Moaning and feeling my sex take his essence and throb at the pleasure, I let him use me, his rams lifting me up and down to take the slow yet punishing rhythm of his sex.
Pleasure builds slowly this time, the continuous orgasms of the night before lost beneath my sorrow and the knowledge that I’m leaving him behind soon.
“God, doll. Fuck. I’ve never felt this much before. Every time I kiss you, I feel near out of control with lust. One kiss and I get so hard I feel maddened with lust,” he says and growls, kissing me again to prove his point.
I feel it too, as if his every kiss injects me with arousal, a potent aphrodisiac that has my pleasure building to unbearable heights of ecstasy.
“Oh God, right there,” I moan when he goes deeper and hits a place in me that shoots me into the stars, the explosion starting in my womb and shattering when it reaches my sex and sends me into shaking waves of climax.
Brig grunts, thrusts once more, and finds his release, the hot wash of his seed bathing my womb and causing tiny aftershocks to weave through me. It takes minutes for sanity to return and my breath to even out to the occasional sigh, and then he’s carrying me back to bed and undressing me to do it all over again.
Each time he touches me, kisses me, loves me, I fall more deeply into despair, the last round of loving making me cry as he sends me into orgasm before falling down beside me and pulling my back to his front.
“You okay, Beebee?” he murmurs, nuzzling my nape and licking at the perspiration that still coats my skin.
“Okay,” I whisper, shivering when he leans in to lick at my neck, almost as if he can’t resist the call of my vein.
For a wolf, any shifter really, biting is a thing. It’s usually a thing between mates and Fated, but many males will at least bite once—while protected by a condom—to release their instinct.
For me, feeling Brig lap over that point where his teeth would sink in is bittersweet because I know that now it will never happen.
“Thank you for staying, mischia,” he grumbles, his voice going soft as he relaxes for sleep.
“I am not a brat,” I huff, smiling as my eyes burn.
“You are, baby. You’re my brat and always will be, no matter what.”
Swallowing, I snuggle back deeper into him, keeping myself awake while Brig goes lax, his body going heavy around mine in sleep. I lay there, feeling him for hours until I know I can’t hold off any more.
It’s time to go.
Sliding out from under him slowly, I dress in the socks, sweats, and fleece that were his, staring down at him for a long time before turning and making my way to the bathroom.
The front door, as close as it is, has a lock that would take me too long to get through, and besides, with all the booby traps Brig sets up before night falls I would wake him in an instant.
Closing the door, I go to the tiny window, thanking the stars for my small stature and slide it open, silently crawling my way through before sliding it down again.
It’s cold as a bitch out here, even with my inner wolf heating me, but I shake it off and start walking, going for miles before I reach a rickety fence that makes me pause.
I’m about to grab it and hop the thing to get out of here when I hear a whisper inside my head, making me stop and close my eyes.
You shouldn’t be out there, Barbie.
Hell, what the hell do you want, Hannah?
I want you to be smart, Barbie, and not go back to a place where you’ll die, honey. You should think. Just the thought of death would stop a sane, intelligent shifter.
I hear the snort of derision in her voice when I roll my eyes and agree silently that I may not be quite sane anymore.
You are though. Your problem is that you’re an idiot.
Oh wow, gee, thanks. No really, I already feel like shit, why not make it worse.
Sarcasm, Barbie? Really? You really think it’s wise to be sarcastic to a female who wants to help you? Though God knows why since you’re a pain in the ass.
Look Hannah, I am truly, really grateful that you’ve grown one feeling in the last few months and you’re not as black-hearted as I assumed all our lives. Truly. But get the hell off my tits, okay? I don’t need this.
I hear her giggle when I stalk forward, the evil glee in the sound giving me pause right before I grab the fencing to hop over. For some reason her laughter has me stilling, suspicion making me go tense all over.
What is so funny?
Nothing! Nothing really, just that I am so going to enjoy seeing you lose all your hair and teeth if you touch that fence.
