Vivian Arend - Moon Shine

“I’ll let you go,” Amy promised, her volume rising to carry over the shouting and distant rumbling. “Just give me your word that you’re done with this foolishness.”

Evan jerked backwards, taking Mike with him. He twisted at the last moment to slam the other man into the floor first, once again driving a knee into his back. Mike groaned loudly, hands scrambling on the floor as he struggled for air.

“There’s no use in fighting any longer,” Amy snapped. “Take a look at the leader of your rebellion. Any of you want to fight Evan once he’s done? Any of you want to fight me ?”

The struggle on the floor continued, but in the background his mate was fighting a different battle. Evan grabbed Mike by the back of the head so he could repeat the face slam into the floor. In the meantime, Amy continued to give the others hell, forcing them to make a decision which way their loyalties would lie. The exit doors refused to budge, and the windows were shatterproof.

He was a little busy with Mike, but still admiring the hell out of his mate’s evil sense of justice.

“You’re in charge. I swear I’ll follow you and Evan,” one of the rebels shouted. “Now, please, for God’s sake, let us out.”

One after the other they affirmed the decision. As the crackling sound of fire encroached, panic rose.

“I shouldn’t make you decide while you’re under such duress.” Amy clicked her tongue. “It’s not fair. Maybe you’re saying something you don’t mean. I need to think about this for a little while.”

“You’re so demanding,” Evan teased. He concentrated as Mike made one final attempt to rise. Evan squeezed harder, his biceps bulging as he closed the man’s airway as tightly as possible.

“You think?” Amy stepped beside him, squatting to tap his arm. “Hey, you used my move.”

“It seemed appropriate. And effective.”

She grinned. “He’s unconscious, by the way, so you can come and help me with these other guys.”

Evan dragged his arm free. “You seem to be doing fine on your own.”

She pulled his cell phone from her pocket and smiled past lips that were puffy and swollen. “If you escort the guys to the side door off the bar, I’ll unlock it. That’s the safest route.”

“You can open the rest of the doors,” Evan told her. “There’s a fire truck standing by.”

What followed was a rush of activity. The half-dozen men who had been with Mike, Toby and Lance raced from the building. Evan reached the door in time to see the Takhini pack, headed by Shaun, surround them and lead them off.

Which left Mike’s unconscious body to be dealt with. Evan whistled at his Beta. “Hey, come take out the trash for me.”

Shaun jogged over, patting Evan approvingly on the back as he slipped past. “Oh, look. Bad guy on the floor. Colour me shocked and dismayed.”

He slung the man over his shoulder with surprising ease, heading out to safety.

Evan held his hand to Amy, both of them rocking on their feet as another alarm went off directly overhead. “Come on, let’s get out here,” he shouted.

“Just a second. I can shut off the gas from the master control.”

And damn if she didn’t turn around and go back into the hotel.

Evan swore, pausing only long enough to gesture to the emergency crew standing on the sidewalk watching patiently. “Get everyone away from here.”

He twirled and headed for his office, yanking the door open. It was the work of seconds to drag her from the computer and scoop her over his shoulder.

“Wait, wait,” Amy protested. “There’re other things I can do. Stop it, you Neanderthal. Put me down.”

He was beyond waiting. Evan marched out of the room. Heat was already pouring through the doors on the front-hall side. “It’s not worth your life. It’s only a building.”

She relaxed, dragging her fingers up his back. “You just wanted an excuse to carry me around. Admit it.”

Evan didn’t stop until they were across the street and safely away from any further explosions. He lowered her to the ground and tucked her into his arms. “I’m glad you’re my mate.”

Her eyes shone, and that alone made everything perfect. “Looks as if you’re still in charge.”

“ We’re in charge,” he emphasized.

Sirens joined the noise around them. The inn was definitely burning, smoke rising from the upper floors as the ambulance crew popped Mike into the ambulance. A police car waited to accompany them to the hospital. One of the pack who worked as an RCMP caught their attention then nodded. His chin dipped low as he affirmed his connection.

“Mike will be charged for kidnapping, and everything we can think of related to destroying the inn.” Evan turned to see Amy’s assistant, Sarah, standing with her clipboard in hand. She eyed the crowd nervously, but held her ground. “Evan will not be charged for assault or anything, obviously, since he was acting in self-defense and defending you.”

“Well done,” Amy praised her. “Anything else?”

Sarah pointed into the crowd. “The rebel wolves are in the care of Shaun and the Takhini pack. They’re probably the best ones to deal with that side of things. In the meantime, I’ve got a bunch of our people looking into insurance and researching contractors so we rebuild as soon as possible.”

Okay, that one came as a surprise to Evan. “You want to rebuild the Moonshine Inn?”

The woman blinked. “Of course. It’s a great source of revenue, plus it gives the Takhini hooligans something productive to do. Keeps them out of mischief.” Only she winked as she spoke, lowering her gaze respectfully before backing away.

It was too much to take in at once. Evan shook his head and nearly fell over. “Whoa.”

Amy snuggled under his arm and helped hold him up. “I think everybody seems to have the situation under control.”

Almost everything. “Take me home.”

Her smile lit up the area. “I thought you’d never ask.”

They slipped back into her house, and a million years might have passed since she’d been there last. Maybe in a way the sensation was right.

Her world had changed.

Evan crowded her all the way to the shower, pausing to turn on the water. By the time he’d finished stripping off her clothes, steam billowed around them.

The aches and pains were there, but every bit of the punishment she’d taken was worth it, especially when he slid in next to her. Nothing but naked skin, his biceps flexing powerfully as he grabbed her buff puff and the soap.

“Close your eyes, and let me take care of you.”

It seemed selfish to simply take. She closed her eyes as ordered, but reached out to slide her fingers over his body. Touching him while he scrubbed and cleaned, moving tenderly over the bruises and cuts she’d received.

“You’re not supposed to do that,” he breathed unsteadily, the words trembling as she traced her fingers over the delicious muscle between his thigh and abdomen.

“Try and stop me,” she whispered. “You need some tenderness as well.”

“What I need is to care for my mate. You were incredible back there.” With his lips pressed to her temple, he turned her, settling her against his chest. The circles with the soap continued, his hands rising from her waist to her breasts.

Amy arched into his touch. “We work together. Oh, yes, right there.”

He’d transferred the sponge to his opposite hand and was playing with her nipples. “Don’t scare me like that again. When I got into the office and realized where you were, I was ready to take them all out for hurting you.”

“It wasn’t my idea of a good time, but it had to be done.” Amy draped a hand around his neck, twisting her head to one side so their lips could meet for a slow, careful kiss. The taste of him sank into her very cells. “And you’re still the one who fought Mike.”