The Guardian (13 page)

Cassie knew what he had planned. He was going to fill
up her ass with that. She had never had anything up there before. None of her
boyfriends had liked anything but ordinary sex. After the time with Michael she
knew even if they weren’t mated she could never go back to just ordinary sex.
No wonder it was never that great. There were all kinds of ways to get heated
up before finally getting down to sex.

Michael watched her carefully as he spread the lube on
the plug. “Okay, push against me as
this slides
in. It
should not hurt at all. Say red if it does.”

“Okay,” Cassie said nervously.

Michael lubed up his finger and worked it into her.
He slowly finger-fucked her ass while looking her right in the eye.
She had to admit it was not a bad feeling. His cock was a lot bigger than that
plug though. “Here we go.” He pushed the plug against her back entrance. Cassie
breathed a little harder. It felt odd, but not painful. He sat up and looked at
her. “There, all in.”

Cassie could feel it there, and it felt full. Fortunately
there was no discomfort. She would have squealed red by now since she was a
wimp.

Michael knelt between her legs and started kissing her
navel. He took more of the fruit sorbet and dropped a dollop onto her stomach.

Cassie hissed at the coldness as Michael swirled the
sorbet around. He lapped it up then kissed his way towards her mound. He spread
her lips wide, and his tongue was cold. It felt good, better than the ice
massage. She tried to break her hands free to stroke his hair.

Michael stroked her clit using more and more pressure,
until she was crying out in pleasure. She was so close, again. Her hips ground
into him hoping to get just the right stimulation for her to come. It was
starting. The first tendrils of bliss flowed through her. She heard him fumble
with something.
No, not again.
Her
scream was not of release, but of the shock from the ice hitting her clit, and
another being inserted into her pussy. She tried desperately to move away. It
was so cold it hurt. The ice was moving over her clit and sliding in and out of
her folds. The pain receded quickly, and numbness took over. Still Cassie
wanted to cry. She was so close, again. “Michael, please, let me come.”

“No, sweetheart,” he whispered.

“Damn you. Stop tormenting me like this. I said I was
fucking sorry,” she yelled.

Michael gave her a stern look. “You have a word that
will end all of this right now. I will untie you and let you be. Do you wish to
say it?”

Cassie thought about it, but if he untied her and
collected everything and left, she wouldn’t get to finish. She really wanted to
finish. “No,” she stated.

“Then behave yourself. No cussing allowed,” he gave
her a warning look. “Do it again and I will spank your ass until it glows for
me.”

His words were strict, but Cassie saw the playfulness
in his face. He was not going to harm her in any way. She felt herself relax.
Cassie drew in a deep, shuddering breath. That was going to be hard, because she
sometimes had trouble saying things without thinking. “I will try.”

“Of course if you like punishment, then make sure you
curse often. I will love it when you are my sassy little sub who disobeys so
she can get a punishment,” Michael said cheerfully. “For now, let’s get back to
our fun.”

Cassie closed her eyes as his mouth closed around her
clit. He sucked it deep into his mouth, and his tongue teased her hard clit.
Her lips pressed together hard as her body tightened. He was brutal in his
onslaught. Her legs shook just as she started to come, and then he pulled back.
She let out a cry. “No. Please, Michael. Please, please, please.”

“Please what, baby?” he asked, his voice was rasping
at her ear.

“I want you to—” She hesitated trying to find a polite
word.

“You want me to fuck you?”

Cassie nodded. “Yes. I want you to have sex with me.”

Michael laughed.
“So polite.
I want you to say the words to me. Beg me to fuck you.”

Cassie was desperate. Her body was throbbing, and she
didn’t care if he used ice on her anymore. She didn’t think it would matter
anyway. Her body was so needy right now that she bet the cold would go
unnoticed. “Please, Michael. Fuck me please, please, please. I need you so bad
right now.”

“Did you learn your lesson about listening to me?” he
asked while kissing her temple.

“Yes, yes, yes. I will never run away from you again.”

“Oh, don’t promise that, baby. I enjoy hunting you,
then eating you once I catch you.”

“Then what do you want. Dammit, Michael. Don’t fucking
play with me.” She would have slapped her hands over her mouth had they been
free. Her eyes widened, and she stared at Michael in horror. “I’m sorry,” she
whispered.

