“I need to…please, Mali, I need to come.”
Mali hammered into her several more times, then bent forward and roughly took her nipple between his teeth and tugged. “Come for me,” he groaned.
Melissa stiffened in his arms and then shuddered. Arching upward, she let out a cry as she came, her walls convulsing around his shaft. Her body went limp as he surged into her harder and faster, his balls drawing up in preparation for his own release. Then, he grunted in pleasure, his cock jerking as it exploded deep inside her. For several minutes, he lay connected to his mate, memorizing the feel of her body and the scent of her skin, and then withdrew and collapsed to the bed, pulling her tightly into his arms.
Mali rubbed his cheek along the top of her head, spreading his scent as much as he could. Damn, I hate letting you go without a mating mark. Anything could happen to you, and I wouldn’t be there to protect you.
“Mali, I know you’re not happy about my trip, but you’re gonna have to get over it. I’ll only be gone a couple of days, and then I’ll be back for good. Don’t you trust me?”
He sighed heavily. “Sunshine, it’s not about trust. I trust you explicitly. It’s everyone else I have problems with.” He cupped her cheek and turned her face up. “I’m old-fashioned, brought up to believe a man protects his mate at all times.”
“Mate?” she squeaked.
He coughed and pressed her face against his chest. “You know what I mean. You’re my woman, and I don’t like the idea of you traveling alone.”
“Get over it,” she said, her voice muffled, her head held tightly against him.
“Not likely,” he snorted, and then held her even tighter when she tried to get up. “Settle down, Sunshine. I said I didn’t like it, I didn’t say I wasn’t gonna respect it.” His lips buried in the curls at the top of her head. “I’m not gonna try and stop you from going, but I am gonna count the minutes until you’re back.”
She pulled back and gazed up into his eyes. “Thank you.” Her hand caressed along the side of his face. “Why don’t you concentrate on finishing my apartment while I’m gone so I have a place of my own when I get back?”
“When’s Michael due back from his honeymoon?” he asked. He didn’t bother telling her he had no intention of finishing the apartment. He firmly expected to move his mate into his own house after she learned about the wolves. Michael could do whatever he wanted with the apartment upstairs from his office, but Melissa would live in it over his dead body.
“They’ll be back this Friday.” She lay back against the pillows. “That’s why it’ll be good for you to have a few uninterrupted days to finish. I know he’s gonna want to jump into work when he gets back, and it’ll be easier if I’m living upstairs.”
Mali grunted. “Yeah, okay, I’ll get everything done that needs to be done before he gets home Friday.” To take her mind off his vague promise, he changed the subject. “Where are Michael and Ariane gonna live while their house is being built?”
“Michael said Remus and Maddie offered to put them up for a while. Maddie said their house is big enough they could be there for weeks without ever seeing one another.” She laughed.
Mali grinned at the sound of her laughter. “Are you gonna be a good girl and let me take you to the airport?”
“You don’t have to do that, I can—”
“Sunshine,” he growled.
She looked up at him, bared her teeth, and growled back, causing Mali to throw back his head and laugh. “All right, Mr. Growly, I’ll give in this once and let you drive me. You do realize that means you’ll have to pick me up when I fly home, don’t you?”
“I’m glad to hear you call this home. I’ll happily drive to the airport to bring you back here.” Bending his head, he closed his lips over hers, his tongue sliding deep, licking and exploring. After several minutes, Melissa placed her hands against his chest and pushed. Mali leaned back and stared at her flushed face.
“Don’t start something I don’t have time to finish, big man. I need to get a shower and get back to the bed and breakfast to pack a bag.”
For just a moment, his arms tightened, his wolf not wanting to let her go any more than he did, and then he sighed and released her from his hold. “All right, Sunshine, we’ll do it your way this time, but things are gonna change when you come home.”
Melissa gave him a puzzled look, shrugged, and rolled out of the bed. She headed toward the door and then glanced back over her shoulder, a wicked grin on her face. “I still have a little time. Last one in the shower has to get on their knees.”
