Trayis (VLG Series Book 11)

by Laurann Dohner

  Her gaze ran down his body. His front legs and chest were more muscular and their shapes almost human. He lifted one of his paws and she looked it. He showed her a deadly set of claws, the toes more closely resembling fingers. They were longer and thicker than normal a wolf’s toes. She also took note of the way he moved. His limbs were more flexible than a full-blooded Werewolf’s. It would make him deadlier in a fight between the two.

  “Amazing.”

  He growled low but it wasn’t an angry sound. She stared into his eyes.

  “I said that out loud, didn’t I? You are amazing. I don’t know why the pack fears you like this. They’re probably jealous.” She grabbed the backpack and put it on. “I thought you were joking about the ride but you’re totally big enough and then some.”

  He moved closer and bumped against her. The line of his back reached a bit higher than her waist. “I’m going to have to climb up.”

  He held still as she threw her leg over him and got settled. “Does it hurt? Am I heavy?”

  He huffed and shook his head.

  She bent forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, careful not to choke him. He moved slow going down the porch steps to the ground, and then padded into the woods. She was impressed with how easily he seemed to carry her.

  “I could walk.” She had put on slip-on shoes.

  He picked up the pace instead of stopping to let her off. She heard voices, and Trayis changed directions, avoiding the sentries. It didn’t take long for them to reach his trailer. He sat up on his hind legs and she laughed, sliding down his back. She managed not to land on her ass. He shifted to skin fast and stood, smiling at her.

  “I want you to know I’ve only let pups do that before. You’re the first woman who’s ridden my back.” He grabbed her hand.

  That was sweet. He had given her a first for him. Her smile widened. This was the person she’d imagined Trayis would be when they were alone. Nice, a bit playful, and endearing. He opened the door and let her enter first. Lights had been left on inside. He locked the door behind them, helped her take off her backpack, and strode down the hallway with it.

  “Bed, Shay. Naked.”

  She blew out a breath and followed. “You’re showing off that alpha blood. So bossy.”

  He chuckled, tossed her bag in the corner where he’d been when she’d woken earlier, and turned to face her. “Well, that shouldn’t be a surprise. I’m used to giving orders.”

  His words penetrated and her heart raced. “Meaning?”

  His smile faded and he just peered at her.

  “You said you’re used to giving orders. What does that mean?”

  He still said nothing, but his eyebrows rose a little.

  “What position do you hold in your pack, Trayis?”

  “You don’t know?”

  She shook her head. “I handle pack correspondences for Arlis, but you’re his half-brother. Your pack doesn’t go through official channels to contact him because of your relationship. Most packs love to document everything with paper or emails. You just call each other on the phone. Sorry…your clan. Which I always thought was strange, since Vampires have nests… Anyway, I know you live in Alaska, that you share the same mother with Arlis but have different fathers. Yours was a Vampire. Arlis told me that. I’m not exactly in the loop when it comes to gossip, since most of the pack avoids talking to me. Are you an enforcer?”

  “Does it matter?”

  She had to think about that for a moment, before she said seriously, “I really was out of line by daring to approach you if you’re an enforcer for your alpha. My ranking is too low. Maybe it doesn’t matter, though, since you’re not a member of my pack?”

  His grin returned. “You really don’t know my status, do you?”

  That uneasy feeling returned. “No.”

  “Undress, Shay. Now.” The golden streaks in his eyes brightened.

  “But now you’ve freaked me out.”

  He approached her and gripped the bottom of her top, tugging it up her body. She lifted her arms to help. He kept that smile in place as he sat on the bed, pulled her closer, and shoved his thumbs in the sides of her pajama bottoms, pushing them down her thighs. A low growl rumbled from him.

  “No panties? I’m shocked, doll. And turned-on.”

