Red Moon Rising (17 page)

“Do you understand?”  He spoke slowly and deliberately.  All
trace of his usual good nature and humour had faded from his face, and she
reached up and stroked his cheek hesitantly.

“Aye.  I was only teasing you my lord.”  She said quietly.

“Do not tease me in such a manner.”  He replied sharply. 
“The thought of you in another man’s bed is not one I will ever find amusing.”

“Alright.”  She said soothingly.

He reached down and pulled her thighs apart, wedging his
large body between them and grinding his pelvis against hers.  “Promise me you will
never take another man into your bed.  Promise me you won’t sleep with anyone
but me.”

“I won’t.”  She said immediately.

“Say it.”  He demanded.

“I promise I won’t sleep with anyone else.”

He stared at her, his nostrils flaring and his eyes glowing,
and she rubbed one broad shoulder lightly.  He closed his eyes and when he
opened them, the anger had been replaced with a mixture of shame and regret.

He rolled off of her and stared at the ceiling.  “I’m sorry
Bree.  I shouldn’t have made you promise that.  I have no right to tell you
what to do.”

He rubbed his hand across the stubble on his cheek.  “Lycans
are, well, territorial about their women but that’s not an excuse for my
behaviour.  I overreacted and I should not have scared you into saying
something you did not want to say.  I’m sorry.”

She cupped his face and made him look at her.  “You didn’t
scare me, and I would not have said it if I didn’t want to.”

“Truly?”

“Aye.”  She whispered.  She lifted her head and planted
small kisses on his throat.  “I don’t want to be in anyone’s bed but yours.”

She sat up and pushed the covers to his waist.  As many
times as they had been in each other’s beds, she had never really explored his
body.  It had always been him touching and stroking her soft skin until she
thought she would go mad with need.  She wondered if she could do the same to
him.

“Bree?”  He was starting to sit up and she pushed him gently
on the chest.

“Lie still please.”

He relaxed against the bed with his hands clasped behind his
head, as she leaned over and traced her fingers across his broad chest.  No
scars or imperfections marred it and she quickly ran her fingers down his
sides, looking for ticklish spots.  He didn’t squirm or twist away, and she pouted
at him.

“Not ticklish?”

“No little one.”  He grinned at her.

She skimmed her hands across his chest.  When her finger
grazed across one nipple, he inhaled sharply and she gave him a shark-like
grin.  She leaned down and licked his flat nipple.  He groaned a little and one
large hand slipped under the sheet, cupped her bare ass and squeezed firmly
before he relaxed against the bed once more.

She scowled and he winked at her.  “What’s wrong?”

“I want to make you crazy – like you make me.”

His face softened.  “You do make me crazy Bree.  All I think
about is you and how much I – I want you.” 

She scooted forward, her hands planted firmly on either side
of his head and stared solemnly at him.  “Truly my lord?”

“Aye.  You have no idea how happy I was when you poked your
little head out from under the covers of my bed.”

She smiled.  “It was cold in my room and I missed your soft
bed.”

He gave her a mock scowl.  “Only my soft bed?”

She shrugged.  “Perhaps I missed the bed warmer a little.”

His big hands were squeezing her ass again as he growled
lightly.  “Is that all I am to you – a bed warmer?”

“You’re definitely more comfortable to sleep against than a
rock.”  She grinned saucily.

He laughed and squeezed her ass again.  He was secretly
delighted by her teasing.  She was always so quiet and nervous, and this
playful, teasing side of her was a welcome change.  He was confident that she
was no longer afraid of him but he wanted more than that.  He wanted her love.

The smile dropped from his face.  He loved Bree and he was a
fool for it.  She had made it perfectly clear that once she had her brother
back, she would have nothing to do with the Lycans again.  He would help save
Kaden because he loved her.  And in doing so, he would lose any chance of her
love forever.

“My lord?”  Her voice was soft and tentative.  “Are you alright?”

“Fine.”  He cleared his throat roughly.

