RICHIE: New Orleans Wolf Shifters with plus sized BBW for mates (Le Beau Series Book 6) (12 page)

“I don’t have any more questions right now, but I would like a tour of your property so the next time I take a walk I don’t get lost. That is, after you kiss me again, of course.”

Richie wanted nothing more than to kiss her again. He didn’t just want to kiss her, he had to kiss her. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

He slipped his arm around her waist and hauled her onto his lap. Piper squeaked, but she didn’t complain when his mouth came down on hers. He kissed her as if his life depended on it. His tongue plundered and explored her mouth hungrily, dancing and sliding along hers. She tasted exactly like she smelled.

They devoured each other until air became a priority. He broke the kiss, his body hard as a rock, and out of breath. “I love you, Piper. I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I want you. Not just in my bed, but by my side for the rest of my life. I want to hold you as you fall to sleep every night and wake up next to you every morning,” he panted in a husky voice.

Piper remained silent for what felt like an eternity. Her eyes searching his face, and gazing deeply into his own as if she could see clear to his soul. She took a deep breath, taking his scent deeply into her lungs. “I never thought I would say this only days after meeting a man, but I love you, too. It scares the daylights out of me. Thankfully, Anna explained feeling this way is normal for mates, but I’m doing my best to not freak out.”

“You’re right. The intense emotions you’re experiencing are normal. I feel your confusion, and as much, as I hate to say it, we should spend the remainder of today getting to know each other rather than falling into bed.”

She covered her mouth with her hand and tried to suppress a giggle. “Wow, I bet it really hurt to say that.”

He rose from the couch and held out a hand. “Cher, you have no idea. Come on, let me show you around the place.”

Richie owned ten acres, which felt like a heck of a lot more when wading through bayou brush. And it was stifling with such little air movement in the dense foliage. He noticed she was breathing hard in the heat and humidity. She wasn’t acclimated to the life in the bayou.

“Do you see that snake over there?” He pointed to a multicolored snake in the brush. “That’s a Texas coral snake, you want to avoid those. There are also rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads around here so be careful where you step and what you touch.”

“All the snakes kind of take the fun out of exploring. I have to tell you, I’m not a fan.”

“If you keep to the paths or game trails, and watch yourself, you’ll be fine,” he instructed, as he showed her every available option. He didn’t want to take any chance of her wandering off or getting bit.

“Holy crow, this is a workout.”

“I’m sorry, cher. Just a little further and we will be back at the yard.”

“Awesome,” she panted.

True to his word, they stepped onto his manicured lawn a minute later. “Let me get you a bottle of water and then, why don’t you cool off on the pier while I make dinner? You can catch a nice breeze down there.”

“That sounds like heaven, thank you.” She accepted the water, gave him a kiss and headed for the pier.

Richie watched her until she was settled then turned to the task at hand. His mate needed sustenance and he and his wolf longed to care for her. He opened the freezer and took stock of what he had on hand. Steak or chicken? Steak with baked potatoes and a salad sounded perfect. He had a tasty red wine to go with it, too. He grinned to himself as he thawed the beef recalling the last time she had wine. She was adorable when she was tipsy.

He wanted her glued to his side, but at the same time, he wanted her to love the bayou as much as he did. That was why he sent her to the river instead of keeping her with him in the cabin. If she found the peace she so desperately wanted here, she just might stay. He would go with her wherever she chose to live, though he prayed she would agree to live here after they completed the ritual.

*****

Qball checked his hand held tracker. She was here. Based on the blip on the screen, she was just around the bend. He glanced at the black murky water. There wasn’t a gator in sight. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t seen one for over a mile. He wasn’t sure why there weren’t any here when they seem to be plentiful everywhere else, but it worked to his advantage so he wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Quietly, he worked the boat he’d stolen toward the water’s edge and tied it to a low hanging branch. He set the tracker aside and stripped off his shoes and socks, no need to get them wet. Then he went into the water and quietly swam toward his quarry, keeping close to the edge where he could stay out of sight.

As he rounded the bend he spied her on the end of the dock with her feet in the water. He wanted to laugh. The bitch was making this too easy. He inched his way along, staying under low hanging branches and hiding in the floating plants. Just a few more feet and he would be able to grab her ankle.

