The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Pride Law: Book 2 The Return By Loribelle Hunt
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Pride Law: Book 2 The Return By Loribelle Hunt
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The Return Copyright© 2010 Loribelle Hunt ISBN: 978‐1‐60088‐547‐1 Cover Artist: Sable Grey Editor: Devin Govaere All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Cobblestone Press, LLC www.cobblestone‐press.com
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Dedication For all the family and friends who continue to support me while I pursue a dream.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Chapter One Jazmina Nolan watched from her second story bedroom window as the big black SUV pulled into the drive and parked. Dread and anticipation twisted her stomach into knots, and she stood frozen in place, breath held, as the driver exited. Asa. Tall and thickly muscled, with short‐cropped black hair and piercing eyes she couldn’t see from this distance. He was a beautiful man, especially for his age. Then again, he was a werewolf. And they did age well. She was thrilled to see him but irritated about the circumstances. Her twin sister, Sunny, and her mates, Carlos and Declan, refused to leave Jaz unguarded. No amount of pointing out that a bodyguard was overkill made a difference. For crissakes, she was in the middle of a werelion pride. No one would listen to her protests, however. At least she’d been asked—before he was approached about babysitting duty—if she could handle a week alone with him in the house. She’d taken the proposal seriously. It was the only fair thing to do, thinking long and hard before saying yes. He already knew her secret, knew what she was. One of the handful of known female shapeshifters in the world, and he’d seen her at her worst. Cowed. Beaten. Without hope. It was dangerous, his knowing what she was. But exhilarating too. He didn’t want to control her. Didn’t want to breed her to serve his own sick quest for power. He wanted her for the simple yet complicated reason that she was his mate. To be wanted just for herself, no other ulterior motives… Well, it was a heady thing.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt She watched as the others exited the house to welcome him. It should have been her job, but here she was lurking out of sight. Carlos and Sunny loaded their vehicle while Declan, another werewolf and Sunny’s second mate, stopped to talk with Asa. They chatted a bit, two old friends catching up, and Asa glanced up at her window. Once. Briefly. He nodded a response to her slight wave, just a lifted hand really, and she knew she couldn’t remain in hiding forever. When he turned away, so did she. She left her room, hurried down the steps before she could chicken out, and then went out the front door. She’d known he would hear when she stepped outside, and he slowly swiveled around to face her. He wasn’t hiding anything from her. She saw his frustration, his lust, his gentleness and worry. One couldn’t ask for a better mate, and she knew it. He wasn’t her only mate, however. For some reason, not every werelion had a specific, destined mate so those that did were expected to share. Pride Law was a tradition that grew out of a time when female shifters were believed non‐existent. Things were changing fast, though, and some females were evolving differently. Unlike the average werelion, she did have a mate. Two of them. She’d known as soon as she met them, a stunning forceful instinct that had grown into a painful craving over the last six months. She caught Fisher’s scent on the faint breeze and knew he was somewhere close by. Watching them. He was just as much hers as Asa was, but she avoided him. She wasn’t quite ready to accept him yet. But she knew he was in love with Asa. Knew they’d been together and Fisher not only broke it off, but fucked up bad enough that Asa might never take him back no matter how much he begged. It saddened her on Asa’s behalf and pissed her off. Why would anyone let such an incredible man go? If she could scent Fisher close, so could Asa. So she marched down the steps to go stand by the man’s side and lend her unspoken support. Solidarity, right? After all, they’d both have to find a way to deal with Fisher. His shortcomings. His betrayals. And hell, maybe she was being too harsh. Who knew? She sure as hell didn’t. It was all still too fresh in her mind.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt She’d been kidnapped by the Society, a group of rogue werewolves and feral werefelines. Much of her captivity in their Miami compound was a fog, but she’d caught Fisher’s scent from the underground prison cells in the compound, faint yet oddly seductive, for weeks before he’d come down to see the prisoners. One look and she’d known he was her mate, and his eyes had reflected the same knowledge. When he’d left the basement, she’d curled into a ball and cried, the only time she’d done so in almost eight weeks of captivity. She’d always wondered if she would be one of the lucky ones who had a mate, but to find out he was one of the bad guys? Discovering he was part of a group of shifters who looked down on humans and hunted them like prey was too much to bear. Two days later, he helped her escape. She knew now he’d been there undercover, knew there was no way he could have rescued her and the other prisoners alone, that he’d had to wait for backup. But knowing that didn’t stop the pain in her chest, the feeling of abandonment when she thought of it, when she saw him. She was working on accepting that wasn’t what he’d done, but she was still a work in progress. Then there was his relationship with her sister. She cut the thought off before it could fully form, before the sting of an entirely different kind of betrayal set in. His brief time with Sunny was something Jaz was working hard to let go. The true hell of it was no matter how much her mind protested, and those protests were dwindling by the day as she grew stronger and her self‐confidence returned, he tempted her. He was a beautiful man, tall, his lean build deceptively powerful, with the same reddish blond hair most of the werelions had. His was a little long and had a way of falling into his eyes that made her fingers itch to brush it away. She couldn’t see a way out of their predicament, but she knew things couldn’t continue as they had. Maybe Fisher had major sucking‐up abilities they hadn’t been the beneficiaries of yet? Maybe he had good, solid reasons for his actions. Probably she was just too newly freed from captivity to forgive anything. But Asa… He was different. He hadn’t left her a prisoner. Hadn’t
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt slept with her sister. Okay, they weren’t together yet. At the time it had happened, Fisher couldn’t have guessed they’d ever be together. But he had known her and known they were mates. She knew why he’d done what he had, and she had put up with her sister begging her for forgiveness for months on end when she realized Fisher was Jaz’s mate. But had he tried to apologize once? Tried to explain even once? No. Nope. Nada. Jerk. She wanted an explanation, from his lips damn it, and until she got it she wouldn’t be able to move on. And yeah, it would be impossible for him to give it to her as long as she kept avoiding him. She sighed. Was her therapist right? Had she used her anger as a shield while rebuilding her life? Was she clinging to it now as a crutch? “You okay?” She twitched when Asa spoke. “Yeah. I’m fine.” She gave him a barely passable smile and cussed herself silently. Damn it, she could do this. She would do this. For a minute, she’d forgotten she wasn’t alone. She’d forgotten she was standing by a big imposing man, and she quickly repressed a spike of fear. She was doing that more and more often of late. Forgetting. And that was major progress because just a few weeks ago she wouldn’t have been able to stand there at all. So, not noticing for a minute? Yeah, that was good. It would be great if she could forget everything. The betrayal of someone she’d thought was a friend. The abduction. The terror of being held prisoner. Since she couldn’t undo that, she’d settle for not being afraid anymore. And sex. Hell, she was a werelion. She was hardwired for companionship, and the lack of it was really starting to be a problem. Why should she keep punishing herself? She tried to look at Asa without being obvious about checking him out. He was so big. Her feline side purred a huge yes for sex, and an even bigger one for going slow. It had been… She struggled to remember the last time she’d shared a bed with a man. Over a year. It hadn’t been memorable, but she just knew it would be different with Asa. He cared about what she was feeling, what she was thinking. She’d had some very embarrassing phone conversations over the last several weeks while he
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt tried to gently pry her preferences from her. Conversations she’d initiated, her curiosity winning out over her caution. Was she ready for their relationship to advance to the next step? To make it physical? Hell, she was going to give it her best try, ready or not, and hope he really did have the patience he claimed. Of course having decided to go through with her seduction plans, the horrible memories would intrude. The awful face of her torturer, the werewolf Burns, seemed to superimpose itself over Asa’s. “Jaz?” His eyes narrowed as he studied her, and she knew he could smell her sudden surge of fear. Hell, so could she. Bitter. Acrid. It had no place between them, but there it was. She opened her mouth to explain, but all that came out was a squeak. There was only one thing to do. She fled. She ran through the house to the back porch and stepped behind the half hidden alcove Carlos had put up for her and Sunny. With her clothes stripped off and dumped on the short bench seat, she reached for the cat inside her and embraced the change. Her bones and muscles twisted, popped, changed. She padded out from behind the wall and leapt off the porch into the yard. She just needed a little run, a chance to get her head back on right, but at the edge of the lawn Fisher stepped out from behind a tree, arms crossed over his chest and shaking his head. “You know you don’t run alone.” She wasn’t shifting back to argue with him. She hissed her displeasure, and with a put‐upon sigh, he started pulling off his clothes. It was rare that she ran with him, and she didn’t want to now. Those were the only times she forgot why she was angry with him, the times when she was most tempted to give into the physical attraction between them and jump him. She didn’t wait for him now, just took off into the woods. She’d have grinned at the dark curses that followed her if she’d been in human form. He caught up with her in seconds, and they ran together, side by side. Every time she tried to venture off the trail he nudged her back. It annoyed the crap out of her. They all treated her like a little kid that had to be alternately guarded or coddled. She was so done with that.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt She was taking her life back. Starting with Asa. Today. Her cat side was in full agreement, and while in the lion’s form, she had no fear, no worries, no nervousness. She firmed her resolve. It was time. First, she’d settle things with Asa, then they’d figure out what to do with Fisher together. And after that? She snarled as she turned back towards the house. After that, Burns. She’d done her share of hunting down feral werefelines and rogue werewolves, most of them members of the Society, while hiding her shapeshifting abilities from everyone. Usually, she’d anonymously tipped one of the male Hunters to their presence, but a few times she hadn’t had the time and had to deal with them herself. It was one of the things that had pissed her off so bad about her capture. She’d hunted them for years, but they’d caught her. What a blow to the ego. But not anymore. Those days were gone. It had taken several weeks and an unlikely alliance between the wolves and lions to rescue her, but they’d come. The wolves, Asa and Declan, joined forces with Carlos and Sunny, though none of the men had known Sunny was looking for her sister. She’d kept it, and the fact that they were werelions, to herself. That secret was spilled during the rescue when they’d been forced to shift to escape. Fisher had helped, leading them to an alternate exit before rejoining the others to help in the fight. A couple of hours after that, she’d met Asa and been stunned to realize he was also her mate. Two. In a species that rarely even had one. What were the odds of that? It had terrified her. She’d just spent eight weeks being terrorized by a man who’d heard rumors about shapeshifting females. Rumors about her and her sister. She’d denied everything, had refused to show Burns what she could do. What she was. No amount of beating or starvation would make her risk her sister’s life. But Fisher and Asa? They’d seen. There was no denying it and no going back. She hadn’t had any problem reading his intent when Asa had said goodbye after the rescue and left her with her sister. He’d give her time to recover, to put her heart and mind back together. But, once he thought she was strong enough, his pursuit would be relentless. At the time, she’d shied away from the knowledge, totally unprepared to face him, to live
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt with him. Thankfully, she was no longer that terrified woman. Who would have imagined given a few months she’d become the pursuer? The house came into view, and Fisher stopped at the tree line. His place was close by, but this one, where she lived, was Carlos’s. She’d been here since the rescue. If she hadn’t been a victim, she wouldn’t be living there still. Neither Fisher nor Asa would have waited six months to claim her. They would have pushed, begged, cajoled, demanded—whatever it took to win her over. She was tired of being treated like spun glass, fragile and breakable, tired of suspecting herself it was true. Enough was enough. She could feel Fisher’s gaze follow her into the yard, but she didn’t pay him any attention, just rushed off to put her plan into action.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Chapter Two Asa sat on a picnic table in the backyard and stared at the house. Along with a handful of other werewolves, he’d been working with the werelions for the last six months. Hunting rogue and feral shifters took him all over the country, but he was in pride territory once a month, acting as the intermediary between Isaac, the pride’s king, and Anthony, the werewolf who led the Hunters. Despite his frequency in the area, he’d never been alone with Jaz. Her housemates had always been close by. He might prefer it that way. It made temptation easier to resist. He imagined he could hear Jaz moving around inside, imagined he could hear the erratic beating of her heart when she realized she would be alone in the house with him for the next week. It was all in his head. His werewolf senses were sharp, but not so sharp he could actually hear her through the thick walls. Unfortunately, he could remember. He’d arrived hours ago, chatted with her as Carlos, Declan, and Sunny finished loading their SUV, and stood at her side preparing to wave them off. Her scent still surrounded him, sweet and alluring, forcing his wolf side to rise closer and closer to the surface. Demanding he take her. Demanding he claim her. The wolf didn’t care that its mate was a cat. It simply wanted action. She was his. The only woman his very soul seemed to lust for. It was a desire that had grown into a physical ache over the last six months as he’d denied himself. It would only get worse until she accepted him into her body, until his bite permanently joined them in the way of mates, enzymes in his saliva mixing with her blood to
