When A Lioness Snarls (A Lion's Pride Book 5) (2 page)

“
W
hat do
you mean some of the pride have gone missing?” Jeoff asked the question, yet what he really wanted to say was,
“Take off that shirt.”
Because, while he might have demanded Luna get dressed, in truth, he truly preferred her naked.

As he sat across from her, it was all Jeoff could do not to leap across the space between them. From the moment he’d walked into his condo and smelled that unique blend that was all hers—all woman—he’d felt an urge to act in a most inappropriate fashion.

Lick her up and down.

No licking. Not of this woman. Especially not this woman.

Jeoff had a firm stance when it came to not dating anyone from the pride, although the ladies—some not so ladylike—kept trying. It wasn’t that the lionesses weren’t attractive. They were gorgeous and lively and outspoken. They also came with drama and a family dynamic that put the pack one to shame.

Being with a lioness was agreeing to never having a private life or moment again.

Jeoff didn’t think he could handle that. Just like he didn’t think he could handle the smart-mouthed woman before him, a woman who didn’t bow to anyone, except the pride’s lion king, Arik. And even that was iffy at times.

He realized she’d been talking while he mulled, and he caught only the last word of her speech.

“No tail?” He repeated it with a query.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Were you not paying attention at all?”

“No.”

“You should have been born a lion,” she snickered. “I said that we had a visiting couple from another pride go missing a month ago.”

“How am I just hearing about this?” Part of Jeoff’s duties for the pride was to provide security. He led the firm that employed humans and wolves as private investigators and bodyguards.

“Because we just found out. We all thought they’d continued their road trip and gone back home. Except last week, the missing woman’s sister called us looking for her. Turns out no one’s seen them since they checked out of their hotel here.”

Which sounded eerily like his own case. Missing wolf couple, apartment cleared, no signs of foul play, but also no notice or message as to their whereabouts. “Is that the only case?”

Luna shook her head, sending her sloppy ponytail swinging. “Out in the suburbs, a recently married tiger couple also vanished. Same shit. House cleared out. Bank accounts wiped. It’s like they never existed.”

“I take it you haven’t gone to the cops?”

The look she shot him, disdain with a hint of mockery, answered that question.

“So it looks like we have a common denominator in the disappearances. I still don’t get why you’re here. You obviously don’t need information.” Hell, he should probably grill her for information, as she seemed to know quite a bit.

Pin her to the floor and make her talk.

Somehow, he doubted shoving a certain body part in her mouth as incentive would help her speak. Unless he could decipher mumbles.

“The boss wants me to work with you.” Boss being Arik. “He seems to think you’re some kind of expert when it comes to tracking.” An eloquent roll of her eyes showed what she thought of that. The lionesses were great hunters and weren’t keen on help.

“I’ve been discreetly enquiring, but, so far, haven’t come up with much. The neighbors never saw or heard anything.” And he couldn’t find any clues, mostly because a flood in the apartment above that collapsed the ceiling and made any kind of scent tracking impossible.

“The neighbors didn’t notice a moving truck and guys toting all the shit away?” Luna’s brow arched.

“Oh, they noticed, but didn’t think anything of it. People move in and out all the time.”

“So where did the shit go?”

He shrugged. “No idea. I ran a search on the moving company. One of the fellows in the building remarked on the name, Starting Over Moving Inc., but I haven’t been able to locate them. It’s part of the reason why I’m beginning to suspect foul play.” While Jeoff didn’t require pack members to advise him of their every move, common courtesy dictated that they’d let him know if they were planning to leave. But the fact that everyone was surprised by their disappearance, boss and friends alike, as well as family, plus the less-than-casual wipe of their existence, made Jeoff believe something had happened to that couple. Something bad.

“That’s the same company that moved those tigers. So, obviously, we are dealing with some kind of conspiracy. I say we crush it.” She slammed her fist into the palm of the other hand.

“Great plan except, first, we have to find whoever is responsible.”

“Any suspects?”

He shook his head and took another sip of his beer before answering. “Nothing. As far as I can tell, they had no enemies. No one seemed to suspect they were anything less than human. They were well liked.”

“What about hobbies? My missing pair doesn’t seem to have anything in common other than the fact they were young. The ones missing from the hotel were both lions. Fit, blond, and fairly well off. Folks at the hotel where they were staying said they seemed very lovey-dovey. But who is to say the guy didn’t snap a gasket and kill her before wiping all traces of himself and disappearing with their money?”

For a moment, he stared at her. “Do you think that actually might have happened?”

