Animal Instincts

ANIMAL INSTINCTS An Ellora’s Cave Publication, April 2005 Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc. 1337 Commerce Drive, #13 Stow, OH 44224 ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-4199-0206-7 Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned): Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML ANIMAL INSTINCTS Copyright © 2005 JACI BURTON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously. Edited by Briana St. James. Cover art by Syneca.

Warning: The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. Animal Instincts has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers. Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (Erotic), and X (X-treme). S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination. E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature. X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Jaci Burton

Dedication To my wonderful friend Melani Blazer for thinking up such a great title. I owe you one! To my fabulous friend, Lora Leigh, for inspiring me with every book you write. To the ladies of my Paradise group and the ladies of Lora Leigh’s forum for being so much fun to hang out with and for really wanting me to write this book! To my editor, Briana St. James, for always letting me write whatever I want no matter how much my new ideas make her crazy. To Charlie, for being all that I ever needed. I love you.

Animal Instincts

Chapter One Moonlight Madison looked out the window of the Whipped Cream BDSM Club’s changing room, her gaze captured by the cheerfully bright orb in the sky. A full moon. The fog rolled in from the ocean, slinking its way under the Golden Gate Bridge to blanket the city. San Francisco, a full moon and a thick fog on a Friday night could only mean one thing—all the weirdoes would be in here tonight, looking for her to beat, whip and otherwise subjugate them to her whim. Oh, joy. After dressing in her “uniform”, she shoved her street clothes into her locker and pushed the metal door shut, trying to mentally prepare for the night ahead of her. It was just a job, she kept reminding herself. It wasn’t who she really was. Not even close. The room was blissfully quiet, giving her a few minutes to ready the switch from “average girl” mode to bitch-dominatrix. Which was damned hard to do considering she didn’t have a sexually dominant bone in her body. Wasn’t there one goddamn alpha male left in this town? Just once she’d like to meet a man who’d take charge and have his way with her no matter how much she objected. If she didn’t need the money so damn bad, she’d get out of this profession. Being a dominatrix by trade and a submissive in reality wasn’t fulfilling in the least. Her bank account, definitely. Her sex life… …Yeah, right. What sex life? She worked every night at the club, raking in more money than she could ever imagine. Money she needed, too. During the day she worked at the veterinary clinic and attended veterinary school part-time.

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If she could afford it, she’d go to school full-time. But being on her own and having no financial support meant she had to continue working at the club, the only place she could earn enough money to pay for school. It’d be worth it in the long run. She didn’t even mind attending the summer session at school. It was a way to catch up and it wasn’t like she was missing a social life or anything. She never vacationed so she might as well be in school while everyone else took the summer off to travel. Besides, as long as she stayed around for school, she could work here at the club. Eventually she could quit this job and do what she really wanted to do. And maybe, just maybe, find time to have sex with someone who wasn’t a submissive wimp begging her to flog him because he’d been a “bad boy today”. The thought of having to spank an endless round of pasty, flabby asses repelled her. She stuck her tongue out at the full-length mirror, shaking her head at the getup she wore for this job. Admittedly, black was her color. Good thing, since it was the uniform of the day here. Her silvery blonde hair was pulled high on top of her head in a ponytail, secured by a black leather band. Her face was painted with deep purple eye shadow and false eyelashes so long they brushed her brows. A little over the top, but her customers liked it that way. And the vibrant colors of the shadow did make her eyes seem a very vivid blue. Couple that with almost black lipstick and she was all set for the full moon. Hell, she should go outside and howl. That might bring in a few extra customers tonight. She sure felt like howling. Maybe that would release some of the pent-up anxiety she’d felt lately. She snickered at the thought of walking outside in her thigh-high leather boots with four-inch heels. The black PVC corset and way too tight matching panties revealed way more of her ass-sets than she would ever think of showing outside the masquerade of the club. Then again, in this part of town nobody’d bat an eyelash. Besides, she did what the club paid her for. This was her road to finishing up her studies and she’d do whatever she had to.

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Truthfully, it wasn’t so bad. None of the customers were allowed to ask for sex. It was against club rules and her rules. She wanted to choose her own bed partners, and they sure as hell would never be the kind of men she catered to here. No, she wanted a real man. An animal. Someone to dominate her. She’d about given up on finding one. Besides not having time to date much, men were so…considerate these days. So afraid to even touch, let alone ravage. And dammit, she didn’t want a man to ask permission to fuck her, she wanted to be taken. “Mistress Moon, your first customer is here. Would you come to the front desk please?” She sighed at Susan’s voice on the paging system and opened the door of her private chamber, heading for the lobby to pick up wussy customer number one for the night.

“Your dominatrix for the evening, Mistress Moon, will be with you shortly.” “Uh-huh. Thanks.” Blake Hunter paced the small, low-lit reception area of the Whipped Cream and waited for her, not quite able to believe that this was the place Moonlight Madison worked at night. The ambience was dark, with cherry wood furniture, wall sconces that emitted subtle lightning and soft, sensual music. Quite a change from the brightly lit, always loud vet clinic where he normally saw her. What was she doing at a BDSM palace? His answer came in the form of a luscious, silver-haired goddess swaggering down the hall, looking nothing like she did at the clinic. There, she wore casual clothes, her hair pulled back and very little makeup. The bombshell walking down the hall was a completely different person. Dressed entirely in black PVC leather, she strutted every inch of her goddess-like body in stiletto thigh-high boots, her silvery-blonde ponytail swinging from side to side as she approached. Full breasts swelled and threatened to spill over the top of the corset. 7

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The closer she got, the more pronounced her frown became. Did she recognize him? Did she sense the same thing he did? Or was she really as clueless about what was inside her as he thought? If she knew, she’d have sought him out, he was sure of it. The only reason he came here was because he didn’t want to approach her at the clinic, and didn’t want to scare the shit out of her by showing up at her apartment. He’d been watching her for a long time now. Since the first time he walked into the clinic all those years ago, he’d picked up her scent and realized there was more to Moonlight Madison than he’d ever guessed. And every time he saw her, he became more convinced she didn’t have a clue about him, or about herself. She stopped in front of him, her head tilted slightly as she scanned his body from head to toe. The movement exposed her neck, one of his favorite parts on a woman. So tender, so sensitive, it aroused him just thinking about possessing that slender column of flesh, burying his teeth in her nape and holding onto her as he fucked her. The creamy expanse of her throat would look nice with a collar around it, too. As long as he held the leash. He inhaled her sweet scent, thankful she hadn’t tried to mask it with one of those cloying perfumes women sometimes wore. “You’re Blake Hunter. From the clinic.” He wasn’t sure she’d acknowledge that she knew him. “Yeah.” “Figures,” she mumbled low enough that the average person wouldn’t hear. Then again, he wasn’t an average person. He also wondered what she meant. She looked disappointed. As many times as he’d been to the clinic to pick up medicine for the refuge, he’d never spoken directly to her. She was always in the background doing something and his dealings had usually been with the receptionist or the doc. But he’d seen her. Knew she volunteered there and went to vet school part-time.

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He still couldn’t get over the transformation. Her typical worn blue jeans and an oversized T-shirt were night and day different from the sex bombshell getup she wore now. Not that he minded her current attire. Either way, she excited him. A helluva lot as a matter of fact. He itched to throw her down on the floor of the lobby and shove his hard cock inside her, sink his teeth into the soft flesh of her shoulder and hold her in place while he rode her to a hard climax. He shuddered and pushed the beast away. Not yet. She moved to the reception counter and rested her elbow on the dark wood, looking perfectly calm and in control. The image she presented was a woman used to taking charge. At least externally. Her brow lifted as she picked up the paper, scanned it and shot him a questioning look. Yeah, he’d paid for her for the entire night. One hour wouldn’t do it. He’d need the whole night and more with her. Then, if everything went as he hoped, they’d have an eternity together. “Are you sure about this?” she asked, waving the receipt at him as she left the desk. “Yeah.” “It’s a lot of money.” “I have a lot of money. Let’s get started.” Shrugging, she motioned him toward the hallway. “It’s your dime. Follow me.” Blake sucked in a deep breath and tried to keep from drooling as he followed her fine ass down the dimly lit corridor. The corset thing and tight little panties she wore fit high over her curvy hips and narrowed across her buttocks, showing more than a little of her shapely ass. His cock saluted its appreciation of her body. He didn’t like overly skinny women. She had a woman’s body. A real woman’s body. Tits, ass, hips, legs that went on

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forever and thighs made for a man to ride between. Yeah, she was built perfectly in all the right places. Places he’d like to lick, suck, bite and fuck. And he would. All in good time. First he had to figure out how much she knew. If she hadn’t realized anything yet, he’d just have to give her a little nudge in the right direction, because the moon was full, the beast within him was clawing to get out, and he wasn’t going to wait one more goddamned minute to have her. She might be the dominatrix in this place, she might cater to the kind of men who begged to be told what to do by a woman, but he was no more that kind of man than he was fully human. As she led him back to what he assumed was her room, he smiled at the confident sway of her hips. Yeah, she thought she was in charge here, but he was about to turn the tables on her. Soon he’d have her cuffed, naked and pleading with him to fuck her. His balls ached just thinking about giving her exactly what he knew she wanted, what she needed, what she craved. He knew enough about her to know that the lifestyle she led wasn’t fulfilling her. Hell, he knew more about her needs than she did. Something was missing in Moonlight Madison’s life. Him.

Moonlight mentally cursed her rotten luck. Of all men, she had to get Blake Hunter. How in the hell could he be a sub? The man oozed sexuality from his pores. Hell, most of the women at the clinic went into hyper-drool at the first sight of him walking through the door. Each of them, herself included, would gratefully lie down in the middle of the cold reception area floor and give their bodies up to a guy like him. The other women even whispered about him. They wondered what thoughts lurked behind his shocking gray eyes, the way his gaze lingered over every person in the clinic as if he were searching for someone, or something. The way he kept mostly to himself, his demeanor cool, yet polite. 10

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They knew he was a recluse, that he lived in the hills outside the city in a securitygated expanse of land that no one had ever seen. He kept exotic animals, which he came to the clinic to get medicines for. Occasionally Heather, the vet who owned the clinic, would go out there to treat one of the sick animals, but mostly Blake just picked up supplies here in the city. Admittedly, she was one of the shameless women who fantasized about him. Hell, who wouldn’t? He seemed so strong, so self-assured, so utterly masculine her pulse picked up whenever he came into the clinic. Just the kind of man she was looking for. If she was looking for a man, which she wasn’t. Now her fantasies were dashed. He was a submissive. Another in a long line of men she ran into on a weekly basis that wanted to give up control to a woman. Where was the man who wanted to take that control away from her? Where was the man of her dreams? In your dreams, that’s where. Sighing heavily, she entered the code to her private room and opened the door, motioning Blake inside. She liked subdued lighting in here, the myriad of candles interspersed throughout the room. Not only did their scent suggest sensuality, they also provided some wonderful hot wax when she wanted to use it on her clients. Besides, the scents and lighting calmed her, made it easy to forget where she was and what she was doing. It wasn’t like this was her usual décor. Chains, metal racks and steel tables weren’t exactly the kind of furnishings she enjoyed. So she compensated where she could by making her room a sanctuary of subtle lights and sensual smells. It was time to put on her act, time to be what she wasn’t. After all, Blake was paying for the best and she’d damn well give him what he wanted. She wasn’t being paid to get what she wanted. “Move to the center of the room,” she started, giving her standard I’m-in-charge-sodo-what-I-say-or-else speech. “Do not speak unless you are spoken to.” 11

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Ignoring him for the moment, she moved to the wall and scanned the beat-me-hurtme-make-me-like-it devices of her trade, selecting a long-handled black crop with trailing wisps sure to elicit welts on Blake’s fine-looking ass. Despite her knowledge of his submissive tendencies, her body reacted to the thought of seeing him naked by flaring hot with arousal. Down girl. You aren’t going to get what you want with this one. He stood in the center of the room, his enigmatic gaze and heavy-lidded eyes staring at her. “Look down at the floor, not at me,” she commanded. It wasn’t typical for men like him, but she could have sworn she saw a smirk tilt his lips upward before he dropped his chin to his chest. “Hands behind your back, clasped.” She approached and walked around him, devouring him with her eyes. Worn jeans hugged steely thighs and a well-shaped ass, his T-shirt stretched tight across his broad chest and flat abs. Ridged veins bulged from his powerful biceps, causing the sleeves of his T-shirt to curl upward. His hands made her mouth water—a man’s hands, large with long fingers that she could well imagine thrusting in and out of her pussy. Oh what a man like that could do to her. Damn. Concentrate on your job. That’s what he’s paying for. “Here’s how it’s going to work. We’re going to strip your clothes off and bind you to the chair,” she explained, cracking the whip over the slatted metal chair in front of him. “Then I’m going to have some fun with you. And you’re going to like it.” He didn’t respond. Good boy. But damn if he wasn’t showing a couple dimples on either side of his mouth. “You find something amusing?” “You could say that.”

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She almost laughed. Was he a novice at this game? A sub never spoke to a Dom in that manner. Pondering the thought, she guessed that maybe he was new at this. Maybe he didn’t understand the rules of domination and submission. “Have you ever done this before?” “Not…quite like this.” His voice made her wetter. Low with a slight rasp and a hard edge, it tripped over her nerve endings and made her think of hot, naughty, wicked sex. Whispered words in the dark. Commands, uttered in that harsh voice, making her bend to his will. God, she really needed an orgasm after work tonight. “Let me explain how this works, then. I tell you what to do, and you do it. When I ask you a question, you answer it, followed by ‘Mistress’, a term of respect for your dominatrix. You will only speak if I ask you a direct question. Is that understood?” “Yes.” “Yes, what!” “Yes…Mistress.” Somehow she doubted the sincerity of that statement. Nevertheless, not all subjects fell into the routine as easily as others. Some wanted to misbehave, just enough that the Dom would punish them. Whatever. If that’s what he wanted, she had any and all manner of whips, chains and floggers to beat him with. He’d leave here feeling like he’d gotten more than his money’s worth. “Strip,” she ordered, snapping the crop against her palm for effect. The sharp sting against her tender skin reminded her how much she wanted to be on the receiving end of one of these things. Without hesitation, he grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing a wide expanse of well-worked chest muscles. She curled her fingers into her palms to keep from running them through the crisp hairs covering his dark chest.

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He toed the heel of his boots, slipping out of them, then went for his belt buckle. The sound of metal rasping against leather made her shudder. The sound of his zipper drawn south made her mouth go dry. Oh yeah, he was a sub all right. Evidence of his arousal was hard to ignore given the size of it. Just staring down at his erection filled her with a strange disappointment. His cock was thick, long, much darker than the rest of his body, with an angry purple head that just screamed for her mouth. Blake was the first client she’d ever had the hots for. Most of them didn’t do a thing for her libido. There was something about him that just didn’t fit the profile of her usual clients. Or maybe she couldn’t reconcile her fantasies of him with the reality presented before her. In her fantasies, he was strong, dominating, spanking her bare ass as he made her come over and over again. The reality of him being a submissive just didn’t compute in her mind. Then again, it could be that she really needed an orgasm and Blake being here had nothing to do with it. She knew she should have masturbated before work tonight, but she’d been running late and had come here directly from the clinic. Besides, getting turned on while she worked had never been a problem before. Her vibrator was going to get one hell of a workout when she got home. “Sit down so I can strap you in.” “I have a better idea. Why don’t you get on your knees and suck my cock?” Despite the heat sizzling between her legs at the hard command of his words, she knew he was only playing at defiance. So that’s the game he wanted to play. She lifted her chin, raising the crop so it rested on her shoulder. “How dare you! You will be punished for disobeying me!” Her arm started forward, intending to let him feel the sting of the crop across his chest. But the trailing leather tails never reached their target, his movements so quick it was like a sharp crack of lightning, momentarily freezing her to the spot. 14

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In seconds, Blake had wrested the crop from her hand and Moonlight was crushed in the embrace of one very strong, very naked man. “I’ve had just about enough of this bullshit game, Moon. Now we’re going to do this my way.”

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Chapter Two Shock froze Moonlight in place. She searched Blake’s eyes, recognizing the oh-soalpha male she had always assumed he was. Giddy relief and a sense of anticipation began to build. There was no lowering of lids in a submissive way, no bending down before her, no look of hopeful fear from his blatant disobedience. His still-erect cock pressed against her pelvis and he didn’t seem one bit concerned about being naked while she was still fully dressed. Well, sort of fully dressed, considering her outfit. So what kind of game was he playing? No submissive would ever take control over their Dom. Ever. “You’re not a submissive.” There was the same smirk he’d shown her earlier. “Hardly. I like to take control. And I want a woman who wants me to take it from her.” A strange relief washed over her and a giddy excitement began to build, mingled with her irritation at having been played. But for what purpose? Why would he come in here and pretend to be something he wasn’t? “You care to tell me what’s going on?” she asked, chin held high but still mindful of the fact she had absolutely no control right now. He seemed to be expending no effort at all in holding her tight against his body. His lips curled in that sarcastic smile that both annoyed and thrilled her. That takeno-shit-from-anyone kind of expression which meant a man was in charge of his own destiny, and screw anyone who got in his way. She both hated and loved that kind of man.

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“You want to spend the night talking about it, or do you want me to give you exactly what you want?” “I don’t understand.” “Yeah, you do. You want a man to take control of you, of the situation. You want a man who will tie you down, strip you and make you do what he wants. You want a man to eat you and fuck you until you lose your mind from how goddamned good it feels, until you’re crying and begging him to stop. You want a man who won’t stop even then.” Oh, God. Cream spilled from her cunt, his words filled with the promise of fantasies fulfilled in ways she had only dreamed of. He did know her, knew her needs exactly. But how? Was it possible? He really didn’t know a thing about her. So how could he know her desires? “You’re asking yourself a million questions right now, Moonlight. Don’t. Put your mind at ease. I know you because I’m meant to know you, because we’re two souls with the same need. I can give you what you want, and you can give me what I want. Don’t look for answers where none exist. It is what it is.” His words made no sense. She should be afraid of his familiarity, should fight and struggle her way to the panic button so rescue would come. The strange thing was, she felt no fear at all. Curious, yes. Aroused, oh hell yes. But he didn’t frighten her. He was right about one thing, though. She had a million questions. But couldn’t those questions wait until later? Right now he offered her something she wanted and needed so badly she could come just thinking about all the ways he could pleasure her. Here was a man she’d fantasized about from the first day he’d walked into the clinic. This was her opportunity to grab at something she wanted, something that was all too rare—the chance to live out her fantasies. Hell, the front desk had his address. He was a regular at the vet clinic. Doc Heather had talked to her about him and she knew if the Doc said he was okay, then he was okay. If he meant her any harm he was dumber than dumb. 17

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And Blake Hunter did not appear dumb at all. “One word, Moon. That’s all I need to hear. One word.” She knew the word he sought, and the fact he asked for it at all made the decision for her. Her parents had taught her to always go with her gut instinct and not spend her life pondering the what-ifs. They didn’t want her to look back on her life with any regret. She listened to that instinct right now and knew that if she didn’t do this, she’d regret it forever, so she gave Blake the word he wanted to hear. “Yes.” The crop fell to the floor with a soft thud. Blake released his hold on her arms, but only for a second. With one hand wrapped around her waist, he tangled the other in her ponytail, tugging it sharply until tears sprang to her eyes. His mouth came down hard over hers, his tongue invading like a marauder intent on claiming the prize. Surprise and heat mingled together like a shot of liquid electricity through her veins. For the first time in a very long time, she felt like she was the prize. His lips spoke of possession, of taking, ravaging, hard and furious. Moon soaked it up like a sponge, digging her fingernails into the muscled flesh of his shoulders. Blake didn’t even flinch, just growled into her mouth and devoured her lips and tongue until the world spun on its axis. This wasn’t slow, gentle, getting-to-know-you kissing. His mouth was hard, punishing, telling her the rules of the game with each thrust of his tongue. He would take. She would give. And she would enjoy giving him whatever he wanted. For too long she’d held her own needs at bay while she struggled with school and work. Her personal life had always taken a back seat to her studies and making enough money to get through school. With this job at the club she had suppressed her natural submissive tendencies and acted the part of dominatrix with immense success. And every night she lay in bed, aching and unfulfilled. But not tonight. Tonight she was going to take what she wanted. Or rather, she’d let Blake take what he wanted, and in turn she’d get exactly what she needed. 18

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He pushed against her and she whimpered, needing to be naked, to feel that body to body contact that all animals craved as part of their existence. She stepped back as he pushed again, letting him guide her where he wanted. He stopped in the middle of the room and broke the contact of their kiss, turning her around so her back was to him. Warm fingers brushed her skin as he began to untie the laces to her corset. He seemed in no hurry, but the length of time it took to unlace her gave her ample opportunity to think about what she was doing. Moon didn’t have indiscriminate sex. Okay, lately she didn’t have any sex. Still, it wasn’t like her to fuck a stranger, yet she seemed to give up on her principles quite easily with Blake. Why was that? Because he’s promised to give you exactly what you want. His knuckles brushed her back as he pulled the corset apart, his fingers trailing slowly over her vertebra, eliciting shivers. How long had it been since a man had touched her, had run his hands over her bare flesh? Screw her principles. Between work, interning at the clinic and school she hadn’t had a decent sex life in years. Her pussy ached with the need to feel a hard cock pounding inside it. Her submissive tendencies hadn’t been catered to. She needed to get fucked! “Leave your boots on,” he whispered over her shoulder, pulling the corset away from her body and squatting down to pull her panties off. When he stood, he turned her to face him. He had the look of a hungry predator, his eyes a dark, smoky gray as his gaze raked over her body. He reached above her, pulling down the wrist cuffs dangling from a cord attached to a steel bar in the ceiling. “These look like fun. Give me your hands.” She held them out while he slipped the cuffs on her wrists. When he let go, her arms were drawn upward as the tension in the cord automatically tightened.

