by Leia King
“Ryan!” she screamed.
“I love your pussy. So fucking tight. Yeah, baby, do that clenching thing again,” he said, pumping slowly, teasingly, in and out of her.
He grunted as she obeyed. The pressure was amazing, right on the border of pleasure versus pain. He cupped the sides of her face and kissed her roughly.
She pulled her mouth away after a few seconds. “Stop teasing.”
He smirked at her. “But I love teasing you, baby. I love making you desperate, making you beg me to fuck you hard. Just the way I know you like it.”
She whimpered against his mouth and ground her hips against him, trying desperately to feel the friction that she craved.
“Aww. So cute. So desperate for me to take you like a wolf,” he breathed in her ear.
“Please, Ryan,” she pleaded. “I need you.”
“You need me to what?” he asked as he thrust hard, causing her to cry out. He stilled within her, waiting for her answer. He wanted to hear her say the words. She was still so shy and he wanted to bring out her inner wolf more when they fucked. He wanted to teach her everything, to show her everything that it could be.
“I need you to—”
He slipped his right hand between them and pinched her clit lightly. She cried out and writhed against him. “Tell me, baby. What do you want?” he asked, smirking as he circled her clit, driving her to the brink of insanity.
“Ryan! Fuck! Make me come!”
“Good girl.” He smiled and gave her what she wanted, fucking her hard against the shower wall. He grabbed her ass and moved them backwards into the streaming water as he continued to pound into her. Her cries echoed through the shower room.
He put her down and pulled out.
“Turn around. Hands against the tile.”
She obeyed instantly and he was back inside her with a rough thrust. She yelped as he slapped her ass, one cheek after the other in a determined rhythm. He stopped once her flesh turned a delightful pink, then pulled her ass cheeks apart. His finger circled her tight virgin hole. He felt her clench immediately.
“Relax, baby. Just my finger. Concentrate on my cock filling your tight little pussy.”
As he continued to fuck her under the shower, his left hand slid around to her pussy and he tortured her clit. He wanted to push her over the edge, further than he’d pushed her so far. He eased the tip of his index finger into her ass. He held it there until he felt her relax around him. And then he pushed in knuckle-deep.
“Ah, Ryan!”
“Do you want me to stop?”
She shook her head. “No! Never!”
He chuckled. “I didn’t think so.”
He started to pump his finger in and out of her ass slowly. Steady, deliberate strokes. He was so turned on by everything he was doing to her that he was struggling against the painful build in his balls as they tightened, pleading for release. But he wanted her to come first. He needed to feel her come apart around him.
“Come for me, baby!” he growled.
Once again, she obeyed him, coming hard and literally howling out her release. Hearing such a primal sound ripping from her throat pushed him over the edge and he joined her, both of them howling like the wild beasts that they were.
He pulled out and she sank back against him.
He eased them to the floor of the shower and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
“Five times,” Jada breathed. “And you’re still hard.”
He laughed. “It’s you, baby. I can’t control myself around you. This heat between us is all-consuming. I want to be inside you all the time. I really can’t stop fucking you.”
“I feel the same way,” she said, resting her head against his chest.
His head was so fuzzy, so completely clouded by the incredible pull to Jada that any thoughts of Cora were completely blocked most of the time. But whenever the two of them were done being physical, it hit him like a silver blade through the heart.
The guilt was intense.
He hadn’t just fucked a random woman, which would’ve been bad enough. Nah, it was far more than that with Jada. But he couldn’t stop. He really couldn’t. Whenever she was near, he had to have her. He needed her. It was beyond all reason, all notions of right and wrong.
It’d been that way when Cora had come to him that night in his bar. He hadn’t been able to think straight with her either. But the wolf made it worse with Jada. All-consuming.
He needed to seek Nathanial’s help ASAP, because it’d become clear that there most certainly was some sort of bond between them. He needed to understand how it was possible.
He gently eased her off him and climbed to his feet. He snatched a towel off the hook at the far end of the shower and wrapped it around his waist. “Sundown is almost here and I have to lead the offensive against the castle.”
She climbed to her feet and approached him.
He held up his hand, willing her to stay back. “If you come any closer, I won’t be able to walk out of here.”
“I don’t want you to, Ryan.”
“I know, baby. But I need to gather the troops.”
He threw another towel to her and she wrapped it around herself, concealing her delicious body beneath the soft, white cotton.
She sidled past him and pushed open the stall door. “I’ll get ready.”
“No.”
She eyed him with confusion. “I’m always on the frontlines. I’m one of the best warriors among the wolves, Ryan.”
“I don’t want you in the line of fire. It’ll distract me too much if you’re up there with me.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
Ryan was surprised. He wasn’t used to an agreeable reaction to an order, or a request. Cora always questioned his orders. But, then again, Jada was wolf and all wolves were loyal to their King.
He smiled at her and she winked slyly before sauntering out of the shower room and leaving him to prepare for the coming battle.
