Sworn to the Wolf (16 page)

“To see you with another man who looks as good as Phillip or Ryan?”

“To
be
with another man who looks as good as Phillip or Ryan.”

“Oh.” She pursed her lips. “I don’t know. You’re saying you’d be okay if I fucked another man?”

He sat up with her. “Fucked? Probably not. Although I don’t want to fuck another man or woman either. Mess around? Naked, sweaty, hands and mouths? Yeah, I’d be okay as long as I was there and as long as the other wolf was subordinate.”

One of her eyebrows rose and he scented the ripening of her body as desire rose again. Grinning, he took her to the mattress with his body. “Ahh, you
would
like that. To have me fucking you, with another male in the bed with us? His cock in your hand or maybe your mouth? His mouth on your pussy when my cock was in your mouth? Hmm?”

She made a breathless sound before she stuttered out, “I, well, my!”

“One day at a time. For now I plan to be all you need. But in the future, if the opportunity comes up, we can talk about it again. Now then, your pussy is wet and ready and as a coincidence, I’m hard again.”

He took her again, hard and fast, and after they’d both come she fell asleep within moments, her body tucked against his, a smile on her lips.

Chapter Five

“She answered, but some dude got on the phone and threatened me,” Anthony Vargas said into the phone to Pietro Margoles.

“Where is she?” Margoles yelled.

“The phone number my source got me is in Seattle.”

“Why aren’t you there then? Anthony, why haven’t you gone to get my daughter and bring her back here so she can marry you?”

“She said she didn’t want to come home, that she didn’t want to marry me. The dude said she was his fiancée,” Anthony whined.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what she wants. She’s been told what to do and she needs to do it. No wonder you couldn’t hold her here, Vargas! She’s a woman, for fucks’ sake. You don’t let a woman tell you what to do. The woman does what you say. Now get your ass out to Seattle and bring her back. And Vargas, keep your hands away from her face. I understand you need to instill a bit of discipline in her but no more broken bones or I’ll break a few of yours. As for this man who claims to be engaged to her? Do with him what you will but make it clean.”

“Fine.” Anthony clamped his mouth shut before he got himself some broken bones of his own. He’d been given orders and unless or until he was stronger or had more leverage, he’d snap to it. “I’ll go out there.”

* * *

“Wake up, baby, we have a wedding to go to.” Laurent kissed Rain’s nose.

She pulled him down to her lips and he gave her a proper good morning kiss that left her breathless and tingly. “A girl could get used to those kinds of good mornings.”

“That’s the point.” He sent her a raised brow. “Damn, who is that?” he muttered in answer to a hard knock on the front door. “Get up, baby, and grab a shower. We should have breakfast and then head to the courthouse. We’re on his calendar in a little over an hour. Then we’ll come back and start the transformation,” he said, leaving the room like it was no big deal.

“Like shopping for a new sweater. Hey, let’s just bite you and change you into a werewolf this afternoon. Jeez,” she muttered and loped into the bathroom. Turning the water on and getting it extra hot, she stood there for a few minutes to wake up. Her muscles were sore in all the right ways. That made her smile.

Despite all the chaos and uncertainty of her life, he’d become a place of calm in the storm. And his pack—his family—had opened up to admit her with genuine warmth. She supposed all the bad was worth it because she knew just how wonderful what she’d found was.

She kept it quick, knowing they had to be in town in an hour, and realized she had nothing to wear in the bathroom with her so she headed into the bedroom.

But instead of clothes, she found Drew and Skye standing near the bed, talking to Laurent.

They shut up, turning to take her in so she just shook her head as they all stared.

“Hey, I know,” she told Laurent. “I think it would be totally cool if you said, ‘put some clothes on before you come out of the bathroom because we have company.’ For when, like people’re in my room.”

Laurent growled and pushed both men out of the room. “Stop staring! That’s my Mate.”

“I thought you said nudity was natural.” Rain followed him out into the living room, amused by his agitation. Thing was, she’d never hated her body or anything, but here, the admiration and affection for beauty and body in all sorts of forms fit her well.

Made her bold enough to remind her man that this is what it felt like when people sniffed after the person he loved. She was beginning to understand Paloma and her situation in a pack with the rules the way they were. It still wasn’t cool to be rude and not back off when she was told to, though.

