I Kissed a Dog (36 page)

***

Chapter 50

The metal felt cool, even comforting, secured in the ring of my lips.

I breathed in and readied myself to blow.

That’s when the mystically-warded enclosure collapsed, right along with David and
his men, their magic spent.

Hell on earth had been merely a terrifying theory until the demon erupted from its
cell with such force the ground trembled.

The first line of defense went down in its initial rampage; a significant number of
our mutant comrades were crushed underneath its massive weight.

The slow motion phenomenon was happening again.

And I was shifting — all over again — without
my
permission. Zane, seeing my dilemma, grabbed the whistle midair as it flew from my
grasp.

Three long blows!
I mind-shrieked. My front paws hit the grass with a thud.

I’d had enough of this madness. A feral fury, birthed from every bad and rotten thing
that had happened in my life, roared to the surface, providing a dazzling shot of
determination and strength.

Instead of fighting it, I surrendered control of my human nature and let the beast
in me reign.

I charged through the mass of what remained of my future pack, and plowed into the
six-armed ogre.

From faraway, I heard Zane shouting my name, calling for Valamir to transport me out.
I wondered why he was wasting his breath when he should have been blowing the damn
whistle, but I didn’t bother stopping to find out.

I had a mission to complete.

In a burst of fur and muscle, Zane appeared by my side. He’d shifted into his monstrous
seven-foot form, the one I’d despised in the past. Now all I recognized was much-needed
power and skill.

Next to him, Valamir materialized, along with Alcuin, Misty, and the two M’s. Connie
and Deb, along with Stryder and Rita, joined what would be our final stand.

Using my mental advantage, I sent instructions to everyone at once; and in perfect
unison we attacked from every angle, using our personal areas of expertise to our
greatest benefit.

Surprised by our onslaught, the beast stumbled, and then rapidly righted itself, only
to be knocked back again by Zane and Alcuin. I torpedoed its mind, hoping to hit the
off switch like I had with Jazmine and Martin.

Infuriatingly, its mind didn’t respond to my masterful manipulation.

In the midst of my efforts, I diverted my attention, for an instant, and our adversary,
aware on some level of my unique capabilities, directed his rage at me.

Without warning, I found myself caught up in tangle of claws, propelled skyward, high
over its head. Then I was dropping into its gore-drenched mouth.

Searing pain speared through my neck, and I felt myself drowning in a sea of agony,
no longer able to stay afloat or maintain my link to the others. I was back in that
suburban swimming pool all over again. Drowning. Dying.

Everything flashed to black, swallowing Zane’s face as I slipped into oblivion.

* * *

The first thing I noticed when my eyes popped open was my mate.

He clutched me to his chest, releasing a sigh of relief. I was nestled between his
legs, and we were seated on the ground with a small assembly of familiar faces standing
around us.

“Hey, Doll, you did real good.” Alcuin grinned down at me.

“More like superb, possibly exceptional,” Misty added sounding almost cheerful.

More remarkable than Misty’s good cheer was the fact that Zane didn’t bother correcting
Alcuin’s doll reference.

Feeling kind of woozy, I clung tighter to Zane, his skin feverish under my hands.
His dark hair, a tangled, but still sexy mess, draped over me like a protective curtain
that I had to peek through to see the others.

Everything felt right, although I guessed there were still a ton of things still very
wrong.

For one, my throat had been ripped open. “My neck,” I moaned, recalling my last moments
in the Jaws of Satan. If that wasn’t the devil, what was?

Zane, stroking my hair, murmured, “I had a chance to return your healing favor. You’re
quite the trooper.”

“Definitely a trooper,” Mack agreed.

“Okay guys, enough already. I’m feeling like Dorothy in the
Wizard of Oz
. The part when her family surrounds her bed at the movie’s end. And what aren’t you
telling me?”

“It can wait. Let’s burn this place to the ground and get out of here,” said Zane
with a note of finality.

