84. Juniper
JUNIPER
All my worries about the Red Maw, Anders, and Eugenia fled as Levi pressed my chest onto the counter and dragged my leggings down.
The heightened emotions between us fed into the sexual need we both had.
The coming war, the stress of all that had happened, and our disagreements had formed a pool in us both, like a lake of gasoline that was igniting.
Cool air touched my ass, and a beat later, Levi’s strong hands spread me, then he buried his face in me, licking my clit and pussy.
“Levi,” I cried out.
Even as I lost myself in the sensation of his tongue on me, I couldn’t help but worry that this might be our last chance to reconnect and get on the same page before whatever came tomorrow.
With a low growl, I shoved my hips back, throwing Levi off balance. He fell to the floor.
“What the hell?” he said, looking up at me in confusion.
Smirking, I grabbed my shirt and dragged it up over my head, tossing it aside. His eyes widened as I removed my bra, his eyes drinking in my breasts and sliding down between my legs. The look of hunger in his eyes sent a pulse of heat radiating through my lower body.
“Get naked,” I commanded, and he obeyed, tearing and pulling at his clothes.
Once we were both naked, I climbed atop him, rubbing my clit against his hard cock.
Pleasure shuddered down my legs and up my back.
Levi palmed my breasts, then circled my nipples with his thumbs, sending electric tingles across my chest. He leaned forward, wrapping his lips around my nipple.
I sank down onto him, and we both moaned in unison as he stretched me.
This was not the time for gentle lovemaking, not when we might die the next day.
Now was the time to take what we wanted.
Pressing my hands into his chest, I rocked against him.
Baring my teeth in aggressive concentration, I moved fast and hard, taking him as deep as I could.
Following my lead, Levi wound a hand in my hair and tugged my head back hard, the dull pain in my scalp intensifying the pleasure.
“Fuck me,” Levi said, “Fuck me faster.”
I did as I was told, grinding and circling my hips. He bit my breasts, gentle, painless nips that sent an animal thrill through me. My wolf howled in desire at the feel of his teeth on me.
Letting go of my hair, Levi wrapped his arm around my back and sat forward, pulling me close and kissing me again, this time with more fervor and desire than before. It was a manic release of tension. We moaned and panted into each other’s mouths.
Levi grabbed the counter with his free hand and hauled us up.
I gasped as he stood and walked toward the nearest wall, pressing me against it, pinning me in place with his hands.
Looking into my eyes, he pulled his hips back, then thrust into me, making the wall shudder with the force of it.
I cried out, wrapping my legs around him, holding myself up by locking my arms around his neck.
I sucked and bit at his neck, clawed at his back and shoulders, and growled into his ear. I’d never felt so hedonistic, so animalistic, in my life. It was as if our wolves had taken possession of our human bodies.
Levi pulled me from the wall and tossed me down on the couch, walked to the couch and threw me down. Before I knew what was happening, he pinned my arms above my head and sank into me again.
“Levi!” I cried. “God, Levi, fuck me.”
With each thrust, my climax drew nearer, a steady building pressure. It was like I was floating, holding onto a balloon that rose higher and higher, and I was at its mercy. When it popped, I would come crashing down.
“Does my cock feel good?” he whispered, grunting with effort.
“Uh huh,” I groaned, lifting my hips to meet him.
“Look at me. Look at me, June.”
I did, but it took effort. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and ride out the oncoming orgasm. When I locked eyes with him, the same feral and ravening passion that I felt was reflected in his gaze.
“Be a good girl and come for me,” he said, tightening his grip on my wrists.
The command sent me over the edge, and my orgasm exploded through my body in pulsating waves that caused my body to jerk and spasm beneath him.
“Eyes on me,” Levi growled. “We aren’t done yet.”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t even cry out; all I could do was look into his eyes with my mouth open in a silent scream of ecstasy.
He fucked me even harder, filling me again and again, harder with each stroke.
Soon, I was in a haze of sexual bliss. I thought it would never end, that we would be stuck in a never-ending loop of pleasure and carnal exaltation.
And honestly, I wouldn’t have minded. It sounded like heaven.
