ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (35 page)

The tearful goodbyes were hard, and Blaine left Brooke alone for the first hour of their drive, content to just hold her hand.  Once her sniffling had subsided he ventured his next plan to her. 

“I thought we could stop off somewhere for the night.” 

“Where?” 

“Well, we could stay in Fredericksburg.  We’ll be there soon, or we could stay on Skyline Drive.  There’s a place called Graves Mountain Lodge that’s in the mountains not too far from my…from our home.” 

“I would like that.” 

“Good!  I just need to call and make sure a room is available.” 

Blaine took the next exit and found a gas station.  He waited for Brooke to go inside before calling about the room.  He still needed to call Gerard, and hoped he would have time to do both.

“Hey, it’s me.” 

“How’s it going?”

“Good.  I’m coming home.” 

“Did you…”

Blaine interrupted Gerard.  “Yes, I did.  I’m married.”

“Married?  Wow, that’s even bigger than just mate status.  What’s her name?”

“Brooke.” 

“Nice.  Ok, can’t wait to see you both!”

“Yeah, we’ll be there some time tomorrow.” 

Blaine quickly used the bathroom in the gas station and asked for a phone book to see if he could get the number for the Lodge.  When he couldn’t, he told Brooke they would just have to hope for the best. 

“I got us some snacks.”  She smiled hopefully.  “I hope you like what I picked out.” 

Blaine looked in the bag and smiled at the bottles of water and the assortment of crackers, chips, and candy bars.

“Looks good.  How did you know Milky Way was my favorite?”  He kissed her cheek lightly. 

Brooke lifted one shoulder.  “You just look like a Milky Way kind of guy, I guess.” 

They drove back onto the highway, and before they had gone three miles Brooke was fast asleep with her head resting on Blaine’s shoulder.  He shifted his weight so her head would be nestled just under the joint.  He felt a contentment that usually only came when he was wandering his property alone, enjoying nature and his solitude.  Now he wasn’t alone.  Even if the pack rejected Brooke and left, he would still have her, and that was just fine. 

When they finally arrived at Graves Mountain Lodge, it was just past five; two hours past check in time.  Blaine kept his fingers crossed that there was a room available.  The woman behind the desk had horn rimmed glasses and a hairstyle reminiscent of a bee hive, but she seemed nice enough. 

“Well, I can put you in Poplar.  I have a couple rooms there.” 

“Is that building near this one?”

“About a mile and a half.” 

“Perfect.” 

Blaine and Brooke stayed at the main lodge until dinner was served.  It was an interesting affair which reminded him of dinners with the pack.  At Graves Mountain, the dining room had long tables, enough to seat at least eight, and you were likely to be eating with strangers.  But the cooking was down-home style, served on dishware that reminded him of someone’s grandmother’s china, and it was tasty.  The main course that night was grilled Rainbow Trout or meatloaf with several sides, and a nice apple crisp for dessert. 

“Wow that was good!”  Brooke beamed as they walked to the truck. 

“It certainly was.” 

The road that led to the Poplar was really just a glorified narrow dirt path, but Brooke was exuberant over every stretch of it.  Every twist in the little road brought a new exclamation from her, especially if she glimpsed the creek or saw an animal. 

The Poplar came into view sitting on a low hill, its dark wood exterior and wrap around porches clung to the dying sunlight with both hands.  Their room could be accessed from within or without and Blaine was pleased it was on the second floor and looked out over the sloping back lawn. 

Brooke didn’t seem disappointed that it was small, and she didn’t care there wasn’t a TV.  The walls were actual wood logs, and she touched them in wonder. 

“King size bed, oh yeah!”  Blaine said and flopped down on his back.  He looked up at Brooke and saw her blushing. 
Aww, she’s nervous!
  He didn’t know why, but the thought touched him.

“I’m going to take a shower.”  Brooke said and took the book bag she had brought in with her, disappearing into the bathroom without waiting for a reply.

Blaine could feel his excitement building and hoped she wouldn’t be in there long.  He walked out of the door and onto the long porch that extended past every other room on that side of the lodge.  The air was a refreshing seventy five, the sun already dipping low in the sky.  He stood for a long time waiting for his bride. 

Blaine came back to the room, making sure the blinds on the door were closed tightly and the room door was locked.  He took his shirt and jeans off, folding them carefully.  Not a sound issued from the bathroom.  He settled himself on the bed and waited some more. 

Brooke took one last look at herself in the mirror.  She wasn’t a virgin, Brian had taken care of that, but she was feeling as nervous as one.  It had been nearly two years since she had been with a man.  Blaine was the first she had allowed to even kiss her since Brian. 

She touched the silky fabric of the wedding gift Carleigh had tucked into her bag the night before.  A nightie of soft pink satin that tied loosely at the center of her breasts.  There were matching panties, but Brooke dared to even call them that.  They were basically a triangle of fabric attached to a string.  She smiled sardonically.  She had always made fun of Carleigh and Jeanette for owning such things.  She had just never felt sexy enough to wear them.  Tonight was different. 

Brooke cut the light off and opened the bathroom door.  The room was nearly dark, slits of low light shone through the blinds.  She thought Blaine was asleep and hesitated until she saw the gleam of his eyes.  She walked slowly and slid onto the bed facing him. 

Blaine’s face was unreadable as he pulled her to him.  His need outweighed his patience. 

“You look beautiful.”  He said, pulling the string holding the nightie together.  With a strong arm he pulled Brooke onto her back and flicked the fabric away from each breast.  She wasn’t large breasted, but she wasn’t small either.  He gazed at her feeling the heat rising over his body, before cupping each breast and lowering his mouth to her nipples. 

