Werewolves and Wranglers

by Kristen Banet

  Tobias had known for years, but it was by pure accident. He could sense the difference in Valen because he had encountered others who were similar. From there, it had been a matter of guessing exactly who it was, and they had to be careful. They weren’t even close to civilization, where it could be overheard. It had been a dangerous game, trying to find out on his own with Valen unable to give him anything more than a yes or no.

  “I could tell her,” he offered. “I could—”

  “No. Maxwell first. That way I can handle them one at a time. Maxwell. Then Adalyn. Then…Easton and Remy. But I’m only telling those two if Easton tells me who his father is. Big secret for big secret.” Valen smiled. “Okay? You don’t get to give her hints. You were never allowed to tell William or her before, and that doesn’t change now.”

  Standing in the saloon, Tobias felt the power behind those words, binding his tongue in a spell he would never be able to break. He knew Valen wasn’t purposefully making the spell, but words had consequences, and his emotional state…Valen was scared. The truly most powerful being in Redstone, and he was scared.

  “Okay. We’ll worry about it next. After this with the humans and werewolves. After Maxwell returns. We’ll worry about it then.” He needed Valen comfortable.

  “Thank you. Now, go get some rest.”

  “You should too,” he said firmly, walking towards the stairs.

  “I’ll get some. Don’t worry about me.” Valen smiled strangely.

  Tobias had a feeling magic was involved, magic beyond most men’s comprehension.

  He lay down in bed, hopeful and scared. Worried and happy. He was going to have a shot with Adalyn. She was going to give all of them a second chance. She didn’t have to. He just needed to prove himself tonight, that he could be a part of the working unit of men who loved her. He didn’t have the type of magic that was very helpful for this. A healer, a shaman, and yet, she wanted him there for the missions. She looked at him as useful, but he needed to earn back the trusted spot of friend—and he knew it. He’d completely ruined it trying to keep up and fight against the Nephilim in silence.

  I can’t fail now. Not now.

  23

  Adalyn

  She couldn’t sleep immediately, her mind refusing to calm down and let her rest. They want to try all being with me. It’s insane. I’m…so okay with it, but it’s insane. They barely like each other. No, not even barely. They don’t like each other. How are we ever going to make this work?

  Work or not, she was a little excited. She could have them all. She could keep her deputies, and she could explore the feelings Tobias had for her and she for him without the expectation he would marry her at the end. Hopefully.

  Her door opened with only the smallest of creaks. Whoever it was didn’t say anything, and she felt the bed press down behind her.

  Who will it be? Nephilim or hellhound?

  When the companion didn’t say anything, she figured she had an answer. Easton must have thought she was asleep; Remy would cuddle with her no matter what.

  “Hey,” she whispered.

  “I can leave if you want…I…”

  “Stay,” she told him. “We can talk.”

  “Can I explain myself?” he asked. “You don’t need to say anything. You don’t need to forgive me, but I don’t want Remy to be judged for my actions.”

  “Go ahead.” She didn’t roll over and look at him. She figured this might be easier if she wasn’t staring him down.

  “I left my family very young because of what I was. My mother had no idea what her lover had been, and I was a very strange child. By the time I met Remy, I didn’t think there would be anything else for me in life except loneliness. I was barely in my twenties.”

  “That’s too young to be so lonely,” she said softly. She would know.

  “Yes. Well, when I found Remy, we became partners, but we were both freaks in a world where even werewolves and werecats are becoming accepted. We had to live a different type of life. When we met you and you accepted us…” Easton sighed. “Adalyn, you were the first person to ever give us this sort of thing. A place to lay our heads down. Unconditional affection. Acceptance.”

  Now she sat up, seeing he was leaning on her headboard. “Easton…”

  “Let me finish. I’m not good at this. I don’t wear my emotions on my sleeve like Remy does.” They gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment and she nodded, letting him know to continue. “So when Tobias came back, I got scared. Scared that you were going to see this old friend and the perfect life you could probably build with him. A magic user similar to you, someone you run a business with. Someone who has loved you for a long time—and let’s be honest: you’ve loved him too, or you would have said something to the contrary already.”

