Feral Seduction (Feral Protectors 2) Page 10

  He leapt onto the overhang at the entrance to the cave just as she crossed the threshold. He growled and advanced toward her, forcing her back into the darkness. She shifted and gave him a beguiling smile. Damn woman, he’d warned her to stay out of the moonlight.

  He backed her into a corner, then shifted. In human form, he pinned her arms over her head. “I told you to stay out of the light. But you didn’t listen.”

  She arched her hips against his, enflaming his lust. “I wanted you to come back. I tried to stay out of the light, but it was too tempting.”

  He groaned and released her hands. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

  She sauntered toward him. “I know how you can keep me safe.”

  He stepped back. “Stay over there.”

  “Mr. Big Bad Werewolf, why do you insist on resisting when I can see that you want me?”

  He gulped. “You’re in heat. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “I want you even when I’m not in heat. Explain that.” Her bright green eyes flashed as she challenged him.

  He swallowed and retreated another step. His back hit the cave wall. “I…”

  She held a finger to his lips. “Shut up and kiss me.”

  She leaned into him. Her scent swirled around him. A whirlwind of desire and longing encapsulated him, breaking down his restraint. The feral part of him awakened and suddenly he couldn’t stop himself.

  Heat surged into his cock as he captured her mouth. He parted her lips with his tongue, savoring her sweetness. As he pressed against her curves, a heady whoosh of desire rushed across every inch of his skin where they touched.

  “Oh, Brandy,” he moaned.

  She hooked a leg around his back and drew him closer. “Make love to me.”

  Love had nothing to do with what he wanted. Pure, unadulterated lust controlled his movements. He broke the breathless kiss and flung her over his shoulder.

  He carried her to his bed and set her down amongst the pile of furs. She lay back, eagerly parting her thighs, but he didn’t want to rush. He wanted to pleasure her until she begged him to stop.

  As he crawled across her body, he grazed her belly with his lips. She shivered in response and hooked her hands in his hair. She dragged his face to hers and pressed a searing kiss against his throat. He growled and tilted his head back.

  She clawed at his back, but he wasn’t even close to being done with her. He licked a trail of dampness down her neck and across her collarbone. He sucked one full breast into his mouth, stopping only to swirl his tongue across her nipple. He lavished her other breast with a waterfall of kisses before burrowing his face between them.

  He inched lower, closer to the source of her slick heat. When his tongue met the tiny nub between her thighs, she moaned, “Oh yes.”

  He licked and sucked the folds of her flesh, delighting in her cries. She writhed against his hands. He gripped her hips tighter in an effort to hold her still. She leaned up on her elbows and whispered, “More.”

  He slowed his pace and teased her with his tongue. He flicked little lashes against her, then retreated until she begged him to return.

  As much as he enjoyed hearing her beg for more, he wanted to overwhelm her with pleasure. He whirled his tongue against her while holding her hips. She couldn’t escape his ardent kisses and within seconds, she stopped breathing. Her next breath rushed out as a half-scream as she pulsed against his mouth.

  ***

  Lost in the bliss of the most intense orgasm of her life, she gasped for air. Stryde’s magical tongue was doing things to her she’d never imagined possible. She arched against his mouth, silently begging for more. When he stilled, she half-sat up.

  “Oh, please,” she moaned as she trembled against him.

  He crawled up her body, his slick skin brushing across her breasts. She parted her thighs and gasped as he slowly filled her. When he’d buried the full length of his cock deep inside, she wrapped her arms and legs around him. She drew him closer. She couldn’t get enough of him, of his wickedly sexy body, of his relentless thrusts, or his torrid kisses.

  She was lost to anything but him. Pure instinct drove her toward ecstasy. She crashed in a shuddering ripple of pleasure.

  His lips were on hers. He broke the kiss only to moan, “You’re so sexy.”

  She rolled him onto his back. She’d never been so aggressive in bed. She’d never even known she was capable of taking control of a man as strong as Stryde. As she pinned him between her thighs, she reveled in her newfound power.

