Lycan Unleashed

by Shannon Curtis

  “Baby, don’t ever feel the need to cover up around me,” he murmured, his gaze dropping down to her bra. She was a sexy woman, so damn attractive in her underwear—but he’d discovered she looked so much better out of it.

  He unclasped her bra, dragging the straps down her arms and dropping it to the grass at their feet.

  “I don’t understand what’s happening to me,” she whispered as she leaned forward to kiss his chest. He closed his eyes briefly, indulging in the contact.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you. Even when I’m frustrated with you, I want you,” she said, then flicked her tongue over his nipple, and need, hot and hard, tightened in his cock. He ran his hands up her back, around her sides to cup her breasts.

  “It’s the imprint,” he explained, leaning down to kiss the length of her neck, inhaling the scent. Forever on, he knew he’d always associate honeysuckle with a hard-on. “I have the same problem.”

  “I don’t want it, I want to control all this—but then I don’t. I want to give in to it, to let it run its course.” She dropped to her knees and fumbled with his belt, his fly.

  He should tell her. He should tell her the rest of it. She succeeded in freeing him from his pants, and her breath on him was almost his undoing. Then she took him into her mouth. Oh, God. Later. He’d tell her later. Right now, she was driving him crazy.

  She kissed him, playing those same, sexy dangerous games with her tongue, and the pressure built in him, tension tightening in his gut, his groin.

  He pulled away from her. “Your turn.” He wanted to drive her as crazy and hot for him as he was for her. He toed off his boots and discarded the rest of his clothing as Trinity quickly did the same.

  She was so beautiful, standing there naked, her body bathed in the silver light of the moon. He lifted her up in his arms, his mouth latching onto her breast as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She was so warm, so damp, he wanted to be inside her. He bore her down to the ground, gently lying her on top of their wrinkled clothing. He kissed one breast as he fondled the other, then kissed his way down her body, tasting her, reveling in her.

  When he reached the apex of her thighs, he paused. He took a deep breath, and her fragrance—musky, feminine, wild—twisted inside him, trailing through all his dark places. It was like a fog to his brain.

  Mine.

  He kissed her, and she moaned her pleasure to the night, her body his personal playground as he brought her to orgasm, her body trembling from the pleasure he alone could give her.

  Mine.

  He was blindsided by the streak of possessiveness that tore through him, but he welcomed it. He rose up over her, sheathing himself in her in one smooth glide as her ecstasy still shuddered through her. He met her gaze as he moved inside her.

  He was tormenting her. Trinity flexed her hips. He bent down to kiss her, hot and hungry, and she didn’t think she could dissolve any more, but she could. She melted. That’s what he did to her. Made her a hot puddle of need. His tongue rubbed against hers as he flexed his hips, his arms braced on either side of her body, his massive shoulders blocking out the moonlight, creating a dark place for them. He rocked slowly against her, her body still trying to find some calm after the storm he’d just wreaked on her senses, but there was no respite. She pushed at him gently, and he grinned as he rolled with her, helping her straddle him.

  Her eyes widened. Oh, good grief. Now he was deeper. It was so delicious, so wicked, just so...much. She writhed against him, and this time it was he who moaned. Her lips curled in satisfaction, knowing she could give him the same pleasure he gave her, and then she couldn’t really think much more as he cupped her breasts, the muscles in his shoulders and chest rippling as he moved beneath her. He played with her, thrust underneath her and she convulsed as another wave of ecstasy washed over her. He roared his pleasure, his eyes startled as he met her gaze, both swept away in a tide of bliss neither had known existed.

  * * *

  Matthias lazily trailed a finger down Trinity’s arm as he gazed up at the stars. It looked like someone had thrown a dark carpet of diamonds over the world. He brushed his hand up her back, enjoying the tickle of her hair against his arm.

  The glimpse she’d given him into her life had been saddening, frustrating, infuriating, awe-inspiring. Shifters were a tactile bunch; they liked to touch and be touched. Trinity had been denied touch contact with her pack for so long, he wanted to make up for it—he wanted to make sure she never went without physical contact, that she never craved another’s touch. From now on, he’d fill that need for her. Always.

