A yelp escaped her from the unexpected jolt deep inside, but hell, it felt good. “Jesus, you feel like heaven,” she gritted out.
His laugh was hoarse. “I’m the one who’s supposed to say that, sweetheart.”
She loved that she wasn’t feeling this alone. She loved that this was totally mutual. With a whimper, she began to rock back and forth, not going too fast but just enough that he was hitting all the good spots inside her. His fingers picked up the pace again and the ecstasy that had helped her release the tension down below, returned in full force as it hurled her over an unseen edge and shot her into the stratosphere.
The orgasm came out of nowhere. Just like its mini predecessor. It annihilated everything, made her wonder if there’d be anything left after she woke up because the strength of the sensation he forced her to feel was like nothing else.
She let out a hoarse shriek as the magic of the moment swelled inside her, and the moment was set when his roar filled her ear drums, and the splash of his seed deep in her body made her feel connected to him as she should always have been connected to him, and as she had never known she would be united with a man.
Chapter 11
The house was imposing. It certainly wasn’t welcoming. If anything, the way it loomed was totally off-putting.
It was a bizarre mixture of fifties’ and twenties’ architecture with Art Deco touches that should have been beautiful but were, instead, awkward. The sheer size of it, however, was something he’d expected.
“My mom has no taste,” El groused as they pulled up the drive and headed toward the huge house two mornings later—two mornings in which she’d begged and pleaded not to have to come here, but had ultimately lost the battle.
She’d been sulking ever since.
At her words, however, sulky or not, all four of them snickered.
“What?” she asked, apparently not understanding the joke.
Ryan patted her knee, but Marc grabbed her hand and pressed the tips of her fingers to his lips. “Keep on saying it how it is,” he teased.
She wrinkled her nose in a way that made him wonder if she could get any fucking cuter. God help him, she was made to mess with his head.
“It’s the truth,” she chided.
“Yeah, we know that but you’re not supposed to say it.” Ryan chuckled. “Still, Marc’s right. Don’t stop. It’s funny. Plus, you’ll need that when you’re around the Pride. The faction beneath us are pains in the ass and sycophants. They’re worse ass lickers than dogs.”
At his disgusted tone, El chuckled. “You don’t like dogs, huh? Isn’t that kind of conforming to stereotypes?”
“They lick ass.” Trip shuddered. “What’s to like?”
“And cats don’t?” she hooted. “My grandmother had a cat. I used to watch him bend in ways that no other creature can surely bend.”
“It’s a good job we learned early on that she’s a pervert, guys,” Trip teased, watching El as she blew up with color.
“You know what I mean!” she retorted.
“Watching cats get off, that’s sick, babe,” he carried on, then chuckled when she folded her arms across her chest with a pout.
“Be grateful you’ve been sleeping with me the last two nights,” she said with a huff, but she smirked prettily at him from under her lashes.
Marc lifted her hand to his mouth again. “Shawn gets to keep you company tonight.”
She stilled at his side and caught the guard’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Is that right?”
Ryan nodded. “That’s right. We figured you’d need some time.”
El leaned over and squeezed his knee. “That was kind of you. All of you.”
The three of them shrugged, but Marc was the one who spoke. “You might know him better than any of us, but it’s all a learning curve.” He sighed. “We just want you to be happy, El. That’s our biggest priority.”
“What did I do to be so lucky?” she whispered under her breath as she stared him in the eye.
“The same could be said for us,” he teased, reaching down to press a kiss to her nose.
They couldn’t say any more as Shawn was pulling up in front of the house and braking to a halt. The doors to the large mansion opened and a woman, most definitely staff in a white pinafore and lilac maid’s uniform, stood there beaming at El.
The beaming smile wavered a little at the sight of three strangers and Shawn, but she held out her hands to El the moment their mate was standing on the gravel drive.
“Anita!” El squeaked as she rushed forward.
Shawn snickered as he rounded the hood of the SUV. “You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in a month.”
