Holiday Moon

White Hot Christmas: Holiday Moon B. J. McCall

All rights reserved. Copyright ©2011 B. J. McCall

ISBN: 978-1-60521-713-0 Formats Available: HTML, Adobe PDF, EPub MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader Publisher: Changeling Press LLC PO Box 1046 Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046 www.ChangelingPress.com Editor: Sheri Ross Fogarty Cover Artist: Reneé George

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White Hot Christmas: Holiday Moon

B. J. McCall

When these two come together the rules of engagement no longer apply.

Operation Holiday Moon sends Sgt. Sezri Adar and her werewolf team deep into enemy territory. Wounded, Sezri orders her wolves to leave her behind. On her own, she must avoid capture and make it to the secondary pickup point.

Being the only human on the team has presented special challenges for Major Calix Klatt, especially when his second-in-command is the sexiest female he’s ever encountered. She’s brave and beautiful, but a relationship with Sezri would destroy any cred he’s built with the werewolves.

When Sezri is MIA, Calix’s duty is to wait out the holiday and hopes she survives. But the heart doesn’t always listen to the head, and putting his career on the line is the least of his fears.

Chapter One

“Questions?” Sergeant Sezri Adar asked, concluding the final briefing for operation Holiday Moon. She eyeballed each of the seven highly trained male werewolves of Unit Four of the Paranormal Special Operations Group. Five would accompany her on the mission and the other two would serve as pilot and copilot of the chopper. Unit Four had successfully completed more than a dozen missions and had earned the nickname the Moon Soldiers. No one spoke. She turned toward the only human on the team and the unit leader, Captain Calix Klatt. “Anything you’d like to add, sir?” “I think you’ve got it covered.” Although they planned every detail of every mission together, Klatt rarely spoke during briefings. Satisfied, Sezri punched a key on her laptop, closing the satellite-generated topographical map visible on the wall screen. She’d memorized every detail. If anything went wrong, it was her responsibility to get her team to safety. “We’re a go at sixteen hundred.” Metal folding chairs scraped the scarred floor as her team stood and began to file out of the briefing room. The facilities on the foreign base had seen better days. The housing was run-down, but the plumbing worked and the satellite phone and computer connections were operable. Operation Holiday Moon was a black op and only a handful of people in the central command center, CenCom, knew what was about to go down. A recent addition to the team, a werewolf with a family, groused about having to work on a holiday. A veteran of the team responded, “They’ll never expect us to light them up on Christmas Eve.” Sezri agreed. Although it was difficult on the married members of the team, Captain Klatt had chosen the perfect time to execute the mission. She turned to Klatt, who had waited until the team left the room before rising from his chair. He was tall, a few inches over six feet, and as physically fit as the other team members. He moved closer, his gaze lingering on her face. These wordless pauses were becoming a habit, as if an unseen energy buzzed between them. The room shrank, the air heated and no one existed except the two of them. It was times like this when Sezri was aware of the breadth of his shoulders, the rugged handsomeness of his face, the blueness of his eyes and the scent of his pheromones. Her nose twitched. Her sensual senses instantly on alert, her heart rate leaped. Did Klatt have any idea of the sex attractant he was producing? “Will CenCom call it off?” she asked, focusing on the mission instead of the way Klatt’s short black hair gleamed like a raven’s wing. Her team was ready. But often, central command issued a stand down minutes before a mission, especially those being carried out in political hot zones. “The op has top priority.” She closed her laptop and began to gather her belongings. Her laser pointer slipped from her fingers. Klatt caught it. Their fingers brushed as he handed it to her, his touch sending a frisson of heat through her blood. “Be careful, Sezri.” Her breath caught as he turned and walked away. He always called her Adar or addressed her by her rank. “Sir, is there something you know that I don’t?” He paused at the door and looked at her. “What I know, you know. When that weapons factory lights up I want you in the chopper, not on the ground.”

