Bite of the Moon: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set (33 page)

He went over the events again from when he’d spotted Lyric and the men at the bar, to the fight and what the van looked like. At the last moment, he remembered the downed man hadn’t been killed, only two of the four.

“Was there any signs of the altercation at the bar when you left?” Xan asked.

“Only the faint scent of blood. Whoever these guys are, they called for a cleanup crew. Meaning they had this planned.” Kellen looked over at Lyric.

“They didn’t plan to take me, though. They called me a chew toy and specifically said they wanted to get word to you, Xan. Like this is a personal vendetta.”

“Fuck!” Xan slammed his fist on the counter.

“What aren’t you telling me, Xan?” Kellen asked.

Xan downed his glass of amber liquid. “Taya and I’ve been seeing each other. Not exclusively, but I did stay at her place night before last.”

“Who the hell did you piss off? It seems this is aimed at you. First they take Taya, then they attack Lyric and leave a note for Breezy. How the hell do they know who you’re connected to?” like he was ready to spit nails.

“I’ve no damn clue. Taya and I are casual. Lyric is my sister, and I’d kill for her. Breezy is…well she’s just a chick in the club. I’d protect her like I’d protect any pack member.”

Rowan wanted to snort.

“Is there any other
casual
relationships that these fucks might target?” Kellen got up and started pacing.

The glass cracked in Xan’s hand. “Don’t act like you don’t have a different woman every night, Kellen. I’m single, healthy, and can’t help it if there is a line of ladies willing to, as you so eloquently put it, bounce on my cock. You’re exactly the same, so don’t even think to condemn me, brother. Just tell me what I need to do. You want a list of every woman I’ve fucked or had suck me off? Give me a pen and paper.”

Lyric got up off the couch. “I think this is our cue to go.”

“I want you both to stay here at the clubhouse in one of the suites. Don’t worry, there are some that are freshly cleaned.” Kellen smirked.

Rowan got up to stand next to Lyric. “How safe are we here?”

“Safer than you are away from here.” Kellen answered.

A deep growl echoed around the room. “They’re not staying in the same suite.” Xan moved around the bar.

Kellen got in front of him. “You and I have some work to do and a lady to find before someone else gets hurt. Taya may not be your
mate
,
but she’s someone’s. Let your sister help Rowan get settled while you use your nose and head.”

Xan inhaled, making Rowan think he was ready to explode, only his eyes flared and then rested on Lyric who flushed a rosy red.

“Motherfuckingsonofabitch,” Xan said.

“Exactly.” Kellen slapped Xan on the back.

“Well, all right then. We will go find that clean suite. Err, thanks for the hospitality,” Rowan said.

There were some undercurrents going on, but for the life of him, he had no clue how to decipher them. Lyric grabbed his hand and led him from the room, but not before her friend Syn kissed her cheek and hugged her. Rowan didn’t understand these wolves and their touchy-feely selves.

He was onboard for touching and feeling Lyric. The idea sprang into his head as they left the office and wouldn’t leave. They didn’t go back through the crowded bar. Lyric kept hold of his hand that didn’t have the duffel bag. He felt a little panicked at not having a hand free in case they came up against any threat. She clearly knew where they were going, taking a few turns through the darkened hallway, steadily going down until they hit a steel door with a keypad. He watched her enter the code, memorizing the number.

Rowan adjusted her stance. “You need to make sure you put your body in front of you when you enter the code. That way anyone around or behind you can’t see what the access number is. I now have the key to get in should I want to come back.”

“Jeezus, what are you, some sort of security expert?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Seriously?” she asked, pushing open the heavy door.

Rowan approved of the security they had in place; they only needed to teach everyone how to enter the code without broadcasting what it was.

To the right of the dimly lit hallway was a reception area manned by an elderly couple.

“Hiya, Mrs. McCartney. How are you feeling this evening?” Lyric smiled.

“Lyric, you know how it is. Today is good. You wanting a suite for your friend?” Mrs. McCartney asked.

Rowan suppressed his chuckle. “Evening, ma’am. My name is Rowan. Kellen wants us to stay here for a day or two. I hope you don’t mind.” He tipped an imaginary hat at the elderly woman. He was sure she saw all kinds of comings and goings through these halls.

“Well, now, missy, why didn’t you say the alpha sent you both down here. I have the perfect suite for you. Not one of the ones the boys usually use, either.” Mrs. McCartney sniffed.

“Now, honey. You know them boys are just playing until they find them someone like you. They gotta look under a lot of pots until they find their gold.” Mr. McCartney winked at Rowan.

“Hmm. How many pots did you look under, dear?” Mrs. McCartney opened a safe and pulled out a key.

“Not many. You were waiting right there, my love. I’ve been living in bliss ever since.” The old man winked again. Rowan turned his head and coughed into his hand.

“You okay there, young man?” The older man asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

“What? Oh, yeah. Just had a little something in my throat.”

The woman gave them a key and explained there was water in the fridge. Lyric thanked her and pulled him along the tastefully done hallway. He couldn’t imagine Xan or Kellen bringing strange women past the elderly couple.

“You’re wondering how Xan and Kellen could bring some piece of ass past those two, right?

“Yep,” he said as he followed her into their rooms. He looked around the space they were to share for however long Kellen decided. A large living space with a couch and two chairs opened up to a kitchenette with a counter doubling as table, with two barstools in the main room. There was a door off to the side he assumed led to the bedroom, and when Lyric opened it to deposit his bag, he saw the huge king-sized bed.

“Are you hungry? There’s a full service kitchen that will make us anything from burgers, to steak, to mac and cheese and such. Don’t expect gourmet shit, but they can whip up some really tasty barbeque.”

“What are the sleeping arrangements, Lyric?” Heat raced through him just thinking of sharing a bed with her.

