Lup Teren (Wolf Land Series Book 1) Read online

  Almost immediately, he announced in a hushed growl, “Damn!” Quickly pulled out, covering his cock with the blanket and emptying all of his seed into the thick, soft material.

  Pulling away from his lap in a flurry, she quickly re-hooked her bra, buttoned her blouse, and pulled up her jeans and panties to their rightful place. The only thing she couldn’t hide was the blush that stole over her cheeks and neck as guilt and contentment washed over her trembling limbs.

  After a few minutes, Antonio turned her to face him, brown eyes to hazel, a little smile on his beautifully-sculpted lips.

  “How are you feeling?” She could only nod, giggling at him looking just as guilty, yet just as sated as she did. Stealthily, she made a move to leave, but he caught her around the waist. “Come back here,” he requested, pulling her gently until she was back to her original seat beside him. Strong arms encircled her as he kissed her patiently, allowing all of his adoration to show. She couldn’t have felt more loved even if she tried. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?” he whispered against her kiss-ravished mouth.

  “Yes,” her response shaky yet confident as she nuzzled his chin with her forehead.

  Softly, he sighed. The sound filled with all he could not say. Or perhaps was afraid to say.

  “Whatever happens in Romania, please remember this moment,” he said kissing her more chastely. “Promise me.”

  “I promise.” She brushed her lips against his, the taste of herself there not enough to make her stop.

  Finally, she had found the one person who made her feel whole. And it only took losing him for four years, learning he was a werewolf and she was something else and had to fulfill some hinky covenant and having mind-blowing sex in a jet cabin twenty feet away from a sleeping super-human Romani…whatever that was…to realize how much she loved Antonio. Go figure!

  Chapter Fourteen

  It took over eleven hours to fly from Atlanta, Georgia to Bucharest, Romania. Thank goodness she’d had Antonio to keep her amused. They played cards, watched cheesy movies on the plane’s internal entertainment center, and drove Nicolae mad with incessant stories from their youth in London.

  Several times during the flight, Antonio had tried to convince her to sneak off with him to the lavatory for a bit of mile-high fun, but she cleverly fended off his advances. This task, however, was more difficult than she expected. Since their hot interlude, they seemed more in tune to each other’s feelings.

  She literally felt how randy he was, how in love he was with her, and how much he wanted to bend her over the seat and plow her from behind. That fact he not only felt, but growled to her…in front of Nicolae, who only stared at him like he had just escaped the loony bin.

  At one point, she had answered his question before he asked with a resounding, “No!” To her surprise as well his.

  His other less passive emotions had also started to affect her as well. Whenever Nicolae was near, Antonio’s agitation would increase. His blood pressure would rise inexplicably. The hairs on his arms would stand on end, and every violent compulsion buried deep within him would rush to the forefront. It was unnerving to say the least.

  However, that didn’t surprise her as much as when she started sharing his feelings toward the Romani. Without provocation, she had snapped at Nicolae several times, to the point he was afraid to speak when she was in the same room. She’d even almost come to blows with the man over a ridiculous comment he made about Manchester United versus Manchester City. She was baffled.

  When they touched down at Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest, all four were relieved to be back on solid ground. She especially. She’d never cared for air travel. Still, the damp Romanian weather was a welcome change compared to the tight confines of the company jet. Although comfy and definitely a step-up from flying coach on a commercial airline, there was only so much time she could spend with two competitive wolves and a grouchy Romani hunter.

  What she wouldn’t give for another female to chat with.

  “Where exactly are we going?” She looked around at the cityscape from where they stood on the tarmac. Tall buildings graced the horizon. Loud car horns blared and the everyday sounds of a modern city could be heard in the distance.

  Nicolae replied warily, “We are going to a seaside town called Constanta. It is a few hours away. Your father’s personal driver will be here shortly to collect us.” He didn’t look at her when he spoke which further agitated her.

  “He’s here?” Antonio’s heart rate increased suddenly.

