by KD Jones
Cat’s face was growing red, and she knew it. “Night.” She closed the door behind her. Good grief! Her granny was basically pushing her to sleep with Jay.
“Is something wrong?” Jay asked, walking over to her.
She looked up and found that everyone was gone. “Did Ric and Adrian leave already?”
“Yes, but there are a few of the pack outside, providing security for the place. I’ll be going out with them.”
She bit her bottom lip. “You could stay inside.”
He looked at her, clearly surprised. “You want me to stay the night inside the cabin...with you?”
She looked up at his handsome face about to recommend the couch but the starving look in his eyes made her whole body spark. “Yes.”
He nodded. “Go on to the bedroom, I’ll lock the doors and make sure the windows are secure.”
Cat didn’t have to be told twice. Nervously, she turned and headed over to the opposite side of the cabin where the second bedroom was. Granny hadn’t unpacked for her, which was fine, but she didn’t have time to do it before Jay came.
She opened the suitcase sitting on the bed and pulled out a nightgown. Closing the suitcase she sat it on the floor. She closed the door and quickly changed. She went over to look at herself in the mirror. She pulled her ponytail out. She looked a fright, her face was pale and she had knots in her hair.
Looking around she found her cosmetics bag and opened it. She pulled out her brush and started to work out the tangles. A few minutes later a soft tapping on the door had her looking in the mirror as the door slowly opened. Jay’s handsome face peered in then he opened the door wider coming inside. She turned to face him.
“You are so fucking beautiful.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I feel like a mess after everything that happened the past few days.”
He moved toward her with purposeful strides until he was just inches from her. He caressed her face with his fingers softly. “You’ve been through so much. I’m amazed at your strength.”
“I don’t feel strong. I was so scared.”
“I’m here with you and I swear I’ll do everything I can to protect you and your grandmother, but I need you to keep yourself aware so that if I’m not with you, you can protect yourself.”
“I will.”
He kissed her softly and she felt that spark growing inside her. It was a burning need for him. He growled.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m trying to take it slow. I don’t want to scare you with how much I want you.”
“You don’t scare me, it’s how you make me feel that scares me.”
“How do I make you feel?”
“Like everything I ever dreamed of is right in front of me and if I don’t reach out and grab hold, I’ll lose it.”
He took her in his arms and bent down almost touching his lips to hers. “You won’t lose me. I’m yours for as long as you want me.”
She was falling for him...hard. “I might want you for forever.”
He smiled, “You’ll have me.” This his lips descended on hers and everything else was forgotten.
Chapter 11
He couldn’t get the clothes off fast enough. Her nightgown wasn’t the problem. He lowered the thin straps of her gown and it cascaded down to her feet, leaving her in just her black lace panties. He stopped and stood back looking at her flawless pale skin, her red hair falling past her shoulders in waves and her gorgeous green eyes looking at him with passion.
“You take my breath away, Cat.”
“I want to see you,” she said with a husky voice. She ran her hands over his chest reaching for the hem of his t-shirt slowly raising it up. He helped her by taking it and ripping it over his head and tossing it on the floor
Her fingers ran up and down his six-pack. She pinched his nipples and his whole body responded. He needed to get the jeans off because they were getting too tight. While he reached down to unbutton his jeans her mouth closed over one of his nipples and his wolf nearly howled inside.
He got the button undone and worked the zipper, taking care not to snag his swollen cock. He wasn’t wearing underwear. Most shifters didn’t so that it was one less thing for them to have to take off before shifting.
Kicking off his boots allowed him to shrug out of his jeans. Her hands reached for his cock and he growled when she stroked him the first time. “Bed...now.”
Lifting her in his arms he carried her the few steps to the queen-size bed. He placed her on the bed and came down with her, taking care not to crush her. He kissed her as his hands explored her lush breasts. They filled his hands perfectly. She arched into him giving him more access to her.
This was their first time and he wanted to take his time, but he needed her too much. His wolf was anxious to claim her but he pushed those impulses down. He would claim her at another time. Right now, his focus was on building her arousal.
Jay kissed his way down her neck, pausing where her neck met her shoulder. One day soon he would bite her there and claim her as his mate. Our mate! His wolf growled inside.
He nibbled his way down to her breasts and sucked a nipple inside. Her arousal spiked and she arched even more. He wedged between her thighs and let the tip of his cock tease her entrance. She was so wet her juices coated him.
“Please, Jay,” she moaned, lifting her hips and trying to take him inside her.
“Easy, baby, I need to make sure you’re ready.” He reached down between their bodies and placed a finger inside her. “So tight.” So mine!
He moved his finger in and out, then added a second and third, making sure with each thrust he was widening her channel for him.
“Now, Jay.”
Cat whimpered a little when he removed his fingers from her. He used the juices to coat his shaft, then placed his tip at her entrance and moved into her. Slowly, inch-by-inch, he claimed her as he made their two bodies one.
