Bonds of Fire: The Bellum Sisters 2 (paranormal erotic romance) (20 page)

Willow’s jeans wouldn’t button.

A smart woman might think it was because she’d just done the laundry and perhaps they shrunk some, but Willow was not feeling smart. She was feeling hysterical.

Try as she might, no matter how hard she sucked in her belly, her jeans would not fit. With a gargled scream of frustration, she tore the pants off and threw them at the wall.

“Oh, God.” The room spun in circles around her. She plopped down on the bed and closed her eyes until it stopped. “It’s just the laundry. That’s all.”

She heard the front door open and quickly ran to her bag to pull on some yoga pants. Just as she pulled them on Lyonis came into the room, a grim look on his face and a brown paper bag in his hand.

“Here,” he said gruffly and handed it to her.

“What’s this?” She opened the bag and saw a small white box inside. Her eyes bulged then she crushed the bag in her hand and threw it at his face. It bounced off his cheek and fell flatly to the ground.

“You need to take it.”

“A pregnancy test? You’ve got to be kidding me.” She was not pregnant.

Lyonis roughly combed his fingers through his hair. “Yes, you have to take it. We need to know if you’re pregnant.”

Willow gave him the dirtiest look she could muster. “I’m not peeing on that stick because I’m not pregnant.”

His jaw worked left and right. “You can’t be sure of that.”

Willow crossed her arms. “I can.”

“You’ll take that test or—”

“Or what,” she interrupted, “you’ll hold me over the toilet and make me pee?”

He seemed to grow bigger with anger, his body filling up even more of the room. “Fine but what do you plan to do about Amy’s challenge. Once accepted, it can’t be undone. That is unless you’re pregnant.”

Willow perked up at that. “If I’m pregnant then I don’t have to fight the she-bitch?” His lips twitched.

“Right.”

Willow pretended to think it over. “Well I’m not pregnant and I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on her.”

Lyonis was in front of her in a second, his arms banded around her. He was so damn warm it reminded her of being back in Florida. “You’d fight to be my mate?”

Willow choked. Face flushing; she looked anywhere but at him. “That’s not why I’m doing it.”

His laughter was soft and silky as he nuzzled her ear. “Then please enlighten me, mate. Why are you doing it?” Willow’s body softened, melting at his nearness. She closed her eyes and let her head fall to the side as his lips found her neck.

“I, uh, just want to beat her ass.” Again that laughter teased her, taunted her.

“Your response is true of any mate. All fated mates would happily fight for their partner. Have you accepted this, Willow? That you are mine. That you’ll be my wife.” His words were low, coaxing. She had to concentrate or else be lulled in by his hypnotic words.

“No,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I just don’t like her.” His arms swept down her body and cupped her bottom bringing her flush against him.

“I think you’re very wrong, Willow. And I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Willow moaned as he rocked her against him. God, he was always hard around her; she had no idea how he managed it. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit she liked it—lots. It was only because it made her feel powerful. She liked having this control over the big bad Alpha. And while she was mentally admitting things, she loved that he wanted her with such passion. If only she could stand to be with him. She knew what happened once that step was taken though.

“I couldn’t be prouder that you accepted the challenge. Whether you realize it or not, Willow, you’ve taken giant leaps towards becoming my mate.” His hands passed up her back then slid down and slipped under her shirt to play with the skin of her lower back. Willow’s breath caught as her pulse continued to pound louder and louder.

“That reminds me. I’ve heard of this first step. When I hugged you the other day.” Her breath stuttered as he rubbed her hips up and down before one hand covered her bare stomach. “Supposedly when someone hugs another it automatically makes you their mate.”

Lyonis laughed a deep, rough sound, then his teeth caught her lobe. Willow melted; her bones turned to jelly and if not for his arms, she would have slid into a puddle on the floor.

“You know it’s not quite like that. It’s what it signifies, Willow.”

His hot hand scorched a path up her stomach and paused below her breast. Her head shook left and right. Her breasts felt tight and heavy, swollen with only one possibly thing that could alleviate it—his touch.

“What do think it signifies?” She was surprised she could even form words let alone complete a sentence. Her tongue felt thick and heavy, her lips didn’t want to close, and she didn’t stop herself from arching her chest into him.

He didn’t relent nor give in. He continued to rub his thumb back and forth under the cup of her breast, getting closer and closer until he touched scant centimeters from it. Willow sighed and moaned as her breast tightened painfully, her nipple pulling into a tight, frustrated point.

“It signifies, my love, that you will be mine.” She had only a moment to gasp at the word ‘love’ before his mouth came down on hers and his hand molded her breast.

Willow was caught in the sensual web he weaved. Her hands shot into his hair and held on for dear life. His big hand squeezed her breast, never quite touching her aching nipple. Frustration at the possible pregnancy, at the situation with the demon and Stephanie, all came unleashed in a roaring haze.

Willow took over the kiss. Curling her hands into his short hair, she held on as she thrust her tongue in his mouth, tasting his heady flavor, licking the softness of his tongue. He groaned and the power of it vibrated from her lips to her sex as though he’d growled against her core.

Willow pictured him there, his lips and tongue tasting her sex—and she lost it. With a cry, she launched her legs around his hips, and pumped herself against the rock hard cock standing in his pants. Lyonis reacted just as she wanted. He growled against her lips and began pinching and rolling her hard nipple between his fingers. He wasn’t soft or gentle but tugged ruthlessly on her sending shards of hot arousal to her clit.

Willow claimed his mouth again, biting his lips, sucking his tongue deep into her mouth. His hands cupped her ass and squeezed before her back slammed into a wall. Willow couldn’t wait any longer; her sex was wet with need, her heart pounding like thunder.

