Page 29

S arah called out without hope. “Racheal you here?”

Hunter stepped out of Sarah’s bedroom. “She was here, but she’s gone now. FUCK.” He scratched the back of his neck roughly. His fight to get himself under control evident. She didn’t know what was happening with Hunter only that it couldn’t be good.

Devon entered with Talen and Cade trailing behind.

He went to her immediately. His arm slid around her, causing the gnawing pain to subside to a dull ache.

Something was very wrong with her. She had the overwhelming urge to rip Devon’s clothes from his body.

Images of her taking him into her mouth, riding him, rubbing herself against him flashed through her mind.

She didn’t want to tell Devon in front of his family what was happening. “Can we go? I don’t want to be here.”

Devon looked at her with compassion. “I understand you not wanting to be here with Gerald’s stuff everywhere, but we need to know what you sent Racheal here for.” Of course, he thought her apprehension was related to Gerald.

She tried to control her cat’s anxiousness. Sarah ran her hands up and down her arms, trying to focus on the issue at hand. “My mom siphoned money from my father’s company during the last few years of her life. She told me to hide it away just in case.”

Devon looked puzzled. “Your father is a millionaire. Why would she do that?”

Sarah laughed without humor. “She said she didn’t trust him to take care of me. Go figure.”

Devon put his hand on the back of her neck, rubbing softly. He couldn’t know the firestorm he was creating, and she wasn’t in a position to tell him.

Sarah pursed her lips, licking them before continuing. “Anyway, Racheal was the only one I told about it. Back at the facility, I suggested she take flight 222. It was our code name for the money.”

“Why flight 222?”

“There’s two hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars,” she said sheepishly.

“WHAT.” Hunter barked.

Sarah recoiled. “She wasn’t safe. I wanted her away from Kallan.” She shuddered. “I guess my mother is inadvertently responsible for my father’s financial difficulties.”

Talen shook his head. “While sizeable, that amount shouldn’t make a difference to a company the size of Marksmen Enterprises. Especially taken over years.”

Hunter growled. It was a low menacing sound.

Devon straitened. “What is it?”

Hunter’s eyes flashed. “She is out there with a ton of cash. She will be impossible to track.” He swore under his breath.

“Kallan will have difficulty tracking her as well.”

“He won’t go after her for one week. As much of a bastard he is, the man always keeps his word. Fuck!” Fur rippled along his arm before subsiding.

“Hunter pull it together.” Talen snapped.

Hunter let out a long breath. “I don’t know what’s going on. My cat is crazed, fighting me... her scent. I have to get out of here.”

He didn’t wait for Talen to reply. He was out the door in seconds.

She felt the slow burn emanating from the tiny strokes on her neck. She wondered if what was affecting Hunter was getting to her as well. She looked at Talen and Cade. Both were watching her, causing her to look away.

There was no way she was admitting she was in a fiery hell. Not in front of them. She put her hand on Devon’s chest. “Can we go now?”

Devon sensed her anxiety. He wasn’t used to relying on his cat’s instincts and considered taking her to the bedroom for a private moment alone.

He was unsure if that would bring her more distress, so he remained.

“Is there anything you want from here? We will arrange pickup of your things tomorrow, but if there is anything you want...”

“The only thing of importance is my mother’s earrings and they are in the package Racheal has.” She seemed to be pleading with him.

He had always considered his emotional bond a curse. Now as he watched his mate struggle, not knowing why or what she felt, tore him apart. Something was wrong. “Honey are you okay?”

He knew she wanted to reassure him by her hesitancy to speak. “No, I’m not.”

His heart sank. Had Kallan done more damage than he first anticipated? Did shooting him have another adverse effect?

“I feel different,” she stammered.

His fingers clamped around the nape of her neck, holding her to him, fighting to keep his mate.

She shook her head. “No. Not about YOU.”

His relief was a tidal wave of emotion that he was thankful she didn’t feel. His breath was shallow and uneven. “How so?”

“I mean without our bond.”

“I never thought I would miss it either. Knowing how my family felt. When an animal was scared, it was hell. Until I met you. Now I wish I knew what you were feeling so I could take care of your needs.” He meant every word.

“It’s not that I miss it. I was still getting used to it, really... I FEEL different.”

Devon connected with his cat’s instincts, looking to feel out its mate. He was surprised to find the animal’s bond was not only there, but stronger than ever. His mate was aroused. He was confused.