Melissa yelped and ran for the bathroom when Mali jumped from the bed. He chuckled at her disappearing back. “Not much incentive there, Sunshine. I win either way.” Grinning, he stalked toward his escaping mate, visions of her standing naked, water sliding down between her thighs, filling his head.
* * * *
Latan’s footsteps quickened as he neared the small cottage where Tania was staying. He’d received a call before sunrise from one of the wolves keeping tabs on Kaugh. When he’d heard Kaugh, and all three of his men, were at the remote house they were trying to buy, Latan had shifted and quickly gone to check things out for himself. Hauling himself out of Tania’s warm bed had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.
He didn’t understand the feelings he had for this woman, feelings that he’d never had before. I’m gonna have to sit down and talk to Ethan soon. I’ve got to find a way to make him understand that it’s different for me this time. I need her in my life. He looked up as the cabin came into view. I don’t hear anything. Maybe they’re still asleep. He shifted and walked up to the cabin door, careful not to make any noise. The thought of sneaking in and crawling up beside a naked Tania had his cock standing at attention in record-breaking speed.
Easing the door open, he stopped to listen. It doesn’t sound like they’re up. Wait, what is that? He stepped through the door and glanced around. Oh, for crying out loud! Ethan, you sound like a damn chain saw! Stepping farther into the darkened room, he was dismayed to see his brother spread eagle on the large bed, snoring loud enough to wake the dead, and all alone. Latan checked the bathroom, hoping to find the woman of his dreams, and came up empty handed. He took a moment to grab his clothes and redress. Fuming, he stalked over to the bed.
“Ethan,” he called out. His anger climbed another notch when his brother continued sleeping. “Ethan, damn it,” he yelled a little louder. This time, he got a snort and the shaking of a hand for his trouble. Exasperated, he picked up a pillow and brought it crashing down on Ethan’s chest. “Ethan, wake the hell up!”
“Hey,” Ethan growled as he sprung up in the bed.
Latan shook his head as he stared at his brother. Ethan crouched in the center of the firm mattress in a fighting stance, naked, with a morning erection. “Where the hell is Tania?”
Ethan growled again. “What the hell did you do that for?” He glanced around. “Where’s Tania?”
“I asked you first, asshole. I left her here, against my better judgment, curled up next to you. How the hell did you lose her?”
Ethan looked around in confusion. “She’s not in the bathroom?”
“No, she isn’t,” Latan said through gritted teeth. “What happened after I left?”
“We made love and then went back to sleep.” Ethan climbed off the bed and reached for his pants. “She was all cuddled up next to me when I fell asleep.” He laughed. “You really missed it, little bro.”
“Missed what?” he asked suspiciously.
“Our little lady has a slightly kinky side. I spanked her naked ass, and she really got off on it.”
In spite of his annoyance with his brother, Latan felt his cock begin to harden. “She liked it, huh? Damn, I wish I could’ve been here for that.” He looked at Ethan through narrowed eyes. “You’re sure she liked it? Something made her run off while you were snoring away.”
“Trust me, she liked it. She sure as hell didn’t fake that wet pussy
.” He eyed his brother for a moment. “I really like her, bro. She’s something special.”
Latan walked over and looked out the window. “Yeah, she’s definitely something else.” He didn’t want to have this conversation with Ethan, yet. He needed more time to figure out how to ask his brother to back off.
“Keep a watch for her. I’m gonna look around some.”
Latan turned and looked at his brother. “Look around for what?”
“Remus is so convinced she’s up to something, we should see if we can prove him wrong.” He walked over to the dresser and began opening drawers. A couple of minutes later, he let out a long, low whistle. “Holy shit,” he groaned.
“What is it?” Latan asked. He turned and saw Ethan holding up something red. He looked closer and saw it was a red, lacy thong. “Have we really stooped so low you’re fingering her underwear now?”
Shooting Latan an evil glare, Ethan dropped the feminine garment and slammed the drawer shut. “We both know she’s keeping secrets, and we both wanna know what those secrets are.” He walked over to her desk and began rifling through her papers. “Since I don’t think she’s just gonna up and tell us what we wanna know, I don’t see any other options but to snoop.”
