Seduced by a Wolf

Seduced by a Wolf

Zena Wynn

Also from Phaze by Zena Wynn A Matter of Trust Illicit Attraction The Question The Contract Mary and the Bear Tameka’s Smile

This is an explicit and erotic novel intended for the enjoyment of adult readers. Please keep out of the hands of children.

www.Phaze.com

Seduced by a Wolf Copyright © 2011 by Zena Wynn ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Cover Art © 2011 by Niki Browning Edited by Adrienne Jones First Edition October 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1-60659-636-4

Published by: Phaze Books An imprint of Mundania Press LLC 6457 Glenway Ave., #109 Cincinnati, OH 45211 All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Mundania Press LLC, 6457 Glenway Avenue, #109, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211, [email protected]. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Mundania Press LLC. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

Everyone has secrets... Von Washington has a secret. She never stopped being pen pals with her fiancé Derrick’s former army buddy, Sean, and now he’s come to town to visit. Master Sergeant Sean Jacobson has secrets. He’s been in love with his former army buddy’s girl, Von, for years and believes she feels the same. After his last disastrous mission, he’s ready to do something about it. Then there’s the other thing that happened to him... But some secrets are deadlier than others... Minister Derrick Wilkins also has a secret, and his might get one of them killed. Passion, love, betrayal... Have you been seduced?

Chapter One A knock sounded at the front door. Eight-thirty. He’s right on time. Von Washington wiped sweaty palms on her plum colored lingerie and took a deep breath to settle her nerves. Counting slowly to ten, and then to twenty, she waited until his second knock came, this one more impatient than the first. “Coming!” Hands trembling, Von mussed her hair before going to the door. After a quick glance to confirm her guest’s identity, she flipped the locks and stood to the side, allowing the wood to partially hide her. Derrick Wilkins Jr. strode inside. “What took you so long to answer the door? And why are you dressed like that?” he added the moment he spotted her, his displeasure evident. Von closed the door and gave a fake yawn, raising her arms above her head in a manner that caused her thigh-length satin robe to gape. As planned, Derrick’s gaze scanned the length of her scantily clad body. “Sorry, honey. I didn’t sleep well last night and things got so stressful at work, I forgot you were stopping by. All I wanted to do when I arrived home was take a shower and relax. I must have fallen asleep.” Von sent up a silent prayer, repenting for the blatant lie. His expression immediately changed from stern to concerned. “If you’re that tired, I should go.” Derrick spun around on one foot and headed back toward the door. Alarmed, Von spoke quickly. “Don’t be silly. You’re here now.” She placed her hands on his arms as he drew even with her. “Besides, I want to hear how the meeting went.” His eyes filling with the passion of the fervent, Derrick allowed himself to be led further into the living room and over to the couch. He unclipped his phone and laid it on the coffee table before sitting, all the while launching into what turned out to be a thirty-minute dialogue on the mission trip to Haiti their church planned to take and the good he hoped to accomplish. Having heard it all before, Von settled beside him on the couch and listened with half an ear, interjecting encouraging sounds at the appropriate moments. Mentally she considered her next move. This seduction business wasn’t as easy as the television and movies made it sound.

Arms stretching languidly, she opened her mouth and arched her chest in an exaggerated fake yawn, shifting closer to him as she relaxed. Still he talked, hands gesturing as he expounded on his favorite theme—helping the rebuilding of Haiti, particularly the schools. About halfway into Derrick’s monologue, Von turned sleepily toward him, casually resting her arm along the back of the couch while lifting her leg onto the couch cushion. Her knee now lay centimeters from his muscular, khaki encased thigh. As planned, the position caused her robe to fall open, revealing a long, lean, shapely brown thigh. Finally Derrick laid a hand on her exposed skin, rubbing slightly as he murmured, “Listen to me, boring you by going on and on about my day.” Tenderly cupping his narrow jaw with its five o’clock shadow, she disagreed. “You didn’t bore me. You’re passionate about what’s important to you. I like that in a man,” she finished with a mischievous grin. His gaze traveled over her again, lingering on the tantalizing amount of cleavage bared by the short, low-cut chemise she wore. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to him as he said in a deep, husky voice, “You’re very important to me and I find I’m extremely passionate about you.” “I’m glad to hear it,” she managed to say before his lips claimed hers in a scorching kiss. Von circled his neck with her arms and moved in closer. When her satin covered puckered nipples made contact with his chest, Derrick groaned hungrily. “You’re killing me,” he complained as he dropped kisses along her jaw. She leaned her head to the side to give him access. So far, so good. Maybe this time... She immediately shut down that thought, not wanting to jinx herself. Derrick buried his face in the curve of her neck and sent his hands skimming all over her body. He shoved at the robe until she lowered her arms, allowing it to drop off her shoulders. As he caressed the skin of her back, he murmured, “Your skin is so soft, like silk.” Von hid a small smile as she helped the satiny material slide all the way down so that it pooled on the cushion behind her. In the process, she accidentally maneuvered one of her loose spaghetti straps so that it fell to the crook of her elbow, leaving one breast almost completely exposed. Derrick immediately noticed, staring like a man in a trance. For a moment he seemed frozen in place. Then he lunged forward, knocking her back to the couch and covering her body with his as he latched onto her

nipple, suckling hard. She clutched his head, holding him to her and moved restlessly beneath him. That hard part of him pressed right against her mound, showing her how much Derrick wanted her. The sensation of his mouth tugging at her breast while his hips rubbed insistently against her clit caused the crotch of her bikini panties to dampen. Derrick switched sides, lavishing the same attention on her neglected nipple as he had the first, and he sent his hand tunneling between their bodies and into her underwear. Von moaned her approval as she willingly and eagerly spread her legs wider, opening herself completely to him. Yes! Now they were cooking. It was about time. The only sound in the room was their heavy breathing, grunts and moans, and the hiss of air escaping the couch cushions as they moved around. Derrick rose to his knees above her and wrestled with his belt, his eyes glued to her body. She glanced down, aware of the picture she made: breasts exposed, gown hiked to her waist, thighs spread wide, panties low on her hips with the barest hint of pubic hair showing. She looked like a complete and utter wanton and that’s exactly how she felt. The buckle jingled as he finally managed to pull it free. His hand was on the zipper, the button already undone, when Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus blasted out, jarring in the heavy silence. Noooooo! Von’s wide-eyed gaze met his. Derrick visibly struggled with himself. His glance bounced back and forth between the phone on the glass coffee table and her body, laid out like an offering. Pick me. Just this once, put me first, she mentally pleaded. On the fourth ring, he lunged for the table and scooped up his phone. “Yeah?” His body jerked straight, almost coming to attention as he stood. “Yes, sir...No, sir...I was in the bathroom...Vondalyn, sir?” His guilty gaze slid to her and then darted away. “I was just leaving...” He tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder and began rapidly straightening his clothes. “Tonight?” His voice rose in pitch and he half-turned his back so she couldn’t read his expression. His shoulders bunched. “No, sir, I didn’t mean to raise...yes, sir...” His grip on the phone tightened. Von frowned. “... okay—I mean, yes, sir...all right...goodbye.” Derrick bent his head, shoulders slumped dejectedly. He seemed almost resigned as he sank slowly onto the couch beside her with his eyes closed. If he held that phone any tighter, it would break. She wanted to ease his tension but didn’t know what to do. Instead, with an inward sigh, Von propped up on her elbows and waited, already knowing what came next. When he opened his eyes, he looked everywhere but at her. “Cover up,”

he ordered harshly. Von tugged on her panties, pulling them back into position. The act of sitting up caused her nightgown to fall around her hips. Then she pulled on her straps so that her breasts were covered. He bent over at the waist with his hands dangling between his spread legs. “I’m sorry I pounced on you,” he said, his gaze on the carpeted floor. “You’re a real lady, a virtuous woman. I should have restrained myself, not forced my animalistic passions upon you.” Derrick cast a quick glance in her direction then jumped to his feet. “I’ll see myself out.” He was gone before she could get her mouth to work. **** “Sooooo, how did it go?” her cousin Marketta asked in a silky voice. Von growled and buried her head under her pillow, phone still held to her ear. “That good, huh?” She pushed the pillow out of the way and rolled over onto her back, covering her eyes with her forearm. “He came over...” “And?” “I had on the lingerie, the set you helped me pick out. Acted like I fell asleep and forgot he was coming over.” “Good, good,” she said encouragingly. “Did he believe it?” Von rolled her eyes. “Of course he did. I’m a good girl. I’d never set out to seduce a man.” Marketta laughed. Then Von told her the rest of what happened. “Let me get this straight. That bastard had you spread out before him like a Christmas feast and got up and left because his daddy called?” Von winced and briefly pulled the phone away from her ear. “Watch the eardrum, please.” “Sorry, girl, but dang...” “His father, the pastor,” she reminded Marketta. “Whom he’s deathly afraid of, but girl, it shouldn’t have mattered if it was the Pope calling if he was about to get—” “Derrick isn’t afraid of his dad. He simply has a great deal of respect for him. You know he plans to take Pastor Wilkins’s place as head of the church one day. That’s why he went to seminary.” “Yeah, yeah, praise the Lord and all that jazz. Von, you two are engaged, and have been for six months. God is the one who created sex and he made

it gooood. ” “He created sex for marriage,” she corrected. “You and Derrick are in a committed relationship,” Marketta continued like she hadn’t spoken. “There’s nothing wrong with you taking a test drive. We’re talking for-ev-er here. That’s a long damn time. It’ll be too late after saying ‘I Do’ to realize you made a mistake, and with his father and your soft heart, divorce isn’t an option.” “It’s not a mistake, Marketta. I love Derrick and he loves me,” she responded softly. “Oh, sweetie, I know you love him, but are you in love with him? Derrick’s the only boyfriend you’ve ever had and while it’s commendable that you stuck with him while he was deployed overseas, doing so froze your social development. You didn’t date—in high school or college—and don’t get me started on that whole college business. I still say you made a mistake by not going off to school.” “Pastor Wilkins asked me to attend college locally,” Von reminded in the tone of a person who’s had this discussion many, many times before with the same results. “And that’s another thing. You and Derrick have been together a long damn time, since you were fifteen. The man’s going to be your father-in-law and you still call him Pastor Wilkins,” she complained. That’s because Derrick Wilkins Senior gave her the willies. He was not a man she wanted to get on the bad side of. Fortunately, he approved of her and Derrick’s marriage. “What do you want me to call him, Dad?” “Well, why not?” “We just don’t have that type of relationship,” Von explained. “That’s because the man is a stuck-up old fart who belongs in the dinosaur era. He believes children should be seen and not heard, and the only good woman is one on her back, preferably with her legs spread wide open.” “Marketta!” “Within the sanctity of marriage, of course,” she added wryly. “Pastor Wilkins isn’t that bad. Yes, he’s a bit old fashioned in his views on women, but it’s all scriptural.” Marketta snorted. “Honey, he uses that bible of his like a weapon against people, and honestly, a person could find scripture to support just about any stance they want to take. That doesn’t mean it’s right.” Von didn’t know what to say to that. Marketta was usually flippant when it came to anything to do with religion. This flash of insight she’d

spouted made Von uncomfortable, mostly because in her heart of hearts, she agreed. Troubled, she sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. Marketta sighed, then said in a soft voice, “Von, everybody that says ‘Hallelujah’ ain’t saved, and toting a bible don’t make you a Christian. Some of them preachers are the freakiest demons in suits you ever want to meet. I haven’t decided which camp your Pastor Dee falls in, but I’m telling you something about that man ain’t right and it scares me that your boy Derrick wants to be just like him.” Von said nothing. When the silence became uncomfortable, her cousin said, “Look, I got nothing against religion. We live in the Bible belt, after all, and Lord knows our family could use us some Jesus in our lives, me included. All I’m saying is read the bible for yourself and make your own decisions. Don’t be letting nobody control you, telling you what to believe and how to live. You’ve got a mind. Use it. And as for sex, if you want to go to your marriage bed a virgin, then do it. But make sure it’s what you want to do, not some rule someone imposed upon you, or ’cause you’re scared of being like your momma.” She sighed. “All right. Lecture over. We cool?” “Yes.” “You know I got your back, right?” Von smiled, and it came through into her voice. “Of course.” “Good. Now when’s the last time you heard from the hunk?” “Sean?” “Sean?” Marketta mimicked her in a high voice. “Of course, Sean. Don’t get me wrong. Your boy Derrick’s fine and all that. I’ll give him his props, but Sean? Mmm-mm! I could lick that white boy from head-to-toe. You know vanilla was always my favorite flavor of ice cream. ” Von laughed at Marketta’s dramatics and walked over to her dresser. She picked up the picture frame holding the photo of a Sean and Derrick in Army fatigue pants and tank tops, holding automatic rifles while the hot, desert sun shone down upon them. They looked like every woman’s bad boy fantasy come to life. Derrick, with his smooth dark skin and intense golden-brown eyes, and Sean with his deep, golden tan and equally intense dark brown eyes, both gazed in the camera, serious faced and sexy. Then she remembered and the laughter dried up. “It’s been months and I’m worried. No email, no letters—nothing. That’s not like him.” Derrick had met Sean in boot camp and the two had become fast friends. When he learned Sean had no family, at Derrick’s insistence, she’d begun writing and emailing Sean as well. Though they’d never met face-to-face, over the last eight years they’d become great pen pals. In some ways, Sean

knew her better than Derrick. With him, she could say anything and there was no censure, no judgment. Unlike Derrick, who could sometimes get a little preachy. Occupational hazard, she guessed. “Ah, man, that bites. Hope he’s okay,” Marketta stated. “Me, too.” “Well, look, I know you like to get your sleep on when it’s your day off, so I’ll let you go. You think about what I said.” “Yes, ma’am,” Von smarted, making a snappy salute in the mirror. “Fool.” Marketta laughed and disconnected the call. Von put the cordless phone in its cradle and went into the bathroom to shower. Though it was still early, only eight, she was too alert to return to bed now. As she showered, Von considered Marketta’s words. Her cousin had a good heart, although the way she spoke sometimes, a person who didn’t know her would have difficulty believing it. Her main concern was that Von hadn’t experienced life. Marketta thought she was too sheltered and if she married Derrick now, Von would regret it later on. She wanted her to get out there and experiment, taste freedom, enjoy a bit of variety and then, if Derrick was still who Von wanted, marry him with a clear conscious knowing she’d made the best choice. Knowing that Von’s mother’s lifestyle of drugs and men had put her off the idea of sleeping around, Marketta pushed instead for Von to take the plunge with Derrick, see what he was like as a lover before she said ‘I do.’ Something Von agreed with, but not for the reasons Marketta stated. She and Derrick had been a couple since she was fifteen and he eighteen. At the time, she’d been spending most of her time at Marketta’s trying to avoid her momma’s various live-in boyfriends who thought breaking in a ‘pretty young thing’ was a wonderful idea. Sex was the last thing on her mind, and she’d been happy to finally find a boyfriend, a senior no less, who respected her values. Who respected her, and wasn’t just spouting words to lower her guard so he could get into her pants. They held hands and kissed, but Derrick wasn’t touchy-feely like other guys. It was wonderful. Like her, Derrick came from a single parent home, only he lived with his father while she lived with her mother. Derrick didn’t like talking about his mother. It upset him every time the subject came up. Since she pretty much felt the same way about hers, it was simply another level where they’d connected. After a few months of seeing each other, Derrick had taken her home to meet his father. Pastor Derrick had invited her to attend their church,

and she’d gone, not knowing what to expect. Only knowing her agreement seemed to make Derrick happy. Their relationship had lasted through Derrick’s four years of military service. Derrick had started hinting at marriage while he was in seminary. The wedding was still a year away since Derrick wanted a chance to settle in his new position as junior pastor of the church before marrying. But Von was getting impatient. Did Derrick want her because he loved her as much as she loved him, or because she made the ‘perfect’ minister’s wife and his daddy approved of her? Pastor Wilkins had spent the last eight years training Von to be Derrick’s wife. Monitoring where she went, who she hung out with, influencing what college she attended and even which career she chose, and making sure there was no other man in the picture. Since she loved Derrick and knew even in high school that he was the one she wanted to marry, Von hadn’t minded—much. In fact, she owed Derrick’s father a great deal. Understanding that her home situation was undesirable, he’d pulled some strings and used his connections to help her get her first efficiency apartment, despite her young age. He’d taken her around and helped her get decent furnishings dirt cheap, and been instrumental in helping her find work in what eventually became her field of study—respiratory therapy. He’d even talked one of the church members into giving Von her first car. But now that she was older with her own career, her own apartment, and her own life, Von was troubled by how much of their lives Derrick Senior still seemed to dictate. That’s why she’d begun listening to Marketta more and more. Well, that and the fact that she was twenty-six and no longer a scared teenager. Von wanted to know what she and Derrick were missing out on. While still a virgin, Von was no stranger to sexual pleasure. She’d learned self-gratification, but wanted to know what sex would be like with the man she loved. She thought Derrick felt the same way. Sometimes their necking would turn into heavy petting. Derrick always called a halt before things got too far, but with each session it was getting harder and harder for Von to hold back, longer to regain her balance. It bugged her that Derrick seemed to have so much control. Last night was the first time she’d seen him crack. If only his daddy hadn’t called... The man must be psychic. Every time she and Derrick came close to crossing any lines, the phone rang. Who was she kidding? Maybe it was

God using Pastor Wilkins to keep them from making a huge mistake. Sighing, she turned off the shower, dried off and went into the room to dress. She had a lot of chores to do today and they wouldn’t get done with her sitting around the apartment.

Chapter Two Staff Sergeant Sean “Cougar” Jacobson looked around the quarters that had been his and what remained of his team’s home for the last six weeks. It was good to be back in the US. He had eight weeks of leave coming to him and this time, he was taking them. While he was away, he had decisions to make. One of which was whether to re-enlist. After his team’s last botched job, the decision was not as easy as it should have been. Each time he left on a mission, he knew this one could possibly be his last. The knowledge that he might not make it back alive had always been acceptable as long as the mission was successful. Now, however, after experiencing torture firsthand, Sean was no longer quite so confident that the military was his life as he’d come to believe. Then there was the other thing that happened to him... Corporal Cameron “Spook” Rodriguez slapped him on the back, interrupting his musings. “Serge, you remember what I taught you. Call if you run into any problems.” Spook arched his eyebrows meaningfully. Sean gave a brief grin. “I doubt I will. Your instructions were very detailed and thorough.” His smile faded. “I never thanked you.” Spook flushed. “Ah, don’t mention it.” “I have to. What you did for me and the others, you saved our lives.” Spook was the youngest, most inexperienced member of his team, and surprisingly had turned out to be the one with the ability to save them all. Spook looked down at the carpet. “Some would say I damned you for all eternity.” “Hey! I’d rather be,” he glanced around furtively and lowered his voice, “a werewolf—” “Lycan,” Spook corrected. “Lycan,” Sean corrected himself, “than dead.” Spook raised haunted eyes to Sean. “Too bad the others didn’t feel that way.” He laid a comforting hand on Spook’s shoulder. “Cam, you tried. You made the offer when you didn’t have to. Those of us who took it—” “Who survived,” Spook interjected. “Who survived,” Sean acknowledged, “appreciate you for doing so.”

Their special ops team of ten had been ambushed while on a mission to find and destroy a newly formed al Quid’a cell the government got wind of in the jungles of Central America. Those who hadn’t died in the ensuing firefight had been captured and held hostage. The terrorist bastards had no intentions of releasing them, but got their jollies torturing them one at a time for information they knew the men hadn’t possessed. It was then that Spook revealed he was Lycan born. First he explained what it meant, and then he offered to transform them. The process was not without its own share of danger. First they had to survive a vicious attack by Spook in wolf-man form. Unlike in werewolf legends, a simple bite wouldn’t do. If Spook managed not to kill them—and there was no guaranteeing he wouldn’t since the taste of blood could make him loose all control—then the virus could. The L-virus is what transformed them into Lycans. The virus attached itself to the Y-chromosomes, causing delirium as their body temperature spiked to inhuman levels while the virus took hold. The onset lasted about thirty-six hours and it took about ninety-six for the virus to run its course, with the first twenty-four hours being the worst. If the fever didn’t kill them, then they still had to survive their first shift with their sanity intact, which occurred during the first full moon after being bitten. Despite the risks, Sean had jumped at the opportunity. Given a choice between possible and sure death, he’d chosen transformation. As leader, he’d demanded to be first. Of the eight of them that had been captured, two refused, one didn’t survive the attack and another didn’t survive his first change. And only the four Lycans—Spook, Weasel, Monk, and him—made it out of Central America alive. “Well, remember the Lycan brotherhood is everywhere, even where you’re headed. You have any trouble, give me a call and I’ll put you in touch with folks who can help. You still have the numbers I gave you?” Sean patted his chest pocket. “Right here.” “Good.” Spook cleared his throat and seemed uncertain what to do next. He looked like a father who didn’t want to let his kid go off to college, but knew he had to release him to the real world sometime. Smiling wryly at the thought, Sean reached over and lifted his gear off the bed. “You tell your girl I said hi. Bet she’ll be happy to see you.” Adjusting the strap of his duffle on his shoulder, he corrected Spook. “She’s not my girl. Von’s engaged to a former army buddy.” “She’s not married yet. That means you still have time.”

“I told you, Hooch is a friend. I wouldn’t do him like that.” At one time, Hooch had been a brother to him, had even saved his life once during a firefight by pulling him out of harm’s way. You didn’t repay a man by stealing his girl. “Sure, Serge.” Spook’s expression spoke volumes. “You just remember what I told you. See you when you get back.” Sean nodded and walked out the door. Only to himself did he admit that he was in love with his best friend’s girl, and if Von ever looked at him with a hint of the love he felt for her, screw friendship. He’d do whatever it took to make her his. **** Sean caught a hop into Fort Stewart and arranged lodging on the base. MWR arranged for a car rental and gave him a map of the area. He picked up his truck, went to a nearby Wal-Mart to purchase some additional supplies, though he could have bought them on the base, then returned to his room to settle in. Once he unpacked, he picked up the remote, turned to CNN Sports and watched a baseball game, more as a way to pass the time than out of any interest in the sport. Inside he was a bundle of nerves. Former Private First Class Derrick “Hooch” Wilkins had encouraged him on more than one occasion to come for a visit, but was the invitation still open? It had been years since they’d seen each other, though they still kept in touch via email and Facebook. His friend, Hooch, was a minister now. A freaking man of the cloth. There’d been nothing holy about the guy he met in basic training and later deployed in the same unit with to Iraq. That guy had been pure trouble, proving the maxim about preacher’s kids to be true. They’d tagged him with the moniker because of the amount of liquor he consumed and his winning way with the ladies. Sean shook his head. Unbelievable. And Von? Did Hooch know his woman still wrote to him? Sean picked up the recently opened packet of letters that were never far from his side. She’d continued to write and email even though he’d dropped off radar for several months. Von knew his job was frequently dangerous. He’d never gone into detail but had given enough hints that she knew not to panic or think he was ending their friendship if his end happened to go silent for weeks. But he’d never gone months without responding. From the letters that had caught up with him after everything was over, she was frantic with

worry. He brought the envelopes to his lips and kissed them, wondering if Von knew exactly how much of herself she revealed in the lines on these pages. She was so fucking beautiful to him. It didn’t matter if she was black, white, Hispanic, or Asian. Her soul radiated beauty. Derrick was a very lucky man. He wondered if the bastard realized how lucky. Finally, evening arrived. Tight with nerves, he dialed Hooch’s home number. The phone rang several times with no answer. Just when he was about to hang up, Hooch answered. “Hello?” “Hey, stranger. I hope that invitation to come visit is still open.” “Cougar?” “Yeah, it’s me.” “How are you? Where are you?” Hooch sounded happy to hear from him. With a silent sigh of relief, Sean collapse against the backrest of the couch. “Fort Stewart for a little R and R.” “Stewart? That’s right up the road,” he exclaimed. “That’s the plan. So, that invite still good?” “Yeah, man! I can’t believe it. Wait until I tell Von you’re here. She’s been asking about you,” Derrick said excitedly. Heart thumping at the mention of her name, Sean counseled himself to play it cool. “Oh, you two still kickin’ it?” “We’re getting married.” “Lucky bastard,” Sean told him with feeling. “Don’t I know it.” “So when’s the happy event?” he asked, dreading the answer. “Not for another year.” Sean scowled. “Why so long? Aren’t you afraid someone will steal her out from under you?” “Von? Man, she’s crazy about me. She’s not going anywhere.” Fool, he deserves to lose her, taking a beautiful woman like Von for granted. If she were his, he’d have bound her to him in every way possible as soon as she said yes. “You know her better than anyone,” he said, keeping his thoughts to himself. “True that. We’ve been together a long time.” Derrick sounded smug. “So, how long you here for? How soon can we get together?” “A couple of weeks. You tell me. I’m footloose and fancy-free. You’re the one with the nine-to-five.” “How about tomorrow night? Von’s off and there’s no service or

meetings at the church. Chili’s sound good?” “Works for me. I can go for some ribs.” He paused to take a sip of his beer. “Hooch, I can’t believe you’re a minister.” Derrick gave a sheepish laugh. “Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m following in the old man’s footsteps. And call me Derrick. That’s who I am now. Hooch is long gone.” From what Hooch, make that Derrick, had revealed about his father, deep in the night when confessions flowed, in his place Sean wasn’t sure he’d want to. Derrick Wilkins Senior sounded like a religious fanatic. “I finished seminary and made junior pastor at our church. Dad suggested giving myself time to get used to my new responsibilities before adding a wife to the mix. Von understands and agrees. He’s been grooming her to be a minister’s wife, so she knows what’s important.” Sean bared his teeth and growled inaudibly. “That’s great,” he forced out through clenched teeth, knowing full well how Von felt about continually being pushed to the side, coming in last on Derrick’s priority list. “Hey, listen. I’ve got to run to a meeting, but we’ll definitely get together tomorrow, say six?” “Sounds good.” “It’s the Chili’s on Ashley Road. Google it and get the directions.” “Will do. Check you tomorrow.” “Later.” They both disconnect. Sean sat staring blankly at the television. Tomorrow he’d meet the love of his life for the first time, face-to-face. **** Von fumbled with the door and set her laundry basket down in the entryway, pulling her ringing cell phone out of her pocket, catching it on the last ring. “Hey!” “You sound out of breath. What were you doing?” “Laundry. You caught me with my hands full.” She pushed her basket clear of the doorway and shut the door. Then, with the phone tucked between her shoulder and ear, she toted her clothes to the couch and set the basket on the coffee table. “Guess who I spoke with last night?” Derrick asked excitedly. “Who?” Only half listening, she reached into the basket and grabbed a pair of lace panties to fold. “Cougar.”

