Rain Shadow Book 3 Read online

  “That’s a good idea. He might not be careless, but I know the man. He’d walk right in through those doors if he thought it would be worthwhile. Nothing scares him. Dreygon thinks he’s invincible, and sometimes, it seems he’s right.”

  The guard was a young guy who looked barely old enough to own a gun, but he had a uniform and a weapon and that should have been more than enough. Of course, we were talking about Dreygon Sharpe.

  The young guard smiled and nodded. “His grandfather is in there with him right now,” he said casually and then nearly leapt off his feet at our reaction.

  Luke slammed into the room. Jericho’s face was stiff with a mixture of fear and pain. My wicked grandfather was sitting slouched back in a chair with his feet resting on the metal edge of the hospital bed. His arms were back behind his head as if he was just having a casual chat, but the look on Jericho’s face showed the opposite. The guard walked into the room with his own look of terror as he now realized he’d screwed up.

  Dreygon smiled across the room. “Officer Buckley, how nice to see you. This is my granddaughter.” He looked over at Luke. “Sometimes being an old man has its perks. I mean we’re just a harmless bunch of old farts, right?”

  Luke whispered something to the officer and then motioned for him to leave, which he did with some enthusiasm.

  “Ahh, Angel,” Dreygon stared coldly at me, “now you’re safe and sound with the federal agent. Well, good for you.” He got up, and Luke stiffened next to me. “I’ve just finished my visit with Jericho, and I’ll leave you three alone . . . for now.”

  Luke pulled out his badge. “You’re not going anywhere. You’re under arrest for attempted murder.”

  “Attempted murder?” I had not missed his laugh. “Who did I attempt to kill?”

  “Jericho. He came in with a bullet in him. That’s plenty of evidence.”

  Dreygon nodded and walked over to Jericho’s bedside. Poor Richo had just gone through surgery, and now the devil himself had come to his room. “Tell the nice federal agent with the shiny important badge who shot you, Jericho.”

  Jericho looked as if he might puke any second. “It was J.D.. He’s the one who shot and beat me.”

  “You’ve threatened him into this,” Luke said.

  “Nope, not true.” Dreygon lifted his hands as if that futile gesture would make him completely innocent. “I had nothing to do with this boy’s injury. Now, you’ll need to call off your hound dogs, Barringer, because I’m on my way out of here. And I sure as hell don’t want a scene in the hospital.”

  Luke stuck his head out the door. “Call it off. Wrong man.” Frustration rolled off of him in waves as he stepped back into the room. He looked at Dreygon. “I’ll file for restraining orders for both Angel and Jericho today. Now leave this place before I forget protocol and just kill you where you stand.”

  Dreygon shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Such treatment and after I fed and housed you for all those weeks.” He stopped in front of me, and Luke tensed like a rubber band stretched to capacity. For a second there was that glimmer of the man who used to chase me around in a game of tag, the man who would make me laugh until I couldn’t catch my breath, the man who I once lovingly referred to as Grandpa. But it was only a glimmer, and it was so fleeting, I would have missed it if I’d blinked. He walked out of the room. I raced over to Jericho’s side. I climbed onto the bed and put my arms around him.

  “I’m never going to be free of him, Evie. He’s like this plague that never leaves. I want out of all this. The club life has its perks, but Dreygon has made it hell. I’m done with it.”

  Luke stepped forward. “We’re going to have to get you both away from here for awhile, and I’ve got some ideas. The doctor said you’ll be here for a few more days. I’ll see if we can get a more experienced guard outside your door. Then be ready. You’re not in the clear yet, and as we’ve just seen, Dreygon isn’t an easy person to catch.”

  I leaned my head on Jericho’s shoulder. “It’s going to be all right, Richo. We’re going to be free of him soon.”

  Chapter 14

  Luke

  The house was quiet except for Angel’s soft breathing and the clock ticking in the living room. I turned on my side and watched her sleep. Having her at home with me was almost too unreal to fathom, and after our tumultuous time at the compound, it was still hard to rest easy. We were together and, at the moment, free from Dreygon, but we could never let our guards down.

