Buried and Shadowed (Branded Packs #3)

“It is?” she said, her fingers digging into his chest.

“Mm.” He nuzzled his lips against her pulse that pounded at the base of her throat. “Once we’ve exposed the SAU and returned to our lair, I intend to devote my nights to exploring every lush curve.” He moved down to explore the satin swell of her upper breasts. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re so beautiful,” he rasped, not daring to part the robe to fully expose her soft curves.

There would be no stopping his urgent need to claim her.

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yes,” he hissed, lifting his head to glare at her stubborn expression. “I adore everything about you.”

“I’m too plump,” she protested. “And my hair is always a mess.”

He reached to thread his fingers through her thick mane.

“I’ve been fantasizing about burying my face in these curls forever. I love them,” he rasped, his hand skimming down her throat to the bountiful swell of her breast. “And this body.” His fingers squeezed, feeling the pebbled hardness of her nipple even through the thick terry cloth material. “This exquisite tribute to feminine perfection…”

She released her breath on a soft sigh. “Sinclair…”

Claiming her lips in a deep kiss, he shared all the pent-up hunger he harbored for this female. Instantly, her mouth parted, inviting in the thrust of his tongue as her arms wrapped around his neck.

Hell.

She was so sweet. Soft. Edible.

With a harsh groan, Sinclair forced himself off the bed, staring down at her flushed face with a brooding gaze.

“Rest, sweetheart,” he commanded in gentle tones. “I’ll keep you safe.”





Chapter 7


Rios wasn’t sure what’d prompted his midnight run.

He’d been sifting through the avalanche of texts and emails that were flying between the members of the SAU when his jaguar decided that it’d had enough. It wanted to be surrounded by nature.

Leaving his cabin, he shifted into his animal form and headed across the boundaries of the lair. His sleek body moved with liquid ease over the fallen pine needles and mossy ground, darting through the trees as he headed up the mountain.

Silence surrounded him, the black sky speckled with shimmering stars. He loved this place. It was the home he’d never thought to find.

Still, it wasn’t until he’d caught the rich musk of wolf that he realized what had drawn him out of his home.

Bree.

With a low roar, he was on the hunt, following her scent until he caught sight of her running just ahead of him.

Admiration sizzled through him. She was gorgeous with her silvery fur and black markings. A dangerous predator that was more than a match for his cat.

They ran together for nearly an hour, at last coming to a mutual halt at a large outcropping that overlooked a deep valley. Together, they shifted back to their human forms and perched on a large boulder.

They were shifters, nakedness was as natural to them as being in their animal forms, but it was going to be very difficult for him to be this close to Bree with her armor of professional clothing. She was incredibly sexy. Distractingly beautiful. Utterly stunning.

Tilting his head to the side, he forced himself to keep his gaze on her face and studied her tense profile, able to sense that she wasn’t just out to enjoy the night.

“Trouble sleeping?” he asked.

Her gaze remained on the distant lights below them. “I have a lot on my mind.”

“Are you worried about exposing the SAU?” he asked.

She gave a small shake of her head. “I’m worried about the backlash.”

“You’ll be protected,” he assured her, reaching out to cover the hand she’d placed on the rock between them. “I swear.”

“I’m not worried for myself,” she hurriedly corrected. “I’m worried for our people.”

Rios grimaced. The SAU was already preparing to punish the shifters for their determination to leave the compounds. They would go ballistic when the word got out that they were going to expose the truth of the Verona Virus.

“Yeah, so am I,” he admitted, keeping his hand over hers. He craved the touch of another on this night. No. It wasn’t just a touch. It was Bree’s touch that he craved. So, so dangerous, but since he’d seen her walk into his lair, he knew that he’d been as blind as Sinclair had been. “But this is the right thing to do.”

She turned to meet his steady gaze. “I agree. I just hope I don’t screw up the…” She paused, trying to remember what Rios had insisted the monumental event be called. “Grand Reveal.”

Rios grimaced. Damn. They’d placed a huge burden on this woman’s slender shoulders. It was no wonder she was feeling the strain.

“I have faith in you,” he said, giving her fingers a slight squeeze. “Have you set a time for the announcement?”

“Not officially.”

He gave a curious lift of his brow. He’d spent most of his life dealing with computers, not people. He had no idea how the whole PR thing worked.

“Why not?”