A Wolf's Oath (26 page)

Their loud voices jolted Sebastian back to awareness and he
forced his gaze away from Erica and the dangerous path his mind was
headed down. “Calm down you two, you’re hurting my ears. Ryan, give
them the phone.”

“
Are you sure?”

“
Yes.”

The next voices he heard were Dylan and Wyatt’s. “Can we
speak to Erica please? We miss her.”

It must be hard on them,
he
mused.
She’s been with them for their
entire lives and now she’s gone.
He covered
the mouthpiece of the phone in a futile attempt to shield Erica
from their demands. “Erica, your brother and sister want to talk to
you, do you feel up to it?”

She began pulling at the edge of her towel nervously and
Sebastian groaned softly as the tops of her thighs were momentarily
exposed to his eyes.
Is she trying to see
how far she can push me before I just give in and take her? At this
rate I’ll have her naked in seconds.

Now we’re thinking along the same lines.
His wolf smiled, pleased with the way Sebastian's thoughts
were headed.

“
I’ll talk to them,” she answered holding out her hand for the
phone.

“
Now remember the rules you two, you can only talk to her about
things you’ve done recently. Am I clear?”

“
Yes, yes,” they agreed. “Give Erica the phone please, we want
to talk to her.”

“
Fine.” He handed the phone to Erica and sat back as she walked
around the space of the living room and kitchen.

“
Hey guys.” Her voice was nervous. These children were meant to
be her family and yet she couldn’t remember anything about them,
would they be disappointed in the progress she had made since
leaving them. She couldn’t be sure and that thought made her even
more nervous.

“
Erica!” They screamed into the phone joyfully.

Their happiness at the simple sound of her voice shocked
her.
Wow, from the sounds of their voices
you’d think that speaking to me was in the same category as
Christmas or something.
They must really
care about me.

“
Erica, we miss you when are you coming home?”

“
Soon,” she hedged.

“
Ryan said that if you don’t get better soon we can come and
visit, is that true?”

Sebastian had mentioned something similar when they had still
been at the large estate that she had woken in. “Yes, it’s
true.”

“
Good.”

The vehemence in that one word was stunning.
Why would they be so eager to leave?
“Are they not very nice there? Is that why you
want to leave?”

“
No, they’re very nice here but we miss you. It’s weird being
without you. When we come visit you have to promise to make us your
special cake ok?”

“
Special cake?” She gulped, surprisingly unwilling to
disappoint them.

“
You know the one Erica, the one we get on our birthday,” Dylan
laughed.

“
Is it your birthday already?” The short conversation with her
siblings was making her more and more nervous. There were so many
things that she didn’t remember and it was so easy to overlook her
lack of memories when alone with Sebastian that she had almost
forgot that there were other people in the world that expected her
to remember things.

“
No,” Wyatt answered solemnly. “But we figure that you should
still make it because, well just because. We’ve been really good.
Don’t you think we deserve cake?”

A child’s reasoning was really an amazing thing, she thought
reaching up to open the cupboards in the kitchen, checking to see
if she had the necessary supplies to make a cake. The cupboards
were empty of the ingredients necessary to make a cake and she
sighed in disappointment.
It really isn’t
as though I should have expected something different, I didn’t
factor having to bake a cake into our shopping list.
“Of course you deserve a cake, this whole thing
must be really difficult for you and the pair of you have taken it
all very well.”

“
We get cake! We get cake! We get cake!” They chanted happily
down the phone.

“
Do you know where the recipe for the cake is?” she asked, her
tone hopeful.

“
There isn’t a recipe Erica. You’ve never used one, you just
make it.”

“
But I can’t remember how to make the cake,” she groaned
quietly.

Apparently she hadn’t been quiet enough for the twins who
responded quickly to her problem. “Don’t worry Erica, we’ll help
you. We’ve seen you make it before lots of times.”

You can’t be older than six; just how many times can you have
seen me make a cake that apparently was reserved for birthdays?
Children really are odd.
“Thanks, I’m sure
we’ll muddle through somehow.”

“
Is it nice where you’re staying? Ryan won’t tell us anything
about it.”

“
I think you’ll like it here. There’s snow and you two like
snow don’t you?” She hoped that the one little titbit of
information she had managed to remember would help make the
situation less bleak for them.

“
Snow? Really?”

Their laughter was infectious and she found herself chuckling
alongside them. “Yes, real honest to God snow, and it’s thick
too.”

“
Will it be gone by the time we get there?”

“
I don’t know, Sebastian when are they meant to be coming?” She
turned to look at him, a slight frown creasing her brow as she
noted his heavy lidded eyes.

“
Soon,” he answered casually. “Within the next few days. If you
want me to go and get them before that then that isn’t a
problem.”

“
No, the snow will still be here when you arrive. If it looks
like it’s going to melt before you get here then Sebastian has
offered to come and get you early so that you don’t miss out on it.
Although since it’s very cold up here so I don’t think that’s going
to be a problem.”

“
Yay, we get snow and cake,” they cheered.

“
Let’s go and pack,” Wyatt suggested.

“
Yeah, I’m sure we can get Ryan to agree to taking us early,”
Dylan agreed.

“
Wait guys, I need a little time to get things together and
prepare for your stay.” Her arms moved around frantically as though
they were in front of her and could see her trying to change their
minds. Her towel slipped slightly but she pulled it up quickly
before it had exposed too much of her.

Her concerns fell on deaf ears as they continued to plan how
to push forward their trip. “Bye Erica, we’ll see you
soon.”

