by J. J. Massa
“So long, Princess, so long,” her Dream Myles murmured. “You’ve been tormenting me for so long. I want to taste you first.”
He pressed her onto her back and pushed the t-shirt over her head. “So beautiful,” he groaned, looming over her, staring hotly.
Immediately, he lowered his hot mouth to suckle at her breasts and then he kneaded them while he lowered his demanding, dominating mouth to hers. They’d kissed in the last year or so but this was so much more. Ashley had never had a dream as real as this one.
She’d developed early and had had a woman’s voluptuous figure since she was fourteen. There had been times in the last four years that Myles had lost the fight and had kissed her like a woman, but those had been so few and far between.
It didn’t matter because this was a kiss of ownership, possession. She belonged to him and he knew it. She’d known it all along. Those heady kisses had only fueled her anticipation for him.
Kissing and licking his way down her body, he came to the strips of elastic and lace that made up the thong. What a wonderful and lifelike dream! With one tug, he destroyed the thong and tossed the bits of fabric away.
She felt his warm breath on her most sensitive flesh and felt her liquid heat gather there. “Open for me, Princess,” Myles breathed against her dripping labia. “Let me in.”
She thought she’d die when his strong hands spread her thighs. Immediately, his tongue touched her soft folds and she shifted and moaned. This dream was so real, so perfect.
“No! MINE!” he growled at her when she moved, holding her still.
His warm tongue lapped from her woman’s center up to her throbbing little nub.
“Myles!” she gasped. “Myles,” she moaned again.
“Mmm,” he growled against her flesh. The vibrations put her on the edge of the precipice.
When she felt his tongue plunge into her again and again, her body clenched and let go. “Myles!” she gasped. “Please, Myles, I want to feel you! My own Myles,” she all but sobbed.
“Mmm, my Princess,” he growl-groaned his way back up her body, kissing and licking as he went.
Her legs were still wide from his shoulders holding them apart and he kept them open until she felt the round head of his erection throbbing against her. He lowered his mouth to kiss her and moved his body into hers in one fluid motion. Her virginity was no more.
When she cried out, he kissed her face lovingly, never stopping, moving steadily in and out of her. Soon, the pain ebbed away and her body began to respond. It wasn’t long before she felt a wave of ecstasy roll over her, causing her body to clench and release and clench again.
“Princess, my Princess!” the Myles of her dream groaned, thrusting into her again and then coming, his warm seed filling her.
She clung to him as he held her and kissed her. It was everything she’d always hoped it would be. Too bad it was only a dream, no matter how real it seemed. For a minute she tried to struggle awake, but no, she really didn’t want to.
She was still dreaming a little later when she felt him kissing her neck and shoulders. “My Princess, I’ve been dreaming about you all night. Mate with me, Princess?”
“Myles?” she murmured. “Dreaming, too.”
“Mine,” he groaned, sliding into her from behind. “My Princess.”
She felt his jaw close over her shoulder as he rolled her to her stomach and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to her hands and knees. His muscular body covered her smaller one and his fingers twined with hers.
He continued to pump in and out of her. It felt so good to her that Ashley could feel small orgasms rolling over her. Myles thrust steadily, groaning. Suddenly he stopped.
“Mine,” he growled.
“Myles?” she looked back over her shoulder at him. He looked so magnificent towering over her that way.
“Mine,” he said firmly, thrusting once and pulling out. She gasped. He stopped. “Mine,” he growled threateningly. “Say it,” his voice was deep and bestial.
“Yours,” Ashley whimpered, her voice high and husky. “Always and only yours, Myles.”
His mouth closed over her shoulder again and he began to move within her once more, marking her as his mate as he made love to her. She couldn’t believe how real this dream felt. She hoped she never woke up. She felt unbelievable sensations flooding her body.
Soon she was mewling and crying out with her own orgasm. Myles thrust once, twice and with one last lunging thrust, he groaned into her shoulder. She felt his hot cream jetting into her.
He wrapped both arms around her and brought them both to their sides, spoon fashion. He was still buried deep within her.
