Kadenburg Revealed (The Kadenburg Shifters Series, Book 4) (12 page)

It was so easy to make out the bright blue eyes and blonde hair of Rutley, only eight or so, as he ran through the open fields of Kadenburg.  He was fast, too.  He was chasing after someone but Dimitri couldn’t make out the other figure.

“Come back! Come back!” Rutley screamed at the top of his lungs.  “Take me with you!”

Was it Liam?  Was it Rutley’s mother?  Dimitri’s eyes scanned the bright atmosphere of the dream as he attempted to follow after the blonde haired boy, his feet not even touching the ground in this dreamlike state.

“Wait for me!”

Rutley led him further and further into the familiar territory of the town Dimitri now called home.  The woods seemed to be never ending as his beta’s memories carried him down the metaphorical rabbit hole.  Where were they going?  Dimitri had no idea, but curiosity was getting the best of him.

“This way, Rutley!”

Dimitri’s eyes landed on the undeniable youthful face of Liam Bamey.  He was adorable as fuck and the smile on his face hadn’t changed much at all.  He was waving excitedly to Rutley from atop a large mountain of dirt.

“Where are we goin’?” Rutley asked as he dug the tips of his shoes into the side of the mountain, crawling upwards until he reached his friend.  “We ain’t supposed to be up here, ya know.”

“Well I don’t tell my mama everything I do!” Liam scowled. 

That’s my guy,
Dimitri thought with a smile as he watched the two youngsters pick and poke at one another.  It was easy to see they were the best of friends and a part of Dimitri envied that desperately.  If only he’d had more time with Liam.....

The happiness lasted for only a moment before the skies darkened overhead.  Dimitri lifted his eyes to see storm clouds rolling in and they looked angry.  He heard as Rutley released a whimper before sliding down the hill of dirt, stumbling over his own feet and falling. 

Not much had changed.

“We need to get home,” Rutley said in a pleading tone.  “It’s gonna come a bad one.”

“I ain’t scared,” Liam boasted as he crossed his arms over his chest.  “It ain’t gonna hurt us.”

But as the daytime turned to nighttime so drastically, Dimitri had a feeling that Liam would eat his words.  He turned his head and saw the tall figure emerging from the edge of the trees and it caused liquid ice to fill his lungs.  It felt like someone was drowning him as he quickly turned his attention back to Liam and Rutley.  They looked petrified.

“Run!” Dimitri shouted as he realized who the stranger was.  “Run, damn it! RUN!”

Rutley and Liam resembled statues as they stayed put and their mouths fell open in silent screams.  This wasn’t right.  None of this was right.  There was no way in hell this was one of Rutley’s memories.

“There you are, you little shit,” Breslin hissed as he approached Dimitri.  “Now I get to finish what I started.”

It wasn’t Rutley’s memory.  It wasn’t a memory at all.

It was one of Dimitri’s many nightmares.

D
ecember 20th

Believe it or not, once upon a time I actually got excited about Christmas morning.  It’s only five days away and right now I just want to dig a hole in the ground and disappear.  Some carolers came by last night and I didn’t even bother to open my door.  I LOVE Christmas songs!  Everything has gone to shit.

I didn’t sleep well last night and this time it wasn’t because of the guilt I feel.  I had really weird dreams and now I have the joys of ignoring my gut instinct.  What is my gut instinct you ask?  Why, to go see the boys of course!  I will
not
, I repeat, NOT go see them.  If I step one foot into that apartment Dimitri is liable to rip me to shreds.

I wouldn’t blame him for it.

It is not easy to stay away from them.  I miss them so much and every day feels like a million years have passed by since I saw their handsome faces.  Yeah, I know what you’re thinking.....

Dimitri was a real asshole to me.  Why do I miss
him
?  I wish I knew.  Rutley was so nice to me and he deserves the affections I feel towards him....but Dimitri?

I don’t know.  I feel drawn to him.  I truly believe there’s a kind man hidden beneath the layers of bad-assery he’s built around himself.  A part of me wishes I could have the opportunity to break through those layers, but alas, life is not so kind.

