Blind Wolf Bluff: Shifter Romance (Vanguard Elite Book 3) Read online

  “But you survived.”

  “And he never forgave me for it.”

  “Your parents?”

  “They did forgive me. Eventually. I visit when I can.”

  “Wow.” She let that all sink in. “But you’re not with the pack anymore?”

  “No, my new alpha treats me as a full-fledged member. I’d show you the bruises but I heal too fast.”

  “What…” They beat him? But before she could question him further, he leaned down for a kiss.

  “This can’t happen.” What she really meant was this can’t be happening.

  Oh God, why did she have this conscience? She could gun down serial killers but she couldn’t handle Blain’s rejection once he started to touch her.

  “Is it because we work for the same agency? Oh wait, we don’t. Is it because you’re seeing someone? Oh wait, you already told me you’re single.” His tone grew sharper with every word. “Is it because I’m a shifter?” The silence that fell after his question weighed heavy in the room.

  “I’m not attracted to you.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Now, you are lying.” He tapped his nose. “The nose knows.”

  She ground her teeth, blood simmering, her face hot and red. “I’m not pretty, okay?” She spat her confession. “I’m full of scars.” Inside and out. “I-I’m—” Broken.

  The muscle ticking in his jaw vanished and his clenched fist relaxed. “What?”

  “You’ve heard me fine the first time, you freak of nature.” She jumped to her feet, horrified at her confession.

  He blocked her escape route and gently cupped her face. “Let me be the judge.”

  With soft fingertips, he traced her cheeks, her nose, around her eyes. One hand raised her chin as the other loosened her messy, windblown hair from its tie.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I can’t see so I have to feel my way around.” His hands traveled south to the buttons of her blouse. He undid them one at a time. “I have to take my time, though, to make a thorough assessment.”

  She couldn’t breathe. Still as a statue, she watched as he slid her blouse off, baring her shoulders and chest. Her brain knew he couldn’t see her, but her heart had other ideas. It threatened to beat right out of her chest.

  His fingertips traced her collar bones. He hesitated over the right one. “You broke this once.”

  “Biking accident.” She’d been in pursuit of her suspect four years ago and commandeered a motorcycle from a pedestrian. She’d run down the murderer. Literally. He’d survived, but they both had been in bad shape.

  She’d almost lost her job and had to agree to therapy for her anger issues. Anger issues. Damn right she had anger issues. An animal like that murderer had taken her little sister away from her forever.

  “Shhh.” Blain kissed her furrowed eyebrows. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”

  She took a shuddering deep breath. “Bad memories.” She needed good ones, but they seemed to have all faded, tainted by pain and loss. She stroked his face, stubble rough on her palm. Maybe Blain was the start of her healing.

  His kisses traced her brow then along her nose. He nipped the tip playfully. “Well, let’s see how I can distract you from those.” He guided her back to the bed until the back of her knees hit the mattress, then pushed on her shoulders so she sat on the edge.

  Could she really be doing this? Should she?

  He backed away, unbuttoning his own shirt and letting it fall to the ground. Her lips parted. Oh yeah, she could do this. Do him. A wave of dizziness spun her head. She remembered to breathe.

  God, she was way over her head. Blain was—well—more than good looking. He was—was…

  His pants came off and he was commando.

  So fucking hot her panties spontaneously combusted. She was on her feet, meeting him halfway to the bed. She ran her hands over his chest, his six pack abs, his sculpted arms, over the length of his hard, jutting cock.

  “Whoa.” He was out of breath and pushing her back onto the bed so she lay on her back, his hands pinning her shoulders. “I thought I was doing the assessing.”

  She undid her pants and yanked them off her hips. “Too late for you to change your mind now, Mr. Smith.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and rolled him so she landed on top. “You don’t unwrap the present unless you want someone to play with the toy inside.”

  Pressing her mouth to his, she savored the feel of full soft lips. Who would have thought that a man with so many hard edges could kiss like silk?

  He tangled his fingers in her hair, holding her captive while the other hand slid along her spine. It paused where she’d once fractured her vertebra then continued lower…lower.

  She arched her back, raising her hips. Lower. Deepening the kiss, she opened her mouth and let him explore with his tongue.

  He tasted of wild things. Untamed and passionate.

  Fingertips slipped under her panties and he dragged them off with a jerk of his hand. His cock lay trapped between their bodies. Hard and pulsing, he rocked, sliding it against her stomach. With his grip on her hair, he pulled her from their kiss. “You do this to me, Sonya.” He thrust to make his point. “I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll never want another man to touch you.”

  “Yes.” She hissed as he pulled her hair, making her arch her neck back.

  He kissed along her throat, grazing his teeth over her pounding pulse. “You like it rough.”

