Shadows Of A Wolf Moon(28)

“You know you are.” The hated words grated his throat as sweat popped out over his skin.

“And if I were to do this, would you still stop if I said no?” She leaned back and reached for the bottom of her shirt. Slowly, ever so fucking slowly, she lifted it over her head, revealing a black bra and a smooth expanse of flat stomach.

He tried to swallow but his mouth was like sandpaper.

“Catty, you are messing with fire.”

“No, Lucien, you are.” Her smirk changed into something hard. “I’ve known men like you. Males who think just because a girl takes her clothes off for money that it includes sex too. That we are asking for it.” There was a hard edge to her voice, hard enough to cut through steel.

“I never said that.” The blood pulsed in his ears.

“But back there you offered me money.”

“I offered you money for your time. Not sex.”

“So if I took this off”— she ran her fingertip under the strap of her bra— “you wouldn’t take it as a sign I want you to fuck me.”

“Catty, stop it,” Lucien warned.

“Why? Unable to control your urges around a naked woman, Lucien?” She smirked and reached around her back to unhook her bra.

He grabbed her hand. “Cut it out, Catty.”

“Why? Isn’t this what you want?” She leaned down and playfully nipped his ear.

He grabbed her waist and twisted his body, putting hers underneath his.

Fear flitted through her eyes before she fixed her face into the same confident cold mask she usually wore.

“I don’t hurt women. You don’t fucking know me, so stop lumping me in with every other asshole who’s ever hurt you. You are the one who started this bullshit about me thinking you were a whore because you are a stripper. It’s frankly none of my business, to be quite honest. Stop being a brat and grow the fuck up.” He scrambled off the bed, grabbed his jacket off the floor, and headed for the front door.

“Lucien, wait.”

“Why?” He didn’t turn to look at her. Her assumptions about him had him more pissed off than turned on.

He heard the soft falling of clothes over her body. When he turned, she was dressed and standing behind him with her hands in her jeans pockets. Her cheeks were stained red and she studied the floor.

“I’m sorry I offended you.” She lifted her eyes to him.

He said nothing. The uncomfortable weight in his chest made him look away. “I’m not here for fun. I’m here to try to help your brother. And your games aren’t helping anything.” He turned and grabbed the doorknob.

“Lucien, wait. Is Zane in trouble?” She grabbed his arm.

“The Guardians are all in trouble.”

She blinked and paled a bit. “So he’s a Guardian now.”

“Yeah, why? Do you have something against Guardians?” He fired back.

“No, of course not. I didn’t know. That’s all.” She swallowed before she spoke. “You can’t go yet. I haven’t bandaged your shoulder.”

“I’m fine. The bleeding’s stopped.” He opened the door and made his exit.

He stepped out onto the street, the heat of the day bearing down on him like a wet quilt. He glanced down at his arm. His body was already showing signs of healing. He caught the wide-eyed stares from passersby who openly stared at his bloodied shirt. He shot them a glare and they quickly averted their eyes to the ground and hastened their steps.

He needed to get away from her, to calm down, to think. Whatever had happened between them couldn’t happen again. Not ever again.





Chapter Twelve



Catty stayed anchored to the spot, her joints and muscles refusing to move. When the door slammed behind Lucien, her gut hardened and twisted with painful regret.

She’d been a bitch to him, a tease. She was trying to force his hand, get him to show his true colors. She knew he was hiding something, something he wasn’t telling her. God knew she couldn’t trust people’s words. But she could trust their actions.

She’d practically thrown herself at him. Something she’d never done before. He’d turned her down. Something no male had done before.

Although it had been a test, he’d not been impressed with her one redeeming quality. Her body.

She wanted to go after him, to apologize, to explain herself and tell him she didn’t normally act this way. But it was risky. Especially now that he’d spilled the reason he was here. To help the Guardians.

She placed a hand over her nauseated stomach. Too many troubles were coming at her at a speed she couldn’t control.

Zane was a Guardian and in trouble. He was her brother and if she could help him out, then she would.