by Tara West
“A complete waste of time,” Drasko said as he popped the top on a beer and sat at the patio table overlooking the placid lake set against a backdrop of tall pines and cragged mountain peaks.
“I’m never helping the Stormwatchers again,” Amara huffed, taking a lemonade from Rone and sitting beside Drasko. She took a sip of the cool drink, relishing the sweet syrupy taste. It was pretty good for a powdered beverage.
They were nearing the end of summer in Alaska. Soon it would be fall, and she’d switch to steaming hot tea. She was looking forward to the change in seasons, and not just because she preferred cooler weather. She was eager for her mates to return to her. Hakon was scheduled to come home the first day of fall, and Luc was due back any day. Agent Johnson, the government liaison to the Amaroki, had told her mates’ father that Luc was almost finished with his mission. The sooner her Army tracker was holding her in his arms, the better.
She swatted a mosquito almost as big as a bird as it buzzed her face, then scooted her chair closer to the citronella candle on the table.
“I was surprised when they called,” Rone said as he shut the grill and turned to them. “I thought they’d be too proud to ask for a Thunderfoot’s help.”
She quirked a brow. “Why would you say that?”
Rone and Drasko shared knowing looks.
Drasko took a long swig of beer. “The Thunderfoots and the Stormwatchers have a history.”
Judging by the way he grimaced when he said it, she knew it wasn’t good. “What do you mean?”
Rone wiped his hands on his apron and sat beside her. “The Stormwatchers were the tribal leaders up until WW2. Most of our young men had gone to fight for our country, leaving their women and children with the elders. The Stormwatchers were killed fleeing the Germans. The Thunderfoots stayed and fought, and saved themselves and dozens of other wolves. When they returned, they were elected chieftains for their bravery. Had the Stormwatchers fought bravely, their ancestors might still be in power.”
“When our great-grandfathers were given the chiefdom, they also inherited this land and the lake.” Drasko swept a hand toward the picturesque scenery. “The Stormwatchers never got over their loss. Though they try to hide it, I know they resent us.”
“I know Daniella does,” she blurted as Daniella’s strange comment suddenly made sense. “She said she wasn’t going to pay me, because they’d already given me a lake.”
“Fucking bitch,” Drasko mumbled before taking another drink of his beer.
“If she’s holding onto that grudge, that means her mates are, too.” Rone gave Drasko a pointed look. “They could cause us trouble.”
“I agree. We’ll have to alert our fathers and keep an eye on them.” Drasko turned to Amara. “I’m sure your family posing a threat to Daniella’s grandfather’s chiefdom adds more fuel to the fire.”
How petty of them. Her grandfather wouldn’t be a threat if the Romanian chieftain had done a better job taking care of his people. “It was Amarok who said my grandfather would make a better chieftain.”
“And he was right.” Drasko leveled her with a stony look. “But a chieftain won’t give up his title without a fight, no matter what the Ancients say.”
“I’m not so sure my family will try to take it anyway.” She remembered the destruction her family had suffered at the hands of the Devora brothers. “They’re too busy rebuilding their homes.”
Drasko slammed his beer on the table. “They should make finding the Devoras a priority, not home repairs.”
She flinched. “My fathers are searching for the Devoras.” Though truthfully she knew they weren’t doing a great job of it. How could they when Katarina, their selfish and spoiled mate, was always threatening to kill herself or causing trouble with her grandparents?
Rone offered her an apologetic look. “They’re not searching enough.”
Amara threw up her hands, her aggravation rising. This seemed to be a daily argument between her and her mates. She wished they’d drop it already. “Katarina isn’t easy to handle.”
Drasko and Rone shared long, severe looks. She knew they were telepathically communicating.
“Are you going to let me in on the conversation?” she snapped.
The angles of Drasko’s face were so severe, it took her breath away. “You do understand that if they don’t take care of the Devoras, we will?”
Her heart slowed to a painful thud. “Why? I’m safe now.”
