Close Protection Read online

  He shuddered as he pulled the phone from his pocket, dick springing to life again. He’d only just got the fucker to go down after coming out here. Thoughts of Ashlee were not helping.

  “Holder,” he growled, his voice more animal than human as he held the phone to his ear.

  The conversation was short and sweet. Zane’s brow furrowed as he flipped the thing shut a minute later. When Ashlee had called the Agency in, she hadn’t just gotten him and his team to stand guard over the bar. Eloise had also thrown in dealing with the threat completely, something Zane was all in favour of. No point in a quick fix if the problem was going to come back when he and his team left. No, they needed to cut the head off the snake so it couldn’t come slithering back.

  But so far none of the teams sent out to find Roth and his gang of bully boys had had any luck. Not a trace of them at all. It was like they’d disappeared off the face of the earth. Or into a pixie barrow. Zane sighed. If they had a barrow, then the chances of the Agency finding it were zero. A part of Faery attached to the human world, barrows couldn’t be tracked unless they wanted to be, and most of the time they were fiercely loyal to their pixie packs.

  Flicking the cigarette off, he pocketed it. Time to go back inside. If he stood leaning against the bar, perhaps he could conceal the state of his body until the damn hard-on went down. As soon as he thought it, he knew it wasn’t happening. Once he got back inside, Ashlee would be there, and then his control over his wayward cock was gone. Completely gone. The damn thing was like a puppy where she was concerned. Up and begging for fucking attention all the freaking time.

  A prickle of awareness lifted all the hairs on the back of his neck and stopped him mid-turn. Lifting his head, he directed a hard gaze at the dark alley opposite the bar. His eyes narrowed. He was being watched from the darkness within, but even his preternatural senses couldn’t penetrate the shadows nor the stink of the un-emptied dumpsters to pick out either visual or scent.

  Didn’t matter though. There was only one person who would be having Bishop’s watched. Roth.

  “Come and get us, you bastard,” he growled softly, flicking a mocking salute at the darkness as he turned and walked back inside.

  When he pushed open the door, warmth and noise wrapped around him like a blanket. The bar was full, happy customers chatting and having a good time while the small dance floor in one corner was packed. Too intent on their own evening’s pleasure, no one bothered with his ‘arrival’ apart from Ashlee, who had shot a concerned look at the door as soon as it opened. Recognition and relief flowed over her face as she saw him, and maybe something else as well. Pleasure? Zane grumbled in the back of his throat. No way was Ms. Too Good for a Wolf pleased to see him for him. No, she’d be more pleased to see that the protection she’d paid for was worth the money.

  Bringing his mind back to work, he scanned the room for his team. Pride filtered through his big frame as he found Trent stationed on the other side of the room, exactly where Zane had ordered him to stand earlier. The big guy looked just like a statute. If the half-gargoyle had moved a muscle, Zane would be surprised. The only hint of movement was his eyes, constantly aware and watching the room.

  Nodding in approval, he looked on to find another member of his team, Destiny, helping Ashlee out behind the bar. The two women were the same height, both tiny. Where Ashlee had curves to tempt a saint, Destiny was slender and so delicate it appeared that a stray breeze would be enough to snap her.

  Nothing could be further from the truth. The hints of green in her ice-blonde hair weren’t artistic streaks. The tiny woman was a dryad, one with a chilling habit of wrapping any available wood around her opponents, idiots that pissed her off, or people who dared to talk to her before her morning coffee. The bonds then turned into living coffins that crushed them to death. To say that she wasn’t a morning person was an understatement. Zane couldn’t think of anyone better to station in a room with so much wood. One hint of trouble and Destiny could have all of their pixie friends boxed and dealt with in seconds.

  He worked his way through the crowd, ignoring Ashlee’s little wave to head towards the back of the room. The last members of his team were out in the back alley, guarding it from another attack. If Trent and Destiny were bad-ass, then these two were totally off the scale and heading over the never fuck with horizon.

