“Maybe. I’m not making any promises. I don’t forgive you. I’m just letting you tag along because I feel sorry for you.”
“Good enough for me. Let’s return the truck to the farm and I’ll ride with you.”
She followed him to the farm. He went inside to get a bag of clothes and was back out to her car in a matter of minutes.
“Let’s go,” he said throwing his bag in the back seat.
“Is Caleb here?” she asked.
“No. But I left him a note. He can get a ride back with someone from the pack. It’s no big deal.”
Lucy worried her lip. Leaving Caleb with a pack of dangerous coyotes didn’t feel right to her. She looked over at Elijah as he slid into the passenger seat. The spitting image of his brother, he made her heart do a little flutter.
She couldn’t help it. The brothers meant something to her, more than she was allowing herself to feel. She pulled out of the parking lot. Once they were back on the road, she tuned in to some music on the radio, and she and Elijah began talking about their lives.
He wanted to expand the design business but needed someone to help organize their efforts and take over the Internet presence, since both he and Caleb were at a loss as to how to deal with it. Lucy’s inspiration struck when he told her about their hopes for expansion. They needed help with something she was completely competent at. It almost seemed like a match made in heaven.
As the long miles between the coast and Portland closed, she began feeling better about the time she’d spent with Elijah and Caleb. Perhaps it had been an honest mistake. They were just two young guys with too much responsibility and the need for someone to mediate and soften them.
She pulled into her parking space in front of her apartment building and turned off the car. Elijah looked around, his expression revealing how unimpressed he was with her place.
They got out, and he carried their bags upstairs. Inside, the apartment was cold and still. It felt as if there was no life there, and Lucy felt the dark, empty energy of her world suddenly collapse in on her.
Elijah dropped the bags in her bedroom as she went to turn on the heat and start a pot of tea. After the long drive and so much stress, the last thing she felt like was cooking.
“Do you like Chinese?” she asked Elijah as he sat down in front of the TV and turned it to a basketball game.
“That would be great,” he said, patting the seat next to him. Lucy took two cups of tea and set them on the coffee table before sitting down next to Elijah. He flipped through the channels and came to the beginning of a romantic comedy. She ordered them Chinese, and it was delivered halfway through the film.
They ate while watching the funny movie. Elijah laughed with his mouth full of chow mein noodles at the silliest things. It made Lucy feel even more comfortable in his presence.
After they’d finished eating, she snuggled up against his warm form and watched the end of the movie. A second movie started, and they sat there together, warm and cozy in her apartment. She tried to forget about what she had to do in the morning and just let herself feel safe in Elijah’s arms.
She felt her eyelids fluttering closed, and Elijah kissed the top of her head. “It’s bedtime, beautiful,” he said, slipping his arms under her knees and lifting her up as if she were a tiny child. He walked with her to her bedroom and deposited her on her bed.
He pulled off her shoes and kicked off his own before climbing onto the bed with her. Lucy looked up into his eyes. Elijah could be so kind and gentle when he wanted to be. His eyes glowed with warmth, and he smiled down at her. Lucy closed her eyes and tilted her head, inviting him to kiss her.
His lips fell on hers, soft and sweet as he kissed her with tempered passion. He kissed her cheeks and her eyelids, her forehead and her temples. He kissed down her chin and over her neck and collarbone.
She drew a sharp breath in as he ran his hand under her shirt and dipped it inside her bra. She opened her eyes and blinked at him. What would Caleb think?
“Will Caleb mind?” she asked, worried his brother would be jealous.
“He won’t mind. Caleb and I share everything, even if he isn’t here. As long as I don’t bite you alone, he would do nothing but cheer us on.”
Lucy groaned as Elijah tweaked her nipple and ran his tongue over her lips. His kiss grew more insistent, and he plunged his tongue deep into her mouth. She raised her arms up around his broad shoulders. His hands ran down her belly, caressing the soft flesh, before one dipped inside her jeans.
