A few choice words rolled through his head.
He drew to a stop, skidding on all four paws then reached for Maeve telepathically. We’ve got trouble.
I’m right here. Are these the ones who tried to kill you in the Graveyard?
They are. With the practice of a decade, he shifted back to his human form.
Maeve descended to stand next to him. You know who that is, don’t you?
Yes, Ely Gammet and his faithful followers.
He’s Veyda’s lapdog. So, what’s the plan, wolf?
He resisted the urge to look at her. The calm tenor of her telepathic voice surprised him. She knew what these men were capable of, yet she’d dropped down to stand next to him and asked about a plan.
The men were armed with assault rifles and they meant business. Their line began to thin out and curve. Solid strategy attacking them from their flanks.
He considered flying out of the park. Maeve definitely had the skill now to do it. But he had an idea. How about we continue your practice from earlier?
I was thinking the same thing. I’m pissed as hell you and I can’t even go to a park without these bastards showing up. I think we need to teach them a lesson.
He felt her rage and her confidence and he loved it. He stepped behind her and anchored his hands on her hips. He knew the men would see it as a sign of weakness, which might work in their favor.
He heard their jeers. But he smiled as Maeve’s killing power ramped up.
Gammet was in the center opposite and waved both arms in a forward motion which sent three shifters farther up toward their right flank and two to their left.
Better fire now, witch.
Maeve swept her arm right to left as she released a spray of her killing power. A gold, glittering stream of energy hit the air. At the same time, gun barrels flashed in a blinding assault. But the tremendous power she held in her witch’s arsenal stopped the bullets dead on.
He felt her fury rise, so he gripped her tighter. I know you’re angry, but stay focused.
They tried to kill us both. I’m sick of this.
I know. Ease down a little and keep your weapon on target. You’ve got an excellent back and forth stream. Can you add a boost? I’m thinking you could get past their fire power and hit some of these shifters with an added blast.
I’ll see what I can do. She reined in her temper and stayed remarkably steady. He could feel a second layer of power building.
Fire when ready.
A few seconds later, a broad wave pushed the power from behind. It swelled forward, and just as he’d hoped, catapulted beyond the bullets. Two of the shifters on the left fell to the ground unmoving. The other three, screamed in agony.
Ely, in the center, remained upright, arms crossed over his chest. None of the blasts had touched him.
Braden had no idea what kind of power he carried, but if he was that connected to Veyda, he had to be damn powerful.
He issued Maeve an order. In the air. Now.
He lifted her by the waist and felt her engage her levitation in a quick, abrupt flight straight up. He tracked with her, but kept part of his focus on what was happening on the ground. He needed to know if Gammet would follow after them.
At least a hundred yards above the park, Braden had Maeve pull up. She hovered beside him and joined him as he looked down at Gammet and his rogue wolves below.
Ely moved to his men on his right, the two that had fallen prone. They were struggling to get to their feet. The warlock lifted a hand gun and shot each of them in the head.
He heard Maeve gasp. Braden, he killed them. He killed his own men.
I know. Some men have no conscience. Unfortunately, there were a lot of men and women like that in Five Bridges. Let’s get back to your compound.
Gladly. She whipped in the air and headed back in the direction of the Landing.
He stuck close. He saw the Graveyard looming but he suddenly felt confused.
Right. The protection spell.
She must have guessed or remembered, because she suddenly whirled in the air and caught his hand. She then tugged him forward.
The confusion quickly dispersed and he flew across the spelled boundary. They descended together toward the bottom of the driveway. Though they were now well inside the perimeter of the security spell, she didn’t let go of his hand. Instead, she set a brisk pace and took him into the center, then hung a sharp left to her apartment. Because he was still connected to her, he experienced no confusion and even saw the spelled line on the floor. He wasn’t sure if that was normal for a wolf, but there it was.
None of the Landing residents would be able to locate her front door without her assistance. Given her horrific introduction to their world, he didn’t blame her a bit for such extreme measures.
Truth? His alpha wolf loved her set-up. He had privacy right now with the witch and that was all he cared about.
She finally let go of his hand as she levitated in a practiced swirl down the first set of stone steps to her living room.
He chose to walk. The stairs weren’t broad by any means and he kept his head low as he descended.
For a moment, his mind became fixed on Gammet. He’d made a mistake getting his heavily armed shifters into position. If he’d had them fire right away, both he and Maeve might be dead right now.
The warlock had also been on them within minutes of their leaving Maeve’s protected facility. Which meant Veyda really wanted him dead. But why? Was it his search for his wife’s killers? Was he getting too close to the truth about Veyda’s crimes?
Or was it something else.
As he stepped into Maeve’s living room, he saw she had an arm propped on her fireplace mantle and stared down into the hearth. Except it was glowing this time. “You lit a fire?” Had to be gas. She might be deep in the earth, but she had every convenience.
She lifted her head and turned toward him, her brow furrowed. “Sure. Let’s do it here.” She swept an arm to encompass the area in front of the hearth.
