“He is Alpha all the way,” Josie proclaimed proudly.
“Don’t worry, I have him,” Laurel said, her hands pressed to his chest. “He will be weak from blood loss and will have to rest. But he will live.”
***
When Laurel deemed Durant stable enough to be moved, Duval and Darcel, after giving their blood oath, carried him out of the room to take him home. Louise ordered a case of champagne to be opened, and everyone was soon talking and dancing to celebrate the new Alphas and their mating.
“Why do your people drink champagne when alcohol has no effect?” Valerii asked when Josephine handed him a glass.
“We like the bubbles and the taste. Try it, the bubbles will tickle your nose.”
“Why would I want my nose tickled?” Valerii asked, confused.
“Because it’s fun. Come on old man, drink up, and let’s have a little fun.” Josephine said, her tone teasing.
“Josephine, you know I still owe you a spanking.”
“Later. Right now I want you to dance with me. Do you dance?”
“Of course, I’m not without knowledge of social graces.” How could he deny her anything when she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief?
“Good. Monique, turn up the music.” Josephine led Valerii by the hand, swaying her body to the music, to where the chairs had been cleared.
Valerii felt his wolf rush to the surface, and his body hardened with desire. He grabbed Josephine by her hips and pulled her back against his body, letting her feel his need. She leaned back into him and continued to shimmy up and down his body. Gritting his teeth, he turned her and pulled her flush against him, letting the music move them. You are tempting me beyond reason. You know I want nothing more than to claim you as mine.
Am I? Can you not take a little teasing? She leaned forward and licked, moving from his neck to his ear.
He groaned. She was killing him.
“I bought this outfit just for you,” she whispered in his ear. “Do you like it?”
“If you keep this up, it will not last the removal from your body.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t rip it, would you? It cost quite a lot of money,” Josephine said, walking her fingers up his chest.
“Yes, my money, if I recall.”
“Another good reason not to damage it. I am lucky Durant didn’t bleed on it.” Josephine slowly bent her knees as she pressed against Valerii and wiggled her way down to his feet and back up.
“I am warning you, mate.” Valerii growled at her and placed his hands on her butt to hold her still. Pressing her against him only made him sense how well they fit together. He needed to get her away from her pack and into his bed. But what bed? Should he take her to the hotel where he hid Bijou and Alain? Durant lived in the house owned by the pack. Anton had warned about Fortescue being at the Hilton.
“Josephine, where did you plan to sleep tonight?” Did she have a hotel room? Previously, he’d thought they would return to London tonight.
“I didn’t really think about it. I guess we could go to grand’ mere’s apartment. They have an extra room.”
“Josephine, I think we will need privacy. I don’t want your grandparents to hear me making love to you all night.” Lycan hearing left little to the imagination where that was concerned.
“Ask grand’ père. He’ll know where we can go.”
Did he want her grandfather to know where they were staying? “Come away with me, Josephine. Give me tonight.” He felt her hesitation. She had just returned to her pack, her family. She wanted him, but she was inexperienced and trepidation ran through her.
Trust me, lyubov moya. Trust the mating bond. You are mine. Be brave enough to give yourself into my care.
***
Did she trust him? Of course she did. She knew he would never hurt her. Still Josephine hesitated. What did her pack need from her? What would be the outcome of her leaving now?
They would wonder about us if we did not leave. Another male could try to claim you, since our bond is not cemented in place. Josephine, do you trust me or not?
Yes, Josephine sent into his thoughts. I trust you.
Then, let us go.
Josephine took Valerii’s hand and brought it to her lips. She kissed him in the center of his palm. She loved the way his eyes darkened and the promise of passion deepened on his face.
“Let me say goodbye to my grandparents.”
Valerii wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her into his shoulder. It felt good to be held so tenderly They walked up to where her grandparents stood talking to Laurel and Anton.
“Valerii and I are leaving. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we will return to eat with the pack tomorrow night,” Josephine said.
