More Wicked Alphas, Wilder Nights: Sizzling Collection of Paranormal Romance (Wicked Alphas, Wild Nights Book 5) (22 page)

Marcus Kane is the first of twelve. Dragon-born in the sign of Taurus, he carries all the traits of the bull — the good and the bad. He's strong-willed, unbreakable. Deadly on land and in the sky, but when Marcus falls in love, he falls hard. He wasn't meant to fall for the wolf, Abrial. His only job was to protect those he loves. Abrial is Alpha-born. The daughter of the Bloodstone's pack Alpha, she will stop at nothing to defend what's hers, and she'll break all the rules to do it. But when a rival pack moves in ready to spill blood, Abrial comes up against an enemy deadlier than she understands. So she turns to a stranger for help — a man who drove into a tree to save her. A man who smells like danger, but looks at her with fire in his eyes. Marcus Kane.

Save her pack…find her sister. That’s all Abrial wants, until she’s thrown head-first into a dangerous battle with a double-crossing Beta Wolf to a rival pack. The second-in command has what Abrial wants, her sister—and Abrial will do the unthinkable to get her family back. Marcus Kane is the first in line of twelve, immortal dragons. Once called, The Bloodletter — a vicious, deadly warrior born to protect the weak…He’s now forgotten and weak. He’s lost connection with the one thing he was born to be — the mighty red dragon, and now he, and his family are dying…Until a wolf crosses his path. Can Abrial force his petrified heart to beat once more? Can he save her from enslavement and help her find her family? Can they find moments of perfection in a cruel world where only the strong survive? Turn the page and find out…

“I know who you are,” she whispered. “My mother used to tell us stories about you. The Bloodletter she called you. You represent each sign of the Zodiac, you below to all creatures and we, in turn, belong to you. The elders told us that the Guardians were so terrifying they killed every vampire, every warlock, and every demon. I was terrified of you once.”

My stomach trembled, still I had to know. “And now?”

“I don’t think you’re a Bloodletter at all.” Her hand passed in front of my face. Fingers probed the tender bone where my horns sprout. “I think you’re the most beautiful being I’ve ever seen.”

“I’m broken. I’m weak.”

She shook her head. “Not in my eyes.”

My throat thickened as a battle raged in her eyes. Something was tearing this woman apart, some secret she wouldn’t share.
Not yet anyway.

This time it was me who stepped away. “Then let’s go and get Maddy and this special baby of hers. I could do with a few more strong, independent, stubborn-as-hell women to scream at me.”

The sound of her chuckle made me soar. “Thank the Goddess for that. I guess you won’t be disappointed then.”

I glanced down at the dark blotches on my shirt. I reached for the buttons. “I might not act like the Bloodletter, but right now I sure look like him. Let me put on a clean shirt and we’ll go. Your jeans are okay, but your shirts a damn mess. Let me grab something from my closet.”

I strode across the room to the open closet door as my fingers worked the buttons of my shirt. I scanned clothes lining one side of the room as I dropped my shirt to the floor. I turned at the soft sound of boots scuffing the floor.  I waited, heart in my throat, as she stepped into the doorway.

Most of my shirts were too big for her. I grabbed a black singlet that might come close to fitting and held it out to her. “My shirts will be too big, but at least you can wear this underneath.”

“Thank you.”

She turned and dragged the ripped singlet over her head. Her skin was perfect, not a scratch, or a blemish. I exhaled hard, mesmerized by her movements as she shrugged into my singlet—the damn thing looked a thousand times better on her.

Abrial turned to face me. Her gaze trailed my chest and arms. I turned, giving her what she wanted. Electricity filled the air. Goosebumps spread across my arms, a breath on the back of my neck urged me forward. The need in her eyes impaled me. I could force her, one slow kiss, one flick of my tongue.

No.

Not like that.

Not until she’s ready.

 Show her
, my dragon whispered.
Show her how much we want her.

My gaze lingered on her lips. My skin itched with desire. I dropped the shirt to the floor then reached for my stomach.

I slid my hand over the hard curve of my chest riding the rise and fall of each harsh breath.

