Chapter Twenty-One

 

Ava groaned as a hot, wet tongue slid along the inside of her knee and slowly started inching upward. A rough, bristly prickle followed, tickling the skin, awakening sensations she’d never thought possible. Each piece of skin that was touched felt electrified, so sensitive it was almost agony.

Fuzzy from sleep, she gasped when a hard nip against her inner thigh forced her to part her legs. She opened her eyes. Diskant was looking at her, his irises shimmering liquid amber. The roughness against her skin was from the thick shadow on his chin, the heavy stubble lining his jaw.

He dipped his head, maintaining eye contact and pressed kisses along her thigh until his mouth was hovering over her pussy. His heated breath caressed the skin, teasing the folds, creating a flush that multiplied and spread. She trembled as she watched him, anticipating the moment his tongue would dart out, travel along her labia and flitter against her clit.

“I’ve been waiting for you to open those beautiful baby blues all day,” he whispered against her pulsating flesh. “I’ve got so much to tell you, so much to say. But first…”

She cried out when his tongue shot out and he did exactly as she’d envisioned, licking a firm line from bottom to top, parting her lips along the way. Arching her back, she clutched the sheets and pressed against his mouth. His growl was one of approval and hunger, and his quick lapping was that of a starving man and beast. There was no warning, no build-up—she came apart under the ministrations of his clever tongue and lips, quaking as a climax unlike any other sent her body into uncontrollable tremors.

Diskant continued sucking and licking, extending the pleasure. Unlike before, she didn’t go limp and relax as the climax ended. Rather, she wanted more, ached to experience the same ecstasy as he was buried inside her, his cock spilling his seed as they came together.

Mine.

She moved to straddle him, her teeth bared and an odd growl emitting from her chest. He grasped her by the arm and forced her around until she was on her hands and knees. She struggled in his hold, thrashing wildly, and he wrapped his fingers around her nape and pressed her face into the pillows. His much larger frame rested against hers, forcing her to remain still.

Logic warred with something else, something new, something primal. There were a multitude of urges coming from within—encouraging her to fight him, to anger him, to make him earn her trust, prove his worth, show her that he was worthy of her absolute submission.

“I’m in charge,” he murmured against her shoulder, his free hand caressing the curve of her ass. “It’s best you learn that now.”

He didn’t say another word as he got into position behind her. His knee slid between hers, forcing them apart, leaving her vulnerable as she panted into the pillow. She was already wet, sex swollen, thighs shaking.

“You’re mine. Say it.”

An inner part of her continued to rebel and she snarled, “No.”

She felt his teeth against her nape, the sharp points scraping against the delicate column of her throat as his hand moved from her ass to cup her sex. It was impossible not to groan as his finger slid between the outer lips, teasing and prodding before dipping inside. The impulse to writhe against his hand was negated only by the need to remain still, to draw the moment out, to make him force her compliance.

“Ava.” He shifted his head from side to side, his hair brushing against her back, his lips warm and soft against her neck. She whimpered, unable to remain still as he slid two fingers into the giving flesh that parted for his touch, and arched into his hand. “Tell me.”

She shook her head and he continued stroking her as he lapped at her neck, placing hard nips here and there, alleviating the sting with warm swirls of his tongue. The feel of his hot, smooth skin against her back was incredible. The length of his cock pressed against the seam of her ass.

“Do you want this?” He rotated his hips, causing that hard length of velvet, satin and iron to momentarily press against her pussy before it vanished, leaving her bereft and whimpering.

God help her, she couldn’t keep this up much longer. Her body and mind clashed, wanting so much to give in yet needing to resist.

“Diskant, please…”

This time he nipped her hard enough to break the skin. She felt the warm trickle of her blood as it drifted down her shoulder, traveling down her back. He moved and she felt his cock prodding at the moist opening of her sex, seeking entrance but stopping just short. Rocking back, she tried to bring him within but was unable to do more as she was pinned, her ass in the air, chest pressed into the bed.

“You will give this to me.”

