A collection of howls began to rise up around him as each wolf in his clan answered his cry. Each wolf assuring him he was not alone. The clan assuring him he was one of them now. He waited, unaware he was holding his breath. Then he heard it. The one wolf’s cry he needed to hear above all others’. Jayla’s howl filled the emptiness around him. Filled the emptiness in his heart. Shifting back to his human form, Brad dressed and joined his clan.
Chapter Fourteen
The weekend turned out to be a fantastic gathering of wolves, and Brad still felt the high of being able to be a part of such a monumental occasion. Long after good-byes were said and all clan members were gone, he and Jayla were the last two stragglers. They’d dallied, taking their time, neither one in a hurry to get back to their human lives.
Throwing the last of their bags into the back of his truck, Brad took one last look around their makeshift camp. He marveled at the beauty of the forest.
“I don’t want to leave either.”
Brad chuckled as he faced Jayla. “That obvious, huh?”
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t even remember the last time I let loose. I forgot how good it feels to shift.”
“Me too. It’s been too long, and it felt good being able to be myself.”
Walking up to her, he intertwined their fingers and tugged on her arm. “Take a walk with me, Jayla.”
“Sure.”
They strolled hand in hand through the serene surroundings. They hiked in silence, simply enjoying nature and each other’s company. Suddenly Brad stopped, turning to face her.
“Thank you, Jayla.”
“Shh. Just enjoy this with me.” She pressed her slender finger against his lips, trying to silence him. But he plucked her hand away from his face.
“How’d your family know that I don’t have a pack?”
“I’m sure my mom, dad, and grandma sensed it. At least it’s how my mama made it sound. They could just tell you never belonged anyplace.”
Brad offered her a slight smile. “Thank you for inviting me. I needed this more than I ever realized.”
Brad watched as Jayla’s huge smile brightened her face, touching her eyes. He could see how genuinely happy she was for him.
“What your clan did for me, what you’ve done for me, is amazing. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make you understand what you all have given me.”
“I just want you to know I didn’t say anything about your parents. Accepting you into the clan wasn’t done out of pity. From the sounds of it, everyone had a meeting prior to us getting here and decided they wanted you to be a part of us. A part of everything.”
That bit of information floored him. He was still in shock at the fact they welcomed him with open arms unconditionally.
“I wish I could articulate what I’m feeling right now.” Brad could feel himself getting emotional, and it embarrassed him. Running his hand through his hair, he turned his head, shielding his face from Jayla. He picked up a rock and chucked it as far as he could into the woods.
“It’s okay, Brad. You don’t need to say anything.”
After a few moments, she approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist. Placing her cheek against his back, she held him in her embrace.
Brad cleared his throat before he spoke. “Last night, so many things came into focus for me. I feel so humbled and grateful for the acceptance your family, your whole clan has gifted me. Because of that, I did a lot of thinking.”
“About?”
“I’m going to do it again.”
“Do what, Brad?”
“Find my parents. Find my family.”
A long stretch of silence ensued between them. After a while, Jayla finally spoke. “And you’re okay with the possibility they still don’t want anything to do with you?”
“I’m ready to learn who I am. I want to know where I come from. It’s not about finding them. It’s about finding out who I am.”
“I’m here for you… We’re here for you if you need us. And I’m happy for you. Everyone deserves to know who they are.”
Brad nodded as Jayla unwrapped her arms from around his waist. Grabbing his hand, she tugged him after her. They continued their walk in silence, finishing the looped trail. Once back at the truck, she released his hand, turned, and gave him a devious grin.
“Do you think we have time for one more thing?”
“There’s always time for one more thing,” Brad said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Jayla offered him a mischievous smile. She stepped away from him and pulled her shirt over her head, then threw it onto the forest floor.
Brad raised one eyebrow in response.
Jayla toed off her shoes and shimmied out of her jeans and thong, unclasping her bra last of all. Once undressed, she shifted into her petite wolf. She crouched down with her face close to the ground and hind quarters high up in the air, then jumped side to side in front of Brad, indicating her desire to play. She took off running, leaving a challenge for him to catch her. Laughing, Brad undressed, shifted, and ran after her.
They ran through the woods together. Playing, chasing, causing mischief for the other animals. Jayla was quick, easily outjuking him as he pursued her. Every time he got close to her, she would use a burst of speed to put distance between the two of them. After a while, Jayla began to get cocky, confident she’d be able to outrun Brad anytime she wanted. On one of her bursts of speed, Brad flew by her, cutting off her path, and Jayla tried to skid to a stop before abruptly changing direction. Brad proved to her how formidable an opponent he was. He’d been letting her evade him earlier. He tripped Jayla from behind, taking a soft swipe at her hind legs with one of his massive paws. She shifted into her human form as Brad landed on top of her.
He stood hovering over her, staring down at her. In her human form, his wolf could easily tear her to shreds. It signified the ultimate show of trust. She brought her hands above her head as she lay in the grass, watching him. He lowered himself, then shifted into his human form.
