Circle of Desire (10 page)

He delved deeper, sliding through her slickness, until her muscles pulsed around his fingers. She pressed against him, riding his hand with increasing urgency. Her skin was feverish, flushed with desire and need.

A need he understood only too well.

She grabbed his shoulders, fingers trembling, nails digging deep.

“Oh … God.” Her voice little more than a fractured whisper. “Please …”

Her plea raged across his senses, almost destroying his restraint. He shuddered and pulled his touch away, knowing if she came right now it would shatter what little control he still had left.

Her groan almost shot it to hell anyway.

“Condom,” he said, voice harsh with the urgency pounding through his body.

She tore open the packet with her teeth and rolled it on with an ease that spoke of practice. Not that he cared. He pulled her close again and began to stroke her. Her soft cries urged him on, her body trembling against his, her skin glossy with perspiration. He kissed her ear, ran his tongue down her neck. She tasted like no woman he’d ever had, and right at this moment, he wanted to keep on sampling her forever.

Her shuddering reached a crescendo, her movements urgent against his hand. Her strangled cry of pleasure echoed through him and smashed any remaining restraint. He cupped her buttocks and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around him, then pushed him deep inside. He groaned at the sheer glory of it. She felt so good, so hot and firm.

She captured his lips, her kiss passionate. Demanding. She rode him harder, enveloping him in sweet, sweet heat. Hot flesh slapped against hot flesh, and there was nothing gentle about it. It was almost as if the urgency of the moon were driving her as fiercely as it did him. She claimed every inch of him, her taut muscles quivering with rising urgency against him.

The red tide rose, becoming a wall of pleasure he could not deny. Her movements quickened, her desire and need matching his own. Her gasps reached a second crescendo, and her cries echoed as her body bucked against his. He came—hot, glorious release that locked his body in pleasure.

They stood there for what seemed like forever, and he didn’t really care because it felt so good. The sea breeze cooled the sweat on their skin, and the rich aroma of sex mingled with Kat’s warm, sunshiny scent, stirring his senses anew. Only the fact that they had to get to Rogue River kept him from instigating a second, much slower, seduction.

When she began to shiver, he lowered her gently to the grassy sand, kissing her nose. After they’d both straightened their clothing, she picked up her purse and chocolate bar from the sand. Her pupils were still dilated, evidence of the satisfaction that touched her lips. “That sure beat the chocolate cake.”

He cupped her cheek with his hand and brushed his thumb across her kiss-swollen lips. “Sorry it was so fast.”

She raised an eyebrow, her amusement deepening. “In case you didn’t notice, I was more than a little fast myself.”

Thankfully. He certainly couldn’t have held off much longer than he had. She’d felt too damn good.

“Next time,” he said, “we’ll try someplace more comfortable.”

“And warmer.” She rubbed her arms, then glanced past him. “We’d better get moving. Dusk is closing in.”

He knew that without looking. The fever stirred in his veins, despite the fact that his body was momentarily
sated. Or maybe it was just the scent of her lingering on his skin that stirred his blood.

They walked back to the rental car and continued on to Rogue River. Kat fell asleep fairly quickly, and he half wished he could join her. It would be nice to be in bed at this moment, holding her lush, warm body against his as he drifted off to sleep. Then he frowned at the thought and thrust it away. No matter how good it promised to be between them, it could never be anything more than just sex.

He’d learned that lesson long ago.

K
AT WOKE WHEN THE CAR STOPPED
. S
HE YAWNED AND
stretched, then glanced out the window. Warm lights shone through the trees, providing enough light to see the two log cabins just ahead.

She glanced at Ethan. “What time is it?”

“Eight forty-five.”

His reply was a little terse, and she frowned, wondering why. Then she shook her head at her own stupidity. It had been a long day, and he’d done most of the driving. He was probably tired as hell.

She climbed out of the car and grabbed her bag from the trunk. He collected his, then locked the car and motioned for her to lead. She picked her way through the heavy darkness, shivering a little as the cool breeze caressed her bare skin. She was definitely going to have to change into something warmer before they did their tour tonight. Wearing this skirt and shirt had been nothing short of stupidity—though she certainly didn’t regret it. Heat flushed through her at the memory. The chill she was feeling now was worth every minute. And if
that
had been rushed, she could hardly wait to feel what it was like when he took his time.

Her grandmother opened the door as they approached. Her gaze went from her to Ethan and back again, and her smile stretched.

“About time,” she said, and Kat knew she wasn’t referring to their arrival.

“There are some things that can’t be rushed.” Even though Ethan seemed to think they had.

“I guess not.” Gwen stepped back, waving them in.

The cabin was basic but comfortable. Kat dropped her bag on the sofa and headed for the open fire, holding her hands out to the flames.

“I’ve put you two in the bigger cabin next door.” Gwen indicated a side door. “And I lit the fire, so it’ll be nice and warm when you come back after your walk.”

Kat glanced at Ethan to see what reaction he had to this presumption, but he had his cop face on. She looked back at Gwen and said, “Have you tried scrying yet?”

“No. And I won’t until you come back.”

“What about this attack you mentioned earlier?” Ethan dropped his bag on the floor, then joined her by the fire. His shoulder brushed Kat’s, warming her faster than any flames. “Shouldn’t we be getting ready for that?”

“Until we know what is attacking us, it’s useless trying to build a defense. But I’ve taken basic measures.”

“Locked the doors, checked the windows?”

“Placed warding stones around my bed, as ordered.” Her gaze met Kat’s. “But not yours, so be warned.”

