Carnal: A Dark Shifter Romance

by Piper Stone

  “Please, go right ahead. Indulge me with the reason for your ridiculous statement.”

  “You have been mine for months and while you couldn’t understand the dreams you experienced night after night, the dark and filthy fantasies that kept you awake and in need, now you do. The moment we touched, the very passionate kisses we shared were a clear indication of your intense longing.”

  Kathleen laughed although the sound was filtered with nervousness. “You are so damn arrogant.”

  “I have every reason to be given I’m going to give you exactly what you need at all times. Domination. Discipline. Pain. Pleasure. Agony. Ecstasy. I know the woman inside better than you know yourself. You can only impede the woman lurking inside, the beast clawing at the surface. And I assure you, I will catch you when you break free.”

  I knew the words stung as well as fueled her fire. I eased back once more, waiting for her nasty reply.

  She pursed her lips, amusement in her eyes and she simply waited until the drinks arrived before uttering a single word. “Is that why we’re working together, Special Agent? So you can control me or is this more about the actual case?”

  “I assure you that my desire is exactly what you’re sensing. Tell me I’m wrong, Kathleen.”

  Her wry smile indicated that she refused to acknowledge what she was feeling even though her pulse had increased, her heart racing even more than when she’d arrived. “We had an attraction, Max, nothing more. You are merely a colleague now.”

  “Then why are your nipples pressing hard against your dress and why is the fragrance of your exotic perfume laced with a subtle yet powerful hint of your feminine wiles?”

  Her reaction was swift, her open hand managing to come within a few centimeters of my face before I snagged her wrist. I bristled, resisting dragging her over my lap for a reminder of who was dominant. “Do not attempt that again, Kathleen, or you will be punished.”

  “I didn’t realize earlier you were an arrogant prick, Max. Correction, I did know but chose to ignore it. I won’t allow that to happen again. You’re also a liar, Max.”

  I kept my hold firm, pulling her several inches over the table until our lips were almost touching. “I never lied to you about anything and I promise that I won’t in the future. I am an honorable man.”

  “You think I’m going to fall for your lines of bullshit.”

  “I think you want me to be demanding, ripping you away from your comfort zone.”

  She huffed although the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. She’d longed for a dominating man. “Not a chance in hell.”

  “We shall see about that. You are very beautiful, Kathleen, but in need of a strong man in your life.”

  “I don’t need anyone, Maximillian, and you are an asshole.”

  I released her, laughing softly before grabbing my drink. “As I said, we shall see, but you’re right. Work before pleasure. Tell me about the case since we are indeed going to be working together.”

  She dragged her tongue across her lips, looking out the window and sipping on her drink before answering. “I found it interesting that you were right there at the scene of a vicious crime. I also find it fascinating that the deep scratches you had are completely healed. And don’t tell me it’s all about the lighting in this bar. Who and what are you?”

  I hadn’t been expecting her statement or her question and lifted my glass. “Very nice, Detective Kelly. You are very observant. As I mentioned earlier, I was in the park looking for a suspect, a runaway fugitive. As far as the scratches, they were very superficial and I heal quickly. Just so you know, working together wasn’t my idea, Detective. Your captain made that decision entirely on his own.”

  She shook her head, twisting her lovely mouth. “The fugitive you were after hadn’t been seen anywhere near the park. In fact, he was miles away. Don’t you think that’s a bit curious?” Her hand fluttered over her mouth. Still nervous. Very much excited.

  “I had a tip and one I thought I should follow. Brody Miller is a killer. He has connections in the city as well as several outlying counties. In fact, he’s all but disappeared. I will track down every lead until I find him.” I laughed bitterly, remembering I’d been pulled off the case. “Well, another ATF agent will at least.”

  “You were pulled off the case to work with me,” she mused. “What assholes. Or did they grow tired of your attitude?”