He’s worried about me. “That’s the plan, sir.” His gaze swept over her with a quick flash of heat. “If things go south, get out of there.” Then he was gone. Sezri wanted to go after him, but what would she say? Do you feel it, too? If she became involved with Klatt, every werewolf on the team would howl in protest. They were already ticked off that CenCom had ruled that a human must command every team. A few hellhounds went haywire on one mission and every paranormal unit had been reorganized to prevent another transgression. Klatt was an excellent leader, a decorated soldier, but he wasn’t gifted with any paranormal power other than the ability to make her lycan blood sizzle. Damn. She didn’t need the complication. ***

An hour later, Sezri and her team loading into a chopper readied for takeoff. At the last minute Klatt jumped aboard. Sezri saluted. “At ease.” Klatt dropped into the seat next to Sezri. His arm and thigh brushed against hers, making her aware of his muscled body. Klatt was off limits as were the members of her team. But he was the only one who made her want to howl beneath the moon. Sezri willed herself to relax. If Klatt was riding along, CenCom must be on pins and needles about this sensitive mission that would put her team into hostile territory. Klatt didn’t say another word, and because of his presence the usual raucous lycan testosterone-laced banter was kept to a minimum. When the chopper landed, Klatt opened the door and jumped out. The seven male weres stripped off their clothing, removed their dog tags and slipped on packs laden with explosives. Then the team shifted, bodies changing and reforming until seven wolves surrounded Sezri. She adjusted the packs, making them comfortable for the long trek. The team gathered outside. Sezri stripped down, then shifted, shuddering as her body changed shape and thick fur sprang from her hair follicles. She swished her tail as Klatt climbed back into the chopper. He touched his fingertips to Sezri’s muzzle. “Godspeed.” She wanted to lean into his hand and urge him to pet her, but she had a mission. She inhaled and licked his palm. With Klatt’s unique scent still teasing her nostrils, Sezri took the lead, guiding the team of wolves toward the objective. ***

Chopper blades whirling above his head, Calix focused on the wolves running toward him. The team had exceeded the mission’s predetermined ground time, running late by almost a half an hour. As soon as the team was aboard, they’d lift off and race for the border and friendly territory. He watched as they jumped into the chopper’s belly, counting only seven. Sezri was missing. The unit had performed a dozen of these night missions without a hitch, but tonight something had gone horribly wrong. Ignoring the fist gripping his heart, Calix stuck his head inside the chopper and yelled. “Where’s Sergeant Adar?” The team members shifted, their forms changing from wolf to human. No matter how many times Calix witnessed the transformation, he hadn’t lost his sense of amazement as their

bodies stretched and reformed. Even more amazing was the team’s ability to communicate telepathically while in wolf form. No matter how hard he worked, he’d never truly be one of them. “What happened out there? Where’s Adar?” Specialist Daton answered, “We ran into a patrol. They fired on us. Sarge ordered us to run while she created a diversion.” The fist gripping his heart tightened as Calix scanned the dark terrain. Is she alive? Wounded? Where the fuck is she? He jumped into the chopper and got in Daton’s face. “You left her behind?” Calix tried to keep the anger out of his voice. He wasn’t sure he succeeded. “She said time was running out and ordered me to get the team to the chopper. The patrol stopped firing at us. They were following her.” That Sezri had sacrificed herself for her team didn’t surprise Calix. Daton had followed Sezri’s orders. “Well done, soldier.” Calix returned to the open chopper door, praying he’d see her. Damn! Tonight’s mission was to blow up a weapons factory -- a black ops mission the government would deny existed. The plan was simple, but dangerous. Upon reaching the targeted site, Sezri would shapeshift and remove the side packs of explosives from the other team members. After the charges were set, the team was to hightail it back to the chopper. Roving wolf packs weren’t uncommon to the area, providing cover for the team if spotted. But if they came under fire, the wolves were unarmed and vulnerable. Calix scanned the landscape. Nothing moved. His heart twisted. Sezri was in trouble. He glanced at his watch. The timing of the mission was critical. If he waited much longer, they’d lose the cover of darkness, and his orders were to be back across the border before dawn. She was out there alone and unarmed. Logic dictated to leave and implement the backup plan. The chopper would return tomorrow night, land at the secondary pickup point and wait for two hours. Fuck logic! He wasn’t leaving the woman he loved behind enemy lines. Calix spoke with the pilot and ordered him to implement the backup plan. He grabbed a survival backpack, one of several that were kept in the chopper in the event of an accident. He put on a pair of night vision goggles and picked up a handheld communication unit, a combination satellite phone, GPS, and tracking unit. Thank God he’d brought it along. Sezri would likely kick his ass for thinking she needed his help. So let her try. He scrambled out of the chopper. “Sir?” He turned to Daton, yelling above the sound of the whirling blades and the revving engine. “I’m going after her. Now, get the team to safety.” “Yes, sir.” Calix saw the relief on the team members’ faces. He understood that the werewolves had resented his presence, and he’d worked hard to win their respect. The last thing he’d expected when joining the paranormal unit was that he would fall in love with a wolf. He initiated the tracker and GPS. A tiny orange blip appeared. Every soldier, human or shifter, had a tracking chip implanted in their necks. Calix started running. He didn’t look back as the chopper lifted off. He headed up the dry riverbed, guided by a tiny orange blip that wasn’t moving.

