by K Loraine
He wrapped me in his arms, tugging me against him as we laid back on the bed. “I know. It was the final straw that estranged me from them all for close to a century. I didn’t return more than once a year, if that, after I lost you. My father twisted us all into terrible versions of ourselves. I’ve no doubt we’d all be dead by now if Cashel hadn’t turned on him when he did.”
“You left them?”
His lips pressed against the sensitive spot at the base of my neck, and I fought a shiver of longing. “Of course I did. They’d hurt you. My father used me, sold me out, and allowed me to be banished for his plot. I spent months fighting demons with the angel Azriel at Gabriel’s behest because of it. Months I could have been with you.”
“And I almost married Nik thinking you had truly never wanted me.”
If I could take any of it back, that would be the first thing. I would have run away with Lucas the first time he asked. Married him and lived in secret. Abandoned everything else I knew. I saw that now.
“You’re really my mate, aren’t you?” I asked in the inky darkness as I turned to face him. I could make out his features even with the lack of light thanks to my enhanced vision. His brow was furrowed, a pained expression on his handsome face, as though he were in a delicious type of agony.
“Yes, Briar. Yes, I am.” The break in his voice nearly made me sob.
I cupped his cheek before trailing my thumb over his lower lip. A jolt of pain mixed with pleasure when he caught it between his teeth, then sucked it into his mouth. I couldn’t help myself. I groaned his name.
“God, how long I’ve wanted to hear you say my name like that. Say it again.”
I whispered it into his ear, then I bit down, and he bucked against me.
“Fuck, Briar.” He kissed my cheek before feathering lighter brushes of his lips across my jaw as he rolled us until I was under him, his hips fitted between my thighs. His mouth claimed mine without hesitance, without permission, and without any shame.
God, yes. I needed this man as much as I needed my next meal.
“You gave me your blood,” I whispered when he broke the kiss.
“Of course.”
“Because you’re my mate?”
He pressed our foreheads together. “Because I love you. Don’t you understand? I’d do anything to give you what you need. I would have died for you if that meant you could live. I’ll never forgive myself for letting you put yourself in harm’s way for me.”
“I love you too, Lucas. I never stopped. Even when I hated you.”
He chuckled. “There’s a fine line between love and hate. And hate sex blurs it even more.”
“Is that what we did when you found me?”
“Oh, yes, that was definitely what we did.”
“And what about now? Are we going to have more hate sex?”
He ground his steel-hard cock against my center and let out a low rumbled groan. “No. This will be the night we reclaim the love we lost. I’m going to serve my mate the way you deserve and remind you there’ll never be another.”
“There never has been.”
Gaze trained on me, his expression changed to deadly serious. “Bloody right, you are.”
Long fingers slid across my bare collarbones until he reached the lace at my shoulder. “What are we going to do about this?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
He grinned, flashing a bit of fang that sent my blood humming. “It’s in my way.”
Backing away from me, he sat on his heels and ran a hand up my leg, under the silk of the dress until his fingers brushed my bare slit and I moaned.
“You mean to tell me you’ve been parading around with no knickers, you naughty girl?”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t going to wear another woman’s panties. I have to admit, it’s pretty freeing. Maybe I’ll stop wearing them altogether.”
“Don’t tease.”
I reached for him, needing more of his touch. “Lucas, please.”
“Oh, do that again.”
“What?”
“Beg for me. Beg me to make you come.”
“Please make me come?”
He brushed my clit, just the lightest touch, but I was already so desperate for him, I nearly cried when he didn’t give me more. “You’re so needy, Briar. I like knowing you’re at my mercy. Since we’ve been reunited, it’s been me begging for scraps from you. I’ve been a walking hard-on for weeks.”
“I can take care of that for you.”
And then he was gone. Just like that, he disappeared from between my thighs where I wanted him most. I sat up, panicked for just a moment before soft, warm lights illuminated the room.
He slowly unbuttoned his white shirt and slid it off his broad, toned chest, letting the fabric fall to the floor.
“Stand up, Briar.”
I did as I was told. If he was going to give me what I wanted, I’d do anything at this point.
“Turn ‘round for me.”
Facing away from him, I waited to see what he was going to do to me. When I felt his fingers carefully unzipping my gown, my entire body lit up. The dress slipped down to pool at my feet, baring my naked form for his pleasure.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
His palms settled on my hips, then trailed up my belly to cup my breasts from behind. Teeth nipped my shoulder as he rolled my nipples between his fingers.
“Fuck, Briar. How can I resist you?”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
My limbs trembled with the overwhelming desire running through me. “What do you want?”
A dark chuckle was my only answer until he spun me around to face him, all bare-chested and domineering. “You. On your knees, wrapping your perfect lips around my cock until I spill down your throat.”
My thighs clenched at the thought. I opened my mouth to respond but stopped myself. I’d left him on edge for far too long. It was his turn.
Falling to my knees, I looked up his long body and something low inside me tightened when his favorite word fell from his lips again, this time on a groan.
“Fuck.”
I undid his belt and opened his trousers, freeing the solid length of him. He was straining, the head of his cock already beaded with arousal. “Like this?”