She gave him a worried look.  “Have I done something wrong?”

“No, of course not.”  He forced himself to smile at her.  “I
was just thinking about something.”

“What?”

“It’s not important.”  He stroked her hair back from her
face and then lifted his head to kiss her mouth lightly.  “Have I mentioned how
cold I am?”

“You don’t feel cold any longer my lord.”  She said
innocently as she ran her hands over his flat abdomen.

“Parts of me are cold, and I believe you mentioned something
about warming me up.”  He replied.

“Aye, I did say that, didn’t I?”  Her fingers still roaming
over his abdomen, she leaned down and kissed him slowly and thoroughly.

“What parts of you are cold?”  She whispered as she rubbed
his abdomen in lazy circles.

“Lower.”  He replied.

She pulled the covers down and stared at his erect cock. 
Her pelvis ached in response, and she slid back until she was sitting next to his
hips.  She reached out and wrapped her small hand around him.  He moaned
lightly and she smiled a little.

“It doesn’t feel cold.”  She stroked him back and forth,
watching as a small drop of liquid formed at the top.

He didn’t reply and she glanced up at him.  His eyes were
closed and his nostrils flared as he breathed deeply.  She watched his face as
she squeezed him more tightly and moved her hand in a quick back and forth
motion.  He groaned and licked his lips as he moved his hand to cup one small
breast.  He tugged on her nipple and she pushed his hand away.

“You’re distracting me.”  She chastised him lightly.

She ran her thumb over the head of his cock and spread the
moisture she found, across it.  He arched his hips into her hand as a small
delighted smile crossed her face.  She had found a way to make him squirm after
all.

Quickly, before nerves could change her mind, she bent and
took the head of his cock into her mouth.  He cried out at the feel of her
warm, wet mouth and arched his hips up, sliding his cock deep into her mouth. 

She gave a muffled gasp of surprise, and then his hand was
gripping the back of her head tightly and he was pulling her away.  She looked
at him in confusion.

“Do you not like that James?”

“I like it very much.”  He rasped.  “Just – just warn me
before you do that.”

“Why?”

He gave her a wry smile.  “You have no idea how you affect
me Bree.”

She reached out and grasped the base of his cock firmly. 
“Just hold still this time.”  She instructed.

“Aye, just hold still.  No problem.”  He muttered under his
breath.  She stuck her tongue out at him, before wetting her lips and closing
her mouth around his throbbing cock once more.

He dug his hands into the sheets, and forced himself to stay
still as Bree sucked and licked at his cock.  He watched her pink lips sliding
up and down for only a few seconds before he groaned and looked away.

For nearly fifteen minutes she explored his cock with her
mouth and her hands.  She licked and tasted and squeezed his cock firmly then
lightly.

“Gently.”  He croaked out when her soft hand cupped each of
his balls.

She returned her hands to his cock.  She stroked him back
and forth before leaning over him and taking it into her mouth again.  His hips
were beginning to move with short little thrusts, he couldn’t help it, and she
released him and grinned up at him. 

“No moving remember?”

“Bree, please.”  He groaned as she rolled his cock between
her warm hands.

“Please what?”  She asked sweetly.

“Honey, I can’t wait much longer.”  He whispered.

“Are you sure?”  She smiled at him.  “I think you can
wait.” 

He watched as she slowly inched her mouth down over his cock
again.  He panted and moaned, thrusting his hips at her as she sucked hard. 
Finally, his cock throbbing and his entire body shaking, he reached down and
yanked her small body upwards.

“James?”  She frowned at him.  “Why are you making me stop?”

“I wasn’t going to last much longer.”  He replied hoarsely. 
The combination of her eagerness and innocent exploration had made him feel
like he was going to explode five minutes in.

“Oh.”  She leaned down and kissed him.  At the taste of
himself in her mouth, his hands squeezed painfully around her narrow hips.  She
pulled back a little and stroked his face.

“Can I try being on top?”  She asked shyly.

