by T. A. Grey
“I think I’m ready to go now,” she said.
“Me too, love, me too.”
CHAPTER 36
“I have to see you. I’m going…” Grayson paused to find the right word, “nutty.”
He couldn’t believe he had to sit in his cabin talking to her on a phone while she stayed under Zeke’s protection at Zeke’s orders. That son of a bitch. If Sophie hadn’t been there to treat Arabella and help her to cope with everything that had happened, he wouldn’t have let them keep her. They’d given her a new place to stay too. So, even though it’d killed him to do it, he’d left her with her pack to heal. That had been 24 days ago. Needless to say, he was finished waiting.
Arabella snickered. “Poor baby. Do you miss me?” she asked naughtily. The tease.
He growled, his chest puffing up like a damn peacock. “You know I do,” he said grudgingly. “More than anything.”
She sighed sweetly. “I miss you too, but you heard what Alpha Zeke said. I have to stay here and recuperate for a whole month.”
“I don’t care about a thing the man says. I’m coming to get you.”
Another sigh. She sounded like she was enjoying this. He pulled his phone away to glare at it and therefore her.
“You can’t wait six more days?”
His answer came quick. “No.”
She laughed again, the sound filling his heart with lightness and joy. She made him feel that way—good and whole. Not like a failure, not like a sinner.
“Well, then I suppose you could slip in through the back door. Hello? Grayson, are you there?”
Grayson quietly contemplated the situation, then with immense composure said, “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
It ended up only taking him twenty-four minutes. Arabella was laughing as he strolled through the door, but that laughter stuttered to a stop as he caught her in his arms and kissed like he’d been needing to. Hard and hungry, wet and wild. He ate her with his mouth, craving the taste of her more than blood, more than anything. Her sweet, small hands clung to him making him burn for her.
“Grayson,” she panted.
He grabbed the bottom of her shirt and whipped it up and over her head. She reached under his shirt to rake her nails down his stomach. Groaning, he crushed her mouth with another kiss. His gums throbbed with the need to bite her and taste her sticky, sweet blood. The scent of her arousal teased his nostrils—and lit his blood on fire.
“You’re wet.” His voice was deep and husky.
“Yes. And you’re hard.” She cupped him, deft little fingers finding and stroking his cock through his pants. Another groan escaped him. She was bringing out the beast inside him, making him forget himself. Then he recalled she’d been sick and hurt not so long ago and he needed to be gentle. The last thing he wanted was to accidently hurt her.
The soft panting sounds she made and the subtle way she humped him and reached for him had him fighting for control. “Need to touch you,” he said.
Tongues entwined, he opened the button of her tight jeans and pulled down the zipper. Opening the material, he saw her flat stomach, and the curve of her hips. It was enough to make his mouth water and his hand dive into her pants. A scrap of black lace met his fingers which he easily bypassed until he touched smooth, wet flesh. So soft as a feather’s wing, he petted her, cupped her, driving them both mad. Her thighs were encased and the jeans kept her from being able to open her legs. She mewled and rocked against his hand with ever growing wantonness.
His cock throbbed to be inside her. She fumbled with his pants to open them, but the fact that she couldn’t seem to open her eyes hindered her quite a bit. Grinning, Grayson sucked on the skin at her neck and thrust a finger deep inside her. Her wet, soft sheathe clenched around him like a vice. He swore he drooled feeling her sex tugging on his finger, wishing it was his cock.
Then the front door slammed open. Grayson had his gun drawn and aimed in the next breath—his right hand still in her pants, inside her.
Zeke Hunter threw up his hands, grinning. “I surrender.”
Grayson didn’t lower the gun. “Get out.” He was not in the mood. What he was in the mood for he was already touching.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” he said, crossing his arms. “I thought we had an agreement. A month, she stays here to be with her people, heal and all that shit. Now you’re sneaking in here to tap some tail.”
Grayson fired a warning shot through the door. Zeke smirked. “We never had an agreement. She’s mine and she’s safe and you’ll leave now before I put a bullet in you.”
“I suppose I could let it be up to the lady,” Zeke drawled. He leaned against the door, crossing his arms and posing like a cowboy for a commercial.
“I told you from day one to let him come here,” she hissed, eyes spitting mad.
Zeke winked. “I know, but sometimes I know what’s best for my people. I’ll let you stay, Gray boy, but it’ll cost you.”
Anything, so long as he left. “What?” he growled.
Zeke looked around considering it. “Oh, I’d say, a handshake would do, but seeing as both your hands are, how do ya say it, occupado at the moment, let’s go with—three million buckaroos.”
“What! No! This is stupid. Ignore him, Grayson.”
“Done,” Grayson said over her.
Grinning, Zeke gave them a salute then sauntered out shutting the door quietly behind him.
Arabella slapped his chest playfully. “I can’t believe you agreed to that. He’s probably been waiting on you to come here this whole time just so he could bribe you. It isn’t right.”
Grayson watched her with amusement. She looked so indignant on his behalf. He found himself smiling. He set the gun away in his holster then took off his jacket and shirt. She shut up and watched him. The heat in her eyes made his blood burn for her. He went and locked the front door.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
She gulped and he could see the pulse racing at her throat. He licked his lips in anticipation. He was going to have that vein tonight, while he fucked her.
