Before the Moon Rises (6 page)

him. Werewolves who prowled every month, turning innocent

people into more like them.

Gorman and his like were what gave werewolves their

Hollywood name. Vicious, blood-thirsty animals that either ate

their prey or turned them for the purpose of mating or

controlling.

Like any species of animal, or humans for that matter,

there were good and bad amongst them. Max's family had

werewolf blood in their veins for centuries. They considered

themselves defenders, vigilantes of the full moon. They never

turned another without their express permission. Even Max

had been given the choice. He exercised it when his father

had become ill, and a pack had invaded his childhood

neighborhood. Max watched as one of his best friends was

turned. The power of the change did more than shift his form

each month; it changed his personality. He killed others

instead of protecting. It was as if the werewolf who turned

him injected evil with his bite.

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Before the Moon Rises

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Unfortunately, without the power of the change, Max was

unable to hunt down and find the werewolves who killed. But

with heightened senses, the task proved easy. He hunted

during the full moon to find his prey. With their identity

confirmed, Max followed in his human form, often finding

them in illegal acts. A simple phone call to the police led them

to the renegade were's location.

A few times, he attacked the enemy in wolf form,

sometimes causing their death. But that was risky, and not

something Max would do unless he was left with no other

choice.

Gorman was slick. Max had been following him for three

months. Unfortunately, Max couldn't find anything on him,

and the time to fight him soon approached. Now that he had

his sights on Janet, Max was left with little choice.

Janet was his. He placed his head on her thigh and closed

his eyes. She didn't know it yet, but she was
his.

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52

Before the Moon Rises

by Catherine Bybee

The sun's glaring rays through the window woke her. A few

minutes passed before Janet remembered where she was.

When she did, she glanced around the room for Rex. But he

was gone.

She noticed the door to her room slightly open and

assumed someone heard him and let him out. His presence in

the room had kept her calm after she realized she wasn't

going into anaphylactic shock by being in his presence.

Janet made her way to the shower and wondered if Max

had made it home.

Max's kitchen was enormous like his house. But it lacked in

supplies. Janet found what she needed for coffee and started

a pot. She rummaged through the maple cupboards and

subzero refrigerator, found a loaf of bread and some eggs.

Her mouth watered with the thought of French toast.

On her second cup of coffee, Max sauntered in the room.

"I hope I didn't wake you."

He smirked and leaned over the stove where the bread

was sizzling in the pan. "I could think of worse ways to wake

up. Smells good."

"I didn't think you'd mind."

"Not as long as there's enough for two."

Janet removed another plate from the cupboard. "Isn't

your brother going to eat?"

"I sent Richard home when I came home."

"Oh, what time was that? I didn't hear you."

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He poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned on the

counter. "A few hours ago."

Janet watched him stir cream into his coffee. He appeared

rested. He was probably used to working late, like her. It was

amazing how little sleep you needed, as long as it was at

night.

Janet went back to cooking. "Where's Rex?"

"Who?"

"Your dog, Rex? Why didn't you tell me you had a dog?"

"You didn't ask."

"True." She dished him up a plate and turned off the stove.

"Where is he?"

"Rex? Oh, ah, I had Richard take him for the day. I didn't

know you were allergic to dogs."

"Not yours, apparently." She poured a glass of milk, held it

out to Max who indicated he would take some too. "I don't

understand why Rex doesn't bother me. I've always been so

sensitive to dogs."

Max didn't comment. His smile crept into his face much

like a boy with a secret, the glee in his eyes made her wonder

what he was thinking.

"Maybe it's because he's a wolf."

"I guess. Crazy though, I can't even walk by the Dingo's at

the zoo. I'll have to ask one of the doctors at work why when

I go in again."

Max pulled a chair out when she sat down. "When do you

go back to work?"

"Tuesday. What about you?"

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He watched her eat, his expression unreadable. "I might

have to go back tonight, it depends."

She wanted to question what he did, but didn't know if it

was her place. She had known the man a little over twenty-

four hours and yet she slept in his home, made herself

comfortable in his kitchen and met his family. She didn't think

prying into his life more was wise. Funny, yesterday she

quizzed him relentlessly on his naked and unconscious state.

Today she could care less.

"What is going on in that pretty little mind of yours?" Max

had stopped eating and studied her.

"Nothing."

"Oh, I doubt that."

"All right, I was thinking about how long we've known each

other."

His lip turned up, "And..."

"And... how much I feel I know you."

Max put his fork down and laced his fingers with hers. "I

thought the very same thing about you all night long."

"Really?"

His eyes did the swirly thing again, like a hidden signal of

desire only she could see.

"Really!"

Little beads of sweat formed on her brow. She fanned her

shirt away from her body searching for a breeze. But she

knew it was the way he looked at her that made the

temperature rise. She remembered his naked body lying on

the gurney and suddenly the temperature soared in the room.

"What's the matter, Janet? You look a little flush."

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Before the Moon Rises

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"I do?" she gasped.

"Like maybe you need to lie down." He placed a playful

smile on his face and put the back of his hand to her forehead

as if checking her temperature.

"But I just woke up. I'm not tired."
And where did the

breathy voice come from?

