Gerri glanced around the chain restaurant. “I’m shocked they let us leave.”
“We have eyes on us,” he muttered, glancing around. “Two Lycans just entered. They followed us all the way here.”
“I figured.”
The waiter dropped off their food and Gerri dug in, starving. She swallowed her mouthful and then caught Wen’s eye. “Can they hear us?” She mouthed the words.
He smiled. “You look lovely tonight, sweetheart.”
She’d take that for a yes. “Thank you for the meal.”
“It’s my honor to care for my mate.”
She really wished that title actually belonged to her.
Hunger kept her focused on the food in front of her, so their lack of conversation for the next twenty minutes wasn’t a problem. They didn’t dare eat anything in the apartment or whatever the pack brought them. She knew the only reason they’d been allowed to leave was because Wen had argued with Joel. He’d been blunt. He wouldn’t risk them being drugged. He’d demanded they be allowed to leave to get their own food.
Wen paid the bill and they left. Two men along the counter rose to their feet. She glanced at them. They were muscular, rough-looking thugs, and she didn’t need a special sense of smell to tell her those were the two Lycans.
Wen kept hold of her hand as they returned to the building. The sun had gone down while they ate. It wasn’t a surprise when they entered the front door to find Horton and one of his Vamps waiting.
“In my office, now,” Horton snapped.
She allowed Wen to maneuver her to keep his body between her and the others. He seated her and took the chair next to her.
Horton dropped into his chair behind the desk, glaring at Wen. “You have a problem with my hospitality?”
“I was raised with Decker. I don’t trust anyone. It’s safer that way.”
Horton frowned. “Why do you say that?”
“Decker would give bad food to his so-called guests to sicken and weaken them. I’d be easier to handle if you did the same. I can survive almost anything you feed me but my mate can’t. That’s why I insisted we be allowed to go out before dusk. Lycans can’t control the minds of humans in the eating establishment we just visited.”
Horton visibly relaxed. “You’re a paranoid bastard.”
“It’s why we’re still alive.”
“I can respect that. You aren’t stupid, are you?”
Wen growled. “No. I’m not.”
“Fine. I told Joel to allow you to eat wherever you want. You’ll have guards. To keep you safe, of course.”
Wen arched his eyebrows. “If you say so.”
“I don’t control all the Werewolves in this city. We’re now friends. I want to keep you and your mate safe.”
Gerri watched the two men, keeping her mouth shut. Horton was a manipulative creep. He hadn’t ordered Joel to let them go. He’d been sleeping when they’d left, but she noticed how he’d worded that to make it sound as if he’d had a say in the matter. Those Lycans weren’t following them for their safety either. They were being watched.
She wondered what Horton’s next move would be. It didn’t take long to find out.
“Did you think about what I asked? I need to know how to get Decker’s enforcers to turn against him. Tell me how to do that.”
“Tell me where I can live with my mate without fear of Lycans or Vamps attacking her,” Wen countered.
Horton scowled. “I’m making you a list of areas in the United States where there are no nests or reported packs. It takes time. You have the answers I need now. Tell me what I want to know.”
“Give me money then. Something in exchange.” Wen let his fingernails grow into claws. “So far, all you’ve given us is a place to stay. I could have provided that for my mate without you.”
Horton hissed and Gerri tensed in her chair, half expecting the crazy Vamp to lunge over his desk at Wen. Instead, the Vamp seemed to calm down after a few seconds. She relaxed too.
“Fine.” Horton bent down and opened a desk drawer. He tossed a package to Wen.
Wen caught it, opened the flap, and peered inside. He frowned, glaring at the nest master. “This can’t be more than a few thousand dollars.”
“Call it a down payment. There’s plenty more where that came from.”
Wen passed it over to Gerri to hold but he kept his attention on the Vamp. “Decker is paranoid and doesn’t trust anyone, even his own enforcers. Is there any way you can get Vamps who are near his enforcers to do things for you?”
Horton nodded. “Yes.”
“Have them talk to Decker’s enforcers about something stupid and innocent, like the weather, but have them do it where Decker can see them together yet not hear what’s being said. He’ll ask his enforcers what they were talking about. He won’t believe their answer, instead he’ll assume Vamps are trying to sway his enforcers away from him.”
Gerri caught on faster than Horton, and added, “Decker will think his enforcers are lying to him. Why would Vamps approach his men just to say it’s a beautiful night? He’s too paranoid and won’t believe it’s that innocent.”
Wen flashed her a smile. “He’ll think they’re becoming disloyal and try to kill them.” He stared at Horton. “It’s what he does.”
“That sounds too simple.” Horton didn’t look convinced.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Wen murmured. “What would happen if you saw your Lycan pack talking to another master a few times and they told you the discussion was about the weather?”
Anger glinted in Horton’s eyes. “They are betraying bastards. That wouldn’t be the case.”
“See? Decker thinks that way about everyone, including his own. It’s the only reason he survived being clan leader for as long as he did.”
“It’s a good plan because it’s so simple,” Gerri stated.