  She made a tiny sound, and without opening her eyes pushed her long legs free of the covers. Her long creamy thighs stretched out below the hem of one of my t-shirts. Her hair was a tousled sexy mess, and even in the shade of night, I could see that the color had returned to her face and lips. I hadn’t done more than hold her since I’d pulled her from Dreygon’s talons. She’d been weak and sick, and it had taken all my control but I’d left her alone. Now seeing her bare legs and dressed only in my t-shirt, my sainthood was over. I needed her badly.

  Then, as if she’d read my thoughts, she reached over, her long lashes still shading her cheeks as her fingers wrapped around my wrist. She took my hand, tucked it beneath the hem of the t-shirt and lowered it against the soft skin of her belly. She turned her head and opened her eyes. “Touch me, Luke,” she whispered.

  My hand smoothed down her skin and beneath her panties. A gentle sigh puffed from her lips as my fingers slid over her hot pussy. She rolled over and faced me. Her hand reached up and rested on my face, and her eyes drifted shut as my finger massaged the warm, moist folds. Her long leg came up, and she dropped it over my waist, opening herself farther to my touch, and I wanted to touch every inch of her. I’d missed the way she felt, her naked skin, her lips, her hot pussy. I missed being inside of her.

  I moved toward her and my mouth covered hers as my fingers probed the hot moisture between her legs. Her hand reached down, and her long fingers wrapped around my hardened cock. I pushed against her touch, knowing full well that I could lose control just being in her hand.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” her mouth pressed against my shoulder as she spoke. She pushed against my hand, wanting to take me deeper inside. “When I thought that I’d never feel your hands on me again,” her words broke off. The reality was still too new for her. She’d spent days thinking I was dead, gone forever. If the tables had been turned, I couldn’t imagine what torture it would have been to think she was dead. I would have gone mad with anguish.

  I kissed her and tasted salt from her tears. I pulled my mouth away and put my hand against her face. “Shh, Baby, I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.” I pulled her hand from my cock and kissed her palm. “Relax.” My thumb moved against her clit, and my fingers stroked the inside of her slick pussy. I slid my free hand beneath her naked bottom and I pushed a finger into her ass. She tensed for a second and then moved against the pressure. Her hips moved feverishly against my hands in both directions. She clutched at my arms and her breath came in short anxious spurts. “God, Luke,” she cried out as she came.

  She rolled onto her back and she spread her legs as I leaned down over her. Her legs came up around my waist, and I slid one hand beneath her ass and pushed her pussy up higher. She arched her back to meet me as I slid inside of her. All of it felt right again. I was with Angel, right where I needed to be.

  Chapter 15

  Luke

  Sunlight pierced the edges around the mini-blinds, and I rolled over and faced an empty pillow. I shot up out of bed and pulled on my jeans. My fear of losing her was making me paranoid, and I assured myself that she was just in the bathroom or kitchen. The bathroom was empty. I went out to the kitchen and front room. The coffee pot was on, but she wasn’t there.

  “Angel!” I yelled, but there was no answer. I raced to the front door and yanked it open and then tried to convince myself that I wasn’t a complete fool. Angel was leaning in the window of the police car handing over a cup of coffee to the officer in the passenger seat.


  The grass was still cold and wet as I walked across it in bare feet. Angel straightened and smiled at me. There was no way I could be angry at a face like that.

  The officer lifted his cup to me in thanks, and I nodded in response. It took Angel a second to realize that my breathing was just returning to normal. “I’m sorry. I guess you saw an empty bed and . . .”

  “I ran around like a rooster with my tail on fire? Yeah, that’s what happened. But you’re fine, and I’m going to stop being so worried.” She waved good-bye to the policemen and took hold of my hand. We walked back into the house.

  “I’m sorry if I scared you. I won’t let it happen again. They just looked so bored out there sitting in their car, and I’d made an extra big pot of coffee.”

