by Eve Langlais
“It’s only a theory,” said Rafe, breaking his silence. “We won’t ever know what her intentions were, so let’s focus on what we can do.” He looked at Grey. “You have a plan to rescue Kaylie?”
“We do,” confirmed Grey.
“I’ll help.” Rafe looked indecisive for a moment, then he nodded. “In fact, you’ll have the entire Pearson bear clan at your disposable.”
“Excellent.” Grey stood. “We know that Kaylie is at the Mt. Charleston house. Guards have been doubled. He’s probably expecting someone to come after the baby. Our best chance is strike before dawn.”
“Will you kill Rand?” asked Gretchen.
Her question startled everyone.
She looked at Grey, resolve hardening in her heart. “Because if you don’t, I will.”
“You won’t have to,” said Rafe. “I’ll make sure that bastard stops breathing.”
Chapter Ten
RAFE COULDN’T SLEEP. He felt stifled in the small bedroom. He wore nothing but his boxers, but his claustrophobia was unrelenting. He shoved off the covers and stood, walking to the window on the left side of the bed. The guest bedrooms were upstairs in Aunt Lila’s house. Gretchen had taken the one across the hall from his. He wondered if she’d been able to sleep or if worry kept her awake.
Her guilt was eating her inside out. He knew that kind of guilt, it was the same he suffered from when Samantha had died trying to give birth to their child. They’d taken the baby from her womb and tried to revive … him. He swallowed the knot in his throat. His son. He’d lost his wife and his son on the same night. Aneurysm, the doctors said. The baby didn’t get enough oxygen. He’d suffocated in the womb.
A double tragedy–one that could not have been prevented.
Deep in his gut, he always believed that he’d somehow killed Samantha. She was a human trying to birth a bear shifter baby. Her body couldn’t handle the stress. His family had tried to convince him otherwise, and so had the doctors, but he couldn’t … wouldn’t listen to them. Someone had to pay for his loss, and he decided the only person he could punish was himself. He quit the force, moved into the cabin, and relived his pain over and over. Until Wolf found him. She appeared in his backyard when he was chopping wood, and the next thing he knew, he was feeding her and inviting her inside his home.
That was the day his healing had begun.
Even though he couldn’t let go of what happened, the pain began to ease. The memories didn’t hurt quite as much anymore. Combined all that with the efforts of his family, it had only been a matter of time before he would rejoin the world.
Kaylie had been the final push.
He owed that little girl a lot because she’d made him truly feel again.
So, yeah. Rafe understood Gretchen’s guilt. She couldn’t have known Trent Blackthorne would attack her. She didn’t know Trent and Vivian were werewolves, subject to rules she couldn’t fathom. Nor could she see into the future and know that Vivian would have to marry a Blackthorne.
Vivian chose to pay the blood debt, and tried to end the Blackthorne line not just for herself, but for future generations. He’d never known her, but her bravery and honor were apparent. Qualities that Gretchen had in spades, too.
A soft knock sounded at his door. “Rafe?”
He let Gretchen inside, his gaze drawn to the pink nightgown. She saw the direction of his look and pinched the side of the material. “Aunt Lila let me borrow it.”
He could just make out the dusky tips of her nipples poking through the silky fabric, and he had to bite back his groan of unbidden lust.
“I’m so jumbled up inside,” said Gretchen. “I want to stop thinking. For a little while at least. I need…” She trailed off and looked up at him with a luminous gaze.
Rafe pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She sank into his body, and he enveloped her fully into his embrace as he deepened his conquering of her mouth. He scooped her up and carried her to the bed. The mattress dipped beneath his weight as he leaned forward to drape Gretchen over the messy covers before he joined her.
He knew he should be thinking about the way things turned out with Samantha. He should give Gretchen comfort, instead of giving in to their baser needs. But she smelled so good. And dear God, she felt like redemption.
His heart thudded erratically. It had been a long time since he’d made love to a woman. There’d been no one since Samantha. He was nearly overwhelmed by the idea of taking Gretchen, of letting her fill the empty spaces inside him, of giving to her what he had once reserved for another.
But he did so gladly.
The ghost of Samantha faded, and then there was only Gretchen in his mind, in his heart.
The deep coral of her areolas and
Her blonde hair fanned out against the pillows. He picked up a strand and rubbed it between his fingers. It was a cool blonde, the color of winter sunsets. He inhaled her purely unique scent, which reminded him yet again of the sweetness he associated with honey.
Gretchen leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on his mouth, but her hands, her wicked, wicked hands, dipped into his boxers and stroked his cock, which went to full mast in a hurry.
Pleasure clouded his mind. But that was nothing compared to what she did next. She pushed on his shoulders until he lie on his back.
She kneeled between his legs and took off his boxers. The next thing he knew, his cock was wrapped in her warm, hot mouth. Her mouth slid down his length until her seeking tongue connected with his balls, wrapping eager fingers around his cock to stroke it as she licked his testicles. Then her mouth and hand switched places. While her hand cupped and kneaded his balls, her mouth sucked the tip of his cock.