“Well it is. On a run. You look damned sexy with that just-out-of-the-shower flush of your skin. Get that dress on! Drew brought it for you,” he growled and pushed her back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

She could hear Skye laughing as she opened the protective bag around the dress hanging in the bedroom. She stilled, touched that anyone would think something so beautiful should belong to her. Carefully she pulled it out and ran a reverent hand over the material.

She stepped into it, pulling the snug bodice up and buttoning it. The blood red material set off the honeyed tone of her skin and complemented her hair. The neck scooped just enough to accent her breasts but not embarrass. The skirt, in contrast to the bodice, flowed and moved around her legs fluidly as she walked. Twisting this way and that, she took herself in through the mirror. She looked beautiful and sexy and feminine. She felt like a woman should feel on her wedding day, like a princess.

She pulled her hair up in a series of twists at the back of her head, fastening it with pretty pins. Sexy red shoes and a bit of clear gloss on her lips completed the outfit. She wished she had her jewelry from home but she had better—her freedom and a man like Laurent to love her forever.

She walked out into the living room and all three men turned to stare at her openmouthed.

Laurent came to her and got on one knee. “Rain...” he shook his head, searching for words, “...you look amazing. I didn’t do this very officially when we arranged it all so let me do it right.” He pulled a black velvet jeweler’s box from his pocket and cracked it open, revealing an oval diamond solitaire and a band set with baguettes of alternating diamonds and rubies. “Rain, will you marry me?”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she knelt to face him. “Yes. I don’t have a ring for you, but will you marry me?”

He smiled and put the solitaire on her finger and put the band back in his pocket. “Always and forever. I don’t need a ring, I have your heart.” He stood and pulled her up. “Let’s go and grab some breakfast. And remember, we’ll do this in style after the dust has settled.”

She nodded, still beyond words. Joy filled her and her future was so open and bright.

Breakfast had been laid out. “Wow.”

“She does this every day,” Laurent told her of Anna. “Dinner too.”

The room was already full of smiling faces in various stages of breakfast.

“We’re all coming to the ceremony. I can’t believe you haven’t given us any time to plan a big party but we’ll make do today and have a big bash in a few weeks.” Anna waved them to the table.

“That dress is gorgeous! You look like Snow White, only a sexy version,” Ryan said as he came into the dining room, and the others nodded in agreement. Phillip kissed her cheek and went to sit down with his coffee. A very vivid picture of a lot of naked male flesh, loose hair in many shades and lots of moaning hit her and she had to close her eyes a second until it passed.

“I just want to thank you for being so kind to me,” Rain said, looking at them all, each face open and warm. “I haven’t ever had a family where I’ve felt free to be who I was and, well, you all feel so right to me. So thanks,” she finished, blushing.

“No, it’s we who should thank you. Now that I have Kari I know how truly empty my heart was before she came to me. You’ve filled Laurent’s life with so much joy.” Andreas smiled at her, winking.

“Is that a ring I see?” Kari gasped and jumped up, Emma, Alyssa and Perri joining her. Rain nodded and held out her hand.

“Laurent gave it to me this morning. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Gorgeous!” Emma said and the other three agreed. Laurent was secretly proud that Rain was so excited about the ring but tried to look irritated by all of the girlish squealing. He failed miserably when a huge grin broke over his face.

“You are in so deep,” Sean said mildly as he watched Emma hungrily.

“You should know.” Laurent snorted.

“Hell yeah. I like being in deep. A woman like Emma keeps me on my toes and I can keep her on her back,” he added sotto voice but Emma heard him and raised an eyebrow his way.

“You two are next.” Laurent lifted his chin, indicating Skye and Ryan.

“You won’t hear any complaints from me were that to be true,” Ryan said.

Laurent stood after they ate, pulling Rain up beside him. “Well, off we go. Anyone who cares to come along will probably fit in chambers. Close your eyes,” he said to Rain, who did. She smelled the heady scent of roses before she felt the bouquet in her hands. “Open.”

She looked down at the most beautiful bouquet of red and silver roses she’d ever seen, tied with a red bow the same color as her dress. “They’re gorgeous!” She buried her nose in the flowers and breathed them in.

“I know today’s just a quick deal and that we’ll do a bigger ceremony later but I wanted you to have some of the bits and pieces that women seem to like,” he said, slightly embarrassed.

“Thank you.” Rain touched his cheek.

Laurent led Rain out of the lodge and to his truck, helping her inside, and they took off toward town.

