The Rogue Hunter's Mate [Paranormal Protection Unit 10] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  “I’m sorry, honey. I just forgot all about it.” The trauma from that day still lived inside of her. From time to time she caught glimpses that she had forgotten. “Honestly I was so angry that they had taken my three-thousand-dollar shoes that I didn’t think much about anything else at all,” she admitted.

  “Hush,” he said, dropping the earpiece into the console again after hanging up. Reaching out for her hand he kissed her fingers when she let him lift it. “It’s not your fault, Beth. It was a rather traumatic night for you. I’m unhappy with myself that I didn’t remember that particular portion of Gordon’s personality,” he whispered softly against her skin.

  “If I recall it was rather traumatic for you as well,” Bethany whispered to him softly. “So it’s not just you, honey. It really isn’t. Neither of us even came close to thinking about it. You know now, you have your Teams working on it. I’m sure that he will be found.”

  “Talon’s Teams,” he corrected her softly. He didn’t work with the Teams. They worked with him on very, very rare occasions. “Quincy will ferret the info out if he can and pass it along to those that need to know to make them squirm and get more info. Unfortunately Hunters aren’t permitted in the Chambers of the Council without an invitation and escort or I’d go and get the info out of them myself.”

  “What are the Chambers of the Council?” Bethany asked then. “I’m just curious. You talk about it like it’s a place that very few people can go to, so what is it?” Looking out the side window Bethany watched as the fog thickened and shivered. “I’m seriously going to hate how cold it’s going to be, aren’t I?” She turned to him once more and smiled and added, “But you are going to keep me so very nice and warm aren’t you?”

  “The winters can be rough if you aren’t properly acclimated,” he told her honestly. “The Chambers are where the Council meets to make, uphold, and alter the laws that govern all changers, Fae, and magic users like the Mage and Sorcerers. They are the peacemakers, lawmakers, judge, jury, and sometimes executioners. The Chambers are on a different plane of existence and only the Kings and Queens of the Council can enter with permission of Gaia, our Goddess. There are also a few Guards from the higher-ranked Kings and Queens that have special permissions for things like prisoner transports. Other than that, if someone wants or needs to go there, they have to be escorted.”

  “So in other words, it’s one of the most guarded places for your people, right?” At his nod, she reached out and touched her hand to his once again. Smiling, she said, “I happen to really enjoy you so very much, Zaidu. I know that you think you have no family or friends, but you do. You have me, Zaidu, and you have your friends as well, know it or not.”

  He really wished she’d stop saying that. “Bethany, you need to stop saying that. Hunters do not have friends,” he said and at a red light he looked to her as he stopped. “Friends of Hunters die. Friends of Hunters die horrible, painful, and very lengthy deaths. They are not quick, they are not merciful, they are the worst way you can imagine to die and multiply it by a hundred, you’ll be close. Hunters. Do. Not. Have. Friends.” Z stared at her for a long time and prayed she’d understand every time she claimed he had friends she was endangering the support network of men and women the Hunters relied on.

  “All right, you don’t have friends.” She didn’t understand why it was so important to him but she accepted it. “And you are sure that you will be all right to keep me as close as you will have to keep me and ensuring that I’m here in your life?”

  Sighing, he got them moving again and rubbed at his temple. “I hate to point this out, Bethany darling, but that was the original plan of me avoiding you completely. No, we’re not going back to that. You’re mine and I’m keeping you. Besides, I’d be a homicidal maniac inside of an hour if you ever walked out of my life for wanting you so bad. I only have one rule for you to follow when we’re on the road for a hunt. Whatever I say goes and it goes immediately. There is no room for questions, there is no room for error, there is my way or rape, dismemberment, and death at the hands of those I hunt.” Yeah, really romantic and all, but, hell, what did he know about romance or feelings or whatever?

  “I am not a stupid woman, Zaidu. I know that you have a great deal more experience in everything than I do, honey, and I will do all that I have to in order to ensure that I’m safe, or at least as safe as I can be, honey. I trust you and if you tell me to go, I will go.”

