Patrick's Heart (10 page)

But his story was heart-wrenching. Her gut tightened and throat clogged with emotion upon hearing his story. She could imagine a little boy of nine being alone and scared, tortured by grown men. Cassidy had been on her own for much of her life as an orphan, but that wasn’t even comparable to Patrick’s experience. She had a newfound respect for her red wolf. He was damaged and perfect. Hers.

She’d spend the rest of her life proving that choosing a human woman was the right decision, despite his horrendous experiences in the past. How could anyone even treat a wild animal so cruelly? She just wanted to forget the world, exist in a small bubble of time and space away from all the madness. Cassidy supposed Climax was far enough removed from civilization to live that dream. Unfortunately chaos kept showing up on her doorstep. Now she had to contend with Peter, forever wondering if he was lurking about if he didn’t show up again. He’d played the role of her brother, something she didn’t even want to contemplate now. It meant her real brother likely never reached out to her at all, shattering her fantasy of finding a blood relative.

“So maybe this can work after all,” she said.

“You’ve already been chosen. As soon as I get the word to return home, Garret will make things official.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll officially be ours. Forever.”

He was talking about the love bite, their unusual ritual. She supposed it came from Patrick’s animalistic roots and they’d taken on the idea to include him. “About that love bite. Personally I think sharp would be better than blunt, don’t you?” She shifted in his embrace so she could run the pad of her thumb along his upper lip.

“Garret will be first, then the four of us will follow to complete the bond.”

“Five bites?” This was just getting better and better. She knew she’d go through with it, regardless of how unorthodox, but it still sent a chill racing up her spine. “Couldn’t just one of you do it? Couldn’t
you
?”

She tenderly pushed his lip back, looking for those sharp tips, but found only regular human teeth.

“Looking for something?” A hint of playfulness colored his words, one eyebrow rising in question.

“I’m–I’m curious.”

He exhaled, as if holding on to control by thread. “Be curious tomorrow, Cassidy. Right now I want to enjoy your body.” Patrick had already brought her to a peak, only to leave her hanging. She knew it would take little effort to bring her back to that pinnacle.

“Touch me,” she begged. He’d been holding, talking, studying, but not touching. She wanted to feel his big, rough hands explore her curves, his fingers invade her cunt. Tonight would be more than sex. She wanted him inside her, his cock throbbing within her walls. This was a man she loved. After the emotional declarations she needed to be as close to him as possible. She yearned for the great passion that could only be achieved once all virtual guards had been lowered.

“Were you never taught how dangerous it is to taunt a predator?” He brought his lips close to her neck, lightly grazing her skin. She could hear him breathing before he nipped her earlobe.

“I don’t taunt,” she said. “I can handle it hard and fast.”

“Can you now?”

He traveled down her body, seeking her breasts. When his warm mouth closed around her hypersensitive areola, she cried out. She needed this more than she knew. The sexual play acted as a release for all the stress she’d built up inside her the past couple days. In Patrick’s capable arms, she could let everything go, just focus on his hands, his tongue, and his cock.

The more he explored, the more urgent his movements. He became rougher, his breathing more like ragged growls. She ran her hands over his wide expanse of shoulders, her fingers exploring the powerful, bunched-up muscles as he held his weight over her body.

“I need you,” she said.

“Like yesterday?”

She tried to catch her breath, but it was difficult with her body already overheating. “That was sex.”

Cassidy wasn’t about to admit the pull her five miners had over her. It was like they had some soul-deep connection that she was unable to sever. One look, one touch, and she was addicted all over again.

Patrick positioned his body firmly between her thighs. He thrust against her folds, building up delicious friction. Her clit was already engorged, throbbing for release. “What is this?”

“Everything.” She grabbed him behind the neck and tugged him close enough for a kiss. This kiss was like no other—deep, lasting, and sensual. She became lost to his affection, drowning in the passion she’d only dreamt of experiencing with Patrick.

He lifted his hips enough to impale her with his impressive cock. Satisfaction was instantaneous, a rush of heat and electricity surging through like a scattering of lightning. She cried out, the sudden fullness taking her off guard even though her body was well prepared to accept him. He was so thick, and he worked her tirelessly from the very first stroke.

“You’re tight, fucking tight.” He licked the shell of her ear, awakening her erogenous zone, the soft echo making her eyes loll back in her head. Patrick slid one arm under her, protecting her back from the rocky ground as he fucked her. They were tilted slightly on an angle, giving him maximum leverage to take her deep and hard. His roaming hands had settled over the globe of her ass.

She kissed his neck, his shoulders, his chest, leaving a few marks of her own. He began to caress the seam of her ass with a featherlight touch, the undisturbed cells coming to life. The pressure in her cunt continued to mount. Patrick showed signs of nearing his own peak, his hips thrusting faster, his body sweat-glistened.

He impaled her ass with a finger, holding it in place as he rammed into her from the front. When he began to wiggle his digit, it was enough for her to boil over, her pussy clamping down over his erection, a rush of fluid escaping to coat his cock.

“Patrick. It’s so good…” Her womb twisted and cramped as she rode out her orgasm. The pleasure was almost too much to bear, stealing every last shred of her energy.

“You’re mine. My woman.” He roared when he came, hot jets of cum filling her, branding her as his. And she loved every minute of it.

Patrick spooned her from behind, his tattooed arm wrapped securely around her body. They had no blankets, only the heat they’d created together. Patrick was always unnaturally warm, likely due to his wolfen heritage. But all the men were warm, even when they ran around naked. Maybe she was the odd one.

The gentle rays of early moonlight soothed her weariness, like a gentle kiss good-night.

