Blind Acceptance (23 page)

“Burns,” she groaned. “But don’t stop.”

“Okay, baby, I think you’re ready for the real thing. Just remember to breathe and relax.” Eric slowly pushed the crown of his cock through the tight ring of muscle. He sucked in a breath as the head of his shaft slipped through the dark opening. Wiping his fingers on the sheet, he laid his hands on her back, skimmed along her spine, and curled over her shoulders tangling in her hair.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked his cock further into her virgin ass. When his hips touched her bottom, he exhaled raggedly. Slowly he pulled out until just the tip remained and then slowly pushed back forward to the hilt.

“God, you’re so damn tight. It feels so good. Are you okay, pretty lady?”

“Yes, oh, yes. Fuck me, Eric, I need to come again.”

Over and over he repeated the movements, getting faster and faster each time. He slid his hands down her spine, letting one travel around her hip, and began to play with her clit, flicking it back and forth, rubbing little circles over the slick button.

Laynee stiffened, her cry shattering the darkness as she went over the edge, taking him with her. He emitted a long, low growl as his seed spurt deep into the latex prison. Eric wrapped a hand in her hair and jerked her head back, forcing her lips open with his tongue.

The kiss was brutal in its intensity, but it satisfied his wolf who was yearning to complete the mating.

He collapsed on top of her, both of them breathing heavy, slicked with sweat. Forcing his breathing to slow, he calmed his rapid heart rate enough so the sound of it pounding in his ears would subside. Bending, he kissed her, his tongue tangling with hers, thrusting gently as he had done to her eager slit.

“I love you, Laynee,” he whispered.

He yanked off the condom, dropped it in the trash, and curled up next to his mate.

David would join them soon.
It’s time to
tell her the truth and claim our mate.

Smiling, he closed his eyes and listened to the deep, even breaths of his sleeping mate.

David’s eyes flew open, and for a moment he didn’t know where he was.

Then the scent of his mate seeped into his consciousness. He glanced down to see Laynee cuddled beside him, her butt planted firmly on his side, while her head lay cradled on Eric’s shoulder. His bear had wanted to claim her earlier when he’d joined them in the bed. He wouldn’t be able to put him off much longer. It was getting harder and harder to maintain control around Laynee’s scent. He wanted her marked for added protection.

He’d walked guard around the grounds earlier, but in his human form. He didn’t think the neighbors were ready to see a Kodiak bear strolling across their lawn.

He listened carefully in the dark.

Something had woken him from a deep sleep, and he felt a sense of danger. His bear was prowling in his chest, demanding to be let out to protect their mate.

“Did you hear that?” Eric whispered.

David shook his head. “Not sure what I heard. Something woke me.”

Laynee groaned. “You guys are making a lot of noise. Is it morning?”

“No, love, it’s not morning.” David glanced at the face of the digital clock.

“It’s just after three o’clock.”

“Then what are you doing up? We should still be sleeping.”

Eric caressed her arm. “We heard something.”

“It’s probably Maysie. Grandfather used to complain about her getting up and making tea at all hours of the night.”

David threw back the covers. “I don’t like it. I’m gonna check it out.”

Eric sat up. “I’ll come with you.”

“No, you stay here and protect Laynee.”

She sat up and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself while the two of you check things downstairs.”

“No,” Eric said. “He’s right. Until we know what we’re dealing with, I’d feel better if one of us stayed near you.”

She sighed. “Whatever. Put on some clothes so you don’t shock Maysie.

She’s not getting any younger. You could knock years off her life if you showed up in all your glory.”

David chuckled and reached for his jeans. Slipping them on quickly, he moved to the door and opened it a crack.

Inhaling deeply, he stiffened. There were human, male strangers in the house. He turned and nodded at Eric, then mouthed the word
danger!

Eric nodded and reached for his pants.

Satisfied that Laynee was protected, David moved silently through the door, carefully shutting it behind him. Inching his way down the hall, he stopped and peered around the corner. Though the house was dark, he had no trouble seeing the man moving stealthily toward a closed door at the end of the hall. His bear clawed at his chest, wanting out as his anger grew. The stranger was heading right for the room that Laynee was supposed to be in. His senses told him there were two other men downstairs, but at the moment, they weren’t the immediate threat.

David crept forward, watching as the man turned the doorknob. When he disappeared inside, David flattened himself against the wall. The man’s voice came through loud and clear.

“What the hell?” he whispered. “Shit, the asshole gave us the wrong location.

She must be in one of the other rooms.”

David heard footsteps coming closer and prepared himself. When the stranger moved cautiously into the hall, David jumped him from behind. One hand covered his mouth, while he arm went around his chest in order to squeeze the breath out of him. If he could knock him unconscious, he’d have time to go downstairs and take care of his friends.

He could shift in the house if he had to, but it wasn’t something he wanted to do.

His bear didn’t like small, enclosed places. He could do a lot of damage if he had to let him out inside the house.

The stranger froze for a second, and then fought as hard as he could. One hand latched onto David’s arm, his nails biting into his skin. David cursed silently when he realized he should have grabbed his other arm. The intruder reached down and then raised his arm and pointed a gun behind him. David released his mouth to grab his wrist just as he pulled the trigger. The explosion was loud, and there was a slight burning sensation as the bullet whizzed past his ear so close the hairs on his head were ruffled.

David grinned when the man screamed as claws burst from his fingers, stabbing deep into the intruder’s arm. He could hear the chaos down below as his friends deserted him. The front door slammed in their haste to get away.

