
Immortal Ops IV
Strategic Vulnerability
Mandy M. Roth
Strategic Vulnerability © Copyright October 2009, Mandy M. Roth
Cover art by Natalie Winters, © Copyright 2009
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This book is an original Raven release and has NOT been released before. All books copyrighted to the author and may not be resold or given away without written permission from the author, Mandy M. Roth.
This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events or places is merely coincidence.
Published by Raven Books
Raven Books and all affiliate sites and projects are © Copyrighted 2004-2009
Immortal Ops IV
Strategic Vulnerability
Mandy M. Roth
To the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. To all of my amazingly wonderful readers who waited for Wilson's story and who decided they too fell in love with "the rat" and wanted to hear his story.
Kim pushed through the dense jungle vines, surprised she'd run into yet another thick cluster of them. They cut at her skin, digging deep in some places and breaking open cuts she'd sustained only the morning before. A branch shot back and caught her cheek. The sting told her it too had drawn blood. The tour guide in front of her paused and glanced back at her, having the decency to appear apologetic. She gave a tiny wave indicating she'd be fine and wondered if the man was qualified to be leading the way. He'd told her the day before that the trails they'd be taking today were fairly clear.
Guess we have different views on clear paths, she thought as she glanced down at the shallow lacerations covering her hands and forearms. They would heal over relatively quickly, within a day or two, but that wasn't the point.
Face it. You just might not be cut out for a life of this.
She trudged along, wishing she'd brought more bug spray. So far, she was averaging a bite a minute.
At least it felt that way.
A prickly vine dug into her lower legs and she was thankful she'd at least thought to wear long pants. One of the other students on the trip had suggested she put the bottoms of her pant legs into the tops of her socks. Wisely, she'd listened.
When her professor had asked her, along with several other students, to go on a trip to South America for a few weeks, she'd thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime. She wasn't so sure now. They were there to study plants native to the area. Kim had an interest in studies reporting amazing results with the fungi in soil and leaf litter samples. She also had a curiosity about the antibacterial qualities associated with several of the plant extracts she recently began studying. The news was making its way through the scientific community, not quite at the rate she'd like but moving all the same. It wasn't something that fascinated most people but Kim enjoyed the work. She'd also enjoyed the chance to study in the Brazilian Rainforest or at least she had until recently.
The trip had started out fine but had become progressively odder from there on. Professor Krauss wasn't acting like himself. Back at the university he seemed even-tempered and basically boring. All in all, a nice man. Now, in the wild of the jungle, he was agitated and virtually impossible to talk to. The other students had noticed as well. Everyone was in a hurry to get their day excursion over with so they could visit the nearest town without Krauss trailing close behind them.
Already today the professor had snapped at the guides and even turned his temper on one of the male students. Kim wasn't extremely close to any of her classmates because of her condition but she didn't like seeing them berated. Vic and Brad were the two classmates she'd dare to label friends but even that was weak. They never did anything outside the confines of the class or lab. The trip to South America had left them spending more time together than they had in the year she'd known them.
Brad had been the male student Krauss had focused his foul mood on. Brad took it in stride but the act still bothered Kim. Krauss had been a mentor to her back at school and it was disheartening to watch his metamorphosis. Something was certainly off. What? She wasn't sure.
Kim swatted a bug on her neck and inwardly cursed about how damned edible she seemed to be to insects as of late. She was an all you can eat buffet, traipsing around, sweaty and barely covered.
Standing near the roots of a Kapok tree, Kim lifted a leg, swatting yet another bug from her. She couldn't help but stop and admire the sheer size of the tree. A grown man could lay on the ground, stretching his arms and legs as far as he could and still not come close to the width of the trunk. It didn't matter how many Kapoks they passed on their expedition, each one amazed her.
Vic walked up beside her and tapped her arm lightly. "Here." He held a bottle of bug spray out to her. His sandy blond hair flopped over into his green eyes and his lips twitched as if he were trying not to laugh at her. "You're going to be miserable later."
"I so have bug guts smeared on my forehead right now, don't I?" She returned his slightly flirtatious look with one of her own. He was handsome and she'd had a dry spell in the way of relationships for the last few months.
Vic simply stared at her. Something about the expression on his face made her breath catch. "No. You're perfect."
"Uh, thanks," she said, taking the bottle from him and misting her face, arms and torso. The spray was supposed to have a fresh, clean scent. She begged to differ with the manufacturers.
She went to hand the bug repellant back but Vic shook his head.
"Nah, hang onto it. I'll get it back from you later tonight." He grinned. "Besides, I kind of think the bugs only have a taste for you."
"It's because I'm so sweet," she said, before rolling her eyes at her own lameness.
Vic let out a soft laugh as he stared around. "Kim?"
"Yes?"
"Something's wrong."
She sensed it too. Vic pulled her close to him and turned in a slow circle before letting her go and motioning for her to stay put. She wasn't keen on being left alone but nodded all the same. She glanced around, trying to figure out what had caused her inner alarms to go off.
The telltale sounds of the jungle came to a grinding halt. It was a noisy place. To have it all come to a stop wasn't natural. The tension in the air carried with it the threat of danger. At first, she assumed a larger predator was near them, stalking them. It wouldn't have been the first time on their expedition that they had found themselves near a large animal.
There was a loud thud followed by a groan from somewhere behind her. She glanced around, unsure what was going on and found the professor watching an area off to their right. It took a moment for Kim to register what she was seeing but when she came to her senses, she screamed. Vic was there, face first on the floor of the jungle, a dart sticking out from his upper left shoulder.
"Ohmygod, Professor Krauss, Vic is hurt!" She looked to her left and found another of her fellow students lying on the ground, unconscious. "So is Brad!"
Kim turned and yet another classmate was fallen. Confused, her gaze snapped to the professor. For a split second, it appeared as if Krauss was smiling. Something sharp pinched her neck and she swatted at it assuming it was a bug.
Coming away with a tiny dart, Kim shook her head as her body began to feel heavy. Her vision blurred and she staggered. She reached out for the professor, screaming once more, as blackness swallowed her whole.
\*
Wilson Rousseau lifted his head and pain radiated throughout his body. His vision blurred and for a moment, he could have sworn he heard the cry of a female. One who needed help---one who needed him.
A distant, yet constant, low-grade sound emitted from something his captors liked to refer to as the "scrambler". He knew enough about the shit Krauss and his band of insane followers were into that Wilson surmised the device was built to prevent other supernaturals from sensing the presence of a cluster of them. If his hunch was right, it was some sort of modified L.R.A.D.---long-range acoustical device.
In short, it blocked his ability to mentally or electronically call out to the I-Ops and the rest of the I-Op's ability to call in. If they even were still looking for him, which he was fast beginning to doubt. But, if they were, static would be all that greeted them.
Again, he sensed the call of a woman in need of him even when he shouldn't have been able to receive any form of mental links. He struggled against the silver-coated chains digging into his wrists and ankles. They would cut through his limbs if he dared to continue to push. Understanding that fact, Wilson still tugged, needing to get to her, get free, anything beyond spending the rest of his days locked in a cell.
Dead or alive, he would be free.
Whatever his captors had injected him with dulled his senses, making things blur and his body weak. At random times, he could feel the Fae power his friend's wife, Melanie, had passed onto him trying to surface but the magik either wasn't sure what to do or knew he was clueless so it didn't bother lending a hand. It probably figured he'd kill himself attempting to wield it. At this rate, he'd rather be dead than living like he was, so he was open to the idea.
Groaning, he moved his head around, trying to work the kinks from his upper shoulders and neck. It didn't work. Beyond that, his throat was dry and his body was weak. The food wasn't fit for human consumption. Maggots infested the majority of it and the rest was in a state of decomposition. After a certain point, Wilson had forced some of the food down only to find it coming back up quickly. Still, any nourishment he could get was needed if he planned on regaining his strength and escaping.
In shifted form, Wilson wasn't too particular about what he ate or drank---that being said, his rat form wouldn't even eat the food his captors continued to try to pawn off on him. Considering his rat form tended to eat just about anything that was saying a lot as to how dire his situation was.
He tipped his head back, giving in to the need to sleep. He was almost completely out when a scent like he'd never smelled before came to him, causing his cock to harden and his body to light with need. He looked up to find Krauss' men dragging an unconscious woman past his cell.
The fierce need to protect her overtook him. Wilson surged forth, yanking with all his might against his restraints, reaching for her. He knew then it had been her call for help that he'd tried to answer.
"Get away from her!" Wilson roared, his body protesting his every movements, pain lancing through his limbs.
The men stalled and stared at him before sharing a curious look.
"He'll want to hear about this," one said.
The other nodded. "Definitely."
They continued down the hall, dragging the unconscious woman behind them. Wilson struggled against his chains, trying to get to her, until the pain was so unbearable that he passed out cold.
"Other than being hot," a deep voice said, pulling Kim from her sleep, "this one is useless. The boss swears she's got supernatural blood in her but she didn't put up any fight or show any signs of being anything but a sexy piece of ass."
Kim blinked, her head felt heavy and her vision slightly blurred. She tried to sit up but found that she couldn't. Panic hit as she realized she was strapped down to a bed of sorts. Tugging, she tried in vain to break free from her restraints. The urge to cry out for help was great but she knew better. If help was close, she wouldn't have been strapped to a bed and letting whoever was talking know she was awake, seemed less than wise.
Glancing around, she spotted bars and her stomach dropped. She was in a cell. Still managing to maintain her composure, Kim looked in the direction the voice had come from but couldn't see anyone there.
"I agree," another male voice said. "But, the boss was right. She is a prize for breeding."
Who were they talking about? Prize for breeding? This wasn't happening. She had to be dreaming. Had she hit her head? Was she laying on the jungle floor right this very minute? She drew in a sharp breath.
"Shh."
Kim's blood ran cold at the sound of the deep voice. She lay perfectly still, praying whoever was close to her wouldn't realize she was awake.
"I'm not with them. And I'd never hurt you," the man whispered, doing little in the way of calming her down. "Are you in a lot of pain?"
Something deep within Kim told her to trust the man, whoever he was. Swallowing hard, she turned to face his direction and was shocked to see how close a pair of chocolate brown eyes were. She'd expected the man to be in an adjacent cell. He wasn't. He was next to her, in chains. His squared jaw was covered with a beard. Red, brown and even blond showed in it. His hair hung just past his ears and was dark brown with the slightest hint of gold flecks. The man, even in his obvious state of disarray, was gorgeous.
The tan t-shirt he wore was ripped and bloody, as were his pants. It was easy to see he'd been beaten a multitude of times. The rather angry looking gash on his upper right cheek made her chest tight. Kim bit her lower lip, no longer worried about herself but rather the man locked in the cell with her. "You're hurt."
A soft slightly nervous chuckle came from him. "I'm fine. Though, I've been sitting here worried sick about you. I wasn't sure you'd ever wake up." He lifted his bound hands. "And I couldn't get to you. I'm so sorry." His forehead creased. "Do you know where you are?"
"No." She sighed, being sure to keep her voice barely above a whisper. The horrible stench of the cell made her stomach tight and the weight of the ordeal began to press in on her. Kim took a calming breath, willing herself not to panic. She thought back to the events leading up to this point. "The last thing I remember was hiking with the guide and then Professor Krauss calling my name." She looked around the dark, dank cell. "Then I woke up here. Why am I strapped down?"
The man let out a low growl, sounding very much like an animal. "You were with Krauss on purpose?"
"Yes. Why? Is he hurt?" Thoughts of the Professor being dead filled her head. Concern for the rest of the group members washed over her. "Oh, gods, all the others. Were they hurt too?"
"Others?"
She blinked back tears, refusing to give in to them so soon. "I came on the trip with several other grad students." She thumped her head against the cot, unable to understand how it was she came to be strapped to it to begin with. "Krauss was excited about bringing us down to study the native plants. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was just---"
"Study plants?" the man asked, jerking on his chains. "You mean you're not in league with Krauss and his experiments on humans?"
Shocked, Kim stared out from wide eyes. "Humans? What are you talking about?" She glanced at the straps binding her down. Tears tried again to surface but she fought them back. "W-what did they do to me?"
"What's your name?" he asked, clearly trying to change the subject. She knew enough to let him.
"Kimberly... erm... Kim."
"Well, Kim, I'm Wilson Rousseau, your new roommate." He glanced around the cell before resting his head against the stone wall. Pieces of his shaggy hair fell into his eyes and he blew them out. "It's not the Ritz, that's for sure. I'd lie and say you get used to it but I don't think you'd fall for that. Plus the room service here sucks major ass."
The nervous energy building in Kim left her laughing softly at Wilson's attempt at humor. "No. I wouldn't fall for that and have you tried talking to the manager? Maybe a complaint or two would get him to act on it."
Wilson's eyes crinkled in amusement. "I did try discussing the matter with him." He pulled on the chains and winked. "This was his answer to it. Great customer service, huh?"
Another nervous chuckle escaped her. She lifted her head as much as she could while strapped and stared around. The bars looked to be iron and they looked thick. Rusted spots could be seen in two of the corners and she wondered how strong those points were.
Humidity coated the already stale air, practically choking her as she took a deep breath in. Kim swallowed hard, refusing to break down. She couldn't. Not yet. Yes, this was beyond scary. Hell, it was terrifying but admitting defeat so soon wasn't an option. She was stronger than that.
Kim glanced at Wilson. The very sight of him seemed to calm her nerves. "How long have we been here?"
He squirmed, looking as if he were trying to scratch an itch on his upper left shoulder blade. "Ah, that's a good question. I think I've been here about two and half months, maybe three, but I'm not sure. They had me pretty doped up for a while so your guess is as good as mine. I do know that you've been here for a little over two weeks."
"Two weeks?" She couldn't believe what she'd heard. There was no way she'd been there for two weeks.
"Kim, they went out of their way to keep you sedated and laying flat. I don't know why for sure but I've got my suspicions." He rubbed his temple, the shackle on his wrist keeping him from being too productive though. It was more a light swipe than anything. "They wheel you out of here several times a day, talking about needing to monitor your progress."
"My progress?" She tried to sit up and failed. As she stared down at herself, Kim realized that, unlike Wilson, she wasn't dressed in street clothes. She had on a hospital gown. "What the...? Where are my clothes? Ohmygod, did they...?" Unable to bring herself to ask if they'd raped her, Kim locked gazes with Wilson. "Wil?"
Sorrow filled his chocolate brown eyes. "I honestly don't know. These people are crazy. They assume they can genetically alter anything. I don't think they did... uhh... but they didn't stop pumping me full of drugs until after you'd been here for a couple of days."
The man's words floated back to her. "Prize for breeding... Ohmygod, Wil." The tears she'd so desperately tried to hold in let loose.
"Look who is up, Doc," a deep voice said from the other direction. "Aww, what's a matter, sweetheart? Don't like the company we gave you?"
She blinked back her tears and glared at the brute who stood on the outside of the cell. His shaved head and thick, blond goatee added to his already sinister look. His beady blue eyes landed on her as his lip curled. "Mmm, you are even sexier than I thought. You've got the greenest eyes I've ever seen. Must be from the Fae in your blood. I'm betting that's where you get that tight fucking body from too." The man blatantly adjusted his cock through his pants. "I was under the impression that all Fae were blonde with blue eyes. How did you manage to get black hair and green eyes, cupcake?"
"Fae?" she echoed, shocked to hear the word mentioned so casually when it had been instilled since birth never to repeat it. "What are you talking about? Like in the myths?"
He scratched his goatee. "Yet I'm starin' at one right now. Not much of a myth. The hair, why isn't it blonde? You die it black? I could look elsewhere." His gaze raked down her and centered between her legs.
She swallowed hard, not liking the hungry look in the man's eyes. "My father has black hair too. I get it from him," she said, her voice low. "He has green eyes, too."
He lifted a chart and marked something in it. "Interesting. And your mother. Is she the Fae then? She got blonde hair and blue eyes?"
"I couldn't tell you about my mother because she ran off shortly after she popped me out. Now that you got the abridged version of my so called life, can we go now?"
"We?" the man asked, arching a brow. "You're speaking for the rat now too?"
By rat, Kim guessed the man meant Wilson. She didn't back down. "I'm sure he's enjoyed his stay here as much as me, but I think he'd prefer leaving too. Not that your hospitality hasn't been overwhelming." It was hard to hide the sarcasm in her voice. She wanted to bounce the man's head against the bars but wasn't sure how many more of him there were. Using her gifts now, this early in the game, could be playing right into their hands.
"Your mouth is going to get you into trouble, bitch."
"Don't call her a bitch, asshole," Wilson bit out.
The man pulled a handgun from his waist and fired at Wilson.
Wilson jerked, hitting the wall behind him hard enough to cause an echo. Kim screamed and fought against her restraints as blood seeped from Wilson's shoulder.
"No!" She tried to reach him but couldn't.
The bald man laughed. "Open your mouth again and I'll aim for your head. I doubt you can heal that one, dickhead."
"Mendel!" someone called out.
The bald man licked his lower lip as his gaze bore into her. "I'll be back, cupcake. I'd like to teach you some manners and find out if you're telling the truth about having black hair naturally." He rubbed his clothed cock. "Should be educational all the way around."
Kim waited until Mendel was gone before focusing on Wilson. "Ohmygod, Wil, are you..."
He winced. "I'll be fine. He likes to do that."
"You mean he's shot you before?" She took a deep breath, doing her best to soak in everything.
I'm not going to panic. I'm not going to panic.
Wilson nodded. "Daily."
"What? Every day?"
Okay, I'm going to panic.
"Kim, it's okay. I'll be fine." He moved as much as his chains permitted, trying to reach out to her. Pain washed over his face and she knew his effort to comfort her cost him greatly. "Mendel is trigger happy. I'll be okay. Promise."
"How are you alive?"
He stiffened and cleared his throat. "It's complicated."
"Complicated? Oh, that is a good one," a familiar, heavily German accented voice said.
Kim looked up to find Krauss standing just outside of the cell. "Professor, you're okay. I thought you were---" She stopped and narrowed her gaze on him. Something wasn't right. He didn't look as though he'd suffered at all. In fact, he looked damn comfy. Not to mention he was outside of the bars. Anger flashed through her. "You did this. You're the reason we're here, aren't you?"
The short, chubby man winked. "So, sorry, Kimberly. I needed you here. You were too career driven to ever agree to willingly allow me to run tests on you. I have to admit, I thought you were only pretending to be human. I had no idea, you truly thought yourself to be one."
Confused, she shook her head deciding it best to avoid anything pertaining to her being human or not. "What? Professor, tests? I don't understand. This trip was to study indigenous plants of the rainforest." She tugged at her restraints. "What have you done to me?"
A wicked laugh ripped free of him. "Kimberly, the moment I read your file and saw your picture, I knew that you would blindly trust me. It is your nature. You are also not a violent person and in excellent health. The addition of your supernatural blood made you the perfect candidate for what we are trying to accomplish." He pulled a key from his front pocket and unlocked the cell. "You have proven to be a wise choice."
Kim lay still, unsure what Krauss would do. He approached slowly and placed his hand on her lower abdomen. A sickening grin spread over his face as he palmed her, causing Kim to shudder. He laughed. "Do I repulse you?"
Assuming it was a rhetorical question, Kim remained silent. Krauss rubbed her lower abdomen once more. "It still amazes me that you, of all the test subjects, were receptive."
Receptive? She held in the scream wanting desperately to come.
Krauss looked her over, his demeanor smarmy, different than it had been back home. This felt real. He was truly the bastard standing before her. "It was luck that you were at the height of your cycle when I brought you in. I think my choice for a match for you was excellent. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Get your filthy, fucking hands off her, you piece of shit," Wilson said, not seeming to care that his last outburst got him shot. Apparently, being chained in a cell had affected his common sense, that or he had very little sense to begin with. Either way, he'd end up dead if he continued.
She stared at him. "Wil, please."
Krauss' smile grew. "Interesting."
Kim didn't like the sound of that. "What did you do to me?"
"I've given you the opportunity to be the mother to the next generation of super soldiers."
"You son of a bitch!" Wilson fought against his restraints, rattling them and growling like an animal. "I will kill you. Know that."
"I am sure you like to think as much," Krauss said nonchalantly. He took hold of the strap on Kim's ankle and undid it. Running his fat hand up her leg, he came to a stop on her inner thigh. "I am going to release you. Try not to overexert yourself, Kimberly. So far, everything is going well. I would be very," he squeezed her thigh hard enough to leave a bruise, "upset if anything happened to you. You're very special to our program."
For a moment, she couldn't breathe. Shaking her head, Kim stared up at Krauss, worried he'd had her raped and might have even done it himself.
A deep laugh came from him. "Oh, fear not, young one. I oversaw the procedure necessary to produce the next wave of warriors. It was sterile and done in a lab, Kimberly. I have not," he grinned, "as of yet, allowed a man to commit the act naturally. Though," he glanced at Wilson, "I imagine this one will take you soon enough."
The idea of Wilson pinning her to the bed and having his way with her should have terrified Kim. It didn't. It excited her. Her skin began to tingle at the very thought of Wilson touching her. Shocked, she looked towards Wilson to find him watching her closely, as if he knew she was anything but repulsed by him.
Krauss undid her other ankle and Kim stayed as calm as she could, not wanting to tip her hand. "You're taking the news better than I thought you would." He touched her cheek lightly before moving to her wrists and undoing the straps there. "I knew in my heart you would be perfect, Kimberly. I knew I could trust you to do the right thing---to be a good girl." He helped her sit up and directed his gaze out towards the hallway. "Bring her something to wear!"
In a matter of seconds, another beefy man appeared, this one carrying a handful of clothing. He gave the clothes to Krauss who in turn, handed them to Kim. "There is a shower in the corner. My apologies for the lack of privacy you'll have but I'm sure you'll make do. I'll have soap brought in momentarily. Is there anything you need? Aside from being let go of course."
She put her chin up defiantly. "Wilson needs medical attention."
Krauss laughed, un-swayed by her stance. "He is fine. Besides, he does not allow our people near him when he is not sedated. Shall I have him shot with another tranquilizer? It might be best considering what we'll be injecting him with very shortly. Shall we knock him out, Kimberly?"
"No," she said a little too quickly.
"Are you sure? I like to push how far my test subjects can go and you should know he's had an unusual interest in you since you first arrived." Krauss smiled. "In fact, the moment he saw my men dragging you in, he went crazy, trying to get to you, trying to save you from your fate."
