by BJ Brandon
"I need you, Kayne," she whispered. "All of you . . . now! To take away the nightmares. Replace them with something beautiful! I won't break but I will go mad if I can't stop the nightmares!"
He did not wait for more of an answer, could not if his life had depended on it. Watching her face, holding her gaze, Kayne blew across her swollen clit and flicked his tongue across with a gentle swipe.
With the small puff of his breath, she tried to come off the bed but his hold on her hips was gentle and firm, keeping her in place, allowing him to plunder and lick to his heart's content. He used his long fingers to open her drenched folds and lave sweet cream up and over that little nub sucking it deep into his mouth. A high-pitched scream echoed through the room as Chayle road the first of many waves Kayne intended to give her before he was finished.
Over and over he pushed her, first with his tongue and then long fingers, stretching gently to ensure bruised and tortured tissue did not protest too much. When he continued to be too gentle she pushed him, begging and cursing him for not being fast enough. One final push and he watched the beauty of Chayle shatter above him.
Finally, Kayne knew he could not hold himself in check any longer. As Chayle rode the last peak of her orgasm, he rose above her to pull those long legs over the top of his thick thighs and toward him. Pre-cum already seeped enough to lubricate the condom as he rolled it down the massive shaft, making him groan, wishing for the first time that he could take her bare. Kayne had not taken a woman bare since his first time and now was not a time to start.
Pushing those thoughts away, he eased into her tight channel and groaned, feeling her muscles spasm from her last orgasm and all thoughts of slow and gentle vanished. He plunged into her, seating himself halfway and growled, feeling her heat, her tightness.
He forced himself to hold still, not wanting to hurt her, reminding himself of the tortures and abuse she had suffered, stilling the animal inside of himself. He fought it, waiting, allowing Chayle to adjust and praying she could handle this, knowing many females never would after an ordeal like what his woman had endured. Because Kayne finally knew she was his woman, that uncanny feeling that he had finally come HOME!
"Don't stop!" she whispered, begging, nails digging into thick biceps and pulling him close. She starred up, watching the battle raging in dark blue eyes and was struck all over again by how she could ever think this man was anything like the monsters who had taken her.
"Mine!" he growled low in his throat, pulling back almost all the way out and glancing up to find Chayle's startled eyes staring at him. "Mine!" he rumbled low again.
Kayne began a rapid onslaught of thrusts that completely left both of them mindless. He focused on her face, their eyes held by an invisible force that not only connected them by body but also by souls. Every movement, every muscle, every heartbeat each felt as if they were breathing together, each knowing exactly when he reached that peak and she rose to meet him. He refused to let her reach it alone and each time he pushed into her mind, showing her how much he needed her, how deeply they were connected. He shared the pleasure flowing between them, the ebb and flow of it, the uniqueness and rightness of it.
The feedback loop was pleasure and pain tenfold, tearing Chayle apart and rebuilding her on an emotional and cellular level that was beyond anything she could have ever expected. When she finally crested the last time, it was to the feeling of Kayne being with her, inside her mind, a part of her soul. It was so overwhelming she completely lost it. A high pitch scream echoed across the ceiling as her entire body clamped down on Kayne's shaft, pulling every drop of semen from his body that he could possibly produce.
The connection was Kayne's undoing. He felt her struggling to hold it back, whispered for her to let go, and finally felt Chayle accept what it was he was showing her. The two of them soared, the melding of souls so intense that a blinding light took him down and out for several heartbeats, melting with her. When he finally opened his eyes, it was to see Chayle unconscious and cradled in his arms, the covers over both of their naked bodies and the room nearly dark.
"Rafe . . ." he reached out, hoping it was his brother and not one of the servants or other men who had come into the room while he could not protect his mate.
"Be at ease, brother mine. I was down the hall and sensed your bonding." His brother's silent chuckle rankled Kayne's nerves and he was not exactly sure why. 'You are possessive of your mate, fool. That's why."
"I've never felt this way before. We've shared women before this so why is this different?," he scowled, trying not to feel bad that his twin was on the outside of this coupling.
"It is normal, brother. She is worth the effort, so not to worry. We knew the time would come when we would each go our separate ways with our mates." Rafe's calm words made sense but it still hurt to know his twin would now be alone.
"Yes . . . she is worth the effort!" Kayne gently brushed back the damp hair from Chayle's brow, and marveled at how strong and determined this woman in his arms could be, how much she had done to survive.
"Rest with your woman, brother. We can talk tomorrow." His twin's gentle push at his mind to rest usually perturbed him, but this time he could not really get angry. Yes, he would need his rest if he planned to keep up with this woman of his. He had to protect her from those still out there.
Cradling her close, he spooned his large body protectively around Chayle's and felt her automatically snuggle close, her firm butt nestled against his groin. With a groan he expected not to sleep with all that warm female snuggled so close. However, the warmth and contentment washed over him, and Kayne drifted into a dreamless sleep with his mate tucked close against his chest. It was the first time in a long time that he slept without the nightmares.