When his prisoner slumped in his arms, David knew he’d passed out.
At least I
didn’t kill him! I wanna know just how
he knew exactly where to go in this big
house.

Laynee scooted out of the bed and groped around on the floor until she found a shirt. Quickly, she pulled it over her head, smothering a giggle when it fell well below her knees. Sniffing the cotton, she realized she’d found David’s clothes. “If you went with him, the two of you could have searched faster and we’d all be back in bed by now.”

“David won’t be long, trust me.” He walked over and put his arms around her. “You’re the most important part of our lives now, and nothing is more important than protecting you, and that means one of us will stay with you, always.”

Laynee frowned, rubbing her hands up and down his muscular, naked back.

“Are you saying you’re never gonna leave me alone again?”

He chuckled and hugged her closer.

“Not exactly. We’ll be near to protect you, but we’ll recognize your independence. Besides, this is not exactly a normal situation. We’re here because your father is trying to kill you.

Seems a little extra protection is warranted right now.”

“I know, and I’m—” A scuffling sound had Laynee turning her head. She felt Eric stiffen and then gasped. Something prickly popped up under her hands on his back. It felt like the whiskers on his face early in the morning, before he had time to shave. The prickles quickly turned to longer, silkier hairs, and his upper body began to change shape. She touched his face and jerked back when she felt the elongated snout. There were strange crunching noises, and then she heard the sound of material ripping.

“What’s happening, Eric? Where are you?”

She heard a snuffling sound, almost a whine, and then turned to grope her way to the door. When she reached for the doorknob, a growl paralyzed her.

Holding her breath, she backed up, finding herself trapped in a corner.

Laynee heard what sounded like panting, and then something big settled in front of her.
What’s happening? I don’t
understand. Where’s Eric?
“Eric,” she sobbed. Something whimpered and then something furry butted against her hand.

She squealed, and raised her hands up to her face, pressing tight against the wall.

“What are you?”

She heard another whine and then something rubbed against her leg.

Hesitantly, she moved her hand down.

“You aren’t gonna hurt me, are you?” A small yip made her jump. She reached out with her fingers and touched the large head of an animal. She bit back a scream when something warm and wet washed her hand. “You feel like a dog.”

Again, the animal let out a small yip and pushed against her leg. “What are you trying to do?” When he pushed her one more time, her thigh hit the arm of a chair. “Okay, are you trying to get me to sit down?” Again, she heard a yip.

Sighing, she lowered herself into the chair. “Where the hell is David?” She cried out when the animal laid his large head in her lap. Tentatively, she petted the silky hair on his head, feeling strangely comforted. “What’s your name, big guy? How’d you get in here? Did you see where my friend went?”

Laynee grinned, letting her hand trail over his silky, muscular back. “You remind me of the big dog that found me in the woods. He saved my life.” She laughed softly when his big head went up and down as if he were agreeing with her. One large paw had settled on her thigh when a loud boom echoed through the house. Laynee screamed and tried to get up, only to be knocked back down into the chair by a growling dog. She held her hands up high, not wanting to touch the obviously angry animal.

“David,” she screamed.

She could hear faint yelling coming from the hall and then silence. Laynee tried to ease around the animal, only to move back when he growled and then licked her hand. Before she could make another escape attempt, she heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hall.

The animal went tense, the hairs on his back practically standing on end. He pushed back against her legs, his head facing the door, and his growl became louder.

When the door crashed open, the animal lunged, and then stopped and returned to sit at her feet.

“Oh, shit,” David, said. “Damn it, Eric. Couldn’t you have controlled yourself a little longer?”

“Is Eric okay?” asked Laynee. “He wouldn’t answer me. I don’t know where this dog came from. Did I hear a gunshot? Are you okay?”

David groaned.
Boy, are we in for it
now! We’ll have to tell her everything.

Damn it, Eric. I thought you had better
control than this.
“I’m fine, Laynee.

You did hear a gunshot, but nobody was hurt. Several men broke in, and I managed to catch one of them.”

Laynee gasped. “What about the rest of them?”

David frowned at the hysteria he could hear in her voice. He moved closer, pushed Eric out of the way, and lifted Laynee into his arms. Nuzzling her head, he sat down in the chair and cuddled her on his lap, watching as Eric walked a few feet away. “I caught the one with the gun up here. When it went off, his friends downstairs scattered. They’re long gone, now.”

“Who were they?” she asked.

David sighed. “I don’t know. I managed to knock the guy out after he fired his gun, but I haven’t had a chance to question him yet. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

She sniffed. “Where’s Eric, and where the hell did that dog come from?”

David raised his gaze to the wolf and narrowed his eyes. The air seemed to vibrate as Eric began the change. Laynee stiffened when the sound of his bones popping and reforming filled the room.

“What is that?”

David kissed her cheek. “Laynee, we have a lot to explain to you. Some of it you might have trouble believing and understanding. Would you give us a chance, please, and just hear us out before you make any judgments?”

She trembled. “Where’s Eric?”

“I’m right here, love.”

She jumped when his hand touched her shoulder. “What’s going on?”

Eric looked at David. “Are Maysie and Edward okay?”

“Shit! I totally forgot about them.”

“I’ll check.” Eric grabbed a pair of sweats out of their bag and took off running out the door.

“Oh, God. They should have come running at the sound of the gunshot. Do you think they’re hurt?” She tried to get off David’s lap and stopped when he growled.