Protective Instinct (10 page)

It set her off as he’d hoped it would. Her eyes grew heavy as her head fell back. Lust clouded her vision as she started to climax. He could see it and more than that, he could actually
feel
the pleasure pulsing off her. The waves and sensations were more intense than anything he’d ever felt before.

On pure instinct, his canines descended. Growling, he buried his face against her neck as his own orgasm ripped free. At this point their bonding was beyond his control; their emotions linked them, but he still sank his teeth into her. Just a hint of her blood coated his tongue as he continued to thrust. He lost himself inside her as he pierced the soft skin where her neck and shoulder met.

Teresa was his.

She cried out underneath him as they rode out their orgasm together until finally, he became aware of his surroundings again. The sun was about to set now as he nuzzled her neck, flicking his tongue over the small pinpricks of the wounds he’d left. They would heal in a matter of hours, but she’d always wear his marks—if the bonding had happened.

Almost too afraid to test out if they were truly bonded, his head snapped up when he heard her voice in his head.

That was intense.
Pleasure radiated from her words as she linked with him telepathically.

He looked down into those beautiful eyes.
No regrets?

I’m too tired to smack you.
Her expression was one of pure love as she stroked a hand over his cheek. “I could never regret this, or you. I love you, Ryan.”

He’d lived a long time and had no clue what he’d done to deserve her, but he was never letting her go. “I love you too.”

Suddenly her eyes widened and she pushed up. “Turn around.”

The bonding symbol. He’d totally forgotten. Females carried the very faint bite marks of their bonded mates for life and males carried a small tattoo. Usually something that symbolized their mate or something about both of them specifically.

He twisted so his back was to her, but he half-turned so he could see her face. Tears glinted in her eyes. “What is it?” For just a second dread filled him until she smiled.

“The gods or whoever seriously know what they’re doing,” she murmured. “It’s an intricate cornucopia filled wheat grains.”

It took only a moment for him to realize why that was his symbol. “Your name.” Teresa meant to reap or harvest.

Nodding, tears spilling down her cheeks, she leaned in and kissed him again, hard and fierce.

He kissed her back just as hard, needing to consume her as she’d consumed him. She was his as much as he was hers.

Chapter 9

Sitting behind him on the edge of the bed, Teresa kissed a path up Ryan’s back before laying her cheek against him. He was so warm and solid. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She loved touching him, loved that he was all hers now. No barriers between them anymore.

“I want to stay here all day,” she murmured, even though she knew they couldn’t. Still, she arched against him, her nipples rubbing his back. The friction made her shiver.

His big hands covered hers on his chest and he groaned. “Don’t tempt me.”

After they’d bonded in the woods they’d returned back to her place—where her sisters had made themselves scarce for the night—and she couldn’t remember how many orgasms she’d had before falling into a deep sleep. “Yeah, I know. I’m heading into town anyway.”

He stilled at her words, as she’d known he would.

He turned in her arms so he could see her. Even without their bonding link it was clear in his expression he didn’t like the idea of her leaving the ranch. She continued before he could say anything. “Nikan and Rafael are coming with Rosa and me. I want to go with her to Kaya’s shop and she refuses to stay on the ranch since she promised both Kaya and Matt she’d help out.” She shook her head when Ryan opened his mouth to protest. “Plus I promised Lucas I’d pick up something for him.”

Ryan’s eyebrows rose. “What?”

“Some game thing. I don’t know but it just released and it’s a big deal apparently.”

“I’ll just order it online.” He stood, grabbing his T-shirt from the built-in bench next to her window.

“No way. I told him I’d do this and… I want to. We’re all going to be living together soon. This should come from me.” She knew Lucas liked her and she adored and loved the kid. She’d helped raise her sisters so living with a cub wasn’t going to be different for her, but Lucas had been surrounded by males since he could walk and shift. It might be strange for him and she wanted to make his transition as easy as possible. If that involved bribing, so be it.

“Trying to bribe a ten-year-old?” Ryan’s expression was wry.

She jerked suddenly. “Did you read my mind?”

He snorted and shook his head. “Uh, no. I can read your face though. He doesn’t need gifts from you.”

She set her jaw into a firm line.

Thankfully he relented with a sigh. “If you wait, I’ll go with you—”

“No. We’re not going to change the dynamic of our lives because of something that might or might not happen. I’m a shifter, the same as you.” When he lifted an eyebrow, her cheeks flushed. “Okay, not the same as you but I’m still strong and I’ll have others with me. And it’s
day
time. If vamps want to hurt our pack, it won’t happen now.”

“Unless it’s daywalkers.” There was no heat behind his words though, because he knew as well as she did that the chance of that was pretty much nil.

She just snorted and slid out of bed, turning her back to him and giving her ass a little shake as she headed for the closet. She wasn’t surprised when he moved lightning quick across the room and pulled her into his arms, tugging her back against his chest.

One of his hands slid down her stomach before cupping her mound, teasing her clit. Just like that she was aching for him. Okay, she hadn’t stopped aching for him.

Maybe I’ll just be a little late
, he projected through their link.

Grinning, she let thoughts of everything but Ryan go and melted into his arms.

* * *

“Esperanze didn’t want to come with us?” Teresa asked Nikan as they pulled into a parking spot in front of Gwen’s bakery. They were just a few doors down from Growling Bear, Kaya and Matt’s shop—and Teresa loved the name since Kaya was part of the Bear Clan of her human tribe.

“She’s working on a special project for the cubs.”

“Special project?”

Nikan grinned as he slid from the vehicle. “Something to do with their science class. I’m pretty sure it’s just an excuse to blow stuff up. Whatever it is, the cubs are excited.”

“Rafael and I want coffee,” Rosa said, her arm wrapped snugly around the big, quiet male as they stepped up onto the sidewalk.