  “Apology accepted.” I pulled her into my arms. Now that I had her back with me, I remembered that it was physically impossible not to touch her when she was near. “Let’s go back to bed.”

  Loud footsteps padded down the hardwood floor of the hall. Seth was just hanging up his phone as he walked into the room. “Well, that’s it. I’ve been called back to work.” He plopped onto the chair. “I’m going to miss all this intrigue and danger. Feels like I took a vacation and popped into a suspense movie.”

  “You’ll be hundreds of feet under the ocean beneath steel pylons with the constant threat of electrocution or drowning hanging over you. Don’t you think that’s enough danger for one lifetime?”

  “That? I hardly ever think of it. It’s just a job.” He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. “I still think you’d all be better off staying out on the boat with me. Water doesn’t leave a scent trail, if you know what I mean.”

  “Seth, do you want some coffee? I made a tanker full,” Angel asked.

  “Yes please.”

  I plunked down on the couch and watched her long, smooth legs move across the floor to the kitchen.

  “So,” Seth snapped his fingers to draw my attention back to him. “You’re sure going up to Gage’s place is the way to go?”

  Angel returned with a cup of coffee for Seth and sat on the couch close enough that her thigh pressed against mine. That slight gesture sent my head spinning.

  “Well?” Seth asked again.

  “Yeah, Seth,” I said sharply, “I think it would just be easier up at the ranch. Besides, Gage is there.” The stupid comment had left my mouth before I had a chance to stop it.

  He stood abruptly. “Real nice. I’m not good enough protection.”

  “Come on, Seth. That’s not what I meant, it’s just—”

  He raised a brow at me. “Go on, it’s just what?”

  “Shit, I don’t know, Seth. Let’s face it, the fucking grizzly bears run when they see Gage coming.” That explanation wasn’t the least bit helpful.

  “Well, I’m out of here tonight. Since you don’t need me anymore, I’m going in to pack.” Seth headed to the hallway.

  “Seth,” Angel placed her coffee cup down and got up from the couch. She walked over and put her arms around him and then hopped up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for being here.”

  He shot me a satisfied smirk and kissed the top of her head before heading into his room.

  Angel tried to scoot past me to return to her couch cushion, but I grabbed hold of her and pulled her down into my lap. “I think this is a better place for you to sit. I have to warn you,” I said as she rested her head against my chest, “I have a lot of catching up to do with this whole kissing and fondling you thing.” My hands moved beneath her shirt. Her silky skin felt warm beneath my fingers. “Hopefully, you won’t be too annoyed.”

  She laughed and curled tighter into my arms. “I’ll try and brace myself for the onslaught.” She reached up and ran her fingertips along my chin then she lifted her face up to mine and kissed me. Her mouth continued down to my ear and neck. She stopped and touched my earlobe. “You must have had an amazing doctor. This almost looks like a real ear.”

  “I did have an amazing surgeon. And as I recall—,” my hands slid up to her bra and my fingers pushed underneath it to her hardened nipple, “—I didn’t feel a thing. Her touch was like magic.”

  She moved her hand down between our bodies, and she rubbed it over my throbbing erection as it pressed against my jeans. My head dropped back against the couch, and my eyes drifted shut as she unbuttoned my fly, reached into my pants and took hold of my cock. “Reno?”

  “Uh huh?” I didn’t lift my head or open my eyes.

  “When will this onslaught begin?”

  “I think now is not too soon.” I lifted her in my arms and carried her into my bedroom. I lowered her feet to the ground as I kicked the door shut. And then without taking another breath, I had her pressed up against the wall. I yanked off her shirt and grabbed both her wrists. I held them above her head as my mouth devoured hers. I held her hands with one hand and then reached down and yanked her shorts to the floor with the other. Her panties came with them. She was naked in my grasp pinned between my body and the wall, and I’d never wanted anything so badly in my life. She wriggled her hands, but I held her tightly. I needed to touch her, to devour her first, otherwise I was going to lose control. Just her hand on my cock was too much. She peered up at me with a look that resembled the fevered look she’d had before, but this was a whole different kind of body heat.

