The Moon Rises (Gigi Monroe)

by Angela Horn

  “I love you.”

  Finn shivered slightly at the sound of those three words. “I love you too. Don’t be nervous about this. Just feel proud by how you wowed him.”

  “Okay. I miss you.”

  “Hey, I’ve got to go. There’s a super hot chick who needs help getting food out of her car.”

  “Huh?” Gigi said then laughed. “Oh, I see you.”

  Finn parked his truck and hurried to Gigi’s car where she was pulling out containers of food.

  “I wish I could kiss you,” she whispered with a pout.

  “Tonight I’m going to do more than kiss you.”

  When Gigi licked her lips, Finn felt his skin burn with need. He still remembered those delicious noises she made when he touched her just right. Now wasn’t the time to get riled up though, not with his brother inside.

  Carrying the containers to Michael’s apartment, Finn couldn’t help checking out Gigi as she climbed the stairs.

  “Are you looking at my butt?” she whispered.

  “Do you blame me?”

  “There are words on the butt part of my sweatpants. I don’t like having them there.”

  “Then why did you buy the sweats?” he asked, rather enjoying the words on her butt.

  “I didn’t. Ella bought them for me as a joke and I put them on without remembering there were words…”

  As if hearing her name, Ella opened the door and smiled. “Hell yeah, we got food now.”

  Gigi said hello to Declan as she headed to the kitchen where she set her tray of food on the counter. Michael was just entering from the balcony when Gigi pulled back the wrap from the chicken.

  “What the fuck is that?” Michael growled.

  Finn set his food on the table and stood next to Declan who was frowning at the angry enforcer.

  “It’s fried chicken. I…”

  Michael grabbed the food and aimed it for the trashcan. Gigi cried out in panic, but Finn was the one who grabbed the tray from his friend.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Finn yelled, wondering if Michael was losing his mind.

  “Fucking bitch brought food.”

  Declan was making a move towards Michael who looked in a bad enough mood to tussle with an Alpha. Ella didn’t help by yelling for Declan to kick Michael’s ass. Finn noticed Michael going for the tray again and he jerked it away.

  “Bad puppies!” Gigi yelled, startling even Michael. “Stop fighting or I’ll take my food home.”

  “No, Gigi, we’re good puppies,” Ella said. “Michael’s the only asshole here.”

  Finn pulled the tray from Michael and set it down. Pushing the enforcer out to the balcony, he felt Declan following.

  “Let me handle him,” Finn snapped in a tone he rarely used with anyone, let alone Declan.

  His brother eyed him then returned to the apartment. Finn waited until Declan was out of earshot then he slugged Michael in the arm. The enforcer growled and Finn knew maybe fighting with a Were even Declan would have trouble beating wasn’t such a great idea. Yet Gigi worked hard on the food and the jerk was going to toss it.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Finn whispered.

  “She’s a whore, that’s what’s wrong with me.”

  Finn shoved Michael. “You’re a dick and you need to shut the fuck up about Gigi or I’m leaving and I won’t come back.”

  “You’re defending her?” Michael growled, as he ran his hands through his hair. “She wants to fuck me. You’re in love with her and she’s making a move on me right in front of you.”

  Finn was so pissed it took him a full minute to start laughing. Pushing the enforcer farther from the patio door so the others couldn’t hear, Finn patted Michael’s face.

  “She doesn’t want to sleep with you.”

  “Chicks like that try to win a guy over with food.”

  “Yeah, I know because she’s been cooking for me the last week.”

  Michael squinted. “You’re fucking her?”

  “We’re dating, yes, but you need to keep your mouth shut about it.”

  “A damn week and you didn’t tell me?”

  “It’s a secret.”

  “Who am I going to tell? I only have two friends and they’re fucking each other.”

  Finn rolled his eyes. “Yes, but you yell out shit during poker games and I didn’t want Ella finding out. She talks to my mom a lot and we both know Ella has a big mouth.”

  Michael shrugged. “I won’t spill your precious secret. So how come she brought all the food then?”

  “Because it’s your birthday tomorrow and she knows you like fried chicken.”

