Lycan Contempt

by S. K. Yule

  “Cut it out, Brady.” Kish’s voice was low, menacing, and made the hair on the back of Georgia’s neck stand on end.

  “He’s only kidding with me, Kish. Right, Brady?”

  “Of course.” Brady answered Georgia with a chuckle.

  “Can you get some clean water and a rag, Kish?

  Some bandages if you have them as wel?” Georgia worked her way around the couch.

  She reached out to find Brady, but before she touched him, strong, warm fingers circled her wrist and puled back.

  “Kish. What’s wrong with you? Brady’s wound needs to be cleaned.”

  “I’l get the stuff, and he can do it himself.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “He. Can. Do. It. Himself.” Kish’s words were low and laced with warning.

  “What is your problem? I’m not a child, and I can make my own decisions.”

  “I don’t want you to touch him, Georgia.”

  “Kish, you have done nothing but help me since I met you, and I don’t want to seem disrespectful or ungrateful for that, but you are realy pissing me off.

  Unless you can give me a realy good explanation why I should not help Brady, I’m going to do so. He is a felow human being in need of help. Now please get the supplies I asked for if you have them so we can get him taken care of before his injury becomes infected.”

  Her cheeks heated, but not with embarrassment.

  Her annoyance was rising to the surface, and she was finding it hard to understand why Kish didn’t want her to help Brady. He didn’t move or say a word. Finaly, after several minutes, she put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot in agitation.

  “Wel?”

  Kish sighed. “Fine. But don’t touch him until I get back.”

  “Touchy, huh?” Brady snorted.

  Georgia frowned. “Yeah. I guess.”

  Although Kish had never seemed that way to her until now, but she kept having to remind herself that she’d only known him for a few hours. Why did he seem upset about her helping Brady? She wasn’t sure, but she’d ask him about it later.

  Only a couple minutes passed before Kish was back. When she bent in front of Brady to tend his injury, Kish knelt beside her and shoved the bowl of water into her hands while he went to work on the wound.

  “Son of a bi—beach, bro. Take it easy,” Brady grunted.

  Kish didn’t say a word in response, and Georgia could nearly feel the tension and heat steaming off of him. She’d been wrapped up in his response to her being near Brady and had almost missed the strange scent permeating the air. It was nothing she’d ever smeled before with a hint of the wildness she now associated with Kish.

  She simply shrugged it off with Kish, but now that she’d met two men in the span of a few hours that had a scent she’d never smeled before, she began to think on it a little more. The scent was vaguely familiar, yet she couldn’t place it. She racked her brain while Kish continued tending to Brady’s injury.

  Just when he’d finished, it hit her. The only time she’d smeled anything close to what she detected on Kish and now Brady was at her one trip to the zoo several years ago. Particularly the predator section that housed the lions, tigers, and wolves and such.

  But why in the heck would Kish and Brady have such a scent? Yet another thing she would be questioning Kish about later.

  Kish took the bowl from her and helped her stand before walking away probably to discard the water and other stuff he’d tended to Brady’s injury with.

  She sat down on the couch next to Brady.

  “Better not sit too close. Your boyfriend might hurt me.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend.”

  “Could have fooled me.”

  She frowned.

  “Aw. Don’t look so confused. It’s obvious he has a thing for you. And hel, who could blame him? You are beautiful.”

  She felt heat rush to her cheeks. “Thank you. I’m sorry you got hurt by the way.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  “I hope you feel better soon.”

  “Again, me too, but thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you go blind?”

  The question she’d been asked numerous times didn’t phase her. “I was born without my sight. For some reason, my optic nerves did not form properly.”

  “Bummer.”

  She giggled. “Not realy. You can’t miss something you’ve never had. I have adjusted fine. I don’t feel any different from anyone else.”

  Brady admired the woman sitting next to him for her spunk and determination. While she was probably right in thinking that she was no different from anyone else—anyone else being your average, everyday Joe —she would be considered seriously handicapped to his species, hel, any shifter species. Being blind and a predator didn’t mix. His keen sight had saved his ass as many times as his amplified sense of smel and hearing.

  If she were lost in the woods, she’d be a sitting duck waiting for a predator to pluck her, hel, inviting a predator to pluck her. A twinge of guilt tickled his gut. And he was the predator that was going to do that plucking.

  He scowled. When he’d started down this path, he’d felt no remorse. The woman had been a mere means to getting his sister back, a bargaining chip.

  But now she had a name, a beautiful face, and a kind heart. He’d never been a violent man. Had never kiled unless necessary, and while he wouldn’t be the one actualy kiling Georgia, he had no doubt that’s what would end up happening to her once he made the trade.

  He was going to wilingly put her into the hands of the rogues that had kidnapped his sister. The beasts that had found Georgia only a week earlier. Two days ago he hadn’t been dumped by a woman. Hel, he’d never been dumped by a woman. He wasn’t a pompous ass, but he knew how to please women, and to be fair, he didn’t usualy stick around long enough to be dumped. Long-term relationships were not his thing.

  Two days ago, his sister had been kidnapped right out from under his nose. The lycans had come to him the same night they’d taken her, told him the only way he’d see her alive again was if he brought Georgia to them.

