Gerri woke with a big, warm body curled around her back. Memory was instant. Wen's hand cupped one of her breasts, his leg wedged between hers while they’d slept. The feeling that woke her was his stiff cock lightly tapping against her ass. She bit her lip and lifted her head off his other arm, which pillowed it.
One glance at the clock and she clenched her teeth. Her shift had started three hours before. Her boss would be pissed enough to fire her. She’d also lost her chance at getting laundry done.
“Go back to sleep or I will fuck you again,” Wen rasped, his husky voice sexy.
“I'm going to be sore,” she admitted, feeling tenderness between her legs. “Human, remember?”
He adjusted his body a little on the bed and nuzzled her shoulder with his face. The kiss he placed there was open-mouthed and he raked his teeth gently against her skin. “Sorry. We had a lot of time to make up for. I could bleed for you.”
“No.” She hated the way his offer had her stomach knotting.
“You can take my blood. That's safe and it will heal you.”
“Pass. I'd rather feel a little pain than be hornier than hell. I know it's going to make me feel higher than a kite and give me an adrenaline rush, since I’m not hurt. Mom clued me in.”
He chuckled. “That's not a bad thing.”
She dropped her head back against his arm and closed her eyes. It was time to change the subject. “I'm shocked my phone isn't ringing. My boss should have called me.”
“I turned your phone off after you fell asleep.”
Anger surged. “You what?”
“You don't need that job. You're working for me now. I also returned the key to the old woman after you fell asleep, so she'd never miss it. I braced your door too. You should always put those bars across it. Some asshole could have gotten in the same way I did.”
“Don't say that about the job thing when we're naked. It sounds obscene.”
His hand on her breast gently squeezed. “You're worth every penny.”
She jabbed him in his ribs with her elbow. “Not funny.”
He laughed. “Was that supposed to hurt? It kind of tickled. You're going to have to work harder at it.”
She wiggled and turned, facing him. He straightened his legs to allow it and rolled over onto his back. His hair was messy from sleep and his usually harsh expression was soft from him just waking up. The sight of him stretched out on her bed with the sheet low on his hips killed her urge to slap him. She reached out instead and ran her fingertips over the muscles along his stomach.
“I thought you didn't want me to fuck you.” His hand gripped hers, stopping her from caressing him.
“Couldn't you have a pot belly?”
He grinned. “No.”
She studied his chest and muscled arms. “You're beautiful.”
“Couldn't you use the term studly or handsome?”
Gerri grinned. “I said I'd never sleep with a guy prettier than me. You blew that one out of the water.”
He suddenly rolled, knocking her flat on her back and coming down over her. He pushed up with his arms, lifting his chest away from hers. He lowered his gaze and licked his lips. “You're the pretty one, G.L. All soft curves.” He looked into her eyes, a glint of humor showing in his gaze. “You are a tiny powerhouse of sex appeal.”
“Tiny powerhouse?”
He braced his weight with one arm to free the other. He gripped her hip with one hand. “You're short but you've got the best ass and breasts I've ever seen. Spread your legs.”
“Anyone is short compared to you. And I want to but I'm really sore, Wen. We did it four times last night and you weren't exactly gentle those last two.”
He opened his mouth and his fangs slid down.
Gerri's heart pounded. “What are you doing? Put the pointy teeth away.”
It stunned her when he made sure she could see him bite his tongue. It had to hurt. Blood welled on both sides of it and he lowered himself. “Open to me.” His gaze fixed on her mouth.
“No.”
He released her hip and gently stroked her side. It tickled and she laughed. Wen's mouth covered hers and he instantly deepened the kiss. The taste of his blood mingled on her tongue. She tried to turn her head but he reached up and captured her chin to hold her face steady. He was too good at it, and she started to kiss him back.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He adjusted his body, rising up a little. She spread her legs, knowing what he wanted when his stiff cock nudged her thigh. She was wet and ready as he slowly entered her. She moaned against his lips.