He pushed his fingers into her panties and dipped a finger into her wet slit. He growled into her ear.
“You are so wet for me, Lucy. God. I want to fuck you. I need to see your pussy now.”
He pulled her clothes off with such a quick flurry of hands that she was naked in what seemed like seconds. He threw off his own clothes just as quickly and parted her legs.
“Caleb got your pussy all to himself the last time. Now it’s all mine.”
He spread her legs and dove in, his tongue landing on her clit without warning. Lucy groaned and arched her back. Elijah didn’t tease or taunt; he went for it. He licked her all over, up and down, wetting her pussy with his thick tongue. He pressed against her clit and slid a finger inside her pussy, fucking her with his hand.
“You taste so sweet,” he moaned. “No wander Caleb wanted you all to himself.”
Elijah had brought her to the edge of orgasm so quickly that her head was spinning. She threaded her fingers through his hair as he ate her pussy with furious abandon.
He slipped another finger inside her, bending them upward as he slid in and out of her. His fingers pressed against her G-spot as he sucked her clit into his mouth. She erupted with pleasure, her pussy clenching on his fingers.
Just as she came, Elijah was on top of her. He kissed her, the taste of her juices still on his lips. His cock slipped easily inside her soaking entrance. He inched into her, holding himself back from plunging inside.
Lucy groaned under him, wanted to feel him fill her with his massive shaft. He placed his hand on her hairline and looked into her eyes. His eyes glowed hot with desire, and she could see him straining to enter her slowly.
“You’re so tight. I’m going to fuck you hard and fast, Lucy,” he groaned, sliding just an inch farther into her. The wait was torture. His girth stretched her wide, but she couldn’t stand it any longer. She needed him.
She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him deeper. He growled, and his cock sank deep until his balls brushed against her ass. She moaned with the slicing pain and pleasure of being filled again with so much cock. Just the day before, Caleb had filled her, leaving her swollen and sore.
Elijah breathed into her ear and nibbled at her lobe. “I can’t hold back any longer, Lucy. I know you’re sore, but I have to fuck you. I need to fill your sweet little cunt with my seed.”
She wanted that more than anything. Consequences be damned. She’d think about it tomorrow. Her life was a hot mess anyway, and she’d already let Caleb come inside her.
“Yes, please. Fuck me.”
That was all it took. It was as if something snapped inside Elijah, and she saw a side of him she’d never seen before. His wolf seemed barely hidden behind the mask of the man. He growled, baring his teeth as his hips thrust against her core.
He pumped into her pussy hard and fast, without hesitation. There was nothing gentle about this fucking. It was so unlike Elijah that all Lucy could do was hold on for dear life. His massive cock thrust again and again into her wet, swollen pussy.
“Oh, God!” she screamed, clinging to him like a drowning woman. He pushed against her G-spot over and over, making her come with such insistence that she didn’t know where one orgasm stopped and the next began.
The sound of flesh smacking flesh filled her ears along with the sound of her own moaning breaths. Elijah groaned into her neck. His cock strained inside her as he thrust several times, hard.
His cum shot deep into her
womb, filling her with hot, sticky seed. The feeling of it propelled her rocketing into another orgasm. They breathed into each other’s necks as their bodies throbbed together in time.
Finally Elijah rolled away, and she slid under his arm to rest her head on his chest. It had been another mind-blowing experience, the kind of thing a girl might travel across the world to get another taste of. She bit her lip, her pussy still pulsing.
Chapter Sixteen
When Lucy woke early the next morning, dread descended over her body and mind. She had to go to work today and face Mr. Bars. She shivered at the thought as she climbed out of bed. Elijah still lay asleep under her flowery comforter. She smiled. The sight of him made her feel safer.
She showered and dressed and went to the kitchen to make herself coffee before heading to work. Elijah came out of the bedroom in his boxer shorts, his beard a touch more full and his dark hair ruffled from sleep. Could a man look sexier?
