Chapter Nineteen
The Date
The Highland Bar and Grill, Sarasota, Florida, two days later,
The flavor of the mellow scotch lingered on Lucas’s tongue. He was going to enjoy every bit of the traditional dinner he’d ordered, while Laurel turned up her nose and ordered an Angus burger. So far, their date had been quiet and uneventful.
“How did you know I’d find you?” he finally asked.
She sighed. “Our auras merged once. I figured they would again. So I sent part of mine out searching for you…like a compass looking for North. Thanks for dinner.”
“Are you in a hurry to get home?”
She lowered her lashes and nodded. “I’ve been waiting all evening to be alone with you.”
Lucas cleared his throat and tossed cash on the table—more than enough to cover the meal, drinks, and a generous tip. Her innocent sexiness would be the death of him. “Come, lass. No need to keep you waiting when I’ve the same yearning.”
He looked forward to spending the rest of the evening in bed with this fascinating woman, exploring in detail every inch of her creamy, smooth skin. It would be refreshingly different being around her without someone trying to abduct or kill one or both of them.
“Your place or mine?” she asked.
“Which comes first?” Lucas wasn’t sure where they were in respect to their residences.
***
Laurel unlocked her door and told him to make himself at home while she turned the lights low. “Can I get you a drink?”
“If you’ve got any scotch, I serve myself.”
“It’s on the bar by the couch. Need ice or water? There’s a mini-fridge.” She pointed Lucas to the whiskey and glasses then turned the music to low and closed the plantation shutters on the window.
“Can I fix you something?” he asked, but when he turned around, his drink in hand, his mouth went dry.
Laurel swayed to the beat of the music, and shook her head. “No thanks, I’m feeling perfect. Enjoy yours.”
Oh, he’d enjoy more than the drink. He’d been hungry for her all night, and, now they were alone, he wanted to savor her, not rush, this time. His wolf had other ideas.
Lucas experienced the rumble of arousal surface as Laurel removed her weapons. She reached under her shirt and began with the small Beretta she carried in her bra holster. After a moment’s hesitation, she undid her bra, tossing both holster and bra on the side table, while he struggled to keep from attacking her.
To take his mind off lust, he asked, “Why arm yourself when you could shift and attack?”
“I only arm myself when humans are around. It’s not as if I can shift and attack when I’m in town in front of witnesses.” She continued to move with the music. “Besides I like human weapons.”
She lifted her skirt, and he practically swallowed his tongue when she exposed a little deadly knife in the seam of her barely there lace thong. She slowly removed the small blade, as if performing a striptease. He didn’t want to think about it. He savored every move, appreciating the effort she put into the seduction. This incredible gift was for his benefit. For all the times they’d been naked together, the erotic shedding of her defenses was more telling than the final removal of her clothing.
While he patiently waited for her to finish removing her weapons, he sipped his scotch and watched intently, aching with each passing second. She did a little wiggle as she placed the blade beside the semi-automatic on the oak end table.
“What? No electronics, tonight?” he asked. “I was certain you would find the new equipment Derek authorized irresistible.” Her entire face had brightened up when she’d been issued the new headset, body camera, and mic.
“I told Derek I was off duty tonight.” She glared at him.
“I’m a bit disappointed, lassie. I thought we could play with the body cam.” He teased her, thinking she’d blush, but she didn’t. Although her eyes widened, he believed she considered the scenario for a moment.
“I couldn’t. Maybe another time.” She was dead serious. “I’ll get my own personal set.”
God he loved her enthusiasm.
His patience waned. “Are you finished with the weapons?”
She paused as if considering where to go next. She had powers, gifts, and capabilities as a sensitive, and the strength of a wolf, but removing her traditional weapons were symbolic of Laurel accepting him. And it humbled him.
Her fingers fumbled with her shirt buttons.
“Wait. Save the rest for me.” He wanted to make this last.
After all these years, he didn’t think a woman could excite him like this, but weapon by weapon, the heat had whipped through him until he was as hard as he’d been as a wild young whelp. Now he wanted this woman to give herself to him body and soul with complete intent…for this life and all others. “You’ve granted me a mighty gift.” He imagined stripping off her clothes, one by one, until she was naked, truly naked.
“I haven’t given you anything…yet.” She glanced away, her eyes downcast.
“Trust. You’ve shown me trust. Until the packs strengthen, all the wolves remain in danger. You know you’re safe with me, don’t you, lass? I’ll never allow anything to happen to you.”
“I do, but you can’t be with me every second. And, eventually, you’ll leave—”
“Ah…perhaps something can be arranged.”
She raised her gaze to his and frowned. Skeptical? She had good reason.
He attempted his most pitiful look. Because, just like his sister, Laurel had been positive being a mate would hinder her freedom, not to mention, the discrepancy over her heritage. Until now. He’d have to prove she could survive their mating, and by her being a part of him, she would be freer.
“What about your family? Your pack?” she asked. “What will they think?”
Ack, then, it was the idea of his family holding her back. “This is my life to live. They want me to be happy.”
“I want you happy, too.” The music played on, the rhythm intoxicating as Laurel swayed.
Every place she moved, Lucas’s attention followed intently. He studied every nuance of her expressions. Erotic, sensual, needy. Setting his drink on the table, he walked up to her and scooped Laurel up.
She nuzzled his neck. “Thanks for saving me from myself.”
“Aye, no problem. Do you truly mean that, lass?” Lucas put her down and drew her into his embrace.
“I think I do. With you, anyway.”
Lucas’s phone beeped with a text message, and he tried to ignore it.
“Are you going to check that?”
“Aye. If not, I’m certain my sister will keep calling.” He removed it from his pants and glanced at the message then clicked the phone off. “Now, no more interruptions.”