Kim's gaze flickered to Wilson. Had he really done such a thing? The look in his brown eyes told her he had. He'd do it again. She knew it. "I don't want him knocked out. He's been through enough."
Krauss touched her knee and gave it a good squeeze. "What if I told you my men will be administering a drug that will drive him mad with lust---with need? Would you want him tranquilized then?" Krauss leaned in more. "He's chained, for now, but can you imagine what he will be like, struggling to get to you, to fuck you, to fill you so full of his seed he can't see straight?"
Yes. Therein lay the problem. Kim wanted exactly that and she shouldn't. She didn't know Wilson but it didn't matter. She more than wanted him.
She jerked her knee away from Krauss as Wilson yanked on the chains holding him. He growled. "Sedate me! Do it now! You know goddamn well if I lose control and take her, it could kill her! You of all people know how dangerous it is to mix our semen with..."
Kim drew in a sharp breath and Krauss laughed. "Changing your mind, Kimberly? The animal speaks the truth. Under normal circumstances, his semen is deadly to a human. Too powerful. Too full of supernatural DNA for the human to bear---leaving them either in a state of withdrawal... which they die from, or pregnant with a child they aren't strong enough to see to term." He reached for her lower abdomen. "But you're different, Kimberly. You can not only tolerate what he offers, but are so receptive to it. So... very receptive." He licked his lower lip. "I'll leave the last bit a secret. For now. But I will offer again to have him sedated after he's injected with his daily dose of meds."
Kim stared at Wilson, doing her best to keep her emotions in check. Wilson shook his head, pleading with his eyes. "Do it, Kim. Tell him you want me---"
"I want him," she whispered, realizing after the fact that she'd slipped in what she should have said. She opened her mouth to correct herself but stopped, letting her statement stand.
Krauss looked as if he would leap for joy. "Very interesting."
"I don't want him to be shot up with anything." She reached for Krauss and stopped just short of touching him. "Please don't hurt him anymore, Professor. Please. I'll do whatever you ask me to but only if you stop hurting him."
Krauss seemed to think upon it for a bit before tipping his head. "I could have you put in the cell next to this one, separate from him. There are other females here I could bring in. Ones who volunteered for the greater good of science and ones who want nothing more than to be fucked by the animal you see behind me. I personally do not see what they do when they look at him but these females have been tripping over themselves for a chance to be fucked by him."
Tears welled but she kept hold of them as she stared past Krauss at Wilson. "I don't see an animal. I see a man. A man who has been tortured for months and who has somehow kept his humanity through it all."
"Very interesting, indeed," Krauss whispered before smiling. "Then you do not look hard enough, Kimberly. For he is an animal. He could rip an unwilling partner apart with ease while fucking her. Shall I sedate him or remove you from his clutches before the next phase of testing begins? I like you. It's why I'm giving you the choice."
She glared at him, understanding the man's game more than she wanted to. "No, you're giving me the choice because you like to push your test subjects. You said as much yourself. You want to see what I'll do to keep him safe, don't you?"
"So intelligent." He stroked her inner thigh and she wanted to release her hidden powers and blast him away. "So beautiful and so innocent. See where it is I am coming from, Kimberly. See it and understand it. A woman like you could spend eternity by my side, helping me raise an army."
She fought the urge to vomit.
Krauss moved in close enough to kiss her. Thankfully, he didn't or she would have really been sick. "Now that you're on to my reasoning behind giving you a choice, what will you do to keep him safe, Kimberly?"
"Nothing," Wilson bit out, shocking Kim because of how softly Krauss had whispered the question. Wilson shouldn't have been able to hear it, yet he had. "She'll do nothing. Get her out of my cell. I don't want her here. I want---"
She would have been hurt had she not sensed Wilson's lies.
Krauss apparently sensed the lies as well because he called Wilson's bluff. "Very well. I shall have her moved to the cell next to yours. I have two other males waiting in the wings. Their bodies are so pumped full of aphrodisiacs they can't even wear clothing---it burns. I'm sure they'll enjoy two on one time with Kimberly. She already knows them. Brad and Vic."
Brad and Vic? They were alive and being used too?
Wilson roared to life, jerking so hard against his chains that for a moment she thought he'd break free or at the very least, rip a chunk of the wall out. "You will not touch her! No one will!"
It made her chest tight, seeing the sheer determination to protect her in his chocolate gaze and knowing he was powerless to do so. Unable to stand another moment of it, Kim touched Krauss' shoulder and avoided the urge to retch. "I want to stay with Wilson. You said I'm valuable to you and your project. If that's true, and I think it is..." She kept back the part about sensing the truth in his words. He wouldn't let her be harmed. Not yet anyway. "I don't know what it is you're doing, or what your end goal is but I do know I cannot and will not watch that man suffer another minute."
The sly smile that swept over Krauss' face told Kim she'd played into his hands as she'd assumed she would. If it kept Wilson safe, it didn't matter. "Such a good girl, Kimberly. So caring." He stroked her leg. "I will offer you one additional gift for your honesty."
"You'll unchain him?" she asked, hopeful.
"If you wish but that wasn't the gift, Kimberly." He stepped back a bit. "I will have another female brought in during the height of his attraction---shall we say---and she will be a willing participant."
"I'm not fucking anyone or anything," Wilson said, a low growl following.
That wasn't the truth and Kim knew it. She could sense Wilson holding something back and when she met his gaze she knew what it was---he could and would fuck her if it came down to it. Her but no one else. The thought should have terrified her. It didn't. It gave her the resolve she needed to lift her head high and meet Krauss' gaze.
"You bring anyone else into this mix and you will not have my cooperation. You've apparently studied me long enough to know what type of person I am." Or at least you think you know. "If that's the case then you're well aware of how resourceful I can be, professor. I see you have no respect for Wilson and limited use of him because of the way you let your men treat him. I don't get the impression you're so willing to let them do the same to me."
Something flashed in Krauss' gaze telling Kim she was right. He wouldn't allow her to be harmed just yet.
"I want to remain with Wilson and you will not bring in other women or men, or allow your men to continue to torture him. I want to be able to treat his wounds, help him get cleaned up and if I'm right, he's not been fed a decent meal since he's been here. I want him to eat."
She swallowed hard, continuing on her spiel. "If you think you can sneak things into his food, know that I'll eat it first. If you don't want or need me, then by all means, administer something harmful---I'd rather be dead than here so if that helps to ease your mind any."
Her gifts tapped into Krauss' paranoia. He needed her way more than he wanted to admit and he needed her safe and calm. "Wilson will be unchained and left with you and you alone, Kimberly."
Krauss motioned to the man who had brought her clothing. "Paquin, gather what Kimberly will need. Bring her soap and," he ran his fingers through her hair, "shampoo. She has the most beautiful hair."
She shuddered, wanting desperately for him to step away from her.
"Yes, sir."
Krauss reached for her cheek and she moved off the bed quickly, scrambling towards Wilson. Krauss laughed. "So, my touch does repulse you."
She knew better than to answer that in particular. She glanced back at Wilson. "He needs clean clothes. The ones he's in are hanging on him by a thread." Kim left off the part about them smelling horrible.
Krauss chuckled. "I have always admired your resolve, Kimberly. Very well. I will also see to it that he is provided with clean clothing but I should warn you. He is a trained killer. He could snap your neck with little effort."
"He won't hurt me."
I hope.
Kraus inclined his head. "If you say so." He turned to walk away but stopped in mid-stride. "Have fun you two." With that, he walked away, leaving his flunky to lock the cell behind him.
The man thrust a key through the bars at her and shook his head. "I can't believe you're going to free that thing."
Kim's legs were shaky as she stood and for a split second, she thought she'd fall. Bending down, she retrieved the key and ignored the man. She went to Wilson's side and knelt down before him. Unable to help herself, she reached to touch the gash on his cheek but stopped just short of it. "Wil?"
He closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. "I'm fine, Kim. Just another day at the office."
She went to work on his shackles and noticed how raw the skin on his wrists and ankles were. "Do I need to beg you not to snap my neck?" she asked with a wink.
"No." Wilson stretched his arms and legs, wincing slightly. "Thank you. But I should tell you that pushing Krauss isn't safe. He's a sick man, Kim."
Nodding, Kim moved a little bit closer to Wilson. "Is he gone?"
"Yeah, they're all gone now."
Her lip began to tremble as she gave into the need to cry. Before she knew it, Wilson had his arms around her, holding her close. It wasn't like she even knew the man yet she found comfort in his arms. At first, it was hard to ignore the fact he smelled like he'd been rolling in the city dump but it wasn't his fault and she knew it. She also knew on some level that he needed the comfort of human touch as well. She was also sure he was safe. As she realized she was indeed cuddling with a complete stranger, Kim drew back slightly, wiping her eyes and glancing at his shoulder. No bullet hole remained. In fact, there was absolutely no sign he'd been hurt at all.
"Your shoulder... it's healed."
He sighed and her gut clenched. Scrambling away from Wilson, Kim drew her knees to her chest. "W-what? How? Who?"
"Can you sense them?" Jon Reynell asked, bent in the brush, feeling slightly naked without his normal sniper camouflage suit on. He stared out into the dense foliage, tapping into his supernatural vision but finding nothing out of the norm.
The team leader, Lukian Vlakhusha, put a hand up and motioned for all in tow to stop and crouch. The I-Ops---Jon, Thaddeus Green and Geoffroi "Roi" Majors---did as instructed.
Green glanced at Jon and then towards Lukian. Jon let out a soft laugh. "Is it me or does anyone else find it funny we're doing this when we're after a bunch of women?"
Roi shushed him. "The women we're after are lethal. Melanie took on an entire group of enemy hostiles with one weapon and lived to tell the tale." Roi glanced at Green. "That's something to tell the kids when they're older... hey, did you know Mommy can kick my ass?"
Jon tried not to laugh but failed.
Shrugging, Roi motioned to Lukian. "Hell, Lukian's wife is just as bad. Peren could so take us."
Jon snorted, keeping his opinions on Roi's wife to himself. Of the three women they were after, Missy, Roi's mate, was the most dangerous. The sideways glance Roi cast in Jon's direction said he knew as much.
"I, for one, am damn relieved they're deadly. It means their chances of staying alive are all the better," Lukian said, his voice low, his words clipped. "When I find them I'm going to---"
Green nodded, as did Roi. "We're all going to wring their necks."
"What the hell possessed them to lie to us?" Roi asked. "Wilson is dead. Running through the jungle like crazed fools won't bring him back. It'll get someone killed and---"
"Three hormonal pregnant women should not be here period," Green said, ever the one concerned with medical conditions.
Jon kept his thoughts to himself. He was glad someone picked up where he'd left off. The women refused to admit Wilson was dead and Jon wanted to believe with all his might that they were right. If they were, it would mean his best friend was still alive. But it would also mean the I-Ops had given up prematurely on one of their own, assuming the man was dead.
Closing his eyes, Jon did what he often did when he was in stressful situations, he asked his mother, who had passed years ago, for a guiding hand. When he opened his eyes, a nagging feeling started in the pit of his gut. He crept forward slowly, touching Roi's shoulder.
"Do you sense that?"
"Sense what?" Roi asked.
Jon stared around. "I'm not sure but it's something, or rather nothing."
Roi cocked a brow. "Short on sense with that one, Jon."
Lukian tipped his head, nodding. "He's right. Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
"Huh?"
Green looked around. "You're right."
"Hello? Earth to anyone remaining who is sane?" Roi rubbed his temples. "You all would pick now to have a breakdown."
Green huffed. "What Jon was pointing out was the absence of everything we should be sensing, hearing, noticing."
Jon saw the realization flicker through Roi's eyes as the man huffed. "Aha."
"L.A.R.D?" Green prompted.
Lukian didn't look pleased but he inclined his head. "That would be my guess."
"That's why none of you can communicate telepathically with your mates," Jon offered.
They nodded.
"Shit," Roi said. "This just went from bad to worse."
Jon didn't want to be the first to say it, but someone had to. "If L.A.R.D. is involved, Wilson could very well be alive but unable to contact us."
Lukian glanced at him and sighed. "I want to believe too, Jon, but the odds of that are slim. You understand that, right?"
With a tiny nod, he looked out at the jungle, hope springing forth in the pit of his stomach for the first time in over two months.
\*
"He's got to be close, right?" Melanie asked, taking a seat on a downed log, her ankles killing her from the swelling.
Peren sat next to her, dropping her sack onto the ground with a thud. "You'd think. Hey, are you sure you sensed him around here and then the feeling just up and vanished?"
Missy stood near them, glancing around, ever vigilant. "I'm not picking up anything anymore and that right there tells me we're close." She glanced at Melanie. "We'll find him."
Melanie touched her stomach lightly. "But will he still be alive when we do?"
Peren tossed an arm around her. "No thinking negatively. We've come this far and done this much. I have to believe that in the end, it wasn't for nothing."
Melanie sighed. "Green is going to kill me for this stunt. I just couldn't walk away and live my life under the false assumption Wilson is dead."
Peren and Missy exchanged knowing looks. It was Missy who broke the silence. "We should get moving. Before everything around us seemed to go still, I was sensing something new. My guess, our husbands. If we don't want to find ourselves being dragged back to the States, kicking and screaming, we need to hustle. Wilson needs us. Let's go."
With a nod, Melanie and Peren stood, ready to continue on their quest.
Wilson rubbed his raw wrists, hoping his natural healing ability would handle those too. The chains were made of silver and thanks to his friend's wife---Melanie--- Wilson was no longer as deathly allergic to silver as he'd once been. Though, it would take him longer to heal them than normal. Krauss' men had taken great joy in learning that lead did still burn him. They shot him at least once a day and it normally took Wilson the remainder of the day to heal the wound. Bizarrely enough, the moment Kim touched him, his body flared with heat and he felt it forcing the bullet out before healing over.
The second they'd first wheeled Kim into his cell, two weeks ago, his body reacted oddly to her. Her scent, a mix of citrus and flowers, had assailed him, making his cock harden to the point it was more painful than the torture Krauss' men had taken to inflicting. He could still vividly remember staring at the long, silky, black strands of her hair as they cascaded over the side of the gurney, nearly touching the floor. Kim's creamy skin seemed flawless and her breathing was soft, barely there.
Each and every time one of Krauss' goons came in to take her away, Wilson had tried to break free and tear their heads off. The fierce need to protect her was unlike anything he'd ever before experienced. It was raw. Seeing her tuck herself away from him now, afraid of him, stung.
Reaching out, Wilson cringed as his muscles ached from lack of use. "Kim, I won't hurt you."
"You're not human," she whispered, her voice so low that his supernatural hearing almost missed it.
"No. But neither are you if you're here. Krauss has a hard on for the paranormal. He thinks he can create a race of unstoppable super soldiers and somehow manage to cheat death."
She seemed to think about what he'd said for a bit. Her brow furrowed. "How did you heal the bullet wound?"
Sighing, Wilson pushed to his feet. His legs were shaky and gave out on him. As he crashed to the floor, Kim moved towards him with a speed no human possessed and did her best to ease him to his feet.
"Are you okay?"
His cock began to lengthen at an alarming rate. At six two, he wasn't the tallest I-OP but was tall all the same. Kim's five foot eight frame fit nicely to him, seeming to mold against him. As her hand settled against his abs, he drew in a shaky breath. "I'm...fine."
"You don't sound fine."
Because my dick is hard enough to hammer nails. All I want to do is sink to the floor and bury myself deep in you.
Kim's green eyes widened and she lifted her hand off him quickly. For a second, Wilson thought she might have actually heard his thoughts but that was absurd. It had taken decades for he and the other I-Ops to speak telepathically to one another. Even with them it required great effort and a close proximity. In theory, he'd be able to read his mate's thoughts and she could read his but Kim wasn't his mate. She couldn't be.
"Umm, no offense, Wil, but I think you should shower before me." Kim laughed softly and the sound moved through him, caressing him in places it shouldn't.
The very fact she'd shortened his name to Wil would have normally pissed him off. But hearing her utter the nickname seemed to calm him. He smiled, genuinely amused for the first time in months. "I smell that bad, huh?"
She wrinkled her nose and he couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said. "So, how do you want me to do this?"
She bit her lower lip. "What do you mean?"
"Should I strip naked now or do you want to---"
Pink splashed over her cheeks and upper neck driving him mad with lust. "Umm, I'll turn around." She spun around so fast that her gown opened in the back, revealing an apple shaped ass.
Wilson bit back a moan as he seized hold of his clothed cock just in time to lose control and come. Humiliated, he faced the shower nozzles and turned the cold water on full blast, not caring that he was still dressed. He stood there, freezing for several minutes until his dick finally decided to play dead. It didn't help that Kim's scent clung to the air around him.
A soft, sultry giggle sounded behind him. "I was going to ask if you wanted some soap but I think my first question should be if you'd like to take your clothes off."
"Dammit," he whispered as his cock flared to life with thoughts of Kim begging him to take his clothes off for other reasons. "Uh, yeah." Peeling his wet, ripped T-shirt from his body, Wilson chucked it onto the floor next to him as he watched the dirty water run down the drain in the floor. He started to undo his pants and stopped when Kim tapped his shoulder.
"Soap." She held a bar out to him.
"I really must smell bad." He winked as he put his hand over hers to take the soap. The minute their skin touched heat flared up his arm. Kim jerked her hand away from his, obviously feeling it too. Her emerald eyes widened a second before she backed away from him quickly. "Kim?"
"I'll wait over there and then I'll take my turn."
The very idea of Kim being naked and wet near him did little to help Wilson's lust. He swallowed hard and focused on the wall. It didn't help. He pulled his pants from his body. They were now water soaked and still full of caked dirt, blood and things he didn't want to focus too hard on. As he bent to kick them away his sore, unused muscles acted up. He groaned, wincing slightly.
"Here," Kim said, suddenly close enough that water was splashing her as well as him. She took the soap from him and began working up lather. She touched his back lightly at first, scrubbing away the filth they'd left him in for months.
Wilson stood, frozen in place, his backside facing her, unsure what to do or say. He normally had a joke for about every occasion. He seemed to lack one for this. Never did he expect to be locked in a cell with the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and then to be standing naked under a stream of water being washed by her.
His cock twitched to life and he jerked, trying his best to shield it from her view. He suppressed a moan as Kim moved in behind him, rubbing his back as she washed it tenderly.
Yeah, just my luck to end up in a hell hole only to have an angel show up and give me her version of a sponge bath.
Kim let out a soft laugh. "Minus the sponge, of course."
Wilson stiffened, positive he'd not said that out loud.
She moved to washing his stiff shoulders, pressing harder, causing the tension to ebb from them. She washed his upper arms and he couldn't help but flex under the weight of her touch. Kim tugged lightly on him.
"Turn and rinse."
He did and realized he was now facing her, completely nude. Since he was a shifter, he never really had issues with running around buck naked but he also retained enough of his human side to be modest at the moment.
He watched as Kim's green gaze remained locked on his face.
Maybe she doesn't feel the same pull to me that I feel to her.
"Or maybe," she worked lather up on her hands and moved in to wash his chest, "I'm just trying to be polite and not comment on how you look like you were carved from marble."
Wilson suppressed a smile as he struggled with the fact Kim had indeed read his thoughts. "I'm just happy you picked marble and not a block of cheese."
"Block of cheese?" She scrubbed his chest, seeming to slow her pace as she washed his abs.
"Don't... ask," he bit out as his cock picked then to lengthen at an alarming rate.
Kim stepped towards him, not seeming to care that water was now covering her as well. She brought her soapy hands to his face and washed him so sweetly that Wilson could do little but close his eyes and savor her tender touch. She backed away and he tipped his head, letting the water strike the back of his head and rinse the soap from his body.
Kim giggled and the sound went straight to his already excited groin. His cock twitched as he opened his eyes to find her being soaked by the spray of water. The thin hospital gown they'd put her in, clung to her, showing off her glorious body. Her dark rosy nipples showed through and it took everything in Wilson not to reach out and yank her against him.
She had her eyes closed tight and a hand up, trying to deflect the soapy spray bouncing off him and hitting her in the face. He'd showered with women before. Hell, there wasn't much he hadn't done with women but never had it been like this. For some reason, this was so much more intense than anything he'd experienced before.
Woman, what are you doing to me?
She laughed and peeked out from one eye. "I'm trying to wash the grime off you. Without wearing it all myself." Her gaze dropped to his cock and she gulped, her eyes growing wide. "Umm, uh..." She thrust the bar of soap out to him. "You should probably wash it, erm, him...umm..."
Closing his hand around hers, Wilson took the soap from her and inhaled her scent. It did little to alleviate his erection but he couldn't help himself. "I'll wash him."
She nodded weakly before turning and retrieving the shampoo, giving him a fabulous view of her bare backside in the process. He gritted his teeth, cleaning his cock and taking extra time to stroke it while his hands were lathered up.
Not helping here. Flashing that perfect ass at me is a little like shooting me yourself.
Kim stood fast, jerking the bottle of shampoo to her chest. She glanced back at him with something akin to pain in her green eyes. "I wasn't thinking. I just---"
Cursing himself silently for forgetting she could read his thoughts, Wilson shook his head and offered a slight smile. He eyed the bottle of shampoo and her hair. Krauss was right, Kim did have beautiful hair. Hell, she had beautiful everything. "You wash mine and I'll wash yours? Deal?"
She nodded and closed the distance between them. "Okay, but next time we take a shower together, I want candles, romantic music and wine. Ooo, and bubbles. Understood?"
Wilson admired her ability to joke under pressure. Not many could. "Can I bring my rubber ducky?"
"But of course." She poured a dollop of shampoo into her hands and moved close enough for Wilson to wrap his arms around her.
Unable to help himself. He did just that. Kim didn't complain. No. She stepped closer, leaving his erection grinding against her lower abdomen. She washed his hair slowly, pulling on his head and forcing him to bend slightly so she could reach him completely. The entire event was more erotic and intimate than anything he'd done before and yet it was still innocent.
Wilson took a deep breath and took a tiny step backwards.
Kim came with him. He reached up and took hold of her wrists. "Kim."
Don't make me move away from you, please. I'm terrified and you make me forget everything but you.
He watched her closely, noting her mouth hadn't moved yet he was positive he'd heard her voice in his head. "Mmm, how about I rinse and return the favor?"
He turned their bodies, planting Kim under the stream of water and adjusting the temperature so it was warmer for her. She drew in a deep breath and laughed as she clung to him. Bubbles ran off his shoulders and down her body. She wrinkled her nose as he shook his head, sending water everywhere. Unable to help himself, Wilson walked their bodies back, pressing her against the wall and planting his hands firmly on each side of her head. He bent his head and kissed the tip of her nose. It was quick but enough to let him know he wanted so much more than a peck.
