Regale, Rhea - Wild Nights [Blood Moon Legacy 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Rhea Regale

  Aya knew something was off. The rift in the air between the men spoke volumes when they failed to include her in the secret conversation. The slightest zing that marked the use of a telepathic link unobtainable by her coasted along the outskirts of her mind, but she pretended not to notice.

  Only when she heard the front door of the house open and close, and a troubled weight pressed down on Lenox, did she realize something had been exchanged that they tried to hide from her. The uncharacteristic grumble of his stomach failed to bring a smile to her mouth when dread lingered around her.

  “Do you feel you can eat? Riley made steaks,” Aya said. She turned her nose against Lenox’s flesh and inhaled the masculine scent of her mate. Not even the residual odor of dirt and blood could mask it, but it didn’t warm her.

  Lenox combed his fingers through her hair. “Ayasha, I have a serious question to ask.”

  Aya’s breath hitched. A chill wrapped around her spine. Slowly, she pressed up on her elbows and gazed down at Lenox’s troubled expression. She brushed aside a wave of dark hair from his eyes before caressing his bottom lip with a soft kiss.

  “What is it?”

  “What are your feelings toward Riley?”

  “My feelings?” Her brow wrinkled. Lenox lifted his stormy gaze to hers and nodded once. “Why?”

  “Because he believes he can never hold a place in your heart after all he’s done, and with that, he’s taken leave—”

  Aya didn’t wait for him to finish. She launched off the bed, rushed through the house, and burst through the front door. Riley looked up from the driver’s side of his Escalade. A frown tugged the corner of his mouth. She ignored the sharp stones that bit into the tender soles of her feet as she sprinted over to him, and the brisk fall air that chilled her bare arms and cut through the flimsy dress she wore. She didn’t stop until she jumped into his unsuspecting arms and clung desperately to his neck.

  “You can’t go,” she breathed against his ear. Riley held her tight to his body and dipped his head against her neck. A shuddered breath touched her flesh. She shifted enough to nuzzle her cheek against the rough plane of his. The day-old beginnings of his beard scratched her skin but soothed her panicking wolf. His large hands splayed over her hip and shoulder, keeping her secured to him. “You must stay. Don’t leave.”

  “Sweetheart,” he murmured. “You have Lenox. There’s no need for me to hang around here.”

  “No need?” Aya leaned back and cupped his face, forcing him to look up at her. Her brow furrowed. She shook her head. “That’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve said yet.” She curled her fingers into the ends of his wavy hair as they brushed over his cheeks. Her chest constricted with repressed emotions, her heart swelling with each deft pump. “All the need is here, Riley. I need you to stay. Lenox needs you to stay. Why the hell would you ever leave us? Leave me?”

  Haunting shadows dimmed his amber eyes. He leaned her against the side of his truck and reached up to her mouth.

  “Because…” He let out a soft sigh. Aya tightened her legs around his waist when he tried to pull them apart. A flash of grief touched his expression. “Aya, don’t do this.”

  “Say you’ll stay.” She slanted her mouth over his, plunging her tongue between his lips. The true volume of her affections toward Riley fueled her shameless kiss, demanding she take until he submitted. Hot need speared through her, and the evidence of his hunger thickened against her core.

  Riley tore away from her mouth with a groan. She squeezed her eyes shut and nuzzled her face against his hair. Her throat constricted, her jaw tightened, and her fingers tangled in his waves, clinging to him. Breaths came in painful gasps just before two tears escaped her eyelids.

  “Please don’t leave me.” Her chin quivered. She kissed his temple, since he kept his head bowed, pressed to her shoulder. “We’ve moved beyond the past. I want us to start fresh, build a future. One that was fated—”

  “Ayasha,” Riley growled, but grief infused his soft tone. This was difficult for him. All she had to do was soften him a little more…

  Riley unlocked her ankles from his back and placed her on her feet. He held her face in his hands, preventing her from reaching up for another kiss. His thumbs brushed aside her tears. His lips pulled taut, and his forehead pinched.

