by Kym Grosso
Willa reached inside the gift bag, laughing as she retrieved a black leather paddle and handed it to Hunter. “It’s, it’s…it’s lovely. Really. I was expecting something Tiffany’s perhaps, but this is a surprise.”
“What the hell, vampire? Seriously?” Hunter shook his head. Not that he opposed giving her a good spanking, but Viktor had no business giving his mate sex toys.
“I knew you’d like it. Trust me when I say you will love the feel and the sound of it.” Viktor clapped his hands together, his eyes lit with delight. “It’s my favorite.”
“Well…my…now this…gee, I don’t know. I already have one but it’s in pink.” Willa laughed as she handed Hunter a two-foot-long silicone penis. “What do you think, dear? Will it go with the curtains?”
“I thought you’d like it. Don’t worry. I didn’t forget the lube. Blueberry flavored. You’re going to love it. Goes well with dessert.”
“Time to go, Viktor,” Hunter told him, his voice firm. “We’re done now.”
“What? She said it goes with her curtains.”
“We’ll meet you at the jet in three hours. Now off with the cooks and the musicians.”
“You’ll thank me later. Give me a minute.” Viktor strode into the kitchen pressing through the swinging doors and returned within seconds. “Musicians are next.” As he began to walk toward the foyer, he paused, turning his head toward them. “You’re blessed, you know. Not everyone finds someone…gets to have a lifetime with their person.”
Hunter sensed Willa’s sadness as Viktor disappeared with the musicians. Her empathetic smile touched his heart. “He’s going to be all right. He doesn’t think he’s going to find anyone again but he’s wrong.”
“How do you know?” she pressed.
“Because if I can find a princess in Hell, our vampire…our friend…the Goddess has someone for him too. Even if he doesn’t know it, I have faith.”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Come…let’s eat.” Hunter took her hand as she set the bag onto the ground.
“This is beautiful,” she admired the incredible spread on the table, lobster and fresh vegetables, candles and flowers.
Hunter drank in the sight of his magnificent mate, and his cock twitched. He was never going to get through dinner.
“That was amazing.” Willa brought the glass of champagne to her lips. “I’ve never had someone treat me so…like…just so nice…like a princess.”
“I love that you’re independent, that all this time you’ve survived, but you’ve got me now. I’m not saying it will be easy. But we’re going to get through this, Wills. And when it’s all over, we’ll have dates. Lots of them. Maybe we’ll go horseback riding.”
“Skydiving,” she suggested.
“Horseback riding,” he repeated, giving a low chuckle.
“Skydiving then horseback riding.” She smiled, batting her eyelids at him.
“Wolves are hard to kill, but not impossible.”
“It’ll be fun.”
“I can think of some other things that would be even more fun.” He winked.
“Perhaps we should open the rest of our gifts?” she suggested, a flirtatious lilt in her voice. “You stay there.”
Hunter watched in anticipation as his delicious mate stood and glided across the floor. With her back to him, she stopped in front of the bag, pausing to look over her shoulder, a sultry smile forming on her lips. Her hand found the back of her dress and she teased down the zipper. Hunter sucked a breath as the entire gown pooled around her feet.
Wearing nothing but heels and a thong, she bent over, ever so slowly reaching for the bag and turning toward him. A sexy smile crossed her face as she held it into the air. “Do you want to go first or shall I?”
Hunter laughed, his cock hard as concrete. Little wolf wanted to play.
Candlelight and the shadows of the balloons reflected off her olive skin. Her devilish smile told him she’d try to test him.
“Maybe…” Willa pulled out the paddle and held it up in the air, shifting her hips back and forth. “A spanking?”
Hunter laughed, without revealing what he’d planned on doing to her. If she only knew. He’d love nothing more than to see her beautiful ass a nice shade of pink.
“No?” She tossed it onto the sofa and dug her hand back into the bag. “Ooh kinky.” Willa wore a broad smile as she retrieved a shiny bulbous toy. “Look. It has a pink crystal on the end. Ah…there’s a note attached.” She fingered the white paper that had been tied with a white silk ribbon. “For the princess who has everything. Your friendly neighborhood vampire.’ He included lube. How thoughtful.” She winked and tossed it along with the paddle. “It’s a keeper.”
