by Milly Taiden
“Do you think they’ll get together? Trevan seems like a nice guy,” Jordan said. “That would be some love story. Vampire and wolf.”
Emma gave a sad shake of her head. “Right now, Aria is supposedly engaged to the leader of the southern vamp clan. They’re supposed to get bonded or married to bring the two groups together. But she never talks about the guy. I’ve never seen him around. And no one has ever mentioned his name that I know of. Very strange, that group.”
Barbara entered the room. “Okay, back to Kama Sutra. What page?” She held up a thick paperback book.
Ellie groaned and the others howled in laughter.
FOUR
Lael watched the women interact. She enjoyed the camaraderie and bond they shared. It went past blood. This family was stronger than anything physical. All was right in the world of the Wolfes, until Ellie’s mom decided to share her sex life. At that moment, a baby’s cry cut through the air.
Ellie sighed. “Saved by the screaming baby bell. Thank god.”
Karla hopped to her feet, as did Lael. “Karla, may I see the babies? I hear they’re adorable.”
“Absolutely. Come on back with me. We’ll see who’s fussy. Be right back, ladies.” Lael followed Karla down the hall to the new nursery Tristan put in so there was no excuse for his grandbabies not to come over any time.
Karla opened the door to see three sets of eyes patiently waiting. “Well, now that one of you woke the rest, I guess you all want to get up, hmm?” Karla stood at the crib with all three lying in content.
Lael raised a brow. “Is it safe to have all three in the same bed? Doesn’t that pose some kind of danger?” She realized how that might come across as intrusive and rude so she winced. “Not that I know; I don’t have kids or anything.”
Karla checked their diapers. “When we brought them home from the hospital, we put each in their own cribs. And they all cried and cried. Nate and I were at our wit’s end. Then, one time, he put them all in one crib to change their diapers and they instantly stopped crying. We figured it was a sibling thing where they wanted to be together. I’m sure you’ve heard that kind of story before.”
Lael nodded. “Yeah, I’ve seen shows on TV that talk about twins and triplets having an uncommon bond other siblings don’t have. It’s like they know what the others are thinking or when the other is hurt. That kinda thing. What are their names?”
Karla reached down and grabbed the toes of a little one. “This is Matthew. He’s the oldest by five seconds.” She blew kissy faces at the boy and Lael was shocked to see the baby gurgle at his mom. Karla grabbed a second little foot. “This is Michael. He’s the second baby. And in front of you is our little girl, Madison.”
Lael smiled and brushed a finger down the child’s bare leg. “I could tell she was a girl, even though she doesn’t have any hair like the others. She will be special.”
Karla’s head snapped up, worry evident in her gaze. “What do you mean by special?”
Lael slapped a hand over her heart. “I’m sorry, Karla. I didn’t mean she’d need special care, but that she will be like no wolf in the pack. She will possess abilities others do not. Those talents need to be exercised and celebrated and not suppressed. To stomp out creativeness is to kill the soul.”
A relieved smile spread over Karla’s face. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Lael gave a nod saying that’s all she could ask for. She reached in and wiggled the feet of the little girl. “They’re so cute. Have they shifted into their wolves?”
Karla shook her head and tickled the second boy’s tummy. He blew bubbles at her. “Barbara said they won’t be able to shift for a while. Something about them being too young to understand their other side. It’s like the wolf’s soul half hasn’t joined yet with the baby’s. They have several years to go. Barb said this was a safety measure so they don’t accidentally shift and not be able to shift back.”
Lael stared at Madison. Worry grew in the pit of her stomach. “Wow, I wouldn’t have ever known that. Interesting.”
Karla looked around the room. “Do you see the baby bag?” Lael joined in the search.
Lael frowned. “I don’t see anything. Did you leave it in the car?”
Karla sighed and caressed the babies’ heads one more time. “Apparently I left it somewhere. I’ll be right back.”
Lael watched Karla leave the room, then hurried to close the door as quietly as possible. She tiptoed back to the crib and lowered the side rail. She laid a hand on the first infant’s belly. She had to do this for them and hope it helped when the time came.
“Matthew Wolfe, I hereby grant thee the protection of the lupra gods by joining you and your beast’s soul as one. May you grow early in wisdom to start your path toward your destiny. May you live a long and happy life and obey your queen in your mind and heart.”
She quickly laid a hand on Michael. “Michael Wolfe, I hereby grant thee the protection of the lupra gods by joining you and your beast’s soul as one. May you grow early in physical and mental strength to start your path toward your destiny. May you live a long and happy life and obey your queen in your mind and heart.”
When she came to Madison, she went down on one knee. “The Powers that be, I thank you for bestowing upon me the sight and knowledge and honor of blessing our future queen of the sisters.”
Lael stood and placed her hand on Madison’s forehead. “Madison Wolfe, may the light of the Powers fill you, keeping you safe through your trials and tribulations yet to come. May you grow in the knowledge of your people until the day you bring all into the fold as one family. Listen to your brothers’ wisdom and depend upon their strength, for their purpose is to guide you along the pathway to your destiny. May you live a long and happy life and obey the Powers in your mind and heart.”
