You Complete Me (5 page)

“You liked it. If I’m out of line, then tell me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” She’d make sure she kept her heart guarded. Still, she did like having a gentleman with her instead of bossy Ben. “Thank you.” She stretched out beside him on the bed. She needed to sleep, but having a sexy man in her bed tempted her to change her mind about him.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be right here.” He kissed the side of her head. “Promise.”

“You’re a dork.”

“I’m your dork. You captured me and I don’t think you’re going to let me go any time soon.”
You’ve got me and I don’t want to go.

She bit back a gasp. No doubt he’d intended for her to hear his thoughts. She wanted to say something, but what? She didn’t appreciate knowing he was attracted to her.

“Sleep, Hunter. We’ll need our strength.”

Now he wanted to talk when she could hear him out loud. She closed her eyes. Sleep did sound good. She snuggled in Hagan’s arms. Thinking he could possibly be hers didn’t seem right, but she had to believe. She’d grown to like Hagan. The Hunter and the Vampire—not logical, but very special.

Emily rolled over onto her side and clutched the pillow. She breathed in the scent of her detergent on the pillowcase. She was safe at home. She moved her foot and nudged Hagan. The vampire was still there. She blinked and flopped onto her back. Her nerve endings tingled. Would he object if she touched him? She kept her thoughts masked and glanced over at his body. Despite him being dead during the day, his cock wasn’t asleep. Not a bit. His erection tented the sheets.

Should she reach for him? Would he enjoy her touch? She snorted. She’d been indecisive for so long. Time to take what she wanted. Emily slid her hand over his chest, learning the planes of his pecs. The coolness of his skin didn’t jive with the solid muscle under her fingertips. Her own body warmed. Her nipples beaded and she longed for his hands on her. She rolled onto her side and against his hip. He’d worn his pants to bed, so she moved the jeans aside. The denim parted and she wrapped her fingers around his cock.

“Emily, you’re going to drive me insane.” Hagan groaned. “Don’t start without finishing.”

“You want me to finish?” She stroked him, loving the way he bucked his hips into her movements.

“I do.” He gripped the bedding. “I need you.”

“I need you, too.” She let go of him and sat up. Power radiated through her. She wanted him inside her. Craved him. She whipped her shirt up over her head. “Make love to me.”

“Emily?” He opened his eyes and stared at her. “I won’t be able to stop if we start.”

“I know.” She stood long enough to shuck her sleep shorts and underwear. Sex was a very intimate act for her, and she wanted him to be very much involved, not just going along with the motions. She moved the sheets out of the way, and climbed onto the bed between his knees. She tried to pull his pants down, but he stopped her.

“Just a moment, hon.” He grinned and moved his legs. He shoved the pants to the floor and then removed his shirt.

Emily gasped. The man reminded her of a pale statue, all strength and muscle in perfect proportion. He reached for her. “Come here.” With his help, she straddled his lap. His cock throbbed against her clit. She shivered. Being with him shouldn’t have felt so good, but the warm fuzzy sensations overwhelmed her.

Hagan grasped her hips and helped her onto his cock. He filled her completely. The pressure and fullness washed over her. She whimpered and tipped her head back.

“My Goddess.” Hagan palmed her breasts, rolling her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.

Heat pooled in her lower belly. She groaned. “Hagan.” She rocked forward and back, pushing him deeper into her pussy. She felt him everywhere.

“Emily.” Hagan flipped them over, pinning her beneath him. His eyes flashed silver and he bared his teeth. His thrusts increased. He hummed and groaned. “I need you.”

She gazed into his eyes. Impulse took over. She nodded. “Feed from me.” She wasn’t even sure where the words came from, but she meant them. “Please.” She offered her neck. “Take me.”

She closed her eyes. Having her entire body bared freed her.

“Mine.” Hagan buried his teeth in her throat. The pull on her vein resonated to her core. She grabbed his ass. She’d known life without the vampire, but she could swear with him she’d learn to love.

Mate.

What the hell? She opened her eyes. “Hagan?”

He nuzzled her neck, and then froze. “What?” he said, panting.

“Did you speak to me?”

“No.” He licked her skin. “I haven’t spoken.” He tipped his head to the side. “What did you hear?”

“Never mind. It was the wind.” She pressed her lips together. Right on the edge of orgasm, she must’ve been imagining the voice.

