Suffering & Salvation

by Kenzie James Celia Kyle

  “Very funny. Ready to go home?”

  “Yes, very.”

  “Good.” He tugged her behind him, stopping by the group of ladies on the way toward the door.

  Eama stepped away from the small crowd, nibbling her lower lip. So much like herself. Her sister shuffled over, worry etched in every line of her body. Simi anxiously waited for a younger version of her to approach. “S-Simi? Can I…um…can I stay with you? I haven’t chosen yet, but I’d feel…”

  Simi didn’t have to look to Brand for approval or his opinion. Not only because she was coming into her own, but because she knew Brand wanted her to be happy. So, without a second thought, Simi reached out for Eama and took her sister’s hand in hers, and replied, “Of course you can, dear. Brand and I would love to have you stay with us.”

  “I haven’t decided…”

  “Take your time, sis. You’ve already made a really important choice for one day. And the right one, trust me.” Simi waved to get Dean’s attention, letting him know she was taking her sister home.

  The ride to the house was short and quiet, none of them rehashing the prior events of the evening. Simi could only guess her sister was hungry and exhausted, and thanks to Gemmie, she was glad they still had some food leftover in the fridge.

  Walking to the door with her sister by her side and Brand bringing up the rear, Simi was elated when Gemmie met them at the door. “Oh dear, oh dear. Another little cougar for me to take care of?” She gave Brand’s cheek a pinch. “I’m gonna beat you silly if you keep bringing people home, half-starved and scared out of their wits.” Like a whirlwind, Gemmie turned her attention to Eama. “Now, what’s your name, sweet?”

  Eama glanced at Simi and she gave her sister a reassuring nod and a smile.

  “Eama.” Her voice was so soft, so shy and innocent.

  “She’s my little sister, Gemmie.”

  “Of course, of course. I can see the resemblance. Poor thing. You must be hungry and tired.” The good-hearted woman wrapped an arm around her sister’s waist, dragging her to what Simi assumed was the kitchen. Simi waited for Brand to lock up, watching her sister’s retreating back. “Come along now, little one. We’ll get you fed and cleaned up. Oh, and I have the perfect room in mind for you. Looks out over the backyard, but it’s on the same floor as your sister’s room. And maybe tomorrow you can go for a run.”

  “Gemmie?”

  Without breaking stride, and not turning back to look at her, the female wolf replied, “I know what you’re gonna say, hon.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I do. No need to thank me, dear. Being able to help you and your sister here, in any way, shape or form makes me feel needed again. And this old wolf, crazy as it sounds, loves it.”

  “Thank you,” Simi called out, but Gemmie and her sister were already out of view by the time she finished. “Thank you so much,” she added as her eyes began to swell.

  The older woman seemed to instinctively know just what she and her sister needed. She supposed any good mother would, any selfless person worth a damn. Like her mate, Brand. Simi stood in the entryway, staring off into space, willing herself to remember a single moment she’d shared with Eama. She couldn’t. Was Isa not letting her, or had it just been that long since…

  She felt Brand standing next to her now, but he was silent and still.

  “Do you think she’ll be okay?” Her voice was quiet, soft, filled with worry.

  “Yes. And I think that goes for you, too. Maybe the two of you reuniting, even after this long, will help both of you heal.”

  “I hope so. We have a lot of catching up to do. I can barely remember… I can’t for the life of me remember anything meaningful from the time we shared together.”

  He scooped her up and marched them toward the stairs. “Just give it time, my love. What matters is—”

  She interrupted, “Is that she’s here with me now.” Her lips curled into a half-smile as she believed the words she spoke.

  Simi wrapped her arms around his neck and relaxed into his strength. He carried them through the house and to their room, the large space being illuminated only by the moonlight.

  He released her and she slid down his body, feeling every ridge and line of his muscular frame. When her feet found solid footing, she laid her head against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart—one that she knew beat solely for her.

  Brand inched away from her, but she pulled him back, not wanting to lose touch with the man who already helped right so much wrong in her life. Isa paced from within, anxious to seal the bond they’d begun earlier that day.

  “Brand?” she whispered, the calmness of the memorable night seeming to deserve the respect.

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m ready.” She made sure her attention stayed focused on his eyes, wanting him to see the sincerity in hers, all as he heard the truth in her candid words.

  “You sure? So much has happened, Simi. Isa—”

  She shook her head. “No, Isa’s anxious, but she’s not pushing me. I want this.”

  “Oh, Simi. You stop me if I do something that frightens you, okay?”

  “Nothing you do could ever frighten me. I trust you with my life and the life of our cubs.”

  Cubs, she still couldn’t believe she was having cubs. Mixed bundles of joy for her to love. Then and there, she swore she’d dedicate her life to always be the mother she never really had. And with Brand by her side, she would do her best to cherish them for the rest of her days.

  Chapter Seven

  Words suddenly stopped being necessary. Full, tender lips captured hers in a gentle kiss, a loving caress. She leaned into him, allowing Brand to take her weight, to do as he willed. Her trust in him was implicit and all consuming. Isa purred in agreement, tail flicking, shudders of excitement rippling along her fur from within.

