Temptation's Hold [Temptation, Wyoming 4]

by Zoey Marcel

  An achy lump formed in her throat and swallowing it down proved painful.

  Brad tucked his cock away into his pants and knelt on the floor near the bed. He used his finger to catch the stray tear rolling down her cheek. His tone dropped to a hushed whisper that was full of love and the promise of new beginnings. “It’s going to be all right, Chanel. I promise.”

  She forced a weak smile, feeling comforted by his reassuring oath to protect her baby and take care of her. But her consolation was swiftly chased away by Lucius’s sinister vow in her head.

  “I hope you enjoyed your little fling, slave, because you’re going to suffer dearly for it.”

  Chapter Fourteen:

  Consequences

  Dawson hated lying. Lying was a sin and he’d be damned if he could bring himself to use deception and trickery on someone who meant so much to him. But tonight he made an exception.

  After the hot and heavy sack session, the four showered together and Dawson requested that he be permitted to share Chanel’s bed with her alone tonight. His brothers reluctantly agreed, but if they’d known what he was up to and what he intended to do, they would’ve tackled him to the ground and probably beat some sense into him.

  He lay in Chanel’s arms, holding her close and cuddling with her like they used to after sex back in high school. She apologized profusely for what he’d stumbled across when he saw her and Lucius in the woods together that morning.

  She was already forgiven as far as Dawson was concerned. He knew the bite Lucius gave her had placed some kind of spell over her that plagued her with mating heat whenever the wolf was near her.

  Dawson snuggled with her a while, tamping down on his conscience for rebuking him over his intended manipulation of the woman he loved. “You never did get to see me as a rabbit.”

  “Aw, that’s true. I bet you’re adorable as a bunny, too.” She squeezed him snugly and nestled her head against his chest. “I can hear your heartbeat. I love that sound.”

  “I love yours.” He kissed the top of her head, breathing in her unique, captivating fragrance. “I’ve always had this secret fantasy. Would you like to hear it?”

  “Of course.” She planted a kiss on his torso. “I wish you’d take your pajamas off. I want to see your body.”

  “No, you don’t. It’s not a pretty sight.”

  “That’s not true. You know I adore you and your body.”

  He changed the subject, drawing her attention back to his original design. “So in my fantasy, I’m a bunny and you fall asleep with me snuggled under your chin, so I can drift off to sleep to the gentle rhythm of your heartbeat. I want that real bad. I’d feel so close to you.”

  “Aw, that sounds nice. We can do that. You know I love bunnies.”

  He smiled. “Will you tell me you love me? I’ll still be able to hear you in that form. It would mean a lot to me if you did.”

  “Of course I will, sweet stack. Now let me see how cute you are.”

  He removed his pajamas beneath the covers so she couldn’t see him undressing.

  She frowned, reaching for the comforter. “Don’t hide from me, Dawson. Let me see you.”

  “Don’t, please.” He implored her with his eyes until she relented. He didn’t have the muscular definition of Brad, or Cory’s lithe physique.

  Dawson recalled with a heavy heart how appealing Lucius must be to a woman. He’d seen him naked in the woods with Chanel. Lucius was stocky, but definitely not fat. The man had plenty of muscle on him as well as meat. His structure resembled the body of a man in a bulking phase.

  Dawson shifted into a rabbit, pleased by the way Chanel cooed over him, seeming to melt over his cuteness. She cupped him in her hands and nuzzled his head and long ears under her chin. His eyes closed over the sweet affection she bestowed on him.

  “You’re so cute, so soft and sweet.” She unbuttoned her pajama shirt and snuggled him between her breasts.

  Oh, my.

  The warm, fleshy mounds squished around him, cozy and seductive as he closed his eyes, listening to the steady music of her heart beating in his ears.

  Say you love me.

  As if they were already bonded through fate, she breathed a heartfelt “I love you” against his fur just before she dozed off to sleep.

  His heart felt peace at her amorous confession, damning the inevitable consequences his actions were sure to bring about. Lucius could burn in hell for all he cared. Chanel belonged to them, not him.

