Seeing Eye Mate Page 2

  Her expression had turned obstinate as hell, making his already hard cock grow further with painful anticipation. Any more pressure against his zipper and he’d come in his pants. Either that or split the seams.

  Caelan chuckled. Once he got a hold of her, it would be an absolute pleasure to tame his little spitfire mate. He wanted to take another look at her but forced himself not to. Having smelled her, he’d know if she moved by the direction of her scent. After they mated for the first time, their connection would be unbreakable.

  His smile fell. What the hell was he thinking? There couldn’t be a more deplorable time to discover her. The thought grated. He’d have to be on her like white on rice to ensure her safety, yet somehow not come off like a stalker while he pursued her. Not to mention the fact he had to do this while still actively searching for the Mate Killer. Oh, then there was the small matter of his getting her to understand his ability to change forms.

  “So you gonna get over there and claim her, or what?”

  Caelan cleared his throat. “Somehow I don’t think it’ll be that simple.”

  “She is giving you the evil eye.”

  “Me? I believe she included both of us in that look.”

  Eli shrugged. “Yeah, but she’s your mate.” He stood and smacked Caelan on the back. “Since it looks like my plans have changed and now I have to go in to work in the morning after all, I’m gonna hit the john and get going. Good luck.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Hey, just supporting my Prime.”

  Caelan jabbed a quick left hook at his twin.

  Eli laughed and ducked out of the way, then sobered. “She’s gorgeous, Cael, I’m envious.”

  “Thanks, E, that means a lot.”

  “Now, go get your bitch and try not to think of me while you’re fucking her tonight,” Eli mocked, batting his eyelashes at Caelan.

  Caelan growled at the sharp teeth glinting behind his brother’s smiling lips. Eli left, chuckling loud enough that people turned to see what they were missing.

  Caelan inhaled her scent again, instinctively picking hers out with ease over the entire crowd. Spicy-sweet and laced with a twinge of anxiety.

  Anxiety? What was that all about? His fingers tightened around his beer. He hoped she was here alone. Too bad if she wasn’t because she would be leaving here with him.

  Enough. He’d just go over and introduce himself. And then what? “Oh, and by the way, I can shape-shift into a wolf?” Yep, that’d go over really well. Damn. He’d always imagined his mate would be a shifter like him. Not a human. Things would be so much easier…

  * * *

  Motherfucker. He punched the stall door, ignoring the searing pain shooting up from his knuckles to his shoulder. They were supposed to come here tonight to relax. He expected they might find a nice piece of ass, but not this. How could that son of a bitch possibly have come across his mate tonight, of all nights?

  To top it all off, the bitch would soon be ripe for conception. Caelan would have her full of his seed before mid-week.

  His canine teeth exploded in his mouth, sharpening into points that pricked at his still-human mouth. The bones in his fingers popped and contorted, shortening to create a paw, the nails elongating into razor-sharp claws.

  Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and fought the shift, resisting the urge to transform and tear through the crowd outside the bathroom door. Common sense prevailed over his inner wolf. Detection at this stage of the game would be detrimental to his cause, to the entire pack.

  His human DNA took over, reshaping what had already slipped into wolf form. The pain was negligible compared to the thumping anger in his head.

  He thought again of the girl, memorizing her face for future reference. She’d have to go. Or maybe he’d keep her, if Caelan didn’t get the chance to claim her before he made his move. He’d have to act quickly, up his timetable now that the cunt had entered the picture. And he’d have to keep a close eye on her, to make sure she didn’t see something she wasn’t supposed to.

  He curled his lip and snarled. He’d come here tonight to get a feel for how his plans were working and hadn’t been disappointed by what Caelan had revealed.

  Every day he was one step nearer to the position that should have been his since birth.

  * * *

  Caelan turned in his chair and rested his arm along the back.

  “What the hell?” he yelled, and winced when several people looked his way.

