Chapter 12
CONNOR’S touch was assertive, almost rough. Needy.
Thank God.
She couldn’t get enough of it.
Elaine had been handled with such delicacy the past few months. She was sick of being treated like a breakable doll. As a full-grown shifter woman, one with a hormonal carnivore dwelling inside her, she craved the brave caress of a man who understood her strength. Leave it to Connor to realize it when no one else did. As he threw her around on the bed, holding her down with powerful arms, her heart soared.
“Yes. More.”
His dark eyes took on the brighter aspect of his mountain lion’s eyes. “Do you like how I touch you?”
She nodded. “Don’t be gentle, Connor, please. I can’t handle it if you’re gentle with me.”
He gazed at her for a long time, his face inscrutable. He slid his hand behind her neck and tugged gently on her hair. “When I take you, it’ll be hard. I plan to leave my own marks on you.”
He took her mouth in a ruthless kiss, nipping at every piece of flesh. Dragging his tongue along her neck, he tangled his fist in her hair. Needing to administer her own sort of tough love, she ran her hands down to his buttocks and scratched him there.
She would see to it he wore her marks as well.
When she scratched him again, he nipped her on the shoulder. “You think you’re in charge here, lady?”
“In a way. I think you would do anything to please me.”
“I would, but I know what you need right now, and it has nothing to do with sweetness and tenderness. You’re not getting off easy, Elaine. I’ve been dreaming of this moment, and you’ll take everything I have to give.”
“Give it to me.”
He wrapped his hand around her jaw. “First, this mouth. I want this mouth.” Connor kissed her with urgency. There was no exploration in his kiss, no tentativeness. If they’d kissed in any other situation, there might have been more of a tease involved, a learning process. He might have started off slow, gleaning what she liked.
Not this time.
He embraced her like a man who’d lost out on a multitude of kisses and who didn’t know if he might ever get another. He kissed like a man who understood life could be short, brutal, and unfair.
In his fevered grip and quick breaths, she also tasted a desire for a new life. He whispered her name as if it was the most haunting music in the world. As he tasted her over and over, he nudged her legs open and claimed the space between them. Bracing himself on his forearms, he palmed her breasts with greed, plucking at her nipples so hard she was sure the dusky pink tips had turned red.
He slid down to capture one of her nipples in his mouth. Again, there was no elegance, no softness. He sucked and bit, and she didn’t think she’d ever been so grateful for contact. Each draw on her breasts left her panting and hungry for more, and she’d never been wetter in her life.
His nostrils flared. He smelled her potent arousal. She smelled it too.
“Do you need more, sweetheart?”
She nodded.
“That’s not good enough. Tell me.”
“Touch me. Touch me harder.”
Connor rose and sat on the bed. He drew her onto his lap, her back against his chest. Spreading her legs, he hooked them over his own legs, keeping them open. She writhed atop him, but he held her firmly in place.
“Keep your legs spread until I say you can close them.”
Elaine didn’t argue. A part of her needed to be controlled in this way. In her life, she’d felt adrift, lost. She wanted Connor to be her compass. She’d been trying so hard to lead by example for her kids. In this case, for once, she just wanted someone to tell her what to do and she would do it.
His left hand sought out her breast, toying with her nipple once again. His right hand slipped between her thighs. He pinpointed her clit as if it was his home. Elaine closed her eyes and surrendered to feeling.
A shooting star shot across the night sky outside, or so it seemed.
Maybe it was just her. Maybe it was just him. Maybe it was them, together, making these sparks.
Connor’s middle finger breached her easily, and he rubbed the spot that made her keen.
“That’s it, beautiful. Ride my hand. Show me what feels good.”
“Connor. Oh God.”
A vicious orgasm surged. Elaine ran out to greet the wave, throwing herself into the surf. Knowing she was close, Connor palmed her clit as well. He never removed his gaze from her face and studied all her reactions. Frowning, his mouth tight, he seemed determined to tear her apart.
She’d never welcomed destruction before, but she welcomed this.
“Come for me, Elaine.”
His whisper threw her over the edge. Whirling, twirling through space, she ricocheted from planet to planet, from star to star. The earth didn’t just shake. It swallowed her whole.
Utter magic.
As her orgasm abated, Elaine fell off his lap and curled up. She caught her breath and glanced at him. He stood at the edge of the bed and fished a condom from the wallet in his discarded pants.
“You came prepared.” Was that her voice? She sounded like a tired chain smoker.
His face reddened. “I live in hope.”
“What else do you hope for, Connor?”
“Just you. As long as I can have you.”
