“Harder,” she urged. “Faster.”
Increasing the tempo, he did as she asked, moaning. Driving them higher. She knew he was close when he gathered her to his chest, hips pumping furiously. She clung to his back, her own release building until—
She shattered with a cry, pulsing around his length. Her release triggered his and he came with a hoarse shout, sinking himself as deeply as possible. He stayed there, convulsing, holding her close, until at last they were spent. Then a bit longer as they came down from the high, kissing the curve of her neck.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
* * *
Mac came awake slowly. It took her a moment to realize she was still lying on the floor in the corridor of Block R—and that someone had placed her on a cot and put a pillow under her head. She was grateful for the kindness.
It took her another moment to realize that her sex was wet and warm, and she squirmed in discomfort. Lord, she hoped she hadn’t been dreaming out loud! Twisting, she saw A.J. sitting a few feet away, resting against the wall with his eyes closed, rifle propped beside him. He didn’t know she was awake yet, so she settled again to let herself wake up.
She’d been dreaming of Kalen. Of their first time making love, in the Wall-Banger Motel, right after the Sluagh had attacked them outside the Cross-eyed Grizzly. That was when they’d made their child together, and no matter what happened, she could never regret it.
Tears pricked her eyes and she finally sat up, searching the inside of Kalen’s cell. He was lying on the bare mattress, asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly. He looked alone and forlorn. It was so far from the beautiful memory of their first lovemaking, and all the times they’d been together since then, that it made her ache inside.
A.J.’s low voice broke through her sorrow. “You’ve both been out for a while.”
“What time is it?”
“Two in the morning.”
“I’m sorry,” she said contritely. “I didn’t mean to keep you here this late. I know you’re ready to fall into your own bed.”
He shrugged. “Got nobody in my bed to make it worthwhile, so I’m just as good staying here, guarding you and Kalen.”
She was touched. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, watching Kalen. “Melina and Noah brought you the cot and pillow. Said to tell you that Nix is gonna be fine. He’s dehydrated and traumatized, but nowhere near as bad as the shape Micah was in when he was found. He was cracking lame jokes in the emergency room, trying to take the edge off the emotional situation.”
She smiled in spite of everything. “That sounds like Nix. He reminds me a lot of Aric.”
A.J. snorted. “God help us all, then.”
“Not with the snark, necessarily. He’s got a quick wit that’s cutting like Aric’s, but he’s funny at the same time. He’s got the most generous soul of anyone I’ve ever met, and that’s saying a lot considering everyone in the Pack. And he’s a notorious womanizer, too. As soon as he’s healed, I’m sure he’ll round up all the single guys and head to Vegas to party.”
“I’ll be sure not to miss that trip.” He winked at her, and she laughed.
“So, no special lady for you? A.J.’s not going to be the next bachelor to fall?”
“Not on your life,” he said with a cocky smile. “I’ve seen what true luuuv does to you guys, and you’re all insane. I’ll pass, thanks.”
“Hmm. He doth protest too much.”
“Say that with a mouthful of crackers.”
She giggled. She hadn’t really gotten to know A.J. before, and she found she liked him. He was good company, if a bit taciturn sometimes. Though he certainly wasn’t being that way right now, with her.
A low growl caught their attention, and she looked through the bars to see Kalen glaring at A.J. Pushing from the bed, he stalked forward, a bit awkwardly with his hands bound behind his back. Wincing, she hoped his shoulders weren’t too strained from sleeping like that.
He walked up to the bars, leaning his chest against them. His eyes never left the other male’s. “Mine.”
Mac’s breath caught. If he was aware enough to reassert his claim on her to the other man, then there was hope she could reach him. “Yes, mate,” she said softly. “I’m yours.”
His green gaze went to hers, and she saw that his eyes were no longer the slitted ones of his cat. They were no longer feral, but sad. “My mate.”
“Yours.”
“Need you.”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t let him out,” A.J. told her. “You can’t trust him yet.”
The knowledge scored her heart. “I need you too,” she said, her voice catching. “But you have to stay there for now.”
“Need you,” he repeated plaintively.
But the battle in his soul still raged. Though there were no outward signs of anger, she could tell by his difficulty forming his thoughts into words that he was struggling. He still wasn’t “all there” and she couldn’t risk herself, their child, or the others.
“You’ll have me soon. I’m here.”
“Stay?”
“I will, promise.”
“What’s happening to me?” he whispered. “Why am I here?”
She bit her lip to keep from bawling. The good side of him had battled to the surface and couldn’t understand. When he’d lost it at that research facility, the rush of darkness had been too much. It had damaged something inside him, and she prayed he could recover.
“You’re not well, love. We’re trying to help you, but you have to try hard, too. Do you understand?”
“No. I want out.”
“I’m sorry.”
Head hanging, he slid to the floor and rested his head against the bars. He didn’t move again for a long time.
Mac sat on her cot and cried, hot, silent tears of misery.
* * *
The cold bars of the cell pressed into Kalen’s forehead. He sat still and tried to understand what was going on. Struggled to remember.
Why was he locked away like an animal? What had he done?
Flashes of memory assaulted him, but they were from other times, long past. Bad nights when he sold his body for a few dollars or a crummy meal. That was awful, but nobody had been hurt. Well, nobody but himself.