QUINTUS

by Kym Grosso

  Calm and warm, Gabriella nuzzled into the lapels of the fine terry cloth robe. She reached for her bra, but stopped short of getting dressed as the scent of cinnamon and apples drifted into the bathroom. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that it had been hours since she’d had food. Deciding to put off the inevitable, she opted to eat first before escaping.

  As she turned the knob, Gabriella heard their voices. She softly padded down the short hallway, and caught sight of an enormous platter of pastries on the coffee table. Hunter leaned back on a sofa, his feet propped on an ottoman. His gaze settled on hers, and she swore she detected desire in his brown eyes.

  “Hey, darlin’. Come eat.” He patted the sofa. “You’ve gotta be hungry.”

  “I’m starving.” As she stepped toward the Alpha, she startled. A loud splash drew her attention to the pool. Her jaw dropped in awe as she caught sight of her muscular vampire gliding across the surface of the water. “He’s swimming?”

  “Yes, he is. Quint and his brother have expensive tastes,” the Alpha responded. “Sit.”

  This time his words struck her as an order, not a request. She heeded his tone and gently sat down next to him, her focus still on Quintus.

  “Have a croissant. These cinnamon and raisin ones are the bomb.”

  “Thank you.” She reached for a pastry and bit down into the heavenly delight, her gaze rising to meet his.

  “You can thank Quint there. He’s an interesting sort. For as city badass as he is, and he is one bad motherfucker, he seems to do the right thing.” Hunter stared over at the pool. “He’s as old as they come, but he’s got this human way about him. He ordered this food, but it’s not like he needs it. He thought of you and me. Some paranormals, they lose their way. Their power is so great, they lose sight of morality. Right and wrong. Loyalty. These aren’t just human values.” Hunter lifted a china teapot off the tray and filled two cups. “Have some.”

  “Thank you again.” Gabriella stopped eating and held the pastry. “For everything. I don’t mean just tonight, but for running with me. It was my first time.”

  “Listen Gabriella, I know you’re not pack, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s my job as an Alpha to look after those who need a place in our world. It’s true that some wolves go rogue on purpose. Maybe they run from their mating. Or their Alpha. Something serious happens to divide them from their pack. But with you…you’re not a typical rogue wolf. You never had pack.”

  “I don’t know who my real father was. The coven. If they’d known my mother had been with a wolf, they would have killed her. I don’t know how I was conceived.”

  “Maybe they were mates. And if they were, he probably died somehow, because I doubt he’d ever leave her. I don’t know. But regardless, you’re here now. You’re a witch and you’re a wolf. The power you have to shut me out. To shut him out.” Hunter glanced to Quintus. “That’s real strong stuff. So whatever you are, however you were made, the Goddess brought you to where you are for a reason.”

  “I’ve got to get away from the witches.”

  “And you will. But you’re going to need help. Like tonight.” Hunter sipped his tea and then set it down. “We needed you and you needed us. I’m just sayin’ that you’re going to have to accept who you are. As pack, we rely on each other. There is no solo act. And now, you have a mate.”

  She nearly choked on her food as his words pierced through her like a knife. “I had a mate. As in past tense. Quintus already has a mate. Mao.”

  “That’s not what he says, and I think he’d be the first to know. I’ll be honest here, I’m an unmated wolf so I don’t know what it’s like personally but I’ve known plenty of wolves. You can’t turn away from a mating. It’ll break you.”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t want him.” She glanced to the pool, captivated as his face broke through the surface, water beading down his chest.

  “As far as I can tell, he wants you. But you’re going to have to submit, darlin’. I’m just tellin’ ya now. That man there isn’t going to take any less. He’s your mate. Your Alpha. And runnin’ like ya did.” Hunter shrugged and gave a half smile. “That shit’s gonna get you in some deep ass trouble.”

  “But I…” Gabriella lost her words as Quintus ascended like a phoenix out of the blue water.

  “I’m gonna go take a quick shower, because I think y’all need some time alone. But don’t you worry now, I’ll be right back because I wouldn’t want to miss the show.”