When she awoke again she was in a half awake, half asleep daze, dreaming of Myles. She dreamt that he held her and licked the mark he’d made on her.
“BLOODY FUCKING HELL!” he roared. He thrust her away from him.
Ashley was completely disconcerted. What? Where am I? Myles? It wasn’t a dream? She tried to focus on what he was saying. When she did, she wished she hadn’t.
“You’ve made me a fucking child molester!” he was shouting. “I’ve had sex with an infant. What kind of a childish stunt caused you to crawl into my bed? You want me to believe you love me and you attack me in my sleep? You don’t know your own mind-you’re just a child. This proves it!”
Ashley felt the blood drain from her face. She had thought she was having her most cherished dream. She’d been dreaming that she was sharing her body with her mate- the only man she would ever love.
Her iron-strong survival instinct rushed to the forefront. “Well!” she chirped, “I guess you told me! I am now firmly sorted out.”
Ashley felt cold all over. It was as if she would never be warm again. She snatched up her jeans and top, tossing his shirt back at him and turned toward the door to his small house, dressing as she walked.
Chapter 14
When the shirt hit Myles, it was like a slap in the face. Ashley was walking away. He’d forced her away. It was so cold.
“Princess! Wait!” he called, running after her. He’d reached for her but she shot through the door, slamming it behind her.
Before he could follow her, she’d caught up to Mya and Lakon who were heading over to Mik’s for Ashley’s eighteenth birthday celebration. He heard Mya apologizing to her for suspecting her of sleeping with Yancey. Ashley blithely forgave her.
Naked, he moved back into his bedroom--it smelled like her. It smelled like holding her and sleeping and waking to love her. What have I done? It smelled like everything he’d always wanted for his life.
Pulling on jeans and a shirt, Myles jammed his feet into shoes and took off. He practically mowed Riker down on the way to Mik’s house.
“All right, Riker? Have you seen Ashley?” he gasped, out of breath.
“Hey! Check your house. I sent her over there hours ago for a shower and a nap when you went to the gym before. She was worn out. I know she’s working at that truck stop and still taking all those classes. I think the drive did her in, and the kids, too.”
Myles felt even smaller. He’d accused her of attacking him in his sleep and she’d been there first. He’d never even checked, he’d been so tired--almost asleep on his feet. He hadn’t slept the night before and then he’d gone to the gym to push himself still harder. He wouldn’t have noticed a herd of bison in his bed. Of course, there was never anyone in his bed here. This was his safe home. The home I was going to share with my princess someday.
“No, I just came from there. I guess she’s at Mik’s already,” he was still breathless. It felt like he’d just cast away one of his lungs. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to catch his breath again.
* * * * *
Ashley managed to duck away from Mya and Lakon after a few moments of conversation. She didn’t want to stay too close to her uncle, lest he smell her. That was the downside of being in a family of werewolves. There just weren’t enough secrets. They always smelled you o
ut.
Some ripple in the force brought her brother to her. Unfortunately or fortunately, Kaden was glued to his side.
“What’s wrong, Ash?” Jacob asked her right away. They were close. She wasn’t surprised that he could tell she was upset.
Kaden seemed to already know. Must be that whole werewolf thing, damn it. He scooped an arm around her and ushered her into his family’s home. Without pause, he guided her up the stairs and into the bedroom he shared with his brother Kameron.
“We have a bathroom of our own,” he told her. “Go ahead, baby, hit the shower,” Kaden ordered smoothly.
Ashley turned to go, but Jacob stopped her. “What. Is. Wrong?” he demanded through gritted teeth. “Tell me. Now.”
She looked at Kaden, who only shrugged. Turning toward Jacob, she tugged the neck of her shirt down.
He stared in silence for long seconds. “Do I need to go kick his ass?” Jacob growled.
“I stand a better chance than you do, cousin, and that chance is still mighty damned slim.” Kaden looked considering for a minute. “Still, together, maybe…”
“No, it’s okay. He didn’t do anything I didn’t want him to do.” She paused, remembering. “Except say some pretty awful things afterward.” Her voice trembled.
