Page 12 of Mitchell’s Untamed Mate (More Than Human #2)

T racy moaned as Ty deepened their kiss. The afternoon had been pure torture. She had wanted to kiss him every time they looked at each other. Every time they brushed against each other. Hell, every time she caught a wisp of his scent. His natural pheromones were an aphrodisiac that were playing havoc with herself and her bear.

She rubbed her body against him when he tangled his hands in her hair, deepening their kiss. Their tongues fought for supremacy. Her hands roamed his body, pulling his shirt from the waistband of his trousers.

“I need you naked,” she groaned.

Her hands slid over his defined abdominal muscles, loving how they tightened under her searching hands. She ground her womanhood against his leg when he slid it between her thighs. Her body was on fire and she wanted him with a passion she had never felt toward any of her former lovers. They had been an itch that needed scratching. The passion and need she felt for Mitchell was more along the lines of a dying woman needing a life-saving drink.

“Mitchell,” she moaned.

“Soon.”

Soon was coming too slowly. Their silent foreplay all day had burst the dam on her control. Given the fullness of his cock, he was in the same dire straits as she was. Dinner had been a long, drawn-out affair. Finally, they had both used the excuse that they had a long, difficult journey ahead of them and needed to get some much-needed rest.

She had pretty much attacked him the second they walked through his bedroom door. A low, long hiss slipped from her when the cooler air of the room washed over her thighs as he released the button and zipper of her dress slacks. She impatiently kicked off her slip-on sandals. Her linen trousers fell to her ankles and she kicked them to the side.

“Oh, yes!”

Her body reacted with a release of sensual moisture when he slid his hand between her heated flesh and her silk panties. She whimpered and spread her legs, opening for him. When his fingers brushed her ultra-sensitive nub, she reached up and cupped his face between her hands with a growl of approval.

“Make me come,” she demanded, staring into his eyes.

“Here?”

She thrust her hips forward. “Here. Now. This second.”

Her demand came out in a mixture of harsh, single commands in a tortured whisper. Her eyes widened when he began stroking her, moving across her nub and sliding his finger deeper and deeper into her with each move. Her breathing became pants as the molten lava coursing through her veins erupted.

A low cry of denial broke from her when he pulled his face away from her. Her hands dropped to her side when he used his free hand to unbutton her blouse. The thin fabric parted, revealing her matching lacy bra. She breathed a sigh when he unfastened the front latch and her breasts sprang free.

“Goddess above, Mitchell. You don’t know how good this feels,” she breathed.

She clawed at the door when he latched onto one of her swollen nipples, teasing it until she whimpered. When he nipped it with his teeth, her hips jerked in response. She had to lock her legs to keep from melting into a puddle on the floor. Especially when he pushed her lacy panties down to her ankles.

“I’ve been dreaming of doing this all afternoon,” he murmured.

His hot breath trailed down from her breasts, along her stomach, until he was kneeling between her legs. She looked down. He looked up at her, smiled, then spread her womanhood and leaned forward.

There was no way Tracy could hold back the smothered cry when he caught her engorged nub between his lips and began sucking while driving his fingers deep inside her slick channel. She watched as long as she could. The sight was so erotic that it bordered on pain. Her body rocked back and forth even as she clawed at the door.

The sound of his moans as her moisture washed over his tongue made her look down again. He was feasting on her. There was no other way to describe the intense expression on his face. Her climax hit her with a stunning intensity that left her sobbing and gasping.

“Mitchell. Oh, baby, yes. Oh, yes.”

He didn’t stop the pleasure until her legs gave out. He caught her waist as she slid down the door. Her dazed eyes met his as he wrapped one arm around her waist, pinning her against the door. His lips were moist with her dew. The scent of her desire clung to his skin.

“Now, I get to take my time,” he vowed.

Her eyes widened when he released the belt on his trousers with one hand and unfastened his pants before pushing them down. He caught her low cry of surprise with his lips as he lifted her up far enough to press his engorged cock against her ready entrance and slowly impaled her, allowing her weight to seat her firmly around his thick shaft.

He held her pressed against the door and by her thighs when she wrapped her legs around his lean waist. She held onto his shoulders and used her thigh muscles to lift up and down. Each move pressed his pulsing cock deeper along her sensitive feminine depths.

She clung to him when he lifted a foot and kicked his pants to the side. He wrapped both of his arms around her and navigated to the bed. She held him tight when he suddenly cursed and tried to pull away.

“What’s wrong?”

She studied his face. His eyes were closed and his expression was tense. He was breathing heavily and shaking his head.

“Mitchell?” she murmured, caressing his face.

He opened his eyes and stared down at her. “I shouldn’t… children?—”

“The side drawer. If I know my brother, he left more than clothes,” she said.

