Shameless Desire (The Outlawed Realm) (14 page)

Kuma pumped his hips and drove himself deep within, stealing whatever else she’d meant to say.

“Nice,” he breathed, using slang from her side.

She muttered, “I’m glad you think so.”

He sat up. With one arm wrapped around her torso, he scooted them back so he could rest his shoulders against the wooden headboard. Once settled, he murmured, “You do too. Don’t you dare deny it.”

“How could I? You keep interrupting me.”

“Only because you talk too much.”

She lifted her face to the ceiling. He fondled her breasts.

Gwen’s head sagged to the side. Liking her reaction, Kuma flicked her nipples. On a breathy sigh, she asked, “Do I?”

“What?”

“Talk too much?”

She was doing so now. “Yes.”

“Too bad.” She paused to take in more air, releasing it with her words. “That’s the way I am. Better get used to it.”

He would have given everything—even several years of his life—to be able to do so. Kuma wanted her plan to work but wouldn’t allow himself false hope. This moment could be all they had left and he was going to enjoy it.

He touched her pussy and thumbed her clit.

Gwen shivered. She cried, “Not yet.” Once she’d pushed herself up to partially release his cock, she slid right back down until their bodies touched.

He moaned.

The sound released her inner beast. Unconstrained, she rode him, her animal needs as strong as his. Kuma tended to her nub, forcing himself not to stroke too hard, too fast, needing to draw out their pleasure. They matched each other’s rhythm, their breathing synchronized. The bed rattled with their movements. Its headboard bumped the wall.

Gwen came seconds before he did, shouting out her joy. He roared, not caring how loud the sounds were.

Several sharp raps on the door brought Kuma back to his senses. Breathing hard, he wrapped his arms around Gwen and pushed her to the mattress, his body covering, protecting hers.

“No, don’t,” she whispered when he tried to pull out of her so he could transform. “If the guards found us, they wouldn’t knock.” She paused to gulp more air. “They’d crash down the door. It’s Staci.”

“What does she want?”

“Dunno. I’ll ask.” Gwen called out. “You okay?”

The girl shouted, “Are you?”

“Yeah, don’t leave.”

“What are you doing?” Kuma asked.

She continued to push against him, wanting to be free when he now needed her to be close.

“Let go,” she ordered. “I’m only going to the bedroom door.”

“Why?”

“I have to.”

Kuma wanted to ask
why
again, but at last he released her, expecting that she’d get dressed.

She didn’t. “I’ll be there in a sec,” she called out to Staci. Turning to him, Gwen spoke quietly, so only he could hear. “She’s alone, you understand that, right?”

“How could she be alone when we’re here?”

Gwen rubbed her forehead as though it hurt. “I mean, she doesn’t have a guy. She hasn’t had a man want her or even do as little as hold her for the last two years.”

“Does she threaten them as you did with me?”

Gwen didn’t smile at his teasing. “Just looking at her face, you’d think she was perfect—Ms. Homecoming Queen or Suzy Cheerleader.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Of course you don’t.” She cradled his face and ran her thumb over his cheek. “Let’s just say she was everything a man desired. She was in Hollywood—a place in this realm where beautiful people go—trying to break into films or TV when her stupid boyfriend decided he didn’t want to work, he could make more money whipping up a drug called meth and selling it. No one on this side’s supposed to do that. It gets them in trouble with the cops. That didn’t stop him. The asshole’s lab exploded. There was a fire in his and Staci’s apartment. He got out without getting hurt at all. She didn’t.”

Gwen’s hand dropped away from him.

Kuma caught it and kissed her fingers.

She gave him a small smile. “Staci wasn’t even aware of what her boyfriend had been doing. The fire burned her back, scarring it. We have people on this plane that we call plastic surgeons. They’re supposed to be able to get rid of scars. Staci’s were too bad. No amount of cosmetic surgery will bring her skin back to what it was. She survived the fire and moved on. It was her only choice. She’s working at the hospital gift shop and going to school for her degree so she can get a job selling pharmaceuticals. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I know you’re worried about her.”

Gwen gave him a gentle kiss and whispered, “I am. She’s still alone. Lonely.”

“You want to comfort her now?”

“I don’t want her to feel excluded. I hadn’t really thought about that with you being here. God, I can be so stupid sometimes.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve done nothing to her.”

“I’ve been with you when she doesn’t have anyone. That’s pretty damn bad.”

