Carnal

by Stone, Piper

  “Come for me, little one. Come.”

  I wiggled under him, clenching once again, whimpering as he threw his head back and roared. But I couldn’t hold back any longer. The orgasm came in an almost violent wave, driving me straight to pure ecstasy.

  “Oh. Oh. Oh!” This time, my scream was loud and crazed, shooting out in all directions. I realized he’d slowed down but the look on his face screamed of his need to come. I clamped down a third time and the moment I did, he shook his head, pulling all the way out.

  “Bad!”

  I grinned, reaching for him but soon realizing I would never be in control. As he thrust me onto my stomach, he jerked my arms over my head, using one hand to keep my wrists together. There was no further hesitation and I held my breath the moment he slipped his cockhead into the crack of my ass.

  “Mmm... Oh. Oh...” This time, he wasn’t gentle, plunging the entire length inside. “Fuck!” I undulated and fought as my muscles constricted, pulling him in even deeper.

  He rested on top of me, shifting back and forth. “So tight. So fucking tight.”

  The few seconds of discomfort turned into such a beautiful bliss, my legs quivering and my heart racing. I pressed my cheek against the cool wood of the table, gasping for air. I wasn’t certain I could ever walk again.

  The heat of his breath and the weight of his body felt so right, perfect in every manner. As he nuzzled into me, he nipped my neck several times, as if marking me as his. This was different, more intense yet intimate. We were as one, if only for a few beautiful moments in time. Even the way he filled me was special.

  He began to rock, rolling his hips up as he thrust in and out my aching bottom, still keeping my arms prisoner. I tried to meet every hard drive by shifting my hips, but the man was fully in control. I felt his entire body begin to tremble, his breathing even more ragged than before. He was on fire, the heat from his skin searing mine. I felt like we were combusting together.

  As he issued a series of low and husky growls, I could swear the tone changed, even more dangerous. Even more possessive. I simply closed my eyes, floating in freedom.

  I knew he was close to coming and the moment I tried to usurp my only method of control, I could swear he was swelling. Within seconds, the feel was entirely different. I was so full, my muscles being stretched. “Oh...”

  He huffed, pushing up and letting go of my hands, leaning over me as he powered in and out in rapid succession. The strength of the man was incredible, the force of his actions scooting the table back and forth across the kitchen floor.

  And he was swelling even more, leaving me gasping for air, my muscles aching as they accepted the extra girth. How could he grow any larger? I blinked and moaned, smacking my hands on the table as the tingling sensations inside shifted from tensing to opening up like a flower. This was insane. This was nuts. I could swear I was having an orgasm.

  I could barely recognize his voice as he plunged harder and faster, his hands white-knuckled from the strength used to grip the edges of the table.

  The single cracking sound wasn’t imagined. He was breaking the table apart. Within a few more seconds, he was nothing more than a barbarian, taking exactly what he wanted. I could feel him expanding even more and I now struggled to breathe as I clenched down once again.

  The roar erupted from his throat seconds before I felt the spew of hot cum filling my ass. He shook violently for a full minute, his fingers still wrapped around the wood as if holding on for dear life.

  Then everything was quiet.

  I took several deep breaths, shocked he was still so hard. So very hard. As he eased his massive body down on mine, I found his hands with my own.

  Max finally let go, intertwining our fingers and together, we remained exactly like we were for several minutes.

  And all I could think about was that we’d been mated.

  Chapter Ten

  Kathleen

  Mated.

  The word hadn’t left my mind since he’d come inside of me. Even an hour later, wrapped in a fuzzy robe and sitting on the couch holding a new and very full glass of wine, the word hovered at the forefront. I darted a look in his direction. Jesus. He looked different to me, more primal in a crazy manner.

  I rubbed my temple, finally forcing myself to close my eyes. He’d barely said two words since that most amazing sexual event, but I knew we had to talk. The other word that had entered my mind was trust.

  Yes, for some crazy reason I did trust him.

  “What are you really doing here, Max?” I finally asked, trying to break the ice.

  “I told you before, checking on you. Why are you asking?”

  “Because I didn’t call you,” I said quietly.

  He exhaled, glancing around the room. “Are you all right otherwise? I have a feeling you’re not telling me something.”

  “Why? You sound like you know something I don’t.”

  I licked my lips, looking the other way as I waited for his answer. I knew I’d have to confide in him what Lois had told me and my growing suspicions. I was beginning to think he was the only person who might be able to shed some light on what the hell was going on.

  “I had a premonition that you were... in harm’s way,” he finally answered.

  “A premonition. You’re serious.”

  “I’m very serious. Have you had any issues?”

  I bit back my reply for a few seconds. “A couple of weird phone calls. Nothing out of the ordinary in my profession. Well, in our profession.” I laughed nervously.

  He glanced around the small living room, moving to a standing position. “Let me check.”

  I trailed behind him, watching as he opened the closet and the washer and dryer room, moving to the hallway bathroom.

  “You’re checking for the boogeyman?” I asked, half laughing.

  He snapped his head in my direction, narrowing his eyes. “You and both know the killer could have your scent and if so, will be coming after you. Now, tell me. What is down this hall?”

