Adele, Claire - Guardian of His Soul [Wolves of West Texas 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (9 page)

Juan shook his head. “I realize this can’t last if she finds out. But I can’t let go, and I can’t share her. This is way more than the relationships we’ve known in the past. I’m not just playing around this time like you’ve been doing since you broke up with Sandra in college. This has nothing to do with me losing Angie.”

“Cindy may mean more to you than anyone you’ve met yet, including Angie, but playing the field is a hell of a lot safer, bro.” Derek glanced at him.

“Be careful. Take care with your heart. According to our heritage, a werewolf only loves once. I doubt I’ll ever find another woman I feel that close to ever again. It’s safer to play the field.”

“It’s also safer for Cindy not to be involved with me. I can’t forget what happened to my aunt.” Juan took the wolf pendant in his fingers, slipping it back and forth on the gold chain. He’d never forget what happened to Aunt Chela. “And now Cindy has brought the attention of the Hawks to herself. I can’t let anything happen to her, Derek.”

“You’re not alone in this. I’ll do whatever you need me to do in order to protect her.”

“I just hope she stays out of the Hawks’ way and doesn’t draw their attention again.”

Derek waved his hand in the air. “Maybe we could warn the Hawks away from the Rescue Mission. It’s worth a good try, don’t you think?”

Juan would do whatever it took to protect Cindy. “It’s definitely worth a try. Let’s start patrolling that area day and night.”

“I’m ready anytime.”

“Tonight’s a good time to start.”

* * * *

Juan and Derek cruised the neighborhood around the Rescue Mission, waiting for the Hawks to show. It had been two days since the shared lovemaking with Cindy. She’d asked Juan over for dinner for the following evening.

Time crept by. It was close to midnight, and Derek drove.

They took another turn onto the main street in front of the mission. A black sedan with darkened windows had stopped in the parking area. A young homeless woman waved her arm at the passenger side of the car.

“It looks like she doesn’t want anything to do with the guys in the car,” Juan said.

“How about if I pull in behind that car and we check them out?”

“Sounds good,” Juan agreed.

They stopped in back of the dark sedan and blocked the way.

The homeless woman headed for the front of the Rescue Mission. The guy in the front passenger seat stepped out of the car and reached for her.

As she slapped at him and continued toward the building, Juan lunged from his seat and ran to help the woman. Derek slammed the car into park and followed him.

“Let her go,” Juan ordered.

“Stay out of our business,” the other man said, catching the woman again.

Juan recognized him as one of the Hawks who’d attacked him in front of Cindy’s place.

“Let go of me,” the woman yelled. Her long blond hair looked silver in the moonlight as it whipped over her shoulders in her struggle.

“We can call the police if you want to deal with them,” Juan said.

“Don’t I know you?” the Hawk asked Juan.

“Yeah, I ran into you and your friends the other night.”

“Let her go!” Derek roared with deadly menace.

The Hawk released the arm of the struggling woman and shoved her away. “Maybe now’s a good time to finish you both off.”

The woman stumbled but kept to her feet and ran to the door of the Mission.

The opposite door of the dark sedan opened and the driver joined his partner in crime.

Derek joined Juan at his side. “Heck of a way to treat a lady,” Derek growled. He watched the young woman open the door and disappear inside the Mission.

The first Hawk glanced toward his friend. “Think the boss would enjoy using these two for his games?”

“I know he would,” the second Hawk said, with a lisp. His canines had already elongated, but his front teeth were missing. He looked the older of the two men. “I want this one.” He indicated Juan. “You can have his
amigo
.”

The mention of the boss’s games hit Juan like a punch to his gut. Vague memories of his capture by the Hawks when he was a young teenager taunted him. Memories of his aunt’s resulting death threatened his ability to shape-shift now. If he didn’t shift soon, this bastard would take him out.

Juan focused on his hatred of the Hawks and their threat to innocent people. Anger ignited and blazed inside him. The change began. His canines lengthened as his fingernails turned to claws.

The Hawks moved to circle around Juan and Derek as all four of them continued to morph.

His gold wolf’s head pendant, given to him by his Aunt Chela, glowed with supernatural light. In the darkness, the topaz eyes set in gold metal shone bright like sparks to gunpowder. Golden light raced along the fine chain links around his neck and continued around his body, swirling around him like a fiery
reata
. The electrified rope of gold protected him as he shifted to his werewolf form. Through the pain of the change in his body, he growled with menace at his opponent. Juan saw him easily in the moonlight with the powerful night vision of his feral eyes.

Beside Juan, his bud had also changed, his lips drawn back in a snarl that revealed his canines, his eyes gleaming with the werewolf hunger for a fight.

Lunging at the toothless Hawk, Juan slashed with his claws. The werewolf scum darted aside in pain. Juan leaped on his back, and, with otherworldly strength and sharp canines, he clamped down hard on the lowlife’s neck. Juan clung to his opponent with the power of his beast. To the side, Juan saw that Derek had the other Hawk under control.