It was then I realized we were missing part of our pack. “Where’s Stryder?” I glanced
around. “James McQuillen, Rita …”

Zane interrupted. “We lost Stryder. He fought valiantly. Rita was badly injured, beyond
her werewolf regenerating abilities. McQuillen is with David and his clan. They’ll
take care of Rita, don’t worry. After that they’ll head to the barge and clean up
there and free any remaining prisoners. Valamir is pursuing Martin.”

It hit me like an arrow in the chest.

We’d forgotten Martin, and had left him back in the parking lot. I’d obviously lost
my grip on his mind. He’d surely found the other coins, escaping with them to another
secret stronghold.

There was still one question that hadn’t been sufficiently answered. “Who killed the
monster?” Someone had saved my life. I wanted to thank that person.

For the first time, everyone smiled. “Who?” I asked again with more force.

The ring around me opened and a powerful looking male strode through, the rising sun
shadowing his face.

My rescuer stepped closer. “I’d had just about enough of that bastard.” Dillon grinned.

Chapter
51
31

Seeing Connie secure and smiling serenely, snug in Dillon’s arms, was the perfect
ending to a very brutal and very long night of death and destruction. Two words that
followed me like a kid with a bad crush, a crush turned dangerous obsession.

It was as if death and destruction had been compulsively and exclusively stalking
me. Maybe now they’d turn their malevolent attention elsewhere.

A girl could hope.

Hope was one trait I refused to relinquish despite my recent history. As rocky as
my life had become, I’d never felt so right. I belonged in this world with the man
seated beside me lost in his own thoughts. And now, with everyone off on separate
missions, I had my long-awaited time alone with him.

I stifled a mischievous giggle, convinced Zane falsely believed I was dozing as we
cruised down I-5 hovering to the posted speed limit. He might be obeying the speed
limit, but my mind was speeding in every direction.

He’d arranged for a car so we’d have time away from everything but each other. Teleporting
back to Plum Beach would have put us right back in the mix without a moments rest,
and I needed some serious R and R.

Stealing a glance to my left, I studied Zane from beneath my lashes. I needed
him
far more than any rest and relaxation.

Squelching those tempting thoughts for now, I considered our plan to meet up with
the rest of our group at his property tomorrow. We had some major ground to cover.
Everyone who had survived the altercation with Jazmine and Logan, and who’d pledged
themselves to the Pacific Pack, would be making their way to Zane’s.

He’d decided to purchase the property and build a ranch of sorts to house the misplaced
mutants who were now part of our growing supernatural family. I was curious how we’d
deal with appearances; scrutiny about our living arrangements was bound to be an issue,
but we needed a central location to operate from. Zane had a lot of reorganizing and
rebuilding ahead of him. I was looking forward to meeting the challenges and helping
him.

I hadn’t forgotten my promise to Joshua Smart either. When we returned, I planned
to speak candidly with his mom and see if we could gain her approval. Maybe she’d
been threatened into giving up Josh. Whatever the reason she’d allowed her son to
be institutionalized, she was still his mother. Removing him without her permission
would lead to all kinds of legal troubles that our pack couldn’t afford.

At least we had today and all night alone before switching back into full problem
solving mode.

“I know you’re awake,” Zane teased. “Your breathing changed about five miles back.”

I had to laugh. “You are most observant, Dr. Marshall.” I rarely referred to his veterinarian
status, which I’d discovered was legitimate, not just another ruse.

“When it comes to you, Chloe, I am very,
very
observant.”

Clenching my thighs together, I attempted to turn off the fiery heat his words ignited.
How could one man’s voice send waves of sensual pleasure crashing through my core?

I was aware that our connection had deepened since the mating ceremony.

Valamir’s mind-magic, at one point, had sent me over the edge, but now his erotic
powers paled in comparison to my mate’s. I was thankful for that. It made life so
much simpler and my marriage that much stronger without the lure of an ancient vampire
repeatedly distracting me.

“Okay, I’ll play nice, for the time being,” he chuckled, aware of my arousal. “Later,
you can forget it. Playtime won’t just be nice, it will be unforgettable,” he assured,
promise of untold pleasures evident.

