Shira (12 page)

Max caressed her cheek and leaned down over her. The tip of his cock touched her entrance. She moaned, and when her lids lowered, he tapped her cheek. Shira focused on him. She tried to hide it, but something told her all the love she felt for him was plain in her face. An expression of surprise came over him, but then he smiled. He pushed into her, and she cried out his name.

“Take it all, baby,” he whispered. “Every inch belongs to you now. I won’t be with another woman, Shira. Only you.”

Tears filled her eyes. She shook all over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His skin was hot and moist. His muscles contracted with each thrust, and she couldn’t get enough. Not of touching him or of feeling him invade her body. He claimed her in the basest of ways, and she offered herself up to him. When her orgasm came, she screamed and threw her head back. Max captured her chin, forcing her to face him. She’d always closed her eyes, so it was hard to focus on him. Something told her he needed it. He needed
her
, and knowing that was scary and exciting all at the same time.
He needs
me.

“Max.”

“Shira.” He thrust harder and faster. His breath came in short, harsh bursts. When he tensed in his jaw, she knew he was ready to come. He let go, but his gaze never wavered from hers. She melted into him as if his soul opened up and took her in. A sense of wildness came over her, and for a moment, terror welled, but Max’s gentle voice cut through. They were together, and it was okay. He was stronger than any man she’d ever met, and vulnerable too. Max hadn’t wanted to let go of his pain because facing a future alone was more than he thought he could bear. She didn’t know everything about him, but she knew that. She would do whatever it took to help him heal, and maybe one day he would come to love her as she loved him.

Chapter Ten

Max had to admit he felt better having accepted his desire for Shira. She meant a lot to him. He knew that. Pushing her away had been hard. He’d thought it was for the best and found out real quick, it wouldn’t work. He needed her. So, he could admit that too. Now that she had decided to stay, he had greater peace, even happiness. They had spent the entire night in bed together, and then he had insisted they transfer her stuff to his house. He had no intention of letting her move out again. In fact, he had brought her clothes to his bedroom where they belonged.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked, coming into the room behind him.

He swiped the bags she held from her hands and tossed them on the bed. Then he turned her toward the door and swatted her ass. “I’m hungry. Go fix me breakfast.”

She frowned over her shoulder at him.

“Hurry, or I’m not taking you shopping later.”

Her face brightened like the sun, and he ignored the flutter in his chest. Just what would he be willing to do for this woman?
Everything! I would kill for her.

The sentiments embarrassed and annoyed him. He swung away from her and began unpacking her clothes. He hung the dresses in the closet and wondered what she would like to buy when they went shopping. Panties definitely. Could he get her into one of those shops that sold raunchier items? He hoped so. The dirty talking they’d done was blistering, and he intended to take it further. Shira was a fireball and hot as hell. He got a hard-on just thinking about her naked.

While he thought of bedroom antics they could get up to, his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and saw that it was his brother calling. He stabbed the connect button. “Alec, this better be important. There’s a beautiful woman in my kitchen who I’ve decided to take on the counter next to the eggs and bacon.”

“Wow, all kinds of detail I don’t care to know,” Alec said. “You sound disgustingly happy.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m sorry I have to call with the news I have.”

Max stiffened. “What news?”

“Not only is Corbin not doing business with us, he’s saying there’s a rumor going around that we strong-armed Wilson into his deal, and Wilson is backing that up. I got a call from the DPOR who are investigating it.”

“Are you shitting me?” Max ran a hand through his hair and began pacing.

“No, I think someone’s behind it. I’m about to go over there and talk to Wilson myself.”

Max thought he heard an exclamation from Shira like something upset her. “No, you can’t go to him now that the DPOR is in it. We can talk to Mancini together to find out where he heard the rumor. If someone’s gunning for us, they will be taken down. I’ll pick you up in half an hour.”

He ended the call and went to check on Shira. She stood by the refrigerator with her back to him, but it was clear that she was shaking. Max hurried to her and drew her against him. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

She jumped and tried pulling away, but he held on. “N-Nothing.” She smiled, but it was forced.

“What’s going on, Shira? Tell me now.”

