His to Bear (17 page)

Laramie shrugged. “I’ll get it.”

“Must be nice being independently wealthy,” Holt said with a snort. “Hell, our

pride didn’t have much of anything in Colorado.”

“I’d be happy to help your pride with what I can,” Laramie offered.

“They have money, now, but I’m sure they could use your connections when it

comes to finding needed supplies.”

“I’ll get you the information for my contacts. Gabriel might already have his

own, though, that he’s given to their alpha,” Laramie informed Holt.

“I’ll give them to Tah, either way. He’ll appreciate it. So do I.” Holt didn’t

comment on Laramie’s reference of Tah as their alpha, not his. In Holt’s head, he

knew Tah was no longer his alpha. Laramie was. The next words Laramie spoke made

Holt believe some of what he felt had shown on his face.

“You belong here, now,” Laramie stated firmly. “You’re one of us. That means

the people you care about, those you consider family, are important to us. What I

offer, I offer for you more than for them.”

“Thank you.”

Laramie nodded and turned away, setting a pace back toward the house. “Get me

that list as soon as you have time.”

Holt nodded. “You’ll have it within the hour. If you have it here by nightfall, I

can start work on it first thing in the morning. I’ll take Jaeda with me, have her help

me.”

“Brock can help, too,” Laramie said. “He’s good with cameras and computers.”

“Great, I’ll have him run checks while Jaeda and I work on installs.”

“I’d offer the others, but once they get back, I’ll have to send them out again.

We can’t stop until we’ve found all the surviving females,” Laramie said.

“I was thinking about that,” Holt admitted. “What are the chances that a few of

them managed to escape during the attacks? Alone? Where would they go? Is there

some plan they’re taught to follow? Some refuge they’re told to seek? Other than the

Holloways?”

Laramie looked thoughtful. “I’ll have to think on that. At this point, I have to

believe anything is possible. Make the list before you head up to your mate,” Laramie

ordered with a grin. “With all the noise you two made last night, I doubt I’ll see you

again for a while once you head up to her.”

Holt’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Laramie laughed. “You’ll get used to it, especially with your enhanced hearing.

It’s hard to hide anything from a bear.” He continued laughing as he walked away.

Holt went back to the kitchen. It was early. He’d make the list then grab some

breakfast to take up to Jaeda. With any luck, she’d still be in bed, naked and willing to start the morning out right.

He found the paper and pen back in the drawer he’d watched Laramie replace

them in last night. He sat and had his list complete in ten minutes. If Laramie could

get him all the stuff Holt needed, they’d be set. It would take time to install it all with only him and Jaeda working on it. He wasn’t sure how much help she’d be at the

moment, but he had no doubt she’d learn quickly. It was delicate equipment, so he

wouldn’t rush. It’d be done right the first time. The end result would be worth the

wait. The entire property would be like a fortress.

He rummaged around until he had a tray. He cooked bacon and eggs while a

fresh pot of coffee brewed then loaded it all up with some fruit and orange juice. He

placed the list on it, planning to stop in Laramie’s office and drop it off on his way.

Laramie met him in the hallway. He grabbed the list, gave it a brief glance and

dropped a long stem rose on the tray where it had been.

“Women enjoy flowers,” he said with a shrug and walked away again.

Oh, yes. Laramie definitely needed a woman in his life.

Holt made it up the stairs and managed to balance the food and drinks while he

opened the door, pressing it closed behind him with his foot. He set it all on the

dresser and crossed to the bed where Jaeda was almost buried in the covers. He pulled

them slowly down, revealing her golden skin inch by glorious inch. It caught on her

buttocks, clinging to the curves as he had the night before. He tugged it loose,

revealing her perfect ass and the long legs beneath it.

“Beautiful,” he whispered.

“Well, now that you’ve taken my covers, are you just going to look or are you

planning to join me?” Her voice held a sexy rasp this morning, probably from all the

screaming she’d done when they’d been making love.

