~ Amber ~
Clay pulled out his keys and the lights blinked as an alarm went off on a car at the far end of the garage. We walked quickly through the strange artificial lighting of the structure. Even though the light was dim, everything looked sharper to me. I had this adrenaline rush, this anticipation building inside me. I felt like pure electricity. Now we were running to the car. I opened the passenger door and slid into the cold leather of the seat as Clay got in on the driver’s side.
He turned the key and the engine roared, a low, powerful growl. I buckled my seat belt, thinking Clay was about to drive like a complete maniac. I could tell we were escaping from something or someone. But who, or what?
Then I watched as an arm reached around from behind the back of Clay’s seat and tightened around his neck. I screamed in terror. Clay struggled, choking under the grip of the man who’d been hiding in the darkness of the backseat. Clay tried to break free, but he couldn’t reach his arm back and the man’s grip was too tight.
Then I remembered the mace in my purse. I pulled it out and held my hand out toward the backseat, not really aiming, but hoping I might catch him. I knew the stuff burned like hell even if it got close to the eyes. I pressed the canister and prayed for dear life.
The man yelled in agony, and it wasn’t just pain, but anger too. He lunged at me. But now that Clay had broken free he revved the engine and sped backwards in the car, deliberately crashing the back end into the concrete barrier of the parking garage. The man was knocked backwards and smashed his head against the back window of the car.
“Out of the car!” yelled Clay.
I listened. I couldn’t get out of that car fast enough. I ran toward Clay and threw my arms around him.
“We have to call the police,” I said.
“That won’t help.”
I looked back at the car only to see the darkness of the backseat changing shape. A blackness growing, twisting and retching. The expanded form crushed the metal of the car, smashing the glass of the windows as it grew rapidly before my eyes. I looked up at Clay.
“What’s going on?” I asked, tears coming to my eyes.
“Amber, you’ll have to forgive me for this.”
“What?”
~ Clay ~
It was inevitable. As soon as I felt their presence, I knew what was coming. I didn’t want Amber to have to see this, to see me like this, to see me kill. But she had to know I was protecting her, that I would never hurt her.
Great pain shot through my body. I felt my muscles nearly ripping, bones breaking, my skin disappearing as fur began to appear. I was being torn apart and put back together, that other side of me making its first appearance. No one could know the agony I feel every time my body does this, trading its form for another one, a darker and more lethal one. My senses heighten, attuned to the pain of transformation. But when it’s over I feel stronger, more complete. A wolf. It’s just my nature.
This time it’s different though. The pain of transformation is gone, but I can see the horror in Amber’s face. She never expected this. Who could have? She hates me right now. Hates herself for trusting me. She’s fearing for her life; she thinks she’s going to die, that I might even be the one to kill her.
I’ve been channeling her thoughts, but now I communicate one to her: you need to hide. Right. Now. There are more coming. Hide. Now. GO!
~ Amber ~
I can’t describe it. It’s too horrifying. To see that handsome face change into… I can’t think about it. No, I have to hide. But where?
My heels are off now. I’m running. Running and not daring to look behind me. I can hear the growls and the crash of metal as bodies fly against the cars in the garage, setting off alarms.
I run up to the next level and find a dark place between two huge SUVs. I look down through a grate in the concrete floor and see the wolves beneath me, tearing at each other’s throats. I can’t tell which one is Clay; they’re both massive, grey, terrifying creatures.
Then I see the fatal blow. One wolf hovers over another, clasping its teeth around the wolf’s throat. Then with a whip of its neck it hurls the other wolf into a concrete column, causing cracks to ripple up through the stone. The wolf slumps to the ground, its body still as blood begins to pool. The live wolf perks its head up.
Amber, where are you?
But I don’t know how to answer him. Do I yell? Can he read all my thoughts? How can I communicate to him?
Just tell me where you are.
One level up. Crouched between two SUVs, I think to myself.
I close my eyes and keep cycling through that thought, hoping Clay can hear me. When I open them I see a dark shape walk by on all fours, heading down to the level below. Was it Clay? Then another shapes stealthily slink by, then two more.
Clay, there are more of them. At least four more wolves. Please get me out of here.
I look down through the grate. They’ve gathered below me, examining the body of their fallen member as I shake with nervousness.
Meet me on the roof. Go now. NOW.
And so I ran.
~ Clay ~
I knew there were others. I knew I didn’t have time to catch my breath. They’d be here any second, as I’d just killed a member of their pack. They could feel his spirit leaving this world, and they would come to mourn and seek their revenge. I changed back into my human form. While it made me weaker, it also gave me dexterity.
I grabbed everything I needed from my car; it would soon be going up in flames. Tearing a piece of fabric from my shirt, I crumpled it into a wad an stuffed it in the gas tank. I calmly lit it with my lighter and walked briskly toward the elevator.
Meet me on the roof. Go now. NOW.
~ Amber ~
It sounded like a bomb going off. I was two floors above, but I could still see the orange glow it caused, illuminating the entire garage. I cringed as I heard growls of pain and shock. Then a figure was walking towards me out of the elevator, a tall man, well-built. And even before I saw his face, I was positive it was Clay. Suddenly, I heard police sirens.
