by Aline Hunter
Taking a woman in the ass was the ultimate thrill.
He was the luckiest man in the world.
“Do you want me?” He pressed against the tiny hole, making sure he didn’t penetrate her. For this he wanted her consent. Knowing she was right there with him. It wasn’t worth it to him to have the moment if it didn’t mean anything to his female. They had to experience this together.
“You know I do.” She gazed at him over her shoulder. “I want you in any way I can have you.”
Christ. His heart slammed in his chest. She means it.
He’d told her that he knew she loved him. In his own way he did.
But now he saw it clearly through her eyes.
She truly would take him in any way she had to. That was how devoted she was. No wonder his betrayal had cut her so deeply. She’d pretty much offered him her heart and watched as he tossed it to the ground and stomped on it like an asshole.
He returned her stare, wanting to see her eyes when he breached her. He was wide enough that it took more pressure than he’d have liked to get inside. He hissed when the head slipped past the ring of muscle and lodged in her ass, the constrictive walls hugging the tip.
Sadie lowered her chin, gazing at him with desire and adoration. He almost lost it.
Count to ten. Think of unicorns. Do NOT fucking come.
“What’s wrong?” she purred, probably because she’d heard the thought.
The wolf—already eager and aggressive—broke free. “Not a damn thing.”
Grasping her hips, he planted his feet. One hard thrust and he slammed his cock in her ass, burying himself from tip to hilt. She accepted him but the teasing playfulness on her face vanished. She gasped. Her eyes widened and her lips parted. Good. If she kept trying to provoke him he wouldn’t be so cautious. He’d act like a fucking idiot, ramming into her like a sloppy teenager. There wouldn’t be any care, only mindless horniness that wouldn’t do her any favors.
Thinking on that, he reached around and thrummed her clit.
Her breath caught and her ass flexed around his dick. She was so damn snug he was afraid to move. She felt so good around him, like a warm, fisting glove teasing his prick. Fuck. He’d be lucky if he made it five minutes. Plucking her clit, he backed away. Her flesh parted, making way, enfolding him even as he withdrew. When only the head remained within her, he plunged back inside. His balls slapped her pussy, sending Sadie onto her toes.
“Hold on,” he warned, ready to unleash his beast.
She didn’t turn away, keeping her eyes on him as he moved. Her still-wet hair clung to her back and shoulders, a few pieces sticking to the side of her face. With each thrust he rubbed her clit, applying just enough pressure. He could scent her arousal and knew she was close. He wanted to feel her ass clamping down on him and know she was swept into a climax as he succumbed to the pleasure only she could give him.
There’ll never be another.
No other woman will ever compare.
He watched her mouth, studying her fangs. Either she’d gotten enough from him or she was gaining more control. She seemed to be attuned to the sex more than her need for blood. Or maybe it was because each time they’d been intimate they’d been rushed. He wanted to find out everything about her. After he faced the pack, he intended to spend eternity figuring out the mystery that was Sadie Dumus.
“There it is.” He gritted his teeth and tried not to think about how good she felt. “There you go.”
She whimpered, rocking back against him. He rotated the tips of his fingers over her clit, moving faster and faster. Her blue eyes brightened, turning nearly white. He pumped harder into her, aware she was right on the brink. Just a little bit more and she’d fly. He wound her up, drawing her tighter.
Right there, baby. Let go.
With a strangled cry she came, her ass squeezing him tight. He let himself go, releasing a roar of relief and triumph. His seed jetted into her ass, his balls emptying wave after wave of semen. He hammered into her, unable to stop. His attention swept to her mark, the wolf like a snake beneath his flesh. It slithered inside him, howling its own shout of possession. The animal would kill anyone who threatened its bond with its mate, regardless of the penalty.
“Trey,” Sadie moaned, going soft.
He stopped the motions against her clit, slowed down and wrapped his arm around her. She rested her weight against him, bowing her head as she took deep breaths. He kept moving, not wanting the connection to sever. He’d finally found his place. After all his trials and tribulations he’d found home. His cock softened and he reluctantly pulled away. The head popped free, leaving her open and vulnerable.
“You okay?” he asked, fighting for breath of his own.
She nodded and lifted her torso so she wasn’t bent at the waist. He reached above them to return the streams of water to their bodies. Her sigh was one of relief and satisfaction. A smile spread across his face, happiness radiating over him like the rays of the sun.
This was as good as life could get. Here, with her.
“Just rest.” He ran his hand down the length of her back, fingers drifting over the delicate arch of her spine. He rested his thumbs in the dimples in her lower back and made a mental note to touch them next time he fucked her like this. “I’m going to clean you up.”
Another surprise—she didn’t protest or try to deny him. In fact when he retrieved the washcloth she parted her thighs. He cleaned away his semen, lovingly caressing her thigh and lower back as he did. Knowing her ass was sensitive, he made sure to be tender, washing the area carefully. He made sure she was cared for before he cleaned himself, swiping at his cock.
Tossing the cloth aside, he returned to her.
