Shameless Desire (The Outlawed Realm) (22 page)

Teeko’s laughter interrupted her. Gwen gaped at him, then Kuma, seeing his shoulders shaking with his laughter.

Bastards. She spoke through her teeth. “So you’re all right?”

He nodded, lips pressed together as he tried to control himself.

“You think this is a joke?” Gwen snapped. “You think your survival on this plane is funny?”

Kuma sobered quickly. He regarded her for a long moment, then murmured, “I love your voice.”

At his guileless tone, heat rushed to Gwen’s face and belly. Her irritation fell away, replaced by renewed concern. “I worry about you. You transformed too fast tonight. It hurt you. I saw that on your face.”

“I’ll be fine. I won’t change so fast the next time, even if I have to kill a guard.”

Staci made a whimpering sound and dropped into a chair. With her arms folded on the table, she lowered her head to them.

Gwen couldn’t blame her. She would have liked to sleep for the next month, curled up next to Kuma in their bed, with him handcuffed to it of course. That seemed to be the only way to keep him out of trouble. “If this hurts at all, please let me know.”

She rubbed the ointment over his shoulders. He stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, no doubt because the mixture’s heat had kicked in. As well as she could, Gwen massaged his muscles, running her hands over his broad back, down his biceps, to his pecs. They flexed at her touch.

“Better?” she murmured.

“Oh yeah,” Staci said. “I think I could sleep here all night.”

Gwen exchanged a glance with Kuma. He winked. The gesture was so human and endearing, she couldn’t keep from hugging him.

He cradled the side of her face and whispered, “Let’s go to bed.”

Gwen’s thought exactly. If she wore him out further, he might sleep a full day, allowing her to go back out at twilight. Alone.

In the alley, Etaw stood next to Jeete, a guard new to this dimension, a mirror image of himself. Moments ago, Vakar had ordered the man here.

Jeete took in the surroundings and frowned. “You lie.”

“No.” Etaw placed his palm on the side of the building, its surface rough against his fingers. “The portal the female created
was
here. She must have gotten the device from one of the other guards that the werewolf attacked days ago. They’re working together in this. I watched them mating.”

He’d seen the female’s desire for the creature, his need of her. It was like nothing Etaw had witnessed in the Pleasure Palace, where rulers and guards demanded and indulged in every sexual vice while the pleasure slaves had no choice except to obey. The creature and female touched each other as though their bodies were somehow precious, not merely tools for sexual satisfaction. Their passion seemed rich and deep, not forced or faked, making Etaw envious for what they had, what he’d never known.

He might have voiced his feelings if not for the look of disbelief and disgust on Jeete’s face.

Etaw reined in his emotions and spoke quickly, “Even though hours have passed, you can still feel the gateway’s residual cold. It’s worse than the bite of tonight’s air. Go on, put your hand where I have. It’s proof I’m telling you the truth.”

Jeete made no move to touch the building. “Why would a female here mate willingly with one of the creatures? How could the tranquilizer not have affected her? That’s never happened. You claim Huatt’s dart struck her, but it must have missed.”

“I know what I saw. He hit her in the shoulder. She drank something and then pretended to fall down. The man with her transformed, taking wolf form, distracting Huatt. The woman ran into him then. She pushed Huatt into the portal.”

Jeete stepped closer, crowding Etaw. “And you did nothing to stop them?”

The back of his neck prickled. Sweat rolled down it. “If I had, the werewolf would have killed me, or the woman would have also sent me into the gateway. You never would have known what had happened to Huatt and what else I learned.”

“More lies?” Jeete scowled. “The creature has a superior sense of hearing and smell. How did he not detect you?”

“I was inside that building over there.” He pointed.

Jeete regarded the structure. “Then that explains it.”

It did? “You believe me?”

“I’m repulsed by your fear, hiding while Huatt did all the work and was attacked. Coward.”

That Etaw was. He didn’t want the werewolves to tear him apart on this plane or on E4. To avoid it, he’d reasoned this out. Now all he had to do was convince Jeete of it. “I was hunting for females inside the building when I heard Huatt in the alley. I went to that window there.” He gestured to the second floor and waited for Jeete to look up.

