by Vella Day
His mother placed a hand on Elana’s arm. Shit. He’d seen that look when he was young, and she’d had to explain the facts of life to him. “No, dear. On the neck.”
Elana’s chin tucked under. “Why would he bite me on the neck? I wouldn’t want him to do that. It would hurt.”
Izzy must not have provided all the ins and outs of being mated to a shifter.
“It doesn’t really hurt, not when you’re in the throes of passion.” His mother glanced over at Dad and smiled. Oh you have got to be kidding me. Just kill me now.
Kalan groaned, but apparently the whole tribe was so engrossed in the discussion that they hadn’t even sensed he was there.
“But why?” she asked.
Mom, please just lie.
“You and Kalan are destined for one another. Once he bites you, should you choose to stay with him, your fate will be sealed,” his mom explained. “You will be together forever.”
“Not to mention you’ll be able to shift once the white moon appears,” Finn added with way too much enthusiasm.
Kalan pressed his back against the front door, not sure what he should do. It didn’t matter that he wanted Elana more than life itself. It was his responsibility to tell her what would happen when they mated. Now, she’d expect him to bite her right away.
He was about to stop this nonsense until he heard Elana squeal in delight. “Are you saying I’ll be able to turn into a bear?”
Okay, it was time to put an end to this. He strode out to the large wooden deck.
“Hey, there he is,” his dad said. “How did everything go?”
Stay calm and don’t kill anyone. To his surprise, being close to Elana allowed him to remain civil. “We found the two men who killed Elana’s parents.”
She jumped up and threw herself in his arms. “Thank you.”
Her hug was so strong he never wanted to move. Over her shoulder, he gave his father the evil eye. It was times like this that he wished he could communicate telepathically with his family and tell them to get the hell out of his home because he had some loving to do—after he put a hurt on every one of the conspirators.
“That’s great, son. Who was it?”
“Two men who live in the hills.” That should clue him in they were Changelings. Hopefully, his dad had enough sense not to ask questions in front of a human.
“Nice.” His dad stood as if to leave. “I gotta tell you, you have an awesome young lady here.”
If Kalan said it was too soon to celebrate any kind of mating, it would hurt Elana’s feelings. “I know.”
His sister pushed back her chair and came over to them. “It’s so nice to be around someone who’s open to learning new ways of doing things.”
Kalan didn’t even want to ask what that meant. “Listen, Elana and I have some things to discuss. I appreciate you all keeping her company though.”
His mother smiled. “We get the hint. We’re leaving. Make sure you bring Elana around soon.” Mom hugged both of them.
It seemed to take the group forever to clean up and leave. When he and Elana were finally alone, his aggravation had amped up his desire. As soon as he shut the door, he faced Elana, ready for a million questions. He never expected the huge grin on her face.
“Oh my God. You are the luckiest person alive,” she said. “What I would have given to have such an awesome family. Don’t get me wrong, Izzy is like a sister to me, as is Missy, but her parents, especially her dad, can be rather straight-laced.”
So could his parents, but he wouldn’t mention that now. He stepped toward her and she backed up. “I’m glad you liked them.”
Now that they were alone, his bear was tired of being pent up and made it very clear that Kalan needed to make love with her. As in now.
“I more than liked them,” she said. “Your sister suggested some exercises I could do when my back starts hurting. She even said I could come into her physical therapy clinic—for free.”
He tried to close the gap, but Elana took a step back. Why, he didn’t know. “Blair is nice like that.”
“And Finn was a hoot.” Her back hit the front door.
Keep going. She’s only stalling, but she wants you, his bear informed him.
His family had their strengths and weaknesses, but he had other things on his mind than talking about them. “I need to discuss something with you.”
Her eyes lit up. “About this mating stuff? Your mom explained some or most of it to me. Finn said that I could learn to shift too. I can’t wait until I can run around like a bear.”
Her intense excitement was so cute. He bracketed his hands around her head and leaned in close. “Actually, our women shift into muskrats.”
Kalan had no idea why he told her that, but he was curious how open minded she really was. When her brows pinched and her lip curled, he worked hard not to laugh.
“A muskrat? My super power will be to turn into a wet, furry rodent?”
He could see the sparkle in her eyes and the crease at the edge of her mouth where she was trying not to smile. She was playing him, the little minx. Goddess how he loved that she gave as good as she got. They would have so much fun together. So, with that thought, he looked her dead in the eyes. “Absolutely. You’ll look so cute too. I will just have to make sure not to accidentally sit on you when we’ve shifted.”
“Oh, you will pay for that, Mister.” With a laugh, Elana shoved his chest, but her force was so weak, he didn’t even move.
Kalan was grinning like a fool. “That all you got, tough girl?” So as not to crowd her, he stepped back and held up his hands pretending to box.
He was thankful she didn’t focus on the questionable mating part. He didn’t need to be explaining that if they mated right now their attraction would intensify. Until this case concluded, he didn’t dare become more distracted than he already was.
“I’ll show you tough. Drop your pants and we’ll see how strong you are.” She nodded to his groin.
