Midnight Touch

by L Ann

  “No! She’s mine. I worked hard to get her to turn to me, and you ruined everything!” He swung a fist toward Shaun’s head.

  Shaun easily avoided his flailing arm and stepped back out of his reach.

  “You’re not doing yourself any favours. You fucked up and Cassie saw you for who you really are.” He carefully placed his beer bottle down onto the bar-top. “That’s on you.”

  “She’d have come back to me if you had stayed away from her.” Sam swung again, and with a sigh, Shaun caught his fist in his palm.

  “You don’t want to do this,” he warned.

  “I’ll fight you for her!”

  “Fight me for her?” Shaun repeated slowly. “She’s not a fucking possession.”

  “You need to back off. She’ll come back to me. She belongs to me!” Sam barrelled forward again, throwing another easily avoided punch.

  Shaun sighed, pushed away from the bar and drew himself up to his full height. “Are you sure you really want to do this?” he asked the other man.

  “You don’t know who I am!” Sam bellowed and launched himself at Shaun. “You ruined everything!”

  Shaun side-stepped, and Sam crashed into the bar. He spun and threw himself, once more, toward Shaun. Another fluid step to one side and Sam’s momentum carried him past Shaun and into a table, spilling drinks everywhere.

  “This is not going to work out too well for you,” Shaun warned him, watching as Sam dragged himself back to his feet.

  Sam snarled, ducked his head and ran forward. Before Shaun could react, a whirlwind of movement caught his eye and he turned his head just in time to see Cassie throw herself toward Sam.

  With a shriek, she crashed into him.

  “How dare you! You ruined everything, not him. YOU!” With each word, she hit Sam with curled fists. “You’re the one who was sleeping with Rebekah, sneaking around behind my back. You’re the one who didn’t like who I was. You wanted me to change everything, to become someone else!”

  She lashed out again, her nails catching Sam’s cheek and drawing blood. “Shaun didn’t ruin anything, you did that all on your own.”

  After his initial surprise at her appearance, which had him frozen to the spot, Shaun leapt forward just as Cassie lifted her fingers, claw like, and aimed for Sam’s face again. Wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, Shaun hauled her backwards, away from Sam.

  “Get the fucking idiot out of here,” he growled at the two men hovering behind Sam, while he fought to stop Cassie freeing herself from his grip. “Cassie, stop it.”

  “No! Let go of me. I’m going to kill him!” She doubled her efforts to escape Shaun’s hold.

  Shaun couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping at her fury. “Baby, I can’t let you do that.”

  She twisted in his arms to narrow her eyes at him. “You can’t stop me!”

  Shaun grinned down at her. “Pretty sure I can.” His grin faded as he caught sight of her eyes. “Fuck, Cassie,” he breathed. “Your eyes have–”

  He never finished the sentence. Cassie reached up and sealed her mouth to his, her hands diving under his t-shirt to slide up and around his back.

  “Cassie,” he began, lifting his mouth, and felt her teeth sink into his bottom lip.

  “No talking,” she growled, and Shaun tensed, hearing a second voice overlaying hers.

  “No, I need to –” he tried to separate his mouth from hers and, again, her teeth latched onto his lip to stop him moving away.

  “Take your mate home,” Cormac’s voice reached him. “She wants what she wants and you’re not going to sway her from her objective.” Did his brother sound amused? He chanced a glance in the direction Cormac stood and, yes, there was definitely a slight smile on his face.

  “Okay, baby,” he murmured against her mouth. “Let’s go back over to Gemma’s.”

  “Gemma’s … yes.” She made no attempt to move, however, her fingers sliding up and down his spine.

  Shaun rested a finger beneath her chin and tipped her head up. “We don’t want to give the people in here a show, do we?” He needed to see her eyes, but they were closed.

  “No, no show.” She swayed closer to him, lips parted.

  “Baby, open your eyes. Let me look at you.”

  Cassie shook her head. “You smell so good. You always smell good.” Her tongue came out to sweep across her lips. “Can’t think. I need …” A hand slid out from beneath his shirt to reach up and tangle in his hair. With a sharp tug, she brought his head back within reach of her mouth.

