Giving her something to do would take her mind over what they'd just learned. This had been Ivan's fear in taking her home. He should never have let her talk him into going back. There was no excuse. He knew full well what these people were capable of. Taking her back there had been reckless. A smarter man would have kept her in his bed.
Lost in his self-blame, he didn't hear her end the call.
“This is where they want to meet.” She punched the address into his GPS device and turned it toward him. “It's the parking lot behind an old church. They said it should be deserted by the time we arrive. It will take a few hours to get there.” She rattled off the route the GPS had generated, but he already had a pretty good idea of where they were going.
“Okay, I think I got it.”
He twisted the radio dial up, his lips curving into a smile as Molly sang along to a hit from last year. Even their taste in music matched. Dammit, despite their many differences, she was perfect for him. Even with everything she'd endured today, she still took joy in something as simple as a favorite song.
When the station faded out of range, he switched to talk radio and turned the volume down.
“Why don't you get some rest?”
She made a soft sound of agreement and settled into the seat next to him. After a while he heard her deep breathing and glanced over. Somehow she managed to be even more beautiful in sleep. He shook his head. She was turning him into a sap.
The miles blended into one another. He kept a sharp lookout to make sure no one followed them. No odd or suspicious cars stood out.
Once he found the church he circled the block twice before pulling in behind it. No other cars were in sight. He parked in the back corner, where he had a view of the entrance and a direct route to an exit. As he shut off the engine, Molly moaned in her sleep. He cracked his window, taking in the night air. Beside him, Molly stirred, lifting her hands into the air and stretching.
He couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of her long slender neck or the way the arch of her back pushed her soft, round breasts forward. The memory of her thrashing around under him consumed by her heat pounded through his veins. How long did he have before their friends arrived?
Finally fully awake, she turned toward him. “Hey,” she murmured, still sounding a bit sleepy.
“We're behind the church. No sign of them yet.”
“Do you want me to call?”
“Nah, come here.”
Her wide-eyed gaze landed on his face, and he froze. She raised one delicate eyebrow at him as she unclicked her seatbelt. He shifted a little closer to her, and then hooked his arm around her hips and tugged her close. This was nuts, but he couldn't stand not touching her any longer.
Reaching out, he traced the back of his hand across her warm cheek, drifting down her neck until he skimmed a finger over her collarbone. Fearing he'd say something he shouldn't, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her throat.
She sucked in a sharp breath. Warm, wet tongue teased his earlobe, and he groaned.
His hand dropped to her denim-covered thigh, squeezing enough to feel the heat of her flesh through the thick material. In slow, calculated increments, he worked his hand to her hot center. Without needing to be told, she shoved her legs apart, fracturing his restraint. He let out a low, primal growl, pushing her back against the seat. The scent of her desire filled the truck cabin, making him reckless. He rubbed her pussy through her jeans, her warmth sneaking into his fingers. Satisfaction rocked through him when he felt the material grow damp under his hand.
His inner lynx demanded he strip them both naked so they could be skin to skin.
He shoved his other hand under her shirt, pulling it up, grasping her bra along the way and pushing it up as well. His mouth latched onto her nipple. Her breathing increased. Warm little hands clasped his neck, holding him to her. Frantically, he worked his fingers between her legs, while his other hand held her clothing out of the way. His tongue licked and savored one nipple then the other, until she went off.
“Ivan,” she shouted, her voice harsh and loud in the hushed interior of the truck. A soft purring rumbled from her, and he raised his eyes to meet her steady stare. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He set her clothes back to rights. “I'm sorry. I don't know why—”
Her soft hand grasped his. “Don't.”
The breathy sound of her voice sent lust pounding through his veins. He still wanted so much more from her. She twisted in the seat, getting to her knees and pushing him back. “My turn.” She brushed her knuckles over the fly of his jeans. His cock, already hard, jumped expanding almost painfully behind the tight material. She eased his zipper down, freeing him before he had a chance to even think about stopping her. Not that he would have for all the money in the world. Her sultry glance at his cock left no doubt where it was headed.
