Emmitt's Treasure: Judgement of the Six Companion Series, book 2

by Melissa Haag

  “You’re mine.”

  “Then make me yours,” I said, holding her to me.

  The bed moved, jarring me from my dream.

  Damn it. I kept my eyes closed and listened to Michelle cross the room. When the bathroom door closed, I groaned and rubbed the spot she’d been kissing in my dream.

  The wait was going to kill me.

  Hoping to distract myself, I reached out to Grey.

  Still alive?

  ‘Bout time you got up. I called your phone last night, but you didn’t answer.

  Sorry.

  It wasn’t anything important. I only wanted to reassure Michelle that we’d found the things she’d wanted and hadn’t run into any trouble. We returned to check on you and grabbed a few hours of sleep. We’re already back watching the place.

  Thank you, Grey.

  Anytime, son.

  The toilet flushed, and she opened the door. Using the sink just outside the bathroom, she washed her hands and brushed her teeth. I stayed in bed, hoping she would return.

  She didn’t leave me hoping for long. She walked back to the bed and carefully crawled back to her spot beside me. The feeling of her fingers lightly touching my hair gave me the best kind of chills. Holding still, I kept my eyes closed and waited for what she’d do next.

  Her fingers moved from the side of my head to my ear then to my jaw. Unable to take much more, I opened my eyes.

  She was up on one elbow, watching me closely.

  “Good morning,” she said softly, removing her hand.

  I caught it and brought her palm to my lips. Her scent changed and arousal cocooned me. My vision changed slightly in response. Her gaze dipped to my mouth, and I kissed her palm again.

  Her lips parted, silently begging me. I released her hand and buried my fingers in her hair. She brought her hand to my chest and started leaning forward. My need for her consumed me once more. I existed only for her and this moment. Nothing else.

  When she stopped inches from me, I wanted to howl. If she’d changed her mind, I doubted I’d be able to let her go.

  She exhaled softly and closed the distance between us. Her lips brushed against mine, a light, exploring taste. Joy filled me. She was everything I wanted. Sweet and savory. I groaned and she pressed closer. I angled my head so she could deepen the kiss.

  Instead, she pulled back.

  “Thank you for trying last night,” she said softly.

  I ran my fingers along her cheek then around to the back of her neck so I could ease her forward again. She didn’t fight me. Her lips brushed mine again, and she smiled. My gut clenched at the sight. Mine.

  She nudged my shoulder, pushing me so I lay on my back. My pulse raced and each breath broke more of my control. I needed her. Gripping her arms, I pulled her over me. She made a small amused sound, until her chest pressed against mine.

  Her breath caught. I couldn’t help but feel satisfied with that reaction. Her gaze softened, and she leaned forward once more. I met her halfway. The press of her soft lips against mine was killing me.

  She opened her mouth. I froze. Her teeth nipped my bottom lip. I almost lost it.

  She pulled back and looked at me. “Maybe I’d better stop,” she said.

  I rolled us so I was on top and caged her in with a hand on each side of her shoulders.

  “No.” It came out more growl than word. I glanced at my hands and saw fur covering the skin.

  Damn it. I tried clearing my throat and focusing on holding my form. But it was hard when she was still smelling like breakfast and I was a starved man.

  I lowered my head, intent on another taste.

  “If you change into your fur, we’re done,” she whispered a moment before she lifted her lips to mine.

  I didn’t hesitate this time. My tongue swept the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. She opened for me with a small, desperate sound, and I lost myself in her taste. Her hands drifted to my shoulders, her fingers digging into my skin. The feel of her body under mine burned into my memory. The touch of her tongue as she tentatively explored my mouth in return brought me to my mental knees. She owned me. I teetered on the edge of reason. I wanted to lose myself in the moment…in her.

  Patience.

  That one word had me pulling back.

  I gazed down at her beautiful, flushed face and listened to her gasp for air. A look of wonder filled her expression as she gazed back at me. I’d done that.

