by Gale Stanley
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
Jude's sexy drawl made her stomach do flip-flops. She opened her eyes and looked into dark blue pools of lust.
"Mmmm... It's a very good morning." He looked so damn cute when he woke up. His shaggy blond hair stuck up all over the place like Dennis the Menace. And his five o'clock shadow was more like ten o'clock. If only she could take a picture. No, she didn't need a photo, she'd never forget her mate. Besides, she'd have a living reminder, a miniature Outlaw with blond hair and blue eyes. Of course, it could be a girl, with black hair, but she didn't think so. The baby would look like the Outlaws. She just knew it.
"A penny for your thoughts." Jude kissed her nose right before he pulled out.
"Hey!" she yelped, displeased.
"You are a demanding bitch." He grinned at her then rolled her on her back and kneeled between her knees. "You're in la-la land, and I want your attention on me." He gripped her thighs and brought her toward him so her hips were off the bed and her ankles rested on his shoulders. He plunged back inside, and the angle made the penetration so much deeper.
"Do I have your attention now?" he said, grunting.
Her answer was a sharp cry as he hit a sensitive spot inside her.
His cock tugged at her swollen lips as he plunged in and out, controlling their movements with his hold on her thighs. "God, you are a sight, darlin'. I love watching my cock sliding in and out of that sweet pussy."
His words made the heat rise in her veins, and she clutched the sheets with her fingers.
"Jesus, I'm getting close. Help me, baby. Touch yourself."
She kneaded her breasts, pinched the nipples between her fingers until they hardened to tight points. "Like this?" she asked in a throaty whisper.
"Baby, that is so fucking hot."
She slid a hand over her belly to tug first her pubic hair then his. Every time he pulled out, she teased his cock with her fingers. When she rubbed the spot above her throbbing clit, she lost herself in the pleasure of her own touch and his hardness filling her.
His eyes burned blue flame, and he plunged deep. She knew he was close. So was she.
His eyes locked on her hand. She circled her clit with an index finger, pinched it hard, and went off like a firecracker. Her muscles gripped him like a vise.
"Sable!" He gritted her name through clenched teeth, and she felt his cum spurt in staccato spasms. His release went on forever. Finally he lowered himself on top of her, kissing and licking the scar on her neck. The attention he gave to his mark sent shock waves through her, and she wiggled under him.
"Am I too heavy, sweetheart?" He breathed against her throat.
"No, and don't you dare move." She wrapped her legs around his hips, and they shared a wild, hungry kiss.
* * * *
"Do you want to go out or not?"
"Of course I do. But I'm not going anywhere on a leash," Sable protested vehemently. "It's humiliating."
Jonas leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "Well, I guess you don't want it that badly."
"You promised." She sulked like a petulant child. She'd been waiting for this chance.
"You did promise," Jude added.
"I'm keeping the promise, but we're going to do it my way. If Janis sees a woman walking around the property, she'll freak out. She doesn't know anything, and I want to keep it that way."
"Who?" Janis? Who the hell is Janis? She thought the two brothers lived here alone. Was Jonas married? Is that why he didn't touch her anymore?
"Nobody you have to worry about," Jonas assured her.
"Janis is our sister," Jude added.
Sable breathed an inward sigh of relief. She didn't like the idea of Jonas in another woman's arms.
Jonas gave Jude a look that said, Keep your mouth shut. He turned to Sable. "What's the big deal? You get to shift and go for a run."
"Okay, I'll do it," she agreed reluctantly. She didn't want to go on a leash. And she didn't want them watching her shift like some freak in a sideshow, but she didn't have much choice. Staying inside was not an option when she had an opportunity to get the lay of the land.
"Jude, get the tranquilizer gun and Sherlock's collar."
"No more tranquilizers. That was part of the deal."
"It's just a precaution until I know you'll behave."
