Dangerous Protector (Federal Paranormal Unit) (6 page)

Marching out of the station, he noticed the sun had gone down in the time he’d been chatting with the rookie.
Cynthia filled his mind. Her soft brown eyes and that smile that made the blood sizzle in his veins. The animal inside him wanted near her. The wolf he carried paced restlessly. And the beast from his dark side, it wanted her naked as soon as possible. Both liked their mate’s presence. Her scent and that intoxicating aroma whenever she was aroused. So yeah, he was going to run over to be by her side, even if he broke a few speeding laws.

He pressed the speaker phone and dialed
the one person he needed to talk to on his team.

“Brock?”
Donovan’s voice was strained.

He knew it was almost her time to go. “How’s that case?”

“Done and handled. But…” He heard her mutter a curse. “Brock, I have to go. Vega already knows. It’s getting worse, and I can’t be here. I can’t be near
him
.”

“I understand. Do what you have to do. Call if you need us.”

She sighed on the other end of the line. “Thank you so much. I’ll be discreet and keep to myself.”

“What about
—”

“Keep him away,
” she ordered. “I can’t handle this with him around.”

Brock shook his head. He’d known Jane for
the three years that she’d been on his team, and she’d never changed her mind. It would catch up to her one day. But that wasn’t Brock’s business.

“Okay. Be careful.”

“Thanks, boss. Tell Cynthia I said thanks too. She sent me a text earlier reminding me to go as soon as necessary.”

She was like that, his Cyn. Always thinking of someone else.

The small diner he’d agreed to meet Cynthia at was encased in darkness. One street lamp outside the place illuminated it with a low, yellow glow. A large, half-lit sign that read “Joe’s Place” helped brighten the parking area. A handful of older model cars sat scattered in the lot. He headed inside and noticed the instant quiet. Taking in several booths, he finally found Cyn seated at the back of the place frowning down at something. The beasts inside him wanted to touch her again. Their mate.

He marched toward her booth and almost tripped when she glanced up and smiled.
The wolf pushed at the skin, and the power he’d been holding at bay lit his fingertips.

“Hey, any luck?” Her husky voice turned him hard in a heartbeat.

“Maybe.” He slid into the booth across from her, watched her eyes roam his face before moving down to his chest and stopping at his hands.

“Hungry?”

You have no idea.
She must have seen something in his eyes because the scent of her arousal tickled his nostrils.

“James,” s
he whispered and glanced around them. “Stop that. Your eyes are turning colors, and the last thing we need is to draw undue attention.”

“I can’t help it, love. You make the beast want to come out of me.”
He grinned.

Her face turned a sexy shade of red under her tanned skin and the arousal scent thickened. She’d always liked it when he spoke of his inability to control himself because of her. It wasn’t a lie either. Cynthia was the only woman in the world he’d lose control over. And he didn’t even care.

“Well…” She gulped. “This isn’t the time for that.”

He reined in his need for her. Pushed the beasts to their hiding places and willed his erection away. That last one was the hardest.

“What did you find out?” he asked.

“Huh? What?”

She muttered under her breath, thinking he hadn’t made out her words.

A chuckled escaped him.

She squinted her eyes at him. “What’s so funny?”

“The fact
that I make you brain dead.”

“Stop listening on private conversations. It’s rude.”

“Sorry, love. But you already know there’re no barriers between us.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m your boss.”

He grinned. “You’re my everything.”

“Stop that! You keep making me lose track of what we’re supposed to do.
Check this out.” She handed him a black journal.

The book hadn’t been in anyone’s hands in a while. Or he’d have sensed something other than Cyn’s concern. He opened the journal and found a bunch of numbers and initials all over the place.

“What is this?” He glanced up at Cynthia.

She winced. “I think it’s Roxy’s journal. Though I can’t figure any of it out. It’s all numbers and weird initials.”

He leafed through the pages while Cyn ordered her food and smiled when she ordered his favorite for him. She didn’t even realize she’d done it until she glanced at him after the waitress had gone and caught his smile.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You still like your burgers that way, right?”

Even if he didn’t, he’d eat it just to make her happy. “Yes.”

“Good. So what do you think of this?” She frowned down at the book. “I thought we’d find something in it but only a couple of words can be made out before she goes back to the initials.”

He saw her bite her lip in frustration. “You know what this means, right?”

She blinked her pretty brown eyes wide. “What?”

“You’re not going to leave it alone until you figure it out.”

She laughed and sighed. “You know me so well. I will figure this out. Now tell me what you found out.”

H
arsh raindrops pelted over the
windshield in angry thumps. Cynthia couldn’t believe how hard it was raining by the time they got back to the house. In no time at all, the skies had opened up and let loose. The sound of thunder crackling, and lightning in the distance made her shiver. She wasn’t a fan of storms.

“Tell me why you left?” Brock broke the silence.

“Are we on this again?” There was no way in hell she was talking about the reasons she left ten years ago.