  “What are you thinking about?” Trinity whispered to him as she rolled over to face him.

  He smiled. “I’m thinking we should try this in a bed sometime.” He looked over to her, and was surprised by her intent gaze. “What?”

  “You talk like there’s going to be more of this.” Her hand waved between them.

  He eyed her carefully. “There will be more of this.”

  Trinity raised an eyebrow. “You sound really sure of yourself. How do you think this is going to work after you’ve killed my alpha prime, my pack?”

  He opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn’t know what he should address first, his confidence in them coming together, which involved a longer talk on the subject of imprints—and after her reaction on top of the mountain, he wasn’t that eager to revisit the subject—or her assumption that he’d kill her pack. Okay, so he hadn’t really given her any reason to think otherwise, but this was his she-wolf. He was her lycan—whether she was prepared to admit it or not. He had to set the record straight.

  “Trin, if at all possible, I don’t want to kill your pack,” he said as he rolled over to face her. “I saw a pack get wiped out. That kind of massacre—I’d never want that visited on another family. Ever. I want Rafe, yes, and I’ll do everything within my power to get him, but not at the cost of innocent lives. I lost my wife. I lost my son. There’s been enough death.”

  Her gaze dropped to his chest, and she reached out to touch the ring on his chain. Instinctively, he covered her hand with his own, and she looked up at him, her gaze flicking between their clasped hands and his eyes.

  “Would you ever consider taking this off?” she whispered, her eyes so charged with a need he couldn’t quite identify.

  “No,” he whispered back. “I can’t.”

  Her eyelids flickered with a flash of pain so raw it took his breath away, and then her expression became shuttered, and she let go of his chain. Her lips rolled in, and she nodded.

  “Okay, then.”

  She rolled over, and he closed his eyes at the stiffness of her shoulders, the rigidity of her spine.

  He pulled her closer, despite her resistance, needing to offer comfort although he couldn’t quite remove the cause of her pain. He’d caused that pain, and he felt like a heel for doing it.

  “I can’t explain—”

  “You don’t have to,” she whispered without turning.

  “Trin—”

  “It’s fine, Matthias. I understand. You loved her. You should never feel guilty for loving your wife.”

  His lips tightened. He wanted to tell her, he wanted to explain everything, but only one other person knew, and he couldn’t risk his secret getting out, not with the task he’d set for himself. He cuddled up next to his she-wolf and closed his eyes, trying his best to absorb her pain.

  * * *

  Trinity woke slowly, squinting. The sun was well above the ridgeline, and a cool wind blew across the meadow. A flock of birds flew in formation overhead, stragglers before the winter snows hit. She didn’t have to worry about the cold, though. There was a thermal generator pressed up against her back, his light snore ruffling the hair at the nape of her neck and sending tingling sensations down her spine.

  A muscled arm la
y across her waist, a broad thigh resting between her own, and something hard and long jutting against her backside.

  Just the realization that he lay there behind her, his body curled around hers, was enough to nudge her system into overdrive.

  She swallowed. How could her body betray her like this? The man was in love with his wife’s ghost. He couldn’t bear to be separated from the symbol of their love, yet she was ready to give her body to him? Was she so desperate for affection, so needy for attention, for love?

  Her lips firmed. She was a former Scion, damn it. Even though her father died a shameful death, there were lessons he did instill in her, about loyalty. Protection. Pride.

  She slid out from beneath Matthias’s arm, biting her lip at the instant yearning that filled her body when she was without his touch. The need flared within her, and she strode over to the pool and dived in, trying to cool the heat in her body. She almost swallowed water, so chilled was the temperature of the pool. Instantly, she gained some relief from the heat.

  She swam, diving and kicking, breaking the surface for air and diving again. The water felt glorious against her skin, cooling her, cleansing her. Several minutes later she heard a splash and kicked to the top, slicking back her hair.