The blood worked fast. She'd forgotten about that. It made her a little lightheaded and disoriented, but Wen kept her anchored to reality as he started to move, thrusting his pelvis in slow rolls, sending pleasure humming through her body. She moaned again, kicking at the tangled sheets to free her trapped foot and wrap her legs higher around his ass. He was gentle though, almost sensing her need for tenderness.
He broke the kiss and she opened her eyes. His were open too, glowing blue. He leaned a little to one side and raised his hand, biting his index finger. Blood welled from the tip and he offered it to her. She opened her mouth, sucking on it. He growled.
“That's so sexy.” He tilted his head. “Give me your neck.”
She released his finger. “You can't bite me.”
He closed his eyes and stopped moving on her. “Fuck.”
She unwound her arms from around him and tried to ignore the other symptoms of taking his blood. Her skin seemed oversensitive and warmth spread throughout her body. She clutched his shoulders and closed her eyes. Every second that passed made her more aware of him and her own body.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I feel like I have a fever and it's spreading from my brain toward my feet. It’s like taking the opposite of a sleeping pill.”
He chuckled. “It's my blood hitting your bloodstream. It will pass in a minute or two. That's why I stopped. I'm waiting for you to recover.”
“I'm glad this amuses you. I don't remember this happening the last time you gave me blood when I was nine.”
“Don't remind me.” He lowered his face and nuzzled her check with his. “I was so terrified that you were going to die.”
She was certain she would too. An innocent stroll into the woods to sit by the stream had almost turned deadly. She hadn’t seen the bear until only about six feet separated them. It had turned around about the same instant she'd spotted it.
She froze, praying it wouldn't attack. One roar later and it lunged.
The rest was kind of a blur. She's screamed and sprinted for her life. There was no safe place to go. The tree branches offered no help since it could climb after her. She just hoped to reach the village and safety. It hadn't turned out that way. She wasn't fast enough and the bear had nailed her with its massive claws, throwing her off balance. Pain assured her she lived when she found herself sprawled on the ground, but then the bear had come at her again. She held still, more out of hurting too bad than being smart by playing dead.
That's when Wen had shown up. She didn’t see him at first but she heard his snarls. The bear roared and she managed to find the strength to lift her head. Wen had shifted to four legs and attacked the bear. He’d been much smaller, but a few well-placed swipes of his claws to the bear's face had it taking off in another direction.
Wen had shifted back and rushed to her side. He'd crouched down and she knew her injuries had to be bad, because he’d looked horrified. That's when some of the shock had worn off and she realized her side had been severely injured. She'd touched her ribs and her hand had come away covered in blood where it hurt the most. It had been a mistake to twist her head to get a look at what damage had been done. The bear's claws had torn through her shirt, ripping into her.
“G.L.!” The panic in his voice had been clear.
“Get help.” It was all she could think to say.
He looked up. “It could come back. I'm not leaving you.” He savagely bit into his arm and grabbed the back of her head. “Drink.”
“It's against the law!”
“I don't care. Drink. I'm not letting you die.” He shoved his arm against her lips, coating her lower face with his blood.
She'd been scared enough to swallow when it became hard to breathe. The bear had probably punctured her lung on that side. It had been gross to drink blood, it almost threatening to make her throw up, but she was desperate to survive.
Wen had finally pulled his arm away from her mouth and then tore the rest of her shirt to see the damage. He'd hovered his still dripping arm above her torn skin so his blood fell onto her wound.
He'd held her for a bit until she felt better, then scooped her up into his arms to run her back to the village. All hell had broken loose when they’d arrived. Her mother had cried when she'd seen all the blood but her injuries were healing. Wen's father had grabbed his arm and dragged him away from her. She'd heard him yelling at Wen for bleeding for a human.
Her stepdad had promised to speak to the clan leader on Wen's behalf. Trayis had understood why Wen had saved her and hadn't whipped him for breaking the rules, but his father hadn’t been as forgiving. Wen had suffered a week locked inside his room by his parents. It was a horrible punishment for a boy used to freedom. He'd assured her it was worth it, seeing her healed, and she hadn’t even been left scarred.