She turned her head and looked at Jude. He shrugged and walked out to follow instructions like a good beta. No big deal. She planned to play their game. Nothing mattered except the chance to get outdoors. She fairly trembled with excitement, but she couldn't let her enthusiasm cloud her judgment. This was an all-important first step to her freedom. She'd see exactly where they were holding her, and she could plan her escape.
Jude returned, and Jonas took the collar. "Are you ready?"
"It smells." She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I'm not a dog," she snarled.
"Then stop acting like one."
Bastard. She looked at the gun in Jude's hand and shut her mouth.
"What if it's not big enough and she chokes?" Jude asked.
"It won't be a problem." He looked at Sable. "And it's radio controlled, so if you think you can get away, forget it."
"Okay, okay, can we just do it?" she said impatiently.
Jonas put the collar on, adjusted the buckle, and locked it.
"I still don't think it's a good idea. Let's put it off for a few days," Jude blurted out.
"Don't you have some work to do?" Jonas turned to him. "Give me the gun and get lost."
She didn't want to put it off, she needed this. "It's okay, Jude. Really," she pleaded.
"Take care of her, I'll be back later."
She watched him go, not at all surprised he agreed so easily. He didn't want to watch her shift. He danced around her Lycan heritage, preferring to think of her as a human woman.
Jonas attached a cable leash to the collar and removed the smaller restraint. He sat back and looked at her expectantly.
Suddenly she felt shy. She never shared this side of herself with anyone. Of course, he'd seen her wolf before, but she never actually shifted in front of him. It seemed more intimate somehow.
He looked just as nervous, more likely, scared of her. He had no reason to be. Looking at his twitchy trigger finger made her anxious enough to play nice. Besides, this was a reconnaissance mission.
She turned her back and pulled the V-necked tunic top over her head. It caught on the collar, and he stepped up behind her to help. His fingers brushed the curve of her breast, and her heartbeat skyrocketed as she turned to face him.
His gaze drifted down her chest, and his hands came up to palm them. "You have beautiful breasts," he said huskily.
He rubbed the tips with his thumbs, and her nipples beaded tightly under his touch. Moisture pooled between her thighs.
Their eyes locked for a long moment and then he stepped away.
"We should probably do this now."
She sighed. He wore her mark. Why was he able to resist her so easily? She untied the drawstring on the green scrub pants, pushed them over her hips, and stepped out of them.
She concentrated on her wolf but nothing happened. Something held her back, as if her body ran out of fuel. It had to be the drugs. She focused, tried harder, and felt the change coming. Her pulse and heart rate sped up, familiar sensations that signaled a shift.
Her leg bones twisted, she dropped to a crouch and rolled her head forward then back. It felt good. Real good. Her neck snapped, and with a bone-cracking shift, her jaw stretched into a muzzle. Ears and teeth grew longer. She watched her fur spread over her limbs like hair growing in a time-lapse video. In a few seconds, a thick black pelt covered her body like a protective blanket. She looked up at Jonas, her tail high and proud. She was Lycan.
He stared at her as if she were an alien. He thought she was a beast. It only proved what she already knew. The differences between them were insurmountable. He'd never see her as a real woman or accept the beauty of her wo
lf. Screw him! In her world, she'd been beautiful.
Silently, he picked up the leash and led her out the door.
Anxious to be outside, she followed him like a docile puppy. From the lab, they entered a small hallway. Jonas unlocked another door, and they were outside!
At first, she just stood and breathed in the first fresh air she'd had in days. The sun felt warm on her back, and being outside was sheer bliss. They were in a clearing fringed by old pines and hardwood. The house, white clapboard with a wraparound porch, seemed much too big for three people. And, surrounding everything, a high chain-link fence. She took it all in and stored it in her memory.
Jonas attached her leash to a long line that ran between two oak trees. He backed away and let her do her thing.
A raven dive-bombed her and pecked her head. She snapped at it, but the crow let out a raucous caw and sped off. Normally she would have caught the damn bird before it knew what happened, but she wasn't one hundred percent yet. It made her angry—and sad.
