Wolf on the Run: Salvation Pack, Book 3 (11 page)

He couldn’t wait.

He lifted her, bracing her back against the wall. Her eyes flew open and her lips parted in surprise. He leaned in and kissed her, swallowing her gasp. He claimed her mouth as his own, letting her taste herself on his lips and tongue.

It was as erotic as hell.

Cole had to get inside her. He fitted the head of his cock to her opening and plunged balls deep. Cherise gasped and wrapped her legs around his flanks, locking her heels at the base of his spine.

He rested his forehead against the cool tile and struggled for breath. Her pussy squeezed his cock possessively, as if she would never let him go. He liked the idea that she was as hungry for him as he was for her.

“It’s too much,” she gasped.

He lifted his head and caught her face with one hand. He shook his head. “No, it will never be enough.”

Cole began to move, flexing his hips in and out. He held her hips and found a rhythm they both liked. Cherise worked with him, undulating her hips in tandem with his. In and out, slowly at first and gradually faster and faster.

He spread his legs and braced his feet. With one arm under her ass, he fucked her hard, pistoning into her body. She dug her nails into his shoulders and the slight pain made him growl. He buried his face in her neck and teased the tender flesh with his teeth.

Cherise went wild. She bucked against him, driving him even deeper with each thrust. He howled when he came, emptying his seed into her. She clamped her arms and legs around him and held him tight. He never wanted her to let him go.

His cock flexed and jerked as he came. And she answered him, her pussy tightening and releasing around his shaft. Cole leaned against the wall for support and sucked much-needed air into his lungs.

She shivered and he realized the water had turned cold. He reached out and shut off the spray. The silence surrounded them, punctuated by the occasional
plink
of water as it dripped from the showerhead.

He stepped from the shower with Cherise still locked close, his cock still buried in her pussy. The base of his shaft was still swollen and there was no way he could disengage from her yet. He grabbed a towel and handed it to her. She rubbed it over her face and then used it to squeeze the excess water from her hair.

“That was…” She licked her lips. “That was…”

“Shh.” He gently kissed her lips. They didn’t need to talk now. Not when they were still joined in the most intimate ways. He wanted to savor the moment.

Cherise rested her head against his shoulder and released a tired sigh. The obvious sign of trust brought a lump to his throat. He held her there until he knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. It wasn’t easy, but he lifted her off his cock, disengaging from her body. He released her and immediately enveloped her in a thick towel, rubbing her gently until she was dry. That done, he roughly dragged the damp cloth over his body.

She was shivering now. Her body had not recovered enough to regulate her body temperature. Or maybe she couldn’t. He still wasn’t sure how much she was like a regular werewolf. She was stronger and faster than a human. He’d seen evidence of that with his own eyes.

“You’re cold.” It came out almost accusing.

She shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself. “I can usually manage my body temperature, but not when I’m tired or worn out. It simply takes too much effort.”

That answered his question. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to his bed. “You need to rest.”

“You do like to order me around, don’t you?” He almost grinned at her tart reply.

“We still need to talk,” he reminded her.

She shook her head. “I won’t change my mind.”

“You will.” He wouldn’t stand for anything less.

“Stubborn.” She pulled the covers up over her shoulders and turned out, facing away from him.

This time he did grin. She wasn’t getting rid of him that easily. He climbed into bed behind her and spooned his body around hers, pulling until her back pressed against his chest.

Cherise sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”

He had quite a few suggestions, the topmost being that she love him. But he kept his mouth shut. She shivered a few times, but eventually her skin warmed. She snuggled deeper into his pillow and sighed.

He knew the minute she fell asleep. Her entire body seemed to go boneless. He held her for a few more minutes before he rolled out of bed and grabbed a clean pair of jeans. He let himself out of the bedroom, closing the door gently behind him.

It was time to do some research.

Armand and Gator were sprawled on the two couches in the living room, waiting for him. “Where’s Anny?”

Armand sat up and rubbed his fingers through his hair. “She’s over with Gwen. She’s making pies. Apple, cherry and lemon meringue.”

Cole glanced at the hallway. The last thing he wanted was for Cherise to overhear them. “I need some help.” Armand was damn good at finding things with his computer. And what he couldn’t immediately find, he’d eventually dig up.