  She moved over him, taking him deep and then pulling back. His rhythmic hips ground against hers. He reached for her breasts and caressed them with such reverence that she wanted to melt into him.

  But as she reached yet another peak, he joined her and thrust deep before moaning and spilling his seed. She slowed her hips and leaned down to kiss him.

  He held her close and whispered in her ear. “You’re amazing.”

  She let him slowly roll her onto her side. He eased out of her and cuddled her against his hard chest. As the throbbing desire slowly faded, she closed her eyes. Sleep came fast.

  Hours later, she stirred and reached for him, only to encounter a cold bed. She sat up, holding a blanket to cover her nudity. She still wasn’t used to a life without clothing.

  She glanced around the dark cave. She could see far better than expected. Great night vision was another werewolf gift, or curse, depending on how she looked at it. She sighed. As much as she’d tried to stay out of the moonlight, its siren call had tempted her and she’d succumbed.

  Stryde was nowhere to be seen. He was probably pissed that she’d stepped into the light. She cringed. She’d seduced him, which was the last thing she’d intended to do. As much as she loved being with him, she knew their relationship would be short-lived. As soon as her heat finished, Stryde would abandon her with Ryker and she’d probably never see him again.

  Her heavy heart thudded slowly. She hated the pain locked up inside her. She knew better than anyone that people had no loyalty. They’d abandon you in a heartbeat if you no longer served their purpose.

  She shivered. A gust of crisp night air swirled into the cave. She pulled another blanket from the foot of the dais to cover herself. As she tugged, she noticed something balled up beneath the blanket. Her clothes!

  She scrambled to pull her shirt over her head and slipped into her pants. She reveled in the familiar sensation. Although she wasn’t human anymore, she hadn’t lost the desire to wear clothes. The fabric fell around her like a mantle of protection. Fully dressed, she wouldn’t be so vulnerable when she had to face Stryde.

  She located her shoes tucked into a crevice by the edge of the stone bed. After slipping into her socks and lacing her shoes, she walked to the entrance.

  She poked her head out, expecting to see Stryde. The path down the mountain looped into the woods. She didn’t spot him, so she sniffed the air. After their amazing sex, she’d never forget his scent.

  She sniffed again, unable to detect a trace of his scent. Her shoulders slumped. She didn’t want to wander off, so she returned to the cave to build a fire.

  She’d studied Stryde’s process and replicated the pile of sticks and kindling needed to start a fire. Within a few minutes, she had a roaring blaze. She scooted closer and held out her hands to warm them.

  In a way, she dreaded Stryde’s return. She had no idea what he thought about the night before. But would he be angry enough to abandon her in the cave? How would she find Ryker’s den without him? She could probably sniff around searching for another wolf’s scent, but that could be extremely dangerous.

  As she sat back to contemplate the possibilities, something jabbed her hip. She riffled through the pocket in her pants and pulled out a rumpled photograph.

  She stared into the smiling eyes of the woman who had given birth to her. She hesitated to call her a mother, considering she only cared about herself. As firelight flickered over the photo, she couldn
’t help but remember the day she’d left.

  Brandy had arrived home from school. She’d jumped out of the bus, excited to share her first report card with her mother over a plate of warm cookies and milk, her mom’s favorite snack.

  She entered the kitchen and frowned. An empty plate sat on the kitchen table, devoid of cookies. A glass sat next to the plate, also empty.

  “Mom, where are you?” she called.

  When her mother didn’t respond, she grew worried. She hurried through the house as fast as her eight-year-old feet could carry her. Room by room, her worst fear was confirmed. Her mother was missing.

  She climbed onto a chair to reach the telephone on the wall in the kitchen. Her daddy had shown her how to dial the number to his office. A paper listing all the emergency numbers was pinned to the wall. She quickly called him and explained that she couldn’t find Mommy.