“Yes.”  He watched as she eagerly straddled him.  His cock
rubbed against her wet heat, and they both groaned in response. 

“Don’t move my lord.”  She whispered and he gave a soft moan
of assent as she rose up above him, took his cock in her tiny hand and guided
it into her body.  Slowly she sank down, taking him into her inch by torturous
inch. 

When she was seated firmly on top of him, she braced her
hands on his chest and bounced experimentally.

He thrust his hips upwards in response, and she made a soft
gasping cry of pleasure before slapping his chest lightly.  “Don’t move,
remember?”

“Right.”  He choked out. 

Each time they had made love he had been the one to take
control, to guide and manipulate her body into different positions and to make
her come when he wanted.  She wanted to be the one in control this time, and
she was curious as to how he would react.

To her delight, he was submitting to her demands.  As the
familiar warm tingling spread throughout her body, she lifted and lowered her
body over his repeatedly.  He groaned loudly at her slow and deliberate
movements.

“Tighten your muscles around me, little one.”  He suddenly
whispered.

“What do you mean?”  She asked puzzled.

Without speaking, he tickled her.  A spate of giggles burst
from her mouth and she jerked against him, her inner muscles squeezing around
his cock.  He grabbed her hips and ground her pelvis against his.

Feeling a little self-conscious, she slid up and down and
then concentrated on squeezing his cock again.  Her lips curved into a smile
when he gasped, and his fingers dug into the flesh of her hips. 

“Do you like that my lord?”  She whispered.

“Yes.”  He ground out, his body jerking beneath her when she
squeezed around him twice more.

She leaned over him, her breasts brushing against his chest
and kissed his jaw.  “Should I keep doing it?”

He moaned in reply, and she licked a slow path across his
throat as she thrust her pelvis back and forth.

“Oh!”  She suddenly shuddered above him and twitched to a
stop.

“What’s wrong?”  He stroked her back lightly.

“Nothing.  That – that just felt really good.”  Her cheeks
were pink with desire and a touch of embarrassment.

“Do it again.”  He encouraged.

She slid up and down his cock, her breasts brushing against
her chest as her small hands clenched his shoulders tightly.

Bree closed her eyes.  Her breath was quickening, and she
had forgotten completely about teasing and tormenting James.  Leaning her body
forward was making his cock rub against her in a different way, and it was
sending delicate bursts of pleasure out from her pelvis and down her legs.  She
had no idea what was happening, but she didn’t want it to stop.

“Oh!”  Another small gasping moan escaped her throat when
James cupped her ass and helped her plunge up and down his cock.  He moved her
rapidly back and forth as she panted and moaned above him.

“It feels so good.”  She breathed.  The pleasure was igniting
her senses, and she squirmed and writhed against him.  James held her tightly
and thrust back and forth inside of her.  She made another breathless cry, and
then her entire body was shuddering around him.  Her core clenched down so
tightly around his cock that he gave his own hoarse cry and climaxed.

She collapsed against his broad chest, and he stroked her
back and kissed the top of her head before gently rolling her off of him.  She
curled up against him as he pulled the covers up and cocooned them in the
blankets.

“Are you tired?”  She asked softly.

“Aye.”  He muttered.

She kissed his shoulder and wrapped one thin arm around his
waist.  “Go to sleep James.”

“Good night honey.”  He murmured.

“Good night my love.”

“Have either of you seen Leta?  Mama is looking for her.” 
Sophia asked James and Nicholas. 

It was three days after the full moon, and James and Nicky
were standing in the yard discussing their plan to rescue Kaden.

“She was around earlier.”  Nicky replied.  “I think she went
to the barn with Ian.”

Sophia frowned.  “I already checked with Ian.  He said he
hasn’t seen her all morning.”

James shrugged.  “She must be around here somewhere.  You
know how she is.  She’s always disappearing and coming back covered in dirt and
– “

He paused and turned towards the trees, inhaling deeply. 
“Do you – “

“Yes.”  Nicholas answered immediately.  “I do.”

