Surrounded by Death

  SURROUNDED BY DEATH

  By Mandy Harbin

  SURROUNDED BY DEATH

  Mandy Harbin

  Copyright © 2012

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-0-9882130-0-5

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Mandy Harbin. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Find Mandy Harbin online at

  http://www.mandyharbin.com

  Cover art by For the Muse Designs

  Edited by Brieanna Roberts

  Layout provided by Everything Indie

  http://www.everything-indie.com

  Dedication

  To JT Lacy for being the first friend to ever buy and read one of my books and for loving my work so much that you want me to write 100 books a year. Um, yeah, that ain’t happening. But this is a start. Love you.

  Author’s Note

  To my readers,

  This is Eric Woods’ untold story. I’ve gotten lots of emails asking about what really happened to him, so I wanted to tell it as a thank you for taking the time to read the books about our feral mountain lion shifter family.

  Because this is a night in the life of Eric Woods, this book is a prequel to the series. If you’ve already read the books that are out, you know Eric is deceased. For those of you who haven’t read the books and this is your first taste of the Woods men, don’t worry, Eric’s death isn’t a spoiler—it is mentioned right away in Book I, Surrounded by Woods.

  I couldn’t, in good conscience, write a book about Eric that equaled the size of the others in the series since his fate is already decided; however, I felt giving you a taste of how his life came to an end would not only satisfy your need to understand what happened to him in his final moments, but also give you a greater understanding of the complexities of our heroes in this series.

  I hope you enjoy this story and it makes you want to read about Eric’s brothers’ experiences with finding their mates in Surrounded by Woods (excerpt at the end), Surrounded by Pleasure, and Surrounded by Temptation (coming October 2012). The fourth and final book in this series is currently being drafted.

  In my heart, Eric is living his happily ever after vicariously through them.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Epilogue

  Excerpt of Surrounded by Woods (Woods Family Series Book 1)

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Eric Woods lounged in the chair of his cabin, watching his fuck buddy strip out of the sexy as hell lingerie she was wearing. God, he loved black lace.

  “You’re gonna fuck me all night, aren’t you?” Simone asked then licked her lips as she sashayed in front of him with this little makeshift striptease. He would be thanking the universe until his dying breath for giving him these opportunities to fuck this woman.

  He loved his friend Alex, and he loved it even more that Alex and his wife, Simone, were in an open relationship. The only way Eric would ever get laid was with women who were taken, which made it damn near impossible, considering he was trapped on his family’s estate. Alex was an old friend of his. Someone he’d met back before his parents had yanked him out of school—before it’d become too dangerous for him to be there. They never explained to him why everyone in their immediate family was a mountain lion shifter harboring a deadly need to mate with any available female once puberty struck. It was just their life, and Eric had learned to accept it as best he could.

  But thanks to technology, he had stayed in contact with several of his friends over the years. One night, he and Alex were chatting via a webcam when Simone had come in wearing nothing but the hot-ass birthday suit God had given her. It had been obvious to Eric that it was her intent to seduce her willing husband, so he’d planned on just ending the connection. But to his surprise, rather than freak out that she’d had an audience, Eric watching had turned her on even more. Who knew she’d had a little exhibitionism streak in her? Eric had been all about voyeurism—his life hadn’t really afforded him many other opportunities.

  Simone had leaned over Alex and unzipped his pants, though all Eric had been looking at was her beautiful breasts, spilling over Alex’s shoulder. Eric hadn’t been able to control his dick at that point, or the hand that reached into his sweats. He’d jacked off three times that night, the last time coming when Alex shot his seed all over those sexy breasts. After that night, the three of them had cyber sex on multiple occasions.

  It was six months later before the possibility of Simone coming out to see him came up in conversation. Alex was going on a business trip and would be gone a month, so he’d casually mentioned he was okay with Simone coming out for a visit. Eric hadn’t been sure how to respond to that. His dick was screaming, yes! His head was wondering if it was such a good idea. By the end of that night, he was covered in cum and his right hand was so tired from doing all the work that he’d agreed to the visit. He just couldn’t resist the thought of fucking her pussy, not just imagining the feel of it, but actually sinking into her wet heat. Yeah, there hadn’t been any other choice.

  That had been over a year and a half ago. Ever since, the three of them would still meet up online to get off on watching and being watched during the act of sex, and every few months or so, Simone would fly out to see Eric for a couple of days of no-strings-attached fucking. It was great.

  “I’m not sure if you can take it all night, darlin’,” he said while unbuttoning his jeans as he lay on the bed.

  She rotated her hips as she ran her hands up her softly rounded belly. “I can take whatever you give me,” she purred, and he had to grit his teeth to fight the need to just grab her and fuck her. It had been too long since the last time she’d been here and he hadn’t had time to meet up with one of his other three fuck buddies in the area since the last time Simone was here. Eric might be stuck on his family’s estate, but the tree farm they owned kept him busy from dawn till dark-thirty, which this time of year meant pretty damn late in the day.

