Enslaved in Shadows

by Tigris Eden

  “Give. Me. You,” he punctuated each word against her mouth. Made sure there wasn’t any chance of her misunderstanding their meaning. She wanted to, her body responded to him. Her heart did beat for him, with him. They were synced. He was the champagne to her strawberry, soaked full of his flavor. In the back of her head warning bells were going off, he’d mated her. He’d attached himself to her in all ways. Why was she falling for yet another man who wanted to control her? You are not falling for him! Duh, cause you fell!

  Jes struggled in his arms, tried to push him back. The wall that was his chest wasn’t moving and panic set in. The world was threatening to go black. Breathe dammit. Once again, a man had tied himself to her and she’d done the same. A deeper part of her knew he would never hurt her, the way Marcus did. The analytical side of her knew it was wrong to hold him at a distance and put her issues off on him. Making him suffer her attitude that should’ve only been reserved for Marcus wasn’t fair. But damn, if her instincts weren’t in fight or flight mode. His advances were invited, the relationship not so much. Her insides were on fire for him, but her mind, the logical Jesminda Zealand reared its head. She had nothing to offer him. She was a shell of her former self. Why couldn’t he see that?

  They had a daughter, and most people would say that was enough to make their relationship work, but she knew the ugly truth of it. Relationships based on children did one of two things, they either brought endless joy and happiness, or they were band-aids used as an excuse. She didn’t want the band-aid version for her daughter. She’d rather Faith be filled with love by both parents even if they couldn’t be together.

  She knew Draven would put their daughter first. She understood being a wolf’s mate was a serious thing. She’d never be ready for that kind of commitment. She didn’t know if it was something that could be broken, or if he was tied to her indefinitely. And wolves mated for life. Territory uncharted for her on all accounts.

  “Give. Me. You,” he said again against the hollow of her throat. His voice strained with lust. Draven had been reduced to a caveman. Normally she’d be flattered, but having him in this mode meant he wasn’t much for talking. She pulled his head up to meet her eyes. All of their hopes, dreams, and their future reflected in emerald pools of want. He was going to demand this from her.

  “What if I can’t Draven?”

  “What if you can?” He replied back. Not completely caveman.

  Their foreheads touched and Jes took a deep breath. His scent uniquely him. Male arrogance, mixed with an overabundance of confidence and strength. He was every girl’s fantasy, and every man’s nightmare. The smell of feminine and male arousal wrapped around them in the elevator, their mixture potent, a real drugging combination to her senses. Her body wanted to be penetrated by him, hard. Aggressively taken and not given the decisions to choose. In this she would give, she’d let him take her. Her heart wasn’t ready; regardless he’d carved a spot out for himself, a place right next to Faith.

  “Everything about you is right for me Jesminda.” Draven said “You move me in ways that I never thought to be moved. And even if you hadn’t birthed our daughter, I would still have marked you as mine.” He whispered against her lips. His hands buried in her hair and the massaging of her scalp sent tingles through her body.

  His eyes closed, he kissed the corner of her mouth and his lips lingered, warm, and soft on her skin. He was an animal, but he was also a man. Communication was key, in all matters of a relationship. He’d never mentioned the words love, or devotion. He’d offered her security and told her he’d fix things for them, she wouldn’t be helpless. He’d teach her to fight, stand up for herself. The terms of their relationship had not been explained. He’d made the decision without even consulting her. The word love made her heart freeze over. She couldn’t hear them and it was good he hadn’t said the words. Maybe he knew?

  “What makes me right? Why didn’t I get a choice in the matter?” She asked.

  “You’re a strong capable female, all these years you’ve cared for our daughter, kept her safe. Even though you don’t realize it, you’re afraid of nothing, and you fear no one. It takes a lot of courage and strength to do what you did, bare the things no woman should. I see the way you care for our child and can’t wait to see you swell with others. I know the fierceness you have for Faith would be the same for any man you give your heart to. And I’m selfish for taking the choice from you, but fate is fate, and the wolf as well as the man recognizes you as ours. Ours to protect, ours to satisfy and make happy, and ours to lo-,” He didn’t get a chance to say the words that were sure to destroy every ounce of sanity she had left.

  “Don’t. Don’t say it. I’m broken, there isn’t enough in here,” she held her chest. “Not for you. I only have room for Faith. Do you understand? There’s too much going on, and I’m being pulled under. I can’t stop and soon I’ll drown.” She pleaded for him to understand.

  “You are not that woman. I don’t see you like that at all.”

  “You’re so stubborn” that earned her a smile. She almost smiled back but pushed forward, he needed to understand. “Faith is the only thing I know right now. There are days when I just want to curl up and let the waves of oblivion crash over me, take me into the dark of the abyss with no return. I’m dead inside. Faith is the only thing keeping me alive.” It was embarrassing to admit but all of it was true.

  Draven took a deep breath and kissed her soundly on the lips. “I know what you’ve gone through; I can’t imagine someone like you having to go through that. When I first laid eyes on you, they were filled with so much happiness. Let me give that to you. Happiness. We don’t have to rush into fits of devotion. I know how I feel about you, and I know somewhere inside you feel the same way. Don’t I deserve a chance? Don’t you?”