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“Damn, you have a gorgeous body, Moon. And your bare pussy…so soft and smooth. Can you imagine what it’ll feel like when I put my tongue on it?” Heat scorched her sex at the image his words presented. She blushed under his perusal, but did not answer. Instead, she watched in rapt fascination as he reached out and trailed his fingertips over her collarbone, smoothing his palm between her breasts and resting it there. Her breath came in a shudder of rapid inhales and exhales as her mind begged him to touch her throbbing nipples. “You want me to touch you?” “Yes.” “Good. I want to touch you. I will touch you. And you’ll touch me. We have all night to explore and get to know each other. I’ve wanted this, thought about this, for a while now. I don’t want to rush things.” He’d been thinking about her? She wondered if he’d fantasized about her, jacked off while thinking about fucking her. The thought sent a flaming thrill skittering along her nerve endings. She’d brought herself to orgasm many times picturing his face, his body, the wicked things he’d do to her. He dropped to his knees and grasped her ankles, positioning her feet next to the cuffs attached to a link of chain on the floor. When he was finished, he looked up at her. “The scent of your sex fills the air in the room. Dark and musky. Do you need to come, Moon?” “Yes,” she replied, her heartbeat notching up a few paces. Anticipation revved her internal engines. This couldn’t happen fast enough. There was something inherently animalistic about the way he moved. The shadow of dark stubble across his cheeks and jaw lent him a dangerous look. Blake was the epitome of the bad boy that good girls weren’t supposed to go for. She’d always been a good girl, had never had a bad boy. Until now.

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And now she was shackled, spread-eagled and at his mercy. But instead of fear, a sharp tingle of expectation coiled hot between her legs, making the tight knot of her clit throb with the desperate desire for release. Just this one night and she’d be satisfied, filled with images to cater to her fantasies for a very long time. She had a feeling that sex with Blake Hunter would be an unforgettable experience. His hands roamed over her calves as he slowly made his way up her boot-covered legs. She wished she had been allowed to take her boots off so she could feel his strong fingers touching her and massaging her muscles. When he reached the spot where her boots ended and the skin of her thighs was exposed, he lingered there, rimming his fingers around the outer edge of her boots. Then he moved upward, finally touching her bare skin. Though his fingers were warm, she broke out in goose bumps. On his knees, his face was at eye level with her pussy. His gaze focused there and he wrapped his hands around the back of her thighs to cup her buttocks and pull her mound closer to his face. Yes, please, oh please, lick me! But he paused, took a deep breath and closed his eyes, then rested his forehead against her lower belly, squeezing the globes of her buttocks with his fingers, digging hard into her flesh as if he were trying to wrestle control over some inner demon. “Blake,” she pleaded. He looked up at her, a pained frown etching tiny lines near his eyes. But they quickly faded as his gaze turned dark and his lips curled in a smile she could only describe as feral. Why did he remind her so much of an animal, and why did that thought make her want to run wild right alongside him? The smile on his face disappeared as he leaned forward and flicked the tip of his tongue against the hood of flesh covering her clit, then firmly fixed his mouth over it.

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She hadn’t even realized she’d stopped breathing until she fought to cry out at the searing heat of his mouth. Fighting for breath, she could only whimper as he moved his tongue like a snake over her quivering flesh. She’d never felt anything like it before. Maybe it was just Blake and the strange way he made her feel. He devoured her flesh like he was starving for her. Desperately hungry, nibbling and licking and lapping up every drop of her cream. His ravenous attack fueled the fire burning inside her. Her legs trembled and if she wasn’t shackled in place she’d fall to the ground. As if feeling the exquisite sensation of his smooth tongue sliding over her bare pussy wasn’t erotic enough, watching him do it only heightened the experience until she thrust her pelvis forward, eager to feel his hot tongue roaming all over her cunt. Being tied up only added fuel to the all-consuming fire. She had no choice, no escape, could only stand still and let him relentlessly torment her with sweet licks along her sex. He parted her folds and licked down the length of her, then thrust his tongue inside her pussy. A low moan escaped her lips and she shuddered against his greedy mouth. Had she ever felt anything this intense? Had she ever had her body so thoroughly worshipped? How could he possibly know exactly where and how to touch her to give her the most pleasure? Because with every swipe of his tongue he took her to nirvana, and she edged closer to a rip-roaring climax that would surely elicit screams loud enough to tear the walls down around her. Just a few more seconds and… He stopped and stood up. The cool air of the room hit her hot, wet pussy and she felt instantly empty without the heat of his tongue. Her body shook as she hovered just on the precipice of a shattering orgasm. Confused, she made eye contact with him, pushing back disappointment. Surely he wouldn’t leave her like this, would he?

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Relief washed over her when he pressed his body against hers, reaching above her to lock his fingers around her wrists. His cock was steely hard and hot as he slipped it between her thighs, rocking it against the swollen, throbbing bud between her legs. “You wanna come?” he teased, pressing his mouth to hers and letting her taste her own juices. When he pulled away, she nodded and said, “Yes, you know I do.” “Kiss me.” She stretched, leaned forward and met his mouth, savoring desire and lust and desperately wishing he’d get back down there and finish what he’d started. He gripped her wrists and thrust his shaft between her legs until flames licked deep into her core. She wanted to beg him to stop, then beg him not to stop. Ever. She just wanted this torment of need to end. She must have moaned out loud because he moved one hand down to her face, caressing her cheek so tenderly she could have cried. Then he smoothed his palm over her breast and hips. She cried out when he cupped her sex with the palm of his hand and began to rock it back and forth. The need built fast and furious inside her, and she whimpered against his mouth, devouring his lips, tasting her own desire at the same time she wet his hand with more cream. It had never been this good, this intense, every nerve ending in her body alive and exposed. Her breasts scraped his chest, her nipples tightening into sharp, sensitized peaks. Every brush of the taut buds against his skin shot straight between her legs, reinforcing the nearly uncontrollable arousal that made her feel like she’d just taken a step toward insanity. And still he moved his hand, controlling her completely. He played her like he could read her body, stopping whenever she was close to the edge, then waiting until the urge subsided before resuming his torturous movements.

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How could someone who really didn’t know her have such an awareness of her body? Did she give off some kind of signal? Tearing his mouth from hers, his gaze held hers, his eyes dark as a midnight storm and ravaged with the heat of desire. “Hold off and don’t come until I tell you.” He cupped her buttocks with his free hand and pulled her against him, then slid two fingers into her cunt and began to power hard, quick thrusts in and out of her drenched pussy. Part of her wanted to fight him, to let him know that she wasn’t easy, that she wouldn’t give him complete control over her. “I…can’t,” she said, gritting her teeth. She knew he wanted to dominate her, to control her. She wanted this complete domination over her, but at the same time a part of her feared giving up control. Yet she couldn’t hold back. When he pulled his hand away, she mentally admitted defeat, knew she’d do anything, anything to bring that sweet pleasure back. “All right,” she managed through panting breaths. “I’ll do it.” “Good girl.” He kept his focus on her face as he plunged his fingers between the creamy folds of her slit, delivering hard, punishing thrusts that both hurt and thrilled her, so much that she wanted to wrap her legs around his arm and force his entire hand into her pussy. Orgasm hovered right there. She could easily go off and he knew it, yet he continued to torment her with his fingers. She had to hold back. She had to. This was what he wanted. If she gave him what he wanted, he’d let her climax. His pleasure was her pleasure and she was stronger than her own demon desires. “You want it now?” The harsh whisper of his voice was like sex with the devil. She felt like she was giving up part of her soul to him. And she didn’t care. She’d give him anything right now. “Yes, I want it…now. Please, Blake…now.”

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“Then come for me. Pour that sweet pussy juice over my hand. Make your cunt squeeze my fingers, hard. Do it, Moon. Do it now.” Release thundered and careened out of control. She tilted her head back and screamed, long and loud, her pussy quaking and tightening against his ever-thrusting fingers until she did exactly what he asked her to do—flooded his hand with her cum. She’d never had an orgasm so intense or one that lasted as long. She rode it out and enjoyed every sweet second of release, until Blake removed his fingers and she hung there limp, unable to even manage the twitch of a single muscle. When she could finally lift her head, he was standing a few feet away from her, his arms crossed, his erection long and thick and an angry purple. She knew that what she’d just experienced had just been a beginning. The best was yet to come.

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Chapter Three Blake needed a moment to gather his calm before he lost control and unleashed the beast inside him. Moon wasn’t quite ready for that revelation yet. But it was goddamned hard not to let loose after she’d come apart in his hand. The spicy scent of her cum still lingered in the air. Moonlight Madison was a perfect match for him. He’d known she would be able to handle his needs like no other woman could. She was exactly as he’d pictured her, he knew she’d react to a strong man dominating her and she hadn’t disappointed him. Being with her made him realize how alone, how isolated, he’d allowed his life to become. It wasn’t like he could seek out an average woman for a relationship. When he mated, it would be for life. For all his adult years he’d kept his sexual exploits casual, but he’d always left unsatisfied, craving much more than an orgasm with a woman. All that was about to change now that he’d met Moon. With a little coaxing and a lot of really good fucking, she’d be his. Though in his mind, she already was. He just needed to enlighten her about a few things, then take control and show her what they would be capable of together. She had no idea yet how powerful she was, that she may be a sexual submissive, but held an energy inside her that would make her his perfect mate. Soon enough, she’d know everything. And he’d found her at the vet clinic. Amazing coincidence. Then again, he’d learned over the years not to discount fate and destiny. It had already played a large part in shaping his life. He’d always known there were others like him, related by a distant blood that bound them like brothers. The legacy had been passed on by his parents and their parents and all the others before them for hundreds of years. And the only true way to 26

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continue to pass on his unique genetics was by mating and creating children with a woman of his own kind. The family blood had been diluted here and there by cousins who had mated outside their kind, and then there were those who kept the legacy intact. He’d had the same choices, had been offered counsel by many of his family members, both close and distant. But he’d purposely avoided contact. He’d needed to reconcile who and what he was first. It had taken a lot of years to come to terms with his destiny, to realize that he had to live his life a certain way because of his genetics. That he had to mate a certain way, too. With his own kind, if he wanted to continue the dynasty his ancestors had begun. When the power had begun to surge within him at adulthood, he embraced that legacy, needing to be a part of its continuance. But in order to do so he’d have to find a very special woman. He’d found her. Now the woman he wanted was chained in front of him, cum soaking her inner thighs as she waited, wet and ready for him. His cock was raging hard, throbbing painfully, balls drawn up tight against his body and more than ready to release. Between her mouth on him and her sweet pussy grazing his shaft, he had just about run out of patience. It was time to take her exactly the way he wanted to. Careful to keep the beast inside for now, he reached up and released her wrists, pulling them in front of her body so he could massage her from palm to shoulder, letting the blood flow back into her limbs. Satisfied when they turned a warm pink, he scanned the room, smiling when he spotted a small table against the wall. That would do nicely for what he hand in mind. He pushed the table in front of her. Waist-high. Perfect. “Bend over the table.” He purposely kept her ankles chained to the floor, though he left her upper body unrestrained. She wasn’t going anywhere. Anticipation heightened the color in her 27

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cheeks and her eyes sparkled as she bent from the waist, her full breasts pressed against the thick padding of the table. Her hair swept over her back and shoulders, the silvery, silken tendrils nearly hiding the tantalizing swells of the sides of her breasts. He traced his finger over one as he walked by and came up behind her. Now there was a vision. Bent over and legs spread, the lips of her pussy swollen and glistening. His cock twitched at the view of her sweet ass cheeks, the dark rosette between them tempting him like forbidden fruit. Only her ass wouldn’t be forbidden. Not to him. Eventually he’d fuck her everywhere. But right now he wanted only to sink into her hot, tight cunt. He spied the crop she’d threatened him with earlier and grinned, picking it up and snapping it against his palm. Moon tensed. “You think I’m gonna whip your ass with this?” he asked. She didn’t answer, so he gave her a light tap with the crop. Her butt cheeks clenched, but she made no sound, so he smacked her ass again. This time she let out a tiny whimper. “Does it sting?” “A little,” she finally admitted. “Does it make you hot?” She didn’t answer. Good. He liked her a little defiant. Showed she had some guts. The last thing he wanted was a wimp for a mate. But she did defy him, so she got the crop one more time. This time, she moaned. Blake tossed the crop onto the nearby chair. “I think I’d prefer to feel your ass against my hand instead. I want to feel your skin fire up with heat.” The first sharp swat of his hand against her buttocks was light, but enough to get her attention. The second left a red mark on one cheek. The third had her whimpering. He wanted to whimper, too, as he watched the globes of her ass tremble with each swat. Oh yeah, he definitely liked the feel of his hand against her ass, enjoyed the way her

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skin heated under his hand. Reaching between her legs, he cupped her pussy, savoring the warm, wet cream flowing from her. God, she was so hot as he rubbed back and forth across her soft sex, then withdrew and spanked her again. “Feel good?” he asked, once again sliding his hand between her legs to cup her pussy. “Yes,” she answered in a strained whisper. “Want more?” “Yes!” If he thought for a minute that he was in control of this situation, he was wrong. Moon controlled every move he made with her open and sensual responses. Every one of her whimpers and moans made him harder until his cock screamed for release. But first he wanted to bring her close to coming. A few carefully placed smacks on her ass, followed by dipping his fingers between her buttery-soft folds and fucking her cunt with hard thrusts and she was creaming all over his hand, backing up against his fingers and trying to take more of him inside. He wanted that same response when his cock was inside her, his balls banging against her clit and her pussy squeezing until she forced the cum right out of him. When her muscles tightened around his fingers, he knew it was time. She was ready and he sure as hell was. Positioning himself between her legs, he probed her slick opening. Goddamn, it was soaking wet and primed for his cock. Just the way he needed her. He was so big that a lot of women had trouble taking all of him. He wanted to make sure Moon could take it, because he needed to be buried to the hilt inside her. Slipping the head of his dick between her soft folds had his cock jerking in response. Shit! She was so tight, squeezing harder as he slid inch by inch inside her. He went slow, stopping when he heard her moan. But she didn’t ask him to stop and her cunt kept getting wetter, so he continued to push inside her. Her hands gripped the

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edge of the table as he thrust, her pussy surrounding his shaft with waves of spasms that threatened his control. He wondered how much she could take, how much of the animal inside him he could unleash, especially this first time. Could she handle him? All of him? He had to know the answer to that question. Moon tensed, waiting for Blake to shove his thick cock all the way into her. He was huge, and despite the excessive lubrication pouring from her, she was having a hard time taking him in. It was like being a virgin again. “Am I hurting you?” The game they played stopped at his question. She heard the tension and restraint in his voice as he inched back, pulling partially out. The fact he showed concern over possibly being too big made her juices flow even more. There was nothing more exciting to a woman than a man who actually cared about her feelings. “I’m fine. Fuck me.” “Say it now if you want me to stop. Otherwise I’m going to fuck you. Hard. I’m gonna make you scream, Moon.” The visuals his words evoked nearly brought her to orgasm. Her pussy clenched around the tip of his cock and drew him inward, greedy for the pleasure he could give her. He pushed against her then, just enough to give her half his cock, teasing her with the rest of what he had to give. “More?” “More. Please.” She held on for what she knew was coming. But instead of plunging inside her, he leaned over her back and searched between her legs, finding her clit and massaging it with his fingers. Sharp pleasure spiraled in her womb, growing stronger, hotter, with every expert stroke of his hand. It was only moments and she was ready to climax.

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As if he instinctively knew her body, he removed his hand and surged forward, burying his shaft to the hilt. She screamed and dug her nails into the cushion of the table, dropping her forehead to the cool leather and raising her hips so he could thrust deeper. Oh, God, the pleasurable pain was intense as he struck her womb with each driving thrust. But it was oh-so sweet at the same time. She’d never felt so completely filled before, so quickly close to orgasm from simple penetration. He’d primed her well, taking his time to bring her to the brink, yet never letting her go. Now his cock strummed every part of her pussy, repeatedly striking that spot that made her gush with fluids and race for the inevitable orgasm. “Don’t come,” he commanded, stopping his movements. She tried so hard to hold back, but it was so difficult. She was right there! So close, if she moved even a little she’d topple. A sharp swat to her ass had her bucking her hips against him. Another and she stilled. “Don’t come until I tell you.” Did he think spanking her was going to lessen the need to come? The sweet sting only made her pussy undulate in waves of impending orgasm. She fought the sensations tending to drive over the edge, holding back because that’s what he wanted. But with each thrust of his cock it seemed to thicken and lengthen inside her. She felt like she was splitting open. He took her savagely, driving so hard her hipbones hurt from slamming against the side of the table. She loved it. Loved the pain heightening her pleasure. She’d never felt like this before. Powerful, in control of his pleasure, even as he controlled the movements of their bodies together. Her blood heated to boiling and she felt strange sensations emanating from deep inside her. A fierce need to possess, to lash out at Blake in a hungry passion that was more animalistic than human.

