Chapter Eleven
I couldn’t breathe. Not because of the way she had been dancing, but because she’d been dancing for me.
Most of my life had been deep in the forest and many days I felt more comfortable in beast mode than I did cosplaying a human man, but I’d never felt more fucking feral than I did in this moment.
I’d trained for hostage negotiations and full moon riots, but nothing had prepared me for Synamon Honey.
The way that woman moved turned every note of that song into foreplay. My mouth was watering thinking about ways I could make her twirl those tassels.
Now she was standing in front of me, in nothing but her neon green pasties, orange thong, pink fishnets, and sky-high heels. Her glitter was on my tongue, and I hadn’t even tasted her.
Yet, my bear reminded me.
This woman was every fantasy I ever had, and I had absolutely no idea what to do about it. Synamon Honey was fearless, but the woman underneath all that glitter and bravado was running scared. And I had promised myself I’d take care of her.
We hadn’t signed a contract this time, so I hadn’t had a chance to elaborate on what that included. There were no rules, and that made this arrangement more dangerous than the Centerfold Slasher.
I would make sure no one ever laid a paw on her again.
She was my mate, as my rock-hard cock painfully reminded me. I could get up, knock over some of these lights…
Just like the last time someone tried to abduct her.
Fuck, my bear was right. Ellie had been traumatized and all I could do was think about how to ravage her.
If I didn’t get my head in the game, I’d get us both killed.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking the spell. The last fucking thing on earth I wanted to do was look to see who had the audacity to call me at a time like this. But it could be Barrett with a break in the case.
“Should probably answer it,” I said with a groan.
Synamon nodded. Her eyes were wide, like she was under the same spell that had claimed me.
Jen’s name blazed from the screen. I didn’t have an office here so my bedroom was the only place I could go for privacy.
“You have to find her,” Jen pleaded when I answered.
I closed my eyes for a moment. It would be so easy to tell her that Synamon was here with me, but I couldn’t. To pull off the plan, Ellie had to stay missing.
“We’re working on it.” I hated lying more than I’d hated walking away from that performance moments before.
“She’s posting as Synamon. You know that, right?”
I bristled. “Of course I do.”
“Or should I say, someone’s posting as Synamon. But there isn’t any proof that it’s her.” A sob punctuated her statement.
“We’re working on it,” I repeated.
“Moon, I can’t even let myself think what might be happening to her. If it’s one of her fans—they’re not gonna understand that Synamon is a character. That Ellie is a completely different person. She’s quiet and shy and… What if the Centerfold Slasher got her? Brad, I’m so scared.”
“I know you are.” I did my best to keep my voice soothing, but I was trapped in a half-truth that had her losing faith in me. And Jen was my lifeline to Ellie’s world. She’d tell me what Ellie wouldn’t. “We’ll make sure nothing happens to her.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“We’ll find her,” I growled, then softened. “I promise.”
“Okay.” The word was punctuated with a sob.
“I’ve talked to her coworkers. There’s been no sign of her.
Not even a log in. Ellie is like, employee of the year, every year.
I feel like even if someone was holding her hostage, she’d make damn sure no one messed with her spreadsheets. The police aren’t telling me anything.”
“Everyone is doing their job,” I assured her, grinning at the visual of Ellie and her office suite.
It was on the tip of my tongue to break protocol and tell Jen the truth.
That her best friend was safe, and here with me where she belonged.
But fuck, Synamon wasn’t the only one who was putting on a show in this cabin.
“Ellie is a smart woman. And Synamon is resourceful. I bet she’ll come out of this with one hell of a story and a brand-new routine to boot. ”
“Sweet moon, I hope so,” Jen said before she hung up.
The thought of that new routine was enough to send me over the edge because if I had my way, the only bear Synamon Honey would ever perform for was me. Although, I kinda loved the idea of this woman teasing the entire world and being the only one who actually got to touch her.
The last time you got close to her, you held her hostage in a storage closet, my bear reminded me. No wonder she fired you. This woman refuses to let anyone control her. You need to encourage her to be wild.
He was absolutely right, but if I went back out to that living room right now, I would claim that bright red glossy mouth and rut her like the feral beast I was trying so hard not to be.
So instead, I freed my cock from my jeans, closed my eyes, and imagined what it would be like the next time I got a private performance from Synamon Honey.
My release gave me a full body shudder, and it took everything I had not to roar her name so loudly the local pack would think every single mountain in the Sawtooth range had erupted.
But the only thing in this valley spilling hot lava was me.
Cleaning myself up, I realized the music had stopped. I groaned, mad at myself for taking the call. I shouldn’t have had eyes for anything but Synamon in that moment. And I should’ve never walked away from her.
When I got to the living room, I found it empty.
“Synamon?” I called out. Using her real name didn’t feel appropriate after that performance.
No answer. Strange. The cabin wasn’t that big.
Unless she’d retreated back to her Ellie persona and was hiding in her bedroom.
I stalked toward it, the lava from my release still hot in my veins, and found the door open a crack. I knocked softly, and again was met with silence. My heart stopped as I opened the door.
Her jacket and skirt lay on the floor, forgotten, shoes kicked off, but no sign of Synamon.
Shit. I raked my hand through my hair.
“Ellie!” I called out. “Where are you?”
Every fucking terrible scenario played out in my head, more real than the performance I had just witnessed.
What if…
That call from Jen had been nothing but a well-timed distraction? Ellie hadn’t had a chance to record anything as Synamon yet. Only posted that she was having some technical difficulties and that she’d be back soon, bigger and better than ever.
And I’d fallen for it, leaving Synamon out there in her little neon lingerie set, glowing and so alone.
Fuck!
Panic took over my entire being. Heat spiked inside me. I was gonna shift. I’d track every inch of Sawtooth Forest until I picked up her scent and found her. I’d destroy everything to keep her safe, including my own life.
The door banged against the wall as I headed outside. Before I had a chance to shift, the thing I wanted most in the world stopped me dead in my tracks.
That sweet scent that belonged to my mate.
She was sitting in one of the deck chairs, wig still on, makeup intact, but she’d changed into sweats. She hugged her legs into her body and rested her chin on her knees.
“Hey,” I said, breathless and half-bear. It was the second time in a matter of minutes I had to will myself not to act on my instincts. “I panicked when I couldn’t find you.”
She turned to me. Her makeup was slightly smudged around her eyes, but otherwise still perfect. Sweet moon, she was perfect. “I’m right here.”
I nodded. “We need to talk.”
A soft scoff escaped her lips. “You might have noticed I’m not very good at that.”
“Then can you listen?”
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t run, either. It was a small victory, but I’d take it.
I took a seat in the chair beside her and rested my elbows on my knees.
“This…” How did I tell her? “This isn’t just a job anymore. I told the guys at Sawtooth Security that we were taking your case, no matter if you hired us or not.”
Her eyes widened. “You did what?”
“I wasn’t supposed to get attached. But I did. I couldn’t leave you hanging. Not after what happened at the Stepchild. And especially not after tonight.”
Her eyes shone with emotion in the fading light. She managed a sad chuckle. “I thought I scared you off. That I was too much for you.”
I did the most dangerous thing I could possibly do in that moment. I reached for her hand. That lava was back, and everything was on the line. “I’m not scared of you, Ellie. I’m scared of what I’d do if something happened to you.”