  Two different people now occupied the set of seats where she’d been, but her scent still lingered as if she hadn’t left. He was losing it. He’d gotten so caught up in thinking about her he hadn’t even noticed her moving. Caelan scanned the bar, looking for the pale brown hair that had hung in a simple bob around her shoulders. He stood, his heart pounding now, the anxiety he’d smelled on her transferring to him.

  He searched the crowd, his gaze flicking over everyone until he reached the door.

  “Son of a bitch,” he snarled. She was following a behemoth of a man in a grubby jumpsuit. Caelan pushed his way through the gyrating mass of people, knocking into a couple two-stepping their way around the dance floor. It took precious seconds to untangle himself.

  “Sorry.” He helped balance the woman and man, then sprinted for the door.

  He slammed it open causing the heavy metal to bang against the wall outside. Cars jammed the parking lot, but he saw no sign of his mate amongst them.

  “Damn it.” He dug a hand in his pocket and tore his keys out. While he stomped towards his truck, he cursed himself for letting her get away.

  He was supposed to be able to sense his mate at all times, so how had she done this exactly? Why did his intended have to be as slippery as a wet bar of soap? He groaned as the imagery of wet soap and lust-filled longing took over common sense. What he wouldn’t give to be at home in the shower right now, using that soap on her slick, heated skin, instead of chasing after her.

  His cock demanded to be let loose. He adjusted himself to relieve a minuscule amount of pressure.

  He swung open the door to his F-150 and stepped up on the running board. Flashing lights to his left drew his attention. Yellow beams slashed the night from the panel atop a tow truck. In front of it sat a small, white four-door. The dim streetlight above them wasn’t much but it did allow Caelan to see a figure.

  The same man he’d seen inside the bar now stood near the rear of the car and spoke through the open driver’s door to someone in the front seat.

  Another car’s headlights lit up the scene and Caelan caught a quick glimpse of a cap of light brown hair.

  “Un-fucking-believable.” He stepped back down to the ground and shoved the door shut.

  At least now he knew what the anxiety had been about.

  He shook his head. “You won’t get away from me this time, sweetheart.”

  * * *

  If this jerk hit on her one more time… And to think she’d been ecstatic that he’d gotten here early.

  “Patience, Tullabelle, he’s coming.”

  “Who’s coming?” Tieran scanned the parking lot but didn’t see anyone.

  “Hey, honey, I’m gonna have to give you a tow. Why don’t you hop on into my cab, I’ll give you a lift.”

  Eew.

  The slob tried to smile around a glob of tobacco, revealing more than one missing tooth. What kind of woman did he think she was?

  “I don’t think so. I’ll call a friend to pick me up.” She tried to speak as sweetly as possible, but must have sounded a tad bit repulsed. The man’s eyes narrowed and he spat a big wad of gross, black tar at the ground near her shoe.

  “S’no problem, lady. Jump on in.”

  “The lady said no thank you.”

  The tow-truck driver jerked at the sound of the deep, gravelly voice. Tieran’s heart pounded. It was them, or rather, one of them. Whether it was the playboy who’d smiled at her or the one who glared back, she couldn’t be sure. Hell, she hadn’t seen anything past t
heir gorgeous faces to tell them apart.

  His dark brown hair reflected the dull light above him. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his black jeans, lending to his air of casualness.

  His expression, however, was anything but casual. His feral eyes pulsed and flashed an eerie, yellowish-brown beneath deceptively long lashes. Tieran expected that at any second he would pounce. God help the poor soul he landed on.

  “I told you.”

  She ignored her gramama’s words just as she tried to ignore the quickening of her heartbeat and the hardening of her nipples beneath her shirt. No more men. None. Stop looking at him.

  She couldn’t and had to swallow to keep her tongue from coming out and licking her lips the way she wanted to lick his body.

  He was all male and she wanted him. Bad. Wanted to feel him between her thighs. Wanted his mouth and hands on her, caressing until she screamed out with her climax. Why? She’d never wanted Peter this way. Not even in the throes, or lack thereof, of passion. What was a throe anyway?

