Cursed by the Moon (Shifter Rising Book 2)

by Rebekah R. Ganiere

  "Oh, thank you. I'll have to see if I can get the time off and talk to Natasha and Liam."

  "That'd be great. I haven’t been able to ask them yet," Clint replied.

  She nodded and headed to her other tables. Again she wondered when she'd become a member of the pack’s inner circle.

  Cara cleared the dishes, completely stuffed from the amazing dinner Noah had prepared.

  "You know you'd make a handy housewife," she chided.

  "Oh really?" He smiled and her belly turned to pudding.

  "Sure. You clean, you cook. You're good company."

  "Can I wash your clothes too?"

  She laughed and set the dishes in the strainer to dry.

  "You want to watch a movie or something?" he asked.

  "I have studying I need to get done. Math, blech." She scrunched up her face.

  "I can help if you want." He crossed to the sink and stuck the pan in. Then turned on the water and grabbed the soap.

  She reached for the scrub brush and he moved it out of her reach. She reached for it again. Their bodies rubbed against each other, and again, he moved the scrubby away. They were so close the press of his hard chest smashed into hers.

  He looked down at her with a slight grin and her heart beat like a bass drum.

  She pressed closer to him, her face inches from his. His grin dropped as his eyes lit up and connected with hers. She slipped her arm around him until she reached the scrub brush and plucked it from his grasp.

  "I told you." She smiled. "The cook doesn't clean the dishes." She stepped away, in an effort to tame her wild heart and poured soap onto the pan.

  Noah didn't move for several seconds, then he backed away and she saw him dig a lollipop from his pocket.

  He watched her from where he stood, propped against the stove. She tried not to steal glances in his direction but the heat of his gaze made her skin tingle. Her playfulness was starting something that her brain told her she couldn't finish.

  ****

  Noah fought against every instinct that told him to grab Cara and make love to her. He stared at the slender line of her neck. The soft curve of her shoulder. The slight bounce of her curls as she scrubbed the pan. His body itched to slide up behind her and kiss the length of her throat. To feel the softness of her mouth on his.

  Damn. He needed to get control of himself. She'd been nothing but nice to him and here he was daydreaming about her like a puberty-ridden teenager.

  She wiped her hands on a towel and turned, her cheeks flushed with that beautiful, deep peach glow that made her so alluring.

  "I'm gonna get my books. I'll be back in a minute." She started to leave, then stopped. "Are you sure you don't mind helping me? I don't want to keep you from going out or doing something else."

  "In case you missed the memo, going out isn't on my itinerary for the next couple of weeks. Except for therapy. I hope that won't bother you. Me being a homebody."

  She shook her head. "No, I'll be gone at school and work most of the time anyway. But… don't you want to see your family?"

  He crunched his lollipop as his gut clenched tight.

  "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to pry." She jogged up the stairs, out of sight and his thoughts traveled to his mom. Just the thought of hearing worry in her voice was enough to have him throwing up. He couldn't handle his parents. Not yet.

  "Ugh, I'm never going to get this," said Cara.

  Noah laid his hand on her arm. The contact sent a thrill coursing through him. "You'll get it enough to take the test and pass the class. Then you'll be done with it."

  She shook her head. "I don't know how you do it. I really don't. You mix letters and numbers in my head and it might as well be Chinese."

  He chuckled. "It all comes down to memorizing the formula. Nothing more."

  She glanced down at his hand, he slid it away and stood. "Let's take a break for a few minutes." He walked to the fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, and the pitcher of tea. "Want some?"

  She nodded and headed to get a glass. In the narrow kitchen, they attempted to pass each other between the fridge and table. She placed her hands on his waist and tried to shimmy through. Noah froze at the feel of her body pressed against his yet again. She looked up, smiled and his heart boomed like artillery fire at her nearness. She licked her bottom lip, moistening it. Her grip tightened on his hips, and her nails pressed into his sides, making his arousal spike.

