Chapter Eight
Claire ran her fingers through her curls, making sure they were all in place, before she slipped naked into Roland's bed. The past few weeks had been hard, mostly because they hadn't been able to see each other in person. Phone calls, Skype and texts only went so far. But they had to be sneaky if they were going to keep her continued pregnancy a secret.
Tonight was the night before the full moon, though, and both were afraid that the little fluttering movements Claire was just beginning to feel were going to end the very next night. They needed to be together, and Claire hadn't found any evidence that implicated any of the pack, so they agreed it was safe to be.
"Do you want some water to something?" Roland called from the kitchen.
"Water's good," Claire replied, unsnapping her bra. Her breasts were slightly swollen and very sensitive. She couldn't wait for Roland's big, strong hands to be on them. She almost moaned at the thought alone.
She could hear Roland bustling around in the kitchen and smiled. The more she learned about him, the fonder she grew of him. He spoke ten different languages, headed three charitable organizations, and he did all his cooking himself. He was worth billions, yet he scrambled his own eggs. He said it helped him to stay grounded.
He had opened up to her more quickly than she had expected. Not only that, but she found herself opening up to him as well.
She told him about what a hell high school was. He told her about his parents. She admitted that she had once had a tattoo on her lower back that an old boyfriend had convinced her to get, but that she always hated it and had it removed the moment he dumped her for a thinner, younger model. She even told him about the first time she had shot and killed somebody. The man had a gun pointed at the head of a five-year-old, but it still haunted her.
Roland was easier to talk to than anybody she had ever known. Every time they were together, she wanted to be with him for the rest of her life. Which was why, tonight of all nights, on the verge of everything changing, she just wanted to be with him and not worry about anything. Who knew what changes the full moon would bring to their lives?
When he entered the bedroom, his eyes trailed down her blanketed body. "I was hoping you'd be on top of the covers."
Claire felt the heat rising up her neck into her cheeks. "I'm feeling fat today."
"You're pregnant, not fat."
Both of them knew that being pregnant caused only a small part of her round stomach. In fact, given her build, nobody would even suspect that she was pregnant yet. She just looked like she had just been snacking on cupcakes a little too much lately. She sighed as Roland set two bottles of water down on the nightstand and sat on the bed.
"You're beautiful," he said. "From the moment I saw you, I said—"
"I heard what Adam said. My legs were like sausages."
Roland frowned. "Adam can kick himself in the head. You're beautiful, and for what it's worth, I love your legs. They're just perfect for gripping as you wrap them around my waist."
More heat, though this time it was centered lower, rather than on her face. Roland, apparently tired of talking, rolled over her, pinning her under the blankets, and pressed his mouth to hers. She hummed as their skin heated together. Roland wasted no time, tugging the blanket away and feasting at her breasts. His mouth on her skin made her heat and tighten. Claire threw back her head, moaning, tangling her hands in his hair.
"You're beautiful, do you understand?" Roland growled into her skin.
Claire ran her hands down his tight muscles, reveling in the thrill of sparks their bodies produced. She kicked one leg free and slung it over his hips as he moved back to her mouth.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes," she gasped, willing to say or do anything to make sure he never stopped. "Don't stop. Don't let me go."
"Never."
He drew back slightly, letting her reach down and find him with her hand. His eyes slid shut as he bucked his hips forward. His mouth captured hers. Tongues tangled. Claire could almost read his thoughts. More than anything, she knew this was right. This was more than right, this was perfection made manifest and she could never deny that… She wasn't ready to say she loved Roland, but she knew she could never live without him again.
When he entered her it was like heaven. Claire threw her head back, crying out as shockwaves of pleasure coursed through her. She knew from experience that it would only get better from here. She was already panting, already bucking her hips up, impatient for his strength to fill her.
"I'm never letting you go," Roland moaned in her ear. "Never."
"Never," she agreed, kissing him again as he brought their souls closer together.
***
In the morning that feeling of perfection stayed, even after Roland woke her up far too early with a kiss, telling her that he had to go to a meeting with a Chinese company. After he left, Claire let herself drift in and out of bliss-filled dreams. She was certain they were meant to be together. And whether it was genetics or not, she did like him. They got along, and they were highly compatible when it came to sex. They could be together forever.
Hell, I might be afraid to admit it, but the only reason I haven't told him I love him is because I don't want to seem like a psycho clingy girlfriend.
When Claire did get up, she wrapped herself in one of the tangled sheets and stumbled out to the kitchen, yawning. She yelped when she saw that she wasn't alone in the guesthouse. Brian was sitting at the table, reading a newspaper. The werewolf smiled at her.
"I was wondering when you would wake up."
"Brian." Claire pulled her sheet up a little higher to hide her cleavage. "What are you doing here?"
Brian shrugged. "You know I was turned into a werewolf just a few years ago? Yeah. I was in the big leagues before. My own boss, working my own hours… usually in other people's houses."
"What?"
"Didn't you see my criminal record during your investigation?"
Claire shook her head cautiously. If he had a record, she should have known about it. What was he doing in here anyway? "What did you do?"
"They only booked me on breaking and entering and robbery. I was too smart about my other stuff."
What other stuff? A shiver ran down Claire's spine.
"I'm surprised you didn't find anything… But then, I guess Roland did promise that he would take care of all that when I was turned. Benefits of being a billionaire, eh?" He laughed bitterly. "I grew up in a one-bedroom apartment with a mother who worked three jobs and still couldn't pay the bills. How is it fair that we had so little and he has all this?"
He gestured around and smiled. Claire's heart beat faster. She knew that look. There was a remorseless gleam in his eyes. Where was her gun? On the nightstand in the bedroom. Best to try to talk him down.
"It's not fair," she agreed cautiously. "The disparity of wealth in this country is disgusting. I'm sure if you asked Roland, he would let you set up some sort of fund for children living in poverty."
"Roland thinks he needs all his billions. He’s searching for a cure for being a werewolf. He was born that way and he hates it. He thinks it's a curse and expects the rest of us to feel the same. But I am so much stronger than I was before. I love being a werewolf. And if it was so bad, then he should have sterilized himself so he could never pass our 'defective' genes on to your baby."
Claire's eyes widened.
"Did you really think that I would believe you got rid of it? And all his secret little missions that he's been driving himself to? I'm not an idiot. You two are so obvious it's laughable."
Claire didn't wait to hear any more. She dashed back to the bedroom, grabbing for her gun. Brian was too quick; he was on her in seconds. He spun her around, slamming her against the wall, pinning her in place.
"Adam was right." He smiled a bone-chilling smile. "You look like an overstuffed sausage. But the pup inside you is what I’ll need to solidify my leadership over the pack once Roland is dead."
Her heart stopped. "What have you done?"
"What's necessary."
"And you killed Melissa?"
"Yes. It's a shame, I liked her. But she found out what I was doing." He shrugged. "And then you came along and got yourself pregnant. I thought… why not? Now if he dies and I am raising the new Alpha, they'll follow me."
"They won't!"
"I might have to kill Adam," Brian admitted. "But the others will be my sheep."
Anger flared and Claire spat in his face, clawing at his eyes. She was never going to let this beast touch her! "I am Roland's mate," she hissed. "You will never be Alpha!"
Brian snatched the gun off the nightstand and pressed it against Claire's throat, making her freeze. "Once Roland is dead, the others won't have a choice but to accept me as Alpha. And neither will you."