by Mina Carter
"You're a sick man,” she spat back. “If you think I'll agree to that, or did you not understand the word ‘No’ the first time I said it?"
She felt rather than saw his shrug, the chair behind her shifting as he sat back. “Makes no difference to me whether you agree or not sweetheart,” he said quietly. “You don't even have to be conscious for me, although I admit it would be nice to see the horror in your eyes as I shove my cock into your tight little body. But not as nice as seeing the terror when I gut your lover in front of you."
Fear froze her in place as he heaved himself to his feet, dragging her bodily to her feet by the wide collar around her neck. He stared into her eyes, amusement and darker things she didn't want to recognize, much less name, swimming in his.
"Err, boss?” A voice said hesitantly behind her.
"Piss off, I'm busy,” he snarled, not bothering to look up.
"I'm sorry boss, but you really need to see this, Graham and Terry are scrapping behind the sheds again..."
Jimmy sighed deeply, irritation flashing in his eyes. “For fucks sake ... do I have to do everything around here?” He threw her chain to one of his bulldog enforcers. “Chuck her in the basement with lover boy. Let ‘em have some time together. Face it, it'll be the last chance they get."
Dragged across the room, the wolves jeering and catcalling didn't terrorize her now that Jimmy had disappeared. No, these Betas weren't worth worrying over. They were all degenerates who would only find a place in a pack when someone like Jimmy was the Alpha. No other self-respecting pack would do anything other than drive them out, or teach them the error of their ways. She managed to keep to her feet despite the vicious yanking on the chain from the wolf ahead of her, the expression in his beady little eyes telling her she'd fare a lot worse down in the basement if Jimmy hadn't already claimed her as his.
He hauled her along the rough dirt floor, opening a door at the end of the corridor.
"In there bitch, and keep quiet. We're trying to watch the game upstairs.” He shoved her through and slammed the door shut behind her.
She stumbled in the darkness, catching her breath as she landed in a heap, her ankle twisted underneath her. But the pain was forgotten as a familiar scent hit her nostrils and a voice asked from the shadows. “Penny?"
"Oh, my God. Cade! Are you okay? What did they do to you? You're bleeding.” She babbled, scrambling through the darkness towards his voice. She'd never been more pleased to hear anyone in her whole life, not even her mother after Penny had been in hospital when she was eleven years old. She collided with a warm male body, his hiss warning her to be careful, even if his reply was typically male.
"It's just a scratch, nothing to worry about,” he assured her, his big hands swept over her, checking her. They stopped on the heavy collar, the chain clinking as his hand swept along it. “He chained you up like some kind of animal?” His voice was little more than a low growl in the darkness. “The bastard!"
Penny shrugged, not bothered about that now as his fingers moved on the collar, undoing the heavy buckle. She sighed in relief as it dropped away, then rubbed at the abused skin underneath.
"Thank you,” she whispered, “And it doesn't matter, at least I know you're okay."
Her night sight kicked in. She could now make out details in the room. Like the corridor outside, it had a dirt floor. One she remembered was prone to flooding at times. Indeed, one corner was currently occupied by a large puddle. In the other was a tangled pile of blankets that looked suspiciously like the pile in Penny's basement.
"They've been keeping someone down here,” she murmured, her hands on Cade's arms. Just the feel of him, the tactile contact, was reassuring, and she could almost feel her blood pressure dropping.
"Not just that.” Cade nodded towards the shelves behind the door. Penny's eyes widened. Harnesses and chains of every description hung from hooks next to whips and other things Penny didn't even want to think about. “And I'll bet the people in those don't have much say in the matter. Jimmy's one sick little puppy."
She nodded soundlessly, remembering Mary Beth's blank look. “More than likely. Cade, there are people missing. Some of the pack are gone.” To her dismay, her voice wavered as tears threatened. It hurt to see what Jimmy had done to the pack. She might not have had any choice about joining it, about becoming a wolf, but under Jonathan it had been a good pack. A decent pack. Now it was just a bunch of bullies, the monsters they were made out to be in films. It shouldn't be like that. “And those that are left, it's like they're dead inside. There's nothing in their eyes. Just blankness."