  Henny, the sweet old lady who lived next door, came over a few minutes later to wait with her. She said Daddy had called her. Henny poured her a glass of milk. After she drank it, it soured in her clenched stomach.

  Fifteen minutes later, her dad rushed into the house. It only took him a minute to find the note on their dresser. The note read:

  I’m sorry, but I can’t take the drinking anymore. Please take care of Brandy.

  That was it, two sentences that changed her life forever. Sometimes she wondered if that was the day her father had fallen into inescapable despair and deeper into the bottle. Regardless, she hated her mother for leaving. How could a mother abandon her child?

  The fire cracked and popped, jolting Brandy to the present. She used a stick to poke at the embers. If nothing else, reliving that terrible day was a good reminder that anyone could leave at any time. Becoming too attached to Stryde would only lead to a world of heartache. It was better to keep her distance. Hopefully she could keep her hands to herself over the next three days. Once he left her with Ryker, she’d figure out a way to move on.

  Outside the cave, a branch snapped. She spun to see Stryde walk into the cave. He was dragging a long branch behind him.

  “Hi,” she mumbled.

  “Sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up. I wanted to get more firewood. It was getting cold and I know you’re not used to it yet.”

  “I started a fire.”

  “It looks great. You’re a quick learner.”

  She cocked her head to one side. Apparently he didn’t want to talk about their tryst either. Fine, it would be easier to pretend it never happened.

  She bit her lip and looked away from his muscular arms. Ignoring the attraction would be easier said than done.

  Stryde sat next to her. “I see you found your clothes.”

  “I’m surprised you kept them.”

  “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about being naked, so I saved them just in case.” He nodded his head in her direction. “What do you have there?”

  She glanced down at the photograph in her hand. Damn, she should have hid it as soon as he’d returned. She’d already confessed too much about her mother to Stryde. She didn’t want to have to talk about it again. Rehashing the past did nothing to heal it; it only made the pain worse.

  “It’s my mother.”

  “Can I see it?” he asked as she moved to stuff the photo into her pocket.

  “Sure.” She handed it to him.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “She was.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”

  Brandy laughed bitterly. “She’s not dead. Not physically anyway. Not as far as I know.”

  “Did she ever contact you?”

  “No. I looked for her, but she didn’t want to be found. The selfish bitch never contacted me. Not once!” She drew back, shocked at her outburst.

  Stryde’s eyes rounded. “I didn’t mean to bring up anything painful. We don’t have to talk about it.”

  Brandy sighed. “I don’t mind talking about her. It’s a good reminder for me.”

  “Reminder?”

  “A reminder that anyone can leave at any time. She left me when I was eight. She left me with my father, the town drunk, so that she could go live a life of freedom.”

  “I can’t imagine what you went through.”

  She whipped her head up. “Don’t feel sorry for me. You barely know me.”

  “I know that you didn’t deserve to be abandoned by her.” He scooted closer and held out his arms.

  She sniffed and tried to resist the allure of his gesture. But she remembered how good it felt to be held by him, so she gave up on resisting. She crawled toward him. He pulled her into his lap and held her tight against him. She rested her head on his chest. His steady heartbeat soothed her.

  He lowered his voice. “Did you ever ask her why?”

  “I tried to locate her for years, but couldn’t find her. Eventually I gave up. She didn’t care enough to even call us, so I figured she wouldn’t care if I found her.”

  “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

  “Thanks.”

  She cuddled into his arms. She hadn’t been held like this in a long time. The heat from his body and the gentle way he cradled her against him melted some of the anger lurking in her heart. She knew that holding on to the bitterness was pointless, but she couldn’t seem to let it go.

  Chapter 11

  Stryde leaned against the entrance to the cave. He loved watching the sun rise over the valley. Even though he spent most of his days sleeping, he made a point of greeting the morning. Maybe he’d been holding on to hope all these months that his heart would heal.

