Wolf's Temptation (Caedmon Wolves Book 7)

by Kirk, Ambrielle

  “That’s one way to become a millionaire by your twenty-fifth birthday. Speaking of which…”

  I was surprised that he had even remembered I’d said that.

  “You still don’t have anything planned, do you?”

  I smiled. “Not really.”

  “Can I spend it with you?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He came to a stop in front of door number 1008 and pushed in a five-digit code on a keypad. The door gave way easily and he pushed it open and stood aside to let me pass through.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alessia

  I cuddled in one of Dawson’s fleece throws and folded my legs under me as I sat on his leather couch. We had just completed the dinner we’d made together and decided to enjoy our desserts in front of his window, which offered a sky view of the city as a blanket of snow fell over it.

  “Tell me about your wolf pack,” I said. “How long have others like you existed?”

  “For centuries. The first Caedmon wolf, Markus, came into existence almost by accident. He was the leader of a great Native American tribe. One day when the tribe was hunting for food, he found a wolf in a bear trap and tried to save it. Despite their best efforts, neither he nor his tribesmen could save the wolf from death. He tried. He even asked the gods to spare the wolf.”

  “So what happened? How did Markus become a wolf?”

  “It is said that the gods granted Markus’s wish by fusing the body of a man with the spirit of a wolf, but the ceremony was initiated by the hands of witch. She aided Markus by using inherent energies and abilities from the wolf and magical healing powers sent down from the gods.”

  “So both the witch and gods created Markus, a Caedmon shifter wolf…?”

  “We are taught that the gods blessed the tribe with the first Caedmon wolf. We place the gods before any man or witch. All power and magic come from the gods. But it is true that a witch played a part in it.”

  “Did the tribe accept Markus after he became a wolf?”

  “They did. He was their leader. Those that genuinely accepted, embraced the spirit of the Caedmon, but they could not shift between animal and man like Markus. They were labeled Others, and this branch still exists today. Only those who are born of Caedmon blood can shift. Whenever someone is born a Caedmon, it is said that a wolf spirit enters the body. In turn, that person is both man and wolf.”

  “Like you…” I said. “Sounds like a tale I once read about where Native American tribes believed that an animal spirit entered all persons—humans, as well.”

  “That tale could very well be referring to the same legend, but over the decades, stories tend to change. We can’t publicly correct human history books because we are still very much living in secrecy,” he said.

  “I’d love to know my heritage one day, but I’m afraid that won’t be possible. That piece of my life was kept from me since birth. Dad says it’s to protect me. It must be nice to have your entire wolf pack as your family.”

  “Things aren’t as complete as they should be as far as Caedmon heritage is concerned.”

  I shook my head. “What do you mean?”

  “Our story doesn’t end with the creation of the first wolf. In fact, the legend continues, sometimes repeating itself. Decades later, after leadership changed hands many times over, the Council of the tribe disagreed and grew resentful of each other. The leader at that time was William Caedmon II. His twin brother, Rodolphus Arnou Caedmon, challenged him for the right to lead. They fought in what is marked as the bloodiest duel in our history.”

  “A duel? You mean one on one?” I replied.

  “Exactly. We call that era The Great Fallout. Back then, when a wolf challenged another, they fought to the death. But in this case, the battle between the twin brothers ended in a stalemate. They were already in their fifties. The stalemate caused Pack members to choose sides, and we were nearly split in half between Caedmon II and Rodolphus Arnou. The majority of our human members, both Others and a few witches, disbanded from both groups. They wanted no part in a grievance between shifters. Both brothers recovered, but the problem had already escalated. To end the stalemate, a war was waged. Caedmon II led us to victory, but we lost him on the battlefield. Rodolphus Arnou died a couple of weeks later.”

  “You lost both brothers. What did it mean to win a battle like that?”

