The B*E*A*S*T* Within Read online

  Crouching low, his big hands caressed her thighs, urging her legs to open for him. Once she did, Noah wasted no time as he plunged two fingers inside of her. Lanie cried out, arching into his hand, silently asking for more. His thumb rubbed her slick skin as his fingers eased in and out, slowly bringing her to the brink of ecstasy. Leaning over her body, he devoured her breasts, and Lanie could do nothing more than plunge her hands in his hair and hold on tight.

  His touch drove her wild as she strained for release against him. Just as she was about to fall over the edge, Noah lifted his head and kissed her, capturing her shuddering gasps in his mouth. Their tongues tangled while his fingers continued their erotic caress, bringing forth more whimpers of pleasure from Lanie's throat.

  Noah shifted his weight, and in a split second his fingers were gone, only to be replaced by the very root of him driving into her as deeply as he could go. Noah lifted her hips to receive him as he pulled back only to thrust forward once again. Lanie cried out at the exquisite feel of him. This was it, the moment she'd dreamt of for what seemed an eternity; having him moving inside of her.

  "Noah!” She took his earlobe into her mouth and sucked hard. He groaned and pressed forward once again, demanding her response. “Don't stop, Noah! Don't ever stop."

  "Never, baby,” he said, holding on to her. “Never."

  Within moments, Lanie was crying out again, another orgasm rocking through her like a pulse of electricity. Noah groaned at the same time, quaking on top of her and holding her hips steady as he thrust hard and deep.

  Spent and panting, he collapsed on her, but she welcomed his weight. He hid his face in the crook of her neck, and it was all Lanie could do to catch her breath. No one had ever made love to her like that—so savagely. Noah knew what he wanted and took it without asking. She was shocked to find she was still in one piece, her pleasure had been so intense.

  Noah moved as if to sit up, but Lanie's arms stopped him.

  "No,” she whispered, still panting.

  "But—"

  "Stay."

  With a slow nod, he rested his head on her chest. Neither one spoke, because there was no need for words. What they'd just shared was too intense, too passionate. Instead, Lanie stroked his hair and kissed the top of his head, content to lay beneath him in his warm, comforting embrace.

  Twenty One

  "Did I hurt you?"

  Noah's voice seemed to drift down to her through a fog. Lanie opened her eyes to see him hovering above her, holding his weight on his elbows. He was still buried inside of her, making her bite her lip at the sensation.

  "What?” she asked, somewhat distracted as he moved just a bit.

  "Did I hurt you?” he repeated, giving her a small, chaste kiss.

  "A little,” she confessed, finally able to control her breathing.

  "I'm sorry.” His eyes were impossibly blue at the moment, and he sounded as if he truly regretted it. “My instincts kicked in and I—"

  Lanie put her hand on his mouth. “Don't, Noah. Don't apologize to me. There was some pain when you bit me, but it only made me hotter for you."

  "I bit you?” he asked, genuinely confused.

  Lanie nodded. “Right here.” She pointed to her neck.

  With a groan, Noah kissed her there, and she felt his tongue caress her skin. “Oh, baby, I'm so sorry. You're already bruising."

  "I said don't apologize.” She chuckled playfully, smacking him on the shoulder. “I'm just a marked woman, that's all."

  Something changed in Noah's eyes at her comment. He was so unbelievably sexy that Lanie's heart skipped a beat. “Wearing my mark,” he whispered, his eyes flashing. “Covered in my scent."

  He kissed her, and Lanie was lost. His possessiveness had suddenly kicked in, and she couldn't believe how much she loved it. She wanted to be marked by Noah, to be his. She supposed it was in part an animal thing. Noah was a shifter, after all. His possessive feelings could be due to his animalistic desire to mate.

  But Lanie didn't care. She'd finally made love to him, and it had been a glorious experience. Now, with him kissing her, her body was firing up to feel the ecstasy all over again.

  "Let's take a shower,” he said against her skin, his hot breath making her shiver.

  "Together?” she asked.

