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Authors: Jess Tami; Haines Angie; Dane Alexandra; Fox Ivy

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BOOK: The Real Werewives of Vampire County
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Luc tightened his grip, his face burying in the curve of her neck. Then, still pumping into her at a furious pace, he sank his teeth into her flesh, sending her into a shattering climax.
Sophia shuddered in bliss, convulsing around him as he gave one more thrust and cried out with the violent pleasure of his own release.
 
Luc rolled to the side, wrapping his arms tightly around Sophia’s trembling body as he struggled to catch his breath. His mind reeled from the astounding pleasure that continued to shudder through him.
Not just the orgasm that had ripped through him with the force of a tsunami, but the feel of her flesh beneath his fangs as he had marked her with his bite.
A damned shame that the mark wouldn’t last. He wouldn’t be at all displeased to have her walking around with a blatant display of his ownership.
Unfortunately even now her skin was healing, returning to the perfect, unmarred silk that tempted him to lean down and sink his teeth in for another bite.
He groaned, his body hardening.
Now that he thought about it, he was tempted to start the whole thing over. This time he wouldn’t let the bewitching Were provoke him into such a swift conclusion.
He intended to take hours pleasuring her.
To have her pleading for release.
And most importantly, to make certain that he had entrenched himself so deeply she would never, ever want another lover.
Snuggling against his chest, Sophia heaved a sigh of contentment.
“That was ...”
“Sensational?” he offered, his lips teasing over her brow and down the slender length of her nose. “Life altering? The best you’ve ever had?”
“Adequate.”
He snorted. The earth had just moved.
For both of them.
“Adequate?”
He lowered his head to deliberately tease the tender spot just below her ear, chuckling as she quivered in ready response.
“Okay, maybe it was above average,” she whispered huskily.
“You’re playing with fire,
cara.
” Nipping the lobe of her ear, he planted hungry kisses down the length of her throat, pausing to nuzzle the tender flesh he intended to hold in his teeth as he brought them both to an explosive climax. “Shall I remind you of just how good it is between us?”
She groaned, her hands branding a path of heat over his chest and down his stomach.
“It’s coming back,” she assured him. “Slowly.”
For all his brawn, Luc had always been surprisingly intuitive. In truth, it was his ability to read others that made him such a lethal killer.
Any Were could use his teeth and claws to battle his enemies. But a soldier who could predict what his opponent was going to do before he did it, priceless.
It wasn’t intuition, however, that made him pull back to study his companion with a searching gaze. No, this was much deeper. Much more ... intimate.
“Sophia?”
“Hmmm?” she murmured, her hands continuing the path of destruction toward his fully erect cock.
Mierda,
he wanted to forget the concern that niggled at the edge of his mind. Surely whatever was bothering Sophia could wait?
At least for a few hours.
Then, as he caught the scent of wariness threaded through the rich spice of her desire, he heaved a small sigh, catching her hand a mere heartbeat before she captured his shaft and put an end to any coherent thought.
“There’s something on your mind.”
She flashed a deliberately wicked smile. The kind of smile intended to divert any red-blooded male.
“A sexy six-foot Were who thinks he’s all that?”
Bringing her hand to his lips, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles, his gaze never wavering from her pale face.
“Nice try, but I know when a female is distracted.” He smiled wryly. “Not a problem I usually have when I’m in bed with her.”
She rolled her eyes. “You really need to work on your self-confidence.”
“Sophia, tell me what’s troubling you.”
There was a long silence as she inwardly debated the odds of keeping her secrets. Then, clearly accepting that there wasn’t a chance in hell, she heaved a resigned sigh.
“I’m not sure you actually want to know.”
He hissed, his muscles rigid as he prepared for an unseen blow.
“Dammit,” he rasped. “If you try to convince me you regret our—”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Just tell me.”
She licked her lips, looking oddly vulnerable. “I was attracted to you from the moment we first met.”
“I knew you had good taste.” His voice remained tense even as he gently tucked a golden curl behind her ear.
“But I told myself that I would be an idiot to give in to that attraction.”
“Why?”
She lowered her lashes, as if she could somehow hide from his searching gaze.
“Because I wasn’t going to be a convenient lay that would be forgotten the moment you returned to Miami.”
He froze, his brows snapping together. “That’s what you thought of me? That I intended to use and abandon you?”
“I wasn’t judging you,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed more than my share of meaningless hookups.”
Was that supposed to reassure him?
Dios.
Abruptly rolling onto his back, he threw an arm over his face.
Why didn’t she get a little salt to rub into the wound?