She pivoted from the wall and faced him, a curious and shy expression on her face. He wasn’t sure what put it there but he liked it. He wanted her to feel comfortable around him, even when she was exposed and uncertain. She needed to know she didn’t always have to be ferocious or deadly. Not with him. When they were alone she was always free and safe to let her guard down.
An instinct he was born with told him to hold her. She needed it as much as he did.
He opened his arms and she stepped into them. They swayed in the shower, cocooned by the hot steam. He didn’t want to pull the curtain aside and face the world but they couldn’t hide forever. Emotions tugged at his heart, telling him he needed to share how he felt.
This had to be what people had told him about.
This has to be how Emory and Diskant felt about their mates.
He’d never been in love before but he couldn’t imagine anything that was more intense.
“You don’t have to say it,” she whispered, her lips drifting over his neck, repeating his earlier words. “I already know.”
He held his breath when her tongue danced over his skin, anticipating her bite. His cock remained soft but he knew he’d come the instant she bit him. He felt drained from what she’d taken earlier but he didn’t have it in him to tell her no. With a soft kiss to his pulse, she drew away. His confusion must have shown because she immediately rested a hand on his chest, her palm directly over his heart.
“Next time.” Tilting her head to peer up at him, she said, “You need to be strong for what’s coming.”
Just like that, everything came rushing back.
His growl came naturally. “I know I said you’d have to fight for me but I’m not sure that’s best. We have a little time left. We can think of something else.”
“Trey.” This close, he could see how full and dark her lashes were. “I’d tell you if I didn’t think I could handle myself. I’m not worried for me. I’m worried for you.”
“Don’t be.” The last thing she needed to worry about was him. “Worst case scenario? They’ll make me leave. Everything considered it might not be a bad thing. We wouldn’t be tied down. We could go wherever we want.”
“And you’d be miserable.” Her fingers whispered over his chest. “I know you need th
em. They’re all you’ve ever known. And that’s understandable. It’s who you are. It’s what’s in your blood. I’ll do my best to prove myself. If Diskant thinks we can do it—if you believe you can do it—then we will.”
“I don’t deserve you.” The words came right out, uncensored.
“I didn’t think you did either but I’m starting to warm up to the idea.” She shook her head when he tried to respond. “No more words. Let’s just be for a while.”
She lifted to the tips of her toes and he bent his head. Their lips met, soft and sweet. He cradled her to him and she slid her hands around his neck. Once again she was right. Nothing had ever been better. Their mating was like a key sliding into a lock. Doors opened, the world changed. Everything faded away but the woman in his arms, her skin warm and slippery from the water. Her mouth opened and he swept his tongue over her lower lip, asking for more.
“I’ll give you more, don’t worry,” she whispered in his mind. “Once we settle accounts we’ll have all the time in the world.”
He couldn’t prevent the fears that raced through his head. If something happened to her he wouldn’t be able to survive the loss. If she was aware of what he was thinking she didn’t let on, deepening the kiss.
And that was a good thing.
He didn’t want her to see him trying to imagine a world without her in it.
Chapter Thirteen
Diskant Black had seen a lot of serious shit in his life, from battles to blood feuds. As an Omega—with the ability to sense other beasts and control most shifters—not much surprised him. Then his mate had come along, flipped him on his head and pretty much caused the world to start spinning in the opposite fucking direction. Like dominos, things had tumbled and fallen one by one. He’d thought he’d finally gotten things worked out when Sadie’d showed up with her friend in tow.
Trey and Nathan. Mated to fucking vampires.
He raked his fingers through his hair, glaring at the phone.
Craig Newlander had agreed to help, but as always the bastard was asking questions. It was the truce Diskant had made with the head of the Villati—a group of humans who researched and chronicled information on all things supernatural. Each and every time he’d had to reach out to Craig, Diskant’s skin had crawled. He didn’t like the man, not one fucking bit.
Heaviness weighed on his shoulders.
Nathan would want to know what was going on, and he’d given his word to give the male a say in things. Diskant wasn’t sure how Nathan would take the news. In a few hours he’d have to depart with Leigh. Craig had played phone tag with the enclave but eventually the fucker had come through. The enclave said they could protect Leigh. Craig even indicated they were curious about the woman when they’d learned of her circumstances. Of course Diskant had kept her ability a secret, saying only that she’d been changed against her will and needed a safe place from others like her.
His eyes closed, the images that Sadie’d shown him flashing through his head.
Fear. Horror. Devastation. Loss.
Leigh had suffered in ways he didn’t want to ponder too heavily. He only wished he could convey it to Nathan in a way that wouldn’t destroy the man. The Beta was unstable enough. Much more and he’d lose control over his wolf. If and when that happened, Nathan would likely destroy any chance he had with his female.
Opening his lids, Diskant reclined in his chair.
The office usually calmed him. It was a quiet place where he could think things through. Now the space seemed almost constrictive, the walls closing in on him while he waited for the pack to arrive. He had no idea how they’d react to Sadie. After what had happened with Mary they’d probably get the fuck out of town. Without the numbers he needed to form a proper guard, he couldn’t give his mate or child safety.
That didn’t work for him. At all.
Take Pinkie to Alaska. Wish everyone your best and get the fuck out.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me, you know.”
