Moonlight's Peril (Moonlight Series Book 1) (13 page)

“We sure do, and you’re looking at her. I’m on clean up.”

“I’ll help,” Bianca said. “Law can we take our walk after?”

He nodded, but the pensive look he’d worn during the whole meal was still on his face. “Meet me out on the porch.”

****

Nik stood smoking a cigarette when Law joined him on the deck. “So, is she for real or shitting us?” Nik asked blunt as always.

“She’s doing what she thinks is best for me. My mother talked to her. I have no idea how she feels about me. Humans can feel the bond; that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Did she feel it with the kid’s real dad? Was she mated?”

“Chessa doesn’t belong to another wolf and Lucas O’Neil wasn’t of the blood. Bianca doesn’t know who her real father is.”

“Fuck.” Nik summed it up perfectly. “You gonna bite her?”

“Hell no. I’m not going to hurt her. Bittens aren’t like us. It’s harder for them.”

Nik shrugged. “Well, if she were my woman I’d bite her and be done with it.”

“Is that why I see the line of ladies waiting for you to claim them?”

Nik snorted. “Well, I’ll tell you what I won’t do. I won’t mate a human.”

“I never thought I would. Good luck making fate your bitch. Sometimes the wolf picks for you. That’s what happened to me. I don’t want her to renounce my protection when this is all over.”

Nik took a long drag off his Marlboro. “When it comes to mating I plan to die a lone wolf.”

“A few days ago I had no intention of claiming. The human in me is falling in love, and the wolf in me is pissed off she’s not begging me to take her to bed.”

Law grimaced at the sound of Nik’s laugh.

****

Bianca, Janna, and Reylin finished the dishes together.

Bianca stopped and just let the warmth and hominess of the moment sink into her soul.

Reylin turned to Bianca, the left corner of her mouth quirked up and her brow furrowed. “What’s up? You okay?”

“Has Law ever had a mate before,” Bianca asked.

Reylin laughed. “Are you asking if my cuz is a virgin?”

Janna snapped her niece with the wet dishtowel. “He’s never been married or mated,” Janna replied, and she made eye contact with Bianca. “As for the rest, he’s male so read into that what you choose. He’d be damn good to a woman. His father set a good example for him.” A faraway look came over Janna. Then she glared at Reylin, but her snort of laughter stole the effect. “Your mother is rolling in her grave right now.”

Reylin laughed so hard she held the counter to stand still.

Heat burned in Bianca’s cheeks. She rolled her eyes at Reylin. “It’s none of my business.”

“Don’t bullshit yourself, girl. You want to know. I saw the way you two acted tonight—when you weren’t acting. The bond is real. You just have to decide if you’re willing to throw away something good or take a chance at something different.” Janna put her hands on her hips.

“I don’t want to hurt him,” Bianca said.

“Then don’t. It’s not hard. Just don’t think so much. This one is for your heart, not your brain. Go through the door on the left. We can finish up. If you want to stay with him, do it. You don’t have to have sex to enjoy a man’s company. You’re worried. Let what is between you be a comfort. As a woman who lost a mate, take my word for it, you’ll look back and regret sleeping in the dorm tonight.”

Bianca shrugged.

“I took a few of your things over to Law’s place, just in case. It’s a couple of night’s worth,” Reylin confessed with a hint of smoke in her voice. “We’ll take a raincheck on those embarrassing childhood memories. I know there is a bathtub picture and one of him wiping out on his first motorcycle.”

“Um, thanks,” Bianca sputtered awkwardly.

“Oh, you wouldn’t. He’ll never forgive you. I’d swat your ass if you were a few years younger,” Janna threatened Reylin.

Reylin shrugged. “I think the poor human has a right to see what she’s been tangled up in.”

Bianca laughed. Reylin was so similar to Kloe. The connection caused the new friendship to feel mature. “Well, I’ll let you two fight it out. See you later.”

“Hopefully, not until noon or later, stay in bed with him as late as you want,” Reylin called after her. Bianca heard Janna snap the towel again.

She was still giggling when she stepped out onto the porch and found Law. Nik didn’t glare at her this time.

Bianca grinned at Law. “Your mom and cousin are hilarious.”

Law grimaced. “Do I want to ask?”