“You’re right, I don’t want to hear this,” he muttered.
He felt her turn to press against his side, her hand lightly running over his chest in a gesture of apology.
“Luc, let me finish,” she softly pleaded.
He refused to look at her. Maybe he was being childish. After all, he couldn’t deny that he’d had a few one-night stands in his past. And while he had never intentionally used a woman, there might have been a few who had wanted more than he was willing to offer.
But the thought that Sophia could ever have dismissed their powerful connection as a meaningless bout of lust pissed him off.
Royally.
“Say it,” he snarled.
“I was lying to myself.”
“About what?”
There was the slightest hesitation before she heaved a deep sigh.
“About you and why I was terrified to let you into my bed.”
He lowered his arm, grudgingly meeting her troubled gaze. “Then what was the reason?”
“I was afraid I would never let you out of it.”
The blunt words hung in the air as Luc allowed them to slowly ease the sick ball of dread that had lodged in his gut.
At last he lifted a hand to lightly touch her pale cheek. “Sophia?”
“My wolf recognized you from the beginning,” she admitted. “It understood... .”
“Don’t stop now,
cara,
” he coaxed, desperately needing to hear the words.
“It understood that you belong to me.”
“Ah.”
The emerald eyes flared at his noncommittal response. “I warned you that you wouldn’t want to know.”
His laughter was filled with pure joy as he rolled her beneath him, pinning her to the mattress with his much larger body.
“How could you possibly think I wouldn’t want to know how you feel?” he growled, not certain if he wanted to shake her or kiss her senseless.
The damned female could make him feel as uncertain and awkward as a pup.
Her eyes widened as she felt the blunt tip of his erection settle at the moist entrance between her legs.
“You came here for a job, not to become mated.”
He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing the sensuous curve of her lips.
Just a few days ago the word
mate
would have made him break out in hives.
Now he couldn’t imagine his life without this woman.
“It doesn’t matter why I came, only that I never intend to leave.”
Her arms wrapped around his neck, her emerald eyes glowing with an emotion that was echoed in his racing heart.
“Never?”
He didn’t hesitate. “I belong to you now.”
“Mine?”
A smile curved her lips, then before he could guess her intentions, she’d captured his thumb between her teeth, gently sucking on it.
He growled in pleasure, the sensation of her tongue rubbing his thumb making his cock ache for the same delicious attention.
“Just as you are mine,” he swore, lowering his head to press restless kisses over her face.
White-hot need blazed through him, but somewhere in the back of his mind he felt a brief moment of disquiet.
It wasn’t just his fear for her safety, although that was a constant, biting concern. Until he’d captured and killed the bastard trying to harm Sophia he would always be on edge.
No, this was more personal.
But equally worrisome, he realized with a pang of surprise.
It wasn’t that he regretted his actions. He’d done what he was commanded. And more importantly, his actions had always been in an effort to protect this woman.
But something warned him that Sophia might not be pleased when she discovered that he hadn’t yet been totally honest with her.
Briefly he considered the notion of confessing all. It was, no doubt, the right thing to do. But even as the thought drifted through his mind, Luc was abruptly distracted when her legs wrapped around his hips, her nails biting into his ass in a silent plea for release.
There would be time later, he assured himself, squashing the tiny voice of warning.
Much, much later.
CHAPTER 7
I
t was late morning when Sophia and Luc crept into Kirsten’s home, both shifting into wolf form to make a swift sweep of her lavish lair.
Once it was obvious there was nothing suspicious beyond an obscenely massive collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes that Sophia fully intended to get her greedy hands on, Luc gave her rump a playful nip and they headed back to her house.
Following him up the stairs to her ... their ... bedroom, she had an opportunity to admire her wolf.
And he was well worth admiring.
A large beast with massive fangs and dark fur, he was the size of a pony with a broad chest and thickly muscled legs. His eyes glowed with the midnight fire of his wolf, but there was an unmistakable intelligence that was as dangerous as all the strength of his heavy body.
Oh yes, he was fine, fine, fine.
An opinion that was only emphasized as a shimmering light haloed his body as he shifted back to his human form.
He shuddered as his body hovered between wolf and man, the ancient magic pulsing through the air. Then the transformation was over and with a remarkable ability to recover, Luc was rising to his feet, his naked body all chiseled perfection wrapped in smooth bronze silk.
Yummmmmm.
Sophia concentrated on her own shift, relishing the painful stretch of muscle and popping of bone. There was a primitive satisfaction in calling on her powers.
