Right. The condom. She’d been so caught up she almost lost her head. Thank God she remembered. She couldn’t risk it. Not that they were True Mates or anything. Right? No, of course not.
“You seem deep in thought for someone who’s just had two orgasms,” he teased.
“Oh, ha ha.” She turned in his arms. “I just-”
A bark followed by a yipping sound made both of them sit up.
“Hugo!” Liam hopped off the bed and disappeared down the hallway. A few minutes later, the huge beast came bounding into the bedroom.
“Hey, down boy!” Lara tried to keep the sheet around her chest and calm down the excited dog as it tried to lick her face.
“Sorry about that…guess he doesn’t like being forgotten,” Liam said sheepishly as he pulled Hugo off the bed. He led the dog out of the room and shut the door behind him.
“It’s OK, we should have let him in.” A blush crept up her cheeks and she stared at the sheet.
“Hey now,” he said, sitting down next to her and caressing her cheek. Tipping her head up, he kissed her softly. “Want some lunch? I could probably whip something up.”
“You cook?”
He laughed. “C’mon, I’ll cook, you watch, and I’ll tell you about the time I worked at a restaurant.”
Chapter Nineteen
As promised, Liam cooked up a massive lunch for them as he told Lara about his summers spent working at a Mexican restaurant in the Mission District. His mother wanted him to learn about hard work, so she sent him to her friend’s restaurant. He began by washing dishes, then moved up to bus boy, and eventually helped with the actual cooking. Three summers he did that, and each night, he would come home exhausted, but it was one of the best experiences of his life.
And now, watching Lara eat and enjoying the food he made, this was definitely the best experience in his life. Well, not the best, he thought with a grin. Lara was a beautiful woman, but in his arms she was exquisite. His wolf was pleased, too, seeing how he was taking care of her. The animal seemed to settle much more when she was around.
After lunch, they got re-dressed and went outside. Lara showed him the rest of the property, the parts they didn’t get to. The entire coven compound was much larger than he thought, and they spent most of the afternoon circling the perimeter. Hugo opted to stay behind and snooze on the porch,
“What was it like, growing up in a witch coven?” They walked hand in hand, following another fall foot path. Lara explained that there were lots of foot paths in the forest of the property because the witches got most of their wild herbs there.
“Well, I suppose it’s not much different than a normal childhood. I went to the school in Little Water, had friends there, and the other kids here.”
“And all the witches and warlocks grew up together?”
She nodded. “And studied together. You probably don’t know, but not all children of witches and warlocks have magic. Most do, and there’s a higher chance if both parents are magical. All the children learn about herbs and potions and spells, but right around puberty, the power either manifests itself, or it just doesn’t.”
“How does the power work, exactly?”
“Well, see, witches and warlocks use nature magic. All our potions come from ingredients taken from the earth and our spells draw power from nature. The knowledge, like, how to mix the right ingredients and say the right words has been passed down for generations. However, all these potions and spells are, in themselves, inert. Any human can mix herbs and chant spells. However, when a witch says the spell or mixes the potions, only then does it become magically active.”
“Didn’t the humans ever suspect what you were?”
“Not for the most part,” she replied. “All training is done within the compound, and we are sworn never to reveal ourselves. I’m sure you Lycans have the same kind of laws.”
“We do,” Liam said. “But we try to blend in with humans as much as possible. We hide in plain sight, for the most part. But a place like your compound, and so close to a town, surely that attracts attention?”
“We explained that the compound belonged to an ancestor of ours, who had gifted the land to her children and descendants, and that we were free to live and build our homes here. Which is the truth.”
“These woods are a part of that land?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I love it here and I’m glad we have it. I used to come out here a lot to get away, and also to practice my powers. You see, it’s not like I can just practice in the house.”
“No, you can’t.” He gave her a wink, remembering what happened to the papers and books in the guest bedroom. She blushed, her delicate skin taking on color. He thought she looked even more beautiful.
“Are you the only blessed witch in your coven?” He helped her up over a fallen log, lifting her up by the waist and holding her against his chest.
“Yes. Probably on the east coast too. We’re very rare. The only other one I know in America is a cousin who lives outside Tennessee. She can call rain.” Lara smiled up gratefully at him as he slid her down his body. “What about you? What was it like growing up as a Lycan? And a future Alpha?”
He took her hand and kissed it, then tucked it into his arm. “Normal, too, I guess.”
Lara agreed silently. Despite what she personally thought of Akiko Henney, she had to admire the Lupa for raising her son to be grounded and humble, despite his obviously privileged background.
“Normal, up until I hit puberty, at least,” Liam continued. “Then, I have to learn to control my shifting. All Lycan teens have to go to a summer camp or after school program of sorts, you see. We can’t be shifting around humans or we risk exposing our secret.”
“So you go to shifter school?”
Liam laughed. “Yeah. One of our clan members took us into Muir woods for one summer. Taught us how to shift, control ourselves, and even defend ourselves in wolf form.”
She wrinkled her brow. “I think I’ve only ever seen you in your wolf form that time when we rescued Cady.”
“Would you like to see it? My wolf, I mean?”
“Are you allowed to show me?”