  Something in her eyes changed. They reflected a promise to fulfill my dreams. My slim grip on self-control weakened, and I leaned in to nuzzle her neck. She shivered. Unable to help myself, I tasted her skin. Her head rolled to the side.

  “Emmitt,” she gasped. She moved restlessly under me, her hands petting my chest.

  My teeth extended fully, and I opened my mouth. Just one nip. It wouldn’t establish a Claim but it would feel so good.

  “We need to stop.”

  It took a moment for the words to reach my ears.

  “Emmitt, please stop.”

  It took a moment more for them to register. Her hands weren’t petting. They were pushing.

  I rolled away from her and sat on the edge of the bed. What had I almost done?

  My teeth were full wolf. The ache in my cheek and jaw bones said the rest of my face wasn’t far behind. My control was non-existent. Years of military training. Years of suppressing the change in the face of aggression and annoyance. All of it meant nothing when it came to the scent of my Mate in need. I wasn’t a leader. I was a mess.

  Her hand touched my arm.

  “Are you mad?”

  Mad? At her? Never. She should be livid with me, however. But she wasn’t. She was confused, though.

  Unable to speak yet, I shook my head.

  “This thing between you and me,” she said softly, “it’s definitely right. I don’t doubt it. I just don’t want to get so involved that we forget why we’re here. Once I deal with my past, I can focus on our future.”

  Our future. Words I’d longed to hear. I turned toward her.

  “As long as it takes, I’ll wait. I’m not going anywhere.”

  She smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me. The feel of her comforting me brought back a measure of control. But, a catch in her breathing had me pulling back slightly to study her face. She had that vacant look in her eyes again.

  “Another vision?” I asked as she blinked and focused on me.

  “Yeah. There’s an angry redhead out there somewhere who I wouldn’t want to run into. I just wish I knew what I was supposed to do with this information.”

  “We’ll figure it out.” My stomach grumbled.

  “Go shower,” she said, “and then let’s get something to eat.”

  I hesitated, and she grinned at me. Was it so obvious I didn’t want to leave her? If she tried putting distance between us after that good morning kiss, it would be a long day.

  * * * *

  After a companionable breakfast where we talked about what we both wanted to do once Blake was no longer an issue, we went back to our room.

  Michelle paced around restlessly and stopped by her bag. She opened it and pulled out her bikini. I hadn’t really thought about what I’d packed when we’d left the house. I’d jammed everything I could into her bag. Now, seeing it, I was so glad I had.

  “Did you pack a suit, too?”

  “I have something that’ll work.”

  “Good. I’ll change in the bathroom. Let me know when you’re ready,” she said, closing herself in the room. I pulled a pair of loose athletic shorts out of my bag and was changed in seconds.

  “Ready,” I called.

  She laughed and the door remained closed for a few more minutes. When she opened it, she stood there in almost all her glory.

  “I love that suit.”

  She grinned and blushed slightly.

  “Come on. Let’s go find the pool.”

  I followed my nose. The burn of chlorine grew stronger as we got
closer. Inside the glass doors, my eyes watered, and I tried breathing through my mouth. Hanging back while trying to adjust to the smell, I watched Michelle gingerly test the water with her toe.

  Didn’t she know? Slow was never the way to enter the water.

  I took two quick steps toward the pool, hooking my arm around her as I jumped over the edge. She squealed as I twisted midair and pulled her close to me. Water enveloped us, but I used a strong kick to keep us from going all the way under.

  Michelle wrapped her arms around me and laughed. Under the cool water, we were pressed together, skin to skin. She read the direction of my thoughts, kissed my cheek, and told me to behave. Then, she slipped out of my arms and swam away from me. I dove under the water and came up a few feet in front of her.

  “Going somewhere?”

  She splashed me in the face and started a small war.

  We played in the water and soaked in the hot tub before heading back to the room. I was starving. While Michelle showered, I ordered room service again. Two half-pound burgers and fries.

  When she was done in the bathroom, I stepped in for a quick rinse. The stink of chlorine clung to my skin, messing with my sense of smell. It was probably why I was more interested in food than Michelle at the moment. The chlorine completely overpowered her scent.

