by Franca Storm
“Vazra’s hands were tied. The White Realm wasn’t ready for war back then. He had to promise you to Luca, or Nathanial would’ve gone to war with him. The betrothal wasn’t part of a peace treaty, like Luca told you. It was pure revenge. For what my father did in taking Nathanial’s wife. With him dead, and Oriana MIA, there was only one person left to punish. His son. Me. The sins of the father, and all that.”
Ryan watched her begin to pace up and down. She was clearly trying to absorb the shocking backstory he’d just told her. He understood her distress. It was a lot to take.
“How is it possible that I don’t know any of this? Up until a few nights ago, the only special thing about me was my ability to sense supernatural energy. Well, and being a former Seeker.”
“It seems like your father hid you among humans.”
“To keep me from Luca?”
“Looks like.”
“But Luca found me.”
“He must’ve stepped up his search for you. It’s getting close to your twenty-fifth birthday. If he doesn’t bond with you and take you as his bride by then, it will be too late. The treaty will be void. You will be free.”
“But war will break out?”
“Doubtful. Both the White Realm and the Dark Realm have another threat to worry about right now. A mutual enemy. Michael.”
“That crazed vamp whose supes attacked us?”
“That’d be him.”
She walked back to him and told him urgently, “He said something to me… he said that I am the bridge between the light and the dark.”
Ryan’s brow furrowed. He remembered Michael saying those words to her. “I don’t know what he meant by that. I’m sorry.”
Suddenly her arms gripped his, shaking him urgently. “We need to bond.”
“I know.”
“You know? You knew all this, how urgent it was for us to bond, and you didn’t tell me?”
“You weren’t ready.”
“I thought a wolf’s mindset was just to take?”
“I’m not just looking at you through the eyes of a wolf, Cora. I’m looking at you through the eyes of your mate. It’s the only thing that’s allowed me to hold back with you. The pull between us is intense.”
She smiled at him, seeming touched by what he’d told her. She kissed his forehead chastely and then pulled back to look at him. “I… love you,” she choked out.
His eyes blazed into hers. “As I do you, my love.”
“I want you to take me.”
He glanced up at the sky. Sunset was coming. “We need to hurry.”
She nodded and climbed back onto her bike. As he did the same, he told her, “Not the base. The sexual energy will drive my boys crazy. I know another place.”
CHAPTER 16
Ryan locked the door behind them and turned around to find Cora gazing around the log cabin in wide-eyed wonder.
“This is your place?” she asked.
“Yeah. I come here when I need time to think and when I just need some time alone. Being around over a hundred wolves can get a little much from time to time.”
“Yeah, I can imagine.”
He watched her scan the living room, taking everything in. She nodded her understanding as she stared at the living room around her. Oversized couches and armchairs, warm rugs, and a wood-burning fireplace. It all emanated a soothing warmth. Just the way he’d intended it when he’d furnished it.
“Come,” he said, taking her hand in his.
He led her upstairs and down the hallway to the last room on the right. He pushed open the door and gestured for her to go on in. A huge, king-sized sleigh bed rested in the corner. As she stared at it, he smelled her fear.
He wrapped her up in his arms. “Relax.”
She shuddered. “I…”
He breathed in her ear, “I’m not him. I know you want us to bond, but if you need me to stop, I will. At any point, okay?”
He felt her body relax at his words. “Okay,” she murmured, releasing a sigh of relief.
Damn, Luca had really done a number on her. He hoped he could put that out of her mind, at least for the most part, by showing her how things could really be when a man did it right, without the duress and intimidation he was sure Luca had used.
He reached out and ran his hands up and down the arms of her leather jacket, easing her into it, letting her get a feel for his touch. She tensed up initially, but, after a few moments, she calmed, loosening up.
He gently eased her jacket off her shoulders and tossed it aside. She gasped as he brushed her hair aside and kissed her neck, her shoulders.
“Yes,” she murmured. “More.”
He eased her around to face him and then he stepped back, his gaze never leaving hers, as he shed his own leather jacket. He pulled his t-shirt over his head, standing before her naked from the waist up.
He watched, spellbound, as Cora took his cue and gripped the hem of her tank top. She peeled it off her body and dropped it on the floor. He swallowed hard as she took off her bra and treated him to the sight of her perfect, perky tits.
The smoldering look in her eyes told him it was time to kick it up a notch. She was ready.
“They’re just begging to be tasted, darlin’.”
She yelped as he suddenly lunged at her and drove her onto the bed. Before she could catch her breath, his mouth was on her, suckling her left tit. Kissing, licking, nibbling her sensitive flesh, he drove her to a frenzy. He bit down lightly on her nipple, causing her to yelp in surprise. He tended to her right tit and by then she was panting frantically, her nails digging into his biceps wildly.
He pulled back and reached for the belt of his jeans. As soon as he did, Cora’s lips met his chest. He moaned in pleasure as her tongue lapped at his nipples, while her hands explored his abs. Her touch was so soft, so soothing. It possessed his body and his mind.