“Of course. I mean, you’ve already seen it.” He began to take off his shirt. “But I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
“What? Get naked?”
“No, silly.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I mean, will you show me what you can do? With your powers?”
“You want to see?”
He nodded. “Show me what you got.”
Lara took a step back and spread her arms and closed her eyes. As she opened them, she focused on a tree branch about twenty feet away. She lifted her hand and sent the currents towards the branch, knocking it down.
“Wow,” he said, impressed. “I didn’t know you had that much control.”
She smiled and moved her hand in a circle, sending the leaves at her feet swirling around her. “I’ve never really called on a tornado, at least I haven’t tried.”
“I’m curious about something. Since you can control wind currents, can you fly?” he asked.
“No.” She shook her head. “Believe me, I’ve tried. And it hurt! I levitated myself once but lost control. All I got was a sprained ankle.”
“Your powers are pretty cool, though.” He grinned at her.
She smirked. “Now you show me yours.”
With a sneaky smile, he pushed his sweats down, enjoying the blush on her cheeks as her eyes immediately zeroed in on his half-hard dick. He took his shirt off, and then focused, calling the wolf from within. Then his body hunched into himself, and his wolf burst from his skin. Lara gasped.
Being in his wolf form, his senses were even more heightened. The grass, trees, wind, Lara’s delicious scent - he could smell everything. He could also hear everything, from the squirrel scrambling up the tree behind them to the raccoon rooting around the ground for grub about 20 feet away.
“You’re beautiful,” Lara said as she reached for h
im cautiously. He knew his wolf was impressive, with thick, dark fur and blue eyes. Most Lycans in their animal form were much larger than normal wolves, and he wouldn’t have taken the Alpha position if his animal wasn’t so physically dominant. On its hind legs, his wolf was over six feet tall, his jaws massive and could probably snap a human torso in half.
He could smell the fear rolling off Lara, but there was nothing for her to worry about. Neither he, nor his wolf would ever harm her. In fact, his protective instincts seemed to amplify around her. Her hands touched the soft fur on his head and he nuzzled against her.
“There’s no one around here,” she said, stroking his fur. “If you like, you can run around, be free.”
With a last lick of her hand, Liam’s wolf darted into the trees. Powerful paws beat on the ground as he ran through the woods. It had been too long since he’d had this kind of freedom. The pressures and obligations of being an Alpha, running a business, getting his startup off the ground, all those things had kept him far too busy.
The wolf ran as fast and as far as his legs could take him. The end of the property came into view, and somehow he felt a powerful pull to turn back. Probably the magical wards set up by the coven. In his wolf form, everything that was magical was amplified too. He stopped, backed away from the invisible force and headed back towards Lara.
Air currents followed him, almost beckoning him back. The currents caressed his fur, like a lover would, and when he saw Lara sitting on the grass cross-legged, her eyes closed and arms outstretched, he knew it was her way of calling him back to her. A few feet before he reached her, he instantly changed back into his human form.
Lara’s eyes flew open, her cheeks heated, and her heady scent mixed with arousal tickled his nose. He was rock hard instantly, his cock standing at attention. Without another word, he pulled her up to her feet and walked her backwards until she was braced against one of the tall pine trees.
“Liam?” she asked.
“You smell amazing, did I ever tell you that?” He nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent. “Especially like this, when I can smell how much you want me.” Liam knelt down in front of her, his hands trailing down over her breasts and belly, until they reached the fly of her pants. Fingers popped off the buttons, and he tugged the jeans and her panties down in one motion.
“I didn’t bring a condom,” he said, sliding his hands behind her, cupping her ass cheeks. “So I’m going to have to get creative.”
Lara whimpered as Liam buried his face in her wet sex and hooked one leg over his shoulder. His mouth lapped at her pussy lips, already so drenched with her own juices. Christ, she was delicious. He pulled her closer, trying to get as much of her as he could in her mouth. Sliding his tongue along her slit, he probed her, slipping inside her. She cried out and grabbed his head, moaning his name as her hips met the thrusting of his tongue. Her pussy sucked at his tongue, clenching around him.
“Liam!” she screamed. Her body tightened, and Liam switched his tongue with his fingers as his lips latched onto her hard clit. He sucked deep as his fingers fucked her harder, bringing her over the edge. Her body shook as her orgasm washed over her like a wave, and Liam urged her on, lapping and thrusting harder.
Lara collapsed against the tree, breathing heavily. Liam could hear her heartbeat as it thudded a maddening rhythm, then slowed down. Breathing a sigh, she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him up. He leaned down and gave her a slow, sensual kiss, wanting her to taste herself on his lips.
She moaned and pressed her naked torso up against the bulge in his pants. Before he could do anything else, she turned him around and made him lean against the tree.
“Lara, what are you doing?” Really, though, that sparkle in her eyes and her kneeling down should have given him a clue.
“Getting creative.” She bobbed her head down at his cock, licking the pearl of precum that had formed on the tip.
“Lara,” he moaned as her soft, perfect lips wrapped around the tip of his cock. Her tongue swiped at him, swirling around him. The sensation seemed to increase tenfold, and he sank his fingers into her thick auburn locks. Slowly, she took more of him in, as much as she could.
