Second Moon

by Lynn Lorenz

  “Yes. Please. Let me come.”

  She ran her tongue around the underside of his rim and then let go of his balls.

  His orgasm rocketed through him, exploded out of his balls, raced up his shaft and, hips jerking in time with the shots of his jism, he came.

  Sam captured his cock in her mouth and drank his cream down, sucking him until he was dry, limp, and absolutely boneless.

  He couldn’t form any words.

  Fuck. He’d had a stroke.

  Chapter Six

  She tumbled off him, and stretched, her hands reaching toward the headboard, her toes to the foot of the bed. Languid, fluid, her body floated in a sea of seduction.

  On this bed, like a raft on a quiet sea, she’d freed herself and captured him.

  Duke’s harsh breathing eased, and he swallowed. She loved the way his throat moved with it, his full, kiss-swollen lips parted and his tongue moistened them.

  That tongue.

  On her clit.

  She ran her foot over his jean-clad leg, gentle, yet insistent. Just her touch aroused him, and his flaccid member came to life.

  Oh, hell, yes.

  He rolled over and met her gaze. Those eyes, still hungry, like a contented cat, watched him.

  Here, kitty kitty.

  His hand traveled over her hip, to the place between her legs and cupped her.

  Hot, wet, she surged into his grip. He brought his fingers to his nose and inhaled. Her scent, heady as any brandy, triggered some need in him. He licked his fingers, savoring what little of her flavor he found there.

  More. More of her essence.

  Sam shimmied out of her pants before he could even ask her and stretched out for him. Baby pink satin cream-dampened undies and her white cotton shirt, nipples still erect and poking through, drove him insane with lust.

  Duke slid his hand along the smooth skin of her inner thigh and she spread her legs for him, a soft purring vibrating in her throat.

  “Touch me,” she demanded, hooking her finger in the side of her panties and tugging them down, exposing dark hair that covered her mound. Teasing him.

  He leaned over her and buried his face in her crotch. Inhaled. Groaned.

  Her fingers wove through his hair, holding him in place.

  He bit at her through the thin slick fabric and pulled the undies off her with his teeth, growling, as he slid lower on the bed. They came free at her feet, and he shook them like a rag, then tossed them to the floor.

  He shucked out of his pants.

  Naked, he climbed onto the bed, crawled over her, his wolf barely in check. A howl caught in his throat, and morphed into a resonating growl as his cock stiffened in response to her scent.

  He kneed her legs apart, and sat back and looked his fill.

  This was his.

  Her long legs, her thick close-cropped patch of hair, her flat stomach, and deep navel.

  All his.

  Using one finger, he traced a line up her leg to her mound and outlined it.

  She widened her legs and exposed her pink sex to him.

  Duke nearly shot his load.

  Sexy. Sensual. Arousing.

  Those were words she’d never used to describe herself, but now, it was who she was. For Duke. He’d done this to her. Touched the wanton woman inside her and drew it out to give to him.

  All his. Every part of her. Body, heart and soul.

  She wanted to feed the wolf.

  Reaching down, she kept her eyes locked on his, and parted her nether lips, showing him what he wanted to see.

  “Lick me, wolf.”

  Duke groaned and obeyed.

  He bowed down and his tongue tasted her. His head swam with it. Delicious. Rich and intoxicating. He lapped at her folds and she bucked off the bed.

  Holding her down with his hand on her belly, he continued to lick her, searching each of the folds, circling her nubbin.

  Needy little noises. Needy little kitten.

  He had what she needed and he’d give it to her.

  Tongue found cave. Dark, hot, wet, dripping.

  Oh, God, so fucking delicious.

  Duke pushed inside her, sucking the juices she gave him as her body heaved, and she cried out, fingers clutching at the sheets, head thrashing, hair flying.

  “You’re mine, Sam.”

  She moaned.

  “Say it. You’re mine. You belong to me.”

  She shook her head, biting her bottom lip, her eyes fierce with need.

