She hesitated, and her anger turned to unease. She knew Vaughn didn’t view nudity like she did. He was a shifter, and that meant he was naked a lot, even when in front of others. Shifters couldn’t shift and keep their clothes on, so it didn’t bother him to walk around nude. Although he’d seen her naked plenty of times, it was never when he was mad. It made her uncomfortable even if the anger wasn’t directed at her.
Sensing her unease, he ran his hand down his face. “Naya, I’m just going to throw everything in the wash.”
She gave in. She removed the rest of her clothes and handed them over. He set them on the floor by the door. Then, he took her into the attached Jack and Jill bathroom and closed and locked the door to the opposite bedroom. He turned on the shower and made sure the water was warm before urging her to get in. He spun around and left without a word.
Looking around, she noticed a lot of girlie stuff in the shower. The other bedroom must be Payton’s, and Naya was grateful for the sweet-smelling shampoo, conditioner, and clean-scented body wash.
She had just begun to lather up her hair when the shower curtain opened, and Vaughn got in. His cat had retreated, and his blue eyes were human again. The shower was average-sized, and with Vaughn inside it with her, it felt tiny. There was no way to be anything other than close to each other. He helped her wash and condition her hair. Then, he used body wash to cleanse her all over.
Soon, her anger started to melt away, regardless of her attempt to hold on to it. She was never one to stay mad, and the whole shower experience was very sensual as he paid special attention to her neck, nipples, and between her thighs. Surprised he wasn’t trying anything with her since they were both naked, she stood speechless as he washed his hair and body when he was done with her.
While he rinsed his hair, his eyes were closed, and she took the opportunity to study him. He didn’t seem as mad, but he wasn’t being his normal self either. Looking at his face, she noticed Vaughn hadn’t shaved in a couple of days. He looked extra sexy with his scruffy facial hair, and along with him being naked and wet, his arousal was standing up from his body. She rubbed her thighs together as the last of her anger slowly faded. Now, she wanted to wrap her fingers around him, but not knowing where his head was, she resisted.
Once they were both clean, he shut off the water and snagged a towel. He dried her off and then himself. Next, he grabbed something from the bathroom drawer. He led her into the bedroom and sat her on the bed. He took a seat behind her and towel-dried her hair before gently combing through it. She loved having someone do her hair, and she felt herself relax.
After he finished, he picked up the towel and comb and took them back to the bathroom.
She flopped back on the bed, letting her legs hang down. She didn’t know what to make of Vaughn. He’d been forceful when they first came into the room, but now, he was being gentle with her. Maybe the Max thing hadn’t bothered him after all.
When he came back, he pulled her to a standing position and into his arms. He positioned his nose in her neck and inhaled.
“Better?” she asked.
There was no response. He still hadn’t said anything since he put her in the shower.
Instead of replying, he straightened and flung back the covers. He’s putting me to bed? She found herself feeling a little disappointed that he planned to tuck her in and leave. All his touching and pampering had turned her on, and she wanted to be close to him. She wasn’t ready to let his earlier unavailability slide, but they could discuss the issue later—after her current needs were met.
Confused, she sat on the mattress. There was no way he could miss her arousal. She was already wet, and with his shifter nose, he always knew when she was ready for him. Plus, didn’t he want to put his scent all over her now that she was clean?
Maybe she should just go to bed and worry about everything after she woke up. Hoping sleep would come quickly, she put one foot up and stretched to grasp for the covers from the end of the bed, so they’d be within reach. Vaughn stepped between her legs and put his hand on hers, stopping her. He leaned over her so far that he had to set his hand on the bed to hold himself up. One of her feet was still sitting on the floor, putting him between her legs, as he settled his face right over hers.
Finally, he spoke, “Just so we’re clear, Naya”—his eyes flashed to his cat and then back to human—“I don’t share. I know it’s not your fault. You don’t understand how shifters work, but if you ever smell like another male again, I will hunt him down and rip his fucking arms off for even attempting to touch you.”
She felt her eyes widen. Wow. “Okay then.” She gave him a small nod. “We’re clear.”
It was very dominating of him, but it was also very hot, and she grew wetter between her legs.
He gave her a cunning smile. “Good.”
He put his arm under her back and pulled her close. He used his other hand to wrap around her hair and draw her head to the side. He clamped down on her neck and slammed inside, filling her. With all the tension in the room and the subtle foreplay, she came right away.
He paused and waited until her orgasm waned. He released her neck, and then he licked and kissed her mark. He used the hand holding her hair to turn her head, forcing her to look at him. He stared into her eyes.
“Mine,” he said as he pumped hard.
She moaned. It felt so good.
He gradually built her back up, and then he halted his strokes and switched tactics, shifting down to bite and suck on her nipples. She lifted her hips and clawed at his back. She needed him to move again. He slid up and nipped her ear.
“Behave,” he said before he went back to her breasts.
She thought she would go crazy with frustration when he progressed slowly back up her body. He studied her face and sank inside her once more, and she whimpered. He moved back to her neck and sucked where he’d bitten her earlier.
