Lara sighed and turned back to Jade. “I’m so glad you’re OK, Jade.” She looked down at her feet. “I’m sorry about the things I said. I don’t think of you as just a Lycan, you know that, right? You’re my best friend.”
Jade’s eyes softened and she opened her arms. Lara eagerly embraced her friend.
“I know, Lara. We’re good. Thanks for coming to rescue me.”
“Well, it was a group effort. Now, do you want to talk about what happened?”
She gave a shrug. “I debriefed with the Alpha and Beta as soon as I woke up, since they didn’t want me to forget any details. But to be honest, I don’t remember much.” Jade seemed to shrink into herself, hunching her shoulders. “I was walking home that night when I heard the vans braking behind me. These two guys grab me and I try to fight them off but…”
“It’s OK honey, you’re safe.” Lara squeezed Jade’s hand.
“Anyway…they took my purse, but I actually had my phone in my pocket. So I put it in my bra, hoping they wouldn’t find it.”
“I knew you were smart!” Lara laughed.
Jade smirked at her. “I wouldn’t stop struggling, though, and one of the guys…he hit me across the face and I must have blacked out. From that point, everything gets spotty and…” She deep breath. “I was in and out. Like, as soon as I showed any signs of waking up, they would pump me full of drugs. It was like swimming in molasses. I couldn’t even lift my arms. They had me chained up too.”
“I know,” Lara whispered.
“I was unconscious, but at some point I had a dream, a weird one.” She shook her head. “Never mind, that’s not important.” She stared down at her hands.
Lara thought back to her own dream that morning. “No, Jade, tell me please.” She took her friend’s hands into hers.
“It wasn’t a dream, as much as…well at one point I suddenly felt…safe. The visuals were muddy, but I could…smell something familiar. It was like leather and musk…” Her head suddenly popped up and she gave a weak laugh. “This is silly, but I was reminded of my grandfather’s study back in England. You know, I hated it when my mom took me there, but that was the one place I felt happy. I would play in there for hours with my grandfather and loved the smell of his leather chair and the books.”
“So you smelled old books?”
“No, silly. I mean, kind of…I can’t describe it. It was a scent, but more of a feeling.” She straightened her shoulders. “Anyway, it’s not important.”
“Yes, what’s important is you’re safe,” Lara said.
“And that we get back to work!”
“No, Jade.” Lara stood up and crossed her arms. “You need rest!”
“And you need to grab my tablet from the lab. Call Milly and-”
“No.”
“Oh c’mon, Lara, please?”
Lara shook her head.
“Fine. But you have to talk to me and entertain me,” Jade grumbled.
“Whatever you want.” Lara sat beside her on the hospital bed.
“Tell me, when did you and Liam start sleeping together?”
Lara turned red. “We are not-”
“I can smell him on you.”
“Motherfucker, I showered twice this morning!” She shot to her feet. “He said that…hold on!” Her eyes grew wide. “Who told you?”
“You did,” Jade said with a sly smile.
Lara collapsed on the bed next her. “Shit.”
“So. C’mon. Spill. I want the PG-rated details!”
Lara told her what had happened, from the time that Liam showed up at Rusty’s, the disastrous dinner with the Morgans, Liam’s arrival and the drive back to New York.
“Lara, I’m so happy for you!”
“What?”
“I mean, it’s so obvious you guys like each other!” Jade exclaimed. “All those longing looks. Him chasing you around. Your jealousy whenever Alynna was around.”
“I was not jealous!” Jade gave her a smirk. “Oh God, do you think she knew?” Lara buried her face in her hands.
“Probably.”
“You’re not helping! Besides, I didn’t know you cared who I slept with.”
“It’s not that,” Jade explained. “I’m hardly a romantic, but you know. It’s nice. You two are nice together.”
“Yeah, well,” Lara shrugged. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”
“You’re not going to marry Weasel Wesley, are you?”
“Weasel Wesley,” Lara laughed. “That’s clever. But no. I don’t think my dad would forgive me if I did.”
