For Toron's Pride (3 page)

A lion’s roar rattled all glass in the room, from those sitting on the tables to the windows. A few people put hands over their ears, wincing. Toron took it all in stride. He locked his gaze with Karl’s and felt the madness hit him hard. His will and greater strength were the only things that kept him on his feet as the room began to spin. Rage boiled in his mind, betrayal, sadness, and panic. Toron recognized the emotions for what they were and forged through them. In a low tone, he continued to speak to the teen.

“I’m adding my strength to his to help him heal,” he explained to the others. Talking and helping Karl at the same time was difficult, but it was what he had to do. The new shifters needed to trust him if they were going to remain a secret among the humans. “Let him go.”

“Toron, are you sure?” one of the men asked.

“Obey.”

The hands holding Karl fell away, and Karl threw himself at Toron. His claws dug into Toron’s arms, but Toron didn’t register the sting. “I can’t stop! Help me!”

“I know.” Toron sensed the madness receding, the drug burning from his system, but Karl had worn himself out. He couldn’t calm down or change back into his human form.

Toron dropped a heavy hand on the boy’s shoulder, and Karl whimpered like a newborn cub. He sank to his knees, and Toron held him there, forcing the change. Claws receded, ears repositioned, and his tail shrank until it disappeared inside the back of his pants. When the task was done, Toron ran a hand over his damp face and stepped back. “He’ll be fine now. Take him to his mother.”

Several of the newbies clapped and cheered, but Toron waved them off. He couldn’t help wondering about Sienna’s reaction, but when he turned, she was gone. He stepped toward the exit, but Stella touched his arm. “The wrap-up and warning?”

Toron sighed. She was right. There was more to share, more they needed to know about their kind, and he couldn’t neglect the rest in favor of tripping behind Sienna. “If you’ll all have a seat, there is more I have to tell you on this subject.”

Obey, he’d said. There wasn’t a doubt in Sienna’s mind that Toron was powerful. What he had done for that boy was incredible. She was impressed, but it scared her too.

When the men were reluctant to let Karl go, Toron hadn’t raised his voice. He didn’t even sound angry. He had uttered one word. Obey. They fell in line like soldiers, and what was worse, she felt it as well. If she had been holding onto Karl, she would have let go.

After a couple sessions where they learned about themselves, their nature, and some of what they could expect, she had a new respect for Toron. However, she also had a healthy fear of him. The man could speak the word, and she would drop her panties in a heartbeat. Not because she wanted him—and hell yes, she wanted him— but because he ordered it. From what she had seen so far, Toron had a way of doing things, and it brooked no argument.

“You ran off.”

She started at his deep tone and peered over her shoulder. More time than she realized must have slipped by. A T-shirt defined the muscles in his chest, and jeans hugged narrow hips. She wouldn’t allow her gaze to linger on the front of his pants. “I needed some air, and how can you be out here with no coat on? Meanwhile, I’m shivering in this thin jacket.”

He shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

She eyed him a second but turned away before it became too obvious she got off on the view. “I thought you were going to say it’s an alpha thing.”

“Why do I hear resentment?”

Sienna sucked her teeth. “I don’t know what your issues are.” She took a step away, but he stopped her. He didn’t say a word, yet she spun on her heel and drifted into his arms. He hugged her close and ran a hand up and down her back. The heat radiating off him helped warm her.

“If I said I want to kiss you, would you deny me?”

Sienna’s eyes ached, she widened them so hard. What the hell did she say to that? “I’m…”

“You’re not with Davon anymore. The two of you broke it off after you found out he turned you.”

Sienna shoved at him and moved away. “Did he tell you that? What else did he tell you?”

He watched her in silence for a few minutes. “That he wants you back.”

“Not happening!”

“I’m not suggesting it should.” He closed the gap between them to grasp her chin and raise it. “In fact, it works out better for me if you don’t have a boyfriend.”

Bastard, bastard, bastard! No, he doesn’t deserve a kiss. She remained still, not offering her lips but not pulling away either. “You already have enough women, and I bet before long you’ll be sleeping with the new ones too. They seemed eager enough. You don’t need me.”