She was right on the edge again, and she clenched her eyes shut, expecting her orgasm to take over. Vaughn pulled on her hair just enough to get her attention. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Whom do you belong to?” he asked quietly.
She didn’t respond, and he paced his thrusts to be slow and shallow.
“Whom do you belong to, baby?” he asked again, his voice ever so calm.
She groaned in defeat.
“Naya, I’m not letting you come until you answer.”
Her orgasm was just a breath away, and she shouted, “You! I belong to you!”
“Fucking right you do,” he said.
He lifted her hips and picked up speed, pounding in and out of her while going as deep as he could.
“And don’t you ever forget it,” he groaned.
She screamed as her body contracted underneath him, and Vaughn put his hand over her mouth to stifle her cries. His release followed right after hers, and he buried his face in her neck, climaxing with a long, loud moan.
After they both caught their breaths, Vaughn picked her up off the bed. Their bodies were flush with each other, and her legs rested over his hips. He lay down on his back with her on top, and he threw the covers over them.
He kissed the top of her head. “Sleep.”
She lay there for a few minutes, snuggling into him, as she took comfort in his spiced clove scent while he ran his hands up and down her back.
She was almost asleep, but before she forgot, she said, “Vaughn?”
He paused his rubbing. “Hmm?”
“Just to be clear, I’m pregnant with your babies, and I want to be able to get in touch with you at all times. If I can’t reach you, I will rip off your arms, so next time, you really will have an excuse not to use the phone.”
She could feel his chest shaking, but he was smart enough not to laugh.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She could hear the smile in his voice, and it made her grin in response.
He rubbed her back again. “I’m sorry you couldn’t get a hold of me last night.
I promise, it won’t happen again.”
“Good,” she said. “Oh, and P.S., you belong to me, too.”
This time, he laughed out loud.
She drifted off with a smile on her face, noticing he was still inside her even though the barbs had receded. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he didn’t share, but that was okay because neither did she.
PAYTON STROLLED TO her eight in the morning marketing research class on the University of Minnesota campus. She had started working toward her MBA after graduating last spring with a Bachelor of Science in business and marketing. Today, she was asking herself why she hadn’t taken a break between degrees because going to class on Saturday sucked. But at the time, she’d just wanted to finish her schooling and get it over with.
After graduation, she hoped to get a job working for her father, who had so far seemed resistant to letting her be a part of the business. Even if that wouldn’t work out, she was positive she could find something else in the area. With a population of over two million people, there would certainly be jobs in her field. Unfortunately, she really wanted to be a part of the family trade.
As she walked, she pulled her phone from her pocket to see if she had any messages. Seeing nothing, she slipped it into the side pocket of her backpack. That morning, she’d left early, so she could go to the library and study before class, but she’d ended up missing out on all the excitement happening at home. Her mom had called to tell her the good news about how Naya had found Max. If Naya hadn’t already been welcomed into the Llewelyn family, she sure would be now. Shifters held a very strong sense of family, and reuniting a mother and son went a long way toward making Naya a permanent part of the Pride.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled.
Someone was following her—again.
She continued her casual strides, so whoever was watching wouldn’t know she sensed his or her presence. She sniffed the air to see if she could tell anything from the person’s scent, but she didn’t get anything other than the usual smells. The person was either downwind from her or far enough away that she couldn’t catch a scent. Every time her watcher was near, he or she would remain out of sight and smell, and she hadn’t learned anything useful.
Feeling around in her pockets, she acted like she was searching for something. She pretended not to find it as she set her backpack on the ground. Then, she rummaged around in her bag for a few seconds while taking quick glances up to try to see anything. The wind was at her back and blowing her hair around, so she made a big spectacle of it getting in her face. She used this as an excuse to turn around and face the wind. Again, she glanced around discreetly while still pretending to search in her bag. She didn’t see anyone, and she still couldn’t sense anything, so she grabbed her phone as if the cell was what she had been looking for the whole time.
She lingered, putting everything back the way it had been and getting up slowly in hopes of discovering something. While she could sense someone was following and watching her, she never once thought this person was out to get her or cause her any harm. It was actually the opposite. She felt very safe and protected by the presence. It was the strangest sensation, and it made her even more curious to know who was out there. At this point, she was pretty sure it was a male. She wasn’t completely positive, but her heart pounded whenever he was near, and it wasn’t out of fear.
When she reached the lecture hall where her class was held, she was disappointed. She wanted to keep walking and have whoever was out there show himself even though he never had.
She glanced down at the time and saw she had five minutes before class. If she were lucky, maybe after she was done in three-and-a-half hours, her watcher would still be out here. But that was a long time to wait, and she knew he’d probably be gone.
She sighed. Would she ever get to meet her mysterious watcher?
Damien watched Payton walk toward the building where her class was held. For a few minutes there, he’d worried that she would catch him when she’d paused and hunted through her backpack. When she’d picked up her stuff and kept walking, he’d breathed a sigh of relief.
