Switch (The Forever Series, Book 7) (17 page)

“None of your business,” Lincoln snaps and Xane raises his
eyebrows at him.

“I didn’t think you were the possessive type, Wolf,” he
says.

“That is about to change. Everything is about to change
around here,” he says, flexing his broad shoulders. “That includes you keeping
your dick in your pants around my Alpha.”

“Lincoln!” I say to him, aghast, thankful that there was no
one else around to hear him say that. I am momentarily distracted as I glance
around to double check for overhearing ears, by an interesting scene being
played out on the driveway, some hundred meters away. CK, Sebastian, and Devon
are arguing heatedly over something. I try to listen but they are too far away,
even for my super hearing. There is a lot of pointing and gesturing and I take
a step towards them to find out what the problem is when my attention is drawn
back by a loud, very wolf-type growl from Lincoln. Which, in fact,
is
a
wolf growl as he has Shifted and is snarling at Xane, who looks much like he is
about to Shift himself--although into what I have no idea, as he has never
shown me his true Demonic form. He has to have one though, he can’t look all
gorgeous and like butter wouldn’t melt in the heat of battle. I don’t get left
waiting for long to find out, as a quick flash goes over him but only for a
second, maybe two, before he shakes his shoulders out and resumes his normal
features. But fuck me. I’m quite glad that he did, as I probably would have run
a mile had he maintained the Shift. As near as I could tell, he looked like a
ten-foot sized Dragon on two legs, wings included. I step forward to diffuse
this situation and put a hand on Lincoln to calm him. He growls at me but I
growl back at him and he bows his head in apology, whimpering into my hand as I
look at Xane.

He grimaces at me and says, “Get him under control.”

“I will, don’t provoke him though.”

“I didn’t. He just came out with that accusation.”

“In all fairness, it’s not an accusation. He knows,” I say
quietly.

“Oh really? I thought you wanted it under wraps,” he says,
pleased.

“I do, but Lincoln and I have a special connection. That day
after The Thirteen nightmare, with us in the shower? He saw what we have.”

“And what did he see?” he asks as he steps closer, ignoring
the roar and gnashing of teeth from Lincoln.

“I am sure I don’t need to spell it out,” I say. “Now I do
need to go and…” I tilt my head to Lincoln, whose sinewy muscles are rippling
down his flanks. “He needs to run.”

“Go. I will catch up with you later. I want to talk more
about this.”

“And I want to talk more about what I just saw.” I indicate
him up and down.

He looks embarrassed and shrugs, “I was hoping you wouldn’t
see that for a while yet.”

“Why? You have seen my Shifts. It’s only fair.”

“That side is a vicious side. I don’t want you to see it,”
he says shortly.

“Don’t be silly,” I say softly. “It is a part of you.”

He nods swiftly and turns back to the house without another
word and I let Lincoln go and he shoots off towards the woods, leaving me to
follow at a more sedate pace in my heels. I kick them off as I look back
towards the driveway but it is empty now and both cars are gone. I shrug it off
and, keeping my eye on Lincoln, who has stopped on the edge of the woods to see
if I am following, I answer my phone which is buzzing in my jeans pocket.

“Cade, what can I do for you?”

“Are you safe?” he asks without bothering with pleasantries.

“Perfectly fine, thank you.”

“I don’t like being away from you.”

“Oh, how sweet, you miss me,” I say.

“Not like that,” he grumbles.

“Sure, whatever,” I sing-song to him to his annoyance. “Have
you found anything out?”

“Yes, Nico has said they are sending a team in. In fact,
they are already in London.”

“How many?” I ask, only slightly concerned about the team of
Hunters being sent to kill me, or whatever it is they plan to do.

“Six. The best six, not Hunters though.” He sounds worried.

“But you are better. Just get here as soon as you can. What
are they then if not Hunters?”

“Assassins. Way worse. I am on my way, we landed an hour ago
but that airport is manic. Nico is going as fast as he can. Geez, these roads
are tiny and busy,” he complains.

“No worries. Nico knows where to come. I will be on the
grounds but don’t disturb. I have some nurturing to do,” I say with a smile and
he laughs.

