Fox, Morgan - Tempted by the Moon [Moonlight Shifters 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (9 page)

“No,” Jonah growled. He’d die before he let his brother use Brie like a piece of meat. How could Sebastian not see that what he sought would hurt her? He could easily kill her if he lost control.

“I won’t let you use Brie like that. I won’t let you fuck her just because you can’t control your wolf.”

“Who do you think you are, telling me what you won’t let me do? I could rip your heart out of your chest without even breaking a sweat, little pup.” Sebastian’s guttural tone left an icy chill running up and down Jonah’s spine.

“You could try.” Jonah’s intense stare burned hot from his eyes. He would stand his ground, and if it meant his death, then so be it. Brie would be safe, even if it killed him.

“Are you challenging me, little brother? Do you wish to be alpha? If this is what you want, you’ll have to kill me, you know.”

Jonah shook his head, pushing his chest out, the bones in his back going ramrod straight. He said plainly, “No, I don’t want to be alpha. I’ve never wanted to be alpha. I just want to protect Brie. She’s our mate, brother. And I have just as much right to protect her as you do, and right now I’m protecting her from
you
.” He stepped closer to Sebastian. “I’ll fight you if I have to, but I would prefer that you realize what you were planning would only hurt her, and because you love her you’ll reconsider.”

Jonah moved to stand beside Sebastian, careful not to look as though he was coming with the intention of physically fighting him. He held his brother’s blistering stare. “If our roles had changed and I was experiencing what you are, would you let me use Brie the way you’re suggesting? Would you let me ravage her body the way your wolf would do? You are so out of control you could turn during sex and kill her. You would claw and bite her to death. Do you want to risk doing that to the woman you claim to love?”

Sebastian breathed hard, his chest rising and falling in exaggerated movements. “No,” he replied quickly, and his answer was a relief to Jonah.

Honestly, Jonah didn’t know what to do with his brother, or he didn’t know what Sebastian would do if he got close to Brie again. He couldn’t risk either one getting hurt. What Jonah saw in his brother’s eyes wasn’t normal mating heat. It was something else. His gut twisted at the thought that something awful was happening to his brother.

“What happened to you while you were away?”

Sebastian pushed passed Jonah, shouldering him out of the way. Jonah turned to face him. “Where are you going?”

“Out of here.” He mumbled. “I need to get away before I destroy everything in sight. I need to run.”

“Are you sure turning into the wolf is a good idea?”

“I don’t have a fucking clue,” Sebastian snapped. “But if I stay here, I will seek Brie out, and I will have her whether you want me to or not.” He growled, the tension of his thoughts sprawled across his face. “Her scent is everywhere, and I can’t bear it any longer.” He turned and stripped his clothes from his body.

Transformation complete, the large white wolf emerged and ran into the darkness of night, disappearing into shadows.

* * * *

Brie woke to the sound of harsh breathing, almost like a thunderous purr. The fine hair on her arms and neck stood on end. She nuzzled against her pillow, grasping the blanket tight to her chest, while her eyes sought out the noise coming from the depths of the room.

“Who’s there?” she called out, hoping that it was just her sleepy mind playing tricks on her.

Panic gripped hold of her heart. She didn’t need another attack from Mason Levi. She didn’t need to once again feel the vulnerability of being powerless, trapped at the edge of death. That was the last thing she wanted to feel.

Pushing up onto her elbows, she glanced around the room, circling the area in a strategic pattern. Her eyes swept from the door, over furnishings, seeking out every shape, until her vision settled on the massive image huddled in front of the doors leading to the balcony. Eyes rounded, mouth dry, she swallowed hard.

The sheer white curtains danced as the cool night air drifted into the room. She remembered closing those doors before falling asleep. She didn’t sleep with windows or doors open ever. Now the doors were open, and a large figure filled the empty space.

Shimmering silver eyes gleamed out at her. She froze, unable to breathe. Trapped by fear, she stared back at the mystical eyes, praying she was about to wake from a nightmare—a terror-filled nightmare that brought feelings of certain death.

Then a wave of warmth surged into her body and mind, heating her up from the inside out. A euphoric sensation pulled at her heart and eased her panicked mind. She recognized the warmth and knew it instantly.

“Do not fear me, Brie.”

Sebastian?

Her heart revved up at the thought of him standing like welcoming death. Something was wrong. What was he doing here lurking in the dark like a predator? She sucked in a sharp breath. Why were his eyes glowing?

Voice trembling, she admitted, “It’s hard not to be afraid when all I can see is your glowing eyes. You’re fighting the wolf transformation, aren’t you, Sebastian?”

Large, menacing hands widened at his sides, and she took note of his knifelike claws. “Yes,” he responded, voice scraping against his throat, sounding more beast then man.

Oh God
.
What am I going to do? What does he want from me? Duh, what else would a feral wolf want with his mate.

Her thoughts moved to Jonah. Silently, she begged for him to come to her, help her understand what was happening to Sebastian. The man she loved, cared for—feared.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be here.” She pushed up from her elbows and sat up straight. Her breathing grew heavier.

His voice was a deep rumble as he told her, “You’re right, but I can’t make myself leave.”

