Caged Heat (Black Meadow Pack) (12 page)

“We still don’t know who’s trying to hurt her?” Chase glanced from Riel to the other enforcers.

“No.” Kane said. “There are a lot of shady family members to go through. Our main suspects are Juan Junior and Kurt Danitelli, but Junior’s been missing in action for a few days, which makes it harder, and we’re still getting information about Danitelli,”.

Riel finally realized that’s what Kane had wanted to see him about. Just because Juan Junior was missing didn’t mean he wasn’t behind what was happening to Sam. As for Danitelli, there were mob ties, and he needed to know how badly he might want Sam dead.

“We’ll call in others to help look into her family,” Chase said to Riel.

He nodded at Chase.

Riel turned to face Raven.

She squeezed his bicep. “She’s doing well. She was drugged, so it makes it even more important that we keep her under close observation until she’s awake and conscious.”

“What do you mean she was drugged?” Riel roared.

Chase gripped his shoulder in an attempt to get him to calm down.

Raven nodded, unperturbed by Riel’s outburst, and pursed her lips. “I’m running blood tests to figure out exactly what she was given, but preliminary tests show she was given a heavy dose of muscle relaxers. Had the dosage been any stronger, we could have been facing some serious problems. It was only enough to put her to sleep. She won’t be awake probably until tomorrow, if not the day after.”

An overwhelming rage consumed Riel from the inside.

“You can go see her now, but keep it brief. She’s not going to wake up. It’s still helpful for patients to hear their loved ones when they’re asleep, so go ahead and speak to her,” Raven walked toward a nurse waiting for her.

Riel turned to Nat. “Come on.”

He knew she felt guilty, and he wanted to help appease her concern. None of what happened was Natalia’s fault, and she shouldn’t carry that type of burden.

As they walked into the room his gaze wandered over Sam’s pale face. Thin plastic tubes had been placed inside her nose and mouth. The long, dark curls of her hair had been pushed back from her face, and a blue hospital gown replaced her clothing. Loud wheezing sounds came from her chest. It bothered him that her throat was so raw and she still had such a hard time breathing, but he was glad to see her chest move up and down with every breath. Bandages covered her wrists. When she was brought to the hospital her hands and wrists had been bleeding from the rope she’d been tied with.

Nat strode to the bed and grab Sam’s bandaged hand. She spoke quietly in a wobbly voice. “I’m so sorry, Sam. If I hadn’t—”

“This isn’t your fault.” He told her. “No one could have known that this would happen. I’m sure Sam wouldn’t want you to feel guilty.”

Nat nodded and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands. She bent, kissed Sam’s forehead, and then turned to Riel. “Sam’s really special. Please, please love her with all you’ve got, because that’s how she loves you. She needs happiness in her life.” Natalia walked toward the door and stopped. “I’m not sure if Sam understand what a mate means to your kind, but she knows what love means to her. And it means everything.”

Riel stood there in silence listening to the sounds of the machines beep. Emotions ran rampant inside him for his mate. Anger, fear, love, and pain all mingled to make a cocktail of frustration he’d never felt before. He walked toward her and sat by the bed. Frustration he’d never felt before filled him.

For those endless moments when she’d stopped breathing, his heart had ceased to beat. Even if she wasn’t his mate he’d still want her. She’d captured his heart the first moment he’d seen her. His mate was not going to be hurt again. And he wasn’t letting her go.

* * *

When she opened her eyes, the first thing Sam noticed was the darkness. She was in a hospital room. And Riel was sleeping on a chair beside her bed. She grinned. His head lolled forward in repose. The slight beard growth and messy brown hair made him look so sexy. A white T-shirt did a poor job at concealing his bulging muscles beneath. Memories of how she ended up in the hospital assailed her brain. He’d saved her, again. If she didn’t already love him, she surely would now. The man had gone into a burning house to get her out.

She tested her voice. “Ry.” The low croak was barely audible, but his head shot up.

He moved forward and caressed her cheek with one hand. “Don’t talk. Raven said you’re throat is going to hurt for a while. Let me get you some ice.” He moved toward a table and filled a plastic cup with ice chips.