  She liked a man who could take charge in bed. Her whole life and career was about getting things done right. She took charge and got results. Until now, she hadn’t met her match. “I’ll like anything you do to me.”

  Oh God, had she really said that? But it was so true. As long as it was Blain of the sexy body. Blain of the kind heart. Blain who held her hand.

  His fingertips were traveling over her spine again, stopping to caress her old injury a second time, then to the clasp of her bra. “Let’s set the girls free first.” He unleashed her breasts and cupped one in his hand. “Perfect,” he breathed.

  Without warning, he rolled her so she was on her back again, him on top. He kept her head pinned by her hair. With his free hand, he pinched her nipple until it hardened into a tight nub.

  She moaned, leaning into him.

  “That’s it.” He kissed and nipped between her breasts, the bites hard enough to leave a mark but not break skin.

  She flinched, but the pain mixed with the pleasure in a sweet crescendo of need. She was so wet. One little flick of her clit and she’d come apart.

  He pressed his knee between her thighs until she spread her legs. Untangling his fingers from her hair, he released his hold and continued his journey past her belly button. He laid his hands on her inner thighs, spreading them further.

  She looked down her naked body, meeting his strange pale blue eyes. She understood he couldn’t see her but he somehow knew she was watching as he dragged his tongue over her pussy, never breaking eye contact. “Oh my God,” she whispered.

  His head dipped, licking her like there was no tomorrow.

  She closed her eyes and moaned, because this? This was how she’d like to spend her evenings rather than reading cold case files or running reports.

  His tongue glided through her folds. It felt so good. She pressed her a hand to her forehead. Long, delicious licks right down the slick of her pussy. He was really, really good at it too. Being eaten out by a werewolf was the last thing she would have guessed would happen on her trip to Chicago.

  Blain grazed the edge of her clit and she cried out at the intense sensation. He’d been avoiding it until now. He tossed her a triumphant look and rubbed the hood of her clit. With his other hand, he traced the edge of her entrance with his fingertips. “You taste like mine.” He kissed her mound.

  His touch was possessive and she liked it. She wanted to be his.

  She felt his mouth on her clit as he pumped his fingers inside her pussy. Her hips bucked against him. Dam
n him, damn him for making her want him so bad. He made her feel incredible. He continued to lick and suck her clit until her thighs shook. She was going to come. Her whole body quaked and she came hard. Over and over, her pussy clenched around his thrusting fingers.

  “Blain.” Her body locked, tense with the strain of it. “Blain.” Her voice sounded harsh and desperate.

  She collapsed, arms spread wide on the bed, exhausted. She ran her hand over her eyes, then rubbed her face. Okay, she just did that. The whole hotel floor knew she’d come.

  Blain crawled on top of her, dragging his hard cock over her body. “That was just the appetizer.” He moved his hips, using his whole body to curl over her as he slid his thick shaft between her folds. “I can’t wait to be inside you.”

  She couldn’t wait either. She locked her heels behind his ass. “Fuck me.” Hard and fast like he couldn’t stop. She wanted to make him as desperate as she felt. Her cell phone rang. She ignored it and ran her hands over Blain’s muscled back. “Fuck me now.”

  “You should answer that.” He nibbled her ear, his breath hot on her skin.

  “I know.” She moaned and rolled her hips. “But I want you more.”

  He chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere, Sonya. You’re stuck with me.”

  With a groan, she crawled out from under him and retrieved her cell. “Camp speaking.”

  “I’m knocking on your door. Where are you?” William responded.

  She flinched. His voice a bucket of cold water on her libido. “Helping Blain get acquainted with”—her body—“his room. I’m on my way.”

  Shit. Had he heard her screaming? Her room was just down the hall. Sex with partners was against FBI policy. Not to mention, downright unprofessional.

  What had she been thinking? That was right—she’d stopped thinking the moment Blain had kissed her. Brain cells had gone dormant on impact.

  “You’re a terrible liar.” Blain kissed her bare shoulder.

  She shivered at his touch and tossed him a glance. Naked and ready for her on his bed. Ugh, there was no point in lying to him. He’d know it, so she spoke the truth about her feelings for once. “I don’t want to go.”

  “But you have to. He might have something new on the case.” He bit her shoulder. “Don’t think you’re getting away though. I have plans for you, Special Agent Camp. Come back once you’re done.”

  “I hate to leave you like this.” He’d given her the best orgasm of her life and she was abandoning him with a delicious boner.

  He stroked his cock. “I can take care of myself.” He gave her a wicked smile. “I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.” He licked his still wet lips.

  A shiver ran through her. That was so hot. God, she wouldn’t be able to sleep all night with that image burned in her mind.

  She dressed, having to redo her blouse buttons twice, and retrieved her jacket.

