***
Cyrus pulled up his collar. The storm hit shortly after he left the werebear clan to mourn the loss of their leader and mother.
He initially thought of turning back but the pull to Remember and Alexander convinced him braving a bit of rain was no big deal. The darkness of the sky around him now made him far less sure.
The sound of thunder caused him to jump. It was loud and sharp which probably meant it was nearby. He hadn't realized the storm was so close.
"Help! Help!" he heard the voice in the distance though it was faint.
"Hello!" he called back though another crack of thunder drowned out his voice. He yelled again.
"Help me! Help me!" the voice called. Cyrus sighed. He wanted to go home. He wanted to make sure Remember and Alexander were safe but the doctor in him couldn't turn away from the distant pleas. He turned towards the sound of the voice.
***
Remember huddled with Alexander and Tabitha in the root cellar. A lantern lit the space but the light it cast was dim.
"It was like this the day Alexander died," Tabitha whispered. Remember looked down at her son confused for a moment.
"Your husband?" she asked.
"There had been twisters before but I'd never seen one. We always came into the root cellar if things looked dangerous. I never thought much about it. It was routine. Then it wasn't," Tabitha said.
"Are you worried about Cyrus?" Remember asked. She was worried for her husband but she was trying very hard not to let the worry show. She didn't want to upset her sleeping son or her mother-in-law.
"It is a silly thing. What are the chances of one woman losing a son and a husband both to twisters?" Tabitha asked.
"I think we have no reason to worry," Remember said though the anxiety was starting to build in her stomach. Since her son had been born she'd managed to stave off her fears and attacks of panic. Caring for her son and the exhaustion it caused helped that greatly. Now, she could feel the heat leave her body and her teeth begin to chatter.
"I didn't think to grab extra blankets for us," Tabitha said laying a hand on Remember's shoulder.
"It isn't the cold," Remember said. She'd known for a while that she loved Cyrus but she hadn't realized how much. She had married him with no expectations of opening her heart to him but now she couldn't imagine her life without him. She understood the gut wrenching grief Noah suffered at the loss of his mate.
If something happened to Cyrus, if he didn't come home safely from the storm, she would be devastated. She loved his kindness to her and her son. She loved his bravery for defying her uncle and joining the war then coming back to serve as a doctor even after losing a limb. She loved his patience with her as she fought the demons that had plagued her since Jordan's attack. She loved Cyrus with all her heart. He was no longer the husband who she had married to protect her child but a husband she wanted to grow old with. Her marriage was as real as that of any two lovers. She needed the storm to be over. She needed Cyrus to be safe. She needed to tell him. She'd never said the words to him. She realized she needed to. What if he was swept away by the storm unaware of how much she cared for him?
She startled when the root cellar door creaked.
"The sky is clearing up," Aaron's voice called down to them.
"You think it is safe to come up?" Tabitha asked.
"I'll keep a lookout for a while but I think the worst is over," Aaron said.
***
Cyrus stumbled through the door. He was exhausted. He'd treated a patient who was injured from a lightning strike and joined his son in getting the man home. Cyrus thought the man would live but there might be permanent damage to him. Only time would tell. He'd given the son directions to his home in case he was needed in the night though he hoped he wouldn't be. He was tired and soaked through.
"Cyrus!" He heard Remember's voice only a moment before she rushed at him and threw her arms around his neck nearly knocking him down. He steadied himself on the wall with his free hand.
"What happened?" he asked feeling a sudden surge of fear.
"You're safe," she said.
"I am," he agreed though he wasn't sure why she would fear he wasn't. The storm had been bad and there were twisters in nearby towns but he hadn't seen anything but wind damage on his way home. He only knew of the twisters because someone had shown up at his patient's door to spread the news. He'd offered his medical services but was told the only known casualty was beyond the help of a doctor. Word of the twisters couldn't have made it to his wife and mother yet.
"Should I make some soup to warm you?" Remember asked letting go of his neck but bringing her hands to his shoulders as if she was loath to let him go.
"I don't need food. I just need out of these wet clothes," he said.
"Of course," she agreed. She followed at his heels as he made his way up the stairs.
He stepped into their bedroom and immediately noticed something was missing.
"Where is Alexander?" he asked. There was no sign of either the crib or his son in the room.
"I asked your mother to watch him tonight," Remember said.
"Whatever for?" Cyrus asked. Alexander slept through the night without waking so the issue couldn't be that his wife was exhausted and wanted a night without being awoken.
"Since Alexander was born we haven't..." she said looking down at the floor. He hated that she still couldn't say the words. She still held so much pain from what Jordan and his companions had put her through.
"And you wanted to do that tonight?" Cyrus asked as gently as he could.
Remember nodded.
In truth Cyrus was tired and would rather have gone to bed but Remember was right. They had not shared intimacies since Alexander was born and if this was something she wanted or needed tonight he would provide it to her.
He sat down in his chair and took off his wet clothes and his prosthetic leg. He noticed her watching him undress and tried not to feel self-conscious.
