He motioned for her to follow him as he went to the single door that led outside to the backyard. The first thing she heard was the sound of metal hitting metal. The next was a woman’s voice yelling, “Come on, Roan. You’re not going to let your brother whoop your ass, are you?”
After a quick grin aimed her way, Kye took her hand again and hurriedly pulled her around the corner of the house in the direction the sounds had come from. “You have to see this,” he said.
Michaela’s steps faltered slightly when they came into view of two very large men going at each other with swords. She had to blink just to make sure she truly saw what she thought she had seen. She had. Those were real weapons, and they were swinging them as if it were something they did every day.
Walking closer with Kye, Michaela noticed the two men had strikingly similar features, and they were extremely good-looking. They had to be two of the three true brothers Kye had told her about. The only difference was that one wore his hair longer, pulled into a ponytail that ended at the middle of his back. She then noticed the two women who stood on the sidelines cheering them on.
Just before they reached the small group who stood in the middle of the lawn, Kye said, “Roan is going to lose. Jager, his brother and the one with the long ponytail, usually does beat him, and the rest of us, on a regular basis. His sword is such a part of him that when he was single, he used to sleep with it in his bed.”
Before Michaela could get a chance to ask if by “the rest of us” Kye meant he knew how to sword fight as well, he brought them over to the two women and introduced her. “Ladies, this is Michaela. Michaela this is Ansley, Roan’s wife.” He nodded to the woman with long, straight, dark brown hair. “And next to her is Daylen, who is Jager’s.” Daylen had shoulder-length hair as well, but hers was reddish brown.
Michaela smiled at the two women. “Hi.”
Before she could say anything more, Kye said, “Now that the three of you have been introduced, I’ll be right back.”
“Wait. Where are you…” her words trailed off once Kye left at a run.
“He won’t be gone long,” Daylen said with a chuckle. “Kye has more than likely gone into the house to get his sword.”
“Do they do this a lot?” she asked. “Fight in the middle of the backyard with replica swords? I at first thought they were real, but they can’t be. Can they?”
“Yes, and those aren’t replicas. They’re the real deal.”
“You mean the blades are sharp enough to cut?” Michaela’s gaze swung toward Roan and Jager. Watching them cross blades took on a whole new meaning, now that she knew they weren’t blunted.
“It’s all right,” Ansley said. “They rarely hurt each other. They’re what you would call experts, and have done this for years.”
Michaela turned around at the sound of Kye returning. Sure enough, he carried a sword that appeared to be a match to the ones Jager and Roan had. He’d also changed his button-down shirt for a black t-shirt. He met her gaze. “You look a little worried about something.”
Ansley answered before she could. “Daylen just told Michaela you guys don’t use blunted replicas.”
He smiled at Michaela. “You have nothing to worry about, babe. This is just practice, so we’re always careful.”
At that moment, there was the sound of something heavy hitting the ground, accompanied by a loud groan. Michaela sucked in a breath when she saw Jager standing over the fallen Roan with the point of his sword leveled at his brother’s throat.
“Damn, Jager,” Roan said. “When the hell did you learn that move?”
His brother stepped back and held out his hand to help Roan to his feet. Jager grinned. “Daylen has taught me some karate moves. Having a wife who has a black belt in martial arts does have its advantages.”
“Well, shit, now you’re going to be even harder to beat.”
“Now it’s my turn,” Kye said as he walked toward the two men. “Which one of you wants to take me on?”
Jager pointed at Roan. “Since he was the loser, you can fight him.”
“Hey,” Roan said, “shouldn’t it be the winner who accepts the challenge of any and all contenders?”
“Not today it isn’t.” Jager went to his wife and put his free arm around her shoulders. “I promised Daylen I’d take her out for lunch, since we have the evening shift over at Roxie’s.” He then turned Michaela’s way. “And you must be Michaela. Kye has talked about you.”
“I am,” she said. “I’d offer to shake your hand, but I don’t want to end up on the business end of your sword.”
