Hunter Reborn (6 page)

The bold move took her by surprise. She spread her palms against his chest and tried to keep some distance between them, but Ryan wouldn't let her. Her palms tingled against him as she savored the feel of being able to touch him so intimately.

“I could have lost you tonight.” He wrapped those big arms around her in a tight grip, his tone ragged and hungry.

To hear so much need in his voice completely undid her. Where was the cold, resisting male she'd gotten so
used to? “Maybe.” She started to say more when he crushed his mouth down over hers in a purely dominating move.

By now she shouldn't be surprised but this was a completely different side to the sexy cowboy hacker. They'd bickered on and off for the past few months and while she'd known he was attracted to her, she'd secretly wondered if there was something wrong with her. He'd just been so distant. Not now. She tangled her tongue with his, nipping his bottom lip playfully with her teeth.

When he shuddered against her, Teresa slid her hands up his chest and held on to his shoulders. She dug her fingers into his skin in an effort to steady herself and Ryan groaned into her mouth. She arched her back, pressing closer to him, wishing she didn't have a shirt on. Before she realized what he intended, he grasped her butt and hoisted her up. It felt so natural to wrap her legs around his waist. The feel of his hard length pressing against the juncture between her thighs was too much.

As his tongue teased hers, she was vaguely aware of him moving them inside and the door slamming behind them. He pinned her against the nearest wall. Her arousal skyrocketed as he rolled his hips against hers. Ryan slid a hand under her shirt and she knew she should protest. They needed to talk, but the feel of those callused fingers skimming her belly set her on fire.

He pulled his head back a fraction and started nuzzling his way along her jaw to her ear. When he nipped her earlobe between his teeth she arched against him.

“I love seeing you in my shirt,” he murmured, raking his teeth gently against her neck.

The implication of what he was doing wasn't lost on her. Male shifters didn't graze their teeth against a female's neck unless they had serious intentions to mate them. The fact that he was doing so now, even teasingly, scared the hell out of her. Not because she was afraid he'd mark her without asking, but because of the complete one-eighty he'd done.

“Wait,” she murmured at the same time she heard a shuffling of feet.

“Ryan?” Lucas's groggy voice had them both freezing.

Ryan lifted his head from her neck and she let her legs unwrap from around him. He set her down, but squeezed her hips once before looking over his shoulder. “Hey, buddy. Did we wake you up?”

Teresa pushed against Ryan's chest and stepped around him so she could see Lucas.

The ten-year-old shifter wore long flannel pajama pants and a T-shirt, his blond hair sticking up everywhere in the most adorable way. “No, I'm thirsty. I didn't mean to bother you—”

“You're not bothering us,” Teresa interjected. Ryan didn't seem to want to let her go, but she didn't care. She needed distance from this male if she wanted to think straight. “I just stopped by to . . .” Her brain chose that moment to malfunction. She couldn't even think of a decent lie.

“To kiss Ryan?” the boy asked, all innocence.

Teresa felt her face flame. “Ah, no. We weren't . . . I'm just leaving but Ana is cooking breakfast for
everyone in a few hours so I'll see you then.” Without sparing a glance in Ryan's direction she hurried out the front door.

She should have known he wouldn't just let her run out.

He caught her hand in his and tugged her back as he followed her onto the front porch. He tugged the door closed behind him with his other hand. “Hey. He won't be up for long.”

For some reason that statement pissed her off as much as the hungry look in Ryan's eyes did. “So what? You can't just change the rules all of a sudden, Ryan O'Callaghan. Once you decide to give me an explanation for why you've been a jackass the past three months, come see me. Until then, this”—she motioned between them—“isn't happening again.” Ignoring the dark look he gave her, she turned on her heel and left. Maybe it was harsh but she didn't care. He couldn't just yo-yo her around like this.

So what if he all of a sudden decided he wanted her. What happened when he changed his mind again? She wasn't going to deal with some emotionally challenged male. For months he'd made it a point to keep his distance, but he'd still warned other males away from her. She wanted to know why. And jumping into bed with him without talking first was stupid. One way or another Ryan was going to come clean about whatever his issues were.

