“I don’t want to leave you,” Luca told her.
“Oh, I know.” She hugged him carefully since he was still recovering.
“Maybe you would consider transferring with me?” he asked.
Abilene pulled back. “What?”
“I figured things were going really well with Zak, and maybe you’d want to be closer to him. The ATF office is over an hour away. With two busy schedules, how much would you see of each other?”
It wasn’t as if Abilene hadn’t considered what would happen between her and Zak but changing jobs was a big deal. She loved the Coalition and the agents that she’d been working with but what happened if she and Zak broke up? Actually she wasn’t even sure they could at this point.
She’d spent the last two nights with him but they hadn’t discussed the future. “It’s something I would have to think about,” she hedged.
“That’s all I ask. I haven’t talked with Otto yet. I wanted to get your opinion first.”
“Sure.” She looked up at the bird call. “It is really cool working with them.”
Just then Jamie jogged back up to them. Abilene glanced around, wondering where he’d come from. “The lookout is taken care of. So that’s one less problem. Still we have no idea how many are inside with Zak. Are you two ready? Cody said that the coast is clear to the house.”
“Let’s do this,” she said.
They crept toward Zak’s backyard. Once they arrived, Jamie peered over his shoulder at her. “Shift?”
“Yeah.” She pulled her shirt over her head. Luca dropped his backpack to the ground and started to fill the empty bag with their belongings. Once she was naked, she started her transformation. Jamie grunted as he crouched down next to her.
In cheetah form she rubbed against Luca to mark her partner with her scent. She wouldn’t be able to protect him, but she still had to warn others away from him.
It wasn’t the same action as she’d done with Zak. Luca was her family and Zak was much more.
Large black paws grew out of Jamie.
Holy Shit!
He was big—way bigger than she’d pictured. He opened his mouth and his sharp teeth shone.
There was a small part of her that was actually afraid for a second. That was until his massive paw came down on her head and he patted her.
She chirped when he practically shoved her down with his strength.
“Shh,” Luca said, but he was quietly chuckling.
Luca put the key in the padlock. “You first, Abilene.”
She swiped at his leg as she passed.
The backyard was quiet. She slinked toward the house. There were no sounds that she could pick up. What if Zak was hurt? Stopping at the door, she peered over her shoulder.
Jamie lumbered into the yard. There wasn’t a way to hide his bulk so he just quickly made his way to her side. Luca entered next.
So far so good.
As Luca put the key silently into the lock of the back door, she heard Zak yell out in pain from inside. It was all she could do not to scratch the door down and run to him.
Jamie swung from side to side, looking agitated.
The key turned in the lock. Luca pushed.
As soon as she had entrance, Abilene raced through, causing the door to slam against the wall. She flew into the living room where Zak was struggling with a large man while another dove at him.
Abilene went for the man in the chair.
Before he could lift his gun higher than his waist, she clamped down on his arm.
He jerked to the side, falling out of his seat. They crashed down together and his shoulder hit the coffee table. Luckily her cheetah had a flexible spine and non-retractable claws so she fared better than her opponent.
She swiped at him, causing him to cry out. He kicked her stomach.
Having no choice but to release her hold, she rolled away from him before getting back on her feet. The man was clutching his arm to his chest as she began to stalk him.
Someone went flying across the room as Jamie growled.
She darted forward, but Zak stepped in front of her. She ran into the backs of his knees. She whined.
“He’s mine,” Zak grumbled.
Abilene backed off. She would let Zak have his revenge. She looked around and saw that the other two were on their stomachs with their hands tied behind their backs. Jamie towered over them while Cody finished securing them. Cody was still naked after shifting back to human form, but Jamie remained as his bear.
Luca had a phone up to his ear and was talking to his brother.
The sound of flesh smacking flesh drew her attention.
Zak stood over his opponent, hitting him over and over. She was guessing this was Mike Timmons. Timmons tried to push away, but Zak wasn’t giving him any room to move.
