Protect and Fur [3xtasy Lake 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Corinne Davies

  3xtasy Lake 5

  Protect and Fur

  Brenna Roberts thought she found her True Mate when she met Aiden O’Reilly, but he left her with a shattered heart. She comes home to hide but carries her bitter anger like a badge to keep everyone away.

  Asked to keep an eye on Brenna, Officer Craig Walker has kept his distance but can’t resist her. He knows that she is his mate but he has spent a lifetime suppressing the wolf inside him. How can she accept him when he can’t accept himself?

  In order to keep Brenna safe, Aiden had to make her believe that he didn’t care. Now his past is about to catch up with him, threatening the future peace and lives of everyone in Ecstasy Lake.

  It’s going to take the three of them watching out for each other to save their home and force them to acknowledge that fact that they can’t live apart.

  Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 48,945 words

  PROTECT AND FUR

  3xtasy Lake 5

  Corinne Davies

  MENAGE EVERLASTING

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

  PROTECT AND FUR

  Copyright © 2012 by Corinne Davies

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-100-9

  First E-book Publication: August 2012

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Protect and Fur by Corinne Davies from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Corinne Davies’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Davies’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  For my husband Chris, whose continued support makes it possible for me to follow my dream. It’s been a difficult year, and I wouldn’t have come through it so well without you holding me up when I needed it and for singing “Soft Kitty” when I needed that, too.

  For my wonderful friends, those I sprint with and those I rant with. You’re a wonderful group of ladies, and I’m lucky to have you in my life.

  And to everyone at Siren Publishing who works so hard in the background. I can never thank them enough.

  PROTECT AND FUR

  3xtasy Lake 5

  CORINNE DAVIES

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  Officer Craig Walker sat in his patrol car enjoying the warm summer sun against his face. Moving to Ecstasy Lake was one of the smartest things he’d ever done, even if it hadn’t felt that way in the beginning. Closing his eyes, he listened to the sound of an SUV heading toward him. He knew whose vehicle it was by the revving engine. He could also tell that the feisty driver was about to reach warp speed at the rate she was accelerating.

  Brenna Roberts knew he parked at the top of the hill before the “Welcome to Ecstasy” sign. Everyone in town knew he parked there which meant only one thing. She wanted his attention and today she was going to get it. He was tired of waiting.

  He’d done his best to keep his distance from her until his best friend, Aiden O’Reilly, had made his way to Ecstasy Lake because he thought it’d been the right thing to do. Aiden had met her first, but prior commitments had prevented him from claiming her that fateful night. Aiden had asked Craig to watch out for her until he could wrap up the undercover mission he was on. Never had Craig expected to discover that Brenna was his Mate as well, and staying away from her for these past months had done a number on his patience. The SUV crested the hill and Brenna flew past him with a wave, consisting of one finger.

  “That’s it, you little hellion. You and I are going to have a chat.” He flipped on his lights and siren and pulled out behind her vehicle.

  Brenna delayed pulling over and then watched him through the side view mirror with an arched eyebrow as he walked up to her window. He was tempted to think that she wasn’t happy he’d pulled her over, but she had to know he wouldn’t let her get away with racing down the roads at that speed.

  “Exactly, what can I help you with, Officer Walker?”

  Her impatient and snotty tone awoke the Alpha inside him and made his fingers itch to smack some respect into her ass. The creature he kept confined inside him fought against the barriers he kept between them. Brenna had a knack for chipping away at his control every time he got near her. “License and registration, please.”

  “Why? You know who I am, and you know this is my vehicle.”

  “License and registration now, please.” He kept all emotion out of his voice as he spoke. He didn’t want her thinking that she was in control of this situation, because she wasn’t. The woman had yanked his tail one too many times, and he wanted to yank back.

  “Fine.” She reached over and pulled her purse into her lap and started emptying it all on the passenger seat before handing him a small folder. He retreated from her for a moment, to sit in his cruiser and let her stew. He needed the time to lock down his emotions and shore up his defenses against the creature inside him. The animal wanted out, but there was no way he would allow that evil creature to touch her. She was his, and it’d known it from the moment he first caught her scent.

