Gypsy Wolf (Strange Lake Falls Series Book 5) Read online

  He moved the shirt open, exposing her. “You are . . . perfect.” He cupped her breast and used his thumb to rub circles over her nipple. She had never felt anything that felt so good before. She couldn’t stop watching him as he touched her. It was so different that what Kilian had done. She pushed those images out of her mind and allowed herself to be fully focused on Lucas.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this.” She groaned with need when he lowered his head and sucked her nipple into his hot, wet mouth.

  “I can’t stop myself.”

  “You don’t even want me, not really.”

  “I don’t have to mate you to make love to you. We can enjoy this, and then go our separate ways. All you have to do is say yes.”

  It hurt that he didn’t want to mate her. She had a decision to make. Either she could push him away and refuse what they both wanted, or she could take what she wanted for once in her life.

  She laced her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and pulled him off her breasts, bringing him to her lips again. “Yes.”

  Diana kissed him with all the desire she felt inside of her. She unbuttoned his shirt quickly and shoved it over his shoulders. He helped her by throwing it across the room. He resumed taking her shirt off and gently pushed open her knees. He brought her feet up on the edges of the bed and then leaned forward, inhaling.

  “You smell so damn good, Diana. I have been craving the taste of you for so long now.”

  Vaguely, she thought she should feel embarrassed, but the way he looked at her made her feel beautiful and desirable. Things she had never felt before. She wanted more, she wanted everything he had to offer.

  She watched as he used his fingers to spread her pussy lips open. He was seeing what no man had seen before. It felt naughty and exciting at the same time. She felt his tongue lick her juices. “Oh.”

  “Does that feel good to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You taste so good, baby.” He licked her again and again.

  She undulated, rubbing herself against his face. Her wolf was howling with need. It was good, but she needed more. “Please, Lucas.”

  He inserted a finger inside her, pumping in and out. He felt the ridge inside her that would bring her the most pleasure. Inserting a second finger, he made sure to stroke that spot over and over. When he removed his fingers, she growled at him.

  “Don’t stop!”

  “I won’t.” He leaned down and inserted his tongue inside her this time, pumping in the rhythm she responded to best.

  She felt something wild building inside of her. She was hot and tingly all over. Her nipples were hard points and she felt an emptiness filling inside of her that she never noticed before.

  The tingling feeling spread through her whole body. He curled his tongue and she felt like she was being thrown up into the sky then suddenly falling and falling.

  “Lucas!”

  *****

  “Mine,” Lucas growled out as he licked up every drop of her arousal. He ripped the zipper from his jeans and shoved them down to expose his aching cock. Never had a female drove him so thoroughly to distraction. He had thought he was addicted to her scent; the taste of her had his wolf howling to claim her.

  He placed his tip at her entrance and stared down at her. “Look at me, Diana, look.”

  She looked up at him with those mesmerizing eyes. He could lose himself in those eyes forever and never regret it. He entered her slowly, having to fight his wolf to keep from slamming into her fiercely. He paused as he reached the barrier that was her maidenhead. No one else had ever had Diana in this way. He would be her first lover and everything in him wanted to make sure she would never want another. He didn’t dwell on why he wanted that.

  “Take a breath, sweetheart, and release it when I tell you.”

  She inhaled deeply, holding her breath. He drove through her barrier all the way until he bottomed out. Fuck, she was tight! “Release your breath.”

  She did so, squeezing her eyes shut. He hated hurting her in any way. He didn’t move as he waited for her body to adjust to his invasion. When she opened her eyes he could see the hurt was gone, replaced by need. He moved in and out slowly, gently. The need in her eyes blazed into true desire, and no woman had ever looked at him like that. He could see her wolf when her eyes glowed. She really did have a wolf inside of her. His wolf pushed forward just a little so that he could greet her properly.

  “More, Lucas, I need more!”

  He felt her fingernails digging into his sides and it only heightened his desire for her. She may be inexperienced, but she was a fast learner. Damn, she was energetic and enthusiastic.

  “Yes, there, Lucas, more!”

  He found a pace that allowed him to stroke her g-spot over and over. Her inner walls gripped his cock, squeezing and squeezing. He wasn't going to last much longer. He felt his canines extending and his wolf was humming some kind of ritual to claim his mate. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to mate a real werewolf.

  She squeezed him hard as she came. “Lucas!”

  Lucas barely managed to pull out of her in time. His seed sprayed over her belly. The sight of that was thrilling and disappointing. He wanted to fill her with his seed, have her carry his children. What the fuck was he thinking?

  “Did I hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “Where are you going?”

  “I need to take a shower.” He had to leave or he would take her again. Once with her wasn’t enough and he desperately wanted to bite her as he took her again. That part really scared him.

  *****

  Diana ached physically, but her heart was what hurt the most. Lucas hadn’t claimed her. Her wolf was convinced that they were mates. She wanted to bite him even though she couldn’t grow fangs. He had pulled out and now he was washing her scent off of him.

  She rolled over on her side and pulled the blanket up to cover her naked body. She felt wetness between her legs. She froze when she heard Lucas come out of the bathroom.