“Lycans.”  Sophia muttered.

“Find Leta now.”  Nicky said urgently.  “Find her and take
her into the house before – “

“Are you looking for this one my friends?”

The three of them turned as one and stared across the yard. 
Sophia inhaled sharply.  Leta, looking very pale and small, was standing with a
group of Lycans at the edge of the woods.

Nicholas, growling lightly, started forward and the biggest
of the Lycans shook his head.  He squeezed Leta’s shoulder, and she whimpered
in pain.

Sophia stared at the group.  There were seven Lycans and a
human.  Despite the cold weather, the human was wearing only a pair of pants. 
He had a leather collar around his throat, and his hands were tied behind his
back.  Scars and bruises covered his bare upper chest, and he was tall and
broad shouldered with dark hair.  He stood silently as the Lycans around him
twitched nervously.

“My name is Draken.  And you have something that belongs to
me.”  The biggest Lycan smiled benevolently at them.

Sophia walked a few feet forward and studied Draken carefully. 
He had long dark hair that hung loose around his shoulders and cold blue eyes. 
He smiled at her, revealing straight white teeth.

“Well, you’re a pretty one then aren’t you?”  He looked her
up and down, his eyes darkening with lust.

He inhaled deeply, sniffing at the air like a dog, before
smiling at her again.  “Oh, I do like your scent.  It’s been a long time since
you mated.  I would gladly take care of that for you, pretty one.”

She didn’t reply and his nostrils flared as he took another
deep breath.  “I would consider taking you instead of the weak little human.  I
think you’d be much more fun.”

She bared her teeth at him, and he chuckled before squeezing
Leta’s shoulder again.  “Careful, I do have something that belongs to you after
all.”

“You’re okay Leta.”  Sophia called to her sister. 
“Everything’s going to be just fine.”

Leta, tears dripping down her face, shuddered all over as
the Lycan pulled her closer.  “I wish to propose a simple exchange.  The little
half-breed for the woman.  I know she is here.  Bring her to me, and I’ll let
this one go.”

“You’re going to die today.”  James was suddenly standing
next to Sophia, and she put a restraining hand on his arm. 

“Wait.”  She murmured.

Draken laughed.  “I don’t think so half-breed.”

His smile brightened as he looked past Sophia and James. 
“Hello Bree!”

James snarled as Nicholas appeared beside him and grabbed
his other arm.  “Stop it James.”

James looked behind him.  Bree was hurrying forward, Tristan
and Avery close behind her.  He took a deep breath.  His need to shift was
overwhelming.  His fear for both Leta and Bree was making it hard to control. 
He needed to protect them both; he needed to kill the Lycan and -

“Enough James!”  Tristan called sharply.

“Mama?”  Leta whispered plaintively.

“I’m here sweet one.”  Avery, her voice thin with fear,
tried to smile reassuringly at her youngest.  “Mama is right here.  You’ll be
okay my love.”

“Kaden.”  Bree whispered.  She stared helplessly at the
dark-haired human standing with the Lycans.  He gave her a small, sick smile
but didn’t say anything.

“James – control it!”  Tristan roared.

Faintly, James could hear his father’s harsh command but he
ignored it.  He strained against Sophia’s and Nicky’s hands, as his body
continued to swell and the hair on his body thickened.  He growled and shook
between his siblings as they laboured to hold him between them.

Bree was suddenly in front of him.  Her thin face was pale
and her hands were cold as ice, but she smiled soothingly at him as she reached
up and cupped his face.

“Stop my love.”  She said softly. 

He stared at her and willed himself to control it.  After a
few moments of staring into her calm, blue eyes, the urge to shift began to
weaken and the red hot rage within him subsided.

“Bree…”

She stood on her tiptoes and put her mouth to his ear.  “He
won’t kill me right away.  He’ll torture me, and draw it out for as long as he
can.  You’ll have time to save me.”

