Riding Red (5 page)

His hard cock presses against me, and I move my hand to touch it. Just before I make contact, he grabs my wrist.

“Tomorrow, sweet.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just keep quiet. Feeling completely exhausted, I lean against Dominic.

“Let’s get you home.”

I nod against him, and I feel his strong arms pick me up and carry me. I’m so overwhelmed by sensations and sleep that I don’t protest.

When I feel cool sheets against my skin, I barely open my eyes, seeing Dominic above me. His eyes are still glowing, but I find comfort in them.
My mate.

As I drift off to sleep, I wonder where the hell that thought came from.

I
stare down
at her limp body sprawled out in her bed. It took everything in me to unwrap my mate from me. She clung to me, even in her sleep. Human mates aren’t uncommon, but they also aren’t the norm. The only one in our town had been my great-aunt. I didn’t realize how much her body would start to crave mine without me having even touched her yet.

I thought if I put a little distance between us she’d be okay. But I knew when I sat down next to her at the bar tonight that her body came alive just being next to mine. My wolf rolled over on its back for her when he realized it too. He probably would’ve given her his throat if he thought it’d please her.

She looks so beautiful with her red hair spread out against her white sheets, her dress riding up around her hips, revealing her wet panties and the small patch of red hair over her pussy, something I couldn’t see in the dark room at the back of the bar.

I can’t bring myself to regret that my first time eating her sweet pussy was in the back of a bar. No, not with the taste of her still coating my throat. I’d lost it for a minute, something I’ve grown accustomed to since she walked into my life. I sat in the bar and watched a few men go up to her, and though they quickly walked away once they found out who she was, it still didn’t help cool my temper. They should’ve been able to tell she was mine from twenty feet away. If only I had scented her.

There was no stopping me after seeing that. She wasn’t going anywhere ever again without the smell of me all over her. I can’t wait until I get to sink my teeth into her tomorrow night, binding her to me forever, our scents becoming one. For the rest of our lives, we would always smell like one another. But just for tonight, I had to rub myself against her, leaving something of myself on her skin.

When I got her to the back room and smelt how thick her desire for me was, I had to taste it. Before I knew what I was doing, I had my face pressed against her cunt, breathing her scent deep into my lungs. Every part of me wanted her.

I wanted to walk out of the bar, letting everyone know how much my mate desired me. That I brought that out in her, and no one else ever would. It was all mine.

Reaching down and undoing my belt, I pull my always-hard cock out and stroke it while I stare down at her. I know I won’t be able to come no matter how long I do this, but I don’t give a fuck. I want my wolf to see what he’s been begging me to claim these past few weeks. How close we are to finally getting to sink inside her.

I couldn’t believe when I buried my face between her thighs, my wolf growled, “Virgin”. I never dreamed of her being untouched. I hadn’t cared before. All that mattered to me was being her last. She is a twenty-four-year-old human female. Virginity is usually something long gone for them by that point. It’s not like our kind wants to wait for our mates; we don’t have a choice. But when my wolf told me she was untouched, I wanted to howl. We’d both be each other’s first and last. Everything to one another.

I don’t know how long I stand there, staring down at her, but when I see the first ray of sunshine through the window, I know I need to go. She wakes early to open the bakery, and it being Halloween, I’m sure she’ll be busy until all the tourists head home for the holiday.

She doesn’t need to wake with me standing over her like a dog in heat. Her mind will probably be playing tricks on her as it is given how we both reacted to each other last night. I know my wolf had to be showing through, but I'm not sure how much she could see in the dark room of the bar.

I’ll wait until I can actually mate her before letting the dog out of the bag. With the full moon high in the sky tonight, I’ll have nature on my side, making her attraction to me even stronger.

I put my cock back into my pants, buckle my belt, and flip off the lamp next to her bed. I could have easily watched her with the lights off through the night with my wolf-sight, but I didn’t want to miss a single detail.

I lean in close, and her head falls to the side, exposing her neck. Even in her sleep she’s submitting to me. I can’t help but lick her there, scenting her one last time. But her skin is calling to me, and I suck on her there, knowing I’m leaving a mark for everyone to see. A taste of what is to come.

Pulling back, I whisper in her ear, “This is the last time you’ll ever wake alone, my sweet mate.”

With all the strength I have, I pull myself from her home, locking the bakery door behind me and heading for the alpha’s house. It’s going to be a long fucking day.

When I get to Stone’s place, I let myself in and head right for his couch. But as I walk to it, a burning need starts to rise inside me. I barely hit the soft cushions before I'm back on my feet, pacing back and forth. A strong and potent feeling crawls up my spine. I should be dead on my feet from lack of sleep, but suddenly, I’m wide awake.