She flicked her pink tongue out to wet her lips, and he froze in anticipation. Leaning forward, she wrapped her hand around him, stroking him from base to tip.
“I never got a chance to do this when we were at your house,” she whispered.
That husky whisper of hers was so full of sexy yearning he only managed to huff out a stupid. “Uh-huh.”
Pre-come leaked from his dick, and she bent over, grazing her tongue along his sensitive flesh to lap it up. Heat roared through him at her touch. His hips jerked up, but he stopped himself from fucking her mouth. She had him so worked up he feared he'd choke her.
Molly had no such fears. Once she sealed her lips around the head of his cock, Ivan lost himself inside the eager heat of her mouth. First she teased him, sliding her supple little tongue over the slit. Then she moaned and sucked harder, tasting more and more of him. The slick, hot suction of her mouth as she worked her tongue over his cock had a drugging effect on him. His head fell back against the seat, his heavy eyelids falling shut.
He couldn't help but weave his fingers into her hair to hold her in place. She hummed happy little noises, gradually taking almost his full length, sucking him deep against her throat, then retreating, releasing him, licking the tip, and starting all over again. She used her hands to work the base of his cock pushing him close to climax.
“You're gonna kill me, Molly.”
She answered him with an “mmmmhmmm” sound that buzzed against his cock. He tugged on her hair, desperate for her to release him before he came in her mouth. She opened her eyes and stared up at him. The lust in her eyes dared him to stop her, as she gently shook her head and sucked him harder. He loosened his grip on her hair and relaxed again. She wiggled her tongue on the underside of his cock, and his brain went fuzzy as she suckled with fierce concentration.
The tension inside of him built up through his back and arms until the pressure threatened to snap him in half. His hips thrust up, pulling a shout from him as his cock jerked inside her, waves of pleasure assaulting his body. Molly didn't let go, she hungrily took everything he gave her, licking and sucking until his body went limp. She released him with a soft, wet popping sound. He opened one eye to watch her run her tongue over his cock, cleaning any last drops away.
Headlights washed over the interior of the truck bringing Ivan fully alert. He snapped upright, tucking himself away and zipping up his pants. Molly sat up, and even in the dim light he saw the crimson flush spreading over her cheeks. He leaned over to brush a quick kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you, kitten.”
The corners of her mouth quirked up in a nervous smile, but she didn't say anything. Ivan checked his pocket as the dark sedan glided into the parking lot, Even in the dark he recognized Cole's car. They pulled to a stop next to Molly's side, and the window slid down. Onyx poked her head out as Molly lowered her window.
“Hey guys! I hope you weren't waiting long?”
“No, just got here,” Molly answered.
“Okay, well, follow us back.”
Onyx waved hello at Ivan, and the car turned around, heading toward the exit. Ivan started
the truck and followed them.
Neither of them seemed to know what to say, so they followed Cole's car in silence. How had he managed to fuck that up? Was she upset? Did she feel used by him? That had been the most amazing blow job of his life, but he couldn't help feeling like he's screwed up somehow.
Ten
Ivan followed Cole and Onyx through a sleepy little town. An unassuming stone cottage came into view, and the dark sedan disappeared into the driveway. A black, iron gate slid closed behind Cole's car, so Ivan parked at the curb. They eased out of the truck, pushing the doors shut gently so as not to wake the entire neighborhood. As Ivan came around to meet Molly, he stared at the quaint little home and considered what it might be like to settle down someplace like this with her. Would he find some regular job and come home to her every night? Would they fill it with cubs and kittens of their own?
At the sound of Onyx's footsteps over the dry grass, he shook off the strange longings that had overwhelmed him without warning. He watched the two girls hug. Onyx threw herself against Ivan, giving him a quick squeeze before backing away from him.