Something pinched the back of his shoulder and he hissed, turning slightly to find a dart protruding from his skin. He kept his body planted in front of Kim's even though she was still wearing the gown because he couldn't bear the idea of Krauss' men seeing her wet. He growled as he looked towards the cell bars to see Mendel grinning from ear to ear.
"I told the doc it looks like you're about to fuck her anyways, not to bother with the drugs but he insisted." Mendel wagged his brows. "Have fun you two."
"Wil?" Kim leaned around and spotted the dart. She gasped and pulled it free of him. "Ohmygod, what did they---"
Instantly, it felt like his skin was burning everywhere at once. His cock throbbed. The need to bury it deep in Kim was so great that Wilson had to force himself to step back. "Chain me again."
Her eyes widened. "What? No."
"K-Kim. Chain. Me."
She shook her head and grabbed the sides of his face. Wilson couldn't have fought back, even if he'd wanted to. Whatever they'd given him was too powerful. Every fiber of his being wanted to be buried to the hilt in her. She splayed her hands on his cheeks as her bottom lip trembled.
"Why are they doing this to us?" she asked.
Because they can, honey.
He couldn't get the words out but knew she heard his thoughts.
Chain me.
She did the furthest thing from chaining him. She kissed him. Slow at first, pressing her full lips to his and then taking it to another level---sliding her tongue out and over his lower lip. Wilson growled, his cock hard enough to hammer nails. As she touched her tongue to his, he lost control, crowding her to the point she had no choice but be pressed to the wall.
Wilson took control of the kiss. It was drugging and powerful. He ate at her mouth and Kim met him every step of the way. He pulled a hand down the length of her body, stopping briefly under the swell of a breast but compelled to move downwards more. The thin, soaked, gown clung to her, molding perfectly to every curve.
He pushed his thigh between her legs, spreading them. Kim drew in a sharp breath and his mind screamed at him to stop, that she was scared but his body refused to obey his commands. Wilson slid his hand lower, going for her sex but stopping as he touched her lower abdomen.
A fierce growl tore free of him and the overwhelming need to protect Kim struck him full force. He caressed her lower stomach, kissing her passionately and the innate knowledge that she possessed something of his came over him. What, he wasn't sure. The feeling made no sense. Whatever Krauss' men had injected him with was powerful, the keen awareness Wilson felt as he touched Kim's stomach was even more powerful. He quelled the desire to slam Kim against the wall and fuck her until he could move no more and went with kissing her gently.
Wilson composed himself and pressed his lips to her forehead. "Let's get you cleaned and fed."
She stared up at him through hooded lashes. "Hmm?"
The fact Kim had gotten lost in their kiss meant more to Wilson than he cared to admit. He smiled and cut it short the moment he felt someone watching them. He kept her shielded from view and looked over his shoulder to find Krauss standing there, observing their every move.
"Interesting."
"So you've said," Wilson bit out.
Mendel rushed down the hall and shook his head. "I swear I gave him the dosage you told me to." He put his hands up. "Four times what we gave the other two put together. He should have ripped her apart by now. He should have---"
Krauss lifted a hand, silencing Mendel instantly. He directed his gaze to Wilson. "I didn't think you'd be able to sense it in her this early."
It?
Wilson ran the last two weeks through his mind and realized he was still caressing Kim's abdomen. A sick feeling came over him and he knew better than to think too hard upon it. Kim would read his thoughts and if what he suspected was true, she wouldn't be happy with the news.
"Have you nothing witty to offer, rat?"
Wilson wanted to charge the cell bars in hopes of getting even close to being able to kill Krauss. Kim picked then to place her hand over his as he continued to caress her lower stomach lightly.
Krauss chuckled. "Always so full of smart remarks. Where are they now Mr. Rousseau? Hmm? Or have we finally found something to silence you with?"
A low grumble began in the back of his throat and he knew he'd growl and attack soon. Kim apparently knew it too because she brought her free hand to his cheek and slid her fingers through his beard.
"Don't, Wil," she whispered.
Krauss laughed. "Listen to the little missus, Mr. Rousseau. She speaks for two now." He paused dramatically. "You and she."
Kim tensed and her fear moved over him, taking precedence over the urge to kill Krauss. Wilson directed his gaze back onto her. "I've got you, hon."
"Hon? Interesting."
The sound of Krauss' voice set Wilson's jaw on edge. He arched a brow as he smiled at Kim. "If he says interesting one more time, can I kill him?"
She returned his smile and nodded. "But could you hurry? It's getting really cold here."
Wilson realized the water had turned icy and couldn't help but laugh. "Honey, I might need to stand under this a while longer. Let's get your hair washed before I realize I'm not a decent guy under all this," he scratched at his beard, "hair."
He sensed Krauss walking away but didn't bother to turn and watch him leave. The news he'd left Wilson with was more than enough to worry about. Having studied and hunted the man with the Immortal Ops for months, Wilson knew exactly how sick the bastard was and he knew how desperately he wanted to replicate the I-Ops. Touching Kim's abdomen, Wilson realized Krauss had done the next closest thing to cloning him that he could. He also knew he'd die before he'd let Krauss or his men harm Kim or what she carried---a baby.
"You sure you don't mind?"
Kim smiled and shook her head as she put her hand out to Wilson. "I'm sure."
"Scoot over and I'll sleep facing the cell door," he said, his voice low.
Staring into his chocolate brown eyes, Kim did her best to remember to breathe. "No. I get this side of the bed. They'll think twice about shooting at you with me in the way."
A low growl sounded from him. "You're very stubborn, aren't you?"
"Only when I'm right." She laced her fingers through his and tugged gently. "Please, Wil. I won't sleep if I'm worried about one of those idiots deciding to use you for target practice again. I'm not asking you to explain how you healed the last shot so fast. I'm just asking that you cut their access to you down a bit."
Something she couldn't read passed over his handsome face before he gave in and climbed onto the gurney that was doubling as a bed for them. It was cramped and Wilson's muscular body pressed against her. The very hard and very large "battering ram" he nestled against her lower back made her breathing quicken. She knew all too well just how large he was because of their shower time earlier.
Her pulse raced and Wilson purred softly in her ear, nearly pushing Kim over the edge of her self-control.
"I can move to the floor if you're uncomfortable with me being here," he said, draping a large arm over her protectively.
It felt good to be held. Too good to pass up. "No. You're not sleeping on the floor. You've spent the majority of your time here on it. I'll be damned if you spend another second there."
He chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."
Exhaustion began to take its toll on Kim, demanding she relax and sink into the comfort of Wilson's arms. The tension in Wilson's body started to ebb away and for one brief moment, she forgot about what had been done to her and that her gut told her Krauss would kill Wilson soon if given the chance.
Wilson kissed the top of her head and gave her a light squeeze. "Don't cry, hon."
Hon? Cry?
Reaching up, she felt the moisture on her cheeks and realized that she was indeed crying. "Wil, I'm scared."
"I know. I've got you now. It'll be okay. I won't let them hurt you two, erm, I mean you."
She shook her head. "I'm not scared for me, Wil. I'm scared for you. He'll kill you soon. I know it deep inside. Please don't ask me to tell you how or why. Just trust me when I say his use for you is drawing to a fast end."
He nuzzled his face against her neck, making her giggle as his whiskers brushed over her neck. "Ticklish?"
"N-no." She tried and failed to suppress her laughter as he rubbed his jaw back and forth. He did it more and she laughed harder, curling up against him, letting him spoon her as if they'd been lovers forever and this was just another night to them. The thought sobered her instantly but she didn't want to give up the jovial feeling just yet. "Wil."
"Yes?" he asked, going for her ribs.
She caught his hand and pulled it around, forcing him to hold her. "Tell me about yourself. About how you ended up here, in South America and here with Krauss. Anything. Just tell me about you."
He was quiet for a moment and Kim thought he might ignore her. "I was in South America on business."
It was the truth but not the whole truth. She didn't press, deciding to let him speak freely. He drew her back against him as he went on.
"It's safe to say Krauss' men caught me with my guard down and I've been here ever since."
Kim twisted a bit in his arms so she could see his face. "You're being incredibly vague. You do understand that I've bathed you, right? Secrets now seem kind of pointless."
He grinned mischievously. "Yes, but I'd like you to think I'm dark and mysterious."
She snorted.
"So, I'm not pulling off the whole Bond thing?"
She patted his arm gently. "Oh, yes. Very well." Laughing, Kim tried to hide her smile but Wilson grabbed her chin and locked gazes with her. Her breath caught as his lips hovered just above hers. Wanting to be kissed by him way more than she should, Kim pulled herself together and went for a change of subject. "Okay, answer something simple. Like. How old are you?"
He kept his lips close to hers. "How old do I look?"
"Mid to late twenties but something tells me you're older than that."
He licked his lower lip causing moisture to pool at the apex of her thighs. "It's my wise eyes isn't it?"
She laughed so hard she snorted. "Oh, yes. That must be it."
"I figured as much."
Grinning, Kim laced her fingers through his. "Thank you."
His brow creased. "For what?"
"For making me feel safe and for making me laugh, Wilson." Kim exhaled deeply and closed her eyes briefly. "I don't even want to think about what it would have been like to wake up without you here with me."
"Bet it would have smelled a right bit better," he said, his lips brushing her cheek.
She laughed. "I can't answer that for fear I'll point out the fact you smelled horrible."
It was Wilson's turn to laugh. He rubbed their joined hands over her abdomen. "So, tell me about yourself. How old are you?"
"How old do I look?" she asked, spinning his questions back at him.
He clucked his tongue against his cheek. "Barely legal so I'm hoping older than I think."
Kim nodded. "I'll be twenty-six soon."
He didn't look convinced. She smiled. "I swear to you. I'll be twenty-six." She shook her head. "I can't help the fact I look like I just turned eighteen. Sort of a running theme in my family---at least on my dad's side anyway. I'll always look younger than I am."
Way younger.
She kept that thought to herself. It wasn't like she could come right out and tell Wilson that Krauss was right---she was Fae.
Wilson cleared his throat. "So, do you have anyone special back home?"
She locked gazes with him. "Are we counting all men or just the ones that walk on two legs most of the time?"
For a second, he looked nervous. Kim squeezed his hand. "I wouldn't be in this cot with you now if I did, Wil. But, I think Ike would be jealous if I didn't at least mention him as being important to me since he's the guy I come home to every night. Plus, he shares my room."
"Ike?" Wilson asked, a jealous note in his voice.
Her eyes widened. "Yep. Ike, my pet rat."
Wilson went ramrod stiff. "You have a pet rat?"
"He's very smart and loyal." She stared up at Wilson with a serious look on her face. "They're not dirty animals. I know a lot of people think rats are but they're not. Well, not the domesticated ones, anyways. He comes when you call his name and he's---"
Wilson pressed his lips to hers, ceasing her rambling. His kiss was chaste. He pulled back a bit and smiled. "You don't have to justify having Ike to me, Kim."
"So, you don't think I'm weird? My father thinks I am. I rescued Ike from a lab some ten years back and he's---"
"Ten years?" Wilson asked. "Domesticated rats live about three, at best."
That was true but Ike had bitten her father by accident shortly after she rescued him and since her father was Fae and immortal, the rat now had a much longer life span. He also had the ability to change colors with his mood but Kim kept that to herself. Talking about a rat with magikal powers would no doubt make Wilson think she was insane.
"Ike is special."
"Clearly." Wilson's chocolate gaze seemed to look straight through her. "He's not the only one."
"You know," she said, deciding to steer the conversation in a different direction. "I think he'll like you. What do you say when we get out of here, you come over and meet Ike?"
"I think I'd like that very much." He closed his eyes and Kim could almost feel how tired he was.
After their shower, food had arrived with a fresh change of clothes for Wilson. She'd held true and insisted on tasting the food before he had any. She didn't tell him that she drew upon her natural born gifts to assure it was free from toxins while supposedly tasting it. She'd watched him eat, at first like he hadn't eaten in months and then slower as he realized she was looking at him. Wilson had then gone out of his way to eat in a civilized fashion and it broke Kim's heart knowing he'd been through hell yet was worried about how she perceived him. She'd dropped her plastic fork on the floor, on purpose, and then used her fingers to eat---winking at him as she did.
Her stomach had been touchy and she'd only been able to get a little bit of food in before the threat of it returning on her hit. Wilson had finished the rest of hers as well. He'd practically held her down assuring she ate at least one more piece of the fruit that had been provided, insisting she needed the vitamins.
When they were finished eating, Kim used her discarded gown and some soap to scrub the area Wilson had been chained to. She hated looking at it and knowing he'd suffered there. It wasn't until he bear hugged her, pulling her to her feet and into his arms that she realized she'd been sobbing while she cleaned.
Kim snuggled against him, watching him sleep, knowing it was the first time in a long time he'd allowed himself much needed rest. She wanted to hate the fact they were thrown together like this but knew deep inside that she'd have never met Wilson if it weren't for the events playing out as they had.
She lay quietly for a while, wondering about him and what it was he truly did for a living. His vague answers hadn't surprised her. She gave enough of those herself to know how the game was played.
Kim thrashed against the guards holding her, her sights set on Wilson. He was pacing the cell, running his hands through his hair, sweating. His shirt lay discarded to the side and even with as malnourished as he was, he was muscular.
"Lover boy looks to be having problems with the serum this morning," Paquin, one of the guards, said snidely as he held her in the cell adjacent to Wilson's. She'd awoken to find the guards first shooting Wilson with tranq darts and then dragging her from the cell before injecting him with the same thing they'd given him during their shower. She'd been forced to watch as Wilson tried and failed to fight the effects of the drugs in his system.
Krauss appeared in the hall with a tall, slender redheaded woman who wore nothing more than a bra and panties. Guards held weapons on Kim and whistled, catching Wilson's attention. He roared and charged the bars between the cells.
"Don't touch her!" he shouted, spittle flying.
"Be a good little boy when they open that cell door or we'll blow her pretty fucking head off."
Kim jerked against them, unconcerned for herself. All she wanted to do was get to Wilson and assure he was all right. Seeing him struggle against whatever they'd given him was its own form of torture for her. All he'd done since she'd arrived was try to protect her and she'd not acted quickly enough to do the same for him. She glanced around, surveying their situation, wondering if she could draw upon her natural born gifts and put an end to this farce. There was a very real chance everything would go wrong and in the end, Wilson could be the one hurt, unintentionally by her. That wasn't a risk she was willing to take.
The redhead was led into Wilson's cell and the door was closed behind her. She didn't appear to be the least bit nervous. In fact, she looked downright happy to be locked in with Wilson in his current state.
She undid the front of her bra but it remained closed over her breasts still. "Mmm, come and get me. I'm all yours. They tell me she didn't give it up to you. I will. And you can take me as hard as you need to. I won't break."
Jealousy flared through Kim. She glared past Wilson, at the redhead. "Don't you dare touch him."
The guards holding her laughed. Paquin yanked harder. "Feeling left out? Don't. Doc is having a man brought in for you shortly."
Wilson went apeshit against the bars, totally ignoring the female locked in with him. The redhead didn't take kindly to being dismissed. She grabbed his shirt from the floor and rubbed it over her upper neck, growling, sounding more animal like than human.
"There," she said, tossing the shirt at Wilson. "I'll mask the bitch's scent. I can give you what she won't. You know you want it. You know your dick is hard enough to jack hammer through the floor. Use me. Fuck me."
Wilson turned his head slowly, his gaze going to Krauss. "Get your whore out of my cell or I will return her to you in pieces. Don't think I can't smell the corruption on her. She's one of you and while I don't normally condone hurting women, for her, I'll make an exception." He exhaled long and slow. "Return Kim to me or I will bring this place to its knees."
Paquin laughed, tugging harder on Kim. "Because you've been able to do it thus far?"
Wilson didn't bother sparing him a glance. "Before, you had no motivation for me other than my own life. Now. You have Kim. Take her from me and it ends."
Krauss's curiosity seemed to pique. "Are you saying you'll obey like a good little rat if I permit Kimberly to return to you?"
"Yes," Wilson said with conviction.
"Wil, no," Kim protested. "Don't give in to them. Don't let them use me to make you mind. Do what you have to do to be free of here."
The redhead approached Wilson, seemingly fearless. She opened the front of her bra, exposing her breasts to him.
Kim's powers tickled her stomach, demanding to be freed. That meant whatever they'd originally given her was wearing off. She narrowed her gaze on the redhead, permitting the slightest bit of her magik to run free. To unleash it fully would mean she'd be forced to act quickly and manage an escape that included both her and Wilson. She wasn't prepared for that. She needed a plan. She needed him on board with it all.
Mostly, she needed to break the truth of what she was to him.
Fae.
The redhead began to choke on nothing but air. She cleared her throat at first, her hand going to her throat. When that didn't work, panic began to show on her face. She coughed more before no sound came from her. She pounded on her chest, racing towards the cell door. The guards there opened it for her and she fell out and onto her knees.
Kim pulled back on her powers, even though she secretly wanted to suffocate the bitch for daring to flaunt herself at Wilson.
The woman gasped, hiccupping in big breaths of air.
Krauss bent near her. "Lividita?"
She panted. "I don't know what happened. I think I might be allergic to those new drugs you gave me a little bit ago. I don't feel right. I need to lay down."
Motioning to the guard nearest him, Krauss swept his gaze over the redhead. "If you're allergic to the fertility drugs, you are of no use to me since a successful mating is nearly impossible to obtain without them." He snapped his fingers. "Kill her."
Lividita shook her head, her breasts bouncing freely about. "No! It's passed. I'm fine. I am. I can do it. I can get him to fuck me. I can."
Krauss laughed mockingly. "For all your assets," he reached out, pinching her nipple, "he paid you no notice. You couldn't entice him even if we had him chained down for you. No. His interests lie more towards the Kimberly persuasion."
Kim licked her lower lip, her mouth suddenly dry. She glanced at Wilson to find him staring hungrily at her.
"Now, let us see if Kimberly has the same will power as our good Wilson here," Krauss said, snapping his fingers.
The guards dragged a kicking and screaming Lividita off and when they returned, they had a drugged looking Vic with them. His hands were bound in front of him with handcuffs that looked to be burning his skin. The same as had been the case with Wilson.
As they unlocked her cell, Wilson went nuts, slamming against the bars. She didn't want Vic hurt by anyone. Not even Wilson.
Without thought, she opened her mouth and blurted, "Wilson! I want him to be the man with me. Please."
Krauss lifted a hand, halting the progress around him. "Kimberly, are you saying you openly accept the fact I want to study the mating habits between yourself and another man?"
"No," she corrected. "I'm saying I openly accept it if that man is Wilson. No other."
"But he controls himself with you," Krauss said slyly.
She met his gaze without fear. "If you're even going to attempt to compare how he is with me verses how he was with Ms. Redhead I'm going to be sick. I think we both are smart enough to flat out say it. He's not repulsed by me. He may not want to fuck me through the floor but..."
Wilson snarled and when she glanced at him, she saw all too well that he was willing to do just that.
Krauss mulled it over for what felt like eternity before motioning to his guards. "Leave her."
"Should we return her to his cell?" one asked.
"No. For now they can be in separate ones. I need to think on what I've seen and learned today."
Soon, they were gone, leaving Kim alone in her cell and Wilson in his. She went towards him, pressing herself against the bars, wanting to feel his touch. Wilson reacted instantly, his fingers sliding over hers and his forehead coming to the bars.
Nervous, tension filled tears burst free of her. She trembled, holding onto the bars, his hands over hers.
Wilson's chest tightened with each falling tear on Kim's face. The medications they'd injected into him were still pumping fiercely through his system. Even with her fragile state of mind, he wanted to fuck her into oblivion. He hated himself for that.
Focus. She needs you to comfort her, not think about fucking her.
The tiniest of giggles emerged from her. "Actually, I think I might be willing to accept either at the moment. The fucking or the comforting."
Wilson even managed a smile at that one. He bent slightly, lining his lips up with hers. They could only skim because of the bars but it was enough to help him feel connected to her. "I'm going to get you out of here, hon. I promise."
She fell silent but remained in place. "Do you think they're listening to us?"
"You mean, is the room bugged?"
She nodded.
"No," he replied. "They're jamming any type of communication device. Keeps others from hearing them and also screws them out of being able to monitor electronically within their own walls."
"So, if I told you something, they wouldn't hear it or know?"
Wilson let his senses ride high, assuring the guards were far from hearing range before he responded. "Correct."
Kim took a deep breath. "The redhead who was here."
"What redhead?" he asked.
"The half naked lady," she bit out, seeming annoyed. "Let me guess, all you noticed were her breasts."
"Actually, all I noticed was her scent. It was repulsive. Didn't catch her hair color or her breasts. Sorry."
Kim grinned, staying close to the bars. "I did it."
"Did what?"
"Made her choke."
He narrowed his gaze on her.
"Remember the one guard demanding to know about the Fae?"
Wilson nodded. "I also remember you being confused as to what that even was."
"No," she responded. "You recall me pretending to be confused."
"Are you telling you're part Fae?" he asked.
"My father is a full blood and I'm unsure about my mother. He doesn't speak of her. Ever."
Allowing the information to sink in, Wilson was quiet. Finally, he locked gazes with her. "Krauss is already aware you carry the blood of the Fae in you. Keep the fact you're aware of it to yourself. If he senses you might be a security threat in any manner, he'll take precautions and my guess is, separate us by more than just a cell. He won't want to risk us collaborating and escaping." He also knew something else. Something Kim didn't. She was pregnant and he'd be dammed if he let her risk herself or the baby. "Promise me now that you won't use any magik. That you'll let me handle this."
"But, Wil, I can help us get out of here."
"No," he said sternly. "I won't risk you, Kim. Swear to me now."
Reluctantly, she nodded. He had a feeling she wasn't planning to obey him.
He pushed his fingers through the bars as much as he could, taking a section of her hair in his hand. He stroked it gently, inhaling her fresh scent, branding his mind with it, washing away the horrid scent of the other woman.
His cock twitched to life, wanting to be in Kim.
He closed his eyes, remaining in place, knowing this was the greatest form of torture Krauss had come up with yet. Keeping him from Kim.
Time edged by and he could sense the drain on Kim. "Hon, go rest."
"I'm not leaving you," she said sternly.