*****

Piper swished her feet back and forth feeling the water flow across her heated skin. The coolness felt wonderful and helped her relax and think. If she weren’t afraid of what might lurk under the surface, she’d dive in. She took another sip of water and enjoyed the view. The beauty of the bayou surprised her. She had spent her life as a city girl and hadn’t given this part of the country much consideration.

Her mind wandered to Richie and her future. Could she commit to one man for hundreds of years? God, she hoped she could. The intense feelings and attraction were terrifying. Even as she stared at the water her thoughts turned to him in the cabin and she found she wanted to jump up and run back. No, she would stay put, she couldn’t think straight when she was close to him.

Okay, Piper, what are you going to do?
she asked herself.

Pros and cons, she needed to weigh her options. She had never met a sexier man or had a better lover. Check and check. She enjoyed his company and he made her laugh, more checks. He didn’t pressure her to be something she wasn’t or try to change her. And if she was really going to be honest with herself, she loved his cabin. Although, it could use a few more bedrooms. She was shocked when she realized she could see herself settling down and having children with Richie.

Her heart hammered in her chest, there had to be negatives. She searched her mind and came up with nothing. She had nothing. Damn, Anna was right, he was perfect for her. She needed to hear the rest of what Richie had to say about shifters and that ritual before she made a final decision.

She was lifting her feet from the water when something latched onto her ankle. Before she could scream, she was yanked from the dock. Terrified a gator had gotten her, she lashed out thrashing to get free. When that didn’t work, she balled her fist and pounded on what had a grip on her. That was when it dawned on her, it wasn’t a gator’s jaws that held her under the surface, it was a hand.

A solid kick with her free leg loosened the hold on her and she broke the surface coughing and gasping for breath. Before she could escape to shore, she was grabbed from behind and pulled under again.

The case file she’d read said Qball wasn’t the best swimmer by any means, but he was determined. Add insanity to that and she had a fight on her hands. He wouldn’t let her escape if he could help it. She was preparing an offensive when he seized a fist full of hair. He pushed her further under using his body weight, but she was strong and had trained for water combat.

Piper struggled under the water. If she lost a chunk of hair so be it, Qball was going down. She twisted and wedged her feet against the body of her attacker. Mustering all her strength, she pushed with her well-developed thigh muscles. Her scalp burned and it hurt like a mother, but she was free again. This time when she broke the surface she faced the asshat and gasped. Qball sneered and went for her again.

Too slow.

She was ready this time. Her feet were planted and she put everything she had into the punch. Qball’s head lurched on his shoulders an instant before he crumbled into the black, churning river. Piper reached for him, but her hands found nothing but water. Carefully, she felt around with her feet, he had to be here somewhere. Nothing. He’d gone down, literally at her feet. How the hell could he not be there? She dove under and continued to search.

*****

Mid chop of the salad Richie was preparing, he went rigid. A vision overtook him and held him in its grip. Piper was being attacked. Qball was here. He came out of the vision in a cold sweat and rushed from the cabin.

He smelled the intruder the instant he cleared the door. The scent of Piper’s fear was heavy in the air. When he didn’t see her on the pier, he panicked. The water boiled and churned as if a gator rolled with its prey below the surface. Richie dove in blind, unsure what he would find.

A body banged against his legs. Thinking it was Piper, he grabbed hold of what felt like a shirt and tried to pull it to the surface. The rough cotton yanked from his grasp. He meant to suck in a breath and dive again, but when he opened his eyes, Piper stood before him searching the water.

She hadn’t seen him yet and continued to search for him below the surface. “He’s here somewhere, dammit.”

“Piper! Thank goddess, I thought I’d lost you.” He yanked her into his arms and buried his face in her hair.

He held her tightly as she struggled to get free, running his free hand down the length of her hair. When she flinched, he pulled back to examine her. “Where are you hurt?”

Instead of answering his question she pulled away and began searching again. “Don’t worry about me. We need to find Qball’s body.”

“His body? You killed him?” Richie asked as he helped her locate her bounty.

“No, I wish I had. I only knocked him out. He went under and I can’t find him. I need to retrieve the body.”

Then it dawned on him, the shirt he’d had hold of must have been Qball’s. “I’m pretty sure he’s gone, Piper.”

She paused and turned to stare at him. “What? How?”

“I felt a cotton shirt when I dove in and it was yanked out of my hand. I’m pretty sure it was him making an escape.”

