Forever Our Ever (9 page)

“Okay. Anything else?”

“Not that I can think of at the moment. How about not make love to me?”

Putting his palm to the center of her chest, he pushed her flat to the mattress. “I’m getting to that. Are you in a hurry?”

“Kind of. I have to go home tonight.”

“No, you don’t. You need to stay with me. I’m tired of sleeping alone. Move in with me, Ever. I want to wake up every morning with you in my arms. I want us to stay together for always.”

“Are you asking me to marry you?” she asked in a teasing tone.

“What I’m talking about is a more permanent option.”

What could be more permanent than marriage? “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I’m not sure it’s something that I want to explain more completely right now. Give us a little time. I want to make sure.”

Ever had no idea what he was talking about. Carmen was occasionally reclusive and secretive and this was one of those times. He claimed that he loved her, but he was keeping secrets from her and it bothered her. “Just to let you know, if you want a more permanent relationship, then you need to tell me the truth of things.”

“I know. I will in time. Right now, I want to make love to you for the rest of the night. You are not going home. Period.”

This was another look that she had come to know well over the last three months. It was Carmen’s end-of-subject look. She could debate him until the end of time and he would not let her go home. She supposed that it really wasn’t all that important. She just needed to call her mother and let her know. They had met Carmen and really liked him. That was a serious plus in her book. She valued her parents’ opinions on things. They were usually very good judges of character.

Carmen dropped dramatically over her, landing on his hands as he flipped his feet to the back. He was a spectacularly dramatic man with a flair for excitement. Taking his sweet time, he slowly bent his arms, lowering himself to her lips. His tongue flicked like the lizard again, tapping her lips repeatedly without ever connecting his mouth to hers. It was an odd feeling that sent strands of sensation into her mouth each time he touched her.

Ever grabbed his long hair, pulling him down to her face to kiss him. She nibbled on his bottom lip, holding it between her teeth for a moment before releasing it softly. She wanted to bite him everywhere, his lips, his ears, his tiny pink nipples. Carmen tasted so good.

Leaning back on his elbows, he gazed into her eyes. “I love you so much. I want you with me always.”

“I want to be with you always.”

“Really?”

It was a strange question in the tone that he asked it, and somehow it seemed wrong. Ever couldn’t quite shake the feeling that she had been here before. She had been with Carmen at the very moment of this…what was it? Was this a memory or a dream, or both? Was she sleeping or awake? Ever wasn’t sure. Yet, there was something suddenly wrong about this, but she wasn’t quite sure why.

His hands went to her cheeks, caressing her skin as if he feared that he would never feel it again. “Would you marry me if I asked?”

“Yes. I would love to. Ask me.”

“I already told you that I have something more permanent in mind.”

His lips touched hers, hot and wet, his tongue capturing her own, encircling it in the most wonderful way. Her body began to heat with glorious sensations, her mind drifting in the feel of his muscular chest against his own. She trailed her fingers up his arms, the light hair snagging slightly on her nails. His biceps were like iron and he flexed them for her enjoyment. Ever grabbed the flesh, caressing it with her palms, and then moving up into his beautiful hair. She adored the feel of his hard body, the enticing roll of his tongue. It scraped against the inside of her mouth and then he leaned back slightly, nipping her top lip and drawing it between his own.

Releasing her flesh, he rained kisses on her face, down her throat, and she leaned her head back to give him full access. She felt the hard rise of his cock and began to stroke his legs with her feet. Lifting his head again, he gazed at her as if she was a fleeting star in the dark night sky. It was such a longing expression that she didn’t remember seeing before. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You are so beautiful. You take my breath away.” The words alone took her arousal up a notch. She wanted him inside her, his dick pressing and swaying within her pussy. Carmen lowered his mouth to her breast, his tongue weaving a lazy path around her areola. He left the wet skin tingling as he did the same to the other and then ran his tongue back across the gap of skin between them. It was a glorious game as he licked and nibbled on her flesh. It made her nipples tingle and crave a more direct touch, but he was not obliging her body’s desires. He touched only the outer ring of her areola and then moved again. It was torture, her pussy wet and aching as it throbbed with desire.