The moment the other guard did, Etaw continued. “Through a small separation in the boards, I was able to see what was happening. I made certain not to move, I barely breathed so I wouldn’t make any sound that the creature might hear.”

“And what of his other senses?” Jeete argued. “If what you say happened, he would have known you were here by your scent.”

“That’s not true. Listen to me, please,” Etaw begged. He had to keep Jeete from opening a portal and sending him back to E4 for torture and execution. “After Huatt was gone, his scent must have lingered in the alley, making the creature believe that it was him he smelled, not me. To a werewolf, we’d all have the same odor because we’re identical in every way. You’ve been on hunts in E4’s jungle. Those guards who’ve never been outside before are still located easily by the creatures, because they don’t distinguish one of us from the other.”

“So the werewolf didn’t detect you. That doesn’t mean you’re not a coward for hiding here until I arrived.”

“I haven’t been hiding,” Etaw argued. “I left this place as soon as the creature and female did.”

“And it still didn’t notice you?” Jeete lifted his device.

Etaw grabbed the man’s hand to keep him from activating the instrument and opening a gateway. “Once I was out of the building, I made certain to stay downwind of the werewolf so it didn’t know I was there.”

Jeete stopped trying to free himself of Etaw’s grip. “Downwind?”

“Yes.” It was something the guards on E4 had never considered or worried about. There, they had the advantage of their numbers, tranquilizer darts, the ruler’s crossbows and escape into the Pleasure Palace if the werewolves came too close. Here, they had to be as cunning as the creatures. “With the wind blowing toward me, it took my scent away, not allowing the creature to smell my presence or approach. That allowed me to watch him and the woman without them knowing it. It allowed me to follow them and learn the biggest secret of all.”

Jeete’s expression flickered with surprise and skepticism. “And what is that?”

Although eager to say, for the moment, all Etaw did was smile.

Kuma knew what Gwen was doing but wasn’t of a mind to stop her until he absolutely had to.

For nearly an hour, she massaged his aching muscles, interrupting that delightful endeavor to feed him steak and the pizza he’d grown to crave, after which she told him to relax while she prepared his bath. During her absence, he told Teeko and Staci that they needed to keep Gwen safe, the same as he did. Gwen called for him finally. She’d filled the tub, encouraging him to recline in the warm, fragrant water.

His arms dangled over the sides of the fixture. Bent at the knees, his legs sagged outward, exposing his rigid cock.

Although Gwen kept sneaking peeks at his erection, she didn’t encourage his arousal. With soapy hands, she washed his face and neck, then shampooed his hair, combing it with her fingers.

“I should shave you.” She ran her thumbs over his bristly cheeks and down his throat.

He swallowed and sighed. “Later.”

“Now.”

Before she could move, Kuma grabbed her wrist.

“Let go,” she ordered.

“No. Quit fighting me.”

She didn’t, still trying to free herself. It was an effort, but he finally managed to pull her on top of him, sending a wave of water over the side of the tub.

“Damn,” she complained above all the splashing sounds. “Will you stop?”

Not a chance. He kissed away her protests, determined to make her breathless and weak. Didn’t take long. She pulled at her sodden clothing, wanting it off, the same as he did. Once she was nude, Kuma washed her as she’d done with him, paying particular attention to her breasts and pussy.

Gwen rested her forehead against his and moaned at him stroking her clit. “Aw God, that feels good. Don’t stop.”

He didn’t, bringing her to a quick and unrestrained orgasm, reducing whatever fight she had left, molding her into the female she was born to be with him. Lush. Provocative. Submissive…at least for a time.

Not bothering to dry either of them off, Kuma carried her from the bath to their bed. They made love until well past dawn, stopping only because he finally grew flaccid.

“Sore?” she asked.

His cock burned from him burying it so frequently in each of her openings. A wonderful pain he needed to experience again and again. “No. You?”

“No. Sleepy?” she asked next, trying to stifle her own yawn.

Before he could lie and say no again, his stomach growled.

“You’re hungry,” Gwen said.

“Only for you.”

Despite his sentimental words, she rolled off the mattress and staggered to her feet.

Kuma pushed to a sitting position, then sagged back down, his depleted strength making it impossible for him to remain upright. “Where are you going?”

Since it was dawn, he sensed she wouldn’t wander too far from him.