  “After William’s death, one of his sons took his place as the Alpha. He was very bitter about what had happened, and was skeptical and untrusting of everyone. He forbade Arnou, Others, and any witches from ever associating with Caedmon-kind again. Without the presence of the human branch, we became a wolf pack—the Caedmon Pack. Rodolphus Arnou’s son countered and started a Pack of his own—the Arnou Pack.”

  “How can members of each Pack tell one from the other?”

  “In wolf form, it’s not that difficult. We use scent mostly. We’re also marked with Pack symbols.”

  “Like the insignia I saw above the door of your mansion?” I asked.

  “Yes, like that one. We’ve come a long way, and the Alphas of both Packs are on better terms. There is a power struggle, don’t get me wrong. I can feel it, but Caedmon and Arnou are no longer prime enemies, and the goal has shifted to ensuring continuity and secrecy rather than Pack dominance.”

  “About the Others…are they really human?”

  “Oh, of course, but just a little enhanced. The difference between Others and humans is that Others are a little more gifted. They’re stronger, faster, have keen intelligence and intuition, and most even have eyesight greater than 20/20. They use these abilities to excel over their human counterparts. In this world today, they are doctors, lawyers, politicians, international businessmen, kings, and queens. Since my brother, Devin, became Alpha, some of the families have rejoined our Pack.”

  I swallowed. “And the witches?”

  “Unfortunately, my brother and I can probably count on one hand the number of witch families who have remained loyal to us. A bond was broken between us that may never be repaired.”

  “Is that why you were wary of me at first?”

  He nodded. “There has been at least one documented account of a witch stripping a wolf spirit from the human body.”

  “Sounds like something a very powerful person would do. I don’t have that kind of power.”

  “You may think you don’t have the ability, but if your mother was a witch with connections to Caedmon, then you have it in you.”

  “What happens if a wolf’s spirit is stripped?” I asked.

  “They become…human.” He frowned. He almost looked disgusted.

  “Is there something wrong with being human?”

  “Of course not. But no sane wolf proud of his heritage would want that. I wouldn’t want that. I can’t be happy without my wolf. I would never allow his spirit to be taken away from me. We complete each other.”

  I smiled. “You have a beautiful wolf spirit. I’ve known that from the beginning.”

  “Then you’ll trust me?”

  “Fortunately, I do.”

  He grinned. “Good.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alessia

  “I don’t think the snow will clear out anytime soon,” I said, pressing my hand to the glass on the window in Dawson’s living room.

  He walked up slowly behind me. “It has stopped for now, and sunrise is just around the corner. It’ll be melted by morning.”

  “My dad will be looking for me.” Knowing him, he’d done everything in his power to catch a flight home. He didn’t like being away for extended periods of time.

  “Do you want to call him?” Dawson asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Tell him that you’ll be staying with me tonight.”

  I turned slightly. “Will I?”

  He closed the gap between us, pressing his body to mine. “It’s up to you, of course, but I’ll regret it if you don’t stay.”

  “I want to stay here with you.”

  D
awson sighed.

  Wisps of cool air folded against the back of my neck. He kissed along my skin, pressing into each vertebra with care. Erotic pleasure clouded my mind and my body relaxed under his touch. He slid his tongue up toward my nape and then along the side of my neck against my veins. I arched backward against him, lifting an arm above my head to drag my fingers through his hair. I pulled him tighter to me so that I could feel the textured surface of his tongue against my skin.

  He parted from me momentarily, but it was only to pull my top over my head. Behind me, he pinched the clasp holding my bra together and it fell to the floor. He continued his exploration of me, pressing kisses to the blades between my shoulders, down my spine, and against my waist.

  I placed my forehead against the cool glass in front of me and hugged my arms to my chest. My fingers moved to my nipples and I caressed myself as he teased me.

  He undid my belt, and my jeans came off next. I didn’t even remember lifting my feet out of them or my socks being pulled from my toes, but seconds later, I was standing there in just a pair of blue panties.

