“Seeing the fight triggered really bad memories. In escaping Brad, I was hoping I could forget my past.”
Devin sighed. “You might not easily forget, but you can learn from it.”
Tamara squeezed her lips together, but then realized she couldn’t resist voicing her thoughts. “How can I learn from an abusive past? Should I never ever trust again?”
His shoulders slumped.
When he didn’t respond, she continued. “It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“I’m sorry for what happened to you. The abuse was not your fault. You left the situation, which is the bravest thing you could have ever done in those circumstances.”
She swallowed. “I should have left earlier.”
He slid his hand between hers. “Tell me what I can do to help.”
“You’ve helped enough already.” She smiled. “You delayed your plans and nearly risked your leadership position within the pack because of me.”
“A wolf always places his mate above all others.”
“Mate,” she whispered. “How do you know I’m your mate?”
“For me, there were several clues from day one.”
“Like what?”
“When wolves find their true mate, they gain more power and confidence. I hadn’t really thought about it until recently, but I was never supposed to make it over that fence at the museum with you on my back.”
Tamara’s mind went back to the night at the museum. It was undoubtedly one of those memories that she would carry with her forever. The fence in question had to have been at least twelve feet tall. She vaguely remembered because while planning the burglary, Brad and his crew ruled out escaping through the back of the museum due to the height of the fence.
“What kind of powers would allow you to jump so high?” she asked.
“The same powers that allow me to shift between man and wolf involuntarily, only mine have become stronger since the day I met you.”
Her mind flashed back to the evening when she first discovered that Devin was a wolf. “The same powers that allowed you to heal so quickly after you saved me from the wolf attack.”
“Precisely.” He turned her hands over, palms facing up. “If you are my mate, you should now have powers of Caedmon. The night you made the declaration that you believed was probably the night the powers came to you. Although, I suspect your powers will be limited…because you are human. For example, you have to be born of a Caedmon wolf to be able to shift like one.”
“No way.” She laughed, nervously. “There’s no way I have…powers.”
Devin turned around to reveal the nasty claw marks on his back.
She gasped in shock. During the fight, she’d zoned out so much that she’d missed the part when this happened. Or maybe it occurred when she ran off. He’d needed her…asked her to be present, yet she’d run off selfishly.
“Put your hands on my back.”
Tamara shook her head. She wanted to. Something within her wanted to erase the scars on his back. She just didn’t believe she could help him quite the way he helped her. What had she done to return the favor besides try to run?
“It will only work, if you want it to.”
She placed her hands on his back, near but not touching the wound. “This is silly.”
“It doesn’t work unless you believe.”
Tamara took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She ran her fingers along the deep gash. It formed a jagged line horizontally across his spine. She wished the fight had never broken out between them, but Devin was right. It was the way of the Caedmon wolves to challenge their opponents. But what she really hoped for was less sparing within the pack circle? If only Darius’ agenda had been in the best interest of the Caedmon people, it would never have come to this. Or maybe she was wrong.
“Open your eyes, Tamara.”Before she did, she ran her fingers along the cut again. The lesion was gone. Her eyes flew open to find that the wound had healed as if months had passed by. There was still a pale scar, but no scab or open skin.
“Oh, my…” her hands flew to her mouth.
“There should still be a scar. The wound was pretty deep…” His voice trailed off.
“What does this mean?”
He turned to face her. “Will you accept me? As I am?”
“Yes.” She nodded. The pull he had on her and the feelings that overcame her whenever he was away was something she’d never had before.
“It’s not as simple, and accepting me requires more bravery on your part.”
“I don’t know if I can be as brave as you think, but still I don’t know what you mean.”
“There is a final step to the mating process,” he said. “And it involves bonding.”
“Bonding. Like confirming our love and affection. Kind of like marriage.”
“It’s kind of like a marriage, but we will have to do more than declare our union with a ring. This will make us stronger. It will be an honor to lead the Caedmon people with my mate right alongside me.”
A fairytale wedding had been in Tamara’s dreams once, but those dreams had been shattered long ago. Now that she’d found a man that truly cared for her, she had hopes again. “How, then, will we complete the process?”
“Wolf mates bond through the bite.”
Her brown doe eyes widened slightly with this knowledge. Devin’s intentions were never to frighten her. But fear wasn’t the expression written on her face. No. He could smell fear, and this wasn’t it. This was anticipation and lust.
“Show me.” Tamara pulled the covers back revealing the thin negligee she wore.
It was all the courage and confirmation he needed. It took them mere seconds to rid themselves of the clothing in the way. Her nipples were perfect and he enjoyed the silky soft feel of them between his lips. Bending over her, he teased the tightened little buds with his tongue. He loved the way she arched her back as he tugged gently on her nipples.
His fingers drifted down past her abs, navel, and mound to find that she was already dripping wet for him.
She moaned as he stroked her and her body writhed on the bed. “I want you to take me hard. Mate me like you really mean it.”
