Fire in the Smokies (Durham Wolves) (20 page)

After a long kiss that melted her heart, he muttered into her ear, “I hate to rush you, but we need to leave soon.”

“Where are we going?” She glanced out the window. “What time is it?”

“Seven. We need to head back to the farm. My brothers have information and we need to meet with them ASAP.”

“What kind of information?” She twisted her wrists to get the blood flowing back to her fingers.

“The vampire kind.”

“Do you really think he’s not dead?”

“Not sure. But judging by the urgent request they communicated right before I woke you up, I’d say my family knows.”

“Okay, then. I guess we need to go.” Brianna lifted her sore body off the bed and stood staring down at him. “I’m gonna take a quick shower.”

Jaxon nodded. “Will you wear the plug today?”

Brianna raised an eyebrow. “In my ass, all day?”

“Uh huh. I want to spend the day knowing I put that plug in you and watching you squirm against it.” His grin was almost a smirk.

“I thought the bondage and dominance thing stayed in the bedroom.”

“It will, mostly. My idea of dominance extends only to sex. I love that you are an independent woman, strong and smart. I would never trample over your professional life.” When she raised the second eyebrow to meet the first, he continued, “Well, except where your safety is concerned. Listen…” he stood next to her and gripped her shoulders with both hands, “…if I thought you didn’t like it that would be another story. But you love when I command your body sexually. You can’t deny it. So humor me. Let me make you feel good. Put the plug back in after you shower.”

Brianna blew out a breath and turned to leave the room. She’d consider his words.
Consider
. She wasn’t ready to consent defeat yet. Damn him for being right. Just the thought of having that object inside her all day made her pussy weep.

After a luxuriously uninterrupted shower, Brianna stepped back into her bedroom to find Jaxon grinning at her. “Come here, babe.”

She stepped toward him, gripping her towel around her. His voice had a way of luring her anywhere.

He bent her over the side of the bed when she reached him and whipped the towel off.

She shivered, not so much from the cool air, but from his high-handed manner as he set a firm hand on her lower back, nudged her legs apart and circled the rim of her ass with a finger. When had he gotten the lube?

Brianna braced herself as he pressed the cool tip of the plug against her tight hole.

“Push out, babe.”

She held her breath and scrunched her face as he slid the phallic object into place. When she exhaled, she realized how peculiar it was going to be walking around in public wearing the thing. Did Jaxon know how aroused she would be with that plug constantly reminding her of him?

“You look beautiful. I love knowing you’re wearing it. No one else will know.” He kissed her on the back of the neck and stepped away. “Breakfast is ready. Meet you in the kitchen.”

Brianna dressed quickly and joined Jaxon at the table. The man had cooked. He wasn’t kidding.

“God, that smells good.” Bacon and eggs covered a plate, toast on the side. “Where’s yours?”

Jaxon patted his stomach. “I couldn’t wait. Sit. Eat. I’m going to borrow your masturbation chamber for a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

“Ha ha,” she called after him. She couldn’t imagine sitting with the plug in her ass. She was in so much trouble.

Chapter Fourteen

When Jaxon pulled his truck up to the house, he finally let go of Brianna’s hand. He hadn’t stopped touching her the entire drive. “Guess we need to take care of some business first, but then I want to retire to my room for a few days and see how many ways I can make you scream.”

His mate blushed. Her cheeks looked so cute when she did that. Her pale skin and blond hair made the red stand out.

Jaxon rounded the truck and took Brianna’s hand once more. Without releasing her, he stepped across the gravel and climbed the steps to the front porch. With a deep breath, he opened the door.

“Hey. ’Bout time you guys got here. What were you doing?” Sergius teased. The question didn’t require a response.

In fact, Juliana swatted Sergius on the arm. “Leave your brother alone.” She gave him a stern look, her eyebrows furrowing together even though she didn’t quite wipe the mirth from her face.

“So what’s the news?” Jaxon took a seat on one of the room’s couches and tugged Brianna down practically on top of him. Technically she was next to him, but there was no air separating his thigh from hers.

Sergius, Juliana and Micah all sat around the coffee table.

Sergius began. “I got a call from Uncle William early this morning. They apparently took our request seriously because since yesterday he seems to have contacted everyone he’s ever met and compiled some information for us.”

“That was fast,” Jaxon said.

“Anyway, there don’t seem to be too many vampires out roaming this planet. Just a handful—that anyone knows of. A few in Canada, South America, Asia…you get the point. And over the last hundred years they have rarely caused any problems.”

“Has anyone successfully killed a rogue vampire?” Jaxon asked.

“No one is sure.” Sergius shook his head. “But many have tried. The most important thing I learned was that our friend Keeton McKinney is without a doubt alive and well somewhere. A rusty metal stake will not do the job. Others have tried. Vampires have the uncanny ability to regenerate, even their hearts. However, he’s most likely in a weakened condition somewhere licking his wounds, both the mental and the physical. It’ll take a while for him to resurface, according to Uncle William’s contacts.

“Every method of elimination we’ve ever heard of in myths has been attempted. All have failed with the possible exception of one.”

“What’s that?” Jaxon leaned forward.

Even Micah, who had remained silent until then, angled his head toward their oldest brother.

“Fire. No one is quite certain, but the wolf pack living in Northwestern Canada believes to have eliminated their local threat with a contained fire. They trapped a vampire, surrounded him against the edge of a steep mountain and burned him alive. At least that’s what they think. They never found a body and they haven’t heard from or seen him since.”

Jaxon gasped. “God. That would explain McKinney’s hesitation to get close to flames.”

“True. Assuming he knows of the danger,” Micah added. “Just because fire might be an effective method of killing them, doesn’t mean McKinney is aware of the threat.”

