He was momentarily distracted and let a twig snap under his foot. Rosa looked up with surprise and gasped, grasping her heart. When she saw him, her face turned from fear to anger.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“You are exhibiting odd behavior. I’m just doing my job.”
“You need to mind your own business.”
“Rosa. Please let me help you.”
She stormed up the hillside and past him. “No one can help me.”
“Please tell me what’s wrong.”
She spun around, tears streaming down her beautiful face. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he couldn’t. If she would just tell him what was going on.
“No one believes me. No one wants to help.”
“I want to help, Rosa. Why don’t you believe me?
“I just met you.”
“That doesn’t matter. You are my mate. I would lay down my life for you. I would do anything for you. Just tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”
“Heath, why are you doing this?”
“I don’t have any other choice, Rosa. What do you expect me to do? Just let my mate run straight into whatever danger that she is obviously in? What kind of man do you take me for?”
Her shoulders deflated and she let out a long breath. “A good man,” she said in a soft voice.
He took a step closer to her, reaching out to touch her arm. A spark of desire radiated from his fingertips as they slightly brushed along her honey golden skin. His entire body shuddered with arousal and he gasped.
“I am a good man. I’m your man.”
“How can you say that?”
“I’m a shifter. I know humans usually take things more slowly. But you are in trouble Rosa. I can’t stand back and wait as if we were going on dates and getting to know each other. I know something’s wrong. Is something going on with your sister? Did she run away up here?”
“She didn’t run away!” Rosa’s screamed, sending birds flying into the air from the canopy.
Heath’s eyes shot wide and he took a step back from the sheer force of her anger.
“Where is she, Rosa?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“She was taken. I know she was.”
Rosa collapsed to her knees and sank onto the damp forest floor, covering her face from the sobs that choked her. Tears streamed around her fingers and dripped in large droplets to the ground like rain. He knelt beside her, not caring that his uniform would get all muddy and stained. He put his arm around her, and pulled her against his chest. Letting out a tortured wail, Rosa leaned into him and threw her arms around his neck, sobbing. He rubbed her back, letting her pour all of her sorrow out into him. Even though he didn’t understand what was going on. He was determined to be her rock.
“Who took her?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she finally said as she started to calm down. She pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes and face. “But I think it’s connected to some of the other girls who have been kidnapped in the last two weeks all the way up the coast. The last victim was in Portland. I followed the kidnappings there and when it stopped, something told me to come up here. I know it sounds crazy, but my sister has to be on Fate Mountain.”
“You aren’t crazy, Rosa. You’re a good sister and a good woman. If you say that you know she’s here, I believe you. And I’m not just saying that because you’re my mate. I’m saying that because we are connected. I feel your heart.”
She looked up at him with red rimmed eyes, her expression so hopeful.
“You believe me?”
“Of course I do. Now we just have to figure out how to find her.”
He picked up the walkie-talkie from his shoulder and started to bring it towards his mouth.
“The police in Los Angeles didn’t believe me. They told me she had run away. They wouldn’t do anything for me. I can’t go through that again.”
“I know my crew. They’ll believe you.”
“Do you really think they can find her?”
“Right after busting a drug ring a couple months ago. Our Tech Damien said the random probability generator determined that there was some kind of human trafficking ring coming through the mountain.”
“Someone on your crew already knows about this?”
“He said it was a high probability. Whatever that means.”
“I only made it this far because I ignored the police and did my own investigation.”
Rosa looked away and wiped her face again. He could see her sadness. The most important thing was getting Rosa out of the damp forest and back into town where they could talk to his alpha Rollo.
5
Heath and Rosa walked back to where their vehicles were parked along the side of the road. Rosa climbed into her car and watched Heath through her rearview mirror. She still wasn’t sure whether or not she could trust him. The investigator back in Los Angeles thought there wasn’t anything going on more than a typical runaway case.
Rosa knew her sister would never run away from home. Now Heath was telling her that his crewmate Damien had somehow known about the human trafficking ring coming through Fate Mountain months ago.
They both got into their cars and drove down the dirt road and then the highway. Once they were back in town, Rosa followed Heath through a cute neighborhood several blocks off the highway. He parked his patrol car in front of a quaint ranch style house that looked like it had been built in the fifties.
Rosa followed Heath inside and looked around his front room. It was cleaner and nicer than she would have expected from a bachelor. He had a big living room in the front that was lined with leather couches and a big screen TV. His walls were a pale cream and were decorated with pictures depicting nature scenes.
Rosa knew Heath wasn’t a typical bachelor. He was a shifter who wanted to find a forever mate. Rosa was so distressed by the disappearance of her sister that she couldn’t even think about being matched with her fated mate. She knew what it meant, but she didn’t know what it meant to her.
“You have a nice home,” she said to Heath.
“Thank you,” he said, turning to look into her eyes.
