Lup Teren (Wolf Land Series Book 1) Read online

“I can’t,” she snapped her annoyance, voice sounding like gravel scraping against fiberglass, as fangs breaking through gums brought the coppery taste of her own blood to her mouth. “Why am I shifting?”

  Steading his voice he announced, “At first, before we learn to control our emotions, the change can be triggered by heightened emotional states. Love, lust, anger, sadness, everything is felt a hundred times more intensely than when we were human. It takes a while, but you’ll learn to control it.” Sitting down on the floor with her on his lap, her naked arse nestled in the crook of his thighs, he stroked her back with long calming lengths. Shooing and speaking in a comforting tone as if she was a wounded animal that he was trying to rescue.

  Shaking her head in agitation she blurted, “This is torturous.”

  “Listen to me. Focus on the sound of my voice. Picture in your mind someplace where you feel safe and happy. Go there, in your mind. Imagine yourself at peace. That’s it,” he encouraged when her breathing became normal again and her teeth began to recede like a wave rolling back from the shore.

  For several long, tense moments they sat in silence, her on his lap, head resting against his still cotton-covered chest.

  “Will this ever get better?” A tear escaped its confines and slithered mockingly down her cheek.

  “Eventually,” he whispered, muscular arms tightening more around her torso. Closing her eyes, she rested, with Antonio wrapped around her and she knew as long as they were together she’d be fine. He’d make sure of it.

  On a mournful sigh she finally asked, “Will we ever get to shag?”

  Laughing this time, he stated bluntly, “Of that I can confidently say…most definitely.”

  *****

  “You two have been gone for quite some time.” Nicolae watched them knowingly, his face void of emotions.

  “What’s it to you?” Antonio practically snarled his question. “Shut up and do your damn job.” Turning to her, he announced to the room in general. “I’m going to take a shower. I smell of gun cleaner.”

  “Among other things,” Nicolae scoffed causing her cheeks to immediately flood with heat at his comment. “Wolves are so noisy,” he teased with a pompous offhanded wave of a hand. “All of that growling, snarling and panting. Well, what can you expect from beasts?”

  Before she could blink, Antonio was on top of the haughty man, fists pounding at him like a wrecking ball. Nicolae flew backwards into the side table causing the lamp to tip, plummet to the floor and shatter into a hundred pieces of broken glass. Quickly, righting himself Nicolae drove forward, a massive fist making contact with Antonio’s jaw, a loud, painful crack echoed throughout the room. Upon impact, Antonio growled, eyes darkening to onyx orbs, mouth elongating somewhat, thick chestnut and blonde hairs began sprouting from his face resembling sideburns…extremely long, extremely thick…sideburns.

  “Stop it!” she yelled, voice shrill and unpleasant to her own ears as she grabbed her best friend around the waist and hauled him off of the other man with ease. The action surprised her and her counterparts. “I don’t give a rat’s arse why you hate each other.” That was a lie. She wanted to know why her two protectors detested each other so much; however, at the moment she only wanted peace.

  Antonio hissed, “He started it.” Jeez! It was like dealing with toddlers.

  “Mutt!” Nicolae spat.

  “Pendejo!” Antonio growled.

  “Stop acting like children. You’re giving me a migraine. And we all know that’s never a good thing.” Immediately, both men stopped, watching her cautiously. “I’m going to shower first, when I come back this room better be back to normal. We also need to figure out what’s for dinner because I’m truly starving. I think it’s the wolf-thing. I have a craving for steak. Make it happen,” she smirked. “Seriously, make it happen.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dinner was eaten in uncomfortable silence. The entire time, Antonio stared down at his plate while Nicolae stared at the far wall over her shoulder. Both men sighing, grunting and mumbling under their breaths and with her new hybrid-senses she could smell their agitation and hear their hearts pumping loudly.

  “Please stop,” she begged in mid-bite, fork poised near her mouth. “Your testosterone is stifling me. I’m trying to enjoy my steak, which, by the way Nicolae, is delicious…but all of this tension is messing with my digestion. If you’re not going to eat your steaks, I’ll take them off of your hands,” she informed, reaching with her fork. Both men growled at her making her laugh. “See,” she giggled. “Something you both agree on. No one wants to lose their food.” They both smiled, and some of the tension left the room.

