Dance on the Wilde Side: Cannon Pack, Book 2 Read online

  Sucking on her, licking on her, fucking her with his fingers, he stormed her pussy. His hand squeezed her buttock, holding her as close as he could get her. Using his teeth, he sent sharp, short flashes of wonderful pain through her throbbing clit that arced outward in lightning bolts of pleasure. “Oh-oh! I’m going to…”

  In answer, he increased the pressure, sucking longer, driving deeper.

  Her body tightened, her vaginal walls clutching tightly around his fingers. With another cry no hand could smother, she released, the climax striking her, sending tremors to weaken her legs.

  She collapsed on top of him, weak and panting. “Holy shit.”

  He gently helped her to the ground and wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled her head under his chin. She smelled her own juices on his breath and sighed. I could lie against him all day. For the rest of my life. The idea of spending her life with Devlin shocked her, then pleased her. But would he feel the same way?

  Devlin sat up, ramrod straight. “Do you hear that?”

  She sat up alongside him, frantically pulling her jeans on and finger-combing her hair. Had someone heard them? How would she explain what they’d done to the zoo’s administrators? “Hear what?” she whispered.

  “Her. Did you hear her?” Speaking at a normal level, Devlin didn’t seem worried about anyone hearing them. But she couldn’t mistake the anxiety in his tone. He hurried to his feet, taking her along with him. “There she goes again.” He tilted his head to the side, listening. Still gripping her arm, he broke through the branches and back onto the trail. “She’s hurt.”

  Tala did a one-eighty, trying to spot something out of the ordinary. But the crowd around them kept walking, laughing and enjoying the zoo. At least no one appears to have heard us. “Who’s hurt? Who are you talking about?”

  Making a noise that sounded eerily like a wolf’s warning growl, Devlin took off sprinting down the path leading to a small building. Tala ran after him, trying to keep up. Following on his heels, she burst into the building to find George Groggins, a new employee, standing outside a small holding cage. With exclamations of glee, he stabbed a metal pole through the bars of the cage, jabbing, prodding the injured wolf cowering in a corner. The animal was trapped, unable to move with her wounded leg, defenseless against the attack.

  “George!” Her shout brought the stubby man around, his beaming face freezing in shock. He recognized her and instantly his features melted together, transforming to show the affable exterior she’d come to expect.

  George opened his mouth to speak, but choked on his words as Devlin’s hands wrapped around his throat.

  The gurgling sounds coming from George’s mouth encouraged Devlin to squeeze harder. Placing what little of his hands he could get around Devlin’s large wrists, the rotund man fought for his life. Tala shouted to let the man go, but Devlin ignored her. Instead, instinct kicked in and his primary thought was to destroy the enemy of the injured she-wolf. With the animal inside him clawing at the surface, trying to get free, he spread his lips wide and snarled.

  George’s eyes bugged open, beseeching Tala. She seized one of Devlin’s arms and pulled at him, but his hands remained locked firmly around George’s throat. He wouldn’t let this slimeball of a human hurt any wolf if he could stop him. And he could definitely stop him. For good, if necessary.

  Tala hung from his arm, but still he didn’t, wouldn’t let go. His focus stayed on George and his power grew stronger with each second.

  Landing on her feet, Tala left them and, although he wanted to see where she’d gone, Devlin kept his eyes on his prey. She’d return. He was sure of it. And then, once he’d dealt with this bastard, he’d explain everything to her. This time he’d have to.

  “Devlin, let him go!” She stood behind him and tugged on his shoulders.

  He heard the plea, the panic in her voice, yet wouldn’t let her dissuade him. “No. This jackal should pay for what he did.”

  “He will, Devlin. I promise. Now let him go.”

  Shaking his head in refusal, Devlin opened his mouth wider, allowing his sharp fangs to peek through. He felt his animal grow ever stronger, nearer to breaking loose. George, unable to cry, managed a strangled whimper and kicked his feet wildly, trying to break Devlin’s hold on him. To stop George’s kicking, Devlin bent his head and laid the points of his teeth against the man’s neck, pressing just hard enough to make an indentation, but not deep enough to draw blood.

