A Jaguars Touch (7 page)

He rumbled, releasing the beast just enough to let a purr vibrate through his chest.

“It’ll be a long night, hellcat,” he promised.

She shoved him flat on the bed and rose over him, lifting her leg until she was astride him. She reached down and wrapped her fingers around his dick. “Yes, it will,” she agreed, and eased down, enveloping him in molten heat once more.

He feared they were both wrong. The night wouldn’t be long enough—not nearly.

Chapter Five

Vic let the water cascade over her body, rinsing away the residue of an incredible night spent with Gideon. This wouldn’t be the first time she’d gone without sleep. She was hoping she’d have many more nights just like it before Gideon left. She ruthlessly ignored the jolt that went through her at the thought of him leaving. It was inevitable. They both knew it. Neither of them did permanent, and one night, no matter how fantastic, wouldn’t change that.

They’d walked back to the house at dawn, going their separate ways as soon as they hit the front door. There was something about him this morning. He seemed even quieter than usual, more reserved. She wasn’t going to dwell on it, though. He’d left her with a toe-curling kiss that was sure to have her mind revisiting those hours spent in the cabin all day long.

She forced herself to rush through the shower and not linger. The sooner the day got started, the sooner it would end and she could see Gideon again. She dressed quickly and headed down to the kitchen for breakfast. She was starving this morning. She wasn’t surprised to see Finn there. He didn’t seem to sleep much lately.

“Well, hey there,” he said as she walked in. He opened his mouth to say something else but snapped it shut and inhaled deeply.

Fuck! Apparently, she hadn’t washed Gideon’s scent off her skin.

“I’ll fucking rip his head off,” Finn said as he stood from the table.

“I’d rather you not,” she said, glaring at him. “I have plans for later, and I need his head intact for them. As well as the rest of him.”

“Jesus,” Finn grunted. “I thought you didn’t want a mate.”

“I don’t. Neither does he,” Vic assured him. “It’s just sex. You know how that works.”

“It’s been a while, but I think I recall the basic principle,” he jeered. “Do you have any fucking clue what you’re setting yourself up for?”

“A good time? A mind-blowing orgasm?”

“Just stop,” Finn muttered. “I think my ears are bleeding.”

She hid her grin as she turned to pour coffee. “I got this,” she promised softly.

She pivoted back around and almost dropped the cup when he was right behind her.

“I know you don’t need anyone,” he said. “You can take care of yourself and all of us, as well. But if you decide you do need someone, a friend, any one of us will step up to plate for you. Remember that.”

She shook her head. Why were they all telling her that lately? And what the hell was wrong with her? Her emotions, which were always so easily contained, bubbled to the surface and damned if she didn’t want to hug Finn, which would only serve to freak them both out.

“You know it’s okay to need people,” Finn said. “It doesn’t make you weak.”

She opened her mouth. Closed it. All she could see was her father, yelling about how he’d been cheated out of a son. He hated Vic for so many reasons. Because she was a female and thus weaker, inferior. And because her mother had died mere hours after Vic’s birth. She’d learned early on that the only person she needed and could count on was herself. Something in Finn’s gaze made her think he might understand that.

“I don’t want to need anyone,” Vic finally admitted.

“Murphy and I were just kids when we came here,” Finn said, shocking the hell out of her. “Still grieving when we were uprooted and sent a world away to live with a stranger. I was hotheaded. Took my pain out in ways that would make you cringe.” He leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling above them.

“I’m sorry,” Vic said.

Neither Finn nor Murphy had ever really talked about the time before they joined the Marines. She knew they had dual citizenship with Ireland and the U. S. but had never figured it was any of her business.

“Murphy was supposed to be sent alone. Punishment for something that was never his fault. But I couldn’t let him. I knew he needed me.”

“Why are you telling me this?” she asked.

“Because we’re a lot alike,” he said, glancing down at her once more. “I saw how family could fail you, how everything you loved in the world could be snatched away just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “I joke with Murphy. I watch his back. But I shut him out just as much as I do everyone else when it comes to feelings and shit. It’s easy to be the loneliest man in the room when you hide it behind a quick wit and charm.”

