Amy’s head was swimming with how quickly everything had happened. She glared at Neil and Jacob. “If you think I’m staying here, you can get that right out of your minds.”
Jacob spoke first. “We can lock you in the basement if we must. We will not disobey orders. Neither of us has a death wish. If locking you away is what’s required to keep you safe, that’s what we’ll do. It’s your choice.” This was said with absolute conviction.
If Amy had a gun she would have considered using it. The two of them stared at her as if she were a “thing” they could move at will. The problem was that they could move her if they wanted. Her anger grew as the minutes ticked away.
She spent two anxious and fuming hours pacing before anyone returned. Marcus entered first. Ivan was again human and Alba, as a wolf, was at his side. Jacob and Neil made a hasty retreat. Amy had been expressing her anger to them throughout Marcus’ absence. Her fury was now boiling over and her words did not express the relief she felt that they all returned safely.
“I can’t believe you left me here with the jackass twins for two hours. I had no idea what was going on. They wouldn’t tell me anything and I knew you were feeding them information. The only talking they did was silently and if I had a weapon I would be wearing a wolf coat by now.”
“Ivan, take Alba to your room.”
Almost before Marcus finished the statement, the she wolf was growling as she wedged herself between Marcus and Amy.
“Alba, I’m not asking, that is an order.” The look Marcus gave the she-wolf was frightening. Alba’s tail went between her legs and she followed Ivan from the room but continued to glance back and growl.
Marcus pulled his hand through his hair, frustration in his voice. “I’m not sure what you have done to my wolf but I think I should either give her to you or shoot her. It would make life easier.”
It was obvious Marcus was trying to add some humor to the situation but Amy was having none of it. Her anger was real. “Would it have hurt you to take me with you? You had enough wolves to keep me safe. I had no idea what was going on and it made me crazy.”
Marcus took a deep breath. “I wasn’t sure what we were facing and you were safer here.”
“You told me I could leave if I wished. You had no right to keep me here against my will.”
“I will keep you safe and I will not argue about it. If you want to leave I can arrange it first thing in the morning. It would probably be safest for you in the long run.”
The finality in his voice worried Amy more than she cared to realize. It was Amy’s turn to take a deep breath. She attempted to soften her voice, “At least tell me what is going on; I was worried sick. Which wolf is dead?”
Marcus pulled his anger in. He wasn’t mad at Amy and he knew it had to be worse to wait behind and not be aware of what was going on. He walked to her and wrapped his arms about her shoulders, pulling her in and holding her close. “A wolf named Sinner died tonight.”
Amy realized it was a wolf she had seen earlier that day while making rounds with Ivan. She remembered the regal and proud picture he made. It hurt that his life had ended.
“We think it was a lone cat. We could only smell one and we followed the scent quite a ways outside the property. Sinner was shot at a long distance and we believe it was a sniper rifle. The scent trail began more than 500 yards from the body.”
“Why would someone do that?”
“I told you I have enemies. We’ve grown lax because we haven’t had trouble in many years. We will find out what’s going on, but it may take some time. I told you that you should leave tomorrow, but you’re safer here and I can’t let you go. I’m sorry. My anger just wanted you gone and away from danger.” His voice was intense. His eyes began glowing amber.
“I don’t want to leave, but I don’t want to be shut out. I can’t be shut out. Please let me help, I need to do something.”
“Come to bed with me.” Marcus said with sexual longing in his voice.
“What about the warnings you gave me earlier?”
“I fed before I arrived. Another of the wolves was wounded and it helps them to heal faster.”
“Ivan explained some of that to me, but I don’t completely understand. Instead of explaining now why don’t you just take me to bed?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Marcus said as he swept her into his arms. He turned towards the stairs and carried her up. When he entered his room, he sat her down near the bed and turned her around. He began unzipping her dress and placed kisses on her neck, shoulders and then down her back as the dress began sliding down her body. He turned her back around facing him and went to his knees as the gown fell to the floor. He slowly removed her undergarments, kissing the exposed skin as the bits of lace glided down her body.