I want to talk to the alpha about keeping an eye on things tonight with the moon being out. Male shifters get a little on edge with other unmated males around. After that I was going to head home and get things ready for when Ruby sees her new home. I can’t wait to show her where we’ll raise our pups.

But right now I feel like I’m choking. I can’t breathe, and suddenly my wolf is growling, “Need her now”. My jaw clenches, and I feel my teeth start to lengthen. Maybe I went too long without touching her. Maybe the little taste I got last night only added fuel to the fire—the fire that’s now raging inside of me—now that I’m so far away from her. I need to get back to her. Now.

I feel fur start to coat my face. My wolf is winning the battle, and I suddenly don't care if he does. My baser instincts are kicking in and taking control.

I bolt for the door, but before I can reach it I’m flung back. I hit the wall, and it knocks the air out of my lungs. Pieces of Sheetrock hit the wooden floor beside me, but I’m not fazed.

“Mine,” I growl, getting up, my eyes locking on Stone. He’s blocking the front door, standing between me and what’s mine. I bare my teeth in rage.

“Get it under control,” Stone growls back at me, but my wolf is so far gone it doesn’t recognize the alpha command.

“You keep me from my mate?” My voice is so deep I’m not sure my words can be understood. What the fuck is there to understand right now? I want my mate, and everyone needs to get the fuck out of my way.

“I would never keep you from your mate, but you’re losing your skin, and I can’t let you out of here until you’re under control. A human could see you.”

“Then the answer is yes, you’re keeping me from my mate.” The last word leaves my mouth as I lunge from my crouching position on the floor. I feel my nose elongate, fur bursts through my skin, and I half-shift as I try to attack the alpha.

Hitting Stone with my own body is like hitting a fucking brick wall. We both fall to the ground, making the old farmhouse rattle. I move quickly, going for his neck, my wolf wanting the blood of anything keeping his mate from him. We need her more than we need anything else. We feel like we can’t breathe without her now.

Stone has me by the back of my neck, his fist full of my hair as he yanks me away before I can sink my teeth into him.

“Goddamn it, Dom, I’m not keeping you from your mate!” he snarls at me. “Don’t do this. You’re in mate withdrawal, and we could end up killing each other.” Stone’s own wolf starts to push to the surface, his eyes melting into full black.

I snarl at his words.

“Dom, you’ll upset Ruby if you show up tonight looking like you’ve been in a bar brawl,” a woman’s voice says from behind me, making me loosen my grip on Stone. Hearing the words ‘upset Ruby’ makes something in me stop.

I glance to the side, seeing Gwen approach me. Her hand is extended like she plans to use it to comfort me.

“I’m not yours to touch,” I snap at her, not even feeling guilty. The thought of her hand on me makes my stomach cramp. My need for Ruby is hitting me harder and harder, making me throw my head back and howl. My wolf can take no more, and I start to shift.

Suddenly, I feel a sharp sting in my back. I look over my shoulder, seeing a syringe sticking out of me. Gwen jumps back, leaving the needle stuck in place. My body goes lax, black spots dot the room, and a vision of Ruby’s face comes into view. I want to reach up and touch her, but I can’t move my arms to pull her to me.

“You can’t keep me from her.” I force the words past my lips.

“Get the chains,” is the alpha’s only response.

I
look
out the front window of the bakery, the once kid-filled streets are now empty as I flip the sign on the door to signal that we’re closed. Disappointment and agitation roll through me; I haven't seen Dominic all day.

I was sad when I woke up this morning and didn't find him in bed with me. I’d thought maybe I’d had too much to drink last night and just had had one of my very detailed dreams about him again.

That was until I looked in the mirror when I was getting ready for work and saw the hickey on clear display for all the world to see. With my fair complexion I knew no amount of makeup was going to cover up that mark. For some reason the thought of covering it up didn’t sit well with me. I found myself touching the mark all day. Each time I did, a ping of desire would shoot through my body.

Now I’m just pissed. He’s been standing outside my bakery every day for three weeks, and the day after he face plants into my crotch he disappears?

What’s worse is my body doesn’t care at the moment. If he walked in the door right now, I’d probably climb him like a tree and beg him to do it again, not caring that he slipped out on me in the middle of the night and avoided me all day.

I had no idea it could be like that. He made me feel like I was the best thing he’d ever touched. That he was starved for me. That he’d never get enough of me, but clearly he did.

Sighing, I make my way back behind the counter and start closing down the displays while Gwen handles the kitchen, trying to play catch up after she was late this morning.

A few minutes later she comes strolling in from the kitchen with a basket full of Halloween cookies in hand.

