Текст книги "Bonds of Fire"
Автор книги: T. A. Grey
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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 20 страниц)
Chapter 19
Willow had experienced fear before. She’d felt different kinds of fear. She’d felt the tingly feeling as Lyonis stalked towards her with wickedness in his eyes; when a dark demon had stood high above the trees in Germany and roared her name she’d felt the quivering fear of impending death, but none of that compared to what she felt now.
Willow’s jeans wouldn’t button.
A smart woman might think it was because she’d just done the laundry and perhaps they shrunk some, but Willow was not feeling smart. She was feeling hysterical.
Try as she might, no matter how hard she sucked in her belly, her jeans would not fit. With a gargled scream of frustration, she tore the pants off and threw them at the wall.
“Oh, God.” The room spun in circles around her. She plopped down on the bed and closed her eyes until it stopped. “It’s just the laundry. That’s all.”
She heard the front door open and quickly ran to her bag to pull on some yoga pants. Just as she pulled them on Lyonis came into the room, a grim look on his face and a brown paper bag in his hand.
“Here,” he said gruffly and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” She opened the bag and saw a small white box inside. Her eyes bulged then she crushed the bag in her hand and threw it at his face. It bounced off his cheek and fell flatly to the ground.
“You need to take it.”
“A pregnancy test? You’ve got to be kidding me.” She was not pregnant.
Lyonis roughly combed his fingers through his hair. “Yes, you have to take it. We need to know if you’re pregnant.”
Willow gave him the dirtiest look she could muster. “I’m not peeing on that stick because I’m not pregnant.”
His jaw worked left and right. “You can’t be sure of that.”
Willow crossed her arms. “I can.”
“You’ll take that test or—”
“Or what,” she interrupted, “you’ll hold me over the toilet and make me pee?”
He seemed to grow bigger with anger, his body filling up even more of the room. “Fine but what do you plan to do about Amy’s challenge. Once accepted, it can’t be undone. That is unless you’re pregnant.”
Willow perked up at that. “If I’m pregnant then I don’t have to fight the she-bitch?” His lips twitched.
“Right.”
Willow pretended to think it over. “Well I’m not pregnant and I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on her.”
Lyonis was in front of her in a second, his arms banded around her. He was so damn warm it reminded her of being back in Florida. “You’d fight to be my mate?”
Willow choked. Face flushing; she looked anywhere but at him. “That’s not why I’m doing it.”
His laughter was soft and silky as he nuzzled her ear. “Then please enlighten me, mate. Why are you doing it?” Willow’s body softened, melting at his nearness. She closed her eyes and let her head fall to the side as his lips found her neck.
“I, uh, just want to beat her ass.” Again that laughter teased her, taunted her.
“Your response is true of any mate. All fated mates would happily fight for their partner. Have you accepted this, Willow? That you are mine. That you’ll be my wife.” His words were low, coaxing. She had to concentrate or else be lulled in by his hypnotic words.
“No,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I just don’t like her.” His arms swept down her body and cupped her bottom bringing her flush against him.
“I think you’re very wrong, Willow. And I couldn’t be happier about it.”
Willow moaned as he rocked her against him. God, he was always hard around her; she had no idea how he managed it. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit she liked it—lots. It was only because it made her feel powerful. She liked having this control over the big bad Alpha. And while she was mentally admitting things, she loved that he wanted her with such passion. If only she could stand to be with him. She knew what happened once that step was taken though.
“I couldn’t be prouder that you accepted the challenge. Whether you realize it or not, Willow, you’ve taken giant leaps towards becoming my mate.” His hands passed up her back then slid down and slipped under her shirt to play with the skin of her lower back. Willow’s breath caught as her pulse continued to pound louder and louder.
“That reminds me. I’ve heard of this first step. When I hugged you the other day.” Her breath stuttered as he rubbed her hips up and down before one hand covered her bare stomach. “Supposedly when someone hugs another it automatically makes you their mate.”
Lyonis laughed a deep, rough sound, then his teeth caught her lobe. Willow melted; her bones turned to jelly and if not for his arms, she would have slid into a puddle on the floor.
“You know it’s not quite like that. It’s what it signifies, Willow.”
His hot hand scorched a path up her stomach and paused below her breast. Her head shook left and right. Her breasts felt tight and heavy, swollen with only one possibly thing that could alleviate it—his touch.
