Of Gods and Wolves (25 page)

Half an hour later, The God Squad had left and I was showered and climbing into bed next to Trevor.

“Sweet dreams, Fur Face,” I kissed his chest.

“
Vervain, that’s what you call Nick sometimes.”

“
Well, if the shoe fits,” I grinned, waiting for the explosion… three, two, one, lift off.

“
Take it back or you’ll be kissing my furry ass,” he rolled me over and held my hands above my head.

“
Kiss
my
big, white ass,” I stuck out my tongue and suddenly felt like Persephone. It made me giggle, which
so
didn’t help.

“
I’ll
bite
your ass,” he rolled me again and I yipped as his teeth sank through my panties. I never wore anything but panties to bed. I just didn’t see the point.  

He bit the edge of the panties and pulled them away as I bucked him off me, jumped off the bed, and ran. Looking over my shoulder, I caught the glint of excitement in his eyes. I slammed the bedroom door as he was getting slowly off the bed with a wicked smile.

I ran for the door, grabbing his long leather coat as I went. The bedroom door slammed open and the sound of padding feet echoed down the hallway. My heart started to beat faster, adrenaline pumping through my veins with muscle quivering heat. I yanked open the front door and ran out, closing it with a soft click.

Let the wolf sniff me out, it would be half the fun.

I heard him search through the house, then stop and I knew he was scenting me. I felt a shiver run down my spine and I wrapped the coat tighter before I crept along the house toward the backyard. I stopped a second, remembering the last time I’d tangled with a werewolf there. Maybe I could erase the bad memory with a good one.

I heard him leave the house and looked around me in a panic. I wanted him to find me, I wanted him to catch me, but on some deep instinctive level, I also wanted to run and hide from the wolf. The beast was on the hunt and the prey had to run, it was the law of nature.

I searched desperately for a hiding place. The high, thick mock orange bushes that fenced in my yard offered no hope but did fill the air with the heady scent of orange blossoms, adding to the exotic smell of the night blooming jasmine which grew alongside the house. Maybe they could mask my own scent. Oh, who was I kidding? Trevor could find me in a sewer.

My backyard was wide, spacious, and open, with only a few fruit trees granting very little cover. I looked at the  pond with its gurgling waterfall in the corner and then the mango tree opposite it. Maybe I could hide behind the trunk.

I had just made it to my pathetic attempt at cover, when I heard a twig snap nearby. My heart was pounding so fast, it was taking an effort to keep my breathing quiet. I closed my eyes tight and tried to make myself as small as possible but it really was pointless. He knew exactly where I was.

I yelped when a large paw grabbed my arm and pulled me out into the moonlight. Trevor was magnificent in half-form, his sable fur shining and soft, his eyes glowing from the hunt. Instinctively, I pulled away, twisting my arm out of his grip and attempting to run again. He growled low and stopped me with ease, scooping me up around the waist. I had to swallow back a scream as I lashed out, kicking and hitting at him till he fell on me to hold me down.

I writhed, horrified that he was going to make love to me as a wolfman but strangely turned on as well. He was Trevor, no matter what form he took, and I loved him. The emotion overcame the physical reservations I had and as he pressed against me, his fur stroked me seductively. It was so different from skin on skin. Instead of a slick slide, it was thousands of points of silk flowing over me, heightening each movement he made. I ran my leg up his side, delighting in the feel of him, and let out a small moan. His growl turned into a rumbling, desire-filled plea and I met his eyes with my answer.

He knocked the coat open as he took both of my wrists in one large paw to hold them high over my head. The scent of spicy musk thickened, blocking out everything else. The world narrowed down to my wolf, hard but silken above me, one hand holding me down as the other roamed roughly over my bared body. I looked down between us, my skin seeming to glow under the moon, a bright contrast to his darkness. A wild, rushing excitement ran through my veins when I saw him rising up hard and slick between my legs, still very much a man where it counted.

I tossed my head to the side, cool blades of grass cushioning my cheeks as his face lowered, his muzzle rubbing against my neck, scenting me, before his rough tongue stroked me up to the ear. His paw-like hand squeezed my breast, surprisingly gentle even with its claws, the pads of his fingers soft against my sensitive skin.

“
We can stop,” the gravel of his voice tickled my ear, lower and thicker from that lupine throat. His face was pressed so close to mine. “Just tell me to stop, Vervain.”

“
Stop,” I whispered and his body froze around me. “Talking. Stop talking and fuck me, you beautiful wolf.”