  Blain rose from the bed with a predator’s grace and walked her to the door. He pressed his mouth to hers and she could taste herself on his lips. He whispered between kisses, “I think you’re beautiful.”

  Chapter Ten

  The only diner in Alburg closed at eleven PM, leaving Pallas thirty minutes to savor the burnt coffee they served. The flavor reminded him of his enemies’ tears. Bitter and dark.

  Through the huge picture windows, snow drifted lazily and coated the ground in a thin layer. Winter had finally arrived. His little pack had run fifteen miles tonight and were presently doing a team exercise. He smiled into his cup. He’d ordered them to build a small bridge over one of the streams crisscrossing his property, using only the material found in the forest. It should take them all night, maybe tomorrow night as well.

  So he had plenty of time for coffee and a little television. The waitress was watching a peculiar show. She had explained that the bachelor was handing out roses to his potential brides. As opposed to her explanation, Pallas figured the bachelor gave the flowers to the girls who hadn’t lifted their skirts for him. Otherwise, why keep them around if he’d already tasted their wares?

  Interesting age he’d awoken in. Though sex was on display in television, books, and radio, prostitution was prohibited. The oldest profession turned illegal. Stupid. Some of the smartest women he’d ever met had been whores. Pity he couldn’t take some time off to a more populated area. He wouldn’t mind letting off some steam. No strings attached. A small place like Alberg didn’t have much choice and the local sheriff staulked him like a serial killer. So even if he could pay for some action, she’d arrest him before he unzipped his pants.

  A vehicle parking sounded outside the empty diner. He’d been waiting for it. The other patrons had left at his arrival, abandoning the lone, terrified waitress with him. She’d been hiding in the kitchen since their conversation about the television show and had called the sheriff five minutes ago.

  The bane of the itch he couldn’t scratch walked through the door, dressed in tight jeans and a thick, loose sweater. It was the first time he’d seen the sheriff out of uniform. She still wore her hair in a tight ass bun. It had to hurt. Might explain why she was so angry all the time.

  He rose and held out a chair at his table so she could join him.

  She glanced at the seat. “I’m just here to get some take-out.”

  “Have a seat while you wait.” He tucked her close to the table as she sat. “Late meal.”

  “Skipped dinner.”

  “I wasn’t aware restaurants called their customers to order meals.” He took a long sip of coffee and raised a questioning eyebrow. She should know not to lie to him.

  “You’ve heard her call me.”

  He tapped his pointed ears. “I don’t hear as well as a shifter, but I’m much better than a human.”

  She leaned forward. “Then why stay if you knew she was scared?”

  “I wanted a coffee.” He held up his cup.

  “Seriously?” She shook her head in disgust.

  “I don’t own a coffee maker. It has quite a good flavor. Have some.” He offered her his cup but she didn’t make a move for it. He sighed. “Everyone in Alburg is afraid of me. Should I stay secluded away on my property?”

  She stayed silent, her frown growing deeper.

  “They need to get used to me.” He glanced at the deserted counter area. “I wouldn’t have hurt her.”

  “I know.” She gave a tiny, lopsided smile.

  “Why are you here?” He hoped she wanted to see him. There lay dragons and he hated fighting dragons.

  “I’m hungry and I’m a terrible cook. A bowl of oatmeal didn’t seem appetizing.”

  The waitress came out with a huge plate of fries and a burger. She set it in front of the sheriff. “On the house.” Then she scurried back to the kitchen.

  “I guess the waitress decided you were staying.” Pallas didn’t bother to hide his amusement.

  Sheriff Lee popped a French-fry in her mouth. “I’ll admit to being curious as to why you were in a diner.” She shrugged. “Never occurred to me you were lonely.” She held out another fry. “Want one?”

  He shook his head. “Temperamental stomach. Liquids only. And I’m not lonely. I live with a bunch of werewolves. I can’t turn around without tripping over one of the little bastards.”

  She made a cute little snort sound and inhaled half her burger. He stared, sure her jaw had unhinged during the process. And the townspeople fear him?

  The knots in his shoulders loosened. She’d come for food and to check on the local Nosferatu vampire. Efficient and dutiful. He could appreciate that. Disappointed that it wasn’t more.

  He leaned his chin on his hand, still focused on her eating. “Are you married, Sheriff Lee?”

  She choked. “No, why?” She talked between fits of coughing. “Are you applying for the job?” She pounded on her chest, then belched.

  “Maybe.”

  She set her burger back on the plate and wiped her hands. “That was a joke, not an offer. I have three ex-husbands and I
don’t plan on adding a fourth to my collection.”

  “You never gave me the impression that you were a quitter.”

  Ex-husbands… He had to put one of his wolves on a research project. Who were they? Where did they live? Would anyone miss them if they went missing?

  She laughed. He hadn’t been aware she could do that and he wanted to see her do it more.