“Our emotional bond is gone, but that wasn’t part of the mating. That was an aberration of mine.”

Her eyes flared amber. “Nothing about you is an aberration.” She growled.

Devon appraised his angry mate. She didn’t like anyone, especially him making disparaging remarks. He felt a warmth spread through his body. His eyes softened as he kissed her temple. “What is it, baby? What has you concerned?”

He felt her relax into him, burrowing against his body like she was trying to share his skin.

“I liked our connection. I always knew you wanted me,” she admitted.

His cat balked at the lack of confidence in her voice. “I always want you, Sarah. Every minute of every day I want you. I dream about you when you’re lying next to me. I long to be buried inside you even when I have just taken you.”

He saw her glance at Talen. “You promise?” Her embarrassment was evident.

He chastised himself for his mistake, wondering what he had done to cause her to doubt herself. “Yes, Sarah.” He put his love into his voice, hoping she would understand what she meant to him.

“Good because it’s getting worse,” she said.

* * *

Devon’s forehead creased. “What’s getting worse,” he said. Did Kallan do something to Sarah while she was held captive? Why didn’t I ask?

“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s painful and...” She leaned closer and whispered. “Arousing.” She gave Talen a side glance.

Devon could smell her arousal. It hadn’t been this strong before. He should have noticed she wasn’t as desperate as she should have been during her transformation. “Oh shit.”

Talen looked between them. His look concerned. “What’s going on?”

“I think the emotional bond acted as a partial buffer during Sarah’s transformation. Now that it’s gone.” He didn’t want to say the rest. His brother would know.

Talen turned to Cade. “We’ll secure the building,” he said, grabbing the key and locking the door, they left.

Sarah had a suspicious look on her face. “What do you mean a buffer? What is happening to me?” Her look hardened. “If my bones start breaking again, I will go psycho cat on your ass.”

He stifled his laugh at her audacity. “No babe. It’s nothing like that. Physically you have finished your transformation. However, I think that chemically you are still in heat.”

She contemplated his words. “The bond helped with this. That’s what you were telling Talen.”

Devon nodded. “I never considered there was a chemical component to the bond between us. Since it was injected into my mother and passed to me it makes sense though.”

“If that’s true there may be a way to get it back... If you want to.”

If possible, he wanted his bond with Sarah returned. “Perhaps. The only thing that matters right now is you.”

She ran a finger along his cheekbone. “All this time I wanted you it wasn’t our bond it was just me being ridiculously attracted to you?”

Devon smiled. “I can’t express how grateful I am that my mate wants me, but I assure you my need for you is far greater.”

Sarah closed her eyes taking a long breath. “I’m pretty sure that at the moment I need sex more than you do.”

Devon put his hands on either side of her face till she opened her eyes. “When I take you, it’s not just sex. I am making love to you with my mind. My body. My soul. You are my mate. My only reason for existence. My reward in this life.”

“I love everything you just said, but can I ask a favor?”

“I would do anything for you,” he said.

“Can we discuss this again after you make love to me?”

His lips descended on hers. His tongue thrusting deep inside the warm heat of her mouth. She clutched at him urgently, needing him. He felt powerful. Strong. His mate wanted him. Needed him. He was the only being in the world that could sate her hunger and he thanked God for it.

Her hands slid along the skin on his back, clutching, scratching. He wanted that desperation from her. Needed it.

He ripped her shirt from her body, shredding the flimsy material. He unclasped her bra, lifting her into a straddled position as he walked her to her room, laying her on the bed.

He broke their kiss to pull her pants and underwear from her body. He looked down at her glistening pussy. “Spread your legs, Sarah,” his voice rumbled.

Her eyes closed slowly as she opened herself to him. “Open your eyes,” he commanded.

She snapped her eyes open, looking at him with amber eyes. Her cat so close.

He undid the button on his jeans. “Put your hand between your legs. I want to see you pleasure yourself.”

He saw a flicker of uncertainty before her hand slipped between her legs. She was tentative at first. Tiny strokes over her clearly engorged bud.

He slipped his pants off, stroking himself as he watched her.

Her eyes fell to his hands as they gripped his hard shaft. “I want you,” she said through heavy breaths.

He kneeled on the bed, pushing her legs farther apart, “I want to see your fingers inside that tight cunt of yours. I want them dripping in your juices when I lick them from your fingers,” he growled.