He made his way over to the bed and laid down waiting for her to follow him.
"You aren't ready," she whispered as she came around the side of the bed. He didn't need to follow her eyes to know what she meant. He was willing but it was taking a bit of time for the blood to rush down and make his body as ready as his mind.
"I'm sure I will be once you are out of your clothes," he said. She didn't make any move to undress but instead sat down beside him. Her eyes were still focused on his cock which was making him feel even more self-conscious and not at all helping to get him hard and ready.
"Can I touch you?" she whispered.
He hadn't expected that.
"Of course," he said.
She reached out a hand to tentatively stroke his cock. Her hands were warm and soft. Her touch was light and more of a tease than a pleasure but his body responded and he hardened under her touch.
He was glad she didn't pull her hand away but instead looked at his body curiously.
She ran her hand over him again but this time her touch wasn't so light. He let out a little moan. He might have put thoughts of coupling with his wife purposely out of his mind but his body recalled how soft she had been and how good it had felt to be deep within her.
***
Remember was surprised by how his body felt under her fingers. The skin was velvety soft but there was hardness underneath. She'd never thought much about the male member. She hadn't wanted anything to do with it after her attack. It had been something to fear. Even when she and Cyrus had mated she had done her best to ignore that part of him because of the unpleasant memories it held. This was different. This cock belonged to Cyrus. She loved Cyrus. She wasn't afraid of him and she didn't want to be afraid of his body. He had used his mouth to awaken her body before and she wondered if a woman could do the same thing. She thought of asking but decided she would lose her nerve if she did. Instead, she bent her head and planted a kiss on his cock. It was hot under her lips and it jerked forward as if begging for more from her.
&nbs
p; She moved her mouth to the base and brought a line of kisses to the tip before looking up at Cyrus. His hands were fisting the blankets and his head was thrown back. His chest was rising and falling fast and she could sense the pure desire emanating from his wolf. What she was doing excited him and knowing that gave her a sense of power.
On a whim, she lifted his cock and slid her mouth over the tip.
"Oh God," he groaned.
She moved her mouth slowly up and down his length trying to mimic what her body did to his when they coupled. She kept her eyes on Cyrus to see his reaction. His face had that look of pain that she knew was pleasure and his knuckles were white from the force with which he was gripping the sheets.
She moved her mouth faster and harder causing his hips to buck and more groans to escape his lips.
"If you want me to put another pup in you then you must stop now." She could tell it was an effort for him to say the words. He didn't really want her to stop. What she was doing felt as good to him as what he had done with his mouth felt to her.
"Why would you think I wanted another pup?" Remember asked pulling her mouth away. Alexander was not yet six months old.
"I just assumed," he said. Clearly the words were no easier with her mouth off of him.
She slid up beside him and put her hand on his chest.
"I love you. I wanted to do this because I love you," she whispered.
***
Her eyes were wide as they looked into his. It was almost enough to melt his heart completely.
"I love you too," he whispered. He'd known that in his heart for a time but he hadn't thought to say it. His feelings for her didn't matter. She was his wife and whether he loved her with his whole heart didn't change that.
She stood up and undid her clothes. He watched them fall to the floor and he couldn't suppress another groan. His body was hungry for her and all he wanted was to be buried deep inside of her.
He wanted to reach out and pull her onto his cock but he managed to suppress the urge. She was showing none of the fear she had during their first coupling and he wouldn't do anything to provoke her.
She crawled into bed beside him leaning against him.
"I want you above me," she whispered.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm sure," she whispered.
He put his arm around her waist and gently rolled her onto her back covering his mouth with hers. His kiss was tender and her arms came around his neck. He pulled back so that he could look into her eyes as he positioned himself at her entrance. He looked for any signs of fear or distress but was relieved that he found none. He pushed forward tentatively. He gasped as her tight hot wetness surrounded him. He wanted to ride her to his finish that very moment. He was hot and aroused from the attention of her mouth. Keeping control wasn't easy but he managed.
"Are you all right?" he asked through gritted teeth as he fought the urges of his body. Remember nodded.
"If you need me to stop just tell me and I will," he said. It would be hellish to do so but he would.
"I won't need you to stop," Remember said.
***
The panic tried to rise but it was soft and fleeting. It was her husband whose body surrounded her. It was the man her heart loved.
She wrapped her legs around his back as he began to move inside her and she buried her face in his neck taking in his scent. His body surrounded her and she felt safe.
She hadn't been sure she could bear to be under a man but she didn't feel powerless with Cyrus above her as she feared. She felt loved.
She moved her hips to meet his thrusts encouraging him and assuring him that she was eager and willing. He moved harder and faster. She kept meeting him again and again as he filled her and her body accommodated him.
Finally, Cyrus let out a primal growl and she felt the pulsing of him within her as his seed filled her.
After his body stopped pulsing he used a hand to caress her cheek and then he lowered his face to nuzzle hers. His face was hot and his skin was covered in sweat. His eyes were heavy lidded and he looked on the verge of exhausted.
