The Tracker Read online

  There was a sudden blur, a muttered curse, then Jessica landed on Tony’s back. “Get off him!” She pulled at his hair, grabbed at his face with her hands.

  Tony let out a snarl. He had to release my arm in order to thrust her aside. She careened across the mat and slammed into the fence, letting out a soft gasp of pain.

  Son-of-a-bitch! That did it. Rage consumed me. No one hurt my woman. No one. I flew at Tony, tackling him back onto the mat, and quickly got him in a chokehold. “Don’t you ever,” I hissed, watching as his face turned blue, “ever touch her again, you hear me?” Blood dripped from my bloody nose, landing in a small droplet on his chin.

  Tony smirked at me, but he didn’t tap out. Son-of-a-bitch! Did he want me to kill him?

  Strong arms yanked me up and away from him. Nate pulled Tony to his feet while Ryan and Luke held me back.

  “What the fuck’s got into you?” Luke smacked me in the arm.

  “He’s pussy-whipped.” Ryan snickered. “Leave him alone.”

  I fought against them until they finally released me.

  “Enough!” Nate shouted, glancing from me to Tony and back. He gave Tony a hard shove in the chest, forcing him back a step.

  Then Jessica was there beside me, wrapping her arm around my waist. “Come on, Tracker,” she said softly, steering me toward the fence. I didn’t resist. I didn’t want to. The rage, the darkness was gone now. Tony had helped me release it. I just wanted to go back to my room and finish what we’d started.

  Nate halted us, grabbing my arm. “I should check you out first, make sure you didn’t suffer a concussion or a broken nose. Tony welled on you pretty hard.”

  I shoved Nate’s hand off. “I’m fine.” I glanced over at Tony. I didn’t blame him. I’d deserved that. “We’ll get Gordon back.”

  Tony held my gaze for a long moment, then he jerked his head in a nod. We’d reached an understanding. For now.

  “I’m coming with you.”

  His words halted me. Seriously? I didn’t know what to say. I would need all the help I could get. I nodded.

  “Thanks, man.”

  “I’m going, too.” Nate eyed me, his expression serious. “Gordon’s one of us. We can’t just leave him there.”

  Relief swept through me. Two helpers were better than none.

  “Ryan and I are coming as well,” Luke added.

  I breathed in another sigh of relief and nodded my thanks at Luke and Ryan.

  Nate clapped me on the shoulder. “Give me a little while to talk to the others. Say…an hour? I think I can convince them to join us.”

  “Thanks.” A great weight lifted from my shoulders. I would have help trying to free Gordon. With the other dregs’ assistance, I believed we could do it.

  I went with Jessica back to my apartment, then sat on the toilet lid while she cleaned my wounds. Neither one of us spoke. Words weren’t necessary right now. I could feel the anger radiating off her. She was pissed. She probably wanted to punch me. My lips twitched.

  “What’s so funny?” She closed the first aid kit and stuffed it back in the cabinet. “You guys were acting like children back there, brawling like beasts. You’re supposed to be friends.” Her disapproval was obvious. “What were you fighting about anyway?”

  I rose and captured her in my arms. “Nothing important.” She’d come to my defense. She’d attacked Tony, of all people. She’d been fearless. Beautiful. A warrior. She was fucking hot.

  And I was going to finish what we’d started. Right fucking now. Nate had said to give him an hour. That was plenty of time for what I had in mind.

  I pushed her up against the bathroom sink, pressing my hips into hers, letting her feel the evidence of my desire. Her gaze darted to mine, her face filling with color.

  I lowered my head until my lips just brushed hers. My bottom lip was split and sore from Tony’s fists, but I didn’t care. She let out a breathless sigh, her gaze locked on mine.

  Then I tasted her, brushing my lips against hers, over and over. Soft. Gentle. Coaxing. Lips brushing against lips. A sensual exploration. I would never get enough of this woman.