  “He is,” Nicolae replied in a clipped tone. Both men stared at one another like they were about to throw down in a WWF prize fight. Nicolae could be The Rock and Antonio could be John Cena. Yeah, baby!

  “Okay, fellas.” Blaine’s intimidating 6’5” physique stepped between the standoff. “You lads put your cocks away. There’s a lady present,” he reminded with a wink in her direction, those glorious emerald orbs sparkling like jewels.

  Playfully, she winked back. “I agree.”

  A few minutes later, her father’s personal valet, Duncan Adamson, arrived in a minibus to collect them. Happiness engulfed her like a warm hug. She had known Duncan since birth and loved the older man like a grandfather. He felt the same for her and had no qualms showing his paternal affection for her.

  “Raina, my darling, you look well.” Duncan rushed to her, arms outstretched, engulfing her petite stature with his 6’3” frame. Arms the size of tree trunks and just as strong encircled her, protecting her from the outside world. “How are these fine gents treating ya? Well, I expect.” He looked each man in the eyes and gave a low growl.

  “You’re Pack.” It wasn’t a question. She could smell that he was. “I can’t believe this. All of these years…wait a minute,” she remembered something from her youth. “Uncle Duncan what do you look like as a wolf?” The man shifted his weight uneasily from leg to leg, an uncomfortable smile fluttering on his somewhat thin lips.

  “Why do ya ask?” his thick Scottish brogue tickled her ears.

  “Remember the dog I had when I was little?” She arched her brow.

  “The one that ran away?” He blushed uncomfortably.

  “That’s the one,” she said, eyes scrutinizing suspiciously. “Was that you?”

  Shaking his head, he confirmed her suspicions saying, “Your father wanted to make certain you could handle the responsibilities that came with owning a pet, so he…”

  She gasped. “So he made you pretend to be one?”

  “You were five and I only did it for a few days.”

  “I’ll never look at you the same again,” she said with mock indignation. “I rubbed your belly for Pete’s sake.”

  “Hey, you gave the best belly rubs in all of London,” he chuckled teasingly. “C’mon lads let’s get the luggage and be off. Tis a short journey to Dobroesti, but a wee further to Constanta on the coast. We’ll be traveling by boat to the manor. Get a move on.” No one ever argued with Duncan. Usually.

  “Why are we going to Dobroesti?” Nicolae’s confusion was evident by the rather large scowl he wore.

  “Supplies,” Duncan stated firmly.

  “We can pick-up supplies here in Bucharest. Why are we really going to Dobroesti, Duncan?” Antonio took over the questioning. “What are you hiding old timer?”

  Duncan’s eyes widened before he sternly stated, “Don’t sass me pup. I may be older, but I’m stronger and I can put a beating on ya…ya won’t soon forget.”

  “Okay, no need to get violent. We’re all curious tis all.” Blaine’s mediator skills would be perfect on this trip. It was obvious he could put out any fire that occurred between the others. His nickname definitely fit.

  “Is Dad there as well?” Her own curiosity bubbling to the surface.

  “He is.” Duncan smiled, and then glanced around before saying, “The boat has a full bath so you two can wash up before we see him.”

  “Wash, why?” Raina questioned.

&nbs
p; “You don’t want your father smelling Antonio all over ya, now do ya?”

  Without her permission, her mouth fell open and she knew her cheeks had darkened. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

  “I may be old, but my sense of smell still works. I know for damn sure Blaine can smell it and probably Nicolae as well.”

  “Kill me now,” she murmured under her breath, unable to look him in the eyes any longer.

  “He’s a smart boy that one,” Duncan chuckled, light brown eyes twinkling impishly under his low hanging cap.

  “Why do ya say that?” she asked, obviously piqued.

  “He wanted to make sure no other male would touch ya. The lad has claimed you as his own and no other man…wolf or Romani…will challenge him.”

  “That damn wolf,” she huffed, staring in Antonio’s direction with lethal intent.

  Duncan laughed at her anger then quickly added, “Wolves mate for life, Raina. It’s not a casual thing being mated.”

  “I’m not…we’re not…” she tried to explain.

