Seventeen

He never answered her question.

Luckily, Chet sent a couple of other cars out to gather everyone up and bring them back to the department. Rance wasn’t looking forward to walking all the way back, although he could have thought of several things to do with Lainie in the woods. If they weren’t surrounded by all of Lainie’s friends, that is.

Once they were dressed, everyone made the round of introductions, all glad to see Rance and the “glow” on Lainie’s cheeks. The one thing about a mating call, everyone around knew when someone was feeling that pull. The scent the animals emitted was unmistakable and to those exuding it, impossible to ignore. Everyone seemed to be great people to Rance, and he thought moving there would be perfect. A great change to his hectic city life.

By the time they arrived back at the department, Rance was inside gathering up his evidence, forcing his mind to turn back to the case waiting for him in Pensacola. He wanted it finished, so he could officially put in his notice and make his move to Bull Creek.

And Lainie.

He noticed she was quiet, probably worrying about the topic he wasn’t discussing, but he didn’t want to have that conversation in front of all her friends as well as her brother. No, that conversation needed to be had alone, because he didn’t intend to just talk. He intended to make their mating official. He just needed to tie up all his loose ends. Nothing would keep him from achieving his goals. Or his future with Lainie.

Once back at the department, Dimitri helped him talk Lainie into going home and cleaning up, getting some rest. Her friends, Alanna, Adira, and Eve, vowed to stay with her in Lainie’s cabin, making sure she didn’t do anything that came close to resembling work. He promised to join her as soon as he was finished at the department. The Serpents would go to jail. and he could move on with his life, a life which suddenly seemed a whole lot brighter now that Lainie was in it.

Rance sat at Johnson’s desk, patiently waiting for the paperwork to be finished, when Sheriff Einstein walked over and took a spot on the corner of Johnson’s desk. “So, Lainie mentioned out in that clearing that you might be looking for a spot here in this department. Is that true?”

“It is,” Rance answered as he shifted in his seat to face the older man. “Once I get this case back home finished, I intend on moving here.”

Chet nodded, his hands clasped in his lap. “I’m pretty sure I could get you a spot, although it might not be as high up as you are in the big city. We’re just a small township, you know.”

“I’m not looking for a career bump. Just a new start. With Lainie.”

“Well, she could use someone like you. She’s a sweet woman and deserves someone who’ll dote on her. Don’t try to take charge of her, though. She’ll have your nuts in a sling.” He rapped his knuckles on the desk as he slid off. “Just give me a call when you’re heading back this way, and we’ll set something up.”

“Oh, and Lainie needs the next few days off,” Rance said before the sheriff could walk away. “I intend to take her with me to Pensacola. She helped me finish this, and I think she needs to be there to see the case to its conclusion.”

Chet shook his head. “I’m sure that’s why you want her along.” Then he waved off the topic. “You two have fun. I’ll take care of her shifts.”

“Thanks,” Rance said to the man’s retreating back. By then, Johnson had arrived with the paperwork, just needing signatures, the phone and flash drive tucked and sealed in an evidence bag. “And thank you for this,” Rance said to the deputy, lifting the evidence bag up into the air as if Johnson wouldn’t know what he meant. “It’ll be nice to cut the head off that snake back in Pensacola.” He then pushed himself out of his chair and headed for the door. It was time to turn a page.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lainie paced her quiet living room. She had forced the others to go home once they saw she was safe in the door. She didn’t need mindless chatter outside of her head with as much as was happening inside of it. She knew her friends meant well, but she was just too on edge to be sociable. Rance should have his evidence by now and would probably be on his way to Pensacola, Bull Creek a memory in his rearview mirror. He hadn’t even called or texted since they parted ways at the sheriff’s department. Maybe she had rushed things asking Chet if there was a place for Rance in the department.

She was about to give up and take a nap when she heard a car pulling into her drive. Sliding off the couch, she went to the front window and peeked outside. Her heart pounded as she watched Rance get out of his car, and she could feel the wetness between her legs, her passion stirring. Even her panther was ready to pounce, and Rance wasn’t even all the way out of the car yet.

Racing to the front door, she jerked it open, stepping out onto the porch just as his foot hit the first step. “You’re back,” she said, forcing herself to come to a stop before she appeared like a total idiot. She gave a feeble shrug. “I assumed you’d be heading back to Pensacola since you have your evidence now.”

He reached out, wrapping his arms around her waist, and kissed her deeply. Her breath caught in her throat, his movement shocking her for a moment. However, the shock ended quickly, and she slipped her arms around Rance’s neck, fully surrendering to the moment. When Rance broke the kiss and pulled away, she could see the passion in his eyes. “Sweetie, I’m not going anywhere without you. As a matter of fact, I’ve already cleared it with Chet. You’re going with me to Pensacola.”

She pushed back at him, her hands on his chest. “What? You didn’t even ask me first? Just went around me to my boss? I have responsibilities here, you know?”

She almost laughed at how baffled he appeared right then. “What? I thought you’d want to go with me,” he said. “Are you saying you don’t?”

“I’m saying, next time, you need to talk to me and not my boss. I don’t need a man making plans for me or deciding my life.” She started to turn and walk back inside, her joy at seeing him quickly turning to anger at being coddled.