Hunter adjusted his painful erection that strained against his zipper. Jesus, this woman was going to fucking kill him.
She held up the two-foot-long dildo and dropped it onto the floor with a shrug. “Hmm…that would be a nope. Maybe we can regift it. You never know when someone’s going to have a secret Santa at the office.”
“We can give it back to Viktor. Something tells me he’d find a use for it.”
“Ah, now this…” She held up the penis-shaped sleeve. “Is this some sort of an extension?” Willa shook her head and threw it clear across the room. “Definitely don’t need this.” She shot him a sexy look and licked her bottom lip.
“The vampire is dead to me.”
“Nipple clamps? No thanks. The only thing I want on my nipples is your mouth.” She laughed, tossing them. “But wait. There’s more.” Willa dangled a pair of red leather handcuffs from her finger.
“Now those I could use.” Hunter stalked toward her, enjoying her nervous laughter.
Hunter’s smile broadened. Thank you, Vik. The Alpha resisted taking his mate, simply reaching for the handcuffs. His eyes drifted to her lips and to her pert breasts, her taut nipples standing at attention. Her thong, fashioned from fine white lace, barely covered her mound.
“Is red your favorite color?” The smell of the fine leather teased his nostrils, his dick hardened as she presented her arms to him.
“Yes, yes tonight it definitely is.” Her voice trembled.
Hunter reached for her, trailing his fingers down her inner wrists, and turned her palms upward. He made quick work of securing the cuffs and tugged on the chain that connected them.
She smiled as he pulled her toward the sofa. He glanced to the toys and his gaze met hers, fascinated by her sinful smile. His little wolf wanted to play? Play they would.
“These here…all keepers?” He glanced to the silver butt plug she’d thrown on the sofa.
She laughed, her cheeks blooming pink.
“You.” Hunter pulled her toward him and glided his hand down her stomach. His fingers slipped underneath the delicate fabric, delving into her slick pussy. “You’re wet.”
“Always for you.” Willa moaned, her head lolling forward.
His fingers played over her clit lightly, never offering enough to sate her. She released an audible sigh as he withdrew and his hand trailed up her stomach, between her breasts.
Hunter’s dick lengthened as he wrapped his fingers around her neck, his fingertips teasing behind her ear. She lifted her heavy lids, her hungry gaze settling on his.
Just a taste, his wolf urged. With restraint, he pressed his lips to hers and she melted into him. Tasting his mate sent desire surging through every cell of his body.
He reluctantly tore his lips from hers. “Hands above your head,” he ordered, his mouth dipping to her chest. “Don’t move.”
“Yes,” she replied, her voice breathy. Gooseflesh broke over her skin as his lips brushed her nipple.
He gently rolled her taut rosy peak between his fingertips, gently pinching as she arched her back, thrusting her breasts toward him. Sucking her nipple into his mouth, he flicked his tongue over it.
“Hunter. I…I…” she breathed.
He groaned, his dick throbbing to be released. The s
econd her fingers speared into his hair, he laughed softly. “You don’t listen well, do you?”
“I do but…” She giggled as he turned her around, bending her over the sofa, resting her arms on its cushions. He smiled as he slipped his fingers under the edges of her panties, slowly tugging them off and tossing them aside. His fingers trailed over her bared bottom, her feral energy sizzling his fingertips. “I’ve been waiting so long to do this but who knew my naughty little princess enjoyed a little kink.”
“You never asked,” she replied, her coy smile hidden by her long mane that feathered around her face onto the sofa.
“Ah, well, we have a lifetime to explore, don’t we? But this,” he paused, palming her ass. “Oh yeah. This. This is nice.”
She wiggled her bottom at him and laughed, her forehead lolling forward onto her arms. “Hmm…you can’t leave me like this.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ve got plans for my bride.” Hunter unzipped his pants, making quick work of shucking his clothing.