“What do think it signifies?” She was surprised she could even form words let alone complete a sentence. Her tongue felt thick and heavy, her lips didn’t want to close, and she didn’t stop herself from arching her chest into him.
He didn’t relent nor give in. He continued to rub his thumb back and forth under the cup of her breast, getting closer and closer until he touched scant centimeters from it. Willow sighed and moaned as her breast tightened painfully, her nipple pulling into a tight, frustrated point.
“It signifies, my love, that you will be mine.” She had only a moment to gasp at the word ‘love’ before his mouth came down on hers and his hand molded her breast.
Willow was caught in the sensual web he weaved. Her hands shot into his hair and held on for dear life. His big hand squeezed her breast, never quite touching her aching nipple. Frustration at the possible pregnancy, at the situation with the demon and Stephanie, all came unleashed in a roaring haze.
Willow took over the kiss. Curling her hands into his short hair, she held on as she thrust her tongue in his mouth, tasting his heady flavor, licking the softness of his tongue. He groaned and the power of it vibrated from her lips to her sex as though he’d growled against her core.
Willow pictured him there, his lips and tongue tasting her sex—and she lost it. With a cry, she launched her legs around his hips, and pumped herself against the rock hard cock standing in his pants. Lyonis reacted just as she wanted. He growled against her lips and began pinching and rolling her hard nipple between his fingers. He wasn’t soft or gentle but tugged ruthlessly on her sending shards of hot arousal to her clit.
Willow claimed his mouth again, biting his lips, sucking his tongue deep into her mouth. His hands cupped her ass and squeezed before her back slammed into a wall. Willow couldn’t wait any longer; her sex was wet with need, her heart pounding like thunder.
He pulled back from her mouth to unbutton his jeans but Willow slapped his hands away to do it herself. She cupped his hard cock through his jeans, loving the hard thick length as it more than filled her palm. She stroked him up and down once before sliding his zipper down and pulling his thick erection out.
He felt even better in her hand, blazing hot and smooth as silk. She tightened her fist over him and dragged her palm up and down his shaft.
“Willow.” It was a warning, and she loved it.
“Lyonis.” As if she’d given him some kind of permission he yanked her pants down until they drooped around her ankles, then cupped her ass, lifted her back up, and speared her with his cock.
They both moaned as he filled her up, stretching her wide and filling her deep. He gave her no time to adjust before he was filling her again and again, slamming in hard and fast. Willow’s ass beat against the wall and she didn’t care. She fisted his hair again and slammed her mouth against his. He bumped some deep part of her, pushing her closer and closer to exploding.
She was insanely wet, making their sex noisy as he pressed in and out. His thick tongue thrust in her mouth in time to his thrusts and soon she was being fucked everywhere by him. Willow couldn’t stave off her orgasm. It boiled up and toppled over too fast for her to catch it.
Tearing her mouth away from his, she screamed as her orgasm ripped through her with astonishing speed. Muscles rippled and trembled, her sex milking his cock as he tunneled through her. Lyonis was right there with her. He buried his face in her neck on a groan, and then his teeth clamped down on her neck as he slammed in deep and held himself there.
Willow cried out again as she felt him shooting hot and deep inside her, pouring his seed into her. She rocked her hips back and forth on him trying to wring out every drop from him.
As their blood cooled, Lyonis slowly pulled out of him with a wet pop. He dragged his lips up her jaw and kissed her, his lips playfully. Willow felt lightheaded, elated. That is until he spoke.
“Mate with me.”
Shock stunned her. It was the first time he’d ever asked her and not demanded it or prophesized it like it was ordained to happen. He cupped her jaw and looked into her eyes; there was no escape.
“Please, mate with me. I want you more than anything. I crave you more than I ever thought possible. I need you, Willow. Please say you’ll be my mate.”
Willow’s mouth opened and closed as she quickly thought of what to say. As if seeing her denial, he rushed on.
“I promise to care for you, to love you. I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy. Just say yes.” It was as close to begging she’d bet he’d ever got. And Willow couldn’t bring herself to say yes.
Her mind raced with the possibilities. What was worse, the idea of mating with him wasn’t nearly as scary as it once was. Worse, a part of her jumped at the idea.
He pressed his forehead against hers and Willow softened even more. He would be great to her. She knew that.
But David said the same thing. Willow stiffened in his arms and fought until he put her down.
