Devil Hills: #2 Luna & Lydia

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “I’m off shift now,” Luna came up from behind, her arms around his waist and cheek on his shoulder. “Would you like to have dinner with me? Hello, Adrian. I can’t thank you enough for giving me a chance.”

  “Alison says you’re a natural, Luna,” Adrian grinned at her. “I’ve got some business to take care of. Good night,” he nodded and wandered off toward the kitchen that filled the center of the huge building.

  “You’re angry,” she said quietly, her head tipped to study him. “What’s wrong?”

  Sage pulled on control from somewhere far away before turning on the barstool and slipping her between his knees, his hands on the narrow waist.

  “You haven’t changed clothes,” he ran his tongue over his lips, his gaze on the shadowed well between her breasts.

  Luna had seen the interest in his eyes earlier, the dark hunger she knew she was responsible for. She let her palms rest on his chest, stroking idly toward the open edges of his shirt. She was fairly certain he wasn’t angry at her.

  “I thought I’d wear it home,” she said with a little shrug, sidling closer and lifting her face to his as his palms left her waist. She started to back up, a warning on her lips when his hands slipped beneath the short skirt and gripped her ass tightly. “Sage!”

  “My hands fit perfectly,” he teased, her hands pressed flat against his chest and lips pursed. Slowly, very slowly, he slid his palms back to an area more public appropriate.

  Luna shook her head ruefully. “You’re a menace to my sanity. Was there a point to that display?”

  “I thought you liked my hands there.”

  She knew something was bothering him. She’d felt the tension in the air when she approached him talking to Adrian Taylor, owner of the large restaurant that drew in tourists from Seattle. Luna leaned closer, her mouth brushing his.

  “I like your hands all over. But it’s a family restaurant. What were you talking to Adrian about? Do you want to eat here? We have lots of food at home,” she suggested lightly. “We can make big sandwiches and sit by the fireplace.”

  “I think I like that idea,” Sage held her a moment longer. He didn’t know how his wolf chose his mate. There had been plenty of studies, trying to attribute scent or taste or the invisible pheromones. He really didn’t care. What he knew was that Gaudarville wasn’t getting her away from him. “Let’s go home,” he kissed her and stood up.

  “I have to grab my things from my locker,” she went to her toes and kissed him again. “I’ll be right out.” She turned to go, his palm grabbing hers and stopping her. She looked at him.

  “Keep the outfit overnight,” he said simply, carrying her fingers to his lips and kissing her palm before striding from the bar.

  Adrian was waiting near the door, walking out with him into the parking lot. The winds had picked up through the day and the chill of October was sweeping down the mountains.

  “I’ve only offered her three days a week, Sage,” Adrian sunk his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “I have a feeling she’ll end up working for Seth.”

  “Why would that happen?” He didn’t feel the cold, a sudden rush of heat flowing through him. “Luna doesn’t need to be one of his spies.”

  “I’m sure she has other skills. She has two degrees, Sage,” he recalled the things he’d uncovered when Scarlet had called and asked for the favor. “One is in public relations, the other human resources. Her father used her as a hostess, but she was far more involved in politics from behind the scenes.”

  “Where she works is up to her, Adrian. I’ll be speaking with Seth,” Sage turned and continued onto the SUV, spiking the heater up and maneuvering closer to the entrance. He watched her run from inside, holding her jacket and clothing in one of the take-out bags of the restaurant.

  Luna climbed into the seat with a little shiver.

  “You need a coat.”

  “I’m thinking that, too,” Luna huddled closer to the heater, hands rubbing together. “It was so nice and sunny today.”

  “How did you get out here, Luna?”

  “One of your deputies gave me a ride,” she looked at him, surprised. “I’m surprised he didn’t tell you. I went to see Jess and when I came out, he was there and offered me a ride. Cooper, I think,” she curled her legs on the side, watching him as he drove.

  “Why did you see Jess? Are you alright?”