Michael grinned like she had made him happy. “Oh you
will be.” He started to undo her restraints.

“What are you doing?”

“Changing your position for
punishment.”
He had a pleasant tone as he worked to free her. He reached
under the bed and pulled out a wedge pillow. He placed it on the bed,
then
helped her up.
“Lean over this.”
He had her legs up against the highest part of the pillow and her head at the
narrowest part. It put her ass, which still had a dildo in it, high in the air.
He put straps around her thighs and attached them to her ankles. She would not
be able to move much. Her hands were pulled down to her side and clipped into
place. She was helpless again, and facing yet another punishment.

Michael put his head next to hers. “Now I want you to
say, 'Yes Michael,’ when we are in the bedroom. I do not expect you to say this
at any other time, but when we are together as lovers.”
 

“Yes, Michael, I am so sorry,” she said sheepishly.
She had let her mouth go again. Her grandma would put hot sauce in her mouth if
she heard her angry outburst. “I sometimes say things without thinking.”

Michael moved her hair away from her face and kissed
her lips tenderly. “Then we will work on this, together.” His voice was soft
and his expression loving.

Cassie looked into his eyes. How could she love this
man so much already? Her heart was so full it nearly ached. “Okay.”

Michael moved behind her and rubbed her ass with the
palm of his hand. “Why are you getting punished?”
 
His hands were very soothing as they rubbed
over her bare skin.

“Because I need to be more careful about what I say,”
Cassie blinked sleepily. She was so relaxed she felt she could go to sleep.

“Yes, love, I am going to teach you to control your
outbursts. It is very important for shifters to be self-controlled.”

“Yes, I need more self-control,” she agreed.

Michael’s hand rose above her and smacked down on her
ass. The dildo he had put in her ass pressed against nerves. It stung, but it
also nearly set off an orgasm.
 
She rose
up, as much as she could and cried out in pleasure.

“Do not come. You fight it,” Michael ordered her.

“I can’t help it.” Cassie was breathing hard from the
feeling. She barely noticed her ass still stinging.

“This is punishment, so you may not come.” Michael
leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Be a good girl and fight it.”
 
His hand came down on her again. His hand
slapped hard making her ass sting, but the pleasure was overwhelming.

Cassie thought of every non-sexy image she could
imagine, while Michael’s hand came down on her ass over and over. Her entire
backside was on fire, and with every slap he ignited fresh flames of passion.
She sang the alphabet, and concentrated on the pain instead of the pleasure.
None of it was working. There was screaming echoing off of the wall, and she
realized it was her. “Michael, I can’t hold it anymore.”

Michael put the head of his cock to the slit of her
pussy. He slid the head through her juices and rubbed her clit. She lifted her
head crying out. It felt so good that it was torture. In one thrust he buried
himself in her hot sheath. He stilled for only a moment before he pulled out
and thrust back in, hard. He grabbed the end of the plug and moved it around
just enough to fire nerves. It felt so good she could only close her eyes, and
hold on.

Cassie bit the cushion while she screamed. Every nerve
was aching for release. She was aching to the point it was painful. She cried
out, digging her nails into the palms of her hands.

“Come now, Cassie,” Michael ordered. He thrust into
her and pressed his thumb into her clit.

Cassie’s body shook with the force of her release, and
her voice cracked as she screamed. Wave after wave of the most intense orgasm
she’d ever felt washed over her.
 
She
opened her eyes as the tidal wave of bliss started to fade.

She heard Michael’s snarl and felt his cock pulsating,
spilling his seed in her.

They lay together regaining their breath, while
Michael held her cradled next to him. Michael released her from her restraints
and pulled her into his arms. “You were lovely, Cassie.”

“You think I was lovely?” She was not sure what she
did that was lovely. She was rather loud, and probably looked terrible.

“Your submission to me was lovely, especially since
this was your first time.”

“I didn’t want to be punished.” Cassie looked into his
face while she spoke.

“Punishments can be for fun, too. I like to keep my
punishments enjoyable.” Michael’s eyes sparkled as he looked at her.

Cassie stroked her hand over his face. She did have to
admit that she enjoyed her punishment. It was a little cold, but on a hot
summer day that was not a bad thing.

