Enslaved In Shadows (Shadow Unit Book 1) Read online

  Her body called to his, and Draven was more than ready to answer. No names, just raw, carnal mating. Hard. Fast. Dirty.

  He rested one of his hands on the wall near her head as he hooked the other into her jean shorts. He yanked hard and flipped his eyes to her face at the sharp intake of breath. Quick bursts of air were pushing past her kissable lips, and the pulse at her neck jumped erratically against her skin. She was overheated and aroused, he could smell it. Draven reached inside her shorts and placed his hand over her mound, cupping the flesh between her legs. She arched forward and placed her forehead against his chest as she tried to take in a deeper breath.

  “Fuck.” She was bare. Soft soaked skin greeted his hand. The heat from her juices warmed his fingers as he skimmed the surface of her lips, dipping between her folds. She was pliant in his arms, her body opening further to receive him. Draven had to bite back a groan. This was going to be good.

  He removed his hand and brought it to his face to breathe her in. Inhaling deeply, he took in the strong exotic scent that was uniquely hers. It infused the air with her flavor, and he knew she would be sharp and sweet on his tongue. She would linger on his skin, reminding him of this night. Eyes locked on her heavy-lidded ones, he slowly sucked a finger into his mouth. He took his time with each digit, moaning after each taste. Bold and sweet with a powerful punch of concentrated lust settled on his tongue. This was how a woman should always taste he thought. Sweet and warm. She watched him in rapt fascination as each finger disappeared into his mouth, except for one.

  “Taste yourself,” he whispered against the corner of her mouth.

  # # #

  Jes hesitantly lifted her mouth to his waiting finger. Was she really going to do this? Their heads bent. She was naked from the waist down, the straps of her bikini top dangling between them, the top itself barely clinging to her skin from the humid night air. Her lips opened and she took in his finger, sucking hard and deep. His skin and her juices together created something wild and violent. She never imagined she’d be in the jungle doing things she’d only read about or saw on some late night adult channel. But with him, the choice was made. They were past negotiations, and she was already signing the “taste yourself” contract. She watched his jaw tighten as he began pulling his finger from her lips. He pulled and she followed, all the way to his mouth.

  Her hand went to his shirt, pushing the material open. That earned her a smile against her lips and a push deeper into the moss-covered wall. Surrounded on all sides, the jungle at her back and a stranger pressed against her front, she was eager to touch, eager to be touched. Hands roamed, caressed, and pulled to get what they needed most. Skin. With the eclectic mixture of the jungle’s smell and their heated scent, Jes was overwhelmed. As she continued to wrestle with his clothing, he placed both hands at his sides. When she finally bared his chest to her view, she sighed in appreciation. His reaction was to rid her of her top. Warm hands massaged her breasts, pushing them together and squeezing them past painful until he slowly he released them, allowing the circulation to return to her skin and increasing the sensitivity. He repeated the action until both mounds were buzzing with sensations.

  The sound of his zipper lowering injected her with a longing to be filled. She tried to align her body to his; foreplay at this point was unnecessary. She was ready to get down to it. Now. She chanced a glance down to get a visual of his erection and had to place a hand on his chest to catch her breath. Oh dear heavens! His dick was huge. It would fill her to bursting. The moon’s beams took their time as they slid over his body, showcasing his powerful form. The sight of him awed her; his shorts off and around his ankles, his cock thick and long. Impressive. The veins creating an enthralling pattern she wanted to trace with her tongue, and the head a deep, angry red. Jes mentally snapped a picture for later enjoyment. The picture of him like this would get her through many lonely nights. Meanwhile, on this night, she was looking forward to being impaled on his length.

  Raw attraction was etched into the lines on his face when she looked up into his almost black eyes. The pupils were larger now, like an animal’s; eyes that cast a net to catch their prey. His hands at her thighs, he lifted her, allowing Jes to secure her legs around his waist. Somewhere between her observations of him, she’d managed to release one of her legs from her shorts. How, she didn’t care.