He felt the soft piercing of her tongue in the slit then she was taking all of him down her velvety wet throat. He reveled in the feel of her tongue, her lips, her hands…
“Wait,” he said, his voice hoarse. “It’s been a while for me, sweetheart.”
She stopped her tender ministrations then she stretched out across him. She wound her arms around his neck. “Rafe,” she whispered.
He helped her off with her nightgown, and then rolled her onto her back, covering her with his muscled body. His fingers trembled as he cupped the tender weight of her breast in ones hand. His breath shallow with excitement, he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. It hardened, the tight bud a wanton temptation.
The deep coral of her areolas and her tight, sweet nipples beckoned him. Grasping one breast, he leaned forward and swirled his tongue around one bud, teasing it with light, quick licks until Gretchen’s soft moans begged him for more.
He took the taut peak into his mouth and suckled.
She cried out, shoved her hands into his hair, and pressed him closer still.
He moved to her other breast, kissing the underside before tasting her areola.
His lips clamped her nipple and suckled it with the same intensity he’d devoted to the other.
His hard cock strained against the welcoming heat of her womanhood. It had been too long. He needed her. Wanted her.
This…
Oh, yes. This.
He shuddered with desire, stalling the deep need to ravish her, to show her right now how much she meant to him.
His cock pressed against her sex–then she was reaching between them, adjusting his position so he could take her.
He moved.
Slowly.
“Oh, God,” he said, “You feel so good, Gretchen.”
“So do you,” she said. “Please, Rafe.” She grabbed his hips and writhed against him, her strokes short, frantic, and torturous.
She bucked against him, her hands fisting against his buttocks.
He felt the rise of his own pleasure, the bare edge of an orgasm threatening. He suckled her nipple, matched her strokes, and enjoyed the feel of her taking him and making him whole again.
Her orgasm claimed her scant seconds before he lost his control. As she milked his cock, saying his name li
ke a mantra, Rafe cried out, his penis jerking hard as he spilled his seed inside her
For long a moment, they held each other, hearts pounding and breathing hard. Rafe rolled to his side, tucked Gretchen into the crook of his arm, and held her close.
“Should we … we talk or something?” asked Gretchen.
“You know, I’m a bear,” he said tenderly, “and there’s one thing we really like after having awesome sex with a beautiful woman.”
She arched a blonde eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“Snuggling.” He drew her closer still and she clung to him, giving him as much warmth and solace as he tried to give her. Sometimes, no words were needed.
Soon, they both slept.
Chapter Eleven
GRETCHEN WALKED BEHIND Rafe and his two brothers as they crept through forested hill toward the shining chrome and wood mansion above them.
Two hours earlier, three SUVs filled with werewolves, Rafe, and Gretchen had met up at the offices of Pearson Security. She had to admit that waking up in Rafe’s arms had been wonderful. He was affectionate, unafraid to wrap his arms around her or tickle her ribs to make her giggle.
As they entered the back rooms of Pearson Security, Rafe’s brothers, Gabe and Mike, had greeted their oldest brother with the sort of affection that encapsulated the term “bear hugs.”
Rafe hadn’t argued when Gretchen said she wanted to be part of Kaylie’s rescue. Instead, he showed her how to load and aim the .9 mm pistol now holstered on her hip. She was already falling hard for the bear shifter, and this gesture really clinched the deal. Now, she wore the same black outfits as the rest of the Pearson clan–including a heavy bulletproof vest wrapped around her torso. The Shadows were taking lead on the operation, disposing of the posted guards while the Pearson brothers and Gretchen breached the house.
They each had an earpiece tuned in to the same frequency. Small mikes attached to their collars allowed them to communicate quickly and effectively. Everyone would be able to hear what was going on with everyone else.
The guards–twelve in all, came to quick and silent ends. The werewolves took positions around the house, prepared to annihilate anyone stupid enough to run out of the manse and threaten them.
Gretchen and the bear brothers went up the driveway to the side door Gretchen had told them about. Mike kicked the door, and it shattered inward. Its wood and glass was no match for the bear shifter’s sheer strength.
The mudroom led into the massive kitchen. Gretchen got a vague impression of steel appliances and granite countertops as they ran through it. The dining room was clear, and the next room was a massive living area with multiple seating arrangement and a fireplace so huge, three people could stand upright in it.
“Clear,” said Mike. “We’ll go through the rest of the downstairs, you two go up.”
Mike and Gabe took off, and Gretchen followed Rafe up the elaborate wood staircase.
The first four bedrooms on the upper floor were empty. She assumed the double–doors at the end of the hallway led to the master suite.
Gretchen heard the baby’s wails interspersed with tiny barks. She froze.
Rafe cursed. “He’s in there with her. Stay behind me.”
Shaking and fearful, Gretchen followed Rafe down the hall. He busted open the doors, his pistol firing before she could even enter the room.
Two men lay dead on the floor. Sitting on the massive four–poster bed was Rand. He was dressed in a suit, his dark hair slicked back like a movie mobster’s. His malicious grin was all teeth and no conscience. He held Kaylie against his chest, and by the baby’s cries, Gretchen knew Kaylie was in distress.