Jaxon nodded and turned back to Sergius. “How long ago did this happen?”

“Well, that’s the clincher. It’s only been a few months. If the flames didn’t kill their vampire, it’s possible he’s still lurking around somewhere, recuperating or planning his next attack. There’s no way to be sure.”

Brianna pressed her hand into Jaxon’s thigh. “It’s certainly better information than anything else we have.”

Juliana agreed. “That’s for sure. Now all we have to do is figure out how to accomplish such a monumental task and execute it.”

Sergius stood and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll make coffee.” He turned back to the room. “The important thing is that everyone is safe for now and we undoubtedly can count on having a few months’ reprieve from the likes of Keeton McKinney before we need to be on the defensive again. That gives us time to research and plan.”

Jaxon nodded. He exhaled a breath he’d been holding for seemingly two days since he’d met his mate. She stared up into his eyes. For now, she was safe. “Brianna…” He turned to face her head on, grabbed her hands and rubbed her palms with the tips of his fingers. “You need to move in here. I can’t protect you when you’re at your apartment.”

She nodded and whispered, “Okay. I get it.” She swallowed and he watched her throat working.

“And, as for your job…” Would she balk about that too?

Yes. She would. “I’m not quitting my job. I worked hard for that and I love it.” She shook her head.

When Jaxon tensed, she gripped his hands tighter.

“Listen, I fight forest fires. I love my job.” She glared at him before continuing, “Don’t get your panties all in a wad. It’s a part-time job. I’m on call when they need me.”

Jaxon imitated his mate and swallowed also. “What do you do when you aren’t fighting fires?” How had this not occurred to him before now?

Brianna smiled. “Several things. Part-time firefighters in the Appalachians don’t make enough money to pay the bills. I also teach wildfire classes at the center for Southern Area Wildland Fire Training. And I’m finishing my degree in forestry. Online,” she added. “I figure the next best thing to fighting fires is learning how to prevent them in the first place.”

Jaxon grabbed his mate and tugged her against him for a giant hug. What more could he ask for right now?

His mate was safe. She intended to spend her days hovering over a computer inside the protection of his home. And the best part? She’d always be available when he wanted…needed…her sexy body.

“Just so we’re clear,” Brianna began, “don’t think you can walk all over me when it comes to my life. I’m strong-willed. You won’t win. Ever.” She narrowed her gaze.

Jaxon tried to breathe normally. His mate was not in any immediate danger. If she got called on to fight a fire, he’d just have to shift and follow her. In the meantime, he’d pray for rain. Lots of it.

“I’ll try to be reasonable when it comes to your feelings about safety, but I’m not a china doll you can keep hidden away. If I was, you wouldn’t even like me.”

The woman had a point.

Liking her wasn’t really an issue right now. Jaxon was quickly falling head over heels in love with her. The only thing that would make his life perfect would be if she felt the same.

“Oh, but I do, Jax.” She tipped her head to one side. “I’m as in love with you as you are with me.”

When he froze, she continued, “What? You thought you had all your personal thoughts completely contained from me?” She giggled. “Hate to burst your bubble, but when you think as hard as you sometimes do, you slip up too. I can read you like a book.”

Still stunned, he leaned back.

“Oh, stop it. Don’t worry,” she mimicked, “you’ll learn to block me better soon.”

Epilogue

Brianna stared at her computer screen, not seeing a word. Her mind wandered to the last few weeks. She had settled into a routine. Jaxon hadn’t wasted any time moving her into his wing of the house. She didn’t really have much in her meager apartment to begin with. Between teaching wildfire classes and taking her own online courses, she’d been stretched thin financially. Without the responsibility of rent, she could worry less and concentrate more on her goals.

She didn’t like it at first, Jaxon helping her out so much, but she’d had to relax and focus on more important issues.

Juliana was an angel. The woman made her feel more welcome than Brianna could have imagined. Juliana was fighting her own battle against Sergius to gain more freedom. She wanted to lead more group hikes and work more hours than he was willing to consent to. “Safety” was a word both women cringed over several times a day. It gave them a camaraderie and something to talk about as they got to know each other.

It wasn’t that the men were being unreasonable. There was, after all, an unknown entity in the way of a very angry vampire out there somewhere. Both women were leery about his presence. However, they were also strong-willed individuals who wanted to lead their lives. The push and shove between the men and women followed a very fine line.

“You okay, Bri?”

Brianna startled at the sound of Jaxon’s voice behind her. She twisted from her spot in front of her computer and found Jaxon sauntering toward her. Every time she laid eyes on him, he still made her squirm. She must have been truly lost in thought to have not sensed his presence.

“Just thinking.” She reached for him and wrapped her arms around his waist when he got close enough. His warmth comforted her.

“Good thoughts, I hope?” Jaxon gripped her shoulders from above and massaged.

Brianna moaned. She hadn’t realized she’d been so tense. “Piecing together the last few weeks. I can’t believe it’s been only fourteen days since we met. Seems like forever. My life is completely transformed.” She angled her face up toward him.

“Mine too, baby.”

She inhaled long and slow and released her breath on a sigh. “How long did you say this mating frenzy thing would last? I can’t concentrate.” She gripped him around the waist tighter, pressing her cheek into his stomach and inhaling his scent. She had the urge to pop the button of his jeans with her teeth and tug the zipper down. “I can’t study when you are around,” she mumbled into his shirt.

“And I’m not helping matters, am I?”

“Nope.”

“Maybe if we…”

“Don’t even say the words out loud, Jax.” Brianna released her hold on him and pushed his body away from her. “I need to study.”

“It didn’t look like you were studying when I came in.”

“Yeah, well, I should have been. I’m behind.”