Birds of Prey (10 page)

She should’ve probably brought back-up with her, so she tried to mark where trouble might come from. In most circumstances, she could take care of herself, but she might have just jumped into the fire this time.

All of the people in this bar were shifters. She could pick up several different species. The bartender had been some sort of reptile. Her guess was a snake. That’s what he reminded her of, anyway.

The two men to her right were wolves and the one to her left was a coyote.

She let her gaze travel over the room. She made sure not to settle on any one person and draw any more attention than she already had. She was looking for a certain face, but didn’t see the kid in the picture and couldn’t get a good view of the few booths in the back.

Eventually, she would have to get up and walk into the shadows to check.

Movement caught her eye. One of the big, gruff men sitting at a table in the middle of the bar started towards her

She dropped her head, but still peered into the mirror to watch him approach.

His two friends made rude gestures.

Aubrey braced herself.

The man’s horrid breath hit her when he pressed up behind her. She swallowed the urge to choke.

“Hey, baby,” he drawled drunkenly. “Looking for company?”

“No,” she replied coolly, edging back.

“Ah, come on,” he slurred, trying to grab her.

She slid off the stool gracefully and turned to the man. The sudden stillness in the bar told her that everyone was watching. She didn’t need to start a bar fight.

The man wasn’t tall. Only a couple of inches over her own five foot seven, but he was big. His gut hung past a pair of dirty jeans and his hands were big and beefy.

She would be faster. She was lighter on her feet and sober. But it was a long way to the exit and there were about a dozen people between her and escape.

Aubrey pushed back her shoulders and straightened, giving him a smile. She would try charm first.

“I’m sorry,” she said sweetly. “I’m just meeting a friend here. I don’t really have time to play.” She purred the last word and patted his chest.

He puffed up and grinned, showing off a mouthful of rotting teeth.

“Your friend can join us.” He tried wiggling his brow.

So he had assumed that her friend was female?

“I don’t think he’d like that.” She lowered her voice and winked.

He frowned. “What kind of man would have you meet him in a place like this and be late?”

Aubrey laughed and resisted looking around once again. “Oh, he’s a prick, but he has something I need.”

The man huffed. He reached down to grab his package. “I got what you need right here.”

He reached for her again, but she was able to avoid him by backing up.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Aubrey actually cringed when she heard Cody’s voice.

The man spun around.

Cody looked pissed off. Aubrey found herself taking a step away.

“I asked what is going on,” Cody repeated.

The aggravation and fury radiating from him were enough to get the stranger to back off. The drunken man, knowing that he was out of his depth, held up his hands.

“Nothing, man. We were just talking.”

“You’re done now,” Cody declared.

The man nodded and, swaying, rushed away.

Aubrey waited for Cody’s next move. She could see one of his men standing behind him at an angle to watch the rest of the bar for any trouble.

Cody moved forward and crowded Aubrey. He gripped her chin while wrapping his other arm around her.

He yanked her to him, causing her to collide with his chest. She realised that he was staking his claim as he ravaged her with a possessive kiss.

He pulled his mouth away while he buried his hand in her hair. He tugged her head back and spoke against her lips.

“What were you thinking?”

Aubrey examined his expression. He was still angry, but she could also make out the worry deep in his gaze.

“Answer me,” he said, the words ending with a rumble.

“I…” She licked her lips nervously. She wasn’t scared of Cody. In fact, the dominance radiating from him was turning her on.

“Damn it,” Cody cursed, before nipping her chin. “Come on.”

He turned, still gripping her, and propelled her across the room.

She kept her head lowered, embarrassed and starting to fume, as she was once again manhandled by Cody. She waited until they were out of the door and it had slammed behind them before wrenching away.

“Stop doing that!” she bitched.

Cody growled.

“I’m an adult! You can’t just push me around!”

Cody’s eyes narrowed. “You like when I push you around. Where’s your car?”

She sputtered at him. He was so fucking arrogant and it pissed her off that he was right. She crossed her arms, refusing to answer him.

His low chuckle wasn’t what she’d expected.

He turned to the man who had exited with them and tossed him a set of keys. Then he extended his hand and seized the waist of her jeans to haul her forward. She crashed into him.

Cody shoved his hands into her pocket and pulled out her keys. He hit the fob and her car alarm beeped.

Aubrey just glared at him.

He wasn’t bothered. “You can either walk or I
will
carry you.”

She didn’t have any doubt that he would follow through with his threat. She stomped away.

Cody reached around her to open the passenger door as they arrived at the vehicle.

“Get in,” he ordered.

The snarl in his voice was so sexy. What in the hell was wrong with her that she was so mad and yet had never wanted another person more?

“You’ll get what you need,” he promised, leaning close.

She flushed, realising that he was picking up on her arousal.

“Now get in like a good girl.”

Aubrey squeaked in outrage. He took the opportunity to shove her inside and slammed the door.

He spoke to the other man, Ryder. She remembered his name a few seconds before Cody walked around the car to the driver’s door.

He climbed inside and looked at her. “Seatbelt.”

She rolled her eyes, reached up to grab the harness, and buckled herself in.

“Good,” he praised, before putting the key in the ignition.

He didn’t say anything as he drove out of the parking lot. Aubrey vowed that it would be a cold day in Hell before she broke the silence.

She bounced her foot in aggravation as the strained quiet dragged on.

Cody’s hand landed on her knee, stilling her movements. His touch was firm as he rubbed her.

The stress in her body started to ease.

It was crazy how Cody could do that. They weren’t headed in the direction of her house. She peeked over at him and saw his small smile.

She refused to ask where they were going.

Once they had reached the streets of downtown, Cody continued to drive without saying a word. He hadn’t removed his hand and she had relaxed during the twenty-minute ride.

