SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON Book 5: RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES (9 page)

He sat on the edge of the bed and opened the envelope. He pulled out a piece of paper with a message scrawled in Barrett’s familiar handwriting.

I’m arranging a meeting for you with the Witch. Be in Yazoo City, Mississippi at midnight tomorrow night. Go to the city’s cemetery to the witch’s grave. She’s got information regarding the missing Guardians.

“Yazoo City?” Growing up in Louisiana, he’d heard the name bandied about a few times, mostly to do with urban legends and such. Being an urban legend himself, he didn’t really remember the stories about the witch. Now he wished he’d listened better.

His stomach rumbled in the empty room, reminding him of the late hour. He grabbed his leather jacket off the back of the chair. His gaze settled across the slash in the leather. Ruined.

He’d had to get another jacket as soon as he got finished with this mission.

It was part of him, part of who he was now. He wasn’t about to let anyone see his vulnerability.

Chapter Thirteen

“Another Mojito.” Catty sighed and shoved her glass toward the bartender. She’d planned on staying in on her night off, but she was going stir crazy. So she’d gone out, hoping drinking would distract her. She needed to relax.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Someone break your heart?” A man slid onto the barstool next to her and leaned in. He was in his late thirties, nicely dressed with blond hair and blue eyes. If it hadn’t been for the predatory smile on his human face she would have thought him handsome.

“Not exactly.” There were some who didn’t believe she had a heart. There was a good chance one of those people was Lucien.

“Is he bothering you?” Lucien’s deep voice had her stomach turning to Jell-O as her heart climbed into her throat.

She turned.

He stood there wearing the leather jacket and a pissed-off expression.

“Nobody’s bothering anyone.” She bounced her foot against the rung of the stool and tried to keep her voice even, strong, and calm. Her words sounded odd in her ears.

Looking past her, Lucien grabbed her drink and dumped it out on the floor.

“Hey, why did you do that?” Her mouth dropped and she crossed her arms.

“We were just having a conversation, buddy.” The guy smirked and rested his elbows on the bar. He gave Catty another smile that made her skin crawl.

“Actually, we’re not having a conversation and I’m not interested in starting one.”

“Now, wait a minute. You’ve got some nerve acting all high and mighty while dressing like some two-cent hooker.” The man stood.

Her mouth dropped. “Look, asshole…”

“First you’re going to apologize,” Lucien growled at the guy. “And then you’re going to call your mom and tell her what you said and how much of a dick you were tonight.”

“Let me tell you something—” The man’s deceptive smile slipped and revealed a snarl that made Catty cringe.

“I’m not finished.” Lucien stepped into the man’s personal space, their chests touching. The human might be big, but Lucien was bigger. “You’re never going to come into this bar again and harass another woman. And you’re sure as hell not going to try to drug another woman.”

“Drug? What you mean?” She tried to stand, to make her legs move, but the signal wasn’t getting to her brain. Her body felt weightless, like she was floating on a white puffy cloud.

“I saw him slip something in your drink.” Lucien’s tone dripped with venom, the kind that could kill in seconds.

“I’m calling the cops.” The bartender grabbed a phone behind the bar and punched in some numbers. “I don’t put up with that shit in my bar.”

“No need. I am an undercover cop.” Lucien answered. “I’ll take care of this.”

Catty frowned. Undercover cop. She hadn’t pegged him for that.

“Fine, fine,” the man stuttered, his face going pale. “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean any harm. I’ll just go.”

“You’re not going anywhere. You still need to call your mother.” Lucien held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

“What?” He rubbed his palms down his pants leg and jerked his gaze around the room.

“Your phone. Now. Or I’m going to punch you in the throat. You can’t talk to your mom when your throat is collapsed.”

The guy blinked and dug around in his trouser pocket. He fished out his phone and handed it to Lucien.

“Your password.”

“What?”

“What is your password?”

“BigDick.”

“An asshole and a liar.” Lucien snorted.