Her chuckled became a full-blown laugh. “No, you don’t, never, but I want to see that picture of you wiping out on a motorcycle.”

He didn’t look happy. She looked at Nik to show him he didn’t intimidate her. “Can I borrow him for a bit?”

“He’s all yours. I’m turning in any way. Night.” Nik pushed away from the railing.

Bianca waited until Nik went inside before she spoke. “So, he seemed less grumpy with me,” Bianca said as soon as the door closed.

“He’s trying to figure you out, and so am I.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean, figure me out, I’m just me.”

“How do you feel about us?”

Bianca shrugged. “I have no idea how I should feel. Friends?”

His eyebrows rose. “I don’t think I’ve ever been friends with a woman I wasn’t related to. Let’s walk.”

He held out his hand, and she took it. He helped her down off the uneven rock steps. Crickets chirped and a whippoorwill called out. Dusk settled in and the pink haze of evening made everything a little magical, but the setting sun left the air chilly. Bianca rubbed her arms, and Law put his arm around her.

“So what kind of music do you like?” Bianca asked.
Please don’t say rap, please…

“I listen to a lot of oldies. The Eagles, the Beatles, that kind of music. What do you like?”

“I listen to most anything, but not much country. I’m also not a big fan of rap music or death metal. Chessa and I even like some of the same songs. My awesomeness freaks her friends out. I’ve been told I’m the cool mother.” She paused before going on when her eyes blurred with tears. “I miss her so much it hurts. You have no idea how much I want to run to her right now.”

“I can imagine. I’ll take you around the place during the day, soon, but tomorrow I’m going to town to talk to Kane about my plan for helping Chessa. I want you to know that my house is your house while you’re here. I’m glad you decided to stay with me instead of in the dorm.”

He pointed to the wind turbines. “We’re self-sufficient out here. It’s not a bad life.” His property was beautiful and well maintained. The smells of animals mingled with fresh cut grass. Quintessential country. “We raise our own food and sell what we don’t need at the farmer’s market. Many of the families have side businesses or extra revenue and people work in town too. If someone needs something, we see that they have it, but people keep their money. What we have as a group is shared equally. I don’t expect my people to pay a tithe like Kane does.”

“Pay you, for what?”

Law shook his head. “I forget how blind your kind is to my world.”

Bianca narrowed her eyes at him. “Why does that sound like an insult?”

“I’m just being honest; humans only see what they want to see. You moved around a lot as a kid, but your folks always brought you back here. When your mom came back home to die you stayed and worked to make this town better, yet you never saw us.”

“I see—now.”

Law chuckled as he put his arm around her shoulders. “There’s still so much for me to show you, but we’ll start with home.” He ushered her into the large farmhouse. “This house was here when my Grandfather gathered the pack. There were eight of them, two young families. It was just him and his brother, but more joined later. We’ve grown together. Not everyone is blood, but we are family. Come on in.”

His house was clean and spartan, but there was an unused quality. She noticed the kitchen seemed as untouched as a museum. He turned on lights and led her into the next room. The living room had a single recliner and a TV.
I see he doesn’t entertain much.
There was a picture of a little boy and girl. Judging from the era, she guessed this was Law and his sister.

“I was ten and Joy was six,” he said confirming her suspicion.

“Cute. I don’t have any siblings.”

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

“The town isn’t very big. You’ve been a very active community member. The wolves know you, and I make it a habit of knowing who gets under Kane’s skin.”

“He should be more generous with city funds. I wouldn’t have to irritate him if he just made sure the center had what it needs.” Bianca paused and looked around. “You don’t spend much time here, do you?”

“No, I don’t. I wanted to give the house to Grace and Thom, but my mother insisted that I might have a few kids someday too.”

Am I stealing his chance to have a family?
“If there’s someone you’d like to have a family with I’ll go right back to the dorm. I don’t want to take away your options. I appreciate you, but I can’t ask you to throw away your hopes.”

“I’m not throwing anything away,” he said gruffly. He reached out and tucked a long section of her hair behind her ear. “I’m claiming what’s mine.”

“I’m not
yours,
and I’m not a casual sex kind of girl.”

“That’s good because there’s nothing casual about giving you my protection. You’re mine, and I’m not the kind of male who’s into casual women.”