What? Why?
Barbie, be reasonable. Do you think a guy like Brigger is really going to sleep like a baby with someone coming after you?
Well, I mean, we’re pretty far from any trails and this is Canada. All people do around here is drink syrup and say aboot, like it’s even a real word.
Hannah laughs, hard, the sound ricocheting off my skull and making my head ring before she snorts to a stop and sighs, breathing hard.
I totally say that all the time! Look at us, all sisterly and only thinking snide thoughts when we’re not talking to each other out loud. God, I so need you to come back to Greyriver. Please. These other females are sweet, Barbie, it makes me sick.
I snort myself, my amusement overriding my ager and roll my eyes.
I know, right? I love Mika, adore Gretchen and the others, but come on, who wants to talk about babies and breastfeeding all the time?
Weeeell, I mean, me. Sometimes. Since I’m having a young.
Oh my God! Congrats. I really hope for your sake it doesn’t come out covered in scales and sporting a forked tongue.
Haha, fucking ha. Really funny. Be nice, or I’ll tell Logan you’re an asshole. Oh, God, you really are amusing and the reason that I’m afraid I can’t allow you to leave and die a painful and bloody death. See, this is not the right time for you to be doing anything, Barbara.
Barbie! My name is Barbie.
I know, it’s gross though. And so lame. What were your parents thinking?
My mama loves Barbie, and she thought it’d be funny with the last name Kendall.
We should shoot at her for fun and ask her how funny it feels.
Dude, I agree, but come on, that’s my mama. Besides, most people don’t even notice anymore.
Bullshit. Everyone notices all the time. They’re just too two-faced to say it to your face. I bet they laugh and laugh all the time.
Hey! This is a shitty pep talk.
Possibly because I don’t do pep talks. Those are for losers with no brains and too much hope to smell the reality. Me and you, we know the score, and I’m telling ya, Boobie, this is not the time to be dying. I need an aunt for my young, one who won’t teach him to be gay.
Homophobe!
No, I mean gay as in all happy and shit. He needs a good reality aunt to temper all the stupid these people got going on. So, what say you just turn around and go back to bed with my brother. Jesus that grosses me out.
Look, Hannah—
Call me, Han! Were like gonna be best friends after all. I had to let my Lync go. *Sigh* It was time he either woke up or started killing. Either way, a party for everyone!
What? Are you drunk?
No silly, just high on life. So, as great as it is talking to you via super-brain on this great January morn, at three of the a.m., go on back, have more sex *gag* and let Hannah help you fix this.
You don’t even know—
That you were working for those scentless shifters to find a way to cure them of some pathogen the resistance infected them with and now you’re trying to expose them as murderous assholes, but they’re trying to kill you, so you won’t talk? Did I get it all? Oh no wait, you’re all sad and depressed that Nick is pissed because you’re a traitor, and even if you did all this for the right reasons, you’re like going to prison. That?
I groan, sitting down in the snow to eye the fence, wondering if it wouldn’t just be kinder to
grab it and put myself out of my misery.
You suck as a best friend. Your friend speak is horrible.
My friend speak is honest, which is better than lying to you and telling you it will all be okay. Nick is pissed at you, and he’s even more pissed that you haven’t come back, and worse pissed because we all know you can’t prove anything, so he’ll have to follow the law and lock you up.
I remember why I hate you now.
Oh poooh! You like me. You’re just fighting the pull of my magnetic personality. Relax, let it take you over and engulf you in awesome.
Why am I still speaking to you?
‘Cause you’re all alone and about to fry yourself to death on an electric fence?
Yeah. That.
Oh come now, Bambi. Don’t be all sad. It’s a weak emotion we Seers females don’t feel. We get angry. We get even. We cry in secret like winners.
You’re an ass.
You’re stalling. You want to go back to him because you love his ass.
Well, yeah, I mean, it is nice. I think he does squats.
No, I mean you love him. You love Brigger.