Where had this feistiness come from? Was it his family telling her how great she was that had caused it, or the fact her parents’ murderers had been caught? Regardless of the origin, he liked her new attitude. A lot.
Not one to turn down a dare, he shucked off his shoes and kicked them aside. “I hope you’re ready for the consequences of your actions.”
She lifted her chin and this time moved toward him. “Consequences? As in you’ll stop me in about thirty seconds once I start sucking on your cock and then lick me until I scream your name?”
Man, did she knew how to turn him on or what? “If you aren’t careful, I might shift on you.”
“I dare you.”
The woman had a good comeback for everything. “How about you do a little strip tease for me and see if you can excite me enough to force a shift?” Fuck me, if she does that I will be in her so fast it will be over before it starts. “No, wait. I want to strip you first.”
“You think your bear can control himself?” She slipped under his arm and then turned to face him.
Shit, she was right, but either way, he was going to have her. “No, but it sure is going to be fun trying.”
She backed up and stepped into the hallway. As he approached her, he unbuttoned his jeans and took them off. Thinking he might need to shift when he headed into Changeling territory, he’d worn as little as possible, which meant he’d gone commando.
Her eyes widened. “Whoa. You do move fast.”
“Forgot my briefs.”
She glanced to his jeans on the floor. “So I see.” Elana edged closer. “Is that stubble new growth?” She dragged a hand down his cheek and his inner bear growled, begging for freedom.
“Could be. If you really want to turn me on, let me take a better look at what you have to offer.” He lifted the T-shirt over her head, and the moment he spotted the pink bra, his dick turned harder than the Oak in the backyard. “You’re a real temptation.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
; He couldn’t remember a woman who seemed so at ease with her sexuality, though if anyone had asked if it was possible coming from Elana, he’d have said no. She had implied she hadn’t had a full love life. Had their lovemaking caused the change, or had one of Izzy’s witch friends put a spell on his woman? It didn’t matter. He liked this new version of Elana Stanley.
She’d asked a question. “This.”
He cupped her tits and devoured her mouth. When she latched onto his shoulders and invited him in, all thoughts of his parents invading his home disappeared. All he wanted to do was possess her. He explored the roof of her mouth, bumping into her tongue doing the same thing to him. They were tentative at first, but as their breaths entwined, their speed increased.
He finally had to pull away. If he hadn’t, he might have done something both of them would have regretted. Elana slipped her hands under his shirt and took it off. Her delicate touch had his senses reeling. The final straw was when she licked her lips, he could no longer resist her.
Kalan backed her up deep into the hallway to make sure no one could see them through the front window. He dropped to his knees and undid the top of her pants then tugged them down. She then toed off her sandals, and as soon as she stepped out of her jeans, he pressed his face against her silky panties. Her womanly scent made it hard to concentrate, especially when he clutched her ass, squeezing her full, round butt. “You turn me on like no one ever has.”
“Is that you or your bear talking?”
He looked up at her, his eyelids heavy. “Would it be bad if I said both?”
She grinned and grabbed a hunk of his hair. “Not as long as you hurry.”
From her breathy pants, coupled with the scent of her arousal, it wouldn’t take long to bring this beauty to climax. Kalan lowered her panties, revealing an reddish brown pot of gold. When she arched her back and widened her stance, he smiled. So sensitive. So alluring. So mine.
Had it not been for his bones cracking, he would have spent a long time touching and enjoying her, but since his inner animal was urging him to love her hard and fast, Kalan had no choice but to bare it all. Once he removed her panties, he tossed them aside.
“I’m gonna feast on you today,” he said.
“I thought I was getting the first crack at you.”
Her words speared him with lust. “I changed my mind.”
The first lick tasted like pure nectar and he had to take care not to let his incisors grow. It was bad enough that the hair on his face was thickening. This tasty woman was messing with every hormone in his body, and he wasn’t sure he could give her enough satisfaction before he blew.
Clutching her thighs, he buried his face between her legs and flicked her clit back and forth. The grip on his hair increased, and then so did the speed of his tongue. The problem was that her moans and little whimpers were as exciting as if she were devouring his dick. Each swipe of his tongue brought him closer to tossing her on the floor and plunging into her.
“Kalan, yes. More.”
His sweet woman was so needy that he intended to give her everything she desired. He licked and sucked her pussy until he could no longer stop himself from sinking his cock into her.
Kalan stood, swept her into his arms and carried her to his bed, before lowering her onto her back. He leaned over and sucked on her tits, his cock awaiting the right moment to take her.
Chapter Sixteen
‡
Being with Kalan exceeded Elana’s every expectation. Each lick, tug, and twirl sent her reeling to a place she’d never been before. If only she had ten more sets of arms she could touch every inch of his sensual, muscular body.
“Take me,” she huffed.
Kalan growled, and when he plucked her other nipple, sparks of pleasure swirled and dove right between her legs. She planted her feet on the mattress and lifted her hips, hoping to entice him, but all that did was merely press the tip of his cock against her opening. She thought he would enter her right away, but he didn’t. The man seemed determined to torture her.
