Dark Refuge (19 page)

“All of us?” Mary glanced at Mbali, Sissy and Janine. “Even the four of us?”

“Most definitely the four of you. She specifically thanked Alex and me for helping to find you. That’s been a big problem, because so many Chanku, like you guys, have lost touch with their nature. They’ve become more human over the years as they lost the memories of who and what they are. Unless they’ve been exposed to the nutrients, and until they’ve had enough and have tried to change, Eve can’t find them. We were only able to find the four of you because Sissy cried out with mindspeech and Em was close enough to hear her.”

She smiled at Lindy and Nina. “I’m so glad we found the two of you, too. I hope you realize that Alex and Gabe are dead serious about backing your salon.” She laughed, and there was a sense that, maybe, this was all going to turn out okay. For Sissy and Janine and Mbali, Lindy and Nina, even for Mary. “In fact, I think they envision an entire franchise, once you guys figure out what you’re going to call it.”

She finished off the rest of her sinfully sweet chocolate, pushed her chair back and stood. “Ladies, it’s been a wild night and I need sleep. I have a feeling I’ll be calling in sick tomorrow. Oh, and one more thing. Eve wants us all in Montana as soon as we’re able. Mary, did your folks decided to come for a visit?”

Mary stared at her toes for a moment, then raised her head and shrugged. “I never called Dad back. He’ll probably be pissed, but I shifted and then Mbali and Janine, and then all this with Gabe and Em. When do we go to Montana?”

“We’d like to leave as soon as Em and Gabe are able to travel. We can take the company jet, so it’s not a long trip. Call your dad in the morning, tell him that a couple of our packmates have been hurt and we’re going to have to delay their visit. Maybe once we get to Montana, we can invite them up there instead. For that, though, I’ll need to speak with Anton. He’s Gabe’s dad, and our pack’s alpha, the leader.”

Mbali giggled.

“What?”

“Leader of the pack?” She laughed even harder. “The foster home where I was raised, the lady loved old music. She had a song she used to play about the leader of the pack. All us kids would run around making motorcycle noises.”

Annie hugged her. “Probably best not to do motorcycle noises for Anton. He might not appreciate the humor.” She chuckled though. Knowing Anton, he’d probably love it. “Good night, all. I’m outta here.”

She went straight to Em and Gabe’s room. Alex had crawled in behind Gabe, so Annie slipped out of her clothes and got into bed behind Em. Alex reached for her, clasping her fingers.
I love you,
he said.

That was all she needed to hear before sleep took her.

Chapter 12

Gabe lay on his back, blinking at the sunlight pouring into Em’s bedroom. Em slept, snuggled close against his side, one hand resting over his heart. His skin beneath her hand felt raw, but the pain wasn’t enough to concern him. He picked up Alex and Annie’s scent, but they weren’t in the room. He couldn’t see the clock without moving, and he didn’t want to disturb Em, but he knew it had to be late because of the amount of sunlight streaming through the window.

He had no idea how he’d gotten here. Last night seemed so long ago, lost in a foggy haze of what might have been dreams, or possibly a nightmare. Darkness and screams and an enraged leopard, but it was all jumbled in scattered bits and pieces. He went back to what was a clear memory—going in search of Em after he’d been an absolute horse’s ass. He remembered following her scent along the walking trail above the Great Highway, finding her above the Sutro Baths.

He’d asked her to be his mate. She’d agreed, but then what? Vaguely he recalled his mom’s memorial garden in Golden Gate Park. Facing Em amid the sweet grasses that meant so much to all of them. He’d mounted her, and the memory left a hollow feeling in the pit of his gut. No finesse there, from what he could recall, but it was coming back to him, the way her body had supported his, the mating knot binding them together, and then the mental connection, that perfect synchronization of her memories to his.

And then . . . nothing. He had to believe they’d gotten close to the kidnapping. He vaguely recalled her memories of going to the mall with Annie, in her mind and her point of view, but that was how it worked when you accessed your mate’s memories. It was as if you were them, if only for the brief, soul-deep connection, but beyond that? Nothing at all. Not until he awakened a few moments ago.

