Caleb's grunt rumbled against her ear. “Yeah, I like you. Far more than I should."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"Have you forgotten I'm cursed? That tends to make me a less desirable catch to chicks."
Addison raised her head to meet his hard, dark gaze. “I've never met anyone like you, Caleb."
"I'd say not,” he said, his lips lifting in a wry smile.
Crap, he was crazy sexy when he smiled. And she was about to take a risk she might regret...
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Chapter Two
"Would it be brazen of me to say I really wouldn't mind if you didn't up and get yourself killed and you could stay here with me?"
"In the era I come from, yep. There'd be no bigger tart than you."
She snorted. “In this era it's called sexually aware. Or desperate.” She giggled.
"I can't imagine you desperate for male attention, Addy."
Huh. Really? How odd that the last time she'd checked, she was, to all outward appearances, purty desperate. With a shrug of her shoulders she dismissed his comment. “I don't get out much, so no male attention."
"Well, you ought to. It's a waste of a beautiful woman if you don't."
Okay, so she was blushing. But she'd decided she was going to go for it and practice all that sexually aware baloney you read in Cosmo but didn't ever really do because it was mostly bullshit. For a mere moment, her heart stopped with what she was about to do. But she couldn't think of a single reason why she shouldn't.
"Then don't waste me,” she whispered, her face on fire, tingling where his hand cupped her jaw. This wasn't her kind of thing—the aggressive make the first move thing—but she was too afraid to let this opportunity go without at least knowing she'd explored it.
Again, his dark gaze sought hers and he tipped her chin up. “I can't make any promises, Addy. We don't know what will happen tomorrow night,” was his reply, throaty and raw.
What did that mean? He couldn't promise she'd be more than just a dimensional dalliance? Or he couldn't promise that he'd live to find out?
It didn't matter. She wouldn't let it. For the moment—this moment—she was all into not letting an opportunity slip away.
The opportunity to be with this sometimes funny, sometimes serious, werewhateverhewas man.
So she kept it light. “Well, I can't promise that I won't be possessed by some demon in the next couple of days either. Things could get pretty ugly, so call me willing to gamble."
Her response was apparently enough to satisfy him and he let his lips, full and luscious hover over hers. The sweet smell of toothpaste wafted under her nostrils and with the tilt of her head, Addison closed her eyes, waiting for his touch.
From the first graze of flesh on flesh, her heart hammered in her chest and the sweet heat of desire enflamed her pussy. She'd waited, hoped, wanted him to touch her for over two weeks. Now that it was a reality, Addison savored the sensations trickling along her spine, making her nipples harden and swell beneath her bra.
His lips devoured hers, parting them with his silky tongue, making her whimper and reach up to clutch his thick, dark hair, drawing him closer. Their heads tilted, creating a deeper connection. Caleb's arms wound around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Clothes,” he muttered, pulling away from her lips momentarily. “Why do you always have on so many clothes?"
"Because it's unseemly for me to prance around naked in front of you?” she joked, clasping her arms around his neck.
"Says you,” he mumbled back, kissing his way down her neck with nibbles of tongue and lips.
In an instant, their clothes were simply gone, melting from their bodies into a puddle on the floor, and Caleb carried her up the stairs to her bedroom.
Ahh, the power of magic.
As he laid her on the bed, her pillows cushioned her, surrounding her with the sweet smell of clean sheets and raw male. His skin pressed to hers momentarily, sizzling and smooth, before he knelt over her, the thickness of his thighs rippling and flexing as he straddled her body.
His eyes, stormy and charcoal black, caressed her body with a gaze so intense, Addison felt wanton and exposed all at the same time.
For a moment it occurred to her to pull the thick comforter over herself, but Caleb held her hands above her head and whispered, “Don't hide, Addison. I want to remember every inch of you."
She fought a groan, hoping he wouldn't remember all of her inches. There were plenty to remember.
