by Bonnie Vanak
She spoke in a hoarse whisper. “She told me that if she ever set eyes on me again, she’d kill me, the way I had her mate killed.”
Guy stared, his jaw tightening.
“I was betrayed by the woman I loved the most. I never wanted to have anything to do again with werewolves, because that’s what my mother was.”
Tears finally spilled over and splashed down her cheeks. The memories surged—her mother’s expressionless face, the way she’d removed the locket for the first time in years. As if she were physically removing her own daughter’s presence.
Warmth surrounded her as Guy pulled her into his arms. She buried her face against his chest and wept.
He rocked her against him as he stroked her hair. It felt so good to be held for the first time in years, held and comforted.
Sniffling, she lifted her head. “I got your shirt wet.”
“Hey, sunshine,” he said softly, wiping her eyes gently with the tail ends of his damp shirt. “Chin up. No reason to cry. I’ve got another.”
His cheeky grin coaxed from her a sputtering smile. His warmth felt wonderful. Kayla ran her fingers over his broad shoulders, testing the tensile muscles. Her palms drifted lower, skimming his chest. He was hard, not a spare ounce of flesh on him. She unfastened the buttons, pulled open his shirt and studied the dark gold hair sprinkled on his firm chest.
Guy made a low, strangled sound as she rubbed her palm against it. He cupped her face and captured her mouth. His kiss was gentle, as if he cherished tasting her lips. Then he coaxed her mouth open and began sensually stroking inside with his tongue. White-hot heat raced through her.
She moaned, clutching fistfuls of his shirt. Damn, the wolf knew how to kiss.
Never had she wanted a man more, to feel his hard body sliding over hers, surging inside her. No one had ever cared for her like this. She craved his closeness, yearned to intimately join with him.
When he pulled away, she made a sound of disappointment. Guy rested his forehead against hers. “Kayla,” he murmured. “I told you, when it’s time, to remember. Am I a heartless bastard?”
“No, you’re not,” she said breathlessly.
The smoldering intensity burning in his deep blue eyes made her shiver. When he pressed closer, letting her feel the steely length of his erection, she removed her towel.
“Touch me, Guy,” she begged.
A shiver of anticipation raced through her as he skimmed his hands down her naked body. Palming her breasts, he gently squeezed, his thumbs rubbing over her hardened nipples. His mouth enclosed one. Clutching him to her, she cried out as he suckled, his tongue rasping skillfully over the tight bud. The delicious scent of male arousal filled the air.
He paused only to remove his clothing. Somehow they made it to the bed, kissing and touching each other.
As she fell back onto the mattress, he slid her to the edge, knelt on the floor and spread her legs open wide.
He put his mouth on her. Kayla cried out in pleasured shock. His tongue delved between the wet folds of her cleft, licking slowly. He growled softly as she writhed at each fiery stroke. Arching off the mattress she felt her entire body grow rigid as stone as the sensations built higher and higher. The sweet tension shattered as she screamed.
“Now,” he said, his hard, fierce gaze meeting hers.
Guy mounted her, his hips settling between her outstretched, trembling legs.
The shock of his thick penis pushing into her made her cry out. Kayla stared into his glittering gaze. He pushed forward, his penis like a hot, iron bar stretching her sensitive inner tissues. Then he thrust forward, and slid all the way inside.
They were sealed together now, melded from hip to breast. Kayla gulped down a trembling breath, feeling as if he stroked into her very soul. Bracing his weight on his hands, he lay still, as if accustoming her to the feel of him inside her.
Impatiently, she wriggled her hips in nameless acceptance. She hooked her legs around his hips, urged him to move.
He began to slowly thrust. Silky hairs on his chest rasped against her sensitive nipples. She wound her arms around his neck, urging him forward. The ever-present loneliness faded as she drank in each sensation of being intimately joined with Guy. Kayla reveled in the feel of this powerful Draicon’s body sliding over hers, filling her completely.
