Shifters of Shadow Falls Collection (Books 1-3) by Crystal L. Shaw Page A

wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.  “Gotta go do my laps and get shit in order before Jude checks out.” 
    She tilts her head in confusion.  My pack’s on high alert now that the old alpha is making threats.  I should’ve killed him rather than show mercy.  I shake my head and silently tell Lev to shut the fuck up.  She doesn’t need to know about all that shit. 
    She yawns and cracks her back, “well I call this bedtime.”  Her shirt rises up as she stretches her arms above her head.  The hem tickles her upper thighs causing her eyes to pop open.  She grabs the shirt and pulls it down as a blush of embarrassment brightens her cheeks.  I let a chuckle rumble through my chest.  We’re shifters so we don’t give a fuck about nudity.  I want her to feel comfortable though.
    Lev smirks at her response so I have to silently scold the little shit.  “Have some respect for her modesty Lev.” 
    “Sorry Dev.”  I hear his humorous remark in my head.  He turns on his heels leaving the juice on the counter and heads towards the hall while calling out, “good night Ariana; See you guys later.”
    Ariana calls out in a strained voice, “see you Lev,” while pushing her knees and thighs together and staring at the floor.  She whispers, “I’m sorry.  I forgot I was only wearing a tee shirt.”  Her eyes peek up at me, searching for something, and I reach out to cup her chin and run my thumb along her bottom lip. 
    “It’s alright sweetheart.  You don’t have to worry about that.  Lev doesn’t mind.”  My words don’t have the effect I thought they would.  She pulls away from my grasp and I let my hand fall to my side.  She noticeably swallows as her eyes water.  What the hell?  
    “I wanna go to bed.”  She speaks quietly to the floor.  I can tell she’s trying hard not to cry and I have no fucking clue why. 
    “Sweetheart what’s wrong.”  She shakes her head, still not making eye contact and I’m not going to fucking stand for that.  I grab her chin in my hand again and force her to look at me.  My gaze bores into her hazel eyes willing her to answer.  She wipes the stray tears away from her eyes and squares her shoulders before shrugging.
    “I’m fine.  Really.  It’s just been a long day.”  I stare at her lying ass for a few seconds before dropping my hold on her.  I grit my teeth debating on whether or not I should drop this.  She’s keeping shit from me, but I’m keeping shit from her too.  Her hands cover her face for a moment before she lifts her hair off of her shoulders, breathes in deep and exhales slow and steady.  She twists the hair at the nape of her neck and pulls her brunette locks over her shoulder.
    My eyes focus on sight of her exposed neck; it’s a welcomed distraction.  She has a few tiny scrapes on her delicate flesh from my fangs and it makes my dick hard remembering how I fucked her against the wall, and in the chair, and on the desk.  The marks call to me to bite her.  Hard.  To claim her by sinking my fangs deep into her tender, pale flesh.  I lean down and lick over a mark I left earlier, torturing my wolf.  She leans into me and hums in approval.  I grin into her neck.  I may not be able to justify scolding her for doing something to me that I’m doing to her, but I can give her a hard, punishing fuck.  I nuzzle under her ear before nipping her lobe.  I see her clench her thighs together as I smell her arousal.  Fuck yes.  
    My intentions were to feed her and then take her to bed, but I can’t let her go without satisfying all of her hunger, and mine.  I run my fingers down her neck to her collar bone and back up as I plant small kisses on the other side, up to that tender spot behind her ear.  She shivers at my delicate touch. 
    “I know you’re tired sweetheart, but I’m not going to leave you while you’re in need.”  I take her bottom lip in between my teeth and bite down hard enough that it’ll