MILITARY ROMANCE: The War Within Himself (Alpha Bad Boy Marine Army Seal) (Contemporary Military Suspense & Thriller Romance) (23 page)

Chapter Three

Krista

              The bones were alit with the moonlight. Revealing them to Derek was like baring her soul. The bones were her destiny, a step closer to figuring out the mystery of the lost settlers. They were everything she had gambled her career for.

              But they weren’t the only thing she had found in the grave. There had been an artifact, which she had quickly hidden away upon finding it, unwilling to show it to anyone. Not yet.

              “What do you think?” Krista asked.

              “Maybe the bones are forged,” Derek suggested. “Have you authenticated them yet?”

              “No. Technically, I don’t have a permit to be here. But the bones are real. I know it.”

              He merely nodded in reply. She took his silence to mean he was overwhelmed.

              “Hey,” she said, taking his hand. “I know it’s a weird sort of magic, but don’t worry.”

              He turned to her, squeezing her hand. “It’s not magic I’m worried about, sunshine. It’s you.”

              He spoke with such truth and depth, it moved her. Knowing now that he was a bachelor, free to love, she corrected her mistake from earlier and kissed him. His lips were not soft. They were coarse and firm, and she worshiped them. They were the lips of a man that worked hard for his bread, a man with strong hands that would work just as hard to please her.

              Fueled by a hunger that had been building for days, Derek took charge of the kiss, pulling her in close to him. The warmth of his body nourished her, made her feel safe, while the large rigidity of his cock pressed into her made her feel primal and untamed. She imagined what it was like to have that cock inside her. Such thoughts caused her body to pulse with excitement and her core to ache with hard anticipation.

              Ready to be devoured by him, she pulled off her sweater and tossed it to the ground, exposing the lacy white bra she wore underneath, inviting him to taste her.

              Needing no further encouragement, Derek picked her up and carried her to the tent. He set her upon her sleeping bag and kissed her again, pressing his lips hard into hers, dominating her tongue with his own while his cock doubled in size.

              When she had a chance to breathe, Krista set a hand upon his chest, feeling his heart beat as strong as hers. “You like the rodeo, cowboy?” she asked seductively.

              “I like you,” he murmured, and he kissed her neck, right where it linked to her core, causing her panties to soak and her core to throb harder with arousal. As he saturated her neck, he grinded his hips against hers, his cock pressing out of his jeans and against her cut offs.

              She grabbed his hair as he kissed her. “I want you to tie me up,” she confessed, unashamed. “Like a rodeo.”

              In response, he kissed her neck harder, his need for her growing. His kisses moved across her shoulder, bruising her skin, until he reached her bra. With his teeth, he ripped the strap down then used his hands to unhook it, freeing her breasts. Instantly, he took one of her breasts into his mouth, sucking it as he continued to grind against her.

              The sensation of his tongue flicking across her nipple and the weight of his body against hers rocked her with bliss. She grew wetter, ready for him to plunge his cock inside her. She arched her back, begging him to give her what she wanted.

              Obeying her earlier request, he grabbed her arms and forced them above her head. Using the lace of her bra, he tied her hands together, making her completely vulnerable to him.

              “Do whatever you want,” she invited.

              Her words charged him. No longer a gentleman, he rose to his knees and tore off her cutoffs, revealing lace panties that match her bra. With one hand pinning down her stomach, he used his other to reach within her panties and explore her with his fingers, driving them deep within her.

              She gasped with pleasure as he banged her with his hand, his fingers caressing her from the inside as they thrust in and out, slick with her wetness. She clenched herself around his thrusts, the heat within her body rising with every stroke.

              Before she exploded with bliss, he released her. He tore off her panties much like he had done with her cut offs, and he undid his jeans, unveiling his giant cock. In a seamless maneuver, he pulled her forward and spread out her legs so that she straddling him, her arms around his neck, still tied together, as they faced each other.

              “You truly are breathtaking, sunshine,” he said before sliding her over his cock, filling her completely.

              Her long brown hair fell around them both as she circled her hips, allowing his cock to massage every part of her. Her movements were like a slow, sensual burn. He kissed her as they made love, and when she finally erupted, it was powerful, like touching a piece of heaven. He came with her, growling out her name, claiming her as his own, their cries echoing into the night.

***

Content in the arms of her cowboy lover, Krista had been asleep, but a rustle outside woke her. Reaching out into the pitch black that curtained the tent, she grabbed for her flashlight and shone it outside.