Chapter Nine
The warm sun felt good as Chayle closed her eyes, letting it bathe her skin, the midmorning breeze soft and gentle on the patio outside their bedroom suite. A quiet, soft-spoken young woman had brought her steaming hot coffee just the way she loved it with a selection of fruit, fluffy eggs, and crispy bacon strips shortly after she had emerged from her shower, as if it were the most normal thing in the world for someone to attend her everyday needs. Then, just as quietly, the young woman had excused herself and disappeared, leaving Chayle to enjoy the peace and quiet she found outside the French doors of the secluded patio.
The veranda style porch on the second floor of Kayne's home offered a spectacular view of dense woods surrounding the property with cleared grounds around the house, and outbuildings close by. She had not seen a single person the entire time she had reclined on the padded chase lounge soaking up the sun's rays but Chayle was not fooled. Her skin prickled every so often, alerting her to eyes that skimmed over her skin, an almost silken touch not really there.
Another presence also prickled her subconscious, allowing a slight uneasiness to touch her but she pushed it away. Chayle could also sense others moving around the grounds, nothing intrusive but almost protective, watching, guarding. She sighed, realizing she was going to have to ask some hard questions now that her mind was clearer. Kayne had some explaining to do and it could not wait any longer. She had never run from a problem and she was not going to start now. Kayne would have to understand that from the beginning of this relationship.
The suddenness of that thought forced her eyes open and her hand to reach for her throat. Where the hell had that come from?
Realistic if nothing else, Chayle smiled, realizing that her life had changed drastically in the last few weeks. She had not missed the fact that Kayne had referred to her as "mate." Nor the fact that everyone treated her with some semblance of special status when entering into the suite of rooms for the last several days she had remained secluded as she healed. However, they were going to have that talk about all of this because she never hid from the truth. First, she needed answers.
Why had she been taken?
Where was the other girl and what had happened to her?
More impor
tantly, how could she stop it from happening again?
Chayle shifted on the lounge and felt the pleasant ache in all the right places from the night before, vastly different from the nightmares, the monsters who had taken her. She still ached in places no human should have been violated, yet her muscles were returning to their normal strength, albeit slowly. It chafed her inherent stubbornness to know that it was going to take longer than she would like for her body to recover. She hated lying around waiting. They were going to have to make some serious decisions - soon.
It was as if Kayne had inserted himself into her subconscious without her even realizing it, and she was accepting it without a fight, which was not like her at all. Before the "incident," it was only herself that she had to rely on, to fight for or against, and stubbornly make the determination as to what direction she would go forth and conquer. Now it seemed her mind and body were telling her something before she even realized it.
A slow smile lit up her face as she leaned back and let the sun's rays warm her, soaking them in like a warm caress. Well, her alpha male was going to have to come to the realization that she was not sitting this one out, and the sooner he realized that the better for both of them.
There she went again - "her alpha male."
No sooner had the thought entered her mind than Chayle felt the air stir slightly to her right, a musky scent tickling her senses. She did not open her eyes, just took a deep breath and drew him in like the warm breeze, deep into her lungs like a life-giving force.
"You look like a cat curled up in the sun," he purred near her ear, causing Chayle to grin.
"Humm . . . and it feels good to just soak it up after someone left the warmth of the bed. I got cold." She cracked an eyelid, turning her head slightly to see a small smile ghost Kayne's features before it was gone. "I'm kidding, Kayne. I could not lie there any longer and needed to move. My muscles are aching and need exercise."
"I brought you some clothes if you'd like to dress and take a look around the place," he offered, holding out his hand. "The walk might help with the soreness."
Chayle did not comment but took the offered palm, feeling the calluses and strength as he tugged her from her curled position on the lounge. He led her back into the spacious bedroom where someone had made the bed while she lay outside without her even hearing them, straightened the room, and replaced the cut flowers on the dresser. On the back of the large wing-backed chair lay a pair of jeans and tank top with comfortable sneakers and ankle socks on the floor next to it.
"How did you know what size I wore?" she asked, picking up the tank and jeans. "I'm not some skinny miss who fits into just anything."
"It wasn't hard," Kayne grinned. "You forget. I've carried you more than a couple of times lately so I had a pretty good idea of your measurements."
She blushed as memories of last night flooded her, his hands and mouth reminding her of just how much he knew about her body. When Chayle looked back up it was to see the same heat reflected in Kayne's eyes.
"You keep looking at me like that and you'll never get into those clothes so you'd best take them into the bathroom if you plan on getting dressed anytime today." His grin was friendly and open now but Chayle could see the banked fires sparkling in those blue eyes, a clear indication of how much he still wanted her. His hot gaze roamed over her body causing it to ache and burn.
Grinning, she gathered the jeans and tank top and sauntered toward the bathroom with an extra twitch to her hips, but could not help throwing a final comment over her shoulder.
"Promises, promises!"
With a quick skip, she quickly closed the bathroom door.
"Tease!" he whispered, then grinned. It seemed his mate had more backbone than he had first given her credit. That was a good thing.
