He closed the door behind them. “Just an old barn on my family’s land. It’s been around for a long time. We always talked about fixing it up, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“We?”
A smile spread across his face when she asked. He liked her curiosity and hoped it came from a place from more than being just a reporter.
"My brother and sister. My brother Zeke and sister Nova help me run Rocky's."
“Ahh… right. Nova, I’ve met her. She’s sweet. Are you guys close?”
He nodded. “For the most part. My brother is a bit of a pain in my ass at times, but I wouldn’t trade my sister for anything in this world.”
“That’s adorable.”
Paul let out a boisterous laugh. “Adorable, huh? I’ve been called a lot of things, but adorable has never been one of them.”
"Well, I think it's sweet that you feel that way about your sister. I didn't have any siblings, so I never knew what it was like. I guess I was always a little jealous, what with me being one of the few only children in my class."
“It’s not always all it’s cracked up to be,” he joked. “Have a seat over there on that bench. I’m going to light one of these lanterns.”
He watched from the corner of his eye as she brushed the dust from the old, rickety seat. Even in jeans, hiking boots, and an ordinary shirt, she looked sexier than he remembered.
The entire time he’d held her up on that hill, he’d had to fight his body’s urge to react to the way her body curved so neatly up against his. Even with the best of intentions, he still couldn’t keep his mind from wandering to what was hidden underneath her simple clothing and fair skin.
He lit the lantern and brought it over to where she sat and took a seat next to her. “There, now we can at least see each other.”
“Yeah, and maybe you can tell me what you were doing out there.”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you the same thing?”
“I’m a reporter. It’s my job to try to get to the bottom of things.”
“I see. So you’re a regular Lois Lane then, huh?”
“Hardly. But maybe someday.” She smiled.
She might’ve called him adorable, but the only adorable thing in that barn was her. Paul was mesmerized by her unassuming beauty. Her pale skin looked flawless and all the more mysterious in the dim light of the barn.
His gut clenched and he fought the urge to lean in and kiss her, as he remembered the succulent flavor of her skin when he’d sneaked a taste earlier that day. Damn, but he wanted to taste every inch of her and find out just how sweet she could be.
“You sure scared the crap out of me back there.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. But when I saw you, I figured if you happened to see me first, you’d scream. And I don’t think either one of us wanted to draw the attention of the deputies.”
“That’s true. So what were you doing out there?” she pressed.
“Well you’re a reporter and may be new to the area, but I live here. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about what was happening in our town.”
“Yes, it is pretty scary. Have you heard anything?”
“Who’s asking?”
She laughed. “What do you mean? I’m asking.”
“The reporter? Or the woman?”
“Maybe both? Is that a bad thing?”
“No, I don’t suppose so. But I’d much rather you not be thinking about work right now.”
“Oh.”
Even in the darkness, he could see her blush. He wondered what made this woman tick. How she could be so innocent like with the kind of looks she had. He couldn't believe she had no experience with men. Still, she seemed almost virginal at times, like she'd truly never spent a moment alone with one.
“How old are you, Kinzey?”
"Twenty-four. How old are you?"
“Thirty. Not that much older than you.”
“No, I guess not.”
“You know, you’re very beautiful.”
“Oh.” She smiled and looked down. “Thank you.”
“Why are you so bashful?” He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger.
“I don’t know. I’m just not used to being called that, I guess.”
“Any man who’s ever set eyes on you and hasn’t called you that has either been blind or playing for the other team.” He winked, hoping to soften her hesitation with a little humor.
"Oh, I don't know about that. You should see me first thing in the morning. Hair all messy, my makeup smeared."
“I think I’d like that.”
He leaned in and dipped his head down.
“Paul, I –”
“Shh…” he cupped her face with both hands, refusing to let her pull away. “Just close your eyes, Kinzey.”
Though he’d brought her back to the barn to fish for information on what she’d discovered while playing investigator, his body had devised other plans once they’d arrived.
He had to taste her. He had to feel her. He desperately needed to explore her.
Chapter Eight
Kinzey's breath stuck in her chest the instant she felt his lips touch hers. She'd been with men before, probably more than she should have, if she counted her college days. There was something much more manly about Paul, though, that made her pulse race in ways she wasn't used to.
He was patient with her at first, gently kissing her lips and swiping his tongue across her lower lip. It didn’t take long before his persistence shone through and he was sliding his tongue inside her mouth.
Almost instantly, she could feel the warmth shoot down to her core, spreading a wave of heat throughout her body and making her clit tingle in anticipation.
She moaned in acceptance of his kiss and reached her hands up to wrap around his neck. Maybe it had been too long since she’d been with a man, or maybe he was just that good a kisser. Either way, she wanted him. And she wasn’t afraid to admit that she wanted him right then and there.
Paul released one of his hands from her face and reached around, palming her ass and bringing their bodies closer. Her body was melting from the heat. She wanted him to touch her so badly. Just rip through her jeans and touch her wet panties.
