Breaking and Entering of the Heart Read online

  “Busy,” Finch growled, feeling the connection open up between Cooper and himself right before he shut it down, refusing to allow his friend to see what he had in his arms.

  All thought of anything that had happened earlier disappeared until he looked up to see the mark still on her arm where she had been shot.

  Skylar released her breast, both hands cupping his cheeks, drawing his attention to her big brown eyes. “Don’t you dare stop. Love me.”

  He turned his head and nipped her finger. “I’ll never stop,” Finch promised and started to show her how much love he already had for her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him, needing, and he gave back all that he could, showing her how loving a shadow protector could also love as fierce as his possession of her.

  He couldn’t help himself, grabbing a handful of her hair and tugging until she tilted her head back, exposing her neck to him. “There will be no denying you are mine after tonight, my little mayor.” Finch waited until both of them were close, and her walls were squeezing him.

  “Forever,” he said before he lowered his head and bit down hard enough to break the skin enough that his recogged would be inserted into her. It didn’t even matter if she couldn’t cross the barrier, she would be his forever.

  Her pussy clamped down on him, her body started to tremble in his arms, and she moaned, her fingers digging into his shoulders. “Finch,” her little whisper triggering his possessiveness over her and his own orgasm, following her down the path of pleasure highs, knowing he had completed his end of the bonding.

  Thrusting into her three more times, the ridges of his cock sending another fine tremor through her as he released her neck, kissing away the little drop of blood on her. Carefully, Finch held onto his prize and stepped out of the tub, his diligord slipping out of her.

  “Don’t know how we didn’t fall. Are you a vampire because if you are, we’re going to have a little trouble with the council?” she asked as he lowered her feet to the ground, grabbing the towel to dry her off.

  He snorted. “No on the vampire. I’ll explain later, and as to why we didn’t fall, our people love water. Hence, we know how to balance in the water, even on slippery surfaces. Plus, if you look down, we have webbed feet.” Finch looked up at her as he knelt down, drying her legs. “I meant what I said, Skylar. You are mine now. Not one of my men will approach you unless it is to protect you.”

  She stopped moving, her eyes got big. “It’s time to test it? Go to your world?” Her voice squeaked, and Finch could actually see a little bit of fear there.

  He stood, throwing the towel onto the counter, pulling her into his arms. “No matter what, my little mayor, you are mine. I’m not leaving you ever. If that means we stay here, so be it, so get that fear out of your eyes.”

  * * * *

  Skylar rested her forehead against his chest and let out the air she had been holding. She had known this man for six months, but tonight, he now held her heart in his hand. There was no denying how much she needed to be with him.

  “Explain this bonding stuff you are talking about.” She waved her hand and looked up at him. “Is it what I think it is, like a marriage?” she asked. “Because I’m telling you right now, you are not getting out of giving me a wedding.”

  He lifted her up and smiled at her. “I thought it was custom for the man to do the proposing on one knee with a ring and a romantic evening or something.”

  She laughed. “We don’t need the knee thing, and usually, yes, but if this bonding is for life, it’s kind of a moot point, isn’t it? But the wedding is a must because I’ve always wanted a nice wedding in the town square in the springtime. Make it another event for the city. We could have dancing, food carts, and such.”

  He smiled and kissed her nose. “My woman gets the works, but yes, the bonding is like a marriage, but there is no divorce. Eventually, even you will not feel well if another man tries to touch you, as would I with a woman. We can never be unfaithful like your men either, our bodies wouldn’t allow it.”

  “Hmm, I like that,” she sighed. “But we have business to get to. I know your men are waiting for you.” She stepped away and went to grab the clothes he had bought for her.

  “You know, you don’t have to do anything tonight. I can handle it.” He reached over and released the clip holding her hair. “I like your hair down.”

  Skylar looked down at her feet. “How do I even look at those boys’ families? If I wouldn’t have asked them...” Skylar took a deep breath.

