Into the Unknown (Werewolf Wars, #2) (18 page)

All of the sudden, a question popped into the she-wolf’s head. She frowned as she turned to Gene. “Where did you learn how to steal cars?”

Gene grinned, his brown eyes shining. “It’s something many wolves are taught when they decide to take on enforcer roles. One of the most important rules of a pack is not getting caught by humans. We are trained to use any means necessary to keep the cops out of our business. For situations like last night—when we need a quick getaway—we have the training to ensure it happens.”

“So you can hotwire a car?”

“Newer models are harder with all the technology that is put into them, but older makes are free game.”

“What exactly does an enforcer do?” Natalia asked curiously.

“Preston and Vincent—how they are going around to the other packs,” Gene said, glancing over at her. Natalia nodded and he continued, “That’s an example. Basically, they do what needs to be done to protect the pack. They take their orders directly from the alpha and exact his commands. It could be chasing down a rogue in the area or doing emissary work. It really depends on the need.”

“What if they have families? Sarah was not happy that Preston left,” Natalia said.

“When an enforcer mates, he is given the option to retire and stay on the homestead. Preston hasn’t made any promises to Sarah, nor has he declared her his mate.”

“How do you do that? I mean they are...you know,” Natalia said feeling flames engulf her face.

“Mating is more than just sex, Talia. It’s a commitment to one another. It can be done in three different ways. The traditional wedding, a mating ceremony, or—as Devon has done with Lark—a declaration before the pack by living together. Of the three, the mating ceremony is the most sacred and is viewed as an unbreakable bond between the mates.”

“So Devon and Lark are mates, but not Sarah and Preston?”

“Devon and Lark actively live together under one roof in one bed, permanently. Preston and Sarah only have sex. They reside in different rooms.”

“I see.”

“We are territorial creatures. Letting another person into your private sanctuary and sharing it with them is a big deal,” Gene explained. “My dad always said that the scent of your mate stands out. Instead of smelling just another wolf or person, it smells delightful. It lures you in until you want to be surrounded by it.”

Natalia quirked a brow and laughed.

“His words, not mine,” Gene clarified.

“I’ve never really paid much attention to personal scents. I learned to distinguish feelings like fear, arousal, and anger when I was in high school,” Natalia admitted. “I’d never smelled another wolf until a little over a year ago. Some people do smell better than others.” Glancing at Gene, she slowly took in a deep breath, breathing in his woodsy pine-and-moss scent. Natalia looked away, swallowing thickly. The alpha’s aroma was a little too alluring for her comfort. “Your father sounds like a romantic.” She said, hoping he wouldn’t notice her own arousal which now permeated the car.

“He was a good man. My mother and father were very much in love. When she became ill, he moved heaven and earth to get her the best treatment possible. I honestly think—if he hadn’t had me and Preston to take care of—he would have let himself follow her into the afterlife. They had a strong connection. I’ve only met one other couple with that kind of connection,” Gene said, smiling.

“What kind of a connection?”

Gene shrugged. “An emotional connection where you can sense your mate’s feelings and desires. You know what they’re thinking. Have you seen Emily and Marcus together? They have that deep connection. I was too young to remember, but I believe Claire and Devon’s father had it as well.”

“I have only seen Emily and Marcus together when we went shopping,” Natalia said, looking up at the car ceiling as she tried to recall them together. They had been overly lovey-dovey, but she’d chalked it up to them being newly mated.

“If Dev hadn’t helped Emily get away from Emmett, I honestly don’t know what the two of them would’ve done.” Gene shook his head.

“It is fortunate things worked out the way they did,” Natalia agreed, meeting his eyes.

“Yes, it is,” he said, holding her gaze for a long moment before turning his attention back to the road.

***

N
atalia padded out of the bedroom as quietly as she could, leaving the door slightly open in case Adrian woke up. She wrapped her hair up in a messy bun as she walked to the kitchen, joining Gene at the oak table. The suite was not as lavish as the last one but it had more of a homey feel. The color palate revolved around brown and cream, and the presence of a dining room table was a far cry from the usual.

“He sounds better,” Gene said as Natalia settled into her chair.

“I think it is all the traveling. It was much easier when we could fly; all this time in the car has made him irritable,” Natalia said as she grabbed a slice of pizza.

