Текст книги "Mr. Red Riding Hoode"

Автор книги: Dana Bell

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 6 страниц)

Chapter Seven

Steve was damn near hyperventilating as he stared at himself in the mirror.

Right into his golden-brown eyes.

Steve’s eyes were blue, not brown. Perfectly normal, human, blue eyes.

Not golden-brown wolf eyes.

Fuck. He wasn’t ready yet. Couldn’t the stupid change wait a day or two? Or four?

“Graciela?” He cleared his throat as the raspy squeak left his mouth. “Graciela!”

“Hmm?”

Oh, God. That sleepy rumble had him nearly stumbling back to the bed. She’d moved him into her cabin right after the mating bite, informing him that now they were mated he needed to be close to her. He’d be changing soon, she said, and…

And…

He whimpered as he looked down at his hands.

He had fur between his fingers.

“ Graciela!”

He heard her fall out of bed. “Steve?”

“I’m fuckin’ furry!”

She stumbled to a halt in the bathroom doorway, taking in his appearance quickly. A sexy, satisfied grin flitted across her face as she leaned against the doorjamb.

He snarled at her. “You don’t have to look so happy about it.” He knew, intellectually, that he was going to become… like her, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. It was only two days until Ben and Dave’s wedding, three until Christmas, and here he was, all fuzzified and freaked out.

“Get naked.”

He blinked. “Now?” She wanted to make love now?

She laughed, her whole face lighting up. “Perv. No. If you change in your clothes, it can hurt you. You’ll get all tangled up as your limbs change and you go down on all fours.” She waggled her brows. “And you know how much I love you on all fours.”

He rolled his eyes and turned back to the mirror, jumping as he realized he had fangs. He pulled back his upper lip, staring at the white, pointy teeth that looked so foreign in his mouth. “I’m too old to be Teen Wolf.”

She snickered, pulling off the nightshirt she’d thrown on before falling asleep in his arms the night before. Underneath, she was gloriously naked, nearly distracting him from the fact that fur was beginning to sprout on his arms. “You’re going to be golden, amorcito.” She stroked her hand over his T-shirt, his muscles bunching involuntarily under her fingertips. “We need to get you outside.”

“Naked.”

“Yup.”

“In the snow.”

Her grin was pure evil. “Yup.”

“I hate you so much right now.” Steve tore the T-shirt over his head with a frustrated growl.

“Get naked, amorcito. Trust me, it will be worth it.” Then his—girlfriend? Mate? Possible love of his life?—sauntered out of the bathroom, wiggling her hips like a siren luring her prey.

His pants practically flew off as the creature inside him urged him to go after her.

The wolf wanted her too.

“Come on, amorcito. I’m waiting.”

That seductive, slightly accented purr was enough to spur him on. The woman was going to be the death of him. He darted after her, following her laughter out the front door of the cabin—

“COLD!”

He was back inside the cabin before he could blink, shivering and wondering if this was the last he’d ever see of Little Steve, who was pretty pissed at him right about then. And Graciela, naked and glorious, was laughing her very fine ass off at him.

“It’s not funny!”

“You…” She laughed again, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to catch her breath. “Your feet didn’t even touch the ground.”

He shivered as a particularly vicious breeze blew through the door. “I have not, nor have I ever wished to, join the Polar Bear Club.”

She wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. “Your fur will keep you warm, I swear.”

“Yeah, well, I ain’t furry yet.” His teeth started to chatter, which felt really fucking odd with fangs.

“Do yourself a favor. Relax and let the change flow over you. It’s coming, whether you like it or not.”

Wonderful. He winced as he caught a glimpse of more fur sprouting on his arms.

Graciela grinned. “There you go. Don’t fight it, amorcito. God, you’re going to be a beautiful wolf, all golden and red.”

He grunted, the sensations rocking through him almost too much to bear.

“Close your eyes and scent the wind. Can you smell that? The new snow, the other Wolves, all waiting for you to run with them.”