“Who?” “Sean Jacobson,” he said impatiently, like she should know immediately who he was talking about. The panties slipped from her fingers onto the floor and she clutched the phone to her ear. “Your army buddy, Sean?” “Yes. He’s in town, at Fort Stewart. He called last night.” Stunned, she stared blankly at the wall in front of her. “That’s... wonderful. How did he sound?” “He sounded like the same old Sean. Said he was taking me up on my invitation to come and visit. We’re meeting tonight at Chili’s and I’d like you to be there.” “Sure. I’d love to meet him in person.” That was the understatement of a century. “I’ll be by to pick you up at five-thirty. Wear something pretty. I want him to see I wasn’t exaggerating when I told him how beautiful you are.” Despite her spinning thoughts, Von managed a slight smile at the sincere compliment she’d just been given. “Thank you.” “I’ve got to get back to work. See you tonight.” “I’m looking forward to it.” Von snapped her phone shut and brought it to her lips. Sean’s alive and in town? Why hadn’t he contacted her, returned any of her letters or emails? She didn’t have any answers. Maybe tonight she’d get some, but that presented another problem. Von had never told Derrick that she’d continued to keep in contact with Sean after his discharge. It wasn’t like it was a big secret or they’d done anything immoral, but by keeping quiet and for so long, Derrick was sure to take it the wrong way if he found out now. Tonight was going to be interesting in more than one way. Suddenly joy welled up inside. He’s alive! She’d begun to believe he’d gotten himself killed on some fool mission. Blinking away tears of happiness, she slid open her phone and typed out a message on the keypad: Call me! The hunk’s in town. Marketta worked for the electric company, processing payments. Von knew not to call her direct office line because she wouldn’t be able to talk. But her cousin could talk on her lunch break, only an hour away. However, less than five minutes later, her phone rang. “He’s here?” Marketta squealed excitedly as soon as she answered. “Yessss!” Von felt like pumping her fist in the air. “Does Derrick know?”

Confusion calming her somewhat, she answered, “Of course. How do you think I found out? Derrick called to say he wanted me to go with him tonight to Chili’s. That’s where they’re meeting up.” “Wait. Now I’m lost. Sean is here to see you, isn’t he?” Both Von’s eyebrows shot up. “No! Derrick’s been inviting Sean to come visit forever. He must have finally decided to take him up on it.” “Mmm-hmm.” Suddenly agitated, Von rose from the couch and crossed over to the window. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Girl, Derrick’s been out of the service, how long? In all that time, your boy Sean has never come to visit until one day, he goes MIA and drops off radar for months. When he suddenly resurfaces, he pops up for a visit. You know what I think? I think something went down that spooked your boy and made him realize who’s important in his life, and that’s why he’s here. He may have contacted Derrick, but it’s you he’s here to see.” Troubled and unable to pinpoint why, Von began to pace. “Marketta, Sean and I are friends—pen pals really—just like he and Derrick are friends. But unlike Derrick, Sean and I have never discussed meeting in person. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but maybe whatever happened— supposing something did—made him realize how important his friendship with Derrick is. Derrick saved his life once, you know. That’s not something a person forgets.” “Hmph, knowing Derrick he hasn’t let Sean forget it,” she murmured. “Derrick’s not like that,” Von snapped. “All right, all right. No need to get hostile. You know best. I gotta get back to work.” “Okay.” “Make sure you call and tell me how the evening went.” “I will.” Dismissing her cousin’s words as nonsense, Von finished her laundry, all the while wondering, What am I wearing tonight? **** Promptly at five twenty-five, a knock sounded at the door. Von took one last look in the mirror. Her modest, tulip shaped, calflength denim skirt skimmed her body without being too revealing. Paired with it she wore a baby blue shirt with fitted three-quarter length sleeves, possessing a neckline that bared only her collarbone. Her hair, which hung

to the center of her back when unbound, was gathered and pinned to her nape in a reserved bun. Her only adornment was the slightly decorative hair comb helping to hold everything in place. Satisfied that she looked nice, she left her bedroom and answered the door. “Hello,” she greeted Derrick with a peck on the cheek. Derrick placed his arms on her shoulders and pushed her back a step, looking her over from the floor up. He was smiling and nodding approvingly until his gaze reached her face. Then he scowled. “You’re wearing makeup.” “Just the barest hint of face powder,” she defended. “Wash it off.” “But Derrick...” “Von, you know what we teach. How can we, as leaders, expect others to do as we say if we’re not obedient to scripture ourselves?” he asked in a more reasonable tone. She pulled away from him and widened the distance between them. “The bible doesn’t say anything about women not wearing makeup. This little bit of foundation I’m wearing is not going to send me to hell.” In recent weeks, she’d been questioning more and more their church’s teachings and searching for her own answers rather than blindly following what she was told. “Not only that, I’ve been watching other churches on television. Their women wear cosmetics and pants, too, and their ministers don’t make them feel like whores for doing so.” Derrick reached for her and when she avoided him, he sighed deeply. “You’re right. Wearing makeup is not a sin. We never said it was. We believe, like Paul, that women should focus more on their inward beauty rather than their outward appearance. You have a pure and holy soul. Inner goodness radiates out of you like a light. You don’t need to paint your face. You’re beautiful naturally, the way you are.” She wavered indecisively. There was logic in his words. “Will you do it for me, please?” Von bit her lower lip, tugging on it with her teeth before nodding. “Thank you,” he said warmly. She went into the bathroom and washed her face, then reapplied moisturizer. As she gathered her purse and keys, Derrick asked, “When did you purchase that stuff?” “I didn’t. One of Marketta’s friends sells Mary Kay. She bought it to help out and gave it to me as a gift.” Under his breath he muttered, “Should have known she was involved in this.”

“Derrick, don’t start,” she warned. “I’m not starting anything. I just wish you could see that she isn’t the best influence on you,” he said defensively. “She’s family. Marketta’s always been there for me and always will. I love her.” Her association with her cousin was the one area Von had always refused to bend on. Neither Derrick nor his father liked her. They thought she was too loose, too opinionated, too...everything. They’d tried to get her to terminate her relationship with her cousin and when that didn’t work, they pushed her to minimize contact. Again, she’d refused, preferring instead not to mention Marketta unless absolutely necessary. They walked to the elevator in silence. In the car, Derrick spoke. “If you have questions about our teachings, come to me. Watching all those religious programs on television isn’t good for you. I don’t want you getting confused.” “Truth is the truth, Derrick. Shouldn’t matter who is preaching it.” “There’s truth and then there’s practices and varying interpretations. To avoid confusion, a family should always be fed from the same source and that’s what we’ll be—a family. One day soon.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “So, you’ll stop watching those other programs and from now on, ask me?” “I’ll think about it,” she said as she gazed out the window. Derrick’s grip tightened briefly on her hand before releasing it. “You’ve been talking to your cousin. Don’t deny it. The only time you get combative like this is when you’ve been around her.” Von turned to face him. “Combative? Because I didn’t instantly agree with you but instead stated I’d think about it?” “A wife is to obey her husband,” he stated firmly. “We’re not married yet,” she muttered.

Chapter Three Derrick parked the car and grabbed her by the left arm. “What are you saying?” he asked angrily. Von’s gazed traveled from his hold to his face. “You’re hurting me,” she told him in a low, quiet voice. He shook her roughly. “Answer me,” he demanded before finally releasing her. Rubbing her throbbing bicep, Von moved closer to the door, watching him warily. He’d never touched her in anger before. “I mean just what I said. You can’t demand obedience of me because we’re not married. Even if we were, I’m a woman with thoughts and feelings. A human being deserving of respect, not a dog waiting to obey your every command,” she spat out in rarely shown resentment. His eyes rounding in shock, Derrick held out a hand and she flinched away from it. Noting her reaction, he paused and then sighed deeply. Leaning on his door to give her more space, he ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration. In a much calmer voice, he asked, “Where is all this coming from? You’ve never had a problem following my lead before.” Von turned her head and gazed at Chili’s through the windshield. Was Sean inside waiting? After a few moments of tense silence, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking—about me, about us—and I don’t like what I see.” She twisted around and pinned him with a look. “Do you really know me, Derrick? The real me? Or is who you see the person you and your father seem to want me to be? Sometimes I wonder.” Derrick’s opened his mouth and moved his lips, but no sound emerged. Finally he closed his eyes and visibly composed himself. When they reopened, he stared at her with that intent gaze of his that always made her feel like he could see through her, and slowly smiled. He raised his hand and hers went to the door handle. He shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. Earlier was a mistake.” She watched with wary eyes as he cupped her face gently and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Of course I see the real you. Sometimes I think I see you more clearly than you see yourself. You’re sweet, gentle, kind

and compassionate. You value peace, dislike arguments, and love helping people. You’re good with children, respectful to the elderly and kind to animals. Everyone loves you.” He stroked her bottom lip and his gaze became slumberous with desire. “I love you, too. I know it seems like we’ve been waiting forever but we will be married. And when we do, you won’t just be a pastor’s wife. You’ll be my wife. The woman I love and desire above all others.” Derrick closed the distance between them and kissed her. It started out gentle but as she gradually responded, ended in an intoxicating tangle of tongues and teeth that left both of them breathing hard. Withdrawing only far enough that their breath still mingled, Derrick said in a husky voice, “We’d better go inside before Sean thinks I stood him up.” He placed another light kiss on her lips then exited the car. As usual, Derrick knew the right thing to say to calm her troubled thoughts. She waited while he came around to open her door. As she rose beside him, he pulled her into his arms and gave her another deep, lingering kiss. “Derrick! Public displays of affection are not appropriate for ministers,” she scolded, shocked but pleased. He laughed and placed a hand on her lower back to escort her inside. Leaning close to her ear he murmured, “You’re my woman, and I don’t care who knows it.” Derrick opened the door and held it for her to enter. As she did, he pinched her butt and chuckled when she jumped and slapped at his hand. Von felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she was grinning as the hostess approached. This was the playful man she’d fallen in love with. Since seminary, he’d been much too serious. “We’re meeting a friend. A Sean Jacobson.” “Yes, sir,” she told him. “You’re party’s already arrived. Follow me.” They followed the hostess to where Sean sat near the window, nursing a beer, his dark head bent gazing at the open menu. “Cougar,” Derrick called out as they approached. Sean looked up and a huge grin crossed his face. “Hooch!” Hooch? Derrick had been holding out on her. She’d have to remember to ask Sean about the name later. Sean rose from the seat and the two exchanged back pounding hugs. Lagging behind, Von felt a smile cross her face at their display. “Your waitress will be with you in a moment,” the hostess told Von before excusing herself. The two men were talking a mile a minute and while Derrick was

distracted, Von was able to take a good look at Sean, up close and personal. He was tanned, toned, and extremely handsome in his snug army green t-shirt and fatigues. His pictures didn’t do him justice. After a while, when she was sure Derrick had completely forgotten her presence, she cleared her throat—twice. The second time he heard her. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” He reached out and pulled her closer, placing an arm around her shoulder. “Cougar, this lovely lady is my fiancé, Von. Von, this wild man here is my buddy, Sergeant Sean “Cougar” Jacobson, the guy you took pity on and sent letters to while I was enlisted.” Von’s eyes widened and she bit her lower lip at the reminder that Derrick had no idea their letters to each other continued. “Master Sergeant, now,” Sean corrected as he held out a hand. As she shook it, he told Derrick, “She’s as beautiful as you always claimed. I never thanked you for your generosity in taking time to write a poor, lonely soldier like me with no family.” His eyes twinkled at her, smiling at their shared secret. She breathed a silent sigh of relief that Sean wasn’t going to ‘out’ her. “It was my pleasure.” He continued holding her hand within both of his and Von gently tugged. “Oh, sorry,” he said, releasing her. Derrick herded her to one side of the booth and she scooted in, placing her purse on the seat in the corner as he slid in beside her. Sean resumed his seat across from them. “They have their two-fortwenty special going if one of you wants to share.” Though his words were directed toward Derrick, his gaze was on her. At that moment, the waitress arrived at the table bearing two more menus. “My name is Mindy and I’ll be your server today. Can I take your drink order?” “We’ll have two sweet teas,” Derrick told her. “Make mine a strawberry lemonade,” Von corrected. “That has too much sugar. You’ll be up all night,” he told her. Turning back to the waitress, “Two sweet teas, please, and make one of them half sweet and half unsweet.” Mindy looked to her for confirmation. Von’s gaze slid to Sean, who made a show of studying his menu. Von reluctantly nodded her agreement with the order, then turned her head to look out the window. “Sir, would you like another beer?” “No, this is good.” “I’ll be back with your drinks and take your order.” She walked off.

“So, Sean, tell me what you’ve been up to since Iraq. Emails and infrequent status updates on Facebook don’t tell it all.” Derrick casually reached out and took Von’s hand in his, holding it on the table in full view while he played with her fingers. Von sat stiffly, watching their reflection in the window, only looking away from it when the waitress returned with their drinks. “Everyone ready to order?” “Yes,” Derrick answered, after a brief glance at Sean for his agreement. Without consulting her, he told the waitress, “I’ll have the fried shrimp and my fiancé will have your Chicken Caesar Salad. Put the dressing on the side, please.” “Mindy, change that, please. I’m having the half rack of baby back ribs and loaded mash potatoes instead of fries.” Derrick frowned and looked at her. “Pork isn’t good for you, even the bible says so.” “That’s why I eat it sparingly,” she said in a firm, ‘don’t mess with me’ tone of voice. “You’ll feel better if you have the salad. It’s much lighter.” “I don’t want a salad,” she told him fiercely. He scowled but subsided when he took note of her angry expression. “Would you like the two-for-twenty? Both of your entries are on the selection items,” Mindy stated helpfully, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the two of them before settling on Von. “Yes,” Von said. “No, no appetizers,” Derrick said, speaking over her. Inwardly, Von fumed but since Derrick was the one paying the bill, she accepted his decision. “Well, I’d like the two-for-twenty, and you can add their meals to my tab. I’d also like the half rack, with fries please, and...” Sean paused and glanced at her. “...since Derrick doesn’t want one, what appetizer would you like, Von? We can share.” Startled, Von said, “Oh. Um, the onion and jalapenos?” He grinned. “A woman after my own heart. Bring us that, and I’ll have another beer now.” **** The waitress walked off with their order. On his thigh, Sean’s hand tightened into a fist before he consciously relaxed it. The scent of Von’s

anger and humiliation rose in the air and he wanted to lunge over the top of the table and teach Hooch not to be such a dictating asshole. Instead he smiled and acted like he didn’t notice the growing tension between the two and answered Derrick’s questions with generalities. When they first walked inside, Von’s mouth had been swollen like she’d recently been thoroughly kissed, and the faint scent of arousal lingered in the air. Both of them had been smiling and looked so comfortable with each other that Sean thought he’d have to accept the fact that she and Derrick were happy together and settle for having a few days with the woman he loved, even if she didn’t return his feelings. Then he’d discovered Derrick didn’t have a clue of their continued association. If she hid that from him, what else was she hiding? As the evening progressed, he occasionally caught Von watching him out the corner of her eyes, especially when one of the answers he gave to Derrick’s inquisition glossed over or downright contradicted what she knew to be true. He worried for a moment that she might think he’d lied to her previously and that it would ruin the trust they had built between them. Then he caught the little secretive smile she quickly hid. She knew he was lying to Derrick and the thought amused her. “Enough about me. What have you been up to? Obviously not the gym. You’re getting soft, man. If the guys could see you now...” he taunted, knowing how obsessed Derrick used to be about his physique. As expected, he took the bait. “Soft? I can still wipe the court with your tail.” Sean winked at Von, pleased when she flushed. “Nah, I don’t want to humiliate you in front of your woman. I know how sensitive you are.” “Bring it on, baby. Tomorrow at twelve. Loser buys lunch,” Derrick said, his chest puffed out. “I hope you have enough money ’cause I’m feeling steak—porterhouse.” “Don’t worry about what’s in my wallet. I won’t need it.” They needled each other for the rest of the evening and Sean even managed to draw Von out of her reserve a few times. There were times when he could see questions in her eyes. She’d open her mouth, glance at Derrick, and fall silent. He knew she was curious about what happened to him, and he planned on telling her, but not in front of an audience. The question was, how did he get her alone without causing problems with Derrick? “So, you finished your medical training. What field was it, again?” “Respiratory therapy,” she answered. “You like it?”

“Love it,” she replied with a wide grin. “The hours are crazy—we work twelve hour shifts—but I’m so glad I went into this field.” “So what does a respiratory therapist do, exactly?” She’d told him before about her job at the hospital and her patients, but Derrick wouldn’t know that and it would seem strange if he weren’t curious about Von. Besides, he liked hearing her speak. Von proceeded to tell him about her work, her patients, some of the cases she’d worked on. He listened intently. Every now and then Derrick stirred impatiently, but whenever he interrupted or tried to change the subject, Sean brought it right back to Von with another question. He stared into her eyes the whole time, making sure Von knew she was the sole focus of his attention. With his gaze, Sean tried to tell her what he couldn’t say with words. He’d done some crazy things in his life, but attempting to seduce another man’s fiancé right under his nose was new. Discreetly sniffing the air around them, under the leftover scent of food he could smell Von’s growing excitement and confusion. He knew from her letters that Derrick ignored her except for when it was convenient for him. For a caring, sensitive woman like Von, being the center of a man’s attention would be heady and seductive, a type of foreplay. Though it obviously flustered her, she couldn’t help but respond. Taking a risk, he reached out and lightly stroked one of her hands that rested on the table, timing it right when Derrick looked away at one of the mounted televisions near the bar. Von sucked in a sharp, inaudible breath, widened her eyes, and snatched away her hand like he’d burnt her. But underneath that prim and proper shirt she wore, her nipples pebbled and the enticing aroma of her arousal increased incrementally. Being a lycan had its advantages. Derrick made another restless move. Deciding he’d pushed enough, Sean got his former army buddy talking about his church and his time in seminary. The waitress came and cleared the plates from the table and asked if anyone wanted dessert. Derrick and Von both declined, but remembering Von mentioning once that she loved cheesecake, Sean ordered a slice. When it arrived, she gazed at it hungrily. “I love cheesecake but it’s so rich, I can never eat the whole thing by myself,” he lied. “Are you sure you two don’t want any? I’m willing to share.” “No, I’m sure,” Derrick answered. “What about you, Von? You gonna do the charitable thing and help me

out?” Torn, her gaze bounced back and forth between the dessert and Derrick. Sean gave her another verbal nudge. “You know, gluttony is a sin. So is waste. Think of all those starving children in Africa,” he teased. “I’d hate to leave half of this on my plate because I was too greedy to resist.” He forked a piece of the semi-sweet confection and put it in his mouth. “Mmm, so good.” That was all the prompting she needed. Von picked up her spoon, stating, “What kind of woman would I be if I didn’t save you from yourself?” She spooned a piece of the pie and swirled it in the strawberry glaze before bringing it to her mouth. The sound she made was so orgasmic, he wondered if she’d make the same noise when she was coming around his cock. He bit back a triumphant smile, pleased to be giving pleasure to the woman he loved, in even such a small way. “Derrick, you sure you won’t have any, man? There’s plenty.” Derrick flicked a glance his way. “No, I’m fine,” he said while watching his fiancé with a frown. Von took two bites of the cheesecake and stopped. “Thank you. That was good.” He nudged the plate in her direction. “Here, have some more. I insist.” She shook her head. “Two bites were enough to satisfy.” Derrick seemed to relax at this sign of her self-control. Sean shrugged, disappointed but trying to appear unconcerned. Since he’d ordered it for Von, he took another bite or two and set his fork to the side. “That was good.” He picked up the check and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. “How much do we owe?” Von asked. “I’m paying,” he reminded her. “Oh but—” “The man said he’s got it. Say thank you and accept this as a blessing from God,” Derrick told her. “At least let us pay the tip,” she countered. “Totally unnecessary,” Sean said, trying to dissuade her, but she already had her purse open, and wallet out. She placed a ten on the table. “That’s too much,” Derrick protested, reaching for the bill. “It’s not. She gave good service and we’ve been here a long time, cutting into other tips she might have received,” she told him, placing a staying hand on Derrick’s. Inwardly, Sean shook his head. Not only was Derrick controlling, he

was cheap. His friend had changed, and not for the better. “What time are we meeting tomorrow? And you never said where.” His question distracted Derrick from the tip and the next several minutes were spent finalizing the details of tomorrow’s one-on-one basketball game at a court near Derrick’s apartment complex. Outside the restaurant, before they parted ways, he shook Derrick’s hand and gave Von a very brief hug, thanking her again for taking pity on a soldier like him and thanking Derrick for being the one to initiate their correspondence. Since he was parked closer to the entrance, he watched as Derrick escorted Von to his car, solicitously opening the door for her, making sure she was securely inside before shutting it and going around to the driver’s side. As they pulled off, Sean sat drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. After seeing the two of them together, Sean was more convinced than ever that Hooch didn’t deserve Von. She was too good for the likes of him. But did that knowledge give him the right to try and take her away? He just didn’t know. His conscience said to leave her alone, but that new, untamed part of him demanded he take her. Von was deeply attracted to him, whether she wanted to be or not. He could use their years of friendship and her interest to get closer. It would be fascinating to see which side won. Sean started the truck and headed for the base. He’d start by emailing Von. See if he could convince her to see him alone. If not at her apartment, then maybe for lunch somewhere private. He could entice her by telling her he wanted to discuss what happened on his last mission, but not in front of Derrick, since doing so would reveal they’d kept in touch. Which was the absolute truth. Von he’d tell everything. And maybe, just maybe, while he was at it, he’d tell her how much she meant to him.

Chapter Four As they pulled out of the parking lot, Von dug in her purse for her phone. There was a patient whose progress she was extremely interested in—a young child. Her coworker Sharon promised to contact her if there’d been any changes. She turned it on and saw that while she hadn’t missed any calls, two text messages had come through. One was Marketta wanting to know how her evening had gone. The other was from Sharon. Little Philip was progressing well and the doctors were hopeful that he’d be moved from ICU in the morning. Von briefed a sigh of relief and gave a silent prayer of thanks for prayers answered. “He seemed mighty interested in you.” Inside the dark interior of the car, Derrick’s voice broke the silence. “Who?” she asked absently, her mind at work and on what needed to be done when she started rotation again. “Sean.” “He was being polite,” she said dismissively as she tucked her phone back into the side pocket of her purse and then turned to watch the streetlights flash by. “Hmm...” Quiet descended between them once more. The radio played softly in the background. A song came and went before Derrick said, “You certainly were talkative. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so animated. You two were so into each other, I might as well not have been at the table.” That caught her attention. She turned and stared at his profile in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? Sean is your friend. He came in town specifically to see you.” “I know that,” he said, a frown marring his handsome face. “You invited me along to meet him. I didn’t ask to come—” “I’m aware of how you came to be there,” he said shortly. “...and now you’re upset because I was friendly? What did you expect me to do when he started asking questions, sit there and say nothing?” she finished doggedly. “No,” he denied. “I just didn’t expect you two to hit it off so well.”