The faint earthy scent of desire filled me. My nipples puckered, sending a hard throb along my cock. My body shuddered until my belly turned weak and I hungered for her touch. Her hesitant gaze never wavered, following my hand as I edged along my stomach. “Talk to me. Tell me what you want.”

She flinched, parting her lips. Fear carved a piece of my heart as I waited.
She doesn’t want me.
An ache bloomed in the back of my throat.

I caught her inhale as she dropped her gaze. Her tongue peeked out to slide across her lips. “You have blood… on your pants.”

My mind raced, searching for the connection until I made the only possible conclusion. “Then I’d better change those, too.”

Her slow nod had my fingers fumbling with my belt buckle. I shoved the zipper open, then hooked my thumbs under my boxers and slid them to the floor. Something fluttered in my stomach as she swept her gaze along my legs, to my thighs, and lingered.

My damn fingers trembled as I dropped my hand. My nails scraped my thigh as I cupped my balls. The skin tightened, sending a current through my shaft, and those wings inside my belly took flight.

The hitch in her breath and the tremble of her lips absorbed me. Her fingers twitched as I imprisoned my shaft and worked the length all the way to the head. Her nipples hardened under the soft fabric. Tiny beads crested the soft fabric with her rushed breaths. Inside my head soft, yielding flesh replaced my calloused grip. This would be hers, all of me—every single drop. All she had to do was take.

The primitive tug of my cock paled beside the longing of my heart. I uncurled my fingers and felt that primal need rise in my groin. One slow thrust gathered the skin at the head as I pistoned through my fingers.

A low moan tore from her lips. Her feet shuffled. She moved closer and whispered. “Harder.”

The engorged muscle pulsed. I drove my fist to the base again until sweat dripped down my shoulders. I licked my lips and tasted salt.

The devil danced in her eyes. “Harder.”  

Those lips were cruel, glistening with need, and yet all I felt was the slap of my own skin. I clenched my ass trying to stave the need to rut like a beast. But weakness forced my hand. I mapped every step, every pulsing nerve in her eye as she moved closer. The brush of her shirt against the tip yanked a whimper from my chest.

I hissed as her fingers followed mine, up and down. Smooth replaced hard and I drowned in those emerald pools.
Take me
. I pinned my lip with my teeth and tasted blood.

I pulsed as she sank to her knees, sliding the end of my cock along her belly, then between the valley of her breasts. She captured me and held me prisoner. My flesh slid along the ridge of her throat and climbed.

“Harder.”

The vibration of her voice tore along the rigid flesh and my cock pulsed. The taut skin of her jaw glistened under the slick trail. My hand fell away, fingers brushed the side of her head as I crested those perfect lips.

I exhaled on a shudder as her mouth tightened. I plunged my fingers into her hair and thrust into her mouth. Her tongue followed the vein all the way to the base. I ground my teeth, holding onto the last threads of resolve as she pushed deeper.

I closed my eyes and dropped my head backwards as I probed the back of her throat. I thrust my hips. I couldn’t stop. She closed her fist around the shaft and followed the glide of her lips as I pulled out.

I pressed my hand against her head, forcing her to take more as I plunged, one thrust after another, until I lost myself to the feel of her mouth and the scent of her desire.

I wrenched open my eyes and buried myself deep as the urgency surged and broke the river inside me. Her teeth grazed my skin as she swallowed. I dropped my hand from her head and shoved aside the shirts to clasp the railing.

Stars floated in the room and my knees grew weak. The cool air licked the heat of my softening shaft as I slid from her mouth.

“I’ll need to remember to get blood on my clothes in the future.” I grasped her arms and lifted, claiming her mouth with mine as she rose. She tasted of sea and sex—our sex. I’d never savored anything as good. The need to breathe broke the connection. “One day soon, I’ll be returning the favor.”

A smile tugged the corners of her mouth. “I’ll look forward to that, but right now, we have a pack to save.”

She stepped away and I followed, crossing the dressing room to the bedroom door. Then it hit me. I lunged forward, ready to take her in my arms, as she gripped the handle and yanked the door open.

All eleven of my family waited for her. One glance and I saw relief in their eyes. Even Xael gave the wolf one nod and snapped. “Glad to see you’re alive. Can’t stand to see the sight of a grown man weeping.”

