by Lia Bevans
Hazel turned her face away. Pain fractured the stoic expression she wore. Chantal knew she was breaking her sister’s heart. She knew it was her fault. Everything was her fault.
“I’m sorry.” Hazel said. “I’ll take you home now.”
The sisters travelled in heavy silence. Chantal jumped out of the car the minute her farmhouse came into view. She didn’t bother inviting Hazel in even though Cecil, Evie, Mae and Ralph would be overjoyed to see her. Instead, she shifted on the spot and headed into the woods.
Run. She had to keep going. Leaves crunched beneath her sharp claws. Paws hoofed the earth. Wind tore at her fur. She pushed herself. Harder. Faster. The bush blurred together. She felt like she was flying. What if she ran herself straight off a cliff?
Her wolf balked at the idea. The sun had set by the time Chantal ran out of steam. She dragged herself around and crawled home, changing behind the screen when she shifted back to her human form.
“Chantal! You’re back!” Evie announced when she stepped into the kitchen. “Blaez has been waiting for you.”
Chantal glanced at the man sitting in the chair, hazel eyes pooling with concern. Her wolf howled and she was too tired to stop it. Without a word, Chantal strode forward, grabbed Blaez by the hand, and pulled him up the stairs toward her bedroom.
She was having her way with this man tonight.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BLAEZ NEARLY STUMBLED as Chantal dragged him up the stairs. Her grip was painfully strong. Why was she channeling her wolf to lead him to her bedroom? He glanced at Evie who watched them with astonished eyes. Looked like she was at a loss too.
“Chantal, use your words. Tell me what’s wrong. What did Hazel say?” He tried to slip his wrist out of her hold, but she snapped a glare over her shoulder and he simmered down. “Fine. You don’t have to let me go, but you need to talk to me.”
They crested the last stair and strode down a hallway full of doors. Cecil popped her red-topped head out of the bedroom nearest to the steps and grinned when she saw him. Her eyes sparkled and she began to waddle out, mouth open in greeting.
Chantal grunted and held a hand in Cecil’s face to stop her from coming nearer. She paused long enough to pierce the older woman with a fierce stare. “Mine,” she said.
Blaez’s eyes widened. Something was wrong. He was sure of it. “Mine? Chantal, what is going on?”
She dragged him into her bedroom and slammed the door shut. Darkness shrouded her bed and furniture in thick shadows. Blaez’s eyes adjusted quickly. He used the film of light crawling through the sliver of space beneath her door to make out Chantal’s face.
“Chantal, let’s turn on the light and talk about what’s bothering you.”
He heard the click of the lock. It rang as loud as a gunshot in the stillness. His heart thudded. He could feel her looking at him, staring at him. Not with hate. Definitely not. The awareness springing through his body was a response. She was calling him out. Tempting him.
“Chantal?”
Her breath escaped in a whoosh. He heard her footsteps pattering closer. Her face loomed before him, her features obscured by the darkness. Blaez felt her tiny hands on top of his shirt, right below his ribs. His breath hitched. His heart pounded.
“W-where’s the light? We have to turn on the light.”
It was the darkness. It made him feel invincible. Like anything they tried in this moment would be buried forever. His hands trembled and he dipped them into his pockets to keep from reaching out and touching her with the same reverence that she was to him.
“Mine...” Chantal said, her voice filled with awe. Her hands explored every inch of his chest through his shirt. Blaez knew he should stop her. In his head, the motions of lifting his hand, snatching her wrist, and swatting them away played over and over.
But he couldn’t.
Then Chantal slipped her hands beneath his shirt. His muscles coiled and bunched. Every place her fingertips rasped against burned. Like hell. Skin against skin. Softness against Hardness. She brushed her hands up his shoulders and the next thing he knew, she was taking his shirt off.
His breath was hot and heavy. Pulsing thoughts jumbled together.
I should... stop... she’s obviously upset... she’ll regret this... what if the others are listening?
Willing female... his wolf growled.
