Chapter 16

 

Nicholas moved quietly through the trees. Max was standing a few feet away from him next to a fallen tree and he watched as a large rock rose in the air in front of her. He crept closer until he was standing directly behind her.

“Don’t do that.” Max frowned when she felt the hot breath of Nicky on the sensitive skin of her neck. The rock hovering in front of her fell to the ground with a loud thump.

“Don’t do what?” Nicky stepped closer and she stiffened when his arm slid around her waist. He gripped her hip firmly and pressed his growing erection against her ass.

“Stop it!” She said sharply. “You’re distracting me.”

“That’s the point, Max.” He said as he cupped her breast and squeezed it. “Keep going.”

“I can’t!” She hissed.

“No?” He squeezed her chin and turned her head to show her the rocks that were slowly rising and spinning in front of them.

She moaned with dismay and Nicky kissed her cheek lightly. “Don’t fight it.”

“I can’t do this.” She whispered.

“You can.”

“I can’t. Not with you touching me. It – it makes it harder.” She muttered.

Nicky laughed quietly. “My touch does seem to make your powers increase, does it not?”

She flushed but nodded her agreement. “That’s why you need to stop.”

“Actually, is it not better for me to keep going? If my touch makes it more difficult, than this is the perfect way for you to practice. You need to learn to control it when you’re frightened, or surprised, or, “he paused and then licked her neck, “aroused.”

His left hand joined his right in squeezing and cupping her breasts and she moaned as a branch from small tree to their right cracked loudly.

“Control it, Max. Concentrate.” Nicky demanded.

“I’m trying!” She snapped. His thumbs were circling her nipples and she tried to think past the pleasure and focus on the power she could feel rippling through her. She stared at the rocks that were hovering in front of them, and Nicky watched as three of them rose higher than the others and moved to the right. The other rocks fell to the ground with a soft thud and Max made a low grunt of concentration. Nicky could feel the hum of power from Max brush through him, and the rock in the middle rose a few feet higher while the other two continued to hover where they were.

“Good.” He whispered. He suddenly pinched her nipples and then yanked her to the ground when the rock flew towards them. It just missed their heads and it, and the other two fell to the ground as Max gave Nicky a stricken look.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” He said soothingly. He rolled her on to her back and brushed his hand across her cheek. “You’re doing very well.”

“I just about brained the both of us with a rock.” She muttered discouragingly.

“Keep trying.” He pulled her to her feet and turned her around. “Go on, Max.”

Max shivered when he rubbed his erection against her ass before unbuttoning her jacket. His hands cupped her breasts through her shirt and she sighed with need. “Nicky, I – “

“I want you so badly, Max.” Nicky interrupted hoarsely. “It’s driving me crazy that you can resist me so easily.”

“It’s not easy.” She muttered.

“Is it not?” He unbuttoned her shirt and she gasped when the cold air hit her naked breasts.

“No.” She moaned lightly. She arched her back into his warm hands as the rocks began to hover again.

He tugged and pulled at her nipples until they were dark red and throbbing. She made another soft groan of need when he slipped his hand down the front of her pants. He cupped her pussy and bit her neck gently when he felt the wetness that coated her.

“Nicky, wait.” She whispered.

He gave a harsh grunt of frustration and pulled his hand out from her pants. He took a step back and she turned to look at him. He was glaring at her, his face a mixture of need and disappointment, and she gave him a hesitant smile.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe if I can learn to control my powers when you’re touching me, it’ll be easier to – to use them when I’m um, frightened.”

His nostrils flared and he stepped closer. “I think it’s worth trying.”

She laughed nervously. “Aye, I suppose you do. But Nicky, I’m only doing this because it might help me with my uh, powers. Do you understand? When all of this is over, we need to go back to the way things were. I need to concentrate on Violet and – and finding her a good dad, someone who’s interested in settling down. Okay?”

He nodded as he pressed his body against hers and reached around to squeeze her ass. “Aye, I understand.”

He pulled her jacket off her body and placed it on the fallen tree. “Do you understand what I want, Max?”

“You want to fuck me.” She whispered.

“That’s right. I do.” He murmured. “I need to be inside of you. You have no idea how badly I need that. Once we start, there will be no stopping, no changing your mind or worrying about what will happen.”

He leaned forward and licked her trembling lips. “I’m going to fuck you hard and fast, and you’re going to control your powers when you come.”

His hot words sent a sharp stab of desire through her pelvis and she nodded as he reached for the button on her pants. He tugged her pants and her underwear to her knees before lifting her and sitting her on her jacket. He yanked her clothing from one leg and let it dangle from the other before stepping between her parted legs.

The fallen tree was the perfect height and she moaned when his fabric-covered erection pressed against her naked core. The air was cold but her desire and Nicky’s body heat drove the chill away.

