* * * * *
Anticipation filled the cab of his truck moments later as Mad and Lana drove to the edge of town and then turned on the road to his place. She was quiet now and he suspected she believed their evening was over but damn if she wasn’t wrong about that. Sexual tension buzzed between them and if she hadn’t been snugly fastened into her seat belt, Madden would have pulled her against him. For days, he’d wanted nothing more than to spend time getting to know her better and not only in bed. Lana was his mate and he thought of her as such though they hadn’t gone through the mating consummation together.
The way he figured it, they would be together for their rest of their lives and they had all the time in the world to get to know each other. In quieter moments over the past week he would recall the way the short, silky strands of her hair felt against his fingertips or how her lush breasts fit into the palm of his hand. She was a sweet little bundle of TNT and hell yeah, he loved watching her go up in flames. Fucking Lana and making her come was just about the best feeling in the world and he aimed to do that at every opportunity.
Like now.
When he continued driving past his house and farther into the countryside, he noted her attention.
“Where are we going?”
He grinned. “Parking in the boonies. Did you ever do that, darlin’?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
He pulled up near the creek that sat a distance from the house and turned off the truck. He loved seeing how the moonlight filtered down through the massive oak trees surrounding a small clearing. Fat trout jumped in the creek as they searched for dragonflies that dipped and dived above the water’s surface. It was his favorite spot on the property and he thought it was long overdue that he share it with her. “Then I think it’s time to do some of that. Now you just sit here for a minute.”
Moon got out of the truck then reached into the industrial-grade toolbox in the bed. He found a heavy quilt and, carrying it to a spot in the clearing, spread it out over the ground before heading back to fetch Lana. Taking care of his mate was his first priority, so he was a little disappointed that she’d already unfastened her seat belt but he helped her from the high cab of the truck and set her on her feet. Lana took in the scenery and smiled. “I love it here.”
“I’m glad. It’s one of my favorite spots and I can’t think of a better place to take my girl parking.” He’d been the first man to have sex with her, the first to take her on a date and the first guy to take her parking, a ritual usually reserved for teens but that she had missed. Once this mess with her former pack was over, he’d give her another first, that of a consummation ceremony with a mate. Though he was sad about the rough, lonely past she’d suffered, he was glad that he could bring her things she’d never thought to enjoy. Together they walked over to the quilt. “Why don’t you take your shoes off and get comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
Mad went back to the truck and, after removing his jacket and rolling up his shirt sleeves, fetched a small ice chest from the backseat. By the time he returned to Lana, she was barefoot and lying on the quilt, staring up at the stars. The tops of her full breasts peeked enticingly above the low neckline of her sexy dress. Giving in to temptation, he set the ice chest aside and sprawled out next to her. Propped on one elbow, he bent low and settled his lips on that soft flesh. “You taste fine, Lana.” His tongue swept along those sweet curves and Lana’s hand moved into his hair, holding him against her. She sighed.
“Are you still hungry?”
“Just for you.”
“Hm, I’m beginning to think there’s a lot to be said for this sort of thing. You know, making out in the boonies.”
“Hold on to that thought.” Moon sat up and tugged at his boots until they sat at the edge of the quilt next to Lana’s girly pink shoes. Then, giving into impulse, he unbuttoned his shirt and removed it. Noting her rapt attention, Mad smiled. “I’m hot.”
“Yeah, you are. You really are.”
He knew she wasn’t talking about the weather. Her eyelids slid to half-mast. She lay very still, one hand resting on her belly and the other flung out across the expanse of cotton.
“So you like it here?” He stretched out beside her and, drawing her against his side, settled her head on his shoulder. Lana spread her fingers over his chest as if she’d done it a million times before. Mating lust wasn’t just about sexual heat but gave a mated pair a sense of having known each other before. It was a familiarity that would lead to a connection that went much deeper than anything they’d ever known.
His body reacted when she smiled against his skin and her breath moved over him. “Very much. It’s so different from the mountains yet this place has a wild beauty all its own. I feel at home here.” She paused then lifted her head to look at him. “Tell me about you. I want to know more.”