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt form an unbreakable bond. He’d had to force his incisors to retract. She’d known he was struggling, too. Her body fidgeted with nerves, her scent taking on a faint bitterness of fear. It wasn’t nearly as bad as when they’d first rescued her, but it was still there. Undeniable. Just like then, today she’d fled into the house without a word, and he’d let her run away. She wasn’t ready yet. The trauma of her former captivity was still too fresh in her heart and mind. He didn’t know how to help her, and it tore him apart. She tried to keep their contact limited to phone calls and email and that one time a month he stopped by to say hello trying desperately to appear casual, to hide the need clawing at his skin to take what was his. He’d hoped to use this trip to ease her into a more physical relationship, especially after their calls had turned so carnal, but it was obviously too soon. He hated to concede she might never be ready, but he didn’t have much choice, did he? He couldn’t force her into a relationship she was too emotionally battered to handle. And that just sucked. So he sat on the table and stared at the house and wondered how hellish the coming week was going to get. It didn’t take long to get his answer as another familiar scent drifted to him on the breeze. He groaned. Just what he needed. Fisher. Werelion. Youngest brother of the pride’s king. Hot as hell in and out of bed and no longer in his. And Jaz’s other mate. Because things weren’t complicated enough. Fisher sat next to him, but he forced himself to keep looking straight ahead. He wouldn’t turn and look him over, wouldn’t turn and drink in the sight of his former lover. He was too hard to resist, so Asa had kept his distance. The whole situation was just so fucked up. They’d had something hot and heavy, and Asa had thought serious, a year ago. Fisher had ended it abruptly, with no explanations. But since they’d met Jaz six months ago and realized they were both her mates, Fisher had tried to wind back the clock. “How long you here for?” “A week.” He might as well be civil, right? “That doesn’t give me much time to convince you to stay,” Fisher said softly.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt Oh, it gave him plenty of time if Asa couldn’t force the emotional distance between them to continue. It would be more than enough time if he couldn’t keep his head on straight and his dick in his pants. That was easy to do when Fisher was in south Georgia and he was at home in North Carolina. All he had to do then was ignore the phone calls and delete the emails unread. He’d managed to successfully avoid him when he’d been in pride territory, though he suspected that was more Carlos or Isaac sending Fisher on missions than his skills at evasion. And maybe he’d been a little disappointed Fisher hadn’t come in person. You didn’t apologize or suck up or beg forgiveness on the phone, did you? Fisher sighed. “Could we move past the silent treatment, already?” “I don’t see why we should. Won’t change anything.” “You’re still mad at me.” Mad? No, he wasn’t angry anymore. He’d been good and pissed at the time, but now that feeling was more like resentment. He laughed. “What do you expect, Fisher?” he said without correcting him. “You dump me because a werewolf isn’t good enough for a werelion. And then when Jaz comes into the picture, you just want to pick up where we left off? No. Not gonna happen.” “Oh, tell me you don’t believe that crap,” Fisher snapped and jumped off the table. He stood in front of Asa, moving close, wedging his legs between Asa’s thighs and planting his palms on the table on either side of him. Asa froze. Energy crackled between them, sharp and bright and sensual. Undeniable. Asa knew he should shove him away, put at least fifty feet between them, but it had been so long, and despite everything, Asa still wanted him. The question was could he keep his emotions out of it? Because mutual desire or not, shared mate or not, Asa knew he’d never be able to trust Fisher with his heart again. Oh, what the hell? Might as well have some fun while he was here, right? He broke contact with Fisher’s eyes, dark brown and full of irritation, and let his gaze travel down the cat’s body. He was tall, muscular but sleek. “Back off.” His voice was gruff, and when Fisher reluctantly
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt followed the order, Asa stood. But instead of doing the intelligent thing and moving away, he stepped closer. “Believe what?” he asked, letting his voice drop and grow husky, letting some of his desire show through. With a groan, Fisher closed the distance between them, thrust his hips forward, leaned over and nipped his ear, a tiny reprimand that was anything but discouraging. “Stop that,” Fisher whispered. “We need to talk.” Fuck that. He gripped Fisher’s hips. Hard. Then he leaned in and bit his lower lip. “No talking. You’ll just piss me off again.” Fisher froze for just a moment, then pulled back and eyed him suspiciously. “Again? Like you haven’t been pissed off all these months. Now we can move on? I’m not buying that for a minute, babe.” He grunted. “Here we go.” He shoved him away and put a few feet between them. He should have done that in the first place. “Look. I’m not angry. Haven’t been for awhile. You had your reasons. Whatever. This?” He waved a hand between them. “If it happens, it’s just sex. Whatever there was before is dead and gone.” Fisher snarled and stalked forward, but it didn’t scare or intimidate Asa. He didn’t back down. Excitement charged the air and flooded his body. It was the anticipation of a good fight or a good fuck. Either one would suit him fine right now. The werelion stopped just inches out of reach. It would have taken one easy step to close the distance, but Asa remained in place waiting for Fisher’s next move. “It isn’t just sex, and it sure as hell isn’t over.” Fight it was then. “No. I won’t go down this road with you again, Fisher. Forget it.” He paused. “You should leave. Jaz doesn’t want you here and neither do I.” “Liar.” He gave Asa a slow sexy grin before turning serious. “I didn’t break things off because I thought you weren’t good enough.” Damn his curiosity. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited for an explanation, not caring if it appeared to be a defensive move. “Why then?” Fisher sighed. “Let’s go sit down.” He walked away without waiting for a response, up to the small sitting area on the porch, and Asa
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt pretended not to admire the way the muscles bunched then relaxed with each stride. He sat on the wicker sofa, no doubt hoping Asa would join him. He didn’t, instead taking the chair across from him. “Well?” Now that Fisher had opened this can of worms he wanted answers. He hadn’t demanded them before. He’d been too hurt and angry, and later he’d just wanted to move on. “You know what I was doing then. Trying to infiltrate the Society.” It wasn’t until Fisher had worked his way inside the organization that he’d told Asa, and Asa’d been furious. He was a Hunter. He’d trained and spent his whole life chasing down and killing rogues. And Fisher was working his way inside? It was lunacy. He growled. “Don’t remind me.” Fisher gave him a long assessing look. “Okay. But while I was doing that I had the sense...that she was close. My mate. Whoever she was.” He took a deep breath. “You’ve seen the way things work in the pride, Asa. Once I found her and claimed her, I knew I’d have to take a third. Since you’re a wolf, I’d be expected to take a fourth. And what would happen if you found your own mate? It seemed better to end things before you got hurt worse. That’s the last thing I wanted, babe. The last thing.” It was an explanation, but a lousy one, and it just pissed him off. “You should have talked to me first. You should have let me choose.” “Yeah.” Fisher nodded. “I should have. But it’s too late to go back and redo it.” “And none of this reconsideration on your part has anything to do with Jaz being our mate? Both of us?” he asked cynically. Fisher laughed. “Oh, I was trying to figure out how to get you back before I knew it was her or that she’s your mate, too. But I won’t deny it was one hell of a relief to find out she belongs to both of us.” And that was another point of contention. “But only us, Fisher. I don’t care what the tradition in the pride is. I don’t care if they have issues with my being a wolf. She can’t stay in the room with me for an hour and won’t even speak to you. There is no way in hell I’m letting this pride, this
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt tradition, force her to take on a third male.” “No, of course not. Believe me, she’s an exception to every rule we have, and the entire pride accepts that.” He nodded. Good. He wasn’t thrilled about the idea of taking on a werelion pride on his own, but he would if he had to. They couldn’t stop him from claiming Jaz if she was willing. Mating was an instinct nearly impossible to resist and finding the person who could wake that instinct was a gift. The pride may not like that he was a wolf, but they wouldn’t do anything to prevent his claiming her. There hadn’t been any question about that. He had worried, however, that since he was a wolf the pride would insist Fisher bring another lion into their little group as they’d originally done with Sunny, Carlos, and Declan. He didn’t know who he had to thank for that not happening. Carlos and Fisher both probably. Plus it was easy enough for Isaac, the pride’s king, to see Jaz wasn’t prepared for one mate much less two with one more lover thrown in the mix. “Not that she’s anywhere near ready for that,” Fisher went on, voice heavy with a frustration Asa could relate to all too well. Then his voice dropped. Coaxing. Sexy. “There’s no reason for us to continue on this way, though.” “I already told you. Sex, sure. Relationship? No.” “Yeah, I heard you, babe.” He grinned. “So I’m not offering sex. Yet. I was thinking dinner.” He stood and took a step towards the stairs. “I’ll cook for you and Jaz tonight.” Asa shook his head. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” “She has to get used to me eventually. It is going to be the three of us, Asa. I’ll do whatever I have to make this right, but walking away is not an option.” He sighed. Ideally, yeah, it would be the three of them together. He just didn’t see how to make that happen. Jaz didn’t trust men at all, and he didn’t trust Fisher. What a clusterfuck. “I’ll see y’all at five,” Fisher said cheerily, but Asa yanked him close before he could take off. Anger. Lust. Combined, they were a powerful aphrodisiac. Despite all his other worries, this was one itch that could be
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt scratched and the sooner the better. “What if I can’t wait till five?” he asked, then growled just before kissing Fisher. The hell with it. Just being around him made Asa hard, why not indulge it? They were both willing, and fuck it, he’d missed him. He sure as hell missed the sex. The companionship. The kiss was hard, aggressive, and Fisher met his tongue and his teeth with a matching fierceness. Asa turned them and pushed Fisher’s back against the wall then worked his hands up under his shirt. His nails scraped over the werelion’s nipples, and Fisher jerked his head away, turning to the side and breaking the kiss. He shoved Asa’s chest, but he didn’t budge. Instead he leaned forward and sucked the skin on his neck between his teeth for a quick harsh bite. Fisher wanted him. He couldn’t hide his body’s response. So what was the problem? “Let’s take this upstairs,” Asa whispered. Please, god. Just a little relief. A little easing of the craving for one or both of them that was slowly driving him out of his mind. But the damned werelion didn’t cooperate. He shoved Asa’s chest, and though he wanted to protest, wanted things to keep progressing to their natural conclusion, he stepped back. Fisher was breathing hard, skin flushed and eyes bright. The bulge in his jeans was pure temptation. “Not offering sex yet,” he panted, holding his hand up when Asa took a step forward. “Remember?” “You have to be fucking kidding me,” he moaned. “Sorry, babe. Not my first choice, but I’m not giving you the chance to kick me out of your bed the first chance you get either.” Asa stalked off. It was that or completely lose it, and a fight didn’t sound like such a great idea anymore. “I’ll be back for dinner,” Fisher called after him. “Five. Maybe after that…” Part of him wanted to say fuck no to that offer, but he knew he wouldn’t. He also knew he was stuck with his erection in the meantime, and by five, his balls would be beyond blue. On the other hand, his room had a huge Jacuzzi tub, and he might as well make use of it. He had no intention of spending the next two hours hard and hurting.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt He went in through the kitchen door and took the stairs up two at time, ripping his shirt over his head as he went. He should have known he wouldn’t get off so easily. Or at all. Jaz stepped into the hall before he reached his room, and he skidded to a halt a couple feet from her. She was dressed in deference to the heat, but all he saw was an invitation to sin. Her shorts were cut off at a barely legal length, and there was no bra under her tight tank top. There was nothing left of the half starved scrawny cat they’d rescued anymore. Instead she was a female designed to drive a male to the brink of madness, petite, several inches shorter than him and all dangerous, lethal curves. Her almost‐red, almost‐blonde hair was in a high ponytail and he had to fist his hands to prevent reaching forward to free it, letting his claws poke through his skin as a reminder to restrain himself. She didn’t even notice he was on the edge of control. Her eyes widened as she looked at him, moving over his chest, down to his cock and lingering there. She licked her bottom lip, and his body screamed, oh hell yeah. For the first time, that was not fear on her face. “What is it, baby?” He eased forward, slow, terrified of scaring her off. “Um.” Her gaze finally lifted to his face, as if he’d broken a spell. He was so close, close enough to touch her, to pull her forward. “I wanted to apologize for disappearing earlier.” Her smile was wry. “I’m not a very good hostess.” “You were scared. It’s okay.” She nodded. “But I’m trying not to be.” “It’ll take time. I understand that.” Her gaze slid down his body again and seemed to get caught on his cock. She lifted her hand but let it fall to her side before coming into contact with his skin. It took all his control not to step forward aggressively, not to press into her and fulfill the need raging through him. But this was not about him or his needs. “Jaz?” She met his gaze again. “You can touch me if you like.” God, please, touch me. “I won’t take more than you offer.