  She lifted each foot as he removed her bottoms, holding on to his broad shoulders to keep her balance. It still bothered her that he hadn’t answered her question. Was he an enforcer? If so, she was way beneath him in hierarchy. It probably didn’t matter, though, since they were just having casual sex. Any chance of a future with him wasn’t an option. Not that she thought he’d ever want to make what they had permanent. She’d never find someone who’d consider her for a mate…unless she left the pack to marry a human.

  Trayis sniffed. “I’m glad you’re not still bleeding. I worried about that.”

  “I heal faster than a human. I’m good.”

  He pulled her between his spread thighs and it put them almost face level as he leaned in closer. She closed her eyes, loving the way it felt as he brushed his lips over hers. Trayis was surprisingly gentle. He applied a little pressure, and she opened to him, his tongue sweeping into her mouth.

  He teased and tormented her with the way he kissed. It reminded her of what it had felt like when he’d fucked her earlier, after the pain had faded. She moaned, sliding her hands up and down his back, lightly raking her fingernails over his shoulder blades. There was something amazingly sensual about touching him.

  He cupped her ass, hauling her even closer, until their bodies were pressed together. His skin was hot and firm. She loved the feeling of being flush against him. She inhaled his scent. Everything about Trayis drew her, excited her, and made her long for more. She gasped when he broke the kiss, lifted her off her feet and turned. She landed on her back on the bed, and he came down over her.

  His mouth reclaimed hers, and he adjusted his body, using one hand to nudge her enough to let her know what he wanted without words. She spread her legs wide, wrapping them around his waist. Once she did, he arched his chest off hers enough to slide his roaming hand to her breast.

  She moaned louder as he lightly pinched the taut nipple, sending a jolt straight to her clit. He maneuvered his hips, his thick, hard cock rubbing against her slit and clit. She was already wet. Her nails dug into his skin.

  He tore his mouth from hers. “Throat,” he demanded, his voice inhumanly deep.

  She twisted her head to bare it, remembering the last time he’d bitten her. He didn’t sink his fangs in this time, but instead left hot, wet kisses that trailed from her shoulder up to just under her ear, before he retraced his path. Her belly clenched and the ache to have him inside her grew stronger, until she realized she was grinding her hips against his cock, desperate to come.

  “You’re so fucking hot, doll.”

  His fangs nicked her skin, and she moaned louder. “Yes!”

  He still didn’t bite, though, instead grinding his cock against her clit. She tensed under him, moaning his name. He stopped playing with her breast and slid his hand down her side to her hip—and then pulled away.

  She opened her eyes as he lifted completely off her, feeling bereft and aching. She’d been right at the edge of a climax. He fumbled for something, and she watched as he tore off a condom packet, used his mouth to tear an edge before he rolled the condom over his cock. He returned to her, pinning her under him again.

  “Wrap around me and hold on tight,” he demanded.

  She clung to him as he adjusted a bit until he could slide his cock inside her slowly. He took his sweet time, letting her body adjust.

  It was a completely different experience. There was no pain. Just a sense of being sensually stretched to fit his wide girth and completely filled. Then it felt incredible as he drove into her deeper and began to thrust at a slow, steady rhythm.

  Her nails sank into his skin and she threw her head back. “Trayis!”

  He growled in re
sponse, fucking her a little faster and harder. He lowered more weight onto her, his body rubbing against her clit.

  Ecstasy exploded inside Shay.

  He snarled and buried his face against her throat, arching his back and increasing his pace. His fangs sank into her throat—and she cried out his name again as an unexpected second orgasm slammed through her. His body jerked, hard, the mattress under them made a weird pinging noise, and wood snapped somewhere.

  Trayis stilled, both of them breathing hard.

  He eased his fangs out of her flesh and licked her skin. “Fuck,” he rasped. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  “It’s all good,” she panted, still clinging to him but not as tightly. Every muscle in her body grew lax and she suddenly felt sleepy.

  “You’re too little to be bitten this much.”

  “Multiple orgasms. No complaints from me,” she admitted, glad he couldn’t see her flaming face.

  He chuckled and licked her throat again over the puncture marks. “Am I too heavy?”