“Why wouldn’t we?” she asked, honestly confused. “We may never have met in person before but we spent almost four years exchanging letters. I feel like he’s a friend. Maybe as much mine as yours. I mean, that’s the whole reason you asked me to be there tonight, isn’t it? So we could finally meet face-to-face?” “You’re being friendly isn’t the problem,” he said in an annoyed tone of voice. At a lost, she asked, “Then what is?” “It’s just, you never told me half the stuff about your job that you did Sean,” he complained. Von sorted through the various responses she could give to his statement and finally settled on, “He asked. You never have other than to see what my schedule is.” “That’s because I didn’t think this job was all that important to you. I mean, it is only temporary. Once we’re married, the hospital will no longer be an issue.” Incredulous, she asked, “Says who?” Derrick tapped an impatient tattoo on the steering wheel with his fingers. “Von, after we’re married, you won’t have time to work. You’ll be busy helping me with the ministry.” She took a deep breath and then in a quiet but firm voice said, “I’m not quitting my job.” “Of course you are,” he said confidently. “No, I’m not.” The tapping stopped. He cast a glance in her direction, probably to determine how serious she was. “Von, baby, you work twelve hour shifts. With your current schedule, when do you expect us to spend any time together? You’re so tired when you get home all you want to do is sleep. You spend your days off catching up on all the things you couldn’t do while working.” While she was considering what he said, he continued in a soft voice, “Is it so strange that I would want my wife by my side? You know how single women target ministers. If they see a ring but no wife they’ll think I’m fair game. They won’t care that you’re working.” She’d never thought about it like that. But still... “Derrick, I hear and understand what you’re saying, but I love my job. When we have a family, maybe I can see myself staying home full-time to raise them, if we can afford for me to do so.” “So what you’re saying is you’ll give up your job for our children, but

I don’t mean enough to you for you to give it up for me.” “No! That’s not what I’m saying at all!” “Von, that’s exactly what you’re saying. Your position at Mercy Hospital is more important than our relationship,” he concluded, sounding hurt. Is it? Suddenly she wasn’t as sure of herself as she’d been. Von sat in deep thought as their changing surroundings showed she was close to home. In no time at all, Derrick had the car parked and was escorting her to her door. Out of habit, while she fumbled around the bottom of her purse for her keys, Von asked, “Are you coming in?” “Yes, I think I will.” Derrick stood close behind, almost looming over her. Feeling the need to hurry, Von shook her bag impatiently, heard a jingle, and breathed a sigh of relief when she managed to snag them. She pushed the key into the lock and twisted the doorknob, almost in the same motion. Pausing only long enough to lock the door behind them, Von kicked off her shoes into the nearby closet and walked through the living room into the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty. You want anything?” She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and stood at the counter drinking it. Derrick came and stood close, releasing her hair from its bun. “I love your hair,” he murmured, gathering the mass in his hand and burying his face in it. There was a slight tug as he pushed it to the side, then his mouth was on her neck, nibbling the tender skin. Von automatically leaned her head to the side to give him easier access. He voiced his approval and she felt the light scraping of his teeth in the bend where her shoulder met her nape. He pressed closer and she felt his erection against the small of her back. “You are so beautiful. No wonder Sean couldn’t keep his eyes off you.” Suddenly irritated, she set her bottle down on the cabinet with a snap. “Derrick, don’t be ridicu—” Derrick spun her around and thrust his tongue into her mouth, his kiss deep and forceful. His grip on her arms a painful reminder of earlier in the car. Alarmed by his rough handling, Von tried pulling away but he followed, switching his hold to her face while pinning her body to the counter with his aroused one. She wanted him, but not like this. She brought her hands up and pushed at his shoulders, finally managing to pry enough space to turn away, breaking the kiss. “Derrick, stop. You’re hurting me.”

His touch immediately gentled. “I’m sorry, baby. I can’t get the image of you in that negligee out of my mind, though I’ve tried. You were so sexy. So beautiful. I was a fool to leave,” he murmured as he nibbled on her right earlobe. He ran the tip of his tongue around the outer shell of her ear, briefly dipping inside before tracing the delicate skin behind it with the tip of his forefinger. Von shivered and goose bumps broke out over her flesh. Using his thumbs, he tilted her chin so that he could gaze into her eyes. “I want you. I go to bed at night thinking of you. My dreams are full of you and I tangled together. I wake up in the morning hurting, in need of you,” he said in a deep, mesmerizing voice. He lowered his mouth to hers, and this time she was ready, having melted inwardly with his words. Again, there was no slow, sensual build up of passion like she was used to from Derrick. While not as forceful as the first one, this kiss still packed a powerful, passionate punch. Von wrapped her arms around Derrick’s neck and gave herself over to his control. Maybe, she thought hazily, her seduction routine the week before had actually borne fruit. Derrick certainly wasn’t behaving as his normally restrained self, she noted, as his hands roamed over her body. He pulled her shirt free of the waistband of her skirt and slid it higher, seeking her bra, loosening the catch once he found it. Derrick stepped back and pulled her shirt over her head and Von obligingly raised her hands to assist. Another tug and her bra slid down her dangling arms and fell to the floor. The chill from the air conditioning immediately caused her nipples to tauten and pucker into hard little nubs. He visually examined them. His intent perusal lasted so long, Von fought the urge to cover her breasts and simply stood there and allowed him to take as much time as he needed. Finally, a strangled sound that ended in a groan emerged from his throat and he lowered his mouth to her left breast, engulfing it. Von arched her back, gripped Derrick by the sides of his head and held him to her, afraid he’d stop. The suctioning tugs felt so good she moaned her approval. Derrick switched sides, and toyed with her abandoned breast with his fingers, twisting and tugging it until she was whimpering and thrusting against him. “Derrick, please,” she begged. “What do you need?” he asked in a husky voice. “You. I need you,” she told him. With this skirt on, she couldn’t get his erection positioned where she needed it to do the most good.

Resting his forehead against hers, Derrick gripped her skirt by the sides and began edging it up, watching as it rose. “Do you have on one of those sexy bits of underwear you like to wear?” “Look and see for yourself,” she shyly tempted. “Oh, I plan to,” he promised. Her skirt reached mid-thigh and kept rising. The narrow bottom tightened a bit but Derrick applied a small amount of force and the high back slit did the rest. Soon the denim was bunched around her hips and waist. Derrick rubbed her mound through her panties and then dipped lower, between her legs. “You’re wet.” “Yes.” He toyed with the edge of her bikini, along the sensitive crease of her inner thigh and Von spread her legs to give him access. “Touch me.” “I’m touching you,” he said. “No. Touch me.” She guided his hand inside her panties to her folds. “Like this?” He watched her as he gently parted her labia and pressed a finger to her opening. “Yes,” she quickly agreed. “Or like this?” he asked, taking the moisture from her vagina and using it to stroke her clit. “Ooooh.” Von tilted her hips, arching and moving with him. His touch felt so different from hers. His fingers thicker, longer, harder. “Yes, that.” “Do you do this, baby? Do you touch yourself at night, pretending that it’s me?” he asked in a deep, low voice. Eyes closed to better enjoy the sensation, Von didn’t know how to answer. Did she confess to pleasuring herself? “Do you?” he demanded. Something in his tone had her opening her eyes. His piercing gaze drilled into her eyes. “Yes,” she heard herself confessing. He eased a finger into her sheath while his thumb continued its caressing motion. “And do you have toys, instruments you put in here?” He punctuated the word here by stroking in and out the opening of her vagina. Von grabbed for the counter as her knees weakened. She trembled from head to toe, her arousal greater than anything she’d been able to manage previously on her own. She rode his hand, wanting him to go deeper. “Do you, Von?” Derrick asked, adding another finger. “No,” she cried out. “Does this feel good?”

“Yes.” “You want more?” “Yes.” “Say please.” “Please.” “Look at me. Please, who?” It was a struggle to open her eyes. They felt heavy, weighted down. “Please, Derrick.” “That’s right, baby. Derrick. And this,” he thrust deeper, his fingers brushing her hymen and the brief pressure made her flinch, “is mine, isn’t it?” Von wasn’t sure which he was referring to, her virginity or her vagina, but the answer to both was the same. “Yes.” “Remember that,” he said as he eased his fingers from between her legs. “I gotta go.” He circled his thumb around her clit one last time before pulling away. “What?” Dazed, she reached for him and he gently brushed her hands away. “I’ll see myself out. Go to bed and get some rest. Dream of me,” he commanded. Von remained slumped against the counter, unable to move, trying to figure out what just happened. **** An hour later, Von was still twitchy. Masturbating during her shower barely took the edge off. She needed a man, one with a thick, hard dick to satisfy the emptiness Derrick had left inside. She paced the floor of her bedroom, rubbing her arms, willing her body to settle down. Finally, she threw herself across the bed, forcing her mind to ignore her flesh and think. The phone rang—probably Marketta calling to see how the evening went—but she ignored it. Viewed objectively, she was closer than ever to her goal—making love with Derrick. Tonight he’d taken her to heights she’d never reached before and she desperately wanted more. She was tired of being wound up and left wanting. Enough was enough. Her plan to seduce Derrick without him realizing it seemed to be slowly working. So, if the sight of her in a simple nightgown left him dreaming of her for a week, what could she wear that would destroy his control? Marketta would say naked was best, but Von wasn’t sure she was ready to

be that brazen. But... She scrambled off the bed and over to her lingerie drawer. On a shopping trip with Marketta she’d purchased a skin toned, sexy shelf bra that lifted the underside of her breast but left them bare, and matching minuscule, sheer g-string panties that gave the illusion of being covered while showing everything. At first glance she should appear to Derrick to be naked. Hopefully, the combination of the two would be enough to snap his control. It was a bold move on her part. Could she pull it off? Did she have the nerve? Yes, Von thought, remembering Derrick’s actions tonight. She realized his jealousy of her attention to Sean was a large part of why he did it. It was stupid, since Derrick knew how much she loved him but maybe, as more than one friend had suggested, that was the problem. Derrick was too sure of her. He took her love, her always being there for him, for granted. They’d urged her more than once to make Derrick jealous by pretending an interest in someone else. To give him a little competition, however unreal, to shake him out of his complacency. Before, Von’s innate honesty wouldn’t allow her to play those types of games, but if the green-eyed monster helped her achieve her objective, maybe it was time she started. She didn’t want to be thirty and still unmarried, and with the way things were going between them, that was a real possibility. On the other hand, those same friends also suggested that the reason Derrick was so willing to wait until marriage to consummate their relationship was because he had a steady supply of sex on the side. Either that or he was on the down low and using his relationship with her as a cover. She’d disagreed, saying Derrick wasn’t gay or bi-sexual, and would never be unfaithful to her. She tried to explain about him being a minister, a man of honor. They scoffed and called her naïve. At least Marketta agreed with her. Although her reasoning had nothing to do with Derrick’s faith and everything to do with him being ‘a selfish, uptight religious pig.’ Von sighed, really wishing that the two most important people in her life would get along. She pulled the taupe set out of the drawer and laid it on the dresser. Her friends would be shocked to know that under the ‘prudish’ attire she normally wore was the sexy lingerie of a siren. After seeing her momma go around half-dressed for most of her life, always on the prowl for her next sugar daddy, Von could appreciate and applaud the modest attire Derrick’s

father encouraged the women of their congregation to wear. Her sexy underwear was like a delicious secret she kept from the world at large while satisfying her desire to be sexy and feminine. Fingering the thong, she considered how to proceed. She needed to shock Derrick, blast through his defenses before he had a chance to erect them. That required the element of surprise. She was certain once he saw her in this, nature would do the rest. After all, like her he had to still be battling with arousal from tonight’s round of foreplay. Tomorrow. It had to be then. It was her last day off from work so she didn’t have to worry about leaving early. Derrick’s game with Sean was scheduled for noon. By six he should be home alone, ready to wind down and prepare for church on Sunday. The idea of facing her future father-inlaw and the other members of their small congregation so soon after having sex with Derrick for the first time made her a little queasy. She quickly squashed the thought, knowing if she dwelt on it for any length of time, she’d lose her nerve. Take it one day, one hour at a time, she counseled herself. First seduce Derrick. Then deal with the consequences. Now how to go from dressed to undressed without Derrick noticing? She couldn’t show up and begin to strip. He’d stop her and escort her to the door. Bad enough she was showing up unannounced. For a moment, she was apprehensive. Derrick really, really disliked her coming by without warning. He said as a minister it reflected badly upon him and the church to have single women in his apartment, even if that woman was his fiancée. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d been to his place, and even then either other people were present or she sat in the car while he ran inside to get some important item he’d forgotten. Once again she questioned the wisdom of her planned actions. Von chided herself for being a nervous twit. Derrick loved her as much as she loved him. More importantly, his desire for her was as strong as hers for him. There was nothing wrong with them taking their relationship to the next level. He just needed a little nudge. This would work, as long as she planned it right. So, she needed something quick. Something she could throw off in an instant. That brought to mind flashers, and she shuddered in distaste. Von didn’t want to equate what she was doing with perverted old men baring their indecently exposed bodies to unsuspecting victims. Then Von remembered overhearing one of the women she worked with telling another how she’d surprised her husband on their anniversary. She’d

slipped out of the house dressing in an overcoat and nothing else, rang the doorbell, and when her husband answered the door, flashed him. He’d been stunned and very much appreciative of her efforts. Von smiled, much preferring the image that brought to mind. But wearing winter gear in the summertime would definitely draw too much attention. Something she wanted to avoid. Not to mention have Derrick thinking she was crazy. Hmm, she did have a coatdress. It would serve the same purpose and was dressy enough for church service the next morning, eliminating the need to return home early in the morning and change. Additionally, she wouldn’t have to carry an overnight bag. Everything else she needed would fit in her purse. Derrick wouldn’t suspect a thing and by the time he realized what she was up to, it would be too late. Again she hesitated. Maybe I should simply talk to Derrick. Tell him how I really feel. Derrick was really vocal about what he called ‘brazen’ women. Even after all these years together, Von had to be careful of when and how she touched him. Anything overtly sexual and he’d turn cold. She forced herself to shake off any uncertainty. She had a plan, one that would work. Satisfied, Von returned the panty set to the drawer and closed it. Then she crawled into bed and turned off the light. Her smile, had Derrick been there to witness it, would have warned him to watch out. She fell asleep and as Derrick commanded, her dreams were full of the two of them entangled in all sorts of erotic poses.

Chapter Five “Foul!” Sean looked up from his position on the wet concrete court where he’d sprawled after Derrick aggressively body checked his shot, causing him to miss. Hands on his hips, head hanging low and breathing hard, Derrick conceded, “You got me.” He extended a hand and Sean grabbed it, allowing Derrick to pull him to his feet. This was game five in the best of three-out-of-five. The score was tied two/two. If Sean made this shot, he’d win the game and Derrick owed him lunch. Dinner, now, since they’d long passed the lunch hour. Derrick jogged over to retrieve the ball while Sean lined up on the free throw line. They’d played hard, first with a group of guys who’d already had possession of the court when they arrived, and later against each other after it began to rain and everyone left. Ball in hand, Sean bounced it once, twice, then lined up his shot. Swoosh! All net. Derrick, positioned beneath the goal, caught the basketball and slung it at Sean for his second shot. Bounce. Bounce. Shoot. “That’s game,” Sean announced unnecessarily as the ball fell through the net. “Good game,” Derrick acknowledged. He laughed. “I take back what I said about you getting soft. You still play a mean game of B-ball.” Derrick smiled. “Yeah, well, I’d like to know who said white men can’t jump. They never met you. That’s for sure.” They headed for the park entrance. “You’re still competitive, I see,” Sean commented. Derrick shrugged. “What can I say? I like to win.” Sean grinned at him. “So do I, which is why you owe me a steak.” Glancing at his watch, Derrick said, “I’m going to have to give you a rain check on that. It’s after five and I still need to prepare for tomorrow. I’m preaching and need to finish my sermon notes.” Sean took in both of their soggy, sweaty appearances and the sounds of their shoes squishing with each step. “I don’t think either one of us are in any condition to be going out.” During their second game, the light summer rain had finally stopped,

but by then they were both soaked. Sean palmed the ball, dribbling it from hand to hand as they walked down the sidewalk to Derrick’s apartment complex. Occasionally, he passed it to his friend who made fake air shots before passing it back. “Can I borrow your shower? I don’t want to travel like this.” “Sure, man. Let me grab a towel and the bathroom’s yours. You want me to throw your things in the dryer?” Derrick asked. “No, thanks. A plastic bag’s fine. I’ll throw them in the wash on base.” As they entered the parking lot, Sean stopped by his car to grab his duffle containing an extra pair of fatigues and a t-shirt. His boots were in the cab so he brought them, too. No underwear, but it wouldn’t be the first time he went commando. The important thing was that he had an extra pair of socks. In the apartment, Derrick called out from the bedroom, “I’m calling for pizza. Want some?” “Naw, you got stuff to do. As soon as I’m dry, I’ll head out.” Hooch came out of his room wearing a pair of low riding drawstring sweatpants of an indeterminate color, wet clothes in one hand and rubbing his head with a towel with the other. “Go ahead. I’ll shower after you finish. In the meantime, I’ll run these,” he held up the soggy clothes, “through a wash cycle. Extra towels and wash clothes are in the bathroom.” “Thanks.” Sean picked up his stuff and headed in the direction Derrick indicated. Once through the doorway, he discovered the bathroom to the left and the bedroom was to the right. He glanced into the room as he went by, stopping in his tracks when he spotted the picture. A quick look over his shoulder confirmed that Derrick was otherwise occupied. Sean stepped into the room. On the dresser was an eight by ten picture of Derrick and Von, which appeared to be fairly recent. In it, Von sat while Derrick stood behind her in a classic pose. The spotlight picked up the sparkle in her engagement ring. They seemed to be happy and very much in love. Another glance around the room revealed several more photographs. Some tucked in the dresser mirror while others were in frames, in places of honor on the corner computer desk, on the walls and around the room. They showed the history of their relationship. From gangly youths to how they were today. A nagging thought lingering at the back of his mind finally came to the forefront. Sean inhaled deeply. Walked over near the bed and did it again. Pictures of Von everywhere but not a trace of her scent. Why? Didn’t she

spend any time here or did Derrick spend most of his time at her place? He hadn’t, and wouldn’t, ask Von about the sexual aspect of their relationship, but had assumed that as long as the two of them had been together, they were intimate. So why couldn’t he sense some sign of her presence? He left the room and went to take his shower, conscious he’d been in there too long. As he washed, Sean pondered his decision to reveal to Von his love for her. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and those pictures revealed a woman with very strong feelings. But was it love? During his captivity, Sean managed to convince himself that Von was with Derrick out of habit. That her relationship with Derrick couldn’t possibly be as strong as her friendship with him. He was her confidante, the person she told things she told no one else. But, was it love as he wanted to believe, or was it the safety of distance? Had Von used her letters as a relief valve, figuring he was safe because they’d never met in person? Sean didn’t know but before he left, he meant to find out. A quick shower later, he exited the bathroom with his socks and boots in his hand, making sure to leave the bathroom as clean as he’d found it. He sat in one of the dining room chairs to finish dressing as a knock sounded at the door. Derrick came out the kitchen, grabbing his wallet off the counter. “Must be the pizza. That was fast.” A tantalizing scent hit his nostrils, causing them to quiver and his cock to stir. That wasn’t the pizza guy. An aroused Von stood on the other side of that door. Sean stomped a foot into a boot. He needed to get out of here. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you call and say you were coming over?” Sean paused, Derrick’s tone striking him as not right. The two were engaged. Why would she need to call? “I wanted to surprise you.” The scent of Von’s arousal increased now that the door was no longer blocking a portion of it. Underneath was a hint of nervousness. Was she afraid? Not his business, he reminded himself. He made quick work of his bootlaces and then pushed his foot into the other boot. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” she asked in a husky voice. He couldn’t help it. Sean looked up, wanting to see the expression on her face. From where he was seated, only a small portion of the entryway was visible.

“Yeah.” Derrick stepped back and widened the opening, allowing her to pass him. “I came over to finish what we started last night,” she said as he closed the door. Sean swore under his breath, easily picturing Derrick covering Von, her hands griping his sweaty back as his hips pumped relentlessly between her own. No wonder she hadn’t responded to his email last night. He laced up his other boot, shoved his stuff in his duffle and grabbed the handles of his gear, preparing to leave before Derrick could tell him to get out. Hooch and Von obviously had some unfinished business, the kind involving naked, sweat-slicked bodies. Suddenly Sean was aware of just how long it had been since he’d been with a woman. She cleared the entryway and stopped in the open space between the living and dining areas with her head down, fumbling with the buttons of her dress. Is she doing what I think she is? He didn’t know who was more shocked, he or Derrick, when she suddenly spun around and flung her dress off, allowing it to drop to the floor. Sean didn’t know what Derrick was seeing, but the view he had of Von’s butt in that itty-bitty thong had what was left of his blood rushing to his loins. Her hair was loose and curly, drawing attention to her naked flesh. He had no idea it was so long. “Surprise!” Von launched herself at Derrick, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Ah, hell! Is there another way out of here? He looked around to confirm what he already knew. No way was he watching them get busy, but they were blocking the only exit. He glanced back at the couple to see if he had time to interrupt them before things got too awkward. Derrick shoved her away and she hit the wall with a thud. What the fuck? Sean rose to his feet and took a step forward. “What is that...that...mess you have on? You look like a whore. Do something with your hair and for God’s sake, put some clothes on!” Derrick snarled in the meanest, coldest tone Sean had ever heard a man use with a woman. He gave her one last look of revulsion, ignored the beseeching hand she held out to him, and stormed past Sean into his bedroom. The door slammed shut with a bang that caused Von to jump. She slumped against the wall, face in her hands, the scent of her pain and humiliation filling the room. “Stupid damn fool,” Sean muttered in disgust. At his voice, Von spun around, eyes wide and mouth open, giving Sean

a full frontal view. He only had a second to enjoy it before she shrieked and crossed one hand over her breasts and the other over the juncture of her thighs. She glanced around frantically on the floor for her dress, scooping it up the moment she spotted it. Von struggled to get it on as she scurried for the door, her hands tangling the sleeves and making a mess of things. Whimpering when she couldn’t get it together, she laid her head against the door and her shoulders shook. Sorry he’d startled her, Sean walked toward her, making soothing noises. “Shh, shh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Let me help.” Had he been thinking, he would have stayed quiet so that she didn’t know he was there. But now that Von knew he’d witnessed what happened, there was no way he could see her hurting and not try to do anything about it. He reached for the sleeve, attempting to untangle it. She resisted at first, clutching the outfit to her while pulling away and hunching close to the wood like she could burrow into it and hide. “Von, baby, I’m trying to help.” Her shoulders slumped and she allowed the dress to fall to the floor. She brought one hand to her mouth and muffled a sob. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. Sean scooped it up and straightened it out, eased her arms into the dress, and turned her around to do up the buttons. Then he gathered her close, biting back a moan at the intense pleasure of finally having her in his arms where she belonged. Von rested her head on his chest. “Oh God, I’m so embarrassed,” she mumbled. “This...he...I...” She couldn’t finish, tears having her choked up. Sean swept her up in his arms and carried her back to the chair on which he’d been sitting, and setting her on his lap, careful to keep her away from his erection. He held her while she cried. “Hey, now. None of that. He’s the one that should be embarrassed. A beautiful, sexy woman like you offering yourself to him and he walks away? We need to revoke his membership as a male of the species,” he told her, trying to calm her down. She looked up at him with tears sparkling on her eyelashes. “Really?” He wiped one cheek with his thumb. “Sweetheart, if you’d have come here like that for me, I’d have been on you before the dress hit the floor. And I wouldn’t have let up until we were both satisfied.” Von’s gaze went hazy, like she was considering his words. After a few moments during which the crying finally ceased, she asked, “So, it wasn’t me? I did it right?”