She spun out of his hold, but he caught her wrist. When he tugged her to him, she lost the grip on her cell phone, and it began to fall. He moved with the easy speed that came to his kind and caught it. The horror and fear in her gaze as she looked at the phone told him volumes.

Max held Shira at his side while he flipped the phone open.

“Max, stop. Give it to me. I said nothing’s going on,” she insisted. “I just burned my finger. That’s all.”

He didn’t smell any food cooking. She was lying to him. Anger welled in him, but not at the woman he’d chosen as his new mate, at whatever had caused her to be afraid to tell him the truth. The person who took away the happiness that had shown on Shira’s sweet face would pay dearly.

He pressed the call button, and the number that came up wasn’t one he recognized. Shira made a sound of alarm, but he ignored it. He pressed the call button again to connect. A familiar voice came on the line. “Have you decided to come to me, Shira? You made the right choice. Now I won’t have to ruin your lover. Not entirely anyway.”

Max had his answer of who was behind the sabotage of his and his brother’s business. He gripped the phone in his hand so tightly he heard it crack. “I’m coming for you, Ellerby. Wait for me.”

He tossed the phone on the floor and turned to Shira. She wrung her hands together, and tears collected in the corners of her eyes. “I have to go,” she said.

He gripped her arms tighter. “No! Didn’t you tell me you wouldn’t leave me?”

She sniffed and shook her head. “I’m not leaving you.” Anger sparked in her gaze. “He’s not going to break us up. No, I have to leave and go to his house so I can get him straight. We’re together now, and no amount of threats is going to change that.”

Max smiled. He was proud of her, and she was cute with her determination and grit. Still, Max wasn’t crazy enough to let her go anywhere near Ellerby. “I’m glad you feel that way, baby, but you’re not going anywhere. I’m going to handle this, and you’re going to wait here until I get back.”

“Max—”

“Promise, Shira.”

“No, I’m going! You can’t stop me. I have to show Sam he can’t intimidate me anymore.” She continued outlining reasons she had to talk to Sam, to convince him to leave them alone. Max knew it would take more than words. For a moment he considered allowing Shira to go with him, but he changed his mind. He still needed to tell her about the shifting, and seeing it firsthand without warning wasn’t the way to go about it. She needed to stay home.

“I have something very important to discuss with you when I get back,” he said in a quiet tone. Shira fell silent. He watched her eyes widen and excitement spark there. He knew she jumped to conclusions, and he was okay with that. Shira was his mate, so whatever she wanted, he would give her. “Wait for me, please?”

She blew out a resigned breath and nodded. “Fine, but be careful.” She reached up and stroked his cheek. Desire hit him between the eyes. What he wanted more than anything was to stay here and make love to her. From the way she trembled when he touched her, she felt the same. “I don’t want him to hurt you.”

“I promise he won’t, and I’ll come back soon.”

Max kissed her and left the house on a jog. He hopped behind the wheel of his car and peeled out of the drive. First, he would pick up his brother, and then they would have a word or two with that scum Ellerby.

* * * *

“He’s under the illusion that he’s important,” Alec commented when they pulled up to the house.

Max frowned. “You’re sure this is the place? The way he comes off you’d think he would live in a mansion like Mancini’s. This seems too…”

“Average?” Alec supplied. “My information isn’t wrong. He’s here. That’s the car he was driving the other night at the party, and I’m picking up his scent.”

Max agreed. He would never forget Ellerby’s scent as long as he lived, and he’d better not pick it up after today within a five mile radius of Shira. “Let’s go then. The sooner we put the fear of the leopard in him the better. I need to get back to Shira.”

His brother eyed him but said nothing and slid from the car. Max met him on the other side, and they ascended the walk to the front door. Max leaned on the bell long and hard. He picked up the grumbling complaints on the other side of the door and schooled his face.

Sam Ellerby opened the door. “What the hell are you two doing here? If you think you’re going to intimidate me, you’re wrong. If you’re foolish enough to—”

“Look at me, Ellerby,” Max demanded. He let his eyes shift to that of the leopard. “Do I look impressed with you?”

