A Jaguars Touch (9 page)

“I—” Vic began, wanting to question what he meant by keep her safe, but a knock on the door cut her off.

“Come in,” Tah called, and an angry Zane shoved it wide.

“She’s gone,” he said, and the way his gaze locked with Vic’s let her know exactly who he was talking about.

“Shit,” she muttered under her breath, drawing several gazes her way.

“Who?” Tah demanded.

“Kenzie,” Zane said. “She and Holt are both gone, and I don’t think they just went out for fresh air. Did they?” he asked, looking right at Vic.

“What makes you think Vic knows anything about this?” Tah asked Zane though he was staring at her.

“Kenzie has been avoiding everyone,” Zane answered. “She hasn’t seen Diane since my mate went up to check on her after Regan was born. Kenzie hasn’t spoken to anyone since then except Holt and more recently, Vic.”

“What are you? A stalker?” Vic asked.

“Diane and I were worried, so I’ve been keeping an eye on Kenzie,” he said.

“What’s going on?” Tah asked, and this time he was directing his question at Vic.

“I don’t know,” Vic said. “All I know is Kenzie said she needed to take care of something, and she needed to do it by herself. She and Holt will meet us in Oklahoma.”

“Did she tell you what it was she needed to take care of?” Zane demanded. “Where exactly she was headed?”

“I didn’t ask,” Vic said. “I trust Kenzie. She said she’ll meet us there, and she will. What’s the big deal?”

“Kenzie could be in danger,” Tah said softly.

“More danger than normal?” Vic asked.

“Her mate is a legend, an angel who takes vengeance. She would definitely be a prize hunters would want to get their hands on,” Tah said.

“I asked her if she was going to put herself in danger. She wasn’t. She’s smart, crafty. Holt’s with her. Whatever this is, she needed it. Trust me. She looked like utter hell,” Vic said.

“Well that could be because there’s a chance she might be pregnant,” Zane stated.

“What?” Tah thundered, cutting off anything Vic might have said.

Her head was spinning. Kenzie? Pregnant?

“The shot she was given by the Professor,” Zane said, glaring at the other man. “The drug he used on Diane to force ovulation did the same to Kenzie.”

The Professor said nothing. They all knew he felt what he’d done was justified.

“Shit,” Tah said. “How long do you think they’ve been gone? We’ll need to move quick if we’re going to catch up.”

“Wait,” Vic said. “Wouldn’t you be able to smell if she was pregnant?”

“If she were here, in front of us, then yes,” Zane answered. “When she came back, all we could smell was the fact she’d…mated.”

“I can head out, now,” Reno offered.

“Stop!” Vic yelled.

“Did you not hear me? She’s might be pregnant,” Zane said.

“So, being pregnant means we can’t trust her to be smart? To stay safe?” Vic asked.

“I don’t think that’s what he’s saying,” Logan said. “You heard what Clara witnessed with her aunt. None of us want that for Kenzie.”

“No, we don’t. But we don’t get to lock her up and keep her prisoner just because she might be.” She turned her attention to Tah and Abby but addressed her question to Abby. “Would you have done anything to harm Regan while you were pregnant?”

“Of course not,” Abby answered.

“It’s not the same,” Zane said.

“Why? Because Kenzie doesn’t have her mate with her to protect her?” Vic shook her head. “If what Gideon told us earlier doesn’t change anything, then this shouldn’t, either. You know Kenzie. You know how capable she is. Hell, you sent her out there alone with Diane to find Zane.”

“And she was captured,” Zane thundered.

“And it wasn’t your fault,” Vic said. “We all made the choice to be here, and in making that choice, we accepted any consequences. You don’t get to take responsibility, not for us or from us.”

“She’s right,” Abby said. “As much as I want you to go after Kenzie, Vic is right. You gave everyone the choice to leave instead of going with us. That choice isn’t negated because of something Kenzie may or may not be.”

“I promised her mate we would keep her safe,” Tah stated. “We owe him for what he’s done for us.”

“You promised Kenzie, as well,” Vic argued. “I’d say you owe her more than you do a mate who walked away.”

“Vic,” Zane said.

