Blue Moon

by Angela Colsin

  “You're not done?” she whispered breathlessly.

  “Not yet,” Cade murmured against her ear, then pushed himself completely inside of her with a hard thrust, and a second to make sure whatever resistance her body still possessed was shattered.

  Ashley let a startled cry, sadly being one of pain.

  “S-stop!”

  Cade started kissing her jaw, her neck, trying to soothe her, staying as still as he could once completely embedded in her body. His arms wound around her to keep her in place with the sting of her nails at his back.

  “Just be still, it’ll stop.”

  “You're sure?”

  She sounded so vulnerable, as if he was all she was holding onto. It made him feel both strong and weak, and Cade vowed he'd do whatever he had to in order to comfort her.

  If confidence was what Ashley needed, that's what he would give.

  “I'm sure,” he murmured, brushing his nose against her cheek affectionately while trying to ignore the heavily growing urge to thrust too soon. “I'm gonna make it feel so good for you when it's better.”

  The pain in Ashley's voice was something Cade never wanted to hear again. He wanted her to scream, but only because she couldn't stand how good it was.

  As he had the thought, she lifted her legs, causing him to shift inside of her. He raised his head, gritting his teeth while grasping her more tightly. In response, Ashley squirmed, driving him insane with little shocks of pleasure.

  Just before he could tell her to stop, she whispered, “It doesn’t hurt much now.”

  Her eyes slid shut, and he felt her hands slipping down across his ass, where she tugged. Cade couldn't stop himself, giving into the urges screaming at him to possess her with a low growl, and already, he felt their bond growing stronger.

  Drawing his hips back, he started rocking slowly between her thighs, watching her face. Pleasure rushed through him, her tight walls gloving him escalating the need to go faster.

  Not yet, he desperately reminded himself, noting that her expression was fading into one of tense . . . pleasure or pain?

  “Ashley?”

  “Keep going.”

  Pleasure. He slipped his hand down between her thighs, searching with his thumb until he found her delicate nub, stroking it to help rekindle her need.

  Ashley sucked in a breath, her muscles clamping down on him tightly. With the following thrust, she lifted her hips to meet him and moaned. Still, he fought against gaining speed, keeping that moderate pace until she clutched her arms around him and whimpered desperately.

  “Oh my god!”

  Jackpot.

  Cade growled, leaning forward to rock his hips faster, pushing in and out without any resistance at all.

  “Ah! Don’t stop!”

  Ashley moaned as her head fell back, and the sound of her enjoyment was just as gratifying as the slick heat gloving his thrusting cock.

  “Won't stop, baby,” he promised, “never, not when I know you like it.”

  Cade had never felt more connected to anyone, learning what she wanted while watching her discover this pleasure for the very first time, and now that she wasn't hurting, it would get even better.

  He'd hear his mate screaming in pleasure yet.

  The pain was all but forgotten.

  Taking Cade hurt like hell at first, which only added to Ashley's surprise of how good it was becoming. The thrusting shaft invading her felt so big, especially when her muscles clamped around it, that she thought it would never stop hurting.

  But he was moving so carefully, making it wonderful. Slowly, her eyes opened to see his broad frame moving over her, an erotic sight she couldn't stop watching.

  Ashley wanted to pace herself, quickly realizing it wasn't working when each thrust brought more pleasure than the last. As it continued, their bond grew stronger, making her feel closer to him than she'd ever felt to anyone.

  But she couldn't keep up, helplessly swept away in the building rhythm with nothing but Cade to cling to. As soon as the thought hit her, she stopped biting her lip and screamed.

  “Cade!”

  Ashley wanted to tell him how good it felt, wishing she could say that if he stopped, she'd die. But all she could do was grab him, lithely rock her hips to his, and rasp, “Oh my god!”

  She saw him watching her, their eyes meeting for only a moment before they were consumed in a heated kiss. But she couldn’t stop writhing, gasping so hard that she had to break her mouth away when his thrusts gained strength.

