Wolf's Promise (Caedmon Wolves) (14 page)

There was something serious on his mind. Something other
than the fact that their
Pack was in danger. Her persistent nature to solve virtually all problems had not subsided with the car crash that ultimately brought them together. But would her persistent nature lead her into trouble yet again?

“Oh, these pancakes are so good,” Tamara explained, as she s
tuffed her mouth
.

“Not as good as yours.”

She grinned. “You’re just saying that.”

“Oh yeah.” Devin dropped his fork on the plate, turned, and grasped Tamara about the waist. “I’d much rather eat yours.”

Completely ignoring the fact that she and Nick were still seated at the table, they kissed deeply for what seemed like minutes.

Selene’s heart warmed in that instant. It was the feeling she got when she’d finally learned that one of her clients had found peace. Tamara deserved this life, and she deserved Devin.

Nick finally cleared his throat.

“So, um…Nick and I have been talking about moving our construction business headquarters into town,” Devin said.

“You have?” Tamara smiled. “That would be great. I know it’s been rough for you trying to handle two things at once from two different locations.”

“Yep, we
’ve already been talking to the
employees.”

“It will be a good move,” Nick added. “Most of our suppliers are out east anyway.”

“Does that mean you’ll stay in the town permanently?” Tamara asked Nick.

Nick nodded. “This is my plan.”

“And Selene tells me she’s leaving soon.” Tamara frowned, and looked across the table her. “I really wish you would stay a little longer. Devin swears that it won’t always be this hectic. Th
ings died down a bit after h
e
took the leadership role, and then…well you know.”

“I wish I could, too,” Selene said. “But, I have a life back
at
home. A career where I have people who really depend on me.”

“I know.” Tamara’s shoulders slumped, and then her face brightened. “Did I tell you that you’re going to be my maid of honor? So there’s no easy out.”

“You’ve set a date?” Selene asked, surprised.

Tam
ara stole a glance at Devin. “It’s not set in stone because of all the mess that needs handling, but we’ve been talking about it. And yes…we want to exchange vows in a month.”

“Wow, Devin,” Nick said. “When were you going to share the news?”

“We haven’t told anyone else yet,” Devin said.

“I’d love to be in your wedding, Tamara.”

“Elisa has been helping me plan the details and the guest list.” Tamara nearly squealed in excitement. “I can’t wait.”

Selene couldn’t help but to share in the other woman’s excitement. It was a dream come true for her. Her mind suddenly ran on the email she’d received from her supervisor yesterday evening. “I have some other good news, Tamara.”

“What’s that?”

“Brad That
cher has finally been sentenced as of three nights ago.
” Selene smiled. “The biggest charge was thirty years with the possibility of parole.”

Tamara smiled meekly. “I’m just happy that he won’t ever hurt another woman again.”

“That’s not all.” Selene shook her head. “Karma is a bitch.”

“What do you mean?” Tamara asked. “Of course, it is, he’ll spend major time behind bars to think about what he’s done.”

“
He’ll spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. While he was being transported to a prison, the van he was in got derailed. They were ambushed by a pack of animals.
The injuries left him paralyzed from the waist down.
It’s kind of a funny coincidence. The investigators
say the attackers were most
likely wild wolves.”

“What!” Tamara frowned, and fixed her
glare on Devin. “Did you do it
?”

“Yes, I did, Tamara,” Devin said. “
Everyone will be certain the coward
will never raise his hand again to anyone.
He’s lucky I let him live.
”

Selene gasped. Her mind raced as she put the pieces of the puzzle together.

“That night you left me…and didn’t return...” Tamara’s voice grew louder with anger.

“Yes,” Devin simply said.

“How could you?” Tamara stood. “I told you not to get involved.”

Devin stood too, and scooped Tamara up in his arms. “Excuse us. We have something to discuss. Enjoy the rest of your breakfast.”

He carried Tamara out of the dining hall
, kicking and screaming.

“I guess
me and my big mouth
just ruined breakfast.” Selene put her fork down and glanced at Nick.

“It’s okay,” Nick said. “I’m sure they’ll talk it through.”

“I hope so.”

“
Why don’t we go for a walk
to catch a breath of fresh air?”

Selene smiled. “I certainly need to work off some carbs after this breakfast
.”

Selene nibbled on her bottom lip as she registered the information on the computer. There was one bus scheduled to leave the
town in two days
, and not another one for nearly a week.

She regretted that she’d have to leave Nick so soon
.

A group of wolves had been sent to retrieve her car. It was found half a mile away from the roadside, which indicated that someone had moved it. Maybe Darius and his followers had done it in an attempt to prevent law enforc
ement from finding her after they’d kidnapped her
. None of her belongings were in the car. No credit card. No identification. Her purse and suitcase were gone. She knew all that stuff could be replaced when she returned home. What she did worry about was what could not be replaced when she did?

“Are you still on the laptop?”

Nick’s voice scared her from behind.

“Yes.” Selene knew her credit card number by heart. What was keeping her from ordering the ticket?

Nick sat next to her, freshly showered. No amount of almond scented body wash could hide the springy, pine smell that was so uniquely his. She’d come to recognize it within seconds whenever he entered a room. She’d even come to crave it.

