Waking the Beast (16 page)

From the journal of Abby Lane

I went back to the bar tonight just to see Utah. I managed to force myself to stay away for three nights. They were the longest three nights of my life. I swear I started going through withdrawal from him, and how obsessive does that make me?

I felt his eyes on me as soon as I walked in. I walked straight to my table on shaky legs, and I was seriously afraid my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I swear Utah was there almost before I was. He took my bag while I slid into the seat.

He was sick the other night when he was gone and asked if I had caught the bug that seemed to be going around. I laughed and told him I did, and even flirted a bit saying I must have picked it up from him.

He laughed with me and chatted. I felt like we were friends, like maybe for the first time since I’d walked in here, he knew who I was. And he said he’d missed seeing my smiling face. He missed me. So much for getting over my obsession.

Still, I think I floated home tonight. He’d noticed I was gone, and he said he missed me. I’m not sure my feet will ever touch the earth again.

* * * *

Abby felt her heart freeze inside her as Tah hit the ground beside her.

“Tah!” His name was a scream piercing the air around her, and she couldn’t get to him fast enough. “Tah.” Her hands were shaking as she tried unsuccessfully to turn him over.

“Abby, move.” Logan was there, trying to push her out of the way.

“Tah!” Abby fought the hands pulling at her.

“Abby!” Jess’s hand connected lightly with her cheek. “Snap out of it and let his friend move him inside.”

Abby let Jess pull her out of the way as Logan first rolled Tah over. Then with some maneuvering, he managed to get Tah up and over his shoulder.

“Hurry up and lead the way,” he muttered. “He’s not exactly light.”

Abby could hear the fear in Logan’s voice.

“Christ he’s burning up,” Logan exclaimed. “Nice husband you got there, lady.”

“It’s not Derrick’s fault,” Jess argued.

“A fucking wolf,” Logan grunted. “I’m losing my fucking mind. I’m going to wake up and find myself tied up in some mental ward.”

Jess laughed and even Abby had to grin.

“I saw it too.” Abby felt the need to tell Logan.

“No offense, Abby, but considering you think Tah’s a lion, that’s not exactly reassuring.”

“Didn’t you say you were more of a dog person?” Abby reminded him.

Logan just looked at her.

She snickered then. God, they all sounded crazy. It was crazy. But after what she’d just seen Derrick do, she was even more convinced she was right and Tah was a descendent of the
paka watu
.

“There’s a couch just inside the door on the right. You can put him there. I’ll go grab my bag.” Jess took off while Logan moved to put Tah on the couch.

Abby was kneeling beside him before Logan could even step out of the way. She clung tightly to one of Tah’s hands while she pushed his hair off his forehead with her other hand.

“Tah,” she whispered at his ear as she leaned into him. “Can you hear me? I need you to wake up now. You’re scaring me. I don’t like being scared, Tah. I need you.” She lay her head on his chest and couldn’t hold back the tears that slipped free. “You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone. Wake up, Tah. Wake up.”

“Abby.”

She jerked her head up as Tah spoke her name. She planted kisses all over his face. “Oh, God, Tah. You scared me. You really scared me.”

“I’m sorry, Abby.” Tah shifted as if getting ready to stand up.

“Lie still,” she said, leaning in to press against him. “You hit pretty hard when you fell. Jess went to get her bag.”

“I’m okay,” he scoffed and rose up to sit on the couch, tugging Abby into his lap and hugging her close. “I’ll always be okay as long as you’re with me.”

Abby heard the throat clearing behind them and looked back to see Jess glancing at her strangely.

“You were going to show us to a room,” Tah prompted huskily. His chest rumbled, and she felt the throbbing of his erection under her buttocks where she sat.

“Yes.” Jess nodded. “It’s just down the hall this way.”

Tah shifted and helped Abby stand before taking her hand and leading them in the direction Jess was pointing.

“Abby, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Tah rumbled and his fingers tightened on hers.

Abby was torn. She had so much to talk to Jess about, none quite so important as whether or not she’d heard the news about her father. But Tah was hot and though he wouldn’t admit it, wobbly on his feet. She glanced at Tah and saw the surge of yellow in his brown eyes.

“Can we talk later? I just want to get Tah settled first.”