“It’s possible, but not what I think happened. I met the dude. If anything happened, she killed him and hid his body. Dude was a bit of a pussy.”

“Well, he was a lion. I’m sure he couldn’t help himself.” He held in a snicker.

She couldn’t help a rueful smile. “There was a reason Lionel wasn’t a contender for any positions in his pride. So I doubt he masterminded the disappearance. As for Kammie”—she shrugged—“I only met her once. She looked normal to me.”

“Which, given who you hang out with, isn’t exactly an endorsement.”

“Are you dissing my friends?” A hot glare lasered his way. “Be very careful, wolf. You never know what I’ll do to your kibble if you get on my bad side.”

“You mean this, so far, is being on your good side?” he razzed her, intentionally poking the alert lioness.

She smiled. “Couldn’t you tell? No cops or blood yet.”

“Speaking of blood, I need to eat.”

“Eat? But it’s only like five o’clock.” Luna’s nose wrinkled. “It’s barely past lunch.”

“If you’re an owl.” Unlike some of the more nocturnal species, Jeoff tended to keep a very daytime schedule. Up at six for a run. At work by eight, lunch by noon, and dinner around five. He didn’t need his tummy to remind him of that fact.

“Why don’t you get changed into something comfortable while I cook us up some shit to eat.”

“Don’t you dare go into that kitchen.” Yes, he threatened. He’d heard of Luna’s culinary ability second hand, usually accompanied by gagging gestures and choking sounds.

“Are you going to cook for me? I’m not really hungry yet, but I’m sure I can make myself eat if we go into the bedroom.” Forget any kind of pretense. Luna boldly propositioned.

“We are not having sex, nor am I getting changed. I’m perfectly fine in my clothes. And since you can’t seem to get to the point, I’m going to make myself a sandwich while you eventually get to the reason of your visit.”

“I thought we’d ascertained we were working on the same case. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“You could have called. Emailed. Texted. Done any number of things instead of coming halfway across town to harass me in person.”

“Didn’t anyone ever teach you that stalking is best done in person?”

The wink and sly tilt of her lips almost made him drop the eggs.

Be afraid, be very afraid. A lioness has us in her sights.

And, no, he wasn’t going to roll over and ask her to tickle his belly with her claws.

He wanted to feel those on his back!

T
he look
on his face as she told him she stalked proved highly entertaining. But the smoldering gaze that came after truly intrigued. He ducked into the fridge, hiding his expression, and spoke to her from within the cold, stainless-steel wonder—now sporting a perfect handprint that would scream to all who entered, Luna was here.

We should totally put a mark like that on the wolf too.

Her damned inner feline really seemed to have a thing for the canine. The forbidden treat—and one that kept resisting. Didn’t he know the challenge only made her curiosity and determination fiercer?

“So you wanted to stalk me in person. Kind of desperate, but I guess if you get too frisky, I could get the spray bottle out and give you a squirt.”

He totally deserved the foot she aimed at his ass. What she didn’t expect was for him to whirl away from the fridge, grab her foot, and hold it upraised. She crossed her arms as if there wasn’t anything odd at all with her standing on one leg wearing only a T-shirt. A T-shirt that didn’t drop low enough to cover everything.

He noticed. The effort he made to be a gentleman proved interesting, his gaze struggling to remain on her face.

“Can’t you behave?” he asked.

“No.”

“I demand you at least refrain from kicking.”

“Squirt me and I’ll do worse than give you a boot.”

A wicked grin stretched his lips, and it totally made her erotic engine hum. “No squirting? And here I thought that was the whole point of your flirting.”

How dare he turn it into a sexual innuendo? She should have thought of it first. “And you think I’m hard to understand? Remember this moment later when we’re both naked in the woods and I make a point of laughing and pointing at you.”

Dropping her foot, he turned away and again rummaged in the fridge, emerging this time with several sealed containers, a package of cheese, a tomato, lettuce, and some mayonnaise. “Would there be any point in asking why exactly we’re both going to be naked in the woods?”

“Because we’re going to check the tigers’ place out in suburbia.”

“I thought you said it was empty.”

“It is, but given the scene is still rather fresh, I want you to check it out, you know, put that nose of yours to use.”

“I don’t have to be naked for that.”

“Well then, your wolf is going to look mighty funny when you’re running through the woods in your tightie-whities.”

He finished slapping his sandwich together. “You know, it’s times like these that I remember why I hate dealing with lions.”

“And yet you stay inside the city and continue working for us.”

“Apparently, I’m a masochist.” He took a bite of his sandwich and groaned.

