Chapter 17

 

“You look tired, Abby,” Reese said as she set a cup of tea in front of her.

“I spent most of the night arguing with Val,” Abby replied. “And I didn’t sleep well after we went to bed.”

“Are you still going to the village with us?” Sara asked.

“Yes,” Abby said. “Val’s unhappy about it but I need a sword. I can’t defend myself without one.”

She studied Sara closely. “Are you sure you want to go, Sara? I can bring you back some clothing.”

“No, I want to go,” Sara said.

“You’re not planning on staying in the village are you?” Abby asked hesitantly.

“Why would I?”

Abby glanced at Reese who shrugged. “To find a human mate.”

Sara shook her head. “I have no desire to find a mate.”

She shifted in her chair, trying not to wince. Her thighs were sore and there was a lingering ache in her pelvis despite her hot bath this morning. Radek had been gone when she woke this morning and she had not seen him all day. She was trying not to take it personally but she had spent most of the day feeling sorry for herself.

Stop it, Sara. Radek offered to teach you how to please a man in bed and he has done so. His wolf wanted you and it got what it wanted. You can’t honestly be surprised that he doesn’t want more.

“Sara, what’s wrong?” Reese asked kindly.

“Nothing. I am just a little tired, as well. And cold. I will be very happy to buy some warmer clothing,” Sara replied.

The door opened and Kane entered the cabin in a swirl of cold wind. He was completely naked and Abby and Sara hastily averted their eyes as Reese grinned at him. “My love, we have company.”

He shifted to his wolf form and trotted into the bedroom as Reese smiled at Sara and Abby. “Sorry. They were out hunting and he doesn’t bring a change of clothes with him. The shifters have a remarkable lack of modesty when it comes to nudity.”

Abby laughed. “I thought vampires were exhibitionists but shifters put them to shame.”

She gave Reese a saucy grin. “There’s no polite way to say this but Kane has the biggest dick I’ve ever seen. I don’t know whether to say congratulations or give you my sympathy.”

Reese laughed. “The first time I saw it my jaw dropped to the ground, I swear to God.”

“Are all shifters that well-endowed?”

Reese nodded. “Not that I go around studying them in-depth but yeah, I think so. Kane’s particularly big but I think they’re all blessed in that department. I’m seriously happy I wasn’t a virgin when I met Kane. It hurt enough with a normal-sized penis, I couldn’t imagine how it would have felt with a shifter.”

“It isn’t that bad,” Sara said distractedly as she swirled the tea in her cup. “It was painful but it didn’t…”

She trailed off, her eyes widening and her cheeks going red as she realized what she said. She stared nervously at Abby and Reese as the two women glanced at each other.

“Sara, did you sleep with Davin?” Abby asked.

Sara bit at her bottom lip, “Uh…”

“Radek.” Reese said.

“Oh, Sara, you didn’t,” Abby said softly. She reached out and took Sara’s hand. “Honey, having sex with Radek is a terrible idea. I know you’re attracted to him but – “

The bedroom door opened and Kane emerged wearing a loose cotton pair of pants. He headed toward them, leaning down and kissing Reese before smiling at her. “Our hunt went very well.”

“Good,” Reese replied.

“Aye, it was – “

Kane stopped and inhaled deeply before turning to stare at Sara. Her flush deepened at the look on his face and he sighed wearily. “You have mated with Radek.”

“Kane,” Reese said, “you can’t just blurt that out. It’s something private between Sara and Radek.”

Kane shrugged. “She is covered in Radek’s scent. It is impossible to keep it private.”

“Perhaps, but bringing it up in mixed company isn’t polite,” Reese replied.

“Humans are so strange,” Kane said before leaning against the short counter. “Was he gentle, young one?”

Sara’s face was so red, Abby thought she was going to have a stroke. She squeezed her hand gently as Reese poked Kane in the stomach. “That’s none of your business, Kane.”

Sara shook free of Abby’s grip and stood up. “I should go. It’s almost dinner and I told Anna I would cook the meat for her. The smell of it makes her sick.”

She hurried from the cabin as Reese frowned at Kane. “My love, you really shouldn’t embarrass Sara like that.”

“I did not mean to,” Kane said. “If Radek was not gentle with her, it is my duty as alpha to speak with him about it.”

“He’s lucky I don’t have my sword,” Abby said quietly. “Sara is sweet and innocent and he shouldn’t be playing with her like this. If what you say is true, that it is only his wolf who wants her, then he’s going to break her heart. She likes him – I don’t care what she says – it’s obvious.”

“I think Radek likes her too,” Reese said. “I don’t believe he’ll intentionally hurt her, Abby. He’s been acting so strange since he met her and I think she’s starting to change his perception about humans.”

