Kodiak's Claim (20 page)

But her daddy didn’t count on the speed with which a hungry fire could spread, especially since he never noticed the second chunk of ember that also spat forth. From the overheard hushed whispers she gleaned in the aftermath, he’d gone to fill a bigger jug at the kitchen counter while the second unnoticed coal burned. He should have followed his advice to his daughter and left while he could. As the slow flowing tap on the jug filled the container, the flames from both spots multiplied, quickly cutting off his only exit.

Tammy could still hear his screams chasing her as she ran through the woods in her bare feet, running for help. Help that was already too late.

It took her years of nightmares, therapy, and cheesecake-flavored ice cream before she overcame her panic attacks and terror each time she caught a flicker. Especially embarrassing when she had a meltdown moment in a big department store over the fake fire in one of their floor display fireplaces.

Nothing like having a classmate witness an ignoble panic attack for her to decide she wouldn’t let the past destroy her. It took time, but she eventually vanquished the nightmares. Learned to master fire and savor the taste of a barbecued steak. Heck, she even returned to the place where she’d shared so many wonderful memories with her father. But she’d never quite shaken free the guilt—and the terror—fire invoked.

As the smoke grew thicker and the temperature rose, she forced open her eyes in time to see Reid as he tore through the last of her restraints. At least she assumed it was him. Big, shaggy bear sporting an intent expression and an ornery snarl.

So adorable, if scarily impressive.

She whispered his name and would have said more, like, “Hey, thanks for coming.” She really was more grateful than he could imagine. However, fate was really having a bitchin’ day with her. As if Tammy hadn’t gone through enough, now her unlikely rescue was getting screwed with.

Why can’t anything go right?

Over Reid’s shoulder loomed a massive white bear. If Reid was tall, this beast was beyond ginormous. He towered behind Reid, and given she recognized the mismatched eyes of her abductor, she doubted he wished her big bear well. She opened her mouth to shout. Nothing but a hoarse “behind” emerged, and yet Reid understood—and pulled a total bonehead guy move.

He ignored his own safety and took care of her.

Adorable idiot.

As Reid shoved her wheeled bed at the ring of flames, the oxygen-hungry fire stole what breath she had to scream.

Crazy fucking b—

A curse unfinished as a terrified moan seeped from her, screams echoing in her mind as flames threatened to devour her. The heat seared her exposed skin, but worse, some of it latched on to the bedding she lay upon. For a moment, she stared in paralyzed horror at the pretty orange and yellow flicker dancing on the edge of the bed.
Hello,
it seemed to say.
Remember me?

Yes. Yes, she did. Murdering bastard.

With a cry of rage or fear or something wholly inexplicable, Tammy threw herself from the gurney, her muscles not entirely co-operating. She ended up in a crumpled heap on the concrete floor.

Ow!

Not her most delicate of landings, but at least the fire hadn’t won. Yet. She could still hear it mocking as it sizzled and popped. Where was a fireman when she needed one?

Of more concern, while she had emerged mostly unscathed from the arena constructed of gasoline and flame, Reid remained within it, his large furry shape currently wrestling with a massive polar bear.

Welcome to the most extreme animal documentary ever. When a Kodiak bear confronts an arctic terror, who will survive within the burning ring of fire? And why did she fight a hysterical giggle as she suddenly thought of a commercial for diarrhea?

Reid reeled from a savage blow, and all mirth dissipated. As control of her limbs returned, she edged closer to the flames. Hypnotized. With streaming eyes and burning lungs, Tammy couldn’t help her riveted stare as the massive beasts fought. Odd how a part of her wished she could join in.

Given blood coated them both, and neither seemed to show signs of slowing down, she couldn’t really tell who held the upper hand. The pure savagery did stun her, though.

It was hard to remember that somewhere amidst the fur and muscles, were men. But in such an epic battle, only one could survive. The massive polar took a huge gash to his side, and crimson flowed, the color stark against its white fur.

With a roar of agony, and a cringe by Tammy, the polar bear shrank and contorted until only a man lay panting on the floor. She couldn’t quite hear the words he said, but she saw Reid’s face, his human face as he also changed and loomed over his fallen foe. Reid appeared … sad?

