“And you they buried alive,” she said softly.
“Not before they tried to take my head too. They didn’t know I can’t die. As their swords cut through my neck, it healed instantly after the blade passed through. It took them three attempts before they gave up. That’s when they decided to bury me with the hopes I’d starve. In shock over my parents’ death, I let them.”
Waverly swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. She couldn’t image what it’d feel like to have someone try to behead her three times. Brolach had survived it, but it had to have hurt.
“What do you mean you let them?” she asked.
“I’d just lost the two people who’d meant everything to me. In my shock and grief, I lost the will to fight. They kept me bound in the ropes threaded with silver thinking they were my weakness. They took me to the hill on the grasslands, dug a deep hole, laid me in it and then filled it in. I went to sleep, but it wasn’t an ordinary one. I couldn’t bring myself out of it. I could hear the world above me. Time moved on and still I slept. Until you came.”
Waverly leaned over and kissed Brolach, knowing if it’d been her to go through all that she wouldn’t have come out of it sane. “How did you not lose your mind from lying there bound for centuries?”
He reached up and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “The ropes eventually rotted off, but I could have broken free at any time. As I said, I was able to hear the world above when someone came near. I listened, and as the language they spoke changed, I learned it.”
“That would answer the second big question I had about how you understand English.”
“Now I have you to teach me about this world I find myself living in.”
Waverly couldn’t get the mental picture of what Brolach had gone through that horrible night. To see his parents killed like that in front of him would be devastating. And to lose an unborn sibling on top of it made it even worse. Thoughts of the baby had her mind going down another tract.
She sat straighter. “Brolach, you say because you’re a hybrid you’re a true immortal and that you can never die, right? Were you born like that or did you have to grow into an adult first?”
“You’re correct about the first thing you asked. As for the other, my parents said I was immortal from the day I was born.”
“Wouldn’t your unborn brother or sister be the same since he or she was a hybrid too?”
He sat up next to her. “Yes. What are you suggesting?”
“Couldn’t he or she have survived, even though your mother died in the flames? You said your mom was in the last stages of her pregnancy. A baby can be born early and live. Your brother or sister would be immortal. I’d say the possibility of he or she not dying from the fire would have been great.”
“You think the baby lived even as my mother’s body burned to nothing around him or her?”
“They tried to cut off your head and you healed instantly. You were born immortal, and more than likely you were from the instant of conception. A sibling would be exactly like you.”
Brolach’s face took on a pained expression. “If you’re correct, then I left a helpless immortal babe out in the world unprotected. I was the only one of my family who survived. It was my responsibility to look after my sibling.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. You weren’t exactly thinking straight right then. You’d just horrifically lost your parents. Hopefully some of the natives would have come to investigate the fire and found the baby.”
“They more than likely would have. And I’m pretty sure my mother’s kin left these lands right after they buried me to return home. They spoke of having their human servants set sail once they reached the shore and the tide came in as they shoved earth over me.”
“If that happened, he or she could be living somewhere in South Dakota.” She chuckled. “Lemmon isn’t a large town, by any means. There could be a chance I already know him or her if your sibling lives around here. It wouldn’t be too hard for an immortal to hide the fact they’re not aging by moving to a different town or city when people would notice they weren’t.”
“I’d be able to recognize another hybrid by scent, just as I can a werewolf or vampire. With the kin blood tie, I’d sense a sibling in the area now that I’m awake. Before he or she would have had to be on top the hill above me.”
“I know the perfect place for you to scope out people. I work at my family’s coffee shop. A lot of the townspeople are in and out all day. My next shift is on Monday, two days from now. I’ll bring you with me. My dad has been saying he wanted to hire someone to help clear the tables and then wash the dishes. You should be able to handle that.”
“If you think I can, I guess I’ll try it. It should give me a better opportunity to sense if another of my kind is in the area.”
“Then it’s settled. That also means we’ll be going clothes shopping for you tomorrow.”
Chapter Four
Waverly came awake the next morning on her side in a strong embrace and a hard cock nestled against her backside. She and Brolach had made love twice more once he’d told her about his past. They’d eventually fallen asleep after that.
She bit back a moan as his hand traveled up her chest to one of her breasts and tugged on her nipple. One touch and she grew instantly wet for him. She doubted she’d ever stop wanting Brolach. Being in his arms felt as if it was where she was always supposed to be. He may have compelled her to take him with her away from the grasslands, but he wouldn’t need to do that again to have her keep him at her side.
Just a night of being in his arms and making love to him, and Waverly had gone and done it. She’d fallen for him—hard. She didn’t know if it was because they were fated to be mates or not. All that matter was that she had. She’d allowed a three-thousand-year-old hybrid to take possession of her heart.
She had no idea how they’d manage to be together with Brolach being an immortal and she wasn’t, but right at that moment, she didn’t care. All that mattered was what he did to her body that instant. After caressing her breast, he skimmed his hand down her stomach to her pussy.