She raised the crib’s rail and re-opened the door. Karla stepped into the hall, a large bag decorated with cute baby wolves slung over her shoulder.
“I left it in the kitchen when we came in. I swear I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached.”
Lael laughed and took a slow breath. “Well, you have a lot to deal with. You’re doing a way better job than I ever could.”
Karla sighed. It was always hard to wonder if she could possibly be better than her mother. “Barbara ensured me that being a good mother was innate in most women. I’m relieved she’s Grandma. I’m not convinced of my own innate-ness. My mother didn’t do a great job while I was growing up.”
Lael laid a hand on Karla’s shoulder. “You turned out wonderful. You learned to be a great mother by raising yourself along with your two siblings. You know right from wrong and never falter from the path. I know you’ll do a great job.”
Karla held Lael’s look until a noise from one of the children broke the silence. Lael smiled. “I should be going now. My bar shift starts soon and I need to get home and change. It’s great to finally meet and talk with you. Seems like it’s been forever.” With that, the bartender left the room.
Karla turned to the silent babies staring at her. She had a fleeting thought that her children at that moment were hundreds of years old, not weeks. A chill ran down her back. It must’ve been from the feeling Lael gave her. Why did the woman say it seemed like forever since she wanted to meet her? They’d only known about each other’s existence for a few years and she’d seen her here and there, even though they hadn’t really had a chance to have a conversation like tonight.
Lael also felt certain Karla would be a great mom. She looked at her three children with love exploding in her heart. “Well, cutie pies, I hope she knows something I don’t. I’m not that confident. But with your daddy by my side, we’ll do our best.”
FIVE
Ellie stood on the back porch when she heard the men arrive. She waited, her mind going through a rollercoaster of emotions. She missed Caleb so much lately. He refused to spend more than a few hours at a time with her. She was tired of it. For so long she’d given him the chance to handle this on his own and she w
as done.
His scent surrounded her and she couldn’t stop the jerk of her heart and the way her animal pushed under the skin, wanting to get closer to his. Wait your turn, girl.
She knew what he would do—hold her, kiss her, and probably be on his way. Not tonight. The moment she felt him nearing her, she started down the back porch stairs.
“Ellie?” Caleb called out behind her.
She said nothing, her wolf begging for her to turn and recognize their mate. To spend time with him. She missed him, dammit.
She shoved a strand of hair behind her ear and focused on the trees ahead of her. He was still walking behind her. She could sense his confusion, but she didn’t stop.
Far from the house, she stopped at her favorite spot—a slope that lowered to a thick grass patch around her favorite tree, facing a small pond. She stood, waiting for Caleb to catch up.
“Ellie, what’s going on?”
He stopped beside her and she finally glanced up to meet his gaze. God, how she loved this man. It killed her not to be living with him. Not to be making plans to have babies and to enjoy their life together. This had to stop.
“Why did you come tonight?” she asked softly, the words sticking to the back of her throat.
He frowned as if he didn’t get her question. “To see you. Why else? It’s been too many days and I miss you.”
She nodded but sensed he held back. “And?”
“To make sure you were safe, okay?” he added.
She turned to face him fully. “This needs to stop. This whole seeing me once every few weeks and then I have to ask my brothers how you are. I have to wonder if you’re alive.” She took in a breath to lower the anger rising with her panic. “I wonder if you’re okay. If you need help, if you need me.” She shook her head and glanced deeply into his eyes. “It’s not me you should be worried about.”
“I’m always worried about you,” he said. “You’ve been hurt before. I haven’t forgotten and I won’t let it happen again.”
She shook her head. “Caleb, let me help you. Together we can—”
“No.” He grabbed her hands in his. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you while you tried to help me win this war.”
She jerked out of his hold and took a step back, hurt and anger pushing words out of her mouth. “So you’re okay with this?” she threw at him. “This half-life we’re living where I don’t see you and we barely speak?”
“Ellie.”
“No, Caleb. It’s my turn to say no.” She tried to get him to see her point. “Do you not understand that I can take care of myself? I’ve been training, I’m good. No,” she rephrased. “I’m better than good. I can kick ass.”
He shook his head. “I won’t risk it. You’re too important to me.”
“What about what I want and how I feel?” She stepped away from him. “Don’t my feelings count? You’re important to me, too.” She gulped back the lump growing in her throat. “I don’t want to sit by while you deal with this alone. I’m your wife!” She growled when she didn’t see his features soften. “Mates are supposed to handle these situations together.”
She took another step that pressed her back against a tree. He took advantage of that and shot forward, pressing himself to her front and holding her captive.
“I’m sorry, beautiful.” He raised a hand, gliding his fingers down the side of her face in a touch so soft, she almost thought she imagined it. “I love you more than my own life. I’ll never stop worrying about you.”
She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but he stopped her with a kiss. It started off fast, his mouth pressed hard on hers and his tongue dipped, curling over hers. She should fight the desire to give in, to let go and stop the argument, but she couldn’t. She’d missed him so damn much.
