“Axel, this, it wasn’t planned. It just sort of happened. I’m…”
“Riley, don’t you dare apologize for completing the bond with one of your mates. After everything you’ve been through in your life, you deserve to find a bit of happiness and security. Cree is strong, attentive, secure, and undeniably sexy.”
“It just feels awkward to talk about mating a mate with another mate. I don’t know what I can and can’t talk about with each of you guys. You know what I mean?”
“I do and you should be able to talk to us without feeling guilty or embarrassed.” I nod my head in understanding before Axel gracefully changes the subject. “While I was waiting for you to awaken, your phone went off a few times. Ember has been trying to reach you all morning.”
Looking around I find mine and Cree’s phones charging in the kitchen. Pointing to the phone, I look up at Axel. Silently asking if he did that. Nodding his head at me, I voice my thanks. “Thank you.”
Picking up my phone, I dial Ember’s number. Waiting for her to answer, I ask Axel, “How the hell did you get in here anyway?”
His cheeks flame red, looking unsure and wary about his answer. “Axel. How did you get in?” I ask again with a bit more aggravation.
Hesitantly he answers, “I have a key. Reed gave me a copy when you were going through withdrawal and refused to stay at the penthouse. He was worried that something might happen and I’d need to get in, in a hurry.”
I stand there unblinking, and unsure how to respond to the revelation that not only did the guys break into my apartment during that horrible time, but they also made copies of my key without my permission. Made worse by the fact that they kept them.
A faint voice sounds from the phone in my hand, “Girl. What the fuck took you so long? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours. Want to hang out today?”
Shaking myself from my feelings of violation and betrayal, I decide I’ll deal with them after I’ve had a chance to simmer on it. Turning my back on Axel, who looks really worried now, I reply to Ember, “Hello to you too, Ember. Sorry, I just woke up.”
“Must be nice to sleep in until noon.”
“What? It’s afternoon already?” I exclaim spinning towards the stove to check the time, 12:05 shines on the display. “Well, fuck me.”
“I already did,” Cree whispers in my ear while wrapping his arms around my waist, causing me to jump and him to laugh as he places a kiss on my head.
“Cree!” I exclaim loudly, as my heart hammers in my chest. “You know what Ember; I need to get away from the testosterone that is invading my life before I hurt, or worse kill, one of them. And I could really use some female advice on something. Meet me at the café on 9th street in 30. We’ll make plans after I flood my veins with caffeine.”
“Absolutely! See you then.” Ember’s cheery mood already has me feeling lighter and more carefree. With an extra bounce in my step and a grin on my face, I head down the hall to my bedroom.
“Riley. You do know you’ll need a shadow this afternoon, right?” Cree interjects into my lifted mood, stopping me in my tracks. Well, isn’t that a buzzkill?
“Fuck,” I mutter.
Entering the modern café, I find Ember at a table in the corner. I place my order for the largest caramel latte they offer and take a seat across from her.
“Hey, Ember,” I say with a smile.
“Riley! It is so good to see you again. Hey, isn’t that one of your not-mates-but-is-mate out there?” she asks, pointing outside.
“Yeah, he’s here to shadow me. A silent bodyguard if you will.”
“What the fuck do you need a bodyguard for?”
“That’s a long story.”
“Girl, I’ve got all day. Spill it.”
Debating how much I want to get into and how much I want to involve her, considering we don’t really know each other, I start to give her an abbreviated version of the story. Just enough to explain Enzo’s place outside. However, as I talk and Ember listens I find myself spilling everything. My childhood, my parents’ deaths, Alastair’s betrayal, to living with Jimmy. Ember gives me her full attention, and I hadn’t realized how much I needed someone to listen. Not a mate, but a friend. Someone to care who isn’t bound to me. It wasn’t until I got to Grace’s death that the events of my life truly started to sink in. As I talked about the withdrawal and the guys’ support, I started to understand the fear that Reed and others must have felt and I was suddenly okay with the idea of them all having a way to get to me in a hurry. Don’t get me wrong, I am still fucking pissed they hadn’t asked. Truth be told though; I probably would have fucked them up and told them all to go to hell.