  Pain hit him between his shoulder blades, zapping his transformation back to full human form. Loosening his grip on George, he whirled toward Tala.

  “Shit!” His angry glare fell to the iron rod in Tala’s hand and disbelief flowed through him like icy water through a winter’s creek. “You struck me?” Shudders racked his body, but he managed to stay upright even while George’s limp body slumped to the floor beside him. “Were you trying to hurt me? Why?”

  She lowered the rod, her mouth gaping. “Wow. Most guys would have dropped like a sack of dog food. But you’re still standing. Amazing.”

  “Not that I care for the comparison, but thanks a lot. Wanna try another whack? Maybe this time you can take my head off.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. I only hit you a little.” At his probing glare, she changed her tune. “Okay, maybe more than a little. But you’re a big, tough guy and can take it. Obviously. Don’t be such a wuss.”

  He took a shaky step toward her, but stopped when she pointed at George.

  “Oh, shit, Devlin. I think you killed him.”

  With the ache between his shoulders already starting to ebb, Devlin bent to examine his victim. “No, I didn’t. The little coward fainted, is all.” Snarling his disgust, he strode over to the cage where the she-wolf lay on her side, unmoving. Squatting next to the cage, he examined the wolf, murmuring soft words of comfort.

  He turned to see Tala holding George’s head in her lap and his stomach lurched. “He doesn’t deserve your sympathy. She does.” A caustic laugh brought his true feelings out. “Hell, I do for you hitting me.”

  Tala stared at him, her face unreadable. But Devlin didn’t have time to sort out her emotions. “Key. Where’s the key to this cage?”

  Without saying a word, Tala nodded to a pegboard on the wall closest to him. He returned her nod and retrieved the key. Turning the lock, he opened the door and stepped into the cage.

  “Devlin, no! You can’t go in there. She’s wounded and dangerous.”

  A great sadness crept over Devlin. Could she not see that the man was the dangerous one? Stupid brutality was always more dangerous than the instinct of self-preservation. Yet instead of speaking his thoughts out loud, he chose a different method of teaching her. “No, I don’t think so. Trust me.”

  Kneeling beside the female wolf, Devlin ran his hands over her long muscled body. He blew out a breath of relief when he didn’t find any broken bones other than her bandaged leg. Placing both hands on her, he gently stroked her, giving her the best form of treatment he knew how to give. “The asshole didn’t break any of her bones. But he beat her up a lot. She’ll have bruises on most of her body.”

  George groaned and Tala laid his head on the floor to move away from him. “That’s incredible. She must be horribly injured to let a human run his hands over her without sedation.”

  “Call the police,” George croaked. Even the wolf tried to lift her head at the sound of his voice. “Call the police.”

  “To come and lock you up, George?”

  Devlin, elated at the vehemence in Tala’s tone, grinned at her. George struggled to a sitting position and pulled his shirt away from his neck. “That freak bit me.”

  “I don’t see any bite marks. Or blood.” Still, Tala checked with Devlin. And although a smile covered her features, he noticed the glint of worry, distrust and confusion in her eyes. “You bit him?”

  Devlin puffed a bit of air out the side of his mouth and rolled his eyes. “Of course not. The man’s an idiot as well as an animal abuse
r. The only person I’d ever bite is you.”

  He swallowed a chuckle at the pink zipping up her neck and into her cheeks. Coughing, she confronted the human slug. “Okay, George. I’ll call the police. And when they get here, you tell them Devlin bit you and I’ll tell them about your mistreatment of the animals.” At his surprised expression, she added, “Yeah, that’s right. I’ve had my suspicions before now. More than one animal has turned up hurt. So, Georgie. Still want me to call the police?”

  Cursing at them, George scrambled to his feet and staggered to the door. “Your boyfriend’s a freak. You’d better watch out.”

  “I’ll do that. Oh, and Georgie?”

  When she had his full attention, she let him have it. “Rest assured I’ll be telling the director about this. Consider yourself fired. Get the hell outta my zoo.”

  George tossed more threats and curses at them, then stumbled outside.

