Natural Born Enemies (Cedar River Series) (7 page)

Adam swallowed hard, “How about something stronger?”

I led him into the kitchen. “What exactly would you like? I have beer in the fridge. There’s vodka in the freezer. In the cupboard, I have Scotch, rum and tequila.”

Adam raised his eyebrows and smiled slowly.

“What?” I demanded, teasingly. “I make candy. Most of the alcohol in here is something I use for making new recipes. If you think this is bad, you should see the cabinet downstairs. It’s got even more in it.”

“Because I want to remember tonight, I’ll just take a beer.”

I opened the beer and handed it to him. He took a long draw on the bottle, all the while watching me with an intense look. I felt a little self-conscious as I went into the living room.

Adam followed me. We didn’t even make it to the sofa when he laid his hand on my shoulder. I turned to face him and he backed me up to the wall. His hand fisted in my hair and his lips began to devour mine. It was all I could do to not slide down the wall as I melted with desire. The only thing keeping me from sliding to the floor was Adam’s thigh between my legs. His mouth left mine and journeyed along my jawline down to my neck. I dropped my bottle of water to the floor and allowed my hands to roam over his back, pulling his shirt free as I went. I dug my nails in slightly as he sucked lightly on the sensitive spot below my ear. I could only sigh as I pulled his mouth back to mine.

Adam pulled back and looked at me. “My gods, Luna. I’ve missed you.”

Tears threatened to overflow my eyes. I had begun to think this day would never come. Adam had been home so long and had avoided me for that entire time. In a very short space of time, I had him back in my arms where he belonged.

“What’s wrong, babe?” he asked, noticing the tears beginning to roll down my cheeks.

I shook my head. “Nothing is wrong, babe. These are tears of joy because I’ve missed you as well.”

Adam set his beer on the bookshelf beside where we were standing and drew me close. “I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. By staying away, I thought maybe you would move on. You don’t want a wounded soldier with no visible wounds, darlin’. I’m a mess.”

I snorted. “You think you’re a mess? Look at me Adam! I lost you to a war and within a month of you leaving, I lost our baby, Adam. I figured if our baby was born, it would give you a reason to return to me.”

Adam laid his cheek against the top of my head. I realized he was hurting. I tried to move to look at him, but he just held me tighter.

“I’m so sorry, Luna. I can’t say anything other than I’m sorry. I should have fought for you. I should have stayed behind and fought. I took the coward’s way out and ran off to war. I didn’t even try to write to you to see how you were.”

I was shocked. “Adam! You didn’t run away. Dad and Roman didn’t really give you a choice. It was either that or a battle to the death. To be honest, I think they were both hoping you would die over there. Then, there would be no blood on their hands.”

It was Adam’s turn to snort. “Yeah, I know. Roman fears me because he thinks I want to become Alpha. As if I need any more bullshit. Rock is pissed off because I spoiled his precious pup. Maybe it would have been easier to die in the Middle East, but it would have made them two of the happiest men ever. I’m just not in that particular business.”

I smiled against Adam’s firm chest and he took my hand in his.

“I also would have missed the chance at this if I hadn’t come home.” He took my face in his hand and tilted it so I was looking into his teary eyes. “I came home for you, Luna. I don’t want you to ever forget that. I may not have realized it when I stepped off the plane, but you’re the reason I fought to live. You’re the reason I came back to Cedar River. Luna, you are my home.”

My heart caught in my throat with that final proclamation. I was his home? Gods, this man had a way with words. I took his hand, picked up my bottle of water, and led him to the sofa. He sat down against the arm and pulled me into his lap.

“Do you know you’ve always smelled like chocolate to me?”

I smiled broadly. “You’ve always smelled like moonlight through the red cedars. It’s the smell of darkness and light combined with the smell of the cedar trees.”

Adam stroked his hands through my hair. “You still smell like chocolate, but there is something more there now.”

“It’s called Bitten By Chocolate. It’s the perfume I wear.”

“That’s not it. You haven’t always worn the perfume. You
have
always smelled like the most decadent chocolate in the world.”

