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Evan spun around, wanting to throw the bedside lamp across the room. He was that pissed. The man slipped through his fingers again, and he’d left nothing interesting. Angry now, Evan started tossing shit left and right. He flipped the mattress over.

  He stomped into the living room and tore the couch cushions off. Even the fabric underneath them was clean. The only other piece of furniture in the room was an older-model TV. Evan couldn’t imagine it worked. It sat on a rickety cheap stand.

  Evan plopped down on the edge of the couch, not caring there was no longer a cushion to sit on. Think. He had to be missing something.

  He pushed his hands into his hair. He needed to get control of his anger. He was a professional and he’d done enough jobs like this to know he wouldn’t find a damn thing in his current state of mind.

  He leaned back and stared at the ceiling, catching his breath. When he felt sufficiently calm, he let his gaze roam the room again.

  End table. Nothing on it. Didn’t the guy at least have a remote? It sure hadn’t been between the couch cushions. He smirked as he lifted his gaze to the television once again. The stand was nothing more than a metal tray of sorts. He followed the electrical cord from where it dangled behind the TV to the wall.

  And then he froze. He knew damn good and well no one could watch TV these days without cable or at least some sort of box to give access to channels. He bolted upright and reached the twenty-four inch in two steps.

  He intended to pull it out from the wall to investigate behind it, but when he reached from above, hoping the wheeled cart would slide forward, the entire television teetered forward and crashed to the floor.

  Evan jumped to avoid the glass. Except nothing broke. This was no ordinary TV. It weighed nothing. And its uselessness as a means of checking the local news was quickly revealed. It had a completely false front that didn’t break when it hit the ground. Plexiglas he presumed.

  The back fell off entirely in the fall to divulge not electronic components, but vials of drugs and syringes. Bingo.

  Evan sprang into action. He ran back to the bedroom, found a duffle, and returned to fill it with the evidence. Thank God. This was headway.

  He might not have captured the man himself, but at least he had the drugs. From his viewpoint, he had killed two birds. One, Damon no longer had the means to shoot up another woman. And two, the evidence could go a long way toward finding out who the supplier was and nailing the bigger fish.

  In minutes, Evan was done. He shouldered the bag and slipped back out the door.

  A half an hour later, he pulled into the airport. He wasn’t stupid enough to cart the unknown drugs across the country by plane. He’d dropped that precious cargo off at FedEx first, overnighting it to The Council headquarters. Evan would beat the package, but at least by this time tomorrow he would have the strange substance safely in the hands of pack leaders.

  Sure, he had the authority to carry the package on the plane, but the red tape would have been a huge hassle and he didn’t want to deal with the delay. The quickest, easiest way to get himself and the drugs to Seattle was to separate himself from the duffle bag and get a move on.

  A weight lifted from his shoulders, but not completely. He still cussed under his breath at losing Parkfield. That man was a slippery motherfucker. Evan knew neither he nor Ashley could sleep well until Damon was caught.

  Evan had to wait forty-five minutes at the gate before boarding. He called Ashley as he slumped into an uncomfortable black chair in the terminal.

  “Evan?”

  “Hey, baby. How are you?”

  “Good. When are you coming home?”

  “Soon. I need to make another stop and then I’ll be home for a few days.” He hoped the trip to Seattle would be brief.

  “You have to go out again so quickly?” Her voice was high-pitched. Stressed. He knew he was trying her patience with this case. If she only knew…

  “Yeah. I’m sorry. As soon as I wrap this up I’ll be able to work from home without nearly as much travel. But like I told you, this was a commitment I made and I have to keep it.”

  “I know.” Her voice deflated as she spoke.

  “Are you at your parents’?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How’s your schoolwork?”

  “Going good. It’s not like I have a lot of distractions.” She giggled and his cock hardened at the sound. He loved the tinkle of her voice. It was unnatural for newly mated couples to separate like this. Fucking impossible. If he weren’t so consumed with tracking this asshole, there was no way he would be able to concentrate on anything. As it was, he had to turn his brain off to the existence of Ashley by day.

