by Crissy Smith
His erection dug into her as he rested her weight on him. Melissa peered down at him, but he was looking at the bandage wrapped around her biceps.
“It’s just a small wound,” she reminded him.
“I hate you were hurt. I should have been there.”
That didn’t make sense, though. Trent didn’t work for the sheriff’s department and she’d been following up on a case. “There’s nothing you could have done.”
“I wouldn’t have ever left you alone.”
“Trent.” She tugged on his hair so he was looking in her eyes. “I…”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he said. “I’m sorry for so much.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” she assured him. “It was all m—”
“No.” He gripped her hips and pulled her forward. “Don’t… I shouldn’t have left like I did. I should have helped you.”
Melissa was so confused.
“I want to kiss you until these past years melt away,” he said.
“Do it,” she urged. Melissa wanted nothing more than to forget about the past and enjoy Trent being there with her at that moment.
Trent kissed her again. Melissa allowed herself to lean into his strong body. They moved their lips against each other until she opened for him. Trent pushed his tongue into her mouth and Melissa responded in kind.
Her body heated. She needed to be closer to him. Melissa pressed forward while lifting her arms to wrap around his neck.
She cried out as pain flared from her injury.
“Shit, baby!” He cupped her elbow and brought her injured arm back down. “If you hurt yourself, we’re going to have to stop.”
“No!” she begged. Melissa felt as if every fantasy she’d dreamed up in the past five years was coming true.
“Then let me do the work,” he demanded. He rose and she had to wrap her good arm around his shoulder to keep from falling. Not that he’d have let her. Trent placed his palm on her ass as he carried her out of the living room to her bed.
Trent laid her softly on the bed before taking a step back to look at her.
Melissa bit her lip. “What?” she asked.
“You’re beautiful.”
She laughed. “Thank you?”
“We’re going to talk. We have a lot of things we need to work out.”
Melissa nodded. “I know.”
“But first, I want to make love to you,” he said. “I want to smell myself on you again. Just like I used to.”
“Yes,” she pleaded.
“Don’t move too much and hurt yourself.”
Melissa shook her head. She’d do her best, but she couldn’t make him a promise like that.
He grinned, a deliciously wicked look she never imagined would be hers again.
“Hurry,” she ordered.
Trent leaned down and slowly peeled the clothes from her body. Melissa kept her gaze on him the entire time he undressed her. She wanted to see every small detail of him while he watched in return. Trent’s gaze practically glowed as he peered down.
When she was naked, he trailed his fingers from her collarbone down her body to her toe.
Melissa shuddered and wiggled around.
Trent growled. The animalistic sound echoed in the quiet room. It should have scared her. They hadn’t been together long when she’d learned he was a shifter. After Trent had left, she’d started to think of ways he’d been different from everyone else. But she’d never feared him. Not when she’d broken his heart and not now when he looked ready to pounce on her.
“Show me who you really are,” she told him. They’d never had this chance and now Melissa was going to let Trent be who he truly was.
He nodded then quickly disrobed. He didn’t take the same care with his clothes as he did hers. He’d undressed her, even taking time to fold up her garments, but he stripped so fast he dropped his own garments to the carpet.
“Jeez,” she breathed. He was fucking hot. With his muscles bulging, his cock leaking and him staring at her, Melissa could just look at him all night.
Trent palmed his cock then stroked himself.
She lifted to sit up and licked her lips. She wanted to taste him. It had been so long. “Come here,” she begged.
He closed the distance. Melissa reached for him and covered his hand with hers. His shaft jumped when she touched him. Trent dropped his head back and groaned as she jacked him. He moved his hips in small thrusts, sliding his cock through her hold.
“I’ve missed your touch,” he murmured.
“I missed touching you,” she responded. Melissa leaned farther across the mattress so she had her mouth inches from him.
“Please,” he told her.
She peered up at him while moving the last few inches to take the tip of his shaft into her mouth. Melissa sucked on the mushroom head before sliding her tongue under the tip.
Trent bucked, pushing his cock farther down her throat.
With her hand on the base of his shaft, she managed to keep from choking.
“Sorry. Sorry.” Trent mumbled.
No response was needed. Melissa continued to look up at him as she sucked him deeper.
Trent gripped her head gently before tangling his fingers in her hair. He kept the pressure on her as she moved up and down on his cock, bringing him pleasure. It was a little awkward only having one arm to use and keep her balance at the same time.
He was breathing hard when he pulled out of her mouth.
Melissa reached for him, but he caught her hand before urging her to lie back. Trent followed her onto the bed, settling between her legs.
She spread her thighs as he slipped a finger through her folds to tease at the entrance of her pussy. Melissa was more than ready for Trent to take her. She hooked her foot behind his leg and pulled.
Trent chuckled, deep and wicked. “Trying to tell me something?” He plunged his finger deep inside.
“Yes!” She bowed her back. Melissa was indeed trying to tell him something.
Continuing to thrust his finger, he smiled. “You like that?”
“Not enough,” she complained. Melissa lifted her hips in need.