Blaez struggled to remain in control. Struggled to remember Hazel’s warning. This was definitely crossing a line. He had to resist Chantal. For Caldon’s sake. Problem was... he wanted her. There was no fighting that.
CHANTAL WAS MOVING through a haze. She was aware of what she was doing. She saw her hands caressing the planes of Blaez’s toned stomach, the ridges of his abs, the hardness of his chest. She saw him shivering beneath her touch, heard his breath quickening.
She knew it. Understood it. Maybe even enjoyed it. But it was not Chantal Sommers that instigated the touch or howled for more. It was her wolf. And the wolf was a different animal entirely.
Kiss him... her wolf said.
Chantal leaned up and placed her lips to Blaez’s. His mouth remained firm. Unyielding. She pressed her hands on his shoulders and stood on the very tips of her toes in the hopes that he would be more cooperative if she tried harder.
He wasn’t.
She huffed and landed flat on her feet. Her wolf was unhappy, but it wasn’t ready to give up. Chantal could hear Blaez’s heart beating faster. She could sense the desire welling within him. Why was he holding back?
Grunting in frustration, she threw modesty to the wind and attacked his mouth, using her tongue to tease him until he finally opened up to her. Blaez gave in, slanting his lips across her mouth with expert precision and meeting her tongue stroke for stroke.
She moaned in pleasure and pressed closer to him, waiting for Blaez to gather her up and take the initiative. His hands remained in his pockets and she had to struggle to match his height so she could keep their mouths attached.
Desperate to have him, she drove Blaez against the door. His head knocked it with a bang and pain flashed in his eyes. She used his disoriented state to pluck his left hand from his pocket. She guided it to the dip just above her butt. Eyeing him through it all, she took his next hand and placed it on her face.
“Mine,” she whispered hoarsely, her voice thick with need. There was a frantic edge to the word. Insecurities bubbled within her. The human half kicked into gear, throwing her flaws in her face.
Maybe he didn’t want her because she was too short. Or too busty. Or too round.
Her mind began to clear and she was about to break out of the embrace she had forced him into when Blaez caressed her cheek and said, “Mine, huh?”
Her wolf stirred and any ground Chantal had gained crumbled to dust. She pulled him by the neck and kissed him again. And again. And again. She captured his mouth. Sucked the crispness of winter from his lips until she felt like a woman playing in the snow.
Blaez tasted her, stroked her... but that darn restraint. He went no further than her waist. Made no moves to peek beneath her clothes even though she ached to show him.
Was kissing all he planned to do?
I want him... her wolf said.
So Chantal started climbing him. Scrambling to hook her legs around his waist for a better vantage to his lips. Blaez seemed hesitant at first, but when she kept sliding her body down the length of his after every failed attempt, he wound his hands around her thighs and hefted her up. Kept her there.
A thrill zipped straight through her core. She grabbed his face. Held it tight. Swept her arms around his neck. Pulled his head back. Tore her lips away to press kisses on the sensitive area where his pulse thrummed. The feel of his thrashing heart against her mouth drove her wild.
Blaez staggered back. She urged him on, guiding him to the bed until the back of his knees knocked against it and he tipped over. The moment their bodies hit the mattress, she scrambled for purchase and straddled him, making sure he had nowhere to ru
n.
Lights flashed in her eyes. Her wolf egged her on. Babies... her wolf wanted babies. His babies. She tore her shirt off. Flung it to the floor. Everything her wolf wanted was a breath away. Now. Now. Now.
Blaez’s large hands swept her back, ran along the length to her shoulder. His callouses were deliciously rough against her silky skin. He explored with wonder, as if he couldn’t quite believe he was here. With her. Doing things...
Knock. Knock. “Chantal? Blaez?” Evie’s voice snatched the magic of the moment. Chantal’s wolf growled and snarled over her shoulder. Evie either did not hear or did not care to heed the warning. “Guys, are you okay?”
“We’re fine,” Blaez said, struggling to prop himself up on his elbows. His hair was mussed beyond repair thanks to her insistent fingers. He eyed her and then the door. “I’ll be right out. Could you give us a minute?”
