Touching Cara, teaching her about her body and how good it could feel was nearly the undoing of Darian’s control. Somehow, he’d managed not to finish what he’d started, at least for himself. His cock was so rock hard, his desire to sink his shaft into the heat of her center was strong enough to make his body shake.
Never in his entire existence did he want anyone or anything as much as he wanted Cara. His love for Cara was the only possible entity powerful enough to stop him and his wolf from taking her. Her trust in him was more important.
So, Darian held her until her breathing slowed and her heartbeat returned to its steady pace. Her smile and the sated look in her eyes warmed his heart.
“You should go and meet with Jules, and Rafi,” Darian said.
Cara nodded and climbed from his lap.
Darian gripped the bench so hard it began to crack as he watched her bend to retrieve her clothing. He closed his eyes knowing he was still in danger of losing control.
Don’t ruin this. Let her walk away remembering only how good I made her feel.
“Darian?”
“Yes?” he asked.
“What’s wrong?”
He opened his eyes. Thankfully Cara was dressed. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“I apologize for not believing you.”
Darian shook his head. “I know you must have had your reasons. I’m pleased you allowed me to show you.”
Cara’s cheeks blushed a lovely shade of pink. “I am too,” She said cradling the snow globe he’d given her in her arms. She bent forward and kissed his cheek. She dashed away back through the bedroom and out into the courtyard.
Darian stalked through the house and to his bedroom. If he didn’t do something about the steel rod between his legs he was going to get mean, and his wolf was only going to become so obsessed with claiming Cara that he’d be fighting Darian for control every second of every day until he claimed Cara.
In his bedroom where it still carried Cara’s scent from sleeping in his bed he remembered the sweet taste of her, the feel of her slippery heat, and imagined how it would feel when he would thrust inside her. How she would gasp and look at him with the desire she’d shown him only moments ago.
Claim her. His wolf demanded. She’s ours.
He pumped his hand up and down his cock. Replaying the way she’d watched him kissing and sucking on her breasts. The surprise of every sensation that he stirred within her. Then he thought of the way she’d rolled her hips pressing her pussy against his mouth as she came.
At last the surge release found him. His hand holding still as he pumped his cock through his grip imagining he was inside of Cara and she was begging for him not to stop. He finished with a groan of relief.
He cleaned up and then took a shower. The edge of his need was at least taken down several notches but the relief he felt was short lived.
Claim her. His wolf demanded. Claim her before it’s too late.
****
“You have to block those,” Jules said as Cara pushed up off the stone floor of the courtyard. Her lungs were still struggling to fill with air after the powerful kick Jules delivered to her sternum. It’d knocked the wind right out of her.
Rafi stepped between Cara and Jules. “Ease up, Jules.” His gaze hard on the other woman.
“We can take a break if you think she needs it. I was only trying to help. Aldrich isn’t going to be gentle with her if Darian ever let’s her go near Aldrich town again.”
Cara sucked in a full breath at last and the dizziness began to pass.
“He isn’t going to let her,” Rafi said.
“Why are we training her then? I thought that was the whole point of what we’re doing here.”
Cara nodded still trying to find her voice. “Darian said I could stay. I could train.” She gasped for another breath. “He said I can help stop Aldrich.”
Jules laughed a mean sound. A taunting sound that reminded Cara of Aldrich. “He said you can help. That’s not the same as letting you come with us. If you pack Darian a lunch it’ll be helping. Don’t you see?”
Cara shook her head. “Darian doesn’t play games like that with me. He doesn’t think like you do.”
Rafi smiled at Cara and laughed at the angry expression that sharpened Jules features. “She can help but see the best in him. So soon after such an experience, anyway.”
Cara scowled at Rafi.
“Don’t be mad,” he said still smiling. “I wasn’t spying on you or anything.”
“Then how-”
Jules cut in. “We can smell it. We’re wolves. Remember?”
Cara lowered her eyes hating the way Rafi was looking at her and the way her face was burning. She felt humiliated and exposed. “What happened between Darian and me does not factor into what I’ve said. I know Darian will keep his word to me and I don’t appreciate either of you commenting on matters that are private.”
Rafi’s smile shrank to a straight line, his dark eyes avoiding Cara’s.
Good.
“I bet you are thirsty. I’ll get you something to drink,” Rafi said leaving Jules and Cara alone in the courtyard.
Jules exhaled as she rotated her pointed shoulders. “I’m sorry that I embarrassed you. I know exactly how you feel.”
“You do?”
“Yes. When Darian and I were messing around together I knew the whole pack could practically taste how wet Darian got me. His mouth feels so good. Doesn’t it?”
What a bitch.
Cara latched onto Darian’s assurances that Jules was jealous of Cara’s position as his destined mate and held on tight. She knew that if she was in Aldrich Town, her escort would not allow her to fight back or say anything to anyone who was unkind or trying to upset her.
But she wasn’t in Aldrich Town. Not anymore.
Remind her where she stands. She stands beneath us.
Cara felt stronger, brave with her wolf spirit stand with her. She looked Jules dead in the eye taking four steps to cross through the distance that stood between them.
Jules cocked her head to the side staring back at Cara. “I just kicked your ass. Do you really want to try and face me down?”
“Absolutely.”
Jules’ lips pinched together as her green eyes widened. “I can’t help it that Darian and I have a past together.”
“You are lying.”
“You’re angry because you know that I’m not lying. You’re not special to him. You’re his job.”
Silence her lies.
Her arms pushed out before she could think and sent Jules sliding across the stone floor. Cara looked down at her hands in surprise.
How did I do that?
“Great progress, Cara,” Rafi cheered as he returned to the courtyard. He handed Cara the water. “You missed it,” he called out as Darian entered the courtyard from the opposite side. “She’s coming along well. We can go after him in a matter of days.”
“Go after him?” Darian asked drawing closer to Cara and Rafi.
Cara nodded. “Yes, like you promised. You said I can stay and help stop Aldrich.”
“You can,” Darian said his words coming out chopped and tight. “Not in a few days. You can help after you shift.”
“Right,” Jules said as she picked herself up. “She can lead the pack with you. With two alphas Aldrich won’t be able to escape us.”
Cara caught the way his mouth tightened as he listened to what Jules said. “Cara will still need to learn how to work with her spirit wolf.”
“Are you saying I won’t get to fight him?” Cara asked. There was too much he wasn’t saying. It was like he was avoiding answering the question.
“Cara… I promised you I would never let him hurt you. I can’t allow you to be anywhere near him.”
You lied to me.
The burn of betrayal fueled her temper. “You said I could help stop him.”
“And you will.” He reached for her but Cara slapped his hands away.
“How?”
“You’re going to tell us his schedule, his movements in the town. You can tell us if there are any weak points in the wall, or if there are any allies on the inside we can contact to help us.”
The burn lessened as he spoke. It was more than Jules described but still less than what Cara wanted. “I can do more than that.”
“As much as you like,” Darian agreed this time taking hold of her and dragging her close to him. “As long as you are nowhere near, Aldrich.”
Cara glared at him. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Darian.”
“Don’t make me break my promise and forbid you, Cara. I know he’s hurt you. I know you want justice but I also know that the man himself is poison. He isn’t done trying to hurt you and I’ll be damned if I give him the chance.”