by Leia King
“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.”
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 immediately 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.”
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.
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.
He blew forward with a burst of vampire speed that had Ryan throwing his arm out in front of her protectively. Luca ignored it, focused solely on her. She watched him sniff her deeply, scenting her.
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.
But before he could make a move, another gust of ice-cold wind swept through the front yard. They all started in surprise when Michael appeared, flanked by eight vampires.
“Leave,” Luca snarled.
“Kill him, Luca!” Ryan called.
Luca hesitated.
Michael laughed. “That won’t be happening. There’s too much at stake for him to do something so incredibly stupid. Isn’t that right, Luca?”
“What’s he talking about?” Ryan demanded.
“Nothing,” Luca said. His eyes narrowed at Michael.
“Right. Our little secret. Sorry,” Michael said, holding up his hands. “It won’t remain so, if you stand in my way here, Luca.”
“Why do you want her?”
“The princess is the bridge between the light and the dark.”
Luca rolled his eyes. “What?”
Michael laughed. “You are fools. All of you. You focus so much on your history that you’ve missed the signs of what the future holds. You have no idea of her true potential, her true power.”
“I’ve seen her power for myself. She possesses a fraction of White Realm magic. That is all, Michael,” Luca said.
“She is still learning. What you saw is nothing! She is the bridge, you fool. She is destined to unite the White and Dark Realms. Is that what you want? Do you think your father would want that, to share his power with Vazra? With the damned faeries? White witches? Warlocks? Dragons?”
Cora saw Luca’s stunned reaction to Michael’s revelations. Oh no.
“You see? For once, our agendas mesh. This is bigger than the betrothal, Luca.”
“I need to talk to my father first. I will take her with me and bond with her anyway. If my father confirms what you’re saying is true, then I will give her to you.”
“I’m going to need a guarantee on that.”
Luca brought his wrist to his fangs and bit down hard and angrily. Michael did the same. They both approached one another cautiously. They pressed their bloodied wrists together. A flash of red light cut through the night briefly and then they both pulled away.
“I do love a good blood vow. It ensures compliance,” Michael said. He eyed Cora and licked his lips as he said, “Soon, princess.”
And then he was gone in a flash of vampire speed.
“Please tell me that was just a ruse, Luca!” Ryan thundered.
“It was a blood vow, what do you think?”
“You aren’t giving her to that monster! Do you have any idea what he’ll do to her?”
“Yes.”
Cora felt a slice of fear cut through Ryan. His concentration remained focused on Luca, no doubt readying himself for a sneak attack. But, he spoke inside her head, barking orders.
Go back inside the house. Now. They can’t get to you there. They haven’t been invited.
Cora shook her head vehemently against his telepathic commands. She wasn’t one of his wolves.
I’m not leaving you.
Yes, you are. I’ve got this. I need you to call the pack. He discreetly slipped his cell phone into her hand. Go, my love. His gentle endearment cut through her resistance. He needed her to be safe. He was scared for her. She couldn’t argue with that.
She took the phone and sprinted for the house.
After making a quick call to Josh, Cora hurried to the window in the front door.
She watched as Ryan shifted, becoming the huge white wolf. Whoa.
He swept his left paw at Luca, connecting with the side of his face, swiping him away like he was nothing.
But then the other four vampires attacked. All at once.
And it was brutal as all hell.
Kicking, punching, shredding, biting.
They were a whir
lwind of punishment.
God. She couldn’t stand back and watch the man she loved suffer.
Not happening.
She hauled open the door and ran down the steps, drawing a stake from each of her hip holsters as she went.
She watched Ryan rise up from beneath them with a roar of fury, sending the four of them flying across the yard every which way.
“Holy shit.” She’d never seen any wolf accomplish such a feat.
They recovered quickly, though, coming at him again.
He batted away two of them with his mammoth paws and lunged at another.
As he mauled the life out of that one, the fourth sank his fangs into his shoulder. Ryan yelped and tried to shake him off, but the vamp held on tightly, biting deeper and ripping his flesh apart.
Cora threw a stake. It propelled through the air with lightning speed. She watched as it penetrated the vampire’s heart. Dust, bitch. The white wolf turned, and she was sure she saw surprise flicker in his animal eyes when he saw her standing there.
Keeping her head on the mission, she ran for the other two vampires. She heard the ripping of flesh behind her and a sharp crack. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed that Ryan had ripped the head off the vampire he’d been mauling. He bounded over to her. He swept his claws at one of the two assailants. As she engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the other, a chill shot through her, as something awful occurred to her.
They hadn’t accounted for Luca.
Where was he?
A horrendous, primal cry pierced through the night.
She thrust her stake into the heart of the vampire in front of her and spun around in terror, having recognized the cry immediately.
Ryan!
When she turned around, it was worse than she could’ve possibly imagined.
Luca stood over Ryan, who lay immobile on his side. A huge tree branch protruded from his back.
“Ryan!”
As she ran towards him, he shifted back. And that was when she saw that Luca had driven the four-foot branch all the way through his body, from his stomach and right out through the other side.