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Abrial’s cheeks reddened and she dropped her gaze. “Thank you. I want to thank all of you. I know the circumstances of our meeting haven’t been the best. But, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Victor stepped closer taking the wolf in his arms, towering over her. “You’re welcome to stay for as long as you need, you and your pack.”

I narrowed my gaze, searching every face. “You guys were listening, huh?”

“It was a bit hard not to.” Isaiah chuckled.

The twinkle in his eye and the tight curve of his lips said it all. I stepped past and ruffled his long blond hair—even the lion hated the thought of living without someone to care for, someone to love.

I turned, watching as each of my brothers and my sister nodded in acceptance. And in this moment I floated, tethered by the swell of my chest and the hope that we could be more than a faded children’s story. The hallway lights sparkled, blurring into one through a tear, as Abrial gave Victor one last squeeze and headed for the stairs.

Victor’s stride matched mine. “I’ll take the Jeep. You get Zadoc to follow me.”

Abrial raced ahead, stalling at the bottom of the stairs before I called. “Turn right. The garage door’s straight ahead.”

I let her take the lead, falling back to whisper. “I want you to be careful. Something doesn’t feel right. If anything goes wrong, I want you to protect Abrial. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

Victor’s voice never wavered, still the knot in my belly wound tight. I hit the last stair as the slam of a car door tore through the air. I’d take her to find her pack and bring her home, whatever the cost.

My inner dragon fixed his sight on her as I strode through the garage door and hit the button. She turned her head when I yanked open the driver’s door.

Through the dark canopy behind us the sun fought through the trees. Abrial jerked her head, staring over her shoulder. She breathed one long sigh of relief as I shoved the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway, then nosed the car forward and down the drive, catching sight of my brothers following behind us.

“For a second there I didn’t think I’d see this.”

I glanced across the console.

Her focus was straight ahead, focused and intent as she finished. “I didn’t think I’d see today.”

The words stuck in my throat, until I forced them free. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.”

“I appreciate you taking us in like this. Maddy’s going to love it here. Odessa, too. You’ll love her. She’s strange and wonderful all at the same time.”

I reached across and gave her hand a squeeze. “I think you’ll fit in beautifully.”

“Just until we’re rested.”

I nodded and wound the car toward the gate. I hit the button and the gate clunked. In my mind I was searching for reasons to make her stay. I’d take anything.

I rolled the car forward, punching the button before yanking the wheel hard and finding the asphalt once more. Abrial leaned her head against the window, her steady breaths were quiet and soothing. I stole glances. She looked so fragile sitting there. Her breathing deepened. I risked a brush of her hair, running the crimson strands through my fingers.

I wanted to drive forever, listening to her softly snore. But only she knew where the track was that would lead us to her pack.

I reached over and brushed her arm. “Abrial, you need to wake up.”

She jerked awake, glanced around the car, and settled on me. “I’m sorry. How long was I out for?”

I glanced at the clock. “Ten, fifteen minutes.”

She scanned the trees, and searched the horizon. “I think it’s just up ahead. You might want to slow down.”

I slowed, catching sight of an opening in the trees. The front wheels hit the gravel, pinging against the belly of the SUV.

Abrial leaned forward and scanned the track. “It’ll be slow going for a while, but this will take us close to the pack.”

I countered a hole, slowing the car and easing the wheel to follow the trail as Abrial rolled down the window and inhaled the frigid air. We left the fire-trail behind and carved our own track through the woods, skirting fallen trees and inching over rocky mounds, heading deeper into the forest. The seconds felt like hours, I kept the Jeep steady, watching the rear view mirror for Zadoc’s dark blue four-wheel drive behind me. “Keep going. I think we’re almost there. When we get there, I want you to stay in the car, okay? It’s going to get… complicated.”

The orange flames of an open fire flickered through the crowded trees. I slowed the car, pulling to a stop. “You sure you don’t want me to come?”

She never looked at me, only stared out of the window. “No, it’ll only make things worse. The most important thing is for Maddy and her baby to be safe. That’s all I care about right now.”