Unstoppable

by R. L. Mathewson

  “There is something seriously wrong with your son,” Jacob said as they watched Chris move closer to the bars only to jump back, laughing his ass off when Drew took another swipe at him.

  “He doesn’t handle being away from his mate well,” Ephraim murmured absently as he took in the abandoned prison, noting the old bars covered in peeling paint that didn’t have a chance of keeping any of them locked away, the cracked cinderblock walls, the water dripping from the ceilings, and scented the stale air, looking for any signs of the men behind the bounty on his family, but there was nothing.

  For a moment, he wondered if the address they’d posted on the forum was wrong, but…

  This was too perfect, Ephraim thought, taking in the steel beams crossing the ceilings and heavy gates on either side of the cell block. Absolutely fucking perfect, Ephraim thought absently as he watched Ethan shift his gaze from the steel beams to the thick bars blocking the windows.

  “Probably,” Jacob said, nodding in agreement as they watched Drew release a warning growl as he stepped back away from the bars, quickly shifting back to human and reached for the lever to open the cell.

  “Oh, shit…” Chris said even as he tried looking innocent when Drew narrowed his eyes on him as he walked into the cell, shifting back into a seriously pissed-off werewolf as he went.

  “Can I ask you something?” Jacob asked as they watched Chris jump onto Drew’s back, further pissing the large werewolf off. “What do you think the Council is going to do when they find out about Ashley?”

  He’d been wondering the same thing, but…

  “I honestly don’t know,” Ephraim said, sighing heavily as his attention shifted to Christofer as the Ion carefully made his way up the old cast iron stairs to the guard’s box overlooking the unit.

  “She can’t stay here,” Jacob added as Ephraim glanced around the old prison, looking for any signs that someone had been here recently while he listened for their backup.

  “No, she can’t,” Ephraim murmured in agreement as his attention shifted to Trace, who was pacing the other end of the catwalk, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Not that Ephraim could blame him. Even after all these years, he still had problems around metal bars, thanks to the time he’d spent in Nichol’s dungeon. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it had been like spending centuries trapped inside a wall.

  “How long do you think we have before the Council finds out about her?” Jacob absently asked as his attention shifted from one end of the unit to the other, his gaze lingering on each opened gate before shifting back to the floor below them.

  “Depends on who’s been talking,” Ephraim said, knowing that they were making a mistake by taking Ashley to the compound, but he just couldn’t stomach the idea of something happening to her. She just…

  She reminded him of Jill.

  If he could go back, he’d do so many things differently. He would have spent more time with her, would have made sure that she was okay, and he sure as hell would have-

  “Are you okay?” Jacob asked as everything turned red.

  “I’m fine,” Ephraim said, slowly exhaling as he forced his eyes to shift back and focused on the reason why they were here.

  “Who do you think it is?” Trace asked, his colonial accent becoming thicker as the scent of his anxiety intensified, making Ephraim wonder how much longer the Pyte was going to last before he headed for the door.

  “I have a few ideas, but I’ve been waiting for one of them to slip up.”

  “Whoever it is, is making sure that nothing new is getting posted,” Jacob pointed out.

  “There is that,” Ephraim murmured in agreement, but he’d been hoping that it would play out differently. He’d been hoping that the traitor would slip up and give himself away, but so far, there was nothing.

  “Going to the compound might not be such a good idea right now,” Jacob said quietly as they watched Drew shrug Chris off his back and walk out of the cell with a huff.

  “I’m not sure that we have a choice, not with everything that’s going on,” Ephraim said, pulling out his phone and realized that the Sentinel network was down as the sounds of metal slamming together echoed throughout the old prison as the scent of apples teased him.

  “Oh, shit…” Jacob muttered as the first tendrils of smoke reached them as the unmistakable sounds of metal slamming against metal echoed throughout the cellblock, letting them know that it was already too late.

