“Sounds like one of our Hunters needs to learn respect for authority. I hope Ta’breyian has some strong words for him because he doesn’t want to deal with me.”
“He’ll be punished for his actions, I can assure you. Ta’breyian will check it out, don’t worry.”
“I should go.” Dane didn’t have time to deal with this right now.
“I smell her on you. Did you finally change her?” Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. I’ve mated her.”
“I’m pleased that you’ve finally decided to listen to our counsel. Where is she? I should like to meet her,” Marcus replied. He was dressed in black fatigues and his hair was pulled back.
“Why are you dressed as if preparing for battle?”
“There are other issues I must deal with besides this one. Don’t worry, it’s under control. So where is she?”
“She hasn’t completed her transformation yet,” Dane responded matter-of-factly. “I’ll bring her here once the danger has passed.”
“What do you mean? You didn’t leave your female unprotected while she’s most vulnerable?”
“She’s with friends I trust to keep her safe while I’m gone.”
“Her pain will be great. It’s not wise, especially since you’re the only one who can relieve her suffering.”
“I don’t intend to be gone very long.” Dane stiffened. “She begged me to retrieve a cell phone so she can get in contact with someone who might be in danger. She had a terrible dream about her. It frightened her so much that she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Ah, very interesting. I wonder if she’s a gifted one.” Marcus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Tell me about this dream.”
Dane didn’t have time for this but maybe Marcus could make sense of it. “She dreamt that her friend was taken by Rogues and was turned into one of them.”
“It sounds like it could be a vision, perhaps. We can’t know for sure until she fully transforms.” Marcus frowned. “Not good if it’s true. Her friend would have to be destroyed if this happened.”
“I’m hoping it was nothing more than a bad dream. I must go. I need to retrieve one of my untraceable cell phones and get back. I’ve been gone long enough.” He was really beginning to worry. What if Jenny was a gifted one? Her life would be plagued with ghastly visions. He hoped for her sake that she wasn’t. His skin began to tingle and he feared what he might return to.
“Dane, I will put the teams on alert. Get back to your mate.”
“Make sure they keep an eye on Central Park. That’s where her dream took place.”
“Very well. Be careful,” Marcus replied.
Dane nodded and traced to his office to retrieve a phone. He was anxious to get back to Jenny.
Jenny curled up in a ball on the couch as the level of pain increased by the minute, causing her to shake uncontrollably. Her skin felt as if it were on fire and her insides were as cold as ice. The competing sensations were maddening.
“Jenny, what can I do? I feel helpless.” Ivanna gently rubbed her.
“Don’t touch me, it hurts.” She hugged her knees tighter.
“Right, sorry—can we give her something for the pain?” Ivanna frowned.
“There’s nothing anyone can do for her. Only Dane can relieve her suffering now. But she sent him away. Foolish human,” Dmitri muttered.
“Stop it! Bring her another blanket,” Ivanna snapped.
“I-I’ll be fine.” Jenny’s teeth clattered together. She was trying hard to be brave but if Dane didn’t return soon, she was going to lose it because the pain was becoming unbearable. Marley was worth a little suffering to make sure she was safe.
“Fine.” He went over to the other couch and took the afghan to place over Jenny.
“Don’t listen to him. You’re very brave.” Ivanna’s tone was soothing as she tried to reassure her.
“Thanks for the confidence but I don’t feel heroic at the moment.” Jenny was suddenly chilled to the bone when a moment before her skin had been on fire.
“There must be something we can do.” Ivanna draped another blanket over her.
“Like what? She’s going through the change,” Dmitri replied.
Jenny cried out, “It really hurts. Do you know how long this part is supposed to last?”
“I’m not sure. A few hours maybe,” he said.
“I’m not going to last a few hours, it’s like someone poured gasoline over me and lit a match.” Panic set in as a sudden surge of heat enveloped her and she fought to suck in air.
“You have no choice,” he replied with no compassion.
“Leave us if you can’t be supportive.” Ivanna glared at him.
“I’m not going anywhere. If the pain gets worse, she may try to run and Dane would kill me if I let anything happen to her.”
“Fair enough but keep your comments to yourself.”
Dmitri nodded and stood next to the couch.
Jenny knew she was losing it. “It’s burning…can’t-take-more,” she bit out.
“Should we take her outside to the snow perhaps? Maybe it will relieve the burning sensation,” Mischa suggested.
That sounded like a great idea to Jenny. “Need to go outside.” She jumped off the couch and sprinted for the door.
