by Vella Day
Without breaking the seal of his kiss, he helped her loosen his shirt the rest of the way. He moaned and then slipped off her sandals, implying they’d be naked soon. That thought alone had her sex throbbing.
Needing some air, she broke the kiss and undid the buttons on his shirt as fast as her fingers could fly. As soon as she revealed his chest, her heart nearly stopped.
“You’re beautiful,” she said, running a palm over his lightly sprinkled coffee-colored chest hair.
“Men aren’t beautiful,” he grunted.
“Fine, you’re hot. Is that better?” Why was she even having this conversation? Her witch was screaming for her to touch him everywhere and then lick him until he screamed her name.
In one quick move, she slipped her top over her head and when his eyes widened, she crossed her arms over her chest to cover her small breasts.
“Don’t,” he commanded. “I’ve told you that you are perfect. You have to believe me.”
His words were like hot chocolate on a cold night. He peeled her arms from her body, and a moment later, she was flat on her back. Excitement sizzled through her at what was to come. A quick pinch on the back of her bra, and it became history. Dalton then unzipped her jeans and dragged them off along with her panties.
His mouth opened as he stared at her nakedness then he licked his lips. “I don’t know if I can keep my tiger at bay. It’s been so long.”
So long since he’d had sex or since he’d let his tiger loose? It didn’t matter which one. “Try.”
Dalton rose onto his haunches and lifted her legs over his shoulders. This position of vulnerability might have bothered her in the past, but right now, it excited her. Anna appreciated his inventive spontaneity.
Leaning over, he inhaled deeply then swept his tongue over her opening. Holy hell. Not only did sparks fly off of both of them, she glowed blue and prayed she wouldn’t self-destruct. To maintain some control, she clutched the sofa cushion.
When Dalton sucked on her nub, the pleasure was so intense it almost bordered on pain. She let go of the cushion and grabbed his shoulders. The moment he flicked her tiny pearl again, she dug her fingernails into his skin. Who knew that part of her body was her On switch?
“Please, I need you,” she begged. She hated that she was easy, but Anna had fantasized about him for months.
He answered by slipping two fingers into her and wiggling them around until he found a spot that skyrocketed her upward. With each lick and finger movement, her moans grew into what sounded like a feral cry. Finally, the dam broke, and she came hard.
As soon as the waves of lust subsided, Dalton sat back and smiled. “Did you like that?”
“You couldn’t tell?”
He chuckled, and she was pleased he took her comment the way she’d meant it. He slipped out from under her, stood, and shucked his shoes and pants in record time. Anna raised her arms for him to return to the sofa and continue their lovemaking, but instead of doing what she expected, he pulled her to her feet.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he said.
She wasn’t asking him to. He walked her backward to the center island, and when she bumped into it, he captured her lips again. While their breaths increased, indicating he was on edge, he took his time, exploring her lips one little nibble at a time. Then their tongues mingled and plunged, and the divine sensation thrilled her beyond words.
He pressed his cock against her stomach, and she was unable to keep from slipping a hand between them and wrapping it around his long shaft. Heat poured through her palm at the touch.
“You don’t want to do that,” he said between gritted teeth.
“Are you telling me what to do again?” She raised a brow.
“No. I’m merely warning you.”
Just as she was about to shoot off another smart response, hot cum splattered her knuckles, and she released him. “Oh.”
“Told you. Now turn around,” he said as he twisted her toward the counter and bent her over.
Anna clasped onto the edge. When he spread her legs, the anticipation caused not only her blue glow to pulse and radiate, it was as if an electric current made every nerve ending crackle with delight.
He leaned over her back, brushed her hair to the side, and kissed her neck. She stiffened, awaiting the bite. What she got instead was a soft nibble that was so erotic she nearly came again. As much as she loved this position, it didn’t allow her to rub her hands on his body or kiss him, but all thoughts of dismay flew out of her head when he cupped her breasts and pressed on her nipples. Her body went wild with need, sending strong pulses straight down to her core. To say she was glowing would be an understatement.
“I need you,” he said in the deepest, sexiest voice possible.
“Yes.” That one word was about all she could speak.
The second his cock pressed against her wet entrance, he drove in, stretching her so wide, she thought she’d split in two. A second later, total bliss enveloped her. Dalton planted his forehead on the back of her head and made a sound that was close to a purr. He then lowered his hands to her hips and held on tight as he withdrew then pounded into her once more. Her fingers curled on the counter, and she lifted her head to gulp in some much-needed air. Never had she felt anything so wonderful or intense in her life.
With each thrust, she soared higher and higher, and the only sound reaching her ears was the strong beating of her heart. Each plunge was amazing, fantastic, and life altering.
Wanting to participate more fully, she pressed her hips back and reached one hand around to his hips. The texture of his skin seemed different—rougher, as if his tiger was trying to get out. She wasn’t sure she could handle that happening, but she certainly wasn’t going to stop!
“You feel so fucking good,” he whispered, almost as if his comment wasn’t meant for her to hear. His words instantly dismissed her concerns.
“You feel pretty great too.”
