Shadows Of A Wolf Moon(36)

He grabbed her hands, laced his fingers through hers, and stretched them over her head.

She tightened her grip and held his gaze as he moved in and out, setting every inch of her skin on fire.

Her body tightened. She was close, the pleasure pressing in on her.

“Lucien.” She tightened around his shaft and came hard.

He bent his head and sucked her nipple in his mouth as he pumped hard and fast. Pleasure arced through her system.

He held her tight until she rode out her orgasm and then gathered her in his strong arms. He growled, buried his face in her neck, and bit down. He bucked against her, spilling his seed deep inside.

When he was finished, he collapsed on her, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing laced with pleasure.

She slipped her hand down his sides.

He stiffened.

“It’s okay. I wasn’t going to touch your back. I just want to touch your ass.” She grabbed his butt and kissed the side of his neck.

He laughed as he lifted himself off her.

“You’re not like most women, Catty.”

“Damn straight I’m not.” She nipped his shoulder.

He cradled her against his chest. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of him all around her.

“Lucien?”

“Yeah?” he murmured as his fingers made small caressing circles on her back. She snuggled in deeper.

“What happened to your back?”

He stilled, and she could feel the invisible barriers edging their way between them.

“I don’t judge people. You don’t have to be afraid to trust me, Lucien.” She hugged him tighter.

“I’m not afraid,” he said stiffly.

“You can’t see my scars. But I carry them around every day of my life.” She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced. “I can’t go home. Not after what I’ve done.”

“What do you mean?” He lifted her chin with his finger.

She opened her eyes and met his serious stare. “How can I shame my family by going home? If I go home, they will find out I’ve been stripping in New Orleans. It’s not something I can hide.” She shook her head. “I wish I’d never left Arkansas. Now I can’t ever go back.”

“You can always go back.” His fingertips brushed her cheek.

“My father is a well-respected Were. I know the choices I’ve made have consequences. Right now, they don’t know where I am or what I’ve become. They are free from the shame of having me as a daughter, or a sister.” She glanced away and sat up.

“You don’t know your family at all.” Easing up to a sitting position, he placed his hands on either side of her and looked down into her eyes.

“Believe me, I know my family.”

“So do I.”

She blinked in surprise. “You know my father?”

“Yes. And your mother. But I know Zane better.”

“It would kill him to find out what I’ve been doing. I think it would hurt him the most. Guardians have a reputation to protect, you know.” She swallowed hard and looked away. She couldn’t take the pity in his eyes.

“And I think Zane would understand. He knows everyone makes mistakes.”

“You don’t understand. I made the decision to strip. Not out of desperation but for the attention. To be seen.” Her stomach twisted and she fought back the urge to throw up. “But I was so wrong. When I’m up on stage taking my clothes off, those men don’t see me, they don’t love me, they don’t even lust after me. They want to possess me. To take something and use it and then throw it away.”

“He’s still your brother. He still loves you.”

“You must not know him well. Zane is as straightlaced as they come. There is no room for messing up.” She drew her legs up to her chin and dropped her head. “Even if I went back home, there wouldn’t be any forgiveness. Not for me.”

He scooped her up in his arms and settled her into his naked lap. “You are too hard on yourself.”

“No, I’m realistic.” She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled into his warmth. Despite the heat of the night, she felt cold to her marrow.

“People change. Zane might have been a hardass once, but he’s been through some stuff and he’s… changed.”

She jerked her head up. “What stuff? Is he okay?”

He grinned. “He’s fine. He has Skylar to take care of him.”

“Skylar? They are together? But she’s a red wolf.” She’d known Skylar had been crushing on her brother when she was younger, but Zane had never really paid any attention to her friend.

He cocked his head. “Yeah, Skylar. You have a problem with them being together?”