Lost Roar (4 page)

She smiled. “I won the race.”

He nodded. “You did.”

He leaned forward and kissed her. She pressed her hand to his chest and felt the last vestiges of the marks she had made the night before.

Nicia had to admit admiration for him not showing them to her in their full, bright glory. She was not one to take kindly to subterfuge.

Naked in a sunlit meadow, there was not a lot of room for manipulating someone, but playing with them was something else entirely.

Nicia reached out and wrapped her hand around his erection, stroking him slowly. His kiss grew more violent as she moved her hand on him to the beat of his heart. After a minute or so, it was a very fast motion.

He moaned into her mouth and shuddered suddenly. His cock jerked in her hand and jets of pearly white struck the grass.

A peculiar sense of power ran through her. Nicia had never given someone pleasure like that, and she was proud that she had figured it out on her own with a little help from online porn.

He rested his forehead against hers and caught his breath. She carefully let go of his cock, remembering that it could be sensitive after its release.

Nicia inhaled the scent of his spent passion and smiled. That would stay in her mind, and she could bring it out when she wanted to coax a smile out of her thoughts.

Braxton tilted his head and kissed her softly. “Why are you smiling? After all, you didn’t get anything out of it.”

“I just proved that I am not completely inept when it comes to this sort of thing. Consider me proving that I have a learned skill.” She chuckled, which surprised her even more than the smiling.

“May I return the favour?” He was very polite about it.

“What do I need to do?”

He grinned. “Just let me touch you and don’t claw me.”

“I think I can do that.”

“Good. Now, straddle me and look me in the eye.”

She blinked and did as he asked. He slid a hand into her hair and stroked the back of her neck under her hair until she relaxed against him. His other hand slipped between her thighs and slowly rubbed against her. Nicia’s work on him had caused her arousal to render her slick, and he used her own moisture to ease his path.

He kissed her, and she had to admire his ability to multitask.

To her surprise, her hips started to rock against his fingers completely out of reflex. It was fascinating to feel the heat he was causing in her, and for a moment, he held his fingers steady and she moved against him on her own.

Something was building inside her, and it had the same kind of surge that she had felt during her first shift. The feeling that there was something inside her that wanted to get out in the world.

His fingers moved faster on her clit and she held her breath while her body tensed, trying to pull her into whatever happened next.

She inhaled sharply and flattened her fingers on his shoulders, trying not to claw him as her body shook over and over as his touch kept the waves going on and on.

Nicia slumped against him, and he stopped the circling torment. She sat flat against his thighs and pressed her forehead to his chest. He was sweating, and her tongue lapped out to taste the salt on his skin.

He continued to stroke the back of her neck, and she eventually looked up at him. She didn’t have any words for what had just happened. She leaned up and kissed him, parting her lips and slipping her tongue in to duel slowly with his.

He sighed and held her tight for a moment before they ended the kiss. “So, would you like to become a skip tracer?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you were out for a mate.”

“Oh, I am, but I can’t be a partner to anyone other than my mate, so if you want the job as a hunter, you will have to marry me.”

She laughed in surprise. “Are you serious?”

“Usually. I am eager to take you as you are if you will accept me with all my flaws.”

Nicia cocked her head. “Really? You don’t know much about me.”

“I know enough to know that you are a good hunter, you hate injustice and you will not stop if you sense someone is being victimized. What else do I need to know?”

She twisted her lips. “I can’t roar.”

“Silence is better when you are hunting. If your roar is meant to return, I am sure it will.”

Nicia couldn’t think of a reason to say no. He wasn’t a lion, he wasn’t a jerk and he was very handsome and considerate. She had seen far worse matches in her lifetime. “You will have to get the approval of my grandparents.”

He grinned. “Done. We have a deal.”

“I would shake your hand, but I think that would be a little silly considering my current position.” She smiled again and ducked her head.

“I like your current position. I think we will do all negotiations in our relationship in this position.” He smiled, and the wolf was in there as well as the man.

She stroked his cheek. “Remember, my claws can come out with very little effort.”