Soon it will be time for the truth to come out.  The plan is being set in motion and everything will be as it should’ve always been.  My family will regain what was taken from them and I’ll finally be free to live the life I’ve always wanted.

Somehow I’m pretty sure that the life I want can only involve my two very werewolf neighbors, who happen to be my unintentional mates, and unfortunately they won’t be around when my freedom comes.

Forever the worst person on earth,

Kia

——————————-

S
he was warm.  She was safe.  The strong arms holding her made her feel secure as she slowly stirred from sleep.  Natalie had no idea what time it was, or where she was for that matter, but she was completely content as her eyes opened.

Wait.  This wasn’t her bed.

Oh god.
  Her body instantly went rigid as she realized the arms wrapped around her belonged to
him
, which meant she was in bed with
him
, which meant something must’ve happened for them to be in this situation.

Oh, Urseth.  Did I sleep with Arnold?
  She squeezed her thighs together and searched for the slightest hint of soreness.  A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she felt none.  Maybe Arnold was still capable of being a gentleman even when his hormones roamed freely-it was still a possibility.

I should get up.

No, she shouldn’t.  His arms were still tightly woven around her waist and his chin was resting against her shoulder.  She could feel his warm breath hitting against the side of her neck and it tickled in such a wonderful way.  This.....this was everything she’d ever wanted.

‘Oh my god.’ She mouthed silently.  What was she supposed to do?  Her answer came quicker than expected when Arnold mumbled and shifted his hips to press into her backside.  He was
hard
.

Shit.  Keep it together.  Remain calm.  Do not freak out.
Every thought going through her mind was begging for her to either get up and run, or stay and enjoy what her sleeping companion provided, which was pure delight in knowing he responded to her body even while in the deepest of slumbers. 

Maybe he really is attracted to me,
Natalie pondered as she captured her bottom lip between her teeth.  Wouldn’t that have been the damnedest thing?  What if Arnold was telling the truth and she really was innocent?  What if he really did want to make amends and move forward?  What if she was being completely delusional in thinking he was only doing all of this so he could mate with her?

There was only one way to find out.

“Arnold, wake up.”

“Ain’t time to get up.” He mumbled.

“Well, say what you want to but half of you is already up.”

Arnold’s eyes snapped open and he lifted his head, making a strange noise in the back of his throat as his movements caused his body to press harder against hers.

“Oh, damn it, Natty,” he slurred drowsily.  “This ain’t what it looks like.”

“I’m aware.” She offered promptly before rolling over to face him.

He was gazing at her again, but she knew deep down he couldn’t see her.  His beautiful green eyes were clouded over by a murky white color and whatever sight he’d had before was gone.  In a way, she hated that he couldn’t see her.  Did she really want him to see her?

Yes.

“What happened last night?” She asked cautiously, unsure if she actually wanted the answer.

“You were real upset so you had a bit to drink.  I figured it wouldn’t hurt anything to calm your nerves,” he replied with a small frown.  “I didn’t do anything to you and you didn’t do anything to me.  I promise.  We stayed decent, Natalie.”

The ironic part was that she actually wished something
had
happened.  Why couldn’t she make up her mind?

“Do you want some breakfast?”  What kind of stupid question was that?  She was in bed with the ursithrope of her dreams and all she could think about was cooking for him?

“I ain’t really hungry,” Arnold replied honestly, blinking.  “Are you hungry?”

Not for food,
she wanted to say.

“No.”

“Oh.” Arnold said simply as he seemed to relax. 

Oh? What was she supposed to say back to that?  Every small particle of life flowing through her body screamed for her to touch him, to beg him for his touch, to do
anything
aside from gawk at him like she currently was.  She felt like a sixteen year old all over again.

Wave after wave of heat gushed through her system as she remembered the evidence of his arousal pressing against her stomach. 
She
did that to
him
.  How had things changed so much since back then?

“Arnold, I-”

Her words came to an abrupt halt midway up her throat as Arnold’s lips suddenly touched the corner of her mouth. 

Oh no.  Not again.

He had no idea how badly she wanted to kiss him.  She wanted to seal the deal and give herself to him in every way, but she knew she couldn’t do that until she knew the truth.  They couldn’t take this any further until she was certain he wasn’t being manipulated by his bear.  It would devastate her if it turned out to be just that......she couldn’t handle it.

