Miach Coleman can’t believe the turn his life has
taken. He’d worked hard to take control of his life
after being shoved into foster care when his
mother died. The minute he’d turned eighteen,
he’d joined the military. Learning that shape-
shifters are real and what a threat they could be to
humanity, he moved to the private sector,
working for the Crystal Lake Corporation. He
allowed the scientists to use their research to
increase his agility, strength, and healing so he
could combat these creatures. Now, having spent
three weeks under shifter’s care, he’s begun to
question everything he’s learned about them.
They treat him far better than the scientists treat
shifters. No experiments. No neglect. No torture.
It took Nick Greely three long, sexually
frustrated weeks, and a heart-to-heart with his
alpha, to finally admit that Miach could be his
mate. But there’s a reason Miach is their prisoner.
He’s been brainwashed by the scientists to think
that all shifters are abominations. Between the
experiments done on him in the name of science
and the fact that the wolf pack has had to keep
him prisoner for so long because he’s a threat to
their pack, Nick has no idea if he can reach the
man, mating pull or not.
Miach is amazed at the camaraderie he sees
between the wolf shifters, proving that they’re not
just instinct driven killing machines. And Miach
can’t deny the attraction he feels for Nick, one of
his sexy guards. When Nick hits on him, he takes
what the wolf offers, changing his life in a single
night. But Miach quickly discovers there’s no
happily-ever-after written in his stars. If he wants
to keep Nick, Miach will need to keep him safe
from another shifter who wants him dead, get
away from a fellow mercenary trying to rescue
him, and prove to the wolf alpha he’s sincere, all
while keeping his integrity intact.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
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infringement, including infringement without
monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is
punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a
fine of $250,000.
Please purchase only authorized electronic editions,
and do not participate in or encourage the electronic
piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the
author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places, and incidents either are products of the author’s
imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance
to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is
entirely coincidental.
Loving the Enemy
Copyright © 2012 Charlie Richards
ISBN: 978-1-77111-163-8
Cover art by Martine Jardin
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the
reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in
part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden
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Loving the Enemy
Wolves of Stone Ridge: Book Eight
By
Charlie Richards
To Becca, for teaching me proper ‘after riding’
stretches. Without you, my hips and legs would
be in so much more pain after a long day of
horseback riding
.
1
Chapter One
alking out of Dagus Whitton’s home, Nick
Greely took a deep breath of fresh air and
let it out slowly. All the tension in that home had
been oppressive and his wolf was only too
relieved to get out of there. Nick understood the
bear shifter’s frustrations at being used, and he felt
bad that he’d had to do that to him and his mate,
but he’d needed to catch Cameron in the act of
attacking shifters of other breeds. He was just glad
neither had been injured in the altercation, and he
looked forward to Brad opening a bakery. Declan
had been right. Many wolf shifters had a sweet
tooth, and he was no exception. Speaking of food…
Nick glanced at his watch and nodded. I have time.
“Nick, are ye headed out to the cabin?”
Nick turned and gave his attention to his alpha.
“Yes, sir, after I pick up dinner. My shift starts in
just about two hours.”
Declan nodded and motioned to his SUV. “Toss
yer keys to Shane and have a seat. I need a word
W
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2
about Cameron.”
He nodded and obeyed, digging his keys from
his jeans. Shane caught them one handed and
grinned. “Why is it the only time I get to drive
your ride is when you’re ordered to give me the
keys?”
“Because I’ve seen how you drive,” he replied
with a smirk.
Shane growled, but they both knew it was in
play, which was good. Otherwise Nick’s wolf
would be cowering in his mind right now. Nick
was a tracker, and had no desire to be anything
more in the pack. Shane was the pack beta, and far
more dominant than Nick would ever be. Nick
climbed into his alpha’s vehicle and clicked his
safety belt into place.
“Where are ye picking up dinner?” Declan
asked as he brought the vehicle to life.
“Uh, Dave’s Ribs,” he answered, already
thinking of what he’d pick up.
“Good place,” Declan commented, getting them
on the road. “Ye did a good job working with
Sam. He’s a very submissive wolf, so for him to let
us know about Cameron’s attacks on other shifters
is a step in the right direction.”
Nick nodded, thinking about his new friend.
He liked Sam, but the tall, slender African
American shifter definitely had self-confidence
issues. “I definitely agree on the submissiveness. I
wonder what he’s been through,” he mused.
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3
Declan shrugged. “If ye find out and there’s
some way I can help, let me know. It nearly killed
me when I had to punish him for siding with
Russell six months ago.”
Nick nodded, remembering the incident.
Russell had ordered Sam to attack Lark, Declan’s
mate, as a diversion while Declan and Russell
fought. Russell had died for his audacity, but Sam
had still had to be punished for following the
foolish wolf.
“I’ve sent Carson to pick up Cameron, but if he
misses him at his home, where do ye think he’d go
to hide?” Declan asked.
He shook his head. “Other than hiding at
Simon’s, I’m not sure. For that, you may need to
talk to Sam. I only hung with the asshole a couple
days, thank the gods,” he grumbled. Cameron had
convinced the two wolves to attack a fox shifter
traveling through the area. Sam hadn’t wanted a
repeat of getting in trouble like he had six months
ago, so he’d told Shane about it. The beta had
notified Declan, who arranged for Nick to befriend
Sam and help catch the bastard.
“Keep yer eyes open just in case the bastard
holds a grudge,” Declan warned.
Nick nodded. “I will, Alpha.”
Declan pulled into the parking lot and parked
his SUV. Nick waited to be dismissed, so he could
collect his dinner, but instead Declan turned
toward him and frowned. “I have three other
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4
wolves sharing guard duty of Miach, but ye’re the
only one who hasn’t complained about the man.
Why is that?”
Something in Nick’s chest tightened and he had
to swallow around his suddenly dry throat. He
didn’t want to talk about their charge with Declan,
because he worried his alpha would finally decide
it was more trouble than it was worth to keep the
nearly silent enemy prisoner. And just the idea of
having Miach gone sent Nick’s pulse racing.
Over the last few weeks, they’d held the man
against his will, locked in a fortified cabin deep in
the woods that could only be accessed by quads or
in animal form. Nick rotated guard duty with
three other wolves. So far, none of them could get
much out of Miach except his name and that he
was allergic to peanuts.
Declan must have scented his sudden anxiety,
because he reached over and squeezed his
shoulder. “Ye’re the only one he hasn’t tried to
escape on. Why is that, Nick?”
He glared at the dash, knowing his alpha
needed an answer. He remembered hearing from
his fellow guards each time Miach had tried to
escape, once on each of the other three guards.
Nick sighed and shook his head. “His comments
don’t seem to bother me nearly as much as the
others,” he said with a shrug.
“Does he insult shifters quite a bit still?” Declan
asked.
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5
Nick grimaced. “Not to me. I hear things every
once in a while second hand from the others, but
when I’m with him, he’s pretty quiet. Miach just…
well, watches me,” he admitted, running a hand
through his strawberry locks, blowing out a breath
in frustration.
His alpha squeezed his shoulder again,
regaining his attention. “Tell me what’s going on
in that head of yers.” This time, his alpha’s Irish
lilt held a clear command.
“I’m not certain why, but I feel attracted to
him,” he admitted. “I mean, he’s a good looking
guy, so that I feel something isn’t really surprising,
but even my wolf wants him.”
Declan’s dark eyes widened in what could only
be shock. It wasn’t an expression Nick had ever
seen on his alpha’s face before and his wolf
whined in his head. He hunched his shoulders
and dropped his gaze.
“By the gods,” Declan whispered. “Is Miach yer
mate?”
Grimacing, Nick shrugged forlornly. “I don’t
know. I can’t really get near him, ya know?”
“He still keeps away from all of ye?” Declan
questioned. “That’s not the impression Kade gave
me.”
Nick smiled and scoffed. He’d heard the most
complaints from his best friend. Miach always
seemed to be in a bad mood when it was the older
wolf’s turn to watch him. “Yeah, they don’t get
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6
along at all.”
Declan turned and focused on the restaurant.
After a moment of silence, a smile curved his
features. “Ye know what they say, right?” Nick’s
confusion must have shown, because Declan’s
grin widened. “The way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach.” He waved a hand toward
the restaurant. “Take him supper.”
That had Nick’s brows lifting and he blinked.
“You think I should try to woo him?”
Declan cocked a head and his eyes narrowed.
“Do ye hesitate because the scientists got to him or
because he’s a man?”
“Oh.” Nick realized what his alpha could think
about his reluctance and wanted to quickly put
that to rest. He’d been with both men and women
throughout his life and couldn’t care less that Fate
would choose a male mate for him. “It’s because
the scientists have practically brain-washed him.
I’m worried I’ll spend the rest of my life chasing
after a man who will never want me,” he finished
dejectedly.
Declan sighed. “Do ye want me to talk with the
other shifters who stand guard? I can let them
know to keep a lid on their tempers.”
“Not yet,” Nick said, forcing a smile. “I’ll try
your idea of food first and see if I can’t get a
response from the guy.” Letting his relief and
appreciation show in his eyes, he stared at his
alpha. “Thank you for the support.”
Loving the Enemy
7
Declan nodded and one side of his mouth
turned down in a grimace. “Of course. I’m
thinking ye may need it.” He moved his hand to
the key in the ignition and restarted the SUV. “Let
me know if ye need anything else.”
Taking the dismissal for what it was, Nick
nodded and slid from the vehicle. He was deep in
thought when Shane met him a few steps from the
door of the restaurant. The beta slapped his car
keys into Nick’s palm with a grin. “Don’t forget
these,” the bigger wolf teased.
Nick smiled. “Thanks.”
He ordered eight racks of ribs, each in a
different flavor rub plus extra BBQ sauces in four
different flavors. Next he chose the sides of
mashed potatoes and gravy, Caesar salad, and
cole slaw, all in quadruple portions. Kade was
waiting for Nick to relieve him, and food would
hopefully perk up his friend after what was
probably a stressful day watching their surly
captive.
Armed with three bags of food, which he
settled into the passenger seat of his 1972 Ford
mustang, Nick headed out of Colin City. It didn’t
take him long to reach the turn off, and he
carefully navigated the narrow trail, conscious of
what the trees could do to his custom metallic
dark blue paint job. His car was his one reminder
of his father. They’d spent years restoring the
classic car, returning it to its former glory. Nick
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8
was meticulous in keeping it in pristine condition,
which often made others think of him as
obsessive. He shrugged. They were probably
right.
He parked his car, slid out and crossed to a
small, locked shed. Normally, he shifted and ran
to the place as his wolf, while carrying a backpack
in his teeth. It worked well to tire his wolf, making
him easier to handle around the tempting human.
This time, though, he had too much to take to the
cabin, plus he needed to find a way to get through
to the man, and maybe a more aroused scent
would help. A guy could wish.
He rolled a quad out of the shed, relocked the
small structure, then strapped his bags onto the 4-
wheeler’s racks. After pulling a cover out of his
trunk and tucking it around his mustang, he
swung onto the quad and brought it roaring to
life.
Tonight he had the overnight shift, something
he’d managed to avoid over the three weeks
they’d entertained their guest because of how
attracted he found himself to Miach. But because
of the other job he’d just finished for Declan, he’d
had no chance to find a switch. Now he hoped
that’d be a good thing.
He and three others, Kade, Steve, and Riker,
each chosen because they were incredibly light
sleepers, took twelve hour shifts, eight a.m. to
eight p.m., or the reverse. It kept them from
Loving the Enemy
9
running the risk of fatigue, and they only had to
make this trip every other day. A dozen wolves
would come near the cabin at various times in
wolf form and howl to them. If they didn’t get a
response, they’d know there was a problem. If it
was during the night, they’d peek in the window
and confirm that their charge was still there.
Now Nick wondered if he could get an extra
shift or two, so he could spend more time with
Miach. Gunning the engine and maneuvering
between trees, he hoped his alpha’s suggestion
had merit. Forty-five minutes on the trail had the
cabin coming into view and he rolled to a stop in
front of the building. He shut off the quad, swung
his leg over the bike and stared at the cabin. After
taking a deep breath to get his wolf under control,
he tossed his satchel over his shoulder, picked up
the bags of food, and headed toward the cabin.
Juggling the bags, he searched for his keys. The
click of the lock had his head jerking up. The door
swung open and Kade’s glowering face appeared.
“You never ride the quad. What’s up?”
He held up the bags. “I brought dinner.”
Kade sniffed, his eyes lighting up. “Ribs! Oh,
hell, yeah, that’s just what I need! Get in here.”
Kade grabbed two of the bags and Nick laughed at
his eagerness.
After stepping into the building, procedure had
him quickly locking the door behind him. Once
done with that, he turned around and saw that
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10
Kade had the contents of both bags spread across
the table. “Find anything you like,” he teased.
Grinning, Kade didn’t bother looking at him as
he pulled a rib from a box, dipped it into a bowl of
sauce, and then wrapped his teeth around the
meaty bone. Nick turned his back on his exuberant
friend and glanced around the room. He spotted
Miach sitting on one of the two full-sized beds, his
gaze focused out the nearest barred window.
As if sensing his stare on him, Miach switched
his pale, blue-eyed gaze to Nick. Nick sucked in a
breath, taking in the man’s light brown hair, high
cheek-bones, straight nose, and full lips, lips he
desperately wanted to taste. Instead, he smiled
warmly and motioned toward the table. “I bought
plenty. Come on over and help yourself.”
Miach stared at him for several seconds, and
Nick stood stock-still, letting him look his fill, just
keeping his gaze open and warm. Miach returned
to staring out the window and muttered, “Maybe
later.”
Nick’s wolf whined in his head at the dismissal,
wanting his mate’s attention again. Instead, he
nodded slowly, keeping the smile on his face, and
replied brightly, “Of course. There’s plenty here,
but its best eaten warm.” He strode to the kitchen
and grabbed several plates from the cupboard. He
bumped Kade’s hip with his own and said
playfully, “You’re not an animal. Knock that shit
off.”
Loving the Enemy
11
For a second, Kade froze, then he made a grab
for the offered plate while snapping, “That’s not
what our friend thinks.”
Nick’s eyes closed briefly as he struggled to
calm his initial reaction to defend his mate.
Resting a hand on Kade’s shoulder, he squeezed
lightly to get his attention. “Why don’t you head
out,” he whispered. “I got this.”
Kade stared at him for several seconds before
saying, “You sure?”
He smiled, suddenly craving a few moments
alone with Miach. “Yeah. I know you still have
accounting to do for your garage. Get out of here,
buddy.”
“Thanks.”
He reached for several ribs, preparing to make
a plate to take with him, but Nick stopped him. He
held up the third bag of food he still held. “Take
this. There’s some of just about everything in
there. Go home,” he whispered.
His friend wrapped him in a quick hug and
took the offered bag. “See you tomorrow
morning,” he replied with a sigh.
Nick frowned, leaning close as he whispered, “I
thought it was Steve’s turn.”
Kade frowned, explaining, “Yeah, but his mate
is expected to have their baby in the next few
days. Riker and I thought we could pick up his
shifts so he could be home with her.”
“Oh, that’s understandable,” he murmured, his
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12
brain working quickly. “Hey, why don’t you stay
home in the morning? I can do a double.”
“Really? You sure?”
He nodded. “I’ve missed a shift or two these
past few days getting that other job done for
Declan. I’m fine to pick it up,” he assured, giving
his friend a hug. “Go take a day and relax or
something.”
Kade smiled gratefully, squeezing him back.
“Thanks, man.”
As he locked the door behind his friend, Nick
took a deep breath. His cock twitched in his jeans
as Kade’s smell faded and only his mate’s scent
remained, allowing him to enjoy the man’s
lemony scent. Now he just needed to figure out
how to get through to the man.
Loving the Enemy
13
Chapter Two
iach watched the two wolves converse in
whispers. They were touching each other’s
arms, passing intimate looks, and all Miach could
feel was jealousy. He didn’t understand it. Every
time the sandy-haired man appeared, his blood
raced to his cock, and the need to touch burned
through his system. He didn’t see Nick and Kade
together often, but whenever he did he wanted to
tear Kade limb from limb for touching the man
that he could not. There was no way the wolf
would welcome his touch, no matter how nice
Nick was to him. Miach knew he was the enemy.
A sense of relief filled him when Nick finally
showed Kade out. At least he wouldn’t have to
continue struggling to stop himself from attacking
the man. His gaze strayed back to the window
where stars winked at him between the trees. He
had to admit, as far as prisons went this was a nice
one, far nicer than the ones the scientists gave the
M
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14
shifters, but it was still a prison.
The bed dipping next to him shook Miach out
of his thoughts and shock filled him to find Nick
sitting so close to him. He jerked away from the
shifter on instinct before managing to control his
urges. To his relief, Nick didn’t seem surprised or
offended by his reaction. The man held out a plate
piled with ribs, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes.
His lips twitching into a smile he couldn’t hold
back, Miach took the plate. His stomach growled,
giving away his hunger. “Thanks,” he muttered.
Nick’s answering grin caused Miach’s heart rate
to increase and his mouth to water. The wolf
shifter was fucking sexy, with his shaggy
strawberry blond hair, twinkling hazel eyes, and
killer dimples. It took everything in Miach to keep
from touching the man, especially since having
him sit next to him on the bed gave Miach so
many wicked ideas. He’s just a few inches away. All
I have to do is move my hand just a little and I could
touch him!
The thoughts whispered through his mind,
plaguing him with needs he hadn’t felt this strong
in years. He’d always been in control, of
everything, from his military-turned-independent-
career to his body’s urges. He’d had no choice,
what with how the military treated gay men. And
now, as a prisoner of the wolves, nothing was in
his control.