With a finger, he banished her embarrassment, tracing the slope of her breast, making her nipples tighten, lowering his head to them. He sipped each one with a low groan, rolling them between his lips, laving them with his tongue in long, searing strokes.
She squirmed beneath him, her hands clenching into fists, bucking beneath the white-hot heat his mouth created. Leaving her breasts, Caleb swept a path of kisses along her ribs to her navel. He stopped to dip his tongue into the sensitive space, moving his mouth in a hot circle. He let go of her hands and slipped a finger between her thighs, parting them, readying them for his mouth.
Her cunt was on fire, dripping, aching to feel the slick slide of his tongue. When his mouth lay over her pussy, open and hot, Addison bit her lip to keep from crying out. His chuckle was muffled against her swollen flesh, and then he took his first stoke with a slither of his tongue. Her clit throbbed at the sweet, sharp contact and her hands found the top of his head, pressing him to her.
When he inserted a finger into her, driving in and out with long, drawn out strokes, Addison clenched her teeth, fighting a roar of pleasure. Her back arched upward, seeking the fiery heat of his mouth, rolling her hips against his lips.
Orgasm fought to surface and Addison was aware of the fact that she wanted to hold onto this carnal pleasure for as long as she could, but she was unable to stop the freight train of sensation coursing through her body.
It attacked her senses, clinging to every square inch of her. Her toes curled when Caleb wrapped his mouth around her clit and there was no stopping the tidal wave of electricity that bolted to her most sensitive places.
She came in vivid color, grinding her hips to his face and clenching his head with her thighs. The silky rub of his hair sliding along her thighs and the rasp of his stubbled chin accentuated her climax, leaving her shuddering when he took his mouth away. He slid up her body to pull her close and lay her on top of him.
She was wracked with tremors, powerful and strong, but Caleb held her tight and for the first time she felt the desire he too was experiencing. He was tense, the muscles in his back flexing and stiff. Smooth, his skin was smooth and hard, the planes of his muscles bulging and rigid.
His cock was hard, thick and pressing against her belly. Reaching between them, she stroked him, surrounding his shaft with her hand. His groan in her ear showed his pleasure. His breathing became rapid, harsh, and once again he took possession of her lips while she caressed him. Caleb's hands roamed her back, sliding along her ribs, massaging the muscles with soothing circles.
Addison reveled in the hard, silken steel, hot and pulsing in her grasp. Pre-come beaded at the mushroom shaped head. When his hips began to jut forward in rhythm with her strokes, she heard him hiss a response and she boldly took advantage. Slipping down his body, she knelt in front of him, spreading his thighs, running her hands over the crisp hair that clung to them. Caleb arched upward, the rippled muscles of his abdomen straining beneath her touch.
Addison bent her head, taking a slow swipe of his thick cock, ready, hot, sleekly silken. Her tongue savored the rich essence he emanated, tasting each inch as she dragged her lips over him. Grasping him firmly in her hand again, her strokes followed her tongue in long deep passes.
When she finally took him completely in her mouth, he bucked beneath her, groaning low and long. He threaded his fingers through her hair, tugging the strands in time with the bob of her head. With each slick pass her mouth stretched to
take more of him, circling him with firm lips. Cupping his balls, Addison rolled them lightly between her fingers, bringing them flush to his cock, laving them as she swept her tongue from the base to the tip of his shaft.
He pulled away with a sharp twist of his hips. “Now, Addy. I need you now or I'll come in your mouth,” he muttered with a raspy breath against the top of her head.
He rolled her over onto her belly, hiking her hips up so that her ass was high in the air, then positioned himself behind her. Again Caleb's hands roamed her body—over her thighs, along her calves, skimming between the cheeks of her ass.
The thickness of his cock prodded her aching entrance. The mushroom shaped head pressed against her, making her muffle a whimper against the pillows and beg to be entered.
With a swift motion of his hips he thrust, filling her, stretching her until she momentarily lost her breath. Caleb kneaded her hips, gripping them, pulling her closer with each stroke.