  “Way to go, Tala. Although I’d like to have finished him off for good.”

  “I was afraid you had.” Tala crossed over to him and knelt on the other side of the wolf. “How is she?”

  He raised his head to gaze into her worried eyes. “She’ll be fine. In time.”

  Tala nodded and reached out to touch her. But when she got too close, the she-wolf raised her head, bared her fangs and growled. “Easy, girl. I won’t hurt you. I guess she doesn’t let just anyone touch her. But you certainly have a way with her. Or is that true for all females?” Tala’s blue eyes twinkled at him, her next question reaching her eyes well before it reached her lips. “You’re really something with her. So tell me. Why do you have the magic touch? Are you a vet?”

  He choked at the thought and hid his wince. Wanting to keep his answer as far from the truth as possible, he glanced back at the wolf. “I guess she realizes I’m her knight in not-so-shining armor.”

  She smiled, although a frown creased her forehead. “I guess we can consider your helping her as passing your luck on.”

  He tilted his head at her. “Huh?”

  “You know. I helped you. Now you’re helping her. Passing it on.”

  Understanding, he drew his hand over the wolf’s head. The tired animal closed her eyes, giving total control to him.

  “Just incredible. If you ever want a job at the zoo, just let me know. I’ll put in a good word for you.”

  He knew she’d meant the offer as a compliment, but he didn’t care. “No thanks. I’d rather be an animal than take care of one.”

  “Oh, you’re an animal, all right. The perfect mix of man and beast.”

  Startled at her close description of him, he caught her hand and held it. “Yeah, I am.”

  She blushed, but met his gaze straight on. “Perfect? Or part man and beast?”

  He squeezed her hand and let go. “Both.”

  A smile brightened her face but was quickly replaced by a quizzical expression. He knew she wanted to say something but had changed her mind. Instead, she retrieved her cell phone from her pocket, flipped it opened and punched a number.

  “Floyd? It’s Tala. Send a couple of men over to the containment building to take the she-wolf to the veterinary office. Oh, and call the director to tell him I just fired George Groggins.” She listened for a moment before responding. “Yeah, I know I don’t really have the authority, but once John hears why I canned him, he’ll make it official.”

  Devlin took a deep breath and relaxed. He’d dodged a bullet from any further questions about wolves. Or so he thought.

  “Devlin? How’d you know she was a female? Even before you came into the building?”

  ƒ

  What the hell went on in there? Conrad watched from a safe distance, his body hidden by the bushes and trees surrounding the area near the wolf habitat, as a short, balding man stumbled from the building. Although the chubby man didn’t appear injured, the choice words he used about Devlin left no doubt that he’d run into him.

  What’s Devlin doing at a damn zoo, anyway? Hell, he’ll do almost anything for a good female, but go to the zoo? Even if she’s a vet, she couldn’t have gotten him here without a fight. Unless she’s promised him a helluva a lot of outrageous sex. He licked his lips. Yep, that has to be it. But damn it, if Devlin had only left his phone on, I wouldn’t have had to track him down in this awful place. Still, it’s a good thing he mentioned where he was.

  Conrad had finally located Devlin and the human female—Tala Wilde—when the cry of a she-wolf had ripped through the air. Before Conrad could stop him, Devlin had charged into a small building. After a lot of commotion, the small human had left and Devlin and Tala remained inside. What can they be doing? Why don’t they come out? It worried him that he hadn’t heard anything in a while.

  Conrad lifted his nose to sniff the air and resisted the urge to shift to wolf form. The way his luck was running lately, he’d get snatched up by some industrious zoo employee and thrown in the habitat with those other poor bastards. Or, worse, a wolf-shifters’ nightmare: snagged by the dogcatcher. No, better to wait and see.

  Where are they anyway? Should I take a chance and sneak over to the building’s windows for a look inside? Or should I sit tight and wait them out? Shit, how I hate this.

  Conrad’s stomach rumbled, reminding him that he’d last eaten over five hours ago. That was way too long for a big guy like him to go without sustenance. He sniffed, this time not hunting for Devlin’s scent, but for food. Wishing he could follow the tempting smells coming from the antelope habitat, he scanned the area for man-made food. A hot dog vendor’s cart sat several paces away and he frowned. What an insulting name for a food. But it would be better than nothing.

