Sylvia's Torment (Enforcers and Coterie Book 2)

by Veronica Del Rosa

  She would choose, not some damn mystical bond. A tiny smile curved her lips. Tariq’s vivid green eyes and soft, kissable lips took form in her mind. A sexy, passionate man who made her tingle with excitement. Most men couldn’t handle her odd sense of humour. Not Tariq. He smiled, calm and unperturbed, then lobbed his own barb at her.

  A man patient with her lack of control, unending kindness in the face of her frustrations and the sex…mind-blowing, intense sex.

  Over the years, she’d had some damn good orgasms with previous lovers. It wasn’t in her to accept anything less. However, with Tariq, there was a connection with him, an innate understanding of each other’s bodies. They’d been in total sync.

  Shit, was that an aspect of lifemates? Was she his?

  The male recognizes his lifemate first.

  Was he playing with her? Lulling her until he forced a bond upon her? Anger simmered through her, and she dug her claws into the soft dirt. He had no right to take that choice away. Acting so sweet and understanding, treating her with respect. That bastard wanted to blindside her. Trap her.

  A deep growl vibrated her throat. The unreasonable rage threw her off balance.

  What was wrong with her? Her emotions teetered from one extreme to the next. How long would this last? What if she lost control and attacked someone, harmed or killed them?

  Pushing up from the ground, she paced the path, desperately trying to calm down. Her skin prickled, flushed and too tight. Clothes rubbed and tortured her. A strange ache consumed her, starting deep in her bones.

  Frantic, she tore off her clothes, ripping them in her haste. Sharp claws scraped sensitive flesh. Naked, she howled her pain. Joints snapped, bones stretched, and fur sprouted. Dropping to her knees, she tried to hug her stomach while the agony swept through her, except she no longer had hands or arms.

  Forelegs and paws.

  Her body had partially shifted, the lower half still human although covered in fur. Falling to her side, uncaring of the dirt and bugs, she panted and rode the waves of pain.

  Rustling leaves and a snapping twig alerted her to another’s presence. Unable to summon the energy to care, her world narrowed to surviving her next breath.

  “It’s okay. You’re doing fine. Don’t fight it. Just let your instincts guide you,” Tariq said and his voice soothed her, centered her.

  Instincts, trust her instincts. Except her instincts told her she’d die, unable to survive so much pain. The other werewolves didn’t go through this. Something was wrong!

  She must have spoken aloud since Tariq replied, “No darling, nothing is wrong. The first time is always painful. You can do this. You’re strong. Plus, Kurt and Rafi will forever tease you if you don’t.”

  A hiccupping laugh escaped her, distracting her for a moment from the pain. Opening her mouth to speak, a yip escaped her followed by a questioning bark.

  Pride shone in Tariq’s gorgeous green eyes. “You did it, darling. You are now a lovely white wolf. How are you feeling? Any more pain?”

  Legs shaky, she stood, marveling at how different the world looked while on four legs. She took a step forward, testing her new body, and almost fell face first into the dirt.

  “It’ll take a few moments, but you’ll get the hang of it. And then we’ll go for a run together.”

  She nodded, determination driving her. Eyes closed, she lifted one leg at a time, understanding how they connected to her shorter, furrier self. Confident now, she opened her eyes and jumped back in surprise, almost landing on her ass.

  Another wolf stared back at her, tongue hanging out, grinning at her reaction. Dark brown fur ruffled in the breeze, and he wagged his tail in a very dog-like manner. He nuzzled the side of her neck, encouraging her to accompany him.

  Turning away from her, Tariq bounded into the underbrush, not a sound betraying his presence. A face peered at her from the leafy bushes, and she understood what he wanted.

  Hide and seek.

  How fun! It’d been years since she’d played. Could she track a wolf used to hiding and stalking? She was about to find out.

  A deep breath coaxed his unique scent into her lungs. The spicy musk invaded her, called to her. She needed to chase that trail, find him and rub herself against him, coat herself in his intoxicating aroma.

  Thought left her mind, leaving behind only instinct. She raced off the path, pursuing Tariq’s trail. Birds squawked and burst above the trees, warning other prey of the predator in their midst. Lori ignored them.