He added a second finger before lowering his body down on hers. His shoulders covered her legs, trapping her to the mattress.
Melissa wiggled.
Trent went on plunging his fingers in and out. He used his tongue, bringing her pleasure. First, he licked at her pussy then closed his lips over her clit. She dropped her hands to his shoulders, ignoring the pain of her injury, and scratched his flesh.
He hissed but lifted his head and smiled.
“I want to feel you,” she told him.
“Okay.” Kneeling, he moved over her. He bent and kissed her.
Melissa pushed her breasts against his torso.
“You know now I’m a shifter,” he said. “I don’t need to use a condom. I will if that’s what you prefer, but I really want to mark you in the most intimate way. I’ve never not used a condom. Even with other shifters. Can I have you that way?”
“Yes,” she answered. Melissa was on a five-year birth control, so they didn’t need to worry about pregnancy. Just the thought of having Trent’s cum filling her had Melissa aching even more. She wanted that. Marking. He’d mark her as his. “Yes.”
He nodded then gripped the base of his cock. Before pressing inside, he kissed her again.
Melissa closed her eyes, unable to look at him. This was what she’d been waiting for. To connect with Trent again.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’m here with you.”
She nodded.
He pushed slowly into her. Melissa held her breath. It’d been years since she’d been intimate with anyone. After Trent had left, she hadn’t been making friends and hadn’t even bothered trying to date.
“Fuck, baby,” he muttered. Trent had his arms braced above her head and they were shaking.
He hadn’t even entered her completely. Melissa lifted her up
per body off the bed and attacked his neck with her mouth. She licked, nipped, sucked and basically marked him the only way she could while being human.
Trent thrust hard, filling her at last.
She cried out in pleasure. Trent paused with his eyes clenched shut.
“You okay?” she whispered.
“Fuck! I’m trying not to come. It feels so good to be inside you again.”
“Perfect,” she responded. “Right.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Yeah.” He withdrew then plunged back in.
The bed rocked under them, the frame knocking against the wall. Melissa didn’t care. As long as Trent kept thrusting and claiming her, she didn’t give a damn it the bed went through the sheetrock.
He held her legs up against her chest as he plunged deep.
It’s amazing!
As Trent drove forward, Melissa broke apart. She screamed out while climaxing, giving her entire body over to him. She was his now. Whether Trent wanted her or not, Melissa wouldn’t recover from this night. Even if he ended up walking away, she’d never find someone who could fulfil her the same way.
Melissa watched him until Trent thrust once more then froze. His muscles strained as heat filled her. Yes! Trent was marking her from the inside. Yes! He had her.
Chapter Seven
Trent lifted his head off the mattress and peered around the dark room. Melissa was lying across his chest with her injured arm curled by his side. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. He had no idea what had woken him up, but now that he was, he needed to pee.
Trent slid out from under her, as carefully as he could. He glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was just after two in the morning. They’d cuddled as soon as they’d finished making love. And he had made love to her, even if he hadn’t been gentle. He was still reeling from everything she’d tried to do at the LAPD. She’d even kept the case notes and files to follow up on the internal investigation on Adam’s death. And she’d done all that after he’d left her behind to fend for herself. She’d proven to be stronger than him.
He climbed to his feet and strode across the room.
A quiet screech reached him.
Trent stopped and listened. Footsteps? He walked to the door, which he hadn’t closed right away when he’d carried Melissa inside earlier.
Those were definitely footsteps. Trent glanced over his shoulder where Melissa was still asleep. Should he wake her? His gaze fell onto her injured arm and he had his answer. No, he’d take care of whoever thought they could break into her house. It had to be connected to her getting shot at earlier. Trent pressed his lips together to suppress a growl. He’d make whoever was stupid enough to break in, especially with him there, regret that decision.
If he wasn’t a shifter, he wouldn’t be able to hear the soft steps of someone in the living room. Or the rustle of papers. He slipped through the opening in the doorway. The lights were off in the hall, but there was light coming from the kitchen and living room. He didn’t need it and unfortunately it would help whoever was inside with him.
Damn, his phone was on the coffee table where he’d been looking through the papers from the box earlier. He couldn’t even call Mac for back-up. He had no idea where Melissa’s cell was, either.
Trent pressed his back to the wall before moving toward the intruder.
A floorboard squeaked and Trent paused. The sound was getting closer to him. Changing his plan, he waited for the intruder to come to him. He didn’t have a gun any longer. Not that he’d need it if the intruder was human. His weapons were part of his natural abilities.
Trent took a deep breath, counting the steps of the trespasser.
He saw the gun first, then the intruder’s hand, before the stranger stepped into the hall.
Trent grabbed the wrist of the trespasser, grinding the bone with his stronghold.
The intruder cried out and the gun fell to the carpet.
Trent drew his fist back and punched the human in the head. He could smell that this man was human, but the mask over his face hid his identity. As the intruder attempted to fight back, Trent tried to tear the mask away. But the trespasser wasn’t giving up. Trent took a couple blows to his ribs, making him stop going for the mask and defend himself instead.
