By the Light of the Moon Read online

  After she dressed and slipped her sandals on, Harley found Cole on the beach in front of their bungalow. He didn't even look at her as they walked in silence towards one of the resorts' three restaurants. They were shown to a small table hidden from most of the dining area by wrought iron framework and green foliage that wrapped around the bars. A small dance floor stood off to their right where one couple swayed to a Latin beat.

  Cole took the seat to her left, the table just large enough for her to avoid brushing against him.

  He picked up the menu. "What do you feel like having?"

  Sex. "Not sure." Her eyes drawn to the dance floor once more, she watched as the couple maneuvered in an erotic tango. She felt Cole's attention shift to the pair as the couple's hands slid down each other, their caresses purposely sensual. The dark haired man brazenly cupped his partner's breast. Her back arched in response before he lowered her into an elegant dip. With her dress hiked up past her knees, the man's hand slid up her thigh before he pulled her upright.

  One song melted into another as the couple swayed and groped each other in a seductive dance she couldn't manage to drag her gaze from. With every turn and embrace, their hands explored and enjoyed, and Harley couldn't stop her body from tingling at the thought of Cole's hands moving the same way over her.

  After the second song ended, the couple disappeared off the dance floor.

  Ignoring the achy pressure that made her cross her legs tighter, Harley shifted in her seat. The weight of Cole's primal gaze nearly pushed her to the floor. She swallowed and met his eyes. "What?"

  He said nothing.

  Harley set the menu aside. "Cole, you're staring at me." Like he was contemplating taking her right there in the middle of the restaurant. Oddly enough she didn't find a whole lot wrong with the image of Cole dragging her dress up and hauling her onto his lap to straddle him.

  His smooth laugh washed over her. "Thank you for pointing out the obvious." Cole lifted up her hand, brushed his lips across her wrist. His smile teased. "Better. Not so jumpy." His thumb drifted back and forth across her skin. "Have to keep up pretenses," he reminded her.

  "Right," she answered, her breath oozing out in a gentle whoosh.

  A moment later their waiter appeared. Harley managed to get her order out, aware that Cole's attention didn't leave her once. When it was his turn to order, she took a moment to study his handsome face, wondering how he so easily appeared to be enchanted with her. She needed to take a page out of his book.

  Dinner was agonizing. Every other moment, Cole found an excuse to touch her. A gentle squeeze of her hand, the soft brush of his finger across her cheek as he tucked her hair back, and the soft whisper of his lips against hers when he noticed whipped cream at the corner of her mouth. By the time they had finished, Harley's whole body was humming. One more heated look in her direction and she was liable to combust on the spot. Even knowing that once they were behind the four walls of their bungalow he'd drop the act did nothing to slow the heat flickering under her skin.

  Cole led the way back to their room, guiding her along a torch lit path now that the sun had set. Music and laughter carried on the evening breeze, but they seemed to be moving away from it. She wished they could go down to the beach, have a bonfire and just....

  But that was what real couples did. And she and Cole were not a real couple.

  Maybe once she reminded herself of that another thousand times, she could be as slick about the whole thing as he seemed to be.

  Cole stopped in front of her and she collided with his back. "What ...?"

  His arm slid around her, tugging her close. "Shhhh, listen."

  Harley heard only the breeze wrestling the leaves overhead and the very faint sound of music. "I don't hear anything."

  "This way," Cole led her down another path and the surrounding jungle closed in on them. Harley couldn't help but think of the wolf from earlier, but that memory was quickly forgotten as soft moans filtered through the trees ahead of them.

  That was what he heard? The passionate pleas were still so muffled she couldn't begin to guess how he'd heard them from where they stood moments before. As they approached, the moans grew louder. Cole tugged her off the trail and into the shadows as the path opened up in front of them leading to a gazebo. The same couple who danced back at the restaurant were locked in each other's arms in the center of the wooden structure.

  The blonde's head dropped back as the man's lips trailed down her neck. His hand moved under her skirt and, judging by the woman's groans, he caressed her in all the right places.

  "We should go," Harley whispered, but didn't move, unable to peel her eyes off the couple in front of her.

  Cole moved behind her. His arm came around her waist as he hauled her back against his chest. "No." His breath teased her cheek, and she knew if she turned her head she'd find his mouth right there. "He's going to touch her and we're going to watch." His deep, raw command rumbled against her neck.

  A delicious shiver curled up Harley's spine. "It's not right," she protested, only to find herself riveted to the erotic sight before her. The man pushed the straps of the woman's dress down, exposing two high breasts. His finger glided across her skin to one hard nipple. He pinched it lightly, then bending his head, licked the tip before pulling it into his mouth.

  Harley tensed, warmth creeping through her system, all too aware of Cole at her back. He shifted closer and she felt the unmistakable nudge of his erection at her back. The answering ache deep in her sex, unleashed a carnal craving to have Cole mirror the other couple's movements.

  As she watched them on the gazebo, Harley leaned more fully against Cole. The arm around her waist drifted higher the same moment the other man shoved his partner's dress up out of his way. His hands slowly slid up the woman's thighs. She wasn't wearing any panties, and a moment later the man sank his fingers into her.

