Salvaged Souls Read online

  “Honestly? I’m still angry as hell at Parker.”

  “Okay, anything else, my dear?”

  “I would imagine you know already. You wanna hear me say it, don’t you?”

  Her spirit guide just stared at her.

  “I’m about ready to jump out of my skin. Okay? I’m feeling all sorts of lusty inside. All I can think about is making love to him until I go blind. It’s pissing me off. I hate him for what he’s done to me.”

  “What he’s done to you? You’ve both experienced a miracle here. You literally dreamed each other into your worlds. You’ve connected on another plane, professed your love for each other, and mated by mutual consent.”

  “He bit me, marked me, and made me his own. He knew how I felt about it.” She bristled, thinking on the moment.

  “A statement uttered under the breath or in a heated argument, left unexplained, isn’t exactly being transparent, Shiloh. It’s simply confusing.”

  That smarted as strongly as a smack to the face. She couldn’t deny the truth of her statement. “I see your point.”

  “As with houses, you have an inaccurate perspective on our mating ritual. I’d like to explain it to you, so you can move on with or without Parker. I’m not here as his advocate. I’m here as yours.”

  “Go on.”

  “While making love, true mates will bite or mark each other. You believe it to be a sign of ownership, but Shiloh, Josiah’s influence warps the truth of it. It’s about proclaiming to the world this wolf is loved and protected by you. No one should threaten the bond or else suffer deadly consequences. You didn’t bite him, and you don’t have to. But by marking you, he’s cast a shield of protection around you so you never have to fear again. He will always be your strongest supporter, providing for you in all ways. Does this sound like ownership or a loving relationship you’d like to have in your life?”

  Shiloh sank to the ground and rubbed a paw against her forehead, stroking it down her snout. “I’ve made a big, ol’ mess of everything, haven’t I?”

  “No, not in the least. You’ve only awakened from a nightmare to find a knight in shiny fur waiting for you. It’s time to let Parker be the one for you.”

  Restless and anxious to make things right, she stood up to pace the cave. “I need to go.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  She stopped mid-stride. “I can’t stay wolf forever, can I?”

  “No, you need to share your time with your human. Remember, she didn’t stifle you. Josiah did. You both have the power now. You both are in control. Haven’t you been hidden away long enough? Compromise to make this relationship work.”

  Shiloh’s human itched beneath the surface to be released. “If we run, we can make it to town before midnight.”

  “Good choice. Time for me to go. When you need, use your wolf song to call me. I shall come.”

  “Thank you, Aquene. I think you may have just saved my life.”

  “I look forward to seeing you live it!” She howled and romped about Shiloh then faded into the cave wall, leaving Shiloh alone to race toward her future.

  She hadn’t noted where she was going when she bolted, but she thought Parker’d been close a time or two, so as she suspected, his residual scent led her straight to him. It was a long way back, too. By the time the moon reached its highest point in the sky, she came upon the Bread & Butter. Would he be there?

  No lights shone in the store, but what about his home? She’d have to go around the side to open the door. She’d have to go up the stairs and down the hall to knock on his door.

  The door to his apartment.

  Where he’d hopefully invite her in.

  And she’d walk inside without hesitation.

  Taking a deep breath then exhaling, she shifted into her human form to take the stairs two at a time. Please be home. Please be home. The only thing separating her from the love of her life was his damned door. So many things could go wrong with just one knock. But so many things could go right!

  Clenching her hand into a loose fist, she rapped on the door and waited. Not a sound from beyond let her know he’d heard her. She checked behind her, verifying a path for a quick exit then knocked a little stronger. “Parker, are you in there? It’s me, Shiloh. Parker?”

  Was that movement she heard? A faucet running, maybe? “Damn it! Parker, open up! Please!”

  Openhanded, she slapped at the door, over and over, finding not the least bit of enjoyment in the irony of being locked out instead of locked in.

  “Let me in.” Sobbing, Shiloh leaned her forehead against the door, wishing she could be a ghost and pass right through it. Exhausted, utterly defeated, she turned around and headed toward her own place, as her wolf. A door opened, and her ears perked up.

