by Cali MacKay
“Come on, love… Let’s get you up off this hard floor.” He scooped her up into his arms, sending her into a worried panic that her curse would flair back to life, though luckily, it didn’t. “I’m so sorry. It was crude of me take you that way on the floor, and on our wedding night, no less. I just…wasn’t thinking straight.”
She shook her head no, not wanting him to blame himself. She was the one who was freaking out—she had been for days—when he’d done nothing but try to protect her and make her happy. “It’s my fault, Greyson—not yours. I could have just killed you. You know that, right? It’s why you never should have married me. And it was okay this time, but what about the next time? What then?”
He sat down on the edge of the bed and draped a throw around her shoulders to keep her warm, cradling her to him in his strong arms, arms she knew would always protect her. And yet she was a fucking mess, her tears finally spilling over and slipping down her cheeks.
“Hush, sweetheart… We’ll figure this out and find a way for you to control this. I swear it’ll be okay.”
Except that it wouldn’t be. And now, by getting married to Greyson, she’d dragged the pack into her mess. Greyson now knew what had happened with Atticus, but the rest of the pack didn’t, and it felt like it was just a matter of time before someone else ended up dead. “It’s all going to go to hell, Greyson—and I’m going to drag you down with me.”
Even escaping to this mountain in the middle of nowhere hadn’t spared her from her curse. She was still a danger to those around her, and that in and of itself was bad enough. But now, not only was she endangering the people who’d gone out of their way to protect her and make her feel welcome, she was also keeping things from them.
“You can’t panic—and I promise you, it will get better. We’ll figure this out. Okay?” He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him, rather than do what she’d always done—run. “I’m not saying this will be easy or that everything’s always going to be perfect. Far from it. But we have each other now, and that’s a damn good start as far as I’m concerned.”
“It is. And I know I’ve been a royal pain in the ass and have fought you every step of the way, but…I appreciate you sticking by my side, and being more stubborn than I am.” Her lips quirked into a smile as some of the tension in her knotted muscles finally started to slip free.
Pulling her close, he bit her lip, his gold eyes bright with mischief, sending her pulse racing with a jolt of need through her body and straight to her core. “Does that mean you’re actually happy about getting married to me?”
She gave him a teasing smile, reaching down to stroke his hard cock, her body aching for him to take her again. “Happy might be pushing it—but at the moment, there’s no one else I’d rather be married to.”
Chapter Eight
Greyson did his best to hold onto what little self-control he had around Juno, though it was damn hard to do when she was stroking his cock and his head was filled with her now familiar scent—a scent that had changed ever so slightly. A change that could only mean one thing.
Their matings over the next few days would truly be just that if he didn’t wear a condom. Yet he suddenly found the urge to mate with her, to breed, was spurring him on, refusing to be denied, like a hunger after a fast, and a thirst after a desert crawl.
He knew he should tell her, knew she’d likely want to keep from getting pregnant, and yet there was a primal urge driving him that was far stronger than logic, especially when having a child together would be one more thing to solidify their marriage and their bond as fated mates.
Lying back against the pillows, he took her hand and pulled her close, guiding her onto him as she swung her leg over his lap to straddle him. With her hands on his chest, she caught the head of his cock at her entrance, and then slowly lowered her body onto his length until she’d taken him fully, her body tight around his as he filled her, her breath catching with little gasps.
“Damn, Greyson…you’re just so deep like this…and given how big you are…you already have me on the edge.” She’d yet to move beyond lowering himself onto him, simply pausing there as if to let her body adjust to his size and the fullness.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Juno…” He’d never tire of looking at her, especially when she was like this—so wanton, so taken, her red lips parting open with each breath, her lush breasts rising and falling, her pert nipples a dark rose, as her hips flared out and her sweet cunt met his hard cock, joining them as one.
And then she started to move.
She felt fucking amazing as she rocked and tilted her hips along his length, letting out a little needy whimper each time her clit brushed against the base of his cock. Unable to resist, he sat up enough to suck her nipple into his mouth, and then the other, loving how she tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him close and urging him on.
With her pace quickening, he thrust up into her as he pulled her down to him, forcing her to take him deeper. She cried out in his arms as she came, raking her nails down his back, the pain setting his own orgasm free with a primal grunt, his cock pulsing his hot cum deep inside her.
“I love you, Juno. I know it seems fucking crazy, but I do.”
She brushed her fingers over his cheek and scruffy stubble as she took him in and then kissed him sweetly. “It’s not crazy, Greyson. And I may not be one hundred percent of the way there, but I promise you, I’m getting there. I just need time.”
“We have an eternity, love. And for now, I have enough love for the both of us.”
***
Greyson knew Juno was worried about the lack of control she had over her energy, knowing that she might accidentally unleash it and hurt someone again. “Come on, June bug… We’re going to try to figure out this little problem of yours.”
“You mean my curse?” Juno’s mood seemed to immediately shift to one bordering on fear and frustration. “I have no control over it, Greyson, and I refuse to take any chances when the end result could be you ending up dead.”