  “Look at me, Skylar, really look at me,” Finch said, waiting.

  She glanced up, meeting his gaze. “You had nothing to do with their deaths. That is on the chief, and we both know he ordered this. Maybe it was because he knew you and I were getting close, I don’t know. But I do know you took all six boys away from him and saved them. We both know the way they were going they would have died or ended up in his sex ring. The chief took boys, girls, and woman from the reports I’m getting.”

  “I just don’t understand how I didn’t see it? We don’t have that many missing people,” she said, needing something warm on, a chill was starting to settle on her skin.

  Before Skylar could grab the warm nightgown, Finch had it in his hands and was slipping it over her head. “You should have told me you were cold. I keep forgetting your body needs a higher temperature than ours. I’ll make sure the apartment warmth is turned up a little for you.”

  She smiled, pulling the soft nightgown down. It dropped to her feet, extra-long just like she loved. “I take it I’m also moving in here?”

  “Of course, you are my woman, where else would you be?” He shook his head, reaching down and grabbing his pants, slipping them on without underwear.

  “Well, I guess that answers one question.” She smiled and moved toward the door.

  “What question?” he asked, following her down the hall.

  “Whether you wore boxers, briefs, or went all commando, wearing nothing under your pants,” she said, peaking at him.

  He frowned. “Does it matter? I really don’t like anything on under my pants; it’s restricting when I need to remove them quickly. I don’t think any of us do,” he told her, and she stopped.

  “You just told me your men don’t wear... Uggg, now I’m going to...” she shook her head and stepped into the big open room that resembled the family room. She would not look, would not, but she did as soon as Cooper stood.

  “So damn bad,” she mumbled.

  “Yes, you are.” Finch leaned over, swatting her butt and nipping her ear lobe. “You don’t need to be staring at other men.”

  She smiled and looked over her shoulder at him. “Then, you shouldn’t have told me what you did because—” She didn’t get any further as he covered her mouth with his in a hard, brutal, hot kiss that had her weak in the knees.

  “Behave,” he grumbled, breaking the kiss and escorting her toward the table. “Sit down, little mayor. I’ll get us all some food and drink before we start.” He pulled out a chair, and she sat down, watching the man who was slowly stealing her heart. She laughed at her last thought seeing Cooper. Luster questioned her with a look, she explained.

  “I was just thinking about your commander. Finch was in the process of stealing my heart. Then, I thought maybe I should have him arrested.” Cooper laughed, and Luster smiled.

  A cup of hot coffee was put down in front of her along with a bowl of cabbage and dumplings. “Skylar, if anyone is going to put someone in handcuffs, it’s me. You have broken into my hearts, and I do believe that is an offense.” Finch sat down with a howl, too. “There is more in the kitchen if you want some he said to his men. I saw the mayor eating this and noticed how much she enjoyed it yesterday, so I thought I would try it. There is a whole pan of it in there.” He picked up a dumpling and stared at it.

  “You bought this because you knew I liked it?” She couldn’t help the warm feeling spreading all
throughout her.

  “Of course, what you like, I will always try at least once. But this is strange, and the smell is different, that is for sure,” Finch said before stuffing a dumpling into his mouth.

  Skylar couldn’t help but watch as his expression didn’t show a thing. “You’d be a good poker player. Well?” she asked as he took a big bite of the cabbage as she dove into her bowl, moaning. “I could eat this every week.”

  “It’s different but not bad,” he said as the other two men went into the kitchen to bring out bowls.

  “You must have bought a lot of it,” she said, laughing at the size of their bowls.

  “I bought enough for all of us to try it, even though I do believe the woman gave us double. I think she has a thing for Cooper here,” Finch said.

  “What? Milly?” Skylar glanced up as Cooper came into the room with a bowl, followed by Luster.

  “That lady loves all of us, and her husband just laughs as she flirts away,” Cooper said.