With a soft sigh, she opened wider for his invading kiss. The scent of the woods and earth filled her senses. She loved it when he smelled like he’d been rolling in mud. It drove her wolf wild. His hands came up to tug at her T-shirt, the material almost tearing with the force he pulled. He shoved it above her head, the immediate breeze raising goose bumps over her skin and making her nipples tight.
Their lips separated for a nanosecond while he glanced down at her breasts almost overflowing her bra.
“I will never tire of looking at your gorgeous body.”
She licked her lips, the taste of him bursting to life on her tongue. “I’m not going to be dissuaded with sex.” Who was she kidding? She’d quit the discussion for sex with him any day. His head came down, his lips attached to the base of her throat. Electric tingles raced to her pussy. She raked her nails into his hair, pressing him to her chest as he glided to her breast.
“You smell so fucking good,” he growled into her breast. The vibration from his rumble added to the desperation tensing her muscles.
“Caleb, please,” she finally choked out. The words traveled up her sandy throat to come out a bare whisper on her dry lips.
He unzipped and yanked her jeans down, tugging the material with enough force to rip it. Luckily for her, he didn’t.
He glanced up and met her gaze. “I plan to please you, sweetheart.”
She pressed her head back against the tree, her legs going wide to fit his face between them. There was no pause or moment to prepare. One moment he was getting on his knees and the next his tongue was flicking mercilessly over her clit. A short breathless moan struggled out of her throat. Her legs started shaking, but he didn’t stop. He pressed into her sex, his tongue lapping at her clit and dipping into her channel to fuck her in quick drives.
“Oh, my god. Oh my god!”
Her hips bucked forward. He lifted one of her legs and placed it over his shoulder. She let go of his hair and grabbed the branch above her head to cling to. Then he cupped her ass and lifted her, giving her the ability to place her other leg over his shoulder and bring her body off the ground.
He licked at her with purpose, his growls and snarls making her more than a little crazy. Her animal pushed at the skin, but this was Ellie’s moment. Her time with her man and oh, how she fucking loved it.
Caleb’s tongue flickered in quick circles over her hard clit. Her pleasure center ached with her need to come.
“Jesus, Caleb, make me come already,” she groaned.
He chuckled into her pussy, the vibration sending her so close to the edge, she took a sharp breath.
His licks on her clit increased, followed by sucking motions and the grazing of his teeth. Good god! She would argue with anyone that those were the easiest ways to make a woman lose her mind. She flew. Her back bowed and she dug her nails into the branch at the same moment her channel contracted around his tongue. Fucking hell, he was good at that.
Her knees were still shaking and her breaths were coming in short gasps when he slowly and so carefully placed her on her feet. She kissed him hard, licking her own body’s juices off his lips and getting wet all over again. His hands caressed her full body, branding every bit of her flesh as his own. She was his and they both knew it.
He turned her to face the thick tree trunk. Holding on to the tree with shaky hands, she pushed her ass out and leaned forward, curving her back and offering her backside to her mate.
A soft growl sounded from behind. She smelled how much he wanted her. Fuck scenting it. She heard his need in his breathing, sensed it in the tension floating over her back. He was close to losing control of his human body and letting his animal take control.
She gave a loud gasp when his tongue trailed from her ass up her spine to her neck. He slammed a hand on the tree, his fingers turned to claws, breaking off bits of bark. Oh, yes. He was very close to losing it.
“Ellie…”
She licked her lips and held her breath, waiting and wanting. Lord, she wanted him more than her next breath. More than knowing there would be a tomorrow. She wanted to hold on to that moment and freeze it in time. The sound of his zipper sliding down and his pants hitting his shoes am
ped her anticipation. One breath. Two breaths.
He slid his cock between her pussy lips, using her body’s moisture as lubricant. “You’re so fucking wet, baby.”
She gripped the tree, her body practically vibrating with need. If he didn’t get on with it soon, she might disintegrate into nothing. “Do you like it?”
She knew better than to ask. He reeled back and one of his hands slapped onto her hip, digging his claws into her flesh. The bite of pain felt fucking amazing. Then he pushed forward, his cock fully embedding inside her, hot and hard, like steel on fire. She squeaked, almost slamming into the tree only to be hauled back into his body.
“I don’t like it. I fucking love it. Your,” he snarled the words by her ear, “slick little pussy is all mine, baby girl.” He licked her shoulder. A shudder raced up her spine. He propelled back and thrust hard, holding her in place so she wouldn’t slam into the tree. When he was like this, on the edge with his animal, all she wanted was more. To taunt the beast so he’d get wilder. Hungrier. So she’d get more of that passion he only gave her when he lost control.
“Fuck me!” she moaned. It wasn’t her telling him, it was an expression of how torn she felt over how he drove her slowly insane.
“Do you feel that, sweetheart?” He bit on her earlobe and sucked. “Feel my cock taking what’s mine?” He bit her. “Do you?”
She nodded.
“You. Are. Mine.”
She gulped and continued driving back into each of his plunges. Tension curled around her belly into a tight knot. “Caleb, I--”
“I’m not stopping. Not until your pussy is wrapped tightly around my cock and you’re left shaking from how hard you come. And trust me, sweetheart, you will come that hard.”