When Lightning Strikes (21 page)

A
S
I
WAITED INSIDE THE
giant birthday cake, I refused to let doubt and fear taint my decision to tell Ryker the truth about what I was. We would work on this together. I was a fighter. I wouldn’t slink away. Life was too short. I felt the cake move onto the stage, and I waited anxiously for the cue to jump out.

Rosa whistled. “There he is. The birthday boy,” she screamed. The birthday music started.


I laughed because I could practically hear the grinding of his teeth.

“Wave, darling, so everyone can see you. Oh, isn’t he handsome? By the way, he’s no longer single, ladies.”

I had to admit she was hilarious. The crowd loved Rosa and so did I. This was turning out to be the most fun I had in a long time. I waited patiently for the music to stop. My stomach did flip-flops when the last note ended.
Well, it’s now or never.
I popped up from the cake.

Others’s eyebrows rose. Women’s mouths dropped open with shock. Some openly looked at me with hate. More than a few whispered with surprise.

The crowd actually parted like the Red Sea as Ryker bulldozed through the guests with a neutral look on his face. He stopped mere inches from the stage. Watching me with delicious intensity immediately made me all hot and jittery. He was waiting for the words he needed. I knew from the determined look on his face it was all or nothing. And I was determined to give him all of me, knowing my life with him wouldn’t be easy. He would challenge me to be greater, as I would expect the same from him. But I knew without a doubt he would love me with no holds barred.

I stared at him. “I’m yours, mind, body, and soul.”

He looked at me blankly before his lips curled up into a kickass grin. “About fucking time!” He leaped onto the stage and tried to haul me out of the cake. “Now we go home and I mate you properly,” he growled. “I can’t even count the ways I’m going to wear your ass out tonight.”

I pushed him away. “Words… let me have them.” I glared. “Now.”

He grabbed the back of my hair and held me still. “I belong to you, mind, body, and soul. And now that you’re mine, I’m never letting go.”

Ryker leaned into my body as he sucked my tongue into his mouth. My tongue slid around the tip of his, then rubbed under it. He let his hands slip down to my neck, then down my body to my hips. He leaned in and kissed mythroat.


I turned my head, but not fast enough to hide my smile. “Okay, Alpha. Let’s go home and fuck already.”

He growled before hauling me over his shoulder, jumping off the stage and plowing through the crowd like a man on a mission as the guests clapped and whistled boisterously.

I
GLARED AT
B
ONES. “
B
ONES?
Can you drive faster?” I toed Ryker’s cock with the tip of my shoes as I lay across the back seat.

“We need to talk,” he announced gruffly.

My eyes glittered with frustration. “Now? I’m really horny. Can’t we talk after?”

“No. I don’t want any secrets between us when I claim you.”

A long moment passed before anyone spoke.

“I’m sorry.” I sighed. “I shouldn’t have kept secrets about my sperm donor.”

“It’s who you are. You don’t let people in. I’ve had to scratch and claw for every inch.”

“Ryker—”

“Please let me finish.” I stayed silent. “I’m not caving on this, Light. You give us a fair chance and all of the pieces will fall into place.”

My heart raced, bracing for the impact of telling him the truth. “A romantic. Who would have thought?” I mumbled, still hedging the impending conversation.

He shrugged. “Not romantic, realistic. If I wanted sex, I could get it anywhere. I’ve lived a long time and it gets real empty, but finding that connection…” He tilted my chin. “That’s worth the wait. You’re worth the wait.” He paused. “I know who you are, Light. You hide yourself with men who have no chance in hell of getting your heart or loving you.”

I bit my bottom lip. “I’m a hard woman, Ryker. What man will take the risk of loving me?”

“Me. Give us a chance. Let me in.”

I licked my suddenly dry lips. “I’m an empath, the only true empath within the Credence bloodline.” I paused. “Thanks to my mother procreating with the son of the leader of the Shadows.” I shrugged, trying not to fidget nervously. “Apparently, this empath crap is important to the Shadows. That’s why they want me.”

He stared at me. “Empath?”

“Yeah, empaths are…”

“I know what empaths are, but what does this have to do with us?”

“Let me finish. I have been cursed with the ability to sense human emotions. Fear. Lust. Anger. Well, you get the picture.”

“Sounds annoying,” he murmured.