Chapter Two

Sezri huddled beneath a large prickly bush, the only cover available. Blood trickled down her right rear leg and dripped down her right ear. She licked at the stinging wound on her leg, flinching as her rough tongue slid over the ragged edges of flesh. A bullet had grazed her upper leg, and a flying piece of rock had struck her in the head. She needed to shift and allow the transformation to heal her wounds, but she didn’t dare. The shift would drain her energy, and she’d be more vulnerable naked and on two legs. She laid her chin on her paws and thought about the mission. Everything had gone smoothly until they’d been spotted by a patrol in a vehicle with four-wheel drive. Instead of ignoring the pack of wolves the soldiers had started shooting at them. Unarmed, the team had to make a run for it. Damn, if they hadn’t run into that patrol she’d be back at base being debriefed by CenCom. Then she and Klatt would share a drink and celebrate a successful mission and the holiday. The captain’s ability to lead a pack of werewolves was no small feat. That he didn’t spend his time worrying about his image and advancing through the ranks at others’ expense was enough to make her love the guy. Love? Was it possible? She hadn’t even kissed him. That was a situation worth remedying, but first she had to make it back to base. At the sound of a high-pitched engine whine Sezri’s ears pricked forward. The red dots of laser sights flitted around her hideout like fireflies. The patrol was still searching for the wolves. Her heart banging against her chest wall, Sezri curled into a tight ball and prayed her light brown coat blended into the terrain. The headlights arced as the vehicle turned and drove away. Sezri needed to find shelter, a place to hide until tomorrow night. Klatt would implement the backup plan, which meant the chopper would be sent into hostile territory to extract her, and she had to be in position and ready to board the moment it landed. Despite the pain in her leg, she crawled from beneath the bush and stood. Running on three legs, Sezri followed the dry riverbed, using the shrubs lining the banks as cover until she reached a point where she had to break free of the riverbed and traverse open terrain with little vegetation to conceal her. Her breathing labored and her muscles trembling, Sezri trotted, but her pace was slowing. After a couple of miles the sandy ground gave way to rocky hills. She forced her legs to move until her head swam and her vision blurred. Exhausted from climbing, she stumbled and fell onto the rocky hillside. Sezri knew her strength was ebbing. Then the sky lit up, well-placed ordinance blowing the factory. ***

Calix pulled off his goggles and watched the fireworks. Sezri and her team had done the