When he twisted one of her nipples, her climax swamped her, pushing her over that huge cliff of erotic bliss. She squeezed her eyes shut and yelled his name as his hot seed filled her, searing her insides.
Dalton grunted, wrapped his arms around her, and then dropped his head on her back. His ragged breathing matched hers, and they remained motionless for another few minutes. When they caught their breath, he slipped out, trotted around the island, and retrieved a towel from the drawer. After wetting it, he handed it to her to clean up.
“That was… well, I have no words for it,” she said. My dream come true?
His eyes widened, and then they darkened, scaring her in their intensity. “Fuck. I was so excited, I didn’t use a condom. I’m sorry.”
They’d been spontaneous, and she loved it. Anna mentally calculated the timing from her last period. “I’m not. It’s safe.”
“That is good news.” He took the towel from her and dried himself off. Instead of tossing it on the counter, he dropped it in the sink. At least he hadn’t taken the time to place it in the washing machine.
When he walked back to her, she took in his body. Magnificent didn’t come close to describing him. He was a tiger. Pure and simple. Sleek and muscular with eyes that held a person captive.
“Maybe we should get dressed,” he said.
Why? Surely he couldn’t want her to leave. Not now. Not after what they’d experienced together. Or was he nervous for some reason? Needing to convince him that what just transpired had been unbelievably amazing, she reached out and grabbed his arm. “Come here you. I’m not finished.”
Before he could question her, she plastered her chest against his and kissed him again. As if they hadn’t just made love, he devoured her lips, teasing, probing, and tasting her. He slipped his hands under her butt and lifted her onto the counter so that they were of equal height—eye to eye, lips to lips.
Anna wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his passion, stroke for stroke.
This time, Dalton stepped back. “Do you see why it’
s dangerous for us to be around each other?”
“No. I think it’s natural for two people who are attracted to each other to want to kiss and touch.”
He smiled. “I agree, which is why I can’t continue.”
Her heart stopped, though his smile took off the sting. “What do you mean you can’t continue?”
“I’m saying that we have to take it slow.”
She grinned. “Like we just did?”
“That was all your fault. You tempted me too much.”
Her jaw dropped. “I did no such thing. If I recall, you dragged me onto your lap.”
He winked. “See? I can be spontaneous.”
Anna tried to punch his arm, but he was so fast, he twisted out of the way. “Fine. I’ll be good and stay out of your way,” she said, having no intention of doing any such thing.
“You’re lying, and I can prove it.”
She lifted her chin. “How so?”
He stepped back and lowered his still erect cock. “I dare you not to suck on it.”
She glanced down at his larger-than-life steel rod that looked as if he’d never climaxed. Decisions, decisions. She wanted to taste him really badly. Hell, any mortal woman would drop to her knees and suck on him, but she wasn’t ordinary.
She shrugged, and without a word, walked past him, picked up her panties and slipped them on.
Dalton laughed, and she fell a little bit more in love with him.
Chapter Six
‡
Dalton followed Kalan into the Silver Lake Bookstore that was thankfully open for business. “I thought the manager, Meredith Wilson, would have closed the doors until after Crystal Wedgewood’s funeral,” Dalton said.
Kalan shook his head. “Guess not. Maybe she wasn’t broken up over the owner’s death.”
“Always possible,” Dalton said, “but if she did harm the owner, she should have at least pretended to be upset over it. Hell, maybe that meant she wasn’t guilty.” Of late, his logical mind had fallen off the rail, and he blamed Anna for it.
Mate, mate, his tiger panted.
Not now. He did not need to think about her. Last night had caused him to lose too much sleep, which really sucked. Kalan and he needed to catch a murderer.
Dalton pulled open the door and stepped inside. No surprise, it smelled stale, like years of collected dust, bringing back memories of his childhood. Dalton had spent hours in the California public library, reading sci-fi stories, wondering if perhaps his family had been some alien race who had landed on earth years ago. The old worn books, read by so many, had become precious to him. While his imagination had shut down when he’d grown older, it had been vivid as a child. He sighed. Those were the days when he had few cares in life.
Like when you’re with Anna, his tiger reminded him.
True.
Never in his life did he think he’d find a mate as amazing as Anna. Once he realized he had to take over as the man in the family, he became a firm believer in routine, accuracy, and careful planning. Anna on the other hand, seemed to have a wild side, taking chances that he never would have dared.
How many human women, upon hearing her mate could change into a tiger, would start cheering? One. Anna. She should have run, but for some reason she hadn’t. He hoped it wasn’t because he’d carried her out of the building where she’d been held captive. He was no hero—a whole team of men had been responsible for finding her.
And then there was the sex. Never before had he met anyone who was more open, spontaneous, or who responded to his touch like her.
“You okay?” Kalan asked.
Dalton jerked out of his musings. Do you see why you can’t let me think about her? he asked, chastising his tiger. “I’m good. Just thinking about how much I loved books as a kid.”
Kalan smiled. “That doesn’t surprise me. You seem the studious type.”
Dalton wisely didn’t answer. Kalan was always busting his chops about being too serious.