“More painful, if anything. The constant barrage of emotions starts to cloy at your insides. Sometimes you can’t tell my emotions from the human’s influx of emotions. Anyway, I’ve tried everything to wall their emotions from me. Nothing truly worked. Alcohol dulled the impact for a while. Connecting mentally with Storm soothed it temporarily. Then this annoying wolf-shifter walked into my life.” I looked at him sheepishly. “And that was a game changer.” I shrugged. “Don’t ask me how, but it did.”

His eyes narrowed. “I knew something was different about you. When we met with the detective, it was like I could feel your pain, your anxiety, but I told myself I was imagining things.”

My lips trembled. “You weren’t. I felt the relief from the symptoms the second you touched me. It was freaky, but I didn’t care. It worked.” I paused. “I want you to know what you’re getting into when you claim me. You and I know it’s a matter of time before this shit with the Shadows hits the fan, and the Council and Others will know my connection. It’s bad enough they refuse to accept a Fae-Witch, but now I’ve got three strikes against me. I’m a hybrid. I’m a dysfunctional empath, and my sperm donor and his father are a bunch of raving lunatics.”

“I don’t care, Light. Nothing about your bloodline, family, or history will change my mind about wanting you.”

I looked up, watching Bones, who was driving and no doubt eavesdropping. “And your pack? Do they feel the same way?” If I accepted Ryker’s claim, I would be the alpha female of the pack, second to Ryker. Wolf-shifters didn’t give respect because of position; you had to earn it.

Ryker laughed loudly. “The pack fucking loves you. If I had to hear them rib me one more time about claiming you or they would, I would have fucking broke all their necks.”

Bones cleared his throat. “We voted you alpha female days ago.”

I smiled, trying not to get all emotional over their acceptance. My thoughts raced over the attack. I knew it wouldn’t be their last attempt. Could I risk Ryker’s life? What about the pack?

He ran a finger across my cheek. “Stay in the present, baby. Let me worry about the future.”

A feeling of emotion curled into my stomach. He calmed me, completed me, and scared the living shit out of me.

“There’s no other woman for me. And there’s no other man for you.”

I smirked. “But if you think I’m going to turn into one of those simpering women who bows to her mate after being claimed, then you have another thing coming, Alpha.”

He growled impatiently. “The only bowing I want is in our bedroom, with you on your knees and my cock down your throat.”

I looked at him seriously. “I’ll always struggle with this empath shit. You may have cured the pain and the crazy, but you can’t protect me from having to deal with humans and their emotions.”

“It won’t be easy, but with our mating, your control will only get better.”

“Maybe.”

He scowled. “When are you going to realize we are better together than apart? And for the record, I’m not looking to change you. I love you the way you are.”

I didn’t blink when, in a roundabout way, he admitted to loving me. For Others, we connected on a whole different level. Our emotions were pure, quick, and raw, with no games.

I smiled impishly. “Wow, the Alpha loves me, warts and all.”

He growled, “Damn right, woman.”

“Good, because I’ve decided to keep your mean, crazy ass.” I kissed him hard.

“Really? Decided? You had no choice, woman. Now, let’s get the formalities out of the way. You belong to me and no other. And I belong to you. I haven’t touched or looked at another woman since the charity gala.”

I frowned. “Better not have.”

“There’s no other woman for me. I’m a mean SOB sometimes, but you’ll deal, like I can deal with your crazier-than-hell mood swings.”

I grinned. “Oh, fuck off, Alpha. I’m not moody. I’m eccentric.”

He arched a brow.

“Well, I am.”

“Know that after I claim you, you’ll be alpha female of this dysfunctional pack, and there’s a shitload of work we need to do to get this pack functional.” He kissed me hard. “I know we can do it, together.”

I grabbed his penis. “Don’t I get to sample the goods before I sign up for duty, sir?” I smiled widely. “I don’t want to be stuck with some Alpha who can’t turn me out on a nightly basis. I want sex… lots of it.”

He smiled sexily. “When I get you on all fours, I plan on making your toes curl.”

A tremor went through my body as my cunt contracted. “I love that, baby. Aim high.” I ran my tongue over his firm lips. I had let go of the fear. He was the man for me, the man who destroyed the madness and fear. “And for the record, I accept everything you’re offering, Alpha.” I grabbed his hair. “There’s no other man like you. I know this… and I’ll love your crazy ass forever.”

