Moon Kissed (10 page)

He extended a claw and cut the lace in the center of her bra. Her panties soon followed, leaving her as bare and ready as he was. Her breasts were like the rest of her—perfectly formed. The rounded swells were crowned with pink nipples, each pebbled and hard. He skimmed his thumbs around one areola, experiencing a thrill at her throaty moan. Steam surrounded them as he guided her into the shower.

Wrapping his fingers into her hair, he forced her head back. Water coated the strands and dripped down her neck, traveling in a winding path to her breasts. He washed her slowly, starting with her head and working his way to her feet. He discovered she had one feminine indulgence. The delectable scent of honeysuckle came from her shampoo; the sweet aroma covering her skin was caused by her milk soap. With each caress, he learned her body, placing her lean curves to memory. He’d recognize this woman even if he were blind, deaf and unable to use his keen sense of smell.

Once he finished with her torso, he knelt to soap up her ass, belly and hips. Here and there, he felt jagged and uneven skin. A simple inspection confirmed his suspicion. Scars. She had some that were so long and deep they marred the perfection of her alabaster skin. He traced one of the ragged lines with the tip of his finger.

“How did you come by these?”

“I wasn’t always immortal. The change didn’t come until I was eighteen.” She gasped when his hand drifted to her sex and he teased the outer folds. “I wasn’t nearly as quick or balanced before the transition, so training didn’t come easy. I caught the sharp end of the blade on more than one occasion.”

Fury distorted his vision. “These are marks from the Thymeria?”

“Yes.”

Taylor had mentioned Arden’s involvement in the faction, but Wolfe hadn’t had much of a reason to consider the implications until then. “Why didn’t they wait to train you? Why did they take such an enormous risk?”

“They thought I was like everyone else,” she replied quietly.

“You could have gotten yourself killed.” He detested the harsh edge to his voice, the way his anger seemed directed at her. But he couldn’t prevent his reaction. “You should have told them.”

“I couldn’t.” She shied away from his touch, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Why the hell not?” Thinking of her engaged in combat while vulnerable infuriated him. His mate could have been killed for nothing more than petty games in the vampire war for supremacy.

“I didn’t know.”

How is that possible
?
She had to have known. Unless…

Sympathy and a dawning understanding overpowered outrage. “You didn’t know? You had no idea what you were?”

“My mother died when I was a child. I never had the chance to know her. If she was going to tell me anything about my father, she never had a chance.”

Things started falling into place. Orphans were the Thymeria’s recruits of choice. “That’s how they found you, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” She eased her arms from her waist and reached out, brushing her fingers over his temple. “The past doesn’t matter. I survived.” Her fingers slid into his hair, her touch sending goose bumps up his neck. He met her gaze just as she asked, “Are you all right?”

No, he wasn’t all right. He wanted to hunt down each and every Thymeria who had placed Arden in danger and snap their heads from their bodies. “I’m fine.”

He lowered his head, taking measured breaths. Things were different now. If the Thymeria came after his female, he would kill them. Lycae or not, she was his mate.

That made her pack.

He forced aside images of her being harmed in battle and finished washing her body. Although he was eager to have her return the favor, he decided against it. If she touched him, he would lose the last of his control. His rock hard cock ached, his balls so full they felt as though they might burst.

Taking her fragile hips in his hands, he placed kisses along her belly and ventured to her breasts. He snagged a taut bud between his lips and laved the flesh with his tongue. Arden’s soft cry hit him like a freight train. His sac tightened and his cock jerked. He’d never wanted to fuck like this—hard and fast, without consideration for his partner.

Slow the fuck down, asshole.

“Your mouth feels so good,” she breathed.

He nuzzled her hard, wet nipple. “I’m going to make you fly, baby.”

Her fingers wrapped in his hair and she tugged. “I don’t want to wait.”

Claim her. Take her.

She wants this just as much as you do.

He carried her from the stall, placed her in front of the counter and went to work toweling her dry. The beast inside him raged for what it needed, demanding to be heard. It wanted to sample her cunt, to taste her as she came. Her scent was too much, shattering his restraint. Tossing the towel aside, he lifted her onto the counter. She reclined, letting him do as he wanted. He pushed her back until her shoulders rested against the mirror, situating her so her ass was nestled carefully against the surface. Then he moved forward and pressed close, taking up the space between her thighs. She gasped when he placed her legs over his shoulders and gazed at her body, taking her in.

Fuck, she’s beautiful.

“W-wolfe,” she stammered and clutched the edge of the counter. “What are you doing?”

He brought his hands around and cupped her ass. “What I’ve wanted to do since I first smelled you.”

Her sex was hairless, and he marveled at the silken skin beneath his mouth. Her swollen labia were pink from his petting in the shower, the slick folds inside visible and glistening. He spread her outer lips and lifted his eyes. As soon as their gazes met, he flattened his tongue and tasted her in a long, deep stroke. She shuddered, resting the back of her head against the mirror. Her taste was better than his fantasies, absolutely cock-rocking.

Fucking hell.

He would never get enough of this woman.

Not now. Not tomorrow.

Not
ever
.

Chapter Eight

This is heaven.

Wolfe sucked and licked at her pussy with abandon, waggling his head from side to side. Arden released the counter and clutched his hair. He growled, bathing her crease with warm laps of his tongue. She jerked when he penetrated her with one of his thick fingers. He pressed his hand forward, stopping only when his knuckle met the softness of her sex.

“Are you ready for me?” His voice changed, becoming hoarse and throaty. He withdrew his finger and returned with two, forcing her pussy to stretch to accommodate him. She groaned, parting her thighs. “Your body says you are. You’re hot as fire and as sleek as satin, so tight and warm around my fingers.”