  They’d apparently been folowing her, waiting for just the right moment to nab her. When that moment had finaly come, Kish had showed up and foiled it.

  He had to give it to the two rogues for not being naive and stupid. Kish was a mean-looking son of a bitch, and he was sure the man could squash the two rogues with no problem.

  Truth be told, he could kil the two with little effort, but unfortunately, he’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Once they had his sister, they had his bals in a vice and they knew it. Georgia was his only hope of ever seeing Krista alive again. She was the only family he had left. He hadn’t been lying—wel, much—when he’d said he hadn’t seen another of his kind for years. He’d just omitted that he’d not seen another of his kind besides his sister. As far as he knew, they truly were the last of their species.

  Krista was his only family, and he was her protector. He’d let her down. He had to set things right. He had to save her. And even though his damned conscience was starting to rear its ugly head, he had to do what he must. If that meant putting Georgia in the hands of two rogues, he had no choice. The guilt grew from a tinge and now gnawed at his insides. Yes, he had no choice, but he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

  Chapter Ten

  Kish’s blood pressure shot up when he found Georgia sitting on the couch beside Brady. He didn’t exactly mistrust the guy, but he wouldn’t say he trusted him either. He also wanted to get him alone and get more details about how he’d ended up at his house because something wasn’t sitting right in his brain. Although the story Brady had told him seemed perfectly plausible, maybe not to a normal person, but to a shifter, yes, Kish had a feeling Brady hadn’t told him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

  There was no doubt in his mind that rogues of his species would find tormenting Brady a fun game, but how he’d escaped two lycans while in h
uman form and injured was a feat he found improbable if not impossible. He guessed under certain circumstances it could be achieved, but while he, himself, had confidence he could take down two rogues in human form, he wasn’t as confident about Brady’s ability to do so.

  Kish was an ancient and could partialy change, which gave him an upper hand against younger, inexperienced rogues. Since Brady had said he couldn’t shift while injured, that stacked the odds higher against Brady surviving two days in the forest during blizzard conditions with two rogues on his tail.

  He didn’t want to completely discount Brady since he knew absolutely nothing about lynx shifters. He hadn’t known such a thing existed until tonight, and he’d been around a long time. If it was true that Brady was the last of the species, that would explain why he’d never heard of them. Cats were notorious hunters and crafty hiders when the situation caled for it. Maybe Brady was a master at blending in.

  “Yeah. I guess it is kind of a bummer, but like I said, I’ve never had my sight, so I don’t feel I’ve missed out on much. I get along fine.”

  “I can see that.” Brady winced. “Damn, that was classy.”

  Georgia laughed a throaty chuckle that slid through Kish like the familiarity of a lover’s caress.

  “Don’t feel you need to tiptoe around my blindness. Making references about what you or anyone else can or can’t see doesn’t bother me in the least. I don’t expect people to change to adapt to my presence. Besides, I don’t take things like that personaly. It’s just people saying things they’ve always said and only feeling guilty about it because there’s suddenly a blind girl in the room. I’ve got thick skin.”

  “I don’t know about thick, but it sure is beautiful.”

  Brady leaned close and sniffed.

  A low growl rumbled from Kish’s chest, and Brady and Georgia both froze. Lucy, who had been lying peacefuly by Georgia’s feet, sat up and looked at him warily.

  “Did you just growl?” Georgia asked.

  “Yeah. Did you, dude?” Brady gave him a wide grin folowed by a wink.

  “No, I cleared my throat,” Kish said while giving Brady a look that promised retribution. “It’s late.

  Maybe you should go to bed, Georgia.”

  Kish didn’t miss the way Georgia bristled at his suggestion. She was an independent firecracker, and he adored that about her. He frowned. It wasn’t that he felt a man should be in charge and a woman should do what she was told. Those days were long gone, and he was glad they were, but when it came to Georgia’s protection, he wanted her obedience. Not because he was the man, but because he had the ability to keep her safe.

  He’d never try to force her to do anything she didn’t want to do, unless it came to her safety. That particular subject, he had a feeling, would forever be a thorn between them. Forever? There would be no forever for the two of them, not in the happily ever after sense anyway. But he could no longer deny that there would be a sort of forever for them. The sort of forever where he covertly watched over her until the day she died and made sure no harm came to her.

  A near knee-buckling pain shot through his chest.

  Georgia and dead did not go together in his brain. In fact, it was like oil and water. There was no way to make them cohesive. And that was when he understood his life was forever fucked. He couldn’t live with her and he couldn’t live without her. Brady had referenced the saying earlier, but he could truly say that this was the first moment in time he truly understood the ful meaning of it.

  “I am tired, but I was talking to Brady.” Georgia frowned.

  Her voice brought him out of his morbid thoughts and bathed him in sunshine, warming his cels, his muscles, his heart, his very bones. So fucked.

  Kish shot Brady another look of warning.

  “I’d love to talk some more, Georgia, but I wouldn’t mind grabbing some sleep myself. I think my injury has taken a tol on me.” Brady shot one arrogant brow up at Kish.

  “Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you awake.

  Of course, you must be exhausted after what you’ve been through.” Georgia stood.