“They saw each other last week, right?”
He nodded. “They’ve always been close. Anita moved from here to her grandmother’s mansion when she was 16, so they’ve known each other a long time.” Under his breath, he murmured, “She pretty much raised El, as far as I can tell. I got here too late to see that, but they’re closer than El is to any of her other family. Although, you’re about to find out why.”
His grim tone had Marc shooting his Triad brothers a look.
Last night, when Ryan had told Trip that he could spend another night with El, they’d also discussed the meeting with her relatives today.
Ryan had pushed like mad to get to see the family this morning though El had tried to put the brakes on by ducking her head in the sand, and Marc knew it was because he wanted to see the lay of the land. Marc could sense that Ryan felt sure her parents had something to do with the kidnapping attempts on El’s life. Why he thought that, Marc didn’t know. The only thing that concerned him was that Ryan was usually right where these instinctual beliefs were concerned. It was part and parcel of him being a leader. Those instincts put him at the top of the evolutionary pile, so even though Marc wished to fuck Ryan was barking up the wrong tree… he feared his Triad brother wasn’t.
With a grimace, he rubbed his chin as El and Anita garbled away in Spanish. Ryan eyed the two women and asked Shawn, “Will her brothers be here today?”
“Very likely. They live on site. They have their own separate residences, but they should come up. They’re nosey bastards. If they think El is here at an unusual time, they’ll want to know why. And as she was already here on Friday, they’ll want to know what’s going on. Not because they’re interested in her, but in case she has any news on the money.” Shawn rolled his eyes. “They live in hope that one of the lawyers can figure out a way to break the trusts.”
“But that’s impossible, surely?”
“Yeah. But when you’re talking billions, they can’t let their hopes sink.” He huffed. “It’s pathetic really. The old man was trying to put her in a position of power; his intentions were good, but he screwed her over something terrible. All the jackals bite at her ankles now.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Marc sniffed. “If we have anything to say about.”
“You guys might be hot shits in your particular world, but El is the heiress to the Forsythe-Drew fortune. She’s the biggest hot shit around.”
“Yeah, but we don’t have to control her, do we?” Trip pointed out. “It’s the mother fuckers who call themselves kin.”
Shawn conceded that with a nod. “True.”
Ryan stepped away from the SUV and headed over to their woman. “Who’s this, sweetheart?” he asked softly.
El stepped away from the arms of the South American woman, and murmured, “It’s Anita. She’s been like an aunty to me, Ryan.” She beamed at him and at the woman. “Es mi novio,” she explained softly to Anita.
Anita’s eyes rounded. “En serio?”
El’s cheeks grew pink. “You’re the first guy I’ve brought around to the house.”
Marc snorted, then under his breath because he was well aware he and Trip were in the roles of bodyguards now, stated, “Who can blame her? If they’re as bad as Shawn says they ar
e—”
“They’re worse,” Shawn interrupted grimly.
“Then no wonder she had no desire to introduce them to the family.”
“She leads a very solitary life,” Shawn said softly, none of the grimness of his earlier tone bleeding into this one. “It’s sad, but I think she’s happier at home and with us. Before we realized what bastards Enrique and Jamie were, we all got on great. She has a few friends, but they’re not super close.”
“She’ll find it easier to fit in at the Pride. Sure, she’ll be stepping into a powerful position, but she’ll be safe. She’ll be able to trust the people she meets.”
“That will be a hard habit to break,” Shawn said sadly. “Come on. Looks like they’re moving into the house.”
Shawn smiled at Anita as they passed the little woman, and bending down, he dropped two kisses on her cheeks. “Great to see you, sweet cheeks.”
Anita giggled and patted him on the side of his face. “You always were a cheeky one.”
He winked and stepped inside.
Marcus held out his hand to Anita. “I’m Marc. New security detail. And this is Trip.”
Anita frowned. “Where are Enrique and Jamie?”
“They left suddenly. We’re their replacements,” Trip slotted in easily.
