That was when Shaz decided it would be a grand idea to set Angie up with someone on Hooked. When the guy Angie had seen outside popped up—turned out he was a shifter—Shaz sent him a request. Angie couldn’t believe it when he accepted…a male with those killer looks must have had no shortage of women hankering after him. The idea of a hook up was suddenly tempting. Shaz and her colleagues had egged her on to go through with the hookup, giving her the push she needed. After a lifetime of being sensible, a one-night stand with a shifter would be the most outrageous thing she’d done. So she’d pushed away her reservations and gone for it. It did not hurt that he looked like a clichéd character straight out of a romance novel. Appearances had never been a big thing for Angie, but if she planned a one-night stand, it might as well be with someone hot…
Except that this male, with his towering height, angular face and brooding eyes, was beyond hot, sending waves of aching anticipation shooting through her as he pulled her against his muscular body. And his promise to get her off? Just his words almost did the trick. She was a woman who believed in getting to know a guy, but for once, she’d left behind the Angie who considered the consequences of every action.
She was going to enjoy this.
As the shifter sucked her nipple, pulling it inside his hot mouth, his hand moved down to cup her ass and massage it. She stifled a moan. She wanted to move closer to him, but he stopped her again. He was in control of her body and she loved it.
It’s just one night. I can let myself go. Let him do whatever he wants.
“I’m going to make you feel so good.” His words made her tremble, the throbbing between her legs graduating to an unbearable agony.
And then he took her nipple between his teeth. “That feels good…” she whispered.
He lifted his face, his lips curling up as he stared down at her. “And that sounds so damn sexy on your lips.” His mouth returned to her breast, and he sucked harder as low growls left his throat. Her head was thrown into delirium as his hand trailed down her stomach to unzip her pants and let them drop. Now his fingers were inside her red lace panties, easing her open, gentle. She gasped when his finger entered her. “You’re so wet,” he groaned against her breast. “So fucking ready.” He pushed his finger deeper into her, thrusting in a steady rhythm until she was ready to explode with the pressure. She needed to explode. But he pulled back.
“Please,” she begged.
He drew in a sharp breath, lifting his head again. “Wait.” His eyes were dark and jaw clenched. This was the same man who had been ready to walk out on her? Now he looked as if he wanted nothing more than her. For the first time in weeks, she was in control. She closed her eyes, spasms overtaking her as his finger pushed into her again. Then another finger. Yes! His thumb joined in to tease her clit, circling and stroking. “You’re nearly there, aren’t you?” She could only nod before she leaned in and pressed her mouth against his shoulder to stifle the scream that wanted to leave her. His arm was around her waist, supporting her and holding her steady as he traced slow circles to torture her clit, his fingers thrusting. His control was maddening, bringing her to the brink and keeping her there. The pressure building inside was unbearable as she clenched her sex around his fingers. “I’m warning you,” he whispered against her ear as he pulled his fingers out. “Don’t.”
She was desperate with the need for release. She took her mouth to his neck and kissed the base, inhaling his scent, musky and masculine. “Please,” she murmured against his neck. “Do this and I promise to make you feel really good.”
His hips bucked against her body at her words. He pushed his fingers back inside her, pumping faster and applying pressure to her clit until the orgasm crashed through her. She cried out as shudders ran through her, going on until she collapsed against him in a useless heap. He held onto her, keeping her on her feet as she pressed her face against his chest. His fingers were still inside her, moving until he had wrung every bit of pleasure out of her.
His breathing was ragged and hot on her skin when she looked up into his glowing gaze. The light did not scare her because she sensed that it was his need for her that brought it to his eyes. Time to keep her side of the bargain. That thought itself sent fresh spasms of heat rushing through her and her muscles tightened around his fingers again, making his gaze glow even brighter. Was it the thought of doing this with a stranger or the fact he was a shifter that made her respond like this? He withdrew his fingers and then his hand came to her face, his lips slanting over hers. He pressed her against him so she could feel how hard he was for her. “Your turn,” he moaned against her mouth.
She had always needed time to overcome her reserve even with long-term sexual partners, but she now found a new boldness. Exciting, liberating. Her body still tingled with the rush of how he had pleasured her, driving inhibition from her mind. She kissed him harder, her fingers struggling with the buttons of his shirt before she pulled it over his shoulders. When she trailed her fingers along hard muscle and then slid her hand down to the waistband of his jeans, his hands were by his side, allowing her to do what she wanted—perhaps, like her, he was curious to see where these explorations would take her.
She brought her lips away from his to look in his eyes, not wanting to miss his reaction. When she unzipped his jeans and slipped her hand inside, bright amber flashed through his gaze. His cock was long and thick and she longed to take it inside herself and feel him fill her. Instead, she bent and pulled down his jeans and boxers so they gathered around his ankles. Every inch of him was magnificent, and as he stepped out of the jeans, he was unconcerned when her gaze fixed on his erection. She shifted back to remove her bra and his mouth parted, giving her a glimpse of fangs as his gaze landed on her breasts. Still, he did not reach out to her. She resisted the urge to cover her breasts with her arms and instead got rid of her panties.
