Hour of the Lion

Chapter Thirteen

That night, Vic rolled her eyes as Calum motioned her forward. Into a cave. When he’d said they’d stay at a way station, she looked forward to another nice warm cabin. But a cave? Cold. Damp. Moldy. Ugh.

A small rock wall niche near the entrance held candles. He lit two and handed her one. “We go farther back,” he said, leading the way through a winding tunnel, veering to avoid holes and rocks. The damp air smelled of minerals.

After they entered a larger space, Calum set about lighting more candles, and soon flickering lights danced on the rock walls. The place was immense, the candle glow not reaching the top. And the ground… She lifted her candle higher. “I’ll be damned.”

“Quite likely,” Calum agreed. “The church does not welcome shifters.”

“No, not that,” she said impatiently. “This.” She pointed at the rippling ground. The back fourth of the cave held a small lake. “How deep is it?”

“Mmmmh, about three feet on this side. The far side…no one knows.”

She shivered. “The way my life is going, there’s some Loch Ness beast in there that eats people.”

“Ah, now that would be interesting. But no, you’ve probably seen most of the magical creatures.” He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “Daonain, dwarves, various pixies. There’s probably an undine or two living in here. But salamanders dislike the damp, and-”

“Where are we sleeping?” she interrupted hastily. Undines? Salamanders? God help me.

“Over there.” He pointed to a tiny fireplace and two wooden bins, and then continued, “Sylphs prefer the outdoors. There’s no hellhounds or demons on the mountain. Not since-”

She punched his arm and bruised her knuckles on his rocklike deltoid. “If you’re joking, stop.”

“But-”

“If you’re not joking, then definitely stop.” She gave him a dirty look and headed across to the bins. Demons. If the world had demons in it, she didn’t want to know.

Just like at the cabin, one bin held food and the other blankets. Tossing bedding on the ground, she kicked them into a pile. Then rethought and divided them. She realized she was sweating. “Calum?”

He walked over, glanced at the separate beds a fair distance apart, and quirked an eyebrow at her.

“It’s hot in here. Is that my imagination or some creepy shifter thing?”

“Neither.” His smile flickered. “The lake is fed by a hot spring. Would you care to bathe?”

“Are you serious? Really?”

His dark, rough laugh echoed as he motioned to the water. “Indeed. The shallower end is cool. Go deeper for hotter water.”

She felt so dirty. She’d been filthy before, especially in the desert countries with sand everywhere and in everything and bathing was more of a mudbath. But God, she wanted a bath right now.

He must have seen her answer in her expression. Stepping closer, he tucked a finger under her chin and studied her face. “You look better, less on edge.”

“It took a while for everything to sink in.” She curled her fingers around his hand, met his gaze. “Is that why you stayed so quiet on the hike here?”

“Aye.” He kissed her fingers. “The silence of the mountains serves me well when I am troubled. I hoped the peace would help you also.”

He’d made her a gift of quiet understanding with no attempts at persuasion or arguing. Damn, why did she have to like him so much? She managed to smile at him. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome. Of course, not being Alec, remaining silent wasn’t a great hardship.” Brushing her hands aside, he unzipped her jacket.

“Calum, I’m not a kid.”

He tilted his head. “No, you are not. Even so, there are times you will allow another to care for you, cariad. This is such a time.”

That sounded wrong, and still sent a wave of warmth through her. “I can manage by myself.”

“I think there has been too much of that in your life,” he said. When she frowned at him, he smiled. “Go. Enjoy your bath.”

“I will.” The jacket dropped. She unlaced her shoes and pulled them off. Halfway to the water, leaving a trail of clothing in her wake, she got down to her tank top and briefs and stopped. Oops. She turned.

Calum was leaning against the cave wall, watching her, and smiling a little.

“Um.” What could she say? Turn your back? Go outside into the cold?

“I’ll join you in a while.” He paused, lifted that damned eyebrow. “Will it worry you if I indulge also?”