  “Yep, that is Milly, but we love her. Do you know she makes batches of this and takes it up the seniors’ home? Amazing lady,” Skylar said.

  Chapter Six

  Finch sat back and listened to his men giving their reports. They had three possible locations for the delivery of children. As they sat and listened to all the facts and evidence they had collected, Skylar reached over and took his phone, dialing a number, holding up her hand.

  “Judge Coaters, this is Mayor Nighturn. I was wondering if you could meet us at the old bank.”

  Finch glanced at Cooper, who shrugged as they listened to her, asking the judge to bring something he didn’t understand. Legal case? But whatever it was, tomorrow night they would have the final evidence they needed to take this group down, and then, it was time to put this test behind them.

  Tonight, he would contact his parents and inform them they could come for a visit after every one of the chief’s local group was rounded up. Finch would not risk any comeback, especially on his woman.

  “Okay, the judge is on his way. I think we have enough here for a warrant. I want this asshole off the streets now,” Skylar said.

  “No,” Finch said and shook his head. “We have to wait for tomorrow night, Skylar. I want to at least save those that he has. Plus, we might be able to get more information about others in this operation because from what I’ve seen, this isn’t just the chief. He’s just a small potato here, not smart enough to organize all of this.”

  “You know if this judge is familiar with the chief, it could also set him off,” Cooper said, sitting back.

  “Damn it, I want him behind bars,” Skylar said, getting up and going to the massive window looking down at the town square. “The thought of him walking around while Trevor is in the ground just pisses me off.” Her voice was shaky. “I want this done, Finch. I need this done so I can move on.” She looked back at him. “For us, for me.”

  She turned back to look out at the town square as the square was being cleaned up by his men. “I’m tired of having this hole in my chest every time I think of Trevor. Who knows, maybe it won’t ever go away.” She reached up and rubbed her chest as he followed her over to the window, wrapping his arms around her.

  “It will always be there, my little mayor; it’s part of you now. But it should ease, and I believe it will make you stronger. Tell you what, after this is all done, why don’t we go look at that corner building by the old police station. I thought it might be a good place to set up your office for the suicide help place. We could even set up rooms for people to just come and rest if they need to get away. I also believe helping people with food, jobs, and such would help, too. If we have all this under one roof, it will be easier.”

  She turned in his arms. “I want a drug rehab place, too. So many don’t have insurance or ways to get help. Beds are full at the places that are around here.”

  Finch looked back at Luster. “You want to help with this? You and Breaker have some medical experience.”

  Luster nodded. “I would be honored to help. I’ll start this evening looking up and doing research on the addictions that are around here. Use our knowledge, maybe there is something we can do to help those that the humans don’t have.”

  “Thank you, all of you. I’m hoping we can turn this town around. The last mayor left me a mess, that is for sure,” she said.

  “I have to ask. Why did you reject your salary for mayor? How are you supporting yourself?” Finch asked.

  “If it’s one thing I don’t need, it is money.” She smiled and patted his chest. “If you know so much about me, you should know who my family is.”

  Finch laughed. “Yes, was just waiting for you to tell me. Your father is the one that gave us this building, didn’t he?” Finch asked, and she smiled.

  “Daddy found out the chief was interested in me, and well, your group came at the right time. He was bound to make you stay, and I couldn’t agree with him more. By the way, they are going to want to meet you and your men soon. So, be warned, a big dinner and such soon. So, what should we tell the judge?” she asked. “Because I know he’ll be here soon.”

  “We need to know if this man is trustworthy. Let us do a test to see if we can trust him before giving him any big information. Luster, use that one location we found. We know it’s a small drug place. We might as well see if it’s cleared up when we ask for the warrant.”

  She watched both Luster and Cooper pull out some paperwork while putting the other things they had away. “If he is with the chief, you might want to run a scan over the building after the man leaves. I couldn’t figure out how I kept finding bugs in my office, but Daddy made sure my office was swept every day and also left me a handheld thing that scans things.”