“Honey, any better and I’d have come in my pants,” he assured her. A small smile peeped out. She placed her hands on his shoulders, arched up and gave him a peck on the lips. “You’re lying, but it’s still sweet of you to try and make me feel better.” Von made to rise but Sean caught her across the thighs, holding her in place. “What was that?” She laid a hand on his chest and the smile reappeared, a bit stronger this time. “A thank you kiss?” He shook his head. “Oh, no, darling. That wasn’t a kiss. This is a kiss.” Gently cupping her face with his hand, he angled it and held her still as he slowly lowered his mouth, giving her plenty of time to protest. She didn’t. He could see a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Then their lips touched. Sean kept it soft and gentle. A mere brushing of his mouth across hers. Back and forth, nibbling on her lower and then upper lip. He wanted more. Much more, but satisfied himself with this. Von, however, had a different idea. She parted her lips and her tongue eased out to lick the seam of his. Curious to see what she’d do, he opened his mouth and granted her access. She immediately took advantage, using kitten like flicks of her tongue to taste his inner recesses. For about ten seconds, Sean allowed it. Then he took over. Their kissed became heated, a mating of tongues and teeth, each angling for the closest connection. Sean’s conscience screamed at him, demanding he stop. Von was vulnerable, unaware of what she was doing. He wanted her, but not under these circumstances. Then there was Hooch in the next room, liable to walk out at any moment. He drew back. She followed, eyes glazed like she was drugged, clutching his t-shirt to hold him to her. He pried her hands loose and turned his head to avoid her mouth. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. “Baby, wait. You’re not thinking straight.” Her eyes widened and she gave him a wounded look. “Yes, I am,” she denied. “Please, please don’t push me away. Please...” Even though Sean was trying to do the right thing, Von wouldn’t see it that way, not after Derrick’s cruel rejection. Simply kissing her wouldn’t hurt, right? He could show her how desirable she was, rebuild her confidence in herself, and lay the groundwork for telling her later how much he loved her. Torn, he gazed at her. Her eyes pleaded with him as she rubbed his shoulders and chest. With a growl, he capitulated. He snagged her by the waist and pulled her closer. When that wasn’t enough, he lifted and turned her so that Von

straddled him. Throughout it all, the kiss never stopped. They breathed each other in. Soon, mouth-to-mouth contact wasn’t enough. He unbuttoned her dress and it fell open. Von captured his right hand and dragged it down between her legs. “Touch me. I’m so empty.” Her voice shook. The potent smell of her cream brought out his primitive side and Sean closed his eyes to gain control over his beast. He cupped the slick lips of her sex, slightly penetrating her with one thick digit. She gave a muffled cry and rocked on him, causing her breasts to sway. Unable to resist, Sean captured one peak with his mouth. Von held his head to her. “Sean!” “Feel good?” he mumbled around his delicious mouthful of flesh. “Yes.” “This will feel better.” He added another finger, setting up a steady stroking motion that caressed the sensitive opening of her vagina while rubbing her clit with his thumb. Pulling as much of her breast into his mouth as possible, he suctioned strongly. Von’s hand left his head to land on his shoulders where her nails dug in tight. She threw back her head and abandoned herself to her pleasure. Sean couldn’t get over how beautifully responsive she was. How would she react when he buried his face between her legs and tasted her sweet pussy? The thought caused his already swollen cock to tighten dangerously. No, he wouldn’t come in his pants like some untried youth, no matter the provocation. When he lost it, he would be buried deep within Von’s tight, wet vagina. He added yet another finger, stretching her opening and preparing her for his cock. He would have her. Maybe not today, but she would be his and he wanted it to be as painless as possible. He’d never been small to begin with and becoming a Lycan had enhanced his already large portions. Von slammed her mouth down on his and sent her fingers fumbling with his pants. Sean sucked in his stomach to give her room and she slipped her greedy little hands inside. “I want to see you, touch you,” she gasped. She managed to unfasten the button and had her hand on the zipper when he cautioned, “Careful, darling. Let’s not snag the jewels.” She eased the zipper down, reached in and tugged his cock free. Her hand on his sex was exquisite and he closed his eyes to regain some of the control he’d lost. Von stroked once, twice, like she was measuring him. Then she knocked his hand from between her leg and rose. Sean thought she had come to her senses, realized what she was doing,

and had a change of heart. God give him strength because if she had, he didn’t know if he could let her go. He’d never forced a woman but he’d also never wanted any woman as badly as he wanted this one. Instead of leaving, she angled his cock toward her opening and lowered her body. Though he was relieved, Sean still needed to be sure this was what she really wanted. Once he took her, there’d be no going back. He caught her hips when the tip of his head lodged at the mouth of her vagina, tempting him to forget all thoughts of honor and take what they both seemed to want. “Are you sure?” he asked through clenched teeth with the last small bit of conscience he had functioning. In answer, she sank down. The head of his penis hit her hymen and she stopped, wincing in discomfort as she let out a small cry of pain. Von’s a virgin? Every possessive instinct in his body rose to surface, canceling out any other thought. He held her hips as she rose up and tried again, and again, until his eyes were crossed and still he was less than halfway inside. He gritted his teeth, determined to let her do this her way. “Help me,” she pleaded, frustration strong in her voice. “Put your hands on my shoulders.” When she complied he told her, “Now close your eyes and hold on.” Von braced herself, tensing above him. That wouldn’t do at all. He flicked her clit, rubbing lightly in circles until she rocked with him, focused on the sensation of his finger and not what was going on inside her vagina. In his mouth, he felt his canines grow along with the urgent need to bite, to mark her in some way as his. When Von was loose and limber, totally focused inward on the pleasure of her body, Sean leaned forward and bit her breast at the same time that he thrust up, piercing her maidenhead and embedding himself deep inside. He immediately stopped, giving her a minute to adjust, despite how his beast was snarling to claim her in a way she’d never forget. The faint scent of her maiden blood mingled with the blood in his mouth driving him crazy. “You okay?” he asked in a strained voice, the need to move riding him hard. To distract himself, he licked the blood welling from the teeth marks he’d left. “I think so,” she said in a hesitant voice. She made a small movement with her hips and they both caught their breaths. “Do that again, sweetheart.” Von did, moving this way and that until she found her perfect rhythm. Sean gritted his teeth and let her have control. She rode him magnificently

and seemed fascinated by the sight of his penis disappearing and reappearing inside her body. Sean couldn’t take his eyes off her. Everything faded except for the two of them, the slick feel of her pussy gripping and releasing his cock. The bounce of her perky breasts with their dark brown puckered nipples. The ripple of her stomach muscles as she rose and fell. The ecstasy on her face as she took her pleasure. The feel of her taut ass in his hands and he helped her ride him. He noted when her breathing increased and the muscles of her vagina began to ripple along his shaft, signaling her imminent release. She began to falter and looked to him with panicked eyes. He stroked her clit. “Ride me, baby. Listen to your body. It knows what it needs. Do it,” he encouraged. Taking him at his words, she tightened her grip on his shoulders and bounced on his lap, faster and harder until with a sharp cry, her body arched and her head snapped back. “You whore!” It took Sean a moment to realize Von had been snatched off his cock by an enraged Derrick. He came out of his shock when Derrick slammed his fist into the side of Von’s face and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious. With an infuriated roar, he was on Derrick. Sean grabbed him by the throat and threw him across the room. Then followed to finish him.

Chapter Six Pain exploded in Von’s head, wrenching her out of the sensual fog she’d been in. Like a sleepwalker awakened abruptly, around the ringing in her head she tried to figure out what happened. Her vision was hazy. Her face throbbed, making her head hurt. Her thighs were sticky and wet and her sex was tender and pulsing in unfulfilled desire, a condition she’d experienced frequently enough with Derrick. Had they been making out again and been interrupted? But that wouldn’t explain her head and face, or why she was on the floor. A roar and a crash caught her attention. Sean and Derrick were trying to kill each other, though Sean clearly had the advantage. She brought her hand to the side of her face that hurt the most, and her touch, light as it was, sent a sharp pain through her body. The shock of it caused a partial memory to surface. Derrick hit her! But why? Oh my God! She’d had sex with Sean and Derrick had walked in on them, catching them in the act. How could she do such a thing? Despites all her efforts, she’d turned out to be like her mother after all. Why else would she have been so obsessed with having sex to the point where it didn’t matter who it was with as long as she got some? Derrick is right. I am a whore. Von wanted to vomit. Shame rode her hard and all she could think to do was run home and hide. She scrambled to her feet, swaying before she managed to balance herself by grabbing hold of the chair. Forgetting she had on three-inch heels, she stumbled and nearly fell when she tried to walk. The shoes were proof of her harlotry. Who but a prostitute had sex with their shoes on? She weaved her way to the door and almost tripped over her purse. Bending over to pick it up off the floor almost did her in and she braced herself against the wall until the room stopped spinning and the black spots faded from before her eyes. When she could straighten, she took the last few steps necessary, undid the locks and opened the door. A pizza deliveryman standing in the doorway with his fist raised to

knock on the wood startled her, but she pushed past him. “Hey, are you all right? Should I call rescue, the police?” he asked, looking down her body then past her into the apartment where sounds of fighting could clearly be heard. Von waved his concern away and concentrated on making it to her car. As she stepped off the small porch, her knees weakened and she grabbed hold of the railing. She could do this. There was only this short sidewalk before she reached the curb. Her car was parked almost in front of Derrick’s apartment in his next door neighbor’s extra spot. Twenty steps at the most. She wobbled down the sidewalk. “Whoa! Here, let me help.” The guy grabbed her elbow with his free hand. “Are you sure you don’t need me to call anyone? We’re not supposed to get involved with domestic disputes but...” “I’m fine,” she assured him. “My car is right here.” “Miss, I really don’t think you should be driving,” he said as she fumbled with the latch, trying to get the door open. “Door’s locked. That’s why you can’t open it. You have keys?” Von handed him her purse and leaned against the car. She felt so weak. He opened the door and helped her get behind the wheel, then placed her purse in her lap. “Please, miss, let me call 911 for you.” “No need. I’ll be fine as soon as I lay down. Tired. Not far.” When he saw she was insistent on leaving, he reached in and put the keys in the ignition, and cranked the engine. “Be careful.” Before shutting her door, he asked, “You think those guys still want their pizza?” “Huh?” “Never mind. You head on home.” Driving was difficult and if not for the empty streets due to the earlier rain, Von didn’t think she would have made it. Her vision was limited to one blurry eye and it kept tearing up. Good thing she lived only a few blocks from Derrick. Normally a five-minute drive, tonight it felt like a five hours. Never in a million years would she imagine Derrick turning violent. Not toward her, though she admitted she’d given him plenty of provocation. Again she muffled a sob, unable to believe what she’d done. Von managed to get into her apartment without running into any of her neighbors. Cold air hit her flesh as she closed the door. She looked down and realized her dress was open. She was virtually naked. Not only Sean but the delivery guy had seen her like this. My God, what they must think of me. The need to be clean overcame any other desire. She wobbled into the bathroom, shrugging off her dress as she went. Von caught sight of her body

in the door mirror and her breath hitched. She’d purchased this set for her honeymoon. There’d be no wedding now. Derrick would never forgive her. Would she ever forgive herself? A steady stream of tears rolled down her face, but she really lost it when she saw the blood smeared on her panties. Her stomach heaved and the contents came spewing out. She made it to the toilet just in time. With one hand she braced herself over the bowl to keep from falling in, and with the other she held her head to keep it from exploding. In a small portion of her mind, Von knew that her reaction was too extreme, too erratic, too emotional, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. The possibility that she had a concussion crossed her mind. She needed help. She needed Marketta. But first she needed that shower. Von crawled into the tub and turned the nozzles. The initial blast of cold water jolted her but fortunately it quickly warmed. She poured bath gel on her loofah and scrubbed her skin raw. Still the taint remained. Her need to lie down drove her out of the tub. The ache in her head had eased enough that she could stand without blacking out. However, Von wrapped a towel around her body and another around her hair, then shuffled into the bedroom as quickly as possible. Her cell phone lay on the bedside table. She picked it up and quick dialed Marketta. “Where the hell have you been? I called you several times last night and today with no answer. I know you weren’t working. What happened to your promise to call me after your meeting with Sean?” Marketta blasted her as soon as she answered. “Ketta, come over. I need you.” “Come over? Don’t you know it’s raining cats and dogs outside? And what’s wrong with your voice. Are you drunk? Since when did you start drinking?” A sob escaped. “Please, Ketta.” “What’s happened?” her voice was sharp with concern. “Please,” Von said, unable to manage more. “I’ll be right over.” She could hear her cousin scrambling around before disconnecting the call. With only one eye able to open and tears streaming out of the other, Von rubbed the excess water out of her hair before going to her dresser and pulling out one of her winter granny gowns. The flannel gown swallowed her from her neck to her feet. Its voluminous folds left no hint of the figure inside. Sufficiently covered, she collapsed on the bed and let the darkness take her.

**** Sean drove out of Derrick’s apartment complex parking lot to a nearby shopping center where he pulled in and parked. He gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles showed white. After his breathing slowed and he achieved some measure of calm, he took out his cell phone and dialed one of the numbers recently programmed inside. “’Lo.” “Spook, it’s me.” “Serge, checking in so soon? How’s the vacation? Seen your girl yet?” Sean let his head fall onto the driver’s seat backrest. “Not going so good. Got into a bit of a situation and lost control,” he confessed. In a serious tone, Spook asked, “Where’s the body?” He sucked in a deep breath. “I didn’t kill him. Hooch is alive. Unconscious, but still breathing.” “Oh, well in that case, you didn’t lose control at all. With your strength and training, if you were truly enraged, dude would be dead,” Spook said in a relieved tone of voice. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.” Sean reported the sequence of events, starting with his meeting with Derrick and Von and up to a few minutes ago when he left Derrick’s apartment. “Did you shift?” “No.” “Good. Think he’ll cause problems?” He gazed out the window as he thought. “No, I don’t believe so. His ego won’t allow him to admit he’s been bested. Not only that, dude’s a minister now. I don’t think he’ll want his congregation knowing he knocked his fiancé out cold or why.” “How’s your lady friend? She okay?” Sean could hear the concern in Spook’s voice. “I don’t know. She left during the fight. She’s got to be hurt, though. Hooch packs a powerful punch and she went down hard.” His fists clenched again and he gritted his teeth as he remembered the sight of Von crumpled on the floor. “Damn,” Spook said with feeling. “All right. First things first. Give me the dude’s address and if you want, I’ll arrange for someone to go over there to smooth things out. Sounds like you trashed the place pretty good. Fixing

things ought to help.” Sean thought about it. Did he want to fix things with Hooch? No, not really but for Von’s sake he would. He rattled off the address. “Now, about your lady. You said you were only trying to comfort her and things got out of hand?” “Yeah. As much as I love her, I wouldn’t have taken her with her fiancé in the next room. That wasn’t the plan.” Sean still wasn’t sure what happened. “Were you aroused?” Sean thought back to Von’s scent, her voice, and her see-through bra and panties that revealed every line and curve of her body. The feel of her tight, wet pussy gripping his shaft as she rode him. His cock engorged and began to throb. “Yeah.” It came out a growl. “Pheromones,” Spook said, as though that explained everything. Sean cleared the wolf out of his throat. “What?” “Pheromones. Lycans have powerful pheromones. Makes us irresistible to the opposite sex. One sniff of you and she was a goner.” Sean scowled. “So you’re saying this whole thing between us—her reaction to me—was hormone induced?” “Well, yes and no. The pheromones would draw her to you and possibly lower her guard, but it wouldn’t make her to do anything she didn’t already want to do.” Knowing Von wanted him as much as he wanted her made Sean feel somewhat better. Otherwise, what happened between them would have been little better than rape. But still, he couldn’t help remember the dazed, drugged look in her eyes and it made him wonder just how much control Von really had over her actions. The Von he knew would never have— “Did you bite her?” Spook asked, interrupting his train of thought. Had he? He had to think. He remembered being almost hyper focused on Von. Everything else fading into the background. After a moment of silence he said, “I did. My beast was riding me pretty hard. I couldn’t resist.” “Staking its claim. I figured from the way you talked about her she was the one for you. Your other half obviously agreed. Congratulations on your mating. We’ll have to throw you a party once you get back.” “What do you mean, mating?” Spook sighed. “Didn’t you pay attention to anything I told you about women and Lycans?” “Not really,” Sean admitted. “I remember you saying the virus attaches to the Y-chromosome and that our sexual appetite would increase. Mostly

I focused on the knowledge I needed to get us out of that hellhole we were in.” And later he’d been worried about keeping his ass out of some secret government lab when the military found out what he’d become. “Yeah, there was that,” Spook agreed. “Okay, here’s the Cliff Notes version. As Lycans we do have stronger appetites and crave more sex, but the wolf-man only comes out to play when mating is involved. That’s how we know she’s the one. Only your mate can bring the wolf to the surface during sex. The wolf’s bite marks her and creates a bond.” That sparked a vague memory. “You said we’d be able to pick up on each other’s emotions?” “Yes. The bond is empathic in nature. When it’s really strong, you’ll be able to hear each other’s thoughts, but that happens over time, not immediately.” A thought struck Sean and he sat up straight. “Shit! I not only bit her, I licked the puncture wounds. She won’t get infected, will she?” Spook laughed. “This mess has you really frazzled, doesn’t it? Females don’t have Y-chromosomes, remember?” “Oh, yeah,” he said, a bit sheepish at having forgotten something so basic. “Other than the empathy thing and a few health benefits like an increased immunity and faster healing, she won’t be affected at all. Don’t worry. Mating’s a good thing. It’s the Lycan version of exchanging marriage vows, all legal and binding,” Spook assured him. Sean rubbed his face. “Great. Now all I have to do is break the happy news to my bride that while she might be engaged to Hooch, according to Lycan Law she’s married to me.” “No worries, Serge. She obviously loves you.” Maybe. But does Von realize that she does? “We’ll see.” “I’ll make my calls now. Call me if you need anything else.” “All right.” Sean pushed the button on his phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat. He examined his bloody hands and scraped knuckles. When he saw Von fall his only thought had been to kill Derrick with his bare hands. He still wasn’t sure where the needed control had come from. Even now, anger coursed through his veins. Maybe it was the knowledge that Von could be seriously hurt and need his help that allowed him to stop and go to her aid, only to discover she’d left. Instead of unconscious, she must have merely been stunned and since she’d run off, he had to assume she was okay. Physically, at least.

Discovering Von wasn’t there to witness the carnage had immediately freed him to finish teaching Derrick a lesson in the treatment of women he’d never forget. Derrick’s fortunate the pizza delivery guy arrived when he did and threatened to call the cops. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened? As he’d told Spook, Derrick would live. He’d be battered and bruised and might want to lay low until his face healed, but no bones were broken and no permanent damage done to his body. Sean wanted Hooch dead, but knew Von would never forgive him for killing his former friend, no matter the provocation. Sean flipped down his visor and looked in the mirror. Derrick managed to land a few punches of his own. His lower lip was busted and one eye was darkening into a hell of a shiner, but by tomorrow most of the damage would be gone. Being a Lycan gave him phenomenal healing ability. Spook had said he’d be able to feel Von’s emotions and she his. He tried sensing what she was feeling so he’d know what he was walking into when he went to see her, but got nothing. Maybe the bond wasn’t complete. Derrick had interrupted them before they could climax. It’s possible that biting her was only part of the process. Maybe he needed to cum in her body to complete it. He sighed. There was so damn much he didn’t know about being a Lycan, despite Spook’s best efforts to teach them. He remembered the basics. Uncontrollable change during a full moon. Increased appetite for everything. Quicker tempers. More territorial about things or people belonging to him. Faster reflexes. Stronger, more lethal body. Enhanced senses. Sean vaguely remembered bits and pieces about sex. Cautions against getting too aroused, being too rough, losing control. None of which he’d been interested in at the time. Talking about sex made him realize how long it had been since he’d been laid. With an increased sex drive and no means but his fist to take care of matters, the last thing he’d wanted to do was think about or discuss it. While the others asked millions of questions, partly in an effort to take their mind off their current circumstances, Sean plotted and planned out their escape. Once they got out of there and made it back to civilization— he never doubted once that they wouldn’t—his next major concern was the debriefing and battery of tests they’d undergo, both physical and psychological. How would he and his men make it through the process without revealing what they’d become?

It had come as a hell of a shock to find out the military already knew about Lycans and had specialty units filled with them. So much for his fears of being a lab rat. Sean exited his truck, figuring a walk would clear his head and help him figure out how to approach his mate. He didn’t need a Psych degree to know the state of mind Von would be in. She’d fucked another man and been caught going at it by her fiancé. Von didn’t believe in casual sex and had no way of knowing what they’d shared wasn’t simply a mercy fuck on his part. She’d be blaming herself, figuring like any man, he’d taken what she offered and run with it. Not that she had the highest opinion of the male species to begin with. With his background in the foster care system, he knew all about being the target of predators and sleeping with one eye open. At least she’d had family to run to. He wanted to rush to her side and reassure her of his love and commitment, but was she ready? She’d been with Hooch a long damn time. Not once since he’d known her had Von ever mentioned the possibility of being with another man. Habit was a lot harder to fight than love and after seeing them together, he could tell Hooch had done a number on her. Did he have enough time to combat it, make Von see reason? Sean reminded himself of his and Von’s eight years of friendship. That had created a bond of sorts between them. Their relationship may have begun because of Derrick, but it continued on its own merit. Now there was a physical connection as well. He was her first—and only, if he had anything to say about it—lover. They say you never forget the first. The question is, would Von think of this as a good or bad thing? Only one way to find out. He headed back to his vehicle and punched Von’s address into the truck’s GPS.

Chapter Seven “What the hell happened to your face?” Von jolted awake. “Huh? What?” “Your face,” Marketta forced out between clenched teeth. “What. Happened?” “Derrick—” “Oh, hell, no! Tell me that fucker didn’t hit you.” She whipped out her cell phone and punched in a number. “Yeah, Moose, it’s me. Grab some boys and—” It hurt like crazy but Von managed to lunge up and knock the phone from Marketta’s unsuspecting hands. It bounced off the bed and onto the floor. “What’s the matter with you? Do you know how much I paid for this phone?” her cousin griped as she stood to go get it. Von grabbed her arm and held on with strength born of desperation. “My fault,” she said. “Don’t. I’m to blame.” Marketta narrowed her eyes. “I can’t believe this shit. Next you’ll be telling me you accidentally ran into his fist. What the hell is wrong with you? He HIT you. You know we don’t play that shit!” “Let me explain,” she pleaded, still holding on tight. Oh, God, why hadn’t she thought about her cousin’s reaction before calling her to come over? The last thing Von wanted is anyone else knowing how she’d humiliated herself and what came after, but if she wanted to avoid the violence Marketta was about to set into motion, she’d have to tell all. Her cousin stared at her for a long moment. “I doubt anything you say could justify this,” she flicked a finger at Von’s face, “but you got five minutes. Make it good.” In the background Von could hear Moose calling her cousin’s name. She looked at the phone and Marketta followed her gaze. “Let go.” Von released her and she went and picked up the phone saying, “Sit tight for a minute. I’ll call back in a few...mmm-hmm...yeah.” She push the disconnect button and crossed over to the dresser and leaned her butt against it, hands crossed over her chest. “Talk.” Slowly, painfully, reluctantly, Von told her cousin what happened

from the meeting with Sean at the restaurant until Von’s phone call asking Marketta to come over. When she finished, Von collapsed upon the pillows, her head once more throbbing in pain, waiting for her cousin’s reaction. Marketta shook her head. “Damn, girl. You fucked Sean in Derrick’s apartment where he could walk out at any moment and see?” Von flinched and turned her face away in shame. “Damn...” That’s all her cousin seemed to be able to say. Quiet descended. Von was once more shamed by her actions and her cousin, no doubt in shock. Finally, Marketta stirred. “Look, I’m not saying what asshole did is right. Hitting a woman is plain wrong. I don’t care what the provocation, but you’re right. No need to get the boys involved in this. Although I’m still tempted...” Von glanced back at her cousin to see Marketta caressing her phone and eyeing it consideringly. “Don’t tell anybody, ’kay? I don’t want them knowing I...” She couldn’t finish. Marketta set the phone on the dresser and came and sat by her on the bed. “Von, you have nothing to be ashamed of. I know you’re blaming yourself but this whole thing is Derrick’s fault.” When she tried to protest, her cousin cut her off. “Listen to me! He came over here and got you all stirred up. Hell, Von, he’s been jerking your chain for years, and I’m not just talking about sex. When you went over there to finally do something about it, he pushed you away. Cruelly, in front of a witness. Personally, I’m glad Sean was there. Yeah, so things got a little out of hand between you two. Just means that’s some strong chemistry between you and Sean.” Von shook her head, denying that last bit. “No, there’s nothing between Sean and me. He just...” Marketta arched both her eyebrows. “What? You think you raped Sean? A big strong man like that?” She laughed. “Honey, you’re so clueless it’s ridiculous. I told you the hunk was here for you. Granted, I didn’t expect you to offer yourself to him on a platter, but I’m not surprised he jumped on it, or rather, let you jump on it.” She wagged her eyebrows, laughing when Von flushed. “Marketta!” She shook her head, smiling crookedly. “I’ll say this for you. You never do things halfway. Let me get some ice for that swelling.” Her cousin left the room before Von could get her thoughts together. Her mind still stuck on the image of her lowering her body onto Sean’s

penis. In spite of the pain she was in, the memory of him moving inside of her, the feel of him stretching her deep within was enough to arouse her all over again. Marketta came back with ice in a sealed plastic bag with a towel wrapped around it in one hand, and a glass of water and bottle of painkiller in the other. Von took two pills then set the icepack on her face. As she felt her eyes closing, she told her cousin, “Don’t let me sleep too deeply.” “I know how to treat a concussion. I’ve handled my share of them. What about your job. What’s your schedule?” Von’s eyes popped open. “I’m off tonight but—” Seeing her alarm, Marketta said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll call. Tell them you were playing football with the family and it got a little too rough. You caught an elbow in the eye and for them not to expect you in until the swelling and coloration recedes. God knows you never take any time off. They can manage a few days without you.” Von wasn’t an advocate of lying, but in this case she’d make an exception. “Thank you,” she told her cousin in a soft voice. With Marketta’s story, she wouldn’t even need a doctor’s note. “Yeah, that’s what family’s for. We cover each other. Speaking of family, I’d better call Moose and tell him never mind, but Von...” Marketta waited until she was looking at her before continuing, “That bastard touches you again and we’ll fucking bury him.” With that promise, she walked out of the bedroom. Von sighed, readjusted the icepack to a more comfortable position, and closed her eyes. Marketta was dead serious and Von knew it. Unfortunately, Von’s mother with her drug habit and whorish ways wasn’t an abnormality in her family. They had family members on both sides of the law, but the younger males, unfortunately, tended toward the criminal mindset: drug dealers, pimps, gang bangers, to name a few. Even the straight ones didn’t mind crossing over for the right reason, and messing with a family member was considered justification enough. Derrick knew about her momma and Marketta, of course, but she’d never really spoken about or introduced him to the rest of her family. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of them. She just knew after his reaction to her momma and cousin that Derrick wouldn’t understand. His home life was so different from hers. She was ‘hood—public housing, welfare, and weekly crab boils with the family—and Derrick was Amen, only his father was Clifton Davis, the pastor, instead of Sherman Helmsly, the deacon. Her family knew she was involved with “that preacher’s son” and that

she’d “found religion.” As long as she didn’t try to convert them, they were cool with it. Derrick had no idea of the hell he’d unleash if what happened to her became known. Von was the family pet. “Nookie’s” daughter, the one everyone looked after because her momma simply wasn’t capable. In a family consisting of her momma’s three sisters and four brothers; Nona, her maternal grandmother; and a whole slew of cousins with baby mommas and baby daddies, that was a lot of relatives. She had no idea who her father was but it didn’t matter because her mother’s family more than made up for the lack of a paternal side. She drifted off to sleep, Ketta’s words replaying in her mind. **** Sean wiped sweaty palms on his pants as he confronted the closed door of apartment 4B. He didn’t exactly look his best with his busted lip, blackened eye, and swollen and bloody knuckles. Worst was his stubborn cock that refused to go down. Von would take one look at him and think he came to finish what they started. Didn’t you? He ignored the voice and knocked firmly on the door. His first concern was Von. If she wanted to pick up where they left off, well, he wouldn’t complain, providing she wasn’t too upset about what happened. And, he thought dourly, if he could be sure her desire was real and not the result of lycan pheromones. Inside his enhanced hearing caught a muttered curse and the sound of an interior door being gently closed before quick steps came toward him. “I hope that’s you, Derrick, so I can rip you a new one.” Both his eyebrows shot up at the bloodthirsty words. The door snatched open. The woman facing him was definitely not Von. She appeared equally surprised. “You’re not Derrick.” “No,” he agreed. She leaned to the side and glanced past him. “Where is he?” “Unconscious.” She eyed him up and down, taking in his marred face and hands. He had a feeling nothing about him escaped her notice. “Your handiwork, I assume?” He gave a brief nod and pushed back his impatience. From the way she leaned against the door jab, she obviously wasn’t letting him inside until she

was good and ready. He did a little examining of his own. This woman’s face was a little rounder than Von’s and her complexion darker, but they both shared the same deep, dark, see-right-through-you brown eyes. “You must be Marketta. Von talks about you a lot.” Marketta brought her arms up and crossed them over her chest, cocked her head to the side, and raised one eyebrow. “And you’re the hunk.” Hunk? Had Von called him a hunk? Sean asked the question that was burning a hole in him. “How’s Von?” “Concussed.” He cursed and dragged a hand through his hair. So much for his assumption that she was okay. Von had no business leaving Derrick’s, not in her condition. It’s a wonder she hadn’t killed herself driving. At his reaction, she relented a little. “I gave her some painkiller and an icepack. She’s resting.” “Can I see her?” “She doesn’t want to see you,” Marketta said firmly Taken aback, Sean asked, “Did she say that?” She bit her lower lip. “No.” He put his hands on his hips, ready to do battle. “Then how do you—?” “Look, she’s feeling pretty raw right now. Von’s blaming herself for everything that happened.” Marketta flipped a strand of long, artificially wavy black hair over her shoulder and matched him glare for glare. “Damn it!” He threw his head back, closed his eyes, and counted to ten, beating back the urge to push his way inside. When he was sure he had control, he opened them to find Marketta watching him warily. “I’m sorry. I had a feeling she was going to do that. It’s one of the reasons I came over.” “What’s the other?” she asked suspiciously. “You popped her cherry. Hoping for a repeat?” Her gaze dropped down to his zipper. He growled. Then presented Marketta his back, fists clenched by his sides. He wanted to grab her by the neck and shake her like a rag doll for suggesting such a thing. Is she wrong? Even now his cock felt like a steel rod in his pants, his beast riding him hard to complete the bonding. Grimly he acknowledged the truth of her words. Choking on misplaced pride, he forced himself to say, “Tell her I came by to check on her and that I’m sorry.” It took every bit of strength he possessed to turn and head for the stairway. “Before you go, answer one question.” He stopped and waited.

