by Sam Crescent
He frowned. “No we’re not. We’re in the twenty-first century.”
“Really? Then I’m seriously ahead of schedule.” She froze, blinked, and looked at him. Her change of moods was a challenge to keep up with. “What I said was a warning, Brandon. The decision you’ve made is not a good one. You’re going to lose everything if you’re not careful. Be warned, evil lurks everywhere, and they want to tear you apart.”
Brandon took a step back. “What danger? What evil?” he asked.
“Seriously, do I have to do everything?” Lizzy threw her hands in the air and walked away.
He tried to keep up with her, but she simply vanished before his eyes. Cursing, Brandon retracted his steps. His people were talking with several warlocks. Lori was waving a daisy through the air waiting for him.
All their gazes turned to him as he made his way out of the clearing. “Did you get done what you needed?” Lori asked.
Lizzy appeared beside the warlock. “He did. Do I know you?” she asked the warlock.
Shaking his head, Brandon made his way toward the house.
Witches sat on the sofa playing with their hair. Warlocks watched them, grinning. The animosity between the witches and warlocks was legendary. Witches were always female while warlocks were men.
He didn’t understand the whole story, but their battles had been going on for centuries.
The scent of the forest surrounded him as one of the bears came out of the kitchen. He was a tall man.
“I didn’t think you were going to show, Brandon. I heard from little fairies that you were mated. I figured this meet would be cancelled,” Alaric said. Alaric was the leader of the bears who lived close to his town. They were good friends but stayed apart in case their beasts ever threatened to tear them apart.
“This is far too important,” Brandon said.
****
Elle worked through her break. She dodged Layla’s questions, and even Daisy appeared to be sombre. The pack members she served avoided her gaze, which only served to unnerve her.
Shrugging off their attitude she kept an eye on the door. She was waiting for Matthew to enter. The mated wolf always ate at the diner. She cleaned tables, refilled salt pots and sugar bowls. Sipping her milkshake, whenever the door went she checked to see who entered.
“Who are you waiting for?” Layla asked.
“Erm, I’m not waiting for anyone.”
Layla gave her a pointed look.
“Okay, all right, I’m waiting for Matthew. I want to ask him some questions.”
Her friend nodded. “I can see why. I bet all this mated stuff is new.”
What stuff? Nothing seems to have changed other than I get tingles when Brandon’s close by. That’s wrong. You also get turned on whenever he’s around.
Shaking off her thoughts she stared at her friend. They’d not gotten a chance to talk since the incident with the human men.
“What’s going on with you lately?” she asked.
Layla shrugged. “Nothing new is happening. I’m the same person. I’ve got nothing to share.”
“What happened with Lewis?” She took a seat looking out at the diner in case a customer needed her. Daisy had left to visit her mate. Elle sat in the kitchen area waiting for Layla to talk.
“Nothing actually happened. I don’t know. He took me home. My folks weren’t home, and he sat with me for some time. He talked to me about the human and what Brandon needed to do. I knew he was going to kill them. I just thought it was a mistake.” Layla tucked hair behind her ear.
Elle listened to her remembering the shock of Brandon’s outburst. He looked ready to tear the guy apart, and he had.
She shivered. Elle didn’t want to think of his hands hurting anyone, especially when they brought her so much pleasure.
“When everything settled down, I made us a drink, and he came up behind me. Lewis wrapped his arms around my waist and ground his … erm … dick against my ass. He told me he wanted me.” Layla was bright red.
“I bet he said way more than that.”
“He did. I refused. I told him I didn’t sleep with men. I’m waiting for the right man for me. He backed off instantly. With the way Brandon’s behaved around you, I know I’m not mated to Lewis. He’d have claimed me by now.”
Elle saw the sadness in her friend’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.” She reached out but Layla stopped her.
“You don’t need to pity me. It’s no problem. I’m not destined to be with Lewis. It’s for the best. Your guy is here. I’m going to serve coffee. I hope you find what you need.”
Layla rushed out of the room. Matthew was sat in his usual seat with his mate. Taking a deep breath, Elle moved out of the kitchen. She approached his table.
“Hi,” she said.
“Elle, how are you doing?”
She put her notebook away. “I was wondering if I could talk to the pair of you,” she said.
“Sure, take a seat.”
Matthew’s mate smiled at her.
“I’m ever so sorry but I don’t know your name,” Elle said.
The woman laughed. “No problem. I’m used to being called Matthew’s mate. I’m Christine.”
She shook the woman’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Elle said.
“So, Elle, what do you need to ask?”
“I need to talk to you about this mating thing.”
He froze. “You should talk to the alpha. He’s your mate.”
“I’m not used to this, Matthew. I don’t know how to talk with him about this. He won’t tell me everything that happens during a mating. We’re at an impasse,” she said, trying to reason with him.
“You need to tell her, Matthew. She has a right to know,” Christine said.
Elle smiled at the other woman.
Matthew let out an agitated sigh. “This is going to get me into fucking trouble.” He leaned forward. “Have you accepted the mating?”