She kissed him.  Her lips were cold, and he could taste fear
on her mouth.  She stepped back quickly and started towards Draken’s pack.  James
called her name, and she looked over her shoulder at him as he stared
helplessly at her.

“I love you James.”

“I love you too, little one.”  He replied hoarsely.

She smiled, blinking back her tears, and walked towards
Draken and the others without looking back.

She stopped a few feet in front of Draken.  “Let her go.”

Draken grinned.  “Take my hand, and I’ll let the little
half-breed go.”

He reached out, and without hesitating Bree closed the
distance between them and took his hand.  Draken let go of Leta, and the little
girl whined softly and stopped beside Bree.

“Go Leta.”  Bree stroked her hair without looking at her,
and then gently pushed her towards her family.

As Leta ran to Tristan, Draken looked Bree up and down. 
“You look different.”  He touched the handle of the sword that was belted
around her waist and then pulled it free, staring at the sharp blade with
amusement.

“What have your new friends been teaching you?”  He
laughed.  “Silly me, I imagine you would like to say hello to your brother,
would you not?”

He dragged her to where Kaden was standing silently.  “I
always admired your bond you know.  I thought only Lycans were capable of
feeling such love for their pack, but you two humans certainly put us to
shame.  Your brother would die for you if he had to.”

Draken put his arm around Bree, dimly she could hear James
growling, and pulled her close.  “I brought him with us in case you needed some
convincing to come back.  Now that I have you, I don’t believe we need him
anymore.  Do you?”

“Draken don’t – “ Bree started as he stepped away from her.

She screamed in horror when Draken abruptly thrust her sword
into Kaden’s stomach.  Just as quickly, he yanked the sword out.  He smiled
with delight at the blood streaking across it, before licking the flat of the
blade with his tongue.

“Delicious!”  He grinned at Bree and she threw herself at
him, shrieking and screaming Kaden’s name as her brother sunk to his knees. 
Blood was pouring out of his stomach and darkening the ground around him, and
his tanned skin was rapidly paling. 

One of Bree’s flailing fists caught Draken on the jaw, and
he snarled at her before waving one of the other Lycans over.

“Take her!”

The Lycan picked her up and heaved her over his shoulder.  Draken
turned to the Lycans standing in stunned silence in their front yard.

“Do not follow us.  We’ll smell you coming, and I’ll rip the
girl apart before you even get close.”  He snapped at them.

“Let’s go.”  He growled to his pack, and they turned and
strode deep into the forest.

“SAVE HIM JAMES!  SAVE HIM!”  Bree screamed as Draken’s pack
disappeared into the trees.

* * *

James roared with rage, and Nicky threw his arms around his
rapidly swelling body. 

“James!”  Sophia was kneeling next to Kaden.  “James!  Get
over here now!”

“Keep it together.”  Nicky hissed at him as James bucked and
twisted against him.  “Help her brother, and then we’ll save her.”

“He’s dying James!”  Sophia shouted.

Tristan was suddenly standing in front of him and he took
James by the shoulders, his large hands digging into his flesh.  He spoke
quietly, but his voice broke through James’ haze of panic.  “Look at me James. 
Go and save her brother.”

James stared at his father and then nodded briefly.  He followed
Tristan and Nicky towards Bree’s brother.  The panic was building inside of
him, threatening to take him over, and his father must have sensed it because
he squeezed his arm.

“We’ll find her and bring her back son.  I promise you.” 
His father’s calm manner soothed him, and he watched as Tristan, Nicky, and
Sophia heaved Kaden to his feet.  The man had passed out, and quickly James
stepped behind him and wrapped his arms around Kaden’s upper body.  He held him
tightly as Sophia pulled her jacket off and pressed it against the wound on
Kaden’s stomach.

After only a few minutes, she peeled it back cautiously.  “I
think it’s healing.”  She said with relief.  “The blood is starting to clot.”

“Tristan?”  Avery had approached with Leta in her arms, and
she kissed the girl’s smooth cheek before handing her to Tristan.  She placed
her hands on Kaden’s bare chest. 