“Finn,” she said, but he placed his finger over her lips, silencing anything she might have said.

“Don’t let fear build walls you can’t knock down,” he warned her.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” Vic replied, turning back around and setting her coffee on the counter untouched.

“We’re all afraid of something,” he said quietly.

She took a minute to gather her thoughts, figure out how to respond, but when she rotated to face him again, he was gone.

“What the hell,” she muttered to herself.

What was going on with Finn? That conversation had come out of nowhere. How could the scent of Gideon on her bring about a heart-to-heart with Finn? It was eye opening to realize that in all the years she’d known the group, she knew very little about them outside of being soldiers. What she did know, she’d learned since coming here. They’d always been a unit, but since everything that had happened recently, since Abby really, they’d become more. They’d become family, one completely different from what she’d known.

Should she go after Finn? Talk to Murphy? Or let it go? She finally decided to shake it off for now. Everyone was on edge lately, and it was starting to take a toll. The trip to Denver, the move, the knowledge that hunters were closing in on where they were. Any one of those things would be stressful, but with them occurring at the same time, it was overwhelming.

She headed down to Tah’s office and was surprised when she caught him alone. He said nothing as she entered, and she felt guilty for interrupting him. From what she saw, he very rarely had time alone any more. With how much she valued her private moments, she hated disrupting his.

He inhaled and shook his head. “You smell of Gideon.”

“Yeah. Who knew you couldn’t wash shifter off?” she joked with a shrug.

“Did he mate you?”

“I already told you, I’m not his mate,” Vic answered.

Tah didn’t say anything, just watched her with a hooded gaze that made her feel as if he were seeing inside her, deep into places she tried to hide—even from herself.

“We need to move, Tah,” she said. “This waiting and planning is frying us. We need to do something already.”

“I’m actually calling a council meeting,” Tah said. “We’ve planned enough.”

“When?”

“Now,” Tah replied. “I figured Reno sent you but apparently you just have great timing. Reno went to grab Logan and Murphy. He was also planning to look for you. Abby went to get the Professor. I had her ask Gideon to join us, as well.”

“Why? He’s not part of the council. Hell, he’s not even part of the pride,” Vic said. She wasn’t sure she could keep her hands off him. Last night should have sated her. Instead, it only made her want him more. And after the chat with Finn earlier, she wasn’t on her game at the moment.

“Exactly,” Gideon agreed, surprising her as he walked in with the Professor and Abby behind him.

Abby held a sleeping Regan in her arms.

“I’m not a part of your pride,” Gideon finished.

She wasn’t sure if the
your
was directed at her or Tah. If there was hurt in Gideon’s eyes at what he’d overheard her say, she couldn’t be certain. He merely glanced at her then dismissed her, and she had no one to blame but herself.

“Abby said you’ve been helping out down in the labs. I have questions I think only you will be able to answer,” Tah said.

“I’ll tell you what I can,” Gideon said and moved across the room, placing himself as far from Vic as he could get.

She crossed her arms over her chest, pissed. At herself. At him. At every fucking thing. She didn’t feel shit. She called it like it was and never pulled punches. So why did she wish she’d kept her mouth shut or at least that Gideon hadn’t heard her?

Reno walked in, followed by Logan and Murphy.

“I see you found her,” Reno said.

“I headed in on my own,” Vic said.

Reno inhaled. “Another problem?” he asked softly.

Jesus! “No,” Vic gritted out.

Tah shook his head at Reno. “Let’s take a seat,” he said, indicating the informal seating area.

Murphy patted her shoulder as he passed. His lack of comment made her suspect he’d already spoken with Finn. The Professor looked frazzled, as if he’d been pulled unwillingly upstairs to join them. Abby smiled softly at her. That’s when she realized they were all giving her a wide berth, as if she were a fucking delicate flower. Her gaze skirted over to where her man leaned against the wall.

Her man? Where the fuck had that thought come from? Sex didn’t make her stupid. Ever. And it sure as hell didn’t fuck with her head. She needed to gain some goddamned control over herself.

“Vic?” Tah asked, and she realized they were all settled, waiting for her to join them.