“No!” Dmitri lunged, tackling her to the ground.
“Get off me.” She kicked and screamed at the big Russian male.
“I’m not going to chase you through the fucking snow. You’re staying inside.”
“Let go of me, asshole!” She fought back, clawing at his flesh, her ability to cope gone.
“Help me hold her down.”
“You’re killing me,” she howled. Didn’t they care that she was burning up inside? The snow would soothe her. She had to get away.
“Jenny, please quit fighting my mate when he’s trying to help you.” Ivanna wrenched Jenny’s arm behind her.
Memories of her childhood suddenly surfaced. Dad used to like to burn cigarettes against her flesh as punishment for some unknown offense. After he was done, he’d made her sit there in agony while he laughed at her. Sometimes he’d have her siblings hold her down while he did it.
Just like now
.
“Fuck you. I won’t let you hurt me anymore!” No one would.
Then, as if it were an answer to her silent plea, Dane materialized.
“Jenny!” Dane’s expression was alarmed. But she knew he’d make it better. Take her away from these bastards who were hurting her.
“Let her go,” Dmitri said to Ivanna. They released her and she jumped into Dane’s arms, hoping for relief. But the pain increased at even the slightest pressure against her skin, causing her to recoil from his embrace.
“You’re evil like them. Let me go!” She reared back but he held on tightly.
“Shh…babe, I know it hurts.”
He was a deliverer of pain. An abuser, that’s what he was. His soothing words were a ploy to throw her off. “You don’t care. If you did you’d let me go.”
“I’ll fix it, I promise.” His voice sounded strained.
“She was trying to take off so we had to restrain her.” Dmitri glanced at her.
Of course I was trying to get away. They wouldn’t listen. No one would. Oh god, make it stop.
“Thanks for your help. I must go,” Dane replied. Where was he taking her?
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” She kicked and clawed at him in an attempt to get away.
Dane ignored her protests and quickly traced with her back to his cabin. He released her and she scrambled away from him.
“What do you think you’re doing? Stay away from me, you bastard.” She hissed at him when he began removing his clothes.
“Let me help you.” He reached for her again and missed. This wasn’t going to be easy with her in this state of mind.
“Are you crazy? I’m not having sex with you.” Her eyes were wild with the pain that racked her.
“You must. It will ease your suffering.” He reached for her again, realizing he might have to force the issue because she was beyond reason.
“Stay back!” Her eyes darted back and forth. He understood all too well the magnitude of what she experienced and it wasn’t pleasant. Hopefully he could do something about it now.
“Calm, my love. Trust me, this will help. I swear to you.” He held out his hand to her. She watched him warily as if she might accept his aid. It was now or never. He had hoped the logical part of her mind would understand he was only trying to help her.
“You bastard!” She tried to fight him off when he tackled her. But he easily overpowered her by sheer weight and size.
“Forgive me, Jenny, but it’s the only way.” He ripped off her clothes as she continued to struggle, groaning when their skin made contact. Shit. He didn’t mean to do that.
She screamed, thrashing against him. “I hate you.”
Her words stung but he ignored her protests because he knew it was the only way to stop the pain. He pinned her arms above her head, dipping forward to capture a pink nipple in his mouth, swirling over it with his tongue.
“Stop it, please,” she wailed.
He released her flesh, realizing the time had passed for any kind of foreplay to prepare her body to take him. Even the slightest touch hurt. Shit, maybe if he entered her it might lessen her agony. “I’m sorry. There’s no time to prepare you for what I’m about to do, my love. We’ve waited too long. I have to take you now.” He held her down, spreading her thighs with his, and pressed the crown of his cock against the seam of her pussy. She tried to squirm away when he surged forward.
Dane closed his eyes to center his thoughts, trying to hold back. It wasn’t easy with her sex wet and hot, seizing around him. The pleasure was so intense he feared he might hurt her if he didn’t find a way to control his response.
I need to bring her to orgasm.
After licking the side of her neck, he bit down.
She cried out. Her vaginal walls immediately clamped down around him. Was that a cry of pain? He tensed, trying to control the urge to pump his hips, no matter how strong his desire was.
“D-don’t stop.” She rolled her hips and shuddered. Her movement threatened to undermine his restraint.
“Are you sure?” He gritted his teeth.
I
c
an’t resist.
He buried himself balls-deep with one brutal thrust. Another cry escaped her lips. He froze as a searing wave of pleasure crashed over him.