Brooke allowed a sigh to slide past her lips.  He worked the flesh of her breasts until both nipples were taunt and hard.  She watched his dark head move in the dying light to her navel, stopping only long enough to work the small amount of fabric over her hips, tossing it aside.  He flicked his tongue playfully just above the bikini line and along the insides of her thighs until Brooke moved her hips, forcing his head to where she so desperately wanted it. 

Blaine removed his boxers in a hurried flourish, his flesh pulsating and throbbing.  He would attempt longer lovemaking as the night drew out, but for that moment he needed her, and judging from the dripping wetness between her legs, she needed him too.  He moved his hips, bumping each of her thighs open further, and plunged into her.  Brooke cried aloud from the surprise of his size but also from the searing pleasure.  They moved together in perfect harmony, Brooke crying out minutes later just before Blaine’s voice, pure animal and wildness answered her. 

Brooke laid awake in the darkness listening to the steady breathing of her new husband.  She was happy, truly happy for the first time in….for the first time ever.  Her body was sore and satiated in a way that she had never known.  It was almost perfect in that moment.  Only one thing she wished, the thing that would have made it completely flawless: she wished he had told her he loved her.

“Do you have everything?”  Blaine asked, as he loaded his duffle onto the bed of the pickup. 

“I think so.”  Brooke smiled. 

Blaine felt his body draw to hers like a moth to the flame.  She
was
his
perfect mate.  He had heard stories of other wolves experiencing that kind of attraction.  He had thought they were full of crap.  Now that he had experienced her, actually been
part
of her, he knew better.  He would have laid her in the bed of the truck and devoured her again if there weren’t laws forbidding indecency.

Brooke picked up on the vibe he was sending out.  She advanced on him coyly, enjoying the dark look in his eyes.  It made her feel powerful.  She patted his chest. 

“We need to get going.  The pack awaits.”  She spoke with more bravado than she felt.  That was another vibe Blaine was sending out.  They were both uncertain about the pack. 

Gerard watched the winding road that lead to Blaine’s property.  He had assembled the rest of the pack to welcome him back, and so they could welcome his mate Brooke.  Gerard allowed his mind to fantasize about her.  Would she be pretty?  Would she be a strong leader like Blaine?  Of course she would be.  Blaine would
never
chose someone who wasn’t good for the pack.

The familiar rumble of Blaine’s truck began faintly, then gained momentum as Gerard heard the downshift of the engine pulling up the steep incline. 

“Hey!  They’re coming!”  He shouted.  His cowboy boots clunked heavily on the wood of the porch as he went to the screen door and threw it wide.  Tina and Lucy were placing the last of the welcome home food on the dining room table.  Gerard smiled at the fresh wildflowers sitting in a vase in the center of the table.  It was a nice touch.  He hurried back to the porch and made sure the pack was lined up and looking their best.  He couldn’t help but feel like they were getting ready to meet the pack mother. 

Blaine’s truck came into view.  He parked under the maple tree, where it sat on any other day.  Brooke gazed at the mismatched group of people standing on the porch.  They looked like some kind of gathering for the United Nations.  There was an Asian man with his arm draped loosely around the shoulders of a Hispanic woman.  An African American couple stood near them.  Three young men stood in a tight line together.  One blonde, one with brown hair, and the third of an unknown origin.  The last man came down the steps and stopped halfway.  He was tall and barrel chested with dark curling brown hair. 

Blaine looked at her and smiled softly.  “It’s fine.  Don’t be nervous.” 

Blaine got out of the truck and came around to her side and opened the door, holding a strong hand out to her.  Once her fingertips touched hers, she thought it
could
be fine after all.

Gerard watched as Blaine brought the woman around the back of the truck.  She was small, but strikingly beautiful.  He could see crystal blue eyes, even from where he stood.  His face began a slow grin as the breeze shifted, blowing cool mountain air straight in his face.  Cool mountain air that smelled like wolf and…human.  The smile disappeared, his eyes widening. 

Blaine stood at the bottom of the steps, ignoring the heads turning to look at one another.  He grinned up at them, also ignoring the fact that Gerard seemed frozen with a foot on the step behind him and a foot on the step in front. 

“This is Brooke.”  He said plainly, motioning to her with a flat hand palm up.  No one spoke. 

Gerard leaned towards Blaine, his eyes holding a fierceness he had never directed to his Alpha before.  The hazel around his pupils seemed to shift and darken. 

“
What have you done?
”  The words hissed out for all to hear. 

Blaine narrowed his eyes, positioning his body in front of Brooke’s.  He could feel her body begin to tremble as she peeked out from behind him. 

“What have I done?”  Blaine jutted his chin forward, and stepped directly in front of Gerard, not quite matching his height, but towering over him anyway.  His head tilted as he spoke softly.  “I did what I damn well pleased.” 

The other males watched the confrontation with unease.  Blaine was their Alpha, but Gerard was a close second, and although the younger wolves wouldn’t admit it openly, they had a strong attachment to Gerard. 

The two women broke away from their husband’s protective grips and trotted down the steps.  They exchanged a look with Blaine, and he moved aside.  The African American woman spoke first, her hair was pulled back tightly and when she smiled, her almond shaped eyes gave her an almost Asian flair. 

“I’m Tina.” 

“And I’m Lucy.”  The Hispanic woman said through a strong accent. 

Tina watched Brooke nod her head to both of them.

“Why don’t you come inside?  You must be exhausted.”

Brooke nodded again and found her voice.  “Yes…yes I am.” 

Tina and Lucy flanked Brooke as they walked her up the stairs.  Brooke could feel all eyes on her as she was ushered into the house. 

“We need to talk.”  Gerard growled. 

“Let’s talk then.”  Blaine replied with an icy smile. 

Gerard jerked his head to the side for the younger boys to follow. 

Blaine began walking as Troy and Nick took a moment to peek through the window at their wives.  He laughed out loud.