Lure of the Blood

by Doris O'Connor

  He stopped breathing at those whispered words. How the fuck did she know about that? He shut his eyes as memories swamped him, until the feel of her lips around his cock jerked him back to here and now. The sight of her on her knees in front of him, lips closed around the tip of him, broke the last bit of self-control he had and he pulled her to her feet with a furious growl. Her legs locked around him as he lifted her and with one leap he deposited her on the bed.

  ****

  All the breath left Marnie’s body in one big whoosh as his full body weight came on top of her on the bed. His eyes sought hers and he lifted himself off her slightly, his mouth coming down hard on hers. Yet still the kiss was gentle and so deeply arousing that Marnie shifted restlessly under him. He sucked in his breath, releasing her, when she moved her feet up and down his muscled calves, his cock nudging her aching pussy through the thin barrier of her thong and she pressed herself closer into him, his low growl spurring her on.

  “I want you, Ion.”

  The heat in his eyes scorched her and the ruthless determination she once again sensed in him, shot straight to her clit. He caught her moan in his mouth, his fangs scraping her tongue and excitement built low in her core, when he broke the kiss with a toothy smile.

  “You’re sure; you’re ready for the wolf, little one?”

  His voice was a deep growl she felt all the way down to her toes and her mouth went dry at the intent in his eyes. Her stomach free falling, she managed a shaky nod, as excitement overtook any reason.

  “I’m ready for you, Ion. All of you.”

  He held himself perfectly still over her, his biceps straining, nostrils flaring. Marnie found herself drowning in a renewed burst of his scent and, acting purely on instinct, she pulled him down until she could sink her teeth into his neck just hard enough to scrape his skin. His instant growl and scrape of his fangs against her own neck was so erotic, she almost came on the spot. But instead of biting her, he licked in long, slow maddening strokes down her neck, over her collarbone, stopping at her breasts for ages. He took his time, licking and nipping each aching globe in turn, the joined friction of his tongue and the stubble on his face exquisite torture on her heated skin, until she thought she was going to pass out from sheer pleasure.

  By the time he abandoned her breasts and his tongue licked southward, she was so aroused that the whisper of his breath on her heated folds sent her hurtling over the edge, as he used his teeth to tear the soaked scrap of material away from her pussy. He pushed two fingers deep inside her as her orgasm hit, massaging her g-spot. Marnie writhed helplessly under him, clutching onto his shoulders as wave after wave of her climax shook her body. His fingers increasing their relentless pressure and the growled words of encouragement in her ear, served to intensify the waves of intense pleasures centred between her thighs. When she finally came back down to earth, she became aware of his lips, softly kissing away the hot tears she hadn’t been aware of shedding, the emotion in the eyes looking down on her, taking her breath away.

  “Are you ok, little one?”

  She managed a shaky nod in his direction and couldn’t help her soft moan, when he gently removed his fingers, still lodged deep inside her.

  “Good, because that’s just the beginning, my sweet.” She caught a glimpse of his wicked smile, before his hands settled on her hips and he scooted down the bed, the first lick of his tongue on her inner thigh, setting her insides ablaze anew.

  ****

  Ion was lost, the scent and feel of Marnie surrounding him. Seeing her come apart under him in the throes of her orgasm, with barely any help, had him so hard, he was going to explode if he didn’t find himself buried deep inside her pussy soon. Fuck, she was responsive and she tasted like heaven. Every lick filled his mouth with more of her cream and the little sounds of her arousal fuelled his own desire until he was drunk on her. All of her, her scent, her passion, the deliberate way she goaded him, her impassioned little speech as she held his cock in her hand, her eyes shining with conviction and need.

  She couldn’t know what it meant to bite him on the neck and it had taken all of his willpower to stop his wolf from retaliating and sinking his fangs into her fragrant flesh, claiming her as his mate. That he would never do, no matter how much his wolf growled in his ears. Her small sounds of arousal increased as he switched his attention from her outer lips to her clit, standing proud, begging for his tongue and teeth to pay the swollen nub some attention. Using his hands he spread her wider, feasting on the view of all that sweet pussy, his for the taking. Her breath now came in short bursts, as he deliberately blew on the wet flesh, watching the tell–tale blush spread across her silky skin, her thighs trembling under his hands, her agonised pleas for release ringing in his ears.