  “Oh yeah,” he said and shrugged again. “I forgot what month it was. Did you get me anything?”

  “Yes, shithead, but you won’t get it unless you apologize to Gigi.”

  “You’re so whipped,” Michael said, grinning as he returned to the apartment.

  Finn loved Gigi for many reasons, but her ability to rebound quickly was in the top ten. She was already making plates for everyone while Ella told Declan he was a wuss for not hitting Michael. The enforcer ignored the Weres and walked to Gigi who he patted on the head.

  “I forgive you,” Michael said, sniffing the food. “Collar greens? Good girl.”

  Gigi frowned at him and pulled away the plate. “Why did you get mad?”

  “I don’t like humans, you know that.”

  “I’m not human though.”

  “Close enough, nag, now fork over the food.”

  Finn grinned because Gigi had to look up about seven inches to engage in a staring contest with Michael.

  “Sara’s human and you like her.”

  Michael rolled his eyes, hating any mention of the missing waitress. “You always cheat, nag.”

  Gigi refused to let him have the food, blocking it with her body as she stared the hell out of Michael.

  “Fine. I’m sorry. Now move.”

  Gigi smiled brightly and let Michael make his plate. Finn inched into the crowded kitchen and when Declan and Ella were focused elsewhere, he gave Gigi a quick kiss on the neck. Her smile was soft and Finn hoped she would always smile so beautifully at him.

  “Fried green tomatoes, nag?” Michael said, patting her on the head again. “Now if you let me win all the hands tonight, it’ll be a perfect birthday.”

  Gigi hugged Michael who immediately looked ill. “I’m glad you’re happy, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting you win.”

  Declan laughed while Ella still looked like Michael had a beating coming. Yet soon they all sat down for a nice dinner. While Michael didn’t speak to anyone, he did eat three helpings and growled at anyone who asked for a second serving. He planned to keep the leftovers and anyone who interfered with this plan was asking for trouble.

  As happy as Gigi was to cook for Michael, she kept her word and he never won a single game all night.

  Chapter Forty Eight

  The sixth day of searching for the monster went like the first five, except she was out of Roger’s territory. Gigi drove around a section of the grid in Anton’s area and found nothing. Yet she had only started her search and the Circle was a large area to cover. The one difference between days one through five and day six was how her car made a weird sound when she used the brakes. Sensing an excuse to visit Finn on official business, she pulled into the parking lot at his auto shop.

  The guy who met her at the counter gave her the look a lot of males gave her when an Alpha wasn’t around to keep them in check. If Gigi liked staring, this guy was a fan of leering.

  “I need to see Finn about my broken car,” she said to the guy whose name tag read Clyde.

  “I can help you, doll.”

  Gigi stared at him like she stared at the Vamps and the guy backed up. “I’ll get the boss.”

  Liking how often her stare was becoming useful, Gigi was grinning when Finn appeared from the back where lots of loud work was taking place.

  “Gigi,” he said with a
nervous grin. “What are you doing here?”

  Taking a moment to look over Finn, Gigi felt her skin blush as her heart began to race. His hair was tied back and he had a smudge of something on his cheek. He was wearing dark blue work overalls with his name on a white tag. He looked masculine and tough, where he usually just looked sexy and soft. Swallowing hard, Gigi tried to focus, but his eyes were watching her in a way which made her think of sex.

  “My car’s broken. Can you fix it?”

  “Broken how?” Finn asked with a grin.

  Gigi gestured outside to where the car was parked and he followed her. “When I push on the gas pedal, it makes an angry squeaky sound. Can you make that stop?”

  Finn smiled at her in a way which made her think her car problem wasn’t real.

  “Brakes sometimes do that. It’s probably fine, but I’ll check them. In fact I’ll check the whole car out. Wouldn’t want you getting stranded somewhere.”

  Gigi sometimes forgot Finn was male. She was too familiar with him, seeing him playing poker where he laughed his ass off or spending time with him in her apartment where he was gentle and soothing. Standing outside in the bright sun with him dressed the way he was and smelling of sweat and car stuff, Gigi was very aware of how male Finn was.

