Turning Payne (7 page)

Turner tossed his car keys on the kitchen table alongside the groceries he'd picked up, then walked down the hall to his bedroom to check on Riley. She hadn't spoken since they left his brother's place and her silence was killing him. He had no idea what she was thinking, or how she was feeling. He cursed himself for even caring, but for whatever insane reason, he did.

He gave a single tap on the doorframe and peeked his head in.

Her back was turned to him, but he could tell by her breathing she wasn't asleep.

"I picked up some food." He scratched the back of his neck when she didn't respond. "Thought I could make us a couple of sandwiches."

"I'm not hungry." There was a tiny movement under the comforter.

"Okay." He leaned against the doorframe, uncertain whether he should push her to eat. "I'll be in the next room if you need anything."

He waited a beat, and when she didn't respond, he turned to leave. He heard the bed creak and a soft exhale of breath.

"Turner?"

Her voice made his stomach twist. God, what he wouldn't do to take the suffering out of it.

He paused at the door, then turned around. "Yeah?"

She sat up with her back against the headboard, and chewed on her bottom lip.

"Will you stay with me?" Her eyes were red from crying, making the vivid green appear brighter than normal. "Please."

Even as he moved towards the bed, he knew it was a bad idea, but he didn't care. He crawled in next to her and laid on his back, stretching his arm out so that she could rest her head on his shoulder.

Her head tucked under his chin, she placed a hand on his chest and sighed. A few minutes passed before either of them spoke. Riley was the first to break the silence.

"Why are you helping me?"

He clenched and unclenched his jaw. Did he even know the truth anymore? He shouldn't have let her get to him the way she did. She could never be his, even if the thought made his lion stir and his body harden. His animal had remained relatively silent during the whole ordeal, but he could feel it pacing, as if the beast had a hidden agenda, waiting in the shadows.

Her fingers fluttered across his chest, tracing random patterns on his t-shirt. "After everything my father did, how can you even look at me?"

"You're not responsible for his actions." He placed his hand over hers.

"No, but I'm still his daughter."

"You're nothing like him," he said, knowing in his gut that it was the truth. How could a man like Richard Boyd be responsible for creating a woman like Riley? He tightened his grip and pulled her closer.

"Do you really think my father created whatever is responsible for changing Kiera and all those other people?"

"Yes."

She was quiet for a moment. "So you think Marcus continued his research?"

He nodded against her head. It was more likely that Marcus was still working with Boyd, but he couldn't tell her that.

"Marcus idolized my father, and the way he hung around Kiera, I thought he had feelings for her. Why would Marcus want to turn Kiera to hurt her like this? It doesn't make sense."

He scrubbed his free hand over his face and sighed. "I don't know."

"When he had the needle to my neck, he said it was the only way of fixing her, but I don't think he was talking about Kiera."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know, just something he said."

Turner propped himself on an elbow and looked down at her. "Tell me."

"He said he needed Kiera, because
he
would have to fix her."

"Who?"

"He didn't say, but I got the impression that he knows someone who may be able to reverse the process."

"Fuck." Turner threw himself back on the pillow. It had to be Boyd. There was no other explanation. If what she said was true, then there was no doubt that Boyd was alive, and he was sure Marcus knew where the bastard was.

"What is it?"

What was he supposed to say? He couldn't tell her that her father was still alive, not after what she'd already learned today. How much shock could one person go through without having a complete nervous breakdown?

"I think I may know who Marcus is working with."

Her eyes brightened. "That's good then?"

He cringed inwardly. "Yeah, it's good news."

"Thank you." She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him hard on the cheek and pulled back smiling. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up yesterday."

He knew exactly what she would have done; he'd seen it a hundred times. She would have called the police. The call would have been flagged by the Therian agency, and a team would have been assigned to wipe the place, and Riley's mind of the event. Kiera would have been placed in holding among the other victims, and Riley would spend the rest of her life believing some fabricated tale that one of the agents would have created to explain Kiera's disappearance.

In some ways, it would have been better if he hadn't found her. She would never have known, wouldn't have to live with the knowledge of what her father had done, what kind of a man he was. But it was too late now, and Turner was in way too deep to walk away.