“Perhaps,” Kane said. “But it may be better if the young one finds a human male in the village.”

“She says she doesn’t want one,” Reese said. “We can’t force her to find a husband.”

“I should allow young Davin to join us instead of Radek. He would be a better mate for Sara.”

“Would he?” Reese asked skeptically. “I am not so sure of that. Besides, you know Radek will just disobey you if you tell him he cannot go. He may not love Sara yet but he is adamant about protecting her.”

“Aye, you are right,” Kane replied.

“As always,” Reese winked at him and he rolled his eyes before heading back to the bedroom.

Abby stared worriedly at Reese. Reese took her hand and squeezed it firmly. “He won’t hurt her, Abby. I promise you.”

“I hope you’re right, Reese. I really do,” Abby replied.

 

* * *

 

Radek trotted toward his cabin. He shifted to his human form and stepped into the warmth. He had spent most of the day roaming the woods. He had heard Kane howling for him to join the hunt but he had ignored it. If he went near his alpha, Kane would smell Sara on him and he wasn’t up to explaining why he had mated with her.

He rubbed at his forehead. He had slipped out of the bed early this morning, ignoring his wolf’s demands to take Sara again. He had thought his wolf would be sated but its need was even more voracious and he had spent most of the day trying to drown out its clamouring to find Sara and bed her.

“Hello, Radek.”

His head jerked up and he stared at Kavine. She was standing naked by the fire and she gave him a slow smile as she walked toward him.

“It’s so warm in your cabin, Radek. How do you stand it?” She asked as she cupped one breast.

“What are you doing here, Kavine?”

“What do you think?” She said teasingly. “I am tired of being denied, Radek. I know you want me and I – “

She suddenly inhaled deeply as shock crossed her face. She growled loudly, baring her fangs at him. “I can smell her all over you.”

“Leave, Kavine,” he said firmly. “For the last time – I have no desire to mate with you.”

“I can’t believe you mated with that skinny human,” Kavine said as hurt crossed her face. “Why would you do that? You know I love you.”

“I don’t love you,” he said. “Why can you not accept that?”

“Because you are mine!” She shouted. “I will kill the human for marking you with her filthy scent!”

He grabbed her arm. “Go anywhere near Sara and you will regret it. Do you hear me, Kavine?”

“You’re hurting me,” she snapped.

He squeezed her arm before relaxing his grip. “Stay away from Sara. I will do far worse to you if you harm her.”

Her face paled and she swallowed compulsively. “You would not hurt a member of your pack, Radek.”

“Would I not? Go near Sara and find out, Kavine.”

She made a low whine of submission. “I – I did not mean that, Radek. I am just angry and upset.”

He released her and took a step back as tears welled up in her eyes. “Will you take her as your mate? Is that it, Radek? You would mate with a human after what they did to you?”

“Get out, Kavine,” he said. “Get out of my sight and stay away from Sara.”

She wiped the tears from her face angrily. “Fine, Radek. I no longer want you anyway, now that you have mated with the filthy human.”

He stared impassively at her and she growled again before flinging open the door to his cabin. She shifted to her wolf form and loped away and he sighed and shut the door against the cold.

Find our mate, his wolf snarled. I need her.

He ignored its demand and added more wood to the fire before heading to his bedroom to dress.

 

* * *

 

“Did my brother bite you?”

Sara gave Raina a startled look before glancing at the others sitting around them.

“Hush, Raina.”

“Why? Everyone here knows you mated with him,” the teenager said cheerfully. “Shifters can smell it, you know.”

“Yes, I know,” Sara said under her breath. “But I prefer to keep my private life private.”

Raina shrugged but lowered her voice. “Did he bite you?”

“Of course not,” Sara said. “Why would you ask that?”

“He likes you.”

“Not that much.”

“Enough to mate with you despite what the humans did to him,” Raina said.

She stared silently at the fire before putting her arm around Sara. “I am glad you and Radek are getting along, Sara. I hope he does claim you as his mate. I would like to have you as a sister.”

“Thank you, Raina, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Sara said.

“Why not?” Raina glanced at her brother. He was sitting with Asher and Maria and had ignored both Raina and Sara the entire night.

“I think it was, uh, a one-time thing between your brother and me,” Sara said. She wasn’t about to get into the details of her “lesson” with Radek but she didn’t want the girl getting her hopes up.

“Oh,” Raina said. “I guess I am not surprised. It would be very odd for Radek to want to claim a human as his mate. I imagine he just wanted to know what it was like to mate with a human and will find a shifter to claim.”

“Yes, probably,” Sara said as jealousy filled her slender body.

