He gripped her hips and continued to move, grinning when she began grinding herself against his swelling sex as she did so. They didn’t last long after that. Conall pushed fully into her, and she cried out, pushing down to take all of him. Moments later, her muscles seized around him, clasping tightly as she climaxed. With a hoarse grunt, he came.
They remained like that for a few seconds before Conall used his powers to flash them into his bedroom. Vivienne had closed her eyes, so she was surprised to find them on the bed.
“Convenient powers,” she said tiredly when he explained what had happened.
He grunted in acknowledgement, and Vivienne relaxed against his chest, closing her eyes. She enjoyed having him inside her minutes after they’d finished. His hand began to lovingly stroke her back, and she moaned. She was going into a light doze when his hand trailed down her back, and landed on her buttocks. He delivered a light, but stinging slap to it and she yelped. His other hand held her steady, prepared for the reaction.
Sputtering, Vivienne glared down at him. “What was that for?”
“Being a tease. Making me jealous,” he growled softly.
She settled down and kissed his chest. “I’m sorry.”
His body eased of tension, and she waited for him to relax. When he did, she bit him.
“Vivienne,” he began, surprise and confusion warring in his voice.
She licked at the angry red mark before kissing it lightly. “Now we’re even, Conall.” He slipped from her and she moaned and moved up until she could look down into his eyes. She kissed his lips lightly before burying her face in his shoulder. “I don’t want any other male but you.”
Laughter greeted her declaration, as he rolled to his side with her. “Go to sleep, alainn.”
She buried her face in his chest and inhaled, grinning as her scent touched her nose. She’d always assumed she smelled herself, but it was her, inside him. She was inside him. “I also love smelling myself on you. It’s a great scent.”
Conall caught her lips again. “Yes, it is.”
***
With the mating ceremony only a day away, Vivienne grew nervous. It was like a wedding, only instead of a white dress, she was going to be naked, and instead of exchanging rings, well, they were going to be screwing like bunnies—wolves. She blushed hard and stood, running a hand over her wild hair. She’d been tugging it this way and that for about an hour.
She’d called Cassie, but her sister had seemed a bit sad, so Vivienne had tried to pry the reason for the sadness from her, and had in the process forgotten about her own issues. And now, she was remembering. She could always talk to Drew and Max about these things. Unconsciously, a smile tugged at her lips before she frowned. She hadn’t spoken to Drew in weeks. Granted, she’d been busy, but they had each other’s contact information. She wondered if Drew still wanted nothing to do with them, and the whole non-human thing. If not, she was sure her friend would like Cedar Creek. Maybe not the mating ceremony, that was a bit much, but a day or two? Conall wouldn’t deny her that. Plus, she had information about Max. She wouldn’t tell Drew everything, just that he was alive.
Reaching into her pocket, she removed her cell phone and found her friend’s number. Within moments, she was listening to the phone ring. It went to voicemail, but instead of Drew’s voice, she heard the automated machine say that the voicemail box was full. Furrowing her eyebrows, she ended the call. Drew was meticulous. She checked and emptied the voicemail box everyday. She’d done the same with their home phone, writing down messages as she cleared the inbox. It was one of the things Max had nagged her about. That she’d let her inbox get full was strange.
Vivienne called her again in an hour, but received the same message. It was Saturday, so she wasn’t at work, unless there was an art showing. With that thought in mind, she called the gallery. A woman picked up. When she inquired about her friend, she was put on hold before the manager took the call. He told her Drew hadn’t shown up for work in almost two weeks, and he was concerned. Confused, Vivienne asked if she’d taken her vacation, or if there had been an issue, but the manager was adamant that nothing had happened. He said she was there one day, and hadn’t shown up the next. As she spoke to the manager, who asked her to let him know any developments and pass onto Drew that her job was still there if she wanted it, Vivienne’s body grew cold as her thoughts swirled with the possibilities.
What-ifs began to plague her. Had something happened to Drew? Was her friend in danger? Should she have called to check on her sooner?
A full voicemail box was one thing, but disappearing from work, that was something Drew would never do. Drew would never skip work, especially not without notice. Something had happened to her friend, and Vivienne was determined to find out what.
***
A call to her mother gave her the last location to which they’d taken Drew. An hour later, Conall took her there. The woman, Drew’s aunt, gave them another address, telling them that when they found her, to tell Drew she still owed rent. It had taken Conall restraining her to keep Vivienne from attacking the woman. Her niece could very well be missing and she was only thinking of money? It was no wonder Drew hadn’t mentioned them before. Her aunt was a bitch.
They arrived at the building and piggybacked off of someone entering to get to Drew’s apartment. Vivienne knocked a few times before Conall “opened” the door. From the moment she entered, Vivienne’s fears were confirmed.
Something bad had happened to Drew. It was obvious from the sparseness of the rooms, and the tons of unopened boxes lying around, that Drew had not been here in a long time. There was a note attached to one of the boxes.
Waited for you for thirty minutes. Placed box inside and closed door.—Ikea guys.
It was dated as well. Almost two weeks ago.
“Oh my God,” Vivienne whispered. “The door was open when they got here.”
