“Grab your phone and dial one,” Luc said, still scanning the neighbourhood, keeping his body between me and possible danger. “Say it’s a code red. Coming in hot.”
I pulled out my phone and dialled one.
“Ms Ferrera. What’s your status?”
“Code red. Coming in hot.” I repeated Luc’s instructions, feeling a bit silly.
I heard a sharp intake of breath and a clatter of something being dropped. “Opening the doors for you now and ready to back you up.”
At the words, Luc whirled, grabbed me, and ran. The automatic doors to the lobby opened just in time for him to barrel through into the street, feet pounding on the pavement as his long strides ate up the distance. In moments we were in front of my building, the doors opening for us. Miguel, one of the new Shifter security guards, stood in front of his desk, his arms held low in front of his body, a sidearm held ready in both hands.
Luc didn’t slow his steps. “Residents stay in their apartments until we leave. My team is on the way to escort us to the Palace.”
“Understood sir.”
Luc insisted on carrying me all the way up to my apartment. I automatically wrapped my arms around his neck and he tucked my body close against his chest, holding me tight, againstskin that radiated heat like a furnace. The sound of his heartbeat was a steadythump, thumpin my ears. I was safe. Precious. The rapid kick of my heart in my chest from fright wasstarting to settle. To change. Luc had saved me. And in doing so, I knew he had shown me a side of himself that he had never intended for me to see. His eyes in his monster form had been so sad. He had expected me to reject him. I had to show him that if he was all in, so was I. It was time to stop doubting what was right in front of me. I turned my face towards him and kissed his hard chest. I was rewarded by a soft growled, “Not now, baby.”
“Are you still injured?” Fuck. I tried to pull back from him. I hadn’t had a chance to check the wound in his abdomen or the damage to his leg.
“Better now. All healed.”
“Then why not now?” We were almost at my door. I flexed the fingers on one hand at the back of his neck and scraped my nails against his skin, while I ground my breasts and my tight, hard nipples against him.
He shuddered and gripped me tighter. Moving impossibly faster until the corridor was almost a blur. We paused outside my door, long enough to activate my fancy new lock, and then we were in my apartment, the door locking with asnick.
And then he whirled us around so that I was trapped against the door, his hard body pressed up against me. I could feel the hard length of his cock against my abdomen. Tilting his head down, until he could see my eyes, he scorched me with his gaze. One eye chocolate. One a blue flame. My nipples tightened to painful points. “Because I need you too much. I can’t be gentle.” His voice was rough, guttural, making my insides swirl and tighten.
“I don’t care. I just want you.”
Caging me with his big body, he tilted his hips, holding me up against the wall with his bulk.So hot. I lowered my hands from his neck, moving them towards his waist. A large hand snapped out, grabbing mine and imprisoning them, trappingthem between us as his lips took mine in a devastating kiss. It wasn’t gentle. It was the kiss of a barbarian conqueror. He claimed me. I moaned against him and opened my mouth to his.
Our tongues tangled as he fucked my mouth with his tongue, the way he would fuck my body andI lovedit. Wetness gushed in my panties and I undulated against him. This man… this Shifter, had set a fire in me. One that only he could put out.
I’d wanted him since the first moment I’d seen him. At first, I’d thought he was an asshole; hot but still an asshole. Then, after my injury, I’d started to see the other side of him; the real side of him. Sure, he was still arrogant and high-handed; but he was also intelligent, thoughtful and gentle. Then he’d told me he wanted me and Declared his Intent. I hadn’t believed it at first. But after today I did. Meeting his parents had convinced me that he meant what he said. Humans could mate with Shifters. But most of all, I’d been convinced when he’d changed to protect me. Unleashing his Beast. Seeing his vulnerability. His fear that I would reject him when I knew the truth of what he was.
A monster.
Mymonster.
I wanted Luc. All of him. A mate who would cherish me. Who would protect me. He was everything I had ever wanted.
His free hand moved under the hem of my sweater, and his palm was hot and calloused against the skin of my belly. The slight scrape against my sensitive flesh gave me goosebumps and my core clenched. I’d never been so turned on just by a kiss. Oh gods. I needed more.
“Hands,” I gasped against his mouth. “I want to touch you too.”
He released my hands, allowing me to wrap one hand around a thick bicep and the other to cup his firm ass, dragging him closer to me. Moaning, I rocked against him and with thehand under my ass he lifted me higher until I could feel his cock against my core. Yes, that was what I needed. Instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist and held on more tightly. His tongue moved down to my neck, licking and sucking my bare skin. His hips rocked me against his cock, pressing the fabric of my leggings against my clit and a pulse of heat sent new dampness to my already soaked panties. I gasped, digging my nails against his back.
“Don’t stop.”
“I won’t baby.” The hand under my sweater had moved to my breasts, and he kneaded one nipple between his long fingers. My pussy clenched again and I heard my own moans. I needed more. I needed him inside me. Now. I dropped one hand to my waist and tugged at my leggings and panties, until they were around my thighs. But Luc hadn’t removed the remains of his clothing.
“Pants off,” I gasped as he sucked on my neck at the same time as he pinched my nipple. The sensation went straight to my clit. “Fuck me Luc.”’ If he didn’t get his pants off in the next thirty seconds I was going to start begging.
No. Whatever. I wouldn’t beg. I would take his pants off for him if he wouldn’t. I knew he wanted this as much as I did. The tented fabric at his crotch told me that he was hard and ready. All righty then. Maybe he needed a little convincing. I dropped one hand from his back and palmed his rigid cock through his pants.
He growled against my neck, nipping the skin. “Better stop touching that unless you want to get fucked against this door.”
“I don’t care,” I said, pressing harder. “I need you inside me.” My fingers worked to undo the fastenings on his pants, and I reached into his boxers to stroke his cock. “Give it to me rough. Just fuck me already.”