“You want me to leave?”

“No.” She grabbed his arm as if she intended to keep him from it. “I want you to make her feel pretty, noticed again. Please.” She cupped his face in her free hand. “She likes you. I’ve seen how she looks at you when you don’t know she’s doing so.”

How wrong Gwen was. He was fully aware of Staci’s glances but had neither wanted nor intended to act on them.

“Will you give her some attention? Can you do that for me?” Gwen whispered.

He leaned up and kissed the tip of her noise. “I’ll do it for her.”

“You’re a doll.”

He was a werewolf, bound to one female at a time. However, if Gwen wanted this so badly, and Staci required it so much, he wasn’t going to deny either of them.

Gwen left their bed and pulled on her robe. Kuma followed suit and tugged on his jeans. At the door, she glanced back and gave him a wink.

Kuma mimicked her gesture.

Gwen answered with a grin, then opened the door.

Staci looked past Gwen at the bed and blushed. “I, ah, heard a lot of racket in here, and I, ah, wondered if…” Her words trailed off. She pointed behind herself. “I should go. I have an early day at the gift shop tomorrow, then school. I should study for my classes.”

“You can do that later. Let’s go to the kitchen and talk, maybe have a snack,” Gwen murmured. She stroked Staci’s hair, easing several strands behind her ear. “Me, you and Kuma.”

Staci shook her head, clearly feeling like an intruder. “No, I shouldn’t.”

“Because of me?” Kuma asked. “You want me to stay in the bedroom while you and Gwen talk?”

“No,” she said too loudly, then mumbled, “I don’t want to disturb you guys, all right?”

He spoke more gently than Gwen had ever heard him. “Does that mean you don’t mind if I join you in the kitchen, Staci?”

Kuma saying her name sparked something in the girl. Gwen saw the aching desire in Staci’s eyes for a man to notice her, acknowledge her need to be valued. Coupled with it was a whole lot of fear. Since her accident, Staci had expected nothing but rejection, so she’d buried herself in her classes and work, refusing to have fun, to let a guy get close.

Kuma would never harm her. That was a certainty. He’d never judge either.

“It’s okay,” Gwen coaxed. She wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her little cousin. When Gwen’s father and his family learned he’d sired a child with a prostitute, they’d treated her like unwanted garbage, someone to be ashamed of, someone to avoid. Staci hadn’t. Even when she’d been flawless with a fabulous future ahead of her, she’d sought out a relationship. “Come on.”

She took Staci’s hand. It was sweaty and cold. Squeezing it gently, Gwen led her to the kitchen, and Kuma followed.

He took the chair next to Staci’s, while Gwen grabbed chips, dip, beer and water.

“Why do you need to study?” he asked. “What do you do in school?”

She stared at his chest. “Ah, take classes, you know?” She made a face. “Then again, maybe you don’t.”

“Tell me,” he said.

Staci rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of smile on her face. “You don’t want to hear about me.”

“Then tell me about school. I’d like to hear what it is.”

“You’re sure?”

He nodded.

With tender care, Kuma focused solely on Staci, giving her the attention she’d missed these past years and needed so sorely.

A half hour later, their conversation flowed smoothly as though he hadn’t just dropped into her life. He asked countless questions about this realm, many of them so clueless Staci giggled. He teased her gently and she blossomed at last, teasing him in return.

Grateful tears stung Gwen’s eyes.
That’s it, baby. Enjoy yourself. Forget all the bad.

Staci told Kuma about her favorite TV programs. Mainly
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

The poor guy looked so utterly confused by Staci’s synopsis of the show, Gwen suppressed a laugh and allowed herself to relax.

Tomorrow would come soon enough, along with the start of her plan. At that time, Teeko would be here to protect Staci, just as Gwen and Kuma had agreed. Teeko would take care of the girl if Gwen or Kuma didn’t return. If they—

No. Gwen refused to think of that now. She wanted to relish Staci’s happiness. Once her cousin and Kuma were finished talking, Gwen needed to welcome him back into her arms.

Chapter Ten

Kuma wasn’t certain if Gwen’s plan would work. He did know that nothing he could say or do would change her mind. She was determined to see this through, with or without him.

In her living room, he stood next to Teeko, who’d arrived minutes earlier. Gwen and Staci were across from them, framed by the afternoon sun pouring through the front windows, sizing up this member of Kuma’s pack.

“The Beta wolf to your Alpha,” Gwen had said earlier.