  Baron and Duke were inseparable. Twin dragon-shifters, they did everything together. Lived together, worked together. Some said they even shared their women. As far as Zane knew, they had never actually pulled that off, since one or both always managed to say something to get them slapped within seconds. And that was just the women they didn’t scare off in the first place.

  He didn’t get to the kitchens. Instead, a feminine voice called out, and Ashlee tumbled into the corridor after him. Instantly all his male instincts roared into life as he reached out to stop her from falling on her face. His wolf howled with need as her soft body pressed against his. It wanted her, wanted the woman that could control it, his animal and human sides in perfect accord as his body reacted predictably to her nearness.

  He grimaced as his cock hardened like a flagpole, the savage ache nearly bringing him to his knees as he put her from him. Lust and anger surged through him in equal amounts. Anger at her for her discrimination, then anger at himself for still wanting her despite it.

  “What do you want Ms. Bishop?” he asked, his voice cold on purpose. Better that she thought he was a bastard. He might get out of here without making a complete fool of himself by dropping to his knees and asking, no, begging her to let him have one taste of her creamy cunt.

  She faltered, confusion and pain in her eyes at his tone, but still she straightened and looked at him directly.

  “I-I wanted to say…errm, that is I wanted to apologise for what I said before. About dating werewolves—”

  And just like that, he was screwed.

  *

  It had taken her three days to gather her courage enough to approach Zane, but when she finally did Ashlee wasn’t prepared for the anger or lust that flowed over his face. She didn’t have much time to ponder whether the anger was for what she’d said the night they’d met, or more because she’d managed to trample on his feet as she fell through the door. He moved like lightening, and within a second her hands were pinned above her head, his hard body pressing hers into the wall behind as he glared down at her.

  The heat that had been simmering in her blood since their aborted kiss the other night caught, blossoming into a full-scale inferno. He moved against her, changing his grip so both her wrists were held in one of his hands. His cock pressed against her belly: hot, hard and full of promise. Her knees all but collapsed under her. If he hadn’t been holding her wrists, she’d have slithered to the floor at his feet in a puddle of pure need, as the ache within her reached a fever pitch.

  “Don’t worry doll,” he growled, a ring of amber in his blue eyes. “I don’t want to date you. Just fuck you.”

  She couldn’t contain her gasp, his words sending a thrill right down to the depths of her soul. He was probably crude to scare her off, or punish her for what she’d said, but she caught the tiny shift in his expression. The crack in his mask just before he blinked let her see through the facade and to the deep loneliness and pain buried inside.

  Her heart stuttered, lurched, then sped up. She’d wounded him with her words, hit on an older pain, and the need to make it right welled up within her. Desire and need wrapped together, creating a potent combination she couldn’t resist.

  “Oh God, yes…”

  Instead of shrinking from his furious expression she leaned into him, rising up on tiptoe to press her lips against his. Offering herself. Offering everything she had in one kiss. He didn’t move, so she took that as encouragement. Opening her mouth, she swept her tongue along his lower lip, pressed tiny kisses to the corner, then down over his chin. Shivering at the feeling of his stubbled jaw under her lips, she grazed her teeth over the tiny cle
ft in his chin.

  It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. With a rough growl he moved, leaning down to claim her lips with a hard kiss. A brutally dominating kiss designed to prove who was in charge. He parted her lips with one sweep and drove deep, seeking out the soft places within as the growl continued to roll in his broad chest.

  Yes…oh God, yes!

  She whimpered as he dropped her wrists to wrap his arms around and drag her closer. Up against his hard muscled body where she wanted to be. His arms bunched as he lifted her, shoving her skirt up so he could wrap her legs around his hips. They both gasped as his cock pressed against her, heat branding her as though they were already naked and entwined. Just a couple of layers of fabric, her panties and his slacks, prevented him from being where they both wanted him to be.

  “Soon,” he promised, walking backward to shoulder open the door to her office.

