Blood Moon (16 page)

“Please, Lukas, I need you.”

“How do you need me, baby?”

Frustration grew as her body clenched with the magic he elicited. She moaned, but stopped short when he withdrew his hand, leaving her bereft. Her legs wrapped around him as he positioned himself at her entrance.

All the more aware of the tension coiling in her stomach and her heart threatening to burst with love for her Mate, she cupped his jaw and saw the mirror of emotions. “You. I need…I need you.”

One hand braced him above her, while the other held her hip. He slowly pushed into her, stretching her. She cried out at the brief twinge of pain. Lukas pressed kisses to her face, whispering in her ear until the discomfort faded. She moved slightly, and he pushed again until his full length rested inside her. Whatever notions she’d had about how this were blown away by the reality.

“Just don’t move, baby. It’ll be okay.” He gritted his teeth, beads of sweat appeared on his brows as he struggled to still his movements, allowing her to grow accustomed to his girth.

The heat inside her grew in intensity, and she wanted him to move. Instinctively, her hands gripped his forearms, pulling her knees higher. She gasped as a new wave of sensation flashed through her. “Lukas….”

He groaned, pulled almost completely out of her body and then returned, thrusting into her completely. Aria thought it was the most amazing thing he’d ever done. To her. He continued, his strokes deep and designated to drive them both into oblivion. Her nails dug into his flesh and she needed more. Any of the expectations she thought she’d had flew out the window, replaced with pleasure that made her want to weep.  

Emotions verged on overwhelming, and she teetered on the edge of something profound. He pushed deeply and the world splintered into a thousand tiny pinpoints of light. She cried his name, clutching tighter as she embraced her release. A few seconds later, with a shout of his own, he collapsed against her.

They lay there, trying to recover. Aria felt as if the entire world had just shifted and put everything on its ear. Lukas’ heat curved around her like a warm and comforting blanket.

Her body hummed with satisfaction. “I knew it would be amazing, Lukas, but I hadn’t expected to see stars.”

“Amazing? I think that was as close to perfect as I’ll get.” Lukas chuckled and rolled to the side, tucking her against him.

Cuddling against him, her panting gradually slowed. Her eyelids drooped with the warm lassitude sweeping through her body. “Just as well since I don’t have a basis for comparison.”

Lukas snorted and lightly pinched her butt. “And you aren’t going to get one.”

Aria threw an arm over his chest and yawned, then smiled. “It’s good for you that I don’t want any other comparisons.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Go to sleep, baby. I’ll give you something to compare it to later.”

Lukas reached over the side of the bed and pulled the comforter over them from where it was lying on the floor. He hugged her once and gave her another kiss. “I love you, Aria. Whatever happens in the next few months, remember that.”

“I love you, too, Lukas. Please don’t do anything stupid.”

He chuckled. “What are you talking about?”

She pinched his nipple. “I don’t want to worry about anything at the moment. Even if you hadn’t totally blown my mind with your lovemaking, I don’t want to ruin the moment.” She sat up suddenly, recalling the number of guests invited to stay overnight. “There are people downstairs. Oh my God, Lukas! They probably heard us!”

Lukas pulled at her arm until she landed next to him with a thud. He struggled not to laugh, but she spotted the corners of his mouth twitching. “Aria, we are newly married and mated. They know exactly what we’re doing up here, whether they can hear us or not.”

She groaned against his chest. “How am I ever going to look them in the face again?”

“Don’t worry about it, love. No one will remember in the morning.”

For the first time in a year, Aria slept without nightmares.

Chapter Fourteen

“Lukas?”

Aria groaned at the booming voice. One eye opened, noting the sunlight filtering through the curtains. She flicked a glance to the doorway. Aaron stood, hand on the open door, watching them with a smirk hovering over his lips. Beside her, Lukas sighed, pulling her a little closer. She curled into Lukas’ chest, grateful for her Mate’s ability to hide her. They were naked, with the sheets tangled around their waists, and she had no desire to give more of a show.

“Aaron, I really hope there’s a good reason you’re in here. ‘Cause if there’s not, I may kill you.” Lukas yawned midway through his sentence and stretched without releasing her.