Oh, shit.
What the hell did that mean? “What do you want, Sebastian? Why are you standing there in the dark? How did you get in here?”

He didn’t speak. Instead, he took one step forward then froze his advancement as if resisting the urge to get closer to her. Both of his hands dove through the tangled waves of his dark hair. Shadows and light danced along the silhouette of his body.

Turning, she caught a glimpse of his sweat-covered, glistening torso. He was naked. At least she assumed he was. She could only guess that he was not wearing pants either. She didn’t have to see it to know that he had come to her as the wolf, using her balcony as a means of entering her room.

Heart pumping fast in her chest, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Brooding shoulders had her wondering why he was there. Why he wouldn’t come near her? Why he sounded like the feral beast and not the man she’d spent the last four years in love with? Something was terribly wrong with the man she loved—something that told her he was struggling to come to terms with it just as she was.

Clutching the blanket to her chest, she begged him to tell her something, anything to help her understand what was going on. Why he had come to her like this. “Sebastian, please tell me what’s wrong with you. What’s going on?”

The silver in his eyes flickered, and a spot of red filled her vision, but only momentarily. She blinked, wondering if what she saw was real or if it was just her imagination. Fear was running wild in her mind, blood surging through her like a raging waterfall.

Perhaps it was just her heightened emotions and her overactive imagination, but she swore she smelled blood in the air—blood that didn’t belong to her.

* * * *

Sebastian had stared at her as she lay in peaceful dreams. He had run through the forest for hours, praying that the jolt of physical release would calm his wild spirit. The mating heat was driving him crazy, as was something else—something that left his body boiling with fever and mind full of fury. He wanted to kill, attack. The need to fight was at the forefront of his mind. He didn’t know why he felt this way, but the sensations were enough to make him scared he would hurt Brie if he tried to make love to her.

He hoped with all his heart that exhausting his beast would allow him a moment of peace in her arms. Brie had a way of calming him with just a simple touch of her hand. Her sweetness was enough to ease the pain that ravaged his mind. At least it had been earlier when he’d been murderous with rage over Ryken’s teasing and each and every time they’d made love.

Glancing at her wide-eyed expression, he knew she was frightened of him, and damn it, he never wanted to see her that way. He hadn’t imagined that he would be the one to cause her such discomfort. He was chosen to protect her, love her, and cherish her for all times. She was his mate. The only woman he would ever love. The most precious creature he’d ever seen.

Even knowing that the woman lying on the bed in front of him was terrified, he still couldn’t resist the urge to reach out to her—touch her. He took another step towards her and watched as she gathered the blanket tighter against her chest.

Lust filled his head and his cock swelled. The beast growled inside his head, demanding things—lustful things. He was going to fuck her, taste her—he couldn’t get enough of her. Salvation would be found in the depths of her body, he told himself. She was his, and he needed to be buried inside her as deep as he cock could go. Only she could ease the pain that tormented his body and mind. Only her—his Brie.

Taking another step, he heard her gasp for breath. She was well aware of what he wanted. He could smell it. Her arousal so thick he could taste it in the air he sucked into his lungs. Her delicious honey was driving him mad.

The beast roared again inside his head. Another step. Slowly he moved around the bed, his chest heaving in gulps of air. Licking his lips, knee pressing into the soft mattress, he closed in on her.

Crawling on hands and knees, he called to her, “Brie, lower the blanket.” He settled his weight on the bed.

She shook her head. Her rounded eyes revealed her hesitation.

In a more commanding voice, he ordered, “Brie, remove the goddamn blanket.”

She shook her head again. “No, Sebastian. I can’t. Not like this. Something’s terribly wrong. I can feel it.”

Fury laced his every thought.
She’s denying you
, his mind screamed.
Don’t let her deny you.
You are her master.

Closing the distance, fingers and claws gripped the blanket and yanked, pulling the fabric down. Then he was on her, blocking her scream with his ferocious kiss. His teeth scraped against hers as he possessed her mouth, his tongue probed into the wet depths. She pushed against him, but he simply ignored her feeble attempts. She was no match for his strength, and he would have her. Oh yes, he would have her—all of her.

Tearing at the night-shirt she wore, he bared her before him in seconds. Miraculously, he hadn’t harmed her flesh. Her perfect alabaster skin lay beneath his hungry gaze.

He tore his mouth away and kissed along her chin and neck, licked against her sweet flesh like a tender morsel he was dying to devour. She squirmed against his hold, and he liked it—her writhing, quivering body stroking against his.

Brie’s resistance faltered and he craved her willingness to be with him—a mating instinct. The beast was on the edge now, looking down at the woman he was prepared to sink into. He could smell that she was wet and ready for him. Her arousal revealed the truth as he pushed his fingers into the heat of her slick folds. “Damn,” he groaned as he dipped one finger inside her, then another.

“Goddamn, you’re wet. You want the beast to fuck you, don’t you Brie. You might say otherwise, but your body knows its mate—craves me, hungers for me. You want me just as much as I want you.” He removed his fingers from her slick pussy and licked them clean, groaning in satisfaction. She tasted so damn good it was better than anything he’d ever sampled.

“I’ll always want you, Sebastian,” she moaned as he positioned himself between her legs and ground his hips against her pussy.