“What was that for?” She asked in a small whisper when he pulled away.

“I don’t know,” Arnold answered truthfully.  “I reckon I just felt like doing it.”

It was her turn to say ‘oh’, and her cheeks became hotter than the sun.  What was she supposed to do about this?

“Was it okay?” Arnold asked suddenly.

“W-what?” Natalie stared at him.  What did he mean ‘was it okay’?  Of course it was okay.  It was beyond okay.  All she’d ever wanted was to feel his lips on her in every way possible.  Oh, Urseth, did she ever want to feel those lips.....

Oh no
.  She shouldn’t have thought about that.  Damn it all to hell, she should
not
have thought about Arnold’s mouth on her in any form.  The heat radiating through her thighs and the wetness collecting between her legs was not missed by Arnold Goult.  He sucked in a sharp breath and she knew she’d made the worst mistake possible.

“Natty...”

“I’m sorry,” she stammered frantically as she squirmed against him.  “I didn’t mean to....”

“Damn it, woman.  You’re making this mighty hard for me.”

“Hard for you?!” Natalie squeaked.  “Oh,
please
.  You have no idea the hell I’ve been going through just to stay away from you.  You make this unbelievably difficult for me.”

She wasn’t sure why she was so mad all of a sudden, but she knew she needed to put distance between them,
again
, before Arnold lost whatever small bit of sanity he had left.  It had to be torture for him just to hold it together around her. 

“Don’t,” Arnold stated in that husky smoother-than-honey voice as she tried to roll away from him.  His muscular arms wrapped tighter around her and he all but crushed her against his chest.  “Don’t run away from me again.”

“Arnold,” she said sharply. “You need to let me go or else something is going to happen we’ll both regret.  Do you understand that?  You may think this is all fine and dandy now, but wait until next week.  I’m not too fond of being hated again, so please....”

“
No
.”

“Arnold....”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“But I need to go.  This isn’t going to end well for either of us.  I only seem so appealing because of my bear.  You know that, don’t you?  You’re not stupid.  You were fine a week ago and still despised me.  Look how much that has changed in a few short days.  Don’t let the illusion fool you.”

It hurt to say it.  She didn’t want to say it at all, but she knew it was for the best.  Arnold needed someone to open his eyes, at least metaphorically, before he made a huge mistake.  No matter how much she wanted him, she couldn’t have him.  She could never have him.

“Nothing’s fooling me,” he promised as he rolled her over and pinned her against the mattress with his hard body.  “I know what I’m doing.  I know what I’m thinking.  I know what I’m feeling right now, too:
YOU.
”

“Arnold, we can’t do-”

“Shut up and kiss me, Natty,” he demanded gently as he nuzzled his nose against her smooth cheek.  “Just kiss me.”

Oh, god.  She wanted to.  She wanted to kiss him more than anything else in the world, but what would happen when he realized the truth?  What happened when he came back to his senses?

Kiss him!
Her bear squealed in delight. 
Kiss him now and see!

“Oh, screw it.” Natalie whispered exasperatedly as she lifted her head enough to close the distance between their mouths.  As their lips connected her world turned upside down, topsy-turvy, and promised never to be the same again.  Fireworks went off, bells chimed, and Heaven’s choir began to sing.  It was a kiss that every movie depicted but never got quite right.  It was beyond everything Natalie had ever dreamed.

Arnold’s mouth was intensely dominant and gentle at the same time.  The way he possessed her lips as if he’d owned them for his entire life terrified her and excited her simultaneously.  Her fingers immediately found their way into his tousled locks and Natalie released a groan of surprise as their teeth collided.

Oh, he’s wonderful.
  It was a thought that repeated itself over and over in her mind as Arnold’s hips wormed their way between hers.  Her knees willingly fell apart for him and her body screamed for him to come closer.  How would he get closer?  He was already as close as humanly possible, yet she couldn’t sate the hunger her bear felt for his flesh.  She clawed her nails down his arms and gripped the backs of his elbows.  Her legs tightened around his waist as he suckled at her bottom lip.