Too tired to argue, Holden had gone to bed. Not to sleep, of course. Insomnia had made him Her bitch these days. Instead he spent over an hour staring at the ceiling, failing to come up with ideas.
The problem was, when he had tried to figure out where Aaron and his pack had gone, Holden eventually found them on Olivia Wolfe’s compound. With a full pack Holden had once taken on Olivia’s, but he was down two incredible, resourceful fighters. He and Lacey could fight—as could Laelia, when she was able to focus. But three against thirteen, minus a baby, plus Aaron’s pack, was laughable.
Though admittedly, a part of his reluctance was that he was now obligated to kill Rachael.
Holden constantly wavered on this decision. It was strictly practical; Rachael was too great a weakness to him, and he’d been tricked by her too many times. That she’d stabbed Sage in the heart before running off with Aaron incited rage every time he thought of it.
And yet, damn it all, he was still in love with her. Holden had fallen for her over eight years ago, spent two years helping her through a devastating family death, and then lost her to his own stupidity. But not once had he given up hope that she could be saved.
Until now.
And he still couldn’t shake the sweet ache in his chest when he thought of her.
Growling, Holden climbed out of bed and began to pace. His internal conflict always raised his blood pressure. He was tired of it yet couldn’t shake his emotions no matter how hard he tried.
Well then, try harder, he scolded himself. Rachael has to die either way.
He was still pacing and trying to talk himself into it when a soft knock intruded on his thoughts. Holden paused in the middle of the floor and eyed his door warily.
“Come in, Laelia,” he said heavily.
The door opened to reveal a slim redhead barely nineteen years old. Her hair was bright as a red fox and as bushy as one’s tail. Freckles adorned every inch of her body, drawing particular attention to her face.
Tonight what interested him were her eyes. They were blue as the open Nevada sky, set off by gold speckles that never seemed to quit shifting. Often distant or dreamy, right then they were unusually focused.
Quietly, Holden said, “I’m still not sleeping with you, Laelia.”
She tilted her head, her expression atypically serious. “That’s not why I’m here.”
Even her voice was grounded. She hadn’t sounded so lucid since the night Holden found her. His interest piqued, Holden said, “What do you need?”
Laelia smiled faintly as though pleased with herself. “You remember how I used to work at The Lusty Lady?” She referred to a gauzy strip club from Las Vegas, where they had met. Holden nodded. “Well, I have stripper friends. Not just in Vegas. Some in Reno, too. And Paradise.”
Paradise—where Olivia’s compound was. Holden frowned. “And?”
“And,” she continued charmingly, “One of my girlfriends just called. She had something re-e-eally interesting to tell me.”
“What, Laelia?” snapped Holden.
Amazingly, her smile didn’t falter. “A house burned down a mile outside the city. Inside a compound. Police say it was arson. They found a ton of personal belongings but no one there.”
Which meant Aaron was on the move—as well as Olivia. Holden hesitated, but then said, “Any ideas?”
Eager he’d asked, Laelia dared to step closer. “Some. I did a little digging. Most of it’s just rumors. A huge bunch of wolves invaded Mount Montgomery. And a bunch of cars were stolen in one day in... I think it was Beatty? Maybe Mercury. They found two in Carson City. A couple more in Reno.”
Holden did his best to suppress his excitement. That the packs were on the go was good news; it meant they might get split up.
He needed more information before he could act, though.
“Sounds like they’re heading west,” he muttered, rubbing his stubbly chin. “Might be good if we followed them, except....”
Laelia bounced impatiently. “There’s more.”
Holden glanced her way, and then nodded for her to continue.
“They caught a kid wandering around with a baby. No parents. The kids got taken in by the police. Right around then, the sudden wolf invasions stopped.”
That sounded like Olivia’s pack, thought Holden. Aaron’s didn’t have a baby.
Laelia’s eyes glittered. “But there’s a guy new to Reno, and he’s spending an awful lot of money at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. It’s super nice. I’ve never stayed, but I’ve entertained clients there a couple times, before I started my job.”
