Dance on the Wilde Side: Cannon Pack, Book 2 Page 3

  Dark hair curling at the corners of his jaw cushioned his face, yet somehow didn’t soften the strength there. His nostrils flared and she saw him sniff the air around her, dragging her scent into his nose. He parted wide full lips and she waited, transfixed by the hope that he would lean toward her and kiss her. When she couldn’t wait any longer, she took a breath and raised her eyes to his.

  His eyes, perhaps his most sensual attribute, raked over her, sending her pulse racing. Darkness melted away into amber richness, dragging her into their depths. She swallowed, unable to break free from their hold on her.

  He’s the one.

  She knew, as well as she knew her own name, that he was the one she needed. He was the one she’d waited for, passing over other men, knowing that one day he would come.

  At last she managed to tug her gaze away from his and was drawn downward, over the enticing lips, past the square chin, down the hardness of his chest. The curly black hair running from his touch-me abs led her mental gaze to the darker patch below and her gaze lingered there.

  He was perfect. The hair covering his mound made her ache to run her fingers through it. But not for long. Not when the real prize lay beneath. Her gaze fell on his manhood and she inhaled. The length alone was impressive, but the width made her knees weak. As though hearing her thoughts, it jerked, teasing her. She swallowed and moved her hips seductively, temptingly. Had he grown longer? Bigger? She finally exhaled and wet her lips. God, she needed him. Wanted him. Had to have him.

  When another jerk came, she decided she’d heed the call of his shaft and the large balls supporting it to reach out and grasp them. And in her mind’s eye, she did just that.

  He moved back from her with an arch of one eyebrow tempting her, toying with her. Would he deny her what was hers to take?

  Tala tempted him, slipping one side of her robe off a shoulder, then the other. In her fantasy, his eyes deepened with lust. She danced like a mysterious temptress, swaying her body, promising him the riches between her legs. With a come-and-get-me move, she shed her robe and twirled it once, twice, then tossed it away. Her bra followed slowly, letting it dip until it hung on the edge of her breasts. The bra, too, however, was soon discarded.

  She mewed, a soft sound yet one she knew her dream-man would hear. Lifting her breast, she swept her tongue over her skin and played with the hardened bud. Kneading her firm breasts, she teased herself, until at last, the urge to suck her nipple overcame her. She drew her nipple into her mouth and whipped her tongue over it, around it.

  Wetness dampened her crotch and she slipped her hand into her panties. Finding her pleasure spot, she rubbed, imagining his hand instead of hers. His tongue instead of his hand. She spread her legs, keeping the massage going and slid her other hand up her side to capture her aching nipple between two fingers. She mewed softly, pulling on her tit and fondling her breast.

  Raging heat flashed through her and she quickened her fingers’ work. Lifting her nipple to her lowered mouth, she sucked on her tit. She pulled on it, sucked on it, hoping to entice the man in her thoughts to come closer.

  Her legs grew unsteady and, lowering herself to the floor, she stretched out. In one smooth motion, she rid her body of her panties. Bending her knees, she let her legs fall to the side, opening her pussy to her explorations.

  Her breathing grew faster, shorter, echoing the speed of her finger against the hot wetness. Folding her arm over both breasts, she toyed with one nipple and rubbed her forearm against the other. She tensed, fought to stay relaxed, but knew she fought an impossible battle.

  Moaning, she imagined him coming to her at last. Crouching next to her, he gazed at her, letting his eyes tell her of the storm brewing inside him. Knowing what she wanted, he moved to her feet, took her legs and spread her wider.

  She sighed and caught the gleam in his eyes. He would resist her no longer.

  Going to his knees, he flattened his hands on either side of her and lowered his body to the floor. She lifted up on her elbows to watch. With a sly smile, he slid up to her vee and softly blew on her snatch.

  A hurricane couldn’t have left her panting any more than his seductive breath. The shock of it spiraled through her, rushing over her skin to send countless smaller shockwaves through her. She gasped and threw her head back.

  Had she thought his puff of air incredible? She had, but it was nothing compared to the swipe of his tongue across her pussy. She shuddered and fell with her back on the floor. But he was only beginning. Parting her lips with his fingers, he latched onto her already throbbing nub and sucked. Licked. And sucked more. Until she could stand it no longer.