Wen pulled her from her memories by running his fingertips over her ribs, letting her know he remembered too. “Does it ever hurt?”
“No. You totally healed it with your blood.”
“You never listened to me. I told you to not go wandering around the woods without me by your side.”
“I never did that again. Almost becoming a bear's breakfast wised me up.”
He locked gazes with her. “How many times have you been hurt without me there to heal you?”
“A few.”
He gripped her wrist, lifting her arm. “I noticed this scar. How did you get it?”
She glanced at the jagged, thin line on her forearm. “I told you I didn't want to stick with the pack my mom joined up with. That happened after I used pepper spray on one of the guys who decided not to take no for an answer, when he wanted me to bend over for him.”
Wen's mouth flattened into an angry line. “Where is this pack?”
“Sacramento. Forget it. I have.”
“Did any of them ever force you?”
“I was too smart and paranoid. Only one of them ever got me alone. He nailed me when he blindly lashed out with his claws after I’d sprayed him in the face, but it was only once. I was out of there before he could see again and I smashed a perfume bottle I kept in my purse, this real horrible shit, to confuse his nose and prevent him from tracking me while blind.”
“What did Carol do?”
“Told me not to cause trouble. That's the day I packed up and left. She was more pissed that I'd upset her boyfriend than the fact that I was sporting a big bandage on my arm and was almost forced into being a pack bitch.”
“What the hell happened to her? She used to be so protective of you.”
“Losing her mate changed her. I told you that. She drank booze at first and had a hard time adjusting to life in the outside world. I'm pretty sure she was doing drugs too. She denied it, but yeah, she seemed high most of the time. She liked the alpha. I thought he was a pure asshole, and I had no respect for a guy who encouraged his girlfriend to fuck his pack.”
“I can't imagine. I would shred any guy who put the moves on you.”
“Well, VampLycans are possessive and you all have a god complex.”
He grinned. “You called me a god a few times last night.”
“I said ‘Oh God’.”
He chuckled. “You're feeling better.” He moved his hips, slowing fucking her in shallow thrusts.
Gerri forgot about everything but the feel of him. She moaned and reached up, sliding her fingers into the hair at the base of his neck. She tugged and he lowered his mouth to hers. She kissed him. The pleasure mounted as he continued to ride her slow and steady until she climaxed. He pulled his mouth away and turned his head, hiding his expression from her when he came. They both stilled, Wen pinning her under him and Gerri clinging to him.
“Are you okay?” She was concerned when his head stayed tucked against his shoulder.
“Yes.” His voice came out too gruff but she didn't feel any hair on the skin she caressed. He'd stayed in control.
“It's getting tougher not to bite me, isn't it?”
He looked at her then, and his eye color had changed to pure black. She was staring at his inner beast. It didn't frighten her. It was still Wen. She reached up and caressed his cheek. “Take some deep breaths. You're going to hurt yourself. You can't go that far over the line and stay in your skin. Do you need to shift?”
He gave a sharp nod.
“Ease out of me first because that would freak me out.”
He withdrew his softening dick and rolled away from her. He was furry by the time he hit the floor on all fours. Gerri climbed out of bed and studied him.
“Damn. You're so much bigger now than you used to be.” She put on a nightshirt.
He tracked her with his intense dark stare. She approached and ran her fingers through his fur. VampLycans in shift didn't look like wolves. They had a more human shape and the fur wasn't as thick. His limbs and shoulders were muscular, even in shifted form. She moved in front of him and crouched near his face, gently rubbing his muzzle. He curled his upper lip, flashing a row of sharp teeth instead of just two fangs.
“You're not pretty anymore.” She fearlessly glided her hand over his extended snout to the side of his face and then scratched behind his ears. “Is this still your favorite spot?”
He dipped his head, allowing it.
She smiled. “You're still a puppy at times, aren't you?”
He growled and looked at her.
