EnemyMine (26 page)

The fingers he had in her hair fisted as he gently forced
her head back. “You undo me,” he rasped and wrapped his free arm around her
waist as he leaned in for a kiss.

She relaxed, sagging against him as their lips touched.
Their tongues met, parted and returned to each other. He tasted a hint of
himself and he assumed Mary would taste herself on him as well. The knowledge
shook the cage that trapped his wolf, bringing it to the forefront of his
being. He had to finish the bloodbond now. Once done, his mate would be his
forever.

Climbing on the bed, he lifted Mary at the waist. She hung
on as he moved them back, maneuvering her legs so that when he came down on top
of her his hips rested between her spread thighs. He basked in the visual of
her blonde hair against the white pillows, the way her gaze drifted over his
face. When those beautiful brown eyes stopped on his it seemed as though the
world stood still. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. She leaned into the
touch, a small smile appearing on her face.

“Are you sure you want this?” He wasn’t sure he could stop
even if she asked him to but he’d do his damndest to accept her choice.

She closed her eyes, nuzzling his palm. “Yes.”

He shook with relief. The wolf didn’t want to wait. It
wanted Mary here—now. He reached between their bodies to test her readiness,
finding that her pussy was wetter than before. Humming his appreciation, he
fisted his cock and guided the head to her lips, running the crown along her
slit. She was so slick he slid easily past her labia, the tip sucked into the
blistering warmth of her sex. Inch by inch he slid inside, parting her soft,
gripping flesh with the hardness of his own until he was seated fully within
her. Something inside him changed, the tension that had taunted him for so long
fading to nothing.

This wasn’t a dream or wishful thinking. He was with Mary
Shepherd. She wasn’t afraid of what he was. She wanted him as much as he wanted
her.

Finally the time had arrived.

There was no going back.

Mary stifled a moan as her body became accustomed to Emory,
feeling him buried so deeply she wasn’t sure she could move. She drove her
pelvis upward, surprised to take more of him as she did. He was so long and
thick, the friction deliciously maddening. She let a small cry escape when he
nudged a place inside of her, one that was sensitive and tender.

“There it is. Right there,” Emory said and slowly drew back,
dragging his cock along that electric place inside her.

She tried to bring him back, unsettled by the loss. He kept
a good portion of his shaft within her, rocking his hips. Then when he eased
his way back in, he shifted so that she felt that rub again in that same spot.
Only he wasn’t done. The way he’d settled also ensured he brushed her clit with
the shallow stroke.

“Oh,” she gasped, wrapping her fingers around his biceps.

Emory lifted his head, dark strands of hair falling close to
his brow. His eyes had changed color again, becoming the gold she found
mesmerizing. She’d felt a strange sensation, as though the wolf was inside
Emory but communicating with her.

“You like that?” he asked, irises shining brightly,
contrasting beautifully with the shadow lining his jaw.

“Yes,” she replied, breathless at the sight and feel of him.

He continued looking at her as he started to move, sliding
in and out of her body, making sure he stroked her clit each time he returned.
When he brought a hand to her right buttock, guiding her to rock with the
movement, she started rising up to meet his thrusts. She resented the twinge of
pain that spread through her shoulder, the dull ache much harsher than when
they’d started. Fortunately the pleasure muted the intensifying throb, giving
her something to latch on to. If what Ava had said was true, the injury would soon
be a distant memory anyway.

Emory appeared to be memorizing her features, watching her
closely. His thrusts became more forceful, pushing her into the pillows. She
tried to keep up the pace, allowing the hand on her ass to assist her. Each
time he pulled away she felt empty, only to find completion when he slammed
back inside. Her body grew warm, heat spreading from her belly outward. She
recognized the tingling prickle in her muscles, knew she was coming closer to
the bliss Emory loved to give her.

“Finish it.” She didn’t stop moving, writhing beneath him.
“Bring us together. Make me yours.”

The tic in his jaw warned her that he was going to give her
what she asked for. She braced herself for the pain, remembering all too well
how the bloodbonding had felt before. He brought his hand between them, using
his clever fingers to stimulate her clit. Within seconds she quickened, falling
over the edge. This time her cry of release was a mixture of ecstasy and pain,
created by the orgasm rushing through her body as Emory’s wolf seemed to slide
beneath her skin.