Though the maid was surprised, she just nodded and let them walk on by. Hovering at Shawn’s heels, Marc checked out the house. It was a huge monster, but it had all the appeal and comfort of a show home.
Walking into a huge salon with stiff, high backed armchairs dotted in several smaller seating areas, the place was cool even by LA standards. If it made Marc shiver, he who ran at a far higher temperature than humans, then it was fucking cold.
“Annabel keeps it this cold to stop her face from melting,” Shawn whispered, sotto voce.
Trip snickered. “That bad, huh?”
“Worse.” Shawn grimaced. “Now we’ve checked out the lounge, we have to leave them to it. Her parents will think it’s weird if we stay. I usually go and sit in the kitchens.”
Marc sighed, irritated at not being allowed in on this conversation but still, understanding the need and willing to abide by it. Ryan, from the corner of his eye, must have seen them move. El watched as Ryan moved off, but took a seat in one of the armchairs. He could see a strain on her face that was different to the strain she’d seemed to be under on the fifty-minute drive to her parents’ home.
He looked at her, willing her to glance his way. When she finally did, he flared his eyes wide and smiled at her warmly, hoping to transmit the fact he was okay with the situation.
She sighed, shook her head and cast her gaze down, and her hurt, at that moment, was a physical entity. He felt it, felt for her, and even though they were doing this for her, he wished it wasn’t a necessity.
The bond between them was growing exponentially. It would continue to every night she spent with them. Only when it clicked into place, fully formed, would they be able to have a mating ceremony. A day he’d spent his life dreaming about.
In human society, women dreamed of white weddings, big days. For their kind, even the biggest, baddest Alphas thought on a day when their other halves would be at their side, and they’d no longer have to keep on searching.
Knowing he couldn’t make her feel better, that nothing would until they were out of this Godforsaken place, a place that had caused her nothing but misery over the years, he said to Ryan, who had strode toward him in question, “Shawn says guards head to the kitchen.”
Ryan grimaced, and his eyes were pinched. “I’m sorry, guys.”
Trip shook his head. “Don’t be. We know the score.” He slapped Ryan on the shoulder. “Just do her proud.”
“Of course,” Ryan said with a smirk. “They might be able to mess her around, but they’ll find we’re a different kettle of fish.” With a wink and a grin, he headed back to El’s side.
Shawn guided them out of the room just as a cloud of Chanel No. 5 wafted in in the shape of a fifty-year old woman with more Botox than muscle. Or so it seemed.
Dismissing the catty thought, and suddenly understanding Shawn’s ‘melting’ comment, he traipsed behind Shawn until they reached the kitchen. It was a big, cream, open space with bright cupboards and huge picture windows that overlooked the side of the yard. All mod cons, he noticed, and also saw there were four maids rushing around as well as a chef.
Shawn took them to the bottom of the kitchen where there was a scrubbed oak table, and he took a seat, then took out his cell. Trip and Marc looked at one another, and then did the same.
Upon opening his email, he saw one from the cops working the case. Swearing under his breath, he murmured, “It wasn’t a Pantera operation.”
Shawn blinked. “Huh?”
“I just received news from Santiago and Erickson. They were working alone. They’ve been to speak with the Pantera, and it wasn’t sanctioned by the leaders.”
Trip let out a hiss. “It’s a bitch when you’re not sure whether to do a happy dance over the fact you’re not going to war with another race, because your mate’s parents might be involved in whatever the hell is going down with her.”
Shawn sighed. “I just can’t see it. They don’t love her, don’t particularly like her, but they wouldn’t hurt her. Especially her father. His relationship with El is beyond complicated.”
“Would Anita know anything?” Marc asked quietly.
“Maybe. They treat the staff worse than they treat their daughter. They’re like useful, mobile pieces of furniture.”
“She could have heard something then?”
“I don’t see why not.” Shawn turned around and looked over his shoulder. When he saw Anita, he called out in Spanish, “Anita? Can we see you a minute?”