He glanced at the stone floor. It took him a second to understand what she meant, then he laughed. “But what if I’m not in the mood?”
She just rolled her eyes and moved to the far end of the couch. With a fair amount of ease, she hefted the heavy eight-foot piece of furniture and moved it back several feet. She then went to the other end and evened it up.
He probably should have helped, but he wanted to watch her. She was a woman of business and purpose and always seemed one step ahead of everything. He knew she was mulling something over as she bent down, lifted up the closer end of the coffee table and shoved it along the stones until it was out of the way as well. She went to the far end and did the same.
She then headed to a doorway some distance to the left of the fireplace and called over her shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” She lifted in levitation and disappeared swiftly through the opening.
He saw no reason to stop her. He liked the direction she was taking things and didn’t mind at all she was treating it like something on her to-do list. He was a man. He’d bed her any way he could right now. But he’d also make it worth her while.
She returned with her arms laden with what looked like several furs.
He crossed to her quickly and relieved her of the bundle, though she held back a couple of blankets.
“What are those for?” With a fire going and things about to heat up between them, he didn’t think either of them would need blankets to keep warm.
She walked toward the fireplace as she said, “Well, the way I see it, you’re this alpha wolf and you’ll want me on my knees or on my back. Either way is fine with me, but this is stone.” She gestured with a flip of her hand toward the floor. “I intend to be comfortable.”
Once again, he chuckled at her practical turn. “Good thinking.”
She took about ten seconds to flip both blankets on the floor in front of the hearth.
“We could always use the bed.” He thought he should offer. But he was already
liking the way the firelight played on her red curls. It looked like flames.
She turned toward him and her lips curved. “No. Here. I’ve had more than one fantasy about you over the past few months and that’s why I lit the fire.” She nodded several times.
Her complexion remained milky. Not a single blush in sight.
“You’re not embarrassed at all, are you?”
Her reddish-brown brows rose. She seemed surprised. “Why should I be?” She took the furs out of his arms and laid them out on top of the blankets.
“Are you sure you’re not part wolf?”
She returned to him and grabbed his shirt, pulling it from his jeans then up and over his head. “Here’s what I know. I hate that I’m an alter witch, but I love that you showed up, wolf or not. I don’t care if this lasts only tonight. You’ve taken a lot of the sting out of Five Bridges for me. Right now, I intend to show you my gratitude. Everywhere.”
Braden knew only one thing. He could get used to this.
Chapter Six
Braden couldn’t think of a less likely alpha-mate to take back to his pack than a witch. Wolves hated witches. But of all the women he’d met over the past year-and-a-half, no female had made him smile more than Maeve. But would his wolves ever accept a witch?
The point was moot anyway. Neither of them was interested in a long-term anything.
Maeve had called it exactly right. Even if what they’d been sharing lasted only tonight, she’d eased him and he’d done the same for her. It was enough.
It took him only a few seconds to get rid of his boots and pants. By the time he was done, Maeve didn’t have a stitch on either, though she sat on the furs staring into the fire, her knees drawn up.
She was a beautiful woman, wild curly hair and all.
He dropped to his knees, leaned in and kissed the back of her neck. Her hair was short enough, he could nuzzle it away.
“I’ve been thinking. How did Gammet know you were in the park?”
“They’ve probably had scouts watching for me.” He kissed a slow line of kisses across the back of her neck.
“Why do you think they’re after you?”
He didn’t stop kissing her neck. He was hoping his efforts would drag her attention away from the park encounter. “I like kissing you Maeve. Your skin is so soft.”
“I take long bubble baths once a week and buff off all the dead skin. But you didn’t answer my question. Why has Veyda’s henchman been after you?”
“Because I’m after Veyda. At least, that’s the best I can figure. Maybe my investigation got too close to home.”
He slid his hand to her upper chest, near her shoulders. He began to massage her slowly.
“Oh, that’s nice. But you’ve been after Veyda for months. Why did she send a hit squad now?”
He drifted his hand lower and fondled the upper swell of her breasts. At the same time he nibbled on her neck and switched to telepathy. I don’t know. Maybe Veyda feels threatened. Um, do you think we could talk about this later?
Sure.
The flat sound of her voice inside his head, told him his seductions were only partially successful.
Braden, do you think I have too many shifters here? In my facility?
He knew then, that however willing Maeve might be to engage sexually, her brain was having a hard time shutting off. His wife had been like that. She’d been an industrious female in Maeve’s mold and sometimes whatever project she was working on would keep her from letting go.
He’d developed a couple of specific wolf techniques over the years to turn her focus straight at him and he thought he’d try one of them out now.
He opened his mouth wide and allowed a partial shift so that his wolf teeth would start to form and his jaw lengthen. It gave him the reach he needed as he took in the entire back of her neck. He bit down. Hard.
He heard her gasp. He maintained his hold and at the same time teased her breasts by running the palm of his hand from one nipple to the other in rapid succession. She moaned.
What are you doing to me? That feels so good.