“What do you need,
mon ami
?” Gator asked.

“Answers,” he replied.

“You want to know about her former pack?” Armand rose from the sofa as he spoke and headed toward the desk tucked in an alcove in the corner of the room.

“I want to know everything.” Cole followed him and pulled over a chair.

Armand opened his laptop and went to work. Gator headed toward the kitchen. “This could take some time, and I need coffee.”

Cole relaxed slightly, although he knew he wouldn’t fully relax until Cherise’s former pack was no longer a problem. Because then and only then would he have a chance at convincing her to stay with him, to mate with him, to love him forever.

Chapter Eleven

Seven days later, Cherise wondered what she was still doing in Salvation. She’d done little more than eat, sleep and rest for the past week. The pack was doing its best to make friends with her, and little by little they were chipping away at her defenses.

She liked it here. It was peaceful surrounded by the forest. She’d seen no other people outside the pack since she’d arrived. And that was just fine with her. She liked everyone in the small pack. They were open and friendly, offering her a place among them. She especially liked sleeping with Cole every night. They had an unspoken agreement that she spend her nights in his bed. She didn’t mind. In fact, she was sleeping better than she had in years. Having his big body wrapped around hers, holding her tight, made her feel more secure than she had since she was young.

Heck, she even liked the cats. They’d been suspicious of her at first, and understandably so. But their wariness hadn’t lasted very long. Seymour and Tigger were getting used to her and now allowed her to pet them when they were in the mood for attention.

Cole hadn’t brought up her staying. But he didn’t have to. Every action he took, every suggestion he made all centered around her staying with him and his pack.

He’d even given her a tour of his woodshed earlier in the week. Shown her the beautiful furniture and bowls he made out of wood he harvested from their land. He had quite an elaborate setup, with all kinds of tools she didn’t know the names of. The space had smelled wonderful, woodsy and cozy. There was a small woodstove in the corner of the room and a hint of smoke permeated the room, left over from the colder days of winter.

She’d sat on a stool and watched him as he’d used some of those tools to make a bowl out of a chunk of wood. The process had taken hours and he still wasn’t quite finished yet. It amazed her how content she’d been to simply sip coffee and watch him work. It was obvious how much he enjoyed making things. It was in the way his hands stroked over the smooth wood of the bowl he’d created from a large piece of maple.

Cherise shivered at the memory. She knew exactly what it felt like to have his hands running over her body. She looked around, but no one seemed to notice her momentary lapse of attention.

Bringing her focus back to the present, she rested her chin on her palms as she leaned her elbows on the kitchen island at Gwen’s place. The three women were hanging out and Anny was just putting three loaves of cinnamon-raisin bread in the oven. The way all the men ate, there wouldn’t be any left by the end of the day.

“Smells good.” Gwen inhaled deeply. “I love cinnamon.”

Anny shut the oven door, flipped her dark braid over her shoulder and reached for her coffee mug. “It’s a new recipe, so I hope it turns out okay.” She turned to Cherise, a serious expression on her face. “You haven’t asked any questions the past week, none at all. Surely you must have some. I know I had a million when I first came here.”

Cherise had wondered how long it would be before she got questioned about her intentions. They’d all been cautious around her while she’d been recovering and getting her strength back.

“She doesn’t ask questions because she doesn’t want to get attached. Isn’t that right?” Gwen was very astute, too astute for Cherise’s comfort.

“But she’s already attached,” Anny asserted. “She and Cole are sharing a bed every night.” The corners of her mouth twitched. “And I know they’re doing more than sleeping in there.”

Gwen snorted and put her hand over her mouth to keep from spewing her coffee.

“
She
is standing right here and can here you.” Cherise was annoyed by the way they were talking about her as if she wasn’t here. But she knew they were right, understood what they were getting at. She was here, but she wasn’t here. Not really. “Okay, I get your point.”

Anny slid onto one of the stools and rested her forearms on the counter. “Seriously though, why wouldn’t you stay here? Cole certainly wants you to.”

Cherise felt her face flush and it had nothing to do with the heat from the oven. Cole made no secret of the fact he liked her in his bed. He made love to her at least twice a day, sometimes more. Outside of bed, she was coming to like the man even more.