“Fucking hell, Cora,” he rasped.
He had no idea how he managed it, but he shed his jeans in spite of her sensual assault. Thankfully, he was going commando, so he didn’t have to worry about boxers as well. She gasped when she felt his rock-hard cock against her. She drew back and stared, open-mouthed, as she took in his impressive length.
Her eyes met his and he saw her worry.
“I’m gonna hold back the wolf this first time.”
“How?”
“Just… let me worry about that. Lay back, darlin’.”
She complied right away, resting her head on the abundance of pillows at the head of the bed.
It was then that he realized the significance of her submission. She was placing her trust in him, giving over complete control.
He crawled up the bed and then tugged at her leather pants, pulling them off. A pair of black, lace panties stared back at him. Mmm… lace. It was almost too bad that they needed to go as well. With one tug of wolf strength he ripped them from her body. He brushed the scraps of material off the bed.
“That’s better.”
He lowered himself to her sexy, bare pussy and blew on her moist lips. She trembled. He licked the length of her in a tantalizing slow motion that had her screaming. He traced circles around her clit with his tongue and her fingers clawed at the sheets. She was panting. She couldn’t keep still.
Her body was his.
“I’m gonna come. I’m gonna come, Ryan!”
Fucking right. He thrust a finger inside her. She screamed in ecstasy, coming hard, and crying out his name.
“Now you’re ready for me,” he said, pulling back and licking his lips at her.
He crawled up her body, straddling her hips. His mouth crashed down on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He could feel her need for him. Her desperation. She arched her back and moaned into his mouth.
He had her yelping in the next moment, when he brushed the head of his cock against her pussy. She was so fucking wet, dripping onto his cock. He sucked in a breath to get control, then eased inside her slowly. She tensed i
mmediately at the unfamiliar intrusion.
“Breathe deeply, my love. It’ll help your muscles to relax.” He dropped his hand down between them and strummed her clit.
He felt her grip loosen, her body relax again, and he slid deeper and deeper.
“Good girl. That’s right. Relax. Let me in.”
Ryan fought to push down the wolf that was fighting to break free. He stilled within her for a moment to allow her to get used to him. She was so damn tight. He couldn’t believe it. Then again, it was his first time with a virgin. He was fighting against every instinct he had to hold back with her, to be gentle. The idea of restraining himself in any way, especially during sex, was against his very nature. But she managed to transcend even that. She made him want to be gentle, to take care of her, to worry about her pleasure first and his second.
Abruptly, she grasped the sides of his face. He looked down at her to see that her eyes were on fire for him, the silver glow of them brighter than he had ever seen it.
“Do it,” she choked out. “Please. Fuck me, Ryan.”
She didn’t need to tell him twice. He eased almost all the way out of her and then he thrust back in hard, burying himself in her to the hilt. Her shrill cry rang in his ears. But, she just nodded at him to continue.
When he hesitated, she told him, “I need you. Do it. Fuck me.”
Her pleading words, hearing her beg him like that, had him snapping.
He pounded into her, relishing the sound of her moans from his every thrust.
The wolf was getting closer to breaching the surface. He was on the edge of losing control.
“It’s okay. You won’t hurt me,” she said, as if she’d just read his thoughts.
“No,” he grunted. “I can’t.”
She dug her nails into his back and raked them down his flesh. It called to the beast within, willed him to unleash it. “Cora,” he warned.
But, she didn’t listen, telling him instead, “I want the wolf, Ry.”
Fuck it.
He let go.
His thrusts became brutal, relentless.
He raked his nails down the length of her body, from her shoulders, down to her breasts, her stomach.
Rolling over, he took her with him, then hoisted her up, lifting her onto his cock.
“Ride me.”
He guided her hips to show her how, before letting go.
She started to ride him hard, drawing the energy of his wolf to her and letting go of her inhibitions. She became wild, feral, just like him. She was scratching, nipping and licking him everywhere, smothering his body. Her nails dug into his back, forcing a grunt from him.
He nuzzled her neck.
He licked the sensitive flesh between her neck and her shoulder.
And then he bit down.
Hard.
She threw her head back, the sensation sending her over the edge. She screamed in ecstasy as she came around him.
The feel of her pussy gripping his cock was almost too much to take. He pulled back and swiped his claws over his chest, drawing blood. He reached for the back of her head to guide her, but she beat him to it. Her tongue tasted him, suckling his blood gently. And that was when he let go, growling as he released himself into her.
She kissed away the blood that trickled down his chest and then looked up at him, smiling.
He pulled her to him, and they collapsed onto the bed.
“I would say let’s go again, but I think you might be too sore for that right now,” he said, looking up at her with a grin.
“You could go again right now?” she asked, surprised.
“One of the many perks of being wolf, darlin’.”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I can’t.”
“You never need to apologize for that. You can take hell of a lot. You were amazing.”
She smiled shyly back at him and wiped away the blood on her lips. His blood.
“You want something to drink to wash away the taste?” he asked.
