Lion’s Claim (Shifter Chronicles Book 6) Read online

  “You don’t sound sure,” he said. “If it’s a problem, I’ll go.”

  Did she want him to go? No, the answer was more than obvious. “Stay,” she said.

  “All right.” Logan took her hand before bringing it to his mouth. He kissed her fingers. “You want to show me to my room?”

  That was a terrible idea. There was a bed in there.

  “I promise not to pull you inside and ravish you,” he teased.

  “Shame,” she murmured then yanked him off his seat. “Come on. I need to sleep if you’re not going to keep me up all night.”

  “Tempting. I’ll take breakfast with you instead, though. Then, tomorrow night, I hope I can convince you to spend some time with me away from here.”

  She’d probably be able to get Kelly to cover her shift if they wanted to sneak away before closing. “I might let you talk me into it. We’ll have to see.”

  That infectious grin again. “We will see.”

  There was no one in the kitchen as they passed through. Mac was always the last one to bed. Even when he’d retired to his own room, he always got up and checked the locks before sleeping.

  “This place is bigger than I thought,” Logan commented.

  Oh, he has no idea. “Yeah,” she said instead. “Mac had to get a special permit for us to reside here, but since there’s no hotel in town he was able to convince the town council.”

  “I noticed the lack of lodging.”

  It was her turn to laugh. “There are not a lot of towns that are purely for shifters. No one here is out to the public, so we’ve managed to keep trouble out.”

  “You think there’d be trouble if you came out?” he asked.

  “Haven’t you seen it?” she responded.

  “Yes,” he admitted. “But I’ve also seen humans and shifters come together and live happily.”

  “That’s nice if you can have that,” she said.

  “You don’t like humans much, do you?”

  His question surprised her. They’d reached the hall and she stopped. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s just a feeling I have. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “You didn’t.” She shrugged off his concern. “I guess I don’t. I haven’t had good luck with humans, even with them not knowing what I am. If they had… I don’t know if I would have survived.”

  He tugged her closer. “I’m sorry for that.”

  “It’s no big deal,” she lied. It’d hurt. All the times that she’d been rejected had stayed with her. If the humans couldn’t love her when she’d been a child needing them, then why would they be kinder to her now?

  “Your room is the third on the right.” She pointed just ahead.

  “And yours?” he asked, seduction lacing his words.

  Wow, I want to hear him talk like that in bed. “Last door on the left. Mac’s is across from mine.”

  “That a warning?” he questioned.

  “No,” she said. “I’m a grown woman. But in case you need something, Trent is right beside you.” She waved to the door before Mac’s.

  “I think I’ll kiss you goodnight here, then.”

  She had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. He was several inches taller than her and that was hot. So were the muscles she’d felt under her palms earlier. Yeah, it was probably smarter to part here.

  His hand was gentle as he cupped the side of her neck. “Sweet dreams,” he murmured and brushed his mouth over hers.

  Annabelle fisted the front of his shirt to hold him close, but he pulled away just as quickly.

  “My control’s not that good,” he said.

  She watched his toned bubble butt as he strode the few steps to his door. That had been disappointing. Annabelle waited until he was behind his closed door before she continued down the hall. She had a feeling that it would be all the thoughts whirling around in her head keeping her up instead of him. What a pity.

  Logan leaned against the door to the room he’d been given as he clenched his fists. It shouldn’t be so hard for him to let Annabelle go, but he was almost desperate for her.

  This was so unlike him.

  He didn’t connect with people on this level and never so quickly. Logan had been partnered with Olivia for almost a year before he’d joked with and teased her. It came so naturally for him to want to make Annabelle laugh and smile. Logan was out of his depth.

  He’d done the right thing. He knew he had, but Logan was tempted to go after her, so he needed to gather his wits. Pushing off the wood that kept him from making a huge mistake. He thenstalked to the bed. His bag sat on top of the dark-blue comforter and he dug around inside until he found a clean pair of underwear. He saw an attached bathroom and he realized that he needed a shower. The long day of walking around town then wandering in the woods was finally catching up with him. He was shocked that Annabelle hadn’t run from him with the sweat scent coming off him.

