by Leilani Love
After dinner, Kassandra joined Hope in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t better company tonight,” Hope said after a few minutes.
“There’s really nothing to apologize for,” Kassandra said. “Today was…eventful, to say the least.”
Hope turned and gave her a small hug. “My mate’s betrayal was hard on me and I never realized how that affected Damien until we were older. I was focused on my pain. I know my brother can be an ass, but please don’t let him push you away.”
With no idea of how to reply—or how to proceed with Damien—Hope watched Kassandra walk away. Kassandra walked into the living room, surprised to find Damien holding a Stephen King book. With the look on his face, she doubted he was doing more than staring at the pages as he contemplated what to do next. She watched him for a long moment before he finally looked up.
Damien stood, putting the book on the coffee table. His eyes were fairly glowing as he looked her over. “We’re alone,” he whispered as he backed her up against the wall.
Kassandra glanced upstairs. Hope had closed the door to the spare room and she doubted his sister would be coming out anytime soon. After all the day’s events Kassandra found herself needing to reassure herself that Damien was okay and her hand itched to reach out and touch him. “Looks like we are. It’s been a long day, we should probably follow your sister’s lead and get some rest.”
A soft growl was his only response and he slid his body so close, she could feel the vibration against her chest. His hands gripped her hips as he dipped his head. Kassandra felt his tongue tracing along the column of her neck, causing her to gasp in pleasure. “Do you know you smell like cherries?”
“Do you like cherries?” she asked as he continued to tease the nape of her neck.
There was no reply at first, as his mouth found his mark. For a moment she thought he hadn’t her until she felt his lips travel to her ear. “I devour cherries,” he whispered.
When he took a step back she instantly missed the heat of his body. Before she could protest he took her hand, and led her up to his room. The door was barely closed before he pinned her against it. His hands in her hair as he kissed her deep. Damien angled his head to deepen the kiss.
Kassandra needed to touch him and quickly pulled his shirt from his pants before sliding her fingers under the material to touch his skin. She smiled against his lips when she felt his muscles quiver under her touch. She traced the contours of his muscles as their tongues continued to duel.
His lips gently brushed along her jaw, careful not to press against the bruise. “You could have been killed today,” he whispered into her ear, nibbling gently.
“So could have you.” Kassandra pulled back to look at him. His eyes were serious and she slid her fingers from under his shirt to cup his cheek. “The last thing I will ever do is prove you right by letting some asshole kill me.”
“If proving me wrong keeps you safe…” Damien started to say before Kassandra cut him off by kissing him. She slid her fingers from his jaw into his hair, going to her tippy toes to press her body fully against his.
Damien grabbed her ass, pulling her tight against the hard bulge in his jeans. Kassandra moaned as he led her to the bed. When she felt the mattress on the back of her thighs, she pulled Damien down without breaking the kiss, then rolled on top of him. She grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head, then stopped to study the tattoo on his shoulder and upper arm.
“Do these mean anything?” she asked before she lightly traced the pattern, first with her fingers and then her tongue.
The room was quiet and she heard the change of his breathing as she traced the intricate pattern from his shoulder along his upper arm onto his chest. “I used to dream about those symbols. One of my artist friends helped me put it together in a design.”
Kassandra nipped at his arm. “It’s beautiful.”
She looked up to see his eyes dark with desire. “No, this is just a random design. You’re beautiful.” He paused. “Take off your clothes, my Kitty Kat. I want to see every delicious inch of you.”
With a request like that, how could she possibly deny him? Kassandra pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it toward the dresser. Next came her bra. The clasp was in the front, but before she could do anything, Damien’s hands slid up her sides, cupping her breasts. The heat of his touch went straight through the small lacy material. She watched his eyes darken as his fingers unclasped her bra. Kassandra thought she’d feel jealousy over all the girls he’d been with in the past. Instead, she was grateful for all the pleasure those past experiences would give her in the future.
