by Michele Ryan
“You’re his parent, Ezra, and as such, it’s our job to protect our children to the best of our ability. A boy is his age is in no position to be a father.” Clara rubbed his arm in comfort. “Grant will see Kellen grow, be able to spend time with him,” Clara assured him.
“If you say so.”
In all the time she had known him, he’d always been so confident, self-assured…so Alpha. The self-doubt she heard in his voice had Clara’s heart clenching in pain. It was her job to convince him this had been the right decision. “I know so. Didn’t your momma ever tell you not to mess with a witch?”
“If you were or knew an oracle, I’d feel much better,” Ezra joked.
“Granmé Marie only taught me how to read tarot cards, and honestly, I’m not very good at it,” she admitted. “The next time I summon her, I will talk to her about our situation.”
“Just make sure Grant is nowhere to be found. He loves talking to her just as much as you do.”
“They have a special bond.”
Ezra chuckled. “Considering one of them is spirit, I’d say it was more odd than special.”
“He trusts her. I haven’t mentioned it, but the last time he spoke to her, he asked for me to teach him the spell.”
Ezra inhaled and stopped walking. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him I had to discuss it with you first. I just forget. We’ve been a tad bit busy.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about Grant learning magick,” Ezra confessed.
Clara blinked up at him and took a deep breath to help calm herself. “You realize I plan to teach Seh. How will we explain to Grant why his brother knows spells, yet he doesn’t?”
“You make a good point.” Ezra wrapped his hand around her elbow and continued to follow Grant.
“It will only help him in the long run. It will help center him, learn to control himself and the atmosphere around him. It could give him an edge, especially if he chooses to sign with Omer.”
Ezra rubbed at the nap of his neck. “He’s still just a boy. I don’t even want to think of him signing himself over in servitude to Omer.”
“Is this how you feel about your place on the team? As someone who is a slave?”
Ezra remained silent, and it irritated her. Members of her family had once been slaves, with little or no choice of who owned them and no power to prevent atrocities from occurring to them or their children. Ezra had no clue what servitude was.
“You are a trusted member of the team, a brother. You trusted your grandson to one of your team mates,” she snarled. “Need I remind you, there is no shame in what we do.”
“Creole Queen—”
Clara held up her hand, stopping him. It was not something she normally did, since he was her Alpha, but these weren’t normal circumstances. “No, Ezra. We protect those who are weaker and are unable to protect themselves. There is pride in that. If our children follow in our footsteps, it would make me extremely honored. You should feel the same way.”
“You are right. I am wrong. I feel more beholden than that of a servant.”
“Quite honestly, you should feel neither. We all have our place on the team. Omer’s place is to be the overseer of us all, and he has his own crosses to bear. Omer offered us all a way to live in the human world without worry about being burned at the stake or tortured to death. We had a choice and we made it,” Clara implored.
“Clara?” Grant’s voice broke through the fog of her anger, which was directed at her mate, his father. She had not even realized he had come back. “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” Ezra answered. “Just your father putting his foot in his mouth.”
Grant smirked. “I’ve heard the men of the house do this often with the ladies.”
“Let me give you some fatherly advice. When you do it, cup your ballocks quickly and apologize.”
“I saw you do neither.” Grant laughed.
“That’s because Clara had already gone after them. It was too late to protect them.”
Clara gave Ezra a shove. “Stop it, both of you. Speaking of ballocks in public. You’re lucky I love both of you. People are going to think we’ve got no manners!”
“The show is about to start,” Grant said.
Clara hated the uncertainty in the young boy’s voice. She was sure any time Grant had heard his parents argue, his bitch of a mother would take it out on him. Grant would learn this was not the case in their family.
“And so, we shall go and watch it,” she said, smiling at the younger boy in assurance.
Ezra came beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
“It is forgotten, for now,” she teased. “Let’s go see this show.”
Together as a family they walked the remaining distance and found their seats while Seh remained asleep through the four acts of the show.
