by Crissy Smith
Adam watched as Tasha, back in human form, led her younger sibling away for some quiet time. They needed to talk and there was no better time than after the run and great dinner they had shared.
Adam glanced at the watch on his wrist. His father had looked preoccupied during dinner and Adam wanted to catch up with him before it got too late again. That and he had plans for Tasha later.
Chuckling to himself, he quickly made his way to his father’s room. Instead of knocking, he walked into the bedroom like he’d always done and found a sight that shocked him to the core.
His father had his arms locked around Logan as they shared a deep, intimate kiss. The two broke away when Adam entered but not before he’d seen the truth.
“Adam, close the door,” his father told him quietly.
He would have loved to but the shock and confusion that clouded his mind kept him from moving.
“Adam!” his father snapped, and like a curtain lifting, his vision cleared.
There was his father, the greatest man he had ever known, standing shoulder to shoulder with another man, who was obviously his lover.
There was no doubt in his mind that they were lovers. Logan’s scent was all over his father’s room. All over his father. This hadn’t been a one-time incident.
And why had he never noticed that before? Sure, he had been busy but something like his dad taking a lover should have been extremely obvious. That could only mean that his father had taken great pains to ensure Adam didn’t find out.
Christian took a step forward and Adam panicked.
“Stay back!” he ordered. He didn’t know why he felt so hurt, so betrayed, but that was what he was feeling.
“Close the door and we’ll talk about this,” his father assured him calmly.
“Talk? You want to talk about this?” he questioned, his voice rising above his normal tone.
“Yes, talk. Like adults, which the three of us are.”
He jerked, feeling like he’d just been slapped. His father was reprimanding him?
“Yes, we are adults.” The cool calm voice couldn’t have come from his mouth. Not with the way his body shook. “Although it doesn’t look to me like the two of you do much talking.”
His father didn’t pull his gaze from his. “I was going to explain…”
Adam barked out a bitter laugh. “Explain? Why would you need to explain anything to me? Keeping Logan here as your little dark secret is your own business.”
Christian’s eyes flashed. “You will not disrespect him.” His voice rose also.
Adam turned on his heel and headed out the door. “I don’t have to respect him either.” With the last word, he slammed the door behind him and headed towards the back of the house.
It was a good thing no one was around since he was likely to bite the head off any person who stood between him and his freedom, because the only thing he was sure of was the fact he had to get out of the house.
His long, angry strides ate up the distance until he stood once again at the edge of the woods. He quickly tore off his clothes and knelt, calling to his brother wolf. With a cry of anguish, he let the magic sweep over his body and, for the second time of the day, changed into his other form.
The wolf wanted to run. To get away from the worry, the doubt, the pain that he felt. Without someone else slowing him down, he started to run. And ran as hard and fast as he could.
He must have run for over an hour. He had enough sense to stay within the Pack territory but went as far from the main house as he could. It wasn’t until he was completely exhausted that he stopped and collapsed next to an old tall oak tree.
The shift back came slowly but sooner than he wanted. Once again in human form, he sat naked with his back against the tree. He heard his visitor before he saw her.
“Go away,” he ordered and hoped she would listen.
Instead of doing as she was told, Tasha stepped into view with her hands on her hips.
“Don’t you bark orders out at me! Do you know how long I have been trying to follow you?” she asked.
Adam couldn’t help it. He laughed. It started with just a chuckle and grew until he had to put his hand on his stomach to calm himself down. The entire time, Tasha stood in the same pose, frustration evident on her face.
Adam waved a hand in front of his face as he gathered his senses back.
“I’m so happy you find me funny,” she remarked but her lips twitched as if she was holding in her laugh.
Adam didn’t want to deal with her at that moment so he turned his head and closed his eyes. “I’m not fit for company right now, Tasha. Go back to the house and I’ll return shortly.”
When he didn’t hear any movement, he looked over. She was still there. Frustrated, he raised his voice. “I mean it! Go back to the house.”
“No,” she replied simply then walked forward and knelt in front of him. She lifted a hand to his face but he caught her wrist.
“I’m warning you, I do not feel like myself. Go away before I hurt you.” With her so close and the feel of her delicate wrist in his grasp, he barely held onto his control. His wolf was close. It wouldn’t surprise him if his eyes had started to glow.
Tasha pushed closer, brushing her knees against his. “So the big bad wolf is going to hurt the little woman?” she taunted.
Adam only grunted in response.
Tasha came even closer until she was almost straddling him. “Do your worst then.”
He tried to move away, to push her away—anything—but her deliberate stare and challenge were too hard to resist. She was purposely taunting him.
“Come on. Take me if you can.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when he pounced. She fell back and collided with the solid ground as his body covered hers. He slammed his mouth on hers, demanding entrance.
When she didn’t open fast enough, he bit her lower lip, causing her to gasp. Adam thrust his tongue inside, dominating everything he could. The blood in his body burned and throbbed as he situated himself between her legs. His cock pressed against the zipper of her jeans as he ground himself against her, showing her that he wasn’t playing games.