"Shh.” Cade pulled her into the warmth of his body and stroked her hair. She fit so easily against him, so naturally ... He suppressed a moan. She was his mate and he couldn't protect her. Inside his wolf raged and paced, wanting to fight. Emotion overcame him as he pressed his lips to her hair, closed his eyes as he felt the fine trembling in her limbs. She was trying so hard to be brave, but her body and her scent gave her away. He could tell from her voice she was close to tears, so he did the only thing he could think of. Taking her hand, he urged her toward the blankets in the corner and pulled her down into his lap.
"We'll get out of this."
She curled up trustingly around him, making him grit his teeth as her lusciously rounded ass pressed right against his hardening cock. Hell, she was the one supposed to be in heat, not him. But he couldn't even touch her without developing a raging hard-on.
"Sorry,” he murmured, a little embarrassed. Locked up in a basement awaiting whatever hideous fate Jimmy had in store for them, now was not the time or the place.
"It's okay. I don't mind.” She wriggled against him to get comfortable, her head against his shoulder.
Cade held his breath and started to count to ten, praying for strength. Each wiggle was delicious torture. Adding to the torment he was under just breathing in her scent.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, you're killing me here.” He tilted her chin up. “Just a kiss, I promise. I just need to taste you again.” His voice was ragged, filled with need. “We'll hear if anyone comes."
She nodded, her beautiful eyes wide and trusting. Cade groaned, he couldn't wait any longer. He leaned down, his lips covering hers gently. She sighed, a soft sound lost in his mouth as he teased her lips open to explore the sweet inner recesses of her mouth. His tongue plundered, sliding along hers, slow and sensual. A total contrast to his usual technique. Usually he liked it hard and fast, taking control quickly and keeping it that way. But then, usually this was about sex, physical fulfillment with the minimum of emotional involvement. Zero, zip, nada.
Usually.
But not now, not this time. All Cade could think about was reassuring the slender woman in his arms. He couldn't offer her forever, hell, he didn't even know what was going to happen in an hour's time. But right at this moment, he'd give everything he had to offer her comfort. As any man would for the woman he loved.
Loved? Did he love her? Could he love her already after only knowing her, really knowing her, for a few hours? Cade had never believed in love at first sight before, but as he sat in the darkness of a basement cell with a woman he'd die for, he had to admit it was a distinct possibility.
His musings didn't last long, Penny's gentle response fired him up. The kiss got hotter, wetter as she shifted in his lap to straddle him. Cade spread his legs, rocking his hips gently against hers.
"Baby, you're driving me mad,” he whispered as she pushed his jaw to the side, exploring along his neck with hot little kisses, her wicked little tongue teasing his earlobe seconds before her sharp teeth nipped it. “We have to stop. We can't. Not here."
"Damn it,” Penny murmured, dropping her forehead to rest against his shoulder. She pushed against the bulge in his jeans. She whimpered a little as it pressed right where she needed it; her body ached for him as her heat-driven need built again. Even locked in a basement waiting who knew what, it wasn't giving her a break.
"I need you ...
so much. It hurts,” she whispered. “I didn't think the heat would be this bad. Please Cade?” She smoothed her hands over his bare skin, just the feel of him a potent aphrodisiac. He flinched a little as she touched his ribcage, and she bit her lip in worry. She'd forgotten he was injured.
"Oh crap, are you okay? Am I too heavy? I can get off.” She started to swing her leg over him.
Hard hands clamped down on her hips, pressing her back down into his lap. “Oh, no, doll, you're not going anywhere. I'm not that injured. I'll never be that injured."
"If you're sure.” She leaned down and brushed her lips against his.
It only took seconds to deal with her jeans, sliding them down her legs. Then she was straddling him again. She settled back down with a little murmur of pleasure, rocking her hips against his.
"I didn't want to take anything else off,” she admitted, motioning to her shirt and skimpy panties. “Just in case."