“I’m sorry but I can’t.” She couldn’t meet his eyes as she pulled her pants back up and pulled her shirt down. Her cheeks were flaming red and her stomach twittered with nerves. He didn’t answer for a long minute.
“Why don’t you think about it?” Willow’s heart did something surprising then. It rejoiced. She pressed a hand over it to control it. God what was wrong with her? Was she really considering this?
“Look at me, Willow.”
Slowly she dragged her gaze up to his. His eyes never ceased to make her think: beautiful. A lovely light blue like a clear sky yet brighter and more vivid.
“Promise me that you’ll at least think about it.”
Willow nodded before she could stop it. He hugged her tight. For a moment, she couldn’t believe she was actually considering it. But then it wasn’t that surprising. She actually...liked him.
“Just remember what I said.” He pressed his lips to hers one more time then left the room.
Willow collapsed against the wall, her heart roaring in her ears. She looked down at the ground and found the brown paper bag. Picking it up she pulled out the pregnancy test kit.
Her heart skipped a beat as she pressed a hand to her flat stomach.
“Are you in there?” she said softly.
She leaned back against the wall, her throat tight, and a strange excitement inside her.
* * *
“Jackie, wait up!” Jackie pretended not to hear him.
It didn’t work. Thane rounded on her, backing her against the wall. Quickly she threw up her hands to keep him away. A lot of good that did. He looked at her hands with laughter in his eyes...as if they could keep him away. He slapped them away and leaned into her, one big arm resting by the wall at her head.
“You’ve been running from me for days now. Why do you think that is?”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “I haven’t been running from anything. I’ve been doing this thing called work. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” The corner of his mouth tilted up. It gave her the distinct felling he didn’t believe a word that just came out of her mouth. Funny, neither did she.
“Little liar. You can’t act like the other night didn’t happen.”
She sighed. “Nothing happened as far as I’m concerned. Why don’t you back the hell up? Stephanie’s waiting in the office to get interviewed. You know...by us.”
Jackie used all of her strength and pushed his shoulders in a hard shove. He went stumbling back and she strutted away towards the office. If he thought she was some untrained free bitch, then he was wrong—and stupid. She was as well trained as he was.
Booted feet pounded after her. “We’re going to talk about this.”
“No were not,” she said quickly.
“God dammit, Jackie. We have to.”
That stopped her. It wasn’t what he said, but the desperation in his voice, something she’d never heard from him. Slowly turning around, she crossed her arms. She’d need every ounce of defense against him.
“Alright, go ahead.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. As he fumbled around for words, he combed a hand roughly through his long black hair. Jackie followed the movement. She’d never thought much about his hair before. Sure she’d thought it was nice looking, but now it was different. She’d actually touched it in her bare hands. She’d gripped the heavy strands, which she now knew were soft as silk, long enough to wrap around her hand several times.
She blinked as she realized he’d said something.
“Sorry, what?” His eyes darkened in a way that sent butterflies scurrying in her belly. He started towards her. Jackie told herself to back up, but she was glued in place. He caught her against him. His arms so strong and long they seemed to cover her up completely.
“I said...you know what this means.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jackie considered lying. Yeah, she did know. But did that make anything better or right? Nope. He pressed his face into her hair, then his lips found her ear and she couldn’t stifle the shiver that wracked through her—it happened too fast, too startling. “
Say it, Jackie. I want to hear you say it.” Jackie was practically shaking in his arms. Her cheeks were flushed but not from embarrassment. There was a roaring fire building in her body. She’d never heard his voice sound like that—as if touching her brought out his beast, as if he could barely control himself.
She took an unsteady breath. “No.”
He laughed the sound dark and erotic as his hands gently traced over the contours of her bottom. Her eyes slid shut and she waited anxiously for him to grab her hard and bring her close. But he didn’t. He continued to barely caress her, lightly cupping her in caressing strokes, teasing her with the possibility of his touch.
“I never knew that you’d be the one, but I’d thought about it. Damn had I thought about it.” His hands finally did cup her squeezing her cheeks in a delicious way that had a moan bubbling from her throat.
“You have to stop this,” she whispered. It didn’t sound like a protest though, even to her own ears.
“God, I don’t want to stop. I want to take you in the nearest empty room and learn every inch of you. It’s all I’ve been able to think about.”
“No, we can’t. You’re wrong,” she said desperately. His lips found her throat and tasted the skin there, kissing it, and licking her. Jackie grew wet in an instant, her panties dampening uncomfortably at the touch.
