by Anne Kane
Later. Later she’d worry about her sanity. Right now, she just wanted to feel.
Wolfe seemed to sense her change of mind and picked up the pace, pistoning into her harder and faster, dipping his head to nip at her erect nipples, laving the sensitive peaks with his tongue.
Darts of white-hot flame licked across her skin, the heat consuming her as she gasped for oxygen, her hips rising to meet him thrust for thrust. Just when she teetered on the brink, he slowed his assault, gentling the strokes for a long minute before building the tension all over again.
When she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, would go mad from sheer pleasure, she felt the orgasm start deep within her, ripping through every nerve, every muscle, and every cell in her body. The world spun out of control as Wolfe gave a hoarse shout and his hot seed spurted deep inside her.
They collapsed in each other’s arms, hearts beating fast as they lingered in the aftermath of their union, tiny aftershocks continuing to ripple through them.
“You are amazing.” He smoothed a stray strand of hair back from her face. “I swear the earth moved beneath us.”
Nikki opened her mouth to reply when a noise from outside the chamber caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up.
She looked toward the door. “What the hell was that?”
Chapter Ten
Wolfe put a finger to his lips. Stay low and be quiet. He unwrapped his large body from hers and slid to the edge of the bed.
Grabbing his pants from the floor, he silently pulled them up over his hips before he glided to the door, senses on full alert. He could feel a presence outside but he couldn’t identify the source, which meant it wasn’t another Druid or anyone he’d dealt with before.
Glancing back to make sure Nikki had followed his orders, he was gratified to see her crouched on the floor beside the bed, quickly dressing while her big green eyes watched the door with a hint of fear.
Not a stranger to fear, he noted, determined to change that. No woman of his should have to worry about her safety. He turned his attention to the door. The lack of windows was a two-edged sword. Whoever was skulking around outside couldn’t see in, but he and Nikki couldn’t see out either.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, attempting to feel the location of the intruder. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pin them down. He gave an impatient growl and reached for the doorknob. Sometimes the simplest solution was the best.
Yanking the door open, he quickly stepped outside. A colorful motion to the left caught his gaze and he pivoted, reaching out with his left hand to grab the man’s collar and drag him closer.
He’d already raised his right fist when the man put his hands up to cover his face, yelping with fear. “Don’t hit me! Wolfe! I just wanted to talk to you!”
Wolfe hesitated, lowering his fist a fraction while he focused on the man he’d captured. “Todd?” The geeky young man staring back at him looked decidedly unnerved.
“Yeah. It’s me.” Todd moved his hands slowly in a conciliatory gesture. Thick glasses distorted his expression. “I didn’t mean to startle you, I was just trying to decide if I should knock or wait until you came out.” He relaxed slightly when Wolfe lowered his fist. “Jack said I should talk to you.”
Wolfe frowned, his suspicious nature not entirely convinced, although he couldn’t imagine a less threatening person. “How did you know we’d be here? This isn’t a scheduled visit.”
Todd shrugged uncomfortably. “I didn’t. I was on my way to the Oak Grove when I heard some noises coming from the chamber.” He ran a shaking hand through his lank hair. “You’re the only one who uses this nexus, so I came over to see if it was you.” He tried to look over Wolfe’s shoulder. “You said we. Who’s with you?”
Wolfe didn’t answer immediately. Todd’s explanation made sense, but something didn’t feel quite right. He loosened his grip on the other man’s collar, giving himself a mental shrug. Having a bond mate to protect was a new experience for him. Until they figured out who was chasing her and why, he’d have a hard time relaxing. He didn’t need to take it out on Todd. The youngster was slightly less dangerous than a kitten.
What is going on out there? Worry laced Nikki’s thoughts.
Just a misunderstanding. An acquaintance came looking for me. He sent her an image of Todd. I’ve met him here before; he knows your sister and Jack.
Surprised at the reluctance he felt, he stepped aside to allow Todd into the chamber. He had to force his voice to sound polite. “This is Nikki, Trina’s sister. We were just heading over to talk to them.”