He rolled over and pulled Em into his embrace, held her close to his heart, listened to the small hitch in her breathing that told him she was awake. She rubbed her face against his chest, ran her tongue over something that burned like fire and his body jerked.

“Gabe? What happened?”

She pushed away and stared at him with a look of absolute horror. He was watching her eyes, but as she backed away, he realized her cheek was smeared with fresh blood. Quickly he lowered his gaze, stared at his chest. He was covered with deep, still seeping scratches. Some were held together with bandage strips, most were scabbed over, but where Em’s face had rested . . .
holy shit.
He reached out, ran his finger along her bloodstained cheek, lifted her chin and kissed her.

I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. You’re okay. I’m . . . well, almost okay.
He was careful to keep his mental voice upbeat. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her. He was certain they’d had enough of a scare last night. He kissed her again.
I’m glad it’s my blood and not yours. I love you, Em. I know we tried to mate last night, but it appears something went a little bit wrong.

She touched his chest, brought her hand away covered in flakes of dried blood as well as fresh. “Gabe? You’re still bleeding. Good Goddess, Gabe. What happened to you? Did I do this? Oh, Gabe . . . you’re a mess. Something must have gone a lot more than just a little bit wrong.” She tried to push herself away, but he held her.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re okay. Alex and Annie slept with us last night. I don’t remember coming home, so they must have come after us, somehow got us back here. I have no idea how they knew we needed help, but obviously we did. We’ll find them, find out what’s going on.”

He kissed her, drew her taste into his mouth, breathed in her scent and swallowed the sounds she made. She was his, she was everything he wanted, but why the fuck couldn’t he remember? He remembered the beginning of the mating bond, and when he’d tried to link with her, she’d been right there in his thoughts, the way she should have been. Even now, their connection felt the way it would if they were bonded, but they weren’t. Not entirely. Still, he felt her pleasure, her love, her fear of what had happened last night.

Gabe? You guys awake?

Alex? Yeah, but it’s important that you leave us alone for a while. A couple hours at least. Em and I are trying to figure out what happened.

Got it. Good luck.
And then he was gone.

Knowing they wouldn’t be interrupted made it so much easier. Gabe kissed Em again, and the more they kissed, the more she relaxed beneath him. Her body melted against his, all soft curves and warmth, and the sounds she made were the sounds of want, of need, of pure desire. She’d been shivering moments ago, so afraid of what they’d done, but now she felt like love. He kissed his way down her throat, across her collarbone and along the curve of her shoulder. Skipped to the sensitive, soft skin of her inner arm and then to the sweet curve of her breast. She arched against him, all sense of the lingering questions over last night lost in the pounding cadence of her heart, her sweet sighs and moans of pleasure.

He moved lower, kissing his way across the soft curve of her belly, around the dark thatch of curls at the juncture of her thighs. He teased her then, stopping to inhale her scent, to lap up the moisture gathering for him, but she was tugging at his arms, pulling him up and over her body, and he slipped so easily into her heat, finding her slick sheath and entering her carefully, slowly as her muscles clenched along the full length of his cock.

He knew she could take all of him, but she was still so tight, just as her wolf had been tight when he’d mounted her last night. Her wolf, and something more. Something teased at the edge of memory even as he fell into a comfortable rhythm sliding in and out of her. His thoughts were coming together as he recalled the fierce joy of claiming her as his mate, the wondrous montage of memories shared as they’d learned the small things about one another’s childhoods.

He remembered the mall, her fear as the strange man led her away, and now he struggled not to share the moment when that cloth covered in what had to have been chloroform was pressed against her mouth.

She’d struggled, but the drug had taken away her will. The memory had terrified her until Gabe had done the only thing he could think of—he’d shifted back to his human self and he’d forced Emeline to shift with him. But she hadn’t wanted to shift. She’d wanted to kill the one who took her. Lost in terror, she’d shifted once more.

He’d been holding a terrified woman who’d become a furious snow leopard in his arms. She’d clawed him, trying to escape. No wonder the scratches were so deep. No wonder they still bled. She would feel horrible, but he refused to hide the memory from her. She’d had too much stolen already. He would tell her, but not now. Not while they loved.