At first, he set a steady pace thrusting inside her. The feel of her inner walls gripping him was incredible. There was nothing like being inside Cat.
“Faster!” Cat begged, meeting him thrust for thrust.
His eyes were glowing and he growled. He pumped in and out, increasing his speed. Lifting her leg up higher gave him a deeper angle and he was hitting her sweet spot with every move. He felt a building of intense pleasure and pain passing through him. Just as she called his name with her climax, her inner walls vibrated against him milking him. That tension building in him suddenly released in a rush and he felt a little vulnerable and a little dazed.
“That was...incredible,” she said with a slightly raspy voice.
Already his cock was stiffening as he rocked inside her. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Chapter 12
The next morning
Cat lazily stretched her achy muscles as she woke up. The bed was empty. She had woken up early, hoping to have another round of lovemaking with Jay. Sighing, she got up and pulled some fresh clothes out of her suitcase. She didn’t have any towels so she hoped that the cabin’s bathroom had something to dry off with.
She put on her robe and opened the bedroom door. It didn’t look like Granny was up yet so she went over to the bathroom and turned on the light. A shelf to her left showed towels, rags, shampoo, and soap. She really owed someone for stocking the cabin. Her debts were starting to add up and she was worried she wouldn’t be able to pay the bill.
She quickly showered and put her jeans and t-shirt on. Her tennis shoes were still in the bedroom. As she put the towel in the laundry basket, she noticed a stackable washer and dryer in the corner of the bathroom. It pleased her to know that she would not have to take their clothes to a laundromat for a while.
Five minutes later she walked out onto the cabin’s front porch. There were trees surrounding the cabin, with only the rocky driveway clearing a path.
“Good morning, Miss James,” a man sitting on the end of the porch said.
“Hi…”
He stood up and came over to shake hands. “I’m Laws Carrington, beta of the Strange Lake Falls pack.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Catherine James but everyone calls me Cat. Do you know where Jay went to?”
“Jay left early for the pack house to get a change of clothes.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Was there something you needed?”
“I wanted to go out in the woods and look for flora and spices to use for spells.”
“We have some of our pack in wolf form surrounding the area. You should be fine, just don’t go too far out. Our wolves will let you know if you are going too far.”
“Thank you. Could you let my Granny know when she wakes up that I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes or so?’
“No problem.”
Cat headed down the stairs and into the woods. She caught glimpses of the werewolves, who kept their distance for the most part. This was the first time since her arrival to Strange Lake Falls that she had been around the pack. Sure, she saw Jay and Rod after they’d shifted all the time, but none of the others in wolf form. The pack was real careful to protect their shifting from humans.
She found a few leaves and roots that would be good for remedies. She pulled them up and realized she needed something to put the stuff in. She waved over one of the wolves.
“Hey, I hate to bother you. Could you go to the cabin and get a basket or pot I can put my stuff in?”
The wolf didn’t look like he wanted to leave.
“I promise to stay right here, okay?”
The wolf finally caved and ran off in the direction of the cabin.
She glanced around and spotted a nice area under a tree that she could place her items. A pretty purple flower caught her attention. It stood out from its surroundings and she sensed something about it was different.
Cat bit her lip and looked for the wolf but he hadn’t come back yet. The flower wasn’t that far off. What harm could there be to go and get it?
Her decision made, she walked through the woods, dodging a few trees. She squatted down and admired the flower.
“Aren’t you a beauty.”
She would have to dig down a little to take the root and some soil to keep the flower alive. She should have asked if the wolf could bring some water too. Putting her fingers down into the soil surrounding the base of the flower, she carefully wiggled her fingers closer to the base.
Frowning, she noticed that she had not felt any roots of any kind. That was strange. Then all of a sudden, a hand reached out of the earth and grabbed her wrist.
As she scrambled backward to try to get free, the body attached to the hand was slowly emerging from the earth and it belonged to a man. No not a man...a vampire. She screamed.
Chapter 13
“That’s not a pleasant sound,” the vampire said, slapping a hand over her mouth.
She was more scared that she had ever been in her life. How was this vampire out in daylight? Adrian was an older vampire as was his creator Lila. They didn’t suffer the weakness that younger vampires suffered. Younger vampires lost their energy when the sun went up and rested until sunset.
If she could get his hand off her mouth, she could cast a spell on him. No matter how much she struggled, he was just too strong. She was no match for a vampire. A tear escaped her upon the realization that she was going to die and she hadn’t had a chance to tell Jay that she loved him.
The vampire was dragging her with her back to his front and his hand clamped over her mouth. He was mumbling crazy stuff.
“Don’t cry...you are in the way...this is wrong...she needs this...I’m hers...what am I doing?”
They hit an open area and the sun shone down on them directly, not filtered by the trees. The vampire slowed down. Direct light was affecting him. She needed to stay in the sunlight. What could she do to make the vampire let her go?
She didn’t need super strength to hurt him in the one place that was like every other guy’s. Reaching down with her left hand, she grabbed the vampire’s balls through his jeans and squeezed as hard as she could.