Sliding his hands up her sides, he began to knead her breasts with his palms. Carmen drew her nipple between his teeth, holding it firmly as he flicked the tip with his tongue. His hips rocked, his hard cock stroking the outer contours of her wet lower lips. It felt amazing, the inner muscles clamping upon themselves and protesting the emptiness within.

Ever moaned softly, her mouth open as she watched him beneath lust-heavy lids. She was grabbing at his hair, holding it, running it through her fingers. He released her nipple, looking up at her and smiling. “Tell me what you want, Ever.”

“I want your hard cock inside my aching pussy. Please, Carmen, I need you so much.”

“I need you to. I’m so lonely without you.”

Again, she was struck by the words sounding wrong. She would figure it out later. For the moment, the feel of his thick, very hard dick overwhelmed her thoughts, making it impossible to think about anything but the stunning sensations he was creating within her. She was moaning in breathy whimpers, her body building as the feel of tight friction within her increased. He was taking her hard and fast, the way he liked it, the way she adored it. It made her inner flesh tingle and throb, her clit being jarred by the pure pressure of his thrusts. He stroked upward and out, forward and in, the movements were perfection. Her body was screaming for release, her nipples tingling as he plucked at them with his fingertips and then licked them with his tongue.

He moved hard forward and pressed his lips to hers. His tongue invaded her mouth as he moved faster, a furious heat raging inside her pussy, the spasms growing harder and faster. He pulled back, slipping downward and sucking her nipple hard into his mouth. She felt a pinch of pain as Carmen rose to the outer ring, holding for a second and then thrusting downward.

The pain was gone as she howled with pleasure, Carmen grunting and growling as his entire body tensed and then started to go slack. He chuckled, leaning and kissing the tip of her nose before relaxing on top of her. The world had stopped for a brief moment, and in that time, bliss had consumed them both.

He turned his head up to rest his chin between her breasts. There was blood on his face. Carmen smiled and then licked his lips like a dog licking its chops. Why was there blood on his face? She tried to sit up, but he was too heavy to lift. Carmen turned his head without a word and laid it flat to her chest. “Carmen? Why are you bleeding?”

“I’m not.”

“Then where did the blood come from?”

“It’s yours.”

Liam walked into the bedroom, staring at Kris. “Mick called and asked me to come talk to you.”

His brother stared blankly at him. He was sitting on the bed, appearing haggard. He had his fingers resting on Ever’s throat, presumably monitoring her pulse. “Talk to me about what?”

“About leaving this bedroom. Kris, it’s been three days and Mick says that you won’t even come out to eat.” Liam walked over and sat down, pushing back Ever’s hair. She was stark white and Mick said that she was not recreating blood as quickly as he had hoped. She was teetering on the verge of death, her body barely able to function. Mick had no idea if she had sustained brain damage or if she would wake up or not. Even if she did wake up, she might never be normal again. “They are bringing you food, but you are barely touching it. The clan is in turmoil over an ongoing dispute with the government about exactly how much land we own, and it needs to be settled. Our father has disappeared, taking Sherra and some of his followers with him. The clan feels as if it has been deserted.”

“I don’t know shit about land disputes. Let them hire a lawyer.”

“That’s a practical solution, but it hasn’t been done and the tribe has no second overseer to replace you.”

“They have Victor.”

“No, they don’t. He went with Father.”

“Tell Mick to take care of it.”

Mick walked into the room and sat down at Ever’s feet. “The clan wants to see you take care of it. I can stay with Ever.”

“You want to be alpha? Then go right ahead. Claim it, Mick.”

“I can’t claim it. It would have to be established through standard means, and the last thing I want right now is to get into a death battle with you. It is not doing anyone any good for you to sit here, hour after hour, feeling for her pulse.”