Oh, please. That is just not—
Don’t lie to your new worst best friend, Busby. It hurts my feeling.
Christ.
Okay! So, here’s where we are. You have to go get proof so that poor Nick doesn’t have to throw the book at you, but you can’t go alone because they will kill you dead, dead, dead.
Jesus.
Don’t get crabby, now that Brig is licking your honey pot you don’t have an excuse to get your period. Just chillax, go have some sex, rest, and I’ll give you a super-call when you and Brig can go get your proof.
Brig? Brig is going to Alaska where he’s going to live in the wild like a freak of nature. I have to go alone.
Oh pfft! The male loves Armani, two-ply toilet paper, and his coffee machine. He’s just being maudlin—that’s my word of the day by the way. Go me! He’s not going to go off and become a savage. Besides, I think he sorta likes you too. A little.
Gee thanks.
It’s not my fault. You need to do more if you want a quality prick like Brig to admit to feeling more. So, go give some quality head. Do something, just please God get out of the snow and stop being stupid. Dead is dead. You can’t move on from dead, and you’re not Jon Maclean. You’ll definitely die. Hard
I huff, falling back into the snow and stare up at the sky, wondering what I ever did to make God this mad at me. Me, I am talking to Hannah Seers—
Kilter!
Fine. Hannah Kilter, and she’s actually making sense. God save us all the Rapture must be near.
I resent that remark. I am very intelligent.
Yeah? Then why did you reject Logan all those years ago?
That’s not on me. He didn’t want me, so I gave him what he wanted. I’m a giving soul, Becky.
Barbie, my name is—
Look Bilbo, I need to go. My mate is waking up, and he always gives me morning wood. So here, I’ll be as real as I can be. You have an opportunity to make things right here, not only for yourself but for our pack. We need that proof to prove to other Alphas that things need to be done about that resistance network. This isn’t just about saving your ass, Balboa, it’s about everyone now. So, stop being a dick, go get some dick, and convince my brother to save you.
I feel Hannah leave as fast as she came, the sound of her moans ringing in my ears as I lay in the cold and look up at the stars, knowing that she’s right even as I resent it.
I can’t just walk in there, expect to bust my way out like some superhero wannabe and run back home where I will fix everything and live happily ever after.
I will die. Brie will die. It will all implode, and it’s my fault if it does.
Chapter Eight
Brig
Thanks, Han.
You are such a dick, Brigger, letting her sneak out like that towards the fence. I mean, it would have been hilarious if she touched it, but come on! Females need hair on the head.
I snort, not knowing how I went all my life not knowing how funny Hannah is.
I’m awesome, as I just told your girlfriend.
She’s not my girlfriend.
Alright fine. Looooverrr. There happy? Anywhoziewho, she’s probably on her way back right now, getting all hot and bothered for your beer gut. Be nice, Brig. She’s not in a good place in her head, and as much as I love teasing, she needs more than just your brand of comfort.
I know. Christ, stop with the emotional pep talks.
But I’m so good at them. Like how’s this? Brigger, you’re being a Goddamned bastard, and if you let that female just walk away, she will die and you’ll live with the guilt forever because I will never let you forget it. I will be in your head all the time, just reminding you of how you let Bambi die because you’re a coward.
Sometimes, like right now, I really cannot understand why I love Hannah. She’s a sarcastic, vindictive pain in the ass.
Don’t try to flatter me now, Brigger. I’m already mad at you for being so mean to her this afternoon.
Stop reading my thoughts.
I didn’t. You’re broadcasting that shit all over the place. By the by, it’s been like more than enough time for Barnaby to get back. You better go make sure she’s not trying to leave.
Cursing, I roll from the bed and pad to the front door, sliding the locks open slowly to avoid the trap I set before going to bed. Once I’m on the porch, I make my way around to the back of the cabin and out to the footprints littering the snow. I follow them until I reach the edge of the land I rented only to see Beebee in cougar form, eying a tree about two meters outside the fenced off perimeter.