Though the scum wad tried to shake Juan off, it was impossible. Juan’s claws dug into the Hawk’s flesh and held him like a steel vise. When Toothless dropped to the ground and collapsed on his side, straining for air, Juan eased his hold, testing him. He didn’t want to kill him, just intended to warn him. Satisfied the other werewolf was finished fighting for the night, Juan relaxed his hold and moved off him.

“Leave these premises and stay the hell away from everyone at this Rescue Mission,” he growled in warning.

Toothless morphed to his human form, his werewolf energy depleted. His wounds weren’t life threatening and would heal quickly, unfortunately.

Juan changed back to his human form, the light in the wolf pendant slowly going back to normal. He looked at Derek. He had also left his adversary prone on the ground. Derek shifted to his human form.

As Juan shook off his remaining anger, he and Derek headed for their car. Derek turned the key in the ignition and backed the car away from the Hawk’s black sedan. Juan kept watch on the Hawks. Slowly, the Hawks got to their feet and stumbled to their car.

Toothless shook his fist at them. “This isn’t over,” he shouted. “We’ll fix you guys later. We’ll be watching you.”

Derek drove down the street, keeping the speed down so Juan could make sure the Hawks vacated the parking area and headed away from the Mission. When the black car headed down the street in the opposite direction, Derek made a U-turn and followed the Hawks. “Might as well make sure they’ve given up their hunt for tonight.”

“In the condition they’re in now, bloodied and bruised, I doubt anyone would let them come close again tonight. Let’s head home. Hopefully, they’ve gotten the message.”

Juan searched the shadows around the Rescue Mission as they drove by. He didn’t see anyone standing around. They could hope no one witnessed the fight. The vow of revenge from Toothless worried Juan. The Hawks’ revenge could harm innocent people. What if they’d noticed Juan’s car at Cindy’s place? He prayed they hadn’t.

Juan needed to see Cindy. He’d call her in the morning and make plans with her for tomorrow evening.

* * * *

Juan felt an acute urgency tonight to make love to Cindy. He had no clue why he felt this way. The need to make her his had gripped him since she’d met him at the door this evening. All the way through dinner, he’d wanted to strip her naked and eat her pussy. He had a feeling she’d noticed his mood, desperate as he was. She’d given him a few questioning glances while they’d had dinner. He’d hate to scare her away. There was no other place he’d rather be than right here with her beside him.

“I’ll just put these dishes in the dishwasher.”

“I’ll help,” he said. Wanting her by his side, he followed her into the kitchen. When she placed the dishes on the counter, he caught her waist and kissed her nape. “I can hardly wait to come inside you. You’ve been making me crazy hungry all during dinner. Take off your clothes.”

“Juan! I…need to turn on the dishwasher.”

“Fine,” he growled. “Turn it on.”

She added the soap, closed the door, and turned the dial. The machine started filling with hot water.

“Now, let’s get these clothes off you.” He spun her to face him and began unbuttoning her top.

She helped, and together they removed her blouse. He unfastened her bra and slipped it down her arms, lifted her up with his hands at her waist, and set her on the counter over the dishwasher.

Before she could protest, he cupped her breasts and brushed his thumbs over her nipples. “You’re so lovely,” he said softly.

He took one puckered nipple in his mouth and sucked and licked until she gasped, squirmed, and gave sharp little moans. He cupped her breasts again in his hands and kneaded and squeezed while he captured her mouth with his and plundered the inside, stroking every surface with his tongue.

Little wisps of damp heat floated between them from the dishwasher. His hands moved lower and stroked her thighs. He grasped her knees and spread them wide. Cradling her hips, he pulled her tight against him. His cock strained against his clothing and pressed against her aching clit covered by her slacks.

The dishwasher switched gears, and the vibration charged straight to Cynthia’s opening. “I’ve never done this before, Juan.”

“Doesn’t matter where we are. I want you.” He covered her mouth with his and plundered every surface, hugged her close to his turquoise cotton shirt, and teased her nipples. His hands smoothed over her breasts, down her ribs, and beneath her waistband. Her slacks opened, and his hands slipped beneath her panties. His long fingers touched her dampened clit and circled the swollen bud.

She wanted more and arched her back.

Sliding his fingers around to her cheeks, he eased her panties and slacks down. “Hold onto me,” he said, his voice a rough rasp.

She wrapped her arms around his strong neck and held on. He lifted her against his solid torso with one arm wrapped around her and pushed her slacks and panties down her thighs. Lowering her bare bottom to the warm, vibrating countertop, he released her and pulled her clothing down and off over her feet. His hands smoothed up her calves and, grasping her knees, he parted her thighs wide again. This time she was naked.

“
Dios
, your pussy is so beautiful,
querida
.”

Breathless and a little self-conscious, her swollen labia wet and aching, she smiled at him. “What do you have in mind?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he teased. “How does it feel to sit on the counter?” He slipped the fingers of one capable hand through her slick folds and beneath her wet opening against the vibrating counter. A smile curved one side of his mouth upward. “You like that?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice nothing more than a hoarse whisper.

“How about we continue this in your bedroom? I want to slide deep inside your pussy.” His fingers probed her flesh, and one finger slid deeper, almost inside her channel.