by Anh Leod
He nodded.
She’d heard of beings like him, but only in fairy tales. Yet she knew it was true, had always known he was different. She should be terrified, but she wasn’t. He was her Jem. “Wow,” she said, her voice shaky.
He continued in earnest. “Yes, I was bitten after we met. That’s why I never went on the road. It comes over me, this urge to change, to run. I can’t live indoors for long. I love the open sky too much.”
She put a hand to her head as if it would hold in the questions. “Who bit you?”
He kissed her forehead then swallowed, meeting her gaze. “There was a bar fight. I was on break during a gig and went out into the parking lot for some fresh air. Two men were fighting. A woman was against the building, crying, or so I thought.”
“Was she the werewolf?” She caught her breath as he pulled out only to thrust again, distracting her from her tumultuous thoughts.
He kissed her temple, then his voice lowered as his story flowed. “You picked up on that. Yes, the whole fight was a setup. I broke up the fight, then she ran to me and gave me a hug. I thought I was the big man, stopping some dude from hurting her guy, but she bit me. I pushed her away and threatened to call the cops, but I had to finish my gig.”
She shook her head and wriggled against him, keeping him hard through his story. No matter what he was—or what he’d become after they met—he was still her lover, and she wanted every rock hard inch of him to stay inside her drenched channel.
“You’re distracting me,” he said, his voice raspy.
“Hmmm.” Her hands caressed his shoulders, tweaked his nipples then drifted to his waist. “Go on.”
“After the performance was over, I got back on the tour bus. We had to drive through the night to get to a show in Phoenix. I woke about five in the morning with my neck and shoulder absolutely throbbing.” His voice cracked. “By the time I got to the doctor, it was all purple and swollen. She gave me antibiotics.”
“Then what?” She played with the hair on his low belly and pulsed her pussy around his cock.
“It got better. But a couple of weeks later, during another show, the moon came up. I felt dizzy, not to mention sick with fear.”
She wriggled again and stroked the back of his neck with her fingers. His story was incredible, but she could hear the sincerity in his voice. This story explained so much, even though it made her head swim.
“I cut out between shows and ran into the parking lot. That was when I changed.”
“What about the show?” she prompted.
“I didn’t know what was happening. My vision, not to mention my mind, felt like they were going black. Somehow I asserted my will, got back into the bar, and into the bathroom.” The skin around his eyes tightened and creased above his nose. “I literally saw my face re-form.”
She touched his cheek. He must have been horrified.
He blinked. “After, I went to Europe on tour, and all was normal until the next full moon. That’s when I realized I had to drop out, get off the road. I moved out here as soon as I could. I was afraid I’d hurt people. But it’s not like I transform into something out of a horror movie. I can even control it a little. I’m just a wolf.”
She was fascinated, even turned on a bit by this new reality. What did that say about her? “Have you seen others like you?”
“That woman found me again somehow, the one who bit me. She wanted me to be her mate, part of her pack. But even then, I knew you were something special and refused. She said my life would be extended, but over time I’d become more and more comfortable as a wolf and not so interested in being human again. That’s why she wanted me, because her last mate had disappeared into the woods for good. She wanted to stay human, liked clothes and jewelry and makeup and dancing and music.”
“A girly wolf.”
“Exactly. But I wanted you. Tall and athletic, no makeup, no fancy clothes.”
She frowned at the description. “I can clean myself up when it’s necessary. And I like music.”
He entered her again as if grounding himself.
“So do I. I love my wolf time, but I want you enough to keep my human side alive. I won’t ever let go completely. And I want to be with you no matter what the cost.”
She couldn’t believe they were having this conversation while making love, but this was the important part, not the rest. Them, together. She’d made this decision and it had nothing to do with turning thirty. He was hers no matter what. “I want that for us too.”
“Then what could our future be?” he asked. “If you’re human and I’m a wolf?”
“So, you want to bite me?” she asked. “Then we can grow old together?”
His hips worked against her, his cock moving in and out, finding new angles, new places to excite sensation in her body.
“I just want you,” he whispered. “I love you, Catee.”
She felt sweat break out on his back. Her fingers slid, tightening on the smooth muscles of his ass as they flexed. She tucked her toes under, playing with the space between his globes.
Would accepting the bite mean leaving her life behind completely? That possibility didn’t thrill her.
She still loved her work and her friends. It would be a big change, to be sure, but what new partnership didn’t come with compromise? Jem’s personality hadn’t changed when he was bitten. Since she’d met him before his transformation, she knew that much was true. She’d still be Catee. That gave her the strength to respond.
