Lion’s Claim (Shifter Chronicles Book 6)

by Crissy Smith

  She allowed this for a few moments then slipped onto her back, still in Mac’s arms, and batted at his hand. Logan stopped moving his fingers. She wrapped her paw around his wrist and pulled with strength until she had her teeth around the pad of one of his digits.

  “Ouch,” he complained when a sharp tooth dug in.

  “Yeah.” Mac tapped Annabelle’s nose. “Sometimes I think she’s more domesticated than she likes to admit.”

  With that comment, Annabelle swatted Mac’s chin, drawing a laugh from Logan.

  “I guess she really is okay,” Logan said.

  “Yes,” Mac agreed. He handed her to Carter. “Take her to her room so she can shift back and clean up.”

  “Okay.” Carter kissed the top of her head before turning to meander toward the rear entrance.

  “Come,” Mac said. “We’ll have a beer while we wait on her.”

  Logan glanced at his watch. It had been a long day and he still had to make the drive home.

  “We have a spare room you can use,” Mac told him. “You’ll have to turn around and be here in the morning to take care of the hunters.”

  “Later this morning,” Mac corrected. It was after three already.

  “Right,” Mac said. “We’re used to bar hours here.”

  “I think I’ll take you up on your offer,” Logan said. “It’ll save me time.”

  “You have a bag in your truck?”

  “Yes.” Logan pulled his keys put of his pocket. “I’ll get it and meet you in the bar.”

  Mac nodded and followed Carter through the back door. Logan decided to stay outside and strode off in the direction he’d come. It seemed like days had passed since he’d gotten out of his truck with the intention of questioning the bar patrons about Duffy and Calvin. Instead, mere hours had gone by and he was exhausted. It was really nice of Mac to put him up for the night.

  Before he’d left his apartment, Logan had tried to find lodging in town. Brookside didn’t have a hotel or even a bed and breakfast. Instead, the closest place he’d been able to find was forty minutes away. Which was a waste, since his drive was an hour long. He wouldn’t throw away the money to save only twenty minutes’ drive time.

  However, he had packed up a bag, his laptop and files in case he found something once he got to town. Maybe they just didn’t advertise. Logan hadn’t been so lucky, though. It appeared that Brookside really did its best to keep strangers away.

  Now, knowing they’d had trouble with hunters, Logan understood the need, although he still thought something more was going on.

  Maybe he’d be able to get some information from the sheriff. Magnus had seemed like a good law enforcement ally. Logan hadn’t wanted to involve the local police until he knew what was happening in the town, but he was past that now. Hopefully Magnus would be more forthcoming than Mac and the residents had been.

  Logan reached his truck and pushed the Unlock button on the key fob before opening the back door. He’d had a safe installed in the rear floorboard to keep his weapon and other work-related items when he needed them. It was a trick he’d learned early in his career. He couldn’t always take his work in with him but needed to keep it secure. Logan opened the safe and removed his laptop then closed the lid. He’d leave his files inside. He didn’t need them at the moment.

  He shoved the computer under his arm and grabbed his duffel off the seat. That should be enough for now.

  After he slammed the door closed, he turned and almost ran into Trent.

  “Fuck, man,” Logan exclaimed. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

  Trent laughed. “I wasn’t actually trying to. You seemed deep in thought.”

  Logan chuckled. “I think I’m more tired than I realized.”

  “Well, come on then,” Trent said. “You can have a beer while we get a room ready for you.”

  He nodded and followed Trent toward the bar’s front door. There weren’t any other vehicles in the parking lot. “Is my truck safe here?”

  “Yeah, no worries. We have security cameras and they’re always monitored.”

  “Great,” Logan said. He really did like his truck and didn’t want it messed with. Since most of the residents had already seen him driving it around, they’d know who the vehicle belonged to.

  “I’ll take your bag,” Trent said as they reached the entrance. “I think Mac’s putting you in Calvin’s old room.”

  “Old room?” Mac asked. “I thought Calvin lived here.”

