Hunter Reborn (14 page)

“It's insanely stupid.” Okay, it was more of a selfless act, but Teresa wasn't thinking straight. Her young sister was out in the world on her own and she had no clue where Natalia had gone.

Ryan opened up the smaller of his laptops and glanced at her, his expression soft but determined. “It's not stupid. She's worried about the cubs and the pregnant females,” he said before focusing all his attention on his computer screen.

With December pregnant and two new pregnant females who'd recently integrated into their pack, Teresa actually understood her sister's thought process. Fighting the full-blown panic clawing at her insides, Teresa started pacing behind Ryan as he clacked away on his computer. Her sister should have just waited for Connor to meet with those vampires.

Less than thirty seconds later, Ryan stood and snapped his razor-thin laptop shut before tucking it under his arm. “Let's go.”

“What? Where?” Had he found her already? It seemed impossible, but the male worked magic on those computers.

“I tracked her using her cell phone.”

“How?” she asked as she hurried outside with him. When Teresa had found that note, she hadn't even thought about going to anyone else. Not even her Alpha. She'd known Ryan would be able to help.

“She has an Android phone and it's synched with her Google account. With her password, I just logged in and tracked the phone using her Device Manager. I didn't even have to do anything illegal.” He sounded
almost disappointed as they raced across the yard to the parking structure.

“Is she far?”

“No, it looks like she's in one of the cabins at the Fontana ski lodge. Or at least that's where her phone is.”

Hope surged through Teresa but she tried to temper it. She wouldn't relax until she held Natalia in her arms and knew she was safe. As she slid into the passenger seat of Ryan's truck, another thought struck her. “Hey, how do you know Natalia's password?”

He shot her a disbelieving look as he started the engine. “I can guess almost everyone's password here at the ranch. It's simple guesswork and I got hers in two tries.”

“There's no way you could guess mine.” Teresa didn't tell anyone that stuff or write it down anywhere.

His lips quirked up as he pulled up to the gate. “Hmm.”

“Hmm, nothing. You can't know mine. I use different passwords for everything.”

“I bet you a kiss I can guess your e-mail password. Maybe not exactly, but I can guess the letters and numbers in it,” he said as he jumped from the idling vehicle. After opening the gate, he slid back in and didn't bother shutting it. When she saw one of the males waving them off and closing the gate behind them she realized why.

“I'm sure with a dozen guesses you could probably narrow it down.” She wasn't letting this conversation drop. Partially because she wanted the distraction and talking about her runaway sister wasn't going to do her
sanity any good. Thinking about kissing Ryan probably wasn't any better.

“Three guesses. If I get it by the third try, I get to kiss you anytime, anywhere. And if we kiss
before
I call in my chip, those kisses won't count. This will be a kiss I demand.”

The thought of him getting to demand a kiss whenever he wanted was hotter than she wanted to admit.

“What happens if you don't guess?”

He paused for a moment as he contemplated. “Then you can demand a kiss from me anytime, anywhere.”

Shaking her head, she didn't fight the small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Deal. Now wow me with your amazing abilities.”

“Your favorite fruit is the blueberry. You like it so much your kitchen has a blueberry theme. I remember you nearly biting the head off one of your cousins who wanted to make a blueberry surprise dessert for Christmas since you are the only one who makes blueberry desserts. And, though I haven't seen them personally, I heard Ana teasing you about your flannel pajamas with a blueberry pattern. I think it's safe to say you have an obsession with the tiny fruit.” He shot her a quick glance for confirmation.

She gritted her teeth. Damn him. And damn her for being so stupid. “Yes,” she muttered.

“And the last four numbers of your social security number are eight-six-three-one. I guess that you use those numbers along with the word blueberry. Probably a shortened version of the word so it doesn't actually spell out a known word in the dictionary. You
probably have the numbers first and separate the numbers from your word with something like an @ symbol or a hyphen. Am I getting warm?” he purred, all smug and sexy.