Gripping his shaft, I stroked him slowly, rolling my palm over the head and sliding back down.
“Fucking hell, yes. Just like that.”
Unable to stop myself, I smiled. “You know, I haven’t done this more than once. Maybe I need you to teach me again?”
“Jesus, Briar, you know exactly what you’re doing. Now suck my cock like you mean it.”
Oh, God. His hands went to my hair, gripping hard enough I knew he was there, but not so hard as to hurt me. Opening my mouth, I wrapped my lips around him just like he’d asked for and was rewarded with a groan and the tightening of his fingers.
I worked him over and over, my fingers encircling his base until I was used to him and could take him deeper. It wasn’t long before he was groaning and tensing. I cupped his balls in my palm, tightening as he neared his orgasm. With my other hand, I slid up his taut stomach, feeling the flex of defined muscles as he let out a pained moan and filled me with his release.
“Swallow,” he commanded.
I did. Then I sat back and looked up at him before using the back of my hand to wipe the remnants of his seed off my lips.
“Fuck, that was hot.”
“Me on my knees?”
“You holding my balls in your hand, able to crush them if you chose. You don’t even realize how much you own me, do you?”
“If I own you, then does that mean I can tell you what to do?”
Eyes darkening, he nodded. “I am at your command.”
“Then come over here and dominate the fuck out of me, Lucas. Have your wicked way with your mate.”
“As you wish.”
LUCAS
I’d like to say we stayed focused
on the looming war for Briar’s freedom, but…we didn’t. We had a century to make up for. I fucked her on every single surface in my chambers, nearly impaling myself on a fireplace poker at one point, but it was worth it. She was finally in my arms, and I was going to keep her that way as long as possible.
“We should probably at least let your brother know we’re alive,” she murmured against my chest as we lay naked in my bed. No. It was our bed now.
“Give it one more week. He won’t come knocking unless we go quiet.”
She giggled. “It’s already been nine days. Haven’t you had enough?”
“Never. With you, an eternity wouldn’t be enough. Don’t you realize that? If I had my way, we would live out our nights together in these chambers.”
“We can’t hide out here forever.”
I sighed. “I know. Can you blame me for wanting to spend as much time as possible in bed with you?”
“No.” Her finger traced the scar over my heart, a small furrow between her brows. “But you love other people, Lucas. I’m not the only one.”
That brought me up short. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you love her. Olivia.”
Grabbing her hand, I flattened it over my heart, willing her to feel the slow pulse. “Listen to me. This heart beats only for you. Not anyone else.”
She sat up and locked eyes with me, the startling violet color of her irises nearly glowing. “Don’t lie to yourself, Lucas. You love her. Just as you love your brother and your sisters. It’s okay. You can’t ignore the world just because I’m here.”
“Can’t I?”
“No. We both have responsibilities we have to face. Yours is to keep them safe and deliver me to my pack. Mine is to prove I’m able to handle the pressure of being an alpha and deal with my mother.”
“And what happens when you take your place? We go right back to where we were. Forbidden.” My throat was thick and tight, the emotion I tried so hard to hide away breaking through like a wrecking ball.
“The world has changed a great deal in a century. We will change this.”
I snorted. “It hasn’t changed that much.”
“Have faith.”
She slid from the bed and walked naked to the bathroom, her arse swaying enticingly as she went. Of course, my dick perked up immediately. I was insatiable when it came to Briar. The shower started, steam curling from the slight crack where she hadn’t closed the door completely. The sound of her humming Moonlight Serenade had me longing for a night under the stars with her in my arms, with nothing to worry about but us.
Briar’s scream cut through me like a knife, and I was on my feet and rushing through the bathroom door in under a second, ready to defend her.
“What is it?” I asked, heart racing.
She was huddled in the corner, covering her breasts with one hand and her pussy with the other. I followed her gaze to the tub where my sister was perched, fingers over her eyes.
“Callie, what the bloody hell are you doing?”
She huffed. “I’m making sure the two of you remember there’s a world outside of shagging.” A groan of frustration left her. “Cover yourself with a towel, will you, Lucas. I don’t need to see your twig and berries.”
“I’ll have you know it’s much more than a twig.”
“Not listening.” She put her fingers in her ears and screwed her eyes shut.
After wrapping up in a towel and handing one to Briar, I waited for my sister to open her eyes.
“Right,” she said, hopping off the tub. I could nearly see through her. It wasn’t noticeable until I really looked, but she was definitely faintly translucent. “Briar, your boyfriend is here. Cashel has him held captive in the well. You might want to organize a rescue. Unless he’s up for grabs. Then I’d like to call dibs. I could play with him for a bit.”
“Sebastian is here?” Briar’s shock was mixed with a hint of excitement. Fuck that. Sebastian. Stupid name. He wasn’t getting his hands on her.
“Yes. He’s been here a few days. Showed up with some silver nitrate and a stake, so Cashel thought he’d better stay in the well.”
“Oh no,” Briar’s worry cut through my jealousy. “He’s not going to like that much.”
I chuckled. “No one likes the well. I certainly never did.”
