Bad Moon Rising (4 page)

One, it was bigger, and two, he was less jittery there. And the nerves thing was going to drive him crazy soon.

Some weres chose to live in cities and towns. He was used to spending small amounts of time in those environments working as a Hunter, but it was never a comfortable experience. Humanity pushed in on him. But he had no choice as long as Tara fought the pull of the mate-bond. He stayed where she did.

Later in the kitchen, he checked the time, amazed that he’d slept in so late. His internal clock never let him go past five, no matter how little sleep he was operating on. It was a measure of his comfort with the woman that he could settle in so deep a sleep. He poured coffee, smiling and letting the memory of last night flow over him. Who knew she would add so many normalcies to his life? Who knew normal could be so appealing?

He took her out to dinner. A first for him. And this was a woman who enjoyed food. He’d watched her, entranced, surprised at how sensual the act of eating was, hard as rock for the two hours they’d sat in the restaurant. Which was better? Enjoying her company there or getting her home and getting inside her? Something he’d managed two steps inside the front door. The memory had him growing harder by the second.

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Bad Moon Rising: Lunar Mates Book 2

After assigning one of the weres to keep watch over her, and angry with his unruly body, he forced his mind back to his job. He had nothing to go on and was getting nowhere fast. A run was what he needed, and maybe some time spent cleaning up the disaster of a house he’d bought.

After a short drive, less than ten minutes out of town, he was facing the place. It was a two story Victorian with wide porches around three sides. It was surrounded by woods and most important, it had three ground floor exits. It was sound, but cosmetically a disaster. He was looking forward to the challenge of bringing it back, but first things first.

He stripped in the yard, tossing his clothes to the porch, and shifted.

Embracing the strength and wildness of the wolf, he loped into the forest.

He ran full out for an hour before slowing to a walk better suited to explore. He’d made a big loop, ending up back in his neighborhood, and set about getting to know it inside and out.

By the time he’d worked off most of his frustration, he was running behind schedule. After a quick shower, he hurried back to town, relieved to find he’d not only beat Jackson to
O’Reilly’s,
but Darius and Eric too.

He found a table in the back corner of the bar, sat with his back to the wall, and waited. Darius and Eric arrived first, and joined him in silence. He accepted a beer from the waitress and waited for her to leave with their orders before speaking.

“Is there any particular reason we’re having this meeting?” he asked Darius.

“Other than to find out why he’s here, you mean?”

“We know that already.”

Darius shrugged. “So, I want to hear it from him.”

The waitress showed up with their beers and the table fell silent again. He was relieved when he caught a glimpse of red hair. It would be unlike Darius to pick a fight with Jackson while Meg was around. More like a truce. Maybe the memory of their lifelong friendship had finally asserted itself.

They turned as one when the door opened. With amusement Trey noted the tension level at the table ratchet up a few dozen degrees. You’d never know they had instigated this meeting. Jackson approached with 26

Loribelle Hunt

pure Alpha bravado, and Darius bristled. Trey bit back a laugh.

When he sat, Jackson slid an envelope to Trey and turned to study the other two. Trey lightly tapped the edge of the envelope against the table with affected boredom. It looked to be an interesting show.

Darius finally spoke after the waitress had delivered an un-requested beer to Jackson. “You told Trey why you’re here. Now tell me.”

He was surprised when Jackson started talking instead of arguing, though it was obvious he’d prefer a fight. His jaw ticked, and under the table his fists were clenched. Obviously uncomfortable with his back to the door, he fidgeted.

“The Elder thought maybe you’d like some help, and the Hunters sent that this morning.” He nodded to the envelope in Trey’s hand.

“Why’d they sent it to you?” Darius asked.

Trey would like to know the answer to that, too.

“Apparently, they don’t have a permanent address for any of you,”

he answered sardonically.

He grunted. Probably true. He and Eric very recently purchased homes. Darius moved in with Meg. They were buying everything that came on the market on that corner of the lake.

He looked at the envelope. It had the Hunter insignia pressed in wax on the back lip. He slit it open, and he made a quick scan of the contents in disbelief. Folding it up, he put it in a pocket and caught Darius’s eye.