Hell, she wanted to groan too. The thing was a work of art. A towering beauty set on a crusty Panini bun. She’d watch him build it as they talked, making it look so easy—and delicious. Slathered with butter then lightly toasted on a hot press, the bread crisping as he sliced thin pieces of roast beef, which he then layered on the sandwich with cold bacon slices and dribbles of beef drippings. He also added some cheese on top before placing it back in the hot press. When the cheese bubbled, he slapped it onto a plate, dabbed some fragrant basil mayonnaise on top of the stack, two slices of tomato, some lettuce, and,
voilà
, a sandwich fit to steal.

Which she did, and immediately took a bite. “Mmm. That is damned good.”

She’d lost count of how many sighs he’d uttered, but he upped the count considerably as he slapped together, in between hot glares, a second sandwich.

When it was finished, he stayed well out of reach. He was safe. The one she’d stolen had hit the spot.

She hopped onto the counter, almost wincing as her bare ass hit the cold granite. “Now that our bellies are full, ready to go on an adventure?”

“I don’t suppose there’s a second option?”

“Don’t be a princess. This will be fun. Unless you really are teeny-weeny, then it might be a little embarrassing for both of us.”

“The only thing small about me is my patience right now,” he grumbled. “Let’s go and get this over with. The sooner we do it, the sooner I can get home and relax.”

“Trust me, wolfie, I’d rather be hanging with my girls, drinking tequila and playing darts.”

“I thought the bar banned you guys.”

“They did. Spoilsports. It’s not like we took out anyone’s eye.” The human had only himself to blame. Grabbing Reba’s ass like that. He totally deserved what he got.

“Give me a minute to change into something a little more practical.” He left the kitchen, and seconds later, a door slammed shut, someone apparently looking for some privacy.

We should go take a peek.
Because it would totally make him snap, and for some reason, she enjoyed doing that. Despite Luna having known Jeoff for years, this was probably the longest she’d ever talked to him one-on-one. The more he rebuffed her, the hotter he got.

Given he was uber hot before, he was supernova now. Didn’t he know that playing hard to get was a turn-on?

When he emerged from the bedroom, he was not wearing his glasses. A shame, she kind of liked them. Without them, his eyes proved piercing. Dark green, the green of a forest at twilight. Before, when Jeoff wore his suit, she was only given a general impression of his shape, but in his form-fitting black T-shirt, she was treated to his lean build, nicely toned and defined. A man who was fit, but not bulky.

His shirt clung to his torso and hung over the waistband of his athletic pants, the kind with discreet snaps at the side for easy ripping.

“You going barefoot?” she asked with a peek at his large—yes,
large
—feet.

“You going bare-assed?”

“I guess I should put my pants on for the ride over.” Her turn to utter an exasperated sigh, as if put out by his suggestion. In a sense, she was. Guys didn’t usually tell her to put her pants on. Her Aunt Zelda, though?
If you’re going to do cartwheels, wear some damned underwear!

She slid on her pants and pulled on her jacket while he slipped his feet into running shoes and grabbed a coat of his own. When he would have grabbed keys, she shook her head. “I brought my wheels.”

What she didn’t mention was there were only two of them, something he didn’t seem too keen on.

“No way.” Jeoff shook his head once they stood outside by the street curb.

Already straddling the motorcycle, Luna slid forward as she fitted her goggles over her head, her only concession to safety—because she hated catching a bug in the eye. “Get on. There’s plenty of room.”

“I am not riding bitch on your bike.”

“Is this some macho thing?” She started the bike, letting the deep rumble fill the air before adding, “Are you emasculated at the thought of the enjoyment I’ll have hugging this steel beast between my legs?”

“No, I’m wondering if my medical insurance will cover the hospital visit for the road rash I’ll probably get if I let you drive.”

“I will have you know I have a purrrr-fect driving record. As if I’d let my baby hit the ground.” She rubbed the tank on her bike, the bright pink flames probably the most girly thing she owned.

“Can’t I call a cab instead?”

“Sure. I mean, I’m sure no one’s going to start any rumors about the head of the local pack being too yellow-bellied to get on a bike.” Ooh, she didn’t get a sigh that time but an actual growl. He swung his leg over the ass end of the bike, and she couldn’t help but remark, “I have to say, wolfie, the heat of your glare is just making me warm all over.” Which she needed. While there wasn’t any snow on the ground, the air was chill. Very chill. But he was hot, oh so very hot, especially when he fit himself to her backside and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Drive.”

The huskily whispered words sent a shiver through her. Perhaps she gunned her bike a little much. It shot off, but Jeoff held on—unlike her last short-lived boyfriend. He’d let a flesh wound get in the way of sex. Pussy. Needless to say, it didn’t work out.