Zak grabbed the man’s hair and lifted him off the ground. “Threaten my people? You’re lucky I don’t let my tiger pierce your skull,” he yelled. Then punched him again—and again.
“Zak,” Cody called out. “That’s enough.”
When Zak didn’t stop, Cody walked over and grabbed his shoulder.
“Stop,” Cody ordered.
She didn’t think that Zak would listen but with a growl, he dropped Timmons to the ground where he didn’t move.
“Go check on your cheetah,” Cody told him.
Zak turned. Crap, she hadn’t gotten a good look at his face before, but now she whined at his bruises and cuts. They had worked him over. His face was already bruising and he had blood on his chin.
He stepped forward, groaned.
She chirped in concern. She didn’t like that he was injured. To save him having to move, she crawled closer to him.
“Hey,” he greeted. “You okay?”
She nodded as she nosed him. She could smell an array of horrible scents on his flesh. Poking his lower back, she nudged him.
“I’m okay,” he told her.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and clean up? Take Abilene up so she can change back,” Cody suggested.
“Sure. Come on, kitty,” Zak called.
If he wasn’t already hurt, Abilene would have taken a turn on him for that comment. Instead she would save it for later. She followed him up the stairs and into his bedroom. He closed the door behind her before limping to the bed. He sat and began to draw deep breaths.
“It scared the shit out of me when you came running in,” he told her. He sounded so sad.
She moved in between his legs so she could feel him. Her head came up to his chest, so she rubbed her snout against him. He buried his hands in her thick fur.
“When he kicked you, I saw red,” he explained. “I almost shifted right there, even though it wouldn’t have been safe.”
Lifting her head, she licked the bottom of his chin. She could taste his blood, which had her whimpering.
“That’s exactly how I felt,” he told her.
“I’m going to clean up. Why don’t you change back? I have things I need to say to your human half.”
She watched him head into the bathroom. He left the door open as he turned the faucets in the sink on. Lying down where she could still see him, she started to shift back. What did Zak have to say to her? She knew it was hard to see someone you cared about hurt or in danger. She was just as upset seeing the evidence of what Zak had been through. Maybe it was too much for him to handle.
Or something else could be going on.
How had Zak gotten taken? Had she done something that had put him in danger? Shit, what if Timmons had followed her and that was how he’d found out about Zak? She might have ruined all his hard work and blown his cover.
Shaking and distressed, it took her longer to change than normal. Once she was human again she rolled her shoulders and neck, trying to work out the kinks.
“Do you mind if I borrow some clothes?” she called out. Luca still had her clothes and she didn’t want to go downstairs and get them, leaving Zak alone.
“Sure,” he hollered over the sound of the water.
Opening the drawers in his dresser, she found a pair of dark sweatpants that had a drawstring. Those should work. Below that she pulled out a white T-shirt. It looked well worn and smaller than what Zak would be able to fit into in anymore. She pulled the clothes on before strolling back to the bed. She sat on the end and waited.
His face looked better when he paused in the bathroom doorframe. He ran his gaze over her without saying a word. After several minutes, she wanted to squirm. “What?” she snapped. If Zak was going to end things, he needed to get it over with.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, surprising her.
“What?” Okay, she hadn’t expected that.
“You’re fierce and strong, fast and powerful. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”
She found herself blushing, which totally was not like her. “Thank you?”
“I wasn’t looking for anyone when we met. Actually, I didn’t think I’d ever find someone that I thought about all the time. That I couldn’t keep my mind off. I watched my friends fall in love and thought I’d always be the one on the side.”
Abilene stood up. She wanted to run to him. What was he saying? Did he love her? “Zak?”
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Abilene Fox,” he whispered, dropping his gaze.
She did go to him. She hurried and grabbed his face so he had to meet her eyes. “You think you’re falling in love with me?” she repeated.
He nodded.
“Oh, Zak.”
“I know it’s too soon. We just met. But I can’t help it. I know you probably don’t feel the same, but I had to tell you. I was sitting there tonight just thinking of all the things I wanted to share with you,” Zak explained. “All I ask is you give us a chance.”