I smiled as he nibbled on my neck. “In order to keep your smell with me, I used to walk into the deepest heart of the forest and close my eyes. In that place and in that moment, I felt closer to you.”

Adam sighed deeply as he pulled my lips to his. “Kiss me, Luna. Welcome home a soldier.”

I took his face in my hands and looked deep into his passion-darkened eyes. “Welcome home, Adam,” I whispered as I brushed my lips across his.

Chapter Twelve-Adam

Holding Luna in my arms was something I’d only dreamed of since I’d left. Her mouth on mine was exactly as I remembered, yet it had changed in a way. My Luna had changed while I had been away and her ruby red lips were attempting to prove just how much she’d changed. The bite to my shoulder drew me back to the present and her warm body began to slide down mine. She straddled my lap and settled her luscious backside against my growing erection. I leaned my head back and let her do whatever damage she could do to me. She unbuttoned my shirt and laid my chest bare. She growled in a way I’d never heard before. Then, I felt something warm and wet hit my chest. I looked into her eyes and saw the tears falling down her cheeks.

“Adam, who did this to you?” she said as she stroked her fingers over the scars on my chest.

“It’s nothing, baby. Stop crying, please,” I begged.

“This is something. These wounds were deep,” she said.

I couldn’t tell her that I’d been beaten by my pride before I left for the military. I didn’t want her to know that I’d been jumped by the pack, too. I had joined the military, almost hoping I would die over there. I took the suicide missions, but, for some reason, I lived through them. As far as I could tell, the reason was called Luna.

Her fingers softly touched each of the wounds. “These are claw marks, aren’t they?”

I took her hands and kissed her fingers, nipping lightly at her thumb. She growled softly.

“Forget the scars, babe,” I said as I buried my hands in her hair and drew her head to mine. I kissed the tear tracks, then each of her eyes.

She pulled her shirt over her head and I could see she bore a few of the same marks I carried. Her scars were lighter than mine, but on her creamy skin, they showed. Tears fell from my eyes with no shame.

“Show me where your bedroom is, Luna,” I said before claiming her mouth.

She climbed off my lap and took my hand to lead me to her sanctuary.

***

The heavy door opened to reveal Luna at her best. The room was dark, but I could make out the forest painted on her walls and the grass colored carpet beneath my feet. The king-size bed log bed took up the entire room, but it fit perfectly.

“Get on the bed, honey,” I was able to rasp out as I kicked off my boots.

She scrambled onto the bed and watched me, her breathing heavy with anticipation.

“Just breathe, sweetheart, I intend on taking my time with you tonight,” I said as I kissed each scar that marked her stomach. I unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down her legs. On her thighs, the scars continued, marring her perfect body. Tears fell from my eyes as I kissed each scar. “My beautiful Luna, what did they do to you?” With each kiss, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

She was crying, but not out of pain. If it was healing me, then I was sure it was healing her as well. I could feel all the broken pieces inside of me beginning to come together.

I slid her panties from her legs and she was bared to my gaze. She had gained a few more curves since I’d last seen her naked for me, but it only increased her stunning beauty.

“Adam, please,” she said, covering her full breasts with her arms.

“Luna, stop. I’m just wondering how it is you got more amazing since I’ve been gone.”

That made her smile. “You are absolutely silly, Adam.”

“Maybe, but I’m also very lucky.” I kissed her stomach where our child had existed for such a short period of time. I pulled her legs over my shoulders and buried my head between them, lapping at the cream there. I felt her hands pull at my hair and her persistent growl grew louder. I could only smile as I kissed each of her inner thighs. Luna had only gotten more responsive over the years. I returned to suck on the gem hidden between her legs. She was panting heavily and I could feel her body begging for release. My Luna never begged which is something I loved about her. From bottom to top, I licked her repeatedly with a nip to her clit with each pass. I drew an “Oh gods, Adam” from her lips on the final pass. Her back bowed as the intensity of her orgasm hit her. I relished the image, knowing that I had done that to her, for her. I pulled my jeans off and climbed onto the bed with her.

Her eyes glistened with tears as she pulled me into her arms. “Oh, Adam, I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered before our lips met.