job. Explosion after explosion lit up the horizon, exposing the silhouette of rocky hills where the GPS had pinpointed Sezri’s current position. Soon dawn would break. He had to locate Sezri and find cover before they were caught out in the open in broad daylight by the inevitable patrols. According to the tracker she’d been on the move, not toward him, but to the west. He’d been so relieved to see the orange blip moving at a steady pace he’d run full out trying to catch up with her. Finally he’d reached the rocky hills, and according to the tracker Sezri was nearby. He scanned the area with his night vision goggles. Then he saw her and his heart almost stopped. She was lying on her side, motionless. Calix scrambled up the rocky incline and placed his hand on her flank. She was breathing. He lifted her head and saw the wound right above her ear. Then he looked at her leg. A chunk of fur was missing. “Sezri.” She didn’t respond. He stroked her flank, running his fingers through her thick coat. In the moonlight her light brown fur looked silvery. She whimpered, but didn’t move. He looked around, searching for a place that would provide cover. He saw a rock outcropping and decided to go for it. “I’m going to lift you,” he said, wondering if she was conscious enough to hear him. He picked her up, being careful not to touch her bad leg. Her low growl let him know she was feeling pain. “Don’t bite me. I’m doing the best I can.” He carried her up the hill and settled into a narrow crevice between two large rocks. She whined as he laid her across his chest and removed his pack. He pulled out a kit with a needle and a dose of painkiller and antibiotics. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to perform a field injection on a fellow soldier, but it was the first time he’d had to do it to a wolf. Gently, he grasped the scruff of Sezri’s neck and injected her. Next, he tore open a premedicated gauze bandage and placed it on her leg wound. Then he unrolled a length of self-adhesive wrap, tore it off, and wrapped it around her leg to keep the bandage in place. He cleaned the wound on her head, his heart twisting as she whimpered in pain. He closed his eyes and stroked her back. Her breathing slowed, and she fell asleep with her head resting against his heart. The rocky surface dug into his back and ass, but Calix was so damned happy to have Sezri in his arms, he didn’t care. ***

Sezri’s eyes fluttered. Warm and comfortable, she wanted to sleep. She rubbed her muzzle against her soft bed, and a familiar scent registered in her brain. She jerked up her head, and pain spiked through her skull. What the hell? Klatt! She looked around. They were wedged in a crevice between several boulders. Klatt was propped up against a rock and she was sprawled over him. How? Why? When? Then it all came back like a fast-moving storm. Thunder rolled through her head and lightning stabbed the backs of her eyes. She’d completed the mission, but she’d been wounded.

That explained the pain, but not why Klatt was here. Had the team made it back? She’d led the patrol away, but had something gone terribly wrong? Had they run into trouble? Klatt would have the answers. He must have found her last night and carried her into this crevice. Overhead the sun was bright and soon the enemy would scour the area searching for the culprits who had blown up their installation. Sezri pricked her ears forward and lifted her muzzle. Her wolf senses were her best weapon now. If the enemy was close, their scent and movements would give them away. She heard the chattering of birds and caught the scents of the small animals that lived in the rocky terrain. And Klatt’s male aroma. She laid her chin on his chest and breathed deeply. His wonderful male scent curled through her nostrils. She only allowed herself an indulgent moment, then the disciplined soldier overruled the sensual she-wolf. She had to talk to Klatt about finding a better hideout. This crevice was too exposed if the enemy was searching by air. Using her sharp teeth, she removed the bandage. Her leg was slightly swollen, but the wound would heal when she shifted. Sezri knew it was going to hurt like hell. Sezri summoned her lycan energy, gritted her teeth and shifted. Bone, muscle and skin stretched and reshaped. Her torn flesh knitted, sending stabbing pain down her leg and spiking through her skull. She swore aloud, something very unladylike. “Sezri.” She looked up, her gaze meeting his. Her head still hurt, but the throbbing of her leg had disappeared. He’d called her by her first name, but she was unable to return the greeting with equal familiarity. “Captain.” His gaze dropped, sliding over her nakedness for a few heated seconds before returning to her face. Her heart skipped a beat. Changing fur to skin was second nature to werewolves, and her team had seen her in stages of undress. But this was different. This was Klatt, the man she had erotic dreams about. They were in the middle of enemy territory and here she was thinking about sex. Just looking at Klatt made her think about sex. She should be thinking about the mission and getting back to base in one piece. “The team, did they make it back?” “Your team is fine,” he said, glancing at her leg. “You’re the one I’m worried about.” The shift had healed her wounds, but the skin was red and she had a killer headache. “I’ll live,” she said, rubbing her right temple. She pushed light brown hair off her face. She preferred a short spiky style that was low maintenance. “I need painkillers and clothes.” “Painkillers are in the med-kit.” He leaned forward, pulled off his brown t-shirt and handed it to her. “I didn’t think about bringing clothes.” Sezri slipped the shirt over her head. It was warm and smelled like him. She pulled the hem down over her breasts and hips. Covering her private parts didn’t stop the sizzle. Besides a handsome face, Klatt had wide shoulders, muscular arms, a smooth chest and a six-pack belly. All of it tanned to golden perfection. “What are you doing here, Captain?” He picked up the pack and dug out the med-kit. “Taking care of you. The chopper will pick us up tonight.”