Kuma had no idea what she’d been talking about. Thankfully, he loved the sound of her voice. Despite how he teased her about talking too much, he could have listened to Gwen prattle on for hours.

She said nothing now, eyeing Teeko with unmistakable caution.

He was a few years younger than Kuma, not as solidly built, his dark brown hair worn shorter, his eyes a gold shade, not gray, several days’ growth of beard on his face. He’d stolen his clothing, as Kuma had. It matched what most men wore on this side—jeans, a navy tee, running shoes, a jacket. So restrictive for creatures who’d lived their entire lives on E4 without any garments.

Kuma sensed Staci wanted to see Teeko nude. She kept staring at him, her color rising even more than last night when Kuma had been with her. Giving her the attention Gwen wanted.

Although Kuma liked Staci, appreciating how feminine and gentle she was, she would never be the woman he needed. Perhaps it was a good thing the girl was so clearly attracted to Teeko. In this foreign realm, the werewolf was someone Kuma could trust. Because of that, Gwen had asked him to bring Teeko here. He would see to Staci’s safety while they were gone, putting Gwen’s plan into motion.

Kuma spoke to the younger werewolf in their native tongue. “You’re certain of what you’ve just told me?”

Teeko finished his perusal of Staci, his expression betraying his pleasure. “I know what I smelled. What I’ve seen.” He regarded Gwen.

Kuma stepped in front of the man, blocking his view, letting the werewolf know Gwen wasn’t available. She belonged to him alone.

Remembering his place, Teeko backed away and lowered his face in submission. Satisfied with his response, Kuma spoke to Gwen. “We should leave now.”

She didn’t move. “Can he speak and understand English?”

“Yes,” Teeko answered as he regarded Staci, not Gwen. “I’ll be able to communicate with the female.”

Staci’s face turned bright red. She pulled her attention from the prominent bulge behind Teeko’s fly. Desire remained in her gaze. “You can call me Staci, all right? I’d actually prefer it.”

Teeko looked at Kuma for permission.

He nodded once, allowing the younger man to do that.

“And I’ll call you Teeko,” Staci said.

Gwen watched the interchange without comment. She went to Kuma, whispering in his ear, “Tell him he better not harm Staci in any way, either physically or emotionally.”

Kuma turned his face to hers and inhaled deeply, filling himself with her wondrous fragrance. If not for the others being here, he would have taken her where she stood, causing her to cry out in delight. “He won’t,” Kuma murmured, scarcely able to control his passion.

Gwen’s expression changed, telling him she recognized his lust. Better still, she welcomed it. The sides of her mouth turned up slightly, a smile meant for him alone.

He returned it.

She whispered, “Good. Because if he did, I’d have to chew off his balls. You do know what they are, right?”

He hadn’t yet mastered all of her realm’s slang, but did know that particular word. “I do.”

“Then tell him that,” she ordered.

She was far too bossy, even for a female in this realm. Holding back a sigh, he turned to Teeko and used their language once more. “Make the female feel pretty and wanted. She’s been harmed in the past. Be gentle with her, though not too gentle. She prefers a bit of teasing.”

Teeko’s brows shot up, betraying his surprise. “You’re giving me permission to mate with her?”

Kuma frowned. “I said teasing. There will be no mating unless she allows it. Is that understood?”

The younger werewolf snuck a glance at Staci. Her attention moved from his chest to his face. They stared at each other, suddenly oblivious to everyone else.

“I think we can leave now,” Kuma said to Gwen.

She looked skeptical. “What exactly did you say to him?”

“What you wanted,” he lied. “Come. We need to go.”

“Wait,” Staci blurted and went to Gwen. “Don’t do anything dumb or brave, all right? Don’t let her,” Staci ordered Kuma.

“I won’t,” he promised.

Gwen rolled her eyes and spoke to her cousin. “He won’t have to babysit me, all right? I can take care of myself and I will be back. You make certain you’re all right.” She shot a frown at Teeko.

Staci mumbled, “I’ll be good.”

Kuma heard nothing but arousal and disobedience in her voice. Before Gwen could comment on it or do anything about her cousin’s lust, Kuma took Gwen’s hand and led her from the house. The rain had passed earlier in the day, leaving the air fresh and sweet, smelling of the earth and vegetation. A mild breeze, chilly, not cold, ruffled Kuma’s hair and brought color to Gwen’s cheeks.