Lunar Mates 1: Under Cover of the Moon (6 page)

Oh, it's going to hurt when he leaves
.

Busying herself straightening the living room and cleaning the kitchen didn't take much time. After wiping the bar down for the third time, she decided to call it a night.

Upstairs, she found her favorite old ratty sleep shirt, discarding the thought of finding something even a little bit sexy. This was who she was. He'd have to either accept her, or move on. She sighed, digging around in her dresser drawers. He would be leaving soon enough, so maybe she shouldn't push her luck. She stepped under the bright overhead light, comparing the items in her hands. One comfy old shirt—check. One not so comfy, red satin nightgown—check. One woman losing her mind—check. Rolling her eyes at her baffling behavior, she tossed the T-shirt back in the drawer and pulled the satin over her head.

Not bad.
She turned from side to side and studied herself in the mirror. The gown was long and clung to her curves, with thin spaghetti straps. It slid over her skin like a cool caress, and she ran her hands over its smoothness imagining Darius doing the same. Her nipples puckered as she traced them, goose bumps rose across her stomach and her pussy grew moist. She thought about the vibrator tucked away in one of her drawers and wondered what he would think if she finished herself off. He'd be pissed. She snickered. Unless he was participating.

* * * *

She tried to sleep, but with her body and mind so restless she soon found herself at the glass door, watching the night. Darius was out there, and she was full of questions and insights. Werewolves were real, and one of them was stalking humans. She was sure of it. She hoped her confidence that it wasn't Darius wasn't just wishful thinking. Who then, could it be?

She ventured outside and rested her hands on the deck railing, and the feeling of being scrutinized came back to her. Inch by inch she searched the shadows in the tree line. Her breath caught in her throat when a wolf suddenly stepped from the shadows she had just decided were empty. The night was black, and the area beyond the porch's weak pool of light was in complete darkness. She couldn't make it out clearly, but it
felt
wrong.
That wasn't Darius
.

As he crept into the yard, she noticed several differences. He was smaller than Darius, though not by much, and his fur was more black than gray, with silver threads shooting through his mane. Intense blue eyes held her in place. Fear clogged her throat, kick starting her heart to a stuttering leap. This was the wolf that had been following her.

Fight or flight. Why didn't anyone ever mention the other reaction to adrenalin? To freeze. When her legs started working again she edged backwards, with her hands behind her back feeling for the door. The wolf seemed to gather itself, its muscles bunched for a leap. A scream stuck in her throat as a second wolf dashed out of the woods. She exhaled in relief. Darius.

The two wolves tumbled together across the yard, scratching and biting each other. Their deep-throated growls would haunt her dreams for weeks to come. The smaller one broke free and took off into the darkness, blending out of sight.

Her heart lodged in her throat, she turned to see Darius shifting. Scratches down his chest and back dripped with blood. Instead of going to his aid, the angry look on his face had her again backing for the door.

He tracked her in silence, trying to get a grip on his rage. This time she definitely had a spanking coming. He only regretted it would have to be bare handed. Following her through the door, he closed and locked it behind him. He smiled grimly at her attempt to put space between them as she edged around the kitchen bar. There was no way that bar would stop him. Nothing would. He stayed on the living room side, for now he'd give her the illusion of safety.

“Woman, I thought I made it clear you were to stay inside,” he said through gritted teeth. Anger boiled anew at his words. Why couldn't she follow a simple request?

Her chin came up proudly. “I told you I don't follow orders well."

“If I tell you to do something, Meg, you'd better do it. He could have killed you,” Darius added. His voice was shaking. He wasn't sure if it was from anger or fear.

She bristled at his tone, opened her to mouth speak but snapped it shut it, searching for words to say. He crossed his arms over his chest.
Good, let's get this over with.
Better she learn he was the boss right from the start.

“I don't know what's going on here, Darius. In one day, I've gone from single and thinking werewolves were myths, to this...” she said waving her hand through the air. “How do I know I'm safe from you? Or that other people are safe from you? I don't know anything about you, but I'm supposed to trust you enough to do whatever you say? It's not gonna happen. So get over it!"