She snarled as something she didn’t fully understand roared to life, taking control and obliterating her human half. A strength she’d never possessed before assisted her in breaking free momentarily, allowing her to lift her torso from the mattress. She rotated and had almost slid from his grasp when a loud, terrifying growl filled the room and she felt his hand on her nape once more, fingers rough against the back of her neck. She realized it was the sound of his anger, his beasts overtaking him, staking their claim.

Say it.

His grip intensified, becoming painful. His free hand came down hard on her ass, slapping the flesh, and slid down to her cleft.

“Ava…”

She wanted to say what he wanted so badly, wanted to tell him how she felt, to convey her love, to accept him completely. Yet she couldn’t, held back by something she didn’t understand.

I can’t, she thought, wanting to scream in frustration.

“You can,” Diskant said in a strained voice. “It’s what’s inside you—what’s inside me. They’ll keep fighting until you establish who is in control. You have to give this to me. You have to show them their place. Accept me.”

Another growl from her, this time shrill and high-pitched. She thrashed but he seemed to anticipate it, keeping her in place, his weight hard and unforgiving. As she struggled he remained immobile, unfazed by her wildness, her madness. It wasn’t until she stilled again that the pressure against her throat eased, his fingers going soft.

Desperate and terrified, she opened the connection between them, reaching for something that she understood, something she could control. The moment she did the human portion of her overcame the animal, merging with Diskant in a way that allowed her to think clearly.

“Yours,” she expelled in a rush. Yours.

“That’s right.” His voice was gravel and satin, rough yet smooth. “You’re mine.”

He thrust into her, going balls deep—claiming her, consuming her, overwhelming her. His teeth sank into her shoulder, holding her in place. She didn’t struggle, accepting his will, allowing him to dictate control. He owned her, completed her, loved her.

Mastered her.

“Y-yes,” she echoed brokenly, sobbing in relief.

He continued thrusting, grasping her hips in unyielding, rough hands so that he went deeper. There was no more argument, no words spoken. Whatever it was inside her now—the spirits of his beasts or some small portion of them—reached out to Diskant. As they did they merged with the animals within him, bringing them closer together. Then she felt one entity overcome the others, demanding his place as the most powerful of them all.

Odd scents suffused the air—forest, earth, wood, rain—combining with each other until the perfume of sex was overshadowed. The wolf under her skin rose, growling approval as they brushed against each other, mated in that sensual, age-old dance. The weight at her back continued to pin her in place, forcing her to accept him as her lover, her mate, her Alpha.

Even without their mental connection, she knew this was significant for some reason, that this particular mating was extremely important. Unable to do anything more, she remained passive during his increasingly violent plunges, focusing on how good it felt to have his thick width stretch her as the length invaded her so deeply she could feel him from the outside of her pussy all the way to her womb.

She groaned into the pillow when he let go of her hip, pulled his teeth from her neck and brought one of his hands around. Bringing his fingers down to collect some of her juices, he guided them to her clit and began rubbing and pinching, pain mixing with pleasure. Each thrum was followed by a tight, sharp sting, only to be erased by the sweeping rotation of his wet thumb.

Warmth spread from her belly, tightness in her center that was preparing to burst free. She was aware that her vaginal walls clutched him, holding him tight only to release and start all over again. Her body erupted into violent tremors. She felt that glorious bliss of orgasm hovering just out of reach, waves of fire and need washing over her.

“Come for me now, Ava. Take me as your lover, your partner and your mate.”

The sound that escaped her, caught in the throes of orgasm as he continued pounding into her, was half howl, half scream. She fisted the sheets in her hands, pressing back to meet his thrusts, crazed by the need to feel him come and cement their union.

It felt as if his cock swelled, growing larger, so full and heavy within her that it bordered on painful. Then she felt the jetting in her womb that signified his release. His fingers went taut and his sharp claws pierced the soft, fleshy skin on her hips as he slid into her core one final time and remained in place, her vagina milking the last of him until their combined breathing was the only sound in the room.

