Bears in Flight: Book Four - Supernatural Bounty Hunters Romance Novellas (13 page)

His father was taunting him by liberally spreading his scent around and leaving a trail for him to follow.
Well, Logan hadn’t wanted to disappoint him…

Logan found him. It was father, just as vicious as he had always been. He was surrounded by five members of the clan, but Logan barely even noticed them. He easily cut through them as if they were made of nothing more than tissue paper.
They were unimportant; they didn’t matter
. The only thing that mattered was taking out his father. The author of all the pain and suffering that he, his family and countless others had ever had to go through.

His father was no slouch; he was slightly bigger and stronger than Logan, and much more experienced at fighting, but he couldn’t possibly match the level of ferociousness that Logan’s beast had. They fought as their bears, mercilessly trying to tear the other apart. It was over in a matter of minutes. He tore his father’s throat out and howled over the kill…

Logan paused as anger lanced through him at the memory. He was surprised to find that Mia had left her seat and curled herself into his lap. He didn’t even see her move, but having her in his arms was what he needed, it made the memories more bearable.

He clutched her body to his; all the desire had left him, and all he wanted was comfort at that moment. Instinctively she knew what he needed. She pressed a soft kiss on his cheek and asked him to continue.

What happened next was kind of a blur. The Council of Supernaturals dealt with the bodies. They weren’t entirely sure what to do with Logan. In the end, they adhered to clan law, even though it made them unhappy. Clan law said that the leader or alpha of the clan was permitted to dish out punishment to those who had injured or killed any of their clan members. And since Logan was technically the head of his small family clan…

He’d been too numb to care at the time, but, looking back, Logan couldn’t believe he wasn’t locked up in jail for what he’d done. He mostly believed it was due to the Council’s embarrassment over not being able to capture his father. Apparently, in the interim of Logan and his family escaping, his father had been working hard to restart the clan.
Which involved kidnapping numerous young female bears…

After Logan had killed the males, the females were returned to their families. And Logan… he didn’t know what to do with himself.
He felt adrift
. He had nothing left except his anger over what had happened. He moved from place to place, picking up work where he could, which inevitably ended in arguments, fights and him beating the living hell out of someone.

He started spending more time as his bear than ever; he was turning almost feral.
That was until he met Maya.

It was at a point where he was barely able to function anymore. The human side of him couldn’t act the way he was supposed to anymore; all of his humanity was slowly slipping away.

The meeting with Maya was pure chance. She almost ran him down with her car. He went ballistic at her and she… she slapped him.
Hard
. She was a domineering she-bear, more domineering than anyone he’d ever met, and it made him pause. It made his bear sit up and take notice. His furious, out-of-control bear actually listened to her.

She saw his weakness; she saw the vulnerability beneath the hardness, and she took control of him. She told him what to do, and she made his decisions for him. And it was so… so refreshing. He was no longer a slave to his fury; he was a slave to Maya.

She helped him and took him away from the dark hole he was slowly disappearing down. And for a while, he was content with that.

He fell in love with Maya, or at least he thought he did at the time. Now that he knew real love, he could see that it was more of an infatuation with Maya. He was more grateful to Maya than anything else. But, they, at Maya’s suggestion, got married and finally he did start to feel twinges of happiness.

However, there was a lot about his life with Maya that he disliked. Although he was no angel,
no one could argue with that
, he could never get fully on board with the things Maya did. Bluntly, she was a con artist. And no matter how reluctantly, Logan helped her to cheat money out of people.

He became increasingly dissatisfied with his life with Maya until it all came to a head with the Merrick farrago.

Logan explained what had happened with Merrick and then about Maya’s call the other week and the subsequent need to be bailed out.

He let out a long breath. “So, there you have it. That’s everything I didn’t want to tell you.”

Every muscle in his body tensed as he waited for her to react, to say something.
Anything, damnit!
His bear whined unhappily. She was going to leave him! His arms loosened around her, to allow her a quick escape if she needed it. He wanted her, but he would never force her.

“So, you think Maya helped you, and that’s why you bailed her out and allowed her to stay with you?”

Logan closed his eyes in relief. She was talking to him; that was much better than her screaming that she never wanted to see him again.

“Yes, she did help me. For all her faults, she helped me when I needed it. If she hadn’t have done what she did, I’d probably have given up and would have become my bear full time.”

Mia traced patterns on his chest with her index finger. “So, you felt indebted to her? And that’s why you bailed her out.”