“Yes.”

“Let it go.”

“Not a chance, love.”

Every time he called her love, her stomach flip-flopped and a warm feeling spread inside her.

“I told you I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You knew how I felt,” he said, voice rough.

She glance
d at his face and saw his eyes blaze red. Uh-oh. She waited until he stopped the SUV completely before hopping out into the heavy rain. Took less than a minute for her clothes to soak and cling to her skin for dear life. She ran for the door, shoving a shaky hand into her crossbody bag, searching for the key. Water poured down from the heavens in thick blankets, and she wondered if this was a sign she was in over her head with James. By the time she found her keys, she heard the door from his side slam closed. Rushing in without a single glance over her shoulder, she tried to head for her room, but was stopped.

He wrapped a hand around her arm and tugged her until her back hit the door he’d just closed and his wet body
plastered to hers.

Air froze in her lungs. She opened her mouth to tell him to move. To get out of the way, but somehow the only thing that came out was a soft whimper.
“James…”

Booming
thunder sounded at the same time his lips came crashing down on hers. He kissed her fully. As if he wanted to devour her lips and consume her. Driving his tongue into the recesses of her mouth, he held her captive. Every move he made only added gasoline to the raging fire in her blood. Then those hands she knew better than her own were on her. Touching. Branding. Bringing out the feelings of belonging to him she’d tried to fight. But it was useless. This man—this hybrid, was the only one who made her feel…anything.

Material tore as he tugged on her pants
, but she didn’t care. It had always been like this with them. Wild. Untamed. So hot it pulverized her brain cells. She tore her mouth from his and glanced into his jet-black eyes. He licked his lips, and her pussy quivered.

“Brock”

“No,” he ordered. “No more fighting this. No more fighting me. No more fighting us.”

She inhaled
, watching his claws extend to caress her collar bone and down to the V-line of her T-shirt. Those claws slid through the shirt like a sharp knife on soft butter. Within a heartbeat, she was panting, and her breasts were bared to him. It was hard to control the urge to attack him when her body clamored to be possessed by him. To be his again and again. Now. Right now.

The claws continued their downward path until she was fully naked
and tatters of what were once her clothes floated to her ankles.

She watched
his nose flare, and her throat went dry.

“This is new,” his
rumble increased her already raging heart rate.

She didn’t need to
glance down to know he referred to her thigh-high tattoo. She’d always wanted one. One day after she’d left him, she’d gone and done it. A beautiful intricate lace design circled her thigh with a wolf in the center of a heart.

“I always wanted one,” she breathed.

“It’s beautiful. Perfect. Just like the rest of you.”

“James…”

“I’ve missed you.” The words were a hushed growl. Yet, there was so much passion in them. So much emotion. “I’ve wanted to be with you, in you, every night for the past ten years.”

T
he wall around her heart took a beating with that statement. She’d wanted to be with him too. And while she knew this wouldn’t last—it couldn’t—she’d take this night. No matter what she believed, she knew, deep down, she belonged to him. Always would.

He struck fast, latching on to a nipple and
sucked. Dear God, that felt so amazing. She couldn’t hold the loud moan from escaping her throat. Nor could she keep her fingers from threading through his short hair and gripping the strands tight. He grunted and sucked harder. Her pussy moistened more until her arousal crawled down her thighs in a hot wet trail.

He
squeezed one breast while sucking the other, but he didn’t stop there. No. The amazing torture continued. He slid a hand down her body and managed to make his way between her legs. With a gentle flick, he rubbed a finger between her slick pussy folds.

“Oh, good lord!”

He bit and she groaned. Then he flicked his tongue back and forth on her nipple at the same time he put pressure on her clit, rubbing the pleasure center in quick circular motions.

The speed and intensity of her orgasm caught her by surprise. She screamed loud, hanging on to him as her body vibrated with the wave of pleasure rushing
through her. The floor shook, and she knew things were only going to get better from there.

Her legs shook, ready to give
out under her. There was no time to hesitate. He lifted her body as if she weighed next to nothing. As if she weren’t a big curvy girl who had more than a few extra pounds on her. His arm muscles bunched while he held her up against the door. She curled her legs around his waist and locked her feet behind him.

He slid into her in a single powerful thrust. Deep. So deep she felt his cock stretch her pussy muscles taut.

“Oh!” The gasp tore from her throat at the same time he pulled back and plunged in.

He kissed her lips, her jaw, her neck, licking repeatedly at the bend connecting her neck and throat.

“Cyn,” he growled.

“James.
God. James, I missed you so much,” she panted out between thrusts. Lord how amazing it felt to have him sliding in and out of her, heating her insides with his own body.

“Not. Letting. You. Go,” he snarled.

That wasn’t his choice to make. Now wasn’t the time to debate it, though. Her body sizzled with the onslaught of pleasure from each punishing drive.

“James…”

“Tell me you’re mine, Cyn.”

God
, yes. She was always going to be his.