He could. He smelled exactly what she described. “There’s a Lion, isn’t there?” The scent, familiar yet different from the others, was…Charlie?

“Yes, you’re right. You’re smelling Charlie.”

She sounded delighted, but he still couldn’t believe this was happening to him.

“Our Pack is waiting. Change, amorcito. Change, and let’s run together.”

He didn’t even feel the freezing cold anymore as his skin rippled, flowing over muscle and bone. Electricity danced along nerve endings that were abruptly in different places. His paws hit the wooden deck with a thump as he fell to all fours, his ears twitching as he caught the sound of other Wolves running for Graciela’s cabin.

He ran out the door to put himself between her and danger, snarling as the first Wolf approached.

No one would lay a paw on his mate.

Then a massive red wolf approached, growling, his teeth bared. Steve instinctively lowered his own head, bowing before the Alpha Wolf and baring his throat.

The Alpha knocked him on his side and Steve whimpered, wondering if this was how it would all end.

The Alpha’s teeth were at his throat, the sharp fangs digging in until he could feel them through coat and undercoat. Steve held perfectly still, instinctively giving in to his Alpha, his human half reminding him that Rick Lowell wouldn’t hurt him without good reason.

Snarling at the Alpha Wolf might be good reason.

The Alpha held him pinned only by his throat for a few moments before releasing him. With a quick swipe of his tongue across Steve’s muzzle, he signified his approval, and the Wolf in Steven danced with joy. He’d been accepted into the Pack, and the full meaning of that flowed over him as his Alpha spoke to him in his mind for the first time.

“C’mon, pup. Let’s run.”

Steven followed the rest of his Pack into the woods behind Graciela’s cabin, his mate right by his side.

“You did it!” Chela leapt into Steve’s arms, giggling like mad. Her mate had run with the Pack, had been accepted by all of them. After their run they’d scampered back to their cabin, not changing until they were inside.

There was only one thing that could make her happier.

He grabbed hold of her ass, his blue eyes slowly turning golden brown. “You’re naked.”

She returned the favor, squeezing the firm globes. “So are you.”

His eyes shut for a moment. “I have the strangest urge to bite you.”

Chela moaned. “Oh fuck, please do.”

When his eyes opened, they’d turned completely, his Wolf close to the surface. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Chela licked the mark she’d left on his neck, smiling when he shivered. The mark would forever be a hot spot. “Trust me. You won’t hurt me.”

He buried his face in her neck and breathed deep. “You smell so good.”

“Mm-hm.” At this rate they wouldn’t make it to the bedroom. She’d drag him down to the floor and—

Oh. Oh, fuck.

Chela cried out as Steve bit her, marking her as his. The orgasm ripped through her, shattered her before his touch brought her back together, forever his.

She snarled, aware her own eyes had changed as the colors around her changed, went golden. Before she could do anything more than growl, Steve had her up against the wall.

She whimpered as her mate went wild, sucking and licking at the bite mark on her neck until she screamed for something, anything to make her come. The broken Spanish she’d been reduced to only seemed to spur him on as he sucked up another mark right on top of the mating one.

But he didn’t sink his fangs into her again, didn’t grant her that last little bit that would shove her over the edge. Instead, he tugged on her, twisting until they were both on the floor, his head between her thighs and his cock nudging her lips. She took him in, the salty flavor of her mate exploding on her tongue.

He groaned and began returning the favor, licking and sucking on her clit until she finally, finally tumbled over the edge. She shook under him, barely coherent enough to keep sucking on him, letting him feel her moans on his engorged flesh.

“More.” Steve rolled them to their sides, groaning when his cock slipped from between her lips. “More, Graciela.”

She licked the tip of his cock.

“Please.” He followed up on that pleading demand by lifting her leg and sucking her clit back into his mouth and humming.

Chela damn near came again. Who knew a man could give a woman a hummer?

