When a Beta Roars (11 page)

Taste her. Lick her.

Basic needs. Primal needs. He ignored them both. This wasn’t about him. He wanted to show her pleasure, the kind that came from a man who wanted to worship.

With that thought in mind, he teased her by rubbing the bristled edge of his jaw along the silky skin of her inner thigh.

She shivered.

He did it again, this time to the other side.

She made a mewling sound.

He poised his mouth before her exposed pink sex, letting his warm breath brush against it. She let out a cry, and her hips jerked.

“Hayder!” She moaned his name, her need so clear he could hold off no longer. His lips latched onto her sex with a suddenness that made her exclaim, and her whole body arched.

But he followed her bucking hips and kept lapping at her core, spreading her pink lips to delve within. He stabbed her with his tongue and held her hips tight as he foraged. She trembled in his grasp. Her body. Her sex. Even her breathing wavered.

When he let his lips move to her pleasure nub, she let out a small scream. She was close, so close. He flicked her clit with his tongue and, at the same time, inserted a finger into her.

How tight she felt. How hot. He inserted a second one, even as he continued to tease her swollen button.

She thrashed on the bed, her upper body at least. He held her hips pinned to the bed as he pleasured her. In and out, he thrust his fingers, feeling her tightening around him, the walls of her sex pulsing with heat and tension.

Faster he stroked. Faster. Faster…

She came. Her whole body froze in a perfect arch that saw her back rounding away from the bed, her whole body one taut plane. Her sex shuddered as waves of bliss shook her. Her scream was strident. Loud. Unabashed.

And did he say loud?

He had only a moment to spring to his feet and toss a blanket over Arabella before he confronted a snarling lioness, whose roared, “Die, wolf,” faded to an, “Oops. My mistake.”

A smirk on her lips, Luna waggled her fingers goodbye and then left.

Hayder almost stalked after her but was stopped by…laughter? He spun around to confront the source. Arabella giggled, quite uncontrollably too.

Arms crossed over his chest, he tried to appear stern. “I fail to see the humor.”

“That’s because you can’t see the look on your face.”

He’d wear that look every day if it meant hearing her laugh. He could also get used to seeing her like this everyday. Damned she looked good. Despite the sheet drawn to her neck, Arabella still appeared the perfect picture of passionate decadence with her tousled hair, swollen lips and still flushed countenance.

Wanna snuggle.

It wasn’t just the lion that wanted to crawl into bed with her and spoon. It occurred to him that the ill-timed interruption had stolen his after-moment. It also brought forth one of the pride’s most annoying habits. Meddling, even if well intentioned. “Sorry about the interruption.”

Her lips quirked. “Does it happen often?”

To lie or not to lie. “Unfortunately yes.”

Privacy wasn’t often respected in the pride. They were families. Families butted in. And fights broke out. Reunions and holiday feasts were always an event—requiring a few first aid kits.

Good thing they kept a few were-lions on the police force to smooth over any disturbance complaints.

Locks meant nothing. Neither did knocking. So was he surprised that someone came barging in because he’d made Arabella scream too hard? And, yeah, that tidbit did render him a tad smug.

Truthfully, he should probably thank Luna for her diligence. It meant she’d accepted Arabella as part of the pride, and as such, that meant she’d protect her.

But who would protect his poor abused balls from his baby?

Crooking a finger, she beckoned him. Crawl back in bed and try to keep his mind off sinking his hard cock into her sweetness, or take a really cold fucking shower—while giving himself a hand job to better help him keep his promise to her of not claiming her before she was ready.

He chose pure torture. He crawled back into bed with her.

Was the “Eep,” that escaped him as the touch of her burrowing against him very manly? No, and neither was his feline very supportive considering it did a flop and stuck its legs in the air, lolled its tongue, and pretended it was cartoon dead.

Very fucking funny.

But true. It might kill him having her spooned so close, and him promising to not claim her. Yet, how could he refuse her when she said, “Will you sleep with me and keep the nightmares away?”