“Yes, that’s all there is to it.”

“You don’t, umm, love her?”

“No!” he growled a little louder than he should have. “I only love you. I should have told you all this sooner, when we first met; I realize that now. I just didn’t want our relationship to be tainted by the past. But, I can see now that you can never really get away from your past – no matter how hard you try.”

Mia murmured a non-committal sound. They held onto each other, sitting in silence.

“You’re not running,” he muttered in wonder.

Mia pulled back slightly and blinked at his surprised face. “Why would I run?”

Logan shrugged his wide shoulders. “I’m hardly the stuff dreams are made of.”

She gave him an impish smile. “Hmmm, you’ve no idea what my dreams are like.”

“No, but I’d like to,” he admitted quietly.

Mia smoothed her fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry about your family; I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through, and I guess I can understand why you wouldn’t want to relive those memories.”

He kissed her temple as his bear rolled over like a playful cub. “Thank you.”

Her mouth twisted into a frown. “But I wish you had told me about Maya. It was really hard to hear the truth from her.”

“I know, baby, I’m so sorry. Will you forgive me?” His bear held his breath expectantly.

Mia sniffed exaggeratedly. “Perhaps, in time.”

Logan chuckled. “Well, I shall just have to try my best to give you a few more incentives.”

She squealed, and her rabbit whooped in delight as Logan slid a large warm hand up her thigh. His lips caressed her neck as his fingers delved through her panties and found her wet heat.

“Oooh, Logan!” she breathed excitedly. “What are you doing?”

He snickered as he ran his tongue over her shoulder. “What do you think I’m doing?”

Logan pushed a large digit inside her making her squeak adorably.

In between pants and gasps she said, “It feels like you’re doing something exceptionally naughty while my parents are downstairs.”

He drove another finger into her tight channel, twisting and turning while deliciously rubbing her sweet spot.

His other hand began rubbing her back and her ass. “Not just your parents, Marcus, and Ling are there too.”

Her rabbit cooed as he sped up his movements, adding a further finger, stretching and stimulating her. “Oh! You’re a bad, bad man!”

Logan started nipping her neck; his blunt teeth had a hot line right to her sex. “Baby, I’m the devil,” he groaned.

Her hands sought his belt, and Logan shook his head slightly. “No, baby, this is just for you.”

He maneuvered her so she was straddling him, never stopping the incessant thrusting of his fingers. She bobbed her ass up and down, rubbing herself against his glorious, rough digits. He gripped her hip and flourished kisses over her face and neck. She clutched her inner muscles around him and pressed her tiny claws into his shoulders.

“Come for me, baby,” he commanded.

“Yes,” she moaned.

He pressed his thumb against her clit, and she bit his neck as pleasure exploded through her body.

Chapter Fourteen

Mia patted her hair self-consciously and fanned her face, trying to dispel the ‘just-fucked’ pinkness of her cheeks. Logan had a goofy smile on his face, almost as goofy as how her rabbit was at that moment.
A nice juicy orgasm certainly was a cure for what ails you
. She blushed at the thought.

She chewed her lip. “Logan, in the interest of being forthcoming, I have to tell you something.”

He raised an eyebrow as a fraction of fear crossed over his features. “Oh?”

“My dad’s been trying to set me up in an arranged marriage. Whenever I come to dinner here he seems to have a new candidate for me. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to get jealous; especially as there is absolutely nothing to be jealous of,” she said in a rush.

Logan stared at her for a couple of beats before he looked relieved. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

He nodded. “Okay.”

“O-kay.” She slowly rolled the word over her lips. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Julian, but he is just a friend, and nothing has ever happened between us. Apart from a drunken kiss in college.”

Since Friday, she had deigned to speak to Julian again. He was incredibly apologetic, but she was still pissed. She agreed they were still friends, but it would take a while before she agreed to go out drinking with him again.

Logan tensed and Mia could sense the strain he was under to control his beast.
But he did
. “I know I can’t be angry for something that happened before I met you, even if I want to be. And, although I’m not happy about it, I can’t be mad at you for keeping it from me. I understand you were trying to spare my feelings, as I hope you understand I was doing the same for you.”

Mia opened her mouth to object but snapped it shut.
Damnit! Was he right about that?

“I also understand that you’re allowed to have friends - both male and female. But I’d rather you didn’t get blind stinking drunk with them in future. You’re just so darn beautiful; I wouldn’t put it past any of your friends to try and seduce you – both male and female.”

