Namesake (Voiders #1) - Marie Harte Page 0,6

jail time. Because Norm/Voider relationships don’t work. Especially not with sexually charged, aggressive Ravagers. Rumor had it they fucked anything that moved seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. And I turned that down? I must be nuts.

After putting a good mile between her and that damn bar, Vicki eased up. She must have lost them. Not wanting to chance that they might track her by scent, she grabbed the nearest bus and made her way home, glad she’d long ago listed her residence under her grandmother’s name. Considering her propensity to find trouble at work, she’d taken her cousin’s advice and hidden her home base. Once Sean realized she hadn’t made it to MacT’s, he’d look for her here.

Inside the roomy townhouse, seated nervously on the sofa, Vicki waited. She was hungry. Her ribs ached, and her jeans chafed, uncomfortably moist at the crotch. I had an orgasm in a Ravager bar with four wolfish Voiders. Technically three, she corrected herself, since Dominic didn’t do much other than guard them and cheer. Christ.

Vicki slapped a hand over her eyes and groaned. But as the minutes passed, she couldn’t stop thinking about her Ravager encounter…and why she hadn’t wanted it to end.

Sean arrived hours later. He shook Vicki awake and turned on the lights. To her relief, he looked none the worse for wear, just harried.

“Where have you been?” she asked around a yawn.

“Out losing Salinas, Chen’s thugs, and Ravagers.” Sean swore and sank down on the couch next to her. “Fucker of night.”

“Ravagers?” she croaked.

“Long story.” He winced when she nudged his shoulder.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. Look, why don’t we get some shut-eye and—”

“Sean Ryan Morely, tell me what happened. I was worried sick.”

“Yeah, I could tell by the snoring and the drooling.”

Vicki automatically wiped her mouth, only to find it dry. “Funny, smartass. I did my best, but it’s” —she squinted at the grandfather clock in the corner— “four a.m. Seriously, are you hurt?”

“Nothing some antiseptic and a rabies shot won’t cure,” he muttered. He shrugged out of his jacket and removed his shirt.

Raw bite marks reddened his shoulder near his neck. Looking with an inner eye, she thought his energy appeared disturbed. Not wounded but different. Sick at the thought Ravagers had done this to him, Vicki hurried to the bathroom and returned seconds later with a medicine kit.

Fixing some ointment and a bandage to his wounds, she asked again, “What happened?”

“I managed to shake the Salinas. Chen’s guys were harder, but I avoided them too. Unfortunately, I met up with some old friends at MacT’s.” He groaned when she pronounced him fixed, rolled his shoulders, then slipped his shirt back on.

“Old friends?”

“I never told you about that pair of Ravager sisters I met a few months ago. Trust me when I tell you they don’t like to be told no.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

At her knowing tone, he frowned. “How about you fill me in on your night? I waited at MacT’s for hours. Then the sex sisters showed up and cornered me. I barely escaped in one piece.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Please. I’m surprised you didn’t jump them both with promises to ‘call them in the morning’.” At his scowl, she laughed. “Ah, so that’s what landed you in trouble in the first place, hmm?”

“You don’t know the first thing about Ravagers. Sex with them is all well and good, but when they want to mark you, run for the hills.”

“Why?” Marking was bad? Dominic had wanted to mark her. She still didn’t know exactly what that meant.

“Ravagers like to share sex partners.”

“I know that. But I didn’t think you were into guys.”

“You’re hilarious.”

“Are you telling me their females wanted to share you?” She goggled at the thought.

Two groups of Ravagers lived in Cross Step. The more “civilized” Savages and the unruly Lawless clan, who lived in their animal-like form out in the country. The Savages numbered in the thousands, but Ravager females were rare.

Though Sean liked to spread himself around the ladies, frankly, she couldn’t see him sharing himself that much.

“I know we haven’t dealt much with Ravagers, but come on, Vicki,” he said with a snort. “Are you that clueless?”

“About Ravager sexual practices? Yes, so fill me in.” Please. What the hell did I get myself into earlier?

“All I can say is I’m glad Chen’s not a Ravager. Diana’s enough to deal with.” He swore under his breath.

“Like Chen’s not? Need I remind you he’s after us since your brilliant plan failed?”

“Only because you didn’t