  Her eyes connected with his, when he released her just long enough to grab a condom from the drawer in the nightstand. Her eyes grew huge as she watched him struggle, and she surprised him again by sitting up and taking charge, rolling the thing on his length, her eyes now full of mischief as she grabbed his balls and squeezed.

  “Anyone would think this big bad wolf had never used one of these.”

  “I don’t usually need them, but I’m not taking any chances with you, little one.”

  Her sharp intake of breath should have warned him of her intention but the slap to his face took him by surprise. The warm, willing female in front of him was spitting fire all of a sudden, her breasts dancing in front of his vision with anger, instead of anticipation.

  “So, in other words, you make a habit out of unprotected sex with god-only-knows who?”

  She slapped his hand away as he reached for her, amusement and affection welling up inside of him at her righteous indignation and she would have scrambled off the bed, had he not pulled her unto his lap. The move brought his cock in direct contact with her pussy and she froze, her eyes locked with his. All it would need was a slight lift by him and he would slide home. His smile turned wicked at the heat rising in her cheek, awareness and need flaring up between them.

  “Just trust me, little one. I will explain why later; it’s different for shifters, and I don’t make a habit of sleeping with humans.”

  His hand worked its way up to her breast unhindered as she continued to stare at him and her eyes clouded over with desire, as he rolled one erect bud between his fingers whilst nipping her shoulder with his teeth.

  He licked his way up her the base of her neck over her rapidly beating pulse until he could suck her bottom lip in his mouth, whilst manoeuvring her back onto the bed.

  Her soft sigh of surrender was music was to his ears, as he nudged her legs apart with a muttered, “Open for me, little one. I want to be buried inside of you, when you come all around me.”

  Her moaned compliance had him slide into her tight entrance like a hot knife through butter and he growled low in his throat at the sensation of her wet walls closing around him. God she was so tight, yet so ready. His eyes locked with hers when he began to move, every thrust taking him deeper into her, as her muscles stretched and drew him in further. As he watched, her eyes fluttered shut, her muscles milking his cock with small rhythmic waves as her orgasm built, her head moving frantically from side to side, before her eyes flew open as he growled the first of his own releases.

  Ion increased his pace, using his hands as leverage under her hips and bringing one of her legs over his shoulder, his next thrust brought him deeper than ever, pushing her too over the edge. The bed shook as he gave his wolf free reign, too caught up in her passionate response to worry over hurting her or taking it easy. She met him thrust for thrust and orgasm for orgasm, her heated breath on his neck sending him into his own personal nirvana, his last and final climax so intense that he could only hold onto the woman under him. Her body was his anchor as his spirit soared, connecting him to the forces of the moon and he couldn’t hold back the release of his seed. His last functioning thought before he shut down completely and lost himself in the forces surrounding them was
relief at his foresight to use the condom. He was going to protect her or die trying.

  Chapter Twelve

  Marnie was consumed by fire. It licked along her veins, heating her blood until her breath came in short gasps. Flashes of liquid heat danced across her skin, the sensation so intense, she moaned and writhed in her sleep, as molten lava concentrated between her thighs, where delicious friction built to fever pitch. Heat surrounded her, held her captive; her senses became filled with the smell of earth and spice, familiar yet new. It made her feel safe, desired, cherished, aroused. Her eyes flew open at the unexpected pressure between her legs, the sensation of being filled and stretched, the male growl in her ear sending shivers of awareness down her spine, as she felt herself lifted.

  “That’s it, little one, just let yourself feel.”

  Ion’s tongue invaded her ear, his calloused hands creating more delicious friction as he lifted her hair off her neck before kneading her breasts, his tongue creating a trail of heat along her neck and down her spine. All the while Ion grew bigger inside her, his breath hot and erratic on her bare skin, his voice murmuring nonsense against her back.