  Matthias treaded water two yards away from her, a lazy, sexy grin on his face. My, the man was a wickedly gorgeous sight, his broad shoulders and arms glistening with the water, sunshine gleaming down on him, his muscles bunching and rippling with his movement.

  “Good morning,” he said. His voice was deep, delicious, like water tumbling over rocks. It had the ability to lull her, seduce her. She sank into the water and rose again, sluicing her hair back. She wasn’t going to be lulled, or seduced. Not again. And yet, he looked so gorgeous, all tanned and smiling, and the water was so sensual, lapping at her breasts, her thighs as he swam toward her. He was so damn sexy she wanted to— She closed her eyes to try and block the temptation. No, damn it. That ring still glinted around his neck.

  “Good morning,” she responded, swimming toward the bank. Her knees bumped against the muddy bottom, and she brought her feet up to stand. She turned back to face him, saw the hungry look on his face, the gleam in his eye. He was so...potent. All it would take would be a wink and a grin, and she’d be diving back in again. She turned and strode out of the water, heading toward her clothes.

  She grimaced. It felt wonderful to be clean again, but these clothes were getting gross.

  She pulled on her jeans. She wondered what Dalton’s response had been when Rafe cast her and Jax out. Not that it mattered. Dalton versus Rafe would be a short debate. She heard rustling behind her, realized Matthias was getting dressed, also.

  Despite all they’d shared, both about their past history and their physical relationship—whatever the hell that was—this morning felt...awkward.

  “Trinity,” Matthias began, coming up behind her.

  “We should get back to the camp. I want to make sure Jax is okay,” she interrupted. She pulled her hair back. What she wouldn’t give for a brush right about now. A hand covered hers.

  “Leave it. I like it down.” His voice was so close to her ear, and it was as if she hadn’t been swimming in a natural pool at the base of a constantly flowing, constantly chilled waterfall.

  She shook her head and continued to plait her hair. “I’m too hot. I think I might be coming down with something, or else that imprint business is really doing a number on me.” She glanced over her shoulder to look at him as her fingers entwined the lengths of her hair. “When is it supposed to go?”

  Matthias grimaced, and scratched his head. Her gaze was drawn to the bunching of his biceps. “Uh, about that...” he began, “there’s something—”

  A loud explosion rent the air, followed by a rumble.

  Trinity’s eyes widened, and met Matthias’s frown. She knew that sound. Blood drained from her face, and she took off running toward the base of the rock face.

  “Trin, what is it?” Matthias said, catching up with her.

  “I need to get to high ground,” she said, hauling herself up, double time. His hand on her arm halted her.

  “Careful. We have no ropes here, no support. I don’t want you to fall.”

  She frowned, the need for action pumping through her. “I have climbed these walls a hundred times, Matthias. I’m not some delicate flower. Knowing every inch of my territory is part of my job, now move.”

  She dug her toe into a crack, pushed and grabbed onto a ledge. She had to see. God, she hoped she was wrong, but she had to get up high and see.

  “What is it, Trin?”

  She firmed her lips as she climbed. “My worst nightmare.”

  Chapter 15

  Matthias nodded at his squads as he hauled himself up over the ridge. Warwick was giving Jax a piggyback. They were all waiting for them at the top. He leaned over to catch his breath as Trinity jogged across to look south, her hand covering her mouth. His tracker had set a hard pace up the rock wall. She sheltered her eyes from the sun as she stared out at the panorama.

  He saw it the same time she did. Now he realized what had bothered him yesterday. One of the mountains had changed shape. Now a brown cloud rose like a hazy dust storm above it.

  “Oh, my God,” she gasped, then took off running.

  Matthias took off after her. She reached the edge, and he skidded to a halt at the rim of the ridge.

  Matthias gaped as she jumped. Trinity landed on a trail, rolled over and gained her feet, all in one smooth movement, then took off running again. She left the trail and cut through the trees, skidding on her side down an incline.

  “Holy crap. She’s like a mountain goat on Ursula’s wacky weed,” Zane gasped, referring to the Alpine medic.