“Um. Fine.” Maybe stay in her underwear? But they were damp and crusty with sweat. Hell, considering how incredibly male he was, he’d undoubtedly seen naked women before. She went to the opposite side of the cave, finished stripping, and walked in. It was like entering a hot tub. As the heat penetrated her skin, reaching deep into her, she let out a moan of joy.

Ergh, that had sounded way too provocative. She glanced over her shoulder. He was still leaning against the wall. Fine. At least over here, with only the candlelight, he wouldn’t see much.

She was magnificent.

As she rose out of the hot water into the cooler air, the candlelight glowed off her wet skin, highlighting each curve and shadowing like an artist’s brush between her legs. Her chest muscles formed a lovely base for high, full breasts, the nipples pebbling. Her hair was a dark waterfall, spilling down to her sweetly rounded butt. He smiled-she didn’t realize how well a shifter saw in darkness.

Using hard-earned control, he kept himself from getting erect. The disruptions in her life might have changed her interest in him. If his attentions no longer aroused her, he’d know by her scent, by her movements. And that would be that.

But if she remained interested, sex served as a quick way to remove barriers. A way to learn to trust. Victoria didn’t let people close. She kept herself contained, rarely showing any emotion except anger. Jamie had shown him the little human had a tender heart, but why so well hidden?

If she decided to stay with them, she needed to trust in order to survive her first trawsfur. And, he admitted to himself, he wanted her trust for other reasons. Before this, she had desired him, welcomed his hands on her…his will over hers.

He stripped and went to the side of the cave near her. Ignoring how she dropped down into the water as he approached, he strolled past and to the wall. A tin container in a hollowed-out shelf contained soap. He sniffed each ball to pick one that suited her. Not that it would cover up her own scent-one that made him want to growl and purr at the same time. By Herne, he wanted to take her, make her come, and bury himself deep inside her.

Why does he have to so fuckingly virile? Vic watched him getting something by the cave wall, standing under one of the candles he’d lit. She tried to tell herself the heat rising inside of her came from the hot water.

But just look at him. Dark all over, his skin color more like her olive than Alec’s golden tan. His black hair brushed his shoulders as if sampling the feel of the hard muscles. The backs of his thighs had a scattering of short black hair. Between his legs, his testicles hung, large and heavy. Very male. His frame was less bulky than Alec’s, but his hard muscles were more defined, and her need to run her hand over his chest had grown to almost a compulsion.

But…he wasn’t erect. Here she was, naked in the water, and technically a shifter now, and she didn’t excite him. Hell, he wasn’t even checking her out.

Deflated, she let her body sink below the water’s surface and exhaled in a snort of bubbles. She was being an idiot. She’d bedded his brother and would like to again. Messing around with Calum would be wrong. She and Alec weren’t a pair or anything, but she mustn’t cause friction between the brothers. No. She popped back up and sucked in a breath of chill air.

Calum wasn’t standing by the wall anymore. Regret washed through her, followed by relief. Yes, she’d better lock it down and keep her horny little body to herself.

“May I offer you some soap?”

She jumped, spun around. Holy fuck, he was not a foot from her.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he repeated, “Soap?”

“Um.” His chest was a matt of dark curling hair with water trickling down between the sculpted pectorals. After a moment, she yanked her gaze to his face. “Soap?”

“The substance used for cleansing?” he prompted as his smile creased one cheek. “Let me show you.” He rubbed his hands together, forming froth that smelled like strawberries.

Without waiting for her agreement, he ran his palms down her neck, her shoulders, her arms. His touch was firm and cool against her overheated skin. Stunned at the way his touch felt on her body, she stood still. Picking up her limp hand, he washed her fingers with the foam, then massaged the plump part of her palm just below her thumb.

“Did you know this is called the Venus mound for the goddess of love?” He nipped the spot and sent a wave of lust up her arm and straight down to her groin.

“Calum…”

He stroked the soap over her biceps, massaging her muscles as if he was a well-schooled bath attendant. “Turn, little female,” he murmured, guiding her until she faced away from him. She should protest, but he wasn’t trying to grope her breasts, he was…

Hard fingers dug into her aching shoulders. “Oooh, God.”

“Your backpack was too heavy.” He’d argued with her before they left the cabin, wanting to carry their gear himself. Like that would happen.