“It’ll be fine, June bug.” Needing to reassure her, he cradled her tightly to him, her curves pressed against his body with her legs tangled with his. “In order to hurt me, you’d have to touch me when the energy is surging, right? So we’ll just be cautious when that’s happening.”
“I suppose. Though if you need me to just call up the energy, I’ll stop you right there. I don’t really know how to get it all started.” Propped on his naked chest, she looked up at him, her brow creased and her blue eyes darkening with worry.
“Sure you do. It kicks in when you feel cornered or threatened.” Not that he was looking forward to getting her scared enough to have her power manifest itself.
With everything she’d been through, she was already pretty traumatized, and their relationship was only just starting to feel like it was on solid ground. The last thing he wanted to do was have her think of him as anything but a loving and caring mate, someone who’d protect her—not someone who was capable of jolting her fear. He just needed to find a different way to coax it forward.
“We’ll see if we can get the energy to build, and then have you try to control it.” Greyson rolled them, so she was now under his heavy muscular form, his thoughts churning as he put together a bit of a game plan. “I’m going to need you to pick a word—a safe word of sorts—that you’ll only use if you feel like the energy’s going to be unleashed, or if you truly need me to stop.”
“Greyson…I don’t know about this.” She was already looking panicked at the mere thought—and as much as he wanted to soothe her, it was exactly what he needed.
“You know you’ll always be safe with me, love.” He brushed his thumb over her lips and kissed her, his lips hard on hers with a barely restrained passion.
She broke from their kiss, her voice laced with frustration. “You’re the one I’m worried about, damn it. I have no control over this.”
When she tried to push him off, he grabbed her hands
and pinned them up over her head, grabbing both wrists in one hand even as she struggled to get free, his cock hard and aching to have her once more. And though it might not be right, he was a wolf, a shifter, and the chase, the fight, the struggle…it did nothing but turn him on and get his adrenaline pumping.
“Pick a word, love.” Because they were already starting, and he needed to know just how far he could push her.
“Vespa.” When he looked at her like she’d lost her mind, she shrugged. “What? I’ve always wanted one. They’re cute.”
“What they are is useless up here in the mountains.” When she tried to yank her hands free, he tightened his grip on her wrists, hoping her frustration would release the energy. “You’re not going to get free, love. You’re mine—and right now, you’re at my mercy and I’m going to have my way with you. I need you to think about how it feels when the energy starts to build, and then try to pull that energy forward.”
She struggled against him, but instead of letting her go, he used his knees and thighs to shift her legs apart, nestling his body between them as he bit her neck, hoping the flicker of pain would increase the energy.
“Greyson…it’s starting. Let go of me.”
“Try to keep it reined in, love. Focus on it…let it build while keeping it contained.” Running his free hand up her leg, he grabbed her ass and buried his cock in her tight cunt, taking her rough and hard.
“I can’t.”
Greyson slowed his thrusts, needing her to get control of what was happening inside her body. “You can do this, Juno… Feel the energy so you’re one with it…and then pull it back…let it build and then try to gather it into a tight ball.”
He gave her a moment more, and then started to take her hard once again, raking his teeth over her pulse to try to spur on that energy so she’d have the chance to learn to contain it. She cried out and struggled against him, as he tried to coach her through it, hoping that something would work.
“I think it’s working.” She wrapped her legs around his thighs, as if to slow his thrusts, even though he knew he just had to push her harder.
“I’m going to need you to focus.” He pulled free of her body, and quickly flipped her onto her stomach before shifting her legs apart with his knees and burying his cock deep inside her once more.
With her hands finally free, she knotted the sheets in her fists as he lowered his body to hers, slipping one hand between her legs to stroke her clit as the other gently closed around her neck, his thrusts quickening. He swore she nearly spoke her safe word, but then she was coming, crying out as he joined her once more with his cock buried deep inside her. They finally stilled as the last tremors of their orgasms faded, and he pulled free of her body, scooping her into his arms once more, and holding her tight as he pressed tender kisses to her forehead.
“I’ve got you, love. You did amazing.” He was worried it’d been too much for her, and yet…he knew she’d feel better if she finally managed to get control of this thing. “How are you holding up?”
“It was overwhelming, Greyson.” She let out a ragged breath that was fraught with barely controlled emotion, making him wish she didn’t have to go through this. Yet he knew their options were few, and she was strong. She’d somehow manage. “But…I think I started to get the hang of it toward the end.”
“I knew you could do it, June bug.”
Chapter Nine
The smell of fresh coffee brewing and bacon frying filled the air as Juno sat at the kitchen island, watching Greyson move around the kitchen as he made them breakfast. She couldn’t help but look at the engagement ring and wedding band on her finger, still finding it all surreal.
She was married—to a shifter.
Her reality was no longer her own, just as her old life no longer existed. And yet…Greyson was the only thing keeping her sane. She couldn’t imagine trying to deal with any of this on her own, and she knew if it hadn’t been for him, there was a good chance she’d be dead by now.
