Tortured Embrace Page 12

  Pausing, he hovered a moment over her skin as reality hit him in the face. Any second now, he’d have Serena’s breast in his hand, and a part of him registered this was a bad idea. This was Adam’s sister, the woman he’d loved for years, but she was off limits, forbidden fruit.

  As he was about to drop his hand, Serena nimbly clasped him and brought him to her silken breast.

  “Oh God,” he whispered, his thick length throbbing, digging into her back as his hips thrust into her, his other hand held her belly, rocking her into him. His mouth found the curve of her shoulder, the smell of her skin tantalizing his senses. Tasting her, he ran his tongue up the side of her neck, nibbled impatiently at her ear lobe. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered.

  “No,” she moaned, squeezing his jeans at his thighs.

  “Mmm…” Jason’s hand at her belly moved automatically to the juncture of her legs. “Ah,” he uttered, excited at the feel of bare skin. Gently caressing over her entrance, he paused a second. Jesus. Was this for real? His body quaked at the notion of being inside her, and his fingers tightened as if the muscles in his hand were as anxious as he was. “Are you wet for me, honey?” Before she could answer, he slid his middle finger in between the folds. “Yesss,” he hissed. Making his movements smooth, he glided deep, dipping his finger in the hot moisture, then back up to encircle her swollen jewel, all the while playing with her nipple between his forefinger and thumb, gently plucking at the luscious bud. He rocked her into him, over an over.

  Her nails dug into his skin through denim as she moaned in a sexy voice he’d never heard come out of her. “Jason.”

  Sucking in a deep breath through his teeth, he came hard at the sound of his name. Pumping into her as the spasms wracked his body, Jason’s head reeled.

  “Oh God….is this…I think…I’m…” Serena orgasmed, her body tightening in his embrace, then shuddering hard, her stomach muscles quaking beneath his arm.

  Continuing to strum her like a guitar, Jason let the waves of release settle, their weighted breaths outshining the sound of the showering rain until she fell limp in his arms.

  They stood there, her tiny body lying atop his, her head tilted to the side, trying to catch her breath.

  Savoring this moment, he watched her nipples rise with every breath, desperate to taste them. A savage need unlike any he’d every felt laced through him. He wasn’t nearly done. The urge to be inside her overwhelmed him. Turning her around he held her at arm’s length, drinking in the sight of her spent body, naked for him. His Serena. His love.

  With heavy lidded eyes, she gave him a small encouraging smile. “Kiss me,” she demanded.

  Crushing her to him, his lips found hers, fusing together in a deep, penetrating kiss. Good God, she tasted wonderful. Her lips fit perfectly with his, meeting his every move with executed skill as though they’d rehearsed this first kiss a million times. Their tongues met at the same time, molding together effortlessly.

  Fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer, squeezing him at the base of his neck, painfully. “Damn it, Serena, you’re gonna make me come again,” he uttered, taking a breath, but she pulled him back greedily, crushing her lips on his. His hands ran up and down her back. God, they couldn’t get enough.

  Spinning her around, he pressed her up against the door. Gripping her wrists, he brought them up over her head, pinning them to the door as his knee spread her legs.

  She hitched in a quick breath, her eyes widening.

  He froze.

  And sure as fuck, he’d rue the day he ever let her talk him into this.

  “GODDAMNIT!” he shouted and pushed off the door roughly, moving as far away from her as possible. With shaky hands, he ran them up and down his face, his back to her. He was a motherfucking pig! How the hell could he do that?

  “Jason…”

  “Don’t say a word, Serena,” he uttered, icily.

  “It’s okay, I’m fine.”

  “Jesus Christ, I mean it. Not a word.” Visibly shaking, he tried to get some control, but couldn’t.

  She’d panicked. What he’d been most afraid of had actually happened. She’d fucking panicked because of him. Because he was a lousy, fucking pervert.

  “FUCK!”

  The sound of fabric behind him told him she was getting dressed, sniffling in the process.

