Running with the Pack: Cannon Pack, Book 3

by Beverly Rae

  Roughly taking one ankle, he wrapped a strip of cloth around it, tugged the knot tight and secured the other end to the bedpost.

  She yelped, kicked out her other leg as he tried to grab it, but it was no use. With arms and one leg already tied, moving was too difficult and escape was impossible. Not that she really wanted to escape. She could’ve stayed tied to his bed forever. Using little effort to catch her ankle, he tied her other leg as he’d done with the first one. Nonetheless, she kept putting up a fight, straining at her bindings. Her breasts jiggled with the effort, bouncing enticingly and catching his attention. Groaning, he moved on top of her again.

  Taking her breasts in his hands, he buried his head between them, then licked across one to the other. Like a peasant worshiping at an idol, he stared at her nipples, caressing each one with reverence and complete abandon. He was rough, squeezing her, kneading her, moaning against her. Her heart pounded in her chest, blood pounded in her ears, and her mind grew fuzzy. Her body cried for him to take her, to slam inside her, to make her his. She closed her eyes and cried his name.

  Two fingers entered Lauren, pushing deep inside, rubbing the tender walls of her clenching vagina. She screamed again, a call of pure ecstasy, and bucked underneath him. His hot breath scorched her ear, then traveled along her neck to a spot at the end of her collarbone. Nipping her, he whispered soft words of yearning. She echoed his words, giving to him whatever she could.

  “Open your eyes.”

  Lauren did as he ordered to find him straddling her again, his magnificent cock held in his hand, only inches from her face. Free to do so, she lifted her head and swiped her tongue over the tip. Daniel jerked, inhaling his delight, and held her treat away from her.

  “Look who’s the sensitive one now.” She couldn’t keep the smug expression off her face.

  He chuckled, teasing her by holding his cock just out of reach of her tongue.

  “Give it to me. I want to suck your skin off.”

  He watched her through hooded eyes, unmoving, his face unreadable. Would he give her what she wanted? What she was sure he needed? She moaned, bringing the sound from the bottom of her throat, and received the reaction she’d wanted. He leaned forward, offering her his shaft.

  “Suck me off, woman.”

  She licked her lips, eager to do as he wanted. Covering his tip with her mouth, she dragged him in. He inhaled slowly, then closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He rocked back and forth with his hips and she pulled on him, taking in his precome, delighting at the texture of his skin against her cheeks and tongue. She yanked at her bindings and thought about using the safe word. Not to stop him, but to gain the use of her hands again. Oh, how she wanted to feel his hot rod in her palm and stroke him until he cried out his release. Yet as much as she longed to touch him with her hands, she loved the power she had using her tongue.

  “You can’t break free. And I don’t think you really want to.” He chuckled, the sound morphing into a moan as she wrapped her tongue around him.

  Daring him to laugh at her again, she skimmed her teeth along his length and watched his abdomen muscles tighten. She pulled on him, harder than before. His cock swelled, twitching from her attention until, at last, he pulled out of her mouth and jumped off the bed.

  “Daniel?” Would he leave her? Could he leave her?

  Instead, he turned to face her again, fangs inching out. His amber eyes glowed with an eerie sexual tension. Taking one of the strips holding her leg, he tore the material, freeing one leg.

  “Are you finished playing already?”

  Growling, Daniel bent the free leg toward her chest and fell between her legs. He pulled apart her folds and latched onto her, sucking, licking, poking her with his tongue. She cried out, then fought to catch her breath. Bucking, she closed her eyes and let the fire from her core burn upward, outward. No man had ever taken her in such a wild way, opening her to him, tearing her apart with his tongue, his teeth. Stars twinkled behind her eyes, changing into meteors of conscious desire. Again she cried his name. And again she climaxed, once, then twice more.

  He released her and her body rebelled, shaking at the loss. Panting, she wanted to beg him to take her, but couldn’t find enough air to speak. If he didn’t fuck her soon, she’d explode or go insane.