              She didn’t know what she expected to see. Maybe a coyote. Or tumbleweed. Or Lolli checking in on her. She did not expect to see the silhouette of tigers dancing around her tent like bees to a hive. She assumed they were tigers. The silhouettes were the right shape and size. They moved effortless in intangible patterns, directionless but with intent. It was impossible to know how many there were. Maybe only a handful. Maybe much more.

              Terrified and hoping it was all a dream, she returned to Derek’s arms, who slept soundly, and rejoined him in slumber.             

***

Chapter Four

              “Morning,” Derek greeted as Krista stirred.

              “Morning,” Krista said back.

              He reached across the tent for his cowboy hat and put it on her head. “Ready to ride again?” he asked, running a hand down her naked flesh.

              Her skin burned at his touch, still heated from the sweet anguish the night before, but as soon as she remembered the dream she had, she sat upright.

              “The tigers,” she recalled. “They were here.”

              “What?” Derek asked, instantly on his guard.

              Krista shook her head, confused. “I don’t know. I dreamt that an army of tigers roamed outside, their silhouettes dancing against the tent, but I’m not so sure it was a dream.”

              Silent but urgent, Derek dressed, and so did Krista. She left the tent to pull on her white cashmere sweater, blinking against the glare of the day. No paw prints were in the sand, but as soon as she reached the bones, she fell to her knees.

              “They’re gone,” she said aloud. “The bones are gone.”

              She didn’t understand any of it. Her dream must have been warning her of this. While sleeping, she must have heard a noise outside and the imagination of her subconscious filled in the rest. That made sense, much more than the alternative – that the ghost of tigers had somehow reclaimed their lost ancestor.

              “I’m sorry,” Derek consoled. “I’m so sorry, sunshine. Why don’t you come back to the ranch with me. You’ll be safe there. There’s nothing left for you here.”

              “This was my entire career,” Krista uttered. “Now it’s gone.”

              “Maybe it’s for the best,” Derek said, helping her to stand. “The world isn’t ready to hear about shifters.”

              “I have no interest in telling the world about shifters. It’s the lost settlers I’m looking for. The ones that disappeared from this area in the 1800’s. Those bones were my only clue to their fate.”

              Well, not the only clue, she thought, remembering the artifact she had hidden away. It brought her some relief. With the artifact, she was more determined than ever to solve the mystery that taunted her.

***

              It was a tight fit in her smart car, but they made it to the ranch. Built along the base of a hillside plateau, as if in hiding, the main building was one story but it stretched elaborately in a crescent half-circle. In the courtyard was a statue of a bronze mustang on his hind legs, gallant like a king. Real horses occupied a coral nearby, surrounded by further fields containing sheep and cattle. It wasn’t the lights and upscale stores of the city, but it was a step up from her tent.

              “It’s wonderful,” Krista said. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

              “Think of it as home,” Derek professed, and he kissed her. His kiss wasn’t as hungry as the night before, but there was a sentiment to it. She was more to him than a fling. He cared for her. She could feel it in the way the joined together in the kiss.

              Breaking away, Krista went to the coral, taking a moment to absorb the emotions they were feeling. She leaned against the wooden fence of the coral and watched as the horses galloped around.

              Derek was reluctant to follow.

              “What’s wrong?” she asked.

              “I spook them,” he admitted. “The rest of the animals on my ranch – they recognize my authority. Not the horses. When I approach, they run off scared. I tend to leave them be.”

              “Nonsense,” Krista said, digging her hand in the feed bucket and holding it out for the horses. A beige mare come to her and ate, her muzzle wet and warm against Krista’s hand. “You just have to realize that horses don’t want your authority. They want your respect.”

              Derek still did not move.

              “Relax,” Krista instructed him. “You look like you’re about to pounce. Loosen your shoulders. Tell the horse with your body language that you’re not a threat.”

              Derek shook out the tension in his big bulky muscles and joined her at the fence. “We’re friends, aren’t we, girl? You know I won’t hurt you,” he mumbled to the mare before slowly lifting his hand to pet her coat.

              Krista smiled but said nothing, letting him have his moment.

              “Well look at that,” he breathed. “So we can get along with horses after all.”

              She laughed. “What did you do before?”

              “I have yard hands.” He rested his hand on the bulk of the mare’s neck, pleased. “How do you know animals so well?”