Small, soft hands wrapped around the thick base, squeezing him. Fuck, she was gorgeous, on her knees, pleasuring him. The low vibrations she made with her mouth made him jerk his hips.
“Sweetheart,” he groaned. “You don’t have to…”
Lara could only get past the tip, but she used her hands to milk him. She used both hands, stroking his length up and down. He wanted to push himself into her mouth all the way but satisfied himself with short, shallow strokes. Besides, that tongue of hers…
“Lara…if you don’t stop…I might…”
She released him with a soft pop. “You might what?” Her face tilted up at him, a naughty smile on her face.
“I won’t last long if you keep that up,” he said in a low, throaty voice.
“Then don’t.” She popped him back into her mouth, and he let out a groan. He shouldn’t, but she wanted him. Wanted him to lose control. Damn if it wasn’t sexy as hell.
He held back as long as he could, but her sweet mouth sucking on his cock was too much. With a roar of pleasure, he let go, spurting out hot jets of cum straight into her mouth. With eyes opened, she took him all in, looking up at him as she swallowed every last drop.
Lara stood up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She flashed him the most wicked smiled, and he pulled her close to him. “You are one naughty witch.” He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the pure scent of her.
“And you are delicious.” She smirked, rubbing herself over his semi-hard cock, both of them still naked from the waist down.
He twisted her around and tugged her closer to him. “Careful there.” Sliding his hands down her belly, he tickled the soft patch of neatly-trimmed hair over her sex. “I should punish bad little witches like you.”
Her breath hitched, and she melted against him. “Let’s go back to the house.”
***
Liam whistled happily as he flipped pancakes over the stove. The bacon was warming up in the oven and the coffee was brewing, which meant breakfast would be ready in minutes. His muscles ached, but it was well worth it, as he pushed Lara to the brink of exhaustion last night. A smile crossed his face, imagining her beautiful face tucked into his side as she slept soundly afterwards.
After their romp in the woods, they walked back to the house and Liam carried her straight into the house, wanting to bury himself in her again. He took her against the wall of her bedroom, teasing her and making her mewl and cry until she begged him to make her cum. God, she was magnificent, and he brought her onto the bed where he lay under her, watching her gorgeous tits bouncing up and down as she took charge. She rode him hard and fast, taking her own pleasure. Lara came at least twice before he let go and lost himself in her.
Liam wanted to keep her in bed all day. However, they were also running out of condoms, and he was pretty sure they were going to need a lot more. So they went into town for dinner and stopped by the pharmacy. Of course, he couldn’t get any STDS, and there was a low possibility of getting her pregnant, as Lycans didn’t reproduce as easily as humans. Still, he wanted to respect her wishes. His wolf, however, seemed to relish the thought of her belly growing large with his pup. No, of course not. Biologically, the child would be human of course. He shook his head. Thinking of that would only lead to a place he couldn’t go.
He pushed those thoughts aside and concentrated on breakfast. Yes, breakfast now, he could do. He slid the fluffy pancake onto a plate and proceeded to add another cup of batter onto the hot pan.
Normally, his senses picked up everything that went around, but he was so distracted that he missed the sound of the motor cutting out in the driveway and the turning of the key in the lock as the front door opened.
“Good morning, Alpha.” Vivianne Chatraine leaned against the side of kitchen doorframe, the smile on her face bri
ght. She looked like the cat that ate the cream.
Liam nearly dropped the pancake as he was mid-flip but caught it easily. “Oh, Vivianne, I didn’t realize…you and…you’re back.”
Vivianne seemed unusually calm, despite the fact that Liam was wearing nothing but a bathrobe. Lara’s fluffy pink floral bathrobe. He groaned inwardly, wishing he’d brought more clean clothes.
“Making breakfast, I see?” She could barely keep her smile from growing wider.
“Yes. Uhm, we…Lara and I…we were going to head back to New York as soon as you came back. Wanted to get a head start.”
The older witch cocked her head to the side. “I’m sure you did.” She turned around to leave but stopped. “My husband is unpacking the car. I suggest maybe taking this time to change into something more…appropriate?”
Liam nodded and put the pan down, then quickly walked to the guest room. They slept in her room last night, so at least he didn’t have to worry about waking her up. He quickly showered and got dressed in his last clean outfit, a pair of dark jeans and a long-sleeved henley shirt. As he passed by Lara’s room, he saw that the door was open, which meant she was up.
He walked to the kitchen, where Lara and her parents were already sitting at the table, enjoying breakfast, chatting happily.
“Sit down, son,” Graham called him over, putting down the newspaper he’d been perusing. “Thank you for making us breakfast.”
Liam felt guilt shoot through him but sat down next to the older man anyway. “Of course, it was the least I could do for your hospitality.”
Lara’s eyes went wide, and she choked on her coffee.
“Are you all right, darling?” Vivianne frowned.
“I’m fine, Mother,” Lara coughed. “It’s hot. The coffee’s hot.” She took a deep breath. “So, tell me about your trip. How are the Smiths?”
Witch's Mate Page 13