"We've been working on it all afternoon, Cady. The closest one is at least 2 hours away, and the roads are blocked there too," Grant explained. "We thought...well Nick insisted on driving you and we put all these precautions, but we weren't prepared for a snowstorm."
Oh god, Nick drove me because I wanted to go. It's all my fault. "There must be something we can do!" Cady panicked. There was a pause, and Cady knew Grant so well that she knew he was holding back. "There is something, isn't there? Tell me now Grant," she threatened. "Or I'll call the police and have Nick locked up in the local jail, because metal bars might be the only thing that can hold him. But that would mean exposing the Lycans and you better be prepared to deal with that."
Grant let out a defeated breath. "I'll have Dr. Faulkner explain it to you." There was silence as he passed the phone to the older Lycan.
"Cady," Tom Faulkner's voice was grave.
"Dr. Faulkner, tell me what I need to do," she said in a determined voice.
"Cady, dear..." Dr. Faulkner hesitated. "You know what happens during the Blood Moon. Nick is going to start to shift soon. He'll probably try to stop it, which will cause him great pain. He might even go mad, or...he could die or attempt to kill himself to protect you, the people around him, and the clan. He's going to become a full wolf, with no control. And he might not remember everything once the Blood Moon is over."
"How do I stop it?" She bit her lip.
"Well, there is one sure way...you need to give him what he wants. What his wolf instinct wants. Food, drink, and...allow him to give into his sexual needs."
Her heart slammed into her chest and she sank back further into the couch. Dr. Faulkner didn't have to explain any further. "And you're sure that will stop him from shifting?"
"Yes. You might...and I'm sorry to say this...you might have to keep him, uh, occupied throughout the night. Until the Blood Moon wanes, which could be a few hours. But it was how our ancestors dealt with the Blood Moon, before we had the technology to build safe rooms."
Cady's mouth went dry. "I understand."
"I'm sorry to ask this of you, Cady," Grant said as he came back on the phone. "I'm really, really sorry." He sounded choked up. "If there was another way..."
"Please Grant, don't..." she wanted to cry as well. "I'll...I'll take care of it, ok? Just...go into the safe rooms. I know Alynna will need you now as well," she thought of the pregnant young Lycan. "So please...and don't tell anyone. I mean, I know you won't..."
"We'll deal with the aftermath later, ok?" Grant promised. "And, whatever you want, whatever you decide, I'll make it happen. And Nick...he's stubborn as hell. He knew about it and refused to have you deal with it. We tried, we really did."
Another stab of hurt went through her. Of course Nick didn't want her. She should have known, but hearing it cemented the realization. "I know you did. Bye Grant." She put the phone down. Cady pushed away all other thoughts. Right now, she needed to focus, to save the clan, the innocent people at the hotel, and Nick.
Chapter Thirteen
Cady walked back to the door, knocking softly this time. "Nick, please open the door."
Nick's head perked up at the sound of her voice, a growl came from within as his wolf seemed to respond to her. "No. Go away, Cady." He gritted his teeth, his hands curling into fists as pain shot through his body. He discarded his shirt as the temperature seemed to keep rising in his room and his chest was covered in sweat. Of course, it wasn't the room that was getting hotter. Spiking body temps meant the change was about to come.
"I spoke with Grant and Dr. Faulkner. Please, let me in."
He could hardly stop himself as he stalked towards the door. Big mistake, as Cady's caramel apple scent wafted through the cracks. The wolf wanted to rip the doors apart and drag her into the room. "I can do this, I can stop it..."
"You can't, they told me," she sighed. "Even if you could, you might go insane. Or die."
"I'll take that risk, I can't...I could hurt you..." His hands clawed at the thick wooden panels and it took every ounce of his human self control to stop himself from opening the door.
"Nick...I...I know you don't want me and you would rather be with someone else," she choked out. "Please, I'll do anything. Don't think about me, think about someone else. Someone you want to be with."
Something inside Nick snapped at her words, and whether it was the wolf or human part he wasn't sure. But it made him pull the door open violently. "What are you talking about?" He stopped short when he saw her standing in front of him.