Horton narrowed his gaze at her. “I didn’t ask you.”
She sealed her lips. He didn’t like humans. Message received.
“Don’t speak to my mate with that tone.” Wen stood and snarled at Horton. “We’re going upstairs.” He held out his hand.
Gerri took it and they left the office. The Lycans and Vamps waiting outside allowed them passage to the stairs. They didn’t speak until they were back inside the apartment and Wen had checked out the space to make sure no one had been inside while they’d been gone. She stashed the money in her backpack, not wanting to leave it laying around for someone to steal. Wen returned to her.
He pulled her into a tight hug. “Soon,” he whispered.
“You want to see if he can actually do damage to Decker. I get it. It would be nice if they all turned on each other.” She smiled and rubbed her cheek against his.
“I’m also curious about where he’ll finally say we should go. As if there’s such a place that anyone could ever be safe from VampLycans.” He gripped her arms and pulled her away from him, a smile on his lips. “The North Pole?”
“I like Santa, and I bet elves are cute. I’d so live there with you. We could get jobs making toys.”
He suddenly lifted her off her feet, striding forward until her back bumped against the wall, and took possession of her mouth. She gasped and his tongue delved between her lips. His kiss left her breathless and instantly turned her on. He had that effect on her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged his waist with her spread thighs.
He shifted his hips, rubbing his stiff cock trapped inside his pants against the center seam of her jeans. She moaned against his tongue as he tormented her clit. She resented their clothing, wishing they were naked and he was inside her.
He suddenly broke the kiss, his eyes glowing when she stared into them.
“I want you,” she admitted.
“It’s such a bad idea. We need to stop.” Frustration showed on his handsome face and his eye color darkened to black.
“Easy, honeybun.” She knew that endearment had amused him before and she needed him to calm a bit. It really could hurt him to go that far over into his Lycan side without shifting. “Why can’t we do this? We can be quiet.”
“Because there are two dozen Lycans in this fucking place and you smell incredible when you’re turned on. They’d pick up the scent no matter how quiet we are. It would make some of them hornier than shit and they’d break in here to try to get at you. I’d fucking kill them, and we don’t want a bloodbath yet.”
“Shower.” She jerked her head toward the bathroom. “We can shove our clothes against the bottom of the door. There’s a fan in there. We can lock our scent in that one room. And I saw chemicals under the sink.”
His eyes glowed again. “You’re so smart.” He kept hold of her and carried her into the bathroom, using his foot to kick it closed. Then he put her down. “Strip.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. She bent, tore off her shoes, and worked on her pants next. He disrobed faster than she did and shoved his clothes against the bottom of the door. He bent over, yanking open the cupboard under the sink, and brought out a spray bottle of shower cleaner, resting it on the counter.
Gerri loved the sight of his beefy bare ass. He had the best body. All muscles and sexy skin. He stepped around her, turning on the water as she finished undressing. She thought they’d go into the shower but Wen had other ideas as he gripped her hips. She got ahold of his biceps and then he lifted her off her feet. Her back hit the bathroom door, his mouth on hers a second later.
She wrapped around him, clinging to him as he kissed her. It had been hell to sleep next to him without being able to do more than cuddle. Their time was short and she wanted him. The sex was incredible, and the memories would have to last her a lifetime.
He entered her in one fast thrust. She gasped, tearing her mouth from his. He was big, she’d been ready, but it still came as a surprise.
“Sorry,” he groaned, burying his face against her throat to leave wet, hungry kisses along her skin. “Fuck, G.L. Did I hurt you? You’re so damn tight and small.”
“No. Next time go a little slower on the entry.”
He chuckled. “You are very wet.”
“No shit. You make me that way. Move. I’m ready.”
He rolled his hips, pinning her tighter against the door. She ran her hands up his arms to get a firm grip on his shoulder with one hand, wrapping her other arm around his neck. He withdrew a little, then thrust up. Gerri moaned his name.
“Shush,” he growled. “We don’t want them to hear you.”
Right. She forgot everything when Wen was inside her. She lowered her face and pressed it against the top of his shoulder. He fucked her hard. The door creaked a little but she managed to smother the sounds she was making. He moved faster, angled his hips to drive up into her a little deeper, and she was lost. The climax built until it tore through her and she wanted to scream. She bit him instead, sinking her teeth into his skin along the top of his shoulder.
“Fuck,” he snarled, tearing his mouth away from her. His body grew rigid and he groaned, coming hard enough that he shook against her.
They clung to each other as they caught their breath and Gerri released his skin, lifted her head a little and smiled at where she’d bitten him. No blood showed but he would probably have a bruise for an hour or so. Her teeth had dug into his skin enough to leave marks.
Her amusement quickly died when Wen lifted his head and stared at her. His pupils and irises were the same black color.
“You need to shift.”
He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, and gently pulled his cock out of her. Gerri hated it when he lowered her to the floor and forced her to release him. He spun away, entering the running shower.
She leaned against the door and knew she’d fucked up.