****

Lucas ground out his cigarette while he watched
Michael’s house. He was mating with that woman. Good, when he claimed her for
his own, it would make Michael’s pain all the greater. Lucas would tear apart their
bond, inflicting pain on both of them.

Michael would pay for daring to judge him. He had
killed a threat, not an innocent woman. She had sought to murder shifters, just
because they existed. That woman Michael had just mated with had been close
friends with her. For all he knew they worked together. What troubled him was
he could not sense evil in her.
 
He had
strong sense for detecting evil intent. Before he had spotted the bitch that
murdered Allie, he had sensed the innocence in her.
 
How
could someone innocent be with someone so evil?

Lucas turned and walked back into the wilderness, and
rubbed the ache that was in his chest. It was a pain that would not ease for
years. The pain of a lonely shifter, banished from his home and people. Soon
Michael would be feeling pain as well.
The pain of a shifter
with a shredded bond.

Chapter
Twelve

Cassie stood at the grave with Michael holding his arm
around her.
 
She looked around and saw
some familiar faces. The sheriff was there, holding his hat and looking solemn.
She saw Blair, the woman who had first given
her a
ride to the motel, and Myra, the kind motel attendant that had helped her. They
both looked sad as they watched dirt fall over the coffin. A priest from a Catholic
church spoke over the grave.
 
She now
understood why Michael asked what religion Marcy was. She had told him
Catholic. Once again his sweetness touched her to her soul. He had taken a
tragedy and made it as comforting as possible for her.

Cassie turned into him and cried. She not only mourned
for her loss, but that Marcy had been so alone. Whenever Cassie asked Marcy about
her family she would get a hard look on her face and say she had none. What if
she
did,
and they were just estranged? Cassie had no
idea where to even start looking to tell them she was gone. She put her flowers
into the grave and let Michael pull her towards his car.

“I am so sorry, dear,” Cassie heard Myra say.

“Thank you.” She looked up into her kind eyes and
smiled.

“If you need anything don’t hesitate to ask.” Blair gave
her a kind smile. “We are here for you.”

A grizzly looking man with piercing blue eyes took
Myra by the hand and led her away. “She knows how to find you. Let her mourn in
peace, woman.”

“I’m coming,” Myra said as she walked quickly to keep
up with the man.

“Is that her husband?” Cassie asked.

“Not exactly.
They have both
been mated before and lost their mates. They live together now,” Michael turned
his head to watch them leave.

“Do they love each other?" She didn’t need to
ask. Warren spoke harshly, but the love in his eyes was evident. Warren held
his hand out, and Myra did not hesitate in putting her hand in his.

“Yes, they do. Warren lost his mate twenty years ago,
and Myra lost hers around five years ago. Myra, Brian, and Warren were in a ménage
relationship, and Warren took up the alpha position after Brian died.”

“Oh, that is so sad.” Cassie felt terrible for Myra to
suffer a loss like that.

“Hunters got him. Every now and then a human will find
out about us. Some of them go off to tell stories before we can get to them.
Sometimes hunters come up here believing there are intelligent animals that
will make their hunt more exciting. Brian was patrolling and was shot.”

Cassie had her fingers over her mouth. She knew very
well the horror of losing someone close to her.

“Warren helped her with the children, and he also
killed the fuckers that shot Brian.” Michael’s jaw tightened. “Before he killed
them, they admitted to looking for shifters to kill. They claim a woman told
them where to find animals that turn into men.”

Cassie felt the tears falling. “Myra and Brian had
children?”

   
Michael’s
face softened again, “Yes, two boys. They are eight and ten now, but they were
a lot younger when their father died.”

They were so young. Poor Myra must have been so
scared. Cassie was thankful Warren was there for her. It could have been far
worse for her if she was left on her own. “Do they remember their dad?”

“Oh yes, Warren has never wanted to replace their
father. He has made sure they remember him. They love him all the more for it.”
Michael put his arm around her. “Come on. Blair had wanted us to go over to the
lodge for some food.
 
We better not be
late, or we won’t get any. That woman can cook.”

“That was very sweet of her.” Cassie was surprised
that these people put on a funeral for someone they didn’t know.

“You are a part of our family, and Marcy was your
friend. I think some may feel a need to help since she died in our territory.
We have always tried to keep shifters and
humans
alike
safe in our territory.”

