Talan's Treasure (4 page)

“That’s what I thought.”

Adrian clenched his ass, pleased when Talan let out a guttural moan.

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TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

23

The sound of his cell phone going off distracted Adrian from torturing his mate. “That’s Kade’s ring.”

“Answer it.”

“I’m not going to answer the phone while we’re fucking.” He couldn’t stop the blush spreading across his cheeks.

Talan cupped Adrian’s face between his hands. “We never fuck. Every time I touch you I make love to you.”

Adrian blinked back moisture. Shit, now he was being a sap. He tightened his inner muscles just to watch Talan’s eyes roll to the back of his head.

“Oh yes, baby, just like that.”

He let the baby thing go and concentrated on getting Talan off. The phone distracted him for a split second, long enough for Talan to get his bearings and flip them around.

Growling, the lion shifter gripped Adrian’s ass and pounded into him, pegging Adrian’s prostate with every stroke.

“Oh, yeah, right there.” Adrian moaned.

“You are mine!” Talan snarled, his canines lengthening with each slam into Adrian’s welcoming body. “Every inch, every breath, you are mine!” Talan plunged his fangs into Adrian’s neck, renewing their bond.

He felt the mating connection snap between them, hot and bright, then he came with a howl. His cry combined with Talan’s roar probably scared the wildlife for miles around.

Dots spotted across his vision as his lungs begged for oxygen. “Talan,” he whispered.

“Oh, sorry.”

Talan lifted his massive form off Adrian, who promptly gasped to fill his lungs.

Although he adored having a larger lover, sometimes Talan forgot about his heavier build when he used Adrian as a pillow after sex.

He suspected that all of Talan’s previous lovers were large men but he’d never tested his idea by asking. He didn’t want to hear about Talan’s past relationships or sexual escapades. The man now belonged to him…nothing else mattered. Adrian’s insecurities had vanished sometime during their melting-hot sex.

A rough human-lion tongue lapped at his shoulder where Talan’s fangs had pierced it.

“We went too long between bites, my love,” Talan grumbled.

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TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

24

Adrian turned his head to meet his lover’s golden gaze. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I was starting to feel insecure about our bond and now I feel great.”

“Huh. Me too. I mean the insecure thing. I’d never heard about that before.” Talan shrugged. “I’d heard rumours but didn’t think they were true. I want you to bite me next time to reinforce our bond even more. I don’t ever want to feel that churning uncertainty again. I’ve known you were mine since I first saw your picture. I’m not about to let you get away now.”

Adrian laughed, more in relief than anything else. He soaked in his mate’s adoration like a sponge. Brushing his palm across Talan’s handsome face, he made a silent vow to never let him worry about their connection again. “You are the most important person in my life, and I’m sorry if I did anything that made you feel less than my entire world.” Talan’s smile was brighter than the afternoon sun. “I love you too.” The lion shifter rubbed his nose against Adrian’s and followed it with a smacking kiss.

“Let’s take a shower. You can call your brother afterwards.” Oh right…he was going to call his brother.

* * * *

Adrian left the shower squeaky clean and weak-kneed. Talan hadn’t left an inch of Adrian unwashed and had lavished attention on all his favourite parts.

With shaking hands, Adrian got dressed then dialled his brother.

“I called around, and Darren apparently slept with just about everyone in town at least twice,” Kade informed him after they’d exchanged greetings.

“So our cousin was a man-whore?”

“Apparently.” Kade sounded annoyed. “He also liked to have sex with vacationers and he didn’t always care if they were married.”

“How did you find all that out from home?”

Kade laughed. “I called Carrie from the downtown diner. You know she’s the biggest gossip on the planet.”

“And she’s sweet on you. Don’t let your wife hear you flirting with another woman.” www.total-e-bound.com

TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

25

“That’s not even funny,” Kade scolded. “My mate is having hormone fluctuations that make your mate look like a little baby kitten.” Adrian laughed. “Thanks for the update. I didn’t even think of calling Carrie. Did she have any idea if he was seeing anyone?”

“Rumour around town is that he saw
everyone
and he didn’t care too much whether they were a man or a woman.”

