“If I’d stayed home, no one would be hurt.” Devon shimmied up on the couch. “I’m also not sure how I feel about you.”
“I’m about to tell you something, and it’s not to guilt trip you, but you have to understand what just happened. My brother attacked you. The fact that my mate dove in front of you has nothing to do with the outcome. He had bad intention—not only for you but for my pack.” Josh ran his hands through his hair. “We’re taught to use our strength and power for good things. He was wrong on so many levels to come at you!”
“What happened outside?” Devon felt a prickle of fear run down her spine. Josh seemed to pick up on her mood change and took several deep breaths.
“I challenged him for Beta and won. Nick is dead.” Josh took her hands. “You and Lucy don’t always make the best decisions, but this had nothing to do with you. Something changed in Nick, and not for the better. “
“Nick is dead?” Devon let her jaw drop. “I mean you had to… because of…?”
“Stop,” Josh demanded. “I told you this is way over your head. Don’t let an incredible act of bravery take on a negative spin. Lucy proved she has your best intentions in mind, so let it go.”
“Fine.” Devon pulled her hands away. “Then what about the issue I have with you directly?”
“I know an apology is not going to wipe away what happened at the bar, but I hope you can look back and realize I tried to stop them. I admit I let Nick boss me because I didn’t want to stand up to him by myself. I’m really sorry I didn’t stop him, but I made sure we brought you where you would be safe.” Josh stood up and moved to the broken window. “I hope one day you can forgive me.”
“I don’t understand everything that played out tonight, but I accept your apology.” Devon brushed away her tears. “I have a lot on my mind.”
Donovan returned to the living room and helped her off the couch. “Come on. We have to go.”
“Can I come back and check on Lucy?” Devon placed her hand in his and stood slowly.
“If it’s acceptable, I’m willing to escort her back here. Please believe I won’t let anything happen.” Josh approached the two of them but kept his eyes on Donovan.
“I’ll think on it.” Donovan nodded. “You and I are clear, so do not give me a reason for us not to be.”
“Understood. I’m going to go check on my mate. You and Devon are proclaimed guests of our pack. No one will harm you and we offer sincere apologies for the acts of a few.” Josh extended his hand to the vampire.
“It is unfortunate what occurred, but we will consider your pack friendly. Tell your alpha to call me as soon as Lucy is awake.” Donovan shook his hand.
“I will. Let me escort you to the edge of the property.”
Josh led them out of the house and to the woods. Donovan squeezed her hand as they followed him.
“Your help is appreciated. Thank you.” Donovan nodded to the new beta of the pack, then headed back home.
Devon couldn’t think of anything to say. They walked for about five minutes without speaking.
“You didn’t ask permission to come out here,” Donovan stated, though his tone had no heat behind it.
“I didn’t think it would matter.” A huge knot formed in her belly as she thought of a better answer. “Lucy asked me to come to the house, and I thought she meant the dorm.”
“If I took out Ben’s entire pack for retribution,” he stopped and turned towards her, “what would you have said then?”
“You could take out a werewolf pack? Like all of them?” Devon felt her jaw drop.
How strong is he?
“Not the point. I thought you were abducted.”
“Lucy came to your house and begged me to let her explain.” Devon bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I don’t know the rules.”
“You agreed to tell me where and when you would be if you went out. A quick text would have prevented a lot of this.”
“My best friend almost died protecting me and you’re upset I didn’t ask to come here? Can’t you be happy I didn’t get tackled by a werewolf?”
Donovan shook his head and she immediately knew her attitude had pushed him too far. Sure enough, he looped his arm around her waist, picked her up, and laid her over a long, thick log. She groaned as his hand smacked each cheek with gusto and yelped when it found her sit spots. The bark felt rough underneath her hands and made it difficult to stay still.
“If you listened to start with, she wouldn’t have had to protect you.” Donovan placed his palm against her lower back to keep her in place and continued spanking her.
“Ouch,” Devon replied from the sting of his words. She hated to admit he was right. “Ouch!” she yelled as his spanks got harder. “I know!”
“I’m also irritated about your lack of concern regarding Nick. If he lunged the way his father described, he could have ripped you apart. Even I can’t fix such serious wounds.”
“You’re right, but I meant you should be happy.” Devon rose up on her toes as two more rounds were delivered to her already burning cheeks. Two more rounds followed in quick succession. Apparently, she said the wrong thing again. “Ow! Not happy joyful! Happy because I’m alive!”