He’d been watching over her for the last week, and he still couldn’t believe this was the same thirteen-year-old from ten years ago. He remembered her being skinny and flat-chested with braces back then. Sure, she’d been a cute kid, but now…shit, she was a beautiful woman.
Today was warm for October, and she was wearing a sweater and fitted jeans, drawing attention to her amazing figure. She had a body that didn’t quit, and it wasn’t the first time he’d reminded himself that he wasn’t there to get in her pants. He was there to protect her. Unfortunately, his dick didn’t care, and Damien was going to have to get used to the permanent hard-on he would carry whenever he was close to Payton. Standing downwind from her and smelling her lavender scent would only make it worse, and he had been both thankful and disappointed when she entered the building.
Adjusting himself to ease the ache in his groin, Damien noted the time and headed for his car. After the conversation with his father, Damien had talked to the other sentinels. So far, he hadn’t been able to convince them to abandon Dwyer’s plans. Of course, he hadn’t been able to tell them everything, so they still needed a good reason to trust Damien over Dwyer.
He was fortunate to learn that Dwyer had sent one of his sentinels, Chase, out to scout Vaughn and his female a couple of weeks prior. Chase had been careful, but Vaughn had discovered him and taken off after him. Chase had gotten away, but Damien felt confident that Vaughn could take care of himself. Damien knew Vaughn was a sentinel, and his female was a vampire. While vampires were not as strong as shifters, Damien knew she had more strength than a human. Vaughn and his female together would do a good job of defending themselves.
But Payton was all by herself, and Damien was only one man. Even though she was a shifter, she was alone and had no partner to help her. She didn’t seem to have a boyfriend, and she would often meet her friends instead of arriving with them to places. His father would have plenty of opportunities to take Payton, which is why Damien had decided she needed him more than her brother did.
Damien had gone through other options. He’d considered sending the Llewelyns a warning, but they had no reason to trust him. He was a wolf, a potential enemy in their eyes. And would they really trust him to go against his own father? If the situation were reversed, Damien didn’t think he would trust the cats. And an anonymous letter would most likely be dismissed as a hoax.
When the time came for his father to reveal what he had been up to, Damien hoped the sentinels would do the right thing. But as of right now, Damien was a lone wolf, and since he could only be in one place at a time, he would do his best to save Payton.
His father was planning to kidnap Vaughn and his vampire the same day as Payton, and Damien knew their parents would be devastated. Vance would be caught off guard, giving the mysterious cat-shifter time to make his move. His father had promised to tell Damien when the abduction would go down, but he wouldn’t put it past Dwyer to lie and spring it when Damien wasn’t around, which is why Damien would continue to follow Payton. He was hoping to stop the chain reaction Dwyer had intended to start. Today didn’t seem to be the day, but Damien still intended to be here when Payton was finished with class, so he could make sure she made it safely to her car.
He took a deep breath as he got to his car. When his father did make his move, Damien knew he would do everything in his power to stop Payton from being abducted. Once he got her away from her captors, he’d deliver her safely to her family. With luck, her family would believe he didn’t have anything to do with it, and then they’d let him go. He hoped they’d listen when he told them one of their own was behind the whole thing.
When the time came, Damien prayed Payton would understand that he was trying to save her. He knew she wouldn’t want to trust a wolf, but he might be the only thing between her and danger, and he would do anything to keep her safe.
&
nbsp; He scrubbed his hand down his face. That was his plan anyway.
Vaughn stirred. He’d nodded off for a while with Naya, and now, he awoke to find they were lying on their sides, chest to chest, with her leg over his. Although soft, he was still inside her, and he slowly withdrew and eased her onto her back. She looked peaceful when she slept, and he kissed the top of her head. Before getting out of bed, he placed another kiss on her belly. It still amazed him that his babies were in there.
He went to the dresser to find some old clothes to wear. After deciding on a T-shirt and sweatpants since he wasn’t going anywhere until Naya woke up for the night, he went back to the bed to make sure Naya was okay.
He had been a little rough with her earlier, letting his dominance show, but his cat hadn’t wanted his female to smell like anyone but him. He knew he’d pushed her, but he’d also known she could handle it, or his cat never would have accepted her. Also, she might have been unhappy when they’d first come upstairs, but by the time their shower was over, he’d smelled that she was ready for him.
He dropped another kiss on her forehead and went to put her clothes in the dryer. When he got to the laundry room, he discovered someone had already beaten him to it. Most likely, it had been his mom. She was always on top of things.
Downstairs, he found his parents in the kitchen. It looked like his mother was preparing a big lunch for everyone. She loved to cook, and even though they had their own kitchen in the bunkhouse, she loved to have everyone come to the main house for a big meal.
“Vaughn,” his mother said when she saw him, “you’re just in time. We’re eating in about twenty minutes when Payton gets home from class.”
“Afternoon, son,” his father said.
“Hey.” Vaughn sat on a stool at the large island in the middle of the kitchen.
There was a stove and sink on the island, and his mom would do most of the cooking there. His parents had remodeled the kitchen about five years back to include those two things in the island. She liked looking at everyone rather than having her back turned while preparing meals.
Forbidden Blood Page 27