Red Velvet Moon

by Theodora Lane

  She groaned, frustrated. In her mind, she saw herself falling, just missing the ring.

  Tony rubbed his finger over her backdoor, and a new wave pushed her closer.

  “That’s it baby. Relax into it.” His soft voice coaxed her, guided her, as his finger swirled around her tight bud.

  God, would he ever stick his finger inside? She needed it. In a flash of clarity, she knew this is what she’d needed. All along. And Tony had known. Only her mate knew.

  She pushed back. “Fuck me, wolf.” She growled.

  His finger slipped inside, and her ass swallowed it. He finger-fucked her, and it was so good. Naughty and delicious and her arousal soared.

  He twisted his finger and stroked the muscle between her vagina and tunnel, and the most incredible sensations burst over her.

  Her body tensed, then exploded as her vagina spasmed in uncontrollable waves.

  Tony cried out, and heat filled her pussy. Wonderful, wicked warmth. His cum painted her, marked her as his.

  She buried her head in the pillow as her body shook through the orgasm, wringing every drop of cum from Tony’s cock.

  With the last of it, she collapsed.

  Then he was stroking her back as she lay on the bed. “Tony?” she mumbled, too weak to open her eyes. She floated and didn’t want to break the spell.

  “I’m here, baby.” He ran a soothing cloth over her butt cheeks, dipping gently between her legs, careful of her supersensitive pussy. It was so sweet how he took care of her.

  “You’re the one.” She sighed.

  “Of course I am.” He chuckled.

  “That was…” There weren’t words. “Everything.” She waved a hand in his direction. He took it and kissed each of her fingertips, then kissed her palm.

  “Yes, it was. I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard or so long.” Tony leaned over, pushed her hair out of her face, and kissed her nose. “I adore you.”

  “You do. You really do.” And she knew it was true. “You’re my mate.”

  “I’m your mate.”

  She nodded. Her eyelids felt as if something held them closed. She basked in the afterglow, her body tingling, the feeling of safety and contentment rising inside her. This was home.

  “Stay with me forever, my wolf,” she whispered.

  The last thing she heard was Tony’s voice. “Forever.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Tony lay on his side, watching her. He was one lucky son of a bitch, for sure. His mate was…everything. Everything he’d ever dreamed of, ever wanted, ever found sexy. She was perfect, as if she’d been made just for him.

  There was only one little thing that bothered him. That bloody red dress.

  Now that he’d claimed her, he wanted no secrets between them. Not even if it was some harmless accident; he wanted to know what had happened.

  Daphne sighed, rolled over into his arms, and opened her eyes. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Am I still yours?” she asked.

  “Are you?”

  “Hmm, let me think.” She closed her eyes and scrunched up her face. “Yep. Still yours.”

  He laughed and kissed her adorable nose. “I love you.”

  “And I love you. A werewolf.” She shrugged. “No one is going to believe this.”

  “No one is going to know.” He frowned. “Seriously. No one can know, Daphne. If they do, it’ll put everyone in danger. Max, Diego, me, and others who are here in town. And our children.”

  She sat up and pushed a mass of dark hair from her face. “Our kids?” She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Now, she held the secret of the wolves. “I’ll never tell. I’m not dumb. There are all sorts of people who would want to know about you and your brothers. The government, scientists, the media.”

  He nodded. She was as smart as she was beautiful. “Exactly. I don’t want to think about what they’d do to us.” Those experiments haunted his worst nightmares.

  “I’ll never tell your secret; you know that. It’s my secret now.” She leaned over and kissed him.

  “Speaking of secrets,” he began, “you still haven’t told me about how the blood got all over your red dress.”

  “Oh, yeah. That.” She grimaced.

  “I’m waiting.” He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.

  “Well, I’ll tell you, but promise not to laugh. It’s really…well, embarrassing doesn’t begin to explain it.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Well, you know I own Big Mama’s Pizza, right?” He nodded.

