Running with the Pack: Cannon Pack, Book 3

by Beverly Rae

  Daniel shot the two shifters a stern look—which was hard to do while trying not to laugh—then backed up and got ready to kick down the door. Tucker, however, placed a hand on his shoulder, then gave him an all-purpose key that opened every door in the mansion. “Okay, I’m coming in. Are you ready?”

  “Daniel!”

  Daniel turned the lock and opened the door.

  “Holy shit!”

  “Wow.”

  “Daniel? Daniel, are you in yet?” Lauren squirmed in the opening of the small bathroom window, her top half hanging outside into a central courtyard and her backside hinged against the sides of the window. “Daniel?”

  “Damn, how did she do that, man? Talk about a moon over the mountains.”

  “Who cares? Just enjoy the view.”

  Lauren gasped, closed her eyes, and prayed to die. At least if she died, she wouldn’t have to face the humiliation of having them pry her big butt out of the window. One of the voices belonged to Tucker, but the other was unfamiliar. Was Daniel still there? “Daniel?”

  “Yeah, Lauren. I’m here.”

  “Could you please make the gawkers go away and leave me with at least one ounce of dignity? Then come back and help me, okay?”

  “Yeah, I could do that.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief and puffed a strand of her hair out of her face. Thank goodness Daniel was the one who’d found her.

  “I could. But I’m thinking I like what you’ve done to the place. The bathroom definitely needed a woman’s, um, touch.”

  Her appreciation for him evaporated in a split second. “Are you frickin’ kidding me?”

  “Now, now, Lauren, don’t go getting your panties in a bunch. Oh, wait, they already are. They’re bunched up at the window.”

  If she made it out of this damn window in one piece, she would rethink her position on killing shifters. Or at least one shifter in particular. “Dan-iel. This is so not funny. Get. Me. Out. Of. Here.”

  “Daniel, do you want me to get some bars installed in the window? You know, to prevent little hunters from getting their butts stuck?”

  “Naw, we’ve never needed them before, Tucker. The werewolves who’ve used this room knew they wouldn’t fit.”

  She groaned. Not only did she have a big butt, but she was too stupid to see that the window was too small. “Great. The humiliation just keeps on coming. Thanks loads, guys. Especially you, Daniel.”

  “Well, now that you mentioned loads…”

  “Wide loads, that is.”

  “Tucker, if I ever get out of this window, I swear I’m going to skin your hide, one strand of fur at a time.” Threats while stuck in a window were ridiculous, but she had to say something.

  “Okay, men, I think we’ve had enough fun at the lady’s expense. I’ll take it from here.”

  Thank goodness he was doing what she asked. Finally. The pain coming from resting her body weight on the bottom of the window frame grew worse, the wood cutting deeper into her skin. Why she’d ever thought she could get through the tiny window she’d never know. She’d never given any thought to escaping. Not since Daniel had started visiting her every day.

  But when she’d heard a couple of unfamiliar shifters talking about “taking her out and leaving her for dead”, she’d decided it was time to take her fate back into her own hands. Still, better planning would’ve helped. Now she was as helpless as a girl with a wide load could get.

  The two other shifters grumbled, then left the room, their laughing comments echoing back to her. Lauren tried wiggling again, then gave up. What had possessed her to try getting through the bathroom window? “I am so not watching any more cop shows.”

  “Is that where you got this idea? Because all the criminals elude the police by squeezing through small bathroom windows?”

  At least he recognized that the window was small and maybe wouldn’t realize how big her butt was. “Uh, could you please help me? This isn’t the most comfortable position I’ve ever been in.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. But I bet it’s right at the top of the list as far as the most interesting positions go. Excluding the positions I’ve put you in, of course.”

  Someone giggled in front of her and, dreading what she’d find, she lifted her head. A crowd of shifters, male and female, formed a loose half-circle in front of her. Amused titters greeted her, the crescendo of giggles growing into outright laughter. “Great. Now I’m putting on a show for the rest of the pack. Oh!” She jerked, scraping the wood into her side. “Damn, Daniel, you could’ve warmed up your hands first. Or at least warned me.”