"Everything on you is stiff and starting to hurt," he replied, hoping she didn't question how he could sense something such as that. While she had confided in him about being Fae, he wasn't entirely sure she was ready to hear exactly what he was.
Kim released his hand and put her hand through the bars, touching his bare chest, searing his flesh with her fingers. "Actually, I was thinking you're the one with the stiffness problems right now."
She ran her hand downwards, trailing a line to his navel and then to the top of his pants. Kim met his gaze, as if wanting permission to go onwards.
He caught her wrist gently. "Rest, hon. I'll be fine. The drugs will wear off by morning."
"Wil, let me help you. Please. Don't make me watch them try to have some other random woman take my place." She stared intensely at him. "Please."
Releasing her wrist, he gave a slight nod.
A grin tugged at her lips as she pulled open the fly of his pants. He jerked as her hand found his rock hard cock, there, springing out and into the palm of her hand. Kim gasped, trying to close her fingers around it.
"You're huge," she whispered, making male pride swell in him.
She stroked the full length of him, her breath catching again. His cock went through the bars, jutting out and into her cell. At least seven of his ten inches were now on her side. To his amazement, Kim slinked down, putting her head directly in front of his aching cock.
"Kim," he ground out. "You don't have to, ahh..."
She popped the head of his cock into her lush mouth, cutting off his protest. He wanted to instantly explode. Somehow, he held back. She took as much of his shaft as she could with consideration to the bars between them. It didn't matter. It felt divine.
She sucked, her mouth warm and wet. He gripped the bars, groaning as she began swirling her tongue around his shaft as well. He thumped his head against the bars as she bit lightly at the head of his cock. Teasing him.
"Fuck," he sputtered.
Kim stared up at him, a wanton expression on her face. She sucked harder, sliding up and down his cock, adding in her hand to reach the base. The sensation drove him over the edge. Wilson cried out, his balls pulled upwards and his cock twitching a warning.
"I can't hold it," he said.
Kim remained in place, her suction on him awe inspiring.
He exploded, spurting liquid warmth into her mouth and down her throat. She remained in place, sucking him, swallowing everything he was offering her. The sight of her there, licking his cock free of come was overwhelming.
Reaching through the bars, he tried and failed to touch her face. She was just out of reach. He closed his fingers in midair. "Kim."
Pulling off his cock, she kissed the tip and looked up at him. "Does it hurt less now?"
"Oh gods yes!" He tried to touch her again. This time she moved closer, allowing him to. He caressed her cheek. "Thank you, hon."
"Trust me when I say, any time," she replied, surprising him.
Kim pushed her tray of food far from her, refusing to meet Krauss's gaze. The scientist nearest him sighed. "Sir, it's been three days since she's taken any type of food or water. I don't need to tell you the stress this is putting on her system."
Krauss grumbled something under his breath before lifting his hand. "If she eats, return her to the rat's cell."
Wilson, as always, hovered near the bars. "Put her in with me now and I'll make sure she eats."
"And have you attack my guards in the process?" Krauss questioned.
Wilson walked to the back of his cell and put his hands on the wall before going to his knees and then his stomach. He laced his fingers behind his head and spread his legs wide, a sure signal of total surrender.
The door to her cell opened and the guards entered, ushering her out and to Wilson's cell. They practically shoved her in. She stumbled and would have fallen had Wilson not reacted with a speed that shocked her. He was suddenly there, cradling her, pulling her close.
Instantly, her upset stomach felt better and she felt safe.
"I've got you, hon," he whispered, kissing her temple.
She clung to him.
"Get her to eat and to rest, Mr. Rousseau," Krauss said sternly before exiting the hall, taking the guards and scientists with him.
Wilson spun her around and bear hugged her, lifting her up and off her feet. He covered her face in kisses, making her smile. He walked towards the cot, still holding her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.
"Wil?"
"Shh," he corrected. "I need to hold you. I need to know you're here and safe with me. Don't ask me to stop or put you down. I couldn't even if I wanted to and for the record---I don't want to stop."
Relief washed over her. They'd not spoken about her sucking his cock to help alleviate the effects of the drugs he'd been given several days back. She'd never made a habit of doing something so daring with a man she barely knew. In fact, she had only been with two men in her life. The first had been when she was eighteen and she considered the experience experimental more than anything. It had been too fast to count as much else. The second man she'd given her heart to. Things hadn't worked out as planned with him and for the longest time she'd assumed he'd been the one for her. She wasn't sure if circumstances were playing havoc with her reasoning and feelings but since meeting Wilson, she no longer felt she'd let the one for her get away. If anything, she felt like the perfect man for her was now bear hugging her to the point it was getting hard to draw in air with ease.
"W-Wil," she tapped his shoulder. "Too tight."
He eased his grip slightly before laying with her on the cot, his back facing the cell door.
\*
The sounds of doors opening and closing and footsteps in the hallway alerted her that the guards were doing another check on them. They were like clockwork, every thirty minutes. Wilson generally went on edge whenever they passed, as if he was fully expecting them to do something stupid and shoot him again. With the way they stared at him from hate-filled eyes, she was surprised they hadn't pulled the trigger.
The footsteps stopped just outside the cell and Kim looked up to see two men in lab coats standing in the mix of guards. One held a clipboard while the other held a file. Kim drew her power up, making all looking in at them believe she was sound asleep.
"How far along is this one?" the man with the clipboard and grey hair asked.
The man with the file scan read and then stared at the other man. "She's about three weeks."
"Oh," the grey haired man looked impressed, "really. So this is the female who was instantly receptive?"
She remained still, listening to them as they talked about her.
"Yes. Krauss was so excited her eggs instantly accepted the candidate in question's sperm that he thought he'd been foolish in saving the samples for just her. He attempted to inseminate the rest of the other supernatural females here but none of their eggs were amenable."
As their conversation played out in her head, it became very clear what had happened and why she was so valuable to Krauss' project---she was already carrying the next generation of his super soldiers.
The gray haired man sighed. "As exciting as this is, I would have liked to see conception take place after a natural mating."
The other man nodded. "I'm guessing Krauss wants the same thing. I have a message from him telling me to abort the child she now carries without her knowledge---of course---and to call in the observation team. We'll be moving these two to a viewing room and I think he's expecting fireworks."
"Has," the grey haired man glanced at his clipboard, "Wilson realized his roommate is expecting?"
"We've told no one outside of the immediate staff and the meds we've been pumping him full of should block his ability to sense it." He tipped his head. "Though, Krauss called me in because he's convinced the rat does know. Says it's what stopped him from giving in to the carnal need to mate aggressively. Something about an inborn knowledge the guy has to protect her and the child she now carries."
A gasp followed. "Are they true mates?"
"I can't even begin to calculate the odds of that." The man shrugged. "I doubt either of them will admit to the signs of being true mates. Besides, how do you test if they can read one another's thoughts or sense when the other is in need? The list goes on from there, none of which we can determine in a lab. The only proof we have---will be aborted in about four hours. Shame really, the little bastard would have no doubt been a fascinating hodgepodge. A medical marvel."
They walked off, leaving Kim to soak in all she'd just overheard. She glanced down the length of her body and stopped when she came to Wilson's hand, resting protectively over her lower abdomen.
Oh, gods, he knows and it's why he's been so kind to me. He pities me and---
Wilson kissed her neck, proving he was awake. "Mmm, not pity, Kim. Something but not pity---trust me."
She tensed unable to remember if she'd spoken out loud or not. Her thoughts went to the promise one of the men had made about aborting the child she'd only just learned she carried. She gasped and twisted to face Wilson. "They're going to kill the baby."
Interesting hodgepodge.
She jerked out of Wilson's hold and fell to the floor. Kim ignored the sting of hitting the concrete and scrambled to her feet. "Hodgepodge? What did he mean?" She touched her stomach tentatively. "It's a baby, right?"
Wilson rose to his feet, looking as if he'd been pulled by strings. He advanced on her, yanking her against his chiseled chest. "Never doubt what you carry. It is most certainly a baby. A baby with special gifts, special abilities, special---"
She gasped. "Wil, I... I won't let them hurt---"
He held her tight. "We won't let them hurt the baby."
Heat washed up her neck and straight to her face. "Oh, gods, Wil, I'm pregnant." She swallowed hard. "This shouldn't be. I take precautions." She blinked. "To the point I'm scary about it. How can they do this to... ohmygod, I don't even know who the father is." She shook her head and buried her face in his chest. "I haven't had sex in months so it's whoever they---"
"Shhh." He kissed her temple. "We'll get through this. I promise you."
"We'll?" She let out a soft laugh. "Just because they did this to me doesn't mean you're responsible."
He tipped her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze. Kim opened her mouth to argue the point more and Wilson captured her lips with his own. She surrendered to his kiss, needing the comfort he provided. When he was finished, her toes were curling and she was purring lightly, nipping at his jaw line.
He led her back to the cot and eased her down on it. For a minute, Kim thought for sure Wilson was going to spread her out and make love to her. When he drew back, she reached for him.
"Get some rest, lil' momma." He waved his hand and Kim could have sworn she felt Fae power around her, comforting her, easing her into a deep sleep.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep when she felt the heat from Wilson's body leave. Opening her eyes, she took a minute to adjust to the darkness and found Wilson near the cell door.
He put his hand against the locked portion. "Apertus."
Hearing him use the Latin word for open while he was obviously trying to get the cell door to give caught Kim by surprise. She hadn't sensed the gift of magik in him. From the looks of it, he didn't actually possess it, just the knowledge of how it should work. That or he was new to it all. Either way, it was touching seeing him try. Lifting her hand, Kim let her power rise. She coated the lock with it.
Wilson shook his head and tried once more, repeating himself. This time, the door opened. She stayed in place, watching as he seemed very impressed with himself for having gotten it open. She suppressed a giggle and watched as Wilson slipped into the hall. His entire demeanor changed. No longer did he appear to be the safe, good humored man she'd lain next to. No. Now, he looked lethal. He disappeared for what felt like forever before creeping back into the cell. He closed the door but didn't latch it. He held two manila folders in his hand.
Kim sat up, no longer caring if he knew she wasn't asleep. "Are those our charts?"
Nodding, he handed Kim's to her and sat.
She opened the chart slowly, half expecting something to leap out and eat her. The past twenty-four hours had been unbelievable. Having a creature charge out at her from an envelope wouldn't surprise her in the least. Skimming over the first portion of the file, Kim came to a dead stop when she spotted information about the sperm donor. Her eyes widened. There was no way she was reading it right. "This can't be right."
"Why?" Wilson asked, leaning over to peek at the chart.
She pointed at the portion with sperm donor traits listed. "It says he has human, rat DNA, traces of Fae, wolf and panther DNA as well." She shook her head. "This is a joke. This isn't possible. Humans can't be---"
Wilson snatched the chart from her hands and stared at with wide eyes. "This can't be right."
"Thank you." Kim breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm starting to believe in a lot of freaky stuff. A wererat isn't one of them."
He set her file down and began ripping through his own. "No fucking way!"
"Shhh." Taking hold of Wilson's forearm, Kim did her best to calm him down before all the guards came running. "What is it?"
His gaze locked on her before it slid slowly down the length of her body. "This can't be."
"You said that already."
"I would have known. I mean, I knew you were with child but I should have known the rest." Wilson let his folder fall to the floor. Files scattered everywhere.
Seeing it was pointless to keep trying to reason with him, Kim went to retrieve the files only to have Wilson beat her to it. "No. Umm, are you tired? You should rest."
She pointed at the cell door. "No. We should get the hell out of here while we can."
"I can't risk dragging you around a jungle, Kim. We'll have to go with plan B."
Kim gave him a pointed stare. "We don't have a plan B. They'll be here soon to abort the baby. I won't let them. I'm leaving now. You need to come with me."
Wilson shoved the folders under the cot portion of the gurney and rushed towards the cell door. He pushed it shut, ran back and practically tackled her. He pulled Kim close and buried her head in his chest. "Someone's coming."
"Oh." Following his lead, Kim pretended to be asleep in his arms. Since her back faced the cell door, she couldn't see who was there but she did hear footsteps. It sounded like more than one set.
"Interesting." The sound of Krauss' hushed voice made her skin crawl. The man had betrayed her in the worst way. "I suspected they may be compatible based on his initial reaction when we introduced her to the facility but never in my wildest dreams did I suspect they might be mates."
Mates?
"This is the first night since he's been here that he's slept soundly," a voice she recognized as one of the men in lab coats said. "Look at the protective manner in which he holds her. Do you think he senses the truth?"
Krauss chuckled. "No. Parker told me Wilson makes a habit of not thinking. His body is still under the effects of the drugs we gave him. They won't be completely out of his system for a full twenty-one days. So, we have a couple of weeks yet. Until then, he'll not be able to notice his scent on her. By that time, he will have worn out his use. I have blood, hair and tissue samples from him and you collected enough semen to allow us to freeze a decent amount of sperm. We'll wait until he breeds with her in a controlled setting, recreating the desired results, of course, then we'll be done with him." He cleared his throat. "Besides, I am rather excited to do an autopsy on him. He is a fascinating creature."
Autopsy?
Kim caressed Wilson's chest ever so slightly. No one would harm him. She would see to that.
"How is it he came to carry the DNA of a rat? I don't remember reading rat as being part of the test list," the other man said.
Rat?
She froze. It couldn't be.
"According to the information Parker gave us, there was an accident at the lab during the days Wilson was there, undergoing treatments to be America's version of a super soldier. Wilson had been pumped full of the drugs necessary for introducing something new to his makeup and somehow---a test tube from a lab rat was switched with that of a tiger. He was injected and the rest is history. Though," Krauss' voice dropped, "I am dying to know how it is he ended up with a blend of Fae, wolf and panther as well. Parker never mentioned that so I'm thinking he didn't know."
"The child will be one of our greatest successes. Its father is already a mix of supernatural DNA and its mother carries Fae blood in her. It would also appear they may be natural mates as well. This is almost too good, Krauss. The backers will love this new revelation."
Wilson was the father? And he was a wererat?
She wasn't sure which she should pick to panic about first so she decided on neither for the time being. It took all Kim had not to reach down and protect her stomach. She wouldn't allow them to harm an innocent child---her child.
"Perhaps we should assure that they are true mates prior to taking this to the backers," Krauss said. "Contact Paquin. Have him sedate Wilson. We'll remove him from the cell and introduce another female to him who is ovulating. We can introduce another male for Kimberly as well. Perhaps Vic. He seems most curious as to her whereabouts and unable to control himself when injected with the serum." He let out a twisted laugh. "Perhaps we should chain Wilson and observe him as he watches another male take Kimberly?"
"If he is her true mate, he'll kill himself trying to get to her and she'll do the same trying to reach him, Krauss. You've already gotten a pretty good idea of his behavior with the Lividita debacle. Are you willing to risk losing a matched pair? We'll think of another way. But I will say that I think we should attempt to at least separate them. She doesn't need to get used to him being around---not if we're going through with exterminating him."
"Agreed," Krauss said, his voice low. "Send for Paquin. Sedate Wilson and if need be, use a mild one on Kimberly. If Wilson gives you a hard time, shoot him in the heart. I want his head intact to study. Just hold off on terminating the current pregnancy until we're sure Wilson will be around to plant his seed in her again---this time on his own."
It took all Kim had not to scream, shout, anything to let them know they wouldn't harm a hair on Wilson's head. She decided to go with another approach. She dropped her voice so low it was barely there and whispered, "Swear to me that you won't be afraid of me."
Wilson stiffened. "Kim?"
"Swear it."
"I swear."
"Time for plan B." Kim clutched her abdomen and moaned, pretending to be in pain.
"Kimberly?" Krauss asked, the sound of keys rattling following close. "Get the door open, quickly!"
She rolled off the cot and onto the hard, concrete floor. Her shoulder took the brunt of the impact but Kim ignored the pain, focusing instead on getting the men into the cell.
The sound of more people approaching left Kim on the verge of panicking. She'd only planned on having to overpower Krauss and the other scientist with him, not guards. It was too late to stop now.
"Kim?" Wilson asked, sounding very convincing. "What's wrong?"
"Sedate him!" Krauss yelled.
Kim peeked out to see the tall, thin man with gray hair headed for Wilson. Two beefy guards moved in behind him. She recognized one of them instantly. He'd been the one who had shot Wilson. The man got within a foot of her and she swept her leg out. The large guard went airborne and Wilson was suddenly above her, striking out at the man.
In the blink of an eye, Wilson was in possession of the man's gun and fired at the other guard, taking him down as well. Kim rolled onto her side to find the man she'd kicked laying there with his neck bent at an odd angle. His eyes were wide, unmoving, dead.
Something seized hold of her hair. The next thing she knew, Krauss was there, pressing something sharp to her neck. "One move, Wilson, and I inject her with enough sedative to take down an elephant. She won't survive that. Neither will your child."
Kim's gaze went to Wilson. She saw the hesitation on his face and knew he'd give up his chance to get away for her. That was unacceptable. He tossed the gun aside and put his hands in the air. "Don't hurt her."
Laughing, Krauss tipped her head back further. "It would appear I was correct in assuming he is your mate. It appears I can control the beast by simply controlling the beast's bitch. Now that he's no longer a threat---"
She glared at him. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about but know that you won't have to worry about Wil coming after you." She let her power up enough to make her green eyes swirl with white. People had told her it was beyond unnerving to witness. From the look on Krauss' face, they were correct.
He gasped. "What? How? You've never shown any signs of actually being able to wield magik."
Ignoring him, Kim focused instead on the syringe in his hand. She let her magik coat it and Krauss' arm. His hand shook and his eyes widened. She smiled. "Time to administer your meds, Professor."
"No," he said, doing his best to fight back but failing. "Kimberly, think about this. I am offering you the opportunity to make history. To be the Madonna of the Millennium."
Increasing her magik, Kim didn't let up. "What you're offering is to kill the father of the child you saw to it I now carry. And you're offering the chance to let you and your men kill an unborn child all for the sake of science---to see if you can recreate the results naturally." She let her gaze go hard. "No."
"Put the syringe down, Krauss," Wilson said, taking a step towards her.
"I-I can't." Krauss' hand shook and the needle broke her skin. She didn't move. "Do not make me do this, Kimberly. Lift your power. I don't want to harm you."
"I won't live in a cage or allow my son to be born into this. Wil is leaving now." Kim tossed magik at Wilson, coating it with the compulsion for him to leave her behind and never look back.
He shook his head, somehow fighting off her power. "I'm not going anywhere without you. Come with me."
"Your gut instincts told you I'd slow you down. I know that's why you refused to go when we had the chance before." Unshed tears filled her eyes. "Go!"
"Not without you, hon. Not without either of you." His gaze slid down her body. "What Krauss did was wrong but it doesn't change the fact it's our child at risk now. Please don't ask me to leave you or our baby behind."
Guards poured into the hallway and Kim openly sobbed. "Wil, he'll kill you. I can sense it."
Wilson didn't seem to care. "Honey, please don't do this."
The syringe poked further into her skin. She let her magik loose, no longer bothering to keep a hold on it. It reacted violently to the situation, thrusting Krauss and the syringe far from her. Krauss hit the wall with the thud as she pushed to her feet. Kim planted her body in front of Wilson's a second before a spray of gunfire came at him.
Putting her hands out, Kim directed her power in front of them, catching the bullets in mid-motion. She tipped her head and stared out from swirling eyes at the men who had tried to kill Wilson. As much as she wanted to release the bullets and spray the men with them, she wasn't a natural born killer.
Wilson's hands slid up and over her own. He pressed his body to hers and put his lips to her ear. "Close your eyes and I'll direct them where they need to go."
She didn't question what he was doing for her, steering her power to eliminate the enemy so she wouldn't have to. She just did as she was instructed. The sound was loud as the bullets sprayed back at their original owners. Kim kept her eyes closed tight.
Wilson had her hand wrapped in his before she could so much as exhale. "Come on, hon. Just follow me. Don't look. Just let me---"
Kim opened her eyes and locked gazes with him. His chocolate gaze made everything seem better. He offered a soft smile. "That's my girl."
They moved through the facility quickly, Wilson held her hand with one of his and a weapon he'd taken from one of the guards in the other. From the ease with which he handled the weapon, she suspected he was in law enforcement of some sort. Of course, the whole rat DNA thing might mean he was into something even bigger but she didn't want to think on that at the moment.
He stopped at a closet, punched a hole directly through the wall and then proceeded to unload weapons, handing her two hand guns, a knife and a strap full of grenades. Her eyes widened. "Wil!"
He took the grenades from her and tipped his head, putting them over his neck and through one arm. She watched in awe as he took on a Rambo vibe. She'd seen enough movies to recognize the weapon he grabbed next. It was an AK-47.
"You said you were down here on business." She pointed at the AK-47 in his hand and the grenades over his shoulder. The ones he looked entirely too familiar with for her liking. "What is it, exactly, that you do for a living?"
He arched a brow. "Uh, I'm a postal worker?"
"Wilson."
He grinned. "I kill the bad guys, honey."
"Men like Krauss?" she asked, holding the handguns like they might bite.
Nodding, Wilson took the guns and tucked one into the back of his pants. He held the other, popping the clip and then sliding it back in. He held it out to her. "This is the safety. It's off. Point and shoot at anything that gets close."
"Wil, I can't---"
His chocolate gaze landed on her. "Decide now, Kim. It's them or it's us." He ran his hand over her lower abdomen. "I'm not blowing smoke up your ass, honey. I want you and the baby... our baby... safe."
"What's a mate?" She needed to know and now seemed like as good as time as any to ask.
Wilson stilled. "You're a supernatural, Kim. What do you know of how other supernaturals marry, reproduce and all that good stuff?"
She bent her head and averted her gaze. "Not much. My father is tight-lipped about everything outside of the Fae community. I'd heard of shifters but never actually met any before." She gasped as what he was trying to tell her sank in. "They take a spouse for life---and have one perfect match."
Wilson gave her a tiny nudge and offered a smile. "You okay with this? With, umm, with me? With us?"
A shot whizzed past her head, cutting off her train of thought. Wilson grabbed her and spun her behind him, pointing and shooting with a precision that was both amazing and scary. He grabbed several more weapons, shoving them in varying places---his boots, his pockets, down the front of his pants.
"Vic and Brad are here somewhere," she said. "We have to get them out."
Wilson shook his head. "I heard them moving them yesterday, Kim. I don't know to where. We need to get you out of here and me to my team. My men and I will come back in to free everyone. We can't risk anything happening to you or the baby."