“Okay.”
She tilted her head and heard their footsteps disappearing. Yes... Blaez had chased them away so they could get back to business. Chantal pushed him down and bent over to kiss him again when he placed a hand on her puckered lips.
“Let’s stop.”
Stop?
“Why?” She bent down and placed a lingering kiss on his side, looking at him as she did. “Stop?”
Blaez moaned and trembled. “Woman...”
“Stop?” Her fingers dug into the band of his pants and she tugged, her heart singing with anticipation.
Babies... her wolf said.
Blaez scrambled up, his sudden movement jarring her from his lap and knocking her off the bed. She cried out and he rushed to her side, his eyes clearer than they were when she was about to have her way with him.
“Chantal, are you okay?”
She nursed her aching elbow and turned away.
“I’m sorry.”
She ignored him as disappointment dealt her a crushing blow.
No babies tonight... her wolf whimpered.
“Come here.” He gathered her up and walked with her to the bed. A stroke of excitement filled her as Blaez pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, but when he started caressing her head she knew he was not going to do anything else. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
He had no idea.
“It’s okay.” He patted her shoulder. “You can rest. I’m here. It’s okay.”
Her eyes fluttered closed and she drifted off to sleep.
BLAEZ HEARD CHANTAL’S even breathing and slipped his hand from beneath her arm. The limb hung like deadweight against his chest, but at least the sensation distracted him from thinking of Chantal’s passionate kisses. That innocent face had fooled him. The woman was a vixen.
He tiptoed into the hallway and crossed his fingers in hopes that Evie and the rest would allow him to sneak out. To his dismay, they were all waiting for him in the living room. Blaez wasn’t a man to blush easily, but he felt the flush spreading through his face as Chantal’s ‘parents’ eyed him.
Would they believe him if he told them that Chantal was the one pushing for them to sleep together? Probably not.
“Look at his hair and his shirt!” Cecil cried. “They did it. You did it!” She pointed an accusing finger. “Blaez, we’re over!” She took off bawling and disappeared.
The room lapsed into awkward silence.
Evie cleared her throat. “I’ll go check on Chantal.”
“She’s sleeping.” He ran a hand through his hair in a poor attempt to return order to his appearance.
“Did you...?” Mae Ling rolled her hands.
“No.” He shook his head.
“I’m guessing that’s not from her lack of trying,” Evie said with a smirk.
Ralph growled. “What are you trying to insinuate?”
“Chantal is innocent.” Mae Ling’s dark eyes sliced through him. “I saw the way you were dancing with her yesterday. You’re the one we have to watch.”
“Actually, you have to watch Chantal’s wolf.” Evie clasped her hands primly. “Because she’s the one who desperately wants to be owned by Blaez.”
“Excuse me?” They all said as one.
“The woman throwing herself at him is not fully Chantal. Her wolf has decided that you, Blaez, are the one she wants to be impregnated by.”
“Me?” He strained to wrap his brain around Evie’s explanation. “Why me?”
“It could be because of your scent or maybe you have the build and carriage the wolf is looking for. Either way, she won’t stop hounding you until you give in and fill her with your seed.”
“Bah!” Ralph stood and waved his hand. “I can’t stand hearing you talk about my baby girl that way. I’ll be in my room.”
Mae Ling stared at Blaez, her expression slightly amused. “A wolf that wants to mate is very persistent. How did you resist her? Does she not...” Mae’s eyes dipped to his pants, “do it for you?”
“What?” He covered his crotch area with his hands. “That’s not the problem. Trust me.”
“Chantal will be mortified,” Mae Ling mumbled. She turned to Evie. “Maybe it’s better if he didn’t work at the center anymore.”
“Do you think her wolf will stop lusting after him just because he’s out of sight? That’s not how it works.” She pinned him with a thoughtful look. “Do you think you can keep resisting Chantal’s wolf while we come up with a solution?”