Cade sat up with her in his lap, his large hand sliding over the front of her thighs. “Not a problem, we can work around them."
As good as his word, his fingers slid under the cotton of her underwear, pushing the material aside as he stroked along her sensitive flesh. Penny's eyelids drooped, the single brush making her pussy clench hard, wanting more, far more.
"You're already wet.” He nuzzled her neck “Wet and ready for me. Let me loose, Penny."
His order sent arousal spiraling through her as she reached down to the fastening on his jeans. Her hands trembled, making it difficult to open the snaps and slide down the zipper, but she managed. His stiff cock all but leapt from its confinement, filling her hand. She slid her fingers around him, exploring him again. The first time she hadn't been able to take everything in. It had been a rush of sensations and emotions. But now, she took her time.
He felt so good, all hot skin and hardness. His musky, aroused scent tantalized her senses and calmed the wolf within. His mere presence a balm, where she'd strained and snarled whenever Jimmy had touched her. The wolf didn't like Jimmy. Her wolf had never accepted a man as it had Cade. There was a lesson in that somewhere, but Penny was too distracted with what she was doing to think about it, sweeping her thumb over the sensitive head of his cock. His flesh jumped in her hand, throbbing with life.
"Two can play at that game.” His mouth claimed her with a kiss while his hand slid over her sensitive flesh, his clever fingers teasing and circling her clit, spreading the moisture of her own desire over her heated flesh. Her eyes rolled back in her head, her breathing caught in her chest as her heart pounded. She needed him so badly. Needed to sink down over the hard cock in her hand and impale herself on it until he filled her completely.
She smiled as, unlike a child in a sweet shop, she realized she could have exactly what she wanted. Shifting her hips, she moved her hand, angling him as she sank down. The swollen head of his erection pressed against the opening to her body, and she bit her lip, feeling her pussy stretching around him to accommodate his width. Feeling wicked, she just took the head into her body, stopping and circling her hips as she watched his face. His jaw clenched, a look of near pain crossing his features as she teased him.
"You like that?"
"Witch."
Penny sank all the way down, taking him deeper until she felt him pressing against places inside her she'd never felt before. Her eyes locked with his, she saw every nuance, every expression and flare of desire that crossed his face as she rode him.
The pleasure was intense. Even though their gentle movements were slower, less desperate than their encounter before, it was somehow hotter and sweeter. Wrapped around each other, looking deep into each other's eyes as they moved, it was the most intense thing Penny had ever known. She shivered, a long slow movement that travelled through her entire body as she closed her eyes, giving herself up to the moment. Her hands stroked over his shoulders and back as they moved together, the only sound in the room the slide of skin on skin and the soft sounds of their moans.
It was more than sex, it was comfort as well, each seeking something from the other. A means of forgetting the precarious situation they were in. Forgetting what might happen later, the blackness of the future. A future they wouldn't be sharing together if the wolves upstairs had anything to do with it. Sadness welled within Penny as she held Cade. Two days ago she'd have laughed if anyone told her she'd be considering, no, desperate to take a mate, live with one man for the rest of her life. But that was before Cade had come storming into her basement and shouted demands at her.
Now she never wanted to let him go.
Her release, when it came, was bittersweet. Lazy pleasure surging through her and arching her back as her body gripped his, milking his hardness deep inside her. His cry mingled with hers as he stiffened, arms tightening around her as his cock surged deep within her, pulsed as he found his own release. Penny closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder as the aftershocks rippled through them. And wished the moment could go on forever.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 5
Moonlight filtered through the leaves overhead, casting a mosaic of silvery light across the woodland path that shifted and danced as the leaves rustled softly in the breeze. It reminded Penny of the patterns in an old-fashioned kaleidoscope, always changing. They'd fascinated her as a child.
Catching her toe on a rock half buried in the dirt Penny stumbled, only to be hauled upright by a sharp tug on the chain attached to the collar around her throat. It had been refastened as soon as she'd been hauled out of the basement cell with Cade, and she hadn't fought it this time. She'd need her strength later.