Cady had never looked more beautiful, and his cock sprang to attention at the sight of her. Her long red hair hung in loose waves around her shoulders and down her back. She was wearing a silky pale lavender nightgown that showed off her milky skin, her nipples straining against the thin fabric. Indigo eyes looked up at him, her pink lips slightly parted. Barefoot and barely wearing any makeup, she looked even more vulnerable than usual, standing before him, offering herself to him. Her delicious scent wafted into his senses, mixed with fear and arousal. He could barely keep himself in check.
"Grant said you refused...to have me help you," she whispered, her face turning away from him.
"Yes, but not because..." He closed his eyes, but the sight of her was etched into his mind, something he would never forget for the rest of his life. "Cady, it's not that I won't. I can't...I couldn't. You were off-limits. But I've wanted you since the moment I met you." Nick grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into the room with him. Slamming the door behind her, he pushed up against her, pinning her body with his. She gasped, and he bent down and pressed his lips to hers roughly.
Their first kiss was savage, with Nick digging his fingers into her hair and pulling her head back. His lips weren't gentle, but fierce and violent, practically devouring her. It was a decade's worth of pent up desire and hunger, pouring out all at once. His tongue sought out hers, tasting her mouth, ravaging her. She moaned when he pressed his hips agains her, his erection evident.
"Nick," she cried when he dragged his lips lower. He nuzzled her neck with his mouth, his tongue licking a path down the column of her throat. She placed her hands on his bare chest, his skin almost burning her with heat.
"Cady...Cady..." he repeated it like a prayer. When he reached her neckline, he paused. "I need you now. I'm sorry. I can't control it..."
"Sorry for--" She was interrupted by the ripping of fabric, as Nick tore her nightgown down the middle. His face was flush, and his expression pained. The muscles under his cheeks seemed to shift, at least that's what she thought she saw. Oh god, it was starting.
He cupped her breasts with both hands, squeezing them gently and testing their weight in his palms. Bending down, he sucked on her nipples, tasting and savoring her.
It seemed almost familiar to Cady, the way his tongue and lips licked at her nipples. But the real thing was about a thousand times more amazing and she could feel her pussy flooding with wetness. She whimpered as he sucked a nipple deeper into his mouth.
"Please, Nick," she begged.
"I need to taste you first," he growled, the sound so wild and animalistic.
"Will that...help?" she felt almost silly for asking. For some reason, she thought it would be quick and fast.
"I have to...listen to what the wolf wants," he gasped as he knelt in front of her. "And right now he wants a taste." Spreading her legs, he plunged a finger into her wet cunt, the small thatch of red hair already glistening with her juices.
"Nick!" she sobbed as his lips and tongue touched her core. Cady looked down and watched Nick lick her nether lips, his tongue thrusting up into her tightness. He looked up at her, and his eyes seemed to glow in the low light, twin ice blue shards that glittered with desire. She cried out as he touched her core one last time and her body exploded in orgasm, pleasure ripping through her so hard she would have collapsed were she not braced against the door.
Nick picked her up effortlessly, and in his arms she could feel his entir
e body humming with desire. She took a deep breath, reveling in his amazing scent. She knew it wasn't his cologne, but the pure animal magnetism he seemed to exude, calling to her. He laid her down on the bed almost reverently. Standing up, he removed the rest of his clothing, pushing his pants and briefs down to his ankles. Her eyes followed a trail downwards, from his bare naked chest, covered in a light matting of hair, down his perfectly sculpted abs, lower still to the shallow dip of his hips, then finally, to his erect cock. The shaft was thick and long, jutting up and forward. She gasped quietly and forced herself to look up. Nick's gaze was naked with want. She shivered when his eyes clashed with hers, and she could feel how much he wanted her.
He joined her on the bed, leaning over her. Pushing her hair away, he bent down and kissed her again. Cady sensed a calmness in him, despite the urgency in his kisses. Skin to skin, with nothing between them, he lay on top of her, spreading her legs as the tip of his cock nudged at her entrance.