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His breathing grew harsh, his fingers digging into her hips like sharp claws. She could have sworn she heard him growl, his body rumbling against hers as he leaned forward and swept her hair to the side, pistoning his cock deeper and then sinking his teeth into the flesh of her shoulder. The sting was oh-so pleasurable she could have come right then. She whimpered, trying without words to let him know that she was so close she wouldn’t be able to hold back any longer. Relentlessly, he continued to power his cock like a jackhammer, thrusting and withdrawing while licking and biting her neck. The smell of sex filled the room. The only sounds were his cock pounding inside her wet pussy and her panting moans, followed by his feral groaning that made her shiver in excitement. She was going to die from the erotic sensations pummeling her. His harsh whisper permeated her fogged senses. “Squeeze my cock with your cunt. Come for me, now.” He didn’t even get the sentence fully out before she was screaming at the top of her lungs, grateful for the soundproof rooms of the club. Wave after wave of relentless contractions, coupled with Blake’s blinding, hard thrusts nearly lifting her off the ground, had tears running down her cheeks as she rode out the most intense orgasm of her life. He growled again and let out a fierce howl. “You’re mine, Moon. Mine!” Tensing, he held her hips while he poured spurt after spurt of hot cream into her until he collapsed against her, panting harshly, his hot breath sailing over her sweat-soaked back. After a minute of breath-catching rest, he withdrew from her and bent down to unshackle her. He pulled her to an upright position and turned her around, taking her mouth in a kiss that was both possessive and tender. She clung to him as he deepened the kiss, and remembered what he’d said when he’d come. 32

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Mine. A shivery thrill sailed through her. For those brief moments, she had been his. She had belonged to him and he to her. But that moment was over. What would happen now? What did she want to happen? She was almost afraid to think about it. In fact, she wouldn’t think about it. She simply held onto him and let him kiss her senseless, which seemed right in line with tonight’s events. Nothing that had happened so far tonight made any sense in her normal, orderly world. For now, senseless seemed pretty damn good.

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Chapter Four Something about having Moon in his arms felt so right. Hell, everything about her was right, from the way she smelled, to the way her body fit against his, to the way her passion matched the voracity of his own. Now he just had to convince her they belonged together, without scaring the living hell out of her while doing it. Towards the end, he’d picked up her body’s chemistry, aware of what was happening inside her. He’d wager she chalked it up to sexual response making her blood churn and boil. Then again, it didn’t surprise him she wouldn’t recognize what happened. How could she even know such things were possible? Her senses weren’t yet developed or able to pick up even the most subtle of changes. She had no idea of the magic she’d been born with, because the right man hadn’t yet come along to coax it out of her. He’d watched her long enough to know she didn’t exhibit any signs of the change, not uncommon for an adult who hadn’t been mated to one of her own kind. Though the change could come from instruction, if a woman hadn’t been told who and what she was, she may never realize it. He pondered why her parents had never told her. He knew from Doc Heather that her parents had died unexpectedly in a car accident when Moon was only nineteen. If they’d been waiting for her to become an adult before they let her in on their secret, it made sense that she wouldn’t know. Part of him was glad she’d never been introduced to the wildness inside her. That meant her mate would bring it out of her That’s where he came in. He’d have to teach her to recognize the signals. First, he’d have to get her out of here and into a different location. His home turf, where he’d be free to show her everything.

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“Let’s get out of here,” he murmured against her hair, inhaling the honeyed fragrance of her shampoo. She tilted her head back, her eyes like luminous pools of soft blue. “I can’t leave. I’m working.” “You forget I paid for the entire night.” “I…I can’t go anywhere.” “Why not?” Lips curving into a shy smile, she said, “I need a shower.” He loved smelling his scent on her, marking her as his. The mingled perfume of their combined cum was an aphrodisiac that made his cock begin to harden again. Her eyes widened as it pressed between her legs. “A shower sounds like a good idea. How about you take it at my place?” “Your place?” “Yeah. You working this weekend?” “No, I’m off. But—” “Then come spend the weekend with me.” He read the indecision in her eyes, the way she chewed her bottom lip. He’d like to nibble her bottom lip too. And her hip, the soft spot between her thigh and pussy, her shoulder. Oh hell, what part of her didn’t he want to taste and bite? “I can’t.” “Yes, you can. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.” “It’s not that. It’s just…I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m busy with school and with work.” “It’s just a weekend, Moon. Not a lifelong commitment.” At least not that she knew. Yet. “I know you want more of what we just had. I’m already hard again just thinking about fucking you.”

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Her eyes went smoky dark and he knew she thought the same thing. “Okay. I need to stop at home to pick up a few things.” “Good. I’ll follow you.” He dressed and waited while she went and told the manager she was leaving for the night. Then she stepped into the changing room of the club, returning dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, the makeup scrubbed off her face. Now that’s how he liked her. Natural. Her apartment was only a couple blocks from the club, a fact he already knew but didn’t let on. He waited for her in his SUV, wondering what was going through her mind as she packed her things for the weekend. Was she thinking about what they’d just shared, or was she worried things were moving too fast? He hadn’t realized how much rode on her emotions, but he’d hate to have to kidnap her and drag her up to his ranch against her will. Either way, she was going with him. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, she’d decide to stay. He was counting on it. The need for her grew stronger every minute, an insatiable thirst after a long walk in the desert. He’d been alone for a very long time, and he needed her. For many reasons, the least of which was the way her lusts matched his. She appeared at her door with a small bag in her hand, still looking unsure of herself and the situation. Nevertheless, she slipped into the passenger side of his SUV and offered a hesitant smile. He took the coast highway, his favorite drive. Endless views of the Pacific Ocean on the left, hills and tall trees on the right. Though tonight he couldn’t see much of anything since the fog enshrouded them in an almost eerie-like quiet, obliterating the normally scenic view. “I had no idea you lived this far away.”

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“I enjoy the drive, and I’ve known the doc for years,” he said in answer to the question she didn’t ask. “I know there are vets closer to where I live, but the doc knows wild animals better than anyone I’ve ever met.” The doc also knew about him and his animals, and was the only person he could trust. It had happened purely by accident. When Heather had stopped by unannounced for a routine visit, she’d discovered his secret. To her credit, she hadn’t run screaming from the ranch. In fact, she was fascinated with the physiology and asked question on top of question. They’d spent hours just talking. He’d been grateful for the chance to share his secret with someone he could trust. It seemed to make the burden he carried a little lighter somehow. Which was why Heather was the only doc who would see to his considerable range of animal life. Though he was particularly interested in Moon’s reaction. Another appealing aspect of finding his woman was knowing she was so close to becoming a veterinarian. Things couldn’t work out better if he’d planned them. Correction—there was a possibility they’d work out if he could convince her to stay with him. An hour after they left the city he turned onto the long road leading to the gates of his ranch. He hit the control above his visor and the double black wrought iron gates slowly opened. “Wow.” Moon’s comments were uttered in a barely audible whisper. “It’s mostly woodlands.” “Well, I wouldn’t know since it’s dark and foggy, but you obviously have some land.” “A few acres. Not a whole lot.” “A few?” She cast him a dubious look. “Okay, a few thousand.”

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She turned to him, eyes wide. “Are you kidding? With real estate prices as they are, that’s worth a fortune! You’re very lucky to have so much space. My apartment is about as big as someone’s one-car garage.” She’d said it with a surprised awe, not as if the fact he had money meant anything. He liked that about her. But he was still hoping to impress her with the wide-open spaces of his land, along with the animals he hoped would intrigue her. The long road led into a circular, paved drive in front of the house. He pulled up slowly and waited while the garage door lifted, then drove in and shut off the engine. Moon grabbed her bag and stepped up beside him. He grabbed the bag from her hand and motioned her through the doorway, flipping on the lights along the way. Funny, he had those weird butterflies in his stomach that people always talked about, signaling he was nervous. For someone who’d never had a nervous moment in his life, the tingling in his gut was a new experience. He wanted her to like his home. Enough that maybe she’d consider making it her home, too. Moon tried to keep her mouth shut, but it was difficult not to gape in awe at the house. Huge didn’t even begin to describe it. A short hallway led into a kitchen bigger than her whole apartment. Bright and roomy, the white tile and matching white cabinets seemed to scream “cheery and welcoming”. A huge bay window sat at the far end of the kitchen with a roomy oak table nestled against it. She could imagine the view in the daylight. “How about a tour before we settle in?” he asked. She nodded, still speechless. The trappings of the rich had never been something she’d coveted. In fact, a simple existence had always suited her, the same as it had suited her parents. Hell, she’d spent a year of her childhood living in a van and

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traveling around the country with her parents. Their unorthodox way of raising her had taught her that possessions were just “stuff” and meant nothing. Which didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy a weekend with a man who clearly had more money than she’d ever see in a lifetime. That was evidenced as they walked through the house. Though modestly decorated, the square footage alone was amazing. His choices of furnishings and artwork were impeccable. Definitely not throw it in your face kind of décor, but rather cozy and comfortable, the kind of place she could kick off her shoes, curl up and be happy in. She shook off those odd thoughts and followed him as he showed her the rest of the downstairs portion of the house, which consisted of an office, a rather extensive library and a dining room that could entertain fifty people. “Who lives here with you? An entire town?” He laughed and moved them back to the kitchen. “No. Just me.” “Kinda big, don’t you think?” “I like open spaces. I hate feeling confined.” Blake grabbed two wineglasses and reached for a bottle of white from one of the racks. Moon peered at the racks of wine nestled along the kitchen wall and said, “You must entertain a lot.” “Never, actually.” Never? “Then you’ve got to be a lush. You’ve got a ton of wine there.” “Actually, I have a vineyard,” he explained, laughing at her comment. He turned to face her with a smile. “I’m pretty picky about wine so I grow and bottle my own.” She reached for the bottle and spied the grey wolf’s head on the label, her gaze shooting back to his. “This is Wolf Vineyards.” “Uh-huh.” “You’re Wolf Vineyards?” “Uh-huh. I chose one of my favorite Chardonnays. I hope you like it.” 39

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Resisting the urge to drop her jaw at his revelation, she said, “Like it? I love Wolf Vineyards wine! It’s all I ever drink.” His lips curled into a smile as he pulled the cork from the bottle, the resounding pop echoing off the spacious kitchen walls. “I take that as a compliment, then.” He poured their glasses and picked them up. “Let’s go into the solarium.” The solarium was a closed-in room off the kitchen, with wide windows, comfortable chairs in a small seating area in the corner and a luscious-looking hot tub on a wooden platform at the other end. A couple fluffy robes sat on hooks over the tub, and a shelf of equally plush-looking towels was positioned next to it. Blake sat on one of the thick couches. After a moment’s hesitation, she slipped off her shoes and sat next to him, curling her legs up underneath her. She didn’t really know why she hesitated. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t already become intimately familiar with every part of her body. She blushed hot at the thought of exactly what they’d shared earlier. She’d never given it up like that before, and never so willingly. Especially with someone she didn’t know all that well. Other than seeing him at the clinic, she knew nothing about the mysterious and oh-so dominant Blake Hunter. Well, now she knew he was rich and owned a vineyard. Which begged the question she’d been dying to ask. “What’s a guy like you doing with someone like me?” He arched a brow. “Someone like you?” “Yeah. You’re rich, obviously able to get any high-society or other kind of woman. I’m dirt-poor and up to my eyeballs in student loans. And I’m a part-time dominatrix.” “With clearly sexually submissive tendencies.” Damn. Her body heated to a flaming red again at the look of intense interest on his face. “Obviously. But you didn’t answer my question.”

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“Okay. First off, I’m nothing special. Just a regular guy. And second, I’m with you because I want to be.” “Why?” “Because you’re beautiful and you fascinate me. And we clearly share a combustible sexual compatibility that I’d like to explore further.” Well, she couldn’t argue with that. Taking a quick, deep swallow of her wine, she stood and said, “I really need a shower.” “Upstairs. Go to the end of the hall and open the double doors. Master bath is in there. Towels are on the shelf next to the shower.” She made a quick exit, grabbing her bag along the way. The staircase twined upward in a circular pattern, leading to a softly carpeted landing and a very long hallway. She counted six doors on her way to the huge double doors at the end of the hall. Once she opened the doors, found the light switch and stepped in, the bag fell from her hand and this time, she did stare, openmouthed, at the room in front of her. A huge white-slatted bed centered the room, covered with a dark comforter in a deep, rich burgundy that matched the thick carpet beneath her feet. To the right of the bed stood French double doors covered by sheer drapes, showcasing the almost-full moon outside. Shaking her head at the simplistic, yet opulent design of the bedroom, she headed to the closed door on the other side of the room and walked into the bathroom, instantly wishing she had about a week to soak in the oversized whirlpool tub that sat in front a wide window. Instead, she quickly stripped off her clothes and turned on the shower, savoring the feel of the warm multiple jets hitting various parts of her body. She was sore, but in a good way. Though her body wasn’t used to sex, especially the kind of wild, animalistic sex she and Blake had shared, it made her warm from the

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inside out to recall his hands on her body, the way he had taken her from one peak to the next in ways she had never expected. Oh, but she wanted more. Much, much more. And she’d given up questioning why, when she knew all she’d have with Blake Hunter was this weekend. She didn’t have the time or the inclination to engage in a full-blown affair with someone like him. Not when she was so close to finishing school, so close to finally making her own dreams come true. After she graduated, paid off her loans and established her own veterinary practice she’d have time for a relationship. Not now when she had so many loose ends to tie up. Moon had a plan, and her plan didn’t include Blake Hunter. Oh, hell, she was worrying over a relationship that didn’t even exist. He’d asked for the weekend and that was it. He wasn’t looking for love and romance any more than she was. She had dreams for her life, and that’s what she’d concentrate on right now because the only one who’d make her dreams come true was her. The last thing she needed to do was look for someone else to make her dreams a reality. Since her parents’ untimely death she’d been completely alone, with no assets, no money and no future. Everything she’d attained in her life had been by hard work and a lot of failures along the way. Her hard work. Her failures. She was damned proud of her independence and wasn’t about to give it up for a relationship. She was almost finished with school. Her next step after graduation was to decide where she wanted to set up her practice, and do the legwork necessary to get herself up off the ground and pay off her loans. All by herself. Just like she had always done. Except sex. That was no fun by herself, and this awakening she’d had tonight with Blake had proven that to her. No, she would definitely enjoy him for the weekend, and then use the weekend’s activities for some wickedly hot fantasies for the next five years or so. 42

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She was so lost in her daydream of the weekend and her future, she hadn’t heard the shower door open, so she let out a high-pitched squeal of shock when she felt a hot, hard body against her. Before she could ask what he was doing, he whipped her around so she faced him. She caught one quick glimpse of desire flickering in his eyes before his mouth covered hers and obliterated all logical thought from her mind.

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Chapter Five Moon felt as if she were sharing the shower with four men instead of just Blake. Damn, that man had hands that could roam her body. It seemed as if they were everywhere—on her breasts, her neck, her arms, her waist, her hips and finally settling on her butt. He clenched his fingers there and drew her against his rock-hard cock, pinning it between her belly and his. All the while, his mouth worked magic as he kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue inside in a slow, lazy way that had her melting and creaming all over. What was it about a man’s mouth that turned her on so much? Maybe it was the softness of his lips, their fullness pressing against hers, the sensation so contradictory with how hard he was everywhere else. She didn’t even know he’d poured some kind of soap onto his hands until she felt the silken lather against her back. So engrossed in his mouth and magical tongue, she was oblivious to everything else around her. He massaged her back, sliding his hands from top to bottom, all the way to the cleft in her buttocks, then beyond that as he soaped her anus. The intimacy of his hand down there made her flame with both embarrassment and the need to feel more than just his fingers probing her back entrance. Who was this man who wreaked a havoc of delicious sensation over her body? A stranger, yet so intimately familiar it was almost frightening. The comfort she felt with him should be disconcerting, but it wasn’t. It just made her want to draw closer to his magical flame. When he finally pulled his mouth away, he kissed her jawline, her throat, letting out a little growl against her ear before grazing his teeth lightly along her neck and

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shoulder. The rumble of his chest as he made those sounds elicited a delightful shiver that made her body tremble. She’d never felt more wanted, never experienced sex with a man who seemed to need her like he needed breath. Anxious to touch him, she reached down and closed her fingers over his shaft, stroking his thickness from base to tip. He pulsed with forceful life against her hand. Blake groaned and grabbed her wrist, withdrawing her hold on his cock and wrapping her hand around his neck. He moved her backward until she was braced against the cool tile wall of the shower, then lifted one of her legs, positioning his cock between her pussy lips. Pausing, he tilted his head back and looked at her. Her breath caught at the raw need in his stormy eyes. Then he plunged inside her. She screamed and leaned forward, clasping her arms around his back and burying her face in his neck. His cock burned inside her, stretching her walls and taking complete possession of her body. He owned her. This time it was her turn to bite down on the muscled flesh between his neck and shoulder. At each hard thrust she sank her teeth into his flesh, savoring his harsh groan of response. He seemed to be able to read her nonverbal response to his movements, increasing the tempo exactly as she needed it. “That’s it, baby,” he growled. “Ride my cock.” She lifted on her toes and slid her pussy over his shaft, each time increasing the pressure building inside her until she couldn’t hold back any longer. But she did. Instinct or need, she didn’t know, but she knew she had to hear it from him first. Blissfully, he knew what she wanted. “Come on my cock, Moon. I want your cream running over my balls.”

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This time she drew blood as she bit down on his shoulder, flooding his cock with her cum. He let out a loud groan and climaxed hard, burying his cock to the hilt. His strong body shook with the force of his climax and she held onto him, rocking her own need against his thrusting shaft. The taste of his blood appalled her, and she did the only thing she could think of, considering his death grip on her body. She licked the tiny puncture, surprised at his low chuckle. He leaned back to look at her. “Savage.” She read the amusement in his eyes and realized that she hadn’t hurt him. Still, she was shaken at her response. “I’ve never acted like that before. So…” “Like an animal?” “Yeah.” His lips curled upward. “I liked it.” Her pussy spasmed around his cock in response and he arched a brow. “And you liked it too.” Strange as it seemed, he was right. She stayed silent as he finished washing her and himself, then turned off the shower and grabbed a towel, drying every inch of her body. A woman could get used to being treated like this. “Better?” he asked, handing her the same type of bathrobe she’d seen hanging over the hot tub. She slipped it on, luxuriating in its thick softness. “Much. Thanks.” “My pleasure.” He said it in a way that curled her toes. “Let’s go finish that wine, now. In the hot tub.” They returned to the solarium and she waited while he refilled their glasses and set them on the counter next to the hot tub. He stepped behind her and grasped the 46

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shoulders of her robe, her signal to slide it off. Then he held her hand while she climbed into the tub. Once she settled in, she had the pleasure of watching him slip out of his robe. Naked, he was magnificent. Hell, he was pretty damned spectacular clothed, too. But his body was a study in perfection. Long, muscular legs with a sprinkling of dark hair all the way to his calves. Slender hips and a narrow waist, a classic, mouthwatering six-pack of ab muscles, all covered with dark fur just begging for a woman to tangle her fingers in. His cock, which always seemed to be hard, was the perfect length, the right thickness, just enough to make a woman think Oh my God when she saw it, but not so big that she’d run screaming from the room. His face wasn’t classically beautiful. More rugged, like he lived outdoors and loved every minute of it. He had a square jaw covered by a slight dusting of dark stubble. His skin was a dark chocolate and absolutely beautiful. A body like that should be naked all the time. The visual of him stretched across a rock somewhere, letting the sun further bronze his chiseled body, made her throat go dry. She reached for her wine and took a long swallow as she watched him slip into the tub. “Did I linger long enough for you to look your fill?” This time he hadn’t embarrassed her. “Yes. And thank you. I enjoyed the view.” He swept a tendril of loose hair away from her cheek, curling it around the back of her ear. Her nipples puckered. “You can look anytime you’d like. You can touch anytime you’d like. You don’t need permission for either of those.” She’d

done

plenty

of

research

on

the

boundaries

and

rules

of

a

Dominant/submissive relationship, and had come to the conclusion that there weren’t

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any. The rules were always agreed to by the Dom and the sub, with no set pattern as to how their relationship played out. She knew from her work that every sub liked it different. Some wanted to be told what to say and what to do, some wanted a little more leeway to object. With every client, she knew going in exactly what their expectation was, all the restrictions outlined on the questionnaire they filled out. Drawing the line at fucking, of course. That she refused to do. Of course it being illegal had a lot to do with it, but she knew some of the other girls crossed the line, either at the club or afterward. A way to pick up extra cash, they’d explained. She’d never wanted to have sex with any of her clients. They’d never appealed to her in that way. Though she’d broken the rules of the club, and the law, for that matter, by having sex at the club with Blake tonight. And yet she hadn’t even considered that she was violating club policy when Blake had turned the tables and given her the best sex of her life. Still, guilt nagged at her. “I need to give you your money back for tonight.” He arched a finely sculpted dark brow. “Why?” “We had sex.” “Yes.” “That’s not part of what the club sells. That’s not who I am. I took money from you, and then we had sex.” “And you think you prostituted yourself because of that.” “In a way. Yes.” He took a sip of wine. “How much money would you have made tonight, Moon? If you’d had a client every hour for your full shift, how much would you have made?”

