Dereck knew for a fact that whoever hid in the darkness was a shifter, the same one who'd been in the woods when he'd been shot. What he didn't know was what they wanted or why they were here.
But he needed to find out.
He took a step in the direction of his smell, only to be held up by Jill's hand around his bicep. He glanced down at her heart-shaped face, glowing in the parking lot lights. Illuminating the fact that she was extremely irritated with him.
"What's your plan, Rambo? Runoff half-cocked into the woods again?"
Dereck couldn't believe he was getting common sense preached to him, especially by Jill. He normally did the preaching and she usually ran full tilt into any situations.
He faced off with her, ignoring the fact that her dark hair curled around bare shoulders. Her purple halter top just a scrap of cloth, showing too much skin for his peace of mind. Her tight jeans hugged her ass and legs, something he couldn't help but admire every time she'd walked away from him tonight. But as tempting as she was, her interference didn't sit well with him.
"I'm going to ask him why he's hanging around. What he saw the other day."
"And if he's the one who shot you?" she asked.
"It's not him. The smells not the same."
"Not exactly the same, but it was there. Which means he was there and you want to have tea and crumpets with him in the dark?"
Dereck knew Jill made some valid points, but he needed to catch the shifter and find out what he knew. If he disappeared, so did the hunter, and someone else could die.
"I am a grown man, Jill."
"Fine."
She walked around him, and he stopped her. "What are you doing?"
"Going with you."
Son of a bitch, she's going to drive me insane.
"The hell you are."
"If you're going, you aren't doing it alone. You need back up and I'm all you got."
"I'm not having you put yourself in danger for me again."
She stepped into him now, their chests brushing as she challenged him. "I'm not doing it for you. I'm looking out for you because your parents would lose their shit if anything else happened to you."
Dereck's temper snapped in half as he took a hold of her shoulders firmly, conscientious of his own strength so he didn't hurt her. Then it struck him; he kept forgetting she was a werecougar and not human. That he wouldn't break her with just a flick of his fingers.
Still, he had never injured a woman and wouldn't start now.
"I'm a fucking man. I don't need you or your mother-henning. So, get into your car and go home."
He didn't add that her lack of faith in his capabilities was emasculating as well.
"Stop telling me what to do!" she snapped. "And by the way, you acting all tough makes you look like a whiny bitch. You aren’t less of a man to having somebody watching out for you. Even if it's me."
Dereck's nostrils flared with fury. Then, he realized that the scent had disappeared, and he had missed his chance to find the other shifter.
All because Jill couldn't mind her own damn business.
She really knew just what to say to get under his skin. How many times had Luke told him to stop being a bitch? How many wrestling matches on the floor had it taken to teach his little brother not to challenge him?
He couldn't beat the shit out of Jill, but he could still show her who the Alpha was.
Before he could analyze that thought, Dereck pulled her to him and dipped his head at the same time. His mouth came down on hers in a hard crash of lips. She gasped, opening to him and he took full advantage, his tongue slipping inside to taste her. He slid his hands down her arms until he gripped her waist, then her hips. The press of her curves against his front shot his cock to full attention.
Dereck maneuvered her until her back pressed against the side of her car, pinning her there. He broke their kiss, locking his gaze with hers and lifted her right leg by the thigh up and around his waist. He barely let her catch her breath before he was kissing her again, thrusting against the apex of her thighs, their jeans an unwelcome barrier. He caught her squeal in his mouth as he did it again. When her nails dug into the muscles of his shoulders he growled.
Suddenly, she pulled away and pushed him. Caught off guard by her strength he stumbled back into an old pick up truck's door. Before he caught his footing, she was on him, her hand cupping him through his jeans and squeezing him gently. His eyes crossed as raw lust spread through him, unable to focus on anything by her manual manipulations and the warmth of her breath on his neck.
"If the plan was to fuck me into submission, it won't work." Her tongue raked along the pulse of his throat before she bit him beneath his ear. "Cause I like to be on top."
A dark heat curled in his stomach, and he tangled his hand in her hair, tugging until her head tilted back.
"Just because you ride my cock, doesn't mean you aren't a Beta."
Jill still had a hold on his dick and her grip tightened. "Wanna bet?"
Dereck released her hair and wrenched her hand away from his dick. "Yeah, I do."
Dereck threw her over his shoulder. He crossed around the back of the car to the passenger side.
"Where are your keys?"
"I dropped them on the ground when you kissed me. It's unlocked though."
Pure male pride rushed through Dereck. He went around the side and opened the passenger door. Then, he unceremoniously dumped Jill on the front seat.
When she started to get up he leaned in, his face inches from hers.
"I'm driving you home, princess."
He shut the door on her protests and his heart drummed so hard he feared it might explode. Fuck, it felt good to let go, to allow his instincts to take over and stop worrying. He didn't need to think about the future.
All he needed tonight was Jill Meyers writhing beneath him.
Dereck picked up the keys from the ground. Opened the door.
"I'm only letting you drive because I've had a few beers, and the cops in town are dicks," she said.
Dereck smirked as he climbed into the driver seat. "Whatever you need to tell yourself."
She glared at him as he turned the key in the ignition. After buckling his seat belt, he shot Jill an intense stare in return.
"You better buckle up."
He backed out of the parking spot, and the tires squealed as he threw it into drive, barreling out of the lot as Jill clicked her buckle in.
"What the hell has gotten into you?"
She gripped the oh shit handle above her door, her eyes wider than usual. Like a deer startled to realize she was the prey, about to be devoured by the big bad wolf.
Dereck licked his lips in anticipation, thinking about putting his head between her legs and eating her pussy until she screamed his name.
"You. You have been getting to me since the night I got to town." He gunned the car to the right onto his street and then a left, stopping the SUV right before it hit the garage door.
"I have?"
Jill spoke the words breathlessly, apparently shocked by his admission. He turned in his seat and cupped the side of her face.
"Every. Fucking. Day."
Dereck went to exit the car, but she stopped him. "Wait, I thought you were taking me home?"
"I did. My home. My bed. My rules. And if you can't handle that, you can take the keys and go."
He dropped the keys into her open palm.
Dereck got out and shut the door on her. By the time he came around to the other side, she'd already stepped out of the SUV. He held his hand out to her, waiting for her to make a move. Finally, she slid her hand into his.
He wanted to howl in triumph, but instead, he wordlessly led Jill inside the house.