Craving More (20 page)

Ever
so slowly she released her grip on Macy’s throat. Removing her claws from her
belly. At the same time, Jett moved off her back, giving her the space to move
away.

Corrine
ambled to the side, plopping down a few feet away, worn out from the all of the
activity.

The
contingency of men circled Macy. All of their attention, including Jett’s,
focused solely on her. One very unhappy man thrust clothes at the pathetic
looking woman.

She
watched in curiosity as Macy planted her balled up hands on her hips. Not
caring a wit that they were all staring at her.

“Daddy,
can you believe that bitch,” Macy screamed at the man with the clothes.
Snatching the garments from his outstretched hands, struggling to pull on the
obnoxious bright pink velour sweat suit. “I’m bleeding and it’s all her fault.
I’m going to be bruised and scarred for life. She needs to be dealt with. I
could have been killed. Violent trash like that shouldn’t be allowed to mix
with the rest of us.” Her tone was haughty and self-righteous.

Corrine
had enough. She was tired, sore and her wound was still oozing blood. Catching
a whiff of burnt wood, the destroyed bakery flooded back into her mind. Getting
up she sedately walked away. Leaving them all behind.

She
walked past the bakery, heading for the back of the house. She couldn’t even
bring herself to look at the place, feeling completely numb.

In
the backyard she shifted. Finding her robe hanging on the outdoor hook on the
patio, she slipped into it. Instead of going inside like she planned, she
turned and trudged up the hill to her favorite spot. Needing the comfort and
peace she knew it would bring. Standing on the hill she mindlessly surveyed her
land. So lost in her own world she didn’t sense Jett’s presence.

He
found her standing on the hilltop looking lost and alone. He could feel the
pain radiating off her and it broke his heart.

He
couldn’t believe he didn’t know she’d walked off. He should have felt it the
moment she left the clearing. He’d been too busy dealing with Macy and the
Consortium. Explaining what happened.

The
minute he realized she wasn’t there dread set in and he put on the clothes his
father brought and took off. The others could deal with Macy. He was done
feeling guilty for her breakdown.

Climbing
the hill he walked up behind Corrine, slipping his arms around the tops of her
shoulders. Her startled jump confirmed what he already figured. She had shut
down. Was unaware of anything going on around her.

He
held her. Soaking in the feel of her body against his. She relaxed back into
him. Some of his tension releasing knowing she was comfortable with him again.

“Why
didn’t you let me know you wanted to leave? I would have come with you,” he
stated quietly.

Her
chest rose beneath his arms before releasing on a heavy sigh. “Everyone was
preoccupied with Macy and I didn’t want to interrupt. I just wanted to get back
to the house and get this stench off me.”

“Why
are you up here then?”

“I
just came. I planned to hit the bath, which I still need to do by the way, and
was drawn up here,” she shrugged.

He
rested his chin on the top of her head, closing his eyes. The thought of
Corrine naked, slippery and wet in the bath did crazy things to him. His cock
stirred. Involuntarily pressing his hips against her ass.

Corrine
snorted.

“What?”

“If
you think you’re getting lucky after the day I’ve had, you are sadly mistaken.”

Jett
didn’t answer. He knew she was trying to make everything that happened seem
like it wasn’t a big deal but he refused to play along. “You scared the hell
out of me Corrine. Why did you come out of the woods? I told you to stay there
and wait.” His grip tightened across her body. He relived the moment Macy
shoved him to the ground and he couldn’t do anything to stop her from going
after Corrine.

He
shuddered at the thought of a different outcome. Nevertheless, he should have
known his mate could take care of herself.

Her
hands came to rest on his forearms. The gentle touch soothing him until he
looked down and saw blood on her right arm.

“Damn
it Corrine.” He spun her around, seizing her arm to inspect it. The large ugly
red lacerations stood out against her skin. Blood oozed and he strangely felt
faint.

“Uh,
Jett? You okay?”

He
tried to focus on her face but couldn’t seem to get his eyes to work. She was
wavering before him as the blood rushed out of his head. “Yeah,” he croaked.

She
pushed him to the ground and he went willingly. Seeing his mate hurt was
something he wasn’t prepared for. Something he didn’t know would affect him so
strongly.

“You’re
not looking so hot babe. Maybe we should go inside.” She framed his face with
her hands, her gaze searching his own. Shutting his eyes to keep her from
seeing his weakness, he let her touch abate the fear that set in.

He
took a deep breath before letting it slowly out. “I’m good. Really. Just
shocked to see you hurt.”

“I’m
a big girl. I’ll survive. No tiger comes out unscathed. Besides, it isn’t a big
deal. I’ll get the scratches cleaned up and dressed. Be good as new in a day or
two. Might need a tetanus shot though. No telling what that bitch is carrying.”
She chuckled softly but it didn’t lighten his mood.

They
sat in strained silence. He didn’t know what to say or what to do. He could
have lost her before he ever really had time with her. The thought was a blow
and huge reality check.

The
slight pressure of her lips on his took him by surprise. His mind and body
screamed for more. Deepening the kiss, he slid his tongue across the seam of
her lips. Delving inside when her mouth opened. They tangled and dueled
fighting for dominance. Pushing against each other’s tongue, biting and
licking.