Chapter Six
Clara leaned back in the large cast-iron tub, letting the heat of the water ease the tiredness from her body. Wisps of steam escaped, making the small bathroom overly humid and filled with the scent of lavender. Clara didn’t mind the thickness in the air. It felt good, helping to cleanse away her stress. The bath was more of a ritual, preparing her body and mind for the night.
Having made sure both children had bathed and eaten one final snack before bed, she’d checked on Seh one last time then ambled down the hall to Grant’s room. He lay in his bed, content with the book he had picked from the library, but as she watched him, his eyes began to droop, and she knew he too would be asleep within minutes.
While she bathed, Ezra spoke with the team before retiring. Clara didn’t offer a single word of protest because she wanted to soak in the tub and come to their bed refreshed after a long day. Plus, Emmitt swore he saw someone familiar taking a turn about the fair. However, Frazer had never showed his mug. To say they were frustrated was an understatement. Sure, she didn’t think he would show due to too many people milling about, but a vampire like him didn’t have qualms about nabbing people.
Clara grabbed the small washcloth from the soap dish and dunked it under the water. Arrangements had been made for tonight, so she and Ezra wouldn’t be disturbed. If Seh woke during the night, Miss Jemmy, having generously volunteered to sleep in the nursery, would give him a bottle and get him back to sleep for her. Tonight would be the night—after months of a non-existent sex life, Clara was determined to rekindle it.
“If that’s not a beautiful sight.” Ezra’s deep, dark voice rumbled from where he stood at the doorway.
“All your meetings done for the night?” The cloth long forgotten, she glided her fingers through the water, while the nub of her deformed arm floated in the water. She’d taken to removing her arm to bathe since she’d been fitted for it, and Ezra had seen her without it often. She no longer felt self-conscious without it in his presence as she had in the beginning.
He nodded. “Children?”
“One is fast asleep, the other reading, although I suspect the other will be fast asleep shortly. Miss Jemmy will get Seh if he awakes at any time,” she answered.
Ezra kicked off his shoes, pull his linen shirt over his head and all but tore off his pants, leaving them all on the floor in his hurry. Clara eyed the heavy stalk of his erection, which rose near to his belly button in anticipation as he made his way toward her.
“Move forward,” he demanded, and Clara eagerly did so. His big body slid into the water behind her. The tub overflowed almost immediately, soaking the mat, towels, and his discarded clothes in seconds.
“Ezra!” she cried, scrambling to get up and stop the deluge of water pouring onto the floor.
He wrapped his hands around her hips and pulled her down between his legs. “You’re not getting out of this damn bath. The damage is already done, mate.” He nuzzled the nape of her neck with his nose, then ran his tongue up to the sensitive point behind her ear before working his way back down to her nape. Goose pimples formed across her skin, e
ven with the warm air and water.
“It’s a mess,” she whimpered in protest.
“And it’ll get cleaned up. After. Way after,” he murmured.
Her nipples tightened in need at the dark promise of his words. He was going to make her climax just from talking and caressing her neck. “Damn, mate, you smell good.” He groaned against her skin while continuing to nuzzle her neck and shoulders.
Clara could feel his erection throb and jerk against her lower back. “Not me. It’s the lavender.” She sighed when he nipped at the bend where her neck met her shoulders.
“It’s you.” He growled deep and long, causing her womb to clench in need.
“Ezra…please. I need you inside me now,” she begged, digging the fingers of her one hand into his thigh.
“Slow and easy, my queen. It’s been too long, and I want to savor this,” he said.
He captured her ear with his sharp teeth, tugging it till she leaned back against his broad chest. With one hand he palmed her breast and dipped the other below the water to caress her belly and the top of her mons. If he didn’t touch her or give her what she wanted, she was going to take it.
“I’m extremely jealous of Seh,” he said against her neck. “He gets to suckle from your beautiful breasts more than I do.” Strong fingers grasped her nipple, rolling it almost to the point of pain.