She could see the hint of morning wood inside his shorts. She raised her eyebrow over her cup of coffee. If she only had time.
“What’s the plan for today?” he asked, scratching the soft black hairs on his chest as he slid onto a stool at her counter.
“Work. I have things I have to deal with.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No!”
“I can smell you’re scared. I can help you. I’ve got kung fu skills.”
She giggled. Even though he sounded as though he was joking, Lucy had a feeling he was serious. “I don’t think kung fu is going to help this situation.”
“You’d be surprised how many situations it actually does help in.”
“I’m sure it does. Just not office politics. I’ll be home after five. Then we can talk about how to get you home.”
“Home? I thought I was moving in,” he said pouring himself a cup of coffee. She slapped him gently with the back of her hand and gave him a sideways look.
“No. You have to get home, and I have to go on with my life. I’m glad you came with me. Maybe we can, you know, have a long-distance thing. I wouldn’t mind coming to visit, but we can’t be more than that. My life is here and your life is there. Plus, I still haven’t forgiven you.”
Elijah suddenly sank to his knees in a comically exaggerated way. “Lucy Zimmer, I beg for your forgiveness. I was a fool. I accept any punishment you require.”
“Get up,” she said, rolling her eyes. He was kind of cute on his knees for her. She could see the hint of an erection still inside his underwear. He stood and gave her a wolfish grin. “Okay. I forgive you. But I still can’t go back to Mystic Harbor. I have things to deal with.”
“Okay. I can accept whatever you decide, Lucy. I respect your autonomy.”
She laughed at him and sighed. “I’ve got to go. We’ll talk about this later.”
She grabbed her bag and hurried out the door. Lucy got in her car and stared out the front window. The last thing she wanted to do in the world was to go to work today. Not only had she not answered any of his messages, she’d missed a day of work without calling in.
She might not even have a job when she went in to work today. Gritting her teeth, she turned the key in the ignition and backed out of her parking spot.
She made it to work a few minutes early and poured herself another cup of caffeinated courage from the break room. Slowly she made her way to her supervisor’s office. Ms. Cavendish was in her office already, filing papers.
“Ms. Zimmer,” her supervisor beckoned, waving her hand for Lucy to come into her office. “What happened yesterday? I called you several times. Were you ill?”
“My car broke down on the coast, and I was stranded. I just got back to civilization last night.” The half truth slid off her tongue with ease.
“Oh, that’s terrible. Did you get everything sorted out with your car?”
“Yes. It should be fine now.”
Lucy left Ms. Cavendish’s office with a sigh of relief. Lucy hadn’t taken more than one sick day in the two years she’d worked there. This infraction would be easy for Ms. Cavendish to forgive, but she doubted it would be for Mr. Bars.
She sat at her desk and set her coffee down beside her computer. A stack of research files sat in her file bin. She groaned and started to flip through them. An entire day’s worth of work to catch up on. Might as well get to it.
Just as Lucy began sorting the files, she heard a voice from down the hall. “Ms. Zimmer. My office. Now,” Mr. Bars commanded. A wave of cold blew over Lucy’s shoulders, making her shiver. This was it.
She gulped and stood, taking a pad and pen with her in an effort to appear professional.
She entered his office and left the door open, knowing that he would do something lascivious if they were left in private. He looked up at her from behind his desk, and his eyes narrowed at her from under his bushy eyebrows.
“Close the door and have a seat, Ms. Zimmer,” he said with a smirk.
Lucy sighed and closed the door, feeling her heart doing flip-flops in her chest. At that moment, she wished she’d stayed on the farm with Elijah and Caleb. She gulped as she approached Mr. Bars’s desk. Having Elijah back at her apartment gave her a small sense of safety.
She sat, her fight-or-flight response on high alert. Why had she come back to work? Gritting her teeth, she pulled out her pen and looked Mr. Bars in the eyes. I’m stronger than this. She’d survived a night in the woods and had a threesome with two werewolves. Mr. Bars was just some old pervert schmuck. Nevertheless, she couldn’t keep her hands from shaking.