Mia pouted. “Then don’t give me a reason to go out and get blind stinking drunk.”

He placed a hand on his heart and affected a wounded look. “Ouch, baby.”

She gave him a sassy look. “Suck it up.”

Logan groaned and lay back on her bed. “Please don’t say suck…”

Mia giggled as she wriggled out of her honey drenched panties.

He rolled onto his side and watched her avidly, ignoring the ominous creaks of her bed frame. “So, why are you staying here?”

She froze and gave him a rabbit-in-the-headlights look. With surprising agility for his size, he leaped up and rushed over to her. The dippy look on his face was replaced by worry.

“What is it?”

Mia inhaled deeply. “Someone put cameras in my apartment; they’ve been spying on me and they sent a video of us having sex to my dad.”

“What?!”

*

Mia glared at the two males currently deep in discussion about her safety. She preferred it when they were circling each other in a pissing contest.

Her father and her mate kept nodding at one another and sneaking glances in her direction.
Terrific
. Now they were in cahoots.
She’d be lucky to see daylight again.

Ugh, her dad seemed to have an almost genial look on his face while he was talking to Logan. Apparently he was pleased that the bear was as possessive as he was.
My future son-in-law - my daughter’s jailer.

Eventually, Logan came back over to her. “We’ve agreed that you should live here for now.”

“Have you indeed?” she asked sweetly.

“Yes.”

Either he didn’t get sarcasm, or he was deliberately ignoring her tone.

“Either your father or I will stay with you, and when we can’t be here one of your brothers will watch over you.”

Her eyes widened. “So I’m going to be watched?”

“Just until this is sorted out…”

He wasn’t exactly persuasive in his tone; she imagined sourly that it would suit both Logan and her dad down to the ground if she could have a bodyguard 24/7. To think, all this time she had kept them apart because she feared her father would hate her mate. Maybe she should have been worried that they would be too alike and would gang up on her.

While Mia was thoroughly annoyed at this, her rabbit couldn’t have been more content for her mate to act like her protector.
Ugh, traitorous beast.

Logan took one of her hands and rubbed the back with his thumb. “Please don’t argue with us on this.”

“Us?” she asked wryly.

He smirked. “I thought you’d be pleased that we’re getting along.”

“Yeah, it’s a dream come true,” she deadpanned.

“You can be as sarcastic as you want, but we’re both just worried about you. Clearly someone’s out to get you.”

Mia bit her lip and gave him a searching look, uncertain as to how he would react to what she was about to say. “Do you think it might be Maya?”

He stared at her passively for a couple of beats. “I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. I doubt it; when she gets jealous, she’s not usually this subtle. But, it’s the first thing I’ll ask her when I find her.”

She scowled at him, and he brought her hand up to his lips for a kiss. “Don’t look at me like that. She’s skipped her court date; I have to find her and take her to the cops.”

Mia’s heart sank as her rabbit grumbled. “Can’t someone else…”

“Marcus grabbed me a couple of minutes ago in the kitchen. If I want to keep my job, I have to do it. I promised him she wouldn’t run. Besides, once I find her I’ll make damn sure she isn’t the one who’s been spying on you and I’ll get her to sign those damn divorce papers once and for all.”

“Yeah, I guess I want that too,” she admitted sulkily.

He grinned from ear to ear. “That’s my girl. Just remember, the sooner I get divorced, the sooner we can get married.”

Her rabbit twittered as her heart tattooed rapidly. “Is… is that a proposal?”

“Yeah, it is,” he admitted feeling an unusual hint of bashfulness.

“It wasn’t very romantic!” she griped.

Logan bit his lip to stop himself from laughing and instead kissed her knuckles one by one. “No, you’re right, it wasn’t. Think of it as more of a warning of the proposal I will make in the future. You won’t see it coming, but when it happens it will be so freaking romantic it’ll knock your damn underwear off.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “The expression is it will knock your socks off.”

“Hmmm, those too, baby.”

“I look forward to it.”

Logan sighed. “I should go.”

“Must you?”

He looked at her wide, quivering eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to stay with her.
To wrap his body around hers and never let her go.
His bear was all for that, but…

“I wish I could stay,” he admitted with feeling. “But, I do need to find Maya. Until I do that I feel like we’re in limbo. Plus, I very much doubt that your dad would let me stay the night. Or if he did, he’d spend the night standing over me with a shotgun.”