She reached a hand up to touch his cheek. It was rough with stubble.
"Still all right?" he whispered.
"Better than all right," she said and she really meant it. She felt warm love spread from her heart all throughout her body and in that moment she understood why husbands and wives coupled.
She had never felt closer to anyone in her life.
***
Cyrus didn't know where he found the strength to roll over but finally he did. His body was totally exhausted and now that his hunger for his wife had been satiated he had no strength left. He hoped Remember didn't mind when he failed to don his night clothes. There was just no energy to do it.
He'd almost fallen asleep when he felt Remember move closer to him. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist pulling herself as close to him as physically possible. He moved his arm to engulf her which made her sigh contentedly. He wished he'd been able to bring her to a pleasure peak tonight. It felt selfish to love a woman without doing so. He would get her there in the morning when he was rested and could give her the attention she deserved.
"Do you think you put another pup in me?" Remember whispered. He winced. He'd just assumed she wanted another pup. If she didn't he could have taken steps to prevent it.
"It isn't very likely but it is possible," he admitted.
"Wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise for my mother?" Remember said.
"Your mother?" he asked, confused.
"My mother wrote me a letter. She and father are coming to visit us this summer. They want to meet my husband and my son," Remember said with a yawn.
Cyrus yawned as well. He knew the news should have more of an impact but he was too tired to deal with all of that now. He would think about the impending visit from Remember's parents tomorrow. For now, he wanted to snuggle with his wife and let sleep take him.
Chapter 22
Remember bounced Alexander on her hip as she set the table for supper. He'd been fussy for the last few days. Tabitha and Martha agreed this meant he had teeth coming in.
Tabitha was stirring the soup when Remember heard the commotion. She peeked out the window and then let out a scream which startled Alexander and started him screaming too.
Tabitha rushed to her side and locked the door but they both knew it wouldn't hold them for long.
"The pup is mine," Jordan's voice growled. She heard the glass of the window shatter and she rushed back against the far wall of the kitchen trying to find some way out. She needed to run.
She rushed into the next room and grabbed a blanket to throw over her son. There was a chill in the night air and she didn't want him to catch cold as she made a run for it. There was another window in the parlor. She could throw it open and climb outside.
She rushed to that window but on the other side were two growling wolves.
Remember froze as she recognized the wolves. They had been there that night.
She felt her head spin and for a moment Remember thought she might faint.
Suddenly, something caught the wolves’ attention and both of them leapt off the porch. Remember had no choice. Jordan would be in the house by now. She slid the window open and climbed outside. Then, she took off running.
***
Cyrus heard shouting which quickened his pace home. What he found initially confused him. Four wolves he didn't know were standing behind a man who was on his porch shouting. The man smashed the kitchen window and reached his hand inside only to pull it out again with Cyrus's mother, in wolf form, hanging on with her teeth.
Cyrus's wolf rushed forth and he tackled the wolf nearest to him biting him around the neck. The wolf snapped at his right front paw but Cyrus managed to pull it out of the way just in time.
The distraction gave another of the wolves a chance to jump on his back making him lose his balance and knocking him to the ground.
He howled and snapped at the wolf but there were two of them on him now and despite his struggle he couldn't free himself. He looked towards his mother. One very strong wolf had her down on the ground. She was struggling with all of her might but he knew there was no way she could get free.
"After the girl. I want that child!" the man shouted. The remaining three wolves sniffed at the ground. One of them howled and they all took off together racing towards Aaron's house. He hoped Remember could make it before they did. Carrying Alexander would slow her down.
The wolf holding down his mother turned his eyes to the chase at hand giving her just enough time to wiggle out from beneath him. She took off at a run in the opposite direction. The wolf who had been holding her looked after her stupidly for a moment before he took off in the direction his brothers were howling.
Cyrus continued to struggle under the two large wolves who were pinning him with their whole weight. He had a new sense of what Remember had been through being pinned helplessly to the ground under the weight of foreign wolves. It made his blood boil. One of the wolves stepped too near and he took the opportunity to clamp his jaw down, hard, on the wolf's leg. He felt great pleasure at hearing the bone snap.
"Do that again and you're dead," the other wolf growled. He clamped his jaws around Cyrus' neck.
Cyrus forced himself to be still. He would wait until this wolf was distracted. The other wolf would be little help with a broken paw and unused to the effort of balancing his weight on three paws. Cyrus had an advantage if only the opportune moment would arrive.
***
As soon as Martha's house came into sight Remember started to scream. Martha threw open the door and Remember lunged forward with all her might. Martha slammed the door behind her but the wolves were howling at her heels.
"It won't hold them," Remember said.
Martha nodded to Aaron. They both raced towards the fireplace and grabbed something from above it. It took Remember a moment to realize they were holding wands. Martha and Aaron shouted words Remember couldn't understand. Suddenly, the room around them grew warm.
The Alpha's Niece (Barton Pack Book 1) Page 15
