Skin Deep (13 page)

“That’s it, baby, rock into me.” She hadn’t realized it, but she had begun to move. “I want you to come. I want you to say my name when you do. Can you do that for me?” His words were hot in her ear, his breath heating her sensitive flesh. His fingers picked up the pace, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body. She lifted her hands and ran them across his wide torso, reveling at the feel of his smooth skin plastered over muscles that were harder than steel. Strands of his hair tickled her face as he moved back from her ear.

The movement of his fingers slowed. “No, no! Don’t stop.” She looked into his eyes, eyes as dark as a storm at sea.

“I want you to say my name. When you come.” He repeated the words—grated them—as if they were hard for him to say. His free hand snaked into her hair, holding her captive.
As if I would try to escape.

“Yes, just please don’t stop!”

A tight smile spread across Cain’s face. He picked up the tempo with his fingers, glided them like magic wands over her bud, inciting wondrous feelings with every stroke.

“Feels so good,” she moaned as desperation zinged through her and she clutched his shoulders.

“You like that, baby?” Cain leaned against her, pressing the hardness of his cock against her hip, while barely brushing his lips against her own. “Tell me you like my hands on you. Say it!”

“I like it!” The words tore from her throat involuntarily.

“Say I’m the only one. The only man who gets to touch this body.” He growled like the vicious beast she knew he was. The demand in the words and the promise of them pushed her to the edge.

“Cain!” She shouted as a tidal wave of ecstasy slammed into her body. She vaguely felt her nails digging into hot flesh, but she couldn’t let go. Had to cling to something for fear of being washed away forever. Her body was broken apart by the all-consuming pleasure that wracked her.

“That’s it. Gods, yes. Just watching you makes me so fucking close. Need to be inside you.”

Kiera heard the distinct sound of a zipper. She opened her eyes to see Cain’s thick erection spring forth, throbbing there, right before her eyes. “Hearing my name on your tongue makes me want you even more. I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Your name,” she said absently.
I wonder who else he had scream his name.
“You misogynistic pig.” She pushed at his shoulders, refusing to look down at the smooth steel of his erection again, for fear of losing her reasoning.

“What?” He took a step back, confusion on his face.

“I don’t want you.”

“Yes. You do.” He took a predatory step forward. The muscles in his chest rippled with strength.

“I said no.”

“Dammit.” He roared at the ceiling as he shoved himself back in his pants. “Why are you doing this to me? Why?” He turned from her. His words were the plea of a desperate man, a tortured soul. “I need to make you ordinary. Like every other woman. Yes. Yes. That’s it!” He turned back to her, a crazy gleam in his eyes. He reached into his pocket, tearing his wallet from his black pants. “How much do you want? Anything. I’ll pay anything.” He moved forward, fumbling with a wad of cash as he approached her.

“Money?” Confusion blanked Kiera’s mind.
What would I want with his money?

He rolled his eyes, a smile crossing his face as if he had solved every problem in the world. “For the sex. I’ll pay you.”

The words, spoken in his jubilant state, washed over her like a bucket of ice water. Her hand was stinging in pain before she realized she had slapped him across the face.

“Fuck. Just fuck it.” He jerked his body away from her, bitter rage distorting his features. A shadowy mist came over him as he launched a heavily muscled arm into the opposite wall. Bits of plaster rained down. Glued to the spot, she stared at him as he slung his body on the bed. He dug in his pocket and produced a rumpled pack of cigarettes. He lit one up and took a long drag on the thing, as though it were a lifeline.

“You smoke?” The fact that he had just punched the crap out of the wall dissipated as she stared at the glowing red tip of the cigarette. She had never smoked herself, but her mom had always talked about her father smoking for the short time they were together, a man who never had the decency to take any part in her life. “All the more reason I’ll never fuck you—for money or otherwise!” she yelled and stomped from the room.

“I want you to fuck me hard. You know how I like it.”
The words on Kiera’s tongue had the animal in Cain clawing and purring all at once, desperate for a taste of her.

“Is that how you like it, baby?”

“Fuck yeah, it is.” She shimmied from the tiny panties hugging her waist, letting them slither to her ankles before climbing on the bed with him. The large globes of her breasts jiggled with the movement, causing his mouth to water. He would lie there and be good if that’s what she wanted … but not for long.

Her body hovered over him, her mouth right above his cock, as he heard the ring of his cell phone.

“Ignore it,” he bit out. She didn’t. Instead, she leaned forward, gripping her hands about his waist, shaking him. “What the f—”

Cain’s eyes popped open. He sat up quickly, dislodging his cell phone from beneath his lower back. Then the pounding in his head set in.
What the fuck?
He hadn’t had a hangover in … decades.
I shouldn’t have taken all those shots of Elven moonshine.

A quick glance at his phone showed a missed call from Blaise. The puppy would have to wait. He was in no mood to discuss shit right now. He made a quick survey of the room, his eyes zeroing in on the gaping hole next to the door before looking down at his hand. Flakes of dried blood caked his knuckles. He brushed a finger over them, revealing completely healed flesh.
What the hell happened last night?