“Why’d you come here? Not this apartment, but why are you here?” “I came for Von,” he admitted. He took another step. “You’re white,” she called out. He halted again and looked over his shoulder. “And?” She shrugged one shoulder. “Some folks might have a problem with that.” “I love her. You really think I give a damn what other people think?” His hand was on the railing, foot hovering over the first step when she called out again, “You’ll need to wake her every hour, make sure there’s no swelling on the brain. New ice packs every twenty minutes, and alternate cold with heat. For what it’s worth, I think she loves you, too. Don’t blow it.” Sean turned, unable to believe he’d heard right. Marketta stepped out into the landing, watching him through narrowed eyes. “Well? You just going to stand there or are you coming inside?” He slowly returned to the apartment. What was that, a test? If so, he must have passed. When he drew even with Von’s cousin, she said, “I never really cared for Derrick, but it’s her life, you know? I can’t tell her how to live it. I hear how she talks about you, and how she talks about him. I think you have a chance with her.” She pushed the door wider and motioned for him to go in. Inside, he stopped in the living room and looked around. The place appeared exactly as he’d imagined it since Von described it in her letters. Marketta came past him and sat in one of the chairs. Sean followed her lead and settled onto the other. “Thing is,” she continued, “Von’s fighting so hard not to be like her momma that she’s forgetting to be herself. You know what I mean?” Sean nodded. “Everything about Aunt Nookie ain’t bad. She made some bad choices and got caught up in some stuff. Momma said Nook always did like to party a little too hard and had to be the center of attention, but Von’s nothing like her momma. Personality, temperament, all completely different, but she can’t see that. I think that’s why she clings so hard to Derrick.” She pinned him with a look. “If you really love her, be patient. She may need more time than you have to bring her around to your way of thinking. But if you really want her, don’t give up.” Marketta rose to her feet. Sean stood as well and trailed her to the door. “When she wakes, tell her I had to go.” “All right.”

“And Sean,” she paused in the open doorway, “you hurt her, I have a bullet with your name on it.” She gently patted the huge purse she had slung over one shoulder before closing the door softly behind her. Sean blew out a breath. Von always said Marketta was protective of her. He wondered if Hooch had any idea of exactly what Von’s family was capable of when it came to her safety? Now that Marketta was gone, Sean took a longer, more leisurely look around Von’s living space. The front door opened right into a small living room with the standard white walls and neutral carpet. Von’s living room set was one of those light blue, overstuffed sets covered in soft material with brown and blue pillows in some sort of design. A glass rectangular coffee table with wrought iron legs sat in the middle of the grouping. To the left of the open floor plan was her dining room. The table in there was glass as well, matching the coffee table, and surrounded by four black, wrought iron chairs with padded cushion seats. A geometric curtain in varying shades of blue and black covered a sliding glass door, which Sean, when he looked, saw opened onto a small empty balcony. Von’s kitchen was small, galley style with everything laid out in easy reach. Off the living room was another opening with three doors. One, he could tell instantly, opened to a closet. The center door concealed the bathroom and the left one, Von’s bedroom. A room he hesitated to enter. Marketta said to wake her every hour, but neglected to tell him how long she’d been asleep. Wanting to see her, to assure himself that she was okay, Sean walked slowly to the door and eased it open. She lay on top of the covers in a soft spill of golden light from the bedside lamp, wearing a long, white granny gown decorated with small purple flowers. Sean’s gaze traveled over her, beginning with her fine boned narrow feet and slender ankles revealed by the raised hem. Then centered on the small line of buttons running up the middle, tempting him to loosen each one with his teeth. Glanced over the small ruffled collar encasing her swanlike neck, and came screeching to a halt at the ugly bruise that marred the left side of her face. The rage that infused him when Derrick hit Von rose again, tempting Sean to return to Derrick’s apartment, regardless of the consequences. With extreme difficulty, Sean managed to shake it off. He drew closer and removed the towel from her slack fingers. She stirred and he waited to see what happened. Von murmured something indistinct and rolled onto her right side, bringing her knees up to her waist and her hand to her mouth. A lock of

wet hair fell forward obscuring her face and Sean gently pushed it behind her ear. Despite the bruising, she looked so at peace, he wanted to curl up behind her and curve his body protectively around hers. Instead he took the damp towel into the restroom, wrung it out, and hung it on the shower curtain to dry. He found a clean washcloth and saturated it with hot water, squeezed out the excess and took it into the bedroom to rest on Von’s face. “Ketta?” Sean knelt by the bed so he wouldn’t loom over and possibly frighten her. “It’s me. Your cousin said to tell you she had to leave.” “Sean?” “Yeah.” One deep, dark eye focused on him. “Why are you here?” “Where else would I be?” Her gaze darted away. “About earlier,” she began in a soft, hesitant voice, “I’m sor—” Sean pressed a finger to her lips. “No. You don’t get to apologize for one of the best moments of my life.” “What?” she mumbled around his finger, and that one eye widened as her gaze shot back to his. He lightly traced her lips with his fingertip. “I’ve dreamt of making love with you for years. On this last mission, it was only the thought of you that kept me sane.” Von pulled away from his touch. “What are you saying?” Sean knew it was too soon to admit the truth, but he wouldn’t get a better opportunity and he was tired of hiding how he felt. “I’m saying that I love you.” Von shook her head. He nodded. “I...you...I love Derrick,” she protested weakly. He arched one eyebrow. “Do you?” “Yes!” Her voice was firmer this time. Sean leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her. Von responded instantly. He kept the kiss gently, careful not to hurt her while still managing to convey all the love and passion he felt for her. He tightened his hands, fisting the covers between clenched fingers to keep from touching her and giving more than she was mentally prepared to receive. Their tongues rubbed together the way he wanted their bodies to and Sean pushed closer, breaking away when a growl rose from his throat and his gums began to

itch.

In a low, gravelly voice, he said, “Get some rest. I’ll come in later with more ice.” He walked out the room, fighting his wolf the whole way. In the living room he sat on the couch, then shot to his feet when he caught the scent of Von and Derrick mingled together. Shit! Hooch may not have penetrated Von, but he’d loved her, touched her, on this very couch. He went over to the glass sliding door, parted the curtains and stood looking out. The light over the stove, the only light on out front, cast its dim glow onto the glass. He couldn’t see much out the window besides his reflection and a few lampposts illuminating a wooded path winding through the rear of the apartment complex. Then a ghost-like, Victorian figure in white joined his image in the glass. “What are you doing out of bed?” Sean spoke to her image instead of turning around. “You can’t make a statement like that and then walk off,” she announced. “Are you sure you want to talk about this now?” Her reflection plucked with the folds of her gown. “What happened on your last mission?” she asked instead. Sean withheld a sigh, somewhat disappointed that she was avoiding the issue now that it was out on the table. “We were captured. I lost over half my team. We barely made it out alive.” Von gasped. He turned to face her, noting she’d taken the time to secure her hair in a braid. “I promised myself if I made it out of there alive, I’d come and tell you face-to-face how I feel. See if we had a chance.” Her gaze dropped to the carpet. “What happened between us was a mistake.” Sean crossed over to her, stopping when they were toe-to-toe. “Only if you want it to be.” She lifted her head, her expression one of concern, for him. “I don’t want to hurt you, but my heart belongs to Derrick.” He cupped the uninjured side of her face and she leaned into the caress. “That’s what your mind says, but your body is saying something different.” Sean nodded, indicating her body posture, the way she unconsciously inclined toward him. Von jerked back self-consciously. “I didn’t mean...I don’t know why...” She shook her head.

Chapter Eight Hugging herself, Von walked into the kitchen, took down a cup from the cabinet and filled it with water. More for something to do than a desire for something to drink. Her body’s response to Sean confused her. She needed to distance herself somehow. Sean followed and leaned one shoulder against the fridge. “Are you sure you shouldn’t be in bed?” “I took pain reliever earlier. It’s helping. In fact, other than a little tenderness, I feel fine. I doubt I need anyone to stay with me.” It was the closest she could bring herself to asking Sean to leave. He sauntered over to stand behind her, caging her in with his hands on the counter. His breath stirred her hair. Von stiffened. The cup from which she drank trembled tellingly before she slowly lowered and set it aside. “Sean...” “Von...” Sean mimicked. He bent his head and ran the tip of his nose down the side of her neck. She could hear him inhaling her scent. “Are you wearing anything under this gown?” “Don’t do this.” “Do what? This?” He nuzzled his way to her ear. “Do you have any idea how fucking beautiful and sexy you are?” His words, the vulgarity of them, should have turned her off. Instead, it excited her. He moved his right hand and rested it on her stomach. With his thumb, he played with a button. “I want to open these, one by one, with my teeth.” It should have felt like a repeat of the night before with Derrick, but it was totally different. She’d never responded to Derrick the way she instinctively reacted with Sean. The thought troubled her. Derrick was her future, or he had been. She was in love with Derrick. She shouldn’t be capable of responding sexually to anyone else. She never had before. While she’d been thinking, Sean undid two of the buttons and now he stroked circles on her stomach with his thumb,each one rotating lower and lower. It looped around her navel, gradually dipping low enough to feel she wasn’t wearing underwear. Sean groaned and laid his forehead on her

shoulder. “I want you. I want to lay you down and lick you from head to toe. I want to bury my face between your thighs and eat you out until you scream. Then I want to bury my cock so deep you don’t know where I end and you begin, and ride you until we’re both exhausted. And when we catch our breath, I want to start all over and do it again.” Von actually shuddered. Her nipples beaded into tight little points and between her legs, she felt her vagina soften and dampen. She swayed and braced her hands on the surface of the countertop to keep from sagging against him. Sean pressed closer. Von could feel his erection digging into her back. An erection she’d touched, and stroked, and caressed, and guided into her body. A single, thick, calloused digit tunneled through her pubic hair to hover over her clit. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered into her ear. “Tell me you don’t want me, want this,” he demanded. Von tried to make her mouth work. Nothing came out. This is wrong. Her mind knew it. Her heart knew it, but her body didn’t seem to care. “When I was in that hellhole, not knowing if I’d live another day, the only thing that kept me sane was thoughts of you. I’d imagine you, laid out on your mattress, your hair flowing over the pillows. In my fantasy, I’d start with your feet and work my way up your body, paying homage to every inch, every dip and hollow. I took my time. Savored each lick, kiss, and nibble. It was so real, I could hear every gasp, every sigh, every moan and catch of your breath.” He kissed her neck, captured the skin between his teeth and bit down lightly. Then soothed the nip with his tongue. “Tonight, let me make it real.” The finger he’d suspended over her clit made contact and she jerked her hips. “Let me touch you. Tease you. Please you.” He rubbed gently and she rocked with the motion. “Let me satisfy you,” he whispered in her ear. “Give you what we both need.” “Yes.” The word flowed out of her mouth. Sean froze. Time stopped. “Yes?” “Yes,” she repeated softly, allowing her body to sink into his. She reached her arms up and wrapped them around his neck. Yes, she’d do this and deal with the repercussions later. He buried his face in her neck and shuddered. “God, you don’t know...” Von gasped as Sean suddenly swung her up into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. She felt like a bride on her wedding night as he reverently laid her on the mattress. He undid her braid and arranged damp hair on the

pillows, his expression intent as though it mattered that he got it just right. When he finished, he commanded softly, “Don’t move.” Watching her the whole while, he bent and took off his boots, then lifted his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. His dog tags clanked against his chest before nestling between his breastbones in the small trail of fine dark hair. His skin was so deeply tanned she knew he spent a lot of time in the sun shirtless. He stopped and stared. “This is just how I imagined.” She nervously played with the skirt of her gown, alternately smoothing and plucking at the material. “I’m sure you didn’t picture me in this.” Sean’s eyes seemed to glow. “I’m flexible. Put your hands above your head.” His command caught her by surprise. When she hesitated, he gestured with his chin. “Now,” he added, his voice deep and sexy. Von slowly reached up and behind. Sean’s intent gaze made her feel like a temptress. When her fingers brushed the spines of her decorative, brass iron headboard, he spoke. “Hold on and don’t let go.” The position arched her back and lifted her breasts. She wrapped her fingers around the rail and held on tight, watching Sean through lowered eyelids. Sean took a deep breath. “Damn, that’s a sexy look on your face.” He thought she was sexy? He should see the view she had. Once again her gaze traveled up what she knew to be thick, bulging thigh muscles hidden in those loose, camouflage cargo pants he wore. The waistband rode low on his slender waist, giving an enticing peek at his belly button and the trail of hair that disappeared beneath the green button. The front of his pants tented and Von could see the hard knob of his cock resting against the material, obviously unrestrained by any type of underwear. She licked her suddenly dry lips and Sean cursed. “Baby, you keep looking at me like that and this is going to be over before it’s started,” he warned. Von ignored him in favor of continuing her study. She counted the ridges of his stomach. Two, four, six—the man had a rare eight pack. Clearly defined pecs, minimal chest hair, biceps that looked pumped even while relaxed... Von ran her tongue around her mouth again. This time to catch the drool she felt escaping. Sean groaned and his penis flexed. A damp spot appeared. “You’re killing me here.”

She raised dazed eyes to his. What is he talking about? He climbed onto the bed and undid the buttons of her gown, one by one, taking his sweet time. Then he parted the material, leaving a trail skin visible from neck to navel. She thought he would have bared her breasts completely, but he seemed content to leave only the swells showing. “Perfect,” he murmured, observing his handiwork. Retreating until his feet hit the floor, Sean maneuvered his way to the bottom of the bed and knelt. Von rose onto her elbows to see what he was about. “I told you not to move,” he commented mildly without taking his gaze away from her feet. Von immediately dropped back into position, though curiosity was burning a hole inside. Her gaze on the ceiling, she felt his hand cup her foot. “You have beautiful feet.” Those ugly things? Von curled her toes self-consciously. Her feet were long and so bony the veins stood out. Her second toe slightly longer than the first, even weekly pedicures couldn’t beatify them and he thought they were beautiful? Sean rubbed the pad of his thumb down her instep and Von flinched, her leg automatically jerking from the contact. He tightened his grip. “Sensitive?” “Ticklish,” she corrected. “Very ticklish.” Sean rumbled something that sounded like approval. He raised her leg a few inches and she felt the heat of his breath seconds before his teeth bit down gently on her arch. “Sean!” She wasn’t quite sure if that was a protest. Her mind couldn’t wrap itself around the idea of his mouth on her foot. He followed the bite with a lick, working his way up the center of her foot to nibble on each toe, suckling the biggest one. Mortified, Von closed her eyes. What he was doing was too intimate, too taboo. It embarrassed her that it also turned her on. “I can smell your arousal,” Sean told her as he switched his attention to her other foot. With nibbles, licks and kisses, Sean worked his way from her feet to her ankles, then up the inside of both legs, randomly switching back and forth. The gown rose with him. He paid special attention to the sensitive skin behind her knees, and by the time he reached her inner thighs, Von’s grip on the bars was painful and she audibly panted for breath.

She glanced down and the sight of his mouth, inches from her sex, caused her vaginal muscles to spasm. Von dropped her head onto the pillow, afraid she’d spontaneously combust if she continued watching. And wouldn’t that be a shame to die before experiencing her deepest fantasy. Sean braced his hands on her inner legs and pushed, widening the space to gain more room. Cold air immediately hit Von’s intimate parts, making her very aware of how wet and exposed she was. He brought his face close to her sex and...inhaled? “You smell so good, I’m going to gobble you right up.” Von flushed as her body released flood of fluid at his words. “Mmm, you like the idea. Well, let’s not keep either one of us waiting.” He spread her labia and tasted her with quick darts of his tongue. Before she could adjust, he licked with the flat of his tongue, straight up her slit, adding a little swirl around her clit. “Oh God!” “Oh baby, we’re just getting started. Don’t let go!” What followed was the most exquisite torture. Sean moaned and hummed his appreciation of her taste, and settled in like he planned to be at it all night. Von quaked, shivered, and bit her lips until she tasted blood, trying to hold in the sounds of her pleasure. Sean apparently took her silence as a challenged and pulled out all the stops. Long minutes later, Von detonated like a rocket when he sucked her clit and thrust two fingers deep and rubbed her front wall. The scream that ripped out of her should have sent her elderly downstairs neighbor to his phone to dial 911. “Shit, that’s fucking sexy,” he growled when her body collapsed limply onto the mattress. “Again.” “No,” she responded weakly, sure her heart couldn’t take anymore. That belabored organ thumped so hard in her chest, she thought it would burst through her ribcage. “Yes,” he stated firmly and buried his face between her legs. He stroked, licked, and sucked until she orgasmed again. Tears streamed from her eyes as he crawled up her body until his hips were right over hers. Sean reached underneath and canted her hips. “Wrap your legs around my waist.” I have legs? She couldn’t feel them, never mind move ‘em. Fortunately he didn’t wait for her to find the energy. He reached back with one hand, hooked her under her knee and lifted her leg. The flexing of his hips had his straining penis rubbing through her slit before it lodged in

the opening of her vagina. “Hold on,” he growled. “This is going to be quick.” He plunged deep and set up a pounding rhythm. With each downward drive, his shaft made constant contact with her clit. It was like being jolted with a live wire. Von brought her other leg up and wrapped both of them around his waist. She forgot about the headboard and clung to Sean instead, clutching his shoulders, her nails digging tight. Her face was level with his chest as he braced on his forearms above her. Something grew, building inside her with such power Von didn’t know how to handle it. Every muscle in her body grew rigid, straining toward some precipice. When it broke, she buried her teeth in Sean’s pectoral muscle, needing to ground herself in some manner. Above her Sean jolted, cursed, slammed in to the hilt and froze, a howl ripping from his lips. Sensations and images burst into Von’s mind in a dizzying rush. Deep inside something clicked into place. Her soul merged with Sean’s. The force of it caused her to blackout. **** “Shit! Fuck! Damn!” Sean collapsed on top of his mate. Never in his life had he come so hard. He still shook with the intensity of it. Von’s sheath rippled and contracted around him in mini-aftershocks. Sean knew he needed to move. His weight had to be crushing her, but he didn’t have the strength. The most he could manage was to shift slightly to the right. Sean buried his face in her hair and breathed hard, sucking oxygen into his starved lungs. He had no idea making love with Von would be so...so... Words failed him. One day he’d be able to touch this woman—his woman, his wolf snarled—without losing his mind. Sean knew his way around a woman’s body but with Von, there was no finesse, no well thought out expertise. His libido took over and his mind left the playing field. God, he hadn’t even taken time to take off his pants. They still hung low on his hips where he’d pushed them, his only thought to get inside Von now. Von’s gown was bunched around her waist. It was a miracle she’d come because once he’d gotten his cock inside of her, there’d been no holding back. The mark on his chest throbbed where she bit him. He wouldn’t be surprised to see blood. They were well and truly connected now. He’d felt

his soul rip open and Von flood in to fill a place he hadn’t realized was empty. He knew she had to have felt it, too. She loved him. Sean could feel it deep inside. Von’s heart belonged to him, but her mind? That he wasn’t sure of. Yes, she’d given herself to him tonight. The question is, how would she feel tomorrow in the harsh light of day? Then there’s the problem of what he was. How did he tell Von about Lycans, mates, and bonds? His mind tried to worry but his body was too sated. It dragged him down into sleep. Still deeply embedded and semi-hard, his body mostly pinning hers to the mattress, Sean gave up the fight and slept.

Chapter Nine Von moved and the situational awareness he’d learned as a child in foster homes and later honed in the military had him awake and alert between one heartbeat and the next. She stirred again and he propped up on one elbow. His internal clock told him less than an hour had passed. Her eyes slowly opened and her gaze connected with his. He couldn’t help but smile. She had the look of a woman well and truly loved. “Hey, beautiful.” “Sean.” She glanced around nervously. “Uh-uh-uh. Regrets not allowed. The night’s still young and I still have plenty more fantasies to fulfill.” A small smile peeped out. “You mean this,” she pointed, indicating their still joined bodies, “wasn’t enough?” “Oh, darling. This was just the appetizer. I want the full meal deal. But first...” He rolled to the side and stripped off his pants, tossing them to the side. Then he straddled her body and began tugging on her nightgown. “...I need to get both of us naked.” Von’s intent gaze concentrated on his penis and he felt that member responding. When it swelled, her face reddened and he chuckled. Her gaze jerked to his. Von’s face disappeared briefly, swallowed by the voluminous gown as he pulled it over her head and off. As soon as her hands were free, she covered her breasts with her arms. “Oh, no you don’t. No hiding.” Sean un-tucked them and held them out to the sides. In the soft glow of the bedside lamp, he looked down her body. Her pert little nipples reminded him of chocolate kisses perched atop mounds of Jamoca ice cream. Sean’s mouth salivated. He glanced up to find Von watching his cock with curious fascination. Sinking back on his haunches, he brought her hands forward and laid them on his thighs. “Touch me.” She looked at him, a question in her eyes. “Anywhere. Any way you please, as long as your hands are on me.”

