Chapter 9
Myles didn’t want to release Addison, even to Riley. He watched the pair disappear into the back where Riley had some shoes for Addison.
“So what happened?” Solomon bade.
Myles swiveled his head to his brothers. He walked to the small, round table and pulled out a chair, turning it backwards before he sat between Kane and Solomon. “I went to see the witch who told Addison she was in danger.”
Court whistled. “You’re a brave man. You wouldn’t catch me dead talking to them.”
Myles tried to smile at Court’s jest, but he couldn’t manage it. “It took some doing, but I learned why Delphine wants Addison.”
“The fact the bitch wants her at all is enough to kill Delphine in my book,” Kane said through clenched teeth.
Solomon glanced at Kane before he looked at Myles. “Well?”
“Delphine wants to increase her power. To do that, she needs two things - a witch, and a mortal pure of spirit.”
Court grunted and looped one arm on the back of his chair. “I don’t have to guess which category Addison falls in.”
“Exactly.” Myles ran a hand down his face, deciding he would keep what the witch foretold about his death to himself. No need to worry his brothers.
Solomon studied him carefully. “What are you leaving out?”
“Nothing,” Myles lied. “The witch said the other factions know of Delphine’s plan and don’t want her to get more power, so they decided to eliminate Addison.”
Kane drummed his fingers on the table. “So others will be coming after Addison?”
“Possibly. If Delphine doesn’t get to her first.”
Court made a face. “She sent a clear message by going after Addison in the middle of the day. My guess is she heard about the vampire last night. Delphine isn’t going to want to take another chance.”
“It’s not like Addison is the only one pure in spirit,” Solomon said.
Myles shrugged. “According to the witch, she is in New Orleans.”
“How many of Delphine’s men were after Addison?” Kane asked.
“Three. Only two attacked. The other watched from a distance.”
“You should’ve gone after him,” Court said as he leaned one forearm on the table.
“And leave Addison alone for a fourth I might not have seen?” Myles pointed out.
Solomon held up a hand when Court started to argue. “Myles did the right thing. If Delphine wants Addison bad enough that she’s willing to snatch her in the middle of the day, then it could have been a trap.”
“Y’all could’ve killed Delphine,” Kane said as he stared at the table, both of his fists clenched tightly atop the surface. “Had I not messed around and gotten cursed, you could’ve killed her. You should have anyway.”
Myles reached over and placed his hand on Kane’s shoulder. “If we’d done that, you would’ve remained in wolf form forever.”
“Only until one of our cousins killed me,” Kane said as he looked at Myles. “Each of you would be free of Delphine now, and Addison wouldn’t be in danger.”
Solomon rested one of his fists atop Kane’s. “Then we wouldn’t have you. We made the right call.”
“We sure as shit did,” Court stated loudly.
Myles dropped his hand from Kane’s shoulder when Addison and Riley returned.
He couldn’t stop staring at Addison’s mouth.
The kiss had been everything he knew it would be and so much more.
He forgot everything, including where he was, when she was in his arms. Why did she have to be so damn alluring?
Why did he crave her as if she were life itself?
He didn’t care that there were no answers. He didn’t need them. All he needed was Addison. What a fool he had been to push her away, to keep his distance. Now, he feared he wouldn’t have even a day with her.
A blush stained her cheeks, causing him to smile because he knew she was thinking of their kiss, just as he was. He loved the way her hazel eyes looked at him, as if she wanted to devour him.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for Addison to work today,” Riley said.
Myles wanted to hug his cousin for her quick thinking. His smile grew, even as Addison began to argue that she needed to work.
“Riley is right. We can’t watch everyone Addison comes into contact with if she’s working,” Myles said. “She needs to be somewhere safe.”
Like his place.
Addison glanced away. “I have to work. Not only do I need the money, but I took a shift.”
“That I can easily take over,” Riley said. She nudged Addison. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s for the best. Delphine can’t get her hands on you if she doesn’t know where you are.”
Solomon got to his feet. “Then it’s settled. Myles, I gather you’ll take Addison to your place?”
“It’s warded,” Myles said and stood, his cock already swelling with the idea of being alone with Addison.
Kane pulled out his cell phone. “As much as I appreciate the warding, I think it might be prudent to bring in reinforcements.”
Myles looked from Kane to Court to Solomon and shrugged. “Your call,” he told Solomon.
For long seconds, Solomon mulled over Kane’s proposal. He inhaled deeply and gave a rueful shake of his head. “I’m going to regret this, but all right.”
As Kane made the call to the Moonstone pack, Myles waited for Addison to walk to him. Once she was beside him, it was everything he could do not to pull her into his arms and kiss her again.