Elaine unfurled for him and welcomed him between her legs. Grabbing her wrists, he pinned them over her head. As he penetrated her, Connor met her gaze. For a fleeting moment, she grew afraid of what people might say and of what her guilt might whisper in her ear later. But as he sank deep inside her, those thoughts vanished. All she knew was Connor, his girth and his smell and how good he made her feel.
He didn’t thrust but ground his pelvis against hers. “God, Elaine. You’re perfect.”
“More, please.”
He moved his hips, and her words escaped on a sigh. She tried to move her arms so she could cling to him, but he wouldn’t let go of her wrists. He picked up his pace, moving with feline stealth, and her body tightened around him. She longed to hold him, and it shocked her how badly she wanted to touch his skin and luxuriate in his sweat.
“Let me hold you.” She panted as her womb clenched. “Please.”
His devilish grin appeared for just a second. “Where exactly would you like to hold me, lady?”
Elaine laughed, glad he’d broken the tension, but her emotions still threw her for a loop. She didn’t know how to express herself even though a hundred thoughts raced through her head.
“What do you want, Elaine?”
What did she want? She no longer wanted roughness. She wanted to show him how much he meant to her. Her heart had aged a whole lifetime the day Lloyd died, but Connor had been patient and kind, and he’d found a way to breathe life into the old girl.
Perhaps she wasn’t ready for the impound lot after all.
“I need to touch you.”
Connor kissed her, licking at her upper lip. His face was so serious. Not for the first time, Elaine wondered if he knew her better than she knew herself. He gazed at her, his hips continuing to master her, and let go of her wrists.
Clutching his bottom, she held on as he pummeled her. His breaths came quickly, like an athlete sprinting toward the finish line. Her heart raced and hadn’t sounded so steady in a long time. When they came together on a shout of awe, Elaine scraped her fingernails through the dirt and clawed her way out of another layer of her dark hole. She was seeing light in the distance now, and it was getting closer all the time.
A head-to-toe tremble shook her body. He buried his face in her hair and rested. His back was slick, and she slid her hands up and down, loving the way the moisture made his body feel even harder.
They remained that way forever, or so it seemed, and she wouldn’t have rushed it for the world.
Connor finally lifted himself from off her and rolled the condom off. He didn’t say anything, his face pensive.
She checked the clock. “It’s almost breakfast time.”
“Yeah.” He walked to the bathroom and disposed of the condom and returned. “I should probably let you get some rest. But I don’t want to.”
The beginnings of a pink sunrise illuminated the bathroom window, providing a soft backdrop to Connor’s imposing form. Backlit, his every muscle and plane highlighted, he made her mouth water.
Elaine held out her hand and smiled.
Rest was overrated.
* * * *
Connor had never had such a strange morning. He’d been vacillating between the best afterglow of his life and a severe need to kill. His mountain lion didn’t know if it was coming or going, and the man who housed it wasn’t faring much better. His ability to focus was sharp at times, and at other times, his mind wandered into blissful oblivion.
He and Elaine. For hours.
Incredible.
“Connor, are you still with us?”
Ryland’s voice felt like a slap to the face. This must be one of those blissful oblivion moments. “Yeah, sorry. Didn’t get much sleep.”
Two cups of black coffee and a hearty breakfast hadn’t helped, especially because he’d consumed them while sitting across from Elaine. The two of them had picked up the kids for breakfast and had spent that time asking Layla and Andy about their sleepover, but their gazes had met over the kids’ heads time and again.
God, she was sexy in the morning.
She’d nibbled on her toast, her cheeks pink and her smile bashful. Connor had wanted to reach over the table and nibble her. He felt as if he was floating in a sea of Elaine’s hair, buoyed by her plump thighs, completely unable to concentrate on anything other than how good she felt. He could have bobbed happily among his memories for hours, days.
He’d slept with Elaine, and neither of them had imploded. Amazing.
Would it happen again? It had to or he’d die. It was that simple.
Ryland’s voice distracted him again. It was time to dwell on less pleasant topics.
The police hadn’t located John Page yet. For some reason, the man hadn’t gone home the past couple of nights. His landlady had told the police he sometimes stayed at the casino all night long. She knew because he’d defaulted on his rent a few times, asking her for leniency because of his addiction.
The more Connor wondered about Page, the more of a threat he became.
“Page is due to work at the pub today.” Ryland consulted his laptop. “His shift starts at three.”
Ryland and Connor had called a council of war, so to speak, summoning their friends to keep them abreast of the situation. Several of their friends had gathered in Ry’s office, anyone who wasn’t working that morning. They would fill in any details for the others.
If Page really was the shooter and part of this illegal hunting ring, they needed to take care of him.
For good, Connor’s mountain lion added. We can’t let him hurt our woman.
Settle down. Let us handle this.