  Her arms slipped around his waist and he leaned into her. Without notice, she raised to her toes and pushed her lips to his. A million thoughts raced through his mind. She'd turned him down at the beach, but now…

  She licked his lower lip and sucked it into her mouth. Every nerve in his body sparked, as if jumper cables had attached to his spine. He set the water and tea on the counter, wrapped her in his arms and let all doubt drift away.

  ****

  Noah's hand fisted in her curls and he drew her to him. His lips clamped down on hers and she plunged her tongue deep into his mouth as she ran her hands around his back to his butt, pulling his hips into hers.

  He groaned deep in his chest and broke away to kiss down her neck to her shoulder. Her bare skin flushed with every sucking kiss placed upon it. He ran his hand down the front of her t-shirt and she moaned as his thumb rubbed over her sensitive nubs. Desire thrummed through her core, pulsing, and begging to be sated.

  No. She couldn't do this. She had to tell him the truth. It wasn't right.

  "Noah," she choked out. "Noah. I have to tell you something."

  He lifted his head back to her lips. "I don't care."

  "No. Noah it's important. Something you don't know about me. About my past."

  He kissed her hard, his mouth tasting like the butterscotch lollipop he'd consumed after dinner.

  He lifted off her shirt. "I don't care what you did. I only care about who you are now."

  He kissed her again and her brain grew fuzzy with desire. His rough, calloused hand squeezed and kneaded her flesh into submission until she was barely able to keep her feet. She stripped his tank top off and ran her fingers over the curved planes of his abs. Starting at his pecs, she kissed a trail over his skin. Scars marked the beauty of his flesh but they only added to her desire. She kissed each one as she lowered herself down and swirled her tongue in the dips between his muscles. He slammed his hands on the counter behind her, making it shake.

  "We better get out of the kitchen before we break something,” he growled.

  She grabbed his hand and led him to his bedroom. The door had barely closed before she pushed him down on his bed, grabbed the waistband of his shorts and stripped them off. Then she slipped off his shoes and socks, and pushed the button on the ankle of his prosthetic. When it unlocked she slid it off and sat it on the floor.

  "Cara, you don't have to–"

  "Don't have to what?" She rolled off his sleeve and tossed it to the floor as well. She trailed her fingers up his leg and kissed a particularly long, deep, burgundy scar.

  "Do… that," he panted.

  She sat up and he looked away. She pulled his face back until his gaze met hers.

  "You have nothing to be ashamed of Noah. Your scars only make you more courageous and amazing."

  "I'm only half a man now."

  "Oh really? And why is that? Because you lost your leg? Your lost limb makes you twice the man you were before. Twice as tough. Twice as strong. You lost a limb, not your soul."

  He searched her face, then kissed her softly. She stripped off the rest of her clothes and fell on top of him. He rolled her underneath him and licked down the side of her throat and between the swells of her breasts. He hovered just above her belly button and she tensed.

  Suddenly she wanted to pull his mouth back to her mouth, to make him forget what he saw. Instead, he kissed around the scar, then placed one directly in the middle. His tongue swirled over it, sending chills up her spine to the roots of her hair. He reached over to the nightstand and fumbled around be
fore finding his wallet.

  He opened it and removed a condom. "This thing's a year old. I hope it still works."

  "I'm on birth control anyway. And I'm clean."

  He closed the drawer and kissed her. Then he ripped the condom open with his teeth and rolled it on.

  His powerful thighs spread hers and he kissed her hard. She moaned into his mouth and bucked her hips.

  "Noah. Make love to me."

  He entered her slowly, filling her completely. She gripped the muscles of his back and dug her nails in. He growled and dropped his head, biting her shoulder. His breath came in hard bursts and his muscles shook.

  She wiggled beneath him, trying to gain friction.

  "Hold on. Just give me a second." He laughed. "It's been a while."