Jager looked down at where he held it, then back up at her with a chuckle. “I usually take it wherever I go, so I sometimes forget I have it.” He squeezed his wife closer. “When Daylen and I first met, she tried to arrest me for carrying it. She used to be a cop.”
Michaela took in Daylen’s slim, toned body and could easily picture her as a police officer. And that would explain why she had a black belt in karate. “So you aren’t a cop anymore, Daylen?”
The woman shook her head. “No, I gave it up. I enjoy being a Protector better. Plus, that way, I don’t have to worry about being apart from Jager. As a police officer, I worked long shifts, mostly nights.”
“I see.”
“All right, enough standing around talking,” Kye said. “I guess it’s you and me, Roan.”
As Kye and Roan crossed swords, Michaela vaguely saw Jager and Daylen walk away from the corner of her eye. She was too focused on the two men who were a little ways away as they blocked each other’s hits with the edges of their blades. She’d seen a lot of movies where the actors were sword fighters, but their steps were all choreographed. Such wasn’t the case with Kye and Roan. A single misstep and one of them could become seriously hurt. She couldn’t stop the shiver that ran through her at the thought.
“Don’t worry so much, Michaela,” Ansley said. “If you watch closely, you’ll be able to see they really aren’t trying to do any damage. I think of it as a kind of dance the guys do.”
Doing as Ansley suggested, she paid closer attention to each strike Kye and Roan made. It looked as if each man held back some of his strength, though it didn’t mean they would stop from trying to find an opening to disarm their opponent.
In the end, they called the match a draw, neither man able to get the advantage, since they were so evenly matched. Both Kye and Roan breathed heavily as they crossed the short distance to Michaela and Ansley.
Kye pulled his shirt off over his head. “Now I need a shower.”
Michaela saw the sweat that beaded his forehead and made his wide chest sheen. The muscles on his arms appeared to be pumped up. If Kye practiced with a sword on a regular basis, it was no wonder he was ripped. Even though the men swung them as if they weighed nothing, she had a feeling she’d hardly be able to lift one.
“Where is everyone else?” he asked Roan, which caused her to stop ogling Kye’s chest and pay attention to the others around her.
“Saskia and Eli are over at Roxie and Beowulf’s place. Skylar and Braelyn left early this morning to catch a flight to Paris. Braelyn had a photo shoot. Dirk is off doing who knows what, since Saskia ordered him to take some time off. And Leif and Jaden are holed up in their room. From what I understand, Leif is doing his best to make her forget she got angry at him for what he’d said about her dad.”
“Hmm,” Ansely said to Roan. “Maybe I should get mad at you and have you make it up to me in the same way.”
In a sudden move, Roan slung his wife over his shoulder. “You don’t need to pick a fight to get that.” With sword in hand, he walked toward the house and disappeared around the corner.
Michaela looked at Kye to see him shaking his head. “Does he do that to Ansley often? Just throw her over his shoulder and go?”
“Actually, no. Only once in a while. Anyway, those are a few members of my family. You can meet the others later, though not Skylar and Braelyn, since they probably won’t be ho
me for a couple of days.”
“Braelyn is a model?”
“Yeah. Does the name Braelyn Whitmore mean anything to you?”
Michaela nodded. “She’s a Victoria’s Secret model. You mean to say she’s married to Skylar?”
Kye grinned. “She is. They haven’t been together for very long, though.”
“I do have to say your family isn’t exactly like everyone else’s, with sword practice in the backyard and famous models in residence.”
“No, we aren’t the conventional family, by any means. Let’s go inside and I’ll show you my room, which will also be yours.”
“Only if I agree to move in.”
Kye leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m going to work on that right after I have my shower.”
With his t-shirt draped over his shoulder, he put his arm around her waist and guided her toward the mansion. Michaela’s heart sped up just thinking of the ways Kye would try to persuade her to say yes.