Teresa glanced at Nikan. “We can open the shop.” When he nodded, she looked back at her sister. “I want a vanilla latte and a blueberry muffin. Two of them. No, three.” She was freaking starving after last night—and this morning.

Rosa raised an eyebrow. “You sure you don’t want blueberry syrup in your latte?”

That made Teresa pause. “Do they do that?”

“Oh my God, you have an addiction. No, freak, you’re getting the regular latte.”

“You gonna share those muffins?” Nikan asked. When Teresa shook her head, he rolled his eyes. “Just triple that order, but get some variety for me. I’m hungry too.”

The walk to the shop was short, but both Teresa and Nikan were observant as they strode down the brightly decorated sidewalk. There were signs for a flower festival happening the next weekend and the town had already started getting ready. Everything was gorgeous with potted flowers hanging along all the light posts. The rainbow of colors made her soul sing. It was a new season, both for her personally and in the literal sense.

She couldn’t help the smile she felt tugging against her lips, wondered if that feeling would ever go away. It was hard to believe that she and Ryan were actually bondmates. Something inside her had been filled in a way that she could barely explain to herself. She wanted to reach out to him, to test their telepathic link, but knew he was working hard on something for Connor. Computer related of course. Probably hacking as that was a specialty of his. Still, she might nudge him later with some dirty talk. Even the thought of doing that made her cheeks heat up and she was glad no one could actually read her mind.

“I’m glad for you and Ryan,” Nikan said, unlocking the front door, his words cutting through her wayward thoughts.

“Thanks,” she murmured as he stepped inside in front of her. Male shifters always went into a room or building first, wanting to check out the safety situation. It was something that had been ingrained into them since they were cubs.

Frowning, he inhaled deeply. She knew what he was scenting. Multiple humans.

“The scents always linger here because of how much business they do. And it’s tourist season.”

He nodded, but his frown didn’t decrease. “I’ll check the back storeroom.”

“Okay.” She flipped the closed sign to open and started turning on lights. As she did, her phone buzzed in her pants pocket. Rosa’s name popped up on the screen, alerting her that she’d received a text from her sister. When she read the message giving Teresa the security code, her blood ran cold. She shoved the phone back in her pocket.

She hadn’t even thought of that, but an alarm hadn’t been on when they’d entered the store. It could be nothing, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Turning away from the set of light switches above a display of wood carvings, she called out quietly, knowing he’d hear her even if she didn’t raise her voice. “Nikan.” She’d only taken two steps in the direction of the storeroom when she heard a brief growl, then a thud.

Crap. Her claws descended even as she reached for the telepathic link between Ryan and herself.
I think something might be wrong. I’m in the store and the alarm wasn’t turned on.

He answered immediately and though it was a jolt to have someone else’s voice in her head, it soothed her to hear him.
Why are you alone?
Ryan’s panic hummed along their link.

I’m not. Nikan is in the storeroom but Rosa and Rafael are at the bakery. I heard something in the back and he hasn’t responded.
The fear she felt for her packmate was sharp and real. Crouching low, she moved on quiet feet toward the back of the store, using racks of clothing and other items to hide her. There were too many scents in the store to get a lock on one thing or person. And the fact that Nikan hadn’t responded wasn’t good.

Get out,
Ryan ordered.

I can’t leave my packmate.
She snagged a heavy wood sculpture of a bear as she passed a display case. She could hear a shuffling sound now. It was faint. And two, maybe three, heartbeats. She prayed Nikan’s was one of them and he was okay.

Ryan cursed savagely.
Sit tight then, I’m calling Rafael. Damn it!

When she heard a crash from the back, she couldn’t wait any longer. Her friend, her packmate, could be in danger. It took her a millisecond to debate whether she should be in human or wolf form. She could shift now but it would leave her vulnerable for too long while she underwent the change and she didn’t know what kind of threat was in the back. She couldn’t smell a vampire so it must be human. But there were too many damn scents to filter out to be certain.

Remaining in her human form, she hurried around the display case that held the cash register, her claws out in one hand, the sculpture in the other. As she rounded the case a human male appeared in the entryway to the storeroom.

She didn’t care who he was. He didn’t belong and Nikan was likely hurt. Maybe worse. She refused to dwell on that as she hauled back and threw the sculpture at him with all her might. The trajectory was spot on, hurtling right for his chest, but she saw something in his hand too late.

A gun.

Using all the strength in her legs she jumped over the display case. She’d rip his freaking arm right off. He raised it, fired. Something slammed into her chest as she flew through the air at the man who’d managed to avoid the sculpture.

Pain splintered through her but she’d expected a bullet to hurt a lot more. Aww, hell. A tranquilizer dart, she belatedly realized as numbness started to flow through her body in one swoop. She rammed into the man, clawing his face as they tumbled to the floor.

Everything was fuzzy, her movements getting slower as he howled in pain. She dug her claws into his ribs, the snap of his bone popping as satisfying as his screams, even as darkness crept in on her.

Hold on
, she ordered herself. She could hear Ryan in her head yelling at her, asking what was wrong, but she couldn’t focus.

A set of boots came into focus.
Not Nikan’s
, was her last thought as darkness completely swept her under.

* * *

Tablet in hand, Ryan raced across the pack’s land toward the parking structure. Right now it felt like the Grand Canyon was between him and one of the SUVs. Raw fear sliced up his insides as he ran. He glanced down at the moving dot on the screen. “Still on the highway, heading in the same direction,” he said into his Bluetooth, giving Rafael the mile marker that Teresa’s phone had just passed.

“We’re hanging back, but I’ve got the vehicle in sight. I don’t want to spook the guy. I don’t think he knows we’re tailing him.” Rafael’s voice was tight with worry. “Cops should be at the shop soon,” he added.