Shifter Romance Box Set

by Unknown

  While admiring her bitchinheat scent, he began to formulate a plan. She’d left the cell door unlocked with no guard in sight. Unlike him, she appeared to be having difficulty seeing in the dark, which made it ridiculously easy to grab her and use her as a hostage to get out of this godforsaken place. Maybe too easy.

  After allowing himself about fifteen seconds to decide a course of action, he flexed his forearms and his nails lengthened without a sound into lethally sharp weapons. He grabbed her arms, spun her around, and pulled her compact body flush up against his while placing his claws so precisely around her neck she couldn’t move without him slicing into her flesh. Instinctually she fought back until his claw pierced her skin and drew a single drop of blood. The metallic scent filled the dank air, igniting his hunger. His vision hazed for a few brief seconds while he fought the instinct to dip down and tongue the essence from her neck. Dammit to hell. Get a fucking grip. Lucas forced himself to focus. He was in control here.

  She hissed through clenched teeth, “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Sorry, hon, but it looks like you’re my ticket out of here.”

  “Why? What have you done?” The honey sweet smell of her fear mixed with the pungent odor of her anger permeated his senses. A momentary twinge of regret knotted in his stomach for having to involve her or hurt her, but this was his only chance to escape.

  “The only thing I’m guilty of is trusting the wrong person. Let’s hope I’ve learned my lesson not to trust a liar.” And she’d certainly lied. He’d easily slid into her mind but somehow she’d blocked him from learning too much. Getting in had been all too easy.

  “Paranoid much? I don’t lie.”

  “Whatever.” It didn’t matter. He had one goal only. Gain his freedom and begin the hunt for his betrayer. “I only need to use you to get out of here, and then I you can go back to where you came from.”

  Her body tensed in his arms, and he suspected she was planning to make a move against him. “Look, if you just cooperate, this will be quick and painless.” He waited for her answer.

  “I thought I was coming here to help you, asshole, but clearly you’re not the man I thought you were.”

  Her response made no sense, but he suspected it was simply another ploy to confuse him. His captors had tried every method of torture and coercion to break him, but they had to be feeling seriously desperate when they’d sent this woman.

  “Let’s go.” He prodded her forward in short steps.

  * * * *

  While Lucas walked her out of the cell, Kira nudged the Tallan to scan the nearby area for guards or any other people. He foolishly thought he was taking her against her will, but she knew the truth, and she’d play along to see where it led them… for a while.

  Her neck throbbed from the small slice of his claw, and delaying their departure with handtohand combat wasn’t a smart tactical move at the moment. Truth be told, it wasn’t just the danger that had her worried—being this close to her dream walker lit her body like gas on dried kindling. It was unsettling to say the least. Shaking her head, she refocused on the task at hand. Their connection would have to wait until they were in the free and clear.

  For some strange reason, she found no one around. That simple fact had her internal warning blaring for attention. Something was off, but she couldn’t take the time to analyze it now. They needed to get out before anyone returned, or worse, had time to attack. When they walked out the door of the facility, Kira noticed Lucas checking every detail around him for any sign of trouble. She’d bet anyone would be hard pressed to get anything by him.

  Capturing him must have been a real bitch.

  Despite her annoyance over his belief he could actually kidnap her, she couldn’t help but admire his physique. The muscles of his torso rippled against her back with every lithe move he made. When he pulled her down in a crouch to stay hidden, he appeared every inch a predator waiting for his prey.

  He turned to her, his mouth open to say something, and he froze. His eyes narrowed, dilated, and for an instant, time stood still as she watched the awareness dawn in his gaze. Those dark eyes pinned her in place and sparks shot through her at the uncontrollable lust coursing in her veins. She licked her lips and bit her bottom lip as he continued his intense perusal.

  “How is this possible?” he asked. Kira closed her eyes and took a steady breath.

  Obviously her suspicions had been correct. They’d walked through the dreams together, and from the telling way he devoured her with his gaze, he remembered every sensual minute. Her face flushed with heat as the memories of what they’d done every night this week became all too real.

  She parted her lips to respond, but he covered them with his own. Her world tilted. The reality of his possession was even more intoxicating than she’d dreamed. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth, and the fervent pressure of his lips against hers started an insistent throbbing between her legs.

  Her dream man pulled her across his lap where his rapidly growing arousal pressed into her buttocks. Despite the potential for danger, she melted into his arms.

  His hands roamed everywhere—along her spine, caressing her shoulders before finally sinking into her thick hair where he gripped a handful and jerked her off his lips. She yelped from the shock and pain of his action.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Anger and lust shone from his soulful eyes.

  Before Kira could respond, she was startled by an alternate image forming in her mind. “Someone’s coming,” she murmured. He dropped her from his lap, leaping away from her into a defensive crouch to listen.

  She grabbed his hand and wordlessly tried to pull him toward her hidden car. He didn’t budge.

  “Look, pal, unless you want us both to be caught, you need to trust me. I have a car nearby, but if we don’t go now, the well armed bitch you’re so fond of will be here and it’ll be too late.”

  He stared at her for a moment, “I don’t trust anyone but myself, so don’t think for a second you can play me.”