“They tried to rape you.” Rone sighed.
“But they didn’t,” she argued.
Drasko squared his shoulders. “If your fathers don’t find the Devoras by the time Luc and Hakon get back, we’re going after them.”
She jumped from her seat, toppling their drinks. “You can’t go!” she cried, ignoring their swearing.
Rone grabbed a rag and mopped up the mess.
Drasko stood, hovering over her, his eyes turning from dark mahogany to a dazzling gold. “We can and we will.” His deep protector voice took over, rattling her bones and making her knees tremble.
There was no way she was winning this argument. If her fathers didn’t capture the Devoras, her mates would risk their lives for vengeance. “Will you take me with you?”
Drasko stiffened. “You will stay with our parents until we return.”
Her mates were leaving her? “And what if you don’t return?”
“We will return.” Rone wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissing her cheek. “We have the Ancients on our side.”
“That doesn’t mean they’ll let you win.” She wiped moisture from her eyes. “Did you get a good look at the Devoras? They’re missing eyes and earlobes! They know they don’t stand a chance fighting fairly against you, which means they’ll fight dirty.” Her knees gave way, and she fell back into her chair.
Drasko knelt beside her, running a hand down her back. “They won’t fight at all after I snap their necks.”
She looked at him through a haze of tears. “You’re way too sure of yourself.”
Drasko arched a brow. “And you’re way too unsure of me.”
“I can’t help it if I’m worried.”
He sat beside her and pulled her into his lap. “I know, sweetheart, and I love you for it.”
His kindness only made her cry harder. After living a lonely life of neglect, she’d finally found happiness. Being separated from Hakon and Luc was hard enough. She couldn’t go on if the Devoras separated her from her mates forever.
AMARA PICKED AT HER dinner, losing her appetite as she thought about the Devoras filling her mates full of Amethyst darts and attacking them. Afterward, her dogs curled up in various corners of the house, each with a thick bone to gnaw on. She wordlessly helped Rone stack the dishes in the kitchen, ignoring their dark looks.
“That’s enough for now.” He removed his apron and took her by the hand, leading her around the marble island and into the sunken living room that faced the cabin’s vaulted windows and back deck.
She followed him on numb legs, fearing her mates were going to lecture her again. Rone sat her beside Drasko and knelt in front of her, peering up at her from under long eyelashes.
“You know you’re cute when you pout?” he said, resting his chin on her knee.
“I’m not pouting.” She stiffened when Drasko wrapped an arm around her.
“No?” he whispered, caressing her face. “You hardly ate.”
She tensed when he traced her collarbone and then the swell of her breast. “I’m too worried to eat.” She did her best to ignore Drasko as he unzipped her jeans.
“I have an idea,” he purred, hot and heavy in her ear. “How about we take your mind off your worries while working up your appetite?”
She tried to clench her knees together when he dipped a finger under the hem of her undies, tracing lazy circles around that tight little bundle of nerves. “I’m not in the mood,” she lied. Who the hell was she kidding? She was always in the mood. Even when her monthly hit, she st
ill begged for it, and her mates were happy to give it to her.
“Then hell must have frozen over.” He chuckled against her neck, making her gooseflesh rise.
“Stop.” She swatted his hand away.
She moaned when Rone pulled down her jeans and stroked her sweet spot.
“Are you sure?” Drasko’s hand was back at her breast, pinching through the fabric. “Your hard nipples are saying something different.”
“Ah, Rone!” she cried out when he circled her swollen desire with the tip of one finger. Damn, that felt good.
“So is your wet pussy,” he said, pulling his finger out and sucking her moisture off it.
“You’re both making it wet.” She scowled down at him while melting into the sofa cushions, sighing as Drasko massaged both breasts. He gave great massages.
When Rone dipped his finger inside her again, her legs fell open and she lay her head back with a groan. Over the past month, her sweet Rone had repeatedly tried to draw out their lovemaking, but no sooner had he thrust inside her than he was shooting off like a rocket. Luckily, he’d learned to make up for his lack of control with amazing foreplay. She lifted her ass as he slid her bottoms all the way off.