She was overwhelmed with emotion. Zak Lewis was falling in love with her. How had she gotten so lucky? “I feel the same way,” she confessed.
He stiffened. “Are you sure?”
Abilene was barely able to not roll her eyes. “Yes. You’re more than what I expected in a lover and partner. I was so scared that you were going to end things with me. I thought my heart might break.”
“No.” He peppered kisses over her cheeks. “No, I would never end things. In fact if you get tired of me, I’ll just have to show you how good things are between us.”
That sounded promising. “Maybe I need a reminder now.”
He chuckled. “We have a full house. More agents are probably on the way.”
“We’ll just have to be quick,” she told him, already yanking at his shirt.
They undressed each other quickly before he tumbled her onto the bed. She landed on her back with him on top. He kissed her, and she responded. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she bucked up into him.
He trailed his hand down her body until his finger teased at her folds. She was ready for him, already wet and needy.
She accepted him into her body, raising her hips off the bed in encouragement.
“We’re supposed to be hurrying,” she reminded him.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the feel of you.”
She grasped his cock. “Let me return the favor then.”
Zak growled, thrusting against her hold.
“I want you inside me,” she admitted.
Zak pushed himself up on one arm and replaced her hand with his. She spread her legs.
He entered her slowly, filling her in one long glide.
She’d never had another lover who made her feel so full and satisfied. Placing her legs under his arms, she accepted each strong push into her body.
Their bond grew with each plunge. They had a lot to work out. But she wasn’t giving this up. No matter what obstacles were in the way.
Chapter Sixteen
Zak handed Cody a beer as they continued to laugh and mock Jamie from afar. Brandy was sitting on Jamie’s lap while she spoke with Abilene. Jamie had tried to stand twice but both times Brandy had just patted his chest.
Jamie had even gotten desperate enough to text Zak and demand he bring him a beer.
So being the friends that they were, Zak and Cody stood within eyesight, draining their own bottles. Jamie’s look was growing darker and he would be growling soon.
“Really?” Aubrey came up behind them and smacked them both on the back of the head.
“Hey!” Zak complained.
“Ouch, Aubrey!” Cody bitched.
“Stop teasing Jamie,” she ordered.
“We’re just having some fun,” Cody gripped.
“Yeah? I brought the pictures from my family barbeque last weekend. How about I show those to Jamie and Zak?”
“You are looking so pretty tonight.” Cody changed his tune. “I really am a lucky guy that you love me.”
Aubrey laughed.
Zak didn’t know what photos she had but he had to get his hands on them. “I want copies,” he whispered in her ear.
She winked back.
“All right,” Zak said. “Let’s take Jamie his beer.”
He picked up an unopened bottle and strolled toward the couch. He passed Jamie the brew before sitting next to Abilene. She didn’t even pause in her conversation but linked her fingers with his.
It was great how she would just touch him at random times. When they’d gone out to dinner the night before with Cody, Aubrey, Jamie and Brandy, she’d lean against his shoulder or just run her hand over his side.
The party he was hosting had been a last-minute affair, but he was glad they’d decided to do it. His friends, Luca, the two FBI agents and all the other agents he’d grown close to had shown up for the small get-together.
Sal and Flynn were headed back to their own office in California and it was the last time that Luca would be able to spend time with his brother. Abilene had suggested that it might be better in public, so Zak had offered his house.
“Hey.” Abilene bumped his shoulder.
Realizing that he’d drifted off, he smiled. “Sorry.”
“No problem. I asked if you’d help me in the kitchen,” she said before standing.
All the food was set out on portable tables so he wasn’t sure what Abilene needed but he wouldn’t mind stealing a few private kisses.
He wrapped his arm around her waist as they strolled through the house. They stopped to talk to several of the guests before entering the quietness of the kitchen. Zak leaned against the counter and pulled Abilene to him. She pressed against him as she ran her hands over his shoulders. He kissed her neck. “So did you really need something in here or did you just want to feel my lips against you?” he asked.