Elle frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Mating takes two people, Elle. You either accept Brandon as your mate, or you don’t.”
“He’s convinced I’m his mate.”
“But you can still reject him. It’s not unheard of. We’re mated together for a reason, but it can happen,” Christine said.
“The mating requires you to open yourself up to the other person. Christine and I accepted each other. There was no fight between us. We found each other, fell in love, and the rest is history.” He stroked her hair.
Elle watched the movement and yearned for something similar. Brandon touched her, but it wasn’t affectionate. Brandon’s touch always made her think of him telling the world he owned her. She didn’t like it. There was no affection in his touch.
“Your mind is the barrier I’m talking about. We all build walls up around ourselves to protect us. When I found Christine, the barrier went down, and I let her in. She knows my thoughts and feelings.”
Christine smiled at him. “I know when he’s horny or hungry. The connection is between us like an electric spark no one else can see, but it’s there, and it’s all ours.”
The woman locked her fingers with Matthew.
“When the mating happens you’ll sense each other, and we can communicate through our minds. We don’t need to talk.”
“Also, we want to fuck, a lot,” Christine said.
Elle chuckled even though she blushed. Every wolf she’d come across was crude.
“Once we mate, we mate for life, Elle. When you make your mind up you should know that. I don’t know how this works for a human, but for us, we’re lifers.”
She gazed out of the window and saw Brandon walking toward her. “Can I talk to you some more?” she asked.
He nodded.
Leaving the booth, she grabbed her notebook and started scribbling down their order.
Chapter Fourteen
Brandon waited out in the chilly night for Elle to finish. He’d spent most of the night inside the diner eating and watching her work
. When she bent over he got so many sinful thoughts that he’d spent most of the night rock-hard. Lewis stood waiting with him. Darcy and Drake had left several hours ago. Their disapproval filled the air around them. The pack were slowly finding out about Lori taking Elle’s place by his side for this visit. He’d need to have a meeting to explain his decision.
The scent of disapproval came off Lewis.
“Go on, spill,” Brandon said, folding his arms.
“I’m not saying a fucking word. I’ve said everything that needs to be said. You know my position, and I’m not backing down from it.” Lewis was waiting for Layla to finish.
The other man helped her home safely. With the creatures of the Otherworld present the humans were not safe. In the next twenty-four hours the vamps would turn up. Brandon didn’t like the blood suckers, and the humans would have a curfew of when they could leave home.
“I’m doing this to save her,” he said.
“Keep saying that line, and then maybe one day you might believe it. I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t think we should have human mates, but they’re there, and we do. You shouldn’t use them to suit your needs. She’s not a toy for your amusement,” Lewis said, getting up into Brandon’s face.
“Your views of humans have changed.”
“I was a fool. We’re all fools. I accept Elle as my queen. She’s a much better person than Lori. I can see a difference inside you. She makes you happy, and that makes me happy.” Lewis stopped as the door opened.
Elle went to him. She smiled wrapping her arms around him. “Hello,” she said.
“What’s all this?” he asked. Even though her gaze didn’t meet his, Brandon felt important to her.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I missed you.”
Their connection and the mating were the factors. Layla moved beside Lewis. “Are you taking me home?” she asked.
“Yes. Come on. We need to get inside.”
Lewis and Layla wished them good night and then turned away.
“Wow, what was that about?” Elle asked.
“Pack business. Nothing to concern yourself with.” He took her hand in his.
“You’d tell me though if it was important?”
“Of course.” He lied too easily.
She pressed closer against him. Her soft curves called to him to touch and to do other, more sinful, things with her body.
He cupped her cheek then bent down brushing her lips with his. She tasted like vanilla, something precious and beautiful.
“I could become addicted to your kisses.”
“I’ll make sure you do.”
Stroking her lips with his tongue Brandon waited for her to open up. She gasped as he caressed her stiff nipple. He was hard as rock.
“I can’t think when you do that,” she said, breaking the kiss.
“Come on. I’ve got something to show you,” he said.
Taking her hand, Brandon helped her onto his back.
“Are you going to give me any clues on what you want to show me?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, you’ll know it when you see it.” He took off into the forest. The night air was filled with noises of insects and birds rustling. He inhaled the scent of the forest loving the smell of the earth and sky. The combination was addictive. Elle clung to his body. He’d gone without a shirt because of the heat. The urge to turn was too strong.
“You look good without your shirt on,” she said. Her fingers caressed the tattoo down his arm. He groaned but didn’t stop until he was at the lake.
Putting her down on the ground, Brandon pulled her close.
“You brought me to the lake?” she asked.
“I thought you’d like to swim with me,” he said.
Nibbling on her lip she stared at him. “How deep is it?” she asked.
He stepped back from her, removed his jeans, and jumped into the water. During the summer he swam with Darcy, Drake, and Lewis to cool down. Breaking the surface he smiled at her. “Come on. I won’t let you drown,” he said.
She slowly pulled her uniform from her body. Elle kept her underwear on as she made her way to the water.