He ripped his mouth from hers when she pushed back against him. Adam stared down at her abused lips. Guilt flooded him immediately.
“I can’t be gentle with you right now. I don’t want to do it this way and hurt you.”
Tasha launched herself up and attached her mouth to his neck. She sucked his skin into her mouth while running her nails down his back. He hissed and arched from the slight bite of pain.
“I don’t want gentle. I want you to take me right here and now. Fuck me, Adam,” she whispered in his ear.
God help him, he couldn’t resist her. She had given him permission to use her. To ride her hard. And he wasn’t going to pass that up.
He pushed her back down and quickly went about removing her clothes. She lifted her hips to help him pull her pants down then reached up and removed her shirt and bra as he yanked off her panties.
“You’re going to have to start buying me new underwear if you keep doing that,” she teased.
Adam growled and buried his face in her stomach. “Shouldn’t wear any ever again.” His response came out muffled.
He tried to slow himself down but he could smell the heat and juices from her sweet pussy. She was just as hot as he was. The wolf inside was almost at the surface, and the animal wanted to come out to play.
“Adam…” Tasha wriggled under him.
He pulled back and settled more firmly between her legs. Cupping her bottom, he lifted her up and brought her hot core to the tip of his hard shaft. He was going to give it to her hard but he wanted her to enjoy it also.
“Look at me,” he demanded. “Watch me as I take you. As I fuck you any way I want.”
Her eyes widened, her breath quickened and she nodded. His words were obviously turning her on.
Adam plunged inside with a howl, catching her scream by slamming
his mouth down on hers.
Tasha’s inner muscles squeezed and tried to hold him inside, causing Adam to close his eyes and wait. The peacefulness that overtook his body now that he was buried inside threatened to bring tears to his eyes.
“Adam.” Tasha reached up to brush the hair of his forehead.
Adam opened his eyes and saw her smile. “It feels like home.”
Tasha nodded in response to his declaration. “I feel it too.”
Adam started to withdraw from her but thought better. He leaned down and kissed her with all the passion and love he felt.
Tasha opened for him immediately. When she lifted her head to deepen the kiss, he nipped her bottom lip.
“I have to move now, baby,” he told her honestly.
Tasha’s response was to lift her legs higher around his waist. “Then get busy.”
He laughed as he pulled out and slammed back in. Her breath stuttered and he did it again. He started with long, deep strokes, trying to draw out both of their pleasures.
Anger and confusion no longer ate at him. Now it was only the need to take care of his woman.
Tasha’s nails dug into his shoulders and he continued to plunge inside her, but it wasn’t enough for him. He quickly left the hot haven of her body to flip her onto her stomach. She was barely in position before he grabbed her hips and thrust back inside. He rode her hard, enjoying the small sounds that were escaping her lips. When he felt her body tremble, he reached around and rubbed her clit.
“Yes,” she moaned.
Adam continued to play with her until he felt his balls draw up. Knowing climax was only seconds away, he pinched her clit hard. She screamed before exploding. Adam followed her into release, his seed filling her, before they both collapsed forward.
Tasha recovered first and wiggled out from under Adam. He wrapped his arm around her as he shifted onto his side. Her sigh was enough to calm his beating heart.
“That was great,” she said dreamily.
Adam laughed. “It was that, indeed.”
She crawled up until she was resting her head on his chest. “Are you feeling better now?”
He couldn’t resist. Adam lazily ran his hand over her bottom, delighting in the shivers he caused. “I feel great,” he commented.
Tasha giggled before slapping his chest. “I meant about what happened earlier in the house.”
Adam removed his hand and started to sit up. “How much did you hear?” he asked.
Tasha dropped her gaze and reached for her pants.
Adam caught her hand and pulled her into his lap. When she wouldn’t look up, he gently raised her chin with his fingers.
“Tasha?”
“A lot. But your father told me the rest,” she admitted.
Adam cursed and started to move her away.
“No! Adam, wait!” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“What?” He tried to relax his body but he couldn’t. He had made a fool of himself in the house. Not only that but he had probably hurt and embarrassed his father as well.
“Your father loves you. He just wanted me to make sure you were okay,” she began to explain.
Adam shook his head, cutting her off. “It’s not that, baby.” To emphasise what he was saying, he gave her a short but sweet kiss. “I acted like a jerk.”
“So…does that mean your okay with…your father?” Tasha avoided meeting his gaze as she asked.
Adam waited to answer. Was he? He knew the answer. He didn’t care whom his father chose to love. A lot of weres enjoyed both male and female partners before mating. What was bothering him was that his father had hidden it from him. But Tasha deserved the truth.
“I’m okay with it. We need to talk but I just want him to be happy.”
Tasha’s grin brightened her face. “I’m so glad you feel that way. Everyone here is so great and…I really like Logan.”
Adam nodded. “So do I.”
Tasha climbed off his lap and this time he let her. “So are you ready to go back?”
