Watching Out For Fangs (The Cloverleah Pack Book 7) (15 page)

“So are you.” Vadim smiled back. “I’ve already talked to Max, who handles the bulk of my affairs. You’ll be getting papers shortly with the deeds to your houses, access to our accounts and I got him to split half the businesses I have into your name, so that you can have control over them as well. They’re all managed with good staff, so you won’t have to do anything, but you will earn a steady and substantial income from them.”

“You did WHAT?” Josh went to jump up, but Vadim tightened his arms around Josh’s waist and wouldn’t let him move.

“This is what happens in a mating, babe” he said softly and despite being upset Josh’s body responded to the deep self-assurance that laced his mate’s tone. “You know that already. Wolves are the same as vampires in that respect. The moment you bit me our assets were shared. The money being paid to your mother and sisters will come from our account, as much yours as mine. You can increase your payments, drop them, do what you like, but I’d recommend letting Max handle all the details. That way, when your mother does get in touch again, it will be because she wants to, instead of hassling you about money matters. It can be handy having a financial advisor to hide behind sometimes.”

Josh was stunned. His brain just emptied out, and he couldn’t think. Logically he knew his mate was right about the shared assets concept and how it worked when two mates claimed each other. It was just after struggling financially for so many years Josh was having a hard time getting his head around the idea of his new riches – he was rich! Ten percent of Vadim’s net worth would give him more money than he could spend in a lifetime. To be given half of it? It was just so much. Houses. Businesses – more than one! Money in the bank. Josh felt like he’d won the lottery complete with a hot looking mate to share it with. Then he frowned as he had a horrible thought.

“You do know I don’t have anything to share in return, right?” He said, looking into Vadim’s deep black eyes. “My bike is the only thing of value I have and you could probably buy ten of those from your pocket change. My bank account probably doesn’t have enough in it to cover the bank fees on yours let alone any upkeep on that mansion of yours. It all just seems a little unfair to you.”

“True mating isn’t about finances or who has what,” Vadim said softly, holding him close, his dark eyes soft for once. “You have already given me more than anyone ever has in the few short days we have spent together. Don’t cheapen our bond by making it about money, please.”

There really wasn’t anything Josh could say to that. Vadim meant what he said, and he was right,
again
. Josh wouldn’t insult their mating by fighting over money. His wolf side didn’t care one way or the other, and Josh wasn’t going to let his human side fret about it either. Instead he did the only thing he could do. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against his mate’s mouth and then groaned as their connection flared to life once more.

/~/~/~/~/

Vadim swallowed his sigh of relief as he leaned into Josh’s kiss. He had always suspected, from the moment he saw Josh fighting Stephen clad only in worn jeans that hugged the man’s buttocks perfectly, that Josh would have a problem accepting their now shared wealth. The calm way Josh handled the matter – not fussing, arguing or getting upset, was just another aspect of his caring behavior that had Vadim’s heart beating in that irregular way it always seemed to have around his mate. All Josh had worried about was not having anything of similar value to share in return. As far as Vadim was concerned, Josh had given him his honest heart, loyalty and caring beyond measure. That was rare and priceless no matter what the species, and Vadim intended to cherish the gift always.

A persistent tongue stroking along his fangs blanked out any thoughts of money, business or anything else.  As lust swamped through his body, Vadim forgot about their aborted blow jobs, forgot about money, even if he was glad that conversation had been put to bed. All he wanted now was to focus on more important things, like driving his mate wild. Every inch of his skin itched as though craving Josh’s touch and Vadim rolled, pulling Josh with him, so that their chests were hard against each other, their two cocks jammed together in the limited space between them.

Josh seemed as frantic as he was, hands flying everywhere, his foot hooked hard behind Vadim’s calf muscle as his mate’s luscious body strained and rocked against him. That same long hard body that shivered under Vadim’s fingers and Vadim quelled the urge to leave scratch marks on the flawless skin. Fuck, he wanted to mark his mate up so badly.  But while he could scratch the skin without poisoning his mate, he didn’t want to take the risk. Josh was too precious.