He uttered a mournful second “Eep” as her buttocks fitted against his groin, but he used the torture as a strengthening exercise all the while thinking,
my woman, mine,
as he held her in his arms.

This is nice.

More than nice. Waking up in the arms of a man who made you feel protected, instead of on edge and tense, proved amazing.

Hayder was amazing.

What man would forgo his pleasure even though he surely smelled her erotic interest? Hayder had. While he might have let his evident erection rub against her, he did nothing else.

Nothing.

At all.

He didn’t press her, the jerk. However, he did torture with what could happen. Her mind didn’t help by rerunning the pleasure he’d given her. A pleasure she wanted more of because one climax at his hands acted like a drug. One hit and she wanted more.

I want him.

He’s ours.

The echo in her psyche no longer surprised her as much. It seemed a certain dormant part of her stirred. After so much time, Arabella just needed to have some patience. Give her wolf time to heal and adjust.

The dark room belied the red glare of the numbers on the clock. “How can it be seven thirty a.m. and pitch-black in here? I usually get great morning sunlight.”

Lips nuzzled the back of her neck, firing a shiver down her spine. She squirmed in retaliation, rewarded by a groan as a length of molten steel pressed against the seam of her butt. “I had them put in blackout curtains while we were at the farm yesterday.”

She froze. For some reason, his assumption that he’d sleep with her stung. Was she such a pushover? Had she learned nothing? Even worse. He’d guessed right.

They had slept together, and while they hadn’t had sex, she’d definitely let him take extensive liberties with her body.

Hell, I would have had sex with him if he’d pressed me.

But that wasn’t the point. How dare he be so arrogant as to premeditate something that should happen naturally over a course of time as a man and woman got to know each other?  “You mean you assumed you’d be sleeping in here?”

“Of course. I’m your mate, even if I haven’t claimed you yet. Where else would I be?”

“On the couch.”

“But it’s short.”

“How about in your own apartment?”

Out of bed she rolled, to her feet, ignoring his, “Where you going, baby?”

“For a shower—”

“Awesome.”

“Alone.”

“There’s room for two.”

She spun, chin held high, and while her challenging stare was rusty from lack of practice, she threw it on as she said, “I am going to shower alone. As in me. Just me. Or are you going to be pushy again and not give me some space?”

“What’s the matter, baby? Why so angry?”

“You are pushing too hard, too fast. I need some space. From you.” She almost took back the words at his crestfallen face.

Then she tensed as she waited to see if she’d finally managed to cross a line.

The crazy lion laughed. “I’ll be damned. You are getting more and more independent each day. This new assertive side of you is sexy, baby.”

“It is?” Somehow she managed to ask as she gaped at him in disbelief.

“Super sexy. Makes me hot as hell too. I don’t suppose I could get you to wear a cop uniform? Maybe play with some cuffs.”

The heat in her face had nothing to do with embarrassment but was all about the awakening arousal making her pulse pound as she could so easily—and naughtily—picture what he said.

He took a step toward her. She took one back and held out her hand. “Stop right there. I mean it. I need some time alone.” Because if he didn’t leave now, they’d end up in bed, probably for the rest of the day. She freely admitted she lacked restraint around him.

“I’ll go for now, baby. I could use some exercise. I hear wolf chasing is lots of fun. Or so the Instagram pics I saw seemed to indicate. The lionesses had a busy night, even if a lot of their hunting seemed to involve bars and alcohol. Apparently many of my cousins seem to think your brethren might be barflies, or is that barwolves?”

“You’re going to hunt them?”

“Hell yeah. And you’re going to stay right here. In this condo. No going out.”

“Finally he admits that’s a better plan.”

“No. But until I know it’s safe, I don’t want you going out without me.”

“Is that an order?”

“Yeah, it is.” He smiled as he took a few steps and invaded her space. His hard kiss stole any retort she might have made.