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Enough to buy the biology book she wanted. Now that would have to wait a while. “About seven hundred dollars.” “I paid the club five thousand dollars for the night with you. Frankly I could care less if nothing had happened between us there. The money is nothing to me.” “But it means something to me.” “You’re willing to compromise your job over this? Why?” “Integrity, I guess. I don’t know. It just doesn’t…feel right.” “Okay. I’ll make another appointment for next week and pay nothing. You can slap me around for eight hours and we’ll call it even.” The thought of doing to Blake what she did with her clients was so ludicrous, she laughed out loud. No way in hell would she ever shackle him and beat his ass until he cried like a baby. “Something funny?” She wiped the tears of laughter from her cheeks. “Just had a visual of chaining you up and flogging you.” “Did it turn you on?” “Hell no. You saw me laughing, didn’t you? You are so dominant the very thought of dominating you is ridiculous.” “Well, then I’ll take eight hours of your time next week for free. We’ll talk. Or something.” The “or something” had her body heating from the inside out. “I’ll think about it.” “You’ll agree to it.” She frowned. “Do you always get everything you want, exactly when and how you want it?” He grinned and said, “Most of the time.”

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“I thought so.” Draining her glass, she set it on the tub and leaned her head back, gazing out at the now-clear skies outside. The stars were visible over the glass canopy of the solarium. She relaxed and just enjoyed the moment. Surreal. Just like her night so far. It had to be middle of the night, and she’d already had a full day before she’d gone to work at the club. Yet she wasn’t the least bit tired. She had Blake to thank for that. Invigorating sex certainly got the adrenaline flowing. Great sex and a man who intrigued her. And made her wary of her own feelings at the same time. She’d never connected with a man like him before. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of. The money and lifestyle meant nothing, but what he was inside attracted her. A little mysterious, a lot of potent sexuality and a dynamic personality all added up to one exciting package. Her fantasy man come to life. “Moon.” His enigmatic voice captured her. “Yes.” “Close your eyes and slide up onto the bench behind you.” She shut her eyes. His hand touched hers and he helped guide her onto the wooden platform behind the tub. Her body had warmed in the tub so she didn’t even shiver, in fact was grateful for the cool air on her heated skin. “Lay your head back against the pillows behind you.” She did, finding soft terrycloth pillow just behind her head. “Now touch yourself for me. Touch yourself like you do when you’re alone. I want to watch you come.” His request both shocked and thrilled her. She had never masturbated in front of anyone. “I’m not sure I can…” “You can. You will. I’ll watch and stroke my cock. When you come, I’ll come. All over those pretty tits of yours.” Desire flamed in her belly, her clit throbbing with anticipation.

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Maybe she could do this. Especially with her eyes closed, imagining what he was doing at the same time. She reached for her breasts, cupping the undersides with her palms, lifting them up as if she were testing their weight. She used her thumbs to draw invisible circles around her nipples. Blake turned off the jets to the hot tub and the room went silent, allowing her to hear his breathing. She continued to lazily caress her nipples, strumming them back and forth with her index finger, then pinching them. Her breath caught and she let out a small moan as the sensation shot between her legs, making her wet with arousal. Blake’s breathing grew more ragged, and she fought back a smile, wanting to make this pleasurable for him. She let instinct and years of touching herself guide her, forgetting that she now had an audience. She moved her hands over her abdomen, walking her fingers down to her bare mound, circling the top of her sex with her fingertips, then sliding between her legs to pet her pussy. She heard his panting as she spread her legs further, giving him a clear view of her sex. Her cunt felt hot, swollen, eager for something hard to slide between her thighs and ease the ever-growing ache. Dipping her hand in the warm water, she moistened her fingers, letting the heated droplets fall onto her bare sex, and moaned when she felt the fire burning inside and out. “Christ, Moon,” Blake whispered. Then she heard his movements, the wet, slick sliding of skin over skin as he moved his cock in the palm of his hand. She licked her lips, wishing she had her mouth around him while she touched herself. Eager to continue, she slid two fingers between her soaked lips and thrust them hard and deep inside her pussy, using her other hand to circle her clit.

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She lifted her hips off the bench, her pussy rising to meet the pleasure of her fingers. Her clit hardened under the pressure of her other hand. She heard the movement of water, the waves hitting the side of the tub, and knew Blake approached. “Keep your eyes closed,” he said his voice harsh. “Suck me.” The hot tip of his shaft caressed her cheek. His hand brushed her head as he turned her face toward his cock. She opened her mouth and let him feed her. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said, pumping inch by inch into her waiting mouth. She took as much of him as she could, then took more than she thought possible. He filled the cavern of her mouth just like he filled her pussy. Completely. Hot, thick, the salty tang of pre-cum sliding along her tongue and down her throat. He withdrew and let her lick the head. She dragged her tongue slowly over that ridged bump just under the tip, then he inched it back in again for her to suck. All the while she kept up the tempo of massaging her clit and fucking her pussy with her fingers. Soon her fingers moved in rhythm to his thrusts inside her mouth. His fingers brushed her lips and she realized he was jacking the base of his shaft, the part of him she couldn’t take. Each of his movements propelled his cock into her mouth, deeper and deeper until she felt him at her throat. Power soared inside her, flaming to life like the instant burst of a sunrise. She controlled his pleasure and her own, simultaneously taking them both to the boiling point. When he withdrew she felt bereft and empty, whimpering in response to the need to touch him. “Where do you want it?” he asked. “On my breasts. Can I watch?” “Hell yes. Open your eyes. I’m about to come.”

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And so was she. She opened her eyes and stared up at him, his warrior’s body poised with one leg resting on the bench, his balls dangling back and forth as he stroked his cock within his tight fist. Engorged and wet from her mouth, every vein was distended, ready to burst. She was so close, her pussy gripping her fingers as she fucked herself. God, that was good. Too good, in fact. She had a hard time concentrating on his cock while she brought herself closer and closer to orgasm. She had always come quickly when she masturbated. Holding back like this was agony. The added visual of his watching him stroke his cock and balls only made it harder to wait for his signal. “You want to come, baby?” “Yes. Please, yes.” “Do it. Let me see it.” Keeping her eyes firmly focused on his straining cock, she gave her clit just the right stroke to take herself over the edge. She screamed with the force of her orgasm, her hips bucking against her relentless hand. With a loud groan Blake let loose, ropes of cum shooting from his cock onto her breasts and belly. Watching the force with which it spurted from him was amazing, and she tightened and ground her palm against her clit, riding out a second orgasm that had her legs trembling uncontrollably. He emptied every drop onto her, then slid the last drop between her lips. She took him eagerly, cleaning his cock with her mouth, savoring the salty flavor of his cum. She could barely move when he withdrew, but fortunately didn’t have to. Blake took her hands and led her back into the water, using a soft washcloth to remove the cum from her breasts. His mouth dipped in for a soft kiss that made her heart pound against her chest. His mouth was heaven, weaving a tapestry of gentle nips and licks that soon had her panting all over again. Lord, she was insatiable tonight!

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But then he pulled back and stood. He stepped out first, then lifted her and reached for a towel to wrap around her, setting her gently onto her feet and holding onto her when her own legs wouldn’t support her. After drying her off, he lifted her again, carrying her without effort up the winding staircase to his bedroom. He pulled the covers down and placed her on the bed, then climbed in behind her, drawing her against his chest. No words were exchanged, though she wanted to talk to him, learn more about him. But the day’s events finally took their toll. She let out one huge yawn, then figured the questions could wait until tomorrow.

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Chapter Six Blake leaned against the doorway and watched the sunlight filtering into the room. Like a beacon, it seemed to cast its brightest light over Moon. Facedown on the bed and tangled in the sheets, she looked like a woman who’d been well-loved all night long. Her long silvery hair fanned out over his sheets. Her body was covered only from the waist down and she slept almost sideways in the bed, giving him a tantalizing view of the plump curve of one breast. Having her here felt right. Keeping her here might prove to be more difficult. Her independent streak was evident in her complaint about having sex with him after he paid for her services last night. Though he admired her ethics, it also made him realize that just offering her the comforts of his home, ranch and money wasn’t enough. Most women would jump at the chance to live in his lifestyle. Moon wouldn’t. So he’d have to make her an offer she found enticing, one she wouldn’t be able to refuse. What would it take to keep her here? What would matter to her more than her independence? She stirred, rolled over and stretched her arms over her head. Her small moan captured his senses and his cock stirred. Christ, would he ever be able to get enough of her? And what would happen when she discovered his secret and when she learned about herself? He had no way of knowing what her reaction would be. He could only hope it would be positive, that she’d still want to stay after she found out. He could manage to restrain himself through the weekend, though it was becoming difficult to withhold the beast while around Moon. She drove his primal instincts and he had to push his baser desires to the background in order to keep from revealing too much, too soon. 55

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“Mornin’,” she said, turning over onto her side and propping her head on one of her hands. “Mornin’. Sleep well?” “Like the dead. What time is it?” “Still early. I made coffee.” “Great. I’d love some.” She swept the covers aside and stood, the vision she presented stealing his breath away. Bathed in the sunlight, her body was beautiful. Full curves, high breasts with pretty pink nipples and the sexiest bare pussy he’d ever seen. He liked a woman unashamed of her nudity. The ones that covered themselves up and complained about imagined flaws on every part of their bodies annoyed the hell out of him. Moonlight was a gloriously beautiful woman, full, ripe and all his. At least for now. She reached into the dresser drawer he’d left for her to put her things in, slipping on a pair of soft navy sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt, not bothering to put on any underwear. Her nipples were visible against the clingy material of her shirt, making his mouth water for a taste. But if they didn’t get out of the bedroom and head outside, his plans would go awry. He only had the weekend to convince her to stay. She insisted on helping make breakfast, despite his assertions he was perfectly capable of cooking. Though he had to admit he liked working side by side with her, and liked her willingness to participate instead of being served. “How do you manage a place this big by yourself?” she asked in between bites of toast. Instead of picking at the food on her plate and insisting she couldn’t possibly eat that much, she ate like a normal person. God, he hated women who were always on a diet. What was wrong with having some flesh on your bones? Their kind needed

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protein to survive, an instinct that could not be denied. If food was plentiful, you ate. In his world there were no diets. “I have help. Someone comes in once a week and cleans and does the grocery shopping, and I have a staff to help with the vineyards.” “Ah. Don’t you get lonely here?” “I stay busy.” Busy and lonely. She took a long swallow of juice and tilted her head to the side. “That didn’t answer my question.” “I’m not lonely. I’m not alone. There are lots of people around nearly every day.” “Workers aren’t the same as friends and family. Unless you’re hiding a wife and seven kids around here somewhere.” He laughed. “Hardly.” Though he liked the seven kids idea. “What about you? Friends, family?” She shrugged. “My parents are both dead. I don’t have time for friendships and going out with the girls kind of stuff.” “I’m sorry about your parents,” he said, reaching over to slip a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “You must be lonely.” Her cheeks colored and she quickly looked away to stare out the window. “If I am, I’m too busy to notice.” He leaned back in the chair and rocked it onto the two back legs. “Keeping yourself busy is a good way to stave off loneliness.” “Uh-huh.” She slipped the fork onto the empty plate and took a sip of coffee. “I could say the same about you.” “Do you have any relatives at all? Aunts, uncles, grandparents?” “No. My parents were both only children, and my grandparents died a long time ago. No extended family. I’ve been alone since I was nineteen.” “That’s tough.” 57

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“Not really. My parents taught me to be independent, not to rely on anyone for my wellbeing or for material things. They were kind of…out there.” Her wistful smile said a lot about her feelings for her parents. “Out there, huh?” “Yeah. They were two hippies who hung onto the sixties like a lifeline. Freespirited, never settling down in one place. I never spent much time in schools or lived anywhere long enough to make friends. A lot of time I was home-schooled by my mom. By the time I was ten I’d seen every part of the country possible.” “Kind of hard for a kid to grow up that way, with no roots, no way to form friendships.” One side of her mouth curled into a half-smile. “Yeah, but I had adventures most kids only dream about.” “You’d think someone like you would find it difficult to put down roots and stay in one place. Yet you seem to be doing that. You’ve been at the clinic for a while.” “I’m not like my parents. I don’t have that wanderlust in me. Like I said, I’ve traveled enough for a lifetime already. I’m more grounded in reality. But I still respect the choices they made. They taught me a lot about who I am and what I want. Even before they died I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian.” “Why?” With a wistful smile, she said, “I used to pick up every stray animal I could find. Healthy or injured or starving, it didn’t matter. I brought them home and tended to them until they were well, then I found homes for them.” “You didn’t keep any of them?” “No. We didn’t have the kind of lifestyle conducive to keeping pets. We moved all the time. Sometimes we lived in the van for months.” That kind of lifestyle would make a lot of people bitter. Yet she said it with an enthusiastic excitement that spoke to her sense of adventure. He counted on that openmindedness when he revealed his secret.

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“I’ll bet you’d love to have a houseful of animals some day.” “Oh, there’ll be no stopping me. Now tell me about your animals.” He pushed back from the table. “I’ll do one better. Slip on some shoes and I’ll show you.” After they cleaned up the dishes, Moon found her shoes and hopped into Blake’s SUV, nearly trembling with excitement. Doc Heather at the clinic had told her about Blake’s wolf preserve and she couldn’t wait to get a glimpse of it. They started down a paved road behind the house, passing acres of grapes strung up along the wires and posts of the vineyards. Even though it was a weekend, there were a few workers out there tending to the grapes. “Seven days a week here, huh?” “Grapes don’t get weekends off. When they’re ready, they’re ready. You miss it by one day you’ve got lousy wine for the season.” She nodded, mesmerized by the beauty and simplicity of Blake’s land. Tall trees lined the west side of the road, obliterating any view. To the east was a range of hills littered with brush, their dark brown sides signifying late summer in northern California. Once they passed the vineyards, the road shifted to unpaved, dirt flying up to spray the vehicle as Blake speedily maneuvered the twists and turns, leading them further and further north. The terrain had changed, becoming more like a desert with barren ground, occasional scrub and shorter, thicker trees. Tall, barbed wire fencing paralleled the road. Blake turned right and down a short, narrow driveway leading to a locked iron gate. He slipped out to release the padlocks and pushed the gate open, then hopped back in to drive through, closing and locking the gate behind him before moving on again. The road wasn’t even really a road, just a wide path that twisted and turned around the myriad of tall cypress and redwood trees.

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It didn’t take long to spot the gray and brown furry shapes flitting in and out from behind the thick copse of trees. Peering at the slow-moving SUV, they seemed more curious than threatened. Some even leisurely strolled out toward them and followed their trail. “Interesting,” she mumbled, more to herself than as an observation to Blake. Their behavior was unusual, to say the least. “What’s interesting?” “They’re not skittish. They’re domesticated, right?” She turned to look at him, admiring his profile and the dimple next to his mouth when he smiled. “They’re wild.” Which is why she was shocked as hell when he pulled into a nearby grove of trees and shut off the engine. When he opened his door, she instinctively reached for his arm. He paused, grinned and exited the SUV. In no more than seconds he was surrounded by at least a dozen adult gray wolves. Her first instinct was to glance over at the ignition to see if he’d left the keys, then felt instantly chagrined that her first thought was how she’d get out of there if he got mauled to death. She was almost a doctor, for God’s sake! Animals were her life, but she couldn’t just sit back and watch while Blake… Kneeled in the dirt and let the wolves lick his face! He spread his arms wide and clutched their thick fur, petting them while they all crowded around like puppies eager for their master’s attention. Shocked, she sat there for a few seconds, until he turned around and motioned for her to join him. Biting back the instinctive fear that had her adrenaline pumping and her heart pounding, she eased the door handle open and slowly slid out of the vehicle, careful not to move too quickly.

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Inching step by step around the SUV, her heart slammed against her ribs when she cleared the vehicle and found Blake standing in the middle of the wolf pack. All eyes were trained on her as she stepped toward Blake, who stood with his arms casually folded across his chest. “They won’t hurt you. Trust me.” Trust me. How could she? She didn’t even know him. It was insanity to step into a wild pack of wolves. Even domesticated, they could turn on you without notice. Yet once her breathing and racing pulse calmed, she realized the wolves weren’t challenging her in any way, nor did they seem braced for attack. The fur on the back of their necks was not standing on end. They were not growling or circling her. They just stood there, their golden eyes curiously watching as she tiptoed and stopped in front of Blake. “Crouch down to their level. They feel safer that way.” They feel safer? What about her? But she did as he instructed, gingerly lowering herself to a crouched position. Before she could balance herself by laying her palms on the ground, two wolves were at her side, her hands dropping onto fur. She stopped breathing for a few seconds, until one nuzzled its head against her hand. Like a dog, it wanted to be petted! She exhaled and moved her hand from its head to behind its ears, then down over its neck to bury her fingers in its thick coat. Soon, several more approached her, almost in reverence, keeping their heads low as if they saw her as dominant. Amazing. And it made no sense. Everything she knew of wolves said they would never see a human as dominant over their species. Her gaze flipped up to Blake. “I don’t understand.” “Ask. I’ll answer.” “How can they be so docile if they’re wild? How can they accept me so readily?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. For some reason they took to me, and now to you, as a leader. But they don’t act that way with everyone. I’m the only one who can come in

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here and walk among then. They’d tear anyone else apart or run into the hills and hide.” “Why me?” “You’re an animal doctor, Moon. They sense your nature and know you won’t harm them.” “That doesn’t make sense.” Yet the proof stood right next to her. The wolves were at ease, milling about her as if she were one of them. “A lot of things don’t make sense. Sometimes you have to go by instinct, not what you think you know to be fact.” The hair on the back of her neck prickled at his words. She searched his face, but he only smiled enigmatically and approached, holding out his hand to help her up. The wolves moved out of his way as he stepped in the middle of their throng, another thing that surprised her. He grabbed a blanket and basket from the back of the SUV. “Let’s take a walk.” They walked for the better part of an hour, the wolf pack in tow. The land was flat with the exception of hills surrounding them on three sides. They strolled down a worn path and wound around the dense trees and bushes, so thick she couldn’t see what lay ahead of them. Sunlight filtered through the trees like a beacon and she shivered, wanting to walk toward its warming rays. The air was sharp and crisp, much cooler under the canopy of thick leaves blanketing the tops of the trees. Occasionally they’d come across a stream that seemed to wind its way throughout the forest. They reached a small, partially shaded lake and Blake stopped, unfolding the blanket and setting it down on a small patch of grass. “Take a seat.” When she sat, she was surrounded by a perimeter of wolves at every edge of the blanket. They seemed to be focused in her direction, yet didn’t quite make full eye contact with her, almost as if they were exhibiting subservience.