“It adds a thrill of danger for me.”

Nicia’s eyes went wide as she realized that part of his attraction for her was the danger that she posed. It figured that the one thing she used to be punished for was now the trait that had caught her a mate. Destiny was a pain in the ass.

Teal and Tony were surprised by the rider of her family’s approval. Normally, people came to the Crossroads in order to circumvent their families.

After all the documents were signed, Nicia took the bouquet of flowers that Lee had brought and hugged her childhood friend, or as much of a friend as she had been allowed.

“If you need anything, get in touch with Krisia, and she will get in touch with me. You aren’t alone anymore, Nicia.” Lee smiled and squeezed her again.

“I know, but now, first I will go to Braxton and see if he can help me. Then, I will turn to my grandparents, the lion guild and then you. I love you, but I am a fan of proper channels and you are pregnant. I don’t want to cause you any stress.” Nicia stroked Lee’s hair.

“Stop being so logical. This is your wedding day.”

“Well, technically, it is my contracting day and only if my grandparents agree.”

Lee sighed and shook her head. “Fine. Now shoo. I am sure that everyone is waiting for you.”

Nicia looked over at Braxton, and he seemed content to wait an eternity for her. She wasn’t going to make him wait that long. “All right. Keep well, Lee.”

She smiled at Lee and waved farewell to Tony and Teal. She got the feeling that the guardians were happy to be rid of her.

Braxton put his arm around her, and the world got bright in a flash. She blinked and looked around, laughing when she realized they were on her grandparents’ deck.

Helena was staring at her from the kitchen window, a slow smile spreading across her lips. Nicia could hear her yell, “Anderson! She’s home! She got one!”

Braxton burst out laughing and waited to greet her family.

Anderson came out and approached them cautiously. “Nissy, it seems you have brought a mate home.”

Nicia smirked, “Not a mate, not yet. Just a fiancé for now. Our mating depends on how well you get along with him.”

Helena heard that and skipped forward to hug Braxton with all her might.

He winced and Nissy was sure she heard a creak.

Anderson sighed and met Nicia’s gaze with his. “She does lack dignity.”

Nicia smiled, “Now I know where my mom got it from. I always wondered.”

He smiled back at her and tears came to his eyes. She read what he wanted, and she crossed to him for a hug.

She could smell the tears that he refused to let drop. She smiled up at him. “It’s okay.”

He nodded and swallowed quickly.

When he let her go, she made the introductions. “Braxton, this is Helena and Anderson Mooring. They are the only relatives I have that I speak to.”

He nodded and extended his hand to Anderson. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Mooring.”

“Call me Andy.”

“My full name is Braxton Croft. Call me Brax.”

Helena smiled. “What a lovely name, Brax. So, child. What are you?”

Having already given her authorization, the formality was funny enough to send nervous giggles through Nicia. The lightness of mood was not like her, and she tried to snap herself back into her cold analytics.

“He is a wolf, Grandma.” Nicia waited and Braxton put his arm around her.

“Which pack?” Helena narrowed her eyes, and they shifted to feline for a moment.

Braxton smiled, “I was born to the Silver Run Pack in Washington State. I have since gained independent wolf status with the guild. I operate in all territories, so I am a guild wolf now.”

Helena and Anderson seemed to know what that was, and they smiled with a pleased expression.

Nicia muttered out of the corner of her mouth. “Did you just tell them you have a government job or something?”

He chuckled. “Something like that.”

Helena invited them in, but Braxton inclined his head toward the table and chairs on the deck. “I would like to sit out here if that is possible. It is rare that I see such a beautiful view.”

Anderson went inside and made a pot of coffee and brought out a pitcher of lemonade while it was brewing. “Nissy’s favourite.”

Nicia poured a glass and asked Braxton with an arched brow.

“Yes, please.”

Helena got a glass, but Anderson didn’t drink lemonade, so Nicia sat down and watched the lake ripple far below. Braxton moved his chair until he was next to her.

