“It was a power play to discourage Tito from coming around the crisis center.”
“Are there other situations where you’d change into a werewolf?”
“I try hard not to shift unless I have a really good reason. Protecting you is the strongest reason I have.”
“Oh? It sounds like you usually only change when someone needs protecting.”
He shook his head. “That’s about the only good thing about this curse.”
She gave him a sympathetic smile. “I think it’s a good thing if you use your amazing ability to protect others. What else should I know about it?”
“Other than morphing, I fight a battle at times against my baser animal instincts and urges.”
“Such as…?” Her eyebrows lifted.
“When I want to make love to you. I’m afraid I would get carried away and love you in ways that you might not be comfortable with.”
“I think I’d like you to show me what you mean by that.”
Did she mean what it sounded like she was saying? “Are you saying you can accept me, knowing what I am?”
“You’ve never done anything to frighten or hurt me. You’ve done everything you can to protect me and the children at the Haven.”
“I was so afraid I’d lose you, but I had to tell you.”
“Mike.” She smiled at him. Her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve loved you for as long as I’ve known you, and I love you even more now.”
He leaned close and hugged her tight.
“I assume you’re staying here tonight?” she asked.
“Try to get rid of me.”
She gave a warm chuckle. “Let’s clean up and have dinner. Would you like some lasagna?” She moved to open the car door.
“Sounds perfect,” he said and put his arm around her as they walked inside. She drew him into her bedroom.
When she peeled off her clothing and dropped it in a pile on the floor, he did the same. She turned on the water, and Mike followed her lovely, curvaceous body into the shower.
Stepping beneath the stream of water, she moaned softly as it poured over her from head to toe. Mike ached with need as he watched her graceful form, water caressing every part of her. He wanted to slide his hands all over her, right now.
“Your turn,” she said and traded places with him as she grabbed the soap.
Chapter Eight
Mike moved under the shower spray and let the water wash away the filth of Tito Gonzalez.
He ducked from beneath the water and wiped it from his face. Now, he could see Melissa clearly again.
She soaped her neck and arms, rubbing briskly.
“Let me.” He held out his hand, and she placed the lilac-scented soap on his palm. He was hungry to touch her. Lathering his hands, he put the bar in its soap dish and moved closer to Melissa.
He stroked his soapy hands over her shoulders and back, pressed her close to him, and bent to take one of her perfect nipples between his lips. He kissed, nibbled, and took the firm peak deep into his mouth, drawing hard.
“Oh, that feels good.” She slid her fingers through his hair, caressing his scalp.
He grabbed the washrag from the towel rack and rinsed the soap from her. Covering her other nipple with his mouth, he tasted and flicked as he slid one finger through the wet folds between her thighs and found her slick opening.
The arousing sound of her gasp urged him on. He licked and sucked her hardened nipple while he stroked and circled her sensitive flesh. Her opening was wet with her juices. Slowly, he slid one finger into her hot, velvet sheath.
A moan from her rewarded him as she bucked against his hand. He slid two fingers inside her.
“Mike,” she cried.
He withdrew from her and grabbed the soap. Her breasts moved up and down as she panted. Lathering his hands, he soaped her beautiful breasts and belly, squatted down to soap each leg from thigh to toes.
“That’s heavenly,” she said.
He stood and moved her so the shower rinsed the soap from her while he switched places. With more soapy lather, he smoothed his palms over her back and lower to her sweet bottom. He trailed his fingertips from her waist down to the crease between her butt cheeks and lower.
“Oh, my.” She shuddered.
“Brace yourself.” Slowly, he delved one finger along her crease. She shivered again, and he prepared to catch her if her knees buckled. “Spread your legs, babe.”
With a sharp moan, she did as he said.
Parting her sweet, rounded cheeks, he slid his finger between and touched her opening. She was slick with her arousal. He returned to her clit and trailed his finger through her folds.
Her legs shook. “Mike, I’m going to fall.”
He stood and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Not as long as I catch you.”
She moaned and leaned her head against his chest.
“Let’s dry off.” He rinsed her and reached to turn off the water. He grabbed the nearest towel and started drying her. With brisk movements, he had her dry in no time, ending with her shapely legs and feet. Before he rose from his squatting position in front of her, he grasped her hips and pulled her close. He delved between her folds to her swollen clit. He licked and circled, and when she moaned, he kissed her there and drew back.
“I’ll be out as soon as I dry off.”
“I’ll be waiting for you.” She moved sensuously, even if a little unsteadily, from the bathroom to her bedroom.
Mike toweled off fast and tossed the towel to the floor before following.
At the sight that met him, he stopped in his tracks. She reclined naked on her bed with the pillows piled beneath her head and upper body.
“Would you like to join me?” She bent her knee, slid the leg nearest him into an angle resting on the covers, and reached to trail her fingers over her thigh. She was open to him.