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt She hesitated so long he thought she’d refuse, but finally her hand rose again and came to rest on his pec. She slid it down, fingers splayed and feather soft as she traced his nipple. It hardened at the contact, and he couldn’t help the low growl that rose in his chest. A human woman wouldn’t have heard it, but she wasn’t human, and she reacted by jerking away. His hands fisted at his sides. He was zero for two today. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Don’t apologize,” he snapped. She winced. “And don’t do that either. “ She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the floor. Her body language was sad and dejected. She quaked, and his heart ached for her. “Look at me, baby,” he coaxed. Reluctantly, she lifted her head. He spread his arms. “Come here. Let me hold you. That’s it, just hold you.” It might kill him, but he could offer her this comfort. He could do it without running his hands over her body, without sneaking under her shirt to find out if her skin was as soft and smooth as he suspected. He could offer her the comfort of his body, the comfort it was a mate’s duty to provide, without taking her. Without claiming her. But, damn, it might kill him.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Chapter Three Jaz had absolutely no idea what she was doing. No, that was a lie. She was tempting fate or maybe it was more like throwing herself at its feet. She knew Asa and Fisher were her mates, knew allowing this contact would probably lead to more that she wasn’t sure she could follow through on just yet. Playing with fire. She was good at that. Besides that was the plan, right? And how could she resist? She wanted to be held, wanted to be comforted the way only her mate could provide. It wasn’t just about sex. It was about belonging. Acceptance. She circled his waist with her arms, rubbed her nose over his sternum, and when his arms banded around her, tight but not too tight, she purred. Literally. It had been so long since she’d taken solace in someone else. She edged forward, trying to get as close as possible when she felt his cock pushing against her belly. She froze for a minute, trying to decide if she wanted to pull away or not, and then the choice was taken from her. His arms tightened around her, and he whispered near her ear, his breath hot, exciting her in a way she’d feared she’d never feel again. “Don’t go. Just let me hold you another minute. You have no idea, baby, how much I’ve wanted to just hold you. For you not to wince when you see me. When I speak to you.” Oh, she had a pretty good idea. She’d been feeling the instinct to mate as long as he had, from their first meeting, but that need wasn’t just about sex. There was no way she’d been ready for an intimate, sexual
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt relationship back then. Mating was about so much more, though. It was also companionship, the right to seek and provide solace. She sighed at the pleading wistful note in his voice, at the longing and gentleness she heard, and snuggled closer. She wanted those things. She wanted everything, and her thoughts turned sexual. She was a young, healthy woman, and she wanted to indulge. She wished there were no clothes between them. Wished they had a long afternoon and a bed and he would make love to her slow and gentle. She’d been dreaming of it for weeks, had planned the different ways she could seduce him, but faced with the opportunity, nerves held her back. If she made the offer, if she asked him to, she knew he wouldn’t deny her. She was just afraid she wouldn’t be able to go through with it. “I want so much more than I think I can handle right now,” she whispered. He chuckled. “Just let me know when you change your mind.” She smiled. It hadn’t been that long ago she’d thought she never would, but she knew differently now. She was just working up to it. Maybe not today, but definitely this week. And, god, wouldn’t today be awesome? She wasn’t letting him leave before sleeping with him. She didn’t want him to leave at all, but she’d face that dilemma later. She had no idea where he wanted to be. Here with the pride, one of only two werewolves? Or home with his own kind where she’d be the only werefeline? “You’ll be the first to know.” “Before Fisher, huh?” She sighed. “Had to go ruin the mood, didn’t you?” He laughed again, and she squelched her disappointment when he released her. But then he took her hand and tugged her down the hall with him. “I was coming up to take a bath. You could join me.” He gave her a wicked, inviting smile. “Or just sit and talk with me. Let’s not stand by and watch all this progress go to waste.” “Progress?” She was bemused and intrigued, despite her better judgment. He stopped inside his bedroom door. She glanced around. There was a laptop bag on the desk and next to it a bag of books. His
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt suitcase was open but still packed on the bed. “You’re talking to me. Touching me. And you aren’t afraid, baby.” She met his gaze. The reminder made her nervous about the huge risk she was taking, but he looked so happy she refused to back down. She hadn’t always been a wimp, had she? Once she’d been brave, brazen even. A smart ass. Once she’d known how to flirt. She knew that woman still existed somewhere inside her, and she wanted her back. He disappeared through the bathroom door. The water came on in a loud rush before he stepped into the doorway where she could see him again. “What’s it going to be, Jaz?” She wanted to say let’s go for it, but her voice was caught in her throat. He’d unsnapped his jeans, revealing the head of his cock, and his fingers slowly tugged on the zipper. She held her breath, the anticipation freezing her in place. “God,” he groaned. “Baby, you have to stop looking at me like that.” “Was I looking at you like you’re dessert?” she teased. She did remember how to do this. And she wasn’t afraid. He sucked in a sharp breath that made his chest expand and her hands itch to touch him. “You haven’t had the main course yet.” Be brave, Jaz. Bold. “Let’s skip it,” she said with mock somberness that was only half faked. “Go straight to the good stuff.” He stared at her a few seconds before nodding. “Your move, baby.” Then he turned and entered the bathroom. She didn’t hesitate long before following, and he was already leaning back in the tub. He was watching her with a sexy grin and eyes so hot they almost glowed. “Do I need to dare you to get you in here?” he teased. Dare? She stared at him, unsure if she should howl with laughter or run screaming from the room. The hell with that. She was sick of being alone and scared. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, damn it. If she told him to slow down, to back off a bit, he would. He might not like it, but he’d do as she asked. She grabbed the bottom edge of her tank and
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt yanked it over her head before she could reconsider. This time she did laugh. He looked so surprised. He hadn’t thought she had the guts. Screw that. Any lingering doubt she had fled. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and his eyes grew hot when her breasts were exposed. Her cut off jeans went next, shoved down her legs with her panties. She didn’t give him the chance to stare, climbing into the opposite end and tilting her chin in the air. Defiance felt good. “It’s never a good idea to dare a Nolan,” she said. His smile was slow and sultry and decidedly wolfish. “So there’s a backbone there after all, huh ,baby?” “Just keep pushing me and you’ll see how much.” She glared. “I went through a lot. You can’t blame me for being nervous around men, especially shifters.” He sobered instantly. “I don’t, Jaz. I don’t. You have no idea how pleased I am to see you coming out of that shell.” She studied him until she was sure he was sincere and relaxed enough to lean back and close her eyes. The jets felt so good against her skin, soothed her so much she didn’t react when the water sloshed, when he grabbed her around the waist. He turned her around and pulled her back between his thighs. “Shh,” he whispered, one hand pressed on her belly urging her to lean back against his chest. Okay, maybe it didn’t take too much urging. This was an intimacy she was ready for. “Is Jaz short for something? Jasmine?” The question surprised her. There was so much they still didn’t know about each other, but in her list of secrets to keep that sure wasn’t one of them. No one had called her by her full name since her parents, and they’d been gone for over ten years. She hadn’t thought of herself as anything but Jaz since. “Jazmina.” “Pretty.” His hand slowly stroked up and down one arm. It wasn’t a sexual touch, but this was Asa and he was hers, and it turned her on anyway. His cock felt hot and hard against her back, and she wished he’d get on with
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt the seduction before she chickened out. He was giving her too much time to think. She only wanted to feel. His other hand slid up her arm, over her shoulder, and his fingers spread over her collarbone and up her throat and back down again. It was such a dominant caress she couldn’t believe how much she responded to it. With a groan, she pushed back against him, a silent demand for his cock. A demand he didn’t indulge. He moved his hand lower, pressed over her chest but not quite far enough down to reach her breasts. Why? Why not cup and tease her? Why not get on with it? He took a deep breath she felt like they shared since she was pressed so firmly to him. “Baby, I need to know before this goes any further what happened at the Society compound.” He and Fisher had been so careful to avoid mention of it, to not ask, that the question stunned her. It was like being doused with cold water. She’d been ready to fuck him, had wanted him to touch her, possess her. Now she stiffened, tense, and apprehensive. But not scared. While she struggled to find her voice, he held her. One hand remained unmoving on her chest, while the other continuing slow strokes up and down her arm. It took her awhile to realize she felt sheltered not panicked, her normal reaction to being asked about her captivity. “They beat me. Starved me.” Somehow she kept her voice matter‐of‐fact. “They didn’t rape me, if that’s what you’re asking.” She paused. “Not all of the others were so lucky. I...could hear them sometimes.” Which was a different kind of torture. Unable to help those women. Wondering if she would be next. His arms tightened around her, and he buried his face in her neck. “You’re safe now, and you have my word it will stay that way.” She didn’t think she was quite ready to accept that promise. She was pretty sure she’d always look over her shoulder. “I want to forget it, Asa.” She twisted in his arms and rose to straddle his legs. “Make me forget.” He didn’t make her ask twice. He took her mouth. The kiss was slow and deep with a hint of demand. God, it turned her on. Biology,
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt chemistry, destiny—she didn’t care what drew them together, she had to have him. She shifted to wrap one hand around his cock, guided him to her pussy, and slowly sank down the length. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting her body adjust to being filled. He was a tight fit, but it felt oh so good, and for just a second, her cat side took over, wishing Fisher was there with them. That would complete this life‐affirming act. He chuckled. “I know what you’re thinking.” She opened her eyes, let herself soak in the affection she saw on his face. “I don’t think so.” He put his hands on her hips and lifted her. Slow. Slow. Until only the head of his cock remained inside her. “You’re thinking this is good. Great even. But it’s not quite right yet. We’re missing someone.” She gasped as he pushed her back down on his cock just as slow as the first movement. “How did you know that?” “Because I was thinking the same thing.” There was something in his tone she couldn’t decipher. Wistfulness? A hint of annoyance? Self‐disgust? Whatever it was she didn’t like it, didn’t like that Fisher affected him so deeply, negatively. She leaned forward. “I think,” she whispered, her lips hovering over his, “we can worry about him later.” Her mouth grazed his, and she felt it curve into a smile. “Yes, ma’am.” His lips parted for her, but he let her have control. She struggled to remember what to do with it. Her tongue slipped between his teeth. Gingerly. Shyly. She had to relearn how to kiss and wasn’t that just nuts? She felt clumsy as she bumped into his teeth, his tongue, but the hell with it. He wasn’t pushing her away. Wasn’t criticizing her technique, or lack thereof, and gradually she relaxed. She got to know him. Texture. Taste. Scent. It was a sweet kiss, slow and tender. While she was distracted with it, his hands roved over her body. Soft at first and staying in safe zones, but as her arousal grew, as she lost herself to his kiss, his caresses grew
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt firmer and slid to dangerous territory. Sexy, lustful territory. She moaned low and drawn out when his thumbs rolled over her nipples. She broke the kiss. “Do that again.” Instead of touching her, he lifted her so her breasts were at his eye level. His intent was easy to read, but he waited until she nodded her approval before leaning forward. She held her breath, anticipation and desire screaming through her. Would he suckle her? Bite? She shivered right before his tongue flashed out and over the hard peak. A tiny squeal escaped when his lips closed over it. He was gentle at first, his tongue rolling around her nipple, but when she made a sound of protest, he sucked it. She felt teeth and moaned and tried to move closer. And then everything kicked into higher gear. He’d stayed still inside her while she kissed him, had kept to short gentle strokes as he explored her breasts. Now, with the need building inside her, she couldn’t ignore his cock anymore, and he’d apparently decided not to let her try. His teeth worried her nipple while he thrust harder, easily guiding her up and down with his hands on her hips. She could feel him in her, around her. Thick and hard and intense. And she was the one who brought that out of him. She’d been afraid of feeling shy and inhibited, but instead she felt empowered, and he did it without even trying. The euphoria in her heart consumed her body, and before she knew it, she was coming, flying apart in wave after wave of the most perfect orgasm ever. She was free. Free of the past. Free to take her mate as she would. Free to move on. Finally.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Chapter Four Fisher stood outside the kitchen door and took a deep breath. He could smell them, Jaz and Asa, inside, their scents just beginning to mingle the way mates always did, which could only mean one thing. They’d had sex. Jealousy gripped him for a moment before happiness took over. He still had a long way to go, but at least they finally had some forward momentum. He just had to maintain the I’m harmless façade long enough for her to let him in. He was pretty sure she wasn’t buying the act though. He was an intense kind of cat. If he wasn’t making a conscious effort to be easy‐going, to relax he’d be demanding and overprotective, and she’d withdraw into her shell again. No, he needed to stick with the casual persona long enough that she’d get to know him. To forgive him. His heart pounded furiously, and he struggled to control it. They meant too much to him, were too important. He couldn’t fuck this up. He’d done enough of that already. First, letting Asa go, and then not tearing apart the Society compound the minute he’d realize prisoners were being held there, and definitely not after he’d finally got a look at them. At her. It only took that one meeting to realize she was his. The intensity of his emotions had made it impossible to deny. Lust. Possessiveness. A burning fury that anyone had dared harm, cage what was his. But regrets would get him nowhere. There was no turning back time. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping against hope for a welcome reception, or a neutral one at least, before knocking on the kitchen door