  Harley rocked back on her heels, both to ease the throbbing between her thighs and to contract her inner muscles around it.

  Cole growled softly behind her. His mouth grazed the side of her neck and her eyes drifted shut. A moment later he lifted her breast into his palm, his thumb making wide circles around her nipple that pushed against her dress.

  In front of them the woman shoved the man away from her. She dropped to her knees in front of him, undid his pants. She gripped the base of his cock and licked him from base to tip. The man's tortured groan rode on the air.

  Cole ground his arousal against her bottom, and she hissed out a breath. It felt too good to stop. Harley didn't care if it was an act or not at this point. She wanted his hands on her too damn bad to worry about what would happen when they went home.

  The woman's mouth shuttled up and down the thick cock in front of her, coaxing another loud groan from her partner.

  Cole's hands slid under her dress. Through the thin cotton of her panties, his fingers traced her already damp folds. She shivered in wicked delight.

  Growling, the man in the gazebo lifted the woman into his arms. She wrapped her legs around the man's waist as he leaned her back against the solid pillar. They both cried out as he drove into her, his hips thrusting in a savage rhythm that appeared to punish as much as it pleased.

  Cole's fingers slipped past the edge of her panties and stroked down her wet slit. Harley bit her lip to trap the moan burning in the back of her throat. She squeezed her thighs together only to have Cole push them apart before he swirled his thumb across her clit. She rocked back against him, her body strung tight by the desperate need swallowing her.

  Cole nodded towards the couple still fucking in front of them. "Do you want me to do that to you, Harley?"

  Hell, yeah. She managed a shaky nod, too caught up in the fire rushing through her veins.

  "You want me slide my cock deep inside you?" He sank a finger into her.

  Harley jerked at the erotic invasion. "Yes," she whispered.

  The other couple's feverish groans ricocheted through the quiet night air
as they found their release.

  Cole pushed another finger inside her. "Tell me you want me to fuck you, Harley." His voice was a harsh demand wrapped in silk.

  Fiery threads tightened and pulled in her body. "I want you, Cole."

  His teeth scraped her neck. "You want me to what?" He pumped into her again, harder this time.

  "I want you to fuck me." Harley squeezed her eyes tight, grasping for the sweet whispers of release.

  Cole's satisfied groan rumbled against her shoulder. "How about we go up there right now?"

  It took Harley a moment to realize the couple had vanished.

  "Or we could do it right here." His fingers pumped fiercely into her and this time Harley didn't hold back her moan. His thumb rolled back and forth across her clit.

  "So," Cole prompted. "Here or there?"

  Cole stiffened behind her a moment before she heard someone cough directly behind them.

  * * * *

  Harley went still in his arms, the scent of her arousal fading as she shoved her dress back in place.

  Cole didn't need to turn around to know who stood behind him. The son of a bitch had some fucking timing.

  Keeping Harley discreetly positioned behind him, Cole turned around. "Evening," Dash nodded politely. "Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to reassure Ms. McKinnon that my friend was back in his pen."

  Cole resisted the urge to knock him out, Alpha or not. "I already informed her of that." And the bastard damn well knew it.

  "Good."

  The three stood in an awkward silence before Dash finally nodded again. "Well, good night. I hope you're enjoying your stay."

  Harley didn't move until Dash left.

  "Tired?" he asked, taking in her flushed cheeks and sleepy eyes.

  "A little."

  Setting his hand at her lower back, he steered her back onto the path. "Let's go back to our bungalow."

  She didn't say anything beside him. She didn't have to. Her desire, her arousal still lingered on the air and for the first time he realized just how much she might want him, too. But it didn't matter. It would never work between them. How could he do this to her? God, he wanted her, but would she be able to go back to the way things were when they got back to the city? And they'd have to. He wouldn't hurt her the way his jackass friend had. She deserved better than a man who had no intention of committing to any woman--any fully human female anyway. Ever.

  At the steps leading to the wharf, he paused. "You go in. I'll be right there." He knew it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him why, but she only nodded and continued on.

  Cole stared into the darkness. "Stalking me now? I don't think that's a very brotherly thing to do, is it?"

  Dash grinned as he stepped out into the light. "Nope. It's a full moon tonight."

  Crossing his arms, Cole glared at him. "No kidding? I think I missed the memo."

  "I won't be able to keep most of them from shifting tonight. You know that."

  "Harley won't be going for any midnight strolls if that's what you want to know."

  Dash nodded. "Good." He turned away, then swiveled back around. "I have to know... are you serious about her? Because if you're not...."

  "I already told you, she's not up for claiming."

  "You must have some will power. Even I couldn't willfully resist someone I cared about tonight."

  Cole said nothing, knowing exactly how close he'd come before Dash had interrupted them.

  "So you still have no plans to claim her then." Dash shoved his hands in pockets. "Why not?"

  "I would never mark her without her being aware of what would happen."

  "Well, she can hardly make the choice for herself if she doesn't know about you."

  Cole started down the wharf.

  "You should tell her."

  He whipped around. "And you should fuck off."

  "She won't leave."

  Irritated now, Cole snapped, "Leave it."