No more than four customers were in the store browsing, which would make questioning the suspects easier. A short woman, between forty and fifty, with medium brown wavy hair was taking inventory of the books on the shelves, occasionally turning some outward while straightening others. Her spiked heels, black pencil skirt, and cream-colored blouse put her in the running to be the manager.
A second woman, who was rather pretty with short-cropped black hair, stood behind the counter, working the cash register. Dalton put her at about forty, but he never was good at guessing a woman’s age. Hell, he’d thought Anna wasn’t more than twenty. Turned out she was twenty-five.
Kalan tapped his shoulder. “Why don’t you take the woman in the black skirt, and I’ll speak with the cashier?”
“Works for me.” Because neither of the two male employees was visible, he hoped they were working today.
As Dalton headed toward his assigned woman, a man emerged from the back of the store with a tablet in his hand, making a beeline toward her. Sporting a slight paunch and a bad haircut, Dalton judged him to be about the same age as Meredith.
“Hi, Merry,” he called. “I just got off the phone with Voracious Publishing. About three hundred of John Stenton’s books are still on backorder.”
Merry must be short for Meredith. Her shoulders sagged. “When will they be in?”
“Two weeks.”
She stood up straighter. “Call Renaldo Framingham and ask if he can help expedite things.”
“Will do.” The man spun around and returned to the back of the store. The male worker had to be either Tom DeLuca or Ed Santaria.
“Ms. Wilson?” Dalton asked.
She turned toward him, and when she ran her gaze up and down his body, he didn’t know whether to blush or be put off by the perusal.
“How may I help you, officer? I trust this is about Crystal?”
“Yes. Is there a place we can speak in private?”
“Sure. We can talk in my office.”
He followed her around the many stacks of books. While the store was large by Silver Lake standards, the place was terribly crowded. Space was at a premium in the small town.
Inside the manager’s office, a cluttered wooden desk sat in the corner. The rest of the space was taken up with boxes of books stacked halfway to the ceiling. Without any windows, the room was rather claustrophobic. Most likely, it had been designed as a storage closet, and they’d run out of room.
“Sorry about the mess,” she said, dragging a folding chair from against the wall and opening it for Dalton.
He sat while Meredith took a seat behind her messy desk. “Do you have any idea who killed Crystal?” she asked.
That was going to be his question. “Not yet, Meredith. Do you have any suspicions?”
“Call me Merry, please. Only my mother called me Meredith, and that was when I’d done something bad.” She flashed him a smile, and his thoughts jumped to Anna. “To answer your question, Officer, no I don’t know, though Ed Santaria has never liked Crystal.”
He pulled out his phone. “Mind if I record this?”
She waved a hand. “I have nothing to hide.”
He tapped the record button on his phone. “Go ahead.”
“Ed used to own this bookstore before I came to work here. I’ve heard that due to his poor management, he ran into financial trouble and had to sell the place. The only buyer was Crystal.”
“Seems to me she did him a favor.”
“I guess so, assuming it was a fair price, but for as long as I’ve been here, she’s treated him like dirt. Crystal made him do all the dirty work, almost as if she was punishing him for running the place into the ground.”
“Why did he stay then?” No one deserved to be treated with a lack of respect.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask him.”
Dalton would do that. “How did the other employees feel about her?”
She glanced off to the side. “For the most part, good, I guess, but about three mo
nths ago, Crystal was approached by a big box store who wanted to buy the bookstore.”
From the way her lips thinned and her chest caved, she wasn’t happy about it. “Do you know the name of that bookstore?”
“Books Galore. They’re fairly large in North Carolina.”
Kalan had spoken about how Silver Lake was slowly being taken over by bigger chain stores and many of the folks were upset. “What would that mean to everyone here?”
“Most likely we’d lose our jobs.” Her chin trembled. “It is possible they’d keep some of us as I doubt they’d bring a fully staffed team.”
That might give someone a motive to kill Crystal. “Was Crystal considering selling?”
“Yes. She said she was tired of working all the time and wanted to retire. The timing was perfect since her husband had succeeded in building a large clientele.” Merry looked off to the side as if she could see the irony of it all. Crystal would never have to work again.
“What does he do for a living?” It was something Dalton planned to ask her husband.
“He’s some kind of wealth manager. He deals in large investments, or so Crystal liked to brag.”
Crystal might have married Carlton for his money rather than for love. Dalton was glad he wasn’t wealthy for that very reason. “Who had the most to lose if everyone was laid off?”
Her lips pursed. “I’d have to say me. Jobs aren’t easy to find in Silver Lake, especially at my age. My husband had a stroke last month, and he hasn’t been able to work since then. His medical bills are mounting, and I’m our sole supporter.”
“That has to be tough.” She almost looked as if she was about to cry. Uncomfortable with a lot of emotion, he moved on. “What can you tell me about Linda Darnell?”
Her chin tucked under. “I don’t know what you mean. She’s hard working.”
“Was she upset about the possible sale?”
Merry blew out a breath then reached for a tissue on her desk and swiped her eyes. “We all were upset, but I think she was hoping she and Tom DeLuca would move to North Carolina together if the new company didn’t need her services. He’d always talked about his cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Of the four of us, I think those two would have had the easiest transition if we lost our jobs.”