Energy hummed through me as I imagined his tongue trailing down my neck, over my breasts.
Everything about Zane was overwhelming me, drawing me to him. My pheromones were wreaking
havoc with his heightened senses. His presence was doing a number on mine, especially
in the car’s enclosed space.

Eager to arrive at our destination, I prodded him, sounding like an impatient kid
on a road trip: “How long till we get there?”

“Soon.”

So far he’d remained secretive about where we’d be spending the next twenty-four hours,
stating that it would be worth the travel time. I wasn’t so sure of that.

Ripping off his clothes in the backseat would be pretty thrilling, and there’d be
no waiting involved. But I knew better; considering our initial, ill-timed encounter
in Vegas, he was going to do everything in his power to ensure I remembered every
single caress and kiss.

I had no doubt he would accomplish his goal.

***

“Chloe, open your eyes.”

I did.

And found myself looking out the car’s front window, facing the bluest water of any
lake I’d ever seen. Even Crater Lake, a place I loved to visit as a kid, couldn’t
quite compare.

I was reminded of my computer’s screensaver; the one displaying an ocean inlet with
water so tempting it made a person want to dive into the monitor. This body of water
was real. All I had to do was get out of the car and walk to the sandy shoreline where
the tiniest of waves crested.

“You like?” Zane’s voice was filled with pleasure.

“I love it!” I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned against his broad shoulder. “You were
right, this was worth the wait. How long did I sleep anyway?”

He clicked a button releasing the doors’ locks and opened his. “About an hour. We’re
not far from Klamath. This property belongs to one of our board members.”

Seeing my expression, he added, “A trusted and loyal board member. Remember the woman
…”

“It’s okay.” I stopped him mid-sentence. “I’m sorry. I know you wouldn’t take me someplace
unsafe.”

He exited the car with the masculine grace I loved.

It never ceased to amaze me how a man with such a muscular frame could move the way
he moved. I doubted I’d ever get over the shock, or pleasure, of watching him.

I joined him beside a professionally-maintained, A-framed structure that overlooked
our own private lake. It was just the right temperature outside, and the trees kept
the afternoon heat to a minimum. A colorful hammock swung in the breeze between two
trees, beckoning me.

Excited to explore further, I hurried to help Zane unload the trunk, before realizing
I had nothing
to
unload.

I was wearing a pair of worn jeans and t-shirt that Deb had scrounged from her own
belongings before the school went up in flames, destroying all otherworldly evidence.

Seeing my dilemma, Zane smiled. “Don’t worry. I had Alcuin make a quick stop when
he brought the car.” He grabbed a Nordstrom’s shopping bag, stuffed to the brim.

Gleefully, I snatched it away and dashed up the steps. I spun to catch the keys, in
one hand, again surprised by my newfound agility, and ability to actually hear Zane
toss the keys in the first place. Maybe my coma-induced clumsiness had been vanquished
for good.

Once inside, I raced through the rooms like a child seeing her new home for the first
time.

I wasn’t disappointed.

I felt like I was standing inside a giant, cozy, furnished triangle.

There was a quant kitchen, dining area, and large living space with a well-used fireplace.
A short hallway, just off the main room, had two doors; one I hoped was a bathroom
with a full shower and tub.

What captured a majority of my attention were the steps leading up to a loft that
was home to the biggest bed I’d ever seen. California King? No way. This thing had
at least an additional two feet added to both its width and length. Someone had designed
this bed with room for …

“I see you’ve found the bed to your liking?” Zane had managed to slip up behind me
and wound his arms around my waist, drawing me back against his chest.

I tilted my head back to further scrutinize the loft, more specifically the gigantic
bed. “I think I know why it’s so big.”

“You do, do you?” Zane teased.

“Werewolves have more than one form they can take, not to mention, they’re pretty
wild. Maybe more room is needed …” I stopped, embarrassed.

Zane nuzzled my ear. “No need to be shy, Mrs. Marshall. Nothing you say, or do, will
shock me. Although you always do seem to find ways to surprise me,” he chuckled; his
breath tickling and teasing my neck.