  Trent chuckled as he pulled open the door. “He does, but he shares with Duffy now. They’ve been together for several years.”

  “Good, then.” Maybe Calvin had left some things in his old residence that would give Logan a look at the other man. He was still Logan’s main suspect in the disappearance of Samantha.

  “He still keeps some stuff in the room, but you’ll have plenty of space.”

  They stepped inside the bar. The lights were dim in the main room, but he spotted Mac sitting on a stool at the bar. He was alone, so Logan passed Trent his bag before walking to join the bear shifter.

  “Poured you a beer,” Mac said without turning around. The mirror behind the bar let him see Logan, although Mac had probably heard him approach just fine. His shoes creaked over the old wooden floor.

  “I appreciate it,” Logan said, sitting down beside him.

  “I checked on Annabelle. She’s in the shower and will join us shortly. Then I suspect that you’ll want to turn in.”

  Logan ran his hands roughly over his face. “Yeah.”

  Mac chuckled. “I don’t envy you your job.”

  “It’s usually not so exciting,” Logan confessed. “A lot of arrests of shifters and humans breaking the law. Paperwork—fuck, the paperwork is a bitch. And appearing in court. We’re actually pretty lucky up here. We haven’t had the same hate groups form around here.”

  “I’ve read about some in Arizona, Texas and Colorado,” Mac said. “It makes me glad I settled here.”

  “What made you decide on Brookside?” Logan questioned. He was honestly curious.

  “Is it Agent Coldwell asking or Logan?”

  “It’s just me,” Logan said. “A man having a beer.”

  Mac picked up his cold pilsner and seemed to steady it. Logan was about to change the subject, expecting Mac not to answer, when the bear shifter chuckled. “It was an accident.”

  “Accident?” he pressed.

  “I’d just gotten out of the service and gained custody of Duffy. I’d been stationed in San Diego and planned on taking Duffy to Oregon or Washington State. I didn’t want Duffy anywhere close to where his mom—my sister—died.”

  “I’m sorry,” Logan said sincerely. “I read about her murder.”

  Mac dipped his head. “Thanks. So here I was, traveling through the state with Duffy, and my bike broke down. Ten miles from here.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah,” Mac said. “Luckily a passing jeep stopped to check on us. Alexander Santos, he owns the Italian restaurant in town. A master chef.”

  “I met him today,” Logan confessed.

  “He told me,” Mac said. “He’s still one of my best friends. Anyway, Alexander picked me and Duffy up and took us to his restaurant. He fed us and called a mechanic friend of his. It took three days to get my bike fixed. But when we were ready to get on the road, neither one of us wanted to leave.”

  “That’s…surprising,” Logan stated. “Not knowing anyone here.”

  “It was so different here,” Mac said. “Every person I met was a shifter. We didn’t have to hide who we were. It’s freeing.”

  “I bet.” Logan heard his own wistfulness.

  “I had some money put aside from my time in the service and opened this place.”

  Logan peered around at the bar, which was quickly growing on him. It wasn’t the kind of place where he’d usually stop to have a pint or relax. Now he regretted not giving establishments like this a chance. He was beginning to understan
d that it was the people who made the Den so remarkable.

  A shuffling of feet came from behind him and he turned on his stool.

  Annabelle stood in the doorway between the main bar floor and the kitchen. She was dressed simply in a pair of faded gray slacks and a white v-neck T-shirt. Her feet were bare and her toes were painted a pretty pink. With her long black hair cascading down in soft wet curls, she was a vision.

  “Well.” Mac rose. “I’ll leave you two to talk, and call it a night.”

  Logan turned and nodded to him. “Thank you.”

  Mac walked quietly across the room. His big combat boots didn’t even make the boards creak. Logan grinned. The bear shifter was still showing off, but Logan didn’t mind.

  He watched while Mac bent his head to speak softly to Annabelle before kissing her on the cheek and leaving them alone.

  “Do you want a drink?” he offered.