A bubble of feminine laughter met his ears from the floor above.
Kiera’s laughter.
His morning wood kicked hard in his pants.
She’s here.
Recollections of the night before came swooping back into his mind, making his cock throb. He let his eyes rest briefly on the wall where he’d pinned her body and fingered her sweet little pussy until she came. Even through the haze of intoxication, he could still feel the slick flesh against his fingertips as her body spasmed and she screamed out … 
My name.
He reveled in the way hearing it had made him feel. The soft feminine voice from above brought him back to reality and he remembered what else happened after she came all over his fingers.
Shit.

He burst through his bedroom door and took the steps three at a time. He arrived in the living room to find Kiera sitting on the couch, looking like heaven on earth. He couldn’t help the way his mouth gaped at the sight of her, nearly causing his cock to rip through the fabric encasing it. She was really something, and he didn’t think he would ever get used to her beauty. It stunned him every time. A strange feeling for a man who fucked a woman and forgot her face seconds after coming.

She was smiling, sitting on the couch with a curling iron in hand, wrapping her dark red hair around it. She was dressed in a tight yellow shirt that set off her dark skin and light eyes, making the deep red of her hair seem to glow, like a halo about her head.

“What are …” He lost his ability to speak as her liquid-yellow gaze met his. The smile on her face vanished and a look of hatred hardened her lovely features. His eyes trailed across the room to see Ryder sitting in the lounge chair across from her.
Motherfucker.

“Thought you’d gone off the deep end, Sergeant.” Ryder’s black gaze met his with the same cold malice he was used to. Cain couldn’t deny he was glad the man was back. They needed him on his A-game in the midst of all the fucked-up shit going on.

“Ryder was just telling me about what y’all do.”

Cain let his gaze flutter back to Kiera, who was twirling her hair around the silver curling iron.

“I’ll bet he was.” Cain couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice as he fought against the urge to shift into his tiger form. Life as the beast was much easier. If someone pissed him off, he could eat them.
Fucking simple as that
. The animal in him wanted to rip Ryder to shreds and take Kiera from here and mate with her. Dominate her body and soul.
Tempting, so tempting.

“He was. Such a nice thing to do, considering I know nothing about any of this. Or you.” She practically spit the words at him as she rhythmically spun another bundle of hair around the silver wand.

“Fucking fantastic,” Cain muttered, turning away from the beautiful seductress. He didn’t dare look at Ryder for fear of what he would do to him.
Chill the fuck out. Just chill out. He hasn’t fucked her. Neither have you.
The thoughts sent all kinds of vicious rage shooting through his limbs.

“Well, I’m ready to go now.” Kiera’s words yanked Cain from his tortuous thoughts and sent him spinning on the spot.

“Ready for what?”

She was standing now, bending over to gather her things off the floor and coffee table. His eyes zeroed in on her ass and the way the skin-tight black jeans accentuated her curves. He let his attention trail down her perfectly shaped legs before focusing on the tall yellow heels on her feet.

“For my date.” She didn’t look back as she spoke, but ran her hands through her hair, like she didn’t give a damn he was standing there, with the hangover from hell, desperate to fucking have her.
You offered her money for sex, like she’s a damn hooker.
He mentally cringed. Either way, it didn’t change anything.

“Fuck, no. You’re not going out on a date.” He stomped across the spacious living room until he was standing in front of her, forcing her to look at him.

“Ye—”

“With who?” She stepped around him, ignoring his question, making his blood rise.
Mine!
his mind screamed.
No one can have her!
“I asked you a question, dammit!”
Is that me, snarling like that? Over a woman … shit.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I have another date with Luke.”

“Absolutely not. That guy is a douchebag.”

“Why? Because he’s nice and kind and actually likes me for me and not some other asshole reason? Well, fine then, I guess I like douchebags. I would take a douchebag any day over some overgrown … you!” She stared up at him as she spoke. He hadn’t realized it, but he had moved, putting them nose-to-nose in the center of the living room.

“He smells like Shirley Temple vomited on him.”

“Ooooh, you don’t like the way he smells? That’s why I can’t go? Wow. Grasping for straws now, aren’t we?” Smug satisfaction spread across her face. He didn’t care.

“You’re not going and that’s final. The Amari are out there and you are clearly a target. Or have you forgotten your late-night rendezvous with headless leopard boy?”

A look of disappointment spread across her features before she hid it with a mask of anger.

“She’s going.” Ryder’s voice pulled Cain from his thoughts.

That motherfucker is still in here?

“Like hell. You know it’s not safe.” It was pathetic of him, really. She was right. He was grasping at straws. He wanted her safe and he knew he could keep her that way here, but he also didn’t want her out on a date with that asshole. An asshole she willingly touched and kissed.
Not me.

“She
is
safe. I’ve agreed to go along and keep watch,” Ryder said.

Cain finally broke eye contact with Kiera and moved away from the wall, laughing sarcastically. “Oh yeah, how does bitch boy feel about Sergeant Scary Shifter coming along? You gonna give him the beef injection at the end of the night, too?”