She wasn’t sure who caused it, but the next thing she knew, they had fallen to the ground and were lying beside one another, their mouths still connected and her fingers still laced behind his neck.
For a moment she thought she heard a growl, but wrote it off as his stomach rumbling. They could eat later. For now, she needed this.
A prickling of something pokey underneath her fingertips jarred her for a moment, and she opened her eyes. Then a second later, he pulled away, quickly standing up and moving across the barn.
She lay stunned and unsure of what had just happened. “Paul?”
“I’m sorry.”
His voice was scratchy and sounded a little different. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, Kinzey. No. You did nothing wrong at all. You did everything right.”
Pushing herself up, she brushed off her jeans and came up behind him. She placed a hand on his shoulder and felt him shudder.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, still confused by his complete change in mood.
“I’m sorry.” He reached his hand back and placed it over hers. “I sometimes get carried away.”
“I wasn’t exactly complaining.”
“No, I mean… I can get a little rough sometimes. I just needed a moment to rein myself in, get myself under control.”
“Oh. And how are you now?”
He turned to face her, and she was surprised by the determined look she saw in his eyes. This wasn’t the same gentle and patient man who just lulled her into that kiss moments ago. This was a man who had a fire raging inside of him. She wondered if he could possibly match the one brewing inside of her.
“I want you, Kinzey.”
He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up until she straddled him. “I want you here. I want you now.”
She didn’t have a chance to respond, much less offer her acceptance of his exciting invitation. He spun her around and crushed her mouth with his.
His tongue swept inside her like a snake wildly trying to find its way in the dark. Her entire body ached when she felt his hips press into her pussy and the hardness of his cock rubbed at her clit.
She reached down and began tugging at his shirt, unable to get to his skin fast enough. Once she’d pulled it over his head, she began kissing his neck and licking every inch of his taut muscles.
“Fuck.” Paul dropped her to the ground and began tugging at the button of her jeans. “I’ve got to get you out of these.”
She returned the desperation as she made her own frantic attempts to get his jeans removed. Only seconds passed, but it felt more like agonizing minutes before she was able to slide them down his thighs and feel his cock in her hands.
She worked her hand along his length and felt the inviting, slippery concoction of his pre-cum coat her palm. Thirsty for how he tasted, she dropped to her knees and sucked his head into her mouth.
He muttered something she didn’t understand as his hands grabbed the back of her head and pushed her further down on his dick.
She gagged from the intrusion. He tasted better than she could’ve hoped for, but his size was more than she could handle.
Obviously sensing her trouble, Paul pulled her up to him and licked along her swollen lips. "Tell me I can fuck you."
“Paul…” she was breathless, unable to form a thought, much less a sentence.
“Say it.” he pressed his cock against her pussy, coating his dick with her wetness as they both moaned. “Please, God, say it.”
“I want you to fuck me,” she whispered.
He didn’t wait for her to say it twice. Just like he had before, he lifted her up. With one hand, she reached down and guided him to her entrance. Her pussy clenched when she felt the first inches break through and press inside her.
“Ahh!” She screamed from the feel.
His cock stretched her, but felt so damn good. Needing to feel her skin against his, she lifted her shirt and bra and pressed up against him.
He leaned back as he thrust into her. Looking down, he dipped his head down and drew one of her tits into his mouth. She shouted as he sucked on her nipple. He’d nibbled on her just right, with the perfect amount of pressure.
“God damn it!” he stopped what he was doing and looked at her. “You feel so fucking good. I’m already so close.”
His words only drove her crazier. “Don’t stop. Please.”
He reached down between their bodies and brushed his thumb against her clit. A loud screech escaped her as he continued to press and work her swollen nub.
Kinzey pressed against his fingers, his cock and his entire body. She couldn’t get enough of him.
For several moments she stayed suspended in that delightful suspension of time where she was just on the cusp until finally, she fell.
Her body tensed and her pussy wrapped tightly around him as her orgasm poured from inside.
“Oh, fuck!” Paul screamed and pumped into her two final times before joining her in orgasm.
Kinzey clung to him. Her mouth hung open, her breathing ragged as she tried to find reason in the moment they’d just shared.
She’d never done anything like that with someone she’d just met. She wasn’t even sure that she’d ever come like that with anyone before him. But, being true to his Rocky Mountain roots, Mr. Paul Holton had just rocked her world.
Chapter Nine
Paul slammed the door to his apartment and threw his keys across the room. It had been two days since his night in the barn with Kinzey, and despite his best efforts to forget her, her absence had only made him want her more.
He’d hated himself the second it was over. Knowing damn well that nothing could come of the two of them, he’d shut down almost instantly.
Still, wanting her to be treated with respect, he hid his inner turmoil from her as they lay in the barn for several hours talking. He’d held her tight, caressed her shoulder as she snuggled up against him, and soaked up every moment that he could with her, knowing that it would be the last.
