She took a deep breath, feeling her chest swell. “Welcome.” After a pause she added, “Like taking a stand for cross-species matings?”
Ward smiled. “Among other things, but yes that would be the main one.”
When she glanced out the window she realized that they were idling outside her apartment. “Oh … we’re here.”
“Thank you for all you have done for Stephany and the babies. For my family.” His eyes softened.
“It has been my absolute pleasure. Don’t hesitate to call if you need me. It sounds like the females at your village will be popping out plenty of babies. So you may need a helping hand.”
Ward inclined his head. “The need for a healer has increased, so I may have to take you up on that.”
“It was very nice meeting you,” Sawyer said once she exited the SUV. “Try to stay away from non-humans for a few days while Rushe’s scent is still strong. They will all be able to scent a shifter male on you.”
She shook her head slowly. “Seriously! Good thing non-humans don’t hang around Sweetwater much.”
“Rushe won’t be here in three days as promised,” Ward said as he rose from the vehicle. “He wanted me to let you know.”
Her heart beat faster. She had to work hard not to let her disappointment show. Either he blamed her somehow for getting into shit over their night together or he really wasn’t interested in a repeat performance of last night. It was probably for the best anyway. He was the kind of guy a girl could easily fall for and she wasn’t looking for a relationship.
“Okay.” She nodded.
“He might make it to you in ten or so days depending on how things go though.” Ward held her gaze.
“Fine,” she managed to squeak out. He would probably try to find a mate once his name came up and failing that, he would try to hook up with her for a booty call. “Whatever,” she muttered. Fine by her! She didn’t care either way.
Ward looked confused for a few seconds. “He will do his best, you need to know that the male really wants a mate.” Ward nodded once then said goodbye. He slid back into the idling SUV. And there it was. Rushe did want a mate and would try that avenue first. The disappointment tasted bitter. Becky didn’t trust her voice, so she just nodded. Why the hell did the knowledge burn holes in her gut? She shouldn’t care either way.
“Goodbye, Becky,” Sawyer said, not waiting for her response before he slid in next to Ward and they pulled away.
Becky made a beeline for the bakery and bought a box full of pastries. It was a short ride up the elevator to her apartment.
As soon as her front door was closed, she poured herself a glass of OJ, ate three pastries one after the other and stretched herself out on the sofa, feeling tired and achy. Sitting back up, Becky downed her OJ in three long gulps then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Feeling human again, she grabbed her cellphone and dialed her bestie.
Her mind spun around in circles over Rushe. It bugged her that he had dropped her so quickly. It shouldn’t … but it did, dammit.
“You little freaking slut,” Tanya squealed.
“How did you know?” Becky heard the hesitancy in her voice. Maybe someone had scented her after all.
“What are you talking about?” Tanya asked.
“You calling me a slut, you cow.”
“I always call you a slut. I don’t mean it. Are you okay?” Her voice softened and there was a sigh on the other end. “I can hear that you’re not okay? Tell me about it.” Tanya made the noise she normally made when she made herself comfortable.
“I need you to promise not to tell your vamp mates.”
“Ohhhh …” her bestie said, “a girl talk. Of course I won’t. Now out with it.”
“I kind of had sex with someone.”
“Kind of or did?
Becky sighed. “Okay, I did.”
Tanya squealed. “You didn’t!”
“I did. Lots of sex, actually. All night freaking sex, and it was hot.”
Another loud squeal. “Tell me all about it. Was it good? Bad? Please don’t tell me it was ugly? Only if it was ugly in a good way.”
“Shut up already, bitch. I can’t get a word in edgewise with you jabbering on like that.”
Silence.
“The sex was good. No, I lie … it was freaking amazing.”
A big, all out squeal. “You finally found a man who made you orgasm. You must be stoked.”
“Not exactly.” She could hear the hesitancy in her own voice.
“You orgasmed during freaking sex, after all these years, and you’re not stoked? What’s wrong with you, woman?” Her voice took on a hard edge.
“No … no … I am stoked about the multiple orgasms.”
“Multiple?”
“Yeah …” She gave another dreamy sigh, unable to help herself. “He’s ruined it for all men everywhere. My muscles feel crampy from how tense my body went when I came so freaking hard and my pussy needs a band-aid. We must’ve fucked at least ten times and in the weirdest most wonderful positions. He couldn’t get enough of me, Tan.”
“You freaking lie!” Tanya sounded truly shocked. “Not that he couldn’t get enough of you, but that you went at it so many times.”
“Well, we did and half the time he didn’t even have to touch my clit to make the heavens open.”
“Nooooo!” She dragged the word out. “No hands? Just using his—”
It was Becky’s turn to scream. “Yeah, he used his really huge cock and just so you know he wasn’t human … he was a wolf shifter.”
“Oh my god, Becky … you had sex with a shifter? How the hell did that happen?” Tanya shrieked. “It must have happened when you helped out with Steph’s birth, right?”
“Something like that.”
“Out with it.” Her friend sounded stern.
“No look, I can’t divulge the circumstances—”
“Just tell me already … you’re killing me.”