She didn’t have a chance to answer him, set off balance as those hard fingers drove into her. It felt too good, too incredible. A wondrous vibration spread from her belly, traveling to her nipples and clit. He thrust into her again and rotated his fingers until he found a spot that had her seeing stars. She tried to reach for what she wanted, shaking hard as she lifted her hips, pushing her pussy against his hand.

“You want to come so badly,
t’keeira
.” He rubbed the tender area in her pussy and lowered his head. “Relax and let go.”

Unpleasant memories kept the promise of pleasure at bay, a harsh reminder of the last time she’d allowed herself to take the risk. A climax came with bloodlust, the need so strong she couldn’t overcome her thirst. Wolfe was strong but a vampire had the potential to cause serious harm. If she got a good latch on him as she fed, she could drain him dry in minutes.

The pinnacle neared again, promising the most intense pleasure if she’d allow herself to fall. She writhed on the counter, pressing against his hand. Her conscience tried to steer her body away from orgasm, continuing to fight what she wanted yet feared.

“No you don’t,” he snarled and thrust his fingers into her. “Give it to me.”

His lips trapped her swollen clit and he sucked the nub into this mouth.

One hard lick was all it took to send her over.

Ecstasy rushed through her, a growing ball of sensation spreading through her like wildfire. She rode the waves of pleasure, flying just as Wolfe said she would. The back of her throat went dry and her fangs dropped. She tried to reach for her lover, starved for the taste of his blood. He didn’t lift his head, tapping his tongue against her clit. As soon as he saw her teeth, he released her ass and placed one of his large hands against her abdomen.

The hunger raged, furious at being denied, demanding satiation.

She’d never been so thirsty, drawn to Wolfe’s scent, fascinated by his power. Ceramic plaster and molding disintegrated beneath her hands, crumbling to pieces as she tightened her grip. The glorious pulls of his mouth continued, leaving her a mass of quivering muscle and syrupy bones. To her shock, the desire for blood ebbed as her climax ended and her fangs slowly retracted. She sagged against the mirror and released the demolished counter.

Wolfe eased his lips from her clit, humming in pleasure. “I was right,
t’keeira
.” He brought her legs to his waist and covered her body like a blanket, bringing them chest-to-chest.

She cleared her throat to ask, “Right?”

“You’re gorgeous when you come.”

 
The intimate moment ended, brought to an abrupt stop when a blaring screech came from the living room. The afterglow of sexual release vanished. Common sense returned with a good dose of self-preservation. The alarm didn’t activate unless her home had been tainted by something malevolent. The banshee enchantment Trevor had crafted ensured it. Someone was in her home. Someone knew she was there.

We were followed.

“Son of a bitch!” she snarled.

“What’s that noise?” Wolfe frowned, trapping her between his body and the mirror.

“Get dressed,” she ordered and shoved him hard enough to show she meant business. When he backed away, she jumped from the counter. Bending down, she gathered his clothes and tossed them to him. His eyes narrowed and the irises changed color, going from dark green to an almost neon color.

“Don’t waste your temper on me.” She presented Wolfe with a seething glare of her own. “Save it for whatever trespassed on my property and is coming up the stairs.”

Before he could question her, she rushed across the hall and into the bedroom. The closet beckoned as she hurried inside. She didn’t worry about fashion, sliding into the first set of bra and panties she pulled from the oak dresser. Once she had them on, she dove into the racks for a fresh pair of leathers and a black turtleneck. She pulled on her socks and slid into her favorite worn boots.

Wolfe’s large body suddenly appeared in the doorway. He had gotten dressed but his clothing was wrinkled. She lowered her gaze when she saw his crotch. A huge erection tented his slacks. No wonder he was scowling at her.

“What the fuck is going on?”

The way he posed the question told her he wasn’t going to accept a half-ass answer.

She sighed, turned away from him and walked to the safe at the back of the closet.

“I hunt people down and kill some of them for a living, which means I have a lot of enemies. I’ve been walking around with a price on my head for decades.” With a sideways glance at him, she continued, “Under normal circumstances, I cover my tracks so I don’t have unexpected guests. Thanks to you and Trevor, I’m going to have to play hostess before I find another place to call home.”

Pressing the numerical keypad, she opened the safe and collected a shoulder holster. She slid the leather straps over her arms and returned for a pair of Berettas. She checked each chamber and magazine before she engaged the safety and put them in their proper places.

“Who are your enemies, Arden?”

She jumped when she felt his breath against her ear, unaware he’d moved. “I can’t be certain,” she answered, annoyed for dropping her guard. “I’ve pissed off just about every creature on earth. Humans, vampyren, vampires, demons, witches, warlocks, ghouls, zombies, Chimera, you name it. Anyone or anything could be coming up to say hello.”

His hands rested on her shoulders and he applied enough pressure to force her to turn around. It was so unnerving being this close to him. Aside from Trevor, no one had worried about her like this in years. She hesitated before she looked into Wolfe’s face. His fangs were different than hers, both upper and lower canines long and lethal.

“I won’t let anything touch you,” he vowed, staring her in the eye.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” she whispered and lifted a hand to his cheek.

Her heart skipped a beat as she gazed into his eyes. Nausea rose, coming on strong as her stomach knotted in fear. They’d only known each other for a matter of hours, but she feared losing him. It didn’t make sense, but she couldn’t lie to herself. The worst-case scenario had never bothered her before, but it did now. There was too much on the line.

If something happens to him because of me…

The shrill sound from the living room changed, much louder as the walls started to vibrate. Whoever had trespassed was inside now. Although it wasn’t easy, she managed to move away and snatch a pair of clips from the wall. Once they were safe and sound in her back pockets, she grabbed a pair of sunglasses and put them on.