His body let loose immediately, wild and wonderfully intense. My legs fell open as he slid into me, grasping me tightly at the hip to keep me still. He was bigger in every way in half form and my body stretched around him with a slight twinge of pain that was soon lost to the onslaught of pleasure. He released my hands and I immediately brought them to his shoulders, pulling him closer with fists full of fur.

He was so large. I gave up on trying to wrap my legs around him and planted them in the ground, giving me enough leverage to push back. Low savage sounds were coming from his throat, quickening my pulse and the flow of heat between us. The feeling of his hard body slamming against me, cushioned by thick fur, was wickedly sensual and somehow perfectly natural. The pleasure surged up, slamming me into heaven, and I buried my face in his shoulder to muffle my screams.

With a small desperate sound, he pulled out and flipped me over, pulling the coat off me, paws cradling my hips as he drove into me savagely from behind. I could barely keep myself up on hands and knees but I clenched my fists into the earth and held on. He went so deep, I cried out and he growled once before latching onto my neck in his favorite spot. A bolt of fear shot through me as his teeth closed over my vulnerable neck but then I was lost again to the pleasure that rode me as hard as he did.

I barely noticed his fangs lightly piercing my skin as his jaw tightened possessively, I was so overwhelmed by his dominance and the animal urges it was bringing out of me. I wanted nothing more than to be joined with him forever, to feel him in me again and again, to know that life would be erotic and dangerous but I’d always be safe with him. I’d always be loved.

With a hoarse cry, he came, a last thrust driving me flat into the grass. I felt myself crest a second time, coming with him, and it was brilliantly wild, like a caged beast suddenly released. The first flight of joyous freedom that lets the soul shine bright. When the pleasure finally released us, he lay gently over me, shivering and twitching until he reached around me and turned me into him, taking us sideways so I could curl into the warmth of his chest.

He wrapped himself around me as we shared delicious little aftershocks and gazed contentedly at the moon together. The geckos were singing in the trees and I heard Nick stalking an insect through the bushes. I was happy as I’d never been before; the happy you get when everything is perfect and you know that no matter what happens, the perfection of that moment will last forever.

“They're called
Dark Horses
,” Trevor had his arm casually slung across my shoulders as we watched the band play in an clearing between the trees, on the bottom floor of Moonshine. “What do you think?”

“
I think they're great,” I watched as the lead singer sauntered over to an enthralled woman leaning against a tree. She was probably having a hard time standing in front of such a buffet of beautiful men. “
Dark Horses
, huh? Are they really horses?” I turned my attention back to Trevor suspiciously.

“
I didn't think it would take you too long to figure it out,” he chuckled. “Yes, they're Epona's boys.”

“
Epona?”

“
The Goddess of Horses,” Trevor explained. “The drummer is from her personal stable, if you know what I mean.”

“
Oh, nice, Trev,” I grimaced. “Hey isn't that the one Thor's dating?”

“
The drummer?” He raised a brow over a twinkling eye. “I didn't think Thor swung that way.”

“
Stop,” I laughed. “You know I meant Epona.”

“
Yeah, they're dating but don't hold it against her,” he kissed my cheek. “I've known Pony a long time and she's good people.”

“
Pony?”

“
Well it fits, doesn't it?” He gave me his
Big Bad Wolf
grin.

“
Goddess of Horses. Pony,” I shook my head. “I only wish I'd been the one to come up with it. You know how I love coming up with nicknames.”

“
I'm particularly fond of
honey-eyes
.”

“
So am I,” I waggled my brows at him and he chuckled.

“
I think they'll be a big draw.”

“
I think you're right,” I looked the band over again, more carefully.

They had a rugged grace. Not lean exactly but not as thickly muscled as most of the Froekn men were. They were sleek, like every edge had been softened just a bit to make them more aerodynamic. They were all brunettes, which fit their name, but the lead singer's hair was as black as Teharon's, that slick Native American, black that looked more like polished stone than hair. They were all gorgeous, I could see it even from the VIP balcony, but the most important thing was, they could play.

The music filling the club was dynamic, powerful. A raging, thumping, call of the wild. It made you want to lift your arms, close your eyes, and just move. It didn't matter how you moved. It didn't matter who was watching or dancing with you. You just wanted to move. I was swaying a little in my seat.

“
Okay, enough ogling,” he turned my face to his. “You don't want to make a bonded werewolf jealous.”

“
Thor!” I gasped.

“
Then again, maybe you do,” Trevor frowned.

“
No,” I turned his head toward the top of the stairs. “Thor's here.”

“
Oh,” he frowned harder and stood up to greet my ex. “Thunderer.”

