Cerys Chapter 10
After the showdown with Irene, I’d gently chided Brax for getting involved when we left. I told him that I didn’t need him to speak for or defend me. He was driving when I brought it up.
“Baby, I know you can defend and speak for yourself. I would’ve said it regardless of whether it was you or not—the fact it was only made me want to say it more. I hate people like her who use people, treat them like crap, and then take credit. Don’t tell me she wouldn’t have taken all the praise for a job well done, as if she did it all herself and had been there the entire time. I know her. Irene Clark and I have butted heads before.”
“You have? Why?”
“She was berating a nurse one day when I was in the ER. It happened before you moved here. When I heard her, I told her off and warned her never to let me hear her act that way again.”
I let it go, especially when we returned to his house and saw Twyla waiting. I discovered he’d texted her from the hospital to see if she’d bring us dinner. She’d been prepared for us to be starved and had been cooking all afternoon. About twenty minutes after we arrived, the guys showed up. It gave us enough time to shower. She’d texted them to get their asses to the house and eat. She knew they’d all been helping. Twyla made enough for not only everyone but there were leftovers as well. I laughed when Royal kneeled and asked her to marry him.
“Boy, if I thought you could handle me and survive me sexing you up, I’d say yes.” She winked.
This remark led to a spirited debate about how he could handle anything she dished out and teach her things she’d never known existed. The two of them had us rolling with laughter as they bantered back and forth. After we were all done eating and de-stressing a bit, she cleaned up and headed home. The others left when she did. Royal insisted on following Twyla to be sure she made it home safely. She teased him not to sneak into her window, thinking he’d get something. He told Twyla she’d have to wait and see.
I’d been working extra hours for the past couple of weeks since that terrible wreck on I-40. There had been more than one death in the pileup. The investigation showed that a tractor-trailer driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. He caused the chain-reaction accidents. He survived, but others weren’t as fortunate.
Irene had avoided me, but I was still on the receiving end of her glares. I heard through the ER grapevine that Dr. Gardener had chewed her out, issued a written warning, and told her she’d better learn to appreciate her people and how to treat them or else. This information was thanks to Dr. Gardener’s assistant, Rumi, who detested Irene and didn’t care who knew it.
After working so much, Brax and I were headed out of town for the weekend. He said we deserved it. All I knew was he told me to pack for warm weather and to bring a couple of dressy outfits, which didn’t tell me much. We left after lunch. He said we’d be back late on Sunday, giving us over forty-eight hours of relaxation. He insisted we take his truck.
I was dressed in cool clothes for comfort—a cute romper. I liked one-piece shorts and shirt combos. This romper was a bright abstract of hot pink, turquoise, and blue swirls. The elastic neckline allowed me to pull it down and expose my shoulders. I’d painted my toenails hot pink to match. I kept my fingernails short due to my job, but they had a clear coat and dainty flowers in the same colors. I had a large white summer hat with a brim to keep the sun off my head, and sunblock slathered on to protect my skin. A pair of sparkly silver sandals with a wedge heel and jewelry completed my look.
Brax whistled when I walked out of the bedroom. He’d kissed me and teased that we’d just stay home. I told him he had promised me a weekend away and had to keep his word. He pretended to grumble, but I knew he was as excited about our time away as I was.
We chatted about so many things during the drive. I tried to get him to tell me where we were going, but he refused. I’d been to other areas of California over the years, but not a ton. As we switched from I-40 to I-15, I grew antsy. I wondered how much longer we’d be on the road. It was already over three hours. I got my answer less than an hour later when he exited the freeway. The sign stated we were in Temecula.
I’d been here once when I was a kid with my parents. They’d come to a wedding of a key client of my dad’s. Dad worked as an investment banker, and Mom was an actuary. To me, they were both dry, boring jobs. But to them, since their jobs made them six figures annually, they were great careers. They attend the wedding to be seen. I’d been bored to death that weekend. I tried to get them to leave me with a friend, but they wanted to project the false image that we were a perfect and happy little family.
“Okay, we’re here, I assume. Mind telling me why we’re staying here?”
I asked.“Have you ever been to Temecula?”
“Once as a kid for a wedding.”
“But you’ve never gotten to explore or stay at any of the wineries?”
“No.”
“If that’s the case, then this will be all new to you and hopefully fun. When I lived in San Bernardino, I came here at least once a month. Sometimes, it was to gamble, and other times, to explore, have fun, and relax. I’ve got our whole weekend planned. All I want is for you to relax and enjoy. Tell me if you don’t want to do something or if you find there’s something you’d like to do. I made plans, but they can be changed. First, I thought we’d get checked into our lodging, and then I’ll fill you in.”