  He kissed her shoulder and pulled his mouth to hers. She lapped at his tongue, drawing the focus of his attention. A minute passed and he moved slowly, rhythmically. She grabbed his perfect round rear and cupped it.

  The throbbing between her legs turned to waves of electricity, shooting up her back and down to her knees. She moaned his name as the shockwaves grew sharper and closer together. Suddenly her spine snapped tight and her head whipped back as she spiraled over the edge toward perfect oblivion.

  She cried his name and his muscles bunched beneath her touch as he called out too. His face strained and his mouth opened in a silent cry. As her pleasure tapered off, she rocked him through his orgasm until his expression slackened and his muscles gave out. He collapsed on top of her, their bodies slick with sweat.

  He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her gently. Euphoria heated her from the inside out.

  "Thank you," he whispered.

  She laughed. "For what?"

  "For that."

  She stared up into his deep eyes, confused. "Wait. You think I had sex with you because I felt sorry for you?"

  "I'd understand if you did."

  She slammed him in the chest, flipping him off her. "So you think I'm the kind of girl who has pity sex with guys?"

  "Well I just–"

  "Okay so let's figure this out. How do I determine it exactly? If you have scars I pity you enough to have sex with you once, but if you lose a leg I pity you enough to have sex with you what? Half a dozen times?"

  "No. Cara. I didn't mean it like that."

  She cocked an eyebrow at him.

  He rubbed his face with his palms and growled. "Okay, I did mean it like that and when you say it out loud it sounds a lot worse."

  "Geez, Noah you really are an ass." She jumped from the bed but he reached for her wrist and pulled her back.

  "I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean it like that. I guess I just… I didn't think there was a girl out there who'd want me anymore. Not in that way. Being without a leg and a werewolf – I just didn't think it was possible." His face flooded with emotion, tamping down all the anger inside her. He rubbed her wrist.

  "Don't go."

  She licked her lips and pushed her hair behind her ears. "All right."

  He sat up and kissed her shoulder. Then he moved to the edge of the bed and hopped into the bathroom.

  ****

  Noah's fingers shook as he removed the condom and threw it into the trash. It'd been over a year since he'd had sex and it hadn't been anywhere near as mind blowing as that had been. Cara had chipped away at the rocks inside him, bringing back a feeling he'd thought he'd lost forever. Being in her arms made him believe it was possible to have a life again. And even a future. He'd only known her a week and yet it felt like she'd always been a part of him.

  He looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't deserve a girl like her.

  "You better not screw this up, jarhead."

  "Did you say something?" she called.

  He flipped out the light and hopped back to the bed, falling into it. She looked so beautiful curled up in his sheets. He ran his hand down the long, lean length of her body, then snuggled in behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist.

  "We better be careful," he whispered into her hair. "That was the only condom I had."

  She rolled over and faced him, a seductive smile splayed on her lips. "I have more upstairs."

  "Oh really?"

  "A girl should always be prepared."

  He ran his fingers down her arm. "So have you had many partners?"

  She looked down shyly and traced her fingers over his chest. "No. You're my second. I just don't like to leave things to chance. What about you?"

  It surprised him how happy he was to learn she'd only been with one other guy. Unfortunately he had not been as modest.

  "I've been with several girls." He lifted her chin. "But none more beautiful and amazing than you."

  She stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.

  "What? What did I say?"

  "Did you really just use that cheesy line on me?" Her laughter was contagious and he found himself laughing along side her.

  "What? I meant it."

  She laughed even harder. "Seriously? I bet you say that to all the women you charm into your bed."

  He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her tight. "Oh, I charmed you into my bed did I?"

  She continued laughing and he rubbed his whiskers on her neck until she squealed, begging him to stop.

  She lay in his arms, out of breath, and stifling a giggle. He pushed a curl behind her ear and kissed her long and hard, until she mewled like a kitten.

  Then she crawled closer and laid her head on his chest. The scent of her perfume invaded him; a spicy concoction that had him hard in an instant.

  "I meant it you know."

