Chapter Fifteen
Len clawed at the sheet, moaning loudly as Fray fucked her from behind. It was the best feeling in the world as he pleasured her. She’d lost track of how many times they’d had sex during the night. He’d woken her countless times before and after the sun had risen. They’d tried half a dozen different positions, but doggy was her current favorite.
Fray had her gripped by the hip with one hand to keep her firmly in place, but his other one was curled around her, his finger pressing against her clit. With every thrust of his hips, he rubbed against it. No other man had done that before, and Fray got her off every time. He leaned in, his mouth locking on the tender spot where he kept biting her, and she felt his fangs sink into her skin. The climax hit, and she felt him coming, too. It seemed like finding her release triggered his.
His phone buzzed from somewhere on the floor. They ignored the sound. It had gone off a few times recently. Fray removed his fangs, licking at her bite. It was just two small holes he left, making her joke about him being a Vampire. He’d assured her that he was nothing like a bloodsucker. Fray was taking her blood to trigger some weird Gargoyle thing his body did while mating. He’d said it would strengthen their bond.
Len collapsed onto her stomach, rolled onto her side, and smiled at Fray as he stretched out next to her. “You probably should answer your phone soon.”
He smiled at her. “It’s probably Chaz. He can wait.”
“It could be your dad.”
“Or Kevin.”
She grimaced. “Ughhh. He is normally only slightly annoying, but he’s been over the top since Moe and my mom went on vacation.”
“It’s his job to watch out for you. At least it was. Now you’re mine to protect and keep happy. Blood time for you.”
She pouted.
“I know.” He rolled out of bed, leaving the bedroom. “We don’t want the calling to hit you.”
“Tell me again what that is,” she called out.
Fray returned less than a minute later with one of her shot glasses from the open shelf in the kitchen. Someone had given her a set of four of them as a gift. They each had cartoon characters printed on them. He sat on the edge of the bed, transformed his fingernails into claws, and used one to slice into the meaty part of his other arm.
Len watched as he used the shot glass to catch his blood. “You talk. I’ll drink. Distract me. No offense, but blood isn’t my favorite.”
He held out the shot to her and used a tissue to press against the wound he’d made on his arm. “The calling is nature’s way of making sure Gargoyles fully bond to their mates. You not drinking my blood this much at first will send you into heat. And yes, we’re talking scenting like you need to be fucked. Every unmated male in Moe’s pack would attempt to mount you.”
That motivated her to drink his blood. She really didn’t want anyone hitting on her. Len took a few deep breaths, accepted the shot glass, and then downed the contents in two swallows. She made a face as she handed it back to him.
He leaned in and brushed a kiss on her lips. “Thank you.” Fray reached over to get the glass of water they’d placed there earlier to share and passed it over. “Chase it down with this.”
She took some gulps and washed away the taste of blood in her mouth. “Better. I do need to be fucked, but only by you.”
Fray put the water back on the nightstand, reaching for her. “That’s what I want to hear. You ask, and I’m happy to oblige.”
His cell phone started buzzing again.
Len dodged his hand as Fray reached for her, getting off the bed on the other side. She moved until she stood where he’d stripped the night before, staring down at his cell phone that had slid from his discarded jeans.
“Who is Big Pain? That’s who is calling you.”
“My twin.”
“It might be important. Chaz did help us sneak away last night. Maybe he found out when Moe and Mom are getting home today.”
“Shit. I forgot about them returning. My mind has been on you.” Fray got off the bed, walked to the end of it, and bent. He snagged his cell phone and answered it. “What?”
“Moe and Lisa are due to arrive at any moment,” Chaz whispered. “Kevin is fucking pissed because his mate informed him that the two of you are together. They got into a huge argument we all heard. Gina demanded that he and the pack leave you both alone since you’re adults. It’s also a given that you’re safe so deep in pack territory at Lenore’s cabin. Needless to say, you both need to get back here.”
Fray closed his eyes, hating everything he was hearing.
“What is it?”
He looked at Len. “Your parents should be arriving at any time.”
“Shit,” she muttered. “I am going to jump in the shower. They’ll come here for sure if we’re not at their house. Mom is going to demand to see me.” Len fled out of the bedroom.
“She’s not wrong,” Chaz muttered, obviously overhearing what Len had said.
It reminded Fray that he was still on the call. “School your features if anyone is around and walk to where no one can overhear me.”
“Shit,” Chaz whispered. “You can’t leave her place, or you’d possibly be causing a worse situation to go down with the calling.”
“Exactly. I’m not risking having to kill any of Moe’s pack just because they try to fuck my mate if she’s scenting of being in heat when it can be avoided. I’m not sure how much of my blood Len will need to keep drinking to prevent that.”
“How many times have you done that so far?”
“Five.”