  After a few moments of silence, Antonio opened his mouth to speak when the laptop beeped warning them of an incoming Skype. Hastily, Nicolae left the table to adjust the volume. Her father’s face filled the screen once again.

  “Is everything alright?” Richard asked, sleep-deprived eyes shadowed with dark shadows. “How’s Raina?”

  She stood suddenly, striding toward him, sneaker-clad feet stalked silently. “How do you think I am, father?”

  “Raina,” he sighed before saying, “I had hoped you’d never find out. We’d hoped you’d be entirely human. Your mother’s DNA runs in your veins and we hoped it would counterbalance your Lycan genes completely. It wasn’t until Antonio’s accident that your shifter-side manifested. I still haven’t seen any Romani traits in you. Believe me, sweetheart. I never wished this on you.”

  “I do believe you.” She did. “What happens now?”

  “The three of you will be catching my private jet out of Atlanta in a few hours. My pilot is readying the plane as we speak. He’s trustworthy and he’s pack, so you’ll have another guard to watch over you during the trip.”

  “Great,” she grumbled, “another overheated wolf flexing his paws and showing his co…” Antonio growled low warning her not to finish her sentence, but he smiled letting her know he was back to his usual playful self. She couldn’t help but smile back. Nicolae, on the other hand, only rolled his eyes. A new habit she was sure he had acquired from her.

  “Where are we going, Sir?” Nicolae’s battle position back in play, hands clenched into fists at his side.

  “You’re going home, Nicolae.” Both Nicolae and Antonio’s faces paled at her father’s words.

  She moved closer to the screen. “Does that mean we’re going to…”

  “Romania,” Antonio whispered, his voice sounding hollow.

  “That’s a good thing, right?” Her gaze happened upon Nicolae, who hadn’t blinked and was scarcely breathing. An upset expression played on his attractive face.

  Antonio shook his head. “Not necessarily.” Taking her hand in his, he grasped it firmly. Thumb stroking the tops of her knuckles in a comforting gesture. “Not necessarily.”

  *****

  “Finally.” The café-au-lait skinned pilot complained as they made their way toward the sleek, white jetliner with the words Jacobs Pharmaceuticals painted in maroon on its side. The expensive airplane glistened under the faint moonlight threading through the thick layer of dark rainclouds. “I guess this is Miss Jacobs?” the man asked with a sing-song Irish lilt. Emerald-green eyes sparkling mischievously below a curtain of ebony lashes, wavy jet-black hair cropped low. Taking her hand, he kissed it, making her blush.

  “It is.” Antonio took her hand from the pilot, growled and bared his white teeth. “Raina, this is Blaine Kearney aka the fireman.”

  “Why do they call you the fireman?” she couldn’t help asking.

  Blaine only shrugged his shoulders. Those Herculean biceps the size of her head flexed and rippled under his forest green, button-down dress shirt.

  The heated stare he gave made her swoon. Bugger! Were all wolves so freaking hot? Weres must be led by their private parts. She certainly was. “You’re…Gaelic…I mean, Irish?”

  “I certainly am,” he said, unscathed by her surprised tone. “At least half of me is. On my father
’s side o’ course,” Blaine said with a chuckle. “Dad’s pack settled in Ireland in the sixteenth century. My mum’s clan is from Northern Africa near Morocco.”

  “Blimey,” she muttered, captivated by his rugged features and charming mannerisms. Not to mention those wickedly-playful green eyes. Wow!

  Was it wrong to want to be the woman-filling in a three male sandwich?

  The man before her chuckled before saying, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Jacobs.” He nodded at Nicolae who was standing behind her. “Nicolae.”

  “Blaine,” Nicolae nodded back. “Stop flirting and let us get a move on. We are on a schedule if you remember.”

  “What’s eating him?” Blaine’s question directed to Antonio, who was still holding her hand possessively.

  “We’re going to Romania,” Antonio reminded as though Blaine should know why the Romani would be so cross.