She took him back into her mouth, savoring the feel of him throbbing on her tongue, her lips wrapped tight around him. He thrust into her mouth, careful even now, when he was damn near feral, not to hurt her.

Soon it wasn’t enough to taste him, to feel his tongue on her. She needed him inside her, to feel her mate pounding into her again. She pulled free of his grasp, ignoring his disappointed sigh.

She had plans.

She tugged until he rolled over onto his back, straddling his hips with a wicked grin. “Aw, amorcito. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this.” She reached between her legs and stroked his cock.

When he grinned, she knew his wolf had almost complete control. His fangs were fully extended, his eyes glowing. “I’ve got this.”

Before she knew it he’d flipped them, pushing her onto her stomach and lifting her ass into the air. She whimpered as he blanketed her, his chin resting right on the mating mark, his cock half inside her. “Good?”

She opened her senses, allowing his arousal to wash over her. “Fuck me.”

“My pleasure.”

The twin sensations almost undid her. The feel of him sliding into her, the thickness of him spreading her wide and the slick heat of her own pussy clamping down on him filled her. She cried out as he began a punishing rhythm, pounding into her with a ferocity that would have frightened her if she hadn’t been inside his head.

Steve was desperate to make her come, to feel her clamping down around him, to know he’d brought her pleasure. He wanted her to howl, to bare her fangs at him, to scream his name so that every fucking hairy asshole out there knew Graciela Mendoza was fucking taken.

The fact that she was doing just that would have freaked him the hell out a month ago. Now, he found it so hot there was no way he wouldn’t blow soon. First, he had to make her come.

Had. To. His wolf demanded it, and Steve was more than willing to comply.

He could fucking feel her in his head, riding their shared pleasure. She was using her powers, opening herself up to what they were doing together. While part of him mourned that he would never share that with her, the other part, the part desperate to make her scream, gloried in it. She’d know exactly how it felt to slide into her wet heat, the sheer joy of her clamping around him. She’d share in the glory of taking her in a way no other woman ever could.

Steve was hooked. One taste of her golden skin and he’d known, that first time, he’d never get away. Now, he couldn’t even imagine wanting to. Who would want to give this up?

She cried out, her hands sliding on the floor, forcing her shoulders down to the ground. It changed the angle, made her even tighter. Steve swore, holding back his orgasm by his fingernails and a prayer.

He followed her down, pressing until her chest was flat on the floor before shifting slightly. He grabbed hold of her hips as he continued to pound into her.

When her fingers started scrabbling on the hardwood floors, he knew she was close. “Come, baby. Come for me.”

The first wave of her orgasm triggered his own, sending him over the edge into dark ecstasy. He choked out a cry, the pleasure almost tipping over into pain as the orgasm rushed through him. He poured himself into her, gasping as the pleasure went on and on.

Graciela keened, the sound almost a howl, her pussy a tight, wet vise gripping him hard. When he leaned over and licked the mark he’d left on her neck, she shuddered, more ripples from her wet heat sending shockwaves through his system.

At the end they were both panting, gasping, covered in sweat and utterly spent. He collapsed next to her and cuddled her close, not caring that they were still on the cold, unforgiving floor. When she practically draped herself on top of him, he purred with pleasure. The feel of her skin sliding against his, slick and smelling of the two of them, damn near made him hard again. “So.”

She stroked her fingers through his chest hairs, her leg sliding up until her knee rested just below his balls. “So?”

“I think I could get used to this dog shit.”

She giggled, and it was one of the most beautiful sounds she’d ever heard. “Dog shit?” She wrinkled her nose. “Ew.”

“Yeah.” He tried to hide his grin, fully aware that she was still somehow in his head, reading his emotions. “We need to do this in the woods.”

She lifted her head from his chest, her smile lighting her whole face. “The woods?”

He tried to keep his expression innocent, knowing he failed. “That’s where dog shit happens, right?”

“Ugh. Knock it off with that shit.” She rested her head against his chest again as he chuckled. “You’re not thatcute, Mr. Hoode.”