“Jealous?” He smiled, but anger glittered in his gaze.

“Kiss my ass.” Her biggest problem was that he never denied it when she accused him of sleeping with all the women. She couldn’t abide a playboy.

He snatched her close and rested a massive palm on one butt cheek. Sienna creamed her panties. The twitch in his nose told her he knew. She cursed the bad luck that made her one of them.

“I might do just that.”

The sultry whisper almost brought her to her knees.

Sienna knew what Karl felt, lost in emotions he had no control over. She shut her eyes and drew in several steadying breaths. “If I wanted to walk away from you…from this…would you let me?”

“Sienna, we need each other.”

“No, you need women to worship the ground you walk on. Maybe the men too.” Somehow she broke from his hold and backed up, folding her arms over her chest. “I need to know if you’re going to make me spread my legs for you, because if that’s the case you’re not as much of a man as you claim to be.”

He clenched his hands into fists at his sides. “You’re trying to shame me into doing the right thing?”

“Whatever it takes.”

“I’ve already said I won’t force you. I don’t need to.” Sienna didn’t know if he meant she was already hot for him, or if he meant he had more than enough women to satisfy his needs. “I don’t know how to take you.”

“That’s the first time you’ve been completely honest with yourself.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t psychoanalyze me. Anyway, at the end of this little gathering, I’m going home, and I’m not coming back or having anything to do with the pride ever again. If you have a problem with that, you better speak up now.”

She waited for him to respond. His gaze, hot and full of a mixture between desire and anger, never wavered from hers. Sienna had to grit her teeth to keep from skating back into his arms. Today was different though. She could tell he had dialed down his power. The pull was there, but it wasn’t like he was using it against her. She didn’t want to admit it, but the longing to be close to him was all her.

“Have sex with me.”

“Whoa! What?” She put her hands up in defense, but he hadn’t moved a muscle.

“Let it be your decision, nothing serious, no promises. Have sex with me just for the pleasure we can give each other.”

“No, hell no. Not going to happen.” She kept shaking her head and retreating from him with unsteady steps. He stayed where he was, apparently trying not to be threatening. “I’m not going to be another notch on your belt.”

This time he did move. One foot set down on the grass where they stood like a death sentence about to be dealt out. Okay, now I’m getting ridiculous. Pull it together, Sienna.

“You want it,” he said. “I smell your want.”

Sienna searched for an excuse and found one. She slapped her hands on her hips. “So what? You’re a sexy man. I’ll give you that, but it doesn’t mean I have to give in to the attraction between us. I’m no different from any other woman out there. I want commitment and a relationship. I don’t sleep around. There are plenty of women who do. You don’t need me.”

“Oh but I do.”

The few feet between them vanished, and Sienna found herself wedged up against his chest. She had time to part her lips to fuss, but he cut off the words, crushing her lips with his. From the first taste, her resistance crumbled. She kissed him, slanting her head and arching her back. Her hands trapped between them, she clutched his shirt. A small moan ripped from her throat, and she welcomed the invasion of his tongue when it came.

Not even warning bells went off in her head when he left her mouth to trail kisses along her throat. She curved into him when he shoved a rough hand beneath her jacket and blouse to tear her bra away from her breast. He pinched her nipple so hard it hurt, and she cried out in pleasure.

Toron leaned back long enough to take her hands and put them on his pants button. He captured her bottom lip and nipped it. “Take me out.”

She drew in a shuttering breath, her hands shaking. The button came undone. Even before she got the zipper lowered, she saw how big he was, thick and curved behind the denim. Her mouth watered she was so hungry to see.

With the two sides of his jeans parted, she noted he hadn’t worn boxers, and his cock bulged into view, a thick vein running the length of it. Sienna licked her lips and put a hand out.

“Toron.”

They both jumped at the voice. Sienna turned to flee, but Toron captured her wrist to keep her where she stood.

“What is it, Stella?”