“Run!” he yelled. “We have to get the hell out of here immediately!”
I followed him down the stairs of the parking garage, much faster than the elevator. We were two blocks away, walking hand in hand, when we saw cop cars fly by one after the other, all headed toward the garage. I was still shaking.
A cab rolled by with its light on. Clay hailed it and it stopped a couple yards in front of us. He opened the door and practically pushed me in. He gave the driver the address of his hotel and asked him to drop us off at the back door.
We sat in silence. I couldn’t say a thing to Clay without the driver hearing, implicating us in the crime. Who knew what the papers would say tomorrow morning? Then I heard the voice again.
It’s going to be OK. Just trust me.
But Clay… I’m scared. Tell me what’s going on.
I will when we’re alone. Just breathe. Calm yourself down. Don’t raise any suspicion.
~ Clay ~
When I got her up to the room, I’d explain everything. She trusted me now. She trusted me because she knew she had to. I looked at her and my heart swelled. She was precious, but seeing her in such fear nearly killed me. It was far more damaging than any blow I’d taken in the fight that’d just occurred. I couldn’t live if I let anything happen to her.
For the time being though, the threat was receding. Three of the five were dead. The other gravely injured. But when they re-grouped, when they brought back the news of what I’d done to their Alpha, I knew there would be hell to pay. Would this turn into an all-out war? Who could tell at this point? There had been skirmishes in the past, but nothing that had boiled over to the point of a full-scale war. That hadn’t happened since my father’s day and age.
I didn’t know if we were prepared for a war. But for now my sole intention was to calm Amber down. I couldn’t let her know the proportions of the fight she’d just witnessed; that news
could drive her over the edge of sanity.
~ Amber ~
After the cab dropped us off, Clay led me to the back door. It was locked, so he kicked it in and led me up a back stairway. At the third floor, we exited the stairwell and found an elevator that brought us up to 12. Clay didn’t want the front desk staff to see him disheveled. He knew that the incident in the parking garage could bring a lot of heat on him and he wanted to lay low. He didn’t tell me this, exactly. But I was starting to get some insight into his thoughts. Maybe this telepathy worked both ways. I was afraid of him, afraid of what he might do if I tried to leave. So I followed him in silence. But I also trusted him. Against all odds, I felt safe when I was near him. Somehow I knew he was the only one who could keep me safe right now.
~ Clay ~
I brought her up through the back of the hotel and led her into my room. She’s afraid of me. And why wouldn’t she be? She’s just found out what I truly am, she’s seen the dark side of me come to life. She just watched me kill. I’m almost surprised she’s not cowering in fear, crying, begging for me to let her go. But I can’t, her life would be in danger.
Any other girl would be crying right now, but she’s not. Her face is calm. Serious, but calm. Can I tell her the truth? I have to. She has to know she’s not in danger. I have to be honest with her. She needs to know I have her best at heart. She’s strong; she can handle it.
But I can’t deny that now that I have her here in this room with this bed, the impulse to ravage her is getting stronger, almost too much to resist. Does she want me to take her right now without a single word? I could. But no, I need to be sure that she wants me, too. And after what she’s just seen, I can’t blame her if she doesn’t.
~ Amber ~
“What you saw back there… do you want to talk about it?”
We were sitting on the bed and Clay was looking at me earnestly. I could tell he was sincere. His eyes almost looked hurt, like he was apologizing.
“I—I don’t know,” I said softly. Did I want to know more? Wasn’t it possible that the story behind that gruesome scene would only make matters worse?
“What you saw back there… it must have been hard on you,” said Clay, taking my hand in his and giving it a soft press.
“I’m scared, Clay.”
“I know, but we’re safe now. You’re safe with me.”
“Yeah? Well, what about when you’re gone? How do I know I’m safe then? I’m gonna have to see a freaking therapist. That scene will haunt my dreams forever.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What will I do when you leave?”
“Who says I’m leaving?”
“You’re going to leave some day.”
“So, come with me.”
~ Clay ~
I was laying it all on the line now. I wanted her. Not just a fling, but to spend my life with her. Once I had her, I knew I could never be without her. Did she want me too? I promised to protect her, to give her the life of her dreams, but it would mean leaving this city, leaving at a moment’s notice.
I could tell she was ambivalent. Her hand shifted in mine. But for some reason now our thoughts were cut off. I had no idea where I stood, no idea whether I repulsed or attracted her. I needed a sign.
Then she kissed me.
~ Amber ~
I didn’t know what I was doing; it was like my body was being directed by someone other than myself. A mysterious force had taken control. I was drawn toward him completely, helpless against my desire. Was it desire, or something more? If it was desire, it was like no desire I’d ever felt. I wanted him beyond my capacity to want, I needed him beyond my capacity to need.