Leaving her breathing a little heavy, he grabbed his pants from the floor and yanked them on, hiding his muscular legs. It was awful. And not because she couldn’t admire him anymore but more because she really wanted to strip them off.

Unable to watch him any longer, she fled to the bathroom, indulging in a long shower. Really long. And cold. Real cold.

She shivered, but that was okay. Hayder would warm her up.

At any moment she expected the glass partition to slide over and for him to step in. He’d say something ridiculously him like, “I need to wash my hair,” and then he’d turn into a total guy and seduce her.

Oh yeah. His hands all over my body. His cock thrusting into me. The taste of him in my mouth.

Except it didn’t come to pass. Had he truly left?

She’d demanded he give her space, but she never actually expected him to listen.

No one did.

Emerging from the shower, body encased in a fluffy towel, she peeked for him in the bedroom. Mussed-up sheets, curtains pulled back, no Hayder.

She dressed quickly, matching lace panties and bra and then snug yoga pants with an almost diaphanous blouse. Barefoot, she strode into the living room. It was empty.

But the kitchen held someone.

With a swirl of blonde hair and a wide smile, Luna turned from the stove. “There you are. Just in time too for not completely burnt pancakes.”

Using a plastic flipper, the edge melted into a lumpy ragged mess, Luna dropped some charred on one side, almost milky white on the other pancakes onto plates.

“What happened to the plastic spatula?”

Luna waved it. “Darned things. Always melting on me. You’d think they’d make kitchen stuff that handled cooking on high.” Luna slid a plate in Arabella’s direction before she waved her massacred flipper. “Have a seat. I’ll grab you a coffee. That I know how to make.”

Thank goodness for Keurig coffeemakers else Arabella feared what sludge she might have had to drink. The pancakes proved palatable. Barely. But, since Luna had gone to the trouble, she thought it best to gag it down with a smile and thanks. No use antagonizing the obviously crazy lioness.

And yes, she meant crazy, especially given Luna’s plan. “After breakfast, we’ll head over to the gym and slap you around a bit.”

Having just bitten into a more powdery section of pancake, the sharp breath Arabella inhaled dusted the inside of her lungs with dry ingredients. She choked. She sputtered. Her eyes watered, and she just about fell off her stool as Luna pounded her back.

“You going to live there, wolf girl?”

Live? She certainly hoped so but had to wonder, given all the plans people had for her. “Can I ask,” she said after a few sips of orange juice, “why you want to beat me?”

“To get your wolf to come out and protect you, of course. I heard about your little problem.”

“How? Did Hayder tell?” She didn’t think he would. She hoped he wouldn’t. Harry had told anyone who listened about his defective wife.
“Stupid bitch can’t even shift. I only keep her around cause she can cook.”

“As if.” Luna rolled her eyes. “No, we didn’t get the info from Hayder. Bloody guy growls if anyone shows too much interest in you. He’s also gotten really fond of the word mine. Totally retro beast if you ask me. But I guess it’s hot in a primitive way. Aunt Cecily says, once he claims you, this whole prehistoric cat-man shtick will die down.”

It took Arabella a moment to filter all the information. One key point stuck out. Hayder was claiming her in public? Why instead of angering her did it warm her to her toes? She’d not agreed to anything yet. Still it tickled her to know he wasn’t ashamed of admitting his feelings.

She, on the other hand, was terrified to give in to—and trust—hers.

But knowing Hayder wasn’t the leak didn’t answer her question. “How did you hear about my wolf?”

“Jeoff, of course. While Hayder might be tight lipped, your brother, on the other hand, hasn’t stopped blabbing about you. He’s been ranting and raving how it’s his fault you’re like this and he should have done something years ago. He’s moaning he’s the worst brother ever.”

“It’s not his fault. I made my choice. Bad as it was.”

Luna nodded. “Yeah, the shit that happened to you was your fault.”