She jerked her head to the right. “It’s that room.”
He went into it, flipped on the light and turned back to her. “Get your sweet ass in here, love.”
*
Arabella couldn’t believe he was here. Nothing could make her happier—except maybe doing the down and dirty with her sexy man, Grayson, the love of her life. She couldn’t believe that things finally showed signs of working out. They could have a relationship. They could be together and find happiness. And that time was starting now.
She ran after him to her bedroom. Who knew he could be such a flirt? She shucked her jeans down her legs and kicked off her socks. When she reached the bedroom she was in nothing but her black lacy thong—something she’d thrown on after his promise of coming over her. He made her stomach flutter. Delighted, she laughed as she stepped into the bedroom.
He stood at the bed waiting for her—completely naked. His cock waited for her, masculine perfection ready to service her. She licked her lips and his eyes tracked the movement like a hawk. His cock bobbed.
“You look even more beauties than I remember. How is that possible?” he asked.
Blushing and smiling and feeling incredibly joyous, she sashayed up to him and wrapped her arms around his thick neck, something else she liked about him. She kissed his chest and his nipples, loving the way his stomach muscles flexed and rolled with each touch.
“Maybe your memory is just foggy,” she offered, blowing on his wet nipple, hearing his teeth clench shut.
She slid her hand around his shaft, pumping him. She wanted to taste him, to suck him, to feel him thrusting inside her and coming. Everything. She wanted it all. Slowly, she moved to sit on her knees. He watched her with heavy eyelids, his lips parting, breaths deepening.
“You’re so sexy.”
He shook his head denying her words. She licked the tip of his cock once. “Yes, you are. Incredibly s
o, actually.”
She grabbed the base of his cock and tugged on him creating a rhythm meant to seduce and empower. Salty goodness leaked from the end of him; she licked it away before kissing her way down his cock then back up. She played with the heavy sac below, rolling and massaging the sensitive flesh. His thigh muscles clenched reflexively, his hips rocking gently back and forth, pushing his shaft deeper into her mouth. She moaned around him. He tasted of man, warm, musky with a touch of salt. Right now it was the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted and she didn’t want to stop.
She couldn’t keep from telling him her thoughts. As always with him, she spilled her guts. “I want you so much. Come for me.”
Hands fisted her hair as his heavy breaths panted loudly. He thrust his hips forward driving his thick, hard shaft down her throat, then retreating. Again and again. He pulled away completely on a growl, then lifted her up and tossed her on the bed. She landed face down and he came up behind her grabbing her hips, then he pulled her back to him until her feet touched the ground and she was bent over the bed.
“You want me to come, I’m not doing it in your mouth. At least, not right now, love. I want something else a whole lot more.”
And then he thrust home. They cried out as he filled her, holding the position as her body adjusted to his girth. It had been weeks since he’d been inside her. She’d almost forgotten just how good it felt, just how wonderfully he spread her open.
“Take me, Grayson. I love you!”
He took her with savage thrusts, the mating hard but wicked. Her skin prickled with tingling sensations. Her nipples were so hard they stung as they deliciously scraped the comforter as he pounded her forward. There was no longer any need for words. Everything they had to say was said with their bodies. The only sounds in the room came from the pounding of flesh and the moans of pleasure.
He parted the hair at her neck, licking her jugular in warning. Her sex flooded with arousal, throbbing around him with the onslaught of her an explosive release. And he hadn’t even bitten her yet. Knowing her anticipation, he chuckled in masculine laughter in her ear. Then the sharp points of his fangs teased her neck, telling her he was ready, giving her a moment to protest. When she didn’t, he sunk his fangs deep into her. Pleasure shot through her like wildfire, burning everything in its wake. Her clitoris throbbed and a climax rippled through her—violently. She shouted his name, shouted out nonsense words and cries as he took her harder, her orgasm driving him.
After the last wave rippled away, she moaned feeling like she was floating on cloud nine. His thrusts slowed as he turned her face to kiss her. His kiss matched the calmer, slower tempo. He was letting her body float back down to earth and she was thankful for it. It was a beautiful and incredible moment for her. In and out he slid inside her, pumping back and forth.
Breathing hard, he buried his nose in her neck, wrapped an arm around her chest to cup a breast and slid his other arm down her stomach.
“Oh god!” she cried, when he circled her sensitized clitoris. She was wet and he used her body’s moisture to wickedly build her up. Soon his slow thrusts weren’t enough and she was backing into him making him take her harder, then harder still.
Until he was rubbing her hard and taking her like he was trying to claim her. “You’re mine, Arabella. Mine!”
“Yes!” she screamed. She flew apart by the seams.
Vision blackened in and out of focus as her body burst from her leaving her bucking in his arms as he held her. “Right there with you, love.”
Her milking sex was too much. Grayson slammed forward and held himself poised, groaning breathlessly as his release shot inside her. It was perfect. It was beautiful and hot and better than she ever could have imagined.