  Brand moved slowly, his hands skimming the thin fabric of her dress. He stroked her abdomen, palms cupping the weight of her breasts. Her weak hold on her emotions coming undone, Simi trembled, breath coming out in a rush.

  The desire, the need, caused her breasts to ache, the juncture of her thighs to tingle in sheer anticipation. And that need of hers grew with every kiss, every touch he afforded her.

  “I want you, Brand.” Isa batted her eyelids, giving kitty kisses to the man about to claim them.

  He captured her lips again, his hands exploring her body with tender care, kneading her breasts, thumbs circling the hardened nubs through the outside of the dress she wore. She twined her arms around his neck, pressing her chest against his talented hands, pulling him closer, fusing them together.

  Tongues twined and tasted, and as she sucked on his, she reveled in his response, the pleasant mix of growl and groan that rumbled deep in his chest. She explored on her own, touching and rubbing every part of him she could reach. Measuring his shoulders, squeezing his muscles, she discovered her mate anew.

  Brand pulled out of their kiss, nibbling and suckling his way across her jaw, then down her neck, causing her knees to buckle. He moved onto the juncture of her shoulder and neck, licking and biting, but not breaking skin. Isa purred and Simi squirmed in delight, that action shooting straight to her core. She whined, “Brand, oh, Brand.”

  “Like that?” He licked and then bit again, harder this time, claiming but not, at the same time. She wiggled in his embrace, needing something, but not knowing exactly what.

  It had never been like this with Malcolm. And to think, that asshole had been her first. Never any pleasure, sex with him had always hurt. Fast and painful, she’d hated every second of it.

  Brand moved slow, as if wanting to savor every inch of her body. Simi shifted her hands to his shirt, tugging and pulling it free of his slacks, spurred by the desire to taste and bite his skin. She yanked and pushed the fabric up his abdomen, getting stuck when she reached his arms. She growled low, hands moving fast to the V of the shirt instead, ready to rip it off of him and tear it to shreds if need be. />
  Chuckling, Brand released her long enough to whip the polo over his head. Simi’s mouth watered, teeth aching to bite, Isa yearning to finish what they’d started. He bent down and quickly undid his boots and stepped out of them, then slipped his socks off. Practically shooting up back to his feet, Brand stood still, and a few seconds passed before she realized he was waiting for her to make the next move.

  Understanding, Simi reached out, traced the bottom curve of one of his pecs, then followed the strong line until it disappeared beneath his arm. She chose a new line, this one bisecting his well-defined abdomen, the deep groove easing farther south, beneath the waist of his slacks. She wasn’t ready to go there, not yet. She stepped forward, both hands exploring, mouth kissing and licking, biting and suckling the skin of his firm chest.

  Brand groaned and cupped the back of her head, encouraging her. She flicked his nipple with her tongue, enjoying the growl she earned in response. Isa lent a hand by distending her fangs, scraping one across the nub, scratching the flesh, but not breaking it.

  His knees buckled, almost sending him crashing to the floor. “Enough of that, Simi. I won’t be able to make love to you if you keep doing that.”

  Smug. That was how she felt when she realized she could make him putty in her hands in an instant. He’d done the same to her, and she liked the fact that she held the same power as well.

  He dropped to his knees, gentle fingers skimming her calves and heading toward her feet. She lifted one foot so he could remove her shoe and then the other. He glided his palms up and along her legs, stopping at the hem of her dress. “Simi?”

  She’d be naked before him, but she had faith in her mate, so she nodded and replied, “Yes, please.”

  He gripped the hem and rose, bringing the silky material with him, the softness against her skin causing another shudder of desire to pour through her veins. In what seemed like less than a heartbeat, she was totally exposed to Brand and Wolfie, body too thin in some places while sagging in others. The years with Malcolm hadn’t been kind to her, but Brand’s eyes didn’t judge, and he didn’t look away. Still, her immediate reaction had her arm moving to cover her breasts, her imperfect skin drooping in a way that had her averting her own eyes.

  “No, little cat. You’re beautiful. I can feel your strength just fighting to get out. Let go, Simi. Be proud of who you are…” Brand pressed his lips to hers, brushing their noses together. “Your body’s calling to mine…and Simi…I want to answer.” He edged her backward and she stopped when her thighs touched the duvet on the bed. “Lay back, little one.”

  She moved as directed, scooting onto the cool surface of the bed, enjoying the feel of softness against her bare skin. He stopped her when her ass rested on the edge, legs dangling over the side. Her instinct had her thighs closing tight, but he simply eased them apart, placing his body between her knees.

  “Just like that, Simi.” He lowered his head and bit her inner thigh, the pleasing pain forcing her back to arch, for Isa to purr in approval. She sucked in a breath, the strange, new feelings confusing her, and scaring and exciting her at the same time.

  “Brand?”

  “Easy. Just scenting my mate. Remember? In the clearing?”