  He eyed her once, as if to give her an out. When she didn’t say anything further, he plunged deep. Invading her warmth, the force of his weight smashed her head against the moss-covered wall with a dull thud. Her thighs tightened to reduce jarring. He adjusted his rhythm, giving her no time to come to terms with his strength. He placed a hand behind her head, cushioning her as he continued to drive his entire body deeper into her overheated flesh. Jes closed her eyes. She was on the precipice of a sensual cliff, too afraid to look down at the abysmal plunge that waited to swallow her whole. He was rough and smooth at the same time with hard digs into her pussy. It forced her body to continue hitting the wall, but his arms wrapped securely around her absorbed most of the impact. He was going to take her over the edge into never-ending pleasure, she hoped. Repeatedly if she were lucky.

  Her inner walls choked the length of his hard flesh. Unbreakable steel encased in a thickly veined casing took her beyond the point of pain. Blessedly deep space engulfed her in its quiet serenity. Feeling stuffed to capacity had Jes closing her eyes tighter. She throbbed inside and pleasure pulsed through her veins, taking her body on a wanton journey into ecstasy.

  “Damn. If you squeeze me any harder, I won’t last.”

  Things were happening too fast. She tried to adjust and adapt to his speed, but his appetite had the force of a Mack truck, and the skills he employed were of a man seasoned in sex. The slick, wet sounds of their bodies joining echoed in the quiet jungle. The dense foliage absorbed the echoes to be later whispered among the trees. His heavy breathing near her ear heated her neck as he drilled her into the soft bed of moss covering the wall. Jes clasped his shoulders, trying to hold on tighter.

  “More,” she begged.

  He fucked her harder.

  “Oh, yes… yes!” she cried into the night.

  Harsh grunts followed her symphony of sounds. She’d never made sounds so desperate and raw, it surprised her. Her skin drew tight with apprehension. Somehow, the old Jes was making an appearance, analyzing her behavior. Why? Why now?

  Realization knocked her sideways moments later.

  She was fucking.....in the jungle....with a stranger! Who hadn’t even seen fit to exchange normal pleasantries! Wasn’t like you raised an alarm of protest. Her body tensed as old Jes ticked off all the different reasons her actions had been a bad idea. She was signing her death warrant. Her cause of death? Why, sex with a stranger, of course!

  “Stop.” She tried pushing him back to gain leverage, but that didn’t work out too well. He was as solid as a wall. “Stop!”

  “Too late,” he grunted back.

  Too late? Too late! It was never fucking too late!

  “Stop.” She managed to sound more forceful around a mouth full of air. That got his attention.

  A sliver of light touched his face and highlighted his profile in stark definition. His chest heaved from the force of his efforts to take her to orgasm. He was pushing and pulling the air out of his body through his nose, trying to calm himself. He was suspended mid-thrust, his erection halfway in and halfway out of her body.

  “We didn’t use protection.”

  His face looked troubled, as if he were trying to piece together some difficult puzzle. His brows drew together in a pained expression. Clearly, the last thing on his mind was whether they’d used protection. She’d gotten carried away, as well. The expression on his face suddenly cleared, as if a door had magically opened to let him pass. He shrugged his shoulders and then went on to explain.

  “I’m sterile and you’re clean.” He was serious; she could see it on his face. He placed a finger under her chin to bring her ey
es level with his. “I promise. I don’t normally do this … but I had to have you. I couldn’t let the opportunity go by without knowing you. Intimately.”

  Knowing she wasn’t the only one suffering from being out of control put her mind at ease. Somewhat.

  “I never do this. I’m usually the shy, awkward type.”

  “It didn’t take long for me to see you.” He placed a thumb on her lips and rubbed absently. She could see his eyes clearly now, as if they were glowing. “To see your true colors. Now let me enjoy you and your fragrant bloom.”

  He was slowly pushing forward, and she wasn’t going to argue. Something inside her said she could trust his words. Instincts were never wrong, were they? She could feel the thick veins of his cock pulse inside her as he slowly made his way back in. Their foreheads were touching, and he kissed the tip of her nose.

  “I am glad I’m the man who made you adventurous.”

