Page 11 of The Cauldronball Run (Outlaw Country #2)

J .J.

Kansas/Eastern Colorado

J.J. was checking the ambulance's fluid levels at a rest stop outside Kansas City when the Flame told him to turn to channel seven.

“Breaker breaker, looking for a green sumbitch by the name of J.J. Grimjaw.”

J.J. froze, wrench in hand. He knew that voice. It was Sheriff Grizzley T. Lawman, the bear who'd been gunning for him ever since he tipped Bullseye off about Hazel and Smokie's wedding.

Farrah looked up from where she was organizing the real medical supplies. "Who is that?"

"Trouble," J.J. muttered, reaching for the radio. "Sheriff Lawman, I’m doing an emergency medical transport.”

"Cut the crap, you green sumbitch." Grizz's voice boomed through the radio so loud it vibrated. "I know exactly what you're doing and it ain’t savin’ lives."

"I don't know what you're talking about," J.J. said, but he could feel his pulse picking up.

"Bullseye Maverick and Hazel Primm made a fool out of me, and you helped them do it. Now you think you can compete in an illegal race under my nose?"

Farrah was watching him with concern.

"I have a very sick patient.”

"This is Sheriff Grizzley T. Lawman to all units," Grizz's voice cut through the radio waves.

"I got a BOLO on a white Ford Transit ambulance, license number.

.." Grizz rattled off their plate number.

"Vehicle is engaged in criminal conspiracy and interstate shenanigans.

Consider occupants armed and dangerous."

"Armed and dangerous?" Farrah said. "We're EMTs."

But J.J. wasn't listening anymore. A primal fury rose in his chest. It was a growl that started deep in his throat and spread through his entire body. The sheriff wasn't just coming after him. He was coming after Farrah.

"We need to move. Now."

"J.J., your eyes are glowing."

He caught his reflection in the ambulance's side mirror. Sure enough, his eyes had taken on the green fire that happened when his orcish nature surfaced. It had been years since he'd lost control like this.

"Get in the ambulance," he said. The command came out as a growl that made Farrah step back. But instead of looking scared, she looked interested. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was staring at him like she'd never seen him before.

"Okay," she said. "But you need to tell me what's happening to you."

They climbed into the ambulance and J.J. peeled out of the rest stop, pushing the vehicle harder than he ever had before. The engine he'd built roared to life, and suddenly they were doing ninety on the interstate.

"Slow down," Farrah said. "You're going to get us killed."

"He threatened you." J.J. gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. "That bear bastard called us armed and dangerous. He's going to treat you like a criminal because of me."

"I am a criminal. We both are."

"You're not—" J.J. stopped himself. The protective rage was making it hard to think clearly. "You shouldn't be in danger because of my debt problems."

"Pull over," Farrah said.

"We can't stop. He's tracking us."

"Pull over. Right now."

Something in her tone cut through the haze of protective fury. J.J. guided the ambulance to a rest area and parked behind a stand of trees where they couldn't be seen from the highway.

"Look at me," Farrah said.

J.J. turned to face her and immediately wished he hadn't. She was beautiful with her flushed cheeks, dark eyes bright with adrenaline, hair coming loose from her ponytail. And she looked at him like he was dangerous, and she liked it.

"Tell me why your eyes are glowing."

"It happens when I get protective. Orcish thing."

"Protective of what?"

"Of you." The words came out rougher than he intended. "He's coming after you because of me."

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I’m a big girl. I knew what I was getting into.”

“No, you didn’t. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

Her face fell, like she was crushed. He bit back a howl at the pain he saw in her eyes.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I need to claim you.”

“Claim me?”

“Fuck you.”

Farrah's breath caught. “How long do we have before that sheriff catches up?"

"Long enough." J.J.’s voice dropped to a growl. “You’re mine to protect. Mine to keep safe. Mine.”

Her pupils blew wide, and her lips parted on a shaky exhale. “And what does that make you?”

“Yours,” he admitted before he could think better of it. “If you’ll have me.”

Her breath caught like she’d been waiting her whole life to hear those words. She slid across the seat, closing the distance until her thigh pressed against his. In the close confines of the cab, she was suddenly everywhere—her scent filling his lungs, her warmth searing into his skin.

“I want to fuck you too,” she whispered, and before he could answer, her mouth was on his.