  “Come here,” he ordered, yanking his shirt over his head. He started pushing down his jeans when she crawled over him.

  “Let me do that, sexy,” she said, swatting his hands away from his jeans.

  Then her black hair fell around her face as she dipped her head down. He groaned when his dick met her mouth and thrust into her impulsively.

  “Oh fuck, baby.” His hands fisted into her hair, holding it up, and he lay back, looking to the side so he could watch his cock slide in and out.

  She hummed and worked her hands inside his jeans to squeeze his ass, her nails digging into his skin. That bite of pleasure made his gums itch, made him want to let his fangs come out. This was always the song he danced to whenever he was with a woman. His feral side needed to mate, ached to bond to a woman who could be his lioness, but his humanity wouldn’t allow him to take a mated woman. It was a battle easily won in these situations.

  But a battle nonetheless.

  No one outside his family knew of their true nature and that included Alex and Simone. Eric had long ago quit giving excuses why he couldn’t meet up f
or drinks or many of the other invites he’d received, but that hadn’t meant he could be completely honest as to why. The Woods family’s ability to shift into mountain lions was a deep, dark family secret—one that even his father didn’t discuss to this day. So that meant no fangs during sex, even if the feel of them being extended heightened his pleasure. Letting them descend would never happen, so being free to lose himself completely with a woman would never happen. He was playing the shitty cards life had dealt him. But no fangs during sex was a compromise because it mean he was having sex with a woman and not his fist. Yeah, a pretty damn good compromise.

  “So good,” he moaned, thrusting his hips, forcing his cock deeper. His fingers clenched in her hair, eliciting a little whimper from her. “Harder. C’mon, baby, I’m close. Swallow me.”

  She turned her head to the side and his dick slipped free.

  “Now why would I let you come before me?” Her eyes danced, but the lust in them shined through.

  He groaned as he released her hair. “You know I’ll be up within five minutes.” He pouted playfully as he moved his hips, waving his cock. “Pretty please?”

  “Ugh, you are such a baby.” She giggled and slapped his chest as she sat up.

  “Well, I am the baby in my family.” He waggled his eyebrows and she snorted.

  “Oh my God, can you be any more corny?”

  “I’m horny, not corny.” He sat up suddenly and took her mouth in a searing kiss, proving his point. When he broke away, she was panting. “Take off your clothes, Simone, or I’ll rip them off you.”

  “But I—”

  He didn’t give her a chance to finish her argument. He grabbed the black lace that lied of coverage and tugged, letting the shreds of fabric fall from his greedy fingers. His mouth found one taut nipple and he sucked it so hard that part of her breast filled his mouth. She hissed at what must have been pain mixed with pleasure because her shoulders bowed as if trying to free herself of his mouth, but her hands clutched his head, pulling him closer to her. He sucked harder and she scrambled to climb on top of him.

  “My panties,” she panted, and he knew what she wanted. She was straddling his dick, but her barely-there thong was providing an unwanted barrier to skin on skin. He reached down and yanked, and in one quick motion, the material gave way.

  Eric grabbed her ass, forced her to grind on his cock.

  “Fuck, yeah. Like that,” he said as he let go of her breast and dug his face into her neck.

  “Now!” she begged as she moved her hips back and forth, soaking his cock with her need.

  And he wanted to give her just what she wanted.

  After he tasted her.

  Eric grabbed her waist and flipped them over, landing on top of her and making her gasp. He pushed her knees apart and buried his face in her honey. He’d never tire of the smell of a woman’s pussy, especially one that was hot and aching just for him. He licked her from pucker to clit, and she tensed. He smiled against her folds. She was already so close. He tried savoring the smell and taste, feasting on her with slow, deep licks, but she was too antsy. She kept moaning and gyrating beneath him, breathy pleas falling from her lips. His tongue stabbed into her and her hips came off the bed. Her moans stopped, her whole body hard as stone. He fucked her with his tongue one, two, three more times and then pulled out as he shoved two fingers into her. His lips encased her clit and his tongue batted it with fast, soft flicks as his fingers fucked her hard. Her body bowed and she screamed. He sucked on her clit and curled his fingers, massaging that sweet spot within, prolonging her pleasure as her pussy clenched around—and drenched—his fingers.

  When her spasms slowed, he gently withdrew his fingers. Keeping his eyes on hers, he put his fingers in his mouth and sucked. “You taste almost as good as you smell.”

  “If I were as strong as you,” she panted, “I’d rip your jeans off.”

  With a growl, he grabbed the open flaps of his jeans and yanked. Thankfully, they were old and worn; otherwise, he might not have been able to rip them open. Once his jeans were hanging from his hips, he sat up to divest himself of them in a more practical method.