“If I join you, our breakfast might get cold,” he warned.

“Bring it with you,” she insisted, rolling over and sitting up.

His mouth watered as he saw her breasts. The nipples were soft but began to

harder under his stare, making him grin. She couldn’t hide the fact she wanted him

any more than he could hide how much he wanted her. His cock was already fighting

his zipper in a bid for freedom.

“Breakfast, first,” she demanded. “Then sex.”

He grabbed the tray and carried it to the bed. “If you don’t cover up, I’ll be

having sweet pussy and cherry nipples to eat,” he told her.

She snagged the sheet, tucking it under her arms. He sat the offering on her lap

and bent to kiss her good morning before joining her.

“You brought me a flower,” she preened, picking it up and holding it to her

nose.

No way was he telling her it had been Laramie. If the other man even tried to

hint at it, Holt would deny, deny, deny. He grinned just thinking about it then told her everything he and Laramie had discussed while Jaeda took turns feeding him and

herself. He found he liked it.

“So we’ll stay here for now, and you’ll be working with Laramie,” she repeated.

He nodded. “We’ll be working with Laramie. I did say you could stay at my

side. I believe it was part of a vow I took or something,” he teased.

“Yes, you did. I’m sorry I tricked you.”

“I’m not,” he admitted, removing the tray of empty dishes and setting it on the

floor. “Now,” he said, looming over her. “Didn’t you mention sex?”

She giggled. “I might have. Unless…well, you’re so much older than me. Can

you go again this soon? Do you need more time?”

Holt’s mouth dropped open in shock at her playful banter. “You little vixen,” he

growled and pounced on her.

She was giggling as he pulled the sheet away and began tickling her.

“Old, am I? Questioning my stamina? I guess yesterday wasn’t enough for you.

You need a repeat performance.”

“I give! I give!” she yelled. “You’re going to make me pee the bed if you don’t

stop!”

He laughed, easing up and letting her slip out from under him. He stripped while

she closed the bathroom door and took care of what she needed to. When she came

back out, he was on the bed, cock in hand, stroking what he had to offer her. He ran

his thumb over the head, rubbing the pearl of pre-cum in and loving the way her eyes

devoured him.

“Come here,” he whispered.

He helped her climb astride him once she reached the bed. She moved against

him, and he felt her desire already coating her lower lips. He circled her clit with a

finger and skimmed down her wet folds.

“Lift up, darling. Take me inside.”

She lifted, bracing her hands on his stomach as he lined up his cock with her

pussy. They both held their breath as she slowly sank down, taking her time as she

eased him in inch by inch. He groaned, his fingers flexing on her hips as he fought the

urge to thrust up into her. He shuddered when her groin finally hit his, his cock buried deep.

“Ride me,” he crooned. “Show me how much you want me. How much you

want my cock.”

She lifted and lowered, taking her time until she found her balance and fell into

a nice rhythm. He watched her breasts, fingered her clit, and as she worked herself

higher, held her gaze. She was so expressive. He saw how close she was to orgasm,

felt it in the tiny ripples of her pussy.

“Holt!” She cried his name, and he felt her legs shaking.

He lifted up, turning them over so she lay under him and pounded into her. She

came almost instantly, screaming his name again, but it was lost in the roar he gave as

he joined her. He held still for a long moment, until he knew he couldn’t any longer

then dropped to her side, immediately pulling her into him.

“Will it always be this way with us?” she asked. “So intense? So incredible?”

“Yes. Every day for the rest of our lives,” he promised.

“I like the sound of that,” she whispered.

“Me, too,” he agreed.

He hugged her close, loving the way she rubbed against him and softly, as if

from a great distance, he swore he heard Laramie laughing at him.

On November 11, 2015, return to the pride in Lacey Thorn’s

Unleashing the Beast

Book 7 of the
Awaking Pride
Series

Finn knew the moment the dream sucked him in but was incapable of stopping

it. They’d been coming fast and furious lately, so much so he was leery of closing his

eyes even for a catnap.