He reached between them and unbuttoned his pants before tugging his cock free through the opening. She stared wide-eyed at it before he grabbed her naked hips and pulled her closer. The head of his cock rubbed against her clit and she moaned as rocks rose in the air around them.

“So wet already, Max.” He whispered teasingly.

He dipped his head and sucked on one throbbing nipple. His mouth was deliciously hot and wet and she arched her back, threading her fingers through his short hair. He rubbed his thick beard across her nipple and she moaned loudly.

“Be quiet, Max.” He whispered into her ear. “Do you want the others to hear?”

She shook her head as he grabbed her thighs and pulled them apart. He glanced at the rocks spinning crazily around them. “Concentrate, Max.”

“I am.” She groaned.

“You’re not.” He said firmly. He guided his cock to her wet entrance and pushed his cock deep inside of her warmth.

Max cried out and he ducked as a rock went flying past his head.

“Max!” He said sharply. “Open your eyes.”

Her eyelids fluttered open and she gave him a pleading look. “Please, Nicky.”

“Not yet. Concentrate first.” He said hoarsely.

“I’m trying!” She gave him a look that was bordering on a pout and he shook his head.

“Try harder. I’ll stop if you don’t.”

He was lying. He couldn’t stop even if the whole damn forest came crashing down around their heads. Max was wet and tight, and her pussy kept making tiny rippling squeezes around him that were nearly enough to make him come. His entire body was screaming at him to move and he ducked again as another rock went whizzing past his head.

“Max, I’m not moving until you control it.” He said through gritted teeth.

She moaned with need and frustration and stared grimly at the rocks. After a moment, the stones fell to the snow with a soft thump and he thrust into her. She gasped and clung to him as he cupped her breast and rubbed her nipple with his thumb.

They kissed hotly, their tongues sliding and licking as Nicky plunged in and out of her. “You feel so good, Max.”

She bit his bottom lip and he growled deep in his throat as his eyes turned a dark yellow. Around them the trees were bending and swaying and the fallen tree shifted beneath her. She jerked, her pussy tightening around him, and he groaned loudly before thrusting back and forth rapidly.

“Oh, oh, oh…” She repeated breathlessly. A branch fell from the tree closest to them and she made another soft moan as Nicky reached between them.

He rubbed her wet clit, pinching and tugging it lightly, and she made a breathless cry of need as her fingers dug into his broad shoulders. “Nicky, I – “

She stopped and arched her back as her pussy squeezed him roughly. He clamped his hand over her mouth as her orgasm rushed through her and she screamed. He thrust into her and, as a tree next to them tore free from the ground with a loud, splintering moan and crashed to the ground, he came deeply inside of her.

The log she was sitting on cracked in two and they spilled to the ground. He landed on her with a heavy thud and she winced as the cold snow touched her bare ass and legs. Branches, heavy with snow, continued to fall around them and he touched her face gingerly.

“Max? Are you alright?”

She nodded. “Aye. My ass is freezing.”

He snorted laughter and pulled out of her before standing and helping her to her feet. Standing awkwardly on one foot, she pulled her pants and underwear back over her boot and up her legs as Nicky buttoned his own pants.

He snagged her jacket from the snow and handed it to her as she buttoned her shirt.

She stared around them. The log had cracked in half and the ground was littered with branches. The tree that had uprooted lay on the ground, and she sighed loudly.

“What’s wrong?” Nicky took her hand and squeezed it lightly.

She gave him a wry smile. “I didn’t handle my powers very well.”

He shook his head and pulled her into his embrace. “You’re wrong, Max. You did very well.”

She snorted. “Have you looked around us, Nicky?”

“Aye. But considering that the last time I made you come, you nearly killed us both, I’d say this is an improvement.” He winked at her and she blushed.

“Besides,” he bent his head and nuzzled her throat, “we can keep practicing until you have full control.”

She shivered and gave him an earnest look. “Did you – did you enjoy it, Nicky?”

A broad grin crossed his face. “Aye, very much, Max. Although I would have preferred to have you in a warm, soft bed where I could take my time.”

She swallowed thickly as he buttoned her jacket. “We should get back to the others before they come looking for us. I’m surprised they didn’t come running when the tree fell over.”

She nodded and he took her hand, leading her back to the campsite.

* * *

 

“What happened out there?” Nina left the campfire and came running up to Max. She took her hand and scanned her face anxiously. “Are you alright?”

“Aye, I’m fine.” Max cleared her throat nervously. “I was just practicing.”

Pavina joined them and she frowned before inhaling deeply. She stared first at Max and then at Nicky and a look of disappointment flickered across her face. Max blushed furiously as Nicky walked to Doran and Andric and grins crossed both of the Lycan’s faces. Doran winked at her and she blushed again as Pavina sighed loudly.