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Strange behavior for wolves. Blake opened the basket and pulled out a bottle of wine, two glasses and a brick of cheese. She looked to the wolves, who seemed completely uninterested in the food and drink, preferring to stare at her instead. She felt like she was out in public with toilet paper stuck to her shoe. “They’re staring at me.” “They like you,” he said, handing her a glass of white wine. She took a long swallow, then accepted a piece of cheese he’d sliced and nibbled on it while she tried to organize the million or so questions running through her mind. But she never asked any of the questions. The silence of the preserve was so peaceful, the presence of the wolves both amazing and comforting. As was the presence of the enigmatic man feeding her small pieces of cheese. The way he looked at her made her mind go blank and any thought about the wolves fled. She couldn’t help but be mesmerized by him. He looked at her like she was the only woman in the world for him. A very heady compliment, even if what she saw in his eyes was some wishful fantasy conjured up in her own mind. What woman wouldn’t be enthralled with a man like Blake? The wind picked up and blew tendrils of her hair free from the clip. She reached for it to wrestle control, but Blake’s hand on her wrist stopped her. “Don’t. I like it wild.” She shuddered at the images evoked by his statement. “Do you like it wild, Mistress Moon?” She laughed at his use of her work name. “You know I do.” “Ever done it in front of wolves before?” She scanned the sets of golden eyes watching her and shook her head. “Can’t say that I have.”

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“Strip,” he commanded, standing and flipping open the button on his jeans. Her gaze followed his zipper as he drew it down. For a split second she felt embarrassment at getting naked in front of all these wolves, then shook her head. How stupid. They didn’t care where they had sex or who they had it in front of, so why should she? Besides, there was something just a little bit naughty about doing it out here in the middle of nature. She stood and slipped off her shoes, shrugged out of her pants and pulled her shirt over her head, soon as naked as Blake. Her gaze zeroed in on his hard cock. He wanted her, was ready without her having to do a damn thing. A thrill soared through her and she felt the power of her ability to arouse him. “On your knees,” he said. “Turn away from me.” She dropped to all fours, facing at least a half dozen wolves whose gigantic paws were only inches from her fingers. Blake knelt between her legs, pushing them further apart and probing her throbbing sex with the tip of his cock. “Face down. I want your ass high in the air so I can fuck you deep.” She pressed her face to the blanket and his hand cupped her sex, tapping her clit lightly. She moaned at the pleasurable tingles that singed her core with every caress, every pat of his hand. Dripping wet and so ready for him she could scream, she waited patiently, anticipating the moment he’d thrust inside her pussy with his thick cock and make her howl in painful pleasure. Still, he tortured her, continuing to slide his fingers over her aching pussy and clit, tugging on the tiny hood hiding her throbbing pearl until she had to bite her lips to hold back her orgasm. “You wanna come, baby?” he teased, sliding two fingers inside her pussy. “Yes, please.” “Not yet. You’ll come when I tell you.”

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She whimpered and fought the sweet torment of his fingers pulsing in and out of her pussy, threatening to take her right over the edge. “I can feel your cunt gripping my fingers, your cream pouring over my hand. You really want to come, don’t you?” “Yes,” she cried. “I’m going to let you come, Moon. Soon. When my dick is buried so deep inside your hot pussy that you can feel it in your belly. You ready for me?” “Yes, please, Blake, yes!” He nestled his thighs against hers and plunged with a force that propelled her across the blanket, her fingers sliding on top of one of the wolf’s paws. She tensed, but it calmly laid there watching her. All thoughts of the wolf fled when Blake reared back and powered deep again, and this time she did feel it in her womb. Sharp, tingling sensations that spiraled around the hard knot of her clit and made her burst into a climax impossible to hold back. She sobbed through the waves of her orgasm, the intensity of it more than she could bear. And still, Blake kept thrusting and withdrawing, finally slowing as the last pulse of her climax poured juices down her thighs. “Did I tell you that you could come?” he asked, tension lacing his voice with a dark rasp that thrilled her. “No.” “I’m going to punish you for coming without permission, Moon.” Just the thought of the kind of punishment he’d dole out had her pussy clenching around his cock in anticipation. God, she was so crazy about sex with him, about the way he dominated her, she could come just thinking about all the things she wanted him to do to her. With the first hard slap of his hand against her ass, she flinched, then warmed and creamed as the sensation knifed deep into her pussy.

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He swatted her again, this time on her other ass cheek, all the while rearing back and thrusting so hard he was pushing her closer and closer toward the wolves, who hadn’t yet moved an inch. It was like watching sex had them mesmerized. Blake reached around her hip and found her clit, tugging the hood once again until tears sprang to her eyes. The torment was so exquisite, the sensations like nothing she’d ever known. How would she ever have great sex like this again without him? Surely it wasn’t possible. She already missed him and the weekend wasn’t over yet. Her thoughts soon turned to another building orgasm as Blake plunged deeper, his balls slapping her clit. Each strike was hot lightning in her pussy and caused it to grip his shaft in a tight vise. “God, Moon,” he whispered, digging his fingers into her hips. “So fucking tight. You’re gonna make me come.” She lifted her ass higher, wanting to give him an even deeper angle, because she needed him to crawl right inside her and take her along with him. She’d never been so wet inside and out, so ready for another orgasm so soon after the first. His fingers never left her clit as he caressed and pulled and pinched and stroked until tears rolled down her face. “I’m gonna shoot a hot load of cum inside you right…now!” He groaned and tensed, then pummeled her hard, shooting jets of hot liquid against her womb. Unable to hold back any longer, she went with him, digging her hands into the hard dirt under the blanket and crying out, her wails echoing off the quiet hills. She couldn’t even hold her legs up, so she collapsed onto the blanket. Blake rolled off her and to the side, pulling her against his chest and stroking her hair while they both fought for even breathing. Wow just didn’t seem a strong enough word, but it was the only one that came to her sex-addled mind. “Wow.” “Uh-huh.”

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She smiled against his chest, loving the feel of his big body next to hers. He made her feel small, and she’d never felt small before. They finally got up and dressed. The wolves still occupied their places along the blanket. Some had even closed their eyes and slept. Clearly the sex hadn’t been as earthshattering for them as it had been for her. He folded the blanket and they put the wine and glasses back into the basket. Blake took her hand and they walked further into the preserve. Once again, the wolves followed, staying no more than two or three feet to the side and behind them at all times, almost as if they circled the two of them for protection. It was the strangest thing she’d ever seen. Now that she had a few brain cells back, the questions she’d had earlier returned. “Wolves aren’t indigenous to this area,” she said. “Where did they come from?” “Mostly from shelters or those that were captured because they’d wandered somewhere they shouldn’t. I was in the northwest once, visiting the big preserve affiliated with the zoo. Wildlife rescue brought about twenty wolves in that they’d captured roaming just over the border in Canada, but like a lot of preserves that one was short on funding. That’s when I decided to start one here. I’ve got plenty of land, and more than enough money to care for them.” “Why would you do that?” He tilted his head and said, “I love wolves. Always have. There’s something so primitive, so wild about them.” “But they’re not wild.” He smiled and patted the head of a tall, lanky gray that walked at his side. “Yeah, they are. Trust me. Someone else comes through those gates they’ll behave much differently. We have…an understanding.”

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Which made no sense at all considering everything she knew about wolves and their behavior. “Why not just donate funding to the existing preserves? Why set up one here?” “Like I said, I like wolves. Here they’re safe and well-protected. There’s plenty of space out here and they don’t go hungry. Out there anything bad can happen to them.” Out there meaning outside the fences of his preserve. “There aren’t any wolves ‘out there’. They don’t exist in California except in captivity.” “You sure about that?” “Damn sure.” His gaze roamed the tall hills ahead of them. “Don’t be too sure. Some of the ones here were captured close by.” “How can that be?” “People who have enough money can import any kind of animal they want. I’ve seen tigers, lions, leopards, all kinds of animals that were rescued from someone’s private property. Believe me, Moon, they’re out there all right.” She understood that all too well, had seen wild animals brought into the clinic that were owned by people who had no business possessing one. Some had been hit by a car when they wandered onto a freeway, or shot by some idiot who thought he had the right to hunt a predator. Ignorance never ceased to infuriate her. “So what’s your interest in wolves?” They’d circled back to the SUV and she leaned against the passenger door. Blake approached, his hand lingering on the door handle. He leaned into her, hip against hip, his warm breath caressing her cheek and ruffling her hair. His mouth was inches from hers and she longed to lean forward and capture his lips in a searing kiss. A fierce hunger gnawed inside her, seemingly out of place after their relaxed and leisurely

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stroll, and she fought to quell the strange primal urges that had her nipples beading against her shirt and her panties moistening with the cream of her arousal. “The wolves are a part of me, and I’m a part of them. It’s always been that way and always will be.” Whatever spell had woven itself around her was broken when he opened the car door and motioned her inside. “It’s getting late and I have a few things to attend to in the vineyards. We need to get back.” The wolves moved away when Blake fired up the engine, turned around and headed down the road. Moon looked into the rearview mirror to see all of them standing in the road, watching.

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Chapter Seven After they returned to the house, Blake left to do some vineyard business and told Moon she could swim in the pool for a while and grab some sun. The weather was warm and she was hot and sweaty from walking around the preserve, so she took him up on his offer and changed clothes, arriving outside to stare in awe at the crystal blue water of his in ground pool. There was a huge rock wall and waterfall cascading down over the smooth boulders into the pool, with a rather large hot tub built into the rounded corner near the rocks. Plenty of chairs were littered around the edges for sunbathing, including several tables with canopies to provide shade. She laid her towel on a nearby lounge chair and dove into the deep end, the heated water still refreshing enough to invigorate her. She swam a few laps then flipped over onto her back, watching the blue sky, savoring the magnificent yet very strange day she’d had. The wolves were a mystery, acting unlike any wild creature she’d ever seen or studied. They seemed tamed and domesticated. Had Blake lied to her about them being wild? And if so, for what reason? He was more mysterious than the wolves, and she had yet to figure him out. An obvious millionaire, he seemed unaffected by the trappings of wealth. He didn’t have a house filled with servants, in fact had loaded the dishwasher himself after they’d eaten breakfast this morning. He drove a ten-year-old vehicle and dressed in jeans and Tshirts. He was out working in the vineyards, though he could no doubt easily afford an entire staff to run it for him while he sat back and reaped the profits. Add the wolf preserve into the mix and that made for one very unfathomable man. One very sexy, mighty appealing, unfathomable man. 70

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Maybe she was too caught up in the questions. After all, they were having a weekend fling, nothing more. Why delve into the myriad of questions about a man she had no intention of ever seeing socially again after this weekend? Blake Hunter didn’t fit into her long-term goals. While she’d adored her parents, their lack of goals and nomadic lifestyle wasn’t what she was looking for. She remembered standing on street corners panhandling with them while busy executives brushed by them. She’d vowed then that she would work her ass off for her independence, never having to rely on anyone to take care of her or pay her way. That meant years struggling, sacrificing, going to school and working at both the clinic and the BDSM club, but every success she’d had was due to her own hard work. Nowhere in her short-or long-term plans was there room for a man, a relationship, or falling in love. Not that she was falling in love with Blake. She didn’t even know him that well. And the mysteries surrounding him were best left as mysterious. She’d enjoy his gracious hospitality this weekend, grateful to have been able to see part of the wolf preserve and spend time indulging her sexually submissive tendencies, the only part of her that was the least bit passive. But when Sunday night rolled around, she’d head home and back to reality, leaving Blake behind as a pleasant memory of a wild weekend and an occasional visitor to the clinic. She flipped over and swam a few more laps, then stepped out of the pool, surprised to find Blake standing there with her towel in hand. “I’m going to fuck you in the pool sometime. Get you naked, in broad daylight, push you over to the edge and make you hold on while I ram my cock into you from behind, over and over again until we both come hard.” Oh, God. He motioned for her to turn her back to him, then draped the long towel over her shoulders, wrapping it, and his arms, around her chest. Her heart pounded against his wrist, her pussy on fire with the need to have him do exactly what he’d just suggested. 71

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“Go upstairs and take a shower, then change into the dress and shoes I laid out for you on the bed. Come down to the patio when you’re ready. We’ll have dinner.” The logical part of her wanted to tell him she could choose her own damn clothes. The submissive part of her loved the fact he’d chosen what he wanted to see her wear. Part of the problem with her sex life had always been that she didn’t attract the kind of men who saw her as a submissive sexual being. She knew she exuded independence in her dealings with everyone. Maybe she gave off some kind of signal to men. Maybe they thought her issues with control and independence also meant she wanted to take charge in the bedroom. Though Blake didn’t seem to have any problem spotting her submissive sexual nature. He’d dropped right into her life and taken over in a way that she wished the few men she’d had in her past would have, but never did. “Now, Moon. I’m waiting.” She nodded and hurried into the house, stopping to look at the dress laid out across the bed. She’d thrown a casual sundress into her bag when she packed for the weekend. The dress he’d pulled out of the closet wasn’t even close to a casual sundress. This one was short, vivid red, and made of a soft, flowing silk. Matching red sandals with a little heel sat next to the side of the bed. Elegant outfit, yet surprisingly casual. Did he keep this dress around? Had other women worn it? She reached out and caressed the silk, spotting the store tag still attached. Brand new. How odd, and in her size, too. So were the shoes. “I see you didn’t put underwear out for me,” she grumbled to herself, then glared at her betraying nipples that tightened at the thought of what he could do to her while she wore that dress. She took a long, hot shower, letting her fingers glide slowly over her highly sensitized skin. Thoughts of tonight filled her with anticipation. Her breasts felt full and achy, her pussy throbbing with the need to be filled. Visuals of different scenarios played out in her mind while she toweled off and dried her hair. How would they make 72

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love tonight? Would he restrain her again like he did at the club? Would he command her to drop to her knees and suck his magnificent cock? It would be so easy to lie naked across the bed and rub her pussy, bringing herself to a quick orgasm, but she liked the feeling of arousal building inside her, wanted every nerve ending tuned into thoughts of Blake. She knew he would soon take her to heights she never thought possible. After she finished her hair and applied a little makeup, she dressed and slipped on her shoes, then turned to the full-length mirror across the room. The dress fit perfectly, lifting her breasts and holding them snug against the tight bodice. She wondered if Blake would appreciate the swelling cleavage rising over the top. The skirt was loose, the silk brushing the tops of her legs like a fingertip’s caress along her thighs. She wanted to lift it and plunge her fingers into her moist pussy. More than ready, she went in search of Blake and found him outside on the patio. He must have used a shower in an alternate room, because his hair was still damp, its length curling at the ends. He’d changed into dark jeans and a fitted short-sleeved shirt that looked like it had been painted on his muscular chest and shoulders. Her fingers curled into her palms at the thought of skimming her fingers over every inch of his flesh. He turned to her when she slid open the door and smiled at her, his gaze raking over her from head to toe. She warmed under his intense scrutiny. She stepped outside and headed toward the pale stone table. “Wine?” he asked. “Yes, please.” He poured two glasses and handed her one, his gaze roaming appreciatively over her from head to toe. “You look hot.” Heat surged between her legs. “Thank you.”

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They sat next to each other, sipping wine and watching the sun set. The house sat high above the hills of his property, showing a magnificent view of the sun setting over the San Francisco Bay. Overly warm for a summer in the San Francisco area, she didn’t even need a sweater despite the fog inching its way into the city. Blake rose and reached for her empty glass. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t realized she’d drained the first one. “I’ve got a couple steaks on the grill, along with corn and potatoes. I don’t do much in the way of fancy cooking, so you’ll have to settle for meat and potatoes.” “I don’t need anything unusual. I love the basics and it sounds wonderful.” Again, the simplicity of his everyday life intrigued her. Her gaze followed him as he moved to the grill, stabbing the steaks with a fork and then closing the lid again. While his back was turned, she had the chance to ogle his finely sculpted ass. Jeans that fit as if they were custom-made for him hugged the rounded globes. There was nothing like a man with a great ass, one of her biggest turnons. Blake had a phenomenal ass. He was also an extraordinary cook. The steaks had been seasoned with mysterious yet delectable spices and grilled to perfection. She ate as if she were starving, finishing everything on her plate. Blake watched her the entire time, his lips curled in a halfsmile. When they finished, they stepped inside and cleaned up their plates, then returned to the patio where he poured them both more wine. Silence stretched before them, but it wasn’t at all uncomfortable. A peaceful calm overcame her, making her feel relaxed and restless at the same time. It was felt as if she was poised on the verge of something monumental. Tearing her gaze away from the breathtaking sunset, she glanced at Blake, admiring his straight nose and strong, square jaw. He held himself with a regal bearing that, along with his aristocratic profile, made him look as if he belonged in a century filled with royalty instead of today. 74

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She wanted to know more about him. Much more. “We talked about me yesterday. Let’s talk about you today,” she suggested. He turned his head and smiled. “What do you want to know?” “Tell me about your family. Do they live around here?” “No.” “Where do they live?” “On the east coast.” Pulling answers from him was going to be a game of twenty questions. “What made you come out here?” “When I was younger, in my late teens, I felt a pull to northern California, almost as if my destiny was here. When I graduated high school I decided to go to college here and ended up buying the land for the vineyard.” He made it sound so easy, as if following his heart and soul was as simple as moving across the country. Of course money did that, made a lot of things much easier. “Have you figured out your destiny yet?” His gaze turned dusky as the filtering light through the trees. “Yeah, I think I know exactly what my destiny is.” Her heart thumped hard once, then twice, her skin prickling with goose bumps at the strange way he looked at her. Surely he didn’t think… You’re being ridiculous and utterly girlish, Moonlight. He’s not talking about you. “I’m glad you’ve figured it out. A lot of people never find their heart’s desire.” “True. Some don’t see their destiny even if it’s right in front of them.” And still he stared at her in a way that led her to believe he really was talking about her. She shook it off and said, “Fortunately, I know exactly what I want out of my life.” He cocked a half-grin. “Do you? Tell me.” “I finish school this year, then spend a couple more years working at the club so I can pay off my student loans. I’ll still work at the clinic, of course. While I’m doing all 75

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that, I’ll be looking at places to set up my veterinary practice, so by the time I have a little money saved, I can step in and start it up.” “Got it all figured out, huh?” “Yes, I do.” He stood and set his glass down, then stepped in front of her chair, taking the wineglass from her hand and setting it on the table. “All mapped out, month by month, year by year. You know exactly who and what you want to be, don’t you, Moon?” Despite the fact she’d consumed plenty of wine, her throat went dry at the intensity of his look. He reached for her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Yes. I know exactly what I want.” He dragged her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her back and holding her firm, his intense gaze raking over her in a way that made her shiver. “I know exactly what I want, too.” In the instant before his lips claimed hers, she saw a feral hunger burning in his eyes and could have sworn they glowed.

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Chapter Eight Anticipation caused her to hold her breath while he planted his mouth firmly over hers, then parted the seam of her lips with his tongue. Her breath sailed out in a rush as she panted, her pulse skittering along her nerve endings. He held her close, so possessively, one arm around her and holding her against him so that her head rested on his shoulder. The other arm traveled up and down her body, starting with her bare arm, then over her waist and stopping at her hip. He growled and squeezed the flesh of her hip, drawing her pelvis against his and grinding his cock between her legs. She might have swooned like the heroines of the romance novels she liked to read if he didn’t have such a strong hold on her. But truly, how was she supposed to survive an earthquake of a kiss like this? He devoured her, claimed her, with every soft yet urgent thrust of his tongue, every sweeping arc of his hands along the side of her body, and every oh-so-male growl that came from deep in his throat. And he didn’t let up, seemingly in no hurry to move onto the next phase of their lovemaking. Just kept kissing her and kissing her until reality blurred and all she could do was tune into her senses. She savored the sound of his ragged breathing, inhaled the crisp, male scent of him, and felt the rigid contours of his muscled body pressed intimately against hers. His steely shaft rocked against the soft spot between her legs. He was overpowering in the most erotic sense of the word, and she would give him anything he asked for. He moved her backward toward the stone table where they’d eaten, pressing her down onto the uncluttered end until she was lying flat, her legs dangling over the edge. The slight breeze ruffled the hem of her dress. She felt the tingle of cool air against her naked sex, the press of smooth stone against her back a blissful relief for her internal heat. She was on fire for Blake, shifting her focus entirely on his dark, hungry gaze.

