Her Lycan Lover (26 page)

“Yes. You’re right.” Shawn nodded, meeting his gaze, and quirked his lips. “You seem on edge.”

Quinn ignored Shawn’s smart comment. “I think that warehouse is involved, the one Carrigan’s family owned.”

“That man that came here? Yesterday?” Sherry blurted out. “Where is it located?”

“On the East Side. Why?”

“I just wondered. Can I see Sonya’s locker now?”

Sonya’s locker held a few items of clothing but it was the hairbrush that captured Sherry’s attention. She picked it up, observing random bleeps of energy packets and pulled a couple of strands free. Shooting sparks of energy rose from them when she held them in her palm. “There’s nothing in here that seems to hold much of her energetic fingerprint.”

“What about the clothing?” Quinn asked. “Her scent is ripe on everything.”

Even without direct eye contact, Sherry perceived his protective fury building. Quinn’s attention over her had sharpened severely since they arrived at the Den. “We could distribute small pieces.”

“Exactly. There’s something else I need to ask you.”

Abruptly, she faced him. His tone had gone cold, making the hairs all over her body stand up. She could sense his moods now, drawing from him and renewing her own strength. In hours, they’d formed some sort of psychic connection that enhanced her on many levels.

“Anything,” she said, concern rippling through her body.

He stroked a warm hand down her arm. “Nothing to get strung out about. I was wrong to ask you to remain totally open to me. I want you to do what you did before in the car… with those buffers.”

“Why? Is getting inside my head disrupting your thoughts?” Probably too much chaotic interference. She shouldn’t be surprised.

He hooked his hand around her bicep, drawing her against him. “The exact opposite. I want you safe from the Fae. Can you put up some sort of wall so that they can’t climb inside your mind?”

She answered slowly. “Yes. But it’s probably too late. They more than likely know what I am.”

“But they might not be able to keep track of you if we moved you from place to place. Or take possession of you. I’d like to keep you hidden physically and mentally. That’s my idea.”

“I’m not certain it would work.”

“But you can try. And that’s all I’m asking.”

She also thought it was a good idea with one exception. He was the one who should be warded. Back in the city, it wasn’t likely Quinn would shift into wolf form. After what the Fae had done to her, she wouldn’t let him be subject to their plan for revenge and torture. Not when he sought to protect her by becoming mortal. She had to get to the shield and repair it permanently and that required her utmost concentration. To create a buffer also required power. She’d risk a loss of power for one spell if it protected her mate. “I can try to create a ward.”

“What do you need?”

“Nothing. Stand over there. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.” She closed her eyes and moved her hands and spoke an incantation. She perceived a draw of energy, and she focused this protective blanket around her Lycan lover. A coolness crept into the room and she secured this special ward to his being. Quinn would not know what she’d done. “There. That’s all I can do.”

Purposely, she kept her mind blank so he’d not perceive much. She didn’t know what the effect of a warding would be on a Lycan.

Crossing the room, he came to her. “Not to worry.” He bent and pressed his mouth over hers. A kiss connected them, but he was safe.

“We always have our physical connection. Eventually, these things will leave and we’ll reconnect,” She said, trailing her fingers across his chest. “We should get involved in helping find Sonya.”

“I want you near me. At all times. Or in the company of Shawn, Tristen, or Fin. No one else.”

She nodded. “And now, can we focus on Sonya’s investigation?” she asked.

“Fin and Tristen can undoubtedly use the clothing here.
”

“I almost forgot. I should check my email. The High Priestess’s guard should be here shortly. I don’t understand why they haven’t already arrived. They would be helpful in securing the ley line and dealing with the Fae.”

“Seems you’re pretty much on your own when it comes to that Sisterhood.” He frowned. “I’ll speak with Tristen and Fin. See if they found anything in the Hummer. But I don’t want you walking outside Alone. Stay inside until I come back.”