12
“You are ready.”
Nathanial’s words resounded through Cora’s head.
She’d trained with him for hours without a break. It’d reached the point where she’d barely been able to hold her hands steady. Intense. But, also such a major rush. She’d never felt so powerful, so invincible as when she’d released the full force of her power and managed to control it like a pro. She felt like nothing could touch her. No one.
Witnessing the toll it’d taken on Nathanial, the almighty Vampire King, as she’d assaulted him with her magic repeatedly, really brought it home to her as to how powerful she actually was. He’d actually had to call for an end to their training, his strength, stamina, and magic, strained from her greater power. It was a hell of a heady feeling, knowing what she could actually do now.
Strolling outside the compound with a sleeping Orion cradled in her arms, she breathed in the crisp, night air, enjoying the serenity. Josh had taught her a little wolf lullaby after she’d finished her training and she already had it down pat. Orion had loved it and fallen asleep instantly. She was really getting the hang of wolf tongue.
She started in surprise when Luca came out of nowhere, appearing in front of her. “Shit,” she gasped.
He grinned at her reaction, then cast his gaze to Orion. He took a couple of steps back.
“Relax,” she told him. “He’s in a deep sleep. Your presence won’t wake him.”
“I’ve never seen a wolf so tiny. He’s lovely, Cora.”
“Thanks.” She nuzzled Orion. “Everyone says he’s going to grow quickly, because of my blood.” She sighed. “I want him to stay this way for a while. I love him like this, as a baby, you know?”
“Yes.” He took a hesitant step forward, then stilled, clearly thinking better of it.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’d like to get closer, be formally introduced, but I doubt he will allow that. He is Ryan’s son, after all.”
“He’s mine!”
Luca co
cked an eyebrow.
“I… I didn’t mean to—”
“I understand that it’s a sore subject.”
“Yeah,” she grunted, stroking her baby possessively.
She was grateful when Luca abruptly changed the subject, commenting, “You did well tonight. Your power is incredible. Far beyond mine and, even, my father’s.”
“What if I lose control? It could happen. It happened the first time we tried. It felt like my entire body was on fire.”
“Yes, I know. But you won’t lose control. You just need to maintain your concentration, like you learned tonight.”
“What was that burning, though?”
Luca hesitated, which made her all the more nervous.
“Luca?”
“Most wielders of magic can be killed by another of their kind, as long as their power is weaker than their opponent’s. For example, my father could kill me with his magic, because we both wield Dark power and he is stronger than me. But, with you, there is no one strong enough to kill you. The only way you can die is by engulfing yourself with your own White power. That would occur if you lost control wholly. That is why it was so important to teach you complete control before you battled Oriana.”
Cora swallowed hard. “I see. Wow.”
“I know it’s a lot. But, you can do this, princess.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being here.”
“It has been my pleasure. I enjoy being around you.”
“You do?”
He moved closer. “You are a refreshing change. You are strong, capable, and incredibly sexy while you’re doing it. Your sense of humor is one of a kind. You’re as close to feeling the warmth of the sun at my back as I could possibly get.”
“Luca,” she said, feeling herself blushing from his intense compliments.
He took another step closer. “You smell like roses. Do you know that?”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He eyed Orion briefly, before leaning into her.
Caught off guard, she failed to react in time before his lips brushed hers.
Softly. So softly.
He kissed her tenderly, his hand cupping the back of her head in a gentle, yet, dominating move. A wave of heat coursed through her. His erotically-charged kiss held so many promises for what it would feel like if he took her to his bed.
He pulled back abruptly. “Something to consider,” he said, eyeing her intense, before teleporting away in a flash.
Cora brought her hand to her lips, dazed and overwhelmed.
“Holy crap,” she breathed.
13
“Is she truly ready, Nathanial?”
Marella tensed at the grave look that passed over Nathanial’s features, as he considered her query.
“Nathanial?” she pressed, worriedly.
He cleared his throat, shifting his weight uneasily. “Given the time constraints, I have done all that I can to prepare her.”
“That is far from a definitive, or reassuring, answer.”
He took her hand and pulled her to him gently. “The entire situation is anything but reassuring. What would you have me do, angel?”
Marella sighed with defeat. “Nothing. You’re right. You’ve done all that you can. I am just concerned. I know my sister. She has a gift for getting under people’s skin. The very fact that she was able to do so with you is proof enough of that. I fear for Cora, if she attempts that with her. It only takes a split second of weakness to lose control, but a tremendous amount of strength to regain it.”
“You forget that Cora will not be alone. I will be there also. As will Luca. I may not be able to kill her, but I can certainly incapacitate her.”
“I could kill her and then we could avoid all of this. But you have made your feelings on that perfectly clear,” Marella said, unable to suppress a pout.
Nathanial smiled and traced his finger lightly over her lips. “Oh, angel. Do not pout. It sparks my desire for you and I cannot take you in public like this.”