She wasn't sure how he knew her social security number, but she wasn't surprised. This male knew way too much about everyone. But she liked seeing him so relaxed around her, liked that there wasn't that strange tension in the air between them. Instead of answering him, she gritted her teeth. She wasn't going to confirm that he was freaking right.

“So I
am
close. Okay, my official guess is 8631-blue.”

“Nope.”

“All right . . . 8631-blueb.”

“I hate you,” she said, no heat in her voice as she fought a building laugh. She still wasn't convinced he hadn't already known her password, but she didn't care if he had cheated. She wanted to kiss him again. Badly.

“Anytime, anywhere.” There was such a note of raw hunger in his words that she squirmed in her seat.

As he pulled out onto the highway, he shot her a knowing look, no doubt scenting her own desire. But then a thought occurred to her and made her go cold. She was so damn insecure where this male was concerned and she hated it. After driving in silence for a few minutes, she asked, “Were you just trying to distract me back there with that talk about kissing?”

He snorted but didn't take his eyes off the road. “Will you open my laptop?” he asked, ignoring her question.

Though she wanted to continue her line of
questioning she did as he said. A screen immediately popped up. A map with a red dot in the middle of what looked like an almost desolate area blinked insistently. There were a couple of buildings on the screen, but it wasn't a populated area. “Has she moved?”

“No, that's still the ski lodge.”

Relief slid through her. They were just a few minutes away from the main lodge and there were plenty of side roads to the outlying cabins. Considering how good Ryan was with directions she knew they'd be there soon. Then she could bring her sister back to safety where she belonged.

“What do you want from me, Ryan?” she blurted, feeling as if her skin was too tight for her body. She was too old for games and she needed to know his intentions.

“I want to court you.” His answer was immediate, which soothed the most primal part of her.

She paused a moment, digesting his bold statement. Courting was what shifters did when they were serious. What they did when they had long-term plans. The term was a little old school, but she and Ryan weren't from the newest generation. “You want to or you're going to?”

“I'm going to. I'm making my intentions clear, right here, right now, but . . . I need to talk to you about something. About
me
. We don't have enough time here, but once we get Natalia back to the ranch we will. Once we've talked, you can decide if you still want me.”

His words and the potent, sharp punch of fear that
rolled off him surprised her. It wasn't acidic, but the sharpness stung her nostrils. “Still want you?”

He nodded, his jaw clenched tight, and he wouldn't even glance at her as he pulled off onto a nearly hidden road, driving them higher into the mountains.

She was quiet as she digested his words. She couldn't imagine there was anything Ryan could have done that would make her not want him. Not the Ryan she knew. “Does this have something to do with Lucas?”

Blinking in surprise, he looked at her then, his dark eyes glittering with something she couldn't define. “No, but Lucas and I are a package deal.”

At that, she laughed. “No shit, cowboy. If you were the type of male to ditch a kid for a female, you wouldn't be the male for me.” Realizing what she'd said, she blushed. “Not that I'm saying you
are
the male for me, just . . .” She trailed off and he got that smug look again as he steered them up the winding mountain road. “Do you have, like, a secret human family somewhere or something?” She knew that was unlikely but she was impatient to find out what he was hiding and anything was better than worrying about her sister.

“Seriously?”

“Okay, do you—”

“Teresa, no more fishing.” There was an unexpected commanding note in his voice that she felt all the way to her toes. Even though Ryan was one of the biggest, sexiest males she'd ever met, she sometimes forgot he could be so dominating. He was usually quiet and reserved and always on one of his computers.

She clamped her mouth shut and stared out the window, watching the snow-covered trees move by at a glacial pace as Ryan slowed and turned off onto another small road. Surprising her, he stopped about twenty yards down from the main road and pulled into a cluster of bare, snow-topped pine trees.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He plucked the laptop from her and slid it under his seat. “The signal is pinging about fifty yards north from here. I want to go in on foot.”

Teresa sucked in a sharp breath. She hadn't realized they were so close, but she was ready to find her sister. “Has Connor got back to you?”

“Yeah, he's on his way to the ranch. He said if we can't handle things to call in for backup. But it's pretty clear she just ran away.”