His frown deepened. He didn’t say anything for a moment, and then braced himself on his hands and knees. He resumed thrusting.

Emily arched her back. She’d felt every inch of him inside her before, but everything seemed more on edge. Every ripple and vein on his cock caressed her. Her nipples tightened. She clenched her cunt lips, holding him in.

Mate.

Someone was talking to her, but the orgasm was too close. She let go of his ass and clutched the sheets. “Hagan. Now.”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he surged forward and emptied his seed in her pussy. He growled, and buried his face against her neck.

She trembled and gasped for breath. She’d made love before and even thought she’d been head over heels attracted to another person, but not the way she did with Hagan. Something had changed between them. They weren’t just friends or lovers. Someone had talked to them.

Hagan pulled out of her and settled beside her. He nuzzled her shoulder. “Thank you.”

“For?” She glanced over at him. “My blood?”

“For allowing me to be in your home. For giving me a second chance when others would’ve let me die and for offering up your body when I know it’s hard for you to let anyone in.” He kissed her neck where he’d bitten her. “We were meant to find each other.”

According to the voice, she’d found her mate. She didn’t understand how. She’d never talked to the Sources. She wasn’t even sure if Hunters took mates. That didn’t matter. She had right now with Hagan and she’d savor those moments.

The next evening, Hagan awoke next to Emily. He grinned. She’d curled against his side and balled her fist on his chest. He thought about when they’d made love. He knew exactly what she’d heard. The Goddess had come to them and blessed the joining. He tucked his free arm behind his head. He hadn’t expected the Goddess to ever bless him, but to join him with a Hunter? Someone had a screwed up sense of humor.

Not sick, but twisted. She could kill him. She hadn’t and he’d definitely fallen into something deeper than simple attraction with her. She wasn’t like Ava. When she decided to do something, she went full on. He might not live to see another day immersed in the world of the Hunters if one of the others found out he was with her, but at least she wouldn’t screw him over.

“Hagan, you’re thinking too hard.” Emily sighed. She rubbed her nude body against his, sending shivers down his spine. “My room is full of smoke from your thoughts.”

“Ha-ha.” He tugged her onto his chest to straddle him. He loved the feeling of her silky skin against his. He wanted to stay just like that—cuddled up with her softness—forever. “Your mind is working overtime, too.” He smoothed her hair from her eyes. Making love all day and night would be fun, but wouldn’t help the overall situation. He needed to switch his attention from their being naked together to getting her to open up to him. “Talk to me, Hunter. What are you worrying about?”

“We need to make contact with Laing.” She sat up, but stayed on his lap. The sheet fell around her body, revealing her chest.

The woman knocked his socks off—if he’d have been wearing socks. God, she had a beautiful body…and now she wanted him to concentrate. Shit. “How is meeting up with him going to help us?” he asked and palmed her breast.

“If he’s the powerful vampire that Maslow is afraid of, then we need to be where he is. Either he’ll kill us or, if I’m right, he’ll protect us.” She shrugged, but closed her hand over his. She didn’t push him away. “I’ve opened myself up to a world of hurt by sleeping with you. The other Hunters who have gone Rogue will kill me. We can’t chance being here for much longer.”

Crap. He’d put her in danger. What was it with him? When he found women he liked, he subjected them to hurt and possible death. He let go of her breast and scrubbed both hands over his face. “Do you have a bead on where he might be?”

“I checked your searches on my tablet. I’ve got a general location. That mansion is still standing, despite the public notice it was supposed to be condemned. If he’s anywhere, he’s there.” She scooted off his lap and stood. Her bare butt swayed as she walked to the dresser. “We need to be where he is if we want to survive.”

“I’ll follow you anywhere.” Hagan snatched his clothes off the floor and dressed, but as he did, he snuck glances over at her. She moved with such grace and dignity…and so sexy. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed to find her, but he wasn’t going to let her go. The Hunters and Rogues could try to split them up, but he wasn’t going to give in.

When he’d dressed and Emily had gathered supplies for her pack, he followed her to the garage.

“Everything I own of value is in the back of the Jeep.” She chuckled, but he didn’t feel the happiness. “My life has been reduced to boxes and a gunny sack.”

“I’m sorry, hon.” He sat beside her. “I never wanted to put you in harm’s way.”

“I know.” She twisted the key, engaging the engine. “Ready?”

