“Uh-oh,” Hill muttered, and he revaluated his earlier smugness as he saw the slow smile form on the vampire’s face.
The next two hours were frustratingly slow.
Changing tactics, Gael went on the offensive as well as the defensive.
Fergus could see the toll it was taking on his mate as she tried to protect herself from the sharp blows and throw in a few of her own. It was basic sparring, but it missed no one’s eyes that, as the minutes flew by, Diana was starting to hold her own against the master vampire.
Then again, she had still not been hit by Gael’s true potential. Even Fergus could see that he was toying with her. This was a simple sparring session, designed to help Diana take out her rage. As it went on and her face grew red with exertion, there was a certain calmness around her which made Fergus wonder.
“Enough!” Diana’s voice was hoarse with exhaustion and she collapsed on her back on the cold, marble, ballroom floor.
The few vampires that had gathered to watch the sparring session retreated from the room, and Gael smiled sardonically at the shifter. “Done so soon?”
Diana bared her teeth at him. “If I had the strength, I would shift and bite you. But I won’t.” She closed her eyes and tried to bring down her breathing. “Because I can’t.”
“You’re refreshingly honest.” Gael studied her with new interest in a way that had Fergus’ hairs rising. He immediately moved toward his mate and felt the movement at his back as Hill approached as well.
“Weren’t you a bit too harsh on her?” she asked Gael as she glanced at the exhausted shifter who lay on the floor.
The vampire raised his eyebrows. “That was me being nice.”
“Fuck you.”
Fergus blinked at his mate, but he was sure her lips hadn’t moved.
Gael just laughed. “Oh, I like you.”
One of his people entered the room and whispered something in his ear so softly that even Fergus’ sharp hearing couldn’t catch anything, not that he was trying to eavesdrop or anything.
But he sure would have liked to know what it was that wiped all expression off the master vampire’s face and stripped off his civilized mask. The cold brutality on Gael’s face made even him shudder, and he was glad when the former left the room, followed closely by Hill, who looked worried.
He wondered at Gael’s relationship with the human female.
He let her touch him, mother him, care for him. Something that made no sense to Fergus. Humans had very short life spans. They were weak. What did Gael possibly see in this fragile human woman that allowed an emotional connection there?
He turned his attention to his own mate. “How do you feel?”
Diana smiled tiredly. “I’ve had worse.”
Although she hadn’t meant anything by that reply, Fergus could not help but feel a sharp slice of pain across his heart.
She pulled herself into a sitting position and then grabbed her head at the vertigo, blinking.
Fergus grinned at her. “You were pretty good out there.” A shrug. “I’ve seen you do better, way better, but, for a start, this was amazing.”
A small smile appeared on her lips. “Really?”
Fergus offered her a hand and helped her stand up. “Yeah. Your body remembers, so it’s slowly gaining speed.” Tucking her arm in his, he walked her to their room. “You’re going to be back in shape in no time.”
“He kept knocking me on my ass,” Diana said darkly, as Fergus closed the door of their room behind them.
She heard his shout of laughter, “Your day will come.”
Diana watched him toss off his shirt and walk into the bathroom. The adrenaline of the sparring session still burned in her blood, and she swallowed as his lean and muscled body came into her sight. It had taken a few days of recovering and healthy eating that had given her back her energy. Although, she was still quite underweight, she felt stronger day by day.
Gael had given her two days of complete rest before telling her to spar with him.
He had been right.
If she had tried to take him on two days ago, she would have been flat on her back at the first move, unable to fight back at all.
Fergus walked back into the room, wiping his face with a towel. He was wearing a pair of jeans, and his upper body was completely bare.
Diana found herself unable to tear her gaze away from those muscles, which were usually concealed under his tank top or shirt. It seemed that, after releasing some of the tension that had been building up inside of her, her body wanted another sort of release, one that had her trembling.
Her mind went back to the very hot kiss he had planted on her in the midst of their argument when they had first arrived. She tried to control the urges, but Fergus stilled, and her heart skipped a beat.
He turned around, a predatory look in those blue eyes. “Diana.”
Her throat suddenly felt too dry. She tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out.
The towel fell at his feet as Fergus moved toward her. Along with this surge of lust, fear and confusion also accompanied her, and he must have picked up on that, for he kneeled between her legs where she sat on the edge of the bed.
One large hand cupped her cheek. “Diana.”
She knew what he was asking silently, and she wished she had an answer to that. It felt like her body was burning, and the feeling of him between her thighs made her quiver. The concern fled his eyes, and she could see him struggling as he was assaulted by a fresh aroma of the spicy scent that was uniquely hers.
Did she want this?
One look at that tense jaw as Fergus tried to bring himself under control had her making up her mind. That familiar pulse inside her made her lower her head and softly press her lips against his.
Fergus’ eyes narrowed.
Chapter 8
“Are you sure?” Fergus’ voice was rough.
The battle within the wolf alpha, against his baser urges wasn’t hidden from Diana. His hands clenched in the comforter on either side of her, and she could hear the tearing of the fabric against her ears.
