Prymal Lust (13 page)

He spurted more semen.

They went for a run right as dawn broke in a wild array of peach, grays, and yellows over the darkened shadows lining the jagged mountain peaks.

To Tania’s surprise, the shifting went as easy as Axe had insisted it would.

She’d forgotten how being in wolf form magnified every sense. It was as if she’d never really smelled anything, heard anything, nuzzled anything before.

The last time she’d shifted had been a week before she got her first period. That had been almost thirteen years ago.

Tania heard with intense clarity the slightest rustle of a clump of long grasses. Every aroma seemed more pungent and easier to identify. Her paws anticipated changes in the texture of rubble and rock faster and more smoothly the longer they raced.

Her eyes grew more accustomed to the blackness nestled in the deepest crevices. When they paused panting at the top of a high boulder, the city lights winked magnificent kaleidoscope hues at them.

She picked up the odor of other shifters. Two males, one with a heavy layer of dark sensuality, the other overladen with sunshine.

Tania kept sneaking peeks at Axe.

In wolf form he was more beautiful than she’d ever have imagined. His foxlike fur reminded her of an Irish setter. The heralding dawn proved the perfect foil for all the shades of burgundy, scarlet, and gold that streaked his sleek body.

She’d forgotten how shifting banished all human worries.

They ran side by side for miles.

He showed her a lazy river that sprouted over a series of remarkable vertical-drop shale boulders.

Axe led her downhill, right as the sun became a circle halved by the horizon.

When he nosed her back in the direction of his house, reluctance dogged her loping pace. She didn’t want to lose the exquisite thrill of absolute freedom flooding her veins. Didn’t want to have to face the inevitable issues slapping her in the face.

They mounted the steps to the deck.

He nudged her toward the far end and she spied an LCD keypad built into the wall where it met the wooden deck. Axe bumped his nose over the numbers and she yelped when the wolf-size equivalent of a hidden doggy-door shimmered into sight.

When he finally allowed her to shift back into her human form, Tania was shocked by the fiery electric bolt that struck her from head to sparking toes.

Before she could utter a word, he enfolded her in his arms caging her in an embrace so soothing, the sharp pain subsided at once. She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. His eyes held a glow she recognized right away.

Their lovemaking this time was unhurried.

His tongue remained coarse and nubby and he licked his way down her body. Not an ear whorl went unstamped. He marked her fingertips, the cusps of her shoulders, the backs of her knees, and the dimples above her ass.

Tania sparked with frustration. Her aching and greedy pussy clamored for his attention, for one swipe of Axe’s remarkable, magical tongue. She waited for his claim bite, but it never came though he kissed the entire length of her neck for an eternity.

“Axe, I’m dying,” she pleaded. “I claim you. Touch me there. Lick me there.”

“No. When you claim me, I want you clear minded. I want you to know what you’re doing,” he whispered and lifted her hips before hammering into her.

And just like that she climaxed. Went over the cliff and into the deep, dark beyond.

He latched onto her nipple and his tongue and teeth worshipped the peak with long hard draws, and short, eclectic nips. All the while he drove into her pounding her g-spot with his cock.

She clung to his arms. Spread her legs wider. Closed her eyes and simply felt. Relished the ecstasy of each spiraling orgasm.

He nipped her lower lip when his peak hit him.

Smeared her blood into his mouth with his tongue.

Another climax thundered through her.

They stayed joined together forever, or so it seemed.

In small increments Tania became aware of reality. Heard the muted calls of wild birds. Inhaled the faint hint of musk clinging to his bicep. Felt when the sun climbed above the horizon, blasted through the open windows to the right of the bed, and crept under her half-shuttered eyes.

When his cock finally loosened its amazing stretching of her pussy, her walls fought his retreat and sucked at his dick.

He kissed the side of her neck. Lifted his head and nudged her chin.

She raised heavy eyelids to peer at him.

“Mornin’ mate. Love you.”

Loving the way he growled the two words, she fingered his square chin, and let her hand linger on the soft stubble marking his jaw. Regretted the words even as they flew out of her mouth. “Back atcha.”

The lurid, jangled strains of some rap song drowned out her voice.

