Enslaved in Shadows (17 page)

             
Life had a way of throwing shit in your face, and rubbing said
shit
face in the dirt.
He should have tried to stay in contact.
She’s human. Your dad would have disowned you.
Not that any of that mattered now.

             
He cleared his throat and she sighed. He was a fucking maker, a doer. If he wanted something he would make it happen. He only had this one life, this one woman.
It didn’t matter about the rest. His wolf was on board. It meant something that his animal half and human half weren’t at odds.
All this time they’d both talked shit, it was time to m
ake shit happen.
He couldn’t t
ake the silence. He needed to know what she was thinking. Was she upset? What the hell was going through that beautiful head of hers?

             
“Fucking ask her,” from Royce. How the hell was he supposed to speak with the mind reader butting in at ever y turn?

             
“Speak again Royce, and I will drop your ass off at the nearest rest stop.”

             
“Agreed.”

             
Jesminda rested her head on the head rest and closed her eyes.
He sho
uld pull over at the next exit to f
ind a hotel
and
get her in a nice bed to sleep.
The only way that would happen is if she slept in the next room, because if she
lay
on a bed, within seeing range he was sure to fuck her.
             
             

Draven shook the thoughts from his head. He was suppose to protect her not bed her. He hadn’t properly dealt with Melissa either, she still deserved a better explanation. His wolf hadn’t marked her.
There was no imprint of his claws anywhere on her body. Melissa wasn’t his because his wolf didn’t want to mark her. In the back of his head he should have realized things were never going to work between them. They wanted different things
were headed in separate directions
.
He would still apologize for his behavior but that was as far as it went.

             
Draven reached for the radio at the exact same time she did. Thei
r fingers tangled in the middle and t
hen quickly separated.
This wasn’t some romantic comedy where these types of coincidences happened. This was real life.
Her fingers were soft and warm.
His lust was taking over, and if he didn’t do something about it soon things were going to get physical. Really quick.

             
“Sorry.”

             
“No, go ahead I’m sorry.
Put it on whatever station you want.”

             
She gave him an easy smile and hit the button and searched for a channel.
She found an easy listening station and the sounds of some sultry voice sang words of love and forgiveness th
r
ough the speakers.
She didn’t change the channel just closed her eyes and rested her head on the head rest and sighed. The curls in her hair still bounced as the car drove over the bumps and digs in the road. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he continued to their destination.

             
She was content and she never looked more amazing
than
she did at that moment. The soft lids of her eyes shut. Long thick lashes kissed the plumpness of her cheek. He had to admit he could stare at her for hours and never tire of the view.

             
The blare of a horn had him dodging a car. He’d drifted over into the other lane.
She fucking twisted his balls and made him stupid for her.
Head in the game
.
He saw the exit up ahead.
He really needed a cold shower and s
he needed a place to sleep without getting a crook in her neck.
He needed her comfortable and
in return he’d be comforted.

             
“Now there’s a thought.” R
oyce droned from the backseat.

* * * *

             
The hotel wasn’t too seedy. It was dimly lit and away from the road, which if he thought about it was perfect.
He pulled into the driveway and got out to pay for their rooms. He got one for him and Royce and one for Jesminda, the rooms were joined and he told himself that as long as the door to both rooms were open he could keep a sharp eye on her.
His wolf knew her scent, and he could tell if she was distressed in a moment’s notice.

             
Draven drove the car to their parking space in front of the two rooms and shut the lights off. The dark swallowed them in its comfort and the moon was a welcoming night light. Praise be to Luna, Draven thought
.
She was a beautiful yellow tonight and her light caressed his skin in a way that soothed his wolf.
The gravel under his feet was loud as he walked around to the passenger door to get a sleeping Jesminda.
Royce sat up from the back seat and nodded as he took the keys from Draven.

             
“Finally I can sleep in a place,” he checked his surroundings. “Damn,
the car is better than this crack house
.”
He strode toward the door and pushed his way inside and groaned loud enou
gh to wake the dead.

             
A very sleepy Jesminda nuzzled into his neck as he pulled her into his arms. Her body already recognized him on a personal level. She was sleep soft as he shouldered his way into the room and walked her to the bed. Royce closed the door walking
over to their adjoining room.
T
he air was stuffy, but all he smelled was her. Her tropical scent over powered the other smells.

             
She stirred
,
then tightened her arms around his neck.

             
“Stay,” she murmured sleepily. Her voice tickling his neck as she burrowed closer. Draven looked up and saw Royce smirk from the door way of the adjoining room. He nodded his goodnight and closed the door.

             
This was trouble in all kinds of ways he didn’t even have time to delve into.
She stirred again when he tried to pry her again and place her on the bed.