“Mmmmh.” He could scold all he wanted if he just kept his hands pressing away the soreness.

“Stubborn.” With a soft laugh, he squeezed her trapezius muscles to the point of pain, then released his grip. As the blood flowed back into the relaxed tissues, she couldn’t suppress a moan. His fingers traced the scars from Lachlan’s bite, and he kissed the spot before continuing.

She couldn’t move. It was like he’d cast a net over her with his sure touch, rendering her helpless. When her legs wobbled, he wrapped a hard arm around her waist, his hand resting just below one breast.

“We’re not finished, Victoria.” He nipped the nape of her neck, sending a jolt of electricity straight to her pussy.

And yet, the surge of heat wakened her from the spell. Her mind-and conscience-flicked on. He intended to have sex. She pulled away and turned. “Calum, no. This isn’t right. Alec-”

“Victoria, Alec knows we will make love.” He moved close enough that the stiff peaks of her breasts rubbed his chest, then cupped her chin in his steady hand. “Look at me, cariad.”

Her gaze lifted as if compelled. Don’t let him talk you into this, sergeant. “What does cariad mean?”

“It means darling.” His thumb stroked her lower lip. “Alec and I often…share…our women. Alone or together.”

Two men? Oh God. A wicked lick of heat swept through her body. She pressed her hands against his chest and hesitated, disconcerted by his rock-hard muscles. “No. I don’t believe you. I won’t risk hurting him.” Her body throbbed with the need for sex, but hurting Alec wasn’t something she’d do.

“It pleases me that you worry about my brother’s happiness.” His determined hands closed over hers and lifted them to his face. His beard shadow scratched her palms, sending an odd excitement through her. He smiled slightly and dragged his jaw slowly across her palms. When his gaze lowered to her breasts, as if imagining how his beard would feel against the tender skin, her body melted.

“No,” she whispered and tried to step back.

His grip never loosened. “Victoria, I give you my word that Alec approves of you being with me.” His steady gaze met hers.

Somehow she knew down to her bones that he wouldn’t lie to her. “That’s just…”

“It’s a shifter thing, and we’ll talk about it later.”

She opened her mouth, and his eyes darkened. “Later, little female. I have things I wish to do to you now.”

The hard, slightly rough statement eradicated her resolve. Her knees almost gave out. “But…”

“Shhh.” He nipped her fingers, the tiny pains erotic, and then put his big hands around her waist and set her onto the hip-high rock ledge at the side. The surface of the water rippled over it and the flat stone was warm under her bottom.

He pushed her legs open and pulled her forward until his very hard erection pressed against her heat. She gasped, feeling her control slipping.

“That’s right, cariad. You needn’t think.” He grasped her nape, guiding her lips to his, holding her as his tongue plunged inside to echo the rocking of his cock at her entrance.

His free hand covered her breast, cupping and stroking in such a way that when he finally reached the nipple, she was taut in anticipation. With only one calloused finger, he touched the peak, his touch so light, she arched into him for more. He chuckled, and his fingers closed, pressing gently on the tip. Like an electric shock, desire shot in a sizzling line to her clit.

She gasped and he took advantage, taking his kiss even deeper. His fingers rolled her nipple, the pressure growing past pleasure, bordering on pain, and yet her body shook with arousal. As her breast throbbed, he moved to the other, teasing until it swelled to match the first. Until her sex pulsed in time with her breasts.

Her head spun, and she clutched his shoulders. The hard muscles under her fingers lured her hands to stroke up his back.

He rumbled his pleasure. When he released her mouth, she felt as if she was melting right into the hot water. He regarded her for a moment, then smiled. His hand pressed on her sternum. “Lie back, cariad.”

Unable to fight him, she reclined onto the warm rock. The silky water lapped at her sides and her pussy, heating her skin.

“Pretty little female,” he murmured. His thumbs gently pulled her folds apart, then he bent, and his tongue slid over her sex. Like Alec had done. A tremor ran through her.

“No.” She tried to sit up, “I don’t want that.” Too intimate, too vulnerable, giving him too much control. “Just fuck me.”

