by Jane Jamison
“Listen to her voice. She sounds so animallike, and we haven’t even changed her yet.”
“Then take off my blindfold, Steve. I want to watch.”
Steve tore her blindfold away. She blinked, her eyes getting used to the light. What she saw made her hotter than before.
Trent rocked back and forth, his eyes closed, his jaw clenched. Steve caressed her face then offered his cock to her again. She shook her head then tried to see past Trent to Aiden.
Aiden grinned at her, his eyes flecked with amber, as he plunged into her again. She cried out, sure he’d reach the end of her when he pulled back then thrust into her again. Deeper he went.
“Come on, Celia.”
At last she took in Steve’s cock again and sucked. She looked up at him, and the lust-filled love she saw on his face swept into her heart. These were the men she hadn’t known existed. Somehow, she’d found them, and they’d made her whole.
Steve stiffened, and she wished she could cup his balls as they drew up, readying for his release. His amber-flecked eyes met hers, and he stopped pumping into her mouth.
“Drink me, darlin’.”
She had no time to answer before he jerked and sent his seed spilling into her mouth. She choked, unable to take all of him, and he fell away, covering the rest of his release with a strip of sheet.
“Are you okay?”
She gazed into Trent’s face and nodded. He grinned, then slid over to her side and untied one of her hands. He wrapped her hand around his cock.
Aiden pumped into her, ramming harder than ever. His strength pushed her toward the head of the bed. She held onto Trent’s cock, working his cock as she thrust her pelvis against Aiden.
All at once, Trent pulled out of her hand and leaned against the headboard. “Hurry up, Aiden. I want her.” He panted, his gaze locked to her bouncing breasts.
“Untie her.” Aiden gripped her legs.
Trent did as he asked, and she reached up to claw her fingers down Aiden’s six-pack abs. Aiden snarled and fell on top of her, catching her nipple in his mouth. His grunts grew louder as he slammed into her, driving his cock even deeper than before.
His cock hit her sweet spot, and she cried her release. As though a signal to him, Aiden tightened, stopped, then groaned as he let his seed go. His body jerked in spasms as his thrusts became shorter and faster.
Celia clung to his shoulders and watched as his orgasm flowed over his face. With one last shove, he drove into her, his body trembling against hers. He fell, putting all his weight on top of her.
“Move.” Trent shoved Aiden, forcing him to fall to her side then slide off the bed. Trent’s face was a mask of need as he jerked her up, pushed her arms behind her, and tied her hands behind her back.
“This is how I’ve dreamed of having you from the first minute I saw you.” Taking her under the arms, he brought her to him as he fell backward. Putting her down on top of him, he eased his cock inside her. He took her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over her nipples.
She cried out as he sunk into her. Ramming upward, he pushed her need higher. She trembled, her body needing the final orgasm. Closer she came with each thrust. Harder she tried to ground into him to drive him impossibly higher.
Heat rushed from her pussy outward, claiming not only her body but her mind. No longer thinking, she moved her hips in a circle and clenched her muscles, holding him to her. Perspiration came where their skin met, and she listened to the suction sounds they made. Throwing her head back, she readied for the climax building inside her.
“Fuck me, Trent. Fuck me like you love me.”
Trent’s body underneath her felt like steel. Her hands rubbed against the curve of her buttocks, teasing her, foretelling of a time when they’d take her from behind again. The orgasm became a cyclone of fire as it raced to its culmination. She screamed just as Trent rammed into her one last time and howled his release.
Exhausted, she let her body crumble beside Trent’s. Aiden untied her hands and pulled her to him. She lay against him as Steve caressed her leg and Trent lay panting next to her.
“As soon as you’ve had time to catch your breath, we’ll claim you.”
She searched Aiden’s face then lifted a hand to run along the stubble of his chin. “Good. I can’t wait to become your mate.”
“You’re ours forever, Celia. You know that. We know that.” Trent looked to her, his love showing on his face.
“I’m yours and you’re mine. All of you.” If she hadn’t heard it from their mouths, she would’ve known it from their touches.