His
balls tingled as cock rose to attention between them. Snaking his arms around
her waist he pulled her on top as he laid back.
Her lush body
covering his hard planes.
There wasn’t a better feeling in the world.

Pulling
back he gasped for breath, only to have Macy’s scent envelope him, breaking
through his lust. The cloying perfume was all over Corrine; the reason for it
twisted his gut. Corrine was injured because of him. And he was ravishing her
up on the hilltop in view of anyone who had an inclination to look.

Gently
he rolled them to their sides. Taking care to not place her on her injured side
while putting a small space between them.

He
rested his forehead against hers needing to touch her in some way. “Don’t ever
do that again. You have to let me protect you. I couldn’t bear it if you were
severely injured or killed,” he sighed heavily.

She
blinked rapidly.
The fog of arousal lifting from her mind.
She poked him hard in the chest with her finger. “You were letting her rub her
tiny titties all over you and didn’t do a damned thing. What else was I
supposed to do?”

The
vehemence in her voice brought his head up. How could she be angry with him
trying to protect her and stall for time? Didn’t she realize Macy did nothing
for him? There was not one thing on that woman’s body sexually appealing.

Corrine
was pouting with little irritated wrinkles in her forehead. It finally dawned
on him.

“You
were jealous!” he crowed. Reaching out he rubbed a lock of hair between his
fingers. Loving the silky texture. “I was just keeping her occupied until the
Consortium could get there. She has nothing on you, honey.” He looked pointedly
at her breasts peaking out of the robe.

“Jerk,”
she said lightly. Knocking his hand away.

He
sighed. Elated she was joking and not pissed off and yelling at him. He was
damn lucky to have Corrine. Now he just needed to ensure she stayed his.
Forever
.

With
Macy out of the picture for real, for the first time in years he felt free. He
could finally let the horrible experience fall into the background where it
should have been all along. Instead of letting it rule his life, his
relationships. He would take the blame for allowing it to happen too. He could
accept his fault in the whole ordeal. What he wouldn’t accept was letting it to
continue.

“I
love you Corrine. I have from the first time I saw your picture back in
college. I’ve been enchanted. I just didn’t know it at the time. I know we
haven’t officially entered
Dewasa
but
that doesn’t matter to me. You’re my mate. My soul. I don’t want anyone else.”

“What
about your friendship with my brother? You’d give that up to be with me. He
wasn’t too thrilled to find us in bed together, not that I care what he thinks,
but you guys have been friends for a long time.”

“Why
do I have to give both of you up? I don’t think he’ll be as upset as you think.
We can talk to him.
The sooner the better.
I’m not
sure how much of his attention we’ll have much longer. From what I can see,
he’s wrestling with some of his own demons.”

“What?
What do you know that I don’t?” She peered past him, toward the house. Concern
for her twin evident on her face.

He
pressed his thumb between her worried brows. Smoothing them out. “Nothing bad.
At least I don’t think. I have a feeling he’s in a similar boat as me. Falling
for someone he doesn’t think he should. That’s his problem though. Not ours.”

Grabbing
her hips he pulled her pelvis flush with his arousal. He may have cooled it
earlier but he was still hard as hell.
His cock pressing
against the zipper of his jeans.
Anytime he was near her he couldn’t
tamp down his hard-on. Her eyes snapped back to him. “Now back to us.”

He
paused to study her expression, trying to gauge her reaction to being labeled
‘us’. It was completely blank as she stared back at him.
Her
breathing normal.
The pulse beating in her neck
normal.
“There is an ‘us’, right?” He said it a little unsure.

Lips
pursed, eyes narrowed he wanted to squirm under her inspection. Wanted to kiss
her and break the spell. Remind her how well they went together. How she came
undone with a simple touch from him.

Instead
he waited. Praying for her to answer with what he hoped.

Minutes
passed and his nerves frayed even more.

“I
forgive you,” she said softly after placing a quick kiss on his lips.

He
reared his head back, bewildered by her words. He wasn’t expecting that at all.

Giggling
she threw her arms around him, knocking him flat on his back.

“I
love you too Jett Montgomery-Murphy and if you so much as think of walking away
again there will be hell to pay. I don’t need
Dewasa
to tell me I’ve found the man and tiger for me. You’re my
mate and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

His
heart sang at her words and he set out to show her how much she meant to him.

THE
END

About the Author

As
a teenager Brandy would spend time at her Nana and Papa’s writing angst filled
stories of unrequited love. All revolving around whatever cute boy she had a
crush on at the time. The stories, which no longer exist, were a way to get out
the emotions bottled up inside. After a time her interests changed and writing
got left behind.

After
rediscovering her love of reading, romance to be specific, story ideas starting
popping up in her head. With some prodding from her friends she decided to try
her hand at writing romance and has written around ten stories in various
states of completion. With a plan in place she’s hoping to bring more of her
stories to life.

Brandy
is a Navy brat, prior enlisted Army, current Army wife, and mom. She lives in
Washington State with her husband of 18 years, three kids and one dog.

Website

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email her at:
[email protected]

Coming Soon
:

Freefall

Falling
Fast (Tiger Nip, Book 2)