“Casey…” He made that groaning growling sound again and she took him into her mouth, sealing her lips around the tip, gently stroking his shaft with one hand then the other. She began to move her head, slowly at first, and felt his fingers tangling in her hair. She glanced up again and saw that his eyes were closed, his mouth open and gasping.
Suddenly, she felt him pull back from her as he touched her cheek. Startled, she thought she might have done something wrong. For an eternal moment, all of her self-confidence and boldness shrank away. Why had she thought she could do this? What was she thinking?
“Not this way,” Brady said almost breathlessly. “Not yet.”
He pulled her up onto the couch and she straddled his lap, his hard length between them. She felt an itch deep inside her core, a need to be touched, penetrated, taken. Normal thought fled as she settled onto Brady’s legs, rising up slightly to look down into his eyes, bringing her breasts up to the level of his mouth.
He cupped her breasts in his hands, trapping her nipples between index finger and thumb, pinching just hard enough to make that inner itch pulse faster. His mouth went to them again, all swirling tongue and wet warmth, and Casey felt something like spasms deep inside her.
Enough of this. She needed more.
Brady sensed that need. He shifted, rolling her back onto the couch cushions, sliding his mouth over hers in a deep, hungry kiss. Casey could feel the head of his cock stroking her and wiggled against him, wanting all of it in one fast, powerful thrust. Brady held back, keeping the tip just at her entrance, stroking over and around her clit until she squirmed.
“Brady...please!” Casey thought she would die if he didn’t do something soon. She arched against him and, in one smooth motion, he slid into her, all of him. The surprise of it froze Casey. He felt even bigger inside her, long and thick and powerful, filling her up completely. Brady didn’t move for a moment, allowing her to acclimate herself to him.
He slipped an arm under her head and shoulders as the other was allowed to roam. Casey closed her eyes, lost for a moment as the heat of his hand traced over her breasts, her ribs, over her hip and around her buttocks. His touch relaxed her, and she felt herself opening up more to him as he cradled her close. He began to move, slowly at first, and she met each thrust, finding a rhythm that quickened with each stroke.
The rest of the world disappeared. All Casey knew was that Brady’s eyes were gazing into hers as he held himself just above her, the heat of his body, the hardness of his cock as he filled her. She felt the first stirrings of climax rising deep within, growing more intense with every touch of his hand, every deep, searching kiss.
And then it began, a rolling wave that tensed her muscles and took her breath away. She arched her back as she gasped, her hands moving to his ass, pulling him closer, deeper. His movements grew more desperate, almost frenzied, as her orgasm tipped him headlong into his own. His growl when he came sounded almost like a groan, helpless but satisfied.
As the last ripples of pleasure dissipated, Casey felt as if she’d had an out of body experience. She’d never been the type to jump into bed with a man, no matter how sexy or hot he was. There was something about Brady, though, that felt different. Almost fated. That might be an overly romantic way to think about it, but...that’s how it truly felt. Like he was supposed to come into her life at this exact time, and that they were doing exactly what fate intended them to do.
Despite that, she felt bashful when she managed to meet Brady’s eyes again. He smiled, saying nothing as he maneuvered himself beside her on the couch. It was wide enough for them to lie comfortably on their sides and he held her from behind, cushioning her head with one arm as he wrapped the other around her waist. He pressed soft kisses along her shoulder and neck.
Casey closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted. Months of sleepless nights caught up with her as Brady held her in his arms. For the first time in a long time, she felt no fear.
She felt safe.
10
Casey
“You look happy,” Jasmine said and set her tray on the bar. “I take it your day with the boss went well?”
Casey could feel her cheeks pinkening as she took the used glasses off the tray. “It was okay,” she said and smiled.
“Just okay?” Jasmine leaned forward and peered at Casey’s face. “Is that beard burn I detect on those blushing cheeks?”
“Shhh!” Casey awkwardly looked around. “We got...acquainted...”
“And that’s code for?”
“It’s code for ‘I don’t kiss and tell.’” The memory of the afternoon brought a smile. “He’s a really good kisser, though.”
“So I’ve heard.” Jasmine arched an eyebrow and looked over to the seating area. Brady was talking to someone, his arms folded over his chest as he laughed. “Congratulations. He’s a tough one to get close to.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess you two haven’t had a chance to talk about Savannah yet, huh?”
Casey’s smile instantly faded. “Savannah?”
“He was with her years ago.” Jasmine shook her head slightly. “She died in a car accident. It took Brady a long time to get over it. If he’s over it.”
Casey’s heart plummeted. If he’s over it?
“How serious were they?” Casey asked.
“Everyone thought they were going to get married. I think they were engaged.” Jasmine lowered her voice. “He mourned her for months. Blamed himself, I think.”
“Oh, my God…” Casey shook her head and looked out into the crowd again. “I had no idea.”
“I just know that I have never seen him interested in another woman.” Jasmine smiled slyly. “Until you came along.”
Casey studied Brady as he talked to one of the customers. He had changed into a blue chambray shirt over a black Henley sweater. Running a hand through his tousled hair, he laughed at something his friend said and met Casey’s gaze as his laugh faded. He smiled at her, his eyes softening, and Casey’s heart fluttered again.