Focusing on his ribs, he scraped the meat from
Loving the Enemy
15
the bone with his teeth. The succulent meat pulled
away easily, almost melting in his mouth. He
grunted in appreciation at the juicy pork’s taste.
“Good, huh?” Nick said, grinning. “They’re
from Dave’s Ribs & BBQ. It’s my favorite for ribs,
but I don’t get to Colin City often.”
Miach took another bite, buying time as he
thought about the man’s words. Was Nick trying
to start a conversation with him? He had to admit,
of the four men that rotated shifts to watch him,
this one was the only one who ever tried to
connect with him. He never reacted to Miach’s
curt responses or derogatory remarks that he used
to keep the wolves at arm’s length. He’d watched
how they interacted with each other, and couldn’t
help but feel impressed by their warmth. They
didn’t seem at all like the animals the scientists
always described them as. It confused Miach,
made him question his beliefs, which in turn,
pissed him off.
“Do you like spicy?” Nick asked, and without
waiting for an answer, he held up a bowl of sauce.
“Try this. It’s honey BBQ flavor with a kick.” He
winked and had the audacity to just reach over
and pour a glob onto one of the ribs on Miach’s
plate. “It’s my favorite. I always get extra.”
For a second, he just stared at Miach, and Nick
met his gaze levelly, waiting. “I like spicy food,”
he finally whispered. That earned him another
grin, which in turn sent blood flowing south to
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16
Miach’s cock. Miach returned his focus to his food,
suddenly glad for the plate of ribs to hide his ill-
timed erection. He lifted the bone to his lips and
scraped off the sauce-covered meat. The honey
BBQ flavor immediately burst across his tongue,
followed swiftly by a mild burning sensation as
the spice took over. “Oh, god, that’s good,” he
moaned, eagerly devouring the rest of the meat on
the bone.
He glanced over at Nick and found the man
staring at his mouth. Nick lifted a hand toward his
face and Miach froze. The other man hesitated,
letting out a breath through his teeth, then smiled.
“You have a bit on your chin there.”
Miach lifted his hand to his face, wiping the dab
of sauce from his chin. He sucked his finger into
his mouth, watching Nick through his lashes. He
knew he didn’t imagine the heat that flashed
through Nick’s eyes as he watched him suck his
finger clean. Is the wolf just as attracted to me? Even
if that’s the case, will either of us do anything about it?
Swallowing, Nick looked away, and Miach
found disappointment coursing through him. He
frowned down at his plate and picked up another
rib, mentally berating himself for his reaction.
Hope had no place in his life.
The cup of sauce appeared in this line of sight.
“Here.”
Does he sound breathy? He glanced over at the
shifter and took the cup of sauce. “Are you sure? I
Loving the Enemy
17
don’t want to take all your favorite.”
That brought back Nick’s grin — god the man
must smile more than anyone Miach had ever met
— once again showing off those sexy dimples
Miach wanted to lick. “I told you. I always get
plenty of it.” Nick picked up a cup sitting on his
own plate and lifted it as if in toast. “Enjoy.”
For the first time in a couple years, a chuckle
escaped Miach. The sound surprised both of them,
but it earned Miach another sexy grin from Nick.
Then the man surprised him further by bumping
his shoulder into Miach’s before refocusing on his
plate of food. He didn’t know what to make of the
shifter, so Miach focused on his dinner instead.
After finishing everything, he stood and headed
toward the table. He stared at the heaps of food
still spread across the table and picked up a
smaller, unopened Styrofoam box. He turned to
look at Nick, only to find the man had set his plate
on the floor at his feet and now leaned back on his
elbows on the bed. With his legs splayed and his t-
shirt molding to every ridge of his six-pack abs,
Nick’s jeans caressed his toned legs and did
nothing to hide the large bulge behind the man’s
fly. The delicious view had Miach’s mouth
watering for a completely different kind of meat.
Nick’s heated smile and lifted brow had Miach
clearing his throat. “What’s in here?” he asked,
holding up the box, uncertain how he managed to
keep his voice steady.
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Nick replied, “Open it up.”
The man’s sultry tone sent a shiver working
down Miach’s spine. He swallowed, trying to wet
a suddenly dry throat. Forcing his attention to the
box he held, he discovered two pieces of still
warm apple pie. He stared at it for a second. “Why
didn’t you send one of these with your friend?” he
asked, his confusion clear.
“Because they weren’t for Kade.” His frown
must have tipped Nick off that Miach’s brain was
still off-line. Nick grinned. “Those are for us,
Miach.”
If Miach didn’t know the man was a wolf
shifter, he could have sworn the guy actually
purred the words. His confusion turned to
wariness, wondering what game Nick played. He
hoped this wasn’t a ploy for information, not
wanting his gilded image of Nick tainted. This
shifter was the one guard that had always been
kind to him, which was probably why he’d never
found it in him to try escaping while he was on
duty. It really had nothing to do with the fact that
he couldn’t bring himself to injure the man, even
to escape.
Drawing close, he handed Nick the fork and
box before settling back on the bed, carefully
keeping plenty of space between them. Nick put
the box between them and sighed. Leaning
forward, Nick ran a hand through his sandy hair,
and even through his wariness, Miach still wanted
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19
to touch those shoulder-length locks.
Nick glanced at him out of the corner of his eye
and frowned. “I’ve done something to upset you,”
he stated bluntly. “I just don’t know what it is.”
Miach’s hand paused half way to his mouth, a
piece of apple pie perched precariously on the
tines of his fork. He wasn’t certain what had given
away his tension, or even why Nick cared. His
brows creased of their own accord as another
thought struck him. Maybe he’s not trying to pry
information out of me with seduction or food.
He opened his mouth, but the bite of apple pie
on his fork took that moment to drop off the
utensil and onto his lap. “Shit,” he hissed, heat
blooming in his cheeks as he reached for a napkin.
Nick beat him to it. The wolf shifter dropped to
his knees next to him and pressed the napkin to
his jeans, picking up the bit of uneaten pie.
Mesmerized by the sight before him, that the man
he’d lusted after for three long weeks was on his
knees before him, Miach could only watch as Nick
folded the paper around the bit of food and set it
aside.
Their gazes locked together. Nick eased the fork
from his fingers and, confused by how difficult it
was to even breathe, not to mention being
overwhelmed by Nick’s amazing cologne, Miach
let the implement go. Nick slid the tines into the
pie and came away with a large bite of the apple
dessert. Miach watched as Nick lifted it to his lips.
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20
Miach opened his mouth, taking in the warm,
sweet pastry.
His gaze flitting between Miach and the pie,
Nick ate a bite, before offering another to him. He
took it, and Nick smiled slightly. “I bet you’re
wondering if I’m doing this to try to pump you for
information,” Nick said softly, but Miach’s mouth
was full and he couldn’t answer. Nick didn’t wait
for one, saying, “I am.” Disappointment stabbed
through Miach, surprising him with its intensity.
Nick didn’t stop there. “But not the kind of
information you’re thinking of. I want to know
about you, not the scientists. If you’re ever ready to
share about them, then fine, but it’s you I’m
interested in, Miach.”
Nick ended his blunt statements by taking
another bite of the food.
Miach’s brows crinkled and the squeeze of his
chest eased, to be replaced with a racing pulse and
anticipation, but what he was anticipating Miach
didn’t know. It was as if three weeks in and out of
this man’s company had worn away any
resistance to his sudden advance. “How do you
even know I’m gay?” he asked, truly curious.
Nick grinned while feeding him another bite of
pie. “Because if you weren’t, you’d already have
landed a fist to my face.” Then he shrugged.
“Besides, over the last year, I’ve seen enough to
know Fate doesn’t make a mistake.”
He had no clue what the man’s comment about
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21
Fate meant, but, oddly enough, Miach’s first
instinct was to tell him he’d never hurt him. Then
it occurred to him that maybe he already had. He
didn’t really know what the guy looked like while
a wolf. He’d seen fleeting glances of him through
the window when Nick had shifted before
entering or after leaving the cabin. All that tanned,
tone skin called to him, stirring his dreams until it
became a regular occurrence to jack off in the
bathroom before bed so he didn’t wake in a
puddle of his own cum.
A sudden regret at even the possibility that he
might have injured this man made it hard to think,
and he had to know. “Have you been held or hurt
by me or the scientists?”
Nick grimaced and looked away. “No, not me.
Others I know, but not me.”
Letting out a breath he didn’t know he’d been
holding, Miach whispered, “That’s good.”
For a second, a confused expression crossed
Nick’s face, but then he erased it with a small
smile. “Enough talk of the scientists, Miach.”
Pressing forward, Nick rested a hand on his
arm while the other hand landed on Miach’s thigh.
He swallowed hard as the shifter he’d lusted after
for the last couple weeks closed the distance
between them. Nick’s hand on his arm slid up to
gently massage the nape of his neck, sending
heated sparks of awareness through Miach’s body.
His mouth opened slightly in anticipation of
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22
quenching the burning heat he saw in Nick’s hazel
eyes. Then the other man’s lips were on his,
pressing lightly, brushing sensually. Nick’s tongue
flicked out, and Miach couldn’t stop his own from
meeting it. The dark, masculine, and earthy
flavors of the other man burst over his tongue,
everything a man should be.
He shivered when Nick’s hand slipped around
and cupped his jaw, the thumb pressing at the
corner of Miach’s mouth, asking for him to open
wider, give the shifter more access. He knew this
was wrong, he shouldn’t be making out with his
jailer, no matter how sexy he was, no matter how
much his aching prick wanted to take this further.
He should use this to his advantage. From this
position there were at least a dozen ways he could
knock out the clearly distracted wolf, but Miach
couldn’t seem to think of a single one.
Then the pressure of Nick’s lips eased, and
Miach nearly whimpered at the loss. “You’re
thinking too much, Miach,” Nick whispered, his
breath mingling with his own. “Just forget
everything for a while and feel.”
With a groan, Miach gave in to the need
coursing through his body. He opened his mouth
wide and greeted Nick’s tongue with his own.
That first, full contact acted like a flash fire in a
pan, blazing hot lust shooting through him. Miach
brought his hands up, one twining in those silky
strawberry locks he’d been dying to feel, the other
Loving the Enemy
23
arm wrapped around Nick’s torso. He opened his
legs and pulled the shifter between his thighs,
liking how the slightly smaller man felt pressed
against him, all hard planes and firm flesh.
Miach needed more. He needed skin, and
friction, and sweaty, grunting bodies striving
toward completion. A gripping desire like nothing
he’d felt before took hold of Miach, and moving
one hand to Nick’s ass, he lifted and flipped the
man onto his back on the bed.
A low growl sounded from the shifter, Nick’s
eyes alight with lust, and something else that
Miach’s blood-deprived brain couldn’t hope to
process. The sound went straight to Miach’s balls,
and he pounced, taking Nick’s mouth in a
demanding kiss and giving in to the urge to cover
this man and rut against him.
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24
Chapter Three
ick found himself buried under two hundred
pounds of horny, dominant male. When he’d
come on to his mate, he hadn’t expected this
reaction, but evidently he wasn’t the only one
feeling the mate pull. He knew he’d have to
explain it eventually, but right now all he wanted
to do was enjoy the feel of Miach in his arms.
At first he’d been surprised by suddenly being
tossed on the bed, but when he’d growled and it
had turned Miach on, Nick couldn’t have been
more thrilled.
He returned Miach’s kiss with fervor. His
hands shoved up under the other man’s shirt,
allowing Nick to run his palms over hard back
muscles and firm ribs. He enjoyed the opportunity
to knead the toned skin he’d admired for weeks.
Miach shuddered in response to his touch, his
body writhing and thrusting. Nick planted his feet
on either side of Miach’s legs, cradling the man
N
Loving the Enemy
25
between his thighs. Rocking his groin up, he felt
the hard ridge of his mate’s cock rubbing against
his own. The friction sent shards of pleasure
through his body as Miach rutted against him,
seemingly mindless in his pursuit of his pleasure.
Feeling his balls pull tight, Nick knew he was
only a moment away from coming in his jeans like
an untried cub. He groaned as he tried to still
Miach’s thrusting hips by gripping the man’s ass
and holding tight. Miach growled in frustration,
his hips stuttering in Nick’s grip. Nick nipped and
nibbled at Miach’s lips and tongue. The man
gasped, and Nick took it as the opening he needed
to break the kiss and trail a line of open-mouthed
kisses along Miach’s jaw.
“Easy, stud,” he crooned into his ear. His
hands, still stroking Miach’s back, were now
meant to soothe instead of incite.
Miach lifted his head slightly, meeting his gaze
with wide blue eyes, his irises darkened with
passion. Nick saw doubt and fear in that look,
bringing his lust to a screeching halt. But even
through his confusion, Miach still struggled to
keep thrusting his hips. He buried his face against
Nick’s neck and groaned. “I need—Argg, fuck, I
need so bad.”
“I can give you what you need,” Nick
promised. “Just trust me.”
For a second, Miach stilled in his arms, and it
was then that Nick realized what he’d said.
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26
Instead of drawing attention to it, Nick slid his
hands lightly down the other man’s back. He
maneuvered his hands between them and began
opening the man’s jeans. Miach lifted his hips
slightly, making it easier for him to work the
button-fly. When he finally had it open, he shoved
down the man’s underwear and was rewarded
with the feel of hard, silky flesh.
He wrapped the fingers of both hands around
his mate’s prick, measuring his girth and length
by feel. The man was good sized, almost eight
inches long with a respectable girth, matching
Miach’s six foot one inch frame. Pumping firmly,
he felt more than heard the moaning vibrations
rumbling through Miach’s chest.
When he swiped his thumb over the plump
head of his new lover’s cock, Miach’s body
shuddered and he cried out. Warm cum soaked
his fingers and the fabric of both their shirts. Nick
continued to stroke his mate’s dick, heightening
his pleasure and reaming every last shot of seed
from him. He loved the feel of Miach’s shivers
against him, knowing it was he who brought his
mate pleasure.
Miach grunted and shifted his hips, and Nick
released the now-softening member. He pulled his
hands from between them and lifted his cum-
covered fingers to his lips, licking the fluid from
his fingers. The salty essence burst across his
tongue and he moaned, his still hard erection
Loving the Enemy
27
jerking in his jeans.
His mate lifted his head, staring down at him.
Holding his gaze, Nick continued to lick his
fingers clean, one hand, then the other, letting
Miach see exactly how much he enjoyed the taste
of him. Miach shifted his body, and Nick jerked as
pressure slid across his dick. Miach’s eyes
narrowed and a smile curved his lips as he
pressed his pelvis against Nick’s groin again.
Nick groaned, his head falling back and his
eyes sliding to half-mast. “Oh, gods that’s- Fuck!”
He cried out as a hand not his own suddenly
situated itself between their bodies and cupped
him through his jeans. Pleasure so sharp it almost
hurt coursed through him and his body bucked
convulsively as he sought out more. Miach didn’t
disappoint and massaged his dick through the
thick fabric.
He felt his balls pull tight and he struggled to
widen his hips and thrust up into the wonderful
pressure. His eyelids dropped closed, panting
breaths escaping his slightly parted lips, and he
hardly noticed when Miach shifted down his
body, but when the tight confines of his jeans
disappeared to be replaced by warm, sucking
heat, Nick’s eyes snapped open and his body
arched violently. His mate sucked him deeper,
and Nick looked down at the heady sight of Miach
servicing his cock.
The strong pull on his crown combined with
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28
Miach’s tongue massaging his glans sent him
straight to the edge. “Close,” he growled. No
longer able to control his hips, he started rocking.
He tangled his fingers in the comforter to keep
himself from gripping his mate’s head and
holding him still so he could fuck the man’s
mouth properly. He had no way of knowing how
Miach would respond to that and refused to do
anything that could jeopardize the wonderful
blowjob. Then Miach probed his slit, and Nick
could hold back no longer. His cock swelled and
exploded, his balls pumping stream after stream
of seed into Miach’s willing, sucking mouth. His
body jerked and bucked as waves of euphoria
swamped his senses and a long, low groan
escaped him.
He lay panting, his eyes hooded as he watched
Miach lick up the last traces of his cum as it oozed
from his slit. Finally, Miach lifted his head and
stared back at him, his blue eyes intense and
unreadable. Now that the lust had been sated,
Nick didn’t know how the man would behave,
and uncertainty filled him. Would Miach be angry
at what had just occurred? Would he want to talk
about it, cuddle, or pretend it never happened?
Miach didn’t seem to share those uncertainties.
He quickly shucked his t-shirt, jeans and boxer-
briefs, giving Nick a delectable view of toned
muscle and hard flesh. Miach used his t-shirt to
clean up the mess from his earlier spill, and Nick
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29
used the opportunity to admire the man’s sculpted
pecks and abs, long, lean legs, and impressive
cock, even while lying flaccid against his thigh.
Since there were no waxing supplies in the cabin,
at least none he knew about, he felt certain Miach
was naturally hairless. Even the crinkly hair at
Miach’s groin was short and thin.
To his pleasure, Miach caught him looking and
grinned. The other man swept his gaze down
Nick’s body, stopping to admire his still visible
cock. Nick felt his organ twitch under the scrutiny.
Chuckling, Miach slid Nick’s boxers and jeans
down and off his legs, taking his sneakers with
them. Next, Miach leaned forward and lifted
Nick’s soiled shirt over his head and tossed it
aside.
Miach reached for the comforter. “Come on.
Let’s get more comfortable,” he said softly.
Smiling, Nick maneuvered around until the
blanket was at his feet and a pillow under his
head. “Sounds like a plan,” he replied, pleased at
least that Miach wasn’t forcing him out of his bed.
They curled up together on the bed. Miach
pulled him close, and Nick found his head resting
on his mate’s pecs. “Why the hell did it take us so
long to do this,” Nick muttered, leaning over and
licking the dusky nipple near his lips.