              “As an anthropologist, I study the behavior of people. Animals may not be human, but they are people.”

              “Yes, they are,” he agreed.

              “What is she doing here?” Bridget sniped, finding them. She held a rake in her hand.

              Immediately, the mare ran off.

              “Krista will be staying with us for a while,” Derek said with license, leaving little room for Bridget to argue.

              She did anyway. “No,” she refuted. “Unacceptable.”

              So much for them just being friends, Krista thought. Derek may not be able to see it, but Bridget was seeping possessiveness.

              “You don’t have a say,” Derek told her. “This is my ranch.”

              Bridget threw down the rake, furious. “It’s your ranch but the land belongs to all of us. She is meant to be on her way back to the filth of the city. Our people don’t want her here. This wasn’t part of the plan.”

              Krista froze. “The plan?”

              “Don’t,” Derek warned Bridget.

              “Why not?” the redhead seethed. “You did this to her. You sealed her fate by bringing her here.” Bridget turned to Krista. “Didn’t you wonder why he kept checking in on you, asking questions about your work?”

              “Bridget, stop,” Derek commanded. He put his hand on Krista’s back to guide her away, but she refused. She wanted to hear what Bridget had to say.

              “Go on.”

              Bridget lit up, victorious. “He was infiltrating, trying to uncover what you knew, what you had discovered. He was working for our people. It’s because of him we knew you’d uncovered the bones of our ancestor. Last night was the perfect distraction so we could reclaim them.”

              Krista grabbed onto the fence to steady herself. She suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe. So many thoughts circled around in her mind, picking at her heart like a vulture.

              She was devastated that Derek had betrayed her, but what echoed the loudest from Bridget’s confession was our ancestor.

              “What happened between us last night was real,” Derek told her, touching her arm.

              She barely heard him. “You’re tigers,” she said, looking up at him. “You’re a shifter.”

***

Derek

              It twisted his insides to see Krista look upon him with such distrust. Most of what Bridget said was true. His relationship with Krista had been forged out of deception. He had been chosen to befriend her, keep tabs on her as she dug around the land they roamed. He was meant to protect her from the truth as much as he was to protect his own people. He’d failed.

              That was the most unforgivable of his actions – that he had failed to protect them all, especially Krista.

              Bridget had one thing wrong though. Last night had been real. It had meant something. It was not to distract her. He had not known his people would reclaim the bones as they slept together in the tent.

              He wanted Krista to understand, but it didn’t matter. Not now. There was a more urgent matter to address. Thanks to Bridget, Krista knew they were shifters. It was the one thing he was supposed to keep Krista from discovering – that shifters still existed. They were not confined to the past.

              By revealing their people, Bridget had handed Krista a death sentence.

              Torn, Derek spun around towards Bridget. He knew what he had to do to protect Krista, but it was difficult. Bridget may have a red temper, but she was a good friend. Her actions were misled, as was her heart, but deep down all she wanted was the best for their people. They faced extinction. Knowing so could wilt a thorn.

              But in the end, it had been Bridget who revealed the secret of their people. She may not have realized it, but by handing Krista a death sentence, she had inflicted one upon herself. Their people would never tolerate it.

              The choice was either to destroy Bridget now, or let them both die.

              “I’m sorry,” Derek said to Bridget, his heart wrenching as her face fell. “Forgive me.”

              Full of remorse, he changed, transforming into a tiger, his fur thick and mighty around his neck.

              Realizing his intentions, Bridget turned as well. As a tigress, she was quick and agile, like an assassin, but she would be no match against his bulk.

              They clashed in the air, beast against beast. Bridget swiped at him, and her claws dug across his back. It was painful, but not as painful as knowing he had to destroy his friend, as if their nights drinking around the campfire and long hours spent herding cattle meant nothing to him.

              She prepared to swipe again, as he knew she would. Her claws were her best defense. When she pulled her front leg back, he jolted forward and grabbed the scruff of her neck with his teeth. All he had to do was clamp down....

              To his surprise, Bridget transformed back into her human form and slipped out of his hold. She was pleased with herself, but it had nothing to do with evading death.

              Krista was gone, her car nowhere to be seen. This had been Bridget’s plan all along – to distract him while Krista ran.

              Relinquishing, Derek transformed back as well.

              There was no point killing Bridget now. She would not let the others find out that Krista knew, for her own sake. She did not want Krista dead. She just wanted her gone.

All of their lives were safe, but he had lost the love of his.

***