  “I need to use the bathroom. Do you have one?”

  Finn smiled again and Gigi didn’t know why he was finding everything she said so amusing. He led her back inside and showed her to the restroom. When she emerged, he was writing something on an invoice.

  “I’m going to have the guys rush your car so you can head out.”

  “I need to talk to you about another car problem, but it’s not something I want everyone to hear.”

  Finn frowned and handed the invoice to Clyde. “We can go into my office.”

  Gigi followed Finn into his office which smelled musky and male and only made her lust problem worse. He was frowning at her as he shut the door.

  “What’s wrong? Why are you talking in that weird voice?” he asked.

  “What weird voice?”

  “My car is broken. Fix it,” Finn said, imitating her deep serious tone which she realized did sound weird.

  “Oh, I was trying not to sound like your girlfriend.”

  Finn grinned and kissed her softly. “You hid it well. I think the guys are under the impression you’re a guy in drag.”

  Gigi laughed and ran her finger over his name tag. “I do have a problem with paying though. I don’t want to use money so I was thinking I could trade your services for sexual favors.”

  “Ah,” Finn said, his grin growing naughty. “But my girlfriend keeps me very satisfied.”

  Smiling, Gigi pulled at his overalls. “You look so sexy in this thing. Are you naked underneath?” Finn laughed as she tugged it open and looked down. “Oh, you have boxers on.”

  “Sorry to disappoint.”

  Gigi slid her hand inside and caressed the seam of his boxers which made him sigh and fidget away from her.

  “Not here. People will know and your cover as a dude will be blown.”

  Sitting on his desk, Gigi pushed her breasts forward, knowing how much he loved them. His eyes did take notice, but he frowned.

  “I’m all grimy. Plus if we stay in here too long, they’ll know what we’re doing and our secret will be out.”

  Gigi eased back onto the desk in her skirt. “Everyone thinks you’re gay or a dork, Finn. No one would think you and someone as hot as me would do it in your office. Let’s take advantage of that misconception.”

  Finn grinned and looked ready to say something, but then Gigi leaned farther back onto the desk and spread her legs. A hint of a gasp left Finn’s lips.

  “Oh, I’m such a dummy,” Gigi said, grinning. “I left my panties in my purse.”

  “I love you, but everyone will know.”

  “No, they won’t. Besides we both know you’re going to say yes. Why waste time when you could be inside me already?”

  The slight shudder which rushed over Finn made Gigi’s smile widen. He stepped forward, standing between her legs which wrapped around him.

  “You’re going to get all dirty,” Finn whispered just before his lips found hers.

  “Don’t care,” Gigi gulped when she finally got a chance to breathe.

  “This is too dangerous,” he said, slipping her shirt over her head.

  “Don’t take this personally, but you need to shut up and use your mouth for better stuff.”

  “What kind of stuff?” Finn teased as he slipped off her bra and ran his fingers over her hard nipples.

  “Huh?” Gigi mumbled, immediately dumbfounded with arousal.

  Finn laughed and just kissed her neck, tasting her softly then with more need. Gigi closed her eyes and moaned as quietly as she could, not wanting to alert the shop to their activities. When she opened her eyes, Finn’s overalls were around his ankles, soon to be joined by his boxers. Drinking in the sight of his golden skin rolling over hard muscle, Gigi shuddered much like Finn did earlier.

  “That’s my girl,” he murmured, leaning her back and taking her nipple into his mouth.

  Gigi’s goal one day was to be good at sex. Yet once Finn started touching her and she became aroused, her brain shut down and she barely held onto him and kept from drooling all over the place.

  When Gigi cried out “yes” as Finn slipped inside her, he started laughing. She smiled awkwardly and he pulled her closer.

  “I still can’t believe you beg me for sex. Seems backward, don’t it?”

  “Huh?” she mumbled again, pulling at his hips as she rushed towards an orgasm.

  “Oh, that’s right. Use my mouth for better things,” Finn whispered as he latched on and sucked at her throat.