  “Shiloh?”

  He was home! He’d heard her! She spun around as she shifted to her woman, elated and frightened all at once. Opening a door was one thing, forgiving her another. What a vision he was, though, standing in the doorway, towel wrapped low upon his hips, his dark-chocolate skin dewy with moisture. His muscled chest twitching with power. Her mouth ran dry like a desert while she went wet with need.

  “Shiloh, are you all right?”

  She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. “I-I’ve come home. To apologize.”

  “Home? You’re not home yet.”

  “Wh-what do you mean?”

  He opened his arms and waved her to enter his space. Joy bubbled over, and she ran to him, where he picked her up to hold her in his protective embrace. “Now, you’re home.”

  She closed her eyes. Tears overflowed their moorings, burning hot trails down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been an idiot. I’m such a hot mess, I don’t know why you still want to have anything to do with me.”

  “I love you. It doesn’t get any simpler.”

  Sniffing then laughing, she eased back to gaze up at her mate’s beautiful face. There, behind his crystal-green eyes, she found the proof of his words.

  Leaning in, he kissed her, gently at first then his longing and relief barreled through her like a freight train. When he released her, he took a step into the foyer, his chest heaving. She followed him, entranced. He walked farther inside, to the couch in his living room. She sat beside him.

  “I don’t wanna spook you or anything, but you’re inside my apartment. You’re sitting on my couch.”

  “I know.” Sliding her arm around his waist, she snuggled against his warm, smooth body. “I’ve made some real progress today with my healing.”

  He hoisted her onto his lap, and every nuance of his need touched her through the towel while he nibbled on her exposed shoulder. “I’ll have to thank Zamirah in the morning.”

  “Oh, well, I kinda shooed her away, actually.”

  He stopped his feasting and gave her a puzzled look. “What?”

  “Yeah, I’ll have to apologize to her, too. Safe to say, I behaved badly.”

  “Hmm, I wouldn’t worry. She’s a forgiving woman. So what’s caused this turnaround?”

  “I was visited by my spirit guide. Had no idea I had one until tonight,” she half mumbled to herself. “Although, she did say I always had you, so she wasn’t needed during the time I was held captive. She wasn’t needed…until I left you.” Ashamed, she lowered her eyes. “She’s a wise one. She showed me how skewed my perspective has been because of…him.”

  “Then I must thank her!” He turned his attention to creating little fires of love along her collarbone, but she would not be distracted from what she needed to say.

  “Parker, listen.” Cupping his face in her hands, she stared him square in the eyes. “I’m sorry for so much. For not seeking to understand our rituals. For running from you, again. We’ve known each other for two years. I should have trusted in our bond. Whatever you would say or do would be for my benefit. I should’ve known you’d never hurt me.”

  He laid his hands over hers, squeezing lig
htly. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen better to you. I never meant to hurt you. I only wanted to show the world I loved you and you were under my protection. I wanted you to know in no uncertain terms you’ll never have to worry about your safety again. I’ve been told by women my dominant personality doesn’t leave room for other’s opinions or ways. It’s my way or no way. Probably why I’ve been single all this time. From here on out, it’s our way.”

  “I like the sound of that,” she said, her voice thick with desire. He lowered his lips to hers to exploit her response. When he finally released her, nerve endings rapid fired, and she squirmed, pressing herself on his hardened cock. Her need of him eclipsed all reason. If she didn’t get a piece of him within the next few minutes, she thought she’d go insane. “Parker?”

  “Hmmm?”

  She slithered her way down to the floor to sit before his legs. Her hands trailed up his shins, over his knees, and under the towel to peel it open, revealing the object of her desire. “I’m so done with talking right now.”

  Leaning forward, she guided her mouth to meet her hands as they wrapped around his shaft in a sensual embrace. She groaned, tasting her mate and wanting so much more. As she licked, sucked, and took him deeply into her mouth, he growled, cupping her head in his hands to slow her frantic pace. She luxuriated in the silky warmth of his throbbing penis, knowing he would soon use it to bring her to the most exquisite climax.