  Eric fell on top of her, crushing her into the bed. “I’m not gonna last. I almost came in my jeans when you started screaming, baby.”

  “Don’t care. Just fuck me.”

  He reached to the nightstand where he’d left a bunch of condoms in anticipation of things to come. He ripped one open and grabbed his cock, unable to help the few strokes he gave it before putting it on. He rubbed his dick against her opening, but as soon as the tip found its destination, Simone didn’t give him a chance to push in. Instead, she wrapped her legs around his back and shoved her hips up, making him sink in with one quick thrust.

  He roared, knowing it was a too animalistic, but it slipped. “Shit, shit!”

  He grabbed her hair and pulled. He needed her mouth to drown out anymore of his growls. His lips locked onto hers, and he pumped his hips frantically, thankful for her claws digging into his back and her undulating beneath him making him feel as if she were just as desperate.

  “Oh God, oh God, I’m coming,” Simone said, but Eric already knew. Her pussy was already gripping him, warning him of the inevitable. He knew once she exploded, he wouldn’t be able to hold out. But fuck, he hoped she’d fly first. Either way, he’d make it last longer the next time. They had all night to fuck, and he had every intention of wringing all he could out of her beautiful body.

  She screamed just as her pussy clenched around him so hard that if he were not already on the verge of spilling, his release would’ve caught him by surprise. His balls drew up and exquisite fire shot out of him as he threw his head back and bellowed curses, prayers, pleas.

  “Eric, Eric,” she breathed, her arms encasing him as she rode out her climax beneath him while he continued knifing into her.

  The intensity slowed. He kept moving after the last of his seed left his body, and he dropped soft, kissing along her shoulder and neck.

  After long moments of lazy kisses and smiles, he sat up, gently pulling out of her, and started to take off the condom.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Simone asked, and the hesitation in her voice hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  He looked up from his task. “Sure. You know you can talk to me about anything.”

  “When was the last time you had sex? Um, I mean with another woman.”

  He frowned. She’d never asked about his sex life before, but they were sexually active. It was a valid question to ask a partner. “It was before the last time we were together.” Then he snorted. “Don’t worry. I know it was quick, but I promise by the end of the night, you’ll be begging me to come.”

  She laughed nervously and his hackles rose. Why was she acting timid?

  “Good. Me neither. If you want to ditch the condoms for the night, that’s fine with me.”

  What the fuck? “You and Alex haven’t had sex in months? Why? Is he okay?”

  Simone’s eyes narrowed. “His last business trip was actually a trip to see his girlfriend. He’s been seeing someone behind my back. Turns out he’s in love with her, so we got divorced.”

  Eric didn’t hear the rest of what she was saying. Her lips were still moving as if she were explaining what had happened, but it didn’t matter. His world was shifting on its axis, and he roared.

  “Run!”

  Chapter Two

  Eric leapt from the bed, his body shaking. He didn’t need to hear the excuses of what had happened to their marriage or why the fuck Alex hadn’t told him about this. There could be time for explanations later. Right now, he needed Simone out of here.

  Right. Now.

  “Are you mad?” She sat up from the bed and came toward him.

  “Stop! Don’t you fucking come near me, Simone. Get out.”

  “Holy shit, you’re pissed I’m divorced? Do you think I’m going to try and get pregnant or something? What is your fucking deal? I’m not asking for a commitment. Je
sus, do you know what century this is?”

  He fisted his hands so hard his knuckles were white. He was trying to keep his fangs from descending, but it was a battle he was quickly losing. He should be the one to run away, scream for his brothers’ help to get her to safety, but his lion was too powerful in this moment. All it was thinking was mate. If Eric hadn’t cared about this woman on some level, he’d have already taken her, but there were enough feelings for her that he was able to prolong the need to force her submission.

  She stomped up to him and pounded her fist on his chest. “If it’s that fucking important to you, forget what I said about the condoms. Use them. Fuck me with the condoms. But just so you know, I was tested after I found out about Alex’s affair. I’m clean, and I’m on the pill.”

  Her beating against his chest and defiant tone only challenged his lion more. She was too close, his lion too demanding. He grabbed her and twirled her around, pinning her against the counter.

  “Oh, I’ll fuck you all right.” He’d fuck her and take her. There was no logical thought or reasoning because his lion was in control now. Him turning her so she faced away was his last attempt at that. Because his fangs came out and he couldn’t risk her freaking out.

  He pushed her over the counter so her ass was in the air. He smacked it, and her yelp turned into a moan.

  “You’re mine, Simone. Do you understand?” He whipped her harder.

  “Yes, yes!”

  He grabbed his cock and shoved it into her. She screamed, and he grabbed her shoulders, making her back arch even more, and pounded into her ruthlessly. He growled and snarled, unable to keep his animal from coming out in full force. He wouldn’t shift while inside her, but he knew it was preparing to come out once they were finished—once they were mated!