She beamed at him, and asked, “You want some coffee and cake?”
The men looked at one another with a grin. “Sure.”
Hell, the world could be coming to an end and there would still be time for coffee and cake, right?
With the arrival of her mother, El would admit to being a lot tense. Hell, more than that. It was like all of her limbs had been overtaken by someone wielding a voodoo doll, someone who felt no compunction about poking the fetish of El in the eye or poking her in the kidney.
Once upon a time, she’d often wondered where the love her parents felt for their sons had gone missing when it came to her, but now, those thoughts had ceased. She no longer cared, wished she could cut them from her life, but there were too many legal obligations that tied them together so there was little to no point in such wishful thinking.
Maybe one day, but not yet.
With a slight grunt, she got to her feet when her mother walked toward them in a cloud of No. 5. Her signature scent, the stench never failed to remind El of home and hearth… or the lack thereof, as well as her complete and utter desire to be anywhere else but here.
Skeletally thin, her mouth forming into a duck pout thanks to too many surgeries, and so much damn Botox on her forehead that she could barely form a frown, Annabel was no longer the beauty she’d once been. El often thought that if she’d let nature take its course, age would have ‘withered’ her beauty a tad, but it wouldn’t have decimated it the way plastic surgery had.
In a white linen pantsuit, Annabel did, however, look chic and rich. She wore more rings on her fingers than a Roma gypsy dressed up for carnival, and a few gold chains around her neck.
One of El’s earliest memories was of all her gold clicking together as she moved—when she’d been a child, Annabel had worn thin gold bangles too. Thankfully, that had died a death when her father, sick of the clatter, had had them melted down and repurposed into other gifts for his spoiled wife.
“El, what on Earth are you doing here? Anita told me you’d arrived but I couldn’t believe my ears. Weren’t you here on Friday?”
“Yes, Mother,” El told her briskly as she stepped toward her mom for the perfunctory air kisses on the cheek. “I thought it was
time I introduce my partner to you.”
Annabel’s eyes widened as they danced over Ryan. It was evident to all that she was astonished. Not only at Ryan’s handsomeness, but from the way her gaze kept darting back and forth between him and El, she knew she was, yet again, found wanting in the eyes of her mother.
“I was about to ask who this handsome young devil was,” Annabel said coquettishly, reaching over to slip her hand through Ryan’s arm to tug him into a too-familiar hug. “I never imagined you’d be dating one another.”
“We’re more than simply dating, Mrs. Forsythe-Drew…”
“Call me Annabel,” she interrupted.
Ryan’s smile was so fake and forced, El had to hide one of her own—although hers would have been a lot more genuine in its nature. “Annabel,” he corrected himself. “I’m here to ask your husband for El’s hand.”
Annabel choked a little. “Why, how old fashioned,” she mumbled. She darted a stern look at El. “Why have you kept this charming young man from us, El?”
There was a definite reprimand to her tone, but El shrugged it off. “You never approve of the men I date.”
“That’s because you haven’t been dating men like Ryan, darling,” Annabel said snidely. “Anyway, where are my manners? Please, take a seat and I’ll call for coffee.”
“Anita’s already bringing some, Mother,” El told her as she took a seat in the armchair she’d vacated moments before. “Is Father coming?”
“He should be. He was playing golf with Michael, but he finished twenty minutes ago. I’ll ask Anita to buzz him on the intercom though.” Before El could do more than nod, Annabel had crossed her legs and aimed herself totally at Ryan—like he was the only point of interest in the room.
Quite accustomed to the treatment, El sank back into the armchair and actually felt little guilt about throwing Ryan to the lions.
Her lips twitched at the thought.
If anyone could handle her harridan of a mother, it was Ryan.
And he did. She watched with wonder as he dealt with Annabel politely, and with an ingrained charm that worked its magic on both women in the room.
Finding Luna: A Lion Shifter Reverse Harem Romance (PRIDE Book 1) Page 15
