Rogue Belador: Belador book 7 (22 page)

Storm’s tongue lashed across the fragile folds between her legs, stroking and not stopping in spite of her crying out. She shook with her release that went on and on.

Then he was there, pulling her to him and holding her in his arms—the only place she’d ever felt truly safe. And loved.

Water continued to rush over them. She took a shuddering breath and murmured, “That all you got?”

Storm’s chest shook. He was laughing. “Don’t ever change from the hellion I fell in love with.”

“Still waiting.” Strong words from a woman with boneless legs. She’d get her second wind any minute now and torture him the same way.

His erection pulsed against her and she wanted him.

All of him.

She had to find the kinetic energy to call a condom to them, but she didn’t even know where they were. Storm must have, because she heard the crisp sound of a package opening.

He swore he couldn’t read her thoughts, but his empathic ability gave her away just as easily. He hoisted her to eye level. She hooked her legs around him, never taking her eyes off of him as he lowered her down, down, down until she sucked in a breath at the feel of him sliding inside her.

And Macha thought she’d walk away from Storm?

Foolish goddess.

Chapter 20

Evalle, are you and Storm home from tracking Mattie?

She sat up, disoriented. Shoving hair out of her eyes, she took in the dark room, then the incredible male body lying next to her. She was at their new home. Got it.

She called back to Quinn telepathically.
Yes. How close are you?

After a brief hesitation, he asked,
Should I give you more time?

She leaned over Storm to see the time on the nightstand clock. Sixteen minutes. She’d dressed in less time.
We’ll be ready, Quinn. See you in a few.

Storm’s hand hooked around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Quinn just called me telepathically. He’s on the way. He and Tzader will be here in sixteen minutes.”

“Oh, hell. Is it eight already?” His lips twitched. “Easy to forget about time when I’m sleeping with a woman who keeps me up half the night, having her way with me.”

Evalle smiled at his gruff morning voice. “How long will it take you to be ready?”

“Depends on what I’m doing.” He flipped her over onto her back and loomed above her, all dark and sleepy eyed. He lowered his mouth to play havoc with her neck.

If her body had a vote, it would go with Storm’s plan. But she didn’t want to have Quinn and Tzader show up with her and Storm tangled up. “Don’t start that, or I won’t have time for a shower.”

Growling like the jaguar he kept hidden inside, he pushed up from the bed, still gloriously naked and definitely in the mood for sex.

She teased him, “Such a shame to waste
that
.”

“Then let’s not.” He scooped her up.

“Storm. We don’t have time to—”

He sucked on her breast, and she forgot about the clock.

Storm mastered in multitasking. He’d managed to get them both showered while fitting in a quickie, and now brewed coffee as she raced downstairs with her wet hair pulled back.

Just as her foot hit the office area at street level, Quinn and Tzader walked in from the garage access door.

She pulled up short. “How’d you get inside without me opening the garage door?”

Tzader looked at Quinn, who sent a chiding look at Evalle. “I called Storm and he activated it from where he is. I
am
as adept at using a telephone as I am telepathy.”

Had Quinn made a joke? “Ah.” When in doubt, make a noise that could be construed as a reply.

“What the hell happened to your neck?” Tzader said, eyeing it as if blood gushed from a wound. She had four vivid bruises.

“We ran into something at Mattie’s place. Tell you about it as soon as Storm comes down.” She moved ahead of them to open up the conference room, which still smelled new to her even though it had been in use for two months.

Oskar sat up on his towel pallet. The yellow duck-with-a-black-witch-hat squeaky toy she’d remembered to bring home from Mattie’s was tucked between his front legs, and he’d drunk half the water in his bowl.

“Have you determined how to maintain that beast?” Quinn asked.

Baring fangs in Quinn’s direction, Oskar erupted in grunting frog-and-cricket sounds.

Evalle was coming to realize that Oskar understood some, or all, of what was said about him. “Don’t insult him, Quinn.”

“You’re jesting, right?”

“No. I’m serious.”

Quinn opened his mouth and closed it.