“You found the Greyhound website.” He leaned over to glance at her screen. “
You’re ex
pected back to work in a few days
, right? Anything come up on the schedule?”

“There’s one.”

“When does it leave?”

“In two days.”

“Oh.” He almost sounded regretful.

“We’re
only
just getting to know each other, Nick.”

“Selene. I know, but we want what’s safe for you.”

“I know what will happen,” she said, wringing her hands in her lap. “I’ll return home and never hear from you again. You have no intentions of contacting me after I’m gone, do you?”

He took her hands. “That’s ludicrous. You’ll return in a month for Devin and Tamara’s wedding. Everything will be settled by then.”

She frowned. “You plan to make me wait that long.”

“Of course not. We’ve sent a messenger to Darius and his followers. We want peace in this town once again, and if that means allowing him
his part
of the property, we’ve voted for it. More than likely, I would visit sooner than you think.”

Selene pulled away. “After everything’s settled…then what?”

“I’ll come for you.”

“Tell me about the woman who betrayed you.”

“She’s not worth bringing up, Selene,” he replied softly.

“Is she the reason why you won’t trust me?” She had to know.

“That’s just it. I trust you. I want you so badly that I would do anything to have you and that scares me to be honest.”

“I want you, too,” she admitted.

“I refuse to bind you to this type of life.”

“What do you mean? Don’t I get a choice?”

“The ways of the wolf are different from those of the humans. We have no choice when it comes to true mates.”

“Tamara told me already. She told me that Caedm
on couples are mated and bonded for life.
She also said that there can be sex without bonding.
”

Selene felt ashamed for admitting that she needed him in that way.

“Tamara is not wolf.
She has genuinely accepted the Caedmon spirit, but she doesn’
t understand how d
ifficult it is to control an animal
who knows his mate by scent.”

“You should know then,” she alleged, sternly. “Am I or am I not
your mate
?”

“
There are signs
…”

“…but you’re afraid to find out.”

“You might want this now, but once you return home, things will be different. You will continue your work, and maybe even forget about me.
I want what’s best for you and that may not be me. You may very well decide that you want to live a normal human life with a human male.
”

“I will never forget about you
now that I’ve met you and all that we’ve been through. T
here is no other man for me.
”

“Buy the ticket. If we are true mates, not even distance will keep us apart.”

“You’d rather us prove this the hard way
?
”

“Maybe…”

“I’ll buy the ticket, but promise me something…” She typed her credit card information into the input box on the website.

“
Anything…”

Selene clicked the submit button, and didn’t even wait for the confirmation screen to appear before she closed the laptop. Standing in front of him, she let her bathrobe slip from her shoulders and down her naked body before saying, “Show me again what you desire from me. This time, I don’t want you to stop until you’ve taken me.”

“Selene—”

She
straddled his lap and
kissed his protest away.
Her body set fire in passionate bursts
the moment he laid his hands upon
her bare skin.
The taste and smell of him
began to erode her senses. His male pheromones
and
pine scent were
undeniable. He pulled her closer into his chest against his rapid heartbeat. His tongue tangled with hers
and set a consistent, demanding pace.

He dragged his lips up
and down
the column of her neck, and she lifted her chin to give him further access. “Your smell is intoxicating.”

She peeled away his robe to reveal his chest
, and then bent her head to kiss him there. His moans encouraged her and she used her fingers to commit every curve to memory, as well as her tongue to remember his taste. Her hand brushed against the top of him, and he seemed to pulse against the confines of his briefs.
His palms slid down her back to grab her hips and pull her closer into him. Her pussy throbbed over him.

Nick kissed along her neckline and past her collarbone to find the sensitive mounds of her breasts. He suckled her nipples, taking his time on each.

She couldn’t stand it anymore, and needed the release that only he could give her. Her hips moved in a slow sensuous rhythm above him. He grew harder still against her.

He stood with his hands still gripping her by the ass. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her toward the bed. He laid her down gently and came down over her.

“Once this happens, there is no going back,” he whispered.
“You will be mine.”

“I don’
t want to go back. Not unless you’re
right
there with me.
” She made her
point
by pulling him down for a kiss.

He explored her
, sliding his hot lips over her body. She shuddered with pleasure as he licked and nipped lightly at her skin.
He made a hot trail down the center of her body, stopping just above her pussy. Smoothing a finger across her neatly trimmed mound, he lifted his gaze to make contact with her.

“You want to come again, don’t you?” he asked.

She nodded. It was the truth. She’d been thinking about the last time he brou
ght her to orgasm like a scene of a movie set on replay. Her pussy trembled
in need whenever she daydreamed about it.

Nick
coaxed her legs apart with roaming kisses against
the insides of
her thighs. He opened her with slow strokes of his tongue, pressing his mouth into her slick pussy. Her legs fell back even more as he took long laps at her like a cat would relish a fresh bowl of milk. She couldn’t hold back her moans because they came from deep within, much like the heightened sensation warming at her core. Still he refused to pay attention to her much needed
center. The core of her desire.