  “Not yet,” he soothed. “It’s a complicated process with lots of fluids and biting and…ya know. But when it’s all done you’re bonded for life.”

  “I don’t think I’m ready to be,” she swallowed loudly, “mated.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “Yes.” It rolled off of her tongue before she could stop it. The realization made her smile.

  “Then you have nothing to worry about. Wolves aren’t the kind to stray. We’re loyal until the end. The man has practically proposed.”

  “The bus is packed,” Antonio said, coming to stand beside her, his hand possessively brushing against her left buttock cheek. “We’re ready to go whenever you are.”

  “Cheeky bastard,” she growled low, showing her teeth.

  His eyes widened, as he lowered to her ear so no one else could hear. “What did I do now?”

  “Uncle Duncan smelled me,” she hissed.

  “He scented you,” he snickered, earning him a slap on the upper arm.

  “Whatever,” she said gritting her teeth.

  Amused by her reaction, he chuckled, brown eyes glistening with mirth. “Caught me, did ya?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me everyone can smell, I mean scent me…you…us?” Her arms waved wildly between their bodies. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Don’t be.” He touched the tip of her nose with his index finger. “I’m not embarrassed. I love you and I want everyone to know you belong to me and I belong to you. Got it?”

  Smiling she nodded. “Got it. But if you do anything else sneaky, I’ll chop your bollocks off. Got it?”

  “Got it.” He kissed her forehead, smacked her on the arse, and left her to fume.

  Freaking wolves!

  *****

  The drive from Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest to Dobroesti where they stopped for food supplies, toiletries, along with a quick pit-stop at an old cathedral where Duncan stopped for a special package, took only fifteen minutes. But the drive from Dobroesti to the seaport city of Constanta on the Romanian Coast was much longer. A little over two hours, according to Blaine.

  “Where exactly are we going, Duncan?” Raina stared out of the briskly moving minibus at the surrounding countryside. The rolling green hills and rugged mountains adorning the distant horizon gave a sense of déjà vu, but she shook it off as an overworked imagination.

  “Lup Teren,” Nicolae spoke next, his answer clipped and tense.

  “What is that?”

  “Lup Teren is a private island off of the Romanian Coast once owned by your mother’s Romani ancestors, now owned and protected by your father. It is where Nicolae was born and raised and also happens to be where a faction of the Southeast Romani Headquarters is located.” Antonio educated as he held her hand on his lap. The innocent contact meant to calm her, instead made naughty thoughts of their last sexual bout come to mind.

  Nicolae adamantly added, “My parents are originally from Sighisoara in Transylvania. It is, I mean it was our ancestral village…before the wolves came and claimed our lands…our birth right.”

  “Lup Teren,” she repeated the words and liked how it sounded, conveniently interrupting Nicolae’s rant. “What does it mean?” She changed the subject for obvious reasons. Nicolae, although a bad-ass, would still be no match for three offended British wolves if things got hairy. Pun definitely intended.

  “Translated from Romani it means Wolf Land or Land of the Wolf,” Nicolae frowned.

  “I see,” she mumbled, her stomach unexpectedly clenched with nervous butterflies. “What will we be doing there? I guess I’m not taking the grand tour.”

  “Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait and see.” Antonio raised her hand to his lips and gave it an innocent kiss.

  “Are you hungry lass?” Duncan’s concern was apparent on his aged, yet handsome face.

  “I’m famished,” she whined from the backseat of the minibus. Her stomach growled loudly cementing her point. “How long before we get to Constanta?”

  Duncan glanced at his watch. “Another hour and we’ll be there. Take this.” He handed her a granola bar from the pocket of his tan blazer. “I always carry these around in case of emergencies. Weres have incredibly efficient metabolisms.”

  “Thank you,” she said, ripping open the plastic wrapper and taking a large bite. “Is that why I can eat like a horse and not gain weight?”

  “Yup,” Blaine smiled, “it’s one of the many perks of being Were.”

  “We’ll have a bit of supper on the boat,” Duncan informed all of the occupants, who currently looked hungry and bored. “Mrs. Radu is a terrific cook. I guarantee she’ll have something delicious waiting for us.”