It wasn’t gentle. Her lips crashed against his with a hunger that shocked him, tongue sliding past his defenses like she owned him already. His tusks grazed her lower lip, and he jerked back, terrified he’d cut her.

“Careful,” he rasped.

Farrah only smiled, breathless and flushed. “I like dangerous.” She tilted her head, deliberately dragging her lip against the sharp edge of one tusk. “See?”

A sound tore from his chest, half-growl, half-plea, and he hauled her back against him, mouth slanting over hers.

This time the kiss devoured—deep, claiming, like he could consume her and never be full.

Her hands tangled in his hair, tugging hard enough to make him groan, and he realized he wasn’t the only one starving.

Her small body wriggled closer, sliding into his lap until she was straddling him. The steering wheel pressed into her back, but she didn’t seem to care. She was grinding against the thick ridge of his cock. Even through their clothes, the friction had his vision tunneling.

“Gods, you feel good,” he panted against her mouth. His big hands spanned her waist, thumbs brushing the undersides of her breasts. “So fucking soft. So small.”

“Not too small,” she shot back, rocking her hips harder against him. Her breath hitched when his cock shifted beneath her. “Big enough to take you.”

The words nearly undid him. He kissed her again, rougher this time, until she gasped into his mouth. His tongue tangled with hers, tasting, teasing, claiming. Every moan she made vibrated through his chest like a promise.

Her nails dug into his shoulders, urging him closer. His control frayed. He pressed his mouth to her throat, sucking hard enough to leave a mark, then let his tusks trace the delicate column of her neck.

Farrah shivered violently. “Do that again.”

He did, dragging the blunt tips along her pulse point until her pulse thundered against them.

Her thighs tightened around his hips, grinding harder, and her scent filled the cab—sweet, aroused, unmistakable.

His orc instincts howled. He shifted, big hands gripping her thighs to move her.

But the ambulance was too cramped, the seat too narrow.

She laughed breathlessly against his mouth. “Back. Get us in the back.”

It broke the spell just enough for him to realize where they were—parked at a rest stop, anyone could see his woman. His heart slammed. No. She was for his eyes only. He growled, low and dangerous, “Yes.”

They tumbled through the partition, J.J. ducking under the low ceiling. He pressed her against the nearest counter, his mouth still devouring hers. Her shirt rode up under his hands, and he finally felt the smooth heat of her skin.

“Orc,” she gasped, tugging at his belt, “you’re overdressed.”

He kissed her again, slower this time, savoring her swollen lips. “Careful what you wish for, witch.”

Her grin was pure fire. “Oh, I’m careful. I want everything.”

The words struck something deep, something older than language. A bond pulsed between them, hot and insistent, and J.J. knew with bone-deep certainty that this was it. This woman. This witch. His.

Her hips rocked against his thigh and the friction made her gasp. His answering growl rumbled into her mouth as his big hands clamped around her waist, holding her tight but not stopping her. “Keep moving, little witch. I've been wanting this since the diner."

"Me too. Do you have any idea how you look in uniform?"

J.J. had to laugh at that. "Like a monster trying to play EMT?"

"Like a man who saves lives for a living and could protect me from anything." Farrah's hands were working at his belt now. "Like someone I could trust with everything."

The words shook him.

"Farrah," he started to say, but she silenced him with another kiss.

"So big," she murmured.

J.J. tried to be gentle, tried to remember that Farrah was human and delicate, but she was having none of it.

Her nails scraped down his back as she pulled him closer.

When he pulled off her shirt and ripped off her bra, she arched against him with a gasp that made his vision go dark around the edges.

"Go slow," he growled against her neck, his tusks grazing her breasts. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," she breathed, then shivered as his tusks rubbed over her nipples.

He sucked on one pouting nipple, then the other, marking her with the faintest pressure.

She tasted like salt and sweetness, and when he breathed in, her scent filled his lungs.

It made every orcish instinct roar to life.

His thumbs brushed the undersides of her breasts, and she made a sound that was half-moan, half-plea.

This witch. His.

J.J. couldn’t stop kissing her, couldn’t stop devouring her tits like he’d die if he let her go. Every scrape of her nails down his back burned through his control until the last thread snapped. He broke from her luscious breast only to drag in a ragged breath.

“I need to taste your pussy.”

The words came out guttural, more instinct than thought, and for a heartbeat he braced for her to laugh. To tell him it was too much, too soon.

Instead, Farrah’s eyes went molten. “Then do it.”

That was all the permission he needed.