“Fucking bitch!” the vampire yelled, shoving her away.
Cat hit the ground hard a few feet away. She felt pain shoot up her wrists when she tried to slow the impact. She could only hope they weren’t broken. She turned over on her back and sat up. The vampire clutched his family jewels, breathing heavily, and then he looked at her with confusion. He touched a medallion hanging around his neck. Something about that medallion had a magical element to it. It shimmered and the vampire’s glowing eyes flickered with it. Cat wondered if medallion might be enchanted.
Howling caught the vampire’s attention. He leaped over her and disappeared into the woods. The next thing she knew, five werewolves came barreling in the clearing, leaping over her to give chase. One of the wolves stayed behind. She recognized Jay’s brown wolf.
“Hi.”
Jay’s wolf growled.
“I know, I know, I was supposed to stay with one of the pack.”
She tried to stand up but couldn’t use her hands to help. She managed to get to her knees but when she tried to put weight on one of her legs, pain shot up her ankle.
“I might need some help getting up.”
He shifted into his human form — a very naked, a very angry human form. “What were you thinking?” he exclaimed.
“I didn’t know there was a vampire out here. None of the pack sensed him, though I might know why they didn’t. Are you going to stand there and glare at me or help me get up? I think I twisted my ankle and I’ve done something to my wrists.”
He came over and knelt down carefully to take her in his arms. He stood up with her like she weighed nothing and looked down at her. “What am I going to do with you?”
She tried to smile at him but her wrists and ankle were starting to throb. “You can spank me later, but right now I need to get back to the cabin and have Granny help me heal.”
“Are you in pain?” he asked as he carried her through the woods.
“A little bit.”
He growled, clearly not believing her.
“Okay, maybe a lot. I don’t take pain well. I even faint at the sight of blood.”
“Are you bleeding? I don’t smell any blood.”
“No, I’m not bleeding.”
“I’ve got you. Hold on.”
*****
Jay was furious that his mate was in danger and he hadn’t been there to protect her. Where was the pack? She was to be guarded at all times.
She had faced a vampire on her own. Anything could have happened. He couldn’t see if she had been bitten or not. Seeing her there on the ground hurt and scared ripped his heart out. For just a moment, he considered turning her, but her injuries were not at a life-and-death level and usually non-alphas could only turn a human during a full moon.
He would need to discuss the possibility of turning into a werewolf with her. It would give her shifter strength that would help protect her against further attacks.
There was no doubt in his mind that he had fallen in love with her. He was determined to protect her even if that meant he had to sacrifice everything to stay by her side.
Chapter 14
As they came out of the woods, she caught sight of her grandmother on the front porch, waiting anxiously. She blushed as she realized that Jay was completely naked.
The beta, Laws, came toward them. “Are you okay, Miss James?”
Jay growled at him. “She was attacked by a vampire and hurt her wrists and ankle.”
“Bring her inside and I’ll get my poultices,” Granny yelled as she turned to go back inside the cabin.
Jay glared at Laws. “How could you have let this happen?”
“Don’t blame him, Jay, I’m the one that sent one of the pack away. It’s my fault.”
Laws shook his head. “Robbie is young and new to the pack, but he never should have left you alone. None of us sensed a vampire. We should have at least felt his powe
r. I don’t understand why we didn’t.”
“I think I know,” Cat said.
Laws held the door open so that Jay could carry her inside.
“Where do you want her, Granny?” Jay asked.
It warmed her to hear him call her that. It was like he was already claiming her as his own granny just as he had claimed her heart. She really wanted to tell him what she was feeling but there were too many people around. She wanted to say these things to him in private.
“Bring her to the bedroom. She’ll be more comfortable on the bed.”
Oh boy. Would Granny know what they had done last night? Had she made the bed before she left that morning? She sighed in relief when they entered the bedroom and she noticed the bed was made.
Jay laid her down on top of the sheets and propped the pillows under her head. The look of worry on his face made her feel happiness despite the pain in her wrists and ankle. She needed to reassure him somehow.
“I’ll be okay, I promise.”
He put on the pair of jeans that Laws handed him.
Granny walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. She wrapped Cat’s wrists with poultices containing spelled herbs to help ease the pain. She added them to Cat’s ankle.
“You sprained your wrists but I think your ankle could be broken. I can do a healing chant. Your wrists will be good as new by morning, but a break will take longer to heal.”
“How much longer?” Jay asked, running a hand over Cat’s head.
Granny shook her head. “A normal break could take up to 6 weeks to heal. The healing chant and poultices may be able to reduce healing time to three weeks.”
Cat was flabbergasted. “Three weeks? I have to work. How am I supposed to do that if I can’t walk?”
“I can cut the healing time to minutes,” a voice called out from the doorway.
She peered around Jay to see who it was. “Adrian?”
“I came as soon as I heard what happened. Jackie is still resting because of the sun.”