Her gaze roamed over his body and the hunger and feminine appreciation in her expression made him happy about all the PT he’d put in over the last few months. Sean straightened his shoulders and stuck out his chest, pulling in his already flat stomach. He just barely resisted the urge to flex his muscles and show off a bit. “Anywhere?” Her expression was so innocently provocative that Sean felt his cock jerk and a bead of moisture leaked from the tip. “Anywhere and any how, but first...” his gaze landed on the small diamond solitaire sparkling in the lamplight on the middle finger of her left hand, “...let’s get rid of this.” He watched close for her reaction as he tugged the engagement ring off her finger and tossed it onto the floor. Von didn’t protest and her body didn’t tense. She didn’t even track the ring with her eyes when he threw it. Her gaze remained steadily on his. Sean breathed a silent sigh of relief. Her gaze dropped once more to his erection and she licked her lips. Sean bit back a groan at the thought of her mouth on his dick. “Anything I want?” She lifted heavy lidded eyes to his and the hunger he saw in them almost made him topple onto her and thrust inside her tight, waiting heat. Instead, he gritted his teeth, shut his eyes, and nodded. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice concerned. “Nothing,” he bit out through his clenched mouth. “You simply have no idea how much I want to fuck you right now.” “I think I do.” A soft finger stroked down the side of his penis and he cursed. “Lie down on the mattress, hands above your head, legs spread wide.” Sean’s eyes popped open at the command. One look at her expression had him hurrying to obey. His shy, virginal mate was getting off on the idea of being in control. Sean made a mental note to remember this for future reference. And there would be a future between them. As soon as he was in position, Von crawled over him to kneel between his legs. Her hair pooled over her shoulders, obscuring her breasts and sex like a modern day Lady Godiva. “Don’t watch me.” She’s kidding, right? “I can’t do this if you’re watching me.” Damn, she’s serious. Sean laid his head on the pillow and gazed at the ceiling, curiosity burning a hole in him. Then he felt it. Von’s hands on his inner thighs, fingers spread wide as she glided them forward toward his

heavy, throbbing sex. The muscles in his legs immediately tightened. She reached the inner crease and paused, her hands perfectly framing his balls and cock. Sean clenched his fingers around the railing. Von moved one of her hands and gently captured his balls, rolling the sack around in her palm before squeezing gently. He hissed and his hips lifted of their own accord. “You like this?” “Yes.” He barely managed not to growl his response. She tugged gently on his scrotum then shifted her hold to the base of his cock. He could feel her breath on the sensitive skin as she explored his sex, stroking, gripping, and caressing his meat with feminine curiosity he swore would kill him before she was satisfied. Then something moist touched the tip. The muscles in Sean’s arms bulged as he fought to keep from lurching off the mattress. It shocked him how the most innocent of touches from this woman was more powerful than the ministrations of the most experience whore. “You taste...” Von licked him again and his hips shot off the bed in reaction. “Shit!” “...good. Salty but good. Nothing like I expected.” Gathering his fragile control, Sean flattened his lower body to the mattress and managed to semi-calmly ask, “What did yo—” This time, Sean’s upper body arched off the bed when she engulfed the whole head of his cock in her mouth and gently sucked. “Son of a bitch!” If she kept that up, he was going to blow, and he didn’t think she was ready for that. “Von, baby, you have to stop. I’ll come if you don’t,” he hoarsely warned. She hummed and took him deeper. He couldn’t help himself. Sean pumped his hips, fucking her mouth. Von gripped the base of his shaft in her fist and sucked him harder. She did something with her tongue and he came off the bed with a roar as his beast broke loose. When Sean came back to himself, his cock was buried balls deep inside of Von’s sweet pussy and he was shaking and shivering like he had Palsy after coming so hard he’d seen stars. He dropped his head on the mattress beside hers, unable to believe he’d lost his cool like that. Von lazily stroked his back. “Did I hurt you?” “No.”

“You’re sure? I lost control.” “Yes, I know.” Her tone was lazy, smug. Sean raised his head and looked at her. Yep, the tone matched the expression. “You appear to be mighty pleased with yourself.” She smiled and pushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “I am. I like knowing I can affect you this way.” The smile faded. “With Derrick...” Sean placed his finger over her lips. “Don’t mention him. Not here, not now.” She twisted her face away. “I have to tell you this.” Von waited until he reluctantly nodded. “With him...I hated the way he was always in control. It’s like nothing I did ever affected him. It made me feel...” She seemed to be searching for words. “I made me wonder if he really wanted me. If he found me sexy and attractive, or if he was just toying with me.” Sean cupped her face. “You’ll never have to wonder with me. You look at me with those pretty brown eyes of yours and I instantly get hard. You touch me and I have to fight to keep from throwing you against the nearest hard surface and fucking you silly. And when I’m inside of you, it takes everything within me to make sure you come before I do. If I could live with my cock buried inside your pussy, I would.” Her eyes were wide by the time he finished, and new moisture coated his hardening dick. “Did you come just now?” Von slowly shook her head. “You will this time.” Sean slowly set about making his promise a reality. **** Hours and multiple orgasms later, as Von lay with her head on his chest, their bodies still intimately joined, Sean began to speak. “We came in by boat and hiked to what Intel told us was Tango’s last known position. Our mission was to slip in quietly, take them out, and ease back out the country with none the wiser. But when we got there, the bastards were ready for us.” He took a deep breath and grounded himself in the feel of his woman’s arms around him. “Pyro and Brick bought it in the firefight.” Von sucked in a sharp breath, but didn’t move otherwise. “They threw us inside of a metal building with no windows. A fucking hellhole in the middle of nowhere that flooded whenever it rained, which

was constantly. No food, undrinkable water. It was a nightmare—” He broke off, even now unable to tell his sweet, innocent Von of the torture he’d suffered. “They planned to kill us after they got what they wanted.” “How did you get free?” Sean stroked her back, the quiet settling around them while he debated on how to explain this next part. Finally, he decided to tell her straight out. She’d discover the truth of his words soon enough. “Spook had a secret that turned out to be our salvation. He’s Lycan born and offered to make us Lycan, too.” Von raised her head to look at him. “Lycan, like in the movies?” Watching her warily for her reaction, he answered, “Yeah.” “You’re saying Spook’s a werewolf, and he made you guys werewolves, too?” She didn’t verbally refute him, but he could tell she didn’t believe him. He firmly pressed the back of her head until she laid it down on his chest again. While gently massaging her scalp, he explained the process of becoming Lycan. “Ferret and Eagle didn’t survive. Only me, Weasel and Monk did. After our first change, those who survived, escaped.” The change wasn’t fast, nor was it easy. It was loud, slow, and agonizing. He’d screamed, they all had, the pain more excruciating than anything he’d ever experienced, the reshaping of their bones and ligaments sounding like gunshots in the night air. Spook, whose change was quicker and easier, took out the guard that came to see what all the commotion was about. While he was still feasting on the man’s flesh, the rest of them burst out of the building. Some of events of that night were hazy. Others in full vivid Technicolor, seared on his brain, never to be forgotten. Some of their captors ran screaming, “Los Diablos Lobos,” devil wolves. Others rained a hail of gunfire to no avail. In the end, they accomplished their mission, though in the end it would take DNA testing to tell which bone belonged to which terrorist. His stomach lurched as he remembered how he’d killed, tearing men apart with his bare, clawed hands, blood running a river down his muzzle and chest as he fed on their remains. Von placed her hands on his chest and pushed to a seated position, straddling his hips. Then she leaned forward and planted her hand beside his head, getting right in his face. “Whatever you did to survive, no matter how brutal, I’m glad. I’m sure they deserved it.” She was reading him, feeling his guilt. He shook his head, negating her

words. “Yes.” “You don’t understand.” She sat straight and crossed her arms over her chest. “Then explain it to me.” “The whole thing should have never fucking happened,” he exploded. “I knew something was off. I felt it here.” He punched his chest with his fist. “I should have aborted the mission. Because I didn’t follow my instincts, six good soldiers died. Six men. My men.” Sean blinked rapidly to combat the sting of tears in his eyes, and when that wasn’t effective enough, threw his forearm over his face. Von pushed it out the way and gathered his head to her breasts, murmuring comforting words. Sean grabbed her in a bear hug and let it all out with no fear that she’d think him less a man for expressing his grief at what happened. She rained kisses all over his hair and neck, any place her mouth could reach. Then she held him while he cried. When the storm eased, he rolled them over until he was on top and nudged her legs apart. As he settled his hips in her cradle, he kissed her deeply, his tongue in her mouth. Then he kissed each eyelid, the tip of her nose, each cheek, and her chin before returning to her lips. “Thank you for listening.” She placed her hand on his cheek, an intense look of love on her face. “Always.” They stared at each other for a long moment. Then, “A werewolf, huh?” Sean allowed a smile to escape. “Yeah.” “You really expect me to believe that?” “You will, come the first full moon.” She arched one eyebrow. “You’re saying you only change with the moon?” “Then, or when in the grip of extreme emotion, then our wolf half comes to the forefront,” he explained. Von’s gazed searched his face. “You really believe that you’re a werewolf, don’t you?” He shrugged. “It’s the truth.” “Don’t take this the wrong way, but if what you’re saying is true, why doesn’t the military have you locked up in some scientist’s lab, studying you?” Sean laughed at her suspicious nature. “Because, they already know about Lycans. I’m told they have units full of them. One of which I’ll be

joining if I decide to re-enlist.” Diverted from the topic at hand, Von asked, “You’re thinking of coming out?” Straight-faced, he told her, “That depends on you.” “On me? How so?” He placed his forearms on either side of her head and leaned in close. “I love you, Von, and want you to be my wife. If you won’t leave with me, I’ll stay here with you. Either way, I won’t leave your side.” “Sean...” Her gaze bounced around the room, looking everywhere but at him. “Hush, I know you’re not ready to hear this, but I want you to know I’m not playing any games. I’m in this for the long haul. I love you and I believe you love me, too. I know we belong together. I’ll give you the time you need to figure it out,” he promised. He kissed her mouth closed. “Now it’s late, or early, depending upon your perspective, and we’ve had a long tiring day. Let’s get some rest before I forget you’re totally new at this loving business and take you again.” She glanced down their bodies to his erection that lay on her mound. “Well, maybe once more wouldn’t hurt.” Sean groaned and shook his head, then kissed her hard on the lips. “I’ve created a monster.” He shifted to lie on her right and reached for the light. Von’s hand landed on his stomach and moved lower as the room went dark. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice temptation itself. Capturing it, he used her arm to turn her around so he could spoon her body. When she wriggled her ass against his cock, he popped her on the butt. “Behave, woman.” She giggled but settled down. Soon the sound of her steady, deep even breaths filled the room. Sean pulled her closer, marveling once again at what a fool Hooch was to let someone as precious as this woman get away. Hooch’s loss was his gain, and unlike Hooch, Sean recognized the treasure he held and there was no way he was letting her go. He vowed it to the heavens as he followed her into sleep.

Chapter Ten Von woke totally surrounded by a hard male body. Sean’s chin rested on her head. Her head lay on his arm. His body snuggled against her back. His other arm was thrown over her waist and curled between her breasts, holding her close, his muscular leg entangled between hers. There would be no easing out of bed without his knowledge. The side of her face where Derrick hit her throbbed and she had a mild headache because of it. Her bladder needed to be emptied and she ached in places she didn’t know she had muscles due to the sexual excesses of last night. Yet Von had never been more content or fulfilled than she was at this moment. The guilt she expected to feel was missing. Instead she felt a connection with Sean that made the love she’d felt for Derrick seem childish in comparison. Pastor Derrick always warned the women to be careful who they joined their bodies with. He said that sex was more than scratching an itch. That when a man and woman engaged in sexual intercourse, along with a physical joining came a spiritual one as well. That’s where the term soul ties came from. Is this what she was feeling with Sean, a soul tie? She finally understood what the bible meant when it said, “and the two shall become one.” She could feel Sean in the depths of her soul, as though they were no longer two separate beings but one individual. Her mind argued what she was feeling was wrong. That going straight from Derrick’s arms to Sean’s was too much like her mother, Nookie, going from man to man with barely a break in between. She’d spent most of her life listening to that voice, making decisions on the basis of not wanting to be like her mother. For the first time, Von took a good look at her life, not through the eyes of the child she’d been, but through the eyes of the woman she’d become. She was twenty-four, almost twenty-five years old. She’d finished high school without getting pregnant, graduating in the top five of her class. She’d also finished four years of college with honors, earned her degree and had a job in her field of study making good money. She had her own apartment, her own car, and paid her own bills. Granted she’d had help in

the beginning, but now she earned enough to have a nice little cushion in savings. She was well respected by family, friends, and colleagues. The only person in her life expecting Von to mess up and become like her mother was Von herself. It was time to stop. She was no longer Nookies’ poor, little neglected daughter that everyone had to look out for because her momma was too sorry. With the help of God, family and friends, Von had made something of her life. Risen above her welfare and ’hood beginnings. She’d made it the right way. The legal way, she thought with a smile. And now that she knew the power of sex, the mind-stealing wonder of having a man completely focused upon her, Von could sympathize. When it came down to it, all Nookie really wanted was to be loved. Unfortunately Nookie didn’t realize that to get love and respect she first had to love and respect herself. What to do about Sean? He claimed to love her and Von believed him. He also said he wanted to marry her. Von wasn’t sure she was ready to put a label on what she felt for him. Simply being with him like this was enough for now. Yes, having a lover outside the bonds of holy matrimony went against her beliefs, but maybe it was time for a new belief system. Besides, how did she explain to her friends that in the course of one day she’d gone from being engaged to Derrick to being engaged to Sean without making herself look bad in the process? At least she didn’t have to break her engagement to Derrick. He’d already done the honors last night. She’d be lucky if he didn’t spit in her face when she returned the engagement ring to him. She’d definitely be looking for another church. She shuddered to think what Pastor Derrick Wilkins Senior would say were she to remain. Did they still put scarlet letters on women? Then there was the fact that Sean was white. While she didn’t care, there were plenty of other people who would. Several of them members of her own family who used the man to excuse their laziness, making no attempt to do something positive and productive with their lives because the man was holding them down. Family gatherings were bound to be fun until the family got used to him. Of course, there was another option. She could pack up and leave with Sean when he went back to the military. Other than family, there wasn’t much keeping her here in Georgia. With her profession, she could get a job at any military or civilian hospital in the world. Her musings were interrupted by the sudden urgency in her bladder.

Behind her Sean slept like only the truly exhausted can. She raised her head and instantly his arm across her chest tightened. “Where are you going?” “To the bathroom. Go back to sleep.” “Don’t be gone too long,” he mumbled as his arm loosened. As soon as she left the bed, he pulled her pillow closer and fell back asleep. A tender smile filled Von’s face. Von pulled on the floor length caftan she used as a robe and left the bedroom. Sticky, sore and not the least bit sleepy, she decided that a bath was her next priority. The hot water would ease the tenderness and hopefully help with the headache. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she’d skipped dinner last night and what she’d nibbled on for lunch yesterday was long gone. Toilet, tub, and kitchen, in that order. Forty-five minutes later, Von, cleaned and refreshed, stood in the open door of her refrigerator trying to decide what to eat. She pulled out the egg carton, figuring she’d surprise Sean with breakfast—a glance at the clock on the stove—make that brunch, in bed. Now the question was, did she fix him eggs, bacon and grits, a southern staple? Or French toast, sausage and bacon? Remembering Sean’s size, she decided on the latter. Three hard knocks sounded at the front door. Must be Marketta returning to check on her. Which reminded Von, she hadn’t checked her phone this morning to see if she had any messages. Nor had she charged it. The thing was probably dead now. Sighing, Von braced herself for another of her cousin’s lectures. She swung open the door without looking through the peephole. “Derrick!” “May I come in?” He stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking as humble as she’d ever seen him. “Uh, yeah.” After a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure her bedroom door was closed, she stepped back to allow him inside. “Why aren’t you at church? I thought you had to preach this morning.” Then she caught a good look at Derrick’s face. It appeared worse than hers. She quietly closed the door then turned to face him. He stood in the living room near the couch. “Did Sean do that?” With a finger, she indicated his face. “Yeah. His is worse.” No, Sean’s wasn’t but she wasn’t about to dispute Derrick’s claim. He might want to know how she knew. She crossed her hands over her chest,

very aware of her nakedness underneath the African print caftan she’d slipped on after her bath and the stilted awkwardness between the two of them. “Why are you here, Derrick?” “I wanted to talk.” “So talk,” she told him. “Can we sit?” “I’ll stand.” Von made no effort to leave her position by the door. Derrick shifted his stance, bringing his right hand out of his pocket to cup the nape of his neck as he looked at the floor. Finally he raised his head and pinned her with a neutral look. “I came to say that I forgive you for what happened. I love you and I still want to marry you, in spite of it.” “What ‘it’ are you referring to?” Von asked in a carefully measured voice. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face before it was neutralized. “You know, you and Sean.” “I see.” And she did, painfully so. “So let me get this straight. You’re not here to apologize for hitting me, giving me this black eye?” He glanced at the purple, yellow, and red bruising surrounding her eye. He shrugged his shoulders and looked past her. “Maybe I could have handled it better, but really, what did you expect me to do? You came to my house, dressed like a hooker, and then I found you...and him...” “Fucking in your dining room?” she finished for him, enjoying the way Derrick flinched at her vulgarity. “Yeah, that,” he bit out. Von sighed wearily, the little bit of joy she got from her meanness quickly fading. It simply wasn’t in her nature to be nasty. “What happened to us, Derrick?” she asked softly. “Where did we go wrong?” “What happened to us? You can ask me that after what you did. You didn’t even know the man. How could you throw yourself at Sean like that?” The question seemed to burst out of him. Von rested her back against the door. “Actually, I’ve known Cougar for almost as long as you. You see, we’ve been corresponding via emails and letters since you introduced us during basic training. Ironic, isn’t it, that I have you to thank for bringing us together?” He glared at her. “What’s wrong with you? You’re not acting like yourself.” “Again I must thank you for knocking sense into me. You say you love me but I’ve finally come to realize that you don’t know the meaning of the

word. What you want, Derrick, is to control me. I’ve tried talking to you on numerous occasions about how I feel and you brushed me aside each time. Unless it was about you–your needs, your wants—it wasn’t important. Well, I’m through playing by your rules. I don’t want any part of your idea of love, or your idea of marriage. Sean did us both a favor by coming here. He’s shown me what real love means.” “What the hell do you mean by that? Is he here?” Derrick glanced at her closed bedroom door. She shook her head. Typical Derrick. She said all of that and all that concerned him was if Sean was in her bed. That jealous, competitive nature of his coming to the forefront. Von was beginning to wonder what she’d ever seen in Derrick. “Don’t lie to me. He is, isn’t he? That bastard came over here last night and you welcomed him with open arms.” “And legs,” Von goaded. “Let’s not forget that part.” Derrick’s face flushed and he came toward her, hand raised. “You slut!” “Slow your roll, Bro. You hit me again and I’ll show you Nookie’s daughter, the one that grew up in the ‘hood protecting herself.” Von didn’t flinch, nor did she cower. Instead she balanced on the balls of her feet, prepared to defend herself. He stopped suddenly and slowly lowered his hand to his side. “I don’t know you like this. A proper wife would—” “Become your punching bag anytime you disagreed with her? I don’t think so.” She watched him as she would a snake that was coiled and ready to strike. He took another determined step forward, fist clenched by his side. Von tensed, bringing both hands up in a classic boxing stance. Derrick halted. “No more,” she told him in a strong, commanding voice. “No more telling me what to do, or when and how to do it. I’m a grown woman. I make my own decisions. If I want to wear makeup, I will. If I want sugarloaded drinks late at night, I’ll have them. I’ll continue to work the job I love, no matter how you feel about it because it’s my job, my life. And if I want to have sex with Sean, a man who loves and desires me, I will and I won’t feel guilty about it because I’ve discovered that I love him, too.” “While I’m glad to hear you finally admit that you love me, I wish you’d have told me first, and not him.” Both Von and Derrick swung toward the bedroom door where Sean stood leaning against the door jab, looking rumpled and sexy wearing only his pants with the top button undone. Despite his relaxed pose, Von could

feel the angry tension in him. One wrong move on Derrick’s part and Sean would spring. “I can’t believe you betrayed me like this after I saved your life,” Derrick muttered angrily. Sean arched an eyebrow. “Well, now, I reckon we’re even—or am I ahead?—since I didn’t kill you yesterday when you hit my woman, and you’re still breathing now after threatening her again.” “Your woman?” Derrick snarled. “Yeah, mine. Thank you for giving her to me. I would have taken her from you anyway, after seeing the way you treated her, but your stupidity made it easy,” Sean drawled. Von held her breath. The tension was so great, she was afraid any movement would cause it to explode and the two would be at each other’s throats—again. Derrick glanced angrily back and forth between the two of them. “You two deserve each other. Backstabbers. I hope you both burn in hell. Give me my ring back,” he demanded of Von. “Here, catch,” Sean told him. When Derrick glanced in his direction, he tossed the engagement ring. “We don’t need yours. I plan on buying Von a better one today. Now that you have what you came for, feel free to leave.” As Derrick fumbled with and scrambled to retrieve his ring from the floor, Von opened the door and moved out of the way. She wouldn’t put it past Derrick to try something. Derrick took one last look at the two of them and then stormed out of the apartment. Von closed and locked the door behind him, then sank onto the carpet, still clutching the doorknob, her knees too weak to support her. “Hey, are you all right?” In seconds, Sean was by her side, cupping her face. “You’re trembling.” She leaned into his hand. “Just shaken. I’ve never stood up to him like that before.” “Well, it’s about damn time you did.” “I’m not weak, you know. I just hate confrontations,” she defended herself. “Hey!” He lifted her chin and stared into her eyes. “I never said or thought for one moment that you were weak. You are a pleaser by nature, and when you love, you love with your whole heart. There’s nothing wrong with that. Derrick simply took advantage of your generous nature.” Von closed her eyes and nodded, not sure she agreed with his assessment but willing to give herself the benefit of the doubt. God knows she’d beat up

on herself enough lately. Maybe it was time to give herself a break. “I thought you were asleep. How much did you hear?” “I’ve been awake since you left the room. I thought I told you not to be gone long?” His disgruntled tone made her smile. “I got distracted.” “Well, I was horny,” he complained. “Poor baby. You didn’t get enough last night?” She reached out and cupped the bulge in his pants. “How about we take care of your little problem now?” “It’s not little and I’m no longer in the mood,” he huffed in a snooty voice, turning his head away. Then he slanted his eyes, looking at her from out their corner. “Of course, I could be with a little effort on your part.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Goofball.” Von shoved at his shoulders and rose to her feet. “I’m going into the kitchen to cook breakfast.” Sean caught her by the hips and buried his face in her mound, his breath hot on her clit through the thin material. “I know what I want to eat.” “Sean...” she said warningly. “I’m hungry. Feed me, woman.” He gripped the caftan and began raising the hem. Von slapped at his hands. “Quit, you crazy man! I need sustenance. A body can’t live on love alone,” she told him in her grandmother’s voice. “Really? Let’s see.” He rose and tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her rapidly back to the bedroom. Von laughed, needing this light-hearted moment after the stress of her confrontation with Derrick. Sean flipped her onto the mattress and came down on top of her. She circled his neck with her arms. “You know, if I don’t eat I’ll waste away.” “Mmm, can’t have that.” He gazed at her cunningly. “Tell you what. You satisfy my hunger,” he glanced meaningfully at her prone body and rubbed his now erect cock against her mound, “and afterwards, I’ll take you to any restaurant of your choosing and feed yours. Deal?” She smiled. “Deal.” “Good. Now let’s get rid of this.” As he struggled to get the caftan off her, he grumbled, “Woman, what is it with you and night clothes that swallow you whole?” Von was laughing too hard to answer.

Chapter Eleven Much later, Von stood naked before the mirror, arms raised, brushing her long hair. An equally naked Sean stood behind her, his rampant cock riding the small of her back as he nibbled one of the many passion marks on her neck. The stroke of his tongue on the small bruise sent fire streaking through her formerly sated body and she shuddered. “Stop that! Haven’t you had enough?” “Of you?” He palmed her breasts and toyed with the nipples. “Never.” Insatiable. That’s Sean, and all that male potency was focused on her. The thought was enough to make her lightheaded. To take her mind off her reaction to him, which would land her right back in bed, she studied their images in the mirror. Sean, with his tan, wasn’t too much lighter than her caramel colored complexion. The skin on his hands was almost darker than her pale breasts. While Von wasn’t racist, as a black woman raised in the deep south she never dreamed she’d end up with a white lover. Suddenly, Von lowered her arms and leaned closer to the glass, noting all the small discolorations on her body. Bite marks, every single last one of them. Some were mere pricks. Others, like the ones on her shoulder tendon, were deeper and darker. She could see the clear imprint of teeth. Von had a vague memory of Sean clamping down on her shoulder and the resulting orgasm that had rocked through her system with his action. She planted her hands on the dresser and tilted her head to the side, her face mere inches from the mirror. “What’s wrong?” “I look like a chew toy.” Her gaze traveled from her neck to her shoulders. There were small puncture wounds around her areoles and one love mark on the side of her right breast. Her left arm had a small bruise on the bicep and so did her right forearm. Although, now that she thought about it, Von did that one herself when she’d bitten it to keep from screaming. She realized Sean had gone still as a statue behind her, his gaze locked on her body, his expression unreadable. Von wagged her behind until Sean’s erection was snuggled between her butt cheeks. “Hey!” He raised his eyes to meet hers in the mirror.