Ignoring the molten fire in her shoulder, she lifted her
head and pressed her forehead into his chest. It felt as though fur glided
against her inner flesh, using enough force she worried she might actually
shift despite Emory’s assurances she wouldn’t be able to. She felt hot but
cold, as though ice were coursing through veins that were boiling. The smells
she remembered returned, the multiple scents of wilderness and rain and wolf
permeating the air. Her body stung all over, like invisible needles were
piercing her skin. She closed her eyes, pain wracking her body, and felt tears
winding down her cheeks.

Emory’s hoarsely whispered, “It’s almost over,” came too
late.

In an instant—as though a light had obliterated the dark and
left nothing but clarity in its wake—the sensations and smells evaporated. The
pain vanished, exchanged for something else. A primal lust she’d never felt
before surged through her. She didn’t want Emory sweet and soft. She wanted him
to take her hard and rough, using all the carefully maintained strength at his
disposal.

She didn’t understand why she pushed him away. All she knew
was she had to get on her hands and knees, to tempt him to take her as he so
desperately needed. It wasn’t a telepathic connection. Rather it was as though
she could sense what he needed without being told, guided by an instinct she
hadn’t possessed previously. It didn’t take much to get in position, her ass
presented to him as she faced the wall, her hands clenching in the sheets.

His growl crept along her skin, ramping her excitement.
“Fuck yes,” he snarled.

When he touched her, she did something else she didn’t
understand—she started to fight him. Writhing and squirming, trying to get out
of his grasp. He in turn slapped her ass, growling deeper and placing a hand on
the back of her neck.

“Oh no you don’t. You’re mine, Mary. Tell me that you’re
mine. Tell me that you belong to me.”

Inside, she screamed what he wanted to hear, so she was
stunned when she snapped, “No.”

He clucked his tongue, applying pressure to her neck,
forcing her head into the pillows. “That won’t do. If you want this,” he
pressed his cock against her, rubbing the hard length of hot flesh against her
pussy, “you’ll surrender to me. Right now, angel eyes.”

Two sides of her warred. She tried to get the words out even
though something prevented her from doing so. Confused and frustrated, she
finally managed to say, “Help me.”

“You’ll never shift but you have a part of my wolf inside
you,” he said, keeping her pinned in place. “It’s fighting for control. You
have to give yourself over to me. Tell me what I need to hear. Force the beast
in you to its proper place. Tell me who’s in charge.”

She wanted to scream but she couldn’t. Her body betrayed her,
continuing to squirm beneath Emory. “Y-you,” she stammered, forcing the one
word past her lips. Once she spoke, she found it was easier to talk, the
struggle within her diminishing. “You’re in charge. I belong to you.”

“That’s right.” He released her neck and ran his hand down
the curve of her spine. “You do.”

This time when he moved behind her, his cock found its
haven. He barreled into her, forcing her to take all of him. Stars spotted her
vision, the fight leaving her body. She sank into the pillows, her arms going
limp. Skin slapped against skin, each pump of his hips driving him closer to
the edge. When he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her back to his
chest, she went willingly. Her knees rested on the outside of his thighs,
allowing him to maintain momentum.

One hand cupped her breast while the other drifted to her
sex. He took the moisture from her pussy and brought it to her clit, rubbing
the hard bead. She didn’t think it was possible to climax again but she was
wrong. Her body jerked, her nipples hard and pointed, the air cool against
them.

“One more,” Emory ordered. “Give me one more, Mary.”

She focused on the sensations taking her over, immersed in
raw feeling. His cock teased her, gliding in and out, stretching her with each
return. Soon the tingles from her clit intensified, traveling to join the
warmth in her abdomen.

“
Emory
.” She moaned, concentrating on how good she
felt, on how amazing it would feel when she came for him like this. Waves of
fire crashed through her and she clawed at the hand he’d placed over her
breast. She arched her back and thrashed, caught in a maelstrom that seemed to
carry her through the ceiling and beyond.