“Doubt the Fae would show up here. Not after we showed them we’re able to defend ourselves.”

“The Fae are in dire straits. I expect to hear from Carrigan sooner than later. Together the Fae and Carrigan are irrational. I only hope they haven’t latched onto other conniving groups.”

“I’ll try to reach out to some Sister casters. They might have an idea of what to do. Perhaps the Sisterhood redirected the guard to another area.” She smiled up at him, forcing herself to take deep breaths, all the while refusing to let her mind race. She needed him to believe her and a thundering heartbeat would alert his ultrasensitive Lycan hearing she was full of it.

Inside the office, he towered over her. Overpowering. Much more so than before when they’d been in her office.

“Baby, if I thought I could get away with it, I’d shut that door and show you how much I need you. Right now. I want you to know how deep our union runs. When we touch, we reconnect. When this is all over, no matter where you want to go—London or staying here—I’ll support you. Be right by your side.”

Her emotions began to bubble. This man who’d been the personification of cool and collected looked at her with an untamed possessive gleam that made her chest tighten. She kept reminding herself, Quinn wasn’t like the men who’d used her mother until there was nothing left.

For love, her mother had forsaken her spellcaster vows. Ruined was how her mother had been dumped on her
grand-mere’s
porch. Not long afterwards, her poor mom died. The stinging of tears hit her eyes, and she blinked them back. Forced herself to lock her emotions away lest he get a clue.

“Quinn, I can’t believe all this time… it was you. Right here.”

“Neither can I. The best things in life kinda of thing.” He smirked, running his hand down her arm and making her shiver under his touch.

She wanted to kiss the smirk right off his face. His need became her own. She reached up, tugging on his neck, snuggling her body to his. He growled, his hands taking hold of her bottom and drawing her hips up to him, until she grazed her mouth across his lips.

“I want you,” she whispered, then she dragged an open mouthed kiss up his neck. His pulse raced. His breathing became shallow. Instinct took over, spurring her confidence in commanding a man who by all rights could overpower her. She nipped the expanse of his smooth skin along her journey to his mouth.

Arriving at his jaw, she held his hands down much to his growling displeasure. At his irresistible mouth, she hovered, then lightly ran her tongue over his lips, halting at the corner of his mouth.

She planted a kiss, feeling the quiver of his skin as a loud groan erupted. “Hope this isn’t a game, angel.”

“Never.” She bit the center of his bottom lip before answering. Staring into his eyes, she traced her finger up his hard-on. “Jonesing your gorgeous body is hardly tease material. Have every intention of finishing what I start.”

“Fuck. Baby, that’s all I needed to hear.” He crashed his mouth down upon her lips, wedging open her mouth, and extracting a moan from her. She sunk into the kiss, opening her mouth, and using her tongue to explore his lips, tangle with his tongue. He stopped from roughly grinding into her, but neither did he release his hold. He returned her kiss, nibbling at her mouth, taking hold of her bottom lip. He nipped with enough force to send liquid heat deep into her belly where hunger and need collided, sending sparks along her nerves.

Her breath turned shaky. “Plans?”

Quinn’s sandpaper cheek rubbed across her jaw. “Mine,” he whispered back.

She wanted to bite him, her canines having lengthened again during the onslaught of her furious hunger. “Please,” burst from her lips. The overpowering carnal craving fired fully along her senses.

“You understand that once we begin, there’s nothing that can stop our primal instincts. We’re partially mated. With the buffer up between us, I’m on edge and fully aroused. This close to bonding and this excited, I’ve got to get inside you or die trying.” He jerked his chin. “We’re in your office. You up for this?”

“Yeah. I’m down for whatever you’ve got, babe.” She felt everything he said deep inside. Lock, stock, and Lycan barrel. His words, his scent, his sentiments—all were flowing in her blood.