He turned toward his female’s voice, smiling when he saw her form in the doorway. She still managed to get under his skin. Rounding and pregnant with his child, she was even more radiant. He blonde hair had grown slightly, the pink strands a lighter shade since she’d stopped worrying about the color as often. Her enormous midnight-blue eyes took him in, seeing everything.
“Come here.” He spun the chair around and sat up, making room for her on his lap. “Let me hold you, baby.”
“If anyone gets too riled, I’ll calm them down,” she told him, resting her weight against his chest, tucking her head to her chin. “The world is changing. The pack’s going to have to accept that. In order to survive you have to adapt.”
Ava meant well. Due to the fact she raided his mind whenever she felt like it she knew everything about the pack. But she hadn’t been born a shifter. She might see the pack and be a part of them but in a way she’d never fully understand them.
“That’ll be easier said than done. There’s a chance they’re going to leave, Pinkie. If they do you’re going to have to accept we can’t stay here. It’s not safe. We’ll have to go.”
“I don’t want to move to Alaska,” she grumbled and he felt the anger stirring inside her. “I like it here. This is home.”
“You can finally meet my family.” Optimism was a right good thing, especially if it could soothe his female’s violate temper. “They can’t wait to see you.”
“If they want to see me they can come here,” she countered. Even cuddled up in an innocent-looking ball the woman was all fire. “I didn’t threaten a woman today only to back down when the fire gets hot.”
He caught the catch in her voice. She was still upset.
Goddamn it.
He held her close, trying to alleviate her guilt. Although Ava was a formidable woman, she wasn’t without compassion. She’d felt horrible about what she’d done to Leigh. When she’d faced the woman she’d pretended to be calm. Diskant knew she hadn’t been. He’d sensed how upset she was the instant she left the bedroom, rushing from Leigh and Sadie. He’d reacted, going in search of her. When he’d found her in the kitchen she’d been shaking like a leaf and wringing her hands.
“You probably saved her life.” He’d already told her that but it bore repeating. “She couldn’t have left here alone. She wouldn’t have made it very far.” Skimming his fingers over her arm, he consoled, “And then there’s Nathan. Imagine what it would have done to him if his mate had vanished. At least now they have a chance.”
“Maybe you’re right.” His gaze went to her hand. She stroked her growing belly, talking quietly. “I just wish I didn’t have to do it. You know, I thought carrying this baby would be the hardest thing I’d have to do this year.” She snorted, shaking her blonde head. “I guess I was wrong.”
“Ava mine,” he whispered, resting his hand over hers. Taking her fury was one thing. He couldn’t stand her sadness. “Don’t make me bend your sexy little ass over this desk and take off my belt. I don’t like it when you throw pity parties.”
“As I recall, you were throwing the party. Not me. I was an unexpected guest.”
Minx.
Lifting his hand from her stomach, he cupped her face. He drew her chin upward until their eyes locked. She was so tiny—so fucking fragile. He studied her, his gaze drinking her in. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.
And she was his.
He knew he’d been given a gift beyond measure. That’s what made their current predicament so goddamn shitty. He couldn’t let her go to Alaska without him but he didn’t want her to stay either.
Those expressive blue eyes flashed in a silent warning. “I’m not going anywhere.”
There she went, reading his mind again.
“Will you never do what you’re told?” he asked her telepathically, without realizing he’d done so. By now it was second nature. “Do you always have to be so damn obstinate?”
“Obstinate my ass.” Despite the rebuke her voice
tendered, her brows unfurling. “You know how I am. You might as well give up the idea of keeping me barefoot and pregnant.”
A cough drew Diskant and Ava’s attention to the door.
Nathan stood just inside the frame, studying them. Ava sat a little straighter, allowing Diskant to assist her. A pang of remorse slithered through Diskant, working its way through his gut. Seeing them together—close and intimate—had to break something inside Nathan. It wasn’t fair but when it came to mating, things rarely were.
“Come in.” Diskant motioned to the chair situated on the other side of the desk.
Nathan’s eyes darted to Ava. Hatred tainted the Beta’s glare.
Diskant had to tamp down his inclination to put the man in his place, reminding himself that Nathan had been through hell. In any other situation he’d have taken anyone who showed Ava disrespect to the ground and offered their balls to her on a stick.
“Easy, big boy,” Ava thought to him, patting his arm. “I’m not offended.”
“You’ll have to leave with Cade tonight,” Diskant informed Nathan as the Beta took a seat. “But instead of heading to North Carolina you’ll be meeting someone in Virginia.” With a little shift, Diskant managed to ease his arm from Ava and retrieve a piece of paper. He tossed it toward Nathan and said, “That’s the number for your contact. Don’t call it until you’re well out of town. We don’t need to take a chance anyone will be able to track you.”
Nathan reached for the paper. “Do we leave before or after the pack arrives?”
“Actually, I need you to get everything together and go as soon as possible.” As soon as the sun set the pack would gather. It was best if Leigh had gone by then as an added precaution. The wolves might be eager for blood and two vampires would raise their hackles more than one. “You need to tell Cade to suit up.”