  The toiletry bag was at the bottom and, once he had it in his hand, he walked toward the shower.

  There wasn’t a whole lot of stuff in the bedroom. Calvin must have moved most everything in with Duffy. The nightstand was cleaned off, but there were a few knickknacks on the tall dresser he passed.

  A few shells from a beach, a glass panther and some loose change. He shook his head. Logan was pretty sure he didn’t even have that lying around. Even though he’d been in place for a few years, Logan never collected keepsakes. Nothing to tell others who he was. There weren’t even any pictures of his friends or family. He wondered about Annabelle’s personal space. Would he learn more about who she was if he saw her space? Or was Annabelle like him and kept herself hidden?

  As he stepped inside the bathroom, he whistled. The bar might appear rundown, but he was realizing there was much more than what he’d first expected.

  It looked like the entire space had recently been remodeled. The gray tiles on the floors matched what had been used on the walls. The room had no tub, but the standing shower stall seemed big enough to fit three or four full-sized men. Logan was excited to try the three shower heads he spotted. He went and turned on the taps to heat the water. He placed his toiletry bag on a hook then put his briefs on the counter.

  Steam was already starting to fill the air and he loved it.

  He undressed, making sure to slide his weapon under his jeans. It was within reach, but if someone walked in they wouldn’t spot it right away. Logan didn’t like leaving his gun out where anyone might see it, but he would also feel naked without it. His weapon felt as natural as wearing pants.

  Condensation covered the mirror and he swiped his hand over it so he could stare at his reflection.

  As beautiful as Annabelle was, he had to wonder what she saw in him.

  There had to be tons of guys who came in and out of this place. She’d probably have her selection of men interested. Logan knew he wasn’t ugly, but he also wasn’t the most attractive male.

  Maybe that worked in his favor, though.

  Annabelle had obviously been dating the wrong type of guys. ‘Dating’ was definitely the wrong word, since she hadn’t gotten to experience the rite of passage that came with going out with someone and learning about them.

  Logan was going to change that. He’d make sure she got to make up for anything she’d missed out on.

  That was something he’d be able to offer and hopefully it would give him extra points. He knew he was hard to deal with. His dominant side came so naturally that sometimes he spoke before he thought. Maybe he’d get some advice from Mac or Trent. They obviously cared deeply for her, so they might help him out.

  Only time would tell, though.

  Logan stuck his hand under the stream, hissing at the heat. Okay, that might be a little too hot. He adjusted the temperature until it felt right then stepped inside and closed the glass door behind him.

  “Fuck,” he muttered when his muscles began to loosen. He hadn’t realized how stiff his shoulders were. Speaking of stiff… Logan pulled out his body
wash and poured some into his hand before grasping his cock.

  He’d been hard for so long that if he didn’t relieve some tension, he’d never be able to sleep.

  The soap that he used had a clean, fresh scent that didn’t bother his shifter senses. It also made great slick for when he needed to jack off. Which wasn’t as often as he thought it should be.

  The long hours exhausted him and, as he’d gotten older, Logan didn’t indulge, because it seemed like he always had something else to do. He couldn’t ignore his body’s need tonight, though.

  Logan ran his thumb along the thick vein under his shaft and pumped his hand faster. His member was already engorged and it wouldn’t take him long to come. Leaning back against the warm tiles, he closed his eyes and remembered the feel of Annabelle on his lap earlier.

  With those thin sweatpants she’d worn, she could have bucked up and rubbed until he’d brought them both to completion. He wanted so much more than that.

  He wanted to know what she looked like swamped in pleasure so intense she grew dizzy. Flushed cheeks and bright eyes and gazing at him while he plunged into her soft body.

  Logan tightened his grip slightly, drawing out his own satisfaction.