He dragged himself up slightly to kiss the creamy crevices of her neck. “I want to be gentle. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t hurt me. You’ve been gentle enough. Tonight, I don’t want you to hold back.”
He sipped at her neck. She tasted of cotton candy and cherries. “Tamara, you don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I’m not asking, Devin. Make me yours. Complete our union.”
His hands molded to her ass and he pulled her forward until the head of his dick brushed against her pussy. She wrapped her legs around him and heat radiated from her against him. He pet her pussy, sliding his fingers between the soft lips. Her juices coated his fingers as he thrust in and out of her.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, admiring the look of bliss on her face while he pleasured her.
“Please, I need you inside me.”
“Patience. One taste and then I will give you what you want.”
The moment he sucked her clit into his mouth, she raised her hips from the bed. He tasted her like a hungry man who hadn’t eaten for days. Her pussy was a sweet drug that he was addicted to. Her fingers gripped the top of his head and he applied more pressure to her bud of desire with his tongue. He could prolong her release, if he wanted to, but the wolf within urged him to complete the union.
Her breathing became uneven and her legs shook as she experienced an orgasm. The sounds of her moans rang like musical notes throughout the cabin.
Tamara brought herself up to a sitting position, dragging him in for another kiss. She turned on the bed, holding herself up on her hands and knees. How had she known that he wanted to take her this way, in this position? Her ass was beautifully rounded, just enough flesh to grab hold of as he took her. He glimpsed her pussy as it glistened from her honey. The sight of it had h
is dick pulsing in excitement.
Devin gripped her hips with both hands, and pushed into her a couple inches. Tension spread through his core when her pussy squeezed around him, milking him. Tamara slid backward, accepting his entire length. He bit his lip as pleasure consumed every nerve ending in his body.
He pumped into her with long sure strokes and she met his thrusts again and again. The carnal sensations not only ran across the surface of his skin, but also surged deep within him and down to his wolf soul.
Before he knew it, his fangs brushed against the back of her neck. It felt as though his balls overflowed with his seed. He would burst soon, but he wanted to ensure her satisfaction first. Brushing her hair off of her shoulders, he viewed the bruise he’d spied on her so many times during their lovemaking. It reminded him that someone had once hurt her. He wanted to erase those bad memories completely, but he knew this was not possible. He’d do what he could to harvest new memories for her.
With gentle swipes of his tongue, he prepared the area for entry.
“Devin…” she whispered, as he descended on her with fangs distended.
“Tamara, I commit to you. I commit to you for life.”
She cried out when he bit her and her climax roared through her.
There was no blood when he took her. The bonding bite was not meant to break the skin, only to claim her indefinitely. As he replaced her old bruise with his mark, his orgasm rushed through him.
His hot seed surged into her, completing their bond and strengthening their union. When they sunk into the mattress out of breath, his body still shivered in the afterglow of his orgasm. Her head was pressed into his chest and she panted against his skin. He reached out to move the hair hanging over in her face, but he did not expect to see fresh tears on her cheeks.
Devin frowned. “Tamara, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“No.” Her smile widened, and she wiped at the tears with the back of her hand. “These are happy tears. I’ve never felt this way before about anyone.”
“Then we share that in common.” He pulled her against him, embracing her. “You are my mate, and the kind of love I feel for you will never be felt for anyone else.”
BONUS EPILOGUE
Would you like to read a bonus epilogue written from Devin and Tamara’s future? Click HERE and tell me where to send your bonus scene to start reading today!
WOLF’S PROMISE (BOOK 2)
Selene is thrust into the aftermath of Caedmon pack rivalry when determination to help her friend, Tamara, leads her to the foothills of the Virginia mountains. Her kindheartedness gets her into deep trouble when she finds herself kidnapped and held against her will. She’s thrown behind bars with Nick, who has also been captured. Her fellow cellmate saves her from a sentence worse than death but now she is at his mercy…and Nick is no ordinary man. Under the façade of his commitment to protect her from evil hides a secret that shatters her faith in him.
* * *
Wolf shifter Nick knew his life would be forever changed when Alpha Devin Caedmon honors him by inducting him onto the Caedmon Council. With this responsibility, he’s introduced to a web of pack politics and subject to threats. In the midst of being captured by a Pack enemy, he meets a tempting brazen beauty. Selene is not just any woman, and the wolf inside reminds Nick of this fact every time she’s in his presence. She awakens raging passion within him, and he desires her like no other. But he’s had the misfortune of being burned before. He must learn to forget how cunning a woman can be and decide if he can trust Selene with his heart. True love awaits in the path of danger, but will Selene and Nick let the chaos destroy their bond?
CHAPTER ONE
Selene Moore pulled her Honda into the slump of a gas station. She cringed in distaste as the storefront came into her full view. It looked like one of those rest stops straight out of a stupid C grade horror flick. As she expected, the town was completely deserted with nothing but trees, fields, and barns for miles. Every so often, she would see a stray critter run across the road. Signs of any human life form were vague. Her cell phone barely got reception out here, and the GPS had given up on finding a signal hours ago.