His cock was like molten lava, each stroke melting inside her, leaving her in a feverish pitch of need. He reached between their sweat-glistened bodies and spread the lips of her pussy, stroking the aching nub of her clit.
Clinging to the headboard, Addison had one focus, one deep, resonating need for fulfillment and with each thrust of his cock, she lifted her ass higher, reveling in his hard abdomen crashing against her.
When he spoke it was her undoing. “Christ, baby, I could stay inside you forever,” he groaned and then she felt him go stiff behind her.
Addison came again with a hard crash of electric heat that made her insides twist in a knot and her legs become weak.
Caleb fell forward over her, wrapping his hands around her waist and gasping for breath.
They lay silent for a while, both obviously lost in the impact of their lovemaking.
"Wow, for someone who doesn't get out much...” he whispered against her shoulder, withdrawing from her and leaving her bereft for a moment before brushing her back with his lips.
Addison chuckled. “I bet you say that to all the humans."
"No, Addy. There haven't been any humans but you."
"Have there been, er, other warwolfs?” Omigod. Had she just asked that? Jesus effin'. If the ground opened up and swallowed her whole right now, she wouldn't shed tears.
"Werelocks,” he corrected.
She hid her face in his chest. “Never mind. Forget I asked that. My mouth moves quicker than the censor in my brain,” she said by way of an apology.
He chuckled with a deep growl that rumbled under her ear. “There have been a couple of others, yes. No humans and no one I've spent as much time with as I have you."
"Well, it's not like you've had a choice. I do have that damned statue you have to guard."
"That's very true, but I could have hovered without you ever knowing."
"Okay, that's just creepy."
He laughed again. “Well, I guess it could be, but you'd have never known until you absolutely had to."
Huh. And that meant what? “So you really do like me."
"From the moment you popped up in my crystal ball."
"No shit. You have a crystal ball?"
"It was a joke."
Letting her head fall back on his shoulder, she giggled.
"I guess the time to tell you that I thought you were smokin’ hot from the second you picked up that talisman is now, huh?"
Her smile was smugly satisfied. “So tomorrow's the day.” The statement stuck in her throat like sludge, nearly choking her. It was their reality.
"Yeah, tomorrow's the day."
She snuggled deeper into him and clenched her eyes shut. “Whatever happens, I'm glad this happened."
His arms grew tighter. “Me too. Now sleep, Addy. Tomorrow will be a long night."
With gentle fingers Caleb stroked the soft skin of Addison's cheek, still pressed to his chest. She would sleep, falling into a deep slumber he'd created. With any luck, he'd be back tomorrow to wake her. His fascination with her wasn't something he should have ever allowed, but he found himself unable to prevent it. He was compelled by something bigger than he was to ring her doorbell and each moment he'd spent with her since had been different than any other time in his life.
And he'd had a pretty long life.
Still, he should never have allowed this to happen. This wasn't just relieving his baser needs. It was more, but his follow-up might sorely be lacking if tomorrow left him dead. She was a temptation too luscious to deny and when she'd offered herself, knowing they might not see each other again, Caleb had decided to throw caution to the wind for the chance to take a small taste of what he'd craved from her.
Addison sighed against him, stretching catlike before settling back against his side. Caleb soaked in the sweet, breathy moan she made and pulled her closer.
Closing his eyes, he forced himself to find respite in sleep.
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Chapter Three
"Addy! Wake up!"
The urgency of Caleb's voice sliced through the warm haze of her dream. She popped up immediately, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. “What's wrong?"
"Where's the talisman?"
Looking up at him, she saw the terror that manifested in his eyes. “Where it's always been. On the kitchen counter."
"No. No, it's not. I came back from, well, from my dimension and it was gone. Christ, how could I have been so stupid as to leave?” he spat.
Addison scurried out of bed, grabbing the sheet as she went. It was dark at her window. A glance at the bedside clock told her it was almost eleven o'clock. “I thought you weren't going to leave my side unless you had to, warwolf?"