  He pushed a finger inside her and stroked the upper wall of her tunnel. She shuddered.

  “Oh, God, Duke!”

  “That’s it, baby. Come for me.” He worked a second finger in and stroked her. If his cock couldn’t fuck her, his fingers would do it. Bring her off. Make her scream.

  She thrust her hips upward, clenching around his fingers and pulled them inside her. His cock responded, slapping its head against his belly as he leaned over her. He wanted to touch himself, but knew he’d shoot his load if he did.

  He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her to him, still fucking her with his fingers. Frenzied, she gasped and bucked.

  “Don’t stop!” she cried out.

  “Here? Is this the spot?”

  “Good Lord, don’t stop!”

  He lowered his mouth to her and took her clit between her teeth, flicked it with his tongue, still pumping his fingers in and out of her core. She drenched his fingers in her honey and rode them like a hot, horny hellcat.

  “Yes. Yes,” she hissed.

  She was close. If she let herself go, she’d come, but this felt so good. Too good not to make it last for as long as she could take it. The building tightening of the muscles around her sex was near pain, but so sweet. When she came, it would be the best. Ever.

  Her body arched as she climbed higher, reached for her release, and hung on the edge of ecstasy.

  Duke nibbled at her clit and sent her over, tumbling, weeping, her sex convulsing around his fingers, feeding his wolf with her woman’s cum.

  “Duke! Here it is. Oh God, it’s so good.” Her vision blurred as tears clung to her eyelashes and her body, bow-taut, released.

  She slumped back to the bed as shuddering breaths racked her body, her eyes unfocused.

  Duke sat back, a smug half-grin on his sexy-as-hell face and licked his fingers, making yummy sounds, as if they were covered in chocolate and not her juices.

  “That … incredible … fuck.” She gave up trying to speak and closed her eyes.

  Duke’s gentle chuckle filled her ears as he slid down beside her and pulled her limp body into his arms.

  “You’re mine and you know it,” he whispered into her neck.

  She waved her hand and nodded, not assent, not denial, then closed her eyes.

  Already, just being with her gave him strength he hadn’t felt in a very long time. He grinned. Nothing wrong with his dick that this woman couldn’t fix. And oh, God, could she fix what ailed him.

  Duke held his lifemate in his arms and kept guard as she slept.

  Around three a.m., he got out of bed, dressed and pulled a chair to the window and sat. Lifting the edge of the curtain, he peered out.

  The parking lot was empty. No a sign of life to be had.

  She rolled over, her hand searching the bed for him. He smiled.

  “Come back to bed.” Her voice was sleepy, sex-sated.

  “Best if I stay here, baby.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure I could resist you right now.”

  “Why should you resist?” She yawned, stretched, and looked like a very satisfied cat.

  “No condoms, remember?”

  “Right.”

  “I’m thinking I should go.” He glanced out the window again.

  “Is that anyway to treat a lady? Give her the best orgasm of her life and then run away?” Her tongue ran over her lip.

  He grinned and stood. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. You’re stuck with me.”

  She got out o
f bed, gathered the sheet around her, and came to him. Her arms wrapped around him and pulled him close. He gave her a kiss, resisting the urge to carry her back to bed, to hell with the condom, and mate her.

  He pulled away, breaking contact, then rested his forehead against hers and sighed.

  “I want you as my lifemate. Never doubt that, Sam,” he whispered.

  “I don’t. I know you need me.” She paused. “To stay alive.”

  He held her at arms length. “It’s more than that. Can’t you feel it? We’re two halves of a whole.” He sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but I will. Tonight at the bar, I’d planned to kill myself. I was tired of living a half-life. Tired of not being a man. Of being alone. Of dying slowly.”

  Her heart caught. “What?”

  “You changed all that when you walked into that bar. I’m going to wait, Sam. For as long as it takes. But you need to know, without you I don’t stand a chance.”

  She stiffened and stepped back. “Is that an ultimatum? Marry you or you’ll die?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I’m saying, don’t take too long. As soon as you know, tell me. Even if your answer is “no.””

