Lunar Mates 1: Under Cover of the Moon (4 page)

“Yeah, I'll go by and get it. You want to get a beer?"

He laughed. “No. I'm going home and getting laid. My woman isn't running away from me."

Darius growled. “Better go, before I find you something urgent to do first then."

Imperturbable as usual, Eric laughed and waved goodbye as he slipped into his car.

* * * *

Meg was waiting for him to come back, and trying hard to pretend she wasn't, that it wasn't important that she see him again so soon. But her frustration level was growing. It had been several hours. She threw herself into the pile of paperwork on her desk, caught it up and took over the bar. Still he was nowhere to be seen.

It was a slow night, so she sent her daytime bartender home at nine. Slow, but the conversation was animated and outrageous. Word flew through town that Jimmy Barr, a state park game warden, was attacked by a wolf. There hadn't been any wolves in the area in decades.

Was that why Darius had run off so quickly? But why? What could it possibly have to do with him? If chasing down wolves was his job, why wouldn't he have told her? What was so secretive about that?

A group of regulars sat at the bar discussing the situation while she listened with half interest and slow simmering anger.

“Maybe someone kept one as a pet and let it loose,” a plumber named Bill speculated.

“That's just dumb, Bill,” Chuck said. “Why would a pet attack a man? It'd be used to people."

Bill shrugged. “How else do you explain a wolf being here?"

“It migrated from somewhere, obviously,” Chuck said, disdain dripping in his voice.

“That's as dumb as my pet theory. Like no one would have noticed a wolf wandering around."

“No one
has
noticed a wolf wandering around."

“Well, maybe it's not a normal wolf,” Bill said.

“What else could it be? What the hell's normal for a wolf anyway?"

Meg smiled to herself at the sudden vision she had of the two young men, old and grizzled in fifty years, still arguing on barstools inside her place. She made her way down the length of the bar, checking other costumers, when she heard a remark that had her whipping her head around in shocked disbelief.

“Maybe it's a werewolf,” Bill joked.

The men around him laughed, and Meg tried to appear calm and steady her pulse. Her gut feeling was that maybe it was a werewolf stalking the forest. And Darius was one of them. No wonder he made her feel hunted. She was certain he wasn't a killer, though he seemed capable of it. For some crazy reason she couldn't begin to explain, she felt safe with him. Physically at least, she was sure she was safe with him. Her heart was another matter.

The bar was beginning to clear out and a quick glance at her watch showed the hour pushing closing time. Twenty minutes till two. The last two servers on duty were herding out the lingerers, gathering glasses to wash, and lifting chairs onto empty tables. Meg filled the time restocking the bar. She was pushing Bill and Chuck out the door when the phone rang. Glaring at it, she debated not answering. At some point during the night she had accepted there were werewolves in her town and that her new lover was one of them. On top of that, she was involved with this man whether she liked it or not. He was bossy and arrogant and he had left her hanging all night. He didn't really think she was the kind of woman who would stand for that kind of treatment, did he?

She sighed and grabbed the phone before the machine could pick up.

“What do you want?” she snapped.

There was a pause before he answered, “Do you always answer the phone like that?"

“Only when it's you, Darius,” she said sweetly.

“I didn't notice you had caller ID on any of the phones in the bar."

“I don't. I knew it was you. Didn't I mention that I know things? I'm a witch. Remember?"

The servers swept and mopped, in a hurry to clock out. They caught Meg's glance and waved as they left.

“Look, I'm closing up. Can we argue later? I have a hot tub at home calling my name."

She felt a sudden flare of desire and knew she was picking it up from Darius. It jumpstarted her own libido.

“How ‘bout I meet you there?” he asked. “I have a couple of things I need to do first. We'll meet in say, in 30 minutes?"

In for a penny, in for a pound.
“Sure. Thirty minutes."

She hung up the phone, grabbed her bag and locked up.

Chapter Four

Her little house was on the edge of the swamp, set far off the road and backing up to the wood line. It was a log A-frame. The master bedroom and bath were in the loft and the bottom floor was an open kitchen-living room combination, with a half-bath tucked to one side. A porch wrapped around the entire place. She had seen it and fallen in love with the back deck, with its weathered redwood planks and built in bench seats. And the hot tub.

