Red Moon Rising (11 page)

“How is she?”  Avery sat down on the bed.

“Better.”  James, lying on his back with Bree stretched
across his body, gave his mother a thin smile.  “She’s not coughing up blood
anymore.”

Avery turned down the covers to Bree’s waist and studied her
naked back.  The swelling was still there but the puncture from the spear wasn’t
quite as large.  She stroked Bree’s back with both hands for nearly ten minutes
before leaning down and kissing her pale cheek.

She touched her forehead and then rested her hands on Bree’s
back.  “The fever is completely gone.”

“Aye.”

“Has she woken?”

He shook his head.  “No.  She’s been muttering in her sleep
but she hasn’t opened her eyes.”

“She will wake soon my love.  Do not worry.”

“I said horrible things to her mama.”  James said
miserably.  “I told her it was her fault Evan almost died, and that I – I
should have left her to die in the forest.”

Avery squeezed his arm.  “We all say things in anger that we
do not mean.  When she wakes, tell her you’re sorry.  Bree is a sweet girl and
she’ll forgive you.”

“I would neither forgive nor speak to her when, out of fear,
she said she could never be with someone like me.  Why should she forgive me
for my deliberate cruelty?”

Avery squeezed his arm again.  “She will forgive you when
she wakes.  I know it.”

“What if she doesn’t wake?”  He whispered.

“She will.  She is healing nicely.  I imagine she’ll be
awake before – “

Bree suddenly thrashed against James.  “Kaden!”  She cried
loudly.  “I’m sorry!  Please don’t leave me.”

Avery frowned as James tightened his arms around Bree’s
slender waist.  “Shh little one.  You’re safe.”

“Kaden, where are you?”  Bree moaned.  Her back arched, and
she gave a short cry of pain before slumping against James.  Avery rubbed her
back soothingly as she stared at James.

“Who is Kaden?”

“I don’t know.  She’s been calling his name off and on all
day.”  James replied.  Jealousy coloured his words, and Avery patted his arm in
sympathy before standing.

“You’ve been lying with her for hours.  Why don’t you go and
have something to eat.  I’ll stay with Bree for a bit.”

He shook his head.  “No mama.  I won’t leave her again.”

Avery bent and kissed his forehead.  “I’ll have Laura bring
you a plate of food.”

He shifted on to his side as Avery left his bedroom, pulling
Bree close until her entire body was pressed against his.  He studied her face,
brushing her hair away from her cheeks and tracing her smooth skin with his
fingertips.

He hesitated and then pressed his mouth against her lips. 
She didn’t stir and he kissed her twice more before laying his head next to
hers. 

When he had ran into the guest room and seen her dying body,
a howl of panic and sorrow had burst from his chest.  His shock had been so
great he had nearly shifted.  Only Nicky’s voice had kept him in his human
form.

“Help her James!  Keep it together so you can help her!”

He had collapsed on the floor beside her and pulled her into
his lap.  Afraid that even moving would kill her, he had stayed on the floor of
the guest room for nearly two hours.  The smell of death permeated the room and
once she was in his arms, the poison had run out in a steady stream from the
swollen, pulsing wound on her back.  It hadn’t taken long before they were both
covered in the foul-smelling liquid.  Bree was burning up in his arms, and
Avery had helped him strip off her clothes and suggested he climb into a cool
bath with her.

“She is not going to die my sweet.”  His mother had said
reassuringly as she examined Bree’s back.  “Her wound is no longer dripping the
poison, and I believe it will not be long before the fever starts to break. 
But the cool water will help, and you should wash the blood and the poison from
her skin.” 

He sighed heavily and rubbed her back.  He wished she would
wake.  He had been surprisingly hurt by what she said the day she had been cut
by the sword, and his hurt and anger had made him cold with her.  He could see
it upset her but had continued to ignore her.  She had run away because of his
anger, and was forced to defend herself and his brother from the faeries.  She
had nearly died because he was an idiot.

He sighed again and kissed her bare shoulder.  Gods, he
wanted her.  What had started off as a physical need had quickly turned into an
emotional one as well.  She had only been in their home for a few weeks, but he
was fascinated by her.  He wasn’t the only one - both his mother and Leta had
grown very fond of her. 