“Hunter spies report that the Society has put a hit out on me.”

Darius laughed, but stopped abruptly when he didn’t join in.

“You’re serious?”

Trey just looked at him. He never joked.

Darius swore. “We have a problem then.”

Trey raised an eyebrow. “
I
have a problem,” he said. “And it’s nothing I can’t deal with.”

Darius narrowed his eyes. Trey noted with amusement that Eric and Jackson tried to subtly slide back. Nobody wanted to get between Darius and Trey if it came to a fight.

“You aren’t a Hunter anymore. You’re a member of my pack. A 27

Bad Moon Rising: Lunar Mates Book 2

mated member of my pack,” he reminded Trey.

He hadn’t considered that, but it didn’t change anything. He’d deal with the outlaw on his own, and he would protect his own. Frustration rolled through him. He couldn’t drag Tara along on his hunt for a rogue wolf. The realization that he would have to accept help was painful, and Darius saw the moment he reached it.

“It’s a pack thing. Remember?”

He’d been on the outside of the pack for so long, he didn’t remember. This is what he’d wanted, right? To belong to the pack again?

But it was uncomfortable, making his way back to the inside.

He was saved from trying to frame a reply by the door opening.

Her scent encircled him first, and he saw Eric stiffen, too, with recognition of his own mate. He met Trey’s gaze.

“Did you know about this?”

Trey shook his head, drinking her in. The last time he’d seen her she was wrapped around him. The memory rocked him. In her usual jeans and tank top uniform, she carried take out bags to the far end of the bar where Meg greeted her and Mary, Tim’s mate, with a hug. The three of them settled in, completely ignoring the table of men in the bar’s front corner.

Amused at this display of independence, Trey turned back to Eric.

“Tara did say something about lunch with the girls. I didn’t know it would be here.”

Jackson watched curiously. “So, who’s who?” he asked, then listened while Eric pointed them out.

The conversation turned neutral then, with Jackson catching them up on gossip and news of the home pack, and Darius shared some news of their own. Trey was preparing to claim his woman and leave when the bar’s door opened again.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jackson stiffen and slowly turn to see the woman whose scent drifted through the door. They all blinked when she walked through. Short, but projecting stately image, she carried an aura of power. Black hair hung straight to her hips, and her face carried the unmistakable stamp of a Native American.

28

Loribelle Hunt

She stopped and slowly turned her head to look at them. Trey had the impression she memorized all their features before moving on to the group of women in the back. She pulled Tara aside and spoke to her heatedly for a couple of minutes before striding out of the bar. Her exit broke the spell that had held Jackson in place.

“Who is she?” he asked Trey.

“I don’t know,” he answered, shaking his head.

“But she knows your woman.”

“Yeah,” he answered, rising as Tara approached with a quizzical expression on her face.

“Hey, baby.” He caught her lips in a quick kiss before she pulled away. Trey quickly introduced her to Jackson and Eric.

“What brings you over here? You didn’t tell me you were going to be here today,” he gently reprimanded.

She raised an eyebrow in response, eyes laughing. She shook that off before answering with a question of her own.

“I was just wondering what has my cousin warning me against you,” she said blandly.

“Cousin?” Jackson jumped in.

“Yes, my cousin,” she answered dryly. “I’m sure you noticed her.

No one ever fails to, unless she wants to blend in.”

Jackson grinned, throwing on the charm. Trey’s hackles rose, but he fought it down. The woman was obviously his mate.

“You’re lovely yourself, but my friend, Trey, assures me you’re taken. He’d get testy if I tried to steal his girlfriend.”

She shook her head and relaxed enough for a low laugh. Trey pulled her close to his side and made a show of glowering at Jackson.

“So. You were telling me about your cousin,” Jackson said, smiling at her again.

“No. I wasn’t.” She smiled back. “But since you asked so nicely, what was it you wanted to know?”

“Her name would be a good start. Marital status. Address. Blood type. You know, the usual stuff,” he joked. None of it was really a joke, though.

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Bad Moon Rising: Lunar Mates Book 2

Tara laughed again.