“Being in public never stopped you with your other lovers.”
“You are not just another lover. You are my mate and the mother of our child,” he said, rubbing her pregnant belly gently. “I will treat you as such. With respect, angel.”
“You are such a gentleman. Who knew?” she teased.
He pulled her close. “I was always a gentleman with you.”
“Is that so?” she asked, her words muffled against his chest.
“Definitely. Had that not been the case, I would have taken you so many times over, centuries ago. As it was, I remained patient, waiting for you to come to me.”
“It was not your usual approach. Subtle is not a word I would use to describe you.”
He pulled back to look at her. “On occasion, the right woman can affect a man in such a profound manner, that he alters his ways.”
“And even all those centuries ago, I was that woman? You married my sister.”
“There is nothing I regret more than settling for the woman who merely reminded me of you.”
“What? You didn’t want to marry her?”
“I was under pressure to produce an heir. It had always been you, Marella. From the first time I saw you, I knew. But I was… afraid.”
“Afraid? You?”
“Yes. Of tainting a woman of such purity, such light. An angel. You were young then. Impressionable. I did not want to affect what you would become with my darkness.”
She gazed at him adoringly, as his words washed over her.
He’d been secretly watching over her for most of her very long life, protecting her from others, as well as himself. He’d even killed one of her abusive former lovers. He’d loved her so much that he’d watched from the sidelines for centuries, just to allow her to become who she needed to be. She understood why he hadn’t approached her and he had been right. She wouldn’t have been able to handle his power, the pull between them, when she had been that much younger.
“I love you. Thank you, my darling.”
“For what?”
“For waiting.”
“You are most welcome, angel. Now, I will give you everything, like I had always intended. You and our daughter.”
“I already have it.”
“You are too easy to please.”
She pulled back with a grin. “I can make it more of a challenge for you if you like.”
He laughed. “Then I retract my earlier statement.”
A chilly gust of wind blew through the area.
Luca materialized before them. “It is time, Father. The princess is waiting at the compound gates.”
“How did you gain access inside the compound?” Nathanial asked.
“Cora. I was told to make it quick.”
Nathanial nodded to his son and then turned his attention back to her, bending down to give her a soft, lingering kiss. “I will not be long, angel.”
“Just be careful. Oriana is unpredictable.”
“She is more predictable than she realizes. There is little she can do that will catch me off guard.”
“Arrogant as ever,” Luca muttered.
“A trait that is clearly hereditary,” Nathanial fired back.
“Perhaps we can get to know one another when we return?” Luca asked Marella.
“As long as you stay on your current path, I would like that. Otherwise it is my wrath you will have to deal with.”
Nathanial winked at her and then warned Luca, “She can be incredibly fierce when provoked.”
Luca grinned. “I have heard tales.”
Nathanial looked back at her once more, saying, “Soon, angel.”
Marella sighed heavily with regret as she watched them teleport away. The last thing she wanted was for Nathanial to be heading into the belly of the beast, right into Oriana’s line of fire. Despite his confidence, she would not be able to stop fretting, until he returned safe and sound.
“Come back to me, my darl
ing,” she whispered into the night.
14
“Hold the line! Shields up!” Ryan bellowed.
His wolf army complied immediately, raising their shields into position, right as Oriana’s black magic rained down upon them once again. The shields held up, doing their job of deflecting the assault, and firing right back at her.
Ryan cringed as she watched her reabsorb it all, without it doing a shred of damage to her. Fuck.
“We can’t breach the walls, Ryan! She’s put up a protective barrier. It just burned two of our guys!” Damon yelled over the noise of battle.
“Our objective is to cause a distraction, not to take the castle!” Ryan reminded him. “We need to hold our position.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
Ryan and the five hundred wolves at his back had been forced into the same defensive position for the past two hours on the bridge before the castle, struggling to hold their ground from the two-pronged threat of the attacking vampire guards and Oriana’s consistent shower of black magic raining down on them. He’d left several hundred troops back at the camp. He couldn’t risk the entire wolf population in a vicious battle that had the odds severely stacked against them.
Ryan spun into a vampire attack from his left, smashing his fist into his face with the full force of his wolf strength. It sent the bloodsucker flying backwards over the side of the bridge. Another burst forward and Ryan grabbed hold of his chainmail armor and hoisted him off his feet. Damon swept his claws at his neck, decapitating him with one brutal swipe.
“Maintain position! Do not break formation!” Ryan thundered behind him at his wolves as he caught sight of a couple of them moving towards the barrier in an attempt to breach it. Goddamn it. Wolves had a huge problem with holding back in battle. It was ingrained in them to go on the offensive, to attack hard, fast, and brutally. Remaining defensive was against their very nature. But, as Wolf King, Ryan wielded enough power to ensure their obedience.
A collective growl of acceptance rumbled beneath his feet, that had Damon cocking an eyebrow at him. “I’ve never been able to control them like that.”