  She looked away again. He was right. Tobias had a permanent home in her heart. There would never be any changing that.

  He reached out and touched her chin, pulling her back to stare at him. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I was just scared I was going to lose…The best thing that has happened to Remy and I in our entire lives.”

  “So you lashed out,” she said.

  “So I lashed out. I didn’t want him around. I didn’t want him spending time with you. We started doing things like cleaning your barn and bringing home flowers and doing your paperwork just so you would see us as useful. Men you couldn’t be without. And I’m going to continue to do all of those things, just because you deserve them.” He pulled her closer. “If you’ll let me. If you’ll accept that my behavior was out of fear and that I have never felt so sorry in my life.”

  This fucking man. How I understand you.

  She climbed on his lap and kissed the hell out of him. Straddling him, she could feel him grow hard quickly as he greedily held her, his hands moving over her hips, ass, and back. She pulled away as he pushed up, making her moan as his bulge pushed against her.

  “Easton, I understand. I know how hard it is to have no one and nothing. Valen pointed out to me that I came to Redstone and found very much the same thing you have. And if anyone had tried to take it away from me…” She held his vest, leaning so her forehead hit his chest. “Talk to me next time. Just talk to me. That’s all. Talk to them. Talk to anyone. Don’t try to hide it.”

  “Yes ma’am,” he crooned, running his fingers through the ends of her black waves of hair. “I can do that for you. I’m not good at it, but I’ll learn for you.”

  “Now, I was having a hard time getting to sleep.” She looked back up at him. She kissed his jawline. “I think I’m going to use you to fix that.”

  “Is this you accepting my apology?” he asked, trying to capture her lips as she kissed his face.

  “This is also your punishment,” she murmured, letting go of his vest and leaning back. Easton loved his control. He loved holding her hair and taking her. But she wasn’t going to let him have that. She reached down and undid his pants, pulling them down enough so his cock was free for her.

  “It’s easier to have sex without any of it. Let me get it all—”

  “No. This makes it hard for you to take charge, which is the point. I’m in charge, Easton Black. Me. Of my life, of my choices, of my body. You are at my mercy until I say otherwise.” She wrapped a hand around his shaft and stroked, making him jerk. He groaned, his head bouncing against her headboard. “Touch me,” she ordered.

  He didn’t say anything and got to the task quickly, one hand massaging her ass as the other slipped between her legs. He rubbed her hard. She was already wet, so ready. Just the idea of having this man at her mercy, having him deep inside her at the pace she wanted, made her wet. He didn’t sink any of his fingers inside of her, and she wanted to correct that.

  “Finger me,” she commanded, stroking him faster. She gasped as two slid into her and delved deep, hooking to find the spot that always made her climax quickly.

  They stayed that way for a long time, her stroking his hard cock and riding his fingers, m
oaning. She let her head roll back, hearing him groan.

  “Beautiful,” he said, pumping his fingers faster.

  “Stop,” she demanded. At this rate, he was going to take her over the edge before she wanted. He didn’t, not immediately. “Easton.” She stopped stroking him and he reluctantly pulled his fingers out of her.

  She leaned forward again, kissing him as she positioned herself over his cock. Holding it in place, she sank down slowly, enjoying each inch of it. Like when she had ridden Remy, Easton tried to thrust upward and she put all of her weight on him, not letting him get enough leverage.

  “Let go, Easton, and accept I’m in charge right now.” She kissed his neck as he groaned in agony.

  “This is punishment,” he muttered. She chuckled against his neck. “The best and worst punishment.”

  “I know,” she purred, licking his Adam’s apple as she rose off him and sank back down.

  “Fuck.” He stayed still for her—a good man who was accepting his fate at her hands. It was perfect.

