The Touch of Her Hands [The Wind River Pack 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (20 page)

“It can get better.” Zack maneuvered her into the corner of the shower, skidding a little on the slippery tile. He pressed her against the wall and took her hand and placed it on his cock. Her breasts fused wetly against his chest.

* * * *

Zack lowered his head and began licking the mineral saltiness of the water from tops of Aurelia’s breasts while she palmed his aching erection. He buried his nose in her neck, taking in the scent of her damp skin. Lifting her off her feet, he guided her legs around his waist.

“Wait,” she said. “Is this a good idea? It’s kind of slick in here.”

“Trust me, love. I’ll never let you come to any harm.”

She arched her body, grinding her mound against the hard ridge of flesh that lay across his belly. Gripping the top of his shoulders, she tightened her legs around his waist and lowered herself onto his shaft. Zack held his breath as he sunk into her feminine depths.

Aurelia leaned forward and pressed her lips to Zack’s, her tongue tangling with his as she became more demanding. Using his shoulders for leverage, she helped as he raised and lowered her on his cock. He urged her head onto his broad shoulder and wrapped his arms around her tighter as he sped up his motions. Her breathing quickened, coming faster and faster, as she strained toward her peak. Then, her body stiffened, her nails biting into his shoulders, as she called out his name. Zack thrust his tongue into her mouth, absorbing her cries of pleasure. With a loud moan, he shattered. His cock pulsed, emptying itself deep inside her, filling her with his seed.

When he could catch his breath, he lowered her slowly to her feet, the warm water cleansing them as they stood in each other’s arms. He was content to hold her, the feel of her heart beating, strong against his chest.

* * * *

“Come on, love. We need to get on the road.” Aurelia nodded and followed Zack out the door.

“Zack,” said Alpha Cardston. “Could you give me just a minute?”

Zack looked at Aurelia and grimaced. She smiled and patted his arm. “Go ahead. I’m gonna wait outside. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around snow.”

He grinned and kissed her on the temple. “Okay, but don’t wander off. We need to get going if we’re gonna sleep in our own bed tonight.”

Aurelia turned to the alpha. “Thank you for your hospitality, Alpha Cardston. You have a lovely home.”

Cardston laughed. “Thank you, Aurelia. You come back whenever you want. As far as I’m concerned, you and Zack both are honorary members of my pack. We’ll never be able to thank you for everything you did for us.” He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t be a stranger. Come for a visit next time.”

Aurelia grinned. “I will, I promise.” She turned and walked out onto the sunny porch, and then made her way down the steps and over beneath the window where the snow was pristine. She looked around and felt a shiver run up her back. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it.

Panic clawed its way up her throat as she became conscious of the frightful thud of her heart. Her breath caught when she saw a husky shadow slink swiftly from behind the bulk of a parked truck. Swallowing convulsively, she took a step toward the porch. Suddenly, a hand snaked out from the side of the house, the fingers clamping around her arm, jerking her to an abrupt halt. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth. Someone much larger than she began pulling her toward the driveway where a white van sat hidden, the motor running. She slumped, a tumultuous shudder leaving her sick.

When they reached the van, the front door opened and Zack raced out. She looked at him, memorizing his face and hating the look of anguish she saw there.
I love you, mate.

* * * *

Zack shook Alpha Cardston’s hand. “I’ll pass along your worries to Alpha Remus, and he’ll get back to you as soon as he can.”

Cardston nodded and smiled. “I meant what I said, Zack. I want you and your mate to consider this your home away from home. You’re welcome anytime.”

“Much appreciated, sir. We’ll be—” Zack froze when he felt Aurelia’s terror race through him. His mate was in trouble. Turning, he yanked open the door and rushed outside. He growled his outrage when he saw his mate being half dragged, half carried by a stranger dressed all in white. He rushed toward her only to be yanked roughly around and slammed against the fender of his car. A meaty hand smashed into his stomach, leaving no marks, breaking no bones, only knocking the wind from him viciously as he doubled over and dropped to his knees on the ground. A simple beating should not have put him out. He glanced down and saw a small, red-tipped dart sticking in his arm.

Aurelia’s eyes spoke to him of her fear, and he felt a keen, sharp pain at having failed her. Her head fell back, her brown hair shining in the afternoon sunlight, as her eyes rolled back in her head. He could see the same small dart in the side of her neck. As he watched, the man tossed Aurelia into the back of the van and then threw gravel as he floored it down the driveway. Turning his attention to the house, he saw Alpha Cardston lying on the porch. Breathing slowly, he relaxed back into the snow and let the darkness wash over him.

* * * *

Remus’s hand tightened on the phone. “Keep him there, Alpha Cardston. I’ll send for him. I don’t want him trying to drive back alone.”

“What are you going to do?”

Remus ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t even know where to start. I’ve got connections with the National Council. I’m gonna give them a call and see if they’re willing to help.”

“I’ve got my people combing the woods here, but they lost the scent of the van when they reached the park entrance. There are so many visitors to Glacier this time of year it’s hard to tell one vehicle from another.”

“I still don’t understand how they got a van that close to your house without being spotted.”

“Believe me. I’m looking into that very closely. The van was white, and we do have snow on the ground, but the guards should have spotted them long before they reached the compound. It’s been years since we had a problem with another pack that warranted that kind of surveillance. Plus, they’re getting soft and don’t like the winter cold.”

“Maybe that’s how your cubs disappeared so easily.”

The alpha growled. “Believe me when I tell you the responsible guards have already been punished and all new men now stand guard. There will be no more slip-ups from my end.”

Remus sighed. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I know this is hitting you as hard as it is me. Have you recovered completely?”

