Jessa’s movements were a blur. Nothing registered in her brain except the growing, agonizing ache that now consumed her. Shallow breaths panted from her lungs as sweat rolled off her body. Jessa’s clothes flew off in a blur, and she jumped onto the bed and thrust the vibrator against her clit. Her body reacted on contact. Jessa’s hips rose uncontrollably. Ecstasy rolled off her, bringing moans and grunts of pleasure to pierce through the room.
****
Somewhere in the Arizona desert, deep below the surface of the earth….
“Take them down to the dungeon with the others! I want you to go get twice as many subjects this time!” Tonya Blackard hissed through elongated fangs.
Tonya was beautiful beneath the layers of hate and pain. She was thin with an athletic build, had smaller breasts, and legs that went on forever. Her golden hair was the palest blonde that glistened in the dim light. The vivacious green eyes that normally had lit up the room had since been replaced with deadly crimson. “Yes, ma’am, but the agencies are starting to take notice of all the disappearances. Getting more numbers will be next to impossible,” her tiny minion whined, trembling with fear.
“I guess you need to look somewhere else then, don’t you? I don’t give a shit what happens to you, as long as you get me more test subjects. We are so close to getting the formula correct! I will not fail now!” Rage pumped through her veins, fueling the hate that had built up over the miserable centuries since her father had murdered her mate. With Lestar out of the way, it was the perfect opportunity to find the ultimate potion to bring her lover back from the dead.
“Shall I look more in the southern states? Those hillbillies won’t be missed as much as the royal packs and clans.” Vince rubbed his bony fingers together. He reminded her of the creepy little guy from Lord of the Rings. He was the only human who had survived the serum injections but had withered into a deformed, disgusting creature. His strength had been amplified some, and he had gained the vampire and shifter abilities. He could perform compulsion, read thoughts, had enhanced speed, and had a high sense of smell and sight.
“Yes. There are a lot of different packs that hide out in the woods there. Get me one from each. I also need four more vamps. Make sure they are all younger this time. No one over twenty-five, or younger than eighteen this time, you imbecile! I don’t know what the hell you expect me to do with these kids you brought. They have not developed yet, you idiot! Now I have to slave them until they are old enough. Daddy dearest may not have had the intelligence to succeed, but I do. Now go!”
Vince scurried out of the room like a cockroach. Anticipation grew in Tonya’s stomach. Soon, she would have her Xylar back, and everything would be back to normal.
****
Damion stood staring at the house. His ears picked up the faint moans and pants coming from within, making his wolf fight for control. He knew she was getting worse, and hated standing by allowing it to happen. In all of his twenty-six years, there had never been a female fight the heat, much less want to wait for her mates. As ridiculous as it all was, the strangest part was that he was her fated mate. Damion knew without a doubt that Jessa had felt the connection that sparked the instant their lips joined, but with her inexperience she couldn’t distinguish it from the fever that had already began to set in. The worst part was the longer he waited to mark her, the sicker she would get. His wolf and mind told him to bust through her door and give her what they both needed and end the whole mess, but in his heart, he knew that she would fight. He refused to take a woman unwillingly, whether partially against her will or all the way. It was wrong. She belonged to him, but unlike the other sick bastards in the pack that didn’t take into consideration their true love’s feelings, he could not and would not force her.
The louder she moaned, the closer to the door his feet carried him. It was good that she was turning to self-pleasure to avoid going totally mad, but at the same time, it only made the urges and needs grow tenfold. It wouldn’t be long before she went into a coma, and then shifted into her wolf until she was fucked good, given if her body could handle the extreme temperatures and sickness. The idea of having to mate her in their animal form was unsettling. Not many shifters had partaken in wolf sex, but those who had said it sucked ass compared to human sex. The feelings and sensations don’t get to be enjoyed, and there is no exploring or playing. It is simply nature’s way of procreation. The female wolves don’t experience orgasm at all.