“Do it,” she said, making a snap decision. “I like the outdoors and I love you too. We’ll be together no matter what, and that’s what’s important to me.”
“Are you sure? You can’t go back once you accept my bite.”
She tilted her neck in response. There was no doubt in her mind that this was right. “We’ll form our own pack.”
He smiled tenderly, then bent his head. His teeth grazed the muscle at the junction of neck and shoulder, growing sharper as they closed in. His cock kept moving inside her, keeping her attention split.
She shivered, feeling her orgasm close in. When his fangs opened the prominent vein in her neck, she screamed, head falling back, her body convulsing with pleasure despite the shocking sensation in her neck, in her blood. His teeth bit in harder, his body surged then pumped, streaming his seed into her.
The intensity nearly made her black out. She sobbed, but the pleasure/pain was lessening now.
Moments later, he removed his teeth and lapped at the wound with his tongue. She felt blood trickling down her neck, but instinctively knew he was clotting it, closing the bite.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I know how to make it heal correctly. The night I was changed, I pushed her away before she could soothe the wound.”
She would have nodded but her neck hurt. He staggered back, his cock leaving her body, then picked her up and cradled her against his chest.
“It won’t hurt in the morning. And now, we can be together always.”
“Will we still go to the winery?” she asked, drowsy now.
He was carrying her away from the car, up the porch to the house.
As if reading her mind, he said, “We’ll get married there. No matter what, we’ll never forget Celilo Falls or our annual game.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
He nuzzled her hair as he trod the steps. “I love you too. Thank you for accepting me.”
Catee heard a plunk and saw another fortune cookie drop out of her pocket. Jem stepped on it, not noticing, but it was okay, she had her good fortune now. She didn’t need any more guidance. Besides, she could guess what it would have said.
You thrive on adventure, try something new.
About the author…
Anh Leod hopes readers will enjoy her romantic, erotic stories and will fall in love with her characters as much as she does when she creates them.
Her favorite things are love and chocolate. She writes about love because it’s awfully hard
to write about chocolate all the time.
Anh is married, lives in the Pacific Northwest and also writes fiction and non-fiction under the name Heather Hiestand. You can find more information about her publications under both names at her website.
Visit Anh Leod at www.anhleod.com.
Also available
Destined To Mate
by
C.A. Salo
A feline mated to a werewolf?
As a Chimera, half lioness/half human, Alexis Xanthis, has never released the beast within. Until she meets Lykan Alpha, Morgan LeVey. Being near him triggers a powerful need to mate, but is Morgan strong enough to dominate her feline side and still handle the human half with a gentle hand? And will the powers that be allow it?
Chapter One
“Are you sure she’s the one?” Morgan LeVey watched the petite brunette walk out of the brownstone house from across the street.
“She’s the only woman who’s entered the house all week,” Rafael answered. “Are you sure you were told correctly?”
Morgan inhaled deeply. “Positive. Although she smells of vamps, it’s not strong.” Frowning, he picked up another unusual scent as he followed, liking the golden highlights shining in the long brown hair that flowed down her slender back.
“I noticed that also. Plus a scent I cannot place.
It’s almost feline, but it’s not...could she be a guardian?”
“A guardian’s scent is usually more predominate.”
“Maybe the blood sucker hasn’t bitten her yet.”
“Guardian in training? It’s a possibility.”
“She knows his current guardian, an old man. A granddaughter training to take his place?” Rafe shrugged as they slipped through the park’s gate.
Morgan frowned at her leisurely walk, as though the oncoming darkness was no concern. Most humans didn’t walk the park alone at night unless they were courting trouble. Why he was here and what he had to do with this woman was a mystery.
He’d received specific information on where to find this little human, but the what and why of it was still unknown.
Snorting, he met Rafe’s glance. “This is a waste of my time.” He was a Lykan Alpha for love of the Gods, not a soldier to go running after a quarry in the night. Now, if it was a hunt that ended with a sexual encounter or a meal, that might be different.
The corners of his lips lifted as he pictured the dainty brunette running while he gave chase. A rush of blood flooded the tip of his cock.
“What are you smiling at?”
“Her on the run.”
“I do believe I know how this ends.”
“Hey, we all have our erotic fantasies.”
“Then I’d put her in a little red leather number.
Now, that would be fucking hot.”
“I think you’re on to something there my friend.”
Morgan grinned, knowing he’d be between her shapely thighs soon enough.
To purchase Destined To Mate and other erotic titles, visit www.thewilderroses.com.