Greyson was now her constant—something her body refused to let her forget. As often as he took her, and with such intensity, she could still feel him even now—his touch, his hands, his cock—like a ghostly whisper on her skin and a wanton ache in her soul. She was pleasantly sore, and even the slightest movement reminded her of all the things he’d done to her. She felt most thoroughly used, and the truth was that she loved the feeling of being his, of him claiming her as his own, of being wanted with a primal hunger that couldn’t be denied.
That said, she didn’t know if she could keep up with him. Greyson seemed to sleep no more than a few hours a day, and he’d be happy to fuck the entire day and night away. And though it might be overwhelming, she now found that she craved him, his touch, how it felt when her body was stretched tight around his huge cock.
As if reading her thoughts, he leaned in and kissed her temple, his gold eyes lighting up with his sexy smile. “Thought we could get out of the house for a bit. I’ve got some business I need to take care of, but that won’t take long. I could show you the area, maybe grab some supplies while we’re out.”
She hated to worry, but it’s not as if she didn’t have a reason to be paranoid. “And you think it’ll be safe?”
“We’d spend most of the day in pack territory, and for supplies, we’d be heading into the town of Wild Creek. It’s neutral territory for all the shifters in the area—and Ryder will be joining us at Wild Creek as a precaution.” He stole a sweet, lingering kiss that had her wanting more. “You’ll always be safe with me, June bug. And we can’t show any fear.”
Of course. This was a pack. There was a hierarchy to maintain, and territories to defend. Fear was not an option—especially not for those at the top of the hierarchy. “I know. It’s just that I don’t want to be stirring up trouble you could easily avoid.”
“Now where would be the fun in that, sweetheart?” He stole another kiss, and then grabbed the pan off the fire, sliding enough bacon and eggs onto her plate to keep her fed for the week, before adding a few slices of buttered toast to the pile.
“So…what sort of business did you need to take care of?” She wasn’t sure if he’d tell her, but figured this was now her world, and she should know what was going on.
Greyson sat down by her side with his plate piled high, devouring a slice of bacon before moving on to another. “Our territory borders with that of the Broken Ash wolf pack. Things have always been a bit tense between our packs, but I have a decent relationship with their alpha. Cullen thought it’d do some good to let them know I’m back so I can reestablish my relationship with them and make it easier to keep the peace.”
“How tense? Because it sort of felt like things within the pack already seemed to be a bit on edge. And I don’t know if you noticed but it looked like people were turning to you to sort it out, since Cullen’s stepping down.” She couldn’t help but wonder if things would always be so complicated.
Greyson shrugged while devouring half of his breakfast in just a few bites. “I’m hoping that once Kiernan steps up as alpha, things will settle down with the pack. You don’t need to worry about things, love.”
Except that it really didn’t feel like it was that simple a matter. Something in her gut told her it was a hell of a lot more complicated, though the truth of the matter was that she hadn’t a clue about any of this. “I don’t want you to feel like you need to keep things from me to somehow protect me. I don’t like being kept in the dark, okay?”
“Juno…you just need to trust me.” Tangling his fingers in her hair, he cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. “I’ll always do what’s best for us. I hope you know that.”
“I do. It’s just that there’s a lot going on, especially with pack politics, and…I don’t want to screw up and have it reflect poorly on you. I get that things are complicated and I don’t know my ass from my elbow when it comes to this stuff, but that’s how it’ll stay if you don’t tell me what’s going on.” And being left clueless wo
uld guarantee she’d eventually make a mess of things by either saying or doing the wrong thing.
“Most things aren’t worth worrying about.” Yet she saw how his brow furrowed and his eyes shifted to his food, and knew he was holding something back.
She tried not to let her frustration get the better of her. He was likely holding back because things were complicated, and it’d take him an eternity to explain it all. So she’d let it go—for now. It’s not like she’d asked for this marriage, but now that they were married, she didn’t want him keeping things from her, especially since those were important parts of his life and would likely affect her too.
“If you’d rather I stay here while you take care of whatever business you need to deal with, just let me know. I get that I’m still a stranger—and a duine, no less—which could be problematic.” Juno glanced around the room, mulling things over. “I can manage here at the house just fine on my own.”
“Juno…I want you with me—by my side. And you’re right. You should know what’s going on, and the best way for you to figure it out is to have you experience it all firsthand.” The smile he gave her had her heart skipping a beat. “Besides, now that we’re married, I want to show you off. It’ll be good for people to see us together.”
Why did the mere thought of it make her want to groan? “You know, I’m sort of an introvert.”
“Said the girl with the purple hair.” He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her close, stealing a kiss as humor danced in his gold eyes, setting them alight. “You’ll be fine. I promise, it won’t get too crazy.”
***
Crazy didn’t even begin to sum things up—and it’d been a bald-faced lie. Holding onto Greyson as he maneuvered his dirt bike through the rugged terrain and dense trees, they wandered north, the feel of the place just a little different. But the moment they wandered into rival pack territory, they were surrounded by a half-dozen members of the Broken Ash pack, some of the wolves shifting to human form as Greyson pulled to a stop.