I want you focused on me, Maeve. With me. Nothing less. He ground his teeth enough to let her feel the control he had over her and what he would do if she got distracted again.
He also knew by long experience that the sensation of his teeth deep into the skin without breaking through created a pressure that ran straight to her sex. It was one of the best parts of his wolfness.
Her body began to relax, though her hips grew restless.
He released his hold on her neck and guided her down on the furs but kept her on her side. He moved in behind her, rubbing his arousal down her bottom and between her legs from behind.
He continued to play with her breasts, lightly flicking the tips then massaging each one in turn. “I’m going to make you come, Maeve. Just like this. And you won’t be on your knees or your back.”
She moaned again and he felt her tremble.
But he wanted control of her once more and again worked to take as much of her nape in his mouth as he could. She uttered a series of grunts and he watched her fist clutch the faux fur. Her hips pushed back into his groin. She reached between her legs and found his cock. She fondled the head.
His turn to groan.
He knew how he wanted this to go, how he needed it to go.
He began moving in tighter and pushing her hips up. He lifted her closest knee up toward her chest and hunched his hips.
The angle was working just fine.
“Yes.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper.
He felt how wet she was and began to ease inside her. She arched her back and he glided right in. He released her neck and angled his torso enough to reach her mouth. When she turned toward him, he kissed her hard as he thrust into her.
When she parted her lips, he drove his tongue inside and set up a pulse that matched the drive of his cock.
He used his hand to tease her breasts then went lower to massage her swollen folds. He played with her until she covered his hand with her own and began to press down in an erotic rhythm.
He moved his hips faster then drew back to look at her. “Are you with me now?”
“Yes. All in, Braden. You feel so good inside me.”
“I can make you feel even better.”
“What do you mean?” He slowed down and she eased back on the pulsing of her fingers. This was one part of his wolf he loved. He slowly began to push and as he did, he increased his girth.
Her breath caught in a series of gasps. He filled her up, wall to wall, then thrust faster. She cried out. “Braden. I’m going to have to lock you up in my home and keep you here forever. I didn’t know wolves could do that.”
“I don’t know about all wolves, but it’s one of the things I can do. I’m going to take your throat now, this time across the vulnerable front.
She lifted her chin and arched her neck. He felt his jaws expand again. He angled himself once more, only this time he grabbed her across her fragile neck. That she accepted him, meant something and his heart tightened. The woman trusted him. If he’d wanted her dead, he could have bitten down. His powerful jaw would have crushed and broken her neck in a split-second.
When he fastened his teeth and held on, he began to work his hips in earnest. He massaged her mons again, but she didn’t help him this time. Instead, she writhed and grabbed at his shoulders. She sunk her nails, which caused his balls to draw up tight.
He was breathing hard now, as he held onto her. The trick was to keep his hold firm but gentle. It had taken some practice, but he’d mastered the art.
His hips worked like a separate machine.
She cried out repeatedly, her body tensing and arching. He knew she was close and he was ready to explode.
When a series of cries and huffs left her mouth, he knew the time had come. With every wolf skill he possessed, he speeded up his thrusts. She screamed her orgasm and he began to release.
He let go of her throat as pleas
ure pulsed through him. But it wasn’t like before. He kept coming, kept delivering what only he could give.
The same waves must have moved through her as well. Though she’d eased back suddenly she was crying out and her body writhed against his all over again. Oh my God, what’s happening?
He continued to drive into her and once again, he released. He roared this time as a stronger wave of pleasure drove through him. His body felt hot and the same pleasure rippled over his skin.
When he finally fell lax, she was breathing hard as though struggling to catch her breath. “That was amazing. Braden, I mean it. I may conjure a spell so that you can never leave my apartment again.” She chuckled as she said the words.
“I’m not sure I want to leave.”
“But what was that?”
“Sex with you.”
She stroked his arm and he flexed for her.
Her turn to chuckle. “Sex is good.”
“It is.” He felt more relaxed than he had in a long time. She’d done this for him. He knew it wasn’t only the sex. Something about her personality jived with his and with his wolf. She was a no-nonsense kind of woman, given to working hard and to helping out wherever she could. He respected her.
“You were pretty amazing in the park.”
“It seemed so natural because we’d practiced. And because you were there, too, I think. Gammet was unscathed, though. He’s got some power, that one. You know, it’s possible he’s been dipping into the future. Some of the dark spellcasters make a habit of it. He might have known we would be there.”
Braden looked down at her, at the flames flickering over her hair and face. He kissed her then drew back. He could see her thoughts spiraling away from him. He was okay with it.
He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. He felt nothing but gratitude for this woman. She’d saved his life, fed him, made love with him and treated him like a friend.
His own thoughts began to drift as well. He wasn’t too different from her. They were both goal-oriented.
He huffed a sigh as he considered his own need to find his wife’s killers. From his conversations with Maeve, he knew there was a good chance she’d already dispatched them during her own nightmare. Still, he wanted to know the where and how of Laura’s death.