“Why did he blame himself?” Casey asked, tearing her gaze away from Brady’s.
“He told me once that there was a moment when he thought he could save her.” Jasmine sighed sadly. “The accident happened so fast. Brady pulled her out of the car and tried to keep her alive, but she was too far gone.”
“That’s awful,” Casey said quietly.
“He’s the best guy you’ll ever meet, but he’s got some baggage to deal with.” Jasmine looked over the crowd and saw a man at a table gesturing to her. “Gotta go for now. We’ll definitely talk more about that ‘stache rash’ later.”
Jasmine made her way through the club floor as Casey sighed and gave the bar top a half-hearted swipe with a rag. She glanced back at Brady and saw that he was deep in conversation.
Maybe making love to him had been a mistake, she thought, and forced herself to look away. She went to the sink and washed the glasses that Jasmine had dropped off. Think about it. The guy was a literal prince. He could turn himself into a dragon. His one great love in life was a woman named Savannah who he still mourned. What on earth did she have to offer a man like that?
She could still feel the heat of his hands as they roamed over her body. Being close to him was like being near a cozy fire. Not hot, but just warm enough. He seemed to enjoy being with her, but…
She sighed to herself. There was always a ‘but.’
But she was just a graduate student drowning in debt. She lived a boring, unassuming life and had her future planned out almost to the day. After she got her PhD, she would spend two years earning her license to practice therapy. Then, she would set up a practice somewhere that was not New York and work with kids or abused women or whoever else might need her. She’d work, pay off her student loans, and every day would pass with a comforting sameness.
One thing she wouldn’t plan for was a relationship. Her college boyfriend had used her, and she had been too in love to care. Once she’d broken away
from him, she’d promised that she would never allow herself to be that stupid and foolish again. She knew what she wanted in life and she was on track to make it happen.
But that was before Brady.
The buzz of her cell phone broke into her thoughts and she dried her hand on a towel before answering. It was an unlisted number. Curious, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Casey-Case. I’ve missed you.”
Casey froze, nearly dropping the phone. It was Evan. His voice was raspy and low, almost breathless.
“What do you want?” she said as icily as she could. She forced her voice to remain steady.
“I want to lick your pussy,” Evan said and giggled. “I want to make you get on your knees in front of me and suck my cock.”
“Stop calling me!” Casey yelled and ended the call. She leaned against the bar, covering her face with her hands. The phone buzzed again. A text. Before she could stop herself, Casey opened the text only to see a photo of herself standing at the bar, her hands over her face.
She looked up, panicked. Scanning the room, she couldn’t see Evan, but she knew he was there. Somewhere.
Another photo came of her craning her neck as she searched the club.
A message popped up beneath the photo: COME HOME SOON, CASEY-CASE.
Shaking, Casey dropped the phone and screamed for Brady.
11
Brady
At first, Brady thought the scream had come from some drunken party girl. He glanced over at the bar and saw Casey with her hands clapped over her mouth. In an instant, he was across the room, leaping over the bar with one smooth motion and gathering her close. Trembling, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against him. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt.
“Casey, what happened?” Brady pulled back slightly and coerced Casey into looking up at him with a finger hooked under her chin. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“That piece of shit…” she managed to spit out. Brady realized then that her trembling and tears were not from fear, but pure rage. “He called me again. I didn’t think it was his number, so I picked up.”
Casey pulled away from him and grabbed the phone, sliding it over to Brady. He scrolled through the photos, brow knitting in an angry grimace. He looked up quickly, eyes tracking the customers on the club floor. He knew most of them as regulars. Nobody stood out.
“He was here?” Brady said quietly, fighting to control his own anger. “He was here?”
Casey nodded, swiping at her eyes with a bar towel. “I guess he thought he could scare me.”
“Son of a bitch…” Brady muttered. “Do you think he’ll actually be at your apartment?”
Casey shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s insane enough to just lay low until I think he’s gone. He might be there, or he might just be waiting for me here.”
Brady heard the frustration in her voice. “Can Jasmine stay here with you tonight?”
“I guess so.”
He looked over the club until he saw Jasmine and waved her over. She finished handing out bottles of beers and made her way through the crowd to the bar. Brady could see the anger rising in Jasmine’s eyes when she saw Casey so upset.
“What did he do?” she asked as she dropped her tray and went around to embrace Casey. “Did he do something to you? Are you okay?”
“Just a nasty phone call,” Casey said, recovering her equilibrium. “He was here tonight.”
Jasmine immediately looked around, just as Brady had done.
“Would you mind staying with Casey until I get back?”
“No problem.” Jasmine smiled tightly. “I’d like to see him show his ass around here.”
“Is this enough to call the cops?” Casey asked.
Brady shook his head. “Probably not. They’d say there was nothing wrong with the text. All he says is he’ll be waiting for you at home. Anybody who doesn’t know your situation would think it was harmless.”
“God damn it…” she whispered. Brady saw her knuckles go bone white as she squeezed her hands into fists. “He gets away with it every time…”
Brady wanted to reach out to her again, protect her in his arms and bring back the Casey he’d discovered in his office, but it wasn’t the time for that.
