Lanie sighed but nodded. “All right."
"But I'm going to take us to a different store to find a purse,” he said. “I don't want to be too obvious by stealing a purse from the same store we just bought something from."
Swallowing her racing heart, she opened the passenger door and climbed out of the car. She tried her hardest to stay calm, to look like any other woman would on her way to the store. It wasn't hard to find the hair care products once she was inside, and Lanie mulled about in the aisle.
"Can I help you find anything today, ma'am?” a man's voice asked from behind her.
She wasn't prepared for it and jumped, coming face to face with a teenaged boy in a red vest and a name tag that read Mark.
"Oh, no thank you,” she replied. “I'm just looking."
He smiled and nodded, walking back down the aisle to leave her in peace. Placing one hand over her chest, she felt her blood pulsing in her veins.
"Dear Lord, I've got to calm down,” she whispered to herself.
Grabbing a box of auburn for her and chocolate brown for Noah, she walked back down the aisle and stopped unexpectedly. Right there in front of her was a display of assorted condoms.
Lanie blushed.
But, glancing at them, she had to wonder. Being alone with Noah for who knew how long, day after day would wear on her. And if she'd correctly interpreted the looks he'd given her a few times, she knew he wasn't as unaffected as he'd like it to seem. Perhaps buying a box wasn't out of the question. But each box of hair color was five dollars—ten dollars together plus the seven she'd spent on breakfast left them with about eight dollars. The condoms were over ten.
Damn.
She didn't want to spend the money, but she didn't want to leave the store without protection either, just in case something did happen between her and Noah. She could compromise and buy cheaper hair color, but she didn't want to fry her hair. Besides, they needed what little money they had to buy dinner in case they didn't find someone's purse to snatch.
Glancing down the aisle to the left and to the right, Lanie made a snap decision. Grabbing one of the condom boxes, she ripped it open and poured out the contents into her hand. She took about half the condoms and stuffed them into her pocket before replacing the box on the display behind another one to hide it.
Lanie pulled her sweater over her pants to hide any telltale bulges and walked to the checkout with the hair color.
"Will that be all for you today?” the friendly checker asked.
Nodding, Lanie smiled and hoped it looked genuine. She felt as if police officers with their guns drawn would greet her at the door. When her purchases were safe within a bag, Lanie walked back out to the car. It was hard not to break into a run.
Once she was inside the car, Noah started the engine and pulled back out onto the road. “Got the color?” he asked.
"Yeah. Yeah I did,” she answered, still trying to catch her breath. Never in her life had she shoplifted, and now that she was on the run, she had her first taste of it. But not for something she needed to survive, for condoms for heaven's sake.
With a groan, she closed her eyes and beat the back of her head against the seat. Noah was going to be the death of her.
* * * *
Glancing at Lanie with her eyes closed, Noah noticed her cheeks were flushed and her breathing came in short gasps.
"Are you all right?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Lanie nodded and licked her lips. “Yeah, sure. I'm great. I'm just so glad to be back in the car with you."
Noah's heart slammed to life at her words. Damn. His hands were shaking. He clutched the steering wheel to hide them.
"You are?” he said lamely.
"God, yes,” she said, opening her eyes and sitting up in the seat. “I felt like I was on display in there. Like someone was going to jump me."
Flashing her a grin, he said, “You didn't steal anything, did you?"
She gasped and gave him a damning glare. “What?"
He shrugged. “It's just that sometimes a person's guilty conscience can get in the way of things."
"I didn't steal anything.” With a pretty pout, she crossed her arms on her chest.
"All right, all right. I didn't mean to offend you."
"I'm not offended,” she said after a short pause. “I just felt so vulnerable. It's not every day a girl hears she's being hunted by a black panther and a ruthless secret agency. I feel like I'm the star of one of those Hollywood thriller movies."
"Or in a bad dream and you can't wake up,” he offered.
"Exactly."
