by Leia King
He lost it.
With a snarl borne from both his craving for her and anger that she’d managed to seduce his good intentions away, he shoved her up against the wall. She gasped at the force he’d used, her eyes on fire with anticipation. She liked that roughness. Or, maybe she was just used to it, because of Ryan. He knew the unfamiliar made her nervous, so she gravitated to what she was used to. Being fucked hard and rough against the brick wall out in the open for anyone to see was probably one such familiar experience for her.
Not with him, though. He wouldn’t allow that. It wasn’t what he wanted and it definitely wasn’t what she needed after everything she’d been through.
“Not here,” he told her softly.
Sweeping her off her feet, he teleported them away to his bedroom in his abandoned mansion.
As soon as their surroundings rematerialized, he strode to the bed and laid her down gently on the silk sheets.
As he frantically stripped off his clothes, he gazed at her sprawled out on his sheets. Her eyes were wide, with what looked like excitement, mixed with a bit of nervousness. He wasn’t surprised. He knew she had only been with one man.
There was no denying that she wanted it, though. Her skin was flush with need, her pulse jackhammering. Her could scent her arousal from where he stood. He could barely summon enough rational thought to strip off his final item of clothing. Holy hell. The look on her face when he tossed his boxers aside, baring his hard cock, almost did him in.
He watched with rapt fascination as she shrugged off her leather jacket, then pulled her tank of her head.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to touch her.
She shrieked in surprise when he leapt onto the bed, straddling her with a burst of vampire speed. He had her sexy, lace bra off within seconds and he drank in the appetizing sight of her delectable breasts.
He licked her left nipple and she arched her back, offering him more.
And, by all that was dark and sacred, he took it.
He worshipped her breasts, licking, nipping, kneading her soft flesh. He took his time with her, relishing having her beneath him at long last. The demon within urged him to drop his fangs and sink them into her, but he resisted with everything he had. He only wanted her to experience pleasure with him, not the slightest pain.
He pulled back and reached for the waistband of her pants. Stilling briefly, he eyed her, just to make certain. As he looked into her glazed eyes, it was beyond clear that there was no going back for her. She wanted it. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Finally.
He stripped her of her pants and a sexy pair of panties, then crawled down the bed and pushed her legs apart, opening her wide for him.
He licked his lips at the sight of her beckoning pink pussy. It glistened with the evidence of her arousal, tempting him, possessing him. His cock throbbed with anticipation as he imagined just how tight she would be, how her velvety walls would grip him when he took her.
She cried out in pleasure as he flicked her clit with his tongue. He traced small circles around it, spreading her wetness everywhere. He drove her crazy, only providing the slightest pressure, teasing her.
“Luca!” she panted. “Please.”
He smiled to himself and pulled back, wanting the first time she came to be when he was inside her. He wanted to feel her come apart around him.
Straddling her, drew her gaze to his and watched the intensity flash in her eyes as he slowly inched his cock inside her.
When he was buried deep, he took her in an all-consuming kiss as he pulled almost all the way out and then thrust back into her hard. She moaned loudly into his mouth. His touch was wild, his hands sweeping over every inch of her body as he thrust into her over and over again, losing himself to the feel of her.
“Oh my God! Yes, Luca!”
He felt her starting to meet his thrusts, driving him deeper and harder. She screamed as he hit that sensitive spot deep inside her. He watched her throw her head back and her body convulsed around him as her climax hit her. Her grip was exquisite and too much to handle. He grunted as he came along with her, releasing himself inside her.
As she writhed on the bed, lost in aftershocks, he collapsed beside her, breathing her in.
“The wait to take you like that was worth every moment.”
She smiled and closed her eyes with a deep sigh.
They stayed there in the afterglow, his arms wrapped tightly around her, a peaceful silence enveloping them.
She startled him, when, after several moments, she shot up hastily and scrambled from the bed. He watched her frantically pull on her clothes, her pulse wild, her breathing heavy and stilted. She was panicking.
“Relax, princess.”
She shot him a look. “Relax? We need to get to the White Realm gates immediately!” She tugged at her hair, muttering, “My God, what were we thinking? People are counting on us and we’re wasting time like this? Shit!”
He sat up, his eyes narrowing at her pointed words. “Wasting time?”
“You know what I mean,” she said, irritated.
He was very aware that she didn’t look at him, skillfully avoiding his gaze as she finished dressing and zipped up her jacket. His heart sank. She wasn’t panicking about the mission. No, it was obvious with the physical distance she’d just put between them, and her accompanying emotional distance. Now that the pleasure had subsided, she regretted it. Regretted him.
He dressed, then went to her, taking her hand. She jolted at his touch, and pain lanced through him. “Cora, it will be okay,” he tried, unwilling to accept so quickly that she was lost to him, closed off, once more.
“Okay?” she cried, jerking her hand free from his hold. “I’m married, Luca! I shouldn’t have… we shouldn’t have….” She cringed. “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
He could feel her guilt crashing over her like a devastating tidal wave.
And, it incensed him.