His body was inches from hers, his eyes searching. "You

don't have to be tired to go to bed."

"No, I suppose you're right." She licked her bottom lip.

"There are plenty of things to do in bed when you're not

tired."

"Plenty," he agreed.

He moved in more, but damn it, he wasn't kissing her.

"Max?"

"Yes."

"Can you stop talking and kiss me already?"

Like two single flames, they came together as one bright

fire. Every part of her body tingled in response to his lips on

hers. His hands caught her head as he plunged into her

mouth, desire, red-hot and willing, soared through her.

Sitting on a kitchen chair proved awkward, Janet tried

moving closer and almost fell in her effort.

Max urged her to her feet where at least she could feel his

frame against hers. She tugged at his shirt, reaching to feel

his skin beneath. He, too, pulled at her clothes. He leaned

back briefly and surveyed the room.

"Not here, not the kitchen."

Janet remembered his butler and shook her head. The last

thing she wanted was an interruption.

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Before the Moon Rises

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He dragged her from the room and up the stairs. Hand in

hand they tumbled into his bedroom, slamming the door

behind them. He gathered her back into his arms the second

the door clicked.

Janet scrambled with his clothes.

Max pushed her toward his bed. She fell back with part of

his shirt clasped in her hands.

"Take this off," she pleaded.

He chuckled and did as she asked. In turn, Janet removed

hers.

"You are so beautiful," he told her before stretching out on

the bed beside her.

"Show me."

His smoky eyes simmered before he bent to kiss her again.

"I plan on it."

He pushed her hair back, and made passionate love to her

neck, moving down to her shoulders. His fingers drew circles

over her skin, and dipped under the lace of her bra.

Her hands explored every muscle on his broad chest while

he worked the fabric off her body. Once free, her breasts

reached out for him to taste, to savor. And thankfully, he did

just that.

She was utterly explosive and passionate. Max felt like the

luckiest man in the world. The small pink buds of her breasts

hardened with the slight breath he blew on them. When he

took one tip in his mouth, her moan set him trembling.

He'd made love to many women, but had he actually

trembled before? Shuddered during orgasm, yes... but small

anticipatory tremors before he buried himself deep inside, no.

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This was his soul mate, and this was how making love was

supposed to be. She felt it too, he could tell. Everywhere he

touched, she responded. Every kiss was earth shattering.

He wanted to take her hard and fast, but there was no way

he would rush this moment. A lifetime he waited for a lover

such as her, and now she was here. His.

Reaching for the layer of her jeans, he slipped his fingers

over the zipper. Her hips moved, giving him room to remove

the offending clothing. Lace panties, similar to what he saw

her in the night before kept her most private parts hidden.

But he could almost taste her desire, pheromones filled the

room, his and hers. Their scent together intoxicated him.

She kicked free of her pants while he explored her

stomach with his tongue, his hand followed the curve of her

hip which arched in offering to him. He let his hand linger on

her thigh until she opened for him. A slight resistance came

when he dipped his head lower.

She eased back. Her eyes remained closed as he stroked

his fingers over the thin material before removing it. Soft

blonde curls covered her core. He smiled knowing she wasn't

a bottle blonde after all. No, there was nothing fake about

this woman.

His woman!

Her hands tried tugging him up and away from her, but he

wouldn't have it. He needed to taste her. He kissed the inside

of her thigh, the higher he moved the more she tugged him

away. "Let me, Janet," he told her, coaxing her thighs apart.

She stared at him, eyes wide with passion. "I've never, no

one has ever."

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Smiling in surprise, he ogled at what he had every

intention of having. "No one has done this to you before?"

"No, not that. Sex yes, but not..."

Max smiled in triumph, he'd had no illusions about her

being a virgin, but to know he would give her a pleasure no

one had given before gave making love to her a new light.

Like a child staring at a massive birthday cake, Max could

hardly wait to dig in.

Without asking, he stroked up one side of her folds with

one long lap of his tongue. She groaned. Her head fell back

on the bed.

He slid one finger into her moist heat. God, she was so

ready, so hot. Max worried he would lose control.

Closer, he spread her open for his tongue to explore, to

love. He found her sensitive nub and sucked it into his mouth.

Her moan had him glancing up. Her arms stretched over her

head, her hands held on to the post of his bed.

He dug in again this time moving back and forth until he

felt her body rising to meet him.

"Oh, my..." he heard her cry. He stopped briefly to watch

but her hands flew to his head guiding him back. "Don't stop,

please, Max."

He gave in to her demands and continued the gentle pulls

of her sex with his mouth until he felt her stiffen. Moving

faster, he relished her release as if it was his own. Her cries

came, not in hushed whispers but roars and groans. She

shuddered all around him, giving him the gift of knowing he

was the only one to have her in this way.

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Before the Moon Rises

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Max's erection throbbed for release. He crawled up her

body. Her smile gave him such pleasure.

"I had no idea it would be so amazing."

"The men in your life were selfish."

Her hands reached for him, stroked his length outside his

jeans. "You're ruining me for anyone else."

"That's the idea," he said before taking her lips to his.

He helped her remove his pants. When she closed her

hands around him, his moan rumbled deep within the back of