  “Focus, Tieran.”

  Her cheeks caught fire at her gramama’s command, jerking her completely out of her fantasies.

  “I reckon it ain’t none a your business.” The tow-truck driver’s voice made her skin crawl and she barely refrained from rubbing her arms to ward off his ickiness.

  A low growl—that’s the only way she could describe it—issued from her savior’s mouth and he cocked his head. Her savior?

  “She’s here with me. I’d say that makes it my business.” His low voice rang with menace.

  Take that! She was suddenly sorry she’d glared at him earlier.

  The disgusting man straightened to his full height and was still about a head shorter than Mr. Yummy. Tow-truck man spit again, some of the loogie landing on the interior panel of her door.

  Sick. “That’s a really disgusting habit,” she blurted.

  “You just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you, Tulla?”

  Tieran mentally shrugged. The towing man continued to stare at the other man, whose lips had curved at the edges for some reason.

  “I think he likes your attitude, Tulla. Wonders never cease.”

  For long seconds no one moved or spoke, until finally, the towing man turned his head away from the car and spit for the third time.

  Tieran could take no more. She gagged and her eyes watered.

  “You’re on your own, lady.” He turned and stomped back to his truck. The engine roared to life. Gravel spewed out behind the tires as he reversed and took off down the street.

  She sighed in relief. Thanking God was a bit much considering she still had a broken-down car to deal with, but then she remembered her savior. “Thank you.”

  He stepped forward and planted a big hand on the top of her door, preventing her from closing it. “My name’s Caelan Graham.”

  Please don’t tell me that. I don’t want to know and I don’t want to get involved again.

  “He’s different, Tullabelle.”

  “So? Butt out.”

  “ And yours is?” He crossed his arms over the edge of the door and rested his chin on his muscled forearm. His posture clearly said, “I have all night.”

  Fine. Damn it, but fine.

  “Tieran.”

  He seemed to ponder that for a moment. “What kind of name is that?”

  “One step above Nareit.” Why did everyone in the world have to question her name?

  “Be nice to him, Tulla.”

  Caelan—could you have a sexier name?—smiled, letting her attempt at an insult roll off him, melting the icy demeanor she was trying to portray.

  Aargh!

  “Nice to meet you. Now, I have to go.” She yanked the door away from him, causing him to stumble, a surprised look on his face.

  “And just how do you plan on doing that if your car doesn’t work?”

  He had her there. She jammed the key in the ignition, praying it might start now that it had rested for a while. Right. Nothing would ever be that easy for her. She held her breath and turned her wrist. The engine purred to life. Feeling like a snot, she turned to Caelan and graced him with a bratty smile.

  “See? It’s fine. Just needed a minute to cool down I guess.” Even she didn’t believe that.

  As she pulled away, she glanced in the rearview mirror at Caelan who stood with his arms across his chest, grinning.

  She found herself smiling back and shook her head. Fool.

  Was she referring to him or to herself? Crap. What did it matter now? He was gone.

  And her grandmother had said she was supposed to help him with something. Double crap. She’d gotten so flustered by the tow-truck driver and Caelan’s heated gaze that she’d forgotten the reason her car had conveniently chosen that moment to break down. As soon as she got some rest, she’d find out exactly how her gramama had made that happen.

  “I can explain, Tulla, and don’t worry, my dear. He’ll find you.”

  Tieran wasn’t even going to think about why that idea made her panties wet.

  * * *

  Caelan dropped his arms to his side. His slippery little mate had gotten away again. No problem. At least now he knew how to find her. He had her name and license plate number. Owning your own security company sometimes had its privileges.

  Tomorrow. He’d go to her tomorrow after he finished the job he had in the morning. Then he’d sit her down and enlighten her with reality. His reality, not hers, since her version would be vastly different. Then he’d take her to bed and have his way with her, making her position in his life concrete.