  "Definitely. After that torturous night in our other motel room, showering with you is all I can think about."

  "I don't remember that night being torturous,” Lanie said, her face twisting with confusion as she tried to recall it.

  "Maybe not for you,” he said with a sly grin. “But it was all I could do not to break down the door and take you right then and there."

  "I wish you had,” she whispered to him, running her fingers through his hair.

  "So do I."

  Noah gave her another long, gentle kiss before pulling away. Lanie was suddenly cold, but once he stood, he held out his hand for her and helped her off the bed. Their rigorous love-making had made her legs weak, and she welcomed the strength of Noah holding her upright.

  Before long, steam filled the small bathroom as they both stepped into the water together. “Turn around,” Noah said in her ear, making her quake despite the hot shower spray.

  She did as he said, gasping as his large hands urged her under the water. Once her body was completely wet, he grabbed the soap on the edge of the tub and began lathering her body. Lanie couldn't stop the moans of pleasure she gave him, closing her eyes to the delicious feeling.

  "Lanie...” His voice trailed off.

  Snapping open her eyes, she looked at him and caught his gaze roving over her naked skin, and she blushed despite all they'd shared.

  "You are so lovely,” he said.

  No man had ever called her lovely. She felt tears in her eyes. “You really think so?” she said, amazed that she'd found her voice.

  With a grin, he slipped his soapy hand between her legs and gently explored. “I know so, baby. You're perfect."

  Lanie had to clutch onto his shoulders or risk collapsing right there in the shower. Her tongue slipped between her lips as she moaned, and Noah took advantage of its appearance. With a determined, predatory stance, he pressed her against the wall of the shower, leaning in close enough to kiss her exposed tongue. Lanie didn't need any more urging. With a sigh, she opened her mouth to him and let him conquer.

  "I'm all soapy,” she said, amazed at the grittiness of her voice.

  "I know,” he growled in response, pressing his entire body against her, leaving no room for doubt about where his thoughts were headed.

  "Do you have a ... a condom?"

  He slowly shook his head, and she bit the inside of her lip in frustration until an idea came to her.

  "Get wet,” she ordered, pushing him into the water. He grinned at her but moved obediently. With his body turned away from her, she couldn't help but admire his firm backside, and she had to touch him.

  "I want to lick every inch of you."

  Noah whipped around at her words, making her chuckle. She squeezed past him and rinsed the soap off before turning to face him once again.

  "Funny, I was just thinking the very same thing,” he said with a seductive grin. But as he reached for her, she pushed him away and shook her head.

  "Not so fast, Noah Carpenter. You were in charge on the bed. In the shower, it's my turn."

  He raised his brow but dropped his hands. Lanie smiled and adjusted the showerhead to spray a little higher, hitting Noah in the chest. She knelt before him, holding his eye contact and swallowing hard. His gaze was intense, telling her she would once again be his prey the moment they emerged from the shower. With a slight smile, she ran her hands up his thighs, feeling his entire body shake. She marveled at the power she had over this man.

  And she wanted him to surrender to her.

  Her hands drifted up his skin, coming to rest on his hardened flesh, stroking, massaging ever so gently. She suddenly felt shy but remembered how aggressive he'd been only a li
ttle while before. She was a quick study. Raising her mouth, she ran her tongue along his skin, circling him before taking him fully inside.

  "Lanie!” he exclaimed. “Dear God..."

  "Shh,” she whispered, still stroking him.

  His eyes caught hers, and she got a glimpse of his tiger side as his fingers threaded through her hair. Returning her mouth to his length, she thought how much she loved the taste of him, so completely male that her nipples puckered in response. She couldn't keep herself from groaning.

  "Damn,” he said under his breath, holding on to her hair so tightly that Lanie actually winced, but she wasn't about to stop. Again and again she took him in, and each time he moaned in response.

  "Stop. Lanie—"

  "No,” she responded gently, continuing.

  "But I ... I'm going to ... sweet Jesus!"

  His body tensed, and she could taste the salty tang of his pleasure on her tongue. She didn't stop her conquest until his shuddering gasps had subsided.

