Lion's Heart (Blood Moon Book 4)

by Natalie Aejaz

  That thought was pushed from his mind when the beast inside him rose, threatened. A male had gotten close to the bride and grabbed her arm. She pulled away, but he loitered around her. Junaid didn’t even wait to see what happened next nor did he inform security. Overcome by a strange surge of protectiveness, he went straight to the stairway that led to the ground floor.

  He needed to pause and take a deep breath—do what he usually would and inform security, or even the current manager on duty…but the idea of that man touching her against her will drove him until his feet moved of their own accord, pushed by his lion, which fought to be by her side.

  IVY HAD BEEN HAVING FUN until that guy started harassing her. When he touched her again, she didn’t even turn to find out if he was supernatural or human. She didn’t care about that right now…she just wished he’d stop touching her backside and breasts. Rehana had popped to the rest room, a couple of the girls were at the bar, and the other two were lost in the crowd somewhere. Best to make her way over to them…just as she thought that, the guy pulled her toward him. She turned around, ready to give him a piece of her mind, but the next thing she knew, he’d been pushed out of her way and was sprawled in the arms of his friends, who struggled to keep him upright. And a broad chest took his place, straight in her line of vision.

  “I am the zone manager,” came the deep voice, barely audible over the music. “Are you all right?”

  Was she all right?

  The response she’d been about to come out with got stuck in her throat when she stared up at the goateed stranger. Tall and muscled, he towered over her even though she was in heels. Well over six feet, she guessed. Black tousled hair, smooth olive skin that begged to be touched, and brown eyes that melted something deep inside her. For a moment, she toyed with the idea of grabbing his tie and pulling him in until his lips touched hers. Something flickered in his eyes…an effect of the crazy lighting?

  “I’m fine,” she mouthed at him, “Thank you.”

  “Go for it.” At first, she thought the voice was inside her head, but then something nudged her ribs. Rehana was back. Her friend leaned in close. “He’s super-hot. Ask him to dance.”

  “Enjoy your night,” said the man, but he lingered, his eyes resting on her face. He didn’t want to leave?

  When she grabbed his arm, he raised his eyebrows. “Fancy a dance?” As she asked the question, it was as if the words came out of someone else’s mouth. This wasn’t her…or was it? After following rules and regulations for a lifetime, how much did she really know about herself?

  He shook his head. “I work here.”

  But with a boldness she didn’t know she possessed, she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. Rehana grinned before disappearing among the crowd. The stranger’s mouth tightened as his eyes moved from her face down to her cleavage. She was pressed up against him so tight that the flesh threatened to break free of the neckline, but she didn’t care, not when his body was so hot against hers. When her dress strap slipped down, and his eyes darted there, she didn’t care. In fact, she wanted more of his attention.

  She went on her toes, bringing her mouth to his ear, resisting the urge to lick his lobe. “Just one dance. I’m sure your boss won’t begrudge you that.”

  She didn’t catch his answer as his arms went to her waist, the heat from his hands sending tremors through her. And then his chin rested on top of her head as they moved together. With each movement of her hips, the heat at her core intensified until it became an unbearable ache…a desperate need. She’d experienced desires before, but nothing like this. She tightened her grip around his neck, her breasts pushing against him, the friction against her nipples sending jolts to her core.

  He shifted, his mouth moving toward her jawline, anticipation sending shocks through her. As he trailed soft kisses over the side of her face, so soft she could have been imagining them, his hands moved lower to her backside as he drew her core tight against him. The intimate position should have shocked her, but instead, it intensified the pressure inside her. She stared up into his eyes, and again, it was if they flashed. The bloody lights in this club played games with her head. She placed her head against his chest, hearing—no, feeling—his heartbeat, as the realization hit her.

  She wanted this stranger in a way she never had Michael…in a way I never will.

