, in hopes if he didn’t think about it, it would go away.
“It’s rare, and the sweetest. It’s gathered from the hive of a tricolored honey bee.”
“Whoa.” She grabbed a pen from her satchel then wrote down what Gee requested on one of his napkins. “How long do we have to find this?”
“Five days.”
“What?” she yelped.
“Would’ve had longer if Sayer hadn’t pussyfooted around and told you when he came and got you.”
Confusion filled her features. “I don’t understand.”
“I will request the item from you at the Solstice celebration.” Without another word, Gee strolled off.
“Am I missing something, or was that strange?”
Sayer gave a weak chuckle. “Welcome to Los Lobos.”
“This is absolutely ridiculous. How are we going to find fresh honey in the middle of a snowstorm?” They’d battened down the hatches, so to speak, when they walked in the door. A winter storm had blown in before they’d been ready for it.
“The bees are indigenous.” He shrugged when she gave him a curious look. “We can find it.”
“Says the man who has to work.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
He pounced, trapping her to the couch. Covering her body with his, the heat radiating from him aroused her. He pushed his hands under her shirt, and the rough pads of his fingers seared her skin. “We can’t.”
“We can mess around a little.” He kissed her again before pulling off her shirt. “Besides, it’s snowing.”
She laughed. “What does the snow have to do with you getting ready for work?”
He nibbled on her jaw then dragged his tongue along the abused flesh. “Nothing. Just trying to get in your pants.”
Her hips flexed when he nipped at her neck. “You’re doing a good job of it.” She shoved her hands under his shirt then leaned up to bite his stomach. She traced his tattoo with the tip of her tongue then drew his nipple into her mouth. The rough growl emanating from him thrilled her.
“You’re playing with fire, girl.” Sayer fisted her hair, pulling her away from him. A fierce glow of possessiveness burned brightly in his brown eyes.
The wistful sigh falling from her lips surprised her. “Will you kiss away the sting if I get singed?”
He attacked. Burying his face in her neck, he rocked his body against hers in the most intimate of ways. The hedonistic sounds he made while using his hand to rip open her pants had her shivering with need. Yes, this man. Only yesterday, she’d wanted to leave, get as far away from him as she could. Now, she couldn’t think of a better place to be.
Kizzy fit her hands between them and undid his jeans. She worked the zipper over his thick erection. He might be late for work, but both of them would be satisfied. She palmed his cock. The juxtaposition between the silky feel of his skin, and the hardness of his engorged flesh mystified her. She stroked him then drew her thumb over his slit and gathered his essence. When his gaze locked with hers, she licked the appendage and groaned. Spice and something wild danced along her taste buds. Never had another man tasted so incredibly exotic and wicked. She craved him. Wanting another sample of him, she gathered a bead of precum and brought it to her mouth.
“Woman….”
She shivered at his breathless tone. “Man.” She arched a brow while drawing her finger into her mouth.
“You’re about to get fucked. Hard, fast, and dirty.”
“You don’t say.”
An eerie glow turned the color of his eyes to a golden hue once more. She gave herself a mental shake. No. Can’t happen. It’s a trick of the light. Before she could test her theory, he flipped her over, placing her on her hands and knees.
“I do say.” He yanked her pants down, exposing her overheated skin to the tepid air. His hand covered her sex as he laid his chest to her back. He teased her, brought her to the brink of madness before pulling back. Her breath hitched as he slid his finger through her folds. “Mmm, so wet.”
She whimpered and wiggled her hips.
“Not yet. You can take more.” Two of his broad fingers filled her. He groaned. “I could stay inside you forever.”
Her heart gave a heavy thump. Her mind pushed the idea aside because, just yesterday, he’d wanted nothing to do with her. The conflicting signals he gave off confused her. Yes, she wanted him more than her next breath, but at what cost? She’d already given up on her chance to go home, or more importantly, the snow had her second-guessing getting away safely. “Don’t. Not right now.”
“Soon,” he said. “You’ll believe me.”
She missed his touch, as he withdrew his fingers from her, but he quickly fit his tip to her entrance. At the same moment he sat poised to fill her, a knock came at the door. Sayer stilled. He pressed his forehead to her spine. Their breaths came in heavy pants. Her body vibrated with anticipation. Maybe if they didn’t move or breathe for that matter, whoever would go away. She waited another beat. Another knock.
“Go away.” He nipped her shoulder then ran his tongue over the abused spot.
The knock came again, more insistent this time. He growled as he retreated. The weight of his body left hers. Bereft at the loss of his heat, she slowly slid her pants back into place then grabbed her shirt. Sayer, on the other hand, strolled toward the door sans shirt, while stuffing himself back into his pants before zipping up. Her mouth watered and her gut clenched at the sight of the wide expanse of his back. He was all power and dominance. Opening the door an inch, he dipped his head.