  “I am not for you. I’m wild. I’ve been wild far too long to ever hold hope of being tamed. I don’t like sharing. I can’t swallow the knowledge that you love Lenox,” Riley said. “He’s bedded you, and will continue to bed you. You find pleasure in his arms. I will not be a shadow in your life.”

  “But, I lo—”

  “Don’t,” he interrupted, pressing his thumb over her mouth. Aya whimpered, twisting her head from side to side. Riley held her firmly, but never in a way to hurt her. “This is hard enough as it is. Don’t complicate matters. It’s in your best interest that I leave.”

  Aya nipped the tip of his thumb. “How?” He stepped back and dug his key out of his jacket pocket. She wouldn’t let him leave so easily, but the fight in her drained as she watched a cold, stoic curtain drop over his face. His amber eyes became hollow orbs, as void of emotion as possible for a living creature, and her heart shattered. “This is why you’ve been so aloof since the other night. You’ve known all along you’d leave.”

  Riley didn’t say anything. He disarmed the alarm on the truck and pulled open the driver’s side door. Aya pressed off the truck and grabbed his arm.

  “Do you love me, Riley?” she asked. A lump throbbed in her throat as she waited for his response. The muscles in his arm stiffened. His entire body stiffened. Uncertainty pulsed around him, testing the icy walls he had erected. “Do you?”

  She heard the double-step of his heart and the hitch of his breath. He slowly glanced back at her, the cool breeze casting his waves across his face. His eyes flashed, then dimmed. His jaw twitched as he ground his teeth.

  “Good-bye.”

  Aya stepped back as Riley climbed into the truck and slammed the door shut. The engine roared to life, gears shifted, and within the space of a few heartbeats, she found herself watching the bright red taillights fade rapidly down the driveway. And with it, part of her spirit that was forever linked with the rebel wolf who had stolen a special half of her heart died.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Two weeks later

  Fall hit WolfCreek full force. The air was filled with the crisp, clean scents of earth. The days gradually grew shorter, and curls of gray smoke and the rustic twinge of burning wood and fire wafted along the mountain breezes. There was beauty abound everywhere.

  Tonight, however, brought with it a subtle sense of emptiness. A tension settled in Lenox’s house, enhanced by the sharp click of a knife as he diced up potatoes to add to their roast. The mouthwatering aromas of spices, vegetables, and meat, along with the promise of a filling meal, did little to pique Aya’s appetite.

  She hopped onto the counter beside the cutting board and watched Lenox finish the final preparations for their dinner. He graced her with one of his charming smiles, which made her heart flip-flop and her spirit twirl. She truly did love the man, so much that it hurt when they were separated for any length of time. She found everything she could wish for in him. A friend, a guardian, a lover. Together, they had filled their nights with mindless passion, hours of hot sex, and days of tender relaxation. But, there were times when they both felt something was missing.

  Or someone.

  Despite the numerous attempts Lenox made to contact Riley, he remained out of reach. Tonight delivered another disappointment when an automated service informed them that Riley’s cell phone was no longer in service. He had severed the only line they had to him, and now he was gone.

  Lenox scooped up the potatoes and added them to the roast pan. He slid everything into the oven, set the timer, grabbed two bottles of beer from the fridge, and popped them open. Aya took one and clinked the glass neck to his before taking a deep drink. Her eyes instantly teared
from the sharp carbonation, but she ignored the sting and lost herself in the drink. Definitely a beer night. She wasn’t in the mood for tenderness after red wine or frisk after a martini or two. She needed the fortified steel of her foundation to remain intact as she rode these turbulent waves of emotions.

  Aya spread her knees and allowed Lenox to lean into her. Her gaze lowered to his bare chest and the hints of his brutal ordeal from two weeks before. Flesh-colored marks stroked his tanned skin, but they would fade in time. She lowered her bottle to the counter and brushed aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes.

  “Dinner should take a little over an hour. We can go for a walk. Get out of this place for a time and let the night ease our spirits,” Lenox said. The corner of her mouth twitched in an attempt to grin, but fell short. Still, her wolfish man had the ability to coo comfort into her wavering spirit. Somehow, despite his own evident disappointment with the turn of events surrounding Riley, he conjured enough strength for the both of them.