  “Baby, you’re killing me. Come here.” He stood and brought her with him. “You have way too many clothes on. Let me help you with that.”

  Piece by piece, he removed her clothes to reveal a body in stark, disfigured-alabaster contrast to his own. But she didn’t care anymore how damaged she was. He made her feel like the most precious gem in the jewelry case. With her T-shirt and bra torn clear off by his teeth, he traced delicate circles around her breasts until he reached her dark-pink nipples. He used his tongue to flick the hardened buds, to which she responded by mewling. and tossed her head back. He charted a trail down to her waist, where he wasted no time unzipping and pulling down her pants and panties, soaked with arousal.

  “Your skin, mmm.” His voice vibrated against her belly. “The perfect complement to mine. “Do you know you have constellations of freckles all over your body? Here’s one.” Just above her hip bone sat a small freckle, which he kissed. Then he moved to another by her belly button, and two others on her rib cage. “I’m not sure of the name of this one, but I’m sure it has one. I’ll have to search for it on the Internet someday.” He stood tall before her, his smoldering eyes setting her soul on fire. “Shiloh, I’m taking you to my bed now, and we’re not leaving it until we’re too sore to move, so then we’ll have to stay in my bed some more.”

  “I’m up for the challenge.” Her face flushed with desire.

  He swept her up in his arms. In just a few strides, laid her upon his bed. Like a canopy, he hovered above her, and she took him all in. This gargantuan man, so strong, so confident, so virile, had eyes only for her. She was ready to give everything she had to him. Raising her arms, she beckoned him to lie upon her. He obeyed. As skin touched skin, a sigh escaped her lips. So blessed. She wrapped her legs around him, opening herself for the ultimate union.

  He rubbed against her but wouldn’t enter. Instead, he rested his hardened shaft against her while focusing on her face. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he spoke in a voice hoarse with emotion. “When your wolf called to mine that first time, I came, expecting to rescue you from your hell. I was shocked to wake up the next morning to realize what felt so real was only a dream. Each night, I’d go, hoping to find a way to save you, and I’d fall deeper in love with you. Now, with you here, free, as a woman, I’ve fallen in love all over again. What man, what wolf, gets so lucky as to fall in love twice with the same one?”

  “I do. We’re doubly blessed.”

  He kissed her lips softly then teased her with his gentle prodding. “This time, you’re in charge. What do you want, baby?”

  Restless with need, she wrestled him underneath her and clasped his hands to bring them above his head. “I’m gonna ride you, cowboy. Show you how very blessed I feel.” Leaning in for a fiery kiss, she rubbed her hardened nipples against his chest. She moaned, writhing on top of him, creating waves of shivery sensations up and down her body.

  “Please, let me touch you, sweetness.”

  She sat up, pulling his hands with her, and laid them upon her breasts. Giving him a wicked smirk, she eased herself on his stiffened cock. Inch by excruciating inch, she lowered and raised herself again. He growled low as though warning her he didn’t have much control left. Just the way she wanted him because she had little time left before she climaxed. Slick from her heightened arousal, she quickened the pace, arching her back as he kneaded her breasts and twisted her nipples, sending her crying out, skyrocketing into oblivion. He moved his hands to grab her hips and bucked beneath her as he howled his own release.

  She collapsed on top of him, sweaty and spent. “Don’t move. Don’t do anything. Just stay inside me a little while longer.”

  “No argument from me.” He continued to pulse inside her for a few more minutes, creating shock waves deep inside her belly.

  Dozing off, she awakened several times during the night to find Parker bringing her body to flaming-hot levels. Other times, she scorched him.

  “I don’t know about you, Parker, but I think I’ve reached your goal. I’m sore in all the right places. I guess we get to stay in bed all day.”

  He traced lazy circles low on her spine then kissed the top of her head. “You know we have to open up at seven, right?”

  With a stealthy hand, she grasped one of the pillows tossed haphazardly about during their lovemaking and swatted him on the head.

