Mated to the Wolf (6 page)

A warm male palm skimmed down the arch of her back, coaxing a shudder of pleasure. He cupped her hip, then slid over the curve of her ass. He squeezed lightly, pressed a finger between her legs. Samantha couldn’t help her groan of pleasure. Even now, in the cold dawn light, he made fire come into her body.

“Just sex?” He leaned over, his expression intent. “Maybe we should make sure.”

She expected a quick, hard coupling. Instead, he took his time, savoring her body. Tasting her, his tongue lapping over her reddened nipples. She explored as well, testing the hard muscles of his arms, the sinew and tendons, running her fingers through the dark, springy hairs of his chest.

Delighting in his moan of pleasure as she pinched his nipples. Samantha squeezed his ass, slid a finger between his cheeks. Toyed with the pucker of his anus, grinning as he shuddered with pleasure.

He’d claimed her body and she’d been too dazed with the newness, the sensations. Now with the confidence of a well-pleasured woman, she explored her lover. He harbored the fierce, single-minded intensity of a Hunter, coupled with a tender consideration. Samantha hummed as her palms slid down the flatness of his belly, molded to his narrow hips, testing the jut of bone and flesh. His body was so different from hers, strong and muscled and powerful.

Beneath her interested gaze, his penis twitched. The nest of thick, dark hair surrounding it was damp with heat. She leaned down, grasped him with her hands. Veins roped the thick shaft and she traced one with her finger.

The head was round, seeping a single droplet. She licked it off, enjoying the salty taste, and his gasp of pleasure. Carefully she cupped the spongy testicles, and squeezed lightly. Then she took him into her mouth.

His strangled moans echoed in the stillness of the room to the movement of her mouth. Arousal and anticipation made up for her lack of expertise. Samantha grazed her teeth along the shaft as his hands curled on her shoulders.

With a strangled moan, he pulled himself free. “Enough,” he said thickly.

He rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Moisture surged between her thighs as he nudged himself between them. Grayson entered her slowly, his gaze luminous as he took her. His body was hard and straining as she wrapped her legs around his hips, locking them together. Rocking slowly, he created a delicious rhythm. In less than six strokes, she came, bucking wildly as he shuddered and cried out as well.

For a while they lay together, spent, the cool air washing over the sweat on their bodies. Then he stirred and looked at the hearth with amusement. “Time to light a different fire. It’s getting cold in here.”

“I’ll do it. I am expert at starting fires.” She sat up, stretched out her hands.

Nothing happened.

A little alarmed, she tried again. Nothing. Not even a glimmer of flame. Panic surged through her. She reached for the darkness, the strength that helped her endure.

It was gone.

“What did you do to me?” she whispered.

Grayson’s expression tightened. The scar on his face went taut and white. He held out a hand, clenched it into a fist.

When he opened it, a small ball of black mist danced on his palm.

“When we were together, I removed your dark powers.”

He blew at it and the mist vanished. “They’re inside me now. It’s why the Society wanted us to mate. I’m strong enough to absorb evil and eradicate it.”

Samantha groped for her dark powers. Nothing. The demon rage that fueled her strength had vanished.
Don’t panic. He’s lying. Maybe it’s dormant for now, just needs a wake-up call, like you need a strong cup of coffee in the A.M.

His gaze remained sharp, watchful.

Cold rage filled her. She welcomed the fury. “You took away my demon, my strength, you bastard. It enabled me to come this far without collapsing.” She drew in a breath, trembling with emotion. “You stole my power when I was most vulnerable.”

“I had no choice,” he said quietly. “If I didn’t, you’d be dead.”

He picked up her wrist, ran a thumb over it. “When I brought you into the Society, they implanted a thermal detonator. It was timed to go off this morning at the first surge of demon power. It sends an electrical pulse straight to your heart. Not enough to kill, but weaken so you can’t fight back. The Hunters they’d send would finish you off. Slowly, ripping you to shreds.”

Numb with shock, she went to the bed and sat. Samantha stared at her wrist.

“Take it out,” she said dully.

He hesitated. “I’ve got the tools, but no anesthetic. It’s going to hurt.”

“I don’t want anything foreign inside me, take it out!”