  By night he lay in random hotel rooms thinking of her sweet body and wishing she was next to him. Her scent lingered on his belongings, but after six days he was relying on memories.

  “Have you been painting?”

  “Yep.” She sighed. “Come home quick, okay?”

  “I’m on it. Promise. So close.” And yet so far…

  “I don’t sleep as well when you aren’t next to me.” He could practically hear her biting her lip.

  “I don’t either, baby. I’m exhausted.” That was the truth. He’d been exhausted for months ever since he’d first spotted her when he’d led her brother to her rescue.

  A loud speaker in the terminal announced his flight. “I gotta go. My plane is boarding. I’ll call you tonight.”

  “Okay. Be careful.”

  “Always.”

  •●•

  Damon placed the usual call to the Romulus. He was out of breath and had only snagged a few items when he’d received the call that someone was on to him. Again.

  Luckily, he’d grabbed the throw-away cell.

  “Yes?” The deep voice that picked up on the first ring always answered this same way.

  “I’m on the run.”

  “Did anyone see you?”

  Damon paused. This was the first time he’d been almost caught. Should he fess up? Would the Romulus be mad?

  Oh, what the fuck did he care anymore? Those bastards were making his life a living hell. He’d been perfectly fine, living alone with no other shifters for miles around until these fuckers had shown up promising the moon. In retrospect he should have realized when something sounded too good to be true, he should have listened to his brain. “Yes. Some asshole was already making his way to the front door. Your warning was a bit tardy this time.”

  Damon was weary, exhausted from fucking moving all the time and having to remain on alert. The Romulus insisted he had no other choice. It was unfortunate things hadn’t gone as planned with Ashley, but these things went south sometimes.

  No shit, motherfuckers.

  A long exhale came from the other end of the line.

  “Listen. This is not my fault; it’s yours. I’ve about had it with your shit. So don’t fucking sigh your deep breath at me, you asshole. I’m two seconds from turning your asses in and myself too for some peace and quiet. Even prison sounds like a walk in the park about now.” Damon paced the short distance back and forth in the cheap motel room he’d rented for the night. He couldn’t afford more with the cash he’d had on him.

  “Calm down,” the deep voice demanded.

  “Calm down? Do you realize how many times you’ve said that in the last five years? Too many to count, you son of a bitch. I’m going to give you about one week to put an end to this mess and then I’m going it alone.”

  “You know you can’t do that. If you so much as breathe wrong, your ass will land in a place worse than prison for the rest of your life.” The guy paused before continuing. “Now, sit down and take some deep breaths. We’ve told you before how serious this is. The only choice you have is to ride out the search party and then we’ll have you settled again in no time with a new mate.”

  “This is one very long ride, buddy.”

  “I know, but that two-bit PI can’t follow you forever. He’ll give up soon.” The man chuckled, a maniacal soun
d that made Damon’s blood freeze. “He’ll have to go home soon before Ashley loses it and dumps his ass.”

  Damon swallowed. His vision blurred. “What the fuck did you say?”

  Silence. “Sorry, man. Thought you knew.”

  “That jackass following me is fucking my mate?”

  “It seems that way. But who cares? She was a bitch anyway, right? Let him have her. We have a lead on someone much more acquiescent for you.”

  Damon took a deep breath. His blood pounded again now, thawing and then boiling as his anger rose.

  “Listen, just hang tight. We’ll make arrangements for you to be moved soon. Stay where you are and don’t let anyone unnecessary see you. Got it?”

  “Sure. Whatever.” Damon barely listened to that last part. All he could think about was why Ashley’s new partner was following him. Fear climbed up his spine, making his hand shake until he nearly dropped the cell phone.

  I’ll kill that bastard, and Ashley too while I’m at it.