Conall took the note from her, and read it. He nodded once and went through the other rooms, finding out what Vivienne knew in her heart. Empty. They were all empty. He emerged from the bathroom with her handbag, and Vivienne went through it, finding Drew’s Blackberry. Over forty missed calls, as many voicemails and text messages.
“I should have called sooner,” Vivienne said, shaking her head and looking at the phone. “I should have called.”
Conall caught her in his arms and held her tightly against his body. “We’ll find her, Vivienne.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she pulled away, rummaging through her friend’s purse for her wallet. It was there as well. Credit cards, Social Security card, passport, driver’s license. Someone had taken her from this apartment. Drew wouldn’t go anywhere without her driver’s license. While Vivienne was likely to run out to the grocery store with no form of ID, Drew was adamant about having hers with her.
“She could be dead, Conall,” Vivienne whispered, holding the purse tightly as tears fell from her eyes. “Drew didn’t have enemies. It was Cronin. It had to be him.”
Conall pulled her into his arms again. “If she’s alive, I promise you, we’ll find her.”
***
The better part of Sunday was spent tracking Drew’s scent. Conall had taken a box filled with her clothing back to Cedar Creek, and had given an article to each of his hunters. He’d done so knowing it would likely be futile. The city was huge, and Drew could be anywhere, if she was even in the city. He did it to appease Vivienne, who looked so forlorn he would try anything. When they’d arrived home last night, she’d gone into the bathroom, locked the door, and cried. He’d wanted to comfort her, had contemplated flashing himself into the bathroom, but had let her be. She’d come out after and he’d hugged her as she stared at him with sad eyes.
Zahira came to him just after dusk, dressed in a flowing red and black robe. She presented him with the two robes, white in color with various Celtic symbols adorning them, and told him the pack was waiting. The mating ceremony. With Drew missing, and Vivienne hysterical, he�
�d forgotten.
Running a hand over his face, Conall replied, “I think we’ll have to push it back, Zahira.”
The Elder’s brows crinkled. “Why, Conall? The next full moon is a month away. You won’t last until then.”
He wouldn’t. With Vivienne unattached, it was likely he would snap, and probably kill someone.
“She’s not ready—”
“I’ve seen her. She’s more than ready,” Zahira countered.
“Zahira, you don’t understand—” He stopped abruptly when Vivienne entered his office and moved over to the plastic-covered robes. Conall and Zahira both eyed her warily.
“Which one’s mine?” she finally asked, looking to Zahira.
A relived sigh came from the Elder as she walked over and handed her the smaller one.
“Thank you.” Vivienne gave her a smile. Zahira looked at her curiously before she nodded and turned to Conall.
“We’ll be waiting outside,” she said before she left them alone.
“Alainn, you don’t have to—”
“I know,” Vivienne cut in, lifting her eyes to his. She smiled. “I want to.”
He stepped around his desk and approached her. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been so sure,” she replied. As he watched, full to bursting with love for her, she stripped out of her clothes and put on the robe, tying the binding at the front.
Stepping onto her toes, she kissed his lips. “Your turn.”
***
After changing into the male version of her robe, Conall led Vivienne into the backyard, and then to the very clearing where she’d fought Samia. There was a stillness among the weres gathered, one that hadn’t been there last Saturday. Many of them were partially undressed, some already in wolf form. A slight murmur went through the crowd as he led Vivienne to the open space at the center, where Zahira waited. Upon seeing them, she smiled briefly before looking up to the bright, full moon already making an appearance.
“Luna, your children gather before you to beg your blessing in the joining of our alpha to his chosen,” she began loudly, her voice carrying to the large gathering. There were people everywhere. Vivienne looked up and noticed some of them were even in trees.
“Conall Athelwulf, who is this female you take to mate?”
He squeezed her hand lightly and replied in a clear voice, “Vivienne Bordeaux.”
“Will anyone challenge Conall Athelwulf’s right to mate this female?”
Tensing, his eyes flashed yellow as they swept the gathered crowd. There was no challenge.
“Vivienne Bordeaux, who is this male you take to mate?”
“Conall Athelwulf,” she replied.
“Will anyone challenge Vivienne Bordeaux’s right to this male?”
She mimicked Conall, and looked around. No challenge was issued.
Zahira nodded. “Conall Athelwulf, will you take this female you have claimed to be your true mate throughout her lifetime?”
“Yes.”
She asked the same question of Vivienne, about Conall. She answered yes.
Zahira nodded and spoke in a strong, carrying voice, “Luna approves of the mating of our pack alpha to this female. Take your mate, Conall Athelwulf.”
She stepped back, and blended into the crowd of people around them. Vivienne felt the crowd’s anticipation even as fear rose inside of her. What now?
Conall turned to her and smiled.
You have nothing to fear, alainn.
Slowly, he reached for the binding of her robe. Vivienne held her breath as he undid it, and pushed the material to the side. The bitter chill touched her naked body and Vivienne inhaled deep, her nipples puckering instantly.
She looked to the side and noticed that everyone was watching her. The men all seemed to be watching her exposed parts. Look at me, alainn.
