length.
He inhaled her scent, fighting to ignore the hard throb of his erection beneath his jeans, the desire to
caress her skin with his lips. He contented himself with rubbing his cheek against the silk of her hair. A
soft, peaches and cream scent lingered in it, as it did on her skin. Tempting him. He always had been
partial to peaches in any form.
“Callan, what are you going to do?” Sherra pressed him.
Merinus was in danger now, they both knew it.
“Put Dayan on watch for her,” he told her. “She doesn’t know him. Tell him to stay as close as possible,
just in case. Have him call me if trouble comes around her.”
“Trouble doesn’t have to find her, she finds it, evidently,” Sherra remarked.
Callan smiled, his fingers rubbing over Merinus’ arm softly. She didn’t back down much, he had to give
her that. She was stubborn as hell, but he didn’t consider that a good trait in this case.
“She still out of it?” Sherra asked worriedly.
“Yeah. So hurry and get to that damned motel before her nosy ass wakes up. We’ll be in for it good if
you don’t.”
He could just imagine her pleasure, which wouldn’t be mutual, to find herself in his arms right now. Not
to mention the damned questions that would come pouring out of her mouth. She was just waiting on the
chance to lay into him, and he wasn’t too eager to give it to her. It was coming. He knew the only way to
avoid her would be to leave the county again. Something he was going to do soon anyway to lure the
damned soldiers away before they learned about the whole Pride. As far as the Council knew, the others
had died in that damned explosion more than ten years ago. He wanted to keep it that way.
“Here we are.” Sherra pulled up to the motel room door swiftly. She grabbed Merinus’ purse, searched
around then pulled the key from its depths.
Callan let her open the door before he quickly exited the vehicle, Merinus limp in his arms, and strode
inside. He laid her on the bed, noticing the white robe that lay on the mattress, the remains of her dinner
on the table. The television was on, the sound turned down, a low light burned beside the bed.
He moved away from her, reluctant, regretting the need to leave before she awoke. He touched her
cheek, a fleeting caress, then before he could stop himself, he leaned over, touching his lips to the corner
of her mouth, his tongue barely glancing the soft curves. She was as soft and as sweet as he knew she
would be.
“Callan, we need to hurry,” Sherra whispered from outside the door. “Before someone sees us.”
Merinus’ lips parted, a low groan vibrating in her throat as her head turned, unconsciously seeking more
of the caress. Her tongue touched his, hesitant, unsure. He fought to keep the kiss light, to deny his need
to stroke the heated depths of her mouth as he wanted to. He contented himself with a soft tangle with
her tongue, then drew back quickly and forced himself to leave the room.
He closed the door softly behind him as Tanner’s truck pulled in beside the jeep. Following Sherra he
jumped into the cab quickly, silently, watching the door as Tanner reversed. He stared straight ahead,
ignoring Sherra’s worried look, ignoring his own needs pulsing hot and demanding through his blood
stream. Son of a bitch, he wanted Merinus. He wanted to lay against her, stroke every sweet curve of
that slender body before burying his cock so deep inside her that neither one of them would ever be free.
As they pulled out of the parking lot, Callan watched as Dayan pulled into a small, secluded parking area
within sight of Merinus’ door. She would be watched carefully until he could leave. He should have left
sooner, before those damned mercenaries had somehow figured out his attraction for her. Before they
decided to use her against him.
“Call Taber in when we get to the station,” he told Tanner, his voice cold as he made his decision. “We
go after those bastards tonight.”
“Sure thing, Callan.” Tanner’s voice was edged with fury. He may not be personally involved, but
Merinus was a female, she was supposed to be protected, no matter the cost. The younger man rarely
came to violence until faced with the abuse of a female, young or old.
“Sherra, you go back to the motel, send Dayan back.” Callan knew Dayan would be pissed, his answer
was to ignore the bastards. “You stick around and watch out for her, take Dawn if you want to.”
Sherra was more than capable of protecting herself, but Callan hated sending her alone anyway.
“Get a piece of them for me.” Memories and bitterness filled her voice.
“For all of us then.” Callan nodded as Tanner pulled into the Gass Up. “Let’s get things together and