The procedure was painful, but she gritted her teeth as he probed and prodded. Minutes later, he plunked a small microchip onto a plate. Grayson bound her wrist with gauze.

“This should heal fast now that the white light inside you is at full power.”

Her furious gaze met his wary one. “The white light wasn’t what healed me. My demon strength took care of that. But it’s all gone now. I want my powers back, Grayson. And don’t tell me we have to have sex again for it to happen.”

“I can’t do that. Not until you stop this obsession with finding your parents’ killer.”

“So it’s down to blackmail? You’d keep me weak and dependent?”

“Not by choice. It’s for your protection. The minute you regain demon strength, you’re a target.”

“I’d take my chances, but you removed the choice from me. You betrayed me, my trust, damn it.” She fisted her trembling hands. “You know what that feels like?”

Lines of strain bracketed his mouth. “I do. I’m sorry, Samantha. It wasn’t my choice. I wasn’t about to let anyone hurt you. It’s my duty to protect you and I will not go against it. Never again.”

White light inside her pulsed, longing to heal the old hurt in his eyes. It pushed her into surrendering her anger. Samantha touched his arm, feeling the muscles quiver. “Then make amends. Give me my powers back and then show me how to find balance. Work with me, Grayson.”

His mouth compressed to a tight slash as he walked away. “I can’t.”

“You won’t. Because you don’t trust me.”

“Give me a reason to trust that you won’t race off to find Jerome Cabot and kill him and I may reconsider. I’m not turning my back on you.”

Not since her parents’ deaths had she felt this empty. Even her anger was gone. She was shadow now, as gentle and weak as a baby. As helpless.

“And I never turn my back on a Hunter. The last time I did, one killed my parents.”

His expression shuttered. “It wasn’t your fault, Samantha. You had nothing to do with their deaths.”

Anger shimmered inside her, fierce and bright. She welcomed the sting of rage. “I could have stopped him. I should have slit his throat instead of hiding like a coward.”

“No, you couldn’t have. It wasn’t in you.”

His deep voice was gentle. Pity was bad. It tore down her defenses, tugged her away from the path she’d chosen. She couldn’t lose sight of the goal. So what if her darkness was gone. She didn’t need her demon to kill.

A butcher knife would suffice for the Hunter who killed her parents. Make him scream and burn.

Samantha watched as he went to the window, lifted the curtain. His expression tightened.

“Get dressed. We’re leaving right now.”

“I’m not taking orders from you.”

“Fine. Want to take them from them.?” He lifted the curtain.

The cabin was set on a small rise, giving a clear view of the long road leading to it. In the distance were two black cars.

“After they’ve cleared the barricades, they’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

She peered out. “The Society’s team, checking to make sure we’re lovers?”

Grayson dropped the curtain. “Worse. Russell, enforcer in my pack, and an entire contingent of shifters. They’re not here to pay a social call.”

“They’re after me, too?” Sweat popped out on her forehead. She rubbed her arms, feeling weak and trembling.

His jaw tensed. “Not you. Me. And when they finish with me, they won’t let anything of mine remain standing. Including you.”

Bitter cold stung Samantha’s cheeks. The thick sheepskin coat, new cords and cable-knit sweater did little to ward off her inner chill. Wisps of hair escaped her tight bun, making her wish for a thick wool cap. She hugged herself as Grayson led her to a path into the forest behind the cabin. Their footprints vanished behind them.

“An old spell I cast on the land,” he explained as they crossed the meadow. “My enemies can’t sense my scent or see any marks I’ve made.”

“What enemies? The families of the victims you’ve hunted?”

“My former pack, the ones coming here.” Beneath the terse words lingered a shadow of deep pain. She wondered what happened. Why were they running?

Frosty blades of grass crunched beneath their boots, then magically straightened. It was like watching a film in backwards slo-mo, she thought.
If only my life could be the same
.

She felt her muscles protest as she walked. Samantha winced. He turned, stopped, looked at her. The blue of his eyes contrasted to the black leather jacket and black cords. Scarlet stained his cheeks from the wind’s sharp bite. She wondered about that. Grayson was a wolf, and unaffected by the cold.