He held out a hand, as if to help the white-haired guy up, a guy who only moments ago had tried to kill him. Tammy screamed a warning as she saw her abductor grasp at something and raise his hand. The cheater had a pistol!

“Watch o—”

Too late. Again. She really needed to work on spitting out her warnings quicker. A sob left her as Reid peered down at his chest, incredulous. His eyes met hers, and he mouthed, “Run.”

But she couldn’t. Even as he fell to a knee and the curtain of flames screened him mostly from her view. Mostly. She still saw him topple over. Dead. Gone.

She uttered a harsh wail then a sharp scream as the next bullet her kidnapper fired nicked her upper bicep. Everything inside her exploded in that moment. Anger annihilated her fear. Adrenaline fueled the unco-operative muscles in her body. “You fucking jerk. What is wrong with you?” Furious suddenly at herself, the world, and especially the asshole who’d caused all the current drama, she leaned down and grabbed something heavy.

In Tammy’s youth, her mother thought the time she’d spent tossing the ball with her dad such a waste.
“Why play boys’ sports when we could be painting our nails together? Or shopping?”
her mother would say.

Because one day, knowing how to throw something and hitting a target might come in handy.
Like right about now. She lobbed the chunk of metal from some abandoned machine at her abductor’s head.

Her aim was off, but finally her luck turned. She hit the gun and uttered a satisfied noise as it spun out of the polar guy’s hand.
That’ll work.

It didn’t seem to bother him. With a wave at her and a grin—which really needed a good slap—her tormentor took off running in the opposite direction, leaving her alone, trembling and sweating from the fire still ringing Reid’s poor body.

His poor not dead body.

She saw Reid roll away from the flames, placing himself in the center, safe for the moment. However, even as the flames died down, the concrete unable to fuel it now that the gasoline and nearby debris was consumed, she knew Reid bled.
I can smell it.
Why or how was too icky to figure out. She needed to get to him and apply pressure on his wound until help arrived.

But how to get through the flames?
I need a hose. Water. Something.

Not for the first time, she wished she had the equipment to extinguish a fire. While she had a full bladder, her aim was anything but accurate. So what else could she use to douse?

A chill breeze whipped through a banging door to the outside.

Of course. Snow. Rushing to the outside, she only vaguely noted the snarls and yelps as animals fought their own war of supremacy. For her, there was only one battle that counted—the one to keep Reid alive so she could berate him for being a dumbass.

How dare he charge to her rescue and put himself in harm’s way, ensuring her safety then staying behind to fight, covering her retreat? That stupid, selfless jerk.

The tears streamed in steady rivulets, not enough to put out flames, but they probably didn’t hurt the armfuls of snow she dumped on the fire. The shoveled ice chunks by the door were especially effective, as their ice-block texture kept the flames from turning them into steam. It took only three running trips back and forth for her to clear a path to Reid. She darted into the ring and dropped to her knees beside him.

Streaks of blood marred his skin, making it hard for her to find his bullet wound. Gentle swipes helped her locate the neat, round hole in his chest, which oozed only sluggishly.

Oh no. She was too late. He’d bled out!

“No, no, no,” she muttered. He couldn’t die. She pressed against the hole with her bare hand. Such heat radiated from him, as well as the steady beat of his heart, a cruel mockery as he lay on the threshold of death.

“You big idiot,” she sobbed. “Why did you have to do that? I would have found a way to save myself.” Or at least not be responsible for yet another death.
Was she destined to forever lose men she loved to fire and impotence? Twice now, she’d gotten thrust to safety. Twice now, people she cared about
had died because of her.

“Don’t cry, city girl,” said a raspy voice.

Swallowing sniffles, she peered into Reid’s face to see his eyes open at half-mast. “Don’t talk. Try and keep your strength. I don’t know how, but I’ll figure a way out of here.” She’d fought past her fear of fire, and won. Surely she could prevail over death too?

“Don’t leave,” he whispered.

“Of course not. I’ll never leave you.”

“Ever?” he asked. “For as long as we both shall live?”

Such eerie words. Did he know the end had arrived? She promised. “Never. I’ll be at your side until your last breath.”