  Dawson pressed his lips along the fleshy top part of my ass, where I knew I had two dimples. His palm slid up along my side and he pulled me backward, rubbing his cheeks against my flesh.

  He rose and turned me so that I was facing him. “You’re sweet and beautiful,” he said. Then he cupped my chin in one hand and crushed his lips to mine.

  He kissed me with a deep, intense rhythm that pulsed through every nerve of my body. My hands were still covering my nipples and he pulled them away gently, but instead of letting my hands drop to my sides, he pulled my fingers near his mouth and slid his tongue up and down each and every digit.

  My pussy trembled, although that part of me was neglected. He was a tease, and by the look in his eyes, I knew that he enjoyed seeing me squirm under his seductive playfulness.

  He bent low and caught my nipple between his teeth to nibble and tug.

  I cried out and my knees almost gave way. I grabbed his shoulders for support while he teased both breasts until the nipples were turgid and hard as thimbles. He flicked his tongue across both areolas. He moaned against my skin as he lapped hungrily at my nipples. I faded into a sea of ecstasy. I bit into my bottom lip to keep my cries in check and tasted blood.

  His lips descended, pausing to tease the belly button ring on my navel. As he kissed my body, he left a wet trail all the way down to the curve of my hips. He nipped playfully at the manicured triangle above my sex. I could feel his heavy breaths against my clit, which was already swollen with lust.

  His palms anxiously kneaded my ass, pushing my sex against his clean-shaven face.

  “Oh my God,” I breathed.

  “I want you badly, Alessia,” he breathed.

  “Please, take me.”

  Dawson scooped me off the ground and hauled me off to his bedroom where he planted me in the middle of a huge bed. He tore his shirt over his head and tossed it carelessly to the side.

  Intricate, black patterns marked his skin. The Pack symbols that we talked about covered most of his arms and chest.

  Donna was right. Sex god, indeed.

  He took his time undoing his belt and sliding it from the loops. His arm and chest muscles flexed as he pushed his pants down.

  My eyes rose to his face. His gaze held a determined and ravenous stare. His wolf’s aura had already clouded around him, inches from the surface of his skin. He panted, his chest heaving in and out as his eyes roamed over every inch of my body. It was the same stare any wolf would give prey when they were just about to pounce.

  I dropped my gaze to his boxers and licked my lips. He was huge and already pulsing behind the cloth. “Take them off.”

  He immediately obliged my request.

  I swooned when I discovered that he was big and solid. His cock was a work of art. Maybe one day, I’d paint him…and his cock.

  My heart and body overflowed with a surge of passion. My fingertips tingled and the sexual energy pulsing from both of us commingled and intensified.

  I swallowed. Could I control my emotions enough to go through with this? I had no idea, but every bone in my body, every fiber of my being, every ounce of blood flowing within me wanted this—wanted him.

  Come to me. It was my command. But the words had never left my lips. I had to conclude that somehow he’d heard my thoughts.

  Dawson never missed a beat as he crawled his way to me on the bed. He nestled his body between my thighs and his big shoulders pushed against the inside of my legs, spreading me wider.

  “You are soaking wet for me.” He licked his lips and then brushed a finger between my dampened slit.

  “Yes.”

  He pushed his sexy lips to my sex and dipped his tongue farther into my folds. I grabbed the bed sheets as my thighs trembled. He teased my sensitive folds apart with his thick tongue and entered me, long and deep. I was dripping wet for him. With each plunge of his tongue inside of me, I whimpered, and my sex contracted. My emotions doubled, maybe even tripled inside of me. I was afraid to let go. I was going to die on this sexual high.

  Dawson growled into me, snaking his tongue up the entire length of my pussy over and over again. His tongue swept playfully back and forth and up and down across my clit.

  “You’re holding back,” he mumbled.