  “I will. I promise.”

  He reached into his jacket, pulled out his card, and handed it to her. She took it, glanced at it, and then went to her purse and put it in. She pulled out her own card and scribbled her home phone number on the back.

  “Here. Call me whenever you feel like it,” she said as she handed it to him. “Even if you want to just talk.”

  He tucked it in a pocket and went to the door. After opening all the locks, he turned back to her.

  “I know it sounds crazy, but I love you, Sam. And I know you have feelings for me. What happened tonight between us wasn’t just sex and you know it.”

  “I know. And for what it’s worth, I’ve never met a man like you, Duke. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.” She smiled at him from under her lashes and his dick stirred.

  “You’re a hell of a woman, Sam. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Even yourself.” With that, he left, unable to trust himself a moment longer.

  She went to the door and locked it again. She didn’t bother to peek out of the curtains, sure that he’d gone to sit in the truck to guard her.

  Turning around, she stared at the bed. Covers tossed, the pillow where his head rested still held the dent. She slipped back under the blanket and settled into the bed.

  She could still smell him. Raising her hand to her face, she sniffed.

  His scent was on her.

  He’d marked her as his.

  Even though she’d refused to say it aloud, each time he’d asked, she’d said it in her heart. Yes, I’m yours.

  He’d be gone in the morning.

  Already, she felt his absence, as if a part of her had gone missing. She wouldn’t be whole until she was with him again.

  Chapter Seven

  Despite everything that had happened last night, Sam had slept well. She packed her bag, dressed, and opened the door.

  Duke sat in the truck. He raised a hand to her and smiled as she walked up to his window. Despite the stubble on his chin, he didn’t appear to be tired at all. Must be that werewolf stamina.

  “So, Detective Stevens, are you hungry?”

  “I was hoping you’d ask. Let’s get some breakfast. Come on, hop in.” She heard the truck’s locks click.

  “Let me get my purse and lock up.” Sam trotted to the room, grabbed her purse and the key, and locked the door. Then she went to the truck and got in.

  He leaned across the cab and she met him in a kiss. The urge to deepen it swelled in her, but she pulled away. If she didn’t she’d be a wanton woman right here in his truck.

  “I suppose you know a place where they make the best breakfasts in the world?” She smiled at him.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” He started the truck, backed out of the space. They left the motel parking lot and turned onto the blacktop highway.

  “You know, in the daylight, when you don’t have a crazed killer chasing you, this is really pretty country.” She stared out the window at the dense forest that covered the gentle rolling slopes on either side of the road. She cracked the window and inhaled. The heavy scent of pine and the musty smell of fallen leaves filled her nostrils.

  “I love it here. Been here all my life.”

  “Great place for a wolf.” She laughed and rolled the window back up.

  “Yeah. Lots of woods to run in. Part of the county is a state park. Lots of prime forest untouched by man to run in.”

  Sam found talking to him easy, with none of the uncomfortable silences that she usually had with men. Perhaps it was the secret they shared. Perhaps it was the phenomenal sex.

  She glanced over at him, taking in his rugged profile. Strong square chin, nice nose, with just a hint of a bump. Wide forehead. And his dark, wild hair. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair. Down, girl.

  There were questions she wanted to ask, now that she had the ability to think again.

  “What symptoms are you having as a man?”

  He blew out a breath. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”

  “No. I don’t think we have time to waste, do you?”

  He shook his head. “Well, I’ve been sick. Colds and stuff. Never been sick before.”

  “Never?” That was hard to believe. “Not even as a kid?”

  “Nope. Werewolves don’t get sick. I’ve lost some weight.”

  “Really. How much weight, because you look fine to me.”

  “Fine, huh?” He smirked. “I like that.”

  She reached across the cab and swatted him playfully on his arm. “You know what I meant.”

  “I like my meaning better.” He winked at her.

