Running Free (Woodland Creek)(14)

Knowing that that wouldn’t work, especially with Gun sniffing around, we’d agreed on Suzie. As if cued into my thoughts, she lifts her chin and her chocolate eyes meet mine. A sweet smile, so innocent, graces her lips and I find myself reciprocating.

She goes back to drawing, the tiny muscles under her brown skin flexing with each movement, and I sigh. Otis was nowhere to be seen when I brought her home with me earlier so it was up to me to explain who she was. Together we shifted and ran the woods for hours. Then, I explained how to control her feelings and thoughts — how to let it all go black and then we shifted back.

I’d fed her. Bathed her again, this time in human form. And clothed her.

And I’ll be damned if I let anyone hurt her.

The door opens and three soaking men enter. Grey eyes meet mine and I smile. Luca loves riding his bike and when it rains, it doesn’t stop him or his buds. His dark hair is dripping and plastered to his face. The animal in me scratches and claws to copulate with him.

Damn this full moon coming up.

It’s done quite a number on my hormones.

Otis tells me it’s my body’s way of craving to procreate.

Of course I know better than bringing more shifter children into this world. This world sucks and I won’t do that to them. But it still doesn’t stop the desire to do so. Every part of my being thrums and vibrates in need.

Maybe I should sleep with Gun.

At least then, I wouldn’t be tempted to get pregnant with a litter of half-breed shifter-pups.

“Damn, Frankie,” Luca growls when he sits on the stool in front of me. “You’re in heat. I can almost taste your want for me.”

My skin ignites but I ignore his words. “House draft?”

His wet hand darts out and seizes my wrist, the touch almost sizzling my flesh. A slow, painful throb begins building deep within my core.

“Stop, Luca,” I whine. “I don’t know what’s come over me but you’re not helping.”

He tugs me closer to him over the bar and his other wet hand grips the outside of my neck. When he leans in, I close my eyes and inhale him.

Masculine.

Familiar.

Alpha.

“Let me soothe that ache of yours,” he groans, clearing in mutual need. “I could f*ck you senseless, Frankie. You know this. I want to take you to the back room and mark you, baby.”

My inner animal now is going f*cking wild and I grit my teeth. I can’t let him get to me or I’ll end up mothering his children that I know I’ll later regret. Luca, no matter how hot and nice he is to me, is a cheater.

Wild.

Untamable.

It’d end badly for the both of us.

Drawing from my inner strength, I yank myself from his grasp and stumble backward. With a shake of my head, I hiss out a no.

“Come on, baby,” he growls.

With Luca, when he wants something, he gets it. It’s worked on me in the past and now I worry in my weakened state, it’ll work on me in the future.

“She said no.”

The familiar voice cuts through the sexual haze I’d nearly succumbed to and my heart thumps to life.

“Gun,” I gasp, not meeting his gaze, while I fumble for some glasses to fill for Luca and the guys. “What are you doing here?”

Luca’s sensual demeanor clatters to the floor and his proverbial hackles rise. “Exactly. Why are you here?” Luca demands. “Aren’t you supposed to be fighting crimes, searching for clues to murders — anywhere besides the f*cking bar?”

Gun, unfazed, plops down in a seat and eyeballs the trio. “I’m here on police business. Now, unless you want to get pulled in to the station for hours and hours of questioning, I suggest you let Frankie and I talk. Alone.”

Luca snaps his head to me and I shrug my shoulders. I’m thankful to have the reprieve. Luca is strong, wise, and has incredible senses. Now that he knows I’m having a hard time, sexually, he’s going to pounce.

I just hope I’m ready when he does.

“Fine. Call me later, Frankie. I could keep you warm tonight.”

I roll my eyes and make my way from behind the bar and over to Gun. He flashes me a pleased smile and my heart does more unfamiliar squeezing.

Tonight, he’s hot.

Like more so than usual.

He’s run his fingers through his wet hair and it’s messy on top of his head. It makes me want to slide my own fingers through it and grip it tight. His long-sleeved, tan Henley is plastered to his firm chest and I find myself staring at the dark hair between his pecs that can be seen through the shirt.

“How’s Curly Sue?”

His question jerks me from checking him out and my eyes meet his inquisitive ones.

I’m about to spin a tale when suddenly a young voice shrieks, “Gun!”

Confusion furrows his brow and my stomach drops when two, thin brown arms hug him from behind.

Shit, shit, shit!

“Um,” Gun grunts, lifting his arms and twisting to see who is hugging him.

“Suzie,” I blurt out, “This is Gun. The one I told you all about.”

Shit, shit, shit!

Gun flicks an amused but satisfied glance my way. He likes that I’ve been telling someone all about him. Smug bastard.

When he finally looks down and meets the brown eyes of the little shifter girl, his smile falls and his brows pinch together.