“I don’t recall you coming into enemy territory to save my ass being in the backup plan.” “You wouldn’t have left a team member out here alone.” He had her there. She’d have done exactly the same thing. “So now there are two of us in jeopardy. CenCom is going to chew your ass for this one, Captain.” “It’s Christmas. How about for the duration of this mission you call me Calix. You can kick my ass after the holiday.” They were going to be alone together for hours, she wasn’t wearing underwear and he wanted to drop the formality of rank. Obviously, he had no idea what errant thoughts swirled in her she-wolf brain when he was near. “Not a good idea, sir.” He grinned. “I thought you liked me.” She liked him too much to indulge in this getting-closer banter. “We need a better hideout.” He opened the kit and removed a sterile prepackaged needle. “I have a nice cocktail for you, antibiotics and painkillers. Pull up the shirt, soldier, and present your butt cheek.” Sezri stretched over his lap and pulled up the hem. She’d had more than a few dreams about having Klatt’s hands on her butt. Her thoughts were so heated she didn’t feel the prick of the needle. He tugged the shirttail down. She pushed herself to her knees and looked up at the cloudless sky. “We’re too exposed here.” He dropped the med-kit back into the pack and stood. “I’ll take a look around. You should stay off that leg. There’s water and an energy bar in the pack.” While Klatt was gone, which wasn’t long, Sezri consumed the energy bar and took a couple sips of water. “I found a cave,” he said. “It’s shallow, but it’s unlikely we’ll be spotted. I’ll carry you.” “I can walk on three legs.” “As soon as the sun goes down we have to get to the landing zone, almost fifteen klicks from here. You’ll need all the energy you can muster for tonight.” He was right, shifting would sap her energy. He grabbed the pack and put it on. Then he climbed out of the narrow crevice and Sezri followed him onto the rocky hillside. Klatt snaked an arm around her waist and for a couple of heartbeats held her close. Her breath caught and her senses went on sensual alert. Although it wasn’t part of the plan, Sezri was glad he’d come after her. “Put your arms around my neck,” Klatt said, bending down and hooking his left arm beneath her bare legs. He lifted her gently. “Tell me if I’m hurting you.” Her breasts were pressed against his chest and his face was inches from her. She let her fingertips trail over his warm skin and saw a flash in his blue eyes. “I’m fine,” she said, thinking perhaps he was as affected by the close contact as she was. After a short distance, Klatt set her on her feet and took off the pack. The cave was about six feet deep with a shallow roof and a narrow mouth. Sezri’s nose wrinkled. The cave smelled of rodent and big cat, telling her that she and Klatt weren’t the first to take refuge here. If they got in feet first, the space was barely wide enough to accommodate both of them. Close quarters, but the likelihood that they’d be spotted was low. Klatt removed a space blanket out of the pack. He unfolded the thin, lightweight polyester blanket and spread it over the cave floor. “I’ll let you climb in first.”