  Kish fixed another deadly stare at Brady.

  “No, I didn’t mean to be rude. You weren’t keeping me awake at al. I simply thought since Kish brought the matter up, I should go with it. Otherwise, I’d sit here al night and listen to your mesmerizing voice.”

  Georgia blushed furiously and Kish felt rage paired with jealousy rip through his chest. Claws shot from his fingertips and he felt the slide of his canines through his gums. This time, Brady took his low, warning growl more seriously and shut the hel up before Kish ripped his fucking head off.

  “I’l walk you to your room, Georgia,” Kish said.

  “I can make it on my own.”

  She was stil irritated with him, but that only made her sexier. The urge to take her to the ground and slide into her slick, hot body was nearly overwhelming. He took a calming breath and let his wolf retreat.

  “I insist.” After his claws retracted, he took her hand in his and walked with her down the halway.

  Once at her door, she turned to him. His heart thudded hard in his chest and his blood rushed his veins. So damn beautiful it hurt. He placed his index finger over her lips, halting the tongue-lashing she was no doubt gearing up to give him.

  “I didn’t mean to seem bossy. I just know you’ve had a long day and must be tired. I wanted you to get some sleep tonight.”

  No. Not realy. What he realy wanted was for her to stay up al night with him tangled between the sheets as he claimed her over and over, as she screamed his name until she lost her sexy, husky voice.

  The anger suddenly drained from her and her rigid shoulders slumped. “Oh.”

  He cupped her cheek with his unscarred hand and leaned toward her. “There was something I wanted to do earlier when we got interrupted.”

  “What’s that?” Her breathy words whispered over his skin.

  “I think you know, but I’l show you anyway.”

  He took her lips before she could respond. He’d only meant to take a quick taste, but once her scent delicately drifted through him and her mouth softened under his, he was lost.

  His tongue dipped between her lips and touched the tip of hers. She moaned, he growled, and walked her into the room until her back was flush against the wal. With little urging, her legs were wrapped around his waist, and he was nestled between her thighs. He tasted her, drew her into him until she became part of his soul. Never again would he be whole without her.

  She looped her arms around his neck and tunneled her fingers through the short hairs at his nape. He growled louder when she arched against him, the tips of her nipples evident through their clothing.

  “You are so sexy,” he breathed against her.

  She gasped. “You aren’t so bad yourself.” She smiled.

  He ached to rip the clothes from both their bodies.

  He needed to see her naked, needed to see the desire for him burning in her eyes, the desire that matched his own. Her tongue retreated then ran delicately along his bottom lip, and he slid his hands around to her rear where he cupped each perfect globe of her ass and kneaded gently.

  “You have the most delectable backside.” He gave her another gentle squeeze as if to prove his point.

  “And here,”—he thrust against her—“you are so hot, so ready for me. I want to be inside you so bad it’s kiling me.”

  She moaned again, and he took her mouth in another deep kiss. She tugged at his hair and arched against him while he tasted and ground his hips against her. The heat and scent of her desire were bringing the wolf to the surface, making him forget about everything else in the world but the two of them, right here, right now. But just as he reached to rid of her of shirt, her hands slid around and cupped his face. Her soft fingers ran over the smooth skin on the unscarred side, then the rough skin of the damaged side.

  He grunted, stepped back, and barely kept her from hitting the floor ass first. H
e steadied her on her feet and quickly backed away.

  “Kish? What’s wrong?”

  Son of a bitch. Now she knew the horrible, disfigured man he was.

  “Nothing. I have to go.”

  “Kish, I—”

  “Good night.”

  Great going, Georgia. Now you’ve insulted the man. Regret ate away at the stil burning desire Kish had lit inside her. She hadn’t meant to touch his face, had known he was sensitive about it. It was true she yearned to know what he looked like, but she’d done it more out of habit than anything.

  She laid her hand over her stil galoping heart.

  Damn if he didn’t know how to kiss and touch her.

  She’d thought she was going to go up in flames. She wanted Kish, and she was certain he wanted her.

  He’d practicaly eaten her alive. Hel, she’d wanted him to. The heat of his hard body pressed against her, the way he’d held her against the wal as if she weighed nothing, the way his mouth tasted her . . .

  She shuddered and traced her fingers along her lips.

  They stil tingled from his kisses.

  Now there will probably never be any more kisses. But why was he so sensitive about the scars on his face? True, she’d only gotten a quick feel, but the scars hadn’t seemed al that bad to her. Even if they had been, it would have made no difference to her. He was a stunningly gorgeous, sexy man.

  She shrugged off her clothing and found an old Tshirt and some sweats to wear to bed. “How am I going to patch things up with him now, Lucy?”

  She couldn’t simply take it back. She couldn’t say she hadn’t felt the scars. She couldn’t say they didn’t matter because though that was the truth on her end, it was obviously far from the truth with him. But why had it mattered so much to him that she not see them?

  If she had her sight, she would have noticed the scars right away.

  She climbed into bed and puled the sheet and blanket up to her neck. “Come up, Lucy.”

  Lucy jumped up onto the foot of the bed and curled up on Georgia’s feet.