She had no idea how tempting her dark pink lips were, how irresistible her taste. Or perhaps she did. Maybe she knew the way she tantalized and seduced him with her soft touch and big eyes.
“Your place?” she asked, a hint of siren in her voice.
Myles could feel the eyes of his brothers and Riley on him, and he didn’t care if they could see the hunger, the yearning for Addison in his gaze. “My place,” he whispered and held out his hand.
There was a smile on his face as she laced her fingers with his. They walked from Gator Bait together, no words spoken. None needed.
Myles was alert and wary as they strolled down the sidewalk. He was wound tight by the time they reached his building. After quickly punching the code to open the door, Myles ushered her inside and up the four flights of stairs, bypassing the elevator.
He unlocked the steel door and slid it open. “Make yourself at home,” he said as he waved her inside.
“I love the space,” she said looking around.
Myles shut the door and watched her. He looked around the large room with its fifteen-foot ceilings. He’d left the brick walls and the air vent piping exposed, using them as part of his décor.
His bed had burgundy bed curtains that he could pull closed to shut out the light from the many windows was against the far back wall. The kitchen was small but adequate. He had no cabinets, instead storing what little he needed on shelves.
There was a small table in the kitchen where he ate if he didn’t take the food to his brown leather couch that separated the bedroom from the living room. Opposite the couch, a TV hung on the wall.
“It’s amazing,” Addison said with a smile as she looked over her shoulder at him.
“It’s simple.”
She stopped and turned to face him. “It suits you perfectly.”
Myles locked and pushed off the door. “I’ve got movies. There’s an Xbox if you prefer. I can also make you something to eat if you’re hungry.”
“I’m not hungry, I don’t play video games, and I don’t want to watch a movie.” She pulled her purse strap over her head and dropped the bag on the couch.
Myles held his ground, afraid to move or utter a single sound and break the spell. Addison removed the too-big flip-flops while holding his gaze. He’d seen those amazing eyes up close. There were flecks of gold in her hazel eyes, and when she was scared, there was more green than brown.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
She smiled a little shyly and glanced down. “This,” she said and closed the distance between them before she kissed him.
Myles locked his arms around her and gave himself up to the fiery, fierce kiss. This time, he didn’t have to worry about an attack. This time, he didn’t have to end it.
He backed her across the space to the bed and lifted her up. A laugh escaped her as she broke the kiss and looked down at him. Myles carefully tossed her on the bed and quickly placed a knee on the mattress as he crawled over her.
“That look makes me feel as if I have butterflies,” she whispered.
Myles paused. “What look?”
“This one,” she said and placed her hands on his face tracing his nose, brows, jaw, and lips.
He turned his head to place a kiss on the inside of one of her arms. “Ah. You mean the one that says I crave you more than anything.”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “No one has ever looked at me like that before.”
“Stupid fools. Then again, they saved you for me.”
He lowered his weight atop her as they kissed again.
She began to tug at his shirt. Myles stopped kissing her long enough to yank it off.
The way her body cradled his caused his blood to pound relentlessly with need.
He wanted to take his time, to love her accordingly, but he’d spent too long fantasizing about making her his.
He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. As he did, he pulled off her shirt and tossed it aside. Her skin was warm, soft. Her lips were enticing, tempting.
It took little more to remove her denim shorts, leaving her in nothing but her plain white cotton bra and panties.
With a flick of his wrist, he unhooked her bra and slid the straps down her arms. It was Addison who pulled it from between their bodies and flung it.
He returned her to her back and leaned over her.
“My God,” he murmured as he looked down at her pert breasts and pink tipped nipples. He skimmed his hand along her flat belly and then up to cup one breast. “You’re gorgeous.”
Her blush stained her cheeks, her chest, and even her breasts. How one compliment could embarrass her only made him want more time with her. He watched her face as he flicked his thumb across her nipple. She inhaled sharply at first. As he circled the taut bud, her hips began to move.
She was a lovely sight, a mixture of innocence and seduction that was slowly driving him mad with lust. His hand moved to her other breast and teased the nipple until both were hard peaks.
Only then did he bend down and fasten his lips around them, suckling first one, then the other.
He used his tongue, and his teeth, to arouse.
Small cries of pleasure filled the area. With a nipple still in his mouth, he caressed down her stomach to her panties and then between her legs. His cock jumped when he felt the wet spot from her arousal.
It sent him over the edge. Myles turned his head away and closed his eyes as he struggled to get control.
“What is it?” Addison asked softly.
“I want you,” he ground out.
“Then take me.”
Her words, simply spoken, surprised him. He looked down at her and frowned. “I want to go slow, for you to savor every moment, but I want you too desperately. I can’t do slow.”
“Then don’t.”