  “Isn’t that my line?” she replied, taking the first steps forward.

  “Yeah,” Logan said and chuckled. “I guess it is.”

  She stopped beside him and he looked her over. She didn’t appear to be injured—she just seemed tired, but it was the protectiveness on the surface he was having a hard time dealing with. His hands shook with the need to check every inch of her.

  “How’s your leg?”

  Annabelle smiled at him. “It’s fine. I put some ointment and a bandage over the gash and probably won’t even know it was ever there by morning.”

  “You still could have been killed,” Logan pointed out. “I need to talk to you about that.”

  “I don’t really know anything about the men in the forest.”

  “I just need you to tell me what happened,” Logan said.

  “Okay.” She climbed onto the stool that Mac had vacated. “I can do that.”

  Chapter Five

  Annabelle tried to ignore the feeling of Logan so close by her side. She’d really enjoyed when he’d petted her earlier and wished she was in cat form so she could feel his fingers against her fur.

  “Take your time,” Logan said.

  As she started her story, Logan pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket and took notes. It amused her that he carried around the pad. He’s the perfect little agent, isn’t he?

  There wasn’t a whole lot to tell and he only asked a few follow-up questions before he closed the cover and slipped his notebook into his pocket.

  “That should take care of it for now,” he said. “I suspect you’re worn out.”

  She was, but Annabelle also didn’t want to leave him yet. Now that she’d gotten the unpleasantness of the night over with, she wanted to talk to Logan. She just wasn’t sure where to start. Well, there was one thing she still wondered.

  “What were you doing here, anyway?” she asked.

  Logan smiled before he picked up his beer and downed the rest. “Officially? I’m checking up on my case. I need to speak with Duffy and Calvin.”

  “Oh,” she murmured. What had she expected? He wouldn’t have come back just for her. She’d not given him any reason to think she was interested in him.

  “You’re supposed to ask me the unofficial reason,” he commented.

  Bossy bastard. That turned her on, though. “What’s the unofficial reason?”

  “I knew you’d be here,” Logan said quietly. “Or at least I hoped.”

  “Really?” The warmth that filled her was an unusual feeling, one that she’d feared for so long.

  “I don’t know why I just told you that,” he admitted. He laughed, but it sounded different from the happy sound she’d heard before.

  “I think it’s nice,” she assured him. It was great to not have to guess where his thoughts were. Since Annabelle remained unsure herself of the strong attraction between them, knowing that Logan was in the same boat helped. “I’m glad you came.” It was her turn to be honest.

  “Because I arrested the men who were shooting at you?” he asked.

  Annabelle automatically shook her head. “No. I could have handled that. Or Trent or Mac would have, and after, they’d have called the sheriff. It was nice seeing you there, looking all fierce and protective.”

  “I feel protective toward you,” he said quietly. “God only knows why. You can obviously take care of yourself.”

  “I can,” she agreed. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not a comfort when someone worries or wants to help.”

  Logan turned on his stool a little more so they were facing each other. His knees bracketed hers and if she leaned forward just a few inches, they’d be touching. “I know you don’t trust me.”

  She opened her mouth to argue but quickly closed it again. He was right and to dispute his statement would make her a liar.

  “That’s what I thought,” he said. “But I can’t stop thinking about you. I should be focused on my investigation, but instead all I wanted to do was come here and sit in front of this bar so I could watch you.”

  Annabelle had started dating when she’d been sixteen. The first time she’d had sex had been at nineteen. In all the times that she’d been interested in men, no one had ever reached that part of her heart that Logan currently tugged on. “I wish I could tell you what you want to know.” The statement was true, and it was also all she could give him. It wasn’t up to her to break the silent code about the underground group she was a part of.

  “Maybe someday?” he questioned.

  Annabelle finally closed the distance. She pressed her leg against his before placing her palm on his thigh. “We’re good people here. I need you to trust in that and leave the rest alone.”

