Built for Lust (7 page)

Now, she hung behind the others, but not from exhaustion. Swishing her tail seductively, she sent him a clear message. She had a different sort of chase in mind. The knowledge went right to his gut, sending his imagination into overdrive. He hadn’t had much self-awareness the first time they’d mated as wolves. He’d been little more than a machine. Now, he could experience her as a living being. One who had tied himself to her for life or longer. One who loved her more than ought to be possible for a mortal creature.

As he watched her hindquarters, the fever built inside him. Her scent reached to him, pulling him along after her. The clever thing meant to lead him on a chase, obviously, as she sped ahead, launching herself over fallen logs. She leapt higher than she needed to, showing off her strength and grace, dazzling him with her beauty. Fine. Let her tantalize him. She’d pay a price for that when he caught her, and they’d both enjoy the consequences.

On and on they went. Faster now, until blood rushed in his ears. With each bound, the hunger grew stronger until it formed a chant in rhythm with his steps.
Want, want, want, want
.

He could overpower her if he wanted. He could launch himself on her and sink his teeth into the fur at the back of her neck while he slammed his cock into her. The waiting would make them wild for each other and the eventual rut more intense.

Just when he couldn’t endure another moment, another stride, without burying himself in her, she skirted around a tree into a large ring of redwoods. He plunged after her to find nothing but ferns that reached to his shoulders. Greenery everywhere, but no wolf and no sounds of her running away from the other side. She’d disappeared but somehow had left her scent behind. He breathed it in, and just smelling her almost made him come on the spot. She must be here. He hadn’t chased her all this way, needing her desperately the whole time, only to have her disappear. Not possible.

The ferns next to him shifted, and something wet and scratchy made a long pass over his aching member. He yelped at the shock and nearly lost his balance. Cara had crouched in the greenery around him, and now she was licking him all the way from his balls along his shaft.

Mount
, his mind shrieked.
Ass. Now
.

As if she’d heard him, she rose and presented her hindquarters, lifting her tail out of his way. He climbed onto her, clutching her sides with his paws, and shoved his member into her wetness.

Born or built, he’d been created for this moment. He surged forward, retreated, and then filled her again. His hips kept moving, and he couldn’t have stopped if he wanted to. Her flanks shook as she held herself still for his penetration, and she tipped her head back to let out a cry of delight.

No more chasing. No more coyness or flirtation. This was sex at its most elemental. Cock. Pussy. Giving. Taking.

Shift
!

He hadn’t thought that. She must have, and he heard it with a part of his mind she occupied. As her fur disappeared and her limbs grew longer and less muscular, his body mirrored hers, and they changed together. Now human, his hands held the soft skin of her hips and he moved in and out of her slick chamber. He could watch his huge human member, its crimson color signaling how close he’d come to orgasm, as it slid in and out of her wetness. An unbelievable sight. So erotic it burned itself into his mind. She strained backward to meet his thrusts, as eager as he was for the plunder. This magnificent woman wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Now, he could bend and run his hands all over her body. He reached around to fondle her breasts and stroke the nipples into tight peaks.

“Gray!” she shouted. “Oh, don’t stop. Fuck me.”

He moved his hands lower along her body, over her ribs to her belly. When his fingers found the curls that covered her sex, he probed for the lips and parted them. Her clit was stiff and swollen. Easy to find. When he rubbed it, she sucked in a breath, and her whole body trembled.

“God, yes,” she gasped. “I’m going to… oh, don’t stop… I’m going to…”

She shrieked as the orgasm claimed her. Her muscles gripped him, snapping the last shred of his control. He came with her as her sex continued convulsing around his. Hot lust shot from him in waves, and she took it all. They passed life between them. And love. And the promise that they’d never separate, not even in death.

When they’d finished and he had no strength to remain upright, they collapsed together against a blanket of crushed ferns. He did manage to roll them onto their sides and clutch her to him, spoon-fashion. His pulse still thundered in his ears, and from where his hand lay between her breasts his fingers detected the fluttering of her heart. His own heart felt as if it would shatter, and he took an unsteady breath. What he’d found was so precious, so irreplaceable, he’d die if he lost it. So, he’d have to make sure he kept her safe and happy and with him always.

She stretched. “I can’t tell if you’re a better lover as a wolf or a man.”

“We can keep trying both ways until you figure it out.”

“I think you’re right about something.”

He nibbled at her earlobe. “What would that be?”

She lay perfectly still for a moment. “I think I’m pregnant.”