“He’s a babe.” She moaned as he slipped his finger between the folds of her pussy to rub at the swollen bundle of nerves.
“It’s the only reason I haven’t voiced any protests.”
“He’s not here now,” she reminded him.
“And I will feast on them, along with this sweet pussy.” His voice held such promise and need, Clara contemplated turning to mount him. Ezra, always so in tune to her, must have sensed her intention. He tightened his grip on her, keeping her as he wanted her. “I do not wish to rut in you like the wolf I am.” He teased the opening of her sex.
“You forget, I too am a wolf, and perhaps I want you to simply fuck me.” The digit pierced her flesh, slowly moved in and out of her, causing her to cry out in need.
“Water is not a lubricate. I want to pleasure you, not hurt you.” Ezra cupped her sex, pressing his palm hard against her clit.
“Please…Ezra,” she begged. Clara rolled her hips, hoping he’d increase the steady pace of his finger working in and out of her body.
“No,” he snarled. “I told you, slow and steady.”
Clara recognized his tone of voice. She called it his alpha tone. Nothing she said or did would move him from his course of action. He was controlling this, and she was along for the ride. Not that she minded, other than the fact she needed some relief. Badly.
“Pick up the soap and hand it to me.” The bossiness of his tone caused her to get slicker, even being in the water. Leaning forward, Clara shifted. She bit her lip as he slid his finger deeper inside of her. She tried desperately to focus on the task at hand as she gathered the bar of soap and handed it to him.
Ezra began washing every inch of her body with one hand, continuing to fuck her with the other. He spent long moments on her nipples, belly, and aching sex. “Hands and knees.” His clipped tone had Clara hesitating for a moment. If she moved into position, she’d lose his fingers, and she was so very close to her release. “Now, mate. Don’t make me ask twice.”
As she moved, his fingers stayed their course. “I’m close.” She arched into his touch and jumped when his teeth nipped at her rump.
“You’re about to get a whole lot closer,” he whispered against her skin. He curled his fingers, hitting the sensitive spot deep inside her.
Clara cried out. “Ezra!”
“Fucking beautiful, my queen.”
Clara groaned as his soapy fingers ran down the seam of her ass and paused at her back entrance. Shivers ran up and down her spine as his fingertip rimmed the puckered area. Although Ezra had told her wolves in the wild could and did have sex this way, they had never gotten any further than slight caresses. Ezra had said it had to do with her being pregnant with Seh and worrying about hurting her.
They both knew she was longer pregnant. Anticipation built in her as she remained steady, wondering and waiting to see if he would press deeper, testing her limits.
He did.
Clara moaned when he pressed his finger against the tight ring of muscles.
“Push back,” he cooed.
Without any hesitations she did, only to feel his finger slip into her. “Don’t make me beg, Ezra,” she pleaded, well aware she already was.
“This is really a full moon activity, mate. Only done when our lusts are in a frenzy.”
“It’s close enough to a full moon,” she snapped, needing the release he pushed her to, but refused to give her.
He chuckled, the bastard. They hadn’t been able to run together during a full moon since Seh had been born, and Clara told him as much. “Pull the plug.” He removed his fingers so she could shift back on her knees and pull it with the hand she was leaning on.
Ezra stood and grabbed a bath towel from the hook to dry himself off before he picked her up out of the tub and placed her on her feet. He quickly did the same to her, then tossed the cloth to the floor. He lifted her into his arms with ease, strolled back into the bedroom and placed her on their bed. Clara had barely gathered her breath before Ezra wrapped his hand around her ankle, pulling her to the edge.
“Feast time,” he said betwixt her thighs.
The rumble, growling sound coming from Ezra’s chest each time he spoke had the wolf below her skin clawing to get free. The nails on her fingers lengthened, ripping the bed covers. “Don’t shift.” Ezra pushed her thighs apart, leaving her wide open to his gaze. “Mine.” He licked his lips in anticipation. Ezra dropped to his knees, running his tongue up and down the slickness of her sex and swirling his tongue over her swollen, throbbing clitoris. “So sweet.”
