Wolf's Temptation (Caedmon Wolves Book 7)

by Kirk, Ambrielle

  “I’m okay,” I said and stepped aside. “Come in.”

  I closed and locked the door and then turned around to find him standing in my foyer assessing me with confusion. There were bits of snowflakes peppering his blond hair, eyelashes—even his leather jacket, but most of the snow absorbed quickly. He appealed to me in more ways than one. His masculine scent renewed me. His handsome face and calm and collected demeanor enchanted me. He reached out and took my hand in his, and his touch warmed me to my core. Why should I give this up? How could anyone give up Dawson Caedmon?

  I took a deep breath and said, “Before you say anything, I—”

  “Are we alone?”

  “Ye—”

  Dawson closed the distance between us and his lips fell on mine with a smooth grace that rendered me speechless. One of his hands was at the back of my neck and the other was holding my waist to him. I was wrapped in a blanket of euphoria, and of course, I wanted to stay there. Intense passion surrounded us. I was drowning in it and I could barely breathe. He tasted sweet and spicy all rolled into one. He kissed me hard and deep, but his lips were velvet-soft and warm against mine. I flattened my hand on his chest, palming the hardened muscles beneath his shirt.

  Just as I was getting comfortable in his arms and sated with our union, he pulled away. That’s when I picked up on the other emotion floating through him. Anger. He was trying to hold it within, but emotions never stayed buried in anyone. They had to come out sooner or later.

  “Where were you last night?” His demand for an answer was firm.

  My heart thudded against my breastbone.

  He knows.

  My thoughts must have projected straight to him because in that instant his eyes widened.

  His brow wrinkled. “Why?”

  I shook my head. I still hadn’t processed why. I didn’t know why these things had happened to me.

  He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a necklace with a blue pendant. I clutched at my neck. Even under the turtleneck I wore I could tell the necklace wasn’t there. I hadn’t even known I had lost it.

  “I must have left it at your place the other night.” I held out my palm and he dropped it in my hand. The chain of the necklace was broken and there was blood on it.

  A vision flashed into my mind of the headless wolf. I gasped and jumped back and the necklace fell to the floor.

  “This necklace was found by the body of the wolf whose life you took,” Dawson said. “Why, Alessia? Why didn’t you tell me you were related to the Osbornes?”

  “I didn’t mean to kill him, but he was trying to kill me. I had reason to believe that my life was in danger. I’m so sorry. I had no idea what my mom’s maiden name was until yesterday.”

  His eyelids fell closed and he sighed in relief. “Everyone thinks you murdered him…on purpose. They know that you used your powers to slay him.”

  “No…I mean…yes, I absorbed his own madness to grow stronger, but I would never kill anyone just because. That thing attacked me. It wasn’t murder. I went there in search of answers. The property belongs to me.”

  “It does?”

  I nodded. “Yes. My mom owned it. After the fire, it was marked as abandoned and almost seized by the county. I was still too young to understand anything back then, but Dad took matters into his own hands. The deed probably lists some foreign company as the owner, but that was done to protect Dad and me.”

  “Protect you from what?”

  “My mom’s family, and of course, whoever set the fire that killed her,” I replied.

  His gaze shifted left and right, searching for answers I likely didn’t have and evaluating my responses.

  “So then you didn’t possess this wolf?”

  “Possess a wolf?” I gave a short laugh. “Is that even possible?”

  “Elisa says the wolf that attacked you was under the spell of a witch.”

  “Who’s Elisa?” I asked.

  “My half-sister,” he said. “She’s a shifter. Her mother had witch blood as well, but didn’t pursue her craft until late in her life.”

  “If the wolf was under my spell, why would it attack me? If I created a spell, which I didn’t, I’d be certain that my own creation didn’t come back to bite me.” I laughed nervously. “And he literally bit me.”

  Fury rolled off of Dawson in waves. “Where?”

  “It’s over now. That’s not important,” I said.