“Aiden! Yo, bros. It’s Mark. Where the hell are you guys?” Mark’s footfalls could be heard pounding up the stairs.
Celia grabbed for something to cover her body. “Is that Mark Colter?”
“Yeah, it is. Something’s wrong, or he wouldn’t barge into the house this way.” Steve snatched up his clothes, yanking them on as he ran for the door.
Trent and Aiden hurriedly dressed and dashed after him. Celia grabbed a king-size pillow to cover her and dashed to the door. She stayed inside the room and listened.
“Shit, I’m sorry, you guys, but it’s important.”
“It’s okay, Mark. Tell us what’s happened.”
Celia could still hear the vestiges of lust in Steve’s voice. Would Mark recognize it?
“It’s the herd down by the creek.” Mark cleared his throat. “They’ve been slaughtered.”
“What do you mean? Are you talking about a big cat? A bear? Come on, man. Give us details.” Aiden spoke softly, but the harsh tone of his voice carried to her.
“Nothing like you’re thinking. No cougar, bear, or even shifter did this. The cattle aren’t torn apart or even fed on.”
He paused, and Celia strained to hear the rest.
“This is worse than when the wild hogs killed a bunch of cows. From the looks of it, I’d say it’s the work of vampires.”
* * * *
Celia dressed and ran after the men, but she was too late to catch them. After calling to her to say they’d be back later, Aiden, Trent, and Steve had gone with Mark. She rubbed her arms and tried not to let what she’d heard frighten her. Were vampires attacking cattle now?
She pivoted away from the door and walked down the hallway. She poked her head into the rooms along the way but didn’t enter them. Instead, she headed for the kitchen.
As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, memories of the night she’d had sex with Trent and Steve washed over her. She hadn’t known then that she’d spend the rest of her life in their home, but she should’ve already recognized that she’d fallen in love with each of them. Even if her mind hadn’t known, she was sure her body and heart had.
She dragged her fingers over the granite countertop and tried to imagine herself standing in front of the stove cooking Sunday breakfast for her men. She laughed, dismissing the idea. “Unless I take cooking lessons, they won’t want to eat anything I cook.”
She leaned on the counter by the sink and gazed out at the land. She could already hear the laughter of children as they played on the swing set she’d have sent in from Dallas. She frowned. Would she have children? One for each man she loved? Was it even possible for her to get pregnant once she’d gone through the transformation? Did werewolves have children? If so, would the children be human, werewolf, or part of both? She’d never realized it before, but she wanted children. A whole pack of them.
“Where did you go, guys?” She took the receiver of the phone hanging on the wall and dialed Sandy’s cell phone. After several rings, the mechanical voice of her message came on.
“Sandy? This is Celia. I need to tell you what’s happened. ”
A sound coming from one of the rooms down the hall drew her attention away from the phone. “Guys? Are you back already? Sandy, I’ll call you right back.”
Hanging up the phone, she walked down the hall part of the way and stopped. Her hair stood up on her arms, and her heart pounded. Something wasn’t righ
t. She could feel it in her bones. Every part of her warned her to stay on guard. Instead of continuing in the same direction, she backed up, keeping her focus in front of her and on whatever might come out of one of the rooms.
“Good to see you again, my dear.”
Celia whirled around. Black eyes met hers, and she was lost.
Chapter Ten
Celia woke up with a scream lodged in her throat. She struggled, but the ropes tying her to the chair wouldn’t loosen. If anything, her struggles made the ropes tighter against her arms and legs.
“Good. You’re back with us.”
Celia craned her neck to follow the vampire as he came from behind her. His long face was pale, his body barely more than bones. Cold wafted off his body as he walked by her. His hands were long and elegant, but his fingers were more like claws.
Alarm stiffened her limbs. “You again. Didn’t you learn your lesson the first time? Who the hell are you anyway?”
“How does the saying from the movie go? ‘I’m your worst nightmare.’ Is that correct?”
Celia gritted her teeth, keeping him from seeing them chatter. “I asked you a question. Who are you?”