He wasn’t himself in the dream. It was eerie the way he could see himself

chained to the wall, see his body being beaten and abused. He watched it all as he

prowled the room as the animal he knew was locked inside him.

“Had enough yet?” the leader growled at the Finn on the wall.

“That all you’ve got?” he asked, spitting blood onto the floor at the man’s feet.

“You’ve got balls for a human,” the man jeered. “Too bad, you chose the wrong

side. Men who make their beds with animals, die with them.”

Finn knew they were hunters. According to his brother, Murphy, Finn had been

captured, tortured and almost killed. His friend, Zane, had shown him the photos he’d

snapped of the carnage they’d walked into to rescue Finn. The hunters weren’t dead in

his dreams, though. They were very much alive and eager to make him scream.

Here, Finn was splayed like a bug on the wall, while men took turns using fists

and knives to search for answers he wasn’t giving. The way they openly spoke made it

clear they didn’t plan on him living. They’d almost succeeded.

“We’ll just let you rest for a bit. Give you time to reconsider that ‘I don’t know’

you keep muttering,” one of the men sneered as he cleaned his hands on a cloth.

“Not muttering. You heard me loud and clear. I don’t know what you’re talking

about.”

He stared at the Finn hanging on the wall, naked under the blood coating his

skin. Had this really happened? Was it his memory coming back?

“We found the transponder on you.”

A reminder. Always, the reminder of what he’d taken. He’d asked Murphy about

it and felt guilt for his actions prior to being captured.

“I told you. I found it outside of Santa Fe. I knew what it was, thought it might

come in handy. I didn’t know it was already activated.”

“You tell lies, Finnion Dockery.”

The Finn on the wall grinned despite two busted and bleeding lips and the

swelling on his face.

“No need to be calling me Finnion. It’s just so formal. And we’re past that

now.”

“Funny how that brogue slips in and out of your voice,” the man sneered.

“You just bring the Irish out o’ me,” Finn finally answered.

“Well, then, we’ll have to see if we can get more than blarney from you.” The

man turned to one of the other goons. “Go get the cables out of the truck. It’s time we
stopped playing with Mr. Dockery.”

The dream changed then. He became a boy, running to keep up with his brothers

as they headed home. He wanted to grab the boy, hug him and tell him not to be

afraid, but he was helpless to do anything but relive the moment. He begged to wake

up, not wanting to see his mother’s lifeless body or the evidence of what she’d

endured. Finn didn’t want to see the look on his brother’s face when their father and

older two brothers turned on Murphy, blaming him for her death.

Faces swirled. Scenery changed. He was on the wall again, only this time it was

his father beating him, his brothers jeering and taunting.

“You helped him, didn’t you, boy,” his father yelled, spittle flying from his

mouth. “Helped him put your mum in an early grave. For what? Your brother’s an

animal. He should be put down like one.”

The dream changed again. He saw Murphy as a boy, watching him with sad eyes

while their father and brothers beat him. He knew this was a memory. It was a day

he’d never forget. When Finn had tried to intervene, they’d broken his leg. Still, he’d

struggled and fought, trying to protect his brother who refused to protect himself.

He’d almost lost Murphy that day. In some ways, maybe he had. Heaven knew neither

of them had been the same again.

The world tilted, and Finn felt himself falling. This time, he was back in the

man’s body, prone now, no longer on the wall. He could feel the pain racking him and

knew he was dying. He felt a moment of regret then prepared to give in. Until he

heard her voice. His vision was dim, fading, but he could make out blonde hair and

green eyes, wet with tears.

“Why do I find you only to lose you? Why? Don’t leave me! Please, don’t leave

me!”

She was sobbing, reaching for him. Her touch sent a jolt through him. He felt

her hands on his belly and wanted to tell her it was too late, but he couldn’t. Death