“
Wolf Prince,” Thor nodded and strode forward.

My heart was pounding, my stomach churning. I'd run through scenes of finally seeing Thor again, in my head, over and over but I really wasn't prepared for the sight of him. He looked amazing. Long red hair hanging wild around his shoulders, stern face set in chiseled lines, wide shoulders, thick legs, eyes that didn't know if they wanted to be green or blue. Oh, and he was the size of a small mountain. I had to look up an impossible distance when he finally stood before me. He ended up taking pity on me and sitting down on the hill-shaped couch across from us. Trevor sat as well but I could feel the tension zinging through the leg he pressed against mine.

“Would you like something to drink?” Trevor played the roll of host automatically.

“
No, thank you,” Thor grimaced. “I'm sure I'm the last person either of you want to see right now.”

“
Nah,” I shrugged, “you're a step above Demeter.”

“
Thanks,” Thor made a surprised huff. “I...,” he took a deep breath and hung his head for a moment. “I'd forgotten how your humor never fails you. Even in the worst circumstance, you can make a joke.”

“
I try,” I smiled grimly. “What do you want, Thor?” Yay, my voice sounded hardcore, even to me.

“
We need you with us, Vervain,” he sighed. “I know there's bad blood between you and I now but it doesn't change the fact that we're both on the same side of this war. The rest of the team said the only way you'd come back was if I asked you to. They said you wouldn't believe we could work together again unless you spoke to me first. So I'm here to ask you to come back... to the Squad.”

“
Huh,” I looked over at Trevor and he shrugged. “Well, they were right. I wouldn't have thought we could work together again. I told you the day I left that I'd never forgive you and I meant it.”

“
I don't expect your forgiveness,” Thor's jaw clenched. “I'm not even asking for it, Vervain. I'm asking for you to put aside our differences so we can work together again. This is bigger than both of us. The war isn't going to end because our relationship did.”

“
I know that,” I ground out.

“
Look, I didn't come here to fight with you,” he wiped a hand over his face and for the first time, I noticed the dark circles under his eyes. “I want to fight
beside
you. You're an integral part of the team and we need you. Especially now that we believe Blue is back in action.”

“
Wait, what?” I held out a hand as if I could physically stop the bad news. “Did you just say Blue?” Trevor's hand was on my leg and Thor was staring at it. He shook himself and looked up at me.

“
The illegal aliens in Arizona are gathering in the Phoenix area,” Thor looked grim. It was a shame, he used to smile so much that I’d take pleasure in vexing him just so I could see his face change. It cut deep to know that I’d help put that seriousness there.

“
That’s not exactly a condemning occurrence,” I leaned back as Trevor put his arm around my shoulders. “They’ve been having problems with illegal immigrants for a while now. Why would you think this is being instigated by a god, much less Blue in particular?”

“
It’s become more violent than the usual protests,” Thor shook his head. “There have already been attacks from the Mexican population on non-Mexicans and the Caucasian population of Arizona is starting to retaliate. If we don’t do something, it’ll be a full out race war. You know half the men in Arizona carry firearms.”

“
And the other half prefer knives. Then there are the women.” I sighed. “So it probably is a god. Why do you suspect Blue?”

“
He’s their god, Vervain,” Thor looked at me like I was being deliberately obtuse. “Who else could lead them so effectively?”

“
Okay, you’ve got a point but he’s not the only Aztec god,” I thought about the dance we'd shared not so long ago. “I just don't think this is Blue's style.”

“
You mean unlike trying to murder an innocent woman so he can bring down an oil company?” Thor's eyes were flashing with lightning now and Trevor leaned forward, growling in response.

“
It's okay, Trevor,” I touched his hand and he calmed a little. “That was before I changed him, Thor and you know it.”

“
So you work your Love juju on him and everything's all better?”

Wow, Thor was really bitter.

“It healed him,” I sighed. “He's not the same man he was. I took away his rage. I never knew it bothered you.”

“
It doesn't,” he huffed. “It just really looks like it's him, Vervain, and we need you with us on this.”

“
Alright.”

“
Alright?” Thor looked at me with shocked, wide eyes.

“
Alright,” I leaned forward and held out a hand. “Truce?”

“
Truce,” Thor took my hand as he watched me carefully. “We leave in an hour.”

“
Well, at least you gave me advanced notice,” I pulled away.

“
It's not exactly a situation that can wait,” Thor shrugged.

“
Point taken,” I sighed as I watched the band wrap up their last number, while women screamed for more.

I had a bad feeling that I'd be hearing a different type of screaming soon. I just hoped it wouldn't be mine.