  Gabriella’s breath caught as Quintus stepped out of the pool. Droplets beaded on his flesh, rolling down his ripped abs. Bared, every inch of his rock-hard body displayed for his mate.

  Stop staring, Gabby. Her eyes caught his and he gave her a wry smile. Oh shit. Stop looking. Her eyes dropped once to his half-hard cock and back to his face. Stop fucking looking. What is wrong with me?

  “You like the croissants?” he asked.

  “Um…yeah.” It’s not the only thing I want to eat. Jesus, stop thinking. He’s going to hear me. “Um…the croissants are great.”

  Quintus gave her a broad smile and closed the distance, standing naked before her. He lifted his towel to his face, not bothering to cover himself.

  “We’re going to spend a few hours resting here before we go to New Orleans.” He dragged the terry cloth over his muscular chest. “I’m thinking this would be a good time to set some ground rules. Discuss next steps.”

  “I…um…well…you can give me the bone and I’ll go get help. I mean now that we’ve found it, you don’t need to…” Gabriella licked her lips, struggling to keep her eyes on his. As he took his cock into his hand and ran the towel over its length, her body ignited with desire, her wolf awakening.

  “You see that’s the thing. What you did the past twenty-four hours…running away? Twice. That’s never going to happen again.” Quintus stroked his dick in his hands, his voice firm. “I’ve said it nicely and now we’re about to have a lesson.”

  “But…” Quintus raised an eyebrow, instantly stopping her from speaking. I’m in trouble. So much fucking trouble. In so many fucking ways. Gabriella couldn’t decide whether to beg him to fuck her or run for her life.

  “I hear your thoughts. No more, Gabby. No more running. Tonight you’ll learn submission.” Quintus towered over her, his voice commanding. “Tonight we’ll complete the bonding and when it's done, there will be no room for doubt that I’m your mate. That woman back at my house. I’m not bonded to her. You’re mine. There is no one else for me.”

  “I…” Gabriella’s nipples tightened in arousal as he came closer and stroked his cock.

  “Hear me, Gabby. I want you in my life. I’m your mate,” he told her.

  “Quintus,” she breathed.

  “Open your mouth,” he instructed, his tone serious.

  “What?” Gabriella’s heart pounded as he straddled her legs and placed his palm onto the wall behind her. She yearned to touch him but resisted.

  “Tonight, I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll never forget who your mate is. But before that…submission. This is your lesson. You will learn. I am your Alpha. Your mate. Now open your mouth.”

  Gabriella’s palms settled onto his muscular thighs as he dragged the tip of his cock over her lips. Helpless to say no, she craved her vampire like no other. He widened his stance, and glided his shaft into her warm mouth. She sucked him deep, moaning as he withdrew. He tempted her with his tip that lingered on her tongue.

  “Tonight you will do as I say. You will accept your punishment for running. You will accept the pleasure. And I will accept yours.”

  She panted as he lifted his dick, exposing his tightened balls. She brushed over them with her lips. Her tongue flitted over his velvety sac and she sucked it into her mouth. Closing her eyes, she reached for him. His body tensed under her hands as she released him, continuing to lap at his balls.

  “Fuck,” he exhaled as she dug her fingernails into his thighs.

  “Hmm,” Gabriella moaned, her w
olf roused. Her pussy tightened, and she squeezed her legs together, aching for him to fuck her.

  “That’s it…ah yeah,” he said, sliding his shaft between her lips.

  Gabriella opened her mouth wide as he plunged into her, the salty taste of her mate on her tongue. She slid her hands around to cup his ass, pulling him to her, accepting his hard length down her throat.

  She gasped for air as he withdrew, and gave a squeak as he lifted her by the waist and brought her to her feet.

  “You’re mine, bella. Don’t ever doubt this,” Quintus told her, his intense eyes locked on Gabriella’s.

  She nodded, melting into his embrace as his mouth crushed onto hers. Her tongue swept against his, probing, tasting her mate. She returned his bruising kiss, surrounded by his warmth. She went to reach for his cock and he wrapped his strong fingers around her wrist, denying her her prize.

  “Submission,” he growled.