“I’m not very interesting.”
“Bull. I’ve never met anyone more fascinating and that’s a fact. Why, when I saw you for the first time at Joe’s Hot Griddle, I thought, well now, Lana, that is one damn fine man.”
“You did, huh?”
“Oh yeah. When you stood up and walked across the room, you just sucked all the air from the place with your size, built like a linebacker. You put the B in badass but I’m a total sucker for a guy who is also a gentleman. And you are that.”
“Not feeling all that gentlemanly at the moment, darlin’.” Giving her his most lecherous look, he rolled them both over and pinned her beneath him, loving the way she sucked in a startled breath. She was smiling though and he wanted that.
“Unh uh,” she whispered, giving him a girly push against his chest. “I don’t know a thing about you except for the obvious. Tell all before you decide to get frisky.”
Get frisky?
Hell if she didn’t make him smile.
Relenting, he flopped back again. “All right. I’m all yours. Ask away.”
“What was your life like growing up here?”
“Hmm. Good. Dad was a big, strong Alpha and leader of the Rogues. Mom was feisty and beautiful. Dad could be bossy but Mom wouldn’t put up with that for a minute.”
“Names?”
“Dan and Emma. Dad has been gone ten years next spring. Young Daniel whom you met tonight was named after him. He was well-respected, tough, strong and always fair. I lost Mom just a couple of years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged, knowing full well that death was simply another part of living. “Dad was shot in a hunting accident.”
From Lana’s look of sympathy, Mad knew she realized what that meant to their kind. He’d been shot by hunters while in his wolf form. It was a common passing for lycans who lived among humans. Area humans would see only a predator and not think twice about taking him out. “Since the town has a human mix, how did you explain his death?”
“The coroner, Dad’s doctor and the town sheriff are all lycan. As far as most folks knew, he passed suddenly from a heart attack. He was respected by everyone and it was tough for the whole town when we lost him.”
“Bet he would be proud of you.”
“I hope so.”
“And your mom?”
“Car wreck. An out-of-control truck on a rain-slick highway took her out one Sunday afternoon. She hit a tree trying to avoid it and died instantly.”
“I’m sorry, Mad. It’s hard to lose those we love. I’ll never forget when my mom passed. It’s a loss you don’t forget.”
His arm tightened around her. “Yeah, I stepped into the High Alpha role prepared only because Dad did his duty by teaching me to be a good man. At least I think I’m good. Sometimes I wonder.”
“Don’t doubt it. Look how you’ve taken care of me.”
He knew without question he’d take care of her and protect her forever if she’d let him. Hoping to lighten the mood, he smiled. “I have a couple of sisters.”
“Sisters? What I wouldn’t have given to have had sibs. Lucky you.”
Mad laughed. “I’m not too sure about that. Chloe and Hayley lived to torture me. They are both a bit older than me and mated. Chloe is mated to Alpha of the Blanco Rose pack of South Texas and Hayley lives in northeastern Oklahoma with her mate who is a first lieutenant of the Cherokee Hills lycan pack. They’re both happy, out of my hair, and have given me several cute-as-buttons nieces and nephews. We don’t get to see each other all that often since life has a tendency to get in the way. I think they’ll all love you.”
“I hope so. Being part of a big, thriving family sounds so perfect.” Lana sighed and he knew she must be thinking of her own dysfunctional upbringing. Sorrow for her loss of any kind of normalcy sank its talons deep and he wished he could give her nothing but good things for the rest of her life. He couldn’t take away the bad memories, but maybe over time they would dim, replaced by the love, laughter and tenderness she deserved. That she could smile and show such good humor despite it all was, to him, a testament to her strength. “I just want it to happen. There’s a battle brewing, Madden, and I just hope I’m up to the task of preserving the life I’m trying to build here.”
“You’ll have help. You have the strength of the Rogues behind you and before long members of the Wolf Creek pack will add their power.”
“How many wolves are coming?”