Diana cupped his face and pressed another kiss against his lips.
The more she touched him, the more ravenous her body grew for his touch. A tiny voice inside her mind told her that he could drive away all that darkness that had consumed her.
Fergus did not resist her kisses, but neither did he close his eyes. He let her take the lead, set her own pace.
But, that wasn’t what Diana wanted. She wanted to forget, to let loose. She wanted her mate to drive her wild.
She didn’t know what it was that nudged her, but she pressed a kiss to his jaw, and her hand wandered below. A firm grip on her hand stopped her from reaching her target.
She looked up to see the fierce expression in Fergus’ eyes, and he repeated, “Are you sure?”
Diana nodded.
That was all it took. All control was wrenched from her as Fergus grabbed her by the nape and drew her to him in a quick move, forcing her mouth open.
A wanton moan escaped her as she felt his tongue enter her mouth and explore the hidden crevices. He curled his tongue around hers and sucked.
That quick motion had her shuddering as her lower muscles clenched and unclenched.
Fergus scented the spicy scent in the air and felt it deepen.
He grinned, and one hand shifted as he sliced through the shirt she was wearing. Her bra fell victim to the same treatment, and her upper body was suddenly exposed to him.
He released her mouth and pressed a kiss to her jaw, a wet, open-mouthed kiss, making her tremble, her hands clenching in the sheets.
Using one hand, he cupped her breast and teased the pink nipple to a furled state until it was tight enough to be painful. His mouth shifted below to take that nipple in his mouth, and he licked and suckled it until she gasped his name.
Of course, that could also have something to do with the fact that his thumb was pressed against her clit and rub
bing on it in round, circular motions. Releasing her breast, he attached onto the other one, offering it the same treatment.
He knew what his mate liked.
Her body was his playground, and it felt like coming home as he touched and explored.
The dip in her back was just as sensitive as he remembered, and one lick there had her clenching her hands in his hair, making him wince.
As much as he enjoyed driving his mate into a frenzy, he wanted to attend to more pleasurable matters. He stood up and pushed her back onto the bed.
Seeing her lying there, her eyes dazed and her red hair fanning out against the white sheets, made his cock harden even more.
He unbuttoned his jeans and saw Diana’s eyes widen as her eyes fell on the proud cock that emerged. She was the only one that could put him in this state with just a few touches.
Tossing his jeans aside, Fergus climbed onto the bed, stalking his mate. He could see in her eyes that she had just realized the trouble she was in.
Kneeling on the bed, he gave her a wicked smile that held all sorts of promises, and he lifted her bottom half, putting her legs over his shoulders until he was directly facing her most intimate part.
He could see the blush that formed and spread on her body. A small lick on her clit had her trying to muffle a gasp, and Fergus grinned.
Now that just wouldn’t do.
The spice in her scent was more prominent here, and Fergus buried his face in her pussy to find himself surrounded by that mind-numbing scent.
He could feel the tension in Diana’s body, and he pulled back slightly and licked across her slit. Her shudders weren’t lost on him, neither was the fact that she kept trying to muffle her cries.
Another lick, and then his tongue entered her pussy.
The shock was so sudden that she was unable to conceal her short cry.
The wolf grinned.
This time, his tongue entered, not so gently, and licked out the juices that were gathering there. Diana’s grip on him was strong, but he was stronger. He made sure she did not break his neck as her body trembled under his, and he kept licking and sucking at her pussy.
One of his thumbs found her clit and he pressed, hard.
Her scream was like music to his ears, and he felt her muscles tighten and her body shudder almost violently.
“That’s enough.”
Fergus let her slump back onto the bed, and he crawled over her. Her eyes were cloudy with pleasure, and as he leaned down to give her a kiss, Diana opened her mouth obediently, in a way that had his cock growing harder than before.
Without warning, he entered her pussy, and the sharp shock in her eyes, changed into a desperate pleasure as he thrust into her and then withdrew all the way before pummeling her again.
He knew that if he let himself lose control, he would fuck her with wild abandon, and that might screw things up. He wanted her to see his face, to know whose cock it was that was driving her wild.
“Look at me,” He commanded hoarsely, and those green eyes with specks of gold in them opened.
She blushed as she saw the way his cock was entering her and then leaving, but her muscles tightened at that visual. Fergus saw and felt that, and his movement grew rougher that he had intended.
Asking her to look at him was a bad idea.
He wanted to come all over her, wanted to mark his territory. It had never been this way; he had never been this possessive. But then again, he had always been secure in Diana’s affections.
He drew out and flipped her over, entering her all over again, making Diana cry out a garbled version of his name. She could feel the thick cock that entered her even more deeply, and she tried to push back to get as much pleasure as possible, but it was Fergus who held the reins here, who controlled how much pleasure she could get, and that just drove her wild.
His movements were slow and thorough as he made her feel each inch of him inside of her, and Diana tried to tell him to move faster, but the words were stuck in her throat.