  Gabriella panted as he tore his lips from hers. Her pulse raced as he tugged at the lapels of her robe, revealing her bare skin. The fabric pooled at her feet and cool air brushed over her full breasts. She shivered in arousal, the darkness in his eyes warning her she’d pay dearly.

  “You took off twice. You put Hunter and me in danger but most of all, you put yourself in danger. Never again will that happen.”

  Gabriella squealed as he reached for her waist and lifted her into the air. “Goddess…”

  “Not a Goddess but more like a God. There’re a few things we need to discuss.”

  “But I…” As Quintus settled her over the side arm of the wide sofa, her face brushed the sofa cushion. Realizing her precarious position, she slammed her thighs together.

  “Ah, ah, ah…I want to see all of you.” Quintus slid his hands between her thighs and spread open her legs, revealing her glistening pussy. “I promised you a spanking.”

  “A spanking?” she exclaimed, her toes dangling onto the floor.

  “Yes, my sweet little wolf.”

  “But…no…ow,” she cried as his palm landed a stinging blow to her bottom. As he rubbed the soreness away, she shook her head side to side.

  “You will submit, Gabby. Running from me,” he landed another firm swat to her other cheek and she yelped in response, “is not an option.”

  “Quintus…” Gabriella lost her words. Her ass stung, the slap of a palm to her flesh echoing in the room. She cringed as her arousal bloomed at his firm touch. The cool air brushed her wet pussy, and she moaned as another blow landed on her bottom.

  She breathed through the overwhelming sensations, her body on fire with both pain and desire. As she blinked open her eyes, her vampire came into focus. He knelt and stroked her cheek, pressing his lips to hers. She surrendered to his searing kiss, her palm on his cheek.

  “Quintus…please,” she begged.

  “Ah bella, as much as I wish I could take you right now, I’m afraid you owe Hunter an apology for your antics.”

  Gabriella’s heart stopped as she caught sight of the magnificent Alpha standing above them. Water beaded over the hard ridges of his chest, a towel hung low on his hips.

  “Well, darlin’, can’t say I didn’t warn you.” The corner of his lip tugged upward.

  “What do you think of my mate?” Quintus released Gabriella and stood next to the Alpha.

  His smooth voice rumbled in the room as his palm cupped her bottom. His hand delved in between her cleft and his forefinger stroked the edge of her labia, leaving her core aching in desire. She moaned, pressing her forehead into the sofa cushion. Her face heated as blood rushed to her cheeks. She should be mortified, given her precarious position, the Alpha’s eyes on her as Quintus fingered her, but her nipples tightened into hard points, her traitorous body responding to his presence. Oh Goddess, what’s wrong with me?

  “Ah little wolf…you enjoy having the Alpha see you like this? Spread wide open for me.”

  “No…” Before she could finish her statement, her lie was rewarded with the sting of his palm.

  “No lying,’ Quintus scolded, his voice firm. “She’s in training, I’m afraid.”

  “Jesus,” she breathed, her core quivering in response to the spanking. Gabriella sucked a breath as his finger circled her core and plunged deep inside her.

  “You need to trust me, Gabby. No running. No arguing. Tonight we will bond but first…Hunter has earned a place with us. You ran from him too. Put him in danger. This is not how you treat an Alpha.”

  “He’s not my Alpha,” she moaned as he slid two fingers inside her, his thumb brushing over her swollen pearl. Gabriella turned her head, catching a glimpse of the Alpha behind her.

  “You see she’s very defiant.” Quintus nodded at Hunter, his eyes focused back on his mate.

  “This is a lesson, my sweet Gabriella.”

  “Ah,” she cried as the Alpha’s palm landed on her ass. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to teach you a lesson in submission. And the Alpha is going to help you learn. Pain.”

  “Ow…” Her fingers clutched the sofa, she turned her head, spying Quintus. Her heated channel quivered around his fingers in response, the sweet sting of pain twisting through her.

  “You can’t move. You have no control right now. I will do with your body as I wish. Do you understand?” Quintus asked her as he withdrew his fingers and licked them.

  “Oh Goddess,” she breathed.

  “Do. You. Understand?” He plunged two thick fingers back into her pussy.