It showed how much he needed her by the fact he let her comment go without argument.

Jess slowly nodded. “Would you mind if I took a couple vials of blood first? Just to go ahead and get started on some of the tests we’ll need.”

“We?” Tah asked.

“I’m more up to date on wolves as I’m sure you understand from seeing my husband. But my dad called in a biologist who’s worked with several zoos with large cats. Her expertise is lions. She should be arriving today as well. Her name is Diane. I think you’ll like her.”

“We have another one coming as well. I should have spoken to your husband, Derrick.” Tah shook his head. “We may have been followed. I should go out there. Check on Reno.”

Jess shook her head. “Abby’s right. You hit hard when you fell. You need to rest. I’m afraid we’re going to poke and prod you over the next few days as we try to figure out what’s going on and how to help. I can see how concerned Abby is. Derrick can deal with whatever comes this way. He’s not alone. He has one from his alpha pack with him. Someone is always on guard here.”

“Alpha pack?” Abby asked and lifted her brow when Jess blushed red.

“I’ll tell you all about it later,” Jess assured her then stepped around them to lead the way. She stopped and opened a door. “Go ahead and sit on the bed. I’ll just grab what I need out of my bag to get those blood samples and head down to the lab.”

“There’s a lab here?”

“There’s everything here,” Jess said with a laugh. “Dad had it built for me, in case I ever found my dreams. Turns out my dream came with its own lab.”

“Jess, about Professor Mueller…” Abby took a deep breath as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall again.

“He’s fine, Abby. Promise.” Jess gave her a funny look as if she didn’t know what Abby was talking about.

Abby shook her head. “There was an explosion. I called his office on the way here.”

“I didn’t realize you knew. He wasn’t inside.” Jess sighed and looked sad. “My mate and his pack have some pretty serious enemies. When those enemies found out I was with the pack, they tried to threaten Derrick’s pack by using my family.”

“Your dad?”

Jess nodded as she began prepping Tah’s arm to take blood. Only Abby noticed the way he flinched at Jess’s touch. “It was the only way to save him. Derrick had the other two members of his pack take care of stuff and get Dad away. If they think he’s dead, they won’t come after him. He should be here tomorrow if all goes well.” She finished up with Tah and turned to do the same to Abby.

“I was so worried,” Abby admitted. “I thought it was my fault.”

“Oh, Abby.” Jess looked so sorry, but then Jess knew how much Abby blamed herself for her parents’ deaths. “I didn’t think about you blaming yourself. This was all arranged before you even got in touch with him. I was planning to find you after we got Dad set up here. I never thought you might call the office, or that they would say anything. I’m so sorry.”

“I got the impression the girl who answered the phone was young, and she’d just learned about it herself. She seemed pretty shook up.” Abby heaved a sigh and smiled. “I’m just glad he’s okay.”

“He’ll be here wreaking havoc and sticking his nose in things soon enough,” Jess stated with a soft laugh, as she pulled the needle from Abby’s arm and placed a cotton ball on the puncture wound.

Abby had done her best to hide the shudder of displeasure she felt at the other woman’s touch.

“We have so much to talk about. But I can see you need to see to your mate right now. I’ll start some tests. Come see me as soon as you can, Abby. It’s really important.”

“I will. I promise.”

Jess hugged her close, squeezing Abby as if she couldn’t believe she was finally there. Abby bit her lip to hold back a groan as her skin crawled from Jess’s touch. Then with a look that conveyed to Abby just how much Jess needed to talk to her, Jess turned, gathered her things, and headed to the door.

“I’ll speak with the one who carried Tah in,” Jess said.

“Logan,” Abby offered.

“I’ll have Logan watch for Derrick, Reno, and Diane. I’ll let you know if we need you. Relax. Rest.” She cast a glance towards Tah, and Abby could see a touch of confusion in her eyes. Something about Tah was concerning Jess. It made Abby worry even more.

“I’ll find you as soon as I can,” Abby promised, as she shut the door after Jess.

“Lock it,” Tah ordered as she turned around.

He was already stripping out of his clothes. She licked her lips as she felt moisture coat her sex. She had no idea how her body wasn’t exhausted by all the sex they were engaging in, but it wasn’t. She wanted him again every time he turned to her with need in his eyes. The word “no” never once entered her mind.

