9. Mia

NINE

MIA

I felt flooded with information, like I could barely keep my head above water. Learning Ethan was a bear shifter, and about the shifter world existing in general, was enough to drown me. Only one thing saved me from sinking below the surface—Lorenzo.

He was my steady ground.

As though he could feel my eyes on him, he shifted to glance at me. Concern filled his stare.

"This is a lot to take in, I know," he whispered, as Neo continued to talk. "I'm sorry for pulling you into this mess."

"You didn't pull me into anything," I said, reaching out to place my hand on top of his. The second we made skin to skin contact, the panther inside me started to purr. She felt comfortable with him. "It happened the way it was meant to."

It was something I believed. I couldn't explain it, but nothing about any of this felt foreign or wrong.

It all felt meant to be.

I shifted my attention back to Neo, paying close attention to what he was saying. So far, he'd talked about someone named Lucius a lot. They all did. He was a thorn in their side and had caused a lot of trouble for them lately. What concerned me most about the guy was that Neo claimed he could get into a shifter's head and control them.

It didn't sound like an ability anyone had any right to have.

"I'm over all of this," Kiera burst, cutting him off. She'd been sitting next to Neo quietly this whole time, but all it took was one look at her to know she was fuming. "I have almost everything I need to do a tracking spell. I'm ready to hunt him down and be done with all of this mess."

"What's left that you need?" Daxton asked.

"Something of his," Kiera replied.

Ethan shifted on his feet. She had his attention. "Like what?"

"Anything. An article of clothing, blood, a scale from his snake, a strand of his hair," Kiera said.

"How are we going to get any of those from him?" Lorenzo chimed in. "The whole point of doing a tracking spell is to learn where he's at, isn't it? If we had any of those things, then we'd most likely already know where he's at."

He had a point.

"This is why I haven't created it yet," Kiera said. "Every time we're attacked lately, it's by his little minions and he's nowhere around."

"Which is probably why he's not around," Miranda added. "He must be worried you'll do a tracking spell on him."

"So, lure him to you," I offered, feeling it was a decent solution. "Then you can get what you want from him and track him if he escapes."

"How would we do that?" Daxton asked.

Silence built among everyone.

"What does he want?" I asked, still struggling to figure out the reason behind this guy's blatant anger issues with them.

"He wanted me, but Neo blocked him from getting to me. Then, his attention shifted to the tribe as a whole because of it," Kiera said, sounding as though she felt guilty about that. "Now, it feels like he wants freaking world domination."

Lorenzo chuckled beside me. "It does feel that way, doesn't it?"

"What about using me as bait?" I asked. "I'm a newly transitioned panther shifter, and I don't have one of those necklaces like the rest of you to keep him out of my head."

"What? Not happening," Ethan shouted at the same time Lorenzo said, "Whoa, whoa. Nope, try again."

I smirked, because it was the first time they'd agreed on anything when it came to me.

"I know that's not what either of you want to hear," I said. "But he doesn't know me like he knows you. Maybe I can get closer to him because of it. Also, I'm a shifter now. He might want to add me to his collection."

"Which is exactly why the answer to that ridiculous plan is no," Ethan growled.

"Not just no—but hell no," Lorenzo added.

"Aww, look at you two agreeing on something," I teased, unable to help myself.

"Not funny." Ethan frowned.

"She has a point," Miranda chimed in. Immediately, Ethan and Lorenzo gave her a look that said a thousand words. "I get that it's not an ideal plan, but she would be who he's looking for in terms of being a new shifter with an impressionable mind. Seems like something Lucius would go gaga over her."

"How do we get you on his radar?" Daxton asked, earning death glares from Ethan and Lorenzo. "Hypothetically speaking, of course," he added quickly.

"Is there anyone in town who isn't a shifter, someone not at risk of being under his control, but who might know more about where he hangs out or where he's meeting with all these shifters under his thumb?" I asked.

"What about Joe?" Daxton suggested. "Lucius came after me while I was there with Savannah. Maybe that's a place he frequents."

