The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(55)

“You know damn well what’s up with me, Shaz. I’m freaking out because I don’t want you to do this. And, I know that’s not going to stop you. So, I’m just trying to keep my mouth shut and get this night over with.”

The sound of the door reached us, and Jez called hello from the front entry. Shaz pulled me closer, his warm hands running up my cold arms to entangle in my hair. “You know why I have to do this. You would do the same.” He pressed a tender kiss against my forehead, and I sighed as my wolf rose to the surface in response to his, flooding my body with heat.

“Please, just don’t do anything stupid.” I whispered the words, leaning in to lay my head against his chest. “I need you, wolf boy.”

“I’m not going anywhere, babe. You’ll see. And then, don’t you dare doubt me again.” He followed up with a sound smack on my behind as Jez entered the kitchen.

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head, causing her long golden waves to shimmer and bounce. “Save it for later, you two. I’m no voyeur.”

Shaz chuckled, and I shot her a playful glare. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge if you need a drink or something,” I offered, attempting to be the accommodating host.

“No thanks, I’m all good.” Her cat eyes slid from me to Shaz as she studied us. “I’m ready to head out whenever you are.”

She moved to the sliding glass door, her slender frame lithe and graceful. Looking out on the bright moon, she cast a coy glance over her shoulder at me. I watched as the green of her eyes spread to obliterate the whites. When she smiled, she revealed four dainty fangs, sharp as razors. Like mine, she had both two on the top and the bottom.

It was clear that I was the only one not at all ready to head out into the night and the forest within it. Influenced by Jez’ intense Were energy, the wolf was strong in Shaz, and he gazed at me with wolf eyes that blazed with fire. The power of their beasts taunted me, luring me in despite my attempt to resist it. It’s what I was, and my resistance didn’t last long.

With the hot, searing power of my wolf forcing my limits, I turned to Jez, nodding for her to open the sliding door. As we made our way into the backyard to disrobe, I told myself to keep a level head. Though no blood lust afflicted me, anything could set off Arys’ undead power, waking it from where it slumbered so quietly inside me. I had to maintain control because Shaz was going to lose it. One of us had to keep it together.

I had barely descended the patio steps when Jez went to her knees, having quickly stripped off her skirt and tank top. In a heartbeat, she was a shockingly gorgeous leopard.

With a shake of her body, she loosened up her muscles, stretching and flashing me a look that told me to hurry up and ditch the human body.

Shaz had removed his t-shirt, and the moonlight danced along his finely sculpted body like chocolate drizzled over ice cream. At least, my mind saw it that way. Before I could reach to pull my shirt over my head, he turned to me, his hand closing on my wrist possessively.

“You know how much I adore you, right?” He waited for me to answer, his gaze heavy and intense.

“Of course.” I nodded, aware of Jez padding silently over to the gate to give us space.

“Then please, trust me. Don’t stop this until it’s truly over.” He gave me a hard look, knowing me far too well. “I mean it, Alexa; let me finish this.”

His use of my whole name indicated his seriousness, and I didn’t like the monster I saw lurking behind those jade orbs. “I stop it when my instinct tells me to. I can’t promise anything other than that.”

Silently, I fixed him with a look that dared him to argue. Taking a deep breath, he sighed and pulled me into his arms so that I was pressed against him. “You really are a pain in the ass sometimes.” His hand stroked my hair, and I snuggled into his comforting warmth. His scent stirred parts of me that had never been human. I wanted nothing more than to wrap myself around his naked body. Unfortunately, now was not the time.

Jez scratched lightly at the gate, a quiet indication of her impatience. I ignored her and kissed my white wolf with all of the emotion and wild need I held inside. Slipping my tongue between his lips, I hid a satisfied smile when he moaned softly.

The taste and scent of him filled my senses to overflowing, and I gasped when he bit my lower lip; the moist heat of his tongue followed to soothe the delicious pain. It was a dominant move, one that both antagonized and enticed. The need to be wolf coursed through me, and I broke off the kiss when my fingernails became claws.

“Let’s get this over with,” I murmured, slipping out of my clothing and tossing it on the deck stairs. By the time I turned to face him again, he was already wolf, stark white and beautiful against the backdrop of the moonlit night.

I fell to my knees and embraced the change, enjoying the flash of pain that was always followed by a sensual kind of pleasure. After stretching languidly, I went to Shaz’

side, closing my eyes in enjoyment as he nuzzled me. When Jez’ spotted form took off across the field, heading for the tree line, I didn’t attempt to keep up. She could easily outrun us.

I smirked to myself, imagining the look on the faces of the other werewolves when she broke through the trees into the clearing where they would be gathered. Upon further thought, that could lead to trouble. I quickened my pace until I was at a full out run. Shaz ran at my side, his playful nature absent with his darker intentions.