  “So tight, so hot, move for me, feel what you do to me…yes, just like that…on your knees, little one…”

  The band of muscle around her waist held her steady as she responded to his whispered commands and his gentle thrusts grew more urgent. On her hands and knees, held into his hard body, she moved instinctively as he thrust into her, every movement bringing him deeper into her core. Beads of sweat broke out all over her body and she locked her arms to give herself more leverage, seeking more of him as the fever built inside, her internal muscles clenching and releasing in ever-increasing spasms as the pleasure build to the point of pain. His low growl of release in her ear, as his first orgasm hit, sent her over the edge and she began riding him as hard she could. Gripped on the edge of pain and pleasure, he grew bigger still inside her. Helpless to do anything but ride the storm as waves of sensation broke over her, Marnie screamed her release into the pillow as her legs gave way.

  Ion collapsed on her, growling his own surrender into her shoulder. She shivered all over when his claws sliced through the pillow under her head. He thrust into her one last time, driving them both to the top of the bed with the force of his release.

  Completely spent and deliciously sore, she was dimly aware of Ion rolling off her. Ion turned her over and, settling her into the crook of his arm, pulled the covers over them both. Exhaustion claimed her and she let herself be lulled to sleep by the warmth of his body.

  When Marnie next woke up fully, it was to the low murmur of voices outside the bedroom door. She instinctively pulled the covers up to her shoulders. Brilliant sunlight streamed into the room through the open French doors, illuminating a scene of devastation. The remains of her tattered dress lay by the bedroom door, close to her abandoned bra and her torn thong, which dangled precariously off the end of the bed. Feathers were everywhere. Marnie blushed furiously at the tattered cushion, carelessly thrown on the floor near the head of the huge bed.

  The bedcovers, too, showed claw marks. Marnie’s blush deepened as she recalled her enthusiastic response to Ion’s demands of the previous night. She had lost count how many times she had woken up to find him making love to her, his stamina seemingly never ending, his control slipping a little more every time, as his wolf took over. Yet he hadn’t hurt her once. A cautious visual inspection of her naked body under the covers showed nothing more sinister than whisker burn on her breasts and between her thighs. Heat flooded through her, recalling how she had received those markings, and she rubbed her thighs together, relishing the delicious soreness. It was just as well Ion was still talking to someone outside the door, or she might have just jumped him in broad daylight.

  No sooner had she thought that, than the man himself appeared through the open door, balancing a tray of food in one hand. Closing the door with his foot, Ion yanked up his unbuttoned jeans, in danger of falling of his hips. Marnie allowed herself a moment to feast her eyes on all those rippling muscles, as he moved towards her with the fluid animal grace she had come to expect of him, before raising her eyes to his face. His harsh features were guarded and watchful, his eyes worried as he looked her over. Marnie felt herself blushing, thinking what a sight she must be. No doubt her hair was a mess and she looked like a harlot, clutching a hole-riddled sheet in the middle of a bed that spoke volumes of last night’s shenanigans. What was the morning after protocol when you had mind-blowing sex with a shifter, who looked as though he wanted to be anywhere else right now?

  She dropped her eyes, uncomfortable under his silent scrutiny. What was wrong with him now?

  ****

  Ion released the breath he’d been holding slowly, willing his feet to move forward. She looked so lost and small in the tattered remains of his bedcovers and he grimaced stepping over her torn dress. He’d done exactly what he’d sworn he wouldn’t do. He had lost control. Ion flinched at the thought of how many times he had taken advantage of her soft body last night. Admittedly, she had seemed with him every step of the way, her passionate responses driving his wolf wild, but she had to be hurting this morning. The way Marnie dropped her eyes tore at his soul, and he approached the bed slowly, putting the tray on the nightstand.

  “I thought you could do with something to eat after…”

  The soft hands, exploring his injured side with a shocked gasp, brought him up short.

  He’d all but forgotten about the wound, but it seemed Marnie hadn’t.

  Worried chocolate eyes looked up at him and she tugged on his jeans pockets impatiently, gesturing for him to sit down.

  “Come down here so I can look at that. I don’t understand. I’m sure that was much worse last night.” His skin burned underneath the tentative exploration of her hands and his wolf growled low at the sight of her exposed breasts, covered in a fine red rash, the sheet she had been clutching to herself forgotten for the moment. The mark of his possession pleased his wolf no end and at his louder growl, Marnie’s hands froze. She blushed, realising where his gaze rested and he chuckled at the speed with which she yanked that sheet up, embarrassment radiating off her in waves.