Miach grunted. He remained quiet for a
moment, before letting out a sigh and nuzzling
Nick’s head. “Because this is a really bad fucking
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30
idea.”
His words stung, but Nick knew from where
they stemmed. He teased the nipple he’d just
licked, watching the wet bud pucker into a hard
point under his fingertips as he gathered his
thoughts. “Let’s leave the problems of the world
outside for the night,” he whispered.
“Nick—”
“I grew up around here, ya know,” he cut in,
refusing to let Miach voice his concerns. At least,
not yet. “I love running through the woods. It
doesn’t even matter what form,” he added. “I
think that’s why I work for the Forest Rangers. I
always get to be outside.” He stopped talking and
waited, wondering how Miach would respond. It
took so long for him to speak, Nick thought he
would ignore him, since he could tell by Miach’s
breathing that he wasn’t asleep.
“How long have you worked for the Forest
Rangers?”
Nick smiled, relief flooding him. His mate was
interested. “Twenty-two years.”
“Really? That would make you… how old?”
Miach asked, his surprise evident.
Grimacing, Nick realized there was no way to
keep all outside problems away. “I’m fifty-eight,”
he admitted. “I served twelve years in the military
first.”
“Really?” Miach couldn’t have sounded more
shocked if he’d tried.
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31
“Yeah. A lot of us do,” he whispered. “We
respect this country’s ideals, and want to uphold
the freedom of the Republic for future
generations.” He didn’t add that since they lived
for several centuries, their future generations
normally overlapped far longer than humans.
“That’s— I had no idea,” Miach whispered.
Nick lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Why would
you? That’s why we’re getting to know each
other,” he said, trying to lighten the moment.
“Wait a minute. Republic? We’re a damn
Democracy,” Miach stated firmly. “What military
were you in?”
Nick rolled his head to stare up at Miach and
grinned. “Oh, man, are you in for a rude
awakening,” he teased. “Go over the Pledge of
Allegiance. What does it say?”
Miach’s brows furrowed, but from his slightly
glazed expression, Nick knew he was doing it. It
only took a couple seconds for Miach’s eyes to
widen. “Well, shit,” he hissed. “You’re right.”
Miach’s gaze shifted to Nick. “I wonder why
everyone
automatically
thinks
we’re
a
Democracy.”
Chuckling, Nick shrugged. “Maybe because the
news is always spouting about how we’re trying
to uphold Democracy in other nations. It’s gotten
our own people confused.” Deciding a subject
change was needed, he asked, “What about you? I
know you were in the military before… well…
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32
your current job,” he finished lamely.
Snorting, Miach lifted a brow. “How do you
know I was in the military?”
“Your bearing, stud,” Nick replied. He smiled,
trying to take any accusation out of his next
words. “It takes training to always be on your toes
like you are. Even sitting on this bed in the cabin,
you’re still watching everything that goes on
around you.”
Silence stretched between them. The hand
rubbing idly over his back pleased Nick, even
though it looked like Miach wasn’t going to
answer. Fatigue from everything that had
happened to him that day began to catch up with
him. He’d helped Cameron track down a polar
bear shifter, then stopped the larger wolf when
he’d ordered the others with them to attack the
bear and his mate. He’d had to give a report and
sit through a rather tense meeting. Then he’d
come here to take his turn as jailer for his mate,
and the blow-job had left him drained. Literally,
he thought with a smile. The explosive chemistry
between him and Miach pleased him, almost as
much as Miach’s responses to his advances.
“I grew up in Nebraska.”
The low words roused Nick out of a doze.
“Yeah? What part?” he muttered, still not
completely focused.
Miach chuckled. “Does it matter? If you’ve seen
one part of Nebraska, you’ve pretty much seen it
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33
all.”
Nick snickered. Rubbing his cheek against
Miach’s chest, he muttered, “That bad?”
The shoulder under his head shrugged. “My
mom died when I was twelve. I never knew my
dad. I was put into the system and shuffled
around from one foster home to the next.”
“Wow!” Nick whispered, his heart going out to
his mate. “I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t get abused or anything, which is more
than I can say for some. I considered the military
my ticket out of there.” Nick could hear the dry
amusement in his tone when he said, “I turned
eighteen on a Thursday and enlisted on a Friday. I
never looked back.”
Nick had no idea what to say to that, so he
simply rubbed his palm over the firm muscle of
Miach’s chest. “My alpha encourages us to join
some division of the service for several years, even
if it’s not military. He just wants us all to
experience some job that requires us to serve the
community, you know? Firefighters, police,
military, even the postal service,” he added with a
chuckle.
The body under him tensed slightly at the
mention of his pack, but it didn’t stop Miach from
asking, “Why?”
He smiled, hoping his words would give Miach
a better view of shifters. Well, of his pack at least.
He’d heard from other shifters passing through
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34
over the years that Declan’s open policy and
encouragement of the young to serve the human
population was not the norm. Some shifters even
held themselves above humans, even going so far
as to refuse to allow human mates into their packs.
Damn foolishness, if anyone asked Nick. “It’s not
mandatory, mind you, but he wants us all to know
the value of our community, our way of life.”
“Way of life?” Miach asked gruffly.
“Sure,” he replied. “As an American.”
“Oh.”
Nick knew that hadn’t been what Miach’s mind
immediately jumped to, but he wasn’t going to
call his mate on it. It was enough that they could
talk about shifters without him making some
derogatory remark.
“I was in Special Forces, the Green Berets,”
Miach whispered. “I did that for eight years before
being approached by someone in the private
sector. I guess they liked my extraction
techniques.”
Nick frowned. Is he being sarcastic? “What do
you mean?”
Miach sighed. “No one ever knew I was there,”
he admitted. “I was a ghost. I guess the skill came
from growing up with too many kids under one
roof. I could walk into a room and no one would
notice me.”
Nick found himself at a loss for words for the
second time that evening. It sounded like such a
Loving the Enemy
35
lonely existence, first in foster care and then in the
military. He wished he could just blurt out that
Miach was his mate, and Nick wanted to be the
family he’d lost at twelve, but he knew that would
cause even more problems.
Evidently, Miach must have felt his tension, for
one arm pulled him tight to his chest while the
other hand cupped his jaw and tilted his head up
to face him. “I didn’t tell you that to make you feel
sorry for me, Nick. My life is what it is.”
Miach lifted his head and pressed a soft kiss to
Nick’s lips, his tongue flicking out at the end to
taste his lips. “I’m just sorry we met under these
circumstances,” he admitted.
Nick smiled slightly. “Me, too, stud,” he
whispered. After a second, he added, “But
circumstances can change.”
“Go to sleep, Nick,” Miach ordered gently.
Nick smiled. He’d heard the wistfulness in his
mate’s tone.
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36
Chapter Four
iach woke slowly, letting the sounds and
smells sink into his consciousness. God it
felt good just to let his body adjust from sleep to
wakefulness. He couldn’t remember the last time
he hadn’t jerked awake, instantly alert. But with
his face buried in Nick’s neck and the man’s
incredible scent soothing his senses, everything in
life seemed so easy. Unwilling to lose the moment
just yet, Miach inhaled deeply, taking in Nick’s
bed-warmed flesh and the earthy musk that was
all Nick’s own. God, he could so easily become
addicted to this.
That was a sobering thought, and a glance at
the clock told him his time alone with Nick was
nearly at an end. After letting out a sad sigh, he
nibbled the skin on the back of Nick’s neck. His
efforts elicited a mutter of appreciation from Nick,
and the wolf shifter rocked his ass back against
Miach.
M
Loving the Enemy
37
Grunting in surprise, he thrust automatically.
Pleasure radiated up his shaft, reminding him of
how nice it felt to have something other than his
own hand rub against his morning erection. Last
night had been almost surreal. Once he’d gotten a
taste of Nick, he hadn’t been able to stop himself
from doing everything in his power to get more,
and this felt no different. He could quickly feel his
control slipping as Nick rocked against him again,
and from the change in Nick’s heartbeat and
breathing, Miach knew the shifter was awake.
“Shit, you gotta stop,” he growled, somehow
finding the will to still his own hips. It didn’t stop
the twitching of his cock, though, or lessen his
desire to keep thrusting his rock hard shaft
between those sexy mounds Nick called an ass.
Nick glanced over his shoulder at him, his
warm hazel eyes full of lust. “Now that would
ruin the whole pleasure of waking with someone
else,” he murmured.
For a second, jealousy shot through Miach at
the very idea of Nick waking in the arms of
another man, which was completely ridiculous
considering the shifter’s age. Shit, I didn’t realize
they lived longer than humans.
Another rock against his groin had his brain
fogging. “Wait,” he muttered, struggling to focus.
Miach gripped Nick’s movements. “Wait.” He put
as much command into his voice as possible.
Nick shivered under his hands, and if that
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38
wasn’t the sexiest fucking thing Miach had ever
felt, he didn’t know what was. “Why?” The word
almost sounded like a whine, which had Miach
grinning, thrilled that Nick wanted his touch that
much.
“It’s quarter to eight. Your replacement will be
here shortly,” he whispered. The words acted as a
bucket of cold water on his libido, reminding him
of why he was in this place to begin with. “Do you
really want to be found in such a compromising
position?”
Okay, so he was being a bit bitchy now, and he
knew it, but the idea that he was being used again
surged through his thoughts.
Nick’s growl had him refocusing on the man,
and with a twist of his hips and a roll of his body,
Miach found himself pinned under a scowling
wolf shifter. “Being in bed with you is not now
nor will it ever be a compromising position,” he
snapped, punctuating his words with a snap of his
hips.
Miach’s breath escaped in a hiss as Nick’s hard
shaft rubbed against his own. Any loss of his
erection he’d experienced at his thoughts of facing
his other jailers disappeared as his blood flowed
south again. “Argg,” he grunted through clenched
teeth, trying to control his desire to grab this
man’s hips and thrust to completion. “What the
hell are you talking about?”
“I like you, Miach,” Nick whispered, his lips
Loving the Enemy
39
and tongue dancing over his chest in a sensual,
skin-tingling glide. “I don’t care what anyone else
has to say about that.”
Nick continued to thrust, his silky hardness
rubbing against Miach’s again and again. It felt
like heaven, and he no longer wanted to resist, but
there was one more thing he needed to know.
“And when your replacement arrives in just a few
minutes?” he hissed out.
To his surprise, he received a smoldering grin
from Nick. “That’s the great thing,” Nick replied,
while he continued to rock his hips. “No one is
coming,” he whispered. “I’m your next shift.”
“What?” he snapped, confused about the man’s
words. In the three weeks they’d held him, no one
had ever worked a double shift. He could hardly
think past the exquisite pleasure suffusing his
body in heady, tingling waves. “Why?” he
managed to grunt out.
Nick paused in his slow, sensual thrusts and
Miach groaned in disappointment at the loss. It
took several long breaths, but finally he was able
to focus on the deep hazel eyes above him. Nick
smiled down at him. “Because I want to spend
time with you. Because you’re worth getting to
know. Because you’re sexy as fuck, and I want to
know everything about you.”
The last sentence was growled and then Nick
started thrusting again, this time in short, hard
movements that sent Miach’s thoughts scattering
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40
to the four winds. His hands landed on Nick’s
hips, and Miach pulled him more firmly against
his body. Hard dick rubbed against hard dick. Pre-
cum leaking from both their slits eased the way
between them, creating a smooth, sensual glide
that had his balls pulling tight and the base of his
spine tingling. Growling ferally, he felt his nails
dig into Nick’s skin. Pleasure filled him at the
thought of marking the shifter, even in such a
small way.
Suddenly, Nick’s head dropped to land on the
crook of his neck and a slight bite of pain shot
through Miach’s shoulder. Somewhere in the back
of his mind, he realized Nick had bit him. Not
hard enough to break skin, just enough to send
that extra jolt through his system, down his spine,
and into his balls. He let out a pleasure filled
groan as his cock swelled and shot, cum slicking
up both him and Nick. As his second stream shot
between them, he felt Nick shudder. Additional
warmth soaked their skin as the man’s body
bowed in his arms and Nick cried out. His hazel
eyes were wide, filled with pleasure, as his body
convulsed.
Miach petted the man’s back, smoothing his
palms over Nick’s skin. He relaxed, relishing the
natural endorphins pinging through his system.
His eyes at half-mast, he let out a sigh as he looked
at his lover. Nick tilted his head from where it
rested on his chest, looking up at him. He grinned.
Loving the Enemy
41
“Good morning,” the wolf shifter whispered.
Chuckling, Miach nodded. “Yeah. Yeah it is.”
The best morning I’ve had in a long, long time. He
could admit it to himself, but expressing the
sentiment wasn’t as easy. He was still trapped in a
cabin in the middle of the woods, and even
though the list of available activities had just
increased, Miach still felt tension.
“How about we take a shower and then eat
leftovers for breakfast?” Nick whispered.
“Do you think they’ll be any good?” he asked.
At Nick’s confused look, he added, “We left them
out all night.”
Nick shook his head as he pushed away. “Naw.
I put them away last night.”
“You did?” he asked. Sitting up, Miach looked
toward the dining area. To his surprise, the table
was clear. “When?”
Grimacing, Nick murmured, “I have a touch of
OCD. I can’t sleep with a mess, so I got up and put
it away.”
Miach smirked and followed Nick’s naked,
flexing ass toward the bathroom. “No underwear
left on the floor of your bedroom?” he teased.
Nick glared over his shoulder at him. “Shut
up,” he muttered, his shoulders tensing.
Suddenly feeling better, he grabbed the man,
spun him around, and pulled him into his arms.
Miach landed a quick kiss to Nick’s lips while
massaging the firm ass he really wanted to tap. “I
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42
was just teasing. I don’t care about that,” he
whispered, realizing he truly didn’t. “I’m sure you
have a chair by the bed I could leave my clothes
on.”
Nick’s brows shot up at his words, and it took a
second for Miach to realize what he’d said. Yeah,
he did want a relationship with the guy, outside of
their jailer / jailed roles. It had been a long time
since he felt this comfortable so quickly with
anyone, and he wondered what he could do to
make it happen. Resign from Crystal Lake
Corporation, obviously, but how can I keep my
integrity as a soldier and a man and still make amends
for the damage I’ve caused to Nick’s friends and
family?
He had no idea.
“I’ll make certain there are two chairs,” Nick
whispered, refocusing Miach’s thoughts. “One for
each side of the bed.”
The smile reached Miach’s eyes as he stared
down at this man who had managed to get under
his skin so quickly. “That sounds like a fantastic
plan.” His stomach took that moment to growl,
and he laughed. “Let’s get cleaned up,” he said,
steering Nick ahead of him. “I’m hungry.”
They spent the day seated on the small couch,
sipping cups of coffee, and talking about their
childhoods. It was odd, and interesting, and…
strangely comfortable. For not having said much
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43
of anything for three weeks, hell, it had been years
since he’d really had a conversation that didn’t
include a work assignment, Miach was sure
making up for it now. The coffee was mainly to
keep his throat from drying out.
Miach’s gaze flicked to the small TV, a DVD
playing for background noise, as he thought about
Nick’s last question. Did he ever think about
having kids of his own? He shook his head. “No.
Kids have never crossed my mind,” he admitted.
What could only be surprise crossed Nick’s
features before he could hide it. “Really? Never?”
Shrugging, he eased forward and rested his
elbows on his knees. “I don’t know what to tell
you, Nick. I’ve known I was gay since I was
fourteen, then I joined the military, then moved to
private work. Kids were never even a blip on my
radar.”
“Wow, yeah, I can see how it wouldn’t be
something you’d consider,” Nick mused. “My
mom talks about grandkids quite a bit, so I guess
it’s been drilled into me that she expects offspring
from me.”
“Oh,” Miach muttered. “Is she not accepting of
you being gay?” Nick had only told good
memories of growing up with his parents,
mentioning how much closer he and his mother
were since the death of his father, even though it
sounded like the woman may have become a bit
eccentric.
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Nick’s shifting uncomfortably caught his notice,
and he focused his full attention on the man. It
suddenly occurred to him that one day together
did not a relationship make. Maybe Miach was
being presumptuous. Just because he’d taken an
extra shift to spend time with him, and Nick said
he wouldn’t be ashamed of being seen with him, it
didn’t mean he wanted something long term. Why
the hell did that thought send his pulse racing?
Miach had to take a slow breath to keep sweat
from popping out on his forehead.
“No, my mom knows that I enjoy the attentions
of men,” Nick finally said, “but I’ve also dated
women. She’s always welcomed both into her
home when I introduce them.”
Miach’s eyes widened. “Oh.” Well, shit. What
could he make of that? “So, your mother just
expects you to end up with a woman?” he asked
warily.
Letting out a sigh, Nick shook his head. “No.”
His hazel eyes held worry, but he smiled anyway.
“My mom has armed me with enough information
on adopting and artificial insemination to teach a
seminar.”
“Oh,” he muttered again. Was Nick telling him
what Miach thought he was telling him? You want
a relationship with me, be prepared for kids? He was
an only child, and then growing up six years in
over-crowded foster homes, Miach had learned to
value his privacy and solitude.
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45
He liked this guy, really liked him, more than
all of his past flings combined. Nick was easy to
talk to, hardworking, dedicated, funny and
thoughtful. He had a body made for touching,
with long, toned lines of muscle covered by
smooth bronze skin. Nick’s natural scent drew
him like a moth to a flame. He just wanted to bury
his nose in Nick’s neck and breathe him in. His
laughing eyes made Miach want to smile, and his
easy-going personality and engaging humor had
him laughing. In fact, as he sat there and
processed Nick’s revelation, Miach realized he’d
laughed more in the last day that he had in the last
two years. God, what did that say about him?
Suddenly, Nick rose from the couch next to
him. Turning to Miach, he grinned. “Let’s go for a
hike.”
