Bounty Hunter Bear: Crossroads 1 (Grizzly Cove Book 11) Read online

  He vowed that he wouldn’t let that happen. No how. No way. Thea was done being hurt if Ezra had anything to say about it.

  He made a few, very necessary, phone calls. There were folks higher up the food chain who needed to know what had happened here, including his employers and even his contact close to the Lords of all Werefolk. The Lords were keeping track of all the strange happenings in their territory, which included the entirety of North America. It was one of their tasks to look for patterns in magical activity or threats to shifters in their domain and coordinate a response, if at all possible.

  By the time Ezra had given his reports to the proper people who could do something useful with his information, he figured he’d left Thea alone long enough. He started stripping off his clothing on his way towards the bathroom. When he opened the door to what had become a steam box, he was barefoot and bare-chested. Whether he lost his pants and joined her under the steamy spray of water was up to Thea. He leaned up against the wall to the side of the enclosure and met her gaze through the foggy air.

  “How are you doing, honey?” he asked quietly.

  “I’m okay,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s hard to get clean.”

  Now that said more than the simple words used in the sentence. He knew that feeling. The stain of death on your soul that made it hard to feel truly clean.

  “Do you want some help? I can scrub your back,” he offered, smiling gently at his lover, his mate.

  In answer, she pushed aside the clear curtain and invited him in. Ezra shucked his pants in a quick move and joined her under the near-scalding spray. He adjusted the water temperature to something a little lower than the molten lava setting she’d had it on and gathered her into his arms.

  She was wet, and her skin was slippery against him, soap suds still lingering in places where she hadn’t yet washed them away. And she was trembling.

  That would never do. Ezra rocked her slick body against him, trying to impart some of his strength to her shaky limbs. He stroked his hand down her spine, trying to soothe her, and she responded to his touch, calming after a long while. At that point, he began to take care of her. He grabbed the soap and lathered her body again, making sure to get the spots she’d missed the first time and scrubbing her back like he’d promised, combining washing with a gentle massage.

  She leaned back into him after a while, and he just held her, wrapping his arms around her middle and enjoying the sensation of her soft, wet body against his. He lowered his head, nuzzling her ear.

  “You feeling better now?” he asked, his voice low in the echo chamber of the shower.

  “Yeah. Thanks.” She paused before continuing. “I didn’t expect it to feel so bad…after. I mean, I felt triumphant at the time, and I’m glad I was able to overcome my fears and all, but it’s not like I expected it to be now.”

  “That’s because you have a conscience and you’re a good person,” he told her. “While you may have felt a thrill of exhilaration at the moment of triumph, you aren’t the kind of soul who revels in death.” He kissed her temple. “It had to be done, and it wasn’t your fault. Fate decided Sarella’s final moments. Neither of us intended to kill her. It just happened. And, because we are people of conscience, we’ll think about it and wonder if there was something we could have done differently.”

  Thea turned in his arms to look up into his eyes. “I saw what happened with her and that knife. There was nothing you could’ve done differently, Ezra. She basically killed herself by not surrendering when she knew her plan was foiled. By continuing to fight and by pulling that knife on me, she sealed her own fate.”

  He knew his tender-hearted mate was saying this to make him feel better, but he’d long ago come to terms with the fog of war. Things happened. Things you couldn’t control, didn’t plan, and never expected. How you dealt with them after the action was what determined your path in life. If he hadn’t been able to cope, he would’ve given up soldiering long ago and become a fisherman…or something even less confrontational.

  “I’m glad you feel that way, Thea,” he said quietly. “What you just said? It applies to you as well as me.”

  Thea’s eyes widened, and then, she chuckled softly and shook her head. “You’re a sly one, Ezra Tate.”

  He tapped one finger to his temple and returned her grin. “Always think a step ahead.”

  “Is that what they taught you in the military?” she asked, almost purring.