Trying to make herself comfortable, she turned her head to the side rail and searched for a button to lift the bed to a sitting position. Once she was finally sitting up, she smiled. He sat on the edge of the bed and passed her the cup.

The cool comfort of the ice chips going down her throat rivaled the pleasure from eating the best ice cream in the world.

Several chips later she tried her voice again. “Thank you.” No longer a weird trucker hack, her voice had the low, husky tone found in phone-sex operators. She grinned, cleared her throat, and tried again. “Testing, testing. If you’d like for me to strip, press one now.” When Riel’s brows lifted, she laughed and then coughed. Crap, she should’ve known her lungs were still not ready for comedy hour.

He quirked his lips, but his frown was all concern. “How do you feel?”

“Better than I did the last time I saw you. The house?” Hopeful that something was salvaged, she bit her lip and waited.

He gave a sad shake of his head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s all gone.”

All of Ginny’s memories evaporated because someone wanted to be rid of Sam. The only thing left was that trunk she’d taken to Riel’s home. Ginny’s home was the only place she’d ever really belonged to.

Tears gathered in her eyes, and she blinked back the need to cry. Not only had she lost Ginny, but she’d lost a lifetime of memories with the only relative who had ever cared for her.

“It’s OK. I know there was nothing you could do. Hell, you got me out alive. Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. The spiky hairs of his beard growth pinched at her skin when he sniffed her. He fluttered soft kisses over her neck and shoulder. Having his nose by her throat brought a measure of comfort she hadn’t expected.

His soft rumble vibrated by her ear. “You don’t need to thank me. I would never let anything happen to you. You’re mine.” And she was in full agreement. She was his, and he was hers.

* * *

When she finally returned to Riel’s house, the first thing she did was shower. After five long days in the hospital, she carried the grime of the world on her skin.

Her amazing man had gotten Nat to buy her new clothes. They were situated in his closet waiting for her. Everything she needed of a personal nature sat by his toiletries in his bedroom.

Remembering Sophia’s words about Riel wanting their mating to be Sam’s choice, she decided not to wait any longer. She’d almost died twice, and the reality was that anything could happen. There were no guarantees in life. Why stop from acknowledging how she felt because it was kind of soon? Who said there was a right time to tell someone you loved them? All she knew was that she wasn’t going to go another day without him knowing the extent of her feelings. She was in love with him, and there was no way she’d live the rest of her life without him knowing. Aside from her feelings, her body and hormones were wreaking havoc with her mental stability. She was still horny as hell, and her body craved him in the worst way.

She put on her new robe and waited for him to return to the bedroom. The soft, silky material reminded her of all the clothes she’d lost. Her entire collection of sexy lingerie had gone up in flames. She’d just have to start a new one. Excitement dashed through her when she thought of buying new sexy lingerie and modeling it for Ry. Tying her hair up in a knot, she paced the bedroom. Footsteps sounded down the hallway and headed her way, sending a rush of excitement through her.

Riel walked through the door with a tray. He’d cooked for her again. Could the man be any more perfect? Their gazes met and held. Lust flared bright in his eyes, spiking her temperature and making her heart flip.

While he placed the tray on the dresser, she tried to think of the best way to proceed. After debating for a moment, she decided honesty was her best course of action.

His nostrils flared, and he sniffed. She grinned. The color of his eyes turned into liquid gold. He knew she was aroused. Evidence her need dripped down her thighs. The fire that made her pussy clench and moisten, had given off her needy state.

Fascinated, her stomach flipped when his facial muscles tightened and his jaw clenched. With a leisurely stroll, she made her way toward him.

“Sam…”

She opened the tie around her waist that was holding her robe closed. The robe slipped down her body with a quiet swoosh and landed on the wood floor in a puddle of silky material. Her nipples pebbled into tight points, and another wave of moisture dripped from her pussy.

She draped her hands on the hard muscles of his stomach. Each of the tiny squares in his abs beckoned for her to lick at the tight skin. She smiled at his soft growl.

“I love you.” Saying the words wasn’t as hard as she thought.

His eyes widened. “Are you sure?” He gave her a silly grin. “You don’t need to profess love for me just because I’m amazing in bed,” he joked.