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt and letting himself inside. He took in the scene in a quick glance, pretending it was every day he walked into a homey room to find them waiting for him. Asa was sprawled in a chair, sitting sideways at the long table drinking a beer, while Jaz leaned in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. She looked...pissed. Hell, that was better than scared, right? Fisher sat the grocery bags down on the counter and turned to smile at them. It wasn’t perfect, hell, it wasn’t even easy yet, but it was a start and that thrilled him. Gave him hope. He was beginning to get a little desperate. Thank god, Carlos had dragged Sunny and Declan off for a vacation, forcing Asa to come and add to Jaz’s protection. Carlos, of course, had known exactly what he was doing, putting Asa into a position where he couldn’t continue to ignore Fisher. Jaz would take a lot more time and miles of patience, but there was no reason for him and Asa to continue being so far apart. Now to put that plan into action. Turning, he met her gaze first. “Hello, sweetheart,” he said as neutrally as he could manage. “How do you feel about spaghetti for dinner? It’s about all I can cook,” he joked. Her nod was reluctant, hesitant. “Okay.” His smile widened. A definite start. “Good.” One down, one to go. He didn’t pause long enough to give Asa time to react. Or dodge. He walked right over, put his hands on the arms of the chair, leaned in and kissed him. It startled him enough his mouth opened, and Fisher swept his tongue inside. The pleasure shook him. The taste of the man. The feel of him. His scent. No other male had ever tempted him so much, consumed him so much. It was only Jaz’s startled gasp that stopped him from trying to push it further than one kiss. He squashed his disappointment things weren’t going further faster and straightened. “Hey, babe,” he said to Asa with a wink, before turning back to Jaz. Her eyes were wide, bottom lip caught between her teeth. She was surprised to see him kiss Asa, and at first, there was no censure on her face. That changed, bit by bit, as he studied her. Her eyes narrowed. “Do you think that’s fair?”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt He didn’t give her the chance to elaborate on the question. He had a pretty good idea where she was going. “You think I’d rather be part of Sunny and Carlos’s group? Carlos is my brother, and I’ve never been with Declan. He isn’t interested, and neither am I.” “But you have been with my sister.” The flash of anger in her eyes, the jealousy in her voice, gave him hope. She was traumatized and withdrawn. He’d been afraid she’d never recover enough to accept him or Asa. But surely this was a sign she was returning to a more full life? “Are you going to answer me?” she pushed. “Don’t I have a right to know?” He briefly met Asa’s eyes and knew he had the same questions. It was a much heavier conversation than he’d intended to have on their first night back together. Okay, maybe he was getting ahead of himself and they weren’t back together yet, but he was hopeful. That word again. He was throwing it around a lot tonight. “Where are the pots and pans?” She glared at him. Okay. Maybe he’d totally misread her and it was fury not fear keeping them apart the last few months. “I’ll answer your questions, sweetheart, but I need to be doing something while I do it.” He was nervous. He had to do this just right and moving around, keeping his hands busy, would help with the jittery feeling in his gut. She pointed to a cabinet, and he pulled out what he need, started water to boil and beef browning to add to the sauce. “Well?” It was Asa that prodded him this time. He sighed. No avoiding it, so he turned back to face them. While his back was turned, Jaz had grabbed a beer and the chair closest to the door. At least she wasn’t running away. He was getting really frustrated with that. “You both know about Pride Law. We’re not werewolves. There isn’t a mate for all of us. It just seems to be how we’re programmed. So when one of us finds a mate, we share her with our lovers or closest friends and sometimes younger brothers.” “Which is where you came in,” Jaz interrupted. “But I’ve met some
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt of the others, Fisher. They don’t always have a fourth. And she’s my sister.” She paused to take a deep breath. “And you knew before you slept with her. About...me.” It was more than she’d ever spoken to him and part him was overjoyed about it. He just wished the subject matter were different. And that she wasn’t so pissed at him. The worst thing though was the hurt in her voice. It felt like a sledgehammer to the chest. “I knew,” he said softly. What else could he do but confess everything? He couldn’t deny he’d known all along Jaz was his mate. “But are you ready to accept me now?” “No,” she said. Her voice was steady and firm, but it didn’t match her expression. There was yearning in her eyes, and her face wasn’t hard with bitterness or determination His heart rate accelerated. She was closer than he’d believed. “Exactly. When will you be ready, sweetheart?” He deserved to be spurned for what he’d done. He wouldn’t accept it indefinitely, but couldn’t argue he’d earned it. He might be a werelion—stronger, faster, tougher than a human male—but he was still just a guy. He’d screwed up when he slept with her sister, and he wished Jaz wasn’t so damned silent about it since it obviously bothered her so much. He’d much prefer her angry. He’d much prefer she spent days, weeks, hell even months, bitching about it rather than withdrawing and bottling it up. They could move on from anger. Avoidance was another story. “I’ll get there. I’m not any more immune to the pull of mating than you are.” She shrugged. “But I don’t know if I can ever forgive what… I mean, come on. She’s my sister. You don’t do that.” “And you’re going to make me pay a little before you do?” he asked wryly. She gave him a half smile. “It isn’t like that. Well…maybe there’s some of that.” He chuckled. “You think that’s funny?” And she didn’t sound happy about it. “Hell, no,” he answered. “Bitch at me. Scream. Yell. Rant and rave.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt Just don’t go back to ignoring me, okay, sweetheart? It hurts, and it’s only prolonging something that’s inevitable. I won’t give up, you know.” “I know,” she said softly, shaking her head, focusing on the fingers twisting on her lap and refusing to meet his gaze. “My twin sister, Fisher. In the sister rule book, that’s unforgivable.” “Under any other circumstances, I would agree with you.” He turned back to the stove and tried to order his thoughts, tried to find the best way to explain. When he turned back, the anger had faded from her face to be replaced by hurt. It was bad enough when he’d only heard it, but to see it? It tore at him, and he moved forward before he could rethink the action, before she could jump up and pull away. He dropped to his knees before her and took her hands. “I’m not sure I would do it differently if I could. It was only once. It will never happen again, I swear. But there’s Pride Law, remember? If Declan was a lion, not new to us, they wouldn’t have had to take a fourth. But he isn’t, and the pride requires assurances that if anything happens to Carlos, Sunny is still protected by a lion. It was a short, temporary arrangement that gave everyone time to get to know Declan. Maybe that’s fucked up, but it’s just the way things are.” It wasn’t until he took a breath that he realized he’d alarmed her more. It was Asa that saved his ass. “Don’t worry, baby. There won’t ever be a fourth with us. You won’t be pressured into that kind of arrangement. I’ve been working with the pride for six months. I’m not an unknown quantity the way Declan was.” That was only part of the reason, however. The rest had to do with what she’d been through in her short life, the fragility caused by that trauma that seemed to mark her. No one was willing to do anything that might damage her growing sense of self or her confidence. As a group, the pride was very protective of the few females who occupied it. If this was what she needed to continue to feel secure with them than an exception to Pride Law would be made for her. He feared if they didn’t she might leave the safety of the pride. Every male in the area would feel that as a deep personal blow. The worst kind of failure. He struggled for a way to
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt explain it to her that wouldn’t have her fleeing into the night. “Pride Law grew out of a need to protect our woman. Not just a need. A compulsion. We have to protect, you understand?” She nodded, and he continued. “It would be a terrible perversion of Pride Law if it forced one of our women to flee. That is unacceptable to everyone. “ She took a breath that shook her whole body and pulled her hands free, leaning back as far as she could in the chair to put some space between them. He took pity on her and moved to the nearest chair, watching her carefully for any sign of what she was thinking. “I appreciate you explaining things, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get over that. Logically, I get it. Sunny doesn’t want anyone else, and Declan never would have accepted anyone else, even if it was just temporary, but...” She let the thought trail off with a shrug, but he thought she was only trying to convince herself. She was coming around. He wouldn’t push the issue. Yet. “Maybe one day you’ll forgive me,” he said softly. “Even if you don’t, there’s no reason to cut Asa out of your life.” She smiled at the wolf. “No. There isn’t.” “And you’ll accept me sooner than you believe, I think.” Asa was smiling, his curiosity easy to read, and Fisher answered without the question being voiced. “This is the longest she’s ever talked to me, and it was certainly not sitting relaxed in the kitchen. What’s changed, baby?” She snorted. “I wouldn’t say relaxed exactly.” “You aren’t running away screaming either,” Asa retorted with an edge of frustration. She flushed and looked down at the twisted fingers in her lap. Interesting. Asa’s short display of irritation didn’t scare her in the least. “I, um, have been talking to someone. A counselor.” And seeking help embarrassed her. Why? “That’s a good thing, sweetheart,” he said gently and rose to check on dinner. “Who is she?” “Why are you assuming it’s a she?” she responded tartly. He forced down his cat nature, the side of him that rose snarling to the surface at the
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt suggestion his mate might seek support from an unknown male. “Jaz,” Asa warned. “Don’t push it.” She huffed. “Joanne. She’s the Panhandle beta’s mate.” She was a member of a werewolf pack which, despite his relationship with Asa, made him edgy, but the woman in question did have a reputation for helping traumatized and abused women. She was well respected by all the shifter species. “Is she here?” Asa asked. Fisher turned back in time to see her shake her head. “No. We’ve been video conferencing online.” She shrugged. “It helps.” Her tone suggested she wouldn’t speak any more of it so he buried his curiosity. Eventually, she’d open up. He returned to the stove to finish dinner, and Asa led the conversation to neutral territory. It was while he and Jaz discussed a new DVD they’d both seen that Fisher realized they’d been in touch and often. She hadn’t cut Asa out of her life the way she had him. It explained why the physical aspect of their relationship seemed to progress so quickly. Again, he felt a surge of jealousy, but he ignored it. He deserved the doghouse they’d put him in. He focused on getting dinner on the table. The mood stayed easy and casual, and he was disappointed when it was finished so soon. He waved Jaz off when she tried to help with the dishes. “We’ll take care of it, sweetheart. Maybe there’s a good movie on tonight?” He couldn’t keep the hopefulness out of his voice, that they’d let him hang around a little bit longer, that they wouldn’t kick him out now that everyone was fed. She gave him a look that said she knew exactly what he was up to, but she didn’t call him on it. With a nod, she left him with Asa, and after a few seconds, he heard the television come on in the other room. He filled one of the sinks with soapy water, but his mind was in the other room. He glanced in that direction even though he knew he couldn’t see her from where he stood. There was a wide center hallway between the kitchen and living room. “Go,” Asa said with exasperation. “I’ll do this.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt Fisher didn’t ask if he was sure. Jaz was a call he couldn’t resist and he couldn’t deny. She didn’t look over when he paused in the archway. She was stretched out on the couch, head on a pillow, long bare legs an enticement. He couldn’t fight the urge to touch her. He went around the back of the sofa, but instead of sitting at the very end where there was room, he lifted her legs and slid under them. Her calves settled in his lap, rubbed over his cock, and he groaned. He could barely make out her profile, but he could have sworn she grinned at his discomfort. The minx. She continued to ignore him, gaze fixed on the romantic comedy she’d found on the TV. He tuned out the soft noise from the screen, caught up in the feel her, even if it was only her calves in contact with him. She tensed when he set his hands below her knee, and gradually relaxed as he massaged his way down. He squeezed her tense muscles, kneading her firm flesh until her tension began to fade away. Finally, he reached the delicate arch of her foot. He’d never had a foot fetish, but he could always change his mind. He used a firm touch over her insole, her arch, moving to rub tiny circles over the ball of her foot until she groaned, and he fought a smile. He’d definitely rethink the fetish thing. She sighed, a soft sound of delight, and he switched to her other foot, resisting even one glance in her direction. If the bliss on her face matched her soft breathy moans, he wouldn’t be able to resist kissing her. He waited until he couldn’t stand it anymore then looked over. Her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted. The emotion that filled him was exhilarating, a mixture of joy and contentment. She’d relaxed enough to drift to sleep with him in the room. It could only be a sign of trust. Then he noticed Asa leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, one ankle hooked over the other. His expression was somber and reserved as he took in the sight. “Should we move her?” he asked Asa, who slowly shook his head no. “Not yet.” Fisher knew that tone, that look in Asa’s eyes, and his heart
