by Angel Nyx
Since she and Keith were celebrating their two-year anniversary that night after she got off work, she dressed accordingly: low rise jeans that fit her like a glove, crimson bustier that enhanced her cleavage more than usual and left several inches of her tummy bare, and a black lace vest she would remove before they actually went out. The vest was for work. She might like the way she looked in the bustier, and she knew Keith would love it, but she wasn’t going to flaunt the goods in front of their customers. It wasn’t professional. She wore the barest minimum of makeup but would change it before going to the club. She had her chestnut hair pulled up into a twist to keep it off her neck. Her hazel eyes were accentuated with eyeliner that brought out the green in them, and dark red lipstick topped off the look. After a quick glance at herself in the mirror, she nodded approvingly and headed out.
“Bonjour, cher. I was beginnin’ to tink you weren’t comin’ in today,” Emile, Lily’s boss and the owner of Gathering Grounds Bookstore and Coffee Shop, said when Lily slipped into the coffee shop and moved behind the counter. He was pure Cajun and some people had a hard time understanding him when he really got going, but Lily loved to listen to him talk. She could sit for hours and listen to him tell stories of his childhood growing up in the bayous around New Orleans. Some of the tales he had, the things he’d done, were enough to make her realize that the bayou was no place for a person who didn’t know how to traverse it. The threat of quicksand and gators was enough to keep Lily from wandering too far when she slipped her human skin and went for a run.
“Psh, as if I’d do that to you?” She slipped an apron over her head and tied it around her waist. “You know I’d neva leave you hangin’ like dat.” She winked at him just to make him laugh. She loved his Cajun so much she got a kick out of using it herself at work.
“Go on wit’ you.” Emile laughed for several seconds before his tone turned serious. “Someone came in here earlier askin’ about you. Didn’t know it was you until he showed me a picture. He was askin’ about someone named Lily Quinn.”
Lily was in the middle of fixing one of the regular customers their usual. Every day they came in and got a triple-shot dark-chocolate mocha. She was so startled by his comment she damn near burned herself before she got control of her suddenly shaking hands. “Really?” She kept voice neutral, or as neutral as she could get it with her heart pounding in her chest. “Did he say why he was looking for me or leave a name?” She tried to sound nonchalant as she set the drink in front of the customer.
“Just said he needed to talk to you. Name’s Declan Monroe. So, what’s dis about your name bein’ Quinn and not Harper?”
“Quinn is my former name.” She knew it would sound like she was giving a married name, as if she’d gotten divorced and had gone back to her maiden name, but that was one secret she wasn’t ready to share with her boss. Or anyone, for that matter. “What did you tell him?”
“Told him I didn’t know a Lily Quinn but I did know a Lily Harper dat looked a lot like da Lily in da photo. I s’pect he’ll be back.”
“You’re probably right about that.” She tried to not think about it too hard, which wasn’t an easy feat. Her heart was suddenly pounding with fear and she remembered her restless night. Had she somehow sensed that someone was looking for her? Was that why she’d started having those damn nightmares again? She suppressed a shudder and pushed the memory of the dreams away. Thinking about them would only distract her from work.
She turned her thoughts, instead, to the man who came in asking about her. The only Monroe she knew was Liam Monroe, an older pack member she’d not always gotten along with and one of the two males her father had decided would be a good mate for her.
After a few minutes of thought, she vaguely remembered something about Liam having an older brother, who’d left not long after he’d turned eighteen, and hadn’t been back since. She wondered, could Declan be Liam’s brother? He had to be. The only people who would know her real name were from her old pack. Somehow her father must have found out she was living in New Orleans and sent him after her. But why him and not someone she knew?
Shaking her head, Lily realized there wasn’t much she could do about it right now. Getting herself worked up over it wasn’t going to help her do her job so she pushed it out of her mind and focused on her work. There wasn’t anything she could do about the man; he knew where she worked, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to run away from the life she’d made for herself in New Orleans just because they’d finally tracked her down. The city had become her home and she wasn’t giving it up for anyone.
“Hello, beautiful.” Keith Reynolds slid onto a barstool at the counter and gave his girlfriend a warm smile.
“Hi, handsome.” Lily leaned over and gave him a lingering kiss and smiled warmly at him. “What can I get for you—your usual? Or are you going to finally give in and try something new?” He rarely got anything other than chai tea.
“Actually, beautiful, I think I want to try that new tea you’ve been talking about, the one you came up with.”
Lily blinked. “Feeling adventurous today, I see. Alright then, one Lupine Spice coming right up.” She’d been experimenting with different spices one day when she’d come up with the blend. It was a white tea with ginger, cinnamon, clove, and anise, and so far anyone who’d tried it really liked it.
Keith watched her make it, and when she set the steaming cup in front of him, he took a tentative sip. “Wow, babe, this is really good.”
“See? I told you that you’d like it if you tried it.”
He laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I’m going to go sit over in the corner and enjoy this while you finish your shift. We’re still on for the club, right?”
“Did you not notice what I’m wearing?” She took the apron off and stepped back to give him a good view before she put the apron back on so she could finish work.