  Reaching over, he touched her hand. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’m horrible at explaining myself to another.” He never did it and never had to, not since being marked as a Hunter. “I know this is hard for you, Beth, and I’m only making it worse with my lame explanations.”

  “No, Z, they actually made perfect sense. I’m thankful that you didn’t pull punches or hold my hand. I need plain speak, easy to understand because I don’t do hints or whatever very well at all. All I ask is that you always just simply tell me instead of alluding to something you think I should know, but really don’t.”

  “I’ll explain more on the plane.” He looked to her. “I promise. But some things can’t be spoken where the winds could carry your voice to your enemy.” He wasn’t even joking a little. Fucking dark Magi and Sorcerers were making their lives miserable with their little stalker routines.

  “Okay, honey, I trust you.” She really did, too. She believed in him, trusted in him, and if he said that he would tell her later she trusted that. “We will work it all out, won’t we? Together we’ll work everything out because we are a pair, right?”

  “We’re bond-mates,” he told her quietly as he found a store for winter gear. “More than married, more than soul mates, we are the only two puzzle pieces in all the universe that fit together perfectly and in harmony. There is no other for me.” And there would never be another for her.

  That had her smiling and she nodded. “And you are mine. I’ve never wanted another as I want you, honey. The one and only person in the world that completes me is you. And that makes me so very, very happy.”

  “If you start quoting movie romances I may have to stuff you in the back,” he warned her. Finding a spot to park in, he turned the engine off and got out of the truck. Moving around, he helped her out. “Come on, sweet. We need to get your stuff so we can get to the airport on time.”

  “And I would never quote cheesy romance movie lines.” She teased him with a smile. “Which is actually really very good because in all honesty all that I want to do is have you here with me, have you loving me. Nothing else matters to me, cheesy romance movie lines and all.”

  Leaning in he kissed her before leading her into the store for their shopping. Or rather, her shopping.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Once the plane was up in the air and settled en route for Texas he undid his belt and turned to look at her. “The plane has a magical shield of sorts that allows us to discuss things freely. I wanted to explain to you why Hunters don’t claim friends. While we may have some, we never, ever lay claim to any out in the world or even in our own homes. There are dark magic users working for our enemies, and the Council has placed restrictions on us for our safety and to keep humans safe,” he explained. “Any ‘friend’ we claim can be used against us so we keep people at arm’s length and never speak of them in fond ways. We try never to use names unless necessary and then only strictly businesslike.”

  “I hate that you have to do that but I understand it, honey. I really and truly do. Do I like it? No. Heck no. Do I get it? Yes. Sadly I understand it far more than I care to admit.” She sighed and shook her head. “And since you have claimed me that puts a big ole target on my head as well, doesn’t it?”

  “I did warn you, sweetheart,” he said quietly as he watched her. “We’re going to do everything we can to limit the danger to you.” Zaidu still hated Gaia for putting Bethany in danger at all by throwing them together. “The house is very well protected, lots of ward, lots of shielding, and the wolves will eat anything that thre
atens me. It’s when we’re away from the house that we have to be on guard.”

  “I need you to know one thing right now,” she said and reached out for him. “I need you to know that there is no one that I would rather have as mine than you. I love you, Zaidu. If it means that I will be in danger then it’s something that we will get through, together. I have you and life is good.”

  Tugging her over into his lap Z hugged her close to him. “I’m going to limit the danger, Bethany, I swear it. I won’t have you getting hurt, not now and not ever.” He didn’t know how he’d ever react if she got hurt, but the Wolf really hated the thought.

  “I know that, darling,” she said. “How about you and I go back to that bedroom so we can make love and you can forget all about the upset that you are feeling now, honey. I really and truly do not want to have you upset. Instead I want you to focus on me and only me.”