             
“No, please, I’m safe with you and so is our daughter.”

             
So is our daughter? What the fuck was that suppose to mean? She must have been thinking of the child’s real father.
It pissed him off she thought he was someone else. But he couldn’t deny the stirrings deep in his chest, he needed to comfort her, make her feel safe.
Even if she didn’t realize it was him.

             
“Shh, I’m not leaving rest now. Sleep.”

             
He pulled her into his arms and slowly reclined back on the bed.
She was draped
across his chest
holding on to him as if her life depended on it. Who was her daughter’s father? Surely it wasn’t Marcus
. I
f she felt her daughter was safe. How come she hadn’t stayed with the father?
Seconds later light snores drifted up and tickled his cheek.
He took a deep breath, his chest rising to match hers. This was how it should have always been. From the beginning. Didn’t matter she was human she was meant for him. He wouldn’t be able to have pups with her, but he’d have her, and her daughter would be his daughter. He could love her as well.
Jesminda nuzzled deeper and Draven couldn’t help but stroke her hair with one hand and rub her back gently with the other.

This felt so right.

Chapter 11

             
The sheets were a bit greedy when they caressed her bare leg.
Bare leg
?
She was dreaming again
. S
he knew it by the hand that rested on her other leg.
It was warm and strong.
She could feel the callous of her lover’s fingers as they drew circles on
her thigh, over and over again.
It was meant as a thought perhaps? Because her dream lover did
n’t seem so attentive
.
Jes
quickly changed the game when she turned and overlapped her thigh with his taking her hand and caressing the bare chest of her strong dream lover.
The skin was scar
r
ed, like claw marks were raked down the front of his left pectoral and then wound around to settle low on his back.

             
His chest rose to meet her touch and there was a low rumble. It sent mini vibrations through her hand.
Lazily
,
she draped her chest over his and sought his mouth.
T
he road was soft and prickly, but tasted like heaven. She fused their mouths in a savage kiss and ate at his
lips
,
e
njoying the feel and the texture of their lips meeting.
He resisted only for a second and then took control. He
overpowered her with his mouth,
his
l
ips opening wide to stop her movements. She groaned her pleasure and frustration.
He plundered the dark recess of her mouth with brutal force.
As if he was in pain and only her lips could quell the torment that plagued him.

             
Searching
hands settled her body more firmly atop his, aligning her in perfect place with his erection. S
he should open her eyes, see her
treasure. His cock was hot and heavy, burned through his jeans. Her dreams kept getting better and better. A silent prayer to the Gods of Sleep and
D
reams were in order.

             
“Damn.”
Hot breath fanned over her cheek as an open-mouthed kiss was dragged across her sensitive skin.
From the corner of her eye to the corner of her
mouth,
he covered her with his lips. Wet and warm, his lips caused her to shiver with excitement.

             
“Don’t stop now, I need this. I need you.”
She expelled on a long breath as his hands grabbed her ass, grinded her closer to her goal. She wanted him out of the jeans, so she could welcome him into her body, where it hurt most.
Jes
fingers stroked the soft beautiful waves of hair, the smell masculine and clean.
It hun
g heavy in the air she breathed, a
tantalizing scent. It settled on her skin. Jes took a deep br
eath to inhale more
.

             
“Not, going to stop until you tell me.” Her dream whispered.
This was the first time in a long time she’d felt anything this strong.
Not since before Marcus.
Last time she felt this good, it was a fleeting moment with a stranger. A stranger who’d fathered her child. Now it w
as her turn to be the stranger, t
o a man so familiar with her body. He anticipated her every need. Knew where to touch, where to kiss
.
His hands caressed her in a way a lover
s
did who remembered her swells and curves and wanted a refresher course.

             
             
“No names. After tonight you will never see me again.”
Jes said on a long moan.

             
Strong hands stilled and j
erked her up. Green eyes clashed with hers. They glinted in a sliver of moonlight.
Angry eyes, she hadn’t dreamt of in a long time.
She smiled down at him and tried to caress his face, but her dream Draven wouldn’t let her. He grabbed both her hands and shook her hard.

             
“Stop it,” She laughed. In the real world this would have frighten her.
Made her close down and buckle at the anger and strength.

             
“You
were never rough before,” she p
ushed forward. Trying to hold his arms in her man made restraints.
He tossed her easily and she would have fallen if he hadn’t grabbed her around the waist and adjusted her on the bed.

             
“Dumb ass.”

             
“What?”

             
“I said dumb
ass did I stutter?”
He looked at her sideways from over his shoulder.
Her dream Draven wasn’t supposed to be an ass.

             
“Look Mister No Name, this is my fucking dream, so shut the fuck up, drop your draws and give me some.”