“I'm so glad to see you guys. I'll open the gate back up if you want to pull the truck inside.”
“Nah, we can do it later.”
“Cole's inside. Come in and I'll give you the tour.”
Cole reached out and grabbed Ivan's hand in a healthy shake when they stepped inside. He gave Molly a quick hug that unsettled Ivan for reasons he didn't want to think about.
When they finished checking out the house, Molly looked a little bewildered. “It's so much bigger inside than I thought it would be.”
Onyx winked. “Magic.” She stopped in front of an opened door and gestured inside. “You can stay in the guest room.” Her eyes were focused on Molly, but Ivan got the impression she was speaking to both of them. Had Molly told Onyx they were a couple? Guess he should have tuned in when they were on the phone earlier. Since they probably reeked of one another after their earth-shattering sexathon, Onyx must assume they were together.
“There's only one guest room, but the couch is—”
“He can stay with me, that's fine,” Molly interjected.
Ivan shifted from foot to foot but kept his mouth shut. They were all adults here, no reason to make the situation any more awkward.
“Whatever you guys are comfortable with.” Onyx winked at Molly, and the girls headed down the hall toward the kitchen.
Ivan shook his head and slipped his keys out of his front pocket.
“Need some air?” Cole asked from behind him. Damn, sneaky wizard.
“I thought only cats snuck up on people like that.”
Cole's face broke into a grin. “Onyx has taught me a thing or two. You guys okay?”
“Yeah, I'm going to go bring our stuff in.”
“I have to go into the office early, so make yourself at home. Onyx should be around in the morning to show you where everything is.”
“We'll be fine.” Damn, he shouldn't be so brisk with the wizard since he'd been nice enough to invite them to stay. “Thanks though, I appreciate you letting us stay for a few days.”
The wizard turned serious. “Not a problem, man. Onyx said things didn't go well with Molly's parents?”
Ivan gave him a brief run down.
Cole ran his hand through his hair his gaze darting around the room.
“Sorry you invited us now?” Ivan joked.
Cole faced him and shook his head. “Not at all. Between your paramilitary training and my magic, this is probably the best place for you to be.”
Ivan hated to admit it, but Cole's words held some truth. They said good night, and Ivan headed outside to fetch their things. He took his time walking back, examining the windows and fence before he brought their two small bags inside. The girls sat at the kitchen table, their hands wrapped around mugs of what smelled like hot chocolate laced with hazelnut liquor. What a way to spice up the evening. Drunk cats drove him nuts. Good thing these two were both so adorable.
“In the morning, I've got to head over to campus to pick up my schedule for this semester, do you want to come with me?” Onyx asked Molly. She looked up as Ivan entered the room. “You too, Ivan, if you're interested.”
“Sure, why not?” Although his answer had more to do with not letting Molly out of his sight than taking a campus tour. At this point in his life, he wasn't exactly co-ed material.
“Great!” She turned her attention back to Molly. “You'll love it, it's such a pretty campus.”
Molly looked up at him with a blissful smile on her face. “Onyx made cocoa. Want some?”
“What did you lace it with, Nyx?” Ivan asked.
The two of them fell into a fit of giggles, and Ivan rolled his eyes. After they settled down, Onyx answered him.
“Frangelico.” She held her arms about a car-width apart. “I smuggled a big bottle of it home from Italy. Want some?” She held out her mug to him, but he shook his head. He almost found the fact that they were tipsy from hot cocoa amusing. Like most smaller shifters, domestics could not hold their liquor worth a damn.
Molly nodded. “I'm sure Ivan's a big beer man,” she snickered, then opened her mouth and let out a huge yawn. She flung her hand over her lips and gave them a sheepish grin. “Sorry, guess I'm sleepy.”
Onyx released a yawn of her own and shimmied her body in a very cat-like stretch before gracefully rising from the table. “Get some rest. As long as I’m on campus before four o'clock, I'm good. So no hurry getting up tomorrow. Sleep in.” She picked up their mugs, rinsed them out, and set them next to the sink to dry.