Today was definitely a hot tub day.
She pulled into her drive dreaming of warm bubbles, but food came first. She'd ignored dinner. Hard to get interested in food when your sex drive had your stomach tied up in knots.

She pulled out the two steaks she'd left marinating in the refrigerator that afternoon, not even trying to fool herself into thinking her reason for marinating two was because they came two in the pack. She wrapped two potatoes, put them in the oven to bake and started for the stairs so she could take a quick shower. She'd love a long soak, but she wanted answers out of Darius first. Somehow she doubted she'd get them in the hot tub, and he'd be at her house soon.

Before she could get to the shower, his car turn into the drive and her pulse kicked up. She met Darius at the door and opened it wide for him to enter. Words of greeting lodged in her throat. He stepped inside and looked around.

“So, this is it,” he said, his voice low as if he felt her need to adjust to his presence in the space. “I wondered what the inside looked like."

He walked through the living room, running his fingers down the back of her leather sofa. She shivered and her pussy grew wet, remembering the feel of those fingers on her skin just hours ago.

He paused beside her entertainment center and peered at her over his shoulder. “Do you mind?” He turned on the radio.
Every Breath You Take
flowed from the speakers. Still rooted to the spot by the door, she shook her head.

“Aren't you coming in?” he teased.

She forced a smile, shocked and bothered by his effect on her. It was more intense than usual.

“Of course."

He resumed meandering through her space, his presence filling it up. Finally he stopped at the bar separating the kitchen from living room. She had left the steaks on the counter along with a salad bag and several tomatoes.

“You're planning on feeding me?” he grinned. “So I'm making progress here, right?"

The grin transformed him from dangerous predator to sexy bad-boy. She was amazed at her body's intense response. Her pulse jumped and butterflies took flight in her stomach. He was definitely making progress, but there was no reason for her to admit it. Her earlier werewolf suspicions seemed ludicrous in the face of that grin, but better safe than sorry.

“I haven't eaten much today. It seemed rude to make you watch me eat,” she said. “Unless you aren't hungry, of course."

She saw that her comment was a mistake as his eyes became heated and lazily studied her. The tension coursing through her body went up another notch. She was primed and ready, her pussy wet and throbbing.

“I could eat,” he said quietly, seriously, and she was again reminded of a wolf.

“Good,” she aimed for a breezy tone that sounded strangled to her own ears. “Why don't you fire up the grill?” She nodded toward the open French doors. “I need to grab a quick shower."

Taking the stairs at a fast clip, she was impressed she hadn't run from the room. She felt his eyes boring into her back as she walked into the large bathroom, pulling her shirt off as she entered. She turned on the water and shimmied out of her jeans, before remembering to close the door. Naked, she turned to do just that and found herself pressed against Darius from shoulder to knee. As she moved to step back, his arms snaked around her, pulling her hard against him.

“I thought you were going to start the grill,” she said, hating the breathiness in her voice.

“It can wait,” he answered softly. His hands feathered over her back. “I can't."

She caught her breath. His simple touch curled her toes. With one hand grasping his shirt and the other cupping the back of his head, she pulled him down for a kiss. She meant to keep it light, a gentle exploration with her tongue. She hadn't counted on the fire he lit in her veins. Would she ever get used to it? Nipping her bottom lip with his teeth, he seemed to inhale her in a violent mating of tongues and lips and teeth.

She couldn't believe that she liked it and wanted more. Reaching for the edge of his shirt, she tugged upward. He released her and with a few jerky tugs removed his clothes.

He couldn't believe that he had found her. His mate. And she was giving her body to him. It was infuriating. He was supposed to have her body,
and
her heart and soul. She was withholding what was rightly his.

She stood before him, her perfect breasts heaving, with lust and trepidation in her eyes. With her hair spilling down her back and skin rosy, he was amazed at how beautiful she was. She would love him. He would find a way to make her open her heart.

She tried to step back and hit the counter, where she halted and crossed her arms over her chest.