  “My bedroom and master bath. The guest room. Okay?”

  He stormed down the hall, his hand on his weapon.

  I waited, shaking my head as I heard the doors being thrown open. When he returned, his expression was more relaxed, but only slightly.

  “My scent. You’re still convinced we’re talking about an animal attack.” He was serious about his concerns. My thoughts shifted to the jerk who’d been in my yard.

  “What I’m convinced of doesn’t matter. We’re talking about evidence and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  “What aren’t you telling me, Maximillian? Who are you really?”

  Growling, he took several steps toward me, taking several deep breaths. “You don’t want to know.”

  “Maybe I do. Maybe I need to know why we seem connected and why...” I swallowed hard, unable to finish my sentence. “You’re right. We need to talk. I’ve learned a few things that trouble me.”

  “What things?” he asked as his gaze fell, his glorious dark eyes narrowing.

  “I was right, this was no animal attack. The killer snagged his victims from behind, crushing their windpipe. They suffocated before they were... brutalized.”

  His breathing was heavy and I could almost feel his mind churning. “Calculated.”

  “Yes, and there’s no animal on the planet that can lift a two hundred and fifty pound man off his feet with one hand.” I let him go, nodding toward the dining room table. “Plus, the M.E. sent a few details from the latest victim including details on a foreign substance she found.”

  Max followed me toward the computer, huffing when he noticed the broken glass.

  “I’ll clean it up in a minute. This is far too important.” He leaned over me as I moved from screen to screen, studying the pictures of the claw marks intently. When I pulled up a shot of the receipt Lois had found in Michael’s mouth, I heard a slight hiss coming from him. “What?”

  “Roselake.” He seemed startled as well
as angry.

  “Yes. Even the M.E. thought it was odd. Something about the lure of werewolves? Funny she would think that. Right?” I didn’t expect anything but chastisement as a reaction. When he was dead quiet, I turned to gaze into his eyes. “You know the place.”

  “Who doesn’t? A town of people who keep to themselves.”

  “Yeah, well, at least we have a clue, perhaps a place to look.”

  He reared back. “That’s farfetched and the ghost story is just that, something to keep the tourists coming in.”

  “I’m no fool, Max. I understand, but the M.E. also mentioned that she knows of certain cults where the members believe themselves to be werewolves. She thinks we could be dealing with some initiation.”

  He shook his head, glancing in the other direction. “Plausible. Sick but plausible, just as we talked about before.”

  “Yeah, and that bothers me.”

  “You think she knows more than she told you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “I’m not certain of anything any longer. We need to see if any of our databanks find anything on the blood she found, although it might be tainted and certainly not admissible as evidence even if we find anything.” I typed in the information, pulling the slide she’d sent and using my secure credentials to access every database the department used.

  Once again, he leaned over me, studying everything I was doing. The feel of his heated breath across the back of my neck was far too stimulating, creating a pulsing wave between my legs. When my pussy began to throb, I almost jerked up from the chair.

  Be a professional.

  I bit back a cry when his hand brushed over mine.

  “I have access to some national sites that I doubt the Denver Police Department is connected to.”

  “Be my guest.”

  When he hesitated, I took the opportunity to move away. Apparently, he didn’t feel he could trust me just yet. I moved back to the couch, grabbing my glass of wine.

  “What else are you thinking?”

  “The original M.E. was pulled off the case.”

  Max turned his head, studying me. “That bothers you.”

  “Yeah, along with the fact she’s trying to steer the investigation toward Roselake, convinced that the people there having something to do with the murders.”

  “She said that?” he demanded, shaking his head.

  “It was her insinuations, not what she said, but I have to believe someone must have overheard our conversation. It’s too odd that a woman of science would suddenly put any credence in wolves.”

  He typed on the keyboard and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. “Let’s think what we have regarding this case. We have attacks that were obviously calculated.”

  “Yes, even the killer having some kind of a conscience.”

  “I was dragged into this case with you out of the blue, the original M.E. pulled off,” he continued.

  “Don’t you think that’s a little odd? Granted, it’s an election year, but I find that far too coincidental and I don’t believe in coincidences.”

  “I agree with you. This receipt. Where was it found again?” he asked.

  “Supposedly in the victim’s mouth, as if he wanted someone to find it, leading law enforcement to his killer.”

  “I know the place, a small restaurant on the outskirts of Roselake. I also know that what she described couldn’t have happened.”

  I moved to the edge of the couch, leaning over. “Tell me why.”

  “Because they use an old style of cash register where the tape is imprinted with actual ink.” He shot me a look.

  “Fuck. His saliva would have dissolved the ink. Jesus. What are we dealing with?”

  He hit enter and eased back, moving back toward the coffee table, grabbing the glass of whiskey I’d poured him. “You’re right. We’re being steered toward Roselake for some reason.”

  “That’s crazy. Why? What’s so important about the little city? The land?”

  The expression on his face was pensive. He was still holding out on me. “It’s valuable but for what reason?” he asked. “To expand Denver? A casino?”