“Fine, you go nurture. We’ll see you in a bit.” He hangs up
and I pocket my phone. I look up and remember that there is no shadow cover
over the grounds here. Good thing we are isolated, but I turn in a circle, arms
outstretched and say the spell, borrowed from the Grimoire this time, and a
rush of smoke comes out of both my hands as I spin, twirling it up into a
vortex that branches out over the estate and with a soft “thwump” bounces and
shimmers into nothing. We are now protected from prying eyes. Nicely done, if I
do say so myself. I have reached the edge of the woods by this time and I
decide to Shift myself to Wolf form. Putting my phone on a low-level tree
branch, I concentrate and the next minute I am on all fours shaking out my
golden fur and picking up Lincoln’s scent the second my nose hits the ground. I
snuffle after him. It is faint so he must have gone quite far so I pick up my
pace, anxious to get to him now. The scent gets stronger the deeper into the
woods I go and soon I am almost on top of it. I am in a clearing. A small patch
of grass, free from trees and debris with a heavy canopy of leaves high up
above. It is gloomy and cold. I feel it in this form. I look around for him but
I can’t see him. I let out a low rumble and he comes to me almost instantly,
peering at me with his beautiful green eyes. I remember what he wanted to do to
me on the full moon and pang of nerves shoots through me and he feels it and
steps back. He shakes his head and Shifts back. He scratches me behind my ears
and chuckles, “Don’t worry if you aren’t ready for that. Shift back.”

I step back from him and Shift and he is in my arms,
knocking me to the damp floor, our naked bodies entwining around each other in
desperate need as he kisses me.

“I need you,” he says and I open my legs in response but he
shakes his head.

“Turn around. I know you are nervous to do it as a Wolf but
I can still take you this way now.”

I do as he says and, kneeling in the clearing, he pushes on
my back as he enters me and I moan, “Oh yes, Linc.”

“You are so wet, so warm. I love this,” he whispers as he
slides roughly into me.

Intent only on his own pleasure for a few moments until he
brings his hand around to play with my clit, pleasure shoots through me as I
bury my fingers into the wet grass. I am so caught up in what he is doing to
me, I am surprised when he grabs my butt cheek with his other hand and inserts
his thumb into me. Slowly at first, but then with the same pulsing movement as
his hips and his fingers now rubbing against me, I explode around him, coating
him with my desire and he moans, “Oh do you like that, baby?”

“Yes,” I say breathlessly as he continues to rub and pulse
in three different spots, all in a perfect matching rhythm, which is driving me
crazy. “More,” I pant and he speeds up, driving into me now, bruising my knees
against the hard floor. He removes his thumb and slings his arm under me,
holding me steady as he brings his knee forward and slowly lowers me to the
ground, all the while thrusting into me harder and faster. My breasts hit the
damp grass and I open my legs wider for him now in this position, as braces his
weight on his hands on either side of me. I cry out at the sensation of his
enormous cock rubbing against my G-spot at this angle and with a wave of pure pleasure,
I come again and then again as he thrusts a final time into me, coming with a
loud howl before he lowers himself to the ground next to me.

“Fuck me, Linc. You are good,” I say as I turn into him,
resting my head on his chest, listening to his slowing breathing.

“So are you. Christ, Liv, you make me feel things I could
only have ever dreamed about before I met you. There are so many things I want
to do to you.”

“Like what?” I say, smiling against his skin.

“Everything and anything,” he replies.

“Well, I rarely say no.”

“I know. That’s one of the reasons I love fucking you,” he
says with a wicked smile.

“I want you again,” I say, climbing on to him.

“You’ll have to give me a minute,” he laughs.

“Bet I have you inside me in under sixty seconds,” I whisper
as I crawl down him and take him in my mouth. He grows hard quickly as I
massage his balls and he grabs me by the hair, pulling me up and flipping me
gently over, thrusting into me in a swift move as he kisses me. “You win,” he
says as he moves slowly inside me. I push him over and ride him, delighting in
his size.

“Bite me,” he says, sitting up, and I drop my fangs, eager
to oblige. I pierce his flesh and suckle slowly as he moans.

I release him and murmur, “I love the way you taste. I love
biting you and fucking you. I love the way you make me feel, so safe, so happy,
so loved.” I run my hands down his chest as he whimpers at me, carefully
scratching me with his claws down my sides, mindful of V.A. on my back. “You
are so sexy,” I say, staring deep into his eyes and his lips part in desire. I
push my tongue into his mouth and match my rhythm now, tongue to hips.