  I glared at her, shaking my head. “I was pulled off a case I worked very hard on because this case is evidently vital to some important people. You bet it pissed me off. However, we both follow orders, Detective Kelly, whether we like them or not.”

  She mulled over my answer, finally nodding. “Fair enough. I’m sorry you were pulled off.”

  “Don’t be. Neither of us have control over politicians. Have you ID’d the last victim yet?” My answer seemed to amuse her.

  “His name was Michael Beals. I was able to locate his sister who lives in Florida. While I didn’t explain the graphic circumstances, I did get her consent to allowing us to perform an autopsy.”

  “What are you hoping to find?”

  Kathleen shrugged, her gaze shifting to the street. “I’m not entirely certain. It’s obvious how he was killed. Maybe I’m hoping for a miracle.”

  “Kathleen, I have to ask, why were you in that park alone?”

  “I told you, I heard the call come in.”

  “Uh-huh. Your captain was certainly displeased with your behavior. That seems to be an issue that you have, not following rules. The most intriguing aspect is that you certainly didn’t seem to be afraid of an attack from the wild animal tearing people apart.”

  Kathleen burst into laughter. “Believe what you want, and an animal? So, you’re one of those.”

  “Meaning?”

  “You honestly believe an animal attacked those people? Ridiculous. Trust me, those poor innocent people were attacked by a disgusting human disguising themselves as a monster. Now, from what I’ve been able to determine, I am talking about a very large and powerful man, capable of crushing a man’s windpipe with his hands alone. From the angles of the attacks, I would say at least six foot four, maybe two hundred and fifty pounds. Granted, the claw marks mutilating the victims’ faces are original from other killers, I will give him that, but the necessary equipment is easy to create in any garage setting.”

  I was floored at not only her assumptions but her ability to assess the murders in an entirely different manner than I was used to. “Fascinating. You believe some crazed killer premeditated the kills. Okay,” I mused, tapping my fingers on the table. “Then I assume you have evidence to back this rather creative theory up.”

  “Oh, absolutely.” She swirled her glass before taking a sip, acting as if she had all the answers.

  What bothered me was that I knew she’d caught a glimpse of both my beast as well as the rogue wolf. Maybe her psyche refused to acknowledge what she’d seen. Then again, was she denying or simply goading me into providing answers because of her distrust of me? “Then I will come by your office in the morning. I will be very curious to see what you’ve gathered.”

  “You seem surprised, Agent Cordero. You don’t think a plain little Denver detective has the skills to find answers so quickly?”

  Every word that came out of her mouth was intended to fuel my anger. “Not at all. You are very good at what you do, Kathleen.”

  She seemed to be weighing my words against any concept of sincerity. “Thank you. I work hard and take pride in my job.”

  “As you should. What do you really think is happening with these murders? Have you found any connections?” At least we were far enough from anyone else not to be overheard.

  “I don’t have a theory yet and no, there are no connections.”

  “Tell me what you do know.” When she hesitated again, I offered a genuine smile. “You might be surprised how much I can be of help.”

  She sat back, toying with her drink. “The three victims are of various ages
, different nationalities and work in three entirely diverse fields, although all three were highly successful. On the surface, I see nothing in common.”

  “And the conditions of the bodies?” I tried to keep the question casual as to not raise yet another red flag.

  Her jaw tightened before she answered. “They were all similar in nature. They were attacked from behind, dragged at least a hundred yards to a more secluded location before being mauled.”

  “Which follows the animal attack theory.”

  “But that’s not right,” she insisted, leaning so close I was able to catch a glimpse of her rounded breasts. I swallowed hard even as my cock twitched. “I understand why some of the early police officers would think it was an animal attack, but their faces were clawed, their necks ripped out.”

  “Like an animal.”

  “Listen to me, Max. The claw marks were... unusual.”

  I watched as she opened her hand as wide as possible, flexing her fingers as if mimicking the killer’s hand. “How do you mean?”

  “Like a man’s hand with claws on them, as if they were fake.”