Chapter Nine
Kye didn’t let Michaela go until he’d taken her upstairs and had both of them locked behind his bedroom door. He crossed over to his walk-in closet and threw his sweaty t-shirt into the laundry hamper inside. He also sheathed his sword in the scabbard hanging up among his clothes. That done, he turned back to Michaela. She stood in the middle of the room.
“So?” he asked. “What do you think?”
She looked around, her gaze seeming to linger a bit longer on the king-sized bed than the rest of the furniture. If he had his way, and he figured he would, Kye would have her spread out naked on the thick mattress in the next little while.
Michaela closed most of the distance between them and began staring at him. “Well, it looks as if you have lots of extra space for two people to share the room comfortably. Even the bed.”
Kye focused on her mouth. “It really does. After my shower, how about we test it to see just how well the two of us will fit on it together?”
She placed a hand on his chest and stroked her thumb back and forth. “Better yet, why don’t I join you, then we can move to the bed. I could use a good wash.”
His cock twitched, hardening at Michaela’s offer. “Really now? I happen to be the perfect man for the job. I’ll make sure no part of you gets missed.”
Michaela gave him a sexy smile. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t turn it down.”
Kye took her hand and led her into the en suite bathroom. Even though they’d made love numerous times during the night, he still wanted her as desperately as he had then. The desire to possess his mate, it was almost a living, breathing thing that would always remain a part of him. With the mating bond firmly in place, there would never be anyone else for him. He was as much Michaela’s as she was his. He loved her with his whole heart and soul. He would do anything to keep her happy and safe, to the point of sacrificing his own life if need be. Mated male werewolves were noted for being overprotective of their claimed females at times. It was how they were wired.
After taking two towels from the shelf on the wall and putting them on the counter of the vanity, Kye turned back around to find Michaela already stripping out of her clothes. God, she was gorgeous. He’d never get sick of looking at her. Once she was down to her bra and panties, he brushed her hands away to remove the last articles of clothing himself.
He kissed her leisurely before he nibbled a path down the side of her neck. All the while, he worked on unhooking her bra. “Have I told you how much your body turns me on?” he asked against her skin.
Michaela chuckled, the sound low and husky. “Maybe a few times last night, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“Good, because I’ll probably say it a lot, especially when I have you almost naked in my arms like this.”
Kye straightened and skimmed Michaela’s bra straps down her arms and then off. His gaze latched onto her more than a handful breasts with their taut, rosy nipples. He bent and sucked one into his mouth, loving the feel of his mate’s fingers sinking into his hair to hold him exactly where she wanted him.
Switching to the other breast, he hooked his fingers into the sides of her panties and pushed them down until they fell to pool at her feet. Michaela stepped out of them and kicked the silky material away.
Once he had her moaning, Kye released her nipple, straightening to his full height. Michaela’s cheeks were already blushed with arousal and her eyes were heavy-looking. “I’ll turn on the water to get it warm,” he said.
He turned his back to her, pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket and placed it on the counter near the towels. He then opened the door of the glass enclosed shower. He stepped inside and turned the single knob on the faucet. Kye fiddled with it until the water was the correct temperature. Before he faced in the other direction to step out, Michaela’s arms came around him from behind. Her hands skimmed down his abs to the top of his jeans.
“I figured since you’re already in here, and you’ll probably want to change your jeans anyway, I’d just take them off for you now,” she said while pressing kisses to his back.
Kye sucked in a breath when she opened his pants and reached inside for his cock. Her fingers wrapped around it and stroked up and down his shaft. While she worked him, her other hand shoved down the back of his jeans and grabbed his ass. A low growl rumbled out of him.
She continued to fondle him until he rocked his hips forward in time with her strokes, pushing himself harder into her hand. He groaned, growing even harder. Michaela released him and tugged at his jeans, which were now soaking wet. It took her a couple of tries, since at first the material wouldn’t cooperate. With a flick of his foot, he kicked the garment in the corner. Michaela once again took hold of his cock. He let her pump it a few times before he pulled her hand away.