  Dawson brought me close to him again. “I care about you, Alessia. I couldn’t believe for one minute that you would kill a wolf or anyone in vain. You’re my mate, and it’s my right and duty to protect you. I would kill anyone who tried to hurt you. It’s important because you are my world. I would be lost in it without you.”

  “Well, I hope I never disappoint you again.” I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him. “Come with me. I have something to show you.”

  I led him upstairs to my room. My laptop and the amulet I found last night were in the middle of the bed where I had left them.

  “I’ve been doing research all morning,” I said. “I have some good leads, but nothing concrete.”

  “So, you plan on pursuing this still?”

  “Yes, I want to know, and of course, I think I owe it to my mom to make sure justice is served to the person who caused the fire. It was my plan anyway before I went out to the property last night. What happened only solidified the knowledge that knowing more and seeking more may help me find ways to bring about this justice. I’ve been living with this forever. I can’t remember anything prior to the fire, other than the fact that one of my parents lost their lives.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dawson said. “I know this frustrates you. I wish I could help more. I wanted to hear from you about what happened last night. My half-sister, Elisa, would know more about the craft, but I need them to trust you first.”

  “And they don’t right now because they think I’m a witch out to destroy you or something. I remember when you had the same hesitations about me, so I can’t blame them for being distrustful. You shouldn’t either.”

  “They’ll come around,” he said. “A lot has happened over the decades, and we’re not all that trusting of anyone.”

  I picked up the amulet and dangled it out between us. “Have you ever seen one of these before?”

  “Not really. It just looks like a necklace to me. Where’d you get it?”

  “This was hidden about two feet in the ground next to the tree. My mother stored her magic and memories inside.”

  Dawson searched my gaze nervously. “Does that mean you have your memories back?”

  “No, I don’t,” I said. “I guess that’s why I’ve been on Google all day.”

  “And what about the magic?” He glanced at the amulet again. “Is it part of you now?”

  “No, I have this strong feeling that getting those memories out will take more than just looking at it. But I’m glad I didn’t leave it behind. I could have lost it. As soon as I retrieved the necklace, the wolf came lurking out of the forest and attacked me. I didn’t know how else to stop it from trying to bite me, so I killed it.”

  “You did the right thing, Alessia. If another wolf attacked me and threatened my life, I would kill him, too.”

  “Then you understand how dangerous it is to be around me and why I told you that it’d be best if we separated for a little while.”

  “I understand, but I will never leave you to deal with this alone. That’s not what a true mate would do, and every part of me will have you even if it means I have to give my life to be with you.”

  “The feeling is mutual,” I said, sliding my fingers across his forehead and then back through his hair. “I’ll protect you with my life and everything I have within me. You and Dad are the only people I have now.”

  His gaze fell to my lips as I spoke and I couldn’t resist giving him what he wanted, so I kissed him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Dawson

  Alessia’s tongue slid del
icately between the seam of her lips and moistened her pretty mouth. I wanted to do more than kiss her. I wanted to ravish her completely and claim her officially as mine.

  Her eyes dropped to my midsection. My cock hardened painfully behind my fly. A flush of sexual desire showed on her face and her brown eyes shimmered with arousal.

  “I want you now,” he muttered. “You can sense it, can’t you?”

  She nodded. “High sexual aggression and male testosterone. You’re badly in need.”

  I grinned. “Badly in need of you. I was upset last night because I thought you’d cut me off, and then I was more disturbed when my brother delivered the bad news and accused you of murder. Now as I stand here before you all I can think about is fucking and claiming you hard. I can’t be gentle. Not with this much aggression.”

  She reached for me, pulling me close. “I know.” She slipped her hand up under my shirt and slid her finger up and down the ridges and crevices of my muscles. “That’s what I want.” She pulled off my shirt and threw it aside. “Do you know what fulfills empaths the most?”

  “Emotions?” I guessed.

