by CJ Ellisson
“Thank you, I feel terrific, which brings me back to the point I was making. I want to go home, Sean.”
Sean didn’t answer. He looked to his Lieutenant and flicked his head sideways. “Thank you, Jack, but I think it’s better if I escort Ms. Saburi this afternoon. You can go.”
The young man left with barely a nod, but Lily remained, arms folded across her chest waiting for what Sean had to say. Grabbing a jacket from the hall closet, he opened the front door. “Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
Arms still folded, she followed him into the snow. The grounds were a blanket of white, except where the late afternoon sun casted shadows in a deep, amber hue. It was perfect. Or it would be if things were different.
Sean was gorgeous. There was no denying it. And he affected her in ways she didn’t want to admit—there was no denying that, as well. You’re weak, you’re letting your body betray you. Betray Terry, her thoughts admonished.
Yet, the more she fought it, the worse it got. How could her body want what she had vowed to destroy?
The snow crunched under their feet, leaving footprints five inches deep as they walked. Sean didn’t say a word but led the way across the lawn toward a large greenhouse. The glass walls were frosted as if painted with intricate lace. Wrought iron benches lined the walkway, and there were stone urns with the remains of winter withered flowers, frozen in ice.
Stopping to clean the snow from one of the benches, Sean took off his jacket and laid it on the seat, motioning for Lily to sit.
“What about you, aren’t you cold?” she asked.
“Nope. It’s a Were thing. Our bodies naturally run warmer than humans. I guess you might say I’m a hottie,” he winked sitting down on the bench, patting his jacket again. “Sit down. I won’t bite.”
Lily sat with a huff. Did he have to sit so close to her?
“Pretty isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” she sighed. “Sean, I…”
“Tell me about Terry,” he said cutting her off. Deftly redirecting the subject, he wanted to steer clear of her questions. “I’ve never encountered a shade before, and I’m curious. Has she been haunting you long?”
Lily pushed her legs back and forth digging deep grooves in the snow with her heels. She knew Sean watched, but she didn’t look up. She also knew he deliberately changed the subject. “To answer your question, Terry wasn’t always a shade. She was my best friend. We grew up together. Our families were extremely close, so when mine was killed in a car crash, Terry’s family took me in.”
Sean stayed silent. The wind had picked up blowing Lily’s chestnut hair loose. He couldn’t see her face, but he didn’t need to. Her sorrow was in her scent. “I’m sorry, Lily. How old were you?”
“Ten. It wasn’t too long after that my psychic abilities showed up.” Lily exhaled sadly, looking out at the horizon. The sun was low in the sky, casting a halo of gold across the distant treetops. “Terry believed my abilities were a gift from God, a way for me to still see my folks. She was the only one who knew. That is until I started working with the police.”
“But you’re a bounty hunter? You hunt, and you kill. How does that fit in with helping the police?”
“Bounty hunter? I’m no bounty hunter, Sean. I hunt for one reason and one reason only. Revenge. And don’t pretend you don’t know why. Terry was murdered not far from here, by the same thing that almost killed me out on the cliffs.
I had been working a lot of cases. Mostly unsolved homicides and kidnappings. The sadness inherent in that type of case load became too much for Terry. You see, she was my business partner as well as my friend. Terry was tired. She wanted to take a break from our investigations, but I didn’t. I had become immersed in them. The case here in Maine was supposed to be a compromise. A routine haunting. Easy.”
A hawk cawed in the sky above them pulling her attention, but even its shrill sound couldn’t drown out her guilt. It should have been easy…it should have been effortless…it should have never happened, the little voice in her head accused.
“Terry was outside taking baseline EMF readings when the beast attacked. It was more animal than human—hairy and grotesque, with an elongated jaw and razor-like teeth. Hearing Terry’s screams, I ran out of the house, but I was too late. I couldn’t face her parents after the funeral. Regardless of what the coroner’s report said, I knew it wasn’t a freak attack by some kind of animal. I’d witnessed too many extraordinary things in my life to discount the facts. It was a werewolf.