“A hike?” Miach asked, rising to stand next to
him. “As in outside?”
Nick chuckled and slid his hand up Miach’s
arm. “That is where you normally hike, isn’t it?”
he teased.
Miach shivered under the contact, still amazed
that he enjoyed being touched so much by this
wolf shifter. He didn’t remember ever reacting like
this to anyone. He certainly didn’t want to be
touched by any of the other shifters. “I didn’t
think that was allowed.” He hadn’t been outside
in nearly three weeks. The idea of a hike filled him
with anticipation. Miach hadn’t realized how
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much he’d missed his daily runs.
“I can trust you not to bash me over the head
with a tree branch and run off, right?”
Smiling back at Nick, Miach nodded. “Yeah. No
bashing you over the head.”
That earned him a beaming smile, complete
with dimples, and Miach felt his pulse pick up and
blood rush to his shaft. Fucking hell! This guy has
me by the balls!
Shoving the disturbing thoughts away, he gave
a mental admonishment to his cock. Glad to
already be wearing sweats, he headed to the
corner to get his sneakers. He grabbed his coat and
met Nick at the door. The man pulled the cabin
keys from his pocket, opened the door, and led the
way outside.
For the first time in three weeks, Miach inhaled
deeply and filled his lungs with fresh, mountain
air. The pungent aroma of spruce and evergreen
trees flooded his nostrils, mixed with the scents of
moss, earth, and Nick. It was a heady mixture and
he smiled, knowing it wouldn’t take much to want
to experience this again and again.
He grinned at Nick and trotted down the
couple steps. “Let’s go.”
Nick nodded. “Sweet.” He headed down the
stairs and east into the woods. “I love the way
these blue spruces smell,” Nick started talking as
they hiked. “It became the state tree in 1939.”
As they walked, Nick spouted off facts about
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47
the flora and fauna they hiked through, and Miach
couldn’t help but grin. The shifter was showing off
his enthusiasm for the world around him. Miach
loved it. The fact that Nick’s melodic tenor was
easy to listen to was just an added bonus.
After walking for fifteen minutes, Nick asked,
“Are you ready for a jog? You’ve got to be in need
of a real run after being cooped up for so long.”
Relief at having the man anticipate his needs,
Miach nodded. “Yes. Please! I used to run ten
miles every day. I’d love a run!”
“Cool. Then let’s go!”
Nick took off, and Miach laughed, giving chase.
He noticed that Nick led him on a wide, circuitous
route that took them around the cabin. When he
estimated that they were around three quarters of
the way around the cabin, maybe a mile away
from the actual building, a dark brown wolf came
barreling out of the trees. At first, Miach thought
the growling, snapping animal was headed
toward him. But a second later, Miach watched
the animal leap straight at Nick.
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Chapter Five
ick whipped his head around at the sound,
and he spotted Cameron’s large brown wolf.
Before he could react, the shifter slammed into
him. The force of the hit carried him to the
ground. His head slamming against the ground
was almost as painful as the claws digging into the
backs of his shoulders.
Saliva dripped from Cameron’s snarling jaws,
dropping on the back of his neck, and Nick
growled. He bucked his body, trying to dislodge
the larger wolf, but the move had no strength
behind it. With his head still ringing too much
from his temple hitting the firm, moss-covered
ground beneath him, he couldn’t seem to gather
enough strength to dislodge the bigger shifter.
Then the weight was gone from his back. He
rolled halfway over in time to see Miach, one hand
gripping the wolf’s scruff, the other hand holding
thick fur at the base of Cameron’s spine, hurl the
N
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49
big animal into the woods.
Cameron let out a yelp as he struck a large tree-
trunk. He didn’t stay down long. For several
seconds, Cameron stalked toward them, his belly
low to the ground and his teeth bared. Nick rolled
to a crouch, ready to meet the shifter’s next attack.
Cameron stopped, his angry brown eyes flicking
from Nick to Miach and back again. It was then
that Nick realized his mate was still beside him,
ready to aide in the event of a second attack.
Cameron must not have liked the odds, because
he turned and disappeared into the forest.
Miach pulled Nick into his arms and kissed his
temple before growling, “What the hell was that
about, Nick? That shifter targeted you, not me.”
“That was Cameron,” Nick replied, a shiver
working down his spine.
“Okay…?” Miach replied, his voice still rough.
Oddly, it touched Nick that Miach would feel such
emotion from his life being threatened. All doubt
about Miach feeling the mate pull vanished.
“Why the hell did another shifter just attack
you?”
“I stopped his attack on a polar bear shifter and
reported his misbehavior to Declan.” He shook his
head. His alpha had warned that this might
happen, but he hadn’t really believed that
Cameron would track him down in the middle of
the woods to… “Oh, shit! Sam!”
Miach’s growl, along with the hands tightening
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on his shoulders, returned Nick’s focus to his
mate. “Why would the guy attack another shifter?
Who’s Sam? What’s going on?”
Nick took a deep breath, getting his racing
thoughts under control. “Shifters have territories,”
he admitted. “Declan is pretty accepting of strange
shifters coming into his territory, either to visit
others or just because they need to pass through.
Some alphas require that to even enter their
territory a shifter needs permission,” Nick
admitted. “Declan only cares if a shifter plans to
stay for an extended period of time, or if it’s a big
group.” He shrugged. “He’s a powerful shifter
and comfortable with his authority. I’ve only seen
idiots actually get it in their head to challenge him,
and he shuts them down pretty quickly. He’s a fair
leader.”
“Then why is this Cameron guy attacking
others?”
“Because he’s a bigoted ass, who thinks he’s
better than he is,” Nick growled.
Miach straightened his shoulders. “Do you run
into that a lot?”
Nick shrugged. “Bigots of one thinking or
another? As often as humans do, I suppose. No
community is without its assholes.”
That had his mate’s brow lifting and a couple
seconds passed before he nodded. “Okay. I can see
that. What about this Sam? Who is he?”
“Shit,” Nick hissed, pulling away. He watched
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51
Miach’s expression harden, and realized what
impression he was giving. “It’s nothing like that,”
he assured, lifting a hand to Miach’s chest and
rubbing lightly. “He helped me reveal Cameron’s
crimes. If Cameron is willing to come after me in
the middle of the forest, then he’s willing to go
after Sam, and Sam is an extremely submissive
wolf. Cameron could kill him easily,” he admitted
with a grimace. “I’ve got to warn Declan.”
He pulled his keys out of his pocket and
handed them to a still confused Miach. He yanked
his shirt over his head next and dropped it on the
ground. “Look, I’ve got to go. I—” He nibbled on
his lip, looking in the direction where he knew the
cabin was. “Can you get back to the cabin on your
own?”
Miach’s brows shot up and the man actually
took a step back, jingling the ring of keys
nervously. “You trust me to just return to the
cabin? Why? I’m the prisoner, remember? I could
lie and then just take off.”
Nick swallowed, trying to figure out how to put
his feelings into words. “You could do that,” he
replied softly, knowing he had to be completely
honest in this area. “But I don’t think you will.
You’re a soldier, a man of honor. I admit that I
think you were duped by scientists with a lot of
money who have lied to you about shifters.”
Miach opened his mouth, and Nick held up a
hand, not wanting to possibly hear the guy speak
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52
up for the scientists at this point in their fledgling
relationship. “I also think that if you planned to
run, you’d be honest with me and tell me. I think
if you say you’ll return to the cabin then you will.”
After a tense moment, a smile curved the corner
of Miach’s lips, and he whispered, “I’ll go back to
the cabin, but I want to see you again before I have
to deal with whichever jailer is relieving you
tonight.”
“That would be Riker,” Nick whispered. He
stepped close, a smile playing across his face as he
traced Miach’s lips. “I’ll see you in a little bit,” he
promised and pecked a quick kiss to Miach’s lips.
Before he could think better of it, Nick stepped
back, pulled off his slacks, called to his wolf, and
let the change take him.
As the pop of tendons and crack of bones
realigning filled the clearing, it occurred to Nick
that he should have warned his mate. He opened
his eyes and gazed up at Miach, seeing that the
man had backed away several steps. Taking a
chance, he fluffed out his fur, settled on his
haunches, and stared up to meet Miach’s gaze.
The lines of tension in Miach’s neck and jaw
worried Nick. He lowered to the ground and
whined, thumping his tail on the ground in the
classic friendly dog greeting.
Miach’s eyes narrowed as he stared at him.
Even though he knew he needed to report
Cameron’s attack to his alpha, Nick waited. Some
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53
instinct told him this was more important. Finally,
Miach whispered, “Nick? Are you in there?”
Nick sat up and thumped his tail twice more.
“Can you understand me?”
He dropped his nose in a nod of
acknowledgement.
“You’re not going to hurt me if I touch you, are
you?”
Nick whined and lay back down. To his
pleasure, Miach slowly approached him. He
settled into a crouch a few feet from him and
watched him for several seconds before reaching
out a hand and stroking his fur. Nick shivered in
pleasure. His mate was touching him, in wolf
form. He turned his head slightly and licked
Miach’s hand.
“My god. Are you actually sentient when you’re
an animal?”
Those words gave Nick pause. His mate
thought he wasn’t himself when he turned into his
wolf? By the gods, what rubbish had the scientists
filled his head with?
Knowing he couldn’t waste any more time, he
licked Miach’s hand one more time before rising
and bounding away. He paused a few yards down
the trail and gave a soft growl. Miach actually
smirked. “Right. I’m going. You be careful, Nick.
That bastard may still be out there.”
Giving a yip in response, Nick bounded into the
trees. He wasn’t one of Declan’s best trackers for
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nothing. In this form, he could smell exactly which
direction Cameron went. He followed the trail for
a few hundred yards, confirming that the other
wolf had headed away from the deep forest, then
Nick bounded toward his car, all the while being
careful of all the scents around him. No way did
he want to get ambushed by Cameron a second
time. At least as a wolf, his nose leveled the
playing field.
He reached his mustang without mishap. After
a quick glance around—no need to scare any
hikers—he returned to human form. He snagged
the hide-a-key, opened the car, and climbed into
the passenger seat. Grabbing his cell phone from
the glove box, he hit the on button and waited. To
his relief, he had a signal. Two bars, not much, but it
will do. He punched three on his speed dial.
“Declan McIntire here,” came through the
phone after three rings.
“This is Nick Greely, Alpha. I was just attacked
by Cameron. I think he’s headed Sam’s way,” he
quickly rushed out.
“Nick! Ye get a signal at the cabin? And how
did Cameron get in to attack ye? Do ye need me to
send up someone to repair a window or door?”
Nick closed his eyes and stared at the roof of his
car. Shit! I should have known my alpha would find it
odd that Cameron could get to me. “No, Alpha. No
repairs needed. Miach and I were jogging in the
woods. I got a little… distracted by my mate’s
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55
scent and didn’t realize Cameron was around
until too late.”
“Are ye all right?” Declan asked, his darkening
tone left Nick uncertain if he was angry about
letting Miach out of the cabin or about Cameron
attacking him.
“Yes, Alpha,” he assured. “A few scratches, but
nothing serious. Miach came to my aide,” he
added with pride.
Declan remained silent for several seconds
before he murmured, “Did he now? I suppose I
should ask just how well it’s goin’ with ye and yer
mate, then?”
“Pretty well. I took on a double shift so I could
spend time with him,” he admitted.
“Aye, Kade let me know,” Declan replied.
“How much have ye told him about shifters and
mates?”
“Nothing,” Nick admitted. “I didn’t want to
scare him off just when I’d gotten him to start
opening up about himself. I haven’t asked him
anything about the scientists, either,” he admitted.
“I don’t want him to think I’m using him to try to
get him to talk.”
“That’s understandable, but I think ye better
explain about mates sooner rather than later. Safer
that way, so he understands yer desire to claim
him.”
Nick sighed, not looking forward to that
conversation. “Yes, Alpha,” he replied. “What
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about Sam?” he asked, trying to focus on why he’d
originally left Miach in the first place. The quicker
he took care of this call, the quicker he could get
back to his mate.
“Sam is staying with Shane and Caroline. He’ll
be safe there until Carson can locate Cameron and
bring him in.” Declan paused.
Nick nodded, even though he knew the alpha
couldn’t see it. Relief flooded him that his new
friend was safe. He just hoped Shane’s natural
dominance didn’t make Sam even more
submissive than he already was. The slender wolf
needed confidence, not more control. Knowing he
had to voice his concern he tentatively asked,
“Um, Alpha? Does Shane know to go easy on
Sam?”
Declan chuckled softly. “Aye, Nick. I let Shane
know to tone it down around Sam. I think all the
larger shifters in the area have made him a bit
more defensive of his station,” Declan mused.
“I’m sure he’ll settle back down once he realizes
the others in the area will defer to him.”
Nick hoped his alpha was right, because ever
since Gordon had moved to Stone Ridge, Shane
had become more dominant. “I’ll check in this
evening after Riker relieves me,” Nick murmured,
hating the idea of leaving his mate in another’s
hands even more now that he’d connected with
the man.
“Good luck with yer mate, Nick,” Declan
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57
replied before hanging up.
Nick shoved the phone back into the glove box,
relocked his car, and hid the key. After recovering
his mustang, he took a deep breath and once more
called on his wolf. Thirty minutes of running had
Nick stopping in the clearing. He lifted his nose to
the breeze and inhaled, but only found his own
scent, mingled with Miach’s floating on the wind.
Relief filled him. He changed back into his human
form and headed toward the door, surprised to
find the knob turn easily. Nick pushed open the
unlocked door and stepped into the quiet cabin.
“Miach?”
It only took him a moment to realize the cabin
was empty. His mate was gone.
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Chapter Six
iach jogged through the forest. He’d been
moving for the last hour and a half,
sometimes slow, sometimes fast, depending on
how difficult it was to track over the mountainous
terrain. He’d followed the trail that had drawn his
attention easily enough as it circuited the cabin
twice, and thirty minutes later he shoved open the
door to the cabin. He saw his lover standing in the
middle of the room, facing away from him, naked.
Miach grinned. “Hello, there.”
Nick whipped around, his eyes widening.
“Miach!”
The man’s response surprised him, and then he
realized the problem. He smiled slightly. “I said
I’d come back to the cabin,” he whispered. Nick’s
eyes flickered, disbelief filling them. “I just didn’t
say when,” Miach pointed out.
“Where did you go?”
Nick’s cool question made Miach swallow hard.
M
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He didn’t like the disappointment he heard in
Nick’s tone, and that realization concerned Miach.
He wanted to please this man too much, which
wasn’t good, but he had no clue how to back off
now. Especially with the sexy man standing naked
in front of him, Nick’s hands fisted on his bare
hips, making Miach’s cock thicken and swell in his
sweats. All he wanted to do was close the fifteen
feet between them, wrap the shifter in his arms,
and kiss him until Nick’s ire dissipated and the
guy melted against his chest.
He took a deep breath and forced his shoulders
to relax. “I smelled the scent of someone familiar
and I wanted to make certain it was who I thought
it was.” At Nick’s confused look, Miach relaxed
further. At least he no longer looked disbelieving
or irritated. He crossed to the couch and waved a
hand toward the seat next to him. “Gonna have
seat?”
Nick let out a breath and gave a jerky nod.
“Yeah, just lemme…”
Miach watched Nick cross to a small dresser
where he knew spare sweats and t-shirts were
kept. He figured it was because shifters never
knew when they’d end up naked. He had to
admit, it was a good practice. When Nick settled
next to him, he focused on the situation at hand.
Leaning forward, he settled his elbows on his
knees and said, “The scientists have figured out
where you’re keeping me. The signs are fairly
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fresh. I’d say Raven found me thirty-six hours ago,
probably when Kade was watching me.” He tried
to say the guy’s name without a sneer, really he
did.
Nick’s lips quirked. “Ya really don’t like the
guy,” he whispered.
“I don’t like the way he touches you,” Miach
snapped before he could control his tongue.
“Shit!” He leaped to his feet and paced the floor
for a minute. Less than forty-eight hours ago, this
news would have made him feel ecstatic. Now?
Not so much. “Raven was within fifty feet of this
place. He’s the guy who smells like sage and
moss,” he added, running a hand through his hair.
“What!” Nick roared. “You’re not going
anywhere!”
Miach froze, for a second thinking Nick was
reacting because someone threatened his prisoner,
but the guy’s next words set that idea to rest.
“You’re not leaving me now, damn it!”
He quickly dropped to the couch and pulled
Nick into his arms. “Do you think I would have
told you if I planned to escape with him?” he
whispered into the man’s sandy blond curls.
Miach shuddered in his arms before stiffening.
“Shit. I guess we both have things we need to
discuss,” he whispered.
From his reaction, a seed of doubt grew in
Miach’s chest. “I guess so.” He eased the tight
hold of his arms, letting Nick settle into the
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cushions of the couch, though he kept one hand
on Nick’s thigh. “Let me ask one thing.” He
waited until he had Nick’s full attention. “When
you’re a wolf, do you know who I am?”
Nick’s eyes slid closed for a second, the look
making Miach nervous, before the man said
firmly, “Yes, I know exactly who you are. A shifter
is perfectly cognizant while in their animal form. I
like you as a man, and my wolf would defend you
with its life. We are one and the same.”
Nodding, Miach whispered, “It took me a few
seconds, but I could see it in your eyes. The
intelligence in your wolf’s eyes,” he clarified with
a smile. Taking a deep breath, he admitted, “The
scientists always told us that when shifters
changed into their animal, they became a mindless
killing machine. Since every time I came into
contact with a shifter in animal form, they
attacked me, I had no reason to doubt their
words.” He grimaced, adding ruefully, “I guess
since we were trying to capture them, they were
only defending themselves.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. We may turn into an
animal, and enjoy doing certain things while in
animal form, like running through the forest and
chasing game, but the human intelligence is still in
there, too.” Nick shrugged. “It’s hard to explain
that.”