  “I’d like that.”

  His hand dropped to her thigh and gave her a light squeeze. “Should we do leather or fur?”

  Aya smiled then. She trailed her fingers between his pecs, delighting in the heat of his bare flesh and the firm cuts of his muscles. She could trace him with her eyes closed. So many hours of exploration and passion had left him permanently imprinted in her mind.

  “Why don’t we start out with leather and see if we need the fur.”

  Her voice dipped a notch, teasing him with unspoken promises. Perhaps that’s what they needed. To let go of inhibitions and be their true selves. Start with leather jackets in the brisk early evening and see where the night led them.

  Aya slid off the counter, her body pressed flush to Lenox’s. Through her thin shirt she could feel every solid dip and curve of his chest and abs, the power in his muscular legs, and the expansion of his cock. Oh, how she loved him.

  “Or…” Aya leaned into his chest and flicked her tongue at the crest of his pecs, “we can just head on out now and let our wild side lead us.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Aya grabbed his hand and led him to the glass sliders—Mase and a couple of close pack mates helped replace it the day they brought Lenox back home—and didn’t stop until they were jogging down the hill encased by the forest. The cold air lapped at her face and bare feet. Her arms tingled with goose bumps. The short wisps of her hair curled beneath her chin and tickled her cheeks. She sucked in a deep breath, reveling in the lightness of the air and the fragrant mixture of earth, night, and pine that filled her lungs. Her wolf shivered, coming awake within her spirit. Ah, yes. Nights in the wild were a wonderful remedy for her ailing heart.

  “Come on,” she urged on a rush of breath. She picked up her pace, dragging Lenox behind her. Only when they broke through the perimeter of the forest did she release his hand to yank her shirt over her head. She tossed a seductive glance over her shoulder and smiled. “Catch me.”

  Lenox growled and lunged toward her. Aya laughed, ducking his playful attack. She turned and sprinted off, weaving between trees, bushes, and rocks. He took a swipe at her arm, his fingertips brushing her bare flesh and sending a wave of erotic chills straight down to her pussy. The chase ignited a primitive hunger in her. She enjoyed their occasional game tucked away in the seclusion of the dense forest. Her nipples hardened, her breasts bouncing with each running stride she took. Her womb coiled and tightened.

  Aya grabbed a young tree trunk and spun out of Lenox’s path. She turned back to him and snickered. His eyes flashed a prism of colors in the darkness. His nostrils flared, and his sinful mouth curled into a devastating grin that made her wet. She unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied out of them, kicking the bothersome item off her foot.

  “You smell like honey and sex, little one, and you know what that does to me,” Lenox said. His words rumbled off his lips, his voice raspy with the power of his need. He advanced on her, tugging open his own jeans. She arched a brow and lowered her gaze to the patch of dark hairs that became visible.

  “You smell like sin and strength, and my mouth is watering to have you,” she countered with a seductive purr.

  “Why don’t we forgo our little wolf-and-rabbit game, hmm?”

  Aya shook her head slowly. “What fun’s in that?”

  “I have a little gift for you tonight. Chasing you around will only delay the surprise.”

  “Delaying the surprise will only make it that much more special.”

  At that, Aya bolted off again, heading deeper into the forest. Leaves and twigs crunched and cracked under Lenox’s feet. His masculine scent intoxicated as much as the adrenaline that pumped through her. The subtle ache between her legs intensified.

  Just as she was ready to cut off to the right, Lenox snagged her around the waist and pulled her off her feet. She cried out, reaching back for his head to balance her. Liquid heat ravished her neck with hungry kisses. A deep growl thrummed against her ears, one that reverberated through his lips and into her very soul. She shuddered.

  “That’s right, sweetling.” Lenox’s arm tightened around her waist, his cock nudging her ass. She crooned, pressing her rear into his hips. His other hand clamped down on her cheek and kneaded her ass, but it was her cunt that needed attention. The burning itch made her squirm in desperation.