“Terry showed up in her current form about two weeks after her death. I had already started hunting. She said she was here to help me, but I don’t see how. She’s dead, and nothing is going to change that. I don’t even know if she’s still around.”
Sean didn’t know what to say, so he just stayed silent. The ramifications of what was happening in his world had just increased tenfold. He needed to let the Hunter’s Council know, needed to up their patrols. As if on cue, his phone buzzed.
“What is it Mitch? When? Well, who’s on it? Get Jack and his company out scouting the grounds, a.s.a.p.! This is no joke, Mitch. If he gets past the Compound boundaries, the chances of us finding him before he hurts someone are next to nil. We got lucky the last time. Just do it. I’m heading back to the manor now.”
Sean’s face was grim, and from the sound of what Lily heard at this end, there was a reason for it. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing that concerns you. Let’s go. I need to get you back to the manor. It’s getting late, and it’s not safe for you to be out here after dark.”
“But I’m with you. I honestly don’t want to go back yet, Sean, I’ve been cooped up all week.”
“I’m sorry Lily, but I have to get back. There’s something I need to attend to.”
It was no use arguing with him. Tomorrow was another day, and maybe then she’d be the one to ask all the questions. “Wow, touchy, and the full moon isn’t until tomorrow night!”
Sean shot her a look…if she only knew. The wind changed suddenly, and shouts came somewhere behind them. Sean raised his head and sniffed. A low menacing growl left his throat. “We have to go!” Grabbing Lily by the arm he yanked her up, all manner of polite chivalry gone. “Move your ass, Lily, and don’t argue with me! We have to get back to the manor, now!”
Jerking her arm away, Lily reached back and smacked him. “Don’t manhandle me! What the hell do you think you’re doing? What happened in the last two minutes to make you crazier than I thought? One minute you’re concerned and interested in me and my story, and the next you’re all Gestapo— what are you, a Good Samaritan or a Guantanamo Bay wannabe? Pick one, because you’re giving me whiplash!”
Sean tensed, ignoring her. It was too late. The air around them shifted, and even Lily felt the difference. A foul smell drifted toward them, and she gagged. It was the same stench she remembered from the beast on the cliffs. “It can’t be,” she whispered, the blood draining from her face. “It’s dead. I shot it!”
“Lily, get behind me and stay close. We’re going to back up slowly. Whatever you do don’t turn and run. Wrap your arms around my waist, slowly. We need to stay attached. This one may still be lucid. If it is, it will recognize my scent, and mine will mask yours enough to confuse it.”
Lily didn’t argue. She had no idea what Sean was talking about, but did as she was told, wrapping her arms around Sean’s waist and pressing herself against him. A terrified giggle welled up her throat, but she swallowed it back. She’d fantasized plenty about wrapping herself around him, but this certainly wasn’t the circumstance she envisioned.
The two moved slowly backward. The beast came into view, rounding the corner of the greenhouse. It chuffed and sniffed, pawing the snow like a wild animal posturing before a strike. There were more shouts and the beast reared up. A spray of gunfire pierced the air, and Sean reached behind yanking Lily beneath him as they hit the ground.
The beast was surrounded as more shots were fired. A
loud crash echoed against the trees as the beast flung itself through one of the greenhouse walls. Glass shattered everywhere, spraying shards like tiny pieces of shrapnel. A bloody trail smeared across the snow, steam rising into the air as it cooled, even in the dim light.
Sean got up, pulling Lily to standing. Brushing the snow from her jacket and legs he wrapped his arms around her. “Are you all right?”
“All right? Are you fucking serious? This is insanity, Sean, and I’m getting out of here right now!” She pushed him away and took off full speed toward the house.
Sean’s men were still working, assessing the situation. He knew he had to take their reports, but he also needed to go after Lily. If she tried to leave, it would be bad. He flipped open his cell and pressed speed dial.
“Mitch. Get out here and take over for me. I’ll take the report synopsis from you later. There’s been a complication with the girl I need to attend to.” Snapping the phone shut, he took off after Lily.