Sezri got inside and lay on her left side. Klatt removed the med-kit and a bottle of water out of the pack and placed them in the corner. He removed the handgun strapped to his belt and placed it at the mouth of the cave. The tight space shrank as Klatt squeezed in next to her. Lying on his back, he used the pack like a pillow. Then he managed to slip his arm beneath her head and drew her close. “Use my shoulder for a pillow.” Sezri snuggled closer, seeking his warmth and the intimacy she’d hungered for since he joined the team. Her position was decidedly comfortable and totally inappropriate. She closed her eyes and drifted into a light sleep. She wasn’t sure what awakened her, but she moved her head and looked at Klatt. He raised his hand in warning. The familiar thwap, thwap, thwap of chopper blades filled the air. The helicopter made three wide loops over the area, then moved away. “They’re searching for us.” “I haven’t heard any vehicles,” Klatt said. “Are you okay?” “I’m good.” He dug in his pants pocket and pulled out a pack of gum. Sezri took two pieces and removed the foil wrappings. She popped one piece in her mouth and handed him the other. After the gum had lost its flavor, they wrapped it in the foil and dropped it into the pack. When they left this hideout, they’d leave nothing behind to tip off possible searchers. Sezri had no idea how long she lay in Klatt’s arms, but as each moment passed her awareness of him increased. She knew he was fit, but she’d never felt his hard-muscled strength firsthand. Her leg lay over his thighs, her breasts rested against his broad chest, and she found the feel of his six-pack abs irresistible. She ran her fingers up and down the center of his chest, each caress taking her closer to the belt resting low on his belly. Unable to resist the temptation of him, Sezri pressed her lips to his right pec. He turned his head. “What’s on your mind, Sezri?” She tilted her head back and looked at him. “I’m glad you’re here. Really glad.” “Feeling those painkillers?” She reached up and forked her fingers through the dark strands of his hair and cupped his head. Part of her wished it was the painkillers. Then if things didn’t go so well between them she could excuse what she was about to do. Sometimes you have to run for the objective and hope you don’t take a bullet. She pulled his head toward hers. “This has nothing to do with painkillers.” Then she kissed him.

Chapter Three

An explosion went off in Calix’s chest, a burst of emotion, need, and yearning that he’d been carrying around for several months. He was breaking more than a few rules, some set by the military, some he’d put upon himself, but he didn’t give a damn. What mattered, really mattered, at this moment was the softness of Sezri’s lips, the urgency of her body clinging to his and the wild pounding of her heart. Her mouth was hot, her lips soft and her tongue enticing. An agonized groan tore from his throat, then he deepened the kiss. His free hand slipped beneath the t-shirt. Her skin was silky soft and velvety smooth. He palmed her ass and drew her tight against him. He wanted her. He ached to be inside her. His body trembled from the thought of it. She whimpered and Calix broke the kiss. “I don’t want to hurt you.” “The shift healed my wounds.” She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. “Right now I need this.” Calix gasped as her hand slid beneath the waistband of his underwear. She palmed him, her skin warm and her fingers agile. Her touch was enough to make him come. If this moment had come anywhere else, he might have picked her up and slammed her against the closest wall, but she was injured and wild sex was off the table. He had to maintain control. “Oh, God.” Calix worked his pants down his hips and Sezri removed the t-shirt. He drank in the sight of her. She was perfection. Her breasts were high and firm with inviting pink nipples that were made for suckling. Gloriously naked, she climbed on top of him. Her amber eyes were shining, her breasts were velvet soft, and the moist entrance of her pussy was like wet silk rubbing the head of his cock. Merry fucking Christmas! He wanted to grab her by the ass and shove his cock inside her so far he’d tickle her belly button, but he didn’t dare take the chance of reopening her leg wound. Somehow he had to slow down his urges. After months of wanting her, resisting the urge to fuck her hard wasn’t so easy, but having his legs restricted by his pants helped. He could barely move. Easy. Easy. “I didn’t think Santa was going to give me a present,” he said, surprised by the strangled harshness of his voice. Sezri wriggled her ass, sinking down on him. The broad head of his cock slid inside her wet warmth and his heart rate soared. She nipped his shoulder. “Santa knows you’ve been a very good boy.” He cupped her breasts and his heart nearly stopped. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this present,” he said, raking his thumbs over her fabulous nipples and groaning. “How long I’ve wanted you.” “I’ve wanted you for a very, very long time,” she said, rocking her hips and taking him all the way in. “Santa, hell! I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

The pressure building in his balls was powerful. He didn’t want to come before she climaxed, but his body wasn’t cooperating. He released her breasts and slapped his hands on the firm ground, anything to keep his climax at bay. She kissed him, nipping his lower lip while she squeezed down on him with her pussy. Clench and release. Up and down, wet silk along his length. Fuck! Calix bucked his hips, rocking beneath her. “You know I’m ready to explode.” “And I want you to,” she said, slamming down on him hard and fast. His blood burned and his heart pounded, impossibly fast. He grabbed her ass and exploded inside her. ***

