When A Lioness Snarls (A Lion's Pride Book 5) (4 page)

I
can’t believe
she said that.

No, he totally could believe it. The real problem was, if he were a man with a little less control, it could have happened.

With the firemen in charge of the scene and the cops happy with their statement, they hitched a ride with Reba, who dropped them off on her way back to the condo. For some reason, Luna elected to stay with Jeoff, claiming they had business to discuss.

The only thing he wanted to talk to was a shower to get the stink of smoke off his skin. Since his place had two bathrooms, they could both shower at the same time, some faster than others. He was still rinsing off soap when she started talking to him.

“So, do you think Ralph bought our story?”

A peek around the shower curtain showed Luna wore a towel and nothing else where she sat perched on his counter.

“I’m sure Clive will make sure the facts fit. Did you really need to come in here and talk about it now?” He ducked back behind the curtain and turned the hot water completely off. No need for extra heat when she was around. Whenever Luna was near, his body tended to get feverish.

“Don’t tell me you’re still shy? I’ve seen it, wolfie. And I didn’t laugh.”

“No, you accused me of being a gibbering, comatose playtoy.”

“Only because you won’t prove otherwise.”

“Not happening.” Not because he wasn’t tempted. He was too damned tempted.

Press her against the wall and take her from behind.
His wolf didn’t care about repercussions. Primal need was very simple to his inner beast, and his need screamed he should claim her.

Like hell.

She was already causing chaos in his life—and this was just one day! He couldn’t imagine a string of them, weeks, or months. Letting her into his world in anything other than a temporary work capacity would probably kill him—
but we’d die smiling, I’ll bet.

There was something about Luna that woke every nerve in his body. It made a man want to smoke some weed to dampen the high.

“So what’s our next step, wolfie?”

“Your next step involves putting some clothes on. Grab a sweater or something from my closet.”

“Again with the putting on of clothes. Are you always this obsessed about nudity?”

Only when she was around. Jeoff shut off the shower and reached blindly for a towel. Fabric met his fingertips, and he grabbed it, wrapping it around his waist, the towel warm and slightly damp—

“You gave me your used towel?” Not thinking, he secured the towel one-handed and yanked the curtain on the rail. Perched on his vanity, wearing only a smile, was Luna. Naked Luna. Being a man, a very put-upon man, he stared for a moment.

“Don’t drool too much, wolfie. Wouldn’t want you to slip and hurt yourself.”

Why drool when he could lick? He’d lick that smile off her face by licking somewhere south until she had no breath to speak.

Well, she could say our name.

Moaning was all well and good, but sometimes a man liked to make sure she knew who to thank.

His tongue stayed in his mouth—sad whimper—and the towel remained around his waist, with no accidental flashing. As he strode past Luna, he did his best to look ahead, instead of at her ridiculously gorgeous breasts.

As if she’d let him get away with such nonchalance. Her foot shot out. He dodged to avoid it, loosening his grip on the towel, which she then tore from his grasp.

It wasn’t, however, the sudden nudity that caused him to snap. It was the flick of the towel against his bare ass.

Technically, it didn’t hurt much, just a light sting, but that little wee snap of wet towel still broke the wolf’s back. He spun, grabbed Luna around the waist, and tossed her over his shoulder. He marched back to the bedroom and sat down. A bit of manhandling had her splayed across his lap, bottom raised, head down.

There were a few things a man could expect when putting a lioness in a punishment-type position. Contrition:
“Please, Jeoff, don’t spank me. I’ll be a good girl.”

From Luna? Not likely.

Anger:
“You son of a bitch, I’m going to feed you your balls.”

Much more Luna’s style.

Even a savage wrestling match for dominance was something he totally expected from her. What he didn’t expect was curiosity.

Luna peeked up at him. “What are you waiting for? Do it.”

“Do what?” He questioned to be sure they were thinking the same thing. She was lioness; you never knew.

“Spank me. It is why you have me like this, isn’t it?”

“You’ve been corrected before?”

“Corrected?” She snickered. “That’s funny. And no. Never met a guy with the balls to try. So I’ve got to admit I’m kind of curious.”