He was right. She nodded.
Kim grabbed a case, hoping it would prove to be helpful and held tight to his hand as he pulled her through the building. Wilson held firm to her hand, leading her out and past a large home. He rushed towards a jeep and ushered her in only to realize there were no keys in it. Kim, though shaken from the events unfolding around her, wasn't too far gone that she couldn't help. Putting her hand on the steering wheel, she released her power, starting the jeep instantly.
Wilson leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Yep, that's my girl."
He gunned the jeep, tearing down a worn path and going deep into the jungle.
\*
Wilson stared at Kim while she slept. He was afraid to close his eyes for fear Krauss' men would show up and take her from him. No longer did he care about his safety. Now he worried only about Kim and the piece of him she carried.
His mind raced back to the files. The minute he'd read the genetic makeup of the father of Kim's child, he'd known it was him. He didn't even need to get to the name. He had little in the way of clear memories of the weeks prior to Kim's arrival. It was entirely possible, and plainly obvious, that they'd collected semen from him.
He couldn't help but laugh at the irony of not only finding his mate---which he was fast beginning to suspect Kim was---but also knocking her up without having so much as gotten past the kissing phase.
The rest of the I-Ops would love knowing he hadn't even gotten past second base with Kim yet was going to have a family with her.
A family.
Never had he considered settling down and having kids. In fact, seeing his friends mate off, one by one, had sent Wilson into a panic, afraid he'd catch the mating bug. Now that he had a full-blown case of it, he couldn't imagine going back to not having Kim in his life.
The snapping of a twig in the distance alerted Wilson to the fact they were no longer alone. He listened closely, trying to gauge how many of the enemy were there. Whatever Krauss had doped him up with did hamper his normal abilities. Something tickled the back of his mind and for a split second, he could have sworn it was the I-Ops. That was ridiculous. Protocol dictated that even if they had thought he survived the initial attacks, months ago, to only search for him for a certain period of time. That time had passed.
Kim moaned and he went to her side, worried something might be wrong. She jerked awake and grabbed his hand, seeming to calm herself when she found he was with her.
"Get some sleep, hon."
He looked around, sure he sensed someone near. No part of Wilson wanted to worry Kim or put undue stress on her.
She caressed his hand. "I'm sorry I'm so tired. I used a lot of power to cover our tracks."
"You did what?"
"Don't be mad at me, Wil. I knew they'd hunt us down if I didn't." Her eyelids fluttered and Wilson knew she was exhausted.
"Kim, how much power did you use?"
"Enough to make them think we went in the other direction and enough to completely cover our tracks in this direction." She released his hand and fear slammed through him.
"No, honey. No!" The idea that Kim could have over exerted herself nearly did what Krauss' men had tried. It nearly broke his spirit. Wilson smoothed Kim's long black hair back from her face and noticed how badly his hand shook. "K-Kim."
She blinked, looking beyond tired. A slow smile spread over her pale face. "I'll be okay. I just need to rest." She yawned. "I think the baby might be draining me a little too. You're worrying so loud that I heard it in my sleep. Stop."
He nodded, but had no intention on obeying. "Are you sure you're going to be all right?"
The tiny bit of Fae magik that he carried within him lashed out and ran through her hand. Wilson tried to jerk his hand free of Kim's but couldn't. She turned into him, a smile still on her face and began resting evenly. He wasn't sure what had happened but whatever it was, Kim seemed better. Bending, he pressed his lips to her forehead and savored the knowledge she would indeed be okay so long as he could get her out of the jungle and away from Krauss.
Reluctantly, Wilson stood to make his rounds. He didn't want to leave her side. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was close but his body was unsure as to whether the person was a threat or not. He patted one of the many weapons he now wore and it calmed his nerves.
He walked the edges of their campsite, listening closely for anything out of the ordinary. The tickling in the back of his mind happened again, causing Wilson to draw his weapon and crouch, positive something was nearby.
\*
Kim woke to the smell of food and sat up slowly, her joints aching from having slept the wrong way. She glanced around and found Wilson crouched near a mound of rocks. It took Kim a moment to realize that cooked meat lay upon the rocks. She looked around for signs of a fire but found none.
Wilson turned his head and as his chocolate gaze landed on her. She could see the relief on his face. "You're up. Feeling any better?"
"I am." She pushed to her feet and had him on her in an instant, trying to help. Kim laughed. "Wilson, I'm pregnant, not dying." Kim stilled as the reality of it washed over her. "I'm pregnant."
He touched her cheek. "We're pregnant."
Arching a brow, she stared up at him. "Oh, really? You planning on squeezing him out in eight months?"
Wilson grinned sheepishly. "If I could, I would. You know, that's the second time you've referred to the baby as a boy. It's too early to tell, isn't it?"
Kim touched her lower abdomen and shrugged. "I don't know. Yes, I guess. Doesn't change the vibe I get when I think about the baby. I just think 'him'. If that makes any sense."
"Makes perfect sense. My friend Melanie can tell the sex of a baby too. She's Fae as well. Might be something to that."
Kim couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the look in Wilson's eyes as he talked about his friend Melanie. She tried to push the feelings away but couldn't. Knowing it was best not to dwell, she opted for a change of subject. "So, where do you call home, Wilson?"
"Virginia. You?"
"Ohio now. Or, at least I did. I was... am... attending grad school there. My father and I have lived just about everywhere."
"You're close to your father, I take it."
Kim stared up at the canopy of trees above her and sighed. "Very. We're all we have. I grew up wishing he'd marry again, give me brothers or sisters but he wouldn't hear of it. Wouldn't even entertain the idea of dating. He seemed to think any women he met would be suspicious as to why he doesn't age and when the time came for him to move on, to keep his secret, I'd be too attached to them to let them go."
Wilson snorted. "I can relate. So, why didn't he just raise you among your own kind... among Fae?"
She stared at him, trying to figure out just how old he was. "I don't know. He has his reasons, I guess. I can't wait to get back and see him but a part of me is scared to death of what he'll think of me for ending up pregnant."
Wilson scratched his scruffy chin. "That's hardly your fault, Kim. He'll understand. I'll explain it to him and make him understand that I won't let you or the---"
She put her hand up, halting him. "I appreciate that you think you can help but you can't. He won't accept you into my life. You're not Fae and there is no way my father will be all right with everything." She closed her eyes. "He'll have to accept the baby but he won't accept you."
"Kim."
"We need to get through the here and now before we worry about what's to come," she said, averting her gaze.
Wilson backed away from her and set about getting her something to eat. He placed cooked meat on an oversized leaf and put some chopped fruit next to it. As he handed it to her, their hands skimmed but he remained silent, alerting Kim to the fact she'd upset him. That hadn't been her intent, but in the end, if they did survive, her father's wrath would be far worse than anything Krauss could do to him. As Kim watched Wilson take his breakfast and sit at the far end of the camp, her chest tightened.
Unsure what to say to make it right, she focused on the food instead. She took a bite of the meat and much to her surprise, it wasn't too bad. Her stomach gurgled, threatening to react violently if she dared put too much in so she took it slow. "Thanks for breakfast. I'm a little scared to ask what kind of meat this is."
Wilson didn't respond. He stared at something far off in the distance, blatantly ignoring her. Normally, she would have walked away and allowed the person to act as childish as they wanted but this was different. She and Wilson had managed to survive something horrific and shared not only that but the aftermath of events as well. She still couldn't believe she was pregnant.
He's probably just as shocked he's going to be a father as you are about being a mother.
Her inner voice had a valid point and it also had a way of making guilt creep up on her. Kim forced a bit of the fruit down before making her way towards Wilson. She held the leaf full of food out to him. "I've eaten as much as I can. Would you like the rest?"
His dark gaze danced over her quickly before he shook his head. "No. I'm fine."
"Wil, talk to me. You're upset and---"
He stuck his bottom jaw out a bit. "Nah, I'm not upset. I'm used to it. I mean, who wants the wererat around any longer than need be? I didn't sign up to be what I am." He slapped his chest. "I signed on thinking I'd be something else."
The raw emotion in his voice stung. Kim did what felt natural. She bent and caught his wrists in her hands. She slid down and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. She hugged Wilson tight and rocked him gently. As the tension began to leave his body, she started to hum lightly, needing to make things right with him but not understanding exactly why.
It took a moment for Wilson to warm up enough to hug her back but when he did, Kim ruffled his shaggy hair. "I think you misunderstood, Wil. This has nothing to do with you being a rat shifter and everything to do with you not being Fae. My father could care less what kind of shifter, if any, you are. Even if you were only human, he'd have issues."
He tipped his head and the action left her lips brushing his. Kim drew in a deep breath as her entire body heated. As their gazes locked, she knew he felt it too. She also knew she was powerless to fight whatever the attraction was between them.
She kissed him and the minute Wilson's tongue dove into her mouth, Kim surrendered herself fully to him. He ran his hands up her sides, coming to a stop just below her breasts. Kim cupped his face, eating at his mouth, needing more than he was giving.
"Uh, Kim," he whispered, tightening his hold on her ribcage.
"Please."
Wilson's chocolate gaze softened. "Well, if you insist."
She grinned. "I do."
"Then who am I to argue?" He lifted her off his lap and handed her a gun. "Hold this a minute. I need to unload."
She licked her lips and laughed. "I thought that was the point of me trying to seduce you. You know, so you can unload in me."
It was Wilson's turn to laugh. He chuckled as he pulled a knife from his side. Kim spotted a discarded snakeskin behind him and gasped. "You fed me snake!"
Wilson jolted and caught his hand on the knife. The second she spotted his blood, she felt faint. She pointed at him, not thinking about the fact she still held one of the many weapons he'd taken from Krauss' compound. "You're hurt."
He put his hands up. "Just a scratch, hon."
Shots rang out and it instantly felt as if she'd been punched in the chest. Fire seemed to consume her upper body and time slowed. She glanced down and noticed blood spreading quickly over her shirt. A wave of dizziness washed over her and the next thing Kim knew, Wilson had her pinned to the ground, covering her body with his.
\*
Wilson's entire body was on high alert. Someone was shooting at them. He glanced around and then down at Kim. "Stay down. I need to... Kim? Kim, honey?"
She stared up at him with wide eyes.
"Kim?"
"Wilson!"
The sound of his name being shouted by a familiar voice grabbed his attention. He turned and couldn't believe his eyes as he found three women standing in a row. Each one was armed to the teeth. The tallest, a white-blonde, didn't seem as comfortable with the idea of being armed as the other two. "Melanie? Peren? Missy?"
Melanie grinned and rushed towards him. He pushed up and off Kim, still shocked the women were there. His eyes widened as he realized what that meant. "Oh shit, you three went against your mates."
A short raven-haired hottie with the ability to kill just about anything wagged her brows. "We came to get your sorry ass. We missed it."
Melanie nudged her. "Missy."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, we missed you too."
A medium height, auburn haired beauty smiled. "How bad are you hurt?"
He lifted his hand. Still in shock to see his friends had come for him. "Just a scratch."
Missy snorted. "You must bleed like a madman then, unless the blood on you is from the chick who was holding a gun on you."
"What?" he asked, glancing down and noticing for the first time that he was indeed covered in blood.
Peren glanced at Melanie. "I still can't believe you took the shot. I thought it was too far to make but the moment she pulled a gun on Wilson, I knew you'd do something incredible to save him."
Confused, Wilson shook his head. "No one had a gun on---" He froze. "Kim!"
Turning slowly, he felt his stomach drop as he saw Kim's lifeless, blood covered body lying on the jungle floor. He rushed to her side, screaming her name the entire way. He did his best to assess the damage but his mind was spinning with the knowledge he'd left her lying there to greet his friends' wives, all the while she was bleeding to death. "No, honey, no. Talk to me. Kim. Please. Kim."
"Wilson, what's going on?" Peren asked. "Who is she and why did she have a gun on you?"
He lifted his blood-covered hands as hot tears streamed down his face. "She didn't have a gun on me." He closed his eyes tight, hoping it was all a nightmare, that she was really fine. "She was holding my gun... for me not on me."
"You three are going to be the death of me," a familiar male voice said. "I swear if this is another wild... you found him?"
"Eadan, hurry," Missy said. "Can you help her?"
A blur of blond moved in next to Wilson. He looked up to find Melanie's brother Eadan kneel beside him, touching Kim's neck, looking for a pulse. When his blue grey gaze moved upwards, Wilson knew it was bad.
He let out an ear-piercing cry before pushing Eadan away from Kim. He pulled her limp body into his arms and rocked her gently. "No! We didn't make it out of there for it to end this way. Kimberly, please look at me. Please, honey."
"Honey?" Eadan asked as he put a hand on Wilson's shoulder. "Who was she?"
"My mate," he whispered, still rocking Kim's body.
The females behind him all gasped.
"Ohmygod, no," Melanie said, her voice low. "I didn't know. I thought... Wilson, ohmygod, no."
Thunder rolled and wind whipped all around them. At first, Wilson thought it was Melanie's or Eadan's doing since they were Fae. As the heavy press of darkness swept in, he knew better. He also knew that whatever was coming was pissed and headed straight for them. He tried and failed to hold onto Kim's body as the wind ripped him away from her.
He blinked, unsure he was seeing what he was. Hundreds of black birds amassed above Kim's body and instantly formed into the figure of a man who was as big as Green, their largest I-Op. The man's jet-black hair hung just past his ears and he had a goatee that was cut close. He wore leather pants and a black t-shirt. He looked down at Kim's body and an explosion went off behind him, causing dirt and leaves to go everywhere. He looked up and out from emerald green eyes. "Who harmed her?"
Eadan let out a slew of curses before dropping to one knee and bowing his head. "Lord Culann of the Council. I'm Eadan Daly, son of Medward and Tatianna. We're not the enemy here."
The man put his hand out and over Kim's body. It lifted as if on strings and Wilson tried to charge the man but Eadan tackled him. "Let go of me!" He struggled against the Fae to no avail. He wasn't at full strength. "Don't touch her! Don't you lay a fucking hand on her."
Melanie and the others were suddenly next to him, yanking on him.
Culann glared at him. "Who are you and what have you done to her?"
"I'm her---"
Eadan elbowed him in the face, silencing him. "He's just trying to protect her, my lord."
Culann put his hand over Kim's chest and hissed. "She's been shot twice. One pierced her heart and the bullets are lead!" He shook his head. "She was here to study plants, not to..." His jaw set and he narrowed his gaze as he moved his hand down more, stopping just above her abdomen. "I will gut the man who dared to touch her! I will---"
Kim's body jerked violently a second before white light engulfed it. Wilson struggled to get to her but with four people on him, each possessing varying levels of supernatural powers, he wasn't going anywhere until they decided to let him up.
Culann's gaze softened as he stared down at Kim. He swept his hand out and over her once more, and Wilson watched in awe as the blood on her chest vanished. Her eyes opened and she screamed.
"Shh, I am here now. All is well," Culann said, his voice deep.
She looked up at him, appearing confused. "Daddy?"
Daddy?
Her father was some bad ass council guy? Wilson had a half a second to think on that fact before his mind and body told him to go for his mate. He struggled against the people holding him. "Kim!"
She glanced in his direction, appearing slightly disoriented.
Culann touched her cheek. "Is he the man who dared to touch you?"
"N-no. Wilson has never done anything but try to protect me, Daddy. Don't hurt him. Please. He got me away from the men who---"
"Men?" Culann shot magik out, striking a tree and uprooting it from the ground. "I will kill every one of them."
Kim flinched, reaching for her father. "Daddy, please. Listen to me! Wilson stopped them from being able to hurt me. He saved me. He saved the baby."
Culann spun, glaring down at his daughter. Wilson struggled harder against the people holding him. "You were pregnant to start with? By whom?"
"By me," Wilson said, his teeth clenched and his body strained.
Kim, along with everyone else, gasped. She pushed away from her father and ran towards Wilson, putting her body before his. "Daddy, no!" She put her hands up. "Don't kill him. He's my..." She glanced back at Wilson. "...my mate?"
Culann let out an ear-piercing cry as he shot power out and over the area. "Like hell! My daughter is not mated to a shifter. I will kill him and then you will come home with me."
Eadan, Missy, Peren and Melanie released him and stood, blocking Culann's path to him. Wilson grabbed for Kim, needing to see she was indeed healed. He looked her over carefully, checking her chest and realizing he was crying as he pulled her close to him. He kissed her temple. "Oh, gods, honey, I thought... I thought... don't ever scare me like that again. We didn't make it past Krauss and his men to have it end like that, Kim."
She wrapped her arms around him and let out a shaky laugh. "I don't know what happened. I was upset you fed me snake and then it felt like someone hit me in the chest. I woke up to find Daddy... oh no. Daddy."
Kim tried to pull away from him but Wilson refused to let her go. "No. If he wants me dead, fine, but I'll be damned if I let go of you right this second." He ran a hand down her torso and touched her stomach. "The baby? Is he safe?"
She nodded, her gaze going to her father. "It's not what you think, Daddy."
Wilson waved a hand in front of her face. "Kim, I don't give a shit if the man can turn water into wine. I want to know that my son and my mate are okay. Is the baby hurt?"
She touched Wilson's cheek. "He's safe. Daddy saved him." Tears welled in her eyes. "He didn't have to, but he did."
Wilson understood what she was saying. Her father held the power to have saved her life and allowed the baby to die. He didn't. Wilson yanked her into his arms and held her tight before turning his head to look at Culann. "Thank you."
The man glared at him.
Eadan made a move to step forward. "Lord Culann, Wilson is a good, honorable man who would never harm your daughter. He's a member of the I-Ops team and has dedicated his life to protecting those who can't protect themselves."
"Honorable?" Culann asked, his gaze sinking to Kim's stomach. "So honorable that he plants his seed in my daughter before coming to ask permission for her hand first? Before marrying her? He spent his dirty shifter seed into---"
Kim pushed away from Wilson and pointed at her father. "Daddy, not another word!"
The power in her voice shocked Wilson.
Apparently, from the look on Culann's face, it shocked him too. "Kimberly?"
"No. You will apologize to Wilson this instant. I woke to find myself chained to a bed, after having been a lab rat---" She cringed and stared back at him. "No offense."
"None taken."
She looked at her father. "I woke up pregnant, Daddy. Professor Krauss wasn't who he pretended to be. He's an evil man who wants to make a new generation of genetically altered super soldiers. He had Wilson chained to the wall." She choked back a sob and Wilson went to her, rubbing her shoulders. "Wilson didn't get a choice. They took sperm from him and implanted it in me. He didn't ask to be a father. He didn't ask for me... and he didn't walk away and leave me to fight my own battle."
Wilson sensed her stress levels rising and rubbed her arms. "Shh, it's okay, Kim. He's welcome to think I'm a piece of shit. I don't care. You need to calm down. You've been through enough already."
She shook her head. "No. It's not okay for my dad to think the father of my child is anything less than what he is... a brave man with a big heart who had a chance at freedom but who refused to leave without me and without his son."
"Stop crying, Melanie," Peren said. "You're leaking power and Krauss' men are combing the area."
\*
Kim stiffened as the name Melanie rolled from the woman's tongue. She looked over to find a tall blonde woman staring at Wilson and sobbing. Jealousy flared through her. She tried to step away from Wilson's hold but he refused to let her.
Melanie stared at her. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were trying to hurt him."
Kim wasn't sure why the woman was apologizing and she didn't care.
Melanie swallowed hard. "You're right you know. The baby is a boy. He's very healthy. Very strong. A survivor." She glanced between Kim and Wilson. "Like his mommy and daddy."
"What the hell is going on here?" a deep voice asked.
Kim looked up to find four men standing in a line. Each dressed as Wilson had been when she first saw him, only they weren't filthy. She took one look at the man in the center, his dark wavy hair tied back at the nape of her neck and she gasped. "Lukian?"
The man smiled. "Kimberly, what are you doing in South America? Does your father know you're down here?"
A man who had similar features to Lukian's tapped his arm. "Would that be the big scary lookin' guy who I think might want Wilson dead?"
"Yeah, Roi," a short woman with long black hair said. "That would be the one. He's kind of pissed because Kimberly is pregnant with Wilson's baby."
Lukian blinked and shook his head. "You're what with who?"
Wilson yanked her close to him and kissed the top of her head. "Krauss tricked her and she showed up here, unconscious, about two weeks back. They kept her tied down to a cot, in my cell, just out of my reach." He stiffened. "They took her out each day, talking about monitoring her progress and---"
A hulk of a man with auburn hair growled. "Tell me they did not try to run genetic altering tests on her!"
Melanie rushed to the man and put her hand on the back of his neck. "Green, shhh. They did that and so much more to Wilson and her."
A man with amber eyes stared at her and sniffed the air. His eyes widened. "You really are expectin' his baby?"
"Yes, Jon," Wilson said. "She is."
Roi laughed nervously. "I'd make a joke but her father is creepin' me out."
Kim looked at her father. "Daddy, Wilson is guilty of saving my life. That's it."
Her father's jaw locked. "And of saving my grandson's life."
"You're not going to try to make me get rid of the baby?" she asked, tears flowing freely. "Daddy, I thought you'd hate me for what they did. I thought you'd hate the..."
Her father came for her and Wilson eased his grip on her. "I'll handle the men who did this to you. And never would I want harm to come to my family."
He smiled. It looked forced but it was an attempt. "The child you carry is my family." He glanced at Wilson. "Are you going to insist on having him be a part of the child's life?"
Kim opened her mouth to answer and stopped. "Uh, umm, we only just broke free of the facility. We've not really talked about what we're going to---"
Wilson took her hand in his. "We're getting married and raising our son."
She gasped. "Wil, I can't marry you. I don't even know you."
"Oh, bullshit, Kim!" he shouted, startling her. "Even if Krauss and his men wouldn't have interfered, we'd have found our way to one another. It's how these things work, honey. Mates find one another no matter what. What he did to you, to us, is beyond wrong. That does not change the fact it's our baby growing inside you and it certainly does not fucking take away from the fact you are my mate."
"I'm not really your... I mean... I can't be. You're a shifter and I'm Fae. They can't be compatible."
Green let out a long breath. "Actually, every mated pair here will beg to differ. They are all a blend of shifter and Fae matings. I'd like to get you two back to our compound and run some of my own tests." He put his hands up. "Just to be sure you're both okay. Who knows what else Krauss did to you both?"
"Out of the question," her father said. "Kimberly is coming home with me. If that vagabond insisting he's her mate wishes to see her, he can try to come through me."