“Come any closer, and I’ll kill her.”
“Your daughter?” scoffed Rafe. “After everything you did to get her back?”
“I can make more babies.” Rand looked down at his daughter and grimaced. “I don’t really want reminders of my whore wife.” His glance took in Gretchen. “You’re the one who took my child.”
“She was given to me,” said Gretchen. “She’s mine now.”
Rand’s heavy black brows lifted in mock surprise, and he laughed. “A human? Really?”
“The human responsible for your brother’s death,” she said.
That put him off–guard. Rafe crept closer, his gun trained on Rand’s skull. Gretchen followed, feeling helpless. How could they get to Kaylie before Rand did something to hurt her? The big werewolf could snap her little neck with ease. Fear pulsed at the base of Gretchen’s spine.
Rand stroked Kaylie’s hair as he spoke. “Vivian killed Trent. He wanted to mate with her, and instead of doing what she was put on this earth to do, she murdered him. I had to make her pay for that. And I did, believe me. Every single day.”
Fury welled up inside Gretchen. “You’re going to rot in hell, right next to your asshole brother.”
Anger and sheer force of will propelled her around Rafe and toward Rand. He didn’t seem alarmed by a human coming at him, and certainly didn’t expect Gretchen to slap him across the face as hard as she could.
“You bitch!” he thundered. “How dare you!”
Gretchen snatched the baby right out of his hands. That’s when she saw he’d been hiding a gun underneath his precious, innocent daughter. She whirled away, clutching Kaylie tightly against her chest. She heard the report of two bullets.
Rafe yelled, “No!”
Then she felt like she’d gotten punched in the kidneys. She staggered, her breath going out of her as she fell to her knees. She swayed, staying upright, determined to protect the little werewolf in her arms.
The next thing Gretchen heard was a hair–raising, animalistic roar … she’d heard that sound before on nature shows about grizzlies. She moved forward until she reached the far wall, then she turned and leaned against it, twin aches blooming across her back.
A brown bear stood fully on its haunches, and raked its claws through Rand’s chest. The werewolf had been trying to change into his other form, his face a mask of both human and wolf, but the bear’s rage was too much.
Rand fell back onto the bed, his chest a bloodied, pulpy mess.
His eyes went wide and then glassy, and he stilled.
Gretchen blew out a shaky breath and closed her eyes. It was over.
“Gretchen?”
“I’m okay.”
“Let me check.” She crouched forward and Grant felt along her backside. “Thank God. The bullets are in the jacket, not in you. You’ll probably have some spectacular bruises.”
“It was worth it.” She looked up at him and blinked. “Why are you naked?”
“I shifted, sweetheart. Clothes never make the transition.”
“Rafe!”
“Over here.” Rafe slid the baby out of Gretchen’s arms and handed Kaylie to one of his brothers. Then Rafe scooped Gretchen into his arms and gently cradled her.
“I can walk.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I wouldn’t argue with him,” said Mike. “He’s a stubborn bastard.”
As Mike and Gabe walked ahead of them, both cooing at the baby, Rafe looked at her. “You’re safe, Gretchen.”
“I only feel that way with you,” she admitted. “Is that weird?”
“Nope. And if I have anything to say about it,” he said, kissing her on top of her head, “that’s the way it’s going to stay.”
Information About This Work
Bear Witness © Copyright 2014 by Michele Bardsley.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the copyright holder.
Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement from the author of this work.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imag
ination of the author, and have no relation whatever to anyone bearing the same name or names. Characters are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
About the Author
Michele Bardsley is a national bestselling author of paranormal, romance, and mystery fiction. Writing makes her happy. She loves watching “Supernatural,” consuming chocolate, crocheting hats, reading books, and spending time with her husband and their fur babies. Visit Michele’s website and please join Michele’s newsletter
A Heart in Winter
A Story of Aethereal Bonds
V.M. Black
Swift River Media Group
Washington, D.C.
Sarah defied her family and married for love beneath her station. Her happiness with Baron Marston was multiplied when they welcomed four children into their family. But a wasting sickness has overcome Sarah, one that has resisted every poultice and purge of the greatest doctors in England. Soon, it would claim her life–if it were not for the promise of one last sage, whose vampire’s kiss brings her not only eternal youth but a bond that transcends all human oaths.
Can any mortal love, however strong, survive the seduction of an ageless vampire? Christmas is coming, and Sarah can only be at one hearth.
This story is set in the history of the Aethereal Bonds world.
Chapter One
The bite of winter was keen in the air, but Sarah, Lady Marston, wondered if she would live to see the first snow of the season.
It had been three months since the nagging cough had begun to bring up blood that spotted all her handkerchiefs with scarlet, two since her legs had given out beneath her body for the first time, sending her tumbling half a flight down the stone stairs that led from the gallery to the great hall. The leg that she had broken in the fall had not been able to be set properly, and after two weeks of a sweating fever and another month of lying bedbound, the discovery that she was now permanently lame was tempered only by the thin reassurance that she would not be alive much longer to suffer from it.