He had a weary look on his face and his voice was soft. That’s when Rosa remembered Heath hadn’t slept all night.
“You must be tired,” she said sympathetically.
“I just want to wash up before we go into the police station to talk to my chief and the rest of the Bear Patrol.
“Don't you want to sleep?”
“Time is of the essence. In cases like these, you don't want much time to lapse before finding the missing person. If you believe that they are on Fate Mountain we have to move quickly because they could relocate at any time.”
“Why don't you alert your crew to start that software you talked about so you can get some rest.”
“I am pretty beat,” Heath agreed.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and began typing on the screen.
“Rollo says he will get right on it,” Heath said.
“You can wait here or I can drive you down to the station so you can talk to the guys.”
“I don’t want to talk to them on my own. I think I’ll just stay here.”
Rosa had been so traumatized by the insistence that her sister had run away that she no longer trusted anyone to believe her. She didn’t want to go down to the police station and have them laugh in her face again.
“Okay then. There are sodas in the fridge and I think I have some bagels in the cabinet if you’re hungry,” Heath said.
Rosa didn't know what to think. All that mattered was finding Maria and getting her back safe and sound. She sat down in the living room and watched Heath walk around the corner. A moment later she heard the sound of the shower from the bathroom down the hall.
Rosa picked up the remote off the coffee table and turned on the television. She flipped through the channels and immediately got bored. She was way too amped up to focus on TV. The
hike into the woods had made her hungry and she hadn’t been eating enough lately. She got up and went into the kitchen to find the bagels Heath had mentioned.
She opened the refrigerator and found a half empty tub of cream cheese and sat it on the counter. She then opened another cabinet and started riffling through the contents. She finally found some sesame seed bagels, pulled them out, and set them on the counter. She heard a noise behind her and turned around with a start to see Heath standing in the doorway of the kitchen with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
Water droplets dripped down his chest. His eyes gleamed with superhuman intensity. Rosa took a step back and gasped, covering her mouth from shock.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were in here,” Heath said. “I just wanted to get some water from the fridge.”
Heath walked across the room and opened the refrigerator. He bent and picked out a bottle from inside. Rosa bit her lip, watching him the whole time, not sure what to do or how to feel. Heath stood and looked at her, tilting his head to the side.
“Is everything okay?” Heath asked, twisting the cap off the plastic bottle.
She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to say something but forgot what she was going to say.
“I’m sorry I startled you. I’ll get out of your way now,” Heath said after taking a sip of water.
“I’m just so confused about this whole fated mate thing. We’ve all known about shifters for a long time but being one’s fated mate is a whole different story.”
“I get it,” Heath said in a tone that made her think that she had hurt his feelings.
She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She was just so worried about her sister and so confused about everything else that was happening, she was probably being rude.
“I can’t stop thinking about Maria. I’m sorry if I’m being a jerk.”
Rosa sniffled and felt a rush of tears descend from her eyes and trail down her cheeks before the big droplets slid off her chin and onto the floor. Heath’s expression changed instantly and his eyes were full of compassion. He closed the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms, rubbing her back and cooing affectionately.
“Everything is going to be all right,” he whispered into her hair.
“Thank you, Heath,” she whispered. “You’re the first person that’s believed me.”
“Of course I believe you. You are my mate and I can feel you in my heart. I know everything you say is true.”
Rosa took a deep breath and let it out, letting her shoulders relax. Heath held her tight as they embraced in the middle of the kitchen. All that was between her and his naked body was a damp towel. Rosa could feel the hardness of his growing erection against her stomach as he held her.
She felt his heart beating wildly under her cheek. She tilted her face upward to look him in the eye. Heath’s expression was full of longing and restrained desire.
Rosa parted her lips as if to speak, but Heath leaned in and kissed her. In that moment, everything disappeared. The surge of their connection swallowed her up and she was swept into the intensity of his embrace. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer.
Their tongues slid over each other exuberantly and Rosa let out a deep groan. Heath’s erection pressed harder against her and she felt a hot rush of desire flow between her legs. She was lost in the void of pleasure and didn't want to be found. All at once, Heath picked her up off her feet and carried her effortlessly through the kitchen and into the hallway.
She clung to him as they kissed. He walked into the door of his bedroom, gently depositing her on his soft, king sized bed. She gazed up at him as he slid in beside her and cupped her cheek in his hand.
“I want you so badly right now,” Heath said.
“I want you too,” Rosa gasped.
Heath sucked in a breath through his teeth and kissed her again. He slowly moved over her, the towel around his waist slipping away. Rosa slid her hands down his back and gripped the firm rise of his behind.
His hardness aroused her beyond reason, space and time. Left behind were all her troubles and worries. She just wanted to be here with him now. He ran his hand up and down her side, caressing her with desire.
“Oh Rosa, where have you been all my life?” Heath breathed into her ear. She had just been about to ask him the same thing.