Holden nodded. He was well aware of her sordid past.
Laelia continued, “They say this guy’s a tourist, but my girlfriend tried to have drinks with him at the bar last night. He pushed her off and left with some other woman.” She leaned in excitedly. “She said he was really hot. Black hair, and the blackest eyes she’s ever seen. And he went upstairs with a blonde woman. My girlfriend was really upset, because she said that girl was way too ordinary for a guy that stunning. Sound familiar?”
Indeed, it did. Holden couldn’t believe his good fortune.
No, he realized. It wasn’t just good fortune. Laelia had apparently done a lot of leg work while he was busy moping. She’d made herself useful—and here he was, trying to reconcile his feelings over women who gave him nothing but grief.
Holden could hardly contain himself. He grabbed Laelia and wrapped his arms around her in a bone-crushing hug.
“You’re amazing,” he whispered. “This changes everything. We can make a move now—no. We need to.”
Laelia grinned when he pulled away. “There’s no rush,” she said. “My girlfriend found out they’ll be there for a couple more days.”
It wasn’t much time, but it wouldn’t even take a five hours to drive there. Holden allowed a vicious smile to slash his face.
“You did fantastic, Laelia,” he praised her. “Thank you.”
Her eyes lowered becomingly. “I’d do anything for you.” Then her hands began to snake toward his pants.
Holden grabbed her by the wrists, some of his elation waning. “No, Laelia,” he said firmly. “We’ve been over this.”
Usually her response was to whine; this time she just looked at him pityingly. “Poor Holden,” she whispered. “How long as it been for you?”
His eyes closed briefly. “Enough.”
“At least two months, now?” Laelia shook her head, her hair fluttering about like gentle fire. “Too long. That’s so unfair to you. I don’t mean to call Lacey cruel, and I guess now it’s none of my business, but when I see you in so much pain and you’re not allowed to accept any affection... it’s sad.” Her lower lip trembled enticingly. “You’ve lost so much, and she won’t even give you a little bit of comfort.”
Holden didn’t know what to say. He’d thought similar things, but fought them on a daily basis. Lacey was Primary. She had the right to revoke their open policy, so when she did, Holden listened.
And yet... Laelia was right. Lacey remained icy with him several weeks after their failed battle. The most she would do was cuddle or endure only the most chaste of kisses.
Laelia reached for him again, and this time Holden didn’t stop her. She pressed one slender hand between his legs and began to rub. His breath caught.
“Please,” she whispered, leaning in close and applying pressure with her palm. “I’ll be quiet.”
He couldn’t. Not after promising Lacey.
Of course, he liked Laelia as well. Holden never would have invited her into the pack if he hadn’t felt something for her. But that didn’t negate Lacey’s request.
Yet Holden dropped his voice to a soft heat. “You have to be. Or never again.”
Laelia nodded eagerly. Then she moved her hand to the elastic hem of his pants and slipped in. Her fingers were slightly cool—unusual for a lycan. A thrill of pleasure warmed Holden’s core as she wrapped her hand around his hardening cock and began to str
oke.
It had been so long that he couldn’t be patient. Holden grabbed the back of her head, pulling her up for an open-mouthed kiss. Her tongue danced along his with slick ease, and she gripped him harder.
Holden fought back a groan and guided her down to the floor with him. If they used the bed it would creak, and whether Lacey was asleep or not, the sound would reach her sensitive lycan ears. The floor barely made noise at all for how old it was.
Laelia’s eyelids fluttered as they tangled together. Her hips writhed against him with abandon and, true to her word, she managed to keep silent.
He was both curious and terrified to find out how long she could keep it up.
With his free hand Holden pulled her thin shirt up around her neck and groped her breasts. They were barely a handful, but firm and warm beneath his touch. She arched into him, freeing her mouth from his with the barest of sighs. All he could think was, So she can keep quiet.
Kneeling on the floor, Holden released her hair to slither his hand up her skirt. She wasn’t wearing any panties, the filthy girl, and he was easily able to push his middle fingers into her. Laelia shuddered and humped against his hand, still never relieving her tortuous grip on his aching cock.