  He knew what she needed, he could smell it, along with a sense of confusion that he knew he’d need to look into later ... he knew the rest of the pack surrounding them could smell her, as well. And that thought roused his wolf. No one but him could have her.

  A low growl from his left caught his attention and he looked up from Cassie to see Cormac placing himself between Cassie and Sam, who still hadn’t left.

  Trusting his Alpha to deal with that threat, he secured his hold on Cassie’s waist and half-led half-carried her out of the bar.

  The cold evening air seemed to clear Cassie’s head a little and she looked around, blinking. Shaun didn’t stop but kept them moving across the parking lot and down the road to where Gemma’s house was. Cassie seemed content to walk beside him quietly, the fingers of one hand still tucked beneath his t-shirt. He could feel her stroking up and down his side, and the sensation played havoc with his need to be aware of his surroundings.

  Opening the door to Gemma’s house, he ushered Cassie inside and turned to make sure the door was locked behind them.

  Cassie couldn’t think straight. She’d allowed Isabella to lead her out of the bakery, reeling from the things Mama Dawson had told her. She wanted to go to Shaun, tell him what she’d learnt and find out what he thought about it. She didn’t understand why, but she needed to be close to him, to let his innate calmness and control wash over her, ground her conflicting emotions. Isabella had guessed what she wanted from the expression on her face and had disappeared back into the office to tell Jaden they needed to leave.

  Jaden had agreed, and, after asking Mama Dawson if he could arrange a meeting for her with Cormac to share what she knew, he had led both women out of the bakery.

  The walk to The Corner Pin had been rapid, Cassie’s head swirling with memories of her father, frantic denials over whether he was a Shifter or not, and a growing desperation to see Shaun.

  When she’d pushed open the door to the bar, her eyes had immediately located Shaun and Cormac … and Sam. And she became immediately acquainted with the knowledge of why the phrase ‘seeing red’ worked so well.

  Something had shifted inside her, and she could smell Sam’s anger at Shaun for taking something he felt belonged to him. Rage had consumed her, and she was on Sam before she even realised she’d moved.

  When Shaun had grabbed her, hauled her back against him, her mood had shifted as his scent settled around her. An intense desire to claim him as he had claimed her had overwhelmed her and her anger dissolved into need.

  She studied him as he turned to face her after locking the door. That need was still there, coiled in the pit of her stomach. When his lids lifted, his eyes shone a brilliant yellow, and Cassie knew that same need was there within him too.

  “Cassie,” he began, and she shook her head.

  “I told you … no talking.” She pressed against him, and felt him step back, allowing her to push him against the door. Her lips found his jaw, kissed along it, her tongue sweeping out to taste his skin. “Talk later. I don’t want to think right now … just feel.”

  She felt him nod, once, and she lifted her hands to tug at his shirt. Shaun pulled it up over his head and threw it to the side. Cassie’s eyes locked onto the tattoos mixed with pack markings and she leaned forward to run her tongue over them – following the pattern from his shoulders, down across his chest, over his abs. Her blue eyes gleamed from beneath her lashes as she glanced up at him seconds bef
ore she lowered herself to her knees.

  Her lips slid over the line of his hips as she worked at the buckle of his belt and pulled it from around his waist, then her fingers were on the buttons of his jeans.

  “Cass – “

  She stopped. “Last warning,” she told him, and pushed his jeans down his legs, freeing his erection from its denim cage. “Eyes on me,” she whispered, repeating the words he’d spoken to her their first night together and heard him chuckle. He tipped his head forward, watching as her mouth opened and sucked his hard length inside.

  “Fuck,” he groaned, as her mouth went to work on him – sucking, licking, nibbling as her head moved up and down.

  Cassie felt his fingers spear into her hair, tighten their grip, but he left her in control, allowed her to dictate the speed and depth she took him as she wanted. She could hear his breathing hitch, knew he was close and slowed down, teasing him, and wasn’t surprised when his hands fell from her hair and hauled her up into his arms.