She laughed. Here she was opening her heart to him, and he was making jokes. She couldn’t get angry, because she knew that behind his joke, he was nervous over her declaration. “I’m positive. I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t. I love you. You’re mine and…if you want me, I’m yours.”

Chapter Eight

He pulled her into his arms and consumed her with a kiss so hot it made her skin sizzle. The kiss was hard and rough. It invaded her senses. He caressed down her spine, further to her hips, and settled on her ass. He grabbed her cheeks and lifted her off the ground. Her pussy ended up level with his cock. He stroked his denim-covered shaft into the seam of her pussy. An explosion of passion took hold, leaving her breathless and panting. She rubbed her nipples over his chest.

He put her back on her feet and cupped her face with his hands. His gaze spoke of passion, possession, and a feeling she knew lived in her heart for him, love. “Sam, I love you. There are no words to tell you how much. Of course I want you. I’ll always want you. There’s no one else for me.”

Happiness unfurled in her heart between the kisses he rained on her lips and face. When he let go of her head, she curled her arms around his neck and rubbed her nose on his smooth jaw.

“There’s no other man for me…just you.” She licked his chin and nibbled on his neck. “You’re my mate, and I’m yours. We just need to make it official.” She grazed her teeth over the galloping pulse on his throat. “Bite me, baby.”

He growled over the curve of her shoulder. “Thank god. I don’t know how much longer I could have waited. I mean I could’ve waited as long as you needed, but I’ve been dying to stake my claim. You’re mine.”

She raked her nails down his chest and lifted his T-shirt. All those clothes had to come off immediately. She tugged on the material and growled. It was taking too damn long to get him undressed. He chuckled. He tore the offensive fabric from his body, and she sighed.

He dipped his head, and he kissed her. Another wave of ferocious mating of the tongues and lips. Urgency to have him in her body pushed her to open his jeans, shove her hand down, and grab his cock in a tight grip. His breath hissed out in a groan. She pushed the jeans down and pumped his shaft in a slow glide from root to tip.

“God, Sam. You’re so fucking hot.” His deep gravelly voice heightened her desire.

“Fuck me, Ry,” she whimpered. “Fuck me. Mate me. Make me yours.”

He growled, toed off his jeans, and picked her up in his arms. He laid her on the bed carefully, as if she were a porcelain doll. They kissed again, softer, but still just as needy. She spread her legs for him and summoned him with the crook of a finger.

Heat swelled inside her. He inhaled and licked his lips. “You smell delicious.” Lust shot down to her wet folds. He groaned. “And I just know you’re going to taste even better.”

He pounced on the bed, wrapped his arms around her legs, and immediately fastened his lips around her clit. Her hands flew to the short spikes of his hair. He swiped his thick tongue mercilessly over her clit.

She writhed and thrashed on the bed. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes…”

He thrusts two digits into her sex and curved them inside her pussy, tickling her G-spot at the same time he grazed his teeth over her clit. A spasm took hold, and she shattered so fast it left her breathless. Lost to the throes of her climax, she screamed his name.

He flipped her on her stomach, ass high in the air and legs wide open. He fondled her pussy, sliding his fingers in, out, and around her wet folds. She gasped, passion tightening her nipples and making her pussy clench. She glanced over her shoulder. He bit his lip and caressed her ass with what looked like adoration. She groaned and hung her head. Holding the sheets in a death grip, she moaned as the broad head of his cock penetrated her slick heat. He gripped her hips, stretching her pussy walls, until he was balls-deep inside her.

Looking for more than just penetration, she wiggled and whimpered at the fantastic feel of his cock grazing her from inside. He tightened his hold on her hips, pulled back, and thrust right back into her in a fast slide. She turned her head just as he thrust into her again. He pulled back and slammed into her harder. She groaned and fisted the sheets tighter.

“Do you like that?” He impaled her again. “Like it when I fuck you from behind?”

“Yes, yes. Please.”

“Please what? What do you need, my sexy mate?” The low growl and his feral features made her pussy squeeze at his cock.

“Fuck me harder, faster. Give me more!”

His wicked grin made the heat inside her expand through every cell and nerve ending. Hair sprouted on his face. She became fascinated. His features turned wild, untamed and almost feral with intensity. Inside her pussy, his cock thickened and grew.