She met his stare and let him go, rising. “Stay off my bed. I remember how you can shed. I'm going to go make us breakfast. I just hope I have enough food. I bet you eat twice as much as you used to, and that was about six times more than I did back then.”
He followed her into the kitchen and sprawled out on the vinyl tile near her dishwasher. The sight of her cell phone sitting on the counter reminded her that Wen must have gone inside her purse to find it. She picked it up and ran her thumb across the screen to turn it on. Six messages waited. She grimaced, identifying the same number displayed over and over. Each one had been from Robert, her boss.
“I'm so fired.” She set it down and yanked open the fridge. “I haven't gone shopping so I hope you don't mind eggs and toast.”
He growled low.
“I don't have bacon or ham. Sorry. I was waiting to get paid before I restocked the fridge. There are some hot dogs if you want meat.”
He turned his face away.
She laughed. “You're such a snob. You should have brought groceries and a cook if you don't want to eat what’s here or what I'm willing to make.”
She went to work quickly, scrambling eggs and making half a loaf of buttered toast. It wasn't the best breakfast to offer a guy who could take down a large animal for a meal, but it would have to do. She loaded up his plate and set it on the table. He lifted his head, peering at her with those seemingly soulless dark eyes.
Her neighbors would scream in terror if they saw him. He wasn't cuddly or cute. The Vampire blood had mutated the Lycan in him, so shifted VampLycans looked more like hellish beasts with their more humanoid forms.
He rose up and tilted his head a little, staring at her in a way that conveyed his curiosity. Some emotion must have shown in her face.
“Do you want me to set the plate on the floor or can you shift back?”
He closed his eyes and she watched him start to change. The soft noises as bones shifted and popped had her wincing but she'd grown up with seeing shifters do their thing. The hair receded to smooth, tan skin, and one handsome guy emerged when he stood.
“Thank you. Why were you looking at me with a smirk on your face? I wasn't going to mess up your floor by getting food all over it.”
“That wasn't it. I was just thinking about how fierce you look in shifted form. I'd forgotten.”
He walked past her and entered her bedroom. She frowned. “The food is in here.”
He returned in less than a minute with a towel wrapped around his waist. “I really should have brought a spare set of clothes with me when I visited you. I don't want to put on my pants and nothing of yours will fit me.” He took a seat at the table. “This smells great. I'd kill for a steak though.”
“Me too. It's not in my budget often.”
He grimly regarded her and then glanced around her apartment. “I can tell.”
“Don't insult my place.”
“It's a dive.” He held her gaze.
“It's affordable and it comes with bars over the windows. They don't have those in nice neighborhoods. The building is old too, and built more solid. New construction isn’t as sturdy. These walls aren’t as easy to tear through from one apartment into the next. I checked, and they have beams set apart every few feet. Some newer places build with cheap framing and only insulation between the walls.”
“How do you know this?”
“Stud finders help me locate the beams behind the walls.” She shrugged. “I use technology to help protect myself since I’m only human.”
“Graves never told me how bad things were for you when he sent me reports.”
“Who’s Graves?”
“The Lycan I had checking on you from time to time. He's a relative of mine. My mom keeps in touch with some of her mother's people.”
“Great. I take it that you trust him somewhat, since he probably knows I'm someone he could use against you if the need arises. You showed an interest in a human.”
He frowned. “I've worked a lot with him and his brother Micah in the past, when I had to leave Alaska. They are both good guys. I knew neither of them would hurt you or tell anyone I keep tabs on you. They’re family, and they honor the loyalty that goes with that.” He glanced around the apartment again. “I wish Graves had told me you were struggling. I would have sent you money.”
“It's kind of tough to get a decent-paying job in the human world when you come from a clan. I was taken to Alaska when I was almost a year old and didn't leave until I was fifteen. There were no records of my life during that time, and let's just say I never did the high school thing. Mom couldn't get me registered. Getting a driver’s license was a bitch and a half. Mom told them I was homeschooled and we'd grown up in a hippie type community. She still had my birth certificate though, so we managed. Every employer asks for a high school diploma, which I don't have. It means shit jobs no one else wants. They just require a pulse and you showing up on time.”