“Huh. Who knew he had it in him?”

The few times Adrian had encountered the caretaker, the man hadn’t exactly been Mr Sunshine.

“Carrie says he stays away from shifters.”

That could mean either Darren was a weak wolf or there was something about him that made him want to stay away from creatures who could smell what he was up to. “This keeps getting curiouser and curiouser.”

“Well, don’t spend your vacation worrying about Darren. From what I’ve heard, he probably had this coming.”

“Did you call the sheriff and let him know what you found?”

“Yeah. He said thanks for the information.” Kade’s voice held a touch of anger. “I didn’t get the impression he cared too much about Darren. I doubt he’s going to do any investigating. But I don’t want you running off and playing investigator. I barely knew Darren and I don’t know what he might’ve been involved in. Stay where you are and enjoy your weekend. I’ll send up one of the pack to check things out when the snow storm passes.”

“It might be too late then.” Adrian had a bad feeling the murderer would cover his or her tracks way before Kade could get another pack member up to the mountains.

“Let me talk to Talan,” Kade demanded, using his Alpha voice…that never worked on Adrian.

“No. You’re going to tell him to keep me out of trouble.”

“Damn straight. Only that lion of yours can rein you in.” Before Adrian could tell his brother his opinion of that statement, the phone was snatched from his hand. “Hey!”

Talan scratched him behind the ear, momentarily distracting him while the lion shifter spoke into the phone.

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TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

26

“Don’t worry. I won’t let Adrian run off and play detective. We’re going to light a fire and snuggle in for the evening.

Adrian’s mouth practically burned with a scathing retort but the feel of his mate’s hands running through his hair derailed his anger. What was he upset about anyway? It wasn’t like he truly wished to go hunt down a killer. He was a computer programmer, not a police detective. He kept his silence until Talan hung up and set Adrian’s phone on the dresser.

“If you want to investigate this murder you take me with you.” Adrian’s jaw dropped. “Why does everyone think I want to put my nose into a murder?

When have I ever shown any interest in police work?” Talan’s mouth quirked into a wicked smile. “Because we know how curious you are.

Like a cat.”

“Very funny. Only one of us is ‘like a cat’ and it isn’t me.” Talan flashed him a look of fake sorrow. “But I love you anyway.” Adrian pinched him.

“Ow.” Talan laughed and moved out of reach.

A banging on the front door had the lion shifter moving Adrian behind him even though neither of them was near the entrance.

“That’s probably the sheriff coming to interrogate us about the dead body.”

“Let’s go see.” Talan slid his fingers between Adrian’s.

Just as Adrian had thought, Sheriff Bob stood right outside. The sheriff’s habitual scowl was in full force.

“Come on in, Sheriff,” Talan said with a welcoming smile.

Goofy lion.

“I see you two haven’t left town.” The sheriff frowned disapprovingly. He walked into the cabin as if he owned the place and settled himself on one of the oversized chairs.

Adrian and Talan followed and sat next to each other on the couch.

Adrian suppressed a sigh. “We told you we were here for vacation. Why would we leave?”

“I thought you might rush off with your tail between your legs after you talked to your brother.”

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TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

27

Adrian shrugged. “I didn’t know Darren very well even though we were related.”

“And you wolves don’t get together every night to run?” Adrian almost bristled at the sheriff’s question but the man looked genuinely curious.

“No. We only get together as a pack during the full moon, plus I don’t see the other wolves much since I live with the pride.”

“Pride.” Sheriff Bob’s gaze drifted over to Talan. “Let me guess…you’re a lion.”

“Yep.” Talan smiled at the sheriff, exposing the tips of his fangs. “And Adrian’s mate.”

“Mate? You two are a couple?” The sneer was hard to miss and made Adrian want to growl. “I didn’t know you people ever crossbred.” The sheriff’s voice dripped with disdain.

Adrian put his hand on Talan’s knee when he heard the low rumble of his lion lover.

Talan was one baby step from reaching over and ripping off the sheriff’s head. Adrian reminded himself that would be a bad idea and made soft soothing noises he knew Talan would receive but were beyond the sheriff’s hearing.