A finger pushed inside and stroked in and out. Waverly could no longer just lay there. She rode the digit, matching the pace Brolach set. A second soon joined it, stretching her as they plunged as deep as they could go. His cock jerked against her, causing her inner muscles to clench in need.
“I can’t complain about waking up this way,” Waverly said with a gasp as he used his thumb to stroke her clit.
“Good, because I need to be inside you again.”
She had no problem with that. She ached for Brolach to be there. “Then don’t make me wait.”
He pulled his fingers out of her, then hooked his arm under one of her legs to spread her open. He thrust his hips against her, his cock sliding along her pussy, coating it with her wetness. Once he had her moaning, he pushed the head inside, taking her from behind. He retreated before he pushed forward again, going deeper.
Brolach continued the slow in and out until she’d taken his entire length. He held her around her waist, keeping her tight against him and thrust harder into her. Waverly pushed back to match the pace he set. She loved the way he stretched her, filled her.
He nudged her hair away from the side of her neck as he rocked into her. The sharp tips of his extended fangs skimmed across her skin. It ramped up her arousal even more. Every time they made love, she could tell he resisted biting her. He’d nip her, but never enough to draw blood. He’d stiffen and his breath would become harsher just as it did now.
She reached up behind her and cupped the back of his head to keep him from pulling away. “It’s okay. You can bite me.”
He groaned. “Are you sure? I won’t just bite you. I’ll feed.”
“Do it. I want you to.”
Brolach let out a growl, then sank his fangs into her. The jolt of sharp pain quickly gave way to intense pleasure. He plunged into her faster, his cock growing harder, as he sucked at her n
eck. Waverly couldn’t hold back keening moans. Her climax gathered steam until it tore through her. Her pussy clutched and released the thick erection that continued to spear into her.
His hold on her tightened to the point where she almost couldn’t breathe as he followed her into release. He drew harder at her neck, which sent her into another intense orgasm. She could only ride through it. And still he fed, drawing out her pleasure.
As Brolach retracted his fangs and swiped his tongue across her skin where he’d bitten her, a sense of weakness washed over Waverly. She dropped her arm from the back of his head and fought to keep her eyes open. Blackness threatened to take hold of her.
“Waverly?”
His voice seemed to come from a long distance away. She didn’t have enough energy to answer him. The black void called to her, and she didn’t have the strength to resist for much longer.
He pulled his softening cock out of her and then positioned her so she lay cradled against his chest and across his lap. She blinked, trying to stop her eyes from closing. He stared at her with a determined expression.
Brolach lifted the inside of his wrist to his mouth and tore it open with his fangs. He kept her head propped up as he placed the wound against her mouth. “Drink. I took too much blood.”
Waverly didn’t have the will to resist. She closed her lips over his wrist and sucked. As Brolach’s blood passed over her tongue, she didn’t find it unpleasant. He actually tasted pretty damn good. She forgot it was blood. She drank as she wrapped both her hands around his thick forearm to hold him to her. With each swallow, her strength returned and the blackness that had crept up on her receded.
She barely heard him moan in pleasure as she kept drinking until his blood stopped flowing. Waverly let him go and met his gaze. His eyes glowed, something she noticed they did with intense emotions.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Great. I can feel your blood racing through my veins. And I like it. Even though the idea of drinking from you should make me very uncomfortable, I want to do it again.”
“Not until you’re ready to be tied to me permanently. The second blood exchange is all that’s needed to have it happen.”
Brolach was right. Waverly wasn’t quite ready to take that giant step, but how quickly their relationship seemed to be forming, she doubted she’d feel that way for very long.
She sat up and kissed him. “I do need some time. I haven’t even known you for a day yet.” Waverly kissed Brolach again before she climbed off the bed. “I need a shower, then we should get you some new clothes.”
He came to stand beside her. “I’ll shower with you.”
Before she could say anything, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the bathroom. There, they made love again until the water ran cold, forcing them to get out.
* * * *
Brolach sat in the passenger seat of Waverly’s car, which she called a sedan, as they headed to the store where there would be some clothes for him to wear. He had on the sweatpants and t-shirt that were her brother’s. On his feet were the moccasins he’d been buried wearing. Apparently, they’d be getting different footwear as well.
It wasn’t long before Waverly brought the car to a stop and she shut off the engine. She took off her seatbelt and looked at him. “We’ll get you some new clothes, then go to my family’s coffee shop. I figured I’ll introduce you to my dad and talk to him about that job opening. That way it’ll be all arranged before tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He managed to get out of the car without any help from Waverly. Before they’d left her home, Brolach had asked enough questions about the sedan to learn all there was to know about it. He needed to fit in to this new world as fast as he could. And from what she’d told him, just about everyone had cars.
Brolach came to stand next to Waverly and looked around. She’d told him this was the main street of the town. Buildings lined either side of it. He walked beside her as she headed toward one of them.
Inside were different articles of clothing for men. There were t-shirts and sweatpants similar to what he already wore. He also recognized jeans like the ones Waverly had on, only bigger.