Her energy spent and her desire momentarily satisfied, Sezri collapsed on top of Klatt. All she needed was a little rest and she’d be back in the saddle again, literally. She liked this woman-on-top position, and she’d wanted him too much and had waited too long for the sizzle he’d kindled to be extinguished in one quick mating. There was a high probability the fire in her lycan blood would never be put out. Wolves bonded for life, and although human, Klatt was her alpha mate. He just didn’t know it yet. Maybe now wasn’t the time to tell him. The poor human was still trying to catch his breath. “Next time I think we should both be naked,” he said, rubbing her butt with his big hands. “I kinda like the bondage. We could play prisoner and tormentor.” He chuckled. “I didn’t know you liked being tied up.” She brushed her lips to his. He cupped the back of her head and molded his mouth to hers. With each lush tangle of their tongues, the headache ebbed. Sezri sighed when the kiss ended. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d been kissed so thoroughly. She liked it and she loved him. Her life was going to get complicated. Taking a human as her alpha mate was going to be a tough sell to her family and her pack. Her parents hadn’t exactly been ecstatic when she became a member of the paranormal special ops either, but they respected her decision and were proud of her service. Settling down and having offspring wasn’t what she’d wanted a decade ago, but now Sezri found herself rethinking the marriage-mating-family thing. That’s what falling in love did, made you look at the future and reevaluate your goals. Klatt moved his hips. “Damn, but I like being naked with you.” She kissed his chest and his neck. “How are you feeling? Anything hurting?” “My leg’s okay. I have a headache. Nothing I can’t handle.” “You’re too tough for your own good. When your chip wasn’t registering motion, I thought I’d lost you. If I had gone back to base, I’d have gone crazy.” If the situation had been reversed, she’d have been terrified. She raked her fingers through his hair. “You came after me, and it’s going to cost you.” “You’re worth it.” “CenCom might bust your rank. In fact, I should kick your ass myself, but I have better plans for your ass, Klatt.”

“We’re getting up close and personal here and you’re addressing me the same way you do the team.” Lying here with him still inside her was about as up close and personal as it got, but her feelings wouldn’t end when they got back to base. She didn’t want to slip up and call him by his first name. “You’re still my commanding officer.” “I want to be more.” “You are, Calix. You are.” “Who would have thought our first kiss, our first time, would be in a cave deep in enemy territory.” He was running his hands over her butt, up her back and down again, touching, caressing, exploring. “You keep doing that and I’ll get all horny again.” “I’m already there,” he said. He was hard again, filling her. When she squeezed him, he groaned. “I’m going to take off my boots and pants and do this right.” “If we have to scramble, all I have to do is shift and you have only to pull up your pants.” She rubbed against him, taking his length inside her, then retreating. “If we’re spotted, we’re toast,” he said. “I’d rather die naked with you than with my pants around my ankles.” He rolled her off of him and gently settled her onto her left side. He yanked up his pants and crouched at the mouth of the cave. He removed his boots and clothing and set them to the side, filling the narrow space. As long as they stayed real close, they’d both fit. He climbed back inside the cave, feet first. As his hips were sliding past, Sezri grasped his cock, then sucked the head into her mouth. Using lips, teeth and tongue she suckled and licked until he was rock hard and groaning. She cupped his balls, giving his sac a gentle tug. “Holy mama, don’t make me come. Not yet.” She released him and licked her lips. After a few grunts, groans and tricky maneuvering, Calix was lying on his back and she was stretched out on top of him. Grasping her by the waist, he slid her higher on his chest, until her breasts dangled over his face. He captured a nipple, suckling gently at first, then hungrily. A river of heat rushed from her breast spearing down to her pussy. She wriggled her hips until the head of his cock was positioned for entry. Tugging eagerly, he bucked his hips, slamming his cock inside of her. Moaning, Sezri suppressed a howl. He palmed her ass in his big hands and drove into her. Then he slowed his pace and caressed her right butt cheek as if to tell her he’d gotten carried away. Heat coiled inside her as she rode him. Flesh slid against flesh, heat and moisture, delicious tremors. The air surrounding them sizzled. Groaning, he released her nipple. His grip on her ass tightened, his fingers digging into her muscle. A howl gathered in her throat. Instead of giving in to the lycan urge, she clenched her teeth. “Bless the moon!” Sezri felt his restraint. His muscles were taut, his biceps flexed and his thighs tensed. Sweat beaded his chest, slicking her skin. He was straining to hold his needs in check.