When he took Jessa, he wanted to make sure she knew who her pleasure belonged to. Visions of her floating on the clouds of orgasmic bliss took over his thoughts, making him walk closer and closer to the house without realizing it. Before he even knew he had moved, he stood by the only downstairs bedroom window and caught sight of Jessa through the crack in the curtain. His balls loaded up and sent his cock straining against the teeth of the evil beast of a zipper once again. I am getting button fly jeans today. Ouch!
Jessa was now on her knees, rubbing the rubber toy against her clit and cunt hard and fast, desperate for relief. He released a howl so loud he was sure she would stop and spot him being a peeping pervert again. Much to his surprise, she didn’t. If anything, it made her go harder and more frantic. She was absolutely breathtaking. Her gold hair clung to her face from the perspiration that now sheeted her body. Her lips were full and a deep pink, parted slightly as she gasped for breath in the throes of passion. She was arched slightly, tilting her perfect tits out and emphasizing amazing abdominal muscles that led to the prettiest shaved pussy he had ever seen in his life. When she reached down and squeezed her right nipple, he almost blew in his pants. She was the goddess of every fantasy and wet dream he had since puberty.
Unable to resist, he reached down to unfasten his jeans when his cell phone rang. “Son of a fucking bitch!” His hand fumbled to get the ringing device out of his tight pocket due to the lack of room they now held from his raging hard on. Walking away from the window, he answered.
“Hello!” His voice barked into the receiver with fury.
“Damion? What the hell is wrong? Is Jessa okay?” The concerned and confused sounding patron was none other than Alan Black.
Shit! This day just keeps getting fucking better! “Sorry, Alan, yes and no. The fever is starting to hit her. She is going downhill fast.”
“Aww hell. I knew this was going to happen. It is ridiculous to keep allowing her to believe she can save herself for her marriage. It will probably be years before she finds her fated mate. Okay, I will get Autumn to head over as soon as possible. In the meantime, I need you here the moment Christina gets there to relieve you. Two boys from the pack were taken today. There is rumor that some whack job is kidnapping innocent victims to use as lab rats to create an ‘all powerful’ potion. If it is true, then we will have a shitload of people needing medical assistance, and a vampire with a Napoleon complex on our hands. We have a meeting with all of the tribe leaders in the morning in Joplin, Missouri. It is about a five hour drive from here, so we need to get up there and get settled tonight.”
“Roger. So are the vampire clans getting involved this time too?”
“Yes. Michael is taking care of that end of it all. They are all meeting there and will convene with our group tomorrow night. It gives us time to address all of the shifter incidents, get reports made up, and start delegating security details,” Alan explained.
“Okay will do. Anything else?”
“If you could give the others a heads-up and have them go on red alert on the reservation I would appreciate it. No one is allowed in or out of the gates until this is resolved. I want the women and children taken to the forest compound and kept under tight security. Every male who is sixteen and above is to assist in guard duty and protection.”
“I will head straight there the moment Christina gets here. Oh, and Alan?”
“Yeah?”
“Uh, I thought you should know that I am Jessa’s mate. Unfortunately she hasn’t realized it yet,” his voice had softened.
/>
“Shit! It would have been nice for you to have led the conversation with that, Damion. Well, you are to take care of her and get this over with now!”
“I can’t! There is no way she will believe me until she can feel that it isn’t just her raging hormones.” Irritation started to mount in his stomach.
“Whether she realizes it or not Damion, this has to end. I will give her until we return to figure it out. Then, you do what you gotta do to make it happen. If not, you may lose her.” Alan’s stern command ended with heartfelt compassion.
Damion’s heart sunk. He knew Alan was right, but it didn’t help his stomach from hitting the floor. Maybe he could convince her. She had already melted with a single kiss. Who was to say that with a little of the ‘Damion’ charm she wouldn’t be more than willing? A small gush of confidence filled his heart, making his mood lighten a fraction. Alan calling his name through the phone brought his attention back to their conversation. “Yeah, I am here. Okay. I know and will take care of it. See you tonight, Alan.” And with that, he hung up without waiting for a response.
