Captured Moon-6 (6 page)

“Abby? You didn’t leave, did you?”

Sighing, she turned away from the night sky and entered the long

hallway with trepidation. What did he have planned? Whatever it was, she was walking into it blind. The hall was dimly lit, and she was relieved to see the master bedroom door, straight ahead of her at the end, was closed. That left the office, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. She expected to find him in the office, the first door on the right, but it was closed. It wasn’t until she reached the end of the hall that she found him, in the room between the master and office.

“Wow,” she said when she entered. “You’ve been busy.”

He’d filled it with bookcases and a magnificent, huge, mahogany desk. The night glittered in front of her, and it was hard to focus on the 36

Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

room. Forcing her gaze away, she concentrated on the former guestroom.

Books lined many of the upper and middle shelves, but several were empty around the bottom. Something every bibliophile needed—room to

expand the collection.

A couple of brightly‐colored spines caught her attention. They were

familiar. Noticing the stack of broken‐down boxes near the windows, she stepped the rest of the way into the room. These were her books. When she’d moved out of the house she’d shared with Alex, she’d had to box them up, and Rule had offered her part of their storage room.

“A writer needs an office, don’t you think?”

She brushed away a rush of tears. It was such a sweet thing to do

for her. It meant he understood how important it was to her, right?

“Hey.” He walked over to her and rubbed at the moisture on her cheeks. He joked, “I don’t think it’s that big a deal.”

She laughed, and it sounded watery to her ears. “You made me an

office.”

“Yeah.” He stepped back looking nervous, pointing out the room’s

amenities. “I left a blank space over here on the wall. In case you wanted some kind of board for notes. A corkboard or one of those whiteboards you can erase.”

She looked at the place he indicated behind the desk and thought it

was a good spot. She could easily turn around, consult anything she put there.

“And maybe a low‐back sofa in front of the window over there,” he

said, pointing to the opposite corner, grinning. “There’s a view of the park. Should be a good place to daydream.”

Smiling, she could imagine doing just that.

“It’s wonderful, Rule. Thank you,” she said softly. “But how’s this

supposed to work, exactly? My having an office in y’all’s house?”

Right next to your bedroom, where I’m sure to go crazy.

He stuck his hands in his pockets, thumbs hooked through the belt

loops. She recognized it as his ‘reasoning pose.’ It came out when he wanted to sway someone to his side without alienating them. She arched her eyebrows. This should be interesting. She almost relaxed enough to 37

Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

smile. This was a familiar side, a Rule she recognized. The office signified something important. She wasn’t sure what, yet, but it couldn’t be bad.

“Well, I think to take maximum advantage of the office, you’d have

to move in.”

Her heart lurched at the thought. Part excitement, part terror. He was moving way too fast. The front door opened and slammed shut.

Heavy footsteps came down the hall. She knew that stride and looked up in time to meet Lawe’s gaze. Stepping into the room, he nodded at her, glancing around.

“Finished it, I see,” he said to Rule.

So it was a joint plan?

“You knew about this?” she asked, willing to bet her bank account

Lawe knew all about her writing too, and what it was.

She felt heat rush to her face. He stepped close to her, lifted his hand to slide his fingers down the side of neck to rub his thumb over the mark he’d left on her. Liquid heat rushed to her pussy, and his nostrils flared. Damn him, he knew exactly what was going on inside her body.

He grinned, wrapping his fingers around her nape when she tried to pull away.

“Of course I knew, honey. Mates don’t keep secrets from each other. And yours are over.”

What the hell did he mean by that? That he would try to stop her

writing, or that he didn’t plan on letting her keep it private anymore?

There was an office chair next to the desk, and she sank into it. Lawe came over, squatting down on his heels in front her, taking his hands in hers.

Rule made a sound of displeasure, and Lawe grinned.

“He thinks I’m pushing you too hard.”

“Ya think?”

His eyes flashed at the sarcasm and she tried to pull away. When that didn’t work, she changed the subject.

“I’m not going to stop writing.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “I expect a lot of things from you, honey, but that’s not one of them.”

His eyes shone, promising a sexual completion she’d never

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Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

imagined. He overwhelmed her senses and hadn’t even touched her yet.

“I don’t think I can handle this,” she croaked out, wishing he’d back off and give her some breathing room, even though a part of her needed him closer.

She looked over Lawe’s shoulder and caught her breath when her

gaze met Rule’s. She’d find no help there. His eyes snared her, freezing her in place. They were hard, possessive, told her in no uncertain terms he wasn’t about to abandon his claim over her. Lawe glanced behind him then back to her. He chuckled.

“You thought he would be easier to manage, didn’t you, Abby?”

His eyes sparkled with humor, but there was an edge of menace in his voice. “Sorry, but there are no pussycats here.”

“No. I see that,” she answered softly. She felt trapped, surrounded.

Her heart pounded so hard, it was a wonder it didn’t fly from her chest.

He laid his palm over the straining organ. “Easy, honey. You know

we’d never hurt you. We’ve helped take care of you for years. God. I could go gray remembering the trouble we used to keep you and Marilyn and Maggie out of.”

Her eyes narrowed. They hadn’t been
that
bad, and she was an adult now. She didn’t need a keeper. She felt as if a prison cell door had just slammed closed and struggled not to hyperventilate. Mate to a Panhandle pack werewolf. She may not need a guard, but she’d just acquired two whether she liked it or not.

“I hope your daughters give you a run for your money,” she muttered. She had no doubt they would, knowing how overprotective werewolves were of their female children.