“Cara.” He tugged at her shoulders, urging her to turn, until she faced him and he could stare down into her warm brown eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Not completely.” She bit her lip. “But, I feel… well… different. More complete.”

“Does it feel good?” He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

“Miraculous. Oh, Gray, I love you so much.”

His chest threatened to split open with joy, and maybe -- just maybe -- his vision swam. “You’ve never said that to me before.”

Her eyes widened. “I must have.”

“Nope. I’ve been paying close attention.”

“I’m so stupid sometimes.”

“Never.” He kissed her. Softly, to savor the sweetness of her mouth. After all the passion they’d shared, the gentleness finally sealed the deal. She was his mate, his life. He’d never be parted from her again. Even in death, their souls would remain connected.

When he ended the kiss, lifting his face away from hers, she smiled up at him with such love in her eyes, he nearly did weep. Before he totally lost control of his emotions, she laughed and tugged something from his hair. A twig from the redwood above them, complete with one of the tiny cones that held the huge tree’s seeds.

“We’d better get back before the others come searching for us,” she said.

“And tell them the good news?”

“That I’m pregnant?” she asked.

“They’ll want to know.”

She pushed him aside and sat up. “Not yet.”

“When? You’ll start showing soon.”

“I don’t know.” Her shoulders knotted with tension. “Not now.”

“Cara, why?”

For several moments, she didn’t answer but only stared off into the forest. She finally sighed. “I still don’t feel… I’m not really… I don’t fit in.”

“Because you don’t have a special ability?”

“Well, I don’t,” she muttered.

“You’ve created life.” He draped an arm over her shoulder. “Inside you.”

“Any female can do that,” she answered.

“Only you could make my child,” he said.

“All right.” She put her palm against the side of his face. “We’ll tell them. Just not right now.”

He took her hand and kissed the palm. “I love you, mate.”

Chapter Four

The pounding rattled the window of the cabin door. “Cara? Gray?”

Cara sat up in the small bed she shared with her mate and glanced at the clock. Almost two am. “Coming.”

“Cara?” Ilse’s voice called, even louder. More pounding followed.

“All right. I’m coming.” Cara grabbed a robe just as Gray sat up in bed.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. Ilse sounds upset.”

“I’ll come, too.”

Cara left the bedroom and went to the door. Her sister stood on the other side, and when she opened it, Ilse pushed inside, a huge flashlight in her hand.

“It’s Tommy,” Ilse said. “He’s missing. Hasn’t been in his bed for hours.”

Gray entered, still settling his robe into place. “Any clue where he’s gone?”

“Ricky says he kept talking about Grayland and how he wanted to kill one of those birds and bring it home,” Ilse answered.

“Shit,” Gray cursed. “I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault,” Ilse answered. “He’s a good kid but headstrong. Hard to control.”

“We’ll get him back,” Gray said.

“You bet we will,” Cara added.

“Not you, Cara,” Gray ordered. “You’re staying here.”

Cara glared at him. “I will not.”

“I won’t have you risking the baby,” he said.

“Baby?” Ilse repeated.

“Cara’s pregnant, and she’s going to stay here and be safe,” he said.

“This is why I built a mechanical mate,” she said. “I am not taking orders from you.”

Ilse glanced from Cara to Gray and back. “Maybe he’s right.”

“Like hell. Tommy’s my nephew. No one can keep me from helping to find him.”

“Cara…” Gray’s voice came out like a snarl.

“I mean it. If you leave me behind I’ll follow.”

“We’ll all go,” Ilse concluded. “But let’s do it.”

Gray wagged a finger toward Cara. “You stay with me.”

“Joe’s organizing everyone,” Ilse said.

Gray nodded and headed outside. When Cara made to follow, Ilse caught her arm. “There’s something I haven’t told the others. I’m sensing Tommy out there, but only weakly.”

“He must have gotten far away,” Cara said.

“Or…” Ilse didn’t have to finish that sentence. They both knew what she meant. Tommy might be hurt, bad enough that his life force was slipping away. If so, they’d have to get to him quickly so his mother could heal him.

“Gray’s right.” Cara squeezed Ilse’s arm. “We’ll find him.”

“Let’s go.”

By the time they joined the group, the others had all shifted. Ilse and Cara shed their clothing and did the same. With Bess watching the two young ones, they had seven adult wolves, strong enough to cover distance quickly and with senses of smell acute enough to pick up Tommy’s scent as they went. Plus, they had Ilse’s ability to detect Tommy from even farther away. If anyone could find the wolfling, they would.