Because she wanted the whole package. A mate, a family, everything. And if he couldn't give it to her, she was moving on.

J
ayce sat on Cece's couch and tried to rein in his frustration at the sobbing human. He understood she was upset—rightfully so—but he didn't have time for tears. If anything, they made him edgier.

At least Kat was more sympathetic. It seemed to make a difference with the human. Kat sat on the longer couch with Cece, across from Jayce, his bondmate's arm wrapped snuggly around the female's shaking shoulders.

“I just don't understand why we can't call the police,” the human wailed again.

Jayce rubbed a hand over his face. Yes, she'd been traumatized, but she was also drunk. Considering the blood she'd lost and the shock she had to be in, it made sense that she kept forgetting things they'd already told her. Still annoyed the shit out of him.

“I've already called the police, Cece,” Jayce said quietly. “They'll be here in ten minutes.” He didn't care if
it was a lie. He needed answers. She straightened at that, even though he'd already told her the same thing half a dozen times. “Why did your friends leave the club early?”

She sniffled and wiped her red nose. Once they'd got her home, she'd showered and changed into flannel pajamas. He'd bagged her bloody clothes and told her they would go to the police. In reality he'd be keeping her clothing for his own investigation.

“They were hooking up with some shifters, but they haven't texted me back yet. Bitches,” she muttered.

“Can you give me their names and contact information? I'd like to follow up with them and make sure they're okay.”

She nodded and rattled off both names and phone numbers. He would put them in his notebook later, but for now he mentally filed the information away. He'd be following up with her friends very soon. Because if they'd intentionally thrown their friend to those vamps for dinner, they wouldn't like his form of justice.

“You're doing great, Cece,” Kat murmured, rubbing her hand against the female's back in small circles.

“Thanks. And thank you for saving me. I still can't believe . . .” She trailed off into another fit of tears and Kat pulled her into a hug.

Jayce clenched his jaw but straightened when Kat shot him an annoyed look. He didn't have to tap into their telepathic link to know she was mad at him for not being more sympathetic. The human hadn't been sexually assaulted, so he wasn't walking on eggshells around her. They needed damn answers about what
was going down at that club and why. Because he knew in his gut that the club was linked to the recent rash of vamp blood dealing and the crimes committed by those hopped-up on the stuff.

“Did the men who drank from you say anything or seem to be acting strange?” Jayce asked.

Natalia had described the vamp that she'd killed as having eerie glowing eyes. And Kat had said that with her seer ability, she'd been able to see a strange aura around the other vamps, as if they were puppets on a string.

Cece's head whipped up, tears streaking down her face. “Stranger than them attacking me and drinking my blood with no provocation? I would have given it to them!” she shouted, then seemed to realize what she'd said. Her face flushed red as she looked down at her hands. “I've hooked up with vamps before so it's not like . . . I wouldn't have
minded
feeding them, but they just attacked me. I didn't deserve it.”

“No, you didn't,” Jayce agreed. “Those two vamps were monsters and they're never going to hurt you again.” A knock at the door had him rising. Cece started to get up, but he held up a hand. “I'll get it.” Before he opened the door he scented his old friend, Nikolai.

When he opened it Niko stood there, arms crossed over his chest. “All these little favors are going to add up, wolf.”

Jayce snorted and stepped back. “She's in the living room.”

As he and his vamp friend entered the living room, both Kat and Cece looked up. Kat wasn't surprised
because he'd told her what he was doing, but Cece's dark eyes were confused.

“Are you with the police?” she asked Niko, who looked like a biker, wearing beat-up jeans, scuffed shit-kickers, and an equally worn leather jacket.

The vamp was over five hundred years old and had more money than some countries, but you couldn't tell from the way he dressed.

Niko covered the distance to her in the span of a heartbeat and knelt in front of her. As he did, Kat stood and stepped away.