The judge was easily eighty years old but a randy old flirt who winked at every female in the room, including the bride. They had to use Rain’s real name to be sure the ceremony was totally legal and Andreas had already contacted his attorney to start the name changing procedure, to change from Julia to Rain. The ceremony was over in just ten minutes. When they walked out into the early autumn sunlight, now married, Rain had never in her life been so happy.

Chapter Six

Back at the lodge Skye and Andreas argued with Laurent that one of them should bite Rain because Laurent loved her and it would be far too difficult for him to hurt her. Laurent felt that it was his responsibility because she was changing for him.

Kari and Rain watched the whole thing unfold until Rain stood up, put her fingers in her mouth and whistled shrilly. “Enough! Oh my god. Listen, people, let’s get on with this already. I’m nervous enough knowing that I’ll be attacked by a wolf so severely that I’ll be out of it for at least a day or two.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Laurent, love, Andreas and Skye are right. When they bit Emma it was Phillip who did it. Can you really hurt me that severely? Can you really shove your face into my skin and tear at my flesh?”

Laurent went pale. He couldn’t but it seemed such an intimate thing he wasn’t sure he wanted to allow anyone else to do it either.

“Laurent, you’re our brother. Let one of us do it and take on this burden for you. That way you can be with her the whole time she recovers. You’ll feel guilty enough, I know I did and I couldn’t even be there to hold Kari’s hand.”

Laurent exhaled. “All right. I’ll hold her while you do it. Andreas, let it be you. You’re the strongest and largest of us, you can do it quicker and cleaner.” Laurent looked at Rain, who had changed into sweats and a button-down shirt for the bite. “Is that all right with you, baby?”

Rain snorted and kissed Laurent tenderly. “Honey, I trust you and you trust Andreas. It’ll be fine. Let’s just do it already because I’m losing my nerve here.”

Andreas moved to one side and removed his clothing. Rain looked at Kari and winked and waggled an eyebrow. Andreas was built like a giant Greek god. Kari laughed and held one of Rain’s hands. “You’re a glass half full girl, I see.”

Rain shrugged. “Hey, take your pleasures where you can.”

Emma walked forward with a smile. “Lie down here, Rain. It’ll hurt. I’m sorry about that. There’ll be a lot of blood as well. Rest assured though, I’m here and Sean and Elaine are here too—three doctors, and two of us have been through the change and survived. Scream if you have to, okay? Let’s get your shirt off; it’ll just get ruined anyway. Strip down to your panties too.”

Quickly, Rain removed her clothes down to her panties and lay on the low table covered in warm linens Emma had indicated.

“I’m going to restrain your arms. We don’t want you attacking Andreas or hurting yourself more than necessary.”

Laurent wiped a tear. Seeing her so pale and frightened ate away at him. He hated that she had to do this. It was the only way she could live as his Mate and the best way to keep her safe from her father so naturally he supported the change despite that.

Sean approached him and Ryan and Phillip did as well. “Laurent, we’re going to hold you. Fight your wolf. Do not change. If we feel you start to change we’ll have to remove you from the room. Just remember that Rain will survive and four days from now, under the silver of the moon, she’ll be bonded to you and you to her.”

Laurent leaned forward and kissed Rain’s lips. “I love you, baby. I’ll be here for you. You’ll wake up soon.”

Rain fought back a sob as she began to tremble. Andreas had changed and padded over to the side of the table she lay on. He licked her hand and whined, taking her attention. She looked to him, eyes wide. “My god, you are so beautiful,” she whispered and suddenly he snarled. Sharp white teeth shone for a moment as time stretched. Those teeth met the soft flesh of her belly, tearing it open. The pain was unbearable, she screamed and tried to get free, struggling against the restraints that held her arms as the others held her legs. She screamed for Laurent to help her, begging. The searing pain faded, numbing as her consciousness began to feather and float away.

Laurent struggled to free himself from the hold Sean, Phillip, Ryan and Skye had on him. He screamed and growled, trying to get to her, trying to help her.

“Hold on!” Sean yelled into his face. “You have to control yourself. She’s going to be all right. If you interfere now you’ll hurt her.”

“She’s unconscious,” Emma said over the din.

Laurent slumped down the wall, tears streaming down his face, sobs wracking his body. His Mate lay on the table, pale and bleeding profusely. The scent of her fear, acrid and bitter, clung to the air. Andreas had changed back and Kari helped him clean up quickly before he went to Laurent, putting an arm around his shoulders.