“Spending hours in a car is enough to make anyone antsy.” Gene smiled.

“True. Still, it will be nice to be home tomorrow.”

“Agreed. I spoke with Preston and Vincent. They’ll be here sometime later tonight. They’re going to get their own room and meet us for breakfast at nine before we head out. I think our trek across Texas will be safer with backup.”

“I don’t imagine Juarez will be looking for us this far out,” Natalia acknowledged. “But the closer we get to your ranch, the more likely we are to run into trouble.”

Gene nodded as he grabbed another slice.

“I will admit, though, I am enjoying seeing the sites. It is so different here from where I grew up. The scenery is beautiful, and the trees...I feel like I could get lost running in the woods,” Natalia beamed, closing her eyes. “There aren’t many forests near Cabo San Lucas. Transitioning and running was always a hassle.”

“I’m sure the ocean is nice, though.”

Natalia laughed as she set her piece of pizza down on a paper plate. “It is. There is nothing like the ocean. And—maybe this is silly—but I used to swim as a wolf. It was exhilarating. Like experiencing the ocean in a whole new way.”

“There’s a watering hole on the ranch that I like to swim in, but I can’t imagine it’s anything like the ocean. That sounds fun,” Gene said, shoveling the pizza into his mouth.

“You’ve never been to the ocean?”

“No. When we vacationed—if you could call it that—we always visited other packs. One of the downsides to being an alpha is your job never ends. It’s always about the well-being of the pack. I’m not familiar with any packs near the ocean, and therefore have never been,” Gene said.

“Not even in Louisiana down by the bayou? I thought I remembered someone mentioning a pack there.”

Gene frowned. “It wasn’t me. That’s not to say there isn’t a pack there, though.”

Natalia rolled her eyes and set her pizza down. “It must have been Juarez, then. Probably some other pack he has his claws into.”

“Juarez’s reach might be long, but don’t think there aren’t wolves out there who will do the right thing,” Gene reminded her.

“I would like to think that you, Devon, and the packs in New York are not the minorities, but it is hard not to.”

“You’ll see,” Gene said.

Natalia grabbed her slice of pizza and took a bite. “If you could vacation somewhere, where would you go?” she asked, glancing at him through her lashes.

Gene smiled as he sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Hmmm, I haven’t given it much thought. Mexico sounds nice.”

“And you would travel
there
of all the places in the world?” Natalia questioned, raising her brow. She popped the last bite of pizza in her mouth and stood, clearing the paper plates from the table.

Gene rose from his chair—grabbing his own trash—and followed her to the trash can. “Well, I do speak Spanish semi-fluently.”

Natalia laughed. “I doubt that. There is no semi-fluently.” She shook her head, unable to contain the smile stretching across her face. “You either speak it, or you do not.”

“For growing up in another country, you speak English really well.”

Natalia nodded. “True. My mother grew up in the United States. She learned Spanish quickly once she moved to Cabo, though. She taught me English as I grew up, but—as I got older and she became more fluent—we mostly spoke Spanish. I have learned a lot this past year.”

“Well, you speak it really well.” Gene said as he leaned against the counter.

Natalia took one of the plastic cups from the bag on the counter and filled it with water from the sink. She took a quick sip and held it against her arm as she spoke. “I watched a lot of TV while I was captive. It helped a lot with learning the language better. I was kept locked up for the majority of my time under Juarez and Emmett’s control. I may have tried to escape a few times.”

Gene reached out to trail his fingers down her arm. He stopped at her forearm and squeezed gently. “That’s what I like about you. You’re strong.”

Natalia’s heart fluttered at his compliment. His fingers burned into her flesh, causing her breath to quicken. Setting her cup on the counter, she met his eyes and leaned into him.

His lips met hers softly—slowly—as if checking to see that she was sure about his advances. Parting her lips, she traced his mouth as she wound her hands into his russet hair. His arms curled around her, pulling her flush against him.

Pulse pounding in her ears, Natalia felt heat flood her as she lowered her hands to Gene’s hips. Tugging on the hem of his shirt, she lifted it up and over his head, then dropped the garment to the floor. Gene cupped her face, placing a feather light kiss to her lips before slipping his tongue into her mouth.