  THE BRIDE GRINDED HER hips against him, her arousal invading his nostrils, and the lion inside Junaid growled in satisfaction. As she swayed in his arms, her core pulsed against him and if he hadn’t already scented her passion, that was enough evidence of how much she wanted him. Gods, he needed to keep himself under control. She was a customer, and he was at his place of work.

  It was time he left, but instead, he took his mouth to her neck, resisting the urge to kiss her there. What the hell was he doing? She was about to marry someone else. But her soft scent wafted over the smell of alcohol, cigarette and drugs, and the sound of her breathing, which had sped up since they started dancing together, infiltrated his enhanced shifter hearing. And now she released a soft moan, undoing his resolve. She filled every sense, invading his being and making the beast inside him want to rise and take her.

  Dancing with her had been a shit idea. Time to say good night and go back to his apartment. But then she lifted her face again. Her eyes were bright, pupils dilated and lips parted, expectant. At that point, he couldn’t have pulled back even if he wanted.

  Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers. When she moaned in response, he deepened the kiss, pausing to stroke her bottom lip with his tongue. Her taste…exquisite. She kissed him back with urgency, sending a surge of violent heat rushing through him. The right thing would be to pull back, but he was under a damn spell as his mouth moved over hers. And then her lips parted as if inviting his tongue to enter her mouth. He did not even try to resist. He entered her hot mouth with his tongue, and as he explored her warmth, he felt rather than heard her moans. And then her bloody hand traveled between them to his trouser waistband, but when she tried to grab the bulge between his legs, he held her wrist, moving it away. She pulled her lips from his, confusion on her face when he shook his head.

  This wasn’t right.

  But the primal need inside him took over, and he pressed his lips to hers again, kissing her as his hands moved all over her of their own accord. As she writhed against him, he kept one hand on her backside, pushing her core to his erection, and moved the other to cup her breast. When he rubbed her nipple through the material of her dress, she moaned against his mouth, “Let’s get out of here.”

  He froze. He shouldn’t be doing this. She was a customer, and he was a manager here. But her soft murmurs coaxed him, melting his resistance.

  Fuck it. He wanted her. And he wasn’t working at the moment, was he?

  He took her by the hand to drag her away from the dance floor. He had no idea what madness overtook him as he pushed past bodies, unable to wait to get the human alone. As he hurried up the stairway to the first landing, it was torture keeping her body away from his for even that length of time. He hit the security panel that would allow him access to the staff area. As soon as they were in the corridor, he had her up against the wall as he kissed her again.

  His office…they needed to get to his office…

  But his beast wanted her with a hunger he couldn’t handle. He edged his body between her legs, rubbing against her as he kissed her, hard, his hands traveling over her body. He cupped her breast in his palm again, massaging the soft flesh before he pushed the material aside. She whimpered against his mouth when he stroked her nipple, her body jolting in his arms. He kissed his way down her neck and then took the erect bud into his mouth, sucking hard. He didn’t intend to be forceful and was about to take it down a notch when she gasped, “Yes…more…”

  Moving his hand from her waist, he slipped it under the hem of her dress, trailing his fingers up the insides of her thighs until he touched material. Her finger
s gripped his shoulders as she spread her legs wider, inviting him to explore her. His mouth moved to her other nipple, licking and teasing, as he slipped his fingers inside her panties. She was soaked, and knowing how much she wanted him only drove his own need. He slid a finger across her slit, and she moaned something unintelligible. When he pushed a finger into her tight opening, she drew a deep breath, her fingers pulling at his jacket as she released a small cry. His fangs threatened to emerge at the sound, but he forced them back.

  She’s human.

  She might want him, but it didn’t mean she was ready to see his beast. As he worked a second finger inside her, he whispered, “You’re so tight.” She tensed at his words, but he rubbed his thumb over her clit to relax her. Another deep moan escaped her mouth before her hips undulated, her inner muscles contracting as if she wanted to pull him in deeper. As he pushed into her, she grew even wetter as she pumped over his fingers.