She nodded. The magic of these particular stones
extended only so far, and a queen-sized bed wasn’t within those limitations. There were stones that
could
guard the bed—and even a whole town, if needed—but they tended to be larger, and therefore were harder to carry around. Of course, her grandmother was also presuming she and Ethan were actually going to share a bed. Looking at him now, she had an unsettling feeling that wasn’t likely.

He’d said nothing more than sex, and that’s what she’d agreed to. Did that “nothing more” include not sleeping together?

She crossed her arms and hoped that wasn’t the case. She’d like to think there was something between them other than the immediate need for release. That it wasn’t just the moon and the fever rushing through his veins that made him want her. That he actually liked her.

“I’ll go change, then we can get our walk over with.” She picked up her bag and walked into the other cabin. It was a mirror image of Gwen’s, only a little bigger. She continued into the bedroom. The bed was luxurious, covered with a comforter thick enough to lose fingers in. Across from it was another open fire, smaller than the one in the living room but just as warm. She dumped her bag on the bed and checked out the bathroom. It was basic, but there was a big old claw-foot tub. Just the thing she needed to take the chills from her spine later.

She went back to the bedroom and changed into warmer clothes, then grabbed her coat and the chocolate bar and headed back to the other cabin. Gran was sitting on the sofa, a bemused expression on her face. Ethan was nowhere to be seen.

“What have you done with him?”

Gwen snorted. “He’s outside, pacing.”

“Why on earth is he pacing?”

“At a guess, I’d say he’s angry. Not sure why, though.” She paused, eyebrows raised and eyes twinkling. “What on earth did you do to him?”

Heat touched her cheeks. “Me? Nothing.” Nothing except make love to him, and surely he couldn’t be angry at that. He’d wanted her as badly as she’d wanted him.

“Well, something’s got him all worked up, so tread warily.” Gwen glanced at her watch. “And be careful when you’re walking around out there. It’s always possible I was wrong about the timing of the attack.”

Kat nodded. “Are you retreating to the stones?”

“Right after I finish my coffee. Ethan’s got the key to your cabin, but if my light is on, come in and give me a report.”

Something she’d be doing anyway, just to make sure Gwen was okay. She shoved on her coat, then went out to find Ethan.

He’d stopped his pacing and was standing in the middle of the driveway, staring up at the cold silver moon. She stopped beside him and thrust her hands in her pockets. “It must be horrible,” she said softly.

She could feel his gaze on her but didn’t meet it.

“What must be horrible?”

“Being forced through the change every full moon.” She loved shifting shape, but then, she was able to pick and choose. A werewolf had no such choice, not when it came to the full moon.

“It’s just the
actual
change that happens with the
full moon. The true change begins five days before, when the base urges begin to rise.”

She smiled. “I wouldn’t have thought that part of it would be much of a problem to most men. Doesn’t the allure of the werewolf guarantee a satisfied outcome?”

“Mostly.”

“Then surely it’s only the forced change that presents any real problem.”

“Losing your soul to a beast is never pleasant.”

She did look at him then, a little surprised by the acerbity in his voice. “But the werewolf
is
your soul. It’s you.”

“It’s not me. It’s a beast I’m forced to live with once a month.”

Good lord, he couldn’t mean that!
“Are you saying you don’t shift shape at any other time except when the moon is full?”

“I’m human, not an animal.” He thrust his hands into his pockets and walked away. “Let’s get this over with.”

“But …” Her voice died. This was the first time she’d ever met a shifter who didn’t accept his heritage, and she wasn’t entirely sure what to say.

And what would he think of
her
, if he ever discovered she could shift shape as well?

“But,” she repeated, running after him, “you’re not an animal, because you control the werewolf, not him you. Even on the night of the full moon when the change is forced on you.”

“It’s not something I want, regardless.”

Why? Had he always felt this way, or had something
happened in the past, with this bitterness the end result?

“But if you don’t accept it, how in hell are your kids ever going to understand and control—”

“I won’t ever have kids,” he broke in, voice harsh. “So that’s not going to be a problem.”

She blinked. His fury spun around her, so deep and raw it snatched her breath away. “You don’t like kids?”

“No.” His voice was flat. Dead. “If we’re going to play twenty questions, why don’t you try answering a few?”

She gave him a sideways glance. His face was still expressionless, but the way he moved, the set of his shoulders, all suggested anger. At her. “What?” she said warily.

“Why did you kill the driver that rammed us?”

It certainly wasn’t the question she’d been expecting, and though she schooled the surprise from her face, she knew he’d probably seen it anyway. “What do you mean?”

He stopped and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. His eyes were dark puddles of rage, his fingers hot and tight through the thick layers of clothing.

“Mark arranged for a cruiser to go out and pick up the suspect. But he was dead when they got there.”

She cursed internally. Trust the damn cops to get there before the thing had disintegrated properly. “I have no idea—”

He shook her so hard her teeth rattled. Energy surged, and she clenched her fists, fighting the desire
to slap his angry butt across to the other side of the road.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said. “You killed the driver. I don’t know how, but I intend to find out why.”

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “I’ve told you why already. If you don’t want to listen, it’s your problem, not mine. Now let me go before I do something I may regret.”

“You killed a suspect in a murder case—”

“You’re going to have a hard time proving that, buddy. First, I didn’t go anywhere near the suspect, and second, by morning that body is going to be nothing more than a few scraps of bone and hair.”

He stared at her, anger so evident in his eyes they practically glowed. He didn’t believe her. She wondered what in hell it was going to take before he did.

“What do you mean?”

“I told you, it’s a zombie. Now that it really
is
dead, it’ll undergo an accelerated decomposition process. Now get your hand off me.”