And suddenly I found myself kissing him. Hot and passionate, my tongue spilling over into his mouth, swirling and sucking gently. His hands were on me now as he pushed me back into the bed, our lips still locked, my latent lust unleashed in the most dynamic fury of animalism. Was he the wolf, or was I? I felt like one in that moment as I let my body take over, indulging in the fantasy that had silently been building within me since I’d first seen Clay.
His hands were all over me, roving over my curves, touching them with such sensual appreciation. I could feel our desire was shared completely. Was this crazy? Probably, but right now I didn’t care. If there’s anything the last hour had proved to me it was that life was short and took many unexpected turns. Some of those turns were fatal, but others were dream-like, almost beyond comprehension in their indeterminate bliss. Meeting Clay was one of those turns.
I felt him move his hands up under my dress. I’d be lying if I said I wanted it any other way.
~ Clay ~
It was so unexpected, but didn’t I know she was drawn to me? My hand slid across the smooth skin of her thighs, already slick with her wetness. I knew she was drawn to me.
Her body is telling her yes, but there’s still some doubt in her mind. She doesn’t know if I truly want her, she doesn’t know if I’m being honest about wanting her for more than a night. But I don’t have the time right now to explain it to her, to tell her how I know that this is right, that she’s the one. The animal inside just wouldn’t allow it.
I worked my fingers under her panties, dipping my fingers into the wetness, gently entering her. She’s so tight, she hasn’t had sex in a long time. Even my fingers are causing her pain. I can only sense it, because she doesn’t make a sound. Our lips are still locked. She wants to be strong, to fight through the pain, knowing the pleasure that waits at the other end.
~ Amber ~
I haven’t been touched like this in a long time. I feel my body wince, but I don’t want to show a hint of hesitation. I don’t want him to stop. For once, I’m living in the moment, giving into the needs of my body. I want him to ravage me. I lose myself, letting the insecurities wash away. I want to be ravaged, I want him inside me.
He rubs my clit with such delicacy, then pushes those fingers back in. My body craves what’s ahead, hoping he’ll peel back my panties and lick me until I lose my mind.
~ Clay ~
My head between her legs. That scent that drives me wild is sending me into a frenzy, and I run my tongue along her slit then focus on her clit, her mound engorged, her body writhing on the bed, not knowing how to control the movements of her legs. She arches her back, the pleasure is almost too much for her.
And that scent is pushing me too far. I can’t hold back much longer. I want to be inside her, to feel her tightness, to stretch her body almost to the breaking point. I want to watch her face as she climaxes, the pleasure written in the crease of her smile.
But I’m selfish, too, imagining what it’s like to be inside her, to feel her wet warmth surrounding me as I press my body into her curves, squeezing her supple ass, my mouth sucking on the nipples of her gorgeous tits. Just thinking of it is too much to bear—I unzip my pants and make to mount her. She wants it, too, just as much as me.
~ Amber ~
Now the moment finally comes. I feel his hard cock graze my leg. And now he’s rubbing it against my lips, testing my wetness, wondering if he’ll fit inside me. I reach down and give a teasing stroke and find him even bigger than I’d expected. I almost dread the pain, but I want him even more. I’m willing to take it for him. It’s what he wants. And it’s what I want.
He moves his mouth to mine again, giving me a soft kiss, a sweetness to offset the pain of being stretched by his massive cock. I moan, wincing at the pain as he pushes inside me without warning. His first strokes hurt. I can tell he’s trying to be gentle, but he can’t help his desire, the desire that drives him to fuck me harder and faster. The truth is I don’t want it any other way.
With each successive thrust the mixture of pain and pleasure is shifting. I want it harder now. I pull his body into mine, feeling his muscular chest against the softness of my own. I swirl my tongue in his mouth, letting him know how much I want him. I pull him into me, clenching and releasing, working my body in rhythm with his as he pushes his hard co
ck deep inside me. I don’t want him to stop. I don’t want this to ever end.
~ Clay ~
She is the one. I know it now. I have never felt this ever before, this desire that builds with every movement of her body against mine. This is not lust; lust could never describe how much I want her, how much I crave her and adore her every curve.
We’re strangers, but at the same time we’re not. We already know each other inside and out. This fate that drove us together will never let us part. She knows it now, too. I can feel her mind changing as she gives herself over to me. She knows this isn’t just for a night, she knows she’s giving herself to me forever. She wants it that way.
~ Amber ~
I can feel him getting closer now as his thrusts tinged with hesitation. He wants to come inside me. He wants me to bear his young, to raise his pack. He’s never told me these things, but I can feel these thoughts running through his mind. It’s all happening to fast, it’s confusing and crazy. And what’s even crazier is that I don’t care.
He was a stranger, but I know I’ll do anything to be with him. I want his cum inside me. There’s nothing stopping us from being together, why should I even entertain my doubts about this? All I know is I feel right in this moment, and if I can be with Clay then I can handle whatever life throws at me. It’s a life of danger, but also one of excitement; one of pleasure and unspeakable desires filled in the darkness of a hotel room.
Curves for the Werewolf Cowboy (Paranormal BBW Erotic Romance, Alpha Wolf Mate) Page 3