Arabella recoiled.

“Hold on, I don’t mean it the way you think. I mean that, yes, you did choose that life, but you certainly didn’t deserve what happened to you. And you were dumb in letting pride keep you from changing that.”

“I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“You’re an anyone too, Arabella.” Luna’s mien turned from jocular to serious as they spoke. “You mean something. And you don’t deserve to be hurt. It’s time you cinched your brass boobs in an eye-popping bra, pushed your shoulders back, and stuck up for yourself. It’s also time for your wolf to stop hiding. And the best way to get your bitch riled up is to hurt the body.”

Hair flew in wet strands stinging her cheeks as she shook her head. “It won’t work. Pain is why she went away.”

“Is it? I say we test that theory.”

“Hayder said to stay here.”

“Hayder said to stay here,” Luna aped. “Since when is he the boss of you?”

“He’s not, but it’s safer to stay in the condo.”

“It’s also safer to bubble wrap yourself instead of playing sports. It’s safer to drink filtered tap water than fresh from a babbling stream. But do you really want to spend your life only doing what’s safe?”

Put that way, Luna had a point, but the examples she used were about mundane things, not out-of-the-ordinary situations involving control-freak Lycans with violent tendencies.

“I’m staying.”

Something about the clucking and chicken strutting Luna subjected her to made Arabella snap. Was she really any safer in here than out there? Hayder thought the farm was safe and look what happened. Who was to say they wouldn’t take a page from her brother’s book and hire a helicopter for a daring rappel kidnapping? If Jeoff could arrange it, so could her old pack.

She eyed the balcony door then the apartment one.

Luna sensed her wavering. “Oh, come on. Worst-case scenario, some ruffians come after us and we get to kick some furball ass. I hear you’re more vicious than a wolverine on speed when provoked.”

“Who said that?”

“Hayder. He was quite proud too.”

He bragged about her? “Not proud enough or confident enough to let me go out on my own.”

“What a jerk. We should show him.”

“Yeah we should.” Arabella almost looked around to see who’d said it.

Before she could take back the words, Luna was dragging her from the condo. She tried to protest in the elevator, only to have Luna say, “You gonna let another man tell you what to do?”

The question stuck with Arabella as she let Luna lead her from the elevator and grab a posse of two other lionesses looking to hit the gym. Suitably surrounded, even Arabella could find no fault. Wasn’t Hayder the one who claimed the women of his pride kicked butt?

Since none of them wanted to drive, they hailed a cab, which deposited them ten minutes later in front of a two-story brown-brick building. Nothing modern or chrome here. As a matter of fact, it didn’t look like a gym at all, despite the small hand-painted sign that read, Lion’s Athletic Club.

“How original,” was Arabella’s dry remark upon seeing it. “However, isn’t advertising the whole lion thing everywhere kind of inviting discovery.”

Luna laughed. “On the contrary. In plain sight is sometimes the best camouflage.”

Out in the open, and in spite of the bodies flanking her, Arabella once again questioned the wisdom in leaving the condo. “Maybe we should have stayed in. We might have been followed.”

“Good. Nothing like the present to exterminate a problem.”

How fearless Luna appeared. “Aren’t you afraid they might be stronger?”

“I’m afraid of lightning, but it doesn’t mean I won’t walk in the rain. I fear human hunters with rifles, but that doesn’t stop me from running in the woods. I also fear getting a fat ass from too much cheesecake, but that never prevented me from eating the whole damn thing. You can’t let fear rule you.”

“No fear.” Arabella took a deep breath. “Sounds so simple. I’ll bet it’s easy for you. You ooze confidence.”

“Some of that is fake. Bluffing is a great tool.” Luna winked. “Now stop stalling and get your ass inside so I can chase you around a ring.”

Luna meant that quite literally.

An hour later, out of breath, and ducking the umpteenth fist from Luna, Arabella managed to huff, “Are we done yet? It isn’t working.”