Wilson charged her father and Kim screamed, rushing between them. "No fighting!"
"Wilson, we need to talk. Tell us everything you can about Krauss and his men. We'll set up a strike." Lukian came forward and stopped just shy of touching Wilson. He smiled. "It's damn good to see your ugly ass again."
Wilson nodded and the next thing Kim knew, the men were all doing very manly versions of hugs. The women cried and clung to Wilson. Much to her surprise, the jealousy she'd felt toward Melanie died down as Melanie hugged Wilson again. Mostly, it had to do with the way Melanie and the man named Green seemed to react to one another. It was easy to see they were in love.
Her father touched her back. "Come, I'll take you home. This is no place for you or the baby to be."
She watched as Wilson continued to hug his friends. "Daddy, I can't leave him."
Her father exhaled rather loudly. "Kimberly, I'm not asking you to never see the vaga... erm... man again. I simply wish to take you and the baby far from harm's way. I think he would wish the same for you and his child."
As Wilson continued to be hugged and held by the people who obviously loved him, Kim nodded. "Okay, but I want you to promise to flash back and protect him. He's weakened from what they've done to him, Daddy. He shouldn't be involved in a strike of any kind."
Lukian pulled Peren into a hug and stared over at Kim. "I agree. Its why, after he's debriefed, he's going home. If he even thinks of lifting a finger to help capture Krauss, I'll shoot him myself."
Kim smiled at her long time friend. "Wouldn't bother him a bit. Guess they used him as target practice in there at least once a day. Scared the heck out of me when he healed over instantly."
Lukian approached, holding Peren's hand. He stopped when he was close. "Kimberly, how bad was it for him?"
Her eyes filled with unshed tears as she thought back to the filthy condition she'd found Wilson in. Peren hugged her tight and stroked her back. "Oh, honey, don't even say it. I can see it in your eyes. It was bad. He's safe now." She pulled back. "You're both safe now."
Lukian stared down at Peren. "And that is the only reason I'm not tanning your backside for disobeying my orders and putting not only yourself but our little one in danger too." He touched her abdomen.
Kimberly's father cleared his throat. "So, the rumors are true. The great lycan king mated."
Lukian nodded. "If only we could mate off the members of the Fae Council."
Kimberly tuned out their friendly banter and focused on Wilson. The man he'd called Jon hugged him again and it was easy to see they were close. When they broke apart, Jon did a light, fake punch to Wilson's jaw.
"Nice beard, man."
"And hair," the one called Roi said as he pushed Wilson's shoulder.
Kimberly stepped closer to her father, needing the comfort of family. "Daddy, I want to go home."
"But I thought you said you couldn't leave him."
Shocked her father was honoring her wishes, Kimberly nodded. "I know but I'm tired and he's safe... with his friends and family now. We should---"
"If you leave," Peren reached for her, "it will break his heart. They're excited to see him, Kimberly. They thought he was dead and they're like brothers. They really are."
Lukian nodded. "She's right. If you go, Wilson won't be the same."
Kim wanted to agree but couldn't. Wilson seemed healthier and happier having his friends and family near. It eased some of the pressure in her chest, she was fast realizing was concern for him. She hugged her old friend and then hugged the woman she assumed was his wife. "Thank you for worrying about him but he'll be fine. He has all of you back and though I only just met Wil, I have a pretty good guess he won't take being shut out of the strike against Krauss lying down." Fatigue set in and Kim instantly felt drained. "I'm tired and---"
Her father drew in a sharp breath. "The child pulls on too much of your power, Kimberly."
"I'll be fine, Daddy."
She hoped.
Her father stared at Lukian. "I'll take Kimberly to safety and then return to assist in finding the men responsible for doing this to my daughter."
"Thank you, Culann," Lukian said. "I'd appreciate that. How about I send my wife and her friends with you and Kimberly now? They can help watch over her until we can all," he glanced back at Wilson who was now being bear hugged by the man called Green, "get back to her."
Kim's gaze went to Melanie, who was watching her closely. She looked away and forced a smile to her face. "I'll be fine, Lukian. Thank you though. Daddy keeps the house warded. Nothing is getting in that he doesn't want there."
Her father put his arm around her. "Come."
She obeyed, refusing to look in Wilson's direction again for fear she'd run to him and never let go. She didn't know the man. Not really. They were strangers thrust together by chance who now had a common thread. One they never planned on.
A baby.
Wilson tapped the metal table, his mind racing and his body aching to hold Kim. His patience was gone and he wanted to be out there, searching the jungle for Krauss and his men. His breathing was erratic and his pulse was off the charts. Green kept coming at him with a blood pressure cuff and a serious expression on his face. Wilson snarled. "Leave me alone. I'm fine."
"Your test results are saying otherwise," Green said, never missing a beat as he cuffed Wilson's upper arm.
"Yeah, whatever. I want to hunt the bastard down and kill him with my bare hands."
"Because he hurt you?" Green asked, a knowing look on his face.
"Because he hurt Kim!"
Green nodded as if he understood completely before falling silent, taking Wilson's blood pressure. When he was done, he stared down at Wilson. "Without Krauss you wouldn't have a baby on the way right now."
"So, you're saying I should send the bastard a fucking wedding invite?" Frustration churned within him and he puffed a breath of air out slowly.
"No, I'm saying you should calm down and I was trying to find the silver lining in all of this, Wilson. Kimberly would certainly qualify as one. She seemed very nice and very concerned about you from what Peren tells me."
He huffed. "Yeah, so much so she bolted the first chance she had."
"Wilson," Green squeezed his arm hard, "Peren mentioned something else to me. Something about the drain the baby was putting on Kimberly's system. I think her father took her because he sensed it happening."
Wilson gasped. "I need to go to her."
"What you need," a deep voice said from the doorway, "is to sit and allow that gentleman to continue his tests. If my grandson is going to have his father around, I want to know the man is healthy."
Culann made his way into the room seeming a little less threatening than the last encounter. Wilson tried to move but Green pinned him in place. "I can and will sedate you."
Wilson rolled his eyes. "Go ahead. I'm used to it."
Culann stared at him. "Are you this difficult with everyone in your life?"
"Is Kim safe?" he asked, ignoring the man's question.
Inclining his head slightly, Culann locked gazes with Wilson. "She is. She's resting. The wards on our home are strong. She's safe. I assure you. I would not be here if she wasn't."
Wilson knew as much. The man was overprotective but Wilson was damn thankful for that fact. Green finished his newest set of tests and Wilson stood too fast. The blood rushed from his head and he swayed. He would have hit the floor if Green hadn't caught him and eased him back into the chair.
"Oh, yeah," Green mused. "You're ready to take on the world. Go lay down, Wilson. I'll get a bag of fluids and we'll work on getting your electrolytes somewhere near normal again. Not to mention your---"
Culann turned as Lukian stepped through the doorway. "Lukian."
Lukian glanced at Wilson. "We've run over everything you've told us and tracked the area you think Krauss' facility was but found nothing."
Wilson's brow furrowed. How could that be? He'd made a point to keep track of what direction they'd traveled to be sure to come back and strike. It made no sense. "He couldn't have moved the entire facility."
Lukian's gaze bore into him. "Get some rest, Wilson. Maybe you'll remember something later, when you're feeling a little more like yourself."
"Are you saying I gave you bad directions?"
Lukian glanced at Green. "Give him something to help him rest."
Wilson shook his head. "No. I want to find Krauss and then I'm going to get my wife and child."
Culann cleared his throat with a cough. "Until my daughter is claimed, she's no one's wife." He turned to Lukian. "Let's do one more sweep now that I'm here and can lend a hand magikally."
"I'm coming." Wilson tried to stand and crashed to the floor, this time, Green wasn't fast enough to catch him. His head bounced off the unforgiving floor and Wilson's vision blurred. When he collected himself, he groaned and blinked up, his head swimming. "Kim... have to get to Kim. Have to keep her and the baby safe. Have to... Kim."
Culann was suddenly next to him, kneeling down. He put his hand out above Wilson's head. "What you have to do is rest and regain your strength. Until you're healthy, you're of no use to my daughter or my grandson."
Wilson opened his mouth to protest and felt Culann's magik easing over him. He knew what was coming and wasn't strong enough to fight it.
A sleep spell.
Two and a half months later...
Kim pushed her sunglasses higher as she walked around the shopping plaza. Her father had forbid her from leaving the safety of their home but after two and half months of being cooped up there, she needed to get out. She'd taken to waiting until he was off handling this council affair or that before going for a walk or drive. Today she'd decided to take it one step further and venture out into a crowded place.
She knew from talking to her father that Krauss and a large group of his men managed to evade capture and she knew what an asset she was to Krauss. That being said, she refused to live her life in fear. It broke her father's heart and he even tried suggesting they go to Virginia to visit Wilson. She refused. It had taken Kim the greater part of two and half months away from Wilson to realize she'd been falling in love with a man she barely knew. A man who shouldn't be forced to love her for the sake of a child.
Absentmindedly, she ran a hand over the tiniest of swells on her lower abdomen. She was barely showing, to the point she was still able to wear her normal clothing. The doctor, who specialized in supernaturals and worked out of the lime light of public view, assured Kim all was well with the baby.
Kim walked past the food court and the smells turned her stomach. Well, all but one. She glanced around trying to figure out what seemed to call to her but found nothing. The plaza was crowded, no doubt due to the fact it was prime tourist season for the area.
Her flat, brown leather dress sandals clicked against the pavement. They had coral beads on them that matched her embroidered voile skirt, which in turn matched the beaded neckline of her v-neck top. Kim had even added bracelets to the mix today. Considering she hadn't felt much like getting out of her pajamas since her return home, that was saying a lot.
She turned back around and bumped into something solid. Heat raced through her body, centering first in her low stomach and then moving lower, between her thighs. She blinked and stared up at a tall man with close cut, brown hair and squared jawline. He was incredibly handsome and every ounce of him looked sculpted. He also seemed to be staring at her with quite the amused yet ravenous look in his chocolate brown eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to go around him. "I didn't see you there."
He stepped in her path and smiled, clearly trying not to laugh.
Kim's brows knit. "Uh, excuse me, buddy."
He stood his ground. The white shirt he wore showed off his tawny skin and the faded jeans he had on were snug in all the right places. She especially liked the black combat boots he wore.
Shocked at how rude, yet incredibly breathtaking the man was, Kim gave up and turned around, storming off in the other direction, mumbling under her breath about what a jerk the man had been. She continued on, heading to the other end of the mall. A baby store seemed to call to her. Reluctantly, she headed for it, still uneasy about the entire ordeal.
She stepped over the threshold and felt compelled to head towards the mobiles and other baby toys. Once there, her stomach fluttered and she sensed Fae power. It wasn't hers per se but it was close to hers. It was also mixed with something else. Something foreign. The power trickled out and over the mobiles, making them spin, their music playing loudly.
The sales clerk looked over at her and Kim bit her lip, looking away, not wanting to acknowledge what was going on. The buzz of power continued. She backed up, shaking her head, touching her abdomen.
Her cell phone rang and she nearly dumped the contents of her purse in an attempt to get it. When she did, she sounded frantic. "Yes?"
Her father's laugh greeted her. "Something the matter?"
She continued to touch her stomach. "Um, Dad, when Mom was pregnant with me, did I do anything odd? Like wield power before I was even born?"
"Yes. Scared the hell out of her at the start. She didn't know what I was and I had no way of knowing you'd be that powerful at that age."
Kim looked up at the mobiles which were still going. Bedside, themed lamps began to turn on and off all on their own. The sales clerk went to check on them, appearing puzzled, mumbling about a short in the wiring or something.
"Kimberly?" her father asked. "Is everything all right? Is my grandson making his presence known?"
She was about to say no when a display full of soft, plush balls dumped onto the floor. "Dad, I have to go now." She hung up quickly, touching her stomach once more. "Stop that. It's bad."
A warm chuckle sounded from behind her, making her jump slightly. She spun around to find the sexy man with chocolate eyes staring at her. The minute she tried to walk past him and bumped his arm, the power increased, causing absolute chaos in the store. A baby blue blanket flew directly at the hunk before her. He caught it with one hand, never taking his eyes from her.
Kim glanced around nervously, noticing everyone beginning to panic. She put her hand on her stomach again and whispered, "No, sweetie. It's scaring people. Stop now."
The power ceased.
Everyone in the store looked around appearing as if they were on the verge of screaming. Kim assumed the ordeal was over. She was wrong. A package of wall decorations leapt free of a shelf and landed at her feet. They were of cartoon mice, running up and down clocks.
Covering her mouth, she tried not to lose her composure and cry. It didn't work out as planned. She teared up and the good-looking man bent, touching the decorations as if they were fragile and the most precious thing he'd ever come into contact with. He stared up at her with a shocked look upon his handsome face.
Kim rushed past him and out of the store, feeling flushed and queasy. She stopped and went to the side of the mall, pulling her cell out and dialing a number she'd come to know by heart---Lukian's.
He answered on the first ring. "Kimberly."
"Is this a bad time?" she asked, desperately wanting to know if Wilson was all right.
Lukian chuckled and Kim heard Peren's voice in the background. "Hang on a sec, Kimberly. My wife is insisting you come and stay with us. She seems to think you'd bask in the glory of all the pregnancy hormones running around here." He chuckled. "Ouch. Okay, she's now threatening my life if I don't convince you to come."
"Lukian," Kim said softly. "Is Wil okay?"
"Come and you'll know."
She let out a long breath. "I can't come there. I'm trying to figure out a way to cut whatever tie Krauss' experiments did to us. It's not fair to Wil to have that there. He didn't ask for it and I'm sure it's their doing. Not Mother Nature's."
"Kimberly, if you manage to find a way to sever the link between you and Wilson, an update on his condition won't be necessary. He won't survive without you. I mean that literally."
She closed her eyes tight and bent her head. "Don't say that. He will. He's strong. He'll be fine whenever whatever they did to us is done. I just need to know he's okay. I can't ask my father. He told me if I asked one more time he'd mystically zap me to Wil's side."
Lukian chuckled. "I can see him doing that. Kimberly, I can't update you on Wilson because he's not here. He took much needed leave."
"I see," she said, glancing up and steeling her resolve. "Good. That's good. He should."
"I gave you his cell number. Hell, I gave you everyone's numbers. Call him."
"I need to go. Tell Peren I said hi and thank her for the invitation. Bye, Lukian."
She hung up and tipped her head against the wall. It took a bit to collect herself but she did. She went instantly to a drink vendor for a bottle of flavored water. Another man approached, this one was only about six foot and had black hair. He smiled and tried to pay the cashier for her water.
"Thanks but no. I've got it."
"I insist," he said, the slightest hint of an accent in his voice. "How often can I say I bought a beautiful woman a drink?"
Trying to be polite but wanting distance between herself and the man, Kim inclined her head. "As sweet as that is, I'm still going to decline. Thank you though."
"Ah, but I insist."
A muscular arm slid around her waist and a large hand splayed over her low stomach protectively. She gasped as heat rushed through her entire body.
"I think the lady spoke," a deep, familiar voice said. "And I'd really rather another man not buy my wife things... even if it's only water."
Wilson?
Kim's breathing grew shallow as she remained rooted in place, scared to turn around and find it wasn't the man she desperately wanted it to be.
The dark haired man who had been trying to buy her water put his hands up and nodded. "My mistake."
A powerful arm, much thicker than what she remembered Wilson's being, shot out with money in hand. The man behind her thanked the cashier and then led her from the stand. He pressed his mouth to her ear and she melted against him, closing her eyes and refusing to get her hopes up.
"Are you going to look at me or are you just going to call me a jerk again as you storm off? Or are you going to run away after our son acts up in a store again?"
What?
Kim opened her eyes and looked up to the find the sexy man she'd collided with, standing before her. Confused, she took a tiny step back. "Wilson?"
He smiled. "See, I was almost hurt you didn't recognize me. Are you trying to tell me I looked better covered in hair and gods knows what else?"
Kim stared at the man. As she locked gazes with him she knew, deep down inside, that it was Wilson. Granted, it was a much healthier looking version of him for sure but him all the same. Tears broke loose and she tried to look away.
He caught her chin. "Hon, don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you. I'll go. I will but... but... I had to see you, Kim. I couldn't stay away anymore. I know you said you didn't want to see me but I wanted, no, I needed to see you."
She cried harder.
He backed away. "Kim, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you hated me."
"Hate?" she asked, choking on a sob. "Hate? Pfft. I'm bawling because in my mind you've been on death's doorstep since I last saw you. I'm crying because I'm so happy to see you're not only alive but healthy," she let her gaze rake over his incredible body, "really, really healthy."
"So," he dipped his head, "you don't blame me for what happened and for not being able to find and kill Krauss?"
"Blame you?" She stared at him in disbelief. "I could almost hit you right now just for the sheer stupidity of that statement alone. I would too if I didn't know you could kill me with your bare hands."
She winked.
Wilson closed the distance between them, lifting her up and off the ground and hugging her tight. It was then she realized the smell that had caught her attention had been the scent of Wilson---musk, vanilla and a hint of spice. She wrapped her arms around him, still shocked at how beefy he was.
"Are you normally this... this..." She patted his arms. "Muscular?"
He lifted a brow. "Yes, why, do you prefer me skin and bones?"
She stared at him, remembering the sight of him when she'd first met him. "Wil, I prefer you, any version will do."
He kept her held off the ground. People glanced at them as they walked past but Wilson paid them no mind. His chocolate gaze seemed locked on her. "Mmm, I missed you, Kim. I would have come sooner but I guess I wasn't as fine as I first thought."
Her chest tightened. "What happened?"
"I'm okay now, don't worry about it."
"Wilson," she said, her tone warning.
He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled. "Funny, I thought things might be awkward between us but seems to me, you've got the scary wife voice down pat."
Kim opened her mouth to argue the point with him and he picked that moment to kiss her. She pushed against his chest as he inched his tongue into her mouth. Kim moaned, running her hands up his thick neck, over his smooth cheeks and into his close cut hair. She ate his mouth and he in turn, tipped his head, seeming hungry for even more.
It took Kim a moment to remember they were in a public place. She stopped the kiss and put her forehead to his. "Wil, we, umm, we're in... Wil."
He chuckled. "Yeah, hon, I remembered at the last minute too." He set her down. "What do you say we find somewhere a little more private to talk?"
She took his hand in hers and held tight. The fear of going months between seeing him again hit her hard. "Okay, but promise you'll stay close."
He smiled. "I promise."
\*
Wilson held Kim's hand, his heart beating madly and his senses on overdrive as he led her to his rental car. He was afraid to speak to her for fear he'd break down. She seemed content just holding his hand as he drove to his hotel room. He parked and led her into the hotel. She kept a tight hold on his hand and pressed in close to him on the way up the elevator. He led her down the hall on the top floor and slid his key card into the door. Once it was open and she was inside, he slammed it shut and yanked her against him.
Every emotion he'd held in for the past two and a half months surfaced. He wanted to be strong in front of her, but it was impossible.
Kim cried and clung to him, shaking in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and lifted her face, staring down at her, uncaring if she saw him crying. She closed her eyes and went to her tiptoes, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.
"I'm sorry I didn't come and see you," she whispered. "My father tried to convince me to but I couldn't, Wil. I felt like you'd been trapped by what they'd done and I didn't, erm, don't want you to feel forced to be with me."
Unable to believe it, he shook his head slightly and kissed her, not bothering with chaste. When he drew back, her eyelids looked heavy and her lips were parted just a bit. "Woman, from the second I saw you, I knew nothing was going to come between us. If you think for one minute I feel pressured to be with you, think again. I feel pressure to keep from dragging you to the floor and burying myself in you. I feel pressure to keep from hugging you so tight I accidently break you. I feel pressure to keep from telling you things you aren't ready to hear me say...feelings you're not yet ready to know I have for you. That's the pressure I feel."
She cried harder, clinging to him. "I'm so sorry I didn't come."
Wilson didn't tell her it had been for the best. That he'd spent over a month in a drug induced coma in order to heal the damage Green had feared would be permanent. He didn't tell her that upon waking he'd had to undergo massive amounts of rehabilitation and that he'd used her as his guiding force. He didn't tell her that he fought through it all, beating the odds, plus some, just to be able to go to her and to his unborn child. She wasn't ready to know that---to know he was in love with her.
He held her close and slid a hand down the length of her, coming to rest on her tiny swell of a tummy. He sensed it then, his child in her. Wilson laughed through his tears and Kim drew back, giving him an odd look.
"What's so funny?"
"We're having a baby and we haven't even---"
Her jaw dropped open and she playfully socked his upper arm. "See, I was right. You are a jerk."
Catching her hand with his, Wilson planted a tiny kiss on the back of it and smiled mischievously at her. "I missed you so much."
She blinked, her green eyes seeming more intense now that they were rimmed with red. "I missed you, too."
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his gaze sliding to her stomach. "What does the doctor say? Is the baby healthy? Are you healthy?"
"We're both fine." She snorted. "In fact, they tell me your son is measuring bigger than he should be. So, I think we might be having a line backer or something."
My son.
The sound of that was music to his ears. He reached out for Kim, needing to hold her. She came to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her scent filled his head and his cock hardened. He cleared his throat, hoping it would help to clear his hard on as well.
No such luck.
She slid her fingers into the top of his jeans and clung to him. He kissed the top of her head. She kissed his chest. "I feel like if I let go, you'll disappear. I don't want you to be a dream."
Cupping her chin, he forced her gaze upwards. "I'm not. I'm here and we won't ever be apart again."
She laughed through her tears and he bent, capturing her mouth with his. His kiss was hot and branding. Kim tugged at his shirt, pulling it free of his pants. She moaned into his mouth as she ran her hands over his abs. "I thought you were rock hard when I helped you shower." She kissed his chest again. "I had no clue you were normally like this... you're quite the intimidating specimen of a man."
He smiled. "Who is still," he took her hand and pressed her palm against the distended flesh in his pants, "rock hard."
Kim licked her lower lip and fire shot through his body. "Mmm, I see that. Hard. Very hard."
"Kim," he whispered. "I want to throw you onto that bed and bury myself so deep in you that we forget everything but the moment."
She blinked and stared up at him with lust filled green eyes. "Then by all means, get the show started. I'm dying here, Wil. Touch me."
He groaned, his cock twitching. "I can't. We can't. I don't want to hurt the baby."
Laughing softy, she touched his cheek. "Sweetie, you won't. Please give this to me. I need to feel you in me. I need to know you're really here. That this isn't a dream."
