On the Prowl

by Desiree Holt

  It amused him to see the cops scurrying around like busy ants, not knowing exactly who or what they were looking for. He’d swallowed a laugh when one of the two uniforms first on the scene—young, from what the killer could judge in the light from the porch—had hung his head over the railing and puked his guts out.

  He wasn’t sure what he got the most pleasure from—the rape, the killing afterwards or watching all the activity. Or maybe it was watching the friendly look on their faces turn in an instant to one of fear. Oh, yes. That definitely got him hot. He reached down and stroked his erection through the fabric of his pants as he relived that moment.

  He’d discovered the blood lust at sixteen, when an encounter with a female panther had maddened him. That first time, he’d been so overcome with rage at her attempt to push him away that the rape and killing had occurred almost without any thought on his part. Afterwards, staring at the remains, he’d felt a satisfaction that exceeded anything he received from normal sexual activity. The killing had been the icing on the cake.

  The pack alpha had assisted in hushing the whole thing up and the killer was sure a large amount of money had been handed over to the teenager’s family. He’d had to listen to a lecture from the alpha as well as his father, and received punishment for what he’d done, which made him even angrier. That would have been that if he’d been able to control himself, but after the second killing he’d been ostracised from the pack. Tossed out like some piece of garbage. It pleased him greatly to know that he could continue his streak at will and neither the pack nor humans were able to stop him.

  As the first edges of dawn crept up in the sky, the killer made his way back to his car and drove off, satisfied with his night’s work.

  * * * *

  Max refilled his mug and Seth’s from the pot he’d put on when he’d met his brother at the bar. Seth raised his slightly in a gesture of thanks and took a swallow of the hot, rich brew. He’d need all the caffeine he could get to last through the day and into the evening. Sleep was a distant reward with all that he had to do.

  “Why don’t you take a nap in my office later?” Max suggested, as if he’d read his brother’s mind. He pointed to the big couch. “That may not be as comfortable as a bed but it serves the purpose.”

  Seth shrugged. “Maybe. I’ll see how it goes today.”

  “If you don’t get a little sleep you won’t be any good to anyone, you idiot. Listen to your older brother.”

  Seth snorted. “Oh, yeah. As if being one year older makes such a difference.”

  Max finished duplicating the credit card slips on the copy machine and handed the last of them to Seth. “Well, there you go. I wish you good luck. I don’t know how the hell you’re going to figure out who’s a killer from these. They’re all pretty much regulars and I’ve never seen anything off about them.”

  “That’s the thing. This guy manages to blend in. Appear normal. Not give off any signals.”

  “You’d think he’d at least carry a different scent,” Max remarked.

  “My guess is his scent is so mixed that he just blends in among all the breeds. Which doesn’t make my job any easier.” He swallowed another mouthful of coffee. “Thing is, it’s as though he just woke up one morning and started doing this. If he’d been littering the place with victims for years, we’d have a red alert out for him.”

  “You think he’s from outside the area? That he’s been doing this in other places?”

  “No. We widened our search for similar crimes all over the Southeast and West. Nothing showed up.” Seth raked his fingers through his hair. “What I do think, however, is that whatever is causing him to do this only incites him intermittently.”

  “So what does he do in between?” Max wanted to know.

  “That’s the question. And why he hasn’t left a trail anywhere else. Something triggered this. I wish I knew what.”

  Max clapped him on the shoulder. “Good luck. I’ll do anything I can to help. You know that.”

  Seth took the stack of receipts and pushed himself out of the chair. “See you later. And I might show up early enough to take that nap.”

  Chapter Five

  Max looked up from pulling a draught beer when Kendall walked into The Litter Box. It was just shy of nine o’clock and the crowd was looking small, even for a weeknight. She noticed that Aisha had taken one of the stools at the very end of the bar and saved the one next to it for her.

  “Seth’s sacked out in the office,” Max told her. “Catching a nap before everyone descends at nine o’clock.” He glanced around. “He doesn’t need to rush. We aren’t that busy right now. The rogue probably won’t be trolling yet.”

  “Is he affecting your business, Max?” She had worried about that all along.

  “Not really. Weeknights are iffy, sometimes up, sometimes not.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I made fresh coffee if you want to take him a cup. He should be getting up soon, anyway.”

  “Okay. I think I will.” She looked at Aisha. “I’ll be back. Don’t let anyone grab my seat.”

  “No sweat.” She laughed. “I’ll just have Max run them off.”

  “Ha ha.” But Max smiled at her, his feelings for her simmering in his eyes.

  Kendall eased the office door open and closed it gently behind her, flipping the lock. Seth was stretched out on the couch, shoes and blazer off, tie loosened, a lock of black hair falling over his forehead. She set the mug of coffee on the desk then sat down at the edge of the couch, stroking his face lightly.

  “I know you think you’re sneaking up on me,” he said in the deep voice that always sent shivers skittering through her. “But I caught your scent the minute you opened the door.” He opened one eye. “Can’t fool a panther.”