She stood firm as he stalked over to the sofa. He felt a moment of pride at her courage, when he didn't see even a flicker of fear in her eyes. Of course, she didn't know what was coming. She
would
obey him, especially when her safety was at stake. Resolve moved through him. It was time.

“Come here, Meg."

She looked startled at the order. Whether at his tone or something she saw in his face, he couldn't say.

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

He sighed. Always testing. “Do we have to do this the hard way?"

She hesitated a few seconds, but started walking towards him. Bold as brass she came right to him. The feel of her soft breasts against his chest was a momentary distraction. Her nipples hardened on contact and he groaned as he stiffened in response. She turned her head when he bent to kiss her, and he nuzzled her neck instead, lost in her taste and smell. Reminding himself of his purpose, he abruptly sat on the edge of the couch and pulled her face down over his lap.

“Darius! What the hell?” She struggled against him but he held her down with ease.

“I don't want to do this, Meg,” he said. Trying to inject a sad note into his voice, he fought a surge of lust. “But there are consequences. You will do as I say."

The gown had worked up around her hips when he pulled her down and his hand fell on bare skin.
Whack!

“Ow! Darius, stop! I am
not
a child!"

Whack!
“No you aren't.”
Whack!
“But you acted like one.”
Whack! Whack! Whack!

“Okay, okay, I won't do it again!” She bucked against him, but he kept a firm grip on her.
Whack!

“Won't do what again?"

She paused before answering.
Whack!

“All right! Fine! I won't disobey you again!"

He shifted her so she was sitting on his lap. Tears streaked her face and it was obvious from the glare in her eye that she might obey him, but she'd hate him for making her do it. He held her arms in front of her and reluctantly released them when she fought back. She put her hands against his chest and pushed, trying to get away.

“Don't you ever do that again,” she snarled.

She hadn't learned a thing.

“Don't defy me again,” he said mildly. Now that it was over he wanted to sooth her and move on, but she continued to glower at him.

He liked the way her pique added color to face and a shine to her eyes. She probably wouldn't appreciate hearing that just now. His gaze was drawn to the rise and fall of her breasts, and he finally noticed her nightgown, a slinky red number that was a big improvement over the plain white bra, but it was distracting as hell. Since he was still stark naked she had no doubt noticed his appreciation, his cock rigid against her thigh. A trickle of moisture dropped on his leg, and a slow smile spread across his face.

“You liked that,” he said.

“I did not!” she protested.

He forced his fingers between her clenched thighs and dipped cream from her pussy. Bringing his hand back to his face, he breathed the proof of her arousal deep into his lungs. He traced her lips with one finger, bringing her taste to her own lips and her eyes widened with surprise and desire. He bent and licked it off, going back for a deeper kiss when she pushed at him again.

“No. Tell me what's going on first,” she demanded.

Damn the woman
. Couldn't she see his cock needed immediate relief? She charged right on.

“Are you going to explain why it's so important I let you order me around? Who was that wolf? Why was it here?"

He didn't answer right away. He was too distracted by the feel of her warm ass on his lap and wondering what it would take to get inside her right now. She punched him in the shoulder.

“Darius, stay with me here."

“Ok, the wolf you saw out there is a rogue, hunting humans,” he said, jumping right to the point. After all, the quicker he explained, the sooner he'd get in bed. Preferably not alone. “We're hunting him, and until we catch him, I need you to do what I say."

“He's the one that was watching me,” she said quietly. “What do you mean ‘we'? How many of you are there?"

“Seventeen in the pack. Eighteen now, with you."

“I'm part of the pack?” she asked, arching a brow.

“Of course. You're my mate,” he said exasperated.

“You bit me,” she groused. “Does that mean I'll become a werewolf now?"

He laughed softly. “No, there aren't any female werewolves."

“Don't you have daughters?"

“Yes,” he shrugged. “But they can't shift."

She frowned.

“About the bite...” He paused, contemplating the best way to bring up the bond.

“What about it?” she asked suspiciously when he didn't go on.

“It won't change you,” he assured her. “But it does tie us together."