  She gripped the carpet beneath her and let out a cry.

  When she lay down on the floor to pleasure herself more, Devlin couldn’t take it any longer. He groaned, aching more than he had ever ached for any woman. He had to have her, take her, make her his.

  Was this spectacular show for his benefit? After all, she’d called him to her, so maybe she’d planned to entice him with a performance using her female charms? Why else would she have left the curtains open at such a perfect time? Devlin considered the chances of her having seen him and his shaft grew thicker. The idea of her treating him to such an alluring exhibition hardened him further and he moaned at the tightness of his jeans over his crotch. If she’d meant to simultaneously torment and enthrall him, she’d achieved her goal. He only hoped the delicious anguish would go on forever.

  When the music ended, Devlin’s heart stopped along with it. No, don’t stop! Keep going. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t wait any longer. I have to get inside. He regained his grip on the railing, forcing down the urge to leap onto the balcony and race inside to beg her to continue. Could he dare hope she’d come out and greet him, relieving him of the burden to stay away? Come to me.

  She cried out in ecstasy, wrenching him apart in his agony to be with her. Yet, once her cries had subsided and her breathing evened out, she rose without a glance his way, placing her back to him. She scooped up the robe to wrap around herself and slid into a chair.

  Why isn’t she coming to me? Surely she knows I’m here. Right?

  “Hey! What’re you doing? Yo, Caroline! We got us a pervert peeking inside the apartments.”

  Devlin’s head jerked to his left. A wiry, unkempt man wearing hunter’s camouflage stood a few yards away, with arms crossed to steady the shotgun he cradled. Devlin’s fight-or-flight instinct clicked into high gear. Flight wasn’t the best option so he readied himself for the fight. Bracing himself, he swung forward and backward, gaining the thrust he needed.

  “Hoo-ee! You, my man, are b-u-s-t-i-d, bus-ted!”

  Swinging around with the skill of an Olympic gymnast, Devlin released his hold on the railing and flung himself at the man. Devlin struck the hunter head-on, sending them both tumbling to the ground and the gun flying. They stayed together, rolling over each other until they banged into the trunk of a tree. With a grunt, they stopped, still clinging to each other, each fighting to be the first to gather his wits and breath.

  On top, Devlin fought to control the power surging within him but couldn’t keep the flow of energy from leaking through. The man’s eyes went wide and a desperate cry escaped his lips when Devlin snarled, exposing long, sharp fangs.

  “Shit! What the hell are you?”

  Devlin growled and rolled to the side. Crouching, he bared his teeth again at the terrified man and tried to stay in human form.

  He failed.

  Clothes ripped from his body as the transformation took over and he shifted from man to wolf in seconds. The hunter, shuddering, opened his mouth and yelled a strangled, incomprehensible cry. But it was another’s cry that caught Devlin’s attention.

  “Bobby Lee!”

  Devlin, in full wolf glory, wrenched his head around to see a woman in an adjacent first-floor apartment bursting onto her patio. Together, they glanced at the shotgun lying at the edge of the grass. Without further hesitation, she scooped up t
he gun and pointed the barrel at him.

  “Get away from him, you beast!”

  “No! Stop!”

  Devlin swiveled toward the second voice, a voice melodic even while raised in a mix of fear and anger, and saw her—his woman—standing next to the other woman. Her eyes, sparkling blue against the paleness of her startled face, caught him, making him forget about the man, the woman with the shotgun—Caroline?—and even about the danger. He’d seen those eyes before. In his dreams. In impossible, desire-driven dreams.

  His woman grappled with Caroline, trying to yank the gun out of her hands.

  “Tala, he’s after Bobby Lee! Let go of the gun.”

  However, his woman—Tala—continued to wrestle for possession.

  A loud pop fractured the air, sending pellets flying toward them, and Devlin hunched his shoulders in reaction. He ducked, crunched his body together, and prayed for luck.

  But luck wasn’t on his side. Or Bobby Lee’s.

  The buckshot found its targets and pain seared through him, wrenching a howl from him and a howl from Bobby Lee. Shit! She shot me!