She ran, back and forth, over the same path between the trees. Her energy picked up, as did her spirits. Sable danced and frolicked around Jonas. Finally, she bowed at his feet, the front of her body flat on the ground, her rear high in the air. She wagged her tail, teasing him. He laughed and threw a branch. She didn't like playing a dog, but she enjoyed showing off. She caught the stick every time and dropped it at his feet until she tired of the game and let it fly over her head.
She left it where it lay and pounced on Jonas, hoping to initiate a game of chase and tumble. He was happy to oblige. When she knocked him over, he lay there laughing, and she nuzzled his neck.
He grabbed her head, held her by the ears, and looked in her eyes with an odd expression. A possessive wave swept over her. She shook off his hands and gave him a gentle nip under his ear.
"Oh, my God!"
Her ears pricked up, and she turned to check out the newcomer.
A woman stood near the house screaming. She left Jude in her dust and ran towards them.
Jonas rose to his feet while Sable sat back on her haunches.
"Dammit! Shoot it, Jude!" The woman stopped short of Sable's reach and stood shaking. "Jonas, get away!"
The female's whiny voice and short ginger hair set off red flags. Ears pinned back flat to her skull and fur bristling, Sable showed her teeth and snarled at the stranger.
"I'm okay, Nicole," Jonas shouted. "She's just playing." He patted Sable's head. "Settle down," he whispered to her. She let out one last growl and lay on the grass like a silent black sphinx. She kept her eyes on the woman like a hawk.
Jonas brushed the dirt off his jeans and walked over to the bitchy human female. She tackled him, and Sable sent a low warning growl her way. She squelched it when Jonas turned back and glared at her over his shoulder. The woman smelled like trouble. She hung onto Jonas as if she owned him.
"What are you doing out here, Nicole?"
"I was worried about you. I haven't seen you for two weeks."
"I know. I'm sorry." Jonas looked contrite. He put an arm around her and kissed her. "It's my fault, I've been busy. I'm training a new dog."
"Should I be jealous of a dog?"
Sable inched closer, as far as the cable allowed. If she were free, the woman would be more than jealous.
"Don't worry about the dog, Nicole."
"She looks like a handful."
"You have no idea." Jonas took her arm. "Let's go inside."
Jonas passed the gun to Jude. "Take care of the dog."
Jude grunted at him and took the gun. He slapped Sable's ass. "Come on, girl. Playtime is over." She uttered a low-pitched growl, and he laughed.
"It's not my fault your outing was cut short." He took hold of the leash and led her away. "If Jonas took care of Nicole as well as I take care of you, she wouldn't have to come looking for him. She actually asked me if he was seeing another woman." Jude let out a gruff laugh. "I told her—yeah, a real dog."
Not funny. Pissed off, she stopped short.
"This is going to hurt me more than you." That fast, he shot a dart into her flank. She looked at him in disbelief.
"I'm really sorry, but with Nicole here I'm not taking any chances."
By the time they reached her room, she could barely drag one foot after the other. She flopped down on the floor and rested her muzzle on her paws. Jude walked out and shut the door. She used her last bit of energy to shift.
* * * *
Jude slid into the bed behind Sable and pressed his throbbing hard-on against her bare buttocks. He slid a hand down her arm, enjoying the silky feel of her skin and the goose bumps he left in his wake. She responded so beautifully to his touch. They were so in tune, almost as if they belonged together. He kissed her shoulder.
"How did I get into bed?" Her voice was muffled in the pillow.
He sighed. He still had some explaining to do. "By the time I came back with Jonas, you'd already shifted. Jonas changed your collar, and we put you to bed."
"Why do I have to wear this collar?"
"You know why. Jonas doesn't want you changing unless he says so."
"What do you want?"
"I want you." He rubbed her back.
"You bastard!" She twisted away and rolled to face him. "You promised no more drugs."
