Tagging Her Lynx (Alaska Lynx Clan) (13 page)

Her
breath came in pants, and her tongue hung out, but she kept running.
"I
guess. I'm so much weaker now. I don't understand why or the reason I couldn't
shift."

"We'll
figure it out."
Granger moved closer, brushed his side against
hers, and sprinted forward.
"I'll make them pay for taking you, but I
want to see you safe and guarded first."

"Send
the others. I don't want you hurt."
She dropped back to a
walk at the sight of Granger's cabin up ahead.

"No."
He shifted and opened the door.
"I want revenge. They must know never
to mess with my family."

***

Chloe
stretched, opened her eyes, and sat up in a hurry. "How long have I slept?"

Granger
sat at the end of the couch. Her feet were propped up in his lap, and he ran
his hand up her bare leg. "Six hours."

"Oh
man." She groaned. "It must be the middle of the night."

He
nodded. "You needed your sleep. We don't know what kind of drugs they gave
you, and sleep is a good way to gain your strength back." He lifted her
legs, stood, and faced the couch. "Get up and shift. Let's see if
everything works the way it should."

"You
do know that I tried to call for you. I woke up, saw the man, shifted, and he
stabbed me with something. Afterward, I called and called… Our communication
didn't work."

"I
know." Granger sighed. "It isn't your fault. That is why we need to
get rid of these men. As long as they hunt us, we will always be at a
disadvantage." He rubbed her cheek. "Now, let's test this out. Go
ahead and shift."

She
inhaled deeply. What if it didn't work anymore? Maybe those people knew a way
to change shifters back to humans. At least shifters who were once human, as
she was.

The
hallway lamp cast enough light on her that she looked away from Granger to hide
her worry about losing a part of herself. All those years of denying her lynx,
and suddenly she agonized over the damage the drug may have done to her body.
Without her lynx, she'd never feel complete now.

"Stop
stalling." Granger reached over and squeezed her hand. "You can do
this. Let your lynx out."

She
inhaled, closed her eyes, and shifted. In an instant she stood on all four
paws. She cried out in joy. Yes!

Darting
around the living room, over the couch, and between Granger's legs, she wore
off the excitement. She flopped down onto her side and batted the bare skin at
his ankles with her claws.

He
threw back his head and laughed. "Okay, change back."

She
shifted so easily and quickly that her human body was what slithered up his leg
and then his toned stomach. Plastering herself against him, she wound her arms
around his neck. "God, it feels good.

I'm
whole…complete again."

"Damn
straight you feel good, but you always do." He nuzzled her neck.

She
sighed and dropped her head back. His tongue came out and caressed the tender
skin at her neck. She moaned, unable to keep her eyes open. Her mate's touch
melted her insides. Her hands fell to roam his chest. She marveled at the
smooth, almost hairless skin and the way the muscles bunched tight under her fingertips.
His body so different from hers, she never got tired of exploring every inch.

She
felt a deep shiver run through his torso. She lifted her head and frowned.

"What's
wrong?" She smoothed the long strands of hair that fell down each cheek.

He
closed his eyes and inhaled, then opened them again. "I almost lost you."

"But
you didn't. I'm here, because of you." She drew his face down and touched
her lips to his.

Gentle
at first, she tasted and cajoled the hardness out of his mouth. His lips
relaxed and became pliant. She drew in his bottom lip and ran her tongue along
the edge. Natural lubrication rushed to the entrance of her pussy.

Granger
didn't have to lift a finger, but rather stand there and let her touch his
body. She parted her lips, and her tongue delved inside the warm recess of his mouth,
making her moan. His tongue came out to tempt her more, adding to her hunger.

Smooth,
solid, and strong, his tongue explored her mouth as well, stroking and teasing
her until she squirmed in his arms. His cock pressed against her stomach, hot,
hard, yet with skin so soft. She reached down and wrapped her hand around the
tip. The blood pulsed inside its hardness, and her nipples ached and throbbed in
response. Her body matched the desire that radiated from him.

She
tore her mouth away. "Fuck me."

She
trailed her lips down his neck, then his chest, and sought out his nipple. Her
teeth nipped the hard pebble. He groaned and thrust his hips forward. She gazed
up into his face as she licked the sensitive nerve endings and smiled. Sinking
down onto her knees, she pulled his cock into her mouth, not breaking eye
contact. His pleasure at her touch showed on his face.

He
loved her.

Sliding
her mouth down the length of him, she coated his cock with saliva. She sucked
and drew back. Not daring to let go of the bulbous head, she kept her lips
sealed around his girth. Flicking her tongue, she teased the large vein on the
underside. He rose up onto his toes, his leg brushed her breasts, and she
moaned.

"Enough."
He pulled her hair, removing her mouth from his cock. "Lie down."

He
positioned himself between her legs, and then his fingers found her clit and
rubbed it in a circular motion. She mewled. The sweetest desire flooded her
pussy.

His
mouth clamped on to her nipple, and he returned every tantalizing move she made
on him earlier. Her hips rose and fell. The need to orgasm grew. Her body
screamed for release.

"Grange?"
She arched up off the floor. "I need—she gasped—you!"

Capturing
her mouth, he thrust his cock deep into the tightness of her pussy, slick with
juice, letting his length touch her womb.

"Jesus,
you're so wet, tight." He bucked his hips. "Yeah." He ground his
pelvis between her legs. "I love your scent covering me."

"Oh."
Her jaw closed, and her breath hissed out. "Yes. Yes. Harder."

He
drove her crazy. Her blood pounded through her veins. Her hips rose to meet
each plunge of his cock. His balls slapped her anus and sent her over the edge.

