Were She Belongs (11 page)

“We don’t know,” Murphy replied. He appeared to be the only one brave enough to speak to Stratton.

“Find out who has him. I’ve already had to make some major changes to my plan. I wasn’t even considering taking out the Crimson pack this early,” Stratton stated as he leaned against the desk. He smoothed down his chin hair and looked toward his main assistant, Barvon, and beta, Kyle.

“The raid on VALERIE’S was successful, sir. I think it left a clear message that you’re back and ready to take charge,” Barvon replied.

“It was successful, but I didn’t get what I was after. I need her, Barvon. They don’t know who she is or what she possesses. Lexi will be my mate and sit beside me as we rule over all packs, including Sinclair.”

“I have several men working on detecting who disrupted her abduction. As of now, it appears to be a combination of Crimson and the Sinclair pack,” Murphy added.

Stratton turned toward him. “Did you find out why they had an interest in finding her? Any confirmation that the Sinclairs believe that she is their mate?”

“No, sir.”

Stratton remained silent for a moment. He could feel his beast getting antsy. Lexi was the perfect mate to sit beside him as he reigned.

“I know Jacob cared for her, but they weren’t intimate. She wasn’t intimate with anyone,” he stated confidently.

“As soon as we know, we’ll advise you, sir. Right now, we are trying to locate Andy and get rid of any evidence that could lead the humans back to us.”

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“Good. Now leave me,” he ordered, raising his hand in the air.

Instantly, the men evacuated the room.

Stratton pushed off the desk and walked around it. His home office was very large. The whole mansion and estate were. He had worked so hard the past few years building up his pack and his followers so Lexi would be proud to be his mate. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked to be in his forties by human terms, but in were years he was ancient. It was his destiny to become alpha of the largest pack on Earth despite Kelmore’s attempt at killing him off.

Initially, when he secured the bloodline between himself and Lexi, there would be no stopping him. Once he took over the Crimson pack members and forced them to merge with his pack or die, then he would be ready to challenge Sinclair. Any of the brothers would do, especially Valco, considering he was about to mate with a McFay.

The McFay pack was small compared to Crimson, but they tended to stay united. There could be a potential problem there, but ultimately getting Lexi would resolve it all.

His cell phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Answering it, he sat back down in the chair behind his desk.

“Yes?”

“Sir, it appears that Sinclair’s pack and Crimson pack have Andy and a few others at a holding cell downtown.”

“Is it accessible, Barvon?”

“I believe so. We will have to wait until tonight to make a move.”

“Good, take care of it, and get Andy back.”

Stratton hung up the phone, then leaned back in his chair. Time was of the essence, and the more people talked about what had occurred last week, the more information would leak out about Lexi.

He needed her identity to remain hidden, but he also needed to know where the searchers were. The closer they got to this realm, the less of a chance he had of mating her before they could stop him.

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Lexi felt the heat of her own breath against her mouth and nose.

She smelled the familiar musky scent and realized her mouth was wedged up against Saber’s neck. Opening her eyes, she saw his skin and that his eyes remained closed. Their bodies were entwined despite her broken limb and the annoying cast that presently lay across Saber’s large waist. The man was monstrously big compared to her.

One squeeze from just his finger could potentially cause damage.

She took a deep breath, absorbing the intimacy of his embrace and how comfortable she felt. She was at ease, and that was enough to undo her. She was smarter than this. Staying here wasn’t a possibility.

She needed to get back to New York, grab her cash, and be gone. No need to make any connections, no sense in starting relationships and ultimately no feelings of loss.

She needed to slip away from him, get dressed in some warm clothing because of the colder temperatures, and sneak out before his brothers returned. It was better this way. She had to keep them safe and wouldn’t bring trouble toward their family.

Inching backwards, she got a half a centimeter away when Saber’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her body flush against his own. His warm hand flattened against her backside while his thumb caressed her tailbone.

Placing her cast against his chest, she tried to pry her other arm free.

“Stay put. I’ll tell you when it’s time to get out of this bed,” he grunted with his eyes closed.

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This time she growled at his order. “Let me go,” she demanded, pushing harder against the stone wall of his chest.

A second later, he rolled her to her back and straddled her hips while his forearms encased her face and neck.

Locking gazes with the devilishly handsome maniac, she gave him the evil eye.

He smirked. “You’re kind of cute when you’re mad.”

“Get off of me, Saber.”

“And recalcitrant to boot,” he retorted, then smirked.

She ground her teeth and practically snarled at him. He didn’t seem affected at all.

She struggled unsuccessfully to get free. She was nearly out of breath when she spoke. “In order for a person to be recalcitrant, they would have to be under someone’s control. I, sir, am not under anyone’s control and do not have to take orders from you.” Lexi attempted to use her cast as a weapon until Saber rubbed his hips and groin against her mound. Despite the layer of clothing, her body immediately responded to his impressive package.

Saber sat up, but remained straddling her hips. She could feel his weight. Although he was holding back, she still knew he could crush her if he wanted to.

When she locked gazes with him, she saw the determination in his eyes and something else. It was something she hadn’t seen yesterday or the days before that, but it was unnerving. He had been mean-looking despite his handsome features. His eyes looked somber and dull, but now, now they sparkled ever so slightly, and she wondered why. The way he held her and covered her body gently with his own was possessive and part of her wanted to fight that need while a deeper part inside her wanted more of him.

As if reading her thoughts, he chose that moment to touch her as he slowly reached for her cheek and caressed it softly. Leaning down, he kissed her lips ever so slightly before getting up from the bed.

She hadn’t said a word, and Lexi wondered why he retreated.