"Werelock. I'm a werelock."
She flicked an impatient hand at him. “Forget it. Why did you let me sleep so late?"
Caleb ran a hand over his hair in frustration. “I put a spell on you. My hope was that you'd sleep until after midnight and by then this would all be over. I only left because I knew you wouldn't wake up with the spell I cast."
Well, for fuck's sake. How nice that he should want to protect her. This—this would be one of those times when she hated how he went all Neanderthal. “Weren't you even going to say goodbye?” she squeaked in disbelief, realizing her words were shaky.
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to.” His face was grave, his words somber, his eyes dark.
And it was then that she completely understood.
He wanted to stay here too.
She rested a hand on his arm for a moment then turned to fly downstairs to the kitchen, scanning her countertops, pristine and white.
It was gone.
Holy fuck, it was gone.
Caleb followed hot on her heels, his face a mask of worry. “It's gone and I can't find it anywhere."
"So did this Volac dude come in here and just take it?"
"He can't do that, Addy. He can only take it at the portal. A human has to take it, or me, the keeper. He has no power until tonight when he gets his free pass. So where did it go? How the fuck did he get it?"
Leaning forward on the countertop, Addison pressed her hot cheeks to the cool surface. Her head popped up. She had a message on her answering machine. The angry red light blinked at her. She'd always kept the sound off because she didn't want to be interrupted when she was knee-deep in work.
Pressing the black button, her sister's voice filled the room. “Hey, Add. We popped by tonight about six. Thought you might want to trick or treat with us,” she said with a snort. “But your house was pretty quiet. You got something you wanna tell me?” she joked. “Anyway, Sophie borrowed your statue. She said it would make a reallllly cool addition to her princess costume. Joel said princesses don't have statues, but we figured you wouldn't mind. We'll bring it back tomorrow. Oh, and I told the kids I just knew you had a nice little Halloween care package for them ... Love ya!"
Addison's stomach sank to her toes. She gripped the countertop for support, her knuckles white, while stinging tea
rs filled her eyes.
Jesus Christ in a mini skirt. He had Sophie. She was Volac's human.
Caleb came to stand behind her, pulling her back against him to give her a quick hug. “I have to go, Addy. I'll find her. I swear to you, I'll find her."
"Do—do—you really think he ha—has her?” she sobbed. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe they were just assuming. She had to call Tricia. To possibly possess her was one thing, but her sweet, innocent niece? She'd kill the motherfucker.
"I don't know, but if he does, I'll find her. I promise."
"I have to call Tricia."
"No!” Caleb shouted with a bark. “Let her be. More than likely, if he does have Sophie, Tricia isn't even aware of it yet. Let me go find out."
Turning, Addison let him envelop her in the arms he offered. “Go. Get Sophie. Try to come back, okay?” she said on a shaky, tear filled breath.
He kissed the top of her head and whispered, “I'll get Sophie. No matter what, I'll get her back."
And then he was gone. As quickly as his big body had filled her arms, it left her with nothing but empty air, a heavy, cloying scent she couldn't identify and a heart that was so heavy it felt like a weight in her chest.
* * * *
Okay, so this might be a little rash, but when could anyone ever accuse her of being levelheaded. She played the stock market for a living, for crap's sake.
With the flip of a button, Addison turned on her computer and thanked the goddess known as Mavis Beacon for keeping her typing skills up. In five minutes flat she had a letter drawn up to her lawyer, made a phone call to his office, and she was out the door, in her car, and on her way to the pumpkin patch.
She couldn't leave Sophie's fate in Caleb's hands alone. It was too huge a responsibility. Oh, God. Her stomach heaved at the thought that this Volac had little Sophie. Why the fuck couldn't those kids just leave stuff alone? They were always touching something they shouldn't.
Cuz they're kids, Addison, and you can't exactly call the kettle black, Ms. Pot. You did dig up a talisman.
Oh, right.
Werecats and Werelocks (Collection) Page 11