Elaine had wanted to join in, but Connor still wasn’t one hundred percent confidant her heart was in optimum shape. Knowing she wanted to catch up with her kids, he suggested she and Fleur bring Andy and Layla to the resort’s new indoor playground. Connor had to admit he was pleased Elaine had Fleur on her side. He wanted his lady surrounded by people who cared. As a wolf woman, Fleur had excellent instincts, she knew how to fight, and she would do anything for Elaine.
As Connor glanced around the room, he noticed several jaws ticking and he smelled their need for revenge. After Lloyd and their other friends had died at the hands of the Alpha Brethren, the folks at the Ursa had lost all patience with troublemakers. They might be a peaceful lot in general, but they were all in favor of eradicating anyone who posed a threat.
One could only poke a predator so many times. Eventually, it would bite.
“I say we grab Page before his shift, bring him into the woods,” said Jani, “and discuss the matter with him.”
“Discuss.” Killian’s chuckle was low and ominous. “That’s almost funny.”
“Guys, let’s not get carried away.” Killian’s mate, Nina, dared to be the voice of reason in a room full of testosterone. “We don’t know for sure that John is the shooter.”
“Nina, speaking for those of us who were there,” said Connor, “we have no doubt. Ry caught his scent.”
“Still,” she argued. “We are talking about possibly engaging this man in a fight, right? Things could get dangerous. We need to know for certain.”
“I never liked him.” Marci Gaspar shook her head. “Right from the first day. I didn’t want to say anything, Ry, but when you asked me to train him, he gave me the creeps.”
“You should have said something, cicuskám,” her husband Anton said. “I don’t like knowing you felt ill at ease around this man.”
“I thought it was just me.” Marci shrugged. “Since the Alpha Brethren came around, I guess I’ve been looking for trouble everywhere.”
Anton put his arm around her and kissed her.
Connor stood. “None of our people should have to feel uncomfortable on this resort. This is a place where they come to feel safe. If Page is in any way connected to the people who are harvesting animal organs, we have a lot to worry about, far more than feelings of unease. This man took a shot at us. He doesn’t get another shot, not at any of us. If anyone here is concerned about playing the heavy, I have no problem volunteering. I’ll gladly confront Page, and I’ll make him talk.”
They all stared at him. Perhaps his tone was harsh. He didn’t care. The stakes were higher now, and sooner or later, they’d all come to realize the truth about his relationship with Elaine.
“I agree with Connor,” said Soren. Standing behind his mate, Gioia, he rubbed her shoulders. “No second chances. We have kids on this island.”
“Exactly,” said Connor. “Ry, can you get someone to cover Page’s shift at the pub? I think we need to speak to him sooner rather than later.”
“That won’t be a problem,” replied Ryland.
“We need to put the fear of God into this dude,” said Connor. “I propose we round up the guys and bring our spirit animals along for the ride. Page might be a strong bear, but he’s no match for the rest of us.”
There was a knock on the office door. When it opened, Elaine peeked around the corner. “We were just headed past, and I wanted to check in.”
She was surrounded by halos and stars. She had to be because everything in the room brightened.
“Hey.” Connor met her at the door and tried not to grin like a fool, but it was hard.
Had her blue eyes always sparkled like jewels? Had her skin always looked so soft? His senses must be messing with his head. No woman had ever smelled so good or looked so edible. “We’re just discussing how to confront Page.”
“You mean how to ambush him?” said Nina.
“If that’s what it takes,” Connor replied.
“You can’t gang up on him.” Elaine walked into the room. “If you guys go after him, he’ll smell your angry hormones from a mile away. He’ll run.”
“We won’t give him a chance to run,” said Connor.
Elaine narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. “Still, wouldn’t it be better if we had proof about his motives? We still don’t know for sure if he was aiming for Connor or for me. We need to let him feel comfortable and then catch him in the act.”
Connor’s feline objected with a growl. “I don’t like how that sounds.”
“We need to draw him out. John has approached me on my own before. Maybe he would again.” Elaine stood up straight, her head held high. “Let me act as bait.”
Connor’s brain fragmented at the ludicrous idea. Shards of head meat shot all over the room or so it seemed as pain assaulted him from all sides. His mountain lion hissed its displeasure and disgust.
What was she thinking?
Based on the loud objections coming from the others, he wasn’t the only one who thought her suggestion sucked.
She wanted to lure a possible killer out into the open?
Ah hell no.
“Elaine,” said Marci. “You can’t.”
“Listen to Marci,” said Anton. “The rest of us can handle him.”
“It’s not right.” Ryland shook his head.
“Why the hell not?” Elaine demanded.
“Because you’re…you’re…” Ryland fumbled for the right word.
