Chapter~29~The things done for love.

Harley~

The feeling of waking up in Nick's arms is almost as satisfying as his allowing me to have my way with him last night. I've found that I enjoy being in control of our lovemaking; I believe he does too. My intention was to retake my Wolfman this morning until my movements turned off my libido.

Instead of mounting him, I am pushing out of his embrace and making a mad dash to the bathroom. Nick follows me and sits down behind me in front of the toilet, waiting for the episode to pass. With a final cough and spit, it does, and I lean back into him, and he wipes my face with a hand towel.

"Good morning, Amante."

"Good morning, Nick. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"I've been awake for a while. Are you feeling better now?"

"It's too soon to tell."

Nick helps me to my feet, scoops me up, carries me back to the bed, and lays us down again. "I'm concerned about you, Harley. How about if we take the day off?"

"We can't, and you know it."

"Are you ready for breakfast then? You just emptied your already empty stomach."

Rae pushed forward, flashing him a look as if to tattletale on me, the little rat; he seems to understand. Why am I surprised?! I'm finding myself increasingly drawn to the idea of being completely bonded to Nick and Zeek. The thought sends a chill down my spine and heat to my core.

"Not yet. Can we stay here a little longer?"

"As long as you want."

That's all I needed to hear, and I snuggled my face into his chest, my happy place, with a contented sigh, wrapping my arms around him.

"I don't want to go back, Nick."

"We have to go back, Harley. Whatever this is, it isn't getting any better, and you must not miss the doctor's appointment tomorrow. Either we leave now for the hospital in my pack or back to Santa Monica soon, so what's it gonna be?"

My fingers tightened in his hair; that's not the ultimatum I wanted. "We're going back."

"So what happens next with the investigation?"

"We figure out who's doing the murders for Luccese. Once the stalker is no longer a threat, we can go, and the humans can clean up the mess."

"I'm liking the sound of that, Amante."

My phone rings, so I move to search for it, but Nick already has it in his hand, and the smile he gives me takes my breath away; he slips the green phone on and turns on the speaker.

"Yeah, Captain."

"Where is Detective Gibson?"

"We are having breakfast before hitting the road back there. She stepped into the little girl's room."

"You need to make a quick breakfast, Agent. We have Luccese's LA bank account. He has paid steadily under three names for months, and I'm willing to bet a fat puppy's ass that one of them is the stalker."

"10-4, Captain, we will be back soon."

Nick disconnected the line, tossed the phone on the nightstand, and rubbed his hands along my back. "It's going to be ok, Harley."

Nick got some of the breakfast he was talking about from me. We showered after making love, dressed, and loaded up. Nick has my hand on his thigh, with his hand on top, which has become his go-to position.

Being with Nick feels comfortable and safe; I've experienced nothing even close to it. It may be the serenity talking, but I decide to tell him about the lightning bolt, Lady. I could at least be honest with him about something. I hope he will not think that I have gone completely insane!

"Nick, can I tell you something?"

"Anything, Amante."

"It's gonna sound a little crazy, but I swear it's the truth."

"All ears over here, Harley."

"So, I took Rae out for a run about a week ago. We were swimming when Rae told me she sensed something watching us. The something turned out to be a water goddess." I looked at him, waiting for his laugh, but he wasn't even cracking a smile.

"Go on, Harley."

"She told me her name is Lauren, and that she knew my mother, Sabrina. Lauren told me I am a guardian."

"Of what?"

"A place called Sauther Lake. Do you believe me?"

"Yes, I do, Amante."

My heart is pounding in my chest as excitement rushes through me. "Have you ever heard of the lake or know how to get there?!"

"Of course, I've heard the legends of Sauther Lake, but I don't know where the lake is located."

I'd be blind not to see the wave of apprehension and worry come over Nick, only I couldn't figure out why.

"What's wrong, Nick?"

"Nothing at all, Amante. I'll do some research and see what I can find about your lake."

"Can I tell you something else?"

He glances over at me and squeezes my hand. "Nothing would please me more."

"I think I'm falling for you, Wolfman."

"I'll catch you on my way down, Amante."

Before I was ready, we pulled back into the Santa Monica police station. I gave Nick's hand a final squeeze and got out of the car. Captain Howard ushered us to the room I refer to as the closest from hell. At the table sat Belinda, Dr. Lyles, and Detectives Brock and Graves. Nick and I take a seat, and the Captain passes us the jackets across the table.

The folders contain Luccese's bank records and the profiles of our three suspects. The arrest record of the first guy, Tony Henderson, reads like a list of what to do to wind up behind bars. Everything from armed robbery to kidnapping, trafficking, and even some suspicion of rape charges, enough to get him on the registry.

I looked up from the file to my Captain. "They don't get any better, Detective; the next guy, Harold Conner, was out on the fucking payroll for burning his victim alive. What kind of dumbass judge would turn a sicko like him loose?"

Nick read from the last file that the third suspect, Steven Ballance, had spent most of his life in and out of mental institutions all over the state, then he glanced at me.