“I'm sorry for what you went through tonight, but I'm going to make it better. Okay?” he asked in that rough voice of his. It didn't matter that he was a vamp and basically immortal, his voice would never change. Right before Niko had been turned his throat had been slit and had never healed properly during the change from human to vamp.

Cece looked confused, but nodded.

As Niko talked to her, Kat hurried to Jayce's side.
You trust him?
she asked telepathically.

With my life.
That wasn't something he said lightly or about many people. Which explained Kat's raised eyebrows.

You could have gone a little easier on her,
she chastised.

He shrugged and wrapped an arm around Kat's shoulders. He wasn't used to being soft with anyone, except her. For her he'd do damn near anything.
That's why you're here.

Rolling her eyes, she nudged him with her elbow.
What do we do now?

Go home, get some sleep, and in a few hours we'll hunt down Cece's friends. I don't think they're involved, but it's a possibility.

Kat frowned and looked back at the human and Niko. Niko was staring deeply into her eyes and scrubbing her recent memories.
What about Cece?

Niko will stay and watch over her in case she wasn't randomly targeted.
Unlike a lot of vamps, Niko actually liked humans. For all his rough exterior, the ancient vamp was oddly protective of the physically weaker species. It was one of the reasons Jayce respected him.

If you trust him, I trust him.
Kat leaned into Jayce, wrapping her arm tighter around him.

The feel of her lush body against his was something he'd never tire of. A few months ago he hadn't thought it possible for him to have the life he wanted with the female he wanted more than his next breath. Some days he was terrified he was going to wake up and find out this was all a dream. Or that she'd be targeted by one of his enemies. That was something he simply had to live with. Luckily he was strong and so was she. His female could take care of herself if push came to shove. And he'd continue to keep training her every day to make sure she never lost that edge.

He'd seen firsthand what happened to a male when he lost his mate. His own brother, who he hadn't heard from in hundreds of years, had lost his pregnant mate to a feral coyote. It had been bloody and horrifying. His brother had gone crazy, attacking Jayce in a fit of rage. Jayce had let him because he'd known the male was suffering worse than any physical pain could inflict.
He'd stopped his brother only because he hadn't wanted to go blind, but now he was scarred, a reminder of all his brother had lost and what Jayce could lose too. Hell, he didn't even know if his brother was alive. Some days he thought about searching for him, but fuck it. If he wanted to find Jayce, he could. His brother was the one who'd left all those years ago, turned his back on Jayce, the only family he'd had.

At a buzzing sound, Kat reached into her front pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She snorted and held it out for him to see.

If u 2 don't have curfews neither should I! Where r u?
A text from Leila, the sixteen-year-old shifter they'd recently adopted.

Jayce just shook his head as Kat texted her back. Their new ward was staying with December and Liam while they were off on this mission so it wasn't as if she was alone. And what the hell was she doing up this late anyway?

She wants to see her new . . . friend,
Kat said, answering the question he hadn't asked.

Jayce tensed, knowing his bondmate was right. Leila had started hanging out with a human boy. Who rode a motorcycle. Hell fucking no.
Not happening tonight.

“No kidding,” Kat muttered aloud as she slid her phone back in her pocket.

“Come on,” he murmured to Kat as Niko stood up.

Cece was lying back on the couch now, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. Whatever Niko had done clearly worked.

The three of them walked outside, but Niko
remained in the doorway. “I'm going to stay for a few more hours until I'm sure she's okay. Then I'll keep watch over her house for a couple days. She seemed to take the memory scrub well, but she was attacked, so she might have nightmares. She thinks I'm a gay vampire she picked up at that club tonight.”

“Gay?” Kat asked, a touch of amusement in her voice.

“I planted that in her memory so she wouldn't feel threatened by me. She needs rest after her ordeal.”

“Thanks, man. Call me with any updates and I'll let you know if I find out anything about the vamp blood dealing,” Jayce said before he and Kat headed to their SUV.