“I like it that you went all primal on me.” A slow smile crept across his face until it reached his eyes. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” “In that case...” While he resumed plucking her left nipple with his right hand, he sent his left creeping down her stomach. Von caught it at her navel. “No.” Sean arched his left eyebrow. “No?” “That’s right. You promised me breakfast hours ago and now it’s time for lunch.” She glanced around him at the clock. “Past time.” He sighed and stopped trying to free his hand from her grip. “Get dressed and I’ll take you out.” Von shook her head. “Not with this face you’re not. We both look like poster children for domes...” she trailed off. “What happened to your face?” The skin between his eyebrows scrunched. “What?” She turned, sure her eyes were deceiving her. Von grabbed Sean’s chin to hold his head still and went up on tiptoe. “It’s gone,” she said, eyes wide, shaking her head. “Last night your nose was swollen and you had the makings of a shiner over your left eye. Today it’s gone.” She looked up to find him watching her closely. “I told you, Lycans heal fast.” Von shook her head again, denying his words, but her gaze didn’t leave his features. “It’s not possible. Your face should look like mine. Worse.” Sean held her by the waist. “Every word I spoke was the truth.” “There has to be some other explanation,” she murmured, almost to herself. “Men can’t turn into wolves.” That, Von simply couldn’t allow herself to believe. “Okay,” Sean said with a shrug. “What?” “I don’t know. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I was in a lot of pain and my eyesight wasn’t the best.” But she sounded doubtful, even to her own ears. “There’s a full moon in three weeks. You’ll believe me then.” He sounded so sure, Von found her confidence shaken. Could Lycans be real? He cupped her jaw. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. I know how tough it is. If I hadn’t seen it myself, had it happen to me, I wouldn’t believe either. We have plenty of time for you to get used to the idea.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “Get dressed and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” Sean crossed over to the bed, scooped up his pants, and left the room. Von walked on trembling legs and sank onto the mattress. She knew

full well how battered Sean’s face had been last night after spending most of the night viewing it from one angle or another. Before they finally fell asleep, they had darkened, the way bruises do. This morning when Sean confronted Derrick, had the discoloration been there? Von didn’t know. She’d been more aware of his bare chest and barely leashed anger than anything else. Coming from the kitchen she could hear sounds of cabinets snapping closed as Sean hunted the items he needed. What if he wasn’t suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome as she’d believed? What if everything he told her turned out to be true? Troubled, Von pulled out an old pair of jeans and a well-washed, faded t-shirt, her usual lazy day attire. When had the bruises faded? During the night while they slept? In the morning while making love? Or minutes ago when they shared a shower and Sean introduced her to the perilous joys of making love on a semi-slippery surface? She pulled on a satin thong and bra set in a ruby color, then tugged on her pants, which were so loose at the waist, she debated on putting on a belt. In the end, she decided against wearing anything that would slow down her ability to get naked in seconds. Sean’s lovemaking was addictive and though her stomach was currently running the show, as soon as her appetite was appeased, another, more unquenchable one would rear its head. As her t-shirt settled into place around her hips, she tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and joined Sean in the kitchen. He’d found her pancake mix and had bacon sizzling in one pan and flapjacks browning in a skillet. On the counter sat a bowl containing raw eggs, seasoned and ready to be scrambled. “You need any help?” Sean’s glance encompassed her from head-to-toe. “You could have left off the bra.” Von felt her face flushing and awkwardly crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe next time I will.” “In answer to your question, I have it. Stay here and keep me company.” Von leaned against the countertop and rubbed her pointed toe along the seams in the tile. “Something on your mind?” She looked up from the floor to find Sean’s attention focused on the food. “Yes, no, sort of.” Way to sound decisive, Von. She sighed to herself. “You can talk to me.” Grabbing her courage with both hands, she said, “Tell me, again, about

what happened to you? You know, the part about being a...” “Lycan?” “Yeah.” “Okay.” This time Von listened, really listened, without any preconceived notions getting in the way. When he finished, she asked, “So you’re saying it’s a virus? One that only infects men?” “That’s the way it was explained to me.” “And because you survived the process, you turn into a werewolf when the moon is full?” Sean took the time to put the bacon on a plate and toss the excess grease from the pan before answering. “According to Spook, the full change comes during a full moon, and in varying degrees at other times like when my life is threatened, I seriously lose my temper, or...” he glanced up from scrambling the eggs to pin her with a look, “...when making love to my mate.” Von felt her heart rate increase. “Mate?” She’d read enough paranormal romances to know what a werewolf meant when he said the word mate. “Yes.” He turned his attention back to the stove and poured the mixture into the pan where it instantly sizzled and bubbled. To clarify she asked, “As in life-mate, forever and ever, the only woman for you?” Sean finished cooking the eggs and set the pan to the side, then came to her and framed her face with his hands. “As in ‘till death do we part,” forever and always, just me and you,” he confirmed. “Oh.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. “By Lycan standards, we’re already married.” He ran his finger along the mark on her shoulder as he stared into her eyes. Von swallowed hard. “I know this is a lot to adjust to, but I love you and you love me. Everything else is just semantics.” She nodded. “I’m not going anywhere. I have two months of leave coming to me and I’m staying right here with you. We’ll take our time, let you get used to the idea of you and me together. Okay?” He looked and sounded so sure, so serious, but in his eyes Von could see a hint of nervousness. Von took a deep breath, held it and let it out. “In that case, maybe you should stay here with me.” Sean’s eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath. “Are you sure? What about your church, your beliefs?”

She shrugged one shoulder, trying to appear unconcerned. “You said we were already married.” He closed the gap between them and kissed her hard. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold. Go to the table and have a seat. I’ll serve you.” Was that a yes? Did she really want him living with her for the next two months? As she went to the dining table and sat, Von wasn’t sure, but she’d made the offer and she wouldn’t retract it. Sean set the plate with pancakes, another with bacon, and a bowl of scrambled eggs on the table and went back into the kitchen. When he returned he had two plates, two glasses, and silverware. Another trip produced a bottle of chilled apple juice. He sat and waited while she said grace before they both dug in. They were halfway through before he spoke again. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. How about I bring a few of my things here and we take it day by day. Neither one of us have ever had a live-in lover. I don’t want to lose you by pushing too hard, by asking for more than you’re ready to give.” “You didn’t ask. I offered.” “Un-huh, and you’re already regretting it, aren’t you?” She tried to hold his gaze but couldn’t. Sighing, she admitted, “Yeah, maybe. I want to be that woman who wouldn’t think twice about having the man she loves stay with her, but...” “You’re not, and I love that about you. That you’re not casual about any of this.” He reached across the table and captured her free hand in his. “You love me. We’re together. For now, that’s enough. It’s more than I hoped for when I arrived. Dreamed of? Yes, but expected to happen, no. Not really.” Perversely, even as Von acknowledged that Sean was right and his moving in would be more than her battered conscience could handle, she was still disappointed. Was it love that made her want to see his face first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every second in between? If so, why had she never felt this way about Derrick? Maybe it was the sex component. The newness of it, the overwhelming desire to have her body joined to Sean’s every time he looked at her, or smiled in a certain way. Maybe it was the sound of his voice or the way he made her feel that everything she said or did was his top priority. That he was happy only when she was. “Thank you.” He gave her a crooked grin. “For what?”

“For knowing me better than I know myself. For accepting me the way that I am.” Sean brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingertips. “The way you accept me?” Von didn’t even have to think about it. “Yes.” His gaze swept down her body. “Even if I’m sometimes more animal than human?” At that she tugged her hand loose and rose, crossing around to his side of the table to straddled his lap. Sean pushed his chair back to give her more room. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she got in his face. “You listen to me. You are still you. I don’t care what happened...I take that back. I do care, but only because it allowed you to get out of that hellhole alive and in one piece. Losing you would have killed something in me.” She leaned her forehead against his. “I was so scared. It killed me not being able to ask Derrick if he knew or had heard anything. I should have known my feelings were more than those of a friend.” Sean pulled the band out of her hair and ran his fingers through the strands, then cradled her scalp with both hands. “I know, or at least I hoped. If the worst happened, you would have known. I have you listed as the one to notify, and everything I own—” Von kissed him to shut him up. She didn’t want to think about death and Sean, not in the same sentence. The kiss turned desperate, greedy. Sean stood with her in his arms and she wrapped her arms and legs around him and held on tight. “The bedroom,” he muttered as soon as he broke for air. “The couch is closer.” Von rained kisses all over his face. Sean staggered the few steps necessary and dropped with her onto the sofa. They tugged and shoved, ripped and pulled until all the good parts were accessible. Then Sean was over her, driving into her. She arched up to meet each heavy, frantic thrust. Murmurs of “More,” “Just like that,” and “God, you feel so good” filled the atmosphere, along with gasps, cries, and heavy breathing. Then Von strangled a cry and Sean let out a deep groan and stiffened above her as her orgasm triggered his. He collapsed on top of her. “That was...” she panted. “Explosive,” he finished for her, still gasping for air. After they’d both calmed somewhat, he said, “I must be crushing you,” and tried to move.

Von held him tight. “No, don’t move. I like you right where you are.” “Here?” He thrust his hips and his semi-erect cock dragged against sensitive nerve endings, causing her to groan. “Yes,” she hissed. Sean kissed her earlobe and laid his head alongside hers. “We’d be more comfortable in bed.” “The bedroom is way over there.” She made a lazy gesture with her arm in the direction of her room. “Hmm, there is that.” He nibbled on her earlobe and she shivered. “And, I can’t feel my legs.” Not to mention she didn’t have the energy to stand, never mind walk. “That might be circulation. Your jeans are tangled around your thighs.” Von thought about that for a moment. “And my panties?” Sean raised his head, and then dropped it back down. “Under the coffee table, ripped. I’ll buy you another pair.” Von imagined how they must look. Sean had only pushed his pants and underwear down far enough to free his cock. Her t-shirt was shoved up under her armpits, the front clasp of her bra was open, and the waistband of her pants was tight above her knees. The first snicker caught her by surprise. She managed to suppress the rest but her body shook with the effort. Sean lifted onto one elbow and peered at her. “Are you laughing?” She nodded. Anything more would have her losing control. “Dare I ask?” The giggles broke free. “Us,” she managed to get out between chuckles. He smiled, sharing the joke. “We do look a mess, don’t we?” “Yes,” she agreed, nodding. Sean pushed back onto his knees. “You want the rest of your food?” Eyeing his rapidly hardening penis, Von lightly trailed her fingernail down the shaft, still shiny wet with their combined juices. “I’m no longer hungry,” she licked her lips, “for food.” “Sit up.” As soon as she complied, he had her shirt and bra off. Then he went to work on her pants and his. When they were both naked, he pulled her off the sofa and towed her behind him toward the bedroom. “You think we’ll ever get enough of this?” she asked, watching the flex and ripples of the glutes in his butt. “God, I hope not,” he fervently replied. “Me, too.”

The bedroom door closed firmly behind them as they fell on each other again.

Chapter Twelve “How are you feeling?” Marketta asked. “Better. My face looks like a nightmare and is still tender to the touch. That eye is a little blurry and if I think about it, my head starts hurting, but other than that...” “And the hunk? How’s he? He called to check on you today?” Von cleared her throat and shifted on her ottoman, glad her cousin couldn’t see her face. “Sean? He’s, um, fine.” “What time did he leave last night? I kept expecting you to call,” she scolded. “Oh, um, he just left.” There was silence. Then in a low, controlled voice, her cousin asked, “He spent the night?” “Yeah.” Von winced when her voice cracked. You’re a grown woman. You can have a man spend the night. “With you.” She cleared her throat again. Darn frogs. “Um-hmm.” “I don’t suppose he slept on the couch,” Marketta asked wryly. Von looked at the piece of furniture, remembered what activity had recently taken place on it, and felt her face catch fire. “Uh, no.” “I see.” How did her cousin manage to reduce her to feeling like a teenager being called on the carpet by an irate parent? To lessen her guilt, she burst out, “Sean asked me to marry him.” Marketta took a deep breath, and then another, and Von knew she was biting back her initial response. Finally, she said, “Von, honey, don’t you think you’re moving kind of fast. I’m all for you getting rid of asshole, don’t get me wrong, but what do you really know about this man other than he’s fine as hell and can obviously lay it down between the sheets?” Von rose and began to pace her living room. “I didn’t say yes. I know it’s too soon, despite how I feel about him.” “And just how do you feel about him?” Von sighed. “I love him. Really, truly and deeply love him. You were right. I cared about Derrick and maybe even loved him, but I wasn’t in love

with him.” She paused by a window and looked out at the woods while she considered her words. “I thought at first maybe it was the sex. You know, the intimacy and novelty of it.” Not that she’d tell Marketta, but Sean had told her about Lycan pheromones and shared his concern that they might be affecting her emotions toward him. His honesty had only made her love him more. “But it’s not the sex,” she continued. “Sean sees me and he likes what he sees. He listens to what I have to say and cares about how I feel. He’s not trying to change me or mold me into his perfect woman,” she finished with a hint of sarcasm. “I’m glad you finally realize that’s what D was doing,” Marketta said, sounding relieved. “Yeah, me too. You know he came here this morning, said he was willing to forgive me for Sean and offered to take me back. No apologies for hitting me. He acted like I made him do it.” “You’re shitting me. That bastard! I knew I should have followed my first instinct and put a cap in his ass. You didn’t agree, did you? Honey, tell me you told D where to shove it!” Von rubbed her face. “No, I didn’t go along with it. For once I told him how I really felt, about everything. The sad thing is, if he would have gotten to me last night before Sean, I might have fallen for it and agreed with him.” And didn’t that make her feel all warm and fuzzy inside? She was so disgusted with herself and how weak she’d been where Derrick was concerned. “Then I’m glad I let Sean into the apartment. Someone needed to open your eyes.” “You were doing a good job of it. It’s just that Derrick had become a habit.” Von shrugged. “You know how hard habits are to break.” “Well, don’t beat yourself up about it. You aren’t the first woman to stay in a bad relationship because it was comfortable. Change is hard, even when it’s good for us. Then you had all that other baggage,” Marketta stated. “You were right about that, too. I’m not my momma and I need to stop making decisions based on her.” “It’s about damn time you realized that!” Von laughed a little at her cousin’s enthusiasm. “So, what are you going to do about the hunk?” “Sean has two months’ leave and says he’s planning on spending it here, with me. We’ll take our time, do couple’s stuff, and see what happens. Marketta, he’s serious about that marriage proposal. If I’d let him, he’d

marry me today. He’s up for re-enlistment and said he’d leave the decision up to me. He’s willing to get out and move here, if that’s what I want.” “With the economy the way it is, he’d better stay his ass in the military.” Marketta paused, then asked, “Would you really go with him?” “I might. It’s not like I’d have a problem finding work. I’d miss you and the rest of the family but Sean...he just does it for me. I can’t explain,” she finished lamely. “I can. You’re in love. The real deal. When Derrick was enlisted, you never mentioned joining him. You never even thought about going to visit him the few times he was stateside.” Von went back to the couch and sat. “Back then I was busy with school and didn’t have any money. And I was scared to leave momma, scared of what would happen to her if I wasn’t around to check on her.” “Honey, if he really wanted you with him, he’d have paid for you to come, and your momma’s a grown woman. She can take care of herself. She’s not your responsibility.” “I know that, now.” Not comfortable talking about Derrick, Von changed the subject. “What are you doing tonight?” “Me? Nothing.” “Why don’t you come over? Sean went to the base to get some stuff. Then he’s picking up some movies and Chinese food on his way back. He likes you.” “Yeah? Still? After last night?” Von hesitated. “Last night? What did you do?” “Oh, nothing much.” She groaned. “Marketta, knowing you—” Someone bammed on the front door. “Is that your door?” “Yeah. They must have the wrong apartment. So, you coming over?” she asked as she walked to the door. “Yes, I’m coming. Who can turn down Chinese? Make sure he gets Sweet and Sour Chicken. You know I love that stuff.” “Damn,” Von cursed in a low voice and jumped away from the door. “What’s wrong?” “It’s Pastor Wilkins,” she whispered. “So don’t open the door. Act like you’re not home.” “My car’s out front.” She winced as he hammered on the door again. “I don’t think he’ll go away.” “Vondalyn! Open the door, child!”

“Vondalyn? That’s not your name,” Marketta said. Von sighed and rolled her head on her shoulders to ease the tension. “I know. He knows, but he insists on calling me that.” “Now I see where asshole gets it from. It’s genetic.” Pastor Wilkins pounded on the door again. “Look, I gotta go. Might as well get this over with.” “Okay. I’m on my way. Later.” “Later,” she echoed. She disconnected and in a loud voice, called out, “Just a minute.” Von rushed into the room and grabbed a scrunchie, quickly pulling her hair into a messy ponytail. She shut the bedroom door behind her and on her way to the door, straightened the pillows on the couch. Spotting her torn underwear on the floor, she scooped them up and shoved them under a sofa pillow. Then hurried to the door. She took a deep calming breath, wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans, then cracked open the door. “Pastor, I wasn’t expecting you.” “Let me in, child. Don’t keep me out on the stoop.” Very aware of her braless state, she said, “I’m not dressed for company.” “When a pastor drops in on his parishioners, he’s not expecting them to be perfectly put together,” he said gently. Von reluctantly stepped aside and allowed him to enter her apartment. Derrick Senior looked nothing like his son. Whereas Derrick Junior was lean and slender, Derrick Senior was built along the lines of a football player. Even though he was in his mid-fifties, he still worked out and kept in shape. There was no flab on this man, no beer gut, just two hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle. His head was bald and face grave, his expression, like now, usually set in stern lines. By comparison, Derrick Junior was small, almost delicate looking. Von had decided years ago the son must take after his mother. She shut the door, but left it unlocked, hoping this would be a quick visit. Even after years of knowing him, Von still felt uncomfortable in his presence. “Would you care for some refreshment?” “No, don’t put yourself to any trouble.” When she turned, he got a good look at her face. “Did my son do that?” “Yes, sir.” “Care to tell me what happened?” “No, sir.” He arched an eyebrow. “I see. May I have a seat?” “Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, please.” She gestured toward the seating

arrangement in the living room. He loosened his tie before sitting on the two-person ottoman. Von took the armchair across from him, pulling her feet up into the chair and hiding her chest behind her knees. “I spoke with Derrick today.” Von tensed. “When he didn’t come to church, I was concerned. It’s not like my son to miss service, especially when he has to speak. He told me you two were having some...difficulties.” Von gripped her jeans with tightly clenched fingers. “With all due respect, Pastor, I believe what happens between me and your son is just that, between us.” As Derrick Senior leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs, his suit jacket fell open. With his intent stare focused directly on her, Von had to force herself not to fidget. “I’m aware that you feel I’m too involved in your and Derrick’s relationship. Derrick has expressed with me how unhappy you were that I advised him to wait on your nuptials.” Angry and defensive, Von stated in as calm a voice as she could manage, “I understood the reasoning behind Derrick’s decision. I simply wished he would have discussed it with me first, especially since it affected both of us.” “Hmm, I see.” He glanced down, playing with the creases in his dress pants before pinning her with another look. “You know the bible teaches women to be submissive to their husbands.” “Yes, but as I told Derrick, we’re not married yet.” She sighed. “Pastor, I have no problem following the leading of my husband. I believe that the husband should be the head of the household. I want my husband to lead. What I don’t want is to be treated like a mindless child. You taught me that a wife should be a helpmate to her husband. To me that means we should work together, like partners, with Derrick having the final say. Not the only say, but the final one.” Derrick Senior smiled ruefully. “Listening to you, you remind me of my wife. She had a lot of the same views on marriage and relationships.” He stood, straightening his clothes, and Von scrambled to her feet as well. “I’ll leave you two young people to work out your issues on your own. You know I’m always available for counseling.” “Thank you, sir.” Relieved that he wasn’t going to pry, Von trailed behind him to the entryway. When he paused to let her pass, she gave him a brief smile and quickened her pace, eager to have him gone. Derrick Senior crowded her, walking almost on her heels. Just a few more steps and he’ll be gone. She was reaching for the doorknob when a

violent shove from behind had her crashing into the wood of the door—face first. Derrick Senior’s ham-like hands came up and grabbed her by the throat in a strangle hold. He shook her viciously, smashing Von’s head repeatedly against the door. She tried to fight, to get loose, but he was too big, too strong, and had the element of surprise on his side. Unable to breathe, she rapidly lost strength, black spots appearing before her eyes. Just when she knew she was dead, Derrick Senior flung her aside like a ragdoll. She crumpled on the floor, hands on her throat, coughing and gasping for air. The first kick landed in her stomach. The second, her ribs. She curled into a fetal position, arms cradling her head, trying to protect as much of her body as possible as his hard-toe dress shoes made repeated contact with her fragile body. He suddenly leaned down and snatched her head back by her hair. “Did you think my son wouldn’t tell me how you whored yourself with his friend, turning the two of them against each other? How you tried to entice Derrick by coming to him half naked, and when he resisted, you seduced his friend instead?” Derrick Senior’s eyes glittered madly. He’s crazy! How had he managed to hide it so well? He looked on her with disdain. “You women are all alike. Connivers, manipulators, like Jezebel, you use your wiles to try and control men. But I’ll teach you, same way I taught my wife.” He yanked hard on her head, dragging a cry of pain out of Von. Then he wrapped her hair around his fist, using it to pin her to the floor. Von forced her body to unfold and swing, despite the pain her action caused. She missed when he jerked back. He hit her again, casually, painfully, the way one would swat an insect. Von tried to fight but was easily subdued. “I don’t know what the hell my son saw in you. He could have done much better,” he grunted. Derrick Senior grabbed her t-shirt by the neckline, under her chin, and ripped the shirt down the middle. Releasing her hair, he mauled both breasts, squeezing hard. Von screamed and fought like a wildcat, managing to catch his face with her nails. Bloody welts appeared. In retaliation he backhanded her, his blow landing on the same side as Derrick’s. Stars exploded behind her eyes and everything went dark. Can’t pass out. Von fought with everything inside of her to stay conscious, terror giving her the needed strength. She felt his hands on the zipper of her jeans and lashed out with her feet. There was a meaty thud as she connected, the

impact rocking him backwards. This time he roared. He fell on top of her, his fists raining mighty blows to her unprotected body. She was barely conscious when he flipped her onto her stomach and snatched the waistband of her pants. Von felt cool air hit her butt, then heard him fumbling with his buckle. No, this is not happening. I didn’t survive my momma’s boyfriends to go out like this. She pushed onto her elbows and tried to crawl away. “Stubborn bitch. Just like my wife. Never knew when to give up.” He captured her by the ankle and dragged her back. His hands were on her hips, yanking her into position when a loud popping sound filled the air. Derrick Senior bucked on top of Von. She whimpered, in pain and fear, expecting at any moment to feel the steel rod of his flesh ripping through her. Instead, he shoved off her, yelling angrily. Von heard the sound again, rapid fire this time. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Then there was a loud, floor-shaking thud as something heavy hit the ground. She heard moaning, a “Take that, you bastard!” and then a masculine scream of pain. “Von, damn it, I told you not to open the fucking door. When will you listen to me?” A shadow fell over her and she flinched away from the hands reaching for her. “It’s all right. It’s me.” Gentle hands straightened her clothes. “2581 Bartram Ave, Apartment 4-B...Rescue...my cousin’s beat pretty bad, and you probably better send the cops since I emptied my clip into the asshole I caught trying to rape her.” “Hurts,” she whimpered. “Derrick Wilkins Senior...No, he’s not dead yet, but if you don’t get here soon, maybe.” To Von she said, “I know, honey. Hold on, Von. Help’s com— Yeah, she’s conscious, barely...I’ll stay on the line.” “Not safe,” she whispered, hearing but not really comprehending what was being said. “Trust me, he’s not going anywhere. If he moves, the next bullet’s hitting his head or his dick. You got that, asshole?” “Call...Sean...warn...” “Hush, now. I’ll take care of everything.” Trusting her cousin to do just that, Von gave up her fight to stay conscious.

Chapter Thirteen The uneasy feeling in Sean’s gut became full-blown panic when he turned into Von’s apartment complex and saw the police crime scene tape cordoning off the entry to her quad’s parking area and additional tape blocking the upstairs walkway. Dust and gravel flew up in a cloud as he came to a screeching halt. He had the door open and his feet were pounding the pavement before the truck finished rocking. As he approached the police car parked at an angle with its lights flashing, hindering access, two uniformed officers stepped forward. “Sir, this area’s off limits.” “My fiancé lives in 4B.” The cop on the left pressed his shoulder mike. “Sir, I have the vic’s fiancé here.” “Roger that...” The rest of what was said was gobble, Sean’s mind having taken a binder on hearing Von referred to as the “vic.” Terror, unlike anything he’d ever known, struck him right in the heart, weakening his knees and racing his heartbeat. Sweat broke out over his body. A slight breeze arose, and he scented the faintly metallic odor of blood. A lot of it. “Sir, you can...” Sean pushed past the officers, jumped up and slid over the hood of the cruiser, landed and went sprinting toward the stairs. Curious bystanders loitering, the Crime Scene Unit’s Van, EMT and Fire vehicle with their engines idling, all a blur. A few feet short of his goal, an officer tried to stop him. Sean darted around him and in seconds, was over the crime scene tape. Another misfortunate officer made the mistake of seizing Sean by the arm. Instinct and training kicked in and without a thought, and Sean flipped the guy into air and was moving before his body landed. The angry shouts of men simply an annoying buzz in his ear, he kept his eyes and mind focused on reaching Von. “Stop!” “Somebody get him!” A body tackle from behind brought him down. Sean rolled and came to his feet with a feral growl, ready to take out

anyone or anything trying to keep him from his mate. He crouched, arms hanging loose and ready. Several officers moved to surround him. He turned so that he could keep everyone within sight. “Stand down!” The order was barked out. “But he assaulted an officer...” Through the haze covering his vision, Sean noted the weapons drawn, pointed at him. He growled again and felt the first painful flickers of the shift hit his body. His beast wanted out. “I said, STAND DOWN. That’s an order! Bentley and Cruise, hit the streets. You’re not needed here. Anderson and McKinsey, back to your position. I’ll handle this.” There were murmurs and grumblings as his order was obeyed. Weapons were lowered but not holstered. In the waning sunlight, the flashing red, white, and blue lights created a strobe effect that hurt his eyes. Out of his peripheral vision, Sean caught movement. He seamlessly altered his position to meet this new threat, a low, ominous growl vibrating almost continuously from his chest. “Steady, son. You don’t want to let him out. Not here, not now,” he stated in a low, quiet voice. The man moved, taking slow, measured steps, his hands outstretched in a non-threatening manner. Sean mirrored his movements, and gradually they pivoted until the wind was in his face. The scent of Lycan, of the brotherhood rode its subtle wave. It was enough to confuse his beast, make him hesitate. The cop was quick to make note of it. “That’s right, son. I’m family. Trust me.” “Mate?” It came out guttural. “She’s hurt but she’s safe. We got the man who hurt her. He won’t get to her again.” Sean slowly uncoiled from his crouch. The change retreated enough for him to think. The cop kept talking. “She was beaten pretty badly. The EMT’s are with her now. I know you want to be with her but I need you to wait until my team does its job. Let them gather the evidence they need.” “Who?” did this, his mind finished, but he was still locked into one-word responses. His beast prowled just beneath the surface like an unreachable itch. The cop’s radio crackled. “Sarge, we got another guy at the gate claiming to be the vic’s fiancé. A Derrick Wilkins Junior. Let him in?” At the name Sean fell into a crouch again, and his gums tingled as his fangs lengthened. His fingertips ached as his nails hardened and grew.

