by Casey Morgan
The two women started flying around the kitchen. Cookie cutters were found and dumped into the sick to rinse off.
Celeste started looking at their supply of food coloring and taking notes for a shopping list. I watched, suddenly feeling out of place and in the way.
“Celeste,” I begged. “What do you want me to do?”
“Bake cookies!” she barked, like it was the dumbest question in the world.
The bell for the front door dinged. Celeste stopped in her tracks and we all turned towards the double doors. Mary was holding three containers of eggs and two bowls in a very precarious grasp. Celeste eyed her and then turned back to me.
“Or better yet, go help that customer,” she ordered.
I wiped off my hands and headed up front. They hadn’t taught me how to help customers but how hard could it be?
The three men waiting for me were not customers. They were gangsters and they were up to no good.
One was sitting on the counter and trying to open the lock on the pastry case. He was a compact bald man with a snake tattooed on his neck.
His thick, fat fingers and the half-fingered leather gloves he wore were making it hard for him to get the lock open. He was cussing under his breath.
The other two men were lounging at a table. A tall man with a long black ponytail had his muddy boots on the tabletop. The third was sitting, leaning back with his hands behind his bald head.
All three turned to look at me.
“Who the hell are you?” the man with the snake tattoo asked.
I grinned and pulled myself up to my full height.
“I’m the new protection here, boys,” I told them. “Your services will no longer be needed or paid for. Southland is no longer welcome at The Crescent Moon Bakery.”
My announcement brought the two gangsters at the table to their feet. They were clad in black jeans and thick leather jackets that had plenty of room to hold weapons.
If I had my werewolf ability to smell, I would have known if they held guns or knives, but that ability was gone. I would just have to be on my guard.
The shortest man jumped off the counter and walked backwards to join his other friends. He and the other bald man surrounded the man with the pony-tail—he was their leader.
Ponytail Man stepped forward.
“Where is the old man? I want to talk to Mr. Blenko,” he demanded.
“You beat the crap out of him yesterday, remember?” I sneered. “You won’t ever see him or talk to him ever again.”
I leaned up against the counter, getting closer to them while still keeping the barrier between us.
The three of them exchanged looks.
“You’re just one man,” Ponytail Man said. “I’ve got a whole gang. You’ll never be enough to protect this place.”
I leaned forward more and woke my wolf. Alphas were hard to disobey; we had a magical ability to influence and dominate.
My wolf roused himself and looked out of my eyes—probably making them glow amber a bit. He saw prey and was pleased.
“He’s from The Grinder, Dominic,” the man with the snake tattoo whined.
The leader, Dominic, looked me up and down.
“You one of Terrell’s crew?” he asked. “We have a deal with him. You best be heading back to your bar.”
“I don’t know Terrell and you don’t have a deal with me.”
I pointed my thumb towards my chest.
I found a tiny piece of muffin that had broken off onto the counter and flicked it at them. It hit Dominic on his shirt. He looked down, annoyed.
He brushed off the crumb and pulled a Glock from his jacket. He put his finger to the side of the barrel and pointed the gun down.
I didn’t flinch. I wasn’t surprised. I rested my hands carefully on the counter before me. If he was so stupid as to point the gun at me, I would be over the counter and in his face before he could breathe and before he could shoot.
“Look, Son,” Dominic said.
He used a tone that made him sound exhausted.
“I suggest you leave and let the adults talk. Mr. Blenko owes me money. He pays today or I destroy this place.”
The small man besides him put his thumb to his chest.
“Yeah, we’re going to burn it down,” he laughed.
“Going to bake the bakery!”
He and the other bald man chuckled.
“What’s going on?”
Celeste peeked her head through one of the double doors. I turned and looked at her just as her eyes went wide. She moved around the door and came up behind me. I tried to keep myself between her and the men, but she moved beside me.
Snake tattoo elbowed the other bald man.
“Check out her muffins. They’re the best I’ve ever seen.”
Both of their eyes looked away from me and fixated on Celeste’s chest. I knew he wasn’t talking about baked goods.
“Damn, Big Dog,” the other man commented. “You weren’t lying. That’s the biggest handful I’ve ever seen.”
I glared at them both and they shut up.
“This is getting too out of hand,” Dominic announced, pulling the attention back to himself. “Get me my money, bitch!”
He pointed the gun right at Celeste’s head. My sense of hearing wasn’t damaged, so her sharp intake of breath pained my heart.
My hands grabbed the edge of the counter. The wood almost splintered under my grasp.
My wolf was out, and my hands partway shifted into claws, which pulled at the wood. I swung my legs over the counter, hitting the ground hard and fast.
Going with the momentum, I brought my hand up and caught Dominic by the neck. My whole weight was behind me when I slammed him into the wall. The two other men were pushed to the side. They fell into the furniture.
The gangster’s throat was warm, and it quivered under my hand as he gasped for breath. It was so delicate; one movement of my wrist and it would snap.
Dominic’s arms dangled helplessly at his sides. He was still in shock. Werewolves move very fast.