Guy stroked against her sensitive core in such a way that the pleasure began mounting once more. He twisted, and the sensation wrung another sharp cry of pleasure from her as she climaxed. Above her he stiffened, then groaned her name as his big body bucked and shuddered. She felt the wet warmth of his seed spurt into her.
With a murmured sigh, he collapsed atop her. His heavy weight pressed her into the mattress. She stroked his arms, feeling the muscles jump as he panted into her pillow.
A few minutes later, he slid out of her, rolling and taking her with him, protectively tucking her into the crook of his shoulder. She read the tender possessiveness of the gesture, as if he knew she needed to be held after the intensity of giving her body to him.
“I wanted you the minute I laid eyes on you, Kayla,” he said quietly. “I could only hope you wanted me as much.”
“I do,” she whispered.
Kayla tunneled her fingers through the damp hairs on his chest, puzzling over the incredible sensation of being filled with light.
“It feels like I’m Draicon again,” she mused.
Guy brushed a finger across her cheek. “A male Draicon’s semen contains cells filled with his magick. I passed my energy into you. You can shift now.”
She ruminated over the idea, startled to find the once-visceral reaction to being a werewolf had gone.
But she couldn’t practice magick again. Her long-silent gift would emerge, and that worried her more than anything else. What if she used it on Guy and saw only darkness?
Kayla concentrated on the present. Cuddling with him made her feel safe, cherished and protected. She didn’t want to lose the moment.
He pressed his lips against her temple. “Are you all right, sunshine? You’re awfully quiet.”
“Let’s not talk about magick now,” she murmured. She took his thickening cock into her hand, but he stayed her. Concern shone in his eyes.
“You’re not too sore?”
Her heart turned over at his consideration. Kayla straddled him. “Uh-uh. No waiting. But this time, I’m in charge, wolf. Deal?”
He moaned in pleasured agreement as she slid down on him.
Chapter 7
Guy never thought he could fall in love. But damn, he was coming close with this little Draicon vixen who wound around his heart.
He loved the purring sound she made as she wrapped her limbs around his hips. The way her eyes darkened with passion. He loved tasting the tangy wetness of her arousal on his tongue, the tightness of her channel as he pushed into her.
More than even the sex, he cherished the intimacy of being with someone who didn’t judge, but accepted him for who he was.
As Kayla lay in his arms, he tightened his grip around her. Now, in the aftermath, he must tell her.
Are you all right?
“Very much so,” she murmured.
He remained motionless, waiting. She lifted her head with a frown.
I only want to please you, Kayla. Guy brushed back a strand of hair from her face.
Her eyes widened. “What kind of magick are you pulling on me? You spoke into my mind!”
“It’s perfectly normal, sweetheart,” he said calmly, though his heart pounded hard. “Among our kind, and destined mates.”
Emotions rolled off her, punctuating the languid aftermath of sex with the sharp scent of fear, confusion and uncertainty. Guy pressed his lips against her temple.
“I wanted to tell you, but you seemed like you’d be more accepting now.” He hesitated. “The reason you can hear me in your mind is because I’m your destined mate.”
Oh, sweet mercy, everything had changed now, turning Kayla into a cauldron
of boiling emotions. How could he be her destined mate when she didn’t even want to be Draicon?
Guy released her, hooking his hands behind his head. “I can see you need some time adjusting to this.”
Kayla swung her legs over the bed’s side. “It’s a little sudden. Compare it to a woman sleeping with a guy who tells her the little gold band he slipped on to her finger last night means they’re married, and she had no say in it.”
He considered. “We can get married in a human ceremony, if that’s what you want.”
“Are you listening to me?” she yelled. “I told you I refused to be wolf and now you hit me with this. I can’t just charge into anything because some ancient rule says we’re biologically destined mates.”
Her face screwed up in anguish. “You don’t even love me.”
Guy looked steadily at her. “Prison stripped something from me, sunshine. I don’t know if I could ever love again. But you can’t deny there’s something between us we can’t fight.”
“I sure as hell can,” she snapped. “I’m not letting some mating urge rule me.”