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“Lift your legs,” he said, scooting her further onto the table so she could rest her feet on the stone. He slid the dress up her legs and thighs. The sensuous silk caressed her skin as he inched it slowly upward, then pressed his hot palm against the silk and her belly. Knowing her bare pussy was revealed to him made desire flame hot, scorching her from the inside out. He tilted his head to the side, his gaze raking over her. A shiver snaked down her spine as if she could feel his touch, though he hadn’t laid a hand on her yet. “You have the most beautiful pussy I’ve ever seen, Moon,” he said. “Soft, pink lips, the little bud of your clit hidden underneath its tiny hood. Do you know it gets hard under my tongue?” She squeezed her buttocks together as a throb of need began to build between her legs. His words were a hot caress on her senses, eliciting visions of his head buried between her legs, his tongue flicking over her clit until she bucked up against his mouth, crying out her orgasm with reckless abandon. “I’m going to lick you from one end to the other tonight. Then I’m going to bury my dick deep inside you until we both come. When we’re done with that, we’re going to do it again. And again. And again, until you beg me to stop.” “Oh, God,” she whispered, knowing what he said was true. And she wanted it, just as he described. She wanted him to fuck her over and over again, to make her come so many times she’d lose count. Maybe this was the monumental thing her intuition told her would happen tonight. He positioned his hands on either side of her thighs, her legs quivering at the first touch of his skin against hers. He squeezed her flesh, swirling his thumbs along the sensitive area between her thighs and sex, then moved his fingers inch by inch up her thighs to her knees. Every touch of his hand on her skin had her pussy quaking, the knot of her clit tightening in anticipation.

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He took a step forward, nestling his jeans-clad erection right up against her pussy, then rocked against her, rubbing the heavy cotton against her clit. Lightning-like tingles surged deep within her and she wrapped her legs around his hips, drawing his hard-on tighter against her quickly moistening cunt. Had she ever been more in tune with a man during sex? She didn’t think so, couldn’t recall ever having such an intimate, unbridled connection with someone. Blake brought out her primal instincts, making her feel reckless and uninhibited. Quite a difference from her normally self-assured, independent nature. He mapped the journey and she followed along willingly. Smiling, he reached back and grabbed her ankles, once again planting her feet on the stone table. He disappeared from her view as he dropped to his knees, aligning his mouth directly with her sex. His hot breath blew across her thighs and over her mound. She swore she could hear his tongue flicking out between his lips, reaching for her clit. Or maybe it was just the tense anticipation of knowing it was going to happen. When his tongue swiped along her folds, it was so light she could almost believe she imagined it. Heaven knows she’d wished for it. But then he pressed it flat against her clit, the heat and moisture of his mouth setting her on fire. She gasped and shuddered, then closed her eyes and focused on the sensation of his tongue licking up and down the length of her, stopping to plunge deep into her pussy and lap the cream gathering there. The sounds he made drove her crazy. Wet, licking sounds and murmurs of approval, and then low growls that vibrated against her clit and made her shiver at the primal tones. His tongue moved everywhere, from above her hooded clit, swirling back and forth down along her folds, then further down. She shrieked when he pressed his tongue against her anus. Dark, wicked thoughts entered her mind at the devilishly delightful and nasty things he could do to her there. Every nerve ending there was like a live wire, pulsing, drawing her attention to each swipe of his tongue along her back entrance.

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What would his cock feel like there? Heavy and thick with arousal, drenched in her juices as he reared back and tunneled it, full force, into her ass. She trembled and held onto the edge of the table as he slid two fingers into her pussy while continuing to rim her tight hole with his tongue. He pulled back and straightened, reaching for his glass of wine and downing its contents before positioning his mouth at her pussy again. His smile was devastating, his intent clear. She bit her lip in anticipation, desperately needing the orgasm promised in his eyes. Lord, was the man this intense with every woman he made love to? Passion poured from him with every determined lick as he moved back up along her folds, sliding his fingers once again into her drenched pussy. She arched her back at the slick invasion, needing him deeper inside her. The way he seemed to know how her body worked was both magical and unnerving. Maybe he was simply exceptionally good at reading her body signals, from her sighs to outright whimpers and moans when he hit that sweet spot that drove her over the edge. She crashed against him with the power of her lightning-quick orgasm, lifting her hips to grind her pussy against his face. He held onto her with one hand, keeping his fingers pressed deep inside her as she rode the wave to completion, finally panting to catch her breath. His movements slowed then, but still lingered, his tongue drawing lazy circles around her swollen, damp flesh until she felt the small sparks of renewed ardor burning low in her belly again. A cold chill of air swept around her sex when he moved away to stand, leaning over her with his palms resting on the table on either side of her hips. At the look of raw hunger on his face, passion sparked like a burst of flame from a stricken match, flaming to life with an intensity that blindsided her. The hard ridge in his jeans rubbed her swollen, aching flesh as he bent low to claim her lips. She tasted her cream on his mouth, his tongue and his jaw, his face damp with

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her desire. He’d devoured her inside and out and a small sliver of fear crept into the haze of pleasurable madness he’d woven around her. She felt consumed, vulnerable to his desire, his seemingly unquenchable need for her. No man had ever brought her to this heightened sense of arousal before. No man had ever taken her so completely. The fear she felt was in knowing they had only scratched the surface of their need for each other. She was afraid that once she delved into the powerful attraction between them, if she really gave all that he asked of her, she’d never be the same again. That her life, her normal daily satisfaction, wouldn’t be nearly enough. It was too much too soon, and yet it wasn’t fast enough. She wanted to run toward his internal flame and flee from it at the same time. He was going to burn her alive. Blake clenched his jaw tight and ground his teeth together, forcing the beast to remain sheathed for a little while longer. Moon was spread out on the stone table like a sacrificial virgin on an altar, her pussy wet from his mouth and her juices, the droplets coating her sex glistening in the moonlight. If he could, he’d preserve this picture of her. The red dress clung to her breasts, her cleavage swelling temptingly over the bodice. The skirt slid up to her hips, exposing her long, shapely legs and gorgeous cunt that was glistening with juices and ready for him to sink deep inside. Perfect. The night was just as he’d dreamed it. The moon was full, the beast inside him raging for release and his woman’s blood was boiling. He smelled it on her. Ripe, rich, ready to transform her. Now he had to get her to realize what she was so she could tap into her internal power and become what she was destined to be. His will to hold back weakened as the moon’s pull overpowered him. Coupled with the spicy scent of Moonlight’s arousal, the two combined to shred the last vestiges of control he had. The beast within him screamed its desire for freedom and he couldn’t hold back much longer. 81

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He took her mouth again, savagely this time, absorbing her shocked gasp by covering her lips with his. God, she tasted sweet, her tongue eagerly tangling with his, her fingers buried in his hair, holding him in place. As if he had any intention of breaking contact with her. He gripped the straps on her dress and ripped them away, jerking the bodice down to her waist. Her breasts spilled into his waiting hands, their fullness, heat and the tiny points of her nipples grazing the sensitive skin on his palms. Moon arched her back, thrusting her breasts further into his hands. They felt on fire and when she let loose a throaty little growl, his balls tightened painfully. Releasing his hold on her lips, he straightened, unfastened his jeans and let them drop to the floor. Grasping his cock, he guided it to her swollen pussy lips, teasing her clit with the flared head until she writhed against the table like a woman possessed. “Give it to me now,” she whispered. So, she was trying to be dominant. His lips curled into a feral smile as he teased her with his cock head, refusing to give into her demands no matter how much it pained him. She reached down and tried to grab his shaft, but he swatted her hand away. She frowned and sucked her top lip between her teeth, lifting her hips in a silent demand he couldn’t ignore. He fought the urge to tilt his head back and howl. His little submissive was insistent on getting fucked, the power inside her just beginning to gather and grow. Far be it for him to deny his woman her pleasure. Bracing his hands on her quivering thighs, he plunged full inside her, burying his shaft balls-deep in her tight, hot cunt. She screamed when he entered her, then whimpered when he pulled back enough to thrust hard again. Her breasts rose and fell with each rapid breath, her nails raking across his forearms as she leaned up to pull him toward her. Her eyes were glassy, unfocused, her mouth half-open and her tongue snaking out to swipe across her full bottom lip. She groaned and he gave her what she silently

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begged for, setting a rhythm by pulling almost completely out of her only to power back inside with a balls-banging thrust. Even by his standards, this mating was savage. When he leaned over to take her mouth, she bit his bottom lip, the salty taste of his blood mingling with the sweet flavor of her mouth. She plunged her tongue inside, tangling her fingers in his hair and forcing him to stay there. He knew the reasons for her behavior and let her run wild. He’d seen it before, the pull, the burn, the intense driving need that she didn’t even understand yet. It was her time and she was feeling every cell in her body explode with heat and arousal. The air filled with the scent of her—that tangy, pungent, oh-so-sweet aroma of aroused female. Like an animal, he responded to it, driving past her squeezing muscles, reaching for her breasts to pluck at her nipples until she thrashed her head from side to side and screamed at him. “Fuck me! Make it hurt, dammit,” she growled, her eyes turning dark and beginning to glow as she glared at him. Then her eyes widened as if she was shocked by her own words. She dropped her head to the stone table, tears welling in her fiery eyes. “Oh, God, Blake, what’s happening to me?” “Shh, baby, don’t fight it,” he soothed, leaning over and gentling both his kiss and his thrusts this time. “Breathe in, look at the moon and let it take you over completely. It’ll hurt less.” She didn’t question him, just focused over his shoulder and began to tremble. Blake increased the tempo of his movements, keeping his hands moving over her body as he powered his cock harder each time. When he circled her clit with his thumb she bit down hard on her bottom lip. A tiny drop of blood trickled along her jaw and he swept his lips over her mouth to taste the flavor of it, making her even more a part of him. She’d crept into his emotions in a short period of time, her honesty and refreshing independence luring him into feeling as if she were already his. She was perfect for him, and this night would prove it. Even her pussy fit him perfectly, gripping his shaft as he 83

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struggled for control. But control was quickly fleeting, the change beginning. The burning of his blood was the first sign, then the need to shift into a more powerful being and take his woman the way nature intended. Still, he forced it back. Not yet. Soon. Her orgasm loomed, hovering with each pulse around his cock. He doubted she was even aware of time and place now, only the sensations coursing through her with each thrust of his cock. A low growl rumbled in her chest. She tensed, arched her back, and let go. “Oh, God, Blake, I’m coming!” Her nails scraped deep along his upper arms, tearing away the last of his control. He went with her, pounding his cock deep and jettisoning a hot stream of cum inside her. She’d no more finished with one orgasm than another pulsed around him. He held onto her and let her ride out the maelstrom of bombarding sensations, until the quaking of her cunt subsided and her arms fell limp at her sides. Eyes closed, he listened to the sound of her breathing until it became rhythmic and regular, her heart pumping with normal beats. Now it was time.

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Chapter Nine Moon lay still, not wanting to break the spell of the moment. Still incredulous over what had just happened, she listened to the sound of Blake’s breathing, savoring the way his hands moved gently over her in a warm caress. A breeze blew tendrils of hair against her cheek, but she didn’t want to lift her hand to move them. Actually, she wasn’t certain she had the capacity to move any of her limbs. What had just happened to her? Sex was one thing, but this had been…different, somehow. When they’d made love, something strange occurred. She had actually felt her blood racing through every single one of her veins, could feel her heart pumping with a surge of energy. She’d suddenly felt…powerful. In control. And Blake had let her take the lead, hadn’t given her any commands. She felt both at peace and at war with her true nature versus what she had just experienced. And the way Blake had reassured her, guided her to look to the moon, led her to believe he knew exactly what was happening, as if it what she went through was familiar to him. But how could he know what she felt inside? How could he know she was burning from the inside out, every muscle, every inch of her skin on fire? None of this made sense. She shivered when he moved off her, the cool wind blowing over her breasts and belly. When she opened her eyes, Blake was standing between her outstretched legs, shrugging out of his jeans. He held out his hand and hoisted her into a sitting position. She looked down, her dress rolled into a bunch at her middle. She probably looked like a wreck. And she didn’t think she cared.

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“You have questions, don’t you?” he asked, taking that errant lock of hair and tucking it behind her ear. “What happened to me? I felt…strange.” Not an ideal description, but she was having a hard time putting it into words. “What happened when you looked up at the moon?” She stared at the harmless-looking silver circle, feeling a weird, fluttering sensation in her chest, a gnawing need that was almost painful, like hunger. “Drawn toward it, like it was pulling me into the sky cell by cell.” She’d probably had too much to drink. How many glasses of wine had she consumed, anyway? After the first couple, she’d lost count, but she didn’t think she was drunk. “Does the moon hold any significance to you?” “Other than my name? No.” “Why did you parents name you Moonlight?” The wind picked up again, fog blanketing the waters of the Bay. She should be cold sitting out here naked, yet surprisingly she wasn’t. “They said my hair was the color of a silvery moon, that I was born on the day of a full moon, and a bunch of other stuff I never paid attention to. I told you they were a little odd.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “How odd were they, Moon? Did they ever disappear at night?” She nodded. “Sure. Lots of times. They were nomads, vagabonds. But don’t get me wrong. Even when they were out trying to make money by panhandling at night, I always felt safe.” She hadn’t thought about that in years. But they’d always left her with a friend, never alone and unsupervised. She’d grown so used to their behavior that it didn’t seem out of the ordinary to her. Of course now it probably would, but she’d had a wonderful childhood. He sifted through her hair with his fingers, tugging the ends just sharply enough that she felt the pull of arousal between her legs.

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“Breathe in. Clear your mind and take a deep breath. Tell me what you smell.” She frowned, not really understanding what he wanted her to do. Nevertheless, she took a deep breath, then another. Then another. Her eyes widened and she looked at Blake for the answers. “Tell me,” he urged. Her senses had become amazingly acute. Despite its distance, the salty tang of ocean air tickled her nostrils. She picked up the musky, animal scent of the wolves far away in the preserve. Not only could she see clear across the bay despite the darkness and fog, but she could hear the sounds from the freeway which had to be more than twenty miles away. She heard seagulls squawking about on Fisherman’s Wharf, the buzzing sounds of conversation from the tourist attractions on Pier 39. She even heard the waves crashing against the shore. All of these sounds should be entirely too far away to hear. Which made it abnormal. “I don’t understand.” “I knew what you were when I first saw you at the clinic. Have you ever felt different, Moon?” His words made no sense. “Different? How?” “Like you weren’t entirely…normal. Maybe above normal, maybe a little odd,” he finished, using the word she had used to describe her parents. Odd. Was she odd? She’d always done her own thing, never really feeling like she fit in anywhere. But that had more to do with all the moving around they did when she was younger. It was impossible to fit in when you only attended a school for six months, then spent the next six months somewhere else. She’d never formed any close friendships. Instead, she had spent her time loving and caring for whatever animals her parents would let her tend to. She’d always felt more connected to nature, to animals, than she was to people. That was one of the reasons she decided to become a veterinarian. 87

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But Blake wouldn’t know any of that, so why his question? “What exactly are you trying to tell me, Blake?” “I’m asking you to open your mind to the possibilities, Moon. To think beyond what you know to be true, to accept something that seems so fantastic it’s like living in a dream.” A small sliver of fear crept into her mind, making her shudder involuntarily. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Because you refuse to open your mind and accept who and what you are. What we both are. Animals. Primal, savage beings superior to humans in many ways. Our senses are keen, our intellect is off the scales.” She must have frowned because he shook his head and said, “Come on, Moon, open your heart to the possibility that you might just be a little beyond different.” That sliver became an insurmountable crack in her shell of reality. She refused to even consider what he suggested. Superior to humans? She was human! Maybe Blake had more to drink than she did. He was spouting ridiculous notions that made no sense. “I think we need to change the subject because I really don’t think you know what you’re talking about.” Refusing to encourage him any further, she reached down and grabbed for her dress, intending to pull it over her breasts and smooth it down her legs. She needed the security of clothing. She suddenly felt naked, exposed and more than a little frightened. But Blake stopped her by circling her wrist with his fingers. “Don’t.” She wanted to brush him off, she should push him away. This weekend had taken a turn she didn’t care for. Not once since she’d arrived had she been afraid of him. Until now.

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“It’s not me you fear,” he whispered in answer to her unspoken thoughts. “It’s yourself, your own concept of what is real. Don’t let human limitations prevent you from awakening to what you are, Moon. Trust me.” Trust me. Right. Why should she? She didn’t even know him. They’d fucked, but other than that he was a stranger, a guy she saw once a week at the clinic and that was all. She really knew nothing about his background, and she should have never allowed him to start things with her at the club. She should have thrown him out and refunded his money. She jerked her hand away from his hold and pulled up the bodice of her dress, then slid off the table and smoothed her skirt down her thighs. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” “No.” He stood in front of her, blocking her way by placing his palms on either side of her and resting them on the table. “Listen to me. Give this a chance. I can prove it.” Part of her wanted to push him aside and get as far away from him as possible. Yet her feet held and she looked up at him. “How?” “I’ll show you what we both are.” That tiny little warning bell pealed inside her head. She should go to her room and pack up, ask him to take her home. Yet her curiosity held her in place. She’d love to see how different Blake Hunter really was. “Tell me what I have to do.” “Just stay with me and let nature take over. Let me make love to you again, Moon.” He moved one hand over her hip, smoothing it over the silk covering her buttocks. His eyes were smoky hot and dark. “I want your ass. I want to sink hard and deep inside that tight hole. There isn’t a part of your body I want to leave unexplored tonight. And as we do, you’ll realize more and more what I’m trying to explain to you.” Now how in the hell would making love again reveal anything about his strange secret? The whole idea was ridiculous. Nevertheless, her body warmed to his words, her nipples tightening and her pussy beginning a heated pulsing that begged for him to do what he suggested. Visuals of his thick cock buried in her ass while she bent over the table called to the submissive inside her, begging him to take her hard and furious, to 89

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take what he wanted because she wanted to give to him. It had nothing to do with revelation and everything to do with sensation and sexual need. “What will fucking my ass show me?” “You’ll just have to trust me. Have I lied to you yet? Have I hurt you?” She sucked in her lower lip, her tongue sliding over the small wound she’d created when she bit down earlier. To be able to feel that pleasure again was a strong lure. “No.” “Then trust me again.” Too curious to say no, she nodded. He lifted her and placed her in a seated position on the table, then reached for the bodice of her dress and pushed it down to her waist again. “Don’t hide your breasts from me. I want to see them, want to fill my hands with them. Want to taste…” His mouth came down over one pink crest, flicking his tongue against the tightened bud while reaching for the other with his hand. Heat fused between her legs and she leaned back, thrusting her breasts into his greedy mouth and hand. Her senses in acute mode, each touch and lick was a fiery brand on her skin. She breathed in the sweet perfume of his arousal and hers, that elemental, primal scent that signaled the need to mate. Blake moved his mouth from her breast to her collarbone, then to her neck, his teeth scraping along the sensitive nerve endings. His hot breath caressed the pulse point of her neck and he bit down lightly, enough to make her entire body shudder in sensual spasms. He moved his lips over her jawline and claimed her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside in a show of possession, of taking. His kisses made her dizzy, the sensual play of lips sliding against lips eliciting a whimper of need. Despite the fact she’d had two earth-shattering orgasms not too long ago, her body was desperate for what only Blake could give her. His promise to unveil something about the two of them filtered to the back of her mind, replaced with a raw, driving passion that demanded to be quenched. 90

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He buried his fingers in her hair and massaged her scalp, the tenderness in his movements so different than his savage claim on her mouth. Tears sprung to her eyes at the gentle strokes. The man was a constant surprise and she’d never be able to figure him out. Maybe she’d never want to know everything about him. Or anything about what he claimed to know about her. They said ignorance was bliss, and right now she planned to grab all the bliss she could handle, and remain ignorant of the rest. When he pulled away and looked at her, his eyes reflected her own torment. Hoisting off the table and onto her feet, he grasped her shoulders and spun her around, then pressed down on her back until she bent over the table. He lifted her skirt and smoothed his hand over her buttocks, then leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to the small of her back. His breath was warm against her skin, like a roadmap telling her where he was going. First her back, then each globe of her buttocks, his hands parting them, the heat radiating from his mouth tickling her anus. Anticipation mixed with excitement. She waited for his next movement, tensing with expectation. When the warmth and wetness of his tongue probed her anus, she cried out, lightning shocks of pleasure spearing her core. The intimacy of his mouth there made her shudder, even as her pussy rocked with spasms. Moisture seeped from her cunt, crying out for his cock. “Please,” she begged. “Fuck me.” He stood, his thighs pressed against hers. “Oh, I’m going to fuck you, baby. First I want that sweet cunt again, then I’m going to take your ass. Can you take it, Moon? Can you take me in that tight, hot hole?” It didn’t matter whether she could or couldn’t. She would. She wanted him there, forcing his thick, heavy shaft past the tight barrier, fucking her ass hard until she cried

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out with a mix of pain and pleasure. “Yes. Whatever you give me, I’ll take. Fuck me now, Blake!”