When I got to the part about my kidnapping two days ago, I started to break. My feelings of fear for the future are taking hold. Ember grabs me in her arms, hugging me the way I remember my Mom used to. You know those secure and safe hugs, like nothing can touch you as long as you remain in their embrace. That’s what Ember felt like. I finish telling her about what happened with the guys after, about Grace’s planning and the guys’ involvement.
“Those fuckers. They seriously were making plans for your future without you being a part of it. What the actual fuck?” Ember’s outrage on my behalf is the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen; I can’t help but smile at her. Seriously, picture this, a petite 5’3” female, with snow-white features pinched tight and eyes burning with an inner fire. She is a fucking doll. My wolf peeks out to get a better look at this chick who is beyond livid, not for herself, but for us. It’s an amazing feeling to have a true friend.
“I know. Trust me, I was fucking pissed as hell at first. After last night though, I’ve come to see Grace’s point of view on the matter. I had a lot of shit I needed to deal with. I needed to get my life on more solid ground that didn’t feel like it was going to crumble at the first sign of trouble. I needed to heal and rebuild. Not to mention coming to terms with the fact that I have five fucking mates. I mean shit, that’s fucking insane.”
“Girl, I may be a bit crazy, but I’d love to take a ride on that train,” Ember fucking winks at that. Little crazy. Lots crazy. Friend. Mine. My wolf pipes in with a wolfish grin. Yeah, she likes Ember.
“So, what happened last night?” I can feel my temperature begin to rise as my cheeks redden. My hand flutters to my neck which is hidden under my turtleneck. Ember’s eyes widen to the size of saucers.
“Oh. My. Gods!” Ember squeals. “You…,” she starts but I abruptly cut her off with a hand over her mouth.
“Shh, I haven’t told everyone,” I whisper, my eyes bouncing to the window to find the table where Enzo should be, empty. Glancing back at Ember her eyes are huge looking over my shoulder. Sitting back down in my seat, warm breath fans across my ear as two strong tattooed arms and hands box me into the table.
His deep voice whispers in my ear, “I can smell him on you, Riley.”
A shiver runs down my spine as goosebumps break out across my arms. “Enzo.”
“I’m going to tell you a little secret, Riley. We wolves have an amazing sense of smell. So, when you mate with one of us, even if you shower, we can smell each other all over your fucking incredible body. As I’m sure you already know.” His nose runs down my neck ending over my mating mark. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m happy for you and the bear, I am. However, I am also jealous as fuck. After the other day in the gym, my wolf is pushing hard for me to bend you over this table. Which is why I’m going to stay outside.” He places a kiss on my cheek as he stands up and walks back outside, leaving me completely dumbstruck.
“Holy. Fucking. Shit. Riley.”
Sipping my coffee, I attempt to shake myself out of my stupor. “Well, okay moving on from that,” I say breathlessly. Ember’s sudden laugh causes tea to spray out of her nose, drawing a laugh from me. Falling into a fit of giggles we both begin to catch stares and snickers from the other patrons around us.
Breathing and regaining control of my laughter, I attempt to s
peak, “Okay… breathing now. Tell me about you, Ember. I’ve shared my whole life story with you. I want to know more about you. How did you and Dom meet? More importantly, what are you?”
Ember takes a moment to collect herself, pulling her thoughts together. “I’m a witch. Dominic you know is a dragon. How we met is kind of a funny story, a definite enemies to lovers tale.”
“Spill it already, woman.”
With a little laugh at my demand she starts, “I was hired to hunt him.”
“I’m sorry. Did you say hunt?”
“That sounds worse than it was. Before he and I were together, I was a bounty hunter.”
“So, what, you hunted shifters? For whom, the highest bidders? Like big CEOs trying to shut up a whistleblower.”