Chapter Six
Lily slammed the door behind her. She knew she didn’t have much time, so she grabbed whatever she could find—clothes, toiletries, any food she had, and threw it all into the clean, plastic bag she took from the wastebasket. Tying it in a knot, she slung it over her shoulder Santa Claus style.
She sent her senses out, trying one last time to get a read on the place hoping to smooth her escape, but all she got was the same damn static. Shit! Chewing on her bottom lip, she climbed out the window onto the narrow decorative ridge that surrounded the top level of the manor.
How the fuck did I end up in all this? Terry’s right, I must be insane.
With her legs straddling the window, she scanned the roofline for a possible escape but nixed the idea, immediately. The pitch was too steep. Her only chance was to maneuver herself lower to the ground, so she dropped her bundle to the balcony below and inched around, turning her body to face the house.
On her toes, she carefully crouched down to grab the edge of the ridge on both sides of her feet. She got to her knees, one at a time and then gradually lowered her legs. Thank God for all those pull-ups, she thought as she hung from the ridge with her fingers gripping the edge of the decorative wood, a silent prayer on her lips that it didn’t give way.
“You know, getting to the second floor is much easier if you just use the stairs,” Sean smirked from the open window. He leaned nonchalantly against the frame, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Stay away from me Sean, I mean it.”
“…and what exactly are you planning to do? Drop from balcony to balcony? Come on, Lily, tying bed sheets together would have made more sense than dangling like a deranged rock climber.”
Without another word, Sean leaned over and grabbed her wrists, hoisting Lily onto the ridge. She landed against his chest with a faint whoomph, her soft curves pressed against his hard abs as he dragged her into the room, but this time she was too ticked off to register the sexy feel.
“Get off me!”
“Will you promise not to do anything else stupid, like try and scale the side of the house or run across the roof?”
Lily squirmed. “Let me go!” But Sean had her locked in his arms. As she fought he chuckled, incensing her more.
“You think this is funny! You won’t let me leave, but you won’t tell me what’s going on either. It’s driving me insane!”
Sean breathed in her scent. “You don’t like being out of control, do you, Lily? You like having the upper hand, especially with that psychic sense of yours. But that’s all haywire now, isn’t it? Why don’t you just give in? Don’t you think I can smell it on you? You’re angry, that’s for sure, but underneath all that piss and vinegar burns a fire that scares the hell out of you. You want me, but you’ll never admit it, will you?”
Lily’s eyes bore into his. Her face flushed with a combination of anger and embarrassment. He was right; she hated to be out of control. Oh God! Was she that obvious?
Keeping his arms wrapped around her, Sean let her slide down. He was careful to let her feel the full, hard length of him before he let her feet touch the ground. Let the games begin.
Lily hauled back to smack his face, but Sean caught her forearm. Sliding his hand into hers, he brought it to his mouth. Turning it palm up, he licked the inside of her wrist, teasing a couple of her fingers with his tongue.
He cupped her face, running his thumb across her bottom lip. It trembled as he leaned down and tasted her mouth. His lips were soft on hers, pushing her to open to him until he could smell the reluctant wet musk release between her legs.
Her scent was saturated with need, with want, but still, she forced herself to hold back.
Everything churned inside—her grief, her anger at Terry for dying and her own guilt at not being able to stop it. The emotions bit into her gut, worsened by the knowledge she was still weak from her injuries, and vulnerable without her weapons.
The Were’s touch sent tingles through her lower belly, and resentment bloomed at her body’s betrayal, but it was as if she had no choice.
Sean’s tongue danced along the edges of her mouth, breaking down barriers with each swirl, the rough, raspy feel, unlike anything Lily had ever felt. Drawing his tongue across the hollow of her throat, he worked his way back to her mouth. He pressed himself against her, pulling her body even closer, his hardness evident.