Squeezing the thigh under his fingers, Miach
smiled. “I appreciate you taking the time to
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explain things to me. I know I haven’t made it
easy on you and your friends.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “As far as captives go,
you’ve been pretty easy on us, other than those
escape attempts and some of the things you’ve
said, anyway.”
Miach had the decency to grimace. “I’ll have to
make a point of apologizing to them.” When Nick
didn’t say anything, he turned to look at the man
and asked, “What’s with all the howling you guys
do?”
Nick frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, a wolf would howl outside and you guys
walk onto the porch and howl back. Why?”
To his surprise, Nick grinned. “To tell the
shifter that everything is okay. Didn’t you wonder
how you were recaptured so easily?” His stricken
look must have given his surprise away, because
Nick took his hand and elaborated. “To make
certain everything was fine in the cabin, a wolf
shifter would run through the area every two or
three hours and howl. If one of us didn’t respond,
they knew something was wrong.”
“Oh,” Miach murmured, taking a moment to
absorb that. It made sense and he had to smirk at
his own stupidity. Shaking his head, actually
pleased that he hadn’t been able to get away, he
asked, “You mentioned something you wanted to
tell me?”
Nick nodded. “Because of our long life, uh, we
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63
can live up to about five centuries,” he admitted.
“Wow!” Miach whispered. “That’s amazing.”
He grimaced, waving his hand. “Yeah, anyway,
to make the time bearable, Fate grants each shifter
a soul mate, a fated mate, the other half of our
soul, someone who completes us,” he rambled,
clearly nervous. “It’s explained to every shifter
once they hit puberty, and they spend the rest of
their lives searching for them.” He swallowed
audibly, and glanced out of the corner of his eye at
Miach. “When we find them, we’ll do anything to
be with them, even forsaking family or existing
relationships.”
Miach opened his mouth, then snapped it shut,
uncertain what Nick was telling him. Then it hit
him like a ton of bricks, and he leaped to his feet.
“You’re telling me that this between us will only
be a short fling for you, is that it?” Pain flared
through his chest at the idea that this man would
leave him once he found whoever Fate had
decided was perfect for him. Shit! Why am I so
upset? How did I come to care for him so much, so
quickly? He glared at the surprised look on Nick’s
face. “Why did you have to seduce me if you
knew you’d be moving on eventually? What the
hell, man?”
He strode away again, mumbling to himself
about how ridiculous this whole situation was.
“Wait! No, I—”
“No,” Miach snapped. “You wait. You could
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have explained the things about shifters without
making me care about you so much.” Realizing
what he’d just admitted, he growled in anger, at
himself and at Nick. “Whatever this is between us
stops here,” he growled, waving a hand between
them. “I’ll share information I can about the
scientist’s operation with your alpha, things that
won’t compromise my integrity as a soldier and as
a man, but after that, I’m gone!” He glared at the
floor, whispering hoarsely, “After the shit you
pulled, you owe me that much.”
So consumed in his own raging thoughts and
emotions, Miach didn’t see Nick move. Suddenly,
the guy was in front of him. Nick gripped his face,
forcing Miach to stop his frustrated pacing and
meet Nick’s hazel eyes. “You are my mate, Miach,”
he snapped. “That’s what I was trying to tell you,
damn it!”
His brain froze, not comprehending. “What?”
The hands on his face slid up to scrape across
his scalp, threading through his shortly cropped
hair, and Nick’s earnest expression softened. He
leaned forward and up, brushing a soft kiss over
Miach’s lips. “You, Miach, are my mate. I’ve been
trying to figure out for the past three weeks how
to approach you, or even if you’d let me approach
you. You cannot begin to understand my relief
that you responded like you did last night,” he
admitted.
“You’re saying you want to spend the rest of
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your life with me?” he whispered. “But you
hardly know me. How does Fate decide?” Now
that he knew Nick thought he was his life-mate, it
raised a whole new round of questions and
concerns. Nick’s earlier comment about Fate
suddenly made sense.
Nick shrugged, seemingly uncaring. “She
hasn’t made a mistake yet,” he said with a grin.
“There are plenty of other things for me to tell
you, but for a few minutes there I thought you’d
left me, and right now I want to feel your hands
on me. Please, reassure me that you’re still here,”
he admitted, his voice dropping with need.
Miach settled his hands on Nick’s waist. Feeling
the smooth, firm skin under his palms, he couldn’t
think of any good reason to resist, and his cock
agreed. Nick’s earthy scent called to every one of
his senses, filling his dick with blood, the organ
tenting his sweats. He wrapped his arms around
Nick, splaying his fingers over the sexy shifter’s
spine and pulling Nick flush to his body.
He brought one hand up and tangled it in
Nick’s hair, and he tilted the shifter’s head back
and brought his lips firmly down on the shorter
man’s. Nick immediately opened to him, and
Miach swept his tongue inside, enjoying the dark
flavors of Nick’s mouth. He pressed his thumb
into the corner of Nick’s mouth, encouraging him
to open wider. He delved in deeper, mapping
Nick’s teeth, gums, and the roof of his mouth.
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Nick shuddered in his arms, clinging to his
shoulders as he tried to press closer, as if trying to
figure out a way to share his skin. Miach felt
Nick’s erection, hard and long, pressed against his
own. He rocked his hips, pressing his erection
against Nick’s fabric-covered shaft. He jerked his
head up and groaned. “Shit, I need skin.”
“Yesss,” Nick hissed. He jerked out of his arms
and crossed to the bed, stripping his sweats and t-
shirt as he went. Miach followed, his mouth going
dry as he stared at the bronze skin he was about to
touch. Nick glanced over his shoulder at him. He
knew he showed his open appreciation at the view
when Nick leered and winked. He crawled onto
the bed, backside in the air, wiggling his sexy ass
at him.
“Do you have lube?” he growled as he stalked
toward Nick.
A look of disappointment crossed Nick’s face.
“No.”
Crossing to the kitchen, he searched through
the pantry. Miach held up the bottle of olive oil,
the look of triumph on his face making Nick
laugh. He liked seeing that joy in Nick’s eyes, and
prayed he could figure out a way to keep it there,
but for now…
He hurried back to the bed with his prize,
setting the opened bottle on the nightstand. Then
he stripped his clothes and crawled up onto the
bed behind Nick. He sucked in a breath at the
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beautiful view of those twin mounds, so nicely on
display for him. Reaching out both hands, he
palmed the firm flesh and pulled the cheeks apart,
revealing the pretty pink star he wanted access to.
Nick moaned, pushing back into his grip.
“Easy now,” he crooned. “I’ve got you.” Miach
leaned forward, breathing warm air over Nick’s
most intimate area. Nick tried to push back into
his face, but Miach held him steady.
Nick actually whined as he trembled under
Miach’s touch. “Please,” he whimpered.
It amazed Miach that any man would need his
touch that badly. Any of the quick hand jobs and
fast one night stands he’d done in the past didn’t
even compare to the pleasure he’d gotten just from
rubbing off on the other man this morning. He
couldn’t imagine the pleasure he’d feel at tapping
this man’s ass. His cock jerked and flexed, tapping
against his stomach in anticipation. The very idea
had any hesitation ceasing, and Miach leaned
forward to swipe the flat of his tongue from balls
to anus.
Nick cried out, groaning wildly as he
shuddered and twitched. Miach felt the goose
bumps break out on Nick’s flesh, and he went in
for a second taste of the musky flesh. He worked
his tongue over Nick’s guardian muscle, getting it
good and wet before straightening his tongue and
pressing it into the shifter. Nick dropped to his
elbows, spread his legs wider, and tilted his ass
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higher. Miach tongue-fucked him slowly, letting
Nick feel every push and twist of his tongue.
When he added first one finger and then two,
Nick started babbling, cussing, and groaning.
Beads of sweat popped out on his back as he tried
to stay still. Wanting Nick to lose all control,
Miach reached around him and palmed Nick’s
impressive erection. The hot rod pulsed in his grip
and he gave it a firm squeeze before pumping it
slowly, swiping his thumb over the oozing slit on
every up-stroke.
To Miach’s pleasure, it only took four strokes
for Nick to howl his pleasure to the four walls, his
enjoyment ringing clearly in the sound. Miach
rubbed Nick’s prostate and added a third finger,
fucking him through his orgasm, refusing to allow
Nick’s dick to soften.
“More,” Nick pleaded. “Oh, fuck, I need more,
Miach. I need your cock in me. Now, please!”
Unwilling to deny his own throbbing dick any
longer, Miach gave in to Nick’s pleas. He grabbed
the improvised lube and poured a generous
amount directly onto his dick and then more onto
Nick’s prepared hole. Pressing the red crown of
his engorged shaft to Nick’s opening, his own
body shivered at the tingles just that touch caused.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed, popping the
head of his shaft into the warm, tight heat of
Nick’s body.
“Yessss,” Nick hissed, his body opening
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beautifully as Miach worked his cock forward
until he was seated balls-deep in him.
Lying over the other man, Miach pressed his
chest to Nick’s back. He paused and relished the
sensation of being squeezed by this man. Tucking
his head against the back of Nick’s neck, he
whispered, “I’ve never barebacked before. God,
you feel amazing.”
“You can’t catch anything from me, and you
can’t pass anything on to me,” Nick assured,
although Miach had to admit that was the last
thing on his mind. Nick’s next words had his brain
melting. “There’s nothing that can compare to the
feeling of my mate connected with me,” Nick
murmured. Turning his head, Nick pressed a kiss
to Miach’s temple. “Now fuck me, mate,” he
ordered.
Growling at the command, Miach narrowed his
eyes. “You want it? You got it!” With one hand he
gripped Nick’s hips, the other he placed on the
mattress next to Nick’s hand, keeping most of his
weight off the other man.
Miach slowly drew his dick out of Nick’s ass,
feeling the muscles contract as if trying to keep
him in. Once almost all the way out, he slammed
forward. Miach quickly set up a swift rhythm,
plowing his dick into Nick’s welcoming ass again
and again. The grip Nick’s rectum had on Miach’s
shaft, especially since Nick had some way of
contracting his muscles, massaging his dick every
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time he tried to pull out, had tingles of pleasure
dancing along his spine and settling in his balls.
Miach felt his testicles pull tight to his body, and
knew his orgasm wasn’t long in coming.
He reached under Nick, taking his cock in hand
again. “Are you ready to come again, Nick? Are
you going to come for your mate?” he crooned
into his lover’s ear.
Nick shuddered, his hole clenching around
Miach’s buried cock, obviously liking the sound of
his words. He wondered if it was the idea of
coming again, the feel of Miach’s hand around his
dick, or Miach calling Nick his mate that had the
shifter reacting that way. But as the shifter
groaned and jerked in his arms, Miach’s brain shut
down and it no longer mattered. All he felt was
the bliss of sinking his dick in this man’s intense
heat, the need to bury his seed deep in this man,
and the desire to mark him in some way.
Growling in feral delight, Miach hauled Nick
upright on his knees, one arm banding tight
around Nick’s chest as he worked the man’s cock
with the other. Their sweaty skin made their
torsos slip and slide against each other as he
pounded into his man. Liking the idea of marking
this man so everyone would know he was taken,
he gripped the fleshy part of Nick’s shoulder in
his jaw and bit, hard. Too hard, he realized
suddenly, as the metallic flavor of blood trickled
between his teeth and into his mouth.
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Nick threw his head back and howled, cum
streaming from his pulsing dick as Miach
continued to stroke it. His ass clamped down on
Miach’s shaft, and his balls exploded, sending shot
after shot of seed into Nick’s rectum. He moaned
happily as his orgasm made his senses swim.
Feeling moderately bad for biting Nick so hard, he
licked the blood clean, pleased to see that it wasn’t
too deep, and then nuzzled Nick’s neck. He
sighed. “If sex with you is always going to be like
this,” he whispered, “it just may kill me.”
“But what a way to go, huh?” Nick murmured
back, his own relaxation clear in his warm words.
Miach chuckled. “Oh, yeah.”
He eased his softening cock out of Nick’s ass
and settled down onto the bed next to him. For
some reason he wasn’t willing to examine too
closely, he was unwilling to lose all connection
with the man. “You okay?” he whispered.
“Yeah,” Nick grunted. “Except I’m in the wet
spot.”
Laughing, Miach pulled Nick over a foot.
“How’s that?”
Nick shifted on the bed to look at him and
smiled. “Much better.” Just as suddenly, his smile
faded and his forehead creased. “Miach?”
He paused from where he was using the sheet
to clean them both up a little bit. “Yeah, babe?”
The corner of Nick’s mouth quirked up, and the
worried expression softened slightly. “You, uh,
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you bit me,” he whispered, touching the mark on
his neck lightly.
Embarrassment warred with pride in Miach at
the sight of the mark on Nick’s neck. “Yeah, uh,
sorry about that. I’ve never gotten that carried
away before, but…” he shrugged. “Sorry,” he
finished lamely.
Nick shook his head. “I don’t mind,” he said,
“at least not like you think.” Nick looked down at
Miach’s hand resting on Nick’s waist where he’d
unconsciously laid it, and now created imaginary
circles on Nick’s skin with his thumb and
forefinger, then without moving his head Nick
looked at Miach through his lashes. “I’m worried
that when I tell you that you claimed me, and now
we’re mated, because you ingested my blood
while you fucked me, you’re going to freak out,”
he whispered.
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Chapter Seven
iach blinked and blinked again. Nick
wondered if his mate was trying to process
his words and think of a way to deny what had
happened. It had shocked the hell out him to feel
Miach sink his teeth into him. Nick knew the other
guy was more dominant than him, but he’d never
heard of the human giving the mating bite to the
shifter before. He thought he’d have to broach the
subject of topping Miach at some point.
It was a few minutes after the ecstasy of his
orgasm faded that Nick realized the bite had
actually mated them. His wolf was happily curled
up in his mind, sated and content. Normally the
shifter had to bite the human, but because the
scientists had added some components of shifter
DNA to Miach’s it must have changed the man
enough to work the other way around, too. Miach
had given in to an instinct, the need to mark his
mate, and Nick knew the altered human didn’t
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understand its meaning.
Now, staring at Miach’s blank look, Nick
worried he was about to lose his mate before their
relationship really had a chance to get off the
ground. “I never in a million years thought you’d
bite me,” he whispered, trying desperately to
figure out what Miach was thinking.
“I—I did it because I wanted to mark you,”
Miach whispered. “I didn’t realize it carried such
meaning for shifters.” Miach frowned, his gaze
straying over the pensive look Nick knew must be
on his face. “Perhaps you should tell me what it
means that I claimed you,” Miach urged gently.
Okay, Miach was willing to talk about this. That
was a good sign, right? “When shifters find their
mates, and decide they want to spend the rest of
their lives together, one shifter, the dominant one,
will claim the other by biting them.” Nick smiled
faintly as he said, “It’s done during sex, and what
other shifters have told me about the pleasure of
the mating bite wasn’t exaggerated.”
That had a corner of Miach’s mouth curving up.
“Good, huh?”
Nick nodded, feeling his skin heat. Shit, when
was the last time I blushed? Knowing he had to
explain the rest, Nick went back to his
explanation. “It also means that your life will be
extended. That happens so the shifter doesn’t
outlive a human mate by a couple centuries.”
Miach’s eyes widened. “A couple centuries!” he
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hissed.
Licking his lips, Nick swallowed. “Yeah. A
shifter lives for several hundred years until they
pass from old age. It’s harder for a shifter to get
pregnant, and has something to do with the
phases of the moon. Each shifter will become
fertile at different times, so they will only overlap
every once in a while,” he added. “And you can
only get it up for your mate,” he hurried and
added.
Miach jerked back. “What was that last part?”
Nick cringed. “Yeah, uh, sorry about that. A
male shifter, once mated, can only get it up for
their mate. I don’t know if it will be the same for
you or not,” he admitted.
“Oh my god!” Miach whispered. “That— That
sucks!”
The door of the cabin slammed into the wall
and bounced back, only to be stopped by the
forearm of a sneering Cameron. “Well, isn’t this
interesting. Does Declan know you’re sleeping
with the enemy?”
“Yes, Cameron,” Nick answered automatically.
Instinct had him responding to the more alpha
wolf, but his gaze was fixed on the gun Cameron
held. The weapon could be just as lethal to shifters
as humans if the wielder knew where to hit. Nick
tensed on the bed, his wolf desperately wanting to
leap at the bigger man and eliminate the threat to
his mate, but his human logic reminded him that
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any sudden movements would increase the threat
to Miach. Evidently, his mate had a similar idea,
because a glance from the corner of Nick’s eye
showed Miach remained just as still.
Cameron shrugged, seemingly unconcerned.
“Doesn’t matter. The old fool has led too long and
times are changing.” His smile turned predatory.
“He’ll learn that soon enough. As for you,”
Cameron turned his attention on Miach and
grinned. “It’s your lucky day, killer. I’m in the
mood to let you go.”
His words had relief flooding through Nick, but
then Cameron lifted the gun and pointed it
straight at Nick’s head, and at this range, it would
be a little hard to miss. “You, on the other hand,
need to die.”
Miach shoved Nick sideways just as the crack
of a gunshot filled the cabin. Seconds later, Nick
realized the ringing in his ears was nothing
compared to the pain radiating through his
shoulder and chest. He tried to lift an arm and
pain shot through his body, black spots dancing
behind his eyes, and he couldn’t hold in the cry.
“Easy, babe, easy. Just relax. I’m gonna take
care of you.”
Miach’s soothing voice eased something in
Nick’s mind. “Miach,” he whispered. Keeping
still, he forced open an eye. He needed assurance
that he wasn’t dreaming, that Miach was still
nearby.
