Chapter Four
May sipped at the glass of water they’d given her. The cool liquid traveled down her throat, but it did little to ease the tightening in her gut. Her fingers trembled as she set down the cup.
Kara, the waitress, had attempted to explain what had happened earlier, but May didn’t need an explanation. She knew about shifting. She understood how it worked. What she needed was someone to tell her why every time she glanced at the man with ice-blue eyes and dark, silver-streaked hair, her knees went weak and her chest hurt with a keening ache that urged her to get closer.
She tugged the strap of her purse to confirm it was still in place. She couldn’t afford to lose its contents.
“May?”
She turned to face the man who’d introduced himself as Lee. Though equally as handsome as the wolf shifter, the puma didn’t spark any reaction in her.
“Have you found my brother?” she asked.
“I’m afraid not. He fled when the fray started. I’m sorry,” Lee said.
May blinked back tears. Dammit. She should have known that would happen. She never could count on Cory.
Lee sat across from her at the table. He gave her a sympathetic smile.
“Listen, Sisu wants to speak to you, he’d like to apologize. I think Kara told you he’s the owner of the business, right?”
Sisu. Kara had told him that was his name, but she’d never heard anything like it. May chewed on her bottom lip, the urge to whisper his name making her mouth tingle.
“Why does he only want to apologize to me? Why not the rest of the customers?” she said, instead.
Lee’s eyes filled with undisguised amusement. May stiffened.
“I can’t explain. You must speak to him.” Lee offered her his hand. “Come on. As big as he is, he’s harmless. I promise.”
May pressed her lips together. The throbbing within her grew, mingling with her erratic heartbeat.
“Okay,” she said.
She followed him to a closed office. Every step made her quiver until her teeth practically chattered. Lee knocked and a gruff voice invited them to enter. Her mouth dried and her stomach rolled even as her feet propelled her forward and into the tiny room.
Lee said something, but she couldn’t make out the words from the rushing in her ears. Warmth radiated through her body. She couldn’t rip her gaze from the man before her. The intensity in his blue eyes caused a shiver to race down her spine. She forced herself to look away. It wasn’t a good idea.
Her mouth dried as she took in his body. He wore a black t-shirt with the bar’s logo, but it was too tight on him and stretched over his thick muscles, leaving little to the imagination. She dipped lower. Heat infused her cheeks. He wore the same jeans he’d been sporting earlier, except, they were open at the top, giving her a glimpse of dark curls which arrowed downwards. Her pussy tingled with awareness and her nipples tightened into peaks.
“Why don’t you sit down, May?”
He spoke her name as if he’d said it a thousand times, as if they were lovers.
May forced herself to move. She took the chair he offered, only flinching slightly when he sat across from her and their knees bumped.
“I’m sorry.”
She studied his face, taking in the details, from the long dark lashes to the scar on his nose and the freckle on his chin. She stared at his lips. What would they feel like? Soft? Demanding? Would he mind if she nibbled on his bottom bow?
“Are you scared?”
His voice startled her. Husky, deep, it reverberated within her and spread, zeroing in on her pussy. She pressed her legs together and shook her head.
“I’m not scared, I’m terrified,” she admitted.
His lips curved into a smile. It oozed sexiness, but also reassurance. He touched her knee. Heat filled her. Her stomach fluttered.
“Most shifters are harmless and respect humans. However, Alkaline and his pack are not exactly friendly. Why were you with them?”
His harsh tone had May drawing her gaze back to his eyes. They flashed with unmasked anger. She blinked. What was wrong with her? A stranger grinned and she swooned? Was this some kind of shifter magic?
“May, I need to know.”
May rolled her lips inward. Even though he sexually attracted her, she didn’t know anything about this man except his name and the fact he was a shifter. Through life, she’d learned two things: don’t trust anyone, but especially don’t trust shifters. Even if his demeanor compelled her to spill her secrets and confide with him, she couldn’t.
“I want to help you,” he persisted.
His sincerity overwhelmed her.
“My brother owed them money. They had a game of cards scheduled and I merely accompanied him,” she said.
There, that was partially true. He didn’t need to know the finer details.
“Your brother,” Sisu repeated.
“Yes. My brother.”
“Not your boyfriend?” he insisted.
“No, Cory is my step-brother. Why are you smiling?”
May stared at Sisu. His eyes glittered and a predatory grin spread over his face. He leaned toward her, and set his arms on either side of her chair. He scooted closer. His legs opened, trapping hers in between his powerful thighs. Heat emanated from him, making her blood boil in response. Her panties dampened. She lifted her hands, desperate to stave him off, but Sisu closed the distance. Her open palms collided against his muscled pecs. A gasp tore through her.
“Do you believe in soulmates, May?”
Her jaw dropped. “No,” she cried out.
“Why?” he rumbled.
“What does this have to do with anything?”
“We are soulmates, May. You are my mate,” Sisu stated.
“That’s ridiculous. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. I’m human.” She practically screamed the words.
“It doesn’t matter, sunshine.” Sisu took one of her hands in his. Her mouth became moist. Her nerve endings stirred, a pleasurable shiver coursing down her spine. The pounding in her chest expanded.
“We are drawn to each other like moths to flames. From the moment I saw you walk in tonight, my wolf recognized you. All night long, I’ve been searching for ways to get close to you. All I’ve been thinking about is how to make you mine, May.” Sisu brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. He lowered his voice. “I want to consume you, mark you, claim you as mine, forever.”
“No,” she whimpered.
“Yes. I know you feel it, too. I can sense your heartbeat here.” He touched her wrist. “It’s wild, May, just like mine. And your gaze, it keeps drifting to my lips. You’re dying to kiss me.” Sisu took in a deep breath. His nostrils flared and his pupils dilated. “I can smell your arousal, sunshine.” A growl-like sound came from him. “You want my body pressed to yours, naked, sweaty. My cock within your pussy, pumping hard and bringing you to the highest heights of ecstasy possible.”
“You’re insane.”
The words sounded hollow and meaningless. She was lying and she had no doubt he knew it.
“Only for you, sunshine.”
Sisu’s fingertips grazed her chin, his touch more gentle than the caress of a feather. She closed her eyes, not daring to look at him. Sounds faded until all she could hear was her own heavy breathing and the rustle of his clothes as he came closer.
The first touch of his lips was like a rain drop on an early spring day. A phantom drop. The kind which made one wonder if it would soon start raining. The type which caused thirsty plants to stretch their stalks toward the sky.
Her body swayed forward.
Sisu groaned deeply, his mouth pressing to hers, hot and unyielding.
Thoughts scattered. The world tilted. May reached for him. His hand clasped hers. The pressure of his lips intensified. She whimpered. Her heart hammered, and the knot within her transformed, rolling and spreading like hot lava, chanting for more.
She twisted away from him.
“No, I can’t,” she said. “Soulmates don’t exist.”
May stared at their entwined fingers. They fit together like matching puzzle pieces. She glimpsed at Sisu, who regarded her quietly. The blue in his eyes nothing short of reassuring, comforting. Loving.
No. This wasn’t right. It was madness. She swallowed drily, trying to push back down the fear which climbed up her throat. She needed to leave. Now. She pulled at her arm, but Sisu held on tight.
The ache within her turned violent, like claws digging into her tender skin. Cool sweat rolled down her back.
“Hey, it’s all right, sunshine.” Sisu rubbed his thumb over her wrist in soothing circles. The pain decreased. “You don’t need to be scared. We’ll take it one step at a time, okay? Do you have a way to get home?”
May shook her head. Sisu smiled.
“It’s all right. I’ll take you home. After all this craziness, you must be exhausted.”