Ellerby paled, blinked, and then scrubbed his eyes. He swung his gaze from Max to Alec, and his brother took a step forward to rest a clawed hand on Ellerby’s shoulder. “Let’s have a chat inside, shall we?”

Ellerby stuttered and stumbled backward. Max and Alec followed him inside and shut the door behind them.

“What-what-what,” Ellerby stammered. “What kind of trick is this? How did you get your eyes to look like an animal’s?”

“To be more specific, a leopard,” Max corrected him.

His brother dug his claws in where he still held onto Ellerby’s shoulder. Ellerby winced. “That’s good makeup. Let go,” he demanded of Alec.

Max’s brother frowned. “Are you telling me what to do, Ellerby? I’m sure you’re not afraid, right? An influential man like you? I mean you could make one phone call and ruin our reputation, cause us to lose close to a million dollars.”

Alec backed him into his living room and shoved him down on the couch. Ellerby stayed where he was, staring in horror up at them. The most Max had done was shift his eyes, but it was enough for now. If Shira’s ex didn’t start changing his tune, Max was prepared to do much more, and Ellerby might not recover from it.

Max towered over the man with arms folded across his chest. “Now let’s get this straight so there are no misunderstandings. You convinced Mancini not to do business with us. Our association with him is somewhat new, but you’ve known him a while. Am I right?”

Ellerby cleared his throat and tugged at his collar. “I met him a few years ago at a gathering Senator Jones was having in honor of his daughter.”

“Oh a senator,” Alec commented, although he didn’t sound impressed. Neither was Max. Tossing around names was the kind of thing a small man like Ellerby did.

“Changing Mancini’s mind wasn’t enough. You went one step further and brought Wilson into it,” Max continued. “I’m willing to bet that isn’t the end of your plans though.”

Belligerence set in Ellerby’s expression, and he looked away saying nothing. Max leaned down and thumped the man’s chest with the back of his hand. He pulled most of the strength at his command. A real blow would crack a human’s bones with one hit. He let just enough through to drive the air out of Ellerby’s lungs. Ellerby sputtered and coughed, trying to drag in a breath.

“Answer,” Alec snapped.

“Y-Yes, but I won’t…” All of a sudden Ellerby couldn’t seem to think straight. Max supplied the words.

“You won’t open your mouth to speak a word against me and my brother.” He leaned down and brought his eyes level with Ellerby’s. He allowed more of the leopard to come through, just enough for the color of his skin to shimmer and hint at the animal inside him. His nails grew to claws, and his teeth sharpened. Max allowed his jaw to grow slack so Ellerby could see. A bite or a scratch could tear him to shreds. A sharp, foul scent burned Max’s nose, and he glanced down. Ellerby had wet himself. Somehow he didn’t feel sorry for the man. “You will correct the rumor you spread and set Wilson on the right path. If you come within a state of Shira, I’m sure you can guess what I will do—what my brother and I both will do.”

“A
state
,” Ellerby shrieked like a little girl. “I just moved back here. I just took this job.”

“Sucks to be you, doesn’t it, pal?” Alec growled.

Ellerby shrunk away from the animosity in Alec. “Okay, just please, don’t… Don’t kill me.”

Max clamped his lips together to keep from laughing. They’d never killed anyone, and despite what Ellerby had said, they’d never pressured anyone into a business deal either.

“As you can see,” Alec told him, “we’re not your average businessmen. Don’t cross us. Got it?”

“I got it,” Ellerby muttered.

Max and Alec watched him for a little while longer, and then they turned to leave. When they were back in the car and driving down the highway, Max let out the laughter he’d held in check, and his brother joined him.

When they sobered, Alec glanced over at him, growing serious. “Have you told her about your ability?”

Max knew he was talking about Shira and them not being human. “I’m heading back to tell her now.” He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “I never believed I could have another mate, but I’m beginning to think she’s it. I can see myself with her forever. But if she—”

“Don’t. She will accept you. From what I’ve seen, she loves you, and you—”

“I want to protect her. I don’t want her ever to be hurt again.”

Alec grinned. “Fine. Anyway, I’m sure everything will work out great. She’s not going to let the fact that you grow a little extra hair once in a while and get a penchant for running in the wild get between you.”