  Chapter Five

  Zane didn’t stop. He slammed the door shut behind them and somehow managing to throw the latch without slowing. Then they were at her desk, his hard arm sweeping the contents to the floor before he lowered her to the surface.

  He stood over her. Twin fires of desire and anger burned in his eyes. As she watched, the darker heat of pure desire took over. Reaching out a hand, he hooked a finger under the top button of her blouse and flicked it open.

  Then the next.

  And the next.

  In total silence.

  She shivered, lying still as he unbuttoned her shirt, doing nothing to stop him as he parted the fabric to reveal her breasts encased in a plain satin bra. At least it was a new one, and not grey from the wash. The last couple of days she’d made an effort. Had she hoped subconsciously, despite his anger with her, that they’d pick up where they left off the other night?

  “Perfect.” His low compliment made a flush race over her cheek. Awe spread over his face as he drew a gentle line with his fingertip over the twin swells of her breasts. “Pretty. I like satin. But it has to come off.”

  He hooked a finger into the catch hidden in her cleavage. It gave with a click. She bit her lip as cool air washed over her exposed flesh, her breasts firming and the nipples tightening in anticipation of his touch.

  “Hands above your head. Hold onto the desk.”

  Leaning over her, he blew a hot breath over the peaked nipples. She squeaked. Then his hot tongue flicked over one and she groaned, a sound that became a long, low whimper of need as he enclosed the turgid peak in the warm cavern of his mouth. He sucked, and liquid heat arrowed down to escape from her pussy.

  A large, warm hand cupped her other breast, calluses on the palms abrading her delicate skin in delicious friction as he rolled the nipple between his fingers. He added a quick tweak every now and then as he licked and sucked its partner. Then he switched, ensuring both breasts got equal attention until she was quivering in need, her pussy clenched tight in anticipation.

  Her hips rocked, seeking sensation from something, anything…even the slide of her desire soaked panties against her own flesh. He licked and sucked, seeming determined to drive her out of her mind.

  “Zane…”

  Her voice caught on a sob of need. She’d never wanted a man so much in her life. She needed more, needed everything he could give her. Needed him to free his cock, part her legs further and drive deep within.

  “Soon,” he promised, giving her nipple a last, long lick before kissing along her belly. She sucked a breath in, moaning as his big hands shoved her skirt up around her waist to reveal the fact she didn’t wear hose, just a pair of itty, bitty satin bikinis.

  “Sexy.”

  His voice was a rumble as he slid to his knees between her thighs. Hard fingers hooked under the sides and pulled them down. Wordlessly she lifted her hips to help him, shivering as he drew them off and tossed them aside. Try as she might to open her legs, she couldn’t, her knees clamped together as he ran his hands up the outsides.

  “Open for me, sweet stuff. Let me see that pretty little cunt.”

  She obeyed without thought, her body his to command. He rumbled in approval, sweeping his hands up the insides of her legs as she parted them, urging them wider until she was totally exposed to his view. Cooler air washed over her pussy lips, a tingle and mini-caress all its own as he looked at her.

  She bit her lip as he lifted her legs. Zane looped them over his shoulders to lean in and part her folds with his thumbs. Her hips rocked of their own accord, urging him on as a warm breath washed over her. Her clit ached, tightening in need, and her breathing caught. Anticipation held her in its grasp. Time slowed. The tension grew so tight that she whimpered, impatient for him to do something, anything to ease the torment running through her body.

  The first touch of his tongue was swift. A hot, sharp lash as he flicked it over her exposed clit. She keened as pleasure crashed through her, the familiar heaviness already building. Surprise stilled her for a second. He’d barely touched her. Surely she couldn’t be on the verge of coming? Not yet. Even on her own, knowing her body as she did, she was never able to bring herself off that quickly. Certainly no boyfriend had. Normally it took months of pointing out what she liked before they could manage it in a reasonable amount of time.

