“What does that mean?”
“It means they won’t stop looking for you until they find you—or until I make sure they know I’ll take out anyone who harms you.”
Stunned, she gaped at him. “Take out?”
His eyes darkened to near black. “I’ll kill them if they hurt you.”
“You don’t even know me. Why would you say something like that? I mean, you can’t really―”
“You think like a human.” He pulled her against his body, staring down at her with an intense look on his handsome face. “Your human world exists one way and shifter world is a whole other lifestyle. If you’re under my protection and someone harms or kills you, it’s not only my right but my duty to avenge you. Whoever dares violate my claim knows I’ll come after them.” His tongue darted out to wet his lips. “Is it so foreign to understand that I’d do whatever it takes to protect you?”
Shannon lifted her hands slowly, opening them on his chest. Her gaze lowered to stare at the hot skin under her palms. “Yes.”
She felt the vibration of a soft growl. A flash of lust gripped her. For whatever reason, when he made those sounds, it seemed to excite her body into wanting him desperately. Heat from his skin penetrated the shirt she wore and she took a deep breath, pulling in that musky, masculine smell he carried. Her eyes closed and she leaned closer to brush her nose against his sternum. A soft noise came from her and it shocked her anew when she realized it did sound exactly like a purr.
Her eyes flew open and she jerked away.
“What is happening to me?” She flashed a frightened look at Anton.
One of his hands released her arm to tangle in her hair, cupping the back of her head. His face descended and his mouth covered hers before she could think. He didn’t kiss so much as brand her with his lips, opening hers. His tongue invaded, tasting.
The only thing that existed was his mouth and the burning need to kiss him back. His other hand released her arm and wrapped around her waist, yanking her tighter against his large frame. Shannon clung to him as he lifted her higher, her feet left the floor, and on instinct she wrapped her legs around Anton. His open jeans fell lower until her inner thighs hugged his bared hips above the band of his briefs.
The sensation of his tongue melding with hers, rubbing and exploring, made thinking impossible for her until he dragged his mouth away. Both of them were breathing hard and as her eyes opened, she found herself nose to nose with him, staring into passion-filled, black eyes. The shape of them appeared slightly different, narrower and exotic.
“Don’t fight it,” he ordered, his voice deeper than she’d ever heard it.
He took a few steps and then bent, taking them both down onto his bed, pinning her under him. He used his elbows to brace his weight. Shannon realized the shirt she wore had ridden up to her waist when he pulled his arm out from under her to free it, his hand reaching between them.
With her legs still wrapped around his waist, her thighs were spread open to his seeking fingers, which zoomed straight to her sex. She was soaking wet with need as he spread her vaginal lips and rubbed her clit. Shannon threw her head back, crying out as pleasure swamped her.
“Just feel me.”
Shannon bucked her hips when Anton massaged faster, strumming her clit. Her nails dug into his shoulders. Moans and purrs tore from her mouth as she struggled to get air. His hair tickled her neck and then his tongue licked her throat a second before he bit her. The sharp pain only rocketed the devastating ecstasy up another notch. Shannon gasped one more lungful of air and then screamed out when her world blew apart from the violent climax. Her body bucked but Anton held her down, forcing her to ride through it until he stopped touching her clit.
The sound of tearing material registered to Shannon but she had no idea what caused it. She also didn’t care. Her vaginal walls shook and twitched from how hard she’d come. Each tremor made her gasp and the pleasure eased just slightly until something hard and thick brushed against the seam of her pussy.
Her eyes opened and she followed Anton’s gaze down their bodies, where he concentrated with a tense expression on his handsome face. The front of his underwear had been destroyed, ripped open, and his heavy, thick cock nudged her pussy again, sliding in the slick heat of her release. A snarl came from Anton when he pressed against her a third time, but instead of entering, the bulbous tip of his thick shaft glided higher to rub her clit and ended up on her pelvic area.
“Fuck,” he roared and suddenly pushed off her, and tore away from her body completely. He stumbled away from the bed.
Shannon lay there with her legs still spread as Anton turned away from her to flash his rounded, amazing ass. He roared out again, the sound piercing the room from the pure rage behind it. He bent, yanked his jeans and briefs from around his ankles, tossed them aside, and then spun to face her.
Fear punched her from the raw fury showing on his features.
Chapter Six
“What’s wrong?” Shannon remained frozen where she lay sprawled on top of his bed, gawking at the totally naked man.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” The muscles in Anton’s arms and even the ones cascading down his stomach stood out as though he’d been heavily exercising. “You’re small and too tight.”
She swallowed hard, her throat going dry. Her hands shook as she flattened them on the mattress, pushed up to a sitting position, and drew her knees closed. She huddled on his bed.
His lips parted, revealed some sharp-looking canines, and it struck her why his face suddenly appeared so frightening. He had started to shift a little into his wolf. It wasn’t just the shape of his eyes that had slightly transformed but his lips looked fuller, his strong chin seemed to jut out a little more than normal, and those teeth weren’t human. Her breath caught.
They watched each other and Anton stepped closer, then paused. His heated gaze ran over her body, lingered on her legs, and then he stood at the end of the bed.