He took a deep breath and smelled the water and the air for a sign of Qball.

“What are you doing?” she asked as she watched him breathe in and out with an expression of total concentration on his face.

“Smelling for him. He’s no longer here, his scent has dissipated.”

“Well, shit.” Qball getting away again really burned her ass and that stuck in her craw something fierce.

“Come on, I want to get you cleaned up and check you for injuries.” He heaved his heavy frame from the water and gave her a hand onto the pier.

Now that she was on a dry surface, he couldn’t see any gaping wounds. That was a good sign. “Anything broken?”

“No. The little bastard didn’t get a chance to do much damage.”

His brows drew together and his breath caught in his chest. “Then why do I smell blood?”

She reached for the back of her head. “The asshat ripped out some of my hair, my head burns like crazy. That bastard fights like a girl. I hope it grows back. The last thing I want is a freaky bald spot that makes me look like a monk.”

He took her by the shoulders and turned her. “Let me take a look.”

“Is it bad?”

“Not too bad. I think it will heal and be fine. Besides, even if it didn’t grow back, you wouldn’t have a bald spot after the ritual.”

She turned back. “Really? Why?”

“I’ve been thinking about it and I’m convinced you’ll go through a minor conversion. Only a few years younger than you are now. Regardless, anything that’s happened since you turned about twenty five will be reversed as if it never occurred.”

“So the scar I have from a knife wound I received last year will be gone?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He led her way from the pier and toward the cabin. “Was it a bad injury? If so, that will be painful when it heals during the conversion.”

“Not too bad. And getting rid of the ugly scar will be pretty cool.” She eyed the water and shoreline again, searching for a sign of her bounty’s passing. He had slipped away without a trace again.

“Dinner is almost ready, why don’t you take a shower and wash the blood out of your hair. I’ll watch for Qball in case he doubles back.”

“Okay. Make sure you keep a gun handy. If you get a glimpse of him, shoot his pansy ass. I’m tired of his games,” she groused and stomped angrily toward the cabin.

Richie snorted. “Cher, I don’t need a gun to take that sorry excuse of a human down.”

She glanced at him as they walked hand in hand to the cabin. “Yeah, I guess you wouldn’t. How did you know he was here? Did you hear the splashing or smell him, or something?”

“I was fixing the salad when I had a vision. Normally, I get them in advance, but this one seemed to be happening in real time.”

“How far in advance do you see things?”

“It varies, sometimes hours, but usually days.” He wanted to warn her about the vision of her being shot. The problem was, he knew she wouldn’t listen and if she tried to avoid the event all together, he wouldn’t know what to watch for so he could intervene. If he told the person involved, the outcome remained the same. Only someone else interfering without knowledge of the vision could change it. No, he needed to let the scene unfold so he could be there to save his mate.

“I’m betting the visions feel like both a blessing and a curse. If I knew something bad would happen to a friend or family member and I couldn’t prevent it, I’d feel terrible.”

Richie sighed. “It’s difficult to live with and I’ve had to learn the hard way to allow fate to unfold. I rarely attempt to change the outcome anymore.”

She pulled him to a stop just inside the door. “Something terrible happened because you tried to step in,” she stated knowingly as her eyes scoured his expression for the answer.

“Yes,” he said quietly, not looking at her.

He felt her finger pressed under his chin forcing him to meet her gaze. “What happened?”

“I saw my best friend Armand Le Beau killed by a gang of humans. After I warned him, he took my advice and walked home using a different route. The gang was sitting on the porch of an old shack. I mistakenly sent him right to them. He was beaten to death.”

Piper gasped and he saw tears fill her eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him. “I’m so sorry, Richie.”

“Thank you, mon amour.” He savored her warmth and then lightened the mood with a playful swat to her rump. “Get in the shower, woman. You smell like rotten gator bait.”

“You don’t like it? Eau de gator is the latest thing in perfume.”

Richie laughed and shook his head as she walked away. Damn, she had a nice sway to her hips. Shaking off the image of her wet, slick body and the desire to follow her, he walked to the back door. For a full three minutes he watched and listened. There was no sign of Qball. Maybe he’d drowned. Then again, the man seemed to have nine lives. No, he wouldn’t stop looking over his shoulder until a body was recovered or Qball showed himself.

He’d put Piper through a lot today, and he’d meant what he’s said about taking time to know each other. Silently, he vowed, he would honor his promise to slow things down. They would spend the rest of the day talking and he would keep his lips to himself.