  “A month ago, I decided to expand. There’s an empty storefront right next to mine in the strip center. I looked into leasing it and expanding, but I didn’t have the capital yet. It isn’t a huge amount, but I just don’t have it. I know I can make it fly because business is great, and every Friday and Saturday night I have people waiting in line for tables. I just don’t have the room or the waitstaff to deal with them.”

  “But with the new space, you would.”

  “Right.”

  “More money coming in, for a minimal amount up front.” It made perfect sense to him. “You need a loan.”

  “Exactly what I thought.” She sighed. “So I went to the branch of my bank in Houston. I’d been there all my life, and when I first set up the restaurant, they handled all my accounts.”

  “They wouldn’t give you the money?”

  “No. I’ve only been open a year, and they thought I needed more time to get established before expanding.”

  “You couldn’t convince the loan officer? Seems like perfect timing. A space adjacent to yours just waiting.” He could see the opportunity clear as day. Why couldn’t the bank?

  “That’s where my problem started. The loan officer wasn’t someone I’d dealt with before; he was new to the branch. He looked over my papers and turned me down.”

  “So you decked him, broke his nose, and got blood all over it?” Tony guessed.

  “I wish. No, it was far more embarrassing than that.” She pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs.

  “What happened?” He put his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze.

  “Well, it was all your fault.” She glared at him.

  “My fault!” He yelped.

  “Yes. You.” She pointed at him with her finger. “I’d gotten tired of flirting with you. I figured you weren’t interested. Seriously, it was a hard blow to my already fragile self-esteem.”

  “I’m sorry. I know I was slow.” He exhaled. “Look, you’re not the only one with a self-esteem problem. Do you know what it’s like to have Max or Diego as big brothers? An alpha wolf and his beta? What does that leave me?” He shrugged. “Anyway, go on.”

  “So, with the recent sting of rejection”—Tony opened his mouth to counter that claim, but she put her hand over it—“and the decline of the loan from the bank, I just wanted to feel better about myself. That’s all.”

  “I still don’t get it.”

  “I did what every woman on Earth does at a time like that. I indulged in some retail therapy.”

  “Huh?”

  She laughed. “I went shopping.”

  “Oh. I get it. Shoes, purses…” He finally got it and snapped his fingers. “A little red dress.”

  “Exactly. I found it in a resale shop on Westheimer in Houston. It was one of a kind. I fell in love, bought it, and took it back to my hotel room.”

  “And?”

  “That night, I went downstairs to the hotel bar. Figured in that dress, if I could pick someone up, it would prove to me I was desirable.” She gave him a weak smile.

  “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry you felt that way. I’m an idiot.”

  “No, not an idiot. Just slow.”

  “But I got there.” He hoped that counted for something.

  “Indeed you did. And it was worth the wait, Lobos.” She kissed him again. “So, there I am in my new sexy dress, sitting at the bar, just eager and willing for someone to approach me.”
>
  “Right.” The thought of someone other than him touching her made his hackles rise.

  “And who comes sliding onto the barstool next to me?” She cocked her eyebrow at him, daring him to guess.

  Who could it be? Tony racked his brain for the answer, but it didn’t take long for him to twig to it. “The loan officer?”

  “Exactly.” She frowned. “He was drunk already, but he recognized me even in the dark bar. He leaned over, ran his hand up my bare arm, and leered at me.” She shuddered, and Tony’s anger blossomed. He growled low in his throat.

  She petted his arm, as if to soothe him, and amazingly it did. “Then he told me if I took him upstairs to my room and had sex with him, he’d give me the loan.” She grimaced.

  “No wonder you were embarrassed. He did need killing.”

  She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that, Tony.” She looked down and then up into his eyes and then away. “I agreed.”

  “What?” Tony sat back, shocked.

  “I wanted that loan so badly. I thought about it, and it made sense at the time. I was looking to get laid, I wanted the loan, and I could get both at the same time.” She bit her lip and tears pooled in her eyes.