  “I want you now,” he growled against her mouth.

  “You said I was yours,” she said.

  “I did.” He kicked his jeans the rest of the way off, and moved toward the stairs, Cassie in his arms.

  “But you told Sam I wasn’t a possession.”

  “I did that, too. You’re not.” He took the stairs two at a time, shouldered her bedroom door open and strode in.

  Lowering Cassie to her feet, he cupped her face between his palms, holding her still while he kissed her, his tongue pushing between her lips to tangle with hers. Pulling free, Cassie curled a hand around his arm and tried to drag him toward the bed. He didn’t move, one eyebrow kicking up.

  “I want you on the bed,” she told him.

  “When did you get so demanding?” he asked, but did as she wanted, climbing onto the bed and laying on his back, hands tucked behind his head.

  Cassie didn’t reply, crawling up his body to straddle his hips. She gazed down at him, his scent weaving its magic around her, finally calming the manic racing of her mind and her heart. Clarity returned, and she eyed the man lying perfectly at ease in his nakedness beneath her. She could feel his strength, knew that if he really wanted to, he could take control, and yet he seemed utterly content to let her make demands, was happy for her to crawl all over him. She suddenly realised she had let Sam control her every move for so long, now her mind had cleared all the insecurities came rushing back, and she really had no idea what to do with Shaun.

  She felt his body tremble beneath her and lifted her eyes to look at his face. His features were perfectly still, almost blank, and yet … she scowled, catching a hint of amusement in his eyes.

  “Are you laughing at me?” she demanded.

  “I don’t think I dare, not with your wolf so close to the surface,” he replied.

  “I don’t have a wolf,” she denied, immediately.

  “Goldilocks, your eyes say otherwise.” He moved, flipping her to the mattress and came down above her. “You have too many clothes on,” he told her and, with quick movements, stripped away her top and jeans, leaving her in her underwear. His head dropped, nuzzling against her breast. “I can’t wait to meet your wolf. I bet she’s beautiful.”

  “How can you be so accepting?”

  His tongue found its way beneath her bra and flicked against her nipple, drawing a gasp from her.

  “Have you forgotten what I am already?” he asked.

  “No, but –” she arched up with another gasp when his fingers discovered her soaked panties and traced lightly across them.

  “Do you really want to have this conversation right now?” He pulled her panties to one side and sank his fingers into her waiting heat. “I mean, we can if that’s what you want?” His teeth dragged her bra away from her breasts and he sucked a nipple into his mouth before lifting his head and slanting his mouth over her lips with a possessive hunger. The fingers of one hand circled her nipple, pinching the hardening tip between thumb and forefinger and Cassie moaned into his mouth.

  “That’s better,” he whispered, and slid down her body until he rested between her thighs.

  Cassie felt his hands stroke over her hips, his hot breath and then his tongue was between her legs. He lapped at her, his fingers opening her up to his gaze. His tongue explored her, dragged through her wetness, tasted her, branded her. A growl rumbled in his throat, and she cried out, the vibrations against her clit driving her wild. Her hips bucked as she fell over the edge, the world falling away until there was only Shaun – his scent, his sounds, his touch.

  She was vaguely aware of him moving, of him lowering himself on top of her, and then his lips were against her ear.

  “Ready for me?”

  Her hands came up, speared into his hair. “Yes … always.”

  She felt him press against her, and arched her hips upwards, but he didn’t move, didn’t push inside. Cassie moaned, spreading her legs further apart.

  “Shaun?” One hand dropped to his hip, tried to drag him to her, but he resisted.

  His forehead dropped to rest against hers. “I need you to know something,” he told her, his voice tense with the control he was exerting.

  “Know something later! I need you now.” She dug her nails into his hip and he grunted.

  “No, this is important.” His hand came up, curved around her chin. “Look at me, Cass.”

  Cassie forced her eyes open, focused on him, and licked her lips. His eyes zeroed in on the movement, narrowing, and he shook his head, as if to shake away the desire clouding his mind.