“
Wait,” she called out but they had already hung up. “Dylan and
Wyatt might be coming here a little earlier than you planned for
Sebastian.” She turned to tell him the news, expecting to find him
sitting on the sofa. She gasped in shock when she found that he was
right behind her.

“
I’m sorry Erica, I know I shouldn’t do this but I just can’t
seem to help myself.”

“
Sebastian, what’s wrong?” She took a step back, his eyes were
intense as they looked at her as though she were the best item on
the menu and she shivered though she wasn’t sure why.

He pulled her close against him, so that their bodies were
pressed tightly against each other. “I’m sorry Erica, forgive me.”
His head descended and his lips pressed harshly against her
own.

She moaned as their lips met and pleasure began to course
through her. Her thoughts became increasingly foggy as the kiss
continued and she couldn’t understand his words.
What on earth do you have to be sorry
for?

Chapter
Twenty-Seven

Watching Erica move about the kitchen dressed in nothing but
a towel that revealed more than it hid had been a lesson in
self-restraint, one that Sebastian had failed. He could feel his
body reacting to her state of undress, helpless to prevent it and
the longer he watched her, the less he wanted to. His mate was
beautiful, that he already knew but he hadn’t expected her to be so
comfortable around him so quickly and the realisation that she was
pleased him greatly. She continued talking to her siblings,
allowing him to watch her unobserved, but when she reached for one
of the cupboards overhead he could barely stifle the groan that
wanted to slip past his lips. As she stretched up to reach it, the
gentle curve of her buttocks was revealed to him and his heart sped
up in anticipation. He rubbed the heel of his palm against his
engorged shaft, desperate for release. She continued reaching up to
open the many cupboards in the kitchen and he felt his self
restraint slipping with each tantalising glimpse she unwittingly
gave him of her flesh.

Perfect isn’t she?
his wolf commented
casually.

Yes, she is.

Are you going to do anything about it?

I shouldn’t. When she eventually regains her memories she
won’t be happy with me. Besides, I shouldn’t claim her when she
doesn’t even remember what she is. There are consequences. Ones she
won’t be aware of and she won’t understand what’s happening to
her.

If he claimed her she would feel an irresistible impulse to be
in his presence, just as he felt drawn to her. While the insistent
need to be near one’s mate was ingrained from birth on male wolves,
the same didn’t apply to females. Yet once a female was claimed,
the instinct began making new and pressing demands on her. To be
without one’s mate for prolonged periods of time left them feeling
distinctly uncomfortable and the feeling only got worse the longer
they were apart. The instinct was a powerful urge, one that Erica
wouldn’t understand in her current state. While following the
guidance of the instinct brought great rewards, resisting it was
costly as Sebastian could easily remember. Going against the
instinct at the last full moon and running from her had exhausted
him.
I can’t put her through that. She
won’t understand what’s happening to her.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that you and I are meant
to be the same person. She’s right there for the taking! More
willing than she ever was before and yet you resist?
Why?

Erica's voice drew him away from his internal conflict and
his eyes focused on her once more as he answered her question as
calmly as he could. He continued to watch her, trying to content
himself with just seeing her in this state, all the while trying to
resist his wolf’s urgings to touch her. Her towel slipped, teasing
him with a fleeting glimpse of her rosy nipples and his control
vanished with it just as she pulled the towel up and locked it in
place.

This is a bad idea.
Was the first
thought that came to mind as he stood from his seat. The knowledge
that he shouldn’t be doing what he was planning wasn’t enough to
stop him speeding towards her as soon as her back was
turned.

Well done Sebastian, you’re finally seeing sense,
the wolf purred, pleased beyond belief that
Sebastian was going to act on his impulses.

Shut up,
he snapped in retort.
Just stay out of this. I’m not going to claim
her. I just have to touch her. There’s only so much a wolf can take
before he snaps and I’ve reached my limit. I don’t need you
reminding me about my lack of control over myself, I’m perfectly
aware of that.

Choosing to stay silent in case any added input on his part
caused Sebastian to change his mind and return to merely watching,
the wolf retreated to the back of Sebastian's thoughts content to
watch for now.

The distance between them now all but obliterated, Sebastian
stood behind her inhaling her delicious scent. Her smell further
clouded his judgement, urging him to touch her. Simply being near
her was making him want her more, his shaft harder than he could
ever remember it being. She turned around, clearly not expecting
him to be so close, gasping in shock at his proximity.

“
I’m sorry Erica. I know I shouldn’t be doing this but I can’t
seem to help myself.”

“
Sebastian, what’s wrong?” Her eyebrows drew together in
concern as she lightly caressed the side of his face.

So trusting,
he thought before
closing the distance she had put between them. “I’m sorry, forgive
me.”

Her mouth opened as though to ask him another question but he
pulled her close and silenced her with his mouth. Her lips were
soft and giving beneath his own and his lips curved upwards in a
faint smile as she moaned in pleasure at the first contact of their
lips. His tongue easily swept into the open cavern of her mouth,
seeking out all its corners as he sought to imprint the taste of
her onto his starved senses. She threw her arms over his shoulders
wrapping them around his neck as she sought to get closer to him.
She could feel her nipples tightening with each sweep of his clever
tongue and began rubbing herself against him.

His hands lowered from her waist, creeping under the soft
material of the towel to caress the gentle curve of her bottom. He
pulled her forward, thrusting the evidence of his desire against
her. She felt herself growing wet between her thighs with the
knowledge of what she had done to him with no conscious effort. Her
hips began moving of their own accord thrusting against him in
invitation.