“This is an amazing place you have here, Andy.”

Nicia chuckled. “It is my grandmother’s home. In lion society, the women own the territory and invite the men in. It keeps the men aware of their position as protectors and reminds them that they could be replaced if necessary. I mean, it isn’t really that way, but it is a tradition.”

Helena smiled. “Andy gave me the money for the property as one of his courting gifts. I paid for the house out of my savings.”

Andy grinned, “It is exactly what she had in mind. Helena’s family are contractors.”

“The Sargar Pride?”

Helena beamed. “Exactly.”

Braxton whistled softly.

Nicia didn’t know what the big deal was. She had rich relatives. It didn’t matter, as a lioness, she had to make her own way in the world.

Nicia was beginning to suspect that Braxton didn’t just hunt humans for money. “Braxton, what is a guild wolf?”

He leaned back and side. “Well, I did tell you what I do for a living.”

“Right.”

“I may have neglected to mention that I specialize in shifters.”

Anderson chortled. “Not a good way to start a life together. Always tell the whole truth. It will bite you in the ass far less as time goes by.”

Nicia cocked her head. “It doesn’t matter to me as long as I get to hunt.”

Helena and Anderson blinked and sat back. “You are going to become a hunter?”

Nicia smiled and sipped at her lemonade. “I already am a hunter. I am just going to work to be in a position where I get paid for it.”

Helena opened her mouth, but Anderson put his hand on her arm. “Darling, even infected, near dead and almost mute, she managed to knock me on my ass. That takes a bit of doing, as you well know. I think this is her calling.”

Nicia beamed. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Brax has authorization to work outside his pack’s territory. You need to get the same authorization from the lion guild and answer to the shifter council alone.”

Braxton nodded. “He’s right. I was going to mention that as soon as we got the official authorization.”

Helena scowled. “Authorization for what?”

Nicia snickered. “I put a clause into our mating contract. You two have to approve of him or he goes his way and I go mine.”

In unison, they straightened and said, “We approve.”

Braxton exhaled and pulled out his cell phone. “Please excuse me.”

He sent a quick text and then put his phone face down on the table before he lifted Nicia’s hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

She smiled, and her grandparents exhaled in relief as well.

Helena smiled. “So, you need your trousseau. Well, in this case, it is your trust account.” Helena’s smile faded, and she quickly got to her feet. “I will bring the coffee.”

Anderson waited and then leaned forward. “It was Nancy’s trust account. We transferred it to your name after the seekers found out about you.”

Braxton asked, “Seekers?”

“Those lions had been sniping females from anywhere they could find them. Nancy was taken at a truck stop on her way to a job in Kansas. They found her car but no one could find her. It was like she had dropped off the face of the earth until she turned up at that hospital, twenty years later.”

Braxton nodded. “So, seekers found the trail?”

Anderson nodded. “The doctors told us that Nancy had given birth, and we wanted to find the child. Against her family’s recommendations, Helena hired every seeker within three hundred miles of the hospital. Nothing. When one of them asked to scent Nancy’s clothing, we knew she had found something, but she told us that Nancy had run across three states and stolen clothing before she collapsed.”

Nicia kept her mouth shut. She only knew bits of this story.

“The seeker backtracked from the emotions that Nancy left on the fabric and announced that we had a granddaughter and she was in danger. The lion guild stepped in and stopped us from doing anything. They were waiting for someone inside to make a move. Someone inside the compound had to ask for help, and we had to wait. When Leandiir escaped and asked for help, she was the trigger to unifying prides from all over the continent. I had to be there, and I was.”

Braxton looked over at Nicia, and she gave him a tiny smile.

Anderson leaned back as Helena returned with the coffee on a tray and a computer tablet.

Helena smiled. “Don’t let me interrupt you. I like hearing this part.”

“Well, I knew Nicia by scent. She smells like her mother and grandmother. I crept up in my lion form so that the others could get past me once I had subdued her. She smelled weak and sick, so I didn’t think there would be much of a fight. Nicia was watching me from the shadows.