“Nice to meet you.” Todd inclined his head to Nikki but his attention still rested warily on Wolfe. “Jack said I needed to tell you about my sister.”
Wolfe followed him into the room and perched beside Nikki on the edge of the bed. Somehow, she had managed to not only get all of her clothing back on, but to get that gorgeous mass of hair under control.
He waved Todd into the chair in the corner. “I didn’t know you had a sister. Why would Jack want me to know about her?”
Todd clasped his hands in front of him, lacing his fingers nervously together. “I don’t know. I asked Jack for some advice about her. I mean, what I should do about her.” He cleared his throat, and sighed apologetically, adjusting his glasses. “I’d better start at the beginning.” He glanced over at Nikki. “If that’s okay? It’ll take a few minutes.”
He’s really nervous. What did you do to him? Nikki smiled sweetly and Todd lowered his eyes.
I barely touched him. You don’t have to flirt with him. You seem to have a thing for young misfits. Wolfe gave her a reproving frown before turning back to Todd.
“We’re in no hurry. Tell us about your sister.”
Todd perched on the edge of the chair, his eyes fixed on a spot just over Nikki’s head. “Her name is Sasha. She’s older than I am. Mom had her before she married my Dad. I guess that makes her my half-sister really, but I always thought of her as my sister.” He paused, his oversized Adam’s apple bobbing nervously.
Is he always this nervous? Nikki glanced over at Wolfe.
Wolfe shrugged. I don’t think so. To tell the truth, I never paid much attention to him. He’s usually hanging around the edges of the gatherings.
“She’s missing and I think someone kidnapped her.” The words tumbled out of Todd’s mouth in an agitated spiel. “She’s special, like Trina. There was a man, a doctor, who approached her and wanted her to participate in some genetic study he’s doing. He said he knew what she was, but he wasn’t going to expose her. She told him he was mistaken, and there was nothing different about her. He seemed to buy it, she said, and he went away. That’s when she started to get the feelings that something was wrong. She told me she thought someone was stalking her. She’s always been nervous and somewhat dramatic, so I didn’t pay much attention at the time. I thought she was imagining it. I told her not to walk alone after dark and to make sure she locked her doors at night.” He lowered his head into his hands, a muffled sob escaping. “I should have listened. I should have checked it out. Now she’s gone, and it’s all my fault!”
“You don’t know that.” Nikki crossed the room and lowered herself gracefully to crouch beside his chair. She laid a hand on his arm, and Wolfe tensed. Just the sight of her touching another man, even one as young and harmless as Todd, put him on edge.
“Maybe she’s just taken off with a boyfriend for a holiday, or gone on a road trip with some of her girlfriends.” Nikki’s soothing voice flowed over both of the men.
Todd raised his head, and Wolfe could see the anguish in his eyes. “When I couldn’t get her to answer her phone, I flew down to San Francisco, where she lives. I have a key, in case of emergencies. Her neighbors said she’d been gone for weeks, and yet her luggage is all still in the closet, and her purse and wallet are still there. I checked, and her passport is still in the safe. No way she went for a holiday without her credit cards and driver’s license.”
Wolfe worded his question carefully. “Why do you say kidnap, instead of murder? This could have nothing to do with the doctor who approached her. Has someone contacted you with ransom demands?”
Todd shook his head, his eyes widening. “No.”
Nice going, Wolfe. He obviously never considered she might be dead. The glare Nikki shot him would have felled a lesser man. He ignored her. Something about this seemed wrong, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Have you contacted the police?”
Todd nodded miserably. “Yes. They said the same thing you did. There’s no sign of a struggle, and nobody has sent any ransom demands, so they don’t think there’s any reason to worry. They figure she’ll show up in a week or two with a new boyfriend in tow.”
“But you don’t believe that.” Nikki rose and crossed to sit beside Wolfe, leaning into him slightly as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He slipped an arm around her waist. Amazing, how just touching her made him feel so much better.
Don’t be such an idiot. He’s practically a boy, and he needed comforting. A faint smile curved the corner of her mouth. I like my men more mature.