“You’re sure we won’t attract attention?” A guy in her car might not be bad, but someone would figure out he wasn’t just any man.

“I’m allowed to have passengers in my Jeep.” She backed down the drive. “I shouldn’t be under surveillance right now, but if I am, you’re a guy I picked up last night at a bar in Falls View. Got it?”

“I got it.”

“And just in case someone thinks they recognize you…” She reached behind his seat and handed him a baseball cap. “Wear this and relax. The more you freak out, the more likely we’ll be caught. Act naturally.”

“Point taken. Let’s go.” Hagan adjusted the hat and sank low in the seat. He rode in silence, not really paying attention to their surroundings. If he had a heart, it would’ve been pounding. Good Goddess. They were going to the place that could be his salvation or their undoing. If caught, death lingered close behind. If Laing wasn’t on the level, death was imminent. Running and living in hiding was starting to sound pretty good.

“The level of intel I got on Laing is that he’s a Rogue fighting the Maslow faction of Rogues.” Emily gripped the steering wheel. “Seems like everyone is a Rogue.”

“Sounds like he’s not an actual rogue, but a Defender.”

“I agree. He’s got at least one other shifter who was originally in service as a Defender for a Seer. That’s probably what Ava found out. They’re trying to save Supers. If everything checks out, then we need to bring them the info you have, too.”

“Unless they’re connected to Maslow,” Emily said. “We have no real proof he is or isn’t.”

“True.”

“I remember when Maslow came onto the scene. Everyone thought he was nuts. Hunters only killed bad Supers. Checks and balances. Then he got to talking about how Supers could go bad. Not just from going mad because they’d lost their mate or because they’d been driven crazy, but because they were innately evil. People started questioning their best friends and all because he talked with such slickness. Who does that? Who convinces their friends that they’re all evil?”

“Someone with a sick mind. Paranoid people.” He slipped her hand into his and held on tight. She’d been fighting for too long and needed a break. He wanted to give her that break.

“Yeah.” Emily sighed.

His emotional heart went out to her. Thinking that what you had been trained to do was all wrong had to suck. She wasn’t doing anything wrong by keeping the evil off the streets, but if Maslow was interpreting good versus evil, they were all fucked.

“If it helps, not all the Supers are bad, just as not all of the Hunters are bad. You’re not evil.” He kissed her knuckles. “Promise.”

“But I could be.”

“I know you’re not.”

“No you don’t. For all you know, I could be an assassin sent to put you in your comfort zone before I destroy you and everyone you love.” Her hand trembled and she pulled away from him.

She was trying to be tough and sound harder than she needed to be. “Do you really want me to buy that? I’ve been in your head and seen your heart. You’re scared. You’re trying to prove yourself to the world because the world you know is falling apart.” He turned in his seat and faced her. “When I lost Ava, I thought that was it. I was done and couldn’t go on. Then I got this second chance with you. I’m not squandering it.”

“Hagan.”

“I’m serious. You’re pushing me away while every cell in your body wants to pull me close. You’ve been scarred by the past. Me, too. If we stay strong together, we
can
move forward.” Being honest with himself and her freed him. He wasn’t strapped to Ava’s memory or the things they’d done. He could forge a new future with Emily.

“You actually believe we can do this?”

How could she doubt him? He’d never been surer in his life or un-deadness. “I do. Completely.”

“Remember that when you see your girl.” She nodded. “We’re at the mansion.”

At the mansion? He glanced out the window. Sure enough, they were in the sweeping half moon driveway of a large home. He’d never seen a house so big. “Wow.”

Hagan drummed his fingers on the Jeep door. He didn’t understand what she meant about seeing his girl. He had his girl right next to him. Ava wasn’t his any longer. He’d been on the fence about her for so long, but the more he busted Emily into emotional pieces, the harder he fell for her. Ava didn’t matter. “How exactly are you planning to get in? We can’t break down the front door.”

Emily grinned. “You.”

“Me? I don’t follow.”

“Yeah, you go to the front door. They’ll accept you way faster than they’ll ever let me in.”

“Hon, that’s really ballsy.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“No, but—”

“Then that’s what we’re doing. I go balls to the wall. If you’re with me, then that’s the plan.”

“No guns.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t bring weapons. Good faith show. No armaments.”

