Nate's Naughty Nymph [The Doms of Club Mystique 5] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  He stalked to the door and threw it open. “Logan.”

  “Luc and I want to talk to you.”

  “No.”

  “Okay, see you down—what? What do you mean?”

  “I mean unless it’s a life or death situation, you and your brothers can talk to me at a decent time during the day. No more of these late night games. Do you understand?”

  “Uh, yeah, sure,” Logan said.

  “Good, then I’ll see you in the morning.” Nate closed the door, locked it, then looked at Nymph and grinned. “Where were we?”

  “I think I had just earned a spanking.” She looked around at the new décor. “Addison remodeled the house, including this room. She told me it’s soundproof.”

  Nate twirled his finger in the air, and Nymph rolled over onto her belly and wiggled her bottom. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her down the bed until her legs hung over the side. He ran his hands over her bare ass before he swatted both cheeks. “You may not be able to sit tomorrow, so it’s a good thing we’re patrolling the river.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Nymph crouched down next to a thick stand of bushes and listened for another sound from the people she was tracking. It was almost dusk, and she and Nate had been patrolling the river since noon. They’d realized they weren’t alone when they’d heard a startled curse ahead of them. It had been followed by a gruff voice telling the person to be quiet. She figured they’d run into one of the snakes she’d been avoiding all day as well. Nate had told her to cross the river in case they doubled back while he followed them.

  She grimaced and pulled her damp shirt away from her neck where it was chafing her skin. She’d nearly been dry from the first river crossing when she’d had to cross it again. A breeze flowed over her and she shivered as she scanned the area in front of her. A shoulder and arm covered in a dirty shirt that might have been white at one time caught her attention. She zoomed in on him and saw him get up and stumble forward a few feet before disappearing around a tree.

  Nymph searched the area for the second guy, didn’t see him, and wondered if the guy in front of her was a decoy. She searched behind her just in case. When she didn’t see any movement, she flattened out on the ground and slid beneath the lowest branches of the bush. Finally, she looked up and spotted a pair of camouflaged legs in a tree about fifty feet in front of her and ten feet up. As she watched, the man adjusted his feet and the small branch he was standing on suddenly bent down. He dropped the rifle and wrapped his arms around the tree. It fell, bouncing from branch to branch before hitting the ground. The guy in the tree scrambled after it.

  Nymph shook her head. These guys were amateurs. They’d left deep tracks in the mud at the river and spoken when they should have kept quiet. Then, the guy in the tree hadn’t taken a position that would allow him to fire his weapon and now he’d dropped it. The other one walked like he was drunk on tequila and she could still hear him moving through the forest.

  Nymph crept out from beneath the bushes and moved up behind the tree climber as he bent over to retrieve his weapon. She booted him in the butt, and he fell forward, scraping up a mouthful of leaves as he skidded across the forest floor. She was on him in seconds and had his wrists zip tied behind his back. While he spit the debris from his mouth she zip tied his ankles then planted her knees in his back and gagged him before she rolled him over. Frightened soft-brown eyes stared up at her and Nymph nearly broke her silence when she realized her captive was a female. She looked around, expecting to be attacked at any moment. When it didn’t come, she grabbed her captive and pulled her over to the bushes and shoved her beneath them.

  The woman shook her head furiously as her eyes went wild and she started chanting, “Nake, nake, nake.”

  Nymph put her hand over her mouth. “Be quiet. I was just under these bushes and there aren’t any snakes.”

  The woman wiggled again and Nymph gave her another shove. Behind her, a stick snapped. She turned and the tip of a very sharp knife nearly brushed the tip of her nose. Using only her eyes, she looked up. The guy in the dirty white shirt stood over her, swaying, while blood dripped from the hand wrapped around the knife’s hilt.

  His hand was filthy, crusted with dirt and dried blood. His clothes were in tatters, with multiple blood stains covering them. He swayed again and she met his eyes. He had the look of a man at the edge of his endurance.

  “Get her out of there. Now,” he said.