“Sorry.” What’s Elle doing here? “I thought, while you were working tonight, Kizzy could stay with us. I’ve been a horrible friend since she arrived.”
No, she hadn’t, although she did have shitty timing right now.
Besides, there were babies to tend to and a grieving family member. “I understand.” She inched over to where Elle stood and placed her hand on Sayer’s back. “You’ve got a lot on your plate.”
“Not a good enough reason to bail on you.” Her friend gave her a tight hug. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” She hugged her back. “Promise.” Glancing up at Sayer, she mouthed. “Can I go?”
He gave her a curt nod. “I will see you at daylight. Be safe.”
She broke away from Elle. “We will.” Kissing him, she waited as he grabbed the dinner she’d made him, his shirt, and his coat. “Be safe as well.”
He grinned. “Always.”
***
“This tanks.” She threw her pencil on the coffee table and sat back. Two hours later and she still wasn’t any closer to finding the honey. “Why aren’t you stressing over this?” She glanced up at her friend who’d brought her a cup of coffee.
“Because Graham’s and my item is easy.” Elle shrugged taking a seat beside her. “We’ll have it for the festivities.”
“Of course it is.” She blew on her drink then took a sip of the piping-hot brew. “I’m s
o out of my element here. I can’t even begin to tell you.”
Elle laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a frazzled Kizzy.”
“Ha-ha. Yuck it up, sister.” She stared at the website explaining what the hell a tricolored bumble bee was and where they were most active in the state. Supposedly, they were in a prime location for the little honey makers, but so far, no one knew a thing about them. “There’s nothing here.”
“Have you tried north of here? Or better yet, east?”
After placing her mug on the table, she picked up her laptop, typed a few key terms into the browser, and hit enter. The circle spun…and spun…and spun. Boy she missed her high-speed broadband Internet. This stuff was for the birds. When the page began to load, she sat back. This could take a few minutes. “So, how are things going?”
“You know. Every day is a step forward and two steps back. The babies are great, the adults, not so much.”
She nodded with a frown. “And Poppa?”
“Shut in. Drinks all the time. Lashing out at Gabby. At least she’s not taking it to heart. He’s devastated.” Elle took a sip of her drink.
“It’ll take time to heal him.” With the page finally loaded, she scanned it.
“Yeah. We know, and we’re worried.”
“Can’t blame you.” She scrolled down then stopped on a farm. They were in Aberdeen. About six hours away. They were open even in the winter. “I found it.”
Elle leaned into her. “Awesome.”
“Can I ask you something?” For the last several months, something had been off. From Elle not telling her where she lived, to everyone kind of looking at her as though she had a third eye in the middle of her forehead. There was a difference between people not taking to outsiders well and being downright secretive.
“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“When I followed you to Hill City, you didn’t tell me about this place. Now, it seems like everyone stares at me like I have the plague. What am I missing?” She meant to ask Sayer, but… a niggle at the back of her mind told her he’d remain tight-lipped, too.
“Sayer has to tell you.”
Blunt. To the point. “I’m asking you.”
Elle sighed. “I can’t tell you why. He has to. He knows he does, too.”
“So, I’m supposed to sit here and what? Wait?”
She frowned. “I’m sorry, Kizzy.”
“Yeah. Sure. I get it.” She didn’t, however she’d say so, to protect herself. Why does this place have to be so hard?
“Kizzy, please don’t be mad. It’s…hard on us here. We’re small and there have been things that happened here. It’s made us all a little…wary.”
“Including you?”
“No, not me. I’ve known you way too long to not trust you. Others, not so much.”
“Right.” She closed her laptop. “I think I should go.”
“It’s snowing again.” Elle pointed to the window. “You can’t walk. Sayer will be here at first light. Stay. Please?”
“I’ll take my chances.” She stood then grabbed her laptop and notebook.
“Kizzy, you should stay. I don’t need Sayer jumping my ass because you decided to pitch a fit.” Graham’s statement grated on her nerves.
“Because Sayer knows what’s best for me?”
He took a step toward her. “No, because if you go out there, you’re risking your life over a truth neither Elle nor I can give you.”
She groaned in frustration. “I’m getting sick and tired of this place.” Her muttered statement had Graham chuckling. “It’s not funny.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” He took a step backward and placed his hand on Elle’s shoulder. “Have you stopped to wonder why he hasn’t told you everything about him?”
“Oh my God, now this is my fault?”
He shrugged. “Have you taken the time to give him the benefit of the doubt about anything?”
“Has he done the same for me?”
“Touché.”
“I feel like everything is one big ball of lies. From you and from him. Every time someone opens their mouth, I find myself trying to decipher whether there is a truth there or if it’s just smoke up my ass, which technically happens more than three-quarters of the time. I just never say anything.”