His head lifted. He met her gaze, and his eyes narrowed as he studied her. His face softened, although she saw a crease appear in his cheek. “All right then.”

With ruthless hands, he flipped her onto her stomach. Her legs dangled down, and his thighs moved them apart. A hard hand slid under her pelvis, and he lifted, tilting her hips up to him. A second’s pause. His cock pressed against her, slickening in her wetness, and then he entered her with one hard thrust.

“Aaaa!” So big. Her fingers clawed at the rock as she struggled to adjust to his size. She’d asked for this, only she hadn’t expected to feel…taken. That he’d stolen the control from her even more.

He didn’t move, his groin against her bottom. “Breathe, little female.”

She inhaled. Again. “Okay,” she said, trying not to sound breathless. “Go ahead.”

His deep voice flowed over her like honey as he said, “Oh I will, cariad.” To her shock, the fingers under her pelvis moved down into her pubic hair. He tugged on the strands, creating tiny pinpricks of sensation. The whole center of her body was turning into a massive ache, and his cock wasn’t moving.

He touched her entrance where she was stretched so tightly around his shaft and ran one of his slickened fingers over her throbbing clit. She jerked at the blast of sensation.

“What are you doing?” Her blood was singing in her veins.

“Exactly what I want to.” His finger slid over and around her clit, ruthlessly driving it into hardness, until it was so engorged it hurt. When she wiggled, he set a hand on her bottom, holding her in place as his other drove her mad.

Her mind started to go fuzzy. “Calum, no.”

“At this point, cariad,” he murmured, “you do not command. You may beg, if you feel the need.”

Fuck. Goddamn. He knew just where to press, sliding his finger in to join his huge cock, and up over her clit until her entire pussy felt like one throbbing nerve. And there he held her until she whimpered, her hips tilting to get his touch…there. She was panting, little moans, unable to think, to protest as he drove her higher. If he’d just touch -

Instead, he pulled out and inexorably back in. With the slow slide of his cock, pleasure vibrated through her system. Her eyes felt like they were rolling back in her head. Her vagina clamped around him, her thigh muscles trembled as his light touch moved closer to her clit and then farther away. The pressure coiled tighter and tighter, and somehow knowing he wouldn’t let her escape, sent her even higher until nothing remained in her mind except the slow thrust into her vagina and his circling finger.

“That’s right,” he said softly. “I’m teaching you that you do not need to control everything. Let go, cariad. I will take care of you.”

She wanted to-she did. So she tried one last time to move, to resist. His hand held her in place. As she gave in, a whimper escaped. A whisper. “Please.”

He kissed her neck, his lips warm and gentle. “Little female, I would be happy to please you.” His merciless hands closed on her hips, yanking her bottom higher, just as his shaft drove in hard. Deep. Over and over as everything inside her gathered into one place…and exploded, a massive bomb blowing molten fragments of pleasure through every nerve in her body. Her hips tried to buck against his ruthless grip, and the feeling of being controlled sent another wave of sensation pulsing upward. God, god, god.

With a rough, sexy laugh, he hammered into her in short hard strokes, and then pressed deep. She could feel his erection jerking inside and the increased slickness.

He played with her after, fingers teasing, his cock rocking in and out, until he’d drawn every last spasm out of her, until she was sensitive to the slightest touch, and she laid limp, heart pounding in her chest, covered in a hard sweat. When he turned her over and lifted her in his arms, she could only moan. She swallowed, and her voice came out in a whisper, “You bastard.”

He smiled and carried her to the edge of the water. After drying himself, then her, brushing aside her attempts to help, he set her on the bedding. He knelt beside her. “You were far too quick, cariad,” he murmured. He ran one finger down her cheek. “This time, we’ll draw it out a little.”

When her eyes widened, he wound his fingers in her hair, held her for another kiss.

Hours later, Calum lay beside her in the blankets, watching her breathe. He stroked his finger down her neck, damp with sweat, the tiny pulse still hammering. Her eyes were closed, the lashes dark smudges on her smooth skin. His body hummed with satiated pleasure. Once she’d finally relaxed into his control and care, no longer building barriers to protect herself, she was a responsive, generous mate.