  She did. She remembered. He scented and nuzzled, then mounted. This…this felt too good to be wrong. As she derived pleasure from this special moment they shared, his tongue traced a line from her knee toward her…her pussy. Simi surprised herself by widening her legs, allowing him further access, aching for what he seemed willing to gift to her.

  He licked her. There. Oh, Wolfie hadn’t done that, hadn’t tasted her. “B-Brand?”

  “Let me eat your sweet pussy, just a little. So beautiful. Dear god.”

  “I’ve never…no one’s ever…”

  He smiled. Smug. He looked smug. Again. “Then I’ll be giving you a very special present, little cat. Just follow your body’s lead. Let it happen, okay? I’ll catch you.”

  Was she going to fall?

  He buried his head between her legs and sniffed her pussy. Just that word alone made her clench—the muscles she didn’t know she had were tightening in utter anticipation.

  Brand licked her again, up one side and then the other, moaning and groaning and growling with every swipe, telling her he enjoyed what he was doing just as much as she did. Then his hands came into play, spreading her nether lips, revealing everything to him. She wiggled and shifted, trying to close her legs again, embarrassed and feeling a bit dirty as she watched Brand pleasuring her with his tongue. She was so wet and aching for more—that it hurt so good. “Brand,” she hissed, writhing against the bed.

  Body arched, fingers digging into the comforter, she cried out from deep within. Something was happening…and it felt so good and scary and wonderful she could barely contain herself. Every nerve in her body was more alive than they’d ever been. Her pussy throbbed in time with her heartbeat as each passing second sent the pleasure she felt soaring higher and higher. Steady pressure building between her legs, Simi bit down on her lip, hands active at her side, fisting the blanket with what little strength she had.

  “Close…so close.” Her breath came in harsh pants, her lungs burned and she couldn’t think. At this very moment, her mind only allowed for her to focus on Brand and what he was doing to pleasure her. He continued with a steady rhythm against her swelling pussy, tongue flicking over the same spot, over and over again. She couldn’t keep her hips still, and she felt the overwhelming urge to move. To be doing something to help her climax along.

  The pressure was nearing its boiling point, building nicely, her muscles tensing in preparation for her release. She wondered if she’d felt anything better than what he was doing to her with his mouth. “Brand,” she pleaded and begged, her body screaming at her that it was going to break any second now.

  He merely growled and increased the speed of his lapping, causing her to jolt, drowning her in so much ecstasy she thought she was going to die. She knotted her fingers in his hair, holding him there, bucking lightly against his mouth.

  And then it hit her hard, like a truck skidding down a snow-filled highway and crashing into the face of a mountain at a high rate of speed. She lost all control. Fingers turning into claws, she held him still, the shattering of her body forcing her to grab onto something…anything. Because just like he’d said to her, Simi was quite certain that she was…falling.

  The building, the brick by brick assembly of her pleasure, now came tumbling down around her. She shuddered and froze, back arched, mouth gaping, gasping for breath while bits of heaven filtered through her veins. As all of her nerves lit up, words of joy, bliss and happiness sang along them. Isa howled in approval, tongue lolling as she rolled on her back, belly exposed.

  Simi had submitted wholly, giving Brand a part of her that she’d never given to Malcolm. Her love. Her body shook in her climax’s aftermath, pussy tightening and clenching, begging to be filled by her mate. She’d never, ever wanted that before, never craved it as she did now. But it wasn’t that hard of a thing to want with a man as perfect as Brand.

  He slowed the tempo of his moving tongue until he merely kissed her throbbing flesh. “Good?”

  “Oh…t-that was…amazing.” She propped herself up on her elbows and stared down her body at Brand. The cocky expression on his handsome face screamed of smugness. Then again, she figured he had right to be.

  “Want another?”

  She opened her eyes wide. “Again? Now?” He chuckled against her pussy and she jumped. “Oh.” She guessed so.

  He rubbed his cheek against the tender skin, prickly hair causing new sensations to travel through her tingling frame. “Oh…that’s nice.”

  She dropped back onto the bed and covered her eyes. She didn’t know if she could live through another one…and so soon. Not with the aftershocks of the incredible orgasm still lingering in her system.

  “You do, don’t you, little cat?”

  “I’ve never felt one that s
trong before.”

  He stilled, breath fanning her moist pussy. “I’m glad that felt good for you.”

  She raised her head and glared at him. “You’re not being smug again, are you? Taking credit for making me come like that?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. Sighing, she continued, “To use your words, no, I’ve never felt so good before. Brand…I felt like I was flying.” She sat up enough to cross her legs in front of her, excitement taking center stage again. “Yeah. That’s what it was, Brand. I was flying. Like a hawk soaring over the sky… And it was simply…beautiful.”

  Brand crawled onto the bed and lay down, bringing her to curl around him. Head on his chest, she could hear his heart beating fast beneath her ear. She rubbed his abs, exploring her new man, wanting to get know every line in his skin, every curve of his muscles.