“You barely have any food.”
“I was waiting for payday. I said that, didn't I? This is a short week. I just paid my rent. Look at me. I don't starve. I'm just not eating steak every night.”
His eyes narrowed as he silently watched her.
“What? I do the best I can. I have my own place. I used to have a roommate when I first left my mom. That sucked. Try living with a stranger just to be able to afford the rent. She brought strange men home sometimes. I was always afraid one of them wouldn’t be human. I’m doing way better now.”
“Your furniture is old and doesn't match.”
“So? You were just shedding hair on my floor.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Don't be a snob, Wen. That's what I'm saying. I don't look down on you for having a snout sometimes, so don't lift your nose over my home.”
“I just hate that you struggle.”
“Welcome to my world.” She shoved her fork into the eggs and took a bite. “When does our adventure into getting me killed start?”
He scowled. “Today. I'm not going to let anything happen to you.”
“Fantastic.” She managed to not roll her eyes. “Where?”
“Washington state.”
“That's a drive.”
“We're flying. I brought a plane with me.”
“You fly now? You got a pilot's license?”
“No. Micah has one and he's with me. It's his plane.”
She glanced at the curtained window. “He's outside? You left him out there all night?”
“No. Of course not. We booked rooms at a hotel a few miles from here.”
“What time do we leave?”
“As soon as we finish eating and showering. You'll need to pack light. We're supposed to be on the run with enforcers searching for us. Do you have a backpack?”
“Yes. So this Micah is our backup? That's good to know we're not going in alone.”
“It's just going to be you and me. He's only flying us there. I want him clear of danger once we reach where it was reported the rogues hang out.”
“Ah. He's family. Got it.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You're taking me into this mess but keeping his ass safe.”
“I'd never let anything happen to you.”
“How many rogue Weres are there supposed to be protecting this ghoul maker jerk?”
“About a dozen. Horton keeps a few of his nest with him too. He became the master since his died. I was told he’s leading less than four Vamps at most, at any given time.”
“This ghoul maker is named Horton? No wonder he’s an ass. I would be too with that kind of name. Is your intel good?”
“Yes.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Micah and Graves trust their sources.”
“Only a dozen rogue Lycans, plus a few Vamps.” She chewed on a piece of toast. “Simple, right?” She hoped he heard her sarcasm.
“I can protect you.”
“Who’s going to protect you? You're one against bad odds. I know you’ve been trained to fight since you could walk, but give me a break.”
“They'll want to gain information from me, and that means they'll need leverage.”
She almost choked, and had to fight to swallow the food in her mouth. She glared at him. “Me. I knew I was bait.”
“Leverage,” he corrected. “They won't hurt you because they'd have nothing to use against me otherwise.”
“You mean they won't kill me.” She had a bad feeling. “I'm going to be a Vamp snack, aren't I? Damn it, Wen!”
He snarled and his eyes turned black. “I'll rip out their goddamn fangs if they even think about biting you.” He slammed his fist down on the table. “You think I'd allow it?”
She dropped her gaze and winced. The cheap tabletop had split and dented inward. “Can you avoid breaking my stuff?”
He glanced down. “Sorry. They'll keep their fangs out of you and their hands off. I just meant that they'll know you're my vulnerable spot to get me to talk to them. They'll want intel on VampLycans since they obviously want to start a war. They'll keep it friendly, so I don't foresee you being in any real danger.”
“You're going to feed this Horton bullshit.”
“Yes. I’ll wait for the first opportunity to kill him after I’ve figured out what he’s done and who’s involved with him.”
“When the Vamps are sleeping?”
He nodded again. “It should be easy. I doubt most of those Lycans stick around all day to guard this asshole.”
“Right. You said he was now a master. He'd already be dead if he was stupid. He managed to survive before when you said his nest was taken out. I think you're sorely underestimating this zombie maker, and it's a bad move.”