Keith whistled. “Hot, babe, very hot.” He went to the table he always sat at while he waited for her shift to end and sipped his tea quietly.
Lily did a little curtsy and flashed him a grin. “Thank you. I was hoping you’d like it.” After two years together, it still made her feel warm and happy when he complimented her. She also knew what he liked, after dating for so long, and she was hoping her outfit was a big enough turn-on that he decided to stay the night with her later after they went out. She had some big, romantic plans for them once they went back to her apartment.
Over the hour leading up to her getting off work, she flirted with Keith multiple times. Lily couldn’t help but preen when he told her if she kept it up they might not make it to the club.
Chapter Three
Declan
Declan stepped into the shop and his gaze was instantly drawn to the brunette behind the counter. He’d seen Lily’s photo; hell, he’d stared it at every damn day since Magnis had given it to him, if he was completely honest with himself, but the photo didn’t do her justice. His gaze traveled quickly over her and what he saw made his cock twitch. Chestnut hair pulled up in a twist gave full view of her heart-shaped face. Her hazel eyes were more green than brown, and he found himself wondering what color her wolf’s eyes were when she shifted. Her full breasts were pushed up enticingly in a crimson bustier that was designed to draw the eye to a woman’s cleavage. Luscious curves were encased in snug jeans that rode low on her hips and he was sure that, without the apron on, he would have gotten glimpses of her stomach. The woman was fucking gorgeous.
As he got close enough to catch her scent, he froze. His wolf, who rarely took notice of women, was suddenly alert. Her honey and vanilla scent made his body tighten and his wolf growled in his head. The attraction was intense, overwhelming, and immediate. It took several seconds for him to realize why his wolf was in a sudden frenzy over the woman. Son of a bitch. She was his mate. He wasn’t looking for a mate and he didn’t need this complication. He pushed his wolf down as he approached the counter. “You’re a hard woman to find, Lily Quinn.” His voice came out i
n a growl as he struggled to retain control over his wolf.
“I’m not Lily Quinn anymore.”
“So I hear. You’re going by Lily Harper now. Where’d you come up with that? Never mind. It doesn’t matter. You know why I’m here. Your father sent me to take you home.” Declan was a man who usually had tight control of his wolf, but one whiff of Lily’s scent and he was struggling to keep his wolf from trying to claim her right then and there. Fucking hell. Finding a mate was the last fucking thing on his list. He was a hard man—he’d lived a violent life—and that left its mark on a person. The woman in front of him didn’t look like she could handle someone like him. Not to mention the fact she was nearly fifteen years younger than him. This was a fucking disaster.
Lily
When the front door to the shop had opened, Lily’s eyes had been drawn to the man who stepped inside. The first thing she noticed was a pair of blue-gray eyes that reminded her of a winter storm. Her gaze took in the straight, aristocratic nose, high cheekbones, angular jaw, and sensual lips, and her mouth watered a little. It was both embarrassing and unsettling, considering her boyfriend of two years was sitting not all that far away from her. His black hair was pulled back in a ponytail but she could tell it was at least shoulder length. Broad shoulders were encased in a black T-shirt that clung to his upper body and showed off his tight abs. The shirt was tucked into snug-fitting jeans that did little to hide the fact he was not a small man. She had to force her gaze back up to his eyes as he approached the counter.
His scent hit her seconds before he opened his mouth to speak. When Emile had told her someone was looking for her, using her birth name and flashing a photo of her, she’d had the feeling Declan Monroe was a shifter. Now she knew she was right. The human part of her wanted to run but her wolf wanted to roll herself in his scent. It was beyond disconcerting, considering the circumstances. Her wolf’s reaction to him, to his scent, threw her off-kilter in a big way, and she wasn’t entirely sure how to get through this conversation without saying something she might later regret. Or doing something that would embarrass the hell out of her and do more harm than good.
“I think I know why you’re here but it doesn’t matter. You can just drive right back to Slatefall and tell my father he can kiss my ass. This is my home now and I have no intention of leaving New Orleans. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish up because it’s almost time for my shift to end, and my boyfriend and I have plans.” She moved away from him and felt his eyes on her the entire time she cleaned up, counted down the register, and removed her apron. “I’m out of here, Emile.” She waved to her boss before she headed to where Keith waited for her.
“Adyeu, cher, have fun now.” Emile waved her off.
“Oh, I plan to.” She slipped her arm through Keith’s and headed for the door, trying her best to ignore the pair of eyes she felt watching her the entire way there.
Declan
Declan watched her leave with some guy and had to force down the growl that threatened to escape him. His wolf didn’t like that his mate was out with another male. He finished his coffee quickly, set the cup on the counter, and headed out after them. If Lily thought she was going to get rid of him that easily she had a rude awakening coming.
One of the many advantages to being a shifter was their heightened sense of smell. Wherever Lily and her boyfriend were headed, they’d opted to walk, and Declan had no trouble following her scent. It tantalized him, aroused him, damn near drove him crazy with lust. He wanted to strip her down and get her beneath him. He doubted she’d ever been with another shifter. If she had, there is no way she would have settled for a human male. They just couldn’t compare to shifter males.