“I came to tell you Steven’s awake and seems to be better. Alec even let him walk around the room with help.”

“That’s great!” Pleased, she almost sat up then remembered her lack of clothes, as a blush worked its way up her cheeks. Lukas chuckled at her expression. 

Aaron remained at the doorway as he announced, “Alec told Steven’s family he can go home day after tomorrow.”

“I’ll check on Steven later,” Lukas replied.

The Beta blinked, not moving.

Her Mate frowned. “Is there some other pressing news that couldn’t wait?”

Aaron flashed a wicked grin. “Nope. Just wanted to see how long it took before you got annoyed. I’ll see you later.”

Lukas waited until he heard Aaron’s footsteps retreat before he relaxed again. “Ten bucks says Thaddeus is running a pool to see when we get up.”

Aria rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. “I won’t take that bet.”

“Not like we can stop it, anyway.”

Brushing a lock of hair off his forehead, she kissed him then whispered against his lips, “I feel the need for a bath.”

She rose from the bed before he could catch her and crooked a finger at him as she sashayed to the bathroom. “You wash my back and I’ll wash yours?”

***

When they finally emerged from their bedroom, it was near dinnertime. They stopped briefly at the open door where Steven lay watching a small television someone had brought him.

Lukas nudged her towards the stairs as she waved to Steven. They stopped at the study first. Aaron sat at one of the computers, frowning at his e-mail. He didn’t look up when they came in.

“What did we miss?” asked Lukas. His features hardened, ready to get down to business.

Aaron swiveled his chair around to face them, hands braced behind his head. “Well, a couple of wolves were sniffing around town earlier when we went on a grocery run, but other than that, nothing exciting.”

“Sniffing around town?”

Aria rested against the edge of Lukas’ desk. Judging by the concern etched into her Mate’s features, the honeymoon was over. His Beta turned in the chair and slapped his palms on his thighs. At least his irritation wasn’t directed at her this time. It seemed the Mating Ritual had relaxed his bad opinion of her. For the moment.

“Well, they were asking questions around the place where Aria rescued Steven. Apparently, Haemon has reported the incident as being Steven’s fault. He claims Steven provoked Ethan and his friends and forced them to defend themselves.”

She bit her lip to keep from cursing.

Lukas had no such inclinations. “What a load of shit. They actually believe that one teenager
forced
four others into an abandoned store and made them so scared, they nearly beat him to death?”

Aaron raised his hands. “I’m just repeating what the e-mail said. It’s from the Council’s Head, Jonas Bontham. He says they are debating whether or not to demand Steven be turned over when you come.”

This time she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “I don’t remember penciling them into my social calendar.”

Aaron pointed to the computer screen. “I wouldn’t even have known about it, because the e-mail was in my junk folder except your friend, Cern, called earlier. He gave me the heads up that Shifters were asking questions around town. I checked my e-mail and the junk folder, too, just in case.”

“The one time the Council uses modern technology, and we still can’t get all the information. No one’s called yet?” Lukas’ voice dripped sarcasm.

Aaron shook his head. “Not yet. But if they called your cell, we wouldn’t be sure. I’m pretty sure it’s still plugged in on your desk.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the massive desk.

Aria swiveled on the polished surface and stretched over the table to grab the red flip phone that was, indeed, charging quietly on the tabletop under the computer monitor. She tossed it to Lukas, who flipped it open.

“Damn.” He punched a few buttons, then pressed the phone to his ear while she and Aaron waited.

The message had apparently been brief. In only a few seconds, he viciously snapped the phone closed and shoved it in his pocket. Pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, he began to pace the room.

Aria’s palms curled, fingers biting into her skin as she waited for Lukas.

“They decided to let Steven’s case drop,” Lukas finally said.

She relaxed. “So that’s a good thing.”

Lukas heaved in a deep breath. “Except, they expect us and a small group of bodyguards at Bontham’s house in Virginia in three days. The Council has decided to hold a Meet there and determine who Aria’s rightful Mate is.”

Her stomach flipped. Disbelief rose along with shock as she tried to register his words.