Another pull. She winced and wrapped her hands around the chain, trying to ease the pressure on the tender skin of her throat as she glared at the broad back of the enforcer who held the other end of the leash.
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your asshole.
She didn't like this one. She didn't like any of them, but this guy was particularly vicious. Andy? Adrian? Something like that, she wasn't sure. Not that she cared.
All she wanted to do was get out of here. But that was so not going to happen, not with both her and Cade in chains. Cade's virtually covered him, making it difficult to walk as the small group of wolves headed deeper into the woods behind the farmhouse. She could see him just ahead of her and her little friend with the chain. Cade's shoulders slumped, and he shuffled along favoring his left side. Blood covered his t-shirt, and Penny was pretty sure he had broken ribs. They had to be busted good and proper if his werewolf physiology hadn't managed to clear them up.
Guilt surged through her, she bit her lip. They shouldn't have made love. However, she knew if given the choice, she'd make the same one again. Just to touch him, those precious moments hoarded against whatever Jimmy had in store for them. But it couldn't have helped Cade any. No matter how gentle they'd been, stomach muscles were used for most things. A fact she knew from past experience, having had to have surgery for a small hernia a couple of years before. She'd not been able to drive for a few weeks, and had even had to be careful with performing everyday tasks for a few days as her wound healed. Now of course, it wouldn't be an issue. Wolves didn't suffer with things like hernias, and besides, her healing rate would cause an uproar if human doctors managed to document it.
Fear and nausea ate at her gut as she trudged along the narrow woodland path. She was careful to keep within the chain's length, knowing that if it went taut, Andy would yank on it again, hoping to bring her to her knees. Which would then give him an excuse to haul her upright and see the wince she made as the abused and bruised skin of her throat objected.
She knew where they were going. She'd taken this path many times in the past, during happier times. Deep in the woods behind the farmhouse lay the challenge circle, a rough circle of stones in a glade where challenges were issued and met according to pack law. The darkness of the woods around them held the lair, a collection of caves they used during the full moon when they we
re in wolf form and the pack ran together. These days Penny supposed it was just another place for Jimmy to hold his orgies.
A feeling that was confirmed as the group reached the circle of trees. Penny's nose wrinkled. What had once been a beautiful scene of nature had been ruined, turned into a rubbish dump. Litter lay scattered around the glade. Broken beer bottles and crushed cans were the main offenders, with discarded food packets and cigarette ends coming a close second. Dirty and ragged sleeping bags and duvets were clustered together, the scent rising from them made Penny gag. She didn't even want to think about what they'd been used for, but the smell assaulted her nostrils anyway.
"Throw the feral into the circle,” Jimmy, at the head of the group, ordered. He lowered his bulk into a battered camp chair set at the ‘head’ of the circle, in front of the main cave entrance. Sitting next to an icebox, this area at least was free of litter. “And bring the bitch here."
Penny cried out as Cade was shoved roughly into the circle, the enforcer's tasers connecting with his already battered side. He paled, his jaw compressing, but he didn't make a sound. His eyes were fixed on Jimmy. They held a cold hard look that made Penny shiver. This was not the gentle lover from earlier. Even though he looked identical, the man crouched in the circle was a stranger.
Her shiver seemed to be catching, passing to Jimmy as he dragged her to him. Against her will, her hand reached out to steady herself against his denim clad knee. A strange expression flashed in his deep set eyes for a moment, then he laughed. A deep chilling laugh with an edge that grated on Penny's nerves.
"Why the long faces?” Jimmy demanded, his voice boomed around the clearing. “Come on lads, this is a party! We've got beer, women, and entertainment. Speaking of which—let's get this show on the road."
He looked around, as if assessing the wolves sprawled on blankets and in camping chairs who watched the proceedings with eager expressions. Ready for an evening of blood and cruelty.
Penny flinched and tried to move away as Jimmy's hand descended and stroked her back. He didn't so much as look at her, but the chain tightened. A warning. She gritted her teeth and sat still, enduring his touch.