His lips brushed her shoulder. Then she felt a sharp burn as
his teeth sank into her skin. His cock jerked inside her, hot jets of semen
bathing her womb. Goose bumps tickled her arms when he roared, the sound
muffled by the skin trapped against his mouth. He didn’t stop moving, pistoning
his hips as his cock surged within her a second time and another searing flash
of heat followed. She didn’t let go of his hand, gasping for breath as he
slowed and finally stopped.

When he pulled his teeth from her shoulder, she winced. He
murmured an apology and started lapping at the skin, bathing the aching punctures
with his tongue.

She was too tired to move when he shifted their bodies so
that she landed on the pillows in a heap. He moved behind her and pulled her
into his arms. She smiled and brought his hand to her mouth for a quick kiss.
If she got to choose the path of her future, she wanted each day to consist of
this. She’d cherish each and every moment, knowing she was fortunate to have
the opportunity. Exhaustion sapped what energy she had left and she felt her
eyes grow heavy.

“Any regrets?” Emory asked against the top of her head.

She had a lot of regrets, but not about what they’d done.
The choices she’d made couldn’t be changed. All she could do was learn from her
mistakes. And she intended to enjoy every single minute with the man in her
bed. A man who belonged to her just as much as she belonged to him. A peace
settled over her knowing that, an awareness that she would never be alone
again.

She yawned, blinking to stay awake. “Only that it took us so
long to get here.”

“I love you,” he whispered.

Even hearing those words couldn’t prevent sleep from taking
her. Still, she managed to echo the sentiment before she closed her eyes.

“I love you.”

Epilogue

One Week Later

“Can I open my eyes now?” Mary asked.

A frown appeared on her beautiful face, her brows coming
together. Emory suppressed a grin, holding a squirming bundle in his arms.
She’d complained when he made her close her eyes before they went inside the
barn situated on the back of Diskant’s property, impatient as he’d retrieved
her gift.

He tried to sound irritated by the request, although he was
excited as she was. “All right, Ms. Impatient. Go ahead and open them.”

The frown vanished when she saw the puppy he held, replaced
by a show-stopping smile. “Really? He’s so adorable. Is he mine?” she exclaimed
and reached out to take the wriggling pooch.

“He’s all yours, sweetheart.”

Emory handed the puppy over, relieved he’d made the right
choice. When his mate had said she wanted a dog, he hadn’t been sure what she
was hoping for. Personally, he didn’t like the idea of something small. He
wanted an animal that would protect his mistress, something big and sturdy. The
house Diskant purchased was isolated on five acres of land—land that was
secured by guards, cameras and fencing. There was plenty of room for a large
dog to run, the wooded area perfect for roaming free. Since he also had to keep
Ava’s pregnancy in mind, he’d decided to go with a canine intended for a
family—a Boxer. Diskant continued to mourn Oscar but Emory hoped he and Ava
would eventually come to love the dog with his soft fawn coat and inquisitive
brown eyes.

“Come on.” He smiled when the puppy licked Mary’s face and
whined. “He’s been cooped up in a stall for long enough. Let’s take him
outside.”

“Poor thing,” she murmured in a low croon and followed.
“Kept in a dark barn. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. Such a sweet puppy.”

The sunlight hit them but it didn’t alleviate the cold
winter air. Mary tried to pull the puppy closer but it struggled to break free.
She feigned a sigh and put him down. The dog rushed off immediately, sniffing
at random objects as he went. Determined not to leave his female empty-handed,
Emory closed the distance and swept her into his arms. She sighed and leaned
into him.

“Are you sure Ava and Diskant don’t mind?” she asked
quietly.

“This is our home too,” he reminded her. “And no, they don’t
mind. I asked.”

“It’s not like we see them much.” Mary snuggled closer,
resting her hands on his hips. “The house is so big.”

That was an understatement.

When Diskant had told Emory about the farm, he’d said it was
big. Emory had assumed there would be a barn and perhaps a newly remodeled
home. He’d never dreamed the house he’d moved into a week ago with his mate was
recently built and enormous, complete at over twenty-four thousand square feet.
There were so many rooms Ava was grumbling about remodeling, wishing for a
smaller space. To Emory’s relief Diskant had put as much distance between the
couples as possible, giving Emory plenty of time alone with his mate. Since the
kitchen, family and entertainment rooms were located near the center of the
home, they were able to inhabit the far ends of the house.