“Her name is Summer. She’s a zoologist, and you can forget the rest. I’m not telling.”

“Does she live here?”

“Some of the time. She goes where the research grants are.”

“But she’s living here now?” Jackson persisted.

Tara cocked her head to the side and looked him up and down.

Trey saw the moment she decided she’d had enough. Her eyes narrowed and her gaze swept over the entire group.

“She’ll be back in few days. What I’d like to know is what about the four of you that made her so nervous. She’s not the nervous type.”

“What did she say?” Trey asked.

“She said not to get too close, and to watch my back.” she smiled sweetly at him.

“You can trust me,” he responded.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?” he asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “How am I supposed to convince you?”

“Time.” She shrugged and walked away.

“Wait!” Jackson called. She stopped, and looked over her shoulder, eyebrow raised in question. “She’s a zoologist?”

Tara nodded.

“What does she study?”

“Wolves.”

30

Loribelle Hunt

She woke to bright sunlight sneaking through the bedroom’s blinds, and rolled over to snuggle back into Trey. He wasn’t there.

Listening to the silence of the house, she decided he’d already gone. He’d said something last night about finishing some work early and spending her day off with her. Maybe he’d be back soon.

She frowned. She was getting too attached too quickly, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She wanted to blame it all on the sex. It was unbelievable. Heady. Powerful. She stretched, little aches zinging through her body to places that hadn’t been so well used in, well, ever. She grinned. Yep, blame it on the sex.

Imagine her surprise when Mr. Taciturn turned out to be fascinating, even if she did have to drag information out of him. He’d been everywhere investigating whatever it was he investigated. She frowned again. That was apparently off limits. She understood client confidentiality and all that, but surely he could talk about it in general terms. He looked for missing people. Couldn’t he talk about the ones he’d found? He claimed to always locate whoever he went looking for, too.

With that kind of track record he should be a cop.

The air conditioner blasted on, and she burrowed deep under the covers. His smell, woodsy and masculine, seemed to embrace her, making her heartbeat kick up.

Amazing. A man’s lingering scent has me revved up.

She glanced at the clock. Nine a.m. She groaned. He wouldn’t be back for 31

Bad Moon Rising: Lunar Mates Book 2

hours.

What the hell.
She lightly trailed her fingertips around her nipples, imagining his tongue on the same path. Giving into temptation, she pinched them, conjuring his sharp teeth nipping at her. Who knew a little pain went so far? Her pussy creamed. Leaving one hand working her nipples, she spread the cream around her clit, aching for a touch, but drawing out the torment. Finally, panting, she reached for the hard nub, and imagining it was Trey’s mouth on her as she finished herself off with a few hard strokes. She came with long sweet ripples and relaxed, sighing, back into the bed.

She drifted between waking and sleep before her early‐riser’s brain finally nudged her up. She never slept in.
But it’s a luxury I might adjust too.

Especially if it came with great sex.

Wincing, she stepped under the showerhead and adjusted the temperature down from scalding to a more comfortable heat. She didn’t know how Trey could stand it. The masochist. She leaned against the wall and let the water sluice over her.

He wanted her to see his house today, and she suspected he wanted to switch their nights together to his place. Not that they’d had a night apart. She scowled. She loved her place, a 900 square foot restored shotgun house. It was not a Trey‐sized house. No wonder he’d mentioned relocating to his place a couple of times. Okay, in all fairness, it may have been a few times. Problem was she got the impression if she spent one night there, she’d have spent her last night here.

Not willing to deal with the reality of his possessiveness yet, and with the afternoon yawing before her, she toweled off. He’d left the coffee pot pre‐set for her, and a note saying he looked forward to the afternoon when he was free. At his house. She laughed, halfway accepting the inevitable. He was certainly persistent.

She poured a cup of coffee, lacing it with a liberal dose of French Vanilla creamer, and sat on the sofa with her current romance book. Some time later, she returned to the kitchen for more coffee and looked for something to munch on. She was surprised to see twelve o’clock flashing at her from the oven’s digital display, and decided on a light lunch.