They hadn’t just fucked meaninglessly. He’d made love to her. It had finally happened and he wouldn’t let her just dismiss it as some dirty act now. “You wanted me, Cora.”
“I made a mistake.”
A mistake? He clenched his fists.
“He’ll never forgive this. He’ll never be able to get past this,” she murmured anxiously to herself.
That was it! “He is the one who should be begging for forgiveness. He’s been fraternizing with a wolf from the Dark Realm for ages!”
“What? What did you say?”
Oh, no. “I…”
“Luca!” she demanded. “You’re not just saying this to hurt me? He really did that?”
“Hurt you?” He cupped her face gently. “You think me capable of that? After what we just shared?” Judging from the look in her eyes, she did. He released her with a heavy sigh. “It’s true.”
She flinched at his words, tears glistening in her eyes.
Turning away, he heard her sniffle. His gut twisted. She was crying.
“I am sorry. I didn’t want you to know. I certainly didn’t intend to tell you like this. I just couldn’t bear you drowning in guilt, when he is the true betrayer. You are the wronged.”
She didn’t respond. In fact, she didn’t say a word for several moments.
And then, finally, she spun around, the sudden movement startling him.
The look in her eyes unnerved him. Ice.
“We have a job to do.”
Before he could get a word out, she grasped his hand and teleported them.
23
Ryan sprinted down the corridor.
The alarm blared through the compound.
As he neared the front doors, a thunderous explosion blew him back.
He grunted as he landed painfully on his back, smacking his head on the concrete floor.
“Fuck.”
Before he could recover, an army of vampires, all battle-ready with their twisted, demonic features reflecting harshly off the fluorescent lights, barre
led through the doors. They spotted him immediately, but they turned away, heading in the direction of the corridor instead.
I don’t fucking think so!
He scrambled to his feet.
He leapt through the air and landed ahead of them, blocking their way. He let out a ferocious roar. A battle cry.
And then they all rushed him.
He gripped the arms of the nearest two and flung them into the army behind them, forcing them back. But, being vampires, they recovered quickly. He was a whirlwind of fists, elbows, claws, and kicks as he beat them back.
A blade scraped across his right arm and he hissed as he felt the burn. Silver. Enraged, he grasped the culprit by the throat and wrenched his head from his body with one powerful jerk. He burst into a fog of dust and it obscured his vision. It gave his enemies the advantage for a moment, and six of them jumped on him, driving him to the floor.
As he battled against their brutal assault of talons and fangs ripping through his flesh, he caught sight of Josh running towards him. He grabbed the head of a vampire who had his fangs embedded in Ryan’s wrist and ripped the bloodsucker from his Alpha’s flesh in one tug of strength. He kicked another away.
Ryan wrestled the other four off his back.
“Here!” Josh called, tossing him a stake.
Ryan nodded gratefully and the two of them continued to battle the relentless army, an army that seemed endless, as more and more of them continued to barrel through the entrance doors.
“Fuck. Shaye put up a protection barrier. How is this happening?” Ryan demanded.
“Oriana must’ve shattered it,” Josh replied as he thrust his fist into another opponent’s face.
Ryan let out a deafening wolf howl, commanding all wolves in the compound to take position and join the fight.
Moments later, a dozen of them hurried down the corridor. They cut through the vampire army.
Ryan glanced through the entrance doors and saw more wolves filling the courtyard and engaging the rest of the vampire army filing through the open gates.
He scanned the area.
Where was Oriana? She was their leader, so why wasn’t she with them now, commanding the attack?
An awful realization hit him. “Fucking hell,” he breathed.
“What, Ry?”
“She’s not here for the wolves. Or, me. She’s here for Orion.”
He took off, tearing down the corridor and destroying every vampire that stood in his path.
His heart thundered in his chest, fear clawing at him. White-hot adrenaline drove him forward and he summoned another burst of speed. If he shifted, he’d be able to cover the distance much quicker. But he couldn’t in such a tight space.
As he neared Shaye’s room, where he’d left Orion, he heard his son’s frightened cries. A roar ripped from his throat as he rammed the door with his full body weight.
It tore from its hinges and he barreled inside.
He stopped short, shocked by what he found within.
Shaye was sprawled out unconscious in a heap on the floor. Oriana stood over her, struggling with a wild, terrified Orion in her arms.
“Put him down! Now!” Ryan bellowed at the top of his lungs.
“Orion,” she said, smiling maliciously. “That’s his name. He told me himself with his thoughts.”
Fuck. No. He shifted his weight, eyeing his boy, fighting to hold his shit together at the sight of him so helpless and scared. “Last chance. Put. My. Son. Down. Bitch.”
“You are too late.”
“The hell I am!” Roaring ferociously, he leapt at her.
An explosion of silver light ripped through the room and she teleported just before he could take hold of her. He smacked headfirst into the dry wall and crumpled to a heap on the floor beside Shaye.
Scrambling to his feet quickly, he frantically clawed at the dissipating cloud of silver. “No! No! My son!” he screamed. “My son!”
24
“Almost there,” Cora reported.