Relief had her sagging into the mattress. She didn’t want him questioning her roller coaster feelings. One minute she was numb, the next furious, two seconds later spiraling over crazy-must-be-in-love hurdles, and then resigned to spending the rest of the day alone.

And through every intense emotional wave the only constant proved to be her need to be with Axe. To touch him, wallow in the way his musky-spice enveloped her, and, most of all, have his cock buried deep in her throbbing pussy.

“Damn.” He reached back to snatch his cell from the bedside table on the other side of the bed.

Tania took advantage of his distraction, wriggled out from under him, and rolled off her side of the mattress. Stumbled over her own foot, righted herself, and padded to the bathroom. Shut the door.

When she stared at her tousled and tossed reflection the mirror, Tania couldn’t repress a shudder. If her mom could see her now…

No. Not going there.

She had to accept the inevitable.

In a strange way it felt like she’d been headed down this path all her life. Tania couldn’t remember exactly when she’d realized she didn’t fit in. Wasn’t a typical Wylfen female. First, she was tall. Wylfen females were all under five-five. Second, she hadn’t wanted a mate. Wylfen females devoted their lives to finding and catering to their mates. Third, she didn’t have a submissive bone in her body. All Wylfen females were raised to be subservient.

“You okay?” He barged into the room and it became too small in one second.

Tania met his gaze in the mirror. Out of nowhere a swarm of nostalgia held her hostage. She relived the time their gazes had first met. She reached behind and clubbed his hand into hers. Realized he wore khakis and a polo shirt.

“Oh. You got dressed.” Tania nodded so hard she thought her head would snap off. “You have to go to the base.”

He clamped his hands on her shoulders. “Yes. I hate leaving you—”

“It’s okay. I need time to process all that’s happened. When you’re around all I can think of is us mating.” She hesitated over the last word. It hadn’t felt like the anonymous screwing she’d indulged in at culinary school.

“Not a bad thing.” He swatted her ass. “Hold that thought for later. I have to be at the base before zero eight.”

At her puzzled frown, he translated, “Eight a.m.”

“Didn’t Lycus say earlier last night?”

He ducked his chin as if embarrassed. “Yeah. I texted him I’d be late before we went for our run.”

She pivoted on one foot and propped her toes on her instep, shy and uncertain all of a sudden. “Thanks for forcing me to do it. I had completely forgotten how…how freeing shifting is.”

He frowned down at her. “How long has it been for you?”

“We’re heavily encouraged not to shift once we reach puberty. Thirteen years.”

“Not to shift
ever
again?”

She nodded.

“What the heck is the reason behind that one? What does heavily encouraged mean?”

Tania hesitated for traditions were not supposed to be discussed except amongst immediate Prakov pack members.

But, she no longer belonged.

Remembering the cruel wording of The Senior Council’s letter incited a burst of anger and rebellion. “It means we have to redo our Decorum, Discipline, and Deportment training again. Trust me. That’s no fun.”

“What the fuck is that?”

“Wylfen summer camp for adolescent girls.” She couldn’t repress a shudder as the horrific memories crowded her brain.

“Summer camp? Like with slumber parties and food fights? Swimming in lakes and playing games?”

Tania snorted. “So not like that.”

For nine weeks every year since her thirteenth birthday, Tania had had to endure sixty-three days of Wylfen indoctrination. Daily hypnotic “therapy,” trances induced by repetitive chanting of the Wylfen female tenets, and hours of instruction on posture, the right way to walk, the art of small talk, and how to anticipate your mate’s every wish.

“Tell me.” He reached around her for his toothbrush.

Her hesitation lasted a few seconds. “It was nine weeks of sheer torture.”

She summarized the syllabus associated with Discipline, Decorum, and Deportment training.

When she finished Axe whistled. He looked grim. “Let me get this straight. Every Wylfen female has to do this annually?”

“Once she reaches puberty. Yes.”

He unbuttoned his pants and unzipped.

Horrified, Tania realized he intended to pee. In front of her. She blurted, “Axe, um. That is, can I use another bathroom?”

She flinched when he bellowed, “Why in hell would you want to do that?”

Planted her palms on her hipbones and glared right back at him. “Because women need to be private to do women things. Especially at certain times of the month.”