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She felt the loss of his presence immediately as she rolled to her side to cover her face in the pillow.

This was madness. The man…the men were so complicated and unique. One moment she wanted to push them away and escape, and the next moment she longed for their touch and their attention. There was power there, and that was something she feared.

Alone, their individuality could easily overshadow someone of her slight caliber. She enjoyed living on the down low. Well, not so joyously, but still, she stayed alive.

Lexi recalled the days of living on the streets, not knowing when the next bite of food would come and not sleeping a wink in fear of being attacked for what little she had to offer. There was no luxury like what these men had here. They were part of a pack, a family who loved and cared for one another. She had heard the men talking about Saber’s return from war. That would explain a lot about his aggressive behavior, his commanding tone and obvious need to control every situation. She half cringed and half smiled thinking about what Saber orchestrated tonight in the bedroom as she defied him as her alpha.

She had never felt so cherished, and as much as she wanted to play off her reactions to them to her being the needy virgin, she wanted it to mean more.

The way they touched her and brought out such desire and sexuality was invigorating.

She sighed with a heavy heart. What did she know about them? It had been days, so how could she think that she could know so much about Saber or his brothers?

He asked her if she felt it. Whatever the “it” was, she felt it, all right, straight to her heart and with all her being but…but she couldn’t give in. She couldn’t allow anyone access to her in such depth only to lose it the moment her presence caused danger.

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Tears stung her eyes as she thought about Sierra. She had only reconnected with her for a few hours, and look what chaos it had caused. She nearly got her best friend killed.

She quickly wiped her eyes. She knew Saber stood behind her in silence, looking out the window. She cared for him. How crazy and stupid of her, but she did. She felt compelled to go to him and comfort him. She laughed to herself. How could little her comfort anyone?

What did she have to offer him? What did she have to offer any of the three brothers?

Fear?

Danger?

Perhaps death because of her?

Lexi submerged the attraction and desire and rose from the bed.

When she glanced at Saber, he was in a daze looking out the window.

It was that look. She recognized it immediately. It was as if he were in another place or like he was daydreaming, but deeply. She closed her eyes, and Saber’s image filled her mind.

He was rugged, yet well kept with his short, maintained hairstyle, impeccably good looks, and intimidating tattooed muscles.

He was nothing she ever would have found herself so in tune to, yet somehow felt a connection and attraction to him. Thinking of Paul and his
GQ
style, dimples in his cheeks, and the suave way he spoke to everyone made her giggle. He was a piece of work. He was like one of those fast-talking gigolos, but in a totally adorable way. He didn’t come across untrusting or conniving, but authentic and by the book. Another opposite personality to her own. She did what she had to to survive, and sometimes following the rules could have gotten her killed. Then there was Andre, sweet, compassionate, down-to-earth Andre, a knight in shining armor. He was a cowboy. A real woman’s man filled with power and control, but in doses, as opposed to Saber, who went for the throat.

She swallowed hard. Saber had demanded, and she protested.

Andre had consoled and protected, while Paul intimidated and
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demanded as well. They were a twister of a force against her, and if she didn’t get out of here soon, she was going to fall for all three of them.

With that thought, she headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

She walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.

“Oh God, you look terrible,” she stated to her reflection. The swelling over her eye had gone down a lot, but now it was discolored and ugly, just like the large bruise across her cheekbone. How could they look at her and find her attractive? Did they like abused-looking women?

The thought frightened her.

“Lexi, Paul and Andre are on their way back.”

Lexi jumped when she heard Saber’s deep voice from the doorway. She immediately stood in a combative stance ready to defend herself. She raised her cast in front of her, and her other arm and fist were cocked and ready to fire.

Saber’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he stated, moving slowly toward her.

She let her arms down, but remained glued in place as he approached. The closer he got, the farther her head went back to keep her eyes locked with his. He was much taller then she first thought now that she was barefoot in the bathroom. Saber had to be pushing six foot five inches.

He took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips. Kissing it gently before raising it to his chest.

“Don’t be afraid of me. I would never hurt you,” he whispered.

But when she looked into his eyes, she saw uncertainty. Or perhaps it was her projecting her own uncertainty that she couldn’t promise him the same thing. If she pushed away now and refused their advances, then she wouldn’t hurt them so badly when she left.

Lexi pulled away, but Saber wouldn’t allow it.

* * * *

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Saber knew she was scared. Through his connection from the link, his brothers told him what they found out about Lexi. She had been on her own, a survivor, a fighter like himself, and he had just as many questions for her as his brothers did.

Then when they said she was a definite flight risk, his heart nearly stopped beating. How had his little one become so important in a matter of days? He refused to let her pull away from him and instead pulled her closer to his chest.

“Don’t push away. Just feel, Lexi.”

She shook her head at him, and he could see the fear and determination to deny in her facial expression.

He reached around her waist and hoisted her up against him.

Running his hand underneath the base of her head, he drew her toward him, then kissed her deeply. He was determined to make her feel the link.

He felt Lexi try to push away, but she didn’t have half as much strength as him, and before long, her legs wrapped around his waist as passion ignited between them.

* * * *

He ground his hips against her mound. His cock wanted inside her pussy to claim her and make her feel the connection and need to be part of him. He never felt so determined to claim anything as his own ever, until now.

She was kissing him just as deeply, rubbing her small, delicate hand over his chest, across his face, then to his backside. She appeared frustrated with the cast, so he pulled attention away from it.

He cupped her ass and thrust forward against her while he locked his other arm around her waist for support. He moved the few steps toward the bathroom counter and placed her bottom on top of it.