He remained inside her as he lifted her leg, rolled her from her stomach to her back and settled between her thighs. Resting his weight on her pelvis, he leaned forward and stole a kiss that was as soft and gentle as their pairing had been rough and wild. He pulled away, revealing irises a beautiful shade of gold. He held her face in his palms and she could feel his fingers tremble.

“I’ve never been as afraid as I was last night. I could have lost you.”

“I can’t remember everything.” She frowned as the events of the evening returned, bringing confusion and a lost block of time. “What happened?”

“A trap.” His reply was a livid rasp. “A well-planned trap to kill us all.”

Her heartbeat faltered, panic replacing bliss. “I don’t understand.”

His brows furrowed as if he were pained. “You will soon. I’m blocking your ties to the pack. I wanted to come to you this morning and solidify our bond before I exposed you to what’s happened.”

“Blocking my ties to the pack?”

He nodded and produced a weak smile. “I’m also blocking the animalistic tendencies you’ve inherited. When you surrendered to me you accepted me as your Alpha and mate. We’ll have to work together to help you control them.”

Understanding dawned. “You mean…what I felt this morning…”

“You are a part of me now, just as I’m a part of you. You’ll never be able to shift but you have a touch of the wild in you, something that you have to respect. It won’t always be easy but we’ll get through it together.” His expression changed, becoming reflective. “That’s what we have now—each other. There is nothing more important.”

He shifted his hips and she felt the still-hard length of him within her. With a roll of his pelvis he started to move, slowly this time, withdrawing from her only to return once more. He caressed her face with his fingers, followed by the backs of his knuckles. She reciprocated by bringing her hands around and brushing her fingertips along his shoulders and back.

“I’m never leaving your side again. From here on in we do everything together.”

“That might be difficult.” She gasped as he slammed against her pussy and rubbed her clit.

“Why is that?”

It was difficult to talk when he took a nipple into his mouth and sucked gently. “Because I have a life of my own, a job, responsibilities…”

He released her breast, nuzzled her skin and brought his hand to the cleft of her ass. “Your life is with me. Your responsibility is to the pack. And you have one part of yourself left to give to me.”

Realizing his intent, she felt her body heat and whispered, “You can’t possibly expect—”

Diskant sealed her lips with his and silenced any further protest. Thoughts of the future were vanquished, put on the back burner.

It was impossible to think when a keyed-up, gorgeous male had you at his disposal and knew how to use his clever fingers, naughty mouth and wicked tongue to his advantage.

* * * * *

Diskant turned from the sounds of running water when a knock came from the door. He walked to the doorway, peered into the bathroom and watched as Ava slipped into the steaming tub and moaned in pleasure. She was undoubtedly sore, her muscles acclimating to the newfound flexibility and strength that he’d put to the test just minutes before. She’d taken to their bond in a way that excited him all over again, making his cock stir.

“Down, boy,” he scolded and adjusted himself to ease the ache, forcing his mind elsewhere. This wasn’t the time to behave like a horny teenager. Soon he’d have to bring Ava fully into the pack, meaning he needed to reserve strength to make certain she wasn’t frightened, overwhelmed or scared by the experience. Considering all the noise he heard coming from the basement, he also knew that soon he’d be forced to face the men the pack had brought back for answers.

The knock came again, louder this time, and he strode across the room. He’d expected someone to bring a pizza as soon as they arrived from the local parlor, so when he didn’t detect the mouthwatering scent of meat, cheese and tomato sauce he was aware that something was up.

Nathan’s haggard face greeted him when he opened the door. Instead of a pizza box he was carrying a large manila envelope. “Ava’s brother just dropped this off.” He held it out and Diskant took the thick parcel, studying it. “I’d better get back. The doc will be here soon and Trey is on the warpath. It’s taking all I have to keep him calm, and the pack is restless. I’ll come back when the food gets here.”

Diskant continued staring at the envelope as Nathan started back down the stairs. He closed the door, scrutinizing the package. There were no markings on the paper but the contents were heavy and the seal along the back had been broken. He flipped it over and lifted the small metal tabs. As he opened the flap at the top, he saw a file was inside.

“Diskant?”