REALIGNING HIS POSITION on top of her, Brad’s body molded to hers. There was no mistaking his hardened cock pressing against her hip. Jayla couldn’t help reaching down and wrapping one hand around him, stroking. She loved how he closed his eyes, letting out a contented sigh.
A small smile crept onto his face. “You’re sure we’re not going to get caught…fornicating by any stray family members?”
“No. Everyone is gone.”
“So you’re all mine.”
“All yours, Brad.” She knew he’d never understand just how significant a declaration she made to him. This weekend reaffirmed in every way how much Brad was now a part of her life.
“Pretend you’re my mate, Brad,” she blurted out the request, realizing how panicked and desperate she sounded.
“I don’t have to pretend, Jayla.” Brad’s confusion almost had her in tears.
“I mean… Just for this moment. Pretend you want me. Pretend you…love me.”
She couldn’t decipher the look on his face or the emotion in his eyes.
“Please, Brad… I just need this one time. I need more… I need you…”
Saying it out loud caused the tears that were already ready to spill to well up in her eyes. She knew she sounded crazy. But goodness help her, she needed him so damn bad. She needed his wolf, and she needed him. She needed all of him.
Brad silenced her with a kiss before her tears escaped. It was clear he needed it too—needed to feel their bond as mates flowing back and forth between them.
Jayla pushed him over, straddling his hips, scraping her nails lightly across his chest. Leaning down, she dipped her tongue into the hollow of his throat, tasting a droplet of his sweat that had collected there. She swept her tongue up the side of his neck before dipping it into the crevice of his ear.
She began a slow descent down his body, worshipping him with her mouth. Communicating with her body how much he meant to her. Using her lips, she traced e
very defined muscle of his sculpted chest. She splayed her hands across his massive arms and ripped abs, delighting in the fact she could feel him quiver under her touch. Trailing her hands farther down, she wrapped them around his rock-hard girth. She loved the feel of his steel shaft in her hands. She stroked and squeezed, coaxing him into a heightened state of arousal, and licked her lips in anticipation.
From the second she’d laid eyes on him, she’d wanted to do this. Always domineering in bed, Brad commanded her body and responses. This time she wanted to be the facilitator of his pleasure. Before he could react, she wrapped her lips around the tip of his cock. Brad’s hips jerked, and Jayla took as much as she could of him into her mouth.
“JAYLA… FUCK.” BRAD’S hands shot down to her head. Gathering her hair in his hands, he exposed her face. Watching her luscious lips wrapped around his cock was one of the most erotic sights he’d ever witnessed. Her plump lips glided up and down as her cheeks hollowed.
He thrust with measured strokes, taking care not to hurt her. He guided himself in and out of her hot little mouth. It felt so different from her pussy and almost as heavenly.
Using her tongue, Jayla swirled it around as if she was licking an ice-cream cone. She used her hands to pump what she couldn’t fit into her mouth. Bobbing up and down, she used her teeth to scrape the ridges of his cock.
“Jayla, stop.”
BUT JAYLA HAD other plans. She wanted to taste him, wanted to suck every last drop of seed out of him. She hummed her pleasure around him, removed one hand from his shaft, and cupped his balls.
“You’re going to make me come.”
Hearing his words egged her on. Taking him as far as she could, she heard his deep moan of pleasure when he touched the back of her throat.
“Jayla.”
It sounded like all the air left his body as he tried to say her name. She could tell the moment Brad lost control. Gripping her hair tight, he pumped his cock in and out of her mouth. He was careful not to hurt her, but gone were the measured strokes he used before. He chanted her name as his body coiled tight, signaling his impending orgasm.
He yelled his release into the air as he exploded into her mouth. Jayla sucked down every drop he offered her, accepting it like a precious gift.
IT TOOK BRAD all of five seconds to recuperate before he grabbed Jayla, hauling her up his chest. Tunneling his hands into her hair, he angled his head, seeking her lips. Jayla didn’t disappoint him as she realigned her body, fusing her mouth to his.
Flipping her over, Brad guided her onto her hands and knees. He could see her juices glistening on her pussy lips and inner thighs. Seeing how much pleasuring him turned her on drove Brad over the edge. Fisting his cock, he guided himself to her wet opening. Without warning he surged into her, causing Jayla to gasp deliciously.
With every stroke of his cock, Brad branded her as his. He showed Jayla no mercy as he pounded into her. He let go of every ounce of passion inside him. He gave Jayla everything.
Lowering her head onto the ground, Jayla pushed her ass higher into the air, giving him every inch of her pussy, every inch of herself.
Brad pushed into her with long powerful movements, and they both moaned every time he surged forward. He felt his balls drawing up tight against his body as Jayla tightened around him with the beginning ripples of her orgasm.
But then something transpired, and Brad barely registered her release as his attention was drawn elsewhere. He stared at the indentation between her neck and shoulder; it captivated him. His canines distended as he focused on the sensitive spot.
It surprised the hell out of him, and for a moment he didn’t understand what was happening. Never in his life had his canines lengthened during sex. It took Brad’s human side a few seconds to catch up with his wolf’s actions.