“My name is Richard Rollingsford. Don’t worry. You won’t recognize the name. No one aside from a handful of vampires in Shatland would know me.”
“So should I call you Dick? Or is Dick Head better?”
“Tsk, tsk. The language coming out of your mouth is abhorrent. Why do the women of this day speak like drunken sailors? It’s so unbecoming.”
He spoke in an old-fashioned manner, but his clothing was elegant and tasteful, an entirely black ensemble straight from the pages of a magazine.
“When were you born, you jerk? Or should I ask when were you made?”
“If you’re trying to ask how old I am, then just ask away. My Master changed me in the year nineteen hundred and four. My pathetic life before that isn’t worth remembering.”
She ducked her head, afraid that the fear starting to overtake her would show on her face. Closing her eyes, she sent a silent prayer for her men to find her before it was too late. But too late for what?
“What do you want with me?” She was amazed that her voice sounded strong.
“Ah, good. A pertinent question.”
He bent over and eased closer. His black gaze latched onto her, and she felt the world waver around her.
“Long ago, a werewolf stole someone from me. The dog took a woman I was planning on using as my companion. My traveling food bank, if you will. The werewolf’s last name was Carr.”
“Aiden?”
“Of course not, silly woman. But it was indeed one of his ancestors. But it doesn’t really matter which werewolf it was. They’re just animals. Now, after all these years, I’ve decided I should seek repayment. An eye for an eye, if you will.”
“But why me? I just got to town a few days ago.” Where were Aiden and the others? Did they know what had happened to her?
“Sweet thing, it’s very simple. I was in Shatland the other day and saw you with those dogs of yours. Once they looked at you, I knew I’d found my instrument of revenge. Werewolves took my love away, and now I’m going to take theirs away from them.”
“But how? By kidnapping me? By killing me?” Yet she knew it was more than a simple kidnapping.
“No, my dear. You’re going to stay with me. You’ll replace the woman they stole. You’ll become my companion as soon as I sink my fangs into your sweet, soft neck.”
“Like hell I will.” She wanted to spit at him but couldn’t muster enough saliva. Her mouth was dry, and her arms ached from the tight ropes.
“Oh, sweet silly girl. You have no choice in the matter. Now, go to sleep until I’m ready for you.” Rollingsford waved his hand in front of her face.
Her eyes grew heavy, and, although she fought to stay awake, she soon lost the battle.
* * * *
“Is anyone else getting a sick feeling about this?” Steve checked the dining room then followed Trent back to the foyer. Aiden and Mark were already waiting on them after checking upstairs. Mark had his ear covered as he spoke on his cell phone. After inspecting the slaughtered cattle, Steve still couldn’t shake the churning in his gut.
“Any sign of her?” Aiden glowered at him.
Steve ignored Aiden’s attitude, knowing that his friend had a pit in his stomach like he did. “No. Nothing. It’s like she just disappeared.”
“Mark’s checking with Sandy to see if she went to their place.” Trent gnawed on his fingernail.
“Makes sense she’d want to tell Sandy about us. About her staying, I mean.” Steve studied Mark’s face and knew whatever Sandy had told him wasn’t good.
Mark lowered his phone and faced them. “Sandy said Celia called her and left a message saying she’d call right back. But she never did.”
“Crap.” Trent ran a hand through his hair. “That isn’t good. Do you think she went into town?”
The men looked at each other, their hopeful expressions soon dying as they all came to the same answer. Aiden was the one who voiced their thoughts. “Something’s happened to her. I can feel it in my bones.”
“Which means someone grabbed her.” Steve’s gut twisted, tightening the knot already there. “But who would take Celia?”
“She’s been taken once before.” Trent met Steve’s gaze then slid his to the other men.
“Who? When?” Mark gripped his cell phone.
“The rogue vampire in Shatland. Come on. Let’s see if Deacon knows anything about this.” Steve was out the front door before he’d finished talking.