  “Yes.” I grabbed the sheets tighter. A couple tears escaped my eyes and ran down my cheeks. I had never reached orgasm with anyone…ever. Coming close to peak was as far as I’d let myself go. I was afraid I’d hurt someone.

  “Not with me, Alessia,” he mumbled against my sex and then pushed a couple of digits into me. “Don’t hold back with me.”

  He pumped in and out of me while teasing my clit with light kisses.

  “Oh, Dawson. Oh, God. Please.”

  “I want to feel you lose control on my tongue,” he whispered.

  He deepened the kiss against my slit, stroking my clit with the flat of his tongue. Something was unraveling inside me, spinning uncontrollably. I cried out his name, gave up the rein on my willpower, and let go. My body succumbed and all of my emotions flooded outward like a river. After the upheaval, elation set in. He expertly coaxed me down, placing feather-light kisses against the inside of my thighs and mound.

  “That was beautiful, Alessia. Wasn’t it?”

  He came up over me and kissed away all of my spilled tears. “Never hold back from me. Understood? I’m here for you now, and you’ll never face another obstacle alone.”

  Unable to speak at the moment, I nodded.

  “I’m not finished with your lovely body,” he said.

  Dawson slipped his big thigh between my legs and his thick cock fell against my hip. I lifted my legs up and wrapped them around his waist. He fell into my embrace, pressing his mouth into the curve of my collarbone. He pushed his length into me one inch at a time until all but the last inch was deep within. I felt impaled to the bed under him and loved every minute of it. I clasped my fingers together at the back of his neck and pulled him down close to me. I loved the taste of myself on his lips. Our scents comingled, and my taste mixed together with his created a delicious mix.

  His cock was strong, pumping into me with lightning force. His energy fused with my powers, sending me reeling with explosive pleasure. He held me like he cared about me, as if he loved me and never wanted to let me go. I had never felt that kind of comfort before.

  He separated from me just far enough to hold my gaze with his icy blue eyes. They gleamed with nothing but adoration. Adoration for me. Desire, for me.

  “I love you like this.” He pushed in and out of my slickness. The rhythm was still demanding, but his pace had slowed. “I never want to let go. I never want this to end.”

  My sex tightened and with each downward stroke, his skin brushed against mine. Deep, sensual waves rolled off of me in droves. I reached my second peak in his arms with my legs wrapped tightly around him. Heat and energy radiated from me to him. We were
drowning in it.

  I gripped his strong arms and held on for dear life. He was tough enough to weather through the windstorm of emotions whirling around us. His expression was full of elation, and he made love to me with torrid vigor.

  A vision folded over me. I focused, closing my eyes, not wanting to lose it. I saw his wolf staring back at me. Icy blue eyes. White fur with touches of black. Huge. Massive. Strong enough to protect me. Loyal enough to receive my love. The bond was strong between us. In the vision and here, under him, on his bed, making love to him.

  “Alessia,” Dawson groaned above me, his body trembling with a fierce climax.

  His hot seed poured into me, planting another vision inside of me. This time, I was looking at myself. Or rather, Dawson had fed me a vision of him looking at me. I was in a kitchen, chopping something on a cutting board. I hadn’t seen him come in, but once I scented him I turned and a look of surprise appeared on my face as though I was elated to see him—as if he’d been gone a long time. We met in the center of the kitchen, embracing, kissing. My heart was whole again. My mate was in my arms again.

  His semen ceased streaming inside of me and the vision faded.

  We didn’t move for a very long time. He stayed locked inside of me. My arms remained wrapped around him.

  “I thank the gods for bringing you to me, Alessia. You will always be mine.”

  * * *

  Dawson

  “Do you have to leave?” Dawson whispered against my neck as the water from the shower pelted down on both of us.

  “Yes. Dad is probably home by now, wondering where I am. And I have to open up my shop in a few hours,” I said.

  But despite all the business I needed to take care of weighing heavily on my conscience, Dawson’s cock was pressing hard against my ass.