A shudder ran through his body as he pulled free from her. He fell to his side, his eyes closing again. Tracy rolled onto her side, pulled open the nightstand drawer, and ran her fingers along the inside. Her fingers wrapped around a small, square package.

She tore the package open and turned back to Mitchell. He lay with one arm over his eyes. She crawled over him and placed the package on the bed next to him. He dropped his arm. She gave him a tender smile.

“Now, it’s my turn.”

Mitchell returned to the darkened room. Ambient light from the moon spilled into the room through the open balcony doors. The cool breeze caused goosebumps to rise along his skin. A small, tender smile curved his lips when Tracy released a muffled snore and rolled onto her side.

He walked over to the opened doors and stared out across the vast lawn. His joining with Tracy had left his body satiated and relaxed. Unfortunately, his mind was unable to enjoy the same after-effects of their lovemaking. He looked over his shoulder at Tracy’s relaxed facial features.

Her hair was tangled and spread across their pillows, a combination of her lovemaking and sleep. A smooth, bare shoulder was visible even in the dim light.

He forced himself to contemplate the night. Stepping out onto the balcony, he looked up at the stars. They looked so far away here. It may have been because of the glow on the horizon or the fact the mountains seemed farther away. He scanned the heavens for the familiar stars that guided him and his people.

The flash of a falling star caused him to reach toward it. It disappeared, but he imagined that he held it in his hand as he had when he was a child. Closing his fingers into a fist, he pulled his imaginary star to his chest and made a wish.

“Please… if there is such a thing as magic… please?—”

His voice faded as he contemplated what his wish would be. Did he wish for his own happiness or should he give his wish to his people? All his life he had always put them before his own desires, but for once, he wanted to be greedy.

“Mitchell?”

Tracy’s sleepy voice called from the room behind him. He turned and took a step before he paused and partially turned back. Lifting his arm, he opened his fingers.

Wishes were for innocent children.

With a sigh, he stepped into the bedroom and crossed to the bed. Tracy reached for him when he pulled the covers back. He slid next to her, pulling her into his arms when she rolled so he could spoon her.

“Are you alright?” she murmured.

He kissed the back of her head. “Yes.”

“What were you doing?”

He hesitated before answering her. “Releasing a fallen star.”

“Oh. Did you make a wish?” she asked, her voice slurring as she drifted back to sleep.

“No, not this time. I let someone else have it.”

She sighed and snuggled back against him. “You’re a good man, Mitchell.”

He lay there, holding her as she fell back asleep. Was he? A good man? He liked to think he was, but he was afraid that he wasn’t. Would a good man have banished a woman for loving someone different? Would a good man have put his desire to meet a strange shifter in the woods above his people?

Memories of decisions he had made throughout his life haunted him until the wee hours of the morning. It was time to return to his people—and his responsibilities as their leader and protector. There was no time for catching falling stars, childish wishes, or impossible dreams.

Hyder waited by the black SUV for Lucien to return. He absently rubbed at a thin scratch on his arm. Salt from his finger made the shallow cut burn.

He should have known the Bearclaw estate was a security fortress without appearing as one. He and Lucien had parked a half-mile away from the perimeter of the estate several hours ago. A few hundred yards outside the fencing that surrounded the property he had realized that security had been heightened since the last time he visited.

There had been at least twenty-five active shifters on patrol. Many of them had been in their shifter form, making them even more lethal. He looked up when Lucien appeared out of the dark.

The cat-shifter walked toward him with a grim expression. Hyder walked around and opened the driver’s side door before sliding in. Lucien followed a second later, pulling open the passenger side door.

“Unless we have an inside assist, there is no way to get in and out without being seen,” Lucien said, breaking the silence.

“I counted twenty-five,” he replied.

Lucien snorted. “Maybe around the perimeter. There were more around the house. It looks like the SBSI has added to their number. There is no way they would have that much security unless they were protecting something very important.”

“It’s more than the girl. They must have the other human there,” Hyder muttered.

Lucien nodded and stared out the front windshield. The rain from earlier had returned. Their brief respite from the cold liquid had ended. His cat shuddered with distaste inside him.

“What’s the plan?”

“We get two humans. Preferably a male and a female. There has to be a weak spot. We’ve just got to find it,” Hyder replied.

Lucien frowned. “What about your connections? Can they help?”

Hyder grunted. “We’ll find out.”

He started the Kia EV9 SUV and pulled away from the curb. He had held off calling in favors. Those were worth their weight in gold and should only be used as a last resort. No, he would look at the layout again and wait. Someone was bound to make a mistake—and it wouldn’t be him.