“Are you saying that you’re getting tired of my company?” He
brought his hand down until his palm rested on the crest of her lower back and
ass.

“No.” She wriggled against him and he growled. “I’m just
making an observation.”

“I’d suggest we enjoy it while it lasts. Diskant expects Doc
to be here so often the poor bastard might as well move in until Ava delivers.”

In fact, Diskant had already approached the pack doctor
about doing just that. Doc continued to decline the offer, insisting Diskant
ask one of the midwives in the pack to assist his mate through her pregnancy.

“He’s just worried about Ava. It’s natural.” She shifted to
the side and looked at the puppy, who’d found a tree limb to attack. “So what
do we call him?”

“That’s up to you.” He tried to place his chin on her head
but she kept moving to watch the puppy.

“How about Rocky?”

“Rocky?” He laughed, amused by her choice.

“Think about it. A Boxer named Rocky. It’s perfect.”

He lifted his head when a warning tingle shot down the back
of his neck, his eyes darting around the area. Since the attack Diskant had
hired lone shifters from out of state to watch his home. The pack needed every
member in the city to keep things safe without worrying about the Omega and his
mate. Emory knew there was no way someone could breach the perimeter. Motion
detectors were installed all around the property line, as well as cameras that
were monitored by guards in the security building behind the front gates.

“Emory? Are you okay?” Mary’s concerned question brought his
attention back to her. He gave her an encouraging smile, hoping she hadn’t
sensed his alarm.

“I’m fine. I was just thinking it’s too cold to stay out
here. We should take Rocky and get back to the house. I can start a fire in the
den if you want. We can even watch a movie.”

“Really?” She didn’t seem convinced. “What about the pack? I
thought you were helping Trey move his things.”

“Get Rocky.” He let her go and stepped back. “We’ll talk
when we get inside.”

Knowing her as well as he did now, Emory was aware she was
tempted to argue. Thankfully she did as he asked and hurried over to the puppy
and his now chewed branch. He took a deep breath and tried not to think about
his brother. His hope to have an actual relationship with his sibling wasn’t
working out as planned. Trey was too agitated, too fucking short-tempered. At
first Emory had attributed the behavior to Trey’s newly appointed status as
Alpha. Sadly, as the days passed, it became clear something else was bothering
him.

Emory gritted his teeth.

Something was off with Nathan too. It was as if the Alpha
and Beta shared some kind of secret they didn’t want the pack to know about.
With Shepherds knocking at their door, it wasn’t smart to fuck around. One
wrong move and Trey would be challenged as Alpha, something that could kill him
if he faced the wrong opponent. As strong and capable as his brother was, there
was always someone younger who was more eager for power.

“Gotcha.” Mary snatched the puppy, leaving the stick on the
ground. “Are you ready to go inside? I’ll have to make you a nice, warm bed.
Then we’ll find you something good to eat. I bet you’d like that, wouldn’t
you?”

“Actually, I have everything inside.” He shook off his bad
mood at the image she presented, her blonde hair flowing around her shoulders
as she baby talked the pooch, her face finally starting to fill out since she
was eating better.

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”

He waited until she was within reach and pulled her to him,
stopping only because the puppy was trapped between them. “Angel eyes, you have
no idea of the surprises I have in store for you.” He slid his fingers through
her hair until his palm rested against her throat. “Why don’t we skip that fire
and movie? I can warm you up and entertain you without them.”

This time when she grinned her eyes changed color. The
chocolate brown morphed into a glowing gold, the color beautiful against her
fair skin. The first time she’d seen her eyes change, she had been fascinated.
He’d told her it was due to heightened emotion and arousal, the only way anyone
would ever know she was bloodbonded to a shifter. She hadn’t believed him so
he’d proven it to her then and there in front of the bathroom mirror, fucking
her from behind as they watched themselves. The golden color didn’t fade,
becoming stronger as she neared climax.

“What do you have in mind?” she asked, her question a low,
sensual murmur.

The comfort of his jeans changed, his cock hardening until
the material was too tight. Mary didn’t have to give him her approval, he could
scent it on the air. Her coat prevented him from seeing her breasts but he knew
if he reached inside her nipples would be hard and pebbled, ready to be teased
by his mouth and fingers.