  He was adorable, no two ways about it, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him. However, that wasn’t going to get her closer to knowing the real Duke Stevens.

  “Your family? Were they—are they?”

  “Yes. Just the males. I have a brother. No sisters. Girls are rare.”

  “Does your brother live here too?”

  “Nope. He’s up in Alaska working on the pipeline. He’s an engineer.”

  “Your mom and dad?”

  “They live here. Dad was a deputy sheriff, like me. He’s retired now. They live in the state park as caretakers.”

  “Wow. That’s ideal.”

  Duke chuckled. “Yeah, the old man gets to run whenever he feels like it, lucky bastard.” He slipped his arm onto the back of her seat, his fingers resting on her shoulder.

  “You’re close to them?” Sam leaned back, enjoying his soft touch.

  “We see each other a couple times a month. I go out, bring some steaks to grill, and after dinner Dad and I take off for a run. But we don’t hang around too much or else we start fighting.”

  “Fighting? What about?”

  “You name it, but it’s just wolf shit. Two alpha males testing each other, trying to be the top dog.” He grinned. “Dad thinks he can still boss me around.”

  “I’ll bet you let him sometimes.”

  “Sometimes.” He sobered. “It can get pretty rough, actually. We’ve torn each other up pretty good before.” He glanced at her to check her reaction.

  “I suppose a wolf bite is pretty severe.”

  “For a person, yeah. We heal very quickly. By the time we both limp back to the RV, we’re fine.”

  “Oh.” Sam took a deep breath and let it out. Could she deal with that? Wounded wolves and wolf in-laws were just a few things she’d never ever thought about facing. If she accepted Duke, she’d have to learn so many new things.

  Werewolves, for one.

  Maybe she could Google it?

  They pulled into a diner parking lot and hunted for a space. From all the cars, Carl’s Hut must be the place to have breakfast on Saturday morning. They parked, got out, and went inside.

  Duke had his hand on
her back as he guided her to one of the few booths open. She sat and he slid in across from her. The waitress appeared, slid two menus on the table and placed two thick white mugs in front of them. She poured coffee into Duke’s without asking.

  “Regular or decaf, sugar?”

  “Regular, please.” The woman poured, left some little tubs of creamer on the table and disappeared. “I guess they know you, huh?”

  He grinned, nodded, and took a sip of coffee. She noted he took it black, no sugar. She stirred in two creamers and two packs of sugar. Then they stared at the menus.

  The waitress returned. “What’ll it be, Duke? The usual?”

  “Yes, please.” He handed her back the menu.

  “And for your—?” Her eyebrow rose, her pencil hung in the air above her pad, waiting for either the order or clarification of who Sam was.

  “I’ll have the western omelet. No green peppers, please. Side of grits and toast.”

  The waitress gave Duke a last look, shoved her pencil behind her ear and took off.

  Sam leaned over and whispered, “Did I pass inspection?”

  Duke glanced after the woman. “Sophie’s pretty sharp. If she didn’t approve, you’d have coffee in your lap.”

  “Really?” Sam sat back.

  “Maybe not.” His eyes smiled at her even though his mouth was straight.

  “You’re pulling my chain, right?”

  “Right. Can’t fool you.”

  Their food came. The usual for Duke turned out to be two eggs, hash browns, four slices of bacon, and two biscuits. He dug in, eating as if he hadn’t seen food in a week.

  “Well, your appetite isn’t bad,” she said, checking the color of his skin for any signs of illness. She’d quickly slipped into worry mode with him.

  He shrugged. “I’ve seemed to have found my appetite again.” Then he lifted his gaze from his plate and stared into her eyes.

  Good Lord, he needed her so badly. She didn’t know if it was guilt, compassion, lust or love that moved her heart when she looked at him. Basing a decision that would affect the rest of her life without knowing which one it was would be foolish, to say the least.

  Drunks in Vegas made those kinds of decisions, not her.

  They ate in silence. The waitress returned, filled their mugs and left the check on the table next to Duke’s plate. He put a twenty down.