A half-hour later, he dropped Lucien off at his vehicle outside of an all-night grocery store. There were less than a half-dozen cars in the parking lot. Most belonged to the employees of the chain store. It was nearly three in the morning and the rain-slicked streets were deserted.

Hyder reached into his pocket and pulled out the pack of cigarettes and his lighter. He shook the pack and clamped his lips around the end of a filtered cigarette, then tucked the half-empty pack back into his front shirt pocket. With a flick, he lit the end with the blue flame of his lighter before dropping the lighter into the console.

His breath sounded loud in the confines of the SUV. He cracked the window and blew the smoke out, relishing in the boost he felt from the nicotine. It was a nasty addiction, but he’d be damned if he would give it up. He had started smoking at a young age. His time in the military had only renewed his enjoyment of the addictive mixture of tobacco and chemicals.

Smoking was the one vice that he allowed himself. He rarely drank, and if he did, he limited it to one. He enjoyed sex to take the edge off, but never wanted or needed a long-term relationship. Relationships complicated matters.

His phone buzzed and he looked at the screen. Irritation flared inside him. Isabella Wyland was a royal pain in his backside. The only reason he didn’t off her was she paid well—and on time. Pressing the button on the steering wheel, he connected the call.

“I said I would call you when I had something to report,” he bit out.

“I’ve called in a favor. He can provide some inside help,” Isabella replied.

Hyder drew in a deep puff from his cigarette, held it for a second, then exhaled. She had piqued his curiosity. He tossed his cigarette butt out the window and rolled it up.

“I’m listening.”

“Does the name Lorne Timberwolf ring a bell to you?” she asked.

He frowned. “Yeah. Met him briefly during my stint in the military. I remember him being young and cocky. Why?”

“His brother and Peterson Redfoot work private security for the Bearclaws. Contact him. I’m sure he’ll have some information that will help you,” Isabella stated.

“How can you be sure?”

She released a snort of derision at his skepticism. “Because I have something that he wants.”

Blackmail.

That was the only thing that would work. Whatever information Isabella had on Timberwolf, it must be good. A shifter, especially one like the man he remembered, didn’t betray family unless they had a very good reason. He couldn’t think of anything dire enough to do that.

“I’ll contact him,” he said.

“Hyder.”

He gritted his teeth at the bite in her voice. “Yes, Isabella.”

“Don’t disappoint me this time. I would hate to have to turn my attention on you,” she said before disconnecting their call.

Hyder reached for another cigarette, lit it, and drew in a deep breath. Isabella Wyland had surprised him with her resourcefulness. That wasn’t something that happened often. Releasing his breath, he focused on letting go of the tension that had built inside him.

Someone was bound to make a mistake ? —

What if he was the one to make it—by underestimating Isabella Wyland? He released a loud curse, powered down the window, and tossed his half-smoked cigarette out the window. Cold air filled the interior of the car. He rolled the rest of the windows down, allowing the fresh scent of rain to cleanse the odor of smoke from the cabin.

The cold air helped clear his mind. He needed to do more research on both Wyland and Timberwolf. As much as he hated it, he was going to have to use one of his precious favors. Pressing the control on the steering wheel, he waited until the round green circle appeared.

“Call the Operator,” he said.

The irritating drone of the ringer sounded loud. He thumbed the volume down to a manageable level and waited. The call was answered on the second ring.

“Operator speaking,” a feminine voice greeted.

“I’m calling in my token.”

“Please hold.”

Silence followed. He turned on his blinker and made a left. The street was lined with older warehouse buildings that had been converted into small studio flats along the river. He slowed down and turned right, passing under the automated gate that opened at his approach. Less than a minute later, he was parked in the underground parking lot that covered the first floor of the upscale apartments.

“Token number.”

“5833 Alpha Bravo Tango 62.”

“Token confirmed. What information do you require?”

“Lorne Timberwolf and Isabella Wyland.”

“Lorne Timberwolf and Isabella Wyland. Confirm.”

“Confirmed.”

“Information will be relayed to the email on file within the next twenty-four hours. Is there anything else?”

“Negative.”

“No other information required. Your token has been spent. You have two remaining credits. Have a nice morning, sir.”

Hyder sat back in his seat and stared out the front windshield. The Operator, or whoever in the hell the woman was on the other end, was part of a private military group that he had joined after his discharge. He had been approached anonymously. There had been a single, neatly typed note tucked among his papers. He was given the token number. If he completed ten missions, he would be given tokens to use as he pleased—no questions asked.

He had completed his missions and gotten the hell out. It took a lot to scare him. Whoever was behind this organization scared the shit out of him. That was why he had held onto the tokens he had earned. He had three. Now he was down to two. The last one would be held in reserve. If Wyland’s determination to get a human ended badly, he might need to disappear. That was when he would use it.