  She was sitting on the bed, flipping through channels, when I left the bathroom.

  “What are we watching?”

  “This movie looks interesting,” she said, showing me the description. “But it’s not on for another twenty minutes.”

  I sat next to her and almost groaned when she turned on a cooking show. They were making steaks. My mouth watered, and my stomach cramped. Traveling away from home meant human-sized portions. While in the Army, it hadn’t been too much of a problem. The mess halls fed me, and I could grab food elsewhere. As long as my weight stayed within their standards, no one questioned how much or how often I ate as long as it was on my time.

  My stomach continued to beg for food for the next twelve minutes. That was exactly how long it took before I heard someone moving outside our door. Michelle made an amused noise as I rushed to the door and yanked it open. I didn’t care. I wanted food.

  I took the covered plates from the guy’s tray, tossed him a tip, and closed the door in his face.

  “Remind me not to forget to feed you. You turn a bit feral.”

  I grunted as I took a large bite of burger. She didn’t comment when I handed the burger with the bite out of it to her and started in on the other one. The movie came on just as she finished. I put the dishes in the hall again and joined her on the bed.

  We watched two movies in a row. It was nice. Michelle stayed snuggled against my side through the first movie, content to lean on my shoulder. For the second movie, I put an arm around her so she could lay her head on my chest. I idly played with her hair and rubbed her shoulders.

  My nose started coming to by the time the credits rolled. My stomach growled, and I couldn’t be sure if it was for her or food. She didn’t give me a chance to decide.

  “Why don’t you call in an order at the restaurant next door, then run and get it? That way we can watch this next movie. If you’re fast, you won’t miss much,” she said.

  I called in the order.

  “How long?” she asked when I hung up.

  The response flew from my mind when I turned to look at her. She was at the foot of the bed, lying on her stomach with her feet in the air. She looked cute and oh-so-tempting.

  “Thirty minutes,” I said, recalling what she’d asked.

  “Think you’ll make it?” A sassy smile curved her lips.

  “I might not.”

  I settled onto the bed beside her and forced myself to focus on the movie. The random scent of pepperoni drifted into our room. My stomach made a few sounds of protest. Breakfast had been a little light, and lunch had barely met hungry human standards. My stomach was going through food withdrawal.

  “You need to think about something else so we can hear the movie,” Michelle said with a laugh.

  “I can’t. I’m hungry, and someone down the hall had pizza delivered.”

  She leaned over and nipped my earlobe. I sighed and turned toward her.

  “I thought I wasn’t supposed to think about that, either.”

  She grinned then turned back to the movie. She was a tease, and I liked it. A little too much. It was becoming uncomfortable to keep lying on my stomach. When twenty-five minutes had passed, I rolled off the bed.

  Michelle cleared her throat to get my attention then crooked her finger at me.

  Her playful smile drew me in. She met me halfway and sweetly pressed her lips to mine.

  “Hurry back or you’ll miss the rest of the movie,” she said, trailing her fingers along my jaw.

  “I’d rather stay here and skip the movie and the food.”

  “Ha. You’re only saying that because you’re distracted from how hungry you are. Go. I’ll be here when you get back.”

  Chapter 18

  The food wasn’t ready when I arrived. Since I was a few minutes early, I didn’t mind. As soon as I had the food and paid, I left the restaurant and jogged back toward the hotel.

  “Emmitt,” Grey called from the shadows across the street.

  I slowed and waited for them. Carlos was stoic as usual, but he was scanning the area around us as they reach my side.

  “Just getting back? I thought you two were using a rental.” We started toward the lobby doors.

  “We were,” Grey said, looking serious. “Any trouble here?”

  “No. Why?”

  “We were halfway here when we discovered we were being followed. We left the car and took a cab around town to lose him.”

  I frowned. So Blake had been watching the house, then.

  The sharp smell of chlorine irritated my nose as soon as I stepped into the lobby. Yet, underneath, I caught the scent of blood.

