by E A Price
His lips curled into a feral grin. “Can’t you tell?.”
He snaked down the bed and parted her legs before she even roused the energy to pretend to protest. She almost darted off the bed as he swiped his tongue over her drenched slit, but she stayed grounded thanks to his fingers softly yet gently digging into the flesh of her thighs. He suckled on her clit, licking and biting it before burrowing his tongue in her channel.
Lucie’s fingers dug into the sheets as she cried out in ecstasy. It had been so long since she felt pleasure like this – not that she had ever felt pleasure quite like this before. Nothing could compare to the decadence a simple flick of his tongue afforded her. Her body started tightening as he plunged a finger inside her and teased her clit. She could feel it, the burning need for completion, growing, expanding, hurtling towards the stars, until…
The son of a nutcracker stopped.
She wailed. “Why did you stop?”
Cutter bared his fangs and crawled up her body, settling his large frame between her thighs. His hot erection teased her entrance as his lips descended on hers. He scorched her with his kiss, plundering her mouth and dueling with her tongue. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss, wanting to inflame him the same way he did her.
Their first kiss. She almost giggled into his mouth as she realized he had kissed her down there before he had kissed her mouth. Well, no one could accuse them of being boring.
She whimpered as he pulled away from her swollen lips. They’d never been used in such a brutal yet sensual way. That was who he was – harsh but passionate. He kept her away from him for a year, fearing that she couldn’t handle his rough nature, but he was so wrong. Without it, he wouldn’t be him, and she loved every lip-smacking, yummy, perfectly unperfect inch of him. She wouldn’t want him any other way.
“Do you want me?” he demanded, throatily.
“Yes,” she moaned trying to lower her hips towards his straining manhood.
“I want us to come together during our first time,” he rumbled.
And with that declaration, he drove himself inside her. With a slow yet determined motion, he didn’t stop until he buried himself to the hilt. She gasped at the satisfying feeling of fullness. She hitched her legs around his waist and nodded at him that she was okay, and he started stroking inside her with hard, fast thrusts.
Neither of them would last long; they were both too worked up, too desperate to unleash the release that had been bubbling for the past year. He pounded and crashed against her body, mercilessly filling her over and over. He was so big he hit every sweet spot, every nerve ending. She loved how tight she was around him, how her muscles stretched and strained to contain him.
His breathing grew harsher, and his movements became even more ferocious. They raced toward their mutual climax. With a bellow, Cutter drove inside her one final time and exploded, triggering her release.
She screamed his name as her hedgehog howled in happiness. She shook her head from side to side, ignoring the urge to sink her sharpened teeth into his neck. She wanted to claim him, to take him as hers, but she resisted – for the moment. Instead, she lay back on the bed, panting and shivering in orgasm.
With a groan, Cutter collapsed onto her waiting body, pillowing his head on her breasts. She clutched him to her and whispered the word ‘mine.’
*
“No regrets?” Lucie asked, uncertain as to whether she would like the answer.
She lay atop him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. His hands skimmed up and down her back, massaging her skin. She felt exhausted, satiated and thrilled all at once. After their first coupling, they made love two more times. Their second time, he flipped her onto her front and entered her behind as his fingers wormed their way under her body and stroked her clit. The last time was less frantic and more sensual; he had her ride him as his hands and mouth caressed her breasts.
“Fuck no,” he answered firmly. “You?”
“Jinkies no.”
His big body shook with laughter. “Don’t start with that dirty talk or I will have to have you again.”
“Hmmm, haven’t I worn you out yet?”
“Not even close,” he growled at the suspected challenge.
“Your bullet wounds didn’t affect you, did they?”
She couldn’t hide the worry from her voice. Silver bullets were not to be sniffed at. She would advise anyone else to wait at least a week before even attempting intercourse. She was desperately thankful that Cutter didn’t need that long.
“What do you think?” he replied cockily.
“Mmmm, I don’t think so, but then I have nothing to compare it to.”
“Perhaps we should keep having sex and you can rate my performance,” he suggested.
Lucie pretended to ponder his generous offer. “It could be like a study of how long it takes for a shifter’s sexual prowess to return after getting shot by silver bullets. Alright, in the interest of science, I will make this sacrifice and have lots and lots of sex with you.”
Cutter chuckled. “You’re so selfless, sweetheart.”
“Darn tootin’.” She traced the scars on his chest with her index finger. “What was your dream about?”
He tensed under her slightly. “About being in the cage; the torture.”
“Do you have nightmares often?”
“Most nights,” he admitted. “It’s why I sleep alone.”
“Bad dreams are hardly…”
“After it first happened, I woke up screaming one night. I was, uh, married at the time. My wife tried to wake me, and I almost strangled her. I came to my senses and stopped, but the damage was already done.”
Lucie already knew about his marriage and divorce, vaguely; she wasn’t privy to any of the finer details, however. “She left you?”
“Not at first. We had separate rooms. But, when it became clear that I wasn’t getting better, she found someone else.”