  With my free hand, I pushed my jeans down below my hips and my hard cock sprang free. I pushed my thighs between her naked legs and spread them wider. The raw need that had overtaken me pushed aside all restraint. I had no patience for foreplay or coaxing. I had to have her. She gasped as my free hand slid around her naked ass. I pulled her up by her arms and pressed my body between her legs. She responded by bringing her legs up around my waist. I thrust inside of her, hard and fast. I knew I was being rough, almost punishing, and I’d taken no precaution of a condom, but I couldn’t stop myself. Then a plea came from her lush lips. “Harder, Reno, harder.”

  The chest of drawers along the wall vibrated as I pushed into her over and over again. She squeezed her legs tighter around me and bit her lip to stifle a cry as she came. I moved faster inside of her until my release came, hot and explosive. I pulled out and my seed dripped down her abdomen as I pressed my throbbing cock against her silky skin.

  I released her wrists, and she wrapped her hands around my neck. Her legs were still around my waist as I kissed her and carried her to the bed. I pushed off my jeans and stretched out next to her. Her body was warm and trembling slightly as I pulled her into my arms.

  “Guess I got a little carried away. I blame it on not having you for so long.”

  She smiled at me. “You have my permission to get carried away any time you want, Reno.”

  ***

  I heard Seth moving around in the kitchen. Angel was fast asleep. I kissed her cheek and slipped out of bed and got dressed. It was obvious from my brother’s expression that he was still pouting about our earlier discussion. “Look, Seth.”

  He continued undivided interest in the sandwich he’d made himself.

  “Gage’s place is more remote and it’s bigger and—”

  “Yeah, yeah, he can scare away bears.”

  I sighed. “Believe me, with the skill Dreygon has at hunting people down, we’ll probably be knocking at your door next and then you’ll be sorry. This is a big disruption, and you’ve got your own stuff going. You don’t need a bunch of us crowding you on your boat. Besides, Jericho will be on crutches for awhile.”

  He nodded, but he wasn’t at all convinced. I’d definitely hurt his feelings.

  “Look, I’m leaving for a little bit, and I’m putting Angel in your care.”

  He looked up from his sandwich for the first time. “You are?”

  “Yes. And there’s only one rule. No one, and I mean no one— I don’t care if a beautiful blonde shows up armed with blindfolds and whipping cream, — no one comes in that door.”

  “Not even if she has whipping c
ream?”

  “Not kidding, Seth. No one comes inside.”

  “Got it.”

  I grabbed my keys.

  “Where are you going?” he asked as I reached the door.

  “I need to go see a woman about a horse.”

  He stopped mid-chew. “Don’t you mean a man and shouldn’t you be heading that way?” He inclined his head toward the hallway.

  “Nope, this is going to include an actual conversation about a horse.”

  Chapter 16

  Angel

  The house was quiet as I stepped out of bed. I was still catching up on lost sleep, and my body was still recuperating from whatever dreaded germ I’d pick up on my escape from Bedlam. It seemed comical when I thought of it like that, reminding me of escaping from the lunatic asylum of historical London where chaos reigned and patients were treated like animals. I’d never realized until recently how appropriate the name was for Dreygon’s club.

  I crept down the hallway, and a light peeked around the corner of an open doorway. I poked my head inside. Luke was sitting on the edge of a large wooden desk looking down at what seemed to be a photo album. The lost expression on his face made me immediately want to comfort him. I stepped into the room, and the sadness washed away.

  “Hey, Sleepy, thought you’d never get up. This sounds hokey, but I actually miss you when you’re sleeping.”

  I walked over and leaned against the desk. “I don’t think that is hokey at all.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and looked down at the photo album. There were several pictures of teenage boys dressed in more mud than clothing. They had on motocross boots, chest protectors and goggles hung around their necks. And drenched as they were in mud, they looked unbelievably happy. Luke’s pale gray eyes were easy to spot peering out from the mud mask. “I see you and let me say you look just as adorable covered in mud.”