“I've been in your heart,” she said, not knowing where the sentiment had come from.
Being with Heath was like being on an alternate plane of reality. Things seemed to make sense that really shouldn't, but it felt so good that Rosa didn’t ever want to go back to the way things had been before. Heath made her feel safe and loved. He made her feel as if there was someone out there for her who would always be on her side and would always believe her. For the first time since her parents died, she felt like she wasn’t in it by herself.
Maria was a great friend and wonderful sister, but Rosa had been responsible for her for years now. The pressure and stress of it had taken a toll on Rosa. Now that she had Heath, all of that had changed. She finally felt like she was home.
As strange as it was to fall in love with someone she’d only met a few hours ago, she knew that it was very real. Nothing whatsoever would ever come between them. That full realization filled her heart, body, and mind as Heath slipped his fingers under the hem of her shirt, tugging it up over her head. A few short moments later and she was naked with Heath by her side, his big, strong hands cupping her breasts. Heath’s deft fingers excited her nipples and his tongue swept over hers. She shivered with anticipation and a slight fear of the unknown as his hands roved down her body and slipped between her legs.
He pushed his index finger through her outer lips and slid over the slick wetness he found there. His other big hand covered her breast.
Heath’s fingers pressed against her tight, swollen bud and Rosa groaned into his neck. She licked his clean flesh, running her tongue up to his ear.
He kissed her forehead and then her cheek, neck and breasts. Heath ran kisses across her stomach and down over her thighs. When he dipped his face between her legs and lapped up the slick moisture that had gathered there, she threw her head back and gasped at the rush of pleasure.
Rosa threaded her fingers through his cropped hair and groaned. She could feel him moving under her hands and between her legs. The erotic thrill of it tumbled over her in a great rush. She’d never felt anything this intensely sensual.
Heath had come out of nowhere, believed her, and promised to help her. She could feel herself falling deeper in love with him with each passing second. It had been so long since she’d felt this good. She was so grateful she’d found him. Heath was better than she could have ever imagined. He was everything.
He lapped up her core, focusing on her clit as he slid two fingers inside her. She groaned and rocked against him, needing to feel him deeper. Gasping with burning desire, she felt herself rushing closer to climax with each flick of Heath’s tongue and each thrust of his thick fingers.
“Heath,” she said on a whisper as the flood took her over.
Pleasure clenched between her legs. It overtook her mind until she was consumed by it. Heath slowly slid his fingers away and kissed the length of her body until his lips pressed against hers.
Rosa reached down to grasp his firm shaft, stroking it with resolve. She wanted to give him what he’d given her.
“Rosa,” he groaned into her ear as she gripped and stroked him.
He moved over her, sliding between her legs. He reached to a side table and pulled out a condom packet, ripping it open with his teeth. Placing it over the head of his cock, he slowly rolled it down his impressive length. As he moved over her slick, wet core, she gasped and looked into his eyes.
“Do you want this?” he said, teasing her with his cock. He pressed into her and pulled out again, making her moan with disappointment.
“Yes. More than anything,” she gasped, pulling him closer.
With that
, he thrust forward, pushing deep inside her.
“I need you so bad Rosa,” he whispered into her ear as he buried himself inside her.
“I need you too, Heath. God only knows why.”
“This is crazy isn’t it,” he whispered, pulling back to thrust into her again.
She groaned at the impact, the thrill of his cock inside her sparked electric shocks. He moved slowly, kissing her neck.
“I feel so close to you. I don’t understand how it’s possible.”
“You’re my mate, babe. That’s how this works.”
“I don’t understand this.”
“You feel it as strong as I do.”
“Yeah,” she groaned as he increased his speed and the impact of his thrusts. She mewled and ran her hands up and down his spine, groaning and worshiping him as he worshiped her.
“I want to mark you,” he said. “But I don’t know if I should.”
“Why not?” she gasped, feeling her climax barreling toward her.
“I don’t want you to regret it.”
“I could never regret it,” she whispered. “I can’t say no to you.”
Rosa felt the sharp tips of his teeth press against the most sensitive skin on her neck, right over her jugular. She gasped, about to cry out. But his teeth bit through her flesh and cut off the sound.
Pain sliced into her just as she came like a banshee under him. At that very instant, Heath thrust one last time and poured himself inside her, coming in a hot rush. She clung to his hard body, wanting only him, forever.
She could feel the connection between them solidify like a diamond. It glinted, sparkling from its many facets. Rosa’s mind expanded in a burst of light, and it seemed to incorporate the entire universe. But that universe was made up of her and Heath, joined together as one.
Slowly, carefully, he retracted his teeth and licked her wound clean until it healed so perfectly it was as if it had never been there. He rolled away, pulling the condom from his shaft and throwing it away. He pulled her against his glistening chest and held her in the dim light of his bedroom.