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt skipped a beat. It would be rough sex. Angry sex. Great sex. He slowly wiggled free of Jaz’s legs, careful not to disturb her rest. Asa didn’t move a muscle until Fisher was standing and then did nothing but crook a finger. Fisher hesitated. How much control was he willing to give up? Would this one night set the tone for the rest of their relationship? Maybe. Possibly. He sighed. That wasn’t what he wanted, but he wasn’t exactly in the position to make demands. He had no one to blame for this mess but himself, and he knew it, but he’d tried to make things right over and over again. Suddenly, he was as angry as Asa. “How long are you going to punish me for doing what I thought was right? I didn’t want you hurt. You can’t keep holding that against me.” Slowly, Asa straightened, arms falling to his side, feet coming apart to settle in a wide stance. It looked more like the uncoiling of a cat than a wolf. He seemed to vibrate with energy. Fisher was glad the room was so sparsely furnished. There was no coffee table between them. Just open space. Otherwise when Asa pounced, and the intent was clear in every taut line of his body, someone might get hurt. The advantage of being half wolf, one of the wild’s great hunters, was being able to do it so quietly. He glanced at Jaz. Neither their voices nor the rising tension in the air had disturbed her. She was peaceful, angelic. His gaze returned to Asa, certain that things were on the right track.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Chapter Five “I thought the point of this evening was to submit yourself for punishment and get it over with,” Asa replied casually. It was a struggle to keep his tone even and light, but worth it seeing the shudder that wracked Fisher’s body. “What did you have in mind?” his ex‐lover asked, not bothering to hide his desire. Oh yeah. Game on. But there were a couple of other matters to discuss first. Some time during dinner, Asa had changed his mind. Or had just been slapped with reality. Whatever. It didn’t matter which was the more truthful assessment. It wasn’t just sex with the werelion. It never had been, and it never could be. This was his world, his little family, and he was sick and damned tired of them being apart. Jaz had taken her first steps forward today. The question was how much of himself was Fisher ready or willing to commit? There would be no half measures. He’d spent so much time reigning in his true nature for Jaz. The dominance, the need to control. The utter and complete possessiveness. It was a relief to let it all loose. “You do this, and there’s no going back. No changing your mind later.” He pinned Fisher with his most dominating glare, a look that made almost everyone back down. Not Fisher. The werelion was his match in every way. He just smiled. Lazy. Inviting. “You really don’t have to worry about that, babe,” he drawled,
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt pulling his shirt over his head before moving forward with the graceful prowl of a cat. Well, it made sense, didn’t it? He was a cat. A werelion with a lascivious look in his eyes that made Asa shake with desire. Fisher stopped right in front of him, just brushing against him, and he was instantly hard. He was glad he’d made that quick trip to his room. But he was reminded of the intensity they used to share—it hadn’t lessened at all—and the pain and bitterness when Fisher had walked out. He couldn’t do that again. “You better not be fucking with me,” he said harshly. Not waiting for any signal of acceptance, he gripped the back of Fisher’s neck and pulled him closer. As close as they could get. He wanted to believe the kiss was about nothing but sex, nothing but raw lust, but he knew better. He poured all his fury into it, all his bitterness, and when Fisher groaned a complaint, his love. Damn it. He knew it was likely to bite him in the ass, knew the smart thing to do was to get out. Out of the room. Out of the house. But he couldn’t stop himself, and he didn’t say a word when Fisher broke away and reached over to rip Asa’s shirt over his head. He didn’t say a word when Fisher leaned forward, his hands and lips all over Asa’s skin. When he dropped to his knees and freed his cock, it hit Asa with the force of a bullet. Submitting. Asa had never once seen Fisher on his knees like this, not in front him, not as a supplicant. He knew it was a position that made Fisher feel vulnerable, powerless. He was submitting, and he didn’t have a submissive bone in his body. Asa wasn’t sure he liked it, but then thinking was out of the question. It wasn’t that they’d never shared a blowjob, or two dozen, but never like this. Fisher tugged his jeans and underwear down to his thighs, wrapped his hand around the base of his shaft and blew a hot breath over him. Asa started doing multiplication tables in his head. If he didn’t, he’d come right now. Then Fisher had to go and blow all that control. “I have missed this,” he murmured and sucked the head of Asa’s cock into his mouth. Fuck. Me. Fisher, mouth full of cock, chuckled. Shit. Had he said
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt that out loud? He didn’t ask, and Fisher didn’t stop sucking the length of his erection into his mouth. There was more than a hint of teeth, and his tongue paid particular attention to the vein running along the underside. It was enough to make a grown man weep. Or beg for more. He wasn’t about to beg, but he shoved his hands into Fisher’s hair, that reddish blond mop that looked like it had been kissed by the sun and not cut in way too long. Which worked for Asa as he twisted his fingers and thrust forward with a long heartfelt groan. He stroked in and out of Fisher’s wet heat, taking his time, enjoying it, until the need built to combustive levels. He wasn’t going to come this way. Not this time. He tried to pull back, but Fisher didn’t let him go. “Stop,” he croaked out. “Not like this, babe.” Christ, if he didn’t stop soon it would be too late, and he wanted inside him, wanted to be fucking him when he came. With one last toe‐curling suck, Fisher finally let him go and sat back on his heels. There was no expression on his face, and at the moment, Asa wasn’t sure he really cared. He was on the edge of desperate. “Lube?” Fisher asked. He stepped out of his clothes, picked up his jeans and pulled the tube from his back pocket. Wasn’t he prepared? Fisher smirked, reading his mind again. “Such a boy scout.” When he stood and removed his clothes, Asa could read him again. Somber. Uncertain. “How are we doing this, babe?” Face to face like lovers? Or would he continue in the dominant role? He knew what Fisher was asking, knew what he wanted, but he wasn’t quite ready to give that much of himself. He just shook his head and instead of walking away, Fisher came forward. His hands were gentle when he touched him, tender. His kiss was soft and open, totally at odds with the hard cock that bumped against his. He took Asa’s hand and guided it to him, wrapped him fingers around it before reaching for his in turn. “Christ,” he groaned, leaning his forehead against Asa’s shoulder. “How could the memory of this dim even a little?” Asa didn’t answer. He had no voice. Love and lust and anger and
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt desire. It all choked him. All he knew was they had to get on with it before he exploded. He let go of Fisher’s cock and popped the lid on the lube, squeezing some out on his palm and coating his cock with it. Then he spun Fisher around and pushed him to his knees. He went with no protest, breathing heavy, his whole body tense, tight with the same craving that was riding Asa. Beautiful. He didn’t toy with him. He could have, and they both would have believed he deserved it, but the craving was beyond that point now. He squirted a liberal amount of lube around Fisher’s hole, pushed two fingers in and worked them a bit, before withdrawing and getting into position. He leaned over the werelion’s back and felt the tremble, the visceral reaction of a dominant male being covered by another, but he held himself still. “Ready?” “Do it.” It was an order, full of lust, but Asa wasn’t about to give into demands. Not yet anyway. He pushed the head of his cock into Fisher’s ass. Slow. Tortuously slow. Then he withdrew, teasing, dragging it out. He gritted his teeth against instinct. To pound home. To punish Fisher for putting him through months of misery and loneliness. And, with a restrained growl, Fisher let him continue teasing him. Teasing them both. Until he pulled out, unsatisfied and still hard. Fisher rolled away and sprawled against the couch, just under Jaz’s head, his hand wrapped around his cock. Pumping. Asa could see a drop of pre‐cum pooling on the head, and it damned near made him crazy. He sat down and watched, remembering the way he tasted. The feel of Fisher in his mouth. In his body. What the hell were they doing? And Fisher knew where his thoughts were going. “I’m not the one saying no here,” Fisher said wryly. “Come over here. Kiss me. Give me a little bit of hope and let me believe we can go back to what we were.” Those words were a blow right in the chest. Asa wanted to. He just wasn’t sure he could. He shook his head. “I can’t do that again. Watch you leave when you get bored. Or
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt scared. Whatever.” Fisher had explained, and it hadn’t rung true. He was relieved to voice his real concern but surprised at the stunned expression on the werelion’s face. Then Fisher laughed and slid down onto the floor to lie on his back. He didn’t hold back either. Asa was amazed Jaz didn’t wake up. “It’s not that damned funny,” he said following the statement with a low growl as he crawled over to loom over Fisher. He sobered instantly, one hand coming up to grip the back of Asa’s head. He resisted when Fisher tried to pull him down. “Yeah, it is,” Fisher whispered. “I was never bored with you and never afraid of you. Of us. I was afraid of hurting you. I was always worried I wasn’t...quite up to standard.” “Who said that?” he asked. Instantly, his hackles went up. Who the fuck had told Fisher that? Sure, he was a few years younger than Asa, but so was Jaz. He felt positively old next to them sometimes. And, yeah, Fisher was a werelion but the different species did intermingle some. Fisher was his, damn it. He wasn’t going to let anyone criticize him. But Fisher just laughed again. “Don’t worry about it, babe. You’re a famous Hunter. You think I never wondered why you picked me?” Fisher asked. Asa laid down too, just a few inches away and looked Fisher over, trying to ignore the hand still slowly pumping his cock. “Why did you let me pick you? Wolf. Cat. They don’t exactly go together.” “Don’t do that,” Fisher replied tensely then rolled to his side so he could meet Asa’s gaze. “Don’t pretend you don’t feel this thing between us. That you didn’t from the beginning. Who the fuck cares if you’re a wolf and I’m a cat? I sure as hell don’t.” He could deny it, but he’d be lying if he did, and Fisher knew it. He went for honestly. “I don’t know how to go from here. I don’t know how to let it all go and start over.” “One day at a time?” Before he could respond, Fisher rolled over on top of him and whispered in his ear. “Fuck me, babe. I can’t stand it anymore. Just like this. Face to face.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt He couldn’t have said no if he wanted to, and Fisher didn’t wait for him to. He positioned himself with Asa’s cock pressed against his anus and slowly pushed down, distracting him with a kiss when he thought to stop it. The sensation, being buried deep in the man he loved despite his best efforts not to, couldn’t be fought. He lay back and just let himself feel. Let Fisher take over and take what he wanted. Later he might regret it, but he couldn’t bring himself to that point yet. Fisher rode him harder and faster. Asa put his hands on Fisher’s back to pull him down for a kiss. He felt his claws punching through his fingers, a tiny partial shift and knew he had to scratching his lion, but Fisher didn’t protest, and Asa didn’t stop. The kiss was fierce, and Fisher bit him hard enough to draw blood, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t complain. It was the switch he’d been waiting for. He surged up and pushed the cat off of him, urged him to his knees before plunging home again with a growl of pure dominance. One stroke, two, and he was close to coming, but it wasn’t enough to come by himself. Fisher had to go with him. He tried to force himself to slow down, tried to control the feelings overcoming his control, but there wasn’t much point. He wasn’t going to last. So he reached around Fisher and, pushing Fisher’s hand off his cock, took it himself. He squeezed just under the head, rubbing his thumb over the weeping slit, the way he knew Fisher liked. The werelion’s moan was loud and long, and he thrust back against Asa. “God, yes,” he whispered. “Don’t you dare stop.” There was no way to stop. They were both much too far gone for that. But he did try to drag it out as long as he could. His strokes stayed shallow, of both his cock and his hand and, while not slow, slower than before. They were both going to come. It was inevitable, but he was damned if he’d go first. It was only years’ worth of discipline that gave him the upper hand. But it was a close call. He breathed a sigh of relief when Fisher’s body tensed and convulsed, his cum shooting out to coat Asa’s hand. And then he let go. He fucked him hard because he knew he wouldn’t last. He knew not only could Fisher take it, he expected it, and the orgasm came on him fast. It
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt felt like it moved up from his toes, through his body, and exploded out of his head. He couldn’t remember the last time anything was so intense, and it was several minutes before he could pry his fingers off his lover’s hips and roll away to stare at the ceiling, panting and wondering what the hell had just happened.