Moon thought back to his most recent conversation with Joe McKinnon. “McKinnon can’t come. His mate Quinn is due to deliver her baby at any moment. He mentioned Ringo Ramone, Cactus Mackey and his mate Sara, and big Gabriel Dunham and his mate Katalin. I’ve met them all. Good wolves. They’re also sending Sam Rainwater, whom I’ve not met.”
Lana lifted her head, eyes wide. “Some are bringing their mates. That’s interesting.”
“I’ve been told they’re mighty powerful wolves who come from a line that possesses powers that other lycans don’t have. The females are sisters who were rescued by the Wolf Creek pack and I’ve heard that Sara is as strong and as fast as three lycans combined. Something in her DNA, I guess.”
“What about Katalin, the other sister?”
He shrugged. “Not sure what she’s capable of but she must be something else if they’re bringing her along. Guess we’ll find out together.”
“I want to contribute when Dad and the others come for me but I’ll tell you right now that I’m a little afraid. I’ve never really been tested as a wolf. My life was so sheltered, Mad.” She went still.
“You’re wrong, you know.” He swept his hand over her short hair and cupped her cheek, forcing her to look at him. “You tested yourself when you got away from that mess. It takes a brave woman to leave everything you’ve always known and head out into the unknown. You knew you couldn’t live that way and took action. I admire you.”
Her eyes filled. “Mad. How did I manage to live before there was you?”
Emotion crashed with lust, bolting through him at the speed of light and sound as he gathered her close and moved over her. Lana’s lips parted, her breath scented with chocolate and wine, and in that instant he knew he had to taste her, fuck her, love her and he had to do it now.
Chapter Eight
She was caged, trapped, exactly where she wanted to be. Raw hunger raced through her blood and her inner beast responded to the call of her mate. Mad groaned and took her lips, tasting them, testing the surface with the edge of his teeth before sinking his tongue deep. He moved against her and she wished her clothes off, the fresh breeze overhead doing nothing to cool the heat building in her belly.
Helpless to resist her wolf, she moved against him, her legs opening to accept the press of his cock against her needy flesh. Writhing against him, Lana rubbed her pussy against the heavy bulge as moisture poured from her body. In an instant her panties were drenched and it was as if Mad knew. His hands traced her curves, dipped beneath the hem of her dress to find that pulsing, throbbing skin and she cried out, the aching sound swallowed by his kiss.
Mad went to his knees between her thighs and lifted her, his busy fingers sliding down the zipper of her dress until it fell into a puddle at her waist.
“I want you naked.”
Yes, she wanted that too.
Lana closed her eyes as he filled his hands with her breasts and her breath broke. His thumbnail found the swollen tips of her nipples, flicking, circling, flicking again. Lust burned through her body, flashing out in ever-expanding waves through her center and straight to her cunt and then his lips were there, teasing, sucking, tasting. She swept her fingers into his hair to hold him close, his breath heating her body as energy sizzled around them.
When Mad broke the contact, she noted the change in his eyes and recognized the beast living behind that narrowed gaze. The icy-blue color intensified. The dominance of the Alpha washed over her, bending her to his will. There would be no more slow courtship. The time for playing it safe was over. She should have known from the wicked, fast fucking before their evening had begun. A low growl curled through his chest and Lana heard it, feeling that other part of herself, her wolf, answer the primal call. Mad stood and pulled her to her feet to strip the dress from her body then removed her drenched panties. The garments landed in a heap on the quilt. He reached down to unfasten his jeans and Lana watched the flex and ripple of his muscles as he removed them and finally stood naked, the glow of overhead stars washing his body with light.
His cock rose up, heavy and long against his body, the head brushing along his belly, and when he gripped the base a pearl of fluid dotted the end. Nervously licking her lips, she watched his gaze focus over her and helplessly, she responded. The time for any semblance of finesse ended abruptly when Mad pulled her back down onto the quilt. On her knees, his cock pure temptation, she bent to take him in her mouth. Sucking strongly, she drew him deep, then deeper, tracing the hard surface with her tongue as he gripped her hair. Her fingers clutched the base of his cock, squeezing the thickness before moving lower to ply his balls. Another sound, raw and primitive, curled in Mad’s chest. It burst from his throat in a low growl as he pulled her mouth away.