  True to his word, a little over an hour later they were all settled comfortably around a small, but comfortable dining table with a short, plump Romanian grandmother serving them a feast of ciorbă ţărănească, a delicious vegetable soup, grilled Black Sea sturgeon and mititei also known as the Wee Ones, which were small, skinless grilled sausages. For dessert, they had Mrs. Radu’s famous crepes filled with a filling of sweetened cottage cheese, raisins and spices.

  “Good?” the woman asked, brown eyes sparkling, her English a bit difficult to understand.

  “Perfect,” Raina complimented, but Mrs. Radu continued to stare.

  Thankfully, Nicolae interceded saying, “Mancarea este delicioasa.” Turning back to Raina, he said, “I told her you said the food is delicious.”

  And it was. She’d never had Romanian food. Even when she was a child, her father avoided it saying it brought back too many memories of her mother. Memories she wished she had. The only thing of her mother’s that she possessed was an old photograph of her and her dad on their wedding day.

  It always made Raina miserable to look into the still eyes of the photo, into a face that looked almost exactly like her own. Ebony tresses, expressive doe-like eyes, high cheekbones, smooth olive complexion, and full lips. The only difference being her eyes were hazel like her dad’s instead of dark brown. Other than that, they could have passed as twins. Even the way she spoke reminded people of her mom…at least that’s what she was told.

  “Earth to Raina.” Antonio stared down at her as she sat at the table, his voice bringing her back to the present.

  “I’m sorry.” She couldn’t help smiling at his handsome face and wise eyes. “I was just thinking about my mom, how much I resemble her.”

  “Yes,” Mrs. Radu mumbled as she cleared away the dishes. “Elaina is beautiful.”

  “What did you just say?”

  Mrs. Radu’s face reddened and she pretended to not understand her question, but Raina knew what she had heard. Somehow the older woman knew her mother.

  Nicolae chimed-in informing all at the table, “We have another couple of hours before we reach Lup Teren. Try to get some rest.”

  But she couldn’t. Not even with Antonio snuggling beside her, lightly snor
ing, arms banded around her waist like a vise, she couldn’t. Visions of transforming beasts and screaming villagers kept plaguing her mind.

  “Get some sleep,” Antonio ordered, his head resting comfortably on her chest, “or I’ll put our time to better use.” The sexual innuendo not lost on her.

  “Sex-maniac,” she hissed playfully, running her fingers through his blonde locks as they rested in the main cabin on the luxurious down-filled comforter decorating the impressive king-sized bed.

  Surprisingly, the yacht also had a fully-modern bathroom with steam shower, whirlpool tub, dual sinks, and separate vanity area. It was a relief being able to wash the smell of sex and Antonio off of her. She wasn’t about to be ravished so soon to their arrival.

  No. Her father didn’t need to know about her love life. After all, she was a grown woman and didn’t need his approval or permission. Although, Richard Jacobs was suspicious of every man she had ever dated.

  She, on the other hand, was curious why Antonio felt such animosity toward her parent. Growing up, Antonio was like a surrogate son to him and he loved and respected the mischievous Spaniard. So for the life of her, she couldn’t conceive of what had transpired between the two.

  Something else bothered her. Why were there women’s clothing along with her father’s things in the yacht’s small walk-in closet? Then she remembered her new stepmother and grimaced assuming they were hers. Raina had helped herself to a white cashmere sweater, dark washed jeans, brown leather bomber jacket, and a pair of brown leather boots. Surprisingly, they were all in her size. Her stepmother was four inches taller than her and more sinewy so they couldn’t belong to her. Hmm. Whoever it was did have good taste though.

  Swallowing hard, she steeled her nerves. No matter what was going on between Antonio and her father…it wouldn’t affect her relationship with either man. She had made-up her mind.

  “Stop thinking so loudly,” Antonio chastised from his position. “I can’t sleep with all of your worries floating around inside my brain. We’ll deal with your father and everything will be fine.”