She nibbled on her lower lip and looked away. He put his hand on her cheek, and she glanced up.

Law stroked her skin with the pad of his thumb. “There’s room here for Chessa too. If you think she’d be comfortable staying. Let me show you.” He took her past an open bedroom door on the main level. The disheveled bed and jeans left on the floor told her this was his bedroom. A bathroom was right across the hall. The next room looked like a storage space.

“This was my mother’s sewing room.” Law opened another door, and she followed him upstairs. Four bedrooms were situated around an open area with a rocking chair and books. She could imagine Janna having rocked her children to sleep there. “Chessa could have any room she’d like. You’re welcome to stay up here, or downstairs. Whatever you want.”

“Are you asking me to sleep with you, like in your bed?”

“Or you could just take it, and I could move up here. These rooms could use a good dusting, but the sheets are clean.” Law took a step closer to her. She gazed up at him in the dim light. “This is real to me. You’re what I want.”

Bianca’s mouth went dry. Law leaned down and his lips met hers. The kiss was sweet, tender. She didn’t pull away. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed him back.

What the hell am I doing?

He was a very good kisser. She moaned.
I haven’t done this in so long. Why does this scare me more than finding out about the town did?
When Lucas would stop in town, she’d fall into his motel bed.
Not because I loved him, but because it was easy.
Those rare visits from Lucas and her trusty vibrator were the extent of her sex life. Bianca pushed all thoughts of anything, but Law’s lips out of her mind.

Law hands rested on the wall, framing her head as he pinned her in place. Strange, she didn’t feel trapped. Something inside of her broke. His erection pressed against her stomach. Staring up into his eyes, the intangible thing between them strengthened. He pulled back to look at her. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Bianca, I’m falling in love with you.”

“Fuck it,” she muttered.

He flinched, scowling. Bianca gently held his face and pulled his mouth back to hers. He groaned. She wouldn’t be sleeping in the dorm tonight.

Nineteen

Law picked Bianca up. She cried out against his mouth clinging to him. He held her tight as he made his way down the dimly light stairway, still kissing her. He kicked his bedroom door open wider and sat her down. Having her on his bed was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Law pulled his t-shirt over his head. She gazed up at him with a dazed expression still fully clothed.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
I don’t want her to have any regrets. I sure as hell won’t.

She nodded mutely. He walked over to the bed and sat down. Law unbuttoned her blouse. He pushed the fabric off her shoulders. Her bra was yellow with pink flowers. The cotton wasn’t meant to be sexy, but he’d never seen anything that looked better on a woman. He slipped one of the straps off her shoulder and deposited a kiss where the elastic had left an imprint. His hand rubbed her back, and she relaxed.

“We’ll take this slow,” Law said.

“Okay,” she whispered.

Law pushed the clasp of her bra together, and it opened to expose her beautiful, full breasts, and he held them. They were more than a handful and his cock strained against the material of his jeans. She gasped and arched into his hold. He rubbed his thumbs against her nipples and listened to the music of her whimpers.

“You like that, honey?”

She nodded, pressing her lips together and closing her eyes. Law unbuttoned his fly. A second later, his pants were on the floor around his ankles. She still had her eyes closed. He pressed her back, gently.
I don’t know what kind of experience she’s had, but I can tell she’s nervous, maybe a little scared.
This has to be good for her.
He had to make sure when she thought about tonight the memory would put a smile on her face. He unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down. The cotton panties matched the bra. He liked that, a lot. Law pulled them down next. Her pussy was trimmed, but natural. He liked that too. Her eyes were open, and she was watched him regard her.

“You’re beautiful,” he said and tenderly parted her thighs to kneel between her legs. She allowed him to open her wide.

“I—I haven’t done this in a while,” she stammered.

“Don’t worry, honey, it’s like riding a bike. I promise I’ll make this good for you.” He could already see she was glistening, wet for him. He wanted to take her, immediately, and make her his, but he took a second to calm the wolf. The man knew better what his woman needed.
Her scent is amazing.
“I’m going to make it good. You’re shaking, are you sure you’re okay with this?”

She flushed. “Are you sure you want to?”  The innocent question held a note of worry.

“Oh, honey, I sure as hell do.”

Bianca nodded, and his gaze never left hers as he lowered himself between her thighs.