“It is not their fault. All the blame lies on the man
that killed her.”

“I know, but I am very proud of my people for helping,”
Michael said. Cassie smiled and enjoyed the comfort he offered. Most of the
people here were very sweet. She was starting to see herself making a life
here, and being happy.

“Michael,” a smooth, sickening sweet voice called out.
They both turned, and Cassie’s stomach dropped to see Kathy coming up to them.
Once again she looked perfect and beautiful. Every hair was in place, and her
clothing was tailored to fit her body perfectly.

She gave Cassie a smile then dismissed her. “Michael,
I was wondering if I could pull you away a bit early for some shifter
business.”

Cassie was afraid for a moment that Michael would
agree. He looked at her like he was tired. “Kathy,” he started when a blue GMC
truck came up the parking lot. A man jumped out of the truck.

“Guardian, we need you.” The man’s eyes darted around
anxiously as he spoke to Michael.

“What is wrong, Aiden?” Michael had the confident tone
and posture of a natural leader. His voice was full of authority now, instead
of the peaceful tone had had used when he had been comforting Cassie.

“Some shifters started a fight with Will Jenson. They
are attacking him, and you know how weak he has been.”
 
Aiden kept running his shaking hands through
his hair.

“Cassie, stay here,
”
 
Michael
ordered her. "I will be
back as soon as I can.”

Cassie watched Michael climb into the passenger side
of Aiden’s truck. Aiden was spinning gravel before Michael had the chance to
put his seatbelt on.
 
She stood there
listening to the engine of the truck tearing down the highway at full throttle.

Kathy watched too with her hand delicately over her
mouth as if she was distressed herself. “Poor Will. To be attacked while he is
so sick. Some shifters have no honor.” She walked towards her with a
calculating look to her face.

Cassie wasn’t sure if Kathy was really all that
worried about him. She seemed more the type to worry about if her nails looked
perfect than if a man was hurt. Still she knew she shouldn’t judge the woman
based on one incident. “Will has been sick, huh?”

“Yeah, he
disappeared
a
couple of years ago, and was never right again when that idiot, Lucas found
him. Someone thinks if he can get rid of Will then maybe he can claim some
things he has no right to.”

Cassie’s eyes widened. “That is terrible.”
 

Kathy gave her a meaningful look. “So is using being
injured to think you can use that to make the guardian feel sorry for you, just
to get him all for yourself.” She spat out venomously.

“Pardon?”
 
Cassie stared at Kathy in shock. Was she
talking about her? She had done no such thing. She had never once chased
Michael or tried to make him feel sorry for her.

“I saw you act at the funeral.
Playing
the grieving, wounded little bitch.
I think you laid it on a bit too
thick, though. Good show, he has completely fallen for it.
 
I am here to make sure you know that your
time is up, bitch, and when to move on.”

“You think I was acting?” Cassie could feel herself
growing hot with anger then cold. How dare this woman accuse her of using the
death of her best friend to get into Michael’s pants? Anger stirred in her
stomach, and she bared her teeth at Kathy.

“Oh look, I got the little doggie angry. Are you going
to bite me?
 
I hope you have had your
shots, little bitch.”
 
Kathy’s eyes were
cold and full of malice while she laughed mockingly at Cassie’s outrage.

Cassie was ready to yell at her to get the hell out of
here when another scream of anger split the air. Cassie jumped in time to see
Michael’s sister, Lana, storm up to them. “Get the fuck out of here, Kathy. If
you think you can come here causing trouble when Michael is on shifter
business, then you are dumber than you look.”

“Why you little—”

“Get out, Kathy.” Lana waved her arm towards the end
of the driveway as if Kathy was an annoying insect she was trying to shoo away.
“I am telling Michael all the shit you just said to Cassie. She is mated to him,
you know.”

Kathy’s eyes widened. “He mated her?
 
I thought he just changed her.”

Lana still had her arms crossed over her chest as she
laughed, and flashed a cold, unfriendly smile at Kathy. “Yes, he not only
changed her, he bonded with her. They have a soul bond, and you are trying to
interfere.”

Kathy was backing up towards her BMW. “You can’t tell
him. I didn’t know they were soul mated.”

Cassie was confused why Kathy cared if they had sex or
not. Whatever the reason she was relieved to see the hateful woman getting into
her car.