“No. We met when Steph had her baby and he was great in bed. That’s it, end of story.” She tried not to sound so disappointed.
“When are you seeing him again?”
“It doesn’t seem like he’s keen on a round two, but that’s fine since I made it clear it was only about the sex.”
Tanya snorted. “Who you? A one-night stand? I think not. Everyone may know you as highly flirtatious, but you fall in love in a heartbeat. You can’t fool me. I know you have feelings for this wolf, don’t you?”
“Look, he may have been really sweet and polite and may even have hit another shifter to protect my honor, but no, I don’t have any feelings for him. I don’t even freaking know him.”
“Like that’s ever stopped you before. What about the last guy you slept with? You woke up saying he was your next freaking husband and the jerk didn’t even make you come … not even once,” Tanya scolded. “This guy rocked your world and you’re trying to tell me that you are not interested in seeing him again?”
“You make it sound like I sleep around.”
“I know you don’t, Becks, and that’s my point exactly. I know you must feel something for him and I’m sure you’ll want to see him again.”
“Maybe for more hot sex, but that would be it.”
If ‒ and it was a big if ‒ she ever saw Rushe again, there would be no talking, no laughing, no anything other than scream-evoking, hardcore fucking. Rushe was not her type. Even if he was, she still wouldn’t be interested. Not that it mattered, since this time next week he would have found himself another sweet human. One who actually wanted a mate.
Although Ross could hear the entire conversation taking place on the other side of the door in crystal, clear clarity, it didn’t stop him from pushing his ear against the wood.
The sweet little human had rutted with someone other than him. Becky. Dear sweet Becky. His hands fisted at his sides and he had to clench his teeth to keep from roaring with anger and frustration. For months he had been petitioning for a chance to be w
ith her. Many long, hard months. After seeing her the last time. After hearing her say that she wasn’t interested in him anymore, that she had washed her hands of vampires, it had completely turned him inside out. Suddenly he found himself only able to think of her. Her scent, her smile, it all drove him insane with need. The problem was that Zane would hear nothing of it. Brant was even more against the idea, so what was a vampire to do?
“Oh my god, Becky … you had sex with a shifter? How the hell did that happen?” his queen shrieked so loud that he winced. It wasn’t only because of the sound. His heart clenched. His breaths came in rugged pants.
Ross clenched his jaw so hard that he heard something crack. His hands curled into fists so tight that his muscles ached. He turned and punched the nearest wall, his hand going right through. Blood dripped from his damaged knuckles, he took solace in the pain as a plan formed in his mind.
Part II
His Last
Chapter 8
King Zane wrapped his arms around his human, splaying his large hands on her slightly distended abdomen. The male rubbed her belly, moving his hands in lazy strokes.
Ross expected Tanya to slap his hands away as she had done every day for the past week, but the female instead sighed while leaning back. She even closed her eyes.
Ross halted, not wanting to intrude on the royal couple. The burning need to meet with Zane kept him from moving away as he normally would.
His king whispered something into the human’s ear and she giggled. Next, Zane slid his hands up, cupping her large mammary glands while continuing to whisper into her ear. The giggle turned into a moan and despite the fact that they were outside, the scent of arousal drifted across to him.
Ross had to work not to back up. Instead, he averted his eyes by watching a pair of majestic swans swimming across the large lake. He had read somewhere that swans mated for life and his mind wandered to Becky.
He still found it strange that he already considered her to be his mate even though they had never even tested compatibility.
Now that he knew it to be true though, he couldn’t believe that he hadn’t reached the conclusion sooner, no matter the odds against it. He had stopped rutting with other females some time back. None had been able to stir his blood. At the time, it felt like he had been afflicted with a curse. Unable to fathom why he couldn’t become aroused. It had driven him to the point of insanity. Fortunately, he at last had been able to put the pieces together.
Just hearing Becky’s voice the day that she had helped Stephany birth her babies had given him a throbbing hard on. It was so inappropriate considering the circumstances. Her sweet voice had drifted over to him along with her delicious scent and suddenly his pants were too tight. His concentration, all but gone. He recalled how she’d put Brant into his place, even kicking him in the shin. Not many vampires dared to stand up against the male, let alone a delicate human. As a vampire king, the male exuded authority and a fierceness that could turn even the most fearless warrior into a blubbering coward. Her act of defiance against Brant had brought a smile to his lips and had heated his blood. Just being near her did things to him that no other female had been able to do for some time. When it hit him, it came with a sense of clarity. Becky was the only one for him. How had something so simple eluded him for so long?
When she’d told him not to bother pursuing the petition to date vampires any further, he actually felt his heart squeeze, and for the first time in his life he had felt real pain.
Nothing held joy or happiness. Even the taking of blood had become a chore. And now, since hearing about how she’d rutted with a shifter, it was slowly destroying him. Eating him up inside. He’d been unable to drink, unable to sleep. Based on the telephone conversation he had overheard, it sounded like Becky had feelings for the male as well.
His eyes burned for a second and he squeezed them shut. The sun was bright this time of day.