Which totally took all the fun out of it. Not to mention all this talk made him reevaluate his initial plan to pinken those cheeks with his hand.

He should note that he’d never spanked a woman before. Ever. Nor had he been spanked as a child. The only reason he thought of it was because of something one of the guys told him. Except, in his buddy’s story, the girl didn’t beg to be spanked and they’d ended up having wild sex.

No sex with this lioness.
It wouldn’t end well.

Want her.

Wolves shouldn’t give puppy eyes. It just wasn’t right.

All this pressure. He didn’t like it. Setting Luna on the bed beside him, he rose and went to his dresser.

“Are you getting some kind of spanking aid? Can’t we start with your hand? I don’t know if I want to go right into a Ping-Pong paddle or a whip.”

Turning around, he tossed a T-shirt at her. “Put this on. There is not going to be any kind of smacking.”

“You are such a Debbie Downer.”

“It’s called being responsible. You should try it sometime.”

Her head popped through the neck of the shirt, the tousled blonde hair hiding one eye. She squinted at him. “Responsibility is overrated.”

“In that case, go home.”

“Are you moping?”

“No. I am telling you to leave because you’re lying. You are responsible. More than you think.”

Luna shook a fist at him. “Take that back. I am a free-wheeling spirit. I do what I like when I like with no accountability to anyone.”

“Except Arik.”

“He’s the king.”

“And your family.”

“Duh.”

“Your friends.”

“Your point?” she asked.

He leaned close and couldn’t help but grin as he whispered, “You not only obey the king of your pride, you are helpful with your friends, and you’re even determined to help strangers. You are a mature adult.”

“Aaah.” She made the sign of the cross at him and scowled. “Be gone, beast, with your foul words.”

“Are you for real?”

“One hundred percent. No plastic in these. Give me a squeeze if you’d like to be sure.”

“No.” Bad enough she cupped her breasts in invitation. He stalked out of the bedroom, forgoing a shirt for the moment. He needed space between him and Luna. Alcohol too.

When he emerged from the kitchen, two beers in hand—because he knew she wouldn’t leave that easily—she was perched on his couch.

“Toss it here.” She held up her hands and waited.

He passed it to her carefully. One simply did not toss open bottles. She had her cell phone in her lap, the screen lit with a search window.

“What are you looking for?” He chose to sit on a barstool at his kitchen counter. Arguably, he could claim it was because his phone was sitting there getting juice from a charger. But, in truth, he needed the distance.

“I am looking for info on that club, but would you believe there isn’t a damned thing on it?”

“Impossible. Maybe you’re spelling it wrong.”

Or maybe this place was hidden a little more than seemed normal.

The next few hours passed in oddly companionable silence, interspersed with anecdotes of what they’d found—or not found. At one point, he looked over to see her sleeping on the couch, lying flat on her stomach, one leg hanging down, mouth open on a soft snore.

Ridiculously cute. He wanted to stroke the hair from the curve of her cheek. Snuggle in behind her and hold her against his body, keeping her warm.

Instead, he tossed a blanket over her, turned off the lights, and went to bed. He didn’t sleep, not right away at any rate, and when he did, there was a lot of chasing—a lion after a wolf, which culminated in a canine climbing a tree. Most disturbing, so was it any wonder at the sudden weight that bounced on his chest and the, “Wake up, wolfie,” he let out a most beast-like, and ferocious, roar?

“Ooh, scary. Now wake up.”

“No respect.” He kept his eyes closed, lest he see her. “Why are you still here?”

“Because I spent the night.”

“Don’t you have a home you can go to?”

“Worried I might leave while we’re still having fun? Never. I’m here for as long as you need me.”

“Doesn’t anyone need you at home?”

“Nope. All my plants are plastic, and the only pet I have is virtual, and probably starving. I haven’t checked on it in a while.”

“You should go home. You need clothes.” Because he suddenly didn’t want to loan her his shirt. Didn’t want the fabric he wore close to his skin touching hers.

That’s right, peel it off her. She’s better off wearing nothing.