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“I’m here.” Miach’s voice came again, followed
by a hazy face.
That’s when Nick realized the pain shooting
like wild licks of fire through his body was due to
Miach pressing cloth against his upper chest.
“Just hang in there, babe. I’m taking you to
Declan. His mate is a doctor, right?”
Why did his mate sound so far away? Nick
knew he was right there. He wanted to respond,
but all that came out was a groan. Jostling sent a
fresh wave of agony through him, and those black
spots converged into a sea of darkness.
* * * *
After yanking on a pair of sweats, Miach silently
cursed himself for not remembering to lock the
door behind him when he’d entered. Nick had
already been attacked once by this guy. It should
have been automatic instinct to protect his lover,
instead, when he walked into the small cabin, he’d
seen Nick’s naked backside and all thought fled.
Miach tugged the sheet off the bed and
wrapped it around an unconscious Nick, checking
the man’s pulse in the process. Slow, but steady.
For just a second, Miach thought about trying to
dig the bullet out himself, but not knowing
anything about how shifters healed, he figured his
best bet would be to get Nick to some professional
help. That meant figuring out where Nick’s ride
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was hidden. Miach hoped it didn’t prove too far
away.
He shoved his feet into his sneakers before
lifting Nick into his arms and cradling him to his
chest. Nick grunted, then let out a soft groan, then
curled into Miach’s chest, all while still
unconscious. Miach found he loved how Nick felt
held in his arms, but he sure didn’t like how it had
happened this time.
Stepping out on the porch, Miach took a long,
slow inhale. Nick had just come from somewhere
with a phone, since he’d told Miach that he was
going to call his alpha. He walked slowly around
the tiny clearing in front of the cabin and let his
senses find Nick’s back trail. It only took a few
seconds, though it felt like an eternity with Nick’s
fragile life held in his arms. Knowing time was of
the essence, Miach jogged as swiftly as he dared,
following the scant traces of Nick’s arrival not too
long ago.
Running steadily, it took him over an hour to
get to a clearing with a covered car and a locked
shed. Miach carefully laid his precious cargo on a
thick blanket of pine needles and pulled the cover
off the car. He couldn’t stop the low whistle of
appreciation when he revealed a metallic blue
1972 mustang. His mate was just full of surprises.
He prayed Nick had enough foresight to keep a
key hidden on the vehicle, and breathed a sigh of
relief when he located a spare under the rear
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wheel-well on the driver’s side. He moved Nick to
the passenger seat and checked the wound. He
didn’t know if he should be relieved or concerned
that the blood had nearly stopped flowing, since
Miach knew a doctor would have to reopen it to
dig the bullet out.
Settling behind the wheel, it took him a
moment to locate the phone in the glove box. After
turning it on, he hit one on the speed dial, hoping
it would connect with someone that could help.
“Hey, man. Riker isn’t supposed to relieve you
until eight. What’s wrong?”
For a heartbeat, Miach closed his eyes and
mentally groaned. He recognized this man’s voice,
and it was the last person he wanted to ask help
from.
“Nick? Talk to me.”
Miach’s gaze settled on Nick and unclenched
his jaw. “Kade? This is Miach.”
Before he could get out more, Kade interrupted
with a roar. “You son-of-a-bitch. What did you do
to Nick? If you harmed so much as one hair on my
friend’s head I’m going to—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen to me,” Miach
ordered. “I didn’t harm Nick. Some wolf named
Cameron did. He stormed into the cabin and shot
him. Now, the bleeding has started to stop but the
bullet is lodged in his shoulder and needs to be
removed.” He was actually surprised Kade had
stayed silent for that long. “Where is the nearest
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hospital?”
The reply was immediate. “He can’t go to a
regular hospital. Take him to Declan’s. I’ll tell him
you’re coming.” After a moment of committing
the directions to memory, Miach started the car
and followed Kade’s advice, hoping he wasn’t
jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
A thirty minute drive had him bouncing down
another rutted driveway, this one opening up into
a large clearing with a massive, two story, stone
and wood structure that looked more like a lodge
than a cabin. A man he recognized as Declan
appeared on the porch. This guy was the alpha of
the wolves, and he had dropped by the cabin on
several occasions to try to talk to Miach.
He thought this could be the biggest mistake of
his life as he climbed out of the car and rounded
the hood. “Miach,” Declan’s deep voice rumbled
across the clearing. “Bring Nick in.”
Obeying, Miach eased Nick back into his arms
and strode briskly toward Declan. To his surprise,
the bigger man didn’t try to take Nick from him.
Instead, he tilted his head and inhaled deeply.
One dark brow lifted, but Declan gave no other
indication of emotion. What is it with shifters and
sniffing?
“This way,” Declan ordered. The guy turned
his back on Miach and led him inside. Although,
from the way he carried himself, Miach knew
Declan was keeping an eye on him over his
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shoulder. Miach was impressed, because he’d do
the same thing with someone he didn’t trust at his
back.
Miach followed through a dining room, up a set
of stairs, down a hall, and into a bedroom. Inside
was a small, blond man in green scrubs, who
stood at a small table covered in instruments. The
doctor barely spared him a glance as he leaned
over Nick, who Miach had placed on the bed, and
unwound the make-shift bandage.
The guy grimaced, finally sparing him a glance.
“You did good to keep pressure on it. Too bad you
guys heal so fast and I’m going to have to reopen
it,” he muttered.
Miach didn’t bother commenting. He just stood
at the head of the bed and watched as the little
guy got to work. He was impressed with the
blond’s sure hands and steady movements. He
even had no trouble ordering both Miach and
Declan around, telling them where to hold a cloth
to catch blood or grab Nick’s wrists as he thrashed
an arm. Miach’s heart clenched at the look of pain
on his unconscious lover’s face. If he could have
somehow spared Nick this agony, Miach realized
with some surprise that he would have done it in a
heartbeat.
Finally, Lark finished the last butterfly stitch
and started clearing away his utensils. Declan
stood at the foot of the bed, watching carefully, his
dark brown eyes unreadable. Finally, Miach found
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himself the recipient of that penetrating gaze.
Miach turned and spoke to the other man
instead. “Will he recover okay, doc?”
The slender man paused and looked at him
over his shoulder. “He’ll be fine. He should even
avoid infection since you got him over here so
quickly.”
“Good,” Miach whispered.
“Have a seat,” Declan said, waving between the
bed and a chair nearby.
Protective urges still coursing through him,
Miach opted to stay close to Nick. He settled
carefully on the mattress, back against the
headboard. He threaded his fingers through
Nick’s tangled, sweaty curls, the contact calming
Miach for some reason.
“How did this happen?”
The man was direct. Miach appreciated that. “A
guy came into the cabin. Nick called him
Cameron. I’d forgotten to lock the door behind me
when I entered,” he admitted. “Cameron had a
gun, made a comment about how it was my lucky
day, that he was freeing me, then shot Nick and
left,” he added bitterly. “When I get my hands on
that wolf—” Realizing to whom he spoke, Miach
cut the sentence off.
“That is within yer right,” Declan said.
That confused Miach. “What?”
The big alpha cocked his head, staring at him.
“Ye’re mated to Nick. As the mate of a member of
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the pack, it’s within yer right to seek retribution
on the wolf that attacked yer mate.”
Miach’s eyes widened in shock. “How do you
know we’re mated?”
Declan chuckled. “I can smell it.” He tapped his
nose and gave him a knowing smirk. “And ye
smell like sex. There’s a shower next door to yer
right. Clean sweats and towels are under the sink.
After ye get cleaned up, I think we have some
things to discuss.”
He wasn’t certain how he managed to contain
the blush, but he did, and Miach knew Declan
wasn’t asking. Miach nodded once. “I suppose
you’re right. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Come down to the study,” Declan ordered.
At that, Miach frowned, his gaze falling to
Nick. “I’d prefer to remain close to Nick.”
Declan’s brow lifted, and for a second, Miach
thought he’d refuse. But then the small blond
settled a hand on Declan’s forearm and smiled up
at him. “You didn’t want me out of your sight
when I was injured, remember?” he whispered.
The alpha’s eyes softened in what could only be
called a look of love as he stared down at the guy.
“Thanks for the reminder,” he murmured. Declan
leaned down and pecked a soft kiss to the other
man’s lips, and Miach found himself once again
fighting the urge to blush.
He couldn’t ever remember seeing a couple of
men so open with their desire for each other.
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Miach cleared his throat and stood. “I’ll be back in
a few minutes,” he muttered. He took a step away
from Nick and paused. After a quick glance
toward the watching couple, Miach dropped a
quick kiss to Nick’s forehead. He lost the battle
against the blush and hurried from the room.
Miach gripped the sink in the bathroom and
took a deep breath. He’d met Declan several times,
and each time the big alpha had seemed hard and
cold, unwilling to bend, always leaving with the
words that Miach would remain in that cabin until
he was ready to talk. In that bedroom, he’d
actually seemed, well, human.
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Chapter Eight
he need to get back to the injured man in the
bed had Miach hurrying through a shower,
scrubbing mechanically. He toweled off before
pulling on fresh sweats and a t-shirt. With so
many rooms, and a doctor for the alpha’s mate,
Miach wondered at the wolf pack’s obvious
preparations. Just how many shifters were in the
area? On second thought, Miach didn’t want to
know. Then, if word ever got out, it couldn’t be
blamed on him.
He heard voices he didn’t recognize through
the door, first a shout from downstairs
somewhere, then Declan answering, telling the
strangers to come upstairs. After quickly toweling
dry his short hair and scalp, he tossed the towel
over his cotton-covered shoulder and opened the
door.
A gasp echoed through the hall, followed by a
wailing, “Nooooo!”
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“What the hell?” another man snapped as he
caught hold of a small, fleeing figure.
Miach watched a five foot nothing albino man
flail against the hold of a dark haired, five foot ten
man. It wasn’t the fact that the taller man was only
trying to hold the albino in place, not harm him, or
the fact that the guy was glaring daggers at Miach,
it was the fact that the short white-skinned man
was staring at Miach with such terror in his pink
ringed eyes.
Not certain what else to do, he backed a few
steps away from them and lifted his hands. “Easy,
there,” he whispered. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
That had the small man freezing. Still enfolded
in the other man’s arms, he turned accusing eyes
toward Miach. “But you’re one of them!”
Miach had no idea what that meant.
The little guy wasn’t done. He turned accusing
pink eyes to the man who held him. “You said the
wolves wouldn’t sell me! I trusted you!” A visible
shudder worked through the little guy’s body.
Those words had the slender human growling
out, “You will not be sold. Declan! What’s the
meaning of this? Who is this man?”
Something in the guy’s hazel eyed glare had
Miach bristling, even as his blood ran cold. This
guy wouldn’t have any trouble fighting to the
death. The lean build held more than enough
hidden muscle to be a challenge, and if the guy
had any training, Miach knew he didn’t want to
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face him in a dark alley.
“What’s going on?” The blond appeared in the
doorway to Nick’s room. His blue eyes widened
and he hurried to the albino’s side. “Just breathe,
Casey.” The doctor ran his fingers through
Casey’s hair and cupped his face. “Easy. Just
breathe. You’re just fine. Nothing will happen to
you. I promise.”
The man’s soothing tone must have finally
reached the panicking man, because the albino
whispered, “But he’s with the scientists. I saw
him!”
The gut wrenching agony in the guy’s words
touched Miach. Before he could think of anything
to say, a growl of anger erupted from the other
man. “You’re one of them?”
The words were spoken with such venom and
malice, the tone shocked Miach into indecision.
The guy leaped forward. A clip and zip echoed
through the hall and Miach brought up his hands
in self-defense. Good thing he did, otherwise a
leather belt would have been expertly wrapped
around his neck. Yup, he never wanted to meet
this guy in a back alley.
A heavy weight landed on top of them, and
then both weights disappeared. Miach jerked his
head up and spotted his tawny wolf rolling across
the floor. The blood trailing after Nick had an
anguished cry erupting from his lips. Miach
leaped to his feet and jumped forward, landing
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between his snarling mate, who couldn’t quite
hide the pain in his tones from Miach, and the
human who seemed to enjoy acting first and
asking questions later.
“Stop. That’s enough! All of ye!” Declan
snapped. The command in the alpha’s tone had all
of them freezing where they were. “Casey, no one
is going to be sold. Jared, stand down, we need
Miach alive. And Lark, will ye take Casey into the
other room? He needs a few minutes to calm
down while the rest of us discuss what just
happened.”
“I’m not leaving Casey’s side,” Jared snarled.
“Especially with an agent of the scientists in the
house.”
“I’m not with them anymore,” Miach
whispered. “I’m so sorry for anything that
happened to you or your friend.” And to his
surprise, he felt his words deep down to his soul.
Whatever the scientists had put the little guy
through, no one should have faced their tests
without consent.
He turned his attention to Nick when his mate’s
whimper caught his attention. Without conscious
thought, he slid his arms under the tawny wolf’s
body and lifted him. The two hundred plus pound
animal didn’t struggle, instead resting a head on
Miach’s shoulder as he carried him back into his
room.
“I’ll be right back, love,” he whispered, rubbing
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his mate’s head gently. “It looks like I have some
explaining to do.”
Before his eyes, Nick’s body shuddered. He
watched as the fur disappeared, the jaw reshaped,
and the bones and tendons popped and snapped.
Seconds later, his human lover once more lay in
the bed. “You touched me, held me, as a wolf,”
Nick murmured, his eyes blinking open to stare at
Miach in wonder.
Settling on the side of the bed, Miach smiled
fondly at the man he was quickly coming to care
for. “You did say you knew who I was while a
wolf. You tried protecting me, even while injured.
I trust you, love. You’ll never hurt me.” He leaned
forward and brushed a soft kiss over his man’s
lips. Cupping his jaw, he eased away for a second
and whispered, “Just as I’ll strive to never hurt
you.”
Nick whimpered, but it was a sound of need,
not of pain. Then clutching hands gripped Miach’s
shoulder and neck, bring his head back down to
Nick, who quickly claimed his mouth in a much
more heated and demanding kiss. Miach let his
man lead for a moment, relishing the enthusiasm
and talent of his mate’s tongue. Finally, knowing
he still had people waiting to speak with him, he
eased the kiss to an end.
“Just relax a moment. I need to talk to Casey
and that other guy.”
“Jared.”
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He frowned. “What?”
Nick sighed, easing back on the bed. “His name
is Jared. He’s mated to Carson. He’s… well…
dedicated to stopping the scientists,” Nick
finished with a blush.
Miach knew there had to be an interesting story
there, but wasn’t going to push Nick to learn it
right now. Instead he nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll
go try to set his mind at ease, huh?”
“You’ll be back?”
He saw the fear in Nick’s eyes and his heart
melted just a little bit more. “Ah, love, I’ll always
return to you. I don’t know how you did it in less
than twenty-four hours, but I don’t want to live
without you.”
Fuck! Could I sound any more sentimental? When
did I turn into such a fucking girl?
Fortunately, his still pained and drugged mate
didn’t seem to think his words were too far out in
left field. He smiled goofily and nodded, nuzzling
into his palm. “Hurry back,” he whispered. “I
want to be held.”
“You got it,” he replied.
He pecked one more kiss to Nick’s forehead
before making his way across the hall. He didn’t
miss the way Casey tensed on the bed when he
paused in the doorway, and who could miss
Jared’s cold glare? He wasn’t certain he deserved
it. After all, he hadn’t really known better. The
scientists either didn’t know the truth about these
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creatures, or didn’t care. Either way, he’d been
lied to.
Miach took a deep breath, knowing what he
needed to do. “I can’t give you the scientists’,
names,” he stated. His announcement had Jared
sneering. He ignored him. “For one, my
conscience wouldn’t allow it. Two, all the
scientists called each other Mr. Smith whenever I
was around. And last, but most important, you
wouldn’t respect me if I turned on them like that.
And neither would I,” he added.
Declan’s eyes narrowed. “I see.”
“With that said,” Miach added, smirking, “it is
time to put a stop to them. I won’t give you
information, but I can get a few of you into one of
their labs. What you find on your own,” he
shrugged and grinned, “well, that’s your
business.”
For a second, it looked like Declan wasn’t too
pleased with his offer, then the big alpha wolf
gave him a feral smile. “Ye’re right. No one wants
a traitor in their pack. Yer offer shows integrity
and the ability to accept, to learn the truth and
admit when ye’ve been wrong. I can respect ye for
yer choice.”
Relief flooded Miach, surprised by how much
he liked getting Declan’s endorsement. “Thank
you.”
Declan grinned. “I hope the lab ye want to
sneak us into isn’t the one near Colin City. Jared,
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here, already blew that one up. It’s where we
found Casey,” he added.
Moving his focus to the tiny man in the bed,
something in Casey’s scared pink eyes struck a
nerve. Miach’s jaw dropped. “You’re the bunny,”
he whispered. “Oh, shit, man. I’m so sorry for
what they did to you.” It didn’t even matter if
Casey hadn’t been a sentient creature, the way
they cut up the poor man’s hip and took out a
chunk of muscle, just to see if it would grow back,
made Miach sick. He’d managed to sneak extra
food into the guy’s cell a few times, but Casey
wouldn’t know that. He’d been pretty heavily
sedated at the time. His eyes softened as the fear
slowly seeped from Casey’s look. “Will you regain
full use of your hip?” he asked softly.
Casey swallowed, managing a tremulous smile
as he shrugged. “No. I’ll always have a limp.”
“I am sorry,” he whispered.
“I know,” Casey replied, surprising him. “I can
smell the truth in your words.”
That had him scoffing lightly, but a smirk
curved his lips. “Damn shifter noses.” Then he
frowned as a thought occurred to him. “Raven
found the cabin you were holding me in, probably
yesterday according to how fresh the tracks were.