Latan shrugged and returned his gaze to the outside clearing. He hated to admit it, but Ethan was right. They needed to find out what Tania was hiding. He couldn’t shake the feeling that some type of danger stalked her. The sound of kitchen cabinets closing caught his attention. “Nothing?” he asked.
“No, there’s nothing that’s even remotely suspicious.” He walked back over to the couch and grabbed his shirt. He’d just put one arm in a sleeve when he froze and glanced around the room. “Where’s the cat?”
“Huh?” Latan looked up.
“The cat, where’s the damn cat?” Ethan asked.
Latan looked around. “I don’t know, maybe she went out with Tania.”
“Maybe,” Ethan replied. “But where’s the litter box, the cat toys. Hell, where’s the cat’s food and water.” He surveyed the room. “There’s nothing here that even suggests a cat lives here.”
“Okay, so what’re you saying?” Latan asked, clearly puzzled.
Ethan sighed. “I’m not sure, but something’s not right. I just haven’t figured out what yet.” He dropped his shirt and headed for the bathroom. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
“We’re not leaving?”
“Not me,” he called over his shoulder. “I wanna be here when our vanishing princess returns.”
Latan shrugged and began peeling off his own shirt. “Don’t use all the hot water,” he yelled out. No way would he leave Ethan here alone with the woman he wanted to mate. Holy shit! I really do want to take her as my mate! He glanced toward the bathroom when he heard the sound of water running. Shit, what am I gonna do? It doesn’t feel right to cut him out. “I’m gonna have to talk to Remus and get his advice,” he whispered. Sighing, he flopped down on the bed and grabbed up a pillow. The smell of her perfume seeped into his skin. Why is it we only smell your perfume and not your beast?
* * * *
Remus looked around the room and sighed. He’d called this meeting with the Elders to update them on the surveillance of Dr. Kaugh, and now, he regretted involving them. He knew the National Council had told Vanard they wanted the Wind River Pack to back off. Apparently, they had their own plan for dealing with the deadly doctor and didn’t want interference from the local wolves. That would have been fine with Remus if his own mate wasn’t in danger from the doctor’s research. Kaugh’s history with Dr. Constantine made it impossible for Remus to step back.
“You’re wasting all this manpower on watching Kaugh and his men. Have you actually learned anything?” Vanard asked.
“We’ve learned plenty,” Remus argued. “This so-called doctor, who has access now to all of Constantine’s research, just bought a secluded house only five miles away from our territory. Early this morning, he gave orders to have his equipment moved here from California.”
“You’re sure about that?” Lanicor asked.
“Yes,” Remus said. “Sortee, the guard Latan left watching the house, overheard everything. They’re also doing a little remodeling on the place. The kind of remodeling that involves bars on the windows and double locks on the doors.”
“I understand your concern, Alpha, but you’re walking a fine legal line here. You’re already bordering on stalking this man. When, in actuality, he hasn’t made any threats to the local population.”
Remus grimaced. He hated lawyers with a passion, even those devoted to the pack. “Trust me, Lanicor. I’m not in the least worried about being charged with stalking.”
“What’s the plan, now that you have his location?” Vanard asked. “You know the Council wants us to take a step back and only observe.”
“I don’t give a damn what they want. I’m not gonna sit back and do nothing when the life of my mate, or, hell, the lives of all the wolves on the mountain, is in danger.” He glanced around at the other Elders. “I want a clean operation. We’re watching them all carefully. Once his equipment, and all the research, is at the house, we’ll take them out permanently.”
“What can I do to help?” offered Koril.
Remus smiled gratefully at one half of his security team. “Right now, just make yourself available at a moment’s notice. There’s no way of knowing when this will go down, so I need everyone on standby.”
Koril gazed over at his partner, Brenner, and nodded. “We’ll be with you, Alpha,” he promised.
Remus felt relief. “Thanks, guys, I want you to—”
“What the hell,” Taynor yelled.
