Wolf Moon (13 page)
“I love you, Alexa. Once I figured out I couldn’t walk away from that, the rest was easy.”
“I love you, too, Jesse. More than I can ever tell you.”
“So, romp when you need to, do whatever you have to. Because, from this moment forward, you’re mine and only mine. Got that?”
She was crying again, only this time they were tears of happiness. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Grinning, he moved and loomed over her. “But I think we need to seal this deal one more time.”
As he sheathed himself and slid into her, he kissed her with such emotion, her heart filled with joy beyond anything she’d ever known. Sometimes when you took a chance, life worked out just the way you wanted it to.
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Venus Moon by Desiree Holt
Chapter One
Charlie Aquino glided his car slowly to the curb, cut the engine and headlights, and rolled down his window. It was quiet in this little cul-de-sac where Derek and the rest of his group—er, pack—lived. He scanned the house he drove by every night on his way home, after a long shift for the sheriff’s department. Just looking at the place, hoping for a glimpse of her, calmed him. Soothed all those frayed and jangled nerves.
Sometimes a light would be on. Other times, like now, the little cottage would be completely dark.
Was she outside, running? Alone or with her “friends”? He closed his eyes, and Liana Cosa’s face swam before his eyes. High cheekbones, amber eyes, and a silken waterfall of ash-blonde hair. When she smiled at him, the bottom fell out of his heart.
Jesus, Aquino. You’ve really lost your mind.
But a year had made a lot of difference in his life. Twelve months ago, he and Jesse Farrell had been working the gang task force for the sheriff. The most exotic things in their lives were the devious gang leaders who always lay in wait. And he’d never heard of a shape-shifter. Now, his partner was married to one, and he, for his sins, was falling helplessly in love with another one.
The group of cottages lining the cul-de-sac were where Liana and her friends lived. Her pack, for they were all shifters like Liana. Alexa Farrell, Jesse’s wife, had worked out a deal with a developer she did graphic designs for. Derek and his group would provide security at the developer’s construction sites in return for nominal pay and free rent at cottages he hadn’t been able to sell anyway.
At first, the shifter thing had really freaked him out, but now, a year later, it had become part of his life. Especially after he met Liana. And how weird was that, falling for a wolf? But, like Alexa, Liana had an exotic quality about her that pulled at him and made his cock so hard every time he looked at her he was afraid it would break off.
From the moment he met her at Jesse and Alexa’s place, he wanted her more than any other woman he’d ever met. He made it a point to run into her whenever he could. Buy her coffee. A drink, if he could coax her into it. Twice, he’d actually talked her into dinner.
But she was wary of him, and he could understand why. Humans were suspect. Jesse and Alexa had worked out fine, but Alexa had landed in Florida because of a disastrous experience with her previous human love. Charlie was sure Liana always had that in the back of her mind.
Sometimes when he drove by, she’d be outside in the warmth of a Florida evening, sitting on her porch swing. He’d stop, make his way to the porch, and coax her into offering him a cold drink. Sitting next to her, the scent of her teasing his nostrils, her thigh so soft next to his, the fabric of her T-shirt outlining her full breasts, he had all he could do to keep from throwing her to the porch floor and taking her there.
But Charlie Aquino had more class than that, he reminded himself. Except that lust was steadily winning out over class. He only knew if he didn’t get to fuck her pretty soon, he’d self-destruct.
If the house was dark, like tonight, he always waited a while, staring at the copse of trees behind the houses, hoping for a glimpse of her in wolf form. The first time he saw her it took his breath away—gorgeous, magnificent, silver coat shimmering. And the more he saw her as a wolf, the more he fell in love with her. Go figure.
He slouched against the back of the seat, wondering where she’d gone to tonight. Was she out with one of the males in the pack? Shit. He never thought he’d be jealous of a wolf. Unconsciously, he fingered the condom he’d been carrying in his pocket for weeks. Hoping for a chance—not just for sex because he’d come to realize that what he felt for her was a lot more than that. He wanted the chance to explore those feelings.
Then he saw her, right at the edge of her yard, a magnificent silver wolf gleaming in the bright, full moonlight. Alone.
She’d never let him get close to her when she was in her wolf form, no matter how many times he’d hinted at it. If she spotted his car cruising by, she raced into the trees behind the cottages. No matter how long he waited, she wouldn’t emerge. Yet here she was tonight, knowing full well he was sitting there hoping to catch a glimpse of her. And she hadn’t moved. Hadn’t cut and run.
Very quietly, he opened the car door, closing it behind him and walking toward her with slow, careful steps.
Please don’t run. Please, please, stay where you are.
As if she heard his silent prayer, she remained motionless, watching him. As he drew closer, he could see the moon reflected in her warm amber eyes and would have sworn she was smiling at him.
He stopped about two feet away, not sure what to do next. Forcing himself to stay completely still, he breathed slowly even as his heartbeat ratcheted up. The next move was up to her.
Finally, when the tension was thick enough to cut, she ambled toward him, stopping directly in front of him and nudging his hand with her head. He slid his fingers through the magnificent silver coat that felt as soft as the finest silk. Electric thrills speared the length of his arm and shot through his body.