“Hit the shower, baby,” Kaden murmured again, handing her his robe. He picked up an old sweatshirt and a pair of scissors.
When she came out, she had a bit of a dilemma. “Jacob,” she called. He came. “I need underwear--panties,” she whispered. “Just go steal a pair of Tory’s and Serena’s. They always over-pack.” Red-faced, Jacob went out in search of his little sisters’ unmentionables.
Ashley returned to Kaden’s bedroom. He triumphantly held up the altered sweatshirt.
“Very fashionable,” she said jauntily. She could hear the wobble in her own voice. “Come here, baby,” he said, opening his arms. He didn’t seem much like a fifteen-year-old right then. She went. He pushed the robe aside and kissed the mark Myles had made on her. “Oww,” she groaned, her eyes filling. “It’s okay,” Kaden told her, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on hers. “In time, it won’t hurt so much.” He pulled back and tipped her face up. “Ashley?
“Yes?” she whispered, sniffing.
“I hope he figures out what he’s doing someday. But…if you ever get tired of waiting, I’m a Montgomery Alpha, too. I’m here for you if you need me, okay?”
Ashley allowed herself a couple of tears and a few safe minutes in a strong man’s arms. Even though he was so young, she knew that he was strong and capable when he needed to be.
“Thank you, Kaden. I won’t forget that,” she promised him.
“See that you don’t, Ashley West Montgomery. See that you don’t,” he said, making a point to emphasize that she was Myles’ mate--his wife now. He placed an affectionate kiss on her forehead and turned her back toward the bathroom.
* * * * *
Myles watched as Ashley emerged from Riker’s house. Kaden stayed on one side of her, Jacob on the other. Neither made eye contact with him, beyond a fleeting glance.
He wasn’t fooled. Kaden had to know that Myles had claimed his mate, if not the circumstances following. He couldn’t believe that Lakon hadn’t guessed when he’d been speaking to Ashley earlier.
On the other hand, Myles and Ashley always did spend a lot of time together. It wasn’t unusual for Ashley to have his scent on her. Still, he’d claimed her. They’d made love…and it had been love. Dream love, but still love.
It had been love until Myles had lost control of his mouth anyway. Now, he didn’t know what they had left. She was his mate and he did love her. He’d loved her for so many years. How could he destroy that on the night that he’d put his mark on her? He felt like running and howling.
Chances were good that he would spend some part of this night running and howling, if things kept on the way they were going now. Several times, he’d made a move toward Ashley, and several times, he found her gone, somehow across the room, engaged in conversation with Mya, with Bethany, and now with her mother.
It hadn’t escaped his notice that she wasn’t chatting up the men of the family, the werewolves. No one seemed to notice that, with the possible exception of Mik. Myles’ stomach dropped when the old wolf pinned him with his glowing yellow eyes. He looked long at Myles, scenting the air almost delicately. A grayed lip twitched, and then curled. Myles hung his head. Mik wouldn’t know exactly what happened either, but he’d know that something had. He’d know the pertinent details. Nothing much got past him.
Myles had never been the kind of man to run when he knew he’d been caught. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to Mik.
“How did you mess this up, son?” Mik greeted him without preamble.
Myles felt like a little boy in short pants again. “I, um, I…”
“Don’t make me bite you boy,” Mik rumbled a warning. Myles knew that Mik could wipe the floor with him. He might take him outside and do it anyway. It was nothing more than he deserved.
“I said some stupid things,” Myles finally confessed, mumbling. “I didn’t know--I mean, it was a mistake. I meant to wait.”
“Outside,” Mik growled, barely moving his lips.
Dread roiling in his stomach, Myles followed. He had wanted to wait at the party for Ashley, try to corner her, something. But Mik was Mik and Myles wasn’t fool enough to argue with him.
When they were what Mik apparently judged to be far enough from the cacophony of the party, he stopped and turned. “Talk,” he barked sharply.