They ran almost silently through the forest. Even on the brightest day, the redwoods cast much of the land into deep shade. After dark, only a patch of moonlight here and there marked their way. Cara’s sensitive ears picked up the sounds of her pack mates and the breathing of Gray beside her as they went. Even after several long minutes, she found no trace of Tommy’s scent, and they seemed no closer to their goal. Though none of them questioned Ilse’s second sight, they could have been going in circles for all Cara could tell. Luckily, the rest didn’t know that Ilse was having trouble sensing Tommy. Worry wouldn’t help. Better they think all was well.

As much as Cara would have denied it, she didn’t have her normal strength and was beginning to tire. Gray slowed his pace to stay with her, and his silver eyes showed concern. Screw that. She wouldn’t let him be right about telling her to stay behind, so she kicked into high gear. Fighting for breath, she surged ahead. She had to prick up her ears to catch the sounds of the rest of the pack in the distance, but eventually, she got close enough to spot them.

The other five stood in a moonlit clearing, their chests heaving as they panted for breath. Ilse’s black fur stood almost on end over her shoulders. A sure sign of extreme upset. Cara trotted up to her, and Ilse’s eyes showed pure terror. She’d lost Tommy -- couldn’t sense him at all -- and there was only one reason for that. The worst had happened.

His mother, Ruth, let loose a terrible howl. A cry of mourning, of a heart tearing apart. Joe snarled at her and prowled back and forth, the way he always did when he couldn’t control something. For a moment, Peter stood with his snout raised, sniffing the air in all directions. Finally, he lowered his head, and his shoulders sagged.

No. This could not be happening. They couldn’t have lost Tommy. The pack’s oldest child, the reason for such celebration at his birth. Old wolves died, not cubs. He was the next generation, their link to the future. They couldn’t go back without him. The death would kill their mother, figuratively if not literally. Cara couldn’t have life inside her body only to lose the first-born and maybe her mother as well.

Desperately, she searched for Tommy’s scent. Even if Ilse’s ability had failed them, the child had to have left some evidence of having come this way.

Now, what had felt like weakness turned to strength as another being inside her -- another new spark of love and life -- united with her. Somehow, she and her cub together searched for Tommy, systematically turning a step at a time as they sampled the air. Gray watched out of silver eyes as she did it, his gaze wary. He couldn’t understand and wouldn’t until he held the child in his arms. Maybe she’d explain later, but for now, her mate’s worry didn’t matter as much as finding her brother’s son.

There! She caught it. Just the faintest whiff, but real. Tommy. No doubt about it. She charged off. Although Gray tried to catch her hind leg in his teeth to stop her, she got away and ran, all the while testing the air for the right direction. Her mate came crashing after her. Fine. He could help, but he couldn’t stop her.

Now, she flew like the wind with no thought or sign of weakness. Her whole life, she hadn’t added anything unique to this pack. She’d been a sister and a daughter but nothing more. Tonight, she’d do what the rest of them couldn’t. Not the healer nor the fire starter nor the visionary could find their wolfling, but she could. She crashed through underbrush but kept going at top speed. She might run smack into a tree with bad luck, but she’d take the bruises and keep going. For once, she had a real purpose, something she needed more than the others. Maybe even more than Tommy.

The scent kept getting clearer. Either her sense had grown stronger, or she was getting closer to the child. Either way, she was headed in the right direction. She pushed on harder, exceeding her own maximum speed. The run took on a life of its own -- forelegs pulling at the ground and then hind legs shoving her forward. She was flying, honest-to-God flying. Dashing from light to dark and then light again. She bounded over a log and entered deeper darkness. Here, she couldn’t make out anything in front of her. Suddenly, the ground slipped out from under her feet. She struggled for balance and lost, rolling and skidding downward.

Ravine. She’d tumbled into a ravine. Tommy had fallen here before her. The knowledge seared into her brain as she continued, rocks scraping against her. Down and down, as if the descent would never end. Gray had been right. She should have stayed behind, and now, her child would suffer if she didn’t die herself.

I’m sorry
, she called to him, if only he could hear her.
I love you
.

She did hit bottom finally, landing on soft redwood duff next to a stream that rustled softly as it went by. She lay perfectly still for a moment, listening to her heartbeat roar in her ears. And to something much softer -- the swell of the other life inside her. Her cub, her baby, her child, was alive and well.

She shifted, clutching her belly, and weeping with relief and joy. “We made it, little one. You and I. We made it.”