“Well, there goes my chance.”

Nina frowned at her. “What are you talking about, Pavina?”

Pavina shrugged. “Max and Nicholas had – “

“Hold your tongue, Pavina!” Max said sharply. She grabbed Nina’s arm and tugged her to the campfire. “Stay close to the fire, Nina. It’s cold out tonight.”

She sat on the blanket next to Nina, as Meridan crouched down beside her.

“Do you know what you’re doing, Max?” He asked in a low voice.

“Aye.”

“Are you sure? Emmett will not be happy when he finds out you are sleeping with his son. You know how he feels about humans.”

“I don’t care.” She muttered. “Besides, I only do it as a way to help me practice controlling my powers.”

Meridan snorted softly. “Is that why?”

“Aye.” She said shortly. “Although who I choose to spend my time with is none of your business, Meridan.”

He gave her a hurt look. “I don’t want you getting hurt, Max. Nicky seems like a decent Lycan but you must remember who his father is.”

“He is nothing like Emmett!” Max said in a fierce little mutter.

“Perhaps not.” Meridan said quietly as Ryker approached Nicholas and the others.

“We are getting low on supplies. There is a town not far from here called Morden. We can stop there, pick up some supplies and spend the night. Sleep in a real bed.” He rubbed his hand along his bald skull.

“Morden is no place for them.” Andric glanced at Nina and Max.

“It’s fine.” Ryker said impatiently. “I have been to Morden many times.”

“Aye, as have I.” Andric replied evenly. “It is full of nothing but thieves and murderers.”

“And which are you, then?” Ryker asked. “A murderer or a thief?”

Andric made a low growl and Nicky rested his hand on his arm. “Easy, cousin. Do not let him get to you.”

“We have no choice.” Ryker said. “We cannot make it to the leech’s colony on the supplies we have left. Besides, we do not even know where exactly the colony is. Someone in Morden will know.”

Nicholas glanced at Andric and Doran. “He is right. We need to stop there. Perhaps we could leave Nina and Max with Meridan and Pavina just outside of the town.”

Ryker sighed. “We are not leaving our weapon behind. We may need her in Morden.”

“Your desire to use a woman to protect yourself leaves me wondering how much of a coward you really are, Ryker.” Nicky said softly.

Ryker bristled. “I am no coward, Nicholas.”

His hand drifted to his sword and caressed it lightly. “Believe me when I say I am more capable of bloodshed then you can imagine. Push me again and you’ll find out for yourself.”

Doran shook his head. “The gods be damned! Perhaps the two of you should just pull out your dicks and do a size measure right now.”

Andric snorted laughter as both Nicholas and Ryker flushed.

“I get that the two of you hate each other but frankly, I don’t care. It’s getting tiring.” Doran said testily. “You both want the same thing – to save Nicholas’ birth father. The sooner we do that, the sooner the two of you can part ways.”

Nicholas studied his cousin carefully. It wasn’t like Doran to be so short-tempered and as Ryker stalked away, Nicky squeezed Doran’s shoulder.

“Are you alright, cousin?”

“Aye.” Doran rubbed his forehead wearily. “I am fine, Nicky. Just tired and anxious to return home.”

Nicholas gave him a guilty look. “I am sorry, Doran. I should not have asked – “

“You didn’t.” Doran interrupted him. “I volunteered, remember? Do not trouble yourself, cousin. I’ll be fine.”

He turned to Andric. “How much further to Morden?”

“If we leave early tomorrow morning, half a day’s ride. We could find lodging there for the night.” Andric replied.

“Aye, it will be good to sleep in a bed again.” Doran rubbed his neck before glancing at Nicholas. “Although I do not think you’ll be using your bed for sleep.”

Andric snorted softly and Nicholas shrugged. “I told you the ladies love me.”

He glanced behind him at Max. She was sitting on a blanket next to Nina and staring into the fire. Already he wanted her again. Their time in the forest had been way too brief, and he was anxious to find a soft bed in which to take her properly. He could strip her naked and spend hours touching and exploring her warm body.

Doran gave him a thoughtful look. “You need to be careful, Nicky.”

“Aye, I know.”

“Max isn’t like other women.” Doran persisted. “She’s not the love them and leave them type and I’d hate to see what she would do to you with those powers of hers, if you make her angry.”

Nicky shook his head. “I’m not going to make her angry. Besides, she agreed to it only as a way to help control her powers, not because she has any type of feelings for me.”

“Is that right?” Doran glanced at Andric who shrugged lightly.

“Aye, it is.” Nicholas said briefly. He glanced at Max once more. “Good night, cousins.”

“It is still early.” Doran frowned.

“Aye, but I am on watch with Meridan later.” Nicky disappeared into his tent.