Leaving me marveling over
the bed
, he carried an armload of groceries into the kitchen.

Seeing the heaping grocery bags, I remembered my own bag of goodies.

I couldn’t wait to examine its contents, and I was more than a little curious to see
just how effectively a vampire shopped. I couldn’t picture Alcuin at the mall interacting
with an eager salesclerk. But by the look of my bounty, he’d made the right selections.

It was possible he’d sent a very realistic impression of my measurements right into
the salesperson’s mind, helping her, who’d in turn located all the right sizes, colors,
and styles.

Alcuin had thought of everything, including a saucy, black bikini shimmering with
glittery stars. Zane would find great satisfaction seeing me flaunt my figure in the
miniscule material. My stepdad, on the other hand, would have a stroke at the sight
of me wearing so little in front of a man, even if that man was my husband.

With all the chaos from the past twenty-four hours, I’d forgotten my parents. Meeting
with them was yet another activity to add to my growing to-do list. I hated the idea
of them hating Zane and worrying about me.

Sooner or later, probably sooner, Bob would use his associates in law enforcement
to investigate Zane. I was reasonably certain Zane had cloaked his past enough to
hold up under scrutiny, but I also knew that my stepdad could be relentless if he
felt it necessary.

If he somehow found the connections between Zane and Plum Beach murders, all hell
would break loose. We needed a reprieve without my parents going berserk.

Interrupting my worries, Zane called from the kitchen, “Why don’t you take advantage
of the sunshine and soak in some of those rays you love so much. I’m sure if you dig
far enough, you’ll find that Alcuin purchased swimwear for you.”

I had to laugh. Of course, he’d instructed his vampire friend to buy an itsy bitsy
bikini. The one I was already slipping on, keeping an eye on the kitchen should Zane
decide to come out before I was ready.

“You’ll join me, right?” I was anticipating his massive hands smoothing tanning lotion
over my back. I made sure the send him the mental image.

“Wouldn’t miss it, Princess,” he replied, his voice laced with anticipation.

Tingling with the promise of Zane’s expert touch, I finished digging through the bag.
I wasn’t surprised to find a zebra print beach towel at the bottom. Wrapping it around
me, I headed for the sunshine. “Don’t be long!” I commanded, trying to sound sultry.

The truth was I did feel sultry, sexy, in fact, pretty damn alluring in my swimsuit.
And as I let the cool lake water envelope my feet, I tossed the towel, realizing how
glad I was for the one thing I’d almost hated Zane for — the loss of my virginity.

Because of our earlier wedding night encounter, today there would be no pain, just
passion. No fear, only the fulfillment of our fantasies. No worry, just wonder.

Where was my mate? What was taking him so long?

Realizing he might take awhile to arrange the house, making it perfect in his mind,
I treaded further into the lake, allowing the water to cool my heat, but not extinguish
it. Bringing it down a notch, allowed me a moment to mull over my recent experience
as a werewolf.

Zane didn’t know how or why I’d shifted into what resembled a purebred. He’d never
heard of it happening before. Once again I was an anomaly.

On our drive here, we’d stopped at a rest area and taken a stroll along one of several
hiking trails. Away from prying eyes, I’d tried to shift and failed. I’d retained
the other benefits, like super speed, agility, heightened senses, and an unbreakable
confidence in my mental powers; however, I couldn’t switch forms no matter how hard
I tried.

Zane had promised we’d find someone who could explain what was happening to me. But
despite his noble intentions, I doubted it would be easy.

Two red-tailed hawks, flying overhead, drew my attention, their magnificent wings
lifting them higher as they rode the air currents, giving me a personal show in the
sky.

Tilting my head, I watched their airborne acrobatics and found myself drifting deeper
into the water. “Beautiful,” I murmured, soaking in the ambience of my surroundings
and wishing I could somehow fly.

“Indeed, you are beautiful.” The sound of Zane’s voice sent my heart soaring, giving
new meaning to the concept of flight.

I turned. He was already reaching for me.