  “We could do that,” he agreed softly. Letting her off his lap he stood up and followed after her to the back. Locking the door he kicked off his boots and then stood watching her as she moved. He liked watching her. She had an innate grace about her, moving like she was pure energy, part of the universe. If he didn’t know better he’d swear she had Fae or Sprite in her lineage somewhere.

  Getting undressed Bethany looked to Zaidu and grinned. “Well come on, my Wolfy darling, you need to get naked, sweets,” she told him with a grin. “Because I don’t want to be the only one naked and climbing into this cold bed alone.” She tried to pout but didn’t pull it off very well.

  “You should work on that,” he commented at her failed expression. She was grinning too much to make it work. Reaching up, he tugged his shirt off and dropped it to the floor. Undoing his button fly he shoved the jeans down and stepped out of them. “You seem to forget I don’t do layers, Beth. It doesn’t take me forever to undress.” Unlike women who had to have seemingly endless amounts of clothing on.

  “Damn and I love that you don’t do them, too.” She licked her lips as she looked at him and whimpered, literally. “I really and truly believe that we should try out this bed. So come here, honey bunny.” She knew the name drove him nuts and it made her giggle to say it.

  Growling darkly at her, Zaidu stalked in closer to her and grabbed her when she went to “escape” him. “Don’t call me that,” he said in soft warning. He hated nicknames of all sorts. He let everyone use “Z” because it didn’t irritate the Wolf. Everything else drove his counterpart and himself nuts. Dropping onto the bed he rolled her under him.

  Wrapping her leg around his waist she tugged him close and grinned. “How about my love? My bond-mate? How about my one and only?” she teased softly and let her hands trail over his chest as she did so. “I love you, Zaidu, and I absolutely love to hear the Wolf growling, too.” Especially when she knew it wasn’t in anger but in hungry need.

  “Those are permissible, but nothing else,” he told her. He didn’t want to tell her the why of it, though. Some of the past had to damn well stay there. Rubbing his nose to her neck he breathed her in and the Wolf growled in appreciation of her aroused scent.

  “There is that growl from you I love so much,” she teased him with a smile. “I really love it when you growl at me like that, darling,” she whispered. “I love it when you are inside of me growling like that too.”

  Deciding it was time to turn the tables on his mate he pressed his cock to her wet pussy. Letting the head enter her, he stroked her a bare inch in and out. Growling low, he nibbled on her neck. He continued his short little thrusts. “Like this?” he asked her quietly.

  “Not quite like that.” She moaned and tried to pull him in closer, tighter to her body. “I really and truly think you need to be fully inside of me, darling.” She shuddered. “I need more of you.” She loved when he played games with her like this though. She had to admit that this was the best of the best of times for her.

  Zaidu slid in a little more, giving her another two inches. “Like this?” he quizzed. Moving slowly in and out, he lifted his head to watch her face. She was starting to claw at him, demanding he move deeper, but he wasn’t going to give in yet.

  “Lord, you are killing me.” But in the best ways possible. It was stunningly wonderful. The way it felt to have him teasing her like this was amazing. “Please. More,” she grumbled. “So much more.”

  Drawing back until only the head of his cock was sitting in her tight, hot pussy, he waited until she looked at him. “No more nicknames?” he asked her quietly. “Right?” He flexed his cock just a little and waited on her answer.

  “No more nicknames. Promise,” she whimpered. “Only Z or my love. Just you.” He certainly knew how to get her agreement on things, that much was very sure and true. “Fuck me, Zaidu.”

  “That I can do,” he said honestly now that he’d gotten her word on the nicknames. Sliding in fully, he smiled faintly at her shuddering breath of pure relief. Pulling out, he thrust into her deeper, harder, spearing her all the way to her womb. Thrusting hard and fast Zaidu fucked her, their flesh meeting in loud slaps, his cock reaching as deep as it could into her hot, wet depths.

  She could feel him touching the very depths of her womb, felt his cock nudging that opening time and again until all she could do was let go and feel. Bethany felt herself zooming and flying higher and higher until she screamed, her nails biting into him roughly and her body and soul opening to him alone and taking off.