Yet, Rance gripped her arm and spun her back around. “You always have to do everything with a touch of sass, don’t you?” His smile only made her temper smolder more. “Lainie, I’m not planning your life.” He kissed her forehead and then gazed into her eyes, his golden eyes penetrating her soul. “I’m joining it.” He gripped her hand, walking past her and into the cabin.

Lainie didn’t have time to get away or to even think about stopping. Rance led her into the cabin, through the living room and kitchen toward the back. Her eyes went wide as realization dawned on her as to where he headed and what he intended. The passion between her legs stirred, and she could feel the wetness begin to pool as he shoved her bedroom door open and dragged her inside. He spun her around to face him, his smile devilish, his eyes full of passionate mischief as his words echoed in her mind. I’m joining it.

He jerked his shirt off. and the sight of his firm chest caught her breath in her chest as she soaked in his presence. He didn’t stop there but unbuttoned his pants and jerked them down his legs, boxers as well, and kicked them off, his gaze never leaving hers. That is until she allowed her gaze to travel down his body, resting on his hard cock as it pointed at her as if claiming her for his own. Her panther purred within as Lainie forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat. It didn’t make sense. She had already had sex with Rance before, so why was she as timid as a virgin at the end of prom?

He gripped her arms, turning her so that her back was to the bed. Reaching down, he pulled her shirt over her head and flippantly tossed it to the floor. Then he moved to her pants, his eyes fixed on hers, as he unbuttoned them. However, as he started to slide them down her legs, he lowered himself with them until her pants were at her ankles and Rance was on his knees. She felt his hands slide around her hips to cup her ass as he pulled her to him, his lips kissing her abdomen and then slowly making a trail downward to the wet valley between her legs that burned with desire. Her breath caught in her throat again and this time, she felt the tightness in her chest just before his tongue flicked over her swollen clit, sending electrical charges throughout her body.

With deft movements, he lifted her legs so that he could slip her pants from her body, and then he rose, his hands still on her ass as he lifted her in the air and moved her back toward the bed. She waited to be dumped down unceremoniously, but Rance had other plans. With gentle movements, he lowered her down to the bed, spreading her legs as he did until he knelt on the side of the bed, her legs on his shoulders, his face buried between her thighs. Again, she felt his tongue on her pussy, twirling around her clit as his fingers dug into the flesh of her ass. She moaned, one hand sliding down to the top of his head, holding him in place. Oh, god, don’t stop. Don’t stop. Her breathing came in ragged pants now as her head tilted back into the mattress, her mouth open and eyes closed. She clamped her legs around his head, hoping to hold him exactly as he was until…

Her eyes popped open as the first wave of an orgasm rippled through her, electrical charges bursting at all of her nerve-endings as she gripped the bedspread with her fists. She cried out, her back arching as she clamped down on Rance’s head tighter. As the orgasm subsided, she glanced down and panicked, jerking her legs open. “Oh god, I’m sorry. Are you..?”

Rance just grinned as he crawled up her body, crossing his right arm over her waist and grabbing her hip. With one quick pull, he flipped her over onto her stomach, grabbed her hips and jerked her ass up into the air. “Oh, I’m fine. I’ve been waiting for this.” With his fingers digging into her hips, he thrust his cock deep into her pussy, his grunts filling her ears. Her forehead was pressed to the sheet, her back arched, as she shoved back onto him, wanting him as deep inside of her as he could go. He pumped into her several times, hard, fast, pounding until she couldn’t catch her breath. Then she heard his voice in her ear and felt his breath on the side of her face as he bent over her. “Tell me now, are you mine?”

“Yes! Oh god, yes.”

Then she felt the stabbing pain as his teeth sank into her shoulder, just as he thrust all the way inside of her. His passion exploded inside of her pussy as pain flashed in her eyes. Once more, her body shuddered with her orgasm as he pinned her to his hips, spearing her with both his cock and his teeth. She was his, just as much as he was hers. Mated.

She felt his lips pull away from her shoulder, felt his hands ease up on her hips as he rolled her to her side, his arm around her waist, one finger stroking her nipple. He kissed the side of her head as he squeezed her to him, his cock still hard, her pussy drenched. Snuggling back into him, she pulled his arm across her tighter, wanting to wear him like another skin. Then she felt his lips on the mate mark, his tongue gliding over the impressions his teeth made, and she blushed at the thought of it.

I’m joining it. And he did. Completely. Wholeheartedly. And with a passion that she doubted would ever be quenched.

“Are you doing okay?” His voice was soft and still held the husky tone of a man sated.

She grinned, squeezing his arm again. “Mhm. I was just thinking how fun it will be when you move here and work for me.”

She felt the bed shift around her and his body pull away from her slightly. “Work for you? Why wouldn’t you work for me?”

“Work for you? Please. You needed me to solve your case. Don’t worry, though. I think I can train you. I see great potential in you.”

His chuckle warmed her heart and flamed the embers between her legs into another roaring fire. “Always have to add that touch of sass, don’t you?”

“Oh, honey, you have no idea.”

She felt his lips on the side of her face. “But I intend to find out.” He settled in behind her again, his arms tightening around her waist.

Lainie closed her eyes. Pensacola would have to wait a few more hours. She wasn’t done training this detective yet.

*The End*

If you liked Mate's Touch, check out book 4, My Lover's Mate, also on Readict!