Jealous of his shirt. He must have had a few too many beers last night.

“So while you were sleeping the day away—”

“We went to bed after three.”

“Lightweight. Anyhow, while you were playing Sleeping Beauty, I came to some interesting conclusions about our secretive club.”

“Did we get some info finally?” he asked.

“No. They’re still locked down tight. So, I’m going to check the place out in person.”

“You’re planning to infiltrate.” The burst of jealousy took him by surprise. Why would he care if Luna dolled herself up and went undercover at a sex club for swingers?

“That is the plan, but here’s the problem. If it’s like most of the usual places for swingers, then it will be open for couples and single ladies only.”

“And? I fail to see the issue. You’re a single lady.” Last he’d heard at least. Not that Jeoff kept dibs. He did his best to avoid the ladies of the pride—bad enough his sister felt a need to give him updates now that she lived among them.

“That’s what I said to Arik. I told him I’d go check things out. But he seems to think I should bring backup, and, thing is, he said taking my besties with me wasn’t a good plan.”

Arik was a wise leader. Sending one lioness somewhere was asking for trouble. Once they grouped in a pair or more? No one was safe.

“So Arik doesn’t want you to go by yourself. That still doesn’t…” His voice trailed off as horror consumed him, a horror that grew deeper the more Luna smiled at him from her perch on his chest. He shook his head in vehement denial. “Oh no. Hell no. Not happening.”

“But I haven’t even told you why I need you. Other than for some obvious nookie to scratch an itch.”

“You want us to go to that club and pose as a couple.”

“Don’t look at me with that horrified gaze. This was Arik’s idea.”

“When did you talk to Arik?”

“I’ve been up for a while.”

And obviously high on caffeine or something if she’d agreed. “What else did he say?”

“He said we should go together as a committed couple. I then might have laughed at his idea. As if anyone would believe this is ready to settle down.” She gestured to her shape, fingers skimming over her frame.

“The more unbelievable part is anyone thinking you and I could pass as a couple.”

“We did it last night with the fuzz.”

“For a few minutes. They were distracted, and we got away with it. But no way could we get anyone to believe we’re truly together.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luna asked, sounding most indignant.

“We couldn’t be more mismatched. I mean, I’m a suit kind of guy who likes reading and fine dining and a daily run in the park.”

“First off, I’d totally run with you. After all, someone needs to hold the leash. I think books are great, especially for the times you run out of sand for the kitty litter box. And I love eating. Anytime you want to see my
eating
skills”—she winked—“you let me know.”

“Has the chef at your condo been putting cat nip in the muffins again?”

“No.” Her lips pulled down in a pout. “Apparently it’s a gateway drug to squeaky mouse toys and drinking all the cream.”

He closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why me?” Muttered aloud, so of course she heard.

“I think you’re a great choice for a fake boyfriend because if anyone needs to get out and let loose, it’s you.”

“I have responsibilities.”

“You do, and according to you, so do I.” Her voice turned serious, a rarity for her, which made it all that more effective. “I need your help, but if you feel you can’t, then I’ll find someone else to play the part of boyfriend.”

Someone else? Hell no. How could he subject some other poor bastard to the insanity that was Luna? “I’ll do it.”

“Really?” Her exuberant exclamation didn’t prepare him for the way she grabbed him and hauled him to a sitting position.

Stronger than she looked. “What are you doing?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Just getting my new fake boyfriend used to having me touch him. Can’t have you flinching every time I do this.” Leaning close, her warm breath fluttered across his skin.

He shivered and leaned away. Not because he wanted to. On the contrary, he wanted to feel her lips on his skin because that would provide the invitation for his hands to roam.

Roaming would lead to bad things.

Pleasurably bad things. So Jeoff dumped Luna from his lap before sliding from the bed and giving himself some space.

She grumbled. “This won’t work if you keep acting so repressed.”

“I am not repressed.”

A challenging glint entered her eyes. “Prove it.”

There were many things a man could fight against. He could guard himself against seduction. Hold himself in control instead of lashing out. Work out to burn calories after a night of too many beers. But prick at his manhood and something had to be done.