So much for technology when you really needed it…
After slowing down to a complete stop, she leaned over the armrest to peer at the map in the passenger side seat. According to it, she had another fifteen to twenty miles to go before she reached the exact coordinates.
Selene returned her attention to the store. There were people moving around inside.
Finally! Some actual people.
She glimpsed the silhouette of a woman walking around.
There were two cars parked out front and a sign on the door that said: Hot Boiled Peanuts. Another sign hung on the inside facing out that read: Yes, We’re Open.
This gas station wasn’t any better looking than the last one she passed. One thing was for certain, she needed to pee really badly. There was no way she could hold her water for even one more mile. No use waiting any longer. She wasn’t anywhere near her destination, and she certainly didn’t want to reach it in wet undies.
This was what she got for acting on impulse. Couldn’t she leave things as they turned out to be? No, she just had to be Miss “Nice Pants” and try to go out of her way to help people.
This, though, was personal. She could not let Tamara down. She’d promised the woman that she’d personally see to it that she was completely safe. When she’d spoken with Tamara on the phone, there was something in her voice that worried Selene. What would have made her change her mind about the new life and identity offered to her? The plans had all been in place—it was a quick way out of the life Tamara had declared she couldn’t lead anymore. What had led her astray?
Selene only hoped that she didn’t find trouble again. She needed to see for herself that Tamara was alive and well. Her conscious would not let her rest until she did.
She swallowed down all her reservations, opened the door, and got out of the car.
As she walked toward the store, a burly man stepped out from the corner of the building. She hadn’t even noticed him before.
He took a cloth out of his pocket and cleaned his grease-stained hands on them. “Do you need gas, ma’am?” His accent had a hint of southern drawl to it.
“Yes.” She could probably make it on a half a tank of gas, but she didn’t want to risk it. “Yes, please. Can you fill it up?”
Relieved that the man posed no threat, she made her way into the store as he headed toward her car. Upon entrance, the woman looked up over a shelf and the man at the cash register also stared rudely.
“May we help you find something?” The lady finally spoke as she rounded the corner.
“I’m looking for the restrooms.”
“Straight to the back.” She pointed to a door near the back of the store.
Selene hurried toward it anxious to relieve herself. When she got inside, she immediately turned up her nose. It wasn’t as bad as she expected, but there was still a smell of must and dirty mop water lingering in the air. What could she expect from a public restroom at a gas station anyway?
She held her breath and did her business, careful not to touch the toilet seat. After washing her hands, she headed back out into the store. Both the woman and man looked up at her once again. They weren’t even trying to be discrete about staring at her.
Selene cleared her throat and headed toward the snack aisle. She’d been craving something salty the whole ride. There was one bag of her favorite brand of potato chips left on the shelf, and she snatched it up. As she ventured down the aisle, she couldn’t resist picking up a packet of vanilla crème filled cakes. The place was filled with junk food, so she didn’t feel the least bit guilty about it. She hadn’t seen a reasonable place to stop and eat for hours. She damn sure wasn’t going to go hungry out here.
Damn her diet. Desperate situations called for desperate measures.
“Are you finding everything alright?” The lady cam
e up behind her.
“Yes, thank you.” Selene turned around to acknowledge her.
“You’re not from around here.”
The worst thing she could do was admit to a complete stranger that she was alone and had no idea where the heck she was. Much less—where she was going. “Do you have anything hot to eat?” She asked.
“We have hot boiled peanuts.” The lady motioned toward a food station in the back of the store.
She followed, and her mouth watered when she saw the espresso machine. “I was thinking more along the lines of a nice hot drink.”
The lady smiled. “It is rather frigid outside. This is one of the coldest winters I can remember in a long time, but warmer temperatures are on the way.”
Selene grabbed a large cup. “I was born in New York City, so the cold doesn’t really bother me. The air here is rather humid though. Do you get much snow?”
“Oh yeah, we got a bunch of it a couple of weeks ago. Much of it has melted away.”
She filled her cup almost to the brim, inhaling deeply when the rich coffee aroma wafted under her nose.
“Where are you headed?”
“To the mountains,” Selene said, quickly. It was better than telling her that she had no earthly idea. She had a paper map and the coordinates picked up from the tracer report she received from Tamara’s cell phone. It was her only hope for finding the woman.
The lady looked at her as though she smelled something rotten. “This time of year?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“It’s a mighty dangerous place to be for such a young woman. Where’s your companion?”
“I’m meeting her,” she lied.
The woman’s nose wrinkled. “Just be careful up there.”
“Thank you.” Selene backed away and headed toward the cash register. She was relieved to be free from the woman’s prying. But she was right. Coming out here may have been a mistake, but she’d already driven too far to turn around. No matter what she told herself, she could not bring herself to go back.
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