“Why is it wrong?” He didn’t sound like he cared about the answer, because he was too busy torturing her with sexy little kisses.
“Because...it’s you.” It was a stupid defense, but it was true. She couldn’t stand who he was. Hell he’d slept with most of the free females in the pack and God knew who else. Her ardor froze. She pushed him away.
“Stop it!”
He pulled away with a frown. “What?”
“I don’t want you,” she said furiously. His eyes darkened with anger.
“What do you mean you don’t? Of course you do. You can’t resist it anymore than I can.”
Jackie squared her shoulders.
“Wanna bet I can’t?” For a moment he looked like he was about to shout, but then his body relaxed and a devilish smile crossed his face. “Okay.”
Huh. “Okay what?”
“I’ll take you up on your bet.”
Jackie took a step backwards and his smile grew even wider. “What do you mean?”
“You wanna bet that you can resist me, resist us. Then fine, challenge accepted.” Jackie’s mind spun in a thousand directions. All possibilities led to him winning. The thought made her heart pound wildly.
“No, that’s not what I meant. We can’t, Thane.” God she was actually begging.
“Too late.” He stepped forward and caught her chin in his hand. He brought his mouth close to hers. Close enough that if she leaned an inch forward they’d kiss. “Consider yourself no longer free, Jackie. Because you’re mine now.” He leaned into her and stupidly her eyes fluttered closed, waiting for his kiss.
It never came. He released her and started down the hall. “See you in the office. Stephanie’s waiting for us.”
Mouth hanging open, Jackie stared at his retreating back. Just who the hell does he think he is? Her heart stuttered in her chest.
He thought she was his mate. And what was worse, she thought he was right.
Chapter 20
Willow sat down as everyone gathered in the conference room. Poor Stephanie. She looked scared even with her mother here to comfort her. Hell, she’d be scared too if she disappeared for days with no recollection of what happened. For the meeting they had the lieutenants Thane and Jackie who have been leading the investigation, Draven, and of course Lyonis.
After their romp this morning, there was an air of tension between them. Every now and then he’d send her a guarded look, but Willow ignored it. She would not take that test.
The thought of finding out right now was scarier than that demon. She’d gladly deal with the demon than a baby. What the hell did she know about raising a baby? Nothing. Not a damn thing. And she wasn’t sure but she didn’t think having a baby came with an owner’s manual. A Guide to Having a Baby by Willow Bellum. Ha! At least she could still make jokes at a time like this.
Lyonis leaned across the oval table. “Stephanie, now that you’ve had a few days to think about it I want you to recap exactly what happened from before you left the house to when you came home.”
Stephanie nodded, her eyes darting nervously around the room. Her mother held her hand under the table and Willow’s chest tightened. She never even had a mother herself. Diana had left/disappeared, a few months after Lily was born. So she remembered absolutely zilch about her mother. She kept a picture of her in her wallet that Papa had given her for her tenth birthday. She was a pretty woman with a full head of blond hair. Her hair was wavy and curly like Lily’s but Willow had the same color.
Stephanie cleared her throat. “I finished eating dinner with the family. Then mom made me do my homework. I was feeling stressed after it was done ‘cause I have a big report coming up. So I decided to go out for a wolf run. I remember getting to the forest and feeling happy, you know. Like some of the stress was already gone. I...” she pandered off as her face pinched in confusion.
“Do you remember what happened then?” said Lyonis gently.
“I don’t ever remember shifting into wolf form. The next thing I know I’m strolling out of the woods feeling good and everyone in the town is hanging out in the center, excited to see me.” She laughed nervously. “It was weird.”
Lyonis leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on it. “Alright, now we’re going to tell you what we found. I don’t know if it’ll help but maybe it’ll trigger a memory, okay?”
Stephanie nodded, her frown growing deeper. The poor girl, thought Willow. She was only about sixteen.
“Several hours after you left for your run, you didn’t return your parents grew worried. They got a hold of Jackie and Thane who went to search for you. They couldn’t find you anywhere in the pack.”
“What about the cameras?” Willow said. Lyonis turned to her with a startled look.
“I checked the camera footage,” Jackie said. “We didn’t find anything. We see her entering the forest then that’s it. She’s nowhere in any of the other frames. It’s weird.”