Blaez started to sweat. The answer to that question was a definite no.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHANTAL SMACKED HER face with a pillow for every memory the morning light recovered. Every touch, every sound, every sensation rushed back, each one bringing its own form of humiliation. She’d devoured Blaez yesterday. Which would be kind of hard to explain given she generally disliked him.
“Chantal, are you up?” A knock sounded at the door. She smelled Mae, Ralph and Evie outside and pulled her blanket over her head. Did they know what she’d done to Blaez in this very room? In this bed? How could she face them?
“We know you’re up, Chantal,” Ralph groused. “Open the door or we’ll break it.”
She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes tightly, wishing for time to go back a few hours so she could knock her wolf out before it took over. No, she’d go back further and stop herself from coming home in the first place.
“Chantal!” It was Mae yelling this time.
She was surrounded. Chantal got up and slogged to the door, opening it a smidge. “Hey, guys.” She blinked at their circle of concerned faces. Spotted the tray of toast and eggs in Evie’s hands. “I’m not hungry. Thanks though.”
Ralph slammed his palm against the door, preventing her from closing it. “We need to talk.”
“Do we?” She tilted her head and strained to keep them from entering. “I don’t think so.”
Ralph pushed with all his might and Chantal stumbled. He strode into the room, glaring at her and holding his back. She winced, terrified that she had caused him pain.
“I’m alright,” he said, patting her shoulder. “Stop looking at me like you’re horrified. A little back cracking is good for the soul.”
Mae Ling and Evie walked in next. Evie set the tray of food on her vanity table and grabbed the chair so Mae could sit. They settled down and stared at her. The silence was deafening. Chantal wanted to jump out the window and run far away. She forced herself to stay.
“I know what you’re going to say,” she began. “And before you do, I just want you to know that it won’t happen again.”
“I never thought I’d have to talk to you about the birds and the bees,” Ralph grumbled. “You and that young man... under our own roof too? With all of us sleeping right down the hall?”
“Ralph.” Evie placed a hand on his shoulder. “She’s feeling guilty enough as it is.”
“I’m so sorry.” She hung her head, allowing a curtain of hair to shade her from their sober expressions. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Yes, you do.” Evie’s voice was
patient but firm. “The first step in fixing a problem is acknowledging you have one. I think it’s time you admit that your wolf’s lust is more than you can handle alone.”
“It’s not lust.”
“Yes... you’re right.” Evie tapped her chin. “That’s why your young man came downstairs with hair wilder than a jungle boy and lipstick stains going down his neck.”
Chantal placed a finger to her lips, recalling the way she’d peppered Blaez with kisses. Her cheeks heated. “Okay... there may be a slight problem. But it’s not me. It’s... her!” She pointed to her forehead. “She wants him so bad it feels like I’ll explode if I don’t give in.”
“Yes,” Evie strode forward and grasped her hands, “but you are in control. This is your body. You have to remind your wolf of that. Instincts are great for hunting and staying safe, but unless you want to have Blaez’s baby—”
“I don’t.”
“Then you’ve got to take responsibility where it’s due. Try harder not to put yourself in a situation like that again. Now, care to tell us why you were so upset that your wolf was given such an opportunity?”
“It’s Connor.” She drooped on the edge of the bed and told them everything that Hazel had said yesterday.
Mae Ling grunted. “Your sister has a point.”
“I know. Which is why I feel so awful. It’s not Connor’s fault that I made that call, but he might pay for it with his life. I don’t want to hurt anybody, but I don’t want Connor to pay for my sins.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Ralph said.
“Together.” Evie placed her arm around Chantal’s shoulders. “Now eat up and get ready for work. There’s a volunteer who really needs an explanation from you.”
“Do I have to see Blaez?” Chantal groaned. “Can’t I send him far away?”
“You think your wolf is strong now, imagine how much stronger it will get if it has to go and look for its mate. Then you really won’t be able to regain control.” Evie shook her head. “It’s too dangerous. Not just for you, but for Blaez. Your wolf is trying to satisfy her own need, but what if he’s not ready to be a father?”