  “Give me time.” She answered burying her head in his neck.

  “You have all my time, but don’t be surprised. By the time you have it all figured out we will be on cub number three.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. She couldn’t help but laugh at that. The elevator dinged as it hit the top floor and the two of them stepped off, hand and hand.

  “Let me show you how much.” He said as he kissed her hand.

  Chapter 21

  A slow heat started at the base of her stomach and crept with slow pleasuring tides as she stepped into Draven’s arms. The room was sparse with just a bed, table and chairs, and a small shower stall and toilet. It served its purpose she guessed to house the team when it was necessary to stay at the building. She needed a shower, bad.

  Draven’s lips were soft and warm, doing things she wasn’t fully prepared for, the last two times they’d been together had been swift and fast, pleasurable all the same, but swift, attention to detail seemed to be left at the way side. He was paying a great detail of attention to where her neck and shoulder met as one. Peppered open mouth kisses along her skin. He’d move from one place on her shoulder and then she found him pulling her shirt off, turning her around, her back to his front. He knelt and caressed her back on the way down dragging his lips up the base of her spine. Oh, shit that felt good!

  “Two hours isn’t nearly enough, to do the things I want to do to you, but we will make do.” He whispered against her skin. He stood; his hands had a mind of their own as they made their way down her body to rest possessively at her hips. Tugging her closer, he banded one arm around across her breasts; the other went around her waist. Her head fell back on his shoulder. He enveloped her in his care, made her feel safe.

  “There’s a shower with our name on it.” He said against her ear. They walked towards the small enclosure, he held her possessively the entire time. It was nice to be wrapped in his arms. Calming. Draven seduced her slowly with light touches and warm kisses. Keeping her body primed and ready for him.

  “I was thinking the same as well.” Her head fell forward and his lips crawled slowly up the back of her neck. His mouth left her body burning for more.
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  The water from the shower started automatically when they entered the small space of the bathroom. From outside it looked small but as she walked further in with Draven, she noticed the shower wasn’t as small as she’d originally thought. It wasn’t overly large either but it would fit the both of them. There were fresh towels and amenities next to the shower stall, which sported four nozzles.

  She wasn’t going to fight him on the physical contact. She needed his touch. Draven finished undressing her, his touch firm as he effectively steered her towards the now steaming shower.

  “Are you coming?” She asked over her shoulder as she stepped into the spray. The water soothed her aching muscles, lessened the tension from the past few days.

  It didn’t take long for Draven to crowd her in the shower, one minute blasts of water soaked her on all sides, now Draven blocked two of the front nozzles. He reached over her and grabbed the soap and a sponge, letting the body wash fall in large dollops. He didn’t say anything as he washed the last two days off her skin. His hands were gentle and steady. He didn’t pressure her into anything more, he simply allowed her to relax while he took care of her body, maybe even her mind.

  “Hmm that feels good.” She placed her head on his chest as he washed her back, massaged the tighten muscles coaxing them loose.

  “I should hope so. Can I ask you something?” He continued to massage the suds into her back. At this point, he could ask her anything.

  “Sure,” Jes said on a long moan. Draven chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing really, I now know that showers and washing your back are key to getting you to do my bidding.” His voice went straight to her head; warm fuzzies slid down her body, tingling her toes.

  “Seriously, you’re ruining my moment. Ask now or forever wash my back.”

  “Okay woman.” He turned her away from him and reached for a bottle of shampoo. It smelled like honey and nutmeg. The soap he’d used didn’t really smell. If it did, it was completely over powered by the shampoo.

  “That smells really good.”

  “It does.” He agreed. “I know now isn’t the time or the place to talk about your life before or even after me but,” he hesitated. She knew where this was going.

  “You never tried to look for me?”

  “How? I didn’t even know your name. Remember?” The tension was returning, but his fingers worked her skin harder.

  “Yeah.” She barely heard the word laced with regret and anger. How did someone find the father of their child when no names were exchanged?

  His hands began massaging her scalp. Her entire body from the top of her head to the tips of her toes and fingers were affected by him washing her hair. Each strand of hair was connected to a pleasure spot of her body. Her nipples were hard and achy, her pussy moist and ready to accept him. She knew he wasn’t trying to be sexual, attempting to treat her with respect and kindness but if he kept washing her hair, they were going to end up fucking right here on the shower floor. Her on top, riding him to completion while he washed her hair the entire time. Damn fine idea if she wanted to be truthful.

  * * * *

  Something inside of him snapped. He didn’t know if it was the anticipation that had finally gotten hold of him or his determination to have and keep Jesminda. He’d never washed another woman’s hair before. The act itself was erotic. The suds from the shampoo rolled enticingly down her back in lazy glides pooling at the indention of her back, only to fall over her nice ass and down her legs to pool at the base of the shower. His dick was hard, rock hard. This shower was supposed to be about her and getting her clean and relaxed, not about him and his dick slipping inside her fiery passage and staying buried there forever.