He flinched. "I'm sorry." He surprised himself by really meaning it. It pained him to hurt her. "It's just that you got a little aggressive when Nicole showed up."
"Who is she?"
"Jonas's girlfriend. We've known her since we were kids. They dated, then went off to different colleges, came back, and picked right up where they left off. They'll probably get married some day. That is if she doesn't get tired of waiting for him."
Her mouth got hard, and her eyes blazed amber fire. He didn't blame her for being angry. She felt betrayed and justifiably so. "It won't happen again."
"How can you be sure?"
"I'll set up a run farther from the house where no one will see you." God, he hated this. The more time he spent with her, the more he came to realize how very human she was. Keeping her penned up like this wasn't right. When he tried to bring it up with Jonas, his brother shot him down. He didn't know the real Sable. "I'll make it up to you. I promise.”
She stared at him but said nothing.
He slipped a hand between her legs and stroked her pussy. Christ, she might be mad at him, but she was wet and ready. "Am I forgiven?"
"This is how you want to make it up to me. You think you can fix everything with sex."
"No." He wanted to fix it for real, but he had no idea how. "I hate seeing you like this. I'll make it better for you." He grazed her jaw with his knuckles, and her face softened. "I promise. It won't always be this way. Do you believe me?"
"I must be crazy, but I do."
"Then how 'bout some make-up sex?" Jude took her smile for a yes. He sat up and took her with him. When he stretched his long legs out, she straddled his lean hips, her back to his chest.
"I hate when you're mad at me." He held her hips, and she spread her pussy lips and guided his penis inside her. When she slowly sank down on his length, he groaned appreciatively and pulled her back until he was firmly seated inside her.
Jude lifted her arms up and draped them around his neck. He fondled her breasts, caressing and kneading them until her cries for more drove him crazy.
"Squeeze them harder, Jude."
He did as she asked and pinched her nipples.
"Yes." She moaned. "Like that."
He buried his face in her hair. "I love your hair. I don't ever want you to cut it. It's so silky, so beautiful. Like you."
She gave a little sigh, and he could tell the flattery pleased her. He'd never been good with pretty words, but they came easy with Sable. He realized he meant every one of them.
Every time they made love, their connection grew stronger. Sometimes he wished they could have a real relationship. He wasn't complaining. She drove him insane. He'd never want
ed a woman more. His breath quickened, and he lifted her buttocks to adjust her movement.
"Gods!" Her rhythm sped up. She moved on him furiously. "Please. Jude, I need to come."
He reached around, rubbed her swollen clit, and set off the ripples that signaled her climax and set off his own release.
Their cries of satisfaction got softer. Her arms came down from his neck, and he rolled to his side, taking her with him. Still locked together, they fell asleep.
Chapter Ten
Jonas slumped in his seat and watched Jude wolf down his lasagna. Janis stood at the sink scraping her plate. His own plate sat untouched in front of him.
"I'm going to ask Nicole to marry me." Jonas threw out the comment in an offhanded way and waited for the reactions. He averted his eyes when Jude stared at him across the massive oak kitchen table.
"Think she'll say yes?" Jude guffawed.
"Of course she will."
Jonas turned his head to look at his sister, and she gave him a big, sappy grin.
"She's getting the most wonderful man in Black Wolf Gorge."
"Hold on there, sis." Jude scowled at her.
"One of the two most wonderful men is what I meant to say." She grinned at Jude and threw her arms around Jonas's neck.
"Hey, you're going to strangle me," he protested, although secretly pleased. He loved his siblings. They were inseparable, like The Three Musketeers. All for one, and one for all.
Janis stepped around and looked him in the eye.
"Does this mean I'm going to be an aunt at last?"
"Well..." Jonas sputtered. "One of these days."
"I just thought, well, you know."
"I do know, but it's not like that. It won't be a shotgun wedding. Nicole is tired of waiting, and frankly, so am I." He squirmed uncomfortably, pushed his chair back, and rose from the table.