“Ms. Zimmer. I left you numerous messages telling you to come in to work over the weekend. Then you missed Monday without a single response. That is an offense worthy of termination.”
“I told Ms. Cavendish why I was absent yesterday. My car broke down on the coast far from a phone. It was a serious emergency. Sorry I didn’t make it in to work on the weekend when I was stranded in the middle of nowhere,” she said, with an edge in her voice.
“Don’t play games with me, little girl. You won’t win. Now, stand up and lean over the desk or you’re fired.”
“No,” she said, her hands trembling.
“What? You realize that if I fire you, I won’t give you a reference.”
“You realize that what you are doing is completely illegal. I’m not going to let you rape me to keep a crappy entry-level job, you freaking disgusting old man,” she said, standing. She couldn’t keep her voice from wavering, but she’d said it.
Mr. Bars stood and pounded his fist on the desk, growling at her and showing his yellowing teeth. “You’ll never work in the law again,” he shouted.
“I’d rather work at McDonald's than let you touch me.” She turned toward the door and yanked it open. Her heart pounded in her ears, and she felt close to passing out as the blood rushed to her organs and away from her extremities, leaving her hands cold and numb.
“Get out of this office immediately,” he yelled behind her.
“You don’t have to worry about that!”
Lucy dumped out the wastepaper basket and poured her personal items into it before grabbing her little fern and a picture of her at the beach taken a few years ago.
She had no idea what she would do next, but she knew for damn sure she would never let a man treat her so badly, ever again.
Chapter Seventeen
Caleb stripped out of his clothes and shifted on the front porch. His link with Elijah told him that Elijah and Lucy had been making progress back in Portland. They’d made love, which made Caleb glad. The sooner he and Elijah got their mate back, the sooner they could start making pups.
He trotted down the stairs and broke into a canter as he passed by the gardens and into the meadow before he broke into the forest. The creek filled his nose with the scent of fish and water weeds.
Stepping through the brisk, cool water, he emerged on the other side of the stream. He picked up a new scent. The coyotes had returned. He was sure of it. Thei
r scent was fresh, little more than an hour old. Growling, he broke into a full gallop as he tore through the springtime forest.
Soft sunlight filtered through the alders as new leaves sprang from the ripening buds. The scent grew stronger as he came to a stand of Douglas fir that dripped with moss and lichen. He clawed at the underbrush, bringing the strong smell of coyote into his lungs. Someone had marked these woods. This was his territory. He and Elijah marked this land at least once a week, and the land belonged to them by law.
Furious, he growled and yipped as he followed the scent farther into the dense forest. The smell of fresh deer blood rankled his nose. They’d been hunting his deer! He galloped after the scent and found the pack of coyotes in a clearing standing over a fresh kill. First they’d stolen from his traps, and now they were openly hunting on his land. This had to stop now.
Caleb lunged for the leader of the pack, not thinking twice about the fact that he was outnumbered six to one. He gripped the leader’s neck and bit down hard. The coyote had already taken two injuries from Caleb, but he just kept coming back. The idiot didn’t learn.
The rest of the pack jumped on Caleb, biting and clawing at the alpha wolf. He fought them off with his superior strength and size. They scurried back and circled him. One of them had taken a deep bite out of Caleb’s foreleg, and it bled profusely.
Caleb could feel the wound draining him of strength as the pain coursed through his body. He took a step forward, but the bleeding gash caused him to limp. The circling coyotes took advantage of his momentary lapse and charged at him all at once, teeth bared and snarling.
***
Lucy came home to find Elijah frantically pacing the apartment.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, dropping her things on the kitchen table.
“Caleb’s been hurt. We need to go?”
“Is it bad?” she asked, her heart leaping with fear. She’d barely thought since she’d left Bars & Associates. Hearing that Caleb was in trouble snapped her into focus.