He pulled back from her mouth to unbutton his jeans but Willow slapped his hands away to do it herself. She cupped his hard cock through his jeans, loving the hard thick length as it more than filled her palm. She stroked him up and down once before sliding his zipper down and pulling his thick erection out.

He felt even better in her hand, blazing hot and smooth as silk. She tightened her fist over him and dragged her palm up and down his shaft.

“Willow.” It was a warning, and she loved it.

“Lyonis.” As if she’d given him some kind of permission he yanked her pants down until they drooped around her ankles, then cupped her ass, lifted her back up, and speared her with his cock.

They both moaned as he filled her up, stretching her wide and filling her deep. He gave her no time to adjust before he was filling her again and again, slamming in hard and fast. Willow’s ass beat against the wall and she didn’t care. She fisted his hair again and slammed her mouth against his. He bumped some deep part of her, pushing her closer and closer to exploding.

She was insanely wet, making their sex noisy as he pressed in and out. His thick tongue thrust in her mouth in time to his thrusts and soon she was being fucked everywhere by him. Willow couldn’t stave off her orgasm. It boiled up and toppled over too fast for her to catch it.

Tearing her mouth away from his, she screamed as her orgasm ripped through her with astonishing speed. Muscles rippled and trembled, her sex milking his cock as he tunneled through her. Lyonis was right there with her. He buried his face in her neck on a groan, and then his teeth clamped down on her neck as he slammed in deep and held himself there.

Willow cried out again as she felt him shooting hot and deep inside her, pouring his seed into her. She rocked her hips back and forth on him trying to wring out every drop from him.

As their blood cooled, Lyonis slowly pulled out of him with a wet pop. He dragged his lips up her jaw and kissed her, his lips playfully. Willow felt lightheaded, elated. That is until he spoke.

“Mate with me.”

Shock stunned her. It was the first time he’d ever asked her and not demanded it or prophesized it like it was ordained to happen. He cupped her jaw and looked into her eyes; there was no escape.

“Please, mate with me. I want you more than anything. I crave you more than I ever thought possible. I need you, Willow. Please say you’ll be my mate.”

Willow’s mouth opened and closed as she quickly thought of what to say. As if seeing her denial, he rushed on.

“I promise to care for you, to love you. I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy. Just say yes.” It was as close to begging she’d bet he’d ever got. And Willow couldn’t bring herself to say yes.

Her mind raced with the possibilities. What was worse, the idea of mating with him wasn’t nearly as scary as it once was. Worse, a part of her jumped at the idea.

He pressed his forehead against hers and Willow softened even more. He would be great to her. She knew that.

But David said the same thing. Willow stiffened in his arms and fought until he put her down.

“I’m sorry but I can’t.” She couldn’t meet his eyes as she pulled her pants back up and pulled her shirt down. Her cheeks were flaming red and her stomach twittered with nerves. He didn’t answer for a long minute.

“Why don’t you think about it?” Willow’s heart did something surprising then. It rejoiced. She pressed a hand over it to control it. God what was wrong with her? Was she really considering this?

“Look at me, Willow.”

Slowly she dragged her gaze up to his. His eyes never ceased to make her think: beautiful. A lovely light blue like a clear sky yet brighter and more vivid.

“Promise me that you’ll at least think about it.”

Willow nodded before she could stop it. He hugged her tight. For a moment, she couldn’t believe she was actually considering it. But then it wasn’t that surprising. She actually...liked him.

“Just remember what I said.” He pressed his lips to hers one more time then left the room.

Willow collapsed against the wall, her heart roaring in her ears. She looked down at the ground and found the brown paper bag. Picking it up she pulled out the pregnancy test kit.

Her heart skipped a beat as she pressed a hand to her flat stomach.

“Are you in there?” she said softly.

She leaned back against the wall, her throat tight, and a strange excitement inside her.

* * *

“Jackie, wait up!” Jackie pretended not to hear him.

It didn’t work. Thane rounded on her, backing her against the wall. Quickly she threw up her hands to keep him away. A lot of good that did. He looked at her hands with laughter in his eyes...as if they could keep him away. He slapped them away and leaned into her, one big arm resting by the wall at her head.

“You’ve been running from me for days now. Why do you think that is?”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “I haven’t been running from anything. I’ve been doing this thing called work. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” The corner of his mouth tilted up. It gave her the distinct felling he didn’t believe a word that just came out of her mouth. Funny, neither did she.

“Little liar. You can’t act like the other night didn’t happen.”

She sighed. “Nothing happened as far as I’m concerned. Why don’t you back the hell up? Stephanie’s waiting in the office to get interviewed. You know...by us.”

Jackie used all of her strength and pushed his shoulders in a hard shove. He went stumbling back and she strutted away towards the office. If he thought she was some untrained free bitch, then he was wrong—and stupid. She was as well trained as he was.

Booted feet pounded after her. “We’re going to talk about this.”

“No were not,” she said quickly.

“God dammit, Jackie. We have to.”

That stopped her. It wasn’t what he said, but the desperation in his voice, something she’d never heard from him. Slowly turning around, she crossed her arms. She’d need every ounce of defense against him.

“Alright, go ahead.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it. As he fumbled around for words, he combed a hand roughly through his long black hair. Jackie followed the movement. She’d never thought much about his hair before. Sure she’d thought it was nice looking, but now it was different. She’d actually touched it in her bare hands. She’d gripped the heavy strands, which she now knew were soft as silk, long enough to wrap around her hand several times.

She blinked as she realized he’d said something.

“Sorry, what?” His eyes darkened in a way that sent butterflies scurrying in her belly. He started towards her. Jackie told herself to back up, but she was glued in place. He caught her against him. His arms so strong and long they seemed to cover her up completely.