  Boy was she glad, too. The atmosphere around them grew heavy and intense once more. He surged forward, lodging his dick into the center of her core and setting a bone-crushing pace. Deep thrusts, alternated with blunt, short jabs, dug her ass into the wall. The moss soaked up her sweat, making her even hotter. She swore she could see steam rising off her skin.

  Her body tightened on him and she could feel something coursing up the base of her spine. A noise was buzzing inside her head; it wasn’t annoying but welcomed. Adrenaline was taking over her limbs as her heart beat frantically, trying to catch up to her body’s needs. She was right there.

  “Give me what I want,” he growled, nipping her ear.

  Shit. She was trying. Her body was being pulled in many directions by another set of orgasms fast approaching. She couldn’t speak, didn’t have the energy. All of her strength was being rerouted to the center of her body. Her core gathering up large amounts of pleasure, all stored up from the times she hadn’t in the past. When he pulled his cock from her opening, Jes didn’t get the chance to protest as he slammed right back in. Her body jolted from the rough intrusion, but she didn’t care. He’d hit the spot.

  The air in her lungs seized as she tried to scream her passion into the night. It was a gut-wrenching sound that came out of her mouth. It took her to the top of a cliff and pushed her over the edge, sending her hurtling into a pleasure-filled abyss that she never wanted to return from.

  He’d ruined her. No other male would ever duplicate this outcome. She tightened the hold on his shoulders and buried her face in his neck as he picked up speed. Her body was ready, and she desperately needed the release. He pulled out and began to glide the head of his cock over her clit. Stimulating the bundle of nerves to a fever pitch. Up and down in slow torturous glides, sending her senses reeling. She didn’t think she could do it again, yet her body began seizing, her throat choking on a hoarse cry that came out of nowhere. He shoved back in, and she pushed down, trying to take all of him in. Strings of desire tightened and stretched her orgasm as it crashed over her body for the second time. This time, she blew up and then descended into bliss. It drew her up fast, causing her to try and catch her breath, waiting for a handful of seconds before releasing her into free fall.

  Jes continued to scream as her orgasm washed over her, setting off mini explosions that echoed off the walls of her body in continuous succession. He seemed satisfied with her second outburst and quickly followed, biting her shoulder while groaning his release. The pain from his bite elicited another tremor of quakes through her body, and she went limp from exhaustion. Jes slid down his sweat-soaked chest. When her feet touched the ground, she felt like liquid. He gently held her until she was able to stand on her own. Her entire body was relaxed, and she knew in the morning she would ache in places she didn’t know could hurt so good.

  “Keep the shirt, I tore your top.” He bent to grab his shirt off the jungle floor and handed it to her while she picked out a few bits of moss from her hair. “Thank you… it was an experience I will never forget.” He raked a hand through his hair and let out a deep breath. His eyes were back to their beautiful green, and he seemed a bit puzzled, if not a little shaken. When he noticed Jes staring, he quickly replaced his look with aloofness.

  “I don’t even know your name,” she said, as a way to make conversation. She really did want to know his name. She pulled her arms through his shirt and tied a knot in the front at her stomach. His shirt smelled like sex and man. He didn’t respond as he watched her put the rest of her clothes on. One-night stands didn’t always require a name. Don’t act needy. She didn’t care; she wanted to see him again. There was something there, she could feel it, and she wanted to explore that.

  “I’d like to see you again,” Jes blurted.

  He straightened his shorts and took a step back, shaking his head.

  “One-time deal, sweetness. This can’t happen again or go any further.”

  Her stomach ached at his response, and the palm of her hand itched to reach out and slap the shit out of him Asshole. Instead of slapping him, she watched as he turned and walked away. The lights from the fireflies danced around him in a soft glow. The air was quickly dispersing the charge of sex from the atmosphere. She’d known this was going to happen. Her first official adventure was a bust. Well, what were you expecting out of this? Hell if she knew. She continued to stare at him as he walked through the covering of trees. He was in the shadows, and she could hear the retreat of his footfalls. When he stopped and turned in her direction, the only thing she could see were his green-gold eyes. Maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe he wanted to see where things led.