  “Here, let me help you clean up.”

  She watched him walk over to the bed. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and was holding a wet rag. She sat up scooting away from him. “That’s not necessary, I can do it.”

  He didn’t listen to her, though. He pulled the blanket off of her. She closed her legs automatically.

  “Don’t be shy now. I just want to make sure you are taken care of.”

  She tried to push his hands away. “I can take care of myself.” She stood up off the bed headed back to the bathroom. She slammed the door shut and locked it. She got into the shower again and waited until the water was streaming down her face before she let the tears come.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning

  “Are we going to talk about what happened last night?” Lucas asked as he changed lanes on the highway.

  “No.”

  “Diana . . .”

  “What’s there to discuss? We’re just two people who had sex. Nothing more to discuss.”

  “It was amazing sex, though.”

  She gave him a begrudging smile. “I have to take your word for it. You were my first. Maybe you aren’t that special. I’ll have to have a few more lovers to make that judgment.”

  He growled at her.

  She decided to change the subject. “Where are we going, exactly?” She looked at the sign for Las Vegas as they passed it.

  “I have a friend here that is a werewolf council historian. If anyone knows how to overcome a council ruling, it’s Lazarus.”

  “How long have you known him?”

  “A few hundred years. We were close friends in Europe. We lost touch when he came to the States.”

  They didn’t talk while he maneuvered them through the busy roads of Las Vegas. They passed one casino after another. She couldn’t help but wonder where an older werewolf historian would live in a place like Sin City. A casino? Hotel? A library? She was shocked when they parked Lucas’s car in fro
nt of a . . .

  “Little Chapel of Love. Seriously?”

  “I think this may have been punishment for something he did. Maybe he slept with the wrong woman or something.” Lucas shrugged his shoulders. They both got out of the car and made their way to the front doors of the chapel. Lucas opened the door and motioned for her to go first.

  “After you.”

  She stepped into a brightly lit lobby with colorful wallpaper and paintings of different famous people hanging on the wall. “Wow.”

  “Hello there.” A little old lady with glasses and a big smile came forward to greet them. “My name is Adele, not the singer, mind you. Welcome to the Little Chapel of Love, where all your dreams can be fulfilled.”

  “Hi, I’m Diana and this is Lucas. We’re looking for . . .”

  The elderly lady interrupted her. “A pleasure to meet you. I must say, you two make a lovely couple. Come here and sign this.” She handed a pen to Diana.

  Diana didn’t know what to do so she just signed the thing the lady put in front of her.

  “Now you, son, you sign right here.”

  Lucas frowned. “I think you have the wrong idea. We’re not here to . . .”

  “Sign this, son.” She pushed the book toward Lucas.

  Lucas signed, too, and looked at Diana helplessly. “She won’t let us explain.”

  “Here, my dear, I have a bouquet for you.” She handed Diana a bouquet of white lilies.

  “These are lovely.” She looked up at Lucas and he was staring at her strangely, like it was the first time he had seen her. She would clearly have to handle this. “Ma’am, we’re here looking for a man.”

  The older woman shook her head disapprovingly. “How could you look for another when you have a handsome, strapping one right here.”

  “No, you misunderstand. The guy we are looking for is Lazarus.”

  The little old lady dropped everything she was holding. “What do you want with Lazarus?”

  Lucas stepped forward. “I’m an old friend here to see him on a personal matter. If you could let him know Lucas is here, I’m sure he’ll want to see me.”

  The old lady snorted but she picked up her phone and dialed. Her expression changed completely when the other party answered. Smiling broadly, she said, “Hello, luv, I hate bothering you, but there’s a couple here to see you. The man calls himself Lucas… Okay.” She hung up.

  “Follow me.” She walked down the hallway in the back and they followed her through the kitchen and out the door. The building had a privacy fence surrounding the backyard and the space between the chapel and the guesthouse had a lovely open garden.

  She stopped in front of the guesthouse and turned to them. “I will warn you right now, if you try to hurt my Lazarus, I will take you out myself.”

  Diana smiled at her. “I just want to ask him some questions. I promise.”

  The old lady smiled back and patted her hand. “I believe you child. Let me give you a piece of advice. That one there, marry him before he slips away. He looks at you in a way that reminds me of my George. That man couldn’t keep his hands to himself, but more than that, he loved me to distraction. I wouldn’t trade a moment that we had together.” She walked back toward the chapel back door.

  Diana glanced at Lucas, knowing that he heard every word. Then she firmly looked away from him and turned to the door of the guesthouse, now opening. The man who stepped out was not at all what she expected.

  He was tall and broad shouldered, with midnight black hair and eyes like dark chocolate. He reminded her of a Greek god of war. This man was a historian?

  “Lucas, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Lazarus greeted him warmly, shaking hands. He turned his eyes to Diana and he looked at her with awe and admiration.

  “Who is this beautiful lady?” He reached out his hand. “Lazarus Castille at your service.”

  “Hi, I’m Diana Rhapsody.”

  He held her hand and bent to kiss it. He paused in releasing her. “Rhapsody? As in the Diana Rhapsody? The soothsayer?”