  Daniel, his face filled with desire, his body rippling as though he was trying to hold back a volcano, asked in a voice so low she almost didn’t hear him, “Do you want to use your safe word?”

  She smiled, her eyes on his prize. “What safe word?”

  He positioned his body between her legs, placing his cock at the opening of her cave and held it there. “I can’t promise to take it slowly.”

  “Daniel?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Will you shut the hell up and fuck me?”

  Pushing her leg up again, he slammed into her, driving her toward the headboard. His body tightened, every muscle, every sinew putting its power behind his thrusts. She mewed with each pounding, yanking on the ties that held her and lifting her head to watch. Daniel watched, too, keeping his gaze glued to her, his tongue licking the sweat that ran onto his lips. Each time he shoved into her, she felt him touch the back of her.

  Taking hold of the material circling her wrists, she held on, forcing her body to meet push with push. Together, they used each other, riding on the other’s body, drawing from the other’s power. She came twice again, clenching her walls around him. He stiffened, the power within him growing to an eruption. At last, he howled, his release undulating through him.

  He fell over her, holding his body up with one hand on either side of her. A drop of sweat fell from his forehead to her cheek and he gently wiped it away. One hand, however, was not enough to keep him upright and he fell to her side. Several minutes passed as they lay together, listening to each other’s breathing. She lay next to him, the tips of his fingers touching hers, and she smiled, happier than she could remember being in a long time.

  Daniel removed the bindings, his brown eyes meeting hers. She worked her wrists, massaging the soreness away. “Are you all right? I didn’t tie you too tightly?”

  She smiled at him and jerked her leg, tugging at the bedpost. “No, I’m fine. But could you untie my leg, too?”

  “Do I have to?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Although, now that I know you’re into this kind of thing, I should’ve asked about putting a gag on you. Anytime I can get a woman to keep quiet— Ow!”

  “Watch it. A man’s nipples aren’t as sensitive as a woman’s, but I can still do some serious damage. Now untie me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Daniel undid the knots around her ankles, whipping the material off and tossing it to the floor. The humor faded from his face and he bent over to place a sweet kiss on her lips. Sighing, he rolled to her side, bringing her into an embrace. “I don’t know what’s happening here, Lauren. I don’t understand what we’re doing.”

  “I don’t know, either, but, honestly, I don’t care.” She could stay wrapped in his arms until she died, safe and protected from hunters and werewolves alike.

  “The pack is starting to ask questions.”

  She had wondered if their trysts would cause trouble within the pack. Although she’d heard the guards talking about Daniel and his visits to her, she’d hoped they trusted their leader. “Are you in any danger?”

  “No. But they want to understand what’s going on. And since I’m not sure either, I can’t tell them.”

  She craned her neck to look at him. “Seriously, Daniel, if our being together is causing you problems, then maybe…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

  “Maybe we should stop having sex?”

  Was that all their time meant to him? Just sex? “You could let me go, you know.”

  “True. But I’m not ready to do that.”

  Did he mean he wasn’t ready to let her go? Or did he still not trust her? She’d given him information about the hunters—nothing that would get anyone hu
rt—but her openness hadn’t assured him of her trustworthiness yet.

  “Why not?” She sat up cross-legged beside him. “Why can’t you let me go? Mysta confirmed my story, so why don’t you believe me? Is it because of Tyler?”

  He stared at her, diving into her to search for his answer. After several minutes, he answered. “Actually, I do believe you. And I trust you.”

  “Then turn me loose.”

  “No.”

  Chapter Eight

  “You have to get me out of here, Daniel. After what I heard, I don’t feel safe.” Lauren hugged her knees to her chest, watching him retrieve their clothes from the bathroom. He tossed hers on the bed, then dressed.

  Concern instantly transformed him. “What are you talking about? What did you hear?”

  “I heard some men outside talking about getting rid of me. I don’t know if they were serious, but I don’t like the idea of hanging around to find out.”

  “Who were they? Did you get names? Did you recognize them?” Daniel paced the floor next to the bed. “Could you recognize the voices if you heard them again?”