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Chapter Six Fisher sprawled in one of the big armchairs, still breathing hard, but wrung out and relaxed. He felt sated after what seemed an eternal dry spell. Asa sat at the end of the couch, close but not quite touching Jaz. Fisher could read the confusion and desire in his eyes. The confusion because he wasn’t sure what was going on between the two of them and wasn’t sure if he believed or trusted Fisher yet. Again. The desire was easier. For each other. For her. It was the same need he felt. It wasn’t even about sex, just an overwhelming need to guard Jaz, protect her. Not that he would turn down the chance to make love to her. Slow and easy and tender, with controlled passion. She couldn’t handle him no holds barred. Not yet. But maybe his restraint would show her how much she meant to him. She was his world. They were his world, sitting on that couch. Not just physically out of reach, but emotionally. Jaz and Asa. Asa and Jaz. Fisher wasn’t sure how he’d ever lived without either of them. He couldn’t imagine his world without them. He’d spend the rest of his life atoning for his mistakes if that’s what it took. He was determined, and he never failed at anything. “I’m not going,” he said, soft, not wanting to wake Jaz, but knowing he had to be firm before Asa could invite him to leave. “Don’t even ask.” “Did I tell you to?” Asa asked with a cocked eyebrow. “I said no going back. I meant it, Fisher.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt His heart jerked to a stop for a moment before resuming its steady rhythm, and he hid, just barely, a sigh of relief. No, that wasn’t right. Relief was too mild a word for what he was feeling. He wanted to fall to his knees and thank God or the universe or whatever karma that had interceded on his behalf. He managed to nod at Asa’s statement. He’d delivered it so softly, so easily despite the shadows in his eyes. He knew it was a risk, but he took it, and there was no way in hell Fisher was going to let him regret it. Silence fell, disturbed only by the soft drone of the television, and they just watched each other. He wanted to speak, but what could he say? I’m sorry? Do you forgive me yet? He was willing to do whatever it took, but begging was absolutely the last resort. He did have some ego left. Asa finally broke the silence. “Declan said Jaz has been training.” He let the jealousy roll over him. Not long ago, Asa’s mention of the werewolf’s name would have been like a punch in the gut. Declan and Asa had grown up in the same pack, become Hunters together. Lovers, though he knew that was long over. They had a tight, life‐long friendship it was hard not to envy. Even before his and Asa’s split, he’d been more likely to call Declan for help or advice than Fisher. “You okay?” Fisher blinked, clearing his thoughts to focus on Asa who was watching him with a chilly, reserved gaze. “Yeah. Fine. She’s been doing some martial arts lessons with Carlos.” Fisher had watched when he could do so unobtrusively. She was no amateur learning new tricks. It was clear from watching her she’d had extensive training. She was fluid and limber when she fought, no sign of any skittishness left over from her captivity. “She’s good.” He didn’t hide his admiration. He loved to watch her, his beautiful lioness. “She’s driven,” he added softly. She pushed herself hard, day after day. He tried not to dwell on why, but as she grew in strength both physically and mentally, he knew they’d have to deal with it. Sunny had already brought up going after Burns, the rogue werewolf who ran the Society and was so desperate to get his hands on a female shape shifter. “She and Sunny will want to go
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt after Burns.” He sensed Sunny was only waiting for Jaz to heal, for her to give the word. And when the twins decided to act? The world better watch out. He hadn’t been able to ferret out much about Jaz’s past. She and Sunny had separated when they were teenagers to protect their identities and hide their shifting abilities. Eventually Sunny had found her way to a human society who hunted rogues. But he had no idea what Jaz had been doing in those years. Considering her martial arts skills, he seriously doubted it was anything safe. “Absolutely not,” Asa said through gritted teeth. “The Hunters are looking for him, and when he’s located, we’ll take care of it. She’s not getting anywhere near him a second time.” “That’s my decision to make.” She sat up slowly, moving to sit with her back in the corner of the sofa, legs curled up under her. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she glared first at Asa then at him. “You’re my mate,” Asa snapped. “And I won’t allow you to put yourself in danger.” She cocked an eyebrow. Fisher was surprised his tongue wasn’t bleeding he was biting it so hard. “I’m in danger as long as Burns is alive. I guarantee he’s trying to find me now. Eventually he will, and I’ll be ready this time.” She scowled. “I’d prefer tracking him instead of the other way around.” “Why aren’t you?” Fisher asked. He’d never seen this side of her, cold and hard, like a Hunter. Like Asa when he was tracking a rogue or him when he was chasing down a feral cat. He was surprised this woman had been caught. He didn’t want his suspicion confirmed, but he had to ask. “How did Burns catch you? You’re smart and obviously trained.” If anything, she got colder, more reserved. More withdrawn. Instead of the ever‐present scent of fear he was accustomed to, now there was only fury. “I trusted the wrong person.” He’d heard her say that before, never with an explanation. “That doesn’t tell me much, sweetheart.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt She pressed her lips together and gave him a mutinous look that made it clear she wasn’t saying another word. He sighed. “Want me to guess? Okay, fine. You’re a Hunter, aren’t you? You’ve been hunting alone.” “Fuck,” Asa muttered. Fisher glanced over long enough to take in his horrified expression. It was a sentiment he sure as hell shared. No self‐respecting shifter would let his mate hunt. The idea of even an unattached female doing so was too terrible to contemplate. Women were smaller, weaker, slower. Breakable. Her being one of the very rare shapeshifting females just made it worse. “What if I am?” Again, his eyes met Asa’s and held a second before the werewolf lurched to his feet and paced. Fisher watched him warily. It was a telling sign from a man who was usually sniper‐still even in fury. The only time Fisher had ever seen such a physical response to anger from Asa was when he’d told him he’d infiltrated the Society. For some reason, his display of emotion helped Fisher stay calm. Reasonable. “You know you can’t continue that.” Her chin lifted. “Why not?” “What do you think would happen to us if something happened to you, sweetheart?” he asked gently. Knowledge flickered in her gaze, and she nodded with reluctance. It was rare to survive the loss of a mate for very long. Survivors either willed themselves to death, took matters into their own hands, or went insane. He’d heard it was like having half your soul ripped out. “Burns will keep coming for me. I won’t promise to stop until after he’s dealt with.” He shook his head. “No. The Hunters will deal with him.” She snorted. “I am a Hunter. He’ll find me before your Hunters find him, I bet. It would be better if I found him first.” “If he comes here, we’ll be ready for him. But you aren’t going after him.” Her eyes narrowed. “I found him before, and I can’t just sit here waiting. It’ll make me batshit crazy.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt Asa stopped pacing and crossed his arms over his chest. Fisher swore he could feel the waves of anger rolling off of him. “How did you get caught? No more secrets, Jaz. We need to know.” His voice was thick with barely controlled anger. She moistened her lips, and the sight of her tongue sweeping over them did unexpected things to his body. He’d never liked coyness in a woman, but she wasn’t trying to flirt, to entice. The very unselfconsciousness of the act made it seductive however. She switched her gaze from Asa to him, and it swept down his torso, trying to avoid his regard. Her eyes widened into deep brown pools of admiration when she reached his lap, and her scent made his nostrils flare. Lush. Sweet. Woman. His woman, and she wasn’t running from the room in fear or thinking about past grudges. He grinned, deciding to play with her a bit. His hand closed loosely around the base of his cock, leisurely twisting up to the head where he swiped his thumb over a milky drop of pre‐cum. Her tongue darted out over her lower lip again, and his cock jerked in his hand when he imagined her tasting him. Her legs uncurled, and she scooted forward in her seat. Would she follow through with the intent in her eyes? “Oh no, baby,” Asa said, irritated. “You don’t get to play until I get answers.” Looking a little confused, she lifted her face to meet Fisher’s gaze. Was the confusion over her sudden interest with him or had she forgotten the question? She pressed her lips tightly together, gave one short brief nod as if she’d been talking to herself and made a decision, and then her expression became almost mischievous. She moved to the floor, on her hands and knees, and crawled forward. His heart slammed in his chest when she stopped before him, when she blew a long hot breath over his erection. He groaned. “What are you doing, sweetheart? Teasing?” She gave him an impish grin, her eyes laughing as she looked up at him through her thick lashes. “I like to play as much as any other cat.” His fingers itched to delve into her hair, grip her scalp and pull her forward so he could plunge into her mouth. He was going to do just that
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt when Asa interrupted. “Not yet, baby. Answers first.” She hissed, ignored him, and leaned forward. Fisher stopped her with his hands on her shoulders and tried to give her a severe look. It probably just looked pained and chagrined. Much as he hated to admit it, he had to side with Asa and not let her distract him with the promise of her beautiful body. She sat back on her heels and glared at him. “Fine. I used to work with a wereleopard sometimes. Hunting people it wasn’t safe to hunt solo. He traded me to Burns.” Asa’s menacing growl filled the room. “I’ll kill him.” She turned to look at him and shook her head. “I shouldn’t have trusted him, and he should have trusted me. He exchanged me for his sister.” “I’m still going to kill him.” “No, honey,” she said softly, turning to face Fisher again. She sounded distracted as she explained further. “I would have done the same to save Sunny. I can’t blame him, which means you don’t get to either.” Asa got what he wanted with her explanation. Now it was Fisher’s turn. His hands fell to his sides when he saw her expression. She set her hands on the inside of his knees, scooted up until her belly was pressed against the chair, then spread her fingers and slid her palms up to his thighs. He bunched her hair in one fist and held it out of the way. He had to see her face, the rapt lustful expression, the enlarged pupils and moistened lips. What had changed her mind so quickly about joining with him? He didn’t dare ask, didn’t dare chance breaking the spell. He’d combust if she changed her mind now. So he remained silent while her tongue darted out and licked the head of his cock before tracing the vein on the underside all the way to his balls. She did it once, twice. She did it over and over again, until he knew he’d die if she didn’t take him into her mouth and suck him. Using his grip on her hair, he tried to encourage her there, but she wouldn’t be rushed, and he felt the scrape of her teeth in retaliation. She cupped his sac with one hand, massaging his balls with a skill
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt that made him fear premature ejaculation. Her other hand wrapped around the base of his cock while, with a saucy grin, she slowly, slowly took the head between her lips. And sucked the length of his cock into her mouth. It was hot and wet, and there was no fucking way he could hold back his orgasm. Thank god he was cat. Their reputation for being able to go all night was well earned. This was definitely not his last erection of the evening. He looked up and met Asa’s hot, feverish gaze. A shudder wracked his body as he watched, and his cock was hard, ready for his own turn with their mate. “I’ll be right back,” he said, almost a moan. Fisher didn’t try to stop him when he turned and hurried from the room. He heard the downstairs shower come on and knew Asa would be back quickly. Fisher didn’t give it another thought, wasn’t capable of another thought as Jaz worked her magic on him. His semen shot into her mouth, and she continued to suck him until he gently pulled her head away. He was already growing hard again, and this time he would be inside her. He lifted her to his lap. She wiggled closer until he was pushing at her entrance, but he held her still, not allowing her to take him inside. Not yet. Everything was happening so fast. Too fast. He hadn’t even kissed her yet, and he’d been dreaming about that for months. “What?” Her smile was tentative, questioning. He stared at her. Her skin was flushed, eyes feverish. Her lips were full and rosy from her attention to his cock. He wrapped one hand around her throat, sliding it around to grip the back of her neck and urged her closer, letting her lips hover over his for just a moment before closing the distance. She moaned when his tongue thrust into her mouth, hips moving wantonly, seeking against him. He made her wait. Deepened the kiss. He kept it a slow and sensual exploration. He’d have time to lose control later. When she was mewling her protests, when he could feel her desperation rising to an unbearable level, he finally gave her what she wanted. One thrust, hard and deep, and he clenched his teeth as he fought back his orgasm. She fit him like a hot tight glove, her muscles tightening
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt in protest as he lifted her to do it again.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt
Chapter Seven She had no idea what she was doing. Again. Later she might regret it, but right now she just didn’t care. When he’d spoken to her earlier, explained his actions, her resistance had begun to melt away and she felt a little petty for clinging to her anger so long. She’d known it was only a matter of time, probably a very short time, before she gave into the instinct, the need to take him. Or let him take her. She’d woken to the heady, intoxicating scent of sex and masculinity and her mates and knew it was time. Like a cat in heat, she hadn’t been able to resist when Fisher grew hard before her eyes, when he’d stroked his cock like an invitation. She hadn’t even been able to focus on the conversation, spilling her secrets without thought when she’d been so determined not to tell them about Max. She was still pissed at Max. Pissed at the betrayal. But she understood why he’d done it. She knew they wouldn’t be nearly as understanding. Fisher thrust deep, his hands on her waist tilting her back, and his cock dragged over her G‐spot. She shivered at the sensation, and he did it again. And again. While it was the best thing she could ever remember feeling, it wasn’t the physical sensations that arrested her. It was his eyes, full of need and love and acceptance. So perfect. So right. She couldn’t fight her biology, but maybe she didn’t need to. She was so focused on Fisher, so focused on him filling her, on how good he made her feel that she didn’t notice Asa had returned to the room until he set his hands on her shoulders. She froze for a few seconds, but
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt then his hands squeezed, massaged. She turned her head just in time to see him drop to his knees. He smiled at her, and everything seemed to go into slow motion. His touch. Fisher’s cock. This feeling of connection, this bond, it was almost what she felt with her twin. And she’d been searching so long for it. She’d been an idiot to keep them so far apart for so many months. Then there was no thinking of it anymore as Fisher, hands on her hips, raised and lowered her in a steady rhythm and Asa’s hands seemed to be everywhere. When he added his tongue, starting at the base of her spine and licking up to the nape of her neck, she was gone. Just gone. Her mind disengaged, and she gave herself over to feeling. Gave herself over to them. Fisher thrusting inside of her, filling her up. And Asa...oh gawd, Asa was not holding back. His hands molded her ass and then his thumbs brushed over her anus. Once, twice. He reached past her and picked up the small tube of lubricant that was sitting on the end table. She held her breath and watched as he flipped it open, as he squeezed some onto his fingers. He gave her a sexy, devilish grin before his fingers disappeared from sight. She bit her bottom lip and stared at Fisher, trying to focus on something else, anything else but the feel of Asa’s finger rimming her hole. Her breath caught in her throat as he slowly eased it inside her, working back and forth a bit until her body opened for a second finger. Fisher’s thrusts were lazy, unhurried, and Asa matched him. She wished they’d hurry up, wished they’d quit stalling and both fill her up, do something about the tension winding her tighter. Fisher caught her nipple between his teeth, bit gently and tugged, and she arched into him, with a demanding groan. It wasn’t enough. She needed more. She wanted everything. As if he sensed it, Asa reached for the lube again, and she held her breath at the squeak, moaned when she felt the head of his cock push at her opening. Fisher held perfectly still and waited. When Asa encountered resistance and the ring of inner muscle protested being breached, Fisher’s fingers moved over her clit first circling, then rubbing. She gasped but couldn’t say if it was from the little pinch her gave her or Asa’s slow
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt thrust deeper inside her. He kept his strokes short and shallow, never withdrawing more than half the length of his cock until she adjusted to the sensation. But the craving, and she knew she couldn’t be the only one feeling it, couldn’t be denied forever. They started slow, one withdrawing while the other thrust, gentle. Careful. Too careful. She wanted to weep. She wasn’t a fragile human who could be broken by two shapeshifters. The struggle for control was easy to read on Fisher’s face, skin drawn tight, eyes glowing. Feeling desperate for more, desperate to let the cat side of her loose, she leaned forward, taking the scent of lust and sweat and care deep into her lungs and swiped her tongue over his nipple. He jerked, thrust inside her, and Asa hissed. The feel of the two of them filling her was enough to make her shake with the beginnings of an orgasm that was just out of reach. But she was done waiting. She scraped her teeth over Fisher’s skin then over his nipple. Fighting to keep her claws retracted, she scratched his skin. The demand was silent but unmistakable. When she looked up, she could read the dilemma on his face. He wanted to give her what she wanted—harder, faster, rougher—but he was afraid she’d discover she didn’t really want it when he did. She grinned and kissed her way up his chest, biting little nibbles up his throat and over his chin until she reached his mouth. She held his gaze, withholding her kiss. When his eyes focused on hers, she slipped her hand between their bodies and found her clit, groaning when she rubbed it. “I won’t break, Fisher,” she whispered. They both froze, and Asa pressed his forehead against her shoulder. “Baby, don’t do that,” he said with a moan. “We’re trying not to lose control here.” She laughed and turned her head for a quick kiss. “Screw control. I need to come. Now.” When they still didn’t give her what she wanted, she tried a different tactic. She rubbed her clit harder, pinching a little, and groaned at the avaricious gleam in Fisher’s eyes. “I feel sooo good,” she drawled. “I need this. I need you to let go. I need to belong to you the way a mate is
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt supposed to.” “Christ,” Asa muttered then spoke to Fisher. “She knows what she’s asking. Or thinks she does.” They were wavering. She could feel it from Asa, see it on Fisher’s face. “Please,” she whispered. “Stop holding back.” Fisher’s response was a hard thrust that made her hiss yes and demand more. They kept the same thrust and withdraw pattern, but the gentleness was gone. Fisher took her hands, lacing their fingers together to tug her forward. His lips were firm and hot against hers, his tongue claiming and possessive when it swept into her mouth. He broke free to kiss a trail across her jaw and then his teeth scraped the sensitive skin below her ear. He bit down, his incisors breaking skin, and she could feel the bond form caused by mixing her blood and the enzymes in his saliva. The feeling of rightness, of belonging built higher with every hard thrust, with the swipe of his tongue over the small wound on her neck. When Asa’s teeth clamped over the other side of her nape, a signal of dominance from her werewolf, her climax exploded through her. She was vaguely aware of Fisher going with her, felt his cum spurt inside of her and knew she was marked in a way that could never be taken back. Just the idea of belonging to him so completely made her orgasm again. Asa growled against her nape as her muscles clamped down a second time. He stayed still until the tremors no longer held her, until she relaxed enough for him to begin thrusting again. Fisher replaced his cock with his fingers, his thumb rubbing over her clit, driving her up again until she whined a protest. She couldn’t possibly come again, but she couldn’t fight the sensations either. There was an incredible fullness in her ass and the stimulation on her clitoris was quickly driving her to the brink of sanity. Asa’s hold on her changed from the full‐throated pinning to a caress. Then a kiss. When his teeth scraped, sharp and purposeful, she held her breath, waiting. He bit down at the same time Fisher sucked her nipple hard into his mouth, his fingers strumming her clit roughly. She cried out as her final orgasm rushed through her. It washed over her and left her panting, pressed flat against Fisher’s chest. Asa’s hands were
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt gentle on her back, soothing. She could feel his cock softening inside her and groaned when he finally withdrew, feeling the loss even knowing she was nowhere near ready for another round.