“I don’t think we’re getting any more kids,” I say, nodding to the front window. Main Street has cleared out. The kids did a walk in while wearing their costumes earlier today. I’d heard someone say the kids were going to the neighboring town to trick or treat this year because of the full moon, which didn't make any sense to me, but that seemed to happen to me a lot around here. I didn’t think I’d have to deal with a language barrier moving from Northern California to Colorado, but it seems I do.

She nods, agreeing with me. “Cute little nuggets probably won't even get to trick or treat with the way the weather is looking.”

The dark clouds have been rolling in all day and finally look like they are about to let loose. “Probably right. At least they got to do the shops.”

It was cute watching all the kids, dressed up and walking up and down Main Street with their parents. Even some of the moms and dads dressed up with them. It made me long to have my own family. Dominic flashes through my mind, making my body heat.

“What with the basket then?” I ask, trying to keep my mind off him. I take off my apron, folding it up and putting it under the counter.

“It’s a delivery,” she says simply, like we do those around here.

“We don’t do deliveries.”

“Well, the old bakery did, so I just thought…” She bites her lip like I might be upset, but a delivery means someone local is making the order, and I’ll take all the local customers I can get.

“It’s fine. Do you have an address?”

Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a piece of paper and hands it to me.

“I’m really sorry about this.” I see the worry in her eyes over something that isn't that big a deal.

“It’s fine. Not like I have anything better to do tonight. Speaking of, shouldn’t you be heading out of town? I thought that was your plan.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I do have somewhere I need to be.” She grabs a hold of me, pulling me into a tight hug. “He’d never hurt you, never you,” she whispers into my ear. She doesn’t have to say his name for me to know who she’s talking about.

She pulls away, heading out the front door. I follow behind her, relocking it. It starts to rain as Gwen darts across the street.

I pick up the basket from the counter and place it in the kitchen, and I hurry upstairs to get my purse and car keys. Stopping, I grab my red hooded cape to protect me from the rain. I can use it shield the basket too. Slipping it on over my shoulders, I tie it around my neck before pulling the hood up.

I make my way back downstairs and grab the basket. I head out the backdoor, securing it before I slip into my car. I enter the address into my GPS, and I see the house isn’t far away, but it looks like it’s off the beaten path. It’s all alone in the woods, so maybe it’s just a house with a lot of land. Maybe they are having a Halloween party or something.

I pull out onto a now completely empty Main Street, and the rain starts to pour as I hit the country highway, making it hard to see. It causes the drive to be longer than it should. The rain eases off when I finally hit the turn off. I’m sure it will start up again any second, so maybe I can do the delivery before I get poured on.

I make the turn, going from a paved, smooth surface to a rough, gravel path. Before I can react, my tires slip. The ditch grabs my back wheel, pulling me off the driveway. I grip the wheel and try to push the accelerator, but my car’s tires are pretty puny, and they just kick up the muddy water while spinning in place.

“Well, shit.”

I can see the house with my headlights, and it only looks to be about a mile away, sitting at the end of the road, nestled in front of a bunch of trees. Looking around, I notice everything is surrounded by trees; I’m completely in the woods. I grab my purse and utter a few choice words when I see I don’t have any service on my phone. I don’t have much of a choice, so to the house it is. Even if it’s down the long scary gravel road surrounded by a dark forest.

The sun has fully set by now, so I need to get a move on. Maybe once I give them their cookies, they can give me a ride back to town, or maybe they have a truck that could pull me out. I really don’t think it would take much, just one good tug.

Grabbing the basket, I slip from my car, putting my hood back over my head. I make it about halfway down when I start to hear the crackle of sticks. Someone is walking through the woods, crushing them beneath their feet. I stop and try to see what’s making the noise, but with the sun gone and the dark clouds, I can’t make out much.

I hear a growl to my right, followed by another snapping twig, making my heart jump in my chest. When the howl sounds from my left, panic truly sets in, and I start running for the house. My heart pounds in my chest, and I look behind me as I run, seeing a white wolf on my tail. It makes me run faster than I ever thought I could, and as I hit the front porch, I pray the door is unlocked. Relief hits me when I grab the handle. It turns. I burst through, nearly falling inside. I manage to turn, slamming it behind me and pressing myself against the door.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of a lock latching into place from the outside. I slowly turn and test the knob. It moves, but a deadbolt is holding the door shut. I see the lock all the way at the top of the door. Who puts a deadbolt that high, and why would you lock someone into your home and not out of it?

Another growl sounds, and this time it’s from inside the house, making me freeze in place. I drop the basket from my hand.

“I’m sorry, Ruby, we had no choice,” I hear Gwen’s voice from outside.

“Gwen! There’s a wolf out there!” I shout to her.

That’s when I realize there’s one in here too.