  When Finn shifted so his thrusting pressed against her in just the right way, she covered her mouth to keep from crying out. No matter all the noisy work in the shop, they would have heard such a loud moan. Finn stayed nice and steady while she worked her way through the climax. Once he moved his mouth to hers, his rhythm increased and Gigi tightened her grip on him, reveling in his every thrust.

  Just before Finn climaxed, he slid his fingers between Gigi’s legs and brought her with him, which almost caused her to alert the whole neighborhood, let alone the garage, to their activities. Unlike Gigi who couldn’t have sex and think at the same time, Finn could multitask and muffled her cries with a kiss.

  “That was close,” Gigi giggled when Finn pulled his mouth away. “I guess I thought a quickie at the office wouldn’t be so good and I wouldn’t get so loud.”

  Finn frowned darkly as he wiped sweat from her forehead. “Uh, Gigi, I’m sorry, but I don’t do quickies.”

  “What?”

  Finn grinned and eased out of her. Gazing at her as she laid back on his desk, he sighed.

  “What should I do to you next?”

  Gigi gasped and squirmed on the desk like the kittens did when they thought good food was coming. Finn got the naughtiest look on his face then he stepped closer.

  “Do you know how good you are for my ego?” he teased as he kissed her shoulder. “I’m standing here like a dork with my pants around my ankles and I have the hottest chick in the Circle cooing over me. You’re magic. You can make loser little brothers feel like studs.”

  Gigi licked her lips, unable to really speak, but from her spot on the desk – satisfied, yet wanting more - Finn was no dork. He was gorgeous and thorough and he always said things which made her feel special and his mouth was very good for things other than talking.

  “I could be with Declan, but I’m not. Now stop talking about dorky little brothers and make your girlfriend scream,” she whispered as her tongue dancing along his chest. “Oh, and I love you.”

  “Magic. That’s what you are. And I love you too,” Finn murmured and she felt him rigid against her.

  Gigi thought to say something sassy, but he leaned her back and sucked her nipple into his mouth and she was done talking fo
r a while. No, Finn didn’t do quickies, not even during the lunch hour at his work place.

  Chapter Forty Nine

  Finn studied the menu, knowing what he wanted. He did wonder if maybe he should eat light and save his appetite for any leftovers Gigi might have at the apartment. He was almost as crazy about her cooking as he was about Gigi herself.

  Anton entered the restaurant and the place shifted just slightly, taking on a new air. Females glanced in the Alpha’s direction while males avoided glancing. The waitresses stood a little taller and the manager hurried to the back to remind the chef to do a good job. It was weird to see such a reaction even after all these years.

  Finn remembered when Anton was just a guy from the neighborhood. Even then, Anton received plenty of attention from girls while guys either admired him or challenged him to make a name for themselves. No one ever challenged Anton and won. Finn suspected no one ever would until the day Anton and Declan finally faced each other.

  Finn didn’t want to think about Anton and Declan trying to kill each other for territory, but it was on his mind a lot lately. Maybe it was on Anton’s mind too because he looked depressed when he joined Finn.

  “You okay?” Finn asked and suddenly Anton’s expression shifted into a pleasantly bland façade.

  “I’m just tired. Roger returning should have calmed things down. Everyone’s riled up now about those flying monsters and missing waitresses and the Season coming.”

  “Yeah, what the hell are those flying monsters?”

  “Necromancer magic. Tobin and Murphy swear it’s not them.”

  “Do you believe them?”

  “Those things tried to kill Gigi twice. I believe Tobin and Murphy aren’t behind it because they’re enchanted by her. She plays with their ghoul kids. They wouldn’t hurt her. Kidnap and enslave her, sure, but tear her apart? No. If it’s not them, we have to assume there’s another necromancer in the Circle.”

  “Can’t they find him?”

  “Apparently not. The witches can’t either. The Circle hides the magic.”

  Finn thought about Gigi killing the flying monster and wondered what she might be hiding from him. He knew she wasn’t telling him the whole truth because Gigi always got an especially blank expression when she was holding back.