He followed her as she went to a section where jeans hung in a row and picked out a couple. “I’m guessing at the size,” she said. “You’ll have to try some on, but before you do that, we’ll get some shirts as well.”
Brolach let Waverly choose the clothes. Once he held several in his arms, she ushered him into a small room and shut him inside after she told him to put on each item. Even though she’d said she’d guessed at his size, everything she’d chosen fit. At her request, he came out wearing a new pair of jeans and t-shirt. She nodded her approval when she saw him.
With the other clothes in hand, she led him to another part of the store where she said where the shoes were. She grabbed what she called a sneaker. It resembled what she had on her feet. It took a couple tries before they found some that were big enough and didn’t pinch.
Now that he had everything Waverly thought he’d need, she paid for the items they’d selected. She used something called a credit card. Apparently the people in this modern world used either money or credit instead of trading for what they needed.
Brolach carried the bags with all his new things to the car, then climbed in. Waverly drove a short distance before parking behind another building. They both got out. He assumed this had to be her parents’ coffee shop. As they walked to the door, he looked inside the large glass window at the front. There were quite a few people inside, sitting at tables, eating and drinking.
He followed Waverly inside. More than one person greeted her as she walked by, heading toward the back of the large open room. Brolach received curious stares as he kept pace with her.
Waverly stopped in front of an older man who stood by a door. Through the small window in it, Brolach saw people moving around on the other side. He turned his attention back to the man. He shared enough of Waverly’s features Brolach guessed he was her father.
“Hi, Dad,” she said as she kissed the older man’s cheek.
“Waverly, what are you doing here? Not that I’m unhappy to see my daughter.”
“I wanted to introduce you to someone.” Waverly reached back and took Brolach’s hand. She tugged him closer so he stood at her side. “This is Brolach. I told him about the job opening here.”
Waverly’s father looked Brolach up and down. “Nice to meet you, Brolach. I’m Trevor. I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
“I’ve only been here since yesterday.”
Waverly jumped into the conversation once again. “Brolach is from Nebraska. He’s just moved to Lemmon.” She paused. “I guess you could say he’s my boyfriend.”
Trevor turned his gaze on to his daughter. “Your boyfriend? How did you two meet? It couldn’t have been that long ago since it was very recent when you broke up with James.”
“Brolach and I met online. He decided to make the move so we could meet in person and be closer to each other.”
“Did he find a place to live yet?”
“He’s staying with me.”
Trevor scowled, then looked at Brolach. “Just give Waverly and I a few minutes to talk.”
Waverly’s father took hold of her arm and steered her through the door behind him. Once it shut, Brolach followed them with his gaze as they moved a short distance from it. With his sensitive hearing, he was still able to hear everything they said.
“Waverly, what are you thinking?” Trevor asked. “You met this man on the Internet, and when you see him for the first time in person, you’re letting him live with you? I think you’re taking an awful risk.”
“Dad, it’s fine. I know it sounds crazy, but I trust Brolach. He’d never do anything to hurt me. Plus, he’ll make sure James stops bugging me.”
“Well, that’d be a good thing. I don’t like how attached James is to you, even though you’re no longer together. He came in
here yesterday looking for you. He knows you don’t work Saturdays.”
“Let’s just say he found me and Brolach set him straight. I doubt James will come around asking for me again. So will you give Brolach the job?”
Trevor glanced through the window. Brolach met the other man’s gaze. If Waverly’s father said no, he wouldn’t feel bad about compelling him to change it to a yes answer.
Waverly’s father appeared to think it over before he nodded. “All right, Brolach can have the job, only because you asked me. That way it’ll also give me a chance to get to know your new boyfriend. He can start tomorrow on your shift.”
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. We’ll be here. Tell Mom I said hi.”
Waverly gave her father another kiss on the cheek, then walked through the door to join Brolach. He fell in beside her as she kept walking.
“You have the job,” she said.
“I know. I heard.”
She glance at him and shook her head. “I forgot how good your hearing is. Then you know you start tomorrow.”
“Yes.” He decided to keep the compelling option he would have used to himself.
As they reached the door, it was opened by a man on the outside. Brolach took a deep breath, recognizing the stranger’s scent as that of a werewolf’s. Their gazes met and held. The other man’s nostrils flared as he scented Brolach. The stranger’s eyes slightly widened and a shocked expression came over his face for a split second before he smoothed his features once more.
“Hey, Cameron,” Waverly said with a smile.
“Hi, Waverly,” Cameron replied. “I don’t normally see you here on Sunday.”
Waverly nodded in Brolach’s direction. “I was getting my new boyfriend, Brolach, a job. He moved here the other day.”
Cameron glanced at Brolach before his gaze settled on Waverly again. “I guess I’ll be seeing him a lot since I come to the coffee shop every day to get my daily fix.”
She chuckled. “Yes. I’d better let you get inside before you start going through withdrawals. See you later, Cameron.”
Her Ancient Hybrid Page 4