  “The jungle is no place for humans at night. Find your friend and go home, island flower.” What the hell? Human? Flower? What did that even mean? He was just as human as she was. Those were the last words she heard before the darkness swallowed him. Man was she stupid or what?

  # # #

  He should have left her alone, never pursued her. Instead, he’d followed his dick into soft silky flesh he never wanted to leave. His mind was occupied with that thought the entire way back to the club. Draven should have at least escorted her back, but his wolf had gone and done something unheard-of. His animal had tried to bond with her, a human woman. He’d pulled away fast enough to stop any lingering effects, but it had cost him. Just when his cock would have swelled further, lodging him deeper inside, he’d pulled back in just enough time to prevent damage to her… or him. It would have been something his father preferred, just not with a human. Antony Stone wanted his son mated to a wolf, preferably one that could pop pups out at the drop of a hat if the situation called for it. But the only way that would happen is if he found his true mate.

  Humans were fickle when it came to choosing a person to spend their life with. Wolves mated for life, and were careful in their selection of partners. Especially since the Gods of his ancestors had seen to their survival and controlled the population by making it so. His island flower would never be a wolf. Werewolves were born, not made, regardless of what the myths claimed. They could no more change a human from a bite than vampiri could.

  Human and werewolf matings weren’t unheard-of, but they were difficult. If a male wolf were rejected during a mating, it would render both parties sterile. It was like their bodies would turn off their procreation gene, and the couple would never bear offspring. Thus ensuring they would no longer be able to carry on their bloodline. This made for careful selection among wolves. In the beginning, there had been dozens of bloodlines rendered sterile, almost killing off entire clans. Times were different now, complete with courting and much time spent with both interested parties. No more political matches to strengthen the packs. Wolves didn’t start the bonding until both parties agreed. So why had his wolf initiated contact? He’d felt as if he were about to lose track of his goals and quickly.

  He slowed as he watched her meet her friend at the club’s entrance. He’d left her but circled back around so he could follow her. He wasn’t a total asshole. He stayed in the shadows and watched. Watchin
g her made him hard all over again. His wolf was imploring him to go back to her and finish what they’d started. She appeared thoroughly fucked with her disheveled hair and the way she walked—steady but not balanced. He wasn’t going to make things worse. He had a job to do, and she wasn’t part of the plan. She’d be rejected by the entire pack. He couldn’t put her through that, no matter what his wolf wanted. Draven watched as her friend came up to her and gave her a reassuring hug. The other woman could clearly see him in the cover of trees and her warning was clear. She wanted him to stay far away. He couldn’t agree with her more.

  4

  Jesminda dressed in a simple halter top and jeans as she and Bells got ready for Odessa’s private party. She’d straightened her hair and let it flow down her back. Although her mind was occupied with him, she was still excited about the party. Bells had gotten an invitation, and she knew it was because Cyrian had eyes for her friend. Bells had said as much. Cyrian never invited Jes to the private parties held just before Carnival. He’d told her on many occasions that his parties weren’t for wholesome girls. Well, I fucked a guy in the jungle, so there! She wasn’t Miss Goody Two-Shoes anymore, she thought.

  Applying some lip gloss and a dash of bronzer to her cheeks, she grabbed her clutch and stared at her appearance in the mirror. Simple but mysterious, Bells had said. Her hair was falling over her shoulders, and she wore gold bangles on each wrist. Her fuck-me pumps were an attempt to pretend she hadn’t been hurt by Mr. No Name. Seriously, she wasn’t about to let him win. No name who? Resolved to have her fun, she smiled wide and nodded once at herself in the mirror. There, much better..

  “Ready,” she said as she walked out of the bathroom.

  Belinda wore a black, low, cowl-back dress. It showcased the tattoo of the huge phoenix she had on her back. Its fiery wings tipped the top of her shoulders, and the clawed feet hugged her waist. The tattoo almost looked alive. Jes felt like the eyes of the bird followed her everywhere. If she ever got a tattoo, she was going to her friend’s tattoo artist.