  Her palm went out to his arm. “I’m okay, Sage. That’s what I wanted to know. If…all the stuff was out of me. Was I me…” She sighed. “He said there were others, Sage. I guess I knew that, deep inside…and he asked me to talk to someone named Seth Anderson. That his company…or people…I’m not sure…they’re trying to stop people like Dr. Morgan and my father.”

  “You don’t have to talk to him if you’re not ready, Luna,” Sage guided the large SUV along the quiet road to the house. He pulled beneath the carport and faced her. He knew the sad little smile on her face. Knew her answer without hearing it.

  “There are others,” she repeated softly, her head shaking. “I have to be ready. I don’t know if I can help, but I know I must try.”

  “Somehow I knew that was your answer. Would you like me to go with you?” He shifted to the side, lifted the arm rest and just watched her. Was this how all mates felt when the world seemed to threaten their stability? He lifted her palm from her thigh, their fingers lined along one another. So fine and delicate.

  “I don’t know, Sage,” she stared at their hands, afraid to look at him. “I want to be strong enough to handle anything. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way,” her voice fell to a soft whisper of words.

  “Maybe it’s alright to have companionship along for moral support,” he suggested, his fingers beneath her chin and lifting gently. “I don’t think I’d be very strong if anything happened to you, Luna.”

  “You would be,” she disagreed calmly. “You’ve lived in the world and you’re very much a part of it.”

  He didn’t want to tell her just how much of that world he’d take down in flames should anything happen to her. He wanted to forget her idiot sire and all the racists who’ve never come to accept them.

  “Adrian worked hard to convince me that his girls were safe.” He saw a curious little frown playing at her lips. “That a mated female was off limits to his customers and they knew it.”

  “You’re jealous? Of me?” Pale lashes flew wide.

  “Take the shorts off, Luna,” by the time his voice got to her name, it was low and gruff. She had no idea what he’d do to some fool who tempted the boundaries Adrian had established.

  “Here?” She asked after a long pause. Only a moment of uncertainty until she looked into his eyes. A little uncertainty and a great surge of excitement. She loved the simmering sensuality there. It somehow sent a wild pulse through her, straight to her center, straight to her heart. She’d never felt such electricity coursing through her before. Suddenly the fabric of her shirt irritated her nipples. Nipples she knew Sage could arouse to such a level she thought she’d scream.

  “Here, Luna. Take off the shorts,” he repeated the command, his voice thicker with what his imagination wanted. He tilted the steering wheel out of the way and slid to the center of the large cushioned bench like seat.

  Luna lifted the flare of the deep red and white skirt she wore, her fingers on the front opening but her eyes on his. He was staring at her, greedily taking in each of her moves. She swore she could feel his hands on her, each one surrounding a breast that demanded his brand of attention. The windows were beginning to fog, the heat inside quite a contrast from the cold of the October evening.

  She liked the flare of seductress inside her. No, like wasn’t right, she thought. She needed it and felt more alive than she ever imagined. She didn’t touch him, her fingers lowering the zipper on her shorts very slowly.

  “A woman with power is a dangerous thing,” Sage remarked, his teeth clenched and his gaze rising from her fingers to the coy smile tilting her lips. His gaze s
wept back to her fingers when he saw her arch, raising her hips just enough. “The panties, too, Luna…”

  It fascinated and amazed her how his voice managed to strike right where each sensitive point was, since she’d never known they were there to begin with. She was positive he found new places each time they were together.

  But teasing him…what a rush! She savored the excitement, soft unfamiliar pants slipping from between her lips. Fire soared through her. She knew she was breathing. Mainly because Sage’s eyes hadn’t left the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Then the breathing stopped when his palm rose, one finger out and dragging along the low front of her top.

  “Beautiful,” he said softly, his eyes following the way her hands slid the skimpy shorts down her long legs and over her shoes. His palm went to her knee, gliding over the smooth, silken flesh and stopping at her thigh with a low growl. His hand retreated, joining his other one at her waist and lifting her before she realized what he was doing.