Teresa nodded and grasped the handle. “Let's go get my sister.” As she slid from the vehicle, her boots crunching over the icy ground, she stilled and very quietly shut the door behind her.

Inhaling deeply, she took a few tentative steps toward the front of the vehicle. Full-blown panic settled in her bones as she realized what she was scenting nearby. Blood.

When she glanced at Ryan and saw the quick flash of fear in his dark gaze, she knew she wasn't imagining things.

A bolt of terror, jagged and angry, shot through her as she took off racing through the woods. If someone had hurt her sister, they were going to pay.

A
iden watched Larissa carefully, his wolf in his gaze. It was unsettling the way he stared at her, but she didn't let her emotions show and tried to block their link as best she could. It was difficult when he was insistently pushing at it, sending all sorts of emotions her way. Lust being the main one.

“Why are we in this random hotel room?” she asked quietly, much of her earlier annoyance fading. She knew he'd just been trying to protect her, but she didn't want to be a female who needed protecting. And she didn't want him to view her that way.

“Before we take one more step out that door, I want to clear the air. This”—he motioned between them—“cold shoulder treatment is never going to work for me. Ever. I don't care if you're pissed at me, punch me in the fucking nuts, claw me to pieces, do whatever you need to do, but don't ignore me. Don't push me out. We're bonded and that means something.” His tone
was determined, but the anguish in his expression sliced her up.

She knew she'd hurt him and she hated that. Biting her bottom lip, she perched on the end of the plush king-size bed and wrapped her arms around herself. The heavy weight of guilt settled on her like a smothering blanket as she struggled to find the right words. “While I know we're bonded, intellectually, I don't remember getting to that point with you, which makes all these emotions I'm feeling that much more difficult. And I like you—so much that it's a little terrifying. When you tried to order me around, it struck a very wrong chord with me. It's embarrassing that there's so much I still don't know or understand about this world. I am used to being the strongest person in most rooms.” She didn't mean it arrogantly and hoped he wouldn't take it that way. “And I know it's not an excuse, but it's why I reacted so badly. I'm feeling embarrassed and stupid and so unsure of everything, but the one thing I still know how to do right is feed without help. It felt as if you were trying to control me when I didn't need it.”

He rubbed a hand over his face, and all the tension fled his big body as he sat next to her on the bed. Shoving his sweater sleeves up, he kept a solid foot of distance between them. For some reason she didn't like that, even though she was the one who'd been giving him the cold shoulder the past couple of hours. She had no clue if she'd ever done it with him before. In previous relationships things had never progressed far enough with any of her lovers for her to care enough to argue with them. It had felt wrong to do so with Aiden,
but she hadn't been prepared for any of the feelings he evoked inside her. When the tendons and muscles in his arms flexed, showcasing all that strength, she fought to breathe for a moment. He was so sexy it was ridiculous.

“I'm always going to try to protect you, whether you need it or not. And I expect the same from you. You're the strongest female I've ever met, but you were gone for sixty years, presumably dead. So I'm probably going to act fucking insanely territorial more than once. I'll be possessive and jealous and yes, likely try to protect you from nothing because I can't stand the thought of you being out of my sight for even a moment. But it's not because I think you're weak. I'm going to apologize in advance for all the stupid shit I'm going to do over the next couple of months, or hell, years. I lost you once, Larissa. I can't go through that again.”

The agony that punched through their bondmate link hit her almost like a physical blow, square in the middle of the chest. While she'd been worried about her silly pride and appearing weak, he was just terrified of losing her again.

The need to comfort this male welled up inside her like an out-of-control tsunami. She never wanted to be the cause of his pain. Before she could talk herself out of it, she launched herself at him, straddling him and wrapping her arms around his neck as she buried her face against him right where his shoulder and neck met. Inhaling, she savored his spicy, earthy scent. She was such an idiot, pushing this male away for no reason. “I'm so sorry, Aiden.”

A sharp sense of relief surged through her when he returned her embrace. She wasn't sure what she'd been afraid of, maybe his rejection. When he buried his face against her neck too, she realized how stupid a fear that had been.