Meanwhile at the Le Beau plantation.

Emma Le Beau was deep in meditation when the Goddess shimmered into form before her.

“Blessed be, my daughter,” Luperca greeted her in her soft, peaceful voice.

“Blessed be, Mother. I would like to thank you again for your continued blessings of my family and our friends.”

“You are more than welcome. It pleases me to see my children happily mated and starting families of their own. That is in fact, why I am here.”

Emma became alarmed. “Has something happened?”

“No, my daughter. Everything has gone as planned.” Luperca laughed softly. “I have another name for you.”

“You do?” Emma asked excitedly.

“Yes. Seth, your adopted son has done a great service for me and as such has suffered. He has closed himself off from all human and shifter contact and I fear for his personal safety. He needs his mate to complete and heal his ragged heart and soul. Killing rogues, a few who had been his friends and family over such a long period although necessary has taken a terrible toll on him. The least I can do is assist him in finding his mate. I am only sorry he did not find her sooner,” the goddess said sadly.

“What would you like me to do? How may I be of service?” she asked in rapid succession.

“Seth is destined to meet his mate Sara Adams in Minnesota. A rogue went on a killing spree June tenth and killed Sara’s brother. She’s a murder investigator with the Richfield police department, but as a family member of the victim, she has been denied access to the investigation. She is a tenacious woman and has taken it upon herself to find the killer on her own. Seth must go to Richfield and help her take the rogue down before she gets herself killed. If she dies, all hope to save Seth will be lost.”

“So if I am understanding you correctly, you would like Isaac and me to get Seth to go to Minnesota after the rogue. Other than getting him to Richfield is there anything we should do?”

“In order for him to meet her, he must agree to work with her to kill the rogue. He has never worked with a partner and definitely never a human. It will not be easy. He will want to hunt the rogue on his own and return home.”

Emma thought about that for a bit. “I think I know how we can force him to take her as a partner in this. Leave it to Isaac and myself, we will get it done one way or the other.”

The Goddess’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I believe you will. I leave this in your capable hands. Blessed be, daughter, and good luck.”

“Thank you. I’m sure we’ll need a little luck this time. Blessed be, Mother.”

Emma watched her fade from view, chewing her lip worriedly.
How are we going to pull this one off?

Her heart was a roiling brew of delight and sorrow. Seth had been home for only a week or so, and now they were sending him away again.

*****

Richie turned from the screen door to finish the salad. Chopping and slicing was mindless work and allowed him to think.

He’d heard his good friend, Seth Le Beau had returned to the family’s plantation and it was time he got some backup.

Dinner was ready. All he needed was to grill the steaks. Now was a good time to call his friend, while Piper was still in the shower.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Seth, it’s Richie. Welcome home.”

“Hey, Richie, what’s up? I’ve missed you, man.”

“I missed you, too. We need to get together at Logan’s soon.”

“Logan’s? What’s that?”

“That’s right, you probably didn’t hear about the change. Julia sold out to Logan.”

“Really? I never thought I’d see the day. I’d love to get together, but I’m not sure about a bar. I’m out of practice socializing.”

“Then Logan’s might be the best thing for you. You need to rejoin the real world, bro.”

Richie heard a deep sigh from the other end of the line and pictured Seth raking his fingers through his hair.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“We can talk about that later. Do you have a minute?”

“I have a lot of minutes. I left the hunters, so I’m kind of between jobs.”

“Cade may have told you my mate came home with me and is at the cabin. She’s a bounty hunter and the murderer she’s after is trying to kill her. She fought him in the water near my pier and knocked him out. He went under, so he may have drowned, but I doubt it. Just in case, I could use your help.”

“Do you want me to take care of him?” Seth growled into the phone.

“No, she’d skin me alive if I did that. What I really need is an extra pair of eyes. He knows where we are and came after her today. I need someone to stand watch while we’re sleeping.”

“I’ll be there after sundown, you won’t see me, but I’ll be there. I won’t let him get to your mate. If he shows up, what do you want me to do?”

“Detain him. Piper wants to take him in alive if at all possible.”

“Done.