As if he could read her mind, he lifted his head and kissed her. Needing to turn him on even more, she reached between them and grabbed his hard shaft.
Kalan broke the kiss, growled, and slipped out of her grasp. He then plunged into her. Holy balls of fire. His girth, along with the friction, ignited every nerve ending and caused bolts of electricity to sizzle inside her. To keep from flying apart at the seams, she had to dig her nails into his hips and hold on for dear life.
Thrust for thrust, she met his driving force. He then lowered his head and kissed her neck. Was this it? More than anything, she wanted him to bite her to complete the mating process, but she wouldn’t beg. He needed to decide when the timing was right.
“I’m so damn close,” he said, his voice so low she barely heard the words.
“Me, too.”
“Then let go Elana, and I’ll catch you.”
His grip tightened, and with each stroke, her climax built. Needing it all, she wrapped her legs around his waist, dropped her head back, and let every erotic sensation wash over her. On the next thrust, her climax claimed her. Colors flashed before her eyes, and she felt like she was outside of her body. Never before had she experienced anything so intense.
“Need you so much,” Kalan said, the growl evident in his voice as his hot seed spilled into her.
Kalan’s heavy body then pressed down on her and held her as if he never wanted to let her go. After their breathing evened out, he slid out. “Be right back.”
He returned moments later and wiped her clean. When she sat up, she pointed to a wet spot on the sheets. “Missed a bit.”
His eyes widened, and then he wiped up the mess. “Fuck. I forgot a condom. I’m so sorry. I got carried away.”
“That’s okay. I’m on the pill.”
He blew out a breath. “One can’t be too careful.”
As happy as she was that he wanted to be responsible, she could also envision having Kalan’s child—assuming she could take the baby to work or have someone watch him or her during the day. She’d always made a promise that she would never abandon a child.
Don’t even go there. Kalan hadn’t tried to bite her, which meant he wasn’t ready to be mated—assuming this whole fated thing was for real. Izzy thought it was, but maybe that only worked with wolf shifters.
Elana eased off the bed and gathered her pajamas, trying hard to not let the tear that was teetering on her lid fall. She’d seen the desire in his eyes, but somehow, he wasn’t ready to be with her.
Needing some time to think, she decided it would be best to distance herself from her desires—assuming she could. The fastest way to douse her ongoing urges would be find out more about her parents’ deaths. That was sure to be a mood killer.
Kalan followed her into the living room where he finished dressing. “Did these men say why they murdered my parents?” she asked.
Kalan’s eyes widened, probably wondering how she could go from loving to analytical in a heartbeat. He sat on the sofa’s chair arm and motioned for her to sit on the seat next to him. At first she debated sitting across from him, but she wasn’t ready to for that much distance.
“No, but I did receive a tip about a man by the name of Chris Darden who might have been responsible for your parents’ deaths. However, when Rye and I arrived at his house, he was dead.”
More deaths? If her insides hadn’t been rubbed numb by Kalan’s recent action, she might have experienced more horror. “Guess he’s not talking. Do you know who killed him?”
“No.” Kalan explained that while he and Rye were there, a man came looking for the address to her parents’ home. Most likely, he didn’t want the evidence lying about.
“Do you think he killed this Chris guy?”
“No, but the next question is, who did?”
From the way he kept looking off to the side, he wasn’t telling her something. “What is it? And be straight with me, please.”
Kalan b
lew out a breath. “Mind you this comes from a man who was an accomplice to murder, if not the murderer himself, but he said he’d offered to buy what appeared to be the piece of sardonyx your parents gave you.”
She sank back against the sofa. “They were murdered over a piece of stone?”
“Seems so.”
“It’s that valuable?”
“I wish I knew, though Izzy might be able to shed some light on the power of crystals and rocks.”
Nothing was making sense. “Why give it to me if they already had a buyer for it?” His lips pressed into a thin line. That wasn’t good. “Unless they’d brought back two pieces.”
Kalan shifted uncomfortably on the arm. “That I don’t know. According to the second man, Hank Melton, your parents claimed they didn’t have any of the stone, but that they could get it. They were trying to raise the price. Rye and I think they gave it to you for safe keeping.”
Her stomach cramped as waves of lost hope washed over her. “I guess leopards don’t change their spots after all. I can’t believe they were planning to ask for it back.”
Kalan shrugged. “We’ll never know.”
“So now what happens?”
He motioned for her to scoot over and then he slid down onto the spot she’d just vacated. “I know you want to resume your life, and I can’t blame you, but your apartment needs a bit more work. Do you mind staying here until then?” He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles.
How his touch could twist her insides so soon after the explosive sex, she didn’t know. “Okay, thank you, but is it safe to go back to work?” A killer, who might something she had, was on the loose.
He stroked her cheek. “Yes, but you’ll need to be careful.”
“I will. I understand that whoever wanted to buy the stone could still want it.”
He nodded. “Which leads me to ask if you’d be willing to leave the stone in the safe?”
“I have no emotional attachment to it anymore, especially now that it hadn’t really been a gift from my parents.”