  If he were an intelligent man, he would’ve packed up, requested another transfer, and gotten
the hell away from there. But he promised Aiden he’d watch out for her and keep her safe, which included curbing her affinity for speeding. Aiden was a bigger mess than him, and they had no business fucking with her life.

  Sitting outside of her home like some stalker was more than a little strange, and staking out his Mate was new to him. He would’ve rather crawled into her bed and protected her properly. He’d been pissed off about the entire situation until he discovered what she was. He couldn’t accept the dark side of himself, so how could he expect her to? He’d done a damn good job keeping his distance while keeping an eye on her, until the day Jessica Bennett was kidnapped and hurt.

  That day was forever burned into his memory, the moment that he had gotten within arm’s length of his Mate. And what had she said to him as she was dealing with a traumatized patient? “Who the fuck are you? Get the fuck out.”

  His cock stirred at the memory. Damn, he always did have a soft spot for a strong woman. He was a selfish bastard because he knew he wouldn’t give her up to anyone else after that. She also cared about her family and her friends.

  Her friend Jessica had been brought into the clinic with extensive injuries. Jessica was a doe-shifter, and by snarling at him and ordering him out, Brenna had protected her patient and also not risked anyone else in the room.

  Jessica’s Mates were human. They wouldn’t have stood a chance against him. Nothing against Marcario and Jelani Bennett—he didn’t doubt that they would’ve gotten a few good hits in and slowed him down if necessary, but in the end he could’ve killed that defenseless doe and her Mates. Jessica had been through enough with a stalker after her. A few months of rest and relaxation under the watchful eyes of Marcario and Jelani Bennett and she was as good as new. Last he heard, the three of them had gone off to dig wells in South America.

  Aiden had called yesterday to say that he was finishing his mission and on his way there to collect his Mate. Craig hadn’t hesitated in informing the arrogant asshole that he was going to have to share Brenna with him. The jerk hadn’t minded. In fact, Aiden seemed relieved considering his next comment had been about going on another mission. Aiden had his own demons driving him to constantly go after rogue shifters.

  Craig had known him for most of his life, and Aiden was burning out, taking more chances during these missions, and getting more reckless. He wanted Aiden to settle down, and he was bound and determined to talk him into making Ecstasy Lake his home, too. After living there for the better part of a year, Craig loved it.

  He strode up alongside Brenna’s vehicle. He didn’t hurry, because he was figuring out what he was going to say. The tight rein he kept on his inner wolf slipped anytime it sensed her, and he battled the animal in him. Years of complete control were obliterated by her delectable scent.

  He braced his hands on the edge of her open window. “Now what was so important you needed to break the sound barrier?”

  “I wasn’t doing anything close to that speed, officer, especially in this beater” She glanced around her vehicle and waved her hand. “Show me your radar gun.”

  Craig feared he would grind his back molars to dust. He was going to show her something, but it wouldn’t be his radar gun. “I would, but we both know it’s a waste of time.”

  “Because you aren’t going to give me a ticket?” Her smile almost took his breath away. She was a beautiful woman when she wasn’t being a bitch.

  “No. You’ll get a ticket. Now, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

  She flicked her hair and curled her lip. “That’s rather arrogant.”

  He edged closer, “No, that’s confidence. You knew where I would be. Considering I saw Carol Henderson pass by not too long ago, I’d be willing to bet she told you.”

  Her beautiful smile faltered. Gotcha. I was right. “Waving so nicely guaranteed you my complete attention.”

  “I was simply telling you I think you’re number one.” She batted her eyes at him, her smile overly sweet now.

  “Nice try. What do you want, Brenna?”

  * * * *

  I want you. Horrified, Brenna snapped her mouth closed, stopping the words from shooting out. She’d been enamored with this man ever since the day he had stormed into her exam room with Jessica and the Bennetts.

  When an unknown shifter had appeared in the doorway of the exam room, Brenna hadn’t thought of anything other than protecting her friend. She’d felt silly afterward when she’d learned he’d been there to help. Craig Walker’s scent and presence had haunted her ever since. She’d sure she’d scented him near her house a few times since. She’d gone out during the last full moon, but he’d been nowhere to be found.