“Negative. Deny access.” He released the button and sighed. “Son, we gotta work on your control. How long since you were changed?” Sean shook his head hard, fighting to subdue his beast. He had better control than this. “A few months.” “You’re not local.” It was a question disguised as a statement. Sean focused on the cop’s voice. “No, sir.” “What’s your name, son?” Sean had to force himself to concentrate, to push past the distraction and think. “Master Sergeant Sean Jacobson.” “Army. Stationed here at Fort Stewart?” “No.” Sean’s gazed strayed toward the apartment and he tensed, the desire to be with his mate once again overwhelming him. “Look at me, son.” The command in the older gentleman’s voice could not be denied. Sean brought his attention back to the cop. “Your mate, what’s her name?” “Von Washington.” “Good. Good. You and Von, you been mated long?” “No, sir.” “That explains the other fiancé,” he mumbled to himself. Again his gaze strayed to the windows of the apartment where he could see lots of movement. The cop laid a hand on Sean’s arm. “On me, son. On me.” Sean looked at the hand, then the cop’s face. “You were here, earlier?” Right then, EMTs pushing a gurney came rushing by shouting orders. They loaded a male into the back of the Rescue unit and took off, lights flashing, siren wailing. The cop shook his head. “The bastard might make it, but it’s doubtful. The cousin pumped him full of bullets. Be a miracle if he doesn’t bleed out on the table.” Sean really didn’t give a damn. He wanted to rip the man who’d dared to hurt his mate apart with his bare hands. He took a step forward. The cop smoothly moved into his path. “Uh-uh, son. Focus on me. Forget about him.” When Sean settled, he said, “Back to my question. You were here earlier?” “Spent the night. Left. Needed clothes, gear.”

“So you went back to the base.” Sean gave a short nod. “About what time?” “Hour and a half, maybe two hours. Picked up movies. Food.” Both of which were sitting in the truck. “Shouldn’t have left, should have made her come with me.” “So, she was alone when you left?” “Yes.” “Was she expecting anyone?” “No. Maybe. She said she was calling her cousin.” Another group of EMT’s came down the stairs with another strapped down body—Von. She was already hooked up to an IV and one of the medics was working on her. “Multiple facial and body contusions; bruised, possibly broken ribs; probable internal bleeding. Her BP’s all over the place...” Sean didn’t hear the rest of the litany. When the gurney hit the pavement, he was beside it, keeping pace. “Sir, we need you to back away.” “How is she? She’s going to be all right?” When the doors to Rescue opened, Sean made to climb inside with the others. The cop appeared by his side, blocking him. “You don’t want to do that, son. No telling how long you’ll be stuck at the hospital with no transportation. Go get your vehicle and follow.” Sean didn’t waste any time arguing. He heard the cop explaining to the EMTs as he ran off, “The fiancé.” **** The sour scent of pain, anger, despair, and disillusionment along with the chemical smells of disinfectant, medicine and other nameless odors hit him in the back of his throat the minute the glass doors swooshed open. The waiting room was packed, as was the case with most county hospitals, with the men, women, crying babies and quarrelling children. Sean ignored all of it, his attention focused on the sign, Information Desk, straight ahead. “Von Washington. Rescue just brought her in.” The harried looking woman behind the desk barely looked up from the paperwork she was sorting. “Have a seat. The doctor will come out and see you when he has news.” “She’s my fiancé. I want to go into the back with her.” She did glance up then, eyes narrowed in aggravation. “Have...a...seat.” Sean took a deep, open-mouth breath to gain control. “Can you have

someone let her know I’m here?” The woman rolled her eyes. “What’s your name?” “Master Sergeant Sean Jacobson.” He should have had on his uniform. Maybe then he’d get some respect. She scribbled something on a stickey notepad. “Got it. Now, please, have a seat.” Sean forced himself away from the window and went and leaned against a wall facing the double doors from which the doctor would exit. His position also allowed him to see the Emergency Room entrance. Despite his relaxed pose, the scowl on his face and angry vibe had a nearby elderly couple relocating to a different area. Others kept giving him wary looks. Thirty minutes later, Von’s grandmother and some other relatives he recognized from photos Von had sent over the years arrived. The lady at the desk gave them the same routine. “Have a seat and someone will be with you shortly.” They sat without argument. Sean considered going over and introducing himself but stayed where he was. He didn’t know them, was unsure if they knew about his relationship with Von, and frankly, he wasn’t in the mood to make polite conversation. He still didn’t know what the hell happened, or who the crazy bastard was that had attacked his woman. The only thing that mattered was Von. He needed to see for himself that she was okay. That he hadn’t lost her when he’d just gotten her. More time passed. Sean straightened abruptly when Derrick came rushing into the ER. When he turned from the desk, Sean was there, in his face. “What the hell are you doing here?” Derrick reared back, his expression going from shock to annoyance. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I received a phone call that my father had been transported to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.” Images flashed before Sean’s eyes and in a blink, he had Derrick jacked up against the nearest wall. “You son of a bitch! Tell me your daddy had nothing to do with Von being here!” “Sir! You can’t do that in here. Security!” Derrick struggled uselessly, then seemed to freeze as Sean’s words sank in. Sean shook him again. “Tell me!” “Von?” Derrick asked hoarsely, the color leeching from his face. “Is that why you came to her apartment, to help your father finish what you’d started? You sorry son of a bitch. Despite all that talk, you turned out to be just like your old man after all,” he said in disgust.

Derrick shook his head rapidly, his mouth open on a silent no. The sound of running feet reached his ears. He released Derrick before the urge to pound him into the floor overwhelmed him. He couldn’t afford to get kicked out of the hospital. Not yet. Not until he knew how she was doing. By the time Security rounded the corner, there were several feet of distance between the two men. “What’s the problem?” “No problem, Officer,” Sean told him, still glaring at Derrick. “Then move along.” Sean backed slowly away, before pivoting on his feet and walking to his former spot on the wall. As he retreated, he could hear Derrick asking the woman at the desk for Von’s status. He paused long enough to hear her say they hadn’t been given one. It was hours before they received word. A doctor still in surgical gear came out asking for the family of Von Washington. Sean moved forward with the rest, but lingered near the rear. “Are you the family?” “Yes,” the grandmother answered. “She’s in recovery. We couldn’t get her blood pressure stabilized. There was internal bleeding and we had to open her up to find the source. Her condition’s critical, but stable. She’s going to be in a lot of pain and heavily medicated for a while.” “Can I see her?” the grandmother asked. “When she’s out of recovery, we’ll send someone to let you know. Could be awhile. You might want to wait and come back in the morning. Until we’re sure there are no further complications, we’re restricting access to family, and only one or two at a time. I won’t lie to you. Von took one hell of a beating, but she’s young, healthy and strong. I expect her to make a full recovery. Von’s a friend. Everyone here loves her. I’d like to get my hands on the man that did this to her. I hope they got the bastard,” he said with venom. “They did. Thank you, doctor.” “You’re welcome.” His gazed raked over all of them, taking note of Sean standing close but not too near, before turning and going back through the doors. Von’s grandmother turned to the other lady and said, “Thank God she’s all right. Now if they’ll just let Ketta go.” “I sent the boys down to get her out, Momma. She hasn’t been charged. They’re just questioning her. The police aren’t stupid. They’ve seen Von.

Seen what that guy did to her. They’ll let her go.” “I hope so.” The grandmother clearly wasn’t as optimistic. Sean turned and bumped into Derrick, who immediately held his hands up in a gesture of peace. “I wanted to see how she was. I swear I had no idea. I know you don’t believe me, but I love Von. The last thing I’d want is to see her hurt.” He stepped around Derrick without saying a word and left the hospital. It bit that they were only allowing family members to see her, and without Marketta there to vouch for him, Derrick had a better chance of getting to Von than he did since her family knew him. He’d come back in the morning, and while he was at it, check on the cousin as well. He owed her a debt of gratitude that could never be repaid. In the meantime, he had some phone calls to make. No one fucked with his woman and got away with it. No one.

Chapter Fourteen Von came to slowly. “That’s right, Sunshine. Open those beautiful eyes for me.” The eyes in question felt like they had weights on them. Von managed to pry them open only to instantly lower her eyelids to shield them from the harsh, bright light. “How do you feel?” “Cold.” Her answer was punctuated with a shiver. A warm weight settled on her body and toasty socks were placed on her feet.” “You feel any pain?” Now that it was brought to her attention, Von realized her body ached all over, but the worst was her abdomen and face. “Yes.” “The anesthesia’s wearing off. We’ll give you something to take care of it. The good stuff,” the voice said with a feminine chuckle. “Now take some deep breaths for me.” Von tried. “It hurts.” “I know, but it’s important. Now again. That’s good. Again. Uh-huh. Once more. Excellent.” “Gloria?” “Yes, hon?” “What happened?” “You were brought in with a bleeder. Dr. Kandt had to go hunting. Thank God he found it before it could do too much damage. You’re going to be out of commission for a while.” While Von’s fuzzy mind absorbed her words, Gloria leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We all are. Rest now while we prepare your room.” Warmed with a numbing sensation sweeping through her body, Von lost the struggle to stay awake and retreated back into the darkness. Some time later Von drifted. There were voices, the sensation of movement. In some portion of her mind, Von was aware of being transported to her room. Machines beeped, there was a slight tug in the I.V. line as the bag was hung, the bed was positioned, lights lowered. Last she heard her grandmother and aunt whispering over her before they, too, disappeared.

Sean. Where is Sean? She needed him. Wanted him to come to her so she could feel safe. When her nurse returned she’d tell her... When Von surfaced again, the hospital had the still quietness that came only in the darkest, deep of night. She weakly pressed the call button. Thirsty, so thirsty. “Yes,” a disembodied voice said. “Water.” It came out a croak. “Be right there.” Seconds later. “Suck on this.” Icy coolness touched her lips. Not water but close. A few chips were all she had strength to manage. The nurse checked her vitals, a running commentary on her lips. Thirst sated, Von faded away. When next she roused, it was to the pressing need to use the bathroom. Knowing she should call for help but not having the patience to wait, she crept to the bathroom, step by painful step, leaning heavily on the IV pole. Emptying her bladder proved to be a painfully torturous experience. Upon returning to bed, Von gladly pressed the button which dispensed pain medication that took her out of her body and into a netherworld. How long she drifted there she had no idea. Time passed. People—nurses, staff, doctors—came and went. Vitals were taken, bandages checked and changed, and still Von lingered, not quite present, aware but not alert. She answered questions—doctors, nurses and, she thought, the police. And she asked for Sean, repeatedly, until suddenly he was there, by her bedside, holding her hand. Safe. She was safe. Days later, she was much improved and not as dependent upon the morphine. Final report: a broken nose, concussion, ruptured spleen, bruised ribs, and an assortment of colorful bruises all over her body. She would live, and for that Von was extremely grateful. The report of what happened made the news. “Respected Pastor shot, almost kills faithful Parishioner, news at five.” Marketta was in jail, or had been. Von wasn’t exactly sure and no one in the family would tell her. She was told to concentrate on getting better. Derrick Senior was in this same hospital in critical condition, and his prognosis didn’t look good. Von wasn’t sure how she felt about it or him. He was her pastor, a man of God. One whose bible teachings had helped her become the woman she was today. But the man that attacked her, tried to rape her and meant to kill her when he finished—yes, she remembered every foul word he’d spoken, every blow, every kick—that man she didn’t know.

Which was the real Pastor Derrick Wilkins Senior? Where was the man who’d preached and taught on love and respect? Was it all a lie? Von didn’t know and not knowing left her vulnerable, her faith floundering, in a way she’d never been. Thank God for Sean. She drew strength from his quiet, solid presence. Whatever she needed, he made sure she had. He didn’t talk but his being there was statement enough. He left only when necessary and even then he didn’t stay gone long. On one of his absences, Von woke to find a red-eyed Derrick sitting beside her bed, holding her hand to his mouth. She must have made some sound, or maybe it was the way she reflexively tensed, preparing to pull her hand away. Something alerted Derrick she was awake and his gaze switched from the machines to her. He looked rough. Grief stricken. Despite that, he attempted a smile. “Hi.” “Derrick.” She tugged on her hand. His hold tightened briefly before he released it. “I know you don’t want to see me and I don’t blame you, but I had to come.” He cleared his throat so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching since this happened. I’m sorry, so sorry. For hitting you, and so much more. I...I have no excuse. I know I was wrong. Knew it even while I was doing it, but couldn’t seem to control myself. Please, please forgive me.” Von closed her eyes and nodded. It didn’t matter anymore. “I went to the jail and told them...” He paused for so long Von looked at him. Derrick clenched the railing of her bed so tight his knuckles were white. “I told them, if your cousin hadn’t shot my father, he would have killed you...like he killed my mother.” Von sucked in a sharp breath. No wonder he didn’t like talking about her. Von had always assumed his mother had left Derrick’s father, leaving her son behind like unwanted garbage. Derrick’s gaze connected with hers and the pain she saw in its depths made her forget about her own. For the first time, Von believed she was seeing the real Derrick. “My dad used to abuse me, for as long as I can remember. Mom found out...no, I said something, I don’t remember what, and she figured it out. She confronted him, said she was taking me and leaving, and if he tried to stop her she would go to the police, and the church elders, and tell what he was doing and he...he...killed her. Put his hands around her neck and choked her. I was eight. She crumpled on the floor, her face...” He turned away so that she viewed his profile. “She wasn’t breathing.

He told me if I told anyone else he’d kill them, too. That he loved me. I was his, and no one would take me away from him.” He closed his eyes. “He said he needed me. That everything he did was because he loved me so much.” A tear slid down his cheek and his breath shuddered in and out. “In middle school, one of my teachers took an interest in me. Ms. Mulligan. She was really nice. I liked her a lot. Used to spend whatever time I could with her. She reminded me of my mother. I must have said something, let something slip, even though I’d gotten better at hiding it. She got suspicious. Started asking questions about our family, my dad, making subtle inquiries to other teachers, neighbors. A few weeks later, she was in an accident. Her brakes failed. She was almost killed. No one suspected anything but I knew. I knew...” Derrick jerked to his feet and began to pace in short, choppy steps as Von listened in horror. “We moved here. Dad started this church. Things got better. He didn’t come to me at night as much. Said he didn’t love me any less, but that I was getting too big, too old...he likes ‘em small, and young... but I’d always be his special love...” With dawning horror, Von remembered how Derrick had always hated his size. How he was always trying to bulk up, and her stomach lurched as his meaning sank in. “But the beatings, those never stopped. He demanded instant obedience in everything. He had to be in control.” He stopped with his back to her and dragged his hands over his head before turning to face her, his eyes tortured. “Then I met you. Dad found out. He didn’t want me having a girlfriend. Said I didn’t need anyone but him. It’s the first time I ever stood up to him. I refused to stop seeing you.” Von put a hand over her mouth. God, she was going to be sick. “You and I were so much alike. Had so much in common, but you never knew. I couldn’t tell you or he’d have hurt you, too.” Von spoke then. “Why’d you come back? You’d gotten away from him.” She remembered his father’s fury when he found out Derrick had enlisted. How Derrick had waited until the very last moment to tell him he was leaving. Derrick’s solemn gaze held hers. “Because he had you.” She jolted. He’d come back to his demon father because of her? No. Everything within her rejected that. “Derrick, I loved you. I would have joined you, if you asked.” He shook his head. “No you wouldn’t have. He would have stopped you, just like he stopped you from going to school in Atlanta. You turned

down a four-year scholarship to stay here, despite my encouraging you, almost pleading with you to go.” “No, I—” she started to argue, then stopped. Hadn’t Marketta just said the same? Always intimidating, Derrick Senior had a way of making a person want to do what he wanted them to do. At eighteen, nineteen, even twenty, would she have been able to stand up to him? No, she’d only recently stood up to Derrick and he was nowhere near as forceful as his father. “I’m sorry you came back here for me,” she said instead. He came over and stood beside her. “It wasn’t all for you. He’s my dad and despite everything, I love him. I keep hoping that he’ll change, that...” Derrick shook his head, unable to continue. Von understood exactly what he meant. That confusing blend of anger, contempt, pity, and love she felt toward her own mother. The hope that one day she’d change and be the parent that Von always needed and wanted her to be. But to be like Derrick, to have unwanted sexual feelings in the equation... God, she couldn’t imagine. “It’s my fault he came after you. He came to see why I wasn’t in church. I was so angry, so hurt, I said things I shouldn’t have...” And like the jealous lover he was, Derrick Senior came rushing over to do what he’d always wanted, eliminate the competition for his son’s affection. He took a shaky breath. “When I found out what he’d done, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. I don’t want...I can’t be like him.” Compassion for the son flooded Von’s heart. “What he did, it’s not your fault. You aren’t responsible for your father’s actions.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and before her eyes, Derrick reconstructed his mask, the one that hid his feelings. How had she been with him so long and not known him? Because he’d never let her see his heart. Derrick shrugged his shoulders like he was shaking off an unwanted garment. “I told the police where we buried her. That should help your cousin beat the charges against her.” He headed for the door. At it, he paused. “I just wanted you to know, I do love you, as much as it’s possible for me to love any woman. I want you to be happy with your life. You deserve it.” Something about his tone she didn’t like. “Derrick?” “Goodbye, Von.” He gave her a last lingering look, then walked out the door. “Derrick!” She needed to go after him but couldn’t. There was something very final in his goodbye. He wouldn’t do something stupid, would he? Left

with no other recourse, Von prayed for Derrick, and as an afterthought, for herself. Minutes later the door opened and Sean walked in. “Was that Derrick I saw? Was that bastard bothering you?” “No,” she answered softly. “Then why are you crying?” His expression shifted from angry to concerned. “Are you in pain?” Von wiped her face, surprised to find it wet. “Derrick was here.” His gaze sharpened along with his tone. “I thought you said he wasn’t?’ “He didn’t bother me,” she clarified. “What did he want?” In his eyes, those windows of his soul, she saw suspicion, jealousy and an underlying hint of uncertainty. Von held out her hand and he came and sat beside her on the bed, careful not to jostle her. Von told him what Derrick had revealed without any hesitation or fear of betraying confidences. She always told Sean everything. Sean appeared thoughtful when she finished. “I knew his father used to knock him around occasionally but I didn’t realize...” “That explains so much,” he finally finished. “Derrick told you?” Von was shocked, and a little hurt that Derrick had shared that part of himself with Sean and not her, the woman he professed to love. “Well, yeah.” He caught her look. “It wasn’t like that. Some stuff happened that triggered some bad memories for me. Hooch and I talked. I didn’t think he’d understand, coming from a good home like he had, until he told me about his dad.” He paused, then asked a bit hesitantly, “Does this change how you feel about him?” Von thought and then nodded slowly. “I see.” Sean pulled his hand away and slid off the bed. How she knew what he was thinking, feeling, Von didn’t stop to question. She grabbed for him and hissed in pain at the sharp movement. “No, you don’t,” she contradicted, trying to pant though the agony. He stopped, his sudden concern for her overriding his need to escape what she knew he assumed to be his coming rejection. “Are you all right? Should I call someone?” “Just sit down, please.” Sean slowly returned to his former position. “You didn’t give me a chance to finish. Knowing what Derrick’s father did to him helps me to understand him better. For a long time I thought I

was the problem in our relationship. That my issues were keeping us from really connecting.” Von stared steadily into Sean’s eyes, willing him to get what she was saying. “I loved him and at times, I really believed he loved me, too, but there was always this bit of distance between us. I thought it was because of my background, you know, my family. That he really couldn’t relate. Now I find out his family is more jacked up than mine. We got a lot of stuff going on, but thank God, incest isn’t one of them.” Sean placed his hand on her thigh. “I know what it’s like,” he said quietly. Von’s heart clenched and her eyes rounded. “Please God, tell me you weren’t molested, too?” “No,” he denied, “but I know what it’s like to sleep with one eye open. Never knowing if tonight’s the night you’re going to have to defend yourself against some perv and praying for escape, for someone to rescue you from your situation. All the homes I stayed in weren’t...nice. Some of my foster families were indifferent. As long as the money came in, they didn’t care what I did. Some were good people who really wanted to make a difference, but others...those are the ones I still have nightmares about.” Von thought about the three of them. Her momma had been neglectful, more concerned with her men, the money they provided, and the booze she drank than Von’s welfare. Sean never had any family that he could remember. He was a true child of the System. And then there was Derrick, who seemed to have it all: a well respected father, nice home, money enough to take care of his needs, and his father was a monster in disguise. The fear he must have lived with... Looking back, Von wondered that she hadn’t suspected anything. Derrick had always worn long-sleeved, button down shirts and long pants, no matter what the season. She’d thought it because he was a preacher’s kid. She didn’t remember him having many friends and he’d been as leery of being touched as she. Von had considered him the perfect boyfriend, one who wouldn’t make any sexual demands on her, not knowing he’d probably considered her the perfect girlfriend for the same reason. As long as they were together, as they almost always were, the other kids looking to hook up left them alone. While Derrick had never seemed uncomfortable with sex, Von realized now he’d only allowed sexual contact when he initiated it, and he maintained control. Whenever she made tentative overtures, he’d always stopped her cold. And he’d never allowed her to touch him in a sexual manner.

Shaking off the past, Von laid her hand over the one Sean placed on her thigh. “I love you.” “I love you, too.” “I thought I was going to die.” The words were stark. The first mention she’d made to him of what happened that night. “Von...” He closed his eyes and his gripped tightened, almost to the point of pain. “I should have been there.” Disregarding his words and the pointless guilt behind them, she repeated, “I love you, and I want to be with you. Whatever that means. If you re-enlist, I’ll go with you. Wherever they send you. I realized something when I was lying there waiting for him to make good on his threat and kill me. Life is short. You need to grab hold to love and happiness with both hands and not let go. Don’t worry about what other people think and all the stupid, petty stuff we concern ourselves with. This,” she squeezed his hand, “this is what’s important.” Sean wiped the tears from her eyes and then reached into his shirt pocket. He pulled out something shiny and round. Taking her left hand, he slid the ring on it. “You’re already my mate. Now be my wife.” “Yes,” she agreed while she held her hand up, admiring the way the ring sparkled in the light. “I’ll get the license tomorrow and have the hospital chaplain marry us.” There was a hint of challenge in his tone. “Yes.” No more waiting or delays. She wasn’t taking any chances. No one knew what the future held and as she’d told Sean, she intended to grab hold of happiness with both hands and not let go. Being with Sean made her happy. He completed her soul. “Tomorrow.” They sealed their agreement with a kiss.

The End...Almost Because I know you’ll want to know... Sean and Von did marry the next day with whatever family could be in attendance on such short notice. The bride wore her granny nightgown. The groom wore fatigues and a t-shirt. Sean did re-enlist and join one of the specialty Lycan units. He and Von were stationed at a secret military base in a wooded, mountainous area where the Lycans could change, hunt, and roam during the full moon without notice. Von’s medical training was expanded, courtesy of the US

government and she became a valued member of Sean’s unit’s medical team. Derrick’s mother’s body was found exactly where Derrick Junior said it would be. Derrick’s deposition and information went a long way to clearing Marketta of any charges. Derrick Senior’s condition improved, upgrading from critical to stable before mysteriously taking a turn for the worst. He later died from “complications.” Foul play was suspected but never proven. Derrick Junior disappeared, never to be heard from again. It’s speculated that he changed his name and left the country after his father died. Without their two strongest leaders, the church fell apart and disbanded.

About the Author Zena Wynn is the multi-published author of several books including the True Mates series, the Fantasy Island series, The Question and many more. She writes a variety but is most known for her paranormal erotic romances. To find out more about this author, go to www.zenawynn.com