  She knew he was supporting some of his weight. “It feels good. I like being under you.”

  “I like having you here. No pain? Was I too rough?”

  “I loved it.” She had a bad feeling she was starting to love him. She kept her eyes closed when she felt him lift his head, afraid he might see too much emotion in them.

  “I’d planned to go down on you.”

  “Still no complaints.” She smiled.

  “Look at me.”

  She hesitated, reminding herself that they’d never have a future, and to not hope for one. He’d return to Alaska in a matter of days, the way he always did, and be gone for years at a time. He’d find a strong mate, one like him, or maybe a full Were.

  It was just casual sex. Her heart would be broken if she allowed herself to fall in love.

  “Shay?”

  She opened her eyes and peered into his eyes. The gold had faded, no longer so bright, but they were still intensely beautiful. “Yes?”

  “You need to eat, doll. Real food.”

  “Why do you call me that?”

  “Doll?”

  She nodded.

  “You remind me of one. It’s not an insult. You’re petite and adorable.”

  She scrunched her nose at him. “I’m not petite.”

  “You are compared to most women I know. I need to deal with this condom.”

  He chuckled as he slowly withdrew his cock, easing his weight off her as well. He crawled down the bed and got up. She lifted her head to admire his ultra-fine muscular ass as he walked out of the bedroom and into the tiny bathroom beside it.

  She sat up and gripped part of the bedding, covering her lap. She heard the sink running, then he returned…frowning when he saw her.

  She didn’t understand what she’d done to cause that look. “What?”

  “Hiding?”

  “I’m not a shifter, Trayis. Sorry.” She shoved off the covers to expose herself again. “Nudity isn’t normal for me. I’m a bit shy.”

  He sat on the bed next to her and stretched out on his side, using his bent arm to hold up his head. “I knew that already. You blush a lot.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t let it hinder me. I still face things head on.”

  “Like coming after me. That took a lot of courage.”

  “It did.”

  “Are you lightheaded? Dizzy?”

  “Sleepy, but I usually get up at three in the morning, so it’s really late for me.”

  “Why so early? You work in the office, right?”

  “I do most of my work before anyone else arrives. The office is officially open for staff at eight. He comes in around nine. It gives them an hour to get ready for the day before he arrives. That’s when I return home to type out letters for him. I have a laptop in my cabin, with internet. I send them to his email to read over. But sometimes I go in while he’s at the office, if I need to print stuff out for him to sign and send by courier.”

  “Why don’t you work the day shift?”

  “I make certain members of the pack uncomfortable, if they come in to see Arlis.”

  His features hardened and the color of his eyes darkened. “Arlis allows that shit?”

  “No, I asked for it to be this way, Trayis. It’s more comfortable for me, too. I wasn’t kidding about how some of the pack aren’t accepting of me. They view me as an outsider; I’m not included in anything. If things get loud enough in Arlis’s office, even I can overhear what’s being discussed. I’m not trusted by some.”

  “Trusted with what?”

  “The enforcer meetings. They discuss the safety of the pack and outside threats. The sentries come in to give reports to Arlis, too. They see a lot of things that should be kept private. They’d rather I didn’t hear.”

  “Like?”

  She shrugged. “Who’s fucking who. Things like that. Darlene, his secretary, once told me about two men pursing the same woman to test a mating. The sentries had caught her having sex with both men at different times. I wasn’t given names, but it could have turned into a death challenge over the woman. Arlis put a stop to it before the men found out about each other. The point is, Darlene overhears things in the office, and most of the pack don’t want me to have that kind of information.

  “But Darlene is always nice to me. She the one who explained that, since I might hold grudges against certain pack members, the sentries were worried I’d let information slip.”

  “That’s an insult to you. You’re honorable, Shay.”

  “I’m also mostly human and a lot of the pack have treated me like shit. I understand their concerns, Trayis. I don’t take it personally. They’d have a lot more to worry about if I were bitter and petty. Luckily for them, I’m not. They just don’t realize it.”