  His voice was familiar. Nymph pictured him without the dirt and scruffy beard and recognized him. “Ben?” Behind her the bushes rustled just as she started to stand. Two boots kicked her on the back of her legs and she fell forward against Ben. He fell back and she landed on him. She screamed in pain when the knife sank into her left side. He pushed her off him and she rolled onto her back. Above her, the branches of the trees swayed in the wind.

  “Nymph, oh my god.” Ben pushed his hands against her side.

  “Ben—radio. Nate will come.”

  Ben jerked the radio from her vest. He spoke for a moment then collapsed next to her. Nate would be there soon. She knew he would. It was her last thought as her vision narrowed and darkness swamped her.

  * * * *

  Nate heard a man calling for help on the radio. He keyed his mic. “Who is this?” No answer. “Nymph?”

  When he didn’t receive an answer, not even a click from her radio, he knew she’d been hurt. His gut twisted, and he threw protocol and his own safety to the wind as he ran in the direction he thought she’d be.

  When he reached the clearing, he aimed his weapon at the man who hovered over Nymph with bloody hands. A roar of rage and pain rose to the sky as Nate rushed the man prepared to kill him. “Get away from her.” The man looked up but didn’t move his hands.

  “Nate. It’s me, Ben Harrington. I can’t let go. If I do, she’ll bleed to death.”

  Nate dropped to his knees beside Nymph. He ripped her shirt open and loosened her body armor. Next to him, Ben waivered. Nate glanced at him. He looked like he’d been through hell. There were cuts and burns all over his face and arms. His nose was broken and both eyes were black and swollen.

  “I can’t hold on much longer,” Ben said, his voice weak. “She fell on my knife. Valentina is in the bushes behind me. She can help.”

  Nate nodded then pulled the ranch radio from a pocket. “I need help. Nymph is hurt and needs to go to the hospital. We’re a hundred yards east of the river picnic area.” He dropped the radio and moved around Ben as Jackson answered, letting him know they were on their way.

  Two boots stuck out from beneath the bushes. He grabbed them and pulled. A young woman with short dark hair and worried brown eyes appeared. He cut the restraints and removed the gag. “I need your help. Now,” he told her before he moved back to Nymph and emptied the first aid kit on the ground next to her. As soon as Valentina took over, putting pressure on the wound, Ben collapsed.

  Nate placed several sterile gauze pads on the wound. “Stay here with Ben. I’ll send help.” He picked Nymph up, placing his hand over the wound and pressing into it as he ran toward the edge of the trees. He stepped out into the sunlight just as Cade, Jackson, and Luc arrived with a vehicle. Luc opened the door and jumped out.

  “Ben and someone named Valentina are about two hundred yards back there. Ben’s hurt.” Nate slid into the vehicle. Luc slammed the door of the SUV and Cade took off. Jackson radioed the house to let them know Luc needed another vehicle.

  Nate held Nymph against him as blood soaked through the gauze and covered his hand. He leaned over her, surrounding her as if he could hold her life captive with his love. “Come on, Nymph. Stay with me now.”

  “How’s she doing?” Jackson asked.

  Nate ignored the question. Instead, he spoke to her, hoping she could hear him even as her blood soaked his clothes. “We said we’d fight and live or die together. Fight for us now, baby.”

  Once they reached the highway, Cade turned onto it and the vehicle leapt
forward. Jackson used his cell phone to speak to someone at the hospital. “They’re expecting us. I told them she’d been stabbed and that the entry wound was below the edge of her body armor on the left side. They have a surgical team standing by.”

  Nate put more pressure on the wound, but it continued to bleed as she struggled for another breath. “I love you, Nymph. I know you’re tired but you’re strong. Just breathe, baby. Slow and easy.” Inside, he felt her slipping away from him. He was determined to not let her go alone. He struggled for breath the way she did. Shivered when she shivered. Her face was pale. His was wet with tears.

  They pulled up beneath the canopy of the emergency room and the car door opened. He pulled Nymph protectively closer.

  Doc Marshall leaned into the vehicle. “Let’s go, Nate. There’s no time to waste.”