She studied Kavine. The female shifter hadn’t gone near Radek once since they had gathered for their evening meal and had sent a few venomous glares her way. Radek had told her that female shifters marked their mates with their scent and she was fairly certain Kavine could smell her on Radek. The thought filled her with a ridiculously smug sense of pride and she cursed herself for her foolishness. Even if she had marked Radek, her scent would fade soon enough and Raina was right – he would find a female shifter to claim. She just hoped it wouldn’t be Kavine.

Kane, sitting with Reese and Abby and Val, stood and the shifters quieted down.

“It is time to retire, my brothers and sisters. The wind is a cold one and there are a few of us who have an early morning. Remember, Theran is in charge while I am gone. Be safe and watch out for each other.”

Sara stood and took Raina’s hand. They walked toward the cabin as Radek joined them. “Promise me you will be careful, Radek,” Raina said before grasping his hand.

“Aye, I will, Raina. I will bring you back something from the human village.” Radek squeezed her hand before opening the door.

“I would like that,” Raina said. “Come, the two of you must sit with me for a while. I will miss you both terribly when you’re gone.”

She sat in front of the fire and without looking at Sara, Radek joined her. Sara glanced at her bedroom before sitting down next to Raina. She wanted to go to bed and get away from Radek before she did or said something foolish to him. But Raina was holding her hand and giving her a pleased smile and she couldn’t bring herself to disappoint the teenager.

 

* * *

 

“Raina,” Radek said nearly half an hour later. “It’s time for bed.”

Raina laughed. “I am not a child, Radek.”

“Aye, I know, but we are getting up early tomorrow and Sara will need as much rest as possible. It is a long and cold journey.”

“You are right,” Raina said. “I did not think of that. Forgive me, Sara.”

“It’s fine, honey.” Sara tried to smile at her. She wondered if she was the only one feeling the tension in the room. She had spent the last half-hour trying not to remember how it had felt to have Radek between her thighs and failing miserably. She wanted him badly and she didn’t know how much longer she could sit in the same room without throwing herself at him.

Don’t be so foolish, Sara. He is finished with you – have some self-respect.

Raina bounced to her feet and kissed Radek’s cheek before hugging Sara. “You will wake me before you leave, will you not, Radek?”

“Aye, Raina.”

“Promise?” She said anxiously. “I want to say goodbye.”

“I promise,” Radek replied as Sara stood and followed Raina toward the bedrooms.

Raina disappeared into her bedroom and Sara hesitated in front of the door to her room.

Say goodnight and go inside. Don’t make a fool of yourself by begging Radek for another night.

“Goodnight, Radek,” she said softly and then made a low cry of surprise when he spoke directly behind her.

“Goodnight, Sara.”

She whirled around and pressed her back against the door as Radek stepped forward until he was nearly touching her.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

“F-fine,” she stuttered.

“Not sore?” His gaze drifted down to her pelvis and heat blossomed between her legs.

“No,” she whispered. “I had a hot bath this morning.”

“That is good to hear.”

He took another step toward her and she moaned when his chest brushed against her breasts.

“You should go to sleep,” he said hoarsely. “We will be leaving very early in the morning.”

“I – I’m not tired,” she said.

“Are you not?”

“No.” She wet her lips and he made a harsh growl of need.

“I have thought of nothing but you all day, sweet one,” he said. “I would very much like to join you in your bed again tonight.”

“I want that too,” she said.

He smiled. His fangs were already out and she ran a trembling hand down his hard arm.

“Will you give me a – another lesson, Radek?”

“Aye, sweet one. It would be my pleasure,” he muttered before capturing her mouth in a soft kiss.

She fumbled behind her for the door handle as Radek pressed light kisses against her throat. His hand covered hers and he opened the door before lifting her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him as he shut the door and carried her to the bed. He sat down and she straddled him, pressing herself against his erection before helping him pull off his shirt. She kissed his broad chest, licking and tasting his rough skin as he cupped the back of her head and growled softly. She sucked on one flat nipple before nipping it experimentally. He groaned and she glanced timidly at him.

“Did that hurt?”

He smiled and stroked her hair back from her face. “No, sweet one.”

He tugged her sweater and her shirt over her head before cupping one small breast. He rubbed her nipple as she licked his collarbone before reaching between them and rubbing his cock.

“Will you teach me how to please a man with my mouth, Radek?” She whispered into his ear.

He stiffened and she watched as an odd look of anger crossed his face.

“Radek? What’s wrong?”

He cupped the back of her neck. “I will teach you how to please me with your mouth, Sara, but only me. It is only my cock you are to touch and taste – no other. Do you understand?”

“Radek…”

“Do you understand?” He repeated with a scowl.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good.” He pushed her gently to her knees on the floor between his thighs before unbuttoning his pants and sliding them down his legs. She stared at his cock, moisture pooling between her legs, before grasping the base of it and squeezing gently.