“I don’t give a fuck what his reasons were,” Vic stated, letting her anger pour through her voice. “All I know is Kenzie isn’t the same woman we’ve always known. That bastard broke something inside her, and if she needs a little bit of time to deal with it, then we’ll fucking give it to her. She’s more than earned that much from all of us. I don’t know what he said to you, and I honestly don’t give a shit. I know what I saw on Kenzie’s face, what I heard when she spoke.” She stopped and blew out a rough breath. “Don’t be another one of the people who let her down,” Vic warned softly. “She deserves better from us.”

“She’s right,” Abby agreed. “If it eases your mind, call her or Holt, but don’t go after her.”

Tah looked torn, as if he wasn’t a hundred percent sure of what choice to make. Vic decided to press one more time.

“Give her the benefit of the doubt here,” Vic urged. “If she doesn’t show up in Oklahoma like she promised, I’ll go after her myself.”

Tah sighed. “We’ll give her a little time. For now,” he said, glancing between Vic and his wife. “Reno, see if you can reach either of them on a phone. Make sure they know to get in touch if they need us. And let Kenzie know we support her, no matter what, but we expect her to keep in touch and let us know exactly what the hell is going on.”

Reno nodded. “We need to adjust our plan then. That leaves Vic with Ariel, and you know that’s not a good idea.”

Tah snorted and shook his head.

“What?” Vic said. “I won’t kill her.” She’d made no bones that she didn’t trust the other woman, but that didn’t mean she’d do anything stupid. Besides, Ariel was the last person on her mind at the moment. Gideon was front and center with Kenzie not far behind.

“Take Ariel with you,” Tah told Reno. “Vic, you go with Murphy, Finn and Griffin. That gives an extra pair of eyes to help with Dillon. Probably better that way, anyway.”

“You just want me to keep the hot heads from killing him,” Vic said.

“He’ll get there,” Murphy said. “However, I won’t make any promises about what condition he’ll be in when he arrives.”

“I’ll keep them in line,” Vic promised with a look at Murphy.

He just grinned at her and winked. It would certainly be an interesting road trip traveling with the brothers.

“That’s it then. We all know what we need to do. Let’s get to it,” Tah said, dismissing them.

“I’d suggest you head down and get stuff wrapped up, Professor,” Reno said. “You only have a few more days to be packed and ready to go.”

Vic planned to be one of the first to leave, but Abby walked over, cutting off Vic’s escape plan. She wanted to go to the labs but knew it for the excuse it was. She had no reason to be there. She just wanted to see Gideon, to make sure he was okay.

“I wanted to talk to you for a minute,” Abby said.

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I told you I had a favor to ask of you. Actually, Diane and I both do.”

“Okay,” Vic said, waiting to hear what the request was.

“Tah’s agreed Diane and I should know how to defend ourselves. We need to be trained with firearms as well as hand-to-hand.”

“Tah agreed to that?”

Abby nodded. “We both know there are times he may not get to me in time. I won’t let anything harm Regan. I’d like you to teach me. Diane, too, but she’ll have to hold off on any physical training until the baby’s born.”

“Fuck,” Vic said. “You know Tah will kick my ass the first time you get even a tiny bruise.”

Abby laughed. “No, he won’t. Anyone else he might. You and Kenzie, he won’t say a word. He knows how important it is that we all be able to help defend ourselves and each other. Please, Vic.”

“As soon as we get to Oklahoma, we’ll work out a schedule.”

Abby grinned and leaned in, giving Vic a squeezing hug. “Thank you! I knew we could count on you.”

Vic watched as Abby turned and nodded at Tah. He didn’t seem upset, in fact the look he gave Vic was one of gratitude. She knew he was trusting her with the most important person in the world to him. It went a long way toward letting her know how much she did mean to the group and to him in particular.

Murphy walked over and nudged her. “Ready to go?”

She nodded and fell into step beside him as they left the room and headed down the hall.

“Finn and I will need a little extra time before we all head out,” Murphy told her.

“Why?” she asked.

“Need to make sure there’s nothing left behind that can be used in any way—not to find us, not to learn anything about us,” he said.

“What are you planning? Surely you’re not going to burn it to the ground?”

“Nope,” he said with a grin. “I’m going to blow it up.”