  Tony reached out and wiped them away as they spilled. “Tell me you didn’t go upstairs with him.” God, please, he prayed for her to tell him she didn’t.

  “I didn’t. After I finished my drink, he grabbed my arm, and tried to drag me off the barstool. I knew right then it was a mistake. He scared me. He was drunk, rough, and a piece of shit for holding out on the loan.” She sighed. “I wasn’t much better.”

  “But you didn’t go.” Thank God. “What happened?”

  “He jerked me, I pulled back, he slipped off the seat, and his head smacked into the bar. He cut his head. Blood poured down his face, and he put his hands up to the wound and then looked at them. That’s when he freaked.”

  “Freaked?”

  “Yeah. I guess the sight of blood made him woozy, he started to faint, reached out to steady himself, and grabbed me instead.”

  “That’s when the blood got all over the dress.”

  “Yes. But that’s not all of it.”

  “There’s more?” Tony blinked. What else could have happened?

  “When he grabbed me, he grabbed my dress. The halter part. The button on the back broke, and he pulled the top down.”

  “You were…” he stammered.

  “Yeah. Bare-breasted in the bar.” She frowned, then bit her lip, then giggled. “Now that I think about it, it had to be hilarious to everyone there.”

  “Everyone but you.”

  “Damn right. There I was, my girls exposed, this guy falling all over me, bleeding like a stuck pig, and me so in shock all I could do was stand there.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “I ran. Gathered up my straps and ran. Straight to the elevator. I was mortified. Of course, the elevator didn’t come for what seemed like hours. Everyone stared at me.” She looked at him. “Sort of how you’re looking at me now.” She whacked him on the arm.

  “Oh God.” He groaned. “I’m so sorry. But I’m so glad you didn’t go with him.”

  “Me too. I don’t think I would have been able to hold my head up if I had. I still can’t believe I considered it.” She looked away, and the tears reformed.

  “Hey, baby.” He pulled her into his arms, nuzzling her hair. “It’s okay. You didn’t go. That’s the important thing. You kept your honor, and he lost his. He’s an asshole, and if I ever get my hands on him, he’ll regret he ever touched you.”

  ∙•∙

  The deep growl in his chest warmed Daphne’s heart. She’d told him about the worst of it, and he still loved her. She’d have to find a way to forgive herself. And with Tony’s love and support, she’d do it.

  “Just cut yourself some slack, Daphne. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m not going to say I’d never do something like that, because I’ve never had to face that situation, but I know I’d do just about anything for our business.”

  How did he know just the right thing to say? “I love you, Antonio Lobos.”

  “I love you, Daphne Raine.”

  She snuggled into him, loving the warmth and safety she found in his arms.

  “And tomorrow, you’re going to talk to Jim Walker at our bank. He’s the loan officer there, and I’ll bet he’s smart enough to recognize a good thing when he sees it.”

  She looked up at him. “Really? Do you think he’d give me the expansion loan?”

  “Perhaps. He’s fair and as sharp as they come. You won’t know unless you try.”

  “Thanks, Tony.” Wow. That would be more than fabulous. If she got the loan and expanded, it would be a dream come true. And that would be two dreams in one lifetime. Almost more than anyone had a right to ask for.

  “It’s the least I can do for my soon-to-be wife.” Tony pulled her closer.

  “Wife?” She gulped. All the talk of mates had her thrown for a loop. She’d never put mate and wife together. Oh God. Three dreams come true? Someone pinch her.

  “Well, of course. Mate just means wife in wolf talk.” He chuckled, then sobered. “You did realize that, didn’t you?”

  She didn’t want to admit she hadn’t. “Are you asking me to marry you, Tony? We’ve only known each other…”

  “Four months.” He nodded. “But I’ll wait and do it right. Candlelight. Soft music. Big diamond ring.” He took her left hand in his and touched the place where the band would be. “Just know my intentions are to have you as my wife.”

  “And I intend to have you as my wolf…er, husband. Just so you’re clear.” She laughed and threw her arms around him.