“Sara,” he gave her a strange look, “if you do not want to do this, you don’t have to. Do you understand?”

She nodded. “I want to.”

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss against the shaft. He jerked and she frowned at him. “Hold still, Radek.”

“Aye, hold still,” he muttered. His hand curled into her hair and he tugged her lightly toward the head of his cock.

She slid her mouth down around his cock, making a muffled noise of surprise when he jerked again, and sucked experimentally on the head. His hands tightened in her hair and she took more of him into her mouth. The skin was velvety soft and she liked the slightly salty taste of him.

“Look at me, Sara,” he rasped.

She stared up at him as she stroked the base of him with her hand and traced her tongue around the head. He groaned loudly and petted her hair before smiling at her.

“Suck harder, my sweet one.” He was almost pleading and she moaned around his cock when he reached down and cupped her breast.

“You’re doing so well,” he said before pinching her nipple.

She gasped and then sucked firmly on his shaft, sliding her mouth up and down before licking him again.

His hips were rising up to meet each downward stroke of her mouth and he pressed lightly on the back of her head. “More, sweet one. Take more of me into your mouth.”

She took as much of him into her mouth as she could, her lips stretching around his thick length until he hit the back of her throat. She choked, her eyes starting to water and pulled away.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “There is no need to be sorry. Take only as much as you can.”

She nodded and took a deep breath before sucking on his cock again. She varied the pressure of her hand and mouth. Her pussy throbbed with every soft groan of pleasure he made and she repeatedly tested how far she could take him.

Her jaw was starting to ache and his cock was swelling in her mouth. She felt a moment of panic – how could his cock grow even larger – and then Radek’s hands were curling around her arms and he was lifting her to her feet.

“Did I do something wrong?” She asked.

He stared at her red and swollen mouth. “No. I was growing too close to coming and I want to fuck you.”

He leaned forward and kissed her flat abdomen. “Get on your hands and knees on the bed, sweet one.”

She climbed on to the bed, feeling a moment of self-consciousness that disappeared when Radek rubbed her ass. She parted her legs and moaned in disappointment when he didn’t touch her pussy.

“Radek, please fuck me,” she whispered.

“Aye, sweet one, I will.”

She waited with breathless anticipation for his cock. A dim part of her worried about the pain but she shoved it out of her head. It would not hurt as bad this time, she was sure of it.

She could barely contain her shriek of pleasure when instead of Radek’s cock, his hot, wet tongue slid across her slit. She clutched the bedsheets in her hands and arched her back like a cat, moaning loudly when he stiffened his tongue and slid it into her wet entrance. His fingers parted the lips of her pussy and she moaned again when he licked her clit delicately.

“Oh, please!” She cried breathlessly. “Please!”

He licked her clit repeatedly as he pushed his finger into her pussy. Her muscles clamped around him and he sucked her clit into his mouth as her orgasm roared through her in a glorious rush of pleasure that made her head spin. She twisted and writhed against his mouth before collapsing against the bed. His hands circled her waist and he hauled her back to her hands and knees. She trembled violently as he pushed the head of his cock into her pussy.

“Relax, sweet one,” he murmured before rubbing her lower back with his warm hands.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax as he pushed further into her. There was a slight twinge of pain that turned into a mild feeling of discomfort. He withdrew and slid into her again, waiting patiently as she stretched around him. When he was sheathed fully within her, he held her hips firmly and stroked back and forth.

Sara moaned loudly. His cock was rubbing against the front wall of her pussy and it was sending an odd but extremely enjoyable sensation through her body.

“That feels so good, Radek,” she panted.

“Good,” he muttered before pressing on her lower back. She lowered her upper half obediently to the bed and he rubbed her raised ass again before thrusting back and forth in a quick, hard rhythm that stole her breath. She was making unintelligible noises of pleasure, her hands clenching and unclenching with each rhythmic push.

“Oh God,” she moaned. Her legs were beginning to shake. Every stroke of Radek’s cock was making her squirm in delight, and her pussy squeezed helplessly around his thick shaft when her second orgasm rushed through her.

Radek cursed under his breath and plunged in and out of her, his hands clamping down on her hips as he thrust back and forth. He arched his back, his muscles straining as he found his own release and came deep inside of her wet pussy. She made another soft cry and breathing harshly, he pulled out of her. She fell on to her side and he curled up behind her. He kissed the back of her shoulder and cupped one firm breast as she shuddered and made soft moans of pleasure.

“So good, Radek,” she sighed.

“Aye, sweet one. It was.” He moved her under the covers and slid in behind her. She turned and wrapped her slender body around his, resting her head on his chest as he stroked her back with the tips of his fingers.

“Will you stay the night with me?” She whispered.

“Aye, I will.”