  Dawson soaked up the soft, erotic heat of her skin as she slept. His only love. By the time the sun rose tomorrow morning, they would be mated.

  * * * *

  “Oh, my god!” Cory shouted in horror.

  Chanel flew awake with a startled cry at his unexpected outburst. “Good lord, Cory. Warn somebody before you’re going to wake them up by yelling.”

  “Why is he a rabbit?” He looked petrified.

  “Because he’s a shape-shifter. You know that, silly.”

  “Brad! Dawson has a death wish!” Cory hollered for his oldest brother.

  Brad came into the doorway from down the hall, eyes widening in disbelief when he saw the rabbit in bed with Chanel. “Shit.”

  Dawson shifted back into his human form beneath the covers.

  Chanel rolled her eyes. “What is the matter with you two? Haven’t you ever seen him shift before?”

  “Yeah, but he knows damned well what he just did,” said Cory.

  “What did he do?”

  Brad shook his head. “You foolish son of a bitch.”

  Dawson snickered. “We have the same mother, Brad. What does that make you?”

  Chanel groaned in frustration. “Ugh! Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

  “You didn’t tell her what you were doing?” Cory looked shocked over this.

  Brad gave his other brother a cold, reprimanding stare. “Of course he didn’t tell her. She never would’ve agreed to it if he had. Well, I hope you’re happy, you damned fool. You were always her favorite. How do you expect to hold that status if you construct your bond on the foundations of deception?”

  “What the hell is going on?” Chanel demanded impatiently.

  “That idiot mated with you last night,” Brad informed her.

  “That’s ridiculous. We didn’t have sex and he didn’t bite me, either.”

  “He didn’t have to.”

  “Rabbit shifters don’t have to bite a person to claim them,” Cory explained. “All they got to do is fall asleep in the arms of the one they love, listening to the sound of their heartbeat, and profess their love for one another in some way, whether verbally or physically. Surprise.”

  Her eyes became saucers and she scooted away from Dawson in bed. “What? You claimed me as your mate?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh, my god!” She jumped up and fumbled to get the buttons on her pajama shirt closed again. “You tricked me! I trusted you. I thought you were the good one.”

  “I am. I just wanted to protect you from Lucius.”

  “You can’t break the bond between mates,” Cory protested.

  “He already bit her,” Brad reminded Dawson. “All you did was piss him off and put your life in jeopardy.”

  Dawson’s face hardened. “We’re bonded now. I can feel it.”

  “You may be bonded, but he mated her, too,” Brad pointed out. “And how the hell do you think he’s going to feel when he finds out what you did?”

  “Ah, hang him. Talk is cheap. In order to protect Chanel, somebody had to take action. I may be the quiet one, but it doesn’t mean I’m useless.”

  “Nobody said you were,” Brad replied.

  Cory shook his head. “No, you’re a bonehead and I wish I’d thought of your brilliant plan first. Chanel, baby, come here and I’ll claim you, too.”

  “What? No!” she shrieked.

  “Back off, Cory. Nobody’s claiming her until we figure out how to end this curse he has her under,” Brad decided.
>
  “Nobody’s claiming me period!” Chanel snapped, folding her arms beneath her breasts. “You’re all crazy if you think I’m going to let you endanger your lives in the name of bonding with me. Last night was the best night of my life and I wish so much that I could stay here with you, but you’ll all be killed if I do, so I’m leaving.”

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Brad told her, the muscles in his face tightening his jaw to convey his seriousness.

  “Try and stop me, Brad.”

  His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “I’ll do just that and paddle your ass raw if you sass me again. I told you last night that you were stuck with us forever. Which part of that didn’t you understand?”

  “I’m not your mindless little sub. Now back off and let me by.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  “Well, it’ll be that way if Lucius ever gets a hold of you.”

  He cupped her chin with a firm grip that wouldn’t let her dodge the penetrating sharpness in his gaze. “I don’t think I like hearing his name on your lips. Don’t ever bring him up again.”