  He glanced behind him to where Brandy slept. She’d spent so many years holding on to the pain and anger of being abandoned by her mother. She’d been so alone and closed off. He understood her desire to withdraw from other people. But at some point, she’d have to move on. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life trapped by anger.

  He brushed his hand across his face. Of course, it was easier said than done. He couldn’t fault her for being trapped in a whirlwind of anger. The first two weeks after Leah’s death, he’d raged at everyone in his pack. After screaming at one of the young pups over a tiny mistake, he’d decided to leave the den. He hadn’t been any good to his pack.

  Even now, the fuse of anger could be lit by the slightest inconvenience. He wasn’t ready to return to the pack. Even Gwen’s heartfelt pleas hadn’t changed his mind. He wouldn’t go back until he was sure he could be a good leader.

  Right now he had enough to deal with. Brandy would be in heat for three more nights. He’d have to figure out a way to resist her dangerously sexy curves. He’d followed her lead when she hadn’t brought up the sex from the night before, but he couldn’t get it out of his mind.

  Her soft thighs wrapped around his waist, the way she’d kissed him until he thought his heart would burst out of his chest. Everything about her drove him wild with desire. He’d have to chain himself to a tree to keep his hands off her.

  At least she hadn’t been angry. She’d let him hold her for hours and eventually fallen asleep in his arms. As much as he hated to admit it, he loved the feel of her. Her head fit perfectly under his chin. Her body molded to his in every way that counted.

  He kicked a rock over the ledge. He had to stop thinking about her. In three days, he’d take her to Ryker’s den and leave her. It was the best thing to do. Every minute he spent with her brought him closer to danger. He’d have to guard his heart, but he could do it. Only three more days.

  Brandy stirred on the bed. As she sat up, the blanket slid down from her full breasts. He gulped. Three more days of being trapped in a cave with a goddess might be more challenging than he wanted to admit.

  “Good morning.” She smiled.

  He couldn’t help but smile back. The warmth in her eyes chipped away at the ice around his heart. “Are you ready to go out into the forest today?”

  She slid to the edge of the bed. “I can’t wait.”

  Her enthusiasm was con
tagious. “Great. First, we’ll grab breakfast in the berry patch.”

  “Do I need to bring anything with me? A gourd or bag?”

  “No. We don’t collect more than we need to eat in a day. That keeps the plants healthy and productive. There’s no need to store any food when the forest is so abundant.”

  She padded across the room. “Should we shift?”

  He liked that she’d asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He’d expected her to take weeks to adjust, but maybe her rough upbringing helped her adjust to new circumstances quickly.

  “We can’t talk when we shift… and picking berries is easier with fingers,” he quickly added.

  “Sounds good. I’m starving.”

  His stomach grumbled in solidarity. Scorching hot sex made him ravenous both for food, and for her. Unfortunately, he could only indulge one desire.

  “The berry patch is halfway between Ryker’s and Kyran’s dens.”

  “Who’s Kyran?”

  “He’s alpha of the Phantom Lake Pack.”

  “I’m guessing they live by the lake.” She stepped into the sunlight. A halo of fiery red highlights shimmered in her hair.

  She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Leah had been beautiful too in her own way. But the women were as different as night and day. Where Leah had been fit and firm, Brandy was soft and round. Leah had been bold and outspoken, but Brandy held back her emotions.

  A twinge of guilt flashed through his heart. He shouldn’t be comparing the two women. It wasn’t fair to either of them. Besides, Leah was gone. He’d failed to protect her, and he couldn’t make the same mistake with Brandy. He had no business thinking of her as anything other than his responsibility for the next few days.

  They descended the mountain and strolled through the woods. Every few feet, Brandy would bend to point out a wildflower or stop to gaze at scampering squirrels.

  The look of wonder in her eyes made him really see the forest for the first time in years. The beauty he took for granted was exposed in a new way. Morning light drifted through the trees to cast spectacular patterns of shadow and light across the forest floor. The wildflowers he usually trampled without a second thought became beautiful works of art worth enjoying.