Tonight, she was not that boring woman so focused on her future and only into serious relationships, the kind that involved sex a set number of times a month. For the last few weeks, she had not even had that…which might explain her wanton behavior? She shifted closer to him, pressing her breasts to his naked chest, relishing his sharp intake of breath as she moved her body down so her erect nipples trailed across his stomach. He let out a deep groan when her breasts brushed his erection. Then she was on her knees in front of him, soaked between her legs in anticipation of what she was about to do.
She brought her face level with his twitching shaft and then looked up at him, a small smile on her lips. “Do you want this?”
“Yes,” he rasped, his hips bucking.
“How much?”
“Now, for fuck’s sake.”
“That’s not what I asked.” His face was contorted, his gaze flashing between amber and gray. She placed her hands on his knees, gentle, before moving them to the inside of his thighs. So strong and muscular. She allowed her fingers to linger there.
“I said now—” She stuck her tongue out, circling the end of his shaft, and he threw his head back against the wall. “Please—” She placed her mouth around the tip of his cock and then paused. He twisted his hand through her hair again and then pressed his erection between her lips. She couldn’t get enough of his taste as he pushed inside her mouth. Hot and wet. As she moved her lips along his shaft, she glanced up at him. His eyes were closed as he groaned. “That feels so fucking good.” Knowing that she was giving him pleasure worked her up again. With each thrust, more heat raged at her core until an unfamiliar need to touch herself overcame her. She reached down to stroke her clit and jolts shot through her, even though her fingers did not do the trick the way his did. He stopped thrusting, and she looked up to see his eyes open as he stared at the hand between her legs.
When he pulled out of her mouth, there was no time to be embarrassed before he had her on her back and across the thick carpet. He held her tight as he positioned himself between her thighs…her nails dug into his shoulders as he pushed into her. Her moans were loud
—too loud—but she had to release the agony twisting her core. Was this for real? Was he for real? Could anything feel as good as him thrusting inside her as he whispered into her ear, telling her the things he planned to do to her tonight? She let go of her problems and inhibitions, sucking his earlobe before whispering, “Harder. I need to forget everything except how it feels being fucked by you.”
He growled, loud, as he did just what she wanted. His hips pumped between her thighs as he filled her, moving in and out of her with hard strokes. Her nails dug harder into his back when his fangs extended and pressed against her shoulder; instead of making her nervous, they now turned her on. Both his hands went around her back, gripping her shoulders and pressing her down so he could push even deeper. Something inside her exploded as with a final cry he collapsed, his cock pulsing as he emptied into her.
SHAUN STIRRED. SOMETHING WAS wrong.
He pulled his eyes open. It was morning and he was still in the hotel room, naked under the duvet. He’d spent the night here? He forgot his discomfort, his lips curling up in a grin as he thought of last night. That human had turned out to be a surprise package. They had sex again, twice, in different positions and come together more times than that. The intensity made it difficult to keep his wolf at bay, but she had not minded his claws and fangs. Yes, it was downright ecstatic, but how had he fallen asleep with her in his arms? They were supposed to rest for a few minutes before heading off—separately. But as she lay next to him with her head resting on his shoulder, her breathing grew steady and soft. Before he knew it, he had drifted to sleep, too. Damn. This was never part of the deal.
Where was she? In the shower? The thought made him hard again despite that marathon session. Or perhaps because of it. Well, they were both here, so he should make the most of it. But when he opened the bathroom door, she was not there. And when he checked, there was no trace of her clothes or bag. She had left? After a night like that, she did not even bother to say good bye? As he pulled on his clothes, so pissed that he needed to get out of there pronto, he saw that she had.
Her bloody good bye sat on top of the bedside table. Half the money for the hotel room.
CHAPTER THREE
* * *
TODAY, AS ANGIE APPROACHED THE building where she worked, it did not feel as if she’d have to drag every bit of willpower from her body to survive the drudge-fest of a day at the accountancy firm. She entered the open plan office, which she shared with the other secretaries, and then sat at her desk with a wide smile on her face, humming as she opened her laptop and got to work amending a report for a senior partner.
God, that night with the shifter had been just what she needed to get over all that bloody heartache. When Shaz connected her to the supernatural through the app, the most Angie had hoped for was a quick let’s get down to it and a polite thank you to round off the night. But when the shifter picked up on her nerves, it seemed even that was off the menu. After gathering her guts to do this, she couldn’t let him leave. So she’d done the only thing she could think of to make him stay, forcing herself to overcome her awkwardness as she kissed him. Only she didn’t have to force herself past a few seconds…
Was this why Shaz had insisted on her going for a rebound shag for so long? Whatever it was, it had worked wonders.
“A penny for your thoughts,” piped up Sandra, who sat at the desk next to hers.
Angie returned the other secretary’s grin. “Nothing. I’m just in a good mood.”
“Great to see you happy. It’s been a while.”
This company was not an environment that enhanced one’s mood after a depressing breakup, but today it was easy to look on the bright side.