"Nick...I...I need to..."
"Yes," he growled. "I need you too."
"That's not...I mean...Nick!" she cried out when he pushed into her.
"Cady..." He paused, his eyes growing wide as he felt the tight barrier give way. "You're a..."
She closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes, I haven't..." God, she was ruining this, wasn't she? But when was she supposed to tell him that she was a virgin?
"Cady, Cady," he soothed, brushing her hair away from her temples. "I'm sorry...I can't stop..."
When she looked up into his eyes, she saw them glow and shift colors, the pupils turning into slits. She swallowed a gulp. "Please Nick, it's alright. I'm...please...fuck me now. I need you. Take me. I want to come with you inside me."
Nick snarled and growled, then his eyes shifted back into something more human. He moved his hips, hands digging under her as he pressed her close.
"Cady," he whispered into her ear. "So beautiful, and lovely, and sweet..." He thrust slowly, almost experimentally.
Her body tensed at first, but the discomfort ebbed away quickly, until she could only feel pleasure. She arched up, her hips pushing at him.
"More...Nick, please, I want more..." she begged, her nails digging into his shoulders as she clung desperately to him.
Nick tensed and his hands slipped lower, cupping her sweet bottom and he thrust into her. Cady moaned in pleasure as he increased his thrusts, pushing his cock into her as far as he could. He moved, in and out of her, building a slow and steady rhythm as her tight walls created that delicious friction he craved.
She buried her face into the crook of his neck as her body tensed one last time. "Nick...I'm..." Pure white heat shot through her, and she closed her eyes tight as pleasure rippled through her, coming waves. She clung to him, unable to do anything else as she orgasmed.
"Cady..." Her name was low and guttural, coming from deep within. With one last thrust and as her pussy tightened around his cock, he emptied himself into her. He called her name again, and then collapsed on top of her.
Cady lay still underneath him, her mind reeling. She stroked his hair, much softer than she'd ever imagined and darker too under the soft lamplight. Turning her head, she looked outside. The night sky had cleared up and the snow had stopped. The moon was large and tinged with red as it hung high. Closing her eyes, she sighed, Nick's weight becoming heavy on top of her. She nudged him softly and he rolled over, but not before grabbing her by the waist and tucking him against his warm body. His arms were like vices, and though she could settle comfortably against him, she wasn't getting away. With a defeated breath, she closed her eyes and let exhaustion take over her.
***
To say Nick was insatiable was an understatement. After the first time, Cady dozed off, but it wasn't long before she felt hands roaming all over her body, a low, rumbling growl waking her up. She gasped as a warm hand slipped between her legs, coaxing them apart. He stroked her until she grew wet and Nick's hard cock nudged at her from behind. She sighed as he slipped into her, his other arm snaking around her waist and his hips thrust up into her, his fingers playing with her clit as he fucked her until she orgasmed, her body shuddering. When he finished, her name on his lips as he gave one last thrust, his soft cock slipped out of her, his seed drying on her thighs. He fell asleep again, but refused to let go of her, even in sleep.
When she woke up a second time, Nick's blonde head was between her legs. She gasped as his tongue licked at her, thrust inside her, sucking on her hard little clit until she orgasmed. With a wicked smile and a grunt, he flipped her over, so he was on his back and she was over him, impaling herself on his already hard cock. She ground down on him, setting the pace as she sought out her pleasure, sliding up and down his shaft. Cady grabbed onto his shoulders and raked her nails down his chest as orgasm after orgasm ripped through her, and Nick thrust up as he filled her again.
But she herself couldn't get enough. It would have to be enough, she thought. She would get what she could and keep the memories, even if there was a possibility he wouldn't remember afterwards. He said nothing the whole time except her name, moaning and groaning as he sought his pleasure and kept the wolf at bay.
They had sex twice more and by the time the sky was pink outside, Cady was exhausted and she knew that the danger was over. Nick has collapsed on top of her and she slipped out from under him. He didn't wake up or try to trap her, so she crawled to the other side of the king-sized bed, wrapping herself around a cool pillow and welcoming the dreamless sleep that took over her.