“Fuck me, Sezri.” She slammed back against the thick root of his cock, again and again. She needed to move, to fuck him hard. Everything about him turned her on, made her crazy. Another slam and she convulsed around him. His moans joined hers. Before she caught her breath he kissed her, an intense meeting of lips, mouth and tongue. He loved her. Sezri felt it in her heart. He’d communicated it without saying the words, but they would come. As the delicious tremors of climax subsided, her body reminded her that she’d been injured. She laid her head on Calix’s shoulder and closed her eyes. She’d rather be naked in a cave with Calix than anywhere else on Earth. ***

Calix loved looking at Sezri, watching her sleep, watching her come. She was beautiful, sexy, and tough. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. There were so many things he wanted to say, but she needed the rest so he’d let her sleep. The sun had set, taking the warmth of the day with it. Soon he’d have to rouse her. Her eyes fluttered open. She sniffed his skin and smiled. “How long have I been asleep?” “Several hours. You must be hungry.” She nipped his chest. “Famished.” He wanted nothing more than to make love to her again, but she needed her strength. They had to move out soon. “I’ll give you another shot before we leave,” he said, easing her onto her left side. Calix climbed out of the cave and pulled on his pants. He scanned the area and listened for the whine of engines. Seeing and hearing nothing that caused concern, he sat just inside the cave mouth and put on his socks and boots. Next he grabbed the pack and pulled out his night goggles. A green silhouette, Sezri sat up. The curve of her hips and the shape of her breasts drew his eye. He dug a couple of energy bars and the med-kit out of the pack. He leaned in and sat the bars on her left thigh. “Eat. We’ve got a long way to go.” She tossed him his t-shirt. “What about you?” “I ate while you slept,” he said, putting on the shirt. He’d consumed one bar and left the last two for her. If he’d been the one wounded, she’d do the same for him. After she finished off the bars, he handed her the bottle of water. “Finish it. We’ll be on the move for a couple of hours.” He tore open the sterile pack and removed the last needle loaded with the cocktail of painkillers and antibiotics. He pulled the cover off the needle and scooted closer to Sezri. “I’m going to give you the shot now.” Sezri turned away from him and put her weight on her left knee. “I’m looking forward to seeing you in that position, often.” She laughed softly as he administered the shot. “You have no idea, human.” She turned around. “Kiss me, before I shift.” He pulled off the night vision goggles and cupped the back of her head. He kissed her until he was so hot and horny he had to stop if they wanted to keep their date with the chopper.

“I love you, Sezri.” His heart pounded as he waited for her response. “I love you too.” His heart swelled in his chest. “I’ll never forget this holiday for as long as I live.” “We can tell our grandkids about it.” His heart jumped. “Are you proposing, Sergeant?” “That’s your job, Captain. I’m just approving the mission.” He gave her a quick passionate kiss. “I think this operation is going to require an all-night planning session.” “Several.” ***

Sezri heard the slow whirl of the chopper blades long before they had reached the landing zone. She’d run out of steam a couple of klicks back and had been forced to slow her pace. Calix had lifted her onto his shoulders and carried her to the chopper. A couple members of her team rushed forward to help. “It’s good to see you, Sarge,” Daton said. “Thanks, Captain.” As she was loaded into the belly of the chopper, Sezri looked at the holiday moon rising over the distant hills where she and Calix had taken refuge. If Calix hadn’t come after her, would she have made it? She’d never know the answer. The chopper lifted off, and she snuggled against Calix. It was Christmas Day and she’d found her true alpha mate, the best present Sezri could have asked for.

B. J. McCall

A multi-published author of contemporary and futuristic sensual romance, B.J. McCall is a West Virginia native now residing in Northern California. Thanks to an older sister who was a librarian, reading became B.J.’s favorite pastime. B.J.’s idea of the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon or a day at the beach is reading a romance novel. The phrase “Do what you love,” applies to B.J. -- she loves to write and each story is special. She hopes her readers will enjoy each and every one of them. Visit her website at www.BJMcCall.com.