  “I don’t want anything from you, Officer Walker, unless you want to tell me why you’ve been following me around. You’ve been in the woods around my home.” Craig leaned into the window, his face a breath away from hers, so close she could’ve leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. His lower lip was full, and she fought the urge to touch it and see if it was as soft as she imagined. The short sleeves of his uniform shirt stretched around his biceps. His natural scent dominated the space and invaded her senses.

  She knew next to nothing about this man who haunted her thoughts on a regular basis. He’d never made a move to get to know her better. Sure, she could’ve tried making the first move with Craig but when she thought about it, all she could remember was the sight of Aiden, her Mate, walking away. She couldn’t risk feeling that way again. “Do you need me to say it, Brenna?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Don’t force me to face what I’m not ready to.

  Craig’s brows furrowed. “Is that so?”

  Instead of intimidating her, his aggressive dominance turned her on. She clenched her thighs together against the cream that coated her panties. In a move so fast she almost missed it, he whipped open the door and pinned her to her seat. He caught both her hands in one of his, and restrained them against the headrest. He buried his face into her neck and inhaled deeply. His lips brushed the sensitive skin below her ear, and her pussy respond with another surge of moisture.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Brenna. I can smell your sweet wet cunt getting ready for me. Deny it all you want, but one day I’ll be between those lush thighs of yours and you’ll be screaming my name.”

  My wolf is already howling your name. “Hell will freeze over first.” She didn’t understand why she felt so driven to defy him. She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to him, and she hungered for him in a way that might only lead to madness. But she’d given into these stupid animal urges before, and look what had happened then.

  Craig bit down on the sensitive muscle that connected her neck to her shoulder, sending a white-hot bolt of lightning straight to her pussy. The intensity of it almost made her come right then and there. He held her hands immobile on the headrest, and her inner wolf was rolling over and showing its belly. Christ, she wanted him so badly, but this was almost exactly what had happened before. She’d thought Aiden was the one, too, and that had been a joke. She was the one fucked, and then Aiden had walked away with her panties in his pocket, leaving her with an ache that continued to this day.

  “When you’re ready to be honest with me, Brenna, we are going to have a nice long talk, but until then, slow the hell down before you kill yourself or someone else.”

  He extracted himself from her vehicle. She would’ve thought him completely unaffected if it wasn’t for the large bulge behind his fly. He closed the door and handed her a piece of paper.

  She stared at him in shock. “You’re really giving me a ticket?”

  “You were speeding. Instructions are on the back. Be sure to buckle up, Miss Roberts.” He slipped his sunglasses on his tanned face as he smirked at her. With that he turned and walked to his vehicle.

  Brenna sat there staring at the rectangular piece of paper. Her pussy throbbed, and the asshole gave her a $125 fine. She pulled her seatbelt so hard she
almost ripped it from the side of the vehicle. I hate you all.

  As she drove away, she glanced in her rearview mirror and saw Officer Walker returning to his hangout to catch more speeders.

  Her vision clouded for a moment, and she blinked wildly as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Her mind replayed the night she met Aiden almost a year ago.

  She’d gone to stay with her pregnant sister. She loved Ava, but she’d been driving her insane that evening. With single twinge, Ava thought she was in labor. It was exhausting. Brenna’d taken a walk to clear her thoughts and get some fresh air. The small town her sister and brother-in-law lived in was safe and much like Ecstasy Lake, except that their Alpha was aging and a few younger men were vying for the position. It’d created almost a civil-war kind of mentality among a lot of the residents.

  A gang had arrived in town and brought with them a host of new problems. Ava’s husband, Bill, had been talking of moving right after the baby was born.

  She’d been so deep in thought she hadn’t realized how far she’d wandered. The streets were deserted that time of night, and the alleys were dark and stank of despair. When she’d turned to head back to the house, she came face-to-face with him.

  His eyes had captured her attention. Their bright amber color fascinated her. Unable to help herself, she’d reached up to brushed his long dark bangs back off his face to get a better look.

  “Brenna!” River’s voice crackled over the CB radio. With the proliferation of cell phones, CBs were obsolete, but she still had fun talking on it with other enthusiasts. She grabbed the handset and pushed the “talk” button. “Hey, River, what’s up? Over.”