“And, Richie,” there was a long pause, “you’re right. I need to rejoin the world. But I’m afraid it isn’t going to be easy. I’ve become rather uncomfortable around people after living alone for so long. To be honest, you and my family are the only people I have any interest in having near me. I’m not stupid; I know how unhealthy that is. Seeing my brothers mated, and now you... well, it gives me hope. When this is over, we should go to Logan’s and see if I can handle it.”

“Thanks, Seth. Once Qball is in jail, the drinks are on me.”

“Sounds like a plan, Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Will do, thanks again and I’m really glad you’re home.”

“You and me both, brother. You and me both.”

Richie heard the shower turn off and ended the call.

*****

While she’d showered, Piper mulled over what she knew about Richie. Everything Anna and he told her rang with the clear tone of truth. She’d already admitted she loved him, so now it was time to put her big girl pants on and deal with all the shifter stuff. With her mind set to a path, she could move forward. That meant getting to know him better. Of course that line of thought had her fantasizing about being with him again. The one night in the hotel had only whetted her appetite.

She smiled to herself, and her chest fluttered with anticipation. Her own personal wet-dream had saved her from the bad guy, was a supernatural sex god, and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She couldn’t make this stuff up.

Now that she’d made a decision, she was going to seduce Richie. Tonight.

As they ate dinner, she barely tasted the food. She was too distracted visualizing him naked and at her mercy. God, she wanted him with a fierceness that thrilled her. In all her life, she’d never wanted a man so badly.

Richie studied her face. For once he didn’t know what Piper was thinking. Her walls were up and solidly in place. He relaxed and grinned happily when he noticed the interesting gleam in her eyes. Obviously she was less apprehensive than she’d been before her shower. She was still rather quiet, so he thought it might be best to leave her to her thoughts. Rather than make small talk, he took her hand, kissed her knuckles and brushed his thumb along the back.

The dinner was eaten and he was drying the last plate. He felt her arms wrap around him from behind as he was placing it in the cupboard. Turning, he searched her eyes.

Dammit. He was struggling to honor his decision to behave gentlemanly and respectfully. But his mate needed comfort. He could do this. He could kiss her once and then just hold her. Clothes would remain in place, and there would be no roaming hands. A simple sweet kiss fit within the parameters of the rules.

“Come here, cher.” He pulled her lips to his. He’d meant his kiss to be comforting and reassuring. Honestly, he did.

Instead, she turned the tables and claimed him. She thrust her hands deeply into his hair, kissing him with such passion, she left him quivering with need. Piper laid her stamp of ownership on his heart and soul as surely if she’d completed the ritual. He ached to lose himself in her heat, but he’d wait for her to take that step. As of that moment, he decided, Piper would call all the shots in this courtship and he was along for the ride.

“You know the cliché movie scene, ‘I just almost died and I need to feel alive, let’s have sex’?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“It’s not such a cliché. I want you to make me feel alive and help me stop thinking so much. At least for tonight.”

His arms tightened their hold on her as the air around them sizzled with energy. The tight hold he’d had on his body snapped. His heart hammered and his manhood was instantly rock hard. Richie didn’t make a move though. She needed to be sure that this was what she wanted.

He searched her expressive blue eyes for a long time, then said, “Piper, I want you to be very sure. I’ll give you all the time you need, mon amour. If what you really want is to be held, I’ll hold you until the cows come home.”

He watched as her throat worked up and down with a hard swallow. Then her tongue shot out to lick her lips.

“I’m very sure. I need you Richie.”

The flash of her tongue drew his gaze and almost took him to his knees. The memory of her incredible mouth had him licking his lips in return.

Piper added pressure behind his neck and urged him down to her. As if pulling him by an invisible leash, she closed the distance.

She needed this. No, she needed him. It would be an understatement to say, all of the strange and fantastical things she’d learned today had been a lot to take. That Richie was one of the strange and fantastical things was beside the point. If she weren’t already going crazy with desire for him, she would still want him to make her feel normal, to feel good. She needed to feel and not think. Who better to ‘feel’ with than the man who was rapidly stealing her heart?

She pressed against him, caging him between the counter and her body.

Acting upon the longing that had been building since her struggle with Qball, she pressed her mouth against his, hungry for him. With a ravenous groan, she slipped her tongue between his lips and explored his mouth. Her thumbs smoothed back and forth across his jawline as she held his face in place. Their mouths fused, and when he returned the kiss as adamantly, she released the last threads of her control. Soft rumbles and growls rose from Richie’s lips.