“No. I’m okay. Are you?”
“I’m no vamp, but I’ve tasted supernatural blood before. Battles and all that, you know?”
“Right, when you go into battle you literally rip through flesh. Gory,” she said with a laugh.
“You tasted so sweet, Cora. And the power? You pack a hell of a punch.”
“So, do you. I can feel it in me.” She cast her eyes downward, all shy again, as she said, “That’s not all I can feel.”
“Yeah. You are well and truly marked now.” He held her tight and whispered into her hair, “We’re now officially bonded.”
“No one can break it,” she murmured peacefully against his chest.
“No one,” he confirmed, stroking her hair.
CHAPTER 17
It was dark outside by the time Cora and Ryan left the house.
Cora smiled as Ryan reached for her hand and clasped it tightly in his. Aww, so sweet.
“Shit, it’s late,” he said.
“Oops. Yeah.”
They’d both fallen asleep for a good long while. The bonding had taken a lot out of them. It was a major undertaking in many ways. Supernaturally, magically, physically, emotionally.
As they walked hand-in-hand to their bikes, Cora said, “You know, whenever your eyes glow gold like that I think you’re going to wolf out.”
He chuckled. “I won’t ever wolf out on you while we’re fucking, darlin’. Besides, you’ll know when I’m gonna shift because dark energy rushes through me.”
“Okay,” she said. “Thanks.”
He pulled her to him, telling her, “You know you fuck like a wolf, right?”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah. You get that same primal look in your eyes and you let yourself go. You get wild.”
“You’ve slept with a lot of wolves then?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “A few.”
“How come there aren’t any female wolves in your pack?”
“The temptation is too great. I don’t trust my boys to be careful enough around them.”
“Careful?”
“To use protection. Or, at least, to pull out. It’s too easy to get a wolf pregnant. The last thing I need are litters of wolf pups to take care of. When a wolf is ready to mate, it’s different. He’ll stick around if he knocks her up. But otherwise, they’ll just leave a string of bastard pups in their wake. Not an ideal situation.”
Oh no! “Ryan, we didn’t… we weren’t careful,” she said, pissed at herself for the mistake itself, and the fact that she’d only just realized it’d happened.
He waved his hand dismissively. “It’s impossible to conceive a child during a bonding, my love.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. We’re okay here.”
Relief flooded through her. “Oh, thank God.”
“Good to know where you’re at, though.”
“No. I… uh… I didn’t mean it like that.”
He pulled her to him and whispered in her ear, “You’re too cute. I love you.”
Before she could answer, a powerful rush of dark energy assaulted her senses, followed by several gusts of ice-cold wind. Uh oh. Never a good thing.
Ryan must’ve felt it too, because he spun around and jerked her against him protectively.
Cora’s blood ran cold. “Luca,” she gasped.
There he stood, a few feet back, by the lake. Four of his vampire guards flanked him.
“You made a grave error leaving the protection of the wolf compound, Ryan,” he called.
“Leave. Now,” Ryan ordered.
“I will.” He stepped forward and snarled. “Once you hand over my bride.”
Urgh. She’d had enough of the betrothal bullshit. “I’m not your bride!” she yelled.
Luca flashed his fangs in fury and began to stalk towards them, his muscle following at his back. But, then he came to an abrupt halt.
He looked her over, studiously for several moments. Confusion blanketed his face.
Realization flashed in his eyes and he bellowed at Ryan, “You took her! She is no longer pure!”
Cora grimaced at his words. The way he talked about her, it was like she was a possession. It made her sick. It had her biting, “By wolf law, I am his wife.” She needed to ram it home to him. Maybe then he’d finally get it through his screwed-up mind and leave well enough alone. “His. He is my mate. I know everything that there is to know. This is over now, Luca.”
The sound of his malicious laugh told her that it’d just been wishful thinking on her part. “Isn’t she cute?” he said, eyeing Ryan. “So naïve, so young, compared to us.”
“Stand the fuck down,” Ryan shot back, seething.
“You are weak with love for her, brother.”
“And you are a fucking madman.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re not seeing things clearly. You need to see the big picture. It is in all our best interests for you to let me take her. Even hers. Her father will be tortured and killed in the most agonizing way possible. Nathanial is very creative in that respect. Vazra’s kingdom and their people will be ripped to shreds. Will you allow that to happen, due to your own selfishness?”
“Things aren’t as they were, Luca. The White Realm is no longer weak.”
Luca turned his attention to Cora. “If you deny me again, princess, I will make you watch your wolf die at my father’s hands. By openly defying the treaty like this, Ryan is effectively declaring war on the Dark Realm. Do you understand that?”
Cora took his words in and eyed Ryan worriedly.
He’s just trying to scare you.
She blinked hard, realizing that she’d just read his thoughts. It must be the bond.
Ryan responded in her head. It is.
Cora eyed Luca and saw the frustration on his face. She realized why. He couldn’t read her anymore. She watched his eyes blacken and his features distort as the demon within rose to the surface.