“Tell me again. Why did Garret insist we stay here tonight?”

“The imposter is more than he appears. He may be more dangerous than you think. Until Garret finds him, he wants you out of range.”

“But Peter would remember I was here. How is that better?”

He chuckled softly. “Because Garret knows me well. And only a fool would try to corner a wolf.”

* * * *

Garret and Matthew split up, creating a
V
flank. Garret pushed his black wolf to the limit, bounding through the forest after their target. The little weasel had impersonated Cassie’s brother just to get to her. In addition to the physical threat, the emotional toll would be significant when all was said and done. Just as he’d been obsessed with finding his pack mate, Matthew, she had the same drive to find her half brother. Now all her signs and clues led back to one crazed stalker.

“No human can run this fast,”
said Matthew.

“Where the fuck is he?”
They’d been tracking a human when they should have been looking for a wolf. It all became clear to Garret and he slowed his run until finally coming to a stop.

“What’re you doing?”

“It’s what we thought. He’s wolf. There’s no other explanation.”

“Then why didn’t Patrick scent him? He smells human.”

“That’s because he’s from the city. He probably hasn’t shifted in years so he reeks of humanity.”
Garret shifted back into his skin and began the walk back to the main road. Matthew followed suit.

“A lone wolf?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. It’s too much of a coincidence that the creep stalking Cassie is a wolf. He must be affiliated with the Rockford Pack.”

Matthew wasn’t convinced, shaking his head before speaking. “But she said she knew him from work long before she even thought of coming to Climax.”

Garret didn’t want to think anymore. He was weary of fighting endless battles. Although he may enjoy a good fight once in a while, he was tiring of his adrenaline-rich lifestyle. He wanted to find peace in the love of a good woman, expand his mine, and build a legacy. Nothing was simple anymore. He craved the days of old when his kind spent more time in their fur than skin, not a care in the world besides remaining unseen.

The cave he’d commanded Patrick to barricade Cassidy in until they found Peter was just ahead. He took the opposite path that would lead them to their truck.

“What about Cassidy and Patrick?”

“Leave them. Tonight Patrick’s going to make peace with himself…and Cassie.”

Matthew didn’t question him, not when he knew Garret had rare gifts as alpha. He was uniquely tuned in to his pack mates’ emotions to the point he often needed alone time to run under the light of the moon with no other thoughts playing in his head.

“What about that wolf? You going to just let him run free on our territory? He’s a threat, Garret.”

“Calm down. The safest place she could be now is with Patrick. Tomorrow’s a new day. We don’t let her out of our sight, and I have a feeling he’ll be coming for her again. That’s when we’ll strike.”

Regardless of what tomorrow had in store for them, he was determined to officially claim Cassidy. In such uncertain times, he needed to know she was marked, a warning to all other males. How would she react when she found out he wasn’t all he appeared to be either? She’d been terrified when she saw his wolf cut through the underbrush earlier, nothing like the look of innocent adoration she had when meeting Red’s wolf. But she’d accepted one of them unconditionally, which was hopefully the biggest hurdle.

He had to get back to the mine at first light to straighten things out with his crew and the inspector. Evan and Travis had been manning the helm while he dealt with the whole brother fiasco. But everything was secondary to tomorrow evening when they’d expose themselves to Cassie and stake their claim.

Patrick escorted Cassidy out of the forest in the early afternoon the next day. His senses were on high alert, every slight noise capturing his attention. He made sure not to show his concern to Cassidy, holding her hand and making small talk as they walked. Little did she know he was ready to kill for her on a moment’s notice.
Let that fucker try to threaten her now.

Garret had left a company vehicle parked beside Cassidy’s little house, the key under the floor mat. Today they weren’t going into hiding, but returning home. He needed a shower, clean clothes, and to pass out on something not hard as stone. He may be a wolf, but he was also a human.

“I’ve missed this house,” she said as they pulled up to the bungalow. She sighed a breath of relief, and he felt exactly the same way.

After turning off the ignition, he leaned over the bench seat and kissed her. Unlike his pack mates, he had no secrets to keep from Cassidy. She knew and accepted his wolf, and he’d told her about the black days from his history that haunted him. He felt free, a heavy burden lifted off his shoulders. She knew it all and was still at his side. Tonight would finally solidify Cassidy as their mate. Her mark would keep her safe from rival wolves that seemed to be coming out of the woodwork.

“I’m going to head down to the creek to wash up. I won’t be far.”

“Are you turning into the wolf?”

He opened the door to the cabin and followed in after her. “Why?”

She shrugged. “Just curious.” Cassidy ran her palms down his chest, reaching lower and lower. He had no clothes on, and the sudden thickening of his cock was impossible to hide. Patrick secured both her wrists.

“Behave. You have to wait for the others. Tonight is special.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll bring you back something to eat,” he said before slipping away.

* * * *

Cassidy wandered around the room. It still had the remnant scent of burning wood and cologne. She ran her fingers along the back of the sofa, her mind wandering. She thought about tonight and what it signified. Garret and all her miners made it out to be something monumental, greater than even a marriage ceremony. She was ready—body, mind, and soul—to commit to the men. This was her home, the place in the world carved out just for her. Now if only outside forces would stop stepping in to mess things up for them.

Once the inspector returned to the city, she could start working at the mine again. She craved her regular routine. Hopefully Peter would either give up his mad quest or be caught and dealt with. Then she could move on with life. She’d settled for never finding her half brother again. In all her life, she’d never heard anything from him, and it was only Peter playing the imposter now. She had no clues or starting point, everything back to square one. But she was ready to find solace in her romantic love, ready to move forward.