  She kissed his chest. "Meant what?"

  "You're the most amazing, beautiful woman I've ever met."

  She looked up into his eyes, then kissed him. "Thank you."

  CHAPTER TEN

  By dawn they'd made love several times and when Cara finally got out of Noah's bed to head to class, she was exhausted.

  "I'm sorry we didn't finish working on your math," Noah said.

  "We can finish tonight. I don't have math till tomorrow." She pulled on her underwear and bra, and then headed for the door.

  "I might be back a bit late tonight," he said. "I have a meeting downtown and traffic will be a nightmare."

  "Group session?" she asked.

  "No. A job interview."

  She stopped and a shiver raced over her skin. Just the night before he'd said he wanted to stay. Maybe she'd misunderstood and he meant he'd wanted to stay somewhere in the area.

  "Okay." She pushed her hair behind her ear. "I'll see you later then. Be safe."

  He climbed out of bed and pulled her to him. "You too." He kissed her long and deep, making her achy body tremble for more.

  He released her and sat back down. Heat flushed through her, she gave a shy smile and headed out of the room. She glanced at the clock in the front room. She had less than twenty minutes to get to the bus stop.

  ****

  Noah felt better than he had in months. He quickly realized, the nightmares plaguing him since the accident, hadn't returned that night or the night before, when Cara had slept next to him. A fist of anxiety clutched his heart. He was getting too close. He hadn't meant to, and hadn't wanted to, but somehow it had happened. He'd gotten too close to Cara.

  His phone buzzed and he picked it up. A text from Tate flashed across the screen.

  Tate: See ya in an hour.

  Crap! Noah hopped to the bathroom. He shoved his toothbrush in his mouth while the water warmed for a shower. He rolled the compression stocking off and jumped in the still cool shower. He had soaped and rinsed off before the water could get to a temperature he liked.

  He dressed quickly and headed to the kitchen. There was no sign of Cara. The thought saddened him but the girl did have a life. It wasn't like she could just hang out and entertain him.

  He opened a gallon of milk and chugged half of it before putting the lid on and stuck it back in the fridg
e.

  Forty-five minutes later he pulled into the VA parking lot. Tate stood by the entrance and tapped his watch. Noah slid from the truck and walked to the door.

  "Sorry Captain."

  "You're late."

  "Yes sir. I over slept."

  Tate opened his mouth and Noah waited for the tongue-lashing but it didn't come.

  "No nightmares?"

  "Nope." The idea made Noah smile.

  Tate returned the smile and slapped Noah on the shoulder. "Well that is good news."

  Tate opened the door and as Noah passed, he took a huge sniff, and then grabbed Noah by the arm, pulling him to a stop.

  "Is that a female I smell?"

  Noah jerked away and continued into the building. "Yes, actually. Thank you for smelling me."

  "Sorry. It's a wolf thing."

  They walked down the hall together, toward the physical therapy room.

  "Cara." Tate's voice held a note of apprehension. He stared at Noah for a minute.

  "Is that a problem?" asked Noah.

  Tate crossed his arms over his chest and measured his words. "Be careful."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Cara is a great girl but there are things she hasn't told you."

  "You mean about her being attacked? I know about that."

  "Oh." Tate looked like he wanted to say something else, but he stopped. "Well I'm glad she told you and you're okay with it. Honestly, I didn't think you would be. I guess you weren't kidding when you said you were better for being there." Tate smiled. "Just be sure to keep your emotions in check. Though you were bitten, and not born, there is still a possibility you can bond with another wolf."

  "Bond?"

  Tate looked over Noah's shoulder and waved. "You're late to therapy. I'll see you in group and then we’ll get some lunch and chat."

  Questions bombarded Noah but he didn't have time to voice them before Tate took off down the hall.

  Late that night Cara lay in Noah's bed, with her books open, studying. He ran his fingers up and down her bare arm, recounting everything he and Tate had talked about.

  "Am I bothering you?" he asked.