Mike stood staring, mesmerized as she slowly brushed her fingertips along the crease between her thigh and her swollen, pink flesh. He swallowed, wanted desperately to taste her. She was the most erotic vision he’d ever seen. His cock hardened more as her fingers moved to her folds. He couldn’t take his gaze from her hand. She was pure temptation. With one slender finger delving into her opening, she moved her hand up and down, sliding her fingertip around her clit.
Sweet lord, he could eat her up.
“I’m ready for you,” she said softly. “I want you inside me, now.”
Mike released a tortured groan and climbed on the bed between her legs. He closed his hand around hers and licked her fingers, taking each one deep in his mouth and sucking.
“Mike.” Melissa hadn’t expected him to do that. The feeling of his warm, wet mouth sucking and his tongue pleasuring her was amazing. She wanted to spread her legs right now and ask him to kiss her there again.
Her legs parted wider, seemingly on their own. He placed her hand on her waist, pushing her thighs even wider. He speared into her wet opening with his tongue. “Mike!”
She involuntarily clamped her thighs against his head. At his soft chuckle, she gasped and spread her legs wider for him. His wicked tongue swiped through her folds, once, twice. He flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue and her hips bucked again. His mouth closed over her clit, suckled, and nibbled.
She was close to coming. Overwhelmed by his caresses, her body tensed.
He left her needy flesh. She opened her eyes at the touch of his penis at her opening. The smooth head rubbed and pushed gently inside. She watched Mike’s face, his eyes dark with hunger and desire. She shifted her hips to take him inside, the sensation exquisite as his hard cock slid deeper. She took all of him, his tightened balls snug against her bottom.
“Are you all right?” He stretched over her until his weight pressed her against the bedding. “I’m not too heavy for you?”
“More than all right. Heavens, you feel wonderful, on top and inside me.” She smiled at him. She didn’t think she could love him more than she did right then. She wrapped her legs around him.
He started to move, sliding slowly in and out of her. She moved with him, tilting her hips and loving the hot sensations. She stroked his sculpted back, the valley between the layers of muscle. Smoothed her fingertips along the curves of his back and over his butt cheeks. She slipped her fingers along the crack.
He inhaled deeply and lowered his head to kiss her. Their tongues tangled and stroked. She tilted her hips to pleasure him as he pleasured her.
Tension built as he slipped one hand between their bodies. Her back arched. She shuddered as her climax peaked and she skyrocketed with her orgasm. Through the waves of otherworldly ecstasy, she heard Mike’s harsh moan deep in his chest as he climaxed, his cock pumping his seed inside her, spurting against her womb, and bringing her more pleasure. His climax added to hers in strength, drawing the sweet release out until they were both left replete.
She loved the feeling of Mike’s weight on top of her. With her arms wrapped around his broad shoulders, she slipped her fingers through his hair. Little pulses continued inside her. “I’d love to stay like this all night.”
“Me, too.” He sighed against her neck where his head rested in the crook of her shoulder. “Are you okay?” He raised his head and met her gaze.
“I’m more than okay. I feel wonderful.”
“I love you.”
“I’ll never stop loving you.” She brushed her lips over his and hugged him tight.
“I’ll love you for all eternity.” He smiled at her and kissed her again.
Chapter Nine
The gang leader who enslaved and forced women into prostitution was gone. But his pack was still out there.
Mike hoped there’d be no further trouble at the Haven from the Hawks. However, he intended to continue to take an active part there. Security was only part of it. He craved being near Melissa and enjoyed helping out in any way she needed him, even helping the kids keep the game room in some semblance of order.
Tito’s wife and son seemed to be dealing as well as could be expected with Tito’s death. Mrs. Gonzalez brought her son by the Haven to play with the new friends he’d made there among the kids his age. Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Martinez helped out with keeping supplies available for the playroom and the kitchen.
Derek and Juan would let him know when they required his help on a case. Their private investigations business was in good hands.
He entered Melissa’s office and closed the door behind him. She sat at her desk but rose and walked around it to lean against the front.
She gave him a saucy look. “Do you know that, according to Paul, word has spread like wildfire that Melissa Haven’s child crisis center is watched twenty-four-seven by a lethal guard?”
“No, I hadn’t heard that. Who’s the lethal guard?”
“You are.” She smiled at him with a teasing light in her eyes.
He smiled back at her. “I don’t mind being the Haven’s lethal guardian. Can’t hurt. Although it does give me more to do.”
“Just so you leave enough time for us.” She reached her hands out to him. “First and foremost, you’ll always be the tender guardian of my heart.”
He took her hands in his. “I think I can handle that.”
Mike kissed her hands and took her in his arms. He brushed his lips over hers and kissed her long and deeply as she wrapped her arms around him.