  Serena was crying.

  “Ah hell.” His chest ached, a painful sting as though he’d been pierced through the heart with an arrow. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice unsteady as he stared at the dinning room table.

  “I told you, I’m fine. Please look at me,” she wailed.

  “I can’t. Damn it, Serena I told you this would happen.” Great. Now he was throwing it in her face. Real classy, dumb shit.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know why…it was just for a second and then it was gone. Please look at me,” she pleaded.

  Turning, his head low, he peered at her. “Why are you crying?”

  “Because you stopped,” she said, instantly.

  He let out a sharp breath. “It was too fast. I couldn’t…I can’t control myself with you. Don’t you understand? I want you too damn much, it’s wrong. I’m not right for you.” Biting down hard, he screwed up his face, whispering dreadfully, “I fucking scared you.” Chest heaving, his vision grew cloudy as his throat closed up. “I scared you, little one.”

  Shaking her head vigorously, she mumbled, “No.” Swiping at her cheeks, she said, “It’s you, Jason. I could never be scared with you.”

  Forlornly, he responded, “Then why were you?”

  Chapter Eleven

  The bang of metal rung stridently in the air the instant she shut the cage. Only twenty of her creatures fit the average-sized room in individual kennels. There were another twenty in the adjacent bedroom, as well as twenty in the vacant cellar. Cassandra kept two in her own suite to remind her convenio as to who controlled her Nightwalkers.

  Bending at the knee she stroked the snout of a gray. Before conducting her spells, the creatures were quite aggressive, especially when they detected their impending demise. It almost saddened her to think of the carcasses in the closet, but the enchantment could not be performed with a living jackal, they needed to be reborn under her care to grow into the beasts she needed. Now they were subservient to her alone as, for all intents and purposes, she was their new mother.

  The gray nudged her hand the moment it stilled, encouraging her affections. Flinching at the doe-eyed creature, she said, “No, no, my sweet. Never beg.” Now that they’d undergone the change, she wanted to rear them to be aggressive canines once more.

  Standing, she smirked at how large this one had become, impatient to see just what they can do. As crepuscular animals, jackals were most active between dawn and dusk, which put a minor kink in her plan since they were now only useful at night. It hardly mattered, though. After meeting with the other convenios, they came to the consensus the creatures were to be only used nocturnally as the daylight hours would cause too much exposure. Her litter would be shot dead by the next season’s hunting party were they to operate so openly.

  The door behind her creaked, and a spineless voice echoed in the room. “Excuse me, mistress, but…”

  “Leonardo,” she called, her nostrils flaring at the very thought of the idiot letting the wolves slip away. “I trust you have good reason for interrupting my bonding time?” she asked, practicing her silent hand gestures to the female gray. Bending her elbow, she raised her palm in the air. The female sat on her haunches. Lowering her hand, the Nightwalker immediately fell to the down position.

  She smiled.

  “Yes. I’ve had an idea. I’ve been watching her closely, and I’m pretty confident this will work.”

  Pointing a finger at the female, her eyes gleamed as the hairs rose hostilely on the creature. “Pretty confident doesn’t work for me, Leo.”

  “Quite confident,” he reiterated.

  “Mmmm,” she hummed, not sure she wan
ted to hear the fool’s plan. Having established her next move, she wondered if his surveillance could prove helpful. She guessed it couldn’t hurt to hear the boy out, but not while in here. Her pets needed her undivided attention. “Come here, Leo.”

  Silence met her demand then the sound of shuffling feet approached. Pausing at her side, Leonardo’s battered body tensed.

  “Take one pigeon and place it in the cage, just beyond her reach.” Cassandra gestured to the basket of dead birds at their feet.

  Stiffening at her request, Leonardo looked to her.

  She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to comply.

  Swallowing, he flushed as he bent to the basket and retrieved one foul-smelling pigeon. Glancing at her nervously, he set it quickly in between the bars on the floor.