* * * *
Within ten minutes Aiden, Trent, and Steve had piled into a pickup, driven into town, and pulled in front of Deacon Slater’s Up All Night Pharmacy. Mark had gone back to his ranch to get Will and Luke. They’d wait for Steve’s call and join in the rescue once they knew where Celia was being held.
Catering to everyone from the shifters to the humans in Forever, Deacon hired a human to man the pharmacy during the day before he came in at dusk to take over the night shift.
“Do you think he’ll help us?” Trent fell into step behind Aiden and Steve.
“We’re about to find out. He’s one of the vamps who doesn’t like to come out during the daytime, but he should get here soon.” Steve burst through the door of the pharmacy. The few people in the place saw him charging to the back of the building toward the pharmacy counter and got out of his way. A supernatural in a hurry in Forever was never a good thing.
Patrick, the human pharmacist, saw them coming. His eyes widened, and he picked up a phone.
“Put the phone down, Patrick.”
The chubby young man with the big glasses did as Steve told him to. “Hi, Mr. Carr, Mr. Tarrow, Mr. Wilton. What can I help you with?”
“When does Deacon get here?” Steve glanced out the front of the pharmacy to see the sun setting. “Soon?”
“Y–yes. He should be on his way. I was about to call him.” Patrick’s hand shook as he reached for the phone again.
“Yeah. You do that. You tell him the men from the Lonesome Range Ranch are here, and we want answers.”
Patrick nodded, picked up the phone, then put it back down as a buzzer went off. “He just came in through the back door.”
Steve and the others pushed through the gate into the area behind the counter and headed toward the Employees Only area.
“Mr. Wilton, please. You can’t be back here.” Patrick followed them, but he knew as well as Steve that he couldn’t stop them. Fortunately for Patrick, he didn’t have to.
“Can I help you gentlemen?” Deacon, his tall, thin body decked out in all black under his white pharmacy coat, raised a hand to stop the men as he came out of the shadows. “I’m assuming this is urgent business, since you’re barging into my private work area.”
Steve could never read a vampire. They always seemed detached, emotionless, while oozing a threatening vibe that made his inner wol
f’s fur stand on end. He tried, as did most werewolves, to stay away from the cold creatures. “What do you know about a rogue vampire called Rollingsford?”
Deacon didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, but Steve still sensed that he’d hit a nerve. “Well?”
Deacon pulled his white coat together and stalked toward the counter. “Patrick, I’m here now. You’re dismissed.”
The young man didn’t waste any time leaving. Once he had, Steve stepped in front of Deacon and put his face inches from the vampire’s. A chill flowed over him, and it took all his determination not to back away. “Talk, Deacon. I’ve got a bad feeling that we don’t have much time. Celia’s missing, and I think a vamp did it.”
Deacon heaved a sigh then stuck his hands into the pockets of his coat. “Yes, I heard about what happened in Shatland. So you think he’s targeted her again? If so, then this is a matter best left to my people.”
“Not when Celia’s life is in danger.” Aiden’s voice was gravelly, mixing with his inner wolf’s voice. “If he’s hurt one hair on our mate…”
Deacon arched an imperious eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
At Steve’s nod, he continued, “That is an unfortunate development. Very well, I will tell you what I can. Rollingsford was sent to Shatland due to his rather distasteful actions in Boston. Our family owes his a favor, so we agreed to watch over him and guide him back to the proper ways of our people.”
“Do the ways of your people include draining all the blood out of cattle and kidnapping women?” Trent paced to the other side of the room then retraced his steps.
“Unfortunately, when a vampire goes rogue, it can.”
“Tell us where she is, or we’ll tear both Forever and Shatland apart looking for her.” Aiden took a menacing step toward Deacon.
“Let’s not be hasty.” Deacon slid his cold gaze down Aiden’s body. “Come. I will take you to his place.”
Steve wasn’t sure adding another vampire to the mix was the safest thing to do, but he sensed Deacon wasn’t about to help them without coming along. Vampires and werewolves didn’t like it when the other put their noses in their business. Besides, Deacon might prove useful in distracting Rollingsford.