A low hiss escaped him. “Kayla, it’s not something you can take off, like a wedding ring. You can’t run from this, like you’ve been running from who you are.”
“And you can’t imprison me with it because you’ve been locked up and scared of being alone in the world!”
His expression went slack, but not before she caught his wounded look. Guy turned. A lump caught in her throat. She reached for him. “Guy, I didn’t mean…”
Ducking away from her, he rolled off the bed. “I’m taking a shower.”
He didn’t look back as he paced toward the bathroom.
All through dinner, Kayla felt miserable from snapping at Guy. She barely touched the fresh fillet of sole and rare lamb. Everything tasted like swamp water filled with rot and decay. When she looked around for the saltshaker, Henri apologized.
“We’re fresh out. I will have more tomorrow,” he promised.
Danielle was watching her. Her own food was untouched.
Kayla glanced at Danielle when the woman questioned why she wasn’t eating.
“It’s delicious, but I’m afraid I’m not hungry.” She looked at Danielle’s plate. “For a Draicon, you’re not enjoying the fresh protein, either.”
“I didn’t say I was Draicon.” Danielle studied her.
Interesting. Kayla’s newly restored senses sent a warning, but she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. “What exactly are you?” she bluntly asked.
“Kayla,” Guy warned.
“It’s all right, Mr. Laurent.” Danielle looked amused as she glanced at her husband. “I’m a woman in love with a werewolf. But I’m not Draicon.”
Henri reached over, clasped her palm. Kayla’s heart squeezed at the loving glances they exchanged. Could she ever have the same with Guy?
She snuck a look at him, only to see him stare with the same longing at those tightly clasped hands. Guy said he couldn’t love. What they had was mere biology.
“So where is Brianna? When can we meet her?” Guy asked.
Henri and Danielle exchanged looks. “There is something we must tell you,” Henri said. “Brianna disappeared two days ago, the day my wife arrived.”
Guy nearly shot out of his chair, restrained only by the gentle pressure of Kayla’s hand on his wrist.
“Well, son of a bitch, where the hell is she? You were supposed to keep her safe until we arrived,” he burst out.
Danielle looked ashamed. “I suppose she was too traumatized by what happened to her pack.”
“We did everything we could to make her stay here,” Henri protested.
Kayla wondered. The woman still looked upset, but she sensed something else simmering beneath the surface.
“We’ve searched, but with your excellent tracking capabilities, I’m certain you can find her, Guy.” Henri gave him a placating look. “In the meantime, please, let’s have dessert.”
Guy shook his head. “No, thanks. We need to rest, get an early start if I’m to track Brianna.” He pointed to his plate. “But I will take some of that excellent lamb up to my room, in case I get hungry later.”
When the waiter brought a large box, Guy took her elbow and bid their hosts a polite good-night. Upstairs in her living room, he clutched the Styrofoam box and began to pace.
“Well, sunshine, what do you think about this place?” he asked.
Relieved the ice was broken between them, she sat on the sofa. “Something is really odd around here. I smell something off. Danielle’s hiding something.” Deep inside, it felt as if the gift Kayla detested struggled to surface.
“Just as long as she can’t catch on that we’re hiding something, too.”
“Okay, want to let me in on what’s going on?” She pointed to the box.
“It’s not for me. Come on.”
She followed Guy, who unlocked the door adjoining their rooms. As she entered into his living area, the sweet aroma of vanilla filled the air. Kayla wrinkled her nose as he grinned.
“See, I told you. Knew it would come back to you, your sense of scent.”
But the fact he was right didn’t shock her as much as the surprise waiting in his bedroom.
On the king-size bed sat a girl in red shorts and a blue checked blouse. She looked about ten years old. Guy gave a satisfied smile.
“Hey, Brianna,” he said.
Chapter 8
Fear tightened the girl’s face. Kayla immediately went to her, crooning reassurances. “It’s okay, honey. We’re not going to hurt you.”
Her gaze went from Kayla to Guy. “I know,” Brianna whispered. “You’re the ones looking for me, who’ll take me to the States.”
“How did you…” Kayla began.