The sudden smile of triumph didn’t clue her in, but when Reid rolled her under his body and pinned her, she figured it out.

“You’re not dying,” she stated.

“Nope.”

“You asshole,” she yelled, pushing at him. As if she could budge a mountain. “Let me go.”

“Hey, what happened to never leaving my side?”

“I only said that because I thought you were dying.”

“Still counts.”

“Does not,” she snapped.

“Whatever. I’m holding you to it.”

Dirty, annoyed, and heart still pounding with adrenaline didn’t mean she didn’t find his determination to keep her hot. Yes, he’d fooled her, with the intent purpose of getting her to agree to stay. Total turn-on. “Don’t you have something better to do right now, like chase after that polar bear dude or find that toilet paper your kind are so fond of?”

She loved how his lips turned into a grin. “Only the softest for my sweet cheeks. And as for Gene, didn’t you hear the helicopter blades? He’s long gone, so no point in aggravating my bullet wound. I might heal quicker than a full-blooded human, but I still shouldn’t overdo it. Besides, I like where I am.”

Considering their position—him atop her, fully naked, and distinctly aroused, yeah, he
really
liked his spot. Still, though, now was not the time. “Did you say a helicopter? What the hell, Reid? I feel like I’m living a part in a very corny, mobster-type movie, and I don’t like it at all.”

“Not mobster, shifter. And believe it or not, life isn’t usually this fucked up.”

“Then what is it usually?”

“It was boring. Dull. Lonely.”

“Gee, that sounds like fun.” She wrinkled her nose.

He rubbed his nose against hers, a gentle and intimate gesture she wouldn’t have expected from him. “You missed the
was
part. That all changed when a pan-wielding city girl with a mean aim entered my life.”

“Can I help it if you bring out the best in me?” She couldn’t help but smirk.

He laughed. “And there you go again, making me happy. It’s so annoying.”

“Excuse me.”

“In a good way,” he amended. “I’d forgotten what it was like to feel actual happiness. To truly laugh. I also like that you’re not afraid of me and can stand toe to toe with me.”

“As if I’d let a bear order me around.”

“Just don’t misbehave in public. I do have an image to maintain.”

“Is that a challenge?”

He growled.

She laughed.

“Good thing I know we’re meant to be together, or I’d wonder if you were sent to punish me.”

She groaned. “You did not just say that. What is it with you shifter types? Jan had some messed-up theory about us being fated mates.”

“Not theory. Fact. You’re
mine.
”

Possessive to the extreme, and the most arousing moment of her life. Still, though, could she believe him? “I thought you were all bound and determined to sacrifice your virtue to the clan with the most well-connected daughter.”

“That was before you went missing.”

“That bothered you?” She almost held her breath waiting for his answer.

“Are you trying to force me to tell you that I lost my bear-loving mind? I did. In that moment, I realized that once I found you—”

“Because you were so sure you would.”

“As if there was any doubt.”

“So cocky.” And hot.

“I thought I told you before, it’s assertive.”

“Whatever. So what did you realize?”

“I could never let you go.”

Puddle of goo inside her chest? Yeah, that was her melted heart. “What about your clan?”

“What about them? I’m the alpha and a Kodiak fucking bear. It occurred to me I could do whatever the hell I liked and, if they didn’t like it, too fucking bad.”

God, it was sexy when he got all bad-ass I-am-the-boss. “And what is it you want to do?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He tossed her a grin that stole whatever breath she had to reply. His head lowered until he could whisper against her lips. “I want to do you.”

The problem with romantic declarations while covered in blood, still injured, and out in the open on a battlefield was you could almost guarantee an interruption. This time it came in the shape of Travis, an automatic rifle over one shoulder, a bandana around his forehead, and not a stich of clothing. To Reid’s amusement, and as a balm to his jealousy, Tammy immediately turned her head.

Travis would live another day.

“Boss, you’re alive, and I see you found your lady.”

“I did,” Reid said. He couldn’t help a spurt of pleasure despite the throb of pain in his chest. Death wouldn’t claim him this day, but he on the other hand would claim his city girl. A city girl who’d risked herself to save him. A city girl he’d tricked into promising to stay.
My city girl. Mine.