Their breath mingled together as they pleasured each other. Holden felt a delicious rush of the forbidden when he watched her lithe, slender body wiggle against him. This was definitely breaking a rule.
But right now, fuck Lacey’s rules. He was not to be held emotionally hostage.
Soon Laelia came. Holden relished the sensation of her wet trembling around his fingers, as well as the sight of her biting down on her hand to keep quiet while she breathed harshly through her teeth.
Once she began to relax, Holden grabbed his pants and removed them. Within moments he had Laelia on her knees, her skirt flipped up and her shirt dangling from her neck. Breathless with anticipation, Holden positioned himself behind her and slid inside.
It was a glorious sensation; one he had missed even more than he’d realized. She trembled head to toe, inside and out, and her warming arousal oozed from her and to the carpet.
Holden snagged her shirt and twisted it in his fist, pulling until she began to choke. Laelia enthusiastically shoved herself back into him until he was buried deep. He steadied himself with a hand on her back and began to fuck her vigorously.
At this point, Holden was purely enjoying himself. Even if Lacey burst in now, he didn’t think he could stop. Laelia was eager to partake, and he felt heatedly fulfilled in a way he hadn’t in over two months.
Plus, her silence was in stark contrast to her usual boisterous cries, making it an incredibly hot experience.
Holden had to release her shirt as he came, lest he either tear it or strangle her until she passed out. Laelia sucked in deep, panting breath as her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek.
Though he emptied himself into her, she didn’t appear satisfied yet. Laelia turned and took his cock into her mouth, bliss highlighting her features as she licked their mingled pleasure from him. And despite Holden’s shuddering oversensitivity, she didn’t stop—and he couldn’t bring himself to make her.
Once he was hard again, Laelia kissed his tip and stared lustfully up at him. Her breasts heaved as she whispered, “Again, please, Daddy.”
This time Holden shoved her to the floor on her back. When he took her once more, Laelia wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed her mouth to his. Small, barely audible squeaks emitted from her as Holden drove into her repeatedly. Clear, slippery fluid drenched him, dribbled down her ass, and made it hard to grab hold of her properly. Laelia tugged his hair, scratched his back until his flesh stung, bit his lip—even silent she was every bit as wild as he remembered her.
Holden couldn’t believe he’d given this up for so long.
His second orgasm was a long time coming, but Laelia ensured she had twice that many before they were done. In the end she laid spread-eagled on his carpet, her face flushed and eyes bright.
Once Holden caught his breath, he growled, “Go wash up. And don’t do this again.”
Laelia just smiled before sliding out from beneath him. She redressed and, without bothering to tame her hair, slid out of his room and into her own.
Holden sighed and went to the bathroom. He didn’t want to take a shower and alert Lacey, so he settled for wetting his junk in the sink and rinsing off that way. Afterward he went to bed again and listened to nothing. Pure silence.
And instead of alone he felt strangely empowered.
Holden mused on his rejuvenated strength. It clearly had something to with fucking Laelia. He should have felt awful about betraying Lacey, and yet....
Yet he was still angry. Resentful. Lacey had demanded he give up everything after they’d already lost so much. Then, rather than pairing up with him to make their meager pack stronger, she’d gone frigid. She’d shut him out when he should have been let in more than ever before.
Clearly he’d have to rethink a few things about the structure of their pack.
Chapter Three
Rachael stirred upon waking before noticing she was hot. Sleeping next to Aaron was always blessedly warm, but this was different; almost akin to the electrifying intensity his presence used to give her as a teenager.
She blinked blearily to find her boyfriend leaning over her, his dark hair sleep-messed and falling to his eyelashes. A coy smile played upon his lips and he murmured huskily, “Good morning.”
She murmured the greeting back. Then, with a glance toward the hotel window, she realized the sun wasn’t even up yet. She groaned softly and said, “It’s so early.”