  “Ah,” Blaine frowned, “I see.” Straightening his stance, he commanded, “Let’s get the hell outta here then. Miss Jacobs, after you.” Blaine ushered her ahead of him. She knew when his glance had dipped low to her bottom when Antonio gave another low growl warning. Blaine only laughed. Jeez! It was going to be a really long trip.

  Take-off was smooth just like the man flying the plane. Soon they were all seated comfortably snacking on crisps, imported Italian bottled water, and a variety of finger sandwiches. Her favorites were the cucumber and white cheddar sandwiches and the roast beef with creamy horseradish sauce. The fellas seemed to prefer the curried chicken salad with chunks of white meat, green apples, raisins, and celery in a dill dressing.

  “This is tasty,” she hummed, taking a rather large bite of her sandwich rendering it in half. Following the barely chewed mouthful with a long swallow of her special tea.

  Antonio had insisted she drink the brew during their long flight since, “Having a loca she-wolf onboard wasn’t a good idea.” His words not hers.

  Her best friend bristled, “Mr. Jacobs spares no expense.” Antonio’s attitude toward her father was hostile at best.

  She couldn’t help take offense. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Spit it out.”

  “Your father has a habit of trying to buy people’s loyalty,” he stated firmly.

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t argue with his assessment. “I know.”

  At her admission he softened. “Come here,” he whispered.

  Nervously, she glanced over at Nicolae whose eyes were now closed and his chest rose and fell in a steady pattern signaling he had fallen asleep.

  Moving to the row where Antonio lounged, which was at the back of the cabin, she settled in the empty seat beside him.

  “Why is he so worried about returning to Romania?” Raina asked, nodding in Nicolae’s direction.

  “There is bad blood between him and his father. Actually, there’s bad blood between him and his entire clan.”

  “Oh,” she said in a hushed tone. “Why?”

  “Because he’s working with your father’s pack. No, that’s not entirely correct. It’s because he’s working with any pack,” he clarified. Antonio motioned for her to join him under the covers.

  “No,” she mouthed the word, trying not to disturb Nicolae, but the brute of a man gave her one of his patented panty-soaking-grins making her dash away her moral compass. Hell, that wasn’t true. She buried the damn compass in six feet of concrete then built a monument on top of it, planted flowers, and then watered them.

  Slowly, she inched closer, his sexy body from the neck down hidden beneath the fuzzy, maroon and white blanket with the company logo embroidered on it. As she watched, he unwrapped himself and surrounded her with the material when she sat. Without hesitation or permission, he found the snap of her jeans, then her zipper. With expert precision, he maneuvered his hand inside the flap and found his way inside her cotton panties quickly finding her soaked sex.

  “You’re wet for me already,” he mouthed, tracing invisible circles with his fingertip over her engorged clit. “Undo your blouse.” A smile appeared on his lips when she complied without argument. “Now…your bra.” Good grief! Her Were-self was a total slut, she thought releasing the front clasp of her black, la Perla lace bra.

  Antonio twisted his upper body toward hers, being careful not to dislodge their bodies from underneath the blanket. “Offer them to me,” he mouthed again with an arrogant grin. “Good girl,” he added when she submitted without hesitation. But her eyes narrowed which made him chuckle. He’d pay for that comment later.

  Bending his head, he gave one nipple a long, sensuous glide, drawing circles around the aching peak before sucking the entire areola into his hot, wet mouth, caressing the underside of the heavy swell with an expert tongue. When she began to pant, he released the nipple with a loud, wet pop and did the same with its twin. Within seconds, she was writhing against his suctioning mouth. Antonio used his tongue as only an animal could, skillfully…artfully…and with finesse.

  “I don’t even want to know how you became so good at that,” she whispered.

  “Lift your hips,” he commanded in a hushed plea. Eagerly, she did as she was told. To her delight, the man wasted no time pulling her jeans and panties further down her thighs, exposing her sex completely. Thank goodness she was shielded by the blanket. “Hold this,” he insisted, waiting as she held the edges of the material a little higher up which acted as a low hanging barrier. “Don’t let it move.”