“The longer you leave me like this…” She squirmed, widening her legs, deliberately revealing her glistening pussy. “I’m suffering.”
Fuck. Hunter blew out a breath, ready to come just at the sight of her. His devilish mate enjoyed teasing him. A fresh rush of blood surged to his cock. He took his shaft into his palm, giving it a firm stroke, and glanced to the silver bulb. “You know, you’ve got a beautiful ass.”
“Lonely ass. So lonely,” she whined. “I’m dying.”
Hunter smiled at his sassy she-wolf. Reaching for her hips, he pulled her towards him, the broad crown of his dick brushing over her bottom. He tapped his shaft up and through her slick folds. She moaned as the tip teased her clit.
“I can’t wait…” Hunter eased his cock inside her wet pussy, slowly plunging inside her as she adjusted to his size. “Ah.”
“Alpha…yes. More,” she begged, her wrists bound.
Hunter shivered and sucked a breath. Her quivering pussy contracted around his cock, milking him as he slid in and out of her.
“Oh fuck, you feel so good. I could just,” he paused and gave a sharp thrust, plunging himself to the hilt, deep inside her, “fuck you all night long. Ah yeah. But. Toys.”
“No, don’t stop,” Willa panted. As Hunter fucked her harder, her limp body dangled over the sofa, her fingers still curled onto the edge of a cushion.
“This.” He reached for the toy and a small bottle. Willa pushed back on him, sending a fresh rush of arousal to his dick. He resisted the urge to come. “No, no, no movin’, sweetheart. I’ve got somethin’ special here for you.”
“I need…” she breathed.
With his cock still inside her, Hunter dripped the cool gel over her ass and glided the smooth metal plug down her cleft, stopping as it reached her back hole. He gently circled its tip over her puckered skin.
“Easy now.” He sucked a breath, as he pressed it inside her bottom. “There you go…fuck, it’s so tight.”
“Oh Goddess. It’s so…so…” Willa panted, losing her words.
“Almost…there. That’s it. What a pretty ass you have, princess.” Hunter smiled as the pink crystal plug lodged firmly in her ass, her pussy tightening around his cock.
As he slowly withdrew his shaft and slid back inside her, he leaned over Willa, pressing his lips to her shoulders, gently making love to his mate. With every hard thrust, his energy spiraled, arousal building, his orgasm on the edge.
He wrapped his arm around her chest, his palm finding her breast. As he lifted her upward and brought her toward him, his fingers dipped into her slick pussy, teasing her clit.
“Oh, Goddess…” Willa arched her back into him as he drove himself deep inside her. “Fuck me. Hard.”
At his Queen’s demand, he slammed hard inside her core, his orgasm hurling into him. As Willa fell into ecstasy, her pussy contracted, fisting his cock, milking every last tendril of his climax. His wolf growled, in awe of his mate, and Hunter lost himself in feral pleasure, wondering how he’d gone his whole life without her.
Chapter Twelve
Willa curled into her Alpha’s embrace, her heart tight with emotion. She’d never been so vulnerable with anyone in all her years, allowing a man to restrain her, dominate her, bringing her to new heights of pleasure. Despite the tendrils of passion still flittering in her body, doubts about their future bloomed in her mind. As his mate, she’d be expected to move to Wyoming, to rule the pack with her Alpha. But would Teton Wolves ever accept her into the pack? Her skin glowed with hellfire, forever singed by the flames of Hades. Would she bear the Alpha’s children, or would his legacy be lost to a prophesy of her infertility?
Her mind drifted to the witch. Although Ilsbeth had perpetrated the ultimate betrayal of wolves, attempting to steal Dimitri’s ability to shift, she’d saved Willa’s life by offering herself to Viktor. Instinct told her they had to trust the witch, yet she knew her Alpha never could. With cautious optimism, no other choice but to go in search of the skin book, she resigned herself to the task.
In the morning, she told herself. In the morning, fears would become bravery. They’d do what they needed to do. She refused to give up…to Hell, to wolves, to the devil himself. Her wolf stirred in her mind, anticipating the fight. Sleep now. In the morning.