“I’m fine. The dart only held a tranquilizer, and lucky for me, these men apparently didn’t have a clue as to what we are. For a while it was like being paralyzed, but it only lasted a few hours. Your man suffered the worse. He laid in the snow until Nathaniel showed up to check on us. They couldn’t reach me by phone and got worried. I was up on the porch, cold but dry.”

“Two of Zack’s brothers are on their way to pick him up. They should be there in the next couple of hours. Try to get him to eat something before they get there because they plan to put him in the car and head right back.”

“Will do. Keep me posted and let me know how we can help. We’ll stay on standby until she’s found. We owe her everything, Remus. I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting her. Is this random, or is there someone after her?”

“She’s got an enemy from the past. A governmental enemy, but I don’t know if this is connected or not. I’ll keep you in the loop but I need to make some calls now.”

“Okay, good luck.”

Remus closed his phone and looked at his mate.

“What are we going to do?” asked Maddie.

“I’m gonna give Zander a call. He had enough government connections to get them back in the country. Maybe he can find out where some power-hungry government scientist might be hold up. If nothing else, we could use the extra manpower to cover more territory.”

“What about the mate bond? Shouldn’t Zack be able to sense her by now?”

“Not if she’s unconscious. He’d know if she was dead, but he won’t be able to sense her if she’s unconscious.”

Maddie folded her arms around her waist. “Go ahead and give Zander a call. The faster we settle this, the better.”

* * * *

Aurelia looked out the barred window and blinked back the tears forming in her eyes. Two outer buildings hid behind a rainy curtain of gray. She thought about Zack and had to choke back a sob. The memory of his wounded eyes and drawn face was physically painful. She heard footsteps outside her door and the rasping sound of a deadbolt being thrown. Breathing shallowly and slowly, she calmed her rapid heart rate enough so the pounding in her ears would subside.

The door swung open and a man walked inside. He was dressed in mud-stained jeans and a T-shirt, his boots caked in mud. “Good, you’re finally awake. We were afraid we’d given you too much of the sedative. How do you feel?”

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him, unwilling to make his job easier. His cologne was a heady combination of citrus and flower and filled the small room quickly. It would serve him right if she threw up all over him.

He moved toward her and reached for her arm. “Come on. The boss wants to have a word with you.”

Aurelia swung on him, giving him a good one with her knuckles in the middle of his breastbone. When he bent forward, gasping for breath, she brought her knee up sharply into his nose and smiled when she heard the crunch and witnessed the spurt of blood. His face grew intent with rage as he grabbed both her arms and pushed her down on the cot. Her arms hurt from the pressure of his fingers as he attempted to tie them behind her back. She looked back over her shoulder and glared at him as he attempted to restrain her.

* * * *

Conrad watched Paul Eckert wrestle Aurelia down onto the cot and felt his anger rise. “That’s enough, Paul. She’s merely defending herself. Let her go, now.”

The young man stepped back, and Aurelia quickly got to her feet. She went white in the face when she glanced at the door.

“It’s good to see you again, Aurelia,” said Conrad. “I’ve missed our talks and the time we spent together.” His gaze slid over her pale features, and he took a deep breath. When he’d last seen her, she was a little girl. Now, there was no doubt she was a beautiful, young woman. She was swallowing as if to keep her fear hidden, and her hands were locked together behind her back. She was shivering, but not from the cold. Her whole posture was one of fear.

“There’s no reason to be afraid, child. I only want to continue our work. I’ll get you moved to better quarters and your life can still be pleasant. I’ve no reason to cause you pain or make you suffer. We just want to understand your gift.”

* * * *

Aurelia slowed her breathing. “You already tried that route, Dr. Jackson. As I recall, it didn’t work.”

“We’ve had some advancement in the last few years. I’m confident we’ll have better success this time.”

A man joined him in the open doorway. Thin and balding, in his late fifties, he was wearing pleated pants and a thick sweater that hung on his slender frame. He held a mug of steaming liquid in his hand.

“Good,” Conrad said. “I wanted the two of you to meet. Aurelia, this is Dr. William Bakerson. He’s my new partner in this study.”

“Where’s all the soldiers that used to hang around?” asked Aurelia. “Or doesn’t the government fund your little house of horrors anymore?”

Dr. Bakerson snorted and took a sip from his cup. “It’s good to see you’re in such good spirits, with a sense of humor, young lady. You’re going to need it.” He glanced at Dr. Jackson. “I want her in the lab first thing in the morning. Nothing to eat past midnight tonight.” He studied Aurelia for a moment. “Sedate her before you move her.” Glancing at her one last time, he left the room.

“He’s a little rough around the edges, but a brilliant man. He’ll grow on you.” Conrad turned toward the door. “Is there anything special you want for dinner tonight? Maybe a celebration dinner now that you’ve come home?”

“Where are we?”

Conrad studied her for a moment. “No harm in telling you, I guess. You really have come home. You’re back in Idaho.”

“This isn’t the same building.”

“No, of course not. The other place was owned by the Feds. I salvaged most of my equipment when they pulled out and didn’t want the expense to move it very far. So, I bought several buildings in Nampa. We’re twenty miles or so from Boise. You should already be used to the climate, although all those years in South America have probably spoiled you.” He smiled and stepped through the door. “Get some rest, Aurelia. I’ll have something special sent for dinner. Tomorrow’s going to be a very big day for both of us.” He closed the door, and the sound of the lock on the other side was deafening. A laugh bubbled out of her throat, and then Aurelia covered her face with both her hands and burst into tears.

* * * *

Zack walked into Remus’s kitchen and found himself caught up in a rib-crushing hug from his mother.

Kitania sobbed quietly. “Has there been any word?”

Zack shook his head and held her tighter.