[Briar’s POV]I remain in place, staring around, taking in the space that looks almost unlived in while my savior, or possibly my downfall, heads toward the kitchen and grabs a beer.“Want one?” He asks, peeking at me over my shoulder. “Or do you intend to just stand there looking like a statue?”“I…” I begin, wondering if that was a rhetorical question. “I’ll have one.”“Atta girl,” the man chuckles, moving toward me and passing me a bottle of some cheap beer that probably tastes like the toilet water at a frat house. “Sorry it isn’t fancy, but this is all I got.”“It’ll do,” I say, moving toward a chair and taking a seat. “Alcohol is alcohol, right?”As I speak, I try to keep my voice even, doing my absolute best to keep my nerves from being noticed, but from the way those golden eyes burned into me, I knew I wasn’t doing a very good job.“Hey,” the man says, taking a seat across from me. “Tell me something.”“What?” I ask, taking a sip of my beer and wincing from the taste. “What i
[Briar’s POV]I stare in disbelief at the psycho bastard who watches me until the doors to the elevator I stand silently in closes, making a decisive line between us both. Only when I can’t see him anymore do I collapse against the wall while my heart begins to hammer in my chest.“Fuck,” I hiss, reaching up and pressing my hand against it. “What the fuck is wrong with him?”This single question repeats itself again and again in my mind as the events that unfolded this evening flash in my mind, making me realize that I really dodged a bullet, but that wasn’t even the thing that mattered the most. Now that I could think straight, I was realizing that all along Jeffrey could have had the answers that I was seeking in regards to my brother.“Fuck!” I growl, punching the elevator wall as I try to come to terms with the fact I let a golden opportunity get away from me. “I almost achieved my mission!”My voice reverberates around me like they belong to others who mock me for not realizing t
[Ciaran’s POV]Later, I lounge on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other, as the scent of my little mate continues to linger around me, taunting me and making me want to rip the fucking city apart to find her and claim her as my own.Fuck. Who knew that a mate bond could be so suffocating and so fucking frustrating? If I had known, I would have turned and left the minute her delicious scent started enticing me. If I had just left, I wouldn’t have gotten to lose myself in it, to feel her warmth against me, or to even learn the cute expressions that she was capable of making.“Dammit,” I growl, bringing the whiskey to my lips and chugging the rest of the burning liquid. “Get your shit together, Ciaran.”I wasn’t a man who was allowed to let himself indulge in such things. I didn’t live in a world where I could keep someone so weak and yet so strong beside me. I already knew that the best thing for us was for our paths to never cross again, and to make su
[Briar’s POV]A shiver races down my spine as I turn my key in the lock to my apartment, causing me to freeze while I wonder if someone is cursing me. Deciding that I was probably overthinking things and being a little too paranoid given the events that just happened, I quickly scurry inside, where I find my roommate, Crystal, lounging on the couch with a drink in one hand and the TV remote in another.She’s dressed in nothing but a long t-shirt and underwear with her long, dark, curly hair tied in a bun atop her head, and by the look on her face and the questioning gleam in her dark eyes, I know that she has been waiting for me to get home.“Hey,” I announce, strolling forward while keeping my expression blank. “Whatcha watching?”“Oh, you know,” she responds, her gaze narrowing. “A show about a girl whose best friend randomly disappeared from her night gig and was unable to be reached.”“Wow,” I smile, knowing that I was in trouble from the annoyance in her voice. “That sounds like
[Briar’s POV]The next morning, I stand in front of the precinct, my adrenaline pumping and my determination rising. This was it; this was the step I worked so hard to take, and now that I was here, I wasn't going to let anything stop me.Appear in front of me again and I'll fuck you.That dangerous man's voice pops into my head unbidden as I realize that once I’ve stepped foot through those doors, the possibility of us meeting was highly likely.“Oh well,” I mutter, pushing that handsome bastard’s face and voice aside. “You’re the one that appeared in front of me to begin with.”Settling on this, I begin to move, heading inside and up to the reception desk where a young man with slicked-back brown hair sits.“Yes, ma’am,” he says, eyeing me, his gaze slowly trailing up and down my body. “How can I help you?”“I’m here to meet with Detective Miles.” I respond, giving a smile. “I’ve got an appointment with him at nine.”Nodding, the man checks his computer, and when I’m certain he find
[Briar’s POV]Later, I sit at a table with Miles, a glass of beer sitting in front of me along with some appetizers that I happily nibble on while Miles recaps our time together at the academy. As promised, after he got off work, he texted me the location of a pub that wasn’t popular so that we could talk peacefully, but to my surprise, it was busier than I was expecting.Maybe it was because a live band was playing for the evening, or it was because pool was only a dollar a game, but the place was crawling with big dudes who looked like they bullied others for funsies. However, I didn’t give a shit about them and found myself enjoying Miles's presence and the stories he was recapping from our time together in the academy.“...And then you told him that you’d kick his ass with your arm tied behind your back.” Miles laughs, taking a swig of his beer. “Do you know how shocked I was to hear such a thing? Especially from a tiny little creature like you.”“And I stood behind that.” I point