Bree loved his mother.  He could see it in her eyes every
time she looked at Avery, but even that love was not enough for her to share
her secrets.  Even after a month, they barely knew anything about her.  She was
kind and sweet, but she grew nervous and clammed up the moment anyone asked her
a question about herself.

He had argued with his mother about allowing Bree to work
but she had insisted, reminding him that if they didn’t let her work in their
home to earn money, she would leave.  He knew his mother was right, but doing
chores around the house had kept her too busy to get to know him better.

Not that it mattered.  Bree might be attracted to him, but
she had made it perfectly clear she wouldn’t sleep with a Lycan.  And even if
he had been able to change her mind before, it was too late now.  She had left
his home because of his cruelty to her, and she had chosen to die from the
faerie’s spear instead of asking him to heal her. 

What if she hated him when she finally woke?  What if she
tried to leave again?  He pulled her closer and buried his face in her neck. 
He couldn’t let that happen.  He would convince her to stay with his family
even if it meant never touching her again.

Feeling tired and depressed, he burrowed closer to her warm
body and closed his eyes.  The warmth of her skin and the steady rise and fall of
her chest comforted him, and he slipped into a light sleep.

* * *

When he opened his eyes she was staring at him.  Her light
blue eyes regarded him solemnly, and he blinked and gave her a tentative
smile. 

“Hello little one.”

“Is Evan okay?”  She whispered hoarsely.

“Yes.  He’s fully healed.”

Her eyes slipped closed and he stroked her long hair. 
“Bree?”

“What?”  She didn’t open her eyes.

“Why did you not ask me to heal you from the faerie’s
spear?”

She sighed.  “I wanted you to stay with Evan.  He was hurt
so badly and the wound on my back was shallow.  I did not know the spear
carried poison on it and by the time I did...”  She trailed off.

“You should have called for me.”  He said quietly.  “It was
almost too late when Sophia and Nicky found you.”

She opened her eyes and stared steadily at him.  “You made
it clear that you thought I should die.”

He winced and tightened his arms around her.  “I should not
have said that little one.  I was angry and worried and I did not mean it. 
Truly I did not.  Please forgive me for saying it.”

“You were right.”  She whispered.  “You should have left me
to die that day.  I nearly got Evan killed.”

“No!”  He shook her lightly, his face paling when she flinched.
“I’m sorry honey.  Evan told us what happened.  He told us how he followed you
without you knowing.  He said that you told him to shift and run while you
fought with the faeries.” 

He stopped and swallowed hard.  “He – he told us how you
attacked them to try and give him time to escape.”

He stroked her back.  “You were so brave little one.”

She laughed bitterly. “No, I wasn’t.  I was desperate and
scared to death.  I was terrified that Evan would die.”

“He didn’t.”

“He almost did and you hate me for it.  I can’t stand that
you hate me now.”  She closed her eyes as tears dripped down her face.

“I don’t hate you Bree.”  He whispered.

“You do.  I know you do.”  She replied softly.

“I swear I do not.  I’m so sorry.  Please forgive me.”  He
could feel panic rising in his chest and, not knowing what else to do, he
pressed his mouth against hers in a soft and gentle kiss.

She immediately kissed him back, and he cupped her face and
kissed away the tears on her cheeks.  “I’m sorry.  Will you forgive me?”

“Yes.”  She whispered.  He wanted to kiss her again but she
licked her lips and struggled to sit up.  “I’m very thirsty.”

“Stay here.  I’ll get it for you.”  He threw back the covers
and tugged his pants on before crossing the room.  He brought back a glass of water
for her and helped her sit up, tucking the pillow behind her.

She inhaled sharply at the pressure on her back, and he gave
her a worried look.  “How do you feel Bree?”

She took a drink of water.  “Tired mostly.  My back hurts a
little.”

“Are you hungry?”  Before she could reply, he had left the
bed and come back with the tray of food Laura had left while they were
sleeping.