“So, what’s the harm in enjoying what you have with Liam?”
Lara turned away from Jade, not wanting to her friend to see the worry on her face or the tears threatening to spill. What was she supposed to say? That she could actually harm Liam and she’d already seen him fall to his death? What a mess. Loving Liam could mean his death, but she was already falling so deep that leaving him now would rip her apart.
She wiped her tears discreetly and faced Jade with a big smile on her face. “You’re right. Just…enjoy the moment, right?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
After spending the whole day with Jade, Lara decided to go home to her apartment and get some rest, then maybe call Vivianne and tell her what happened. This was big, and the Witch Assembly would want to know what happened. Liam had dropped her off at The Enclave that morning, but he couldn’t stay as he had left Hugo alone for too long. The hotel staff was nice, and they offered to take care of the dog, but it was too cruel to just leave him with strangers. They didn’t make plans for afterwards, though, so she just assumed that Liam would eventually call her or show up at her apartment.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Chatraine,” the doorman greeted her.
“Oh, hi…uhm…Jim,” she greeted back, looking at the young man’s name tag.
“I’m new here, just started today, ma’am.”
“Oh, right.” She nodded and headed to the elevators.
“Ma’am, your fiancé is waiting for you upstairs,” Jim called. “He arrived here a few minutes ago, I thought you wouldn’t want to keep him waiting in the lobby, so I let him up.”
“Fiancé?” Lara shook her head as she entered the elevator car. Jim must have been mistaken. Maybe it was her neighbor’s fiancé or something.
As the elevator began to move, a suspicion niggled at the back of her mind, scratching at her like an itch. When the doors opened, she finally realized that was going on.
“Wesley?” she asked as she saw the tall figure waiting at her floor.
“Lara.” He turned to her slowly. “Where have you been?”
“Where have I been?” she echoed. “I was out. What are you doing here?”
“I was in town,” he explained. “I wanted to surprise you at Fenrir, but they said you weren’t there. Actually, they said that they couldn’t confirm if you were working there or not, and I tried to tell them who I was, but apparently these stuck up New Yorkers don’t know anyone who’s anyone outside their stupid little city,” he sneered. “But no worries. I greased the wheels a little, and one of the security guys told me you didn’t live far away. I went here, told your doorman who I was and he let me up.”
“You told him you were my fiancé?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
Lara’s jaw dropped in shock. She thought her mom was taking care of this. God, this was awkward. “Listen, Wesley, I-”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go out to eat,” Wesley suggested.
“Wesley, no. You see-”
“I think I could get us a table at Peter Luger. Do you like steak?”
“I do, but Wesley-”
“On second thought, you should really watch what you eat. I know women want to look their best on their wedding day. Maybe we can get some salad instead.”
“Wesley, listen to me!” she shouted.
“Lara, what’s going on with you?” He put one hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged hi
s hands off. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing here and what my mother told you, but I’ve already decided I wasn’t going to marry you.”
He laughed. “I know, my father told me that he and your mother talked. But I told him that he must have been mistaken.”
“No, he wasn’t. I’m not interested in you, Wesley. I’m not going to marry you.”
Wesley’s face twisted in anger and confusion. “You can’t be serious, Lara. You couldn’t possibly do better than me.”
“Oh shut up, Wesley, you’re so full of yourself! Now please leave.” Lara moved to get away from him, but he grabbed her by the arms and slammed her against the wall.
“No, you listen here, you little backwater witch!” Wesley’s handsome face turned ugly, the anger and resentment rolling off him. “You won’t find a warlock who’s a better match than me. Now I know that your family isn’t as rich or as successful as ours, but I was willing to overlook that, since your bloodline is not only pristine, but you’re the only blessed witch of marrying age in this generation. The Morgans have never had a blessed witch in the family.”
“Wesley, please, you’re hurting me! Let me go.”