  Draven turned her and tilted her head back so the spray from the nozzle could rinse her hair. The strands were silky smooth and curly, mahogany satin slipped through his fingers with ease. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on and seeing her like this was torture. He backed her further into the wall with his body and buried his nose in her neck, nipping her shoulder in slow easy kisses. The clean taste of her on his tongue inebriated him. His senses were clouded and jumbled. They were supposed to be showering and he still needed to wash the days of grime from his skin.

  As if she read his thoughts, Jes pushed him back and reached for the sponge. He let her and was rewarded with a smile. Her smile could light an entire city if she’d only smile more. She will. He would see to it personally. She thought she was empty inside and had no room for him. It wasn’t true, she opened her heart to Bells, she’d even let Royce in. And there somewhere in all the crazy he was there too, sitting quietly in a corner waiting patiently for her to say the words. And she would. She was his scripture, her body his temple. Jes was his truth. He’d never been a religious man, but her he would worship until the day he died.

  Her body was small compared to him. She had scars on the outside as well as on the inside. He tensed in anger at the thought of Marcus. He was going to kill the bastard. Questions first, and then he’d decimate the man who’d marred such a lovely woman. It would be a long and torturous road for him. His anger coiled tighter and she must have felt it because she stopped.

  “Everything okay?” Jes asked.

  “Sorry, yeah. I’m good.” He crowded her in the shower and let the suds wash down his body.

  “You look tense.” Her soapy hand wrapped around his erection and squeezed.

  Groaning he tried to still her hand. “Cease.”

  She stepped closer to him and nipped his chest shaking her head no in the process.

  “I’m just getting started. Relax and let me make you feel good.” She said against his chest. Her hand continued to soap his cock and she began pumping him from his tip to base. Over and over until he was hot steel in her hand. His dick was so hard he’d shatter in a million pieces if she dropped him.

  “You like that?” Did he like it? He fucking loved it and groaned to prove it.

  “Yes,” His voice clogged with need. He could barely speak.

  “Good.” She reached over to the showerhead and turned the spray off. She stepped back and walked from the stall and grabbed two towels.

  “You want more of that dry off and get on the bed. Times wasting.” She tossed him the towel and he caught it drying his body in jerky movements.

  “You’re going to pay for that vixen.” Jesminda only looked over at him and grinned. She dropped her towel and went towards the bed in the room. He followed like the lovesick fool he was. So many images of her and the bed sped through his mind as he approached her.

  He turned towards her with every intention of devouring his pray.

  Jesminda reached up and threaded her fingers into his hair. She didn’t tug on it lightly either, his scalp burned from her pulling. Damn it felt good. His scalped tingled and the rest of his body went forward encasing her in his arms. He was going to bite her, his wolf wanted to mark her again as if the first time wasn’t enough. Their heads bent breathe mingling between them, her soft bare breasts against his hard chest. Cock nestled between her thighs. Two hours was not enough fucking time to get inside this woman.

  “I want to be deep inside you Jes. I want inside so bad my balls ache for it.” The words lingered between them in the air waiting to be accepted. She tilted her head to the side and offered him her neck. Such an admission, he wondered if she knew just how much. He kissed her forehead and slowly worked his way down her jaw. Their bodies were rubbing sensually against each other by the time he reached her shoulder. He moved her hair out of the way with his nose and kissed the spot where her shoulder and neck met.

  Draven bit her hard, sinking his canines deep into her flesh. She cried out, her entire body shook with the force of her pleasure. Goose bumps pebbled her skin and the fingers in his hair pulled fiercely. The armor she’d erected was falling. He could feel it in the way she burrowed deeper into his hair. The moan that fell from her lips was music to his ears. Th
is was home for him she was home. Her blood tasted sweet, strong. The taste exploded on his tongue, infused his veins. She was inside him now. Her essence would always be a part of him. When he pulled back, he used the heat from his hands to stem the blood flow. She was human, and the wound wouldn’t close quickly on its own. She hissed long and low as he held her through it. Her body quivered and rocked against his.

  She was still drunk with pleasure when he finally stopped the bleeding. A werewolf bite wouldn’t change you, but if done the right way it would bring insurmountable pleasure to the person being bit.

  “You should have done that years ago. I would have followed you to the ends of the earth for that.” She giggled, her head resting on his shoulder. She lightly bit him with her teeth. Draven loved her biting, for him it was an affirmation of her feelings. Her eyes wide, dilated, her breath choppy. The room clouded with large amount of lust oozing from her pores. Damn. It was heady and powerful. His wolf attacked him on all sides howling to get out, to get to her. Calm and gentle didn’t even begin to describe what happened next.

  Draven smashed her forcefully into the wall, knocking the air from her lungs. The sound of her body meeting the wood cracked from protesting. For a second he thought he might have hurt her. Unfazed she wrapped herself around him locking her ankles at the back of his waist and squeezed. Her incredible likable thighs clinched him painfully in a vice grip, it turned him on, heighten his senses. He tried to calm her with soothing kisses, but it seemed she’d become the hunter and he the prey.

  Her tongue was on his neck, and then his shoulder. She didn’t kiss him, licked him as if to taste every drop of the heat he was putting off. Fuck, his skin was an inferno going up in flames.