“I fed him raw hamburger last night. He seemed to like that, but he also opens his mouth and laps at the air, sort of like he’s sucking in energy. Weird, but it works for him. And he
does
take exception to some of the things said around him.” Evalle went over and squatted down to pet Oskar’s head, calming him. “Want to go out, Osk?”

Mattie’s familiar didn’t jump up, wagging his bushy tail.

He stood on all four paws, walked at a dignified pace, took the long way around the table, obviously to avoid Tzader and Quinn, and paused at the door, waiting for her.

Tzader and Quinn stared at Oskar with the same expression they’d wear if Evalle started speaking in tongues.

No, actually, that probably wouldn’t shock those two as much as realizing Oskar had understood her perfectly.

By the time she returned to the conference room, Storm was there with an urn of coffee, and all three men held mugs.

Lanna sat at the conference table, looking refreshed with her blonde curls contained behind a headband and wearing a purple long-sleeved knit top and jeans. Quinn must have brought her things this morning. She dipped a tea bag into a steamy cup of water and looked up at Evalle, then down at Oskar. “Who is that?”

Unlike everyone else, Lanna had addressed Oskar as a ‘who,’ which meant she recognized something about him. He wagged his bushy tail. Once.

Still, for Oskar, that was the equivalent of dancing around on two feet to show how pleased he was with her.

This was as good a time as any to find out if Lanna could pick up anything to help them find Mattie. Lanna set down her teacup and stood. Evalle said, “His name is Oskar. He’s a familiar who belongs to a witch known as Mother Mattie. She’s missing.”

Lanna’s eyes lit up as Evalle and Oskar came forward. “What a pretty boy.”

Oskar preened. It would be hard to describe it to someone who hadn’t witnessed his effort, but he literally sat up at her words.

Someone chuckled, clearly enjoying the Oskar show.

Quinn asked, “Any leads yet on the white witches?”

Evalle had stopped an arm’s length away from Lanna. She hoped for any clue on finding Mattie. “No, but Lanna may be our best hope at finding her quickly. You haven’t heard what happened to us this morning.”

“The neck bruises?” Quinn asked.

“Yep.”

That sobered Quinn and Tzader.

Evalle eased a little closer as Lanna smiled and ducked her head to meet Oskar’s gaze. “Hello, Oskar. You are very special.”

“Why do you say that, Lanna?” Quinn called over.

Evalle gave him a don’t-screw-with-this look, but he ignored it.

Lanna said, “I feel power coming from him.”

Really? Evalle hadn’t picked up on that, but Lanna was special in her own way. “I thought if you petted him, you might be able to help us figure out what happened to Mattie. But turn your hand for him to sniff it first.” She hoped that worked with familiars the way it did with dogs.

Lanna straightened. “I will try.”

Evalle picked up Oskar and held him in her arms, facing forward. Lanna smiled again at the familiar. “Oskar, I would like to be your friend.”

This girl was good.

Oskar grunted. To Evalle, it sounded happy. She could feel his excitement.

Lanna reached out slowly, showing the back of her hand.

His shaggy body wiggled with anticipation.

When Lanna’s hand was an inch away, Oskar inhaled deeply and scrambled backwards. He swung around and tried to climb up Evalle’s shoulder. The little guy had sharp claws.

“Ouch.” She tried to pull him back down and away, but he was wailing and grunting as if something had hurt him.

Was Oskar having a panic attack?

Storm cursed, and heavy footsteps came rushing around the table. “Let me—”

“Don’t!” Evalle shouted, even if it was Storm. She had to calm Oskar down, and that wouldn’t happen if anyone else grabbed him.

The familiar finished crawling over her like a giant sandspur on steroids. Once he reached her neck, his front legs wrapped around each side of her like a monkey, claws still digging in.

Every spot he’d grabbed burned.

Now that a mop of gray dog hair didn’t block her vision, she had a great view of a pissed-off trio—Storm, Tzader, and Quinn—all shaking with the need to do something.

“You’re bleeding,” Storm said, his jaw clenched tight. Tzader and Quinn were making similar noises.

Oskar clutched her neck tighter, and stuck his mouth around to snarl.

Storm growled right back at him, a noise so chilling he could have cleared an entire jungle of animals. In two seconds, he’d established himself as the alpha in the room.