He circled her swollen nipples with one finger. The satiny skin had turned a dark red from his sucking and bites.

Her eyes opened, still slightly glazed from passion. “Surely you aren’t planning to start again, are you?”

He had taken her…many times. He smiled. “No, cariad. I think you have had plenty.” Enough that she had winced with his last entry, although she had been too close to coming to want him to withdraw. He cupped her cheek and kissed her lightly. “I simply like touching you.”

Her lips curved, and she leaned into his hand, much like a cat. His heart squeezed. The need to care for her, to make her his own had grown mountain high.

“So what are we doing tomorrow?” she asked, her voice slightly hoarse. The last two times, she had given him everything, inhibitions gone, and her screams of release had echoed through the caves.

“You’ll meet the Elders, I will warn them in case the shifter-hunters come farther than I expect. We’ll spend the night and return to Cold Creek, ready for battle.”

“You said these people live isolated so they don’t have to be around humans.” Her brows drew together. “Because they hate humans or because they’re afraid?”

Her brain rarely stopped working, it seemed. “Mostly fear and…” How could he put this? “When living amongst humans, a shifter must be ever cautious, not just in trawsfurring, but in speech and habits as well. It’s a strain, and as the Daonain age and become more forgetful, they find it a burden.”

“I suppose people might react badly if they knew about you.”

He felt his jaw tighten, his hand close in a fist, and realized that as her barriers had disappeared, so had his.

“Calum?” She pushed up onto one elbow. “What… Something happened to you, didn’t it?”

He stared at the rock wall until she stroked his shoulder, drawing his attention back. Her eyes were soft, worried-for him. How odd to feel a female’s concern and desire to share sorrow. He’d never had that with Lenora.

“I was lifemated-married-many years ago.” He set his palm over her small hand, keeping it against his face. “She was an only child. Shy. She painted. Much like a sprite, she lived in the moment. She’d often forget to cook-or burn the food when she did, and would disregard the rules about using the portals or shifting near trails.”

He stopped, not wanting to share the horror, but Victoria’s eyes stayed steady on his. This female wouldn’t shy away from pain. “The wildflowers had bloomed, and she trawsfurred to visit the alpine meadows. As far as we can tell, a human saw her shift back. When she didn’t return, I went to look for her.” And found her body far too near a hiking trail, her eyes looking up at the sky as if wondering why help had never arrived. The man had used her own blood to-”The murderer had written DEMON on her chest. We discovered later that he was rabidly religious.”

His jaw clenched as the memory kindled his fury. He’d tracked the killer through the darkening forest, and his fabled control shattered the moment he’d smelled Lenora’s scent, seen her blood on the man. By the time his sanity had returned, the ground was soaked with blood, the human’s body mangled beyond recognition. The man’s shrieks haunted Calum’s nightmares for years. “I…lost control and killed him.” It had been the last time he’d allowed emotions to rule his actions.

Calum braced, waiting for Victoria to pull away, to show her horror.

“Of course you did. Good job.” She patted his cheek.

Well. After a moment, he remembered what Alec had told him about the bodies littering the bookstore. This female was nothing like Lenora-perhaps like none he’d known before. In a wolf pack, she’d be the alpha female.

And that made her submission to him all the more meaningful. An alpha female submits only to her mate. He cleared his throat. “So we fear individual reactions as well as the government’s reaction. We’d either be studied like lab animals or simply exterminated.”

“That seems a little…” Her mouth pulled down, and she sighed. “Actually, that’s probably what would happen.”

“Aye. That’s why we have a law that if a shifter reveals the Daonain to humans, he is put to death.”

Her gaze turned to the dark water, her jaw tight, and Calum set his hand on her shoulder. How could he have forgotten she was so new? She turned to him, attempting to smile.

“Come, cariad. We should sleep. Tomorrow will be long.” He pulled her closer, nudging her head down in the hollow of his shoulder. After a second of stiffness, she softened and cuddled with him, filling the holes in his soul with her mere presence.