  “Lenox, touch me,” she whispered, curling her fingers against his scalp. Her mind whirled in the thickening clouds of desire, and she whimpered. His hand splayed over her cheek and slid upward, eliciting a path of tantalizing chills until his fingers rolled over her breast. He pinched her pert nipple, and her pussy wept with arousal. His teeth scraped her shoulder, and she all but lost sense of herself. “Lenox.”

  “Hush, my little wolf. You’ll be taken care of,” he taunted, rolling her nipple between his fingers. She moaned, her body slacking against him.

  “I need you to touch me.” She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him away from her breast, to the apex of her thighs. He stubbornly resisted. “Please.”

  “You’re begging?” Lenox eased her back to her feet and turned her to face him. Her heart skipped, and her mouth dried. Her man was devastating, but when wild passion ran unleashed inside him, he could easily overwhelm every sense in her and cause her to short-circuit.

  He jutted his chin toward her.

  “Show me what you want me to do,” Lenox said. His deepening tone stroked her inner wolf and aroused her further.

  “You want to watch me pleasure myself?” she asked. Lenox moistened his lips, the dangerous creature flashing in his eyes. Aya chuckled, cupping her breasts and showcasing them for him. “I wouldn’t want to torture you like that.”

  Lenox rubbed the front of his jeans with even strokes. He still hadn’t removed his cock, which made her curious.

  “You’re not ready,” she concluded with a breathy laugh. “You still want the chase.”

  A challenging shadow crossed Lenox’s face. Aya took one step back, then another, until she spun and loped off.

  “It’ll get better, love,” Lenox called after her.

  Her pussy throbbed at his promise. It would get much, much better. Everything Lenox did, he excelled at. She couldn’t wait to see what he had in store to quench this painful hunger.

  Aya allowed her wolf to take over her body. She soaked in the night through her wild form. The soothing currents of the river infiltrated her ears, even a distance away from the shore. More scents intoxicated her, but none could ease the ache in her womb.

  When she leaped over a shallow ditch, paws crunched down against the ground behind her. She giggled. Lenox finally gave in to the hunter’s desire. His wolf tracked hers.

  Her front paws touched down. Weight pounced on her back. Teeth clamped down on her scruff. Aya yelped as she was flattened beneath the heavy wolf…

  “Much better, I’ll say.”

  She froze, her breaths lost. Her thoughts spun in a dizzying funnel of disbelief. Teeth loos
ened from her scruff, and the weight that could have very well squashed her lifted. She remained splayed out on the ground. The wolf stepped back.

  Finally, she sucked in a breath and reined in her wolf. Once in human form, she pressed upright and dared to look at the man who pulsed with strength and power at her back.

  “Riley?” She blinked. Her eyes had to be lying. He was lost to them.

  The wolf transformed. In its place was the devilish, rugged, hard-packed, muscled Riley. His arms draped over one knee as he sat back on his other leg. A mischievous grin held steady over his mouth.

  Two weeks had done little to change him. He still had a razor-sharp edge in his air. The thrum of power hit her just as hard as it had before, weakening her resolve to remain in the game of chase. There wasn’t a hint of stubble on his chin. His hair had grown slightly, and the amber hues of his eyes seemed…lighter.

  He tilted his head and narrowed those captivating eyes on her.

  “Christ, woman, you’re a maddening vixen.”

  Emotions spun out of control. Anger, frustration, sadness. But of them all, love overpowered her. She crawled over to him and, with a trembling hand, reached up to his face. The ends of his wavy hair brushed the back of her fingers. The firm flesh over his cheek warmed her palm.

  “You came back,” she whispered. He circled her wrist with his fingers and brought her palm to his lips. His gaze drifted down to her bare breasts, then returned to hers.

  “It proved impossible to stay away, especially when you haunted every damn thought of mine.”

  Riley whipped her up and pulled her close, crushing her flush against him. The wide head of his erect cock slid over her wet slit. The heady scent of arousal permeated her shock. Riley cupped the back of her head and pulled her down to him, capturing her mouth in a deep, desperate kiss that snapped the seams of control. Aya moaned into his kiss, meeting each plunge of his tongue with her own, drinking in the masculine taste of him. She rolled her wet pussy over his cock, the slippery friction against her clit merely teasing the painful itch Lenox had ignited.