Oskar quieted and pulled back behind her, whimpering. His claws curled tighter, digging deeper into her skin. Warm liquid ran on her exposed neck and upper chest.

Storm’s eyes glowed bright yellow.

Red would be next.

“Not helping,” Evalle told the lot of them. She slid her fingers under Oskar’s paws and pried them loose, exhaling at the relief. “I’m not going to die from a couple of little claw marks so everyone just chill out.”

“I am sorry, Evalle,” Lanna said in a heartbreaking tone.

“It’s not your fault,” Evalle told her softly. “He hasn’t taken to anyone but me for some reason. Everyone please back up and give me some space for a minute.”

Tzader, Quinn, and Lanna moved all the way around the big conference table.

Storm took one step back. That was as much as she could expect from him.

Squatting down, Evalle lifted the stiff legs and said, “Oskar, you can get down now. I’m going to let go of you.”

She released his front legs.

Using his hind legs for a little push, he dropped to the floor on all fours.

The second she stood, she called up her inner beast, the Alterant side of her that lay dormant until needed. Just a few months ago, shifting had meant turning into a powerful but hideous monster form. Now that she’d evolved all the way, she could shift into a gryphon.

Of course, she and the others like her did not have authorization to do so in this world. Just another way of handcuffing Alterants around the rest of the preternaturals in the world.

For the moment, she drew just enough power from her Alterant side to close the wounds, but not enough to call her beast all the way to the surface. Storm left the room and returned with a wet washcloth to wipe off the blood.

Oskar slinked over to his pallet, pulled his yellow witch ducky to him, and curled up. So pitiful.

Evalle frowned, trying to make sense of it. “I don’t think he meant to react that way to Lanna, and I know he didn’t mean to hurt me.”

Storm sliced an angry look at her neck then sighed. “I know. Oskar was terrified.”

“Exactly, but what would make him react that way? He clearly doesn’t tolerate men, but at first it looked like he might allow Lanna to touch him.”

Quinn suggested, “It appeared that he scented something about Lanna that panicked him.”

Tzader grumbled under his breath and scrubbed at his bloodshot eyes. “That’s a dead end for finding Mattie. What else have we got for locating the witches, Quinn?”

“Trey, Lucien, Casper, and a new guy called Emilio are searching.”

“Can Emilio be trusted?”

“I think so,” Quinn said with an easy confidence. “He and Sen have gotten into it a couple of times because Emilio questioned Sen’s orders. I stepped in on the new guy’s behalf.”

Evalle snorted. “That couldn’t have gone over well.”

“No, but the guy had just helped us save a Belador from a troll attack. He’s new and no one wants to partner with him. It’s been up to me to put Emilio on cases, and he’s worked alongside Beladors with no issues. He seems to be an adept chap and he’s quiet, always willing to do his part. If he doesn’t find a place in this region, VIPER may send him somewhere else. Emilio has a son in Canada he wants to bring here, but not until he feels his child will be safe. Sen made it clear that he can’t choose agents based on rug rats. In retaliation for Emilio’s questioning him in front of other agents, Sen has taken him off field assignments that pay more and has him doing errands for VIPER. That basically means Emilio has time on his hands and is knocked back to half pay. That’s not what he wants when he’s trying to get settled to bring his kid here.”

That bastard, Sen. Evalle would like to backhand whoever moved the rock that let him crawl out and escape.

Tzader suggested, “Let’s get busy with all we have to get done. Evalle and Storm can tell us what they found at Mattie’s, then we’ll need to work out...” His gaze jumped to Lanna. “The rest of the issues at hand.”

Quinn caught the hint. “Lanna, please excuse us.”

“You need me,” Lanna argued.

All three overprotective men said, “
No!”

Evalle glared at the trio. She didn’t want Lanna harmed either, but they could have just said so. Storm had the good sense to look apologetic.

Lanna gave the men a classic teenage eye roll. “I know you are doing something to save Brina. If you have to go somewhere secretly, you will need to move around without being seen, yes?”

Evalle had to admit that the young woman had a valid point, and Lanna didn’t even know what they were planning.

Lanna took advantage of her opening and pointed out, “I can cloak you, but I will need to be with you. Does not work from a distance.”