  “Leave it,” she demanded fast as the gray inched foward. The Nightwalker stilled, hackles raising ever more, waiting for Cassandra’s permission to take her reward.

  Leo wiped his hands on his jeans, stepping back.

  “Thank you. Now…take it back,” she said.

  His head snapped in her direction. “What?”

  “You know how I hate to repeat myself. Take the bird away,” she mouthed, exaggerating her words. If she was going to keep the stupid witch, he should damn well do something useful, and angering this lot was one way to ensure her beasts became the violent weapons they were born to be.

  “She’ll bite my hand off. Their fangs are made to pierce a Were. My skin won’t stand a chance.” Sweating now, Leo looked from her to the Nightwalker, eyes wide.

  “Then be quick about it.”

  He let out a shaky breath. The poor boy looked like he was going to soil himself. Leo lowered himself on unsteady legs, his eyes didn’t blink as he watched the gray, just waiting for an attack. The minute he reached his arm out, the female curled her lips, snarling at Leo’s threatening hand.

  Smiling bright, Cassandra nodded swiftly at her pet the instant Leo made contact with the carcass. At her consent, the female leapt, snipping at the witch’s hand. Leo cried out in pain. The Nightwalker managed to nip a piece of skin when she seized her prize.

  Letting out a sharp laugh, Cassandra threw her head back, unable to contain her enjoyment. “Good girl,” she chuckled, ignoring Leo’s whimpers at her side. “Oh my darling…you just might be my favorite,” she cooed, as her Nightwalker devoured her reward.

  ****

  Fuck you, moon heat.

  Jason parked the truck in front of the library, and resumed his sit and watch position he’d taken since Serena’s return. His ass and legs had fallen asleep so many times it was a wonder he could still walk.

  This time, however, he wouldn’t have to wait too long. Serena was leaving work early today. On moon heat days, werewolves were required to leave the work place at a decent hour to prepare for the night’s…exertions. Even if they were on pills to suppress the urges, one could never be too careful.

  Grabbing the prescription on the seat next to him, he stared at the tiny pills through the orange plastic. He’d taken two of his own bottle already, even though it was only two in the afternoon. The way his body had been since last night, he might have to take the entire bottle by dusk.

  This bottle was for Serena. God, to have endured three moon heats without pills or a heat mate… Slamming his head back, he cursed. Why did his mind always go there?

  There was no way he was taking a chance on Serena going through agony again. Tonight she’d have enough pills to mellow her out. Once he made sure she was home safe, he’d pop a few more and call it a night.

  The glass door of the library opened, and Serena stepped out, a black tote slung over her right shoulder. She wore a black trench coat reaching just above her knees and gray pants. Her hair was loose, the afternoon sun highlighting the deep brown to a brilliant mahogany.

  A cell in hand, she was distracted as she walked out slowly, texting as she went. No doubt telling her brother she was leaving the library as her brother had instructed her to do, or, and his stomach tightened at the thought, messaging a potential heat mate telling him she was on her way.

  Damn it.

  Now he felt like an ass. His preemptive trip to drop off pills to her seemed stupid now. Having no claim on her, he had no right to shove pills at her.

  No. Serena didn’t have a heat mate. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t do…

  What was wrong with him? He had to stop. Adam had been pretty damn clear the other day, and wasn’t he always telling himself he was no good for her? Then why did he have this incredible urge to know who the hell she was texting?

  His stomach rumbled. This moon heat was going to be a bitch. Not only did Weres suffer from hunger pangs during the hours leading up to night, he was already feeling agitated; another clue he had to get the hell home. Whoever Serena texted was none of his damn business.

  He jerked the car door open, the sound jolting Serena from her cell phone. Her head shot up, faltering mid-step. “Hi,” she said, cheerily.

  Slamming the door, he stepped to the curb, glancing at her phone. “You shouldn’t text and walk at the same time. You need to be more alert.”

  Her face fell as he felt his phone vibrate in his jean pocket.

  “I…I just texted you.”