He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes before his gaze lowered to her mouth. His lips traced her jaw, his breath on her skin. Then he brushed her lips with his.
Turning her in his arms, he embraced her from behind. He gripped her breast with one hand and cupped her mound with the other. Penetrating one finger between her thighs, he parted her folds until they both moaned. He inhaled sharply, moved his hands, and gripped her hips with a low growl.
“You’re wet.”
“Of course. Just being near you makes me wet.” If only he’d move his hand between her legs again. If only….Laurel’s skin felt as if she’d stood too close to a fire. The man should have known what he was doing to her.
Without warning, Lucas picked her up and placed her on the pass-through counter to her kitchen. He spread her legs, and lowered his head. His fingers parted her, and he kissed his way from the inside of one thigh to her clit. His tongue teased her opening, and his thumbs pressed firmly, massaging and stimulating the heat inside her to a frenzied point.
She couldn’t breathe. He nuzzled her, teased her, licked her then latched on to the swollen nub begging for his attention. He sucked until she whimpered his name.
“Lucas, please…please.”
This time Laurel understood what it was she asked of him, and thank god he knew what she needed without instruction.
Every nerve in her body tightened beneath his touch. His large, thick fingers, so talented, so deft picked up where his tongue left off, finding the exact spot, the magic spot that needed just the right amount of pressure to set her body free.
The explosion came and then the release. The waves of pleasure washed over her…over and over and over…until she collapsed against the countertop.
When she could breathe, when her heartbeat resumed to a normal pace, she opened her eyes and saw his satisfied expression, quickly followed with one she hadn’t expected…concern.
“Are you okay?”
“More than okay. But you—” She glanced at the bulge in his pants. Was there something she could do for him?
She heard a low rumble then noticed his face. The scruff looked as if it had grown an inch. Uh-oh. In a minute, he would be in the throes of an uncontrollable shift.
“My wolf recognized his mate in you,” he said, his words almost too guttural to understand. “You’re a miracle I never expected.”
“I’m hardly a miracle.” She released the stupid nervous giggle she hated so much.
“You’re my miracle.” He carried her to the bedroom. “That was Grace on the phone. The DNA report came back. You have enough dire blood to survive a mating.” He set her on the bed and kneeled before her.
“A full mating? Is that what you’re talking about? Human? Wolf? Both forms?”
“Aye. Forever. But equal,” he added quickly. “I know you want to keep your own mind, and I respect why you would.”
“So, does my dire blood mean I get to bite you and claim you first?”
Lucas slid between her knees and climbed on the bed, stripping off his clothes and ripping off what was left of hers on the way.
“Aye. I’m lookin’ forward to you claiming me, lass. You’ve a wonderful mouth.” He touched her lips.
“The better to…kiss you with, my dear.”
“You’ve a wonderful….”
She gasped at his touch. “The better to love you with….”
“Will you, then, lass?”
“Love you? Forever? Aye, laddie,” she teased. “My answer is yes.” Just then Laurel’s phone rang with Derek’s ring tone. “It’s Derek. Should I get it?”
“Your alpha? Aye. You may as well, or he’ll send someone for you. But, for the love of god, turn it off when you’re done. This mating will never take place at this rate.”
On the way into the living room, Laurel giggled at his impatience, listening to Derek’s message on the way back to the bedroom. “The team has a lead on Slater and Julie. He said if we want to join them, the team is assembling later tonight.”
“How much time does that give us?” Lucas checked his watch. “I’m not going to rush through this.”
Laurel plopped down on the bed and nudged Lucas over, curving into his body. “We have plenty of time to mate.”
“That’s what I love about you, lass. At least one of us is a romantic.”
“Oh, I’m a romantic. Just wait until you see how romantic I can be. I’ve read romance novels my whole adult life. I’ve got a million romantic ideas…and expectations.”
“So romance later?” Lucas flipped her to her back, pinned her to the bed with her wrists over her head, gripping both in his one hand, and growled. “My wolf is past ready for this mating. Are you ready, lass?”
On her back and helpless, she grinned and nodded. “Mine.” Laurel growled. She lifted her head, bared her teeth, and her fangs struck Lucas at the base of his neck.
He howled, released her hands, and turned her to her stomach, then entered her from behind. His fangs descended, and it was his turn to claim his mate…. “Mine.”
***
A few days later, the whole group of rogues had been arrested, but Slater and Julie still ran free. While Ty recuperated with Grace and CiCi in the Moonlight, Derek, Rand, and Lucas planned a way to draw out Slater.
“I’m ready if you are,” Laurel said.
“The team is assembling at the diner.” Lucas grabbed her keys and opened the front door.
Laurel’s hips swayed on the way to the truck. “I wouldn’t dream of missing the opportunity to announce our status to Julie when I apprehend her. You? You’ll get to argue with Ty about which of you has the bigger axe to grind with Slater.”
“Meanwhile, what remains of the Fort Myers pack has been abandoned and left without an alpha. But I may have a plan.”
“Someone will surely step up to take over.” Laurel stopped at the passenger door.
“Have you seen that motley crew? The pack needs fresh blood and a better working relationship with Moonlight.” He’d considered staying on and manning the position as alpha, but some questions remained. He wanted to pursue answers with Laurel before he’d risk her ire. Oh, what the hell. He’d risk it. “What about me?”
“You?” She frowned at him, and he could see the calculations going through her head.
“Ty would make a great enforcer, and you’re not ready to give up your career with the agency. It could work…if you want?”
“Of course, I do…if you do.” A sly grin spread across her face. “Oh, Julie is going to hate all this.”
Things might work out for all of them, and the Fort Myers pack, too, eventually. After considering his options, Lucas realized his answers had been with her all along.
“Let’s go arrest those two.”