Matthew's Return [Wolves of Climax 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever - Serialized) (6 page)

“Come on, baby,” said Garret, encouraging her to come.

Travis rose from his knees and gripped the back of her head. “Take it,” he said. He offered her his cock, and she greedily sucked on it, resting a hand on his thigh. He loved watching her little body take three cocks. Her taste still lingered on his tongue, the sweetest gift. He couldn’t wait for his turn to fuck her proper, but it looked like tonight would not be the night.

The howls had stopped, which meant they were close, possibly watching from the tree line in the distance. What did they want this time? If they thought they had a chance to get Cassidy, they’d soon learn exactly what the Gregor Pack was willing to do to protect their mate. It was probably more bullshit about Garret stealing one of their men. Patrick knew his alpha never took a hostage, so they had to be lying. Or scheming something new. Sometimes he believed a life as full-blooded humans would be so much simpler. All the territorial bullshit grated on his nerves. Since he was a pup, life had been a challenge. For once, it would be nice to just enjoy, to live. But that was wishful thinking, a reality unlikely to happen for a Gregor shifter.

Evan and Garret continued to pump into her body, their pace frantic. The sound of sex, wet flesh slapping flesh, created an illicit backdrop to the evening. Cassidy didn’t let up her attention to Travis’s dick. He craved to touch her, to connect with her, but he had to keep his eyes on the enemy.

“Cassie, come!”

She complied, as if a detonation switch had been activated. Her body released as soon as Garret spoke. The little human called out, tearing a streak through the silent night. There was something incomparable to an alpha’s command. His voice and presence carried the power to demand loyalty. Even Patrick had difficulty defying the alpha wolf. At least he respected his leader, unlike the males from the pack he’d escaped from.

When they’d all been sated, Garret rose to his feet. “Get her to safety. Take the truck and bring her to my place in the woods. We’ll find out what’s going on.”

Patrick nodded, assisted a limp Cassidy to her feet. Rather than aid her in walking all the way to the truck, he hoisted her up into his arms. Evan tucked her clothes into the space between them.

“Where’re they going?” she asked, trying to turn her head around even though she couldn’t see with her human eyes.

“Don’t worry about it, little one. Garret wants you safe, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

“They can’t go back to the forest. There’re wolves in there.” The concern in her voice was adorable. He had to stifle a chuckle. If only she knew how capable a Gregor wolf truly was. In fact, he wondered when his alpha planned to tell her about their real identities. How could he expect to make her their lifelong mate while living a lie?

“Cassidy, this is no place for a woman. I promise they’ll be in your bed when you wake up in the morning.”

She struggled in his arms, but her attempt to get to her feet was a futile effort. “Tell them to come with us. This is ridiculous.”

“Garret’s word is law, Cassidy. You should have learned that from him by now. He’s a big boy and knows what he’s doing.” He opened the driver’s-side door to one of the trucks and set her on the bench seat. “We’re not your average men. You have to trust me.” He leaned into the cab, looking her in the eyes.

She exhaled, an exasperated sound, but he knew she wouldn’t argue any longer. “I just wanted to find my brother,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“Of course not. Sometimes we have to trust the gods. They know better than us. If Matthew returns or you find your brother, it’s because they willed it so.”

Cassidy nodded and tucked her legs into the truck so he could close the door. He highly anticipated being alone with her at Garret’s retreat, even if only for an hour. There was a valley between them that needed to be bridged if she was to be his mate. He needed to know more about her—her dreams, hopes, and fears. Patrick was warming up to the idea of committing to a woman, but still had his guards up. It would take a lot more than a pretty face and intoxicating scent for him to give up his heart.

* * * *

They drove along the narrow road, forests closing in from either side. It wasn’t as daunting with Patrick doing the driving. Every bump in the road aroused her pussy, so raw and sensitized from her recent orgasms. She should be traumatized at the prospect of spending even one more day at Garret’s remote cabin with no running water. But her entire body was alight with anticipation. That place symbolized belonging and a love she’d never known. She wondered if she’d see the red wolf again.

