True

Thank you, he managed to think, knowing he’d take her anyway since the need to be inside her was too strong to stop at that point. True was just happy he wouldn’t have to do something she might think was rude like hauling her over to the nightstand to grab lotion to dump on his dick to make sure there wasn’t too much friction.

He backed up, glancing at her face once to make sure he hadn’t scared her. She appeared a little stu

He drove into her. She was wet enough to take him with one thrust. Her pussy was tight and he hoped he hadn’t taken her too fast but he couldn’t stop. He curled around her, pi

He couldn’t slow down. He was too close to coming, completely wild with it. Jeanie moaned louder, her hands grabbing hold of his forearms, which held her trapped under him, and her nails dug into his skin. It didn’t matter if she drew blood as long as she seemed to be enjoying the sex.

Her pussy grew hotter and wetter, tighter as he furiously fucked her, snarling a warning that he was close. No words were spoken, he couldn’t form them, but he hoped she knew what he was trying to convey. She bucked under him, crying out his name and he prayed it was out of pleasure instead of pain because that’s all it took to send him over the edge of need, straight into absolute bliss.

His seed marked her as he threw back his head and emptied everything he had deep inside his mate. True lost all sense of time as he slowly recovered. His breathing leveled off and he realized Jeanie was panting under him.

“Did I hurt you?” He was afraid of the answer.

She laughed, her body shaking a little. “Wow!”

He remembered her injury. “Your stomach. I’m so sorry.”

Her head turned and she gri

He studied her eyes, looking for signs of pain but didn’t see any. He lifted up some, wishing he wasn’t locked inside her body, and just sat back on his folded legs with her on his lap. He curved around her enough to get a look down at her belly to see the healing injury. No blood marred her skin. He relaxed, hugging her.

“Let’s wait until you’re completely better to see what snaps my control next time.”

She pressed her back against his chest, lifted her arms and her hands curved around the top of his shoulders as she gri

“I was too rough and didn’t remember you were hurt. I just love taking you doggy style.”

“I love that position too.” She chuckled. “Love is an understatement.”

He dropped his head and buried his face against her neck, breathing in her wonderful scent. Just holding her and knowing she wasn’t harmed was a huge relief. He had lost control, hadn’t thought of anything beyond joining them and part of him felt as if he’d let his mate down. Her welfare came before his needs.

“Can we do that again?” Her request stu

His mate was really something. He was certain now that he hadn’t been too rough or harmed her. “We can do that.”

Chapter Twenty-One

True jerked, unsure what woke him. He turned his head to glance at the clock on the nightstand. It was just after four in the morning. Jeanie peacefully slept, curled in his arms. He carefully withdrew and got to his feet, padded across the floor, and found his discarded pants. The cell phone in the pocket revealed no new texts. He frowned, realizing it hadn’t been the cause.

He listened, straining for any noise, but didn’t hear anything. He turned, walked into the bathroom and used it. One glance at Jeanie on the bed assured him she slept on as he quietly opened a dresser drawer to remove a pair of sweats. He do

There was no need to turn on lights. His night vision allowed him to see everything quite clearly. He entered the guest bedroom and glanced around. Nothing was disturbed. He moved down the hallway, stopped in the spare bathroom then moved on to the living room. He was on his way to the dining room when a soft tap caught his attention. He swung his head around, identified where the noise had come from. It took mere seconds to reach one of the front windows and yank back the curtain.

He relaxed as he realized the tree was the source. As the wind blew, one branch brushed against the eaves above the window. He released the curtain and backed away. A slight metal creak made him spin, his instincts going on alert. It could be someone outside or just the strong breeze creating more sounds but he wouldn’t return to bed until he was certain.

True crept toward the hallway again, inhaling the scents around him. Nothing seemed out of place or odd. The aroma of the di

Thump. He growled low, stalking down the hallway and back into the living room. He paused there, sca

His peripheral vision detected movement and drew his attention. His heart rate accelerated as he saw the closet door slowly move. He reached for his phone, glanced down and wished it were a weapon. The screen lit up at his touch and he texted three words to Darkness.

Send help now.

He shoved the phone into his pocket and decided he wouldn’t go for the weapon in the bedroom as he tensed, prepared to attack anyone who stepped out of the closet. The door stopped moving and he strained to hear the sounds of breathing but nothing happened. He advanced, moving stealthily. He paused and then jerked the closet door open wide, prepared to fight.

His eyes adjusted to the darker interior but saw nothing. It was empty. He frowned but then a slight breeze touched his skin. His gaze lifted and he stepped closer, staring up at the ceiling in the closet. A square hole was open. The attic beyond was pitch dark. He was certain he would have noticed the missing attic access panel when he’d done the earlier walk-through inspection. The artificial tree scent was stronger in that area.

What the hell?

A very slight noise startled him. It sounded as if someone inhaled deeply. He turned his head as a dark shape rose from behind the couch. It appeared human, though somewhat rounded, dressed in all black, and it wore strange glasses. He’d seen those before at task force headquarters. It sank in that the night-vision goggles gave the human the ability to see as well, if not better, than he could. A howl of rage tore from his lips as he lunged, going for the threat.

Four sharp jabs of pain struck his chest as he reached the couch, prepared to dive over it to tackle the human. His body failed to do his bidding, going limp instead, and he slammed into the piece of furniture. His momentum carried him forward as he crashed into the couch when he fell, tipping it over. He rolled onto the floor and stayed there.