  Chapter 67

  “Are you still mad at me?” came the question that had Kale biting back a smile as Ashley hopped up onto the kitchen table with a heartfelt sigh.

  “Yes,” Kale said, placing his iPad back in his backpack before reaching for the small black box that he’d asked Jacob to get for him. As he ran his thumb over the smooth cover, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was really going to do this.

  “Would it help if I told you that I love you?” Ashley asked with a hopeful smile as he told himself that he was doing the right thing.

  He should take her to a compound where she would be safe, but…

  He couldn’t risk it no matter how many times he told himself that she would be safe there. Kale didn’t trust them. Not with Ashley. It didn’t matter that it would only be for a few days, he wouldn’t be able to focus on what he needed to do if he had to worry about her. At least this way, he knew where she was, Kale thought as he sat back in his chair so that she could settle more comfortably on the table in front of him.

  “I’ve decided to help you,” she announced with a long-suffering sigh that had his lips twitching as he absently turned the small box over in his hand.

  “Have you?” Kale murmured, placing his other hand on the soft curve of her belly and felt all the tension in his body disappear.

  “I have,” Ashley said, nodding solemnly.

  “And how exactly are you going to do that?” he asked on a soft groan when she leaned down and brushed her lips against his.

  “By marking you,” Ashley said, smiling against his lips as she carefully climbed off the table and onto his lap.

  “And why would you do that?” Kale asked as she brushed her lips against his again.

  “So that everyone knows just how much I love you,” Ashley said with a firm nod as she gestured for him to get on with it, making his lips twitch.

  “Need help?” he asked teasingly.

  When she nodded, Kale released a long-suffering sigh as he gently cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer as he turned his head away, exposing his throat to her and-

  “What are you doing?”

  -fucking sighed.

  “Making this easier for you,” Kale said, surprised by just how badly he wanted her to bite him. Just the thought of her small fangs sliding into his neck had his cock hardening.

  “This doesn’t feel easier,” Ashley mumbled against his neck, making his lips twitch.

  “Just sink those pretty little fangs in my neck,” Kale said, once again waiting for her to get on with it.

  “You’re not really helping,” Ashley muttered against his neck.

  “Then what would help?” Kale asked, pulling back so that he could glare at his beautiful mate.

  “Being able to write my name in permanent marker instead?” she asked, sounding really fucking hopeful.

  “Would it help if I told you that I love you?” Kale asked as he gently caressed her back.

  “That would probably make this easier,” Ashley grumbled, once again gesturing for him to get on with it.

  “Nervous?” he asked, unable to help but smile as he caressed the soft swell of her belly.

  “You could say that,” she said, rewarding him with a kiss.

  “Would it help if I distracted you?” Kale asked, praying that he didn’t screw this up.

  “It probably wouldn’t hurt,” Ashley mumbled absently, frowning as she watched him hold up the small black box that had taken him several favors and a small fortune to get his hands on, only to w
hisper, “Oh, my god,” when he opened it, revealing a diamond ring set between two emeralds.

  “You didn’t really think that I forgot that you promised to marry me, did you?” Kale asked, watching her bottom lip tremble as he took the ring out of the box and slowly slid it on her finger.

  “You’re really going to marry me?” Ashley asked, her voice cracking with emotion as the first tear rolled down her beautiful face.

  “God, yes,” Kale whispered reverently as he leaned in and kissed her.

  “I love you so much,” Ashley said, wrapping her arms around him.

  “Enough to spend the rest of your life with me?”

  “More than enough,” Ashley whispered against his lips as she reached for his shirt and pulled it free.

  Keeping his gaze locked with hers, Kale reached back and grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled it off, tossing it aside before he wrapped his arms back around the woman that absolutely destroyed him. “You really have no idea how much I love you, do you?” Kale asked, his gaze softening as he watched her beautiful green eyes turn red as she cupped his face in her hands and pulled him down for a kiss.

  “Show me.”

  “Mo ghrá,” Kale whispered, his brogue sending shivers down her spine as he brushed his lips slowly against hers.