“You're keeping him apprised of your investigation?” Kat asked once they were in the vehicle.

Jayce nodded. “Out of courtesy. This business with the vamp blood dealing could affect all vampires if it's not taken care of.” Normally he didn't check in with anyone regarding his investigations except the Council. This situation was different, especially since he was working with the Armstrong pack.

“And if you keep him in the loop, he'll keep you in the loop if he discovers something interesting,” Kat finished on her own.

Jayce gave her a half smile. His mate knew him so well. “Exactly.”

*   *   *

Aiden locked the front door to the cabin behind Connor, but didn't turn around yet. He could feel Larissa behind him, watching. Waiting. Even though he
couldn't see them, those indigo eyes of hers were so damn expressive.

They hadn't always been like that, but now she was confused and not acting like the Larissa he knew. She was wearing her emotions right out in the open and it was jarring. His Larissa had been strong and a little arrogant. At over five hundred years old and ridiculously powerful, she had a right to be. He wanted her back, all of her.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to get his wolf under control. He knew she'd seen his animal revealed in his eyes a few times on the drive to the two-story log cabin. He'd tried to rein himself in but it was damn hard with her sitting next to him. Alive. Real. After all these years.

Whoever had put her in stasis, had taken her from him, would pay.

When she politely cleared her throat, he turned to find her standing there with her arms wrapped around herself. Such a human gesture and so out of character . . . Suddenly it hit him. “Are you cold?”

She nodded, her face flushing slightly, as if she was embarrassed. “Just a little,” she said softly, her lilting accent rolling over him, bringing up so many damn memories of the first time they'd met.

Okay, that was the Larissa he knew. Not wanting anyone to sense what she would perceive as a weakness. He hated that he hadn't sensed her discomfort, but he'd had to semi-lock himself down from their bondmate link. It was difficult after being separated for so long, but not impossible. He was still connected to her, but he was allowing his wolf a little more control
than normal, letting his animal channel all those emotions he felt flowing off Larissa like a tsunami. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to function. Feeling her worry and confusion was killing him inside.

“Come on.” He gestured to the living room right off the foyer. The place was maintained by a caretaker and Aiden knew Connor had contacted the woman who took care of it even though it had been so late.

The place was supposed to be stocked with food—for him, because the only food she required was blood and she would feed from him and no one else—and there should be a selection of clothes upstairs for Larissa to choose from. She was petite in height and build like many of his female packmates so something should fit. Of course he hoped she decided to just go naked, but he knew that was wishful thinking.

He strode into the room with her trailing behind him. A quick flip of a switch on the mantel of the stone fireplace and it flared to life. There was something to be said for the ease of gas fireplaces.

After turning it on he sat on the pile of rugs in front of it and leaned against the nearby couch. When she tentatively sat on the rugs, he stripped his sweater off and handed it to her. In the SUV he'd changed into one of the spare sets of clothes, but he wouldn't need it in here. More than anything, he wanted his scent on her. And he noticed the way she stared at his bare skin.

With a hunger that matched his own.

He wasn't above using her own desire against her. She clearly wanted him. The desire that sparked between them was just waiting to combust and he had no
problem fanning the flames. Anything to get her naked and underneath him. It was the only time she'd let him dominate her. Then she'd remember him. He hoped. A small part of him was so fucking scared she'd never . . . No. He shut that down before it had a chance to form. No matter what, he was going to reinforce the bond between them so that she had no doubt what she meant to him.

Larissa shook her head and he realized he was still holding the sweater out to her. “That's okay. With the fire I won't need it.”

“I want my scent on you,” he ground out, stunning himself.
Way to play it smooth.

Her eyes widened, but she took the sweater nonetheless. “Turn around,” she demanded, taking him by surprise with her heated words.

“No.” If she was taking off her shirt, he wasn't moving.

For a moment she looked shocked, but then she gritted her teeth before tugging the sweater on over the silky black top she already had on. “You're so . . . obnoxious and dominant. I can't imagine that I
liked
that.”