by Vella Day
Once more, he didn’t linger as he buttoned her jeans. She expected him to step back, but instead he stayed close. Her breath increased, and she couldn’t have moved if she’d tried.
“Liz.” His voice cracked.
She looked into his simmering eyes that seemed to change right in front of her. The gray and green flecks now had more of an amber hue.
He clasped her shoulders, pulled her to his chest, and kissed her. While the pressure wasn’t hard, his kiss bordered on desperation. His tongue pried opened the seal of her lips, and she couldn’t bring herself to deny him entrance.
Their tongues tentatively touched a second before he took charge. Her nipples puckered, and when she clasped his shoulder, he jumped back.
“I’m sorry, Liz. I never should have kissed you. I—”
“It’s okay.” Her heart deflated. Who wanted a man to say the kiss had been a mistake? She moved back. “I need to finish getting ready.”
She rushed back to the bedroom happy her knees were a lot steadier than yesterday.
“I made you breakfast. Hurry back.”
She didn’t answer as she ducked into the bedroom and plastered her back against the door. What the hell just happened? She had only wanted help getting dressed. Trax seemed to think she was putting the moves on him. Then he apologized. That was the mortifying part.
She rushed to the bathroom and checked to see if she looked any different from the kiss. Her lips were a bit pink from the pressure, but otherwise, she appeared to be the same.
Trax had made breakfast and she was hungry. Sucking up her embarrassment, she returned to the living room. A plate piled with eggs, bacon, and a piece of toast sat on the dining room table. He’d also left her a glass of orange juice, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Trax?” Perhaps he was in Dante’s room.
She knocked. No answer. Thinking he might be using his brother’s bathroom, she went in. Holy moly. The place was a total pigsty. The bed wasn’t made, clothes were on the floor, and the open bathroom door revealed a bigger mess.
Trax and Dante couldn’t have been more different. Comparing them in other ways would serve no purpose. She returned to the living room and called his name again. Her stomach grumbled. She’d eat first, then figure out what the hell was going on.
Next to her plate sat a neatly penned note. Going to capture Couch. Wish me luck.
“Aw.” The last sentence was such a cute endearment.
It took her no time to inhale her meal even using only one hand. Once she was finished, she washed her dishes and placed them on the counter to dry knowing Trax would be upset if she left the place dirty. Touching their things connected her to them in an intangible way. Perhaps the act of doing housework allowed her to pretend she was part of a family.
Since she figured it would take Trax some time to find Couch, she wanted to call her friend. Poor Chelsea must be terribly worried. Liz punched in the number.
“Oh my God. Where are you? I’ve been in a panic.”
She inhaled. Telling Chelsea all the details would take a while, so she lay back on the bed and spent the next ten minutes describing all that had happened. Discussing the reason for her mom’s suicide had been the hardest to retell.
“Holy fuck, Liz. Are you telling me that in the last twenty-four hours, you tried to kill the man who raped your mom, were chased down an alley by two wolves who turned into men, and made love with a hot protector?”
Even she couldn’t believe it. “That about sums it up.”
Chelsea whistled. “So now what happens?”
She loved that her best friend didn’t lecture her on the attempted murder or the subsequent sex. “I have to wait here until Trax captures Couch.”
“And if he doesn’t succeed?”
Her breath hitched. “I’ll be spending the rest of my life cooped up in a fabulous loft apartment making love to two hot men?” Even though it was a joke, juices dampened her panties and her heart skipped a beat. She feared she’d just spoken her secret desire out loud, and that was so not good.
Chapter Eight
Trax didn’t want anything to go wrong with the operation. Tons of reasons existed why he needed to succeed, none more important than him returning Liz home. Having her in his house fucked with his head too much.
Christ. Did he have to kiss her? What was he? A horny teenager? He never lost control. Until now.
She’s our mate. Dante’s words came back to him. Whether it was true or not, and he suspected it was, he couldn’t afford the distraction.
“Can’t see any movement inside, Trax.” Drake Stanton pressed his lips together but kept the binoculars glued to his face.
He and Kurt had spent as many hours as he had watching Couch, while Clay Demmers and Dirk Tilton uncovered the drug connection. All of them had a stake in bringing down this Colter.
Dirk had informed him of some scuttle from the cops about Couch. If their group didn’t neutralize him soon and the cops got involved, the shit would hit the fan.
“Wait a sec.” Drake focused on the front window. “I see a help wanted sign.”
“That makes sense since Liz never showed up to work today.”
Clay moved next to him. “What do you want us to do?”
If Couch wasn’t there, they didn’t need to be wasting any more time staking out his office. “Let’s go in through the back.”
With their handguns loaded with wolf-poisoning bullets, they moved to the alley. Trax tested the steel door that led to Au Pairs for U. No surprise, it was locked. He pulled out his lock picks and, in seconds, opened the door. If he’d failed, they would have used a battering ram, and that would have made too much noise, something they couldn’t afford. While no one was in the alley, they didn’t need to draw any spectators.
Trax held up his hand to silence the four men. He led the way but slowed when he didn’t sense the Colter nearby. He motioned for Kurt to check the office and for Clay to look in the other room. Ten seconds later, they reappeared.