  Bobby Lee yowled again. “Shit! Y’all shot me! Shoot the wolf, you crazy women!”

  “Damn it, Tala. Why’d ya go and shoot Bobby Lee?” Caroline gaped at her.

  “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to shoot anyone. Or anything. And I don’t want you to, either.”

  Devlin threw an enraged look at Tala, but knew by her horrified expression that she was telling the truth. She was still hanging onto the gun, keeping the other woman from shooting him. His anger left him, replaced by the knowledge that she, like any good mate, was trying to help him.

  But he wasn’t out of danger yet. He cringed at the burn coursing through him at the same instant he noticed blood running down Bobby Lee’s shirt. Growling, Devlin stumbled toward the woods, falling once as the pain raked up his flank.

  He skidded to a stop, whipped toward Tala again and met her stare. For a moment he could sense a connection, their unspoken bond. She stood frozen in place, obviously still stunned, yet no longer frightened. He smiled a wolfish grin, hoping she would understand his gesture.

  Smile at me, Tala. Let me know you understand. Let me know you danced for me.

  Instead, she broke the bond between them and jumped her stare from him to the hunter.

  “Hang on, Bobby Lee. I’ll call for help.” She fled into her apartment.

  Snarling his disappointment, Devlin bolted into the woods.

  Chapter Two

  “Shit, Dev. Pull yourself together so we can do this. I’m not about to let some female you haven’t even met fuck up your mind.” Conrad giggled, an odd sound coming from such an enormous body. “Fuck your body? Hell yes. Fuck your mind? Hell no.”

  Devlin squinted at his friend, trying to make the blurry images in front of him focus into only one face. Aside from his rough exterior, rather like a pirate with his long reddish-blond beard and hair, Conrad was the perfect right-hand man. “Hey, just watch whazzu say about my fe-uh, woman.”

  “Sure, sure. Don’t cough up a fur ball.”

  The sign on the front door read Wilde’s Veterinary Hospital. Tala’s clinic? What the hell am I doing here? Devlin swayed unsteadily on his feet and forced his beer-sloshed brain to remember. After getting shot in the ass—which had had Conrad bellowing with laughter—Devlin had needed a change of clothing and someone to listen to him vent. Who else would he call but Conrad? Not only did Devlin trust his childhood friend with his business, but with his life as well.

  After a few hours guzzling drinks, he’d nearly fallen off his barstool when “Tala Wilde’s Animal Facts” appeared on the bar’s television. Her commercial obviously showed that she cared about animals, which had intrigued and pleased him. Although she did put the animals in cages. Still… Nudging his buddy, he had pointed at the screen and told everyone within hearing distance that she was his mate.

  Conrad, however, hadn’t been impressed. In fact, he’d been downright pissed. How dare Devlin’s future mate shoot him? Even by mistake, it was an insult. So after several more beers, Conrad had come up with a plan to show Tala “who the alpha male in this relationship is”. Together, they would break into her clinic and free the canines. Hell, they might even free the damn cats, too.

  “On second thought—belch—I’m not sure this is, uh, you know, a good idea. I mean, it was an accident.” Devlin glanced down, found that he was holding a beer can and took a swig. How many does this make? Never mind. However many, it wasn’t enough to ease the pain in his ass—or his heart.

  “Accident, smackadent. Damn it, man. First you let her tease you with her sexy dance and then you let her shoot you with a butt-load of buckshot,” Conrad snarled and wiggled the doorknob. “I’m not letting you get kicked around like this. Fuck no.”

  “She didn’t kick me.” Devlin winced at the throbbing in his backside. “She s-shot me.” He poked a finger at his friend and tried again. “By accident.”

  “Yeah, right. So you say.” With a growl, the big man stepped back, took one last look at the door, kicked out his booted foot and banged into the doorframe.

  Devlin snorted. “Ha! Ya missed.”

  With a low growl, Conrad bent over to study the door, stepped back and tried again. A loud crack later and the door hung by its hinges.

  Devlin stared at the splintered wood a few moments. I wonder if Tala’s gonna be mad that we broke her door? “Wait a sec, C-man. Lesss think about—”

  “Not a chance.” Before Devlin could regroup, Conrad dragged him through the lobby and into the back room.

