by Sydney Addae
“I want to go home.” She sucked in a deep breath and released it at that futile statement. To go home, the pheromone curse had to stop. To stop the pheromones, she had to have sex. Which brought her back to this embarrassing situation.
“I know you do,” Adam said leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
She hadn’t expected him to move so close and leaned back. Her gaze latched onto his. For several moments, they stared at each other. “But you want to have sex with me.”
He nodded without a hint of shame or embarrassment as if this conversation were normal. Maybe for him it was. She narrowed her gaze. “Do you do this a lot?”
“What?” He frowned and straightened while watching her. Hurt flicked in his eyes, but that couldn’t be real. Must’ve been the lighting.
Bella cleared her throat. “Ask people to have sex with you,” she said looking at the wall again. “Do you do this a lot?” She forced her gaze back to his and immediately wished she hadn’t.
Gold orbs blazed at her. If she hadn’t been seated, she would’ve fallen beneath the scowl on his face. He took several deep breaths, shook his head slowly and closed his eyes. She would’ve sworn he counted but wasn’t sure.
“Patience,” he murmured.
“What?” She tried to hear what he was saying.
“No.”
Bella frowned. “No? No what?”
“No, never in my 22 years of living have I asked anyone to mate with me.”
She opened her mouth to explain she was talking about having sex when he raised his hand imperiously.
“You’re confusing things. When I say you only have sex with me, it’s because I’m your mate. It’s a bond I take seriously, not frivolous fucking like you implied.”
She swallowed a gasp at his words and tone. “I don’t even know what frivolous fucking means.”
He waved away her comments. “I believe you’re my mate. When we make love, you will either sense it as well or not. But that’s the only way to prove it to you.” He paused and took her hands in his. “Give me a chance. Give us a chance.”
“My music.” She had no idea why she said that. It just seemed important to hide behind something while trying to bring her body under control from the flames of need his touch evoked.
“Is your music. Being mated won’t change that. I promise.” He leaned forward and pulled her closer until their lips were inches apart. “Let me make love to you.”
Her brow rose as she frowned. What did love have to do with all of this?
“Sex between mates is more. We’ll be making love,” he said and then brushed his lips across hers.
Magical. Like liquid melodies tangled in a ball. Her eyelids lowered. “Yeah?” she whispered and leaned into him.
He pulled her up as he stood. “Yeah.” He held her close and kissed her forehead. “Just me and you. No one else. This is between the two of us.” He placed kisses along her neck as he spoke, sending fiery tingles of need through her. She moved with him and when he pushed her down on the bed, he followed. Drugged by his kisses, she hungered for more and reached for him.
Warm hands touched her face, neck, back and stomach. His lips traced a fiery trail down and across her chest, evoking low, needy moans from her throat. Incredible heat rolled from her head and settled in her core as he kissed her over and over. His hands squeezed her breasts.
Long fingertips teased and pulled at her nipples.
Overwhelmed by new sensations, she struggled to breathe and was caught up in the scent of him. Her body hummed, wanting, needing something. Her nipples ached. Her panties grew wet. Tension coiled in her belly.
His mouth captured her taut nipple and she arched from the bed. Palm splayed across her stomach, he eased her down while sending rivers of pleasure through her.
“Ahhhh,” she moaned, wanting something, but not sure what, as her body shivered and shuddered beneath his sensual assault.
“You like that?” he whispered while kissing her chest and climbing up her neck.
Unable to form a coherent sentence, she nodded and didn’t protest when he pushed down her jogging pants.
The heat of his palm between her legs sent a jolt of awareness through her. Her eyes flew open and met his golden gaze.
“Good. I need you with me in this.”
“What?” She suspected she knew what he meant but wanted him to say it.
“We are going to make love. Together. Eyes open. Both of us totally aware what we’re doing.”
She swallowed hard but didn’t speak or break from the intensity of his gaze.
“This is too important for assumptions. You understand?”