“How are things going with the shop?” asked Sandra, bringing her back to Earth with a thud. “Any more news from the solicitor?”
Mum and dad set up the antique shop Bygone after their marriage, settling in the apartment above it. Angie’s best childhood memories were tied to that place—and now her parents weren’t around, it was all she had of them. But after she moved out to go to university, dad took out a loan with an underhand company without telling her, signing the shop and flat over as collateral. She’d done her best to help him repay it, but the outstanding amount never bloody reduced.
“My lawyer Juan’s working hard to sort out the mess,” she told Sandra.
It felt like the legal dispute she’d been involved in since dad’s death had gone on forever, and the scenario became even more complicated when the loan shark sold the contract to the mob. They kept pressuring her to forget the place, but she did not back off, not even when they sent a couple of big guys around to warn her.
But things were looking up now. She’d contacted the bank about a loan to cover the repayment, and once that was in place, she’d be out of here and behind the counter of the shop she loved so much. Yes, life wasn’t great at the moment, but soon she would have ownership of the property that was rightfully hers. But even as she imagined herself moving back into that apartment and buying and selling antiques in the shop as she built a regular customer base, anxieties about the legal dispute returned. Those criminals wouldn’t let go of the premises that easily, would they?
When she turned her attention to the shifter instead, those concerns dissipated, and her mood perked up no end. She didn’t even mind when, close to lunchtime, one of the company partners placed a report on her desk and asked her to complete it before she left for a bite to eat. She canceled her lunch date with the other girls and then sat before her laptop, but her thoughts jumped to last night again, lingering on a visual of the shifter naked, his body hard and muscled, long hair flying around his face and eyes flashing as he stared at her with hunger…Bill and she had had an active sex life, if two or three times a month counted, but nothing compared to the rush she’d felt with the shifter.
It was what she’d needed to expel her ex from her system for good.
That afternoon, she pottered around the office, finishing case notes and taking on whatever task was thrown at her. And as the evening approached, the temptation was there. Should she go to the club again? But when she imagined the venue, she only saw the shifter. She wasn’t an idiot—there was no chance he would choose her again when he had other options. Best to put Eclipse behind her, and now that she was over Bill, focus on getting the shop back and moving on with the rest of her life.
“GOOD TO SEE YOU COMING around more often, Shaun.”
Blade, the six foot plus fucker of a demon and an owner of Eclipse, leaned back in the black leather sofa. Shaun sure appreciated that he’d left a meeting to come over to say hello, considering how busy he was.
“Thought I needed to chill out.” Shaun took a sip of the whiskey, knowing that was a fucking lie. Since meeting that human two weeks ago, he’d been to the venue several times to check out the different zones. When he entered the spacious lounge earlier this evening, it was full of supernaturals. His eyes had automatically scanned the lilac walls and white LED lighting, narrowing on the black silk screens that separated some clusters of tables into booths. Was she here?
Nothing. Only non-humans here tonight, it seemed.
There was no loud music in this area; the DJ played a mix of western and Eastern classical tunes that were pleasant on the ears and meant the demon and he didn’t have to raise their voices to talk. Eventually, Blade leaned forward, his dark hair falling forward over his face as he mentioned, “Will told me you’d picked up a new deal.”
The asshole broker had his reasons for blabbing to Blade. The demon was an unofficial go-between among powerful human and supernatural groups in Manhattan. Will wanted to make sure that if Shaun did have cold feet about the arrangement, Blade would be there to remind him of the mess such a decision would land him in.
“A little antique shop. The guy who owned it died last year, leaving behind a huge loan. As of two weeks ago, it belongs to me.”
“And how closely is the mob involved?”
“James has an unof
ficial stake in the business. Although I’ll own it, he’s putting money into the development and will expect to use the private rooms at the back.”
“His guys used to rent the rooms at the back of this place sometimes, and they never caused trouble. They know what the deal is and didn’t do anything to attraction attention from the cops or clients.” The demon stared at his glass, the black iris of his eyes intense as he swirled the caramel-color liquor around. “Because it involves James, I asked my men to check it out. Apparently, there’s a legal issue with the site?”
Others in the business would be over the fucking moon at such information, but Blade only ever brought up such matters out of concern. And to see what he could do to help.
“The old man’s daughter has a hotshot lawyer on the case.” But she was throwing her money away, because Shaun was known for never letting go of a prospect. The shop now belonged to him, and that damn woman could consult a hundred lawyers, but he would never give it up. His reputation depended on it. And so did James’ approval.
“Knowing you, she’s wasting her time.” Blade got it; in their line of work, reputation and trust came first. They were two values the demon never compromised on, but that was not the only reason Shaun respected him. Shaun arrived in this city years ago, after a fallout with his parents and siblings; they wanted him to opt out of the shifter gang he’d gotten involved in and keep his head down like a dumbass. Apparently, as a supernatural, he had no right to be into activities that attracted attention. Fuck that. He’d headed to Manhattan, where supernaturals had their fingers in all kinds of businesses, and started off in this very place by working under Blade.
Blood Moon Box Set Page 3