Cynful: Halle Shifters, Book 2 (25 page)

“What about the other crime scenes?”

“We’ll probably get more information out of the pipe bomb than anything else. I got my guys working on that, tracing where the components were bought. It’s going to take time, though. We just have to be patient.”

Julian wanted to snap at Gabe. If it were his mate would he be so patient? He turned to Rick, hoping the Wolf Alpha knew where he was about to go. “Would it be easier to hunt him up on your land?”

“If I had his scent, yes.” The Wolf Alpha sounded absolutely certain of that. “Those woods are mine. There’s no way the fucker would be able to hide there.”

“Then we split up. Tabby, Alex and Glory head up to the Poconos where Rick’s Wolves can protect them. I stay down here and try to draw the shooter out where the Pumas can take care of me.” Cyn held up her hand as Tabby opened her mouth to object. “Alex, take some of your relatives with you and leave some here. That will help Julian and Tabby feel better about all of this.”

Alex shared a look with Tabby. No matter what Tabby wanted, she’d be visiting the Poconos, in-laws in tow. “If the Foxes pick up the scent, they’ll make useful scouts.”

“And I’ll finally get to answer the age-old question.” Belle tilted her head, her expression more vapid than Julian had ever seen on anyone outside of Paris Hilton. He heard tales of the Poconos Luna. Perhaps the rumors were true. Maybe she really was Psycho Barbie. “Does a Bear shit in the woods?”

Alex returned her look with a bland one of his own. “Only if there’s a roll of toilet paper on a convenient nearby branch.”

Julian nodded sagely. “And it has to be the kind that doesn’t leave toilet paper dust on our poor furry behinds.”

“Yup. That is a total breach of Bear etiquette.”

Rick clamped his hand over Belle’s mouth before she could respond. “Do we have a plan, then?”

Glances were exchanged. After nods all around, some reluctant, some not, it was agreed. Alex would be taking Tabby and Glory into hiding while Cyn played tag with the killer. Julian damn near growled out his frustration. It had
not
gone the way he’d planned.

Fuck a duck.

Chapter Eighteen

Cyn opened the front door as quietly as she could, hoping Julian was taking that nap she’d ordered him to. When she didn’t see him loitering around in the front hall she sighed in relief. He’d been adamantly against her being bait, but what else were they supposed to do? It had been over a week since Marie’s death and they hadn’t found more than where the sniper had been hiding. None of the lab work had come back, and even Cyn’s new sense of smell couldn’t track the killer. She’d tried following the scent only once, but Gabe had stopped her before she’d gone too far.

At least Tabby and Glory were safely away. Alex had whisked her friends away so fast Cyn had barely had time to say good-bye. But that was all right, as long as she got to say welcome home when it was over.

She hung her coat up with a sigh, rubbing her neck wearily as she closed the closet door. She was so tense she could probably be used as a tuning fork. “The Amazing Cyn, vibrating in C minor.”

A low chuckle had her whirling around. Julian sat halfway down the stairs, a smirk on his face. “I could take care of that for you.”

Shit. He was awake. “Hey, Jules.” She tried her best to smile for him, but knew she failed when his welcoming smile dimmed.

“You’re hurting. Let me help.”

Her muscles were one tight knot, but no way in hell was she going to allow Julian to heal her. “No. You just got out of the hospital.” He’d only been home for six days, and already he was trying to act as if nothing had happened. It was like it didn’t matter to him that he almost died. Meanwhile, Cyn was having nightmares about Julian lying in a pool of blood.

When she met Tai Boucher she was going to kick his ass. The leader of the Spirit Bears had never called Julian back, and it was driving both her and her mate crazy.

She rotated her shoulders and tried to hide her wince. His eyes still had silver flecks in them. There was still more white in his hair than black. Did he really think he was fooling her?

“I could give you a massage.”

She didn’t trust him. He’d try and sneak a healing in, she just knew it. “No.”

He sighed. “I give you my word I won’t use my powers.”

She eyed him warily. “You promise?” He’d break his word in a heartbeat if he thought she was in serious pain.

“I promise.” He even crossed his heart, the silly Bear.

She studied him, but he was the picture of innocence. He was definitely up to something. “Fine.”

The wicked grin that crossed his face worried her. “Get naked, then get on the bed.”

She took off her clothes quickly, not wanting this to turn into something sexual. Julian wasn’t up to any antics. She lay down and pulled the sheet up over her butt, hiding herself from him. Her butt didn’t hurt, after all, her shoulders did.

“Aw. There went the view.” He laughed when she gave him the finger. “Close your eyes and try to relax.”

She did as he asked, wondering why she heard him rattling around. She expected to hear him removing his clothes, but instead she heard what sounded like…glass?

The snick of a lighter startled her. One of her scented candles was placed on the nightstand. Next to it was a bottle of lavender massage oil. Julian dimmed the lights and finally stripped off his shirt. “Like what you see?”

She closed her eyes again.

“You are so mean.” She heard more cloth rustling, then the sound of a cap snapping. Within seconds the soothing scent of lavender filled the room. His warm, oiled hands began to rub up and down her back, spreading the self-heating oil. “You like that?”

Already she could feel herself relaxing under his touch. “Mm-hmm.”

He began to massage her back and shoulders, varying hard, almost bruising kneading with almost ticklish butterfly touches that had her squirming. She moaned when he hit a particularly bad spot, the tension in her shoulders melting away under his skilled hands. She could have sworn he was using his powers, but when she opened her eyes his were still vaguely speckled with silver, his hair still tinged with black.

His hands wandered down to her ass, massaging her just above the globes. It felt surprisingly good, and damn arousing. “Julian.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you hoping to get laid?”

His hands didn’t even pause. “The thought did cross my mind.”

She growled. “You’re not up for it.”