“Jasmine, would you take Casey upstairs to my office? Lock the doors. I’ll have someone watching the doors down here.”
“What are you doing?” Casey stepped in front of him as if she could block his path. “You’re not going to go after him, are you? Just call the police.”
“I can’t,” Brady said, gently placing his hands over her shoulders. “This is shifter business. It stays among shifters.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Casey shook her head, frowning. “Brady, if you go after him, he will kill you.”
Brady couldn’t help but flash a quick smirk. “I think I might be able to give him a fight.”
“Just don’t get cocky about it.” Casey wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. He gathered her close and rested his cheek against the top of her head. “If you get hurt, I’ll kill you.”
“Noted,” Brady said with a quick kiss to her temple. “Go upstairs and get comfortable. I’ve got to call a friend.”
She nodded and allowed Jasmine to lead her away, looking back at Brady as he watched them go. Casey was no delicate flower, but the realization that something terrible could happen to her so easily made his stomach churn. Human lives were so fragile.
He took his cell out of his pocket and called up a number. It picked up on the third ring.
“Arno.” The voice on the phone was hoarse. “What’s up?”
“Zack, I need some help.” Brady glanced toward his office and saw Jasmine and Casey go inside. “It’s not official police business, but...you might want to bring your gun.”
12
Brady
Brady was already at Casey’s apartment when Zack got there. Zack looked, as usual, as if he’d just rolled out of bed. He probably had, leaving the girl du jour there to wait for him. There were two things Zack excelled at: being a cop and attracting women. Brady figured that someday, one or the other would end up killing him.
“Hey,” Zack said as he walked up. “Have you been up there yet?”
Brady shook his head. “No. He might not even be there.”
“I hate stalker cases,” Zack said as they walked into the apartment building. “Fucking losers taking out all their incel fury on women who did nothing to ‘em.”
“That about sums this whole case up.” Brady glanced over at him. Zack Arno didn’t look like anybody’s idea of a cop. When he wasn’t trying to pass as a strung-out junkie, he looked more like a rock star, all shaggy hair, scruffy beard, and black leather. The look helped him blend in, though, working undercover with the narcotics task force. When he smiled, he looked positively fierce, almost more wolfish than when he shifted into a gray wolf.
“So, who’s the chick?”
They stepped into the elevator and punched the fifth floor.
“Her name’s Casey Donahue,” Brady said with a faint smile. “And if she heard you call her a chick, she’d probably kick your ass.”
“Who’s stalking her?”
“Professor at her school.” The elevator dinged and they stepped out. Casey’s apartment was at the very end of the hallway, but Brady could already see the damage to the door. “Shit.”
Zack eased his pistol out from beneath his jacket, nodding to Brady. They walked down the hallway silently, easing towards the apartment. The door had been knocked off its hinges and hung in the frame. Zack held up a hand to Brady—stay back—and edged into the apartment. Brady waited impatiently while Zack searched each room.
“It’s clear!” Zack finally shouted. “Come on in.”
“Holy shit,” Brady whispered as he looked around the apartment. It had been totally destroyed. The clothing piled on Casey’s floor lay in shreds soaked with urine. The walls and fu
rniture had been slashed.
“Stalker boy?” Zack asked.
Brady raised his brows and nodded. “Oh, yeah. Definitely stalker boy.”
They separated as they moved through the apartment. Brady glanced into the kitchen while Zack headed into Casey’s bedroom.
“Yo, Brady!”
Brady hurried to the bedroom, almost afraid of what he might find. He stopped in the doorway beside Zack. Casey’s bed was torn to pieces. Everything in the room that could be picked up and destroyed lay in piles. The stench of urine was breathtaking.
All that fell away as Brady saw the message written over Casey’s bed: U WILL BE WITH ME. It looked as if it had been written in blood. He sniffed the air. Bear shifter blood.
“I don’t think this is gonna be your average stalker,” Zack said quietly. Brady glanced over at him. For once, the usually unflappable Zack Arno looked disturbed. “I think we got some real trouble about to go down.”
“Yeah.” Brady slowly nodded. “I think so, too.”
Where are you, you bastard?
Brady stood at the edge of the rooftop of Casey’s building, looking out at the city. Evan Wallace was out there somewhere, patiently waiting for an opening. He had managed to get too close at the club, which meant he was too arrogant to care who saw him. That could work in their favor if he got careless, but Brady had a feeling that this guy was too smart to let himself fall into a trap. Even if he did, as a bear shifter, he wouldn’t be trapped for long.
Which meant Brady would have to take the fight to him.
Hidden in the shadows, Brady quickly undressed as he began to change. The wings were the first to appear, unfurling from his shoulder blades, stretching out to their full length. He felt the familiar vertigo of gaining height as his dragon form grew taller. His hands and feet became talons tipped with razor-sharp claws. His throat burned from the fire rising inside him. All at once, he saw the world through his dragon eyes—sharp, almost painfully clear. He raised his head to the wind and inhaled deeply.
Into The Dragon's World Page 5