“Sounds good to me. Lead the way,” I said happily.
He drove through town and then through the eastern part, which was more country-like. I realized we were at a winery when we pulled onto the property. Numerous ones were dotted along the way.
“This is my favorite winery out here. It’s one of the oldest, too. They began building wineries here back in the sixties. Others are more modern and flashier, but I like this one because it’s old school. They focus on making their wines using classic methods and estate-grown grapes. That said, they have a resort, a spa, and a restaurant here. They’re more laid back, I guess you’d call it,” Brax explained as we stopped outside a big building.
“It sounds wonderful. Show me everything! I’ve never been to one, so I’m open,” I told him enthusiastically.
He smiled. “Let’s check in, and then we’ll go to our villa.”
“Villa?” I squeaked.
“Yes, villa. They have suites in the hotel tower, but I thought we’d enjoy a private villa. They have eighty of them if I remember correctly. I’ll take you around to see the grounds. Including the vineyard, there’s a ton to see on almost forty acres.”
I let him open my door and help me out. He held my hand as he led me inside. In no time, we were checked in and given the map showing where everything was and which villa was ours. Then, back in the truck, we drove there. I knew my mouth was hanging open as he opened the door and carried our bags inside. It was luxurious and had everything I could want. The villa was a living room slash bedroom combo with a small dining table and electric fireplace. The bathroom had a deep soaking tub big enough for two, dual sinks, and a large walk-in shower. The patio had a cozy table for two overlooking the grapevines.
“Brax, this is incredible. I love it, but it must’ve cost a fortune. You didn’t need to do this.”
“ Astéri mou , you deserve this and more. As for cost, don’t stress about it. Remember, I’ve been around a long time. Over the years, I’ve invested wisely and across numerous markets. I haven’t always been an officer. I can afford this and more. Besides, I want to spoil my woman. Let’s get unpacked, and then we’ll take a ride before dinner. Tonight, we’ll be staying here at the winery. Tomorrow, we’ll explore other parts of Temecula.”
Nodding my head, I let him set the luggage on the sofa. With both of us unpacking, it didn’t take us long to finish. He offered to let me rest if I was tired, but I was too keyed up to feel fatigued. When we went outside, I figured we’d take the truck to ride around and see the place. Wrong. Instead, he had another surprise for me.
We were getting a tour in style. A horse-drawn carriage was waiting for us. I gasped. Before we got in the carriage, I had to approach the horse. It was a gorgeous all-white one.
“May I pet him?” I asked the driver.
“Yes, just face him so he sees you coming.”
“What’s his name?” I asked as I slowly approached the stately animal.
“His name is Frost.”
“That’s a great name. Oh, look at you. Aren’t you beautiful,” I murmured as I petted him. I’d been around horses as a kid, so I knew how to approach them and to ride, although it had been a long time since my last ride. The horse seemed a bit restless. I wondered if it was because he could sense what Brax was. Eventually, he settled.
“What breed is he?” Brax asked the driver.
“He’s an American White. They were developed by breeding a white stallion with Morgan mares long ago. They tend to be kind and easy to train.”
I reluctantly tore myself away and allowed Brax to help me into the carriage. It was a private one. I discovered another surprise. Chilling in an ice bucket was a bottle of wine, and two delicate wine glasses were next to it. Brax opened the bottle with the corkscrew provided and poured it before our driver started the tour. For the next hour, we looked at the winery and all its wonders as we enjoyed our wine. I hated to see it end, but we couldn’t spend all night riding around.
Temecula was on the edge of the desert, so it was hot, but nothing we weren’t used to. By the time we said goodbye to Frost and our driver, who Brax tipped handsomely, I was tipsy and relaxed. We went back to our villa.
There, we cleaned up and changed into clothes for dinner. I refreshed my makeup, adding a darker lipstick and curling the ends of my hair. I then put on one of the dresses I brought with me. It was a sleeveless number in a cranberry color with delicate dark chocolate lace edging the V-neck and arm holes. The fabric was see-through except in the area from my tits to just below my upper thighs.
When Brax saw me, he groaned. “Cerys, you’re killing me. How do you expect me to eat and keep my hands to myself in public when you look this utterly delicious, astéri mou ? Shoot me.”
I giggled and then sobered up. I exaggerated the sway of my hips as I walked over to him. I ran my hand up the fabric of his shirt as I stared into his eyes. “And how do you expect me to keep my hands off you and eat around others when you look this handsome and sexy, Brax? Feel this,” I said as I reached down, took his hands, and lifted them to my chest. He gently kneaded my tits and growled when he felt my hard nipples stabbing his palms. The devil smirked as he plucked them with his fingers.