  And that was the only way it could be.

  Chapter Two

  Caelan slapped the file folder down on the cluttered desk the next day and ran a hand over his face. Damn he was tired. His eyes were gritty from the number of hours he’d worked lately. They had to find this guy before he got to another one of their mates. He ground his teeth together, surprised the shifter community hadn’t been outed yet. It would come to that very soon if no one could identify the man responsible. Caelan was no closer to finding the bastard today than he was yesterday. Or two weeks ago for that matter.

  He was failing his shifters. All of them, even if none of the mates murdered so far had been from his pack. Caelan still felt responsible. Fat lot of good he’d do them in his current state of mind.

  He cursed himself for not being able to concentrate this morning. He’d been too fucking busy thinking about Tieran. When he’d woken up this morning his dick had been so hard he’d had to jack himself off. Something he hadn’t had to do since high school.

  Imagining Tieran’s head bobbing up and down as she sucked him off had done the trick, but it just hadn’t been the same as having her do it for real.

  He wished now he had been more forward last night. Somehow gotten her to come home with him or something. His body already knew what it was missing even though he hadn’t completed the transfer of body fluids.

  Yeah, right, Graham. Letting her see the real you would have gone over well. Probably would have sent her racing for the hills.

  “You find out anything?” Eli settled his tall frame into the chair across the desk.

  Jesus, Caelan was so preoccupied with his mate he hadn’t even heard his brother come in. Not good. “You look like hell. Have another late night?” His brother was an eternal rake. Caelan thought maybe Eli was trying to deny his future.

  Eli grinned but the smile looked forced.

  “You could say that.” Eli raked a hand through his hair. “Got a lot on my mind, I guess.” He gestured with a jerk of his chin to the papers strewn across Caelan’s desk. “What ya got?”

  “Anything I can help with?” Caelan asked, ignoring his brother’s attempt to change the subject.

  “No, not until we get this killer business behind us. My problem can wait.”

  “If you’ve got an issue—”

  “I don’t, Cael. Well, I do, but nothing serious. I’ll get to it later. What do you kn
ow?” Eli pointed to the papers again.

  Caelan sighed and let the issue drop. Sooner or later Eli would get around to telling him. They had no secrets. He hoped.

  “I know where she lives, where she works, her debt-to-income ratio, her education and where she shops. Hell, I can probably even tell you her bra size.”

  Eli’s face lit up with a wolfish grin, no pun intended. “What? All that and no name? I was talking about the Mate Killer, anyway.”

  Caelan fisted his pencil until he heard a crack.

  “What size are they?” Eli continued, wiggling his eyebrows.

  “Tieran, and no, I didn’t find out anything.” He would ignore his little brother’s comment about Tieran’s cup size for now. “You won’t get a rise out of me that easily.”

  “No, I can see you’re in no way affected by the very hot human who’s got you sporting a permanent woody.”

  Caelan itched to wipe the smug look off his little brother’s face. Eli would get what was coming to him sooner or later. He couldn’t escape finding a mate forever. Caelan had a feeling it would be Nikki who brought Eli to heel. “The police have no leads, even after last night,” he said, striving to keep his voice normal.

  Eli brought his chin up sharply, his eyes narrowed. “What happened last night?”

  “Another one,” Caelan said solemnly. “They think she was attacked by a pack of wild dogs or coyotes.”

  Eli snorted. “Coyote are wild dogs, aren’t they? Wait a minute. Why did he take one while in wolf form? That’s a pretty big leap from his previous attacks. Maybe he fucked up.”

  Caelan shrugged. “And maybe we’re dealing with a full-blood shifter. The moon was full last night, he wouldn’t have been able to get out of it. Or it could be he just knows what the hell he’s doing. It might be a ploy to throw us off, to make us think he’s a full-blood so we’ll back off looking at the half-bloods completely. Not to mention he’s been very careful not to kill in the same way twice, even in his human form.”