I wanted to snarl or howl, but I knew Celeste was still behind the counter watching.
“You will leave and never come back,” I ordered.
My voice was low, and it rumbled. I could see the reflection of my glowing eyes in his. I was glad Celeste was at my back.
Big Dog jumped to his feet and ran at me. I grabbed his arm with my free hand and pushed him.
As he fell forward, I wrenched his arm behind his back and pulled. His shoulder popped and the joint broke. He grabbed at it, screamed, and fell to the floor.
Dominic gasped and wiggled in my grasp, but my hold was solid. The other bald man found his feet and attacked. He jumped on my back and wound his hands around my neck.
His weight was nothing to me. Never dropping Dominic an inch, I pulled the other man’s hands from my throat. As he fell, I brought my foot up and slammed it into his leg. The bone snapped. He huddled on the floor with Big Dog.
It was over; I just needed to give a final push. I pulled Dominic down and dangled him in front of my face, so close our noses were almost touching.
I let my wolf fill out my face, forcing my eyes to glow further and my teeth to elongate. The man’s eyes went wide with fear.
“I gave you an order,” I growled. “If I see you back here, ever, I will kill your whole gang.”
I kept my voice low, as to not frighten Celeste.
“Get lost. This is my turf now!”
He nodded. I dropped him to his feet. He helped his friends and the three of them hurried out into the street. They looked back several times, eyes wide. I smiled at each of them, letting my fangs show.
When I turned back to Celeste, my face was human again. I gave her a big smile, one that she returned.
“Let’s get back to those cookies!” I told her.
She nodded, but still seemed frozen to the spot. She must have been in shock.
I put a hand gently on her shoulder and guided her
towards the kitchen.
Chapter Twelve
Mason
My pulse was still rapid at the end of the business day from the fight with the Southland Gang and I couldn’t get my inner wolf to calm down. The fight had awoken the beast in me, and I wanted more. I wanted blood or to hunt—something to placate my wolf and calm him down.
Celeste fluttered around the kitchen putting up cookie sheets and whipping down the counters. Her ass swayed as she walked. It was very noticeable and very distracting.
Part of me wondered if she was doing it deliberately.
I knew she wanted me, but was I going to give in and take her when it would only be a night or two and that’s it?
No, that would be wrong. Maybe with another human girl, but not her.
Celeste was so innocent, and her family was so religious. Things had gone too far between us already.
I should never have put my hand on her in the first place—although she did kiss me first. The taste of her perky, pink lips had been so good.
They were soft and full. So pouty, and I was sure they would look perfect sucking my cock.
Oh God!
I shook my head and pulled my hands down my face. Lust was taking over, and I needed to put some distance between us before I did something stupid.
“Mason? You okay?”
I looked up at the musical way she said my name. Her voice was so light and soft with a tiny bit of breathiness. Everything she said sounded like poetry.
I realized I was staring and also that I was still pulling on my face. I probably looked like the monster I was.
Celeste raised an eyebrow and put a hand on her hip—hips full and round and just made to carry my children. I dropped one of my hands and found it moving towards her against my will. I was going to pull her close and feel that curvy body pressed against mine.
“Fuck,” I said out load and then jumped at the sound of my own voice.
I snatched my hand back and ran it through my hair. Her eyes widened.
“I’m still amped up from the gang being here.”
It was a partial lie that I hoped would explain my odd behavior.
She eased her stance and pulled herself up to sit on the counter. Her feet dangled a bit.
“I can’t thank you enough for that. That was so scary. And if you weren’t here, we likely wouldn’t have made it out alive.”
Celeste dropped her head, managing to look relieved and exhausted at the same time.
“It’s no problem,” I told her, glad that she didn’t seem to have seen me partially turn into a wolf. It was good that my back had been turned to her when that happened. “We had a deal and I’m just living up to my end of the bargain.”
“Do you think they will come back today?” she asked.
“No, I don’t. Gangs like that tend to plan something in retaliation. They will be back, but I don’t think until tomorrow or later this week. That way we will think that they are gone, and things are done.”
She nodded at my words and frowned a bit. Hunching forward, she put her hands on the counter. Her sweater crinkled, showing me a bit of her ivory breasts beneath.
The sight made my dick rise quickly and my inner wolf growl. If I didn’t act soon, I would have her nude and bent over the counter—my hard cock thrust between the flesh of her pink pussy.
I opened my mouth to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. I forced it.
“I’m going to go for a run,” I grunted.
Celeste straightened up and looked at me.
“I need to get rid of some of this extra adrenaline.”
And jerk off to thoughts of you, my mind finished.
She hopped off the counter and walked towards me. “That’s a great idea!”
Relief flooded though me. I knew the gang wouldn’t be back so soon, but I didn’t want her to be scared of me leaving, so I was glad that she wasn’t.
I crossed the kitchen quickly, finding my duffel bag and the joggers I had inside.
“Right, I’ll change and be on my way in a few minutes. I’ll just be gone for an hour or so,” I assured her. “The bakery will be fine while I’m gone.”
“Mmmhmm.”
Celeste nodded and followed me out into the seating area.