“We'll learn the full scope of the situation once we get there.”
“Right.” She lost her appetite. “Oh boy. How exciting. We're going in blind and with low expectations. This is totally going to turn out great.”
Wen arched an eyebrow and frowned.
“Damn VampLycans and their egos. Let me clue you in, honeybun. This isn't going to be a picnic without ants. These are freakin' Vampires and Weres who want to go to war with your kind. They aren't harmless or stupid. Rogues are crazy and logic doesn't fit into their daily lives. You underestimating them is going to get us both killed.”
“Honeybun?” He appeared amused.
“That's the only thing I just said that you focused on? Come on, Wen. This isn't a game. If it turns to shit, you can take off but I can't run as fast as you do. I'd only slow you down, so my ass is going to be dinner or a chew toy. They'll catch me.”
“You think I'd abandon you?”
She closed her eyes and lowered her chin. “You did before.”
Wen slowly stood and unclenched his fists. “I couldn't stop your mother from leaving. We've been over this.”
“I just think you're not giving this zombie maker creep enough credit. These guys are dangerous. You do have an ego problem. You think nobody can ever get the best of you but you need to see that this isn't some game.”
He approached her and the urge to pull her into his arms almost overpowered him. He resisted. “I do know. I lost my brother. He was killed on the job.”
She peered up at him. One of her eyebrows arched in question.
“I was attempting to underplay the risks so you'd feel safer.”
“I know the truth, Wen.” She reached out and placed her palm on his chest. “That's why you came to me. Rogues are nuts and don't live by any kind of rules. They are killers. It's why they need to be taken out. You're hoping for the best but we need to be prepared for the worst. You want me to feel better? Take this more seriously and stop trying to make it sound as if it's going to be a breeze.”
“Okay.” He admired her for her courage. He always had. “I honestly don't think you're going to be in that much danger or I wouldn't take you along. They'll want to use you against me. They'll see you as my weakness but we both know otherwise. You're the one they'll underestimate, Gerri. You're smart and resourceful. I taught you how to fight. You're not helpless. You said you killed a Vamp who came after you. How many humans can claim they’ve done that other than those who’ve stumbled across a Vamp while it was day sleeping? You took him out when he was awake and coming after you. There's a huge difference.”
“I knew what he was and how to kill him.”
“Exactly. You fought back. You always impressed me when I trained you. You use your smaller size as an advantage. They won't see you as a threat. You're my backup. It won't be me alone against them.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Go shower and pack light. Bring warmer clothes. The forecast is cloudy and some rain where we're going. I checked the weather.”
“Aren't you going to shower with me?”
He glanced down her body. “If I do, I'll fuck you again. We need to get going. Micah is expecting to hear from me. I'll shower after you're done.”
“Okay. I’ll do that now and braid my hair.”
“Leave it down.”
“It’s a pain in the ass if I don’t braid it.”
“I like it down.”
She sighed. “It’ll become a tangled mess.”
“You had it down yesterday.”
“Because I was running late.”
“Leave it down, G.L.”
“Whatever.”
She left him and entered her bedroom. He waited until the water came on before he went in search of his cell phone. He pulled it out of his pants pocket.
“It's about time,” Micah announced. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Get the plane ready. I’ll meet you there in about half an hour. I'm with Gerri and she's agreed to help us.” He hung up before Micah could ask more questions.
Was he going to get Gerri killed? He stared at the open bathroom door, listening to her splash around in the shower.
He clenched his jaw. He'd do anything to keep her safe. Part of him was tempted to just leave her there.
He glanced around her bedroom and anger rose. She lived with bars over her windows in a neighborhood that reeked of Vamps. He'd smelled them the night before when he'd entered the area. She wasn't safe if he left her, either. It would be better if he kept her by his side.
Wen had to admit he might have come to that conclusion for purely selfish reasons. He wanted to spend every second he could with her. It was the first time in years that he'd truly felt alive.