“Not until you see reason! Can’t you see how perfect we’d be together? How our children could become the most powerful--”
“I said stop!” Lara screamed. A gust of wind blew down the hallway but did nothing but ruffle Wesley’s hair.
“You can’t say no to me, Lara, you can’t!”
Lara gasped as Wesley’s eyes grew wide and his grip on her tightened. “You can’t force me to marry you, asshole!”
“Just wait and see what I can do, you good for nothing witch!”
“What the fuck is going on here?”
Liam.
Wesley looked behind him. “Move along, buddy, this isn’t your concern.”
Lara used the distraction to lift her hands up and used her power to push Wesley away as hard as he could. He didn’t expect it,and tumbled back, landing on his behind.
“You-”
“Shut up, Wesley!” she screamed at him. “Or you’ll regret it!”
Liam stepped over Wesley and immediately went to her side. “What’s going on here, Lara?”
“Wesley was just leaving,” she insisted.
The warlock slowly stood up, wiping his hands on his trousers. “And who is this?”
“Wesley, get out of here!” With a wave of her hand, she sent another air current towards him, not strong enough to push him down, but just enough to let him know the power she held.
“This isn’t over,” he said in a gravelly voice. “You’ll get what’s coming to you,” he threatened as he went towards the elevator.
Liam gave Lara a confused look. “Lara, who was that and what’s going-” His eyes moved to her arms, where hand-shaped bruises were beginning to form. “Sonofabitch!” He let out a growl and swung around to face Wesley’s retreating back.
“No, Liam!” She grabbed at his arm. The power rolling off him was palpable. She could feel the wolf and the anger bubbling at the surface, threatening to break free. “Don’t, please!” she cried.
“I’m going to kill you, asshole!” Liam’s voice was inhuman.
“What the fuck?” Wesley turned around, slamming his palm on the hallway. “Lara, is this a…Lycan? You let this dirty dog touch you? You spread your legs like a whore for this animal, but you turn me down?”
“You motherfucker!” Liam sprinted towards Wesley, moving with grace and speed. He grabbed Wesley by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
“No, let him go! Liam!”
Wesley’s face was turning blue, his arms and legs flailing in the air. Lara didn’t know what to do, so she sent a gust of wind towards Liam, forcing him to release Wesley. The warlock slumped back and Liam staggered to stay on his feet.
“Fuck you, dog!” Wesley gasped, trying to get as much air into his lungs as possible.
“Shut up, Wesley, or I won’t stop him next time.”
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Seeing her opportunity, she gave Wesley one last push towards the elevator, the doors closing just in time.
“Why did you let him go?” Liam snapped. He stalked towards her, trapping her against the door to her apartment.
“Because I didn’t want you to do something you’d regret later on.”
“Oh believe me, I wouldn’t regret killing that bastard!”
“Liam, listen to yourself! Do you really want to take a life?”
“He hurt you!” He punched his fist into the wall next to her, leaving a dent on the surface.
Lara flinched in surprise. She could feel the wolf’s rage, clawing at him, trying to get out. “Liam, stop!”
“I can’t! Not until I know that bastard won’t hurt you anymore!”
“He won’t! I’ll make sure! Now, please calm down.”
“I can’t,” Liam’s voice cracked. “Lara…I…”
Liam was going to lose control. The air crackled with his power, his wolf threatening to take over. Unsure of what to do, she grabbed his collar and pulled him down for a kiss.
***
Red.
Liam was seeing red. Crimson everywhere, like the blood he had spilled trying to protect Lara. His human side felt the anguish and guilt of harming someone. But his wolf relished in it, rejoiced in his ability to protect his mate. Mate? Jesus.
The moment he arrived at Lara’s apartment building, he knew something was wrong. First, the new doorman wouldn’t let him in. He explained he was Lara’s boyfriend, and the young man gave him a strange look and told him that he was going to call the manager. It was a good thing the manager had seen him going up to Lara’s place a couple of times and let him in.