[Ciaran’s POV]I lead my little mate through the bar and out toward the parking lot while everything in me screams to stop this and just leave her. However, unlike the first time we met, the bond feels so much stronger, and I can’t stop my wolf as it begs to have a taste of her. And frankly, this evening I wasn’t in the mood to be cautious, not when fate was continuing to bring her to me. However, there was something that didn’t make sense and that bugged the fuck out of me.She recognized me and my threat.Frowning, I reach my car and yank open the door to the backseat, and not wasting any time, I throw her inside and then climb in, slamming the door behind me. And once inside, I’m trapping her wrists between my hand, taking note of how fucking tiny they feel in my grasp. All I had to do was squeeze a little, and they would break.A human. I was mated to a fucking human. Me. Mated to such a weak being. What kind of fucking joke was this?“Why?” I grunt, trying to make sense of what w
[Ciaran’s POV]I don’t move, my fingers hovering just beneath my little mate's pants, waiting and begging to dive beneath them where her soaked cunt is waiting. Goddess, it’s frustrating to wait for the go-ahead, but I wasn’t one to force anything on anyone. With all the women throwing themselves at me since I was young, I had my pick of playthings, but never in my fucking life have I wanted anyone as much as I want the woman beneath me right now.Take her.Take her.Take her.The words keep repeating themselves in my head again and again, urging me to just fucking move since she wasn’t saying no, but I remain in place, waiting and watching as the eyes of my little mate slowly darken.“What will you choose?” I ask, leaning forward and biting her shoulder so a moan escapes her. “Do you want me to give you what you and your body want, or will you continue to deny your desires?”“I…” she begins, her thighs attempting to tighten around my knee. “I…”“Open them.” I growl, reaching down and
[Briar’s POV]“Asshole. This is a piece of shit. Tease.”The words escape my lips as I head toward the street to hail a taxi. If Ciaran thought I was going to forgive him for making me crazy and then leaving me dry, he had another thing coming.“Keep an eye out for a delivery.” I huff in annoyance, raising a hand to hail a taxi. “Like hell I’ll do that.”What the hell was even wrong with me? Why was I so angry? Was it because he basically rejected me after another man called? Was I really acting like some clingy girlfriend who didn’t get what she wanted from her boyfriend?Fuck. No. This wouldn’t do. I wouldn’t let that gorgeous beast string me along. Instead, I would make him the one who became a fiend for me, and I would start by not contacting him or coming to see him again for the time being.But you’re now working together. The small voice in the back of my head reminds me, only pissing me off further.Whatever. I would keep it strictly business and do as I please. There was no r
[Ciaran’s POV]I stare down at my little mate, getting lost in her sex-crazed eyes, her flushed, sweat-soaked skin, and her beautiful body that moves against me. It’s all so fucking alluring and maddening, and it makes something in me begin to awaken, spurring me to stand up all the while holding her against me so that my dick can stay buried in her tight little cunt.“What are you doing?” She gasps as I lay us down on the couch.“Whatever I want.” I smirk. “Didn’t you say I could?”“I did,” she whimpers, locking her legs around my waist. “Just for tonight, use me as you please.”Only tonight, I think, starting to move in her. Like hell this would only be for tonight. Now that I knew what she tasted like, what she felt like, and how she looked, there was no fucking way I was going to let her get away from me. But this was just the start. Maybe vanilla sex felt fine because of our bond, but I was going to introduce her to the world that I thrived the most in.“Say it,” I husk, leaning
[Briar’s POV]My eyes widen at Ciaran’s command, and for a moment I don’t move.“What?” He asks, his golden eyes growing dark. “Don’t tell me that you’re going to stop now. You’ve already been such a good girl and come this far. If you want to try to seduce someone like me you should have the courage it takes.”“I’m not afraid,” I snap.No. I wasn’t afraid. I was more shocked by how hearing those words made me feel. Just the thought of doing such a thing in front of him actually excited me.“Then show me you aren’t afraid,” he rumbles, keeping me trapped in his gaze. “Show me how much you want this.”As he speaks, he begins to undo his pants until he can pull his fully erect dick free.Instantly, I feel my core throb in anticipation of being able to feel that thing inside me again.“So, you want me to do this.” I purr, leaning back and spreading my legs so I’m certain Ciaran has the perfect view of my pussy.When a low rumble of excitement escapes him, I touch my chest with my fingers