He was right about touching. Their physical contact overcame her ability to ward him or herself. This time it was she who pushed down her pants and exposed her flesh, daring him to take her. She’d never been this demanding and she groaned, and wondered if this was how spellcasters lost their way. At that moment she didn’t care. Couldn’t care. Her body and mind were consumed by her hunger to join with Quinn in the most carnal of ways.

He unzipped his pants, never breaking eye contact with her. He pulled her to him, and where she’d expected him to bend her over her desk, he did not. Surprising her, he began moving her backward a few feet, and then he had her back up against the wall of her office. He slowly twisted his hand in her hair.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

In response, he kissed her wildly, his tongue plunging into her mouth, forceful and exacting as though he sought to mark her again. He released his fingers from her hair, and groaned. “Baby, I want you. Difficult to maintain control.”

“Don’t hold back. Show me how much.”

Quinn’s pupils were fully dilated. Within his stormy eyes brewed a hurricane of lust. “Wrap your amazing legs around me. I’m going to fuck you Lycan style. Like we both damn well need. Yell, scratch, hit. It won’t matter. Never will there be another question. When you come screaming my name, you’ll know who owns your body.”

Sherry met his unwavering gaze. Intense. Masculine. Red flames of decadent desire licked her, unlocking a deep ache unfurling in her body. Crawling under her skin. A need only he could fill. “There never was any question. Darling, just do it.”

He gripped her, taking hold of her hips, and from where he touched, her skin flushed hot. His thick erection pushed into her, the force so erotically charged she arched backward.

“No. You. Don’t. Angel.” Quinn gripped his length, his jaw tightening.

“Give me a chance, and I’ll show how much I’m not anything angelic.” She flicked her tongue along the seam of his mouth, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and bit down on his lip. Harder this time.

“Hungry for something rough this go round.” He smiled, fully thrusting into her. One hard plunge and he slammed her back against the wall, his arms coming at the last moment to take the force, keeping her safe. His erection stretched her, but this time he didn’t wait. His hands moved her hips, angling her along his cock as he lifted her up and down.

“You’re so damn sexy,” Quinn whispered against her neck. He drove himself into her over and over, grazing spots inside her that fired electrical bursts of pleasure skittering in all directions. He groaned her name, his breath tattooing her skin, unchaining her hunger to have him bite her. Mark her in the most intimate of ways.

“I need you. Wild. Crazy. Quinn, bite me.”

“Fuck yes.” He wrapped his hand in her hair, pulling her neck to one side, and then his teeth sank into her flesh. His mark. She gave in to him, threading her fingers into his hair, tugging hard. Grinding against him, she began riding his length, moving up and down his cock in frenetic pace. “Quinn,” she panted. “Bite me again. Harder”

“That’s it. Give it to me.”

“Fuck me, Quinn. Just like that,” Sherry moaned, pouring her voice into his mouth.

“You turn me on all the way.” Quinn lifted her hips up, and started pounding into her. His fangs bit down on the perfect point in her skin. Pleasure so deep and expanding, her soul was ready to weep.

Their bodies were slick, perspiration droplets running between them, and an urgency mounted. The muscles in Quinn’s body turned to granite. He slammed into her in need. Powerful, powerful need. And then they were both there. At the edge of ecstasy and one more mind-blowing thrust from Quinn drove them into the shimmering sea of bliss. His growl of release was followed by a shudder and tremors of pleasure spread within her body.

“Love, when you squeeze me like that… drives me crazy, baby.” His lips skimmed her shoulder, her neck, and his voice hummed over her skin. Heaven.

He moved back a foot, releasing her legs, and pulling her down to the carpeted floor. Together they fell backward, their breaths more like gasps, wild as their heartbeats. “I love you.” His voice gentle yet gravely in wolf tones. “I think I’ve always loved you.”

His admission startled her. Her heart raced, nowhere near settling from their mind-altering sex and now the words he uttered touched her in places only he had access to. She pulled his words into her and let them echo joyously within her, and knew she had to say something. She froze. Longing to free dive, but unsure.