  She let out a soft moan and lifted her hands to my shoulders. Lust shot through me. I’d never really kissed a woman this way before. Soft. Slow. Gentle. I’d never wanted to. I hadn’t known a kiss could feel like this. That Jessica could make me feel like this. Kissing her was hot. Addictive. I couldn’t get enough of her sweet lips. I kept kissing her and kissing her, my senses attuned to her response. She leaned into me, kissing me back, her tongue reaching out to tangle with mine. She gently pulled my sore lip into her mouth and sucked it, licking her tongue across the cut.

  I let out a soft growl. This woman messed me up.

  Her breath came faster. Her heartbeat accelerated against my chest. Her nipples pebbled against my skin. And I knew if I reached down and cupped her between her legs, she would be wet.

  Mine.

  She wanted me. Me.

  It was a heady feeling. Being wanted.

  I tilted my head, angling my mouth so I could access hers more deeply. I urged her to open for me and when she parted her lips on a soft sigh, I thrust my tongue in her mouth, wanting to claim her. Make her mine. She kissed me back, her arms tightening around my neck, her fingers pulling at my hair.

  I was on fire. I needed her. Now.

  I wanted to give her another orgasm. This time while I was buried deep inside her.

  I scooped her up against me, still kissing her, and headed for my bedroom. I was going to drag this out as long as I could, enjoy every moment of touching her, make it so good she never thought of any man but me ever again.

  I laid her back on the mattress and lowered myself above her, still kissing softly, gently, forcing myself to go slow, even though I was so hard I ached fiercely with my need for her.

  She pulled her mouth from mine, staring up into my eyes.

  “Tracker?” Those gorgeous hazel eyes of hers swirled with passion. For me.

  My breath caught. “Yeah?”

  She ran her fingers through my hair, glancing down at my chest, then pulling her gaze back to mine. She drew in a deep breath, slowly puffed it out.

  “I’m ready now. Make love to me.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Jessica

  Tracker’s gaze darkened. “Oh, I plan to, sweetheart. Every fucking inch of you is going to know my mouth.”

  Heat enveloped me, washing over my entire body. He was doing everything just right. Everything perfect. And I wanted him to keep going. To keep kissing me. To make love to me. To taste me everywhere.

  “What you did earlier…” My face grew hot. “No one’s ever done that to me before.”

  His gaze gentled. “I know. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” He hesitated, his gaze delving into mine. “I know I’m not good enough for you. I never will be, but God, I want you.” He lowered his voice. “So damn bad.” He hesitated, his gaze searching mine. “Are you sure this is what you want? Do you want me, Jess?”

  I swallowed hard. “Yes. I want you, Tracker. Only you.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a soft groan. “You don’t know what that does to me, hearing you say that.” He kissed me again, his lips soft against mine, gentle, seductive. “Show me how much you want me,” he said huskily, kissing me again, and again. “I want to make you happy. I need to make you mine.” Another kiss, deeper than before.

  “Yes,” I breathed against his mouth. “Yes.” This strong, beautiful man was showing me how wrong I’d been about sex. He was showing me how truly beautiful it could be between two people who desired and cared about each other. He must care for me. Right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so gentle, so tender. So loving.

  He kissed down my neck and back up to my ear, sending little shivers of desire down my spine. “If I do something you don’t like, don’t be afraid to stop me.”

  He lifted his head, his gaze delving into mine. “I want you to want me as much as
I want you. If you don’t want me, stop me now.”

  I stared into his eyes that were now dark as slate with a just a hint of silver in them. He was giving me a chance to say no. To push him away. But I didn’t want to push him away. I wanted this. I wanted him.

  “Just keep kissing me,” I whispered. “And touch me, please. I like it when you touch me.”

  He lowered his head to take my mouth in a long, slow, deep kiss that left me breathless and reeling and wanting more. He thrust his hand in my hair and tilted my head back, forcing me to look into his eyes. “Where? Show me how you like to be touched.”

  “Everywhere,” I whispered, squirming against him, wanting him closer, wanting to feel him everywhere. “Touch me everywhere.”

  His calloused hands slipped underneath my shirt to stroke up my sides. I shivered in longing. His tenderness choked me up for a moment, making me feel cherished. Desired. Loved.