“Yes, I am.” He puffed out his chest, losing it when she giggled again. God, when was the last time he’d felt so comfortable around a woman? Any of the ones he’d known before would have taken his head off for daring to make that kind of joke.

Graciela not only laughed, she played along.

Her laughter faded away as she resumed stroking his chest hair. “We have some decisions to make.”

He nodded. “Like whether or not the Flyers will beat the Rangers in the next game?”

“The Flyers are going to rip them a new asshole, but that’s beside the point.”

He shuddered. “That’s it. We’re through.” He stroked her back lazily, making no move to stand up. He tsked. “Mated to a Flyers fan. Now I know the Mayans were right when they said the world was going to end. They just got the date wrong.”

She tilted her chin until she was gazing up at him. “How do you feel about living here?”

He shrugged. He’d known, the moment he was told he was Pack, that odds were good if he survived, he’d be making the mountains his home again. Hell, his parents would probably be thrilled. They still owned a craft store about twenty minutes away. Part of him would miss New York, but he could visit anytime he wished. He’d keep his condo there and just bring Graciela with him. “I’d love to.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Liar. You hate the cold.”

His heart pounding, he pulled her up until he could kiss her nose. “Yeah, but I love you more.”

The sweet smile that graced her face was more than worth the snow.

Epilogue

“What have you done?” Graciela was giggling like a little girl. It was the cutest thing Steve had seen in a long time. Even better was the cleavage on the dark red, V-neck dress she wore. The dress hugged her curves and showcased her golden skin to perfection. The gold, strappy heels were the sexiest things he’d seen in years. He had every intention of taking her home after the reception and fucking her while she wore nothing but those pretty little heels.

He wanted to rip the eyes out of any male who glanced her way, even the mated ones. Maybe she’d be willing to dress Amish when they were in public?

“Me?” He held his hand to his chest, doing his best to look innocent.

Rick stood next to Graciela, shaking his head in disbelief. “I never would have believed it.” He sipped his champagne and turned to the petite blonde tucked under his arm. “My Luna?”

“My Alpha?” Belle arched a brow at her mate.

“Did you have anything to do with this?”

“Pfft. If I had, do you think I would tell you?”

Graciela giggled again.

Ted clapped Steven on the shoulder, hard enough to stagger him. “Holy shit, Hoode, how the hell did you convince him to do that?”

Steve stared at the dance floor, where Dave was currently dancing with his new husband, Ben. The man was shaking his booty left and right, the hot-pink tulle tutu swaying around his hips as Ben laughed his ass off. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”

“Meaning he got me to nag Dave until he agreed.” Charlie sauntered up, the blonde looking utterly regal in the black, feminine tux she’d insisted on wearing as Dave’s best woman. She eyed the couple on the dance floor, completely ignoring the Wolf who’d gone quiet and still next to her. “Not that I had to nag much. I basically showed him the tulle, he snagged it, end of story.”

Ted was staring at Charlie like a starving man would eye a cheese plate. “But why pink?”

She shrugged. “I like pink.” She pointed toward Ben as the others laughed. “Why is Ben wearing that T-shirt under his tux?”

This time Steve was the one who snickered. Ben’s T-shirt declared him to be Dave’s trophy wife, the dark brown shirt matching his eyes exactly. “He loves that thing.”

“He wears it to Pack meetings all the time.” Belle shrugged. “Something to do with holding on to hope, he said.”

“No, I know about that. I was in Disney World with them. Why is he wearing it today?”

“I think he wore it for Dave.” Ben would do anything for Dave, even wear something that was totally humiliating. Strangely enough, now that Steven had gone through the change, he scented both Ben and Dave on that shirt. He had to wonder what that meant.

Then he had to mentally scrub his brain as images flew fast, furious and…ew. Nothow he wanted to picture his best friend, thank you very much, no matter how happy he was with his lover.

“I think my favorite is the wedding cake topper.”