  She nodded. “Emotions at their peak. Just like yours.”

  We tore off the rest of each other’s clothing. Her bedroom shades were pulled closed, and the room was slightly darkened, but that didn’t stop me from admiring her body, but when I saw the marks on her arms and chest, my breath paused briefly.

  “Who did this?” I brushed my fingers across the bruise. She had to have gotten them recently because the last time I’d made love to her, they weren’t there. They weren’t deep, but still bad enough to raise concern and my concern was elevated.

  “I told you. The wolf did this,” she said. “I couldn’t take it any longer. I didn’t want to die.”

  My fists tightened and I vowed to myself that no man or wolf would ever lay another hand on her. I didn’t want to let her out of my sight.

  She stroked my cheek with her palm. “Dawson, everything will be okay. Please, let’s not let what happened take away from now. Just touch me.” She captured my hand and wrapped my arm around her waist.

  I backed her up to the bed and lowered her onto it and then went to work on her with my mouth and tongue. I kissed her bruised flesh and tried to lick the pain away. My core was on fire and I felt enraptured by her powers. I took my time healing her skin as only true mates could do for each other. I rejoiced silently at the fact that I’d erased the scars, but what truly gave me satisfaction was seeing the look of surprise and adoration on her face over what I had done.

  “Wolves can heal?” she asked, her eyes dazed.

  “Only true mates can heal each other.”

  Alessia rose to a sitting position on the bed, pushing me up so that my cock was touching her lips. Her little tongue delicately flicked the rounded head of my rock-hard cock. She took me fully into her mouth, inch by inch. When I hit the back of her throat, she grabbed my thighs and held me firmly in place.

  I was in Heaven plunging into her soft mouth. I was in ecstasy as her tongue eagerly pleased me from root to tip. I would have flooded her mouth with my seed, but I wanted to take her pussy instead. I pulled out and bent down to take her lips with mine. I tasted my pre-cum on her tongue. My balls tightened and swelled as she moaned into my mouth.

  She dragged me upward and kissed me deeply. When she wrapped her legs around my waist, I dropped my face into the cradle between her neck and shoulder.

  Gods, she was so soft and delicate, yet so powerful. She was mine. Wicked or not, I would claim her.

  * * *

  Alessia

  Warmth confused me as Dawson’s large, hard figure came down over me. Our bodies were already slickened with sweat as our skin rubbed together. He took my hips with his big, gentle hands and rocked his hard length between my soaked folds.

  I moaned and opened my thighs, exposing myself completely to him. He plunged downward into me in one stroke. When he was fully seated, he grabbed my ass and tilted me upward. He buried himself to the hilt, binding us hip to hip.

  He did what he’d promised. He thrust hard into me, over and over again until the walls of my sex loosened to take his thickness. Pleasure rushed through me and my pussy clenched around his rod, begging him to take me even deeper.

  He caught my gaze and I saw complete infatuation in them. I felt loved and cherished. Something unraveled inside of me. I gripped the back of his neck, pulled his lips to mine, and moaned my pleasure into his mouth. My orgasm swam through me like my blood, heating me to my very core.

  “Alessia…” Dawson closed his eyes and his head fell back. Corded muscle and veins strained as he drove one last time before filling me with his seed.

  We shuddered against each other, and when the climax subsided, our arms remained wrapped around one another.

  “You’re perfect for me, Alessia,” he said, his head lying next to mine on the pillow. “I wish we’d met sooner.”

  I smiled. “We met at the perfect time.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Alessia

  It was early evening before Dawson and I took showers and got cleaned up. I’d promised my dad I’d be forthcoming about my dealings, and I wanted him to meet Dawson for many reasons. Surprisingly, Dawson had agreed with no objections at all. Not only was Dawson someone that completed me, but he was also the type of guy I was proud to introduce to my dad.