In the hours she’d spent with him in his workshop, she’d learned he was patient yet driven. Talented too. A true artist. He’d made the coffee table in his home and it was a thing of beauty, the wood polished to show the grain to best advantage. He worked with the wood, leaving some of the bark, using the knots as part of the decoration.

Cole was not only patient, he was also kind and loving. Everything a woman could want in a mate.

“Cherise.” Gwen touched her on the shoulder, her blue eyes filled with compassion. “You okay?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m not.” She owed this pack so much. More than she could ever repay. Cole had saved her life, but they’d given her hope, friendship and so much more. Heck, even the clothes she wore were from them. Gwen had made a quick trip into town and come home with new jeans and tops, socks and underwear for Cherise, making sure she had something to wear other than Cole’s shirts when she was ready to leave his home and venture outside again.

Cherise traced the edge of her mug with her index finger. “I have an entire pack that wants to kill me.”

Gwen shrugged. “So do I.” She pointed at Anny. “So does she, for that matter.”

Cherise stilled. “What do you mean?” Who would want to harm them? They were werewolves, able to shift and breed more werewolves. Any pack would welcome them.

“We were both human until a short while ago.” When Cherise’s jaw dropped, Gwen nodded before she continued. “We were both converted.”

“You could have died.” Cherise was flabbergasted. “What were your mates thinking?” She’d never known of anyone who survived a conversion attempt. It was the stuff of myth and legend. And here were two women who had. She was in awe of their strength.

Anny shook her head. “It wasn’t their fault.”

Gwen swung around on her stool so she was facing Cherise. “You see, Jacque and the others used to belong to a pack down in Louisiana. They broke away and started their own pack up here on land Jacque had purchased years back.”

“Their former pack didn’t like the idea of them leaving,” Cherise stated. She knew it was never easy when a pack split. She’d wondered why this pack was so small with no older wolves or children. But she hadn’t wanted to pry, hadn’t wanted to ask too many questions.

“That’s putting it mildly.” Gwen sighed. “No, the alpha is Jacque’s father, and he’s a mean son of a bitch. Long story short, Jacque and the others kidnapped me when they feared I might be in danger from their former pack. They tried to protect me, but Pierre LaForge attacked me, bit me and left me for dead. The conversion almost killed me, but the men got me through it.”

“Amazing.” She looked at Anny, who shrugged.

“My story is a bit different, but the point is, we both know what it’s like to have another pack want you dead. It’s been quiet around her for a few months now, but we don’t think Pierre will forgive his sons or the others for leaving, or us for surviving their attacks.”

“But don’t you see.” Cherise was even more determined than ever to leave now. “I can’t bring the wrath of another pack down on you. Not with you already under such a threat.” She now understood this pack a lot better, why they’d been so open and kind to her. And also why they were so security conscious. They were all outcasts of one kind or another, trying to forge a better life for themselves.

She wondered why Cole hadn’t told her any of this, but knew it was her own fault. Any time he tried to talk to her about anything beyond the most mundane, she changed the subject or got his attention off it by making love with him.

She rubbed her hand over her face, feeling tired and confused. Why couldn’t life be easy just for once?

The kitchen door opened and Louis walked in. He looked a lot like his older brother, but he was quieter. Cherise knew he had a thing for Gwen, but he never made any overt moves toward her. It was in the way he stared at her, interacted with her. Maybe Cherise was totally wrong about that, but she didn’t think so.

He paused and stared at them cautiously, as though he’d caught the tension in the room. “Everything okay?” His dark-brown eyes narrowed and his entire body tensed.

Gwen smiled at him. “Everything is fine. All quiet out there?”

Louis nodded but didn’t relax as he headed to the coffeepot. He poured himself a mug and took a large sip. “It’s all good. Jacque is making another sweep.” He sniffed the air. “Is that cinnamon?”

“New recipe,” Anny told him. She checked her watch. “It will be done in time for supper. Gator’s got a vat of beef stew simmering at our place.”

“What about dessert?”

Cherise barely stifled a laugh at the male wolf. They did like to eat.

Anny patted his arm. “Don’t worry. I made two chocolate cakes this morning. If Gator hasn’t eaten them, there will be plenty for supper.”