Sienna closed her eyes. Humiliation, anger, and frustration all vied to make her want to sink into the ground and disappear. In a heartbeat, she had given in to him and been ready to have sex right there where anyone could see.

Earlier, she had come out here to get away and clear her head, but she hadn’t walked far into the trees. Who knew what lurked in the woods, and a fear of getting lost kept her near the house. Where she stood was visible from the house, yet she had opened his pants and was ready to get on her knees and suck him. This was his fault.

“They’ve got a situation up at the plant,” Stella explained.

“Holt accused Larry of fixing the books, and now they’re fighting. No one’s been able to stop them. They’ve already halted the line. Nothing’s getting done.”

Sienna looked up at Toron. She saw the battle in his expression between continuing what they had started and going to get his people in line. “We’ll finish this when I return,” he promised. “Wait for me.”

Right there in front of Stella, he kissed her and then walked away. Sienna didn’t move. If she dared, she might fall flat on her face, so she waited to get her feet back on the ground. She had assumed Stella followed Toron, but her petulant tone startled Sienna a second time from her thoughts.

“He’s never going to love you, you know.”

Sienna frowned. “Excuse me?”

The woman stalked over, her first mistake. “You heard me. He’s never going to love you. Or you can say, Toron is the kind of man who will love all women, not just one. It’s in his nature.” She shrugged. “If you think you’re going to be the one to change him, you’re setting yourself up for failure.”

Sienna had had enough. “Look, bitch, I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but you don’t know me well enough to get in my face about anything I choose to do. Second, I can read you. You’re the kind of woman that makes herself invaluable to the man she loves, hoping one day he’ll notice her for more than just his secretary.”

Stella’s face flamed.

“Oh yeah, I have your number. You’re jealous, probably eaten up that Toron’s paying me attention when you figured this weekend was a perfect chance to get him committed.”

Rage burned in Stella’s eyes, until the green in the depths bled to golden. She curled her fingers with already naturally long fingernails as if she would attack. Stella took a defensive stance. “Bring it.”

Stella heaved her shoulders and retreated a step. “I was only trying to help you. Since you’re too dense, let me lay it out for you. Up until you came, I was Toron’s main lover. I knew he had other women, but I took it in stride because I know that’s how he is. He keeps several women in his pride for his pleasure and his alone. I accepted that. I know eventually he will choose a woman to be his mate, to mother his children. When that time comes, that woman will be me. If you want to have sex with him, fine. Just don’t think it will be anything more.”

The woman pivoted on her heel and stomped away.

Sienna took long enough to gather her wits, and then she headed to the house as well. She ran straight up to her room and began packing her bag. In one way, she wanted to one up Stella and knock her from her high horse, but giving in to Toron wasn’t worth it. One would have to be blind not to see Toron was the kind of man Stella had described him to be. So she would be out before he got back. Stella could have him.

Sienna jumped into the shower and soaped her body.

Just running her hands over her breasts and belly brought back thoughts of Toron and the way she came to life when he touched her. Her pussy ached, and she leaned her head on the wall with her eyes shut as she waited for the feeling to pass. Maybe with some distance between them, her emotions would return to normal.

After she was done, she stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Just slipping into her panties, she dropped to her hands and knees when a wave of sadness pummeled every part of her being. She sniffed and reached up to find tears spilling down her cheeks. What the hell? Why do I feel like this?

At first she thought she was losing it. What they had almost done wasn’t that serious. She wasn’t in love with him, and she’d known before Stella said anything that whatever they did would just be sex and nothing else. So why did she feel like she’d lost someone precious to her?

A knock on the door forced her to scramble into a robe.

“Yes?”

“Sienna.” The woman in the hall sounded like she’d been crying. Dread tightened Sienna’s chest, and she ran across to open the door. The petite woman was one of the naturals, but Sienna couldn’t remember her name. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she held a tissue to her nose. “You must come to the square.”

“The square? What’s that and why?”

Fresh tears fell down the woman’s face, and Sienna knew without touching her face that more started in her own eyes. What the hell was going on in this place, and why did it affect her?”