As he watched her shimmer into her clothes, Adam’s body wanted something completely different. “Yeah, we’d better go in before they send out a bigger search party.”
Tasha hummed, smiling. “Just don’t greet them the same way.”
He was amused, loving the playful side she was sharing with him. “Get dressed, my little minx.”
Adam held her hand the entire walk back to the house. Tasha knew he needed to talk to his dad—and after rolling around in the dirt she needed the shower—but she was looking forward to spending more time in bed with him.
She wasn’t sure what was going to happen when they got back into their own territory. Here, away from everything, she could pretend Adam was hers.
They paused briefly when they came to the tree where he had shed his clothes earlier. She watched as he redressed, thinking what a shame it was to cover up all of that smooth, tanned skin. He took her hand once again and they resumed their journey back to the house.
When the house came into view, she could see her sister sitting on the back porch with Gage and Marissa. The happiness on Crystal’s face was amazing and brought a smile to Tasha’s face.
Adam squeezed her hand. “She’s doing good.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “It was a good thing to bring her here. I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”
“Just be happy too, Tasha. That’s all I want. To make you happy,” he told her as he brought her hand up to her lips.
Before she could respond or even digest what he’d said, Gage stood and walked towards them. Tasha leaned up and kissed Adam’s cheek. “I’ll wait in your room for you.”
“Thank you, Tasha.” He slowly let her hand go as she walked away. When she looked back over her shoulder at him, he was still watching her with what she could almost convince herself was love.
Adam watched Tasha walk away from him, knowing she had just sealed her fate. Her coming to him and accepting him at his worst proved she had everything that was needed for not only being a mate but also a mate to an Alpha. He would do everything in his power to keep her. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t already in love with her.
He waited until Gage had almost reached him before he acknowledged the other Alpha.
“You knew,” he accused but without the anger he’d felt earlier.
Gage nodded and stopped in front of him. “I suspected. They still haven’t told me, but it’s not something that you miss when you are with them every day.”
Adam shook his head and started towards the house. Gage easily shifted to block him. Amused, Adam lifted his eyebrow and waited.
“Before you go in there, think about what you’re going to say,” Gage suggested.
Adam’s back stiffened automatically. He didn’t take orders from anyone else. Gage must have caught his feelings because he reached out and gently laid a hand on Adam’s shoulder.
“Your father is happy for the first time in months. Logan is a good man and a close friend. I just don’t want to see anyone hurt.” Gage looked sincere as he spoke.
“Don’t worry, Gage. Now that I’m over the initial shock, I can admit that Logan is good for my father. I just want him to be happy,” Adam told the other man. He couldn’t seem to settle so he began to pace. “I just don’t understand why he didn’t tell me earlier, why he thought he had to hide it.”
Gage nodded and looked back towards the house. “Well, the only way you’ll get the answers is if you ask him.”
Adam’s gaze followed Gage’s. His father and Logan had just stepped out onto the deck. His father looked uneasy. Logan’s arm went immediately to his father’s shoulder to show support. That simple action proved the two men had more of a bond than just sexual. Adam had known that deep down but he liked seeing that Logan would publicly comfort Christian.
“Logan won’t leave your Pack,” Adam whispered so only Gage’s ears would pick up what he was saying.
“No, he won’t. I’m sorry, Adam.” Af
ter nodding, Gage turned and headed back to the house.
Christian said something to Logan then began the short walk to his son. Adam didn’t meet him but waited until his father was closing in before gesturing back into the trees. Neither spoke as they drifted farther away.
When Adam felt they were far enough from the others’ hearing, he turned to face Christian.
His father stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. Adam fought a smile that pulled at his lips. He’d seen that stance a thousand times as a child.
“First, I apologise for the outburst earlier. I was taken by surprise, but I didn’t mean any disrespect towards you or Logan,” Adam started.
Christian blinked at him and shook his head. “What?”
Adam couldn’t stand still so he began to pace. Again. It seemed that since he’d moved up the ranks he was pacing more and more. He wasn’t sure how to get the words he wanted to say out. After several tries, he flopped down on the grass. “I shouldn’t have run off that way. I acted like a child.”
His father knelt in front of him. “Yes, you did. But you’re my child so that can be forgiven easily. I’ve wanted to tell you so many times. I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why keep this a secret?” That was the question that kept circling in his mind.
His father sighed before answering. “You were so young when your mother died. I know you don’t remember much about her.”
Adam didn’t understand what his mom had to do with anything. He started to ask but his father held up his hand. “Just let me get through this.”
Adam nodded so he continued.
“I met Logan a couple years before your mom. We connected immediately. But when my father made a deal with the Alpha of the Pack to mate me with his daughter, I had to give him up,” Christian explained.
“You were with Logan before Mom?” Adam couldn’t help but interrupt.
“Yes. It was hard but I finally came out to my father. He took it much better than I could have ever hoped. When I told my father that I loved Logan, he had already made the deal. He felt bad but there was nothing he could do.”