“I just want to take you somewhere far from here and forget all this mess,” Aiden murmured, his breath hot against her neck.

“I know.” The thought was appealing. They could hole up together and she could get to know her bondmate again without the world as a distraction. Maybe even start to regain her memories. It was a hopeless wish though. Leaning back, she looked deep into his eyes. His wolf was gone, only the man was watching her now.

Intently.

Possessively.

Need built deep, heating her from the inside out. His hands slid down her back, moved over her hips and down her jean-clad thighs before gliding upward again to settle on her hips. “Are you hungry?”

The human she'd fed from hadn't had strong blood, but Larissa was still feeling light-years better than she had only twenty-four hours ago. And she wouldn't feed from Aiden again so soon. Not after she had twice in less than a twelve-hour period, no matter how powerful he was. “I'm fine.”

Those sexy lips of his pulled together in a thin line as if he didn't believe her. “Bite me,” he murmured.

Her nipples tightened at the soft command, but she shook her head, unsure what he was getting at.

“Not to feed, just nip my skin like you used to. I miss the feel of your teeth and mouth on me.” His voice was guttural now, full of need as he rolled his hips upward, pushing the outline of his erection against the juncture between her thighs.

“I used to bite you?”

Grinning wickedly, he nodded. “Yes. You never broke the skin unless you were feeding, but you loved to nip my neck and all over my body.”

He rolled his hips against her again, drawing a shudder from her at the feel of his thick length against her covered mound. She hated that there were clothes in the way. It would be so easy to throw away caution, to let him inside her, to forget about everything and everyone for just a little while.

Aiden slid a hand up under the back of her shirt, stroking along the length of her spine in a rhythmic motion that drove her crazy. He was just touching her back, but she felt as if he was touching her everywhere. Sparks of heat skittered across her skin.

Feeling her eyes grow heavy-lidded, she dipped her head to his neck again, her fangs aching just being this close to his artery. The male had such exquisite, perfect blood. She'd never tasted anything so wonderful. But she wasn't going to feed from him again.
She wasn't.
No matter how strong the urge was.

As she inhaled his familiar scent, something rattled loose in her memory.

“You are such a cheeky little male.” She waved a hand at the giant, Adonis-looking shifter, trying to make him back off as she attempted to glide by him. The meeting between her
parents and the Nicholl pack leaders had been tedious and she was tired of the stupid politics. She was exhausted and needed to feed and didn't have time for this annoyingly sexy shifter who seemed to take pleasure needling her whenever they were alone. He had to know how powerful she was yet he thought he could keep poking at her.

“Little? Sweetheart, I'll lift my kilt and show you what I've got between my thighs and if you still think it's little—”

“Aiden!”

A long pause, and a slow, wicked grin spread across his devilishly handsome face. “That's the first time you've said my name.”

“Well, it is your name, is it not?”

He made a humming sound, stalking closer to her. She wasn't sure why she liked it, but her nipples pebbled against the thick material of her full-length ball gown. She backed up, then immediately cursed the show of weakness, but it was too late. Her bare shoulders skimmed the cold stone wall of the hallway before she gained her senses and straightened.

“I like hearing you say my name. Say it again,” he demanded, rough and unsteady as his dark eyes went pure wolf.

She swallowed hard, not feeling like herself as she looked up at this big male. She placed one palm on his chest, meaning to push him away, but instead clutched onto his shirt. He was so hot to the touch, so strong. “I will not.”

“Say it, Larissa.” His eyes grew heavy-lidded with raw hunger as he watched her.

“No,” she whispered, though her heart pounded.

He leaned closer, his lips skimming her neck, and God help her, she actually let him get so close. The male was a
predator, a lupine shifter. Yet she was letting him practically lick her throat. It was almost as if she was possessed, unable to move him away. “Would you say it if I kissed you?” he murmured. “Or maybe you'd scream it while you're coming against my mouth?”