“I need,” Josh whispered hoarsely, dragging his lips from Vadim’s his mouth moving against Vadim’s neck. “Fuck, I need you inside me.”

Yes! Moving faster than the eye could see, Vadim grabbed the lube he’d stashed under the pillows earlier, and quickly coated his fingers. Josh had already hooked his leg up, giving Vadim access and it didn’t take Vadim long to find his prize. One finger earned him a grunt. Two fingers got him a small wail and an increase in Josh’s rutting. Scissoring his fingers and opening his man up, Vadim finally inserted his third finger into the tight heat and that was going to have to be enough. Vadim couldn’t wait any longer.

“Fuck me,” Josh growled.

Thank the Fates for unnatural strength and speed. Vadim withdrew his fingers and before Josh could blink, he had flipped his man over, his cock finding its destination with the precision of a heat seeking missile. Josh’s inner walls scorched his cock as he plunged inside, and Vadim strained against the urge to rut, allowing his mate’s body a chance to adjust.

But Josh wouldn’t wait. No. His impatient mate was already squirming, wriggling in his arms, pushing his ass against the cradle of Vadim’s hips, trying to…goodness knows what he was trying to do but it was trying Vadim’s control. Vadim held firm though. He wasn’t small and Josh’s body was clamped around him so tightly he wasn’t sure he could move if he tried. He was determined to wait until Josh relaxed around him. Determined. And his determination held out right up until Josh opened his mouth.

“Please, my mate.” Whispered words, so full of need – wriggling through Vadim’s iron resolve and smashing it like dropped crystal. With a roar Vadim pulled back and slammed into Josh’s body, his heart rejoicing in the knowledge that his mate was strong enough to take everything he had to give and more. He could push, rut, pound at his mate’s body and he knew that Josh wouldn’t break. Settling into a fast and punishing rhythm Vadim gave himself over to sensation. The slick tight heat around every inch of his cock, the slight sting as his balls slapped Josh’s solid cheek muscles with every inward thrust, the moans and grunts as Josh pushed back just as hard, both men overcome with instinct and need.

The tingle in the base of his spine told Vadim he was close. Josh’s frantic arm movements told Vadim that Josh was working himself just as fast, and he growled low and mean. He wanted to bring Josh pleasure. He wanted to feel his mate come to pieces around him. Reaching around and knocking Josh’s hand aside, Vadim grasped the cock, so hard and slick from Josh’s juices. Tugging, pulling, sliding up and down the silken skin, Vadim pushed his hips harder, finding and riding the edge of bliss. He didn’t want it to end, but Josh’s neck called to him and Vadim responded. Plunging his teeth into the sweat soaked skin, Vadim felt his cock spurt with relief as the life-giving blood he needed trickled down his throat. Josh cried out, not in fear or in pain, but in ecstasy and Vadim felt the warm stickiness of his mate’s release coat ooze down his hand. 

Even as his hormones raced through his body, sending joy to ever molecule, he took care not to drink too much. Slowing his suck Vadim took just a few more mouthfuls before slowly extracting his fangs and licking across the tiny puncture wounds.  His body hard against him he could feel it when Josh shivered, and Vadim drank in the awesome sight of Josh’s pliant body, those blue eyes half closed, and those pink lips still open slightly as his breath slowly returned to normal. Vadim felt he should move back slightly, let his mate rest, but Josh’s arm came out from nowhere and hooked behind Vadim’s neck.

“Stay with me,” Josh said quietly. “Just a short rest and then we’ll go and see what’s going on with the pack. The real world can wait for just half an hour more.”

Given that his own body was jellified, more from the emotional, rather than physical side of their union, Vadim acquiesced. As Josh let out a little snore, he soaked up the closeness between them and pondered the idea that he and his mate no longer fucked…they were making love and Vadim was certain he hadn’t done that in over four hundred years. It was a weird but pleasant feeling.