“What exactly am I?” Elaine asked, her eyes widening.
“You’re…fragile,” said Ryland, his voice trailing off.
“Fragile? Look, I know I’ve had some bad moments lately, but I think I’ve been entitled to them, and I’m getting stronger every day. I can fight.”
Connor swallowed his fury and found his voice. “No. We are not having this discussion, not here, not ever.”
Someone pounded his fist on a table. When the faces turned toward him, he realized it was him.
The room went silent.
Elaine glared at him. “I’m sorry. Are you telling me I don’t have a right to contribute to this conversation?”
“Not in this case.”
“Connor, even you said you think I’m in danger. Me, not you. Not any of you.”
Connor walked over to confront her, stopping mere inches away from her. “We will handle this, Elaine.” He lowered his voice. “You need to think of your heart.”
“My heart is fine. Josh said I was getting better. Or have you forgotten how he said your kisses seem to be healing me? Because we’ve had a few now.”
Every jaw in the room dropped.
“Those moments,” he ground out, “were private.”
“Oh, give me a break. Nothing on this island is private.” She turned to the others and threw up her hands. “Connor and I slept together, okay? Is everyone up to speed now?”
Gioia glanced at Marci and Nina and whispered, “Yes!”
Connor had to shut his gob. Just what had she been telling their friends? “Seeing as you’re being crystal clear, Elaine, I’ll be clear too. There is absolutely no way in hell you are offering yourself up as some sort of sacrificial lamb to try and nab this guy. Do you hear me?”
Her lips thinned. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
He loomed over her. “Wanna bet, sweetheart?”
Connor’s pulse beat so hard he was sure his veins must be popping out of his skin. This woman infuriated him like no other. First she talked to wild bears and now this. What on earth was she thinking? Did she honestly believe he’d allow her to take part in any sort of confrontation with a possible enemy?
He’d die first.
Nina was the first to break the silence. “Um, just for the record, I think Elaine has a point.”
Killian took one look at Connor and spoke to his wife in lowered tones. “Connor and Elaine need to sort this out.”
Nina was insistent. “Killian, come on. We’ve discussed this before. Every woman here understands shifter men want to be in charge when it comes to fighting the bad guys. But don’t you remember how I helped you, how we’ve helped each other?”
“I remember.” Killian dug his nails into his thighs. “Every day, I remember. I know you’re a good fighter. I’m sure Elaine is, too, but Connor needs to be comfortable with the idea.”
Connor knew all the women at the Ursa had pulled their weight during the battle at the Brethren compound, to say nothing of some of their own personal battles. He wouldn’t doubt everyone woman on this island had saved lives at one time or another.
But this time they were talking about his woman.
He knew they’d slept together only once, aside from a few frantic kisses. That didn’t stop him from believing Elaine was his. He wanted her, he would fight for her, and he didn’t want her dealing with any sort of danger. “Elaine,” he said, taking her hand. “You’ve been through so much. I can’t knowingly expose you to more pain. I can’t.”
Her face softened. Thank God for that. He wasn’t sure he could withstand her fury, even though it was a major turn-on.
“I’m not saying I should do this alone.” She squeezed his hand. “Obviously I’d have back up, people watching me. You could be close by, in hiding, ready to take him out. I need to do this, Connor. I need to fight back.”
“But…”
“When Lloyd was killed, I couldn’t be there. When all of you were fighting at the Brethren compound, I couldn’t be there. Every day I’ve been raging at the sense of helplessness inside me. All my power was taken away. I want it back.” She squared her shoulders. “I am a woman of the bear race. I am proud and strong, and I will defend my family until the day I die. My heart might have weakened for a while, but it’s still pumping. And while I have blood in my veins, I will help keep our home safe.”
Although every word of Elaine’s brave speech made him want to throw her up against the nearest wall and kiss her hard, two particular words struck deepest. “Our home?”
“Yes. Gemini Island will always be my home.”
“No more Alaska?”
“No more Alaska.”
Connor didn’t wait until they were alone. He hauled her up against her body and claimed her mouth, right there in front of all their friends. Only when he was good and ready, after having given Elaine the kiss of a lifetime, did he turn to the others. “If anyone here has a problem with this,” he said, gesturing between him and Elaine, “you know what you can do with it.”
Ryland smiled. “No problems here.”
“Good.” He took a deep breath and addressed Elaine again. “You know this idea of yours scares the shit out of me.”
“I know.”
“Before we do anything, we’ll need to talk this through. We don’t make a single move until every possible outcome is plotted. Obviously, I want a plan to keep you safe.”
“Obviously.” She smiled. “I trust you.”
Connor hugged her, holding her tightly. He trusted her too.
He just didn’t trust Page.