“Are you too sore from last night?”

His calm, steady gaze flustered her. “Nothing I can’t handle. Except you could have bought better underwear.”

A sexy grin touched his mouth. “You don’t like the lace thongs? I bought different colors.”

No amount of charm could douse her anger. Samantha held onto it like a drowning woman. “Where are we going?”

“I have a hideout about six miles ahead. Small, but camouflaged, off the public records. Warded against danger. You’ll be safe there. My magick is powerful.”

They began walking again. “And you? I gather you’re not staying? Going shopping to get an early start on Christmas? Thinking about using your new demon powers to start a forest fire? Maybe go out and conquer the world?”

“Heading back here to confront them.”

Samantha stared at his broad shoulders. “They’re coming here to kill you and you’re taking them on alone? Is this some macho thing?”

His warm breath misted the air as he exhaled deeply. “Reasoning with them. If I challenge Russell and win, the others will listen to me.” His voice was quiet. “I don’t want to hurt him, but they leave me no choice.”

“Why did they kick you out?”

The only response she got was the crunch of undergrowth beneath his boots. Samantha jogged after him. She wanted answers, but sensed he wouldn’t give them easily. “Why can’t you talk to me? Tell me what we’re facing. I hate being in the dark. I have no more demon powers, so what are you afraid of?”

Grayson halted, turned. “I’m afraid of what will happen to you.” He touched her nose, the playfulness of the gesture dimmed by his solemn expression. “I swore to myself I’d take good care of you. I told the Society I’d take good care of you. And that can’t happen until I finally face my pack and get them off my tail, pardon the pun.”

His concern dampened her earlier anger. Or maybe it was the angel goody-goodness nagging her to forgive. “Then let me help you.”

“I’m going to do my job, it’s my duty to take care of matters. I won’t risk you getting hurt.”

As they reached the forest’s edge, he stopped and bent over. Deep, gasping breaths sounded as if he struggled to breathe. Samantha touched his arm.

“Grayson, what’s wrong?”

He straightened, his face an alarming grayish pallor. “Damned coffee must have been too strong. Stomach’s a little off. Stay here. Be right back.”

He jogged into the woods. A minute later, a terrible screeching followed.

Her heart went still at the sound.

Must not show weakness,
Grayson thought Samantha couldn’t see him like this.

Reaching the covering of thick woods, he doubled over, and then slumped to the ground. Dazed, he tried to regain his composure as a white-hot pain raced through his veins.

What the hell had just happened? It felt like the venom was still inside. Splitting him in half.

He sat on the forest floor, head in his hands. What a damn mess. Not only did he have Samantha to worry about, try to keep safe, keep his secret from her. His former pack hunting for him.

Memories surged. He’d lied about his parents, and siblings. Grayson hadn’t seen them in years. He didn’t know if they still lived.

Sometimes when the snow fell softly on the meadow, and he stood at the window studying the splash of silver moon, he thought of them. Remembered running with them in the winter, through the cold snow. Returning to their lodge, shifting back into human form and snuggling before the fire. His sisters would pass plates of cookies while they drank hot chocolate, and his brothers argued about who was the fastest. The arguments would end with his father telling tales of their family from long ago, when wolves ran wild and free through the west.

He missed the closeness of family, of knowing he belonged, of feeling warmth and joy.

He belonged to no one now.

At times like this, an acute ache settled on his chest. He would stare at the moon, feeling a slight comfort that they shared the same silvery light.

Then he would turn away from the wind crackling through the trees, the snow dancing across his porch. Grayson would drop the curtain, shutting away the light.

The memory tore at him with sharp claws. Agony raked across his stomach. He screamed as he felt himself torn asunder. And then as his body gave a great shudder, dark light spilling out of his fingers, he realized what had happened.

Too late, he thought dimly, and fainted.

Grayson had been inside the forest only minutes. But Samantha was worried.. The white light inside her surged, struggling to leave her body as if sensing a great need. She slammed it back, knowing that she needed all her strength for the walk ahead. But worry still riddled her, until Grayson emerged, his face its usual tanned color, his stride determined.

“Are you all right? That scream…you worried me,” she whispered.