“Some don’t,” Adrian said. He wasn’t going to get into a discussion of different shifter perspectives with a man who, by all accounts, didn’t like shifters. “Can I get you anything to drink? Water, juice?” He would’ve offered the man a beer—because if anyone needed to unwind it was Sheriff Bob—but he doubted the other man would’ve taken that well.

The sheriff pulled out his notebook and a pen from an inner pocket. Flipping back a page he faced the pair. “So you don’t hang with the pack very much but you just happened to be vacationing here when said pack member was stabbed.”

“Yes.”

“Should I be expecting more of you people to show up? Kade usually warns me before you wolves descend.”

Adrian gritted his teeth while Talan responded, “No. We’re the only ones coming. Well, as far as we know.”

“The crime people took all the data but they weren’t able to find any prints to lift.” Adrian shrugged. “It’s cold out. Maybe the killer wore gloves.”

“Maybe, but there also aren’t any defensive wounds. Either the victim knew whoever it was or he was taken by surprise.”

“It’s hard to take a shifter by surprise,” Talan said. “Most of us have enhanced hearing and smell.”

www.total-e-bound.com

TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

28

The sheriff nodded. “That’s what I thought.” He stood up. “Well, that’s all I can do.” Adrian jumped to his feet. “What do you mean, that’s all you can do?” The sheriff shrugged. “There isn’t much evidence and shifters aren’t really under my jurisdiction, so other than contacting the next of kin and letting the coroner have the body, I’ve done everything within my ability. I don’t have any clues. I’ll ask around some, but I figure your Alpha will send someone up eventually to check things out.”

“So you are just going to turn your back on a murder?” Adrian couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d thought the man prejudiced before but this was criminal negligence.

“I reported it and took your statement, and I’m having the crime lab look at what little evidence we could find. If they discover anything, we’ll proceed. We’re a small department with limited funding. Good afternoon, gentlemen.” Before Adrian could say anything else, Sheriff Bob walked out of the door.

Talan grabbed Adrian before he could chase after the man. “Let him go.” For once his mate’s rumbling voice didn’t soothe him. Adrian wanted to hunt down the stupid sheriff and rip out his spine. The wolf inside growled in agreement.

“He’s an idiot. I’m going to find out who killed Darren.” Talan let out a long sigh. “What happened to ‘I’m not interested in playing detective’?”

“That was when I thought the real authorities would do something. If the sheriff is only going to do a half-assed investigation, someone needs to step in.”

“What do you think you can learn?”

Adrian shrugged. “I don’t know, but surely I can do better than him.”

“Maybe.” Talan hugged him. “Let’s get our coats and I’ll take you over there.” Adrian kissed his lover on the cheek. “You don’t have to come with me.” Talan scowled. “Like hell! In case you forgot, there’s a killer on the loose and his last victim was a wolf. I’m not going to give him a chance to get his hands on mine.” Although he wanted to protest that he could take care of himself, Adrian wasn’t an idiot. Talan’s large frame and lethal claws would come in handy if the murderer turned up again.

After bundling back into their warm jackets, the pair headed to the Hummer. He hoped they could find out what happened to the other wolf. His brother would want to know.

www.total-e-bound.com

TALAN’S TREASURE

Amber Kell

29

Chapter Three

Talan glanced across the vehicle to see Adrian gnawing on a nail. The wolf shifter had worked himself up over the death of a pack member. Adrian might go on about being a pride member now, but at heart, he still watched out for his wolf pack. The instinctive urge Adrian had to protect others brought a warm spot to Talan’s heart.

Sure, they were supposed to be away on a romantic vacation, but seeing his lover defending his pack was sexy as hell. As the Alpha of his pride Talan had spent his life protecting his pride mates. To see the same need in Adrian, added to their bond. Adrian might not be an Alpha wolf, but he had all the right instincts to take care of his own. Talan had no doubt that if a lion were ever in trouble, Adrian wouldn’t hesitate to step in and do what he could to help.

Talan pulled the Hummer in front of the caretaker’s cabin. Yellow police tape covered the front but no one else seemed to be about. The sheriff probably figured no one would disturb a scene way out here…and nothing would keep a determined shifter out.