She could hear his breathing as if he was trying maintain some self-control, and it was taking a toll on him. It was getting harder to form a straight line of thought. Her muscles tightened as white dots swam in her line of vision, and she felt her pleasure reach a peak that had her crying out Fergus’ name.
Hearing her name from his lips, Fergus grabbed her hips and he picked up his pace.
Despite the fact that Diana could feel herself coming, the way her mate was now pounding her pussy had her pleasure building all over again and she screamed at the harsh way he jackhammered into her, the pain converting into pleasure.
His groan was all she heard before feeling something hot enter her, making her come again.
When Fergus pulled out and collapsed, he dragged her along with him, until she was sprawled onto him.
“I love you,” he murmured.
A soft kiss on her lips and Diana felt the pull into slumber, and she heard herself say something to him that made him stiffen, but she was already out.
Fergus ran a hand over her naked back, and he pulled the sheets over both of them. However, sleep eluded him.
‘Love you.’
Diana had probably said those words instinctively. She probably didn’t mean anything by it, but Fergus couldn’t help the small sliver of hope that wiggled his way into his heart.
He pressed a kiss on her bare shoulder, and studied the crisscrossed marks on her back, biting back the bubbling anger. He knew of the weapon that did this to her.
The spiked lash that had hung in the corner, had not even been cleaned of her blood.
He wanted to hide her from the world, protect her, keep her safe, but that would only cripple her. After her intense session with Gael, the tension that had been in her had visibly lessened. Now the skin privileges that they had shared had calmed both of their animals down.
Hearing the beep of his phone on the side table, Fergus glanced at it and extended his hand to pick it up.
It was from Raoul. Two missed calls.
He glanced at his sleeping mate and the way her arms were holding onto him like a lifeline. He didn’t want to leave her, but the pack was also his responsibility.
Gently, he eased himself out of her hold and went to put on his discarded jeans. Picking up the phone, he left the room to stand in the main hall so as not to disturb his sleeping mate.
His second in command picked up after two rings. “Fergus.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Matt and Alan got back safe, but they have guests with them.”
“Accommodate them for the time being,” Fergus told him.
“That’s all fine and good, but what are they talking about – human hunters and God knows what. They were exhausted, so they’ll give me a report tomorrow morning. But what on earth is going on?”
Fergus recounted some details and could feel the anger in Raoul. “How is Diana now?”
“Sleeping. Better. It’s going to take her some time to adjust, but you know how she is.”
“She’s a survivor.”
The curtness in Raoul’s vice had his hackles rising. “Is there a problem?”
A sigh,.“Not from me. But there has been talk.”
Fergus’ eyes narrowed. “What kind of talk?”
Silence. “That you may be bringing a sleeper into our pack.”
Fergus’ wolf came into his eyes as he snarled.
“Fergus.”
The weariness in Raoul’s voice forced him to bring his fury under control, but he did not bother to hide the coldness of his voice. “My mate is not a sleeper, Raoul. I will bring her back to the pack. And if the pack doesn’t want her there, we will leave.”
“You can’t be serious.” Raoul sounded shocked.
“I have been living half a life, Raoul. Without her, there is nothing to live for. So, make it very clear to the pack. I will be returning in a few days as soon as I find out about this Morbus organization.”
“You think they’re a r
eal threat?”
“How long have I been gone for to make you doubt my words?”
Raoul was silent, and then said uneasily, “I’m not doubting you. I know you better than anyone here. But there is trouble in the pack, and we need you here to fix all this. I’ll keep you updated, but be very careful, Fergus. There is a wrongness in the air.”
Fergus stared at the phone in his hand for a few minutes before he leaned against the door. “Fuck,” he growled.
On the other side of the door, Diana processed what she had just heard, and her wolf curled up in a ball inside of her.
When Fergus returned inside, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She was so good at it that it even fooled her mate. She felt the bed creak and felt his hand on her arm. She felt herself being pulled into him and his arms wrap around her.
“I love you.” His whispered words made her want to cry. She knew that he was going to take on his pack if they rejected her. She was always going to come first for him. And as much as that broke her heart, it eased her wolf, knowing that she was not going to be abandoned.
She snuggled into him and felt his lips press against her forehead in a loving caress.
“You and me against the world, Diana.”
He didn’t sleep after that.
Neither did she.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Fergus got down to business.
“We need to talk,” he told Gael, who did not look very surprised.
“It’s about time.”
The room that he led them to was not very large. It resembled a study of some sorts. A large mahogany desk and three chairs located in a strategic manner dominated the room. A small filing cabinet sat quietly in the corner, and from behind the desk, two sheer curtains covered a large window.
“So, I assume that vampires don’t have a thing against the sun?”
Gael gave Fergus a disgusted look. “Humans come up with the strangest of theories. ‘The undead.’ We are simply another species.” He went around the desk and seated himself in a chair.
Fergus made a face. “I think I understand now why Sebastian might not like me all that much.” He pulled out one of the chairs for Diana, and his mate sat down, a little startled by the gesture.
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