She nudged at him again then lowered her head and pressed her nose to his crotch. Her long, pink tongue snaked out and licked the length of his fly. Sweat broke out on his body as his cock leaped to life in response.
He threaded both hands through her coat, holding her head, lifting it slightly so he could lock his gaze with hers.
“I want you,” he said hoarsely. “You have no idea how badly I want to make love to you, Liana. Right now.”
She shook her head and slipped from his grasp, backing up two steps.
“No.” He reached out a hand. “Don’t run away from me. I know who and what you are, and it’s fine with me. Look at Jesse and Alexa. They made it work.”
Jesse and Alexa? Was his mind telling him he wanted the same kind of relationship with Liana? Holy shit! Was this what he’d been building up to? Could she handle that? Could
he?
“Stop,” he commanded, when she took another step backwards. “Please. You’ll never know what we could have if you don’t give it a chance.”
He held his breath for what seemed an eternity. Then streaks of light shimmered in front of him, faint at first like streamers of golden tinsel that danced as if coaxed by a gentle breeze. They seemed to surround Liana, wrapping around her like a fairy cloak until they exploded into a thick cloud of stars. For a moment, Liana was obscured. When they faded away, she stood before him, completely naked, completely glorious. And thoroughly tempting.
His cock was so hard it threatened to rip through the fabric of his jeans. He took a deep breath to steady himself, gain some measure of control, and held out a hand to her.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured. “I have to touch you. Please.”
One step at a time, her eyes reading his, she walked forward until she could touch his hand. He closed his fingers around hers and tugged her closer.
“I see you every night,” she told him. “I thought for sure you’d get tired of it. Give up.”
“You’re worth waiting for.” He looked down at her. “I’ve waited a long time for this, Liana. I want to kiss you. Is that all right?”
He wanted to yank her into his arms, but he didn’t want to frighten her, either.
She tilted her head. “You don’t mind kissing a wolf?”
“I’m kissing Liana,” he told her. “Whatever form you’re in.”
She breathed a soft sigh and moved into the circle of his arms. Her skin was so soft beneath his hands, like spun silk, her lips the same. He tried to make the kiss gentle, but one touch and heat consumed him like a flash fire. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and when she opened for him, he thrust inside, ready to devour her.
Who’s the wolf here?
He tasted the inside of her lips, the edge of her teeth, the warm, wet cavern of her mouth. Sucking at her tongue, he pulled it into his own mouth, tangling with it, sure he’d never get enough. His hands came up to cup her cheeks, tilting her head this way and that to give him a better angle. The heat from the kiss lit up every nerve in his body, clear to his toes, and his cock throbbed with anticipation.
When he lifted his head to look at her, he lost himself in her eyes. Every shade of amber reflected in the moonlight, but it was the mixture of hope and fear that really got to him.
“I won’t hurt you,” he promised. “Ever.”
“I’m afraid,” she said. “But I want you.”
“You never have to be afraid of me. Not for any reason.”
“There’s a heavy quilt on the back porch,” she said in a hesitant voice.
Charlie cocked an eyebrow at her. “You don’t want to go inside?”
She gave him a tentative smile, watching him, judging him. “Wolves like to mate outdoors.”
She was testing him. Could he take her in human form knowing she was wolf? Okay, fine. Whatever she wanted. In seconds, he had the quilt spread out on the grass, the moon lighting up the yard like a spotlight.
Holding her gaze, watching
her
reactions, Charlie stripped off his T-shirt then unzipped his jeans and kicked away both pants and boxers in one movement. His cock sprang free, throbbing with such intensity he was afraid things would be over before he got started.
He took her hand again and knelt on the quilt, tugging her down with him. With his fingertips, he caressed the line of her cheekbones and jaw, touched the pulse beating so hard at the hollow of her throat. When he lowered his hands to brush his fingers across her dark nipples, she gasped and arched toward him. The nipples hardened beneath his touch like diamonds.
Bending his head, he licked at them then briefly took each one into his mouth, sucked it and released it, flicking the tip with his tongue. He hated letting go of them, but he wanted to explore every bit of her body.
Then
he’d go back and do her nipples justice.
His hand continued its journey between the valley of her high, firm breasts, tracing the line of her rib cage, one fingertip twirling in the indentation of her navel. When he slid his hand lower into the softness of her pubic curls, he couldn’t stop himself. He bent his head and trailed the tip of his tongue through them, tugging at them with his teeth.
As his tongue foraged in the curls, his hands caressed her outer thighs, his fingers tracing the line where hip and thigh joined, reveling in the silken feel of her, the pleasure of touching her. When he could hold back no longer, he nudged her legs apart and traced the line of her slit with one shaking finger, terrified that at any moment he’d do something to turn her off and she’d leap away.
But as he probed the dampness of her pussy lips, a small sigh escaped her, and her hips arched toward him. As his mouth continued to travel over the soft curls on her mound, his thumb found her clit and brushed back and forth. Immediately, her cream bathed his fingers where they touched her cunt.
Jesus! She is so responsive!
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