“You’re not being lied to, Kizzy.” Elle stood. Her hands were fisted at her sides. “There are reasons why some things can’t be talked about. But, if you’d give him half a chance, he’d tell you.”
“Well, I’m sorry I’m not Miss Congeniality.” She threw her arms up in the air. “All I want is a little bit of feeling like I fit in around here and all I get is rejection after rejection.”
“You’re not being rejected.”
“I’m not?” She snorted. “First, you don’t tell me about this place. Second, you tell me I couldn’t come here, but you were safe. Third, a man comes with us every time we hang out, and then does the most deliciously, devious, depraved things to my body but leaves before I wake up in the morning and—”
“That’s my cue to exit this conversation.” Graham strode from the room, leaving them alone.
“There is a time and place for all your answers. I swear it. But, Sayer has to tell you everything.” Elle wrapped her arm around her and pulled her to the couch. “Going out there to catch your death will only piss Sayer off and put us on his vastly long shit list.”
“Fine.” She’d wait. And, when she finally got him alone again, she’d demand answers and not stop till he told her everything.
Chapter Eight
It had taken them three days to be able to get out of town and head to Aberdeen. In that time, Sayer tried to come up with ways to open up to her. Fear, he realized, was a very palpable thing. He also figured out he couldn’t do a damn thing on his own anymore. He set up a schedule with Brie. Talking seemed so…girly, but after one session with her, he felt better. Like a weight had been taken off his shoulders. Of course, one session wasn’t a cure-all. It would take time.
He glanced at Kizzy as she stared out the passenger window. They’d been on the road for a couple of hours already, and they’d said nary a word to each other. “Elle told me you worked with kids in North Carolina.”
“I did.” She gave him her full attention.
“What did you do?”
“I taught special needs kids.”
Sayer quirked a brow.
“I helped all the students who needed an extra hand, and those students who were slow learners.”
“And you did this on your own?” Sounded time-consuming and taxing.
“I did. Sometimes I had an assistant. Most of the time, it was only me and the kids.” The love in her voice, along with a bit of longing, warmed him. She really did love those kids. She’d make a great mom someday.
Damn, there you go again, getting ahead of yourself.
“You miss it.”
She nodded. “I’d be lying if I said no.”
“So, if you enjoyed your job and loved your kids, why did you leave it all behind?” Missing a friend was one thing. A person could take vacation to see them or vice versa. Giving up on something she loved didn’t sit right for him.
“Because I really didn’t have a life.”
Truth.
“Because you think you’re different and people don’t like it?”
She nodded.
“You’re not different,” he whispered. “I think you’re perfect.”
She blushed. “Thanks. What about you?”
Ah, the million dollar question. “My life is complicated. My parents are dead. I have a brother or a sister I don’t know, and I haven’t any clue where they might be.”
“Sayer,” she murmured. “I’m sorry.”
“I hung onto their death for so long, I lost my ability to connect with anyone else.” Taking her hand in his, he kissed the back of it. “Until this unique, amazing contradiction walked into my li
fe.”
“She must be pretty awesome.”
He laughed. “She’s a pain in my ass.” He grew serious. “Kizzy, what happened to my parents changed something in me in the most basic and fundamental ways. I lost the ability to love and care for anyone. I lost my ability to show compassion.”
“I beg to differ. I see a man who loves his friends enough he’d act like a private bodyguard. A man who loves his town enough to do a job, no matter what it is, in the blinding snow. I see a man who’s afraid of his own shadow but won’t hesitate to fight battles for anyone who needs him.”
His wolf puffed out his chest. Mate. Yes, he got it. She was his mate. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She grinned. “So, how did your parents die?”
He could evade her question and give some generic tragic accident, yet he didn’t want to be coy about it. “They were murdered. Home invasion. I watched it all.” Mostly true. Right now he couldn’t tell her about Magnum. He still hesitated with the big things.
She gasped. Tears filled her eyes.
Were those for him? “Hey now, it was a long time ago. It’s okay.”
“Did they ever catch who did it?”
He nodded. “Yeah. They’re all dead now.”
“Do you have any way of searching for your sibling?” A hopeful glint entered her gaze.
“I planned on talking to a few people in town about it after the festivities. I’d love to know if he or she survived.”
“You mean you don’t know? How’s that possible?”
“My mom….” Man, how to explain without telling her everything at one time? “She disappeared for a couple of days, and I spent time with friends to get away for a while. When I came home, that’s when the people had my mom and dad. The memories are sketchy at best. I was so focused on everything but them.”
“Have you tried hypnosis?” She hung on every word he said, basically willing him to continue.
“No. I’ll talk to Brie about it when I see her next.”
“The therapist Elle works for?”