"I don't know," Lorenzo said. "I used to go there often, and I never saw him."

"Doesn't mean he wasn't there," Daxton countered. "He's sneaky, remember. He only lets us see him when he wants."

"That's true. Plus, Joe's a vampire. Lucius can't use his mind control on him," Kiera said, surprising me. I had no idea the guy who owned the only bar in town was a freaking vampire. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made, though. "Plus, the place is always filled with shifters. It's probably the perfect place to snag more for his minion army."

"I'm going to talk to him and see if he knows anything," Neo said. "See if he'll agree to give us a heads up the next time Lucius comes in."

"I'll go with you," Daxton offered.

As they worked out who would go to Last Drop to talk with Joe, Lorenzo shifted to look at me.

"What do you want to do?" he asked. "Do you need me to give you a ride back to the inn? We never went and got your car."

My panther went batshit crazy at the thought of leaving his side. I pressed my palm to the center of my chest as though it would soothe her.

"What's wrong?" Lorenzo asked, but something in his stare had made me thinking he already knew.

"My panther doesn't want to leave you for the night," I said, holding his stare. "Honestly, neither do I."

It wasn't some co-dependent thing, either. It was deeper than that. This man was my solid ground, my anchor. He felt like home in a way I couldn't even begin to describe.

"Then don't," he whispered. "Stay with me tonight."

A smile stretched across my face. He didn't have to tell me twice. "Okay, but I do need a ride to the inn so I can get some clean clothes and a shower."

I felt disgusting.

While someone had taken time to wipe the blood off me, I could still smell the tang. Plus, it was on my clothes. After everything that happened last night, a shower and a good teeth brushing was needed.

"I can give you a ride," Lorenzo said, a mischievous smile twisting his lips.

"Sure."

He started walking back to his camper.

"What's that look for?" I asked, following him.

"Ever rode a motorcycle?"

"No."

"Well, that's about to change. Hop on." He nodded to a sleek black motorcycle parked in front of his camper.

How had I not known this man rode a motorcycle?

I hesitated for a moment. The idea of riding on the back of Lorenzo's motorcycle, of being so close to him, did things to me.

"Come on," he urged, flashing me a lopsided grin.

I watched as he slid onto the bike like he'd done it a thousand times. Stepping closer to the motorcycle, I eyed it warily before swinging a leg over the seat behind him. He passed a helmet to me, and I tugged it on, securing it in place with surprisingly steady hands.

"Ready?" he called over his shoulder.

"Ready."

"Better hold on tight," he said with a chuckle.

My arms wrapped around his waist. Instantly, I noticed the firmness of his muscles beneath my fingertips and the warmth of his body as it seeped into me. A shiver of awareness trickled down my spine, igniting the spark of attraction I felt for him. My panther purred, feeling content. She loved the feel of being pressed against him. I found that I could relate.

Lorenzo kicked the engine to life. The bike roared beneath us, and then we were off. My heart raced inside my chest. Not with fear, but instead with the thrill of being alive. Wind whipped around us as we wove through town, and the entire world became a blur.

We arrived at the inn too soon. All I wanted was to stay pressed against this man on the back of his bike forever.

Lorenzo cut the engine on his bike and shifted to glance at me seated behind him.

"And? How was it?" he asked.

"Well," I said, pulling my helmet off. "It might be time to trade in my car for something else. Preferably, one of these because that was amazing."

A smirk cut across his face. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I loved it. In fact, I can't wait to go for another ride," I admitted, sliding off. "First, I need a shower, some clean clothes, and to brush my teeth."

He laughed as he slid off his bike to follow me inside the inn.

Estelle stood at the front desk when we walked in. Her gray eyes slid over me in a way that had me searching for words to explain.

"I know what you're thinking," I said, holding up a hand to her. "I'm coming home in the same clothes I wore last night with a strange man. Plus, there's dried blood on my shirt. I'm fine. Seriously. It was a long night. One that ended with a random nosebleed," I lied.