“Nothing,” Clay said.
“Me neither,” Kurt announced. “I didn’t see his laptop or much of anything. It looks like he’s gone.”
“Fuck.” Trax stabbed a hand over his head. “Grab the computer Liz used. Maybe there’s something useful on it.”
Drake unplugged then gathered the laptop. “Now what?”
“Let’s check out his house.”
Clay stepped over to the coffee cup full of coffee and touched it. “It’s still warm.”
That meant they missed the bastard by minutes. “I’ll see if headquarters can get a lock on his phone’s GPS.” He doubted they’d be successful, as Couch would know that would be the first thing the Pack would check.
He called Chris Williams at headquarters and asked him to run the check. “Get back to me when you find out anything.”
“Give me one sec.”
They had Couch’s number programmed. “You got something?”
“His phone’s off or else he ditched it.”
“Thanks.” Trax stuffed his phone back in his pocket. “Let’s hit Couch’s home.”
* * *
Trax had been gone three hours and Liz was going stir crazy. What she really needed was a walk. When she pulled on the door that led to the stairs, it was locked. Now she was pissed. Fine, she’d find a way out.
She tested the door behind the dining room. It was locked, too. What was up with keeping her in? A third door sat left of the kitchen. When she turned the knob, it opened. Finally.
The door led to an entranceway, and at the end was a staircase. The one going down probably lead to the store, but she couldn’t guess what was upstairs. Curious to investigate every nook and cranny, she went upstairs only to have another door stop her. Shit. She tried the handle. This one was open, and she stepped inside. A small hallway opened up to a huge weight room on the right. It looked like it could handle ten people at once, but the number of weight stations really didn’t surprise her given how buff t
he men were. Off to the left sat another room. She felt like Alice in Wonderland testing door after door. That one was also open. Inside sat a rather messy office. She had to smile. This had to be where Dante worked.
No other doors were evident, so she headed back down the stairs and continued to the other staircase. When she reached the door at the bottom, she pushed it open. Success! Just stepping into civilization boosted her spirits.
Liz inhaled, happy to be free.
“Sugar!” Dante trotted over and she was almost tempted to throw herself in his arms, but she hesitated. He should have either told her about how to get out or seen to it that she had access to the outside.
“I was trapped inside for hours.”
“Poor baby.” He encased her in his arms. She thought about stepping out of his embrace, but the comfort made her stand still.
She leaned back but remained pressed against him. “Why did you lock me in?”
“Nothing personal.” He chuckled. “We keep the place locked tight because if someone’s in our house we don’t want there, he can’t escape.”
She saw their point but didn’t have to like it. “You don’t want me?” That wasn’t what he meant, but she took the opportunity to tease him.
He backpedaled her to one of the shelving units and nibbled on her lips. “What do you think?”
His lips on her neck ignited her skin. “Why didn’t you wake me up before you left and say goodbye?” She hadn’t meant to pout, but it came out that way.
“I went into the room, but you were so zonked out I didn’t want to disturb you.” He leaned close and sniffed. “Why do I smell my brother on you?”
“Um.” Maybe she should have washed her face, but she never thought he’d be able to smell that well.
He grinned. “He kissed you, didn’t he?”
“Yes.” She wouldn’t give any details how the kiss came about.
“Hot damn!”
“You’re happy?” He had said it was okay to be with his brother, but she hadn’t believed him.
He devoured her mouth and her body melted. She guessed that would be a yes. Her body tensed, but only for a second. She hadn’t seen any customers when she entered the store, but someone could walk in any moment. Right now, she didn’t care. His one hand massaged her breast and the other rubbed her ass. Memories of how he’d made her body feel returned, and she wanted to relive that amazing experience once more.
She’d already committed a crime, had men attempt to kill her, and learned the world wasn’t anything like what she’d believed. The last twenty-four hours would have been tragically terrible had it not been for Dante. Now, she wanted him again. It was as if there was an attraction she was unable to fight.
She slipped her hand between them and grabbed his crotch.
“Sugar, you really don’t want to go there.”
Yes I do. Ignoring his plea, she held on and squeezed. Her thumb brushed his zipper then lowered it. She expected a cloth barrier to block her, but his cock popped into her hand. “Nice!”
She barely got her fingers on him when he pulled away. “I have to taste you first.”
She clung to the word first. “Someone might come in.”
His gaze implied he didn’t give a damn. That was so like Dante. He had her jeans’ button popped and the material down over her hips before she could protest. Perhaps one little lick would hold her over until she got him alone.
He slipped a finger into her pussy and her juices went wild. She didn’t care if he said he wanted to go first, she needed to touch him. Before her hand reached his cock, he blocked her.
“I won’t last. I’ll admit it. I’m weak when it comes to you.”
She didn’t want him to come when they had so little time. “Okay.”
Pamphlets, small boxes, and other items lined a display table behind him. In one swipe, he knocked everything to the ground. The noise alone would alert a customer. When no footsteps sounded, she relaxed—sort of.
He picked her up and dumped her on the table then tugged down her panties along with her jeans and scrunched her pants as low as they would go without taking them off. His gaze never left the V between her legs.