  Dash didn't seem concerned at the underlying growl in Cole's voice. "Just because your mother left when she learned the truth, doesn't mean all human women will."

  Cole took a step towards him, stopped just short of knocking Dash on his ass. "Back the fuck off."

  "That's what's stopping you, isn't it?" Dash cocked his head as though he had a light bulb moment. "You care for her. You want her, but you won't claim her."

  "What I do and don't do has never been your concern, nor is it now." Cole flexed his fist.

  "Maybe. But if you aren't going to claim her, I just might have to."

  He knew Dash was intentionally pressing his buttons, but that didn't stop jealousy from rearing its ugly head. He grabbed Dash, yanking him closer. He'd heard enough.

  "Cole?"

  Fuck. Cole turned around at the sight of Harley standing there, immediately releasing Dash, half surprised his brother had let him get away with that much.

  She crossed her arms. "Is there a problem I should know about?"

  Dash shook his head. "No problem. We were just having a bit of a disagreement about the loose wolf. I understand your boyfriend's concerns now." He nodded. "Good night again, Ms. McKinnon. Perhaps you'd like a full tour of the island in the morning. That is, if Cole doesn't mind. He'd be welcome to come along if he wished."

  "She'll let you know," Cole growled, knowing it was another provocation.

  Dash disappeared as stealthily as he'd approached. Cole waited until he was gone before he followed Harley down the wharf and inside their bungalow.

  She stopped in the middle of the room. Her eyes drifted around the room before settling on him.

  "You can have the bed," Cole said before he reached for her again. He couldn't cross that line. Not when he knew it would hurt her when he didn't stay. And he couldn't.

  Disappointment flashed across her face before she nodded and turned away. She headed for the bathroom and he felt like an ass as he heard her get ready for bed.

  Needing some air, he slid the terrace door open and walked out onto the deck over the water. The bright moon hung low in the sky and he felt the power of it pulsing under his skin. Maybe once Harley went to bed he'd go for a run, burn off the desire still rushing fast and hot through his bloodstream. The light went out behind him. He waited, listening for the sound of the bed covers being pulled back.

  Silence.

  The boards creaked behind him, but he didn't turn around. Harley stepped up beside him. Dressed in a pale yellow silk gown that came to mid-thigh, her long brown hair cascading down her back, she looked so amazing standing there in the moonlight, his chest ached.

  She tilted her chin up, her voice a silken wave that wrapped around him. "I want you, Cole. I know you want me, too, at least a little. Can't you give me just one night?"

  Chapter Five

  Cole didn't move, didn't breathe as she leaned up and brushed her mouth across his. Harley molded her body to his before her hands tangled in the ends of his hair as she tugged him closer. "Please," she whispered, her breath whispering across his neck. Her teeth nipped his jaw. "One night."

  He closed his eyes when her hands moved between them, down past his waist. How could he stop himself? She was giving him what he wanted. To touch her, make love to her with no strings, no expectations. Offering herself to him.

  But could he control the animal inside him that craved to claim her, to make her his in such a primal way, that defied all logical reasoning against it? If it meant the difference between having her tonight or walking away, he'd take his chances.

  Catching her chin, Cole tilted her head back. "Are you sure? Because I can't be the man you want me to be. I can give you tonight, but beyond that...."

  "I know." Her quiet voice stirred his heart, tugging at him in places he didn't want to acknowledge.

  He captured her mouth, the beast raging at the taste of her. He focused on delving deep between her parted lips, running his tongue over hers until he would happily drown in the sensations coursing through him. In place of his blood, lava b
urned through his veins, wild and hot. His cock ached to find its way into her slick center, but there was time for that. If he only had one night, he'd make damn sure it felt like much longer. For both of them.

  Harley slid her hands around his waist and, cupping his ass, she rubbed against his hard length. Sharp and exquisitely sweet sparks zipped down his spine and straight to his groin. The back of his knees hit the wide lounge chair behind them, and Cole realized she'd walked them backwards.

  "Sit," she commanded, her eyes bright with determination.

  His mouth tipped into a wide grin before she gently shoved him backwards.

  Harley stood motionless in front of him. He clenched his hands tight with the need to rip the tantalizing spaghetti-strapped fabric off her. She didn't say anything, leaving only the soft rush of the water hitting the beach and faraway nightlife sounds of the jungle between them.

  She pushed her hair behind her shoulders, and Cole followed the natural movement as he had a hundred times. She complained about the long tresses and every time she mentioned getting it cut, he'd persuaded her not to. He wanted to run his hands through it, use it to hold her in place when she would finally take him in her mouth. His cock twitched, both at the erotic image and the incredible sight she made before him as she tugged first one and then the other strap past her shoulders.

  Riveted, he watched her push the nightgown down. Two full breasts, their firm dark pink nipples, taunted him.

  Harley shook her head when he reached for her. "Not yet." Her lips curved in a sinful smile that promised more than he dared to consider.

  She pushed the gathered folds past her hips and when the yellow silk pooled at it her feet, she stepped free. The only indication of her nervousness was the short gasps of air sliding past her lips and way her fingers curled and then lengthened against her bare thighs.