  Ezra took her playfulness as a good sign that she was coming out of the battle shock. He stepped up his game, leaning in to kiss her, taking his time about it.

  When Ezra kissed her like that, time and space stood still. They were the only two beings in the universe, and soon, it would be hard to tell where she started and he left off. She loved the way he could make her forget everything but him. Her mate.

  Maybe that’s what mates were supposed to do? She’d bet the Mother of All knew exactly what She was doing when she matched up certain souls. In her case, Ezra had seen her at her absolute worst. And he was starting to see her at times when she was proud of the woman she had become out of her ordeal. Maybe, as they traveled the path of life together, he’d get to see her when she’d finished evolving into…whatever it was she was now becoming.

  She still wasn’t exactly sure what she was. She’d been a warrior tonight, but it didn’t feel good after the fact. Maybe that wasn’t her path. But she’d certainly felt good helping Ezra track down the problem here in South Dakota. Maybe she would be able to help him in his investigations, if he kept working as a troubleshooter.

  There were so many question marks about the future. They hadn’t really discussed it at all yet, but she was confident they’d figure it out. At the moment, all she really could concentrate on was Ezra. Kissing her. Making her feel not-alone in the universe. Making her feel…loved.

  She welcomed him when he pushed her up against the cool tile of the shower. After the near-scalding temperatures she’d started out with, the slick tile felt good against her back. And it was slippery, so when he lifted her up with one strong hand under her buttocks, she slid happily up the wall in defiance of gravity.

  When he probed at her entrance with his hard cock, she was ready and waiting, wanting him inside with no further preliminaries. Tonight was about raw emotion, not finesse. She didn’t have time or patience for finesse. They’d do that later. Much later.

  For now, she wanted him inside her, fucking her in the most primal way. Man to woman, need to need. Life to life. Love to love.

  They had survived the test and come out the victors. They had vanquished their enemy and saved a lot of souls from pain and bloodshed. They’d done good. But this moment was just for them. Alone. Two souls, becoming one.

  Ezra pushed inside as she held his gaze, loving him silently, yearning for the moment when they would be complete, yet not wanting to rush to the culmination of this experience. It was too powerful. Too raw emotionally. Too honest to let pass too soon.

  He seated himself, and they just stayed there for a long moment, looking deep into each other’s eyes. All traces of mirth were gone. This was just them. Bare. Naked in every way. Unrefined emotion billowing through their spirits and buffeting each other, protecting each other when they finally found the sync between their souls.

  Then, he began to move within her, and they found a new synchronization. A new rhythm that was theirs alone in all the universe. Ezra pushed, and Thea accepted for a long while until it felt like they were straining together toward some unreachable knowledge that would reveal all the secrets of existence, just for them.

  Thea growled, and Ezra answered, from deep in his throat. Their animal spirits were present and approved of their human sides’ actions. The animals didn’t understand some human concepts, but they grasped devotion and the natural perfection that Thea and Ezra, together, created and refined. Their animal instincts had recognized it well before their human sides, when Thea’s bear had fought to survive
because Ezra was there, holding a promise of this moment in his soul, as he’d held her tortured body in his arms.

  She’d have known way back then, if she’d been able to hear the thoughts of her splintered bear half, that they would come to this moment out of time. This communion of souls. This commitment of hearts.

  She exploded in sensation as Ezra shouted her name, his growls driving her own passions higher. She felt the rumble of his bear under his skin, the sound vibrating against her sensitized skin. It was glorious.

  The climax went on and on, them straining together while the water kept pulsing down around them, steam wafting through the air like the clouds in the sky. She was floating on them, held suspended by Ezra’s strong arms and the wall behind her.

  She never wanted to move again. She could die happy, right here in the hotel room shower.

  But Ezra wouldn’t let her do anything of the kind. After long, long moments of bliss, he lifted slightly away, bending his head slightly to kiss her. Deep, drugging kisses. Kisses of thanks. Kisses of joy. Kisses of the commitment of one heart to another that said, without words, that this… This was forever.