  Was it supposed to feel this damned good the first time? Or was it simply easier to handle as a lupine? Ashley wasn’t sure, and didn’t care, completely lost in sensation.

  “So . . . good,” she whimpered. “Can't stand it!”

  The bed started rocking with every hard thrust she took, hearing him growl her name so deeply she could feel his chest vibrating against hers. Ashley thought she'd come from the sound alone, letting another cry.

  Cade was taking her over the edge hard.

  “You're so tight, baby,” he praised on a low groan. “Never felt this close to anyone.”

  She bucked, knowing he was right, and it was the most gratifying sensation she'd ever experienced. The connection was so strong she couldn't ignore it, and never wanted to lose it. Never.

  Cade hooked an arm around her leg, drawing her knee to her chest as he leaned over her with a hand next to her head. The raise of her hips allowed him to penetrate more deeply, and Ashley tensed beneath him.

  “Oh! Harder!” she rasped, arching her back when he granted her request, his hips pumping at full force.

  Ashley turned her head, mindlessly capturing his thumb in her lips when he brushed it over them, and heard Cade moaning her name loudly, praising how good she felt.

  She couldn't take much more.

  “You're close?” he rasped hoarsely when her hips bucked.

  “Y-yes!”

  He grunted with a hard push inside her, urging, “Fuck yes, let me feel you coming on me.”

  Ashley couldn't think, pleasure overwhelming her senses when he started pounding into her, exploding around him without warning. She clawed his back, crying his name, able to feel his hot spend inside of her just a moment later, intensifying her release.

  Her heart hammered as she bucked against him wildly, and even as it faded, that sense of connection to him blissfully persisted. Ashley panted, basking in it, knowing beyond a doubt that she'd made the right choice in listening to her instincts.

  They couldn't have been more right.

  Cade was at his wit’s end. Feeling his mate's tight clench milking him so damned perfectly while she cried his name pushed him right over the edge.

  He erupted with a possessive growl, experiencing the most exquisite pleasure he'd ever had. His arms locked around her hips, holding her until she'd taken all of his release.

  Making it even better was the sense of their growing bond, persisting even after his pleasure began to wane.

  His strength seeped out of him along with it, collapsing over her and so satisfied he couldn’t focus on anything except nuzzling her throat and breathing in the gratifying scent of their sex as deeply as possible. Fucking heaven.

  “Damn, sweetheart,” he groaned, lifting his head to say more just when she leaned up and kissed him desperately.

  Cade forgot what he was about to say in favor of returning it, slanting his mouth over hers, unable to get enough. All they heard was the sound of their breath as their hands greedily groped and caressed.

  Once their lips parted, Cade started kissing her cheek, her jaw, murmuring that he was sorry he'd hurt her as Ashley stroked his shoulders and arms.

  “I'm fine, Cade.”

  She sounded fine at least. Cade rolled over and pulled her on top, grabbing one of the pillows to prop behind him. Once settled, he cupped her cheek and asked, “You sure?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I never thought my first time would be so good.”

  He couldn't help
but feel arrogantly proud. “No regrets?”

  “None,” she replied certainly, sounding dazed when she added, “I can still sense our bond.”

  Cade took in her expression, stroking his thumb across her cheek as she closed her eyes and sweetly nuzzled his hand. She was right, it was getting stronger, and he almost felt as if he were really seeing her for the first time as his mate.

  “So can I, and it'll only get better.”

  There was a thoughtful smile on her face as she opened her eyes to hold his gaze. “You really don't have any reservations about us being tied together at all, do you?”

  He got the feeling he knew why she'd asked. While it was ingrained in lupines to naturally seek their mates and bond with them, Ashley was born a human. So having this strong sense of connection probably confused her.

  “I don't,” he replied honestly. “I guess these senses seem strange to you, but to me, I feel like I've been waiting for you all my life. That's just the way we think.”