[Briar’s POV]What am I doing? What the hell am I doing? Why am I here?These thoughts repeat themselves again and again as I stare up at the large, foreboding shadow that watches me like a hawk.He has seen me. I think inwardly, knowing that those golden eyes are taking me in and probably wondering the same thing as me.“Damn feet.” I hiss, looking down at them as if they moved on their own even though I was the one in control. “What the hell were you thinking?”As the words leave my lips, my phone begins to ring, and when I pull it out of my purse, I’m met with a number that I’ve never seen before.Frowning, I stare at it, wondering whether or not I should answer it, but something in me screams to do it, and when I hit accept and bring it to my ear, Ciaran’s deep rumble of a laugh attacks me.“What do you think you’re doing?” He asks, his voice especially low and dangerous. “Was dinner with me not enough for you?”“That,” I begin, snapping my gaze up to find that Ciaran is gone. “I
[Ciaran’s POV]I watch as my little mate slowly moves away from me, her friend close to her side. Even if he was getting a bit too close to that which belongs to me, I was going to turn a blind eye for the time being. I wasn’t worried about him taking her, not when she was meant for me, but if I so much as found him trying anything funny, well, that was a different story. Keeping my gaze on them, I wait until they’re out of sight before turning and heading back home for the evening. There was no reason for me to remain in the heart of the city since my business was complete, and even though everything in me screams to follow my mate and then wait until she is alone to have my way with her, I don’t listen.When I return home, I head straight to the shower, washing the scent of human and alcohol off of me and then wrapping a robe around me. Still dripping, I head to the kitchen and prepare to have a drink but stop as the sound of wings rustling reaches me.Ryu. Why was he here again wh
[Ciaran’s POV]“Eat and drink what you want; it’s on me.” I announce, keeping my gaze fixed on my little mate, who looks like a terrified rabbit that could hop away at any given moment. “Money is not a problem.”After a bit of convincing, I managed to get my little mate and her companion to come out with me to have a meal and a drink. Of course, I wished that it was only my little mate and I, but I was pretty positive her friend wouldn’t allow us to be alone, or maybe he would since he let me steal her away the night before. However, I wasn’t going to push my luck. Not yet, not when we were still in the early stages of our relationship.“Just a water and salad for me.” My little mate announces, pushing her menu away.“That isn’t a proper meal.” I point out, knowing there was no way that was all she eats given the perfect amount of fat and curves on her. “If you won’t order something more, then I’ll order it for you.”“She’s a picky eater.” Her friend offers, causing my annoyance to fl
[Ciaran’s POV]“Yo, Angus, I’m here.” I call, banging on the door in front of me. “Open the fucking door!”Stepping back, I watch and wait until the asshole pulls open the door and peeks at me, his eyes bleary, making it clear that he just woke up.“What the hell, Ciaran?” He growls as I move forward, shoving him aside so I can enter his self-proclaimed den.It's just as messy as I remember and smells like shit, but since this was a request of my brother's, I couldn't just turn around and leave now. At least, if I wanted to live peacefully.“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I huff, heading to his office and taking a seat. “Weren’t you the one that insisted I be here today?”Last night when I returned from drinking, I found Ryu waiting for me like the good little messenger that he is. Imagine my surprise when he told me that my brother wanted me to accompany Angus in meeting a new possible weapons dealer. Usually he wouldn’t bother with such a thing, so I was more than a little curious
[Briar’s POV]“There you are.”Miles’ chipper voice is the first thing to reach me as I rush into the precinct out of breath and covered in sweat.“I was beginning to wonder if you decided you didn’t want this job.” He continues as I wonder what kind of trouble I will get in if I hit him. “Anyway, follow me.”Not waiting for a response, he begins to move, heading toward his office where I’m sure my first assignment is waiting for me.“Have a seat,” he announces, nodding toward the chair in front of his desk.Nodding, I do as he instructs; I take a seat and then glare, wondering what the hell was actually going through his head for him to not even try to find me when I disappeared the previous night.“Well?” I demand, crossing my arms and throwing a leg over the other. “Explain.”“Explain what?” He asks, eyeing me calmly. “I don’t know what on earth you’re talking about.”“Don’t play dumb.” I warn. “What friend allows a friend to just go off with some random person?”What the hell was
[Briar’s POV]“Ciaran.”The name rolls off my tongue easily and smoothly as if it is a name that I’ve been using all my life.“Ciaran,” I repeat, digging my nails into his broad shoulders. “That’s it, Ciaran.”“Good girl,” he rumbles, strengthening his thrusts so his monster of a cock hits my deepest of places.Shit, it feels good, so much better than I could even imagine. How was it that one person could make me feel like I was fading into oblivion like him? Was it because we were practically strangers? Was it because we could be caught at any second since we were in a car? Or was there something else between us? Something so much deeper than mere emotion?“More,” Ciaran growls, snapping me out of my head. “Scream my name, little mate.”Little mate.This wasn’t the first time he called me such a thing, but it didn’t make sense. However, that didn’t matter and was something I could think about later. For now, all I wanted to do was get lost in the pure bliss I was feeling from being f