  She leaned down and kissed him, intending it to be just a light touch, but he wrapped his arms around her, wound his fingers in her hair and took the kiss to a much deeper level. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, carrying heat and temptation with it. She slid her own tongue over his, loving the taste of him and inhaling his scent. He always smelt of earth and wood and…cat, an aroma that woke up every pheromone in her body.

  One large warm hand caressed her back and tugged up the thin fabric of her summer dress. His lean fingers slid across the bare skin of the cheek of her ass, finding the thong in the hot crevice and tracing the length of it. Kendall trembled as she always did at his touch.

  “I don’t think we have time for this right now,” she protested but without much conviction.

  “We always have time for this.” His mouth curved in a sexy grin. “I’ve been waiting for you so you could give me a proper hello.”

  His warm palm caressed the curve of her buttocks, his fingers trailing through the cleft between the cheeks. Kendall sucked in a breath as heat shot through her and cream soaked her thong.

  “You are so bad,” she breathed, leaning forward.

  “Just the way you like me,” he teased. He turned her, giving him greater access to her ass. He teased the tight ring of her anus and pressed it with a fingertip. “As soon as we get this mess cleaned up, I plan on letting my cat out and have you do the same, and I’m going to fuck you right here. Plunge my dick into your tight ass. Then you’ll be mine forever.”

  Kendall trembled as the image blasted across her mind and she nipped Seth’s ear lobe.

  His hand slipped around to her front and down until he reached her very wet pussy. Two fingers rubbed her clit, sending shards of icy heat racing through her.

  In a frenzy of lust, Seth yanked at her thong, ripping the fabric and tossing it to the side. Moving her so she straddled him, he unzipped his slacks and freed his heavy erection. Kendall glanced down at him. He was so hard and ready.

  Seth lifted her slightly with his hands on her hips.

  “Use your hand to guide me, sugar.” His voice was tight and raspy. “Take me inside you. Hurry.”

  She wrapped her fingers around his length and slowly lowered herself onto h
im. The sensation of him filling her like this was so intense she had to close her eyes, letting the powerful feeling engulf her. At once tiny spasms began to ripple through her.

  “Hang on, sweetheart.” Seth’s words sounded strangled. “One second here.”

  He found her clit and rubbed it, thumb sweeping back and forth.

  “Ohhhh,” she whimpered.

  “Now, Kendall. Now, now, now.”

  With the force of a tornado her orgasm crashed through her, shaking her body, Seth exploding beneath her. She felt every pulsation of his cock, felt every clench of her inner muscles around him. Nothing existed except their joining, the combined heat and the wave after wave of lust that rolled through her. Despite the mind-blowing intensity, she wanted to hang on to the ride and make it last forever.

  Finally spent, she collapsed forward onto his hard chest, his strong arms cradling her, brushing kisses with his sensuous lips over her forehead and cheeks.

  “Well…” His deep voice rolled over her like melted butter. “That was a hell of a greeting.”

  She lifted her head enough to smile at him. “If we had more time I could make it even better.”

  He laughed and sat up with her, adjusting her on his lap. “I’ll hold you to that later.”

  “Promises, promises.” She scooted off his lap. “And now I have no panties to wear, you caveman.”

  “But think how horny I’ll be knowing that, the whole time you’re sitting there next to my sister-in-law.” He touched a finger to her lips. “And no dancing with anyone. If I see anyone’s hand on your ass I might have to do a little clawing of my own.”

  “No chance of that, with you standing next to me glowering.” She laughed. “Your coffee’s cold. Let’s get you a fresh cup. The club should be filling up a little more by now.”

  They both took a moment to be sure their clothes were arranged and that they looked presentable. Then Seth unlocked the door and guided her out to her stool at the bar.

  The rogue mixed breed leaned against the wall and surveyed the club. For the moment the crowd was giving the jukebox a rest so the noise level rose only with the volume of people’s voices. He grinned at two women who walked by him on their way to the ladies’ room, his usual smile that was one half reassuring and one half I’d-like-to-fuck-you. It was a look he’d perfected since he first began hunting.

  Others smiled at him as they drifted from the dance floor to the few tables or simply stood with their drinks. He loved the way the women looked after they had been dancing for a while. Sweaty. Clothes plastered to their bodies. The scent of their musk so strong he had a hard time keeping his cock in his pants.

  Careful here. Remember how hard you’ve worked to be the familiar face that women feel safe with. The one they love to laugh with. Chatter with.

  The crowd wasn’t quite as thick tonight as it had been, but he chalked most of that up to it being a weeknight. Wednesdays were always jumping but a lot of that was the result of the extended Happy Hour. He’d expected a little blowback because of the attacks, but he’d been around The Litter Box long enough to know that even fear didn’t keep these breeds away for long. This was one of the very few places—actually the one at the top of the list—where they could be confident there weren’t any humans in the crowd. If one happened to stray in, they were made to feel unwelcome enough that they never returned.

  He cast his eyes over the women one at a time. He’d really like a piece of the honey blonde sitting at the bar, but it was becoming more and more obvious she belonged to the fucking cop always hanging around. When the rage had first seized him, he’d had his eyes on Aisha McClellan. But now she was the boss’ wife, and if he didn’t want to bring down the wrath of hell on himself, he’d best stay away from her.