  “I don’t have a clue. I happened to catch part of their discussion before they walked past the window. But I heard enough to know I need to get out of here.”

  His growl rippled through the air. “If anyone even thinks about hurting you, I’ll skin them alive.”

  The vehemence in his tone both frightened and delighted her. Would he get so upset if he didn’t have feelings for her? Or was his upset caused by his men’s disloyalty?

  “That’s why you need to let me go, Daniel, as soon as possible.”

  He shook his head. “No. What I need to do is prove that you’re trustworthy, that you’re not a threat to them.”

  “I thought you said you trusted me.” Lauren glared at him, hurt mixing with anger.

  “I do trust you, but if there was a way of proving it… Not for my sake. For yours. For the pack’s.” Daniel reached out to her, but she slipped her hand away. “If I had a way for you to prove that I can trust you, would you do it, Lauren?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you have in mind?”

  He fished his cell phone out of his pocket. “Call anyone else who may be wondering where you are. Tell them you’re away visiting a sick relative. Tell them whatever you need to put their minds at ease.”

  He wanted her to help him keep her as his captive? Was he really making her his sex slave? Was she nothing more to him? “Shouldn’t you threaten me? Isn’t that how real kidnappers do it?” She feigned a frightened expression, held her hands up to ward him off and cried, “Please, Mister Bad Guy, don’t hurt me. I’ll make the call.”

  “Cute. Anyway, if I did threaten you, I don’t think you’d believe me.”

  He was right about that. Daniel had gone from terrifying werewolf to something else. What that something else was, she wasn’t sure. But she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. “Fine. I’ll do it.” She took his phone, started to dial. “I know you won’t hurt me, but I want you to believe you can trust me, okay? That’s the only reason I’m doing this. See? I’m dialing.”

  Bobbie picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”

  Lauren smiled into the phone. Wasn’t a smile supposed to make your voice sound brighter? “Hey, Bobbie, it’s me.”

  Bobbie’s excited chatter kept up for several minutes before Lauren finally had to stop her. Gathering her resolve—which was easier when she stared into Daniel’s sparkling eyes—she lied to her best friend. “Listen, Bobbie, I’m sorry I haven’t called before now, but something came up.”

  She went on with the lie, adding embellishment to the story about a sick aunt, and promised to return as soon as she could.

  “Yeah, well, I thought it was weird when Tucker called earlier.”

  “Tucker called?” Daniel nodded, urging her to go along. “Oh, right. I forgot that I’d asked him to call.”

  “I didn’t mind. I mean, I’d rather have spoken to you, but I certainly didn’t mind talking to him. So, you’ve gotten to know him?”

  Bobbie’s underlying question was clear. “Not that way. Tucker’s a friend of a friend.”

  “Good. I mean…”

  “It’s okay, Bobbie. I know what you mean. Could you give John a call, too? Not that he’s actually worried.” She’d yet to break up with him, but hadn’t she already done so in her heart? He probably thought she’d left the hunt on her own—which would’ve been fine with him and the other hunters—and taken some time for herself. Still, a girl liked to think she’d be missed. “Has he called?”

  Lauren listened to Bobbie’s attempt to make excuses for her so-called boyfriend, then interrupted her. “Hey, it’s no biggie. But give him a ring anyway, okay?” She thanked her friend and ended the call. Handing the phone to Daniel, she fought to keep her irritation at John’s lack of consideration from hardening her tone. “There. All done. Are we good now?”

  “Yeah, we are. And I do trust you or I would never have given you the phone. But the pack is another matter.”

  “You got that right, boss dog.”

  Lauren shrieked and dove under the covers, scrunching her pillow on top of her for extra protection. “For Pete’s sake, does he always have to barge in unannounced?”

  “Tucker, have you ever heard of knocking?”

  She listened to Tucker’s footsteps as he came to the side of the bed and wished she’d taken the time to get dressed. If he lifted the comforter and the pillow, she’d pass away from embarrassment.

  “I didn’t think I needed to knock to come into a prisoner’s room.”

  “Think again,” said Daniel.