Heat flooded her face. She hadn’t wanted to verbally agree, she wanted him to keep doing what he was doing. He’d been right, it felt really good. The throbbing hadn’t stopped between her legs.
“Yes.” Was she ready to commit to this mating thing? With a wolf-person? Remembering that bit of information threw cold water on her face. She pushed against his chest and turned away from his kiss.
“What’s wrong?” he asked leaning over her.
“You’re a wolf-man, or person or whatever you call it. I’m…not,” she said after a few seconds of struggling with the right words to say.
He nodded slowly. “That’s true.”
“You said this is permanent.”
He nodded again. “It is.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know if I want that. The wolf thing’s…” she didn’t want to say not normal, but those were the only words she could think of. “I don’t know about that,” she said instead.
“Your father wanted to see me shift. Is that what you want?” He didn’t sound happy but she didn’t think he was angry either.
“He did? When?” She scooted from beneath him and wrapped her arms around her legs while watching him. Her father saw him as a wolf and hadn’t said anything to her?
Adam moved closer and laid on his side as he talked. “He met me when I arrived.” He told her what happened.
She couldn’t wrap her mind around her father sending her off with Adam after seeing him turn into an animal and didn’t warn her or tell her it was okay. Maybe not saying anything meant it was all good? She didn’t know.
He lay on his back and covered his eyes with his arm. When had he removed his shirt? Her greedy gaze roamed across sinewy, muscular arms, and a wide muscular chest with a mere dusting of dark hairs. Taut dusky nipples and tight washboard abs drew her gaze downward. Much taller than her,
his feet hung off the bed.
Adam was indeed a delectable package. But he wasn’t human like her. Or she wasn’t like him.
“What are we going to do?” he asked without looking at her. “I cannot change how I was born and neither can you. We’re both different. Believe me, if you were simply human, those guys wouldn’t be after you.”
Bella’s breath caught in her throat. She’d forgotten what the Priestess explained about her birth. Somehow, in a great cosmic twist, she was connected to wolf-people. No, dual-natureds, she corrected. Adam’s mom, her mom, were born with something that made them different. She wasn’t human, not all the way, either. She touched his arm and waited for him to look at her. “You’re right. We’re both different.” She thought of him all furry and big, pointed teeth and took a deep breath to keep from shaking at the absurdity of it all. “But I don’t want to see you as anything different than what you are now.”
He frowned. “You’ll need to accept all of me, just as I’ll accept all of you.” He took her hand, stroked the back of it and touched it with his lips. “But you’ll have sex with me in human form, not my wolf.”
His words calmed her and she nodded. “Okay. I appreciate that. It’s one thing to think you can be something else, another to be in bed with…the wolf side.”
Adam watched intently as her eyes softened, his chest loosened as tension eased. Unsure if he should say anything more, ask for a more concrete answer, he leaned forward, a
llowing her to stop him. When she didn’t, he kissed the tip of her nose and inhaled her sexy scent. Her body wanted him, of that he was certain. Now if her mind would cease interrupting, they could make each other feel damn good.
“I understand.” He slid forward, wrapped his arm around her, his mouth slanted across hers as he kissed her deeply. Her kiss was soft, uncertain and playful, such a contrast from anyone he’d ever been with. It tugged at his heart. Her palms cupped his cheeks as if to hold him close as their tongues danced and dueled. They broke apart on a gasp with her following him. Hands, lips and teeth touched her everywhere possible.
Starved.
The more she gave, the more he needed. The incalculable burn in his gut rose second by second. His thoughts grew hazy, no longer made sense. Fueled by a rabid craving for her, he pushed her back on the bed and pulled her down, so that she lay lengthwise beneath him. Unable to stop himself, he bent forward and sniffed her from head to toe. She laughed and tried to push his head away when his nose landed between her thighs.
“Off. Take them off,” he commanded.