  Chapter Nine

  Bread & Butter was a madhouse! A zoo! By noon, Parker had already called Bryan to place another full-stock order. He figured he might have to do this a couple of more times before everyone felt secure with their stocked pantries and refrigerators. At this rate, he’d have enough money banked to be able to build an addition onto the store next year.

  Shiloh was a real trouper, too. Neither had slept for more than a couple of hours the night before, and his store opened way too early in the morning. But who needed sleep when the love of your life, your mate was nearby? Cupid had shot a bull’s-eye on his heart.

  Half of his day, despite talking to customers or re-stocking the shelves, had been consumed with images of Shiloh naked in his bed, her fiery-red hair splayed across the pillow, her body open for him and him alone. The rest of the time, he’d snatched glimpses of her as she wove her way through the throngs or took control of the register. Every so often, her eyes would meet his, and she’d beamed with a full-on blush, exposing the sexiest dimples at the corners of her pouty mouth. He visited the freezer multiple times during the day just to get his hard-on under control.

  By evening, as the last of the customers dwindled to a few, he noticed the toll the day had taken on her, and he wasn’t happy. He set aside the loaves of bread he held and walked to her.

  “Hey, you did awesome today.” He hugged her then massaged her shoulders. “But you seem a bit out of sorts. What can I do for you?”

  “All these people today, being inside for so long…. I need to get out. Run. If I don’t, my wolf will tear this place apart.”

  “I totally understand.” He untied her apron and then his own. “I’m ready if you are.”

  “Parker, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I meant I need to run alone. Just me in the wilderness.”

  “I can’t let—” He held up his hand. “No, let me rephrase. I’d be very uncomfortable if you didn’t let me at least follow you from a distance. Can you let me?”

  “I’m impressed by your desire to retrain your brain.” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Yes, I can meet you halfway. Thank you for loving me.”

  “You never have to thank
me, sweetheart. You deserve my love and so much more.” He whispered a kiss upon her lips and lightly tapped her ass. “You have the head start. Go for it!”

  Her golden eyes glistened as she shifted into her wolf. Chuffing and growling, she frolicked about then dashed out the open front door. He laughed, shaking his head while turning out the lights and locking up. He used the inside stairs to access his apartment then jumped off his balcony to race after her.

  She’d never know how much control he’d used to keep from going ballistic at her desire to run alone. She didn’t need or want an alpha mate in her life. She’d made it abundantly clear. A dominant, though, could be just as strong-willed. It would take time, but he vowed to evolve into her kind of mate. It could be a good thing. Nothing wrong with autonomy in a relationship.

  Loping along her scented trail, he picked up another’s. Elk. There was a second, no a third, all in the area. He wondered if his mate fancied a late-night meal, and quickened his gait to catch up to her to ask. Though the prey’s scents grew stronger, he couldn’t see them anywhere.

  Shiloh’s slender frame appeared frozen, like a statue, in a distant clearing. His heart skipped a beat. What a magnificent creature she was! He admired her piercing gaze and predatory stance. But what had she found? Damn it! He couldn’t see! She shifted her stance to face the opposite direction, and her low growl reached his ears. Concern and confusion took hold as he stalked closer, hoping to discover the object of her attention.

  Where are the elk? If they were where their scent was guiding him, they had to be wearing magical invisibility cloaks, because they were nowhere to be seen. He continued scanning the area, but his gaze returned to her for some clear indication as to what was happening. Shiloh retreated, spinning multiple times. Then, it all became clear.

  Those invisible elk weren’t elk at all.

  One by one, gray wolves came out from under elk’s clothing, as it were, and rushed from the thick underbrush to surround Shiloh. Growling, yipping, baring teeth. They taunted their prey. Outrage coursed through Parker’s veins, blinding him for a moment before he raced over and leapt into action to save his mate. He pounced onto the back of the nearest wolf, clamping down hard on his neck. He twisted and shook the smaller animal then tossed it against the side of a tree. It lay on the ground, unconscious, bleeding heavily from its wounds.