Weaving in and out of traffic, she couldn’t help a small thrill as Jeoff’s body moved with hers, dipping and leaning as they took sharp corners and made good time through the gridlock—and not one person screamed she was a crazy bitch. Surely a record.

Within less than thirty minutes, she pulled into the driveway of the vacant house that, just over a week ago, hosted a happy tiger couple in love. Now it sat empty and dark.

She shut off the engine. In the stillness, the only sound marring the silence was the hot ticking of metal cooling. A glance at the house was all it took for a shiver to run through her. Usually, she didn’t let shit bother her; violence was a fact of life. But this… This systematic erasure of two people, the complete and utterly thorough fashion in which their lives had been wiped, freaked her out.

Jeoff didn’t move, his arms still around her. “Cold?”

She shook her head. “No.” But she wasn’t about to explain her trepidation. He’d mock her for sure and with good reason. She wanted to mock herself. This was just a house. Nothing more.

“How are we getting inside?”

“I’ve got the key.” She had to leave the warm cocoon of his body so she could stand and dig it out of her pocket. She held the single gleaming key up from the little ring.

Most men would have snatched it—feline ones at any rate. You couldn’t dangle anything in front of them without them taking a bat. Jeoff didn’t grab it, though. He got off the bike and went to the front door, head cocked at an angle. With the tips of his fingers, he pushed it open.

“What the hell? Someone forgot to lock the place. Arik will be pissed.” The pride owned this property and many others like it, renting them to shifters at better-than-market rates. Their way of helping out those just starting out and who wanted something other than condo living.

“It wasn’t an accident. Someone kicked it in.” He pointed to the cracked frame. He dropped to his haunches, and she noted his nostrils flaring as he breathed in. “Only one scent.”

“Human?”

“Maybe. Whoever it was wore a heavy cologne.” He bent lower and sniffed the front stoop, hands flat on the concrete. “They also wore running shoes, fairly new ones.” Getting to his feet, he dusted his hands off on his pants. “Shall we?” Shoving the door open, he stepped in first. Jerk. He was totally trying to act the hero and get first dibs at the fun.

She quickly joined him inside the house. They both paused in the front hall. A pungent aroma filled the air.

“Is that…” Her nose wrinkled. “Pee?”

“Pee and something else,” he murmured, poking his head into the dark living room, the carpet a sponge for whoever had broken in.

“Bloody vandals. We’re going to have to call in some floor guys and get this stripped and replaced.”

But Jeoff wasn’t listening to her being practical. He stepped into the improvised bathroom and took a deep inhalation.

“Whoever did this enjoyed some asparagus beforehand,” Jeoff mused aloud. “The aroma is quite distinct when expelled in urine.”

“So what if they ate asparagus? Why does that matter?”

“Because it was quite possibly intentional. It is one of the foods a person can ingest to camouflage their true nature.”

“And you know this because?”

“I handle security. Sometimes hiding in plain sight can be useful. And asparagus is a lot more palatable than say spraying myself down with toxic perfume.”

“Scent camouflage is crooked,” she grumbled. “I never hide who I am.”

“That’s because discretion isn’t a word you recognize.”

Oh, she knew all about discretion. She just chose not to employ it. Luna was all about the truth—even if it hurt.

Jeoff moved from the smelly living room farther into the house, poking his head through a door to peek at the main floor bath. He paused for a moment in the empty den—the office, and not bear-cave kind. At the back of the house they found more chaos.

Hands planted on her hips, Luna shook her head as she noted the cupboards, the doors all open, some hanging askew, a few torn from the hinges and littering the floor. More reno work. Arik wouldn’t be happy, but then again, who could have predicted this kind of pointless vandalism? It wasn’t as if anyone other than a select few knew the house was empty. It had been only a few days since the couple vanished.

The smell of urine wasn’t as strong in the kitchen, especially once she opened the basement door and a noxious gas cloud wafted out. “Smells like a demon farted down here,” she remarked.

“Fuck! That’s rotten eggs, which means there’s a gas leak. Get outside.” He moved to the sliding glass door and fumbled a second with the lock before he yanked it open.

The sudden influx of fresh air had her moving toward him, eager for a gulp.

From the back end of the yard, something bright came spinning out of the darkness, headed right at them.

“Move!” Jeoff yelled, grabbing a hold of her and practically throwing her outside. As glass broke with a distinctive tinkle, she had a moment to think,
That can’t be good
before a fist of hot air hit her in the back and punched her.