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Chapter Eight She woke to murmured voices, gentle hands absently stroking her skin, the bright glare of morning, and the certainty that it was too damned early to move. She turned her back to the window and yanked the sheet over her head. One of them chuckled, and the other one snuggled up behind her. She scowled and tried to figure out who was where without opening her eyes. And, more importantly, which one of them was laughing at her. So she wasn’t a morning person. What of it? They resumed their conversation, the soothing fingers once again lightly tracing lines up and down her arm, the pads a little rough. Fisher. He was at her back. She’d heard he sculpted in his spare time, but hadn’t seen any of his work yet. She smiled, liking the sound of that yet. There was no fear, no misgiving left in her. Happy, she let her cat side loose for a long lazy stretch before curling back into her previous position. Asa laughed again and tugged at the sheet. She gripped it and pressed her face into the pillow. “It’s too early,” she whined. “Wake me up when it’s lunch time.” He won the tug of war, brushed her hair away from her nape and pressed a kiss there. “So like a cat. Sleeping the day away.” “So what? We’re nocturnal creatures.” “Not the human half.” She could hear the laughter in his voice. “This one is.” She won the struggle and pulled the sheet back up. “Go away.” It may have been muffled, but he heard her and let her have her
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt way. She didn’t figure that would last very long and had every intention of enjoying it while it did. She let her mind drift, enjoying the way her body felt a little sore and used and recalling the previous night. She sighed happily. Bliss. Until the shrill ring of the phone shattered the spell. Grumbling, she gave up on going back to sleep and sat up, glaring at the damned thing as Fisher picked it up. They were close enough that she could make out the voice on the other end. Isaac. Fisher’s oldest brother and the pride’s king. What the hell was he calling so early for? She would have leaned closer to listen in, but he stood abruptly and paced across the room. Arching an eyebrow, she turned to ask Asa if he knew anything she should. He’d been working with them while she’d done little more than take sanctuary, but he didn’t notice her. He was focused on Fisher, his expression reserved, not inviting questions, and his eyes narrowed as they tracked Fisher around the room. The phone conversation was short and almost completely one‐sided. When he hung up, Fisher returned to the nightstand and put it in the cradle. “Well?” she asked. “What’s going on?” He kept his face calm, but she could scent his fury. “Burns was spotted in Savannah. We think he’s coming here.” Asa growled, low and menacing, and she scooted closer, leaning against him to offer comfort the only way she knew how. He stopped immediately, Fisher stared, and she twisted around to look at Asa, laughing at his stunned expression. “You don’t scare me,” she said softly. Neither one of them did. Not after yesterday. Not after the tender way they’d carried her to bed and watched over through the night. But more than that, Burns no longer scared her. “Does Isaac have someone watching him?” Fisher scowled. “He did. Burns slipped away somehow.” She nodded. Fine. They knew where he was going. There was no reason for him to be in Savannah if he wasn’t coming after her. It was the closest city, pride territory, and suicidal for him to venture into without a
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt damned good reason. “When?” “Early this morning. He’s got to be here by now.” “Alone?” “That’s what our guy says, but... “ He didn’t have to finish the thought. Burns would be an idiot to come after her alone in the middle of a werelion pride. He wasn’t stupid, not by a long shot if he’d avoided capture for so long, but he was arrogant. She wouldn’t be too surprised if that was exactly what he did. Excitement coursed through her. He wouldn’t get her again. She was too well protected, but they’d definitely get him. Her nightmare would finally be over. She grinned and stood up, put her hands on her hips and looked back and forth between the two of them. They both looked pissed off and unhappy. “This really is a good thing.” Neither answered, and she shrugged. Whatever. They’d be fine once everything was over, and her money was on that happening soon. She stepped around Fisher and grabbed the first clean clothes she found in the closet. Asa finally spoke when she was stepping into her shoes. “Where do you think you’re going?” Hadn’t he listened to a word she said last night? “After Burns. Don’t even argue with me about this, babe.” He stood up and slowly stalked towards her like she was prey. “No. We’ll stay here with you, and Isaac’s people will take care of this.” He ground his teeth together, and she knew he hated leaving it to the werelions, hated anyone else but him taking the risk, but he’d decided not to leave her alone and not to let her help. When she glanced at Fisher, she guessed he was having the same reaction. The over protectiveness had to stop. “Okay, believe it or not, I can take care of myself.” “Is that right? That was you in Burns’s dungeon, right?” he said snidely. She rolled her eyes. “Special circumstances.” She took a deep breath. “How long have the Hunters been after Burns, Asa?” The werewolves had been looking for him the longest.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt He narrowed his eyes. “Years. You already knew that.” “Yeah.” She nodded and took a deep breath. “Both of you just listen, okay? Don’t say no before you think about it. Pretend I’m not your mate for a minute.” Fisher snorted. “Not likely and no way.” “I didn’t even say anything yet!” This time he did the stalking. He stopped close but not touching, slowly leaning forward while she held her breath in anticipation until his lips brushed his mark on her neck. He sucked the sore spot between his teeth and nipped before letting go and lifting his head. “We will not use you as bait. Forget it.” She glared. It was the smart thing to do. “What makes you think I was gonna suggest that?” Of course she was, but she didn’t like being out‐maneuvered. “It was the logical conclusion.” “Yes! Exactly!” * * * * * Asa couldn’t claim to be surprised. He should have seen this coming. After everything she’d been through, it wasn’t a shock at all that she was out of her fucking mind. He and Fisher both said no again, and she just rolled her eyes. “Look, he’s coming, right? Let’s not make it hard on him. I’m the perfect bait. Hell, I’m the main catch, right? Let him think I’m alone. I don’t even have to go far. If you both hide in the woods and I hang out on the porch all day, he’s arrogant enough to go for it. There’s no telling how long till he’s caught, or who else might get hurt if this drags out.” Her logic was sound, and he was used to working with human female hunters. His objection wasn’t even because she was a shapeshifter, though most of the males he knew would object loudly for just that reason. Hell, he’d worked with her sister several times, but the wolf in him loathed risking his mate. He just couldn’t do it. He grabbed clean jeans from the suitcase they’d shoved into a corner last night, catching
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt Fisher’s gaze as he passed him. He’d been suspiciously quiet, and Asa could easily read why. If he were a betting man, he’d put his money on Fisher choking on his anger. There was a knock on the door downstairs, and all three of them turned to sniff the air, curious and apprehensive about their visitor. If the circumstances were different, it would have been funny. “Isaac,” Fisher said. He pulled on some jeans and left the room with a brisk stride. Asa followed, and after dressing, Jaz trailed behind. He found the brothers in the kitchen, both already moving around to prepare breakfast. Jaz entered, went straight to the fridge, and pulled out a can of diet cola. He caught the door before it shut and carried a bottle of water to the table where he straddled a chair to study his mates. Jaz leaned against the door jam again, looking sweet and innocent and fragile. Ethereal. But, when she met his gaze, her eyes were hard and determined. He sighed. She may look like she needed protection, and for a few months she had, but that wasn’t who she was. Fisher was another story. His jeans were loose, but they didn’t hide the definition of muscle they encased, and he hadn’t bothered with a shirt. His bare back rippled as he moved around looking for ingredients until finally he stood still to lay bacon in the sizzling frying pan. Long scratches covered his back and sides, and Asa wondered which of them had put them there? Him or Jaz? They didn’t share the same kind of marks, and he didn’t dwell too much on why. He’d wanted Fisher, no doubt, but he’d wanted to punish him too. He had wanted to make his disappointment and displeasure at the breakup known. He wasn’t proud of that. Wasn’t happy he hadn’t just let it go and moved on. Isaac set the bowl of eggs he’d whisked on the counter and turned to face the room. His gaze barely flickered over Asa before concentrating on Jaz. He smiled. “Carlos volunteered me to come by and spar with you.” “Really?” she asked dryly. “Of course, you’re showing up to do that doesn’t have anything to do with Burns.” He shrugged one shoulder. “If he happens to see us from the
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt woods and wants to visit, who am I to say no?” She laughed, and Asa growled, glaring at her. “We already said no to that. You are not bait for that freak.” “I’m the bait whether you use me or not,” she pointed out. “And we’re not.” He turned his glower on Isaac. “You would never allow your own mate to do this.” Isaac’s sigh was heavy. Damn it. He was going to insist, and Asa was in his territory. He could take her home—she wasn’t a prisoner after all—but he didn’t think he could do it without her kicking and screaming the whole way. “If I had a mate, I wouldn’t want to risk her, no. Unfortunately, I’m not just an average member of the pride. I have to do what’s best for everyone.” Asa felt a growl rolling up from his chest. Isaac held his palm up to forestall his refusal. “Right now, the best thing is to eliminate Burns as quickly as possible.” Yeah, it was. He wasn’t arguing that. But there were more than enough werelions around to hunt him on their own damned land without risking Jaz’s freedom again. Her life. “He’s right,” Fisher said softly. It was the first he’d spoken, and he wore an expression of annoyance mixed with anger. He paused to fork bacon out of the pan, set that plate aside, and poured in the eggs. “Much as we hate it, this is the logical way to do it.” He gave the room a mean smile. “Besides, I’ve seen her fight. Burns is in for a nasty surprise if he gets near her.” It only took one glance around the room to know he was outvoted. Isaac and Fisher had thrown their weight behind Jaz, and her expression was mutinous. The only way he’d be able to protect her from herself was to lock her up, and he couldn’t bring himself to do that. She’d had enough of that already to last a lifetime. “You better have one hell of good plan to protect her,” he snapped at Isaac.