“He doesn’t own a shotgun, just several handguns.”

“Reassuring, thank you,” he grunted.

“Now who’s being sarcastic?”

“Got me there, baby. Uhhh,” he scrubbed a hand down his face, “I suppose I better get going.”

Mia whimpered in time to her rabbit and reluctantly led him to the front door. Her mom and Ling waved him goodbye. Marcus glowered at him and tapped his wristwatch.
Presumably to let him know the clock was ticking where Maya was concerned
. Her dad gave him a manly nod and surprisingly allowed them some privacy to say goodbye. It was a courtesy that Mia would never have guessed her father was capable of, and it was a little disconcerting. She couldn’t stress how nervous she was about her father and her mate actually getting along.
They were supposed to be natural enemies for heaven’s sake!

When he was sure Matthew was out of sight, Logan wrapped his arms around her and dragged her up his body until their lips were aligned.

“Will you call me before you go to sleep?” he asked pouting.

Mia giggled at his silly face. “Of course.”

He gave her a soft kiss, nibbling a little on her bottom lip. “God, you taste so good,” he groaned.

“Mmmm, given that I’m being all trusting and allowing you to go running after your ex, can I have a little trust in return?”

Logan drew back and narrowed his eyes. “For what?”

Mia lightly traced her fingers round his collar, skimming his skin. “A friend who happens to be male…”

His bear roared. “The wolf?”

“No,” she replied patiently, “not Julian. A new friend called John has asked me to go to a show at an art gallery with him.”

“Hmmm, does he know about me?”

Mia nodded her head vigorously. “He does, and he also said you’d be welcome to come with me. Plus, I expect either my dad or one of my brothers will drive me there and back.”

He mulled it over for a few seconds. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

“Me too, baby. Me too.”

*

Logan whistled,
yep, he actually whistled a happy, little tune
as he drove away from his mate’s house. After a bit of a rough patch, they were better than ever.

His bear was giddy with happiness. He had told her everything, and she hadn’t faltered. She was still with him; she still wanted him. He felt like an enormous weight had been lifted. The last six months had been wonderful, but he couldn’t help lamenting the fact that he hadn’t just come clean with her straight away.

Plus, things had gone surprisingly well with her father. Logan knew the snake was an unreasonable and vicious creature, but he was obsessed with Mia’s safety, and the two men had that in common. To think, Mia had stressed over introducing the two of them for months, and yet due to an embarrassing sex video and the threat of Mia’s safety here they were – getting along.
Strange world.
Although, the potential threat to Mia was incredibly unwelcome – to say the least.

His bear snarled loudly. He struggled to imagine Maya doing this. He doubted she possessed the skills to set up hidden cameras and then burn the video onto a DVD. Matthew told him that he and his sons had discovered three cameras hidden throughout her apartment and one in the hallway outside her door.

It made his blood boil to think of anyone invading her privacy this way, of some pervert watching her most intimate moments. His claws flexed. All of her passion, all of her moans, her screams of pleasure, her naked body, all of those things belonged to him and him alone.
This creepy fucker had no right to them!

The person had made it into her apartment undetected and managed to plant the freaking cameras without her noticing. Hell, they did it without Logan noticing – he was over there enough and if anything were amiss he should have seen it.

His bear snarled. What he wouldn’t give to rip apart whoever did this to his mate.

As furious as it made his bear though, he was allowing Mia’s father to take care of her safety.
For now.

The moment he had Maya trapped, caught and hauled back to the cops, after having put her mark on a certain set of divorce papers, nothing was going to stop him from sticking to his mate’s side like superglue.

It went against his instincts to leave her, but, grudgingly, he knew he needed to do this, and he knew she was safe with her father. His bear could howl at him all he wanted, but his mate understood he had to do this, so it should be good enough for the brooding beast.

Besides which, he was scoring points by being all trusting and decent by allowing her to go out with a male friend.
Even though the last encounter ended with that mangy wolf trying to grope her while she was drunk
. But, he trusted Mia. He didn’t trust every other male on the planet, but he trusted Mia, and trusted that the males in her family wouldn’t allow her to get so drunk again. Yeah, it was kind of cheating knowing that she would be practically tailed everywhere she went.
But, hey, all’s fair in love and war, or whatever.

For now, he was going to concentrate on finding his errant wife. No, his soon-to-be-ex errant wife.

How hard could it be?