Sean slid his mouth over hers, urging her, pressing her further into her own uninvited need. She dug her fingers into his hair, and bit his lip drawing blood. All her pain and anger, all her regret and unspoken need burst like a damn breaking and she kissed him deeper and more urgently than she thought possible. She poured everything into that kiss as if she could smother every other emotion in a torrent of heat. As if she could burn away everything she felt with blind lust.
He was hungry for her. Stepping back he grabbed the neck of her pullover and ripped it in two. Lily shrugged it off. Running his hands over her smooth skin, Sean traveled over the small of her back, his fingers trailing over the curve of her hip and delicately across her sensitive middle.
Lily whimpered and the sound jarred him, pulling him back. “Am I hurting you?”
“No, don’t stop,” she murmured reaching for him.
He growled sweeping her in his arms and carrying her to the bed. Gently, he laid her on top of the covers. Lily shivered as he ran his hand the full length of her body. Pulling the drawstring on her pants, he pushed them down, lace panties and all, and tossed them to the floor. He knelt on the bed and gathered her in his arms.
Starting at her shoulder, he kissed the path of the angry, pink scars his brother’s claws had made in her delicate skin. His tongue rasped over the sensitive flesh as if he could erase her pain, marking her as his own.
He trailed past her throat, over the full curve of her breasts, teasing with his fingers and the swirl of his tongue until her breath caught in her throat, her nipples hardening from their friction.
With a deft flick of his fingers he unclipped the front closure of her bra, tossing it to the floor, as well. Leaning over he took a single crested peak into his mouth and suckled, teasing the tender flesh with his teeth while his fingers worked the other.
Lily arched her back, and she moaned as he ran his hand past her stomach. He gently caressed the soft fuzz between her legs, letting his fingers graze her sensitive folds.
Sean stroked her slick entrance, deftly inserting first one, and then a second finger into her cleft. Gasping she rolled her hips under his hand. He teased her, leaving her breathless before moving his hand away and licking her musk from his fingers one by one.
She clamored to her knees and pushed him backward, her honey colored eyes dark with desire and suffused with a commanding heat. Sean wasn’t the only one who could call the shots. “Lose the clothes.” It was her turn to growl as he rocked back, slightly.
Chuckling, he got to his feet pulling his shirt over his head. His stomach was flat and hard, and Lily leaned up, running her
hands over the hard planes of his chest.
Her fingers nimbly unbuttoned his jeans, and when she started to push them off his hips, she smirked, realizing that beneath the denim, he’d gone commando.
“Nice,” she purred running her fingers under the soft, blue fabric cupping his bare ass.
“I’m glad you like surprises,” he answered, and stepping back he pushed his jeans to the floor.
Lily sat back and licked her lips. Prominent in a thick nest of black curls, above his strong, muscled thighs was his engorged sex—long and thick with corded veins that looked as if they would burst through his skin.
She reached out to stroke his flesh, wrapping her hand around his shaft. Moving back and forth, she stroked his swollen head till it seemed it would burst with each pass.
At Sean’s sharp intake of breath, she smiled to herself and climbed off the bed. Raising her hands to his shoulders, she gently raked them down the length of his chest sinking to her knees in front of him.
With the tip of her tongue, she took her first taste of him, circling his head in languorous strokes and quick darts, luxuriating in the velvet feel of him on her tongue. Sean moaned and Lily smiled wickedly, sucking harder and deeper, taking him as fully into her mouth as she could. He growled and fisted his hands in her hair guiding her strokes.
Suddenly, he grabbed her around her waist and yanked her to her feet, kissing her with a kind of hunger she had never felt before. He rumbled deep in the back of his throat, and the sound was almost feral.
He laid her on the bed and Lily wrapped her legs around his back, urging him, begging for him. He raised and with one hard thrust entered her. Keeping his rhythm even and forceful, he drove his hips forward and she met him thrust for thrust.
His desire mounted, and he struggled to keep his wolf at bay as it snarled for release. His nostrils flared, and the scent of her desire pushed him to the brink. He was primal, predatory, and the whole of his body trembled with the feeling.