“Get me that tape, I want to see it.” Lyonis scrubbed his hands over his face. Willow hated seeing him like this. She didn’t know why she cared, but she did. Before she could think twice about it, she reached out and laid her hand on his thigh. He looked stunned, but she saw the happiness shining in his eyes and she smiled a little. Was this what it would be like to be his mate? He’d told her to think about it, and she was going to.
Jackie returned a few minutes later with a laptop. She set it up then hit play on a video. Everyone watched to see Stephanie entering the forest. The camera then switched views to a camera inside a tree looking down. Willow recognized that area, the camera should have caught Stephanie walking, but nothing was there.
“Draven, what do you make of this?” The half-demon vampire was so silent in the room that Willow had forgotten he was there. His hair was pulled back today in a long braid down his back; it might have looked feminine on most men but on him it looked like he was about to enter battle. That and Willow knew about his little invisibility trick. He probably had an entire arsenal of weapons on him.
“Telal Demuzi described the demon to us. Some demons of that power have the ability to cloak things. To make things invisible or to distort an area and change its appearance. My guess is that’s what happened.”
“But we didn’t smell demon there,” Lyonis disagreed.
Draven arched a cocky brow. “But I did.”
Thane took an aggressive step towards Draven. “Do you doubt the word of our Alpha?” Draven smiled at the shapeshifter with a taunting look that said: bring it on.
“No, I don’t believe any of you scented the demon’s stench. It was subtle. If I hadn’t been careful then I would have missed it too. But I’m half-demon,” he shrugged casually. “Maybe I can smell my own easier.”
Willow didn’t know why but she came to his defense. “You’re not even the same species of demon as that thing is, Draven. You’re shahoulin and that is thing is jaheera.” He gave her a peculiar look as if he was surprised, then he slowly smiled and bowed his head to her.
“Okay, let’s get back to that night,” Lyonis said. “Steph, after we couldn’t find you we sent out a larger search party. You weren’t here. Your scent disappeared, except on a tree where we found a piece of your t-shirt with a drop of blood.”
Stephanie jerked, startled. “My shirt?” She reached and rubbed along her right arm. Lyonis straightened in his chair.
“Show us your arm.” Stephanie hesitated for a moment, then pulled up her sleeve. A small cut was on her arm. It was deeper than it was long as if she’d been poked with something.
“Where did you get that, sweetie?” her mother said. Stephanie looked as shocked as everyone else.
“I don’t know. I don’t even remember getting it.”
“Then why did you touch that arm when I mentioned the shirt?” Lyonis said. There was no suspicion in his voice, only curiosity, but Stephanie stiffened.
“Look, I don’t know! I told you everything that I remember!”
“Okay, I think we’ve had enough,” her mother said. “We’ll finish this another time. Obviously she isn’t ready.” Willow wanted to stop them, they needed to talk to Stephanie, but Lyonis nodded grimly at them and let them go.
After the door closed, Willow turned on him. “Why did you let them go?”
“Because I respect her mother’s wishes.” Willow frowned. “Alright so what’s going on?” Lyonis said to his lieutenants.
Thane spun his chair side to side. “I think the demon that’s after your mate did this.”
“You don’t have to talk about to me like I’m not here,” Willow mumbled. No one listened to her.
“If Draven’s suspicions are right—” began Lyonis.
“And they are,” Draven replied.
“Then it took Stephanie. The question now is why and what for? Any suggestions, Draven?”
Draven looked thoughtful for a moment. “Mind control to spy on us, to get closer to Willow, or an assassination attempt.” He finally shrugged. “I have no idea.”
Lyonis sighed heavily. “Fine, I want a guard on Stephanie at all times. Don’t make it obvious, I don’t want the family scared. Just keep an eye on her until we figure this thing out.”
“No problem,” said Jackie. Lyonis dismissed them and the room cleared.
Willow was suddenly aware that she was alone with him...and her hand was still on his thigh. As discreetly as she could, she pulled it away. Her palm chilled without the added heat from him, but she hid her disappointment behind a false smile.
“So what now?”
Lyonis spun his chair towards her and had a grin so sexy Willow leaned away from him.
“What?” she said hesitantly.
“Tonight, we’re going out.”
“Out?” she replied dumbly.
“Out. Go home and get dressed. You have a present waiting for you. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
Willow started to protest but then he swooped down and kissed her. The kiss was gentle and coaxing, teasingly soft. Her heart sped up nonetheless. He teased her bottom lip with his tongue before slowly pulling away.
“One hour,” he promised and left.