“Take off that shirt and roll over.”
Fear and uncertainty kept her frozen. Anton softly cursed and then leaned forward. His hands gripped her thighs and he flipped her over without warning. Shannon gasped, found her face pressed into his bedding, and then his hold changed when strong fingers curled around her hips. He jerked her up to her knees until her ass lifted high into the air, where he kept her suspended.
“When’s the last time you had sex?” His tone turned rough, harsh.
It took Shannon a few seconds to be rid of her shirt and brace her hands. Clawing sheets, she pushed up to her hands and knees. She threw her hair out of the way by tossing her head and stared at him over her shoulder. She wiggled but his grip didn’t ease, making it clear that he wasn’t about to let her go. He put his knee on the bed, pressed against the back of her thighs, leaving her no choice but to spread them to make room for him.
“Answer me,” he snarled.
“I…” She couldn’t think when he climbed onto the bed, his body caging hers under him as he bent over her, his stomach pressing against her back. The position forced her to lower her head and chest closer to the mattress.
“We’ll go slowly.” He took a ragged breath. “Spread wider for me.” He removed his leg from between her thighs and placed his knees on the outside of hers in a wide stance that gave her room to do as he demanded. “Now.”
Their size difference frightened her. He had to have over a hundred pounds of weight to use against her if he chose and with his abnormal strength, she knew it would be a useless attempt to fight if she wanted to.
“Kitten,” he rasped, his voice softening. “I smell fear and there’s no reason for it.”
Her mind started to work. He wasn’t forcing the sex; in fact, he didn’t try to enter her at all, waiting for her to move her knees apart. “You didn’t get a condom.”
The second the words were out, Shannon wished she could take them back. She should have mentioned her first concern—her fear that it would hurt since he happened to be
the owner of one major hard-on. None of her previous lovers had come even close to being built as thickly as Anton.
“You’re right.” His eyes closed. “I’m not thinking clearly.”
“We touch and that seems difficult to do for both of us.” The fear eased from her body while she craned her neck to get a better view of his face.
He smiled, his tense features relaxed, and then he studied her. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Your eyes have gone totally black. I can’t see even a hint of brown anymore.”
“It happens when I’m shifting.”
“I’m not doing you as a wolf. That’s just wrong on so many levels.” She suddenly smiled, her sense of humor returning. “Besides, your may get an uncontrollable urge to chase me or something since I’m part cat.”
Shock blanked his features for an instant and then he laughed. “I wouldn’t do that. I’m battling with my inner beast. We both want you pretty bad but I can hold my skin. It’s just that when we’re dueling for dominance, I can’t hide what I am. My eyes darken, my teeth slide down, and it feels as if I’ve plugged my body into an electric current that makes every muscle tighten.”
“Your bone structure slightly changes too.”
“Really?” He reached up, explored his face with his fingertips, and then sighed. His hand dropped. “That doesn’t normally happen. This is a mood killer, isn’t it? I’m sorry. Let’s eat before the food grows cold. I never meant to frighten you and I sure don’t want to hurt you.”
Shannon hesitated. “Get a condom.”
“I think it’s best if we calm down a little first. I need to get more control before I accidentally hurt you. As much as I want you, I always keep my word, even if I suffer blue balls as a result.”
“I’m not afraid anymore.”
“You should be.” His gaze dropped to her ass and a soft growl tore from his throat. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew how bad I wanted to fuck you. I’m going for sainthood at this moment. Trust me on that.” His hand curving her hip flexed, gave her a gentle squeeze, before he pulled it away. “Let me get dressed.”
He kept his back to her while he put on pants. Shannon hesitated and then climbed off the bed. Her hands trembled when she tugged on the discarded shirt. The dampness between her thighs a reminder that he’d gotten her off but he’d been denied that. She watched him fasten a pair of jeans, but he didn’t bother with a shirt or shoes, and then he faced her.
“Let’s eat.”
Her gaze lowered to the front of his pants. The defined bulge displayed there was unmistakable.
“Don’t look at me.” His voice came out gruff. “I really want to get more control before we attempt that again. I would have been too rough with you. I know you’re mostly human but my wolf doesn’t seem to want to grasp that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad we stopped.” He spun away and headed for the food. “I’d have felt like hell if I’d caused you any pain.”
Shannon had to admit his response confused her. Most guys would be upset that the sex had come to a halt but he sounded almost relieved. She hugged her waist and watched him lift a large tray and carry it to the bar, then sit on a stool.
“Come on. We need to eat.”
She forced her feet to move. Anton softly cursed, stood, and brought back two sodas from the fridge. She paused at the stool next to his and then sat. She glanced over at him.
“Why do you seem so relieved we stopped?”
He refused to look at her while he lifted one of the three plates off the tray to set it in front of her. “We shouldn’t get involved sexually. It is a really bad idea, but when I touch you, I seem to forget that.”
She inhaled the wonderful smells from her dinner. Someone had prepared a huge steak, some kind of stuffed baked potato, and a salad. She studied Anton’s two plates, the same food she had.
