Page 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

L indsay decided that curbing herself for the drive was too difficult. By the time Xav pulled into his driveway, she had his pants open and her hands playing with the warmth inside.

Xav drove into the large garage and shut down the engine. Lindsay barely noted that they’d stopped. His cock was stiff under her touch, sending her need soaring.

Before Xav could say a word, Lindsay lowered her head to his lap and took him in her mouth.

The groan Xav emitted made her wildcat purr. Lindsay traced him with her tongue, tasting the hot glory of him. She suckled, which made his groans louder and more desperate.

Xav’s hips moved, his hands in her hair. “Linds. Shit. ”

Lindsay continued relentlessly. Xav went back against the seat, his hips rocking. He furrowed her hair with strong fingers, as though he resisted pushing her farther onto him. Lindsay obliged his silent wish by taking him all the way.

The light that had come on in the garage when Xav opened the door clicked off, sensing no motion outside the vehicle. Lindsay was glad of the darkness—she had no need of light to see Xav wanting her.

Xav placed a firm hand on Lindsay’s shoulder and drew her off of him. He was still hard, nowhere near sated, and Lindsay smiled at him.

“I said, let’s take this inside ,” Xav said. “My garage doesn’t count.”

“Outside is good, though,” Lindsay said breathlessly. “Maybe we could go up to the cabin once AC is gone, and play in the woods.”

“In February in the freezing snow.” Xav grinned. “Actually, that does sound kind of fun. But for now …”

Xav fastened his jeans and hit the button to close the garage door. Not until it was fully closed did Xav climb out. He came around to open the passenger door for Lindsay before she could jump out on her own, then he slid his arm around her and led her into the house.

Once in the back hall, the door locked behind them, Xav backed Lindsay into the wall. His kiss held all the built-up tension she’d put into him with her play, and she smiled into the kiss.

He’d take her right there, she thought, her body rocketing with excitement. Any moment, he’d undo her clothes and his, thrusting into her and relieving the ache that had been building all night.

To her disappointment, Xav broke the kiss and backed away, drawing a long breath. “I need a shower,” he said. “I’m coated in desert.”

Lindsay brushed at dust that lightened his hair. “It’s sexy.”

Xav laughed. “To you, maybe.” He turned away and strode through the kitchen to the hall on the other side, where he looked back. “Coming?”

Lindsay zipped to him faster than when she’d rushed AC to grab the taser. Xav continued his laughter as he caught her hand and towed her into the bathroom.

He let the shower warm as they undressed each other, Lindsay’s clothes falling away as fast as she tore off Xav’s. She’d have to buy him a bunch more shirts if she kept shredding them like this.

Xav’s large bathroom had a walk-in shower, the kind with no annoying doors or shower curtains to get in the way. He had a deep tub as well, which Lindsay thought would provide another place for fun.

For now, she let him guide her into the shower, the water quickly wetting their skin. Xav was right that dust had gotten inside his shirt to coat his chest and arms with dust, which Lindsay soon washed off with a good lathering of soap.

Xav applied soap to his hands and then skimmed them over Lindsay’s body, sliding easily across her breasts and back, down to her buttocks and between her legs.

Lindsay growled with satisfaction as Xav lifted her leg over his arm, opening her for his fingers. Sensations chased through her, beautiful need making her hot, then shiver, then hot again.

She cried out, her head against the wall, the tiles cool against her back while Xav seared the rest of her.

She felt her peak nearing, her vision blurring with the wildness Xav dragged to the surface. Her claws came out, but she sheathed them quickly, not wanting to hurt him.

“It’s okay,” Xav whispered. “I don’t mind a little scratch.”

Lindsay opened her eyes, feeling them change to Shifter, but she tamped down the beast within. The line between scratching and shredding was thin.

Xav’s smile was feral. Before Lindsay could do anything more, he lifted her up and then slid inside her, fitting her perfectly onto him.

Lindsay’s groan turned to a wail as Xav pulled her down onto him, bracing her against the wall while he thrust.

He was hard and big, strong. Xav’s muscles worked under her fingers as she grappled with him, his skin smooth.

Lindsay sobbed his name, her mating frenzy spiking. She needed all of him, now , and to never stop. Never, never stop.

“I won’t,” Xav vowed, and Lindsay realized she’d said the words out loud. “Never, Linds. You’ll never be rid of me.”

“Good.” Lindsay clung to him, silencing them both by taking his mouth in a hot kiss.

Xav continued his thrusts, the bathroom echoing with their groans and cries of crazed need. At least, Lindsay felt crazed. Xav closed his eyes while he loved her, then he opened them wide when he hit his climax, his seed scalding.

His smile when he slowed, the water pattering around them, was the most beautiful thing Lindsay had ever seen, and so was the love in his eyes.

* * *

“Tell me about the scent marking,” Xav said.

They lay in his bed, their bodies still damp, even after their quick dry off with the towel. Lindsay’s hair stuck out in golden clumps, which Xav thought was adorable.

They hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other as they’d made for the bedroom, leaving piles of dropped clothes and wet towels on the bathroom floor. Xav had wanted to touch Lindsay all over, and he did it as he swept her onto the bed, and then lowered himself to her again, fiercely thrusting inside her.

He’d been a long way from spent. He never would be with Lindsay.

After a time, they’d stretched out comfortably together while they caught their breaths. Lindsay had her head on Xav’s shoulder and now looked up at him quizzically.

