Twisted Beasts

Eva

I’d say one thing for Llyr Barstow…

He was a great dancer, and his scent of mountain air and clean male had both me and my beast ready to take a bite. Unfortunately, this was a research excursion. I couldn’t afford to get attached to anyone—least of all him.

He pulled me close and looped a long arm around my waist to keep me pressed against his significant erection as the thumping bass of club music pulsed into my body. My beast perked up in interest, but I wasn’t sure if she was intent on us fucking him, or if she saw an opportunity to kill him.

Join us for a game of Marry, Fuck, Kill!

Her alert attention convinced me it was the latter, but it wasn’t Llyr’s turn yet.

“What do you say we get out of here?” His husky voice feathered past my ear, somehow perfectly clear over the noise, and my core spasmed with need.

As much as I hated what he represented, he was the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. Youthful beauty had morphed into pure sexy sin. His thick dark hair had turned gray at the temples surrounding eyes the color of spring leaves. Rounded cheeks became chiseled with bones sharp enough to cut glass, and lean muscles of youth were now solid bulk straining against the sleeves of his ever-present white dress shirts.

His physical beauty hid a monster, but there was something about him…

I almost said no, then reconsidered. Did it really matter if he went out of turn? He’d still be dead, and it would be easy as pie to rip out his throat while he recovered from an orgasm.

“Where to, cowboy?”

“I’ll get us a hotel room, so you don’t have to show me where you live.” With his arm still around my waist, he escorted me from the club. “And I’ll drive away first to keep me from seeing your car.”

“Wow, okay.” I tried to wrap my head around his words, but they didn’t make sense coming from him.

“Oh, yeah.” He fumbled for his wallet and took out his driver’s license. “Take a picture and send it to someone.”

Fates. Did the man read a woman’s safety manual, or what?

I took the picture and emailed it to myself, then made a note to purge both from my phone. There was no point in having the evidence tying me to him.

It didn’t escape my attention that he didn’t ask for my ID. Why would he? As the most powerful alpha lion in North America, he wouldn’t need protection from a human.

Too bad for him that I wasn’t.

“Thanks. Where am I meeting you?”

He considered me for a moment, then said, “The one south of town on I-25 near the outlet mall. It’s not great, but I’m pretty sure they’ll have a room. Do you know where it is?”

“Yes. That’s not even very far.”

“Right.” He traced a gentle finger along my jaw, then sank his hands into my hair and kissed me.

Fates damn him, the man kissed like a fucking god with just the right amount of pressure. He teased and tempted with his tongue until I had to force my canines to recede before I nicked him. Unable to help myself, I whimpered and tried to climb him like a tree to get more of his delicious taste.

He laughed softly and eased away from me but made sure I was steady on my feet before he let me go. “Let’s move this to the hotel before we get arrested for public indecency.”

“Okay. I can’t wait.”

“Me either.” He stole one last kiss and sauntered to a black sedan, then got in and drove away.

“Shit.”

I trudged to my car, wondering if I could actually do what needed done. How could such an evil man be so…considerate? I didn’t understand, but I wasn’t sure it mattered. All I had to do was let him fuck me, then swipe a claw across his throat.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, right?

Why did it feel so wrong?

When I reached the hotel, I parked as far as I could from his sedan, then dotted my pulse points with scent blocker. It was pricey on the open market, but I had a witch friend who would take baked goods in trade. As long as it kept Santa Fe’s shifter population from knowing what I was, it was worth as many pralines and macarons as she wanted.

After taking a deep breath to soothe both me and my beast, I went inside and found him sitting at one of the tables where a continental breakfast would be served.

Giving me a brilliant smile, he stood when I approached, then took my hand to kiss my knuckles. “I was afraid you were going to blow me off. Thank you.”

“No. I wouldn’t do that.” I glanced at the somewhat shabby décor. “This is perfect.”

“It’s clean anyway. I checked the room first.” He laid my hand on his elbow and escorted me down the corridor.

I hid a smile at his words. Llyr was probably used to staying in five-star hotels.

When we reached our room, he unlocked it and held the door for me before following me in. The minute the door shut behind him, he swept me into his arms and carried me to the bed. I squealed and giggled like he probably expected as he laid me on the somewhat saggy mattress and stripped off my jeans.

Unfortunately, his abrupt movements made my laughter sound forced. I didn’t like how he manhandled me, but he left me no time to protest the pop of seams as he yanked my panties away and buried his face between my legs.

Gotta love a man who goes downtown without being asked.

Such a waste.