  Ashley slowly began to nod in understanding as she whispered, “I don't want this connection I feel to stop, but at the same time, it's overwhelming. I just keep wondering if I'm the only one who feels this way.”

  “No,” he confirmed, “and it's not gonna stop, I won't let it.”

  Capturing her mouth for a sensual kiss, he rubbed his hands over her back, wanting to stay this way for the rest of the evening, experience this connection and savor her warmth.

  But sadly, there was something in the way that he couldn't ignore. Always interrupted.

  Knowing if they didn't get out of bed now, they wouldn't leave in time to make it to the hunt, Cade forced himself to sit up with her straddling his lap.

  “I wish we had more time,” he groaned between kisses, “but sunset's gonna be busy.”

  Ashley looked over at the alarm clock on the night stand. The sun would set in a few hours—enough time for them to clean up, eat, and head out.

  Grumbling, she asked, “Is it just me, or is something always interrupting us?”

  “I was just thinking that, actually,” Cade admitted, seeing her expression becoming vacant, as if in thought or concern.

  “Still worried about your joining? Or being a wolf all night?”

  “Both. I don't wanna black out when I change, and then I keep thinking there has to be another way around fighting Elizabeth. I know you wanna support me, and so do others, but I don't wanna fight her at all, and if I call, she'll probably just hang up again.”

  “Saying she'd even listen to reason,” he qualified.

  Ashley frowned, asking after a moment of thought, “Is there any chance we could find her before the hunt?”

  “Maybe. We always go to a stretch of woods southeast of the city to run, and everyone starts from their own place, but it's usually the same spot every time.”

  “Do you know where she goes?”

  “Yeah,” he confirmed, “but still, what would you say to her?”

  “I don't know yet, but she can't hang up on me if I'm actually there.”

  Cade smirked, though he wasn't sure Elizabeth would be in a very rational mindset. Still, Ashley looked so hopeful that he couldn't deny her.

  “I don't know if it's a good idea, but we can leave early and try.”

  Despite his uncertainty, when Ashley hugged and thanked him, Cade couldn't help his smile.

  Thinking about their afternoon, her first time making love, and his complete satisfaction, he wanted this trouble taken care of so they could spend an evening together with nothing more important to think about than what's for dinner?

  With the thought in mind, he kissed her again, spending several long moments enjoying the way she felt. When the contact broke, and she was properly dazed, he made her a promise.

  “Tomorrow when this is over, we're gonna celebrate your joining.” Against her ear, he added, “All night.”

  Chapter 32

  The full moon loomed in the evening sky, a foreshadowing Ashley tried to ignore when the coming hunt was making her nervous.

  Cade was driving down a small, two lane highway in the countryside, and they heard a car beeping its horns behind them. Glancing in the rear view mirror, Ashley saw Leo with his wife next to him in their truck, their youngest two children in the back seat.

  Cade beeped his horn in response when Ashley noticed how close Leo was.

  “Is he riding your ass?”

  “Yep.”

  She glanced over to see Cade giving Leo the bird through his open window, and then noticed Leo laughing while his wife swatted his arm. Ashley couldn’t help but chuckle, the distraction welcome.

  “He's such a joker.”

  “Yeah, growing up with him and my dad makes me wonder how we survived their pranks. Like fake spiders in our backpacks at school. Sara hated that one.”

  The thought made her grin. “Your dad sounds like he was a lot of fun too. But you're not gonna do the same thing, are you?”

  “To my kids?” When she nodded, Cade shrugged. “Maybe once in a while, but nothing like them.”

  “Good, I'd rather not have wars going on constantly.”

  The words just slipped out, implying that someday she'd have Cade's children. But it didn't feel as strange to consider as she thought it would. The idea of having a family with him was pleasing.

  Judging by his expression, she could tell he'd imagined it too. Still, she amended, “If we ever had kids I mean.”

  “I know,” he replied, a telling smile on his face that reminded her of how certain he was about their bonding.