Catty squeezed her eyes tight, trying to clear her muddled head. Whatever he had put her drink must be strong. The bartender shoved a glass of water at her and told her to drink. She complied but kept her gaze locked on Lucien.

His jet-black hair fell across his forehead and scraped his shoulders as his breathing increased with each heavy breath. His lips were stretched across his white teeth in a sneer and his hands were fisted at his sides. He looked like he was ready to kill in his black leather jacket.

The drugs must have affected her brain because she was starting to imagine herself naked and in his arms. He was hot, for sure, but he had a calm, deadly demeanor, like he could snap at the flip of a switch.

He was the last guy she needed to be getting all hot and bothered about. If Big Mike caught wind she was hanging out with a werewolf outside the club, then her life would be in danger.

She watched the scene play out in a blur of activity.

The guy put the phone up to his ear. The next few minutes consisted of him confessing to his mom what he’d done and trying to apologize. Lucien then took the phone out of the man’s hand and began telling the guy’s mom he would make sure he got the help he needed.

He hung up and shoved the phone in the man’s chest. “You will leave and never harm another woman again. If you do, I will find out about it. I have eyes everywhere. You can’t hide from me. Are we clear?”

The guy slipped a finger beneath his collar and tugged. Sweat popped up across his upper lip and forehead, and his chin quivered. He nodded several times before he backed away and finally fled out the front door.

“Are you all right?” Lucien stepped between her legs and leaned in close, his warm breath tickling her cheeks.

“Mmmm.” Her stomach tingled and she closed her eyes. His scent was washing over her like a tidal wave of sexy alpha male.

“Catty?” The unmistakable tone of concern was stamped into his voice. She opened her eyes to find him staring intently at her. He cupped her face, his eyes scanning her face.

Mentally she was telling him to leave, to step away and stop touching her. But she couldn’t seem to make herself say the words.

“Lucien.” His name rolled out of her mouth like a moan.

“Come on.” He tugged her to her feet. Her legs buckled.

He swept her up in his arms before she could fall. She wrapped her arms around him and tucked her face into the crook of his neck.

Big mistake. Her stomach warmed, sending delicious tendrils of lust through her body.

“Ugh,” she moaned.

“We’re leaving,” he whispered against her cheek, his voice deep and urgent.

He hurried down the sidewalk, taking long strides as he put distance between them and the bar. She opened her eyes and looked over his shoulder. He was not headed toward her apartment. She should have questioned him, but right now she really didn’t care where they were going.

“I’m taking you to my hotel.”

“Are you a mind reader?” she murmured against his neck, her lips scraping across his flesh. His hotel was the only place she wanted to be right now.

“If I were a mind reader I wouldn’t still be trying to get information out of you, now would I?” He groused.

“Or maybe you’d realize I don’t have any information.” She let her head loll back against his shoulder.

“Maybe,” he said softly. “Or maybe you’re just a tough nut to crack.”

“Are you saying you want to crack me?” She lifted her head and smiled.

He stopped in his tracks, his heart beating rapidly against her body, and looked down at her.

When he started walking, she laid her head back down and closed her eyes. “You sure don’t trust people, do ya?”

He adjusted his grip. “I have too many reasons not to trust people.” His fingers brushed the side of her breast. Pleasure shot through her body straight to her core. Her breathing turned to a pant as she buried her face in his neck.

She opened her eyes long enough to see plenty of women on the sidewalk openly eyeing Lucien. Apparently he either didn’t notice or didn’t care because he ignored them all.

He stopped at the hotel and opened the door. He walked through the corridor and stepped into the empty elevator.

Her heart tumbled in her chest. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen once they stepped inside his room, but she certainly didn’t want to give him the wrong idea about her for a second time.

“Lucien, I can walk.”

“Not going to happen.”

Her heart heated and tumbled.

The elevator dinged and he stepped off with his arms full of her.