“We have to get him out of there. He’s probably just worried. You did kidnap me without leaving a trace.”
“You say kidnap, I say absconded with.” I smirked. “Potato, po-tah-to.”
She shook her head and pushed past me, grabbing one of my shirts from the closet and slipping it over her head. Fuck me, but she looked sexy as hell in my clothes. Especially with the added bonus of my scent being all over her like a claim. And, there went my cock again, ready for duty.
“I have to put on some real clothes. Are you coming?” she asked, staring me down.
“Not currently,” I grumbled, but I grabbed a shirt and pants and pulled them on before following her to Callie’s rooms.
13
LUCAS
“Get him out of there. He hasn’t done anything to deserve this.” Briar stood in front of Cashel with a storm building in her eyes. I could feel her struggling to contain her wolf. My brother didn’t know what he was facing. If Briar lost control, she’d tear through him without a second thought.
“He came at us with a stake and silver, Briar. He would have done plenty.” Cashel wasn’t going to back down, of that I was certain.
I reached for her with my mind, hoping she was still open to me. The reaction to one of her trusted friends being held by my brother had her hackles raised. I just had to calm her enough to make an arrangement that suited both her and Cash.
Don’t let your worry for your friend ruin your control. He’s alive, uninjured, and we will free him before long. Trust me. Calm your mind and clear your thoughts.
She pushed against me, her wolf trying to take over again. But then I heard her voice in my own mind. He is mine. Cashel can’t do this to him.
That stung, and I instinctively recoiled. Hers? What the bloody hell did she mean by that?
Shaking my head to clear the shock of her admission, I reached out once more. And you won’t be able to see him if you let your wolf get the better of you.
The fists she held at her side relaxed, and she closed her eyes, sighing as she worked to gain dominion over her emotions. The glowing violet irises were a subdued shade of purple once she reopened her eyes and stared at me.
“Cash, we need to come up with a solution that doesn’t include locking Sebastian in the well.” I put a palm on my brother’s shoulder. “Did he pull the stake on you?”
Cashel shook his head. “Knight found it on him. In his bag.”
“So, perhaps he wasn’t planning to have to use it.”
“He wouldn’t kill a vampire unless he was being threatened. He’s never hurt me before. Not even when I was practically feral.” Briar’s eyes were filled with desperation for my brother to understand.
“Fine. Knight, collect Sebastian from the well. Check him one more time before bringing him into this home. If he has any other weapons, throw him back.” Cashel jerked his chin at Knight, who gave a clipped bow and left without a word.
A low growl of warning rumbled from Briar’s chest, but I took her hand and squeezed. “Steady on, love. It’ll be fine.”
“He saved me from Nik, Lucas. You don’t understand how important he is to me. Without him…”
God, every word she said was like a knife in my back. “You’d still be there with him.”
“Yes. I only know how to be what I am because he showed me how to make it work.”
I frowned. “But he’s not a vampire.”
“No. He’s a wolf and a witch.”
“How did he know what you needed?”
She shrugged. “He knew more than I did. The rest I picked up from my memories of you.”
Knight returned with Sebastian in his grip, a little batte
red, but no serious injuries to be found. My heart turned cold when she released my hand and ran for him, wrapping her arms around her Sebastian. I could sense her need to be near him, the…love she had for him. This was different than her relationship with Nik all those years ago. He was nothing but a fly in the ointment, but this guy? Sebastian meant more. Was I really at risk of losing her to him?
“Are you okay? What are you doing here, Seb?” She looked him over, checking for injuries, ensuring he was in one piece.
He grinned, and I wanted to eat his face off. I’d never desired to kill someone more than him, right then.
“I’m fine. Just a misunderstanding, right, Blackthorne?” He dipped his head in a mockery of a bow to my brother.
“As long as no further weapons come into play,” Cashel said.
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here, Seb. How did you find me?” Briar took his face between her hands and, God in heaven, I almost lost my hard-won control.
“I followed the proverbial trail of breadcrumbs. We had him. He’s a Blackthorne. He likely went home with you. It took me longer than I’d thought to get here, but I couldn’t leave you with him. Not when you were so afraid of him finding you.”
Afraid? She had nothing to fear from me. I loved her. She hadn’t known that then. Not until I’d proven it. But now, there couldn’t be a doubt in her mind. We were true mates. Destined.
She looked to me, her eyes flashing with trepidation and…guilt. “Things are…different now. A lot of things.”
“Like what? Are you saying you’ve changed your feelings about the Blackthornes? The last time we talked about them you said you hated them.” Sebastian’s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer to him and pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
Oh, hell no. I couldn’t contain the growl that escaped my throat. “You know nothing about us, Sebastian.” I sneered at his name like it was something on the bottom of my shoe. “Briar is mine. You’d do well to release her if you want to keep your arms in their sockets.”
Cashel stiffened at my side, his posture going protective as he threw an arm across my chest, stopping me from advancing. “What my brother is trying and failing to say is, Briar and Lucas have a complicated past. She’s learned a lot in her time here with us, Sebastian. There are many facets to this story. Why don’t we all go inside, and we can speak together in a more comfortable environment?”
