Staring out over the barrage of trees, I deflated with the lack of anything or anywhere to hide. I moved forward, reaching the trees as the wind kicked up, and something brushed against my arm. I turned toward it, finding nothing there. Stepping backward, I shivered as the oversized clothing allowed the wind to send chilled air against my skin.
I moved through the woods until I hit a meadow, stopping on the edge. I wanted to stomp my feet at the nothingness in this place as I peered into the empty field. Slowly, I moved away from the cover of the trees and entered the clearing. Flowers bloomed everywhere I stepped, and a deep growl caused me to pause, turning back to look toward the direction I came. A shadowy figure stood on the edge of the meadow with the morning sun to his back, blocking out his features.
I stepped back, slowly moving as he started forward. My heartbeat hitched, beating relentlessly against my ribs until it filled my ears. He slowly moved toward me at an unhurried pace. I spun around, rushing toward the woods, but slammed against something hard and unmoving. Rhys peered down at me, watching as I fell to the ground ungracefully.
The moment my back touched against the ground, he dropped and easily captured my arms, pinning them above my head as his gaze searched mine. His knee parted my legs, and he smiled coldly. My chest rose and fell as he remained unnervingly silent.
“You ran from me, woman,” he growled, pushing his knee against my apex, studying my reaction.
“You’re the bad guy,” I whispered breathlessly.
His smile widened, and he lowered his mouth to kiss my racing pulse. I moaned from the heat, my frozen body still yet to thaw fully from the ice-cold water we’d hidden within for hours. My knees lifted, cradling his body to retain his heat.
Rhys didn’t release my hands, not even as his mouth claimed mine hungrily. His tongue pushed past my lips, dominating and controlling the kiss, nipping my lip before he pressed his tongue against mine.
I rocked against his muscular frame, unable to stop my body’s reaction as need coursed through me. It was like his mouth held all the answers to the world, and when it brushed against mine, all my worries and troubles melted away. The only thing that mattered was getting him deeper into my soul.
Rhys pulled back, searching my face before he spoke thickly. “If I’m the bad guy, Remington, why do you kiss me like I’m your fucking savior?”
“I didn’t say it made any damn sense. I was just pointing out facts,” I replied softly, peering into eyes that studied me.
“If you run from me again, I’ll ensure it will be the last time. I won’t give you another warning,” Rhys growled, lowering his mouth to crush against mine as my legs lifted, cradling him against my body.
Moaning, I allowed him to continue distracting me, holding my hands above my head as he showed me who was in control. Rhys didn’t just kiss. He dominated, devoured, destroying you for every other male on the planet. His lips were sin, wrapped in seduction, and the moment they touched you, you were lost to him before you even realized his game.
He pulled back, releasing my hands, chuckling darkly at how weak I was to resist him. I hated him a little for knowing that he held that control over my senses. Rhys pulled me up from the ground, and I moved my knee, hitting him in his balls. I started forward as he dropped to the ground hard.
I ran toward the forest without peering back, knowing I’d merely bought myself a few moments before he’d catch me again. I wasn’t entirely sure why I thought that kneeing him in the nuts was wise. I had enjoyed the shock on his face as I’d landed my knee against his groin. A moment before I would have pushed through the forest line, a large grey wolf exploded from the brush, and I skidded backward, trembling with fear.
“Bad doggie! Please don’t eat me. I’m not old enough to be tender yet and haven’t had enough time even to marinate to taste good!” I cried, only to have a firm, large, very angry Van Helsing shove me behind him.
“Stand down, mutt. She’s mine,” Rhys growled, and I peered around his shoulder to see if the wolf listened.
My eyes widened as power rushed through the clearing, and the wolf trembled, growing hands before the rest of him started mirroring human parts. He lifted from the ground, baring teeth that had yet to finish turning blunt, and Rhys snorted.
My attention lowered to the enormous appendage between his legs, and my mouth dropped open. “Holy dick,” I whispered in amazement as Rhys turned his head, glowering at me with annoyance. “What? It’s huge and very hard to miss!”
“Stop looking at the mutt’s cock, Remington,” he hissed, moving his attention back to the man, who had just shifted into a human.
“Why’s your bitch on my land, Helsing? My pack is hunting tonight to feed, and this isn’t the time to be having some honeypot out in my fucking woods. Not to mention, judging by the scent of her trailing from the road, she’s fucking mortal.”
“Conrad MacGregor, meet Remington Silversmith. If you’d have answered the fucking summons, you’d know who she was. She’s also under my protection. Make sure the other mutts and savages get that memo because I won’t give it again.”
I slowly lifted my gaze from the man’s very thick, large appendage to meet his heated stare. He had sharp features, and he didn’t look friendly in the least bit. Dark hair was disheveled, which looked pretty damn hot on him. His arms were covered in black and grey tattoos, while his chest held scars and a full moon over his heart. My stare dipped down again, and his cock jerked, forcing my gaze to lift to the wolfish grin marring his sensual mouth.
“Silversmith, and under your protection? Are you planning to fuck her then, Van Helsing?”
“That isn’t your problem. Is it? She’s untouchable unless I say otherwise, MacGregor. You have yet to respond to my invitation to Beltane. I suggest you respond to it soon. The heads of the houses will all be in attendance.” Rhys stepped in front of me when Conrad continued staring at me as if he wanted to say something else.
“Funny, last I remembered, my pack wasn’t worth your fucking time. Now, all of a sudden, a Silversmith shows up, and you want us at your party?” he asked, lifting a brow in challenge.
“I was being generous asking for your attendance, asshole. It wasn’t a request. Vampires have turned up in daylight, and they’re unresponsive to the normal shit that should be killing them. That’s a problem, and with Laura currently recovering from wounds inflicted during a conflict with my little honeypot, as you referred to her, all heads of houses have been called here for Beltane.”
“You took down the evil bitch?” Conrad asked, moving around Rhys, inspecting my borrowed clothing and disheveled appearance. “Did she do that to your head?” he questioned, stepping closer to sniff me. “If she’s yours, Rhys, why the fuck does she smell of other men? Losing your touch at seducing women in your old age?”
“The caravan she was in was attacked last night. I am currently retrieving her from her own stupidity.”
Conrad whistled, lowering his mouth to lick over the cut on my head as Rhys snorted, holding me still as the wolf tended to my wound. It was awkward and disgusting, but the moment he’d started licking my head, the dull throb had relieved. When Conrad finished, he stepped back, uncaring that he was naked in front of us.