He stopped and unlocked the door. Once inside, he kicked the door shut with his boot.

He carefully laid her on the bed and knelt in front of her.

She blinked slowly and met his gaze.

“Are you having blurred vision?”

“No.” She held his gaze.

“Is your heart racing?”

“Yes.”

He frowned. “Are you having difficulty breathing?”

“Yes.” With him so close, how could she breathe easy?

He pressed his hand to her forehead. “You’re burning up.”

“You have no idea.” She clutched at the comforter to keep from grabbing at him and ripping his clothes off.

“Lucien, stop.” She pulled his hand from her head and pressed it to her chest. “It’s not because of the drug or whatever that asshole gave me that I feel this way.” She’d only had a drink before Lucien interrupted them.

“Then what is it?”

“It’s you.”

Chapter Fourteen

“What do you mean?” Lucien’s fingers tingled, aching to reach out and touch her. Had he heard her correctly? What was she saying? He needed total clarity before assuming anything.

“Apparently I’m really rusty when it comes to seduction.” She buried her face between her hands.

“Catty.” Her name on his lips sent excitement thrumming through his veins. Was she playing with him again? Setting him up for another fall?

“I want you, Lucien. As much as I know me and you are a bad idea, I can’t help but still want you.” She pressed the palm of her hand to his chest. His heart thudded with a vengeance.

“I know you feel it too.” She cocked her head, daring him to deny it. “I can smell your arousal.”

He’d wanted her the second he had walked into the bar and seen that guy flirting with her. He’d tried to deny it, to bury it deep, but it wasn’t going away.

“You were drugged. You don’t know what you’re saying.” He wrapped his fingers around her tiny wrist.

“The drug wore off the second you picked me up. The second I smelled your scent, my body started reacting to you. Trust me, it’s not the drug. I felt this way when you touched me in the club.”

“I don’t play games, Catty.”

“Neither do I.”

He arched his brow.

“Okay, then I’ll do all the work. I’m not too proud to admit my attraction. Even if you can’t bring yourself to say it.” She pressed both hands to his chest and shoved.

He sat back on the floor, his legs stretched out in front of him. He watched, hypnotized by the way she stood and slowly moved toward him. The sway of her hips and the smell of her scent had his body aching for her. He was stuck in a dream and he couldn’t move.

Her fingers tugged her shirt up over her head. She held the garment between her fingers and let it drop to the floor. Her eyes never left his as she reached for the button on her cut-off jean shorts. She shoved the shorts down over her slender hips and stepped out of them.

His heart beat faster, loud and angry and insistent.

She stood before him in matching black panties and bra, her curves and secrets barely covered. His dick hardened as his gaze drank her in like ice-cold water on a scorching summer day.

“Catty, be careful what you unleash. Once we start, I might not be a gentleman and stop.” His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared when her feminine scent hit him.

“Good. I don’t much like gentlemen.” She knelt on the floor by his feet and began taking off his biker boots. After ridding him of his socks, she crawled up between his legs and fumbled with the button on his jeans and then unzipped him.

“Jesus, Catty.” His heart thundered in his head.

“Let me, Lucien.” She looked up at him beneath her long dark lashes.

He sucked in a harsh breath at her beauty.

She hooked her fingers in his belt loops and tugged. His erection tented his boxers as she pulled his jeans off his legs.

“You should probably get rid of the jacket. You won’t need it.” She purred and straddled his hips.

His muscles tensed and flexed as he took his leather jacket off and let it fall on the floor.

She reached for his shirt. He grabbed her hands and panic surged through his chest.

She frowned and released his shirt.

He was more than his scars. He wasn’t going to let something from his past still control him.

Fuck it.

He tugged his shirt over his head. Her eyes widened in appreciation as she took in the numerous tatts adorning his arms and chest. He couldn’t get ink on his back, but it didn’t stop him from inking what flesh he could.

Her lips parted as she ran her hand down his chest, trailing down his abs until her fingertips brushed the elastic waistband of his boxers.