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Chapter Nine After two days, Fisher was starting to think Burns was a tease. They’d all caught his scent, but no one, not even their best tracker, could find him. Whatever else he was, he was damned good at evasion. Except for the tension caused by Burns’s presence, things were going amazingly well. So well it scared him a little. The three of them had settled into an easy routine. He and Asa had fallen into their old relationship, and Jaz seemed totally accepting of both of them. And the sex was incredible. Grinning, he hefted the last bag and followed Jaz out the front door. He stepped aside while she locked up, and she laughed when she looked up at his face. “I know what you’re thinking.” “Oh yeah?” He leaned down for a quick bite under her ear. “About that thing you do with your tongue?” She blushed, punched his arm, and this time he was the one laughing. She didn’t say another word as they set off for his house. He still couldn’t believe they’d agreed so easily to move in. Hell, Asa was moving to a new state. That was more for Jaz’s benefit than his, to not uproot her, but he wasn’t about to complain. He’d expected an argument, and he wasn’t questioning his good luck. No way. “I hope lunch is ready.” She grinned. “If it isn’t sex with you, it’s food.” He wiggled his eyebrows and went for a leer. “We could combine them. More efficient that way.”
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt Her laughter was joyful. Every time he heard it, his stomach did a slow flip‐flop, a sense of unreality and utter contentment filling him. He was so lucky she was his. After a short walk, the woods parted to reveal the clearing of his backyard, and both of them instantly tensed. Burns’s scent blanketed the area, and there was no sign of Asa near the smoking grill. He dropped the bag and grabbed Jaz’s arm before she could rush forward. “Wait.” He forced himself to stand still, quartering the area with his gaze, looking for hidden traps or signs of the two werewolves. When he saw nothing, he moved forward cautiously, keeping her behind him. He could feel her frustration, but it didn’t matter more than her safety. He dug the phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Text Isaac,” he said softly. He thought Burns was still around the house, probably in the house, but he couldn’t take the risk of sending her away by herself. That could be just what he’d planned. He could smell it before he pushed the back door open. Blood and a lot of it. Under that scent was Asa’s and Burns’s. And overlaying it all now was Jaz’s surge of fear. Fuck. He turned around and backed her up to the door. “Come on. I’ll wait with you out here until Isaac gets here.” And he wouldn’t come alone. Jaz would be safe with soldiers from the pride, and he could find Asa. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too late. She trembled, took a deep breath, and shook her head. “No. We have to help Asa.” He watched her carefully as she got control of herself. The shaking stopped, her breathing evened. God, he was so proud of her, the iron will she’d rediscovered after everything she’d been through. The refusal to let it run her life. They heard a crash from upstairs. “We can’t wait, Fisher.” He was already moving. “Stay behind me.” Other than the occasional crash, it was eerily quiet. He didn’t bother searching the second floor. There was a puddle of blood on the
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt landing, and a trail going up. He hurried now, pulling his shirt off as he ran up the stairs, toeing his shoes off when he stepped off the stairs. The room was one large open space. Formerly a bare attic, he’d plastered the walls and put nice wood floors in. Across the room, a wolf stood growling over the body of another one. Asa, the black lupine, wasn’t moving. Jaz snarled, and Fisher stripped off his jeans, shifting as he leapt forward. The wolf tried to get around him to get at Jaz, but Fisher clamped his jaws around its back leg and dragged it to the floor. Jaz hurried by, and he saw her kneel at Asa’s side before being forced to deal with Burns. Asa wasn’t moving, and he was still in wolf form, either too injured to shift or dead. No. He couldn’t lose Asa. Not like this. Not now when everything was finally right. Fisher let his fury wash over him, let it take over, and went for the Burns’s throat. The wolf evaded him and continued trying to get to Jaz. Snarling, the wolf whirled around and jumped at him. Fisher wasn’t expecting the sudden move and went down hard. He was pretty sure he felt a rib crack, and he ignored the sharp pain when he rolled back to his feet. They circled each other, growling low menacing warnings neither was about to heed. The wolf attacked again, jumping forward with teeth and claws to rip at his side and dodging a counterattack. He was surprised Burns was so good, so fast, and he shouldn’t have been. The man had earned his reputation by leaving a trail of bodies all over the country. Fisher understood his strategy—wear him down with those in and out attacks, then go for the throat. In one of the good guys, he might even admire it, though personally he preferred a good knock‐down drag‐out fight. Asa moaned, and Fisher couldn’t help turning his head to look. It was seriously bad timing. The only thing that saved him from getting his jugular torn out was Isaac’s arrival. He hadn’t noticed his brother come in, didn’t see him at all until the tawny streak flew by him. Isaac’s jaws closed over the wolf’s throat and gave him a mighty shake before he snapped its neck and dropped the animal. Fisher didn’t watch to make sure he was dead. He shifted and
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt hurried over to Asa. He was back in human form, chest slowly rising and falling, the wheezing rattle indicating a punctured lung. He’d heal in a few days, but they needed to make sure everything was set right first, that there was no bone stuck in his lungs. The pride’s small clinic wasn’t far, but every inch of that walk was going to be excruciating. He squatted down to pick him up, but Isaac stopped him. “Wait. I sent for a stretcher.” He nodded, afraid to try his voice. He’d probably sound like some squeaky kid about to cry, but damn it’d been close. Jaz slipped her hand into his and gave him a watery smile before leaning her head against his shoulder. “Here,” Isaac said, tossing him his jeans. “They’re coming up the stairs.” Asa woke up as they carried him down the stairs. There was no way not to jostle him, and his face was white with pain. He looked back and forth at Jaz and Fisher, his relief showing when they were both there and unharmed except some scratches and bite marks on him. “Burns?” “Dead,” Fisher answered, and he was glad of it. Asa closed his eyes and slipped back into unconsciousness. At the clinic, the healer looked him over, bandaged the worst cuts that were still seeping blood, and x‐rayed his chest. He insisted on checking out Fisher too. He would have refused, but Jaz turned those haunted eyes on him, and he didn’t say a word until after he’d finally shoved the guy out. “C’mere, sweetheart.” She came into his arms like she’d been doing it all her life. “We could have lost him. I could have lost you both.” Despite her whisper, he heard the tears in her voice. She wiped her hand over her face. “I hate crying.” She trembled, and he held her tighter. He didn’t think she realized her shivers and tears were as much from adrenalin as fear. “But you didn’t lose us. We’re both gonna be fine. And you’re safe now.” “Who do you think will take over the Society now?” It made sense to ask him since he’d gotten invited to the inside.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt He’d gathered more information on its structure and members than anyone had ever managed before, but he didn’t want to think about it yet. He wanted to comfort his mate and watch over his lover. “I don’t know. I don’t care.” His hands slid under her shirt, up her back, and the lush scent of arousal spiked in the air. Her breath quickened, and she reached for the snap on his jeans. He smiled. That was more like it. No more fear. No worries about anything but satisfying the need between them. Her hand slipped into his pants to stroke his cock, and he stopped thinking. Christ. This was going to be hard and fast and over way too quick if she kept that up. But, when he tried to stop her, she shoved his hand away. Fuck it. He’d help then. He unzipped and pushed his jeans over his hips, giving her all the room she needed to explore, then he started on her jeans. Unsnapped. Unzipped. Shoved to her ankles. He lifted her, and she kicked them off to wrap her legs around his waist. She guided him to her pussy, released him, and with a groan, he thrust deep. Her head fell back, leaving her throat exposed to him, and he left a trail of kisses on her chin as he turned and pushed her back to the wall. Her fingers tunneled through his hair, and she brought his mouth down to hers. “Hard and fast, Fisher. Make me forget,” she whispered before kissing him. Her tongue was a scalding brand stroking into his mouth, claiming him as much as he’d claimed her. She left her mark on his soul. A wicked sinful craving. A desire he’d never have to deny. He let her have her way and finally gave in when she wiggled and mewled a tiny protest. He thrust hard and fast. Rough. And her body welcomed him, her cunt a hot slick fist that tightened with every withdrawal as if to hold him prisoner. Neither of them lasted long, just as he’d predicted. When she tensed, her entire body locking up and her long low cry filling his ears, he let go. Her cunt milked him, pulling long hot spurts of cum from his cock until he was spent. Breathing hard, he held her close and leaned his forehead against the wall next to her head. “Couldn’t you two wait to do that when I can participate?” Asa
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt complained from the bed. Fisher turned and let Jaz slide down his body, smiling as she rushed over to the bed. Asa grabbed her hand and tugged until she climbed up with him and snuggled on his uninjured side. He sighed his contentment, and it filled Fisher with a feeling of happiness and belonging. His whole world was right here, alive and well. He righted his jeans, picked Jaz’s up and approached the bed. “You might need these, sweetheart. No telling when the door will open again.” But Asa wouldn’t let her go. “Just get under the covers with me.” Asa frowned, and rather than argue, Fisher readjusted the blankets. “When can I get out of here?” “Tomorrow. They want you here overnight. Besides, we may heal quick, but you have three broken ribs and a punctured lung. That’ll take a few days even for a shapeshifter.” Asa rolled his eyes, but his face was still pinched with pain, and he didn’t insist on leaving. Fisher breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been sure they were in for a fight over that. “What happened?” Asa’s expression changed to one of disgust. “Fucker got around me. I was outside, starting the grill, and when I went back in, I could smell him. Ambush. Divide and conquer. Whatever. He obviously figured he’d take us out separately.” “He almost did,” Jaz whispered, hiding her face against his chest. He ran his hand up and down her arm in comfort. “But he didn’t, baby.” She nodded but didn’t look up at either of them. Fisher moved up behind her and massaged her shoulders. “It really is going to be okay, Jaz. It’s over, and there’s no point on dwelling on what‐ifs.” Finally, she showed herself and gave him the sweet half‐smile that always made his heart skip a beat. She glanced around the sterile room and frowned. “I guess we should go home and let Asa rest.” “Fuck that. If I’m stuck here so are you. I’m not letting either one of you out of my sight. Ever again.” There was a mock growl in his voice and a joking undertone. Fisher grinned.
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt “Hey, we saved your ass, not the other way around.” “Actually I saved everyone’s ass.” He hadn’t turned around when the door opened since he could scent his brother on the other side, and he didn’t need to turn now to know his brother was gloating. Isaac sauntered in and stopped at the foot of the bed. He gave them all a hard, long look. “I’m sure I don’t have to remind everyone that taking on Burns alone was beyond foolish. I expect that kind of thing from my dumb ass baby brother, but not a Hunter with your reputation, Asa.” He took a deep breath, and Fisher rolled his eyes. There was no one as long‐winded as Isaac when he went into lecture mode. “I had to call Anthony and explain why one of his Hunters was hurt on my land. Which, of course, means now I’m going to get invaded by werewolves,” he went on in a surly tone. Asa looked amused. “We don’t bite, you know. Much.” Fisher barked a laugh, and Isaac speared him with a look that didn’t intimidate him at all. “You two deserve each other.” He grinned and met Asa’s gaze. “Yeah. We do.” “That wasn’t meant to be encouraging.” Isaac shook his head and turned to leave, pausing by the door to look Asa over again. “Get some rest. We’ll discuss your official position in the pride tomorrow. I’m short a few soldiers right now.” Fisher stared after him. He’d believed Isaac would accept Asa into to the pride, but he’d expected more of a fight over it, even if it was only to save face. It had taken weeks for him to even consider doing the same with Declan. Fisher turned back to look at Asa and Jaz. “Guess you really impressed him.” Asa shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe he realizes how much I love you both and that I’m not going anywhere, no matter what he says. Not without you at least. We can always head back to North Carolina.” Jaz spoke, but Fisher only half heard it. He was stuck on I love you. Her next words got his attention though. “Do you want to go back?” “I don’t care where we are, baby, as long as we’re together. I can do
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The Return by Loribelle Hunt my part to protect a pride just as much as a pack.” He was waiting to hear what Fisher had to say. “We should stay here. Isaac will never admit it, but he needs me and Carlos to help run things. Plus, our children will be lions not wolves.” If their theory held true, it was the mother’s DNA that determined which species her children would be. Fisher’s younger sister was one of their rare female shifters, and one of her mates was a bear. She hadn’t had any daughters—yet—but her sons were all werelions. He could see disappointment on Asa’s face, knew that wasn’t quite what he’d been looking for. He went to the side of the bed opposite Jaz, sat on the edge and leaned over. First he kissed her gently, then Asa. “I love you both. Let’s make our home here.” Jaz’s beautiful smile lit up the room. “Let’s do it.” Asa held his hand up, and Fisher took it, lacing their fingers together. “Are we good?” he asked softly. Asa grinned. “If you break me out of here, we’re even better.” He laughed and stood. “Let me see what I can do. Don’t go anywhere.” They both rolled their eyes at the stupid joke, and grinning like a fool, he went off in search of the healer. His family was going home. The End
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Author Bio Loribelle is like the South she calls home. Hot and sultry. Languid and sexy. Magnolias and gardenias scent her silk‐lined boudoir, and men and children alike bow to her magnificence… Okay, maybe it isn’t quite that glamorous. She does have two smart and lovely daughters who give her a run for her money and a son that will one day be someone’s model of a romance hero. (She promises.) Her husband is a real‐life hero, and Loribelle just tries to keep up with the demands of military life. In between, she writes a book or two. She’s had every job under the sun, but haven’t most writers? That Army military police, bookstore manager, waitress, wedding photographer, website designer experience has to come in useful sometimes. As they say in the South, it all washes out in the end. She loves hearing from her readers and can be found at http://www.loribellehunt.com.
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