“Late, tomorrow,” Valerii added.
Warmth flooded her face, and Josephine noticed how Anton winked at Valerii.
“I would be honored if you would join us tomorrow, Anton and Laurel. I am sure your counsel on how to reorganize this pack would be helpful,” Valerii said.
“I’m sure Asena will have an idea or two,” Laurel said, smiling at the group.
“Tomorrow then. Come, Josephine.” Valerii turned her toward the stairs.
“Wait, there is another exit we can take,” Josephine said, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the back corner of the basement.
She walked over to the wall and found the brick that someone had carved the initials “C.L.” for Claire Lecuyer. She pressed on the brick, and there was a click. A grinding noise sounded through the room as a piece of the wall opened into a dark tunnel.
“This leads into the catacombs beneath Paris. There have been times in history when the pack needed a quick exit,” Josephine said. He asked for her trust. Would he trust her in return?
“It leads into the catacombs?”
“Come with me, and I will show you.”
***
Valerii followed Josephine into the tunnel and waited as the door closed behind them. He blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the inky blackness. Where a human would be completely blind, a lycan could see clearly in the dark. This was more difficult than usual. There was absolutely no light.
As they waited quietly, their lycan senses rushed to the surface. Valerii could hear his heartbeat and the sound of the air filling his lungs. He felt air wafting against his skin and knew how far he stood from the walls of the tunnel. His pupils dilated and his sight turned to black and white. He could see the tunnel leading away to the south.
“Are you ready?” he asked Josephine.
“Yes, don’t worry. I know where I’m going.”
Valerii followed behind his mate. She faltered a moment, and he grabbed her from behind to steady her. “What is it?”
“My heels are getting stuck between the stones. Let me slip them off.”
“Are you sure you want to put bare feet on these stones?”
“I don’t have a choice. I’ll fall if I keep wearing these shoes.”
“I could carry you.” He would love to hold her in his arms.
“No, you couldn’t,” Josephine said, laughing. “The tunnel isn’t always this wide. I promise to wash my feet when you tell me where we are going.”
“I was thinking the Hotel Le Royal Monceau. It is rumored to be five-star.”
“Wow, nice.” Josephine removed her shoes and tentatively put her feet on the stones. “Ooh, these are cold.”
“Let us hurry then. The sooner we are out of here, the sooner you can replace your shoes.”
They moved quickly through the tunnels. Josephine pointed out different exit points, as she continued to move in a southerly direction. Time seemed to stop, as if they moved through a warp. Finally, she opened a door to a stairway leading up. Valerii lifted her into his arms and raced to the top of the stairs where a metal gate stood locked. He could hear the sound of traffic nearby. She giggled when he paused, uncertain what to do.
“The key is hidden. Let me down, and I’ll fetch it.”
Valerii reluctantly put her down and watched as she moved another brick to find an old metal key. She opened the gate. Then, while Valerii held it open, she replaced the key and slipped out.
“Unfortunately this gate is an exit point only. There is only one copy of the old key, and it stays in the brick. To remove it might trap a pack member trying to open the gate.” Josephine slipped her shoes back on.
“I’m not sure our pack members should be using these tunnels. One wrong turn, and they could be lost for days,” Valerii said, glancing at his cell phone for the time. Their little jaunt had taken only half an hour. It had seemed like much longer while they made their way carefully through the dark.
“Teenage lycans are required to learn the map of the tunnels as part of their training. When I took the class, an elder brought us down, blindfolded, and then we had to find our way out. It took me less than an hour.”
“Still, everyone is not an Alpha like you, Josephine. The tunnels should be used for emergencies only.”
They walked out of an alley onto a busy street. Valerii looked around and recognized the Opera Garnier and across the street the Galeries Lafayete. A long row of taxis stood waiting for the opera to conclude and crowds to emerge. Valerii took Josephine’s hand and led her to the lead taxi. “Hotel Le Royal Monceau. Avenue Hoche,” he told the driver as he followed Josephine into the cab.
