by Sydney Addae
“Yes. I can make you feel good, too.” Gently, he placed kisses all over her face while stroking her hair, rubbing her neck and collarbone.
Heat spread through her body as she closed her eyes and leaned back allowing him the freedom to do what he wanted.
“Bella?”
“Hmm?” she didn’t open her eyes.
“Kiss me.” His voice had deepened and sparked a match inside her. Why didn’t he just kiss her instead of making her decide? She squeezed her thighs together but didn’t otherwise move.
Unfortunately, neither did he and she didn’t know what to do. Should she say something? Ask for directions? Stymied, she remained stiff with her eyes closed.
“Kiss me,” he demanded next to her ear.
She shivered and looked at him. His eyes had changed to a shimmery gold. Unable to break her gaze, her mouth opened and closed without uttering a word.
He stared at her lips and then back into her eyes. “Kiss me. I need you to kiss me.”
She grabbed a fistful of his shirt, looked at him for a few seconds and released him. “I don’t know how,” she mumbled and turned away.
His large palm cupped her cheek. “Let me show you. I promise you’ll like it. Give me a chance.” Was he talking about the kiss or something more? She didn’t know or care.
Curious, she nodded once and allowed him to turn her cheek with his finger to face him again. This time when his lips brushed against hers, she closed her eyes to concentrate on the new sensations.
Soft, the first word that popped into her mind as he kissed her. This time when his tongue touched hers, she didn’t jerk or stop him. Instead, she opened her mouth and mind to new possibilities. Eager to understand what he meant by “feeling good” she let him have his way.
His hand rested on her breast and flicked her nipple.
Ripe pleasure zipped to her core. She moaned and moved, trying to get closer to the source. He nibbled on her bottom lip for a few seconds, the light sting felt amazing. When he drew her tongue into his mouth, and sucked gently while playing with her nipple she thought she’d faint.
Bella pushed him away and took several deep breaths. “That… that was…” She had no point of reference to draw from.
“Good?” Adam said softly licking his bottom lip while watching hers with an intensity that warmed her.
She swallowed hard while looking at him in a new light. “Yeah, really good.” Musical notes swirled around her mind. Lyrics about kissing and touching and hugging rose in her heart.
His arms tightened around her shoulder, pulling her close. “I love the way you taste.”
Heart racing, she took a deep breath as those words replayed in her mind set to a new melody. “I love the way you taste…” within seconds the short ditty became a refrain in her mind.
Ready for another kiss, she turned and lifted her mouth toward his.
Shock, replaced by a deep sexual hunger gripped Adam as he returned her kiss. This time he didn’t hold back, her full breast filled his palm as he held her in the crook of his arm. Leaning forward, the door stopped them from lying flat on the seat.
Fire raced up and down his spine as he broke free, gasping for air. Unable to release her, he nibbled on her lips, and neck, absorbing the tremors from her body. When her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, his mind blanked.
His beast clawed against his belly, urging him to mate. Unable to touch her skin, he eased his hand beneath her shirt, scooted down and kissed her stomach
“Adam,” her voice a husky mixture of desire and shock.
“I need to touch you, your skin’s so soft.” He placed kisses up her stomach, onto her breast and chest. Her body writhed beneath him, inflaming his need to make her his. He pulled down her bra cup and placed kisses over her chest.
“What are you doing?” she whispered but didn’t push him away.
“Kissing you.” He licked her nipple, held onto her when she jerked as if burned by a live wire and sucked her breast.
“Oh my God,” she screamed moving her hips and then holding his head in place as he continued alternating between light nips, sucking and licking.
His beast growled.
Adam continued teasing her breast. His beast growled again, a warning. Adam lifted his head and frowned.
“We’re driving slow.” Sitting up, he looked at the fogged windows while stroking Bella’s stomach. Suspicious of trouble, he opened the glass partition between him and the driver. Traffic was backed up ahead because of work on the street. Several men looked toward the car.
Damn. “Is there another way to get to the pier?” Adam asked the human driver while scenting the area for danger.
“Not really. We’re down to one lane now, there’s no place to turn around. At least we’re moving, it’s just slow. Once we get past that next exit, it’ll be better.”
Adam closed the partition, and released a breath. He was a fucking idiot. What the hell was he thinking getting Bella excited like this? Thinking with his cock could jeopardize his woman’s safety. He wanted to beat his own ass for pulling this shit.
Patience. Everyone told him to be patient. He should’ve waited until they were safe on the island. Damn it. If full-bloods followed them for her it was his fault.
Bella’s hand touched his arm.
He forced a smile as he looked at her laying half on the seat, her head propped against the door with eyes slumberous as if they’d had sex. Everything within him tightened at the thought of making that a reality, but now wasn’t the time. Not when her potent scent seeped out the car and lured men like a siren. Once they stopped, he needed to be prepared.
Adam took her hand and pulled her forward. She lay her head on his chest and threaded her fingers through his. He fixed her bra and shirt before holding her close.
She surprised him when she started humming. It was a catchy tune, one he hadn’t heard before. “You like it?” she asked when she finished.