Close to the edge, he didn’t want to hurt her. With one palm on her breast, he helped her shimmy out of her clothes and placed his other hand on her stomach. He suckled her breast while sliding his hand between her thighs. She placed her hand on top of the one touching her drenched lips.
Adam groaned at how wet and slick she was. “Patience.” He could hear his dad’s voice in the back of his mind and shoved down his desire to ride her fast and hard right now. Bella was his mate, and she could walk away from him if he didn’t do this right.
“No,” his beast growled low and dangerous at the idea of their mate leaving. “Agreed,” Adam panted, taking in deep breaths to regain control. Bella moaned and writhed beneath his questing hand. So responsive, he thought and wondered how she’d react if he did a little more. He slid a finger into her tight sheath and grit his teeth at the knowledge she’d hold his cock in this hot, honey cavern. Her fingernails scratched his arm as he stroked her pussy and played with her nipples.
“If you don’t stop scratching me, I’ll tie your hands together,” he threatened to see what she’d say or do.
Her eyes flew open, but he wasn’t sure if it was because of what he said, or that he stopped all movement.
“What?” she frowned.
He showed her the rising welts on his arm and watched her eyes widen but she didn’t cover herself or look embarrassed at being naked while he was dressed. “I did that?” Guileless eyes looked at him, searching for answers.
Not ready to stop their explorations, but needing to slow things down, he shrugged. “Probably.” He tilted his head as he moved closer, pulled out his fingers and looked at them.
She blinked. Her eyes widened as he sucked his fingers, making sure she saw his tongue lap each digit with exaggerated moves.
“So damn good.” He glanced at her as he slid his fingers back inside her honeyed warmth.
“You… you… Ahhhh…” she murmured as he latched onto her nipple and stroked inside her. He wanted to do wicked things to her body. Drive her mindless with pleasure until she writhed and screamed her ecstasy. He just wasn't sure if she was up to it.
Adam closed his eyes, imagined his cock inside her wet, tightness and added a third finger. More cream flooded his hand and he groaned with the need to take her now. The small moans of pleasure sent heat spiraling through him. Surprising him, she lifted her breast as if to feed him. He accepted her gift and stroked her clit with his thumb while doing everything within his power to prepare her to accept him.
Patience.
He watched every flicker of emotion crossing her face, drank in every sexy moan and sharp cry of pleasure. He lowered his mouth to catch her breathy sighs, his finger moving faster and harder as he pushed her relentlessly towards her release.
Her hips rolled against his hand, grinding, seeking more. His cock hurt as it wept for his mate.
“Adam!!?” Bella called his name as her inner muscles milked his fingers and she tightened around him. Her entire body shook.
“It’s okay…” he soothed, stroking her breasts. “Goddess you’re beautiful,” he murmured as he unfastened his pants with one hand, pushed them down and kicked them off.
“That was…I never… No one ever told me,” she said between breaths.
If he were a different person, he might demur and make light of his ability to bring her breathless pleasure. But he was Adam, firstborn son of La Patron, and the stakes were too high to downplay their sexual connection. He gave her no time to think as he rose above her and slid inside. Meeting some resistance, he eased forward until he broke through.
She tensed and pushed at his shoulder.
He stopped, prayed and waited until she relaxed. Watching her face, he pushed further until he was buried deep between her thighs, in that slick, hot velvet sheath. He thanked the Goddess she was drenched and ready for him before he'd even laid a finger on her.
Sensing she was ready, he pulled out slowly and eased back in. The next stroke was harder, deeper until he found their rhythm. He wanted to take his time but the feel of her gripping him so tightly eroded his self-control. He thrust deep and hard, a muffled groan escaped as she pressed back against him, her arms tight around his neck.
He shuddered. His thrusts quickened. He slammed into her, their thighs connecting with a slap.
He lifted onto his hands and arched his back. This was what he craved. What his beast demanded, his mate. The one person he could let go and ride the wind with. She was created for him. The knowledge spurred him on. He increased his pace and slammed into her hard. Her body stiffened.