  I could tell she firmly believed what she was saying. “And how did this killer rip out the victims’ throats?”

  “The first two lab reports indicated there was saliva in the wounds. It would appear they were bitten. I’ve asked the medical examiner assigned to dig deep on this and find out everything he can.”

  I took a deep breath. That last thing I needed was for the medical examiner to cite an anomaly. “Animal?”

  “Inconclusive. Additional tests are being run and compared, but the report did mention the saliva didn’t come from any known animal he was aware of.”

  “Human saliva?”

  “That’s just it. No. Maybe I am crazy to think this way but there’s intelligence in how the victims are being stalked. You’ll understand better when you see the pictures.”

  She was actually extremely good at her job and nervous about the findings. Very few other officers of the law would pick up on the mannerisms of a Wolfen. “There are several predatory animals with keen abilities to stalk their victims, some even for days.”

  I expected an outburst of anger, but she simply nodded. “I’m aware of that but why couldn’t the M.E. make a connection? If it was a bear or even a wolf, they are well-known species. I’ve spent some time doing research. I have a nagging idea and one I am going to follow through with.”

  “Then you need to run those ideas past me.” I hadn’t been prepared to tell her about my follow-up phone call with Captain Walters. I could tell the man was under significant pressure from the mayor and other prominent members of the Denver city council. These kinds of murders were bad for tourism. And for the upcoming elections. The captain was well aware of my background and training, knew what I was capable of. He wanted me to make a connection to an animal, hunt one down and kill it.

  And so, he’d made a calculated decision and placed me in charge.

  His parting words were with regard to yanking Kathleen down from the rafters, helping her understand that the case should be in animal control’s hands. While I didn’t want any part of this case, I was well aware I might be the only one capable of hunting down the true killer. Whether the rogue wolf was Wolfen or from another pack, his hunger would continue to grow.

  “What? We might be working together, but I’m the lead on this case. I don’t care what anyone attempts to tell me, including you. I am doing my damn job the way I see fit.” She shook her head as her mouth pinched out of frustration.

  Her fury added another layer of one intense aphrodisiac. “I can see I was correct in my earlier assumptions. You have difficulty with authority. That could end up getting you killed, Detective. You’re right, we will work on this case together. Do you understand?”

  I could feel the heat of her blush creeping up along her jaw, moving to her cheeks from where I sat. I was ready to take her into the bathroom and defile her in every manner.

  “And I think our conversations are better suited to the office. I’m finished here.” She moved to grab her coat, preparing to leave.

  “Is that why you came here dressed in such a gorgeous dress, to merely entice me or throw it in my face that you are no longer interested?” I immediately regretted saying the words, but the woman could rile me like no other.

  This time, her anger was full blown, her lovely mouth twisting. I’d pushed too far, but she riled every emotion in me to the point I was losing control. There was too much at stake to allow that to happen.

  She jerked up from the table, tossing the contents of not only her glass but mine as well in my face. “How dare you, Agent Cordero. How. Fucking. Dare. You. You don’t rule me.” This time, she didn’t bother to use her open hand in an attempt to slap me.

  She cold cocked me, managing to catch me in the jaw before I had the chance to react.

  I heard the gasps from onlookers, the titillating laughter that only fueled her mischievous animosity, a husky giggle slipping past her lips.

  My reaction was just as quick as before, grabbing her by the arm at the same time I moved to a standing position. I could tell she was fighting with her inner desires as well as demons that had plagued her, but enough was enough.

  “You just crossed the line, Kathleen. What did I promise you before?”

  “Oh, you are not going to punish me. Not a chance in hell. If you dare try, I will have your job.”

  “I don’t think that’s going to happen, Detective. It seems you were the one who went off the grid, going into a closed park in the middle of the night against your captain’s orders. That calls for serious punishment.”

  “As I said to you before. Fuck. You.”