“You were hiding in the back of the 4Runner. You climbed in after watching us at the stream. Smart girl,” Guy told her.
She flushed under the praise. “You scented me.”
“Right.”
Stunned, Kayla stared. “Why did you run off, honey?”
“I don’t like it here.” Brianna’s mouth trembled. “That woman, Danielle. I saw her arrive when I was sitting on the balcony. But the taste of her in the air scared me. So I ran away before she could see me. I know the woods by the stream. But I got so hungry, I thought maybe you’d have food.” Her nose wrinkled. “All you had left was celery, tomatoes and peanut butter.”
Guy sat on the bed, opened the container and removed a plastic knife and fork. “It’s okay, little one. I brought you dinner. Relax, no one’s going to hurt you. Eat, and we can talk later.”
Brianna began gulping down the meal. Kayla’s heart turned over at Guy’s gentle manner. He was good with children. Her gaze roved over the child’s thin shoulders, the corn-silk fineness of her hair. Brianna’s fresh vanilla scent filled the air, carrying the sweetness existing in all Draicon children. It would not change until puberty when she experienced her first shift into wolf.
A small gold locket hung around the girl’s neck. Kayla picked it up. Her heart hammered against her chest.
“Where did you get this?” she managed.
Brianna glanced up. “It’s from my maman. Uncle Malcolm said she never took it off because it was part of her heart.”
It wasn’t possible, yet Kayla knew with every bone in her body it was. Emotion clogged her throat.
“Oh, Brianna.” Kayla engulfed the little girl in a tight hug. Weeping, she buried her face into the girl’s hair. Brianna remained stiff as wood. After a minute, Kayla pulled away. She opened the golden heart and saw the familiar photo of herself and her mother.
“This belonged to my mother.” Kayla smiled at her. “Your mother. She didn’t forget me, after all.”
Guy looked shocked. Doubt etched the child’s expression. “I don’t understand.”
“Your mother was Cristina.” When Brianna nodded, Kayla continued, “My mother. I gave her this locket. That makes you my sister.”
“My mother died when I was younger. My uncle Malcolm gave it to me.” Brianna looked confused. “You’re my sister?”
Grief at losing her mother mixed with hopeful joy. Kayla nodded, hugging her again. But the child remained stiff.
“Were there other children in your pack, Brianna?” Guy asked. “Others we should know about to take to safety?”
“No. Malcolm was the youngest. He was eight hundred and twenty-three.”
Over the top of the girl’s head, they exchanged glances. In human terms, that made Malcolm elderly. Kayla’s stomach churned. Her mother had fled to raise her youngest daughter in a pack that had forgotten all about childhood.
She would make up for it.
As Brianna ate, Kayla motioned for Guy to follow her into the living room. Once there, she could no longer contain herself. “My sister,” she said brokenly. “I have a sister, Guy.”
Gently, he cupped her face. “I’m happy for you, darlin’. I’ll get her safely back to the States.”
“And after?”
He sighed. “You know what I have to do.”
“No!” She backed off, thrusting out her hands. “We have to figure something else out. You can’t give her to Dell. She’s my sister, damn it.”
“She needs the safety of a pack.”
“She needs me, Guy.” Kayla’s voice cracked. “How can you do this to me?”
Scarlet suffused his face. “Do to you? Damn it, Kayla, can’t you see I am doing this for you? We can have a life together. I promise, I’ll do my damnedest to make it good for you. But I need to stay out of prison. And that means Brianna goes to Dell. I warned you, she’s not the most important thing to me. You are. You’re my mate.”
Kayla fought the tears threatening to surface. He was selfish, thinking only of his own needs to mate, and not Brianna. There was only one way to tell for certain what he was. Just as she had done with her father, and seen the darkness inside him. The thought terrified her. But she had to find out.
Summoning all her strength, she finally called forth all her magick. Her long-gone Draicon gift roared to the surface. Kayla unleashed her powers, sending them hurling into Guy. The gift she loathed, reaching deep into the soul of another to see if it were tainted black.