Ross desperately needed to see his human. Needed to hold her. Needed to make her understand that she was his.
His.
Ross fisted his hands at his sides. He planned on doing everything in his power to eradicate the memory of that wolf from her mind.
“Since when did the wildlife irritate you so badly? You look like you want to rip those swans limb from limb.” His king’s deep voice invaded his thoughts.
Ross forced himself to smile. “It isn’t aimed at the swans.”
“I didn’t think so,” Zane said.
“Where is your female?” he asked, suddenly noticing that Tanya was nowhere in sight.
“We started back, then I realized that my guard wasn’t behind us. Lance has escorted the queen back to our tower. I can tell that something is bothering you, Ross.” Zane’s dark eyes regarded him. “I consider you to be more than just a part of this coven and my royal, most elite guard, I consider you to be a friend. What is going on?”
“I’m glad you sought me out,” Ross paused, “I had planned on speaking with you.”
Zane nodded. “I am here, but know that I do not have very long as my female plans on starting without me.”
“Starting what?” he asked, regretting the words immediately.
Zane’s eyes heated with what was clearly desire.
“Never mind.” Ross held up his hands. He got to listen to the royal couple rut on many occasions. That was enough without having to actually talk about it with his king.
Zane sort of smiled. “I am desperate to get to her. She has withheld sex for over a week.” The smile became a pained expression.
“She was upset with the two of you for what happened with Stephany,” Ross said, having to suppress a smile. It had been nice and peaceful in the north tower this last week since Tanya wasn’t talking to or rutting with either male. The kings had even been forced to drink from each other for the first time since before the three of them had mated. It was only the closest of the royal guard who were even aware that this had ever happened. All of them had been sworn to secrecy.
Zane pulled a face. “You don’t want to even know the shit storm that came down on us when my little Ysnaar found out about how Brant treated Stephany. That he put her wolf in the dungeon while she was in labor.” Zane sighed and then took a deep breath. “I was in trouble because I stood by and didn’t intervene.”
Again Ross had to suppress a smile. “Well, it sounds like she has forgiven you.”
Zane shook his head. “Call it a truce of sorts, my Ysnaar will let me rut her and maybe drink from her but she is nowhere close to forgiving me. Brant may never get to find pleasure with our sweet human ever again.”
“Are humans that unforgiving or is it just your human?” Ross couldn’t help asking, hoping that Becky would forgive him. Not that he had actually done anything wrong. His only crime was that of being a vampire and following the orders of his king.
“I think that it is a general human thing, although Tanya is particularly bad at staying mad for prolonged periods. Do not tell her I said that, because she is very sensitive.”
Ross nodded.
“What did you need to talk about?”
“I am going to see that human, Becky. I wanted you to know that—”
“No,” Zane growled. “You are attracted to her. One thing could lead to another.”
Ross kept his eyes locked with Zane’s. “I do plan on rutting the female, but I will not drink from her.”
Zane cursed. “What is your fascination with this human?”
“What is your fascination with your human, my lord?” He quickly added the last when he saw Zane’s jaw lock.
“Careful,” Zane cautioned. “Watch how you speak to me. You may be my friend but I am your king first.”
This wasn’t going to work. “Forget I said anything.”
“You are going to go to her anyway.”
Ross nodded. “I am sure that the female is meant to be my mate.”
“You have hardly said two words to her, how can you say such a thing? She isn’t ev
en one of our own. You should be asha—” Zane pursed his lips.
“What were you going to say? Ashamed maybe? Followed by embarrassed?”
Zane grit his teeth.
“Are you ashamed of your human female?”
Zane had him by the throat in a move Ross could have avoided but chose not to. He knew it would be better to let his king blow off some steam. “For the record, I am not ashamed of my human.” Zane squeezed tighter and Ross struggled to keep from making choking noises. Then his king eased the pressure to a more manageable level. “You plan on going to her whether I like it or not?”
Ross tried to nod.
Zane cursed again. “What the fuck am I going to do with you?” His king released him.
Ross coughed twice, feeling the blood-flow resume. Gulps of air filled his lungs but all the while he maintained eye contact with the male in front of him. “No, I don’t know her very well yet, but I still consider her to be mine.”
“I’ll tell you what I told Lance. I think it’s bullshit. What you are feeling is a simple case of lust for this female. You want her because you can’t have her. I also believe that once you have rutted with her, you will be able to move on and forget about her.”
“There is only one way to find out if that is true.”
“Brant will not approve.” Zane kept his voice even.
“Since when have we had to run everything by Brant?” Ross couldn’t help the outburst. It seemed that Zane had been so close to agreeing before bringing up the other male.
Zane turned hard eyes on him. “He is your king and best you don’t forget it.”
Ross set his teeth to avoid speaking his mind.
“I should just forbid it and cut your dick off when you disobey me, but I am worried that you might end up killing the female and bringing a ton of shit on our covens and between Tanya and me. Becky is my female’s BFF.”
Ross felt his brow crease. “My lord … BF … what?”
The Chosen Series Box Set: Books 1 - 3 Page 75