I was scared of hurting her, but her hand slipped between us and showed me exactly what she wanted. Her touch was gentle, yet determined. With concentrated effort, I gave her what she wanted. I eased into her body, filling her. My gods, she felt like home. I thought about everything except this very moment. I didn’t want it to end before it really began.

Her yellow-orange eyes grew large. “Adam,” she whispered repeatedly. Her hands were on my back, her fingernails scraping my back.

Our eyes locked and I began to move slowly at first, but my concentration broke. The tiny tremors were quaking through her and I couldn’t keep a hold of myself. I thrust faster and faster into her tight channel.

Luna cried out my name as she gripped my ass with her hands. Her legs were locked around my waist as I finally let go of my control. With a final thrust, I buried myself so deep inside of her I wasn’t sure where I ended and she began.

I rested my forehead against hers and let my breathing return to normal. I opened my eyes and saw Luna was crying. Immediately, I rolled to her side and drew her into my arms. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “Where did I hurt you?” She began to shake and I realized she was laughing.

“That was incredible,” she said. “I really think we need to do that more often.”

I smiled at her. “A lot more often.” I kissed her swollen lips. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be swept away into the land of dreams. For the first time since returning home, I slept through the night.

Chapter Thirteen- Luna

The sun wasn’t up when I climbed out of my bed. I hated to leave Adam’s side, but I had to open the store. I put on a pot of coffee and took a shower. I was sore, but pleasantly so. We had woken each other a couple of times throughout the night and loved each other thoroughly.

I smiled as I soaped my whisker-burned breasts. My inner thighs were in the same condition as my breasts, but I wasn’t complaining at all. It felt good. I rinsed off and grabbed my robe. Adam was still snoring softly as I dressed in my usual outfit of jeans and a t-shirt.

I poured a cup of coffee and carried it to the bedroom. I put the coffee on the nightstand and rubbed my hand over Adam’s chest. “Hey, babe, time to get up.” His hand grabbed my wrist roughly and twisted my arm. He had an awful sneer on his face. “Adam, wake up! You’re hurting me,” I cried.

He slowly opened his eyes and came fully awake. Realizing what was happening, he let me go.  I stepped back from the bed and rubbed my arm.

“Luna, are you okay?” he asked as he threw the covers off.

I nodded.

He reached for me, but for a moment I hesitated. That was all it took to break Adam.

“I’m so sorry, honey. I didn’t realize what was happening. One moment I was sleeping well. The next moment, I was back in the middle of a war I didn’t want to be in. By all I hold holy, Luna, please believe I would never hurt you.”

I allowed him to look at my wrist and arm. It hurt, but not as bad as Adam thought it did. His lips brushed against the red marks. I would have bruises where he gripped my wrist, but I could deal with it.

“I know you wouldn’t hurt me, at least not intentionally. Geesh, Adam, I’m not stupid, you know,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Adam pulled me against his chest, his big hands smoothed over my hair. “I am very sorry,” he said.

I looked up into his eyes. “I’m a big girl, Adam. I can take it. It takes a lot to break me, remember that, okay?”

He kissed each of my eyelids, followed by my nose, and my lips.

“Let me take your coffee to the kitchen and get you a fresh cup. You take a shower and I’ll warm up a chocolate croissant for breakfast.”

He kissed me again before letting me go.

I poured out his coffee mug and poured us each a fresh mug. My hands were shaking and my insides were all in knots, but I refused to allow Adam to see any fear. It would push him away from me and I would be damned if
that
would happen.

He saw a therapist about his issues, I knew that. Now, I knew a little bit more of what these issues were. Adam was as tight-lipped as anyone, but little by little I was piecing together what he didn’t say.

I was leaning against the counter with my head bowed when Adam came into the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around me from behind. “I really am sorry,” he whispered.

“You’re starting to piss me off, darlin’,” I warned him. “Would you like that croissant to eat or would you like to wear it?”

I could feel him smile as he kissed my head, “I’d prefer to eat it unless you have a few more hours to kill.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m already late getting started and you have to go home before you start your shift. I think Bowie might notice you’re wearing the same clothes as you were yesterday.”