“That might be enough.” His twin paused. “How do you feel?”
“I’ve never felt so at peace. Len is mine. There is no doubt about it.”
“I’m happy for you.”
Fray knew his twin meant those words from his heart. “Thank you.”
“I’m going to quietly inform Dad of your news. Is that okay? He and Delbius were planning on leaving later today with the human female. They might want to go before Moe arrives. Dad won’t want to see him upset.”
“Lord Aveoth and Kelzeb were able to make travel arrangements that fast for the human? I thought it would take more time to arrange for her to have a false identity made to get her through airport security.”
“They hired a private flight company, and one of the VampLycans is accompanying them back to Alaska in case they need to mess with some minds to make the humans more compliant. Our lord wants the female to be safely at the cliffs as quickly as possible. Her pregnancy is new enough that this is the best time for her to travel, and no one has filed a missing person report for her yet. Kevin has the Lycan cops watching for that. We want her far away from here before that happens and they start searching for her. Delbius has formed trust with the female already, and she has agreed to go with them.”
Fray felt relief that everything seemed to be working out well. He knew Len felt invested in the future of that female. It would make his mate happy to also know she could check on the female once they reached the cliffs.
“How did Lord Aveoth take it when he learned who would be hosting the human?”
“He was relieved, from what Dad said,” Chaz shared.
“I bet. He doesn’t have to ask for a volunteer from the clan, and our swordmaster is the best male I can think of to entrust the care of a human and youngling to.”
Chaz cleared his throat. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
“I’ll come over there to take a sniff to see if it’s safe.”
Fray didn’t like that one bit. His bond with Len was too new. Instinct demanded he keep other males away from her. Even if it was his own twin.
“I can guess what you’re thinking. Stop. You can trust me. I’d rather be at your side anyway when Moe returns and he finds out…you know.”
“That I mated Len.”
“Exactly that.”
“He’ll have to accept it.” Fray loved his uncle, but he could be a stubborn male who was ruled by emotions. All full-blooded Lycans were that way. It was a real possibility that they’d physically fight. He wouldn’t kill Moe, but he also wouldn’t give up his mate.
“Sure, but it doesn’t mean his first reaction is going to be reasonable. I’m walking over to do the sniff test. I heard Lenore say she was showering. You should do that, too. I’ll be there in about five minutes.” Chaz ended the call.
Fray put the cell phone on the end of the bed and walked to the bathroom. Len was washing her hair as he entered. The sight of her wet and naked made his dick hard, but he knew he’d have to resist his urge to bond with her again. Chaz was right. They needed to find out if he’d given her enough blood to prevent her from smelling like she was in heat. He couldn’t tell since he’d spent all night making love to her.
“Are you just going to stand there watching me or get in here too?”
He grinned. “You’re too damn tempting.”
She dipped her head under the water to rinse her hair. “So are you.”
“Chaz is on his way to see if it’s safe for you to be around Lycan males. I don’t think he’d appreciate having to wait outside for half an hour before I let you out of my arms. I’d also hate to have Moe and your mother show up to find you pinned against that tile wall being fucked by me.”
She chuckled. “So, I take it that a quickie is out, huh?”
“For now.” Fray couldn’t look at his mate enough. “Finish up. Then I’ll get in. I don’t trust myself to get any closer to you.”
He handed her a towel a few minutes later as she stepped out of the shower. Her gaze lowered to his stiff dick. He growled at her when she licked her lips. “Don’t tease me. I’m trying my hardest to resist you.”
She wrapped the towel around her body and tore her gaze off his dick. “Right. It would be awkward if we got caught fucking by my mom. She’d probably have Moe kick in the door to check on me if we ignored them knocking.”
He brushed past her and stepped under the still-running hot water. “It is best to avoid a fight.”
“Who said anything about a fight?”
“Moe is probably going to attack me. Whatever he does, stay back.”
Fray quickly showered, grinning a bit over Len’s food-scented shampoo and conditioner. He didn’t even mind smelling a bit feminine with her products. He scrubbed his body with her fragrant body wash before shutting off the water. Len had left the bathroom.
He quickly dried and located his mate inside her bedroom. She’d put on a bra and matching panties and seemed to be deciding on which outfit to wear as she stood in front of the open closet.
He retrieved his clothing off her floor, dressing fast. “Wear jeans and a T-shirt,” he suggested. “Something comfortable. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long day once Moe and Lisa return. They are going to want to keep you close.”
She closed the closet door and moved to the dresser, opening drawers to remove faded jeans and a tank top. “Do you really think Moe will want to fight you?”
“Lycans tend to do that. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt him. I’ll just shell my body and let him hit me until he grows tired.”
Len spun, gaping at him. She looked adorable with her overly wide eyes and her mouth hanging open. He chuckled, sitting on the bed to put on his boots.