Walking to the French doors, Kayne leaned against them looking out onto the surrounding woods, not actually seeing any of the beauty before him. Intel was still coming in from their sources and it did not look good. The files and papers he had found in the cabin before it was destroyed indicated that there was more going on than just simple human trafficking but they could not seem to connect it with any of the other occurrences. The only differences were the types of females taken.
All were young, yes, but had different backgrounds. Most had exceptional educations but were of different socio-economic classes. There were no connections between races, locations or families. The reports indicated all of the subjects had such radical tests performed that it still terrified Kayne to wonder what these assholes were up to considering many of the victims had died as a result. The ones Kayne and his group had managed to rescue were the lucky ones but it would take a long time for many to return to a normal life, if ever.
The suspicion that the same groups he and the Team had worked so hard to destroy once they had gained their own freedom from the hidden testing facilities for the military might now be active again would not go away. There were too many similarities. He heard the bathroom door open and soft steps enter the room, causing Kayne a ghost of a smile.
"You are doing that more often, brother! It looks good on you." Rafe's voice echoed softly in his mind as Kayne felt his mate's hands rub up his back.
"What has you scowling so hard?" Chayle slipped up behind him, hesitant to touch the hard back that leaned against the doorjamb but unable to resist. She wedge into the opening next to him, looking up.
It still amazed her that this man, this warrior, did not terrify the daylights out of her. On some elemental level, Chayle knew he could never harm her. Standing there watching him in deep thought it was scary to realize that in a very short time she had come to trust someone this much when in her twenty-eight years that had never happened.
"Let's walk and I'll show you around," he said instead, choosing to postpone the questions he knew Chayle had for him.
"We need to talk, Kayne." Never one to be put off, Chayle laid her hand on his forearm, once again reminded of just how strong her warrior really was.
Damn - there it was again - her warrior.
"In a bit, Chayle, but let's walk first," he whispered, and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips. She could tell it was a foreign gesture for him, something he had not done every day but needed so she did not pull away.
"Ok, but we talk - later! Promise?" She pulled back on his arm just a bit, waiting for his answer, knowing, deep in her soul, that he would never break a promise to her.
"Promise," he whispered, licking her fingers.
A shiver coursed down her spine, causing her clit to swell and her juices to flow, wetting her silk panties she had just put on. Her eyes darkened and Chayle knew the instant Kayne was aware of her arousal because his breathing escalated and his body tensed.
"We need to get moving or I'll have you naked and back in bed for the rest of the day!" He growled, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm and started out the door.
Chapter Ten
The winding stairs to the first floor lead to a large open foyer that welcomed anyone who might be admitted. Chayle had been instantly reminded of old world elegance and functionality as the entry branched off toward a very masculine library and office complete with several seating areas and two huge desks. Large windows offered ample light during the day while a huge fireplace took up one end that could easily warm the entire room. On the opposite side was a small sitting room, dainty and elegant, looking so out of place. When she turned to look back at Kayne, he grinned.
"Every home should have a lady's room so she can entertain," he commented, straight faced.
Chayle could not stop the laugh that bubbled up.
"You hardly fit the profile of having a room like this in your home. Why in the world haven't you turned it into something more functional?"
Kayne's hand cupped her cheek, unable to stop the reaction. "Because until now my brother and I had not found mates, so we had no idea what she might want in a home." Her indrawn breath whispered loudly in the cavernous foyer with its high
ceiling leading to the upper floors.
"Let's move it, or we might not finish this tour," she whispered, barely taking her eyes from his face.
"Yes ma'am!" The snappy answer had her smiling but it could not stop the need crawling through her womb or the ache pulsing in her veins. Chayle had never craved like this before and it was starting to worry her.
The rest of the tour inside of the residence went smoothly, with Kayne showing her the huge kitchens complete with stainless steel appliances and long countertops. He explained most of the staff were only there during the daylight hours and had residences on the property but were protected. When they stepped outside the first thing she noticed was the breeze and smells of the heavy woods around them.
"When are you going to tell me where we are?" She looked up at him, waiting, wondering if he would answer.
"We are just outside of a small town west of Dallas, and this is actually our home. There used to be a military base here in the '70s, which trained helicopter pilots, among other things. The property has been in the family since before Texas became a state." He pointed to the north, and she could see the slight rise of hills. "There is a popular resort on the other side Lake Mineral Wells, which is surrounded by a state park of the same name just north of here. There is access and egress to and from the lake, which is protected and guarded at all times, as well as security on all perimeters with cameras and other types of devices around the property line. We have over seventeen thousand acres, Chayle." He saw the surprise and fear creep into her eyes. "No one can get to us without someone knowing," he whispered. "I promise you!"
"Wow, you went to a lot of trouble to hide me, didn't you?" Her troubled gaze met his, searching it. "Why? Why all of this when I'm a nobody?" she whispered.
Kayne growled, reaching for her shoulders. "Never say that again!"
"What?" she squawked, taken aback by his sudden actions.
"You are not a nobody. You're a person of worth, and I never want to hear you say that again!" He growled, pulling her to him, crushing her mouth with his in a possessive assault that took her breath away. When he finally lifted his head, Kayne laid his forehead against her's, breathing hard. "You test my patience, do you know that?"