Aaron rose, shutting off the computer. “I’ll get a couple of the others together. We can be ready to go—”

“No.” Lukas’ glare brooked no argument. “I’ll call a Pack Meet. Everyone needs to understand what’s going on. And what the contingency plan is, just in case.”

Fear curled icy fingers around her heart. Aria snagged his hand as he paced by her. He pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She didn’t want to think about the possibility of losing this argument, but he was right. They did need a plan for the Pack if the worst happened. The two of them had gone too far now to separate. Unless she could….

“Do not even think about it.”

Aria jerked at Aaron’s tone.

Furious and hazel eyes spitting fire, he glared. “I damn sure don’t want to be stuck hauling your bleeding carcasses back, and I don’t want to be in charge here.”

“Aw, come on. You don’t have any illusions of grandeur?” Aria tried to be playful, but Aaron’s demeanor didn’t change.

The Beta took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his fists. She knew he could see Lukas’ determination just as she could. Her Mate had already made up his mind. Yelling wasn’t going to change it. She’d try some other methods out later.

Aaron crossed his arms, slightly calmer. While he teased, tension was still apparent in the fine lines of his face. “If you die, I have no one left to pass the buck to. I’ll make certain it doesn’t come to violence, even if I have to strap the whole assembly to their seats.”

With a hard expression, Lukas turned to his friend. “Haemon wants blood.”

The glint in his eyes made her heart skip. Her mouth dropped at his next words.

“And I’m in a mood to give him exactly what he asked for.”

Chapter Fifteen

“You have to be the most arrogant, thick-headed man I have ever met.”

The man in question, the one who only hours earlier had shown her pleasure she’d never known, shrugged and continued to devour his spaghetti.

Aria stabbed a meatball, waving it in the air as if needing it to emphasize her argument. “Haemon is not going to play fair. Your plan cannot consist entirely of kicking his ass.”

Calmly, Lukas wiped his mouth with his napkin and then tucked it under his plate. “Aria. I understand that you are a little concerned—”

“A little? I’ll be prematurely gray before the next week is out.”

He continued as if she hadn’t interrupted. “I have a plan. I just don’t care to share the details at the moment. I’m still working out the finer points, and you’ll just get upset if I tell you while it’s still flawed.”

Chewing furiously, she could only glare until the last bit of beef slid down her throat. “I’m already way past upset, Lukas MacLeod.”

“Exactly. I’m not telling you now. You might explode. As it is, your glare would have stripped flesh from a lesser man.”

She flipped the tines of her fork in his direction. “You are going to pay dearly for that.”

Leaning forward and pushing his empty plate out of the way, he flashed a brilliant smile. Her stomach flipped despite her silent commands to remain impervious to his charms.

“Just what did you have in mind?”

It should have been an innocent question, but she felt every word like a caress over her skin.

“Stop that. There are several teenagers present in the other room.”

He shrugged. “They’re old enough to watch R rated movies, and I only asked a question.”

“That tone of voice should be illegal.”

“What tone of voice?”

She snorted and nearly choked on the spaghetti she’d shoved into her mouth. They hadn’t been out of bed more than two hours and she already wanted to head back. Hell, if he touched her, she’d probably settle for the pantry.

She sipped on her ice tea. “Innocent you ain’t. How can you be such a tease at a time like this?”

“A time like what? I have officially managed to attach myself to the most gorgeous woman ever, have incredible mind-blowing sex with said woman, and there is a distinct possibility it’s going to happen again in the very near future. What worry can possibly distract me from that?”

As he spoke, his hand crept across the table to clasp hers, his thumb rubbing small circles over the back. Never in her life had she imagined how erotic that could be. Tiny fissions of desire throbbed down her arm to her core. He deliberately made it difficult for her to concentrate.

Ever since the conversation with Aaron, she couldn’t squelch the fear. The Meet was mandatory and she dreaded the possibilities. Going to a Council member’s house was the worst possible scenario. They could hold them there indefinitely. And she refused to be parted from Lukas again. Giving a mental sigh, she caved to Lukas’ distractions, more annoyed by his teasing touches. She had plenty of time to worry on the drive to Virginia.