Donovan tugged her to her feet and spun her around. “I don’t want to come home again to an empty house and not know where you are because, honey, when you get back, I won’t listen to an explanation until after your bottom is blushing and sore.”
“I understand,” she nodded as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. The spanking had stung, but the thought of him being worried made her more upset.
“Come on. I’ve got other things on my mind.” Donovan lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him. He smirked as she nuzzled against his cheek. “Lots of things.”
“You’re smiling, so they can’t be awful.” Devon grinned up at him and they headed towards the house.
“Mm-hmm.” Donovan licked down her neck. “You think so?” He ran his hand down her body until it rested on her hip.
“You can totally put me down now.” Devon glanced over her shoulder. They had made it back to his house in half the time it normally would have taken, but he still held her tight.
“Oh, I plan on it, just not yet.” Donovan smiled wickedly as he bounded up the stairs.
“Where are we going?” Devon bit the inside of her cheek. “What are we doing?”
Donovan turned up the hall instead of going down to the guest room. He opened the door furthest away and stepped inside.
“Wow.” Devon breathed out in awe.
His room is huge!
His bed looked very comfortable, and it was done up in deep rich blues and light silver streaks, with lots of pillows. It was at least a queen if not a king size, and as he set her on the edge she saw four tall posts at each corner. “Your bed is awesome.”
“That’s all you can say? I thought you still had some ideas about what you think I’m going to do.”
“I have lots of ideas.” Devon yanked her shirt off over her head and slipped off her jeans. “For starters, though, your clothes need to go.” She motioned for him to take them off.
“You think you get to order me around?” He playfully slapped her ass. “Huh?”
“I can’t hear you…” Devon teased back. “You have way too many clothes on!”
“Okay, I’ll play along.” Donovan unhooked his belt and stepped out of his pants. He tugged his shirt off in a blur, then knocked her down onto the comforter. “What else?”
“Oh! I like this game.” She planted a kiss on his lips. “I want to feel you inside of me right now.”
“That’s not very creative.” He nuzzled down her cheek and nipped all over her collarbone. “But I guess I will do as you request.”
“I’m super creative, but only when your body isn’t all up on mine.”
“Of course—my sexiness is a distraction!” Donovan positioned himself between her legs and thrust inside her. “Is this what you meant?” He pumped in and out, then moved upwards and linked her ankles around his neck. The adjustment, along with his ability to move faster in that position, brought her to climax immediately. She dug her nails into his back and moaned as the endorphins rushed through her body.
“Your bed is awesome!” Devon repeated as she floated back to reality.
“Apparently.” Donovan winked. “I’m sure you can dream up some ideas tonight.”
“Mm-hmm.” She laced her fingers in his and tucked herself up against his chest. “Later I will. Now I just want to forget about everything and sleep.”
“Did I wear you out?” Donovan pulled the sheets up and over them.
“No, but if you’d like to try tomorrow…” Devon giggled as he kissed her again.
“Good-night.”
“Night,” Devon mumbled, finally feeling safe and protected in his arms. Tomorrow there would be questions about next semester and the new status with the pack, along with additional rules about how to toe the supernatural line, but for the moment, she could fall asleep happy.
The End
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More Stormy Night Books by Adaline Raine
Marked by the Alpha
Dani had always been a lone wolf and she had no desire to join a pack, but that didn’t matter to a true alpha wolf like Mason Daniels. When he finds out that human hunters have been threatening Dani, he puts his mark on her.
Unfortunately, the hunters are foolish enough to disregard his mark, and Dani is captured. After Mason and his pack rescue her from certain death, Dani is given no choice about joining Mason’s pack for her own protection. She soon learns that Mason is fully prepared to spank her bare bottom as often as is necessary to teach her to respect and obey him.
With more hunters closing in and the pack under threat, Mason begins to realize that he must claim Dani as his mate for life—whether she likes it or not—before his need for her drives him mad. At the same time, she is forced to learn her role in the pack and come to terms with her instinctual need to submit to Mason as her alpha and her mate.
Adaline Raine Links
You can find author interviews, excerpts of upcoming books, and general thoughts from Adaline Raine via her blog, her Twitter and Facebook pages, and her Amazon and Goodreads profiles, using the following links:
http://brattyadaline.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Adaline_Raine
https://www.facebook.com/adaline.raine
http://www.amazon.com/Adaline-Raine/e/B00B1Y5JNM
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6894710.Adaline_Raine
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