  She put her hands on his chest as she rode him, keeping it slow and easy. She wasn’t worried about his pleasure. Sometimes she just wanted to ride a man, and he was going to let her do that. She moaned with every shift of her hips, lowering onto his cock at different angles to get different sensations. She pulled her hands away and touched herself, ignoring him completely. She ran them up her thighs and stomach to cup her own breasts, using her thumbs to toy with her nipples. Her head fell back again as she enjoyed what she was doing to herself at Easton’s expense.

  “Adalyn, please,” he begged, moaning as she sank down again. She pinched her own nipples, continuing to ignore him. “Oh gods damn, woman, please.”

  “You can have control when I’m done,” she told him. “Only then.”

  “Fuck.” He sounded like he was dying. She glanced at him, seeing his hands twitch and clench with the need to touch her, hold her, own her like he always did in bed.

  He can keep waiting. He’s like an unbroken stallion, Easton Black, and I fully intend to break him. If he wants to be with me, he needs to learn that I love a strong personality, but he must still be ridable.

  She lowered a hand between them and began to rub that little spot of pleasure. She gasped at the first touch, more sensitive than she thought she would be. She was positive he whimpered like Remy at the sight of her doing that and the sound she made.

  She gazed at his heavily-lidded sapphire eyes, knowing he was desperate for more.

  “Please,” he whispered. “Please, Adalyn. I’m dying here.”

  She didn’t respond, continuing to rub herself to her peak as she rode him slowly. She couldn’t resist picking up a little speed, finally, working her hips up and down on his cock like she was in a saddle. His cock was hard and jerking, practically pulsing as her lover tried to hold back.

  She was unable to stay very silent now, riding him hard, driven by her own actions. She rubbed vigorously, sending spikes of pleasure through her core. She sank down him fully with every descent and nearly pulled all the way off him with every ascent.

  “Damn, witch,” he cursed at her, practically growling out the words. She knew he was close to breaking beyond her control. That was fine. She was nearly done. “I’m all yours, I promise. I know better now. But please, Adalyn, I can’t take much more of this. I’m dying here. Fuck, you are so good. You feel too good.”

  So close. Just…a…little…more…

  She came hard, freezing up for a second as it crashed into her. Her thighs were shaking. Her core was squeezing him tightly as she sank down him that last time, holding him as she continued to try and rub to keep the waves of pleasure crashing over her.

  “My turn.” His control snapped. He grabbed her hips with a strength she wasn’t expecting. He pulled her up a little then began to drive himself into her, thrusting up with incredible speed and power. She was still in what felt like an eternal climax as he sat up fully from the headboard and one of his hands tangled into her hair, pulling her head back so he could kiss her roughly as he drove home.

  She couldn’t form even the normal sounds. Whatever was coming out of her mouth was broken-sounding as her Nephilim could finally take what he wanted.

  He didn’t last long, sinking into her with a groan as he bit down on her bottom lip, coming deep inside her. Endlessly, he pumped cum into her, holding her tightly, his mouth against hers.

  When it felt like it would be over, he rolled them over, her back hitting the mattress. Is he still hard? He can’t be. There’s no way.

  He rocked against her, somehow pushing deeper into her.

  “Easton!” She was in shock.

  “I’m not soft yet,” he told her. “Not yet. Will be soon, but I’m not ready to leave you.” She moaned as he thrust slowly, each a little less than before. “No, I’m never ready to leave you,” he crooned.

  “Nnng.” She couldn’t find words. No, she was pretty sure that part of her brain had just been lost.

  Finally, he was soft, and pulled out of her slowly. He moved lower and nuzzled his face between her breasts. “I don’t sleep, but can I stay here?” he asked softly.

  “Of course,” she answered softly, hoping he understood the words that tumbled out of her mouth. She was asleep within seconds.