“Uh-let me think…no. I’ll leave my guns in the Jeep, but I’m bringing my butterfly knife.”

“Honey, I’m just as deadly as any of them. Until the sun rises, I’ve got vampire power and can kick ass. Plus, I’ve got something even stronger to live for.”

“What’s that?”

“You.”

****

Emily gritted her teeth. No guns. At least he was letting her bring her knife.

Good Lord.

She needed something to protect herself. Yeah, he was dangerous, but they were outnumbered. She climbed out of the Jeep and followed him. At least her guns were in the vehicle in case they needed to flee. She wondered if her little Jeep could outrun a vampire horde?

Hagan marched right up to the front door. He pressed the bell. Bright lights flooded the space around them. Emily blinked and shielded her eyes with her hand. The overwhelming illumination reminded her of bright daylight. Any cover they’d managed was blown.

The door opened a crack. “Hello.” Emily couldn’t see the person on the other side of the barrier.

“Hi,” Hagan began. “My name is Hagan. I’m a vampire and trying to keep from getting killed. I set out for here a while back with my friend Ava. Is she here? Did she make it?”

“Who is the young lady with you?” The person sounded male.

“I’m Emily Cross.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m a Hunter.”

“Leave.” The door slammed shut.

Oh hell no.
Emily snorted.
I did not come here to have the door thrown in my face.

Hagan whipped around and glared at her. His eyes blazed.
You need to slow down. Have some finesse with them. I need them to trust you and they won’t if you go off half-cocked.
His fangs elongated.
You have to trust me.

Shit. She’d screwed up. Sorry wouldn’t be enough. Tears burned behind her eyes. She wasn’t much of a crier, but she hated screwing up.
Hated.

The door creaked open once again. This time, a man stood in the doorway. “I’m Kynan Laing. Either you’ve come here for revenge or to be killed,” he said softly. “Which is it?”

“Mr. Laing, my name is Hagan Dean. My friend, Emily, and I are here to join your group. I started out on my way here with my girlfriend at-the-time, Ava. We were separated. Have you seen her?”

“Ava Grant?”

“Yes. Do you know her?”

“Hagan?” A brunette woman pushed past Kynan. “Oh my Goddess. You’re not dead.” She threw her arms around him. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

He hugged her back and closed his eyes. “I missed you, too, silly girl.”

Emily fought back wave after wave of jealousy. He’d said Ava wasn’t his future, but she knew this moment would come. He’d see his old flame and all the feelings would come back. She trusted the good thing she had with Hagan, but still she couldn’t keep the green-eyed monster at bay.

“Let’s move inside. It’s not safe out here.” Kynan opened the door wider and ushered them all into the foyer of the house.

“Who is this?” Ava disengaged from him. “I’m Ava.”

“Emily.” Should she shake hands?

Ava smiled again. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m sure,” Emily replied. Jealousy and panic crept into her mind. God, she hated feeling so off-kilter.

“I need to be sure you’re not a threat.” Kynan rested his hands on his hips. “Both of you.”

“No, they’re fine.” Ava linked arms with Hagan. “I know in my heart everything will be fine.”

Kynan nodded. He stepped back, allowing Ava and Hagan to leave the room. He stepped in front of Emily, keeping her from moving. He glanced over his shoulder and waited for Ava and Hagan to get out of earshot.

“Hunter, I want to trust you. I do, but I’m very uneasy. I don’t want to be played. Understood?”

“I understand. I’m not here to dick you over. I’m very fond of Hagan. I can’t handle seeing him hurt.” She couldn’t handle being hurt, either.

“I know what you are—you’re not just a Hunter, but you’re a Seer, as well. I knew of your parents. Your father was a gifted Hunter. You don’t have the visions like your mother, but you’re gifted.”

“Thanks.” He knew about her and her folks? Then why did he try to toss them out?

“Just because I knew them doesn’t mean I can trust you. You need to think, lead with your heart and make decisions you won’t regret. We’re all in this as a team or you’re not in this at all. I’m keeping my eye on you.”

The ferocity in his voice resonated in Emily’s mind. Kynan wasn’t dangerous to the other Supers, but he’d make sure Maslow paid. “I hope you do watch me.”

“You love him.” Kynan folded his arms.

“I’m not sure,” she said, admitting the truth. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about Hagan, other than she liked him a lot and the sex they shared was off the charts.