By the time he had finished his outdoor chores and headed toward the house, Christina was pulling up in her bright pink SUV. Fuck. Now I won’t get time alone with Jessa before I have to leave. Maybe I can lure her outside...
“Hey, Damion! Are you hungry? I brought beef stew and garlic bread!” Christina’s chipper voice made him feel guilty, so he plastered on the biggest grin he could.
“I am starved. Thanks, Christina. Let me get washed up and I will give you a hand in the kitchen.
“Oh no, I got it. How is Jessa?”
Damion felt his face heat when the not so distant memory came back of his view through the window. He stuttered for words, unsure what to say.
“She…well, I think the fever is already starting to set in. I haven’t been in to check on her because…she…uhh…the bedroom…and sounds… she needs privacy...” He shook his head, unable to make a coherent sentence.
Christina smiled knowingly, and hugged him. “Okay. Chill out there, Rambo. I swear all of you boys are the same. I don’t understand how something so normal can make ya’all spit and sputter like a thirteen-year-old boy seeing his first porno. I will go check on her. You just get a grip and come eat. I assume you have realized by now that you two are mates, right?” She tapped her foot like an impatient schoolteacher.
His jaw hit the ground. After the shock morphed into anger, he responded, “How did you know? You knew all this time? Why didn’t you tell me so I could have started wooing her weeks ago? All of the damn embarrassing moments from today wouldn’t have happened!” He hardly recognized his own voice that for some reason had raised a few octaves and cracked.
“What embarrassing…oh never mind I don’t want to know. The visions hit me about a week ago. I couldn’t tell you because fate wouldn’t have ran its course and something could have messed up. You don’t have much time before she becomes trapped in wolf form, if she makes it out of the fever. She is going to get really sick, Damion. I have seen a few different scenarios and some are worse than others. There are a lot of obstacles that both of you will face.” Christina’s eyes were narrowed and clouded with worry.
He knew that whatever she had seen must have been bad by her reaction. A sharp pain shot through his gut at the idea of Jessa not making it. It was his job to protect her and he would do whatever he needed to accomplish that. Determination stomped out the fear that had started to mount, and he took off in a rush to confront the situation head on, leaving Christina standing in the yard.
Just before Damion reached the front door, the roar of an engine came barreling up the road, stopping him dead in his tracks. He watched cautiously as a jacked up bright yellow truck came skidding to a stop in front of him, sending a cloud of dirt up that made him cough. And this day just keeps getting better. Now I have a horny little shit to deal with too. Super.
Within seconds, Logan had parked, climbed out, and was now running toward him with a huge grin on his face. What the hell is he so excited about? There is no way in hell I am letting him around Jessa. She is mine! When he reached the porch, he slapped Damion on the shoulder in a bro tap. “Hey, Damion. What’s goin’ on, man?” Under normal circumstances he liked Logan. They hung out, shared a few beers from time to time, and talked about the slew of women each had conquered. He was like a younger, more goofy, less responsible version of himself. He knew Logan flirted shamelessly, and would be damned if he allowed him even in the same room as his mate. In the last few hours, his whole world had changed dramatically.
“Not much. What are you doing way out here?” Damion tried to keep his tone casual, but he still ended up sounding a little more gruffly than he had intended.
“I came to check on Jessa. Braden said that Christina was heading out here, and I didn’t want the girls left alone. Hey, aren’t you supposed to be leaving with them in a little while?”
“Yeah, Christina just got here.”
“They were already loading up the vans. I guess they are in a hurry to leave.” Logan propped his arm against the porch railing.
“Shit. I gotta get going. So are you staying then?” He almost didn’t want to know the answer to his question.
Logan grinned again, making him feel uneasy. “Yeah, man. I have a lot of work to do.”
“Work? What do you mean? I already installed all of the new alarms. Did Alan add to the list?”