Remus looked to the back of the room. Taynor was kneeling down, struggling with something under the table. When he finally stood, a very familiar black cat thrashed about trying to escape his hands.
“Son of a bitch,” Remus roared as he stormed toward the back of the room. “Well, well, well, I believe your name must be Kit.” He glared down into the eyes of the struggling cat, trying to control the anger that was driving his wolf to the surface. “Koril, Brenner, search the building and the surrounding woods for our new schoolteacher. I’m willing to bet if her damn cat’s here, she’s not far behind.” He reached out and grabbed Kit by the scruff of the neck, pulling her from Taynor’s hands. Holding the tiny animal up so their eyes were even, Remus grinned. “I’m gonna find your owner, and when I do, I’m gonna make her extremely sorry for spying on us.”
“You’re making a fool of yourself,” Vanard scolded. “What the hell’s threatening a cat going to accomplish?”
Remus looked at his head Elder and gave a tiny growl and then looked back at the struggling feline and growled louder. Kit responded by hissing, then swinging her legs around and digging all her claws into Remus’s unprotected arm.
“Shit,” Remus yelped, and promptly lost his hold on her. She ran toward the door and then stopped and ran full speed back toward Remus. Her right front claws swiped toward his leg, her teeth bared, hair standing on end. “Hey,” Remus yelled out as he jumped back to avoid further injury. “Grab that damn cat! I’m gonna lock her furry butt up for her own good!” He watched as the Elders scrambled, each of them trying to grab the crazed, little beast. Holding his stinging, bleeding arm, Remus watched incredulously as the small bundle of black fur sailed out the open window next to Vanard. “How the hell did that window get open?” he growled.
“Sorry, Remus.” Vanard shrugged. “I opened it when I got here because it was so stuffy in here.” He looked embarrassed. “I guess I forgot to close it.”
Koril and Brenner came walking through the door before Remus could say anything to the older man. “Well, did you find anything?” he asked the two men.
“Sorry, Alpha,” Brenner replied. “There’s nobody in the building or anywhere within a half-mile radius of here that didn’t belong. We never saw or smelled the teacher.”
“Damn it.” Remus kicked a chair out o
f his way as he headed out the door. “What the hell is going on?”
* * * *
Tania ran along the riverbank in her beast’s form, enjoying the night sky and the soothing sound of the flowing water. Her thoughts centered on the two men who’d shared her bed the night before. I’ve got to stay focused. I can’t afford to have any distractions right now. She stopped and gazed out over the water. Memories of the passion they’d shared flooded her mind. Oh, God, how am I gonna walk away when this is over? I don’t even know how to tell them what I am. Despondent, she turned and headed for her temporary home.
As soon as the cabin came into sight, Tania let herself shift back into her human form. For several minutes, she stood and looked at the small structure she’d found such happiness in. Goose bumps spread over her naked skin as she cooled in the gentle night breeze. Thinking back on her day, she hung her head in shame. For the first time since she began working for the National Council, she’d failed to perform her duties. She’d been so caught up in thoughts of Ethan and Latan, she hadn’t spent one minute on keeping track of Kaugh. Revenge for Tocho and justice for herself and the others had been her sole purpose for living as far back as she could remember. To think that the passion the brothers infused in her made her forget her whole purpose for being on the mountain was disgraceful. With a heavy sigh, she climbed the steps, opened the door, and stepped into the warm room.
Too late, she realized the room was too warm, a fire burning brightly in the fireplace that should be cold. She scented the male wolf just seconds before steely arms closed around her, binding her arms tightly to her sides. Fear surged for a moment, and then recognition of his scent filled her with longing. “Latan,” she whispered. Ethan came walking out of the shadows, his expression one she couldn’t read. As he came into the firelight, she gasped. He was naked, his cock fully erect, long and thick. At the same time, she became aware of a hardness pressing against the lower part of her back. She tried to pull away but was unable to break Latan’s hold.
Martine, Missy - Changing Their Wolfen Heritage [A Wolfen Heritage 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 13