Now that they were out of the tunnels, he could feel Josephine pulling away from him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close to his side. “There is nothing to fear, malyshka. You are always safe with me,” he whispered in her ear.
Chapter Nine
Josephine stood in the lobby of the hotel and quietly handed over Valerii’s credit cards. He didn’t comment, but ran his fingers down her cheek before choosing one and handing it to the desk clerk. Her hands sweated, and she trembled. What was she afraid of? So what if this was going to be her first experience with lovemaking. She was an Alpha; she could do this.
She glanced at him and sighed. He was so handsome.
Just then, the desk clerk leaned forward over the counter. Her breasts almost fell out of her shirt only a few inches from Valerii’s hand. Then, she caressed his fingers while handing him a pen to sign the receipt. How dare she flirt with him right in front of me? Josie thought. Her wolf rushed forward. No one would take her mate from her.
Valerii wrapped her in his arms and held her, as if he felt her anger. Her wolf calmed with the contact, and she once more controlled her wild side. He took her hand and led her to the elevator. More than one woman turned to watch their progress.
“There is no reason to be jealous, Josephine. You are the only woman I want, the only one I see.” Valerii pushed the button for their floor.
“She touched you, flirted with you,” Josephine said, gritting her teeth. How did she come to be Valerii’s mate? For the last five years she had hidden as a boy. She couldn’t compete with all these women.
“She is not you, lyubov moya.” Valerii reached for her face and took possession of her mouth.
His lips started out tender, but within seconds he was licking her lips, demanding entrance. Josephine felt her body ignite, and she buried her hands in his hair to keep him from moving away. Their tongues dueled, each one trying to get closer to the other. She was on fire. This man was hers. Only hers.
Valerii reached up and removed her hands from his hair before pulling back. He gazed down at her, then kissed her nose. “We’ve arrived at our floor. These people are waiting for us to disembark,” he said, male amusement swamping his tone.
Josephine blinked and quickly moved out of the elevator and down the hall. She refused to look back at the people or Valerii. Tears of embarrassment burned in her eyes.
Suddenly, an arm encased her waist and drew her to a stop. Valerii pulled her into his chest and kissed her shoulder. “You never have to be embarrassed by what you feel for me. The feelings are very natural and extremely mutual. You are mine. I will always want you,” he whispered in her ear before he nibbled her neck. “Come over here. You walked right by the door to our room.”
Josephine hung her head, but allowed Valerii to steer her to the door several paces back. He used the keycard to open the lock and pushed the door open for her to precede him. Josephine moved forward into the room and placed her purse on the table next to the bed. She could hear him turning the safety lock on the door.
***
Valerii stared after his mate. Her passion tasted like fire. She was so young and uncertain, embarrassed by her reactions to him. He wanted to give her everything she needed. He glanced down at his clothes. Mud splattered his pants from places where the tunnels were overrun with water. He walked over to the door to the bathroom and looked inside. Gleaming white tiles sparkled in the large mirror in the room.
“I think I should shower,” Valerii said. “My day left me less than pristine. Would you join me? I will wash the tunnels from your feet.”
Josephine looked down and frowned at the brown speckles on her legs and shoes. “I didn’t realize how dirty I was getting down there. Do you think I’ve ruined my shoes?”
“Take them off, and I will look at them later. Do you need help with your zipper?” Valerii asked before walking into the bathroom. He opened the shower door and started the water.
“I think I can get it,” Josephine said from the door.
Valerii reached up and started to remove his shirt. He heard Josephine’s quick inhalation as he pulled the shirt off over his head. He removed his shoes before reaching for the waistband of his pants.
“Come in, milaya moya, and close the door. The moisture should be contained.” Was he pushing her too hard? He glanced in the mirror. Her eyes looked wary.