“Why aren’t you helping her?” Laurent demanded as Emma and Elaine watched Rain bleed out.

“We will. You know this has to happen. Her body has to suffer the trauma for the virus to work. I will not let Rain die, you know that, Laurent.” Emma kept her eyes on Rain but reached out to touch Laurent, squeezing his hand briefly.

Standing there as the minutes passed and the trauma took over Rain’s system nearly killed Laurent. The room spun as he swayed on unsure legs, watching her approach death. Closer and closer.

The heart monitor was out of control and then suddenly it slowed down to next to nothing. He would be haunted by her screams to help her until his last breath.

“Now!” Emma said and they began to move. Elaine gave Rain a shot of something and Emma cleaned her up. Before stitching her up Emma checked her internal organs. “You perforated her bowel, Andreas. Ripped through one of her kidneys and her spleen. Everything is healing now,” she said, looking up with a relieved smile. “Laurent, it’s looking very good.”

Laurent slumped but Andreas and Sean held him up. Both men knew the terror Laurent was facing. He leaned forward and kissed Rain’s brow. “I love you, baby. You’re going to be all right. I’m here. I won’t leave your side.”

Phillip brought Laurent a chair and helped him into it. They attached an IV for fluids to Rain’s hand and put a gown on her before moving her to a bed. “She’s doing well, Laurent. Her vital signs are improving and steady. I’ll be back in a few minutes to check on her again. Just yell if you need me before that.” Emma kissed Laurent’s temple and brushed the hair from Rain’s shoulder.

Over the next hours, Laurent didn’t leave her side any longer than a few minutes here and there to go to the bathroom.

Anna brought him meals and sat with the two of them for a while here and there. She knit as the day deepened into evening. “You know, Laurent, you were always such a serious boy. You’ve grown into a serious man, a protector who’s always put others’ lives before his own. I’ve always been very proud of you, thought of you as one of my own. But this sweet girl, she’s brought a light to your eyes. There’s a playfulness to you I’ve not seen since your mother was alive. It’s a joy to see it. She’s something special, your Rain. She’s going to be fine you know. The two of you will have a long and happy life and bring this Pack more children.”

“I was just thinking that too, Anna.” Kari came in with Andreas and handed Laurent a mug of tea. “Drink that, sweetie. Do you want to take a break? Stretch your legs? I promise I’ll stay right here.”

Laurent smiled at them, at his Pack, his family. “I’m fine. And Anna, I’ve always considered myself one of your own too but thank you for saying all of that.”

* * *

Over the next two days Laurent read to Rain. He told her stories about his life growing up. He promised to take her to the Paris cemetery where his mother was interred and his father—who never remarried or fell in love again—now lay next to her. He told her that he couldn’t wait for her to have his children. He talked about traveling and about how much he loved her.

All the while she got stronger and he felt the return of her spirit more each passing hour. Her color improved and she even squeezed his hand a few times. His woman would be waking up any moment and the rest of their lives stretched out before him.

Rain finally opened her eyes on the third day, early in the morning. She watched the light coming through the window, dust motes floating on the air. Slowly she turned her head, Laurent’s scent drawing her attention.

He lay there sleeping, head on her bed, nestled against her side. His hair was an ebony spill over his face and shoulders. Most of his body rested in a chair next to the bed. Reaching out, she gently pushed the hair out of his face and his eyes fluttered open.

“Rain? Baby?” He sat up, blinking and finally looking into her eyes. She smiled weakly and nodded.

“Who else would I be?” she croaked.

“How do you feel?” He kissed her fingers, joy radiating from him.

“Like I got attacked by a werewolf. Oh and I need to take a shower and brush my teeth,” she said, her voice coming back.

“Hang on, baby.” Laurent got up, walked to the door, opened it and bellowed out, “She’s awake!” He walked back over to her and kissed her forehead.

Rain chuckled. “I’m sure you didn’t need to wake up the entire house.”

Emma came into the room and smiled. “Of course he did. I’m happy to see you awake at last. You look good. Laurent, move for a second so I can check her out.” Emma pulled the sheets back and opened the gown Rain wore. “As you can see your wound is totally gone. Not even a scar from the stitches.” She took Rain’s pulse. “Good. Nice and strong.”

Kari and Andreas came into the room, as did Sean and Phillip. “Is she okay?”

“Yes, she’s doing excellent. That extra day she was out made a huge difference. She has no scarring at all, the site of the bite is totally healed,” Emma said, tucking the sheet around Rain as she stood.