  “Oh, I’m thinking, man. And the whole pack is giving this thing between you and Miss Hunter a lot of thought, too.”

  “Have you heard any threats toward Lauren?”

  She dared to peek out from under the covers. Daniel stood toe-to-toe with Tucker, his arms crossed, his body relaxed yet ready for action. Tucker didn’t back down, but he didn’t answer the question either.

  “It’s time to stop the fun and get down to business. And that means no more monkey business. Come on, Daniel, make a decision. What are we going to do with her? Other than what you’re doing to her, that is.”

  Her mortification shot sky-high again. She wished she could argue Tucker’s innuendos, but she wasn’t in a position—much less a stage of dress—to protest.

  “Tucker, you’re pressing your luck.” Daniel’s tone was low, filled with suppressed anger. “I’ll let you know when I’ve made my decision.”

  “Can’t you tell me how you’re leaning, man? Tell me and I’ll pass the news along to the rest of the pack.” Tucker shot her a look that made her wish she wasn’t in the room. “Because, yeah, there’s been some talk.”

  Daniel tensed, his body growing rigid in mere seconds. “If you know who’s doing the talking, tell them they’ll have to deal with me if anything happens to Lauren.”

  Tucker’s surprise had him glancing between them. “Can I tell them that you’ll make a decision soon?”

  “You’ll be the first to know.”

  Lauren gaped at him. Tucker would know first? What about her? And what happened to trusting her?

  Another shifter burst into the room, sending Lauren diving under the covers again.

  “Daniel, they found him.”

  Lauren had to see. Tucking the sheet around her, she crossed her arms over her chest. But she needn’t have worried about gawkers. Their eyes were on the guard.

  “They found Tyler?” Daniel gripped the guard’s arms. “Is he alive? Where is he?”

  “He’s alive and at Luna’s home in the city. Fortunately, the bullet went straight through his leg. He crawled off and stayed hidden until he could heal enough to make it to safety.”

  “Did he say anything else?”

  The guard shot Lauren a knowing look. “Yeah. Luna said he’s talking about how a female hunter saved him. He said she used blanks and pretended to
shoot him.”

  Lauren slumped, relief flooding through her. But even the relief didn’t feel as good as Daniel’s smile when he turned toward her. She was sure he’d decided to believe her before Tyler’s return, but now he had proof.

  Lauren was wide awake, wondering what Daniel’s decision would be, when she heard the creak of the door. She bolted upright and threw off the covers. Was it Daniel? Her heart pounded, excited at the prospect of a late-night booty call. Although she’d never been the kind of girl that liked men calling last minute—especially for sex—she couldn’t resist Daniel. He was like a pure chocolate and she was the chocoholic. She waited, peering into the darkness.

  “Daniel?” she whispered.

  Should she turn on the lamp? Or did the darkness play into his fun?

  When no answer came, she took a deep breath to steel her nerves and tiptoed toward the door. If he wanted to play with her, then she’d go along with the plan. Her toe bumped into a hard object, making her squeak. Whatever it was rolled away from her. Following the sound on the hardwood floor, she went down on hands and knees, and ran her hands over the cool surface.

  “Damn it, Daniel. Can’t we turn on the lights?”

  At last her fingertips touched a metallic object with a paper tied around it. Unable to stand the game any longer, she made her way to a nearby table and switched on the table lamp. The object, as she’d expected, was a flashlight and attached to the flashlight was a note. She shone the light around the room, expecting to see a grinning Daniel, but only emptiness waited. Disappointed, she read the note.

  My dear Lauren,

  She smiled. He’d never called her anything remotely that loving before.

  Please remain calm.

  She reread the line, trying her best to do as he’d asked and failing. The beating of her heart took on a different rhythm, a fearful rhythm. How did she know the note was from Daniel and not another shifter?

  You’re in danger and you must leave tonight. Some members of the pack still want to harm you. I’ve distracted the guard. Use the map below to find your way out of the mansion. Once you’re free, do not return to your home. Follow the main road outside, taking care to avoid cars. Find a safe refuge. I’ll find you once it’s safe.