Chapter Nineteen

A week had passed since the situation with the Coven had been resolved. Although there was an air of tension in the house, as the threat from the Atlanta pack was still imminent, Josh was the happiest he had ever been.  Vadim seemed to be fitting into the pack well, and if he took off by himself sometimes, Josh didn’t make a fuss about it. He had learned from their late night conversations that Vadim had little use for people and staying in the pack house stretched his mate’s social abilities to the limit. Sometimes the vampire just needed a time out.  

Vadim didn’t shirk his duty though, sticking to Josh’s side like glue when Josh was on patrol, his long legs and vampire speed easily keeping up with Josh’s wolf.  Josh’s wolf loved to play and many a time as they headed back to the pack house, he would sneak up on the vampire and pounce when least expected. Vadim never seemed to mind, especially when, after a bit of a tussle, Josh would shift and play in a totally different way.

His mate was also working with Griff, Diablo and the others on pack security and had some good ideas for improvements that were gratefully received. Given that, with the exception of Aelfric and Fafnir, the pack was made up of shifters and they had arranged their security accordingly, Vadim’s vampire perspective and knowledge stemming from a long life time was proving useful.

But today Josh was with Scott and Troy, the three men having abandoned their mates in favor of a run. As Josh had predicted, Vadim and Damien had a lot in common and when Damien had arrived with Scott and his enforcers in tow, the two oldest men from their respective species had gotten on surprisingly well after an initial snarl and eye challenge. It was Scott who suggested the run, after the two older men had settled down for a chat in the living room. Troy was quick to agree seeing as Anton was busy training with Jax. Josh wasn’t a history buff, and had been thinking of going for a bike ride as soon as Vadim and Damien had started chatting about the early days in America. However Kane had been adamant about pack safety, refusing to allow anyone to leave pack grounds, so Josh was happy to take up the offer of a run instead.

And he was glad he had. The winter months were coming to an end and spring was in the air. Once the summer hit in earnest, the days would get a lot hotter, but for now, the air was fresh and clean and the sun was high in the sky. Josh relished the feel of dirt and leaves under his paws, the breeze in his fur and the joy his wolf felt simply running with his pack brothers. He wasn’t sure that Vadim had even noticed his absence, and Josh supposed he should have mentioned he was going. But Scott assured him that he had told Kane how long they would be and Josh planned on being back before Vadim had a chance to worry. For an anti-social man, Vadim could talk at length about times of old.

Scott led them to a lovely clearing among the trees, the sun hitting the lush grass turning it a brilliant shade of green. He flopped down and shifted, and moments later, Troy and Josh did the same. Josh lay back on the grass, enjoying the sun on his skin as much as his fur. Throwing an arm over his face, because the sun was really bright, he lay there, half dozing, half-listening to Scott and Troy’s quiet conversation. He was in a serious need for some sleep. It seemed a vampire’s sex drive was equal to any wolf shifters’ and Josh was also adapting to being Vadim’s main food source. Forty winks didn’t sound like a bad idea. Twenty would do. Josh allowed himself to drift, soothed by low voices and the warmth of the sun.

Josh was sure he had only just closed his eyes when they snapped open again as Scott growled. Shifting into his wolf form on instinct, Josh sprang up trying to see what had upset the Alpha Mate of San Antonio – and he didn’t have far to look. All around the three men were wolves, and their scent wasn’t familiar. Raised hackles, and barred teeth suggested they weren’t friendly either. The intruders on Cloverleah land had Josh and the twins trapped and getting out wasn’t going to be easy. Josh felt his hackles rise as he barred his teeth and growled in return. This was his territory and he was born to fight for it. It might not be pretty but he wasn’t going to lose.

/~/~/~/~/

Vadim and Damien had been chatting quietly when Vadim felt fear, then anger coming from his mate. Looking around the living room, he realized he couldn’t see Josh anywhere, and he lurched up as Kane and Shawn came running into the room followed by Adair, Jax and Anton.

“Intruders on our land,” Kane said abruptly as he ran through the living room to the porch outside, stripping ready for shift.

“Where’s Josh?” Vadim yelled, his voice almost drowned out by Damien asking the same thing about Scott.