  She dropped his hand, pulled her handgun from the ankle holster, and took off for her car. She’d leave the bastard behind if that’s the way he wanted to play it. More anger rolled from her in waves as she fled to the car.

  * * * *

  From a quarter of a mile away, in the corporate offices of a local construction company, Malcolm felt a tingling down his spine. It was a sure sign of trouble when the cat wanted out. More tingling along his arms and pain racked his body. God dammit. What the hell had Lucas done. Whatever it was it couldn’t be good.

  Grappling with the sensation of thousands of needles stabbing into him, he reached across the desk to phone the guards. “What’s happening with our subject?” His voice came out harsh. Like broken glass in a blender.

  “There seems to be a problem, sir.” Malcolm heard a slight tremble in the guard’s voice when he answered, and some shouting in the background. “While Lara was taking a quick break, your prisoner disappeared.”

  A whitehot rage erupted within him, the nature of his beast calling out to him from its prison as he savored the idea of killing the guard on the phone. Pain seized his gut when the animal hit the wall holding him in. Malcolm took some deep, calming breaths and temporarily banked down his angry desires. There would be time for that later. These days he had a new outlet for his aggression.

  “You and your team should begin reviewing the security tapes immediately, and send Lara to my office right now. I will deal with this breach myself.”

  Damn that woman. Will she never fucking listen to me? He’d warned her his brother was clever and cunning beyond her comprehension. She’d insisted her magic would hold him. He slammed his fist on the desk. Good thing he’d anticipated something like this would happen and took proper measures in advance.

  In the meantime, when that bitch got here, she’d have to earn his forgiveness with her hot mouth and pray he let her live.

  God, he was already hard just from thinking about her p
unishment. He would have to beat her, punish her for her continued failures, and if she could take it without begging for him to stop, he’d reward her by stuffing his cock in her wanting mouth. His body tingled with the anticipation of pleasure those images conjured as he began taking his belt off.

  Chapter Two

  Lucas was in shock. He couldn’t believe the woman from his dreams sat beside him. Now, as they traveled down the highway, he struggled to figure out what the hell to do next. Her hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tight, and her mouth pursed in a thin, straight line. Her silence left him unsure whether she was frightened or pissed. He scented a little of both, but couldn’t tell which emotion controlled her at the moment.

  “Where to?” she asked.

  Back at the base, he’d managed to snag her shirt as she ran and wrestle her to the ground just before she reached her car. Their brief tussle ended with a carefully placed claw to remind her who was in charge, then her handing over her gun, which now sat on the floorboard as far away from her as possible. That she carried such a sweet weapon impressed and intrigued him.

  “Keep going east on I40 and I’ll let you know.” He stretched and shifted his legs, trying to get comfortable in her tiny car. Who in their right mind spend good money on a vehicle with no leg room?

  “Are you going to make me drive all the way back to North Carolina?”

  He opened his eyes and gazed at her curiously. Fuck. She knew where he was from? What else did she know?

  What is her game?

  Giving up on comfort, he straightened to an upright position on the seat and leaned forward.

  “Where do you think I’m leading you to?” he demanded. It was all he could do to concentrate on his plan when it was her lips that captured much of his attention. Plump and slightly parted, she alternately licked them or bit at them with her teeth. Both actions made his dick ache. He was on a slippery slope.

  The ache to kiss her again overwhelmed him, made the need to discover exactly how urgent and real his dreams had been. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “What do you want from me, Akira MacDonald of the U.S. Marines?” Her shuddering response brought a smile to his face. Nice to see he didn’t suffer alone and the attraction went both ways.

  “What makes you think I want anything? Well, other than my freedom, of course.”

  “There is that...” He relaxed back in the seat, putting some space between them, and began formulating a plan to get back home. He was far enough away from his captors he could likely ditch her and get there on his own, but something about her nagged at him, something suspiciously like...nah, that couldn’t be. His gaze wandered back to her, drinking in her appearance through hooded eyes. He admired the strong lines of her face, the petite nose above full, lush lips he already knew were kissable and he wondered, why this woman and why now? Why would he have dreams about a stranger who wanted to not only use him, but likely kill him?

  He could close his eyes and will her image out of his head, but there was nothing to save him from her scent. The fresh and sweet smell wouldn’t leave him. This was one of those rare times he cursed his abilities.

  So he watched her.

  Her breasts rose gently with each breath she took, and he wondered if her nipples would pucker and swell as he’d dreamt. Or turn instantly hard when he kissed her? Damn, his agony worsened as his cock tightened beyond anything he had experienced before. No, he wouldn’t be letting her go yet. Not until he tasted her, savored her. Then he’d slide inside her and feel her slick heat tighten around him. Yeah, he needed her and, one way or another, it would be soon.

  * * * *

  Kira felt his gaze on her body, studying her as surely as if his hands roamed her curves. She didn’t want to admit just how hot she burned for him but, with the nagging thought of going mad without him touching her, she couldn’t exactly deny it. Heat burned inside her while she struggled to think of something else. How could she feel this way about an arrogant jerk who made no secret of both his dislike for and his willingness to fuck her? She tried to nudge herself into his thoughts, but his barriers against her were impossible to penetrate. Who the hell is he? How come I can’t get in?