“I’m doing that because if I feel her heart start to fail, I’m going to bite her. If she is going to die anyway, there is nothing left to lose.”

Liam was stunned. What Kris said actually made a lot of sense. Biting her might kill her anyway, but it also might save her against all other odds. Kris’s saliva would make her stronger and heal her, but it might also react against Carmen’s genes. Of course, it was a chance that Kris might have to take rather than watch her die. If it was anyone else, the bite would kill her, but strong alpha blood might just be enough to save her.

Mick glared at him. “Are you serious?”

“Completely. I will not leave her side until either she wakes up or she takes a turn for the worse. If you want to hire a lawyer, I would really appreciate your help. You have more connections in that department anyway. I will make sure that you get credit for whatever you do. If there is no sub alpha, then you are it anyway. Right now, the most important thing to me is Ever. End of subject.”

“How are the babies?” asked Mick.

“They are doing well. They are growing quickly and they are completely adorable. So many have come to see them and offer good wishes for Ever’s recovery. I just wish that I could bring them home to be with their mother and fathers. They grow closer to their surrogates with each passing day.”

“We feared that might happen, but letting them starve is not a viable answer.”

Kris looked up at him. “I miss them. I have three sons and never really even got a chance to hold them. Please say that you are acting as father to all four of them.”

“I am. I spend the morning with my daughter, the afternoon and early evening with the boys, and then go back to sleep near my daughter. The families are being extremely helpful and have given me open access to come and go as I please.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Please let them know that this is greatly appreciated. If you can sniff out one thing that each family desperately needs, then we can repay their kindness.”

“I will keep my eyes open. I know the house that my daughter is in really needs a new roof. Theirs leaks.”

“Okay.”

Liam looked again at Ever. He wanted to stay here and be with her, but the children needed him. He would be the connecting point between the babies and their now-unknown family when they were brought home. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long and they wouldn’t imprint completely with their surrogate mothers. Liam hated the idea that he might bring them home and the children would completely reject Ever. Unfortunately, the longer she remained unconscious, the higher the chances were that it would happen just that way. Leaning forward, he gently kissed her lips. “I can’t stay. I don’t want to leave the children for that long right now. As it is, I only get to spend about five or six waking hours with them.”

Kris touched his hand softly. “Thank you for being concerned about me.” He turned his gaze to Mick. “If you want to know why I’m doing something then feel free to ask. I’m still your brother. It’s just that the specifics of our relationship status have been reversed. I’m sorry, Mick. I didn’t ask to be born alpha. It just happened.”

Mick nodded slowly. “I know that. I’m not angry with you. Maybe I’m just questioning my own love for Ever. I’m worried about you.”

“I know you are. As I said, I will not leave her. One way or another, this will come to an end and I intend to be here for it.”

* * * *

Mick walked into the room, the sound of Ever’s breathing instantly claiming his attention. He flicked on the light. Kris had his arm draped over her and he appeared to be asleep. Mick walked closer, lifting Ever’s arm to take her pulse. The feel of it was erratic, her heart beating very quickly and then slowing down to almost nothing. Her chest was heaving in an effort to breathe.

Mick stood for a moment, staring down at her body. Death was not necessarily the worst thing that could happen to her. He could simply walk from the room and leave things as they were. Maybe Kris would wake up and maybe he wouldn’t.

A tear dripped down his cheek. He didn’t want her to die. He did love her, and she had brightened their lives in indescribable ways. Mick also knew that she might wake up and not be the Ever they once knew. She could be a woman without any real brain function. She would drain the life out of them just because she still retained the ability to breath. She could have only partial function of her mind and body, an unpredictable soul with the ability to shift into a wolf. That would be the most dangerous consequence, a creature who could kill without the ability to control their own urges. What would they do with her then? If Kris gave her stronger genes, she would be unstoppable. They would have to keep her caged for the protection of the clan and the children that she had brought into the world.