“Kitchen.” She grabbed his tee and pulled it on. The garment’s hem reached the middle of her thighs. “Be right back.”

She returned with another steak, the bacon he liked and a circular food she called meatballs.

Leaning closer, he sniffed. “Is that blood on them?” he asked.

“God, no. Marinara sauce. Eat.”

Kuma finished it all, sighing in pleasure as she rubbed the leftover sauce on his belly and groin, then licked it off. He fell asleep without realizing he’d done so, a deep dreamless slumber he’d rarely experienced on E4. How long he was out didn’t matter. The creak of a floorboard awakened him.

Quickly alert, he left the bed, and caught up with Gwen, grabbing her wrist so she couldn’t leave their room. Given the streetlamp’s light streaming through the darkened window, Kuma knew it was night, and she wasn’t going to the kitchen to get him more food. She was dressed in a way he’d never seen before.

He frowned. “What did you do to yourself?”

She regarded the pink hoodie she wore. On its sleeves, small decorations glittered silver in the available light. “It’s Staci’s. Don’t you worry. I asked her if I could borrow it. She’s cool with that.”

Kuma tightened his grip, his focus still on her hair, no longer short and dark but long and blonde like her cousin’s. “Answer me.”

Gwen sighed. “It’s Staci’s wig, all right? She got it after the accident because some of her hair had burned off. I thought I’d give it a try. See how I look.”

Kuma curled his upper lip as he regarded the wig. “I don’t like it.”

“Then I won’t wear it to bed, okay? You can.” With her free hand, she slapped his chest.

Such a playful gesture. Kuma struggled not to smile. “I go to bed nude.” Lifting her hand, he kissed the inside of her wrist.

Gwen curled her fingers, the tips touching his cheek.

“You were leaving,” he said, serious once more. “To go where?”

“Grocery shopping.” She leaned into him. “You ate all my food. I need to go to the store to buy more.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.” She tried to pull her wrist from him.

Kuma wouldn’t allow it. “Why not? I went with you when we needed those items to make the tranquilizer and when you bought me the clothing. When we’re in the store this time, I can tell you what I want to eat.”

“I already know what that is. Just let me get it. I’ll be back in a little—”

“You’re dressed like Staci. Your hair’s like hers. You were going to hunt guards alone while I was here asleep. Don’t deny it.”

Her shoulders slumped. She muttered, “I wouldn’t have to if you hadn’t woken up.”

“You’re staying, I’m going.”

“No fucking way.” Gwen tried to twist out of his grip. Before she ended up hurting herself, Kuma let go of her.

Rubbing her wrist, Gwen regarded him, her expression wary as though she was trying to determine his next move. He made none as she backed up to the door.

“I have to do this,” she said. “You’ve given me no choice, dammit. You came into my life with your wonderful smile, your tenderness, your desire for me. I don’t give a crap about the supernatural stuff or what danger I might be facing. All I know is that I don’t want this to end. I don’t want to lose you. Can’t you understand that? Each time you’re out there, you’re risking the guards finding and killing you, or someone from this plane seeing you morph into a damn werewolf. Don’t you know what the authorities would do to you if they knew what you are? The guards are looking for females, not a fucking wolf. I can lure them without you. With the tranquilizer, I have the means of neutralizing the pricks. Once I do that, shoving them into a portal will be easy.”

He looked like he wanted to scream at her…or hug her. Finally, he sighed. “I don’t want—”

“Please, don’t say that. I’ll be fine, okay?” She opened the door and stopped at Teeko in the hall. With one shoulder propped against the wall, the werewolf regarded her. Staci was at his feet, her head resting against his thigh, her mouth opened in a lusty yawn.

Kuma went to Gwen and murmured, “You can’t get past Teeko, me and your cousin, no matter how tired she is. The other night I warned them that you wanted me to fall asleep so you could go out alone. I made them promise to keep you here, to make certain you were safe, whether you want that or not.”

Gwen faced him. “Look who’s talking. If you keep transforming, you’re going to hurt yourself. Don’t you understand what you’re doing to your body? How often did you change on E4? Weekly? Nightly? Hourly?” She glanced at Teeko, then back at him. “What’s the longest any werewolf has lived on that plane?”