  A hand moved from the top of her hip to pat her bottom. “Sorry. This is my first hunter-in-a-window removal job. I’ll be sure to heat the paws up next time.”

  Since when had he turned into a comedian? “Just get me out of here.” She hated hearing the whine in her tone and dropped her head again, preferring to stare at the flowers below her than to watch people make fun of her.

  Daniel ran his hands over her hips, her legs, checking every inch attached to the window. She sucked in her gut every time his fingertips skimmed her stomach and vowed to finally use her new treadmill. Right after she removed the clothing off it.

  “Okay, Lauren, I think I know the best way to free you. On the count of three, I want you to hold your stomach in while I pull. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, but please hurry.” The gut-stabbing dent into her belly had grown more intense, her desire to get out of the hole more urgent.

  “Good. Here we go. One. Two. Three!”

  Lauren closed her eyes, clenched her stomach muscles and pushed on the wall. Daniel’s strong hands gripped her legs and, with one tug, he pulled her out. She slid through the opening, wood tearing the front of her shirt, but she didn’t care.

  “I’m free!” She twirled around, lost her balance and fell against her rescuer. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  Daniel’s warm eyes sparkled at her and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Just call me your wolf in shining armor, baby.”

  Lauren grinned at him, enjoying the feel of his hands on her aching body. “Sounds good to me.” Without thinking, she reached up, cupped his face in her hands and brought his mouth to hers.

  Lauren shuddered, loving the way his hands molded to the shape of her back. At first easy, his kiss grew harder, more forceful. Her hands lay against his chest, but she didn’t push away, couldn’t find the will to do so. Instead, she leaned her body into his, tempting him, torturing her. He groaned, taking possession of her with his mouth, his tongue. She moaned in return, offering him everything he wanted and more.

  Daniel broke the kiss, then flicked his tongue at the corner of her mouth. Skimming his lips along her cheek, he found her earlobe and nibbled, his warm breath tingling her skin. The way he held her, controlled her, made her feel reckless and more alive than she’d ever felt.

  He picked her up and placed her on the chilly bathroom countertop. Her head bumped against the mirror, but she didn’t care. Instead, lifting her bottom, she helped him yank off her jeans and toss them to the floor. Her shirt followed and she panted, trying to rid him of his clothes. Seconds later, she wrapped her legs around his naked torso.

  He bent over her, his movement showing his muscled chest to perfection and shoved her breasts together to take both nipples in his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders, playing her fingers along the hard, smooth surface. She tightened her legs around him, tugging him against her. Her heels brushed against the swell of his buttocks and she moaned at the yearning to fondle them. She twisted her fingers in his black hair, holding him, holding on. “Daniel.”

  He nipped her breast, warning her to stay silent. Cupping her breasts, he looked into her eyes, the twitch in his jaw the only sign that he was aroused. Well, almost the only sign. She gasped at the glow of amber flecks inside his eyes and wondered how close his inner animal was to the surface. He pushed against her and rubbed his manhood against h
er already slickened pussy.

  “You shouldn’t have tried to escape.” His voice, deep and rich, cascaded embers of lust through her.

  “I know. But—”

  “No buts about it.”

  “Could we please not mention the word ‘but’ ever again?”

  “Deal.” Reaching across her, his arm brushing against a nipple, he took a towel from the rack and twisted it.

  “Are you planning on popping me?” She giggled, her nerves kicking in.

  “Not exactly.” With a lecherous grin, Daniel took one wrist and tied the towel around it. Then he crossed her arms in front of her, placing them under her breasts. Running the towel behind her, he tied the free end to her other wrist. “I guess I’ll have to teach you not to try to run.”

  “You will?” Her whisper barely made it out of her mouth and, although she was both afraid and excited, she was ready to play along.

  “This is your punishment.”

  She halfheartedly struggled, the towel acting like a straightjacket. “What if I swear not to try to escape again?”