Declan caught up to them outside one of the clubs in the French Quarter. He watched from a distance as Lily touched up her makeup, let her hair down and ran her fingers through it, then removed the lace vest and put it in the bag slung over her shoulder. His cock stiffened at the bit of skin exposed between the bottom of her bustier and the top of her jeans. He wanted to lick every inch of her creamy skin. He wanted to wrap her hair around his fist and guide her mouth to his cock and watch her swallow him down before he buried himself in her wet heat. Fuck, he really didn’t need this distraction. He was there for a reason: to take her home. His Alpha gave him a job to do and he was a man of his word. He told his Alpha he would bring his wayward daughter home; he needed to keep his mind on that and forget about his attraction to her.
Lily
“You find us a table; I’ll go grab our drinks,” Keith yelled over the noise of the club. He kissed Lily’s cheek and headed toward the bar. The bodies were five deep so it would be a little wait to place their orders.
Lily moved through the crowd until she found a small table tucked into a corner. She slid into one of the seats before anyone else could and turned her attention to the music. It pounded through her and made her pulse race. Or maybe that was the memory of Declan’s winter-storm eyes and heady scent. No. No way in hell was she letting her mind go there. It was the music. Nothing else. Just the music. If she kept telling herself that, maybe she would convince herself it was the truth.
Her focus was on the dance floor when she realized she was no longer alone. She didn’t need her nose to tell her who it was; Keith would have spoken up as he set her drink in front of her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She turned her attention away from the dance floor and her eyes narrowed at the shifter who’d sat across from her.
“Sitting down, what’s it look like? We have unfinished business, Lily.”
“No, we don’t. I said all I needed to say to you back at Gathering Grounds. I’m here to celebrate my two-year anniversary with my boyfriend, whom I care very deeply for, and you’re not welcome.”
Declan looked at her. “You can’t possibly think I’d believe you’re really happy with him. He’s human, you’re a shifter. You can’t be happy having to hide so much of yourself from him. And I know the sex can’t be as good as it is between shifters. Human males don’t have the stamina we do.” He flashed her a wicked grin.
Lily glared at him. “I don’t really care what you believe. I’m very happy with him, thank you very much.” A growl trickled from between her lips. “I’m sure you know all about what sex is like with non-shifters. I can just imagine the number of humans you’ve fucked.” She wasn’t going to even consider giving thought to why the idea of him fucking a bunch of women bothered her. No way in hell was she going to let her mind go there.
“A man has needs.”
“Well then, Declan Monroe, take a look around. There are plenty of sluts here who would get on their knees to suck your cock. Go find one of them because I’m not interested.”
Declan leaned closer to her, and his eyes flashed silver for just a moment before returning to their usual blue-gray color. “You and I both know you’re lying through your teeth right now, doll. I can smell your arousal. I’ll bet you’re wondering what my cock would taste like, how it would feel filling your wet pussy.”
Before Lily could reply, Keith reached the table. “Are you stalking my girlfriend, buddy? I saw you harassing her at the coffee shop, and now here. Do I need to call the cops on your ass?”
Lily took the drink Keith had gotten her and sipped from it before she stood. “Go fuck yourself,” she said to Declan and threw the rest of her drink in his face. Then she gripped Keith’s hand and headed to the dance floor. Here was hoping Declan finally got the message and left her the hell alone.
They were slow dancing—Lily’s head was resting on Keith’s shoulder, but her mind kept going to Declan. He’d infuriated her with the things he’d said but on some level he’d also turned her on. What was wrong with her? She was content with her life the way it was. She had a good man who made her happy, and she wasn’t the kind of woman to think about another man while in a relationship. Yet here she was doing exactly that.
“It’s getting late.”
Keith’s voice pulled h
er from her thoughts and she sighed softly. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Keith slipped his arm around her waist and headed for the door.
Lily glanced toward the table she’d been sitting at earlier but Declan wasn’t there. She didn’t see him nearby in the crowd so she assumed he’d finally left. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore that night, but she knew he wasn’t going to leave town that easily. She couldn’t get that lucky.
Once outside she shifted closer to Keith and slid her arm around his waist when Keith draped his arm over her shoulder. She snuggled into his side with a smile. “I’m really glad we went out tonight even if it is a work night for both of us. I think we needed it. Especially you. You’ve been working too hard.”
Keith tightened his hold on her. “I know, babe. Things have been really crazy at the office lately. This new acquisition in Baton Rouge has everyone running around like chickens with their heads cut off.”
“Well, maybe I can help ease some of the stress for you.” Once they reached her apartment building, she headed toward the door but stopped because Keith wasn’t moving with her. “Aren’t you coming up, honey?”
Keith gave her a pained look. “I can’t, sweetheart. I have to be at the office at the crack of dawn tomorrow and it wouldn’t be fair to you to disturb your sleep.” He lifted a hand to her cheek. “I’m sorry. I know we had plans to spend the entire night together, but I was told as I was leaving work this evening that I needed to be there at six tomorrow morning. Rain check until this weekend?”