  Cages filled with dogs of various sizes—Ow! Shut the hell up—barked at them. A few—yuck—cats hissed at them from a row of cages a few feet to his right. Devlin dropped his beer and clamped his hands over his ears. “Damn, man, c’mon. Lesss get the hell outta here. All this fuckin’ racket is killin’ me.”

  Although Conrad covered his ears, too, he shook his head emphatically. “Hell no. We’re finishing this.”

  Devlin bent over to pick up his beer can—maybe I can lick off another few drops—then lost his balance and half-fell, half-stumbled toward the felines. Trying to recover, he gripped the bars of the nearest cage. “Shit!” Pain ripped through his hand. Yanking it away from the squalling hell-cat spitting at him from inside the cage, he gaped at the three lines of red marking his hand. “Damn thing schliced me.”

  Conrad, however, wouldn’t be sidetracked from the plan. “Will you quit playing with the pussy? We’ve got a rescue mission to do.”

  An image of a naked Tala playing with her pussy—the only kind of pussy he’d ever want to play with—flashed through his mind. If only he’d jumped onto her balcony and joined her. He would’ve given her what she craved.

  Conrad pointed at the large dog in the nearest pen. “Looks like he could be a half-breed. You know, sort of a stepbrother.” With a come-on wave, he lurched toward the back door. “You let ’em out and I’ll open the door.”

  “Okay, okay. Stop hollering. My head’s getting bigger and everything’s getting fuzzier.” Devlin saluted and tried to focus on the animal that looked like a cross between a German Shepherd and a wolf. The idea of leaving him in the cage was unbearable. Devlin pushed away from the cat and staggered toward the half-breed’s pen. Taking a step closer to the animal, he stumbled, landed against the cage, slid to the floor and fumbled with the latch. He finally got the latch unhooked and, pulling himself to a standing position, threw open the door and waved his arms in a sweeping gesture. “Run, my friend. Run free. Run wild.” Wilde. Tala Wilde. My Wilde.

  The dog raced past him and through the door Conrad held open. Devlin shot him a thumbs-up and staggered to the next cage.

  ƒ

  Damn, I hurt. Although he wasn’t sure which hurt more, the pain in his rear or the pounding crush of his headache. Devlin winced as the sting in his bottom broke through his dream. He groaned, the dew on the ground beneath him sending shivers through his nude
body.

  What happened? Flashes of animal sounds, cages rattling and Conrad’s booming voice shattered through him. Dogs in cages. Cats hissing. Howling under the moon. Wanting to be free. Wanting Tala. He muttered an oath under his breath. Had he and Conrad shifted after letting the animals loose? They must’ve. Why else would he be outside and naked?

  Sunlight heated his back and he curled into a ball, refusing to open his eyes, believing he’d be safe if he just remained quiet. He’d heal if he had enough time.

  His mind caught the idea of a woman aiming a shotgun at him while Tala fought for the gun. Had he gotten shot? As if in answer, the throbbing increased in his butt.

  Yeah, I’ve been shot. Shit. My mate shot me. Sure, by accident, but still. Didn’t she realize who I was? She’d danced for me, right?

  The memory of her call rang again through his head, giving him an ache of an emotional kind. The more times he heard it, the greater became his need for her. Didn’t she feel the same way?

  The sounds outside his mind grew louder and he snarled, unwilling to allow them entry. Screw it. Let the world go on without me.

  “Hey, buddy. You all right?”

  Aw, crap.

  Hoping for any help at all, Devlin sent a wish skyward. Please, make the voice and the sounds go away. All I want is to lie here and rest until my head deflates to normal size again.

  “Did you call the police?”

  “No. I called Tala instead.”

  “What the hell for? You should have called the cops. Did you at least get them locked up?”

  Are they going to lock me up? Is Conrad locked up? He thought of his friend captured and thrown into a cage, and silently snarled.

  “Yeah, all the dogs are accounted for. But I don’t get it. If he wanted to turn them loose, why didn’t he take them out the front door instead of letting them out into the animal run? Kind of defeated his purpose, ya know.”