Special Ops Shifters: Dallas Force: The Complete Series Collection (Shifter Nation) Page 32

  He growled as his hands gripped her backside. “I mean it, Erica. Please don’t do that unless you mean it, too.”

  She put her hands under his shirt, splaying her fingers against the muscles of his back and longing to feel more of his skin against hers. “I absolutely do.”

  His response was a strong one, gripping her body against his with such strength that he lifted her feet off the floor. The two of them tumbled into bed together, and the rest of the world melted away. Jack worshipped her mouth with his own as his hands worked at her blouse, pulling the buttons apart to reveal what lay hidden beneath.

  She was already heated through, but the feeling of his hands on her stomach, then drifting up to the roundness of her breasts, set Erica on fire. Arching against him, needing more, she gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it off. She’d already seen him without his shirt, but it was different as they lay in bed together. He was stronger, bigger, and even more statuesque. She pulled him down to her as he stripped off her jeans, running his hands down the smoothness of each of her legs and sending a quiver through her body that made her gasp.

  Erica ignored the soft thumps of their clothes hitting the floor as her skin met his. Fire blazed behind her eyes as she explored his body, from the hardness of his chest to the rippling muscles of his abs to the strength of his legs and the urgency of his throbbing manhood that lay between them. She wrapped her own legs around him, desperate and eager.

  “Erica,” he groaned into the crook of her neck as she writhed against him.

  “Please.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d yearned for anything so badly. There wasn’t time for foreplay. Erica had finally found someone that she could connect with on the deepest level possible, and she didn’t want anything to stand in the way of making that final bond. She pushed her hips against him once again.

  Jack sank inside her, filling her completely. She opened her body and mind to him, willing him to be inside of her in every aspect. His presence was no longer random flashes of imagery that she usually got from other people. He was light and color, melding and swirling and then separating into a million suns that exploded into galaxies. She felt the animal inside him now, a raw and feral beast that needed her in the same way she needed him. They fastened to each other on an intrinsic level that Erica had never before accessed as their hips pulsed together.

  Her body accepted him just as easily as her mind did, wrapping around his hardness and making it a part of her. She could smell him, taste him even, as her walls contracted around him more and more with each thrust. The low growl emitting from his throat as he gripped her hips let her know he was almost there. Erica clenched her body and bucked harder against him, sending them each over the edge.

  Separating from Jack was like coming to after passing out in a strange place. Her consciousness returned to her own body as she looked around the room, hardly even knowing where she was for a moment. He’d rolled over and put his back to the wall with his arms around her, holding her from behind. She sank into the warmth and comfort of his body, and the reality of where they were and what they were actually supposed to be doing there was like a distant memory.

  “You okay?” he whispered as he pulled her closer, wrapping his leg over the top of hers protectively.

  She smiled. “Mhmm.” For the first time in her life, she’d deliberately let someone in instead of pushing them away. Her mind was calm and relaxed, and she couldn’t remember ever feeling more at peace.

  7

  Jack scanned the large common room that served as a cafeteria and general gathering place. There were so many people there, so many more than he’d ever estimated. When Ben had shown them around the day before, they’d only met a handful. Jack now felt like he was in the break room of some big corporation. Of course, it would’ve had to have been one of those newer places with good benefits and flexible work schedules, because everyone looked way too happy to be there.

  Finally, his eyes landed on a woman in a blue shirt just getting in the back of the line for food. Her waves of hair were slightly rumpled, but her eyes carried a familiar glow to them as she, too, scanned the room.

  He stepped up behind her. “I was worried about you getting back to your room last night,” he whispered in Erica’s ear. “You should’ve let me walk with you.”

  “I can handle myself, thank you.” Her words were tough, but the coy smile she gave him sent an entirely different message. “Besides, it wouldn’t be worth both of us getting into trouble.”

  The line moved forward, and the two of them stepped up with it as someone headed toward the tables with a tray full of food. “We’re in this together, Erica. We already were, but I would think last night more than proved that.” He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, and it wasn’t just the sex. Jack had been honest when he’d confessed that he believed Erica to be his mate. Those were words he’d never thought to hear from his own mouth, but as soon as they were out, they made complete sense. No one else had ever sensed him in the way that she did, psychic or not. Never had he been tempted to reveal his own truth to a non-shifter, yet he’d just blurted it out to her in the car. There was no denying it for him. She was his.

  “Yes, but at least some of that has to wait. We’re supposed to be best friends, remember?” She glanced up at him again through her lashes.

  He thought he might completely come apart inside seeing her like that. Jack had always relied heavily on his logic, and it was only the shifter portion of him that didn’t like to obey practicality and reasoning. Whatever had happened between he and Erica had brought even more of that out in him, and he was struggling to have any control over himself whatsoever. “That’s going to be a hard sell if you keep looking at me like that.”

  She turned away, and the conversation was suspended while they filled their trays from the generous buffet. Jack noted a wide array of quality, fresh food that even most restaurants didn’t offer. “This is quite a spread,” he remarked as the two of them sat down at a table near the corner. “It certainly helps rule out a few theories, too.”