Wen fought for control as the hot water ran over his head, down his body. He could shift but he didn’t want to give that part of himself control right now. The urge to bite Gerri, to mate her, to taste her fucking blood and make her take his, was so strong it left him quaking on his legs.
He heard her approach, probably to join him in the tight space. “Don’t.”
She didn’t touch him. “I’m sorry. I’ll go in the other room.”
“Don’t you dare. Just give me a minute.”
“Right. Scent.”
“We have to wash first, then spray the room before we open that door. I won’t have those bastards coming after you.” He clenched his fists, blinding rage hitting him so strongly his heart pounded. The thought of any other man even wanting to touch her made him want to kill.
“I’m so sorry, Wen. I didn’t think about it when I bit you. I just wanted to muffle the sounds.”
“I know.” He sucked in air, held it in lungs, and blew it out. He repeated that for a good minute or so. “This isn’t your fault. I’m the one who can’t bite.”
“Is the urge just as strong?”
He debated on telling her the truth.
“I’ll take that for a yes. I’m sorry. I won’t bite you again.”
He hated his life in that moment. His parents. Hell, even Gerbin. How in the hell had he allowed himself to be killed by the nest he was tracking? His brother should have been more careful. Then Wen would be free to mate G.L. He’d have gone after her when she’d turned eighteen. He tortured himself by mentally going there. They’d have kids by now, since he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Just the image he created in his mind of her belly swollen with his child had him longing for that possibility. He wanted it so bad.
“Shift,” she urged. “Do it. You’re too far over the line.”
Maybe it was for the best. He wouldn’t try to fuck her in fur. He bowed his body and, while the space was tight, the hot water distracted him as his bones popped, the fur coming out, and he dropped to all fours.
He finally raised his head when it was over, looking at her. She stood naked next to the shower, watching him with tears in her eyes. He was causing her pain somehow. He regretted involving her in this because of it. It had been selfish to pull her into his life just because he hadn’t been able to stay away. His weakness to see her, his inability to stay away, had brought them to this point.
She entered the shower stall and closed the door. “It’s okay, baby.” She reached for the shampoo. “I’ll wash you.”
He pressed his body against the side of the tile.
She frowned. “Okay. I won’t. No touching? That’s going to be hard. Damn, city showers are cramped, aren’t they?”
She used the white liquid she’d dumped into her hand to rub against her skin, even down to her sex, to wash away what they’d just done. He maneuvered to give her a little space. She ducked her head under the water. He couldn’t keep his gaze off her. She was his. He knew it, felt it, and it went against everything inside him to resist the urge to shift back, fuck her again, and exchange blood to bond her to him.
He had to close his eyes finally when she started washing her long hair. It was torture, since he wanted to be the one doing it. It helped that he was in fur though. He managed to turn in the shower so his tail was the only thing brushing up against her body. A gob of something hit his tail and he flicked it. She gasped.
“Watch where that goes.”
He turned his head and opened his eyes, amused finally. She gave him what she probably thought was a dirty look but it was cute as hell. He flicked his tail again, slapping against her thighs.
She spun, presenting him with her ass. “Don’t even think about it.”
He was tempted to slap her ass but kept his tail still. She finished with her hair and got out of the shower, then faced him as she dried off. “You ready to shift back yet or do you need more time.”
He hunched over, closing his eyes. When he was done, he straightened on two legs. “Spray the room while I wash my hair.”
“You’re going to hate it.”
“Better than having to fight Lycans with hard-ons if they catch the scent of sex.”
“True enough.” She closed the shower door and the false scent of pine filled the room. He grimaced, breathing through his mouth. “How the fuck can humans stand that shit?”
She laughed. “Most city people have never been in a forest to know the difference and we don’t have super-sensitive noses. Snob.”
He growled low and finished his shower. Gerri was dressed, minus her shoes, when he opened the door to grab a towel. He noticed the way her gaze slid down his body.
She gave him her back. “I’ll wait in the other room.”
“Don’t go far and leave the door open.”
“Trust me. I’m not going to make it easy for someone to attack me while you’re getting dressed.”
She was smart. His G.L. always had been. She went out of his sight but did as he’d asked, leaving the door wide open. He caught glimpses of her as he put on his clothes. She seemed to be distracting herself by cleaning up. Regret surfaced once more. She’d be home safe if it wasn’t for him. He faced the steamy mirror and used his palm to wipe it, noticing right away the redness of his skin along the top of his shoulder. He leaned in, hating for once how quickly he healed. The mark she’d put on him had almost completely faded.
It caused his chest to ache. He wanted her to scar him, wanted her teeth to break his skin. “Fuck.”
“You okay?” She came to the doorway, peering up at him.
He forced a smile. “I’m hungry.” It just wasn’t for food. He wanted his mate.
“I guess we’ll be going out again.”
“No. We’re in for the night. I don’t want to distract Horton.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He watched her walk away, and then left the bathroom, flipping off the light. God damn his parents and their old-fashioned ways.