“If this doesn’t remind you of Hell, I don’t know what will.” Hunter shined a flashlight into the cavernous room.
“What is this?” Willa’s clothes dripped as they emerged from the waist-high water. Deep in the belly of the caves, they made their way onto higher, dryer ground.
“Ancient civilizations,” Viktor commented, glancing at the ceramic pots along the walls.
“These limestone caves do more than house a few trinkets.” Hunter set his palm onto the cool stone wall.
“I think it’s safe to say we’re not alone.” Viktor walked deeper into the cave.
“There aren’t many places where you can avoid ghosts, but yeah, limestone attracts all sorts of energies.” Willa concentrated in an attempt to detect any other supernatural entities but sensed nothing. “If we get lucky, the most we will have to deal with is bat guano.”
“What’s all this?” Viktor pointed to a pile of bones.
“Xibalba. The Place of Fright. The Mayan Hell.” Willa shone her light upon etched artwork that had been carved into the wall. A figure held up a heart. “Whatever this space was for…people died down here.”
“Human sacrifice.” Hunter pointed to skeletal remains, that lay perfectly on the earth as if they’d been preserved in a museum. “This one here.”
“These bones look like they belong to a woman. Look at the shape of the pelvis. It’s likely she was murdered,” Willa surmised. “They were often tortured before they were killed. But it was their way of life. To satisfy the Gods.”
“An offering. How lovely.” Viktor laughed. “And here we are. Back in the pit of Mayan Hell looking for a book to give to another Hell-bound demon. Quite fitting.”
“This woman.” Willa glanced at the skeleton, and her stomach clenched at the thought of her heart being cut from her chest. “She had no choice.”
“Humans. They never seem to learn,” Viktor added.
“I’d say that’s pretty accurate.” Hunter stepped toward a pile of vases. He lifted one and carefully set it aside.
“Humans possess an inner magick without ever even knowing or believing it.” Willa stared at the bones. “Yes, they are fragile. But like all beings, the Goddess made them for a reason.”
“I don’t mean to be a killjoy but how are we ever going to find the book down here? There are several cave systems. We don’t have all day.” Viktor blew out an annoyed breath.
“I don’t know. I mean you zapped us into here. You must have felt something.” Willa smiled.
“Oh no. Don’t go putting all this on me.” Viktor held up his palms defensively. “I just picked up on the vibe. That knife must have done something. And this is where we landed.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Willa’s voice rose, her eyes questioning his logic. “Maybe we need to use the blade Ilsbeth gave us. If it’s tied to the book…”
“I’ve got it, but knowing Ilsbeth we’ve got to do something with it. Some kind of a blood spell.”
“She didn’t give us a spell. She only gave us the knife. It must be something else.” Willa shivered, a cool breeze blowing over her skin.
“Something’s coming for us. I can feel it,” Hunter said.
“Come on then, Alpha. Whip it out,” Viktor said with a smirk.
“You’re sick,” Hunter replied.
“He’s not wrong though.” Willa smiled and shrugged.
“In the middle of some Mayan sacrificial death pit and you two are making bathroom jokes? Okay, yeah.”
“It’s all well and good until someone summons the God of Hell.” Viktor picked up a ceramic bead and inspected it.
Hunter shook his head and removed his backpack, retrieving the weapon, then slung the sack back onto his shoulders.
“I do love a good knife,” Viktor said.
“Okay, now what?” The Alpha inspected the blade. “Ilsbeth said it would help us get to the location, but she didn’t mention where to actually find this book. There’s got to be miles of caves here.”
“She is a tricky witch,” Viktor noted.
“Last time I was in the catacombs with Quint, they did some kind of blood magick.”
“My brother has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve, doesn’t he?”
“It was Gabriella. She’s a witch. Was a witch,” Hunter corrected. “Lost her magick. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. They did this thing. Mixed their blood. Put it on this symbol and bam. Just like that, it worked. First bone found.”