  Cade said he felt as if he'd been waiting for her all his life, and though she hadn't mentioned it, Ashley remembered having a very similar thought about him too. It made her wonder if she was either fickle after being so uncertain the night before, or merely trying to adapt to the life of being a lupine, learning what everything meant.

  Then again, maybe our afternoon of sex swayed me.

  Ashley hid her amused grin. But damn, what an afternoon.

  Though sore now—completely worth it—she'd told Cade no lies. Her first time was much better than she'd imagined it could be, blushing whenever she remembered the way it felt to be joined with him and how he'd moved, moaning in pleasure.

  Ashley wasn't as certain as Cade was that she was his mate, but even now, she could sense their strengthened bond, and knew it wasn't something everyone had. It was so intimate and fulfilling that she wished they could just go back home and spend the evening alone together.

  Sadly, other issues needed to be handled first.

  As if in omen to them, Cade made a turn onto a dirt path. Guess we're almost there.

  Both sides of the road were lined with dense trees, the sun still high enough in the sky that traces of evening hadn't quite shown up with light passing through the golden leaves, offering some pleasant scenery.

  But the full moon was still making her anxious.

  Ashley already had a knot of tension in her gut from the thought of being a wolf all night long, but knowing she may also have to fight for her place in the pack only made it worse. So while Cade wasn't convinced that talking would help matters, it was the only option she had.

  She just hoped they could find Elizabeth, and then figure out what to say that might change the she-wolf's mind.

  The truck came to a stop on the side of the dirt road where Ashley opened her door and climbed out. She could hear talking off in the distance as Cade walked around to her side and mentioned, “That sounds like Brandon.”

  Drawing in a breath through his nose, he then confirmed, “Elizabeth's here too. Come on.”

  Ashley nodded, taking his hand as they headed in the direction of the chatting.

  After passing a short ways through some trees, they came across Elizabeth who was talking with Hobbs, Joe, and the couple who'd stayed with William the night before, Brandon and Maria.

  Brandon was telling Elizabeth, “So you think it'd be better to push this newborn out when our Alpha is bondi
ng with her, Beth? Cade said he'd step down if she wasn't allowed in, and that would leave us without a leader when there's probably a pack of inbred bitches on our doorstep.”

  It seemed that Cade was right. Ashley listened carefully when Hobbs qualified, “That's true, contesting Ashley would cause a bigger problem than letting her in. What you need to do is find his murderer, Beth. Maria, you guys caught his scent, right?”

  “Yeah,” Maria confirmed, “only faintly though. I'm not sure we'd be able to pick it up easily if we went tracking.”

  Hearing those words, Ashley had an epiphany. Regardless of whether or not she could talk Elizabeth out of contesting her, she now knew how to help make up for what happened to William at least.

  She only hoped Elizabeth would listen.

  “Hey guys, what's up?” Hobbs greeted when he noticed them walking over.

  Getting the feeling that Elizabeth would snap if she knew they'd specifically come to talk to her, Cade casually replied, “Just seeing what all the fuss is about.”

  “We're talking about tracking William's murderer, and Ashley's joining,” Hobbs returned. “We think it's worse to contest her and risk losing you than just allowing her in.”

  Just like he'd told Ashley, they didn't think contesting her was worth it. Apparently, Elizabeth didn't like it either because she looked at his mate and grated, “I bet that makes you so happy, doesn't it?”

  Ashley quickly shook her head. “No, it doesn't. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me, and you have a right to contest me if that's what you want.”

  “But that's the problem,” Maria pointed out. To Elizabeth, she added, “What you're doing isn't what's best for the pack, or yourself. If Ashley was already a member, you'd go after our enemies, not her. It's just a waste of energy to fight her, Beth.”

  Cade watched the scene unfolding carefully, knowing Elizabeth was likely to snap at anyone for the slightest transgression, and he wanted this to end peacefully.

  But Elizabeth didn't speak, staring down as if torn, and Ashley released his hand to approach her.