“I’ll forever associate showers with mind-numbing, earth-shattering sex from now on.” Lavinia sighed against Adrian’s chest. Only his arms around her waist held her upright because she could barely feel her legs. The rest of her body, though, was a different matter. Her breasts were heavy and sensitive, and she felt the most pleasurable tingle between her legs.

Adrian’s deep chuckle echoed in her ear. “What about breakfast? If I recall correctly, our last feeding was as mind-numbing and earth-shattering, as you so colorfully put it.”

“And lunch and dinner, too. I’m afraid there won’t be any eating that’s just eating with you,” Lavinia said, her blood warming up at the mere mentioning of feeding. “No ordinary life for me any longer,” she teased.

“I’m sorry, my love,” he said without sounding sorry in the least. “But nobody has ever accused me of being ordinary.”

“No, definitely not. You are a lot of things, but ordinary isn’t one of them,” Lavinia conceded. “You are elegant, sophisticated, worldly, handsome. You are every woman’s dream.”

“I am only yours.” Adrian took her mouth and made her forget what she was going to say next.

Several minutes later, he led her out of the shower and took his time to dry her with soft, lavender-scented towels. He then brushed her hair with gentle strokes, massaging her head until she arched against him, ready to purr her contentment.

“Please, let me dress you,” he said when she went into the closet for a fresh change of clothes. The tenderness in his voice and gestures melted her heart.

Noises from downstairs reminded Lavinia that they weren’t alone in the house. Rising on tiptoes, she kissed him. “I think the werewolf is awake.”

With a smile, he sighed. “Time to get back to reality.”

Lane and the Special Unit waited for them in the kitchen. A great ruckus came from inside the pantry. Three of the men had their rifles aimed at the fridge as the heavy appliance shook and rocked.

“He’s been at it for a few minutes,” Lane said. “I’m almost tempted to let him dig his way out of there to see his face when he meets the rifle’s muzzle.”

As much as Lavinia liked the idea of letting the werewolf tire himself, she wanted everyone out of the way even more. “I need to ask him a few questions.”

“You heard my bloodmate,” Adrian said, pointing at the fridge.

The detective commanded two of the men to remove the fridge Adrian had dragged all by himself. As soon as the trapdoor was free, the panel exploded in a shower of wooden splinters. The werewolf jumped out, and one of the Special Unit men shot him with a dart. The big man slumped against the back of the fridge, almost falling again into the chamber.

At Lavinia’s frown, Lane pointed at the full moon still high in the sky and said, “Just a sedative to keep him calm.” He turned to the werewolf. “We are going to ask you a few questions.”

The scarred werewolf looked at him with an unfocused gaze.

“And you better answer them loud and clear before I lose my patience and let the Directive Special Unit have its way with you,” he finished.

“Bring it on,” the werewolf spat with a grin.

Lane didn’t waste any time. “Move him into the kitchen,” he commanded two of his men, who grabbed the Caliban wolf and threw him against the wall.

A moment later, the two men picked him up again and pinned him to the table.

“Who are you?” Lane asked.

The werewolf didn’t answer. Instead, he spat in the detective’s direction.

A third Special Unit agent came forward and hit the werewolf in the face with the butt of his rifle.

“Is this the worst you can do?” the werewolf asked, laughing as blood drooled from his broken lip. One bloody tooth fell to the table.

“Let’s try again,” Lane said. “Who are you?”

Shrugging, the werewolf answered, “Raimondo Berlizzi.”

A few more questions from the detective went unanswered, prompting the agent to hit the werewolf again.

Lavinia? Adrian asked, stroking her arm. Do you still want to be present for this?

No, I don’t, she answered truthfully. But I have a few questions to ask him and don’t want to wait. Out loud, she said, “Detective Lane, let me talk to him.”

Lane nodded. “Of course.” He signaled for the man who was pummeling the werewolf’s face to stop. “It’s all yours,” he said to Lavinia.

As she stepped forward, Adrian moved with her, his arm protectively around her shoulder.

“What do you want with me?” Lavinia asked the scarred man.

“Answer the lady,” Lane said.

“The lady—the whore you mean.” Berlizzi’s cackle was interrupted by Adrian’s fist.

He had moved so fast, Lavinia never noticed he’d left her side.

“You show some respect to my bloodmate, or I swear I’ll kill you,” Adrian said in between punches.

“Adrian,” Lane called a moment later. “Leave something for us to work on, please.”

Adrian stopped and grabbed the werewolf by his hair. “You heard my bloodmate. Now talk.”

Hatred filled Berlizzi’s gaze, but he finally answered, “Alpha Rainier has been looking for that bitch—”

Adrian’s uppercut to the werewolf’s solar plexus silenced him.

“You must have suicidal tendencies,” Lane commented, straddling a chair with a resigned expression.

“Why is the Caliban alpha looking for me?” Lavinia asked.

The man’s eyes cut to the side as if he couldn’t even bear to look at her.

“Why is Rainier looking for me?” she asked once more.

Berlizzi gave her the silent treatment.

Adrian’s arm shot back and struck the werewolf’s chest so hard, ribs broke. “I won’t hold back the next time. If you don’t answer her, my fist goes straight through to your heart.” He slapped the man hard. “Understood?” Adrian hit him again, and this time the man nodded.

“He wants his son back,” the werewolf said, finally looking at Lavinia.

“What do I have to do with anything?” she asked.

“Your father wouldn’t listen to reason and come back to the clan—”

“So, Rainier thought that kidnapping me would do the trick,” Lavinia said, shivering.

She shouldn’t have been surprised because she knew that her grandfather was a monster, but the truth was hard to swallow, nonetheless.

“Once we were done with you, your father would’ve listened to your call for help—” The man couldn’t finish his sentence. Adrian silenced him with his fists.

This time, Lane didn’t stop Adrian. Lavinia did.

It’s enough.

Adrian’s mind simmered with rage, but eventually, he looked up at her. Blinking, he raised his fists and stepped aside.

The werewolf’s head lolled to the side, his facial traits unrecognizable.

“I think we’ll have to wait before we can continue with the interrogation,” the detective said. “Go refresh yourself,” he said to Adrian, nodding at Lavinia.

She placed a hand on Adrian’s arm and steered him out of the kitchen. They reached the master bathroom where she helped him out of his shirt and pants sprayed with the werewolf’s blood. Then, she turned on the shower jets for him before stripping and joining him under the steamy water. Rivulets of blood whirled at their feet as she gently washed him, and when the water ran clean, she hugged him tight.

“I need you,” Adrian said, his body radiating anxious energy.

“Take me,” she answered, turning to the stall wall and leaning forward.

Planting a hand on the small of her back, he bent her lower and thrust into her, making her gasp. With his free hand, he reached around to fondle her breast before kneading her nipple into a hard peak. As he rocked against her faster and faster, he moved his hand between her legs and stroked her nub. She felt his hardness swell inside her channel, triggering her release. At her first spasm of pleasure, Adrian leaned to press his chest against her back, and his fangs pierced her neck. United in body and mind, they came together in a lustful frenzy that lasted several minutes as their orgasms fed each other in a loop.

Afterward, Adrian turned Lavinia in his arms and cradled her.

Thank you, he thought, for understanding what I needed.

She kissed him in response.