A few moments of silence descended on them as they drove. Finally, Noah said, “Well, I guess I should try to find another store to lift someone's purse."
"I really don't like the idea of stealing some poor woman's purse, Noah."
"Well, what other choice do we have?"
Suddenly, Lanie's mouth dropped open. “Noah, go back. Turn around. Turn the car around!"
"What? Why?"
"Just do it!” she yelled.
With a sigh, he complied, wondering what it was that she'd seen.
"Turn in here,” she said, pointing to a small parking lot next to a brick building. The sign on the store said Craig's Pawn Shop.
"What are we doing?"
"Look, there are about ten CDs in this center console and tools in the trunk, right?"
Furrowing his brow, Noah nodded. “Yes."
"We can hock them!"
"Really?” Noah stared at her and tried not to think of how beautiful she was when her eyes lit up.
"I had a friend a long time ago who used to hock anything she could for extra money. Pawn shops don't just take jewelry."
"How much do you think we can get?"
"I don't know. Enough for dinner I'm hoping. Help me round it all up."
Noah got out of the car and opened the trunk. He pulled out the small Craftsman toolbox and handed it to Lanie as she joined him at the rear of the car. In her arms she held the CDs.
"Wish me luck,” she said with a grin.
Glancing around the parking lot, Noah ran his hands through his hair a few times before he stepped back into the car, this time in the passenger seat. It was Lanie's turn to drive as far as he was concerned. He needed to rest.
He hoped she would be able to get some good money. Pawning what they could was definitely preferable to stealing some lady's purse. After almost fifteen minutes, he wondered if he should go in after her. Did it take this long to hock something? He had no idea. He nervously glanced back at the road a few times, thinking in the back of his mind that the cops were going to drive up in force at any moment.
Another five minutes passed before Lanie finally emerged with a large grin pasted on her face. Noah couldn't help but grin back. Climbing into the driver's seat, she reached behind her for the belt buckle.
"So? How'd you make out?"
"I got a hundred and fifty bucks."
"A hundred and fifty?” he shrieked, unable to contain his giddiness.
"Yeah! He gave me seven dollars for each of the CDs because they were in such good shape, and he wanted to give me only fifty for the tools, but I managed to find my inner actress."
"What do you mean?"
"I told him I'd just broken up with my boyfriend, and these were the last of his things. I even had tears in my eyes, although I don't know where they came from. Maybe the stress, I don't know. But I managed to talk him up to eighty dollars for the tools, can you believe that?"
"Baby, that's awesome!” he exclaimed, framing her face in his hands. It wasn't anything he had planned. In fact, it was more like instinct that had made him do it, but before he realized what was happening, his mouth swooped down and closed over hers.
* * * *
Lanie couldn't have been any more shocked if Noah had reached over and slapped her. She sat still for a few agonizing moments as his lips caressed hers, marveling at the tingling she felt racing up and down her spine. Su
ddenly her limbs were like jelly, and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. Noah was kissing her!
With a soft sigh, Lanie's own hands found his face, only to thread up into his hair. He groaned, and instantly her skin ached for his touch. She couldn't believe how much she wanted to feel every inch of him pressed against her, and she tried to scoot closer to him on the seat.
As if he'd read her mind, he opened his mouth at the exact moment she opened hers, slipping his tongue inside while one of his hands held the back of her head. Lanie answered him in kind, sliding her tongue along his and whimpering in answer to his growls.
Hot damn, was the car going up in smoke?
Noah's hands pulled her even closer, his eagerness to have her pressed against him apparent in his firm grip. It was almost painful the way he clutched her so hard, but she wasn't complaining. Her fingers clenched into fists in his hair, giving him back some of the pleasure-pain he was giving her. He pulled away, panting against her neck.
"Noah?” she asked, breathless as well.
"Shit, Lanie. I'm so sorry."
"Why?” she asked before she could think about her words.