His fingers pushed back the cups of her bra, exposing her breasts. The low, primitive growl he let out as he licked his lips made her body shudder, and her nipples tightened to the point of almost pain. She let out a surprised yelp as he grabbed her around the waist and rolled her to her back, settling himself between her spread thighs. Damien brought his hands to her breasts, cupping them before rolling her nipples between his fingers.
His tanned hands looked dark against her pale white skin as he slid them lower, until they finally reached her jeans. Kassandra watched as his fingers hovered just above the button and she rolled her hips up in silent invitation.
“Take them off Damien,” she whispered.
He pulled off her jeans and thong in one swift motion, leaving her naked before him.
“Take off your pants,” Kassandra whispered. “I want you as naked as I am.”
After a long pause Damien smiled, then got up and stood at the foot of the bed. “If you want them off, you take them off.”
Kassandra’s lips curved into a sexual smile. “It will be my pleasure.”
Kassandra crawled to the edge of the bed, and hooked her finger in his jeans to pull him closer. There was just the smallest space between them as Kassandra brought her hands to his chest before sliding them down to his groin. Damien’s jeans did nothing to disguise the bulge that was just waiting to be released.
One button at a time she undid his button fly jeans until his cock sprang free and into her waiting hands. She smiled when she saw he’d been going commando all day.
“There is something sexy about a one-layer man,” Kassandra said as she leaned forward to lick the head of her prize. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Damien ball his hands into fists, as if trying to hold something back. Kassandra swirled her tongue around his head again and released his cock before pushing his jeans down his long, muscular legs.
CHAPTER 33
Every muscle in his body was tense as he felt her tongue slide down the length of his hard cock. Damien fought the urge to push himself deeper into Kassandra’s mouth. When her mouth finally parted and she took the head of his cock into her hot, wet mouth, Damien hissed.
Unable to hold still anymore he brought one hand to the back of her head threading it into her glorious hair, holding her to him as she slowly took him deeper into her mouth. His lips parted and his breath came in short little pants as she teasingly pulled back until just the head was between her lips. Her devilish tongue flicking the underside of his head before swirling around the top and sucking him deeper into her mouth.
She was testing his control and Damien was afraid that if another second passed, he just might snap. The only thing he wanted more than to come in her pretty little mouth was to hear her scream his name as he came inside her.
Tugging on her, he chuckled when she pouted as he removed her mouth from his body. He forced her to look up at him and when her pink tongue came out to lick her swollen lips, he lost himself. A growl escaped him that was more animal than man as he pushed her onto her back. His cock easily found her entrance and he thrust deep inside her in one quick movement. For a split second, he worried he might have been too rough with her, only to hear her moan in pleasure as her legs wrapped around him.
Damien felt Kassandra as her hips eagerly met each and every thrust. His little hell Kat was responsive to e
very touch. Kassandra’s breasts pressed hard against his chest, her nipples burning little holes. Her hands dug into his back and when he thrust deep inside her, he felt her hand tighten holding him tight and encouraging him. Damien gripped her hip with one hand angling her for deeper penetration as he held her tight.
He wanted to delay their pleasure, so he slowed his movements. He let out a chuckle when he heard Kassandra’s soft growl and felt her teeth bite into his neck. Clearly, Kassandra didn’t want to play games.
Her leg slid down the length of his thigh and she surprised him by pushing him to his back. Kassandra quickly straddled him, and her hand slid between their two bodies as she guided him to her entrance. “Turnabout is fair play, my love,” she whispered.
“Yes, it is,” he agreed as he nibbled on her lips. He pulled back to study their joined bodies. Kassandra looked like a goddess in the moonlight, with her blonde hair draped over her body. She rolled her hips, and when he tried to thrust up into her, she shook her head and squeezed her legs to keep him still. “You had your fun, and now I’m going to have mine.”