  Despite the tension between them, her stomach growled like a starved bear.

  “Akira, when was the last time you ate something? You’re growling at me.”

  “It’s just Kira. Nobody calls me Akira. And yes, I’m famished,” she mumbled. For more than just food, though.

  “We should stop soon. You’ve been driving for hours. There’s an exit coming up with restaurants and hotels. We’ll stop there for the night.”

  Her stomach flipped. A hotel? Since he was still under the misguided impression he’d kidnapped her, he’d probably insist on only one room. Wicked thoughts of being alone with her dream man filled her head, all of which featured one or both of them naked. If he took off any more clothes, no way could she be held responsible for what happened. Can I possibly resist him? Do I want to? “Sounds like a plan. I’m definitely ready for a break and some food.”

  She pulled the car on the exit ramp and headed in the direction of the Denny’s. She had to get out of the car as quickly as possible. She needed space between them before she did something she knew she’d regret.

  Once parked, she climbed from the car and raised to her tiptoes to stretch and move her stiffened limbs. The long ride cramped her muscles and it felt so good to move. Midstretch, she glanced at Lucas and found him staring at her. Her skin tingled under the examination and a steady throb quickened her sex. She doubted even space would keep them apart at this rate.

  “You ready?” His question came out gruff and unsteady.

  Kira bit her top lip to hold back the smile at his surliness. Guess Mr. Macho Alpha man has a weakness, too. She nodded and headed for the entrance. Now she only had to decide whether she could risk letting him get close.

  At the door she stopped to let a family of four pass by. Lucas’ arm brushed against her back, sending a sudden streak of pleasure zipping through her. She sucked in a sharp, deep breath as her skin tingled and heated. This is going to be a long night.

  Lucas studied Kira’s backside as she followed the waitress to a table. He couldn’t ever remember seeing a finer ass wrapped in tight denim. Her skirt rose up when she slid sideways into the booth first, giving him a quick flash of tempting black lace. Forcing himself to turn away from her bare thighs, he took the spot across from her and caught her watching with interest. She gave him a small smile, and for one brief unguarded moment he saw a different woman. Not the one of his dreams or the trained soldier, but instead a softer side he longed to discover. His gaze focused on her soft, pink lips and the straight, white teeth nibbling on the corner of her lower lip every time she sucked it in.

  He picked up his own menu and tried to concentrate on the words printed in front of him and not the lush mouth he wanted to devour.

  “What can I get you?” The waitress looked between them expectantly.

  “I’ll take the French toast platter with extra bacon and some hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, please.”

  He looked at her in surprise.

  “What? I’m hungry,” she said.

  Shaking his head, he laughed, charmed beyond belief by the smile she kept flashing. After he ordered his own hearty breakfast, he waited until the waitress walked off before he lifted his eyes to Kira again.

  He turned her way and their gazes locked onto each other. This time there was no cute smile but, instead, a look of pure heat and curiosity. Her tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip and the urge to swipe his own tongue across her swept over him. The simple fact of her proximity threatened his ability to stay aloof. His cock twitched in his pants and he gripped the edge of the seat he sat on to keep from dragging her across the table and kissing her senseless.

  “Why were you being held?”

  She didn’t mince words when she wanted to know something. Hard not to admire that trait.

 
“You really don’t know? Seriously, don’t they tell you people anything?”

  She opened her mouth to say something and must have changed her mind as she shut it and said nothing.

  Her expression changed, closed down, and he felt bad for being a smart ass, even though he had no reason to feel that way.

  “Why don’t we talk about something else?” Something safe maybe.

  “Like what?”

  Her question brought to mind every dirty thought he’d tried to push away. What would she say if he told her all he really wanted to do right now was lay her out in front of him, spread her legs wide, and feast on her instead of the food they’d ordered? He imagined she tasted even sweeter than the scent of her arousal that continued to torment him. He shifted uncomfortably on the bench, grateful for the cover of the table.

  “What about the—”

  “Here ya go, sugar. Your French toast and hot chocolate, and your omelet and coffee.” She set the plates of steaming food in front of them and flashed a real friendly smile to him. “Can I get you anything else?”

  She didn’t even bother to look at Kira this time, but he did. “Need anything else?” he asked.

  She shook her head, casting her eyes on her food.

  “I guess we’re all set then.” With his thoughts consumed by the urge to touch her, he reached across the table and covered Kira’s hand with his own, dismissing the waitress. When their skin touched, he forgot about everything except her. Her heat reignited his barely cooled lust until his body burned to claim her.

  “Lucas, I—I need my hand to eat.” Her whisper caught his attention and he realized he’d been holding her too tight. He loosened his fingers and pulled back. She appeared calm, but he heard the acceleration of her heartbeat as she picked up her fork and worked at cutting her breakfast into small bites.

  Her movements mesmerized him. When she lifted her fork to sample the food, her mouth formed the perfect O as she took it all inside and clamped her lips around the utensil. Withdrawing the fork, she left behind a dusting of powdered sugar and a few drops of sugary syrup on her bottom lip. All of which he wanted to lick off for her.