“Gods no, Riley. It wasn’t anything like that. And it wasn’t specific to shifters. I hunted the supernaturals who were out of control. I was, for lack of a better way of putting it, police for the supernatural community. I hunted those caught up in criminal behavior such as thieves, murderers, and crime bosses.
“I was put on Dom’s case after he was reported for allegedly murdering a priest. After I caught up with him, against my better judgment, I listened to his side of the story. It took some convincing but I came to believe his story. After a lot of investigating, I found the whole thing to be an extremely well thought out frame job. They hired professionals to set up the job. They had his DNA and fingerprints which they placed at the scene and places of alleged interaction between the victim and Dom. They paid people to act as well-rehearsed eyewitnesses to many altercations between Dom and the priest that never took place. Together we hunted the organization that set him up. Somewhere along the journey, I fell for him, head over heels. It turned out I was his mate, which he wouldn’t tell me about until I developed feelings for him. And as they say, the rest is history.”
“Why didn’t he tell you he was your mate in the beginning?”
“He said he didn’t want me to feel like he was trying to manipulate me into helping him by playing the mate card.”
“That’s sweet of him. He wanted your relationship to start on your terms. And now you two work at a restaurant. Do you still hunt?”
“We do some hunting, just not for the same reasons. We’re more about truth and justice now.” That gives me a pause, could they be allies for us in the upcoming battle. “I can see the question burning in your mind, Riley. It’s okay, you can ask.”
“What? Are you a mind reader too?”
With a laugh, she replies, “Not a mind reader, just really good at reading people. In all seriousness though, Riley. If you need our help with the battle you’re preparing for, just ask. We’ll be there.”
Standing, I move over to her side and wrap her in a tight hug, whispering, “Thank you, Ember. Not just for agreeing to help me but for listening.” Stepping back, I continue, “You have no idea how much that meant. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to confide in anyone. This really helped me come to some realizations over some conflicts I’ve been wrestling with.”
“Riley, I am always here if you need me, only a call away.”
“Okay, no more heavy, emotional talk. What did you want to do today?”
Glancing out the window and back to me, Ember gives me a wicked grin. “I’ve got some ideas.”
Ember and I spend the next five hours store hopping and window shopping. For the first couple of hours, we attempt to lose our shadow. Unable to do so, we settled on torture instead. At each store, we spend a minimum of thirty minutes trying on outfit after outfit. Making a stop at a lingerie store I spend extra time modeling pieces within Enzo’s line of sight.
Still, in the dressing room, I slip on a little black lace teddy with a matching thong. Looking at myself in the three-bay mirror, I hear a growl from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I find Enzo standing in the doorway of my dressing room.
“May I help you?” I ask with a knowing smirk.
“Baby.” Is all I get from Enzo as he steps into the room, closing and locking the door behind him. In a blink, I’m pushed against the mirror with my arms held above my head. “You are playing an extremely dangerous game, baby girl. You cannot keep teasing the wolf; not unless you want him to act out.”
Catching Enzo’s eyes in the mirror, I push my ass back into him feeling how tense he really is. Rather how tense his jeans are. Those poor jeans.
“Riley,” Enzo growls with a low deep rumble. Thrusting his hips forward, he leans into me, effectively pinning me against the center mirror. “My control is slipping fast, Riley. Is that what you want, for me to lose control. Just say the word, Riley.”
“I want you, Enzo. For you to push me against the wall and kiss the hell out of me.”
He places a kiss on my ear before whispering, “I will not allow our first time to be in a dressing room, Riley. However…,” He lets his statement hang in the air as one of his hands slides down my body, wraps around my middle, and spins me in place. Enzo pins me to the mirror and his mouth slams against mine. Searing us together as he dominates me. His hand sinks into the lace thong of my outfit finding me completely soaked. “Fuck,” his voice is dripping with desire and frustration. Dropping to his knees he slowly lowers my thong never breaking eye contact with me. He leans in, his tongue peeking out from between his lips. He lifts one of my legs over his shoulder and hooks his arm under my thigh. His tongue slides between my folds, licking away the juices that flow from me.