  He lifted her off him and out of the shower, depositing her bare ass on the stone countertop next to the sink. Luckily, it was covered with a towel she’d left out, or she would’ve jumped at the cold stone on her overheated skin. The tile in the shower stall had been one thing while her passions were riding high, but in the aftermath, she was feeling a bit more sensitive.

  Ezra dried her off, using another of the fluffy towels provided by the hotel. He wrapped one around her hair and squeezed a lot of the moisture out. She’d scrubbed her scalp hard before he’d joined her and used the entire little bottle of shampoo provided by the hotel. They’d have to get more if they stayed, but she couldn’t regret her cleaning binge. She felt a lot better and knew that not a single molecule of Sarella’s blood was left on her person. That was important.

  Her claws had sunk deep into the sorceress’s skin, and when Thea had shifted back, that meant her nails and fingers had been bloody. She’d wiped it off as best she could, but Thea hadn’t felt that her hands were really clean until she’d scrubbed at them under the hot water with loads of soap.

  Ezra dried his own stunning body with a lot less care than he showed her. Still, she felt herself salivating as he drew a damp towel over his chest and muscular torso. She wanted to lick the moisture off his body, but her muscles were limp. He’d loved her into the next incarnation, and though her spirit was willing for more, her flesh had experienced about all it had the energy for just at that moment.

  She didn’t protest when Ezra picked her up in his strong arms and walked, naked, with her into his bedroom. He deposited her on his bed and came down next to her, tucking them both under the covers. He drew her into his arms and spooned her close. She felt absolutely wonderful. And tired.

  “Sleep, honey. We’ll talk about everything in the morning. Right now, we both need some rest,” he whispered against her ear, nibbling on the lobe lightly, as if he couldn’t help himself.

  She smiled, even as sleep started to steal over her senses. “You’re a good mate, Ezra.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  When Ezra arrived at the garage the next morning, he found a very contrite Frank waiting for him. Thea was at Ezra’s side, where she belonged, as he followed the old wolf into his office. Ezra was somewhat surprised that Frank wasn’t a little more resistant to the idea that Ezra wanted to meet with him alone. As far as Ezra knew, nobody in this town except for the other bears knew that he worked for Trevor and Beth.

  But Frank seemed to give every indication of a man who’d been called on the carpet by his boss. How did he know? Or perhaps he had some different idea of what Ezra really wanted? Ezra shook his head as the garage manager closed the door behind Thea then came around and took a seat behind his cluttered desk.

  “Frank, do you know why I’m here?” Ezra asked, figuring he’d have to set a few things straight before this interview could progress.

  “Because I was fooled by that witch,” Frank said, his voice rising almost to a wailing howl as he lowered his shaking head into his hands. “I’m so sorry.”

  Ezra looked over at Thea. This would never do.

  “Hang on a minute, Frank.” Ezra tried to calm the other man, but it seemed no use.

  Thea reached across the desk and touched one of Frank’s arms. That seemed to jolt him out of his misery. He looked up at Thea and met her gaze.

  “Frank, Ezra works for the people who own this garage. It’s why he came to town in the first place,” she told Frank softly.

  Frank’s eyes widened, and he turned to look at Ezra, his gaze finally clear. “You do?”

  Ezra nodded. “I’m a troubleshooter for the corporation that owns this garage, among other things, and I’ve been traveling around, trying to clean up certain operations that have been involved in illegal or immoral activities. The new ownership wants everything legal and above board. I came here because of the drug smuggling.”

  Frank began to shake his head again. “I’m so sorry.” This was one defeated werewolf. Ezra was very much afraid that last night’s revelations had all been too much for Frank. They’d broken him. “That pretty lady had me wrapped around her finger, and I did whatever she wanted. The money from the smuggling went to her. I have all the information here.” Frank stood and went over to a filing cabinet against the wall. He brought back a stack of folders and a set of ledger books, handing them to Ezra. “I see now it was wrong, but I just…didn’t…at the time.”