Rule barked a laugh. “Careful what you wish for, sweetheart.

Those are your girls you’re talking about.”

She groaned. Damn. She’d walked right into that one. But the banter had achieved its goal, and her pulse slowed, coming to a more regular rhythm. She forced the worries to the back of her mind and relaxed back into the chair, eyeing them both as Lawe stood and moved to stand by his brother. Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d skipped every meal that day. Did dinner come with the new office?

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Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

Rule shook his head. “Skip dinner?”

“And breakfast and lunch.”

Lawe’s chest rumbled in a low growl. “You need a keeper.”

He pulled her up and tugged her toward the kitchen before she could protest, but silently she fumed. She did not need them to act as wardens. That was exactly what she wanted to avoid.

“We saved you something just in case.” Rule pulled a covered plate

from the refrigerator and put it in the microwave. She reached past him and got a beer. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but after the last two days, she figured she’d earned one. Rounding the counter, she pulled out a stool and noticed something missing.

“What happened to my purse? I left it right here.”

“I put it up,” Lawe said matter‐of‐factly. “You aren’t going anywhere, so you don’t need it.”

She stared at him, the words barely processing as the microwave hummed. When it dinged, Rule set the plate before her and picked up her beer, twisting the lid off before handing it back to her.

“You might want that.”

He nodded at the bottle she gripped in her hand. She took a long pull from the beer.

“Why? What are y’all up to?”

They exchanged a long look, and she knew the answer was going

to really piss her off.

“Consider yourself kidnapped,” Rule said.

“Captive,” Lawe added.

“Captured,” Rule countered with a grin.

She stared at them a minute, anger warring with dismayed

curiosity. How long did they intend to execute this little plan? And would she be able to resist the pull she felt towards them? Or should she just go with it and enjoy it? Sliding off the stool, she walked to the door and twisted the handle. Relief washed through her until she tugged on it. The door didn’t budge. They’d locked the deadbolt, and she didn’t have the key. Anger finally won. She whirled to face them, both still leaning casually against the counter.

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Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

“This isn’t funny.”

Rule sighed and straightened. “No. But you didn’t give us much choice.”

“I didn’t know I’d been claimed by a couple of hostage takers.

What’s the price for my freedom?” she asked sarcastically, enjoying the way his eyes narrowed at the barb.

The spark of anger was quickly replaced by the cold expression she

more often associated with Lawe not Rule. Okay. Maybe not the best thing to say. She sighed. This was an impossible situation, but somehow she’d have to learn to live with their rash decisions.

“You shouldn’t have bit me. I should have had a choice.”

“You would have said no,” Lawe answered.

She avoided his gaze unable to argue that. She probably would have. At first, at least. But what was the big damned hurry? Couldn’t they have told her what they wanted and given her some time to get used to the idea?

“I don’t think it would have been too much to ask for a little time to adjust.”

He shrugged. “Adjust now. You’re off work for the next three days.

We’ll switch back and forth in the bar so someone’s always with you.

You’re not leaving this apartment until then.”

She stared. This couldn’t be happening. But even as her anger simmered, her interest grew. Three days. She knew there would be incredible sex, but what else? Would they give her a few hours alone to work on her book?

“Sit down and eat, Abby.”

She finally let go of the doorknob and walked to the counter and her abandoned stool. She took slow steps, cautious as she watched them, filled with questions she was afraid to voice. She sat and picked up her fork, decided to just dive in.

“I need my laptop.”

“We’ll get it,” Lawe answered.

“And clothes.”

He snorted. “No, you don’t.”

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Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

Glaring, she chewed a piece of roast and swallowed. “I’m not walking around naked for three days.”

Lawe crossed his arms over his impressive chest. She wanted to see

it again. Lick him, nibble at him, kiss a trail farther south. Did reality live up to memory?
No, no, Abby. Mind out of the gutter.

“This isn’t a negotiation.”

She smiled sweetly. That’s exactly what it was, and they all knew it.

Lawe scowled. “Fine. Clothes, too.”

Rule coughed and winked at her. She knew he’d tried to cover a laugh, and she was glad to see the Rule she was more familiar with back.

The one who joked and laughed with her, who made her feel like everything was going to be okay.

She went back to her dinner, listening while they discussed their various businesses and interjecting an idea here and there. She was surprised when Rule picked up the plate and carried it to the sink. Ten minutes ago, she wouldn’t have believed she’d be able to force down a whole plate of food. Then she heard the jingle of keys and watched Lawe walk to the door.

“Let’s go.” He frowned, and his voice was grumpy. Had he given

up on captivity already? “Your computer?”

She jumped up, eager to get her things. Surprised she wanted to return. Her emotions were all over the place. She was beginning to feel like a ping‐pong ball.

Lawe waited at the door and held his hand out when she was close.

She laid her fingers across his and his hand closed, tugging her into the shelter of his arm. He nuzzled her neck, his breath soft and hot against her skin, firing her blood. Her hips shifted to meet his as if they had a mind of their own. She gasped when he held her waist still and pressed his erection against her belly. Lifting his head, he met her gaze.

“Later, honey,” he whispered, promised, and then released her to lead her out the door.

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Captured Moon by Loribelle Hunt

Chapter Four

Lawe kept his hand on the small of her back, right above her perfect ass, until he helped her into his truck. He saw her buckled and the door locked behind her before he rounded the truck, almost sprinting to the driver’s side. He breathed a sigh of relief when he put the vehicle in gear. She couldn’t escape for the moment.

After she’d kicked him out Wednesday night, he’d gone back to the