“Bitch.” Lucie’s hand flew to her mouth as Cutter started roaring with laughter, almost dislodging her from her perch on his body. “Cheese and rice! I can’t believe I just said that!”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” he guffawed as he actually wiped away a tear and rearranged her on top of him. “But, don’t think badly of her. We shouldn’t have gotten married in the first place – we never really loved each other. She wasn’t just thinking about herself. She did what she had to, and I don’t blame her for leaving.”
“Humph.” Yet he married that woman, and Lucie struggled to get him to go on a date with her.
“Last night was the first time in over three years that I hadn’t slept alone.”
“I’m sorry about that,” she murmured, flushing.
“Why are you sorry?”
“I shouldn’t have gotten in bed with you like it; I was very… presumptuous.” Honestly, she didn’t just go crawling into any man’s bed!
“You didn’t. I woke up and carried you to the bed.”
Lucie sat up to look at him. She straddled his waist, and he rested his hands on her hips. “You did?”
Cutter grinned. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Maybe I wanted the company. Besides, I seem to sleep really well with you beside me.”
Not that she wanted to discourage this, but… “How do you know? It’s only been one night.”
“You’re right; maybe I should do a study of my own. I should sleep next to you as much as possible to see the effects it has on me – you know, for science.”
“Mmmm, I love science,” she cooed.
“Who do those men’s clothes belong to?” he asked unexpectedly, nodding his head in the direction of her closet.
“Oh, they’re just my ex-husband’s,” she replied dismissively before leaning down and flourishing butterfly kisses on his neck.
Cutter sighed in distracted contentment for a moment before coming to his senses. “Why the fuck do you have your ex-husband’s clothes?”
“He stays over when his
partner is away on business. He doesn’t like to be alone.”
She sped up her kisses, hoping to get away from the obvious questions that were about to blast in her direction. No such luck.
“Your spare bedroom doesn’t have a bed,” he hissed. “Tell me he sleeps on the couch.”
“Ummm…”
“He sleeps in your bed?!” roared Cutter.
Lucie yelped as he shot up, wrapping his arms around her as they sat nose to nose.
“He’s gay!” she blurted.
“Are you just saying that to make me feel better?” he asked suspiciously.
“No, he really is gay. It’s why we got divorced. By that time, we were more like roommates anyway.” Not that they were ever really passionate at the start of their relationship. “But, when he finally realized and then clued me in on something everyone else had already noticed,” all their friends had seen the signs months ago apparently! “We got a divorce. We’re still close friends. Maybe it’s a little weird that he shares my bed…”
“A little?!”
“But given that we have zero sexual attraction to one another, we don’t see it as a big deal, and neither does his partner.”
“I still don’t like it,” he muttered grumpily.
“Then I’ll tell him he can’t stay here again.”
Cutter actually appeared surprised. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Maybe the arrangement was a little weird, and she wasn’t about to argue over such a small matter. Her ex hardly ever slept over; it wasn’t worth getting riled up. Besides, giving into this would work in her favor if she wanted him to do something for like... like get married. Hmmm, maybe that was asking a bit much.
“Well, good. Uh, thank you.”
Lucie sighed and leaned her forehead against his. As much as she had enjoyed their passionate lovemaking and unusual pillow talk, they couldn’t put off what needed to be done forever.
“What’s wrong?”
“Apart from you technically being on the run for murder?”
Cutter groaned. “Right. Yeah, no more enjoying ourselves. We need to get down to business.”
Chapter Fifteen
Cutter skimmed through the files that Lucie had acquired for him on her laptop. He didn’t know what came over him when he had woken to find Lucie straddling him earlier, but he was glad he gave in to it. He couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than the time he spent with Lucie in her bed. It wasn’t just the sex – it was her. Being with her, talking to her, he came alive with her. His wolf howled in agreement.
He’d been a fool. His wolf was also in agreement on that front. However, he was still worried about hurting her. He still didn’t think they should be together in the long run. Sure, she soothed him now, but what would happen if something really happened to piss him off? What would happen if he had a really bad nightmare? She may think she can handle it, but would she feel different when waking up to find his paws wrapped around her throat? No, it was too risky. He’d give her as much of him as he could, and then he’d walk away and let her get on with her life.
In the meantime, he needed to make things clear with her before she got the wrong impression and started picking out wedding centerpieces.
“Lucie, I,” he bit his lip, unsure of how to proceed.
Lucie, having donned a tight pair of shorts and a vest after he destroyed the clothes she had on frowned at him as she snuggled and petted the monstrous Delmonte. The white beast had returned while they were enjoying the last moments of their post coital bliss. The animal let his presence be known by jumping on the bed and hissing at Cutter. The fact that Lucie immediately jumped off him to give the feline intruder a kiss and a cuddle didn’t bother him whatsoever. Mental harrumph.
“Uh oh, I know that look, that’s the ‘we just had sex but I’m dumping you look.’”
“I’m not dumping you,” he grumbled, “and how exactly do you know that look?”
Lucie rolled her eyes. “I guess you’re about to give me some spiel about how wonderful, magnificent, incredible I was in bed – all true, of course.”
“Of course,” he agreed wholeheartedly.
“But that you think we should just be friends because you’re in no position to be in a relationship.”
Cutter rubbed the back of his head. Well, yes, that was pretty much the topic of conversation he was trying to broach.