“Christ, you’d tempt a saint, Cerys. You have one minute to get this lush ass out the door before I say fuck dinner, strip you bare, and feast on you instead,” he threatened.
I cupped the bulge growing in his dress pants and squeezed him. “Baby, if you take me to dinner, I promise you can do anything you want when we return. I’ll make it worth it,” I taunted.
He shuddered, plastered a hot kiss on my lips, and broke away. He grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room. I admired him as we went. He wore a pale blue dress shirt, dark gray slacks, and black dress shoes. Due to the heat, he had no jacket or tie, but it didn’t detract from his look. Seeing the tattoos on his arms due to the short sleeves made me drool more.
We didn’t go far, just to the restaurant. As we entered, I took in the ambiance. Like the villa and property, it was soothing. Brax gave his name to the hostess, who smiled and showed us to our table. The place was busy. There was everything from couples like us to groups of well over a dozen people. The chatter was muted enough not to ruin the cozy feel of the place.
He pulled out my chair, then pushed it closer to the table before taking his and relieving our hostess of the menus. I was soaking in the decor.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s lovely, just like everything here has been, Brax. God, I feel so peaceful. Thank you for bringing me here.”
I reached across the table and took his hand. He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “Baby, you’re more than welcome. I thought we needed this. Plus, I’ve got to show my woman how much she means to me and pamper her.”
“Well, your woman more than appreciates it, and when we get back to the villa, she’ll show you,” I told him as I winked and blew him a kiss.
A rumbling sound came bubbling out of him. “Behave. Let’s see what they have and order dinner. I’m not sure how long I can control myself,” he said gutturally. A shiver of desire went through me.
So many yummy things were on the menu, but after settling for one and placing our orders, we got another bottle of wine. Conversation flowed between us. I’d never been this at ease with a man, not even Heron. That told me Brax was the man for me, along with the desire he made me feel and more.
We were sharing a dessert of a s’mores brownie. I loved chocolate and hadn’t been able to resist. It was something else we had in common. Brax couldn’t resist chocolate, either. This dish was a caramel and pecan brownie with a graham whipped mallow br?lée , chile ash salt, and Goji berries. The combination of the chocolate with the sweetness of the br?lée , the spiciness of the salt, and the freshness of the berries made it melt in your mouth. I moaned when I tasted the first bite, which Brax fed me.
I smirked when I saw him reach under the table. I knew what he was doing—adjusting himself. I picked up the other spoon and fed him a bite. His moan made my panties damp. When he swirled his tongue around the spoon, I whimpered. Wanting to drive him crazy like he was me, I mirrored his move on the next bite.
By the time we were done eating, it was all we could do to wait for the check. Brax shoved several large bills into the folder and abruptly pushed back his chair. He walked around the table and tugged my chair away so I could stand. As we walked out, his hand came down to grip my ass cheek. He didn’t care who saw it. Smiling up at him, I did the same to his ass. “I need you,” I told him.
“That’s good because I need you, too. I’m desperate. Let’s get back to the villa,” he muttered as he assisted me into the truck. It took only a few minutes for us to return. Brax ushered me inside, then slammed and locked the door.
I was turning to face him when he grabbed me, forced me backward until my back was against the wall, and captured my mouth. Brax kissed me as if he was starved, his hands caressing and kneading my body. My tits and ass got a lot of that attention. I whimpered. I’d been on fire since well before dessert. Honestly, I’d been aching even before we went to dinner. The carriage ride, the wine, and how he paid attention to me made me want him desperately.
The dress I wore had a built-in bra, and I wore a thong to prevent unsightly panty lines. My nipples pushed against the gauzy fabric of the dress, and my thong was wet. Brax plucked at my distended nubs and twisted them lightly, making me moan. Unable to wait, I unbuttoned his shirt so I could run my hands over the hair on his chest, those fantastic tattoos of his, and tease his nipples. He groaned as I shoved his shirt off his shoulders to drop to the floor.
I whimpered when he ran his hand up under the hem of my dress and found my core. He pushed the thong aside and rubbed his finger up and down my slit. When he bumped against my clit, I keened.
“Goddamn, you’re soaked and on fire, Cerys.”
“I am. Hurry. Get these off,” I whined as I undid his pants.
It was slightly comical that we kept getting in each other’s way as we frantically removed our clothes. Anyone who saw us would’ve laughed, but we were too far gone to care. I felt like I might die if I didn’t have him inside of me within the next few seconds. The way he was practically tearing off my clothes and fondling me, I guessed he felt the same way.