Molly waved her hand in the air at her friend. Onyx blew Ivan a kiss before swaying out of the kitchen. He heard a door down the hall close with a soft click. Then silence.
Turning to Molly, he took in her pale face and the shadows under her eyes. Damn, he needed to take better care of her. He should have insisted they get a motel room so she could rest. They could have finished the drive here tomorrow.
He held out his hand, stupidly pleased when she grasped it immediately. “Let's get some sleep.”
She pushed her chair out and stood on wobbly legs. “I feel fuzzy.”
“Of course you do, kitten,” he replied, the corners of his mouth lifting in a grin.
She yawned and fell into his arms. Slinging her over his shoulder, he carried her to bed.
Cat shifters might not hold their liquor well, but they also didn't suffer the same morning-after effects full humans did. He found both girls in the kitchen earlier than he would have expected. After a quick breakfast, Ivan offered to drive them to campus in the truck. The girls squeezed together on the front seat, which meant having Molly snuggled up right beside him. He definitely had no complaints with the seating arrangements.
Driving through town, he found the small, narrow streets and vintage-looking shops peaceful. The area was easy enough to navigate. Along the way he noted several side routes in case he needed to ditch someone tailing them. A safe, coziness enveloped the town and Ivan understood why his friends liked it here so much. A place like this might be nice to spend some time in. The thought surprised him, since it didn't resemble the rocky isolation he'd grown accustomed to over the last few years one bit.
“Oh, Onyx it's so pretty!” Molly clapped her hands in delight when the campus came into view.
“Everything you need is on campus. I regretted not being able to live in the dorms my first year, but of course, now I understand why my parents wouldn't allow it.”
“You could live in the dorms now if you wanted to, though?”
Onyx's eyes widened in surprise. “I'd rather be with Cole. It's not like I'm missing out on pledging a sorority or something. I kind of have my own if you think about it.”
The girls giggled, and Ivan relaxed a notch. Hearing Molly's laugh reassured him.
He guided the truck into a spot in the visitor's lot, and Onyx led the way to Cole's office. The two girls walked ahead of him chatt
ering away. He kept his head up, checking out the grounds and the other students. Before long he realized he stuck out like a sore thumb. Next to all these fresh-faced kids he felt like an ancient tom cat. He shook it off and followed them up the stairs into an old, stone building that had been converted into offices and classrooms.
“Cole's office is down here.” Onyx lowered her voice and pulled them both closer, even though with their superior feline hearing they could hear her fine. “Uh, no one is supposed to know we're dating. He could lose his job, so you know...” she looked at them with pleading eyes.
“Got it,” Molly assured her with a knowing wink.
Ivan stifled a laugh and nodded. He found the irony of her bucking her clowder's ancient traditions in favor of some stuffy college's rules rather funny. Especially when you considered how magically powerful Onyx and Cole were. The two of them hiding their relationship seemed like such a silly human thing to do. But he liked both of them and wouldn't do anything to upset their precarious little bubble.
Waves of longing washed over Molly as she toured the campus. This is what she should be doing. She'd tried going to the local community college back home. Because she wanted to study nursing, which was an appropriate female profession according to her parents, they allowed it. Until she turned twenty and learned about her arranged mating to Zane. Then it would be his decision as to whether she continued her education or not. On the day she'd discovered that little tidbit, she started plotting her escape. Having some man she didn't even like being in charge of whether she could pursue an education was not the life she wanted to live, and it came as a complete shock her parents expected that of her.
Something in her longed to take Ivan's hand as they walked from building to building. With no idea of how he’d react to such a public display of affection, she kept her hands to herself. There was still so much she didn't know about him.
When they reached Cole's office, Onyx knocked softly before calling out. “Professor Radcliffe, are you busy?”
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