“Oh fuck, I love you,” he says around my mouth. “I want you
to be mine.”

“I am yours,” I say, taking his face in my hands,

“All mine,” he says. “All mine.” He pulls my legs out to
wrap around him, drawing him even closer into me. I come suddenly as he shifts
deeper into me and he follows soon after as I tell him I love him.

We collapse back to the ground and I kiss his chest. “I feel
so much better now,” he says with a smile.

“So do I. I have missed you.”

“I suppose we had better get up and get back to the house,”
he sighs.

“No, not yet. I want a few more minutes in your arms.”

“I like that plan,” he says, contented.

“Linc?” I say after a few minutes. “Don’t fight with Xane.”

“I won’t. I told you I am not going to interfere. It was the
Wolf talking.”

“Okay, good. I, err, I’m not going to try to break the
bond,” I say, sitting up.

“Liv,” he says, rubbing his hand over his face. “Is that
such a good idea?”

“Probably not, but I cannot deny what we have anymore. It
hurts,” I say quietly.

He looks at me, concerned, “Hurts? As in physically?”

“Yes,” I admit this reluctantly.

“I see,” he says thoughtfully. “Well I will try my best to
support you, but if it comes out, I fear there will be little I can do.”

“Oh, Linc. I do love you. You are the best friend a girl
could have. You are my special secret-keeper,” I say it with a smile and he
twinkles at me.

“Secret-keeper? I think I like that. I like having secrets
with you.”

“And you have more power than you give yourself credit for.”

He shrugs, “Maybe. I don’t like to throw my weight around.
There is enough of that going on.”

“You can say that again,” I say dryly.

He stiffens and snaps his head to the side, pushing me off
him as he sits up.

“What is it?” I ask softly, trying to sense what he is but
coming up short.

“Don’t you feel that?” he asks.

“Feel what?”

“It’s like a cloying, stifling feeling. Don’t you feel it?”
he asks again.

I shake my head and put my hand on his shoulder and he
relaxes. I get an awful prickling feeling down my arm but it’s gone almost as
quickly as it came.

“It’s gone. It was the strangest thing. I have never felt
anything like it before.”

“It wasn’t The Thirteen was it?” I ask, a bit terrified to
be caught by it in the middle of the woods with my pants down – literally.

“No, something new, different. Powerful.” He shakes his head
to clear it. “It’s gone. Come, we should get back,” he says, getting to his
feet and pulling me up quickly. He looks down at himself and says, “Oh, yeah.
My impromptu Shift kind of lost me my clothes.”

I chuckle and touch him, bringing a new set of jeans and
t-shirt to him. “Thanks,” he says. “It’s such a neat trick, that. What will you
wear?”

“Hm, something a little different, I think,” I say and
twirl. His eyes light up at my long, black flowing dress with long sleeves and
low cut neckline.

“Very nice. You look like the Moon Goddess.” He snaps his
fingers. “Hey, maybe you are? Another feather to your cap.”

“My cap is so full of feathers it looks like a peacock’s
tail. I’ll pass if that’s okay.”

We trundle along, me preferring to be barefoot, enjoying the
feel of the woods under my feet. We make it back to the tree where my phone is,
as it is getting dark, and I pick it up, checking it. Nothing. Now that is
bizarre. I shrug and we walk slowly hand in hand back to the house, climbing
the steps to the terrace.

“One last kiss before we go inside?” he says as he turns me
to face him and I tilt my head up, raising up to my tiptoes and bringing my
hands around the back of his neck as he kisses me passionately. Trailing his
hand over my breasts and popping one out of the stretchy fabric of the dress
and lowering his mouth to my nipple for a quick suck, he tugs sharply, nipping
me, and I make a small mewling sound, which has him tugging harder and then
sucking me until I am breathless.

He raises his head with a wicked grin. “I maybe shouldn’t
have done that, I am all turned on again now,” he says as he pops me back into
my dress with a quick kiss. “I had better go take a cold shower.”

“Mm, me too,” I murmur as we turn back to the house. “Oh can
we go by the front? I want to see if the cars are back. The boys all seem to
have left earlier and there has been no contact since.” I hold up my phone.