"Because...” His voice trailed off as she nuzzled his ear.
"Because you kissed me?” she whispered. Her hands were still in his hair, and she wasn't about to pull away first.
"We don't have time for this, Lanie. Getting involved on the run—it's madness. We can't afford to do something we might regret."
"Why would we regret it?” She gave him feather-soft kisses along his cheek.
Noah pulled back just enough to pin her with his icy-blue stare. “Christ, Lanie. You don't know how hard it is to resist kissing you again."
Lanie didn't give him a choice in the matter; she simply pulled him to her and kissed him once more. Instantly their tongues danced, thrilling her with his wet fire. Noah's warm palm was suddenly under her sweater as he stroked the bare skin of her belly, making her pull back from his mouth in order to breathe.
"We've got to stop, baby,” he said, looking as if her were being tortured again. “This can't go any further. If you keep kissing me like this, I'm going to take you right here in the parking lot."
His words made her gasp at his audacity, yet her insides jumped at the thought of the image he'd summoned. Lanie knew without a doubt that if she made love to Noah it would be the best sex she'd ever had. He would be rough with her—his lovemaking as untamed as he was—and that excited her beyond reason.
"You think being on the run for who knows how long will get any easier?” she asked. “We're attracted to each other, Noah. That much is obvious."
"It will complicate things.” His hand was still resting on her heated skin underneath her sweater. “We don't know anything about each other."
Stroking his hair, she said, “You're the man who saved me twice from death. Once when your tiger friend saved me from my accident, and once from a horrid black panther. I feel so safe with you. I just ... I just want to be surrounded by you. Filled with you.” Lanie swallowed hard at her own words. Never before had she been so bold with a man.
Noah grabbed her hair and pulled her close until their noses touched. “Don't say such words to me, woman.” He growled low in his throat. “I can barely control myself right now as it is."
"Then lose control,” she whispered, caressing his cheek.
Noah stared hard at her for a few moments before he grunted and released her, easing back into his seat. “You don't know what you're asking, Lanie.” With an irritated sigh, he rubbed his eyes. “It's your turn to drive. Let's get out of here and find some food. I'm starving."
Lanie sat there with her mouth open, shocked at his sudden dismissal of her. She had never been tossed aside so quickly before—and without a thought! She'd just bared her soul to him, practically begged him to have sex with her right there in the car, and he'd turned her down flat.
Fighting the tears in her eyes, Lanie tried hard not to feel like a piece of trash. Turning the key in the ignition, the car's engine roared to life. She pulled back onto the road, and opened the window a crack to cool her cheeks. She had to wipe her eyes of the offending tears, and she hoped to God that Noah didn't notice.
Ten
"Do you know where they're going?"
Tam sniffed the air, turning his attention once more to the cop who had spoken to him. It was twilight, the sun having just set mere minutes before, and the town of Granite Ridge was getting ready for another storm. Dark clouds loomed in the sky with the promise of snow hanging in the air.
"Well, now,” Tam said, turning his dark eyes on the man in uniform, “this new turn of events is most interesting. I can't say I know for sure where they're headed, but I've got a good idea."
Lifting the Colorado license plate in his hand, he once again read the letters: 109RLG. Noah had the foresight to change the plates on his stolen car, but the ones he'd stolen from the blue sedan were from Arizona. The local authorities had already been informed to keep their eyes open for a tan Acura with stolen Arizona plates. It shouldn't be too hard to find him now.
But even if they didn't, Tam knew where he was going.
The traitor's first mind wipe hadn't taken completely. Everyone at B*E*A*S*T* knew that he could sometimes see flashes of memories from his life before. Those flashes were what had ultimately led to his escape from the compound, so perhaps seeing a license plate from Arizona had triggered his memory. He'd lived there during his life before, after all.
With his memories returning, Tam knew Noah would try as hard as he could to find out who he used to be, and Tam would be there to pounce when he made a wrong move. Not only to claim his victory over the traitor, but to claim his mate as well.