  Luna stared at him, her hands out with a startled little wave and falling to his shoulders. Her head bobbed for a second before settling and realizing she was on his lap, facing him and he was working his jeans open. She held on when he lifted his hips, sliding the denim out of the way. Two groans filled the steaming interior of the SUV.

  “Sage.”

  He loved the way his name rolled off her lips. There was the faintest hint of France in the sweet sigh as she rubbed herself against him.

  Her damp center was hot, swollen and sensitive. And damned if she didn’t know just how to twist, just how to stroke him into a frenzy! All that wrapped in a sweet innocence burning for him. He swallowed both groans when her mouth came down on his, the full bow of her lips dropping little kisses from corner to corner before tracing his mouth with her tongue and adding a few heated nips before settling firmly.

  His hands slid up her ribs, each capturing a breast; each thumb stroking a hard nipple through the fabric. He felt the hot flood of syrup with each twist he delivered, with each thrust of her tongue into his mouth. God, the woman had him going crazy!

  She was teasing him and she knew it but it was taking her right up to the edge and sending her body hard against him. She took a bit of him inside and backed up, lifted herself with her knees, holding him just at the taut opening. Heat seared him with each tiny stroke along his cock, teasing and showing him what was there but not allowing him to sink into the hot, clenching center.

  “Do you like being in control?” Sage met the fire sparking in her eyes, the only answer he needed when she leaned back from his kiss. She was on her knees, using them to control how much she took of him. They held tightly to his thighs, refusing to budge when he tried moving her or himself.

  “I didn’t know I was,” she teased, sinking a little more and then retreating. “It feels nice…really nice…” Her breath caught sharply when one of his palms slid beneath her top to capture her breast, the hard nipple stroked and sending ripples through to her crotch.

  “Two can play, Luna,” Sage growled, leaning up and dragging his tongue along her shoulder, nipping sharply. “And I do like to play with you…”

  Luna felt the hints of pleasure building inside her; sensed the beginning and took more of him. Needing more of him and wanting it now. Her mouth opened, short, harsh pants escaping as the waves crashed through her middle.

  Sage groaned loudly as she sunk lower at the same time the taut, strong walls of her center rippled and stroked him. He’d never dreamed his body could feel all the power she was showing him, the strength in the mounting eruption. Her body flared to life and exploded around him, caressing, gripping and forcing him deeper; forcing him to grasp her hips and hold her in place for him to thrust into.

  He felt those little claws in his shoulder, watched her head fall forward and heard her finally gulp in a deep breath when his body convulsed hotly. Thunder raged in his ears, her name ripped from deep in his throat, coming out more as a howl than a word. Immense pleasure wracked his body, shook his mind to his core. His arms went around her, his hands gripping her hips to immobilize them both, just for a moment. Just to freeze them in place when too much sensitivity attacked his senses.

  Luna pushed her face into the crook where his throat joined his shoulder, her tongue moving lazily along the column with a contented sigh. She rubbed her face against his throat, swollen lips leaving little kisses along the route to his mouth.

  “That was amazing,” she whispered, shivering when his palms moved from her hips finally, stroking heavily over her behind and holding her still. “I’m glad we’ve no neighbors.”

  Sage couldn’t remember the last time he’d lost control or the last time he’d made out in a car. Probably when he was a kid. Yet being with Luna made it all fall back into place, made it all feel right and acceptable. Necessary. He slowly opened his eyes when he was sure his body had stabilized. For the moment.

  “I’m glad I have you, mate,” he whispered against her lips before looking up. “We need to get inside. The rain’s getting bad,” he groaned when he lifted her to the side, his head shaking in amazement. He’d never wanted a woman so much in his life. Never felt the powerful passion that passed between them.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Luna jumped visibly when the thunder shook the air around them, quickly grabbing up the things from the floor and following him out the door. She was waiting at the house when he came in behind her, the winds whipping his coat around his jean covered legs. Luna dashed inside and kept going, through the hall and up the stairs to the bedroom. She dropped the collection in her arms and went straight into the bathroom.