He blanched. Wore a vacant expression for long moments. Glanced at his fly and closed up house.

“This bathroom’s yours. I’ll move to one of the others. The carryon will be on the bed when you’re done. I’ll have bacon, eggs, and toast ready for you. How do you like them done?”

He intended to
cook
breakfast for her? She had never seen her father boil water in all her twenty-four years. No Wylfen male deigned to set foot in a kitchen.

Sure her eyes had bugged out of her head, Tania forgot her preferences, and had to concentrate to remember them.

“It can’t be that difficult a question, Tania.” His glower returned.

“Easy over, crisp, and dark.”

Before she could blink twice, he vanished.

She heard him muttering as he stamped out of the bathroom, but couldn’t understand the language he spoke.

In record time, she showered, toweled off, and hurried to the bed. Found her toothbrush, the casual jeans outfit she’d bought yesterday, grabbed underwear, and headed back to the sink. She did the shortest teeth cleanse ever and shrugged on her clothes. Saw a miniature brush on the glass shelf and borrowed it to tidy her damp, ruffled hair.

She glanced at her reflection. Tried to discern if the drugs she’d ingested since puberty were reflected in her eyes in any way. At culinary school, she had once tried grass, and the whites of her eyes had turned pink. They were clear now. Her pupils were slightly dilated, but she looked and felt “normal.”

“Normal,” she muttered. “What the frig’s normal, now?”

On the way back to the bedroom, her toes caught on the jeans she’d discarded last night. She picked the pants up, opened the walk-in closet door, and stopped dead.

Axe had to be a neat freak. And one dimensional in his clothing choices.

To her left, a dozen or so khaki pants hung from hangers, followed by approximately the same number of navy polo shirts. Shelves filled the far wall. Jeans folded with precision stacked one shelf. T’s another, underwear—he wore black briefs, even his socks an equal number of black and khaki were lined in symmetrical rows. When she swiveled to the right, her brows knitted. Black, blue, and tan hoodies, must have been three dozen of them in all sleeve lengths, including sleeveless, hung from a metal bar.

Hoodies?

Stumped and not wanting to infringe on his space, she pivoted, and trudged back to the bed. Folded her pants, glanced back at the open closet door, and smacked herself on the forehead. “To cover his scars. Oh, Axe, how deep do they go? What did those fuckers do to you in Afghanistan?”

She had a strong hunch Axe didn’t and wouldn’t discuss his Afghanistan experience with her. Did Jaz know? Lycus?

Out of the corner of her vision, she glimpsed the digital clock on the bedside table and jerked out of her despondent musings. “Deal Tania. If not, you’re going to lose it.”

Worried she’d make Axe late, Tania jogged to the kitchen barefoot, and her feet squeaked on the tiles when she skated to a stop.

Axe, in the middle of carrying two plates to the cozy table, raked her from toes to temples. “I’m in the first bathroom on the other side of the house. Okay with you?”

Why wouldn’t it be? He owned the house.
She
was the one inconveniencing
him
. “Of course. I’ll move your bathroom stuff in there today.”

“Grub’s ready. Didn’t know if you do OJ, or milk, or whatever, so I poured you a glass of each. Coffee’s coming right up.” He placed the plates opposite side-by-side chairs, curled his thumbs and forefingers around her wrist, and Eskimo kissed her.

“You look and smell like paradise. For the first time ever, I’m reluctant to go to the base.”

A crazy mixture of coffee and mint skated to her nose. She found it alluring and yearned to taste the unlikely flavors. She linked her hands behind his neck. “Back atcha Senior Chief Smith.”

“Sweet girl, you are temptation personified.” He dipped his head and kissed her breathless. When he broke away from her, she automatically tiptoed to follow his fantabulous mouth.

“Again. Back atcha.”

He helped her to sit and Tania needed the assistance because she quivered all over. She latched onto the coffee mug he gave her and gulped down two huge mouthfuls hoping the strong brew would sober the dizzy desire giddying her gray matter.

“Hmm. I think I’m going to have to come up with a dessert flavored with mint and coffee and Axe.”

The fierce, disgusted grimace he shot her had Tania puzzled. “It was a compliment. Mint and chocolate are my two fave flavors.”