“Nice. You have a beautiful voice,” he said while watching the locked doors. Alpha Barticus would have reinforced his personal vehicle but Adam wouldn’t relax until he and Bella were alone in their private sanctuary. After tasting her, there was no way he’d ever let anyone else get close.
“Alpha Barticus, we’re drawing attention stuck in traffic.”
“My man told me. I’m sending a couple of men to help you get her to the pier and onto the boat. If they stop the car, you’ll need to handle them without hurting humans or shifting.”
“I’ll kill anyone who tries to take her from me,” Adam said with calm certainty. “No one gets my mate.”
“Try not to do that in front of people. The fights in the streets of Rome went viral on the internet, now the Polizia must investigate. We don’t want that to happen again,” Barticus explained.
Irritated, Adam bit back a growl. “What would you do if men were after your mate?”
“Whatever it takes to keep her safe. Matt and I are almost at the Commune to begin looking into her mother’s death. I will send more men to keep the body count low. Brix and Leonidas are at the house. Jarcee is nearby.” Barticus disconnected.
The car stopped and started a few seconds later. Stopped and moved at a snail’s pace. Bella continued humming and singing intermittently. He hoped that meant she was okay with what they’d been doing and planned to give him a chance. His fingertips itched to touch her again.
Something hit the car, it rocked slightly.
“What was that?” Bella asked looking around. “I can’t see out the window.” With her hand outstretched, she reached toward the window to wipe away the fog. Adam caught her arm and pulled her back.
“There’s road construction. We should be through it soon.”
“You don’t want me to see what’s outside?”
“No. I don’t want anyone to see you.”
She nodded slowly and released his fingers. “The wolf guys are following us?”
He didn’t bother correcting her. “
Possibly.”
She looked at him.
He shrugged and held out his hands. “I can’t see outside for sure, but it’s a possibility with us going this slow.”
Something hard slammed into the side of the car. An outline of a face appeared in the rear window. Bella scooted closer to him and buried her face against his side. Red hot anger ripped through him. Those bastards scared her.
“Jarcee?”
“I’m almost there.”
“Get them the fuck off this car. She’s upset.” Adam rubbed her back while scenting the air for a breach.
“On it.”
The car lurched forward and stopped again. Sounds of rage and bodies hitting the ground filtered into the vehicle.
“Adam,” Bella cried as she clenched his shirt tight in her fist.
“It’s okay. We’re almost to the boat. Then we’ll go to Alpha Barticus’ house on the island. It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
A loud thump came from the roof. Both of them looked up and waited. The car moved, and whatever had been on the car rolled down the back and onto the road.
“We’re moving. Is it over?” she asked him without moving away.
“Probably.” He kissed the top of her head, loving the thick, coarse texture. “Are we clear to the port?” he asked Jarcee.
“Looks like it. I’m walking behind the car. Two others are on the side.”
“They left?” Adam didn’t believe that for a moment.
“No. Just following at a distance. Once she’s out the car things will probably get interesting. You okay?”
“Unbelievably good.” He looked down at her. “She’s mine. How many?”
“Ten so far.”
Adam closed his eyes and shook his head. “Damn. How many does Alpha Barticus have at the boat?”
“Not sure. There were only five when I left to come get you, but there may be more now. Nothing will happen to you or your mate. My word on that.”
Adam released a breath. In all his life Jarcee had never broken a promise to him. The car stopped.
“We’re here,” Jarcee said.
Adam touched Bella’s shoulder. “We’re almost done. The boat will take us to Alpha Barticus’ island.”
She shook her head and didn’t look at him.
“Bella.” He leaned near her ear and called her name again. “I’ll be with you. Nothing will happen to you, I promise.”
“They’re bigger than you,” she whispered as she moved back to look at him. “Meaner too.”
Rather than be insulted, he sighed. She was human and had no idea of what he was capable of. Behind the smile was the son of La Patron, the baddest Alpha Wolf on the planet, and his father had taught him how to win. Not once did he doubt his ability to defend his mate.
He cupped her chin in his palm. “None of that matters. You have my word I’ll protect you.”
She frowned. “You want me to just trust you?”
“Yes.” He held her gaze.
“Against them?” Her brow rose as she pointed to the door.
“Yes.” They stared at each other for a few moments.
“You’re serious?”
“Very. I told you I wanted you as my mate and I take your protection very seriously.”
She held his gaze for a few seconds. “I’m not sure about the mating stuff, but I’ll go with you.”
Patience, Adam thought. Better to go with the wolf she knows… Barticus had said.
Baby steps. “Let’s go.” He cracked open the door and waited for Jarcee to come around. When he sensed his friend, he stepped out the car, looked around and nodded at Jarcee. “Get her bags out the back.”
Adam extended his hand to her. “Ready?”
“No. But let’s do it anyway.” She stepped out the car, pulled her shirt over her hips and took his hand. Together they walked toward the waiting boat. Security nodded as they walked by. Alert, Adam scanned the area for threats.
One second they were moving, the next he held Bella tight with one arm and jumped high taking her with him out of the way of a full-blood barreling toward him. The full-blood hit the concrete, rolled and jumped up growling.