Grabbing
his arms, she stiffened, held her breath, and let her orgasm claim her body.
Each muscle in her body quivered at the release, and she sank back down to the
floor. Granger heaved and lunged balls-deep into her pussy. A roar of pure male
satisfaction filled the room.

His
hips jerked in response to her muscles convulsing around him. A shudder ran
through her lower stomach, and she purred. His lovemaking fed her spirit.

Granger
kept his weight braced off her with his arms but let his head drop. He inhaled
deep and blew out. She mewed. This is what their love created. The love they
shared grew stronger every time they fucked.

"I
love you." She lifted her arm and ran her hand down the side of his cheek.

He
kissed her little finger and opened his eyes. "God, I love you too."

Chapter
Twelve

With
her arms braced around the toilet, she sank to her knees. A wave of bitter bile
rose in her throat, and she gagged. Oh God. Why wouldn't she stop getting sick?

"Here,
Aningan." Granger handed her a wet washrag. "Wipe your face, and come
lie back down."

"I'm
sorry." She did what he ordered and tossed the rag on the floor. "I
don't understand. The only time I've really been sick was when I turned into a
shifter. I was sick for weeks, but it was different."

She
put her hand on her forehead. "Do I feel warm to you?"

Granger
laid his palm against her skin. "No, you're cool to the touch." He
led her into the living room. "I made up the couch. You can lie here. I've
called Gretchen over to stay with you, and Lance is standing guard outside the
door."

She
groaned. "Do you have to leave? Can't the other men take care of it?"

"No."

She
plopped down on the couch. "I know." She sniffed. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "It's just this damn…cold or flu talking."

Granger
frowned and rubbed his chin. "Maybe I should take you into Fairbanks. Have
a doctor see you." He walked toward the door but continued looking at her.
"You've been throwing up ever since those men drugged you."

She
waved her arm. "Answer the door. I'm just sick, Granger. I'll probably be
better tomorrow."

Gretchen
stepped into the cabin, stripped off her hat and coat, kicked her boots behind
the door, and gasped. "You look like shit."

Chloe
managed a chuckle. "Thanks."

"God,
I'm sorry, but you do." Gretchen turned to Granger. "What's wrong
with her?"

He
shrugged. "I don't know. Ever since she was drugged she's been throwing up
and sleeping a lot." He scratched his head. "She hardly eats anything
because she gags at the smell of food."

Gretchen
clapped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes grew wide, and then she blinked
quickly several times. Chloe wrapped her arms around her middle and moaned. Her
stomach twirled out of control.

Her
friend moved over to the couch. "Oh. My. God."

"Don't
worry. I don't think it's catching." She gazed up at Granger. "At
least, Granger hasn't gotten sick this last week."

Another
knock on the door drew everybody's attention. Granger twisted the handle and
stood back to let Darren inside.

Gretchen
leaned over. "Are you pregnant?"

Chloe's
head snapped up, and she frowned. "Why?"

"You've
got all the symptoms." She peeked at the men talking beside the door. "Don't
you know the signs of pregnancy?"

She
shook her head. "My…my mom died when I was a baby. My dad didn't talk
about sex and babies." She snorted. "Animals don't get sick and it's
pretty basic…they mate, they get pregnant. I know enough to know, it's different
for women."

Gretchen
grinned and stood up. "Hang on.

There
are pregnancy tests in the pantry at the community cabin." She walked over
to the men and whispered into Granger's ear.

His
eyes narrowed, widened, and then narrowed again. He snatched his coat off the
hook on the wall and stormed out the door without saying a word or looking at
her.
I'm such an idiot. He probably thinks I'm the stupidest woman in the
world for not recognizing all the signs.

Her
stomach seized, and she ran for the bathroom. Slamming the door, she fell
toward the toilet and lost the rest of her toast. She sobbed, but no tears
came. So tired of getting sick, she wondered if Gretchen was right. Could she
really be carrying a baby? Her and Granger's child inside of her?

The
door clicked, and Chloe turned her head. Granger slipped inside and shut the
door behind him. He stuck out his hand. A home pregnancy test.

"I…I…I
don't know how to use it."

He
opened the box, read the instructions, and handed her a plastic stick. "Pee
on it."

"Granger?"
She held the thing between her fingers. "Are you mad at me?"

He
shook his head. "Scared."

"Of
what?"

"Just
take the test. We'll talk when it's over." He pulled her sweatpants off
her hips, placed his big strong hands on her shoulders, and pushed her down
onto the toilet. "I'll be right out—"

"No!"
She inhaled, blew her cheeks out, and exhaled. "Stay in here with me. I
don't want to do this alone." She stared down at the plastic stick in her
hand. "Please?"

He
nodded.

Holding
the stick between her legs, she willed her bladder to relax. Granger turned on
the faucet, and she snorted. His ideas amazed her. The sound of the running
water helped, and she quickly provided what was needed for the test to work.

Granger
held out his hand, set the stick on the counter, and stared down at the small
square at the end of it. She joined him. Nothing happened.

"What
does it do?"

"A
blue circle shows up if you're…you know. If you're not…you know, it'll show a
pink X." He didn't raise his head but continued to study the test.

"Oh."
She shivered. "How long does it take?"

"Three
minutes."

She
swore a huge clock ticked in the background, but they both studied the plastic
strip without another word. Granger leaned forward, closer to the counter. She
squinted and lowered her head. Was that...?

No,
it was still white. She held her breath and sat down on the edge of the toilet
seat to view it from a different angle.

"Holy.
Shit." Granger picked it up and shoved it in front of her face. "Look."