Cassidy stole a peek at the man beside her. He had an emergency blanket over his lap, but she could see he wasn’t wearing any pants. The man was completely naked. He wasn’t even wearing his trademark toque over his unruly red hair. He looked devastatingly handsome with the scruff on his face. She’d already dressed back into her jeans and sweater, although it had been awkward doing so in the passenger seat. Her undergarments were MIA.

“Where are your clothes?” He’d gone down on her, but they hadn’t done anything else together to warrant his nudity.

“Guess I was thinking ahead.” Patrick turned and winked at her. “Maybe we’ll get some time together—just you and me.”

She’d sit on his cock right now if he asked her. Her hormones were always in flux around these men. The hum of the engine and uneven road beneath the tires were the only sounds in the truck. She had so much to say and ask, but couldn’t form even one coherent thought.

“Watch it!” she yelled.

A naked man cut across the cones of light ahead. He’d been there one second, gone the next. “What?” Patrick slammed on the brakes, the truck swerving before coming to a dead stop.

“Didn’t you see him? That man?”

“What man?”

“A naked man ran across the road.” She pointed to the bush on the side of the road he’d disappeared into. Patrick pulled the truck to the gravel shoulder of the road and then cut the engine.

“Wait here. I’ll check it out.” At least he didn’t think she was crazy.

The door had already closed behind him when she called out. “You have no clothes.” The night air was sharp, chilling her even with clothes on. What did he plan on doing? And who the hell was that man? Could it be the hiker-killer or maybe her brother? Patrick was impulsive, seemingly fearless. Now she had to worry about the guys back at the diner with the killer wolves and Patrick running off on a dangerous goose chase.

Silence settled into the cab. A few minutes after Patrick left and the interior lights timed out, leaving her in complete darkness. She couldn’t hear any sounds out of the ordinary.
Please be okay.

When he didn’t return after a lengthy absence, she braved slipping out of the truck. The windows were already humid from her breathing. Cassidy couldn’t stand the stale air and wondering what was going on a second longer. She stood on the gravel shoulder, barely breathing, hoping to hear Patrick in the distance. Then she swore she heard him, just off in the distance. It sounded like a low groan. Was Patrick hurt? Leaving the door ajar, she walked away from the truck, her arms outstretched. She wasn’t sure where she was going or what she’d do when she got there, but the sudden desire to help Patrick overwhelmed her. Maybe he was injured, lying somewhere just inside the forest.

She came to a tree, her fingers feeling the pattern of bark like a blind woman to braille. The trees were close together, so she was able to move from one to the other while always having her hand grounded on at least one trunk.

“Patrick,” she whispered.

This time she couldn’t hear him, so wasn’t sure which direction to follow. She moved deeper into the forest, the smell of black earth and pine growing stronger. At times she was tempted to shout Patrick’s name, but held back in fear of what else may hear her. The experience with Corbin was still fresh in her mind, making her nerves more ragged.

The ground was uneven, the forest sloping down a hill. She almost lost her footing several times on the moist leaf litter, but used the trees and saplings for balance. This was the direction Patrick had taken. How far had he ventured? Had he returned to the truck by another path? She’d moved so deep that she feared she wouldn’t be able to find her way out now if she tried. If she never saw another forest again, it would be too soon.

“You should be careful. There’re bear traps around here.”

She froze in place, not expecting to hear an unfamiliar man’s voice. There had been no warning, no footsteps, no rustling of leaves, nothing. It wasn’t Patrick or any of her men. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she tried to place the voice.

“Who’s there?” she whispered, wishing she’d imagined the voice. There was a deep, masculine chuckle. It sounded too loud in the stark quiet.

“I’m not so sure of that myself.”

She remained silent, frozen in place. So far her experiences of meeting men in the woods had been negative—first Ryder, then Corbin. She also had to consider the killer on the loose.

“I’ve never seen you before. Surely I’d remember you if I had.” Now she heard the distinct sound of a footstep. A twig snapped, then another. “My head’s killing me. I’ve probably drank too much.”