He brushed her hair away from her face. If Boyd was alive, then that meant he wasn't responsible for her father's death. The knot that had been tightening in his stomach slowly started to loosen.

"You're smiling," she said, as if it were a rare occurrence.

"Am I?"

She nodded, tucked her chin and looked at him under hooded lashes. Fuck, she was irresistible when she looked at him that way. His heart thumped painfully in his chest. He lifted his hand and ran his fingers over the soft outline of her jaw and down her neck. His fingers skimmed the rapidly beating artery, his gaze drawn to delicate skin that covered it.

She swallowed hard. "What are you thinking about?"

"That there's nothing more in the world that I want then to kiss you right now."

Her tongue darted over her lips. It was as good as an open invitation. He dipped his head and brushed his lips lightly over hers. When he pulled back, a feral growl tore from his throat. She was a freaking aphrodisiac, and yet she pulled on something deeper within, a part of himself he didn't know existed.

Her breath came in little bursts. He was aware of her body, the physical reaction she had to his touch. He had to get away before he did something they both would regret. But something held him, refused to release her. He ran his tongue over his canines and tasted the sweet substance. He sucked in a deep breath. Shit, no wonder his animal had been so quiet—
it was ready to mark her
.

Turner jumped off the bed like her kiss had burned him. Riley looked up at him, confused. Had she done something wrong?

He paced the small room and raked both hands through his hair, the movement causing the muscles in his arms to flex and strain against the thin fabric of his t-shirt. His face had gone pale, and there was a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not fucking okay," he bit out, pinning her with a fierce gaze.

She drew back, not prepared for the intensity she saw behind his silvery blue eyes. He looked as if he were ready to consume her with his next breath, which wasn't all that unlikely considering he was a
lion
.

"Sorry," she whispered, as if she had made the accusation out loud.

He scrubbed his hands over his face. "You've done nothing wrong."

She crawled off the bed and stood, making her way towards the door. "I shouldn't have asked you to lie down with me. Whatever this is between us, it's best we—"

He had her pinned before she could blink, his hard body pressed against her, palms flat against the wall, trapping her. "You have no fucking idea what's between us."

His voice was thick, heavy with need, and she shivered in response.

Holy hell the man was sexy.

"Then tell me," she whispered.

She didn't think it was possible, but his expression darkened even more. A look that made her insides melt.

He was close enough that his breath tickled her lips. His gaze slid down to her mouth as he brought a hand to her throat. His thumb caressed the area where her pulse seemed to beat with a life of its own. He dipped his head and ran his lips over down her neck, nipping gently at the spot his thumb had been.

A soft moan formed in her throat. He barely touched her and yet her entire body trembled with need.

"Turner." She could hear the plea in her voice, demanding more.

A growl, more animal than human, resonated from his chest. "My lion wants to mark you."

"Mark me?"

He nodded slowly, his gaze returning to hers. "Make you my mate."

"Oh." She didn't know what else to say. The idea sent a thrill of excitement down her spine. His animal wanted her, but by his reaction, she knew the man in him wasn't too keen on the idea. "And that makes you mad?"

He tilted his head and studied her. "It just complicates things."

"Because of my father."

He nodded, and she thought for a second he would back away.

She placed her hands on his chest, willing him to stay. "It doesn't have to be complicated. I'm not looking for anything long-term. To be anyone's…mate."

A small laugh rattled in his chest, and he gripped the back of her neck, placing his forehead against hers. His other hand tightened around her waist, drawing her closer to him. She could feel the thick length of him pressing against her stomach. 

He let out a harsh, drawn out breath. "What
do
you want, Riley?"

Arching into him, desperate for his touch, she ran her fingers down his chest, stomach, until she was cupping him boldly.

Her whole body trembled as she gave voice to her desire. "You. I want—"

His lips descended on hers before she could finish, devouring her mouth until they were both breathless. There was an element of something dark, dangerous, almost feral in the kiss, and for a moment, she wondered if she should be afraid. As his tongue swept into her mouth again, the thought disappeared.

She shouldn't be having these feelings, but there was no more denying them. She was head over heels in
lust
with Turner Payne.