  24

  Adalyn

  Adalyn waited patiently at her front door. It was just before their normal dinner time, but they were going to skip the meal tonight.

  “Is everyone ready?” she asked Valen on her porch.

  “Tobias and I are. Everything is still working from last night. Who are we waiting on?”

  “Remy,” Easton answered, as he walked down the stairs. “He’s not a fast riser, and I didn’t try to get him up early enough.” He gave a guilty smile. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine. We do need him, though. He is our tracker.” She smiled back, kissing his cheek as he tried to pass her. She was in a better mood now that she had some time to process everything, and seeing Easton walk out onto the porch to stand with Tobias and Valen was only helping. None of them had dared to make any sort of comment or give each other any side eyed glances of dislike.

  Good boys. She wanted to purr it to them, but kept the thought to herself. If they kept up like this, their crazy idea just might work. Wouldn’t that be nice? Wake up next to Remy. Find Easton cooking breakfast like he always does. Tobias after work. I could totally fall for this idea of theirs.

  “I’m coming!” Remy called. “I’m sorry!” She looked back up to find him hurrying down the stairs, and held out a hand. He grabbed it and leaned in for a kiss. He pulled back with a crooked smile that showed off one of his canines. “They’re due west of us. Will probably take a couple hours of riding to get to them.”

  “They’ve been staying close, then…” She both loved and hated the idea of that. So close to her town that she might have stumbled on them. Or one of her people. Someone could have gotten hurt. But it also meant the trip really would only take one night. They were prepared for more, but this was good. “Let’s get moving, everyone!”

  She left Remy in the doorway and whistled for her stallion, who came to her like always. Dark Prince and the other horses were already prepared. She swung up and onto him, waiting as the men had to get their horses the harder and normal way. She had a bit of an ego as she rubbed her stallion’s neck, thanking him for coming when she called, no matter what. The most loyal and obedient boy in her life.

  “We could very well be on top of them by nightfall,” Remy continued to explain as they started moving. “We should take this ride slow if we want to surprise them during the night.”

  “Good. That means we don’t have to overwork the horses for a second night in a row.” She wasn’t fond of putting them through two very stressful situations so close together, but they had to clean this mess up. Without the possibility of any wereanimals showing up and the men finally making a real effort to work together, she knew tonight was their best chance.
>
  Remy went quiet after that, pulling his mare beside Dark Prince and keeping the lead with her.

  “I’ve got our entire supply of handcuffs ready,” Easton informed everyone. “Just like yesterday. We can use their horses to bring them back here, leading them once we capture them.”

  “Arrest. We’re arresting them,” she corrected.

  “Same difference,” he retorted. She looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow. “Are you threatening me with another time like this morning?” he asked mentally. When she smiled deviously in response, he lowered his gaze. “Arrest them. We’ll use their horses to carry them back here after we arrest them.”

  “Uh huh.” She was winning now. She’d found Easton’s weakness and fully intended to exploit it regularly. It hadn’t been easy training Dark Prince to the saddle, and she’d had to earn his respect. She’d found out how to do the same to Easton Black and she was relishing it. Not in a cruel way, though. She knew he had loved what she did to him. She also knew it was the most delicious torture any of them could probably come up with.

  “I really wish I knew what just happened,” Valen said, very interested.

  “Nothing,” Easton muttered. “She…uh…found out something about me this morning and is exercising that power now.”

  All of them were now laughing at Easton’s expense. She figured only Remy had any idea what had happened, but Valen and Tobias were grown men. They had their assumptions and they were probably close to the mark.

  “I like an obedient ride,” she commented lightly, still smiling.

  “Oh!” Valen became hysterical, bending over on his horse, the laughter shaking his shoulders.

  “Next time, you’re going to get a bucking bronco,” Easton said in her head.

  She wished she could use telepathy back, but she looked over her shoulder at him again. Her smile hopefully said everything she wanted to. Try me. She turned away from him, catching a glimpse of Tobias.