“Be careful—” he said. Brandon didn’t get to finish his warning before she disappeared in the water. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her up. The lake was deep, but his senses meant he was able to sense danger.
Elle took a huge inhale as he pulled her up from underwater.
“I was going to say be careful and just swim from there. That’s where the ledge falls.” Brandon held her close.
Her arms went around his neck. “I don’t like it in here,” she said.
He chuckled. “Nothing is going to happen to you.” Moving farther out to the centre of the lake, he kept Elle in his arms. She held onto his shoulders in a death grip.
“Please don’t let me go.” She kept staring at the water then at his face.
“The moment I bit you, Elle, you were mine. You’ll be one of the most protected human females around. I’ll be assigning some of my pack for your protection for the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“Why will I need guards?”
“For my peace of mind. I worry about you, Elle. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He pushed the wet hair off her face.
She looked so pale. The water was warm to him, but he saw her shiver.
“You’re cold,” he said.
“Not all of us run a high temperature. I don’t mind. I like you holding me.”
“I can do more than hold you.” With his free hand, Brandon removed her underwear. She gasped. Her naked breasts were crushed against his chest.
Now the real action could start.
****
Elle was fucking freezing. Brandon looked so happy that she didn’t want to spoil his fun with her freakish human ways. With his arms wrapped around her she didn’t care about the cold. This was how she’d started feeling around him. The attraction she felt towards him kept building. Running to him and hugging him was compulsive and something she needed to do.
His hand moved down to finger her nipple.
“You’re taking advantage of me now,” she said. His fingers tweaked her bud. The answering pulse between her legs made it hard for her to fight him. She wrapped her legs around his waist holding onto him. Elle wasn’t about to tell him she was terrified of heights. How deep was the lake?
Cutting the thought off, she closed her eyes as the hand at her breast moved between her thighs.
“This isn’t fair. You’re touching me, and I can’t touch you,” she said.
“I’ve got you at my mercy. I bet you’ll agree to do anything.”
She shook her head. He fingered her clit. The touch made her groan.
Holding on tight Elle fought the reactions of her body.
When she opened her eyes she was shocked to see Brandon climbing out of the lake. “I don’t want you at my mercy.” He laid her on the dry grass next to the water. Staring up into his face, she could not bear to look into his eyes. The impulse to turn away was still strong.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I want you, naked, underneath me.”
“You’ve got that.”
“There is so much more I want,” he said.
“What?”
He cupped her cheek, his hand moved down, stroking over her breast and then down farther to cup her pussy. “I want to fuck you. I want to claim you as my mate, Elle. Please, don’t say no.”
Her pulse pounded. She knew what he was asking. Her body wanted him, and so did she. What was holding her back?
Nothing. Give in to him. You know you want to.
Elle opened her legs and nodded. “Yes, I want you to.”
“Do you know what you’re asking for?”
“I’m agreeing to be your mate.”
“No, you’re giving me your virginity.”
“How do you know I’m a virgin?”
“Baby, I’m a wolf. I’ve got a really
good sense of smell.”
Licking her lips, she chuckled. She’d asked such a silly question.
“I want to give you my virginity. No other man has ever left me feeling like you do,” she said.
“No man will leave you feeling anything. This is not a one-time deal, baby. This is a lifetime deal.”
She nodded. “I know. I’m happy with that.” And she was. She couldn’t imagine spending her life with anyone else.
You’re giving yourself to him too easily.
What am I waiting for?
Confessions of undying love? Sanity?
Stop thinking, and get it over with.
Elle caught hold of his face and pulled him down. She slammed her lips up to his and took over the kiss. She pressed her tongue into his mouth. “I want this. I want this. I want this.” She chanted the words over and over again.
He laughed. “Okay. I’ll make you feel so good. I promise.”
Brandon pulled back to gaze down at her. She stared down his naked chest. He was so hard and strong. Running her hands up his chest to his shoulders, she brought him down to kiss.
He kissed her then pulled away. “I’ll take control now, baby. I know what I’m doing. Leave it to me, and I’ll have you screaming in no time.”
She smiled even though nerves gripped her. The thought of pain dulled her arousal.
Brandon moved off her to lie beside her.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“I’m going to warm you up. I’m not going to climb on, slip in, and fuck you without getting you all juiced up first.”
She blushed at his words. He sure had the strangest ways of describing everything.
Staring up at the sky she waited. Her body was tense waiting for him to take her.
“Calm down, and relax. I’m not going to fuck you with you being this tense.” He took her hand pressing the palm against her body. “Nothing bad is going to happen. We’re two people exploring each other.”
She gazed at where her hand touched his body and then watched as his hand moved over her. Brandon’s touch settled around her neck. He cupped her neck before moving down slowly to her breast. She gulped as the heat of his touch seemed to burn through her. Her body was like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
His fingers circled the first bud and then moved to the next. Brandon used the tips of his fingers, gliding them down her body. He caressed her stomach then moved down to either thigh. He skipped past her pussy. His touch was intent on her body.