Stepping forward, Darius uncrossed them and turned her to face the mirror. He held her gaze in the glass and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “No."

“Look how beautiful you are.” He pressed his erection against her butt. “Don't you feel how much I want you?"

Passion darkened her eyes as he rolled one nipple in his fingers, while his other hand traveled down her flat stomach. Her breath caught when his finger found her clit, and he tested her wetness with another. She rocked forward and forced it deeper. He pushed a second finger in, reveling in how tight and wet she was for him, as she rocked against him, faster and harder. An orgasm ripped through her, and her pussy clenching on his fingers drove him crazy.

Gently he pushed against her back so she was leaning across the counter, resting on her elbows. He nudged her legs apart and guided his cock into her still convulsing core. Holding her gaze in the mirror, he began to move in and out, one hand rubbing circles on her bottom, the other matching his thrusting rhythm on her clit.

He loved her awed expression. She was holding nothing back, giving herself to him. He saw lust and wonder in her eyes. It was a start. He wanted to throw his head back and howl as the orgasm took him over. She came with him, the shudders traveling from her body to his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against his chest, trying to catch his breath.

“The water's probably getting cold,” she said after a few minutes.

“Yeah,” he grunted. He set her in the shower before stepping in with her.

She closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall as he lightly soaped her up. It was a trusting pose, relaxed and languorous, and he assumed they'd just had a breakthrough. God, he hoped so. He liked her sated and compliant. He ran the washrag up one thigh, and she shifted slightly, opening her legs and edging forward. He grinned. He might like her a little pushy, too. He turned her to the wall and pulled her hands high above her head.

“Don't move,” he whispered in her ear.

Starting at her ankles, he explored every inch of her, his tongue often following in the wake of the soapy rag. Up one leg and down the other. She shivered as his touch turned from gentle ministration to sensual. She was beautiful spread out, open and available for him. He marveled at her. He nudged her thighs apart and slipped a finger into her pussy, while his other hand explored the rounded curves of her ass. Her breathing hitched and he growled when she tried to move.

“Don't."

When she remained motionless, a second finger joined the first. He worked them in and out in slow motion, rubbing the sensitive spot on the front of her vaginal wall. Her scent of arousal grew heavy in the air and he dragged it deeply into his lungs. Sensing she was close to release, he abruptly withdrew his hand. She moaned a protest, but stayed immobile. He felt a surge of satisfaction.

Drawn to her butt, he palmed each cheek. Spreading them, he imagined burying his cock there too, and vowed to do it soon. He dipped a finger into her pussy and gathering her wetness on it, worked it into the tiny hole of her ass. He squeezed his eyes shut. So tight. Her breathing turned ragged and her muscles clenched in an effort not to move. The scent of her arousal intensified.

With restraint he couldn't believe he possessed, he gently eased his finger higher into her. His cock pulsed in demand and using his feet, he nudged her legs farther apart. With his other hand, he guided it into her slick channel. Her head fell back and she shook in the throes of orgasm as soon as he lodged himself inside her. His wolf howled in triumph. She was completely his.

Grabbing her hips with both hands, he pounded into her in a steady rhythm. The feel of her body clenching around his cock was unparalleled. He didn't want it to end, was sure he could stay here just like this forever. He came too soon, the orgasm rising from nowhere to overtake him.

He didn't come back to himself for several minutes and was alarmed to find her limp and silent pressed between his bulk and the slick wall. Withdrawing, he spun her around. She smiled languidly and leaned into him. Closing his eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had to remember to be more careful. Guilt knifed through him, afraid for the first time he might have hurt her.
Damn it!
He knew his own strength, but even now need overwhelmed him.

He cleaned them both, dried off first, and returned to turn off the water and wrap her in a towel. Guiding her into the bedroom, he sat her on the bed and looked around with interest. It was not the neatest place he'd ever been. One side was a rail overlooking the downstairs, and one wall backed up to the bathroom. A large sleigh bed was pushed against that wall. The adjacent wall contained a closet and a large dresser, and the wall opposite the bed held an armoire. Opening it, he discovered a television in the top half and overflowing drawers below it.