  Erica looked up from her tray. Her eyes were soft and sweet, but she quickly hardened them. Jack wondered if she, too, was working hard not to let anyone see what had transpired between the two of them. “How so?”

  He pointed with his fork. “Pork sausage. Most of these terrorist cells join their recruits based on religion, but he’s clearly not some Islamic extremist. Or, if he is, he’s decided to take a different tactic.”

  “He never once asked for our spiritual beliefs,” Erica noted as she scooped up a spoonful of fruit salad. “I was thinking about that quite a bit myself. It’s not like a typical religious cult. It’s more like he’s just promising peace and happiness, a utopia of sorts. Of course, we haven’t been here long enough to really know what his motives are.”

  “The one thing I can say is that the peace and happiness he’s promised seems to be a genuine offer. Look at everyone. It’s bright and early in the day, but they’re smiling from ear to ear. They all look so happy and healthy.”

  “Maybe that’s all it takes these days,” Erica reasoned. “He’s not going to get anyone here by promising more of the stress and headache of our current lives. And he did tell us that he’s protecting us by taking away our cell phones. I have to agree that social media and the constant screen time are bad for people in the long run. If we’re lucky, this is more like a wellness retreat than anything.”

  He noticed the subtle shift in her eyes. It was like the color had changed slightly. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “You told me how hard it was to be around me, that you could even tell there was more to me than a regular human. Just how much can you see? I mean, can you actually see my thoughts?” Jack had been wondering this ever since she’d told him, and he hadn’t been sure how to ask. It was funny to think that they were each practically fictional to each other up until yesterday.

  “Not really. I mean
, I can, but it’s something that takes a lot of energy. If I’m actually trying to reach into someone’s mind and get specific thoughts, I usually end up passing out afterward. I have to be careful about that, obviously. Most of the time, it’s just a general notion of their feelings with a few flashes of imagery here and there.”

  She spoke of it to him like she was talking about going to the grocery store, and even though Jack knew that was how things should be, it was making him nervous. He wanted to know more, but it would have to wait. “Look, there’s Ben right now.”

  The man had just walked in through the double doors. As soon as the others saw him, the crowd broke out in applause. He spread his arms and put his hands up in the air to acknowledge them, the smile on his face very similar to the one he wore on his sales posters. “Thank you! Good morning! It’s good to see you.” He made his way through the room, stopping here and there to put his hand on a shoulder or laugh at someone’s joke. The center of the room had been left free of tables, something Jack had noted but hadn’t known what to make of it. When Ben stopped and the crowd silenced, he understood. This was how Ben spoke to his followers, and they readily put down their forks to listen.

  “My dearest friends, I hope you’re having a fantastic morning. I know I am. I woke up today feeling so grateful for everything we have here. We’re happy, we’re healthy. We have plenty to eat and drink. Most of all, we have the fellowship of likeminded people who simply want to live their lives. I think those two things are incredibly important: gratitude and fellowship.” Ben paused as several in the crowd cheered. “We are nothing without each other. I do my best to provide all of you with everything you could possibly need, and I do my best to protect you from the dangers of the outside world, but in return, I get so much from you that I’m grateful for. My mission and I would be nothing without all of you.” Once again, there was a smattering of applause.

  Jack knew he needed to pay attention to every word Ben was saying, but he was also very interested in seeing how the crowd reacted. In every situation like this that he’d been a part of, there was always someone who hadn’t completely bought into what the leader was selling. There was someone who didn’t feel they were getting what they’d been promised out of the deal. Or maybe they did and realized that wasn’t what they actually wanted, and now they were just looking for a way out. They would do their best to hide this fact from the leader for as long as they could because, of course, it wasn’t worth risking their lives, but it would be evident on their faces or in their actions whether they realized it or not. Jack looked around, watching all the nods, smiles, and occasional claps of encouragement. He watched for hard eyes, tightened jaws, or stiff shoulders and saw none.

  None, that is, until he turned back to Erica. Her eyes had changed again, the verdant green having turned to hard stone as she looked not at Ben, but at the double doors where everyone had entered the room. Trying to be subtle, Jack let his eyes drift in that direction.

  A man leaned in the doorway there. Most of the people in the room were the of the same demographic that was common in that rural part of the state. Whether because they wanted to be or because Ben had made them to be, they were clean cut and dressed conservatively. The man in the doorway could’ve just as easily been one of them, but the grease stains on his clothes and the dirt under his fingernails made him stand out. Even more than that, the hard look in his eyes as he watched the leader wasn’t anything like the happiness that glowed from the other followers.

  Jack was no psychic, and he was still getting used to the idea of such a thing existing, but he wished he could reach out and touch Erica’s mind with his own. His fox was on alert, knowing there was something wrong with her. He could feel it thrashing around inside him, desperate to get out. At the very least, he wanted to ask her what was going on. He didn’t dare to interrupt Ben, though. For the moment, he turned his attention back to the car salesman.

  “Friends, we have two new people who have joined us. They, like the rest of us, are looking for a better way of life. They want the peace and harmony that everyone craves, but they’ve been brave enough to go out into the world and find it. Please give a warm welcome to Jack and Erica.” He gestured at them to stand.