  “Oh…that feels so good—”

  He shut her words off as he slanted his mouth over hers, pressing her lips open with his tongue. As he pushed his tongue into her mouth, its thrusts matching those of his fingers, her body shook and hips rocked harder. Her fingers went to his hair, twisting through it, her passionate whimpers urging him on.

  Damn, if this continued, he would fuck her here in the corridor. Judging by how turned on she was, she wouldn’t stop him, either. But he wanted to be somewhere private with her. Somewhere he knew they wouldn’t be disturbed.

  He pulled his fingers out of her, and she whimpered a protest. “Please…I need—”

  “I know.” His voice was strained, the urge to pull her to the floor and fuck her here strong. He took her arm again, leading her through the corridor. Outside his office, he grabbed the keys from his jacket, and as he struggled to open the door, she went to work on his neck, licking and sucking. “Wait,” he growled. “You’re not making this easier.”

  Bu then he drew his arm around her waist, pulling her up against his erection as he kissed her, turning the key with his other hand. Finally, the door opened, and he pushed her in ahead of him.

  She glanced around the room, at the desk and sofas. “Your office?”

  “Yes.”

  He kicked the door shut and then pulled her to him, kissing her savagely and maneuvering her until the back of her legs were against the sofa. Lowering her on to it, he covered her body with his. He used his knee to separate her thighs, settling between them as he plunged his tongue inside her mouth. He wanted to explore and kiss every inch of her, but there would be time for that later. For now, the need to be inside her was too strong.

  He gripped the hem of her dress, separating his lips from hers and moving back so he could pull the clothing over her arms. Despite the sexy dress, her underwear was of plain white cotton, designed for function, but he’d never seen anything more enticing. He opened the clasp of her bra, getting rid of the contraption. Her breasts were creamy, the tips pink and erect in invitation. He pulled her panties down over her heels and then stood back to remove his own clothing. As he stared down at her body, wanting to take in every dip and curve, he sensed her tense under his gaze. An unexpected reaction…

  He got rid of his jacket and shirt, and her mouth fell open at the sight of his muscled chest. Her gaze fixed on the tattoo on his shoulder before moving down, lingering on his trouser waistband. He returned her fascination with a grin as he pulled down his trousers and boxers. She glanced at his erection before her eyes darted away. If he wasn’t so damn desperate to fuck her, he would have wondered about that, too.

  He lowered himself onto her, the feel of her naked body sending him over the edge. As he kissed her, he palmed her breasts, teasing her nipples with his thumbs. It had the effect he wanted. She moaned, arching against him, her body begging for more. He lifted his mouth from her lips, moving down to latch on to her nipple, sucking it as he rolled the other between his thumb and forefinger.

  “Yes…” she moaned, her hands going to the back of his head and gripping him to her tight. As she squirmed underneath him, panting, she spread her legs, inviting him in. She wanted this as much as he did.

  Keeping one hand on her breast, he took the other between them, pushing into her tight entrance until she was slick and wanting around his fingers. And then he kissed her again as his hands went to her thighs, spreading them further apart. His breathing was labored as he pressed into her, only to experience resistance. When he pushed harder, she released a small cry, but this time it was not of pleasure…but of pain. Shit. Was she…? She couldn’t be. Not someone as passionate as her…

  He lifted his face to look at her, but she turned hers away, unwilling to meet his eyes. Damn it; she was a virgin? Or had been until he’d taken her virginity like a fucking pubescent. He wanted nothing more than to finish this, but he forced himself to pull out of her, cursing as he did.

  He turned his back to her…to her naked form, struggling to calm down. When he could speak, he said, “Get dressed and leave.”

  THE HUMILIATION WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

  Why the hell hadn’t she had sex when she was at university instead of behaving like the good girl she’d been taught to be?

  He now ran a hand through his dark hair, his naked back still to her as he spoke again. “You should get going.”

  Yes, she should. Back to that boring life. In just over two months, that religious ceremony would take place, and then she would be with Michael forever. Dear God, the thought of having sex with him turned her cold. Was he really to be her first proper sexual experience? The prospect made her want to hide inside herself.