She narrowed her eyes and rubbed the mark on her neck. She seemed to take mental stock.

“Oh my God. What does that mean? Undo it!"

He shook his head, his wolf growling a silent denial.

“It can't be undone. Even if it could, I wouldn't do it. You're mine, sweetheart."

“You're saying I don't have any choice,” she whispered. “You can just barge in, take over my life, and I don't have any choice."

Sensing a trap, he watched her warily and didn't answer. His heart constricted, whether at her hurt and confusion or his own, he couldn't say. He
wanted
to be with her. She obviously didn't feel the same sureness about him. Reminding himself she was new to this, that she hadn't spent her life waiting to find the right mate, didn't help.

“Is there a hierarchy in this pack?"

He grinned and watched her composure drop a little. He suspected she already knew the answer to that question, too.

“There is."

“Well?” she asked, annoyance shining in her eyes.

“There's a pack leader, the Alpha, who has a second in command. Or two, really. A Beta and an Enforcer."

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, before saying with exasperation, “And of course you're that pack leader. Aren't you?"

“Yes,” he said.

She got up and paced around the room, the red satin sliding over her curves and making his mouth go dry. She seemed oblivious to what she was doing to him. Then she spoke, and he felt her words like a slap.

“It's really late. You should probably go,” she said.

“What?” Hadn't she heard a word he said?

“I'm not leaving,” he added as he stood and walked around the coffee table. “Didn't you listen to anything I just said?"

“Oh yeah,” she put her hands on hips, a pose that forced her breasts out and had his dick taking notice. “Werewolves, rogues, mates. Heard all that. I need some space here, and frankly I don't know about this getting involved with a werewolf thing."

To hell with this. He tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.

“Hey! Put me down, Darius!"

“In a second,” he said, swatting her butt for good measure. He was glad she couldn't see his grin. “I want you in position where you have to listen."

“You could try putting me down and talking like a civilized person, you know."

Dropping her on the bed, he came down hard on top of her.

“Well, that's the thing, sweetheart. I'm not human. I'm as much wolf as I am man.” He nudged her thighs apart and pressed his erection against her. “And I'm not feeling very civilized right now."

“Let me up,” she said, her struggles tilting her hips into his.

Down girl
, she told herself sarcastically. He was heavy, but propped on his elbows watching her, and she found his weight comforting. It felt good, Darius here in her bed. She didn't want to examine that. He'd used some werewolf voodoo to bind them together. She was supposed to be pissed off. She
was
pissed off. Also, a little turned on. She groaned mentally. This wouldn't do.

“Nope. I've explained things now, and I want to know why you're still resisting me."

Sighing, she turned her head and saw the wolf on her dresser. So lonely. So Darius. And so right?

Looking back at him, she said softly “I was thinking while you were gone that it's really going to hurt when you leave. I'd just as soon get that over now, I think. Plus, there's this bond thing.” She glared. “That was sneaky and unworthy, don't you think? I might have come around in my own time."

Laughing, he shook his head.

“Don't know much about wolves, do you?"

“Apparently not.” She punched him in the chest, until he finally stopped laughing.

“Wolves mate for life, babe,” he said seriously, rubbing his chest where she had hit him. “I'm not going anywhere. And I'm sorry I didn't give you a choice. A lot of what I'm doing is instinct, but..."

“But what?"

“I didn't have any more time to give you. You're the one who's spent the last month avoiding me."

She gasped. “Don't blame it on me!"

Apparently, he decided arguing wasn't getting him anywhere and he shifted gears. His new tactic involved sliding the gown up her hips. He was cradled between her legs and she was wet and ready. He cupped her face, and with practiced ease slid his tongue into her mouth and his cock into her pussy. It was impossible to stay mad.

Her eyelids drifted shut and she went with the moment. She could get used to this. And him. Even if he was impossible and bossy. When he left ... her eyes flew open. Oh my God, she was in love with him! How else could she explain the tearing in heart at the thought of him leaving? What if what he said was true? She let the block she'd been using drop. Feeling the full strength of the bond between them, she finally started to accept he was her future.