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Chapter Ten His cock slipped between the wet folds of her pussy, sliding inch by torturous inch until he was buried so deep his balls nestled against her swollen clit. Moon arched up and backed against him, wanting every last millimeter inside her. God, he was so thick, so long, that every part of her felt invaded by him. Moisture poured from her, sliding down her thighs as he moved within her. The soft sucking sounds of his cock sliding into all that wetness made her pussy grip his shaft even tighter, pulsing around him in waves of pleasure. Blake reached between her legs, his thumb circling her clit with gentle, rhythmic caresses. He petted her until her legs trembled, her body tightening in orgasmic ripples. “Not yet,” he warned. “Don’t come.” She fought the sensation, but damn, he made it so difficult. His touch was relentless, his fingers deftly sliding over her clit and lower, capturing her cream on his fingers and moving them to her buttocks again. He wet her anus with her juices, then eased one finger past the tight barrier of her anus. The feeling of penetration in both her cunt and ass was overwhelming, so hot, so erotic, like nothing she’d ever felt before. Burying his finger inside her tight hole, he began to fuck her there as he fucked her pussy, pulling one out as he slid the other in. It was like being slammed by two cocks simultaneously, an experience she’d never had, never wanted to have. She was a one-man woman. Blake’s woman. The thought entered her mind and she immediately dismissed it. Just think about fucking, about how damn good it feels to have him inside your pussy and ass at the same time. Don’t think with your heart, Moonlight.

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Pushing aside thoughts of anything more than the pleasure she felt, she concentrated on Blake’s movements, his expert way of taking her to the very brink, only to pause long enough for the need to come to subside. God, he played her so well, and she was a loving instrument, willing him to pull whatever strings he wished as long as it gave her pleasure. He withdrew both his finger and his cock, leaving her feeling empty and anxious to be filled with his cock again. “So fucking wet,” he murmured, then positioned the head of his shaft at her anus and once again lubricated her with the juices of her pussy. “Breathe in deep and relax. It’ll go in easier that way.” She did as he asked, forcing her muscles to relax as she felt the burning of his cock head sliding past her tight barrier. He pushed inch by inch of thick cock into her. It was too big. She felt like she was going to be split apart. The pain was intense, yet behind the pain was a pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known. Her nerve endings there were especially sensitive and seemingly connected to the parts of her body that brought her to ecstasy. “Oh, oh, Blake, I’m not sure I can—” But with a final, easy thrust he was inside her. Pulsing, filling her, making her blood once again heat to boiling in that strange way it had done before. And when he moved, sliding back and then forward again, her skin prickled, every fine hair on her arms standing on end. She felt stretched, not only in that tiny hole where his cock was buried, but throughout her body. Tremors racked her, not unpleasant but rather an extension of the incredible pleasure she felt from Blake’s powerful thrusts in her ass. His balls slapped her clit, each time like a caress against the swollen nub. She lifted up on her tiptoes in order to align her pussy with his balls, needing to feel more of that contact with her clit. She wanted to come. She was burning up and she wanted to come.

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“You’re feeling pressure throughout your body,” he said, his voice tight with passion. “Don’t fight it. You’ll only make it worse.” Struggling to find the words to speak past the bombarding sensations, she managed, “What’s…what’s happening to me?” “Feel me, baby. Feel the difference in me. Then let it happen.” Blake was right. He had never lied to her yet, so she followed his suggestion, breathing deeply through her nose and exhaling through her mouth, forcing her body to relax. Suddenly a clarity came upon her, and she knew more than she had ever known before! Again it happened—sounds that she recognized as being miles away were as clear as if they were right next to her. Scents, sensations, voices from the nearest town…everything was heightened to an acute level. She was attuned to everything about Blake. His fingers dug into her hips as he powered his cock hard and deep. Those fingers grew sharp at the ends, slicing into her skin in a way that only increased her need for his cock. No pain, just an agonizing pleasure that tripled when the feral growl emanated from deep in his chest. The hair on his thighs seemed thick and coarse. His cock grew impossibly longer, thicker, each stroke striking deeper and deeper. Inside her body, changes began to occur. Mental and physical changes as her senses sharpened even more, making her aware of her bones snapping and changing position, her inability to speak, and the same kinds of growls she’d heard coming from Blake now being released by her own throat. What she hadn’t wanted to admit, what she’d suspected then cast aside as impossible, was really happening! Oh, God, she wasn’t human! Neither was Blake. They were animals, beasts in mating. Powerful, fierce, sexual beings. The first shock of fear and denial dissipated, replaced instead by a powerful, triumphant howl as the realization struck. This was magical, and not to be feared.

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A soft hand covered with fur reached between her legs, smoothing back and forth over her aching pussy. The rapid brush of his soft palm against her clit sent her into climax and she tilted her head back and howled, a long, low guttural sound that was matched by the same sound from Blake. He tightened, then spilled stream after stream of hot cum inside her ass. They rode together for what seemed like hours, locked and bound in a constant orgasm that both terrified and thrilled her. She shuddered when he withdrew, almost afraid to move her body, yet knowing she had already confirmed her suspicions. She had become a wolf. Despite her trepidation, she glanced down at where her hands had been, only to find gray and black fur and thick, doglike paws. Pushing off, she ended up much lower to the ground, then turned around to find a huge black wolf behind her. Blake. He padded away a few feet, then circled, standing there watching her, his eyes glowing an eerie yellow in the darkness. This is who you are, Moonlight. Who you’ve always been. His mouth hadn’t moved, but she heard him, understood him. Could they converse telepathically? I can hear you. We can communicate this way. I don’t understand any of this, Blake. How could this happen? It doesn’t seem real. Yet it was. She was looking at it, experiencing it. I scented the lupine in you the first day you started working at the clinic. That was three years ago! She’d never felt…different, in that way. How did this happen to me? My guess is your parents were werewolves. And no, not the movie kind. We’re nothing like that. We are unique shapeshifters, possessed of magical powers and the ability to change form.

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There are many more of us than you think, located throughout the world. Your parents’ genetics were passed down to you, though I’m surprised you were never informed of what you were. She knew why. Because her parents died in the car accident before they could reveal it to her. But now that she knew, the small hints they had thrown her way all those years before their deaths began to make sense. Oh how could she have not known about them? About herself? Why haven’t I changed before now? Shouldn’t that have happened naturally? No. You either needed to be taught the process, or you needed a catalyst to bring it out of you. If you had not been taught about what you were, had the process explained to you, you could have gone your entire life and not known. So you brought it about. You made it happen. Yes. Mating with another wolf will engage the change. She wasn’t sure whether to thank him or hate him for what he’d done. It was almost too much to process, yet the wonder of it was exhilarating. His muscles shifted as he strolled slowly toward her, his movements sleek and powerful. Don’t try to figure it all out in one night. There’s plenty of time to ask questions, to figure out what it all means and how you’ll handle it. Right now just enjoy the uniqueness of who and what you are. Come with me and run. Let me show you how it can be in this form. Questions filled her mind, too numerous to get a handle on. He was right. She couldn’t process this at one time. And she wanted to try out this new body, take it for a test drive to see what it could do. All right. Let’s go. Blake led her through the woods, taking them through the rear of his land and onto the preserve. He felt Moon’s exhilaration, the wild part of her set free to enjoy the stiff breeze blowing through her thick pelt of fur, the night cries of the animals waiting to embrace her. When they strolled into the preserve, the other wolves were waiting. Of course they all knew about him, about her. They’d scented her when he’d brought her onto his property, knew who and what she was. 97

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He moved away from the pack, conscious of her glittering eyes looking to him for comfort. They won’t hurt you. You’re one of them and they know it. They’ve known it since I brought you there today. That’s why you were safe. She nodded and the wolves surrounded her, greeting her in an ancient language that he knew she’d instinctively understand. They sniffed around her, rubbing their heads against hers in a sign of affection. Her feelings were transparent, her joy mixed with trepidation. She was in awe. He knew how she felt, had felt the same way when he’d been enlightened about what he was and then welcomed by the pack. She was their female alpha. But she didn’t know that part yet. Hell, he hadn’t known that part until just recently. Sure, he’d recognized her as lupine all those years ago, but hadn’t realized how entwined their destinies were until recently. They all took off for a run, combing the hills and valleys and playing in the thick brush. After an exhilarating game of hide and seek around the trees, they grabbed a drink from one of the streams, then settled down together under thick rays of moonlight, their bodies huddled for warmth. Moon curled up beside him, her eyes drifting closed. Feeling her against him, whether in lupine or human form, seemed right. Tomorrow would be the true test. He’d reveal his feelings for her, his plans for their future. He had waited his entire life for his mate. But would she stay with him, help him build the life he desperately wanted? Or would she deny who and what she was, content to return to the comfort and familiarity of what she knew? Many lupines did that, refused to accept that part of themselves, content to live fully human instead of embracing their destiny. Hopefully Moon wasn’t one of them. He counted on her sense of adventure, her natural curiosity and her love for nature and animals.

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He loved her. He’d been lonely for so many years, and in the short time Moon had been with him he realized that he’d never be able to let her go. She was part of him now. And always would be.

***** Moon woke with a start, craning her head from side to side and blinking as unfamiliar sights and smells assailed her. She saw trees and tiny webs of moonlight peeking through the cracks of leaves and branches like fingers of silvery gossamer beckoning her. Despite the chill of night, she felt warm, as though she wore a heavy coat. When she looked down and saw fur instead of skin, paws instead of hands, she knew why. Then she remembered. She was a wolf. A wolf! It was still so incredible, so farfetched, that for a moment she thought she’d dreamed it all. But it hadn’t been a dream at all. When Blake brought her out here to the preserve, the others had introduced themselves. They spoke a strange language, but she was amazed to be able to understand it and to communicate with them. Their laments, their sorrows, their hopes and dreams, everything about them was unbelievable and yet true. They were sentient, intelligent beings, equal…no, not even that…superior to humans in so many ways. She ran with them, celebrating her new power, realizing how much more in tune she now was to the nature she’d always loved. To be able to talk with these wolves, realize they were not shapeshifters like she and Blake, but born totally wolf and without the magical aspect that allowed them to take human form, was like lesson one, day one, and left her with more questions than answers. 99

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God, she was exhausted and yet pumped full of adrenaline and the myriad questions that had no answers. Blake’s chest stroked her back with each inhalation and she concentrated on that, instead. A wolf. She’d never known. Well hell, how could she know? Until it happened she thought that kind of stuff was fiction and Hollywood, not reality. He’d opened up a breathtaking new world for her. Now she had to figure out what to do with this new world, how to live within it and still be the person she’d always been before. Could she even do that? One thing was certain. This weekend had changed her. Irrevocably altered her destiny in so many different ways, the most important being the man/wolf who slumbered beside her. She loved him. Hopelessly, madly in love with someone she barely knew, and yet she felt like they’d known each other forever. Did any of that make sense? How could she have these feelings, so deep, so intense, for someone she’d only really known two days? Her thoughts and emotions were skewed, screwed up by what had happened to her. She wasn’t thinking clearly, because there’s no way she could be in love with Blake. Great sex did not make a lifelong partnership. And she wasn’t looking for a relationship. Certainly nothing like this feeling of permanence she felt with Blake. She had a lot of thinking to do.

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Chapter Eleven Moon opened her eyes the instant the first rays of sun filtered through the morning fog. The wolves stirred, moving about and talking. We need to get back to the house. She nodded at Blake and followed him through the back roads. The stillness of early morning permeated the woods, the only sounds that of birds whistling in the treetops. When they arrived back on the patio, Blake instructed her on how to enact the shift back to human. It wasn’t nearly as painful as the change to wolf form. Once changed, she was surprised that she still felt that life force within her, that power that had come about once she’d become lupine. “All your senses will be more attuned to the world around you now, even in your human form.” She nodded, her mind still filled with questions and uncertainties. She needed to think, to process all that had happened. “I need a shower.” He slipped into his jeans and drew the zipper up, then grabbed for his shirt. “Okay. I’m going to head out to the vineyard and see what’s going on there. You go ahead.” Grateful for the time alone, she hurried upstairs, sighing with bliss as the shower jets bathed her body in relaxing, wet heat. The warmth of the shower did nothing to shed light on her dilemma. She was in love with Blake, but what exactly did that mean? And he had made sure to transform her, to awaken not only her sexuality, catering to her needs in ways she had only dreamed of, but also awakening the wolf inside her. Did that mean he cared for her?

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She sighed and turned the shower off, more uncertain than ever. After getting dressed and combing through her wet hair, she went downstairs and found Blake in the kitchen holding two cups of steaming coffee. He handed one to her and smiled. So normal. So…human. “Thanks. I need this.” He took a sip and nodded. “Me too. I’m going to grab a shower and then we’ll eat.” She sat at the table and stared outside at the clear morning while she downed her first cup of coffee. The pool looked inviting and warm, sunlight sparkling across the surface of the turquoise water like glittering diamonds. Geraniums shined a bright red in their stone-colored pots. Trailing ivy covered the retaining wall at the end of the patio. She was so comfortable here. Too comfortable. Everything had happened too fast. How easy it would be to give up the life she’d worked so hard for and live in the ease and comfort of Blake’s lifestyle here. How easy it would be to surrender everything about herself and take on the persona of a complete stranger. That she couldn’t, wouldn’t do. Not that he’d asked her to. She shook her head and smiled at her presumptuousness. Too restless to sit still, she decided to start breakfast while she waited for Blake, needing some activity to keep her mind from dwelling on all the uncertainties. By the time he came downstairs in his usual shirtless, half-open jeans attire, she had eggs, bacon and toast ready. They ate without conversation. Obviously he was as hungry as she was. She’d eaten more this weekend than she ever had before. Then again she’d gotten a hell of a lot more exercise than ever before.

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The whole weekend was a surreal experience. It didn’t even border on reality, on the life she’d made for herself. As much as she’d loved her free-spirited parents, she’d never enjoyed the uncertainty, the dependency on others for food and shelter. Her independence had been born out of her childhood experiences and she wouldn’t give that up. Ever. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” His words startled her out of her thoughts. “Lots of things.” “Such as?” “I have a busy week next week,” she lied. “Just organizing mentally. I really need to get going.” He smiled. “After all you’ve been through and after what was revealed, you’re thinking about work and school?” Shrugging, she said, “It’s my way of dealing with things. I need a sense of routine, Blake. This is an awful lot to process.” “Stay with me, Moon.” Expected, his statement both warmed her and filled her with unease. But staying with him wouldn’t help matters. “I can’t. I have a final exam on Tuesday that I need to prepare for, and Doc has several surgeries scheduled tomorrow that I have to be there to assist with.” “I didn’t mean stay longer. I meant stay permanently.” Now that she hadn’t expected, though maybe a small part of her had hoped he’d ask her. God, this was all so hopeless! He made it sound so easy, when it was so completely impossible. “I can’t.” “You’ve changed now. You can’t go back to your old lifestyle. You need to stay here with me.” His command bristled. This wasn’t sex and she wasn’t a lifestyle submissive. “No.” 103

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One dark brow arched as he took a long swallow of coffee. “You’re going to ignore everything that happened between us this weekend?” Was he talking about the sex or the fact he’d revealed what she was? She wasn’t sure, but the answer was the same no matter the question. “Yes, as a matter of fact I am.” She stood and placed her dishes in the sink and turned on the water, staring down at the plate. “My life is in the city, Blake. I have order and a long-term plan. Having sex with you doesn’t change that.” “What about what you are?” “That doesn’t change anything either. I lived almost thirty years as a human. I intend to stay that way.” She hadn’t realized until she said the words out loud that living her normal life was what she’d planned to do. This wolf thing, while certainly magical and awe-inspiring, wasn’t the real Moonlight Madison. The thought both hurt and gave her comfort. She needed her orderly, normal life. She needed to follow her carefully constructed plan and do what she was destined to do. “So asking you to stay doesn’t mean a thing to you?” She shut off the water and looked at him. Hurt rang in the tone of his voice, but he carefully masked it with a look of anger. Denial was a powerful tool, one she used quite well herself. “I had a great weekend. You showed me things I never thought possible. But I can’t live like this,” she said, sweeping her arm across his expansive kitchen filled with state-of-the-art appliances. “My life is a tiny apartment in the city, barely enough money to pay my tuition and bills, and working my ass off to reach my goals. And I like my life. It satisfies me and gives me everything I need. I don’t want anything else. Not this. Not here.” Not with you. She fought back tears at the futility of it all. Her feelings for Blake ran so incredibly deep, yet she couldn’t give up all she was just because he thought it was a good idea.

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He stood and approached her, bracing his hands on either side of the sink, effectively trapping her. His eyes blazed with heat and that familiar desire she’d grown used to over the weekend. But that’s all this was, Moon. A weekend. Nothing more. This life isn’t your life. Besides, he made no declaration of caring or love for her. She meant nothing to him other than a link to his kind. He probably wanted to keep her as a possession, not because he cared about her. Physically they were a dynamite match. Combustible, passionate, tuned in to each other’s sexual needs. But a relationship was based on more than sex. “You can walk away from what we have together?” he asked. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue. What do we have together? But she couldn’t say them, couldn’t bring herself to ask the question that might not give her the answer she sought. Coward. “I have a life I like, Blake. Let me go back to it. Please.” “I can make your life easier if you stay here with me. I’ll pay for your schooling, pay off your student loans. You can work here with me in expanding the preserve. You can set up your practice right here. Then you never have to work at the club again.” And just like that, it was over. The independent streak in her won out over her emotions. She reached for his chest, not to curl her fingers in the dark smattering of fur there, but to push him back so she could gather some distance. “I’m not a doormat that you can control, Blake. I can’t believe you’d even suggest what you did. I’ve worked hard for my independence and I’ll never give that up. For you or for anyone else. For any reason.” “So you intend to struggle your way along, when I can offer you the solution to all your problems.”

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Her parents had taught her long ago that money came with conditions. She’d learned that much from them, admired them for their lifestyle even as she swore she’d never become like them. And her goals were within reach. A few more years and she could sit back, proud of her accomplishments because she’d done them on her own. Then she’d never have to rely on someone else’s offer of assistance. “I don’t want anything you have to offer. I don’t want to be a wolf. I’m a human, not an animal, and I won’t be kept in a cage.” Her words hurt him. She bit back the apology that wanted to spill out, but she knew that hurting him was the right thing to do. For both of them. How easy it would be to stay here with him, to let him take care of her, to delve into the lupine part of her and learn more about wild animals than she ever thought possible, and then spend every night in Blake’s arms while he made her come over and over again. Yeah, it would be easy to make that choice. Too damned easy. But then she’d lose the self-respect she’d fought so hard to earn. And no one would take that away from her. Including the man she’d fallen in love with. “Take me home, Blake.”