He’ll have reported back to his superiors by now.”
“Who are his superiors?” Declan asked.
Miach crossed his arms and frowned. “I’ll give
you one guess.”
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“Those damn scientists,” Jared snarled.
He wondered about the venom in the man’s
voice, but considering how their initial
introduction had gone, Miach didn’t want to
antagonize the volatile human. Needing a subject
change, he said, “There’s another facility outside
Boise, Idaho. That’s where I was, uh, it’s where I
was worked on,” he admitted. “I have my old
passcard locked in a safe deposit box in a bank
near there.”
Declan nodded once then turned to Jared. “It
looks like you, Cliff, and Miach are taking a trip,”
he said.
“I want to go, too,” Nick stated from behind
him.
Miach turned. He saw the white-knuckled grip
Nick had on the doorframe and quickly wrapped
an arm around his mate and pulled him close to
his body. “No, babe, you can barely stand,” he
admonished tenderly.
Nick shook his head, his eyes narrowing. “You
don’t understand, Miach. I’m a shifter. I’ll be well
enough for duty in two days, completely healed
within a week. I was in the military for twelve
years, remember?” he added, his voice hard.
Miach swallowed. “I remember.” His stomach
balled into a knot of tension at the idea of this sexy
man anywhere close to the scientists.
The muscular man in his arms reached up and
cupped his jaw, drawing him down for a tender
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kiss. Miach couldn’t resist him, capturing his
mouth in a teeth-clacking, mouth-plundering kiss.
When they came up for air a couple moments
later, they heard Declan chuckle.
He grinned at them. “The mate bond is still
new. Yer wolf would drive ye nuts to be away
from Miach right now, Nick. Ye may go,” he
allowed.
Jared swallowed hard at those words, even
blushed, making Miach wonder why the alpha’s
words would affect him that way. Then the
human cleared his throat and asked, “What about
Carson?”
Declan grimaced. “I’m sorry, Jared, but yer
mate still hasn’t tracked down Cameron yet. I just
received word that he wasn’t at Simon’s,” he
added, addressing Nick. “I’ll send Kade with ye
though.”
Miach couldn’t stop the thinning of his lips at
that news. Declan caught his look and a brow
lifted. “Would ye like to know why ye don’t get
along with him?”
He didn’t really like the alpha’s smirk, but
Miach gave him a curt nod. Maybe the wolf could
shed some light on why he felt like he did.
“Because he’s a touchy-feely guy and good
friends with yer mate.” He winked and turned to
Nick. “Now that yer mated, ye can’t be huggin’
Kade whenever ye want. It pisses yer mate off.”
Nick frowned up at him. “It does?”
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“Help Nick to the chair there, Miach, and then
come here,” Declan ordered.
Curious as to what Declan had in mind, Miach
obeyed. Declan gave his own mate a wink, and
Lark rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his
slender chest. Declan moved behind Miach and
wrapped his arms around his shoulders. Miach
couldn’t stop his body from stiffening, or the
frown that creased his brows, at having the
dominant wolf at his back, but Declan just
chuckled. At first, Nick just glared at them, but
then Declan slid his hands up and began
massaging Miach’s shoulders.
A low snarl erupted from the smaller wolf, and
Nick lunged toward them.
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Chapter Nine
eedless of his aching shoulder, Nick
launched out of his chair. A warning growl
erupted from Declan’s chest as Miach wrapped his
arms around him and pulled him close. Nick
immediately backed down, cuddling into his
mate’s embrace. He shuddered, shocked that he’d
just tried to challenge his alpha. His wolf
whimpered in his mind.
“Relax,” Declan’s deep voice rumbled. Nick felt
his alpha’s hand land on his neck and squeeze.
“Now ye see what it’s like to watch yer mate in the
arms of another man,” he warned.
Nick nodded, his wolf relaxing at his alpha’s
acceptance, relieved that he got away with
nothing more than a warning growl. “I
understand, Alpha,” he replied.
He felt Miach’s hands stroke down his back,
soothing him. When he looked up, he saw Lark in
Declan’s arms, accepting a deep kiss. The whole
H
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scene seemed surreal. He knew that Declan would
never stray from Lark. He loved that man more
than his own life. But someone else had been
touching his mate, massaging his shoulders, even
though Nick could see the tension in Miach’s
spine, proving his mate didn’t appreciate the
touch. He’d still lost it.
Nick lifted his face to Miach and whispered, “I
didn’t even realize that you felt that way. I’ll be
more careful.”
Miach pecked him softly on the lips, warmth
filling his gaze. “Thank you.”
“Get some rest,” Declan ordered. “I’m going to
contact Kade and Cliff. Plan to leave at seven
tomorrow morning.”
After giving nods of understanding, Nick’s
mate led him back to his bedroom. His shoulder
had begun to really throb and he was ready to
rest. At first, Miach dropped onto the chair by the
bed, but Nick would have none of that. It took
some coaxing, but finally, Miach joined him in
bed. Nick settled into his mate’s embrace, his body
finally relaxing. It didn’t take long for the day’s
events to catch up with him, sleep taking him.
His shoulder still ached, and his range of
motion was limited, but Nick refused to let that
stop him from joining the other four men in the
SUV. Cliff drove, with Kade riding shotgun in the
passenger seat. His friend had given him a stiff
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congratulations, and it didn’t take a genius for
Nick to realize Kade was offended that Nick
hadn’t confided in him about his suspicions that
Miach was his mate. He’d already apologized and
couldn’t do anything to change it now, so he
hoped Kade would get over it soon. He didn’t like
his friend upset with him.
Jared sat in the seat behind them, and Nick and
his mate were in the middle seat. For most of the
thirteen hour drive, Nick dozed, his head resting
against Miach’s shoulder. He felt content in his
mate’s arms, even in the uncomfortable vehicle.
Kade’s deep rumbling voice broke through his
light doze. “You’d better not hurt him, Miach,” he
warned. “And this had better not be a trap.”
Nick almost smiled, almost, that his friend was
more worried about his heart than about getting
caught by the scientists. “I’ve been falling in love
with Nick for the last three weeks, Kade. I won’t
do anything to jeopardize his safety.”
Kade grunted, but didn’t say anything more.
He felt Miach lean over him. The man
murmured, “And I know you’re awake, wolf.”
Nick heard the smile in his mate’s voice and
cracked an eyelid and grinned up at him. “You
love me?”
Miach blushed faintly and cleared his throat.
“Yeah, Nick. I love you. If anything happens to
you, I have no reason to live, so don’t be a hero.
Got it?”
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“I love you, too,” he whispered. At Miach’s still
stern look, he added, “No hero stuff. Got it.”
Miach grunted. “Good. Go back to sleep, wolf.
There’s still another couple hours before we reach
our destination.”
Knowing he needed the rest to mend, Nick
obeyed.
He woke again when Miach jostled him. “I’ll be
back as soon as I can,” Miach said.
“I’ll go with you,” Kade immediately replied.
Miach lifted a brow, but didn’t respond. He
pecked a kiss to Nick’s lips and slid from the SUV.
Nick watched Miach and Kade disappear into a
bank.
“Did ye have something going with Kade
before ye met yer mate?” Cliff asked curiously,
turning around in his seat to stare at him.
Nick shook his head. “No. That’s him acting
like a protective older brother, not a lover,” he
explained. “He’s twelve years my senior and
when I was fourteen, he came home from the
military. I idolized him. He was good to me, let
me tag after him and his friends. When I was
sixteen, my father died. He helped me pick up the
pieces, and when I was ready, taught me how to
finish fixing the mustang I’d started restoring with
my dad.” Nick smiled at the memories. It was no
wonder Kade was his best friend, and he
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understood why the big wolf was acting this way.
“So you’re not currently lovers then, but you
were.” Jared smirked, leaning over the seat to look
at him with those eerie hazel eyes that seemed to
see everything.
Nick blushed. “Once, a long time ago,” he
admitted. They’d figured out very quickly they
were better friends than lovers. It had just felt…
wrong.
Jared chuckled. “Kade’s happy for you,” he
said, settling back in his seat. “Jealous that you
found your mate, though.”
That had Nick’s brows lifting and he looked at
Cliff. The other tracker lifted a shoulder in a one
armed shrug. Before he could think up a response,
the SUV doors opened and Miach and Kade
rejoined them. “Get what you need?” Jared asked
from where he once more sprawled in the back
seat.
“Yeah. All set. Did everyone bring a black
turtleneck and camo pants?” Miach asked. Once
everyone nodded, he said, “Good. As trite as it
sounds, that’s the uniform for their guards. I’m
going to lead you all in, telling them you’re new
recruits. We’ll go to a briefing room. It will have a
computer.”
He turned in his seat to look at Jared, who
grinned. “Yes, I should be able to hack into their
system from there. Do you have a map of the
place?”
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Miach shook his head. “No, but I know the
layout is similar to the one you blew up in Colin
City.”
“What if we find injured shifters? Are we going
to rescue them?” Nick asked.
“Hell, yeah!” Kade snapped.
“No,” Cliff countered. When all eyes rested on
him, he looked sad, but firm. “Those are not our
orders.”
Even though he didn’t like it, Nick found
himself instantly deferring to the more dominant
wolf’s words. Jared had no such compulsion.
“Fuck you, man! We didn’t get explicit orders
about that. If we find any and can get them out
safely, I say we do it!”
Looking between the two, it was a toss-up as to
who was higher ranking in the pack. Jared was the
mate of Carson, their enforcer. Cliff was their lead
tracker, recently taking over the position from his
father. Cliff was wolf, but Jared was a bloody
scary human. Nick’s wolf whined in his head as
he watched the two more alpha men face off.
“Guys, I know I don’t have much say here, but
there might be a way to get them out of there
without rousing suspicion,” Miach murmured,
trying to diffuse the situation.
Cliff took a deep breath and focused on Nick’s
mate. “What way would that be?”
“Well, if Jared is as good on the computer as he
claims to be, he could print us out a transfer
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form,” Miach said.
“Transfer form?” Jared lifted a brow. “As in a
document to transfer merchandise?”
Miach ran a hand through his closely shorn,
light brown hair and nodded. “Yeah.” He
shrugged. “Sorry, guys, but they treat you like just
another animal.”
“We know,” Nick said softly, taking his hand
and massaging it gently in an attempt to soothe
him.
Jared chuckled. “Paperwork can be forged,” he
stated. “We’ll get the shifters out.”
Cliff grunted, but didn’t comment. Nick hoped
that meant the dominant wolf was considering the
plan.
Nick took several, slow deep breaths as he
peered through the window, trying to keep his
wolf calm. Cliff parked the SUV. “Remember,”
Nick’s mate cautioned, “don’t speak unless
spoken to, don’t make eye contact with anyone,
and don’t attack anyone.”
Jared snorted, but refrained from commenting.
They all piled out of the vehicle and fell into
step as Miach led the way to a side door and
swiped his card. Nick didn’t think he was the only
one that held his breath as they waited for the
beep and the green light. Relief flooded him when
the card worked and Miach pulled the door open.
He led the way through, stopping at a security
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desk and grinning at the man behind it. “Jason!
How are ya doing, man?”
“Hey, Miach. Long time no see. There’s been
some rumors going around about you, but since
you’re here, they must not be true!” He reached
across the desk and shook hands with the man.
“Awe, there’s always rumors flying around
here,” Miach said with a smirk. “I’ve just been
busy training a few new guards.” He motioned
over his shoulder at the group of shifters. “I’ll
swing by later and catch up,” he added before
heading past the guy.
“Sounds good, man,” Jason replied. He smirked
at the shifters as they passed. “Have fun, guys.”
Nick and Kade nodded to the guy, but the rest
ignored him as they followed Miach. He led them
into a conference room. Not hesitating, he opened
a cabinet and revealed a computer monitor. He
pulled out a drawer holding a keyboard. Stepping
back, he warned Jared, “If you don’t disable
security, we won’t get far.”
“Not a problem,” the human answered calmly
and began typing. Nick’s agitation grew, and he
started pacing. Miach pulled him to a stop and
tucked him against his chest. He breathed in his
scent, allowing his mate’s lemony smell to soothe
his wolf.
“Ha! Got it,” Jared crowed triumphantly. He
motioned for them to gather round and pointed at
the map on the screen. “They’re holding a wolf on
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floor two, sector three, a lion on floor three, sector
ten, and a fucking rhino on floor three, sector
eight.”
“How the hell are we supposed to get shifters
that large out?” Kade whispered.
Cliff frowned, focusing on Miach. “Is there a
garrison or someplace uniforms or clothes are
kept?”
“Maybe,” he said slowly, obviously thinking.
“There’s a small gym, so you might be able to find
some clothes in the locker room.”
“Good. Jared, get on creating transfer forms for
them. Kade stay and watch his back. Miach, show
me and Nick this gym.” Everyone obeyed without
question, and as they walked down the hall away
from the other two, Cliff spoke softly, “Can ye still
here me, Kade? Jared?”
“Loud and clear.” Kade’s voice sounded clearly
in Nick’s ear, compliments of the communication
equipment provided by Jared.
Miach led the way, Cliff and Nick flanking him.
They found one pair of camo pants, two black
turtlenecks, a white t-shirt, and a pair of blue
shorts. Cliff shook his head, but said, “It will have
to do. Where’s the elevator?”
“This way.” They again followed Miach.
“Is it normally this quiet in here?” Nick
murmured, looking around warily.
“At night, yeah,” Miach replied. “Lab techs
normally leave at six, but you may find one or two
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work-a-holics down there.” They stopped at a bay
of elevators and Miach hit the button. “Only
guards here regularly this late at night.”
When the doors slid shut and he hit the button
of the third level, Cliff asked, “Why isn’t the
elevator secret like at the place in Colin City?”
“I couldn’t begin to tell you that, Cliff,” Miach
replied. “I’m just a soldier.”
Silence fell, only to be broken by the ding of the
elevator. Miach exited and turned left, striding
steadily through the halls. He stopped at a door
and ran a hand through his hair before turning to
Cliff. “Look. The rhino is supposed to be in here.
The rooms on this floor are fifty by a hundred feet.
There’s a tank of water, and that’s about it. If it’s
not sedated, it may attack.”
“The shifter is a he or she, not an it,” Cliff
snapped.
Miach held up his hands. “I’m sorry.” He lifted
his keycard and looked at the dominant wolf. “Are
you ready?”
Cliff stepped in front of the other two and
nodded. Miach opened the door, and Nick
followed Cliff slowly into the room. The rhino
rested in the corner of the room. It shifted and
grunted, but made no move to rise. Cliff moved
toward the animal slowly. Nick couldn’t catch the
shifter’s scent until he was within fifteen feet of
the creature, the smells of the soiled room too
powerful.
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The shifter must have finally scented them, too,
because it groaned and turned its head. “Easy
now, friend,” Cliff murmured, crouching beside
him. “We’re here to help. Can ye shift?”
A shudder went through the rhino’s massive
body. It was slower than it should have been, but
the man managed to shift. A guy who could have
passed as a body builder sprawled on the floor at
their feet. It took some work, but Cliff and Nick
managed to get the pants and turtleneck on him,
both too small, but it was all they had. Propping
the shifter between them, Cliff and Nick helped
the man to his feet and out of the room, Miach
locking the door behind them.
They followed Miach to the next room, the lion
shifter’s room. It went much the same way, and
soon they were back on the main floor, helping
two drooping men toward the conference room.
“Kade, I need ye and Nick to get these two out
to the van,” Cliff ordered. “Jared, do ye have the
transfer form prepared for the wolf, yet?”
“Right here,” he answered, holding up several
papers.
“Good.” Cliff grabbed them and turned to
Miach. “Are there cages or something we need to
use to carry the shifter?”
“Yeah,” Miach replied. “This way.”
Before they could get far, Nick grabbed Miach
and pulled his head down for a kiss. “Be careful,”
he whispered.
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“You, too,” Miach whispered.
Kade and Nick levered the two drugged
shifters out of the conference room chairs and
headed back toward the side doors. They spotted
Jason still lounging at the security desk and Nick
muttered several curses under his breath.
“I got this,” Kade muttered.
Nick nodded once, watching his six foot four
friend smirk at Jason. “These guys had a fight with
the weight bench in the gym. Miach told us to take
them to the emergency room to be checked out.”
Jason lifted a brow, his gaze sweeping over
them dubiously. “Uh huh. I’ll need everyone’s
passcards, so I can properly assign the exit.”
“Yeah, sure,” Kade replied. “Hold him a sec
while I get mine.” Kade started to reach his left
hand into his pocket, hindered by the rhino
shifter’s drooping body. Jason shook his head and
reached for the drugged man. The rhino slumped
against Jason, and the human stumbled back a
step. Kade pulled his right arm back and slammed
a huge fist into Jason’s face. Both men dropped
like stones.
Nick shook his head and cringed. He knew
exactly how it felt to be the recipient of his friend’s
right hook. It hurt like a son-of-a-bitch and he’d
never even gotten the full brunt of a blow before.
“Nice, Kade. Real nice.”
“It worked, didn’t it?” Kade quipped, helping
the dazed rhino back to his feet. “Sorry about that,
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man. Let’s go.”
They hurried out to the SUV and helped the
two big shifters into the back seat.
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Chapter Ten
can’t believe that worked,” Nick muttered,
snuggling into Miach’s side in the extremely
cramped SUV.
Miach smiled, but he had to admit that it had
been far too easy. “Shit! Stop the vehicle!” Miach
shouted.
“What the hell?” Kade snapped, turning to look
at him from where he sat in the passenger seat.
“That was too easy,” Miach insisted. “There’s
gotta be something we’re missing.”
“Like what?” Cliff asked from the driver’s seat.
“He’s right. That was too easy,” Jared agreed.