  When she came out, Sage stood barefoot near the closet, changing his shirt.

  “Are you going out tomorrow?” He watched her carefully fold the outfit she’d worn home, tucking it into the bag after dumping the contents on the bed. One dark brow arched at the jewel tone colors of about a dozen pairs of skimpy panties. His grin broadened when she lifted a pair and slipped them up her legs, the blinking red heart in the center of her behind make the wolf in him growl.

  “I heard that,” she said without looking, taking the rest of her purchase and dropping them into one of the drawers she was using.

  “You were meant to,” he moved behind her, his mouth on the shoulder exposed by the oversized shirt she wore. “Just as I was meant to see the heart.”

  She sighed. “You figured me out. It was a carefully designed trap for you. And I am going to explore the town more tomorrow, yes. I am going to find myself a coat. It’s cold out there. Right now…you will stop that or I’m taking a bite out of you. I’m hungry.”

  “Never let it be said my mate wanted for anything,” Sage followed her from the room.

  “Let’s make big sandwiches and sit in front of the fire,” she suggested, the smile in her voice making him willing to do anything.

  “And you can tell me what you’ve been up to today.”

  “Hmm…” Luna looked over her shoulder as she opened the fridge and began handing him things for the counter. “That sounds like you already know.”

  “I have a town of spies, babe,” Sage laughed at the wrinkled nose she offered. He left her to set plates out, striding to the fireplace and stacking the wood inside before starting the blaze for their evening meal. He took over making himself a couple sandwiches and adding a bottle of ale from the wine cooler. He took a long swallow of the dark, spicy ale, studying the expression on her face. “I take your safety very seriously, Luna. I…” he dragged in a ragged breath. “I wouldn’t wish my temper on anyone alive if anything happened to you.”

  She felt the hot stinging behind her lashes, knowing the words he voiced echoed what she felt inside for him. She lifted his plate and held it out to him, a smile pulled from inside that quivered only a little.

  “I know you worry, Sage. I’m very careful.”

  “I know Scarlet and the others have offered to help you.”

  Luna sunk to the floor in front of the fire, sm
iling at the large, lumpy quilt he’d tossed to the floor, along with a collection of mismatched pillows. She stared into the flames for a quiet minute.

  “I know they have. And I’m grateful…and torn,” she looked up at him, the long, lean strength sinking to lean against the sofa, his legs stretched out in front of him. “I’d love to spend time with them, as friends but I worry about them, too. If…if something happened…if they were with me when father or one of his guards found me, I’d not only be endangering them, but the mate they have,” she sighed when he frowned.

  “I don’t know how to protect you without putting you through what you’ve lived through, Luna,” the harsh reality of his words ached in his throat.

  “You have nice people in your office,” she picked at the thick bread she’d bought for their sandwiches, nibbling a large piece hungrily with cheese and ham. “I called Seth Anderson. He asked me to come speak with him tomorrow. Would you come with me?”

  “You know I will. What time and I’ll make sure I’m clear and they know where I am,” Sage watched her nod slowly. “Are you worried?”

  “I don’t know if I can help…but I know I have to try. He said just come by first thing in the morning, he’d clear his calendar for me,” Luna repeated the message, sighing and tearing off another hunk of her sandwich.

  “Then we’ll go together, Luna. You’re not alone anymore, baby. I won’t let you be,” he reached over, his palm stroking over her face and as she did since first scenting him, her eyes closed and she purred against his stroking hand. If he hadn’t known if before now, he knew he was so deeply in love with her, he’d die if anything took her from him. And he’d kill to get her back.

  ****

  Luna took in each line and brick of the unassuming building set into the side of one of the higher hills to the west of the town. Whatever the Institute was, it occupied a very large part of the mountain. Stone and steel and gleaming glass reflected the eastern rising sun. She wondered if it had been positioned at the edge of their territory on purpose, almost as if it were guarding the road that led into Devil Hills.