“Um, since you’re bigger than me, you can have the bed, and I’ll take the couch.” She nodded.

“What if I wanted the couch?”

Her puzzled frown made him want to laugh. “Why would you want the—”

Rowan closed the space between them, and took her lips in a kiss that he’d been dying for since the last time he’d tasted her. She tasted like the whiskey they’d drunk. He traced her lips with his tongue, dipping inside and rubbing alongside hers.

He pulled back. “I don’t want the fucking couch. I want you, Lyric. God, do I want you.” The admission was ripped from him.

She licked her lips. “I want you, too. So much it hurts. Are you sure? I mean, it could just be your wolf.”

“Back at my place, I felt him clawing at me, but he’s quiet now. It’s me who wants you. Is it you or your wolf who want me?” If she said her wolf, he wasn’t sure if he could pull back.

“Me. I mean, my wolf wanted you, too, but she’s not saying a word right now.” Her face flushed.

“Good. Hold that thought.” Rowan wasn’t sure how she’d react to what he did next. Years of training didn’t allow him to relax until he’d checked out the area. He did a perimeter check. Only one way in and one way out. He placed one of the barstools under the door handle as an added security measure. Lyric stood rooted to the spot he’d left her in.

“All secure, soldier?” She stood at attention.

Rowan placed a hand on either side of her ribs and lifted. “Only as secure as you want it to be, darlin’.”

When Lyric wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles at his back, he swore nothing was sexier.

“I like living dangerously.” She tugged his T-shirt off and tossed it to the side.

Her beautiful, bra-less breasts were too much for him not to take into his mouth. Her intake of breath pushed her closer to his face, and he took that as a good sign. He released her nipple with a loud pop.

With her wrapped around him, he took them into the bedroom. The bed had been done in a red, white, and black color pallet. The black wood furnishings looked heavy and expensive, with a white bedspread, several red throw pillows, and other splashes of red throughout.

“I hope you like the room?” Lyric asked.

He realized he stood holding her for far too long, making her apprehensive. “Darlin’, the room could be a dirt-floored shack, and I wouldn’t notice as long as you were there.”

She blushed. “Do you realize you make me wet with your words alone?”

“Let me get you out of these sweats and see for myself.”

Rowan laid her on the bed, but when she went to remove the pants, he stopped her. “Let me. It’s like Christmas. I get to open up my present.”

Lyric tossed her hand above her head. “If you take too long, I might just start without you.”

“You know what happens to bad girls?” Rowan tugged off one of Lyric’s shoes and then the other, before he tucked his hands into her elastic waistband and pulled, knowing she had nothing on under them.

She shook her head at his question.

“They don’t get to come. In fact, they get spanked. Have you ever been spanked, Lyric?”

He could smell her arousal increase at his words.

“No. I mean, my dad did once, but—” Lyric let out a gasp.

Rowan blew on her exposed pussy. He loved that she hadn’t waxed or shaved herself completely bare on top. Spreading her lips apart he found her clit was already exposed and red, and he knew she’d come apart with only a few swipes of his tongue. Her inner thighs were soaked. He ran his fingers through her sweet cream, tracing the outer edges before testing her readiness.

She bucked against him. He tapped her mound, making her still. Going back to tracing circles around her clit, he carefully avoided touching the bundle of nerves.

“Do you want to fuck my fingers, Lyric?”

She squirmed at his words. He wondered if any of her previous lovers had ever talked dirty to her. Using his index finger, he scraped his nail across the top of her clit.

“Fuck me, Rowan. With anything. God, I just want to come.”

He settled down between her thighs, spreading them farther apart. He lapped at the juice running out of her pussy like a starving man. “Not yet, darlin’. I don’t think you’re ready yet.”

“The fuck.” Lyric reached between her legs.

Rowan stopped her palm from coming between him and his treat. “What did I say?” He held her hand in one of his, while he gave her mound a firmer tap. “Now, keep your hands above your head, or I’ll tie them up.” More of her sweet arousal permeated the air. She may have never played before, but she enjoyed what he was saying and doing to her. Rowan rewarded her by licking a long swipe from her pussy to her clit.

“Yes, oh, Rowan. Right there.” She panted.

“If you do as I instructed and be a good girl I’ll make you come so hard you’ll forget your own name.” Her entire body shuddered, but her hands stayed in place.

Rowan nipped her inner thigh then licked at the mark, tasting her there. He could become addicted to all the flavors of this woman. He worked his way up her legs, licking and sucking every bit of flesh he came into contact with. Her pussy lips were so smooth, he wondered if she’d had waxed or had some sort of hair removal, Rowan wasn’t sure which, but was grateful. He made sure to pay proper homage to each one, taking it into his mouth and licking with care that had her thrashing on the bed.

By the time he inserted one finger into her pussy, the inner walls were already clenching. She was so tight around the one digit, he wasn’t sure how he’d get his dick into her. A few orgasms, he hoped, would make it easier because only an act of God could keep him from fucking Lyric.

He pumped in and out and sucked her clit into his mouth at the same time.

“Fuck, yes, I’m coming,” Lyric screamed.

Easing a second digit in, Rowan scissored them back and forth, stretching her little by little while she rode out her orgasm. He kept his fingers inside, but released the bundle of nerves, knowing it would be ultra-sensitive. He looked up Lyric’s body and would have sworn his heart stopped beating in that moment. Her arms were thrown above her head, a beautiful smile graced her lips, and her eyes were closed. A woman who trusted her partner would catch her if and when she fell. Rowan wanted to be that man for all time. His wolf woke up and gave him a silent nudge. His gums ached like he should allow his teeth to grow. An overwhelming urge to crawl up Lyric’s body and slide his cock deep inside her pussy and bury his teeth in her neck nearly had him pulling his fingers out and doing just that.