  She wanted to catch a predator, not prey.

  Leaves brushed against her body, and she kept her ears flat and tail down. Giddy with excitement, she let loose a loud howl to share her joy. Several howls joined her, some from human throats. She grinned at the sense of community, her tongue lolling to the side.

  Racing along, the scent grew stronger until it abruptly disappeared. Disoriented, she skidded to a halt, swinging her head around to catch it again. Where did he go? Feeling silly, she looked upwards, wondering if wolves climbed trees. A chuffing sound behind her, and she whipped around.

  “No darling, we can’t climb trees,” Tariq said, leaning against the rough bark of a tree. He looked casual and unconcerned with his nakedness. “Shift back. Embrace your human side, and take form.”

  Sounded simple, put like that. However, when she tried, nothing happened. Her panic must have shown since he gave her a patient smile.

  “It’s okay. The first few times are always the hardest. You’ll get used to it. Picture legs and arms in your mind, what your body looks like.”

  Eyes shut, she focused on his words. A tingle, a pop and then agony. A scream ripped from her mouth before she could contain it. Whimpering, she fell to her knees.

  “You did well, Lori. The pain will lessen.”

  Hands stroked her bare shoulders, meant to comfort her. Instead, his fingers awoke a fierce hunger inside her. Acutely aware of their nakedness, hesitation kept her still. She wanted to lean into him, enjoy more than just comfort from him. Their relationship, though, was unclear. Did he want a fling or something more? What did she want? Were these feelings simply due to the werewolf horniness each one felt after their merging?

  A soft and now familiar sound tickled her ear.

  “You just sniffed me, didn’t you?” she accused, followed by a shaky laugh. How swiftly her life had changed since that first meeting.

  “Of course. I love your scent,” Tariq’s voice deepened. “Especially now. I love how you react to me.”

  He laid a tender kiss on her temple before he pulled back. She almost whimpered in protest at the loss. A rustle behind her indicated Tariq was dressing, hiding his gorgeous body from her. Damn it, she hadn’t snuck a peek at him either.

  “One of two choices, darling. I can give you my shirt to wear and carry you back now, or I can grab clothes for you and then carry you to the house.”

  Pushing into a sitting position, she turned her head, and sure enough, his shirt dangled from his fingers. The crisp hair trailing down to his buttoned jeans begged for her fingers. Sunlight danced across his warm brown skin, caressing him as lovingly as she wished to do.

  He drew in a ragged breath. “Lori...”

  Turning, he raked a hand through his hair, giving her a great view of his bare back and tight ass encased in jeans.

  “I can feel your eyes on me. And it’s destroying all my self-control. You’re too sore right now, especially for what I want. The first change wreaks havoc with your body. It’s recommended to stay away from strenuous activity for the first twelve hours. No exercise, no heavy lifting and no…” he spun back to face her and the strain showed on his feature when he muttered, “sex.”

  “Tariq…” she rasped.

  Stalking toward her, he held out the shirt. “Please, put this on.”

  Wondering how far she could push him, if it was even a good idea to do so, she held up her arms instead of taking the top from him. A sharp inhale from Tariq and the brown retreated from his eye
s leaving behind gleaming amber.

  “You’re pushing me. I’d suggest you don’t. I’m trying to behave, put your needs above mine, and with your sexy body on display like this…”

  His voice trailed off, his eyes lingering on her breasts. They grew heavy and taut under his gaze. Taking her by surprise, he knelt beside her and threaded her arms through the proper holes then yanked the shirt down, effectively hiding her from his eyes.

  Heat burned through the thin material where his fingers gripped her hips. He leaned down, capturing her lips with his, and she eagerly opened for him. His tongue slid inside, dancing with hers, mimicking what she needed.

  She wanted to beg, plead, take. Her body ignited, demanding relief. This man, this one man had the ability, and he wanted to deny her. Her fingers gripped his hair, holding him in place, refusing to stop.

  He ripped his mouth from hers, panting while he rested his forehead against hers. “Damn it, Lori. We can’t. I want to. You have no idea how badly I want to. But we can’t.”