His eyes softened. “Well, well, well, Lightning Credence finally admitted she loves me. Be still my fucking heart.”

“Don’t get all cocky, but I’m crazy turned on right now.” I ran my palm against his muscular thigh.

He regarded me with half-open eyes. “Like how turned on?” he demanded with a gruff voice.

I couldn’t help thinking about how desperately I wanted him. I stared at him, wondering how the hell this shit happened. “Like on my knees hot,” I blurted out without blinking. There was no shame in my game. I asked for what I wanted always… and I wanted him… now. I ran a hand across his crotch and winked. “Let the fucking commence. It’s been a while and I plan on keeping you up all night.”

Bones, eavesdropping, jerked the wheel nervously,trying not to crash. “Holy shit!”


Ryker rolled up the partition before his eyes locked onto mine. I licked my bottom lip with anticipation. He grabbed my thigh, draping it over his muscular leg, leaving me wide open. The cold air brushed against my womanhood as he slid a hand between my legs, pinching my clit. My lips parted.

“Harder,” I whispered.

Bones smoothly pulled into the underground parking garage and parked. Ryker rolled down the partition. “Bones, step out of the car. I don’t need you seeing Lightning on her knees.” He squeezed my thigh hard and then rubbed it soothingly.

Bones smoothly hopped out of the car. “I’m going to need a cold shower,” he mumbled under his breath as he walked away.

“Ready to fuck, Alpha?” I pushed up the hem of my dress, straddling his legs. I shook my hair slowly as I rotated my hips.

He grabbed my ass. Hard. Stilling my movement. I knew handprints would be all over my ass, but I didn’t give a shit. Right now, I wanted him. I licked his lips, unzipped his pants, grabbing his cock. “Impressive.” I bit his lower lip. “I want you… now…”


My pulse raced. The sultriness of the air skimmed across my skin. All of the fun and games were over. This was the truth. There was no compromising. His eyes flashed gold. They were now more wolf-like than human. He was letting his wolf slowly out of the cage, seeing if I would hightail it out of the vehicle. But that shit wasn’t happening. I wasn’t that girl… I was sticking around.

“I’m never letting you go,” he growled.

I reached up, digging my fingers into his hair, scratching my nails across his scalp. He growled with a rumbling reverberating in his wide chest. He was showing me the real him. The man. The wolf. A part of him he kept leashed to prevent the beast from taking over, sending him feral.

He continued. “This will never work until you trust me, giving me your submission. Surrendering your heart, body, and soul, as I am willing to do for you. Trust is the only thing that can keep us together. Trust that you accept the man I am. And trust my acceptance of the woman you keep hidden.”

I calmed my breathing. He stripped away my mask, leaving me bare, vulnerable, and raw. For the first time in my life, I would have a protective, caring man who would cherish me for as long as I allowed it. And I wanted forever.

“And what if the woman you think I am isn’t there?” I paused. “I’m more than what you see.”

“That’s what I’m counting on. Nothing is perfect. I’m far from it, but I’m half the man without you.” He grabbed my face between his calloused hands. “On your knees, darling. Now.” He tilted his head in a wolf-like way. “Submit to your Alpha.” His voice was hard and unyielding.

“Submission,” I whispered as if rolling the word over my tongue like a fine wine. “And do you think you earned my submission?”

“Make no mistake about it.” His eyes were almost feral. His canines dropped. “I’m wild, ruthless, and don’t give a shit about anything but what belongs to me. You.”

My heart raced. I wanted the freedom of not having to think every second. He was giving me that freedom. After spending a lifetime of overthinking everything in my life, it was freeing to put my trust in his hands. Submission wasn’t about being weak. It was part of the power dynamics. Designed to make a submissive feel powerless, that was the misconception about D/s relationships. The truth of the matter is sexual submissives have all the power in the relationship.

He gripped my hair, tilting my head back. I knew what he wanted. It wasn’t about sex… not anymore. It was about sharing a piece of me I had long hidden away, a part of me that needed nurturing, love, and acceptance. I knew he wouldn’t push or force. He would wait for me to submit, not because it’s what he wanted, but because it was what I wanted to give. That piece of me reserved and owned only by him.