She forced her feet to move, and the closer to Gideon she walked, the higher her temper flared. She’d ignore him. Pretend he wasn’t fucking there just as he was doing with her. That was the plan at least. Then she smelled him, and it made her mouth fucking water for a taste of him. That’s when she decided to say screw it. Everyone in the room knew they’d had sex. You couldn’t hide that shit from these guys. It did no good to act otherwise. She walked right up to the motherfucker, reached up and used his hair to jerk his head down to her.

“Victoria,” Gideon said as she claimed his attention.

All her focus was on Gideon. His eyes were that gorgeous neon green again when she swore she’d seen blue when he’d first walked in the room and briefly met her gaze.

“Gideon,” she said as she planted herself in front of him. “Are we good?” she whispered though she knew most of those in the room would be able to hear her anyway. Private conversations were a rare commodity when you lived with a group of shifters.

Gideon angled his head, despite her tight grip on his hair, and gave her a strange look.

“Are we?” she asked again.

He nodded, questions in his gaze, which she chose to ignore.

She nipped his bottom lip—couldn’t resist the desire to taste him, however briefly. Then she took a step back and turned to face the rest of them, widening her stance and crossing her arms over her chest. She glared as she placed herself between Gideon and the rest of the room.

“I know you all smell him on me, and yes, we had sex,” she stated.

“Shit,” Tah grunted as the rest of the men glared.

Vic knew it wasn’t directed at her, but those glares were exactly why she was speaking up.

“I started this,” she said. “My choice. I expect you all to respect it and leave him the hell alone.”

She felt Gideon’s hands on her hips then she was lifted out of the way.

“I don’t need anyone to stand in front of me,” he stated gruffly.

“And I just want to make it clear that I’m the only one with a say in who I sleep with,” she stated.

He quirked a brow at her, and she knew he was implying her partner might have a say in that, as well. He was right, but that wasn’t the point. She ignored him again and glanced back at the room, meeting each of their gazes and holding them briefly before moving on to the next.

“Are we clear?” she demanded and wasn’t satisfied until they all nodded.

“And I thought you were going to kick his ass,” Logan joked.

Gideon glanced her way again and gave her another questioning look filled with disbelief. She wasn’t sure if he doubted the thought or her ability. Either way, it was neither the time nor the place to have that chat.

“Despite this little conversation, Vic’s sex life wasn’t part of the agenda,” Tah said when the room remained silent. “So let’s move on.”

Logan coughed, but Vic knew it was only to hide a laugh. She was starting to feel embarrassed, like maybe she’d overreacted, when Gideon reached over and laced his fingers with hers. She did her best to relax and focus on Tah.

“Abby and I will head for Denver in two days. We’ll take Logan and Clara with us along with Zane and Diane. We won’t be coming back here,” Tah said. “Instead, we’ll head straight to Riverton, Oklahoma. Our contact there is a man named Daniel. Zane’s Uncle Orsai vouched for Daniel.”

“Where is Orsai?” Vic asked. “I haven’t seen him.”

“Orsai left last evening,” the Professor said. “He said he was needed elsewhere, but he would visit us in Oklahoma.”

“What do we know about Riverton?” Murphy asked. “And this Daniel.”

“I’ve done as much digging as I can from here,” Abby said. “He’s the sheriff in Riverton, a small town named because of where it butts up against the Red River. The place we’re heading is a ranch just outside town. From what I’ve been told, it’s huge. The main house sits on over thirty acres and there are several other homes on the property, as well.”

“Space so we’re not smelling all the sex we’re not having,” Murphy muttered. “Sign me up.”

“Reno and Amia will leave a few days after we do. Professor, you’ll be traveling with them along with Lydia,” Tah said, ignoring Murphy.

“How soon is that? I have more to do. I should be the last to leave,” the Professor argued.

“No can do,” Reno said. “You’re with us, and you’ll be ready on time.”

The Professor grumbled until Abby reached over and patted his knee with her free hand.

“Vic,” Tah continued. “You, Kenzie and Holt will take Ariel with you.”

Vic nodded. It didn’t seem like a good time to let him know Kenzie and Holt would be traveling separately. That meant it would just be her and Ariel, who she still didn’t trust. Great combination. They might kill each other along the way.