  Without warning, he ventured lower and somehow managed to lodge his broad shoulders between her thighs, immediately beginning to feast on her nether region, using his tongue like he would use his cock. Spearing the muscle, he fucked her at his leisure, right before she felt a long, thick digit breach her opening. Mortified of being caught in such a compromising situation, she bit her lower lip to keep from moaning.

  Nervously, she glanced over at where Nicolae lay, his body facing the window now, as breathy snores escaped his chest. Knowing he was sleeping soundly, her body immediately relaxed, legs widened to give Antonio better access to her needy entrance. Smirking at her silent demand, he nipped her labia playfully, enjoying when she squirmed. Soon his finger was joined by a second then almost immediately a third, pumping into her in an unhurried motion that almost made her see stars.

  “Antonio,” the name escaped her dried lips like a prayer being given to the heavens. “I’m gonna come.”

  “Si, mi amor. Come for me, Raina,” he ordered, right before clamping onto her over sensitized clit once again, his fingers still pumping into her, but at a more hurried pace. “I need to see you.”

  “I can’t.” She watched as Nicolae shifted on his seat, eyes thankfully remaining closed, breathing steadily.

  “You will.” Grinning, he reached up with his free hand and began rubbing one longing nipple between his thumb and forefinger. It was all she could take as the orgasm landed on top of her, eyes squeezing shut from the pleasure, hands grasping at the material of the blanket, legs closing like a vise around Antonio’s still sucking face.

  “Holy! Hell!” she whispered into the synthetic fibers to keep quiet.

  “Sit on me,” he commanded, devouring her with only his gaze.

  The request almost made her fall off of the seat from shock. “What?”

  Even in the dimly lit cabin, she could tell Antonio’s face was pained and glancing down at his groin she understood why. He had released the monster and it mocked her. Thick veins throbbed, flexing like it had a mind of its own, the tip red and angry.

  “I’m dying here, Raina. Take me out of my misery.”

  “Nicolae is right there,” she blushed, eyes still locked onto his engorged member.

  “I don’t care,” he scoffed, resting her palm over his thick shaft.

  Not only were werewolves always randy, were they exhibitionists too? If so, she came from a line of freaks. However, at the moment, she didn’t care.

  “What if I start to change?” she
asked, biting her bottom lip nervously. “Like before.”

  “Did you drink your tea?” She nodded. “Then there’s no reason to worry. The tea contains miniscule traces of wolfsbane and an assortment of gypsy medicinal herbs that suppress your skin-walker DNA. It’s only temporary, but it should work.”

  “Skin-walker?” she mouthed, the term unfamiliar to her.

  “Various species that can transform into other types of animals,” he clarified.

  Remaining seated, he directed her to stand in front of him, their bodies hidden by the high backs of the row of seats in front of them. Wordlessly, he helped her lower her jeans and underwear to her ankles, arranging her body over his, her back to his front. Holding his monster cock firmly at the base, lined it up against her sodden entrance and slowly eased her onto his erection.

  “Carajo!” he hissed on a groan.

  The initial stretching sensation made her breath catch, but as he slowly pumped his hips against her a gush of liquid arousal helped coat his entry. Before she realized it he had buried himself completely, bottoming out when he bumped her cervix.

  “Heavens! You’re huge,” she mouthed, her body instinctively meeting him thrust for thrust. “I can feel you pulsing inside of me.”

  “You feel so good, sweetheart. So hot. So tight,” he moaned a little too loudly making Nicolae stir.

  “Mmm,” she hummed, savoring the delicious stretching sensation. “You feel incredible too.”

  Finding that perfect rhythm, Antonio’s speed increased and so did hers. Their combined movements creating wet, erotic sounds almost too loud in the narrow space of the airplane’s cabin. Within seconds, that all too familiar feeling began to build low in her sex, branching out toward her channel as the man continued to pump steadily into her quivering sex.

  Reaching forward around her body, Antonio began to rub her clit. Not too hard. Not too soft. It was the perfect amount of pressure to send her over the edge and into the most mind-altering orgasm she’d ever had.

  Desperately, her inner muscles clamped onto Antonio’s cock as it continued to pump. Unable to take any more and afraid that Nicolae would wake and catch them in the act, she reached between her spread legs and massaged his rock-hard balls until his body stiffened.