"It's no dream and as much as I want to take you and claim you fully as mine, I want to do things right."
She appeared puzzled. "Meaning?"
He smiled as a knock sounded on the hotel room door. "Wait right here."
\*
Kim waited in her spot as Wilson disappeared from her line of sight. She heard him talking softly with someone and then he reappeared, with a long garment bag in his hands and a huge, sexy smile upon his handsome face.
"Wil, what's going on?"
He set the garment bag on the bed and turned to face her. "I planned a weekend for us, Kim. I want us to get to know one another the way we should have without outside interference."
A swell of emotions rushed over her and she nodded, wiping her cheeks in an attempt to keep them tear free. "I-I'd like that very much."
He exhaled looking relieved. "Don't worry about your father. He knows about this. He's the one who told me where you'd be today."
She gasped. "I didn't think he knew when I left the house."
Wilson chuckled. "Oh, he knows. I don't think he'll ever not have some sort of mystical tabs things going on you. Though he swore to me that he'd stop while we're together. I don't blame him one bit."
Kim rushed Wilson, tossing her arms around him and hugging him tight. He lifted her off her feet and laughed as he spun her around. "You're an amazing man."
He set her down and blew on his knuckles, arching a brow cockily and smirking. "Yeah. I know."
"Dork," she said, slapping his arm lightly.
He caught her around the waist and made her pulse speed. "Yeah, but I'm your dork. Don't forget that."
Kim ran her thumb over his lower lip. "And here I thought I'd want a pony when I grew up."
"Well," he blushed, "we have to take the good with the bad."
"And are you bad, Wil?" she asked, hoping he was the bad boy she sensed he could be.
He winked. "I'm an angel, honey."
She stepped out of his hold and stared upwards.
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting for God to strike you down for lying." As her gaze met his, Kim had to fight with all her being to keep from peeling her clothing off and begging Wilson to take her.
Wilson motioned to the garment bag. "Yours is in there. I'll step into the other room and change into mine."
"Huh?"
He pointed to the bed. "Open it and see."
She did and her breath caught. A long, pale green evening dress with a scalloped edged bottom lay there. It looked to be sleeveless and form fitting. That wasn't all. It was a Vera Wang. "Ohmygod, Wil, its beautiful!"
"It will bring out the green in your eyes," he said, lifting it and handing it to her. "When I saw it, I knew it was the one I wanted you in for tonight."
She shook her head. "I can't accept this. It's too much."
He gave her a funny look. "No it's not. It's not nearly enough."
"Wil," she said sternly.
He wrinkled his nose and laughed as he rushed out of the room. "Get changed, woman, or I'll do it for you!"
Kim held the dress up and was shocked to see how accurate his guess on her size was. Wilson was turning out to be a man of many layers. She hoped he'd allow her to see all of them.
She dressed quickly and found a pair of matching heels near the closet door. They were exactly her size. Kim slipped them on and waited for Wilson to emerge, nervous about how she looked. She skimmed her hand over her lower abdomen which seemed to show more with the way the dress hung. It was easy to see she was pregnant in the gown. She sighed and felt the weight of someone's stare on her.
Turning, she found Wilson standing in the doorway. He was dressed in a tux that looked stunning on him. He was also staring at her with an off expression on his face.
Kim went to move away but he was there in an instant, spinning her in a slow circle, staring at her as if he wanted to devour her.
I look like a whale.
He shook his head. "No, honey, you look like the most beautiful woman in the world. The mother of my son." He put his palm on the swell of her stomach and closed his eyes. "I know we didn't plan on this but I'm damn happy about him..." He slid his hand up her body slowly, "...about you, Kim. About us."
She met his gaze and tipped her head. "I didn't say anything out loud."
"What?"
"You answered me like you heard what I was thinking."
A cocky grin was his only reply.
Kim groaned and pinched his ass. It was hard to get enough flesh to do so but she finally managed. "Pretend like that hurt, bucko."
Wilson had the courtesy to act as if she'd wounded him with her pinch. He took her hand in his and led her from the room. Kim wanted to ask where they were going but the thrill of the surprise kept her silent.
He led her onto the elevator, putting his hand on the small of her back and staying close to her. The doors opened on the second floor and the view left her speechless. The hotel corridor was lined with white roses. Red rose petals covered the floor and Wilson offered a half smile as he drew her out into the hall. "Ready?"
"Wil?"
He glanced sheepishly around. "Do you like it?"
Kim gawked at her surroundings. "You did this? For me?"
Nodding, he put her arm through his and continued down the hall. She stepped on the soft petals and followed close by his side. They went past all the doors on the floor and headed straight for a staircase. Wilson tightened his hold on her arm as he led her down the stairs. A large sign spanned the top of the archway that read "The Cellar". Confused, she glanced at Wilson only to find his game face was on.
"Wil?"
"This way," he said, stepping through the archway.
Kim stared around in shock. The cellar was anything but a basement. It was more like a trendy underground restaurant. It had a domed shape and tables lined the sides of it. Much to her surprise, the entire restaurant looked to be empty.
Wilson grinned as he bent and kissed her cheek. "I figured we were under the watch of enough eyes when we first met. This, here and now, will be just the two of us." He shrugged as a waiter approached. "Well, and him but that's all."
"You bought the place out for the night?"
"Do you like it?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
She waited until they were seated and the waiter had gone off to get her glass of water and Wilson's wine before commenting. "This is all too much. It's wonderful, don't get me wrong but none of this was necessary. Just getting to see you again was enough."
Reaching across the table, he took her hand in his. "I want you to have everything your heart desires."
She stared around and then at him. "This is nice but I don't expect or want this all the time. If you think I'm this high maintenance then you really don't know me at all."
"But your father is a member of the---"
Knowing where he was headed with this, Kim put her hand up and stopped him. "Wil, just because I'm the daughter of a rich and powerful man doesn't mean I was raised with a silver spoon in my mouth. Is this what you like? Are you this high maintenance?"
He snorted. "Uh, no. I just sort of go with the flow most of the time."
She rubbed her fingers over the back of his hand. "What do you do for fun?"
"We should change the subject," he said, looking nervous.
Kim nodded, sensing the reason he didn't want to talk about it. "You're one of those guys. The kind who spends his free time romancing women."
"I was one of those guys, Kim. I'm not now and I haven't been that way in over six months." He took a sip of water, looking warm. "How about you? What do you do for fun?"
Deciding to allow him to change the subject, for now, she tipped her head. "As of late I seem to sit around in my pajamas crying nonstop." She forced a smile to her face. "But, I used to like to read anything I could get my hands on, to run, swim, anything really."
He grinned. "Great, it's painfully clear I need to get used to the fact you're smarter than me."
She knew he was joking and she also sensed he was a hell of a lot smarter than he let on.
The waiter approached and inclined his head, speaking in French.
Much to Kim's surprise, Wilson answered, taking a moment to ask her what she wanted and what she didn't think would make her stomach upset. She selected a light pasta dish and apple juice. When Wilson relayed her order, the waiter arched a brow at the apple juice part before heading off.
She blushed. "I can't help that I crave apple juice almost all the time."
Wilson put his hand over hers. "Nothing wrong with that. I'm betting it's a hell of a lot better for the baby than other things you could be craving."
The waiter left them and Kim tried and failed to stop staring at Wilson.
He smiled. "Something wrong?"
"I just can't believe you're here and that you're safe and well."
"I did promise to meet Ike so I thought it best to hold up to that commitment," he said with a twinkle in his brown eyes.
Covering her face, Kim realized why he'd been so open to the idea of her pet rat. She laughed. "Wow. Ike really will be jealous of you. But," she peeked out at him, "can you change colors with your mood? Ike can."
"You have a mood rat?" Wilson flashed a bad boy smile. "Woman, you were so meant to be mine."
She blushed and reached out, taking his hand in hers. "This is nice, Wil. Having you here."
Wilson choked back the emotions rising in his throat. Gods, Kim was even more beautiful than he'd remembered. He'd actually been in town for close to three days now, watching her from afar, unsure of the reception she would give him. He'd been unable to hold back anymore when she was at the mall. It was entirely too cute when she'd run into him and not recognized him. He didn't expect she would. He was surprised when she turned down the obvious advances of the other man. The guy was good looking and seemed like the type of guy girls like Kim would go for. He was also the type of guy Wilson wanted to throttle for daring to try to be with his woman.
My woman.
He smiled at the knowledge she was indeed his mate. Even her father agreed. It had taken awhile to win over Culann but Wilson was persistent if he was anything. Culann had even proved himself to be a valuable ally during the planning of the weekend Wilson had in store for Kim.
Absently, he slid his free hand over his right jacket pocket, touching the small box there. He wanted the woman before him to be his wife in every way possible, human, Fae and shifter.
Kim tipped her head slightly, her green eyes soaking him in. "It's strange, don't you think?"
"What's strange?"
"The way I feel about you when we really don't know each other. Is it the mate thing? I've asked my father about it and he filled in some blanks but since he's not a shifter, he's not entirely sure how this all works." She closed her eyes a moment. "He just knows I care about you deeply." When she looked up at him again, her expression said she more than cared.
Wilson lifted their joined hands and planted a kiss on the back of hers. He wanted to tell her that he cared for her too---that he loved her despite the short amount of time they'd been together. That wasn't what fell out. "Yes, the mating energy between us is kind of all consuming. Its nature's way of assuring the reproduction of our species continues. Lust times ten," he said with a nervous laugh.
Kim stiffened and pulled her hand free of his. "Lust," she repeated, seeming to stew on the word.
He cringed, knowing he'd opened his mouth and inserted his foot. "Kim, I..."
The waiter arrived with their food and Kim went out of her way to focus on her plate, not him. Shoving his foot in his mouth was a syndrome he'd suffered from all his life. It was hardly new. That being said, he'd hoped the evening would go over without a hitch. That he'd give his mate a romantic evening she'd never forget.
Kim stabbed at her food, still mulling over Wilson's use of the word lust. He continued to stare at her and she ignored him, forcing her focus to the food before her, rather than the hunky man. It was hard.
Her tummy fluttered and she stopped and put a hand on it, knowing the baby was sensing her stress. She exhaled slowly. "I promise not to stab Daddy," she said in a soft voice.
Wilson chuckled and touched her other hand. "What if Daddy lets you stab him? Would that make you smile again?"
Unable to help herself, she grinned. "Maybe."
"Kim," he said, touching her cheek. "I'm a little nervous about freaking you out."
"What do you mean?"
I mean that I feel a hell of a lot more for you than lust, woman.
His voice echoed in her head and she narrowed her gaze on him, his lips having never moved. Her chest was tight and her eyes moist as his words hit home. Nodding, she had to swallow several times before she could speak.
"I feel that way too." She cleared her throat. "More than lust, that is."
Wilson lifted her fork and took over feeding her as if she were a child. Though, he managed to make it sexy. As her lips eased around the fork, Wilson moaned. She laughed and touched his wrist, leaning closer to him.
Dinner went the rest of the way without any more hiccups and she couldn't remember a time when she'd laughed more. Wilson was naturally funny, to the point she had to beg him to stop for fear she'd be sick from laughing so much.
The walk back to the hotel room was as magikal as the dinner. Wilson held her hand, his gaze remaining almost entirely locked upon her all the way to the room. Kim wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged, forcing him to bend a bit so she could kiss him. He did and their lips met. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of him. His tongue slid around hers artfully and her body heated.
"Mmm, Kim," he said softly against her lips. "We're stopping here long enough for me to grab something and then I have more planned. Do you need a wrap for outside? Will you be chilly?"
He opened the door to the room and eased her in gently.
She tugged on him, jerking him against her. "Stop avoiding being close to me."
"I have to," he confessed. "If I don't, I'll end up buried in you."
She smiled. "I know."
"Kim."
"Wil."
He grunted. "I want to do this right. I want to make everything perfect."
"If you don't hurry up and give me what I want I will hit you with so much magik you too will change color with your mood."
He lifted her gently and walked her towards the bed. Kim laughed and ran her hands over his chest. Wilson laid her out on the bed and savored the sight of her spread out before him. Kim tugged down the top of her dress, revealing her ample breasts to him. Her nipples were slightly darker than he remembered and he wondered if it had something to do with the baby.
He bent, taking one of her pert nipples into his mouth while he caught the other between his thumb and forefinger. Kim moaned and arched her back to him. He sucked gently, his cock throbbing to be free of his dress pants and buried in her. He switched, sucking on the other nipple. Kim melted under his touch and ground her hips up against him.
"Wilson, please."
A sly smile covered his lips as he kissed a line down her belly. When he reached her lower stomach, he found the start of a swell. His child grew within her. The thought made him soar. Wilson fumbled with her dress, trying to figure out how to free her from it before surrendering and hiking it up and over her hips. It was bunched at her waist, revealing a tiny brown thong. Kim reached to try to undo the dress but Wilson liked seeing her like that---partially undone and ready for him.
He caught her wrists and planted his face into her thong-covered mound. The scent of her arousal made him growl with pleasure as he nudged the material aside with his chin. Releasing her wrists, he set his attention on her sweet pussy. A tiny thatch of black hair covered the mound and the rest was clean-shaven. He spread her folds and inhaled deeply, never wanting the moment to end.
Pressing his face into her wet cleft, Wilson growled and licked a line down her. Kim jerked and rubbed her body against his face. He flicked his tongue over her clit, pleased at how responsive she was to him. Each swipe of his tongue made her body arch and her breath catch. He thrust a finger into her, surprised at just how tight she was. Her pussy clenched his finger as she moaned. He began thrusting it in her, gently at first, easing her channel open little by little. He licked her clit, moving his face back and forth, stimulating her body more and more.
Kim tossed her legs open wide and then clamped them together on the sides of his head, holding him in place as her orgasm crashed over. Wilson laughed into her pussy, lapping up her cream, proud to have given her pleasure. When she finally released her hold on his head, he stood slowly, staring down at her gorgeous body. "Woman, you need to be very aware of the fact that I'm going to spend eternity fucking you."
"I'd be happy if you spent the next hour doing it. I want you in me so bad, Wil."
Grinning, he undressed, tossing articles of clothing haphazardly around the room. He crawled up and over her, his body skimming hers. Never had being above a woman felt so right. So meant to be.
"Spread your legs for me, hon," he said, kissing her lips softly.
She obeyed.
He pushed into her, slow at first, her pussy gripping him. His jaw went slack at the tightness of her cunt. He gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body straining with the urge to ram into her. To pummel her until he spent his seed in her.
He refrained, wanting to savor the experience for as long as he could.
So perfect.
So wet.
So warm.
So welcoming.
Kim slipped her arms around his neck, drawing his head downwards, her mouth capturing his. He lost himself in the moment, unable to restrain himself from taking her like a depraved man any longer. He drilled into her, a long, slow hiss coming from him as her cunt grasped at his cock, demanding it stay buried deep within her womb.
"Wilson," Kim whispered, a cross between a moan and a cry. "Yes. There. Right there."
His gums burned and pain flashed through them. He had only a second to think upon what would cause his mouth to shift before instincts took over and he slammed his mouth down upon the tender flesh of her exposed breast. He bit at the same second his cock jetted seed out and into her. As his shaft filled her with the proof of his release, her blood filled his mouth. He swallowed down the rich, coppery fluid before drawing his mouth from her bosom. He licked the wound, the healing agents in his saliva acting quickly.
Staring down at her through the eyes of a predator, he panted, still locked deep in her. "Mine."
Kim's eyes were closed and pleasure was a wash over her face. She nodded. "Yes. Yours."
Power slammed into him, catching him off guard. When Kim gasped, he realized it happened to her as well. The walls of her pussy responded, quivering around his cock as she came. She stared up at him, shock evident.
The tiniest of threads seemed to weave between them, linking them more, cementing their shared bond.
His claim.
Making her officially his mate.
His shoulder heaved as he took deep breaths.
"Are you hyperventilating now that I'm really your wife?" she asked, a half assed grin at the ready. "Way to get the cold feet a hair too late."
"Oh, hon," he whispered, kissing her passionately. "It's not that. I'm the happiest man alive right now."
"Then what is it?"
"My body feels like it's going to rip apart."
She winked. "You ripped me apart in the best way possible. You should do it again. Now."
He would have but he was serious. Something was wrong. His back pinched and his arms felt as if they were on fire. Panting, he rolled off Kim and went to his feet, raking his hands over his face.
Lifting his hands, he noticed them shaking oddly. He put one out and the picture on the hotel wall burst into flames. He rushed for the bathroom and water. Kim sat up, reached out suddenly and the fire died away. She looked at him and arched a brow.
"We're going to need to work on your ability to wield magik before you burn the place down."
He blinked. "I did that?"
"Yep. Looks like you're a little like Ike. When he bit my dad, he picked up Fae traits. Since you already had some and you're a supernatural..."
It hit Wilson then. "I now have more Fae traits."
"Yes, baby, you do. And you're clearly a danger until we get you trained."
He smiled wide. "Will you carry a whip? Please say yes."
She tipped to the side and tossed a pillow at him. "Oy."
Wilson stared at the monitor, his hand locked with Kim's as Green continued with the ultrasound. "He is a big boy. Her doctor is right," Green said.
"He's healthy, right?" Wilson questioned, his emotions threatening to run free on him.
Kim winked up at him, all smiles. "Of course he's healthy. Green, what about the other tests you ran? The ones to check his genetic makeup?"
"He still worrying nonstop if the little guy carries the DNA of a rat?" Green asked Kim, totally ignoring Wilson.
"Hey, I'm allowed to worry. The last thing I want to do is pass on---"
Kim sat up as much as she could giving the fact she was nearly five months pregnant. "Everything about you that I absolutely adore?"
He opened his mouth to protest.
Green shook his head. "A wise man would shut up now."
"You're not saying Wilson is a wise man, are you?" Jon asked, entering the exam room.
"Look who is here," Kim said, patting her stomach. "It's your godfather."
Wilson grinned at his friend. "Look," he said, pointing to the screen. "That's my boy."
"Our boy," Kim corrected.
"Yes, our boy."
She took a deep breath. "What about Krauss and his goons? What if they come for the baby?"
Wilson kissed her temple. "Let us worry about Krauss, hon. You just worry about keeping our son from destroying department stores again. And worry about keeping your dad from skinning me alive when I tell him I want at least three more boys, okay?"
"Three more boys?" Kim gulped. "My father is the least you have to worry about, bucko. I'm likely to skin you myself before then."
Immortal Ops Personnel Files
TOP SECRET
Alpha Team
Name: Captain Lukian Vlakhusha
Age: Not listed. Sources say he is around a hundred and fifty years old.
Position: First-in-command, all of them just call him "Captain." Answers only to Colonel Brooks.
Call Name: Alpha Dog One.
Hair: Shoulder-length, wavy black hair.
Eyes: Royal, unnaturally blue eyes and thick, dark black lashes.
Height: 6' 3"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Tiny scar above right eyebrow, five o'clock shadow, lycanthrope (can shift into a wolf).
Additional Notes: Lukian can read human minds with ease. He is the son of the Lycan King (who has died) and his mother was human. Until he came along, the bloodline in his family was pure lycan. He is King now though he does not fulfill his duties. Lukian, as well as all of the other I-Ops, has been repeatedly offered higher ranks. He, like the others, refuse, not seeing the reasoning for it.
Relation to Any of the Other Team Members: Yes. Lukian's DNA was used to create Roi. He is his brother by way of genetic alteration now. They are also best friends.
Mission Report Devoted to Him: Immortal Ops: Book I---Captain Lukian Vlakhusha is having issues with his newest target, Peren Matthews. Something about her has left him staring at her picture and wondering what it would be like to touch her soft skin. When the time comes for the team to strike, Lukian senses danger and aborts the mission. He makes an attempt at meeting Peren and is set in his place by the independent young woman who knows what she is and isn't looking for in a man. Lukian is having trouble telling Peren that he's what she fears most: a werewolf. Can they make the passion that burns between them last, or will Lukian's condition be too much for Peren?
\*
Name: Geoffroi (Roi) Majors
Age: Not listed. Sources say he is over fifty.
Position: Second in command.
Call Name: Alpha Dog Two
Hair: Shoulder-length, black hair
Eyes: Royal, unnaturally blue eyes
Height: 6' 4"
Distinguishing characteristics: Stubble-covered jaw line; lycanthrope (can shift into a wolf); was genetically altered
Additional Notes: Bad attitude; convinced he is a lady's man. Does not deal well with authority and has been known to tell Colonel Brooks to go fuck himself.
Relation to Any of the Other Team Members: Yes. Lukian's DNA was used to create him. He is his brother by way of genetic alteration now. They are also best friends.
Mission Report Devoted to Him: Immortal Ops: Book II---Critical Intelligence--Missy Carter leads a boring, overworked life as a system analyst for the State Department or rather, that's what she lets everyone believe. In reality, her life is anything but boring. As an agent with Paranormal Security and Intelligence (PSI), she's seen and done it all. Intelligence is her specialty, assassination is her hobby. The only problem is that the things she spies on don't die easily. She's learned to handle anything life can throw at her. That is until the biggest paramilitary pain in her ass shows up... again. Lucky for him, he's sexy.
Roi Majors, second-in-command of the I-Ops, is having a hard time believing that Intel can only get half the information needed to bring down an underground ring of vampires who are hell bent on creating a race of supernaturals with multiple strands of DNA. As the team looks for answers, Roi searches for sexual release. When he's paired with the one woman in the world who seems immune to his self-proclaimed charms, he can't wait to see her to safety and bid her good riddance. He never counted on falling in love with her. And he sure as hell never counted on her claiming to be an agent with a branch of the government no human should know about.
\*
Name: Eadan Daly
Age: 30 years old.
Position: PSI-Paranormal Security and Intelligence-Shadow Operative, answers to Director of PSI-- General Jack Newman; filling in at I-Ops until a suitable replacement can be found, currently pulling dual duty.
Call Name: Alpha Dog Three.
Hair: Long silky blond hair.
Eyes: Blue-gray eyes.
Height: 6' 5"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Baby face, tall, toned, Fae with magikal abilities.
Additional Notes: He was Melissa "Missy" Carter's handler for nine years. He was also married to her. They lost a child. His sister is Melanie Daly. Has an affinity for 80's music; served with PSI for over ten years now.
Relation to Any of the Other Team Members: No.
Mission Report Devoted To Him: Classified.
Bravo Team
Name: Doctor Thaddeus Chandler Green
Age: Not listed. Sources say he is at least one hundred.