“Em,” he whispered. “I love you so.”

Her eyes had been closed, but she opened them and reached for him, stroked his beard-roughened chin, traced the contours of his lips. Then she cupped his cheeks in both palms and raised up to kiss him. He met her halfway, taking her mouth in a kiss of feral intensity, thrusting deep, his tongue tangling with Em’s, his cock filling her, sliding hard against the mouth of her womb. They’d not completed their mating dance, and until they knew her truth, understood the depth of her pain, that would have to wait.

But he wanted her. All of her. She’d fought him last night out of fear. Now he wanted her fighting with him, pushing back the darkness and joining with him with everything she was able to give. His rhythm increased, hard and fast, his tongue in her mouth, his cock sliding in and out of her just as it had been when he’d taken her as a wolf. Feral, as far from the gentle loving they’d started as their wolves were from their human counterparts.

Em arched her back, crying out as she tilted her hips to meet him. Lifting her, Gabe sat back on his heels and she wrapped her legs around his hips, whimpering as he lifted her with each powerful stroke. Holding her close, telling her with every move he made, with every breath he took that she was his. No matter what had happened, she was not damaged, she was perfect, and he was never letting her go.

Their climax slammed into both of them without warning. Em’s keening wail seemed to wrap around Gabe’s shout of release. Her inner muscles clamped down on his cock, holding him deep inside, clasping him so tight that it felt as it had when they’d tied as wolves. Gently, Gabe lowered her to the bed without collapsing on her much smaller body. His arms shook from the strain of holding himself above her. Laughing, she reached for him and pulled him down to cover her.

He sprawled across her, laughing softly. “I feel like melted wax, but damn, Em. You feel good.” He nuzzled her tangled hair and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.

“Mmmmm . . .” She blinked lazily. “Now that we’ve got that out of our systems . . .”

“Give me a minute. I’m not through yet.” He lifted himself on his forearms so he could look into her brilliant green eyes. At the same time, he thrust his hips forward, letting her know in no uncertain terms he was far from done.

She raised her head and nipped his chin. “Yes, you are. For now anyway.” She sighed and lifted her arms to loop them over his shoulders. “Gabe, what happened last night? You realize you’re still bleeding, don’t you? I don’t recall becoming a leopard, but I must have. The last thing I remember is you mounting me as a wolf, that memory of the man in the mall and the smell of that nasty rag he put over my mouth and nose, and then nothing.”

“It was chloroform. I recognized the smell from your memories, but Em, someone took those memories from you. I want to give them back to you so you can bury them yourself. What happened to you at the hands of that bastard was wrong, but trying to protect you from the truth was worse. Link with me. I want you to know what happened last night. At least as much as I can recall. You did become a leopard, but only for a very brief time. Mostly, you were just absolutely beautiful, a magnificently furious beast. And I think that beautiful creature is the one who saved your life.”

He thrust his hips slowly, tightening the connection between them, both mental and physical. Taking her slowly to a pitch of arousal that would have her entire body thrumming with the energy of the two of them together. Similar to the mating link, but not entirely. He’d not be going into her memories, wouldn’t force her to relive anything more than she was ready for, but once they were totally in sync, hearts pounding as one, breathing in and out at exactly the same rate, he linked their minds, using his to draw her in, to show her he would keep her safe.

And then he took her back to last night, to that time when they were tied together in Keisha’s garden. When their minds and bodies were entirely aligned, but it was Emeline’s memories guiding them.

• • •

This felt the same but not. Em saw her memories filtered through Gabe’s recall of last night. She was in the mall, but not, talking with Phoenix, but their conversation was muted, the context not important. What was important was the good-looking guy who appeared to be following them.

Neither one of them was anything special. Just a couple of teenage girls hanging out in the mall, giggling, being silly and pretending to be older than they were. She remembered that fourteen was such an awkward age, especially for Chanku girls, who tended to reach puberty later than most humans, but she and Phoenix were beginning to have more awareness of that damned Chanku libido, which tended to show itself when they least expected it.