“Do it and I will beat your ass black and blue, Beebee!” I yell, fighting a grin when she turns in a circle, looking guilty as hell, her cougar shifting suddenly and leaving her naked beside the pile of clothes she obviously shed.
“Oh hi! I was just…er…uh…going to check the perimeter?” she starts, sitting up to dust snow off her breasts with a distracted wave of her hands while she watches me stalk to her in silence.
When I reach her, I swoop her up into my arms, clothes and all and stomp back through the snow, my jaw gritted against the need to laugh. The female looks guilty as hell, her bottom lip stuck out and pouting because she knows she’s guilty but won’t admit it.
“You’re being an ass.”
“Brigger, that is not nice.”
“Not meant to be,” I grunt, walking in through the front door and tossing her through the air.
The move frees up my hands to lock the door, and I enjoy the sound of her scream before she hits the mattress with a huff of expelled breath.
“That was just—”
“Me saving you from being an idiot! You were going to just leave in the middle of the night and run off to get killed? Beebee! Stop shifting. Goddammit, ouch!” I yell when she shifts so suddenly I hardly see the change and then lunges at me, her wolf sinking its teeth into my ankle.
I shake my leg, yelling out a curse, and free myself only to have her stalk me around the cabin, her wickedly sharp teeth bared with menace.
“I said I was sorry! Dammit Beebee, I didn’t mean it, okay? I was just not feeling right—after we had sex—and I…I blamed you instead of myself!” I yell, dodging the couch when she goes down on her belly and starts creeping my way.
I barely breathe, fighting my wolf like a sonofabitch, the urge to shift coming on so strongly all I can hear inside my head is the aggressive snarl and feel his fury.
Back off!
“Beebee, this isn’t funny. You know I won’t shift because I don’t want to hurt you,” I mutter, sliding left when she goes right.
She growls, the hair on her back rising and bares her teeth at me in a snarl. I’ve been holding my breath so far, hardly breathing at all, and when she lunges, I duck, her wolf sailing over me in such a way that I instantly realize something is wrong.
I go into my own shi
ft so fast I’m slightly disoriented when I spin and leap, the animal reacting much faster than I can process. And then I am on something, biting, my mind screaming, refusing to—
Wait. This isn’t Bee, I think, sinking my teeth into a black wolf, my teeth slicing into a leg, head shaking, ripping. I fling him away, twisting fast to get to Beebee, who is in the corner and facing off against another wolf, her snarls so loud they echo in the room.
Getting between them, I go almost feral in my thoughts, my wolf taking over so violently it’s all I can do to retain some of my mind. I see the wolf I bit slinking up from behind the couch, but I don’t pay it any mind, keeping my eyes on this one.
Fury, death, I feel it all converge inside me, my wolf dominant as never before. I will kill them, I think, snarling and growling, snapping out a warning even as it registers in my mind that I don’t smell them, at least not enough to fully understand or could have known they were here.
Beebee did though, and it’s as that thought blooms that I feel her behind me, back in skin and nestling into my side. I move back and closer, using my body to cover her nakedness and widen my stance, keeping my eyes moving from one to the other.
“Cyrus! Are you insane?” she yells, the arm around my back pulling me with her when she moves for the bed.
I go, my wolf calming slightly when she grabs the bedspread and twists it around her, covering her body from sight. Only then do I breathe in through my nose, slowly taking in the scent.
I smell wolf, definitely wolf, as I should because it’s pretty fucking obvious—but that is where all similarity ends. The other markers are all so faint it’s not possible to really pinpoint anything else. Pack, lineage, it’s all missing.
“Cyrus! You shift now and tell Ry to shift as well. Hey Brig, hush, it’s okay. I know these two big idiots,” she murmurs, leaning down to stroke my fur.
It feels so good I make a note to shift into fur again and have her stoke me.
I don’t obey though, not until I see the black wolf shake his head and shift, right before the black and grey male follow Beebee’s orders.
Greyriver Shifters Page 55