“That’s not funny.” She resumed dressing.
He heard someone knocking. Fray rose. “Chaz is here. Meet me at the back door once you are ready. We’ll walk back to the pack house since it’s daylight, and while the lake is big, I know humans live on the other side. We can’t risk flying.”
She nodded. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
He left her in the bedroom after pocketing his cell phone and unlocked the back door once he reached the kitchen. Chaz stood there wearing black cargo pants and a matching tank top, and he had his sunglasses on. It reminded Fray to put his own on. They might run into some humans while outside.
Chaz didn’t enter the house, waiting right outside the door. His twin inhaled deeply, smiling. “You’re carrying a blended scent now.”
Fray stepped outside, gazing at the backyard that ended at the edge of the lake. Some boats were out on the water but distanced. “Good. Don’t try to hug Len to welcome her into our family. Hell, my instincts are making me want to punch you just for being at her home.”
Chaz backed up. “You’ve always been the more emotional one between us. Leash yourself now. You’re going to need to be in total control around Moe’s pack today. Some aren’t going to be happy when they realize you’ve mated Lenore. Expect some challenges. Just resist accepting. We promised never to do any harm to this pack.”
“I know.”
Chaz took a deep breath, blowing it out. “Moe might see this as doing harm.”
“Len’s my mate. He’ll have to accept that.”
“You keep saying that, but we’re dealing with Lycans. This is the one time I wish we were dealing with Gargoyles. They’d give you the cold shoulder if you did something they didn’t approve of instead of attacking in a rage.”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I did Len. I’ll shell if Moe attacks me.”
“Good plan. I was going to suggest that,” Chaz admitted. “None of his pack can view that as him being weak since none of them could do you any damage that way either.”
That had Fray tense. “Is any of the pack threatening to challenge Moe for leadership?”
“There were some grumblings from a few about how he had gone on a human vacation to placate his mate when danger struck. Kevin assured me that the ones voicing their displeasure are considered outliners in the pack.”
“What does that mean?”
“They aren’t a threat and tend to grumble about everything. He said to not worry, but…”
Fray understood. Moe was their family. They’d do anything for him, and any threat was concerning. “Speaking of, we still have to deal with that Folsom pack threatening a territory war.”
“I’ll handle that situation myself. You have a mate now.”
It insulted Fray. “I can handle a pack of Lycans with you.”
“I can handle them on my own. You are bonding with your new mate. I hate to break this to you, but I wouldn’t leave her alone right now, considering we both know there will be some pushback. She’s safer at your side. We’ll handle today, and tomorrow, I’ll say I have to go on an assignment for the clan.”
Fray didn’t like the thought of his twin taking on a Lycan pack alone.
Chaz seemed to read his thoughts. “You’re close enough that I can call if I need extra help, but honestly, I won’t. I’ll go in, deal with the alpha, and make that entire pack know the consequences if they even think about starting a war with Moe’s people. It will be easy.”
“Fine, but you call if you need an assist.”
“Word given.”
Len came out of the cabin. She smiled, her gaze going to Chaz. “Hi.”
Hot jealousy poured through Fray’s veins. He instantly locked down his emotions. It was something his mother and father had taught him since he’d been a small youngling. Gargoyles weren’t emotional, and he’d needed to fit in at the cliffs.
He could feel Chaz watching him, and he gave his brother a cool nod, silently telling him that he had himself under control. His brother understood since his tense stance relaxed before he spoke to his mate.
“Hello, Lenore. Welcome to our family. Congratulations on your mating. I would hug you, but Fray might slip his leash. Newly mated males don’t like any other males touching their females. Please keep that in mind when we return to the pack house. It’s important. Fray would want to kill them for daring such a thing.”
Len’s expression turned serious. “I understand. Thank you for the heads up.” She turned to Fray. “No touching other men. Got it.”
“I trust you. It’s just that…” He sighed. “Instincts.”
“Is it safe for me to hug and touch my mom?”
“Yes. I won’t see other females as a threat to our mating,” he admitted.
“We need to go,” Chaz stated.
Len turned, closed the cabin door, and locked it. He and his brother watched as she walked over to the garden statue and replaced the key from where she’d gotten in the night before.
Fray felt Chaz’s stare and sighed. “At least she didn’t put it under the ugly garden gnome.”
“It’s cute,” Len argued, brushing the dirt off her hands as she returned to his side. “I’m ready.”
They started to walk to the side of the house and through the heavily wooded area. There was a clear path, worn down by years of use. Fray took her hand, needing physical contact between them. Mates usually spent days or weeks alone during the bonding period. They didn’t have that luxury. He promised they’d make up for it once they reached the cliffs.
Fray couldn’t wait to take Len home with him. He just hoped she liked it at the cliffs. She’d make friends with Aveoth’s mate and his mother .