  His gazed wandered to the blonde again. She was just so damned tempting. It would serve the cop—Max’s brother, no less—right if he used her. That guy was just too condescending, the way he hung out and looked at everyone like they were suspects he wanted to drag down to the station and lock in an interrogation room. He and the owner had gone to great lengths to tell people he was there to see if he could spot the killer. That he’d protect them. The club even gave out flyers to all the women telling them what to do to be safe. The rogue smothered a laugh.

  As if.

  I’ll be gone before you can catch me. Maybe I’ll leave you with a special souvenir.

  But then he spotted a familiar face, another blonde that he’d developed a casual acquaintanceship with and his inner beast began to growl and hiss.

  Okay. Let’s put her on the menu for tonight.

  Max took advantage of a slight break in the orders to spend a little time with his wife and talk to Seth about The Shredder. He leaned on the end of the bar next to where Seth was standing.

  “Were those receipts I gave you the other day any help?”

  Seth made a face. “So far no hits, but we’re still checking every single name that popped up multiple times.”

  “I hate to think one of my regular customers is this genetic mutant.” He looked around the room. “I find myself studying every man in here, looking to see if I can spot something out of line. You know—a glance, a gesture.”

  Seth shook his head. “Forget it. The Shredder’s perfected his act to the point where he doesn’t give himself away.”

  “But you do agree with me that he finds out where these women live by talking to them, right? That they feel safe with him? Even attracted to him?”

  “Yes. I don’t know how else he’d be able to learn all that. He’s easy to talk to. Smooth. A familiar face.”

  Aisha snorted. “That could describe half the men in here. Including the two of you.”

  “That’s what bothers me,” Max told them. “I know a lot of these guys almost as well as I know myself. It’s going to kill me if it turns out to be one of them.”

  “I wish I could promise you differently,” Seth told him, “but a familiar face from here is the most likely. It’s just frustrating the hell out of me that no matter how much I study everyone, I can’t spot him.”

  “Because,” Max reminded him, “like you said, he’s perfected the appearance he shows the public.”

  “I’d like to shred him myself,” Seth muttered.

  Kendall looked around. “It just gives me the creeps to think he could be looking at me right now.”

  Seth closed his hand over hers. “You can believe one thing. It’s obvious even to a blind person that you belong to me. And that Aisha’s taken. So at least the two of you are off the table for him.”

  “I wish all the other women had the same protection.”

  * * * *

  Despite the urging from the Rogan brothers, Kendall and Aisha had insisted on staying until closing. The last of the crowd had finally gone, Leo had left and Max turned the lock on the front door.

  “See you tomorrow night,” he told his brother. “At least in two more days it’s Sunday and we all get a day off.”

  “I asked the captain to ask for help from the sheriff’s department, stepping up the patrols. Maybe we’ll get lucky.” He helped Kendall off the stool. “Come on, gorgeous, let’s go home to bed.”

  She whispered in his ear, “But not to sleep, right?”

  Seth nipped at her lower lip. “I love an insatiable woman.”

  * * * *

  Cindy had meant to leave early, but she’d been having such a good time. Tonight she’d danced more than usual. She wanted to think it was because the men had finally discovered she was a jewel in dull clothing, rather than the fact there happened to be fewer women tonight. A couple of the men she’d danced with a few times had even bought her drinks.

  But when it had come time to leave, she’d regretfully turned down a couple of invitations to follow her home. Until this maniac was caught, she was keeping her socialising strictly to public places, even with cats she knew well.

  Because, really, how well do you actually know anyone?

  Quit ta
lking to yourself. You’re fine. Just get home, get in the house and lock the door.

  If she hadn’t still been talking to herself, she wouldn’t have been so startled by the familiar figure suddenly beside her in her driveway. Her eyes widened.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He smiled at her, the familiar curving of his full lips that always made her feel good. “Just doing my part to see you women get home safely.”

  “Silly.” She juggled her keys until she had her house key between her fingers. “You can’t see everyone home.”

  “Just my favourites. Come on. Let’s get you in the house.”

  His fingers closed over her elbow, urging her up onto her porch. He put his hand casually against her back as she unlocked the door and pushed it open. In the little foyer she turned to him.

  “Thanks so much for doing this. I’m fine now.”

  Before she could blink, he raised his hand and smacked her so hard on the side of the head that her ears rang. She stumbled and fell to the floor. “What are you doing?” she cried, as he pulled off his clothing. Then her eyes widened in fear. “Ohmigod! You’re…you’re him! Oh, Lord. Oh, help!”

  She opened her mouth to scream but he leant down and slapped her again. Hard. Dazed, her brain rattling, she tried desperately to scrabble backwards but he was on her now, ripping her clothes away. He clamped his hand over her mouth as he shoved her legs apart and entered her brutally. That was the last memory she would ever have.

  Chapter Six

  They were lying naked in Kendall’s bed. She had her head on his shoulder, her fingers idly toying with the thick hair on his chest, his hand lazily stroking her arm. He was doing his best to relax, but the ever-present spectre of The Shredder continued to loom over him.