  She felt heat rise to her face. He was acting like she was famous or something. “Yes.”

  “You can let her go now, Laz,” Lucas growled.

  “My apologies. Please come inside and tell me why the most powerful soothsayer in history has sought my help.”

  Diana followed Lazarus into the small guesthouse, not sure how he knew her, but grateful that Lucas was there with her.

  Chapter 7

  Lucas stood at the door watching as his friend drooled over Diana. “How do you know who she is?”

  Lazarus went to make Diana a cup of hot tea. Lucas didn’t like how his friend was fussing over her.

  “I’m the historian, the pack leaders and the council send me encrypted information to document. The commune is included in that. I dare say I probably know more about Diana than she does.”

  “Do you know about my mother and her people?” Diana sat up straighter, now way too interested in Lazarus.

  “I know that they came from a very powerful lineage.” He stopped to go to his bookshelf and pull something down. “Here, this is a book about the Romany. It has some of the first families listed. You came from the Rapsodi family. There are only a handful of them left now.”

  She ran her finger gently over the family tree that listed her true name. This was the closest she had come to finding out about her family.

  “Look, we didn’t come here for a family tree lesson. We have to meet with the council in a few days to counter a mating claim.” Lucas gave a brief summary of what had happened to Diana when she was younger, staying light on the details. He explained about Kilian’s attempt to make his claim with the council.

  “So he’s trying to use the First Claim Law to force Diana to accept him.”

  “There are laws supporting him on this?” Diana asked, her disappointment clear.

  “I’m afraid so. It is an old law put in place years ago, when our males had to go to war and didn’t want to come back to find their female mated to another. The males would make an incomplete claiming mark, and then they were expected to finish the claiming when they came back from war. It also helped the females, because if the male didn’t come back, the female would still be able to mate another if she chose to. Usually the female was in agreement with the first claim mark. The council will have to hear his claim.”

  “So that’s it, because he bit me when I was a kid they’re just going to hand me over to him?” Diana asked dejectedly. Lucas didn’t like seeing her like that.

  “That’s not going to happen,” Lucas told her, putting his hand on her shoulder. He turned his eyes to Lazarus. “How do we fight a First Claim Law?”

  Lazarus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “There’s death, but you would have to get close enough to Kilian to do that and I am sure he has made sure he is protected at all times. However, the best way to fight a First Claim Law is with a second claim—True Mate.”

  “Second claim?” Diana asked, interested.

  “Yes, another wolf bites you over the same spot, and fully claims you when you accept his seed. Then you go forward to the council and tell them that you are true mates. True mates take precedence.”

  “That would work? I get someone else to bite me and go before the council and say the second claim is a true mate?”

  “Pretty much.” Lazarus answered. “I could offer myself . . .”

  Lucas stepped between Diana and Lazarus. “That’s not going to happen.”

  Lazarus stood up and faced him directly. “Are you going to claim her for your own then?”

  Lucas shook his head. “It won’t come to that.”

  “What if I was just bitten, by any wolf? Does he have to leave his seed?” Diana asked.

  “Well, that’s normally how the second claiming worked in the past, but it doesn’t have to require the seed. Would you like that, little Diana? Would you want my bite?”

  “Are you offering?” she asked, standing up.

&nbs
p; “Yes.”

  “Hell no, that’s not happening.” Lucas was losing control over his wolf. His eyes were glowing and his canines had lengthened. The image of Lazarus biting his Diana was too much for him.

  “Diana, could you step outside into the garden while Lucas and I . . . discuss things.” Lazarus said as he and Lucas stared at one another.

  “I’ll go outside but don’t fight. You’re friends, and trust me, friends are precious and hard to come by.” She felt the heat in her cheeks when they looked at her, but she refused to leave until they promised not to fight.

  “It’s okay, Diana, we’ll behave ourselves,” Lucas reassured her. She opened the door and left them alone.

  “You want her for yourself, so why are you fighting it, Lucas?”

  “She’s in trouble, I’m just trying to help.”

  “Right, so you won’t mind if I bite her and give her the second claim?” Lazarus moved to step around him, and Lucas grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up in the air.

  “You touch her and you die.”

  Lazarus tried to shrug. Lucas set him back down. “So what will you do? Let the council force her to mate with this guy?”

  “No.”

  “Then you plan to mate her yourself?”

  “Damn it, I don’t know. I’m supposed to breed with a full werewolf. Our people need shifting werewolves.”

  “Do they? If Diana were interested in me, I wouldn’t care if she were a lesser werewolf. I wouldn’t care if she were human. She is beautiful, smart, and powerful.”

  “She comes with complications,” Lucas told him.

  “All I would care about is whether she wanted me.”

  Lucas thought about what his friend said. He had never heard Lazarus speak this way before. “You’re different now.”

  Lazarus went to the window and looked out into the garden at Diana. “I am. Having the woman you love murdered in front of you and being unable to save her will do that to you. Take my advice, my friend, claim your gypsy wolf and have lots of gypsy puppies. Never take one day for granted.”