As soon as he got to her floor, his wolf was at full attention. Something was definitely wrong. And as soon as he saw the bastard standing over Lara and touching her, he started seeing red. When he saw the bruises, and he lost it. No one would ever hurt Lara and get away with it. It felt so good to wrap his hands around his neck, feel the life slowly drain out of him. His wolf howled in approval, but when Lara stopped him, the animal felt betrayed. The wolf was threatening to claw his way out of his skin, and he struggled to keep control of his body.
But then Lara’s sweet kiss distracted him. No, it just changed his bloodlust to pure lust. Desire shot through him, his body humming and yearning for her. His cock went rigid and he pressed it against her, seeking her hot core.
“Liam,” she whispered as he dragged his lips down her jaw, her neck. Her pulse was strong, pounding in his ear, and he felt her melt against him when his mouth closed over it. He sucked back on the soft skin of her neck, tasting her, her scent and arousal growing stronger.
He wasn’t sure how, but they made it into her apartment, and not a moment too soon. Pushing her against the wall, he grabbed at the neckline of her dress and ripped it down the middle. She let out a soft cry of shock, then a throaty moan as Liam pulled the down the cups of her bra, freeing her breasts. Liam captured one pink pebbled tip, his tongue swirling around and sucking back. A hand moved lower, between her legs. Lara was already soaking wet, the fabric of her panties were damp with her juices. He pulled her panties down and slipped two fingers inside her.
Lara let out another long moan as his fingers moved in and out of her. Liam captured her mouth again, his tongue wanting to taste hers. The kiss was urgent, rough, and needy, their teeth and tongues clashing. He twisted his hand so the heel of his hand ground against her clit, making her hips buck against him. Her needy pussy sucked at his fingers, and he thrust in harder and faster, and his other hand grabbed at her breast, his fingers rolling the pebbled nipple. Soon, Lara’s body wracked and shook as her orgasm poured over her. Her fingers thrust into his hair, grabbing at him and holding on.
Fuck, watching her cum on his hand was too much. Before she could even catch her breath, Liam pushed her against the wall.
“I need you now,” he rasped as his
fingers fumbled at his fly. Half a second later, his cock sprang free as he pushed his pants down. The need to mark her and claim her was overpowering. He was deep inside her in one thrust.
“Liam,” she cried as her eyes glassed over.
“Fuck,” he panted. Lifting her up, he wrapped her legs around his waist. “You’re. Mine.” He said the words as if he was marking her with each thrust. “Mine, you hear? I’ll kill anyone who touches you.”
She cried his name, over and over, as he moved in and out of her. Her cunt squeezed at him, milking him, giving him pleasure like he’d never felt before.
“Who do you belong to, Lara?”
“You,” she gasped. “Only you.”
“You’re mine. You belong to me.” He slammed into her, harder this time, but she took every inch of him. Her breasts smashed against his chest, her rock hard nipples scraping across the skin as they moved together. A low growl tore at his vocal chords, and he sank his teeth on her shoulder, hard enough to leave bite marks, but not draw blood.
“Please,” she moaned, her legs tightening around him.
“Let go, baby, cum around me,” he urged, changing the angle of his hips so that he hit her clit with each thrust.
She let out one last, loud cry as her back arched, her pussy squeezing tight around him. He couldn’t control himself and shot his warm cum deep inside her. Slim arms wound around his neck, pulling his head down for a kiss. He continued to thrust, not wanting to stop, coaxing another quick orgasm from her body.
Liam felt his cock soften and slip out of her body. He slid her down to her feet slowly but kept her braced against the wall. His deep breathing slowed, evened, and he bent down to kiss her softly. The anger and darkness seemed to have subsided, the animal in him satisfied.
Lara rolled her head back, breathing heavily. Her face flush, lips swollen, her pert breasts thrust out and his cum drying on her thighs, she never looked sexier in his eyes. He wanted her again.
“Liam.” She reached out to touch his cheek.
He took her soft hand and kissed it. “Are you OK? Did I hurt you.”
She looked up at him shyly and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Witch's Mate Page 17