“I couldn’t sleep last night dreaming about you.” He ran his tongue over his lips, melting her insides.
“Me, too.”
Every warning bell sounded, but she had to have him. It was crazy. Before yesterday, she wouldn’t have considered sex in the middle of a store. After making love with Dante one time, she’d become a desperate woman. How had that happened? Did both he and his brother have special powers that made her desire skyrocket? Right now, nothing would surprise her.
Dante loomed over her and the crooked smile she’d come to enjoy appeared. He made sure she was far enough back on the table to bend her knees and plant her feet on the hard surface. “This will only take a minute. Don’t worry. I’ll hear the bell ring if someone comes in.”
If a customer rounded the corner before she could pull up her clothes, she’d be mortified. If she had use of both hands, she might not have worried. Before she commented this might not be wise, his mouth clamped over her pussy and his tongue went to work shooting sparks of need straight up her body.
Molten fire filled her. “Oh, God.” Spikes of lust pricked her. His tongue nabbed her clit and flicked it right and left. She scooted lower. “Fuck me!”
He lifted his head. “Not yet. I need your sweet honey.”
No one had said that to her, ever. His sincerity made her feel sexier than she’d ever felt before. He slipped a hand under the blouse and pushed her bra over her tits. Her nipples puckered even before he touched her. When he pinched one tip, desire slammed through her. He was too far away to grab his cock, but she managed to run her hand through his floppy hair. His silky strands electrified her fingertips and she wanted more.
With his free hand, he pulled down on her shoulder to bring her closer. The pants trapped her legs, but she didn’t want to take the time to remove them.
“Hurry.”
He stepped to the side and drove three fingers into her pussy while he lifted her shirt with the other. Now that he’d exposed both tits, he dropped his head and sucked hard on one nipple. Spikes of need spiraled between her legs turning her body into a hot volcano. When he curled his fingers and hit her sweet spot, she took off like a rocket. She gulped in air and tried hard not to scream.
Her groan sounded deep and desperate. Closing her eyes, she let her climax wash over her.
Dante stood back. “You are too sweet. I don’t think I can ever get enough of you.”
Not that she didn’t desire, and even need his cock, but it was only fair to reciprocate. She sat up. “Help me pull up my pants. I need to lick your cock.”
“Oh, sugar, those are fucking sweet words to hear.”
He guided her off the table. Between the two of them, they had her readjusted in seconds. When she looked down, his cock had escaped its confines, and the top had bubbled with pre-cum.
He exchanged places with her so he could sit on the table and provide her with a better angle. She bent over, and before she grabbed him, she slowly dragged her tongue up his length.
Dante took hold of her hair and tugged. “Don’t tease me, sugar. There’s too little time.”
He was right. She gripped his cock and drew at least half of him into her mouth. Wanting to give him a good experience, she swirled her tongue around his length and waited to hear his groan.
Sure, she’d given men blowjobs before, but they hadn’t held much meaning. With Dante, she wanted to make him happy. Stroking him lightly, she lifted her mouth up and down.
“Sugar.” He growled.
He reached under her chest and pinched a nipple through her bra. She arched her back and moaned. She tightened her grip and sucked harder. Her head bounced to some rhythm in her head, which happened to coincide with the pressure on her tit.
When he used both hands to massage her breasts and pressed them together, she incre
ased her speed, imagining his cock dipping into her pussy.
He groaned, drew his hands up to her shoulders and pulled her to a stand. “I need a second.” He placed his feet on the floor, leaned against the table, and slipped a hand down her pants.
The moment he pressed on her clit, another earth-shattering climax surrounded her, heating her to her core and claiming her. “Dante. God. You’re amazing.”
Desiring to satisfy him, she leaned over again and drew him into her mouth. All it took were a few up and downs to make his hot cum geyser out of him. It pummeled the back of her throat, and she had to swallow fast to keep from having his juices drip down her chin. His hand rested heavily on her head. Even if she wanted to step away, he wouldn’t have let her. For some reason, the loss of control didn’t freak her out. In fact, it heightened the already heady experience.
Only after his cock stopped pulsating, did his fingers on her head relax.
The sound of someone clapping startled her. “Nice job you two.”
Crap. It was Trax. He’d come down from the house. How had she not heard him approach? She bolted upright and turned around to get a read on him. He seemed to be a mix of pissed and amused.
“We’re just finishing,” Dante said. “Liz was tired of being pent up in the apartment and came down to say hi.”
Trax stuck his thumbs in his pockets. “Are you telling me you didn’t hear Mr. Anderson come in?”
She hadn’t, but then again, she’d been busy. She glanced up at Dante and his face had lost color. “No. What did he want?”
“He wasn’t sure how to use the Home Monitoring Camera WVC80N.”
“You helped him?”
“Yes. I couldn’t exactly say the owner was getting his rocks off in plain sight on aisle one now, could I?”
She almost laughed at that comment but managed to keep her expression blank. Only then did it occur to her that if Trax was here, Couch must be in jail.
“So you got him?”
Trax’s jaw hardened and his hands fisted for a moment. “No.”
“Why not?” As soon as those words came out, she regretted her tone.