He took a deep breath before he walked toward the bathroom. When he stepped inside he felt what was becoming a familiar flood of warmth in his mind, a soothing caress that occurred when Ava merged completely with him.

“From Thomas?” she asked, sitting upright.

Nodding, he strode over and placed the package in her hands. She turned onto her side, balancing the envelope on the nearby stool stacked with fresh towels. As she pulled the file out a note drifted to the floor. He kneeled at the side of the tub to retrieve it and handed it to her. There was a hesitation and he understood that it came from an inner knowing that her brother had somehow managed to do something wrong again.

Taking a deep breath, she placed the file and envelope on the towels, took the note and opened it. Her eyes skimmed the paper as she read the words aloud.

“Ava. This parcel arrives to you courtesy of Craig Newlander. It explains a lot. In fact, you could say it paints things in an entirely new light. He also included another package, one that he insisted I give to you personally. He warned me of the danger of deviating from his instructions but I simply couldn’t help myself. When I discovered what he planned to give you, I decided to keep it for myself. Consider it a parting gift, my way of being the protective brother by keeping you out of harm’s way. I’m sure you didn’t expect anything less. Thomas.”

Diskant felt her anger, her contempt.

Thomas was right, she didn’t expect anything less.

She folded the note, placed it atop the towels and lifted the file. For several agonizing seconds, she simply stared at the folder. Then she flipped it open.

“My god.” Her fingers trembled as she gazed at the page and started sorting through the pictures that were stapled along the top.

He shifted around the tub until he could see inside. Although he’d never met them, he knew the Polaroids were of her parents. Ava looked like her mother—blonde, petite and delicate. Her father was the opposite—tall, broad and dark. Some of the images were of them laughing as they strolled along the street in broad daylight. Others were of them at night, obviously flying under the radar as both wore hats, dark clothing and somber expressions.

She went through the pages slowly, one by one, digesting the information with Diskant privy to her thoughts and emotions. The Villati knew that Harold Brisbane and Vivian Lockhart were a telepathic couple who met during college and eventually married. There was nothing significant or out of the ordinary. Then Ava turned to a page with an image of her brother. Directly below his picture and date of birth was a small typed statement.

Adopted son, Thomas Harold Brisbane.

“It explains a lot. In fact, you could say it paints things in an entirely new light,” she repeated Thomas’ earlier words. “Jesus, Diskant. How could they have kept something like this from us?”

He wrapped a hand around her neck and stroked the frantic hammering of her pulse with his thumb. “I don’t know. Keep reading.”

She read through the information about Thomas, including the records of his multiple altercations with the law and his dalliances with notable crime figures in the city. He’d gotten around after his gambling addiction had taken hold and he’d begun taking higher risks. The information ended with his trading off her family locket to the Villati in exchange for a sizable two hundred and fifty thousand dollar payment. There wasn’t anything about his birth parents, aside from a birth certificate that listed his mother as Helena Terrance, with no father mentioned.

The next page had an image of Ava at Club Liminality stapled to the top. She was behind the bar, hard at work. She didn’t get angry about the information accumulated until she reached her personal life. Her beautiful lips pursed and a crease appeared between her brows. She skimmed over it, noting it stated she shared the same psychic abilities as her parents and that she’d managed to keep her talent under wraps. A new, fresh portion was typed along the bottom, indicating she was seen leaving her place of employment with Diskant Black.

“They have spies at the club,” she muttered. “Figures.”

Turning the page, she went still. Clippings of her parents’ wreck were neatly pieced together. There was also the obituary and a notice of the auction to sell off some of their holdings. Below that was a wrinkled note with Thomas’ handwriting indicating a time and place to exchange the locket he’d acquired for the agreed-upon amount of cash.

She ran her fingers across the paper. “Sneaky bastard.”

Diskant reached past her to turn to the next page. This one had some handwritten notes and a sketch of a sword with a stone in the center of the pommel. More pictures followed, with the same stone featured, a stone that his mate recognized.

The Brisbane locket.