  “I have seen them before, my sweet.”

  Her blush deepened as he leaned into her personal space, tucking the sheet back down, and she tried in vain to slap his hand away. “It was dark then and we, well…”

  Her voice trailed off on a shuddery exhale, when he let his knuckles graze her nipples and he couldn’t help but lean in closer still. “You forget that wolves have excellent night vision.”

  Her mouth formed a silent O at that comment and protectiveness warred with a surge of raw lust as she bit her bottom lip self-consciously. Jeez, how the fuck was he supposed to keep his hands off her when she did that? She clearly had no idea what a turn-on that was. “Don’t, little one; you’ll hurt yourself. I will have to kiss you senseless if you keep doing that.”

  Her eyes widened at his drawled words. She smiled and deliberately bit into her bottom lip, leaning into him.

  “Stop distracting me. What happened to your injuries?”

  “I told you, it was just a scratch. We heal fast, especially after fabulous sex. It energises us.”

  Why she should find that comment amusing was beyond him, but she clearly did. Her soft giggles washed over him, breaking the tension in the air. Some of his doubts and worries lifted off his shoulders as he watched the rise and fall of her shoulders. His own lips twitched in response to the bright smile she now gave him.

  “Sorry, but you have to admit that’s funny. Big, bad wolves being recharged like Energizer bunnies.”

  “Are you comparing me to a rabbit?”

  Instead of an answer Marnie giggled louder, tears of mirth streaming down her face. Every time she looked at Ion, she laughed harder. What was so damn funny? He was the alpha of his pack, yet this little human was laughing at him as though she couldn’t care less about that. And
damn it, he couldn’t hold it against her. It was good to see her so happy, even at his expense. Surely she wouldn’t be so carefree, if he’d hurt her last night. The sheet had slipped again and he scanned her luscious curves anxiously, looking for any signs of his wolf. But apart from the rash there weren’t any, and Ion relaxed a little more.

  “Have you quite finished laughing at me?” He tried to inject some authority into those words, but it was hard to do, when she looked so adorably rumpled and delicious. Even his wolf simply rolled over, enjoying her melodious laughter.

  “Sorry, Ion, but if you could see your face right now… I guess you have to be human to appreciate the rabbit. The bigger the better, satisfaction guaranteed every time and all that…”

  A light bulb came on in Ion’s head. She was comparing him to a sex toy? The nerve of the little minx! Well, he would just have to reiterate the fact that this wolf was no rabbit, in or out of the bedroom.

  She finally sobered when he pulled her flush against his body, one hand under her chin, forcing her to look up into the eyes of his wolf. He smiled when she swallowed nervously, her breathy whisper of, ”Ion?” making him hard as nails.

  “Can a rabbit do this, little one?” He caught her shriek of surprise in his mouth as he shed his jeans in one fluid move. Pinning her to the bed, he allowed his wolf to take over.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Summer had started in earnest after the rainstorms three nights ago, and Marnie blinked in the bright sunlight. Ion had left her in the early hours of that morning with a tender kiss, having growled instructions to sleep in, as he would be back soon. And adding that she must not even think of leaving, or his wolf would hunt her down.

  Marnie shivered in anticipation at the mere thought. She had gotten to know Ion’s wolf pretty well over the last three glorious nights and days. Who’d have thought being held prisoner could be such an erotic experience, or how little it would bother her to be bossed about by a domineering alpha wolf! All it took was one of his growled commands and her body was literally putty in his hands. Never before had she been this aware of anyone or felt such a deep connection. It was crazy, that’s what it was. She needed to get back to her own life. It may be the summer break from Uni, but she had revising to do and she needed to get back to dancing. She had to support herself somehow. And she may be sleeping with the boss, but she was damned if she was going to be a kept woman. When she had cautiously broached the subject with Ion yesterday, he had visibly tensed, before distracting her very successfully. He’d disappeared this morning before Marnie had a chance to suggest she’d go with him.