My head drifts back and my hips rock forward. Riding wave after wave of pleasure. When his tongue rolls over my clit, I have to slap a hand over my mouth to muffle the sounds he draws from me.
The pleasure rocking through my body quickly becomes too much. “Oh my Gods, Enzo. You have to stop. Fuck, you have to stop.” Biting down on my clit, he inserts two fingers in my pussy, responding to my plea.
He glances up at me. “Too much for you to handle?”
Nodding my head frantically yes. I bite my tongue to hold back the moan trying to escape.
“Not a sound, baby girl. You don’t want them to know what you’re doing in here.” He pumps his fingers in and out of me faster and harder as his mouth descends on my clit again.
I grab two fists full of his hair, not sure if I’m holding his head in place or trying to push him away. My hips begin to grind against his face, adding a little more force to the friction.
A low moan escapes me and I don’t fucking care anymore when Enzo finds that little bundle of nerves inside of me and begins to rub across it. “Oh, my fucking Gods. Enzo, don’t you fucking stop. Don’t stop, don’t….”
“Stop? Not a chance in hell, Riley,” he mumbles against my clit causing vibrations to run through me, giving me the push I need to fly.
As I start to come, Enzo replaces his fingers with his open mouth, sucking and licking in turn. His thumb finds my clit, moving in small circles with just the right amount of pressure. Bursting at the seams, a loud whimpering moan escapes me.
As I come down from the euphoric high, Enzo slowly lowers my leg. Standing back up, he devours my mouth. The taste of me is still strong on his lips. Breaking the moment before it gets any heavier, he leans into my ear and whispers, “Buy this.” With that, he walks out of the room leaving me to stand there as the moment plays over in my mind.
“Holy shit. What was that?” My mind and body are still reeling as I try to get dressed.
Fully dressed, I step out of the dressing room, my hands still shaking from the confusion of what just transpired. I check the time on my watch, nearly 7:00 o’clock. Perfect. Ember joins me at the register as I purchase the teddy and thong set.
“What happened to just window shopping?” she asks, a knowing look on her face as her eyes dance between me and Enzo.
I shrug my shoulders as I declare, “I need a drink.” At that, she and Enzo both begin to laugh. Enzo’s full smile on display and there at the corner of his smile are fucking dimples.
“Fucking hel
l. Are you serious?” Enzo’s forehead pinches in a confused look. “You have fucking dimples, Enzo.” Ember’s laugh gets louder as she pats me on the shoulder.
“Let’s get you a drink, girl,” Ember states, pulling a disapproving growl from Enzo.
“I don’t fucking think so,” he declares.
Stopping outside a white brick building Enzo looks up at the sign with confusion written all over his face. “This doesn’t look like a bar.”
“Don’t let its looks fool you, Enzo. This is the best bar in town. Well, best smoothie bar in town,” I announce with a smile as we head inside.
“Welcome to Body Energy Club. What can I get for you today?” the boy behind the counter asks.
“Two Chocolate Lovers Smoothies please,” I state in return looking back at Enzo. “You’re going to love this.”
“Same for me please,” Ember chirps in.
Smoothies in hand we head outside just as Ember’s phone begins to ring. “I’ll be right back,” she says as she takes a few steps away.
“So, what do you think?” I ask Enzo, taking a sip from my smoothie.
Before Enzo can answer Ember returns. “I’m sorry, Riley. I have to go take care of something with Dom.”
“Everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, just a new job. I’ll text you later.” Giving me a hug, she heads off down the sidewalk at an almost jog.
I turn to Enzo, who cuts in, “I want to take you somewhere. Will you come with me?” I nod as he takes my hand and we head into the forest.
Chapter Thirteen
Riley
We walk in silence, Enzo leading the way with only the sounds of the night filling the space between us. The moon and stars above us shining bright on our path.
Shattered Strength: Shadowcrest Pack Series Book Two Page 11
