One Insatiable(30)

I watch her dry off as I slowly do the same. She hangs hers on a hook when she’s done, taking a white terry robe and tying it over her nude body. I wrap my towel around my waist and follow her into her enormous bedroom.

“Why can’t you stay with me?” She climbs onto the bed, on her knees facing me.

“There’s something I have to take care of.” Filtering back to that night, I try and remember exactly what I felt. Three times I’ve had a flash of evil lurking around her house, but I still don’t know what it is.

“What do you have to do?” My hands are on her waist, and she’s so adorable.

“Have you lived here all your life?” I ask, watching her eyes. She nods, sitting back on her heels holding my hands. “In this same house?”

“This is my family’s house. The Quinlans have lived here for more than a century. Since Woodland Creek was founded.”

“Were they a founding family?”

“No.” She shakes here head. “There were five founding families, but we weren’t one of them. We were one of the first shifter families to move here after the town was founded.”

I try to think. “Was the house already here when your family moved in or did they build it?”

“I’m not sure.” Her blue eyes travel around my face, and she’s growing more serious. “I think they built it, but I’d have to ask Penny.”

I consider that could be the answer. Her family could have moved into a haunted house. That thing could be a ghost pining for a lost wife or child, unable to find passage to the other side.

“Do you know if there are any mysteries or any stories associated with this place?”

“No.” Her eyes grow larger. “What’s going on, Koa?”

Frowning, I pull her to me for a hug. “I don’t know, but don’t be afraid. I’m going to find out.”

She struggles, and I release her. But instead of fear, determination is in her eyes. “Tell me what you’ve seen. I need to know.”

I hadn’t wanted to scare her, but she has a right to know. “I haven’t seen anything. I’ve only felt it. Twice when I was in the woods near here, I crossed paths with something. I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t good. The night I slept outside, I’d tracked it here. It seemed to leave when it sensed my presence, so I stayed. I’m pretty sure it hasn’t come back.”

She blinks for a moment after I’ve finished, not speaking. Then her eyes take on the gleam of someone solving a mystery. “It has to be why Penny acts that way… And Dylan doesn’t stop her.”

“What do you know?”

“Nothing. Not a damn thing.” Her tone is exasperated. “They don’t tell me anything, but I’m not stupid. We’re nocturnal creatures, and my aunt is afraid of the dark?”

I don’t like the sound of that. Catching her cheeks I make her look at me. “This is serious business, Mercy. Is it okay if I leave my clothes here with you?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to shift and scout the perimeter, make sure nothing’s out there.” Walking over to her window, I loosen the towel at my waist. “Lock this behind me and don’t go out tonight. If I don’t find anything, I’ll sleep at my place, but I want you to call the sheriff if you sense anything while I’m gone. I’ll pick up a burner phone at the drugstore tomorrow and give you my number at work. I can be here faster than anybody if you need me.”

“You think I’m in danger?”

Stepping back, I touch her cheek with my thumb. “If I thought that, I’d take you with me.” I lean down to kiss her lips. “I don’t think whatever it is will enter your home. It hasn’t yet, but I don’t want you going out there, putting yourself in harm’s way. If I sense anything, I’ll stay at the tree line until dawn.”

“You could just stay here in bed with me.”

“I’d rather check the grounds and let you get a good night’s rest.”

I don’t tell her what else is on my mind — that I’m not sure how I feel about being with her in this palace. I’m pretty sure I’m not the kind of guy her sister would choose for that role of husband Mercy mentioned earlier. While my gut response is f*ck her, I’m not sure Dylan would be wrong. Maybe Mercy should find a better guy than me.

I can’t argue my merits at this point, because I don’t have any. All I have is faith in myself that I’ll get back to being worth someone like Mercy one day. In the meantime, I’m far from being that guy right now.

“Sleep well, beautiful.” I give her one last kiss before I step out onto the balcony, remove the towel, and spring over the railing, shifting into my panther form as soon as my feet leave the flagstone.





Full Moon





Mercy


Koa didn’t come back that night, and he didn’t sleep at the tree line either. The same thing happened the next night, so as much as it drove him crazy, I slipped out after midnight, shifted and ran all the way to his apartment to sleep with him. He might complain about me running around by myself at night, but it doesn’t stop him from f*cking me, which is what I want anyway.

I know he won’t sleep with me in my bed. I also know why since I tasted him. We haven’t talked about it. His past is something he’ll have to decide when he’s ready to share with me. I’m afraid of what’s happening between us, and I sense he is, too. Shifter relations are so unpredictable, and we both have plans we intend to keep. Still, I can’t lie in my bed at night aching for him when he’s just a few miles away — an easy dash for a little lynx like me.