  Growling at the force of her orgasm pulling him into his own, Zaidu sank his teeth into her flesh right over the mark he’d given her when they’d bonded. His whole body jolted as his seed shot into her hot depths and the knot in his cock locked him into place.

  “God, I love you.” She breathed as she held him tightly. Closing her eyes she shivered once more and let out the breath she had been holding, her eyes closing and a happy smile on her lips as they did. “I think that joining the Mile-High Club was the best idea ever.”

  Licking slowly at her shoulder, he breathed out over the damp flesh and nipped at her throat. “I love you, too,” he admitted quietly against her ear. He waited for the reaction she would give. He was more than a little worried.

  She hadn’t expected the words, had never expected them, but when he whispered them against her ear she felt as if her world had finally been made whole. A smile touched her lips and her cheek rubbed his. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I do love you so very much as well. Thank you for the words.”

  Shrugging, with embarrassment making his cheeks hot, he buried his face in her neck. He didn’t know why he’d said the words but they were the truth of his heart and soul. She’d needed them. Even though she’d said she’d known and didn’t need them, he knew that for a half lie. Holding her tight, Zaidu closed his eyes and relaxed as he waited for his body to loosen so they could make love again.

  Bethany’s body relaxed under his and a smile crossed her lips. “I am so very, very happy,” she whispered. “For now how about you roll us to our sides so that we can have a small rest before we do this all over again?” She yawned and snuggled closer to him. “I really want you to hold me close while we both get ready for rounds two, three and so on.”

  Rolling them took a little effort and some skill, mostly luck, but he got them on their sides, her one leg still up over his waist. Grabbing the blanket he yanked it up over her and made sure she was covered. The slight chill of the processed air didn’t bother him but he knew her smaller human body would feel it quickly.

  “Thank you, honey,” she whispered softly and slid off and into sleep, the sleep that could only be found when the love of your life held you close, held you tightly. Sighing happily, she nuzzled against him, even in sleep, and drifted away fully.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Getting up at the knock on the hotel room door Zaidu moved silently to check the peephole before he opened the door. Though he kept his hand on his weapon, he didn’t draw it as the other Hunter slipped into the room. Closing and locking the door he moved into t
he suite. “Bethany, this is Gareth, Gareth, my bond-mate Bethany.” He saw the flicker of shock that was quickly masked and knew he’d have questions to answer later. Looking to his mate though, he explained, “This is the Hunter I’m here to help out.”

  Grabbing his jacket he went to her. “We’ll be gone for a while,” he told her, sliding his arms around her waist. “Remember all I told you.” Stay in the room, door locked, security chain on, and keep her cell with her at all times. “You call me if you need me,” he reminded her. They’d ordered food beforehand so she wouldn’t need anything through the night and, come dawn, hopefully he’d be back.

  Bethany felt ill that he was having to leave her but she understood it. Nodding, she smiled at Zaidu and then moved closer to him. Grabbing him by the shirt she looked up at him. “I love you, Zaidu. You better come home to me without any kind of injuries or hurts or I’m gonna be a cranky woman.” She looked to Gareth. “Nice to meet you. Please make sure that he comes back to me in one whole piece.”

  Dropping a kiss to her lips he ran a finger down her cheek. I love you, too, little one, he said quietly, not willing to say it in front of others. Stepping back he led Gareth out of the suite and waited until he heard her put the chain on before leading the Panther to an elevator. Seeing the grin lurking on the other man’s face, Z growled low. “Zip it.”

  * * * *

  Returning to the room hours later, practically dawn, he knocked on the door. “Bethany, it’s me,” he called just loud enough she should hear and knocked again. He could use the key but with the chain on the door he’d never get in without breaking in. Hopefully she wasn’t in the bedroom otherwise she’d never hear him. He was dirty, exhausted, and just wanted a hot bath and sleep.