  Nate stepped out of the SUV as several people in white coats rolled a gurney up to him. He laid Nymph down then followed them as they rushed her away. When they reached an exam area, he forced his way in and stood to one side while they examined her.

  “Anyone know what her blood type is?” one of the other doctors asked.

  “A positive,” Nate said.

  Doc Marshall and the other doctor stabilized her condition. Within minutes, they moved her out of the exam area to an elevator that would take her to the surgical floor.

  Nate entered another elevator with Cade behind him. He stared blankly at the control panel. Cade reached over and pushed the button for the fourth floor just as Jackson slipped between the closing doors.

  “Luc and Logan are bringing in Ben and Valentina Rios,” Jackson said. “Zane has the ranch on high alert and the McCabes are on watch, along with their men.”

  A ding sounded and the doors slid open. Nate stepped out, looked left then right, saw the nurses’ station, and moved toward it. “Nymph Lachlan. She was just brought up for surgery.”

  The nurse’s look of alarm when she saw the blood on his hands and clothes increased when her eyes dropped to the gun and knife strapped to his waist. She scooted her chair back and stood up.

  Cade moved up next to Nate on one side while Jackson took up a stance on his other side.

  “Hi, Laura,” Cade said. “My dad’s fiancée Nymph Lachlan was brought up by Doc Marshall for surgery. Do you know which operating room she’s in?”

  Laura pointed to her left, where two doors stood guard at the end of the hall. “She’s in surgery down there. The waiting room is on the right. You can use the shower in the family room next to it to clean up.”

  Nate walked off. He approached the doors. Each one had a small window. Beyond the doors was another hallway with two doors on each side. Nymph was in one of those rooms fighting for her life. The knowledge sucked every drop of energy from him and he collapsed against the wall.

  Across from him, Cade and Jackson sat in an open waiting area, watching him. He met their eyes for a moment then looked away. He’d managed to keep his sons alive, but he might have sacrificed the only woman he’d ever loved to do it. Nymph would tell him that everything they’d done, every wound they’d suffered, had been worth it. The truth was she was stronger than him. When he’d faltered she’d pulled him along. When he’d let depression pull him into the darkness, she’d pulled him back into the light. Sometimes with humor, sometimes with sex, but always with love.

  He looked at his hands then pushed away from the wall. “You two need to get back to the ranch. Have one of the hands bring me some clean clothes. I’ll let you know how Nymph is as soon as they let me know anything.”

  “We’ll stay,” Jackson said

  “Suit yourself.” Nate used his cell phone to call Dirk. When he answered, he said, “Nymph’s in surgery. It’s bad. I left our packs and our rifles in a clearing a hundred yards east of the swimming area on the river.” Several seconds went by while he listened to Dirk. “I’ll let you know how she’s doing.” He shoved the phone into his pocket as he took a seat in the waiting room.

  “Addison is packing a bag for you and Jack is bringing it here,” Cade said.

  “Damn, I forgot about Jack.” Nate sat forward, his hands pressed together between his knees.

  “I’m going to get us some coffee,” Jackson said before he left the room.

  “I’m going to take a shower.” Nate opened the door to the family room. “Ask Jack to leave the clothes on the bed.”

  Nate flipped the light on then closed the door. A bed stood to his left. On the opposite wall, an open door led into the bathroom. He removed his handgun and body armor, untied his boots, and slipped them off along with his socks. His pant legs were soaked with Nymph’s blood. An empty trash can with a liner sat next to the bed. He pulled the liner out and stuffed his clothes into it then hurried into the bathroom, kicked the door shut, turned on the shower, and stepped in. A shelf held miniature bottles of shower gel and shampoo. He used them, then rinsed off, grabbed a towel, and brushed it over his skin before wrapping it around his waist and opening the door.

  Jack sat on the end of the bed with a bag next to him. “I brought you clean clothes.”

  “Thanks.” Nate opened the bag, pulled some clothes from it, and dropped the towel. While he dressed, he told Jack what had happened. “I won’t lie to you, Jack. She was in bad shape, but she’s strong and she’s a fighter.”

  “I know, son,” Jack said. “I don’t blame you.”