Position: Bravo Team Leader.
Call Name: Bravo Dog One.
Hair: Close-cut red hair, so dark it borders on brown.
Eyes: Emerald
Height: 6' 4"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Muscle bound, were-panther, survived an attack in lab while working as a scientist. Was not genetically altered but rather infected by an escaping were-panther.
Additional Notes: Genius, handles all of the I-Ops medical and the majority of their technical needs. Also heavily involved in genetic research. His wife died fifty years ago while trying to give birth to their son, who also died. It was then the I-Ops learned they cannot reproduce with human women. Can "sense truths"-- similar to a vampire's skills. For the most part, is a gentle giant.
Relation to Any of the Other Team Members: Yes. Green's DNA was used to create Lance--his brother by way of genetic alteration.
Mission Report Devoted to Him: Immortal Ops: Book III---Radar Deception
\*
Name: Jonathon "Jon" Reynell
Age: Not listed. Sources say he is at least fifty.
Position: Sniper--accurate within 4000 meters.
Call Name: Bravo Dog Two (but is often called "Bravo Tiger Two" as joke by other I-Ops).
Hair: Close-cut blond hair.
Eyes: Amber.
Height: 6' 1"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Looks about twenty-five years old. Is a were-tiger. Excellent eyesight.
Additional Notes: Has a southern drawl, asks his "momma' for forgiveness as he snipes. Polite. Harbors something dark that he hasn't shared with his team members. Prone to motion sickness.
Relation to Any of the Other Team Members: No. Had been genetically altered with the intent to make Wilson his brother by way of genetics but an accidental mix up occurred, preventing that.
Mission Report Devoted to Him: Classified.
\*
Name: Wilson Rousseau
Age: Not listed. Sources say he is at least fifty.
Position: Rifleman and demolitions expert.
Call name: Bravo Dog Three (but is often called "Bravo Rat Three" as joke by other I-Ops).
Hair: Shaggy dark brown with slightest hint of gold, natural highlights in it.
Eyes: Chocolate brown.
Height: 6' 2"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Wererat, who is accidentally exposed to various strands of genetically-altered DNA, among other things.
Additional Notes: Team smartass. Doesn't mind being butt of jokes to keep up moral. Has a heart of gold.
Relation to Any of the Other Team Members: No. Intended to be Jon's brother by way of genetics but an accidental mix up occurred, preventing that.
Mission Report Devoted to Him: Immortal Ops: Book IV: Strategic Vulnerability
Daughter of Darkness
I pulled up outside of the main gate. The blood red sign that stood high in the air read "Necro's Magik World & Supernatural Theme Park." I hated the idea of being here but you do what you have to do to make a living. Prior to working as assistant to the City's Chief Paranormal Prosecutor, I hadn't been able to keep a job to save my life. I'd tried a little bit of everything, from being a marketing director to stripping. Hey, a girl's got to make a living, right?
My friend Sharon got me the job at the Paranormal Regulators Law Offices. She'd worked with my boss and now ex-fiancé, Ken, enough to pull some strings and get me an in. He hired me as his personal assistant, sight unseen. After a year of working for him, he caught on to the fact that I had some special skills. I began showing signs of extrasensory perception, ESP, at the age of sixteen and still hadn't quite gotten the hang of using it. My ESP would manifest itself in the strangest ways.
I spent one week home from work because I couldn't stand the noise anymore. I had begun hearing others' thoughts and I couldn't block any of it out. The inside of my head had so many voices going on I thought I was schizophrenic. Ken came knocking at my door after my third day of missing work. I confessed my problem to him and he took me to see some friends of his. They helped me learn to shield myself from outside interference, so to speak. Now, I was able to gauge someone's feelings and thoughts fairly well without being privy to every sordid little detail.
Ken then asked me out for dinner. I felt like I owed him a huge thank you so I went. We made a better couple then I thought we would at first. After a few months he finally managed to get me into bed with him. We were in his posh two-story townhouse, going at each other like animals. When I climaxed, I threw my head back as a burst of energy come over me. It was like my body was being ripped into a million pieces, not pain so much as it was pressure---a pressure that I had no alternative but to release. Pictures flew off the walls, dishes crashed to the floor in the kitchen, and all of Ken's paperwork blew out of the window.
That was my first brush with psycho kinesis, and it scared the hell out of both of us. That's when I revealed the fact that I was of magical descent, most likely faerie. I'd feared it would scare him away. It did the exact opposite. He asked me to marry him.
Being a romantic fool, I believed I was truly in love. Things were good for almost a year---that should have tipped me off. Then one night he told me he was going to stay home from the office. He said that he hadn't been feeling well and was going to rest. During my lunch hour I stopped off and picked up some lunch for him. I used my key and let myself into his place. When I walked into his bedroom he was busy pushing his long hard body into some redhead. Needless to say, I broke the engagement on the spot, along with two of his bedroom windows.
Mess with a magical chick and you get some major cleanup when she's pissed, just a little motto I think all should remember.
Ken spent weeks trying to make it up to me. He claimed that he couldn't control himself, and he didn't mean for it to happen. I asked what the redhead's name was, and he didn't know. I gave him the choice of being friends or being enemies. He settled on just being friends, and that's the way we've been for the last six months.
Work's been keeping us pretty busy with the rapid rise in the number of supernatural-related homicides in the city in the last few months. I thought Ken's promotion was a curse. We'd been working sixty-five hours a week since he made Prosecutor, and there seemed to be no end in sight. We not only had the supernatural cases to deal with, we had everyday human cases to handle as well. It was the only way the city could justify having another prosecutor. Tax payers would wonder why it was they had to pay for a prosecutor who never saw the inside of a courtroom.
If they only knew.
I focused on the task at hand, taking a look around Necro's Magik World. It had only been open for business six years, but in that short time frame had managed to corner the market on ticket sales for theme parks. Someone had come up with the brilliant idea of having a theme park that revolved around the supernatural. By doing this the area had become a Mecca for the undead and magical creatures. At the park, demons didn't have to hide who they were. They were able to live among humans without fear of persecution and mass pandemonium. I'd even seen some of the "employees" walking around downtown one night. No one looked shocked to see a vampire roaming the streets---they just ran up and asked for his autograph.
Teenagers were heavy into imitating the undead, and of course, dead attire was all the rage. I wondered if creatures of the undead ever thought of sending thank-you notes to rock stars that ran around looking like death on stage. The more I thought about Hollywood and rock stars, the more I wondered how many of the images weren't an act. I knew that there had to be a few celebrities that fell into the category of supernatural, I just didn't know which ones they were.
Necro's Magik World was huge, or so I'd been told. While the park spanned over four hundred acres, it wasn't all developed yet since they'd left room for expansion. They had picked the location wisely. They were close enough to the city to generate business, but far enough out to remain secluded and away from the watchful eye of others. People were eating up the idea of a supernatural theme park to the point that various spin-offs were popping up all around the world. There were restaurants, clothing stores, and, believe it or not, a website. But hey, who didn't have one of those, right?
A computer literate vampire, funny thought, huh!
The park only operated during nighttime for obvious reasons. I didn't know too many vampires that would be willing to sit out in the sunlight to greet guests. Here's your ticket, excuse me while I burst into flames.
I still wasn't sure about the outfit I had chosen. I'd decided on a pair of dark blue flare bottom jeans that made my legs look longer and at five foot five I took all the help I could get. I'd debated on wearing long sleeves or short because of how cool the summer nights could get, and finally settled on a red short sleeve top. I'd chosen jeans because I always felt most comfortable in them. I had also been told that red brought out my best features---my eyes and my hair.
I was ticked that I hadn't brought a brush with me. I'd left the house in such a hurry that I hadn't taken time to blow dry my hair. I fumbled around in my purse until I found a hair tie. Gathering up the front and sides of my hair, I pulled it loosely behind my head. Wrapping the tie around it several times, I did a quick check. Little black wisps fell from it and framed my face. That was just the way I liked it. I'd been thinking of cutting my hair off again. It seemed rather silly because every time I did it, my hair grew back to just above my rear end within two months. My hair liked to be that long and didn't take kindly to my attempts at doing anything else with it.
Being awakened out of dead sleep by Ken's phone call did not suit me. I looked like crap. Sure, I was grateful that he'd ended the nightmare I was having, but peeved that he'd wanted me to go out in the middle of the night to question a master vampire.
I touched my face and decided that I didn't have to fuss with much. I'd been blessed with flawless skin. It was, however, rather pale. I tried tanning beds and hitting the beach every day for a summer, but I couldn't get myself to burn, let alone tan. I did my best to make up for the lack of color by adding a touch of blush to both cheeks and some lip gloss to my lips. I was so sick of everyone asking if I had collagen implants. I wanted to get a t-shirt printed that read, "Yes, I do see the light of day, and yes the lips are real too."
Grabbing my purse from the passenger seat, I fumbled through it until I found my eyeliner. I was big on the whole lining of the top lid with black craze. Prior to its recent revival, I had been seriously out of date with the look, but did it anyway. I loved the way it brought out my eyes, and I was into retro.
Satisfied it was as good as it was going to get, I got out of the car.
When I swung the door shut I thought that the car had finally had it. It was an '84 Thunderbird and it had seen better days. The roof was dented beyond repair, and it had no floor in the back right passenger side. Every time it rained, my seat ended up soaked because the seal on the door was missing. I tried to remember to lay a towel on the seat when I got out, but every now and then I would forget. My absolute favorite thing about the car was that I had to use my best judgment to find the right gears. When you put the car in park, you were really in reverse and when you put the car in reverse, you went forward. Parking had always been a guess because the spot for it was somewhere above the letters on the dash. The only thing the car had going for it was that it was paid for and it still ran. I was worried about getting my student loans paid off before I bought a new one. I figured I'd be paying for my loans until I died at this rate, and considering the fact that I was pretty sure I had Si (pronounced shee) blood in me that was funny. Most Si were immortal, creatures of magic. The banks would just love me!
I walked towards one of the ticket booths. It was made to look like a mausoleum. Gray granite rock covered it and mythical creatures were carved into its molding. The boy sitting behind the counter resembled a zombie. The makeup slathered on his face gave him the appearance of rotting flesh, and his costume looked as though he had just crawled from the grave---just looking at him made me smile. I assumed that they had real zombies working here, but this kid was obviously not one of them.
"Ticket please."
I tried not to laugh. He sounded so ridiculous. The makeup and wardrobe were one thing---the overdone enunciation of his words was just too much.
"Gwen Stevens. I'm here to speak with Pallo." I had to bite my lip to keep from busting out laughing.
He didn't look amused as he turned to pick up the phone. He hung up and glanced back at me. "Mr. Pallo will see you shortly. Go through the red doors and downstairs, someone will meet you there."
Giving him a nod, I headed in the direction he had pointed.
A gigantic limestone building loomed before me. The gray stone exterior formed a sharp contrast to the small, landscaped flowerbeds that lined the walkway leading up to it. They were full of what looked to be lemon verbena and green sage. I thought it odd that someone would grow only herbs in a spot made for flowers. Stone gargoyles stood in the center of each bed. I really didn't like the idea of being at a place where they prided themselves on scaring the shit out of you, but Ken needed information... bad. I really hated the fact that I was his "girl Friday."
It only took me a few minutes to reach the red doors. Standing around for a bit, I waited for Sharon or Rick to show up. I'd already been at the park for half an hour so I decided to give them another fifteen minutes. Sharon was usually late. She seemed to be on a whole separate time schedule. At the office, we referred to someone who was late as running on "Sharon-time." Rick, on the other hand, had a military background and was always five minutes early. The fact that he wasn't here yet should have really bothered me, but it didn't. I was getting pretty brave in my old age, or pretty stupid, depending on how you looked at it.
My patience level was low considering I'd gotten little sleep due to my-oh-so pleasant dream. The fact that I was standing out here in the dead of night waiting for the people who should have been handling this themselves didn't help much either. I gave up and used my cell phone to try to reach Sharon. I got her voice mail, so I left her a message telling her I was going to go ahead in and I'd talk to her later. I also informed her that if I didn't call her back in an hour I was probably dead. That was my way of making light of the situation, but my gut told me that there was some truth to that comment.
I glanced up at the red door. The last thing I wanted to do tonight was go into a room full of vamps, but if I didn't go now I'd lose my nerve. I turned the knob and pulled the door open.
Instantly, I was hit with the smell of dampness. Glancing around, I tried to get the nasty taste of stale air out of my mouth as I got my bearings. I stood at the top of a stairwell, which was lit by several torches sitting in sconces along the wall. The walls were stone and looked like the inside of a castle.
No, make that the entrance to a dungeon.
I wasn't sure how anyone who owned and operated a multimillion dollar business ended up in a basement, but I trudged onward anyway. When I reached the end of the staircase I found myself in front of a large, heavy, metal door. The medieval theme was getting old, fast. I knocked on the door.
The door opened quickly and a man stood there silently, looking at me. His six foot five frame took up most of the doorway. White waves of hair spilled onto his shoulders, and large green eyes stared back at me. His face was soft, with baby fine features. The sweet smell of honey filled my head.
I'd heard that vampires smelled nice, but this was ridiculous. I wanted to lick him just to see if he tasted as good as he smelled, but I held back.
Good girl.
He was dressed like he'd just fallen out of the eighties. I half expected him to claim he was the guitarist for one of the big hair bands and not really a vamp at all. He had on black, painted-on leather pants. His white shirt hung loosely from his body and gaped open to the middle of his stomach. Even in the poorly lit stairwell I could see how smooth and pale his skin was. When I glanced back at his face, he was staring at me wide-eyed. He appeared puzzled and a bit surprised. Imagine that---I put a vampire off guard.
"I'm Gwyneth Stevens. Kenneth Harpel sent me down to speak with Mr. Pallo." I extended my hand to him, but he just stared at it.
A few seconds went by in silence. I had the strongest urge to bolt back upstairs and out the door.
"Please come in," he said, stepping to the side. "We do not get many new visitors here. I apologize for my lack of manners."
I'd never met an honest to God gentleman before, so it took me a moment to respond. "Thank you. I'm sorry for coming at such a late hour, but Lydia phoned our office requesting I meet with Mr. Pallo tonight."
His green eyes widened. "Yes, Lydia, umm, come in please. I will get Pallo for you."
"So, do you have a name or is Def Leppard mega-fan all right by you?" My voice dripped with sarcasm.
"I am Caradoc." He seemed taken aback by my attempt at humor.
"Caradoc, the name doesn't sound familiar."
"Should it?" he asked as I walked past him.
"No, I guess not. I just got the feeling that I knew you from somewhere."
Caradoc led me into a room with a large stone fireplace in it. Two red sofas sat across from each other. They were trimmed with beautiful gold leafing that made your eye follow the s-curve of the feet. A massive Serapi rug covered the floor. Cherry end tables flanked each end of the red sofas. Candles sat on them and dripped wax down onto the rich wood. I had half a mind to walk up and put a coaster under them to protect the integrity of the tables. I got the feeling that no one else here cared, so I let it be.
The room had several doors in it. I had no clue where any of them went, so I kept my back near the exit. I didn't like leaving myself vulnerable, but the room didn't leave me many options.
"Please have a seat." Caradoc motioned to one of the couches. "Can I offer you anything to drink?"
I wasn't sure how to answer that. I was afraid to say yes and get a big glass of blood, and afraid to say no and come off as rude.
He winked at me. I wondered if he was flirting or just had something in his eye. My money was on hair spray---that was of course if he held true to his eighties ensemble. "Would you like a glass of iced tea?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Please make yourself at home."
I watched him exit out the door to my right and sat with my hands folded on my lap. I turned and stared at the large fireplace. Tiny pixies and faeries were embossed in it. They were all naked and each one wrapped itself around the one below it. Standing in a Master Vampire's living room alone when he obviously had a thing for naked creatures of magic, wasn't the best idea I'd ever had.
Gulping, I rubbed my palms across my jeans, trying my best to keep the nervous sweat that was building to a minimum.
The place let off a strange vibe, yet, oddly it felt more like home than the apartment I'd been living in for the last two years. I'd been in the place for less than fifteen minutes and I already felt like I could throw my feet up on the sofa and kick back awhile. I resisted the urge.
"Sorry to interrupt you Ms., but Pallo will be with you in a moment." I didn't sense anyone in the room with me so I was caught off guard. When I turned around Caradoc was standing behind me. He bowed his head slightly. "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."
"No, you're fine. I'm sorry." I felt a little silly with a man bowing in front of me so I put my hand out to him. If Sharon were with me, she would have shot me dead on the spot for being careless and trusting a stranger who also happened to be a vampire. I didn't feel that he posed any threat to me.
The door to my left opened and a man entered. He looked to be in his early twenties but I knew that if he was a vamp he was more likely to be in the hundreds. His hair was short and blond with pink tips. It appeared as though he used gel to spike it. He was wearing black from head to toe. He had on a t-shirt, jeans, and pair of army boots. He definitely had the James Dean look down pat. When he saw me, he froze in place. Gee, I was having that effect on a lot of people lately. He opened his mouth and stood silent for a second. As fun as it all was, I didn't want to play the game anymore.
"Pallo, I came here to speak with you regarding the hellhound homicides." My ability to be all work and no play came so easy. I expected him to start pouring his heart out about what they knew. What I got instead was his face looking even more shocked.
"Blood and sand! Caradoc, she thinks I'm Pallo. What the hell's going on here? If anyone should remember him, it's her," he said, his voice thick with a British accent as he pointed at me.
Shoot. I thought he had to be the head guy---guess I was wrong. That didn't happen too often, so I was a bit nervous. I usually just knew things that other people didn't. It had always proved to be an asset until about thirty seconds ago. Suddenly, it seemed rather useless now. I'd wanted to question him about my knowing Mr. Pallo, but changed my mind.
Caradoc stepped forward. It was clear he didn't want to touch me, and that was just fine by me. "I'm sorry, Ms. Stevens." He put a lot of emphasis on my name and stared hard at the James Dean-looking vamp.
"This is Jameson. Master Pallo will be with us momentarily."
Jameson, James Dean? I shrugged and laughed in my head at the irony. Jameson approached me with speed that no human possessed and extended his hand to me.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Stevens." With the amount of attention they were giving my name, I was beginning to wonder if they thought it was an alias. Yes, often I run around giving bogus names---geesh. Besides, I would have come up with something more original than Gwen. "Faerie with attitude" had a nice ring to it.
"Nice to meet you too, Jameson." His hand was cool to the touch. I pulled mine away slowly.
"James. I go by James." He smiled wide at me and I saw no fangs. I'd never actually met a vampire up close before. I always assumed they walked around with these huge dog-like fangs showing. Guess I was wrong---again.
"Can either of you fine gentlemen tell me where Pallo is? I'd love to spend another hour being stared at like a circus freak, but a girl's got to get her beauty sleep you know. So, now that the pleasantries are out of the way, can someone find Pallo or Mr. Pallo for me?" I turned to face Caradoc. I could sense that between the two, he was higher up on the seniority ladder, but I wasn't sure by how much.
"He cannot help you find him, but I am sure I can." The deep exotic voice ran over the room and covered my body. It was familiar to me, soothing, sexy. I turned, expecting to see someone I knew.
A man walked out from behind James. He was around six feet tall and had a head of loose brown curls that hung almost to his shoulders. The guy leaked sexuality. Prior to this meeting, I hadn't known that was even possible. His face looked as though it was chiseled from stone. His pale skin had only the faintest hint of coloring. He had a strong chin with a small dimple in it, and his lips were full. They looked soft, kissable.
I let my gaze slowly fall down his body. He wore no shirt. His shoulders were broad, and from where I stood it appeared as though tiny freckles covered them. Muscles rippled down his stomach, forming a six pack and forcing my eyes lower. He wore a loose pair of black pants that I wished were invisible. They looked to be pajama bottoms, but I wasn't sure. I was too busy staring at the way his chest went from being completely bare to the start of tiny black hairs from his navel area down. He wore his waistband extremely low and I was positive he wasn't wearing any underwear.
I glanced down towards the floor and saw that he was barefoot. I did a quick second look at his body as I retraced my steps back to his beautiful face. The most intense pair of crisp, dark-brown, almost black eyes stared back at me. When I was finished mentally undressing him, I noticed the expression on his face. Gee, what a shocker. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"Would you guys please tell me if I have a huge horn sprouting from my forehead?" I was tired and I was sure it was pushing at least three in the morning.
Caradoc spoke first. "No, Ms. Stevens, you've not sprouted a horn as of yet. Why do you ask? Is this something we should watch for?" His sincerity made me burst out into laughter. James and the mysterious tall sexy vamp laughed as well.
"Everyone I've met so far has stood there staring at me like a deer caught in headlights. What gives? Where the hell is Mr. Pallo? I'm done for the night, boys. It's been fun, but I really must be going now."
"I am Mr. Pallo," the drop dead gorgeous one said. "Pallo is fine. I am sorry if we've upset you, but you remind us of someone we once knew." He tossed his hair out of his face with his hand and stepped towards me. "My apologies for looking like I just rolled out of bed, but I have been sparring in the gym. I wasn't expecting any visitors."
Sparring in the gym? The very thought of it made me drool. Was going weak-kneed and passing out an option? I hoped so, since it was exactly what I felt like doing.
When Ken told me that I was going to meet Pallo, I pictured a six hundred year old vampire who still spoke like he was in the Old World. Pallo didn't seem much into using contractions, but his English was perfect, accented slightly, but perfect nonetheless.
"I'd have thought that Lydia would've told you I was coming. She phoned and requested that someone be sent down immediately to speak with you. Two others were supposed...." I didn't finish my last sentence. I wasn't sure it was wise to spill the beans about being here completely alone with no sign of backup coming. My patience level was growing very thin. The only thing that helped me keep my grip was that I was surrounded by three of the sexiest men I'd ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. Did I also forget to mention the fact that they could probably kill me before I knew what hit me?
Sexy and deadly, just the way I like them.
End Excerpt
About the Author
Mandy M. Roth grew up fascinated by creatures that go bump in the night. From the very beginning, she showed signs of creativity. At age five, she had her first piece of artwork published. Writing came into play early in her life as well. Over the years, the two mediums merged and led her to work in marketing. Combining her creativity with her passion for horror has left her banging on the keyboard into the wee hours of the night. Mandy lives with her husband and three children on the shores of Lake Erie, where she is currently starting work on her Master's Degree.
To learn more about Mandy, please visit www.mandyroth.com or send an email to mandy@mandyroth.com.
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