  I’m a douche bag.

  He gave her a half-hearted grin. “Sorry.”

  Straightening, she threw her phone in her jacket pocket and asked, less joyfully, “What are you doing here?”

  Before he could stop himself, he blurted, “Where are you going?”

  Flinching at his harsh tone, she answered, “Home.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “Why?”

  He shook his head, at a loss. Reminding himself he had no right to question her, he held out the pills. “I brought these…”

  Shifting her weight to her right leg, she crossed her arms in front of her chest, her delicate brow furrowing. She glanced at the bottle. “Did you think I was going to meet up a heat mate?”

  Taking a deep breath through his nose, he clamped his mouth shut. He knew not to touch this one.

  Shaking her head at him, she said, “You’re unbelievable.”

  “Serena…”

  “No. Do you honestly think I want anyone other than you?” She unfurled her arms and pointed at his pocket. “Check your message.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know why…” He searched the street around them for some kind of help. All he got was passing cars. “Look, I just came here to give you these. I wanted to make sure you had enough.” He held the bottle out to her.

  Folding her arms again, she said, “I’m not taking those.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.” Her eyes softened at him. “I’m not taking pills tonight.”

  A growl escaped him, and he stepped toward her, menacingly. “You said there was no one else,” he said, angrily.

  Serena’s eyes gleamed as a corner of her mouth perked up, seductively. “I don’t know why you fight it. You want me, Jason Linus. And tonight…I intend to have you.”

  He jerked back, feeling stupid again for jumping to the wrong conclusion. “Stop. You know we can’t. I won’t do it. Just please, take these.”

  Pursing her lips, she glared at him. “Fine.” Taking the bottle from him, she walked around him toward her car.

  Jason’s eyes followed her.

  When she stepped off the curb she turned to face him, a devilish grin on her face. Popping the lid off, she spilled the contents of the bottle down the sewer.

  “Serena!”

  Spinning on her heel, she called back, “Check your text message, Jason,” and hopped into her Beetle.

  ****

  You have no idea how sorry and embarrassed I am for reacting the way I did. I’m okay. Really. I need you, Jason. Tonight.

  Serena. We can’t. Please.

  She hadn’t responded to Jason’s last text, knowing full well he’d continue to argue with her.

  She was playing with fire, to be sure,
but it was the only way they could be together. Serena was determined to show him just how “okay” she was.

  It was a half hour until nightfall as she stepped onto the fourth floor landing of his apartment building. Having never entered his home, Serena followed his scent to his door.

  Pausing in the hallway, she tightened the belt of her trench coat with shaky hands. Never in her life did she ever imagine doing something like this. She wasn’t the gutsy type. Thinking back, she couldn’t recall doing anything exciting. When she traveled, she stuck to walking tours with large groups, avoiding boats because she wasn’t a good swimmer, and bicycles because she couldn’t ride one. Hell, she even hated roller coasters. But now…now…she was about to embark on the biggest ride of her life.

  Shifting uncomfortably in the one of the few pairs of heels she owned, she moved to the door. Just before she could knock, it swung open.

  Jason’s large frame filled the doorway, looming over her, even with her added high heel height of four inches. His long hair damp from a recent shower, he stood before her in just a pair of jeans, his tanned, masculine feet bare on the hardwood floor, his chest still tantalizingly moist.

  Speechless, she could only stare.

  Abruptly, he reached for her, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her inside, slamming the door shut as he shoved her against the wall.

  “What the hell are you doing here!” he hissed, his breath warm on her face.

  Oh no. He was not going to intimidate her. Swallowing loudly, she inched her chin up. “You know why I’m here.” His lips tensed, and she had to control the urge to run her tongue over them. God, he smelled good.

  Gripping her arm tighter, he said through gritted teeth, “Do you have any idea what time it is? Do you want to be caught by some sick human, looking to take advantage of innocent werewolves like yourself?”

  Hesitating, she thought for a moment. “There are people who do…”