Bella screamed at the gruesome sight of shredded, bloody skin hanging from the full-blood’s face. Shaking and breathing hard, she hid her face in Adam’s neck and wouldn’t release him as he landed.
“Go,” Jarcee said as he moved between Adam and the full blood.
Bella whimpered.
His beast wavered between fighting the threat and caring for their mate. Adam spun around and headed to the boat, his gaze flitted around the area searching for danger. Once on the boat, the captain cast off immediately as they went below to the salon. Bella wouldn’t release him and demanded he remain with her rather than go back on deck to fight.
“I just need to see who’s watching us. I’m not going far, I promise,” Adam said easing from her tight grasp. She stood and followed him to the small window. Four full-bloods stood on the dock watching. Jarcee tossed the full-blood he’d been fighting into a dark van and turned to the others.
She touched his arm and looked out as well. “Will they follow us?”
Her use of “us” made him smile. “Without your scent, I don’t think so.” Turning, he held her in his arms.
She clung to him and lay her head on his chest. “I hate this.”
Adam tensed.
“The Priestess says they’re doing this because I thought about how nice it would be to have children. Is that true?”
“From what I’ve been told, that could’ve triggered it,” he said cautiously. They swayed gently as the boat moved slowly in the water.
Her fist tightened on his shirt. “I didn’t mean it,” she whispered and then sniffed.
Holding her tight, he placed a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s okay.” His hand snaked down, grabbed her hand and walked toward the cabin. Inside the spacious room, he noticed her bags in the corner behind the large king-sized bed.
“Hungry?” he asked to keep his mind off the large mattresses and what he wanted to do to her there.
She released his hand and sat on the corner of the bed. “No. Yes.” She shook her head. “No. I can’t eat anything.”
Adam walked over to the mini-fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, opened it and took a large drink to calm the sensual fire threatening to consume him. More than anything in life, he wanted to have sex with Bella right now. Adrenaline spiked from the confrontation, he was in fight or fuck mode. Since he left his enemies behind, that left one outlet for him. Everything within him yearned to take his mate, and that was with his father and David helping him control his beast.
“You never answered me,” she said.
“What?”
“I asked you in the car how do I fix this. How do I stop those guys from coming after me?”
“You’re not going to like it.” He tossed the empty bottle in the trash and turned to face her. Several moments passed before she spoke.
“Tell me.”
Adam exhaled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Sex. My mom said the pheromones didn’t stop until she was exhausted. My dad said they didn’t stop until she was pregnant.” He wished he could erase the fear that leapt into her eyes but couldn’t. One thing his dad stressed was to never lie about any of this.
“Sex?” She stood, wrapped her arms around her waist and walked in the opposite direction.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Stunned, Bella sat on the chair, staring at the wall. Sex? Had he really said that? The vibrations from the word formed images of two people lying on a bed, kissing. A slow melody stemmed from her pleasure of Adam’s kisses, rumbled through her soul. The low bass of the guitar, steady beat of the drum and the long, wailing sound of the saxophone coursed through her, throbbing, pulling deep in her core.
She closed her eyes to escape the seductive sounds pulsing in her mind, wooing her tired spirit. Heat slid across her chest and crept up her throat toward her face. Her breasts f
elt heavy as her nipples tightened.
Of course, sex. That’s what the men wanted in the street. That’s what Adam wanted.
She scooted back in the chair without looking at him. He hadn’t spoken to her since she asked that stupid question. Shifting, she pulled a leg beneath her and bit her nail while wondering how to bring the subject up again without sounding naive.
“Your mom had sex?” What was she thinking asking such a stupid, obvious question? She bit down on her lip to keep from blurting out anything else that ridiculous.
“Um, yeah, she did.” He smiled at her.
Face on fire, she looked at the floor. “Sorry, that was dumb.” She released a stream of air. “This whole thing is dumb,” she muttered.
“Interesting word choice. Why dumb?” He moved closer and pulled up a chair next to her.
Heat from his body buffeted her. She had no idea why she said “dumb” or why she wanted to touch him. Nothing about this day fell within her definition of normal. Confused, she met his gaze. “It’s the only thing I could think of. None of this makes sense.”
He didn’t say anything.
“Like you wanting to mate with me.” Her gaze slid across his firm chin and landed on the wall behind them. “First you say it’s permanent —”
“It is permanent,” Adam said taking her hand.
Bella inhaled and ignored the heat curling through her arm from his touch. “Yeah, but we don’t know each other. Now you say to stop wolf-men from coming after me, I have to have sex with someone.”
“Not someone. With me. Sex with me,” his voice hardened.
Bells rang in the back of her mind. “Sex with you?”
“Yes, with me and only me. Your mate.” His eyes blazed gold before he lowered his eyelids.
Something about his confident tone irked her. She eased her hand from his. “I never agreed to have sex with you.”
He continued looking at her without speaking. The longer he stared, the more uncomfortable she grew. Why didn’t he say something? She licked her dry lips, took a deep breath and looked at the wall again.