Tommy was nearby. She only had to get up and search for him. She rose. “Tommy? Where are you, honey?”

The only answer came from above her as another body crashed down the side of the ravine and came to a stop in front of her. The huge, gray wolf, his eyes shooting silver fire. The fur on his shoulders stood straight up, and he bared his fangs and snarled at her.

“Cut it out, you stupid male,” she said. “I have to find Tommy.”

In an instant, he shifted and stalked up to her, finally grabbing her arm and pulling her against his chest. “What the fuck did you think you were doing?”

She tried to pull her arm back, without success. “Finding my nephew. For once, I could do something none of the rest of them could.”

“I swear to God, Cara, if you
ever
do anything like that again…” He glared down at her, undiluted fury in his eyes.

She stared back up at him. “You’ll do what?”

“Jesus God, woman, you could have killed yourself.”

“I didn’t, and the baby’s fine, too,” she said. “Instead of talking, why don’t we…”

A scream cut her off. A human, female voice. Ruth, although not like any other sound Cara had ever heard. She pushed by Gray and headed upstream.

It didn’t take Cara long to discover who’d made that ungodly sound. Ruth sat beside the stream, human and naked, in the arms of her husband, who’d also shifted. The other wolves stood by, not moving. Ruth let out another bloodcurdling howl as she stared at something lying on a rock in the water. As Cara got closer, the thing revealed itself to be a small body with black fur like his father’s.

“Tommy,” she cried as she scrambled toward the child. “Oh God, Tommy.”

Her feet slipped as she went, rocks digging into her flesh, but the pain didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except getting to him. If she could hold him, she could make everything all right. He’d wake up from whatever trance he’d fallen into. He might be hurt. Of course, he’d be hurt. That fall was so sharp, and he was so little. But she’d fix him somehow. She hadn’t run so fast and risked so much only to lose him now.

She dropped into the stream beside him, hitting her knee on a rock in the process, and scooped him up into her arms. He was limp, his head hanging backward as she lifted him, and he was cold. But then, he would be cold, wouldn’t he? He was wet, the poor baby.

She held him against her naked chest to warm him and rocked. “There you are, sweetie. We found you. You’re safe now.”

Ruth sobbed loudly and reached her arms out.

“It’s okay, Ruth,” Cara said. “He’ll be all right. He has to be.”

A hand came down on her shoulder. Gray had kneeled next to her in the stream. “Cara, you have to give him to his mother.”

“I can’t.” She leaned toward him to whisper in his ear. “They think he’s dead.”

“Honey, he is.”

She clutched Tommy more tightly. “No.”

“His mother’s a healer. Ilse can sense things,” Gray said. “Look at them. They know the truth.”

“No, it’s not possible.” She scanned the others. Ilse, Sam, and Peter looked utterly defeated, their expressive eyes wide. Ruth’s face was a mask of grief as she continued crying. Joe’s features didn’t move, as if he’d seen something so horrible he’d turned to stone.

“No,” Cara wailed. “I caught his scent when no one else could. I found him. I risked my own baby. He can’t be dead.”

“Give him to me, Cara,” Gray whispered.

“No.” She clutched the child, even as reality penetrated. He wasn’t moving, wasn’t breathing, wasn’t getting warmer.

“Come on, honey.” Gray stroked her face and looked into her eyes.

“No,” she repeated, her voice wavering.

She had to let him go, but her arms wouldn’t release him. When she did, she’d be admitting the very things she couldn’t accept. That an innocent child -- a child who represented the future of the pack -- had died because of recklessness. And more -- the place she’d thought to have found for herself in the pack went with him. She hadn’t found him in time, hadn’t done something wonderful. She brought nothing to her family that someone else couldn’t do.

Gray reached for the small body, this time obviously willing to force her to give it up. Just as her mind told her to accept that terrible truth, some knowledge inside her screamed to wait. And there it was. A
thump
-
thump
, distant and weak but real.

“Wait,” she said.

“Listen, honey…”

“No, wait.” Again. Stronger this time.
Thump
-
thump
,
thump
-
thump
.

“Gray,” she whispered, putting her mouth against his ear again so no one else would hear. “His heart… I think it’s beating.”

“Aww, baby.”

“I mean it. See for yourself.” She handed Tommy to her mate. Already, the boy had some muscle tone and felt warmer. He did, whether anyone believed her or not.

Gray looked skeptical at first, but then, he rested two fingers at the boy’s throat, checking for a pulse. After a moment, his eyes flew open. “Everybody… he’s alive.”