Cody pulled into a large apartment complex. This had to be his place. Aubrey turned her head to peer out of the side window.

Was she ready for this? Another look at Cody and she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist him. She wanted him, badly. She’d been telling him the truth earlier when she’d told him that he could hurt her.

It was a chance she would have to take, though. Adrian had been right when he’d accused her of holding back. And if this was the one time she’d have Cody again, then she would just have to savour it.

This was going to happen.

She would do her best not to give Cody her heart again. Only time would tell if that was even possible.

Chapter Eight

Cody turned the engine off, making the silence that had settled between them even more pronounced.

Just as he’d stepped out of the shower, he’d received the call from Ryder that Aubrey had shown up at the bar he’d been staking out.

He was beyond being surprised anymore by the situations Aubrey could get herself into. Instead, he was just resigned. So he’d dressed quickly and left to go get her out of whatever trouble she’d got herself into.

He hadn’t been prepared for his reaction to seeing her in danger, though. His eyes had started to shift and he’d barely been able to hold in his falcon.

He’d purposely claimed her in front of the entire bar to make his point. Not only to all the strangers watching, but also to her.

She was
his
.

Turning, he faced her in the car. He’d felt the energy about to burst out of her earlier and had done his best to calm her.

He wasn’t used to using his ability to still and relax others. However, with Aubrey it came naturally to him. It had worked in the car too.

“Come on,” he requested softly.

He didn’t order her. He wanted Aubrey to come up to his apartment of her own desire. If she balked, he would take her home.

She didn’t. She nodded and reached for the door handle.

Relief washed over him. He opened his side and stepped out. He had to adjust himself. He’d been hard as a rock since he’d tasted her.

She waited for him on the other side of the car. He took her hand and led her up the stairs to the front of his apartment. He unlocked the door before pushing it open, then turned to look at her.

Aubrey took one long breath and stepped inside.

His hands shook as he followed.

She glanced around the tidy apartment.

The door opened into the living room. He’d stacked his files on the coffee table before he’d taken his shower.

The furniture was dark but comfortable.

Passing the wall beside the flat-screen television, she stopped to look at the pictures. They were of his family and his friends—the years since he’d left.

She touched the one of him and his family when he’d graduated from the academy. He stood tall in his dress blues between his mom and dad.

She turned and smiled at him. The lust was evident in her eyes.

Cody held out his hand and she came to him. Their fingers brushed as he drew her closer. She settled against him, fitted her body with his. He must have been crazy to leave her behind before. He lowered his head to run his lips down her slender neck.

She cried out when he started to suck, marking her skin with his teeth and mouth.

He gripped the back of her shirt. He hated the garment. It was too tight and low. He growled as he pulled it over her head.

Her long hair caught and she had to raise her hands to help him.

Then, with a sexy smirk, she reached behind her and unsnapped her bra. The garment dropped to the floor and she reached for him.

He licked his lips. She’d always had a nice body, and as she’d got older, she’d filled out even more. Her firm, round breasts moved with each deep breath she took.

He wanted his mouth on her, loved sucking on her pert nipples. Just thinking about burying himself between her mounds made his mouth water.

Aubrey grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked it over his head. She bent and lavished his pecks.

“Fuck!” The word tore from his throat.

She hummed in approval. Her fingers drifted to his jeans, where she teased just under the waistband.

He hissed in longing.

She deftly unsnapped his pants and started pushing them down. He caught her hands, stilling them. He bent over to remove his boots and shoes and rid himself of the rest of his clothes.

He stood completely naked and took hold of his erection.

Aubrey watched as he gripped and stroked himself.

“Get rid of the rest of your clothes,” he demanded huskily.

She did so quickly, never letting her gaze move from his erection.

“Come here,” he beckoned, when she was done.

He took her hand and wrapped it around his cock. Together, they jacked him slowly.

She whimpered at the first touch. The sound was music to his ears.

He released her so that he could palm her breasts. She arched, continuing to move her hand over him.

“Bed,” he murmured.

“Please.”

Cody picked her up easily and carried her across the room and through the open doorway of his bedroom. He left the lights off.

He had no trouble seeing her, his sharp eyesight an asset in the dark.

Cody laid her on the bed and covered her body with his. His cock rubbed against her stomach as he plundered her mouth.

She bowed upward, wrapping her arms around his back.

He hunched over her, enjoying the feel of her nails across his back and the eagerness of her kisses.

He left her lips to trail down her chin to her neck. He played there a little before going lower.

Her full mounds fit perfectly in his hands. He teased her nipples with his tongue, drawing sharp cries of pleasure out of her.

“That’s it,” he whispered. “Give yourself over to me.”

She shook as he traced his right hand down her body to cover her wet pussy. She gasped when he pushed his finger against her clit.

“Cody.”

“That’s right,” he encouraged. “Know who has you. Who you belong to.”

He slid his finger through her folds before pressing one finger inside.

“Yes!” she hissed, her hips moving restlessly. “Please.”

Cody pushed his digit in and out slowly. Aubrey tore at his back, trying to urge him on.

That was how he wanted her.

Completely out of control. Lost in his touch.

He added a second finger, filling her further while thumbing her clit. He lowered his head back to mouth her nipples again.

Aubrey sobbed. “Please, I need…”

Not yet. She didn’t need him enough yet. He slid down her body and pushed her legs apart. He lowered his face to her sex and started to feast.

As he thrust his tongue inside her, she screamed.

He licked, sucked, and fingered her, finally urging her over that first climax. Her flavour burst into him and he hummed in pleasure. She smelt fresh and clean and tasted even better. Her essence was familiar and he almost came just having a small sample.

Using his free arm, he held her down as she almost bucked him off. Her back came off the bed while she clawed at him, lost in her ecstasy.