She removed the note attached to the photo, the wax seal with the symbol of the Villati already broken, and handed him the file. She started reading the moment she could see the words, whispering each sentence.

The locket wasn’t a locket at all but something called a zephyr. With it her telepathy would be enhanced significantly, to the point that she could possibly read people from miles away. Unfortunately, the Villati weren’t the only ones who knew about it and as such, keeping it placed the holder in a substantial amount of danger. That was why Craig had given the package to Thomas and had it delivered to her. He still wanted to meet to discuss the details and ended the missive by imploring her to contact him as soon as possible.

“Damn it, Thomas.” She closed the note. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

In that moment Diskant realized she loved her brother, no matter how much of a consummate fuckup he was. In her mind the good memories—of them as children, teenagers and college-age students—suffocated the bad, taking her back to a time when he didn’t gamble and was actually a decent man.

“I can put out word with the packs,” he offered, stroking her hair. “They might be able to track him down.”

“No.” She sighed. “I can’t keep bailing Thomas out. As much as I worry about him, he’s going to have to start taking care of himself. I’m not his keeper anymore and I have other people to think about.”

His hand stilled as he realized even though he was blocking her link to the pack and lessening the full impact of their loss, she was well aware of it using her telepathy. Her heart was heavy, her mind attuned to him, seeking to remove the ache in his chest and replace it with the promise of something better.

“Ava…” He attempted to extend her comfort but couldn’t find the words, unable to say exactly how he felt.

She turned to him, offered a small smile and leaned across the tub to place the note on top of the file he’d plopped onto the floor. She brushed her lips against his, prepared to ease his pain. A knock came from the bedroom and she pulled away, gazing up at him with eyes full of desire and love.

“It’s going to be fine,” she said softly, reading his thoughts with ease, and rose from the water like Venus, beads of water trickling along her fair skin, traveling down the valleys of her breast and abdomen. She reached for him, wrapping her arms around his bare torso and pressed her wet chest to his.

“D,” Nathan called through the door.

Ava kissed him quickly, unwound her arms and reached for a towel. “Go ahead,” she said as she lifted her foot, placed it on the rim of the tub and started fluffing and drying her leg, revealing fleeting flashes of the smooth, pink mound at the apex of her thighs. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Diskant turned from the temptation and strode from the bathroom. He could sense agitation radiating through door, could feel his pack mate’s worry long before he grasped the handle and stood before Nathan.

The Beta didn’t waste any time. “If you still want Ava to see that asshole we brought in with the Shepherd, bring her to the basement—now. The bastard is running off at the mouth and Trey is eventually going to lose it and kill his worthless ass.”

“Why didn’t you gag him?”

Nathan lifted his hand. There was a large, gaping wound in the fleshy portion between his index finger and thumb. The injury had started to mend but it was apparent by the missing flap of skin that a massive chunk had been removed.

“He bit you?”

Nathan nodded and lowered his hand. “He’s been an absolute cockbite since he came around. His eye is swollen shut, and I’d guess more than one of his ribs is broken since he’s having a hard time breathing. But he’s still not willing to back down.”

“Stupid fuck,” Diskant snapped.

“Nathan?” Ava spoke from just behind Diskant and then he felt her hand against his back. He turned slightly and she came around, dressed in one of his T-shirts, which fell to her knee. “Is everything okay?”

Diskant wondered if she was attuning to Nathan, listening in to his thoughts, but realized she wasn’t when her concerned gaze returned to him.

“We need to go downstairs,” Diskant answered before Nathan could. “We need you to get any information you can from the men we brought back with us. Can you do that?”

When she nodded, Nathan’s shoulders relaxed. “You’d better hurry. Doc said the Shepherd doesn’t have a lot of time left with the blood loss he’s sustained.”

Ava paled. “Blood loss?”

“It’s going to be okay.” Diskant wrapped an arm around her waist. “You won’t face them alone, baby.”

“As much as I hate to rush you, you’d better hurry.” Nathan interrupted and spun toward the staircase. “If Trey can’t kill one of them, he’s bound to take out a wall or two. I’m not sure how much longer he’ll be able to hold out.”