She collapsed forward and climbed fully up onto the bed. Grayson followed after her. He curled close still struggling to breathe normally.
“You’re going to kill me,” he said.
She grinned at him and wagged her eyebrows. “You think so?”
He chuckled, the sound beautiful to her ears. “I know so.
“Then let’s start, because I’m still horny.”
He groaned and tossed an arm over his eyes. His voice sounded angry but the lengthening of his shaft told an entirely different story. “You’re a title deviant aren’t you?”
She touched his thigh, pressed a kiss to his chest just over his heart. “If I say yes, does that mean you’ll kiss me from head to toe?”
He lifted his arm to peer at her with one gorgeous eye. “Perhaps.”
She thought about it, or at least pretended to. “Then I’m a little deviant.” She shrugged helplessly.
He rolled on top of her making her squeal then proceeded to make good on his promise.
CHAPTER 38
Screaming, agony. So much pain. Everywhere it hurt.
Shaking, the woman in the forest stood naked and all alone. Shivering from the cold, she looked around for any sign of life but found none.
Where was she?
How did she get here?
And, more importantly, who was she?
A howl sounded in the distance. Her ears twitched with recognition. But wait, I’ve never heard that sound before in my life. How did she know that? Better yet, how did she recognize that howl as a Were when she’d never heard it before? It didn’t make any sense. None of this made any sense.
The howl grew louder, coming nearer. She ran the opposite way, away from the predator, her breaths sounding far too loud. High above the tree line the full moon was a bright presence. She reached the end of the forest and the next area was a valley of small hollows and hills covered in weeds and grass and corn waist deep or taller. The howling continued ever closer. She made the decision and ran into the fields. Barefoot. No underwear, no name.
Heart racing, muscles tight, she realized her knee ached as if she’d hit it hard. Or, maybe like there was something wrong with it. Had she injured it before?
Trees shook behind her and she spun around to see. In the distance she found not one but three Weres—large, massive creatures that could rip a man’s head off with its mouth—at the clearing watching her.
Fear thick in her throat, the woman did the only thing she could do and turned and ran into the night.
EPILOGUE
Seven months later
“Come on, we’re gonna be late!”
“Then stop standing there and help me find my damn shoes!” Arabella snapped at her oh-so-adorable, sometimes-infuriating mate who was merely leaning against the wall watching her scurry around the house.
He sighed. “What do they look like?”
“High heels, black and sexy. I wore them the other night when you took me out.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her and instantly she blushed. “And do you remember what happened after we got home that night when you wore those shoes?” he asked, his voice deep and sexy. He knew what that voice did to her.
She shivered but marched past him with her head held high. He followed her out of the bedroom, down the stairs, out the front door to the side of the house by the garage door. There, in the grass, by the hall to the front door was her pair of high heels.
He picked them up and held them out to her. She snatched them and put them on all without looking at him and blushing. “I believe they fell off when you threw yourself at me.”
She scoffed. “I’d hardly call it throwing myself at you.”
“What would you call falling into my arms, wrapping your legs around me, kissing me and whispering sexy little nothings into my ears?”
She teetered in the heels. “Hmm, I’d call that…love?”
He tossed back his head and laughed. She joined him, then once again fell into his arms, wrapped her legs around him, and kissed him. “I love you, Grayson.”
“I love you, Arabella. Now are you ready to go?”
She grew serious. “Yes, but I’m ne7/3vous too.”
“It’ll be fine. We’ll do this together.”
An hour later after she re-styled her hair for the fourth time, Grayson and Arabella, newly bonded mates, arrived at Blackmoore Estate. Dominic and Felicity had spent a considerable amount of money and time fixing the mansion back to its former glory. But there were a few changes. In honor of the memory of Beth, that part of the house was not being rebuilt. Instead, they’d grown an incredible garden filled with the most beautiful flowers. It was called Beth’s Garden and it was made in memory of her. Arabella and Grayson had seen Lucas out there on many occasions. He just sat there alone. It was hard for Arabella not to want to hug Lucas and comfort him. Everyone had tried and continued to try, but he needed time. Whatever he felt for Beth must have been deep.
When they arrived to the party, the mansion was packed. Dominic had invited political players, friends, family, the works. The conversation was loud, glasses clinked as toasts were made, violins played a delicate, upbeat concerto in the background.
It was strange to be in the house again. “What do you think?” she asked him.
He held her hand and waded them through the piles of people toward his brothers at the front of the room. “Not bad.”
The place glowed with luxury and beauty. “That’s an understatement.”
Over his shoulder, he grinned at her.
They reached the rest of the family and hugged and kissed each other. “You’re here. Good, that’s everyone. Let’s start this shindig,” Felicity said. Stepping forward, she grabbed a knife and tapped it against her glass. The crowd grew quiet and turned to listen. “Thank you everyone for coming to our reopening of Blackmoore Estate. After the massive destruction caused by the attack, we’ve finally repaired what we could.” Her eyes watered rapidly and Dom came to her side, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“As you know, we sustained heavy losses during those dark times. Beth Hamilton, a close friend of the family, was just one of them. For the guards and all those who lost their lives, please bow your head for a moment of silence for the dead.”