  He kissed me again, his hands cupping my breasts and gently squeezing, massaging. Heat shot straight to my core. Moistness gathered between my thighs. Oh God. I was ripe for the taking. He could do to me whatever he wanted.

  “Tracker.” I arched up against him, letting my fingers spread over his chest, feeling the hard pecs beneath my hands. He was so strong. So sexy.

  I sat up and wiggled out of my shirt, wanting to feel those hard muscles against me. He leaned back, letting out a sound of appreciation, his gaze taking me in. “You’re gorgeous, Jess.”

  My gaze locked on his. I’d never felt gorgeous before. “I want to feel you against me,” I whispered, pulling him closer and rubbing my breasts against his chest.

  He made a low growl deep in his throat and yanked me tighter against him. My breath caught as my breasts pebbled against his hard chest and our bodies melded, skin against skin. This felt so good. So right. He tilted my head back and kissed me again, his tongue eagerly mating with mine. Our breaths mingled. Our hearts raced. Our mouths meshed. The heat between us intensified. I was burning. On fire. For him.

  We sat there like that, kissing, touching, our bodies entwined for what seemed like hours. I lost all sense of time. Everything around us disappeared. It was just me and Tracker. The only thing I was aware of was him and how he made me feel. Beautiful. Desirable.

  There came a point where I realized we were both naked and lying back on the bed. I had a vague recollection of him removing my leggings and shucking his shorts, but I’d been so lost in how he made me feel that it barely registered.

  He rolled me onto my back and settled between my legs. Leaning up on his arms, he stared down at me. “Am I doing everything okay?”

  I nodded. “You’re perfect.”

  He kissed me again. Then he leaned back, his gaze delving into mine. “I’m going to take you now. I’m going to make you mine.”

  I swallowed hard and nodded, my gaze locking on his. Yes. I was ready. So ready.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  He kissed me again. “Hold that thought.” He reached over and opened the drawer on the nightstand. He sat up briefly and I stared as he slipped on a condom. I glanced down at his impressive “package”. He was huge. Intimidating. And so very male. Another wave of heat swept through me. But I trusted him. He was the first man I’d truly trusted.

  I glanced up at his face. He was watching me closely, perhaps a little worriedly.

  “You okay?”

  I swallowed hard. Was I okay? Yeah. But I was a little nervous. He was so huge. What if…he didn’t fit?

  “You want me to stop?”

  “No.” I reached for him, wanting him to touch me again, wanting him to kiss me. If he didn’t, I might think too much about the last time I’d done this with a man, and that would ruin everything.

  Don’t go there, Jess. Just think of Tracker.

  My one time sexual experience flashed through my mind then, against my will. The fumbling in the dark car, the awkwardness, the discomfort.

  I shoved it back, not wanting to remember that time. So far this experience was nothing like that one had been. It wasn’t clumsy or awkward or uncomfortable. Tracker wasn’t a hormonal-crazed teenager. He was a grown man. A sexy man. With Tracker, this could be nothing but beautiful.

  Tracker came back to me then, settling between my thighs, urging my legs apart. I breathed him in, his clean masculine scent relaxing me.

  “Look at me, Jess.” His voice commanded me to lift my gaze to his and not focus too hard on what he was about to do to me.

  I swallowed hard and lifted my gaze to his.

  “Relax,” he murmured, “I’m not going to hurt you. Do you trust me?”

  I swallowed hard and nodded.

  He lowered his head and kissed me again. Long, slow, deep. God, the man could kiss. My toes curled. I wrapped my arms around him, holding on tightly, and let go of my last lingering doubt. The kiss went on and on and on. Tracker took his time, slowly, gently making me crazy with desire for him all over again, his kisses magical, his hands roving over my body, stroking, exploring. It was so hot in here. I needed him to cool down the fire raging inside me before it completely consumed me.

  “Mine,” he whispered against my ear. “Say it, Jess. Say you’re mine.”

  I squirmed beneath him, my body on fire with need.

  “Say it,” he growled, “say you’re mine.”

  “Yours,” I whimpered.

