She dodged his lips and grabbed his chin, staring into his eyes. “We need to. Hold that thought.”
“Why?”
“Are you really serious about wanting to mate with me?”
Some of the glow faded from his eyes and he frowned.
Shit. He didn’t look pleased that she’d brought it up. “Never mind.”
“Yes, I’m serious. Why? Have you made a decision?”
“Not exactly. I just wanted to discuss it more.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
He sighed and pulled back, sitting up on the bed. “Okay. What do you want to know?”
“Are you absolutely certain I’m your mate?”
“The more time I spend with you, the greater the draw. It’s tough not to bite you. The urge is there, and it’s not to just test it. Inside, I know. I feel it.”
“I’m drawn to you, too.”
“Say yes then. Be my mate.”
“I’d have to give up my grandpa. I know it would be best for him since he can finally find a woman to share his life with, but a part of me feels as if I owe it to him to ask his permission first. He gave up his nest to save my life. He’s avoided other Vampires to keep me alive for the past thirty-six years. Does that make sense?”
Red nodded. “You’re loyal. It’s an honorable trait. While we’re being honest, I worry that he’ll force me to kill him.”
She was horrified. “Why would you even say that?”
“You’re his nest, Emma. His granddaughter. He did give up everything for you. What is he willing to do to keep you? You’d hate me if I was left with no choice but to kill him in the course of defending myself.”
“He’ll want me to be happy most of all. He’d never do that. You mean too much to me.”
“Do I?”
She stared into his eyes. “Yes. Do you want the truth?”
“Always.”
“I’m fighting it…but I’m falling in love with you. I think I am in love with you, Red. It happened so fast, but I don’t want to leave with my grandpa when he comes for me, because it means I won’t see you again.”
Red growled and lunged, taking her down to the bed. His mouth was on hers in an instant. She gasped but kissed him back when his tongue delved into her mouth, meeting his passion. Her fingers slid into his hair as she spread her thighs, making room for him to get closer. She broke the kiss.
“Don’t bite me,” she warned. “I really want to do the right thing by asking my grandpa first before we make this official.”
“I remember. I’ll resist.” He groaned, going for her mouth again.
Red stripped her as he kissed her. She loved him. That may as well be a yes to agreeing to be his mate. He just couldn’t bite her until she spoke with Malachi. He respected her need to get approval of their union from her family. Hell, he’d spoken to his uncle about making Emma his mate.
He pinned her under him and trailed his mouth over her cheek to her throat. Her moans drove him insane and his dick hardened to the point of pain. He wanted inside her but he also didn’t want to rush things. He ran his hands over her body had him growling. She didn’t protest or seem afraid when he made such rough sounds.
She was his mate. He inhaled her scent, knowing. He felt it down to his damn bones and through every beat of his heart. Mine.
His fangs elongated, and he salivated, desperate to bite into her, to just get a small taste of her blood, but he resisted. There would be no turning back for him once he broke skin. Instinct would overpower him, forcing him to claim her. As much as he wanted that, he wanted her happy more. That meant waiting for the right time. It wasn’t now.
He tore his mouth away to be less tempted to bite and got to his knees. He rolled her over, grabbed her hips, and helped her get on her hands and knees in front of him. Emma flipped her hair out of her face and peered at him over her shoulder. He glanced down at her luscious ass and growled again.
She spread her legs apart and arched, teasing him. Worse, she rocked a tiny bit to mimic what it would look like if he were fucking her. The scent of her arousal filled his nose. She smelled unbelievable…hot and ready for him. Needy. His skin tingled and he had to pull in a sharp breath to keep fur from sprouting.
“Don’t tempt me to partially shift, Emma.”
She stilled, her eyes widening. “What does that mean?”
“Half state. Human form with some fur. I don’t want to frighten you but you turn me on that much.” He attempted to joke, to lighten the mood and cool his lust down. “Don’t tempt the beast to come out to play.”
He expected her to crawl away or maybe express fear, but she did neither.
“Show me.”
“What?” He couldn’t have heard her say that.
“Show me, Red.”
“I don’t want to scare you.”
She smiled. “You don’t. Show me, please? I’m curious.”
He hesitated but then allowed some fur to sprout along his arms, chest, and down his body. He gripped her hips with his hands as his claws slid out, gently, to avoid digging them into her skin. It was tough to prevent the bones in his face from changing but he managed. A snout would be bad. He didn’t think she would like that look at all.
Red watched her as her gaze slid over him, again expecting her fear.
Instead she smiled, shocking the hell out of him.
“That’s kind of sexy.” She lifted a hand and reached back, running her fingers lightly over his arm and the back of his hand. “Not exactly bunny soft, but hot. I still want you.”
“Fuck,” he snarled, inching closer to her and spreading his legs on the outside of hers to line them up right. She was much shorter. His dick was so hard and he didn’t need to let her go to press the tip against her wet sex.
He slowly pushed forward, entering her.
She moaned and looked away, dropping her head. “Your cock feels even hotter and thicker.”
His mate wasn’t afraid of him. Pure joy and a rightness filled Red as he sank deeper into her wet, tight pussy. “Tell me you want it fast and hard.” He wasn’t sure he could give it to her any other way.