  “Don’t bother. I won’t believe you. Now take your consequence like a good, er, bad girl.”

  He slid his tongue over the curve of her breasts and his rough beard scratched a trail below the hot path. He placed his hand over her mons and pressed his cock firmly against her. His desire matched hers and she bent back, pushing against him. He slid his thumb between her folds, found her hot center and rubbed.

  Lauren panted, frustrated by the binding that prevented her from touching him, yet loving every second of the fantasy. Her soft cry brought his head up again, a look of pure lust coloring his features. Arching her back, she made him take her nipple, and he gently bit the sensitive bud. She tightened her legs around him, trying to bring him into her, but he resisted.

  “Not so fast. I want to take my time with you.”

  She mewed, irritated at her lack of persuasion. “Can’t we move to the bed?”

  “Not yet. I want you here where I saw your pretty little ass hanging in the window.”

  Pretty little ass? Was the man blind? Lauren started to ask him, but that was before he lowered his head and put it between her legs. She inhaled, stunned and pleased. Keeping one hand on her breast, he grazed her aching nub with his fingertips and she jumped.

  “You’re a sensitive one, aren’t you? And so beautiful, too.”

  She was unsure if it was Daniel’s hot breath on her pussy or his words that sent her first orgasm crashing through her. Embarrassed, she shielded her gaze from his and silently hoped he’d make her come again and again.

  Daniel moved a finger between her folds and into her core, playfully teasing her with his light touch. She pulled at the towel around her arms, wanting to push his finger deeper inside her. “Is this my punishment? A little teasing? Why not punish me more by taking me?” She thrust her hips forward, trying to force him to do what she wanted.

  “Easy, baby.” Daniel shook his head and his hands stayed busy. “No, sweet one, I’m calling the shots.” He pushed his finger inside her, rubbing against her hot button of desire with his thumb in between swipes of his tongue. Flashes of heat rushed through her. His low chuckle added to the sensation and another rush of wetness flooded out.

  Giving up on keeping her cool, she begged him, “Please, Daniel. I want you. I need you to fuck me.” His amber eyes sparkled above his upper lip flattened against her skin, and, when he stopped to grin at her, the tips of his fangs peeked out. She should’ve been frightened, tied up and held by a werewolf, but she wasn’t. Instead, she was hot and eager to succumb to him.

  “Do you want more?”

  “Yes.”

  He plunged another finger inside her cave, his thumb continuing to massage her throbbing clit when he wasn’t sucking on it. He tweaked her breast, then did the same to the other one.

  Lauren glanced down at the purplish mark he’d left and imagined a different kind of mark, a permanent mark on her neck. Why she wanted that sign of his possession on her, she didn’t know. She didn’t have the ability to concentrate, to think. Instinct alone guided her.

  A third finger joined the attack on her as Daniel slid up her body to suck her nipples again. She ached for him, content with his physical touch for now. “God, that feels good.”

  “Do you want something more? Something different?” He rocked against her, trapping his hand between her cleft and his cock.

  “Yes, please. I want more and different.” She growled and earned a smile from him. “Daniel, come on. Make me come again.”

  “Have you forgotten who’s in charge?” But his laughter lightened his tone as he did what she wanted, stroking her harder, faster.

  She closed her eyes, letting yet another release wash over her. How many times could he make her come? How much longer before he put his shaft where his fingers were?

  Daniel continued to finger-fuck her, taking her higher than she thought possible. Her body stiffened, her center tightened in response, the pulse of her blood pounded a faster rhythm. Blackness came, not from closing her eyes, but from the roar of the tornado building inside her. If he didn’t take her soon, she’d get lost in the vortex and never surface. She shuddered, her orgasm wracking her body, clearing her mind to feel nothing but the sex.

  Suddenly, he left her, the air chilling her nipple. But she forgot about that when his mouth latched onto her pussy again, replacing his fingers with his tongue and lips. He gripped her legs, and she wrapped them over his shoulders.