  He parted the bushes to step through when another scent hit him so hard he had to grip the branches to stay steady on his feet. An odor, so disgusting and repulsive it caused his empty stomach to roll over, assaulted his nostrils. Something foul was close. Very close.

  Ducking back behind the bushes, he allowed his inner animal to transform part of him. His eyes shifted, narrowed and changed. Sliding his gaze around the open area in front of him, he searched for the owner of the stench. And found it.

  A disheveled man scratched himself and motioned to three other men. Shifter hunters! Although the sightseeing public didn’t see the difference between themselves and these men, Conrad did. Even their smell, their skin taking on the subtle smell of gun metal and silver, set them apart from other humans. The way the men held their bodies—alert, tense and ready to spring into action—shot warning signals through him. The walkie-talkies fastened to their belts blinked on and off. If he knew anything at all about these men, he knew they secreted weapons of various descriptions on their bodies. Each man studied his surroundings, checking out both visitor and zoo employee.

  These scumbags crawled out of their holes every once in a while, making life miserable for the shifters who lived in the city. Unknown to the general population, this group of humans knew about the shifters and made it their mission in life to eradicate the werewolves. Thankfully, the hunters’ skills were limited and they rarely found a shifter. But sometimes, like a year ago when they’d run across Sammy Chow of the Chow Pack, they killed.

  Conrad shifted a little more, careful to contain his instinct to shift all the way. Although hunters could smell a shifter even in human form, going all wolf made his scent stronger. Still, he allowed his ears to change, wanting to pick up the men’s conversation.

  “Shit. I know I smelled werewolf a moment ago.” The tallest of the four men kept turning in a circle, scoping out everything around him. “It was here for a good five minutes before I lost it.”

  The burly, box-shaped man nodded. “I know, Carl. I got the same impression. A shifter is near, men, so keep on the alert.”

  The two other men grunted and pulled away from Carl and the burly man. One of them walked up to the arctic wolf exhibit, raised his hands with an imaginary rifle and pretended to shoot the big male snarling at him from the rocks.

  “Skanl
and, we’re close. Damn it, I want another shifter. A year’s too long to go without a kill.”

  The boxy man he’d called Skanland shook his head. “Yeah, I know. But remember, I want some fun with this one first. We capture it and then we kill it.”

  Conrad ground his teeth together, refraining from growling and drawing their attention. He stooped lower behind the bushes. Too bad he couldn’t go into a full shift and rid the world of a few of them right here and now. But there were too many innocents around.

  Did Devlin know the hunters were around? How would he and the woman get past them?

  The hair on Conrad’s neck stood at attention. As soon as Devlin exited the building, the hunters would pick up his scent and attack. He had to do something to help his friend. But what?

  Chapter Five

  Conrad stretched out his neck, hoping to hear more of the hunters’ conversation. Maybe, just maybe, if he found out what they had planned, he could come up with a way to help Devlin without him ending up as a trophy mounted over their fireplace.

  Two men dressed in khaki pants and shirts emblazoned with the zoo’s insignia passed by the hunters, heading for the small building beside the wolf habitat. The man in front pushed open the door of the building and called to those inside. “Tala, what’s the problem?” The rest of his words drifted away as the door slammed shut behind them.

  Carl, the hunter closest to the building, whipped his head toward the opening. “In there, Skanland. I smelled shifter coming from in there. Faint, but there.”

  Skanland nodded and moved closer, dropping his voice lower. “Yeah, I smelled it, too. One of them is nearby.”

  Carl motioned to the other two men. “It’s about time. Let’s go get him.” He slid his hand underneath his shirt and lumbered forward until Skanland’s grip on his arm brought him up short.

  “No. I told you. I want this one alive.” Glancing at the zoo visitors swarming around them, Skanland added, “Besides, it’s too busy here. We wouldn’t want to make a scene.” His grin sported discolored teeth made even uglier by the shine of a golden tooth.