He chuckled. “I beg to differ.” He moved to the side and took her hand, placing it over his straining erection. “I’m very much up for it.” She watched as he poured more oil into his palm. “I’m fine, Cyn. Better than fine, now that you’re home.”

She grimaced. It had been her idea to roam Halle, waiting for the bad guy to strike. Gabe had been against it, but he’d agreed once she allowed him to give her more than one tail.

Julian’s hands began massaging her thighs, and she groaned. She hadn’t realized how tight all her muscles were until Mr. Roamy Hands got started, but damn, it was so good. She didn’t even realize the sheet had been pulled down until his hands reached the soles of her feet.
So much for discouraging him
.

He began massaging her ass once more, spreading the cheeks apart. “Julian.”

Shit. His name came out more a moan than a warning. She was so screwed. Literally.

“That’s my name.” He patted her ass. “Roll over.”

She lifted her brow at him. He expected her to move? After turning her muscles to Jell-O?

She managed to get onto her back, flopping ungracefully back down. “Make with the oil.”

“Yes, ma’am. Your command is my wish.” He massaged the top of her shoulders, his fingers deliberately stroking the mating mark over and over again before sliding down to her breasts. He spent an eternity just oiling and playing with them. Her nipples were so hard they hurt worse than her muscles had.

“Jules.” She squirmed, aching for him.

“I have you.” He took hold of her arms and lifted them over her head. His bright silver eyes were heated as he placed her hands on the slats of the headboard. “Hold these for me.”

She grabbed hold, not that she’d be able to move anyway. She was one limp, aroused woman, accepting anything he wanted to give her.

And give to her he did, sinking his fingers into her in one smooth stroke, the oil warming inside her body. Her pussy tingled as he fucked her gently, bending over her to take one oily nipple into his mouth. He suckled her hard, the combination of the easy finger inside her and the hard tongue on her nipple sending her over the edge.

Gods above, she was
amazing.
Just looking at her as she came nearly had him following her, spending his seed on her stomach. But he had other plans for his mate, ones that involved riding her until she fell asleep, warm and sated and no longer hurting.

He could feel it, the pain still hiding under the pleasure, her muscles still not completely cured. He’d broken his promise in little bursts, removing as much of the pain as he dared, but he doubted she’d noticed. She’d been too busy writhing under his hands, coming on his fingers.

He especially liked that last part.

So he slid down her body, taking that pretty little clit into his mouth, his fingers still inside her. He wanted her mindless, dancing under his tongue. He watched as she clenched her hands around the spindles of the headboard. Her hips lifted against him, forcing him to lick where she wanted him. Even half melted, she still tried to rule their passion.

He almost laughed. If she told him to jump, he’d probably ask how high and in what direction. Then she’d probably yell at him for not jumping fast enough.

He sucked and licked and fucked her till she trembled, ready for him. When he pulled away she whimpered in protest, a sound she’d deny to her dying breath. She wanted him, and that was enough for him.

He slid his cock into her, shuddering when her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him in deep. “Cyn, hold still.”

Gods, he was such a liar. The last thing he wanted was his beautiful mate to hold still. He wanted her to fuck him into the damn mattress. But he was determined to be gentle. She hurt, and he didn’t want to add to her pain. She’d feel it after the high of two orgasms wore off.

Her eyes opened, and she snarled at him. “If you don’t fuck me right this instant I
will
get even. You won’t like it if I get even.”

“I don’t want your muscles to get tight again.”

She grinned up at him. “You could always massage me again.”

This time he was the one who whimpered. Her legs tightened around his waist, demanding he do as she demanded. He did what any man would do in that situation. He began fucking her hard, loving the moans that poured from her lips. He could see her toes curling out of the corner of his eye. Her pussy began to tighten around him. She grabbed handfuls of his hair and dragged his head down, stealing a kiss before sinking her fangs into his neck.

Oh. Oh fuck. She’d marked him. The urge to feel her come on his cock overwhelmed him as the mating hormones raced through his system. He extended his fangs and leaned down, biting her as she’d bitten him.

She screamed, her pussy tightening around him so hard he couldn’t move. Her whole body bowed off the bed. When she collapsed back onto the mattress, spent, he began fucking her again, gentler this time. She was going to come at least one more time before he was done.

“Jules.” She tugged on his hips, encouraging him to go faster. “Need it.”

“Want to come again?”

Her nails raked down his back, scoring him. He hissed, the pain driving him deeper into her. She’d drawn blood, and he refused to heal it. Let it scar. If his mate wanted her claw marks in his flesh, so be it.

He lifted her legs, automatically healing the muscles she’d overworked that day hunting for a lunatic. Julian saw the way her eyes narrowed but didn’t care. She wanted to be fucked hard, then she had to be able to take it. He rested her calves on his shoulders and began to pound her so hard the bed shook. This time, he was going to come with her.

Her skin glistened from the oil in the light of the candle. She clenched the sheets in a white-knuckled grip. Her head tossed from side to side, and the sweetest little moans were pouring from her mouth. “Come on, Cyn. Come for me.”

She brushed her fingers across the mark on her neck over and over, driving her closer to orgasm. He held on to her legs, waiting for her to fall.

Cyn shuddered. “Oh fuck. Fuck.” She gave off one choked off cry and came, so tightly wrapped around him that he followed her over that glorious edge. His vision went black as pleasure roared through him, white-hot and molten, pouring from him in waves. It took everything in him not to collapse on top of her, but it was close. They were nose to nose when he regained his senses.

“Wow.”

He smiled wearily. “Like your massage?”

Her expression was full of lazy satisfaction, like a cat that had gotten not only the cream, but the bowl too. “Enough to offer you one the next time your muscles are sore.”

“Ah, so this was a sixty-eight.”