  She never thought that she could love anyone as much as she loved him, never thought it was possible. He was an incredibly cranky shifter and he was all hers. Moaning softly, she dropped her head back when Kale’s mouth found her throat. God, she loved the way that he touched her, Ashley thought when she felt his fingertips trail a path down her sides before grabbing hold of her shirt, forcing her to break off the kiss so that she could help him pull it off. Before the shirt hit the floor, his mouth found hers again. Her arms wrapped around him as his hands cupped her bottom, pulling her closer until her nipples were brushing against his chest and she found herself pressed tightly against the large bulge straining against his pants.

  His hands felt so good on her skin, Ashley thought when his hands found her bare thighs, his fingertips teased the edge of her cotton shorts as his mouth took hers in a slow, deep kiss that had her melting against him. She would never be able to get enough of him, she realized as his hands slid up her thighs and found her hips.

  With one last kiss, Kale picked her up and placed her on the kitchen table, his mouth following the move as his lips found her belly. “Tá mo chroí istigh ionat,” he said softly against her stomach.

  “That sounded beautiful,” Ashley said, smiling down at him as she ran her fingers through his hair. “What does it mean?”

  “I was telling our little girl that I love her,” Kale said, smiling against her stomach.

  “Aine,” Ashley said, watching as Kale went still before his silver gaze found hers. “Her name is Aine,” she said, smiling down at him as she watched his gaze soften.

  “Aine,” Kale whispered reverently as he pressed his lips against her stomach one last time before he stood up, pausing to press a kiss between her breasts, on her throat, and her chin before his mouth found hers once again.

  As his mouth took hers, his hands made their way to her shorts, sliding his fingers beneath the waistband and slowly pulled her shorts down along with her panties. Ashley raised herself so that he could pull them down over her hips, over her thighs, and pushed them down her legs, dropping them on the floor before reaching between her legs.

  His fingertips traced her slit, teasing her into spreading her legs farther apart, desperate for his touch. Moaning softly, Ashley cupped his face in her hands as he slowly traced her slit with a single fingertip, his finger sliding deeper with every caress until he found her clit, causing her breath to catch in her throat as he took his time teasing her. For several minutes, he continued tracing her clit with his fingertip until she couldn’t take it anymore and covered his hand with hers.

  “Is this what you need, mo ghrá?” Kale asked, his brogue becoming thicker as he slowly slid his finger inside her.

  “Yes,” Ashley whispered, pulling his finger back and adding a second one as he leaned down and kissed her, giving her no choice but to lie down on the kitchen table.

  He brushed his lips against hers one last time before pressing his lips against her throat. His hand continued moving between her legs while she ran her fingers through his hair, moaning his name as he kissed his way down to her breast, licking and kissing a path until his mouth found her nipple. He took her nipple between his lips, gently suckling and teasing it with his tongue before releasing it and continued to kiss his way down her stomach as he sat down.

  His eyes met hers as he kissed a path down to her thigh, his fingers continued moving between her legs. Keeping his eyes locked with hers, Kale slid his fingers in her one last time before he pulled his hand away, only to make her moan when he replaced his fingers with his mouth. With a groan, Kale slid his tongue inside her, licking her as he reached down and pulled his belt loose.

  She watched as the muscles in his shoulder and arm worked as he unsnapped his pants and pulled his zipper down, making her moan when she felt his tongue tease her, flicking over her clit before sliding back inside her.

  “Kale,” Ashley whispered, moaning as she ran her fingers through his hair as Kale took his time licking her, his tongue alternating between sliding inside her and teasing her clit, only to pull back and trace between her slit, driving her crazy.

  Her back arched off the table as he slid his tongue back inside her, making her gasp as he slowly took her with his mouth. It felt so good, Ashley thought as Kale’s hands found her breasts. As his tongue teased her, his hands moved over her breasts, brushing his palms over her nipples before pulling his hands back and allowing her nipples to slide between his fingers. It felt so good, but she needed more.