He turned his back to her and continued to undress. His heart did a little flip when he heard the door close behind him. He pushed his pants and briefs down before kicking them off. His body was hard already and his shaft stood rigid with desire. He heard the sound of her zipper coming down. Instead of turning to her, he walked over to the glass shower door and into the water. He didn’t want to spook Josephine with his body’s reaction to her.
“You forgot to grab the soap,” she said, opening the door and stepping in. “Here...”
Valerii turned his back to the water and looked at her. The breath left his body as his heart began to pound. She was perfect. Her breasts stood straight out as if needing his hands on them. Her nipples puckered as he watched, becoming hard little berries waiting for his mouth. Instead of taking the soap from her, he drew her forward and placed the hand holding the soap on his chest. His palm guided hers in small circles, encouraging her to lather him up.
“My body belongs to you, Josie. Touch me.”
***
Josephine leaned forward and licked a drop of water rolling down Valerii’s chest. Then, she started to run the soap over his body as he requested. He was eye candy in the extreme. After he’d removed his pants, she could hardly continue undressing because of her desire to touch his sculpted behind.
She ran the soap over his chest and arms before moving to his flat stomach. She could feel the muscles bunching under her fingers as she rubbed the suds on his skin. Going lower, she followed the line of hair that led to his impressive erection. For a moment, she wondered if it would even be possible to fit his shaft into her body.
Feeling bold, she wrapped her fingers around its hard length, the foam helping her hand glide up and down, before she crested the knob on top. Her wolf rose to the surface. This man was hers.
Valerii’s breathing hissed as he grabbed her hand and pushed it lower on his body. She obliged him by kneeling down and soaping his balls, enjoying the feel of them in her hands. Then, his hips and thighs, running down his muscled legs, until she had him lift each foot so she could wash the soles.
Valerii reached for her and helped her rise.
“Turn around, I still need to wash your back,” she said, when he would have taken the
soap from her.
He turned and placed his hands on the tile. She kissed his neck before soaping his back and down to his waist. She couldn’t help but finger each cheek of his butt before she moved lower and soaped the back of each leg. When she was finished, she moved forward and rubbed her body against his back. The silky feeling of their skin covered in foam tantalized her senses. She tingled all over and sighed in pleasure.
Valerii turned. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her tight. His mouth came down hard on hers, kissing and licking her lips before demanding entrance. She dropped the soap as her hands tangled in his hair. His mouth wandered down her throat, and she arched her neck to give him better access. Then, his teeth grazed her skin as he kissed his way up to her ear and gently bit down on her lobe.
“My turn to wash you.” He knelt and picked up the soap. He had her lift each foot, kissing each arch, before he soaped them. Then he ran his hands up her ankles, sliding his hands around her legs as he leaned forward and kissed her thighs. Each touch seemed amplified. Her skin pebbled with goose bumps, and she shivered. He ran his hands up her waist to the underside of her breasts, before he leaned down and took one hardened nipple into his mouth.
Fire ignited under her skin and shot down to the juncture of her thighs. She moaned and pushed closer as his lips pulled and sucked. Then, his hands replaced his mouth, the foam gliding over her skin before his fingers kneaded and teased her nipple.
He took her other breast into his mouth and her knees weakened. She grabbed his shoulders, holding herself up. Just as quickly, his hands took over from his mouth, soaping her chest before rising up to her throat. His fingers rubbed gently over her pulse. Did he feel how hard her heart pounded?
“Turn around,” Valerii said, his voice gravelly. “Let me wash your back.”
She wasn’t the only one affected by their bathing. Josephine turned and placed her hands on the shower wall. Water splashed in her face, and she smiled. Valerii’s wolf shown from his eyes, and his voice was close to a growl. A sudden feeling of confidence flooded her, and when he pushed against her back, his erection pressed into her behind, she leaned back and wiggled back and forth.
A Siberian Werewolf in Paris Page 10