Charlie held up her hand. “That one was my idea.”

Belle was grinning as she looked over at the cake table. “I love that you got one with one groom dragging the other to the altar. But what happened to the one they’d picked out?”

“It got turned into a chew toy by a really large cat. Poor thing didn’t last very long.” She winked at Belle. “They just don’t make things like they used to.”

The rest of the Pack slowly joined Ben and Dave on the dance floor of the Red Wolf Lodge’s banquet hall. The theme, winter wonderland, had been the one thing Ben had insisted upon. Steve had to admit, it was pretty nice. White Christmas lights dotted everything, twining around the columns and the ceiling. White, crystal-encrusted branches had been turned into tall centerpieces. The colors were ice blue and white, even down to the lighting. It was like stepping into Jack Frost’s ballroom, and the moment Dave had seen it, his face had lit up. Apparently none of the Pack had allowed him to see it before the wedding, so it had been a complete surprise, despite the fact that he was the event coordinator and was usually in and out of these rooms on a daily basis.

Graciela leaned around him to smile at Charlie. “Congratulations on your new job, by the way.”

“Thanks. Now if I can pry my boss’s head out of his husband’s ass, we might actually get some work done.” Charlie winked. She’d landed the job after her interview with Belle, and Rick had welcomed her into the lodge. While he hadn’t accepted her into the Pack, she’d agreed to live by his rules until such time as she either quit or mated in.

From the looks she and Ted kept exchanging, he had the feeling she’d be accepted into the Pack before too much longer. Hell, he doubted they’d wait much longer than the end of the reception.

Even better, neither Rick nor Belle had made the connection with the Leo until afterthey’d hired her. Dave had gleefully informed them of whom they’d brought into their home the day after they accepted her.

Rick and Belle had surprised him. They’d shrugged, basically said, “And?”, then proceeded to treat the Lion like any other new employee, down to making sure she had her own tiny cabin in the back of the lodge and growling when she didn’t show her throat quickly enough to suit the Alpha pair. From what he’d seen, Belle was thrilled to have another big cat roaming the Poconos. He’d seen the two women whispering over clipboards together, Graciela right at their sides, plotting whatever the hell made them look like…

Well, kind of scary, now that he really thought about it.

“Oh, God.” Charlie started laughing. “Dave, you nut.”

Steve looked out on the dance floor and shook his head. Dave had picked Ben up and slung the slightly smaller man over his shoulder in a manly display that would have looked a lot better without the hot-pink tutu. “Geez, guys.”

Belle cupped her hands around her mouth. “Get a room!”

Dave’s head whipped around at the sound of his Luna’s voice. “What do you think I’m doing?”

Ben’s expression was resigned. “We’re playing rock-paper-scissors when we get home, asshole.”

Dave’s grin turned lascivious. “And you will go down again. Literally.” He laughed as Ben swatted his ass, carrying his new husband out of the banquet hall and into the night.

Graciela tugged on his arm. “What do you think, Mr. Hoode? Should we stick around and dance, or…?”

He grinned, allowing his fangs to show. This was a shifter-only event, which was good, because he hadn’t gotten complete control of his shift yet. If the way everything around him had gone yellow and blue was anything to go by, his eyes had shifted too. He’d thought all animals were completely color-blind, so he was happy to find out that they had some color vision.

“My, Mr. Hoode. What big eyes you have.” Graciela batted her lashes at him as she slowly backed away from him.

He laughed, snagging her around the waist before she could get very far from him. “All the better to see you with.”

Her gaze landed on his mouth. “And what a big mouth you have.”

His brows rose. “Like I haven’t heard that one before.”

She smacked him on the arm. “You’re supposed to play along.”

“Honey, in this game, you’rethe big bad wolf.”

She glared up at him. “And you are?”

He waggled his brows. “Hoping to get eaten.”

Those around them erupted into laughter as Steven pulled his laughing mate into his arms and kissed the ever-loving breath out of her.