Great.
Isolated in the bush with a drunk. If she ran for it, it would take a good fifteen minutes to reach the road, but there were trees at every turn which would slow her down. “My boyfriend is only a couple minutes away.”

“A human?” She felt the brush of his fingers against her neck. “But I scent wolves.”

“We were almost attacked by wolves. They’re dangerous beasts in the woods, killing hikers by the dozens. But you should know that if you live around here.”

“And I suppose you’re another tasty treat sent to entice them?”

She mentally forced herself to calm down, taking a cleansing breath. “Are you going to hurt me?”

“Why would I do that? I may be a bit confused right now, but I know I’d never hit a woman…or eat one.”

For some reason his comment sounded sexual to her ears, but then again, Patrick had eaten her pussy less than an hour ago. Her mind was obviously in the gutter, and it didn’t help that this guy’s voice was like erotic music to her ears. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“I told you, my mind hasn’t been right since I woke up. Can’t even recall my own name.” He made an exasperated sound, bringing down her hackles slightly.

“Scott. Is your name Scott?” Was this the half brother she’d been looking for? Had he been trying to survive the night, only to wake up dazed and confused? Perhaps some men beat him up, leaving him with temporary amnesia.

When he didn’t answer right away, her hopes soared.

“That doesn’t sound familiar. Do I look like a Scott you know?”

“I don’t know. I can’t even see you in this darkness. I suspect you have no difficulty seeing me?” By now she’d gotten a complex. Everyone could see in the night except her. She probably needed glasses. Without a history, she didn’t know if bad eyes ran in her family.

“I see you with perfect clarity. Your eyes are blue, your hair the color of leaves in autumn.” He touched her face, but she turned away from him. She’d only trust Patrick right now, but he’d disappeared. She wanted no intimacy with this stranger.

“How do you know about bear traps if you don’t even know your own name?”

“I can’t explain it, but I know this forest. It feels like home…only my mind is fuzzy. It’s like I know the question, but can’t access the answer. The only thing I don’t recognize is you.”

There was a distant gunshot which echoed through the forest, unsettling the wildlife. The faint murmur of multiple voices drew closer, along with hounds howling.

“Fuck! We have to go.”

He grabbed her hand and led her further down the hill, faster than her feet could carry her. She was terrified to smack head-on into a tree or trip over an exposed root. But the strange man held her hand and expertly weaved through the trees, ensuring she was directly behind him and out of harm’s way. He moved fast, as if it was high noon with everything visible with perfect clarity.

“Were you the naked man on the road?” Her voice came out in a string of staggered words as she bounced along the maze. A painful stitch started in her side, causing her to slow down. “I have to stop,” she said. “The hunters will help us, show us the road.”

The stranger shoved her down to her knees. “Get in. Quickly.” She crawled forward, the dirt and debris moist and alive under her palms. Cassidy imagined all kinds of creepy-crawlies. The cave entrance was rocky, low, and narrow. Claustrophobia set in immediately. Was this a path to a larger interior or was he trapping her in a virtual coffin?

He prodded her through, right behind her. When she reached an end to the tunnel she was relieved that she could stand up without crouching, and there was more than an adequate air supply. The faint light of the moon filtered down through an opening high above.

“Where is this place?”

“It’s safe, that’s all I know.” He paced around the cave like a restless tiger. She could make out a faint silhouette. He was a large man. “And those weren’t hunters. They were loggers.”

“How do you know?”

“I don’t know. I just do. Some thoughts are starting to come back to me, but the harder I try to concentrate, the more my head hurts.”

He didn’t know this woman. So why did she have concern in her voice? And why the fuck did she arouse him? He couldn’t remember his own goddamn name, but the sound of her voice made his cock hard?

His mind was a sinister playground of broken images and jumbled thoughts. He wished he could shake his head and watch everything fit back together like a jigsaw puzzle. All he knew for a fact was the loggers closing in on their location were to be avoided at any cost. His palms grew clammy, his heart racing the closer they came. The sudden need to shift, to find security in his fur, nearly overwhelmed him. Yet he had to keep some semblance of control because his behavior affected the little human as well.