A snarl reverberated from Ryder’s throat. Reminding Cain that he had no idea what breed of Were his sergeant was. The thin mist of the change hovered over Ryder’s complexion.
Fucking do it. I need to let off some steam right now.
He’d never seen the man turn. While he and the other guys would go for a run in their animal form, Ryder never joined them. As far as Cain knew, the man never changed at all, which was crazy. The beast within demanded release at least once every forty-eight hours. Abstaining any longer made Cain crazed, vicious, and volatile. And Cain was one of the
Born
. It was no secret that a
Bitten
had far more trouble controlling their animalistic urges.

“Don’t worry, Cain. I’ll make sure Kiera is nice and safe while bitch boy ass fucks her later.”

Red hazed over Cain’s vision as he lunged forward, the splitting pain in his head multiplying as he felt his body begin to change.

“No! Stop, please!” Suddenly Kiera was there before him. Her dainty hands pressed at his shoulders and somehow he managed to suck the beast back. “You guys are both assholes.” She turned away, letting her hands drop, leaving Cain feeling bereft. “And I’m still going on my date and there’s nothing you can do about it.” She stopped at the top of the stairs and glanced back over her shoulder. “Come on, Ryder. We’re already late.” Ryder shot him a look that seemed almost apologetic, his face moving from dead to expressionless.

Yeah, motherfucker. I’ve got your number.

Cain heard the slam of the front door as his phone started vibrating again. A look at the caller ID revealed Blaise’s number.

“What?”

“Get dressed and use the litter box, Miss Kitty.”

“Fuck off.” Cain considered throwing his phone, watching the damn thing explode into a million pieces.
Yes, that would make me feel better.

“Seriously. We got a call up near Bangor. Multiple bodies. See you in five.” The phone beeped, signaling Blaise had ended the call.

Fucking perfect.

Cain stared at the rusty old sign, half lit up by broken neon lights. The stench of blood in the air made Cain want a drink like nobody’s business.
Mr. Porky’s
. What a catchy name. He’d heard of the place before. Blaise and Sparrc always gave him shit, saying he should make the two-hour trip and hit up the bar, since it was “his crowd” hanging out in there. The owner was an old Were. Physically an old Were, not chronologically like Cain. The man was one of the
Bitten
. He’d been killed and turned at some point in his late seventies a couple decades before and in his immortality, decided to make a place that was hip for others like him. In other words, he was an Immortal turned late in life, his body old as fuck and stuck forever—all wrinkled and shit.

“Even prettier than I thought. You’ll fit right in.” Sparrc laughed from the front seat. A crusty truck shell sat in the parking lot and the homeless man was asleep under a broken window.

Cain checked his watch, ignoring the snickering idiots in the front seat. “It’s 7:30 p.m.” His words seemed to sober the wolves as they glanced back.

“Yeah … man, this shit is fucked. At least the king is sending some help.” Blaise clicked off the ignition.

“Wait, what? When we had our video conference yesterday, the old bastard said he wasn’t sending anyone.” Cain slammed the back door harder than he intended as he exited the vehicle.

“You should have waited, Blaise. We don’t even know if this is an Amari homicide. Cain and those chicks killed a confirmed Amari member last night, which was probably our killer. Maybe this shit is just some fluke. Rogues act up all the time.” Sparrc made a good point that Cain hadn’t considered.

“It’s not a fluke. In his call, the bar owner said the Were shifted into a leopard.”
Terrific.
“I talked to King Theron today after the call came in. He’s sending Ren Carter, along with fifty base-liners.”

Cain ran a hand through his hair as he met Blaise’s stare. His friend’s glass eye fixated on him like a leech.

“Marvelous. Just what I was looking forward to. Some asshole commander coming down here and getting in my face because he thinks his shit don’t stink.” Cain reached in his pocket for a cigarette. “
All the more reason I’ll never fuck you.”
Kiera’s words ran rampant across his mind. He tossed the pack of Luckys on the ground next to the sleeping vagabond.

He knew what they were going to walk into—three dead women
.
And they were dead, all right. There wasn’t any doubt about that. The small rickety building was covered from floor to ceiling with blood, guts, and body parts.

“It’s about damn time.” The thick backwoods accent met his ears as his other senses ran rampant from the gory scene. “This shit is ruining all my business.”

“Funny, I thought the party was just getting started,” Cain said as he stared at a bloody foot lying on the table next to a beer. “Nice place you got here.”

“Fuck you. Fuck off all-y’all. Been waitin’ damn near three hours for you motherfuckers to show up. Losin’ all my damn business on a Saturday night. Hell, old Tom out there fell asleep waitin’ for y’all to get here.” The bar owner was a tall man with a fat gut and gray beard who looked like he needed a shower.

“We apologize for that Rick, uh, Fowler, is it?” Sparrc asked.

Cain turned his back on the podunk bar owner, thankful that Sparrc could be professional, even with all that metal shit in his face.

“I need to collect your statement while the boys go over the scene …” Sparrc’s voice grew fainter as he led the bar owner into the back of the building.