When we were both naked, I wrapped my arms around his neck and hopped. He understood what I wanted. His hands boosted me in the air by my ass so I could wrap my legs around his waist. We both groaned when my pussy rubbed across his erect cock.
“Take me. Now,” I pleaded.
He pressed my back into the wall more. Then a hand left my ass cheek. He hastily got the head of his cock lined up with my entrance, and then he thrust hard. I cried out as he stretched my inner muscles, burying himself snuggly inside of me in one thrust.
Placing his hand back on my ass, Brax used them to knead my cheeks and bounce me up and down on his cock. I helped by using my arms and thighs to lift myself and then drop down on him. Our breaths were loud pants. Those, along with the slap of our naked skin, the scent of our arousal, and our muttered exclamations of pleasure, filled the villa.
Brax fucked me hard. It didn’t take me long to come, and when I did, I wailed. I clenched around him over and over, but to my astonishment, he didn’t come. As I eased down enough to speak, I finally asked why.
“W-why didn’t you come?”
“Because I want something else when I do,” he grunted. He was still thrusting but not as aggressively.
“What? Anything,” I promised.
I was mindless and knew he would soon have me orgasming again. Brax wasn’t a selfish lover by any means. He ensured I was always more than satisfied and did it more than once before he’d allow himself to come.
“Let’s go to the bed. I need to explain,” he said.
Brax didn’t bother to let me down. Instead, he carried me to the bed with us still connected. When he laid me on it, he came down with me so we didn’t lose our connection. He hovered above me, staring into my eyes, and he gently and slowly stroked in and out. He was keeping me stimulated but not moving toward a release.
“God, honey, tell me. You’re driving me wild,” I told him.
He grinned wickedly. “I know I am. I know how it makes you come when I ultimately get you there. There’s something I planned to talk to you about this weekend, but not in the middle of sex. However, I can’t wait.”
“Okay, tell me what it is. You sound hesitant. Do you think I’ll say no?” I couldn’t imagine what he’d ask for that he feared I’d deny him. My only absolute no was bringing someone else into our bed. Surely, he didn’t mean that!
“I’m not sure,” he admitted.
“Does it involve others in our bed?” I asked fearfully.
He blinked in shock, then growled as he frowned and shook his head emphatically. “Fuck, no, it does not! I don’t want anyone but you, Cerys. I have no intention of ever sharing you with another man. Why would you ask that?”
“Because it was the only thing I thought of that I’d say no to. Don’t make me wait. Tell me,” I pleaded.
“When one of my kind, when we find the one we want to be with forever—the one we take as our mate—there’s a ritual that makes our mating complete. It connects us spiritually and even psychically if the person is like me. We could feel each other’s emotions. Some shifters claim they can read their mates’ minds. I know it won’t do that in our case, but it will do the other part of the process. You know I age differently than a human. For a wolf, barring horrific accidents, we can live to be a thousand years old.” He paused both his words and movements.
I gasped at this revelation. Immediately on the heels of shock came sorrow. I’d die long before he ever would. Our time together would be a mere blink to him. My chest tightened. Tears pricked my eyes.
“Hey, don’t cry, astéri mou . This mating ritual will allow you to live as long as I do. You won’t be as resistant to injury as I am, so we’d have to be careful. But it boosts your immune system and protects you from most human illnesses. I want that with you, Cerys. I want all the years I can get of us together. Are you willing to allow it?”
“Of course, I’ll allow it. Why would you think I wouldn’t? I love you and want every second I can get with you, Brax.”
“Then we need to do something to make it so.”
“Whatever it is, the answer is yes.” I didn’t get why he was hesitating.
“Baby, it requires me to bite you. I’ll bite you hard enough to break your skin and leave a permanent scar. My saliva will form the bond and grant you those abilities. It’ll also be visual proof to other shifters and supernaturals that you belong to me. And even if they can’t see it, they can smell it.”
The thought of being bitten hard enough to bleed didn’t thrill me, but it wasn’t enough to deter me, either. “Then do it. Where will you put it? Will I bleed long? What about infection?” The nurse in me reared her head.
“There will be no infection. As for bleeding, barely any. As for where it’ll be, I want it to be seen. It’ll be at the curve of your neck and shoulder.” He ran his finger along the spot, making me shiver.
“What’re you waiting for? Do it,” I urged.
His eyes began to glow, and I swore I saw Nightstalker looking out at me. I wished it would allow us to be psychically connected. That would be so cool. One more thing I’d regret not having with him, along with babies, but with everything else I was gaining, it wasn’t enough to make me say no. I turned my head and presented my neck to him. The growl he let loose sounded like Nightstalker. I waited.