  “How is leaving me sexually frustrated any better than us having sex?” she whispered, hoping to entice him and break down his resistance.

  “Because the way I’m feeling right now, it won’t be soft and gentle. It’ll be hard and rough. I don’t have the self-control for tender.”

  “Oral then. Gives us both some release. Please,” she breathed into his ear. “Let me suck your cock, and then you can eat me.”

  A shudder went through his body, and she knew he couldn’t resist any longer.

  “Lie down, let me take care of you.” Placing a hand on his chest, she encouraged him to obey. Too far gone for even a token protest, he cushioned his head with his arms. She unbuttoned his jeans and freed his heavy erection.

  Licking the tip, she then swirled her tongue around his head, delighting in his involuntary twitch.

  “Hard and fast, darling. You have me so horny I won’t last long.”

  A grin stretched her lips, loving his reaction to her. He did the same to her. In one move, she circled his cock with her hand and sucked him deep into her mouth. A shout burst from him as his hips bucked.

  Tightening her fist, she stroked him, letting him pick the pace. Fingers burrowed into her hair. A harsh moan of her name. Salty seed hit her tongue before she swallowed it. One last suck and she released him.

  Glancing up, she saw his bright green eyes studying her. Voice husky, he said, “Your turn now. Lie down, and let me take care of you.”

  Not needing another invitation, she took his place on the ground while he tucked himself back into his jeans, leaving them unbuttoned. At her questioning look, he explained, “Pleasuring you turns me on. No sense in tight jeans. Now, legs apart.”

  Déjà vu struck her, and she almost chuckled. She knew just how much pleasure she’d get form his talented tongue and fingers. Petting her lightly, he tested her wetness before sliding in a finger.

  “Damn, darling. You’re making me regret my control. I want my cock inside you.” Before she could respond, he covered her clit with his mouth and tongued her. One, then two fingers deep inside her, moving in time with his tongue.

  Needing to see, she tilted her chin and watched his mouth bring her closer to the edge. An orgasm built, and she chased it. Nearly incoherent, she moaned, “Ooh, oh yes, like that. I’m almost there, I’m…”

  Clamping her thighs tight against his head, she lifted her hips up, and her body exploded. Drifting down from the high, she sprawled limply on the ground.

  “That was…fantastic.” She gave him a lazy smile when he came up for a kiss.

  “Now, my gorgeous woman, can I carry you home so you can recover?”

  “Yes. Yes, please. I think I could sleep for a few hours and then some.”

  One arm under her legs, the other supporting her neck, he cradled her to his body. The tender care melted her heart. That tiny voice surfaced again, stating the obvious. She’d fallen in love with him.

  Shit…

  Chapter Ten

  Lori wandered Yonge Street. The cold air of October didn’t discourage the hearty Canadians from their shopping. Instead, they moved at a brisk pace, peeking in shop windows while sipping on coffee in disposable cups. Humans mingled with werewolves and mages. Before her Change, she would’ve been clueless at spotting the different races.

  Now the scents and other telltale signs gave them away. Humans wore coats, scarves and toques to ward off the chill air. Werewolves and mages had no need for them, albeit for different reasons. A werewolf’s temperature ran hot, enabling them to withstand near freezing weather in shorts and a tee-shirt. Mages, though, had spells to keep them protected. The aroma of ozone tickled her nose each time a magic user came close to her.

  Studying the pedestrians kept her mind off the more serious issue at hand, one she desperately wanted to ignore. Was she Tariq’s or did she cling to him because of familiarity? Had she fallen in love with him in such a short time? Did she mistake feelings of comfort and lust for something more?

  “Damn it,” she muttered, skirting past several humans. Shops had thinned out, replaced by suburbia. “Quit my job, changed species and now love? Way to take things slow.”

  “Werewolf, you’re trespassing on human territory.” Authority wrapped around the cold words, freezing her.

  She looked sideways to the cop standing next to his car. Bold letters across the vehicle proclaimed him as police, but his uniform and stance would’ve tipped her off either way. His hand hovered near his gun, the snap undone. He assumed she was dangerous?

  A glance around surprised her. Houses lined the streets, immaculate and near perfect. Not a single store marred the view. She’d ventured deep within the suburbs without realizing it.