She screamed out his name as she shattered on his cock, loud breathy moans escaped from her throat. Her release triggered his. Back arched he slammed into her once, twice, and on the third time flew into the clouds, shuddering in unbelievable pleasure.
“Mine!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Confused chatter continued all around Peter at the Compound after Bella drove off. He released a pent-up breath and returned to the small group standing in the middle of the Compound. Regina had sent the others to the inner Sanctuary for safety and to pray. In the past, the tunnels and a few specially equipped rooms held against sieges from those who would steal or destroy the Gospel of Mary Magdalene.
“What did you learn?” he asked Chad after acknowledging Regina.
“Not sure what was used to detonate the bombs but they were deliberately set just outside our southern gate. Someone wants our attention, they wanted to let us know they were here,” Chad said watching Regina and then Peter.
“We’ve been here before.” Regina looked around, shading her eyes with her hand. “Our mission is to protect the Gospel at all costs and that’s what we’ll do.” She pointed at Peter. “Take a look at the cameras, see if we have recordings of who did this. Not sure what the police will do, but we have friends now. Friends who can help.”
She turned slightly. “Chad, take Jeremy and a couple others and do a quick sweep of the perimeter. Stay in communication with Peter. We need to make sure our camera equipment is working and that we have eyes everywhere.”
“Will do.” Chad nodded and strode off.
Peter waited a few moments and stepped closer to her. “You okay?”
She captured his gaze and smiled. “Yes. Tired. Emotionally drained. But basically okay. Bella got off okay?”
“Just after the explosion.” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around. “Have you ever seen it?”
She frowned. “Seen what?”
“The Book. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.” He waved toward the chapel. “Our reason for being here. The reason my daughter left the only home she’s ever known.” He placed his hands on top of his head and turned away from her. “Have you ever seen it?”
For a few moments neither spoke. He faced her and removed his hands slowly. “Regina?”
“This conversation is inappropriate, Pet
er.” She looked away and bit her lower lip. “Very inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate?” he whispered and stepped closer to her. “No. It’s. Not.” He placed his hand on her arm. “Tell me.”
She stared at his hand until he removed it.
He pointed at her. “A normal looking kid turned into a big, black wolf… right in front of me. Do you hear me? I saw a man turn into a wolf. I sent my child away with that wolf to protect this book. So, it’s not an inappropriate question to ask. Not to me it isn’t. Now answer me. Have you ever seen the book?”
She didn’t speak or look at him.
Fear crawled up his spine and lodged in his throat. Holy Mary, he’d sent his child with a monster to protect a myth? He grabbed her arm again and shook it. “Answer me. Have you ever seen the book?” He snarled close to her face.
“Peter.”
“No. You tell me right now. Is this real? Have you ever seen the Gospel?”
“No. But Greta did. She told me it’s protected and will reveal itself at the right time.” Her distressed gaze begged him not to ask more questions.
“Reveal itself? What does that mean? Is it here? Are we pawns to draw fire to keep thieves from the real location?” He couldn’t believe she had never seen the Book. All these years and no one other than his dead wife could verify the Book existed.
“Mary Magdalene came to you, remember?” Regina said. “She appointed you as a guardian. Don’t let your faith waver. Bella offered to leave. I never asked her to go. She realized the importance of our mission and made the sacrifice to leave.”
He turned from her and took several deep breaths. “Faith. I’m having a hard time believing my wife saw the Book and never told me. Now she’s dead.” He looked over his shoulder. “Is that what made her sick? Maybe she went to check on it and became infected or something.”
“No, Peter. Don’t allow your thoughts to get carried away. The doctor arrived earlier and is examining her body. Hopefully we’ll learn what killed Greta. But we need you to remain strong. I need you to remain strong in the faith.” She took his hand and tugged gently. “I’ve always depended on your solid strength. Don’t fail me now. Not now when we’re under attack and don’t know where our enemies are.” She moved closer and laid her face on his chest.