  Jack pushed his chair back, glancing nervously at Erica. She’d pasted that vapid look on her face that she’d worn back at the dealership, the one that indicated she wasn’t very deep or smart and certainly not capable of infiltrating a terrorist cell and tearing it apart from the inside. Erica smiled and blushed.

  “Please, make sure they feel at home here, as all of you do. They’ve come at a good time,” Ben continued, “since we are ahead on our work. It’s time for a day of relaxation and fun, my friends. Enjoy yourselves, take a day off, and revel in the tranquility that you’ve come here for.” A rather thunderous round of applause broke out this time. Ben thanked everyone with a bob of his head as he made his way over to Jack and Erica’s table. “I take it you each slept well?” he asked.

  Was it a test? Did he somehow know what they’d actually spent the night doing? Even if it was, Jack wasn’t about to give the man what he wanted. “Oh, yes. It’s so nice and quiet here.”

  Ben seemed pleased with this answer. “Good, good. I’ll be going in to work today. You’ll find activities throughout all the common areas here, including movies and games. But first, I’d like to talk to you about your role here.”

  “That’s exciting!” Erica squealed. “It’s so generous of you to support all these kind people, and I’ve been wondering what I can do to help.”

  “Everyone has their place,” Ben assured her. “We strive to put people in the place where they will be the happiest, so that we may all find fulfillment in our jobs while we support each other. There are some who work in the kitchens or the gardens, and we even have some who prefer the laundry area. Tell me, what are your talents?”

  Erica lifted a shoulder. “I think I’m a decent cook, and I’d really like the chance to find out more about gardening. It’s so much healthier than buying all of our produce from the store, and the breakfast you’ve just served proves that.”

  She was laying it on thick, so thick that Jack wasn’t sure Ben would buy it.

  But the man once again looked pleased. “Great! As I’ve said, we’ll have a relaxing day today, but I’ll have Rayna guide you through some of our processes starting tomorrow. She’s the head of our kitchens, and she oversees much of the gardening as part of that. She’ll be more than happy to show you around. What about you, Jack? Where does your passion lie?”

  This was their chance to get to know Ben a bit more and get a better insight into what he was actually doing there. Jack had to follow his instincts. They could put their heads down and simply do as they were told, but that wasn’t going to get them very far. “I’m actually interested in your dealership. I’m pretty good at working with my hands if you need a mechanic to work on the cars you bring in.”

  Ben wasn’t as agreeable with this as he had been with Erica’s proposal. “No, I already have someone in that position. In fact, I’ve got to go see him in a moment. I’m giving my people the day off, but that doesn’t mean I get one.” He laughed as if this were a great joke, and Jack followed suit. “We could use your skills when it comes to building and repairing our structures, and there’s always a lot of electrical work to be done. Do you think you could do that?”

  It wouldn’t get him right under Ben’s wing where he needed to be, but it would at least keep their cover for now. “Sure. That would be great. Is there someone I should report to?”

  “Kenneth will come find you after breakfast tomorrow.”

  “This is just so amazing,” Erica gushed. “I know we haven’t been here long, but we’re really happy to be a part of such a great community. Is there anything else we can do to help?”

  “Well…” Ben trailed off as he pursed his lips. “I hate to ask, but if there is any money you can contribute to our cause, we’re in great need. As you can imagi
ne, it’s difficult to support so many people just by selling used cars here and there. We have to have some sort of sacrifice in order to gain the tranquility that we strive for here.”

  “I’ve got a little in savings. I was going to use it as a down payment if the two of us went in on a piece of property together, but you’ll be able to use it much more effectively.” Jack hoped his acting was up to par with Erica’s. He wasn’t used to being so ingratiating.

  “How generous of you! Thank you, we’ll get that all arranged, but for now, I want the two of you to enjoy your day. Get to know everyone. I’ll be checking back in with you soon.” He shook each of their hands before turning to leave.

  “Um, sir?”

  Ben turned to Jack, raising an eyebrow. “Please, call me Ben.”

  “Right. Ben. I wanted to ask you a question.” This was going in more of a direct route than he normally preferred, but Jack was eager to get to the bottom of this. They hadn’t discovered anything that seemed particularly odd just yet, and usually guys like Ben left their evil intentions simmering just under the surface.

  “Of course.”

  “Why shifters? I mean, why don’t you bring any regular humans in here with us? I’m sure they’re looking for peace and tranquility just like the rest of us are.” He widened his eyes a little to make himself look more innocent.

  Fortunately, Ben didn’t take this as an insult. He laid his hand on Jack’s shoulder as he leaned forward. “You’re right, I’m sure. But we’re not like regular humans. We’re separate from the rest of the world. We, carrying these animals inside us, know what it’s like to live in a peaceful group. We understand what it means to be one with nature, to understand all the things the rest of man has forgotten. Humans no longer have a sense of passion and understanding. We’re different.”

  “I get that. Makes perfect sense.”

  Jack watched him go, noting that the greasy man in the doorway had been watching them. He turned away just as Ben approached him, and the two men walked down the hall together, their heads close as they talked.