  “I would if I could,” he said, laying his hand over hers. “Not only is this my job, but it’s not in my personality to just have faith in people. I usually see the worst side of both humans and shifters.”

  “I understand,” she whispered. Annabelle wasn’t certain what that meant for the two of them, though.

  “Can we put all of that on the back burner for now?” he asked. “I’ll do my job to the best of my ability. You can keep your secrets for the time being. As long as you don’t hinder my investigation, of course.”

  The words that Mac had murmured in her ears before he’d left her alone with Logan popped into her head. ‘Give him a chance,’ Mac had told her. As scary as it was to take a chance, Annabelle really wanted to. “Yes.”

  A simple one-word answer. She hoped it was enough for him.

  Logan leaned forward, brushing his lips lightly against hers. She sucked in a breath, then he pressed harder. The kiss was all-consuming as Annabelle opened her mouth and he thrust his tongue deep.

  She tasted the hops from his beer mixed in with a smoky spice. Annabelle couldn’t place the flavor and also had to have more. Gripping his shoulders to anchor herself, she scooted to the edge of her stool.

  Logan slid his hands up her legs until he was gripping her hips. It was too easy to let him take her weight and lift her so she straddled his lap.

  His hard erection grazed her. She wanted to feel more, though. Annabelle rocked while he continued to plunder her mouth. Was it hot in there or was she going up in flames? She couldn’t tell.

  “Baby,” he murmured after he’d moved his lips from hers.

  “More,” she pleaded.

  Logan immediately kissed her again, but this time he didn’t thrust his tongue inside. Instead he nibbled at her bottom lip before swiping his tongue over the light bite. Annabelle found herself moaning and clutching at him.

  “I’d like nothing more than to pick you up and find the closest flat surface to be able to feast on you,” he said.

  “I hear a but coming,” she managed.

  Logan smiled sweetly. “This isn’t a one-night stand. I’m going to prove that you can trust me.”

  Annabelle dropped her forehead onto his shoulder as she tried to regain control. If just a little contact made her feel this way, how was she going to survive when he did finally make love to her?

  “I wa
nt to take you on a date,” he said suddenly.

  She lifted her head and frowned at him. Had she ever gone on a date? Well, no—she’d met guys at the bar and let the conversation carry them to the next step.

  “What?” he asked.

  There was no way she’d admit to merely sleeping with guys who came through.

  “Jesus,” he said. “Don’t tell me you’ve never been on a date before.”

  Embarrassment flooded her and she prayed she wasn’t blushing.

  “Damn, men have not treated you right.”

  She’d never thought to want more than what she’d always gotten.

  “I will,” he promised. Logan gripped her chin gently. “I will.”

  “Okay.” She couldn’t speak above a whisper.

  Logan grinned, which made her smile at him in return. The childlike glee on his face was intoxicating. “Okay.”

  Annabelle ran her hands across his shoulders as she backed off Logan’s lap. She stood between his legs, just looking him over. If she didn’t walk away, she might beg him to fuck her. Logan was right to put the brakes on for the night. She needed time to think. A few hours ago, she’d been trying to figure out how to stay away from him. Hell, she had a file in her bedroom that would probably get her into a lot of trouble. Things were moving too quickly.

  “I can see you’re already starting to worry,” Logan said.

  “Yeah,” Annabelle agreed.

  “That’s not always a bad thing.”

  “I don’t know. Can I get back to you on that?”

  He laughed. “Sure.”

  She stepped away. “You should probably get on the road.”

  “Actually,” he said. “I’ll be staying.”

  What the hell does that mean? “Staying?”

  “Mac said he’d put me up for the night,” Logan answered. “Trent took my bag to Calvin’s old room.”

  Mac’s letting Logan stay at the bar? He never does that. What if the alarm goes off or someone shows up out of nowhere? “Oh.” She didn’t know how else to respond.

  “Is that a problem?” he asked. “I don’t have to stay.”

  He sounded like he really meant it. “No,” she told him. “If it’s okay with Mac then it’s fine with me.” It was just really weird.