“Your brother is mated to a Shifter,” she reminded him. “You must have heard of scent marking.”

“Heard the term.” Xav brushed back a lock of her still-damp hair. “Don’t know exactly what it means.”

Lindsay laced her fingers through his, the flush on her cheek revealing her embarrassment. “There’s a scent Shifters can breathe onto each other, very faint, but discernable to Shifters. Eric tried to explain to me once that there’s a gland or something, but I didn’t really understand, or at the time, care. It tells other Shifters to leave you alone.”

Xav squeezed her hand. “You mean I smell? Can’t I wash it off? We used a lot of soap in there.” He grinned at the happy memory of the shower.

“No,” Lindsay’s flush deepened. “It’s not really scent. It’s more like … a sense. Any Shifter walking by you just knows .”

“Knows what?”

Lindsay looked up at him, her eyes holding anguish. “That you’re mine.”

Xav watched her in puzzlement. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No.” Lindsay’s answer was quick. “Unless you think it is. I can remove it. I think.”

“No wonder Neal and Brody stared at me so hard when they came in yesterday. You did this last night?”

“Yes.” She looked away again.

Xav put his finger under Lindsay’s chin and turned her to face him. “I think it’s obvious I don’t mind. Tell me next time, though, okay? So I know what’s going on when Shifters make fun of me about it.”

“There isn’t a next time. It’s on you, for good. Unless I remove it. If I can.” She shrugged. “Ask Eric. He’s like the walking encyclopedia of Shifter information.”

“It has nothing to do with the mate-claim?”

Lindsay again evaded his gaze. “No. Scent marking can lead to one but doesn’t have to.”

Xav studied her a moment, not liking to see her so uneasy, but he had to know about these things. “I talked to Tiger about the mate bond,” he said quietly.

Lindsay stiffened. “Did you?”

You and Lindsay are two halves, Tiger had said. Make them whole .

Xav still wasn’t sure how he was going to do that.

“Don’t you want to know what he said about it?” Xav asked.

He didn’t imagine Lindsay’s disquiet. “Tiger’s always sure everything will work out,” she said. “Jinxie is too. Shifters who have the mate bond can’t always imagine what it’s like not to form it.”

Xav’s heart thumped. “Are we forming it?”

Lindsay watched him in sadness. “I don’t know.”

Did that mean that Lindsay didn’t feel the mate bond for him ? Cassidy had once explained a bit about it, but Lindsay was right, those who had it couldn’t really convey its meaning to those who didn’t.

“How can we tell?” Xav asked. “What is it supposed to feel like?”

Lindsay lightly touched his chest. “I’m not sure, actually. But if both of us don’t form it, we’re better off not mating at all.” She drew a sharp breath. “Don’t ask me to answer about the mate-claim, not right now. I have a lot to think about. ’Kay?”

“I wasn’t going to.” Xav lifted her fingers to his lips and pressed kisses to each fingertip. “I know it’s a tough choice. I made the claim to keep the other Shifters off your back. It stays until you decide. ”

Lindsay moaned and fell onto him, burying her face in his shoulder. “Why are you so sweet to me?”

Xav shrugged, tamping down his fears about his future with her. “I’m a sweet guy. Now, I can think of a few things we can do while you’re thinking.”

“Mm?” Lindsay said into his shoulder, sounding more like her playful self. “What things?”

Xav slid his hand under her hair and coaxed her to raise her head. He read desire in her eyes, the raw need flaring again.

“Maybe something like this.” Xav rolled her over beneath him, then he licked her from neck to navel.

Lindsay squealed with laughter as he buzzed his mouth on her abdomen, then her laughter turned to a hungry moan when he trailed his tongue between her thighs to taste her.

* * *

Xav swam upward from profound slumber hours later when he heard a faint clatter in the kitchen.

His first thought was that Lindsay had risen to fix herself a snack—Shifters were always hungry—before he realized that Lindsay slept contentedly next to him.

Xav had this place well stocked with state-of-the-art security and cams, but any tech could be bypassed if someone had the know-how. He could name a few Shifters, like Neal, who did.

However, Shifters would make no noise. Therefore, the person trying to be quiet in Xav’s kitchen was human.

Xav softly slid open his nightstand drawer and removed the pistol he kept there.

Lindsay instantly came awake. Instantly. Unlike Xav, who’d lain in sonorous confusion for a few seconds, she was up and on her feet, staring into the darkness beyond his bedroom door.

To his alarm, she motioned for him to stay put and slipped into the hall. Lindsay was stark naked, her pale hair a smudge in the darkness. She’d removed her fake Collar sometime during their play, so not even that marred her nude body.

While Xav figured she’d stun the hell out of whoever was in his house with her wild beauty, he wouldn’t sit and wait for her to be shot.

He heaved himself quietly out of bed, just as naked, and followed her.

Lindsay had already made it to the front of the house by the time Xav emerged from the bedroom. A light flared on in the kitchen, and Lindsay’s voice rang out.

“Oh, boys, you’re having a party without me?” Then a crash of furniture and Lindsay saying “Shi—” before she was silenced.

Xav burst into the kitchen, his pistol ready. Lindsay lay on the floor, sprawled inelegantly, a tranq dart in her shoulder. Before Xav could fire, he felt a sting in his back and a lassitude that announced he too had been tranqed.

Damn, I’m getting sick of this, was his last coherent thought before the floor rushed upward to meet him.