  She stood and gave him a timid smile, and his eyes burned her to the core. She wondered for a moment if he'd truly enjoyed what she'd done, and a shiver of doubt raced down her spine. But another rush of desire engulfed her when the side of his mouth turned up into a most-wicked grin. Leaning over her, he turned off the shower.

  "Your turn,” he whispered hotly in her ear.

  Lanie shuddered as Noah gathered her in his arms, striding swiftly out of the bathroom without even stopping for a towel.

  Twenty-Two

  They'd left the bed minutes before only to return to it sopping wet. When Lanie realized that he meant to lay her back down, she tried to stop him.

  "Wait, Noah, we'll get the sheets all—” he tossed her onto the mattress “—wet!"

  "I don't care,” he said, crouching over her belly and reminding her of a cat about to pounce. In a sense, that's exactly what he was. She could even hear a sound coming from his throat. Was Noah purring?

  Lanie's thoughts were scattered when he slowly began licking the skin of her belly, dipping lower and lower to glide down each of her legs. Noah grabbed her thighs with his hands and forced them open, eliciting a yelp from her.

  "Did I hurt you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  "No, you just startled me is all. You're so demanding. You could have just asked me to open up."

  He growled at her words, and she could have sworn she saw his eyes flash. A hint of fear laced her passion, magnifying it and bringing forth a longing so strong that she almost begged for him to ravish her again.

  "I'm sorry, baby,” he said, his voice gruff. “But I don't think I can go slow. I can smell every little detail about you, and something inside me wants to take you fast and hard—and without mercy..."

  As he spoke, he dipped his head and ran his tongue along her slick skin, with just barely enough pressure for her to feel nothing but frustration.

  "And something tells me you like it that way, Lanie.” He did it again, and she cried out.

  "Noah...” She tried to scoot closer to him.

  "What?” he asked, teasing her a third time.

  "You're driving me wild!"

  "Good,” he whispered. “Now that you know the feeling, you know what I have to live with every day, barely able to contain the beast that lives inside of me."

  Taking his finger, he outlined her sex, doing nothing more than making her writhe at his touch.

  "I want you wild, baby,” he said, his eyes locking with hers as he hovered between her legs. It was the single-most erotic scene she'd ever been a witness to, especially when he licked the finger that had been stroking her.

  Lanie closed her eyes and panted hard, feeling a deep fire burning in her loins, practically screaming for his touch. Then his tongue was on her again, but this time, instead of a smooth liquid sensation, she felt tiny nubs on it that felt so good it made her cry out.

  "Like that?” he asked, his voice making her skin tingle.

  She could do no more than nod. She didn't trust her own voice.

  "I can control the way my body changes when I shift,” he told her right before he ran his tongue along her folds once more. “I can change the texture of my tongue just enough—” another lick “—to drive you wild. Is it working?"

  "Y—yes, Noah. Yes! Oh my God..."

  Noah's voice turned deep and husky. “I want you for my mate, Lanie. For always.” With that, he plunged a finger inside of her and she bucked. “Tigers do not mate for life, but I can't imagine living the rest of my life without you."

  His mouth returned to her, and she clutched the pillows with a vengeance, wondering to herself if she were in heaven or hell. His strokes were slow but in no way gentle as he attacked her senses as only a predator would.

  "Will you be my mate?” he asked, pushing another finger inside of her.

  Lanie would have agreed to anything to get him to finish what he'd started, but glancing at the ceiling, she realized the enormity of what he was asking her. To stay with him. Forever. To be his and only his, the mate of a shifter. Who knew what kind of life they would lead or if she would ever see her family again.

  But her heart burst at his words, and she knew she couldn't live without him either. If for some reason he left her, she didn't think she would ever be the same. Noah Carpenter was in her blood, just as the tiger was in his. There was no way she could deny his heartfelt plea.

  "Noah,” she whispered with her eyes closed, “I can't lose you. Not now."

  "What's your answer?” he asked, dipping his head again to continue his erotic game.