Wolfe tightened his arm around her. Men indeed. There’d only be one man in her life and she’d better get used to it.
Todd looked over at the two of them, his shoulders hunched in misery. “No. She’s very responsible. Even if it were a last-minute trip, she would have told the neighbors and got someone to pick up her mail for her. She’s just not the type to take off on a whim.”
“You said she’s like Trina. You mean she can Dream Walk?” Wolfe changed tactics.
Todd shook his head. “Not very well. She hates it, says it tires her out too much. I meant she’s a selkie, only a seal, not an otter like Trina. That’s why she moved to San Francisco. She loves the harbor there, and she can go swimming whenever she wants. There’s a huge seal population, so no one thinks it’s strange if they see one swimming on its own.”
“Is it possible she got trapped in one of the fishermen’s nets?”
Nikki shook her head, and her long hair swayed enticingly. “She would have shifted back and freed herself. That’s something you learn early on.”
Todd nodded his agreement. “She was always telling me stories like that.” A faint smile ghosted across his lips. “She likes to patrol the coast to protect the other species from getting caught in the nets. The fishermen go crazy trying to figure out how the dolphins get free.”
“Tell us what you know about the people stalking her. Did she tell you what they looked like, or anything that could help identify them?” Wolfe watched the younger man’s face, still unsure of why his gut instinct was telling him something was wrong with this whole scenario.
“Not much. She said she’d caught glimpses of men following her home from work, or standing on the street outside her apartment, just watching.” He scuffed the toe of his shoe on the dirt floor. “I never really asked her about them. Like I said, I thought she was imagining the whole thing.”
“Do you know anything about this doctor? His name? Where he’s from? How he found out about Sasha?”
Todd lifted his head. “No. I’ve racked my brain, but I can’t remember. I didn’t think it was important at the time.”
Nikki shifted against Wolfe’s side. Someone knew about her, and he didn’t think it was important? Is he really that stupid?
He’s young, and inexperienced. Maybe he thought they were bluffing. But she was right. Todd should have realized how important that was and alerted the rest of the community to this doctor’s presence. His sister wasn’t the only one at risk.
“I think we should head over to the Oak Grove. Maybe someone else knows something.” Wolfe got to his feet, pulling Nikki up with him.
“So you think she’s okay? If that doctor has her, he wouldn’t hurt her, would he?”
Todd looked at him hopefully, and Wolfe had to smother the sharp response that rose to his lips. If the fool had paid more attention to his sister when she first came to him, she might still be home and safe.
* * * * *
“Nikki!” Trina ran to throw her arms around her big sister. “We haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?”
“Oomph. Easy, little sister, you’re going to knock me right out of the Dream World.” But Nikki hugged her back, hard. “So what made you decide to send this uncivilized hunk of a Druid over to annoy me? Lucky for him I took pity on him and let him tag along here.”
Trina’s musical laughter tinkled through the clearing. “I doubt that. If I recall, your talent for Dream Walking is slim at best. I’m betting you leaned heavily on Wolfe to get here.” The grin on her face got even wider. “So you think he’s a hunk, do you? I thought you two might hit it off.”
Nikki shook her head. “Still matchmaking, are you? Well, don’t get your hopes up. You know why I avoid getting too involved.”
Trina shook her head, her expression sobering. “We’re not like our mother, Nikki. I know how much it hurt you when she chose to leave us, but that was her choice. Hers. It doesn’t mean we’d do the same thing. We’ll never know exactly why she felt she had to leave us, and we can’t let it keep us from taking a chance on love in our own lives.” She took her sister’s hands, staring into her eyes. “Don’t let her choices ruin your chances at happiness.”
Nikki felt the familiar ball of apprehension settle in the pit of her stomach at the thought of her mother’s desertion. Tossing her head, she forced a smile onto her face and changed the subject. “So where did you find Wolfe? He’s quite remarkable.”
Remarkable? I’d like to think I’m more than that. Wolfe’s voice shimmered into her mind, dispelling the grim cloud of doubt that the subject of her mother invariably brought. How about witty? Sexy? Irresistible?