“They’re probably tracking us.”
“Well, how do we find out?” Nick piped up.
“Let me make a phone call,” Jared replied. “I
have a scanner at home. I’ll have my buddy bring
it out to us. Head to the ruins of their facility near
Colin City. We should be able to get there by ten
this morning.”
“I
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Cliff got the car moving again. “Why there?”
Miach wanted to know the same thing.
Jared grinned. “Because they already know
where it is. No sense letting them know where we
all live, now is there?”
Before they could respond, a shudder rolled
through the ground, rocking the vehicle. An
orange and red ball of fire exploded behind them,
consuming the massive facility they’d just left.
“What the fuck?” Miach growled, twisting in
his seat to take in the now burning building.
“Jared?” Cliff growled. “What did ye do?”
The human snorted, the corner of his mouth
lifting in a smirk. “Just giving the pack a gift.”
“Blowing up the building is a gift?” Miach
asked askance.
Nick sighed. “He’s talking about safety,” his
mate replied. “Safety for the pack.”
Miach scraped a hand over his head, scratching
his scalp. “I understand how that makes sense, but
do you even know how many people you just
killed in there?”
“Somewhere between ten and fifteen would be
my guess,” Jared replied coolly.
His jaw dropped in surprise. He’d seen the icy
glimmer in Jared’s eyes at the alpha’s house, and
now he knew what it meant. The guy had very
little in the way of conscience. “You don’t even
care, do you?” he whispered.
For a second, Jared stared at him, then he
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leaned forward, and his hazel eyes appeared
soulless where the light of the moon played across
his face. “We are at war, Miach. War with a
corporation that is killing yours and my mate’s
friends and family. Do I care that I killed some of
their soldiers? Soldiers that would happily hunt
down and capture or kill the man I love just
because he can turn into a wolf? No. No, I don’t.”
That said, Jared settled back into his seat and
turned his gaze out the window.
Miach returned his focus back to the front and
found everyone watching their exchange. Even
Cliff watched through the rearview mirror. He
blew out a breath, and Nick rubbed his arm. The
warmth from his mate’s touch eased some of the
chill that had seeped into his bones at Jared’s
words. They were entrenched in a silent war, and
Miach realized he’d just jumped sides.
He wrapped his arms around Nick and pulled
him tight to his chest. Inhaling the man’s earthy
aroma, he let it soothe him, and tried not to think
about anything else that night.
Miach woke to jostling and realized Kade was
now driving the vehicle and they were bouncing
through the woods on something that couldn’t
possibly be considered a dirt track. They stopped
in a small clearing where several other cars were
already parked, and Nick opened the door and
slid out of the vehicle.
He followed, and then helped the two shifters
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from the back seat and to the ground. He was
pleased that they appeared to be more alert now,
whatever drugs they’d been given wearing off.
When he looked up, he was surprised to see a
massive chocolate colored wolf standing at the
edge of the clearing.
He took an involuntary step back when the
animal started trotting toward them, but Nick’s
hand on his back settled him. The female wolf that
had been curled up on the floorboards of their
SUV immediately lowered to the ground and
offered her belly to the bigger animal. The
chocolate wolf sniffed her neck, then took a step
back.
His shift was smooth, seamless, and extremely
quick. It was only seconds later when Declan
McIntire rose to a crouch, seemingly oblivious to
his nakedness. He rested a hand on the wolf’s
head and asked gently, “Can ye shift, little girl?”
The words confused Miach. He looked down at
the light brown animal and watched a slow
transition progress from wolf to woman, and then
he understood. The shifter couldn’t have been
more than sixteen and bile filled his mouth. The
scientists had kidnapped a child away from her
parents to experiment on! Cliff appeared and
draped a blanket around her shoulders.
“We’ll contact yer family, let them know ye’re
safe,” Declan assured.
“No! Please, no!” she gasped, her eyes
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widening in panic.
Declan’s brows lifted. “Yer not of age, young
one. I’ll need ye to tell me why I’m not to contact
yer pack.”
“Because they’re the reason I was there!” she
whispered.
Miach paled. Surely she didn’t mean what that
sounded like.
Declan exchanged a look with Cliff. “Are ye
from around Tucson, Arizona?”
She nodded, her eyes widening. “How did you
know?”
“Because ye’re not the first shifter they’ve sold
to the scientists,” Cliff answered. The shifter
looked at Declan. “I can take her to me place, if
ye’d like. She may feel more comfortable around
Lisa.”
“Probably,” Declan said with a nod. “I’ll visit
her in a few days. I think I’m going to contact Brad
and see if his old gang is heading to that area any
time soon. It’s time to see what’s going on down
there.”
Declan’s cold tone softened as he refocused on
the girl. “Ye’ll be safe here in me territory until we
figure things out. Lisa is Cliff’s mate. She’ll take
good care of ye.” Lifting his gaze to Cliff, he said,
“Yer keys are in the car.”
A redheaded man walked over to the girl. She
cringed from him, but Cliff offered reassuring
words. “This is Raul,” the tracker told her. “He’s
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going to see if ye have any tracking devices or
other implants inserted by the scientists.”
Lark walked over with a bundle of clothes and
handed them to Declan. “Do you have to show
everyone your ass, stud?” he teased dryly.
Declan just smirked and pulled the clothing on.
Next Lark held up a phone. “Carson’s on the line,”
he told him.
Miach heard Raul give an all clear to Cliff and
the girl. As the wolf helped the teenager to her feet
and headed toward a blue sedan tucked between
the trees, Raul headed toward Miach, Nick, and
the other two shifters sitting on the ground at his
feet.
“Well, let’s see about you two,” Raul said.
He held up a device and started running it over
the rhino shifter’s body. Raul’s eyes narrowed as
the machine started making chirping noises.
“Lark,” the guy called. “We got a bug.”
Miach stepped back to make more room,
hugging Nick against his side. Declan followed
Lark over to them and Miach became aware of his
conversation. “Thank ye, Carson. We’ll keep an
eye out for him.” He shoved his phone into his
pocket and turned to Miach and Nick. “Carson
has tracked down Cameron. The wolf is headed
this way.”
He found himself glaring into the trees and
pulling Nick tighter against his side. With his
sharp eyesight, he almost immediately spotted a
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115
brown shape creeping through the trees toward
them. To his surprise, Declan lifted his face and
inhaled. Then he turned and glared at the
approaching shifter.
“Cameron, enter the clearing,” he ordered
while stepping between the rogue wolf and his
mate and the injured shifters still resting on the
ground.
Miach found himself impressed with the way
Lark ignored what was happening around him
and focused on extracting the bug from the
shifter’s shoulder. Nick’s low growl brought his
focus back to Cameron, who now stood in human
form several feet from the forest’s edge.
“You’re bringing the pack to ruin with your
ridiculous acceptance of other shifters into the
area. It’s time for your rein to come to an end,
Declan,” Cameron sneered.
Declan crossed his thickly muscled arms over
his broad chest and smirked. “And who’s gonna
do that, Cameron? You?”
Cameron’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.”
“As much as I’d love to put ye in yer place,
rogue, ye’ve attacked Nick, a member of me pack,
and Miach has requested restitution for his mate,”
Declan stated, adding with a smirk, “And he
wants to tear apart yer hide.”
Cameron barked out a laugh. “You think that
freak is going to beat me in a fight? I’ll rip him
apart!” He immediately dropped to his knees are
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started to shift.
Declan looked over his shoulder at Miach. “Ye
have the option of fighting, or ye can request he be
banished from the pack for his crimes against yer
mate.”
His lip lifting in anger, he let out a growl. “He’s
mine,” he snarled and stalked forward.
“Miach!” Nick’s worried tone had him turning
to glance back at his mate. “Be careful, love.”
He nodded once, then gave his full attention to
the shifter before him. Cameron had finished
shifting and prowled toward him, his belly low to
the ground and his jaws open in a feral growl.
Miach watched the animal move, judging his
strengths, gauging his abilities. He knew he’d
have to be careful, because he didn’t have the
fangs and claws that the animal did, but he had
military training, patience, and a will to survive
for his mate.
Cameron leaped forward, his jaws gaping.
Using his increased speed, Miach shuffled to the
left. He slammed his fist into the side of
Cameron’s head as he flew past. He didn’t think
it’d do a lot of damage, but perhaps it’d disorient
him for a few seconds. Miach drew a knife from
the sheath on his thigh and watched the shifter
shake off his counterattack.
They circled each other, the wolf growling
threateningly and eyeing him maliciously. This
time Cameron didn’t leap, instead he rushed in,
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117
keeping low to the ground. Miach struck out with
his knife, driving the shifter back. Cameron’s jaws
snapped and he danced sideways, trying to find
an opening. He managed to hit the creature’s left
front leg, the knife slicing across furred flesh,
drawing blood.
Instead of retreating like he thought Cameron
would do, the animal lunged forward. The two
hundred fifty pound wolf slammed into his chest,
knocking him to the ground, and the knife slipped
from his hand. Miach managed to bring his arms
up and grab the animal’s neck. He kept Cameron’s
snapping jaws away from his neck, but he felt the
shifter’s claws sink into his chest.
Miach drew on every bit of strength the
scientists gave him and shoved. Cameron flew ten
feet and slammed into a tree trunk, letting out a
surprised yelp. He rolled to his feet, grabbing the
knife as he went. Miach lifted his head just in time
to see a blond wolf hurtle toward him.
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Chapter Eleven
ick hated watching his mate fight for him,
but he understood why Miach needed to do
it. The genetically altered human had to find his
place in the pack. His help rescuing the shifters
and gathering information against the scientists
was a great start, but proving he would put his
mate above all else was just as important.
He scented the wind, and a smell he recognized
tickled his nostrils. Simon! A low growl escaped
him and he whipped his head around, searching
for the wolf in question. He knew Simon had been
only too happy to back Cameron and help him
attack other shifters. Nick also realized the shifter
was next on Carson’s list to locate, but it looked
like they wouldn’t have to worry about that,
because the blond wolf was close.
Spotting the other shifter creeping through the
trees, a wave of apprehension rolled over Nick.
Simon watched the fight between Miach and
N
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Cameron, steadily creeping closer. And because
Miach’s focus was on Cameron, he didn’t notice
the other wolf.
Nick peeled off his clothes. His action garnered
a lifted brow from his alpha. He pointed at Simon.
“I’m worried.”
Declan nodded. “Understandable.”
It was close enough to permission for Nick, and
he dropped to his knees and initiated his shift. He
shook out his fur before starting toward the
fighting pair, struggling not to interfere when
Cameron managed to get his mate on his back. To
his relief, Miach tossed the wolf away in a move
that looked surprisingly easy. Cameron hit a
nearby tree and Nick’s mate rolled to his feet.
That’s when Simon surged forward and
attacked his mate. Nick leaped, barely managing
to come to his mate’s aid in time. His jaws gaping,
he wrapped them around Simon’s foreleg as he
barreled into him, knocking Simon off his
trajectory, and giving Miach a chance to shoulder-
roll out of harm’s way.
Simon rolled, the move dislodging Nick’s hold.
But before the bigger wolf could get to his feet, a
brown blur streaked toward them. Nick
recognized Carson’s wolf, and the enforcer gave a
warning growl, his meaning clear. Stay down.
Simon obeyed, offering his belly to the aggressive
Native American shifter.
Nick returned his focus to his mate just in time
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to see Miach sink the blade of his knife into
Cameron’s torso. The animal howled in pain, the
sound suddenly cut off by Miach slicing the blade
across Cameron’s neck. Nick felt no remorse as he
watched the life drain out of the wolf’s eyes.
Miach heaved out a breath and slowly rose to
his feet. He looked around, his gaze landing on
Nick, and he smiled. Trotting to his mate, relief
washed over him when Miach dropped to one
knee and sank his hands into his ruff. “Thank you,
my mate.”
Nick nuzzled into Miach’s hands for a moment,
before initiating his shift. Once human, he threw
himself into Miach’s arms, hugging his mate close.
“I’ll always be there to watch your back,” he
vowed.
Miach nodded, then waved a hand at the other
two wolves. “Who are they and why did the blond
attack me?”
“The blond is Simon. He agreed with a lot of
Cameron’s opinions,” he explained. “The brown is
Carson, our pack enforcer.”
Declan crossed to the wolves and ordered
Simon to shift. Once a slender man was lying
prone before them, Declan glared at him. “Ye’ve
been found guilty of attacking innocent shifters,
Simon. How do ye plead?”
Nick picked up the scent of nervous tension
from the other shifter, even as Simon frowned at
his alpha. “They weren’t innocent. They were
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invading our territory.”
“That is not for ye to decide, Simon,” Declan
replied calmly. “I’ve never condoned attacking a
shifter in me territory, and ye know it.” Simon
opened his mouth as if to protest, but Declan
growled low in his throat, and Simon’s teeth
clacked as he shut up.
His arms crossed over a broad chest, Declan
stated, “Now, ye have a choice, Simon. Ye can
leave me territory and be labeled a rogue, or ye
can accept punishment in the form of fifty lashes
and ten hours of pack service under Shane’s
guidance.”
Simon paled, and Nick swallowed. Both
options were harsh, but Declan had to send a
message. This kind of behavior would not be
tolerated.
“The lashes and pack service,” Simon
whispered, baring his throat and stomach to
Declan, showing his submittal to the alpha.
Declan nodded once. “Carson, take him to
Shane’s.” The alpha turned to Nick and Miach.
“Allow Lark to check yer wounds, then go home
and get some rest. I’ll bring someone in to take
care of Cameron’s body.” Then he smirked, his
gaze shifting between them. “Ye’ve earned a few
days off, Nick, and I’m certain ye’ll want some
time to get to know yer mate better.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Nick responded instantly, seeing
Miach grin out of the corner of his eye.
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Miach received medical attention for the claw
marks on his chest. Nick was impressed that those
were the only injuries he’d sustained after a run-in
with a vengeful shifter. Lark handed Nick his
keys. “Nice ride, Nick. Thanks for letting me drive
it.”
Nick chuckled. “Yeah, glad you liked it,” he
stated, leading the way to his mustang.
Once in the vehicle, Miach turned a questioning
gaze toward Nick. “Was he making fun of you?”
Shrugging, Nick replied, “Not really. He just
knows that my car is my baby.” He fought back a
blush. “My father and I were working on it when
he passed. It reminds me of him,” he admitted.
Miach reached over and squeezed his thigh.
“It’s a nice car.”
Nick nodded, sending the vehicle moving
toward home. “I guess I really should have asked
where you call home.”
Miach shrugged. “I have a condo in New
Orleans. Why? You trying to get rid of me
already?”
He squelched his initial urge to snap at the man
for even mentioning that he’d leave Nick, hearing
the underlying tension in Miach’s voice. He
recognized Miach’s uncertainty. He took a deep
breath and then glancing toward his mate, gave
him a wink. “Nope. Just wanted to know where
we need to go to pick your stuff up from, so we
can move you in with me.”
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His grip tightened on the wheel when he saw
Miach’s sexy grin. “You’re not moving too fast, are
you?”
Chuckling, Nick kept his hands to himself even
as his cock jerked at the sight of his mate’s teasing
smile. “Not at all. I gotta move you in before
introducing you to ma, that way you can’t get
away.”
Miach placed his big hand on Nick’s thigh and
squeezed. “If the idea of kids didn’t scare me
away, you really think meeting your ma will
bother me? I admit I’m nervous, but you’re it for
me. You’re my mate. My one and only. I love
you.”
Nick’s brows shot up, and his heart sped up in
his chest. He felt grateful he was pulling into his
driveway. Otherwise, he’d have whipped the car
over on the side of the road so he could get at his
mate.
He unclipped his safety belt and straddled his
mate’s lap in the uncomfortable confines of the
car. Gripping his mate’s jaw with both hands,
Nick stared deep into those beautiful blue eyes.
“You love me?”
Miach’s hands landed on his hips and pulled
him close. “I love you, Nick. I’m not going
anywhere.”
Nick sighed against Miach’s lips. “I love you,
too,” he murmured before sealing their mouths
together. He nibbled the other man’s lower lip
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before pushing his tongue inside to feel Miach’s
warm, wet heat. Their tongues tangled together as
they fought for dominance of the kiss. Their
bodies rocked against each other and their hands
roamed under shirts and overheated flesh.
Their groins pushed together, sending fabulous
heat through Nick’s body and up his spine. He
didn’t even realize he was close until the orgasm
bowled through him. He moaned into Miach’s
mouth, his body jerking as he filled his camo pants
with hot jizz. A shudder passed through the body
underneath him and Miach grunted. The scent of
his mate’s seed filled the car, and Nick’s dick
jerked.
His chest heaving, Nick rested his forehead
against Miach’s, content to just feel the man’s arms
holding him as their breaths intermingled.
“Wow,” Miach said with a grunt. “I don’t think
I’ve ever come from just kissing and grinding.”
Nick grinned, immensely pleased he affected
his mate so much. “I think I’m ready for a shower.
Want to join me?”
Miach chuckled. “There’s no way you could
stop me.”
Nick eased out of the car and took Miach’s
hand. He didn’t release him even as he unlocked
the door and led Miach into his home and into
their new life.
About the Author
Charlie lives on a mini ranchette in Utah with her
handsome, supportive husband. She started
writing fantasy when she was eight, and after
stumbling onto her first erotic romance at
nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now
focuses on writing erotic romance, often of the
paranormal variety, with heroes and heroines of
all kinds. You can often find her curled up with
her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine,
creating her next story, which could pair a sexy
hero with an adventurous heroine… or maybe
with another handsome hero. Charlie enjoys
horseback riding, jump lessons with Apache,
watching movies with her husband, and listening
to her muse tell her about her next project.
She can be reached at
ch.richards2010@yahoo.com
Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com