His fingers slid into her hair, tugging her head back, so he could rake his tongue along her jaw and down her neck.

She ached to have him inside her, to feel his hands and mouth on her body. "Please."

Effortlessly, he lifted her arms around his neck and scooped her up, carrying her to the bed. When he placed her down on the mattress and stood, she whimpered at the loss of contact between them.

He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor. "Is this what you want?"

All she could do was nod and watch as he slowly unbuckled his belt. Her mouth watered, and she swallowed hard as his pants dropped to the floor. His cock strained against the fabric of his boxer briefs and she could see the delicious length of him. She'd seen his glorious body before, but never with the intention of what they were about to do, and she felt her cheeks burn.

"Take off your clothes, Riley."

The dominance in his voice made her thighs clench. She obeyed, acutely aware of the way his gaze followed her every movement. Stretching her shirt over her arms, she discarded it on the floor. She kneeled before him, one the bed, in her bra and panties. Her knees shook and it took all her strength to stay there, as his eyes roamed over her body.

"You're fucking perfect," he said, stepping towards her and running the back of his fingers down her shoulder and across the curve of her breast.

Her back arched reflexively as his thumb circled her nipple through the lace of her bra. "Turner."

Kneeling on the bed, she ran her hands up his chest, and gripped his wide shoulders. His palm slid lower, slipping beneath her panties to cup her sex. He lowered his lips to hers, and his tongue delved into her mouth as she rocked against his hand.

She gasped as the pad of his thumb found her clit, making her practically melt from the inside out. He slid a finger inside her, and she bucked against him. The throbbing ache that centered in the depths of her sex was unbearable. She couldn't think, only knew that she needed him closer, needed him to fill her.

* * *

God, what was he doing?

It was wrong, and he damn well knew it, but despite the warning bells that were blaring in his head, he couldn't pull back. Nothing mattered but touching her, claiming her, making her his.

Riley groaned under his kiss as his fingers brought her to the brink of an orgasm. The scent of her arousal was too much, depleting what little self-control he had left.

There was still too much material between them. He needed contact, to feel her soft skin against his. He unhooked her bra and let it slide down her arms. She whimpered when he removed his fingers from her wet folds, to curl them beneath the lace band of her panties and pulled them down her thighs.

Her delicate fingers fluttered down his stomach, hesitating at the seam of his boxer briefs. Her breath came out in a shuttered sigh as she pushed the material down, over the swollen head of his cock.

With nothing but white-hot desire between them, their eyes met, and overwhelming emotion surged through him. Never in his life did he ache to taste and possess a woman as he did Riley. A hunger to touch not only her body, but also her soul.

How was he going to walk away when this was all over? He shook the thought away. All that mattered was that she was with him now.

He lowered her to the bed and positioned himself above her. He trailed his tongue down her neck. It was all he could do not to mark her, to let his canines sink into the sensitive flesh, and allow the mating hormone to claim her as his.

She was wet, ready for him. When he pressed the head of his cock against her sex, she pushed against him.

"More. I need all of you." She clenched around him, digging her fingers into his hips.

A growl rumbled in his chest, and she gasped, her eyes widening as he thrust to the hilt. He pulled back and rocked forward repeatedly, stroking her in slow, stretching degrees. She moved with him, wrapping her legs around his hips, as his cock burrowed hard and fast inside her.

His hips worked against her, thrusting until he felt her ecstasy mounting, her orgasm milking his cock. She cried out, eyes closed, dazed, as her body trembled beneath him.

A growl of pure ecstasy tore from his throat, and he gave in to his own release. Pleasure racked at his very soul, as every muscle in his body tightened, and hot spurts of his release filled her. There was too much sensation, too much blinding pleasure. 

He collapsed on top of her, careful not to crush her under his weight. She clung to him, even after the last shudder of their combined release.

The emotions that flooded him scared him shitless. There was no denying the primal instincts raging through him. His lion had chosen her, demanded he claim her. It was an impossible situation. When she found out who he really was, nothing, not even a mating mark, would keep her from hating him.

He rolled over and pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin so that she rested on his chest, brushed her hair off her cheek and prayed he hadn't just destroyed them both.