She flipped the lock on the door and began stripping as she walked toward him.

“We should take a shower,” she offered as she stepped out of her jeans.

“After,” he growled. He stroked one hand up and down his erect shaft as he stood before her naked. “I need you.” He grunted the words, and she sensed he was struggling to let her walk to him and not just take her.

She shoved her panties down and kicked them off before reaching back for her bra and tossing it aside. She knew what he wanted, how he wanted her. She climbed on the bed, letting her knees rest on the edge and spread her thighs as wide as she could. Arching her back, she offered her wet folds to him, letting him see how ready she was for him.

“Abby.” Her name was a moan of pleasure as he moved behind her and brushed his cock against her cunt.

He ran the head through her folds, coating it with her juices before lodging it against the opening of her pussy and pressing in. He kept going until he was completely inside, and she felt the taut sac of his balls against her.

“Tah,” she cried out as pleasure rocked through her.

“So perfect,” he purred. “My salvation.”

Then he began fucking her. Each thrust swayed her forward on the bed. Her fingers were clenched in the comforter, her nipples brushing over it as she tried to use the bed to stifle her screams of pleasure. Tah’s hands gripped her hips as he fucked hard and fast. And his cock! Jesus, his cock was even thicker, each protrusion raised and rigid as they rubbed along the walls of her pussy.

“Too good,” Tah growled. “Feels too good. Don’t want it to end. Want to always be inside you.”

“Yes!” She agreed with him. “You feel so good. Don’t stop. Please! Don’t stop. Fuck me harder. Oh, God, just like that. Just like that.”

He slid one hand along her belly to her clit and rubbed over it. Pleasure exploded inside her, sending her flying into an orgasm. Her pussy rippled and tightened around his shaft, gripping it in an attempt to milk his release from him as well.

Tah leaned over her with a roar. His hand slid from her clit up under her chest and lifted her up enough for his teeth to find the spot he favored and bite down. Another orgasm ripped through her as the pleasure of his bite threw her even higher. She could feel his cock almost locking inside her, due to how swollen the protrusions were just before the first blast of his semen filled her. Again and again, he filled her, and each time sent off another round of tremors, as her womb sucked up the heat of his release.

He was still locked inside when he lifted her against him and moved them up slightly on the bed. One hand rested against her stomach now as he eased them onto their sides. She shuddered anew at the slight pull against her inner walls with each movement. His cock wasn’t leaving yet, and she swore she felt another small release of ejaculate as they settled onto the mattress.

“Tah?” she questioned.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, and she could hear so much in his voice. “We need to talk to your friend or this Diane person she’s waiting on. See if they have any clue what the fuck I’m doing to you.”

“You’re not doing anything I don’t want you to,” Abby assured him softly.

“My cock is locked inside you to the point I couldn’t pull it out if I wanted to. And I don’t want to. I want to start fucking you again as soon as it loosens up enough to let me.” He laughed bitterly. “I just had you and my damn dick isn’t happy. I’ve been hard all day. Every time we’ve had sex today, I swear it’s only made my hunger worse.” His hips began thrusting slowly, his swollen cock tugging but moving. The friction was incredible. “I need you, Abby, to the point I can’t stop myself. I’m terrified I’m going to hurt you.”

“You’re not hurting me,” she moaned. “I want you just as much as you want me. My body is just as ready to keep going as yours is.”

“And that scares me even more,” he admitted. “For some reason, I’m changing your body to force it to accommodate mine, and I don’t even know how the fuck mine is changing. You should run from me. As far and fast as you can.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she vowed as she lifted her top leg and slid it back over his hip, opening herself wider for each thrust.

“I’m going to destroy you,” he said as he turned them, so she was lying underneath him.

“I’m the one who pulled you into this,” Abby murmured huskily. “I’m destroying you.”

“You’re saving me, Abby. Every time I touch you. Every time I sense your presence. You’re the only thing capable of soothing the beast inside and giving me a moment of peace.”

“Tah!” His name was a cry as his thrusts increased, coming faster and harder. His cock was still swollen, each rub along her walls stroking her higher and higher.