Tam growled low with satisfaction, his eyes flashing gold in the dim light. The cop took a step back at the sight, making Tam smile. Fortunately for Colorado's finest, Tam's belly was already full.
* * * *
"Mr. and Mrs. Jones?” Lanie said irritably, opening the motel room door with a tarnished 9 nailed to it. “Might as well have said ‘Hi, we're on the run and we have stupid aliases. Please call the police.’”
Lanie crossed the small room and turned on the lamp by the queen-sized bed, then she folded her arms over her chest. Faded green shag carpet lined the floor, and sagging wicker chairs adorned either side of a small round table near the window. A modest dresser was on the opposite wall from the bed, with a thirteen-inch television perched on it. Lanie wondered if the thing even broadcasted in color.
Noah slammed the door behind him, making her jump. She gave him a withering look as he locked it.
"What, so people aren't named Jones in the world?” he snapped, obviously irritated himself.
"No, I'm just saying you could have thought of something better."
"I didn't see you offering any advice."
"Yeah, well, I didn't realize we'd have to lie to get a room."
"So you thought we'd be okay using our real names? And you're mad at me?” He gave her an incredulous look.
"No, numb-nuts, I obviously wouldn't have used our real names, just something more ... incognito than Jones."
Noah snorted and turned away, placing the bag with the hair color on the bed. “Seems to me that something like Mr. and Mrs. Culpepper would have aroused even more suspicion."
Lanie sat on the bed, bouncing a few times to test its firmness.
"Besides,” Noah said in a softer voice, “the guy at the front desk probably thinks we're just lovers looking for a room."
"As if,” Lanie said under her breath. She stood and grabbed her box of auburn color from the bag. “I'll be in the bathroom."
Closing the door behind her, Lanie took her first real look at herself in awhile. She sighed at what she saw in the mirror, thankful that she'd be taking a shower soon. She placed the box on the counter and took off her sweater to avoid getting it stained. Gazing at herself again, she dug into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out the condoms she'd stolen fro
m the store.
There were about six of them in her hand. Lanie couldn't help but chuckle at herself. How presumptuous of her to believe Noah might want to make love with her. The man had certainly doused the flames earlier, and her eyes watered at the memory.
Never before had she been kissed so savagely, and Lanie couldn't believe how much she'd liked it. In the past, men had been passionate and sometimes demanding with their kisses, but never wild, never unbridled like Noah had been. She groaned and made a fist, lamenting that she'd stolen the condoms for nothing. Noah had made that quite clear.
Lanie pulled out the trash can from under the counter and tossed them in with a sigh of regret. Turning back to the mirror, she took out her aggressions on mixing the hair chemicals. It was hard applying the color to her scalp with tears in her eyes.
* * * *
Noah stood just on the other side of the bathroom door, caressing it with his palm. His forehead leaned against the cool wood, and he closed his eyes, trying to calm his raging lust. Kissing Lanie had scorched him, burned him from the inside out. He had been a hairsbreadth away from pulling her across his lap and taking what she'd offered. But he hadn't.
Now, as he stood there, he could hear her every sniffle, and her muted scent was one of utter disappointment. It floored him to think she wanted him so badly, but, then again, he wanted her as well. Lanie was a beautiful woman, but she was also smart and independent even though she was under his protection. Just thinking of her coming to harm had his hackles raised.
The pungent aroma of chemicals filled the air as Noah eased back to the bed. He sat on the edge and stayed there, staring off into space. He had no idea how long they would be on the run or where they could hide. Tam wasn't an idiot. He was probably trying to second guess where they were even now.
They'd driven to a gas station and bought cheap hot dogs for dinner, using only a few dollars to put gas in the tank. Noah knew they'd have to ditch the car soon, so he hadn't wanted to waste all their money by filling the tank.
The B*E*A*S*T* Within Page 5