“I am aware,” said Aaron dryly. One of his hands ran down her naked side, sending slight shivers through her. “But you woke up on your own.”
“M’sorry,” she mumbled, closing her eyes again. But then his mouth touched hers and she returned the gesture, even wrapping her arms around his neck with a sigh.
Aaron stopped touching her to cradle her jaw, turning the sweet kiss into something heavier. Rachael stifled a small moan; the kids were sleeping in an adjoining room. The doors might be shut, but they were not locked. If the pack was ambushed, they all needed access to each other.
He pulled back slightly, propped up on his elbow as he looked down at her. Aaron’s dark eyes smoldered as he said, “It may be early, but we shall need to prepare our leave soon.”
Rachael then remembered they were still on the run. Not that she had actually forgotten, but pretending they were on a nice vacation had made the previous night a lot more relaxing.
The pack had stopped in Reno and checked out a hotel for three days, but Aaron only intended to stay one. The reservation should throw off anybody attempting to find them, he explained, but not for long.
Still, it was better than nothing.
She heaved a sigh and started to sit up—until Aaron pushed her back down. His eyes went from a smolder to an outright blaze as his tone dropped. “Soon, Rachael. Not yet.”
The implication sent tingles of anticipation through her body. Rachael reached out to touch him, but Aaron startled her by grabbing her wrists and pinning them to either side of her head. Before she could ask what he was doing, he kissed her again, this time using his tongue to his full advantage. Rachael moaned into his mouth and arched her back. She wanted to touch him—didn’t he just say they had the time?
A small part of her recognized that her constant desire for him wasn’t completely normal. She knew all about the so-called honeymoon period of a new relationship, and that she and Aaron were still well within it. He had just as much trouble keeping his hands off her as she did him. But Rachael craved his touch almost constantly—not just for sex, but for confirmation. Affirmation. She needed to know he was still there, that he hadn’t gone, that she wasn’t vulnerable to attack every other second.
So far he humored her, but Rachael was constantly afraid for the day he grew bored. Eva’s words came back to her with dark foreboding.
When Aaron broke free it was to whisper into her ear, “We have time for only one of us, Rachael. Please keep quiet.”
Oh, God. She bit her lip and nodded.
Aaron left tickling kisses down her body, pushing the blankets down without removing them entirely. Once he reached her belly, his mouth slowed a fraction and he began to nip tiny spots of flesh. Rachael did her best to breathe and sigh softly.
He placed both hands on either side of her hips before kissing her inner though. Then, to her delight, he pressed his face into her and immediately began licking her clit. Rachael gasped and covered her mouth with her arm, clenching her eyes shut as she threw her head back into the pillow. Everything was so sensitive.
Or she thought it was, until Aaron tightened his grip on her and began to suckle on the tiny little nub. It took all Rachael had not to cry out, not just in pleasure but surprise as well. When she glanced down her boyfriend stared back up at her. His eyes were darkly electric and sent chills through her—and those only seemed to aid her mounting pleasure. Rachael focused all of her effort into breathing as quietly as possible. But she was almost certain she was going to explode.
Aaron was being unusually aggressive. Since their first time together, he’d been particular about taking things at her pace. Rachael appreciated the thought. It allowed her a sense of power she might not otherwise have kept.
But for some reason, this morning was different.
When he used his teeth to ever-so-slightly scrape against her clit, Rachael couldn’t suppress a yelp. Her hands flew down to pull him away. But she ended up applying pressure, silently begging him to continue.
Aaron complied until she came, and unlike previous orgasms shared with him, this one literally shook her body from the intensity. Rachael bit down on a helpless whimper.
Though she still trembled, Aaron dove upward to kiss her. His mouth was harsh and demanding. She parted her lips she tasted herself on him. Rachael struggled to breathe, but she buried her hands into his hair and wouldn’t let him go.
When he slipped his fingers inside she knew she was done for. Still kissing her, Aaron used her continuing arousal to bring her another orgasm. Rachael couldn’t keep quiet. Her desperate moans faded to silence in his mouth.
Pact of the Pack Page 3