  Chanel shivered at the savage jealousy stewing in his dark eyes, growing hot and bothered by the dangerous authority in his tone. She tried to pry his strong hand from her chin, but he wouldn’t relinquish her until he was ready to.

  She heard Dawson’s voice in her head as he spoke to her through their new bond. “Can you hear me, sweet thing?”

  “I hear you. I appreciate your intentions, Dawson, but it was incredibly foolish. He’s going to come after you.”

  “I’ll be all right.”

  Brad still glared at her.

  Chanel tried to pull away. “Let me go, you asshole. I’m only trying to protect you.”

  “What the hell do you think I’m trying to do for you?”

  “He’s going to kill you all. He told me last night that I would suffer dearly for sleeping with you.” She gaped at the blazing anger on Brad’s face and snapped her mouth shut.

  His brows raised in challenge. “What was that?”

  “Nothing.”

  “That son of a bitch has been talking to you and you didn’t tell us?”

  She shrugged. “It didn’t seem important at the time.”

  Cory snorted. “It didn’t seem important? I call horse crap.”

  “Bullshit,” Brad growled, releasing her chin and pulling her body against him. “How about I pound your ass and we’ll see how unimportant it really is.”

  Chanel winced at his ominous yet enticing threat. She didn’t want to be spanked by him right now. Or did she?

  “It’s gonna be all right, Chanel,” Dawson reassured her as he redressed in his pajamas beneath the covers.

  “Shut up,” Brad spat at him before glaring down at her again. “I don’t know who I’m more pissed off at right now—him for claiming you behind my back when he knows it’s going to get him killed, or you for withholding valuable information from us.”

  Chanel suddenly had an idea. She deliberately cast her gaze downward and made her voice sound whiny as with the announcement of tears. “You’re right. I’m very sorry.”

  He loosened his grip on her and she sat down and buried her face in her hands, pretending to sob.

  “Oh, baby, please don’t cry,” Cory pleaded. “We’re not mad at you. It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

  “Now I call horse shit,” said Brad. “She’s messing with you.”

  “Oh, go to hell, Brad,” Cory snipped, kneeling before her. “We made her cry. It’s so sad. I’m so sorry, apple fritter.”

  “It’s okay. Can I please have a tissue?” Chanel asked, making herself sniffle and shake as she kept her face down in her cupped hands. She barely peeked through her fingers to see him get up and walk over to the nightstand for one.

  “Sure, baby.”

  Now was her chance. She leaped up and bolted toward the door.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” Brad caught her by the arms and yanked her back, stilling her manic struggles with ease. “I told you she was faking with you.”

  Cory gasped loudly. “Oh my god, I totally believed you. She’s like a horrible, manipulative Southern belle, isn’t she?”

  “Let me go!”

  “Not a chance.” Brad held her tighter until she stopped fighting him.

  Dawson appeared concerned. “There’s no need to run, sweet thing. You belong to me now. Just let Brad and Cory claim you, too, and we’ll save you from him.”

  “She’ll still be mated to him, you idiot,” Brad bit out with a roll of his eyes. “When are you going to get that through your thick head?”

  “Well, well, now isn’t this an interesting turn of events?” Lucius marveled over the situation in her head.

  Chanel cringed inside. “Please don’t hurt him. He didn’t know what he was doing.”

  “Relax, princess. I’m not mad at you. It wasn’t your fault. He’s the one who claimed you, knowing that you belong to me and he’s the one who will pay for it.”

  “No!” She tried to run again, but Brad held her back.

  “Calm down. We’ll think through this. I know some people who might be able to help us.”

  “Go on,” Lucius encouraged, seeming inquisitive over the new development.

  Chanel panicked that he would become aware of whatever Brad was planning and thwart it. “Stop talking! He’ll hear you!”

  “Baby, is he talking to you right now?” Cory asked.

  Dawson seemed surprised, too, and she realized he couldn’t hear what Lucius said to her. Perhaps they were on a different channel of sorts.

