Howl & Growl: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set

by Various Authors

  His finger slipped inside her, and her hand tightened around him, squeezing and releasing him until he groaned against her. His mouth left hers, and he trailed kisses down her neck, nuzzling her soft skin as he worked his way down to her breasts. His lips tickled her skin, his fingers stroked her inner walls, and she tried to concentrate on her hand as it slid up and down his cock. More than once she paused, too caught up in what he was doing to her senses to keep her mind on the task she had set herself. He didn't seem to mind, too distracted by the taste of her skin on his lips.

  The first drop of pre come appeared, he arched his body, pushing himself harder into her hand, while his fingers buried themselves deeper inside her. She was going to come, and so was he, she knew the signs too well. However, he stopped, stepping away from her, and grabbing her hand to still her.

  "Not like this. I want to be inside you. You are here for one purpose, to conceive my child, let's not forget that."

  "Sorry," she mumbled, feeling ashamed at thinking there could be anything more between them. His mood shifted like sand beneath her feet, confusing her when she only wanted to feel his affection.

  To confound her more, he tilted her chin up, his eyes searching hers. "Don't be. It's a long time since a woman has actually bothered to give more than she wanted to take." He lowered his lips to press briefly against hers. "In truth I want to come inside you, to feel you so tight around me. Tell me is that what you want?"

  His words were so softly spoken, his voice quiet and mesmerising, she searched his face to see if he was making fun of her, but she could see only truth. "Yes."

  Strong arms lifted her. His body covering hers and they crashed onto the bed. His passion inflamed, he pushed her thighs apart, and without further warning he guided himself inside her. Not hard, but this was not the cautious mating he had performed in the moon rite. Now he was more sure of himself, and her. She was no longer a virgin, he did not have to break her gently. His first thrust nearly filled her completely, but he eased back when her body tensed and she cried out. He was so big she struggled to accommodate his eagerness, but when he paused, pulling back to ease the pressure, her sex yielded to his hard cock, sheathing him tightly, fitting around him as though she were made for this one purpose.

  Thrusting forward again, the friction of his long thick shaft inside her incredible. Now, without the fear he might hurt her she could allow herself to relax and enjoy the experience of his fit toned body worshipping hers. When he sucked her nipple into his mouth and rolled his tongue over it, she was reminded that this man beast had several thousand years of experience behind him. And it showed, he knew places on her body that his touch would inflame, and she clung to him, her nails digging into his back as he sucked and licked her nipple, making it sore in a wonderful way. The pain he caused her was never intended to cause her hurt, only to heighten her arousal.

  He coaxed her slowly forward, the edge of the abyss hovering in front of her while he impaled her fully with his cock. Over and over he pulled out, only to lunge back into her. She bit his ear lobe, sucking it into her mouth hard, mimicking his mouth on her breasts. She was not prepared for the effect this would have on him. He lost control, thrusting hard and fast before he erupted inside her. Her sex contracted around him and she came, milking his seed from him, drawing it up inside her to make the child she had come here to conceive. And although she knew that the sooner she conceived the better, she didn't want that to mean an end to their love making.

  Depending on the whether Samuel upheld his end of the bargain and let her and Charlotte leave, this might be the only time in her life where she could experience a man who wanted her to enjoy his attention. She was under no illusions that if Samuel didn't let her go she would become one of his whores, under his control, until she drew her last breath.

  Serena buried her face into the crook of Connor's neck and breathed in his scent, then she kissed his neck, small butterfly kisses, while inside her he jerked out his orgasm. When he was spent he slumped down beside her, his body heaving with the exertion from their lovemaking. She stroked his shoulders, and down his arms, marvelling at the strength and power of him. He raised his head and looked at her, she smiled weakly, and again felt foolish. He wasn't interested in her other than for procreation, yet the romantic in her couldn't stop believing that for a fraction of a second he looked at her with a need that was more than a craving for her flesh.

  Was it possible that deep inside him he wanted more than a child from her? Did he crave companionship in his long life?

  ***

  Chapter Ten - Connor

  In all the years he had lived, he had been with many women. All willing, but all after something for themselves. The same was true of Serena, and yet she wanted him to enjoy what passed between them. It was the first time a woman who knew he was a dragon had wanted to please him. She had touched him physically in a way no other woman had, and that touch had gone deeper. Somewhere inside him a well of emotion had been opened.

  She lay in his arms, her soft warm body cradled against his, her breath even as she slept, something that would evade him tonight. His mind was a mass of confusion. He knew she had come here to drug him, for what purpose he couldn't make out, the liquid in the vial was unknown to him. Modern drugs and medicines too many to keep track of, but he guessed it was some kind of narcotic that would render him senseless while she left after the ritual.

  He had seen those men, seen what they made her do. If he offered her protection from them would she leave with him? This city held nothing for him. He had grown tired of it, and longed for the fresh air and clear skies of the mountains. He knew Zoah was itching to move on, they had done so throughout their lives, in a decade or two they might return here. But for now he could take his other form and leave, find somewhere safe to raise the child if she were lucky enough conceive.