I nodded to her happily and went into the bathroom to change. A run would ease everything. I could get away from her and get my head right. My wolf would be happy with the stress-relieving exercise, too.
When I came out of the bathroom, Celeste was tying her own running shoes while sitting on a chair near the door. In the few minutes I had been in the bathroom, she must have run upstairs and changed into tight black sweatpants.
At the sight of me, she stood and pulled one of her legs up into a stretch. The swell of her curves was even more defined in this outfit and I could barely think. My mouth must have been hanging open.
“Let’s go!”
She gave me a big grin and pushed the door open. She was out and jogging down the block before I could even register what was happening.
Oh shit!
I dashed out the door and went to catch up, but it was easier said than done. The sight of her ass bouncing while stuffed in tight pants was too much.
Maybe I would just stay behind her the whole time. But then I thought of her huge breasts and started running harder.
When I caught up to her, Celeste gave me a lazy smile, like this was all fun and games. I tried not to look, but everything that made me a man wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t.
My eyes moved down from her face and saw glory. Her breasts were bouncing and jiggling hypnotizingly beneath her sweatshirt and sports bra. It was hard to look away from such a sight, but I did and then I narrowly missed running into a mailbox.
Celeste laughed gently.
Was she aware of what she was doing to me?
She sped up a bit and I matched her speed. After a few blocks, we were out of the town proper and heading towards the woods. My inner wolf relaxed as we approached the trees, allowing me to think a little clearer.
My tension eased and I smiled at Celeste. She smiled back; she wasn’t even winded. Jogging was something she must do often.
The air was cold, but my body warmed under the exertion. Celeste didn’t seem bothered either. Odd, for a human.
Our feet hit a dirt path and she turned to me.
“Bet you can’t catch me!” she yelled and then she sprang forward like a rabbit.
The sight of prey running was too much for my inner wolf. He growled in my head and begged me to shift.
I held back, but just barely. My feet sped up. My legs tensed with movement and my heart pumped.
Ignoring the beauty of the forest around me, my mind was consumed with the thought of what I would do with Celeste when I caught her. I let all my werewolf strength flow through me and increased my speed.
Damn, she was fast. Every time I ran faster, Celeste did, too.
I should have caught her by now, my brain worried. But my confusion was overwhelmed by my hard cock that ached to rub up against the bouncing ass in front of me.
We dashed into a clearing and she stopped short, just barely avoiding a shallow pond made from melting snow.
Panting, her arms held up over her head, she looked down at the water as I plunged into her from behind. I didn’t stop to think. I was beyond reason now. This was stupid and I knew it.
My hands slid around her narrow waist. I pulled her warmth against me and buried my face in her blonde hair.
My momentum carried us forward. I picked her up for a few steps until she was braced against the trunk of a tree. Her full body and each delicious curve were squished up against me and the tree before her.
But she didn’t complain or try to get away. She panted harder in my arms and I put my lips to her throat.
Woof! The wolf inside me screamed.
I ignored him, as I was caught up with the desires of man. The curve of her neck was beautiful, and I kissed every inch of it.
/> Silken stands of her hair covered my face and caught in my stubble, but I didn’t care. I wanted to taste her by licking and kissing her. Her skin was smooth and warm under my lips.
Celeste put her hands up against the tree and pushed back into me. Her ass pushed into my hard cock and she gasped a little. Part of me told myself to slow down and see if she was scared but I couldn’t.
I kissed her shoulder and ran my hands up and over her sweatshirt. Only a thin layer of cloth separated my hands from her full, heavy breasts. I fondled them and squeezed them gently. Her body shook with pleasure against mine.
Woof! My instincts screamed again, but I was too blinded by lust to figure out why.
I pulled my face away from her neck to look for wolves or people in the area, but we were quite alone. As always, I mourned the loss of my nose—in the past one quick huff would have figure out why my instincts were going wild.
Celeste turned in my arms and put her back against the trunk of the tree. Her icy-blue eyes were hot with desire and she bit her lower lip.
There was still some shyness to her due to her lack of experience, but every inch of her body told me she was ready; her large nipples were hard and evident under the cloth of her sweat shirt. I wanted them in my mouth. Soon, but not yet.
She reached up, buried her hands in my hair, and pulled my face to hers. Her lips were hungry and soft under my own. I parted them with my tongue and licked the inside of her mouth.
My hands crept down and cupped her round ass. It curved beautifully down into the tops of her thighs.
I pulled her up into me. Celeste wrapped her legs around my waist and leaned into the tree. Our kisses went deeper. She sucked on my tongue and nibbled my lips.
I pulled back and found the sensitive, sweet spot just under her ear. As I licked and sucked that spot, desire overwhelmed her, and she moaned. He hips thrust against me and I had to step back to retain my balance.
Woof! My inner wolf was growling now, lost to pleasure himself.
I moved forward, pushing Celeste’s back up against the tree again. Keeping one hand securely holding her bottom, I moved the other to the hem of her shirt. Gently pushing inside, I felt the warmth of the bare skin of her stomach.