Nikki relaxed at the familiar feel of him in her mind. How about annoying? Troublesome? Bossy?
She looked around the clearing until she located him, lounging against the trunk of a tall tree. Hands crossed over his chest, the darkly wicked grin on his face belied his relaxed stance. Adorable? Enticing? Mouthwatering?
She wrinkled her nose, plastering a mock severe look on her face. Did I ever tell you how exasperating you are?
“You’re talking to him now, aren’t you?”
The shock in her sister’s voice brought her attention back to Trina.
“You two can communicate telepathically!” The look on Trina’s face was priceless. “I don’t believe this.” She turned and yelled for her spouse. “Jack! Get over here. Now.”
Everyone in the clearing turned to see what was going on, and both Wolfe and Jack headed toward the sisters at a jog.
Nikki groaned. “I see you still haven’t learned to keep your mouth shut. What’s the big deal? I can communicate with you, too. And with Mom, when she was here.”
“But Wolfe’s not related to you.” The excitement in Trina’s voice matched the sparkle in her eyes. “He’s not even a selkie.”
Nikki stared at her sister. “So?”
“What’s the matter?” Jack grabbed his wife’s arm, and looked from one woman to the other.
“Your wife is having a nervous breakdown.” Nikki eyed her little sister warily. “Maybe you should take her home.”
“Nikki and Wolfe can speak, mind to mind.” Trina hugged her husband’s arm. “You know what that means!”
Jack turned to Wolfe, his brows shooting skyward. “Is that true? You’ve bound Nikki to you?”
Wolfe stood in the center of the clearing, calmly facing her family.
Yeah, explain the whole binding thing to them. Nikki turned to face him, her eyes glowing gleefully. And we could communicate before you did that so don’t try to pull some destined-to-be bullshit.
“Yes, Nikki and I are bound. It was necessary for me to be able to protect her.” And your family has no right to interfere. You agreed to it. You may have issues, but deep down you know this is right.
Trina piv
oted and took Nikki’s hands in hers. “And you’re okay with this? I never thought you’d let yourself be bound, even to a man like Wolfe.” Her expression sobered as she studied her sister’s quiet face. “He’s a good man. He’ll do his best for you.”
“That’s not the point, and you know it.” Nikki kept her voice low. No need to let the whole gathering hear what she had to say. “I can’t do forever and you know why. I didn’t realize what I was agreeing to. I was thinking more along the lines of one-night stand. You’re right, though. He is a good man, which is why he deserves better than a fickle selkie who’ll leave him and his children without a backward glance. As soon as the danger is past, I’m going to make him sever the bond. It’s only fair.”
“You care about him, don’t you?” Trina spoke slowly. “Why not give it a chance?”
Nikki lifted her chin and looked at Wolfe. Her voice faltered, the whisper so low Trina had to strain to hear her. “Because I think I really could love him. And it’s going to kill me when I have to break it off.”
Chapter Eleven
“How the hell did you get her to agree to that? According to Trina, the chances of her big sister ever getting hitched, let alone agreeing to bind to one of the few remaining Druids, were less than nil. I know when she sent you, she thought you two might hit it off.” Jack paused, and shook his head. “But to bind to each other? Nah, that didn’t even cross her mind.”
Wolfe shrugged. Jack and Trina were good friends, but he hadn’t been sure how they’d feel about his relationship with Nikki. “It was a misunderstanding, but not one I’m willing to reverse. She didn’t realize the implications when she agreed. Someone is after her though, and it’s a whole lot easier to protect her if we’re bonded. I thought she knew what she was agreeing to. Apparently she’s a bit hazy on the relationship between a Cosantoir and his mate.” He let a tiny bit of accusation show in his voice.
Jack nodded. “Their mother left them when they were young, and it seems like their father neglected that part of their education. Trina had no idea what I was talking about when I asked her to bond with me. I think she was humoring me right up until she felt the bond settle over us. I know she tried to explain it to Nikki, but apparently she wasn’t entirely successful.”