His glowing eyes gazed up at her. “You are beautiful.”
Amy knelt, putting her hands through his hair. Marcus kissed her while rising and lifted her to the bed. His lips traveled over her face as his hands learned her body. He stopped for a moment and stared at her. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“I think you are overdressed for what I want.”
The huskiness of her voice sent a flood of desire throughout his body. Marcus smiled and slid off the bed. He undressed quickly then stood gazing at her beauty.
She looked at his naked body, filling her senses as she absorbed the incredible man before her. He lowered himself to the bed and began kissing her gently as his hands roamed. Amy was impatient and bit softly at his lower lip. That was all it took. Marcus growled much like Alba and deepened the kiss. She was on fire as he shifted his hands to her breasts and then lowered his head to first one and then the other. It was her turn to growl. Her hands wandered Marcus’ body as his lips traveled hers. When Marcus kissed her belly he gazed up into her eyes. “I’ve dreamed of you in my bed, your scent overwhelms and your taste intoxicates my senses,” he said in a husky voice.
Amy looked into his eyes, hers smoky blue with desire. “You’ve been in my dreams, but being here, in your bed, is better than any fantasy I could picture in my mind.” She said breathlessly.
Marcus’ learned her body with his hands and mouth. Amy couldn’t seem to get enough air in her lungs as the bliss continued. She could feel his fangs scrape across her most sensitive place and she couldn’t help but cried out. Marcus took that as acceptance and continued the torture. He put one finger slowly inside her, while nipping and sucking on the soft bud between her thighs. His finger continued to move in and out slowly. It was too much for Amy and her cries of ecstasy echoed in the bedroom. Marcus watched her face as spasms clenched his finger.
She opened her eyes and saw him watching her. “I need you up here. I need you filling me.” She was giving the orders this time.
Marcus moved up the bed, trailing kisses and couldn’t help but stop at her breasts again. He felt a not so gentle tug at his hair and laughed softly.
“Whatever my lady desires.”
“Your lady desires you, inside me, now.”
He kissed her on her lips and she took his fullness into her small hand. He was incredibly hard but velvety soft at the same time. She drew her knees up and placed Marcus at the entrance to her core. Marcus thrust forward and Amy cried out again. Every part of his body was warm but the fullness thrusting into her was a burn she had never felt.
It was hard for Marcus to control his need for blood as he lost control of his lower body. He fought to stay away from her neck. He ravaged her mouth, as his body pumped into hers. The thrusts grew faster and when one of Marcus’ sharp fangs nicked and drew blood from her inner lip, Marcus found release and his cries echoed Amy’s this time. Their breathing slowed and he drew her into his arms. He continued soothing her by running his hands gently over her body. Her smell, her mussed hair, and the dampness on her skin combined to make her the most beautiful woman alive.
Amy finally sat up and Marcus thought she was getting out of bed. Sh
e leaned over him and asked in a sensual voice, “Why is your body so warm?”
“I can control my body heat though it takes more energy to keep it warm.
Amy absorbed his words, realizing what part of his body, wasn’t just warm but hot, and then surprised him again by asking, “May I see your fangs?”
“They are not extended at the moment, but be my guest.”
Amy drew her hand slowly up to Marcus’ mouth and one finger went inside between his teeth, running it across the sharp points. Amy removed her finger, leaned her head down and softly kissed him. His hands pulled her body full length on top of his as the kiss deepened. Amy finally drew her lips away from his, “I want to kiss all of you, every place on your body.”
Marcus felt his fangs elongate and he smiled. Amy placed her finger back into his mouth touching the sharp points. She pressed her finger hard and felt a small burning prick as the fang nicked her finger. Marcus sucked the small amount of blood as Amy’s mouth began doing what she had promised.
Except for the few drops produced by Amy’s mouth and finger, Marcus did not share her blood that night, but for Amy it was the most incredible experience she ever had. Marcus more than took her body. He loved every inch of her. If he had taken blood, Amy would not have stopped him. She realized she was in love. It terrified her because it happened too fast, but it was amazing and she never wanted it to end.