Louis scowled. “I’ll kill him if he’s taken as much as a bite out of either one of them. I love your chocolate cake.”

There was a time when Cherise would have tensed at such a statement. Now she felt nothing but amusement. The ties between these men were strong and true. Louis would no more hurt Gator than he’d cut off his own hand.

Loyalty. This pack had it in spades. The only other example of this kind of loyalty she’d seen had been in her own small family. Her parents had been a shining example. When you loved someone you did whatever it took to keep them safe.

Cherise watched Gwen tease a smile out of Louis while Anny laughed. Cole belonged here with these people and she was a danger to them all.

She loved Cole. She might not be able to shift into a wolf, but her instincts were still there. They were not as sharp as a normal werewolf’s, but they were still a part of her very DNA. She’d been attracted to Cole from the beginning, drawn to his strength and his devotion to his pack and to the code of honor he lived by. Not to mention the sexual pull she felt whenever he was near.

She’d never experienced anything like it before in her life. Her mother had warned her it would happen, but Cherise hadn’t believed her, hadn’t for one moment thought she’d find the one wolf that was meant to be her mate.

That was fairly rare these days. Packs kept to themselves. As a result, the potential pool for mates was small, and they often mated without being true mates. Maybe that’s why their numbers were dwindling. With each generation, there were fewer and fewer children born to them. And many were venturing out among the human world and their aggressive natures were getting them killed.

Keith and his buddies were a prime example. If they’d stayed back in Kentucky, they’d still be alive.

Somehow she’d stumbled across her true mate. For the first time in her life, she really felt the loss of her wolf. Oh, she’d always felt different, as though there was a hole in her heart, something vital missing in her soul. But now she felt like less of a woman. Cole needed a female who could shift and run with him, who could bear his children and not have to worry about them being cursed with their mother’s problem.

Cherise raked her fingers through her hair. The walls of the cabin were suddenly closing in around her. She stood and headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Louis was in front of her, blocking her path.

“Out. I need some fresh air.” She went to step around him, but he moved with her. She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “You need to get out of my way.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She knew it was a compromise, but she didn’t care. Cherise needed to be by herself. After years spent with just her and her mother, it was strange to always be in the company of others. She knew it was partly because Cole didn’t trust her not to run. And he was right not to. But it was also natural for pack members to hang out together.

Cherise ignored him and stalked to the door. When she reached it, she closed her eyes and swallowed hard. God, she was being a bitch. She turned back to the two women who were still seated at the kitchen island watching her. “I’m sorry. I just need some air.”

“It’s okay.” Gwen’s voice was filled with understanding. “We’re here if you need us.”

“Thanks.” She pulled open the door and stepped out onto the porch. The air was crisp but the sun was out. It was a lovely spring day, but the night would close in early and the air would grow colder.

Cherise ignored Louis and wandered down a path in the woods. She had no idea where she was going. She only knew she had to be by herself, had to think. If she was going to get away from this pack, it was going to take some work. Because she didn’t think Cole would ever let her go.

A part of her reveled in the idea that he wanted her with him, wanted her to stay.

Another part knew she couldn’t. Not unless she could find a way to settle her past and end the threat toward her.

She took a deep breath, inhaling the smells of the forest—the new growth of the trees, the more pungent scent of the damp ground, the first wild flowers, the animals. It smelled like home.

Cherise felt determination surge through her. All these years, she’d been content just to survive, but that was no longer enough. Cole and his pack had shown her there was something more, something better than simply surviving—living.

She picked up her pace, walking faster through the trees.

She realized what she and her mother had been doing all these years wasn’t really living at all. They’d never put down roots, never made friends or connections. It was sad when she thought about it.

Surely there was a way she could appease her former pack in Kentucky and get the alpha to simply banish her. She didn’t care if she ever saw any of them again, so that was no hardship. If the death sentence could be lifted, she might have a chance at a life with Cole.

And he was worth the fight.

Funny how it had never occurred to her to confront her former pack for her own sake, but she’d fight them for a chance at a life with Cole. Maybe because for the first time in far too many years, she had hope. In spite of her resolve to remain apart from the Salvation Pack, she’d gradually been pulled into their fold. They were constantly feeding her and including her in their conversations.