Straining, she pulled harder on her power, watching as the barrier over the White Realm shuddered and flickered violently against the might of her power.
Grunting, she clenched her fists and watched it finally shatter, hundreds of magical fragments raining down everywhere.
With a satisfied sigh, she pulled back her magic. “Done.” She turned to Luca. “Go to Nathanial. Let him know it’s down.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “I will escort you back to the wolf compound first.”
She scoffed. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”
He grabbed her right arm and pulled her to him. “I won’t let you do this, Cora.”
“Do what?”
“Push me away.”
She yanked her arm back. “I can’t do this right now.”
“You mean ever,” he challenged.
She looked away. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to hurt you, but you’re taking it to mean more than it did.”
“Look me in the eye then and actually tell me it didn’t mean anything to you,” he challenged.
Reluctantly, she met his gaze, ready to confirm just that. But, the moment he looked into his eyes, she was forced literally to face the complicated truth. She couldn’t utter the words. Instead, she hastily turned away, telling him, “We need to get back.”
But, he wasn’t done, and he blocked her path.
“Stop it, Luca!”
He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly over her neck, making her tremble despite herself. “You want me,” he said, huskily.
“Please don’t do this.”
He pulled back, pain in his eyes, as he confessed, “I. Love. You.”
A buzzing in her jacket pocket had both of them jolting.
She stepped back, grateful for the interruption, and pulled her phone from her jacket, ignoring his irritated grunts. Eyeing the call display, she cursed, telling him, “It’s Ryan.”
“Impeccable timing,” he muttered.
Cora took a steadying breath, then answered the call with a bite to her tone. “Ryan. What the hell is it?”
“Not him. Josh.”
“Oh,” she said, surprised. “Sorry. I… why do you have his phone?”
“He’s not in any fit state to make this call.”
Adrenaline shot down her spine. “What? Why? What’s happened?”
“We’re under attack. Oriana’s vampires have breached the compound.”
“Oh my God!”
“We need you here. Now, sweetheart.”
“I’m on my way.”
She hung up and she was about to reiterate the details to Luca, when he held up a hand. “I heard. Vampire, remember?” He clasped her hand. “Let’s go.”
She summoned her magic, teleporting them instantly.
Cora gasped at the chaos, destruction, and all-around devastating battle before them.
There were too many wolves and vampires locked in vicious, brutal, fights to count.
Scanning the field of battle, she was surprised that she couldn’t see Ryan anywhere. He was their leader. He should be in the thick of it. What was going on?
She called her power to her and fired a path through the crowd, propelling them all across the courtyard and clearing the way ahead. She strode towards the entrance doors with Luca following close behind.
The second she set foot inside the compound, a rush of black magic hit her. It was everywhere. Suffocating. “Luca, do you feel that?”
“Yes. Oriana’s magic.”
“It’s suffocating. Toxic.”
She watched him sweep his free hand around the room. A red glow shone for a few seconds before dissipating quickly. “Better?” he asked.
“You blocked it?”
“It was the remnant of her presence here. I just hurried along its dispersal. It would have happened naturally eventually.”
“She’s no longer here then?”
“No.”
A ferocious roar startled them both, stopping them in
their tracks.
She knew it well. Ryan’s roar.
They exchanged a nervous look, then followed the brutal sound through the corridors. It led them all the way to the mess hall.
Bracing herself, Cora took a breath, then pushed on through, Luca right behind her.
She was majorly shocked by what they found inside.
Ryan stood over one of the long tables, roaring ferociously as he plunged his claws into a severely beaten vampire sprawled out on his back. Over and over, he did it. He was merciless. Sadistic, even.
Shaye and Josh were standing back, looking on worriedly. Josh had his arms wrapped tightly around Shaye, who looked the worst for wear and completely drained.
“Where is he?” Ryan bellowed, his voice reverberating through the entire room. “Where the fuck did she take him? Answer me, motherfucker! Now!”
“What’s happened?” Cora demanded, rushing in. “Who’s been taken?”
Ryan’s gaze snapped to hers. His expression softened for a brief moment. But that all went to hell in the next second when he frowned, then began scenting the air. His eyes blackened with fury, making her tense. He looked between her and Luca. Oh God. He knew! He’d scented what’d happened between her and Luca.
Thankfully, Josh’s voice cut through the intense moment.
“Ry, I don’t think that vamp knows shit.”
“Then he’ll die.” His gaze snapped to Luca’s as he said, more than a little pointedly, “Just like every single one of them that crosses me and tries to take what’s mine!”
Cora swallowed hard. She braced herself for Luca’s reaction to the heavy-handed threat. Not to mention the fact that Ryan was openly torturing one of his own right in front of him.
Her entire body tensed as Luca walked over to him. To her surprise, there was no fierce rebuttal, no threat in return. He simply told him in an even tone, “Release him, brother.”
Ryan reared back instead and brought his claws down towards the vampire again.
Luca caught his wrist before it made contact and shoved him back.
Ryan attempted to lunge at him.
“Stop!” Luca yelled. “I need to break her hold on them!”