“Yes!” she moaned.
That was it. He gripped her hips a little tighter, still careful with his claws, and began to thrust deep and fast, taking her. Instinct rode him to bite but he refused to curl over her back and sink his fangs into her skin. Just the thought of sampling her blood, how warm and luscious it would taste, and making her drink his own, had Red almost coming.
He slid a hand down, twisted his wrist, and used his knuckle to furiously rub her clit. Her pussy clamped tighter around him, her moans growing louder, and he held on to his control until she screamed out his name.
He closed his eyes, threw back his head, and damn near howled when his seed began to shoot inside his mate.
He wanted to get her pregnant. He wanted to seal their bond. He’d kill anyone who ever tried to take her away.
“Mine!” he roared.
When his mind cleared, he gently withdrew and rolled her onto her side. He followed her down, wrapping his still half-shifted body around hers. She snuggled back into him as he spooned her.
“You feel so right in my arms, Emma.”
“You’re home to me, Red. That’s what it feels like.” She ran her fingers over his arms and then twisted. He released her as she turned, facing him. She petted his chest, exploring him. He held her gaze when she looked into his eyes.
“This doesn’t scare you?”
“No. It’s a part of you. Is this as much as you shift?”
“No.”
“Can I see?”
Would she be terrified? It chilled him to the bone, the thought of her rejecting him after she saw him fully shifted. “VampLycans don’t look like wild wolves.”
“I’ve seen Werewolves before. Grandpa pointed some out to me one night.”
“We don’t look like them, either. The Vampire blood makes us more humanoid, with less hair.”
r /> She reached up and stroked his cheek. “Show me, Red. I’m not going to freak out. I trust you. Do the same.”
He nodded, hoping he wouldn’t regret it. “Let me go.”
She wiggled away from him and he sat up, then rolled onto his hands and knees. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes and shifted the rest of the way. His bones reshaped, popping and cracking. He inwardly winced at the sounds his body made. He didn’t dare look at her to see her reaction until it was over.
She hadn’t moved away. He could hear her breathing.
Red opened his eyes, staring at Emma.
She once again shocked the hell out of him by giving him an incredible smile.
“That is amazing!” She crawled right up to him, stood on her knees, and gently cupped his head. “Your eyes turn completely black and it make you look totally kick-ass. That’s so cool. And pointy ears! Can you move them?”
He twitched his ears. She laughed, then maneuvered to his side. Emma ran her hands through his fur, exploring his shoulders and back. “You’ve got a lot of muscle still, Red. You’re way beefier and bigger than a Werewolf. Sorry. Lycan.” She laughed again.
He turned his head, watching her. He would have smiled if he could have.
Instead, he shifted back to skin and lunged for her, taking her down and rolling at the same time to make sure she landed on top.
“I love you, Emma. Thank you for accepting me.”
She laughed. “I love you too.” Her expression sobered. “Seriously, Red. I accept you for who you are. All of you. But no way are you ever fully shifting and fucking me.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I wouldn’t ask.”
“That’s a relief.” She smiled again. “A little fur is hot but the snout is a mood killer for sex. Plus, the four legs. I like your hands on me. Not paws with claws.”
“I only lost some of my skin because of instincts. I want to mate you badly. The urge is getting stronger.”
“My grandpa will hopefully come soon.”
He saw worry in her eyes, and sadness.
“He will,” he assured her.
Emma snuggled into him. “I just worry.”
“I know.” He ran his hands down her back, caressing her gently. “He’ll come and everything will be fine.” He just hoped he wasn’t lying.
Chapter Ten
Red jerked awake, his senses screaming something wasn’t right.
A light thump came from somewhere. His hold on Emma tightened and he rolled, pinning her under him. He lifted his hand, covering her mouth as her body tensed under his.
“Shush,” he breathed. “Someone is above.”
She clutched at him but nodded.
“Not a sound,” he warned. “Don’t move.” He rolled off her, got to his feet, and unleashed his claws. Hair sprouted along his body but he kept his human shape.
A light tap sounded on metal. His keen hearing picked it up. He moved out of the bedroom, through his living space to the door that led to the stairwell. His den wouldn’t be breached but he’d kill anything that tried to get to his Emma.
Tap. Pause. Tap. Tap. Tap. Pause. Tap. Pause. Tap. Tap. Tap. Then six quick ones.
He relaxed and allowed his body to shift completely to skin. His claws retracted.
“I’m turning on the lights and we’re getting dressed, Emma. It’s Kraven. He’s at the upper hatch. Something is wrong.”
“What is it?”
He spun, flipping on lights to help her see. “I don’t know but he’s at the upper hatch for a reason. He’d only come to my den in case of an emergency.”
“Shit.” She shoved off the covers, exposing her nudeness, and scrambled for her clothes. “There’s no way I led Vampires here. I was very careful.”
Red threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He made sure Emma was mostly dressed before he stormed to the hatch, unlocked it, and began to climb. He unlocked the upper one.
Kraven flipped it open and met his gaze. “Sorry. Dad sent me.”
“What’s happened?”