“Out there. The three betas went for a run,” Kane yelled back before shifting into his big black wolf form, his mate a solid white one by his side. The other wolves quickly followed suit, but Vadim didn’t have to wait for such niceties. He immediately took off running for the tree line, using his blood connection with his mate to guide him. The wolves were fast, but Vadim was faster. He could feel his mate’s anger, his fighting spirit like a beacon, guiding Vadim’s steps better than any signpost. But Vadim could feel a hint of fear through their bond as well, and he knew, before he even got there, that his mate was fighting for his life.

Bursting into a clearing, Vadim was tempted to stop and take stock, but there wasn’t any time. He recognized flashes of Josh’s wolf form, buried beneath three others, and he dived in, claws and fangs extended, throwing wolves off of his mate, as fast as they were coming in.  And there was a lot of them. Josh was fighting just as hard, and in fair odds, he was good, Vadim could see that. But Vadim didn’t leave his mate’s side, deflecting, slashing, even throwing some of the wolves who tried to blindside his mate. A quick lick up his arm in the heat of the battle let Vadim know that Josh appreciated his efforts, but the two men didn’t stop until all of the intruders were either dead or incapacitated.

Vadim looked around. The biggest wolf, which must have been Damien had one wolf trapped in his mouth and another pinned beneath his heavy paws, keeping the two intruders from getting near a dark brown wolf, which must have been Scott. On the other side of the clearing, a wolf with violet eyes double teamed with a black wolf, and the second dark brown wolf, and they had four wolves hemmed in. Vadim could feel the hum of magic in the air and figured he was looking at Jax, Anton and Troy. Kane and Shawn were bringing down the last of the strangers, forcing them into submission.

Once all was quiet, Kane shifted and Vadim felt a tingle on his skin – must be Alpha power, he thought. “Shift,” Kane yelled. The beaten wolves seem to resist for a moment, but then Damien shifted and added his powers to Kane’s and suddenly the clearing was littered with the human bodies of strangers. Josh was still in wolf form, his thick fur tickling Vadim’s leg. He rested his hand on Josh’s head, searching their bond for any sign of injury. Another lick on his hand seemed to be Josh’s way of saying he was okay, but Vadim wasn’t sure as Josh had blocked their mind link.

“Who is the leader here?” Kane yelled angrily. “Who dares to come onto our land without invitation or notice?”

The strangers looked at each other and then one man rose onto his knees, glaring at Kane defiantly. Like most shifters he was tall, well built with short dark hair. He could have been good looking if it wasn’t for the sneer on his face.

“You’ll get nothing from us. Kill us all, or let us go. None of us will talk even with your combined power. We took some precautions of our own before coming here.”

Vadim could see that Kane was torn. From what he had learned from watching the pack over the past week, the Alpha was a good man who didn’t agree with indiscriminate killing. In most cases any Alpha’s power would be enough to force another wolf to shift and talk.  Kane had to have his powers boosted by Damien just to enforce the shift, and from the way the ringleader was talking, getting them to answer any questions wasn’t going to be easy for the Cloverleah Alpha. Kane seemed to be lost in thought, but Vadim knew he was talking with Shawn who had stayed in wolf form.

The insolent stranger caught Vadim’s eyes, which wasn’t surprising. He was the only man dressed in the clearing after all. Keeping hold of that gaze, Vadim let his own power of compulsion flow through him.

“Crawl to me puppy,” he said in a low voice, keeping his gaze fixed on the stranger, fairly sure that anything the shifters might have taken to block Alpha power hadn’t factored on there being a vampire in the pack. Vampire compulsion was powerful and worked on any species, but like anything, the Fates had it balanced. Vadim had one shot at what he was trying to do. Without hesitation, the shifter crawled on his hands and knees across the uneven ground until he knelt three feet from Vadim’s feet. Josh whined and nudged his hand, but Vadim refused to be distracted.

“Who are you and where are you from?”

“Kyle Logan, beta wolf, Atlanta pack.”