Natalia ran her hands up and down his toned back. Gene cupped one of her breasts through her tank top, causing her to moan into his mouth. The alpha brushed his thumb over her nipple, and she inhaled sharply as he pulled her against him. Walking backwards, they stumbled toward his bedroom. Natalia’s lips never strayed from Gene’s. She closed her eyes in bliss, getting lost in his scent.

Gene pushed the bedroom door open, causing the door to creak. His lips left hers as he placed open-mouthed kisses from her jaw down to her collarbone. Pulling back, Natalia opened her eyes. Gene pushed loose strands of coffee hair back from her face as he cupped her chin with his palms.

“Talia,” he whispered, chocolate eyes meeting hers questioningly.

He was giving her an out, she realized. Natalia blinked as she sucked in a shallow breath. Her lips very suddenly returned to his. She wanted—needed him. His tongue darted out to meet hers as his hands curled into her hair. Panting, she walked backwards, pulling him with her. When her legs hit the back of the bed, Gene pulled back, slowly rolling her tank top up and pulling it over her head.

Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip at her bare body. The scar from her c-section stood out. While it was fully healed, it was still a very visible white line across her mid-section. Natalia could feel Gene’s eyes rake over her exposed flesh, and she bit her lip in anxiety. What would he think of her scar? Would he think it hideous? Doubt clouded her mind, and self-consciousness consumed her. She hadn’t made love with a man in a year, and her body had been through many changes since then.

“You’re beautiful,” Gene murmured as he gently pulled her arms apart and placed her open palms on his chest.

His head dipped down, and she gasped as he took one of her breasts into his mouth. His hand supported her as he gently lowered her to the bed. Natalia ran her fingertips through his hair as his mouth moved lower. She shivered as he kissed her navel. His hands gripped her pants and panties, pulling them down her thighs. He sat up, dropping them to the floor.

Scooting back on the bed, Natalia’s heart hammered in her chest. The cold sheets on her back did little to cool her heated flesh. Gene’s lips returned to her belly, leaving featherlike kisses as he worked his way down to her core.

She gasped as he kissed her center, her back arching off the bed. One hand reached up to her breast, kneading the sensitive flesh as his tongue pleasured her. Fisting the sheets in her hand, Natalia moaned as Gene brought her closer and closer to the edge.

A whimper escaped her lips as he pulled back. Gene pushed himself up to his knees as his hand went to his jeans, unbuttoning them. Eyes on her, he gently shifted them over his hips. They were promptly followed by his boxer briefs. Natalia licked her suddenly dry lips, gazing up at the alpha wolf before her as he pulled a foil wrapper from his wallet.

Gene sheathed himself, and nestled between her thighs. Cock pressed against her mound, she shook with anticipation as his chocolate eyes met hers. The she-wolf wrapped a hand around his neck, pulling his lips to her. Gene’s lips crashed against hers as he thrust into her, causing her to moan into his mouth.

Lifting her hips to meet his, she swirled her tongue with his. Natalia whimpered as she got lost in the feeling of their joined bodies. She gripped Gene’s butt, pulling him deeper as she wrapped her legs around his thighs. Rising up to meet him thrust for thrust, they fell into a rhythm.

Her body tensed. The she-wolf arched up as heat exploded throughout her body. Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her veins. Gene increased his pace, drawing out her orgasm. Thrusting into her a few more times, he growled, following her over the edge. Breathless, he rested his sweaty forehead against hers, kissing her lightly for a long moment before rolling off her.

Slipping his arm under her head, he pulled her to him. Her forehead rested on his chest as her breathing returned to normal. Closing her eyes, Natalia relaxed, feeling safe in his warm embrace.

––––––––

G
ene rolled over, his hand jutting out to reach for Natalia, only to be met with cold sheets. Blinking his eyes open, he surveyed the room, finding it empty. He sat up, running a hand through his hair. Cries filtered in through the partially open door, and he lay back down.

Adrian’s wails continued to grow louder as Natalia flitted past the door, carrying him in her arms. Climbing out of bed, he pulled on his jeans and walked out into the front room. Natalia bobbed Adrian up and down as she patted his back, trying to soothe him. Adjusting Adrian, she turned on the water and put his bottle under the tap.