Grappling with the intruder, Trent lost his footing and went down on one knee. He kicked the leg of the trespasser, knocking him into a table.
“Trent?”
Trent turned his head in the direction of the bedroom, where Melissa’s call had come from.
At the same time there was a loud crash in the kitchen. It sounded like glass. Like part of the back door being broken through.
Fuck, this was not going the way he wanted. Melissa was injured and Trent had to protect her above all else. She was being targeted again and there had to be a reason for it.
Trent looked back at his opponent in time to see him raise a stun gun. Trent tried to roll out of the way, but the few moments of distraction had been enough for the intruder to recover and prepare. Trent cursed seconds before the stun gun was pressed against the back of his leg, the only place the intruder could reach.
His entire body seized up as electricity seemed to overpower every muscle he had. Trent had never been stunned before and as he lay on the carpet, staring up, unable to move his limbs, he hoped he never was again.
Trent could only watch in horror as Melissa stepped out of the bedroom naked and holding a gun. She aimed for the man Trent had been fighting when another shot rang out.
The sheetrock beside her head splintered.
Melissa ducked out of the way, retreating into the bedroom.
That was when the second intruder stepped into the hall. This guy also wore a mask and held a gun. He obviously wasn’t afraid to use it, either. The second intruder was heavier than the first. Through the eye holes in the mask, he glared at Trent. Still, he was human.
Slowly, Trent was regaining control of his body.
“Kill him,” the second intruder ordered. “I’ll take care of the woman.”
Grunting, sweating and desperate, Trent tried to get his arms or legs to work.
A loud boom and a shotgun blast pierced the night. The second intruder fell back, his weapon flying from his hand.
“Mark!” the first trespasser cried. He lunged forward, but Trent was able to lift his leg high enough that he tripped the guy.
Melissa came out of the bedroom with the shotgun still in her hand. Holy shit, she’d fired from the open doorway and saved them both. She stepped around the dead man and hurried to where Trent was lying. She’d about reached him when the first intruder had his hand back on his gun.
Trent grunted out a warning. Melissa turned her weapon on him, but the first intruder fired. The bullet missed her head by inches. The adrenaline along with the anger that filled Trent’s entire being pushed away the effects of the stun gun. Trent kicked out his foot, connecting with the intruder’s face. Blood squirted over Trent’s face, but he followed up the blow with three quick punches. Melissa crawled over to him as the intruder’s body fell.
“Are you okay?” she asked him.
Trent groaned. Fuck, he was either out of shape or those fucking stun guns were more powerful than he remembered.
Sirens sounded in the distance. Back-up. Finally.
“Help me up,” he slurred. Trent was not going to be found lying on the floor when everyone else arrived.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “You look really pale.”
“We’re both naked,” he pointed out. “We need to secure the one who’s still alive and get dressed.”
Melissa glanced over her shoulder before looking back at Trent. “I killed someone,” she whispered.
Trent turned his head. It took all his strength, but he managed to lift his hand and laid it on her cheek. She covered his palm with her own. “He was going to kill you. And me.”
“I know,” she said. “I heard. I just never killed anyone before. I haven’t eve
n fired my weapon in the line of duty.”
Most cops didn’t. “It’s going to be okay. They broke in here to kill you. If I hadn’t heard them sliding the window open, it might have been too late.”
“It was us or them,” she agreed.
“Yes, now, help me up,” he told her.
It took a lot of maneuvering. Once he was on his feet, Trent looked down at the guy who was still out.
“I’ll watch him while you get dressed. Grab my pants, too, please.” Trent limped over to the wall so it could hold him up. Melissa made sure he was steady before hurrying to the bedroom. She didn’t look at the dead body. That was probably for the best. Even though Melissa had trained for this sort of situation, taking a life was never easy. It shouldn’t be. Still, Trent had no qualms about what had transpired. Melissa had done the right thing.
God damn, his entire body ached. He bent over at the waist, hoping it would help him catch his breath.
“Trent!”
Mac’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen.
“Mac,” he yelled. Well, as much as he could with the whole gasping thing he had happening. “It’s safe.”
Melissa rushed out of the bedroom wearing a pair of plaid cotton sleep pants and a T-shirt. She held his jeans as well as the shotgun. She laid the weapon against the wall. Trent guessed she didn’t feel safe quite yet. The sirens were closer to the front.
“You guys okay?” Mac asked as he stepped out of the kitchen. Glass crunched under his big boots.
“Here.” Melissa bent to help him get dressed. Trent needed the assistance as he was still shaking.
“What’s wrong?” Mac asked, stomping forward. He walked past the dead body but only gave it a quick glance.
“Stun gun,” Trent managed.
“Fuck.” Mac grabbed Trent’s arm and steadied him before helping Melissa get his pants up his legs. Melissa buttoned his jeans.
He slid his arm around her back and tugged her against his body. It felt right to hold her. Now that the immediate danger was over, all he wanted to do was take her back into the bedroom and look over every inch of her body. “You okay?” he asked her.