  “Shit,” I said softly, bursting into a run while my heart tried to hammer its way out of my chest. Around the corner, I spotted my open door. Despair gripped me; I knew she wasn’t inside. When I reached the door, I stopped. There was blood smeared on the white jam. Hers. Still wet.

  The plastic bag of food clasped in my hand fell to the floor. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could do was stare at Michelle’s blood. I’d told her she would be safe.

  Carlos moved past us, grabbed a washcloth from the sink just inside the door, and wiped off the blood. Grey picked up the food and set it inside.

  “Let’s find her, son,” Grey said. There was worry in his gaze but determination, too.

  Blake wouldn’t kill Michelle. He’d had her for four years. He wanted her back for her premonitions. But, I wouldn’t let him have her.

  Curling my hands into fists, I inhaled, ignoring the sting of chlorine. I took off running again, following the scent of Michelle’s blood. Dark drops dotted the carpet here and there as I ran toward the far exit. Just outside, the heavy scent of exhaust clouded the air. Whoever had taken her had used a car.

  I inhaled deeply again, searching for Michelle’s trail. It would have been impossible to follow, but I caught the scent of her blood again, mingling lightly with the exhaust.

  Growling, I sprinted down the street, uncaring who might see me. Only Michelle mattered.

  Her scent crossed side streets then turned onto a main thoroughfare. I slowed, having a harder time following her trail. Then I lost her scent completely at an intersection with another main road.

  “No,” I growled, looking around in panic.

  “Easy, Emmitt,” Grey said. “He came from this way.” He pointed behind us. “With three of us, we can split up and try to pick up her scent in each direction. We’ll find something.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder.

  I nodded and took off toward the left.

  Stay in contact, Grey sent me.

  Nothing yet, I reported back.

  I moved slower, not
because I cared if the humans saw me moving fast, but because I didn’t want to miss Michelle’s scent. Cars zipped by, adding more exhaust to the already contaminated trail. I was starting to panic when I caught a hint of something. Stopping, I inhaled. It was barely there. Ahead was an intersection with lights. I crossed the streets, dodging between cars and ignoring honking horns. On the other side, Michelle’s scent grew stronger.

  Got her, I sent Grey, along with the street name.

  We’ll be right there.

  I took off at a run again. Pockets of her scent kept me moving. Worry ate at my confidence. Her scent trail was breaking apart. How would I find her if I hit another intersection like the last one?

  The sun continued its slow descent, and the buildings around me cast longer shadows with each passing minute. In a pocket void of Michelle’s scent, I picked up another scent that slowed my steps. Werewolves.

  A man stepped from the shadowed alley between two buildings. He grinned at me before retreating out of sight.

  Grey, I found a wolf. He’s luring me into an alley. He brought friends.

  So did you. We’re right behind you.

  As I stepped toward the alley opening, I controlled a partial shift. My teeth and mouth elongated, and my nails hardened and curved into claws.

  The narrow alley was filled with trash bins, cardboard, and other debris. At the end, the space opened up into a small, vacant parking area accessed by a neighboring alley. Three men stood between me and that alley. From a fire escape above, a man dropped into the narrow alley I’d just left. Only a few feet separated us, and I turned to face him.

  “You shouldn’t have come,” he said. “She’s not yours.”

  “That’s my line,” I said a second before I threw my first punch.

  He moved fast, ducking under the punch. But, not fast enough to avoid my left swing. He grunted and faltered a step as my fist met his cheek. Behind me, the other three moved in. One caught me in the ribs with a fist, and another wrapped an arm around my neck. I stepped back into him and used his weight and my momentum to bring him forward, over my shoulder, to crash into one of his friends. As the two tumbled to the ground, one of the other mutts wrapped his arms around mine, pinning them behind me. His partner laughed and showed his claws. I jumped up and kicked out, planting my feet in his chest. He staggered back, as did the man holding me. I wrenched an arm free and grabbed a handful of hair of the man still gripping my arm.