A shiver rolled down her spine at the visual. He was so damn arrogant. “You're so sure you can make me come?” No, that wasn't what she'd meant to say. She'd meant to simply shove him back for his impertinence.

He didn't respond, just made that sexy humming sound as he flicked his tongue over the sensitive spot behind her ear. He wasn't touching her with his hands, which were placed firmly on either side of her head against the wall. Somehow that made whatever this was, even more intense. Her entire body cried out for his touch. She was practically ready to throw herself at him.

That sudden thought made her straighten and finally shove him away. He stepped back under the force of her push, something akin to hurt in those dark eyes, but she ignored it. “You are far too forward. And I do not need
you
to achieve climax; I have someone waiting for me right now.” A complete lie, but he didn't seem to scent it as he moved in the span of a heartbeat, caging her against the wall, using his hands and body to pin her there. Now he wasn't holding back from touching her and she found she liked it very much. Too much.

“You don't have a lover,” he ground out. “I would smell him if you did.”

She rolled her eyes. “That is because I bathe.”

“He's a dead man.” He let out a low growl, and something dark flickered in that gaze.

Possessiveness had never turned her on before, but seeing Aiden get so worked up made heat flood between her thighs. She didn't like the way he made her feel so out of control, as if she didn't own her body. She needed to teach this wolf a lesson. One kiss and she would put him in his place. Before she could stop herself, she leaned up and put her mouth to his. Yes, she was absolutely possessed. The moment their lips touched, her entire body lit up with desire.

Larissa's eyes snapped open and she leaned back to see Aiden watching her hungrily. “I was an arrogant bitch,” she whispered.

At her words he laughed, the sound so rich it filled her soul. She didn't know how she knew, but something in her subconscious told her she'd missed this laugh very much. “Why would you say that?”

“I thought you were arrogant, but the truth is . . . I was too.” Now look at her. No coven, missing memories, no money, no way to support herself. She was completely dependent on a pack of shifters to help her find whoever had killed her parents and to help her figure out this daunting new world.

“You weren't arrogant. You were . . . very secure in who you were. As old as you were and as much of the world as you've seen, it would have been strange if you weren't so confident.”

She let a smile touch her lips at his heartfelt words. “You're very wise for such a young pup.”

He brushed his lips over hers, the light touch almost chaste. “I'm not so young anymore.”

Savoring the quiet moment because she knew it would be fleeting, Larissa wrapped her arms tighter
around him, pulling him close. Her breasts pressed against his chest as she laid her cheek against his. “I want to feel you inside me. I want you to completely possess me,” she whispered. It was too soon and the wrong time and place, but she needed him to know.

He jerked under her and made a strained sound before he let out a low growl. Taking her by surprise, he stood and placed her on her feet. He pinned her with an intense gaze. “We need to leave now or I'm taking you against the wall, on the floor, and maybe the bed. I won't be gentle and we'll likely get kicked out of here for the noise we'll make.”

The way his voice shook told her he meant every word. Unfortunately, it made her even hotter. She wanted nothing more than to make very good use of the bed. Now wasn't the time or place. But very soon she was going to get this male under her, on top of her, and every other way she could possibly imagine.

As if he read her thoughts—or more likely the scent she was throwing off—Aiden growled low in frustration and stalked from the room.

*   *   *

Ryan took off after Teresa, cursing her speed. Even in human form she was damn fast. They weren't far from Natalia's last known location and the scent of blood grew stronger the closer they got to their destination. As he reached Teresa, he wanted to tell her to slow down, but she did it anyway.

As the thick forest started to thin, they both slowed their pace. Through the trees he could see a two-story cabin. One of the ski lodge rental places. The sound of
grunts and angry shouts filled the air, somewhere beyond the cabin, but it couldn't be too far past. When Ryan heard Natalia scream, he didn't even think, his wolf just took over.

His clothes, SIG, and shoes scattered around him as he shifted form and raced toward the cry. Under normal circumstances he would have used more stealth, but he knew without a doubt that Teresa was going to run right into danger no matter what he did. So he had to beat her to it. There was no way in hell he was letting her get hurt.