  The line went dead and Damon dropped the cell on the cheap old comforter covering the cheaper older mattress that dipped in the middle. He ran a hand through his hair.

  On top of everything else, he hadn’t managed to point out that the drug paraphernalia had gotten left behind in his haste this time. He’d never left anything behind. He’d hidden it so well, even an FBI agent would have had trouble finding it.

  Thank God he’d had an escape plan. He’d watched that man sitting in his car after the Romulus had contacted him. When the man had exited the vehicle and headed straight for Damon’s hovel, Damon had praised the Lord he’d already made arrangements for a hiding place.

  All he’d had to do was dash around the corner. In seconds he had himself locked in a supply room at the end of the building. He’d picked the lock in the middle of the night the first day he’d arrived. It was perfect. No apartment employee had used the room since, so no one knew it was unlocked yet.

  The moment he’d entered, he’d easily turned the deadbolt, sequestering himself from whoever was chasing him before the guy circled the building. Hopefully the bastard assumed Damon had driven away or been picked up.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Evan opened the front door of his home, turned toward the alarm panel, and pushed the buttons to deactivate. He set his briefcase on the small table and dropped his duffle inside the front room. He pushed the door closed and reset the alarm. His intent was to grab a quick shower and then race to Ashley’s parents’. Instead, he froze in his spot. He’d known the place would smell of his mate. They’d made love many times in the last few weeks in that confined space. But he hadn’t been prepared for the overwhelming, knee-buckling, enticing scent that made him want to forego the shower and turn around to get back in the car.

  He closed his eyes and inhaled long and slow, knowing if he didn’t hurry, he would lose his resolve to shower and change. The least he could do was show up looking presentable. Flying always made him feel grungy no matter how long ago he’d showered.

  When he opened his eyes again, they landed on the most delicious sight he’d ever seen.

  Ashley. Even in the dim evening glow from outside, without turning on the lights, he spotted her immediately.

  No wonder the place smelled so strongly of her pheromones. She was there, in the flesh. He blinked to be sure she wasn’t an apparition and then dashed across the room to where she stood leaning on the frame to the hallway.

  She giggled as he lifted her off the floor and squeezed her against his length. His cock jumped to attention at this new turn of events. The fellow had been told to wait at least another hour and suddenly had received the new information that its prison sentence would be lifted a bit earlier than expected.

  “You’re here alone?” He glanced from side to side. Surely someone brought her here. And she wouldn’t have stayed alone.

  “Yes.” She kissed his lips. “My mother dropped me off.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I’m so glad.” She was getting braver. He kissed her back, his lips smashing into hers as he backed her up against the wall. He needed more of her, craved her like a drug.

  And she responded, tugging at his shirt until she had it over his head.

  “I was going to take a shower…” His voice trailed off as she nibbled on his neck. The timid sweet little mate he’d claimed just weeks ago was no longer quite so shy.

  “No. Don’t,” she muttered against his skin. “I love how you smell. I don’t want you to wash it away.” She licked a bold path down his chest until she flicked her tongue over his nipple.

  His already hardening cock went full speed ahead, jamming against his pants and making him very uncomfortable.

  It didn’t last long. Ashley slunk down and popped the button on his khakis. She lowered the zipper slow enough to send a shiver down his spine.

  He planted his hands on the wall above her, bracing himself and hoping to keep from falling.

  She pulled on the sides of his pants and lowered them to the ground. His cock sprung free as though sighing with gratitude. “Baby…” He wouldn’t last long like this with her torturing him. When she set her palms on his shins and then smoothed her hands up the length of his legs, he moaned.

  She gripped his thighs and squeezed, her face inches from his bobbing cock. On her knees in front of him… He held his breath. She hadn’t given him a blowjob yet. And he hadn’t mentioned it. He didn’t know what she’d gone through with her ex, but if she’d been forced to suck him off, Evan wanted no part in that reenactment.