  Until now, she believed she’d adjusted to the situation, welcomed it even. It was the way things were in their community, and the way she’d been brought up to be…but she was going into a lifetime of sex for procreation and not pleasure. And whether or not she welcomed it, she would be expected to share Michael’s bed whenever he demanded.

  Her eyes returned to the man before her. In the short time she’d been with him, he’d given her a pleasure she’d never expected to experience. Even now, heat surged through her at the thought of how far they’d gone. Yes, there had been pain, but there was also the pleasure of him filling her. But instead of continuing, he’d pulled away. As she stared at his magnificent form, muscled and masculine, she ached to be close to him. She couldn’t bear to leave this unfinished. This was her one chance to have such an experience with a man, and she didn’t care about humiliating herself for it.

  “I want this,” she told him.

  His gaze remained stuck to the carpet. “I can’t. And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let it go so far.”

  Her voice hardened. “I’m getting married soon, and—well, let’s just say he doesn’t do it for me—” She broke off, because it was the first time she’d admitted that to anyone. Even her friends thought she was waiting until after marriage only because it was the Association way. They had no idea she felt no desire for her future husband.

  “That’s why you still haven’t—” When she said nothing, he lifted his eyes, his brow creased. “Why the hell are you even marrying him?”

  “Because I have to.”

  “Have to…not because you want to?”

  She shook her head. Again, something she’d never admitted before. It was a relief to let the mask slip. For an organization that purported to place great emphasis on truth, its members weren’t allowed to express it, were they? Something fell on to her cheek, and Ivy wiped at it. Tears? Of course there would be. Before now, she’d never allowed herself to consider how unhappy she was about her decision…that she didn’t want to marry Michael and was only doing it because there was no other choice.

  “Please,” she said, “I want this before I...”

  He shifted closer and wiped at her tears. He stared at the drop on the end of his finger. “Are you sure you want this?” When she nodded, he looked around the room. “In an office…on a sofa…you want this to be your first time?”

 
Again, she spoke the truth. “As long as it’s with you, I don’t care…”

  She was unable to finish because his lips met hers. As her need for him spiked, he murmured against her mouth, “How much have you experienced?”

  She contemplated lying, but although her lack of sexual experience was embarrassing, she felt as if she could tell him the truth. “My fiancé and I have only kissed…”

  He lifted his face, frowning down at her. He took a hand to her breast, flicking her nipple and sending another shot of heat to between her legs. “You’d never experienced this before?” She shook her head as a small whimper left her mouth. He kissed her lips again, his mouth moving down to her breast. As he sucked one nipple and then the other, an ache wound tight inside her. “Please…”

  He lifted his head, his eyes on her face as he stuck a finger into her sex again, pumping until she bit her bottom lip to hold back the wanton cry. “And I suppose nobody had touched you here before, either?”

  She panted loud, his words and exploration of her private parts almost driving her to beg him to end the torture. And then he pulled his finger out of her, taking her by the shoulders and easing her back on to the sofa.

  He kneeled between her legs and then palmed her thighs, spreading them before he lifted her hips. And then…dear God…he pressed his lips against her sex. After a soft kiss, he closed his mouth around her clit, forcing a scream from her lips. He sucked her there, soft and then harder, growling at the same time. An intense heat gathered at her core, threatening to overwhelm her as her hands gripped his hair, pressing him tighter against her. And then he shifted, running his tongue all the way up her slit. She trembled underneath him, sensation after sensation shooting through her.

  Just as the pressure became too much to bear, he sat back, pulling her by the shoulders as if she weighed nothing and straddling her across his lap. She didn’t get a chance to look at him before he took her lips again. With one hand gripping her hair and holding her in place, he used the other to shift her hips and lower her onto his erect manhood. He was gentler this time, easing into her inch by inch, making her moan with pleasure. With one final push, he was all the way inside her. This time, there was no pain, only the intensity of him being inside her. But even as anticipation rushed through her, he did not move.