  “I blame myself. She wouldn’t have been hurt if I’d kept her with me.”

  Standing up, Jack limped toward the door. “You can’t know that. It might have happened either way.”

  Nate ignored Jack’s attempt to reassure him. “Let’s get out there. I don’t want to miss the surgeon.”

  Jack opened the door, took a look into the waiting room, and stepped aside. “You first.”

  Nate moved past him. The royals were in the waiting room, along with several armed guards. Cade, Jackson, and Zane stared at them, their faces expressionless. The royals sat quietly until Addison saw him. She jumped up, ran toward him, and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Oh, Nate, we decided we had to come be with you. Are you okay?” Before he could answer she continued, “Of, course you’re not.” She patted his back. “She’ll be okay.”

  Nate patted her shoulder while Jenna, Cassie, and Ravyn surrounded them. He released Addison and got hugs from the other women. Ravyn smiled at him.

  “We saved a cup of coffee for you.” Ravyn pointed to a chair with a steaming cup sitting on the table next to it.

  Nate sat down while Addison hugged Jack before she pulled him to the couch and made him sit next to her. It was obvious the two of them knew each other well. Nate wondered about it for a second then dismissed it and watched the door to the operating rooms instead.

  Another hour went by, and the coffee had grown cold when the doors swung open. Nate stood up when Doc Marshall approached him.

  “Nate, she’s going to be okay. She’s being moved to recovery right now. If she does well she’ll be in a private room for a few days before I discharge her. I expect her to have a full recovery.”

  “When can I see her?” Nate asked.

  “As soon as we have her settled in recovery,” Doc Marshall said. “I know you’ll be staying, Nate. I’ll tell the nurses you have my permission on one condition. You let us do our job, and you eat and sleep.”

  “It’s a deal. What about Nymph’s Uncle Jack?” Nate pointed to Jack.

  “Everyone else can visit her for a couple minutes later tonight.”

  The doors to the surgery opened, and two nurses pushed a bed out with Nymph on it. For Nate the rest of the world disappeared when he saw her. He walked around Doc Marshall, picked up her hand and held onto it while they moved her.

  * * * *

  Nymph opened her eyes and tried to smile, but her lips stuck to her teeth. She tried to lick them and couldn’t. Nate was asleep with his head on the bed by her hip. She touched his hair and he jerked upright. His eyes met hers. />
  “Hey, baby, you’re awake.” His voice was hoarse. His eyes red-rimmed.

  She tried to answer and couldn’t. Nate grabbed a chip of ice from a bucket and rubbed it over her lips. “The doctor said you could suck on a little ice, but no drinking yet.”

  Nymph sucked the ice into her mouth and rolled it over her tongue. When she was able to, she smiled. “You okay?”

  “I am if you are.” Nate stroked her hand. “God, Nymph, I was so scared.”

  “It was a stupid accident.”

  “It doesn’t matter if it was an accident or not. I don’t think I can handle taking another chance on losing you.”

  “So, what do you want?”

  Nate kissed her fingers. “I think it’s time we got married and settled down.”

  “Here in Rendezvous?”

  “Yes, I—” He looked away from her.

  “You what?” She tugged on his hand to pull his attention back to her. “Tell me.”

  “Cade called me Dad,” he said, then quickly added, “But not in that sarcastic way he usually says it.”

  Nymph smiled. “That’s really good.”

  “I want to know my grandchild. The one Addison is having.”

  “Then, we’ll stay here. I’ll get the royals to help me plan the wedding.”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of a visit to the courthouse.”

  “Then you get to tell Jack you’re cheating him out of the only chance he’ll ever get to walk me down the aisle.”

  “The only chance, huh?” Nate smiled. “You in a white wedding dress and me in a tuxedo?”

  Nymph nodded. “I better get well fast before you change your mind.”

  Nate kissed her. “I won’t change my mind. Not ever. I love you, Nymph.”

  Nymph stroked her fingers over the scars on his face. “I love you, Nate. Forever.”

  Epilogue

  Nate wanted to carry her into the house, but Nymph insisted on walking. “I’ll never get stronger if I don’t exercise.”