  Her new speed meant an hour’s walk had taken less than thirty minutes. And she wasn’t even winded. She hastily hid her growing smile at this realization. Unwarranted happiness wouldn’t please the cop currently giving her a hard stare. His fingers twitched, brushing against the handle of his weapon.

  “Wait, human territory? What are you talking about?” This was the first she’d ever heard such a term, and she’d grown up human! Stunned, she scanned the area, then wished she hadn’t.

  Early Saturday morning meant more families were home, enjoying a peaceful day. Or at least, it would’ve been peaceful without her here, apparently. Angry faces scowled at her from windows and doorsteps. The bolder ones moved closer, guarding their driveways against the horror of a lone woman.

  How had they amassed so quickly? Did they have some kind of warning system in place?

  “Your kind is not welcome here. Leave peacefully. I have silver bullets, and I will use them.” The cop’s hand now rested on his gun, his stance aggressive, although he kept his tone even.

  “Okay, fine. I’m going. I didn’t do anything wrong.” The injustice galled her. That tiny, smart voice told her to shut up. Instead, she folded her arms, glowered at him mulishly and opened her mouth, “Bunch of racists. Because I’m a werewolf, I can’t walk here. There’re no signs saying it’s off-limits. I’m not breaking any laws.”

  Too much damn change had been thrust upon her, and she’d finally reached her breaking point. Now she had to stay away from certain sections of town, like she was a criminal or a rabid animal out to eat their children? Hell no!

  Irate mutterings erupted, and the words “monster”, “baby-eater”, and a host of other offensive terms were thrown her way. Shocked, her filter disappeared, the one that normally said, Shut up before you piss off the angry mob! They’ll find pitchforks if you don’t.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? You think I eat babies? Are you all mental, or do you proudly wallow in stupidity and ignorance? Werewolves don’t eat humans. We eat the same as you. I bet most of you are too bitter to eat anyway.” Her arms waved in the air, punctuating her outrage.

  “Ma’am, leave. Now. You don’t belong here.” The cop gripped the handle of his gun, and his eyes darted to the growing crowd.

/>   “You’re right, I don’t belong. I’m not a damn bigot! Narrow-minded assholes.” She glared at the people nearest to her. They glared back, hatred gleaming in their eyes. Rational thought had deserted them, leaving behind self-righteous fury. Others, made daring with their mob mentality, circled Lori and the police car. The cop gave her a shrug, as if to say, “I warned you.”

  Cold reality slammed into her. Her stupid mouth had dragged her into a sticky, and soon to be painful, situation. These people didn’t view her as a person, merely a monster they needed to obliterate. She’d wandered into their territory, and now they would punish her for it.

  If she defended herself, they would cry foul, claim they were victims of a werewolf. See how evil they are, attacking humans on the streets? Claws and teeth against soft human flesh. See, evil! The human media outlets would latch upon the story, distorting the truth, and claiming the “animals” should be put in cages where they belong.

  Stupid, so fucking stupid. She berated herself. Less than a month as a werewolf, and she might have caused a horrible setback for the pack. Better just suck it up then.

  Werewolves could take a beating, right?

  Something smashed into the back of her knee, and she almost went down. Her training in Okichitaw kept her upright, and she adjusted her weight. Falling down meant vulnerability and broken bones. Mind racing, she searched for a way out, a hole to dart through. She dodged fists and feet.

  A few of her moves put her into the path of wild swings. Kidney punch, uppercut to the jaw, another vicious kick to her leg. Pain melded together. Her body no longer recognized individual parts, all just one massive, unending ache.

  Fingers coiled into her hair, and yanked. Her head tilted back, exposing her throat. Another took advantage and jabbed hard, making her cough. Air burned going down, forced past her bruised larynx.

  And still, she didn’t lift a hand against them. The thought had slithered in to her mind, tempting her. She could defeat them with ease, wouldn’t even break a sweat. Her wolf side demanded retribution, one little nip to put fear into them. Show them they were nothing but tasty snacks, lower on the food chain. Harming another, though, would only give a moment’s satisfaction, fueled by the same hatred they felt.