Oh, yes. With Zane I could find a way to fly, without ever leaving the ground.

Chapter
52
32

Several long kisses later, we found our way out of the water to a blanket Zane had
spread by my towel. We dropped in unison, landing on its sun-saturated softness.

He pulled me close.

Resting my head on his chest, the late afternoon warmth erased the remaining moisture
from my skin, adding to the fire already kindling inside me.

I trailed my fingers over his mouthwatering six-pack, afraid I might drool as I anticipated
my mouth exploring those perfect ripples. His skin, so smooth, felt like silk under
my hand. He groaned and twisted a strand of my damp hair around his finger, tugging
gently.

Despite our rising intimacy, I sensed him holding back. Something was bothering him,
even now, with our bodies pressed together. Whatever it was would continue to haunt
and harass until we exorcised it from his mind.

Respecting his privacy, I made no attempt to infiltrate his thoughts, waiting instead
for him to take the lead and open up.

His jaw clenched and his muscles tightened. He pulled away, and propped his head on
his hand, allowing him to gaze down at me.

The golden flecks, expanding through his irises, were confirmation of his increasing
hunger. Yet his tension was plain, evidenced by the hand resting on my bare hip, trembling
just enough for me to notice.

My mate was beyond self-assured, especially in the art of seduction. The strain he
was exhibiting had nothing to do with any shortfall in that area.

With this realization, a knot of fear tightened in my stomach, squelching my desire,
and freeing a barrage of menacing uncertainties.

Another secret, something left to reveal; that had to be it. But what?

We’d bared our souls during the first hour of our drive, committing to keeping nothing
hidden from the other, no matter how uncomfortable confessing might be.

I guessed if I wanted to share one final revelation, I could mention my ill-fated
vow to Valamir. But I’d come to the conclusion that that particularly annoying promise
was mine to deal with alone.

The Master Vampire had helped us overcome our enemies. And he continued to prove himself
useful by tracking Martin and the missing coins.

If I told Zane now, he’d spend all his time worrying about me and would end up confronting
Valamir. It seemed unfair to burden him with something that could happen years down
the road.

I’d tell him when the time came to fulfill my vow. Until then, it seemed irrelevant
in light of everything else. I didn’t want to think about it either. The implications
were too terrifying. Valamir could request anything of me, and I’d be forced to oblige.
Considering how bad he wanted my blood …

“I need to tell you something,” Zane started, sending another jolt of fear down my
spine. I hadn’t realized how wound up I’d become thinking about my own predicament.

Rolling onto my side, I faced my mate. “I knew you were upset. You know you can tell
me anything. I mean it.”

“My Princess, always perceptive
and
gracious. Thanks for staying out of my head. I just needed a second to piece together
the puzzle floating around in there.” He tapped the side of his head, smiling, but
the attempt to lighten the moment didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I ran my hand over his shoulder and down his arm, distracted, as always, by his sculpted
muscles. “I’m no mind reading bully,” I teased, holding his gaze, and hoping to inspire
confidence.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled. “Okay, here I go. First, you know I love you, right?”

“Ye-s-s-s …” I narrowed my eyes, suspicion overriding my fear. This wasn’t good. We
were dealing with a major revelation here. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. My mom
always believed denial was bliss. Maybe she was right.

“I have one last confession to make. On our wedding night, when you were so intoxicated
…”

“Oh, no! What else did I do?” His problem was with something
I’d
done. A secret he’d kept about me for me. “Can’t we just forget it?” I pleaded, before
realizing the irony of my request. I had no recollection of anything following our
blurry wedding ceremony. He was the one who remembered the details.

“Babe, you didn’t do anything. That’s the point. I lied. When you threatened an annulment,
I panicked. The mating marks had already …”

Struggling to comprehend, I sat up. “What exactly are you saying? What didn’t I do?”

“You,
we
, did not make love that night. You’re still a virgin. Please forgive me. I couldn’t
lose you. There was too much danger, too much at stake. We needed each other. I couldn’t
risk you leaving.”