Her eyes flashed as though she'd known it was a lie, and I swore there was something different about her. I could sense it—better yet, my panther could.

Estelle blinked. "Okay. Well, I'm glad you're all right."

"Thanks," I said, continuing toward the stairs with Lorenzo.

What was that scent in the air? The one that stemmed from Estelle.

"I've never been inside this place," Lorenzo admitted. "It's fancy."

"It comes with a fancy nightly price tag, too," I countered.

"I'm sure."

"Was there anything that seemed strange about her to you?" I asked as we continued toward my room.

"No, nothing strange per se," he said. "She's a gargoyle, though. Maybe that's what you're picking up on?"

My feet faltered, and I spun to face him. "She's a what?"

"Gargoyle," he said as though it was the most normal thing to say about someone.

Charcoal gray monster-looking beings filled my head. I knew nothing about gargoyles, other than that I'd foolishly thought they were fiction. However, I was beginning to see that reality was more like fiction than actual fiction.

"Gargoyle. Okay," I muttered with a slight nod before starting toward my room again. "Didn't see that one coming."

Once we made it to my room, I regretted having Lorenzo come with me. The place was a mess. There were piles of clothes all over and boxes of necessities stacked in one corner. While I'd rented a storage unit for the bulk of my things, there was a lot I'd brought to the inn with me because I didn't know how long I'd be renting a room here or what I would need.

"It's a mess, I know," I said, rushing around to clean things up as best I could. "I've been living out of boxes and not doing a good job of it."

He crossed the room to sit in the chair in the corner, removing my blow dryer first. "No judgment here."

Relief trickled through me. Honestly, I wasn't sure why I'd thought he'd have an issue with the state of my room.

I smiled at him and then headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. While I brushed, I grabbed some clean clothes and tucked them beneath my arm. "I'm going to take a quick shower. Make yourself at home. They have cable." I found the remote on the nightstand and passed it to him.

His fingers touched mine as he took it from me, sending sparks of electricity dancing across my skin. My panther stirred. She'd been quiet up until then, allowing me time to do what I needed to feel human again.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" he asked, concern swirling through his eyes. "I know you've been through a lot."

I focused for a moment on how I felt about everything, but all I could think about was him. The sparks of electricity I felt each time we touched. The connection between us. How he made my panther feel.

"I have been through a lot, and it will take some getting used to, but I like my life. I like having a panther. I like you."

Without a second thought, I leaned in and kissed him. His lips were warm against mine, and they responded instantly. As the kiss deepened, a surge of desire coursed through me so strongly I swore it threatened to consume me. When his hands found their way to my waist, pulling me closer, the hem of my shirt lifted and his touch set my skin on fire there.

"Wait," I whispered, pulling away. I knew where this was going, and a sense of self-consciousness filled me. "I need a shower."

The corner of his mouth hooked into a grin. "Want some company?"

With a mischievous smile, I took his hand and led him to the bathroom. He kissed my knuckles as we walked, and I forced myself to keep walking even though I could feel my core tighten with want.

This man. He was mine.

Flipping on the light, I made my way to the shower and turned the water on. While it warmed, I spun to face him and peeled off my clothes. His gaze was intense, devouring me hungrily as each piece of fabric fell to the floor. I stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading down my body, inviting him to join me. Without hesitation, he followed suit, stripping off his clothes and stepping in behind me. I thought he would kiss me, but he didn't. Instead, he reached for the soap and lathered it in his palms. His hands glided over my skin as he washed away the night before. I closed my eyes, loving the feel of his strong hands sliding across my body. His touch was gentle yet firm. When his lips brushed against the curve of my neck, a wave of goose bumps spread across my skin. The soap disappeared, and then his hands moved lower. He traced along my hips and down to my thighs. A soft sigh of pleasure burst past my lips once he reached the inner part of my thigh, my stomach coiling with need. The sound ignited something in him, because suddenly his touch became more urgent, more possessive.