Chapter Seven

She skipped dinner and found herself back at the cabin where she and Gideon had spent the previous night. Inside, it still smelled of Gideon and sex. She wanted him, wanted to feel his skin on hers again, wanted another night like the last.

As if conjured by her desire, the door opened and his wide shoulders filled it. His long hair hung loose around him, just begging for her fingers. He watched her with a hooded gaze, saying nothing as she crossed to him. He stepped forward just enough to shove closed the door then leaned against it.

She stopped in front of him and ran her hands up his chest. He closed his eyes and bent down his head, his lips grazing her temple. She buried her hands in his hair, cupping his head and tugging him closer until their mouths met. It started slow and easy, a brushing of skin as he dropped his hands to her hips and lifted her into his erection. Then fire ignited.

“I’ve thought of you all day,” he whispered, nuzzling her face. “Of us. Here.”

“Me, too,” she agreed, scraping her teeth along his jaw and loving the way he trembled at her touch.

“I wasn’t sure you’d want me,” he admitted.

“For as long as we have,” she told him, finding the hem of his shirt and hauling it up, revealing the muscled wall of his abdomen. “Fuck me,” she urged.

He cupped her ass and boosted her off her feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and raised her legs, locking them around his waist. He turned, and she thought he was going to take her against the door. Instead, she heard his hands slapping as if in search of something before the sound of the bolt sliding home filled her ears. He took her mouth, licking her bottom lip then thrusting his tongue inside when she opened. He pumped his hips into hers, and she damned the clothes that separated them.

“I need to be inside you,” he groaned.

“Yes,” she agreed, panting for breath as he skimmed his lips over her neck.

He turned again and carried her across to the bed before releasing her.

“Strip,” he ordered, but she was already busy doing just that.

They came together in a clash, separating only to pull another layer of clothing off before coming back together in a tangle of hands and mouths. Never had sex been like this. Never had she wanted a man as much as she did Gideon. Never had she felt the slightest twinge of regret about walking away when it was over. Not until him.

He cupped her breasts, trailed a hand lower between her thighs and pressed his palm against the top of her folds, bringing her clit to aching awareness.

“So hot,” he groaned at her ear. “So wet and ready for me.”

She reached out and grasped his cock with her fingers, sliding her hand along his length.

“So hard and thick.” She moaned.

“Turn around,” he ordered, his hands moving to help her follow his command. “Bend over.”

She hurried to comply, lifting one knee to rest on the edge of the bed and bending forward, fingers fisting in the sheets. He didn’t tease. She felt the crown of his dick lodge against her then he was pressing inside. He filled her, the shaft throbbing against her inner walls as he held still. He slid his hands lower to cup her hips and moved over her. She turned her head to glance back at him.

“Hold on,” he warned and nipped her bottom lip.

She caught her breath as he lifted away, his hands tightening on her. Slowly, he eased back from her until his cock slipped free. Before she could vocalize the loss, he surged deep again, making them both cry out. As if that had broken his control, he let go and fucked her hard and fast, making her scream from the pleasure. She came with his name tumbling from her lips.

“Gideon!”

He grunted and kept going, making her rise higher and higher, lost in the throes of orgasm. She collapsed, her chest brushing the bed, and still he plundered.

“Gideon!” She screamed his name again.

He thrust twice more and held still, cock buried inside her as he came with a growl. He dropped onto her, plastering his chest against her back. She could feel the gallop of his heart, matching that of hers. His heavy breath tickled her ear. He was obviously as hungry for oxygen as she was.

“Mhmm,” he said.

For a moment, she’d thought he was going to say something else, and it shocked her when she felt disappointment.

He pulled free and moved around the room. She heard him in the restroom as she crawled farther up and dropped flat once more. Gideon was by far the best lover she’d ever had. She closed her eyes and let herself imagine spending every night with him.

It’s okay to need people. It doesn’t make you weak.

Finn’s words came back to her, allowing her to want things she never had before. And she silently damned Finn for planting them there. She startled when she felt the warm cloth between her thighs.

Gideon took his time cleansing her then took the cloth back to the bathroom. When he came back out, he snagged their clothes and tossed them on the bed.

“Let’s get dressed and head back,” he said.

“Well, that’s a big change.”