A thousand times during the long ride home, Blake wanted to pull over, stop the car, and tell Moon how he felt. But the words from his heart stayed planted firmly in his mind. Why couldn’t he tell her that he loved her? Because she doesn’t want you. She doesn’t want who you are. And that’s precisely why he didn’t say the words he wanted to say. She’d made it clear she didn’t want his money or his lifestyle, that she didn’t care about her newfound transformation into a wolf. That she didn’t care one damn bit about him.

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The sting of pride kept his lips firmly pressed together. He’d never begged a woman before and he wasn’t about to start now. He’d spent his entire life alone, holding his secret inside, revealing it to no one, just waiting for the day his mate showed up. She’d been part of his teenage dreams. He’d known he’d find her out here, that one woman he was supposed to be with. Well, he’d found her, and she didn’t want him. He pulled up in front of her apartment and stepped out of the car to grab her bag and hand it to her on the sidewalk. An awkward silence ensued. They stared at each other, both obviously uncomfortable with the goodbye part. “Thanks, Blake. I had a great time this weekend.” “You’re welcome.” More silence. “I…need to get inside,” she said, shuffling uncomfortably from foot to foot. “Right. I need to get back. I guess I’ll see you later.” “Yeah. Later. Bye.” God, this was painfully embarrassing. He turned away and slipped into the car, tearing away from the curb without another look. But he knew she stood there, watching him drive away.

A month. A month and Blake hadn’t been back to the clinic. A month of sleepless nights, distracted days and inability to return her life to the sense of normalcy she’d had before she met him. A month of feeling the power within her and the desire to shift and run wild. She’d kept it under control, but it wasn’t easy. Thoughts of the lupine within her led to thoughts of Blake. Thoughts of Blake led to thoughts of wild, unbridled sex with a sexy, dominating man who had made all her dreams come true. 107

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But Blake wasn’t in her life anymore. That had been her choice and he had honored it without question. Only now she found that she missed him so much it made her chest tight. She’d found herself watching the front door of the clinic, coming up with excuses to hang out at the reception desk. But he never came in and the feeling of emptiness gnawed at her. What the hell was wrong with her, anyway? She’d made a clean, honest break with Blake. She’d given him valid reasons for not wanting to be with him, including his overbearing alpha male tendency to want to dominate every aspect of her life. No, thank you. She was doing fine on her own. Fine. Just fine. “Fine.” “Fine, what?” She whirled at the sound of the doc’s voice. “Huh?” Heather shook her head, dark curls shifting over her shoulders at the movement. “You look like a disgruntled basset hound. What’s wrong?” “Nothing. Nothing at all. Something you need?” Mortified at being caught moping, she grabbed the clipboard to inventory the drug supplies in the cabinet. “Quit turning away from me. What’s going on?” Heather was the only friend she’d ever had. She’d taken Moon under her wing and allowed her to do her internship at the clinic. For the past four years, she’d been the closest thing to a friend or sister that Moon ever had. And in her world, that meant a lot. She smiled at the petite brunette who hoisted herself on the exam table, her legs dangling over the edge, looking more like a teenage volunteer than the owner of one of the largest animal hospitals in the city. Inquisitive green eyes stared her down. “Come on, Moon. Spill.” 108

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Moonlight put the clipboard down and sat in the chair across from the table. “There’s this guy. I thought we had something, but it isn’t going to work.” “Blake Hunter.” Her jaw dropped. “How did you know that?” Heather rolled her eyes. “Honey he’s been watching you like he wanted to eat you alive for the past three years. Surely you’re not that clueless.” She was that clueless. “I had no idea. Until he showed up at the club that Friday night, I had no idea.” Heather’s eyes widened. “He showed up at the club?” Moon nodded. Only Heather knew about her job at the Whipped Cream, and Heather was never one to pass judgment on anyone for trying to work their way through vet school. “Yeah, he paid for my services for the entire night.” “And?” “And what?” “Was it good?” Moon felt heat spread over her neck, remembering all the things Blake had done to her that night. “Yeah, it was good. Really good.” “And then what happened?” “I went to his place for the weekend.” “Annnd?” Heather asked, leaning forward and clasping her hands together in her lap. “And…nothing. We had great sex, then I came back here.” “There’s got to be more than that. Tell me.” She knew if she didn’t that Heather wouldn’t give her a moment’s peace. “He wanted me to stay with him. But that’s just not going to work for me.” “I see.”

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She knew Heather didn’t understand why she’d walked away from Blake. But there was only so much she could explain, even to her friend. “I’m just too damn busy to have a relationship, Heather. I’ve got school and my job and my soon-to-be career on the horizon. I don’t have time for anything else.” “You really have to get your head out of your books more often, Moon. Life is passing you by.” In so many ways it was pathetic. Her shoulders slumped and she stared at the floor. “I’m in love with him.” “And?” “And I let him go.” “Why?” “Because he…he wanted to take care of me, wanted to help pay for my schooling and wanted to help me set up a vet practice on his land so I could work with the wildlife.” “The bastard.” Her head shot up at Heather’s sarcasm. “Well, dammit, I’ve worked hard for my independence.” “Okay, so did you talk to him about it?” “No. I told him I couldn’t live that way. I walked away.” Heather shook her head. “That was dumb. He’s been in love with you for years, Moon.” “He has not. He doesn’t even know me.” She arched a brow. “Doesn’t he?” What did Heather know about Blake, about who and what he was? “How could he?” “Maybe he saw a kindred spirit in you, Moon. Maybe he saw something in you that…also lived within him.” 110

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She knew. Heather knew about Blake. “You know what he is, don’t you?” Heather nodded, her eyes lighting with excitement. “Yes. I found out several years ago. Fascinating, isn’t it? I mean the whole physiology is incredible. The ability to completely transform the body. But then you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” Moon’s mouth hung open in shock as she stared at Heather, not quite sure how to answer. “How…how did you know?” Heather’s smile was unapologetic. “I went to see Blake last week. Pried it out of him. He only told me because I already knew about him. Your secret is safe, Moon. Don’t worry.” “What did he say to you?” She resisted the urge to add “about me” to her question. Too juvenile. “He told me about the weekend, about how he helped you realize who and what you are. And he told me you turned down his offer.” “Can you blame me?” Slipping off the table, Heather took a seat in the chair next to Moon. “In some ways, no. I’ve been where you are. I worked my way through school with nothing but a few scholarships. And I’m as independent as any woman out there. But in all that time I’ve never found someone that I could love, someone who was the perfect match for me. If I had, I might have made different choices.” “You’d let a man take care of you?” Heather laughed. “Hell, no. But in every relationship worth having there’s compromise. I’d have talked to him, told him how important my independence was. But I’d have never walked away from love because my pride got in the way.” Pride. Is that what it was? Was she letting pride get in the way of her feelings for Blake? Or was it fear? Fear of what he’d shown her about herself, fear of feeling need for someone with an intensity that was overpowering.

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She had a lot to think about. “Thanks, Heather. I appreciate your honesty.” Heather patted her hand. “I just want you to be happy, honey. You’ve lived this solitary existence for as long as I’ve known you. Maybe it’s time you reached out and let someone share your life.”

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Chapter Twelve As soon as Moon opened the door to her apartment, she was aware of something out of place. Her body froze in acute alert as she picked up a strange scent that didn’t belong there. But she couldn’t put her finger on what it was, only that it was…different. Pushing back the fear, she forced herself to start thinking, debating whether to go in or close the door and run like hell. The last thing she wanted was to end up knifed to death by some sicko serial killer, branded as too stupid to live like the heroines in some of the slasher movies she’d seen. What idiot would walk into a darkened apartment knowing something evil lurked inside? But in that instant, she recognized the scent and knew nothing bad was going to happen to her. She shut the door behind her and flipped on the light, not at all surprised to find Blake sitting on her sofa. Dressed in worn jeans and a sleeveless shirt, his brown, muscular arms made her mouth water. Until now she hadn’t realized her lupine senses would continue to work even in her human form. Maybe she’d blocked that part out or hadn’t recognized the clues. Denial. That’s what it was. She’d effectively pushed every thought about Blake, about who she’d become, to the back of her mind for over a month. “Blake.” “Moon.” “What are you doing here? No, wait. First tell me how you got in.” She dropped her purse onto the table next to the door and stepped into the living room, which seemed oh-so much smaller now that he was in it.

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“I’m a wolf. I’m cunning,” he explained, his lips curling upward in a devastating smile that she’d missed over the past month. “I see. Now tell me what you’re doing here.” “I didn’t like the way things ended so abruptly between us last month.” Irritation prickled her nerve endings. “I see.” He patted the sofa cushion. “Come sit beside me.” Part of her wanted to do exactly as he asked. The other part felt the tug on her independence, and didn’t like it. “I’m fine standing.” He shrugged and stood, stopping only inches from her. “Then I’ll stand, too.” If she picked up the scent of him before, it nearly drove her to her knees now. He was aroused, hard, the evidence of that in the thick bulge pressing against the zipper of his jeans and the musky, all-male scent of him permeating her senses. Her throat went dry and she swallowed. “What do you want, Blake?” “You.” She sucked in a breath, refusing to be weakened by his power. “I think we covered all that last month.” “Did we? I don’t think so. There were things left unsaid between us.” “Oh, I think we said everything we needed to. I can’t live the way you want, Blake. I can’t be under some man’s control, with no independence. I can’t—” “I love you, Moon.” Okay, score one for Blake. All her carefully thought-out reasons why she couldn’t be with him fled. “What?” “I love you. I neglected to say that last time, even though I felt it. When you said you didn’t want any part of my life, I let my stupid pride get in the way. I should have told you then. I didn’t. I want you to know now.” “You can’t love me. You don’t even know me.” 114

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“Don’t I?” he replied with a half-smile and arched brow. Oh, God. Confusion twisted her insides and now she did slump onto the sofa. He came down next to her, drawing her hand between his large, warm palms. She jerked it away, not wanting the riotous sensations he caused in her libido to cloud her judgment. “Loving me doesn’t change things, Blake. I still can’t give up my independence for you or anyone else.” Saying the words hurt her as much as she knew they hurt him. On some instinctive level she knew he’d never said those words to anyone before her, realized what an admission like that cost him. But she’d fought so hard for her independence, it wasn’t easy to let go. “Let me finish,” he said. “I love you, but there’s more. After we parted, I thought I could go back to my life the way it was.” He scrubbed his hand through his thick, dark hair in a way that made her itch to reach out and touch the soft mass of midnight. “I worked in the vineyard, did the books, spent time on the preserve with the wolves. I went back to my normal routine that had always filled my days and satisfied me. Only something happened.” She fought for words. “What happened?” “Emptiness happened. In those short few days you spent with me, you became a part of my life. Now I can’t sleep at night without feeling your skin against mine. I can’t take pleasure in having a cup of coffee in the morning without you being there to share it with me. I can’t open up a new bottle of wine and enjoy the surprise of a new vintage without you being there to take the first taste with me. And I can’t imagine ever making love to anyone ever again except you.” A savage war tore her up inside. The need for her independence warred with her love for Blake. Because as much as he confessed to feeling empty without her, she had felt the same without him. No matter how busy she stayed over the past month, it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t fulfilling her anymore like it used to. Something was missing from her life now. Something important. 115

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Blake. “I need you, Moon. And I’ve never needed anyone before.” Hot tears clouded her vision. Heather was right. She was dumb. Love had been right there for the taking, and instead of compromising, she’d made it all or nothing. Her way or no way. She’d taken her parents’ easy carefree life and had made hers the complete and rigid opposite. Pride worked both ways, and she had plenty of it to spare. It was time to give some of it up and see what happened. “I need you too, Blake,” she admitted, sliding her hand between his. “And I love you. I let fear and pride guide me and I walked away when all I wanted to do was stay wrapped up in your arms forever. I’ve never felt more at home, more at peace, more the person I really wanted to be than when I was with you. I don’t want to lose that. I’ve missed you.” She lost herself in his eyes, the love that showed there mirroring her own. He reached for her, dragging her across his lap, his mouth coming down hard on hers. She welcomed the savage passion that filled her with a drug-like need for him. His tongue invaded, plunging in and out to mimic the motions of sex, making her whimper against him, desperate to feel him inside her. She shuddered when he moved from her lips to her neck, licking at the pulse point that beat erratically there. His low growl against her skin made her panties flood with juices. He inhaled sharply and groaned, as if he knew the exact moment she got wet. “God, Moon. I missed you.” Finally able to tangle her fingers in his thick, dark hair, she pulled his face up to hers and took his mouth again, desperate to taste him. He met her lips with a fierce rumbling growl and she gave one in return, the beast within her rearing up to claim its mate. Her mate. Her man. The man she loved. This felt so right. A madness overcame her, a passionate need to claim her mate in every way possible. She reached for his t-shirt, dragging it up over his sculpted abdomen to press her hand along his hot flesh. He 116

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moaned into her mouth, then quickly jerked her off his lap, standing her up next to the sofa. “Get…these…off,” he said, his jaw clenched as he made quick work of her shirt and jeans, not even taking the time to remove her panties. Instead, he reached for the thin strips of silk at her hips and with one quick tug her panties were shredded. His eyes flamed hot as he gazed at her with a hunger that made her heart slam against her chest. He pushed her onto her knees, her breasts pressed against the back of the sofa. She heard the rustle of clothing and the quick drawing of his zipper, then he was against her, his naked skin pressed against her back. His thick, burning cock probed between her legs, searching for her sex. She arched her back, shoving her buttocks toward him in an effort to engulf his cock. The first thrust made her whimper, her nails digging into the fabric of the sofa. He reared back and thrust upward again, his shaft stretching her, filling her while she pulsed around him. He reached around and found her sex, his fingers strumming her clit with a fast, gentle rhythm. The combination of his thick cock stroking her cunt and his fingers weaving magic over the knot of nerves at her clit brought about a swift climax that made her scream. Fluids poured from her pussy and down her thighs. “Oh, yeah,” he muttered, sweeping her hair to the side and taking the nape of her neck between his teeth. He powered hard and hot inside her, ravaging her pussy until she felt her blood begin to boil and the physiological changes come upon her. “Blake,” she moaned, the intensity of his cock thickening and lengthening inside her driving her to madness. She clawed at the sofa, pounded the cushions and shrieked as she felt torn apart from the inside out. Relentless sensations of pleasure bombarded her, making her feel weak and supremely powerful at the same time. When he pulled out of her she could have sobbed with frustration. But then he dropped onto his back onto the sofa, pulling her astride him. His eyes were half-hooded and filled with the glow of change. “Ride me, Moon. Fuck my cock.”

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She reached for his shaft and positioned it at the entrance to her pussy, then slowly slid down over him, enjoying every inch filling her. In this position he went deep, striking her womb and making her pussy weep with pleasure. Her juices poured over his balls as she began to rock against him, sliding her clit through the moisture at his pelvis. Blake fought for composure as Moon rode him, her silvery hair spilling over her shoulders and across her breasts. He reached for her breasts, filling his palms with the soft globes, then taking her nipples between his thumb and forefinger and teasing her. He loved to watch her eyes darken, her lips part as she panted for breath. The hard little nub of her clit rubbed above his dick, each time making her pussy grip him in a viselike hold. Her body began to change as the shift came over her. Release hovered close within him, too, forcing his blood to burn, his skin prickling as his fur sprouted and thickened. He kept his gaze trained on Moon, watching as she tilted her head back and embraced the partial shift that came with lovemaking. When she looked down at him again, she was half-human, half-wolf. And all his. His mate. His woman. “You are mine, Moonlight,” he said, gripping her hips and thrusting his cock upward, driving it deep. “You will always be mine.” “Yours,” she said, her human voice mixing with a wolfen growl. She leaned forward and dug her claws into his shoulders, dropping down to grind her pussy against him. “Come on my cock, Moon,” he commanded. “Come all over me.” She lifted and slammed down over him, her sweet pussy slapping his balls as she howled with an orgasm so intense it shook him. Unable to hold back, he lifted his hips and buried his cock as far as it would go, then climaxed with her, shooting hot streams of cum deep, over and over until he finally crashed against the sofa and pulled her against him. 118

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The changes within them dissipated within a few moments. Blake continued to hold onto her as if she might jump off and run away. No matter what it took, no matter what he had to do, he would never let her walk away from him again. “Moon,” he whispered, drawing her hair away from her face and kissing her ear. “Mmm?” “However you want to do this, we’ll do it.” She leaned up and rested her hands on his chest, smiling down at him in a way that made his chest tighten. “I thought we did it pretty good that time.” “I meant the you and me together thing.” “Oh.” “I realize the dominant part of me likes to control everything. I came into your life and put you on a leash, thinking I could keep you that way. But I fell in love with a woman who values her independence. I won’t make that mistake again.” Moon searched his face, knowing what it cost Blake to give up control. “I don’t need all that much independence. I might be willing to give up control in the bedroom, but I’m a little too hardheaded and controlling in other aspects of my life. That we can work on together until we find a balance.” “I like balance. And I’m as hardheaded as you, but I’m willing to work on a compromise.” That’s all she needed to know. If he gave a little, she would, too. “I want to be with you. I want to live on the ranch with you. I want to set up that wildlife preserve with you. I want to spend forever with you. The big things we’ll work on together. The little things will take care of themselves. Besides, I tend to like that leash you have me on. It makes me hot to have you control me sexually, Blake.” “I live to make you hot, baby.” He dragged her down for a kiss that left her breathless, her nipples beading in anticipation of more lovemaking.

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When she managed to tear her lips away, she said, “Let’s get out of here and head to your place. I have a need to get a little wild and might need that leash you’re so fond of.” “Wild thing,” he teased, but his gaze took on a serious tone. If she had only this one day with him, the look of love on his face right now would be enough to sustain her forever. “I love you, Moonlight Madison. Come live with me and make me whole.” The tears welled again and this time she let them, celebrating the magic of love with him. “I love you too, Blake Hunter. And I’m yours. All yours.”

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About the author: In April 2003, Ellora’s Cave foolishly offered me a contract for my first erotic romance and I haven’t shut up since. My writing is an addiction for which there is no cure, a disease in which strange characters live in my mind, all clamoring for their own story. I try to let them out one by one, as mixing snarling werewolves with a bondage and discipline master can be very dangerous territory. Then again, unusual plotlines offer relief from the demons plaguing me.

In my world, well-endowed, naked cabana boys do the vacuuming and dishes, little faeries flit about dusting the furniture and doing laundry, Wolfgang Puck fixes my dinner and I spend every night engaged in wild sexual abandon with a hunky alpha. Okay, the hunky alpha part is my real life husband and he keeps my fantasy life enriched with extensive “research”. But Wolfgang won’t answer my calls, the faeries are on strike and my readers keep running off with the cabana boys.

Jaci welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1337 Commerce Drive, #13, Stow, Ohio 44236-0787.

Also by Jaci Burton: A Storm For All Seasons 1: Summer Heat A Storm For All Seasons 3: Winter Ice Bite Me Chains of Love: Bound to Trust Devlin Dynasty: Fall Fury Devlin Dynasty: Mountain Moonlight Devlin Dynasty: Running Mate Dream On Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails II anthology Kismet 1: Winterland Destiny Kismet 2: Fiery Fate League of 7 Seas: Dolphin’s Playground Lycan’s Surrender Magnolia Summer Mesmerized anthology Midnight Velvet Passion In Paradise 1: Paradise Awakening Passion In Paradise 2: Paradise Revival Passion In Paradise 3: Paradise Discovery Tangled Web (with C.J. Burton)

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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