The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,52

truth I needed to acknowledge so I can address it. As if that deep, ravaging need can be ignored.” I snorted. “What she doesn’t understand is that I had been addressing it. On my terms. The feedings hadn’t been ideal, but they’d been something. I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”

He shifted a little to rest his chin on top of my head.

“I know you don’t want to hurt anyone. That’s why I pointed out that the dryads were fine after you danced. You haven’t experimented enough to know what you can do because you’re afraid of making mistakes that might hurt someone. But, meanwhile, you’re hurting yourself.”

I pulled back to frown at him.

“Are you suggesting I start feeding on different species to see which can tolerate me best?”

“No. You already know what types of creatures you can safely feed on.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t think I can go back to feeding on frost giants. I’m having a hard time forgiving Mrs. Quill for siding with Adira.”

“I’m not talking about frost giants.”

I swallowed hard in understanding.

“Bonded pairs.”

He nodded at the same time I shook my head.

“No. I hate that.”

Ducking my head against his chest, I hid from the truth.

“You know Megan and Oanen would willingly feed you.”

“Remember how I said I wasn’t the violent type? Keep talking about feeding on them, and I might have to prove myself wrong.”

He chuckled, the sound doing funny things to my insides, and ran his hand down my back.

“Werewolves are all about bonded pairs, too. You could try feeding from me. It’d make Adira’s day, and you can’t hurt me.”

“We already talked about this. No. I’m not taking that chance. You’re not bonded yet. And even if you were, I wouldn’t want to mess with your relationship like that. I’ll find another way.”

“You won’t,” a voice said from behind Fenris.

I lifted my head to look at Adira. The urge to hiss at her like I did the mermaids was strong.

“I’d hoped that I would find you using this room as it was designed.”

“How did your conversation go with my mom?” I asked sweetly.

“Perhaps you should ask her yourself.” Before I knew what she intended, Adira reached out and set her hand on me.

With a gut-wrenching twist, I landed on a sawdust strewn floor. The pulsing beat of punk music assailed my ears as I struggled to my feet without getting sick. My vision swam, and I wished I’d stayed on the ground. Inhaling through my nose to settle my stomach proved a mistake, though. Lust, thick and mouthwatering, clogged the air.

My sight cleared with laser precision, and I took in the changes the inside of Mom’s club had undergone in the forty-eight hours since my first visit. The walls had been insulated and drywall hung. New lights illuminated the work area and the workers as they laid hardwood flooring.

Naked.

Mom stood behind them, wearing her favorite dominatrix costume and holding a whip, which she used.

Her mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear her. Whatever she said had the man in front of her working faster while intermittently grabbing himself. An act that earned his backside another lashing.

It was like watching Piepen try not to touch himself. Yet, the scent of the combined lust of the men on their knees was far from the offensive stench of Piepen’s lust.

Hunger clawed at me.

I closed my eyes and yelled as loud as I could to be heard over the pulsing beat of music.

“Mom!”

The music immediately stopped, and I wanted to beg for her to turn it back on so I wouldn’t hear the panting moans.

“Baby, what are you doing here? I thought you were at school. Did Adira do something?”

“Yes, she did something. I was with Fenris, and she portaled me here.”

A soft, cool hand brushed over my cheek.

“Why are your eyes closed?”

I opened them to glare at my mom. Her worried expression turned to surprise.

“Because I will not be forced. No matter what she does or who she threatens, I will feed my way on my terms.”

“Of course.” She gave my cheek another gentle stroke. “She sent me a message a bit ago, saying that you lied about feeding on the dryads. I didn’t tell her that, so what happened at school.”

“She overheard me talking to Eugene and tried to blackmail me into feeding on him, which is why I texted you. Just now, she overheard me talking to Fenris about what you said about not eating and needing to acknowledge it. She didn’t like hearing me