“Say the words, love.”

Her chest compressed. Liquid fire flooded her veins. She clung to him, gripping his slick shoulders tight. He bit his palms bit into her ass cheeks and squeezed.

“I…”

Another moan tore from her throat when he increased speed. He slammed his rock-hard cock into her. Again and again. She opened willingly. Taking everything he wanted to give. Each sound his body made slamming against her, every groan and growl he let out with each lick by her neck became an instant memory. All of it. She wouldn’t ever forget it. They would be what would carry her forth later.

“Tell me,” he ordered.

His teeth grazed the thudding pulse at the base of her neck. “If you don’t tell me you’re mine, I’ll stop fucking you here and now.”

What? No! Instead of answering him, she yanked on his hair until he met her gaze. His eyes were glowing red with a rim of black. Both his beasts sat just below the surface. It was dangerous and hot as hell.

Their lips meshed in a hot, tongue-tangling kiss. Oh how the man kissed, combining his thrusts into her mouth with the ones into her sex. He swept into her mouth and owned her. He kicked down every one of the flimsy barriers around her heart and proceeded to claim her in one fell swoop.

He thrust harder. Harder still
, and slipped a hand between their slick bodies, down to her pussy, and pressed on her pleasure nub. Goose bumps broke over her skin. Her blood scorched her veins. The tension in her core broke, shattering into a million fragments of lights behind her lids.

She screamed into their kiss. Her pussy gripped tight at his cock, contracting against his driving shaft. Pleasure cascaded through each of her limbs. She tore her mouth away from him, gasping air into her burning lungs. She rode the hedonistic wave of desire until she could catch her breath.

“Fuck!” he snarled, pulling away from her.

With her mind still reeling from the unbelievable orgasm, she was caught off guard when he pulled from inside her and took a handful of steps to drape her over one of the large arms to her new sofa.
She lay there, still shuddering with the force of her release. He leaned over her, and instinct drove her movements. She pressed her ass up, looking for his stiff erection. He spread her legs and pushed his way into her again.

“James, please…” She wasn’t sure what she was asking for, but
him being all hard and thick in her pussy without moving, wasn’t right. It wasn’t enough.

“Say you’re mine.”

His voice floated across her neck, heating every pore it touched.

He propelled back, almost pulling fully out
, and then pressed in again—slowly. Too slowly.

“Don’t stop,” she panted, nails curling into one of the flowery sofa cushions.

He pressed kisses over the back of her shoulder, licking the area in circles. She didn’t know that was an erogenous zone, but it had to be. Her body started to shiver with each swipe of his tongue. Tension mounted at her core.

“I’m not moving until you say you’re mine.”

“Fuckin’ hell!” She growled, frustrated at his lack of movement. “Yes! I’m yours. I’ll always be yours and nobody else’s. You and only you own me. Heart, body, and soul. Are you happy now.” She wiggled her ass. “Now, fuck me alread—”

He drove into her so fast she lost her breath. She clawed at the cushion, until he pulled her hands behind her and held her still.

“You are mine,” he growled. “Mine to taste.” He licked her shoulder again. “Mine to take,” he snarled thrusting harder and faster.

She mewled. Oxygen pounded hard in her ears. It was almost impossible to hear him over the beats of her heart.

“Mine to own,” he said roughly.

Tension scorched her muscles and held them in a
choke hold. The sound of skin slapping, her moans, and his growls reverberated around the house. If they’d had neighbors nearby, everyone would know what they were doing.

“Mine to mate,” he whispered by her ear.

Her body lost its fight against the knot winding inside her. She screamed into the cushions, riding the pleasure wave again while he plunged hard into her sex. He struck then. He bit into the back of her shoulder with his teeth just as her contractions clasped him in their unyielding hold. His cock pulsed inside her, filling her with his seed.

Mini
-orgasms rocked her core. And he continued coming. Not that she cared. She loved the feel of him. Loved that he wanted to be with her. In her.

It took long moments to get her brain into working order before she realized her shoulder hurt. He’d bitten her hard. They’d had love bites before
, but damn. This was new. Oh well, sex bruises were good bruises. That’s what she liked to think. Not that she’d had any sex since James, so that was probably why she felt like her bones had liquefied.

She wasn’t sure if she’d died and gone to heaven or what, but her body was out of commission. There was no moving her. Even her lungs wanted some help. The soft brush of Brock’s tongue on her shoulder reminded her of his animal side.

“Am I bleeding?” she asked, the words sounding awkward coming out of her super dry throat.

“A little
. I was too rough with you.” His voice was dark, almost upset.

She groaned
, and he moved off her and helped her stand. She tried to peek over her shoulder, but couldn’t see anything. “Don’t worry about it. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me."

At the first step she tried to take, her legs wobbled
, and she almost fell on her very naked ass.

Brock picked her up in his arms with so much tenderness she couldn’t help but smile. “
Didn’t your realtor say something about a hot tub?”