“I am not very hungry my lord.”  She looked out the window. 
The sun was setting, and she felt a weary sort of gladness that she would live
to see another sunrise. 

“Eat just a little.”  He urged.  “Some bread and cheese at
least.  It will help you regain your strength.”

Too tired to argue, she nibbled at the bread and the cheese
he handed to her.  “You should eat as well my lord.”

“James.”  He frowned at her.  “You’re to call me James.”

“Eat
James
.”

He grinned a little at her cheeky tone and picked up a piece
of bread. 

* * *

Bree leaned her head against James’
shoulder. 
After eating, he had wrapped the quilt around her and carried
her to the bathroom.  She could hear his family talking and laughing as they
ate dinner, and she gave him a timid look as he carried her back towards his
room.

“You should take me to the guest room and then go be with
your family.  I’m just tired now.  I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning.”

He shook his head as he opened the door to his bedroom.  “No,
little one.  You’re staying in my room tonight.”

She gave him a cautious look.  “I will not leave in the
night James.  I promise.”

“I know you won’t.  But you’re not fully healed yet Bree. 
You need to sleep with me tonight.”

She blushed as he slipped her under the sheet and took his
pants off before joining her. 

He gave her a reassuring smile.  “I’m just going to hold you. 
I promise I won’t do anything else.  Turn on to your side so I can look at your
back.”

She turned on to her side obediently and James inspected her
back carefully.  The swelling had started to go down, but the wound still had
not healed over.

“How does it look?”  She asked quietly.

“Better.  Much better.”  He kissed her back lightly and she
shivered.

“Sorry little one.”

He lay down beside her and spooned her, pulling her body
tightly against his.  He put his arm around her waist and rubbed her abdomen in
small circles.  He wanted to cup her small breast but he had promised her he
would do nothing but hold her.  His cock was already starting to stir from
being so close to her, and he groaned inwardly.  He would not be able to hold
her like this much longer.  He cursed his weakness and casually moved his
pelvis away from her.

“Are you tired?”

She nodded and he rubbed her thigh in what he hoped was a
soothing manner.  “Go to sleep my love.”  He whispered as he moved his pelvis
further away.

She was starting to tremble and he moved his hand up and
rubbed her upper chest, being careful to avoid her breasts.  “Are you cold
Bree?”

“Yes.”  She whispered.  She shifted backwards.  Her soft ass
pressed snugly against his cock and he groaned lightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”  He cleared his throat roughly and willed his cock
to behave itself.  It was useless.  As though it had a mind of its own, his
cock stiffened and pressed against her ass.  She inhaled sharply and made a
soft noise in the back of her throat.

“I’m sorry.”  He groaned.

“Don’t be.”  She whispered.  “I – I like it.”

His hand, which was pressing lightly against her upper
chest, drifted down to her hip and squeezed tightly.  She squirmed against him,
and they both gasped when his cock pressed between her ass cheeks.

“James, please…” She moaned softly.

She didn’t want him to take her virginity and he wouldn’t. 
He could just make her come; it would help her heal and sleep he rationalized,
as his cock swelled and throbbed against her.

She was moving restlessly against him and he reached up and
cupped her breast.  She groaned and arched her back, and he pulled lightly on
her nipple.

“I’m going to make you feel good my love.”  He whispered
into her ear.  “It will help you heal.  Okay?”

Her stomach clenched painfully and she sighed.  He was only
doing this to help her heal.  She took a deep breath as his hand left her
breast and brushed against her abdomen.  She would tell him to stop.  She
wanted him badly but she didn’t want his pity.  Just holding her would be
enough to help her heal.

Before she could ask him to stop, his hand was sliding
between her thighs and he was cupping her warm sex.  His fingers rubbed gently
at her clit and pleasure exploded in her body.  She moaned loudly, and made no
move to stop him when he took her thigh and lifted it over his hip.  She was
completely open to him now and he explored her leisurely, his fingers running
through the soft blonde curls before stroking the lips of her pussy. 

“Oh…” She sighed as his other hand slid under her and cupped
her breast.  He placed warm, open-mouth kisses on her neck and shoulder as he
rubbed her clit until she was wet and slippery.