He spun me around to face him, and I noticed a hunger that mirrored mine reflected in his eyes. My gaze dropped to the water streaming down the hard panes of his solid chest. Giving into temptation, I reached out to touch him, sliding my fingertips across his slick skin while I traced a pattern behind the drops of water as they fell. As my fingertips inched lower, he made a sexy noise. A heartbeat later, he dipped his head, his mouth capturing mine in a feverish way.

The cool tile of the shower pressed into my back as his tongue danced with mine. The water cascaded down around us and steam saturated the air, but neither of us paid it any mind. I could feel him pressed against me, his firmness, as his mouth continued to work me into a boneless bliss. When his fingers slid between us and grazed the sensitive area between my thighs, I moaned into his mouth. He pulled back to look at me, his eyes hooded with lust. My hands lifted to cup the back of his head, drawing him closer. I brushed my lips against his while he stroked my center, teasing me.

"I want you," I breathed. "Now."

I didn't want to be toyed with. I didn't even want any foreplay. All I wanted was this man inside me.

"Then have me," he said, flashing me a cocky grin. "I'm yours."

Sliding a hand between us, I gripped him tight and lined him up with my center. He inched in, and I arched my back, pressing myself against the tile harder while he filled me gloriously.

His hips moved, setting a rhythm that had me gasping for air. The cool tile against my back was the only thing grounding me as I clung to him for dear life.

Each thrust sent jolts of pleasure through me, rippling from my core all the way down to my toes. My teeth sank into my bottom lip, because it was almost too much, but in the best possible way. His mouth found mine again, and in seconds his teeth had replaced mine, grazing over my bottom lip. I dug my nails into his back, which only spurred him on. He lifted my leg to wrap around him and thrust into me harder. The new angle nearly sent me over the edge.

But before I could fall, he slowed down and pulled out. My body shook, desperate for him to fill me again. He drew his face back, a smirk curling his lips, and then he thrust into me again. Harder and faster than before. Pleasure rocketed through me. It was everything I wanted right then, everything I needed. My breath grew labored as my grip on his shoulders tightened, my climax building. The steamy shower we stood in grew hazy as my vision dimmed.

A tidal wave of ecstasy crashed over me.

He dipped his head, capturing my lips in another searing kiss that left me weak in the knees. Lorenzo was relentless as he continued to thrust in and out of me at that satisfying pace. A groan escaped him, and then he buried his face into the crook of my neck as I felt pleasure ripple through him, too.

The water rained down on us, now cooling as the hot water ran out. Lorenzo reached out and turned it off before pulling out of me. We struggled to catch our breath while still pressed against each other. When he finally pulled away to put distance between us, he brushed a lock of hair from my face and stared into my eyes.

"You're breathtaking," he whispered. "And that was the best shower of my life."

"Mine too," I admitted, brushing my lips against his in a featherlight kiss.

"Kiss me like that again and we'll be here all night," he growled sexily.

A smirk pulled at my lips. "Don't tempt me."

A chuckle slid from him as he spun around to grab a towel for me.

"We'll have all the time in the world soon enough," he said while we both dried off.

I knew what he meant—once Lucius was taken care of.

"I hope so," I said, a twinge of nervousness sliding through me.

He hooked his finger beneath my chin and lifted my gaze to his. "Trust me," he whispered before bending down to kiss me. "I'm not going anywhere. I belong to you."

I belong to you.

His words looped through my head, causing my panther to purr loudly. She loved that he'd said that.

"I belong to you, too," I said, meaning it. "I love you."

His eyes closed for a moment, as though soaking the words in—committing them to memory and tattooing them on his heart.

"I love you, too," he whispered when he opened his eyes again, finding and holding my stare.

It felt good to hear him say it back. While there hadn't been any doubt it wouldn't be reciprocated, it was still nice to hear.

"We should head back, though," he insisted. "I know everyone will be waiting. Plus, I'd like to hear what Joe had to say to Neo. If he agreed to help."

"Me, too."

We dressed and then I grabbed a few things before we made our way back to his bike in the gravel parking lot.