  “What are y…” Gabriella lost her words as the Alpha smacked her other cheek.

  “Darlin’. Seems like you might want to answer your vampire. As much as I’m enjoying spanking your lovely ass, it’s getting pretty red.”

  “Jesus, yes. Yes, I understand,” she spat out, hating that her body flamed in arousal with each swat, instinctively responding to the sexuality of the Alpha.

  “You will listen,” he told her.

  “Please,” she pleaded, grunting as the Alpha spanked her twice more.

  “Do you see how well my mate stays in position?”

  Gabriella panted, her body lit on fire. Her core ached, desperate for release. She caught a glimpse of Quintus as he made his way to the front of the sofa. She attempted to grind her hips at the sight of the powerful vampire. The ambient light reflected on the sheen of his ripped abs. She pushed onto her elbows, to better see him. He stroked his magnificent erection as he approached.

  “I know you want this in you but as I said, I control your pleasure.” His eyes briefly went to Hunter then he refocused his attention on her. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, sliding his fingers into her mouth.

  “But Quintus…” she began to protest. Her pussy tightened as the Alpha palmed her mound, his index finger giving the slightest pressure onto her clit.

  “You want us inside of you, don’t you?” Quintus gave her a sexy as sin smile. “Don’t lie, now. I read your thoughts, my dirty little wolf. Someday I may even share your body with the Alpha but not tonight. No, right now you’re mine.”

  “Fuck, she’s so wet,” Hunter said, sliding his fingers through her folds. “She really likes this.”

  “Please…hmm,” she begged.

  “He’ll watch. I want the Alpha as witness to our bond.”

  “I…” Gabriella ached, a flood of arousal pulsing through her at the thought of him watching. What the hell is wrong with me? she thought to herself. She’d never had public sex, but as the Alpha lightly stroked his finger around her sensitive bead, she knew that she’d never be the same. She’d be safe with Quintus, living her dark fantasy.

  “I want to taste you now.” Quintus released her face and moved in front of Hunter, rubbing his cock up into her ass. He spread her cheeks with his hands, tracing his thumb around her back hole. “I’m going to fuck you here too, Gabby. All of you, every inch of you is mine.”

  Overwhelmed in sensation Gabriella exhaled as Quintus slid a firm arm around her waist and lifted her into his
arms. Within seconds he’d placed her on the bed. She landed on her back and curled her hands into the sheets as he pressed her thighs open and settled between her legs.

  Her beast crouched in submission to the dominant vampire, and her heart crushed at his touch. Had he always known what she needed? It seemed impossible this man belonged to her, yet her instincts told her he was hers.

  Gabriella caught a glimpse of Hunter, who sat on the sofa stroking his cock as he watched them. The Alpha’s eyes locked on hers, and her pulse raced, knowing he could see everything they were doing. Her head lolled back onto the bed as Quintus nibbled her thigh, his mouth inching toward her pussy.

  “That’s right, Gabby. He’s going to get off while I fuck you. You like him watching, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she cried, unable to lie.

  “This,” he whispered. Quintus plunged his fingers inside her. “Your pussy.”

  “Oh Goddess.” His devilish tongue lapped over her clit. She trembled in arousal, her core tightening around his fingers. As he withdrew them, she moaned, begging for his touch. “Please, don’t stop.”

  Quintus slid his palms under her bottom and cupped her ass, tugging her toward his mouth. She gripped the sheets as his tongue stroked deep inside her.

  “Ah, yes.” Her breath grew ragged as her orgasm inched closer.

  “You taste fucking amazing,” he growled.

  “Please…I can’t…I need to come,” she pleaded, tilting her hips upward. The sweet ache drove her delirious and she squirmed, attempting to make contact.

  Quintus obliged, lapping at her swollen bead and driving his fingers back inside her pussy, teasing over her sensitive strip of nerves. Gabriella writhed underneath him as he sucked her flesh, the tip of his tongue furiously flicking at her clit.

  She speared her fingers into his hair, pressing her hips upward into his face. His pinky inched toward her back hole and the dark sensation twisted through her. As he inched it into her anus, a shiver ran through her.