  But she was. The pressure and tension in her core built with each passing second as he growled with appreciation. Large hands holding her hips still, he nibbled, licked and sucked on her clit like it was his favourite candy. She whimpered, rocking her hips, riding his lips and tongue to get that little bit more sensation.

  Just a little more. She only needed a little more.

  He thrust two fingers deep inside her in a hot, slick ride of pure sensation and she screamed. Her body clamped down on the invading digits as she came hard and fast, coating him in her juices. He rumbled again and held on, sucking on her clit as she kept coming. His fingers worked inside her, elongating and drawing out her pleasure. He found her g-spot, stroking and pressing with those long fingers until she saw stars behind her eyelids.

  She was awash in pleasure when he pulled away gently. Her mind was blown and her body hummed in the aftermath. Then he was there, pushing her legs further apart as he pulled her to the edge of the desk. She watching him through half lidded eyes as he yanked his belt open and zipper down, freeing the thick hard cock she’d dreamt about for the last three nights.

  It sprang free, slapping against his stomach and leaving a wet patch on his dark red shirt. She pouted, missing seeing all that ripped flesh naked for her pleasure. But then he had his cock in his hand, rubbing it over her clit, and her eyes rolled back.

  “That’s it sweet, you’re gonna give it to me again. Can you feel that?” he demanded, sliding the broad head of his cock up and down her lips. It slipped against her slick flesh, and made them both shudder. “See how hot you are for me. How much you’ve come already.”

  He moved, bracing himself with a hand by her head as he pressed against the entrance to her pussy. She opened her eyes to look up at him and was caught by the heat and need in his gaze. The feral lust and the very human need for connection.

  “I’m gonna make you come again,” he promised as he pushed forward a fraction. Her body gave, eager cunt trying to pull him in to ease the deep ache, the need to be filled, but he pulled back. She bit back a howl of frustration, the sense of loss rolling through her.

  It didn’t last long. Almost before he’d finished pulling back, he surged forward again, pressing deeper. She was so wet that her body parted to accept him easily. Back and forth he went, the see-saw movement driving his cock deeper into her each time. Finally he pulled back and slammed into her, seating himself to the hilt.

  Her moan mingled with his deep groan in the silence of the small room. She felt stuffed, her body stretched almost to the limit as he paused, waiting for her to adjust to him. That little consideration wrapped tiny threads around her heart, deepening her arousal impossibly more.

  The need to move struck as he pulled back. Pleasure hit her ag
ain as he surged into her over and over. Each heavy thrust was welcomed and needed to ease the deep ache inside her. An ache she knew only he could assuage.

  Grunting with effort, he set up a hard, fast pace. They moved together, straining toward each other, with each surge and retreat. She gasped, arching her back to rub against him as he leaned down to capture her mouth. He thrust his tongue past her lips even as his cock slammed into her pussy, impaling her, penetrating her twice.

  And she loved it.

  Each solid thrust of his hips, every stroke of his tongue along hers, drove the tension in her core tighter, higher…until she thought she couldn’t take it anymore. But take it she did, her release, amazing though it was coming so soon after the first, hovering just out of reach. As if it waited in the wings for his permission to crash over her.

  “That’s it sweets, just a little more. Give me a little more.”

  He pulled back, standing upright and dragging her almost off the edge of the desk. Sliding his hand under her knee, he hooked her ankle over his shoulder and thrust again. Pleasure sent a cascade of heat through her veins as he slid deeper, stroking nerve endings she hadn’t known she possessed.

  “That’s it,” he urged as she gasped and moved against him. Her movements became erratic as the chasm widened beneath her. The heat and tension in her core reached breaking point. And froze.

  Time slowed to a stop, Zane moving in slow motion as he slid his cock out of her. She could feel everything. Feel every inch of the thick, veined shaft as he withdrew, her pussy walls gripping him all the way. Opening her eyes, she sought his. Needed to see him as her world came apart.

  He was there, leant forward to catch her gaze. “Scream for me, sweets. Scream my name as you come over my cock.”

  He thrust forward, driving his entire length into her tight sheath.