Wild Lust(15)

Besides, he had Blane to consider. Once his brother found out that he’d already had a romp with their mate, he’d get an earful, maybe even a slug or two, about screwing with their plan. He’d have to remind Blane that it was his plan and, although he’d gone along with it in the beginning, he’d had enough of simply watching her. Now that he’d enjoyed what she had to offer in bed, he’d be damned if his brother or anyone else could keep him away from her.

She sighed and laid her head on his chest. Without warning emotion clogged his throat. The simple movement of laying her head on his chest undid him. Suddenly he felt protective of her, as though with that one move she’d placed all her trust in him.

“Well, then, how do we plan on getting me back to the rental house?”

The words offering to let her stay were almost past his lips before he managed to hold them back. She wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment even if he and Blane were. “Who rented the house to you?”

He played with her hair, spreading it over his chest and under his chin. What would it be like to wake up with her silky strands across his face?

“A man named Mr. Richmand.”

He frowned but kept the growl from his lips. Dick Richmand was an asshole of a vampire who liked renting his house to unsuspecting females he planned to glamour and seduce. “Seen him much?”

She shook her head, the slight gesture rubbing her cheek against his chest. “Not since he gave me the key. Why?”

Someone must’ve clued in the skuzzy vampire and told him about the Rawlins brothers and their connection to the woman renting his house. Otherwise, Dick would’ve already made a move on her. The tension that had set up shop in his neck eased. At least the vampires that lived in Shatland were smart enough to stay away from a werewolf’s future mate. But he still felt the need to warn her.

“Stay away from him.”

“Why? He seemed pleasant enough to me. Kind of weird, but friendly.”

“Just do as I say.”

She sat up fast. “I’m sorry, but did you just give me an order?”

Yes. “I’m telling you he’s no good.”

“And what if I decide I want to hang out with him? Maybe even cook him a meal to say thank you for stocking the refrigerator and cupboards?” Her dark eyes flickered with irritation as she arched an imperious eyebrow, daring him to repeat his mistake.

Reese, however, wasn’t one to admit he made mistakes. He folded an arm under his head and kept his expression serene but firm. “I’m telling you to stay away from him.”

Her other eyebrow joined the first one. “Are you for real? You’re seriously lying there with a smirk on your face and ordering me around?

A smirk? He wasn’t smirking. He frowned, confused by her belligerence. “Charlie, calm down. Be smart. Be safe. Listen to me.”

Her eyes had grown bigger and her mouth had dropped open as he’d spoken, but he hadn’t told her anything different than before. So what was with the big reaction? She glared at him as though he’d told her to get on her hands and knees and mop the floor. Was it him? Or was she just overly dramatic?

“You know.”

Her whispered statement baffled him. Of course he knew that Dick was a dick.

“You know my real name.”

Shit. “What are you talking about?” Playing dumb wasn’t the right way to handle her, but he’d fallen back on it like he’d done every time his mother had caught him whacking Blane in the head.

She was up and out of the bed faster than he’d have thought possible for a human. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you knew. You lied to me just to get into my pants, didn’t you?”

“Come on. You really didn’t believe anyone would buy the name Candy Cane, did you? Only porn stars and strippers have names like that.”

She started to pull on her T-shirt then held it out and gaped at the torn shirt. Uttering a sound that was somewhere between a grunt and a groan, she threw her shirt to the floor and snatched his. She tugged it on and crossed her arms. “You lied to me.”

He sat up, and the cover slipped off to expose his cock, already primed and ready for another go. He noticed her gaze drop to his cock then flinch upward to his eyes. A flash of desire crossed her face then was gone. He doubted she’d let him fuck her again.

“You lied first.”

Her eyebrows did a dive toward her nose. “What?”

One thing was for certain. His mate was even hotter when she was angry. “I said, you lied first. Calling yourself Candy Cane was a lie.”

He tried not to smirk now, but he wasn’t too disappointed when he did. She was amazing standing there in his shirt that hung between her pussy and her knees. “You lied first.”