“Jenny,” he rasped, releasing her neck. Alarm over the idea that he might’ve increased her discomfort cooled the terrible yearning. He’d never have taken her this way if there were any other options.
“P-Please, you c-can’t s-stop. It’s helping,” she stuttered, her eyes wide with relief.
“Are you sure?” He was so damn sorry for doing this to her.
“Keep going.” She clutched his bare ass as if to draw him deeper.
“Like this?” He nuzzled her neck, slowly moving inside her heat.
“Yessss…” She spread her legs wider, gripping his ass cheeks, urging him to fuck her harder.
Dane sucked in air as pleasure shot up his spine. He couldn’t hold back any longer and gave in to the glorious sensations. He seized her hips, thrusting over and over until he slid over the edge, his release pouring into her.
“Are you still in pain?” He slowed, still worried about her condition.
Her brow was covered with a fine sheen of sweat and her coloring wasn’t good. This displeased him. But forcing her to drink right now probably wasn’t the best idea. There was still time. She’d been through enough of an ordeal, so why put her through more? He’d seen fear in those eyes when he first arrived back at the cabin. That’s not how he’d planned for this to play out.
“The pain’s coming back.” She sounded frightened at the prospect. He wasn’t going to let her go there again. Not when he could stop it.
“Ride me.” He flipped her over while he was still inside her. She gripped his powerful chest and slid down his shaft until she was fully seated. He thrust upward, stirring his hips.
Damn, she feels too good.
“Oh god, yes!” She writhed, squeezing his rigid length. She jerked and twitched each time he thrust upward. He could tell it was working.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you earlier. I’d never force-mate you if there was another way,” he bit out.
“If you want to make it up to me, keep going.”
“With pleasure.” He drove into her. The ecstasy sent both of them over the edge into another climax.
“Thank you.” She kissed his lips.
“It will never happen again.” He slowed his movement and gazed into her eyes.
“You did what you had to do to help me. Besides, the pain was so bad I wasn’t myself anymore.”
“I shouldn’t have left you.” He was pissed for not protecting her better.
“It’s not your fault. I sent you away, remember?” She pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“I knew what to expect this close to the change. You didn’t.”
“Stop blaming yourself and make love to me again.” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“Why are you crying? Did I upset you?” He cupped her cheeks. This was supposed to be their bonding and he kept fucking it up.
“I need you right now. Forget the rest.”
“Okay. Tell me what you want, your choice.” He smiled, hoping to lighten the atmosphere between them.
“I want you to bite me again,” she said. He noticed that her cheeks turned the most delicious shade of pink when she was embarrassed. She didn’t need to be shy about her needs. Not with him.
“Tell me where.” He raised an eyebrow playfully.
“L-Like you did the first time.”
“Show me!” His voice grew deeper. He knew where.
“I want you to bite me here.” She sat up and rubbed her fingers between her wet folds. He followed her movement as she drew circles around her clit.
“Come here.” He lifted her and slid down the bed until her pussy hovered only inches above his face. He gripped her bottom, placing her slick heat inches above his mouth. He spread her open with a groan. “Your smell is intoxicating.”
He parted her weeping flesh to run his tongue across the hood of her clit.
“Dane!” She jerked forward and dug her nails into the bedding. He loved how she ground her pussy against his mouth.
His fangs slid forward and sank into her flesh while he continued to lap at the swollen nub. He allowed her blood to flow down his throat and he couldn’t resist one greedy tug. Her body shuddered and writhed as he withdrew his fangs and tunneled his tongue inside her channel to draw out the intensity of her orgasm. He wanted more but decided against it.
Their joining was different. More than sex—emotional, spiritual, physical…all tied together as one. Could he be in love?
“Why did you stop?” Her expression of disappointment surprised him.
“I have to. I don’t want to weaken you more by taking too much blood when you haven’t fed yet.” He licked his lips. She made it hard to resist those words. He enjoyed taking nourishment from her more than he’d ever thought possible. But first he had to convince her to do the same.
“Take as much as you like because that feels really good.”
“You liked that, did you?” He winked at her.
“I did.” She settled against him, resting her cheek on his chest.
He used his fingers to slowly massage her back. She still didn’t look well and he began to worry. What if something happened to her?
He couldn’t allow his thoughts to take that direction.
Maybe that’s what love is, this all-consuming response to another person’s well-being that keeps you thinking of little else. It’s time to finish this process. No more waiting.
“You’re weak. I should’ve stopped sooner.” He brushed a kiss on the top of hair.
“I’m fine.” Her response sounded listless.