  Opening her eyes, she looked down, and once again his eyes met hers. Looking into his fiery-blue depths, Lanie knew her fate was sealed.

  "Yes. Yes, I will be your mate. I'll be your—oh, God!"

  The moment she said the words, Noah feasted, finally giving her what she'd craved all along. His exquisite tongue danced upon her, making her hold his head there with her hand. Within moments she was screaming, her orgasm more intense and powerful than any she'd ever felt in her life. And before she could come down from the sky, Noah was on top of her, making sure she had no doubt in her mind that she was his and his alone.

  Before she knew he had moved, he was inside of her while kissing her into oblivion. Lanie's entire world was Noah in that moment, and she lost herself in him. He thrust and she answered him stroke for stroke, telling him without words what being his mate meant to her.

  "I love you, Noah,” she whispered, threading her fingers through his hair.

  He answered her by kissing her hungrily, groaning and pouring himself into her at the same time.

  "Don't stop, don't stop!” Lanie pleaded.

  And he didn't, despite having found his own pleasure. A few moments later, she gasped and arched her back, climaxing around him and opening her eyes to see him gazing down at her, watching her come. She would have blushed, but she barely had strength to blink. Instead, she smiled weakly.

  "I love you too, baby,” he whispered, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. “And I swear I won't let anything bad happen to you."

  "Just stay with me, Noah. That's all I want."

  He nodded and rested his head on hers. “You got it, my passionate tigress."

  Lanie bit her lip and did blush that time. Pulling his head down, she gave him a kiss full of love, full of promise, and full of the dreams they shared for tomorrow and beyond.

  * * * *

  "Hey, Justin, is that Noah's red Hummer?"

  Rogan pulled over to the side of the road and stared at the truck in the motel parking lot. Justin sat up from napping in the passenger seat to look where Rogan was pointing.

  "Holy crap, it is! What's he doing at a motel in the middle of the day?"

  "I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count. Damn, J, you can be dense sometimes."

  The younger man managed to look hurt. “Ouch, Wolfe. You wound me."

  Rogan rolled his eyes and pulled their vehicle into the truck
stop on the other side of the road. He parked so they would be able to keep an eye on the motel.

  "We're staking them out?” Justin asked.

  "No, we're protecting them, remember? We were sent to Arizona to find them, and we have. We just need to prevent anyone else from finding them."

  "Ah,” Justin said, nodding. “So does that mean I can finish my nap?"

  "Go ahead,” Rogan answered as he leaned back his seat to get comfortable. “Just means you'll get the night watch."

  Justin scoffed and closed his eyes. “Whatever, old man."

  Twenty-Three

  Tam smiled as he watched the monitor and pointed to a flashing red dot on the terrain map. “That is their signal?"

  "Yup.” The technician who'd pulled up the beacon on Rogan and Justin's GPS locator seemed nervous. His hands shook and he cleared his throat several times, but it was his scent that gave him away. Tam enjoyed scaring the shit out of people.

  "How long have they been there?"

  "At least five hours, sir,” the man answered, coughing behind his hand. “They haven't moved an inch."

  "Excellent."

  Tam's belly growled and both men heard it. The technician's eyes went wide, and he visibly began to shake. Tam chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  "You are safe,” he whispered in the man's ear.

  Tam had much larger prey in mind. Perhaps a wolf and a hawk. And, if he was lucky, a tiger as well. Not to mention the sweetest pound of flesh any shifter could ever ask for—Lanie Erickson.

  "For now, anyway,” Tam added, breathing deep the scent of the man's fear. “Scramble the chopper,” he told him. “I want to be in Arizona within the hour."

  "Yes sir!” The man jumped up from his seat and ran out the door of the command center. Tam found it amusing, especially since the man could have easily called the pilots from the phone on his desk.

  "Going somewhere, Tam?” The familiar voice of his creator, Dr. Lucian Carver, filled the room behind him.

  Without bothering to turn around, Tam answered, “I am going to retrieve my mate."