  He kissed me again, his tongue delving deep. And I surrendered to him, relaxing and letting him lead me, letting him completely consume me. He kept kissing me, over and over, while he made love to me, giving me no choice but to accept what he was doing, forcing me to take all of him. Forcing me to admit it wasn’t bad at all. He wasn’t hurting me in the least. Oh my God. I let out a soft moan. It felt…so good. He didn’t give me a chance to think. Or protest. He just kept kissing me while his body took possession of mine. His scent, his strength, his very essence took hold, pulling me along, and dragged me into an experience I’d never anticipated. I had no choice but to let him make me his.

  It was so intense, so overwhelming, as we flew over the edge together, and I was completely swept away.

  Afterward, our heavy breathing was the only sound as we lay there, spent, the scent of sex filling the air.

  My world had just tilted on its axis. I lay there, stunned, trying to catch my breath, and a mixture of shock and wonderment coursed through me. I had just been taken by a dreg. Thoroughly fucked, though I didn’t particularly like that word. Made love to, I thought dreamily. Tracker just made love to me. It had been nothing short of beautiful.

  “Making love” described it better than anything.

  Love? Who was I kidding? Tracker was a dreg. He probably didn’t know the meaning of the word “love”. But he’d definitely made me his.

  Reality crashed home.

  I’d just done what I’d vowed never to do. I’d surrendered to him. I’d given myself to him. Completely.

  I had just been taken by a dreg.

  And I didn’t regret one single moment of it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Tracker

  Stunned.

  That was the best word to describe how I felt in that moment.

  Completely stunned by what had just happened with Jessica.

  Holy shit!

  Nothing in my life had ever prepared me for the way I’d felt with Jessica in my arms. The sex I’d had in the past had been nothing compared to this. The way I felt right now, lying next to her after what we’d just shared, was amazing. We’d connected, bonded in a way that was so deep and powerful it scared me. Yet it felt so damn good. So right. She’d just rocked my fucking world. I didn’t know how else to describe it. How could I let her go after this?

  You can’t keep her, dumbass.

  I knew that. As soon as I found her sister, I would have to set her free. As much as it hurt, I would have to let her go.

  I got up to dispose of the condom, my heart pinching at the thought of letting her go. I wasn’t going to thi
nk about that right now.

  I came back to bed and drew Jessica against me, pressing a kiss to her neck and snuggling against her.

  For now, I was going to enjoy our time together. I wasn’t going to ruin this with thoughts of goodbye.

  She didn’t speak, and neither did I. Words weren’t necessary right now.

  Holding each other was all that was needed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Jessica

  Tracker didn’t speak, but if he was as overwhelmed by what had just happened as I was, then no words were necessary. It was a lot to process—what had just happened between us. I don’t think I could describe the way I was feeling right now.

  His breathing slowed, and moments later, he was asleep, his body relaxing in slumber.

  Had I helped with his nightmares? At least for tonight? If he woke in the middle of another nightmare, would he accidentally hurt me? Would he mistake me for the enemy?

  I snuggled more tightly against him, covering his large hand with my own. No, he would never hurt me. Never. I was his now. I wanted to be. Would he let me stay after we found Eliza? Did I want to?

  The answer came easily. Yes. I was falling hard for this man. I longed to learn more about him. I wanted a future with him. My mind filled with fantasies of a happily ever after with him. And when I drifted off to sleep, it was to dream of Tracker. Of a beautiful future together. My own happily ever after.

  When I woke, I was alone in the bed. I sat up slowly, then noticed the piece of paper sitting next to me by the pillow. I picked it up.

  It was a rose. He’d drawn a beautiful rose for me. With no thorns. Like all his drawings, it was extremely detailed. Lifelike. Stunningly beautiful, the petals, the stem, the leaves outlined in intricate detail. I pressed it against my heart.

  Happiness swept through me. He was so sweet. Despite his roughness, he had a tender side too. A caring side. Could he possibly love me?

  And it hit me then—hard. I loved him. I was in love with Tracker.

  I was in love with a dreg.