  First he needed to find out who controlled her, and how, what hold did they have over her? Before he had known her, really known her, he would have forced it out of her, he had done worse in his life. Yet now he baulked at the idea, he didn't want to control her, to replace the men she feared with more fear would do no good. No, if he wanted to make her his, loyal to him, he had to find out what was going on, he had to make her trust him, and then she would tell him, he was sure of it.

  He placed an arm around her protectively, thinking back on his conversation with Zoah. His other option was to throw her out, and leave her to her fate, there was a good chance she had not conceived yet. It would be the safe, sensible thing to do. He could leave here, go where those men could never find him, in a blink of his eye they would be dead and past, their time on this earth gone while he endured. Their lives nothing compared to that of a dragon. Or he could stay, take an interest in life, in this woman sleeping in his arms.

  She shifted in her sleep, a small cry. His anger simmered, a dangerous sign. He could not let his temper get the better of him. However, at this moment, he could happily go and find the men who had hurt Serena, the same men who had sent her here to him, and tear them apart. Yet he was wise enough to know that would not solve the problem. He had to find out what leverage they held over her, and take it back. Then he could plan a future with this woman with her soft curves and her head filled with so many questions.

  Damn if Zoah could hear his thoughts, he would believe she had already drugged him. These were not the thoughts of a mighty dragon, they were those of a man smitten by the flesh of a woman. He had lowered himself to the base emotions of lust and revenge. Or maybe he was just tired of being alone.

  ***

  Chapter Eleven - Serena

  How many hours past in his arms she didn't know. She was so tired, and her body exhausted, the warmth of him as comforting as the hearth of a fire in winter. Stretching, her hand touched his hard toned body, she opened her eyes, only to find him watching her.

  She smiled. "Don't you sleep?"

  "Not every night."

  "I thought you would be tired after..." S
he blushed at the thought of his hands and mouth on her body, and inside her body.

  "I have great stamina."

  "Yes, for an old man."

  He chuckled, catching hold of her wrists and pinning them above her head, his mouth nuzzling her neck. "This old man has plenty of strength left."

  Her stomach growled loudly, and he shifted his weight off her. "Come on. We should go and find you something to eat."

  "I am starving." But she also wanted to stay like this with him for a while, to move would be to break the spell and bring the reality of her situation crashing back down on her. Then she remembered Hope, it was time she had her breakfast too. “Can I go back to my room, to change?”

  "I'm more than happy for you to walk around naked." He kissed her shoulder, and she felt him stiffen against her thigh.

  "But your brother." She protested. Never confident, or comfortable, in her own skin, she had become used to Connor looking at her, but another man. No way!

  "You have a point. Zoah can be somewhat tactless. I'm afraid whether you're wearing clothes or not he will go out of his way to upset you. It's his way. He likes to see how he can manipulate a situation."

  "Thanks for the warning," she said, feeling more worried than before. Connor had been kind, on the whole, but she knew it didn't always come naturally to him. Serena guessed that was what happened when you lived on your own for thousands of years. Serena knew all too well that if she didn't have Charlotte, or even little fluffy Hope in her life, she would become more selfish and self centred.

  He released her, moving off the bed in one fluid movement. "You could just put these clothes on," he said, holding up her dress.

  That didn't solve her problem, she needed to go and check on Hope, the closet was big, but she would need food and her litter tray would need emptying. "I'd prefer to go and fetch something warmer."

  "I have clothes you can put on over your dress."

  "Please. I won't be long." Why did she feel he was pressing her, trying to gauge how much she needed to go back to her room. Nonsense, she simply had a guilty conscience.

  "Very well," he said, sighing. He dragged on his pants, still not bothering with a shirt. Then he led her out of his room and back to hers. It was further than she thought. And she was surprised he hadn't put her closer so he could keep an eye on her. But as he'd told her yesterday, there was no getting out of here without his say so.

  "Will you wait here for me?" she asked. "I won't be long and I've no idea where the kitchen is."

  "Yes," he answered, and then added as she opened the door, "Serena, if there's something you need to tell me..."

  She looked at him, searching his face, and then dropped her eyes from his. "No. Nothing. I'll be quick."

  Going inside she shut the door and leaned back against it. The need to trust him was incredible. But what would he do? What could he do against Samuel and his men? They had guns, and would kill him if they couldn't enslave him. Rubbing her eyes to try to blot out that image, she heard a tiny meow from the closet, and went to let Hope out.

  "I'm so sorry," she whispered, stroking her wriggling purring body, feeling her vibrate under her hand. The sensation always gave her instant comfort. "I'll work this out, Hope. I have to." Then she set about feeding Hope and making her comfortable again. "I'm sure he's not going to want to spend the whole day in my company. I'll come back as soon as I can." She kissed the top of her head while Hope stood on the bed, watching her mistress dress quickly in the first clothes she put her hands on. Then she lifted Hope up and gave her a quick cuddle before putting her back into the safety of the closet. She hated doing it, but it was the only way to keep her safe.

  "Sorry," she said, dashing out of the room and closing it quickly behind her.

  "Shall we go?" Connor asked, and she felt the subtle shift in his mood.