  “Come on,” Matthias muttered. He took a few steps back, then ran at the edge and jumped. He landed, rolled and was on his feet, bolting through the forest after his she-wolf. He could hear his guardians following. He glanced over his shoulder. Warwick was running, Jax under his arm, laughing wildly at what must have seemed like a fun ride.

  He lengthened his stride, eventually catching up to Trinity. Her arms were pumping at her sides as she ran, her breath coming in controlled pants. He had no idea where she was running. He couldn’t see a trail, so remained behind her, happy to let her lead the way.

  “What is going on, Trinity?” he panted. This time he wanted answers, damn it.

  “The den,” she answered in a ragged voice.

  She led them at a breakneck pace for an hour and a half, until she reached the base of a mountain.

  “No, no, no,” she gasped, looking up at a pile of rubble. It took him a moment to realize it was the entrance to a tunnel, effectively sealed.

  A cave-in.

  “We had an...incident...a little while ago. It weakened the structure of the hall.” Trinity rubbed her chin, her fingers trembling. Her lips firmed, and then she climbed up some of the rocks, stopping to sniff the air every now and then. Matthias started to climb up, but she held up her hand.

  “Hold,” she said in a low voice, but the command in it carried to him and his men, and they froze. She scrambled over some more boulders, bending low to squint at the dirt and rocks, and then sniff. It took a while, but eventually she nodded. “Here. Start here.”

  Matthias climbed up to her and started shifting the stones. His guardians formed a chain, and rock by rock, they began removing the rubble. In a short time there was an opening wide enough to peer through.

  “Hello?” Trinity cried. “Is anybody there? Can you hear me?”

  Everyone fell silent, listening. After a few minutes, Trinity repeated the call. Again they waited a few minutes, and still there was silence. Trinity nodded. “Okay, let’s keep going.”

  They made the hole wide enough to fit even Warwick, and Trinit
y started to climb through. Matthias grasped her arm. “Wait, let us do this,” he said.

  Trinity looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with purpose. Her cheeks were flushed from her exertions, her dark hair a tangled mess that stubbornly clung to a braid. “This is my job, Matthias. This is what I do—what I’m meant to do. This is our main entrance. This is where most of them would come to escape.”

  He stared at her for moment, and read the fierce determination in her gaze. She would do everything within her power to protect and rescue her pack mates. He could appreciate that sentiment. He nodded, just once.

  “Fine, but I’m going first to make sure it’s safe.” He turned back to his men, dividing them up into teams. He left Zane to help Warwick and the others to keep clearing the entrance, and Nate and a couple of guardians joined him.

  He slid his legs through first, slowly lowering himself into the dark cavity. When his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he was able to make out the dimensions of the space he was working with. As a lycan who lived in a cavern system, his eyesight was exceptional, but even he had to blink a few times to adjust to the floating cloud of dust. He dropped down the three feet to the tunnel floor, then turned to help Trinity through the hole.

  She stood there for a moment, getting her bearings, then started to prowl around. She found a torch in a wall sconce. She pulled it down, feeling within the sconce until she found the matches. She flicked one, then held it to the head of the torch until it caught fire. She pocketed the rest of the matches.

  Matthias watched her as she placed her hand on the dirt wall, cocking her head to listen. She started to walk down the tunnel, sidestepping any rubble, and stopping occasionally to sniff the air and listen.

  Matthias did the same, but he mostly got dirt up his nose. Nate sneezed, and Trinity frowned over her shoulder.

  “Sorry,” Nate whispered.

  She started to run up a bend in the corridor. “Here, help me,” she cried. Matthias sniffed, but couldn’t smell anything other than the rich dirt and maybe granite. She started digging at the wall, and he realized the bend was actually more rubble. A shoe appeared, a sneaker, and he started to pull away at the rocks. The shoe was attached to a foot, which was attached to a leg, and eventually they were able to reveal the body of a teenage girl. Matthias checked her pulse, and was relieved to feel a slight thump against the pads of his fingers.