  He could only imagine what it would feel like to be buried deep inside her.

  Damn, he wanted to know what her inner muscles felt clamping down on his shaft while he claimed her as his own.

  His climax hit fast. Before he knew it, Logan was panting and biting his lip to keep from shouting as his seed pulsed from his cock.

  “God, yes,” he whispered. Logan collapsed back against the tiles with shaking legs, barely able to keep himself up right.

  That had been intense.

  It was time to finish up and clean the day—including his orgasm—off.

  He had a lot to accomplish, so he’d keep his promise of taking Annabelle out for the night. He wasn’t certain of her schedule, but even if he had to think of a date activity for after her shift, he’d do it.

  The aroma from the Italian restaurant had been marvelous, so maybe he’d get some takeout and they’d be able to picnic in the forest.

  Annabelle had to enjoy the area if she’d gone for a run earlier. And wasn’t she adorable in her feline form? He wanted to learn more about her species so he could shift with her one day.

  Mac had mentioned that she might act like a house cat at times and he wondered if she had any toys that she enjoyed. When he’d been growing up, he’d had balls and a few fun items, but he had the feeling that Annabelle had missed out on that.

  It couldn’t have been easy growing up in foster care then around different species. If she didn’t have anyone to enjoy the pleasure of being a feline with, Annabelle might not know just how much fun they could have.

  Logan poured more bodywash into his hand so he could finish up his shower. Plans made, he now needed to get some sleep to prepare for the next day.

  * * * *

  Normally Annabelle didn’t wake until after the noon hour and, since she’d tossed and turned most of the night, it was a surprise when she opened her eyes just after ten in the morning.

  She was exhausted but also looking forward to the day.

  Logan was probably asleep just down the hall from her. During the night, she hadn’t been able to keep her mind from wandering to him. It had only taken a couple of hours from her deciding that she’d do whatever it took to keep him away to almost begging him to take her in bed.

  So what in the hell does that say about me?

  She wasn’t in desperate need of companionship. Finding men to spend time with had never been an issue for her, even if it had merely been a drink and conversation that she wanted. Now, in the span of a few days, she felt like a different person. It was more than a little scary when she stopped and thought about it.

  So maybe she shouldn’t think about Logan? Or else she needed to think a lot more on the subject? Shit, here I am going on and on again.

  Annabelle wasn’t a fickle person. She couldn’t be, with the life that she lived. There were a lot of people who depended on her. But Logan had made her question so much. Like never having gone on a date.

  In the light of day, she felt foolish in having let him find out that secret. Did that make her sound like a slut? She hadn’t really slept around, but it might seem like it to him. It bothered her more than it should have that he’d think badly of her. Annabelle wanted to impress him. At least until he knew her better.

  Eventually, Logan would realize that she was neurotic and weird. Annabelle enjoyed shifting into her cat and playing as though she’d been born that way. Even her room showed her passion for her other form.

  Mac had placed ledges all around the wall at different levels, giving her the chance to leap from one to another. She also kept a trunk full of cat toys under her bed. Even she knew that made her unique in feline circles. Trent was a panther and he never had the urge to paw a ball across the room so he could chase it. Just another way she was unlike every other feline around her.

  Logan was a lion and, by the power that radiated from him, she’d bet he was one of the most dominant men she’d ever met. He was right up there with Mac and Magnus. It was a complete turn-on for her, but with the attraction came the worry that if she didn’t watch it, she’d find herself in a situation that wasn’t good.

  Too many times, Annabelle had seen how a more dominant shifter treated the person they should have been cherishing. She wasn’t about to let that happen to her. Or at least she’d never thought she would, but now Annabelle wasn’t so certain.

  Did craving Logan’s strength and control mean she was weaker than she’d thought? Fuck, too many questions and she was tired.