  She needed him.

  Pulling her hands back, she slowly sat up, her gaze locking with his as everything turned red. She watched his eyes become brighter and his expression hungrier as he reached for her. As he pulled her back onto his lap, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss as her other hand wrapped around the large erection straining to get to her.

  Kale took her mouth in a hungry kiss only to groan when she ran her hand over him, enjoying the feel of skin as soft and smooth as silk over the hard length of his cock. She slid her hand down his cock, giving the base a gentle squeeze before moving her hand back and cupped the thick tip in her hand. She loved the way it felt when he slid inside her, Ashley thought, running her thumb over the tip before she found herself picked up and-

  “Oh, god…” made her moan when he settled her above his cock, the tip teasing her slit before he slowly lowered her, the large tip pushed inside her as she wrapped her arms around him, making her feel whole. There was no other way to describe the way that it felt when they made love. She felt complete when she was in his arms, like she was exactly where she belonged.

  “Mo ghrá,” Kale groaned, his hands sliding over her thighs as she began moving, slowly rolling her hips as she wrapped her arms around him.

  He felt so good, Ashley thought on a moan as she broke off the kiss and buried her face against his neck. Her breath caught in her throat when his hands found her bottom and gently squeezed as he guided her, helping her move on him as her lips brushed against his neck.

  When her fangs slid down, she moved to send them back only…

  It was time.

  Pressing her lips against his neck, she slowly exhaled on a moan as she opened her mouth and-

  “Oh, fuck!” Kale bit out on a groan when her fangs pushed into his neck.

  When the first drop of his blood hit her tongue, she moaned. The second had her tightening her hold around him, desperate for more as she rolled her hips, needing more only to whimper when it wasn’t enough.

  She needed more.

  She needed-

  This, Ashley thought, moaning when her back suddenly hit the kitchen wall. Her legs wrapped around Kale as he moved, tak
ing her hard against the wall as she continued to moan against his neck, his blood becoming richer with every pull as he continued to move, groaning her name as pleasure had her gasping his. God, he felt so good, Ashley thought, pulling her mouth away from his neck with a moan as she licked her lips only to groan when Kale’s mouth found hers again. She felt Kale harden inside her, becoming thicker with every stroke, sending pleasure throughout her body as he groaned her name one last time before sending her over the edge.

  Chapter 68

  For several minutes, Kale stood there, his arms wrapped tightly around her as they tried to catch their breath. With one last kiss, he stumbled back away from the wall, taking her with him, and dropped down on a chair. Swallowing hard, Kale turned his head and-

  Sighed.

  Just fucking sighed when the spoiled bastard that he’d been hoping would move on by now, released a roar, letting them know that he wasn’t happy that he hadn’t been given his evening bowl of frosting on time. Knowing that the asshole wouldn’t leave them alone until he got frosting, Kale kissed Ashley one last time before he picked her up and placed her back on his chair with a look that told her that she better be there when he came back.

  “I don’t think there’s any frosting left in the fridge,” Ashley said with a sheepish smile that had his eyes narrowing on his adorable mate as she pulled on his shirt.

  With a muttered, “Asshole,” Kale fixed his pants as he made his way over to the pantry to grab the cans of frosting that they kept for moments like this when Cuddle’s next roar had him frowning because that wasn’t his normal roar. He could be a demanding little bastard, roaring at all hours of the night, hoping to get one of them to take pity on him and bring him frosting, but never like this.

  Dread made its way down Kale’s spine as he closed the pantry door and glanced at the living room windows as he listened for the reason why the bear was acting this way, but there was nothing. Knowing that something wasn’t right, Kale glanced back at Ashley to find his mate frowning in confusion as he searched for the source of his unease, scenting the air and listening for anything that would give it away as he slowly made his way back to the kitchen table, his gaze shifting between the kitchen and living room windows as he moved.