Not quite as swift as Luc in regaining her balance, Sophia slowly rose to her feet and pulled on the short, silk robe tossed on the bed. Across the room, Luc was already dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and polo shirt that might have made him look civilized if not for the shadow of whiskers already darkening his jaw and the feral glint in his eyes.
“Anything?” he asked, referring to their recent jaunt through the vampire’s lair.
“No.”
He moved to the full-length mirror attached to the back of the door, smoothing back his hair.
“Which would seem to leave the cur as the last of our suspects.”
“Morton?” She snorted. “I can’t imagine him as a homicidal maniac.”
He turned to discover her eyeing his ass. A smug smile curved his lips.
“Looks are far too often deceiving.”
Sophia grimaced, picturing the dull fire hydrant of a cur. “They would have to be excessively deceiving.”
He shrugged. “I’ll soon find out.”
“Assuming he is guilty, I don’t know how walking around a golf course whacking at a white ball is going to convince the cur to confess.”
Luc crossed to stand directly in front of her. “He doesn’t need to confess.”
“No?”
He reached to grasp a lock of her hair, smoothing it between his fingers.
“Given enough time alone with him, I’ll know if he’s guilty.”
“Hmmm.” She studied the supreme confidence etched on his face. “You’re not a mind reader, are you?”
“I have any number of talents,
cara.
” His voice lowered to the husky drawl that made her shiver. “Not all of them involve a bed.”
“Arrogant dog.”
He paused, absently twirling her hair around one finger. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”
She gave a vague wave of her hand, hoping he truly wasn’t a mind reader.
“Oh, you know.”
“Know what?”
“This and that.”
His eyes narrowed. “Your ‘this and that’ wouldn’t include a visit to Victoria, would it?”
Dammit. How had he known she was plotting something?
“Isn’t that what golf widows do?” she demanded. “Keep each other company with a bottle of Chardonnay?”
“No.”
She planted her fists on her hips. “Excuse me?”
“It’s too dangerous.”
Odd. She would have thought their mating would have given him some insight into her aversion to being given orders.
He might as well have waved a red flag before a bull.
“How the hell can it be too dangerous?” she said between clenched teeth. “The cur’s going to be golfing with you, not lurking under the sofa.”
His expression was hard, as unyielding as granite. “The nymph might be working with him.”
“I already told you that she knew nothing about the attempts to kill me.”
“She could be lying,” he countered. “And even if she isn’t responsible, she will do whatever necessary to protect her lover if she realizes we suspect him.”
She stepped forward, poking her finger into the center of his chest.
“Let me get this straight,” she growled. “You intend to spend the entire afternoon with a cur who might or might not be a bloodthirsty murderer, but I’m not allowed to have a glass of wine with a damned nymph?”
He didn’t even flinch at her fierce accusation. “I’m not the one being hunted, Sophia.”
Her teeth snapped together at the truth of his words.
She was stubborn, not stupid. And while it aggravated the hell out of her, she had to concede he had a point.
The reason she’d hired a bodyguard hadn’t gone away just because she’d fallen in love with the man, had it? The only sensible thing to do was to let him do his job.
Even if the thought of twiddling her thumbs while Luc was searching for her enemy made her want to howl in frustration.
“Dammit.” She glared at Luc, in this moment holding him entirely responsible. Hey, what were mates for? “I hate feeling helpless.”
“You will never be helpless,
cara
, but just for now you need to take extra care,” he murmured, smoothing her hair behind her ear. “Let me protect you.”
Like he was giving her a choice?
She heaved a sigh. “Fine.”
“Fine what?” he demanded, almost as if he didn’t trust her.
Imagine that.
“I won’t visit the nymph,” she clarified.
“You’ll stay home?”
“No.”
“Sophia.”
She met his smoldering gaze with a stubborn frown. She’d agreed to give up her plan to search Morton’s house for signs of his guilt, but she’d be damned if she would remain trapped in her house like a damsel in distress.
“I need to go to the club.”
“It can survive one day without you.”
“Not today,” she insisted. “I have payroll checks to sign and a new dancer scheduled for an audition.”
He stilled, the scent of his wolf filling the air. The beast didn’t like the thought of her being close to another male.
Understandable. She’d slice off his nuts if she thought he was sniffing after another female.
“A new dancer?” he growled.
“Yes.” Her slow smile assured him that he was the only man she wanted. “He’s a Were from China who supposedly does things with his nun-chucks that make women melt.”
Without warning she was wrapped in possessive arms and hauled against Luc’s broad chest.