Clara shivered as his warm breath caressed her overheated, damp skin. Her good hand dug into shoulder-length black hair. Her deformed arm was thrown over her head. Her hips jerked, seeking relief only he could give her.
“Damn you, Ezra,” she muttered between clenched teeth. “I need to come.”
“And so, you shall,” he replied before wrapping his lips around the swollen bud of her sex and sucking it as he would her nipples.
Bliss was within her reach. Clara focused on her mate and what he was doing between her legs. He slid two of his fingers inside her, fucking her deep and hard. Her womb clenched, her back arched, and Clara cried out as waves of pleasure rolled through her entire body. Ezra never stopped, taking her through one orgasm, and straight into another before he removed his fingers. He kissed the top of her mons and situated his dick at the well of her pussy.
“What in the ever-loving hell are you waiting for!” Her eyes widened as Ezra licked her release from his fingers.
“A fine meal must be savored, my queen.”
“Enjoy it inside me.” She wrapped her legs around his trim waist, guiding him forward, easing his tip to where she needed him most.
“Naughty, witch.” He growled, adjusting their position so her legs were up over his shoulders. He filled her in one thrust, sinking the length of his cock deep within her. “Fuck.”
“Ezra,” she whimpered.
“I know, my queen, I know.”
And he did. The same need that clawed her belly almost to the point of pain twisting his features. He didn’t even wait for her body to adjust to him. Pulling out, leaving only the tip, Clara clenched around him, trying to suck him back into her needy pussy. He growled, and Clara swore she could feel the vibrations on her clit. He had told her in the tub that he didn’t want to rut on her like the beast he was. In the end, it was exactly what this mating was. It was hard, fast, and intense. Another orgasm built, coiling her insides with expectancy as Ezra pounded away. Sweat ran down his face, dripping onto her bobbing breasts, and mixed with her own perspiration.
The a
ir was heavy between them, thick with the scent and sounds of their mating. Clara forced her heavy lids open to gaze upon her beautiful mate. His eyes were focused on where they joined. What held his fascination, she wondered? Ezra, sensing her scrutiny, brought his gaze to hers.
“Ezra?” She rolled her hips, allowing him sink deeper as she clawed at his thigh with her one hand. She drew blood. She could feel it on her fingers and scent it in the air.
It incited him. His whiskey-colored eyes flared, showing Clara the beast fighting beneath his skin. It excited her, making her even slicker. Ezra groaned. His massive frame shuddered as he took several deep breaths before pushing her trembling legs off his shoulders and tucking them over his elbows. Come tomorrow she’d have some bruising when they were done. It would be well worth it, though.
“You with me, my Creole Queen?” he panted.
“Always,” she moaned, arching her back as another wave of pleasure rolled through her.
Her release was going to be epic.
“Fuck.” Ezra groaned into her neck. “Ease up. I’m going to pull out before I spend.”
Clara’s lip curled in disgust. His released belonged, not wasted either on the bed or belly. Clara, stronger since becoming a wolf, used her new strength. She locked her legs around his waist, keeping him planted deep.
He grew harder, indicating to her, his release was just as close as hers. “Don’t stop!” she yelped, seconds before her body exploded in pure bliss, tingling from head to toe. White sparks of light filled her vision, and her pussy rippled around him.
The warm rush of his release filled her as he bit down on her neck, marking her once more as his. She rubbed at his damp back when he collapsed on top of her, his weight heavy and welcome against hers.
“Clara,” he grunted. “It’s too soon to risk another pregnancy.”
She laughed.
“If your first comment after not having sex for so long, is worrying about babies, you must not be doing something correct.”
“You found your release, as did I. I did it right,” he groused. “It’s just too soon.”