He raised an eyebrow as his eyes slowly roamed her body. He put his hands behind his head and grinned. “Then by all means, Kitty Kat, please do proceed.”
Kassandra tempted and teased him as she alternated between rolling her hips and sliding up and down his hard cock, bringing both of them to the edge, only to slow down and keep their release just out of reach. Her breath came in short little pants and Damien wondered how much longer until his body went up in flames.
She leaned forward, her breasts brushing up and down his chest as she continued to ride his cock. Her lips hoovered just over his. She bent down to kiss his jaw and neck, Damien’s control hung by a thread. When she finally made it to his earlobe, his entire body shook as she bit on the lobe before whispering, “Now.”
That one syllable let loose everything he’d been holding back. His hands went to her waist as he began thrusting hard and fast inside her. Her cries of pleasure grew louder and louder until with one hard thrust, he sent them both over the edge.
“Damien!” she screamed. He grunted in release and thrust into her until his body was spent.
Kassandra collapsed on top of him, her breath coming in shallow rasps like his. He could feel her heartbeat against his chest as he slowly stroked her back. When his cock finally softened and slipped from her core, he heard her whimper and he kissed the top of her head.
“Stay,” he whispered before getting up and heading toward the bathroom. He cleaned himself up with a rag before finding a fresh one and bringing it to her. She thanked him and headed to the bathroom to clean herself up in private.
He watched her walk to the bathroom. She was a mixture of curves and muscle and he loved every inch of it. Strong and soft. He lay back in the bed and waited for her to join him. His thoughts traveled back to the events of the day. His fierce warrior mate, who hadn’t needed him to rescue her, had saved his friends and helped bring their baby into the world.
Kassandra was quiet when she came out of the bathroom and joined him in bed. She snuggled up against his chest and he ran his fingers through her hair, wondering what she was thinking about. He opened his mouth to speak, then she asked, “Can you be okay with me fighting for my people? For yours?”
Her voice was low and his hand stilled in the middle of her back. His first response was to say no, but that would mean either losing her or asking her to turn her back on who she was. “I’ve tried my whole life to avoid fighting,” Damien said. “Avoid the pack that didn’t look for me or save my parents. I wanted to avoid the hurt I knew my sister was feeling. She cried for years after Lazzaro saved us. I could feel her heart breaking when she learned that her mate had betrayed us. Despite his betrayal, she’s still tied to him. Am I okay with it? No, I’ll always worry. But I might be okay if you let me fight by your side.” His hand stilled in hers before he continued, “And no more seducing anyone so you can poison them.”
As he spoke, he’d felt her hand on his chest, stroking him up and down in a soothing motion. Now he looked down to see the light from the window forming a sparkling halo around her, out of place with the playful smirk on her lips. “So only seduce a guy if I have no intention of poisoning him?”
Damien growled as he pushed her to her back, pinning her beneath him. “You are mine and there will be no seducing of anyone but me.”
“And if I refuse to listen, what happens? Are you going to spank me?”
An image of Kassandra across his lap quickly came to mind, her beautiful ass up in the air with an imprint of his hand on one perfect cheek. The image caused his cock to harden. When she rolled her hips, he knew she could feel his reaction. “I think my Kitty Kat enjoys the thought of a good spanking.”
Kassandra bit her lower lip before shrugging her shoulders. He laughed as he nuzzled her neck. “I don’t share, Kat.”
She shifted under him, and in one swift motion she rolled them over, pinning him just as he had her. Kassandra brought her face to his and whispered, “Neither do I.”
With that, she kissed him hard, and a low growl escaped him as he let her take control. When she finally settled on his chest, he slid his hands down the smooth skin of her back. Damien sucked in her tongue before giving her a nice, firm smack on the ass. He felt her body shudder in response to his smack and thanked the Fates again.