“What are you doing on Cloverleah lands?” Vadim kept his questions short and to the point, knowing the other men would be listening carefully while he tried to conserve his energies.

“Alpha Clarkson’s orders.”

“What were those orders?

“Infiltrate Cloverleah land. See how close we could get to the pack house. Take out anyone we came across.”

Vadim thought quickly. That was the problem with compulsion – he could get anyone to do anything he wanted, and answer any question.  But a question had to be phrased the right way.

“Are there other attacks planned?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“How many Atlanta wolves are in the area?”

“Thirty five.” Vadim heard a gasp behind him, but he kept his focus on Kyle.

“What is Alpha Clarkson’s plan?”

“Wipe out the Cloverleah pack. Capture the Omega, two Fae and the Shifter Guardian. Kill the rest.” Kyle’s voice was robotic as if he was reciting a shopping list instead of a death list.

“Where are you all staying?”

Kyle opened his mouth to answer, but just then two of the captured men yelled as they tried to get away and Jax and Anton jumped on them.  But the distraction was enough for Vadim to lose eye contact with Kyle, breaking the compulsion.

“Fucking shit,” he yelled, as Kyle immediately tried to back away, but Josh was on him, his heavy body pinning the man to the ground, his lethal looking teeth poised around Kyle’s neck.

“That’s more impressive than Alpha power,” Kane said coming up to Vadim and clapping him on the shoulder. “Can you compel him again? It would really help if we knew where they were staying.”

“Not him, at least not for another hour. I’m going to need to feed before trying it with one of the others. Compulsion is a draining power,” Vadim snarled, watching his mate and Kyle carefully. If Kyle made one move on his mate, then Vadim would kill him and take his chances with Kane after.

Kane looked at Josh in wolf form and then at Vadim and gave a short laugh. “Probably don’t want fur in your teeth,” he said with a laugh.  Vadim shook his head, letting the side of his mouth rise up in a small grin. He wasn’t sure that Josh’s wolf would take kindly to being bitten, although knowing his mate like he did, Vadim also figured the wolf would just see it as another form of play. Not something they could indulge in with the amount of tension still in the clearing.

“Jax,” Kane yelled out, “if we get these idiots together, can you zap them to the cells. I don’t have my phone to warn Adair, so they will have to be zapped straight into them.”

The violet eyed wolf nodded, shifted complete with clothes, and helped drag the men into a group. Josh growled at Kyle, who didn’t seem to be inclined to get up, and Vadim snorted, impatiently. Kyle’s mind would be in limbo, trying to catch up with the compulsion broken the way it was. He wasn’t likely to be able to do anything for the next hour. Leaning down, Vadim grabbed Kyle by an arm and a leg, and threw him in the general direction of the others. Kyle had no coordination whatsoever, and crashed into three men, bringing them all to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

“Oops,” Vadim said, not feeling sorry at all as Jax scowled at him. At his side, Josh had his mouth open wide, his tongue lolling to one side and his eyes, which were still blue Vadim noted, bright and teasing. Vadim leaned down and whispered in his mate’s ear.

“I need you home and naked, babe. We’ve got some talking to do and I need to feed. Fancy a race? Winner gets to top.”

Josh woofed at him and danced sideways across the grass, his tail wagging as if ready to go.  Vadim looked across at Kane and flicked his head back in the direction of the pack house. Kane nodded and Vadim took off, at a sprint. Josh woofed again and followed, his sure paws falling silently on the ground beneath him. Vadim got the impression that his mate was hunting him, and he zig zagged, changing his course.

Vadim needed to check that Josh was unhurt, and that would take a very thorough examination of Josh’s human body. That would be fun. But Vadim also knew he needed to feed because compulsion always came with side effects. If he could do the whole lot with his cock encased in Josh’s ass that would be good time management. Nothing on the menu suggested they had to actually make it back to the pack house first. Vadim zig zagged again, and then jumped into a tree, leaping from branch to branch, making himself more difficult to track. He had no doubt that Josh would find him, but Vadim knew better than to make it easy for his cunning wolf. The playing was a form of foreplay after all.