After walking her home, he kissed her passionately for himself as much as for her. The beauty he’d thought he’d seen in her before that night had paled in comparison to the woman that he had seen when they were driving each other wild.
He did his best to stay busy the day before when she’d come into Rocky’s asking for him. Today had been especially hard, though, with her being at the press conference and looking good enough to eat. He’d stayed back in the crowd, hoping she wouldn’t see him.
His only saving grace in the entire fucked-up situation he’d created for himself was that he’d managed to rein in his powers long enough not to shift in front of her. His primal urges were so strong with her that he’d almost begun without even meaning to.
Just thinking about her made him hard, and was fucking with everything in his mind. He had a pack to lead. He had priorities and a legacy to protect. And still no God damned answers for anything.
That had been his purpose for going to the sheriff’s press conference. He’d assumed that they were finally going to release some definitive information so he could figure out what the hell was happening.
Half of his pack was in a panic, and the other half was about two steps away from it.
Still, all the sheriff could provide was the identity of the second victim and that they were awaiting DNA results from the CBI.
His cell phone rang, and he saw that it was Zeke. “Yeah?”
“Turn on the news.”
Paul picked up his remote and saw Sheriff O’Keefe standing on the front steps of where he’d just left not twenty minutes earlier.
“All right, now, everyone just calm down. There will be enough time to answer questions once I’m done.”
“Sheriff O’Keefe, can we assume that the DNA results have come in, since you’re calling another press conference so soon?”
Paul didn’t need a camera to turn on the female reporter who’d just asked the question. He knew that voice all too well. He’d heard it moan, whimper, and scream in orgasm.
He shook his head, trying to center his thoughts and pay attention to what was happening and what the Sheriff was about to announce.
"We've just received word that the CBI has finished the analysis of the DNA found on the first female victim's body. It does appear to be an animal, but ahh… well, the species hasn't quite been identified yet."
Paul’s blood ran icy cold and nearly froze in his veins. He saw the look in Sheriff O’Keefe’s eyes and knew the man well enough to know he didn’t get frazzled easily. But that was fear he saw reflecting into the cameras, he was sure of it.
“Oh, God.”
Paul sat down on the end of his bed and tried to make sense of what his mind was telling him. His biggest fears appeared to be coming true as he considered the possibility that one of his Racinitine Pack was behind these brutal killings.
The idea not only confused him but utterly dumbfounded him. They were a peaceful pack. They didn't attack. It wasn't their way. It never had been.
As the thoughts raced through his mind, he remembered something Zeke had said a couple of days earlier. He’d dismissed the idea and his brother at the time, but now he couldn’t help but wonder if it were true.
The Amorkan pack had been around since the beginning of time, just like the Racinitines. And for the most part, had been a peaceful pack just like they were.
Paul picked his phone back up, not even realizing that Zeke was still on the line. “Hello? Paul?”
“Can you and Nova get up here? I think we need to talk.” Paul shut his phone, still unable to fully absorb the possibility of what he might be facing.
Ten minutes later Nova and Zeke stood in
his apartment, each of them staring at him with a look of disbelief.
“That’s ludicrous. You’re the one who told me not to buy into any ghost stories, remember?”
“Wait a minute. You think the Amorkans are behind the killings?” Nova asked.
“Yes, I think it may be possible, but I don’t want you guys saying anything just yet. I don’t need the entire pack going into a panic over something that may not even be true.” Paul warned.
“The Amorkans? Seriously?”
“Jesus, Zeke. Yes! I’m not playing games here.”
Paul saw the look of concern and fear in Nova’s eyes. He may be her pack leader, but more than that, she was his little sister. And if there was one thing he cared about above all else, it was his family.
“I thought the Amorkan Pack was just a myth? Coming from those creepy stories we used to tell each other when we were dumb little kids.” Nova said.
He took Nova’s hand in his and tried to explain. “There’s a lot you don’t know. Things that the pack didn’t always share with women.”
“Wow. Sexist much?” She bit back.
"Well, come on, Nova. You can't ignore how old-fashioned Dad and especially Grandfather were. Can you imagine a woman fighting in his day? He would've never allowed it. They just did things differently back then."
“Come on, Paul. You can’t be serious about this,” Zeke argued.
“Damn it, Zeke! I swear to God, you try me some days. When have you ever known me to go into things lightly?”
“I mean, I heard the stories from Dad, just like you did. I know Grandfather always said there was a chance they might come back some day, but I never really totally believed it.”
Paul loved his little brother, but if Nova hadn’t been standing there, he might’ve knocked him clear on his ass.
“If you didn’t believe it, then why did you bring it up the other day?”
Paul and Zeke had heard the stories of the Amorkans when they were boys. They were the same breed as the Racinitines—half wolf, half human. As the tale was told, they lived peacefully with one another in harmony for many years. They never had any problems until the early eighteen-hundreds, when a bad winter caused a shortage of food and resources in their region.
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