***
Cady ached all over. And she was naked. She sat up quickly, her mind foggy. Oh. Right. She looked around her, and saw Nick lying on his stomach on the other side of the bed. It seemed like he hadn't move since...this morning?
"Nick?" she shook him, but he remained still. She nudged him, but he didn't move. Placing a finger to his neck, his pulse was strong and steady, his breath even, but he just wouldn't wake up or move. "Dear lord!" She almost wanted to laugh. She literally screwed Nick Vrost into a coma.
A loud ding-dong sound snapped her out of it. The doorbell. She jumped up and grabbed the first thing she could that was wearable - a hotel robe, which more than adequately covered her - and opened the door.
"Dr. Faulkner!" The older Lycan stood outside the door, his hands clasped behind his back.
"May I come in?" He couldn't look at her in the eye.
"Of course." Talk about awkward.
Dr. Faulkner walked in, looking a little sheepish. "Uhm, Grant sent me as soon as he could."
"What time is it?"
"It's 3pm, my dear."
Cady gasped audibly, not realizing how late it was.
"How...how is Nick?"
She turned as red as her hair. "He's fine...but I can't wake him up."
The doctor nodded. "That should be normal, but I'll go check on him." He fished something out of his pocket. It was a foil packet with a couple of pills. "Cady, you know it's hard for us Lycans to conceive, but on the off-chance...these are morning after pills. Take the first one now and follow the directions for the rest."
She numbly took the packet from the older man. "Thank you." She didn't even think of the possibility...But chances are there wouldn't even be a child. And even if it happened, it would be a fully human one. However, she wasn't prepared to be tied to Nick Vrost forever. She stared at the pills in her hand and popped the first one into her mouth.
A few minutes later, Dr. Faulkner stepped out of the bedroom. "He'll be out for another couple of hours, but he'll be fine. Did you want to go home? The jet is waiting. I'll stay here with Nick until he wakes up."
Cady nodded. "I'll pack my things."
Chapter Fourteen
Cady couldn't wait to get home. Confused, tired, and overwhelmed, all she wanted to do was sit in her tub at home and soak for hours. Nick's scent seemed to permeate her skin, and it was driving her mad. Part of her still craved for him, for his touch. She had to wash it away, if only so she could think straight.
As she sat surrounded by bubbles and her favorite scented oils, she contemplated the situation. What could she do? Pretend everything was normal? Quit? The best case scenario was maybe Nick wouldn't remember a thing and they could just go on as they did before. She sank into the bubbles further. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. She would just have to take it a day at a time.
Monday came and she was actually glad to go to work and have something to do. The good news was, since it was after a Blood Moon, about half the Lycan staff would be gone. She didn't hear any word from Dr. Faulkner about Nick's condition, but she figured no news was good news. Grant didn't take the day off (he never did after a Blood Moon, and as Alpha, it was luxury he couldn't afford) but she knew he was out of the office at meetings the whole day. Alynna and Alex had definitely taken the day off, but the young couple assured her in a text message that they were fine and so was the baby, but stayed at home as an extra precaution.
The next few days were a bit tricky, but she managed to avoid Grant and Nick. The Beta was probably back at work, seeing as she saw the new security rotation list. Since she had access to both men's schedule, she worked it out so she could avoid them. If Grant wanted to see her, he made no indication, only communicating with her through email and she heard nothing from Nick at all. While she was disappointed, she was also relieved. Grant's avoidance, however, almost hurt. But what did she expect, anyway? A clap on the back? An award? Of course, she knew any meeting with Grant right now would just be awkward.
In the middle of the week when she knew both men would be at the office, Cady scheduled to work from home and then come in the afternoon. Before she stepped into Fenrir's building that day though, she decided to take a walk around the block to the nearby coffee shop, where she knew the peppermint mochas were most definitely in season, even this early. She was about to push the door open, when it swung out, almost knocking her to the ground.
Blood Moon: Book 2 of the True Mates Series: A Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 8