“When I get back tonight I’ll show you my nun-chucks,” he promised, planting an openmouthed kiss at the base of her neck. “I bet they’re bigger.”
A sure bet, she silently acknowledged, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Just make sure you make it back,” she commanded, studying him with open concern.
He might be the biggest, baddest Were on the block, but there was a psychopath out there who had a gun with silver bullets and wasn’t afraid to use them.
“I promise.” His lips nibbled a path up the curve of her neck, halting just below her ear. “And, Sophia.”
She shivered, her body instinctively arching against him. “Yes?”
“We need to talk.”
Pulling back she regarded him with a wary frown.
The words were as good as a cold shower.
“Why don’t I like the sound of that?”
“I just need you to know... .” He bit off his words, his expression impossible to read.
“What?”
There was a pause, as if he was considering his words. Then he gave a short shake of his head.
“Later.”
Okay. Her vague unease became downright worry.
“Luc?”
“Sorry.” He leaned down to steal a searing kiss that sent bolts of excitement through her before turning to head for the door. “Can’t be late for our tee time.”
She watched his departure with a jaundiced frown, knowing it would be a waste of time to try and force him to reveal what was troubling him.
He would confess when he was good and ready.
Throwing her hands in the air she headed to her shower.
“Men.”
 
The exclusive country club south of town was precisely what Luc had been expecting. A large clubhouse designed in a tudor-style with attached pool, tennis courts, and stables all impeccably maintained.
The surrounding golf course was equally well-manicured. The fairways were narrow with deep sand bunkers and a line of overhanging trees that might have posed a challenge for a human. Luc, however, possessed the strength to simply hit his ball over any obstacles to the distant green, more often than not ending up mere inches from the flag that fluttered in the summer breeze.
By the time they’d reached the back nine, his physical superiority had accomplished precisely what he desired.
Morton had gone from a casual companion to a furious cur who was fuming with a frustration that reddened his round cheeks and made his eyes flash with sparks of crimson as he tried to hold back his wolf.
Unlike pure-blooded Weres, the curs were at the mercy of their beast, and while Luc didn’t want the man to shift, he did want him so preoccupied with controlling his temper that his defenses were lowered.
Who knew what he might reveal?
Putting away his club after holing out on a par five, Luc joined his companion in the golf cart, nearly being tumbled out as the cur stomped on the gas pedal.
“Nice shot,” Morton gritted.
Luc sprawled back in the seat, smiling with a lazy arrogance custom-designed to infuriate his companion.
“Not bad.”
“Not bad?” Morton scowled. “It was a hole in one.”
“A little competitive there, champ?”
Looking remarkably like a marshmallow with his square, squishy body covered in a white shirt and matching pants, Morton gripped the wheel of the golf cart and struggled not to do something stupid.
“My name is Morton, not champ,” he snapped, “and when I do something, I like to do it well.”
“Don’t we all?”
The pale eyes glowed with a crimson fire. “Some more than others.”
Luc chuckled, reaching over to slap the man on the back, hard enough to rattle his teeth.
“You know, Morty-boy, if I didn’t know better I might think you didn’t like me.”
The cur clenched his teeth, no doubt counting to ten.
“How long are you planning to stay in Chicago?” he at last demanded.
“Hoping to get rid of me?”
“I would think the suburbs would be a bore.”
Luc offered a taunting grin, covertly studying the tension emanating from the cur.
So far all he’d managed to pick up was Morton’s natural aversion to an obnoxious companion. Time to up the ante.
“True, but there are benefits,” he drawled. “Sophia is smoking hot between the sheets.”
The male hissed. “Typical.”
“Did you say something?”
Without warning the cur veered the cart off the path and headed into a thick patch of trees. Turning in his seat, he studied Luc with a revulsion he no longer tried to hide.
Luc hid a smile. Action at last.
“Sophia is revered among our people, but of course a man like you would only consider your own pleasures.”
Luc paused at the fierce words.
There was an edge of crazy that he’d been looking for, but he didn’t sound like a man intent on killing a female.
Of course, there were always those bastards who were willing to murder the object of their fantasy if they couldn’t have them.
He slouched against the leather seat, pretending he didn’t notice the cur was a breath away from shifting.
“She may be revered, but she needs a good banging like every other woman.”
More crimson fire in the eyes. “Animal.”
“You seem abnormally interested in my relationship with Sophia,” Luc mocked. “Don’t you have your own female to worry about?”
Morton belatedly attempted to hide his obsession with his beautiful neighbor.
BOOK: The Real Werewives of Vampire County
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