Vivienne refocused on Conall and tried to calm herself. His hand stroked her side lovingly, and she relaxed. Sliding his hands up, he pushed the material from her shoulders. It fell behind her, leaving her completely exposed.
An excited ripple went through the crowd as he stepped away and began undoing his robe. Vivienne’s fear was overcome with lust as she stared at his sculpted nakedness. Despite the cold, he was saluting her.
Lie down, alainn.
She obeyed, lying back on the robe and looking up at the moon above them. She was about to be taken, outside, under the moonlight, by Conall. It seemed appropriate.
Nudging her legs apart, he moved between them. He licked at first one breast then the other, warming and exciting her, before licking his way down her body. When his tongue swirled over her sex, she cried out, her hips bucking against his face. He remained there, pleasuring her for a few moments before he pushed to his knees, and tapped her hips.
On your hands and knees, Vivienne.
She did as told, shivering when his hand ran down her back, over her butt, and cupped her intimately. His warm body covered her moments later. In a deep, carrying voice, he asked, “Do you take me as your mate, Vivienne?”
“Yes, I do.” His cock brushed the opening of her sex and she moaned.
“I take you as my mate, Vivienne Bordeaux. I take you as my other half, the mother of my children, the only female in my bed,” he said clearly. Vivienne grinned, certain she heard a few whines at his last declaration. Bitches.
Say the same for me, alainn.
She repeated her own declaration, crying out when upon completion, he pushed his thick length into her body. Her fingers clenched at the robe beneath them and she groaned. She heard moans coming from around them and lifted her head. Some of the other weres were going at it, some couples in human form, others in animal. A few thrusts in, and Conall’s jaw clamped shut over her shoulder, his lower body still moving furiously against hers.
You said you trust me with you life, Vivienne. You will have to do so now. Change, alainn.
Vivienne shook her head as panic set in. I don’t know how.
I will show you, he said soothingly, lifting one hand to caress her aching breasts. When the panic faded, he continued, Think of your wolf, Vivienne. When he saw the beast come to the forefront of her mind, he said, That’s it, alainn. Now think of the change. How you felt when you changed. She did. He easily slid into her mind, merging with her as he called to his beast, to his change.
She felt like she was drowning in herself, and in him. Vivienne felt her orgasm approach at the same time she felt a large presence, an achy but not terrible heat. Her body was there, but not. Conall was above her, pumping steadily. She cried out, whining when her orgasm washed over her, and Conall bit down harder.
He froze inside of her, impassively holding himself still and waiting for her to come around. As soon as she did, he began to move once more. His thrusts were wilder, much wilder than she’d ever had, faster, harder. Vivienne looked down and recognized something. She was in the wolf’s body again, so that meant Conall had shed his human body for that of his wolf. She tried to turn, to see, but an ominous growl stopped her.
So instead, she just let herself feel. The wildness, she enjoyed. Her heart beat faster, seeming to match the quick, hard thrusts delivered by Conall’s wolf. Another growl and she felt the swollen base nudge against her opening. He pushed once, and she cried out, whining as pain turned into the pleasure. She moved forward a bit and he growled a warning before thrusting forward again. As he came fully into her, Vivienne yelped, groaning as his thrusts continued.
He continued until she whined and shuddered, feeling her body come apart under his. Only then did he come, pushing against her and grunting as his seed shot into her. Vivienne felt the tension leave him as he released his grip on her shoulder. He licked at her bite marks, and slowly brought them to the ground. The position was a bit awkward at first, but Vivienne found herself leaning closer to him, which made it bearable. He was still hard and buried deep.
So, we’re officially mated?
Yes. He sounded relieved. She smiled.
&
nbsp; Is it finished?
Not yet, alainn.
At that moment, a large, blond wolf approached them, sniffing at their joined parts, before laying his head on both of their bodies. Vivienne recognized Raoul by his scent. Instead of moving away, he took up position by their heads. A silver-gray wolf came next, did the same thing, and took up position by their feet. Sloan.
As they lay like that, the male wolves approached one by one, paying homage in a way similar to Raoul and Sloan. Conall only tensed once, when Rafael approached, but the male only did what the previous ones had done, although he seemed highly amused by Conall’s reaction.
Vivienne thought they’d stopped, but then the females approached, with Zahira leading them. In wolf form, the Elder sniffed at them before she rolled onto her back, presenting her belly to Vivienne. Sensing something was required of her, Vivienne tapped her nose to it. Verity was next, and then Samia. Vivienne tensed, unsure of what to expect, but Samia only did the same as the females before her. As the other females came, Vivienne relaxed against her mate as he affectionately nuzzled her. The last of the females were coming through, these smaller, and more timid than the rest, when she felt Conall slip from her.
Don’t move, alainn.
She didn’t, watching as the females sniffed and showed their bellies, until finally Zahira returned to them. She was human and clothed in the robe once more. “Before Elders and pack, you are declared officially mated. May Luna see fit to give you many children.” And then she turned and looked around the gathering of wolves. “May this night be fruitful in more ways than one. The food has been released.”
Howls went up around the clearing and Conall stood, nudging Vivienne into doing the same. They cut quite an image, the large black wolf and the sleeker white wolf at his side.
Taken by Moonlight Page 50