  He pulled her down to the bed, growling, as his eyes went that shade of amber Daphne was learning to love.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tony leaned over the counter and counted the last of the men’s shirts Mr. Franks dropped off to launder. Thirteen. Always thirteen. It was odd, but what the hell. He was a longtime steady customer and, well, who was Tony to talk about weird?

  The bell jingled, and he looked up.

  “Hey, baby!” He smiled, then hopped over the counter and rushed over to Daphne. She looked delicious in a light tan sweater and black skirt and boots. He grabbed her in his arms, lifted her, and swung her around. “I missed you!”

  “I missed you too, but it’s only been”—she paused and looked at her watch— “six hours since you left my house for work.”

  “Six hours too long. I can’t wait for the wedding so we can be together all the time.” He put her down and stepped back. Even after three months, he still got turned-on by just the sight of this incredible woman.

  His mate.

  She giggled. “You’re an idiot.” She slugged him in the arm. “How’s business?”

  “Okay; a little slow.” He returned to the counter and bundled up the shirts. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

  “I just came by to tell you I got the loan.” She grinned at him. “Thanks, by the way. Jim Walker is a great guy and a great businessman.”

  “Told you so. He got his degree at Rice, like me.” He tried not to sound too full of himself, but he never could pull that off, not like his brothers did.

  “Now, I have a little surprise for you.” She walked to the counter and leaned over. He leaned toward her as she whispered, “I’m not wearing any panties.”

  “Holy shit.” His cock went rock hard. They’d made love that morning, but when it came to Daphne, he couldn’t get enough.

  “So”—she ran her finger down his arm, to his hand, onto the metal countertop, and traced a slow, lazy pattern on it—“I thought we should do something special.”

  “Special?” He gulped. All his blood pooled in his dick, making thinking nearly impossible.

  She came around the counter and squeezed between him and it, facing away from him toward the door. He wrapped his arms around her.

  “I have a little f
antasy, Antonio.” She pushed back into his erection. It fit perfectly in the cleft of her ass. He growled, praying this was going where he wanted it to go.

  “If it involves me bending you over this counter and fucking you,” he whispered in her ear, “then I think I can make that happen.”

  “Good.” She wiggled. “I’ll be the lookout.”

  Without a word, he ran his hands over her legs, pushing the skirt up. Just as she’d promised, she was bare-assed naked underneath. He pushed his fingers between her legs.

  “Spread ’em,” he ordered.

  She did, leaning over, bracing her hands on the counter. Damn, she was soaking wet for him. He dipped his fingers into her juices and brought them to his lips for a taste.

  “So good. Love the way you taste, baby.”

  “Fuck me, Tony. I need my wolf.”

  God, when she talked that way, called him wolf, it set him off. He unbuckled his belt, popped open the button, and unzipped. His cock raged, begging to be stroked, and begging to be inside her.

  He smeared precum from the tip over his shaft and then positioned it at her pussy’s entrance. She widened her stance and bent over a little more until her breasts rested on the countertop.

  He surged in, going straight to the root, his balls slapping against her thighs.

  “Tony!” she cried.

  “Daphne, baby,” he whispered. “Gonna fuck you, make you come.”

  “Please, yes.” The whimper in her voice nearly undid him.

  With one hand on her hip and the other stroking her clit, he slid in and out, coating his cock with her scent. He knew he’d smell like her, like sex, until he showered and washed it away. Knew if he went around Max or Diego, they’d smell her on him and know he’d fucked his mate. Max would be pissed he’d done her at work, but too fucking bad.

  God, that got him off.

  He worked her clit as he laid into her. His eyes changed, and the hairs on his chest sprouted. Without a thought, he bit her on the shoulder, his teeth claiming her, holding her in the submissive position.

  “Tony,” she gasped. He plunged deeper. “Tony, please.”

  He demanded she come with his finger. A now-familiar shudder ran through her, and she cried out. Her pussy tightened, convulsed around his cock, and sent him over the edge. He emptied into her, hard and hot.