  He sat up and reached over, playing with her hair. “I’m offended for you.”

  “Don’t be. It’s not worth the stress it causes. I focus on being grateful instead.”

  “For what?”

  “I’m a part of the pack, even if some don’t like or acknowledge it. Working for Arlis gives me status. As a child, I was just a burden. Now I earn my keep. For a long time, I was also worried about the future of my foster parents. I know they’re looking forward to alone time after their children are mated…you know, being able to have sex wherever they want in their own home without worrying about someone catching them. But in our pack, girls don’t leave the protection of their parents’ homes until they either find their mates or move in with a male member of their family, the way Marcia did with Rod. He offered to let me move in, too, but I couldn’t do that to him. His future mate wouldn’t have liked having me around, since I’m not a blood relation. And depending on who he chooses, she could also dislike humans. Marcia will be out of Rod’s hair soon, when she takes a mate. But Arlis understood my unique situation. He’s allowed me to live on my own in my cabin. I’m exceptionally grateful.”

  His eyes flared golden and his fingers stopped playing with her hair. “Unique situation?”

  She held his gaze. “I’ll never have a mate.”

  “That’s bullshit. You’re young and have plenty of time to find one.”

  She broke eye contact. “Of course.”

  His fingers stabbed into her hair and he fisted it at the back of her neck, forcing her to look at him again. It didn’t hurt, but she couldn’t resist, either. Anger glinted in his gaze. “There’s not a damn thing wrong with you. You’re beautiful, sexy as hell, and sweet, Shay. Anyone would be lucky to claim you.”

  She wanted to break the tension, but she also didn’t want to lie. “Plague vagina, remember?” She smiled slightly. “There’s not one Werewolf here or in the nearby packs who’d look at the history of my parents and risk taking me on.” She reached back and tapped at his fingers in her hair, and they relaxed slightly. “Fact of life, Trayis. I accepted it long ago. The sun will rise and set, and I’ll die alone. I’m at peace with it. I’ll never mate a Werewolf, and
I refuse to live amongst humans. I tried to date a few. I’d be happier alone than I would with one of them, and anyway, it would be too much to ask Arlis to accept a pure human into the pack if I married one. Plus, I do faintly carry the Werewolf scent. I’d put any husband in danger in the human world, if someone came after me, thinking I’m a rogue.”

  Trayis stared at her intently for a long moment. Then he growled, looking angry still, but he released her hair. “Food. I’m feeding you.” He got off the bed and stomped out of the bedroom.

  She sighed and followed him into the kitchen. It would have made her more comfortable to put on clothes, but since he hadn’t, neither did she. Shay figured she’d said and done enough to remind him of just how different she was from the women he must be used to.

  Trayis fixed them both roast beef sandwiches, heavy on the meat. Shay hovered near him, being entirely too quiet.

  He wasn’t certain what had set him off more—his anger at her pack for making her feel unworthy of a mate, or her acceptance of such bullshit. He also wanted to have a severe talk with his brother. That Arlis had allowed his pack to treat her this way, for so long, wasn’t acceptable.

  He turned, thrusting a plate at Shay. She took it, staring at him with those doe eyes of hers. A small smile played at her lips and some of his rage faded. She didn’t seem to feel aggression the way he did. He needed to remember that.

  He was also still worried about the blood he’d taken. “Eat it all,” he ordered. “Do you want a beer, milk, or water? It’s all I’m stocked with.”

  “Milk. I can get it.”

  “Sit at the table. I know where the glasses are.”

  She turned and put her food on the table, taking time to toss down two dish towels over the bench seats for them to sit on. Her attention to such details amused him. She took a seat on one.

  He poured her milk, snagged a beer, and sat across from her, since the table wasn’t wide enough to accommodate them both on the same side. He took a bite of his sandwich and watched her eat. She took small, dainty bites. Everything about her was too fucking cute.

  It bothered him to notice that particular word kept springing up in his mind.