  She didn’t flinch, however. Her gaze landed on his dick and she released his legs to tentatively stroke the length with both hands. “So smooth,” she muttered.

  He watched as a pearl of come leaked from the tip.

  Ashley held his cock with one hand and her sweet tongue darted out to lick away his come.

  Evan’s knees threatened total collapse. He curled his fingers on the wall as though he could get some sort of purchase against the smooth surface.

  “I missed you.” Ashley sucked his head into her mouth before he could respond. She moaned around the tip and then released him with a soft pop. “I love that I do this to you.”

  All the blood ran to his dick, leaving him speechless, unable to send messages to his mouth.

  She sucked him in again and then licked the length clear to the base. With one hand she held him steady. With the other she caressed his balls. “Can I touch these?”

  He cleared his throat, unsure if he could articulate anything to the affirmative. “Yes, gently…”

  She fondled his sac with her dainty fingers, barely touching him. And then she reached behind him with that free hand and grasped his ass. Her mouth sunk low on his cock, leaving him lightheaded. She sucked, hard, and then pulled almost off before repeating the same action.

  Evan finally let go of the wall with one hand to weave his fingers into her hair. “Baby, you have to stop that…”

  She let him fall out of her mouth and looked up at him. “Did I do something wrong?” The way she batted her eyes told him she knew damn well she had done nothing wrong.

  He grasped her head with both hands and eased her up to standing. He kissed her forehead and then buried his nose in her soft hair. She smelled so fucking good. It was his turn to snack…

  With amazing dexterity, Evan managed to kick his shoes off and then stepped on the legs of his pants until they came away also, taking his underwear with them. “I’m decidedly less dressed than you.” He lifted her chin and took her mouth in a kiss, delving into her sweet cavern and letting his tongue dance with hers. He swallowed her moan.

  As he continued to nibble her mouth, he backed them down the hall. Expertly, he found the bedroom in the dark, kicked the door ajar with his foot and proceeded across the floor.

  Ashley held his biceps with both arms and didn’t come up for air until he hit the edge of the bed, jarring them both.

  She giggled when her belly ran into his cock. He moaned in
response. “Take your clothes off, baby. I need you.”

  She stepped back. The blinds were open, providing plenty of light from the moon for him to see her sultry expression as she unbuttoned her shirt and let it drift to the ground. She teased him by shimmying out of her pants and then stood before him in nothing but sexy black lingerie.

  “You’ve been shopping.” He smoldered as he watched her sway toward him once again. Her firm high breasts were accented by the black lace that barely covered her nipples.

  “Online, but yes.”

  “I like it.” He reached out to stroke the upper swell of her breast with one finger.

  Goose bumps rose in the wake of his touch, and he traced over them as she shivered.

  “And I like your response even more.”

  “I can’t get enough of you. How about if you stay in town for a while this time?” She didn’t whine, but she did stick out her bottom lip in a fake pout. “I might be able to make it worth your while.”

  “I’m quite certain you could, baby. And I wish I wasn’t held to this contract. It’ll be over soon.” If that weasel would sit still a minute. It was amazing how astute Parkfield was considering what an ass he was.

  Ashley surprised Evan by shoving him onto the bed, climbing onto his lap, and straddling him. His cock tucked neatly against her thong, the lace barely covering the soft triangle of hair above her clit.

  He fell onto his back when she pushed him again playfully, and he scooted them both into the center of the bed. She’d never been this brazen, and he liked it. She was coming around.

  He hoped he could add to her experiences by emulating what she’d just done to him.

  She squealed as he swung them both around, holding her straddling his waist. When he had them lined up with the top of the bed, he looked into her eyes. “Grab the headboard, Ash.” She eyed him suspiciously, narrowing her gaze. “And scoot forward.” He nudged her hips and urged her to kneel closer to his mouth, straddling his lips.

  “What…?” The word faded as he used both hands to grip her ass cheeks and pulled her closer to his mouth. He held her steady and sucked her essence through the lace barrier.