Page 10 of Guarded by the Hellhound (Accidental Monsters #3)

KATHERINE

M y feet take me wherever Raider goes, and I’m not paying much attention; I feel overwhelmed by sadness and a nagging sense of helplessness. When Raider suddenly stops in his tracks, I almost bump into him.

“What’s going on, buddy?” I ask, automatically using my ‘dog voice.’ “Did you find something?”

His ears are turning forward, and he barks before setting off in a totally different direction than we were walking.

“Calm down!” I yell when he almost drags me along. He barks an apologetic yip and slows down.

It takes me two streets to realize where we’re going.

Lakewood is not the largest town, and my house is located in one of the oldest neighborhoods.

This side of the town borders the woods.

Right on the edge, there’s a quaint little church with an ancient cemetery.

Most people use the city’s cemetery on the other side of town, as well as the adjacent church.

A few devout Catholics still visit this one, though, and apparently, we’re going to church as well .

Raider is visibly struggling to maintain control.

We turn left, and the church comes into view.

It looks like something out of a gothic love story, and it takes my breath away.

The once-white walls are now a pale yellow, colored by the sun, and the woodwork appears faded with time.

Ivy is withering the walls, and when the sun hits the building just right, the painted glass gives it an otherworldly look.

Raider stops in his tracks; he’s vibrating right now. Not in anger, so this must have something to do with him, with where he came from.

The church pulls me in, and before I know it, I’m standing in front of the big double doors, reaching for the handle.

Before I can touch the door, somebody pushes it open with enough force to make me stumble backward.

I fall flat on my ass, making Raider growl.

A figure steps out of the church. I can’t see his face because of the sunlight, but before I can freak out completely, I hear a deep voice. “Oh. I am sorry.”

I squint my eyes, trying to identify the owner of the voice, while I climb to my feet. A man wearing a priest’s clothes is looking at me.

“Oh, sorry, I guess I should have helped you up.” He gives me a wry smile before shrugging it off. “If you’ll excuse me, most people who lie on the ground here don't need to get up anymore.”

I laugh out loud, the sound so unexpected I immediately clap my hands across my mouth. The priest smiles. It’s a good smile, a genuine smile; his eyes twinkle, and laughing lines appear around them.

“I’m Eli,” he says as he extends his hand. “I am the guardian of this fine establishment.”

I shake his hand but don’t say anything. He gives Raider a long stare before looking back at me .

“I like your dog. He kind of looks like a statue I used to have out back.”

Raider barks out a loud woof, and Eli steps closer to pet his head. “The statue got stolen a week ago. Police say it’s just teenagers pulling a prank, but I think I might have lost him forever.”

“What’s out back?” I ask before thinking. Eli takes a step back, putting his hand in his pocket.

“The back door, of course,” he says. “How else would an unwilling bride escape the confines of marriage?”

I snicker. This is one weird priest, that’s for sure.

Raider starts pulling on his leash, and it’s clear he wants to go to this back door.

“Do you mind if I take a look? It’s so beautiful. I can’t believe I have never been here before.”

Eli cocks his head and waves an arm. “Feel free to explore, though I would very much love it if you would explore the inside on Sunday morning as well.”

I smile. “Maybe I will, Father.”

He nods before turning to walk back into the church. He turns around before he closes the door and looks at Raider. “Goodbye, Raider.” And then he’s gone.

Raider is already on the move, and I rush after him towards the back door, which looks exactly the same as the front door, only slightly smaller. I feel disappointment setting in. This turn of events is very anticlimactic.

Then Raider starts vibrating again; in the blink of an eye, his human form stands before me, his right hand reverently touching the door. His leash uselessly falling to the ground.

“This is it,” he whispers.

“What is it?”

“Home,” he whispers with a voice filled with awe.

I take a step towards him and put my hand on his shoulder. “Are you sure? ”

“Yes,” he says. “I feel the fires burning behind it. I don’t think I can open the doors, neither do I think I should.”

He turns around to face me. “I feel like it’s right there.

The final piece that I need to restore my memory.

It’s just out of reach, taunting me.” He clenches his fists.

Suddenly, he turns around and slams a fist into the doors.

They rattle but don’t give an inch. He bows his head, devastation apparent in his demeanor.

I do the only thing I can think of: I comfort him.

Slowly, I walk towards him and pull my body flush against his, my arms coming around his waist.

“It will be alright,” I reassure him. “We have come so far, and we will get there. Give it time.”

He growls. “I have this gut feeling we are running out of time.”

He turns around and cups my chin with his big hand. “We have no clue who your stalker is; we don’t know who drugged me or why. With Halloween just around the corner, I feel an itch under my skin I just can’t shake.”

His thumb caresses my jaw, and his eyes burn into mine. There’s something about this place that brings out his vulnerable side. Which means it’s time for me to reclaim some of my confidence.

I grab his forearms to steady myself as I channel my fierce former self.

“You’ve got this. You are a big bad Hellhound; my stalker will not get to me because you will protect me.

You are the strongest, most protective creature I have ever seen.

Your attacker has nothing on you; they will never get to you again. ”

Raider growls. “Your faith in me is deep as the pits of hell, Katherine. And it really turns me on.”

Before I can protest, his mouth is on mine in a brutal kiss.

Claiming me with his lips like only he can.

His tongue slips in while I moan, slowly taking away my self-control.

Every nip on my lip, every suck on my tongue, every thrust of his, I find myself getting more wanton.

When we break the kiss, I feel the wood of the door behind me, and I am not even surprised.

His thick erection is pushing against my lower stomach, and I ache to feel him…my body is begging for release.

He pins me to the door with his body, and I am shamelessly grinding against his leg, seeking the friction my body so desperately wants.

“Do you want me?” he softly growls in my ear.

“Yes!” I almost yell, making him lean back with a wicked grin.

“You have to be really quiet, Katherine. Nobody can hear you, and nobody can hear you are being fucked against the church’s back door.”

His words unleash a desire in me I have never felt before. I feel arousal soaking my panties, and I wildly nod. “Yes,” I rush out. “Yes, I can do that. Please fuck me, Raider.”