“Not that what you’re doing doesn’t feel good, because it does, but I think we’d better get to the washing first before I want to skip it entirely,” he said.
Michaela’s arms slipped from around him and she shifted to stand at his front. “Oh, I don’t want that to happen. You’re not going to deprive me of getting to soap up that hard body of yours.”
After taking hold of his arms, she turned him around so he was directly under the spray of warm water. She released him and grabbed the bottle of shampoo that sat on a recessed corner shelf. Kye wet his hair before slicking it back. Michaela motioned for him to lean down, then proceeded to wash and condition it. He did the same for her, relishing the feel of running his fingers through her silky locks.
He would’ve reached for the soap first, but Michaela beat him to it. She shook her finger at him while a playful grin spread across her face. Kye watched her hold the bar under the water before she worked up a lather.
Michaela’s soapy hands glided along the top of his chest, then worked their way lower, without missing any part of him. He moaned when she stopped just short of his cock and reached for one of his arms. She took her time running the soap along it, doing the same to the other.
Kye hadn’t thought his cock could get any harder until Michaela went down on her knees in front of him. She looked up while she rolled the bar between her hands. He closed his eyes to a squint, knowing they had to be mutedly glowing by now. She had him too worked up for them not to be. Watching her lick her lips, his erection bobbed in front of her. But instead of taking him into her mouth as he wished, she lowered her gaze and soaped his leg.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had such a torturous shower in my entire life,” he said in a gruff voice.
“You’re tough. I’m sure you can handle a little torture,” she replied with a small laugh.
“If you tease me too much, don’t be surprised to find yourself pressed against the wall while I take you from behind.”
“Who says I wouldn’t want that?”
Kye groaned as Michaela continued to wash his other leg. Once she was done, she rose to her feet. She lathered her hands again before she reached for his cock. He closed his eyes, holding back
the loud growl that built inside him. The feel of her slippery hands surrounding him, stroking, had him fighting to hold back from coming.
All too soon, her fingers disappeared from his shaft and Michaela turned him around so his front faced the water. He then felt her hands sliding over his back, inching their way lower and lower. Kye fisted his hands at his sides to stop himself from pulling her to him. He’d let her finish, then it was his turn.
At his ass, she pressed closer and the tips of her breasts brushed against his skin. Michaela kneaded and squeezed each of his butt cheeks until he couldn’t take any more. Kye spun around and took the bar of soap from her.
“I think I’m clean enough,” he said huskily. “Now I get to do everything you did to me.”
He positioned her under the water before he lathered his hands. Kye took the same path she had taken on him, starting at her breasts and working his way down to her legs. He skimmed up the inside of her thighs, but avoided touching her pussy. Even through the water, he was able to smell the scent of her arousal. She whimpered when one of his knuckles accidentally brushed against her.
That one sound seemed to wrap around his cock and squeeze. Faster than he had intended, Kye turned Michaela and finished washing her, saving her pussy for last. He slipped a soapy finger between her nether lips and stroked. She panted and moaned, her bottom pushing back against his hard-on.
“Kye. Now who’s teasing whom?” Michaela reached around him and grabbed his ass.
That was it, he couldn’t take any more. He needed to be inside her right now. Holding her under the spray, he rinsed her off before turning Michaela so she faced one of the walls. Kye ran his hands down her arms until he reached hers. Those, he placed flat on the glass in front of her. He next took hold of her hips and pulled them toward him so she was slightly bent forward. With a knee between her legs, he spread them farther apart.
Keeping his grip on her, Kye angled his cock and slowly sank his length inside Michaela’s pussy. The sensation of her silken walls closing around him, gripping him tight, had him moaning. Rearing back, he pulled almost all the way out before sliding back in so he was balls deep. She fit him perfectly, sheathing him like a glove. Sex had been good before he’d found Michaela, but now, with her, it was even better. He was addicted to her, as if she were his drug of choice. He’d never get enough of her, and would do anything to get his next fix.
Kye's Heart Page 8