“That should keep her away for a while,” Lana muttered.
When Cassie turned her attention back to Lana, her smile was warm and friendly
again. She wrapped her arm around Cassie’s and pulled her towards the house.
“Come
on,
let’s go find something to munch on while
Michael is kicking some other territory shifter’s ass. We don’t want you to get
hungry.”

Now that Lana had mentioned it, she was really hungry
again, and they had put a lot of work into making the food.

****

Cassie was sitting at a table with the sheriff, Cole Milano.
He was very absorbed in his food, so she got a chance to watch him. His brown
sheriff’s uniform shirt and black uniform pants did little to conceal his
muscular body.
 
Her fork stabbed into a
meatball, and she put it up to her mouth.
 
The flavor exploded on her tongue drawing her attention to her plate.
The sauce on them was just sweet enough to make it delicious without taking
away from the savory flavor of the meat.

“How are you adjusting to everything?” Cole asked her.

Cassie looked up to see him watching her. “It is a bit
confusing.”

“I am sure it is.
 
I have not had a chance to tell you how sorry I am about your friend. I
have lost a few friends. I know how much it hurts.”

Cassie blinked several times to try to stop the
burning in her eyes. She looked down at her plate and moved the food around. It
was delicious, some of the best she had eaten. These people were so sweet to do
all of this for her, and Marcy.
 
She
looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

She turned to look and saw Blair smiling down at her.
“Hi.”

Blair smiled back and gave her a hug. “I am so sorry,
sweetie,” she said simply.

Cassie’s eyes filled with tears at the comfort and
kindness Blair was offering. “Thank you,” Cassie said honestly. She was unsure
what else to say. These people were all so kind to her, and she had nothing to
offer them in return.

Blair sat down next to her. “How are you doing?
 
Have you had a chance to speak to your
family?
 
What do they think of you moving
here suddenly?”

Cassie smiled as Blair shot questions at her. “I am
doing okay.” She wanted to tell her no, she wasn’t. Marcy was her best friend
and she’d watched her die, and she’d just buried her. Instead she said, “No, I
haven’t spoken to my family yet.”

Cole cleared his throat. “We decided that was for the
best right now. If any calls come in from anyone worried about her, we can
handle it.”

Cassie blinked away more tears. While she had never
planned to stay so close to her grandparents forever, it bothered her that the
decision had been made for her. None of them would like it if someone told them
they couldn’t go home.

Cassie felt Blair take her hand and squeeze it. “You
have got to be kidding me.” Cassie glanced over at Blair to see her glaring at
Cole. Her eyes had gone flinty hard, and her face reddened. “You kept her from
her family?
At this time?
That is bullshit.”

Cole stared back at Blair, and his mouth was open in
surprise at her venom for a moment. He pointed his finger at her and gave her a
stern look. “You watch how you speak to me, Blair.”

The look Blair gave him back was full of defiance, and
pain. Cassie could see that there was some history there between them.
“No way.
You have no say in how I speak to you anymore. You
gave up that privilege, remember?”

Cole looked away, clinching his jaw. “I told you that
was a mistake. You are the stubborn—”

Blair cut him off. “No, you do not get to leave and
come back however you wish. You left, I am over you, so we’re done.”

Cassie watched the both of them as seconds passed.
Finally Cole looked away. “This isn’t over. As for your opinion, our guardian
made the decision, for her protection. You know how new shifters can get. Now
was not a time to have her explaining such a tragedy with loved ones.”

“How do new shifters get?” Cassie asked, but still
sort of curious about what was up with Blair and Cole.

Blair, still holding her hand, turned away from Cole,
focusing her attention on Cassie. “New shifters tend to be a bit irrational,
especially if they are not rested and fed enough. Most human attacks by
shifters,
are because a new shifter was out on their own.
Our guardian keeps shifters he changed close to him until they are more
stable.”

Cassie thought of the perfect looking women that had
been jealous of Michael taking her out. Was he just keeping her close because
she was a new shifter? She had already acted out like an unruly child. She
tried to shove that doubt aside, but it kept gnawing at her. She was far from
beautiful like Kathy, and she didn’t have money and nice cars either. What did
he see in her? Surely if he could choose, he would rather have someone
beautiful on his arm.