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“I’ve got you.” He inhaled deeply, a growl leaving his lips as he breathed her in. “I’ve got to taste you.”
Her eyes widened as he dipped his head, and she lifted her hand to wrap around his neck and tug him closer. He brushed his lips over hers then up along her cheek. A rumble filled his chest, the vibration flowing through her. That deep, gruff rumble filled the air as he spoke again.
She knew who he was. Felt it deep in her soul.Mate.
“Yes,” he agreed, letting Helen know she’d spoken the word aloud. “I’m not letting you go.”
She nodded, taking in his vow and accepting it. She wouldn’t be going back into those caves. She’d die in the sunlight and fresh air.
“Save the others,” she begged, not wanting to leave any of the women who’d suffered beside her every day at the hands of the bastards torturing them.
The words barely tumbled from her lips before he was there again with the kiss of a man claiming what was his. His lips were firm, tongue sweeping along her lower lip, and as she opened her mouth on a gasp, his tongue dove deep. Taking. Devouring. Owning. He robbed her of air, of thought, of anything and everything that wasn’t him. It was a moment of pure joy. She hated that it came too late.
When he finally lifted his head, the edges of her vision were going dark. She fought to keep her eyes open. She needed to tell them where the caves were. Needed to make sure the others were rescued, but numbness washed through her until she felt nothing. It was as if in finding the man holding her, her body was finally able to release the tension that had held her together for so long. With the taste of his kiss on her lips and the bitter pain of regret in her soul, she laid her head on her mate’s shoulder and let the darkness take her.
Chapter Three
“Fletch.”
He glanced toward his brother and nodded, though Milo hadn’t voiced the question. It was there in his face. Plus, there was no way any of them had missed his words to the woman in his arms. She was his mate, and she was seriously injured. Her body was too cold and still in his arms, her pulse growing slower by the second.
“How far out is Jensen?” he demanded.
“Heading toward us now with the rest of the team,” Brock told him, his body carefully turned away from Jemma. As if he could hide his arousal from her. Her eyes were always glued to him.
“Jemma, go back and meet them,” he ordered.
“You want me to wander off on my own?” She slowly stood from where she was still crouched and faced Brock, gaze skimming over his body before shooting to his face. “Can I at least have your majesty’s approval to shift this time?”
“I told you to glue your ass to the door of the vehicle and not move.”
“She was screaming.” Jemma’s voice was soft as she glanced at the woman in Fletch’s arms. “You can’t expect me not to respond.”
“Can and do,” Brock snapped. “Matheus is on his way. He’ll take you home as soon as he gets here.”
“Don’t lock me away, Brock. I won’t stay.”
“Go, Jemma. Now.”
She turned her back on Brock and met Fletch’s gaze. “She’s lucky to have you.”
“Jemma.”
She ignored Brock, turning and sprinting back the way they’d come.
“Should I follow her?” Milo offered.
“Caleb is still at the SUV waiting with the others. She’ll be fine. One of them will stay with her until Matheus gets here. Besides, unless my ears deceive me, they’re heading toward us now.” Brock turned in a circle. “Scent says she came from that way. We need to go as soon as they get here. Are you staying with her or going in?”
Fletch growled. He wasn’t sure. A big part of him didn’t want to let her out of his sight. She was skin and bone. The only part of her not sunk in were her full breasts, and he felt his temper rage as he took in the mottled bruising on them. Hell, all over her. Yet, he was equally pulled to avenge her. To coat his hands with the blood of the people who’d put her in her current condition. He refused to visit the idea she might not make it. The fates couldn’t be so cruel as to let them find one another then tear them apart.
“She’ll be in good heads with the medical team,” Brock assured him, as if he knew Fletch’s thoughts. “Can you control yourself enough to let them take care of her without getting in the way?”
He wasn’t sure. Hell, he was hard pressed with the need to spill more blood as it was. One thing he could do for her would work toward calming his beast. Avenge her.
“I’m going in.”
Brock nodded, then the clearing was swarmed by shifters before anything else could be said. Jensen made his way immediately to Fletch, visually assessing the woman in his arms.