“I need a shower,” Rain said with a wince.

“Oh man! Do I remember that.” Emma groaned. “You’ll be shaky for the next day or so. I’m going to have Anna make you some broth and tea. You’ll feel completely better by this evening. You can eat regularly tomorrow and tomorrow night you’ll transform and you’ll feel better than you have in your entire life. As for now, don’t overdo it. As in, Laurent, you can’t have sex. Save it for the bonding tomorrow.”

Laurent raised an eyebrow at the sex comment. He may be a werewolf but he wasn’t an animal. He knew Rain needed TLC. But the truth was, three days without Rain and he wanted her desperately. “I’ll take care of her. Can she shower?”

“Yes, someone will need to be nearby to help just in case.”

“Don’t do it, Laurent. I helped Kari after she came home from the poisoning and she ravished me right there in the stall.” Andreas chuckled.

Kari started laughing while she blushed.

“I don’t care who does it. I feel grungy and sticky,” Rain said, sitting up as Emma removed her IV.

“I’ll do it,” Skye said sighing dramatically. “It’s a chore but someone has to help Rain stand naked, wet and slippery in the shower.” He winked at her.

Laurent growled at him and he only laughed harder. “I’ll do it. I can control myself, for heaven’s sake. No one else is going to be handling Rain in the shower. You have no idea how sexy she looks all wet and covered in soap bubbles,” he said, eyes glazing over at the memory.

Rain rolled her eyes and snorted. “Whatever! Whoever it is, help me into the bathroom and then leave for a few moments while I do my business. Then you may come back in and stand guard outside the stall. Laurent, if it is you, you can scrub my back and help with my hair,” she said softly, cocking her head. Lauren went to her, bumping Skye out of the way and letting her take his arm.

Once she’d gone to the bathroom, he made her sit while he heated the water and laid out towels and a fresh change of clothes for her. Stripping down, he moved to help her out of her gown and panties and into the shower stall.

The shower was harder than he’d thought it would be. Hell,
he
was harder than he’d thought he would be. His relief at her recovery made him desperate to be inside her. He wanted to be close to her like that, to have their special bond reaffirmed. She was alive and unharmed and she’d survived the ordeal. On top of that she was wet, nubile and the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

Gritting his teeth, he stepped out and grabbed a towel to help her dry off. He bent to dry her legs and his cheek brushed her nipple. The scent of her body, the feel of that taut peak against his skin, made him groan in frustration.

“Laurent,” she gasped.

“No, baby! You heard Emma. We can’t. Tomorrow though, all bets are off.” He helped her pull on a robe and picked her up. “I’m going to carry you back to the cabin. I’m sure Anna has been down there already.”

And she had of course. Steaming mugs of tea and broth waited on a tray and Anna had set up a little nest for Rain in their bed. Laurent smiled at her thoughtfulness.

“Are you mad at me?” Laurent whispered as Rain slowly sipped her broth.

“For not making love to me against doctor’s orders? No, silly, why would you think that?” She laughed.

“No, about the bite. You screamed at me to help you but I didn’t.” He hung his head.

She moved the tray aside and turned to him, taking his face in her hands and tilting it to see his eyes. “No. I was out of my head with the pain. It was horrible. I was terrified. The logical part of me knew that it had to be done and I’d be okay. It’s just that my terror took over. I’m sorry I made you feel bad,” she whispered and pulled him to her.

“Don’t apologize. My god, you let yourself get torn open by a wolf for me. You trusted me. What a beautiful gift. Rain!” he exclaimed as she wormed her hand into the waistband of his pants and grabbed his cock.

“I’ll be on top. We can be gentle,” she said and he shuddered with repressed desire.

He moved her hand reluctantly. “No. We can wait.”

She rubbed herself over him like a cat. Her robe was open so the press of her nipples against him, even through the material of his shirt was like a brand.

“I don’t want to wait. I want you right now,” she purred and set off his glands like fireworks. He grabbed her and set her away from him and he re-closed the front of her robe.

“Eat and stop tempting me!” he said gruffly. “Siren.” He growled and she winked at him. She loved his growls.

“Fine. Reject me then.” She sighed dramatically and he snorted but put the mug of broth back in her hand.

“Drama queen.”

“I should call Harrison to check up on things. It’s been several days,” she said as she finished and he took the tray into the kitchen.