“Nice ink,” she murmured as her hand dipped inside his underwear.

His dick twitched against the soft graze of her fingertips.

Looking up into his face, she wrapped her fingers around the base of his shaft and squeezed.

He growled at the delicious pleasure. Cupping her face, he pulled her near.

“Are you sure?” He searched her blue-gray eyes for any hesitation.

“I’ve been sure since you were in my room.” She smiled shyly before pressing her lips against his.

He growled as he dipped his tongue into her sweet mouth, tasting her, claiming her in this one moment. She moaned against his lips.

She laced her fingers around his neck and clung to him, pressing her slender body against him. His heart thundered in his chest and desire licked through every cell of his body, igniting intense desires he didn’t know he possessed.

“More.” She rocked against his erection and pressed him back into the floor. She broke the kiss and reached between their bodies, taking him in her hand and stroking him until he was pumping himself against her palm.

He grabbed her hand. “Slow down. Ladies first.” He grinned up at her as he found her bra and unhooked it. Her bra slid down her arms and she tossed it behind her. His mouth watered as he pulled her down. He captured a pretty pink nipple in his mouth and sucked.

“Oh, god, that feels good.” She cupped his head to her breasts.

He licked and sucked at her breast until she was writhing on top of him.

“I need you inside me, now,” she said, her voice hoarse, her breath in a rushed pant.

“Like I said, ladies first.” He gave her nipple a final lick and then hooked his thumbs on either side of her panties and tugged. The lace panties ripped and he tossed the shreds to the floor.

She smiled and rubbed her wetness against him.

“Not yet,” he growled and grabbed her hips.

He nudged her up past his chest until her thighs were on either side of his face.

“Oh,” she cried out as he licked her between her legs in one slow movement.

She trembled underneath him as he tightened his hold on her hips. He kissed and tasted of her sweetness and she rubbed herself against his mouth. Fuck, he could do this all damn day and never get tired of her taste, of how she felt, of the erotic sounds she made.

His hands trailed up over her ribcage to her beautiful breasts. He brushed his thumb over the hardened pink nipples and she moaned. Reaching behind her, she grabbed his dick and squeezed. He growled against her pink folds and jerked against her hand. He gently rolled her nipples between his fingertips and she tensed.

“Lucien,” she cried out as her head fell back. Her body trembled as she rode out her orgasm in an uninhibited, wild display of pleasure.

When her body relaxed, he gently rolled them to the side. He removed his underwear and kissed his way up her body.

***

“I’ve never come so hard in my life,” she murmured. She was still humming from the orgasm he’d given her, and she didn’t know if she had the strength to move.

“That was just a warm-up. I’m nowhere near done.” He grinned and kissed the tender spot at her neck.

Her stomach warmed all over again at his smile and his touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer for a kiss. Her palms slid down over his shoulders, memorizing the deep lines of his defined muscles and raw strength.

She couldn’t stop touching him. She wanted to discover every area of his body and then start all over again.

He kissed her hard and deep. She arched against him. Her fingers trailed down his hard abdomen and then to his ribcage. She needed more.

She slid her hands around to his back, and he jerked away. He grabbed her hands, restraining her. His wide eyes were unsure.

“What’s wrong?” She looked up at him, her body aching for him.

“Don’t touch my back,” he said softly and then looked away for a brief second.

She knew better than to ask. She’d seen that haunted look before when she looked at her own reflection.

“It’s okay, Lucien. I’m not going to hurt you.” She pressed a gentle kiss to his muscular chest, against the pounding of his heart. He shivered at the intimate gesture. “I just want to be with you.”

He released her hands and pressed his fingers to her lips. She parted her lips, sucking the digits one by one inside her mouth. By the time she was done, desire streaked through his gaze.

He was aroused, as much as she was. He just didn’t trust her. He was like a caged animal.

There was only one thing to do with a frightened animal.

She had to go slow.