  “I...” I sighed, wondering if I might have an idea. “I can make a few calls in the morning and see if I can find out what developments are in the process with the Denver city council. Approval is needed before any development can move past the initial planning stages.”

  “Sounds like a subject you know all about.”

  “Enough to know that the names of those involved will be evident on the legal documents.” I eased off the couch, walking toward the window and leaning against it. The entire case had been rigged, more than one person hiding something.

  “That sounds reasonable and could provide a few new leads. However, we keep what we talk about to ourselves. It doesn’t go into the report. Got it?”

  “You want people to think we’re following the leads we’re being given.” I sighed, peering outside into the darkness.

  “Exactly. If there is a conspiracy of some kind, we need time to know who we can trust and who’s involved,” he said in his usual dominating manner.

  This time, I knew he was right. We were being used and I would go through hell and back to find out by whom and why. He took a sip of his drink and I could tell he was studying me intently. He’d seemed so disturbed after we’d... made love. So distant for a time, at least after he’d left me. It had taken his cock a full ten minutes, maybe longer to go soft. I’d never known a man like him.

  In any regard.

  I watched as he walked back to the computer. When he stiffened, I tilted my head. “Did you find something?”

  “This blood that was found. You said the new M.E. discovered it?” he asked, his tone husky. I could tell he was angry.

  “Yes. Let me guess, another plant.”

  “While the match is only seventy-five percent accurate, the sample belongs to a man I interrogated regarding the fugitive I was chasing.”

  “Wait a minute. That’s insane.” The sharp crack against the window forced me to jump. “Not again.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Bristling, I clenched my fist. “Someone’s in the yard.”

  “Back away from the window.” Max rushed forward, pushing me aside with enough force I was tossed into the wall. He grabbed his weapon, darting glances out the window before yanking the blind. “This happened before. Didn’t it?”

  “Well...”

  “Didn’t it?” he growled.

  “Yes. Okay? Someone was in my yard this morning. And no, I didn’t see anyone in particular. I just... The bushes were trampled.”

  “Fuck! And you didn’t tell me?” He swung his head in my direction, his eyes full of fire.

  “I honestly just thought it was kids or something. Happens a lot in this part of town. I didn’t want to jump to irrational conclusions. You know better than that, Max. Could be nothing.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Kathleen. You’re many things but not that. A monstrous killer tracked you for two full miles, almost able to kill you. If this is a conspiracy, then don’t you think the perpetrators might be concerned that you saw the person responsible?”

  “But... But I described nothing more than...” Hell, I hadn’t followed through with describing the beast I was certain was in my imagination. In fact, I’d said very little. “Shit. You’re right.”

  He moved into the kitchen and I didn’t bother following him even though I jumped once again when I heard the sound of the window blind being slammed closed. When he returned, the Glock was in one hand, my weapon in the other. He shook his head as he handed me the Beretta, holding his hand over mine for a few seconds before pulling back. “I’m going outside.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “So my director keeps telling me. If for any reason I don’t return, call 9-1-1.” He moved into the living room, turning off the lights.

  “Max, wait.” I closed the distance until we were mere inches apart. “Don’t
go.”

  He cupped my face, his thumb moving aimlessly back and forth across my skin. Even in the darkness, I could feel the wild beating of his heart matching mine. The pulse ticking on the side of my neck was almost as terrifying. “I have no problem protecting myself, sweetheart. Trust me. No one wants to fuck with me.”

  There was something different about him, the protective mode even more dangerous than any other persona. “Who the hell are you, Max?”

  Exhaling, he glanced over my shoulder. “Doesn’t really matter, does it? I’m going out the back. Lock the door behind me and make certain there’s no other easy access for the asshole.”

  I nodded, shivering as he walked toward the back door. I trailed behind him, barely able to see his features but I could tell he gave me one last look before easing into the shadows. After locking the door, I shifted backwards, trying to listen for any sounds. I heard absolutely nothing except for limited street noise, but my nerves remained on edge.

  Only a few minutes later, the light tap on the door gave me a sense of relief. The moment he walked in, I gripped his arm and immediately felt the heat of his breath cascading down the length of me. “Anything?”

  “Nothing that I could see,” he said in a troubling manner, moving past me toward the desk lamp I’d positioned over my computer.

  I stood frozen, shifting the gun from hand to hand. When the light was turned on, I could see just how pensive he remained.

  “Now, you are going to hear me and you’re not going to argue. I’m going to close the blinds in the bedroom and you’re going to pack a small bag. Then you’re coming with me.”

  “I’m not leaving my home.”

  “You will do as I say. Period.” The conviction and the utter command in his voice was not to be denied. Besides, I had the feeling that he’d simply toss me over his shoulder and do what he wanted.

  “Fine. Okay.” I suddenly realized just how much danger both of us could be in. If this was some conspiracy disguised as a brutal cult killing, then I could be the next victim. I moved into the hallway, finding it difficult to breathe.

  He returned, gripping my arm. “Stay low and don’t take more than a few seconds. If there is someone outside, then he knows I’m here. They could be calling for reinforcements. We need to get the hell out of here.”