At last, Levi’s body stiffened, his shoulders and chest flexing.
“I’m gonna come,” he hissed.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Fill me up, baby.”
Levi thrust into me one last time as he came. Finally, fully spent, he collapsed on top of me, both of us panting heavily.
After recovering, Levi helped me into the shower together.
We were quiet, as if unsure how to respond to the somewhat violent yet incredible sexual experience.
As I soaped his back and shoulders, I tried hard not to think about what was to come.
The bliss we’d had faded, replaced by the realization that a war was coming.
“Are you okay?” he finally asked as I turned so he could wash my back.
“I’m worried about tomorrow,” I said. Not the whole truth, but not a lie either. I was terrified of what might happen.
“It’s all gonna be okay,” he said, and wrapped his arms around me, cupping my breasts in his hands and letting the water cascade over us. “I promise.”
Laying my head back to rest on his shoulder, I tilted my lips to his ear. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I. I should have listened.”
We finished showering, and after drying off, we went straight to bed. The sun was barely down, but we both knew we’d be up before dawn and needed the rest. Levi kissed me as we slipped under the covers.
“I love you,” he said, and wrapped an arm around me before pulling me in close.
“I love you too,” I whispered. To my surprise, I slipped right into sleep.
My dreams were chaotic and filled with violence. I had visions of Naphele, rushing off into fights. Clawing and biting other wolves, charging at men twice her size and still besting them. The taste of blood, and the sound of death all around me.
When I woke early the next morning, it was as though I hadn’t slept at all.
I was exhausted and anxious from the dreams. If those actually had been visions of the past, then I wasn’t sure I was up to it.
As impressive as Naphele was, it made me hesitant.
I’d never fought as my wolf before. Could I do all that was needed to survive?
“Ready?” Levi said.
“Yeah. Let’s do this,” I said.
We tried to eat something, but neither of us had much of an appetite. While I stared at my toast, a knock came at the door. Levi opened the door and let Rainier in. I let out a small grunt of surprise at what stood behind him.
The four other alphas were there with a mass of people in tow.
The people they’d brought to fight with us.
The sight of all those people, ready and willing to help us, filled me with hope.
Maybe we could do this. I would do whatever was necessary to help in the fight.
As I stared out at all the people who didn’t have to be here, I realized I was ready to put it all on the line to save my home.
“The Idlewild folks are gathering on the outskirts, as out of sight as they can be,” Rainier explained. “I’ve got the people who aren’t fighting gathering at the school gymnasium, getting ready to go to Hidden Grove.” Rainier gave Levi a worried look. “Are we ready?”
This was it. The moment a war began. A fight that many would not survive. Chills crept up my arms and legs, and I did my best to stifle the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. This all felt surreal.
“We are,” Levi said, then glanced at me. “Head on over to the gym. Once we head into the forest to find the Red Maw, I want you to lead the others to Hidden Grove.”
“Wait…what? No, I’m going with you. I thought that was the plan. I’m fighting alongside you.”
Levi stared at me for several long seconds, then slowly shook his head. “June, no, you can’t. It’s too dangerous. I thought…” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I thought you’d have realized that. I can’t risk you being hurt.”
My heart sank. This was my home, and it was in danger.
I should be able to fight for it. I opened my mouth to argue, but a flash of my fight with Eugenia came roaring back.
I’d beaten her, yes, but had it been skill or luck?
If I’d had to fight her ten times, how many would I win?
Maybe twice, if I was lucky. This would be against far more dangerous men than her.
I was no coward. I would risk whatever I needed to in order to help the people I cared about. The problem was Levi. What happened if he was hurt or worse because he couldn’t focus on the battle because he was worried about me? I could never live with that guilt. It would ruin me.
Seeing my unease, Levi cleared his throat. “You aren’t trained to fight. It’ll be too dangerous.”
Rainier shuffled his feet uneasily by the door.
The dreams from the night before came flooding back.
Naphele leaping into a fight, using both her wolf form and human form to dole out damage.
She was what he needed now, and I was not her.
I was a liability where she was a strength.
The realization was like a knife to the gut, but I couldn’t argue that it was wrong.