  "Of course," she answered.

  This time she tried to remember the route they took. She had to get her bearings in this great house, if ever she needed to leave her room without him, she would get lost. Probably end up in the dungeon. "Do you have a dungeon?" she asked, following that train of thought.

  "This isn't a castle," he said sharply.

  "I know. But the house is so old. I wondered if you ever had the need for one?"

  "Not yet. But there's always time." He looked at her pointedly, but she refused to shrink from him. "There are cellars, mostly filled with wine. We have enough here to drown in."

  "Another thing you collect?"

  "Yes. It's how we earn a living. Occasionally a really old bottle will be ‘discovered’ and go up for auction."

  "Wine?" she said, disbelieving. "Is this a joke at my expense?"

  "No. There are plenty of wine investors. It's done discreetly, no one asks questions as long as they are authentic. Which they are. When there is a particularly good year, we invest, keep it for a decade or more, and then sell it."

  "That is the craziest thing I've ever heard," she said, falling into step with him. "But then you must have seen some pretty crazy things."

  "Nothing like today's world. Before, men have killed themselves for land and religion. Now the world seems to have gone mad. They live their lives at a thousand miles an hour. Never pausing to see what they're doing to the planet. Buildings as tall as mountains, forests destroyed."

  "And you sit in your house and watch it happening. Do you ever feel like being part of the world?"

  "No. If the general population found out about us we'd be locked away in a zoo. Which is why I would like you to tell me who told you about dragons. Someone sent you here, didn't they?"

  She stopped abruptly. "Connor. I..." What could she say, it was the truth, but a truth she couldn't share with him.

  "I'm hoping in time you'll tell me of your own free will, Serena."

  Her face paled, it was a veiled threat. "Connor, please believe me if I..."

  "So here she is. The little whore."

  "Zoah," Connor growled, "Be polite."

  "That was polite," he sneered.

  Serena shrank away from the two men standing in front of her, she sensed danger. Connor, all tensed muscles, ready for a fight, and the man she now knew was his brother with a spiteful look on his face. If she had thought Connor had shown arrogance, it was nothing compared to Zoah.

  "If you are looking for a fight, you're going the right way about it, Zoah."

  "I wasn't. I was looking to get laid. I don't usually like your cast offs Connor, but perhaps when you've stuck a child in her belly I could have a little fun with her."

  The insinuation had not been lost on Serena. All her thoughts of trusting Connor disappeared, along with her appetite. "I'm not hungry any more, if you don't mind I'm going to my room."

  She didn't wait for him to answer, instead she turned and walked quickly away, holding herself together. Desperately she tried to remember the way back to her room, only once taking a wrong turn. In the distance she could hear raised voices, she covered her ears and ran, wanting to grab Hope and get out of there as fast as she could. But she couldn't do it, couldn't abandon Charlotte.

  When she got to her room, she opened the closet and sobbed into Hope's fur. The little cat purring furiously, rubbing her body against Serena in a bid to comfort her. "Oh, Hope, what have I got myself into?"

  Her mind whirled, is that what they intended? When Connor had finished with her she would be given over to his brother to do as he wished. While the child grew inside her she would simply be used for entertainment. It sealed her fate, and Connor's. She would give him the potion, she was lucky Zoah had come along when he did, she had been so tempted to tell Connor the truth. If she had done so, she would have been finished.

  So rapt in her anguish, she didn't hear the first light knock on the door. The second knock was louder. "Serena, Serena can I come in?

  She picked up Hope, bundling her into the closet, just as Connor walked into the room, he looked dishevelled, and angry. Backing way she placed herself instinctively
between him and Hope. "Connor."

  "I wanted to apologise to you. I told you Zoah makes trouble."

  Serena wiped the tears away from her eyes. "No. He's right. I am a whore. You're paying me for ... sex. That's what a whore is."

  "Serena, don’t say it like that."

  "It's the truth, we all know it." She took a long shuddering breath. "I'd like some time alone please."

  Behind her, a muffled meow came from the closet, Hope always wanting to comfort her mistress when she was upset. Serena didn't flinch, she tried to ignore it until it came again, and Connor stepped forward.

  Desperately Serena planted herself in the way of his big bulking body. He grabbed her wrist and held her against him while he reached to open the door. "What do you have in there?"

  "Nothing. Please Connor, it's nothing."

  He yanked the door open, and out spilled Hope. "A cat. You brought a cat with you?"

  "Please, Connor," she said struggling against him. "Leave her alone, please." He reached down and scooped Hope up as if she were no more than a piece of fluff. Hope purred loudly, and pushed her head against his bare chest. "Connor, please."

  He looked at Serena, and then at the small cat in his hand. "She's been in the room the whole time?"

  "Yes. I couldn't leave her at my apartment."

  "Why? Because whoever put you up to this would hurt her?"

  "Connor, please. Whatever you want, I'll do. You want your brother to fuck me when you've finished, fine."

  He flinched at her words. "What do you think I'm going to do?"

  She shook her head, big tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't know," she whispered.

  "Do you think I'm going to wring her neck? Or drown her, is that the kind of beast you think I am?"