  I stood at the kitchen counter making sandwiches as Dawson sat nearby on a stool. I felt his desirous stare on me as I prepped our late meal. I wasn’t much of a cook. I had never learned, and I sincerely hoped that he didn’t mind.

  “Mayo and mustard?” I asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  After spreading the condiments on both sandwiches, I returned the jars to the fridge.

  “Want a pickle?” I asked, bending over to retrieve the jar of dill pickles.

  There was no answer.

  “Dawson?”

  “Sorry, what did you say?”

  I turned around, and a sheepish grin passed over his face.

  “I was admiring the view,” he said. “I got lost in it actually.”

  “Lost in it?” I put my hands on my hips. “Is my ass that big?”

  “It’s big enough for me,” he said. “And I love it.”

  “You’re a trip, you know that?”

  “Come here,” he beckoned.

  I walked up between his thighs and into his embrace, and I accepted his kiss. We were lip-locked for several minutes until my stomach growled, sending us into a fit of laughter.

  We knew when my dad pulled up into the garage. Dawson had sensed it before I did. He tensed and made eye contact with me across the table. After taking a sip of water, he wiped away any evidence of having eaten and brushed some crumbs off the front of his shirt.

  I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. My dad is cool. He knows I wouldn’t invite anyone in here that I didn’t trust.”

  “Yes, of course, but I’m still nervous.”

  My dad came inside the house with two bags in his arms. He dropped them on the counter to the right of him and looked back and forth between Dawson and me.

  Dawson was the first to step forward. He held out his hand. “Mr. van der Hoeff. My name is Dawson Caedmon.”

  “Nice to meet you, Dawson.” He returned the handshake. “What brings you here tonight?”

  “Dad, Dawson and I are…friends.” Well, that was an understatement. “Really good friends. He’s my boyfriend, and I wanted you to meet him.”

  “Oh, okay… Well, gee, I didn’t mean to be rude and interrupt your dinner,” Dad said, running his hands down his hair. “Let’s have a seat.”

  We sat down at the counter. The awkwardness was thick in the air and a couple of minutes passed before Dad finally spoke again.

  “How’d you two meet?”

  “If I hadn’t met Dawson, I never would have known what that symbol was from my dreams. Remember the one I told you a
bout with the wolf in the center?”

  Dad nodded. “You see the same symbol in your dreams almost monthly, right?”

  “Right. It’s not just some unimportant symbol. Turns out, it’s a family crest,” I said.

  “My family’s crest. The Caedmon,” Dawson added.

  “Caedmon? So how does this relate to…?” Dad’s sentence trailed off.

  “It’s okay. Dawson knows everything. Even about what happened last night. Well, just about. What he doesn’t know about me is what I’m trying to find out myself. The crest is what brought me closer to Dawson, and he’s helped me through a lot of this.”

  “I see. What about helping us find out who was behind the attack last night?” my dad asked.

  “We’ve reason to believe that what happened last night was the work of a witch,” Dawson confirmed. “I’ll protect your daughter with everything I have. That’s what I’m here for.”

  “How long have you known each other?” Dad asked.

  “I only recently met Dawson, but I’m inclined to say the fates would have brought us together no matter what.” I smiled.

  “Aren’t we moving a little fast?” Dad hinted.

  “Maybe, but I know what I want now and I’m an adult,” I replied.

  “Are you aware that your daughter can see animal spirits?” Dawson asked.

  “Yes. The only woman I ever loved, besides Alessia of course, called it animal familiars where animal spirits can control any human.”

  “Well, I’m a shifter. I’m not controlled by any animal or human or witch. My wolf and I are one and the same.”

  Dad looked to me for confirmation and I nodded.

  “Man…” He sighed in disbelief. “I never thought you’d bring a shifter home to meet me. I was going to ask you some day to point one out to me, but this is better than looking from a distance.”

  Dawson laughed nervously.

  “So, do you live in a house or outside?” Dad continued.

  I blushed at my dad’s silly question.