“Let’s get inside and I’ll show you.” Placing his hand at
her lower back, he urged her to walk. “It’s not getting any warmer out here.”

“That’s strange.” She peered up at him through her long lashes,
her eyes still liquid gold. “It certainly feels warmer to me.”

The sensation of being watched returned. He pushed Mary’s
teasing aside without a response and motioned toward the house. He didn’t slow
down or stop as they crossed the distance. Maybe he was worried over nothing.
Being in a house with an Omega and his pregnant female would set anyone on
edge. Mary didn’t notice the shift in his mood, captivated by the puppy. That
much he was grateful for. He didn’t want her to worry, not since she’d finally
settled into her new home and surroundings. She seemed happy, the scars of her
past existing on her body but slowly fading from her mind.

He opened the keypad gate that took them past the enormous
swimming pool. Once inside, he closed it and engaged the lock. The lights in
the home welcomed them, the glow cheery and serene. He tried not to focus on
the unease cascading through him, to produce a smile when Rocky tugged a strand
of Mary’s hair between his teeth and she laughed.

If indeed they were being watched, the fuckers were smart
enough to do it from a distance. None of them could prevent that—not the pack,
not the Omega and not even the police. If he contacted Kinsley and asked the
members in law enforcement to investigate, they’d ask him for details. His
feelings weren’t solid proof of anything.

They entered through the double glass doors leading to the
kitchen. Once inside, he closed the doors behind them and turned on the alarm.
The loud chirp shrilled through the open space. He turned to stare out the
glass, wondering who could be out there. Shepherds should have scattered by
now.

Who the fuck was watching them?

Mary’s peals of laughter tore his eyes from the door. She
was kneeling on the floor playing with her gift. The puppy licked her chin and
she lowered her head to rub her cheek against its muzzle. His heart clenched,
so full of emotion he had to shake himself and remember he wasn’t trapped in a
wishful dream. This was real. This was his life now.

He’d finally found Mary, claimed her and made her his.

He would protect her. No one would ever hurt her again.

No one.

After one final look outside, he smiled at his mate and
walked into the kitchen.

* * * * *

“Lecherous little slut,” Nathaniel Shepherd spat and lowered
his binoculars.

He’d driven with the few remaining members of his family to
see his whore of a cousin. With their diminished numbers, he couldn’t do more
than watch. Not yet. But he would. Mary would pay for killing his father—her
very own uncle—and betraying her own blood.

“It’s not safe to stay,” Daniel warned. “You’ve gotten the
answers you sought. We have to leave.”

Leave to bury his father, the man who’d died two days ago.

Elijah Shepherd had held on to life for as long as he could,
fighting the good fight until the Lord called him home. Hate was a sin but he
couldn’t help the anger he felt, the resentment. His father had been born of
the old ways, believing they could find the good in those they captured and
tried to send to Heaven. Nathaniel wasn’t so certain. They’d attempted to bring
Mary into their fold and show her why it was so important she not stray from
the path of righteousness, and look what that had gotten them.

“Have you received news from those who made it out alive?”
Nathaniel asked, trying to control his temper. “Have they found a safe place to
gather?”

“Most scattered when they were attacked, but good news
continues coming in. Believe in the power of prayer, brother,” Daniel said,
placing a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder. “It’ll be a few weeks before we know
how many survived, but the ones who are safe are waiting for us. I received
word they’re congregating in Texas.”

At that moment he wanted to rush from his safe location
nestled in the trees and charge at the house that stood miles away—one he
couldn’t see well without the binoculars in his hand. Instead he nodded. Daniel
didn’t share his opinions or views. The young man had been born to Shepherds
who resided in Georgia, their beliefs as old-fashioned as Elijah’s had been. If
he wanted to seek justice for his father’s death, he’d have to carefully
convince others it was time for a change.

Nathaniel stared at the house in the distance, making a vow
that soon he’d be back. Mary might enjoy her life now but at some point in the
future she wouldn’t. She’d beg for forgiveness before he released her tormented
soul. There were so many plans to make. So many people to guide down the path
of his choosing.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly and started the long trek up the
hill where the rest of his brethren waited.

The fight was far from over.

His mission had only just begun.

The End