CHAPTER 34
The cup of coffee Hope poured didn’t seem big enough for the lack of sleep she’d gotten. It wasn’t the first night she’d dreamt of Warrick, and probably wouldn’t be the last. Some nights she dreamt of what their life could’ve been like. Other nights she heard screams of pain and she knew he needed her. The first few years she woke up screaming his name, reaching for the man who’d betrayed her. Now she just woke up in a cold sweat with tears streaming down her face.
She could hear the sounds of Damien and Kassandra up in their room and knew that they would be joining her soon. Hope was so happy for her brother. Kassandra was exactly what he needed—a strong woman who’d both fight him, and fight beside him. Still, even though she was truly happy for them, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for also being a little jealous.
Kassandra was the first to join her downstairs. Her eyes lit up when Hope handed her a cup of coffee. “Oh, you are my favorite, I think I love you.”
“I hope you aren’t so easy where Damien’s concerned,” Hope said, laughing as Kassandra wrinkled her nose.
The look Kassandra gave her was priceless and they both laughed. “I’m pretty sure your brother wishes I was more easily manageable then I am.”
“No, he would hate it,” Hope said, and Kassandra raised an eyebrow. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. He’s a guy and he probably thinks that, but he would be bored within a few hours.”
Kassandra opened her mouth to reply just as Damien walked into the kitchen. Hope winked at her and gave her a warm smile.
Damien looked between the two and frowned. “I feel like I might have interrupted something.”
“I was just telling your sister I love her,” Kassandra said with a grin as she sipped her coffee.
Damien smiled at that and kissed Kassandra on the cheek. When he finished making himself a cup of coffee, Hope watched as he leaned one hip against the counter.
Giving in to the urge, Hope finally blurted out, “So when are we going to save our pack and find our mother?”
***
Hope’s words hung in the air, and Damien took a sip of his coffee while he searched for the right thing to say. He wanted to say “now,” but he knew that he had to keep a level head and make a plan. “I know you want to go now, but I think we need a plan first.” A large part of him didn’t even want to believe what Eva was able to read from Nathan’s mind, but Kassandra had showed complete faith in Eva and Aithne. Damien knew the final decision would be his.
Damien watched as complex emotions played across her face. Before she could come up with an argument, Kassandra placed her han
d on Hope’s. “Aithne had an idea, and when she left yesterday she was going to talk to Viktor and Lazzaro about it. She was thinking that some of the wolves that help guard Lazzaro could give us a layout and security.”
Damien tensed, thinking his sister would try and push the issue. A small sense of relief washed over him when she nodded and Kassandra squeezed her hand.
“You know that patience is so not my virtue,” Hope said with a small pout. “Fine!” She conceded when he continued to stare at her.
“That’s the biggest understatement I’ve ever heard,” Damien replied, laughing when he saw her dirty look.
“The next few days are going to be hard,” Kassandra said. “We need to gather what information we can here while Aithne works with Chase from there. The best thing we can do is try and stay busy during our downtime.”
Kassandra shifted and Damien couldn’t help but notice she seemed nervous. “I was thinking while we wait, maybe we could go check out John’s apartment and the other band members. They might have forgotten something in their haste to leave with the book. We know a guy who’s amazing with anything electronic. Even if something was erased, he has a knack of finding it.”
“Let’s eat first and then head out,” Damien said. “Robert and Alyssa will be home this afternoon. We can stop by their place afterwards and check in on them.
After eating a quick breakfast, the group left the house, eager to see what they could find. Damien knew that the band lived together in an apartment on the other side of town. When they arrived, he was surprised at how quickly Kassandra picked the lock.
The apartment looked like someone had broken in before them. It was a complete mess. Tables and chairs had been knocked over, burnt papers in the sink and more than a few broken dishes were on the floor. The group agreed to split up, everyone taking different rooms. Kassandra found a tablet in what smelled like John’s room. At first, they didn’t see anything on it, but Kassandra wanted her friend to look at it before they wrote it off. After a few hours, the three decided their search was getting them nowhere and decided to go to check in on the new parents.