“A call came through the gas station. It was a female, race unknown, but she left a message for Emma from her brother Mal.”
“Damn. What was the message?”
Kraven shrugged. “Dad didn’t tell me, Red. I just got a call. He told me that much, and then asked me to immediately escort you both to his house.”
Red nodded. “We’ll be right up.”
“You’re not going to invite me in?” Kraven grinned. “It’s been a while since you showed the place off.”
“Do you want to smell sex?”
“I’ll wait outside.” Kraven disappeared.
Red climbed back down and entered his den. Emma had finished getting dressed. “Put on your shoes.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. Some woman left a message at the gas station for you, from your ‘brother Mal.’ I don’t know what words were said. Uncle Velder wants us at his house now.”
It only took them a minute to put on shoes. He went out first and locked the hatch at the top of the stairs. He exited the hill that covered his den, momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight. He reached back, knowing Emma would have the same problem. She clutched his arm. Kraven waited ten feet away.
Red kept hold of her as they started to walk. She slowed them down but he knew she didn’t enjoy traveling over his shoulder. The terrain would also be too rough to hold her in his arms, since they had to climb a few ravines. He did scoop her up when they crossed a stream, not wanting her to get wet. He put her down on the other side.
“My brother Mal,” she muttered. “That means whoever called must be human.”
“How do you figure that?” Kraven glanced back at her.
“Humans are the only ones who think he’s my brother. He looks too young to be my father.”
“It will be fine,” Red assured her.
She clutched his hand tighter. “I feel like I’m going to be sick. What can this mean?”
“I don’t know. We’ll hear the message and hopefully figure it out. We’re almost to Uncle Velder’s.”
Red worried about Emma. Kraven reached the front door first and opened it, walking inside. Red followed, keeping Emma close. Uncle Velder sat on the couch with Drantos seated in a chair to his right. Aunt Crayla came from the kitchen with a tray of refreshments.
He relaxed. She’d only bother with drinks if the situation weren’t as tense as he feared.
“Emma, I’d like to introduce you to my uncle Velder and aunt Crayla. He’s our clan leader.” He put her in front of him but wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest. He wanted his family to know how much she meant to him. Not that the scents coming off them both wouldn’t be a hint. They hadn’t taken the time to shower. Everyone would know their relationship had grown serious.
“Hello.” Emma sounded nervous. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He rubbed her stomach through her shirt and leaned his head down to put his lips close to her ear. “They’re family. Relax.”
Aunt Crayla sniffed as she set the tray on the table then straightened, assessing Emma before she met his gaze. “I see the men in our family all have a preference.”
He knew what she implied. Her sons had chosen half-humans to mate. Now he had as well. He tensed. Aunt Crayla smiled though and took a seat next to her mate, curling into his side. Red let out a long breath of relief, steering Emma toward the loveseat.
Uncle Velder got right down to business by addressing Emma. “A woman called the gas station to leave a message for you.” He paused. “She refused to give her name but said to tell Emma that her brother Mal is searching for her and to please get in contact. She hung up after that. My people know of you, so the one who took the call contacted me immediately. We traced it to a library in California. Does this mean anything to you?”
“We lived in California for a while. One of our neighbors, a woman, worked at a library.” She gave
the name of it.
Uncle Velder nodded. “That’s the one.”
Red turned his head, studying Emma. She appeared pale and she chewed on her bottom lip. She met his gaze. “Remember the woman who ended up with the mailman? That’s her. I don’t know how Linda would know to call here. We haven’t spoken to her since we left California.”
“Is there any way the Vampires would have known she’d been one of your grandfather’s donors?” He was proud he’d used that term instead of victims, not wanting to make her upset.
She shook her head. “I don’t see how. And we left there because of a Werewolf pack.” She glanced around. “Sorry. Lycan pack. A couple of them came into my work and I caught their interest. Then two of them tried to follow me home, but I was able to lose them by going to a mall and abandoning my car for a cab. Grandpa said they probably picked up his scent on my clothes from hugging me and maybe thought I was being fed on. It was time to go.”
Kraven frowned. “How did you know they were Lycans?”
“The way they were watching me and how they moved. It was clear that they weren’t human, and Vampires don’t stroll into stores during broad daylight. That left Lycan. Plus, one guy kept sniffing when he got close. Big tipoff. I hit the mall, called Grandpa, and he packed our place. I rented a motel room for the night, and then we flew out of there on separate flights.”
“Focus on the message this woman left at the gas station,” Uncle Velder advised.
Emma nodded. “Okay. It doesn’t make sense though. Grandpa knows exactly where I am. He isn’t searching for me.” She paused. “Wait a minute…we always had an emergency plan if we were ever separated. I need to use your phone.”
Uncle Velder frowned. “What was the plan?”
“We’ve always owned one house that we never lived in. Grandpa bought it when I was a kid. He had a phone turned on there and an answering machine installed. It was somewhere no one could trace us to but we could leave messages on the machine for each other. He changed the number over the years but he always made me memorize it, and the code. That’s the only thing I can think to try, because again, he knows where I am. It’s even more confusing if the caller was Linda. It’s been like twenty-two years since we saw her.”