“Do you still want me to stop?” He asked with a mischievous smile.
“Please don’t stop, Rone,” she begged, raising her arms above her head while Drasko removed her shirt. She stretched out on the sofa, grateful it was nearly as wide as a twin bed. She lay her head on Drasko’s thigh as Rone climbed between her legs and planted his face in her pussy.
She bucked against him while he licked, stroked, and teased. When Drasko leaned over her, she moaned into his mouth, arching her back when he kneaded her breasts like dough. It didn’t take long for her lovers to build her passion into a frenzy. She grasped Rone’s hair by the roots while he tongue-fucked her, thrusting deep inside her and circling her swollen button with his thumb. She cried out when she came, spurting inside his mouth like a fountain. He laughed, lapping up her juices, then yanking down his jeans and moving up to bury himself inside her with one rough thrust. She strained for another climax. Drasko dug his fingers into her tits, branding her and squeezing hard.
Her next orgasm hit fast, tremors rippling through her while Rone burst inside her.
After she finally caught her breath, Rone slid out of her, mopping up their juices with his T-shirt.
“My turn,” Drasko said, hoisting her into his arms and looking at her with a devious smile. She went boneless against him as he carried her up the stairs and into their bedroom, setting her on their massive bed.
“Bend over,” he commanded.
She obeyed, falling on her knees and hoisting her ass in the air.
Drasko sat behind her, pulling her down on his lap and sheathing his thick erection inside her. He made her face a set of full-length mirrors on the opposite wall and then fucked her with long, slow strokes, anchoring himself to her with one hand digging into her breast and the other grasping her pussy, his finger circling her clit. She loved this position more than anything. She threw her head back against his shoulder, gasping, as he slid in and out, keeping rhythm with his finger.
“Look at us,” he rumbled, scraping his teeth across her neck.
Her eyes flew open, and she watched Drasko’s large cock slide in and out of her while he teased her neck with tantalizing kisses. She bit back a groan, her eyelids fluttering at the sight. She was ready to spontaneously combust. Though she enjoyed sex with all her mates, lovemaking with Drasko was the most erotic and euphoric sensation she’d ever experienced.
He continued his relentless assault, and the pressure built. She felt like a kettle with two spouts, the steam slowly building under each until she was within a breath of shooting off at both ends.
And that’s when Drasko stopped, stilling inside her. She begged him to continue.
“Patience, Amara,” he chided, biting her earlobe.
But she was all out of patience. She squirmed against him, straining for release, ignoring his warning growls.
“Please, Drasko, make me come.”
“Fuck!” he roared. “You feel too good to resist.”
He pushed her onto all fours and fucked her without mercy. The weight on the bed shifted, and Rone slid under her, sliding his slick finger across her clit, sending her spiraling over the edge. The heartbeat deep inside her went off like an atom bomb, pounding against Drasko’s cockhead until he exploded, throbbing deep inside her. Rone suckled her breast and continued to assault her swollen nub, setting off another orgasm.
Achingly tender in all the right spots, and totally spent, she fell into Rone’s arms, sighing when he stroked her back and whispered words of love in her ear. Before she knew it, she was horny again. Rone slipped inside her, making love to her slowly, capturing her lips in a continual kiss. He held out for several minutes, gently probing her with shallow thrusts, a new record for him. The next orgasm rolled over her like a slow-motion wave. She sighed into his mouth, going boneless against him when he grunted and stilled.
As she snuggled in his arms, sated and content, it occurred to her that her mates had used this long love-making session as a distraction. Damn them, it had worked too well. She was too exhausted to worry, but tomorrow she’d be sick with apprehension all over again. How could she not, when those rogue wolves threatened to take everything from her?