  “Tell them no,” Lucius ordered.

  She said nothing.

  “Oh, Chanel.” He let out a long sigh. “I thought you wanted to be a mother again. Why do you gamble so carelessly with the life of your unborn child?”

  Chanel freaked out, eyes burning at his threat. “No.”

  Brad eyed her knowingly. “I can tell when you’re lying to me, Chanel.”

  “I’m not lying.”

  “Yes, you are. And I’ll punish you if you don’t confess and talk straight with me.”

  “Whatever discipline he has planned for you will seem like child’s play compared to what I’ll do to you when I get you alone if you betray me again,” Lucius warned her with a lethal severity she knew better than to test or question.

  She broke down into a sob, fearing for her baby. “I’m not lying. Please believe me.”

  Brad folded his arms. “I don’t.”

  “Convince him, Chanel.”

  She wept uncontrollably, trying to somehow convey her dire situation to Brad through her eyes as she simultaneously sought to hide it from him. “I’m begging you. I need you to believe what I’m telling you. If you love me, you will.”

  A glint of understanding flickered in Brad’s eyes before he heaved a seemingly defeated sigh. Had she gotten through to him, or merely convinced him of her necessary lie?

  “Fine, but let us know if you hear from him. I want to know.”

  She nodded. “You’ll know.”

  * * * *

  “Roger, the hot chick is in her place of employment, looking dapper. Oh, and no one knows I’m here right now. Over,” Cory spoke into the walkie-talkie to Dawson, who was at work at the auto shop.

  Chanel rolled her eyes with an amused smile. She had to work at the library today, but her men wanted her protected, so Cory went along with her since he had the day off.

  “Cory, you don’t have to breathe down my neck or dodge between the aisles every time someone walks by. You’re not a spy, you know.”

  “Oh, but I am, Tootsie Roll. I’m the best damned spy ever.” He grinned when a passing individual heard him say that. “Okay, so I could use some tweaking.”

  Dawson spoke from the other end of the line. “Cory, you’re there to watch her, not distract her from her work.”

  “No worries, man. I’m practically invisible right now.”

  Chanel snickered. “Hardly.”


  “The sassy dame needs some taming. Which aisle should I bang her on?”

  “Cory!” She pushed his hand down so he quit embarrassing her over the walkie-talkie. “Why don’t you just broadcast your naughty intentions a little louder so everyone in the library can hear you?”

  He wiggled his eyebrows with a facetious grin. “Believe I will.”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  She went to help someone and when she came back, Cory ducked behind a shelf of books and whispered loudly. “Roger that.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Dawson said from the other end. “Oh, hang on a second. I have a customer.”

  “The tall, svelte brunette made her way toward him,” Cory said dreamily, disregarding Dawson’s comment for him to wait. “Her long, sensuous legs made all the sexier by her do-me-now-damn-it high heels. Those full, pouty lips just salivating to wrap themselves around his hard, aching cock.”

  Chanel shook her head with a smile and reached for her water bottle for a drink.

  “Her panties dampened at his powerful, macho stare.”

  She laughed, grimacing when a couple of people looked her way. “Sorry.”

  “Hey, man, you’re insulting the narrator,” Cory accused. “His dick was so hard he could pound nails with it to hang her Victorian oil paintings with.”

  She covered her mouth to stifle her laughter again. “Cory, you’re going to get me fired.”

  “Holy crap, Cory, I’m with a customer,” Dawson exclaimed over the walkie-talkie. “Sorry, ma’am, I didn’t realize this thing was still on.”

  “Sorry about that,” Cory apologized.

  Chanel picked up a stack of books, gasping and nearly losing them when she felt Cory’s enunciated whisper on the back of her neck.

  “What ya doing, cookie cutter?”

  “Cory, I almost dropped my books. You’re lucky you’re so cute and good looking.”

  He grinned and kissed her cheek before returning to his station—one of the aisles of books. “Roger, do you copy, accomplice?”

  “Hold on,” said Dawson.