“Bring him into the house James.  I’ll lie with him until
he’s fully healed.”

“Where is Marshall?”  Tristan asked.  “I need to speak with
him.”

“He’s still in the house with Maya and the others.”  Avery
still touching Kaden’s chest, reached out with one shaking hand and stroked
James’ face.  “We’ll get her back my sweet James.  Bring her brother into the
house.”

* * *

Sophia sat on the side of the bed and stared at the sleeping
man.  It was nearly impossible to guess that he was Bree’s brother.  He was as
big, if not bigger, than her brothers and his body was thick with muscle.  His
skin was tanned, and he had dark hair.  The covers were at his waist and there
was no trace of the wound on his stomach.  Her mother had left nearly half an
hour ago, and Sophia had offered to stay with him until he woke.

He was still wearing the leather collar around his neck.  She
carefully unbuckled it and slid it free.  There was a band of pale skin around
his neck where the leather had protected his skin from the sun, and she frowned
and fingered the metal loop at the front of the collar.  They obviously made
him wear it all the time.

She dropped the collar to the floor and studied his face
closely.  He wasn’t traditionally handsome, she decided, but there was
something about him that was very appealing to her.  His nose had obviously
been broken a few times, and most of his body was covered in scars.  Lying with
her mother had healed the bruises she had seen earlier, and she reached out and
traced the wide scars that ran across his chest.  The staggering amount of
scars on his chest and abdomen had made his chest hair grow in random tufts. 

Lashes from a whip, she thought.  She frowned as she ran her
fingers through the random patches of dark hair on his chest.  The cruelty the
Lycans had shown to these humans baffled and angered her.  She let her fingers drift
down his chest to stroke the muscles of his abdomen.  What was the point?  What
had the humans done to deserve this treatment from the Lycans?  They –

She gasped as her wrist was encircled in a hot, hard grip. 
She was yanked downwards on to the bed.  The human had her arms pinned above
her head and one heavy thigh pressing across her legs, before she knew what was
happening.

He was quick for a human.  Powerful as well, she thought
grudgingly.  He placed one hand around her throat, and slid it upwards until it
was stopped by the shelf of her jaw.  He squeezed lightly and lowered his face
until it was inches from hers.

“My sister.  Where is she?”  His voice was rough and deep.  A
shiver went through Sophia’s body as something stirred within her.  His eyes
were the same blue as Bree’s, and they were filled with anger and confusion.  She
frowned and pulled lightly at the hand holding her wrists.

“Draken took her.”

He cursed loudly and then scanned her body with a slow, dark
gaze that made her flush.  His gaze lingered on her breasts before he stared at
her face.  “Where am I?”

“You’re safe.  My family gave your sister shelter.  We’re
her friends.  In fact, my brother – “

“I was stabbed.”  He interrupted her.

She nodded.  “Yes.  My mother and brother saved your life.”

She pulled again at his hand.  “Let me go.”

“No.  Not until – “

She shocked him by suddenly heaving her body upwards.  She
was much stronger than she looked, and he could barely keep his grip on her. 
He grunted with surprise and used his weight to press her back down onto the
bed.  He was nearly lying across her now, his chest pushing against her
breasts, as she struggled to free herself.

“Be still!”  He demanded.

She growled at him and he jerked back when her eyes turned
green.

“Lycan!”  He snarled and squeezed her throat, cutting off
her oxygen.  “I hate your kind.  I will not hesitate to kill you.  Do you
understand me girl?”

She made a choking, growling noise and he leaned down
again.  “If you stay still, I’ll – “

He roared with shock and pain when she head butted him.  His
grip loosened around her throat and her wrists, and she grabbed his hair and
yanked his head back as she wiggled out from under him.  She slid off the bed,
turning and punching him in the chest when he grabbed at her legs. 

He fell back on the bed and she backed away, breathing
heavily and snarling at him.  He stood and took a couple of steps towards her. 
She snarled again, as her body rippled and her teeth began to lengthen.