  “Oh, shit.” She gasped, tried to steady herself and could only hold on for the ride. He plunged his tongue inside her, then nipped at her nub, and did the same again, time after time. She looked down, loving the sight of his head between her legs, and wished she could reach out to touch him. “Damn it, Daniel, turn me loose. I need my hands.”

  Daniel’s answer was to suck on her, ridding her of her ability to speak. His tongue stroked her, dove into her, imitating what his shaft would do to her—soon, if she could only convince him. The familiar powerful swirl began again, readying her for yet another release. This time, however, as she felt her body building toward another one, he stopped.

  Daniel stared at her with lust, wonder and another emotion she couldn’t interpret. His amber eyes were wild and clouded with confusion. He unnerved her, frightened her, thrilled her. “Are you okay, Daniel?” She grew anxious when he didn’t answer her. “Daniel?” she whispered again.

  He blinked, frowned and seemed as if he’d only now heard her. “Yeah. I’m good.” The mask of emotions was swept away with his grin. “But I’m going to get better.” Sliding his hands under her arms, he slung her onto his shoulder and strode from the room.

  Daniel ripped the top sheet off, dumped her onto the bed, then tore the sheet into long shreds. Lauren tried to catch her breath, her mind reeling with ideas of what he’d do with the strips of fabric. She didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “I’m going to tie you up, Lauren, so tell me now if you don’t want me to do that. And while you’re tied up, I’m going to do whatever I want. Hell, I’m going to do to you what you need to have done to you, what you deserve to have done to you.”

  What could she say to that? Instead, she nodded and swallowed.

  “At any time, sweet one, I want you to know you can stop me. Just pick a safe word, a word you can say and I’ll stop.” He raked her body with his gaze, warming her more than any roaring fire could have. “What’s your word?”

  “Cauliflower.”

  “Cauliflower?” He paused shredding the sheet. “Why cauliflower?”

  “Because I hate vegetables, especially cauliflower.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. Since I hate cauliflower, I won’t say the word, especially while doing something I love.” She grinned at his confusion. “And I know I’m going to love this.”

  He laughed. “I can definitely remember that word because I hate the stuff, too.”

  She expected him to
tie her up, but she didn’t expect him to pounce on top of her, straddling her. His shaft rested on her belly and he leaned over her, the gleam in his eye growing more heated as he slid his gaze over her. With an ease that spoke of practice—more practice than she wanted to think about—he removed the towel to loop one wrist then the other with a strip of sheet. After testing the knots, he then tied each strip to one of the bedposts, spreading her arms wide above her head.

  He paused to survey his work, then skimmed his palms from her shoulders along her arms down to her elbows. What should’ve tickled her had the opposite effect, sensitizing her nerve-endings in an erotic explosion of senses. Encouraging sounds flowed from her, sensual sounds she was unable to restrain. He continued his hands’ exploration, moving from her elbows to her wrists, his body stretched over hers.

  “I’ve never had a woman like you.”

  “Like me?” Did he mean he’d never had a hunter?

  “Someone who makes me think of doing naughty things to her, all while wanting to know every part of her, all about her.”

  She spoke in between short exhales and inhales. “But I bet you’ve had lots of women. Hundreds.”

  His light kiss on her lips left her more breathless than before.

  “I’m talking about…”

  Lauren froze, mesmerized by his face filled with indecision. “Go on, Daniel. What were you going to say?”

  The vulnerability she saw in his expression vanished in an instant. A wicked grin and a glint in his eye took its place. “Forget that. Let’s get back to the fun.”

  She almost cried out, her need to hear what he’d meant breaking her in half. Yet in the next moment, he stole all comprehension from her as he slid his body down hers. He kept going, pausing only to nip or lick this hollow or that, until she had no choice but to lift her head and grit out her words. “Daniel, stop teasing me. I need you to—”

  “Spread your legs.”

  Frustrated, she dared to challenge him. “And if I don’t?”

  Daniel’s smile alarmed her and yet sent chills of a delicious kind down her spine. “Then you leave me no choice but to do this.”