“No, this work is a hell of a lot more fun. When I brought Jessa out here, we had dinner and, well, one thing led to another, and we ended up kissing. That single kiss changed my life forever.” His eyes held a certain nostalgic gleam that set Damion’s nerves on edge.
Rage bloomed in his veins. “You kissed her! What the fuck do you mean it changed your life forever?” his voice vibrated and echoed off the house.
Logan narrowed his eyes, obviously shocked by his outburst. “I mean, the world tilted off its axis…the stars began to shine only in her eyes…the moon began to rotate around her…every breath I took was for her. She is my mate, Damion! I know she felt it too, but I don’t think she knew what it was. Now I am going to make sure she knows what it is, mate her, and make her all better. She is not going to get sick now!” He grinned, obviously impressed with himself.
Damion felt the rumble start in his toes and work its way up. A booming growl snarled through his clenched teeth. Logan looked freaked out and confused, but stepped back, knowing what was about to take place. Damion leapt over Logan’s head and shifted in midair. He turned and crouched down, ready to attack. Both of Logan’s hands went up in a defensive posture, and he stepped slowly toward the door. Before he could get to the knob, the door swung open and Christina stepped out.
“Stand down, Damion, NOW!” She flipped her hands in a half circle and thrust her palms outward, casting a powerful force of air. It knocked Damion backwards, holding him pinned to the ground. The air was knocked out of his lungs momentarily, causing him to whimper. When he recovered, he stared astounded by the power the small woman had. She kept her hands outstretched while she spoke. Her eyes glowed a deep golden, and he swore he could see little sparks in them. “Logan honey, go in the house now. Keep Jessa inside.” She didn’t break eye contact with Damion, keeping her full focus on him. “Damion, Logan is Jessa’s mate too. Now shift your furry ass back into human, get some damn clothes from upstairs, and stop acting like a pompous ass.”
Damion couldn’t believe his ears. All he could do was whine, unable to ask questions or express his emotions. He laid his head on his paws and waited for her to release him. She must have understood his intentions because she lowered her hands and the magical barricade released. He stood slowly, careful to not startle her and unleash another wave of magical ass whoopin’, and shifted back. He reached for his clothing, only to find they were in shreds scattered in the yard. Of course they are. Shifting with my clothes on—perfect. This day is fucking awesome!
Christina had been around them s
o much she didn’t so much as flinch at him standing for the world to see in all of his naked glory, but instead turned on her heel with a huff and went back in the house. Logan soon appeared, handing him a stack of clothing. He wanted to rip the guy’s head off, but nodded his thanks instead.
When he was finished getting them on, he joined Logan on the porch swing. They sat in silence, staring aimlessly out at the yard a good ten minutes before either spoke. Logan was the first to break the silence. “I assume, by your overdramatic reaction, that you are Jessa’s mate also.” The smallest hint of irritation laced each word.
“Yep.” He understood that Logan was probably feeling the same apprehension that he was, and his anger began to settle.
“Wow. I thought convincing Jessa was going to be hard. Now we get to try to convince the little temperamental she-wolf that she is destined to mate both of us.”
“Yep.”
“This is going to be hard.”
“Yep.” Damion kept his guard up, still feeling jealousy toward his friend. What sucked was he liked Logan. The longer he rolled it all over in his mind, the more at ease he felt. “Logan?”
Logan finally turned to look at him. “Yeah?”
“I guess if I am going to be stuck sharing Jess, I wouldn’t want to with anyone else but you.”
A small smile crept over Logan’s boyish face. “I guess you are right. Same goes, bro.” After a quick knuckle tap, they both stood and went inside.
Chapter Seven
Logan closed the door behind him, standing beside Damion in the entry hall. From their position, they could only see Christina sitting on the edge of the couch overlooking Jessa. Both men exchanged a worried glance before walking over to investigate.
“Christina, what’s going on?” Logan’s voice shook with uncertainty.
“It’s started. Jessa fainted in the kitchen, and now is teetering between conscious and unconsciousness. You two need to fix this now,” the tone in her voice said it all.
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