“You eat that much?”
“Yeah. Werewolves eat a hell of a lot. I’ll be ready for a midnight snack later. I take it you don’t?” He finally fixed his attention on her.
“No. I’d be so big I wouldn’t fit through doorjambs if I ate two dinners every night, and then ate again before bed. I’ve always struggled with my weight.”
“You’re very human, in other words.”
“I guess so. I take it there aren’t many overweight shifters?”
“There are some but it’s tough to do. Our metabolism uses up calories quickly. Shifting burns a lot of them. If someone were to stay in one form for a long time they could manage to put on extra weight. I shift often.”
Curiosity piqued, Shannon asked, “Doesn’t it hurt? It looks painful. I always imagined it would be.”
“It does at first but then you adjust.” He picked up his fork and knife to dig into one of his meals. “How much do you really know about us?”
“Just what my father told my mother, and what she learned on her own as his wife. She always tried to remember everything to share with me.”
“She’s totally human?”
“Yes.”
He looked at her. “And your father told her what he was? That’s taboo.”
“He couldn’t really help it. He shifted in front of her. She said it scared the hell out of her. She ran but he chased her down.”
“How did that happen? Didn’t he smell her nearby before he shifted?”
She smiled. “Animal control had captured him with one of their traps. They injured him when it happened. He passed out and woke inside a veterinarian’s office. My mother worked there. He came awake to hear the doctor say they planned to neuter him in an hour when they returned after lunch. Some zoo offered to take him if they neutered him first. He wanted to get out of there, as you can imagine, and needed someone to help him escape. He was smack-dab in the middle of a busy city area where they’d notice a naked guy or an animal his size. My mother just happened to be the one who walked into the back first. He shifted inside the cage, opened it and chased her. He borrowed a doctor’s coat and forced her to drive him out of the city.”
“She’s lucky he didn’t kill her.”
“He thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.” Shannon smiled. “I heard that story from my mom a thousand times. My dad was really handsome, very sexy she said, and he fascinated her after her terror eased, when she realized he didn’t plan to hurt her. She drove him to her grandfather’s cabin, took a few days off, and patched him up. The trap had cut him pretty deeply. They fell in love.”
“How did he die? We’re extremely hard to kill, even mixed with human blood.”
She met his curious gaze. “There was a fire. He got us out but an elderly woman lived in the apartment next door. He heard her calling for help.” She pushed back tears and dropped her attention to her food. “He tried to save her, the roof collapsed, and they didn’t make it out before it did. I can’t remember much about him. Everything we owned burned. There aren’t even any pictures to remind me of what he looked like. I know he loved us very much. It took my mom nearly ten years to even date other men. I think she only survived the heartbreak of his loss because of me.”
“I’m sorry. He sounded real nice, Shannon.”
He’d said her name. She turned to peer up at him. “He died a hero.”
“Yeah, he did.” He smiled. “Eat.”
She focused on her food. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable as they finished their dinner. He ate everything from both plates. He stood and cleared the counter, and then met her gaze when he came back to sit on his stool.
“You look like your mother, don’t you?”
She nodded. “How did you know?”
He grinned. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I can imagine how drawn he felt to her and how much he wanted to be with her.”
A blush warmed her cheeks. “Thank you.”
The distance between them suddenly disappeared when he leaned into her. He brushed back her hair. The light trace of his
fingertips made her shiver with longing and passion flared in his sexy eyes. He growled softly, lowered his head, and breathed across her neck. His other arm wrapped around her waist to tug her against his body.
Desire shot through her and she knew she wouldn’t resist him. She wanted Anton. The attraction between them too great to deny.
His lips caressed her skin under her ear and then he pulled back to study her.
His mouth opened but a knock interrupted whatever he’d planned to say. He muttered a curse, slid off the stool, and stalked to the door. Shannon hoped it wasn’t his mother visiting. From what she’d heard about the woman, she guessed it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.
“What the―”
A tall, striking woman with jet-black hair in a single braid that fell to her ass shoved past a stunned Anton into the apartment. She wore all leather and resembled something out of a sexy action film, with the way the outfit formed tightly against her body. Green eyes actually flashed at Anton. Her hands gripped her hips and one of the spike heels of her black leather boots tapped the floor. Her chest pushed forward and her skintight top parted slightly to reveal the generous curves of tanned breasts.
“You insult me, Anton Harris. You sent your younger brother to meet me. I will not settle for some pup! You will not slight the Mortell pack this way.”
Anton gaped at the woman.
She turned her head, spotted Shannon, and sniffed. Her features paled suddenly and then a snarl tore from her mouth. Her fangs literally grew longer, her nose wrinkled, and she lunged toward Shannon.
“No!” Anton leapt into the woman’s path, his arms spread wide to block her and keep her back.
Fear stabbed hotly at Shannon and she turned, instincts taking hold, and leapt on top of the counter. She ran along it until she hit the wall. She spun, trapped there, and desperately searched for an escape route. Her gaze fixed on the window not too far away. They were on the second floor of the building. She still wanted to fling her body through the glass, even knowing it might kill her.