He suddenly understood the simplistic act his wolf wanted to go through with. His wolf wanted nothing more than to clamp down, marking Jayla forever. It would always be an action his wolf craved, until Jayla truly became Brad’s in every sense of the word. His wolf would always want to do this until his human side claimed Jayla as well.
Brad felt stifled by the confusion raging inside him. He didn’t do commitment. He didn’t believe in happily ever after. Why the hell couldn’t his wolf be content with what they had? Brad could feel his emotional protective barriers clicking back into place.
“Brad.” Her breathless, needy tone snapped him out of his daze. “What’s wrong?” She angled her neck to look over her shoulder at him.
He stared at her blankly.
“Brad. Why’d you stop?”
“I… I didn’t want to come yet.”
JAYLA CHUCKLED. “OOPS. I already did.”
Brad offered her a smile, and Jayla was very aware it didn’t touch his eyes. Pulling his cock out of her, he stayed kneeling. She turned around and placed her hand on his cheek.
He searched her features, raking his gaze over them as if he was looking at her for the first time. She could see alarm in his face and what looked like panic lurking in the depths of his eyes. He reached for her but stopped himself, letting his hand hang between them for a moment before he pulled it away. After a few moments, Brad got up and retrieved their clothes so they could get dressed.
On the ride home, Jayla couldn’t get him to string together more than two words at a time. Again she wanted to ask him what was wrong, but for some reason she couldn’t make herself do it. Truth be told, she was scared to hear his answer.
Once back at her place, Brad grabbed her bag and escorted her to her door. He surprised her by coming into her apartment. She’d expected him to drop her off and leave. She settled into her couch, hoping they would discuss what happened earlier in the forest.
“Jayla. Can I ask you something?” Brad placed her bags in the living room. He turned and faced her.
“Sure.”
“You’re Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
“First off, that isn’t a question; it’s your opinion, and I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“As far as your personal life is concerned, you’ve been so open and honest with me it’s crazy. I am in awe at how much you’ve shared with me. Continue to share with me. But in business you’re dishonest.”
She flinched. “Dishonest?”
“Yes.”
Thrown off guard by his insult, Jayla answered, “No, I’m not.”
“You are.” His seriousness turned her mood.
“I’m not.” Scrunching up her face, she glared at him as she rose from the couch and imitated his hostile posture.
“Yes, you are.”
“What did I lie about?”
“Maldonado.”
“We’re really going to do this again?”
“I can’t completely trust you.”
It was the way he said it. As if there were an underlying rationalization for starting this particular argument. Softening her voice, she tried to defuse the situation. “Brad, is this really about the Maldonado account?”
He stared at her for several long moments. Once again his gaze searched her features, as if looking for the answer. At first she was hopeful that they would discuss whatever was really going on with him. Then his face slowly began to harden.
“I won’t allow myself to trust you.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You won’t allow yourself? What does that even mean?”
“It means I know better.”
Jayla shook her head as she closed her eyes. She couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”
“You can tell me why you did it.”
Laughing sarcastically, she answered him, “Why I did what?”
“Why you stole my account?”
“I never stole your account.” Her voice began to rise.
“You stole Maldonado from underneath my nose.” His voice boomed with anger.
“I didn’t.�
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“You did.”
“Oh, I see. Because you basically told me to shove it up my ass, now I stole him away from you.”
“I never told you to shove it up your ass.”
“Didn’t you?”
“When?”
“Well, let’s see, Brad. How about any of the times I emailed both you and your assistant, Dave, begging to set up a meeting to talk with you about Mr. Maldonado?”
“When?”
“Numerous times. I can’t remember specific dates off the top of my head.”
Brad’s voice dripped with hostile sarcasm. “And what did these supposed emails say?”
“That I recently came across some information about his account I’d like to share with you.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me you contacted my office to let me know you had information regarding the potential acquisition of the Maldonado account?”
“Yes. With both emails and phone calls.”
“This is good stuff, Jayla.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Mmm-hmm. And then what? Mr. Maldonado fell into your lap?”
“No. I ran into him at a corporate event, and well, we got to talking.”
“You ran into him. How convenient for you.”
She froze, staring at him with revulsion.
“I was talking to a colleague when Mr. Maldonado surprised me and inserted himself into the conversation, asking me some questions. He liked my answers and asked why I wasn’t on the team trying to woo him to our firm. I told him you were a brilliant associate and he would be a fool not to work with you. I told him… I-I told him you were the sole reason I applied to Graybar and Associates. To make a long story short, after our conversation, he agreed to a meeting and requested I be a part of it. I called your office to let you know. I didn’t expect to be the lead, nor did I want to. I was excited and looking forward to finally working with you.”
BRAD RAN A hand through his hair. So much had happened during the past few days. He’d finally found contentment. And now that was being ripped away from him. All because his wolf screwed everything up by wanting to mark Jayla. That simple fact scared the shit out of him. They’d already established they didn’t want each other. They’d already established they didn’t want to be mates. Why couldn’t his wolf just leave well enough alone?
His Wolf's Desire Page 14