Chapter Two
Amara woke in Drasko’s embrace, deliciously achy in all the right places. The smell of fresh coffee and bacon wafted up from below, which meant Rone had already gone downstairs to make breakfast. She had no idea what time it was, as the days were getting shorter and no light shone through their curtains. She didn’t care. She was exactly where she wanted to be.
Drasko wrapped his arms around her waist, then squeezed her breasts and rolled her nipples between his fingers.
He massaged her breasts and nibbled her ear. She pressed her ass into his erection and draped her leg over his hip, wiggling until the tip of his head probed her anus. With a low growl, he feasted on her neck. She tilted her head to give him better access, his lips on her skin causing her gooseflesh to rise and her pussy to weep. She forced herself to relax through an exhale while he reached around her, circling her clit with a finger. He drew moisture from her pussy, rubbing it into her anus before sliding the tip of his cock inside her tight hole.
She tensed when he stretched her past the point of comfort. “Oh, Drasko!”
“Relax,” he purred, sliding in a little farther.
He gently stroked her clit again, teasing her into submission, slowly stretching her anus with his thick head. She soon became putty in his arms, captive to exquisite sensations as he pushed all her buttons and then some. He alternated between gently nipping her neck and scraping her skin with his teeth. His cock slid in a little further while he continued the assault of her clit. He pulled out to probe the outer edge of her ass, then slid in again.
She groaned her delight, melting, melting, until she completely surrendered to him. He fucked her deeper, harder, building up her desire until she was panting his name. A few more delicate swirls around her swollen clit, and she was lost in a vortex of pleasure. He bit her shoulder, latching onto her hip, pumping into her tight hole. The orgasm seized her like a vice, taking possession of her, rocking her to her core. She pulsed everywhere, the zings shooting straight to her toes and back. He groaned and then grunted, his cockhead bursting like a popped balloon as he filled her tight sheath with his seed. He continued to pump into her, driving her through one orgasm and into another.
She fell limp against him while he tickled and teased her swollen slit into submission, coaxing one final burst of violent throbs. She pulsed against his finger when he captured her lips in an exquisite kiss.
Spent and sated, they snuggled for several minutes. She cooed and giggled when he ran his fingers up and down her arms, making her sensitive skin come alive once more.
“Ready to go catch Big Ben,” he m
urmured. “I have a good feeling about today.”
Uh, no. He couldn’t possibly want to go fishing after that. She reached behind her, cupping his erection. “I’ve already caught a big one.”
“Come on, Amara,” he pleaded, raining hot kisses down her neck. “It will be fun.”
“If you keep kissing me like that, we’re going to stay in this bed all day.” she was hoping she could go back to sleep after feeling completely sated and spent.
He rolled her onto her back, his long hair tickling her bare breasts. She reached up, running her fingers through his silky hair, loving how it slipped through her fingers like water.
He grabbed her wrist, one brow hitched in an expectant look. “I’m going fishing, Amara. Are you coming or not?”
She relented. “Fine, if it means that much to you.”
He brushed his lips across her knuckles. “It does.”
She couldn’t help but smile. A few months ago she’d been terrified of him, but that was before she saw his soft side. Granted, his soft side was usually paired with a bit of rough sex, and hot damn, she couldn’t get enough.
DRASKO STOOD BEHIND Amara, showing her how to flick the rod. It worked when he helped her, but when she tried on her own, she screwed it up. He was a patient teacher, even though she still hadn’t managed to throw the lure out very far.
After watching Drasko fish with his sister Tatiana numerous times, she figured it would be easy. It wasn’t. Tatiana was much better at this than her, casting and reeling in fish like an old pro. Amara had no idea why she’d expected she’d be any good at it. She’d always thrown her bowling balls in the gutter and her softballs at the batter’s head. Fishing was no different. To make matters worse, she’d already hooked Drasko’s finger. She felt terrible when he gushed blood all over the floor of the boat. He acted like it was no big deal, wrapping up his finger and telling her it was his fault for not putting a cork on the hook.
He angled the trolling motor toward a stand of reeds. “Try casting here.”