He stared at her lips then gritted his teeth. A flash of fang broke from his gums and another animalistic sound, wild and terrifying, broke from his throat.
“I’m skating a fine line here. Don’t want to lose control with you but fuck!” He gripped her shoulders hard. “Can you take it? Can you handle it?”
Lana trembled with raw lust, nodding as desire crashed through her system like lightning. Mad gripped her waist and positioned her over the head of his cock. Needing to touch, to stroke, she pressed her fingers between their bodies and drew them over the heavy head, brushing her own wet flesh as she did. Her beast rolled through her belly and Lana’s gums tingled as she responded to the animalistic nature she shared with her mate.
Not consummated but nearly there.
Knowing she was strong enough to handle anything he gave her, she reached for his broad shoulders and lowered her body over him, swallowing his erection with her cunt. Inner muscles instantly contracted around the heavy stalk as she rose and fell. His teeth grazed her shoulder then nipped roughly at her breasts. The pleasure/pain tore through her as she rotated her clit on each downstroke. Mad buried his face against her breast and, reaching behind her, took the globes of her ass in his hands and squeezed, grinding against her needy flesh. Wicked sensation coiled in her belly as the pulsing of her pussy increased.
Mad made a rough sound against her breast, thrusting high and hard, dragging a series of cries from her as he fucked her. Together they writhed and pleasure built. Mad blasted his power deep. It burst through her, hot and intense. Nerve endings quivered and pulsed, absorbing the wild energy, the magical lycan power. She’d never felt such raw, explosive sensations. They whipped through her blood faster and faster until she was filled with them. Shivering in his arms, she tumbled over the cliff and fell against him as spasms of release consumed her.
She’d barely come down from the high when Mad lifted her from his stiff cock
and she realized vaguely that he hadn’t come. He flipped her onto her belly and lifted her ass, opening her body to him.
In the distance, a wolf howled, the sound followed by another and another.
Madden’s pack at play.
“I’ll kill the first wolf who intrudes. Count on it,” he said, his words hard with finality. “Have to fuck you harder, faster.” He shoved his cock deep, the savage thrusts violently brushing her stiff nipples against the quilt beneath her. His balls slammed solidly against her with each stroke, teasing her drenched, swollen pussy. Needing to hold him deeper, longer, she squeezed her muscles in an effort to keep him inside but he only moved faster, dragging his cock over sensitized nerves and sending her rocketing into pleasure again. Lana moaned, her body tensing as he pounded heavily, building a staggering pressure that threatened to undo her. He reached between her legs and found her clit. “Oh yeah,” he breathed, “that’s it. That’s it. You are so fucking beautiful.”
Completion moved through her, the excruciating pleasure threatening to rip her to shreds as her body embraced the energy. Light burst behind her closed eyelids as the thrill of orgasm shook her to the core. Behind her, Mad growled as he went still then plunged once more. She felt his cum blast into her body, her muscles quivering around his cock. Together they sank to the ground. Mad breathed heavily against her neck, wrapping his arm around her from behind. She wondered briefly at the heights they could reach as their mating bond grew.
Saturated in pleasure, Lana relaxed against his big body. Love filled her, sinking deep into her heart along with a happiness and sense of security she’d never known before.
As their breathing settled, a low growl, sinister and feral, ripped through the air. Madden tensed an instant before going to his feet. A huge white wolf moved from around the base of a nearby tree. Lana stifled a terrified cry.
She recognized him instantly. Anton!
Like other Snow Wolves, his fur was pale yet Anton’s face was marked with a blaze of black around his muzzle. He snarled and snapped, teeth bared as he skulked forward, belly low to the ground. Terror seized her as Mad advanced, fisting his hands. She knew he would have to shift to meet any attack from her former fiancé.
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