  “It’s likely that she used magic on you,” Thea told Frank gently.

  She was a lot better at handling the fragile old werewolf than Ezra would have been. It was good to have her here, helping. Normally, by now, Ezra would’ve had someone like Frank gibbering and anything he said would’ve been useless until he calmed down.

  Thea’s words seemed to bring the old guy hope. His eyes widened as if he hadn’t thought that far ahead, and he seemed to sit up a little straighter when he retook his seat at the desk.

  “Regardless of how, this happened on my watch, and I take responsibility. I think it’s time I hung up my wrench regardless. I haven’t done much of the actual work around here in years. The younger men are the mechanics now. They need a younger boss who understands the computerized engine parts. I respectfully resign,” Frank said with the shreds of his dignity gathered close.

  Ezra nodded gravely. “While I know you did a good job with this place for many years, I will accept your resignation on behalf of my employer. I’m sorry, Frank, but we need someone in charge here that’s above reproach.”

  Frank stood, nodded once and turned to leave. “I live in town. If you need me for anything—or to answer for what’s happened here on my watch, you know where to find me. I’m not leaving. Not running. I’ll answer for my actions, if you deem it necessary.”

  “I respect that, Frank,” Ezra said, impressed by the old timer’s resolute attitude. “Thank you.”

  Unless he found something Frank was truly culpable for, Ezra didn’t think there would ever be any need to take him up on that offer. Ezra was in favor—especially in light of the magical interference here—to let bygones be bygones and just start fresh with new management. That was if he could convince the man he had in mind for the job to give it a try.

  But that would come later. For now, he had work to do.

  Thea was a great help in going through the books and files. She had a good nose for faulty accounting and managed to find a few places in the cooked books where money had been laundered and otherwise hidden from legitimate channels. Not only was the shop being used as a way station for drug shipments making their way northward to Canada, but it was also laundering money for the same endeavor.

  “It looks like this all started about two years ago, when there’s a notation of Sarella first showing up in the records,” Thea said about an hour later. She and Ezra had taken over the office and wer
e doing their best to untangle the records. “It looks like she was a regular visitor, coming through town for about two weeks each month. At least, as far as I can tell from this.”

  “We should ask Chase,” Ezra said, his mouth forming a grim line. He hated to call the local Alpha on the carpet so soon after his rude awakening, but it couldn’t be helped. This mess needed cleaning up, and the sooner, the better.

  Ezra got up and leaned out the office door. The mechanics were hard at work. They’d all seen Frank leave, but they still had clients to serve and work to do. Ezra was glad to see them all back at work today. He’d sort through their involvement, one by one, but for now, the fact that they’d all shown up for work boded well for them. To Ezra, that meant that they probably hadn’t been cooperating with Sarella out of their own volition, but he’d judge each case on its own merits once he had all the evidence sorted out.

  “Anybody know where Chase is likely to be this time of day?” Ezra asked the group of wolves gathered in the nearest repair bay.

  “Pool hall, most likely,” one of the younger men answered.

  “You got a number I could call? I need to talk with him,” Ezra said in what he hoped was a reasonable tone. No sense making the werewolves think Ezra was going after their Alpha now.

  “Sure,” the same young man answered, moving closer and reciting the phone number from memory.

  Ezra thanked him and ducked back into the office, closing the door behind him. He used the office phone to dial the number. It was answered on the third ring by a female voice. Ezra asked for Chase and was told to hold. Less than a minute later, Chase came on the line. Sounding much subdued, the Alpha offered to come by the garage so they could discuss matters, and Ezra rang off, looking at the phone’s handset in puzzlement before replacing it back into the cradle on the desk.

  “How did he sound?” Thea asked as she came back into the room holding two steaming cups of coffee.