Law lapped at his woman’s pussy. He’d never tasted anything so sweet. At first, she was quiet, and then her whimpers grew. He lapped faster, harder. She tangled her fingers in his hair, bucking against his face. Bianca cried out, and Law didn’t stop.
I can feel her heart beating. I—I know she feels the bond. She knows she’s mine.
His consciousness nudged hers.
She’s so close. Damn, this is more than I expected with a human.
Bianca came for him, but he didn’t let up.

“Law!” she cried, then moaned a long unintelligible sound.

When he was sure she’d finished he got up on the bed. She opened her eyes and turned to look at him. There was sweetness in her shy glance. He reached out and pushed the bangs out of her eyes.

Without a word, Bianca bent to his waist, taking his cock in her mouth. She sucked him, hard, but shielded him from her teeth. He groaned. She was damn good at that.

“Honey, that’s good,” he encouraged her but resisted taking a fist full of her hair in his hand.
Gentle, she’s human.
He closed his eyes and moaned.
That’s incredible.
Bianca was his miracle. His balls tightened. “This’ll be over too soon if you don’t stop.”

Bianca released him. The tip of her tongue slid over her bottom lip, and he had the urge to pull her up for another kiss.

He wanted to finish inside of her, marking her, but he realized he had no idea if she was on the pill. The last thing he wanted to do was give her a baby she wouldn’t want. For the first time in his life, the idea of a child held some appeal, but not like this. “Hang on,” he muttered.

He leaned to the side and pulled open his bed table drawer. One ancient condom was better than nothing. Law rolled to kneel between her legs. “I’m going to make love to you unless you’ve changed your mind.”
Please don’t change your mind.
He’d honor her decision, even if it hurt like hell.

“I want you inside me,” she said in a breathy voice that sent a shock of desire right to his cock.

Law fumbled with the condom, ripping the wrapper off hastily, and rolling it down his erection. He’d never been so ready to come in his life, but he refused to ruin this for her.

Bianca opened her legs without encouragement, and he held the condom fast to his base with one hand while he rubbed her slick clit. She arched her back a little and a soft gasp danced over his ears. He rubbed her harder and faster. Her hands clutched the sheet. He used the bond to sense her need. After another moment of attention, she was ready, hovering on the brink of another release.

Law entered her with cautious precision. He watched her face and let himself experience her fully. When she came, he still held back. Watching her and feeling the resonation of her orgasm through their mating was spiritual on a level no other sex matched.
I’m in love with her.
When he came, his whole body shook with the force of his release. Law roared.

Bianca’s pussy convulsed around him milking every drop of his pleasure. When it was over, he rested his head on her forehead.

“You’re incredible.” Law kissed her. He’d been with his fair share of women, both his kind and human, but his heart and soul had never made love with a woman until Bianca.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head enough to kiss him softly. He pulled out of her, holding the condom on his partial erection. He managed to toss the condom in the trash without things getting too weird. Law lay on his side, panting. He pulled her to him. They didn’t talk.
The bond is handy as hell. She’s okay, just overwhelmed. I haven’t fucked this up, yet.

After a few minutes, Bianca’s breathing slowed. She yawned.

Bianca started to get up. He grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”

She gasped and stiffened. She scowled at his hand. He let her go.

Bianca turned away. “I—I didn’t know where I should sleep.”

“I thought we settled this.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope I don’t snore, poke me if I start that up. There’s a pile of clothing on my dresser. Reylin said she left some things there for you. Don’t leave me tonight. I want to hold you.”

He slept naked, so he lay back down in bed. She pulled a pink nightshirt over her head. A cat on the front held a coffee cup. “Give me coffee or else,” warned the screen print. Pulling back the blanket, Law watched her crawl into his bed. He covered her up and reached over her to turn off the lamp.

Bianca didn’t protest as he pulled her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. “This is where you belong.” Because of the deepening of their bond, he sensed her erratic emotions. He pulled a pillow under her head and moved his arm, so she wasn’t laying on him, but he still could rub her neck. She relaxed.

Peace. A contentment he’d never known stole over him as he watched her eyes flutter closed and her breathing become even and steady. His woman was asleep in his bed.
How am I ever going to be able to let her go now? How am I going to convince her she belongs in this bed with me the rest of our lives?