Myles took a deep breath. “I hadn’t planned to…”
“Don’t try that ‘it was an accident’ bullshit with me, son!” Mik’s growl was low and harsh. “You don’t stick your dick in somebody by accident, although it seems that my boys are exceptionally prone to it these days.”
Impotent rage flashed through Myles and he rounded on Mik “It wasn’t my bloody fault!” he vented. “She was in my bed and I didn’t see her there. I climbed in with her and--and--” he trailed off. It did sound pretty stupid.
The impact of the large wolf landing on his chest took him to the rough and cold ground. The air left his lungs in a rib-rattling whoosh. Myles stared up into burning yellow eyes, forcing himself not to look at the dripping sharp teeth so close to his throat.
“She’s small, goddamn it, but she’s not that small,” Mik snarled. “If you didn’t have a damned revolving door on your bedroom, you’d know when my granddaughter, your mate, was in your bed!”
There wasn’t a single thing he could say, Myles knew. Mik was right. He’d wanted, no hungered for Ashley more and more as she’d grown into such a beautiful young woman. He’d loved her already, but hadn’t been prepared for the sexual attraction he’d felt when she’d hit her early teens and her body had begun to develop. Since then, he’d become a notorious womanizer, looking for anyone who could take away the burn of his need for his mate.
“I was such a prat, Mik,” Myles mumbled, fighting his emotions. “God I love her, and still I said the most beastly things to her,” he rasped, feeling even more like an upset toddler. “She’ll never forgive me, never. I hurt her deeply. What a fool I am. She’ll never forgive me,” he repeated.
Mik bent at the elbows, lowering his bared fangs into Myles’ face. “You need not worry about Ashley’s forgiveness, boy. I’m about to make it a non-issue!”
“I’m so sorry, Mik,” Myles whispered. “Help me make it right or just kill me now, can you, please?”
Mik rumbled a menacing growl and then turned sharply away from Myles, off of him. “Go on back,” he said over his shoulder. “I need to be away from you right now. Go on back to the party.”
Myles raised himself to his elbows and then sat up, watching the huge wolf lope away.
Chapter 15
Yancey felt like the worst baby seal kicker on the planet as he studied the sleeping face of his petite mate. Philomela had black curly hair and a d
elicate, elfin face. There were dark circles under her eyes that suggested sleep had been hard to come by of late. She was thin and delicate, her skin almost translucent.
He’d brought her into his bedroom and lay her down on his bed, stretching out alongside her. She stirred against him and he gathered her closer, brushing the hair back from her face. Beautiful, absolutely ethereal, he thought looking at her. What could he do to replace those awful memories with better ones? Were they ever going to be a family? He wanted what Lakon had, what Riker had. He wanted his mate and maybe pups someday. He wanted a family.
She shifted again and her eyes flew open with a startled, “Oh!”
“Hey,” he smiled at her, grinning as she colored and scrubbed at her eyes. “That was a pretty short nap,” he observed.
“I—um--I’m not much of a napper,” she smiled shyly.
He trailed a finger down her soft cheek and pressed his lips to her forehead. “You’re safe with me, Little Mate,” he murmured.
She bit her lip. “Um, I guess you can call me Philly, if you want.”
He leaned down again and carefully, lightly pressed his lips to hers. “I like calling you “Little Mate”,” he murmured into her mouth. “I like the sound of it,” he swept his tongue across the seam, causing her to part her lips. “You do?” she sighed as he eased just a little over her, cupping her face with one hand. “I do,” he growled softly, his lips moving over hers, his tongue dipping into the sweet velvet of her mouth. He stroked her tongue with his own, tracing her teeth and caressing her palate, loving her with his lips and tongue. His traveling fingers lightly traced her cheek and jaw, trailing down her throat. He traced the line of her blouse, finding a button and flicking it open as one leg found its way in between hers.
Her arms came up around his neck and she arched into him, not seeming even to realize her own arousal as she kissed him. Soon her tongue was following his back into his mouth and one hand skimmed down her back, pressing her into him as the other flicked open another button.