  “I must say, I am impressed, my little mayor, and I can’t wait to meet your family as I can’t wait for you to meet my family. As with yours, when we go to our world, my family will all be there to meet you,” Finch told her.

  Cooper laughed. “Be prepared, he has a lot of family, and some are a pain in the ass, as you Americans would say.”

  Finch laughed and guided her back to the table. “My little sister used to follow Cooper all the time. Haven’t seen her in a while.”

  “Well, I can’t wait to meet her. Maybe she likes Cooper?” Skylar wiggled her eyebrows, and Cooper actually glared at her.

  “Don’t even say those words, plus she’s too young.” Cooper got up and moved toward the door. “The judge is here.”

  “My sister is about your age. We left home about fifty of your years, so it’s been a while. Last I heard, she was visiting another town here on this planet. I’ll have to ask Mom, I think you two would really like each other. Remember, not a word about the other activities until we find out if we can trust this man,” Finch reminded her, placing a kiss on her cheek as the judge walked in with Cooper.

  * * * *

  It was done. If the judge were part of this city’s problem, they would know soon. She smiled at her cat laying on the big bed. When Finch’s man had brought her bag and cat, he’d glared at her, spoke to Finch in their language, storming out of the apartment.

  She crawled onto the bed, laying down near her cat. “Okay, Felix, were you a bad kitty?” she asked, reaching out, scratching her cat’s head.

  “This is going to be our new home for a bit until we decide what we are going to do. So, you have to play nice.” She laughed again, thinking of the man.

  The door closed, and she looked up to see Finch staring at the cat. “I’m sorry, but your animal will have to sleep outside of this room. I am not having that thing attack me while I’m sleeping. I saw what he did to Nester’s arm.”

  “Well, he shouldn’t have pulled his tail. Felix never forgets; he’s very intelligent, but you are right. Until he gets used to you, we better put him out.” She lifted her baby up, getting a grumble out of him, making Finch step back.

  “You keep acting scared, and Felix is going t
o know it.” She got off the bed and moved to Finch’s side. “Trevor found Felix as a kitten. Someone had stuffed him in a bag, tied it, and threw him in the garbage. He really is a baby but also very protective. Pet him, let him get to know you before I put him out.”

  Finch looked from her to the cat before lifting his hand up, allowing Felix to sniff him before reaching up and scratching his head. “I hate to say this, but your people can be a bit aggressive, cruel.”

  She sighed and nodded. “Most are good, but there are those that I don’t know, they have no sympathies or care for anyone else but themselves.”

  Finch reached over and opened the door for her. “Every society has these individuals, but lately, your world has become a little bit more bloodthirsty.”

  “Go on, Felix. I put your bed by the window.” She pushed the cat out the door and moved back in the room, shutting the door. “How long do you think it will take to find out if the judge is in on this?”

  Finch swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. “I have a feeling by tonight the place is going to be as clean as they come. A couple of things were off about your judge, but no more talking, you’re tired, and I know your arm is still sore. Don’t think I didn’t see you flinch as you picked up your cat.”

  She shrugged. “Whatever, you did pretty much heal the wound, but you are right, I am tired.” He laid her down on the bed, following her down with his pants on. “Don’t you think you should get undressed?”

  “No, not yet. I’m waiting for word from my men. Right now, I just want to hold you. Sleep, little mayor, I’m not going anywhere right now,” he told her, curling up beside her and pulling her up to his body. She was snug up against him, and for the first time since Trevor had left her, Skylar felt safe and not so alone.

  “I’ll always be here, Skylar,” he whispered, placing a kiss on her cheek.

  “Nights are always the hardest. I close my eyes, and I can still see him in the car. Did you know, while there is a common perception that suicide rates are highest among the young, the elderly, in fact, have the highest suicide rates. Also, men complete suicide about three times more often than women.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “The first week after his death, I wanted to know everything. There are so many facts out there.”