  “You and me,” he told her, his voice low. “This is it. End of the line. There’s nothing more important to me than you. Do you understand?”

  A frown pulled her brows together.

  “You’re it. The one thing I was missing. Call it whatever you like – my mate, my soul. This,” and she let out a breath as he finally, finally, inched inside her, filled her, possessed her. “You and me, Goldilocks.”

  “You said I’m your mate,” she managed to gasp as he thrust into her. “Are you mine?”

  Shaun stilled and cocked his head to look at her. “It works both ways.”

  “But you bit me … I didn’t bite you.”

  Another thrust. “Do you want to bite me?”

  She clutched at him, fighting to stop herself drowning in the sensations he was building, tried to chase down the thought swimming in her head.

  “Yes! If I’m yours, you have to be mine.”

  “I’m already yours, baby. You own every part of me.” He rolled until she was above him, still moving deep inside her. “You want to claim me, Cassie?” She gave a jerky nod, and he caught her hands to yank her forward until she sprawled above him. “Then do it. Claim what’s yours.”

  “So, your father was a survivor of the Draydon Pack Massacre.” Shaun said. He’d listened in silence while Cassie had told him what she’d heard from Mama Dawson, his gaze unwavering as he watched her speak.

  She nodded, throat dry, as she waited for his reaction to everything she’d shared.

  “What are you scared of?” The unexpected question surprised her.

  “I … what?”

  He tapped his nose. “Wolf senses. Did you forget? I can smell your fear.”

  “Oh …” she licked her lips. “It’s just … won’t it be a problem?”

  “Cassie,” he sighed. “Come here.” He crooked a finger and waited for her to cross the kitchen and stand in front of him where he sat at the table. “No, I need you closer than that.” He reached out and pulled her down onto his lap. “Did nothing I said to you earlier sink in?”

  “I don’t understand what you mean.” Cassie curled her arms around his neck and leaned into him.

  “Do you regret claiming me?” He smiled at the blush that lit up her cheeks, knowing she was thinking about how, when she had sunk her teeth into his shoulder, they’d both lost control.

  “No!”

  “Then why do you think I do?” He nuzzled h
er throat. “Sam did such a number on your confidence. We need to work on that. Listen to me carefully, it’s very simple. You’re mine, I’m yours. What else matters?” His teeth found the lobe of her ear, gave a sharp nip, then soothed the sting with his tongue. “Plus, if the rumours are true, since mating with me your wolf half will take precedence. She’ll show herself soon enough.”

  “You mean I’ll –”

  “Shift? Yes.”

  “What will your brother say?”

  “DJ?”

  “No, Cormac.” She couldn’t stop the worry from entering her voice.

  “Mac isn’t a monster, Cass. He’s the Alpha of our pack. A pack you are now a member of.” He pulled her closer, dropped a gentle kiss on her lips. “You’ll see. Don’t worry about things that aren’t a problem.”

  “Do you think they’ve found Gemma and Scarlet?”

  Shaun shook his head. “Someone would have called me if there was news.”

  Cassie sighed, her head dropping to rest against his shoulder.

  “Do you think he’s taken them for what Mama Dawson said?” she asked, her voice troubled.

  “To birth half-breeds?” He paused, thinking it over. “As much as I want to say no, it’s entirely possible. At least for Scarlet. I’m not sure about Gemma. It could be he knows she’s one already. Maybe he hopes to convert her to their cause.”

  Her head jerked up. “Become a Hunter?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s a possibility.”

  “Gemma wouldn’t do that.”

  “No, she wouldn’t,” Shaun agreed, but he knew from experience that given the right circumstances even the strongest person could be forced to do things they wouldn’t normally do.

  The sound of voices brought Shaun to his feet. He set Cassie down and moved into the hallway just as the door opened to display Deacon and Asher.

  “We’ve found him.”

  “Him? The Hunter? What about Gemma and Scarlet?” Cassie pushed past Shaun and cringed when she reached Deacon. “Oh my God, you smell terrible. Where have you been?”

  “Where’s Mac?” Deacon ignored Cassie, his focus intent on Shaun.