  Giving up on sorting out her confused thoughts, Annabelle rolled out of bed, literally, and looked into the mirror across from her. She appeared as worn out as she felt. Coffee—she definitely needed some caffeine to face the day. If she snuck into the kitchen now, she’d probably avoid nearly everyone else. None of them were what someone might consider morning people. Breakfast usually took place about one in the afternoon, so there was plenty of time before her family began to move around.

  Still in the sweats and T-shirt she’d dressed in after her shower the previous night, she walked leisurely into the bathroom to take care of her morning routine. After, she made herself presentable enough in case she ran into any of her family. Carter was the only one likely to be awake and he’d no doubt have his head buried in a tech magazine as usual.

  She quietly opened her bedroom door and glanced down the hall. There was no movement and Logan’s door was still closed.

  If she was really brave, she’d consider sneaking in and seeing if he slept in the nude. Maybe even crawling in underneath the sheets. But Annabelle wasn’t ready to make that kind of move yet.

  Annabelle slipped into the hall, making sure she shut the door quietly behind her.

  As she passed the room Logan had been given, she slowed just in case he was moving around. Not that she heard anything. The soundproofing in the residence was pretty damn good.

  Pushing down the disappointment, Annabelle headed toward the kitchen. She’d taken less than a dozen steps when she heard voices and laughter. That sounded like Duffy.

  She sped up and practically jogged around the corner into the middle of the kitchen, then stopped suddenly.

  Duffy was indeed home, and so was Calvin. But it was seeing them sitting at the long table with Carter and Logan that surprised her.

  Duffy, Calvin and Logan were sitting together.

  Panic flooded her and she didn’t know what to do. Her first instinct was to back away and find Mac. This was bad, so bad, but none of the men seemed to share her concern. Just as she took a step to track down Mac, Logan lifted his head and grinned at her.

  Caught, she waved awkwardly.

  Logan’s grin widened as Duffy barked out a laugh.

  She glared at Duffy. Okay, that had been a stupid move, but she hadn’t expected to wal
k into the kitchen and see all of them acting as though they were best buds.

  “You okay?” Duffy asked, after he stopped laughing.

  “Fine,” she replied, trying to smile. Annabelle wiped her suddenly damp hands on her pants before walking to the coffee pot. “I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be awake.”

  “We just got in,” Calvin informed her.

  “I was here first,” Carter mumbled.

  Duffy laughed at his best friend before slapping Carter on the back. “You know you missed me.”

  Logan didn’t say anything, but he did watch her as she pulled a mug out of the cabinet then added sugar and creamer. Her hand wasn’t entirely steady when she poured the brewed coffee into her cup. Annabelle took her time stirring her mixture, trying to decide her next move.

  She’d thought she would have more time before she had to talk to Logan.

  “Are you going to join us?” Duffy called to her.

  If Logan hadn’t been sitting next to him, Annabelle would have thrown something at his head. What the hell is Duffy up to? Does he even know Logan’s an agent and investigating him?

  “I don’t know,” she said. “When’s the last time you showered?”

  “Funny,” Duffy replied. “I’ll have you know my man put me up in a very nice hotel in Vegas. Had the softest bed I’ve ever slept in.”

  They hadn’t been in Las Vegas, so at least she was getting his cover story.

  “It was probably covered in fleas and no doubt you’ve brought them home with you,” Annabelle said.

  Logan snorted, coughed, before chuckling low.

  “I don’t have fleas,” Duffy grumbled. “Pretty sure that’s a dog or cat thing.”

  She turned to lean against the counter and lifted an eyebrow. “Want to bet?”

  “You see?” Duffy asked Logan. “You see how mean she is to me? I don’t know I put up with her.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s the other way around, honey,” Calvin said, patting Duffy’s back. The ten-year age difference didn’t usually seem so big, but, looking at their worn, dusty appearances, Calvin appeared much rougher than Duffy. They’d have to have driven for days to drop Samantha off and return so quickly. It would have made more sense for them to have taken their time and not rushed home. Mac should have warned them away.