“It’s okay, don’t get your pink, fluffy robe in a twist over it,” yes, he was wearing her robe again – it was comfortable, “I get it. This is hardly the time to play Romeo and Juliet. In case you hadn’t noticed, I was really horny, too. It was great, and I wouldn’t say no if you wanted to do it again. So, thanks.”
“Uh, you’re welcome?”
His wolf was just as baffled as he was by her response. Shouldn’t she be begging him to reconsider? Why did he feel like he was the dumpee? Could it be that his little hedgehog wasn’t as enamored with him as he thought?
Cutter watched as she went back to petting and cooing the feline horror. Stupid cat. He pulled his pink robe – what? It is really comfortable – around him more tightly and glared at the laptop screen. His wolf let out a feral growl as he came across the crime scene pics. The fucker who did this was going to pay.
Huffing he slammed the laptop shut and rested his hand on top. Lucie raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything, not about that, anyway.
“Are you hungry? I’m famished,” she declared.
He had to admit he hadn’t eaten much all day, and their vigorous bedroom activities had depleted his energy somewhat. Although…
“What are you offering?” he asked, waggling an eyebrow suggestively.
“I don’t really want to cook; I was thinking about ordering Chinese.”
“I guess,” he said sullenly, “if nothing better is on the menu.”
“Chinese it is,” she laughed.
“Won’t it look weird if you order enough for two?”
Lucie shimmied over to the phone and pulled out a menu. Her ass jiggled mesmerizingly in her tiny, tiny shorts – they barely provided full cheek coverage.
“No, I usually do. I can never decide which dish I want so I always order too much and then I have the rest for lunch the next day.”
She put in an order for various dishes before pulling out a pad of paper and a fluffy, pink pen. “Okay, we need a plan of attack.”
“We need a pen that looks like it was barfed up by a parrot to make a plan?”
“Yes, we do.”
Cutter tapped his fingers on top of the laptop. “I don’t think you should be a part of this. It could be dangerous.”
“But, couldn’t you argue that I’ve already helped you, so I’m already in danger?” She said it with such a sweet smile – it didn’t seem to match her words at all.
“No one knows I’m here; you’ll be fine, but maybe I should go before…”
“No, no, no, no, no!” she cried, raising her voice ever so slightly. “We’ve already been through this. It’s best that you stay here given the severity your injuries.”
He gave her a leer. “You didn’t think they were severe when you were trying to suck me dry with your pus…”
“I helped you,” she interrupted, blushing, “and lied to my bosses for you - you are not ditching me.”
“It’s not about ditching. I’m… I’m no good for you.”
His wolf whined at him; he wasn’t just talking about the messy situation in which he found himself.
Lucie snapped her fingers in his face. “Hey, you zoned out there for a moment. Look, I’m a big girl,” his eyes automatically dipped to her abundant breasts stretched in her tight, tight vest. She snapped her fingers again with a sigh. “I decide what’s good for me – not you. And as with all the things that came before you - ice cream, cake, nachos, reality TV and bikinis - I have decided that, in spite of popular opinion, they and you are good for me.”
Cutter nodded, and he had only one thing to say about
that, “Bikinis are very good for you – but not in public, only in my company. In fact, you don’t have to bother wearing anything at all in my company.”
She ignored him and started scribbling on her notepad. “Okay, so we guess Clayton discovered something, something that apparently dragged him to Ursa and made him need to speak to Sadie Beauchamp.”
“Yes.”
Lucie started chewing on her pen but grimaced and spat out a feather. “Any idea what?”
“No.”
“I see,” she rubbed her lips together, “now what?”
Disappointed by the end of the bikini discussion, and sporting an erection that was downright uncomfortable, Cutter thought it best to try and throw himself into the case.
“I don’t think we’ll get anywhere with Clayton, and according to the file Sadie Beauchamp only arrived in town a few weeks ago, so no one really knew her. However, Marie and her boyfriend only arrived a few days ago. Apparently, the night Marie died, he was in police custody for attacking a police horse.”
“Charming,” she murmured.
“According to Diaz’s notes, the boyfriend is a drug dealer and user. He wasn’t forthcoming about Marie and wasn’t exactly cut up about her death or that her sister was missing. Diaz suspects the asshole knows something but won’t help. I wouldn’t mind talking to him.”
“Do you know where to find him?”
“LLPD arrested him outside the Slippery Newt; it’s a bar on the other side of town. I’ll try there first.”
“We’ll,” she corrected him, cheerfully.
“I’ll,” he rumbled in a much less cheerful tone.
Lucie gave him a beatific smile. “You can’t go alone; it might be dangerous. What if you get into a fight with him?”
Cutter almost burst into hysterical laughter at the thought of his mild-mannered little hedgehog getting into a fight between him and a drug dealer. His beast, on the other hand, reverted to his desire to tie her to the bed to keep her out of trouble. Wisely, he kept both reactions to himself.
“You’re not an investigator.”
She nodded and seemed to take that on board. “Well, maybe Wayne or Avery…”
“I don’t want to drag them into this.” It was bad enough that he had pulled Lucie into the madness, possibly endangering her and ruining her career.