  I pulled her close to my chest, lowering my head and drinking in her incredible scent as I fisted her hair with my other hand. I was literally intoxicated by her fragrance, my heart racing as the adrenaline pumped in a frenetic manner. “Would you prefer that I spank you here in front of everyone or that we go to the bathroom? It’s entirely your decision.”

  She was befuddled, blinking several times, finally accepting that I was serious. “No. Way. You have no right.”

  “Oh, I have every right. What you don’t know is that I was placed in charge of this case.”

  Kathleen gasped, openly shocked until anger took over, another flash of bright red flushing her cheeks. “No way. My captain wouldn’t do that to me. I’ve worked tirelessly on this. Nights. Weekends.”

  “Well, he did, and he obviously had his reasons that you can discuss with him later. Right now, you have three seconds to decide or I’m going to pull you over my knees right here and I assure you, every person in this bar will be watching. Or is that what you crave, sweet Kathleen? Do you hunger to be humiliated in front of one hundred people?”

  “Uh. Uh. You are...” She swallowed hard instead of finishing, her eyes flashing a combination of rage and shame.

  “One. Two.”

  “Fine, you asshole. The bathroom. But trust me, I will take you down for this.”

  “I will enjoy seeing what you are capable of.” While I’d kept my voice low, every eye in the establishment was on us, watching what the two obvious lovers would do. I kept my promise, pulling her behind me the few feet toward the darkened hallway, selecting the women’s bathroom.

  We were both on fire, the jolts between us humming like a live wire. Once inside the small room, I closed and locked the door, pushing her hard against the solid wooden panel. “You are one bad girl. You require harsh discipline.”

  “Oh, yeah? Well, you think you own me, but I assure you, no man owns me,” she whispered, her tone dangerously provocative, further igniting the beast inside.

  “The truth is. I do. I own every. Single. Inch. I’m going to spank that tight little ass of yours. Then I’m going to fuck you. Do you understand?”

  “Never.” She slammed her hands against my chest, almost managing to get away from me.

  I wrapped my hand around
her throat, pushing her once again. “Then you’re in for a rude awakening. I’ll ask you once again. Do. You. Understand?”

  She laughed, her eyes darting back and forth. “Fuck you.”

  “That’s exactly what’s going to happen over and over again.”

  I crushed my mouth over hers, thrusting my tongue instantly inside. The taste of her, along with the smooth hint of bourbon was a powerful aphrodisiac, sending a roar of hunger into my system.

  She pushed hard against me, struggling and moaning for several seconds. My cock was in anguish, my balls ready to explode. Everything about this woman drove me to the very edge of my sanity.

  As the kiss continued, she clawed my shirt, arching her back and leaning closer in. Her hunger was as insatiable as mine even as she continued to fight me.

  I shifted my hand to her hair, tangling my fingers in her long strands, keeping her exactly where I wanted her. When she jutted her hips, grinding them back and forth, I could no longer breathe.

  I jerked back, issuing a series of growls before dropping my head to her neck, biting down. Every muscle in my body was on fire, longing for more than a superficial taste of her. Then I remembered what my father had told me. I couldn’t risk even the slightest scratch until we knew what we were dealing with.

  But taking her, filling her with my cum and covering her with my scent would send a powerful message.

  She was off limits.

  I licked down the length of her neck then took her by the hand once again, pulling her toward the sink and pushing her over the edge.

  “What are you doing?” she asked in a breathy voice.

  “You know exactly what I’m doing. I’m giving you a spanking. I was very clear about the rules.”

  While she laughed, her eyes full of venom, her breath skipped. “You won’t get away with this.”

  “With what exactly? Giving you what you need?” I kicked her legs apart and lifted her dress, exposing her rounded bottom that still held a hint of the earlier spanking I’d given her. The way the G-string floated in the crack of her ass was a powerful draw. I took gulping breaths, resisting yanking her panties entirely off. I fisted and yanked her hair once again, peering over her shoulder before beginning.